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CrossFit

Here’s How Tia-Clair Toomey Trains While Pregnant

The six-time Fittest Woman on Earth® stays active in the gym.

Written by Phil Blechman
Last updated on July 21st, 2023

The 2023 CrossFit Games season will be unique. One of its most notable aspects is that it will be the first season since 2015 that won’t have six-time reigning Fittest Women on Earth® Tia-Clair Toomey striving for the podium. She’s been the most dominant Individual CrossFit athlete of the past decade but is taking the 2023 season off to have her first child.

However, Toomey’s pregnancy does not keep away her from the gym. On Jan. 26, 2023, Toomey took to her YouTube channel to share how she trains while pregnant. The session in the video occurred at the PRVN training center in Nashville, TN. Check it out below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPV17pPY-cw&ab_channel=Tia-ClairToomey%26ShaneOrr

[Related: Strongman Rob Kearney Teaches Sandbag-to-Shoulder Technique]

Toomey warmed up with bodyweight squats with a weight belt while gripping handles for balance after confirming that everything regarding her pregnancy is healthy and on track. She performed 10 reps before removing the belt and catching her breath.
 
For the first trimester and a half of Toomey’s pregnancy, she felt drained of energy, and most foods did not appeal to her other than scrambled eggs on toast. Now in the back half of her second trimester, she is finding a renewed energy she is putting to use in the gym. Once warmed up, Toomey performed the following workout:
 
Four rounds; every six minutes:
  • Echo bike — 24 calories
  • 10 Shoulder-to-Overhead
  • Echo bike — 16 calories
  • 10 Shoulder-to-Overhead
  • Echo bike — 8 calories

After that workout was complete, footage showed Toomey working on a rowing machine.

To prevent overheating, Toomey trained in what appeared to be typical training attire. Her pregnant belly did not seem to disrupt her form on any of the movements, including the barbell cycling. She handled the shoulder-to-overhead movements seemingly without issue. She even maneuvered the barbell around her belly to perform hang cleans.
 
The 2023 CrossFit season kicks off with the Open on Feb. 16, 2023, via a live announcement of workout 23.1, featuring two of the contenders aiming to succeed Toomey on the Games throne, Laura Horvath and Gabriela Migała.

Featured image: @tiaclair1 on Instagram