Name Melissa Moshetti Tanner
Age 30
Occupation High School Math Teacher
Number of Kids 0…..(1 on the way!)
Favorite Season Summer
Are you pregnant now Yes
1) How did you get into fitness?
After swimming, playing softball, and field hockey through high school and college, I knew athletics would take me to another level. I was a pitcher for SUNY Cortland and spent every second of my four years focused on getting fast enough to take the team to Nationals. Once those days were over for me, I had to fill that love for fitness and team work somehow. I then began coaching both sports and also on my own time, studying about health and physical fitness. Fast forward to now, where I am 100% sold on how important it is to live a healthy life style and continue to move and be physically fit.
I am a high school math teacher by day, and a personal trainer at Garage Gym by night, where I mold my clients like clay into self-confident machines! Preaching proper range of motion, quality of movement, functional exercises and teaching clients to make it a way of life versus a “cookie cutter” quick fix. Health and fitness is a game of preparation and self-discipline. It’s looking around at your friends before you grab the jump rope, or the barbell, being anxious, nervous, and having a genuine excitement for the undetermined that will NEVER get old.
2) How was your pregnancy? Did you have an easy or challenging pregnancy?
The first three months were horrible. Not to be graphic, but, I was vomiting on average 5 times a day. I couldn’t keep a single thing down that I ate. I was able to come to terms with the idea of feeling sick since I knew I was growing a human being, which of course will change the chemistry in your body. However, what I could not let myself come to terms with was the fact that I was not able to keep down the clean foods I was used to eating. I reverted to eating processed carbohydrates like pretzels, dry cereal and crackers. Thankfully, after I passed the three-month mark, I was back on track eating the whole, clean foods I was used to eating on a daily basis. I would be lying if I said I didn’t crave random foods with zero nutritional value every now and again, so I made a deal with myself. That if the cravings were strong enough, I would let myself indulge every now and again, making sure the portion size was nothing out of control, but just enough to satisfy that craving!
3) What did you do for fitness during your pregnancy (examples: yoga, lifting, walking, cardio, dance, ect)?
As mentioned above, for the first three months I found myself with little to no energy to get a workout in. I went from training intensely 5-6 days per week to getting one day of mobility training in per week (if I was lucky!). Mentally, that was tough for me. After the 3 month hump, my energy levels returned and I was back to killing it in the gym. I went back to doing my normal routine: A mix of Olympic lifts, Crossfit, and anaerobic capacity work; All of which was of course taken down a notch to ~80% of my max.
4) Was it difficult adjusting to your new physique and how did you manage it?
I am almost 6 months along and I still struggle with my new physique! I think it is difficult for anyone who has worked so hard to obtain a lean, strong physique to watch it soften and change over time. The reason for this, however, is definitely worth it, as I know once the baby is born, I will be able to resume my normal workouts.
5) How was your nutrition during your pregnancy? Don't sweat it if your nutrition was not exceptional. I'm pretty sure I craved powdered donuts so bad that if I didn't have money I would have robbed a doughnut shop (totally kidding but it was pretty intense). Also was your nutrition different based on which trimester you were in? (See response to #2)
6) Any funny stories that happened during your pregnancy that involved fitness? An example may be, "I knew I was done doing squats when I peed my pants doing them while I was in the gym." haha! I will say, I now have to plan ahead when it comes to my workouts. If I am planning on doing doubleunders, I have to be sure I wear some extra, ummm…. padding? in my shorts! Ha. Also, I now have to take a big swig of anti-acid before doing burbees. The acid reflux/heart burn is SO BAD, that when I do burpees it starts to come right up! Oh the joys of pregnancy.
7) How did you manage maintaining a fit pregnancy when you were not motivated to workout or eat right? I know we all have had days where we ate like crap and didn't workout but this is about balance so what did you do when you knew getting some exercise would make you feel better but you didn't want to? There were days where I had arguments with myself about going to the gym; where I would have to literally drag my bum there! So I made a deal with myself: Just physically get to the gym. IF I started my workout, and my body was still not having it, then I would stop. But, 90% of the time, once I started moving, I instantly felt better!
8) What would you tell another expecting mom that says, "I was told to eat whatever I want and don't workout because its not healthy for the baby."
I was told by pretty much everyone that I need to do the following: a.) Stop working out, b.) “Eat for two” and c.) Do as little movement as possible. Individuals who gave this poor advice all said it was because if I did any of the above, it would increase my chances of a miscarriage. I did my own research and spoke with my doctor. Both resources told me, in a nutshell, to listen to your body. You will know when you should/shouldn’t be doing something. This advice has not let me down yet!
9) While being pregnant what would be the number 1 or top 3 things that you learned about yourself?
Not to take myself so seriously. I would come down on myself SO HARD for things like: missing a workout, not moving the amount of weight I used to, or having my benchmark timed workouts be a minute or more longer than they used to pre-prego. It took me a while to get here, but, I have finally accepted that this is all for a good reason. I am creating a person, and that is hard work!
10) If there is one thing about your pregnancy that you hope to do differently next time what would that be?
To not fight the changes that are happening to my body; To embrace them, and know that these changes are temporary.
