Keeping the Body Fit with Baby

Kristie Helfrich

Kristie has been an athlete her entire life, focusing for the first 22 years on the demanding sport of gymnastics. As collegiate athlete, the concept of cross training became quite important so she began running and doing lots of conditioning and strength work. Post her collegiate career, gymnastics was no longer an option for staying in shape thus running became her passion. The transition from Division I athlete to working at a desk all day was a tough one, however Kristie found that morning workouts was her only option as she had no control over what time she left the office. However, early morning runs and trips to the gym were a great time to think about the day ahead and always left her with an endorphin related high as she headed for the office. Early in her professional career, Kristie trained for and successfully ran a marathon in under 4 hours and completed an Olympic distance triathlon.
That was life BC (before children). Needless to say, Kristie's running days slowed a bit while carrying her first child. She did some running, however spent a majority of time on the elliptical machine. Getting back in shape after her first baby was indeed a challenge, but definitely logistically easier as she could throw her daughter in the baby jogger and take a run almost every morning. Kristie's main form of exercise after her first was running and the elliptical machine (sometimes with her daughter in the Baby Bjorn).

Kristie's second pregnancy was complication free and she was able to exercise until the end of the third trimester, however less running and more time on the machines. Post delivery, she joined a local gym and had a few sessions with a personal trainer. Since her gymnastics training Kristie had no desire to pick up a weight as she was almost relieved to see the size of her arms shrink. However, she was missing out big time on toning her entire body. What she quickly realized is that weight training the right way was the absolute best way to get back in shape and FAST. Interval training - combining weights and cardio - helped get her in the best shape of her life.

So as soon as Kristie had her routine down and was figuring out life with two....along came her third. She actually continued lifting (though with reduced weights) and spent lots of time on the Cybex Trainer (similar to an elliptical machine). Her pregnancy was incredibly easy allowing her to work out right until the day before her scheduled delivery. Despite being older, getting into shape after her last delivery took about 3 months. Kristie decided to work with a trainer for 4 sessions and then use those workouts on her own for the next few months. An adjustment to her diet - focusing on protein, fruits, and veggies - also helped her to shed the pounds really quickly.
Clothes were fitting great and life was starting to regain some sense of order, when yes - you guessed it, Kristie got pregnant with her fourth. She worked closely with D'Lynne throughout this pregnancy, taking tough cardio classes three times a week, weight training twice a week and doing cardio the other days. She was determined to have a totally fit pregnancy given that this would be her last. This intense regime kept her in great shape and after the birth of her fourth she was able to get back to herself very quickly.

Life with four is crazy, but Kristie still make working out a priority as it is her designated "me" time which she craves and needs every day. Juggling everyone's schedule is challenging but she squeezes in a workout every day whether it be a quick run while her daughter is at swimming, a walk to the grocery store with her little ones in the stroller or a class at the gym while the kids have tennis lessons. Logistics are tough but the planning and hard work is totally worth it. Kristie is convinced that being fit makes her a better mother and wife. In addition, her kids understand the benefits of an active lifestyle at a very early age.