Fitness for Two: Sara Haley – Expecting More DVD Workout

The team over at Sara Haley heard about the Spawn news and sent me her “Sarah Haley - Expecting More” DVD to try out. If you’re looking for a ‘customizable’ workout at home, this is your DVD!

Expecting More – Sara Haley’s Daily Sweat Pregnancy Program

The “Expecting More” DVD comes with two discs (Strength and Cardio) as well as a trimester calendar that you can follow if you’re using “Expecting More” as your regular workout. I’m not usually a workout DVD person but I am glad I have this set handy for when I’m not feeling the gym. Before you get started, I recommend watching Sara’s introduction and then move on to the Warm-Ups. If you’ve done Zumba before, the Warm-Up section of Sara’s Cardio DVD is similar to Zumba! You’re moving your body, getting the muscles warm and joints used to movement.

DVD 1 – Strength

The Strength section uses weights – I used 5-lb weights to begin with. That was enough for me to sweat and puff as I followed Sara’s exercises. I found that some of the lifting exercises I do at the gym are similar on the DVD – except there’s an additional something to them, which was great for me.

Sara Haley – Expecting More DVD – my fuzzy screenshots

There are three workouts in the Strength DVD – Sweat Strong Up, Sweat Strong Down, and Salutations. The combinations of lifting (lateral dumbbell raises) with squats or keeping a ‘squat’ position made things tougher for me – a good thing! I was working out more muscles in the same amount of time. Deadlifts? Yes, you can do them! Sara shows you how to keep that flat back and bent knees. I like doing it this way more than the regular deadlifts you see at the gym or cross-fit. Lunges and bicep curls? Yep, it doesn’t matter if you’re pregnant or not, it seems no fitness trainer will let you off the hook. LOL!

Sara Haley – Expecting More – screenshots – don’t steal

DVD 2 – Cardio

In the Cardio DVD, there are three workouts – Synergy, Sweat Sport and Sweat Funk. Synergy uses a chair for leverage and balance. You’d think it’d make this workout a piece of cake. No. It’s just as tough a workout as any! There’s also Sweat Sport and Sweat Funk. Both of the Sweat workouts include separate warm-up and cool-down segments so you can mix and match if you wanted to.

I also like that Sara has you check in with your comfort level at different times of the workouts. At first, I couldn’t keep up with the Sweat Sport workout so I took it easy and followed the woman behind her who was doing a lower-impact version. For example, instead of “jumping rope” and “hopscotch” moves, I kind of hopped up, just not as high. (Bonus points for showing different versions of the same exercises for people who are not yet super fit!)

Sara Haley – Expecting More DVD – my fuzzy screenshots

My favorite of the Sweat (cardio) DVD workouts was the Sweat Funk. It’s hip hop/funk dancing with your pregnant belly! Some of the moves remind me of Zumba, which I enjoy doing (albeit without rhthym). If you weren’t pregnant, I bet you could still do this workout – just don’t hold your belly.

Cool-downs are important and I am guilty of not really doing a proper cool-down. My version is a ton of stretching and lying on a mat for 5 minutes (a savasanah, if you will). One of weakest points is this side stretch on my elbow/arm. I’m just weak in the arms. It’s good to know that there are exercises I can do than just my 5-minute cool-downs. Hehe.

Verdict: Buy or Borrow – Depends on Your Thing

If you’re a gym person, this would be a great complement to your workouts. If you hate the gym and prefer to work out at home, you should buy this. Hands down. I know plenty of people who have worked out using the Nintendo Wii or Xbox 360. You’ll like this.

Truth – I’m going to continue using “Expecting More” DVDs throughout my pregnancy. We’re in the third trimester now. I’m pretty stoked to have an instant workout at home when I don’t feel like driving to the gym or yoga studio. I also imagine I can use these workouts post-baby as well, when I anticipate looking like a freaking whale with unwashed hair for days. (Sexy, eh?)

Special thanks to the team at Sara Haley for providing the DVD for review! I can’t wait to share this with my expectant friends too!

Update: Sara is in the running as one of the 50 Hottest Trainers in America via Shape Magazine! If you’re so inclined, vote for her! Click on this link and then click the FB “LIKE” button below her picture! 

Disclosure: Product provided; the above is my own, honest opinion. Post contains affiliate links.