Pregnant and in shape
FITNESS AND NUTRITIONAL GUIDE FOR EXPECTANT WOMEN Fitness guru Wardah Hartley teams up with well-known dietitian Nathalie Mat.
National TV sports presenter and creator of lifestyle and fitness blog Fabufit, Wardah Hartley, has teamed up with registered dietitian Nathalie Mat to create South Africa’s first fitness and nutrition guide for pregnant women.
The fitness portion of the guide was designed by the mother-to-be and has been approved by medical and fitness professionals. It includes everything a pregnant woman would need to help her stay healthy and fit throughout her pregnancy.
Inspired to create her blog after a dramatic weight loss and lifestyle change, Hartley’s main aim is to educate people about health and fitness.
She has worked as a group training instructor at global fitness gym Switch Playground.
Hartley has been interviewed by several publications, sharing her fitness knowledge, and has appeared on TV shows like Mela on SABC 3 and Mnandi Me on SABC 1, providing fitness related advice and tips.
After falling pregnant in 2016, Hartley decided to document her experience while remaining active and sticking to a balanced eating plan throughout her pregnancy.
Being passionate about health and fitness, Hartley has joined forces with Mat to create South Africa’s first fitness and nutrition plan for pregnant women.
“I enlisted the help of Nathalie Mat to assist in putting together a practical, easy-to-follow guide to nutrition during pregnancy. It is here that pregnant women are making mistakes and causing themselves to gain unnecessary weight,” says Hartley.
Mat is a clinical dietitian in private practice who has had experience in both state and private hospitals and clinics.
She translates up-todate scientific information into practical, actionable information for her clients and the public.
Mat has been published across a variety of media platforms including Oprah Magazine and Business Day and has appeared on e.tv and Cliff Central.
“There are so many people giving out confusing nutritional advice. I have really enjoyed working with Wardah on this manual, creating a scientifically-backed eating plan that pregnant moms can trust,” said Mat.
“The truth is, post-pregnancy bodies are made during pregnancy, not after. You will save yourself so much work if you maintain a level of exercise and relatively good eating habits during your pregnancy, not to mention avoid many of the common negative symptoms of pregnancy like backache, swelling, nausea etc,” Hartley added.