KEEPING FIT FOR TWO...

Exercise can be a drag at the best of times. I know that sometimes I find it almost impossible to drag myself out of bed and down to the gym, or out for a jog. And that’s on a good day! So when you’re pregnant, and everything is twice as hard, exercise can be the furthest thing from your mind. I know that when I started to really show, and was a bit heavy and bloated, I felt as co-ordinated as a giant hippo and the idea of anybody seeing me in exercise gear, let alone exercising in it, was about as likely as winning the lotto. Surprisingly though, increasing your heart rate and getting out of the house, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy, can do wonders for your self-esteem and sense of well-being. And Queen Bee has a whole range of super flattering, super comfortable maternity active wear and maternity swimwear, which you can wear to exercise, to lounge around in or even team with any other fabulous maternity clothing from the site.

There is a tendency to stay at home during pregnancy. Everything seems hard, we can feel ungainly and sluggish and it’s sometimes difficult to keep motivated. But getting that heart pumping is the key to feeling optimistic, and even if you don’t want to move around outside too much, there are exercise and yoga tapes you can do while in the comfort of your own living-room. Get yourself kitted out with some Queen Bee maternity active wear, turn on a yoga class or a stretching class and it’s as simple as 1,2,3. Remember that staying active and healthy during pregnancy has many benefits, and gentle exercise like pre-natal yoga is perfect. It seems yoga is an all-time favourite with the celebs, and most keep going right through pregnancy. Both Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry reportedly included yoga in their pregnancy exercise routines, not to mention gal pals Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.

If you can get motivated enough to get up and get out, just throw on a Queen Bee maternity dress over your maternity active wear leggings and get yourself to the nearest gym. Group yoga classes are a great way to make new friends and keep a social network going. And if you feel like incorporating some gentle exercise without going all out, a pair of maternity jeans can be the perfect item to take you from an early morning stroll and into a brunch meeting with friends. Team it with a Queen Bee maternity top, and something from our fantastic knitwear and accessories range for a funky, fashion-forward Autumn look.

I know you can sometimes feel a little awkward in swimmers, but I have always found that the best way to relax and get some much-needed time off my feet, is at the swimming pool. If you are feeling energetic, you can swim a few laps. And with our lovely maternity swimwear range, you can look as good as you feel. Just have a look at Jessica Alba wearing one of our fabulous maternity swimming costumes. Who said pregnancy couldn’t be glamorous? Swimming is a really fantastic exercise for both mind and body. But even just hanging at one end of the pool and having a splash with the weight off your feet can work wonders for your sense of well-being and can also be as effective for stress release as spending the afternoon in a beauty salon.

And what better way to wind up your morning or afternoon than with a really relaxed walk home in any of the Queen Bee maternity active wear range. Team some maternity pants, or leggings with any of our knitwear and accessories for a layered, snuggly, and very comfortable look.

I think you’ve earned some time curled up on the sofa with a good book and a cuppa!

Hannah

xx