Mamas In Training

New Year, New Me…what an understatement!

As I type, I am 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I am to that stage in pregnancy where no comfortable position exists and I wonder on a regular basis if I’ll ever be able to tie my own shoes ever again. I’ve gained 42 pounds so far in this pregnancy and as my due date quickly approaches, I’m looking long and hard at how to combine my new role of motherhood with my desired role as “fit person”.

My go-to weight loss/management and fitness strategy has always revolved around a gym – with my husband’s busy work schedule, I know that a gym workout isn’t a realistic long term fitness approach for me any longer. I’m now coming to grips with the fact my plan to get in shape post-baby will have to involve in-home workouts…which isn’t a horrible predicament. After all, I do own a fabulous treadmill.

However, I hate, hate, HATE running! Honest to heaven, I think people that run marathons are completely crazy – that training schedule sounds like torture. BUT. Here I sit…tipping the scale at a frightening number (you didn’t think I would really tell you what I weigh, did you!?) so my choices seem clear. 1 – do nothing and be out of shape or 2 – suck it up and find a way to love running.

So, I’ll suck it up. As soon as the doctor gives me the go ahead, I’ll start running on the treadmill. My goal is to run a 5K in the early summer and a 10K in the fall. Those may not seem like the loftiest of goals, but I’m factoring training time and conversion to the church of running in that timeline.

I enter 2008 as plain old me with plans to end the year as a Mother and…a runner. I’m not sure which one of those new roles is more intimidating.

Happy New Year!

Erin

Adjust for winter? Not so much.

With the exception of my Triathlon training, my workouts have always revolved around a Gym. From a fitness standpoint I’ve always enjoyed weight training…and climate control.  I’d rather walk across hot coals than run around my neighborhood…I hate running on principle and all those teenagers driving and texting doesn’t add to my love for the open road. So, adjusting my workouts for winter simply means that I wear a coat in and out of the Gym.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand the value of cardio in my workout; I just prefer to use the stationary bike or elliptical machine to get my heart rate going. But, at 6 ½ months pregnant the stationary bike requires that I bend at an uncomfortable angle (my unborn child reacts to this bending by flailing around in my belly, which I’m going to go ahead and take as a sign to STOP) and as a card-carrying member of the clumsy club, I’m way too off balance now to be on the elliptical machine (I’ve almost fallen off that sucker before I was pregnant).

So where does that leave me? Cruising around one of the most ingenious Gym amenities – the indoor track. On the indoor track I’m able to waddle at my own pace and enjoy my iPod tunes without worrying about someone running me over AND without bundling up to brave the Utah cold.

My boss tells me that I need to start adding water-aerobics to my workout schedule. Am I the only one that thinks that’s a silly idea? Anyone out there ever had a great water aerobics experience?

Erin

Back in the Pool (Finally)

At my 4 month OB/GYN visit, my wonderful Dr. informed me that my weight gain so far in my pregnancy was okay…that he wasn’t worried about it…but that I needed to watch my weight going forward. I got the message - and luckily now that the morning sickness HELL has past it’s much easier to eat nutritiously and get regular exercise.

I’ve been walking (almost) nightly for several weeks now and I see a huge difference in my sleep patterns! If I walk, I sleep relatively well. If I don’t walk, I toss, I turn, I stare at the ceiling and wonder if I’ll ever sleep in more than 1-hour increments ever again. This walking system was working wonders – until the back pain began.

So along with the adult acne, stretch marks and the luxurious hair ON MY ARMS, the inevitable back pain has struck. So after much web browsing and sending desperate emails to experienced back pain sufferers (AKA: Stephanie) I was still pretty much at a loss for what to do – and then it hit me – get back in the pool.

So I crammed my now 5 months pregnant booty and belly into my swim suit (which looks cute and hilarious at the same time) and headed to the pool to swim laps. Now, I’m here to tell you swimming while pregnant is where it’s at! While walking has been great (and I’ll continue to do it) when I’m done the muscles in my abdomen are pretty sore. No so with swimming. The pressure in my back and pelvis were gone and in the water the off-balance feeling lifted.

I certainly couldn’t match my triathlon training swims of 1200 meters, in fact, I could only complete 300 meters my first time out…I didn’t want to push to hard to soon.

The next thing on my list to try is Yoga – an activity in which I have ZERO experience. Any tips for a rookie Mama?

-Erin