I’d like to introduce you to Jenny Willits, who used to train with Bondi Bum x3 times per week…twice per week in a large corporate group and once per week in a smaller group with a couple of colleagues.

When I say she ‘used’ to train with Bondi Bum, I think she would still be training with us if it wasn’t for the fact that she is four weeks away from having her first baby!

Here is why Jen is a star client…

Jen, its not long now until your due date for baby number one, congratulations! How long had you been training with Bondi Bum before falling pregnant?

I had been training for six months with a bunch of people from work – and was loving been super fit!

And when you found out you were pregnant, did you have any concerns about continuing your fitness training? If yes, how did you overcome them?

Surprisingly, I didn’t have any big concerns really – I knew I wanted to keep up my fitness while I was pregnant. One concern was that I knew I wasn’t going to be able to push myself as hard as I usually do and it would frustrate me that I couldn’t be as competitive as I had been up till then!

I think my husband had more concerns around me training than I did but that was just about him worrying about me training too hard and taking care of the baby, particularly in the early stages.

Once my doctor had given me the all clear to exercise and I had had a conversation with my trainer to let them know I was pregnant, it was training as usual…except at a slightly slower pace than before and with my trainer keeping a close eye on me!

How has being pregnant affected your training?
I’ve had to slow down…a lot. I found I couldn’t push myself as hard and some of the exercises have become a lot tougher. When you’re pregnant your body goes through so many changes…I get tired and breathless a lot quicker than before. Running and hill sprints became more problematic in the last few months as my weight increased …but even up to seven months I was able to run maybe one lap of Observatory Hill with a couple of hill “jogs” too!

Have you felt the benefits of staying fit and training while pregnant? What benefits have you felt?
Absolutely! I’ve managed to maintain a level of fitness which has definitely contributed to being healthy throughout my pregnancy. Simple things like just being able to get outside for some fresh air has been so beneficial, especially as I started getting larger, which was around the 6 months mark. Being able to keep up exercise has made me feel stronger, brighter and more positive.

I haven’t suffered from any postural aches or pains – which can be quite common during pregnancy because of the additional weight you end up carrying – and I attribute that to my continued functional strength training with Bondi Bum.

I think being fit and healthy can only benefit the baby and I hope it means that I’m able to deal with what could be a long labour, given this is my first!

Would you recommend exercise to other pregnant ladies and why?
Definitely. You’re clearly not going to be able to push yourself to train for a new event or break any records, but its an important time to be as healthy as you can…and getting out and moving around, no matter how small is better than doing nothing.

I’ve simply listened to my body (and my baby!) and when I’ve felt tired or not quite 100% I’ve let my trainer know and have taken it a little easier.

Will you picking training back up again one bump has arrived?
I sure will and can’t wait! My goal is to run the half-marathon next April/May which gives me a good seven months to get myself back into peak fitness.

Thanks Jen, I can’t wait to meet bump!

Em and the Bondi Bum Team

Bondi Bum is qualified in pre and post natal exercise and is happy to offer advice to anyone who is debating if/what exercise to take part in while pregnant.

Bondi Bum recommends you seek approval from your GP before taking up any exercise while pregnant.

I’d like to introduce you to the first Star Client. Every month we’ll be chatting to different client who, in one way or another, is riding high on the health and fitness train.

This is Vadawn Buhler, a Bondi Bum one-on-one and group client…she has been smashing it lately and I think she rocks! Here is why…

How long have you been training with Bondi Bum for and what were your goals when you first started?
I started training with Bondi Bum in February 2010. My goals then were to be fit enough to run a half marathon before I turned 30 (leaving myself just 3 months!) and to gain some upper body strength. Having recently given up smoking and turning to food to cure my cravings, I was also desperate to shed a few kilos. Being as vain as I am, I dreamed of being one of those annoyingly hot chicks who rocks it in a bikini!

Have you achieved your goals? Please tell me about them…
I successfully completed my first half marathon on 16 May 2010, three days before I turned 30…yippppeeee!

I went on to run my first City to Surf in August 2010 (which I had dreamed of running since I arrived in Australia 6 years ago) and a second half marathon in September 2010.

With Bondi Bum’s help I also managed to drop the unwanted extra post smoking weight and most exciting of all I became strong enough to do BOY PUSH UPS (possibly better known as push ups on your toes)! I am one step closer to that bikini body!

That’s great Vadawn! And you recently completed your third half marathon, how was that?
Soooooo hard! I cried for the last kilometer! But I have to say I am little bit proud of myself….I knocked 20 minutes off my time from last year and I broke the two hour mark!

There is something incredibly satisfying about setting yourself a goal that at the time seems unobtainable and then all of a sudden you smash it…it made turning 31 just that little bit easier! Next is City to Surf this year – if I can take 20 minutes off that too I will feel like Superwoman!

Now that you have smashed your running goals, what are your new health and fitness goals? What are you doing to reach those goals?
I hope to keep running – but my search for the rocking bikini body is now the main drive behind my training.

My new goal is to tone up and gain some muscle definition. I have just started a strength program with Bondi Bum…I train once per week one-on-one and go to group training twice per week. I have also invested in a set of weights, barbell, dumbbells and a Swissball and have a series of strength programs from Bondi Bum that I complete at home (in my bedroom). Call me crazy, but I also try to fit in a swim and yoga once a week when I can!

I know that nutrition comes hand in hand with training, so I have also committed to eating well – even volunteering to give up chocolate for a month – and sending my weekly food diaries to Bondi Bum to keep me on the straight and narrow

So watch this space – a year from now I might be a famous bikini model! Or just a happy, fit, healthy chicka with an awesome BONDI BUM!

Thanks Vadawan!

Vadawn is doing great. She is 100% committed to her health and fitness goals and is even putting things into place outside of the times I see her during the week to really push hard to achieving them…I love it!

I’m looking forward to seeing the results.

Em and the Bondi Bum Team

I’m setting a challenge for June…and its a simple one…but I’d like every Bondi Bum client (and anyone else who is game) to sign up to it and make it into a massive (in size) challenge ☺

What: come along to each and every one of your regular Bondi Bum training sessions throughout the month of June…easy right?

Why: because you’ll be fitter for it…because you’ll feel healthier for it….but most of all because Winter is the toughest time of year to train outside and with the weather set to test each of us over the last few weeks I think you’ve got what it takes to look the cooler and damper days in the eyes and say ‘Bring it’!

How: just do what you do best, come along to every regular training session throughout June (starting on Monday 06 June). To prove you’ll be fitter and healthier for it, we’ll put some mini assessments in place for each of you to complete next week and you’ll be re-assessed at the end of June to see your progress.

Whats in it for you: other than the ‘why’ answers above? I might just have a little something up my sleeve for those who make it along to every single session…and those who smash their fitness levels in the process ☺

Winter is not the time to watch all your hard training go down the drain…Winter is not the time to give up on your goals…Winter is not the time to put back on all that weight you have lost…and Winter is certainly not the time to watch your fitness levels drop into a puddle of dirty rain water never to be seen again…

Bondi Bum is making this Winter the time to smash your goals…fire up your fitness and feel the best you ever have by the time Spring/Summer comes around!

A few essentials you might need:
- a pair of Skins or similar long leggings
- a jumper or hoodie for cooler days
- a waterproof jacket for wet days

Its makes a huge difference if you are warm and dry when training…bad weather is not an excuse not to train…we train ran, hail or shine so be ready for it. We dress for Summer with a cap and sunscreen, so dress for winter with a jumper and waterproof!

Game on! Who is in?

Em and the Bondi Bum team ☺