World famous fitness influencer Kayla Itsines has hit back at critics who say she shouldn’t lift weights when she’s pregnant.
“No, I am not hurting the baby,” the 27-year-old told her 10 million followers on Instagram.
“You can use weights while pregnant. Ladies, you just need to follow pregnancy safe exercises (which I am posting on my page).”
The bikini body guide founder explained that she has been working out continuously throughout her pregnancy and described it as “a wonderful thing”.
But fans have been responding to her pregnancy workout videos with disdain, questioning the safety of her routines.
Itsines went on to stress that she has been active her whole life and that so long as women get clearance from their doctor, it is completely fine to workout and use weights while pregnant.
“Just because I’m standing in a gym with a crop top and shorts, doesn’t make it any less safe to lift something,” she added in response to those who had also criticised her choice of clothing.
Her post prompted numerous responses from other women touting the benefits of working out while pregnant.
“When I was pregnant with my now four-month-old daughter, I was carrying my then three-year-old who was 38 lbs! As long as you don’t over do it and are safe, everything is good,” one woman wrote.
Another concurred: “If you’re active when you get pregnant, STAY ACTIVE!! It’s healthy for the baby!”
If exercising alone while pregnant seems daunting, Aya Etherington, personal trainer at Equinox Kensington, told The Independentthat prenatal workout classes can be a great way for expecting mothers to meet one another and create lasting relationships.
“This creates a community that is really quite loving and one where you leave feeling happy,” she said.
But she pointed out that it’s crucial to take into consideration your pre-pregnancy fitness levels prior to starting a new regime (i.e. if you’ve never exercised before it’s probably not a good idea to start running every day when you’re pregnant) and, of course, to also consult your doctor.
For more information on exercising during pregnancy, visit the NHS website here.
