Babies, indeed!

Well this has created a whole new impetus for exercising: I'm pregnant again.  And the reality of starting a pregnancy a good 15 lbs heavier than I wish I were has made me realize I want to be serious about exercising WHILE pregnant, so it isn't quite so impossible afterwards.  Besides, I'm the queen of telling myself that I will get to it later, and it will be easier later, and really?  Who am I kidding?  Of COURSE it won't be easier to exercise when I have an infant to care for!

So.  On the advice of my chiropractor (a specialist in pregnancy, not to mention me, since she's cared for me through two pregnancies already!) here is what I'm doing:

1) Yoga twice a week.  GENTLY.  (That last bit is partly due to the car accident I was in a few weeks ago, which my body hasn't quite recovered from.)

2) Walking daily.  Right now I'm doing 30 minutes after breakfast and 30 minutes after dinner.  My goal is to work up to a mile in the morning and a mile at night, hopefully getting much faster so I'm not tied to the 30 minute mark.  I'd much rather run for 10 minutes than walk for 30, but I'll have to work up to that. :)

twice now

Just ran another mile.  My goal is to run a third on Friday.  I figure getting out 3 times a week is good now.

moved my butt today!

The nice weather we're having has totally uplifted my mood and I actually wanted to go running today.  So I did!  Ran a mile. It felt really good.

done?

So I am starting to think that exercise might just be done for me for now.  We drove to S Cal for a weekend to attend a wedding the first week of March and I just have been sufferings a series of discomforts since then.  Restless leg syndrome, pressure headaches that make me slightly dizzy if I don't lay down, and extremely uncomfortable/mildly painful pelvic pressure that makes walking and standing very uncomfortable.  Going grocery shopping tires me so much now that I have to put my feet up for an hour afterward!

Anyhow, I have given up on exercise for now because I just can't summon the energy and the physical strength/comfort at this time.  Maybe that'll change, but right now, I am taking it easy.

Weekly Summary

M: 2 mile walk with Luke
T: nothing
W: 1 hour yard work- pruning the crepe myrtle
Th: 2 mile walk, 1 hour yard work- raking
F: 1 hour yard work- chopping out crepe myrtle into small enough pieces for the garbage men to take away
S: 1 mile walk
S: 2 mile walk alone

Grandpa was in town this week, so I was privileged enough to take 2 walks by myself. I was feeling better too, so I got some much needed Spring yard cleaning work done.

Yesterday

Yesterday's walk and yard work were a no-go. First, I forgot that we had a Lenten retreat all day, and second I felt faint again when I got home from the retreat. The midwives were not too concerned, but I think I'll call this week if the faint feeling keeps up. I just can't seem to get anything done when it happens. Sometimes that is most of the day!

I did manage my walk today and was feeling better.

Feeling Better

M: Yard work for 1 hour
T: 2 mile walk with Luke, yard work
W: 2 mile walk alone
Th: Bike riding 20 mins
F: Bike riding 45 mins
S: Bike riding 45 mins (planned) + yard work
S: 2 mile walk alone (planned)

This week Nathan came home and I got a lot of energy back! I think I was just emotionally worn out last week. Also, saw the Dr. and baby is doing well, weight gain is on track, etc...

Hope you all had a good week!

On the mend a bit

So, I think I just needed a 'blah' week.  I had an encouraging midwife appt this last week.  Encouraging in that she said, "Yes, that is normal!"  Basically, this pregnancy has felt like the 3rd trimester in many ways for a while.  The feeling of carrying a bowling ball resting between your legs and fairly intense and regular Braxton Hicks have been a regular part of my life.  I just feel so much more uncomfortable with this one than the others and it is just my multiple pregnancies finally taking effect.

I did a light weight, pilates workout on Monday and ran 2 miles on Tuesday.  The rest of the week was shot because of preparing to travel and then traveling down to So. Cal for a wedding.  However, I feel encouraged and motivated again, and that is what matters.

Katie, like you, I have to take a break the day after (even if I walk or go to church).  Any activities that involve me being on my feet for a considerable amount of time greatly intensify the above symptoms for me.  But a day of rest helps minimize things again.

Working and Resting

For the past few weeks, I have had to slow down a little. I am struggling with feeling faint at times (not while exercising, just at times throughout the day). I can do a good workout one day, and then nothing at all the next. When I was pregnant with Luke, I experienced something similar. I apparently have low blood pressure that gets lower when I am pregnant and often causes me to feel weak and faint. So, when I feel like that, I usually nix any great exercise feats for the day.

The other reason that I have been tired is because of all the yard work that has had to be done- pulling weeds, planting, raking (bags and bags!). It is Spring here in Houston!

So here is what the past two weeks looked like as best as I can remember:

M: Prevention DVD + yard work for 1 hour
T: Nothing
W: 1 hour yard work
Th: Nothing
F: Prevention DVD
S: Bike riding 30 mins
S: 2 mile walk alone

M: 2 mile walk pushing Luke
T: Nothing
W: Walked around the Houston Rodeo with Luke for nearly 4 hours (too much)
Th: Nothing!
F: Bike for 30 minutes
S: Plan to bike
S: Plan to bike

ZERO motivation right now

So, the burnout continues and I just don't feel like exercising.  Period.  I did run a mile on Mon and Tues because Jesse encouraged me too, but left on my own, I will not move a limb.  I didn't exercise yesterday, and today I am housebound due to weather and husband being gone till after the kids are in bed, and the thought of turning on a Pilates DVD now sounds akin to getting a tooth pulled right.

Anyhow, I am not certain how to deal with this: Do I take a week off and just hope that my attitude will change?  Or do I push through it?

Part of me is just struggling a lot with the limitations my body is having with this pregnancy.  Running a mile 3 times a week seemed very significant when I was pregnant with Edmund because I wasn't really in shape at the time.  Now, that seems like nothing to me and I get annoyed with myself for not being able to push myself further.

I'm also just sick of my boring, bland diet and how easily I get nauseous if I cheat even the littlest bit.  My appetite has been a lot lower the last couple weeks because I am honestly just sick of the same food all the time (which, obviously, is probably contributing to the low energy).  I suppose in general, I'm just struggling with pregnancy blahs and needed to rant a little bit.

However, the good news is I am nearly in my third trimester (just two weeks!)

recovery week

I've been feeling burnt-out post an in-law visit and this week has turned into somewhat of a recovery week (partly forced by the rain and a pinched nerve for the day).  Anyhow, no running, but 20 minutes pilates Mon and Wed and, hopefully, today too.  I think it has been good to take it easy as a bit of my energy seems to be recovering.

Two Weeks

I can't remember last week too well, but this week was a lot like last week- a combo of my Prevention DVD, walking, biking, and yard work. The yardwork is going to get more intense over the next few weeks as I try to combat the leaves, attempt to help our grass regrow in some areas, and get my garden plan in order. I may just do a patio garden because of baby #2. Are you all planting anything this year? I was thinking tomatoes, herbs and some peppers.

M: Prevention DVD + yard work for 1 hour
T: Prevention DVD
W: Walk with Luke 1 mile
Th: Bike for 30 minutes and walk around the zoo for 2 hours (I took a nap after)
F: Bike for 45 minutes
S: Plan to bike
S: Plan to walk at Luke's nap time

Jessica- I hope that you feel better soon!

exercise this week

I'm assuming I won't exercise tomorrow.

M and W-20 minutes pilates plus about 5 minutes upper arm light weight workout.
T and Th-2 mile run

Feeling good, though I will say that there comes a point in pregnancy that you lose all sense of judgment concerning your body.  In other words, even though I know I am probably still pretty fit, my body just looks strange and swollen to me and I exercise based on hope and not results!!!

Freezing in the South

With the exception of Monday, this week was all about working out indoors. We had 4 nights of hard freezes (unusual for Southeast Texas!) and a couple of days that it didn't get above freezing. But, with my trusty bike and a good DVD, I managed 6/7 days.

M: Walk with Luke (2 miles
T: Prevention DVD
W: Bike for 40 minutes
Th: Bike for 1 hour- about 17 miles!
F: Bike for 30 minutes
S: Prevention DVD, Bike for 35 minutes
S: I will probably walk 2 miles tomorrow

Monday is my next Dr's appt. and sonogram. I honestly think it is a girl, but acknowledge that it is only a guess. Maybe it is because I can only think of girl's names this time around.

comment deletion

I think only jessica can do this because she's the blog moderator.  Go to that post, click on the comments for that post.  a trash can should be next to the guy's comment.  click on that and voila!  deleted.

on another note, just got 3 days of official exercise in this week.  but yesterday, walked around the zoo and will be walking for my grocery shopping today.

Phew

All right, yesterday I did 20 minutes of Pilates plus upper arm workout with weights.  Just ran 2 miles this morning.

But, what I am really blogging about is my relief over my last weight gain.  I was so afraid it would be another ridiculously scary number but it wasn't!  Only 2 lbs this last month.  And while I wouldn't have cared if it was 4, I am very thankful it wasn't 14.

It is so nice exercising again.  I will be quite frank and say that it is a mental battle each time because pregnancy fatigue does not go away when you have more than one child, but I am very glad after I exercise.  Those short bursts of endorphins can go a long way to over all productiveness over time.  Man, hey, maybe the bathroom will finally get cleaned today!

The thing I am most liking about exercising while pregnant is feeling (and I know this isn't really a feeling but I don't know how else to express it), so feeling as though I have SOME control over my body.  Yes, I cannot push myself very hard, but there is something about the act of routine exercise that makes me remember:

"Yes, this is my body.  Yes, I can make it do things I want it to do still (even if those things are not sleep when I want to sleep, pee at acceptable intervals or be energetic when I need it to be)."

But I can still make you hurt and sweat all by myself.

Weekly Post

M: Nothing- I did 1 hour on the bike last Sunday and my morning sickness returned (overdid it)
T: Prevention DVD
W: 2 mile walk pushing Luke
Th: Bike for 35 minutes, yard work
F: Bike for 40 minutes
S: Prevention DVD, 1 1/2 mile walk
S: Nothing

It was a good week. I keep thinking that my $100 investment in the exercise bike is one of the best I ever made. Right now, I am mostly reading the Lord of the Rings series while riding. I have actually never read the books before, so I am having a lot of fun! Luke likes to have me ride too- he says, "Stay on bike Mommy, stay on!" in his forceful two-year-old way. :)

Emily- I honestly do NOT like exercising either. But, I love the way it makes me feel and how it helps me control other things in my life (like diet mainly). I have found over time that I like certain things more than others. Maybe the Shred is not the right thing for you? You found a great way to eat after a lot of experimenting. :)

Kelly-It is so good to hear that you are able to get some exercise in these days! We are praying for a healthy baby and mommy everyday.

Jessica- Did you work out much with your pregnancies? Obviously the twins were different, but were there things that you particularly like to stay in shape?

exercise updates and thoughts (re: Emily)

So, last week, I only ended up working out Thurs (ran two miles), but that made 4 days of working out.  This week:
M: 10 minutes thigh pilates, ran 1 mile
T: ran 2 miles
W: quick 20 minutes hike with kiddos
Th: 20 minutes pilates plus 6 minute upper body light weight lifting (from a video)
F: chased kids over zoo for 2+ hours

Today: I should get about a 1 1/2 miles of walking in.

Re: exercise thoughts

I used to hate exercise.  Absolutely hate it.  Part of it was viewing its benefits only in terms of losing weight.  My parents put me on strange diets all through high school because they thought I was too plump (though, in retrospect, although I felt that way, I realize now that I wasn't fat at all.  I wasn't thin, but I wasn't fat).  Anyhow, I cannot stand diets because of that and, for awhile, couldn't stand exercise.

I exercised lightly off and on after having babies simply because I was feeling really insecure about my body and would rather exercise a little than diet.

The turning point for me was when a retired psychologist told me that exercise was the best long-term cure for my panic attacks.  It gave me a reason to exercise and the initial benefits (mental and emotional) were of such great value to me that I started exercising more for those reasons than for the sake of 'looking good'.  I did lose weight in the process and became the happiest with my body than I have ever been.  But my happiness wasn't in my thinness but in the strength of my body.  I felt healthy.  Healthy mentally, emotionally and physically.  And that helps me to be a better mother, wife and friend.

So, for me, that is why I exercise.  To feel 'healthy' in a well-rounded way.

Good Week

Monday: Prevention DVD
Tuesday: 2 mile walk with stroller
Wednesday: Bike ride- 30 minutes, about 8 miles
Thursday: vaccumed the house (yes, I am counting that right now :) )
Friday: Prevention DVD, squatting against a wall, and dancing with Luke

I am feeling good and beginning slowly to bring in light weights to the Prevention DVD. I also discovered this week that I can actually still do a few full push-ups. Yay for Jillian!

This weekend may not be the best- Nathan is very sick and I am mostly trying to take the extra share of Luke care. Who knows though, we may do a walk or something.

Hope you all are doing well out there!

Whoophee!

So the end of last week, I started realizing that it was sugar causing my nausea to continue.  Just the littlest bit in any form (juice, one cookie, cereal, etc).  I also figured out eating pasta was a problem too.  Anyhow, since stopping eating those foods, my nausea is gone.  It comes back if I cheat, but doesn't bother me if I'm strict with my diet. Yeah!  I feel as much myself as I can be now, considering my body is inhabited by an alien right now.

That means, I am exercising again! Regularly!!!!

Monday: 10 minutes hip Pilates, ran 1 mile
Tuesday: ran 2 miles
Wednesday: 10 minutes hip Pilates, 10 minutes thigh Pilates

I plan on exercising the next two days too.  I am already feeling the benefits of regular exercise again.  I am sleeping better and more energetic throughout the day.  I am so glad to find my nausea turned out to be a simple food problem and can be controlled!