Fitness model Sophie Guidolin has found herself on the receiving end of criticism after the mother of two, who is currently pregnant with twins, posted a photo of herself working out on Instagram.
In the pic, which was uploaded to the photo-sharing sight on Monday, Guidolin lifts an insane amount of weight—reportedly 30 kg or 66 pounds to be exact—while her husband stands by to supervise.
"Alot of people express concern over women exercising in pregnancy and I 110% understand why," the soon-to-be mother of four captioned the pic. "There are so many myths, old wives tales & opinions out there it is hard to understand what is the truth and what is made up. In my opinion, listen to noone except your qualified & trusted medical staff."
In spite of her workout warning, the qualified nutritionist, who blogs about healthy eating and has written a number of cookbooks, received a great deal of backlash over her post with some claiming her fitness regime is too extensive for a pregnant woman. In response, she posted a pic showing off her baby bump in the gym while also sharing her thoughts on working out while pregnant.
"Woah… My weight training photo yesterday sparked some debate!" she begins in the lengthy caption. "I was not expecting that, however if that photo is what it takes to get people talking about exercise during pregnancy and the benefits then I am happy to spark up the topic."
She continues, encouraging other pregnant women to keep working out as long as they receive the green light from their doctor.
"There are so many myths & old wives tales when it comes to pregnancy- from early pregnancy until your baby becomes a toddler! However, if you have been given clearance from your medical practitioner to continue your exercise regime then I highly recommend you continue exercising for the health of yourself- and your babe (or babies!) #fitpregnancy #health #twinpregnancy #26weeks," she wrote.
Guidolin, who is also a big advocate of clean eating, has been candid with her fans throughout her pregnancy journey, revealing she gained significantly more weight with her first two children due to her lack of knowledge about nutrition.
"When I was pregnant with the boys I'd never stepped foot in the gym and was really unhealthy," she told Daily Mail Austrailia. "I'd developed gestational diabetes with the boys and gained over 28 kilograms (about 62 pounds) with each pregnancy which is an extreme amount the recommended weight gain is 12-14 kilos."
She added: "The health risks that I had put my body in weren't great."
Everyone has been asking for a comparison shot between pregnancy #2 and #3 (now with twins) IN NO WAY AM I SAYING 'A...
Posted by Sophie Guidolin on Friday, June 5, 2015
Now, with this pregnancy, Guidolin has revamped her approach to diet and fitness, and with the approval of her doctors, she continues to stay committed to workout out.
"I had no education but this time around I'm feeling a lot healthier and more energetic, I've exercised according to what my obstetrician has given me clearance for."
According to her Facebook page, she's only exercising two to three times a week with walking and Pilates.
"As long as I've been given clearance and I'm feeling fit and active [I'll continue to work out] but there's days when I couldn't even consider exercising because I'm so tired and I'd love to stay in bed all day, so I'm not going to push myself," she said. "If I'm tired, I don't train. I listen to my body."