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.

Week 39 Summary for Jessica

3/13 - Sunday
3/14 - Bob Harper Pure Burn Super Strength DVD, 60 min. section
3/15 - Tae Bo Turbo Fat Burner DVD
3/16
3/17
3/18 - Jackie Warner Xtreme Timesaver Training DVD

3/19 - Dancing with the Stars DVD - Jive section

This week was weird, because I really had to force myself to exercise. I kept wanting to crochet instead! But not a bad week. Maybe I'll manage to do the Bob Harper 60 min. cardio DVD tomorrow. I haven't done that one for awhile, and I want to.

How's everyone else doing?

-Jess

Week 38 Summary for Jessica

3/6 - nothing
3/7 - Jackie Warner Xtreme Timesaver Training DVD
3/8 - nothing
3/9 - Crunch Boot Camp DVD
3/10 - Dance of the Inches: Hip-Hop Party - 2/3 sections
3/11 - Ultimate Tae Bo (hee, hee - this was way too corny and fun)

3/12 - nothing

Yay! Nice to be back to 4x/week. It's very good not to be sick anymore.

Katie - thanks for the comment on my last week's post. But I think I'd die if I tried to do everything all in one day!

-Jess

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!

Week 37 Summary for Jessica

Well, after getting over the flu, I got a nasty cold. So, all I have to report for last week is two 35 minute walks. Hopefully this next week I'll be able to get back into a regular exercise schedule. I really miss it!

-Jess

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

Week 37 Summary for Jessica

2/20 Sunday - Dancing with the Stars: Cardio Dance DVD
2/21 - Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom DVD - Cha-Cha & Jive sections
2/22
2/23 - No More Trouble Zones DVD
2/24
2/25

2/26 - 35 minute walk

-Jess

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!)

Week 36 Summary for Jessica

2/13 Sunday - nothing

2/14 - 30 Day Shred DVD, Level 2

2/15 - 30 Day Shred DVD, Level 3
2/16 - Dancing with the Stars: Dance Off the Pounds DVD, Swing and Jive sections
2/17 - Jackie Warner Xtreme Timesaver Training DVD
2/18 - nothing

2/19 - Personal Training with Jackie DVD

It was great to start working out again this week, after two weeks of flu. I still have a head cold, but it's nothing compared to how things were going in our house.

I'm experimenting with working out in the early morning again, instead of the afternoon. It's almost impossible to get up before the kids, even if I'm up at 5:30, but I realized that I'd rather work out while the kids are up and write while they're down (i.e., in the afternoon, during quiet time/naptime) than try to do it the other way around. So far, so good.

It means I have to do shorter workouts rather than longer ones though, but that's okay.

-Jess

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!

daily yoga?

Well, that's the theory. :) I have a dvd called Yoga Prayer, by Father Tom Ryan. He's a Catholic priest and a yoga practitioner/teacher, and thus far I really, really like it. You can play it in instructional mode (very helpful for a beginner!) and when you're more comfortable with the poses, switch to the music mode.* Each "yoga prayer" is set to an arrangement of a hymn, and Fr. Ryan has created it such that the poses flow smoothly and they also match the text and spirit of the music. I love that.

The whole dvd is 50 minutes long, which is too much for me to manage before the kids get up (I'm trying to do some bible reading before starting it, too). But I'm finding that if I leave out the section in the middle that hurts my knees, and sometimes cut off the end, it works out pretty well. Yesterday Jonathan got up before I was done and we worked on dancer pose together. :)

If you enjoy yoga, this might be a good dvd to get. As a martial artist (another practice that is often frowned upon by Christians) I appreciate the way Fr. Ryan is working to claim a beautiful and healthful physical practice for the worship of Jesus.

*I do have to note that as much as I enjoy the dvd, there are some serious bugs in the title menu programming.

just fyi

per request, I blocked our follower.

-Jess

Jillian Getz Results

I've long since moved on to Level 2 of The 30-day Shred, and am definitely seeing results. My core is much stronger, as are my arms, and even my legs. My back hurts much less. I have been trying to work out every day, but have missed a few days here and there. Honestly, though, I feel that if I work out 5 times a week I still reap all the benefits cardiovascular and muscle-building benefits of The Shred. Psychologically I need the freedom to skip working out some days.

But, by and large, my greater commitment to exercising has been good for me--physically and emotionally. So I'm trying to keep it up.

Weeks 34 & 35 Summary for Jess

Basically, I was sick for two weeks. On Feb. 2, I did Level 1 of the Shred, and then I didn't work out for almost two weeks, till this morning, when I did Level 2. :)

But the end is in sight, I think. I'm not quite well, but I'm well enough that I don't start feeling sick till the evening (i.e., when I'm worn out). We did have six straight days of at-least-one-kid-per-night vomiting, then a break, and then it started again last night, but at least 2 out of the four are well now.

I'm glad to be working out again (I missed it), but man, I did not enjoy it this morning. The first one back is never fun.

-Jess

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!!!

followers?

next question is, can we block followers?  'cause that same guy is following this blog.

do we care about keeping this private?