September 18, 2013

Wondering




I wanted to share a personal issue with you guys.  Some of you may love it, some of you may think I’m ridiculous and that I need to shut up.  Either way, please don’t go anywhere.  This is my space, after all...  You can stay or leave, but I’d much prefer you stay.  Now go grab a snack or a coffee or a glass of wine {please}, and sit down and hang tight.  I'll bake you some cookies...

Lately, I keep stressing about exercise during pregnancy. I’m definitely being too hard on myself and it’s really been eating at me these past few weeks.  Up until November of 2011, I NEVER worked out.I would power walk on a random Saturday morning for maybe a half hour, but that was it. I was never overweight, but I was very much out of shape. There was zero tone on my body and I’m glad I eventually decided to make a change to eat healthier AND fit an exercise routine in.  My pre-pregnancy weight that I maintained for two years was 130.  I’m not going to lie to you; I miss that number; and being smaller. And being able to pretty much wear anything I wanted without a concern that a love handle would pop out over my “skinny” jeans. I was more comfortable in my own skin at that weight and that's very important; feeling comfortable.




When I became much more toned and lost 12 pounds and was eating healthier and making much better choices most days, it took hard work to get to that point.  I was pretty proud of myself. And so yeah, I miss being all those things.  I personally think and would like to think, that most women who become pregnant have this feeling in earlier pregnancy; especially if it’s your first. For a good while, like myself, you just feel, well, fat. Now, at 17 weeks pregnant and pretty much back to my weight from before I lost weight, which was 143,  this is where my main issue lies at the moment.  

 


Don’t get me wrong, I will be embracing this pregnancy once I’m bigger. I’m not that crazy woman who goes on a diet when she’s pregnant. C'mon! I’m not that idiotic!  But for me, I guess this exercise issue I have is two-fold.  On the one hand, I want to work out and do more. I feel I NEED to be just a little more active.  The bike or elliptical at the gym would be perfect. I just need to become more motivated to actually drive to the gym. I want to do more squats with free weights. I didn’t want to work out too much early on because just as I think every woman who just found out they’re pregnant feels, I was nervous.  I didn’t want to put any strain on my body.  Luckily, I wasn’t too sick at all and had a decent appetite. So I ate a lot.  I didn’t eat for two, but the first 3 months I always felt famished!  And if I didn’t eat, that’s when I felt like I was going to get sick.  That wacko appetite has lessened a lot, thank the Lord.

I think I went to the gym twice and worked on the elliptical for 20 minutes.  Then I stopped for two months.  As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I walk a lot in the city because of work.  8 blocks, back and forth, 5 times a week.  That’s pretty good, but I need to do something else. And I know I will soon because even at pre-pregnancy, exercise always made me feel so much better about myself.  It’s healthy for me and the baby. That’s another reason I know I need to kick it up a notch!



On the same token, what’s been eating at me here and there is that I have this weird theory that exercise is for only burning calories and to help you lose weight.  Neither of those choices are optimal for when you are pregnant. So, I just have complete meltdowns, get upset sometimes because it's as if I'm using that "theory" as my excuse for not working out a little bit more. I know exercise can be performed at very low impact; as long as we are moving a little bit!  I get that, but I'm in an entirely new experience in my life that I've never experienced before and it sucks having to think back and forth about what's good for you and the baby, and if you're going to hurt it in anyway or not.

So...decision made:

I've decided to man up, and just add a little more cardio here and there and incorporate squats with 5 pound weights. I have always liked riding bikes and performing squats.  I know they are safe and healthy to do.  I just have to begin again.  I also keep saying to myself, "get in a good amount of exercise now because I think at 30 weeks until it's time, I DOUBT I'm going to want to exercise."


What are your thoughts mommies?  I want to hear about your experiences.



Thanks for hanging around.




2 comments:

  1. Okay, so I'm not a mommy and I'm drinking beer not wine but I have some thoughts. I've been told (my MIL is a doctor) that as long as you did the exercise before you were preggo, you can do it while you are preggo. So don't start up running marathons or lifting 500 pounds but if you ran a few miles before pregnancy, go ahead and do it now! I did crossfit with a woman who lifted heavier than I did when she was 7 months along so you will be fine. Plus I hear it makes the whole childbirth thing easier ;)

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  2. Thanks, Becky! I've heard that as well. I've never been a hardcore runner so I'll be skipping that part. But a little more cardio and keeping up with the weights/squats would be great for now

    Cross fit at 7 months?! Eek!! That scares me a little. It's amazing though what our bodies can handle even though we think we are so fragile.. this is a roller coaster of emotions for sure. ;)

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