Post-Christmas fitness check-in

[frecklesnbrains]

Happy Monday everyone. So, now that Christmas is over I need some motivation. Give me the scoop!

1. What did you do to keep your body moving during the past week? (shoving holiday food into your mouth and wrapping presents may or may not count)

2. What are your goals for the upcoming week?

3. Optional: Is there anything new you're trying or want some advice on (strategy, equipment, etc.)?

[frecklesnbrains]

I'll go first.

1. I ran 3 times during the past week, 3 miles each time. I was slow as hell and it kicked my butt, but I did it. I had hoped to hike a mountain but it was SO wet almost every day except Christmas (when I was obviously doing other things, like shoving food into my mouth)

2. More running - a minimum of 3 times, hopefully 4.

3. A winter storm is in the forecast overnight tonight and tomorrow which will drop some snow and ice. I need a way to safely extend my running into the New England winter. Any fellow runners with advice or experience with winter traction strategies? I'm thinking of trying these: www.rei.com/product/875785/kahtoola-nanospikes-traction-system.

[virginiaorjohn]

I'll go second! I don't even think I checked in last week (oops!) but I was still on my exercise restrictions anyways.

1. I never take home leftovers so that definitely helps me not binge on unhealthy stuff after the holidays.

2. This week I am cleared to exercise for the first time, so I'm easing in by walking my dog every day, and Wednesday I'm going to my boot camp for the first time in THREE MONTHS. I'm so excited because I miss my workout ladies! I've been keeping in touch with them, which is good hopefully I won't feel so awkward when I'm panting to keep up, haha.
DH and I are also staring a second Whole30 this week! I felt so good when I did it over the summer and now that I don't feel like barfing on the regular, I feel like there's no better time.

3. Not really I suppose... I think I'm just a little worried about starting to exercise again, worried that I'll do something to the baby and I'll lose it. I realize the chances of that happening are slim though, and exercise is supposed to be good... But, effing PGAL brain.

[frecklesnbrains]

virginiaorjohn, I'm curious about your boot camp - it sounds ferocious! Have fun!

[Flair Underwood]

1. I've not been running... But used the Arc trainer twice and the elliptical once in the past week.

2. i want to get some arm workouts in. I hate my arms lately.... If I get to the gym 3 times I'll be happy.

3. Maybe try some running again... I'm using this pg as an excuse to not run outside in the cold so I'm using a treadmill which is less than fun.

3.

[virginiaorjohn]

frecklesnbrains it is an amazing program. I'm so grateful I found it! It's a women's only outdoor bootcamp, which I LOVE because I don't have to see dudes lifting way more than I can etc, andplusalso it feels more like a gossip hour with a little working out thrown in rather than an hour of working out, haha. It's run by one mid-30s girl, she NEVER yells at us, which I could not handle, but is awesome at coming up with THE MOST ridiculously challenging moves for us to try and then correcting our form as we butcher each move. Seriously when I left in October, the move of the month was a one-legged squat, WTF. And she does "moves of the month" where she picks one move and we do it every time we meet (Monday, Wednesday, Friday.) It's outdoors year-round except she has a friend with a yoga studio that we will occasionally use if the temp is less than 25F or if it's icy outside. All we bring is a yoga mat and a set of dumbbells, and occasionally our instructor will bring a set of medicine balls, jump ropes, elastic bands, etc., to use here and there. I seriously feel so lucky to have found it, it is THE ONLY thing I have stuck with for more than a couple of months and I've been doing it for 2 years!

ETA: change weights to dumbbells

[frecklesnbrains]

virginiaorjohn, that sounds awesome! I'm pretty good at doing cardio workouts but I really should build in some strength-building activities too. I'm kind of built like a horse so I've always been stronger than most without working on it, and I despise gyms so that doesn't help. In the summer/fall I do a lot of backpacking, so lugging a 30 pound pack up a mountain tends to keep my core strength up, but this time of year feel like I need something like your bootcamp!

[virginiaorjohn]

frecklesnbrains that's awesome that you do so well on your own though! I'm terrible about that, which means I'm really dependent on my Bootcamp... Which means when there's an outside baby in the picture, I might get screwed if said baby is a terror between the hours of 6:30-7:30am such that I can't go...

[csat]

I'm really feeling the last 5 days of eating but it's so confounded with my rapidly increasing pregnant belly size which is a little frustrating. On Christmas Eve someone told me I didn't look pregnant just like I had eaten a large meal, which is obviously the look I'm going for (sarcasm font).

1. Stairmaster 3x last week, last workout was on Thursday

2. More Stairmaster, aim is for 3x again this week, starting today (ugh)

3. I think I'm going to just stick with this 'routine' for now. I keep saying I need to add a small free weights regimen for my upper body in but I never quite get to it

[frecklesnbrains]

Doh csat, I want to give that person a virtual slap for saying that to you on Christmas Eve! I think we need to keep a running list of things NOT to say to a pregnant woman.

[Kevinmac]

Well being on vacation isn't good for this. I'm doing a ton of walking, but that is offset by food that isn't the best for me and regular dessert. I'm hoping to get to the gym when we get home and back to work.

[babyzebra]

Dec 28, 2015 12:18:37 GMT -5 csat said:

On Christmas Eve someone told me I didn't look pregnant just like I had eaten a large meal, which is obviously the look I'm going for (sarcasm font).

That's when you say, "well I am pregnant, but what's your excuse?"

People are assholes

[cattuccino]

I failed miserably and didn't meet my goals from last week - but DH has been home and I've been enjoying both me time and family time.

1. Im going to have to say shoving holiday food into your mouth and wrapping presents may need to count for me. And toddler chasing. And marathon baking.

2. At least 2 prenatal exercise videos, maybe one Piyo for legs.

3. Always up for trying new things but nothing is coming to mind. Unless someone has magical motivation tricks

[littleducky]

1. I used the elliptical for 25 minutes on Sunday. First time I had touched the elliptical since some time in October!

2. Goal is to exercise at least twice a week. It's not a ton, but it's better than the nothing that I've been doing.

3. meh, not really. Just need to try to get myself moving more!

[mymilkshake]

1. What did you do to keep your body moving during the past week? I went for a few runs and walked the dog a few days. I also try and do a little strength here and there.

2. What are your goals for the upcoming week? H got me a pregnancy Pilate dvd, so I started that.

3. Optional: Is there anything new you're trying or want some advice on (strategy, equipment, etc.)? Any body using belly support bands? I just started wearing one and I think I'm liking it. I think it will be especially helpful when I really have a bump!

[frecklesnbrains]

mymilkshake where did you get your belly support band? I've been really curious about them too! I'm still not really big but I'm 17+ weeks so I bet that's in my near future! I hope they can help expand the length of time I'm comfortable running.

[mymilkshake]

Dec 30, 2015 8:53:56 GMT -5 frecklesnbrains said:

mymilkshake where did you get your belly support band? I've been really curious about them too! I'm still not really big but I'm 17+ weeks so I bet that's in my near future! I hope they can help expand the length of time I'm comfortable running.

That's why I got it. I ordered it from Amazon. I just looked around for the one with the most stars I think it was 25$. I've worn it for running since I got it and it feels good, but I'm not very big either yet. My goal was to keep running till 20 weeks but I think I'll be able to push it out longer at the rate my belly is slowly progressing.

[Flair Underwood]

mymilkshake, where and how tight are you putting your support band? i feel like it just pushes my belly up and looks RIDICULOUS... i can't figure it out. I tried to run last night, but it just hurt the entire side of my stomach so I quit and did the arc trainer.

frecklesnbrains, I was able to grab a nice support band at my local consignment store actually!

[mymilkshake]

I keep mine snug, but it really doesn't feel to tight. I put it so the bottom of the band is at the base of my belly. I thiiink that's how you're supposed to wear it, but really I'm kind of guessing.

[mymilkshake]

Maybe it could go a little lower? It feels comfortable like this though.

[frecklesnbrains]

mymilkshake looking good! I'm totally going to order one. You've got much more bump than I do - I'm still very comfortable at 17 weeks. I'll be really happy if I can push it out until 24 weeks. The snow and ice is more likely to slow me down Can't wait for my nanospikes to arrive so I can try them out.

[manybellsdown]

I have the Gabrialla support belt (also via Amazon), and I really didn't need it for running until 25+ weeks last time. It's super helpful with a legit bump though. Even after I stopped running around 30 weeks, it was great for some extra support at the end of the day, especially in the last weeks, when my back typically started complaining. I could only wear it for an hour or so at a time, before it itself became uncomfortable as well. But it was overall very useful.

[GOmamab15]

I have zero motivation...

1. Sitting & laying around a lot...not a whole lot of moving. Slug life. But I do always take the stairs at work (3rd floor) and my printer is like, 30 cubicles away from mine...

2. Hike on New Year's Day, maybe take a shot at disc golf this weekend since it's something DH & I both like to do and it forces me to keep moving.

3. How to get motivated? It's been 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit around here the past 2 weeks and I just can't deal with being outdoors much. virginiaorjohn are you implying you do the boot camp outdoors when it's 26 degrees?! How?

I really admire all of you for running and going to the gym, etc. I wasn't going to post because I've been doing nothing, but maybe just maybe I'll keep this post in mind and have better results to report next week.

[virginiaorjohn]

GOmamab15 dying at "slug life." Definitely going to have to use that one in the future.
Yeah, if the forecast is 26 degrees (but no ice on the ground, snow is okay) then we are out there! I wear fleece-lined yoga pants and a long-sleeve wicking shirt with a thick fleece sweatshirt on top, plus gloves and a hat. You warm up really fast, it's not bad at all! I would much rather have 26 degrees any day than 86 degrees, which we also deal with, but it's soooo much harder.

[frecklesnbrains]

GOmamab15 this post is for everyone, including slugs! Don't worry - we've all been there. I didn't do anything for 3+ weeks.