Wednesday, February 8, 2012

24-25 bumpin update & workout inspiration

Here we are, 6 months +! We've got a steady grower, mover and shaker in there! These past few weeks I have been kinda hard on myself after my most recent doctor visit. She said everything was great and we were measuring perfect at 24 centimeters fundal height for 24 weeks, but I still cried the whole way home thinking I have gained too much weight too fast.

Although the doctor is comfortable, it doesn't mean that I necessarily am in my own skin. I have taken pride in always being pretty active (sometimes more active than others, depending on life events and situations) and relieve alot of stress through running or working out. Hindsight is a crafty bitch, and I wish I hadn't spent the first 12 weeks of this pregnancy worried I would somehow hurt/hinder the baby or viability by staying more active. I wasn't a complete slug but I took it way easier than I could have. 

23 weeks 2 days on the left, 24 weeks 5 days on the right
I have been sleuthing the interwebs for workout inspiration, which is one of the reasons I try to post about it - so maybe some other "normal" girls like me will find solace in the fact it IS okay to stay very active, your heart rate CAN go over 140 beats per minute, and that it IS okay to work up a sweat. The real key to staying fit is listening to your body (and slowing down when you have intense hip pains, for instance) and pushing yourself to what the pregnancy will allow in a safe manner (being able to carry on a conversation while working out/while a bit out of breath). At least this is what has worked for me so far. 

Some resources I have found that are of value are as follows:

Babyfit.com - good forums that are somewhat active that include alot of hardcore exercising workout mamas! (Exercise Central is the best bet)

http://www.stumptuous.com/category/women_stuff/pregnancy_postpartum - Some solid weightlifting ladies show you how they get it done

http://cassandraforsythe.com/blog - Blog by a former weightlifting/figure competitor with a few kids. I dig her "fit pregnancy" interviews with other "real" women who talk about their trials and tribulations. Bishes on here 39 weeks pregnant doing kettlebell workouts. I can get down!

http://pinterest.com/loveleahlove/exercising-inspo/ Just some other randomness I have pinned along the way. 

I bought the Summer Sanders Prenatal Workout DVD -- it has workouts for all 3 trimesters, but the 2nd trimester seemed pretty easy. Alot of squats are involved which certainly can't hurt. I also got a Personal Training Jackie Warner XTREME fitness DVD - it is pretty tough and only takes 30 minutes so that's great, and to round it out...I got another DVD from my other favorite lesbian workout goddess, Jillian Michael's Kettlebell workout. This sucker is tough too, I am loving feeling muscle pain the next day! The DVDs burn about 250 calories (per my heart rate monitor)  and keep me feeling less wobbly, and on days I go to the gym for cardio I burn upwards of 560 calories. All in all it feels good to get it in!



I also have been more cognizant of what I am eating, by way of my dear friend the Daily Plate at Livestrong.com. I have been eating turbo healthy this whole pregnancy but it is always good to be mindful of what portions amount to and the actual calories equated. It has been helpful in giving me some sort of control over what I was worried was becoming an ungodly amount of weight gain. One downside - it has a widget that is supposed to motivate you....it remembers my weight from my hardcore Miami bikini workout days, and so now it says "I've gained 20 lbs with the Daily Plate!". 

Not what we are looking for, Lance. 

And now for some updates!



How far along? In the photos, 23 weeks 2 days and 24 weeks 5 days (look at me not staying on top of things. ). 

Total weight gain: Since I have been working out 5-6 times per week (HELL YEAH SON) and being more mindful of eating habits, I am still at 19-20 lbs, which is pretty on track I think for damn near 25 weeks. 

Maternity clothes? Mixin and matchin, baby. Most pants I wear are maternity, but I am finding the damn bands on the top of the jeans itch. Which makes me paranoid if I scratch them they will give me stretch marks. Oy.  I also did some more consignment shopping with Niter for some very exciting upcoming events (more on that shortly)

Stretch marks? None thus far - holding strong, come on sweet baby let mama's skin just stretch naturally! Still slathering in bio oil and other fantastic creams. 

Sleep: Holding pretty steady. Working out helps alot with this I presume. I have been having ridiculous dreams about people/situations from my past...I read up on it and it said that your body/brain is getting ready for a new transition in life and this is the emotional way of dealing with those past encounters to get over them. Still awkward as hell to dream about high school exes and girls who were mean to you in college. 

Best moment this week: Well over these past 2 weeks, we have come up with a name! At least I am 90% positive this will be "the name". We are keeping it a secret because I don't want to hear anyone's mouth about "so and so" they knew with that name who was a devilspawn, and because pregnancy is one big judgefest for the outsiders so I'd like to not tally another item to the heap. It is a unique name, not in the top 500, has special meaning to me, and is one that we both suggested by ourselves to eachother...all good signs I think! Hint: it does not rhyme with Aiden. 

Miss Anything? Some emotional things have arisen these past few weeks, and I have been reminded that this is my own journey and only mine to fully understand and enjoy. I would be living in a fantasy world if I thought people cared all that much, or understood the daily ins and outs, trials and tribulations, joys and fears, of conceiving and carrying a baby to term. I don't expect a parade, I just want some respect. I guess I miss the convoluted idea I had in my head in terms of what "being pregnant" is all about. 

Movement: I did yoga on Sunday and I think I flipped him around, because he kicked all morning long and in a new spot with especially robust strength! Glenn feels him pretty much all the time now, and I love being able to share that with him. 

Food cravings: Still eating hummus like it's my part time job. Have had an increased joy in oranges, apples, bananas and grapes. The problem is I only want them when I see other people eating them. This baby has craved really healthy things, but I do need some bit of chocolate everyday and I do love my decaf lattes. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Currently just the Republican party. 

Gender: Bouncing baby boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, still knocking on wood. 

Symptoms: Again, knocking on wood...working out has made me feel god.damn.amazing. Hope to keep this up!

Belly Button in or out? Innie but getting flatter and looking odder by the day. 

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Currently, really happy! I do have some crying jags here and there, and can get wound up if I let myself...but lately have just been trying to release the stress over things I can't control. 

Looking forward to: MATERNITY SHOTS! Lest I get any bigger, we are getting some photos done this weekend, by way of my friend and fabulous photographer Travis Curry (www.traviscurry.com). I met Travis through some mutual friends, and he was awesome enough to do a "Trash the Dress" shoot with me on a hot summer bug-filled day! He is incredibly talented, kind, easy going, and goofy (which I need in my life!), and I know he will do a great job! I can't wait to share some preggo pix with you - check out his blog for some of his recent works, and below are a few pix from our session almost 2 years ago:

I am so snotty in my dress in this field right now




Cross your fingers for no snow this weekend, and for me to take pix where I won't look like a heffalump!

4 comments:

  1. "Anything making you queasy or sick: Currently just the Republican party."

    I love you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your blog! Got here from Baby Center. I'm a MD Momma-to-be as well. I'm just getting back to working out after horrible m/s until last month (I'm 25 weeks). I've been really digging the perfect pregnancy workout vol. 1 (strength). video I'm also doing a lot of prenatal yoga videos. I'm having a hard time motivating myself to do some cardio at the gym but after reading this I'm determined to step up my game!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Haha, thanks Lex. I Love you!

    @ Rocky - props to starting to work out post morning sickness! They say it really does help get rid of some of the wonky feelings. I have had alot of luck with Hulu also for days you can't make it to the gym. They have a "wellness" genre.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's not Newt, Mitt, Rick, or Ron?????? ;)

    ReplyDelete

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