Category: fitness

Coffee Break

I love the blog posts I’ve seen others do that are written as if we’re sitting and having coffee today. I’ve had all sorts of random thoughts floating through my head, so it’s time for a coffee date!

Coffee, water, and half a doughnut

Today over coffee, I’d tell you …

Time flies when you’re not looking. I know many moms of young children (myself included) wish some of the endless witching hours would go away. We hate it when people say, “Treasure these times! They go so fast!” because they feel interminable when things are not going well, aren’t fun, and are fraught with stress about discipline, illness, and other “are we making the right call?” choices.

My littlest moved into his big boy bed the other night. My daughter had a father-daughter dance this weekend and looked too grown-up in some of her pictures. I went with my oldest on a field trip to the zoo and he wrote a narrative zoo journal about his trip.

My catalogue of tiny baby memories for each of them is growing the tiniest bit slimmer every day, but I’m adding to their bigger kid catalogues. It’s wonderful and bittersweet. Time does fly, at least outside of those crazy times.

Did you hear that Iran wants to start promoting their country as a tourist destination? I would love to someday visit Iran as a tourist. Yes, really. There’s so much history and so many beautiful places to experience. But seriously … The risks of traveling there seem to far outweigh the non-risks. I’ll content myself for now with dreaming of a someday trip to Cuba. Maybe one day more “forbidden” places will be safe and open for travel.

It’s almost time to start my Hypnobabies again. Except I seem to have misplaced my workbook … Ugh. Hypnobabies is a self-hypnosis, guided meditation and relaxation way of prepping for labor and delivery … And the last trimester of pregnancy, and the early postpartum days too, in my opinion. I know, I know – how crunchy.

I started HB during my pregnancy with Nora as a way to last longer before the epidural. (You can read more about her birth here.) I used it again, although not as diligently, when pregnant with Jude. (His story here.) Even if I still end up the epidural route, HB helps so much in the mental processes around pregnancy, labor, and delivery that I still think it’s worthwhile. It’d be nice to NOT have the epidural (and the possibility of a spinal headache, the epidural shakes and chills, the dropping blood pressure), but I’m not going to presume anything. I’ll aim for a positive experience in whatever way that comes to me and this baby.

And HB helps me sleep better. I can definitely use some of that!

My job is … Fine. I’m not in a super-excited place about it, but I’m not super-negative about it. Maybe it’s contentment? That’s at least something to aim for. And super excitement isn’t something I necessarily want leading up to maternity leave. This may be a good time for exploration within the job and the possibilities I’ve been too busy to examine during other periods.

I think this baby likes yoga. I haven’t been as good about getting a short practice or two in during the week. I did 20 minutes tonight, and I could really tell the (tight) difference in my hips and legs. After even just those 20 minutes, the baby started moving around and kicking more than I’d felt other evenings. I think s/he appreciates the room around their room now!

One of these days I’m going to leave an entry exactly as typed and auto-corrected to see if it makes any sense at all. The iPad just changed “baby started” to “baby’s tatted” in the last paragraph. I mean, come on.

Pregnancy Update: Weeks 18, 19, 20

image

How far along? 20 weeks as of Saturday

Total weight gain/loss: I’m back on the weight gain train!    I think I’ve gained about nine pounds since getting pregnant.

Maternity clothes? This week’s weird experience is having maternity pants too tight in the legs but loose in the hips. What?! I’m also on the quest to find a maternity dress appropriate for my sister’s wedding. Finding a dress that is not black or navy is proving to be a challenge. In other news, my Stitch Fixes are now including maternity clothes, which is interesting! I’ll share an update on that separately, but those weekly pictures are all StitchFix outfits. Same pink/red top in the 18 and 20 week pictures, actually!

image

Stretch marks? I feel like the ones on my legs are trying to spread. I’m also wondering if my legs are trying to develop varicose veins, so I’m contemplating running compression socks as everyday wear. Thoughts?

Sleep: I love my pillows. My husband loves my pillows … I had to push him off of it last night  😉

Best moment this week(s): We had our anatomy ultrasound at 18.5 weeks, so two weeks ago. Everything seems to be developing normal and on pace! Baby Mouse is still a surprise baby, too.

Movement: Lots and stronger! On Friday I was sitting with my hand lightly resting on my belly. Suddenly my hand popped off because of a tiny little kick or punch that could be felt from the outside!

Food cravings: Limes, avocados, and salt. Always with the salt. Still not really fond of chicken.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken and pork, in particular. Sweet things – dessert isn’t so fun right now, which should be helping with that tight pants syndrome but isn’t! Also anything with cream cheese icing – BLECH.

image

Gender prediction: Still think it’s a girl!

Belly Button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose.

Feeling all the Feels or Just Some of the Feels? Not as emotional all the time, but I’m starting to see those peaks of frustration or crying or whatever. 🙂

Weekly Wisdom: I was on business travel this last week and somehow had the foresight to pack a Ziplock bag with some meal replacement shake mixes and granola bars, as well as a reusable water bottle for making the shakes. These came in handy several times when meals weren’t coinciding with my body’s needs (time zones) or during airport delays.

image

Milestones: Our anatomy scan was great, like I mentioned. My oldest son (6.5) decided that if the baby is a girl, her name should be Rachel. Why? Because he has a friend named Rachel [I think it’s a little crush] and that’s a nice name. I had a great friend named Rachel, too, and this was actually our girl name if Jude had been a girl. So we shall see, Seth!

Pregnancy Fitness: I need to get back into more regular yoga practices. It makes a big difference, but I’ve slacked off over the last week because of the travel and general fatigue. I did an in-person vinyasa flow class a week and a half ago, modifying with the instructor for pregnancy. It was wonderful! I thoroughly enjoyed being in a yoga class with real people again. 🙂

 

Towel as yoga mat. Toes still visible. That’s a decent start to the day.

A photo posted by Erin M (@treaclenet) on

Yoga for Two

I’ve talked a bit about my fitness plans for this pregnancy in my weekly updates, but thought it might be fun to talk a little more specifically. For each of my babies/pregnancies, I’ve really enjoyed finding other moms who’ve had similar experiences or tried things similar to what I’m interested in, so I can see how it went for them. Every pregnancy, woman, and baby is different, but there’s some sort of comfort in seeing what the sisterhood is up to while carrying a baby.

I mentioned before that I had hopes of running during this pregnancy. Unfortunately, my experience during Jude’s pregnancy turned out to not be a fluke. Starting around 8-10 weeks, my body simply can’t handle running anymore. My heart and breathing rates go up too high, too fast, and I’m gasping for air. My pace, if slowed down to a comfy heart rate, is essentially walking. Even that can put additional strain that I’m not comfortable with during pregnancy, especially given the asthma issues I developed while pregnant with Seth.

I decided to go back to yoga, something I’ve always enjoyed but don’t do enough of at any time. I need help with my strengthening in general. I would love some core and pelvic area stretches and strengthening. I also need some stress counteraction since I don’t have the running working for me right now!

IMG_5172.JPG

Somehow this isn’t the stress release I thought it would be.

I’ve been a fan of Shiva Rea for a long time. I had her prenatal yoga dvd, so I tried it a few times. Honestly, I just get bored doing the same thing over and over. Prenatal classes are hard to find at times and locations that work for me. I didn’t feel confident enough modifying in a standard class, and I didn’t want to buy more DVDs. I did rent a couple on Amazon Instant Video and … Well, I wasn’t too impressed.

IMG_5194.JPG

Most of my yoga DVDs came from Gaiam, so i decided to try their Roku/streaming channel. (I’m not doing referral links … This is just my opinion.) I must have done their free trial or some other sort of trial, because I know I wouldn’t pay $90 for a year subscription without testing it first. Because that’s exactly what I ended up doing.

There are two teachers I really like: Twee Merrigan and Mara Branscombe. I’ve tried multiple practices from them and have enjoyed all of them. Yes, there are some issues. At some point in every video, the narrator seems to forget whether she’s mirroring or saying the actual right/left in her instructions, and it gets confusing. That’s minor, though, compared to the general quality of these practices. The practices are varied lengths — 20/30 minutes or 40/60, which I appreciate. Lots of options! Lots of instructors, too.

IMG_5223.JPG

This right here? That’s what I needed and was looking for. Gentle pushes, gentle strength, targeting the areas a pregnant body needs help with. Loved it big time today.

My hope is that doing yoga more regularly gets me into a “need it!” mindset after the baby arrives too. I could use it postpartum, of course, and they have options for postpartum yoga and Pilates, too. I also need to build it into my running routines so I’m a more well-rounded runner. I need the counterbalance to the tighter hips and legs, and the focus on the upper body.

I’m even going to get brave at some point soon and try a class. While pregnant. Not for pregnant ladies. Maybe next week.

Also? My Raw Threads shirts have been AWESOME yoga wear in this first half of the pregnancy. I just got a For Two Fitness yoga shirt from Zulily, so I’m loving that wardrobe option too. Now if I could just make yoga pants official work wear, I’d be totally set!

Pregnancy Update: Weeks 16 & 17

IMG_0447.JPG

How far along? 17 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I’ve moved into the “can’t want it” (as Jude says) of food aversion. I don’t want anything with meat, I don’t want anything that will upset my stomach (tomatoes, onions, garlic), I pretty much just CAN’T WANT IT ANYTHING. So I’ve lost a couple of pounds. I also had a 12 hour stomach virus courtesy of the boys, which didn’t help anything.

Maternity clothes? I’m in that weird stage where I need the maternity pants, but I also need the belly bands to keep them up sometimes. It’s weird. And I’ll go on record as hating under-belly panels. Every kid I’ve had, they make me nauseous and seem to agitate the baby … lots of movement like “GET THIS OFF ME!”

Stretch marks? No new ones, but my old friends the ‘roids are back. #realmomsdopregnancy

Sleep: I cannot get enough of it. I’m super uncomfortable breathing-wise, which means I’ve been a forgetful goose and didn’t use my inhaler, and then that makes breathing at night and sleeping even worse.

Best moment this week: Probably after the 50+ minute yoga session. Or after the massage and the knots in my ribcage and shoulders finally started to release.

Movement: It’s definitely there! Starting to feel stronger and more definite like kicks instead of flutters. Still down very low.

Food cravings: Anything that won’t make me puke. Thai food – specifically, Pad kee mao or Drunken Noodles. I would kill for some good Tom Kha Gai right now too. Baby likes fish oil today.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Meat. Although the tofu in my drunken noodles wasn’t that fab either.

Have you started to show yet: Bumping it! Although people still don’t recognize the bump and it looks more like my gut is rounding out to catch up with my fabulous woman hips. 😉 Also, see the picture below? That mid-belly panel hits right above nice firm baby bump and the middle of squishy mommy belly. So attractive. (Also, carrying fussy toddler in the belly shot is what happens when you’re pregnant with #4!)

IMG_0448.JPG

Gender prediction: Still think it’s a girl!

Belly Button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? On and loose.

Feeling all the Feels or Just Some of the Feels? I got nostalgic over early morning runs, y’all. What do you think about my emotional state?

Weekly Wisdom: I have worn more winter maternity clothes while due with my summer babies than my actual winter baby. Go figure! I was too hot for them by the time winter rolled around with my December baby.

Milestones: Had a great 16.5 week check-up this week. Baby’s heartbeat was nice and strong. We also got our Harmony test results back – this is the early blood test that does genetic screening with a higher degree of accuracy. It also checks sex of the baby, if you’re interested. Our baby is healthy and still a surprise! (You can also ask for the test results to not show boy/girl!)

Pregnancy Fitness: More pre-baby yoga! Mara Branscombe’s classes are growing on me. So are these squats!! Two more yoga practices this week, but no walking. It was cold and wet, and I’m a wimp.

IMG_2660.JPG

 

 

 

%d bloggers like this: