Cruse Control Fitness

06/13/2023

Is it time to change your walking shoes?

Walking shoes are essential for quality exercise walks, especially during a high-risk pregnancy.

Due to lack of support and cushioning, wearing worn-out walking shoes can lead to pain and even injury!

Walking shoes should be replaced every 3-6 months depending on activity use. Most walking shoes are built to last up to 500 miles. If you walk everyday for at least 30 mins, consider replacing your shoes around the 3 month mark. If you walk less, around 2-3 times a week for at least 30 mins, replace your shoes at the 6 month mark.

You can maximize the use of your shoes by:

1️⃣ Only using your walking shoes for exercise walks. Don’t use your walking shoes to run errands.

2️⃣ Alternate your shoes. Don’t perform back-to-back exercise walks in the same pair of shoes. Buy 2 pairs & alternate per walk.

Exercise walks are truly one of the best forms of exercise for high-risk pregnancy patients and are included in all of my custom, on-demand exercise plans for high-risk pregnancy patients. DM me to learn more!

05/10/2023

Unless you have some type of health complication, exercise is often recommended for high-risk pregnancy patients. Even if you have a strong fitness background, as a high-risk pregnancy patient you should use caution when starting an exercise plan. With a serious lack of safe exercise recommendations for high-risk pregnancy patients, you shouldn’t navigate an exercise plan alone.

As a certified personal trainer, I tapped into my extensive knowledge of effective fitness practices to develop workouts that I followed for both of my high-risk pregnancies. Despite being diagnosed with multiple health conditions (fibroids, gestational diabetes, kidney infection and anemia) during both of my high-risk pregnancies, I used exercise to help manage and promote a healthy pregnancy that led to the delivery of 2 healthy babies. Work with me 1-on-1 to help you do the same!

Click the link in my bio to learn more about custom 1-on-1 fitness training for high-risk pregnancy patients.

05/02/2023

A review from the cash prize winner of the March 2023 Maternity Movement Challenge!

Yesterday, was the kick-off for this month’s Maternity Money Movement Challenge. If you register today, you’ll still have time to complete this week’s challenge and remain eligible for the cash prize!

The only thing you need to do to be eligible for the cash prize is to perform 5 workouts (1 per day) within 7 days for 4 weeks. The workouts are low-impact and beginner level. The workouts are on my fitness app and can can completed at your convenience.

Unless you have major complications, exercise during a high-risk pregnancy is often recommended by physicians.

Click the link in my bio to register for this month’s Maternity Money Movement Challenge! It’s a great way to promote a healthy high-risk pregnancy 💪🏾🤰🏽

04/24/2023

Today is the last day of Fibroid Awareness Week!

Fibroid Awareness Week 2023 is from April 18-24.

Uterine Fibroids are the most common non-cancerous pelvic tumors in women and the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States.

Fibroids require medical diagnosis and common symptoms include: pelvic & low back pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, abdominal bloating, infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Depending on the size, location and quantity of fibroid (s) present, surrogacy maybe recommended by a physician. However, it is possible to conceive and have a healthy full-term pregnancy with fibroids.

04/18/2023

Reject the “No pain, no gain” exercise mantra during a high-risk pregnancy.

Your joints, ligaments and muscles will loosen to allow your body to stretch as the baby grows.

Which increases your risk for muscle strains & pulls.

Even if you’ve been cleared by your physician to workout, extreme caution should be exercised to accommodate your high-risk pregnancy.

If you don’t know where to begin, leave it up to a professional to guide you. Join my Maternity Money Movement Challenge for high-risk pregnancy patients. We kick off on May 1! Click the link in my bio to learn more and sign up.

04/14/2023

Are you a high-risk pregnancy patient in need of fitness guidance, motivation and accountability? Join the Cruse Control Fitness 4-week Maternity Money Movement Challenge.

The Maternity Money Movement Challenge is an on-demand, pre-built 4 week exercise challenge, to help high-risk pregnancy patients promote a healthy pregnancy, labor & delivery and postpartum experience.

All exercises featured in the Maternity Money Movement Challenge are beginner level and are low impact and low intensity.

High-risk pregnancies can be expensive (even with insurance) but entering and completing the challenge gives you a chance to win a cash prize! The most recent Maternity Money Movement Challenge cash prize winner won $75!

The challenge kicks off on May 1, 2023! Click the link in my bio to register and for more details.

*All participants must be 18 years or older and receive medical clearance from a physician to participate in the Maternity Money Movement Challenge.

04/12/2023

This year marks the 6th annual Black Maternal Health Week ( )which will be held from April 11-17, 2023!

In 2020, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 3 times the rate for White women in the United States. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as lower quality healthcare, structural racism and implicit bias from healthcare providers and underlying chronic conditions. (Source: CDC)

The purpose of is to highlight efforts led by (BMMA) and collectively work toward a solution to the problem future where ALL Black Mamas have the rights, respect, and resources tonmmm thrive throughout their lives-including in their reproductive years.

There are many ways to commemorate Black Maternal Health Week 2023. Learn more at blackmamasmatter.org/bmhw and get involved today!

03/29/2023

When I learned that my pregnancy was considered high-risk, I instantly started thinking of all of things that could go wrong. Can you relate? Well the good news is it’s totally possible to have a healthy and happy high-risk pregnancy and baby.

There are many healthy habits that you can adopt to reduce your risk of complications and promote a healthy pregnancy. Exercise is one of the BEST ways to manage a high-risk pregnancy but before starting a program, be sure to get clearance from your doctor. If you don’t know where to start, join my Maternity Money Movement Challenge…scheduled to kick off on May 1, 2023! DM me for the registration link.

03/24/2023

A pregnancy becomes high-risk when there is a health factor (s) that puts the patient and or baby at an increased risk for complications. Some of these factors are pre-existing and then others develop as the pregnancy evolves. Below are some of the most common high-risk pregnancy health factors.

1️⃣. Patient’s age: 35 + or 17 & under

2️⃣. Multiple Gestation: More than 1 baby such as twins or triplets

3️⃣. Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions in which the body’s immune system attacked healthy tissues and cells. Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are autoimmune diseases.

4️⃣. Fibroids: Non-cancerous tumors on the uterus

5️⃣. Depression: A mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves.

Exercise is great way to promote a healthy pregnancy and manage many high-risk pregnancy health conditions. Apply for my 6 Week Custom, On-Demand BOOST exercise plan for high-risk pregnancy patients. Click the link in my bio and share with a fellow high-risk pregnancy patient.

Did you have any of this factors during your high-risk pregnancy?

03/17/2023

What is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM)

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you may be referred to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM).

A Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM) is physician who has extended education in high-risk pregnancy care.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists (MFM) serve as consultants to general obstetricians.

I saw a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM) for both of my high-risk pregnancies. All of my ultrasounds were performed (by a tech) at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist office and then reviewed by the MFM. I had an outstanding general OBGYN physician but my appointments with my Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist were
reassuring.

Did you see a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist during your high-risk pregnancy?

03/03/2023

3 Reasons Why You Need A Fitness Trainer During Your High-Risk Pregnancy!

Whether you are a beginner or have a strong fitness background, navigating an exercise plan during a high-risk pregnancy can be challenging. However, working with a fitness trainer can make it easier. Below are 3 reasons why you need a fitness trainer during your high-risk pregnancy.

1. Guidance- All high-risk pregnancies are different. What works for one person may put another person at greater risk for health issues. The guidance of a fitness trainer will provide safe and effective exercises based on your unique high-risk pregnancy experience.

2. Support-High-risk pregnancy symptoms such as back pain and tiredness can make sticking with an exercise plan harder to accomplish. A supportive trainer can inspire and or encourage you to remain consistent with your exercise plan.

3. Information - A fitness trainer can inform you of other habits you can adopt to promote a healthier and happier high-risk pregnancy experience.

02/24/2023

High-Risk Pregnancy Myths Debunked!

Myth 1: Exercise increases the risk of pregnancy complications

Fact 1: Exercise does not increase the risk of pregnancy complications, if you have been cleared by a doctor and follow high-risk pregnancy exercise recommendations

Myth 2: You can’t start an exercise plan during a high-risk pregnancy, if you’ve never exercised before

Fact 2: A high-risk pregnancy is a great time to start an exercise plan because most exercise recommendations are low-impact & low intensity

Myth 3: Exercise will speed up the postpartum “snap back”

Fact 3: The focus of the postpartum experience should be healing properly not the “snap back”. Returning to pre-pregnancy weight is determined by many factors besides exercise

If you found this helpful, please like and share!

02/18/2023

I’ve gained some new followers during maternity leave and now that I’m back, I wanted to say hi and share a bit about myself. I’m Denise Jones but my maiden name is Cruse…hence the business name Cruse Control Fitness!

I’m a certified fitness trainer and started training full time in 2016. I started exclusively serving people with physical and developmental disabilities. My client list included people with Autism, Bi-Polar Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Depression, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Paraplegia and more.

I got married in 2020, and a few weeks later I learned I was pregnant with my first child. My pregnancy was classified as high-risk for multiple reason including; advance maternal age (I was 36 years old), multiple fibroids, a kidney infection, anemia, and gestational diabetes.

I had to manage my gestational diabetes with exercise and diet. With a serious lack of exercise resources/recommendations for high-risk pregnancy patients, I relied on my extensive fitness background for guidance. Despite some challenges, I had a healthy pregnancy, delivery and beautiful baby boy.

Less than a year later, I learned I was pregnant again, but this time with a baby girl. The pregnancy was also classified as high-risk and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes AGAIN! It was hard to stay motivated to exercise during that pregnancy, but I know it helped contribute to another healthy happy high-risk pregnancy and delivery.

It’s hard to get and or stay motivated to exercise during a high-risk pregnancy but the benefits are tremendous. Last year, I started serving high-risk pregnancy patients to help motivate and encourage others to exercise during such a miraculous experience!

March 6, 2023 will be the start of my 4-Week Maternity Money Movement Challenge. I’m super excited to host. There is also a chance to win a cash prize!

I also share tips here on how to promote a healthy happy high-risk pregnancy in addition to exercise. So if you’re in need of this type of content or know someone who does…stay tuned and please share!

02/15/2023

I have a confession to make:

Exercise will not guarantee a perfect high-risk pregnancy, but here is the thing..it can help lower the risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or preeclampsia (high-blood pressure during pregnancy).

You can still have a healthy pregnancy with both gestational diabetes and preeclampsia but if it isn’t managed properly it can lead to complications.

Exercise is a great way to manage both of these conditions.

I know it’s hard finding motivation to exercise during a high-risk pregnancy because I have had two. The struggle was most definitely real! But I was willing to do anything that would boost the chances of having a healthier and happier high-risk pregnancy experience. I’m sure you are too!

Your exercise plan doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple 30 min walk, 5 times a week will help you have a healthier pregnancy. BUT before you start any exercise plan, be sure to get clearance from you health team.

If you need movement motivation during your high-risk pregnancy, please follow for more content.

02/13/2023

Postpartum Update-My Diastasis Recti Treatment!

I was diagnosed with Diastasis Recti about 6 week before I gave birth. Diastasis Recti is a common condition during pregnancy and postpartum. It is defined as the separation of the re**us abdominus aka “the six pack” muscle. It occurs as the uterus stretches the abdominal muscles to make room for the baby.

A friend recently told me that I still look pregnant even though I’m 3 months postpartum. I’m assuming she said this because of the bulge or pooch in my stomach area. However, the bulge or pooch is one of the most obvious symptoms of Diastasis Recti.

My case of Diastasis Recti is severe, which is why both my obgyn and primary care physician recommended I start physical therapy to treat it.

I’ve been in physical therapy for about a month. Although I have a ways to go on my road to recovery, I’ve definitely made some gains! Despite having a bulge/pooch I’ve decrease the depth and width of my ab separation since the start of physical therapy. Now that my core is much stronger, I’m transitioning to a more advanced treatment plan which I’m very happy about.

How did you heal your Diastasis Recti diagnosis?

02/13/2023

High-Risk Pregnancy Affirmation!

“I embrace all of the changes my body is going through to nurture and protect my baby”

02/12/2023

Exercise is one of the BEST ways to promote a healthy high risk pregnancy. However if you struggle to find motivation to workout (like I did) join my Maternity Money Movement Challenge! You’ll also have a chance to win a cash prize! Visit www.crusecontrolfitness.com to learn more and register.

09/30/2022