A Mom’s Guide to Health and Fitness

The Gulf Coast Mom is so excited to partner with Reform Pilates to bring you a Guide to Health and Fitness featuring Reform owner, Christina Pike!

Christina is a busy working mama, wife, and the owner/founder of Reform Pilates with locations in Gulfport and Bay St. Louis!

Christina’s Tips for Busy Moms when it comes to Fitness:

1. Don’t forget about YOU: As a new mom and even a seasoned mom, our tendency is to put everyone else’s needs before ours, especially our children. Find the time for self-care, which looks different for all of us. It could be a walk or run around the neighborhood, grabbing a kid-less lunch with a friend, setting a bedtime for yourself so sleep becomes a priority- whatever it looks like, do it. Self-care is imperative to giving those around you the best version of you.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: It’s in our nature to feel like we need to take on everything as a mom, but we don’t need to take on full responsibility of everything 24/7. Accept the offer from a close friend or relative to watch your kids while you have dinner with your husband. Allowing your friends/relatives to take the helm in caring for your children is good for them. That’s because it lets your children create meaningful relationships and allows other adults in their life to get to know them better.

3. Accept Imperfection and Embrace the Challenge: Motherhood is one of God’s greatest gifts to women, but it can be HARD. It's important to remember that you're doing the best you can and that God placed you in the life of your child on purpose. Let go of the pressure for perfection, and practice self-compassion. Give yourself credit for the small victories, learn from the mistakes and be intentional about living fully present in every glorious, messy, beautifully imperfect moment of motherhood. 

Christina’s Top Picks for Healthy Spots Along the Coast:

The bottom line is that almost anywhere can be healthy if you are thoughtful about your menu choices. Eating well isn’t necessarily about counting calories or stressing over weight loss, it’s focusing on how the food we eat allows us to feel our very best and stay strong and full of energy! Check out:

*Juicy Caboosy (Long Beach) for salads, bowls and juices (currently offering a discount on juice detoxes for GCM followers!)

*Kitchen Sisters (Pascagoula) for healthy grab-and-go or prepped meals for the week

*Boozers (Gulfport) for great healthy wraps and salads 

Choose grilled over fried and always get sauces and dressings on the side (or just eliminate them altogether) so that you control those portions. Our family tends to frequent spots like 200 North Beach, Thorny Oyster, Harbor View, Patio 44, Rack House, and Glory Bound, but I always encourage people to take advantage of all the amazing food the Coast has to offer— just be intentional with how you order. 

We asked Christina for her input on pregnancy and postpartum when it comes to fitness and here’s what she had to say:

1. Start to incorporate an exercise regimen into your routine before you get pregnant so you can continue with it during your pregnancy. We have seen plenty of our clients continue taking our reformer Pilates classes during their pregnancy, up to 35 weeks. By doing this their delivery and recovery is much easier as well as their ability to bounce back into a routine postpartum.

2. Find consistency with movement and don’t give up when changes don’t happen immediately. With each pregnancy comes a different postpartum journey- a change in mindset to wanting to be the healthiest mentally and physically that you can possibly be for your family is key. Embrace the journey of being a mom of littles, take care of you and know that this season passes by in a blink of an eye!

Fitness Studios + Gyms Along The Coast

• Reform Pilates - A premium reformer Pilates and barre training experience tailored for high performance and individual attention.
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  • Gulfport Studio: 76 48th St Suite C, Gulfport, MS 39507

  • Bay St. Louis Studio : 132 Blaize Avenue, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520

  • From beginner to advanced, there is something for everyone! Book a class here!

• The Energy Club, Long Beach

  • 2 Tower Plaza Pineville Rd, Long Beach, MS 39560

  • Fitness for the whole family

• Hotworx

  • Gulfport Location

    • 2033 E Pass Road, Gulfport, MS

    • (228) 265-7455

  • Ocean Springs Location

    • 2107-A Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs, MS

    • (228) 215-1544

• Chic Physique

  • 8910 Lorraine Rd Studio A, Gulfport, MS

  • (228) 264-0939

• Club 4 Fitness

  • 1355 East Pass Road, Gulfport, MS

  • (228) 206-3600

• The FIT-Ting Room

  • 4401 Park Ten Drive, Diamondhead, MS

  • (228) 332-3808

• Cross Fit

  • Crooked Letter Crossfit: 3291 Warrior Dr., D'Iberville, MS

    • (228) 493-2523

  • Portside Fitness

    • 34-29th St Unit I, Gulfport, MS

    • (228) 471-0819

• Crunch Fitness

  • 200 West Railroad Street, Suite103, Long Beach, MS

  • (228) 207-6420

• Bay Strength and Fitness

  • 546 Saint John St, Bay Saint Louis, MS

  • (228) 467-0064

• The Yoga Barre & Pilates

  • 1107 Cowan Road, Suite E, Gulfport, MS

  • (228) 731-3570

• The Box Fitness

  • 969 Hall Street , Wiggins, MS

  • (601) 928-1776

• Iron Works Gym

  • 220 Eisenhower Dr, Biloxi, MS

  • (228) 456-9496

• Soar Bungee Fitness

  • 3293 Warrior Drive Suite B, D'Iberville, MS

  • (334) 405-9431