It’s official: you officially have no excuse to miss the gym.
Jess Bell is an F45 Training United States Athlete, soon to be mother of two, and one kick-a** woman in the gym. Coming from someone who’s trained with her before, her work outs are not for the weak.
I’ve had the honor of capturing Jess’ recent maternity shoot, and now have the thrilling opportunity to dive deeper into her career. Her commitment to the gym has always impressed me, and now that she’s pregnant, she’s set that bar higher.
So let’s dive into Jess’ story and talk about the benefits behind the pregnancy grind.
Jess’ Background
Jess’ passion for personal training started back at Powerhouse in 2018. “I learned a lot there about the type of trainer I wanted to be, and the type I wanted to avoid,” Jess stated as she filled me in on her early training days. When I asked what drew her to personal training, she exclaimed, “When I didn’t continue team sports in college, the gym was the obvious choice to pursue that competitive nature – just with myself this time.”
Jumping to 2020, Jess explored coaching group training at F45. She gushed about her experience by saying, “I fell in love with the community and killer workouts. I still can’t get enough of it.” After she became pregnant with Joey, her first child, Jess stepped away on maternity leave for her new family. As she was adjusting to motherhood, she couldn’t wait to come back postpartum. While she prioritized her time with Joey, she continued to coach and personal train around a schedule that fit her new life. Once the role came up to become an F45 athlete, she jumped on the opportunity (knowing Jess’ form, the jump was perfect).
“This is a once in a lifetime role.”
“This is a once in a lifetime role,” Jess mentioned. “It has its challenges, but it’s so worth it.” The flexibility, versatility, and continuous learning/growing opportunities keep her engaged in her craft. She’s able to work in a profession she loves, and shows up ready for every session. Now being able to represent young moms, the sky’s the limit for Jess’ fitness career.
Building Babies and Building Bodies
Even though I am not a fellow mom, as a fellow woman, the topic of pregnancy is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. Our bodies can do incredible things, and I didn’t realize we could continue our fitness journey along the way. When I asked Jess to compare her pregnancies, she said, “I’m doing a lot more, and better, this pregnancy! I’ve continued high intensity training along with strength training, but my first pregnancy I mainly stuck to walking and some strength training. I feel much lighter on my feet this time even though I’m showing bigger. The aches and pains are about the same for each pregnancy, but I’m not succumbing to them this time.”
Along with Jess’ story, social media has taken a large stance on working out while pregnant. From many online testimonials, the benefits of working out while pregnant seem astounding. Between better physical preparation for labor, faster recovery after labor, improved mental health, and more, it seems like working out while pregnant is a smart investment. (Please consult with your doctor if you are pregnant and continuing your fitness journey – I must say this as I am a blogger and not an expert!)
Maternity Training Misconceptions
On the topic of motherhood meeting the weight room, I had Jess debunk a few misconceptions for me about working out whilst pregnant:
Don’t lift over 25lbs
“Lol”
Your heart rate has to stay below 130bpm
“OOPS no”
You should stop high intensity exercise
“Again, no”
“You’re preparing for labor, one hell of a workout, why would you stop training?” Jess added.
She makes a GREAT point.
The Personal Training Profession
If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in personal training, I didn’t forget about you! Of course I picked her brain apart for some advice! When asked, Jess mentioned that you should “never stop learning, don’t marry your options, ask for help, don’t assume you’re better than anyone else, practice what you preach, and [that] coaches need coaches!” She continued by stating, “Utilize your peers, learn from them, [and] challenge them as they challenge and push you. You won’t succeed at this job by doing the bare minimum. You have to put the time in.”
Moving your body is a beautiful thing in every stage of your life. I’m pumped to see where Jess goes in her career, and I’ve been encouraged to continue my strength journey through every stage of my life. “I cannot wait to destroy my body again after pregnancy… in the best way possible!” Jess joked when I asked about her gym life after labor. “I love the challenge of coming back from TWO pregnancies.”
In Conclusion
So, the good news is, if you’re pregnant (along with Jess), you are not debilitated from continuing your fitness journey.
But, the bad news is, if you’re not pregnant (like me), we officially have no excuse to miss a Monday.
Thank you, Jess, for letting me capture your strength, not just as a physical trainer, but also as a mother. You are someone I will always look up to.
Photos by Me
https://www.instagram.com/coach_jessbell
A Thousand Words 