Post-Pregnancy Diet and Exercise: Day Something or Other

I know you all are just dying to know how this fitness thing is going.  So here's a little info.

Diet:  I have been having some fun trying some new recipes that aren't too healthy (not like rabbit food healthy, that is) but are a lot better than what we have been eating.  I think this health food craze of late is kind of discouraging because now, eating healthier is not enough.  Now it's as though you have to be completely sugar free or gluten free or white flour free or whatever.  So even as I write, "We're eating a lot healthier," I know I open myself up for heavy criticism because, compared to so many people I know, we're not eating that healthy.  But, comparisons aside, here are some changes we made.

Eating more chicken instead of beef (or lean ground beef)
Using olive oil instead of vegetable oil or butter
Eating whole wheat bread, pasta and a yummy homemade wheat pizza crust
Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes) and sneaking in some color and variety in our meals (red peppers, red onions, zucchini, spinach)

Wow, I know that's not really a big deal.  But our diet has been based on CHEAP for the last year and a half, so these changes are big for us, even though this is how we used to eat all the time.  We didn't even buy tater tots this week.  :-(

Here's a recipe we liked where I used homemade whole wheat pizza crust:  Barbecue Chicken Pizza
It was really good and different from our regular menu.  Use Gouda cheese only if you want your pizza to cost over $10 :)

Exercise:  Well this is the area that has been lacking.  I have taken a few days off here and there, which is good.  If I set out to do it every single day, I figure I'll do it at least four times a week, which is reasonable.  I am honestly just tired.  And sore.  But when I crouch on the floor to have a tea party with my two year old daughter, my baby in my arms, I know that I need to do this not just for me, but for them.  I feel more comfortable and sure of myself now when I am dancing with Maryn and tossing her around, and I can only imagine what Josiah will do for my fitness levels in years to come.  I'm pretty sure he's going to weigh 30 pounds before Maryn does and he is a mover and a shaker (well, mostly a KICKER, a flailer, and a wailer).

So yes, I am honestly just tired.  And sore.  And old.  Everything on me hurts sometimes and the next day other things hurt worse than others, and I get heartburn after eating pepperoni, and my joints are hurting, and my head hurts, and my eyes are blurry and my hair is going gray.  All the more reason to exercise.  I keep wanting to call my younger friends and plead with them to have children as soon as possible.  It makes so much more sense...but I resist.  I resist. 

I'm going to go take a nap. 

Post-Pregnancy Diet and Exercise: Day Four

I made a recipe similar to this Pasta Pizza for lunch today.  It was pretty good, very kid friendly and I loved it, too.  Just make it healthier by taking out the beef, adding your favorite veggies, using whole wheat pasta and turkey pepperoni.  And less, low fat cheese.  It was yummy.  Maryn ate all the cheese, then all the pepperoni, then all the mushrooms, then most of the pasta and veggies (our plan was to use a green pepper, zucchini and onion). 

Exercise:  I ran for ten minutes and stretched for ten minutes.  I had to hang up some signs around our neighborhood, so I just ran while I did it.  I couldn't wait to get out there and run, but after five minutes it was just so cold and hard to breathe.  But I got the job done!  We have started to do the P90X program, starting with their day one.  We had just been doing whatever we felt like on the P90X DVDs.  Since today was chest and back, and I already did that the other day, I decided to run instead.  We also started filling in the charts. 

How do I feel?  Well, we worked out our legs yesterday, so naturally my butt is killing me.  My butt is always killing me, no matter what kind of workout I do.  Ab workouts = sore buttocks.  Arms and chest workouts = sore buttocks.  Obviously, this should tell me something.  ;-)

My hips are wicked sore as well.  But I feel really good.  My body feels sore and heavy, somehow, and though I'm a little more tired, I also feel more energetic.  Isn't that weird?  I already feel happier.  And "happy people don't kill their husbands.  They just don't."  -Cher, from Legally Blonde

Post-Pregnancy Diet and Exercise: Day Three

Exercise:  With both children asleep at 7:30, John and I immediately got busy.  Moving furniture to do our P90X back and legs workout, that is.  Ha!  So after everything was moved and we almost had enough room to workout side by side, staggered slightly, in our teeny living room, I resisted the urge to vacuum the floor (there was a lot of stuff under that ottoman), put on my sexiest workout outfit, grabbed a giant glass of water, a Reese's cup and a cookie and got to work, hubby beside me.  I completed about 20 minutes of the workout, with a few breaks, and John did 30 minutes.  Both of us will most likely be walking like cowboys tomorrow.  If you see me sporting my pj pants (read this it's funny), just know it's not because I'm lazy.  It's because I could not lift my knee high enough to get into them. 

P90X, although it is too hard for me to do everything they do in the video, is perfect for me and my workout personality.  Plus I can do it with my husband and he sees it as a challenge, too.  I'm finding it very easy to adapt and just do what I can do.  Plus, with John beside me, he can always offer easier alternatives that work the same muscles.


Diet:  Once Christmas is over, I think self-control will be a little easier.  I just made a meal plan for next week and realized, the area I struggle the most is with LUNCH.  For one thing, my sweet daughter has her father's metabolism and eats all day.  Snack after snack after snack.  If I fix anything for myself, I have to share.  I also shove things down my throat fast--so fast--so I can get back to nursing, soothing, playing, or...run to the potty as my two year old shouts, MOMMY I POOPED! before she does something gross...

So fixing myself a cute little pita sandwich (Sans cheese!  Say it ain't so!) is just sort of out of the question.  I eat green beans from a can, I eat cold hot dogs, and cottage cheese right from the container.  I shove tater tots into my mouth so quickly, before Maryn can take them and before someone cries, that I'm nauseous before I realize I'm even eating.  Yes.  Don't come to our house for dinner.  Just don't.

I know these habits are bad, and they are getting better.  Josiah is getting easier.  Maryn....is.....um.  Well, she keeps me moving, which burns calories, right?

The positive thing is, I am not a snacker.  I do nibble...I have to go to the kitchen at least every hour as Maryn begs for more raisins, more cereal, more candy.  I never realized how much I nibble an  d snatch.  A cookie here, a candy there.  Why these things are even in our house is unclear to me.  Oh yeah, I live with Mr. and Miss Metabolosaurus.  Healthy snacks, healthy snacks, they just aren't cheap.  We do raisins, fruit, granola, low sugar cereals, cheese, chips and salsa....what else can we do?

You're going to say hummus, aren't you?  Hmmph.

Speaking of hummus and pitas, I do intend to try these bread machine wheat pitas. 

I think they'd be yummy baked with butter, cinnamon and sugar.  ;-)

My Wake Up Call

You all know that I was sick (and I still am a little sick).  Well the other day, I was blowing my nose for the 60th time, and I thought, "Sheesh, this is like taking care of a whole other person!"

And then I realized, I AM a whole other person.  I need to take better care of myself. 

I have also been watching this show, Ruby.  It's a reality show about a woman who weighed something like 475 pounds.  So far she has lost 90 lbs.  The other day, she walked a mile.  Imagine...that's like me walking a mile while carrying around nearly 300 lbs.  If Ruby can do that, I can workout 15 minutes per day. 

She has been put on a seriously strict diet with pre-made meals.  But she has her teenage nephew living with her, and he wanted to go through the drive-thru at Bojangles, her favorite fast food restaurant.  She struggled with wanting to get her favorite sandwich, but she resisted.  I know from seeing what she is allowed to eat that she has to be starving, but she resisted.  If Ruby can do that, I can certainly resist eating 16 cookies in one day. 

I know Ruby would love to be my size, and she probably has no idea that she could inspire someone like me to be a little more self-controlled.  But she does! 

Post-Pregnancy Diet and Exercise: Day 2

Diet:  I did a little better today.  Aside from the obscene amount of Christmas goodies (and very, very buttery garlic bread...white garlic bread) that I ate, I did manage to fit in at least one serving of green veggies (frozen green beans that may or may not have been covered with butter and oil, and paired with potatoes...and salt...), a couple servings of fruit and some semi-healthy grains and yogurt.  I even saved tater tots from lunch for John instead of eating all the rest, like I usually do.  This is a major feat, as tater tots are one of my most very favorite, favorite things. 

My MAIN goal right now is to make it from getting up in the morning until lunch without eating junk.  So I had my coffee, lots and lots of water, an orange, yogurt (Organic!  Low sugar!) and granola.  I resisted the brownies and cookies on the counter clear up until the afternoon. 

Exercise:  I did about 20 minutes of an arm and back workout, and I am feeling great.  I love exercising, believe it or not.  I love the tightness I feel and that I am a wee bit sore.  I love that it hurts to bring my leg up enough to put on pants.  John was here for my lovely attempt at push ups.  Arthritis in my joints keeps me from doing all that my muscles can do--I could only do about 6 push ups before my wrists couldn't take it anymore. 

Good news:  I feel great.  I feel better looking.  I had more energy today (probably mostly mental at this point), and I lost a whole pound since two days ago.  I know!  It's a Christmas miracle. 

Post-Pregnancy Diet and Exercise: Day One

Diet:  Well, the diet part of this regime is on standby.  Today I had coffee for breakfast, Velveeta Mac and Cheese, a mandarin orange, and cottage cheese for lunch, and frozen pizza for dinner.  The only vegetables I ate were those that were on the pizza.  I also had a brownie and a Christmas cookie.  And a whole lot of brownie batter. 

Exercise:  It has begun.  I suck.  I am so out of shape.  I did about fifteen minutes of an ab workout.  I did about half of each exercise, and some exercises I couldn't do a single one.  My back is whack.  And after the workout, my legs were so wobbly I could hardly walk.  My LEGS.  It was an ab workout, for Pete's sake.  Come to think of it, my arms are pretty freakin' sore, too.

So, my goal is to workout fifteen minutes per day.  Just fifteen minutes, minimum.  If I could just do that, maybe I'll squeeze in more somehow.  If it's at 5 am, 4 pm, or 10 pm, whatever.  I gotta fit it in.

My diet goal is to convince my dear, sweet and loving husband to eat healthier and possibly give us some more freedom in the grocery budget.  And start eating stir-fry again.  For some reason he is on stir-fry strike.

I used to run!  I used to be able to complete a mile in under six minutes, easily.  I could run 3 miles in 22 minutes.  And I could complete a half mile in two minutes and thirty seconds.  But let's face it, that was ten years and two kids ago.  My husband is a personal trainer, with a degree in exercise science.  He runs marathons!  How did I let myself get to this point?  I can't do one full sit up.

I once did the most sit ups in one minute than anyone in my class.  It was like, 60 sit ups in a minute.  I am not joking.  And now I can't do one?  One?  What the helicopter!  That is pathetic.

One reason is because, after Maryn was born, I thought being skinny was enough.  I was skinny.  And right now, I'm certainly not FAT.  But you know what, being skinny is, by itself, not healthy.  Being fit is what is my goal here.  I know I can be thin.  I know very well how to drop ten pounds and weigh exactly what I did in high school.  I am fully confident in that.  I need to get my butt in gear (I would totally use the A-- word here if I didn't think I'd get in trouble :) and get myself in shape.

Bring it!  

Sunflowers for my Sunflower

I made these cupcakes because I saw my friends Alicia and Kathleen had made them on Facebook. I had all I needed right on the shelf, so I cranked them out in no time. I was proud of myself for being motivated. Aren't they cute?! I can't eat them though because I really do not like frosting much at all. Anyway, if you want to make them it's just an Oreo with yellow piping. I used a leaf tip for the petals, but I think any small tip would do. Alicia and Kat added ladybugs by using black piping and red M&Ms. CUTE.On our walk in the garden, Maryn enjoyed seeing the tall, tall sunflowers. So we had a sunflowery day. This is the best picture I could get. Our camera battery is dying. It looks like she was watching TV here. She has been obsessed with Little Bear lately. It's kind of a nightmare.
In other news, I am looking up information on how to start running again. All I've come up with is this:

1. I think I have osteoarthritis.
2. I therefore need to do a lot of strength training before and during my running regime.
3. I do not plan on running a marathon. If I can get 5 miles in a WEEK I would be very, very happy with myself.
4. I think this pregnancy has been a freaking nightmare because I am so out of shape.
5. If you are not yet pregnant but want to be, please start doing some squats now so that your legs will hold you up when you put on that 30-50 pounds in 9 months or less.

Lazy Days

Today I decided to act like a stay at home dad. Interpretation: I didn't do much cleaning. I didn't do much of anything. I played with Maryn, I watched two movies (Mr. Deeds and The Truman Show), and I ate cold pizza for lunch. I hope I can get a little more accomplished tomorrow.

Yesterday we did so much, and I cleaned the house pretty much top to bottom. There just wasn't a whole lot to do today, so I figured it was a good day to take a break. It was, and I feel pretty good.

Tomorrow, I think I will start working out. Now that I am nursing a lot less, the weight is coming back on. I'm afraid I'll have to stop eating two to five brownies every day, and everything else in sight (last night I ate a bag of chocolate chips).

I know this is kind of personal, but I remember wondering before and during pregnancy about weight and all that stuff. So I'll share with you. I weighed 115 before pregnancy, and I weighed 150 in my 42nd week of pregnancy. Two weeks ago, I weighed 113 lbs! But this week I'm back up to 116. I know 116 isn't anything to worry about, but you know, eating a bag of chocolate chips isn't exactly healthy, and neither is sitting around watching movies all day. So I am going to start taking better care of myself. I don't have a weight loss goal in mind, but I would like to look and feel a little healthier.

Lessons Learned

This may not interest most of you, but I know some of you haven't had the pleasure of being pregnant yet but would like to be someday. So this is partly for you. It's also to remind me of how to do things better next time.

BEFORE getting pregnant...

I am going to do squats with two fifteen pound dumbells at least three times per week.
I am going to strengthen my back.
I am going to save money to visit the chiropractor more often.
I am going to become a great swimmer so that I can actually swim while I am pregnant, not just do strange exercises in the water that probably aren't doing anything. The pool is the ONLY place I feel absolutely comfortable. So this would be a great way to stay fit.

Everyone says "You need to walk while you're pregnant!" Walking is like slow and steady torture. Not only is it boring, hot and--boring, it hurts absolutely every single inch of my body. So I mostly just work out in the pool and do various Pilates kinds of things. And if you have anything to say about it, you can...

...sorry, pregnancy hormones must be surging right now.


:)