Bend a tree whilst it is still young (direct translation, just bear with me)

My sister was told by a workmate after revealing she was exercising that she should not bother now....she should "get her babies and then lose the weight"....That statement alone reveals a mindset that is the engine behind our expanding waist lines and the rise and rise of plus size clothing stores - which I have nothing against, their existence points to a growing problem.

We are a nation of procrastinators, shelving the things we consider unimportant until an emergency arises. Look at our politicians, aren't they just bad handymen who rush to fill up cracks with substandard material when problems arise instead of planning ahead like they are supposed to? But I digress, it's been a difficult week in Kenya, with massacres in the name of religion, stripping of women and violation in broad daylight in the streets and raping of a 3 year old by two uncles. We are a nation that thinks of solutions when it is already too late, when a lot of damage has been done and it takes a mammoth effort to put this right. This applies to our health as well.

When I was a teenager, and overweight, I wanted to begin exercising in earnest in order to lose the weight, for self esteem mostly, body image is very important at that stage.

Training techniques - Why failing to plan is planning to fail - Part 1

The fitness industry has come a long way from Jane Fonda videos (bless her soul) and there are a lot of ready to buy programs out there which many of us do buy because of ease of use and the flexibility of working out at home...your own bathroom for one. These home programs are great especially if you already have a baseline of fitness and understand your body somewhat.

Going to a fitness centre is different. Everyone there looks like they know what they are doing, they have great bodies...save for the pregnant mama lifting over there...what is she doing there? Oh, that's me, say hi :-)

It can be intimidating, not knowing what to do, how to do it and for how long.

This is why you need to arm yourself with information before hand, especially if you're signing up at a gym where the trainers will not touch you except if you pay personal trainer fees. Which is well and good if you can afford it, but if you can't here are a few tips to help you through.

1. There is such a thing as too much too soon. Going at your maximum pace might not be a good idea especially if you're a beginner, recovering from injury, have a BMI that classifies you as obese or if you're older.

Has it been that long? 15 weeks...little Ninja and I are doing well...I even felt the first kicks!

Yes...I did! And they were not "flutters". It seems baby Ninja wanted to interrupt date night and came right up to the surface where my husband felt his/her movements last week (14 weeks! That's early!) It was right after a gym session so maybe baby was feeling good with all the happy hormones running through our systems.

Talking about the gym, and working out, how are you doing? I'm really showing now, and I have begun to get a few stares at the gym. I am trying to keep as active as possible, because I know this is good for baby and I and some of you might know this...I really want to have a VBAC this time round (vaginal birth after C Section). My first born was born via emergency C section. We almost lost her, without the C Section we probably would.

However, Kenyan hospitals and some mothers increasingly prefer C sections over natural births for a variety of reasons ranging from scheduling, fear of pain and the monetary aspects for the obstetricians involved. Whatever the reason, talking from experience, the recovery from a C section can be difficult. It is a major operation, after which, you are expected to take care of your baby and your family while you recover. So this time, I would like to avoid this if I can. And one way of working towards that, is keeping active.

So what's my regimen like?

I teach 5 -6 cardio classes a week. I am not lacking in cardio. When I do make it to the gym, I restrict my cardio to the warm up stage and concentrate on weights.

The amount of lifting I do has gone down from 5 - 6 days to 3 - 4 days due to time, and also exhaustion. I feel more strained, tire easily and would like to preserve energy for my normal day to day activities as well. We have to remember, pregnancy places an additional strain on your body already, your heart is working faster because of more blood, your centre of gravity changes because of the increased frontal load, you have hormones affecting how your body functions, and the extra weight you carry also makes things a bit difficult.

So, if you meet me taking a jog, or lifting some weights, or swinging a kettle bell, and you ask me why? I will tell you it is because it is good for both baby and I. This is the best thing I can do to adapt to the changes my body is going through and prepare me for child birth. I have been told I am vain, that all I care about is looks. Vanity would not have led me to pregnancy....what with the stretch marks, boobs going down south, belly distortion, and amount of time it takes to get back to pre pregnancy body (if ever), vanity is not a part of pregnancy fitness.

Strong mommies make strong babies....

Stay active everyone!