Read the first chapter of real food for pregnancy for FREE.

Big News

I’ve been keeping some big news to myself for a bit too long and today’s the day I’m unwrapping the surprise for ya.

Well, I sorta, kinda spilled the beans last week on the online workshop I taught (and with the members in my Real Food for Gestational Diabetes Course)… but I still haven’t really shared it. So it’s about time I fill YOU in.

To be honest, I’m not sure why this feels so vulnerable.

Scratch that.

I know exactly why.

I’m opening up about something that feels very personal and sacred to – not just the thousands of people on my email list – but the entire interwebs.

Butterflies aside, after a more-than-a-few gentle nudges from close friends and family, today’s the day.

OK, here goes.

.

.

.

My husband and I are expecting our first child.

Yep, totally preggos over here.

I’m still sorting out exactly how much detail I’ll be sharing publicly (I have never intended for this blog to be a TMI online diary, after all), but I can tell you I’m in my second trimester and so far, so good.

There’s something really strange about experiencing pregnancy first-hand. After all, I’ve individually counseled hundreds of women through this time (and my book, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, has transformed the realities of pregnancy for thousands of women).

It’s like when I’d teach Pilates to someone with an injury. I was fully capable of safely teaching them movements to help alleviate pain and heal their injury. I could sympathize with the challenges of coping with less-than-functional movements. But I could only truly empathize (yes sympathize and empathize are different animals ← google it) if I had experienced a similar injury.

So here I am doing my best to practice what I preach – the food, the movement, the mindfulness – and finding out what works for ME.

Whether you know me personally or professionally or just from reading my blog, you know listening to my body is – and always will be – priority number one.

And there’s no better time to put that into practice (or, in my case, to keep practicing that) than during pregnancy.

hiking during pregnancy
Getting outside & hiking still tops my self-care list, even though I’m a little slower than usual.

There’ve been many shifts, compromises, and ups-and-downs so far.

For one, I can say the first trimester was not all smooth sailing for me (that topic alone deserves a lengthy discussion – probably enough to fill a small book), but even with that, we’re just incredibly excited to share our life with another human being.

If you’re a long time reader, you know I’m a research junkie, but all science-y knowledge aside, can we all just acknowledge how utterly insane it is that we (humans) have the capacity to create new life?! That all those little genes are being turned on – or off – by how I treat myself each and every day? That, even with less than ideal conditions, the default is for a woman’s body to make a functional little being with 10 fingers and 10 toes?

It somehow seems even more miraculous when you’re living it and feeling those first little kicks.

I have such inexplicable appreciation for how cool my body is for doing all this (facilitating all this?) without me even thinking about it.

Now, all wonderment aside, let’s talk about how this will impact you!

Baby = major change.

So I’ll be making changes to my business. The way I “see” clients and run my blog will be different, I’m sure, although I’m NOT sure exactly how that will look at this point.

My hope is that I can continue to help you, as my tagline says, “balance real food and real life,” and ensure I can do the same while juggling a newborn.

In some ways, this has made me think even bigger about how I can help you.

This is how (I anticipate) things will change:

  • For one, I will still post new blogs on a regular basis – maybe not every. single. week. as I have for the past few years, but let’s just go with “regularly,” shall we?
  • I’ll be limiting one-on-one clients significantly in 2016. My waiting list is about to get a lot longer.
  • I finally have the excuse (and the bump) to record some prenatal Pilates/exercise videos. These will be added to the exercise module of the Real Food for Gestational Diabetes Course. This course just keeps getting meatier!
  • I’m going head-to-head against the outdated prenatal nutrition guidelines by creating a series of (heavily evidence-based) continuing education webinars for my fellow registered dietitians.
  • I’ll keep working on the 3 (yep, I’m up to 3) research studies on gestational diabetes and prenatal nutrition that are in-progress. Getting my real food approach into the peer reviewed medical literature is the only way to truly change the atrocious “standard of care.”
  • And, if there’s enough interest, I might start writing a book on prenatal nutrition. I’ve had dozens of requests already, and while there’s a ton of great information in Real Food for Gestational Diabetes that’s applicable to all pregnant women, there’s so, so much more I can share.
  • At the very least, I’d like to compile the exact strategies I used to get through my first trimester and share them with you – again, if there’s interest.

Obviously, there’s a ton of goodness on the forefront and I’m taking full advantage of the energy boost the second trimester brings!

Of course, I’m only one person – err, do I count as 1.5? – so I can only take on so much (full disclosure: that’s not my full list #entrepreneurproblems), so before I set sail on these projects I’d love to hear from you:

What would you like to see most from me in the coming months – on the blog, in those webinars I’m planning, etc?

Your input is invaluable (and I’m open to more ideas).

Until next week,
Lily

PS – You get huge props for reading through this novel-of-a-post and thank you for sharing in the celebration. I’m prepared for an influx of emails, but I won’t be able to respond individually to all of you (gotta save my precious energy for my go-getter clients first), so do me a favor and share your thoughts in the comments below. 🙂

PPS – I’ll continue to share about my pregnancy here and there, but don’t worry, not all of my posts from here until eternity will be pregnancy-related!

Get a Sneak Peek of the Book!

Download your FREE chapter from

Real Food for Pregnancy.

You'll also receive Lily Nichols' weekly newsletter.
Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy

Behind the Scenes of Real Food for Fertility: Insight into the process of writing and researching the book
Can you eat too much fish during pregnancy?
Vitamin B12 & Pregnancy: A nutrient crucial for your baby’s health
How much iron do you actually absorb from food?

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and unapologetically critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is the author of two bestselling books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes.

57 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Congratulations!!! That is the best news 🙂 I’m really happy for you!

    • Thank you, Jenn. It’s been great having you in the course. 🙂

    • Lily,
      Great news, congrats & all the best. -irene barg

      • Thank you, Irene! Hope you’re well.

  2. Congrats, Lily!!!! Blessings to you and the growth of your family! Hugs to you both! 😀

    • Hugs right back, Jill!

  3. Huge congratulations!!! Wishing you well during the remaining trimesters 🙂 I totally agree with the empathise/sympathise distinction – your experience will certainly add another layer to your already great work.

    • I certainly think so!

  4. CONGRATS Lily! So happy for you!! xox

    • Thanks Katelyn!

  5. Yay! How exciting! A huge congratulations to you and your husband! I know that baby will be fed WELL! 🙂

    • That’s undeniable!

    • Thank you, Kara. 🙂

  6. Congratulations Lily! Enjoy the pregnancy and the period of anticipation – it is truly magical 🙂

    • I certainly will, Anastasiya. Thank you!

  7. lily! This is amazing news! I’m so excited for you guys! ❤️

    • We’re over the moon!

  8. Woot woot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats chica…..and considering I did not even know you were married you are very good at keeping the personal under wraps!!!! ?

    • Yeah, he makes occasional appearances on the blog, like the time we ate beef heart, but I try to keep my content focused on what my readers want to learn, not my personal life. 🙂

      PS – Good timing with our interview going live today!

  9. Hooray for sharing the big news! I am sooooo excited for you guys and can’t wait to see what comes of it all (love the idea of a prenatal nutrition book and videos!)
    xoxoxo

    • Yes, I keep getting requests and now being pregnant myself, I find the readily available nutrition information even more underwhelming/frustrating/infuriating. That’s gotta change.

  10. Congrads!!! That is great news!

    • Thanks!

  11. AH! THERE’S A FETUS IN THERE!!!!!! CONGRATSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • I figured you and Pearl would have a fetus celebration for me, haha! #fetusgenius

  12. What GREAT news Lily! So so so happy for you and your family and little one on the way.

    • Thanks Amy!

  13. Prenatal book! And congrats, of course. 🙂 I find your approach to nutrition resonates with me as I work through my second year as a dietitian. So much wrong, so much dogma. All the best.

    • Another tally for the prenatal nutrition book. 🙂 Thanks Rachel!

  14. Delightful news, Lily! When you’re ready to start thinking about baby gear, don’t forget to look at the baby carrier options. Babywearing will let you still go on those nice long hikes…even while nursing! Plus you can wear the babe while you’re working on your computer. Lots of multitasking can take place : )

    • I will absolutely be baby wearing!

  15. Earnest congratulations from Devon, England. You are so blessed to be pregnant and your baby is so, so blessed to have you as a mother who will nourish it wholesomely every single day – not many children in this world have that. Fabulous.

    • That’s the plan! 🙂

  16. Yay!!! Congrats! Looking forward to reading new posts about this incredible experience. Hugs!!

    • Appreciate it, Sara! Soak up some hot weather for me. 🙂

  17. Huge congrats to you and your hubby Lily!
    It’s a wonderful insane roller coaster! (I have a 5 week old)
    Looking forward to your dietitian Webinars. All the best xxx

    • Yeah, I know the real roller coaster hasn’t even started yet!

      Webinar planning is in the works…

  18. When you said you’d be sharing big news that made you feel vulnerable, my mind started the sparklers thinking you may announce that you’re pregnant and it is with great love and happiness that I wish you, your husband and families a big CONGRATULATIONS! Wishing you the best journey as you share your life with your first baby and may it be a wonderful experience in all the ups and downs. You’re shining now and you’ll be shining as a mum too.

    • Aw thank you so much, Julie! Sending hugs to you and yours across the globe. 🙂

  19. Loving the casual bump photo on the casual hike. Glorious sunshine- soaking up all the (very important) Vitamin D

    • I need all the vitamin D I can get!

  20. Congrats! That’s so exciting!

  21. Congratulations! I loved being pregnant. It’s a great experience.

  22. Congratulations Lily!! I’m so happy for you & your family. What a blessing!! Also, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. You are so appreciated. Looking forward to any and all info you choose to share!!

  23. What great news, Lily. Happy, happy for you, hubby and baby! xxo

  24. Congratulations!

  25. Congratulations!

  26. Such wonderful news, Lily!!! I’m so very excited for you. It really is a whirlwind of a magical journey. Sending tons of love and sweet baby blessings your way!! x

  27. congratulations lily all the best and do tell us more about the atenatal care if you get time…

  28. How beautiful! I already love the work you do and I am certain this whole experience will take you to the next level. I would love to see a pregnancy book, especially dealing with the first trimester. That is when everything becomes counterintuitive for me. I also would love the RD courses. That being said, most importantly enjoy this little one. You will hear this truth over and over again: They grow up fast! Slowing down will give you plenty of time for contemplation that will reveal/refine what YOU are most passionate about and help you put the energy into developing those resources. Congratulations!

  29. Nice ! Congratulations.

  30. So stoked to hear this!! I’m so happy for you guys! You’ll both make wonderful parents.

  31. Congratulations Lily! I’m so happy for you!

  32. Congratulations! There’s no better place to raise a strong, healthy child than Alaska. I look forward to reading you blogs no matter when they come down the pike. Though I don’t deal with pregnancy or children as a dietitian, I know your insight will be invaluable for those who do, not to mention future parents. I look forward to your publishing your study results & changing out-dated pre-natal care recommendations. You are in a position to KNOW what’s best from personal experience & your LEAP training.

Comment Policy