Kate Middleton has reportedly turned to yoga to help her keep in shape during her pregnancy. The expectant royal is said to have hired a personal trainer to come and teach her pre-natal yoga as she awaits the arrival of her first baby with Prince William.It comes as no surprise that the health-conscious Duchess is keen to keep exercising while expecting. Kate's love of keeping fit is well-known, and she has apparently now cut down on the cardio components of her workout in favour of gentler activities, like yoga and walking with her dog Lupo.
In the build-up to her wedding to Prince William, Kate's diet and fitness regime became a hot topic of conversation as world waited to see how a royal bride prepares for her big day. And given Kate's incredible popularity - and of course her pregnancy - we are still fixated.Pre-pregnancy, it's thought she stuck to a low GI diet of lean meats, fish and vegetables, with a particular love of 'summer food', including salmon and salads. While she doesn't deny herself, the Duchess is said to be incredibly disciplined in what she eats.In the build-up to her wedding, she was also linked to the Dukan Diet - her mother Carole is known to be a fan, alongside Hollywood A-lister Jennifer Lopez. The controversial eating plan is a variation of the high-protein, low carb Atkins Diet and is made up of four stages - attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilisation.
When it comes to keeping fit, Kate has always been a gym bunny, whose favourite exercises include rowing, running, cycling and weight lifting. She is also a tennis fan, played field hockey at school, and is said to love swimming, Of course both she and William also like to keep active in their down-time, frequently enjoying skiing holidays together - earlier this month, the duo were in Switzerland with Prince Harry for a friend's wedding, although Kate sensibly stuck to sledging. Kate is not alone in her desire to stay in shape while expecting; plenty of stars opt for pregnancy-friendly exercise options ahead of their due dates.Kim Kardashian - due around the same time as the Duchess - has hired trainer-to-the stars Tracy Anderson to help her stay in shape, although she has reportedly had to cut down on her workouts following a health scare last week. Her sister Kourtney, meanwhile, was seen jogging while carrying her second baby, Penelope.Hilary Duff opted for yoga while Jessica Simpson favoured long walks while pregnant with daughter Maxwell. Jessica Alba stuck with her regular trainer but moderated her usual workout, focusing in particular on her core to help her bounce back into shape after the birth.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, meanwhile, revealed that she had to really push herself to get down the gym and keep up her yoga, so tried eating healthy, high-energy foods and cut out sweet treats like chocolate and ice-cream.Doctors do recommend exercise during pregnancy - it's good for you, and for your baby, provided it is done correctly. Generally speaking, if you were active before getting pregnant, you should be able to continue your activity in moderation. If you weren't active, you shouldn't suddenly take up strenuous exercise. The best thing to do is speak to your doctor or midwife who will be able to advise you.