Running on Bald Head last month
Fitness
I wrote this post about pregnancy fitness at 23 weeks along with Mazen, and it was fun to re-read and compare this time to last. A lot of time has passed and so has my routine!
Running became a challenge almost immediately with Mazen. I think it was part physiological and part psychological. It’s already a challenge now, but I am more determined this time around to keep it in my routine.
So far, I’ve continued to run, although my distance hasn’t crested 3.5 miles since January. Some days I feel amazing and like my old self, and some days I have to stop and walk every half mile. Other days, I literally can’t run at all because every time I try my bladder feels like it’s going to burst despite being empty! I have to take it day by day. This spring weather is certainly helping though!
I’ve continued to take strength class with enthusiasm. Immediately after getting pregnant, my body felt so fragile that I didn’t want to move around that much, but as I’ve entered the second trimester energy spike I’ve been pushing myself a little bit more with the weights and am feeling normal again doing all the cardio moves. I remind myself: “My arms and legs are not pregnant.” Just because I have a growing belly doesn’t mean my biceps should get a free pass to be lazy. (Meanwhile torso exercises like ab work are totally reasonable to modify.) I sometimes think I want to take the easier option “because I am pregnant,” but I’m trying hard to really listen to my body and ask it if I really need the rest or modification or if I’m just creating an excuse to avoid a challenge. That said, I used to do 20-pound free weights and a 30-pound kettlebell, and I’ve already downgraded to 15-pound free weights and a 25-pound kettlebell for most of our exercises. They still feel very hard!
I haven’t been to yoga in a month, mostly due to our sunnier weather and being out of town for a week. Our studio isn’t that hot, so I feel ok with the temperature (and always bring cold water), but I’m not sure I’d be able to do as many of the floor and stomach moves. I am hoping to get back there soon to see how I feel. I do want to start going to the ACAC prenatal yoga class again soon because I loved it last time as a great way to unwind, focus on the baby, and connect with other moms.
I hope in a year I can get back to those soccer days! I miss soccer more than wine.
Weight Gain
I remember with Mazen I gained a chunk of weight in the first trimester and then really slowed down once I got my appetite for healthy foods back. I am hoping I follow the same path this time because I definitely put on some weight this first trimester with all the nausea eating! I think with Mazen I really relaxed my diet in the beginning when I was sick and during the last month of pregnancy when I said “I better carpe diem!”
This time I feel more aware that every pound I gain on this side of the equation (that is not uterus, baby, blood, etc!) is a pound that I will eventually want to lose. How can I remind myself of this when all the delicious temptations of life present themselves? I think I need a picture of me post-Mazen remembering the hard work it took to get my figure back on my fridge. Or perhaps in my wallet when I’m most likely to be out to dinner and eating too much. Thankfully, I am back to eating big salads for lunch and my old appetite has returned to normal, for now!
Nutrition
Now that I’m out of the first trimester craziness when I was eating anything and everything all the time, I’m not snacking that much and still doing three meals a day, mostly, with a late afternoon snack half the time. Most foods taste good again, and I’m craving seasonal things as the weather warms: salads, yogurt bowls, fresh fruit, and grilled meals.
I am obviously not drinking, so that helps to balance out those calories a little, although having mocktails do count! And lastly, I’ve been surprised that my sweet tooth has actually been better than it’s been in a really long time. I am wondering if warmer weather is to thank for that because I don’t crave sweets as much in the summertime.
I remember with Mazen getting to a point where I literally couldn’t fit much food in my stomach and having to re-adjust my meals to be more mini meals, so I am predicting that might happen again.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I wish you all the best in your pregnancy, Kath! 🙂 Just remember that health comes first!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Tonya says
Flashback Mazen pic! Those CHEEKS!
KathEats says
I know!!
Shana says
I get sad when I hear pregnant women talking about weight gain and weight loss. Our culture places far too much importance on weight, especially at a time when the body wants extra fuel and fat to sustain Mom and baby during pregnancy and lactation. I truly believe that if we honor our hunger and tune into our natural cues, the body will take care of itself over time. It may mean a few years of fluctuations but it will find its way back to it’s happy place (like your squiggly line effect!). This isn’t meant to be a judgment, just a wish that women didn’t have to think about these things so we could use that brain space for other, more productive things. Being a mom is the most important work, and babies love us no matter our size. You are an amazing Mom and blogger and I love following your journey. Thanks for letting us follow along. 🙂
KathEats says
“I truly believe that if we honor our hunger and tune into our natural cues, the body will take care of itself over time. ”
^^I TOTALLY agree with this, especially in pregnancy. The problem is that food is linked so much to our emotions and feelings (some of us more than others) and it’s sometimes hard to separate those. The “I’m eating for two” mentality can lead to you to pack on more pounds than your body naturally might want to. So I’m just trying to be mindful and ask myself “Am I’m eating because I’m hungry and this food is nourishing my body and baby or because I want to eat this delicious food because it just tastes good.”
Shana says
That’s an excellent point! Hunger is hard to navigate during pregnancy because it seems so unpredictable/inconsistent. I think I was lucky because my appetite regulated during the second trimester (after all the waffles and syrup of the first trimester) and everything balanced out in the end. Your mindful approach to eating is what I’m currently trying to get better at doing.
KathEats says
That’s how it’s been for me too – uncontrollable in the first trimester and then all evens out. I’m back to my normal mindful eating patterns – and hoping to stay there!
Elizabeth says
Kath – This is almost exactly how it was for me too! I gained my biggest chunk of weight (following initial first trimester puking/loss) from weeks 12-20. 9 pounds in two weeks at one point! Then very slow and steady much less after that with almost nothing in the third tri. I was so worried those weeks in the teens but looking back wish I hadn’t even given it much of a thought. I was so nauseous the entire time but it’s was especially bad until week 18 and steady eating was the only fix. I will say after that I am glad I moderated my food intake and would do it again if I had a second pregnancy. You almost get used to endless nausea snacking and it can be tough to moderate as a habit in the later weeks.
I’m a longtime reader and very rare commenter but I’m so happy for you and I just wanted to share that I relate to your weight gain experience and goals and history of having loat weight pre baby and kept it off mindfully and with a lot of thoughtful living choices and work. Although I too agree that there’s far too much pressure on women’s weight in pregnancy, we also know who have been through it and maybe who had a weight loss journey journey pre pregnancy how difficult those pounds are to lose after. I’m just at two years post partum back to my pre pregnancy weight through mindful eating and exercise and if I am lucky enough to have a second I will again be mindful about real hunger after the nausea nightmare knowing now how hard the extra is to remove. I gained about 33 pounds total in the end and the last six were the toughest.
KathEats says
Agree with all of this!
Christin J Slyngman says
Gosh, so totally true! I was waaay more careful and mindful about my eating habits with baby #2…I still ate plenty, don’t get me wrong, but I tried to eat a base of mostly fibrous veggies and worked my way up from there. what’s funny is that looking at my older daughter’s eating habits versus my younger…my younger daughter also eats more healthily! I’m guessing it’s part personality, and part microbiome haha!
KathEats says
Haha – I wish there was a clear answer!
Blair says
It’s funny bc I think everyone’s body is going to put on about what it needs too (unless you way over or under eating). My sister put on the exact same amount of weight with all four of her pregnancies. The first she had the eating for two mentality, the 2nd she was very conscientious of what she put into her body and exercised continuously, and the 3rd and 4th she had two and three other little boys to chase after … Almost to the pound exact … crazy right. And then there is me, I have such a hard time putting any weight on during pregnancy due to severe sickness …
KathEats says
That is interesting! I am curious to see what my body will do. I am betting I do end up gaining about the same as I did last time based on where I am now and where I started.
Amber says
My first two pregnancies were this way- are too much the first time and watched it/exercised more the second and I gained the same amount both times. I think our bodies just know what we need for the most past!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
I’m right there with ya since we are like two days apart in our due dates I’m experiencing many of the same thoughts! Since you’ve been there done that it’s nice to hear how your perspective is a little different from last time. As a first timer, ha ha, I have zero idea what to expect about how my body with respond to pregnancy and breastfeeding. I too am definitely aware of every pound that isn’t clearly located in front because I know what it’s like to lose weight. Luckily, I’m finally craving veggies like no other but man that took a while, it wasn’t quite the start of the second trimester for me! I’m in the same boat, I don’t really have a sweet tooth. We got ice cream the other day and it stayed in the fridge for 4 days before I wanted it (which is a big deal for me.)
Oh! Question! What salad dressings are you loving? I’m normally a creamy high-calorie girl and most of those have eggs in them. It’s kind of hard to tell if the eggs are pasteurized when you get dressing in the refrigerated section. So, I figured I’d ask what pregnancy safe dressings you are into?
KathEats says
I’ve been making my own in a big bowl with white wine vinegar (which I decided I like a lot more than all of the other vinegars), Wegmans basting oil (which has herbs infused), dijon mustard, salt and pepper. But to be honest, I didn’t even think about eggs in dressings! I probably would know better than to do a tableside caesar from scratch in a restaurant, but I am not the MOST strict pregnancy eater. *All the disclaimers in the world don’t do as I do LOL*
Kris says
I just wanted to chime in an say there’s no rule that says you have to get “back” to your pre-pregnancy body, or figure as you say. You will gain what you gain in pregnancy and, as you know, it changes your body forever. Be nice to yourself! That paragraph just struck me as not your usual message. I know pregancy can bring some self-consciousness back to the best of us!
Bonnie says
I happy to read that you’re expecting again. Congratulations! I’ve been a blog reader since before Mazen’s birth and love your approach to healthy living. But I feel the need to comment on this post Specifically the portion where you discuss running and hot yoga. I teach yoga. And one of the lessons I focus on is doing what FEELS right for your body where it is, at the moment it is in. So I ask t, as I ask all of my students when they are in a challenging posture, hat you consider not putting pressure on your self as to how far you ran, how much weight you lift now compared to how you did before – it’s important to keep the body healthy or course, but now is not the time to compare or judge yourself. Prenatal yoga is fantastic to do to prepare the physical body. The social and emotional connections are so important too! BUT, as far as doing yoga in any heated environment, I would ask your doctor to make sure it is ok. IMO, putting the baby in a hyperthermic environment is not providing optimal conditions for growth and development. If it were my daughter, I’d ask her to hold off on hot yoga until after birth. Definitely as your doctor about doing heated yoga.
All the best to you!
Linda @ the Fitty says
“My arms and legs are not pregnant.” Beautiful thought! And what do you mean by “nausea eating”? When you’re nauseous, don’t you avoid eating food? And salads are always a way to go when you’re getting healthy–at least they are to me!
Do you find that your appetite as increased dramatically when pregnant (this time, and with Mazen?)
elle says
So I finally bought some sardines today! I mixed the tin with nonfat greek yogurt and capers, and scooped it up with some crackers. It was so good! (and except for the crackers, it was zero weight watchers points!) Thanks for your reminders about them and I hope someday you get some sardine sponsorships!
KathEats says
Yay!!
Sarah says
So I totally agree with your body gains about then same per pregnancy. I had gestational diabetes with my second preg and so had to say goodbye to ice cream and aka a pregnant woman due in august’s best friend. And yet, I gained only three pounds less than I did with my first pregnancy when I ate sugar like it was going out of style. And both times I had major weight gain spurts around 15-20 week’s that, if I had continued on that pace, would have meant a 50lb plus gain. But, it all evened out (squiggly line) and I gained around 25 with both of my girls. So, my feeling is listen to your body and try to eat healthy most of the time but allow yourself to indulge a bit too. So happy for you !
Philippa says
Well, I have only just moved up to an 18 pound kettlebell so you’re still beating me Kath! 🙂 do you know Bodyfit by Amy on Youtube? I do her kettlebell workouts at home and they are fantastic – she is also currently expecting baby number 2 and so she’s doing lots of prenatal strength workouts on her channel. You might want to check it out, I think she’s fantastic! Glad to see you keeping fit and well xx
KathEats says
Oh cool – I’ll check it out! I struggle with finding home workouts that I want to do, but I think after baby comes that is such a good option for new moms!