Nov. 7--Lindsay Brin has spent years telling new moms how to get back into shape with her Moms Into Fitness videos and personal training. A year and a half ago, when she had her first baby, she got to experience the changes a body goes through first-hand.

After coaching moms about staying fit during pregnancy, did you find it easy to stay fit during yours?

After a rough start with some IVF complications and not being allowed to work out, I found it very easy to stay fit. It was the only thing that made me feel better. I did it more for my mental state, energy and getting rid of nausea and swelling -- not just fitness.

After your daughter was born, how quickly did you get back into fitness?

I started with some simple movements that I learned while working with a 2006 research study I did with Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Just getting my muscles used to working without a baby in there. I used these movements about one week after my C-section. I started walking at four weeks. And gradually got back in the swing of things at six weeks. Weeks 6-10 were the most difficult for sure. I guess it helped I had a photo shoot for my new book at 14 weeks post-delivery ... nothing like a little extra motivation.

How does your daughter motivate you to stay fit?

She loves being in the stroller outside. But honestly, it goes back to more energy and feeling better when I do. Everyone in the household can tell when I need to go workout and vent. I am a better mother when I stay fit.

Do you incorporate her into your workout?

When I do my videos she thinks it's pretty cool to dance along, although after 20 minutes she is bored. So I do a lot of exercises while holding her -- although I can't do my core exercises while holding her right now -- little too strenuous on the pregnancy. And if we're not working out inside, we are outside, which is our favorite. I put her in the stroller and do an interval workout with weights in the bottom of my stroller.

When she was born, she spent half of her life in the Baby Bjorn. One can get a lot of things done (including exercise) with those handy things!

Now that you are expecting baby No. 2, how are things different this time?

This pregnancy is different because I spent the first 14 weeks on bed rest due to three separation bleeds that happened at implantation. My mood was horrible, and I am not quite sure how my husband put up with me, the dishes, the laundry etc. And I couldn't pick up my daughter, which was hard. But now the separations have heeled, and I am back at it, slowly but surely.