My name is Tea Thome and I am a lifestyle and business coach focused on empowering women. Five years ago, I took the leap, quit my secure job and went on to pursue my passion for fitness and coaching. I absolutely adore the work that I do and could not see a better way to spend my time and energy than by making women feel beautiful, inside and out. I am married to the most amazing and supportive man and have two fur balls that own my heart.

12 years ago, after battling with my own weight for most of my adolescence, I got myself a gym membership and took the first step to bettering my life. The feeling that I gained from training was unlike anything I had experience in the past and I knew I had to pursue it further. After having my own transformation, I decided to get a job at a local gym and dedicate my spare time to helping other women feel the same. Although I was in school for Psychology, fitness was always on the side lines and brought something special out for me. I went on to compete in fitness shows for many years, gain numerous sponsorships and publications, grow my coaching business and brand and channel my life around living a healthy lifestyle.

Anything glute related! I absolutely love training glutes and bonus, it’s been such a great addition to my pregnancy program keeping my back in great health and pain free! Deadlifts and hip thrusts are my fave!

In the first trimester, I was more tired than anything so training was all about survival. I made sure to keep moving when I could but also listen to my body and take breaks as I needed. The second trimester was great for me, full of energy and ability to keep most of my training the same. I did lower the weights and intensity overall and focus loads of energy on a strong core and glutes. The third trimester proved to be a bit more difficult to work with the ever-evolving belly but my energy has (luckily) remained so training persists. However, it’s only 3 times a week of weights instead of 6 and 3 days of moderate cardio.

I think being active has played a HUGE role in my pregnancy. It has helped with maintaining a positive mind set, given me the ability to keep going through tough days, kept me mentally sane and helped alleviate most pains that come with pregnancy. Overall, I believe maintaining a fit lifestyle is the biggest reason I have had such a positive experience during my pregnancy.

I would say keep being you! Do the things that make you feel good and help you keep a piece of your identity and happiness. Fitness during pregnancy is not only amazing for the mama but also the baby. It may be tough to get moving on the slow days but you will always feel better, mentally and physically, that you did something active for you and baby. Do what feels good and feels right, even the smallest effort matters. Keep moving, eat to nourish your baby and your body and keep a positive attitude towards this amazing new life transition.

My name is Kasa Ananti and I started afrikoPOP as a fun way to burn fat, lose weight and condition your body. I am a wellbeing enthusiast, health coach personal trainer, wellness consultant that has worked with Shell, Samsung and Texas Instruments. After the death of her infant son in 2016, Kasa was determined to help people feel good and do something good for their bodies and founded the company January 2017. She is passionate about health and wellness and helping people reach their goals.

I’ve been into fitness since I can remember. I love exercise and movement from a kid until now a 35 year old woman.  It gives me such a rush and I feel empowered.

afrikoPOP, running, and strength training

With this pregnancy during the first trimester I was on physical activity restrictions and I re-injured my knee so I was out until week 14. My second trimester I had my energy back but I adjusted my afrikoPOP routine so that I wasn’t jumping and kicking like previous routines but still an intense workout.  I hardly run or strength train right now, just afrikoPOP.

Absolutely! My energy levels are so great right now, especially since I was active before I became pregnant.  Right now being in my third trimester my energy can be up one moment and then I just get so tired.  I still will afrikoPOP until this baby drops. I just get as much rest as I can and do the events and programs I can do.

I give the same advice to both parties. Start now, even 10 minutes of dancing in the house does the body good. Do what you enjoy and try something new a prenatal yoga class, water aerobics, at the simplest level, walk for 10 minutes. Something is better than nothing.

Dr. Oluchi Immanuel is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, consultant, best selling author, and entrepreneur with a special focus on preventive health and obesity medicine. She attended Iowa State University where she completed her degree in Biology with a minor in Sociology. She then attended medical school at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (McGovern Medical School). After medical school, Dr. Oluchi stayed at McGovern Medical School to complete her residency program in Internal Medicine. Upon graduating, she began working at an Executive Health & Wellness Clinic. During Dr. Oluchi’s time at the clinic, she saw and coached more than a thousand patients in preventive health and wellness practices. Dr. Oluchi is the founder of Fidem Wellness, LLC, a faith-based wellness company that provides innovative ways, including one-on-one health coaching, to inspire wellness in women of all stages of life. Dr. Oluchi believes that women who begin implementing small lifestyle changes will experience an overall better quality of life, and prevent diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Oluchi can be found on social media, under the handle DrOluchiMD, where she shares health tips and inspiring messages. Although work keeps her busy, her most important and fulfilling jobs are being a wife and a mother to her amazing husband and wonderful children (4-year-old and 2-year-old).

I have always loved fitness! I have two brothers, so we spent our younger years chasing each other around. I actually set a District standing long jump record in Elementary school and then began running track and playing basketball in middle school. In high school, as a freshman, I became one of the starting five on the Varsity basketball team. I also earned my position in track as the anchor leg on the 4×1, 4×2 and 4×4 relay teams.

My favorite type of exercise would be dance classes. However, since those are difficult to fit into my schedule, I also enjoy jogging.

Throughout my pregnancies, my goal has always been to remain as physically active as possible. In the first trimester, and through part of the second, I could run easily. As the pregnancy progressed, it became more difficult to run so I focused more on strength training and power walking.

Being physically active helped me tremendously through my pregnancies. I felt more energized, did not gain an excessive amount of weight and the recovery after the delivery was much easier. Also, exercising releases chemical called endorphins which make you feel happy. So staying physically fit can also improve your mood.

I always tell my clients that pregnancy is an endurance test and delivery is the final challenge. The more you push yourself to get fit prior to getting pregnant, and to stay fit while you are pregnant, the better you will do on the final challenge. Pregnancy puts a significant amount of stress on your body. Unless your doctor has specifically told you not to exercise, everyone should be exercising daily!