Personal Excellence

I’m still eating healthy but have only been hitting the 3 workouts a week.  I’ve yet to get back to 5x.  BUT I could barely walk last weekend so the hormones are probably kicking in.  Reading online my pelvic bones may be seperating in preparation for labor with the hormones and ligaments are stretching due to the increased weight of the baby.  SO maybe 3x a week is fine! 

I’ve cheated a bit more here and there with some chocolate cake or cookies but try to offset with a big glass of milk and tapering my eating throughout the rest of the day. 

I just bought the EA Sports Active package for the Wii and the Wii Fit to get the balance board (a shame they don’t sell it seperately).  I did that and bought a postnatal workout DVD and the Wii Gold’s cardio workout to try and get into shape post baby.  I probably won’t venture out much for the 2 months post delivery until he’s done with his shots to prevent bringing something back to him.  Not to mention the 6 week minimum to recoup.  I figure as soon as I can we can start walking in the neighborhood with him to get some activity.  I’m not fooling myself that my body is going to spring back from pushing a baby out for several weeks.  From what I’ve read, if you force it too soon you just start bleeding and delaying the recouperation even further.  Who knew?? 

I think the hardest thing is the idea of being home bound for several months and my hubby will be out and about running his errands.  Envy?  YES. 

We have a safe home for baby class tonight and I have to try and sneak out from work to get some cardio in.   

Wish me luck. 

Who would have thought my husband would be the one trying to derail me during my pregnancy dieting??  He’s got such a sweet tooth and craves the pastas and fried items.  Don’t get me wrong, I could emerge 20 lbs heavier by getting into the stuff regularly but it’s pure willpower and focus that prevent me.  Every now and then I’ll go out to eat with him and partake in an ice cream or something but focusing on how hard recovery will be post delivery has really helped me!

Last night I bought a new gel seat cover for spin class (going to try it out tonight) and also went to the gym around 8:15.  I think I was a bit wound up as I couldn’t really sleep until 1am as a result.  If I can manage spin class then I will get back into it a few times a week. 

The baby is kicking regularly now or atleast so that I can feel him.  He kicks me in the am for breakfast and in the late evening.  I actually felt him through my abdomen yesterday.  It’s quite funny. 

breakfast today:  1/2 cup kashi go lean honey almond flax flavor

                      
    2/3 cup 1% milk

                      
    1 boiled egg

                      
    2/3 cup cantelope pieces

My breakfast these days is:

1/2 c. whole oats

1 tbsp honey

1 1/2 tbsp natural peanut butter

1 scoop isopure vanilla protein powder

1 hard boiled egg

2 cups of tea

1 banana

snack:  if I eat one is 2 oz of cheddar cheese and a handful of pretzels or cottage cheese and fruit

lunch:  salad or whatever is leftover from night before or a turkey sandwhich

snack:  yogurt with strawberries and 1 scoop protein powder

dinner:  salad or some item I make for dinner

I am so cagey to start running again.  Between the broken toe healing and now being pregnant.  I feel like a caged animal bound by my own body! 

We’re now at 24 weeks and I have gained 12.4 lbs.  The books tell me average for now is 15-20 lbs.  SO I’m happy I’m a little below average as I think I’ve been managing it a little.  I’ve got 4 months to go and can gain 8-13 lbs to stay in my desired range.  Even if I gained a lb a week right now I’d be okay with it b/c I think that would still keep me in the recommended range.  I’m diligent now about trying to eat healthy and not stray too far off course.  I also am trying to keep up with 4-5 workouts a week of atleast cardio and 3 of weights.  Today I’m going to do some DVDs at home so I can stay on it even with our pup newly spayed. 

I’m very focused on what I’m going to do post pregnancy.  I do feel that I’m leaner (minus baby related weight) than before pregnancy so I think breastfeeding and delivery will easily drop about 20 lbs for me.  That should leave me with 5-10 post pregnancy plus the extra 15 I brought in.  I’d like to drop 20-25 lbs post pregnancy to get back into the 120s in 3 months.  At 2lbs a week * 12 weeks I think I should be on target. 

My strategy is to do something like P90x and cardio 5x a week as well as eating very clean with one cheat meal a week.  I will need to keep the calories up but I plan on doing so healthily with minor straying. 

God help me but I want to go into the holidays and a wedding we have to attend in January looking like one hot mommy!

Shockingly I’m at about 5 1/2 months preggo now and have kept up with the workouts.  Next week we’re at 6 months actually.  I’ve been trying to stay active and keep up working out atleast 3x a week. 

We’ve been visiting the inlaws this week and I’ve managed to jog on the treadmill 2x so far and do my own workout off of exercises in women’s health magazine or from my sessions in the past with trainers.  I’ve gotten a good sore and even better sleep out of them!  I’ve also gotten back to my salads and roasted turkey with avocado and tomatoes (YUM) and into oatmeal with pb and vanilla whey powder.  I sometimes get my smoothies in too.  I’ve been eating a TON of fruit.  Normally I’d be nixing the sugar from it but being preggo you realize that it’s very good for the baby and actually keeps me from wanting a lot of the processed sugars that DH seems to fall into. 

My goal is to keep working out and even get up to 5x a week if I can but to end my pregnancy at no more than 20 lbs in gain and to have no more than 10 of that to lose after delivery.  I figure with my plan of P90x and breastfeeding and the same diet I’m on now…I should easily drop that weight and perhaps look even better post delivery than I did at my wedding! 

It feels good to be healthy.  Don’t get me wrong …there are days I really salivate over wanting cheese biscuits or some delectable brownie treat BUT I refuse to fall into the excuse that pregnancy excuses good eating.  In fact, I believe the opposite is true.  I’m now responsible for another life…if anything I owe it to my little one to give him a great start.  If I want to do myself in later that’s my business but why start him out on trans fats and processed sugars. 

I can’t wait to see him on the next ultrasound!  I want to see how he’s grown! 

Tomorrow:  side to side cross lunges, pushup rows, walking lunges, squats with knee pullups as straightening, plie to v arms, arm leg reaches on mat, reclining twists on mat, 25 mins jogging and 10 mins walking. 

Secret motivation aside from a healthy pregnancy and baby….I LOVE hearing people say I’m all belly! 

I have been pretty good about watching my portions, getting my protein and calories in and trying to drink enough water.  It’s so weird to see my belly out though. 

Here’s to 5 more months.  God willing I’ll be able to snap back at a decent pace and workout not to long after delivery.  I’m a little nervous honestly more about the 6 weeks off to heal than the next few months.  I feel good about being able to stay active through my pregnancy but am just concerned about that 6 month hiatus.  I’m worried about losing my cardio vascular abilities and losing tone.  That climb up the hill is horrid. 

I talked to my husband yesterday about possibly getting a trainer after the pregnancy as we probably would try again in 6 months for our next child.  I just don’t want to pack the pounds on from one pregnancy to the other.  I’d like to whittle back down before putting my body through it again. This time I will run as soon as I am able to and keep it up through my next pregnancy.  Making a note to find an AWESOME sports bra that will handle my milk producing chest! 

The Isopure isn’t so bad.  Had chocolate cherry shake today.  I just wish I could shake this fatigue!  The doctor said it was normal but man I just feel like I need a tall latte! 

We found out we are having a little boy!  At our ultrasound on Friday the baby is right on target in terms of development and his organs are there and working well.  They checked his kidneys, 4 chambered pumping heart, brain, bladder and intestines and his fingers, toes and legs and arms.  The miracle of life is really amazing and hard to deny when you see all those systems in place and working so perfectly.  I really don’t know how anyone can think it just happens. 

The ultrasound tech estimates him to be about 9 oz and that I’m about 3 days farther in my gestational period than we estimated.  We are then at 19 weeks and 1 day as of today according to their guess.  They haven’t changed my due date which is still September 25th.  Apparently if you are within a week they leave it be. 

Weight wise I’ve gained a pound.  Now keep in mind I was about 13 heavier than I would have preferred coming in so it’s not really a bad thing.  His development is "excellent" according to the doctor and I’ve been careful about getting enough calories and healthy calories for the most part.  I also have been keeping up with exercise.  I’ve added some cardio on the recumbent bike just to keep the blood flowing and stay healthy.  It’s hard to keep any intensity up but I keep my heart rate between 140-160 and monitor it with a heart rate monitor.  Doctors tend to tell you 140 but from what I’ve read online if you were fit before and working out it really depends on what your heart rate was at before.  On the way to the gym my monitor reads at about 98 just driving.  The baby’s heart rate was on target at 155 on Friday. 

I am super motivated to be careful in my nourishment and exercise to help him grow healthy and strong.  It’s actually the best thing that ever happened to me health wise.  Of course I worry about stupid things like weight gain and stretch marks but somehow the miracle of bringing him into the world has really helped me get my act together and not "cheat" so much which really has just cheated myself. 

I thought I would really miss having vino with the girls and occassionally I do miss having a chilled glass with them but I have to tell you…seeing how my face has thinned out and the swelling the extra calories brought into my life have disappeared…I may be convinced to not have any to much ever again!  I can really see the difference. 

After I deliver my focus is going to be on leaning out and losing whatever belly fat I was harboring pre-pregnancy.  It’s really hard to know if it’s gone but I’m fairly certain it’s just getting stretched over my expanding belly. 

Feeling: good and healthy but usually somewhat tired.  Doctor told me that it’s normal and "welcome to pregnancy".   They tested my Vitamin D levels again just to make sure I was back up after testing low 2 months ago and having supplements. 

I still haven’t really felt him kick (that I’m aware of) but they say it’s b/c my placenta is on the anterior wall so he may be thumping that instead of letting me feel them.  I may just count my blessings b/c I’ve heard once it starts it just keeps getting more intense and can be an all-night affair since most babies wake up when you lie down. 

I hope to go and get 30 mins of cardio in today.  I’ve also gotten back into monitoring my protein intake and trying to get back to 65-70g / day.  I try to have my shake, cottage cheese and fruit, yogurt and cheese and healthy meals now to get my protein and calcium in.  My indulgence has been a cup of ice cream that I measure out.  I take it only as I crave it so I don’t substitue one caloric habit for another! 

My belly is getting bigger and I’ve only worked out once so far.  I’m slammed with work so I’m not really free until perhaps tomorrow to work out again.  I tried to be good with what I ate yesterday but am still beating on myself for what I ate on Sunday!  I’ve got to learn to forgive myself. 

I got some compliments on looking lean other than the belly so here’s to continuing that!  I’m trying not to let the numbers on the scale or the belly make me feel fat!   Easier said than done when you are conditioned to use those two things to help you manage weight gain! 

SIGH. 

I was doing so well at eating well.  Last night hubby convinced me to go to Red Lobster and while I only ate half …I ate popcorn shrimp and cheese biscuits and raspberry lemonade.  That meal was good but oh so bad for me.  I’m back on today but hating myself for that slip.  I’ve got to be extra good this week to make up for it. 

Tonight I have a workout and am going to do an hour of cardio.  Tomorrow an hour of cardio, Wed workout and an hour of cardio and Thursday I think I’m going to prenatal yoga for the first time.  Friday I’ll do an hour of cardio and hopefully get my fifth hour on Saturday. 

We have our big ultrasound on Friday so here’s to hoping everything turns out well!  I can’t wait to see the peanut again!

I’m slowly working back up to 5 days of cardio a week.  Being preggo I have to admit sometimes you are just SO tired.  Your body is doing so much and it leaves you feeling wiped out.  I need to buy some maternity wear.  My tummy is getting big enough that my normal clothes are getting uncomfortably snug with buttons and clasps pushing into me. 

SO today…goal is to head in and do an hour of cardio, come home and eat lunch and get cleaned up and then go out and buy some maternity clothes.  I then need to come home and tidy up a little bit before heading to my parents for a few days for some R&R. 

I renewed my annual membership and my husbands at the gym and have to admit got a great deal b/c the industry is hurting so much.  He’s fallen off the wagon a bit.  I’ve been good about working out 3x a week in spite of being preggo and the first trimester ails.  He’s just fallen off and put on a good 10 lbs since our wedding.  I don’t worry about numbers so much but his eating has fallen with it.  Working out definitely keeps you accountable to what you put in your mouth so losing that can sometimes lose that little voice over your shoulder.  Hopefully he’ll get inspired when he sees me continuing to keep up with it. 

I’ve started wearing my heart rate monitor and set an alert so that when my heart rate (and the baby’s) get too high I can slow down.  That has left me feeling much better about what I do at the gym.  I’m still doing my toning and weight bearing exercises but with less intensity to keep my heart rate where it needs to be. 

This week my goal is to improve my eating and start weaning out the carbs that I was living on for the first trimester.  I will still eat them b/c it’s not like the kid is going to be overly lo-carb growing up…but healthier options and in moderation.  With the warmer weather, getting back to salads and grilled foods will be easier. 

Our next checkup is in less than 3 weeks and we’ll hopefully find out the sex of the baby and if it’s growing on schedule. 

I’m now 15 weeks pregnant and haven’t gained any weight.  I weighed in at 143 when I found out I was pregnant and am staying steady between 143-144.  Since the baby isn’t very big in the first trimester, this isn’t a bad thing.  I was also carrying about 10-15 more lbs going in than I should have.  That being said my weight gain goal is ~20-25 lbs.  I’ve been pretty good about what I eat but I do indulge here and there.  I try to balance it with portions and by being more strict later in the day or with my other meals.   I do find that my appetite fluctuates and I’ve not eaten out much at all as most things prepared out turn me off.  I’ve just been eating meat again these last 4 weeks.  I was completely averse to it for the first 11 weeks. 

I’ve not fallen off the earth or the wagon.  My husband and I found out we are expecting a bundle of joy so my symptoms (fatigue and nausea primarily) did manage to interfere with my workouts and eating patterns. 

The good news is that I haven’t gained any weight and have managed to get back up to my 3 workouts a week after taking a month off.  I plan on continuing with my 3x/week circuit weight training and 5 hours of cardio now that I feel better.  This week I am just inching back up to 3 hours a week of cardio. 

My goal is to stay healthy, lean and in good fitness and shape to deliver naturally.   I also want to recouperate quickly and to gain only what I need to to have a healthy baby. 

Ironically you are only supposed to gain 30 lbs unless you are underweight.  20 lbs if you are overweight.  I’d shoot for 25.  According to calcs…only about 6-7 lbs should be fat.  The rest is primarily blood volume, placenta weight, fluids, uterine tissue, etc.  That is highly comforting even if one does tend to look very large.  I have to admit I’m nervous…it’s a lot of changes…and stretch marks, a morphing body and the challenges can be intimidating.  I know that the our little blessing will make me forget it all but …

 I think I’m officially a grown up now! 

I know it’s not aggressive but given I broke my big toe about 3 weeks into it and the limitations it put on me in terms of exercises and cardio…I’m very happy.  I know want to drop about 5% more.  I figure now that I’m healed it should melt off faster and I’ve upped my cardio so let’s see how it all plays out.  I’m also not drinking now.  Bye Bye empty calories and hello abs!  I’m so excited! 

I did an hour of cardio today.  I’m at 140 mins.  160 to go.  One 50 min session tomorrow; one 50 min session Monday and one hour on Tuesday and I’m all in for the week.  It’s going to be tough b/c I’m training each day but I need to press on to the larger goal.  God give me strength! 

It’s definitely encouraging to keep eating healthy and keep pressing on! 

So it snowed here last night and we have some snow now even….not sure if I feel safe driving around to get to the gym tonight.  My car handles horribly in slick conditions.  I can’t wait for my turbo jam dvds to arrive this weekend!  Instant solution to such problems.

I’ve been taking a multivitamin, calcium supplements and dha but feel kind of run down and sleepy.  I’ve been getting more than enough sleep as well.  Maybe it’s just the winter blues.

"Half of getting what you want is knowing what you have to give up to get it" ~ Bill Phillips

Off to get in an hour of cardio! 

Tomorrow is the assessment!  Can’t wait to hear.  I may do some pushups and crunches just to get myself ready for it!

Friday is my birthday! I can’t believe it.  Another year just flies by.  Atleast this last one was so significant with getting married.  Here’s to hoping 2009 is a year of additional blessings and transformation!