Working out is one of the best stress relievers! Typically, I like to workout in the afternoon or evening, but when you have two kids it is whenever you get a spare moment. This may even mean multitasking – cooking and working out, playing and working out, playground adventures and working out.
My daughter and I made a great week of workouts so far – one run and two strength sessions in the books. One of the hardest things when training at home and with little ones, is actually getting the workout done. There are so many things around the house (dishes, vacuuming, cooking, etc.) that will be calling your name, just like your children are from the other room. But keep steady the course. Exercise is not only important for yourself, but to help influence your children. I can’t tell you the number of times a client has told me they couldn’t get their workout in because they had too many things going on with their kids. Keeping your kids active and engaged in activities is important, but you need to schedule yourself in on that calendar too! When you fail to workout and start noticing how unfit or out of shape you are, your children may start to notice too. Especially, when you are complaining about your swim suit or how clothes aren’t fitting, etc. I’m not expecting parents to be body builders or models by any means, but active and healthy is important. Statistics show that obesity is continuously rising and this won’t change unless we, as a society, make changes. Be the positive influence in your children’s lives. Even with the busiest of schedule you can fit workouts in. Taking your kid to soccer practice? While you wait walk or jog the field or local park. Rainy day and stuck inside? Turn working out into a game for you and the kids. Use body weight exercises. No babysitter to watch your infant? Use them as your weights. Kids make great dumbbells, not excuses. The other night my daughter (1.5months old) just wanted to be held. Therefore, we did body weight squats, lunges, sit ups and push-ups together. I got my workout in and she got the needed attention. It does require some creativity and it may take you longer to accomplish your workout, but you deserve that time!
Workout of the Week:
Single arm squat thrusters – 15 each side
Single leg RDL with front bar raise – 10 each side
Push-Ups – 10
Renegade Rows with dumbbell – 10 each side
Repeat 3 times
This week marks 6 weeks since I had my gorgeous baby girl and I couldn’t have been any more excited. I have been itching for a good run or workout for the last two weeks. Let me tell you my experience returning for my check up was much more exciting than with my son. First of all I have a two year old who has copious amounts of energy and no fear whatsoever! Second…well, really there is no second, just a crazy two year old. I did not even think about leaving my son home with a sitter, because I just bring my kids everywhere with me – big mistake. On your average day I can hand my son our tablet and he will watch his movies until I pry it from him hands at the end of his show. But of course for those ten minutes while you are being examined by the doctor, he wants nothing to do with the beloved tablet. Which is how I ended up laying on the lovely exam table, spread eagle, with my son on my chest just to keep him contained from licking the bio-hazard bin or destroying the numerous Mirena brochers he loves throwing around due the toy truck on front. Good thing my doctor likes kids and can just chuckled a bit in what I can only hope is amazement. Lesson learned and exam passed! Freedom is mine and I can start getting back to my normal workout routine.
Now you may have noticed my title today is “Freedom with a Touch of Disappointment” this is because I am free to run and workout, but my BOB Duallie Pro-Revolution that I convinced my husband was necessary to buy to run with both children is unusable for running. It seems BOB has come out with a new 2016 BOB Stroller and a new car seat adapter, which would seem shouldn’t affect me as I purchased the 2015 version when they were on sale for Memorial Day (Note: Memorial Day and Black Friday are great times to get discounts on strollers). But apparently they have discontinued making the car seat adapters all together and will not have the new version out until mid-July. I realize this is only two weeks away, but with only seven weeks to train for the Spartan Beast, I need everyday I can get. Plus, this is my “freedom” from the inside of my house. I still love my BOB Stroller, but BOB needs to get it together as many parent rely on these strollers for fitness, freedom, fun and most importantly, sanity. That daily walk or run can be the difference to a happy mommy and a cranky mom-zilla!!!
Frustrated rant over, my husband came to my rescue! He kept my son, while I got in 1.25miles around the neighborhood with my daughter. It felt great to run, definitely a bit out of shape, things jiggled more than before and a good reminder of the importance of a supportive bra! Workout number 1 in the books, only 60 days left till Breckenridge Spartan Beast and this mom of two is officially back!
Going from one to two kids has been easier than I thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong I have moments where I want to hide in the closest with a bottle of wine, but for the most part I am really enjoying it. Either my daughter is more easy going or I am now accustomed to a crazy schedule and it just seems normal to always be busy. With my son I remember thinking my only purpose in life was as a milk machine. This time around while my daughter eats like crazy I find myself multi-tasking – Cooking and feeding, clean and feeding, working and feeding, etc. The Moby wrap and the Baby Bjorn have become my best friends!
The hard part of having two is not being able to play with my son for extended periods of time. I would love to play with him all day long, but between feeding and my still somewhat low energy levels, it’s not an option. Unfortunately we have had a few days of movie watching. The healing process has been much easier this time around. First off, no broken tail bone!! Second, well honestly, it all really has to do with the fact that my tail bone isn’t broken this time around. I am able to get around easier, breast feed better and actually SIT down. However, not everything is perfect! Just like last time my energy is low. I forget this many times and have done too much, landing me on the couch with cramps and straight exhaustion. My body’s polite way or reminding me that while my mind may think I can do it, my body isn’t ready.
Unfortunately I was unable to order my BOB stroller before delivering and so I have had to wait for it to arrive. Therefore, I haven’t been able to take my walks but I have tried to keep moving throughout the day. Sitting too much can cause several issues, muscle cramping, constipation and lack of energy. But I have been focusing on eating healthy and meal preparation.
The hardest part of two children, I believe, is grocery shopping. When I just had my son I would stick his car seat in the cart and shove all the groceries around him. Now I have my daughter in the cart and my son sitting in the front and a bulk of our groceries don’t even fit. I have had other mom’s tell me that use two carts – one for kids and one for groceries. That sounds like chaos waiting to happen for me. My son is now at the age where is wants to get out, add items to the cart randomly from the shelves and occasionally growls at other shoppers (he does this in fun, however not all shoppers like to be growled at, oops!). Therefore, I have tried out home grocery delivery. It was great outside of the fact they were unable to fill my entire order, which made me go to the store anyways. Needless to say I didn’t have to shop for everything and will be having groceries delivered again next week. This is one less thing I have to worry about and honestly no kid truly loves to go shopping with their parents!!
Goals for next week – Walk everyday! My stroller should be in tomorrow and getting myself and the kids outside at least once a day will do us all some good. Vitamin D and energy used will help everyone sleep better and decrease our toddler breakdowns – hopefully! Keep an eye for new recipes and meal prep ideas over the next four weeks to optimize your metabolism even when you can’t workout.
After exactly 39 weeks of growing, vomiting, pain and a whole lot of joy our little girl has arrived! Luckily she came at the hospital, but I had a few moments where I pictured it going down differently.
To explain, we held a Brewery Boot Camp this past Saturday. We knew it would be a bit tight as it was a week out from my official due, so we hired a friend to help us out. Morning of workout I was starting to have a few contractions and overall didn’t feel great, but figured I could at least make it through the morning. We arrived at the brewery at 10am to set up, at 10:02am I started timing my contractions as they were starting to come more frequently. I promised my husband I would do my best to last through the workout which went from 11am- 12pm. Unfortunately at about 11:40 the contractions getting closer together (less than 5 minutes apart) and quiet strong, I decided if we didn’t leave immediately the brewery would have it’s first ever “Brewery Baby”. Four short hours later, one epidural, ten pushes and baby girl Chavez was born! 6lbs 2oz and 19.5 inches long.
I could not have asked for a more perfect delivery. One, it was at the hospital! Two, doctors and nurses came through for me every step of the way to make this comfortable and memory to last a lifetime.
Since giving birth I have a few thing to complain about, number one being Cramps!!! Holy crap do the cramps hurt a hundred times more with the second one. Don’t get me wrong I love the idea that my uterus is contracting back to it’s “original” size, but wow not a fun feeling. Second, I have also struggled with regulating my milk flow. I am lucky in that my milk came in a day or two after delivering, but I am truly a rock solid D – literally! Last pregnancy pumping was helpful to relieve the pain of being full with milk, but this time it seems to just make it worse. Therefore, I have succumb to the internet for help. My current trial is to feed only on one side every two hours and try to not pump unless absolutely necessary. Thus far (six hours into this) I am either somewhat relieved or I have become used to the “rock solid” chest!
Below are my horribly embarrassing post pregnancy photos! I want to share these with everyone for two reasons. One, accountability! By showing you these I am ensuring I get myself moving and back into shape or I will look like a fool telling everyone else to do. I truly believe you must walk the walk and talk the talk. Two, I want you to follow me on this journey of recovery with workouts and healthy eating.
4 Days Post Delivery
My Goals:
#1 Spartan Beast – August 27th
The Spartan Beast is between 12-14 miles long, 30-35 obstacles and has an average finish time of 5+ hours. This means I need to not only gain back a great deal of my muscle to complete the obstacles, but I need to get my endurance/running game in check. Last May, I did the Spartan Sprint at Fort Carson and absolutely loved it. Without even knowing what to expect I took 2nd place in my age group and was only behind the first place group finisher by 1 minute. This year my goal is to finish in the top 10 of my age division, but it is going to be tough as I will only have nine weeks to train and that is considering everything goes well.
To join our team register here and find team “Strength Train 4 Life”.
#2 goal: Possible CrossFit Competition in September
This is the same competition I competed in last year while several weeks PREGNANT!! I really want to come back and try again without the nausea, vomiting and overall fatigue. This one may have to wait or may be a different competition as one of my teammates is one the injury list with an ACL tear. Boo! I’ll keep you up to date on the decision with this one.
Note to all my followers: I will be waiting my entire six weeks to start my training, which I know is a debatable subject as many trainers and women start training before their 6 weeks doctors appointment. My feelings however are this: While I may do some light body work (squats, abs, walking etc.) I feel you spent 9 months rearranging your body, it will take another 9 months to have it truly heal your pelvic floor, abdominal walls and body. Therefore, to ensure everything is healed I will wait until my doctors appointment at the end of June to start my real training in hopes that when I cough, sneeze, run or laugh I won’t pee my pants every time! 🙂
For the next 6 weeks I will take the opportunity to focus on my nutrition. This will be great for my body as well and to provide needed nutrients to my daughter through my breast milk. Follow me here on my blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with nutrition and exercise ideas to get you back to your pre-pregnancy body.
As we grow these little tiny beings in our bodies, we are always thinking about the big day when he/she will come out. “How will I be able to handle the pain?” we ask ourselves. “What can I do to prepare?” The truth of the matter is, there is a lot of pain, suffering and “uncomfortableness” around pregnancy, and leading up to the big day. If we condition ourselves to be “comfortable” with what we go through during pregnancy, we will have a solid foundation going into birth.
Here are eight ways you can prepare yourself and your body for a smooth labor and easier birth.
1. Educate Yourself
There’s a lot of fear around the unknown of what happens to our bodies during pregnancy and labor. The more fear that we have, the more we become anxious and the more stress hormones are released, thus making labor, in itself, more painful. As you ease your mind–empowering it with information about what to expect throughout pregnancy and labor–the intensity of pain lessens.
2. Tap the Power of Pregnancy Yoga
In a pregnancy yoga practice, there’s a lot of emphasis on breathing, especially through the difficult poses. Through working with our breath, we are able to relax more in uncomfortable moments. Our breath will allow us to remain present and ground us during these times, as well as give us a break in between tough times.
By practicing the poses common to most pregnancy yoga classes, you will learn how to release lower back tension, and open up your chest and shoulders and hips. All of these muscles can hold onto tension during pregnancy and labor, so learning how to release this tension during your pregnancy is very helpful.
3. Make TIme for Meditation
A meditation practice puts your body and mind into training that enables you to sit with times of discomfort. The deeper we are able to go into a practice, the more objectively we are able to observe everything around and within ourselves, rather than reacting to it. It will allow us to remain present with everything.
4. GIve Yourself Regular Exercise
Through consistent activity, you allow your body to be conditioned, to become stronger, and to be able to withstand added stress on your joints and muscles. As baby grows within our bodies, our load increases. Our bodies become more used to the “uncomfortableness” of pregnancy and labor.
Walking is one of the best activities to do when you are pregnant. It teaches you patience and induces a state of relaxation.
5. Utilize Visualizations and Mantras
Our mind is a very powerful tool in pain management. Through specific mantras and sayings, we can decrease our pain. A favorite saying I like to use is, “Strong mama breath. Breathe in for baby.” Or with each contraction, visualize your cervix as a flower that is opening, as you chant, “Open, open, open.”
6. Call in Your Support System
Having a stable, peaceful support team is very helpful during childbirth. Don’t hesitate to stand up for yourself (or have your partner do so) and tactfully ask a non-peaceful person to leave the room. Hiring a doula is another great way to help support you and your partner during this time.
A doula is trained in the birth process and in how to help alleviate extra stress of the unknown. Every doula is different in their gifts that they bring to a birth. An increase in peacefulness during the birth process equals a decrease in pain.
7. Harness Your Mental Strengths
Trust in the whole process of pregnancy and labor. Visualize that each contraction is a wave that slowly peaks in intensity, then comes down.
Having this sense of courage, as you face a contraction, knowing that it will pass, will decrease the anxiety and stress around it. Trust that this too shall pass. In between each contraction, focus on the breath, to allow yourself to rest and become present to this time.
8. Be Present
Whatever “uncomfortable” situation you are in, breathe it fully in. There is no running, no escaping, just being with it. If it is a contraction, let it wash over you, like a wave, then soften and surrender into it, as if you were a jellyfish. Allow it to pass through you. It is our very breath that will allow us to be present with it all.
It often feels like life is moving faster and faster all the time, but in the delivery room, things are actually slowing down. A National Institutes of Health study found that childbirth for first-time moms now takes 2.6 hours longer than it did 50 years ago. To make that extra time in the delivery room less painful and more joyful, it helps to know how to make the hard work of having a baby more manageable. Starting today, here are 10 things you can do to make your birth experience that much easier.
1. Join the head of the class
Take a childbirth course and enroll as early as possible: Not only do classes fill up fast, but some, such as The Bradley Method courses, run 12 weeks, which means you need to start them in your second trimester.
Also, find out what your doctor’s philosophy is on Cesarean sections and epidurals versus drug-free ways of managing pain. Ask tough questions—and “stupid” ones, too— to learn about the different stages of labor so you know what to expect. “The better prepared you are, the more choices you have during labor,” says nurse practitioner Lynette Miya, M.N., R.N.P., of Torrance, Calif. “You don’t want to arrive at the hospital without any idea of what’s going to happen.” Once labor starts, no surprise is a good surprise.
2. Find strength and focus
“The most important thing women learn through yoga is how to focus,” says Carmela Cattuti, L.P.N., a Boston-based Kripalu certified instructor specializing in prenatal yoga certification training. “It also strengthens the entire body, increases flexibility and gives you stamina. But what is possibly even more helpful is that it helps your mind relax.” This, in turn, leaves your body free to go about the business of birthing.
3. Nix negativity
Some childbirth educators believe graphic images, catastrophic tales and words of discouragement (“You’ll never be able to get that monster out without a C-section!”) can affect your subconscious and create a mental block during labor.
At best, negative thoughts make labor stressful; at worst, they’ll actually intensify pain. Change the channel on the TV, tune out or walk away when the subject matter makes you uncomfortable; also, shield yourself from scary labor Facebook threads by logging off.
Bonus: Learning to do this now will help you avoid being affected by all the unwanted advice you’ll get after the baby is born.
4. Study up
When you’re in the grip of labor, it’s too late to crack open that self-hypnosis book or locate a birthing ball. Preparation counts.
Case in point: Squatting increases the size of the pelvic opening by about 28 percent. But if you wait until you’re in labor to try it for the first time, your squatting stamina won’t add up to, well, squat.
5. Secure support
Doulas are nonmedical professionals trained to provide emotional and physical support as well as information to women during pregnancy and labor. Studies have found that with a trained doula’s continuous support, labor times are shorter and the need for epidurals, C-sections, oxytocin for induction and forceps were decreased by about half. Another study concluded that women who received support through a hospital- based doula program were more likely to attempt breastfeeding. Check out DONA International (dona.org) to help you locate a certified doula in your area.
6. Have a trick up your sleeve
Learn several effective techniques to manage pain during childbirth, such as self-hypnosis, position changes, heat pack application and different breathing methods. “If you don’t know what your options are, you don’t have any,” says Tracy Hartley, a certified doula and owner of B*E*S*T Doula Service in Los Angeles.
7. Get on up
Upright positions, such as standing, walking, kneeling, slow dancing, sitting and squatting, allow gravity to help move the baby down and out. “Sometimes, getting the baby into the pelvis is like fitting a key into a lock,” Hartley says. “You need to do a little jiggling. Rocking back and forth on your hands and knees may help to get the baby into position.”
For most women, a dark and quiet environment is ideal during labor, so ask your nurse or partner to dim the lights and minimize noise. Little touches make a difference: a favorite pillow, pair of socks or soothing scent. “Aromatherapy, especially the scent of lavender, is very calming in labor,” says Miya.
9. Be a water baby
The warmth and weightlessness of a bath can be soothing throughout your labor, so if you have access to a warm tub, take the plunge. (Be sure to get your doctor or midwife’s green light before doing so; there’s a risk of infection if your water has broken.)
If a soak isn’t possible, try taking a shower.
10. Stay true to yourself
Labor transforms you, but it won’t make you suddenly love lime Jell-O, New Age music or the sight of your in-laws as you breathe through a contraction. People may push all kinds of suggestions on you during labor; listen but don’t feel you have to go along with them.
It’s your body, your baby and your labor, so stick to your guns. Consider it practice for when your baby is a teenager.
It’s been a while since I have posted my workouts. I have either failed to fit them in or had substituted with walks, outdoor building/gardening or a workout I simply never got posted. My sincerest apologies to those who are using them for your own workouts.
I am now nine days from my due date and the contractions are starting to pick up. Nothing crazy but definitely more frequent and occasionally keeping me up at night. Take last night for instance, finally at 1:00am I realized the contractions we fairly close together and quiet frequent. Per my experience the first time around I began to drink water, just to ensure I wasn’t having contractions due to dehydration. By 2:30am I woke my husband up and informed him and we started timing more closely. One glass of water down. By 2:45am I called the doctor who told me to come on in, but take my time. So take my time I did and immediately after calling contractions started to slow down. Needless to say we decided to stay home and wait it out. End result – still pregnant!
However, on a fitness note yesterday we did take a mini hike and today the little guy and I took a stroll around the neighborhood. When we got back I incorporated a small amount of strength work:
Keeping moving is helping me to stay sane and feel like I am not losing total control of my body! It has also helped to keep the swelling down this time. Comparing pictures from my last pregnancy and talking with friends/family, we have all realized I was a whole lot more swollen last time around. Below are a few of my most embarrassing pictures – enjoy!
The picture on the left is from my 1st pregnancy and the one on the right is from this week. (I know they are different weeks, last time we forgot week 23). Do you think we’re having a boy or a girl?
How far along: 23 weeks!
Baby Size: A mango {11 inches, 1 pounds}
Weight gain: 15 lbs
Maternity clothes: Yes. Even my yoga pants are a bit tight.
Stretch marks: None yet.
Sleep: Good. Getting up typically once per night to pee.
Gender: Stay tuned this Thursday for the gender reveal!
Movement: Yep, little one is moving like crazy and loves kicking my pelvic floor!
Looking forward to: Meeting our sweat pea – SOON! Matt set up the hammock in the backyard this weekend so we have another little place to relax once the baby arrives.
Food cravings: Had a few sweet cravings this week, otherwise GREEN CHILI!Food aversions: Pork and strong spice smells.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Strong smells and plain water.
What I miss: Being able to sit up with my ab muscles! And I am really looking forward to an ice cold Hard cider.
Symptoms: Baby kicks, bloated after my meals and occasional Braxton Hicks contractions.
Nursery: Almost cleaned out and we are starting to pick colors and designs to paint on the walls.
Belly Button in or out? Out – and when I cough more out!
Wedding rings on or off? On and no swelling.
Mood: Fairly good. I have occasional moments of annoyance, typically when I need more food or sleep, but otherwise upbeat.
Workouts: Good, on hold till further notice from my OB, due to contractions.
January Distance Challenge – 28.25 miles down, 21.75 miles to go!
I have been taking it a bit easier the past couple days – my higher activity has been causing a few Braxton Hicks contractions in the evenings. I had this last pregnancy starting at 17 weeks, but until I see my doctor on Monday I don’t want to push it. This little one has some more cooking to do!
Now that I have crossed the half way mark of this pregnancy I am starting to notice my energy is draining. I am always a go, go, go person, but lately I have had to stop and rest. My husband on occasion even asks why I am so tired, of course my response “I don’t know, could it be the person growing inside of me?” Someday’s I really wish men could truly understand what women go through just to make a baby.
Don’t get me wrong my husband does help out more and is really looking forward to our newest edition, but there are someday’s I truly wish he could understand what it is like to be pregnant.
I am always joking with my girlfriends about guys needing to experience just three small parts of pregnancy – 1 Day of nausea, vomiting and the “morning sickness”, 1 day of being humongous (9 months pregnant) walking around with the extra weight and finally, just 1 HOUR of labor pains. One hour that is all I am asking! 🙂 If any of you haven’t seen the viral videos where guys are hooked up to electrical stimulation machines which simulate labor pains, it is definitely worth your while and a few laughs (Men in Labor) or the other great video is done by the Try Guys (Try Labor Simulation). While they will never truly understand what women go through, this could gets them just a little closer. Of course when I offered to find a location my husband could try this he quickly found a reason he would be unable to do so!
Needless to say pregnancy is not for the faint of heart and definitely takes a lot to endure. I even have a few girlfriends who, because of my fabulous stories of pregnancy, have sworn off babies and will simply “buy” them! I highly doubt when it come there time that they could not face the challenge, but it doesn’t sound a lot easier on the body that way.
January Distance Challenge – 16.25 miles down and 33.75 miles to go! I have some catching up to do!!! Eeek
strengthtrain4baby 