New pregnant Body

Like most women I have lived my life being aware of how I look and fit in my cloths.  I have gone through stages of obsessing over my weight to, as I got older, learning to love my body but being aware of what I eat.  Now that I am pregnant and finally starting to peak a little (definitely haven't popped out yet) I am adjusting to a whole new level of body image.

I am more than happy to be pregnant and I can't wait to have that beautiful baby bump.  However, weeks 9-14 I am finding that I feel more like I have a beer gut and a whole lot less like a pretty bump.  During these several weeks your body is not ready for maternity clothes but you are growing out of your normal clothes.  Also, if you are like most women you have begun to pack on a few pounds.  I have gained about 5 so far...yikes :)!!  All of these factors can make you feel less attractive or down on yourself and I have gone through moments of both but I always remind myself that "you are pregnant and weight gain is natural".  Our bodies are going to do what is natural.  Being pregnant is a natural thing and the body knows what to do, so don't sweat it.  Dealing with weight gain is definitely a challenge that I have ups and downs with but I am learning to deal.  I find that hitting the gym really helps me with this.

Here is my recent full body workout I did yesterday.  My energy is starting to come back and I feel better each day making it easier to workout as normal again!!

10 min treadmill warmup (walk to jog)

2 or 3 x 20 reps dumbell rows in squat position

2/3 x 20 reps squats

2/3 x 20 reps lying dumbell tricep extensions

3 x 12 reps reverse lunges (per leg)

8 min treadmill walk ( I used to run for my non-prego friends)

3 x 18 reps bicep curls in lunge position (per leg)

3 x 18 reps lateral raise in lunge position (per leg)

8 min treadmill run ( I used to run for my non-prego friends)

20 x incline crunches

3 x 18 reps prone kneeling leg extensions (per leg)

3 x 15 reps forward lunges (per leg)

8 min treadmill cool down (jog to walk)

Belly progress: 0 to 12 Weeks

Weight Gain: 5-6 pounds (Not liking that to much but it's pretty normal

Working out: Yes!! I am still hitting the gym at least 5 times a week.  My intensity is not as high but I'm still at it.

Cravings: Marinara sauce, I literally want pizza and pasta like every day and pastries still.  I guess salty foods would classify as a craving here.

Looking forward to:  My belly getting bigger and looking prego in the tummy!  Also, finding out the gender in several weeks :)!

Morning Sickness:  More like evening sickness...but over the last few days it has been going away! Thank goodness :)

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

I am just about at 11 weeks and Baby P is the size of a Fig!!

I wanted to post today about some of the things people don't tell you when you are pregnant for the first time.  Some of them are just straight up embarrassing and others are just small annoyances but non-the-less they go unspoken.

Everyone knows about the all the good stuff but it seems that no one ever talks about the bad stuff. I have to admit I am guilty as charged. When ever we tell people for the first time and they ask me how I'm feeling and how it is all going, my reaction is always the same "I'm doing so great!" Now don't get me wrong, I really am doing great. How could I not be with my first baby on the way :)! The statement however is only partially true. Here is why...

The Good!

Let me start by saying that for me there are definitely more good things about being pregnant than bad or even ugly.  Finding out you are expecting is one of the most amazing feelings in the world.  The excitement of nurturing your future baby in your womb for 9 months is something that can't be compared to anything else in this world. 

Another really good thing is I am able to work out 5 or 6 days a week still!  Exercise is a BIG part of my life and although I have modified my routine some I am still going at it full blown.  I even ran 6 miles at 10 Weeks the other day!

The Bad!

In two words, Morning Sickness!  Now for most this is in the bad category but I can say with confidents that for most woman this would most definitely be placed in the ugly section.  I only experienced queasiness and nausea between 5-9 weeks and it pretty much came and went as it please.  I started out getting it in the morning but it gradually went to the evenings making night time pretty tough. 

Dinner time, or should I say what dinner, would definitely be on my bad list.  During those several weeks of queasiness I didn't want dinner.  The thought of it would make my tummy turn.  So I pretty much ate cereal and the occasional bowl of soup.  Luckily this has just about gone away. 

Now this next one is a mix between bad and ugly but I will put it on the bad list.  Acne! Oh yes, acne and not on my face.  I wouldn't really say being pregnant has be glowing haha!  I have never in my life had an issue with acne on my back but ever since I got prego my back is like a 13 year old boy hitting puberty.  I have my fingers crossed that at the 14 week mark when they say your hormones level out this will go away.  In the meantime, it pretty much just bites the big one :(

That leads me to the fatigue.  From weeks 4 (when we found out) to about week 10 I was literally falling asleep at my desk during work and out cold by 8:00pm each night.  My sweet baby was taking every bit of energy I had.  And if we are being honest...with no energy and extreme fatigue comes a lack of other activity with the hubby.

This last one is simple...All I want is carbs.  Not a good on my booty or waistline!  I used to never eat pastries.  Now I can't order a coffee at starbucks with out getting a baked good.

The UGLY!

This is gross and definitely embarrassing but I'm committed to putting the truth out there.  My prenatals give me diarrhea.  There I said it...It is terrible.  When I don't take them I am fine and everything is how it should be.  On them I am a hot mess.  It makes me soooooo sick.  I will literally spend the night in an out of the rest room in pain.  I was barely sleeping.  I had no choice but to stop taking them.  I don't like the idea of this but I have my 12 week appointment in about a week and half and I plan to discuss this with them.  So until then I will not take them.  I will be sure to keep you all posted on that situation!

Baby's first Photoshoot

We had our first ultrasound appointment the other day.  What a surreal and magical moment in our lives.  Getting to see our little gummy bear for the first time and that fluttering little heart beat brought me to tears!

We are 9 weeks along and the baby is right on track!  About the size of a grape now :)

Here are some pics

 

 

Food Cravings - Pizza, Baked-Ziti, Salty foods, and Cloud Nine Cupcakes!

Weight Gain - It's a little hard to tell.  I'm retaining water from the babes and a little bloated which has my weight yo-yoing.  I would say about a pound.

My Little Raspberry

We have hit the 8 weeks mark and we finally have our first appointment with the OBGYN!  I can't wait to see my sweet baby ;)!  I have been really, really tired but doing my best to fight the fatigue.  Honestly, the nausea and queasiness to worse then being tired.  I am not actually tossing up my cookies, so to speak, but not feeling well can still take a toll on your body.  Even though it has been tough, I remind myself that the queasy feeling is my little baby P growing inside me! 

Even though I'm tired and have been a little sick I am keeping up with my workouts pretty well.  I have definitely taken it way down and I don't push myself every hard for the safety of my babes.  Here is an overall idea of what I am doing at 8 weeks;

Cardio:
Well Cardio has pretty much turned into walking inclines, low speeds on the Stair-Climber, and the Elliptical.  I no longer do fat burning speed intervals of HIIT work.  I'm not trying to lose weight and to be honest I'm to darn tired to do all that anyway haha!  I always do at least 20 minutes but aim to do more where I can especially since I have decreased my intensity.  Baby first!


Strength Training:
I am still focused on training specific body parts on certain days;

Back and Bi's
Chest and Tri's
Shoulders
Legs

Now I focus on using lower weight and I increase the number of reps.  The number one thing to remember while working out when pregnant is, if it doesn't feel right anymore or in general, stop doing it.  For example, I no longer do assisted pull-ups, it just feels weird and stretches my tummy.

Abs:

Abdominals is a little trickier for me.  I am still doing abs laying on my back (which you can only do up to 13 weeks) but most of the moves put a bit of stress on my abs.  So, I am focusing more on my core.  I do multiple plank moves for the center /sides and focus on positions that make me hold the muscles.