Pregnancy Week 31: Hilly Loop Run

I bundled up in multiple layers and set out for my run this morning. Originally, I had woken up early to do a KB workout, but Asher woke up at 6:30 and proceeded to have two breakfasts and a poopy diaper before we got out the door.

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 0.5 mile hill loop

Breakfast:
1 GF paleo Cranberry Walnut Chocolate chip cookie
Large bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 4 stalks kale, 1 carrot, 1 honeycrisp apple, 1 kiwi, 6 Tbsp organic golden flaxseed meal)

A few hours after my run, my pelvis felt pretty loose and my pubic symphysis was fairly uncomfortable. I did a self-mobilization and put my SIJ belt on snug. I had to move around pretty deliberately the rest of the afternoon with the belt on, but was able to go to dinner without the belt, feeling no discomfort. So far, the trend seems to be that the day after I have bodywork done, in my case, myofascial release, if I run, my pelvis will feel "loose." If I kettlebell, however, I will have no problem (have not tested this theory with lunges or full squats).

Lunch:
Large spinach salad with 1 roma tomato, 1/2 avocado, leftover chicken, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
2 pieces "Aplets and Cotlets"

Dinner:
Impromptu dinner at a Chinese buffet
Various vegetable/meat dishes with the least amount of obvious gluten (ie. broccoli & beef, Chinese broccoli, seafood medley with vegetables, sauteed string beans)
Sampled various desserts (now, the desserts had not only added sugar, but obvious gluten....this was my cheat dessert!)

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 31: KB Snatches

We got back last night and we have both been itching to bond with our kettlebells after 8 days away. I got my wish this morning and enjoyed every minute of it!

Activity:
High volume snatches with 10 kg, 15/15/15/15 R/L x 10 = 600 snatches

Breakfast (since we got back really late last night, we haven't restocked our fridge and have very little food available):
1/4 avocado
1 slice honeycrisp apple
Handful cashews

Lunch:
Large romaine lettuce salad with 1/2 green bell pepper, 1 tomato, 1 fuji apple, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
3 chewy fruit confections ("Aplets & Cotlets" a made-in-the-Northwest candy)

Dinner:
Costco Rotisserie Chicken breast
1 C steamed broccoli with celery salt
3 GF paleo Cranberry Walnut Chocolate chip cookies
2 spoons of Adam's Coldstone ice cream (we're not quite back to full paleo)

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 31: Christmas Run

Merry Christmas! My pre-Christmas celebration included a nice run, long before the snow started falling...

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 1.0 hilly loop...wore lots of layers, didn't take any of them off!

Breakfast:
Blender drink (1 C canned coconut milk, 2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 fuji apple, 8 pieces of pineapple)
1 of Grandma's Christmas cowboy cookies (oatmeal raisin)

Lunch:
1 buttermilk waffle with ketchup
Handful of corn chips with Mango salsa

Snack:
5 chocolate covered pretzels
2 pieces of Russell Stover chocolate

Dinner:
Spinach/avocado/ham panini (2 slices honey wheat bread, mustard, baby spinach, 1/2 tomato, 1/4 avocado, 3 slices ham, 1/2 slice bacon, sharp cheddar cheese)
1 Grandma's Christmas cowboy cookies (love the oatmeal raisin)

While we are enjoying these festive holiday foods (chocolate, chocolate covered-anything, pancakes and waffles, breads, cookies), we are certainly looking forward to returning to our Paleo diet. I will not miss this bloated feeling!

Pregnancy Week 30: Hilly Loop Run

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 1.0 mile hilly loop. I wore a base layer, then a scarf, jacket and gloves. It's not typical for the Carolinas to have cold temperatures in December, maybe we brought some of the cold from the west coast!

Breakfast (10 a.m.):
Big bowl blender drink (1 fuji apple, 1 banana, 2.5 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 orange, 8 strawberries)
3 of Grandma's famous Christmas cowboy cookies (2 oatmeal raisin, 2 chocolate chip)

Afternoon snack (3 p.m.):
Leftover blender drink
10 chocolate covered pretzels

Dinner:
Annual family "Pancake dinner" on Christmas Eve...
I had non-traditional spinach salad with 1/2 cucumber, 1 tomato, 1/2 avocado
Then, I had 2.5 buttermilk pancakes, 4 slices of bacon
3 chocolate covered pretzels

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 30: Hilly Solo Run in SC

We had a lot planned today so I got up early to get my run in. I wore my SIJ belt, a scarf, gloves, and two layers on top. I had a great time!

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 1.0 hilly loop

Breakfast:
Bowl of sauteed roasted red pepper and spinach sausage with red bell peppers
2 GF paleo cranberry walnut cookies

Lunch:
Bowl of salad: romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, deli-style turkey meat; no dressing

Snack:
2 GF paleo cranberry walnut cookies

Dinner:
Honey-glazed salmon filet with side of grilled green beans and broccoli (we ate at Ruby Tuesday)
Yes, I also had dessert!!! Chocolate lava cake w/ strawberry sauce and vanilla ice cream...YUM...we had to take the leftover dessert to-go, so more for me later!

Fluid:
5 cups water

Pregnancy Week 30: Rest Day in SC

After an uneventful red-eye flight to Atlanta, GA, we have made our way back to South Carolina, the birthplace of Carolina Kettlebell & Wellness. Today is a rest day for me; I did an easy 1.0 mile walk with Asher while Adam did a nice 2 mile run. We will be doing our best to eat Paleo style, but may have to modify our normal dietary choices based on availability since we are relying on the hospitality of others. I will blog as often as I can, but computer time may be limited. For those of you traveling, hope your travels are safe, and you find your loved ones healthy and happy!

Pregnancy Week 30: Tuesday KB Snatches!

Yay, I have been looking forward to this workout all week! I used the 10 kg for today's session....felt Great!

Activity:
High volume KB snatches 10 kg, 15/15/15/15 R/L x 10 = 600 snatches

Breakfast:
1 Bowl of sauteed brussels sprouts seasoned with garlic powder, dried dill, sea salt and pepper
2 GF paleo Cranberry Walnut cookies

Lunch:
1 large bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 5 stalks kale, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 kiwi, 6 Tbsp ground organic flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)

Dinner (leftover "mish-mash"):
Roasted red pepper and spinach sausage with leftover broccoli and red cabbage, leftover brussels sprouts
1 pear

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 30: Monday Solo Run

It was raining, cold and windy, so I suited up and set out alone...

Activity:
3.0 mile hilly run, slow pace, with SIJ belt. Felt great and the rain stopped while I was out!

I had a midwife appointment this morning. I weighed in at 120.0 pounds. We listened to the baby's heartbeat using the Doppler ultrasound and everything sounded normal! Yay!

Breakfast:
2.5 cups of freshly juiced carrots, apple, broccoli, grated fresh ginger

Lunch:
3/4 pear
Medium spinach salad with red bell pepper, cucumber, balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Dinner:
1/2 flank steak (sea salt & pepper)
1 bowl of sauteed broccoli, onions, red cabbage

Snack:
2 GF paleo cranberry walnut cookies

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 30: KB strengthening

Activity:
KB Clean-Press (12 kg) 10 x 5
KB Goblet squat (12 kg) 5 x 10
KB Single leg deadlift (12 kg) 5 x 10

Breakfast (random food!):
1/2 leftover rockfish filet (sea salt & pepper)
1 Ruby grapefruit
Handful roasted cashews
1 pear

Lunch:
Bowl of sauteed Red Pepper & Spinach sausage w/ 1/2 avocado, brussels sprouts, kale
2 squares Hershey's dark chocolate

Dinner:
Hot Pot w/ kale, nappa cabbage, rockfish, beef, squash, organic chicken broth

Snack:
2 pieces See's candies (we got samples while waiting in line!)

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 29: Cold Weather Run

I bundled Asher up in a few layers and a thick quilt this morning (including the obligatory cookie in his hand!) and off we went for a nice run with the double stroller!

Activity:
40 min run w/ Asher in double stroller

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
3/4 pear

Snack (eaten in car, picked up a friend from the airport and drove her halfway to her destination):
20 raw almonds

Lunch:
Large spinach salad with 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber; balsamic vinegar & olive oil

PM snack (needed a little something to keep me awake in stop and go traffic!):
5 pieces dark chocolate pomegranite bites

Dinner (was still full from lunch):
Handful roasted cashews
3 slices Ruby grapefruit
1 raw green bell pepper
2 pieces milk chocolate

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 29: KB strengthening

Quick and dirty KB workout, yeah!

Activity (12 kg):
Double KB Clean-press 5x5
Bent over Row 5x10
Good mornings 5x10
Suitcase squats 5x10
Renegade Rows 5x5

Breakfast:
Medium bowl of Vitamix drink (split from last night's batch)
2 slices of Asher's portion of Roasted Red pepper & Spinach sausage
Handful Roasted unsalted cashews

Birthday lunch:
Paleo hamburger: 1 hamburger patty, 1 salmon filet, tomato, avocado, lettuce and mustard, 1 pickle slice
Cheat birthday dessert: 1 slice Chocolate fudge cake, split with Asher and mom

Dinner:
2 servings roasted brussels sprouts (sea salt, pepper, dill, italian seasoning, garlic powder)
1/2 ribeye steak
2 squares hershey's dark chocolate

Post-dinner snack:
1/2 Ruby grapefruit

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 29: Running & Errands

A short run today was just what I needed, and I got one of my errands done!

Activity:
28 min run with Asher in double stroller, 20 min walk to post office

Breakfast (11:30 a.m.)
Bowl of slow cooker paleo Beef shank w/ spices, coconut milk, organic chicken broth, carrots...YUM
Half of Ruby grapefruit

Afternoon snack:
Handful Roasted cashews
Half of Ruby grapefruit
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Dinner:
Large bowl of Vitamin C vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 2 bananas, 2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 3 kiwis, 4 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)
3 pieces of beef shank

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 29: Tuesday Snatches

I decided to use the 10 kg for the entire snatch session today. I played around with repetitions since I really wasn't feeling "it" with doing anything this morning! Third trimester fatigue is really getting me, I guess.

Activity:
KB snatches (10 kg)
15/15/15/15 (R/L) x 3
10/10/10/10 (R/L) x 6
420 total snatches

While both cycles were a cardio challenge, completing snatches in sets of 10 made me feel less like crawling back into bed. These days, I'll take what I can!

Breakfast:
Large bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 5 stalks kale, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 carrots, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)

Lunch:
Extra large Spinach salad w/ 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 tomato, 1/2 avocado. Balsamic vinegar & olive oil
3/4 Mini slice cheesecake (yes, this was a cheat dessert!! I was at my parents' house today, and my dad bought these two mini slices of cheesecake in anticipation of my birthday on Thursday (I mentioned I wanted Cheesecake Factory dessert instead of birthday cake), and was so excited about them and proud of himself, that I decided to try it. It was good! And I didn't feel bloated or tired afterwards. I also didn't feel hungry for many many hours after that huge salad and the dessert.

Dinner:
Bowl of Paleo chili (we ran out of tomatoes, so it was chili without tomatoes!) with kale, carrots and mushroom medley added, 1/4 avocado as garnish.

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 29: Rest

What a day I had yesterday! Or maybe I should rephrase that to say "What a day Adam had yesterday!" Here's the backstory: I had a hard time sleeping Saturday night since I felt like all my insides were being shoved up my throat and I was convinced I would throw it all up at any second (hence, the bucket by the bed). On top of that, if I took anything greater than a shallow breath, I felt tremendous soreness in my chest, as if I was on the verge of getting a cold. For the throw-up feeling, I tried hanging on the pullup bar, rocking on all-fours, lying on my left side, walking around....but it never happened, and after 2 or so hours, the feeling subsided. The sore "throat" feeling, however, lingers to today. It's less so now, so hopefully I can avoid getting sick!

I spent yesterday lying in bed sleeping most of the day. Those who know me know that this is very very strange behavior. Being sore and achy from doing 100 squats on Saturday didn't help much either. Adam got to hang with Asher for the majority of the day. This is usually a fun, but tiring task, since our 19 month old is always on the go. They both survived, and are better for it, I think!

I decided to take another rest day instead of going for a run today. My legs don't feel as heavy and I'm not exhausted like I was the day before, but it just felt right not to try to set any records.

Activity:
0.5 mile walk with Asher (he walked too) on hilly loop, stop and go toddler pace

Breakfast:
Medium bowl of Vitamix drink (from Saturday's mix)
2 kiwis

Lunch:
Spinach salad w/ 1/2 yellow bell pepper, 1/2 wild-caught Rockfish filet (cooked with sea salt & pepper), 1/2 avocado, balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Dinner:
4 stalks sauteed baby bokchoy
1 serving squash
2 slices steak
1/2 tilapia filet
3/4 Bartlett pear
1 square Hershey's Pure Dark Chocolate
handful dried cranberries

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 29: KB workout of the "S"

Now that I'm in my third trimester, I need to focus more on movements that will not only strengthen the musculature supporting my pelvis, but also increase soft tissue flexibility and joint mobility in that area. Today's workout addresses both pelvis stabilization (gluteals and hip musculature) and mobility in a manner necessary for birthing (squats).

Activity:
KB swings (14 kg) x 60
KB Goblet Squats (12 kg) x 10
Side planks (advanced position) x 20

Repeat each cycle 10x

Breakfast:
Large bowl Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed, 2 bananas, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 carrots, 5 stalks kale)

Lunch:
Handful roasted cashews
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/4 avocado
4 slices fresh pineapple

Dinner:
Bowl of sauteed brussels sprouts with Roasted Red Pepper & Spinach Sausages
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine
4 squares Hershey's Pure Dark Chocolate

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 28: Hilly Run

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 0.5 mile hilly loop. Wore my SI joint belt. Felt great!

Breakfast:
Pre-run: 1 GF paleo friendly cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie, 5 cubes of cantalope
Post-run: 2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado, 5 cubes of cantalope

Lunch:
1.5 bowls of Beef soup with carrots, nappa cabbage
1/2 square of Hershey's Intense Dark chocolate 60%

Snack:
1/2 cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie
1 small Fuji apple

Dinner:
1/2 New York Steak, seasoned with sea salt and pepper
Small spinach salad with 1/4 avocado, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
10 cubes of cantalope
5 slices fresh pineapple
8 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 28: Unplanned Rest Day & Cheat Meal

I intended to do a strengthening workout with kettlebells this morning, but went to sleep way too late and woke multiple times during the night thinking that I had been awake the entire time... Pregnancy sleep is, oftentimes, an oxymoron!

Activity: Rest Day

Breakfast: 2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado and 1/2 tomato
4 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Lunch: Leftover Salmon chowder and brussels sprouts
1 slice Pumelo
2 squares Hershey's Intense Dark chocolate 72%

Dinner: Unplanned cheat meal!
My parents treated Asher and me to dinner at a Japanese restaurant. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass, thinking that the description of the entree would fit the Paleo diet. I thought I was ordering a filet with a side of salad, miso soup and rice (I planned to pass on the soup and rice).....but I got something entirely different! My entree was sea bass covered in some sort of creamy crabmeat/fish balls mixture on top of a few stalks of asparagus on a bed of white sushi rice w/ seaweed. There was decorative creamy-something all over the plate as well (those who know me know that I am not a "creamy-food" person: for example, I don't like Ranch dressing, mayonnaise, or alfredo sauce, so you can imagine how I felt when I saw the entree!). Artistic, but not what I had envisioned based on the menu description! After some internal wrestling over consuming this meal, I decided to make things easier for everyone, especially after the hectic day we'd all had, and eat the darn thing. Dad gave me his grilled salmon and one slice of steak also.
*****
Initially, when I started the Paleo diet, it was to support Adam in his quest to become healthier, feel, look and function better. I didn't think gluten made me feel badly and I loved pasta, bread, and cheese! After two weeks of eating Paleo, I remember claiming that I felt no different. However, after every cheat meal (we've had 4 so far...5 including today), I am reminded how different I actually do feel when I eat Paleo-style! I can stuff myself (stomach space is prime real estate in this pregnant mama!)--thought it doesn't take much these days--with Paleo-type foods and not feel uncomfortably full, bloated, gassy. At the end of a Paleo-meal, I just find that I'm not hungry anymore. Contrast that with how I feel after I eat grains or dairy....bloated, painfully full, and gassy! (I used to think being bloated at the end of the workday was typical and something to be expected, so prior to eating Paleo, I thought my sensations were all normal!) It's amazing how we can trudge along day by day doing the same things we've always done and claim that we feel "fine", not knowing that if we were to tweak things here and there, or try something totally different, we might discover how much better we might feel, look and function! I'm sticking with this Paleo thing!!

Pregnancy Week 28: Hilly Run pushing Double Stroller with Sleeping Toddler in the Rain

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 0.5 hilly loop, in the rain, with double stroller. Great workout for glutes on the uphills! Pace was a little slower due to the stroller and the questionable traction with all the fall leaves on the pavement.

Breakfast/Lunch:
pre-run (8 am) 1 GF cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie
post-run (12 pm) Large bowl Vitamix (split from yesterday's batch)
Small bowl beef soup with carrots and celery
1/2 orange

Snack:
1 Fuji apple
5 slices fresh pineapple
Handful roasted cashews

Dinner:
Napa cabbage sauteed w/ bacon, celery salt
4 meatballs (grass-fed, organic ground beef, green onions, celery, sea salt & pepper)
2 squares Ghirardelli dark chocolate

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 28: Tuesday Snatches with a twist

Today was the perfect day to start using the 10 kg we got a couple weeks ago! When I exercise shortly after I get up in the morning, my SI joint still bothers me a bit. After I get warmed up, I have no discomfort. However, my snatch session was this morning, so, using the 10 kg was really perfect for me today.

Activity:
High volume snatches, alternating heavy and light KB
12 kg (15/15/10/10/5/5 R/L)
10 kg (15/15/15/15 R/L)

Repeat for 5 cycles, 600 total snatches

Breakfast:
Large bowl Vitamix (1 C coconut milk, 6 stalks kale, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 med carrots, 2 bananas, 1 kiwi, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)
Handful roasted cashews
4 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Snack:
2 GF paleo cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookies

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
8 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine
2 squares Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate (72%)

Dinner:
Large bowl of Salmon chowder w/ kale added (Primal cookbook)
Bowl of Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Pregnancy Week 28: Hilly Run, Solo

For my first run in the third trimester, I put on my SI belt for pelvic support and was able to set off on my own! For the first 15 steps or so, I could feel that my symphysis was not yet back to "normal." However, after a few more careful steps, everything felt great. I picked up the pace a little bit after that, constantly monitoring how my pelvis was doing. Didn't feel any discomfort. It was a great run!

Activity:
3 mile run on 0.5 mile hill loop. One 3 min potty stop. Approx 28 min.

Breakfast:
pre-run: 1 GF, paleo friendly cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie
post-run: 2 scrambled omega-3 eggs w/ 1 cup fresh carrot juice

Lunch:
Spinach salad w/ 1/2 cucumber, 1 tomato, 1/2 can light tuna, 1/2 avocado, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
Handful raw almonds

Dinner:
4 slices NY steak w/ sea salt & pepper
1 Red snapper filet, sea salt & pepper
1.5 cups cooked red cabbage & cauliflower
0.5 cups cooked green bell pepper and tomatoes
1/4 bartlett pear
2 pieces See's candies Dark Cal brittle (my favorite!!)
Handful fruit-juice sweetened dried cranberries

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 28: KB swings

Welcome to the Third Trimester! I celebrated the start of the seventh month of baby-incubation with high-volume swings. I went back to my standard kettlebell weight, 12 kg, which felt perfect.

Activity:
KB swings 10 x 100 = 1000

Breakfast (couldn't seem to determine what I really wanted to eat, so check out the randomness!):
Large bowl Vitamix drink (split from yesterday's batch)
2 GF, paleo-friendly cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookies
1 Fuyu persimmon
Handful roasted cashews

Lunch:
Spinach salad w/ 1 tomato, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 can tuna, balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Snack:
2 GF, paleo-friendly carrot mini-cookies
2 squares Ghirardelli 72% dark chocolate
1 honeycrisp apple

Dinner:
1.5 bowls of Roasted Brussels Sprouts (trimmed, quartered, and tossed with grapeseed oil, dried dill & parsley, sea salt and pepper, dried garlic, baked 400 degrees/40 minutes)
1/4 chicken & apple sausage

Snack:
4 squares Dove promises dark chocolate
2 cranberry walnut choc. chip cookies

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 27: Friday KB training

Activity:
KB clean-press (14kg) x 5
KB Single Leg Deadlift (14 kg) x 10
Ab Roller x 10

Repeat cycle 10x

Breakfast:
Large bowl Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 5 stalks kale, 2 carrots, 1 "winter banana" apple, 1 kiwi, several slices fresh pineapple, 6 Tbsp golden organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed; this made enough for 2 large bowls and 1 small bowl)
5 gluten-free paleo friendly Carrot Mini-muffins (www.elanaspantry.com), modified into 1 Tbsp-sized cookies; substituted flaxseed for eggs since we were low on eggs and I knew I wanted some for lunch!

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
1 Fuyu persimmon

Snack:
2 GF Carrot mini-cookies

Dinner:
Paleo chili w/ kale, carrots and mushroom medley
1 GF paleo-friendly Cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 27: Sugar High

I've never been a soda person. Some people love the sweetness, the fizz....but I always got so full and bloated from drinking soda that it was never something I really enjoyed. I remember how I would think how I could have "spent" my calories on more "worthwhile" foods instead of drink. Now my husband? He used to love soda. I applaud him for giving it up now that we are eating Paleo. My MIL is as attached to her diet soda as my son is to his 1 cup measuring cup (yes, his security item is a 1 C measure. It functions as a spoon, a cup, a drum stick, and can be used on land and in water!); you won't see one without the other...

Today, I had my glucose screening test at my 27/28 week prenatal appointment. I got the lemon-lime flavor. Within a few minutes of drinking it, I felt lightheaded. I continued to feel lightheaded for several hours afterwards. In my first pregnancy (I got the orange flavor with that one!), the drink didn't phase me at all...but I hadn't cut out pasta, breads, or dairy either. Needless to say, my plans to exercise after the appointment were scrapped; I ended up sitting on the couch, drinking water and eating cashews followed by tuna fish, trying to get rid of the lightheaded sensation. Later, I had some freshly squeezed carrot-apple juice (which helped), and then some eggs. In terms of exercise, today ended up being a wash. Between drinking The Drink, and having multiple vials of blood drawn, I just didn't feel up to doing much. You'll see how my diet today is all wacked out too since I was trying to find something to eat/drink that would help me feel better...

Activity: Rest day

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/4 avocado
several slices of cantelope

mid-morning: Glucola drink for Pregnancy Glucose Screening Test

Lunch:
1 cup freshly squeezed carrot and apple juice w/ ginger
2 egg omelet w/ zucchini and mushrooms
1 handful roasted cashews
1/2 can tuna fish

Dinner:
1 C sauteed vegetables (broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, w/mushrooms)
4 slices ribeye steak
1/2 Red Snapper filet w/ salt and pepper
cantelope
1 small Fuyu persimmon

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 27: Wonky Run

Activity: 20 min run with Asher in stroller
The run started out great, but about 15 minutes into it, my pubic symphysis (the joint where the two halves of the pelvis meet in the front) felt all wonky. I stopped twice to do some self-mobilizations, which helped some, but not for long. Since this is the first time in this pregnancy that I have had any discomfort during running, I wasn't prepared and thus didn't have my pelvic support belt....so, our run became a walk! When we got home, I put on my sacroiliac belt (this supports the joints between the base of the spine aka sacrum, and the two halves of the pelvis), which is simply a maternity abdominal support belt that I wear low, around my pelvis. I wore this for the rest of the day and felt more supported.

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs
Small bowl of leftover Vitamix drink from yesterday
1 slice gluten free paleo Cranberry walnut chocolate chip bread
1 gluten free paleo cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie

Lunch:
Very large (overestimated the amount!) spinach salad w/ 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 tomato, 1/4 avocado, 1/2 can tuna, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
1 Fuyu persimmon
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Dinner:
Roasted brussels sprouts (quartered w/ olive oil, dried dill, dried parsley, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder; 375 degrees/30 min, then 400 deg/20 min)
Leftover sauteed cabbage w/ 4 slices red pepper & spinach sausage
4 squares of Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate 72% and 86%

Pregnancy Week 27: Tuesday snatches!

For the past couple of days, I've felt like my tummy has become larger (baby is growing, yay!) and have wondered if today would be the day I stopped snatching the 12 kg and started using the 10 kg...I practiced a couple times and found that if I did two things: emphasized the hip hinge by really sitting back, and moved my arm laterally towards my thigh on the downswing, I could avoid compressing the belly and yet load my hips to give more explosive power for the overhead portion of the movement. What a fun workout!

In the afternoon, I went to a Myofascial Release session for bodywork to prepare my fascial system for labor, delivery and beyond. Prevention is always the best choice, and preparing my body and mind through physical exercise, manual techniques, visualization/awareness will help with not just pregnancy and birth, but overall function and quality of life. Obviously, there are occasions when preparation and/or prevention is not an option; however, with the mindset of striving for healthy choices and actions during daily activities, the likelihood increases that we will be as prepared as possible to meet any challenge!

Activity:
Snatches 15/15/15/15 L/R x 10 = 600

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado

Lunch:
1 large bowl Vitamix (1.5 C coconut milk, 5 stalks kale, 2 bananas, 1 honeycrisp apple, 1 kiwi, 4 slices fresh pineapple, 6 Tbsp golden ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)
1 Lindor milk chocolate ball
1/2 C sauteed string beans w/ bacon
1/4 C sauteed broccoli

Snack:
2 gluten free paleo cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookies

Dinner:
1 Turkey drumstick
1 Fuyu persimmon
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Fluid:
9 ounces water

Pregnancy Week 27: Run with BOB and baby

Activity:
50 minute run with Asher in BOB revolution dualie (which is such a great stroller)! We got lost, so the run went on longer than I had planned.

Breakfast:
leftover 5 bites of Vitamix drink (same ingredients as 11/26)
2 slices gluten free cranberry walnut bread, toasted
3/4 Fuyu persimmon

Lunch:
Spinach salad w/ cucumbers, celery, carrots, red peppers, 5 small slices leftover ribeye steak, balsamic vinegar and olive oil
4 slices honeydew
Remaining 1/2 scrambled egg from original 2 scrambled eggs of Asher's

Snack:
2 Lindor mint chocolate balls
15 roasted cashews

Dinner:
Red pepper & Spinach sausage w/ cabbage
2 Dove dark chocolate promises

Pregnancy Week 27: Run with Double Stroller

This morning, I suited Asher up in a lined waterproof windbreaker jacket (with hood!) and matching pants over his footed doggie pajamas and cloth diapers, put some shoes on him for extra warmth, brought a couple paleo cookies for him and set off in our single stroller. Five minutes into the run, I noticed that the back right tire was flat. So, back home we went. It was pretty apparent that the tube was flat, and since we don't have a replacement, I pulled out the BOB Revolution Dualie stroller we got a few months ago through REI and loaded Asher into it. Off we went! Yes, I may have gotten a few strange looks at the empty seat next to Asher, but at least I got my run in!

Activity:
38 minute run with Asher in double stroller

First breakfast (pre-run):
2 gluten-free cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookies

Second Breakfast (post-run):
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
8 roasted cashews

Lunch:
Large bowl Vitamix drink (1 c coconut milk, 2.5 bananas (used the half a banana Asher didn't finish from a few days ago), 5 stalks kale, 1 carrot, 1 honeycrisp apple, few slices fresh pineapple, 6 Tbsp ground organic flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed; this was split into 2 bowls to cover today and tomorrow)
3 squares Dove dark chocolate

Dinner:
Half a small Ribeye steak w/ sea salt and pepper
Kale chips (kale, olive oil, sea salt, pepper, dried garlic; 350 degrees for 15 minutes)
1 C cantalope
1/2 kiwi
2 rectangles Hershey's special dark chocolate

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 26: "A Change is as Good as Rest"

I was dragging this morning and trying not to bail on my workout. I thought I'd go running, but didn't want to drag Asher through another rainy day stroller run (we don't have a rain cover for his stroller) in these cold temperatures. I thought about calling it a Rest Day....but then got inspired to do something little. A friend once said, "Do something every day toward your goal." And Pavel says, "A change is as good as rest." So, thanks to Tracy Reifkind (tracysfoodandthought.blogspot.com) , I started with a quick workout that gave me motivation to do a little more:

Activity:
(from Tracy's Shoulder Smoker TG workout)
Light KB presses (8 kg), no rest:
12 L/R
10 L/R
8 L/R
6 L/R
4 L/R
2 L/R

I decided to adapt the concept for the lower body:
Goblet squats (12 kg) alternating with Mountain climbers, no rest:
12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
1 Fuyu persimmon

Snack:
4 Lindor Mint Chocolate balls (yum!)

Lunch:
Large spinach salad w/ tomatoes, cucumber, leftover turkey and a few grapes; balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Dinner:
Leftover roasted brussels sprouts and purple cabbage
A few slices of leftover turkey
2 Dove dark chocolate squares
1 gluten free paleo Cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie (fresh from the oven!), courtesy of elanaspantry.com

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 26: Thanksgiving KB strengthening

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for so many things...my mom's slow but steady recovery, my dad for hanging in there through thick and thin, my husband who is driven with a passion for excellence in everything he does, my sweet happy healthy little boy, this fetus who is taking up a lot of my abdominal space (but gives me a good excuse to wear maternity pants (a.k.a. "buffet pants") to Thanksgiving supper, a healthy family, to be living in a free country...and all the big and little blessings that I take for granted that God gives us without merit.

Activity:
Pullups (wide and narrow grip) 4x4

Clean-Press-Overhead Squat (12 kg) x 5
Single leg Deadlift (14 kg) x 8
Repeat for 10 cycles

Breakfast:
Big bowl Vitamix drink (see yesterday's post for ingredients)
Handful roasted cashews

Lunch:
Thanksgiving supper cheat meal! Various traditional and non-traditional TG items including napa cabbage w/ scallops & meatballs (with breadcrumbs), purple cabbage (hey, my mom makes some interesting dishes these days), sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, roasted brussels sprouts, spinach salad, turkey w/ cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie

Dinner:
several slices of fresh pineapple, a few bites of leftover mac & cheese

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 26: Wednesday KB and core

I decided to KB this morning instead of run since it was really cold, frosty, and I would be more concerned about my footing while pregnant.

Activity:
KB swings (14 kg) x 60
Ab roller x 10

Repeat for 10 cycles

Breakfast:
Large bowl Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 5 stalks kale, 1 carrot, 2 kiwi, 1 large jonagold apple, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)
15 roasted, salted cashews (I am craving fat)

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado

Dinner (unscheduled dinner at parents' house...most of choices had gluten):
1/2 tilapia filet with tomatoes and onions
3 pieces of dark chocolate See's Candies (I made this choice as a consequence of not eating a very satisfying dinner, despite the fact that the fish was very tender and juicy)

came home and made Macaroni and Cheese from scratch (Adam's Southern upbringing dictates Mac & Cheese at all family gatherings and holidays) for tomorrow....had a bowl...

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 26: Tuesday snatches!

Ahhhh, Tuesday...I look forward to Tuesday's workout even if I don't get any sleep! (I won't go into detail about my hypotheses regarding my dogs' behavior when they are being crated overnight (ours get exceptionally muddy in our soggy yard) versus when they have free range over the house....when they are crated, it seems like they have to go out for urgent #1 or #2 throughout the night.....which is preceded by whining and crying and pawing at their crate gates.....) Enough about them; back to me!

Activity:
KB snatches (12 kg)!! 15/15/15/15 L/R x 10 = 600 snatches
I did these in front of a space heater in our garage gym and my toes were still frozen when I finished...

I wait for the day when this workout will leave me low on energy throughout the day. When that time comes, or when the volume of snatches becomes uncomfortable during the workout, I will make changes. My current thoughts are either to continue with the 12 kg but decrease the volume, or go to the 10 kg and maintain volume. Obviously, there are other options that I can pursue, but that time has not yet come since I've felt great all day so far.

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
3 slices of gluten free paleo Cranberry Pecan bread
2 ounces Monavie w/glucosamine

Lunch:
Spinach salad w/ 1 tomato, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 can light tuna, balsamic vinegar and olive oil
3 squares of Hershey's dark chocolate

Dinner:
Fish patty cakes (from The Primal Cookbook by Mark Sisson) using salmon and tuna
Steamed broccoli w/ celery salt
6 ounces Monavie w/glucosamine
3 squares Hershey's dark chocolate

Fluid:
5 cups water.....not enough!

Pregnancy Week 26: Hilly Solo Run

I guess I ate too much chocolate (dark chocolate, if that helps any!) last night, since I didn't go to sleep until after midnight, and was woken up by Priya (10 YO white german shepherd dog) wanting to go out at 4 a.m. I thought about ignoring her, but then realized that as she is a doggy Senior Citizen, I'd rather get up now than wake up later to clean up her mess...however, pregnancy insomnia kicked in after that, and I stayed awake until 6:30 a.m., when I realized that despite bringing my 14 kg KB into the house to do my workout (it was 33 degrees outside/in the garage gym), I wasn't anywhere near starting....so I went back to sleep...and slept through Adam's alarms, showering, getting dressed, and Asher waking up (this last bit got incorporated into my dreams). I'm normally a light sleeper, so this was very unusual for me. When I finally got my morning started (hard to avoid with a little boy dragging me around to play blocks, find the doggies, play hide-and-seek, hold his books/toys while he plays with them, etc), I decided to go running. It snowed yesterday at our house, but not at my parents...so off we went to their neighborhood!

Activity:
3.0 mile run on 1/2 mile hilly loop (my watch is broken so I don't have a time total), played around with shortening my stride a bit to hit even more at midfoot and this seemed to require less energy.

First Breakfast (5 a.m., while contemplating my workout): 1 slice gluten free paleo cranberry pecan bread

Second Breakfast:
Bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 5 stalks kale, 2 bananas, 1 honeycrisp apple, 1 carrot, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega-3 eggs
1 Fuyu persimmon

Dinner:
1 bowl Paleo chili (adapted from The Primal Cookbook by Mark Sisson) w/ kale and 1/2 avocado
4 squares hershey's dark chocolate

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 26: Run with Odin

Activity:
35 min run with Odin (4 YO GSD)...2 stops because we got lost, 1 potty stop (for him, not me), 1 poop stop (again, not for me!), 1 loose-dog-charging-at-us stop....legs felt heavy, heart felt great.

Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow!

1st Breakfast (pre-run):
1 1-inch slice gluten free cranberry pecan bread

2nd Breakfast (post-run):
Large bowl Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 2 Tbsp chia seed, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 bananas, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 carrot, 1 plum, and a partridge in a pear tree)

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/4 avocado
2 kiwi fruit
1 gluten free cranberry pecan chocolate chip cookie

Dinner:
2 cups Roasted brussels sprouts (olive oil, sea salt and pepper, dried basil, dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder; 400 degrees for 40 min)
Tri tip steak (sea salt and pepper)
8 ounces Monavie w/glucosamine (yes, I WANT juice!)
3 GF cranberry pecan chocolate chip cookies

Fluids:
5 cups water

Pregnancy Week 25: KB strengthening

Activity:

Bodyweight Pullups (wide and narrow grip) 4x4

Followed by 10 cycles of the following:
KB Swings (14 kg) x 60
Bodyweight Sideplanks (advanced position) x 18

Today was my first appointment with a midwife; I recently changed my prenatal care provider from an OB group to a midwifery group that offers waterbirths at a hospital. I weighed in at 120.2 pounds (up from 107 pounds pre-pregnancy, and 116 pounds at my last appointment 6 weeks ago).

After the appointment, Adam and I caught the second showing of the latest Harry Potter movie (it was great, as you might expect), and then joined my parents for a dim sum lunch to welcome some traveling distant family members. Yes, my weekly cheat meal came a day early, and I made the most of it!

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/4 avocado
1 slice gluten-free Cranberry pecan bread

Lunch (the cheat meal):
various dim sum items chock full of gluten, also some Chinese broccoli
1 gluten free Cranberry pecan chocolate chip cookie

Dinner:
Vegetable & Sausage stirfry: napa cabbage, yellow and red bell peppers, Chicken and Apple sausage
1 Fuyu persimmon
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine (that's the only "juice" we have in the house, and the pregnant lady wanted juice!)

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 25: KB strengthening

Activity:

KB clean-press (14 kg) x 6
KB bent over rows (12 kg) x 10
Single leg deadlift (14 kg) x 10
Goblet squat (12 kg) x 10
Renegade rows (12 kg) x 5

Repeat for 10 cycles

I couldn't decide this morning what I wanted to focus on....and by the time I had come up with the above movements, I couldn't decide which I wanted to cut out. By cycle 7, I recognized that including bent over rows and renegade rows gave me a lot of repetitions with upper body pull movements! And using the 14 kg for some of the movements makes the workout more difficult than using the 12 kg (duh, I know). The interesting part of all this is how wiped out I was for the entire day; I was so tired, I didn't trust myself to drive since I didn't think I could stay awake! I got in a 1.5 hour nap during Asher's naptime, but was still dragging into the afternoon. I napped for another hour on the floor in Asher's room while he was playing in his crib, and that helped a lot (he stayed awake that entire time in his crib, but promptly fell asleep in the car after my nap). I did a lot of baking this morning....followed by more eating than I should have, and since stomach real estate is in short supply with the baby-growing these days, I didn't feel my best. Almond flour is very filling....and thus, my meals for today are quite disorganized and unbalanced...

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
5 gluten-free cranberry pecan chocolate chip cookies (http://www.elanaspantry.com/cranberry-walnut-chocolate-chip-cookies/)

Lunch:
leftovers, 2 organic ground beef mini patties, steamed broccoli
1 Fuyu persimmon
3/4 kiwi

Snack:
2 cranberry pecan chocolate chip cookies

Dinner:
Spinach salad (2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 tomato, 1/4 avocado, balsamic vinegar & olive oil)
3 slices ribeye steak
1 honeycrisp apple
4 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine
1/2 slice Cranberry Pecan bread (gluten free) (http://www.elanaspantry.com/cranberry-walnut-bread/)
1 cranberry pecan choc. chip cookie

Fluid:
6-7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 25: Solo Hilly Run

I'm pretty excited about being able to run without dog or baby for the first time in a few weeks!

Activity:
3 mile run on 0.5 mile hilly loop, approx 26 minutes

Breakfast:
Large bowl Vitamix shake (1 carrot, 2 handfuls baby spinach, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 bananas, 1 C coconut milk, 6 Tbsp organic golden ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed)

Lunch:
At New Seasons health food store: Paleo hamburger with 1 hamburger patty, 1 salmon filet, lettuce, tomato, avocado, mustard, 1/4 pickle slice...YUM

Dinner (still full from lunch!):
Spinach salad (2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 roma tomato, 1/2 cucumber; balsamic vinegar and olive oil)
Several pieces of dark chocolate

Fluid: 8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 25: Tuesday Snatches

Tuesday is my favorite day, mostly because I get to start it off with a nice snatch workout!

Activity:
KB snatches (12 kg) 15/15/15/15 alternating with 15/15/10/10/5/5 R/L x 10 = 600 snatches; 40 min

I really focused on technique, especially sitting back and hiking the KB, and a crisp hip and knee extension with the overhead lockout. The KB seemed to just float up if I did these two elements well. After this workout, I felt great all day!

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up omega-3 eggs with 1/2 avocado
cantalope

Lunch:
Beef stew with carrots, celery, dates, salt, pepper
1/2 Fuyu persimmon

Dinner:
4-5 small beef patties (organic ground beef) w/green and yellow onion, celery, garlic powder
steamed broccoli with celery salt
1 kiwi

Fluid: 5 cups water

Pregnancy Week 25: Stroller Run

I felt low on motivation this morning (maybe it was the Chipotle's vegetarian burrito bowl and chips I had for the weekly cheat meal last night, maybe it was from the lack of sleep), but somehow managed to get my morning going...and the rest of the day was great!

Activity:
40 min run with Asher in jogging stroller, light rain, mostly flat though I ran up every incline I could find!

Breakfast:
my mild aversion to vegetables has been lifted....yay!
Large bowl Vitamix drink (1 carrot, 2 handfuls baby spinach, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2.5 bananas, 6 Tbsp organic golden ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed, 1 C coconut milk)

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
1 Fuyu persimmon

Dinner:
2 C roasted brussels sprouts (salt, pepper, dried dill, dried basil, olive oil; 350 degrees for 30 minutes)
"some" (very little...maybe 7 slices) thin sliced Tri tip cut beef, cooked under low temperature w/ coconut oil

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 25: Hilly Run w/ Stroller

Activity: 3 mile run on 1/2 mile hill loop, Asher in jogging stroller, light rain

Breakfast:
3 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
2 slices gluten-free Cranberry Walnut bread

Lunch:
Spinach salad w/ 1 tomato, 1/2 leftover tilapia filet
1 Fuyu persimmon

Dinner:
1 cup cantalope
1/2 Spinach and Red Pepper Sausage
1/2 Chicken and Apple Sausage

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 24: Bodyweight and KB strengthening

This was the perfect workout following a night of pregnancy-wakefulness and teething toddler! It follows Mike Mahler's 5 Pillars of KB Training :
1 upper body pull
1 upper body push
1 lower body pull
1 lower body push
core

Activity:
Bodyweight pullups (narrow and wide grip) 4x4
KB military press (14 kg*) 10x5
KB swings (14 kg) 10x60
Multi-directional lunges (14 kg) 10x5
Sideplanks, advanced (hip & shoulder abduction with non-weightbearing leg)10x18

*Since I started KB training in 2006, I have used the 12 kg as my go-to weight for most movements. Naturally, over the years, I began incorporating heavier weights during Swing training, TGUs and Renegade Rows, but the 12 kg was still my favorite weight (ie most challenging for the movement/repetitions). During my first trimester of this pregnancy, swinging the 12 kg just seemed too easy, so I started using the 16 kg with lower volume. As the pregnancy continued, and my pelvic joints got looser, using the 16 kg started becoming uncomfortable. So, a few weeks ago, we got the new KB sizes, 14 and 10 kg! Originally, I intended to use the 14 kg (in the post-partum period after my joints have "tightened up"...so, a long long time from now!) to improve my L arm pressing strength, and the 10 kg for KB training into the third trimester and in the "early" post-partum period. Well, as you can see from the workouts of the last week or so, I just couldn't stay away....I love the 14 kg! It's just the right challenge for me at this time.

Breakfast:
something was just "off" about today; I was hungry but had no appetite. There was no way I was going to make, much less, eat a "healthy" vegetable-fruit drink!!
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 1/4 avocado
1/2 Fuyu persimmon

Lunch:
(yes, I made myself eat it, reluctantly)
Spinach salad w/ 1/4 avocado, 1 diced tomato, balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Snack:
3 slices Cranberry walnut bread

Dinner:
1 tilapia filet with taco seasoning
1 serving sauteed squash
1 honeycrisp apple
1 slice Cranberry walnut bread
4 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Fluid:
(yes, I had to empty my bladder every 5 minutes all day long)
9 cups water

Pregnancy Week 24: Rest

Asher is cutting teeth and has been waking up at unusual times (3 a.m., 5 a.m.). This morning, he was up at 5:30....so instead of my KB training, I spent some time with him! And then my head started to hurt. My already-low motivation coupled with leg fatigue and headache convinced me to take a day off! I'm not very good at taking rest days, even though I know rest is essential for strength gains...I'm even worse at taking days off while pregnant, for fear that I will lose fitness in a 24-hour period and not be able to regain it (since my goal with exercise during pregnancy is to maintain, not necessarily to increase strength/fitness). This fear is foolish, I know. So, today, the most I did was a stop-and-go 30 min walk with Asher. I'm thankful for the time off!

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up omega 3 eggs
1/2 avocado
1/2 Fuyu persimmon

Lunch:
1 bowl Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 2 bananas, 1 carrot, 2 handfuls spinach, 1 honeycrisp apple, 1/2 c cantalope, 6 Tbsp organic golden ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed; Asher also got a small bowl of drink)
1 bowl leftover Hot Pot

Snack:
1 slice gluten-free Cranberry Walnut bread

Dinner:
1/2 Ribeye steak w/sea salt and pepper
1 C broccoli, sauteed with grapeseed oil and celery salt
3 slices plum

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 24: Wednesday unilateral KB strength

With my schedule changing in the last 2 weeks, I've missed out on some of my most effective KB strengthening for core and pelvis. Today's workout addresses those areas:

Activity:
Clean-press-overhead squat (14 kg) x 5
Single leg deadlift (14 kg) x 10
Unilateral suitcase squats (24 kg) x 8

Repeat 10x

Breakfast:
1 square pumpkin walnut bread
1 bowl vitamix drink (split from yesterday's batch)

Lunch:
Large spinach salad with tomatoes, cucumber, avocado; balsamic vinegar and olive oil
1/4 Fuyu persimmon

Dinner:
2.5 bowls Paleo Hot Pot (garlic, green onions, napa cabbage, tilapia, spinach, carrots, dried mushroom assortment, organic free range chicken broth)
4 roasted cashews
1 small square tart and tangy cranberry bar

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 24: Tuesday Snatches

After a slow start to the morning, complete with recovering from Asher waking up at 4 a.m. (he got some Ibuprofen, a banana, and learned about shadows), I got to do my favorite workout of each week: snatches!!

Activity:
Snatches (12 kg) 15/15/15/15 R/L x 10 = 600 total snatches; 50 minutes

Breakfast:
1 sunnyside up Omega 3 egg
1 bowl of Vitamix drink (coconut milk, 2 bananas, 1 carrot, 2 handfuls spinach, 3 stalks kale, 1 orange, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 Tbsp chia seed, 6 Tbsp ground flaxseed; split into 2 bowls)

Lunch: just couldn't do a salad! Craving salty chips, but we didn't have any in the house!
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs
1 cup pumpkin with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
handful roasted cashews
1 "winter banana" apple
1 Fuyu persimmon

Snack:
1 square "Tart and Tangy Cranberry Bar" (elanaspantry.com)

Dinner:
2 patties Paleo hamburger (organic ground beef, celery, green and yellow onion, garlic) with baby spinach, avocado and tomato
1 cup steamed brussels sprouts w/ grapeseed oil, sea salt, pepper, parsley and basil
1 square Cranberry bar
4 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Fluid:
9 cups water

Pregnancy Week 24: Monday Stroller Run

After a rest day, I am ready to go! However, the sleep thing is still not going great and the time change yesterday is still throwing me off. Asher sleeps more soundly than I do! He not only makes it through the night, but he actually slept until 8:30 this morning, the day after changing our clocks back!!

Before the run, I made 2 loaves of Cranberry Walnut Bread from elanaspantry.com, while waiting for Asher to wake up.

Activity:
40 min run with Asher (24 lbs) in jogging stroller....looking for hills....

Breakfast:
3 slices of Cranberry Walnut Bread
Bowl of Vitamix drink ("cashew milk", chia seed, 3 Tbs flaxseed, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 bananas, 1 carrot, 4 stalks kale, 1 orange)

Lunch:
Paleo Salmon chowder (from The Primal Cookbook by Mark Sisson)
10 roasted cashews

Snack:
1 Fuyu persimmon
1 square of Cranberry Tart (gluten free, from elanaspantry.com)
4 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Dinner:
Spinach salad (spinach, tomato, avocado, balsamic vinegar & olive oil)
2 sunnyside up omega 3 eggs

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 24: Running, Rain, and Cheat Meal!

Activity:
40 min run (approx 8:30 pace) with Odin, 4 YO (still hyper) German Shepherd Dog. It was peaceful mostly because we didn't encounter any animals or people while running in the dark, rainy morning.

Breakfast:
3 ounces Mona-vie w/glucosamine
2 over-easy Omega-3 eggs
4 pumpkin walnut bars (these are also Asher's current favorite!)
1 "winter banana" variety apple

Snack (on road trip):
handful roasted cashews
1 pumpkin walnut bar
1 banana

Lunch:
leftover steak and cabbage
1 Fuyu persimmon
Handful roasted cashews

Dinner:
1x/week cheat meal; yay!!
Baja Fresh 1 chicken soft taco, 1 mahi mahi soft taco; chips & salsa
4 spoonfuls of Adam's Coldstone ice cream in "Candyshop" flavor

Fluid:
5-6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 23: Friday High Volume Swings

Activity:
KB Swings 10 x 100 (14 kg); consisting of various combinations of two-hand and one-hand swings ala Tracy Reifkind style; 35-40 minutes total.

Breakfast:
3 ounces Mona-vie w/glucosamine
1 bowl Vitamix drink (same ingredients as 11/5 post)
1 sunnyside up omega-3 egg

Snack:
1 bar pumpkin walnut bar
10 dark chocolate covered raisins

Lunch:
Spinach salad (2 handfuls) with 1 tomato, 1/2 avocado, slivered almonds. Balsamic vinegar & Olive oil.
Shared a small bowl of "tapioca pudding" (cashew milk with chia seed, 1 tsp vanilla extract modified from elanaspantry.com) with Asher

Dinner:
1/2 medium rare Ribeye Steak
Leftover cabbage
1 Fuyu persimmon
Handful roasted cashews

Water:
8 cups

My Pregnancy Journal

I am 6 months (23 weeks) pregnant with our second child. Nighttime sleep is fragmented into 2-3 hour blocks followed by 1-2 hours of wakefulness. During my first pregnancy with our son Asher, now 18 months, I ate vegetarian; alternated days of running with kettlebell training (using Mike Mahler's 5 pillars of strength format--1 upper body pull, 1 upper body push, 1 lower body pull, 1 lower body push, core), reducing the length/weight by half at 20 weeks; and worked full-time.

This time around, we are eating Paleo-style (meat, veggies/fruits, seeds and nuts; no grains/gluten, no dairy, no processed foods); i alternate days of running with kettlebell training, except I am continuing at my current levels as long as I continue to feel good during/after; I am at home with Asher. My mom was diagnosed with "non-vasculitic autoimmune inflammatory meningoencephalitis" in March. I resigned my position at work in June to help her recover from a brain biopsy. Thankfully, she is getting better. I still spend most of each weekday with her. Because of her illness, we moved to Vancouver, WA to be closer to my parents. We are in the process of opening a Crossfit/Kettlebell facility nearby!

This is my typical exercise schedule. My goal during pregnancy is to maintain my fitness and improve strength to limit the effects of pregnancy hormones on my joints, and to help me with labor and post-partum recovery.

Monday: 3 mile run
Tuesday: KB snatches
Wednesday: 3 mile run
Thursday: KB strength
Friday: 3 mile run
Saturday: KB strength

Today I tried out the 14 kg KB we picked up this weekend:

Clean-press x 6 each side (14 kg)
Multi-directional lunges x 5 each side (12 kg)
Ab roller x 10

Unlimited rest breaks between cycles (typically 1-1.5 minutes) x 10 cycles

Breakfast:
3 ounces Mona-vie (acai berry anti-oxidant drink) w/glucosamine
Vita-mix drink (split 70:30 with Asher): 1 C cashew milk (raw cashews pureed in water) w/chia seed; 4 stalks kale; 2 bananas; 1 carrot; 1 honeycrisp apple; 1 orange; 6 Tbsp flaxseed

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up omega 3 eggs
spinach salad (3 handfuls baby spinach, 1 tomato, 1/2 avocado, olive oil-balsamic vinegar dressing)
2 bites "pumpkin nut bar" from The Primal Blueprint Cookbook" by Mark Sisson

Dinner:
4 ounces Mona-vie
Bison meatballs (ground buffalo, green onions, ginger, garlic)
Sauteed cabbage
Half a handful cashews
Half a handful dark chocolate covered raisins
Half of a "Winter Banana" variety apple

Water:
6 cups

Carolina Kettlebell has relocated to Eugene, Oregon!

We have returned after a long hiatus with many changes! Adam earned his CFMT (Certified Functional Manual Therapist) from the Institute of Physical Art; Adam also received his CKT (Certified Kettlebell Trainer) from Steve Cotter and Ken Blackburn's IKFF (www.ikff.net); we are proud parents of a 9 month old boy, who shows early affinity for bodyweight exercises and kettlebells; Susan exercised throughout the pregnancy, alternating running with kettlebell training; we have moved from South Carolina to Oregon, where we are furthering our specialization in manual physical therapy with the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy.

Having experienced the unique physical, mental, and emotional state of pregnancy and postpartum, Susan has a special interest in helping expectant and new moms (and more experienced moms!) with their exercise programming.

We are preparing to offer group classes in the spring in the Eugene/Springfield area. Currently, we have some availability for private lessons. Contact us at carolinakettlebell@gmail.com for more information.