Welcoming Remington to the blog world.

I'm back!
Gosh- it's been 7 months since I've last been on here and I've missed writing so much. Let me first start out by welcoming my sweet baby boy to the (blog) world, Remington. Born Feb. 16th 2016, 7lbs 1oz, 20in. He is delightful, a total dream....

I told you, huh? Nothing beats a wrinkly, pouty-liped, sleepy newborn. Nothing.

Someday, I'll write his whole arrival story and how I've handled my first 7 months as a mama. But for now I want to cover a few other things as well. I did write all of my workouts down through my pregnancy and most of them from post postpartum. While I enjoy writing a ton of fluff on here and tend to use this blog as my journal space, I know most of the thousand or so readers that came last month came to see the workouts. SO as promised, I will continue to post them and I will also document my postpartum fitness recovery- it has NOT been easy (let me guess, you expected that).

Below is Workout #13, Second Trimester, Back and Shoulder Day.  AND
Workout #14, Third Trimester, Leg Day (this get harder and harder the bigger you get).
As a side note, I want to mention that a lot of my repetition counts are high- and that's because you should NOT be attempting to lift super heavy while pregnant. Of course, you want to maintain your muscle so you do want the weight to be a challenge, but you should be able to get in the number of repetitions I've listed on the workout cards. If you can only squeeze out 7-8 reps- you're going too heavy. That's my rule at least to help prevent injury while pregnant :)

Let me make a long story on my absence very short....
My husband and I started a business and I had a baby. The word BUSY does not every nearly describe how chaotic and crazy my life was 7 months ago. Now, I work at our business 2 days a week and hang out with my little buddy the rest of the time. Life is SO good. I've spent the past few weeks feeling so grateful to God for this beautiful (sometimes crazy) life. I honestly could not have dreamed of anything better.







Newborn photos by the lovely http://www.daniellehobbsphotography.com/

Naming Baby and Second Trimester Worko

I'm in my 35th week and I really can't grasp my head around the fact that very, very soon I will be holding sweet baby Remy in my arms. Did I mention his name yet?  Remington "Remy". We fell in love with the name Remy- it's origin is French and it means oarsmen or rower. We wanted little squiggles to also have a longer name, and wanted Remy to be his nickname, so we Googled and found that Remy was short for a few different names, but our favorite was Remington. Sounds legit if he's going to become a lawyer or something. :)
Remy: People with this name have a deep inner desire for travel and adventure, and want to set their own pace in life without being governed by tradition....

One day, little Remy, you will have many of your own adventures. But that day is not today. First, you have to grow in me for a few more weeks, then together we will fight (well a little more me than you) to bring you into this world, and then I'm going to be crazy mama bear and love on you all the time and want to protect you from all harm, and then one day when you're good and ready (and I still won't be) you will have your own adventures and discover so many things this amazing world we live in has to offer. 

Anyway, onto my fitness life! I actually came down with a virus/sinus infection for the past few days and have been out of commission. I knew especially with growing a little one I needed to rest a lot more than usual. I'm not sure if it was getting sick or just this growing babe, but my back pain is back and it's been pretty painful. So when I have been at the gym, I've been sitting on the upright bike taking it easy. My routine has been 20 min. on the elliptical and 40 min. on the upright bike. Since all the pain and sinus issues, I've kept my heart rate exertion less than 80% (I wear a monitor when I workout). However, I've found that the best method to keep your heart rate in a good place for you and baby is to use the Rate of Perceived Exertion. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) says stay between 5-8 and ACSM says 3-7 on a 10-point scale.

Rate of Perceived Exertion

0 Feeling you get when sitting.
1 Activities like getting dressed.
2 Feeling you might get while doing laundry.
3 Taking a casual walk.
4 Walking briskly, but still maintaining conversation.
5 Feeling you get when rushing out the door.
6 Feeling you get when rushing up a flight of stairs.
7 Exercise while singing.
8 Slightly tiring exercise, but still speaking full sentences.
9 Feeling fatigue. Breathing hard.
10 All out exercise. Could not maintain for more than 30 seconds.

Workout below (remember I am just now posting workouts from my second trimester):

35 week pic :) with a bad, bad cold!

My gym selfie vs. some random girl :) :)

My sleepover with these two was the best!!! <3 my nephews!

Maternity Pics and Pregnancy Workout #9 & #10...

It's been a month since my last post. Where has the time gone? Well, the holiday rush orders (for Jean & Grace) and then the holidays themselves just seemed to swallow up most of my month. It was a good month though. I spent lots of time with friends and family and J was home for an entire two weeks! Yippee!

On top of all that goodness, month 8 of my pregnancy was fantastic!! 

-My back pain has lessened 

-I had an ultrasound to check on my placenta previa and (praise God) my placenta moved!!

-Baby has lots of hair! (I got to see a sweet view during the ultrasound)

-Oh and I got to eat a ton of goodies over the holidays and this baby belly hid it all for me :)

I am experiencing a few new pregnancy "symptoms" as I grow..

-Indigestion! It doesn't matter what I eat, even a sip of water sends my digestive tract in a tiff

-Constipation. No one wants to talk about it, but it happens. I find amping up my fiber intake has helped quite a bit (of course that means drinking more h2o to compensate) 

-It's hard to get out of bed. I officially feel like a turtle on its back.

It's been a fast journey so far, not a moment has gone by slow and I am afraid maybe this is a little foreshadowing for parenting. I always hear people say "they grow up so fast" and even though this baby is still in me, I am already beginning to relate to some of those emotions.

I probably will regret saying this in a week or two, but for journaling purposes, at week 33, I can honestly say I love being pregnant. Love. There is something deep inside my heart that has been touched by this entire experience. And at the end of the day I might not like the stretch marks on my boobs, the inability to carry really heavy stuff, the rollover maneuver I have to make to get out of bed, or the baby foot jabs that hurt my ribs, but despite all of that I love this feeling of growing my son inside me. I love watching him move about in there. I love dreaming of the little baby he'll be, the littler toddler I'll chase around the house, the boy my husband will workout with, the teenager we will teach to drive and the man I'll one day have to let go of. I promise myself to do what I can to embrace all the moments of his life, to not let time slip by too quickly and to often think back to where it all began.

Workouts below (still for second trimester):

On a side note mine J's maternity pics came in and I couldn't be happier! Minted Photography is the best <3

Pregnancy Workout Myths & Second Trimester Workout #7

Thanksgiving, work and this joyous holiday-crazy-shopping season have kept me busy the past two weeks, but don't fret I've still managed to keep up my weekly gym routine, which means I still have tons of workouts to post.

I'm 29 weeks as of yesterday and as my belly is getting bigger (I feel like it's massive at this point, but there's still lots of time to go), I've run into a couple issues at the gym. Nothing serious, but things I definitely wanted to be open about and cover in case anyone else is going through the same stuff:

• LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN "CRAMPING"  -  After discussing with my OB and other moms, I've realized that mild cramping during exercise is not uncommon during pregnancy, and is not a cause for alarm (of course severe pain is- so pay attention). A common cause of cramping during exercise is round ligament pain. The round ligament supports the uterus and expands as your grown your "bump" so a cramp can be triggered by any movement, even one as mild as going from standing to sitting. I occasionally get these when working out and when I do I find that stretching and resting for a minute or two often alleviates the pain.

•  LOWER BACK PAIN  -  What you haven't experienced this yet? Ah, I pray it doesn't ever hit you (cause when it does it's like taking a punch to the face: totally undeniable and incredibly painful). Lower back pain, though completely annoying and uncomfortable, it is absolutely normal. :) yipee!  Your spine has to support the weight you're gaining, so this causes increased stressed to the spine. And beyond that, your center of gravity also changes, so your posture can change which just increases the pain. Also, as your body releases more and more relaxin (a hormone), which allows ligaments in the pelvic area to relax and the joints to become looser, it can cause ligaments that support the spine to loosen, leading to instability and even more pain. Getting excited yet? Because if all that wasn't enough, the separation of your rectal abdominis muscles may worsen your back pain. This separation is common, by the way, it occurs in 1/3 of all pregnancies.

Okay, onto my workout workout post and a few pregnancy workout myths you should definitely be aware of!

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises against aerobic exercise if you have any of these conditions while pregnant:

• Heart disease that significantly affects the way blood circulates in your body, such as pulmonary hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure)
• Lung disease, such as severe asthma or chronic bronchitis (an inflammation of the bronchial tubes)
• Cervical insufficiency/cerclage(premature dilation)
• Multiple pregnancy (twins or triplets, for example) if you're at risk for preterm labor
• Persistent second- or third-trimester bleeding
• Placenta previa after 26 weeks
• Preterm labor
• Ruptured membranes (meaning your water has broken)
• Preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure)

Signs to stop exercise during pregnancy: 

Regular physical activity is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Even if your doctor gives you the go-ahead to work out, don't overdo it. Stop exercise immediately and contact your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Chest pain
• Muscle weakness
• Calf pain or swelling (which could indicate a blood clot)
• Contractions or preterm labor
• Decreased fetal movement (Keep in mind that the baby is often most quiet when you're most active.)
• Fluid leaking (or gushing) from your vagina

And for my own journaling purposes, photos:

Fit Pregnancy Workout #5 & Healthy Chicken Tacos Recipe

I love fall food and when fall rolls around, out comes my oh-so-loved Crockpot. I am quiet obsessed with this little machine. It can make everything from fresh bread, hearty soups, tender chicken dishes, and even delectable desserts. Although this little wonder has a very special place in my heart, I literally only bring it out in the fall/winter (habit I suppose?). I must reevaluate next year.

Being from South Texas means I also love one other thing A LOT...mexican food! Below is a healthy chicken taco recipe I came up with. I compared the recipe to my favorite Mexican chain- Chipotle. I mostly like Chipotle because it's healthier than most other Mexican options. Don't worry Texas friends, I still love a lard-loaded tortilla, but these days I have to save my calories for more protein-dense foods. :)  My recipe didn't win by a landslide, but it definitely will save you some calories, fat & sodium- plus it's cheaper and the leftovers keep well (freezer or fridge).

RECIPE
Servings: 4-5 (3 tacos per serving- feed that baby!)
        -enough for 12-15 tacos total

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs raw skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• salt, to taste
• 16 oz roasted salsa verde (hands down my fav salsa to cook with)
• 4 oz. can green chilis diced
• 8 oz. chicken broth

Taco & toppings (included in calorie count):

• Black beans 
• Chopped Avacado
• Fresh Pico (Tomatoes, onion, salt, cilantro)
• Chopped Romaine 
• Corn Tortillas

Instructions:
-Season chicken with garlic powder, cayenne, cumin and salt and place in the bottom of the slow cooker. Cover with salsa verde, canned chilis, and broth. Cover and cook HIGH 2 hours, until chicken is cooked through.
-Remove chicken, shred using 2 forks. Remove 2/3 cup of liquid from the slow cooker and discard. Place shredded chicken back into the crock pot with remaining salsa, adjust seasoning to taste if needed and keep warm.

WORKOUT!
And onto the 15 week, second trimester pregnancy workout! This is a crazy cardio one, but I LOVE IT! And still do it today at 25 weeks along.

 



Progress pic (18 weeks vs. 25 weeks)! CRAZY!

Pregnant...crazy.

You must not know me well enough if you don't understand why I followed my title with crazy, but don't worry, I promise to share details at some point, and then we'll be SUPER close. 

On Friday, June 27th, 2014, I found out I was pregnant. A friend at the gym actually prompted me to get a pregnancy test when she flat out asked, "Your boobs are huge, are you pregnant?".  I almost dropped the barbell right in the middle of a squat. Me..haha...pregnant? I had all the signs, I have no idea why I didn't think of it as a possible option myself. 

Fast-forward to today, and I'm 20 weeks pregnant with a precious baby boy. I want to be careful when I say this, because I have friends & family who have struggled to conceive and I don't want to seem insensitive, but I also want to be honest. I did not come to the point of calling this child "precious" overnight. I had a hard time adjusting to being pregnant, and it wasn't the morning sickness, the weight gain or the mood swings....it was me selfishly, just not ready to be pregnant. I wasn't ready to give up sushi, wine, insane workouts, sleeping on my back, or licking yummy cake batter off a spoon. I realize now how silly this all sounds, but it's the truth.  Even at my first ultrasound, seeing my little blob of a baby did not make me weep tears of joy or make my heart flutter. I realized seeing that little blob that I actually was pregnant and that this road, whether I was ready or not, was one I was going down.

So you get the point, I had a lot of attitude adjusting to do. And I did. And finally, at my 15 week OB appointment, I had an unplanned ultrasound and I got to see my sweet baby (who actually looked like a baby) move and he looked right into the monitor and waved. It was a huge moment for me. I cried. I realized for the first time that the wiggling baby inside me was mine. He is my child, Justin and I's creation and I am his mother, now and forever. I could not be more honored and blessed.