Review: Sara Haley’s Expecting More Pregnancy Workout Program

Sara Haley is strong, fun and sexy, and her Expecting More DVD workout program proves it. She designed the DVD with the intention of helping already fit mamas stay fit throughout pregnancy. But if you’re like me and that pre-pregnancy fitness was stolen from you by first-trimester bed rest, there are still modifications that will work for you. If I was going to have a third baby, which I’m not—God and birth control willing—I would want to start and end my pregnancy with this program. It’s motivating, fun and makes you feel kind of sexy. And who doesn’t want to feel that when you’re bloated, constipated and fatigued from making another human?

The DVD had lots of features I appreciated as a second-time mom. I popped the DVDs in during nap time and celebrated that there were no previews and her introduction was optional. I was more than happy to watch it once, but I can’t stand when you have to watch or fast forward through the same opening spiel each and every time! With her DVD I could get straight to my workout—very important when you’re racing against a toddler’s nap! I also liked that four of the six workouts had the warm up and cool down as separate menu options. Sometimes I’m just coming back from a walk and prefer to go straight into the workout. On the flipside, I do wish there was an option to play the three together. When every minute counts, I hate to have to stop to find the remote to select the next part of my workout.

I love the variety of this workout program. Just the names of the six workouts make me want to move: Synergy, Sweat Sport, Sweat Funk, Sweat Strong Up, Sweat Strong Down and Salutations. If it was my first pregnancy, I could see myself sticking to the schedule provided, but as I’m already a harried mom, I liked the power to choose my workout. When my son was rife with fever, I found myself enjoying the Salutations workout and just a moment to make peace with myself. When the Olympics were starting, I wanted to do Sweat Sport, which included moves like bow and arrow and skaters. When I just wanted to release stress and get my groove on, I opted for the Sweat Funk! Her strength exercises have you practicing things like putting your baby in and out of the crib, the car seat, the shopping cart and passing a baby bottle! Your muscles will be well conditioned for all those tasks by the time your little baby comes.

Pregnancy is all about listening to your body and taking it day by day, and Sara encourages this. She always suggests that maybe today you need to take it easy, which I like because it gives me hope that tomorrow I can be stronger! Her instructions are clear, easy to follow and her energy is exuberant and engaging without being annoyingly perky. She pushes you in this workout. She expects more from you than your standard pregnancy DVD, and you want to do it for her, for you and for your baby!

FBM Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★★
Long-Term Likeability:★★★★★
Music: ★★★
Fun Factor: ★★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★★

Fit Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a more challenging and engaging pregnancy DVD Expecting More is the one for you!

Do you like to be challenged in your prenatal workouts? —Dara