Dare You To Move

At 37 weeks with roughly 3 weeks to go (unless the baby whale wants to make an early appearance), this title has dual meaning for me.

Dare You to Move.

A song title of course, but also how I've been striving to live my life these past 9 months (hell - the past 18 months). And how I choose to welcome my child into the world. 

I hope that my motivation continues into parenthood as I work to get back into shape post delivery, and to simply be a healthy and active mom. I don't think the baby will care how I look in a bikini! But it will care that I can chase it around the yard. In return,  I challenge my child and my husband to stay active with me, as a family. Very different than perhaps the examples we had / have around us. 

While my final weeks of symptoms have increased, my activity level has surprisingly been reasonable. My feet are very swollen (which sucks - sneakers don't really fit). The only thing that helps the swelling go down is exercise (probably blood flow), but then it returns fairly quickly. I've had "fake" contractions every other day which are sort of like sharp pains in your lower abdomen. Sometimes they make me stop in my tracks, while other times it's more of an annoyance. I've also experienced lots of baby movement (kicks) and shifts in weight (like the baby rolling over side to side) which I can visually see and feel (weird). Lastly - pressure on my pelvic floor has caused pain and discomfort (as the baby gets more into delivery position). It feels like you have to pee/poop but you actually do not. 

For exercise, I've been boogy-ing at dance class (even learned a new routine which I'm hoping to perfect in my last few weeks!). Though spinning /turning is off limits now because my center of gravity is so crazy with the belly. I don't want to fall and hurt myself and the baby.

CrossFit has been going great! I've introduced short running into my work-outs (which makes absolutely no sense....but for some reason, I can run again). I find that running short distances is particularly helpful when the baby is pushing down on my pelvic floor - to relieve that pressure. 
Overall the weights I'm lifting have continued to decrease, but my stamina has stayed the same (totally reasonable). 

In the photo above, I'm doing Power Cleans with  65 lbs. That was an awesome day mentally and physically.

The Fourth of July was challenging both culturally and socially without being able to drink. It's so common to have a drink during music festivals, BBQs, meeting up with old friends (same as Christmas time). It was really frustrating to be left out. Especially since I enjoy the taste/experience so much (no shame).
*Note to self:  plan the next pregnancy NOT during summer months. 

Hoping to post simple updates through this blog from the hospital when D-Day arrives.
Stay tuned for details!

37 weeks - about to go for a short run #whalerunning

36 weeks   #babywhale

Healthy food from my CSA delivery

Judgement zone

32 weeks of alien growth, still lifting weights, and proud of it. It's been interesting how much judgement I've received from friends, family, and even strangers since I've decided to stay active during my pregnancy. 

The judgement ranges from how much weight I've gained, how much food I consume, and even my physical performance (in terms of not doing enough). Not fast enough, not lifting enough....

And lots of fun comments and nicknames from it (which I usually laugh off). My husband even calls me the "baby whale" (he's lucky I love him). 

The judgement that DOES bother me is those saying what I can and cannot do (especially with little to no experience themselves) when it comes to exercising. I've been called dangerous, reckless, crazy, and a bad mother. Guess I'm not winning mother of the year award! Darn. 

Sometimes it's out of pure concern, which I can appreciate and sympathize with. I assured my friend that I wasn't making a scrambled egg out of her new baby niece/nephew!

But most of the time, it's out of ignorance. Pregnancy is no joke on your body - and continuing healthy living is even more important now than ever. Let's think about the risks of living a sedentary lifestyle (health problems, disease, obesity, chronic pain). Especially being idle for 9 months straight.

Now look at the benefits of exercise during pregnancy: 

• Promotes healthy weight gain (especially as you eat more!)
• Reduces risk of disease such as diabetes and hypertension 
• Improves blood flow
• Fights fatigue / provides energy (when you can't have caffeine anymore)
• Natural high from endorphins (when you can't have alcohol and other fun things!)
• Mental health - clarity, accomplishment, relaxation, fun 
• Reduces pain (flexibility, joints)
• Improves sleep (in case you were not tired enough from growing a tiny human)
• Stronger heart for baby and mamma
• Stronger muscles / bodies for labor / pushing  (squats!)
• Lowers risk of delivery complications
• Faster post delivery recovery

OF COURSE, you have to be smart about it. Getting injured or hurting the baby is not a joke either. I'm not a medical professional, but the general rules are:

1. If you did not exercise regularly before pregnancy, you should stick with light activities like walking, biking, swimming, and small weights - in a light to moderate manner.

2. If you were regularly active before pregnancy, now is not the time to break records or perform at peak. Tone everything down and listen to your body. Avoid contact sports, laying on your back, abdominal work, activities where you can trip or fall, excessive bouncy movements, and jumping.

Trust me - you won't want to do any of those anyway (naturally your body will be like NOPE).

I also cannot stress enough to wear the proper clothes (belly support, full panel), sports bra (fit to actual size), and shoes (per activity - cushion, ankle support, traction etc.)

Here's my personal exercise progression below, but it's different for every woman. My operating % is an estimate of exertion. 

• Week 1-7  – operating at 100%, most people do not know they're pregnant until about week four or five. Still running, CrossFit, Dance at this point.
• Week 8-12 – operating at 60%, this was over the Christmas holiday and when the first trimester storm hit. I just wanted to lay down or throw up most of the time. JOY.  No more running.
• Week 13-18 – operating at 70%, I was feeling a little bit better, but still like a giant hangover. 
• Week 19-30– Second trimester arrives, feeling MUCH better. Operating at about 80%. Besides the belly growing, sometimes I forgot I was pregnant. But dance feels much less sexy. 
• Week 31 to NOW - shoot me. Optimal belly growth. Operating at 50-60%. ZERO sexy left.

3. If you have any complications where exercise could make it worse (such as risk for pre-term labor, placenta previa, multiples, etc.), than you should minimize all risk, especially towards the end of pregnancy.  

And lastly, if you're just not comfortable with the idea or it's simply not for you, then trust your instincts. I just know it's right for me. And I feel awesome doing it. 

There's something empowering about being a woman, growing a baby inside you, and lifting something 6 times the weight of that baby. In case you were wondering, I'm only lifting 65 lbs in the photo.

The Final Countdown

At 30 weeks, with 10 weeks left, we've officially entered the final countdown of my pregnancy. Looking forward to having my body back, binge drinking, and feeling normal again. Just kidding. The adventure of parenthood has just begun. 

I've noticed that I'm leaving the cute pregnant stage and have entered the creepy pregnant stage. Lots of other weird body things are happening as I continue to grow. It's pretty gross. 

My energy level seems to be dropping again (similar to the first trimester), where drying my hair at night is now an exhausting task. I'm not sure if it's temporary or here to stay for the next 10 weeks.

In CrossFit, lifting my own body weight (squats, ring rows, dips) is now nearly impossible (I'm up +27 lbs from my original weight). Who needs to add plates when you bring your own extra weight to each work-out!

I was recently "kicked off the bar" because I couldn't clear it over my belly during a Power Clean. I was restricted to dumbbells which are just plain annoying to use.

They key to my continued activity level has been massage therapy that I utilize once every two weeks.  It used to be enough to help ward off soreness and injury, but now I could use it more frequently. Unfortunately, that's not an option. I would highly recommend that any women who choose to stay active during pregnancy book out appointments in advance (if economically possible). It could really help extend how long / well you exercise into your pregnancy. 

Lastly, I've been thinking a lot about postpartum fitness and how I want to handle that transition. Planning is difficult because I have no idea how I'll feel after giving birth, but I have some pipe dreams. I was planning to run a 5k or 10k in early October - but that might not be possible since the recommended wait time to resume exercise is 6 weeks after giving birth. At first I thought that was nonsense ("because you're tired") when the real reason is because other parts of your body are healing (think major surgery, bleeding, etc).  I'm still hoping I bounce back quicker than 6 weeks, but it probably won't be as ambitious as I had originally planned. Getting back to running might not happen before that race.

The other component to think about is whether I choose to breastfeed and how that affects when/how I "diet" to start losing the extra weight. I hate to use that dirty word, but essentially it would be some form of dieting. That's a topic for another day.


#babywhale #parasite #alien
at 26 weeks (though I'm 30 weeks now)

This is getting ridiculous

Week 24 - This is getting ridiculous. How is it possible that I'm going to get bigger?With 16 weeks to go, I just cannot comprehend how I can accommodate my tenant's future growth. I feel like a whale! (or as my husband likes to say, "a baby whale" in a Boston accent). 

I've had a solid 3 weeks of consistent exercise - which is awesome. Same mix of CrossFit, Dance, and distance walking in between. Many of my symptoms have been less intense, allowing me to have less bad days that mess up my fitness routine.

Unfortunately, this has been accompanied by an increase in appetite that could feed a village. Not necessarily bad things - but just deathly hungry every two hours. I also might have had Cheesecake Factory last week....including cheesecake. I've been trying to keep healthier snacks on hand (a different fruit every week, cheese, avocado slices). Tragically yet conveniently, our favorite local ice-cream shop has re-opened for the season, leading to some post dinner trips lately. 

I'm up +17 pounds total from my starting weight. I'm supposed to gain about 25 pounds in pregnancy (that's probably on the lower side, but I was really striving to keep at a healthy weight gain, limiting fat gain, and having it be mostly baby growth). If I have 16 weeks to go, this seems unrealistic as I continue to gain at least one pound per week. 

With the upcoming summer and warmer weather, I wonder if my activity level will remain constant and my eating habits improve. In theory, I think so. I'm always a happier and healthier person in the summer (pregnant or not). Winters in New England make you want to be outside as much as possible when the weather clears up. But like most of my theories, I'm usually wrong and over ambitious. 

I also can't wait to stop wearing these damn winter maternity clothes. I'm right between sizes right now and they're getting so uncomfortable. I already have new clothes purchased for spring/summer...fun, light, colorful. I'm dying to make the switch. Especially to ditch the boots for sandals so my feet can breathe and move. 

Almost there. 

International Fitness

We're past the 20 week mark - half way through (see picture for reference and proof). I'm at the stage now where people are staring at me, unsure if I'm pregnant or gaining an insane amount of focused weight in my belly. I wish I could wear a sign that says "It's not my fault!". 

The stares particularly intensified during my trip to Italy last week. My husband and I had acquired free airline tickets over the summer during our last trip there, and found ourselves in a "use them or lose them" situation. So we went! 

It was a short trip - only 4 days with travel. But well worth it to reconnect with friends, the land, and most importantly, FOOD. With the exception of things I'm not allowed to eat, I did not hold back. It was a carb fest. And I'm not ashamed. 

One thing to note is how different my body felt after eating much more carbs than I usually do - it felt crappy. It was delicious, don't get me wrong. But there's no denying the effect that extra sugar and carbs have on our digestion, energy, and overall health. It helps reinforce my theories about moderation and removing as much excess from our diets when possible (with the exception of vacations of course - I'm not a sadist). 

The stares from Italians was so bad that I started to unbutton my jacket and purposely put my hand on my belly (a habit I have anyway....some strange instinct). Just so they would know I was pregnant. 
The truth is, obesity is not viewed lightly in Italy (especially in the North). Not that anyone is necessarily fat praising in the USA, but Italians are so in tune with what they put into their bodies - that in general as a people, they cannot accept obesity (in the same way that Americans do).

I also noticed a ton more Italian runners in the street,  as well as signs advertising marathons, halfs, 5-10k, etc. When I lived in Italy, exercising in the street seemed less acceptable. It belonged in a gym. When I would walk or jog home from the gym in my athletic gear, I would often get stared at. This seems to be changing. 

When I lived in Italy, I always wondered how I did not gain weight (e.g. see carb fest). My FitBit gave me a little insight into why. On a normal day in the USA, outside of my workouts, I have a hard time hitting my suggested 10,000 steps per day. I'm usually around 8k by bedtime. During this Italy trip, I was averaging 30,000 steps a day without trying. And that's without the normal errands I would have had living there like going to and from work/school, grocery shopping, etc. AMAZING. 

Since my last post, my activity level has improved by about 30%. I'm feeling much better with all the pregnancy symptoms. I'll still have bad days of exhaustion, nausea, headaches.....but they are no longer constant. This means I'm able to hit my one hour per day of exercise more consistently, but not perfectly. Activities have mostly been walking for exercise at a moderate pace (a few miles),  CrossFit 2-3x times a week, and Dance 1-2x a week. 

I'm assuming the walking will increase dramatically as the weather gets nicer and the other activities become more difficult with my growing belly.

Currently waiting for the baby to start exercising inside me so that I can feel movements!

Harder than expected

As with most things along this journey, I underestimated how difficult it would be to continue to exercise (while pregnant). My ambition got the best of me. Where I usually have no problem following through with things (especially things I'm good at), this was a whole different beast to tackle. 

My hour of exercise every day has dwindled to "whenever possible, whenever I feel up to it".  It's been rough and a hard blow to my ego. I didn't expect to feel this sick throughout pregnancy. Certain symptoms that were supposed to get better in the second trimester have not (headaches, dizzy, nausea, exhaustion). Throw in a busy post-holiday work period and work travel, and my goal becomes even more challenging (as with anyone, pregnant or not).

I'll have one week where I meet my every day goal, and then a whole week of absolutely nothing.  

The biggest thing I had to give up was running which breaks my heart. I can't even wrap my head around moving my body in that way right now. Considering jumping hurts (think pain, jiggles, weird shifts in weight)....running which is basically a bouncing motion feels completely off limits. Maybe I wasn't enough of a serious runner beforehand to maintain it now?

My change in body image has also brought a whole new slew of emotions. The first picture is at 14 weeks. Unfortunately not a clear "baby bump" yet with most people mistaking it as "getting fat". I haven't gained much visual weight elsewhere, outside of my tummy area.

I actually haven't put on much weight at all - currently at 154 lbs (maybe +7lbs from conception). But the way my body is changing, the way my clothes do not fit, and the way I feel makes it feel like +20 lbs. There's been a big shift of weight, bloat, resources...whatever you want to call it, to my tummy and boobs.

Now at 17 weeks pictured below, the bump is becoming a little more clear (although I got the stink eye from someone in the locker room this week for struggling to get tight clothes on). People are fun. 

I already have two post-pregnancy fitness goals in my head (there I go with the lofty goals again). 

• Run a 10k in early October (the same race I did in 2015, but from 5k to 10k)
• And lose all the baby weight by New Years Eve (to fit into a slim party dress)

Ambitious? Maybe. I think I can tackle them. Especially keeping in mind that the little guy/gal below needs a healthy, fit, active (bad-ass) mom to raise them. 

Carrying extra weight

Well the cat is out the bag now. I haven't posted in awhile to avoid spilling the beans! So much in my fitness world has changed these past 3 months, that it was difficult not to write about it. 

I'm expecting a baby (not in the mail, in my tummy). I was not convinced it was true, but the ultrasound proved that it was in fact not too many burritos (as my husband suspected). Nor is it a puppy - sorry Rob.

I just hit 3 months / 12 weeks. Nearly done with the first trimester (not sure how this math works exactly....40 weeks / 3 trimesters = 13.3 weeks). I give up on trying to figure it out! All I know is a baby is arriving around the last week of July, maybe August if it decides to cook a bit longer. 

The first people to know I was pregnant were my CrossFit coaches, weeks before family and friends. It was a super awkward conversation for me, but necessary. They worked with me to immediately start scaling movements, intensity, and load. Basically I have to be able to talk during the WOD (not be completely out of breath), nothing that would hyper extend my abdomen area, nothing that is ab focused like sit-ups, and lastly nothing where I can fall (like box jumps). I've also added no jump rope to the list at this point because it's extremely uncomfortable. 

For weights I've scaled down to what still feels hard to me now. For example if I was lifting 100 lbs before, I'm doing 50 lbs now. Interestingly enough, this is still incredibly difficult as my body's "max" has adjusted naturally. 

Next I applied the same rules to Dance, although less of them apply. Dance is great while pregnant! Even if you look silly (especially the sexy moves......no sexy here). 

Now what I can and cannot do on paper means NOTHING if how I feel does not align. OMG ladies....I do not recommend this pregnancy nonsense. I know that sounds horrible, but let me vent please before you crucify me. 

Shortly after finding out, I traveled to San Francisco for business and had a great workout week. I was running great distances. Even through Thanksgiving I was killing it on the runs. Then week 6-7 hit. Like a wave all at once - constant nausea, acid reflex, throwing up, dizzy, achy, headaches, food cravings, food aversion. Then about week 9, the growth started. Boobs and tummy started to grow and I put some weight on. 

That has been pretty much been my life up until this point. I'm barely a functioning adult. Supposedly, it gets better soon and then I start to "glow". Like a tan? That would be nice.

I haven't run since early December - just can't swallow it. Maybe in the second trimester I can give it a shot.

My plan for pregnancy fitness is to stay as active as possible within healthy limits. Trying to exercise daily for an hour. No more record breaking and trying new things for the next 6 months (unless eating competitions count). Apparently it's really good for me and the baby to not veg out, even though I want to. Common sense. It will also help me keep my weight in check as I continue to grow.  

I can see myself running miles with a stroller in a few months....