The switchover

Because of some pregnancy related aches and pains, I've decided it's time to switch off of running and on to the elliptical and bike. Yesterday I did 45 minutes on the elliptical and even though I am supposed to keep my heart rate under 140 (hehe), I still get a pretty good workout. I don't get sore like I do from running, but I'm burning fat and getting my heart going.

A trainer at the gym (during a free fitness evaluation) told me to aim for 3 45-minute cardio workouts a week and 2 strength training. She was 37 weeks pregnant herself, so she knew what she was talking about.

I'm trying really hard to be diligent, but honestly I am just tired. And hungry. Working out almost every day is a real challenge. I have to drag myself to the gym. But you know what? I'm doing it. And I seriously think working out on a regular basis while pregnant is harder than race training! There's no glory, no sweet accomplishments. Just maintenance.

Off I go to barbell class. Hurray!

What it's like at 23 weeks

Right now I am definitely at the point where I am showing, and obviously pregnant, but not huge. I can still run, slowly. I am having pain in my pelvic area after harder workouts, but the doctor said there's nothing to worry about- that the little aches and pains will get worse with each pregnancy.

Joining Lifetime Fitness has been a lifesaver. The kids play in the child center and I can do classes or hit the bike or elliptical. This is what I'm doing most often right now. There is a circuit class on Fridays that I have still been able to do until today. It's one of the hardest group fitness classes at the gym, and even with my modifications, it is still a KILLER workout. But today when she showed us all the jumps/hops/sprints we would be doing, I had to duck out and just hit the elliptical. It was a bit of a bummer, but I'm just at that point in the pregnancy and it's ok.

I have been trying to love spin class. Really trying. So many people have told me you can do that up until the day you have the baby. And I do sweat. I burn. I hate it. But not like I hate running. There's never a high point, an enjoyable moment. My butt bone hurts and the position is awkward. But it gets my heart pumping and fat burning, so I'm just going to have to get used to it.

I have been eating better and exercising more since my 7 lb. weight gain last month, and I weighed about a pound and a half more today. So... oh well. I'm just gonna keep eating healthfully and doing the workouts I can until baby comes. I will absolutely be doing a marathon in 2011, so I'm pretty sure I will lose the weight. Eventually.

Sorry so boring, just wanted to jot down the way things are at this point in my pregnancy!

No more Reese's

Today marks 22 weeks pregnant, so I snapped a quick photo before heading out for a run to document my bulge(s).

Right before my run, I had my monthly OB checkup.
I gained SEVEN pounds.
In one month.
Could you imagine if I kept that rate up?
7 lbs. x 9 months=YIKES!!

My OB jokingly asked if I've had a lot of Easter candy.
I truthfully answered yes.
I must say, those Reese's mini cups are the most deliciously evil little things.
I have obviously had more than my fair share.

So today was a big wake up call.
I don't want doctors to have to tell me I'm gaining too much weight.
I'm supposed to be a runner, right? Not a fatty.
That's what made me realize today, as I thought about it all during my run, that my health is entirely dependent on my running.

When I run regularly, I eat better, I drink more water, I think about my body.
When I don't, I slowly but surely creep into bad habits (like say... Reese's cups between every meal).

So today I ran for 30 minutes.
It wasn't bad, except for carrying all the extra weight.
The prego belly was the least of my problems.
It was my heavy legs carrying my heavy body.
It literally felt like I had those ankle weights you use for leg lifts strapped all over my body.

I have made a resolve to stop making excuses and be more healthy for the rest of my pregnancy.
I know I can do it, I just need to be how I was before I got pregnant.
On with the running and out with the Reese's!