“I was working out until the day before I gave birth to Harlow,” Roup tells POPSUGAR of her first pregnancy with her daughter, who turns 2 on June 2. “For me it was such a piece of common sense. My mental health is much better after I exercise, but especially when I’m pregnant. It’s so valuable for me to get some exercise, even if it’s just a short workout of 10 minutes.”
Because exercise has always been so important to her, Roup, a former professional dancer, goes to great lengths to ensure her platform offers fitness options that meet people exactly where they are at any point in life. For example, TSS has a robust pre- and postnatal program, a beginner’s program, an advanced program and a newly launched bridal program.
“We’ve had so many brides come through The Sculpt Society over the years, and I really wanted to put together something that had the same ethos as what TSS is — which is really embracing our bodies, loving them and not needing to change them — really leaning on the feel rather than a lot of the diet culture noise that comes with being a bride,” she says.
“I know what it’s like. I experienced that in 2020,” she continues. “I really wanted to put together a really positive program that gave my community the tools to feel confident in their own skin and have conversations about body confidence, self-love, and [asking], how can we make this somewhat stressful time a little more positive? How can we take the pressure off of “shredding for the wedding”? How can we look like ourselves on our wedding day, but also feel really confident?”
TSS workouts — which you can try for yourself with a seven-day free trial and unlimited access for $20 a month or $180 a year — are a mix of sculpting and dance cardio and focus on empowerment rather than aesthetic change. And that method has earned Roup an impressive list of celebrity fans, from Miranda Kerr and Shanina Shaik to Shay Mitchell.
Roup has also amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on her Instagram, where she shares plenty of fitness advice, as well as relatable content about overcoming the influence of diet culture and the rewarding struggles of motherhood. Like many of social media’s hottest personalities, Roup is committed to keeping it real and shedding light on things we don’t always talk about. Right now, that includes her love-hate relationship with pregnancy.
“I’m just one of those women who is super thankful to be pregnant, but at the same time I just don’t like being pregnant,” she says. “Are [the same as] what I experienced with my first pregnancy. I think unfortunately not enough women talk about it not enjoying it and the fact that it’s okay if you don’t enjoy it. You can be super thankful to be pregnant and excited to have a baby, but just not love the experience. I’m trying to embrace it a little bit more and all the changes that are happening, but it’s a lot.”
Some things that helped her get through those changes? These five products — including maternity workout clothes, a pregnancy-safe retinol alternative, and supportive sneakers that make dance cardio a breeze, even with a tummy tuck. Keep reading for Roup’s must-haves and consider joining her at POPSUGAR Play/Ground on June 1; buy your tickets here.