Purling Sprite

Working out while pregnant

I don't remember being this tired in my previous pregnancies. Could it be my age? All I know is that I am exhausted by 3pm. I can take naps on demand now, something that was very rare in the past. Last Sunday, I slept all day, I think I took 5 naps, long naps too. 

It has been a mental struggle getting myself to go to the gym. I know working out makes me feel better, about 100% better, but having the energy to get to the gym is where it is lacking. Lack of energy has never been in my vocabulary, not anymore! I have been diligent in listening to my body and still working out. I am pleased to say that I have made it 5 out of 7 days every week. I always take Sundays off and in the past I used to workout Mon-Sat, but now, I take a break in between. 

My goal is to continue the trend of working out every day. I want to continue weightlifting, and hopefully soon, I can start running again without the peanut squishing my blatter every 2 steps (he seems to be sitting right on top of it right now). 

In an effort to help other expectant moms, I want to log my workouts and how I feel. I have heard the myths about exercising while pregnant and I hope that I am able to help others who are unsure. Note: I have been doing crossfit for 4+ years, and have been running for 8 years (running, as in running half marathons and marathons). I am not starting from scratch. My body is used to what I am doing right now, and I am not introducing anything new to the mix. Keep that in mind when starting a workout routine. Do check with your doctor. Mine gave me a "go ahead" on my first visit. I told her as soon as my energy returns, I hope to be back to running. We both laughed because I was able to run 10+ miles probably during my first month of pregnancy, yet at 12 weeks going up the stairs at home made me winded. One thing that we have to remember is that we are GROWING A HUMAN! Growing a human is hard work. It taps on your energy, it taps on your food source, and it taps you mentally--be kind to yourself (I have a hard time being kind to myself). 

Here is a quick log of what I have done this past week and my plans for today and tomorrow:

Monday: Crossfit & Zumba

Half "MURPH"

*800m Run
*50 Pull-Ups
*100 Push-Ups
*150 Squats
*800m Run

Notes:

I am getting to the point where I feel a slight pull when I do my kipping pull ups so I am slowly modifying. Push ups--my lower back can't handle them so I am doing knee push ups. This is a huge hit to my ego but I do what I can. Squats, thanks to my running, I have strong legs and my legs can take the beating so no modifications there. Running is a lot slower but I am still running. 

Zumba class is just plain fun. I love dancing and moving. This does not feel like a workout although my Garmin says that I "walk" an average of 5 miles during the class. 

Tuesday: Insanity

This class kicked my butt. I have to modify the ab workout slightly. I can still do a few of the push ups (as long as it is not 100 of them). Whenever I get too tired of jumping, I just do static moves. My fitness background helps me in this area as I am able to modify when I see it needed and I know how to modify. 

Wednesday: Crossfit

WoD
5 min. AMRAP
*10 Box Jumps 24/20
*5 T2B or GHDs

2 min. Rest

5 min. AMRP
*20 DUs
*5 Pull-Ups

Notes: I was able to do it all. Slower. My Toes to Bar are getting to be pretty pathetic but I can still do them. Again, the kipping motion pulls a little bit so I can see that I will get to a point rather quickly when I won't be able to kip to do Toes to Bar or Pull ups. Again, a huge hit to my ego, however, I can workout and I will continue to do what I can for as long as possible and then modify. 

Thursday: OFF.

Friday: Crossfit

WoD
3 Rounds
*10 Floor Press 95/65 H135/95
*20 Squats
*20 Floor Wipers
*10 Back Extensions

Notes: Still to do this afternoon. I can foressee the floor presses needing help to place the bar overhead as I typically put the bar on my hips and thrust the bar up with my hips. 

Saturday: Running, Zumba, and Yoga

I am planning to run to Zumba 2.5 miles. Do Zumba and Yoga Classes, then run back home. Then I get to rest all day long. 

Here is some inspiration for myself for the upcoming months:

Anxiety and Fear

In the past few years, I have noticed that I suffer a bit from anxiety. I didn't really know I had this until one day I caught myself repeating a certain sentence over and over in my head. Then a few days later I noticed the same exact habit, I started to notice more and more when I would end up in this cycle. They don't last long and lately, now that I am aware of them, I try to snap myself out of them. I don't know what causes it, probably stress, probably feelings of inadequacy, whatever it is, it is terrifying and I don't like the feeling at all. I hate meds, so I probably will try to never get on any of them, especially if I can snap myself out of it myself. 

However, yesterday, I was overly stressed. I knew what was stressing me out and I tried all weekend to not let myself be stressed out over it. What was stressing me out? Something extremely simple--I was having another doctor's appointment for my pregnancy. I have had many of them with my first two and I don't remember ever being stressed out. However, after my miscarriage in November, anything at all with this pregnancy sets me on edge. Although I have had already one ultrasound and it showed everything normal (at least to the little peanut size baby that I had at that point), I was terrified. All weekend and all day yesterday, I was preparing myself for the worst. I was preparing myself mentally to hear the doctor say, "Isela, I am sorry, it doesn't seem like a viable pregnancy." Is that crazy? I think I am trying to shield myself in case anything happens. I know my odds of having a healthy pregnancy are low due to age...blah, blah, apparently 38 is too old. 

My appointment was at 4:30 and I was on edge...so on edge! I wanted to know that my baby was okay, that my body was handling it okay. That my body can still carry a wee one. The doctor, thankfully, was in and they took us right away. She came in and after some small talk, she said that we will listen to the heartbeat. My heart was racing. I was sweating. I was hopeful. She put the little ultrasound gadget on my abdomen and right away, the most beautiful sound came on "woosh, woosh, woosh" beating at 160 bpm! My little wee one is thriving. My body is doing it! I am doing this!!! I am officially out of the first trimester, the odds for me and my baby have gone up considerably. Am I still out of the danger zone, no, I am not, but I am hopeful that the Lord will allow me to have one more little one. I am hopeful that we will both make it through the next 6 months. 

I think the miscarriage taught a lot that I had never imagined before. The fear that enters our hearts is indescribable. It is hard not to hope and not to have dreams about this little bundle, especially when you want it so badly. Yet, having had the miscarriage taught me that even the one thing I have "some control over", my body, that I cannot really control it. It taught me to fear, to fear simple routine checkups. It taught to fear everything I do. As such, when people tell me with an accusing tone "you are still lifting and running?" it bothers me,  not because it is a thoughtless comment (although it may be) but because if they only knew how much I love and want this baby, I wouldn't do anything in this world to jeopardize my pregnancy. The truth is that if I am going to miscarry, there is nothing on this earth that I can do about it. I learned that lesson in November. I cried. I begged. I prayed. I stopped doing everything and anything physical to save my pregnancy, and I couldn't do anything. Even the doctor said, if the pregnancy is not viable, your body will end it, there is nothing we can do about it, or you can do about it. It is hard to lose this control. It is hard to accept that we do not have control over these things--believe me, I am a control freak and this one episode in my life has taught me what 37 years of life hasn't been able to in that time period. 

Coming October 2016....my next greatest accomplishment since almost 12 years ago.

We are so excited to announce that we are being blessed with a third little one. The baby is due October 2016. We all cannot wait to hold the baby and cherish it as much as we are cherishing the idea of him/her right now. We are all full of hope and feel so blessed. 

Our little peanut is still very little, but we love him/her so much already. I wonder if he/she knows how excited we are.