Carla West Fitness

27/04/2025

07/04/2022

So there’s this boy…

He kinda stole my heart 🥺♥️

22/02/2022

What clients are saying 💕

As im slowly unofficially wrapping up my in-person personal training before baby boys arrival it’s really got me reflecting on the work that I do and why I do it.

To be honest, some days personal training kind of turns into a blur of “it’s all I know” because I’ve been doing it for 10 years. But I’ve learnt so many other skills beyond training over the last year, moved 80% of my business online and just had to navigate a pregnancy during lockdown, a baby, and another pregnancy again 😅

Looking back these last 2 years have professionally been incredible and I COULD not have done it without every single amazing client that has crossed paths with me. Whether that was in person, online, or on video call.

I hope I could make a small impact on your life, as much as you’ve made one on mine. ♥️

31/01/2022

When it comes to exercise & pregnancy, you may have heard: Sit down and relax for 9 months OR keep doing what you were doing before you got pregnant.

Suuuper helpful, right?

What if you were an triathlete? A diving instructor? Can you still do *that* during pregnancy?

For the safety of mom & baby, here are 4 activities to avoid during pregnancy.

1️⃣ High-Intensity Interval Training.
Women who exercised at a high intensity prior to pregnancy can continue exercising at a high or vigorous intensity during pregnancy (a perceived effort of 7-8.5 out of 10), but high-intensity interval training (an effort of 9.5-10 out of 10 during the work period) is contraindicated during pregnancy.

2️⃣ Exercises that Cause Leaking or Heaviness.
These are signs your pelvic floor isn’t handling the exercise or intra-abdominal pressure well. Try reducing the load/weight or range of motion, or switching to a new movement.

3️⃣ Activities or exercises where you are lying on your stomach, or training your abs directly. Crunches, Sit ups, surfing. Those are the type of exercises I would avoid. Especially from when you start showing.

4️⃣ Activities with a Fall Risk
If you fall during a high-risk activity (e.g. off-road cycling, horseback riding), you may injure yourself & the baby.

Unsure if an activity is safe, or want to start something new? 🤔 Err on the side of caution & ALWAYs get clearance from your doc first.

Want more info on exercise & pregnancy?

More info coming very very very soon! 🤫🤫🤫

02/01/2022

28 weeks of carrying baby L✨

I only have my next scan next week so I don’t have many updates on what’s going on on the inside, but on the outside I still feeling really good.

Had a bit of a dip around Christmas with being on my feet a lot and it being really hot, but other than that the third trimester has been off to a good start.

Physically still feel really good compared to A and no SPD so far 🙏 (had it badly with A) so that makes life in general a lot easier.

Can’t believe Ayla is 13 months old tomorrow and we are on the 10-12 week countdown. I think he’s going to come around 38 weeks 🤞

Excited for our next scan to see how much he’s grown, I think he’s measuring ahead. Or maybe that’s just me that’s huge 🤣 he moves and kicks alooooot, especially when I want to rest.

In general still enjoying this pregnancy a lot more than my first, I think I might even miss this bump when it’s over. Which was not how I felt with A at all.

But I also feel like I’ve just looked like this for 2 years now. Don’t even remember how it feels to feel “normal” so it will feels weird not having a bump.

Anyway, I don’t feel like I’ve done a lot of bump updates this pregnancy so here’s the full load down. 😬😅

03/12/2021

Ayla Isabelle Conradie… 1 full year old 1️⃣ 💕🎈

Bali baby, covid baby, squish and mini love. Wow, you’ve rocked our world’s. And everyone that meet’s you.

The level of sassiness and personality you bring into our daily lives (your parents are quite vanilla and intimidated by you) 🤣

You‘ve got my temper and impatience, your dad’s brain, a growing vocabulary and the chunkiest thighs. I can’t imagine you any more perfect!

SO many things about our parenting journey, almost everything, has turned out opposite to what we expected but I won’t have it any other way. Our one year of baby led parenting has actually gone quite well (we didn’t have a choice, you know what you want)

I hope you stay this confident and sassy forever. I know you will love your little brother to death (eventually) and be the best sister and friend to him.

I know you‘re probably going to end up being the most spoiled girl in the world because you have your dad twisted around your finger a million times. I’ve been demoted to princess because you are the queen of this house. 👑

You currently have 6 teeth, only have eyes for your “dada” your favorite word as well. Can say “kla” when you are done with something, mumble “theresheis” when playing peekapoo. Make broom for a car and bark and ‘whistle’ when you see a dog. (Your favorite animal in the entire world) and you make a clicking sound to explain eating or drinking.

You’re a total girly girl and love clothes especially shoes, but can also throw a ball really well for a baby your age. 😜

You can stand for a while on your own but haven’t quite gotten the motivation to walk forward, you much prefer speed crawling.

You always have dirty knees and dirty feet. No matter how many times a day we mop the floor.

Your favorite food is anything you can feed yourself. Spoon feeding is something of the past and miss independent needs to do everything herself.

We are so excited to celebrate with all your friends and family tomorrow. I know you are going to love all the attention. 🙈 We love you to the moon and back little one. Happy birthday 💕💕💕

15/11/2021

If I ever look back at everything I’ve done in life, you’re easily the best thing I’ve ever created. - unknown

Such a wholesome Sunday spent yesterday with & and their precious babies. Spontaneous outings are always the best ☀️🌻

And then celebrating my grandmothers birthday, who made such a transformation over the last 2 years with her health. It’s amazing to see her look so good and definitely worth celebrating. 🎉💗

I’m so happy that summer is finally here! 😬🤩

Also Ayla didn’t burn yesterday, and I got some color. So that’s a mom win in my books 🤣

14/11/2021

My EVERYTHING ❤️

09/11/2021

First VS second pregnancy comparison so far:

1. Cravings
💗 salt + potatoes. (In any shape or form)💙 not much, probably more sweet.
2. Morning sickness
💗 none
💙 from week 7-13
3. Mom’s complexion
💗 Best my skin has ever been
💙 Worst my skin has ever been
4. Emotions
💗 It was a stressful year to say the least
💙 A lot more mellow and happy (JD can confirm this)
5. Carrying baby
💗 Low
💙 Low
6. Skin texture
💗 SO oily
💙 SO dry
7. Felt kicks the first time
💗 15 weeks
💙 15 weeks
8. Food aversions
💗 Severe aversion to meat (like cried thinking about red meat, was so grossed out about it)
💙 Nothing.
Both pregnancies I start disliking pizza, burgers and fast food type of stuff. It just doesn’t sound appetizing and I usually always just end up getting fries. I don’t know why that is but I’m not complaining.
9. Discomfort:
💗 Had a lot of lower back pain, discomfort, SPD, round ligament pain etc with Ayla.
💙 Just sciatica so far after this weekend, but the worst might still come.
10. Gained more weight: (so far) 💗
💗Definitely first pregnancy (but also winter/lockdown and no nausea&stomach bugs)
💙 A lot more active and running after Ayla & sick 🙈🤣

All of these might change as the pregnancy goes on but the first 20 weeks, although same body and 6 months apart has been almost opposite!! I don’t know if it’s because it’s a girl and a boy or if every pregnancy is just SO different. But I have found it very interesting.

Also old photo by .co.za wearing from last year. Will take updated photos for this pregnancy soon. 😊