Belly Up To The Bar(re)

I feel like I've done a lot of writing about what I can't do anymore (run, sleep on my stomach, tie my shoes, go more than an hour without having to pee).  So, I thought it might be time to tell you what I am still doing. Namely, The Bar Method. I'm down to the teens in days left of this pregnancy, but that hasn't stopped me from, literally, bellying up to the bar(re). I have been consistently hitting up Bar Method classes throughout the last 37+ weeks and I do believe it has made a difference in not only how I look, but more importantly, how I feel while I'm pregnant. 

 

 

A few things I have found doing Bar Method pregnant:

 

1.  They have specific modifications you must do either as soon as you are pregnant (ie: no splits) or when you hit 20 weeks.  I absolutely love this about The Bar Method.  Knowing that they have researched, reviewed, and vetted exercises as safe specifically for pregnancy gives me an ease of mind that I can't find in other classes.  Often times in group classes the mentality is, "do what you can do."  And it's up to you to modify the moves as you see fit.  Let's be honest, very few of us know the anatomy behind each exercise, let alone the impact of pregnancy on your body as it relates to the anatomy of those exercises.  For example, I certainly wouldn't have known to avoid spinal twisting when pregnant.  I also wouldn't have thought twice about sliding into the splits pregnant.  Luckily, The Bar Method has taken the guess-work (and therefore, the potential for injury) out of exercising while pregnant.  If you want more information on how to modify during class, here is a great link: http://barmethod.com/the-workout/your-questions/

 

2. It doesn't hurt....well, any more than it usually hurts.  I have no "extra" pain doing The Bar Method due to pregnancy.  I shake and sweat just like always, but there's no added pain that comes along with class.  I haven't found this to be the case with other activities.  I've found running/walking/anything with impact to be pretty painful to my pelvis and low back, which means I've either had to stop doing those activities or modify them so much that I'm not really sure I'm getting any benefit from them.  It's so nice to do something where I can still "go all out," even with my tummy sticking all out.

 

3.  You can do all class levels.  You don't have to stick to the basics when Bar Methoding pregnant.  You can challenge yourself as much as you'd like.  Because you will modify any moves that aren't safe for you while pregnant, you can take any class you'd like.  I actually started taking the new Bar Move classes when I was significantly pregnant and I absolutely love them.  Side note: If you have not tried a Bar Move class at Bar Method, YOU MUST!  It's a great class that will get your heart pounding and your legs shaking.  Trust me on this, once you've taken enough entry level classes to be familiar with all of the moves and set-ups, you should get into a Move class.  I've even dared a few level 2 classes while pregnant.  Let's face it, just because you're carrying another person around in your belly doesn't mean you don't sometimes want a good challenge.

 

4.  Sorry cardio-queens (myself included), working your muscles is the best preparation for actual birth.  During my very first pregnancy appointment with my doctor, I remember her asking about my workout habits.  I told her that I was a runner and that I did Bar Method.  After describing Bar Method moves to her, she got wide-eyed and said, "you should keep that up as long as possible.  It sounds like it really works your core and you're going to need that for birth."  Her face and her words pop into my head every time we move into flat back during class.  No matter how hard it is to engage my abs (or lack of abs) and lift my feet, I just start thinking about birth and up they go.  Look, it's my first kid, and I wont lie, birth is a terrifying prospect.  If a few minutes of hard ab work during class is going to make it easier for me, I'm all over it.

 

5. The other Bar ladies!  Nothing makes you feel better than sweating and shaking with a group a super awesome ladies.  And, I cannot tell you how supportive all of the ladies have been of me during this pregnancy.  Not a class goes by without at least one person asking how I'm doing and cheering me on.  The Bar Method community is seriously one awesome group of girls.

No-Run Randomness

Just a couple random thoughts from my no-run Saturday workout/donut run:

1.  This says "cryotherapy and floatation."  Which, is apparently a thing and a thing opening soon near my local workout/donut spot. 

2.  Isn't this just the saddest closed sign you've ever seen?  It's so final.  It's like they've lost all hope.

3.  You know I love to have my t-shirts talk for me. 

Getting my whole body, including the belly, in one shot is becoming increasingly difficult.  Also, I might consider applying a little makeup before my Saturday workout/donut trip.

 

Be In The Now.

I need a reminder on this one as often as I can get it. Especially these days.  With my impending stork delivery looming nearer and nearer, staying in the now is virtually impossible.  I can't help but look forward and worry about the unknown of what's coming.  Ahhh...wait, there it is.  The error in my thinking. Of course I can help it. I am in control of my thinking and my worrying.  I can choose to stay in the now.  I can choose to be present in my life and experience all that is NOW instead of anticipating what is to come, or more accurately, my idea of what is to come.  If I choose to be in the now I am truly living and not just being.  Who knew you could get this much wisdom from an $8.99 Old Navy shirt?!?!

Kicks!

Little tiny, never ending, sleep preventing, belly deforming, baby kicks aren't the only kicks on my mind these days. 

These new kicks arrived today and I couldn't be happier!

Just because I can't run, doesn't mean I can't shop, right? 

Don't worry, I haven't given up my devotion to Brooks when it comes to running/training, but I decided to change it up a little for my non-running training. I've been wearing my reguluar running shoes, Brooks PureFlows, for my daily workouts and figured it was time to give them a break until I'm ready to get back on the running trails. Plus, how could I pass up such cute new shoes?!?

 

Working out in new shoes just feels better, doesn't it?

Brain Duh'd

Y'all, pregnancy brain is REAL!!  And, the effects are serious. 

Yesterday, I got to the gym, changed into my workout clothes, and realized I'd forgotten to pack my shoes. 

Today, I packed my gym shoes, got to the gym, and realized I'd forgotten the whole damn bag!

I swear I'm not doing it on purpose. I really do want to exercise. It's not me.  It's this baby girl. She clearly doesn't want me to be fit. She wants me at home, on the couch, eating Oreos. She's sabotaging my body and my brain!

I get that this is a time in my life where "taking it easy" and "giving myself a break" is acceptable and encouraged, but this is getting ridiculous. I do want to stay active and strong. I just don't have the brainpower these days to remember how to do it. 

Now, back to those Oreos...

Never Underestimate...

The other morning I woke up in a foul mood. Not just a wrong-side-of-the-bed kind of mood.  No, I was in a wrong-side-of-life kind of mood. And I knew I was in that kind of mood before my feet hit the floor. 

So, as soon as my feet did hit the floor, which, on a side note, is SO much harder  now that I am trying to hoist up this big belly, I put them right into my running shoes and took a trip to the gym. 

And then I took myself on a trip to Shipley's Do-Nuts!

Here is the lesson y'all:

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEALING POWER OF SWEAT AND SWEETS!!!

Trust me on this one guys, sometimes the fix is as simple as that. 

Two Things I Miss The Most

Run now, wine later. 

Sadly, way, way later.  

Wine, my friend, I miss you so much.  I know we will be reunited again soon, but it feels like forever since I've been able to enjoy hanging out with you at night over a good meal.  Please know that I haven't forgotten about you.  In fact, I think about you often.  We will be together again, I promise.

 

Oh, and running, yeah, I miss you a lot too.

In All Seriousness

In a previous post, I was kidding around about a little bit about what I expected running pregnant to look like and the reality of how it has turned out. But, in all seriousness, I think it's time to come clean with you on how I'm doing and what I've been up to.

As you can tell, I haven't been doing much updating of this running blog. The main reason for this? Let me be totally honest. This runner is no longer running. I wish I had better news for you. As I said in my runner vs. reality post, I really had all of the best intentions. I meant to be a pregnant runner. I really, really did. But here is the ugly, honest truth: running while pregnant just hurts too much. It hurts with every step and as much as I wanted to be one of those tough, badass pregnant runner ladies, I just had to give up. 

Now that that is out of the way, let me go back and fill you in on how it has gone.

I didn't quit running immediately.  In fact, the morning I found out I was pregnant, the very first thing I did was lace up and go for a run.  I remember feeling like it was so cool to go on a run alone with my baby and the secret of my baby.  On that run, I remember looking forward to so many more runs with this little baby in tow. Little did I know what was in store for me. 

The first hit to my running regimen didn't come from the pain, it came from the all day nausea and exhaustion that set in around week 6. I don't even know if I can accurately describe how that first trimester felt. It was all I could do to to drag myself to the office each day for work (and even that didn't happen every day).  Anything beyond that was a real stretch. I remember breaking down into near tears and telling my husband that I felt like I was being told to run a marathon at my usual pace, but with one leg chopped off. And I wasn't even talking about running. Every day of that first trimester felt like a 20 mile run.  I hurt, I was exhausted, and I was starved.  Sure, I ran here and there, but my endurance and motivation were just totally shot.  I would usually average about one medium distance run a week and maybe one interval treadmill run a week.  That first trimester I found myself having to stop every 15 minutes to just breath and rest.  I had nothing in my tank.  Which, made no sense because I was eating like a mad woman for that first trimester.  If this child comes out cheese-colored...well, EZ Mac is to blame!

People always tell you that the second trimester will make everything better and boy, they aren't kidding!  At my second trimester, almost to the day, I immediately felt better.  I had all of my normal energy back and I could finally think of food without wanting to get sick everywhere.  Of course, what also happens (the thing people don't mention so often when they are trying to cheer you up during that miserable first three months) when you start feeling better....you start really getting bigger!  That's when the real running trouble started.  As grew bigger, the pain in my low abs when running just got worse and worse and eventually became unbearable.  I even tried purchasing a support belt that was highly recommended by other runners, but I found it really did no good for me.  After a few weeks of attempting interval runs on the treadmill, I finally had to call uncle on the whole thing.  Running has been put on hold until after the baby. I miss it so much, but after trying and trying to power through, I finally came to the conclusion that running doesn't have to hurt.  Okay, yes, yes, running is hard and hurts sometimes, but not like this.  I run because I love all of the things it brings me, but it shouldn't bring me pain. I am in the process of accepting that running is just on hold for now and that it's okay.  I will get back to it.  And, when I do, I know I will be more appreciative of it.  What is that phrase?  You don't know what you've got until it's gone.

***This is not running related, but something that I really, really want to say and this is the best place I can think to say it:
Being pregnant is hard!  It is physically hard and emotionally hard.  I mean, it is REALLY hard.  See, here's the deal: those of us who have never done it before, we don't know it's hard because we see almost half of the people we know around us doing it, so we assume it can't be that hard.  But, now that I'm doing it, I'm here to tell you, it is hard.  For some reason, not enough people are saying this out loud.  Rumor is you forget how sucky pregnancy is as soon as that little baby is born, so I want to put it out for the world to know now before I forget, and so that I don't forget.  Being pregnant is hard.  You feel sick, you feel stressed, you feel big, it's uncomfortable, it's terrifying, it's isolating, and it's a million other not so great things.  Look, I know that it's all worth it in the end and I'm not trying to say I'm unhappy pregnant or anything like that.  I just want to give credit where credit is due.  If you know anyone who is or ever has been pregnant, as soon as you finish reading this blog, please tell them how impressed you are by them.  Let them know that even if you can't "get" it, you can appreciate it.   

One Race

I've said it over and over, but I always find that t-shirts do a better job I. Remember, in the long run, all that matters is that we are all of one race. 

Love Wins

Last Friday, as I sat in the waiting room of my doctor's office ready to have the ultrasound done that would tell me if this baby is going to be a boy and a girl, the Supreme Court of the United States of America announced its ruling to make same sex marriage legal in all fifty states. 

After shedding a few waiting room tears, I started to immediately compose this blog in my head, but then realized I had already written most of it almost exactly two years ago, when the Supreme Court made two earlier decisions regarding same sex marriage.  Please read it by clicking HERE. 

I still want to add just a little more to that previous blog to try to tell you just what it meant to me on Friday.

I don't know what our little girl (yes, it's a girl!) is going to be like.  I don't know if she will be short or tall, blonde or brunette.  I don't know if she'll be a picky eater like me or adventurous like her dad.  I don't know if she'll be shy or outgoing.  Will she be good at math like Paul or will she love words like me (hopefully, both)?  I don't even know if she will fall in love with and want to marry a man or a woman (assuming she even wants to get married). 

But, what I do know now is that, thanks to the Supreme Court of the United States, marrying the person she is in love with, no matter what, will be her right.  It will be one less fight she has to fight.  One less hard life lesson I have to teach her.  One less time I have to tell her, "I know baby, it is wrong and I'm sorry." 

A funny thing happens when you get pregnant.  You start to look around at the world you're going to bring your child into and you start asking, "Is this the kind of world I want my baby to be a part of?"  "Is this world good enough for her?"  Let me be honest, there are a lot of days, usually after watching the news, when I question the goodness of this world.  I worry that I'm going to have to spend a lot of time explaining to my little girl how it is that the bad guys seem to be winning so often.  And I already dread those conversations. 

 

So, thank you Supreme Court for giving me one more opportunity to tell her about how, even when it takes a while, sometimes love really does win.

Runner vs. Reality

Now that the pea's in the pod, the bun's in the oven, and the cat's out of the bag, let's talk about pregnancy and running. Or more like pregnancy and not running. Let's talk about the runner vs. reality.

Here's what the runner thinks when finding out she's pregnant:

1. Great.  I can't wait to run with baby!

2.  I've seen all of those other pregnant runners out there getting it done with their cute bellies in tow (or towing them), I know I can do it.

3.  Heck, now that I won't be drinking on Fridays, I can register for all kinds of races on the weekends.

4.  In fact, I should register for a marathon or half marathon.  Sure, my pace might be a little slower, but with all of this extra time on my hands (you know, from not going out drinking), I will have tons of time to train.

5.  Running pregnant will just be like running with light weights.  A little extra resistance training.

6.  I can't wait to buy new, cute, maternity running clothes!

7.  I'm going to look exactly like this:

 

And this:

 

 

Here's what reality is actually like for a pregnant runner:

1.  Forget running, I can't wait to eat with baby.  And eat, and eat, and sleep.

2.  Who in the hell are all of those pregnant runners out there?!!?  Are they machines?  Freaks of nature?  Women with fake bumps sent down to the trail just to torture me?!?!  WHO ARE THESE WOMEN AND WHY ARE THEY RUNNING SO WELL?!?!?!

3.  Now that I'm not drinking on Fridays, I might as well go to sleep.  After eating, of course.  And, please don't wake me up in the morning.  Unless it's to eat again.

4.  What extra time?  Between eating and sleeping, I literally have no time. 

5.  I feel like I'm carrying a 20 lb. bowling ball.  Ouch. Ouch.  Stop.

6.  Umm....the word "cute" does not apply to this body and any form of clothing. 

7.  More like this:

 

 And this:

National Running Day...Surprise!

Yesterday was National Running Day. 

 

 

I hope you all got in a good run to celebrate and reflect on all of the reasons you run or want to run. I know I've gone into all of the reasons I celebrate National Running Day before (read them all here), but this year, I was running for a whole new reason....

This year, I ran for my baby. I also ran with my baby (surprise...baby on board!). 

I run because I believe staying mentally and physically strong is good for my baby. 

I run because I believe that I still have to take time from my day to do things I love and I'm passionate about. And I want my baby to know that it's okay to take care of yourself, even when others need taking care of too. 

I run because I want to be a good role model for my baby. I want this baby to know its mom is strong and determined and willing to do hard things. 

I run because one day my baby will look back and think, if my mom could run while she was carrying me, my mom can do anything, and if my mom can do anything, so can I. 

And....

I run because, oh my goodness, you wouldn't believe how much I eat now!

***If while reading this, you substitute the word "shuffle" for the word "run," you'll actually be reading a more accurate version of this post. 

And because so many people have asked, belly shot:

***Since we are talking about national days of celebration, I thought I would make you aware that tomorrow is National Donut Day.  I will definitely be celebrating National Donut Day, but I probably won't be posting belly pictures after.

Was it something I said? Did?

Okay, obviously I did not get the memo this weekend that all of us runners were skipping the gym. 

It was just me and the headband guy up there sweating it out.  Was it something I said? Was it something I did?  I swear my clothes were clean and I applied deodorant. Why was I so alone??  I know I haven't been running as much as I normally do, but seriously, where did everyone go?  Was I missing out on some super fun outdoor run/race?  Was it national no-run day and no one told me?  I was so lonely this weekend. 

Feeling The Love

Usually, if I'm lucky, I come across one, maybe two, good signs along the trail in a week. Then, I save them up and every few months I like to share all of the signs I've seen with you. 

But, every now and then, you go on a run that was just meant to inspire. Last week, I was fortunate enough to go on one of those runs. And it left me feeling the love, for sure. 

 

 

 

The long run lesson: We are surrounded by love.  The world loves you and wants you to know it. Be open to receive it. 

Wipeout

Anybody ever seen this show?

 

Crazy obstacles, silly falls, wild announcers.  Sound familiar?  Well, last weekend we set off with a group of my coworkers to run the Wipeout Run based on the TV show.  Here is a quick summary of my thoughts on the run.

Course:

It was a 3 mile course with obstacles throughout.  There were long stretches (almost a mile) in between some of the obstacles.  Which, would normally be just fine, but it was 85 degrees out and this was set up in a giant parking lot, which made the run parts HOT.  I won't really complain though, because most of the obstacles involved getting wet, so the heat was only bad for the first long stretch of running.

Obstacles:

Now this was the fun stuff!!  We laughed and laughed during all of the obstacles.

 

By the way, the big balls obstacle was way harder than you'd guess. Jumping from bouncy ball to bouncy ball seems easy... It is not. But it is hilarious. 

One note about the obstacles though:  they get DIRTY.  By the time our heat went, the water was filthy and cringe-worthy. Next year, I will sign up for the first, early morning wave...before the water gets black with everyone else's....ugh. 

 

Feeling Good!

 

Great group!  Great fun!

34

Apparently, when you turn 34 your memory begins to slip.

Can anyone spot the key running gear I forgot to pack on my 34th birthday?

So, instead of logging my birthday miles, I decided to take a few minutes here and celebrat3 what birthdays are really about (and I don't mean all of the new gift cards for running clothes). Birthdays are a time for gratitude and this year, I have tons to be grateful for. So, here is a list of 34 for 34:

1.  33 - what a good year it was. Full of growth and knowledge and a little relaxing. 

2. 34 - I'm grateful just to get this year. I embrace what will come with it and I look forward to continued learning, growth, and (more!) relaxation. 

3.  My healthy body - capable of logging birthday miles.... Just not today. 

4.  Coworkers - if you have to work on your birthday, these people will make it amazing by throwing for you complete with bagels, iced sugar cookies, and mimosas. 

5. Bagels - oh bagels. You are my favorite pre-run and post-run fuel. I don't care that you get a bad rep. You are the best and I love you. 

6.  Iced sugar cookies - I'm a firm believer that birthday calories don't count, which is why I am especially grateful for you today. 

7.  Mimosas - You + me +Saturdays (okay, and Sundays) = perfection. Especially combined with a nice no. 5. 

8.  Text - Text, you were great to me today. Every time you vibrated my phone, you brought me nothing but kind messages from friends and family filled with joy and love. 

9.  Friends and Family - Duh. I am grateful for my amazing friends and wonderful family each and every single day. I know that I am blessed beyond belief to have such amazing people in my life. I am especially grateful this year because my family from out of state, whom I love very much is coming to visit this week. 

10.  Airplanes, cars, roads, all means of travel - It's been a year and a half since I have seen my brother. I am grateful for all of the modern conveniences that make travel from California to Texas possible. 

11.  Facebook - I know plenty of people look down on facebook and social media in general, but those people have clearly never celebrated a birthday on facebook. Thank you to all of my sweet, sometimes long lost friends, who took the time to wish me happy birthday today. 

12. Those gift cards for running clothes - Nike, you and I have a shopping date coming up here really soon. 

13.  My husband - After I told him that for

my birthday what I really wanted to do was go hiking (an odd request from someone who lives in one of the flattest cities in America), he took me for a weekend away and hiking Enchanted Rock.

14.  Mother Nature - You are just awesome. 

15.  The video my soul sister, Courtney, sent of her son singing me happy birthday -  His giggles in the middle still have me laughing.

16.  Travel - I started the early phases of trip planning yesterday and I'm already so exciting.  Nothing helps time fly like knowing you have a good trip in the works.

17.  Pinterest - Where I find my daily motivational quotes for my cork board. 

18.  Running-themed parties - After the party, they set up a streamer finish line for me to run through. Only time ever that I will be first across a finish line. 

19.  This blog - I am grateful to have a place to explore my feelings, creativity, and even my doubts.

20.  Readers of this blog - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

21. (Staying with the blog theme) The Blogger App - For allowing me to write all of this from the elliptical machine, my couch, or the car.  Not that I blog and drive.  I meant, for allowing me to write this blog from the passenger's seat while someone else drives.

22.  This is harder than it looks.

23.  Flash sale sites - Because every now and then a girl needs to buy herself her own birthday present.

24.  Fresh Diet meal delivery - It has been so wonderful for the last two weeks to never have to think about groceries or cooking.

 

25.  The end of Fresh Diet meal delivery - You can only eat pre-packaged meals so many times before you're over it.  I still don't look forward to the grocery store or cooking, but I'm a little sick of the delivery stuff.

 

25.  My husband (again) - After I decided I was too tired to go out to eat, he went and picked up Mexican food (specifically, queso) for me to eat on the couch.

 

26.  Queso - Everyone from Texas should understand this.

 

27.  My couch - I'm going to replace you very soon, but I am grateful for all of the lazy nights you let me put my feet up and relax while eating queso.  Okay, so the last part has only happened once in all these years, but I am grateful for it anyway.

 

28.  My hair - Okay that's not really mine.  I asked my coworkers (see item 4) for help with this list (I'm stalling out) and they are wonderfully sweet and said I should be grateful for my hair.  Which, I am.  Most days. 

 

29.  My husband (yup - he's pretty awesome) - For, spur-of-the-moment, taking me out to lunch for my birthday.  I rarely leave my desk for lunch and more rarely see my husband during work hours.

 

30.  Houston Running Calendar - It is so nice to be able to find a list of all (err..most) of the upcoming races in my area.  No need to wait for emails or scour a million different places.  It's all right there.  Time to pick my next run.

 

31.  24 Hr. Gyms - So that I can make up those birthday miles first thing in the morning.

 

32.  Birthday Cake - I didn't get any of you this year, but I haven't given up.  You give me reason to turn birth-DAY into birth-WEEK.  Bring on the cake!

 

33.  Netflix - It was great to sit on my couch eating queso and watching episodes of Orange is the New Black back-to-back.  Yes, I know I'm way behind.  No spoilers please!

 

34.  I am grateful this list is over!  I may have oversold myself on coming up with 34 things to be thankful for on my 34th birthday.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE me some gratitude.  Gratitude is everything.  But, whew, I'm glad this list is done.  I bet you are too.

The Run of the Irish

I hope you all got in your lucky St. Patrick's Day run. It feels good to get in some exercise before we all take the day to pretend we are Irish, doesn't it?

 

I will take any excuse to dress theme-y. 

 

And, there's nothing wrong with a little post-run carb loading...

 

Also, next year, can someone please get me this tank?  I promise to wear it gratefully, while doing both activities. 

Spring In My Step

Spring rolled into town this weekend and it was glorious. 

You can't help but run with an extra spring in your step on days like today. Days like today are fuel for runners.  It's physically impossible not to smile as you stride with the sun on your face and Spring all around.  Winter has been rough on my running this year. I pretty much gave up the outdoor long run back in December, but with Spring arriving at the door, I am running happy and happily running.

Is it Spring yet where you are?  If not, hang in there.  It's coming and with it the extra spring in your step.