Heavily pregnant CrossFit devotee’s 40kg weightlifting spark furious backlash

A GOLD COAST woman has been slammed after she posting a video of herself backsquatting a huge 40kg weight despite being six months pregnant.

A WOMAN has attracted a flurry of criticism for posting a video of herself backsquatting a 40kg weight while being six months pregnant.

Fitness professional and CrossFit trainer Revie Jane Schulz, 24, from the Gold Coast, uploaded a clip of her strenuous gym session with husband Clay on Boxing Day.

The video posted to Instagram.

To her 69.8k Instagram followers she wrote: “It was super hot so I stayed super hydrated, next to the fan and had a wet towel to keep my body temp low.

“Here’s some of my squats, I did 6 sets of 5 Backsquats at 40kg.

“It felt good to have some weight on the bar today #6monthspregnant #ActivePregnancy #FitPregnancy #26Weeks.”

Users were quick to question whether Revie should be squatting such challenging weights at this stage of her pregnancy.

One wrote: “I thought pregnant women weren’t suppose to do heavy lifting like that (sic)?” while another asked: “Is that safe?”

But fans of Revie defended her, with several explaining her body is used to it, making it perfectly safe for her to do so provided she has clearance from a doctor.

In response, Revie wrote: “Thanks for saving my breath.

“Always makes me hesitate to post because someone will question my intentions with my baby, it’s nice to know people have my back.”

Revie Jane Schulz responded to her critics on social media.

She went on to respond to trolls in a lengthy Facebook post.

“When I first fell pregnant I saw so many fitness influencers STOP posting their exercises during their pregnancies and I was curious to know why.

“Now, I know and I don’t blame them. Because every single time I share a bit of my workout, I have to be ready for judgment and hurtful comments.

“No matter how many conversations I’ve had with my doctor to ensure that this is okay and even beneficial to my baby and myself. Assumptions are made and truly hurtful comments are written.

“I have chosen to continued posting my fitness regimen through pregnancy despite the negativity because it’s what I believe to be best for my baby and myself. I’m not going to hide away from bullies. I never have and I never will.

“I’ll keep sharing my journey, because I want to educate people who don’t realise it can be safe to continue your exercise regimen, after you’ve received approval from your doctor and that it has many benefits to pregnancy. And because I know it has inspired other women to have a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy.”

Celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges often posted photos of herself exercising when pregnant, and she was criticised for doing crunches and sending the wrong message to pregnant mums.

Women’s health physiotherapist Lyz Evans says Bridges had fallen into the trap of believing crunches made the abdominal muscles stronger, when in actual fact, she says, doing them in the later stages of pregnancy puts women at risk of tearing abdominal wall tissue.

Such an injury can lead to lower back pain, urinary incontinence and an ongoing pot belly tummy, says Evans.