Walking Around

I wrote this the other day and it disappeared into wherever it is these things go.

I’ve been doing a lot of walking for fitness.  Usually I would walk as active rest, but now I’ve been walking as a real part of my fitness…and a good way to listen to recorded conference calls.  Now that it isn’t as hot out, I love getting outside and walking around.  Especially in our little neighborhood where I can say hello to people.  We’ve been here over 3 years and don’t know a lot of our neighbors yet.

I wish that our dogs could handle a walk more than around the block.  There are a lot of great things about having older dogs.  They are calm but have bouts of playfulness and are excellent couch mates.  I love a good nap with these two.  But they can’t take the long walks. Our boxer sometimes has a lot of energy, but then spends it really quickly.  It is hard to know how far she can make it and also make it back.  The pug is short and stocky and needs the exercise, but gets tired really quickly.  I still take him for short walks, but when I’m walking for me he can’t make it.

We have also started walking to more local places.  Most of what is nearby is pizza, coffee and Red Mango so we don’t have much to choose from (except that there are four pizza places) but it’s a nice way to get out.  We’ve only done pizza twice, so don’t think I’m living off of it or anything!  I really appreciate that my husband will take these walks with me.  He is training for a half marathon and is running most days and then walking with me.  And I need to go so slow!  A lot slower than my usual speed at least.

Walking, especially with a buddy, is one of the only forms of exercise that seems possible after work, so it’s great for those days I don’t sleep well and choose more sleep over the gym (more and more frequent).  I’m looking forward to walking with the baby once she’s here.  And hoping it doesn’t snow a ton this winter so that it is actually possible!

Workout Thursday – Walking (ended up being for pizza)
Workout Friday – Moms Into Fitness Third Trimester workout
Workout Saturday – Prenatal yoga, Walking (with two recorded calls)

34 Weeks

We are done with childbirth class! Our class was through the hospital and it was just a regular class (no special methods), went for three weeks for two hours a class. The last class was yesterday. I enjoyed it and learned a lot, but the class ended past my bedtime!  Monday’s class was mostly two videos of births.  Not as graphic as I expected.

I know that I say it’s past my bedtime often. I feel like I’m always up too late. I have been trying to be in bed by 9, especially now that I wake up so frequently during the night. My alarm is set for 5am, so 9 isn’t crazy early. Usually I am up until about 10 but in bed reading or otherwise relaxing.

This is me today at 34 weeks:

Hard to believe that I’m due only 6 weeks from now! We ordered the rest of the baby furniture along with a bunch of other stuff last night. We can’t wait to get that in the room so we can get it all situated and put up the wall art. We ordered four prints from jameshance.com and I want to get them on the walls! Seriously the cutest geek prints we’ve ever seen.  Lots to still get ready, and I’m still waiting for a nesting instinct. I am currently assuming that it will be like the second trimester burst of energy…mythical but not happening for me!

I keep getting bigger, but I can still fit a pug on my lap! He usually tries to work with me from around 3:30 until my husband gets home from work. Then he freaks because it is almost dinner time…Artoo’s favorite time of the day!

Workout yesterday – 20 minutes elliptical, lifting
Workout today – Turbo Kick at home

A Little (pug) Help

This is my pug, trying to workout with me. I did Yoga Booty Ballet – Baby on the Way this morning and until my husband got home he was right there with me. For this picture, I was in a cross-legged position (you can barely see my knee in the left corner). After this was some work in a hands and knees position, with eventually raising one leg. He got under my leg and basically held it up. I wish I had a way to get that in a picture!

;

After the morning workouts, we went to our old local bar to watch football. I realize I am pregnant, but I do go to bars. I don’t drink in them, other than water (oh, and today some Sprite). I do eat in them. There is no smoking allowed, so I’m not sure what the difference is between a bar and a restaurant. Some people look at me strange especially now that I look unmistakably pregnant. I’m just there to hang with friends and I’m a convenient designated driver. It is a lot easier to go to these further away places on a Sunday when we aren’t choosing public transportation!

I had a great time, good food, and more water than I can think of! And came home with time to food shop (ugh) and do some catch up on the internet. Not a bad Sunday. It is past my bedtime though. I need to fold laundry and call it quits on another weekend.

Workout today – Yoga Booty Ballet Baby on the Way and a bit more than 1.5 mile walk

More talk about food

First of all, I found a review of my favorite maternity workout wear here.  I agree with just about all of it!

My food aversions are really starting to get to me.  I never know what I want to eat, though I’m often hungry.  I go to the food store and nothing looks remotely appetizing.  The food store was never my favorite place, but now it is such a daunting experience.  I come home with little to show for it.  So then I have to go back again.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

I have had a fairly easy pregnancy, and this is only a minor inconvenience so I feel very lucky.

Unfortunately, a lot of food I have bought has gone bad.  I hate wasting food!  But forcing myself to eat it just grosses me out.  I definitely didn’t expect eating to be as much of an event through pregnancy.  I expected a lot of “eating for two ” comments and people expecting me to eat everything and skip working out.

I love that I’m still able to workout.  It gives me sanity.  It makes me happy.  I’m sure it does so much more for me.  I wish it could make me like more foods though!

I wanted to make and freeze a bunch of food for after the baby comes but the thought of smelling all that food and possibly not wanting it later (though everyone says I’ll go back to my old likes and dislikes) just doesn’t seem appealing.

Please don’t ask me what I want for dinner!

Workout yesterday – 20 minutes elliptical, lifted weights
Workout today – Prenatal yoga

Turbo turbo!

Lots going on over here!  Work is busy, we visited a pediatrician, more childbirth classes, and I have spent nights both sleeping and not.  I can’t believe tomorrow is Friday already.  Or that I hit 33 weeks pregnant…

Excuse the pajama-ness of my outfit.  I work from home most days so I work out, shower and put on more comfy clothes.  It definitely saves me time!  I change if I leave the house, but with two dogs I usually have to wear an outfit at home and a new one when I leave.  I’m a dog hair magnet!

I was able to get back to working out and am feeling better.  Today I did my favorite Turbo Fire workout (Fire 45) and had lots of fun!  I am so glad I can still do Turbo workouts.  My kicks are lower, my jumps are nonexistent and I modify a lot but it is still a good time.  I have a smile on throughout the 45 minutes.  My plan for the weekend includes some more Turbo Sunday.

If you haven’t tried Turbo Jam or Turbo Fire I can’t recommend them enough!  Everyone has a soul mate workout and they are definitely mine!  My post-baby plan starts with Turbo Fire.

Workout yesterday – 20 minute elliptical, lifting
Workout today – Turbo Fire Fire 45 class

Why do I do it?

I posted last week about reasons to workout when pregnant and I touched on some of the benefits I think I have noticed.  But I didn’t give reasons for why I make it such a priority and talk about it so much.

I have been exercising for years.  It is my stress release, my fun and has become an easy way to add to my health.  I wont lie and say it was always easy, but over time it has gone from something I should do to something I do to help my weight loss to something I do because I enjoy it.  Now I relate it to showering as something I know I’ll just do and it is a lot easier to find where it will fit in my schedule!  How often do you just not shower because you don’t have time?  Never?  You make time.

So when I found out that I was pregnant, I didn’t question if I wanted to continue to workout.  From taking the group fitness instructor certification exam, I had learned a lot about modifications for pregnancy and I can also pull from the experiences of my friends.  I knew what was presented as the benefits and they sound like great reasons.  Mostly, having that information added to my own reasons.

I still exercise for my stress release.  I still find it fun, at least the workouts I do!  And now it is an easy way to add to not just my health, but my baby’s also.  I still used “easy” there, and while it hasn’t been difficult, it has been more of a challenge.

I now need to exercise in the morning.  If I wait until later in the day, I usually end up not working out or getting in something lighter than planned.  Sometimes though, I have to choose sleep over exercise.  Some days I don’t make it through my planned workout.  It is much more important to listen to cues that I just don’t have it that day when there is a teeny human depending on me listening also.   The same workouts are more difficult, and it is sometimes tough to find variety in the workouts I like.

It is so worth the extra difficulty though!  I can’t imagine my pregnancy without the exercise.

Workout yesterday – Moms Into Fitness 3rd Trimester workout
Workout today – Prenatal yoga class and a long walk while listening to a podcast

Busy Busy Busy

When I have all the time in the world to post, I have nothing to say…when I do a bunch, I have little time! Isn’t that how it goes?

I was given a baby shower on Saturday and it was so nice. I got to see a lot of people and got to meet my friend’s new baby (who is my baby’s new friend!). That night was spent organizing and putting some things together…and falling asleep on the couch. It was a very long day and I probably should have napped after the shower. But I got better sleep knowing that things were organized! I think we stressed out the pug though. He looked so overwhelmed, but it looks good on him.

Sunday was set to be football and dinner but turned into shopping, football, stopping by to see two sets of family and dinner.  I tried to stay off the computer to be more productive and was able to get some more things put away and we managed to make it to the food store.  Grocery shopping is probably my least favorite thing to do and they are renovating our store.  Things are moved around, checkout aisles are slim and each one seems to have a caveat – no credit, no cash, no receipts.  There was also very little produce and the freezer looked to be broken.  Not the most fun errand, but it was appreciated when I woke up Monday and had some food!

Monday we started three weeks of childbirth classes.  There was a guided meditation at the end and if we were graded, we would have failed.  My husband started laughing, causing me to laugh, causing him to laugh more.  If you haven’t heard of The Giggle Loop, I don’t recommend you find out.  Because then you’re in a giggle loop, thinking about the giggle loop, and that’s a double giggle loop.  I apologized to the couple next to us and the instructor.  We were that bad.  But we learned a bit, laughed a bunch, and hopefully next week we can keep it together (though I doubt it).

Also this weekend I hit 365 days of logging in to My Fitness Pal.  I have known I was pregnant for over half that, so I’m super proud of myself for keeping a streak!  I also logged in through two vacations and the holidays.  I hope to keep it going and I love that they keep track!

Workout Sunday – none
Workout yesterday – 20 minutes elliptical, lifting
Workout today – Turbo Kick round 52

Benefits of exercise during pregnancy

I had a conversation last week about exercising while pregnant…should you do it?  Why?  I learned a lot about it while studying for my group fitness certification but am by no means an expert.  Of course, if your doctor tells you not to or gives you limits, listen to those.   But if your husband, family, friends, etc tell you not to, here is some reading to educate yourself on reasons to exercise!

Benefits for mom –

ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynocologists) search – they have a lot of information to download
Babycenter
Everyday Health

Some guidelines

Benefits for baby?

I can’t compare my current pregnancy with anything else, but I do think it has gone fairly smoothly.  Of course I have had a decrease in energy, some nausea, and some discomforts but my main issues have been related to allergies.  I have issues with those when not pregnant.  I definitely think that exercise has helped me.

Today, I tried a prenatal yoga at a studio.  I had a great time and wish I had found this class earlier!  It was nice to workout with a bunch of other pregnant women.  I bought an 8 class package, and if I don’t make it to 8 classes can use it on other classes.  I look forward to going back next Saturday.

Workout today – Prenatal Yoga

Pregnancy is not the time to start something new…

Unless that something is a pool workout!  I have now done 3 water aerobics type classes, some swimming and the Fit Pregnancy water workout mentioned in my Pregnancy Workouts page.  They are fun workouts, quite soothing and great for a pregnant woman’s changing balance.

Monday, there was a special holiday Aqua Zumba class at the gym.  It was fun, but not as fun as Zumba usually is.  I felt like we did many of the same moves over and over.  But I also didn’t feel terribly silly trying to dance because the water hid me trying to do any pregnant booty shaking.  I was doing Turbo Kick a few weeks ago at home (at about 3am before a flight) and could see my pregnant pump it in my window.  I was amused!

I used the pool weights during most of the songs for extra resistance.  It seems like you’re using these nothing weights, but they really create a lot of pull in the water.   I’m glad I made it a point to take the class (I put it in my phone with an alarm) but I’m not sure if I would go all of the time.  My gym doesn’t offer water based classes when I can take them so I have tried to go when I could.  It was the last class they did in the outside pool. It wasn’t the nicest day, but exercising outside was fun.  I didn’t have to worry about getting too much sun being in the water for an hour.

So if you’re looking for something to try for prenatal fitness, definitely think about a water based workout.  It may be very different from your usual workout and you will likely be one of the youngest people there, but everyone has a good time and the water feels great!

Workout yesterday – Aqua Zumba
Workout today – 20 minutes elliptical, weights (Day 1 from here)

Mid-weekend Sunday and a Review

I love three day weekends, having a middle weekend day. It is fantastic! This one came at a great time with my lack of sleep lately and allergy/sleep headaches. It has been nice to have the time to both be productive and relax.

This morning, I was sore from yesterday’s yoga and decided to do Yoga Booty Ballet – Baby on the Way. Looking back to see if I had reviewed it yet, I noticed both that I hadn’t and that I had planned to change my workout schedule to include more yoga and never did! Silly me. This week, my workout schedule is going to be a bit different than most weeks. Tomorrow, my gym has an Aqua Zumba class for the holiday, so I’m going to that and not lifting weights as I do most Mondays. But the week after, I think I’ll go back to the schedule I planned for weeks ago but never switched to.

While exercising, one of my dogs came over and sat on my yoga mat while I did standing poses. It was adorable and I wish I had a way to get a picture of it. This is the second day in a row that I have wanted to take a picture and couldn’t. I need to start doing these things while someone else is home to act as photographer.

The dogs

Review of Yoga Booty Ballet – I have been enjoying this workout much more than I expected to! I find that it is suitable for many levels. It has a cardio section, then weights and ends with yoga. The cardio is low impact and not complicated. During it the instructor calls you a sexy hot mama which always makes me smile. The weights portion is what you make of it, which is one of the reasons I find it so easy to customize to your level. I use 5 lbs, the heaviest they mention and the lightest I own. You could use lighter or even no weights. The lifting is quick and mixed with movement, which raises my heart rate more than the cardio section, but it isn’t complicated. Last is the yoga section which is also not complicated. I find it relaxing! There is a modifier who does a few exercises differently than the two others. The whole workout is about 35 minutes and requires a mat, weights (if using them) and possibly a blanket or pillow (more comfort than necessity). I put it on thinking how easy it will be, but the weights section always surprises me with how effective it is at getting me to feel my muscles.

Workout today – Yoga Booty Ballet – Baby on the Way