WATCH: Australian fitness model lifts weights while pregnant with twins

Lifting 66 pounds is a breeze for Sophie Guidolin.

But the 26-year-old fitness model, trainer and nutritionist based on the Gold Coast has been receiving a wave of criticism after posting images of her working out and lifting weights while 26 weeks pregnant with twin girls.

According to the now super healthy mom of two boys, her first two pregnancies were painful and difficult because she lived an unhealthy lifestyle, gaining over 60 pounds each time.

With this pregnancy, she’s only gained 16 and a half pounds so far and is feeling better than ever.

Doctors recommend that pregnant women exercise because of its many benefits, but always in moderation.

“Now even the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate activity three times a week,” said Dr. Eileen Park. The GTA-based naturopathic doctor practises with a special focus on fertility and pregnancy and always recommends moderate exercise.

“I always tell moms that if you’ve never gone running before, then this is not the time to start because that is not moderation. But if you’ve been running marathons before you got pregnant then for sure, you can run. The key here is that [Guidolin] has cut back and she is practicing moderation.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I always tell moms that if you've never gone running before, then this is not the time to start because that is not moderation. But if you've been running marathons before you got pregnant then for sure, you can run. The key here is that [Guidolin] has cut back and she is practicing moderation."

Guidolin says she is only lifting about 50 per cent of her regular capabilities and has her husband, who is a personal trainer, monitor her heartbeat during workouts. She has also gotten the go-ahead to lift from her OBGYN.

“For a woman who had been lifting 100 pounds, let’s say, [and now] she lifts 60 and she feels fine afterwards and there are no other symptoms, that’s moderation for her,” said Park.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "For a woman who had been lifting 100 pounds, let's say, [and now] she lifts 60 and she feels fine afterwards and there are no other symptoms, that's moderation for her," said Park.

As for any increased risk because she is carrying twins, the experts say that because of her age and her fitness level, the risk is not as great as most would assume.

“Being pregnant with twins doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re high risk. You’re at increased risk but not high risk,” said Park. “So if you’re at very low risk with a singleton, then having twins might just increase it by a little bit. She’s very young, too. So if she’s 26, then she’s in a really good place in terms of risk.”

Most importantly, Guidolin says, she listens to her body. She eats when she’s hungry and skips the gym when she’s too tired.

What Guidolin wants the world to know is that pregnant women can reap the benefits of moderate exercise and that the pros outweigh the cons.

Park agrees and rejects the idea that pregnant women should avoid activity.

“Absolutely [the stigma] is ridiculous. Women who are pregnant are not sick. They just have to be well aware of what their bodies are capable of,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Absolutely [the stigma] is ridiculous. Women who are pregnant are not sick. They just have to be well aware of what their bodies are capable of," she said.

Guidolin isn’t the first to make headlines for her pregnancy workouts and body. Model Sarah Stage received similar criticism for her six-pack-abs during her pregnancy earlier this year.