H54F: Take 2

 What a fantastic week!!

I'm feeling good and this weekend I get to see my parents!

I met up with Molly last Thursday to attend the Kari Jobe worship concert at Cary Church of God.  I am obsessed with Kari Jobe and I adore Molly so it was a fantastic evening!

I am feeling well enough to start running again!

This has been a huge void for the past 3-4 weeks because I've had morning sickness. I was super excited when the doctor told me I'm good to run with some adaptations!

I've been taking prenatal yoga for the past 3 weeks and I absolutely love it.

I visited the zoo with some great girlfriends and their children.

If you live in NC and you've never been to the zoo, it is FABULOUS!

I only live about 30 minutes from it and I intend to get a family pass after baby comes.

Sweet friends popped in to visit the other evening and brought me a pregnancy calendar where I can document every step of my pregnancy.  I started filling it out that same night.  I love knowing that I won't forget anything because it will be documented!

How was your week?

Exercise during Pregnancy

**I am not a personal trainer, dietician, or in the medical field.  The information I am sharing is what works for me, my active lifestyle, and my doctor.  I've done lots of research and reading and I encourage you to do the same if you are expecting and want to stay active!**

If you aren't expecting or if you are and just haven't shared it with the world yet, let me warn you: once you share your exciting news, everyone has an opinion about what you should or shouldn't be doing.  Some of it is great and helpful while some of it is frustrating and discouraging.  And if you are pregnant and have shared it, you can nod your head in agreement because you know exactly what I'm talking about.  My advice: listen to your doctor and do what is best for YOU.

After talking to my doctor I learned several things about exercise throughout pregnancy...

1. If you were active before, you can stay active throughout (unless you get to a point where your pregnancy becomes a high-risk in which your doctor will tell you to stop).  My doctor pretty much told me I can continue running just as far as I was before and doing the activities I was doing.
2. Adjust your workout accordingly.  The doctor did say I can keep going like I was before, however he said that I need to slow my mile time.  Essentially, at no point in my workout should I be so winded that I can't carry on a conversation.
3. Drink water.  This is important all the time, but especially during pregnancy.  Drink, drink, drink.  You want to ensure that your baby is getting all the oxygen it needs especially since while working out your muscles require that oxygen.  Supplement by drinking even more than normal.
4. Only do what feels right and once something stops feeling right, stop doing it.  If at any point you feel light-headed, dizzy, or sick stop.  Wherever you are, whatever it is, stop.  This goes for walking through Target if that's what you're doing.  If it is really bad, call your doctor.  Or discuss it with them at your next appointment.  I'm currently taking prenatal yoga - my instructor constantly reminds me to do only what feels comfortable.  This is a time when we don't want to stretch too far or twist in a way that could detach the uterus.
5. Continue strength training.  I think when pregnant a lot of us focus on not gaining too much weight so cardio takes over our workouts, but it is just as important to continue strength training.  Delivery is one of the biggest workouts we will ever go through and the more upper strength we have, the easier delivery will be on us.

I will be sharing my fitness experiences throughout pregnancy with all of you.  I'm hoping to stay as active as possible throughout pregnancy.  Won't you join me?!

Worry

Via

Being pregnant is the absolute best gift I could have ever received.  I am making a conscious effort to enjoy every single stage of pregnancy.  There are so many things you can worry about!

Too many things and if I'm honest with myself, I am not in control of any of them.  There are things I can do to try to ensure my baby's health, my own health, my experiences during labor, my recovery time after delivery, etc, but what I do will not guarantee anything.  At some point, you just have to give it all to God.  He is in control of my growing baby.  Worry only makes things worse.  For baby and me.

So, all the concerns people share, all the horror stories, or the suggestions about breastfeeding, epidurals, or exercise they have to be taken lightly.  Don't get me wrong.  Some people have been super supportive and forthcoming with advice and life experiences.  To those, I am so grateful.  Others have shared opinions and stories that no new mother wants to hear.

For now, I'm doing the best I can for baby and me.  I'm following my doctor's advice and I'm not worrying.  I'm drinking in every moment.  Fear and worry will prohibit me from enjoying every moment so I'm tossing them aside.

In case any of you are expecting or thinking about having children in the near (or far) future, I want to share with you some incredible resources I've found along the way:
The Workout Momma: This blog is written by a personal trainer and yoga instructor who had her first child last year.  She shares information on how to safely work out throughout pregnancy (obviously after you get the OK from your dr.) and expectations of recovery.  I've gotten many ideas from her in regards to pool workouts and yoga which I take 2 days a week and have now started practicing at home.
KellyMom: My friend from college just told me about this resource last night and it is incredible.  It is full of evidence-based information on breastfeeding, sleep, and parenting.  I have started reading and I'm looking forward to reading more.