Nothing more than feelings

I'm getting ready for my daily exercise.

Motivation is lacking today.  Why am I doing this?  I put on my normal gear- bike shorts, high impact sport bra, old tank top, running shoes.  Opposing voices are simultaneously clamoring inside my head.  "Just do it.  Give it your best.  What's the point?  Just take it easy.  You will feel so much better if you run.  You will feel so much better if you sit in bed with a book and a snack."  I compromised with myself and did 3 miles on the treadmill, some jogging, mostly brisk walking.

One week into my 3rd trimester and I have gained about 13 pounds so far.  After I had Lucy I was down to "starting weight" very quickly.  Here's a journal entry from a week after she was born:

Pre-Lucy weight was 205. My heaviest pregnancy weight was 224. I was 222 three days before the birth. At six days PP I weigh 210. Haven't tried on any real pants yet, but I did go ahead and pack away all the maternity clothes.

This time around my pre-baby weight was 185; still heavy, but closer.  So close to my goal of "normal" weight for my height.  That's why I'm doing this, today anyway.  There are other reasons, but that's what got me on the treadmill this time.  I have to keep remembering the bigger picture.

Some days I just don't get in the groove, but that's OK.  I have a personal belief that feelings can be controlled; even when they can't be eliminated, my emotions do not have to rule my world.  I didn't feel like doing anything today, but I did it anyway.  I am in charge.

Today's Workout 3-10

Entering my 27th week of pregnancy with a full body strength training session.  Allow me a moment to bask in my own awesomeness....

Thank you.

This is the routine I followed.  Some exercises I performed to near failure, others I took a more moderate approach.  I started by warming up on the treadmill, brisk walk at 2% to 5% incline for 1/2 mile.  Then:

Push Ups (modified)
"Bird Dog"
Bicep Curls (standard)
Triceps Kickbacks
Hammer Curls
Chair Dips (I hate these!!!)
Alternating Cross-Body Curls
Overhead Triceps Extensions
Standing Side Crunch (holding onto the door frame helped isolate core)
Standing Crossover Crunch
One-Armed Row
Chest Flies
Pull-over
Chest Press
Reverse Fly
Squats (standard and then wider stance)
Shoulder Press (Military Press)
Jump Squats
Lateral Raise (to front and side)
Forward Lunge
Upright Row
Plie Squat
Split Lunge

Cool down, stretch, and that's it!  The strength training aspect took me about 45 minutes moving quickly from one exercise to the next.  I did take a short (30-45 second) break after some of the more "energetic" moves, like those damn jump squats!

My New Mantra

"Bid me run,

and I will strive

with things impossible..."

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar 

I'm no Angel...

...so I made a snow runner instead!

Icicles

just because I took this picture and feel proud of it

M. I. F.

I tried a new workout video today, thank you Netflix.  Moms Into Fitness, Third Trimester.  Maybe it's because I'm still in my 2nd Tri, but I had a hard time getting into M.I.F.

The instructor was OK.  Too much talking, but they all tend to jabber.  She kept saying "buncakes" instead of "butt", which was just puerile.  Her cueing was off or absent altogether.  It's pretty bad when the ladies making your video with you are getting confused.  But her energy was pretty good; enthusiastic but not overly perky.

The workout itself was pretty basic.  I'm sure I'm going to feel it in the morning, but it was easy.  The toning/cardio section was only about 34 minutes long.  There is nothing wrong with a short, intense workout, but there was no intensity, just lots of slow repetition.  So it's not a huge calorie burn but a decent strength training session.  She did a lot for the upper back, which is an area I tend to forget.

The 26-minute yoga session was similar; not impressive but not at all bad.  My conclusion-  I need to give it another try.  I'm thinking this will be a good workout to do when I can't decide what I need my focus to be for that day.