A Workout of a Different Kind...

Miss Selah Grace is here!  Our birth story will follow soon...

Pregnancy Week 38: Snow and Swings

I got up early this morning to do a KB workout. Today is supposed to be a running day, but I thought it would be raining, as it has been all week so far, and I avoid running with Asher in the stroller when it's raining, since we don't have a rain cover. However, it was taking me a while to get motivated to start (and I hadn't planned anything so far!), and I looked up the weather report to see that rain wasn't forecasted until the afternoon. I went back to sleep, planning to run later in the morning with Asher. Well, I got an email from my dad: "It's snowing here, is it snowing there?" Being in bed and not wanting to get up to check, I went back to sleep. Lo and behold, it indeed was snowing--big fluffy flakes that were sticking to everything, including the roads! It continued to snow for a few hours, but that ended my idea of running, 1.5 weeks away from my due date, pushing a double stroller with a toddler in it! Instead, I did a quick workout during his naptime:

Activity:
KB swings (10kg) 600 + 400 = 1000 swings (completed using a variety of two- and one-handed swing combinations). I took a 2-2.5 min break between the first and second set because I was feeling my R SI and then later on, my L grip was tiring quick.

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 2 handfuls sauteed Organic baby spinach, 1/2 avocado, salsa
1 plum

Lunch:
1 pear
Leftover chicken soup from yesterday (small bowl)
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone
2 pieces See's Candies Milk chocolate Cal Brittle

Dinner:
Wild cod with Taco seasoning, steamed broccoli
...and then Adam brought home a lunch-sized bag of Harvest Cheddar Sunchips...which we all three shared...and then he got more Ben & Jerry's ice cream (!!), so I had a few bites of ice cream... arg!

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 38: Stepdown Snatches

Another Tuesday and I'm still pregnant! I was noticing with my MIL that because Asher came at 37.5 weeks, we act like Baby #2 will come along any day now, even though I am 1.5 weeks away from my due date still. Well, that day is not yet here, so I decided to try out snatches while I could. This morning's workout took me a while to get started since I had been experiencing intermittent mild contractions overnight and even though I was not currently having any contractions, I wasn't sure if I should even be doing any activity "just in case". I picked up the 8 kg (18 pounds) and did a few snatches. At this weight, it was light enough not to be very taxing aerobically or strength-wise, but enough to help me go through the functional movements that are so important to healthy movement and this exercise itself.

Activity:
KB snatches
20/20/10/10 (8 kg) R/L alternating with 15/15/15/15 R/L (10 kg) x 5, for 600 total snatches. This felt great during and afterwards!

Breakfast:
Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 4 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed, 1/2 C blueberries)

Lunch:
Homemade chicken soup with carrots and dates
Handful Organic dark chocolate chips

First Dinner:
Chicken (from lunch) with stir-fried Chayote squash, celery salt

Second Dinner (10:30 p.m., I got hungry!):
Leftover stirfried chicken with Chayote squash in celery salt

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 38: A Little This, A Little That

Looks like it took 2 days for my pelvis to recover from that Saturday run! As I mentioned after the run, my pelvis was pretty wonky. It continued that way, accompanied by erratic, occasional contractions throughout the next day. It felt more stable this morning, even though I practically laid in bed all night not sleeping. Grrrr.... Monday is a running day, but it was raining pretty hard and as you know, I don't have the rain shield for the double stroller. I did a light workout during Asher's naptime, instead.

Activity:
Good mornings (12 kg) 8 x 15
TGU (10 kg) x 10 minutes

Breakfast (again, no appetite):
3/4 banana (Asher wanted some)
1 Organic Fuji apple with almond butter

Morning snack:
1/2 handful mixed roasted nuts

Lunch:
Small bowl leftover stirfry: Organic ground beef, onions, garlic, kale, celery, various mushrooms, salsa
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Afternoon snack:
Handful organic dark chocolate chips

Dinner:
Medium bowl of Spicy sausage/Pineapple sausage with steamed broccoli
Valentines Day Cheat dessert: Shared 1 slice of chocolate cake and 1 slice of red velvet cake with Adam and Asher. Eight bites of Ben & Jerry's Pumpkin cheesecake ice cream.

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 38: Run like the Wind

This morning, Adam, Asher and I went for a run together. Adam was trying out a Garmin GPS running watch, and needed an easy run on his step-down week. Obviously, a 9-month pregnant woman pushing a double stroller with a 25 pound toddler in it would be someone who wouldn't push his easier pace. On the contrary, I really had to step it up to keep up! It was fun, but now my pelvis is very loose and I've been moving around so slowly all day just because my pelvis aches. LOL. I laugh at myself when I think about how slowly I am moving; usually, I just get up and go, but now, I have to move slowly and sometimes help myself up by holding onto furniture! What a change! I am, however, very happy about that, since the increased laxity (and crampy stomach feeling) means D-day is approaching soon! YAY!

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, 8-9 min/mile pace. Achy feet the whole way!

Breakfast (no appetite):
Vitamix drink: 1 C coconut milk, 1 banana, 2 oranges, 1 carrot; 4 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 2 Tbsp chia seed
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch (really no appetite and not hungry either!):
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs

For most of the day, I've been feeling a little "off". Intermittent crampy feelings and general pelvic laxity and aching... We got out of the house in the early evening and ended up eating out. Feels like things are "on hold" until this baby shows up, including maybe even our diet. We had a cheat meal...

Dinner:
Baja fresh: 2 grilled Mahi Mahi tacos (corn tortilla, cabbage, avocado, salsa, fish)
Several corn chips
1/4 cheese quesidilla

Dessert:
1/8 pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate brownie ice cream

Too many cheat meals in too few days. I'm not being too hard on myself about this, but I do recognize that I need to be more disciplined in the coming days, for my health and that of this baby.

My hospital bag is packed. Asher's overnight bag with grandparents is ready. We've filled the gas tank... My breastpump parts are cleaned and ready just in case... I've updated my Birth Playlist on my iPod for the labor.... ;)

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 37: Swingin'

I really wasn't feeling it this morning with the whole "exercise" thing (LOL) and was in the middle of planning a strength session when I decided to just start swinging the KB. I was thinking on Tuesday that I hadn't swung the KB in a while, and how good it would be for me to do some swings. Well, as it is with most things that are worth doing, it took me a few seconds to get into the flow, and then realized that it felt so good that I wanted to continue! This is what I did:

Activity:
High volume KB swings with 10 kg: 2 x 500 using various two- and one-handed swing variations
Side planks advanced position 8 x 20 each side

I had a midwife appointment today. Looks like the Cheat Desserts I've been having entirely too frequently this week have helped me move the scale! I weighed in a 122.6 pounds (gained about 1 pound since last week! ha!) and my fundus measured 35 cm (I can't believe how much my uterus/the baby has grown in the last week!). The baby is still low in my pelvis, and I am 2 cm dilated.

Lunch:
Medium spinach salad with green and red bell peppers, cucumber, olive oil & balsamic vinegar
1 scrambled egg
1 orange
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone (with organic ground flaxseed and chia seed substituted for 1/2 C almond flour)

Snack:
2 See's candies Milk Chocolate Cal Brittle

Cheat Dinner with parents, Adam and Asher at Gustav's Pub and Grille
Appetizer sampler: I had 2 crab cakes, some rye bread w cheese fondue, and 1/4 potato pancake
NY Grilled Salmon with sweet potato and beets: I had one of the two salmon pieces, all of the beets, most of the potato and some of Adam's fries. I also ate his dill pickle half.

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 37: Active Rest

Pregnancy insomnia continues...I was up at 4, seemingly wide awake, but then pretty much crashed at 6 a.m., when my alarm went off to get up for this morning's workout. Well, I nixed that idea, went back to bed, and was happy that I got a few more minutes of sleep. I was able to get a little workout in later on in the day, but let me just say, for the record, that I am pretty much done with this pregnancy gig. I know, I know. Most women carry their babies until 40 weeks (40 WEEKS!!!) and I've got nothing to complain about, since I've been feeling great for the most part and have been blessed to be able to continue with exercise.

Activity:
2 rounds of modified Shoulder smoker with 10 kg: Clean, then Military press descending ladder R/L 8, 6, 4, 2, 1
Planks 5 x 1 minute
1 hour walk with Asher in double stroller

Breakfast (again, no appetite, couldn't figure out what I wanted to eat):
1 banana
1 plum

Morning snack (since breakfast was obviously lacking in quantity and culinary interest!):
Handful Roasted Mixed nuts

Lunch (3 p.m.):
3 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 2 handfuls sauteed organic baby spinach, 2 spoonfuls salsa, 1/2 avocado
2 handfuls Organic Dark Chocolate chips

Afternoon snack:
2 slices Organic Fuji apple

I took a nap for an hour at 8:30, then was a little hungry, so had "dinner":

Dinner (10 p.m.): Bowl of leftover fish soup
The corn tortilla chips were calling me (they've been calling me ever since we got them on Sunday for our Superbowl Cheat meal! My staple used to be chips and salsa, but I have only had that once this entire pregnancy, last Sunday being the first time, since corn is not on the Paleo approved list). The opened bag is still sitting on the countertop in full view. I had entirely too much....used it to scoop avocado so I could start feeling "full". On Sunday, when I had chips for the first time this pregnancy, my fingers got slightly puffy. Thanks to the Paleo diet, I haven't had any puffiness or swelling during this pregnancy, so it was really a difference after I ate those corn chips! Just waiting for the puffy fingers to strike again now! I tried to salvage the poor nutritional content of the meal (just the massive amount of corn chips I ate...the Fish soup was Paleo all the way), I had 8 ounces of Monavie w/ glucosamine, hoping the antioxidant benefits of the various berries in the juice would redeem me somehow. I am feeling very full right now and a little sick....who's betting that labor will start tonight of all nights?! I have since hidden the chips....

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 37: Chugging along...

Well, I'm still pregnant today! Looks like this new little one has set a new record (not that it would have been difficult, there was only one other contestant, Asher!) for Longest Time In Utero. This is the halfway point for the week. Personally, I am rooting for a birth on Friday, February 11. That would make this little one's birthdate: 2/11/2011. How neat would that be?! Obviously, the longer the pregnancy continues towards the due date, the better; it's just fun to play with numbers.

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, SIJ belt. This run was a little faster than Monday's, though my feet were still sore (not unexpectedly) throughout most of the run.

First breakfast (4:10 am):
1 banana

Second breakfast (11 a.m., post run):
3 omega 3 sunnyside up eggs with 2 handfuls organic spinach, sauteed, topped with salsa and 1/2 avocado
1 plum

Lunch (2:45 p.m., after Asher's nap. I wasn't hungry yet):
1/2 banana with almond butter
1 Organic Fuji apple with almond butter
1 handful Organic Dark chocolate chips

Dinner:
1 bowl Fish soup with coconut milk (modified from The Primal Cookbook)
8 ounces Monavie with glucosamine
1/2 handful Organic dark chocolate chips

Cheat dessert:
1 slice Chocolate cake

Fluids:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 37: Good ol' KB snatches!

I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull off snatches today, since my pelvis is becoming increasingly loose as this pregnancy continues. I am thankful for that, as it will make birthing much easier, but have to be mindful of my early morning activities (when I feel my pelvis is most lax). This morning, I entertained the idea of doing military presses or jerks to avoid engaging my pelvis too much. I picked up the 10 kg and did a few practice snatches, and everything felt fine....so, I went with it and did my Tuesday snatch workout!

Activity:
KB snatches (10 kg)
20/20/10/10 R/L alternating with 15/15/15/15 R/L for 5 cycles equaling 600 total snatches

Breakfast (didn't have an appetite):
3 bites of slow cooker beef cooked with coconut milk, garlic, onion, carrot, celery, curry, ginger
3/4 banana
1 plum

Lunch:
3 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with sauteed spinach and 1/2 avocado, 2 spoonfuls Organic salsa
2 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scones
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Snack:
2 handfuls Organic Dark Chocolate chips

In the late evening, I started feeling crappy. Took a short nap. Laid down for a little while longer...finally, decided it wasn't going to change, so I got up and played with Asher, gave him a bath, helped him get to bed. Still feel hot, nauseated. Didn't really have an appetite, but decided I should eat something:

Dinner:
Bowl of slow cooker beef with carrots and celery with 2 handfuls organic baby spinach, wilted
8 ounces Monavie w/ glucosamine

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 37: Catch Me if You Can!

Over the weekend, I've been having more frequent nighttime contractions. We briefly entertained the idea of becoming parents of two yesterday afternoon when I had been having increasingly uncomfortable contractions throughout lunch. Obviously, that stopped, since I'm still pregnant today! Last night, I didn't get much sleep since the contractions were pretty uncomfortable and frequent. This morning, however, things have gone mostly back to normal, so being that it's Monday, I did my normal thing, went running!

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, medium pace. My feet were sore the entire time, but we finished before it started to rain! Yay!

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with sauteed spinach, medium salsa and 1/2 avocado
1/2 banana

Lunch (not hungry at all!):
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Dinner:
Pan-fried wild Cod seasoned with sea salt, pepper and dried dill with medium salsa
Fresh tomatoes
8 ounces Monavie with glucosamine
1 plum

Dessert:
3 bites of Adam's chocolate cake/red velvet cake

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 37: RKC Snatch Test

Welcome to Full-Term Pregnancy! I am officially 37 weeks pregnant today, which means that if I were to go into labor at any time from now on, nothing would be done to stop it! I mentioned previously that Asher was born at 37.5 weeks. This new little one will likely be making an appearance sooner rather than later as well.

Since I may not be pregnant anymore come Tuesday (my snatch workout day), I decided to do snatches today. The particular workout is the Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) Snatch Test. At certification, each candidate must snatch a KB of designated weight (corresponding to the candidate's bodyweight) 100 times within a five minute time period. Multiple hand switches are allowed, as is putting down the bell. As with my first pregnancy, being able to complete this snatch test near the end of the pregnancy was particularly important to me. I am very blessed to be able to attempt it today:



Activity:
Five minute RKC snatch test (10 kg). I chose to do 20/20/20/20/10/10 R/L. In Feb 2010, I recertified, completing the snatch test with the 12 kg in 3:22. Today, I misspoke at the end of the video saying how much time I had left. I think I got my snatches done within 4 minutes...

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
2 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scones (We got our first shipment of Honeyville Almond Flour, so I baked a double batch of the scones...compared to Bob's Red Mill almond flour, Honeyville is more fine, and has an aftertaste of sweet almond extract, very light), fresh from the oven!

Lunch (3:30 p.m.):
Cheat lunch at Red Robin Restaurant. I was having mild contractions at the time and didn't feel up to eating my usual (Bonzai burger). I had the soup/sandwich combo of New England Clam Chowder (cup) and BBQ chicken wrap (without Ranch dressing). I also had a few of Adam's steak fries with ketchup and a few slices of apple that came with Asher's meal. Water. Contractions continued throughout lunch.

Evening snack (not hungry):
10 blueberries

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 36: Still Running...

For the last 2 nights, I've been having more frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions. They occur at pretty regular intervals but only last for a few hours, and don't feel like real labor contractions (since they're a preparation for labor, but not strong enough to be the real thing). Anyway, I've kept on, keeping on....especially since the contractions stop within a few hours. This morning, I put on my SI belt and went for a run...

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, mostly level terrain. Felt great!

Breakfast:
1 banana with Almond Butter
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone
1 Fuji apple with Almond Butter

I saw my midwife today, here are my stats:
Weight: 121 pounds (I gained a pound in the last 3 weeks!!!! After not gaining "any" (according to their scale) for the last 3 months)
BP: 110/70 mmHg
Fundus measurement: 32 cm (!!!!! The baby has dropped.)
Cervix: 1 cm dilated, 80% effaced

Lunch:
Large salad: romaine lettuce, green and red bell peppers, cucumbers, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
Still hungry, so: 2 sunnyside up omega-3 eggs

First Dinner:
1 bowl GF Paleo Chicken Pot Pie (The Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam)...significantly modified since we didn't have most of the ingredients. I used what vegetables we had (kale, red bell pepper, celery, garlic) and skipped the crust.
8 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Second Dinner (my lower body was exhausted this evening, so I laid down and took a little nap. When I woke up, I was a little hungry....):
Small bowl Chicken Pot Pie
Handful Organic Thompsons Raisins

See what I mean about the baby dropping? Now I have all sorts of room for more food! ;)

Fluid: 6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 36: Off-center KB strengthening

Today's workout was all about training one side of the body at a time. This helps facilitate stabilization on the non-working side and equalization of strength from one side to the other.

Activity:
See-saw press (10 kg) x 8
Lat pulls (12 kg) x 10
Single Leg Deadlift (10 kg) x 10
Unilateral suitcase squats (12 kg) x 10

I repeated this cycle 10x, then:
Turkish Get-ups (10 kg) x 5 each side

Breakfast:
1/2 bowl Vitamix drink (leftover from yesterday)
8 ounces Mona-vie drink w/ glucosamine

Lunch:
1 scrambled omega-3 egg w/ sauteed spinach
8 ounces Mona-vie drink w/ glucosamine

Dinner:
Bowl of Curry ground beef with mushroom medley, red bell pepper, kale, garlic
1/2 paleo GF chocolate chip raisin scone

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 36: Still Running...

This morning's run was a little slower than the previous few runs, but still felt great-during and after!

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, mostly level terrain

Breakfast:
1/2 of large bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 2.5 bananas, 1 Fuji apple, 2 kiwi, 3 stalks kale, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 4 Tbsp chia seed)
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
Handful roasted mixed nuts
10 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Dinner:
Paleo Stir-fry chicken with celery and yellow bell peppers
2 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scones (fresh from the oven! I have been replacing 1/2 to 3/4 C of almond flour with ground flaxseed and chia seed for the extra Omega 3 and fiber)
8 ounces Mona-vie with glucosamine

Fluid: 7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 36: 9 mo Tuesday snatches

My favorite day of the week is here again; I always look forward to Tuesdays because of the weekly snatch workout. Today's workout went by much faster, perhaps because the movement felt so great that I inadvertently increased my cadence. I don't know how many more Tuesdays I will have before the little one arrives, so I recorded a short video of part of one round of snatches just to remember... (In the video, I am doing a set of 20/20/10/10 R/L at about halfway through my workout.)




Activity:
KB snatches (10kg)
15/15/15/15 R/L alternating with 20/20/10/10 R/L for 5 rounds, totaling 600 snatches

Breakfast (we still haven't gone grocery shopping, so the randomness continues...):
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 1/2 avocado
1 banana
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch (we have no leafy greens! Those who know me know that I live and breathe leafy greens like spinach and kale! What to do?!):

"Tuna salad": 1/2 can light tuna, 1/2 avocado, 3 stalks celery, 1/4 yellow bell pepper, 2 packets of mustard
1 kiwi

Snack:
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Dinner:
Chipotle salad: Greens, Carnitas, salsa, guacamole

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 36: Brisk Run

The movement of running still feels good even as the baby is settling down in my pelvis (that feeling isn't so great). My mom went into labor with each of my brothers and me two weeks early, and I went into labor with Asher at 37.5 weeks. If this "early" trend holds true, it's possible that we could have a baby in 2 weeks! What that means for me today is that every workout brings me closer to my goal: labor and delivery and meeting our new little one! More urgently, however, I realize that life will really change with two little ones and my time will be even less my own. Therefore, I really cherish each of these opportunities to do something beneficial for myself-exercise-knowing that in the early post-partum period (and beyond), I will have different priorities that will require me to modify my exercise intensity/duration. Today, I had a run scheduled. It might have been the best run I've had in weeks!

Activity:
35 min brisk run with Asher in double stroller, mostly level terrain.

As for our meals today, don't laugh too much at the randomness! We didn't get a chance to go grocery shopping this weekend, so I had to be a little creative with what we had available...

Breakfast:
Leftover paleo Salmon cakes (2) (recipe from The Primal Blueprint cookbook) with mustard (there is no added sugar in mustard!), tomatoes, avocado
1 banana with almond butter

Lunch (despite the randomness, I got my vegetable, fruit, protein and fat):
1 Fuji apple
1/2 yellow bell pepper
3-4 slices Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach sausage
1/4 C roasted mixed nuts

Snack:
Handful Organic Thompsons Raisins

Dinner:
"Slow cooker" paleo pot roast with coconut milk, garlic, carrots, celery
Roasted Brussels Sprouts w/ garlic, dill, olive oil
Cheat dessert: 5 medium spoonfuls of Adam's Ben & Jerry's ice cream

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 36: Kettlebell Swings

In celebration of the first day of my ninth month of pregnancy, I did a high volume KB swing workout. The movement felt so great that if I had had more time, I would have kept going!

Activity:
High volume KB swings (10kg), total 1000 swings
4 x 100, then 3 x 200 (various combinations of two- and one-handed swings)
45 min brisk walk with Asher in double stroller
Long slow 60 min run/walk with Asher (on foot), 21 months old

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 1/2 avocado
1 banana with almond butter
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch:
Small bowl leftover curry beef steak soup
1 Fuji apple

Dinner:
Paleo Coconut milk with chicken soup (from The Primal Blueprint Cookbook by Mark Sisson), carrots, spinach.
Handful Organic Thompsons Raisins
10 dark chocolate chips

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 35: Rest Day

I took today as a rest day in anticipation of the busy morning we'd have. In retrospect, it was a good thing to have a day off.

Activity: Rest day

Breakfast:
2 GF paleo Chocolate chip Raisin scone
1 banana

Lunch:
Spinach salad with cucumber, tomato, green bell pepper, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
1 Fuji apple
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip Raisin scone

Dinner:
Paleo Coconut curry beef stew with onions, garlic, carrots, celery
Cheat dessert: 1 slice of Almond Roca chocolate cake, shared with Asher (this boy loves chocolate, just like his mama!)

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 35: KB combination lifts and bodyweight training

As my due date draws nearer, I feel the pressure (literally!) to train my squats even more. Squatting opens up the pelvic outlet, which is certainly a positive thing during birth!

Activity:
KB clean-military press-overhead squat (10 kg) x 10 each side
Advanced position sideplanks x 18 each side

Repeat cycle 10x

Breakfast (I had what was left of the lunch I made Adam this morning):
Curry beef with spinach, mushroom medley, onions, garlic; 1/2 avocado and 1 diced roma tomato
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone (with organic ground flaxseed and chia seed)

Morning snack:
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch (at 3:30 p.m. LOL! wasn't hungry after the scone!):
Spinach salad with green and red bell peppers, cucumber, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
1 banana with almond butter
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Dinner:
GF Rockfish Fish sticks (from the Gluten-free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam) with ketchup
1 scrambled egg (leftover from the fish sticks)
2 kiwi
10 ounces Monavie with glucosamine

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 35: Run Mama Run

It was a cold, foggy morning. Asher was bundled up in his multiple layers and covered with his quilt. Seems like each run is better than the previous! No foot soreness, no discomfort of any kind! When I was pregnant with Asher, I ran until the day before he was born. It's looking good that we'll be doing a repeat this time around!

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, moderate pace, mostly level terrain.

Breakfast:
2 GF paleo chocolate chip banana scones
1 banana

Morning snack (okay, I was falling asleep on the drive to parents house and had to munch on something!):
1/3 C roasted mixed nuts

Lunch (eaten at 4 p.m. because after the nuts, I wasn't hungry at all!):
1/2 C leftover veggies from last night
1 Fuji apple
1 handful Organic Thompson's raisins

Dinner:
Pork with Mustard greens, sea salt & pepper
Zucchini seasoned with curry
1 piece of See's Candies Dark Cal Brittle

Evening snack (I didn't feel hungry, but really wanted eggs with runny yolks so...):
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs

Then I baked a double batch of GF chocolate chip raisin scones, substituting 3/4 C of almond flour with organic ground flaxseed and chia seed....and I ate one scone to see just how yummy it was!

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 35: Tuesday Snatches

Here we are again, a wonderful Tuesday, and my favorite workout of the week! Still feels good throughout the entire movement.

Activity:
KB snatches (10 kg)

15/15/15/15 R/L alternated with
20/20/10/10 R/L

completed 5 sets of each for a total of 600 snatches

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 1 handful spinach, 1 roma tomato, 1/2 avocado

Morning snack:
1/2 C roasted mixed nuts

Lunch:
Medium Spinach salad with cucumbers and red peppers, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
7 strawberries
1 banana

Dinner:
Pork with squash, stir fried with sea salt & pepper
Chinese baby bokchoy
3 pieces See's candies Dark Cal Brittle (my favorite!)
Handful Organic Thompson's Raisins

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 35: Sleepless Nights followed by a Morning Run

I slept a total of two hours last night, and laid awake in bed for about three. This pregnancy sleepy-but-unable-to-fall-asleep business is really getting old. At least I was able to get some naptime as I drove to/from my parents' house today LOL.

Activity:
35 min run with Asher in double stroller, mostly level terrain, moderate pace

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs
1 pear

Lunch (had lunch out with parents and Asher):
Hamburger patty with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mustard
Bowl of pre-made salad: spring mix, mushrooms, radishes, carrots, no dressing

I was still hungry after eating the above, so I had:
Several bites of Mom's slice of Lemon Merigue pie, several of Asher's french fries

Snack:
Handful Mixed Roasted Nuts

Dinner (now I wasn't hungry at all):
1 Ruby grapefruit
2 pieces of See's Candies Dark Chocolate Cal Brittle

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 35: Who needs sleep when you can kettlebell?

I was finally tired at 1 a.m. I slept until 2:30 a.m., then laid in bed awake, drowsy, but unable to fall asleep until 3:30 a.m. when I decided to get up and do my workout! It was a good workout, but I was sleepy by the end....

Activity:
Inverted KB Clean-Press pyramid (10 kg) 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5 R/L x 5
Single Leg Deadlift (12 kg) 10 x 10 R/L
Ab Roller 10 x 10

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
1 GF paleo chocolate chip banana scone (made with the addition of chia seed and ground flaxseed)

Lunch:
Salad with grilled chicken, salsa, guacamole from Chipotle's

Dinner:
Rockfish w/ tomatoes and onions, sea salt & pepper
Winter melon soup with kale
2 pieces of dark chocolate from See's candies
Shared a slice of Almond Roca chocolate cake with mom, who had dinner with us tonight!

Fluid:
6 cups water

Pregnancy Week 34: Quick KB strengthening

I had a quick, fun workout this morning with the 10 kg KB. Here's what I did:

Activity:
Pullups 2 x 4 (narrow grip), 2 x 3 (wide grip)

then,
KB bent over rows 10 x 10
KB Front Squat 5 x 5 R, 5 x 5 L
Side planks (advanced position) 10 x 18 each side

I followed that with Tracy Reifkind's Shoulder smoker using the 8 kg:
Clean, Military Press R/L 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1

Breakfast:
1 sunnyside up omega-3 egg with 1/2 avocado
1/2 large bowl Vitamix drink (1 c cultured coconut milk, 1 banana, 5 stalks kale, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 kiwi, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed, 4 Tbsp chia seed)

Lunch:
Bowl of leftover Paleo Salmon Chowder
Handful cashews
Handful organic Thompsons Raisins

Snack:
Handful organic Thompsons Raisins

Dinner:
Bowl of Paleo Curry beef with kale, assorted mushrooms, onion, garlic
1 GF paleo chocolate chip banana scone

Cheat dessert!!! 1/2 slice of Almond Roca Chocolate cake...YUM

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 34: Rest Day

Today was an enforced Rest Day. When I went to bed (around 12:30 a.m., when I finally felt tired), I was ready to do a KB strength workout in the morning. However, at 3 a.m., I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep until 4:30 a.m. When my alarm went off at 6 a.m., I was dead tired! The next time I woke up, it was too late to do a workout before Asher would wake. I thought I might get a chance to squeeze it in during his naptime, but decided, at 34 weeks along, that I should take a rest day. I look forward to doing my workout tomorrow!!

Activity: Rest Day

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up omega 3 eggs with 1/4 avocado

Lunch (don't have much space at all now, still feel like my breakfast is in my throat!):
1 banana
Handful cashews

Dinner:
1 bowl of leftover Fish soup
1/4 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

We met with our Doula this evening and went over the birth preferences. Time has really gone by quickly with this pregnancy (I'm sure time always seems to pass quickly in retrospect!). If this baby comes around the time Asher did (37.5 weeks), we will be a family of four in early February! Wild. I need to practice my coping techniques from the Birthing from Within book...

Snack:
1 pear

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 34: Run Baby Run

Asher and I set off for a nice brisk run this morning! He was bundled up in his footed pajamas and fleece jacket, with his quilt tucked tightly around him, and had a paleo scone in his little (cold) hands. Later on in the run, I put his mittens on, which meant we had to stop every now and then so I could help him take bites of his scone...This was a welcome break for my feet, which felt achy and sore earlier during the run than usual.

Activity: 35 min run with Asher in double stroller, moderate pace, mostly level terrain

Breakfast:
large bowl Vitamix drink (same recipe as yesterday)
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch (at New Seasons health food store):
paleo Salmon filet "sandwich" with lettuce, tomatoes, pickle, avocado, yellow mustard
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone

Dinner (not hungry yet):
Slow cooker Beef cooked in coconut milk, organic chicken broth, onions, kale, curry, sea salt & pepper, dried ginger
1 pear
3/4 banana w/ almond butter

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 34: Snatches, How I Love Thee

For the 34th time this pregnancy, I have done a snatch workout on Tuesday. It was lovely. Pregnancy insomnia hit again last night, so I was up early and figured I might as well start my workout!

Activity:
KB snatches with 10 kg, alternating 15/15/15/15 R/L with 20/20/10/10 R/L for 5 cycles each (10 cycles total, 600 snatches total). Felt great!

Breakfast:
Large bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C cultured coconut milk with probiotics, 1.5 handfuls organic baby spinach, 2 kiwis, 1 orange, 2 bananas, 6 Tbsp organic ground flaxseed)
6 ounces Goat Milk Kefir blueberry pomegranate flavor
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone

Lunch:
Paleo Chicken with broccoli and mushroom medley
Garden salad with cucumbers, balsamic vinegar & olive oil

First Dinner:
Bowl of paleo Fish soup (Wild rockfish, kale, coconut milk, chicken broth, basil, curry)
Handful Organic thompsons raisins
6 ounces Goat milk kefir

Second Dinner:
Small bowl of paleo fish soup

Snack:
2 GF paleo chocolte chip raisin scones (fresh from the oven!)

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 34: Misty Stroller Run

We ran in the misty rain today. Asher's Thomas the Train went with us. I feel like over the past two days, my belly has gotten a lot bigger. I weighed myself at Adam's work before lunch and came in at 123.9 pounds. We'll see if the scale at the midwife's office is still stuck at 120 (where it's been for the last 2 months that I've been a patient there)....

Activity:
30 min run with Asher in double stroller, mostly level terrain

Breakfast (pre-run):
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone
1 banana with almond butter

Lunch:
Curry beef with carrots, kale and mushrooms

Snack:
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Dinner (I wasn't hungry):
1/2 C string beans sauteed with garlic
2 bowls of Winter Melon soup in chicken broth
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 34: Solo Run

I used to love running in the rain. Well, running in any weather condition was fun, but running in the rain was particularly wonderful. Then I got Priya and running in the rain wasn't as fun. Priya had a habit of running in front of me. This allowed her to kick back dirty rain water on my legs; fun for her, not so fun for me. And then, I got to "remember" our run throughout the day as the house would smell like wet dog... Now Odin likes to run out to the side with occasional lunges in towards my legs to wipe his wet, muddy underbelly off on my running tights. Sometimes we'll make it through an entire run only to have him rub on my legs at the very end and completely soak my tights with muddy doggy-smelling water. Thanks, guys. When we bring Asher into the picture, it's really just the fact that the poor kid gets wet while buckled into a stroller. We don't have the rain cover, nor do I feel like spending the money to purchase one anytime soon (though, living in the Pacific Northwest, I would be smart to do so, wouldn't I?!). I usually dress him in a water-repellent jacket and pants, cover him with his quilt, and keep the sun/wind canopy down as far as it will go. Once the poor kid's face was all wet by the end of our run... Needless to say, I try to avoid running in the rain when I don't have anyone to watch him. So, I was glad to have my parents' help with Asher while I ran...in the rain! It was great!

Activity:
2.0 mile run on 0.5 mile hilly loop (2 laps clockwise, 2 laps counterclockwise)

Breakfast:
(pre-run) 1 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone
3/4 banana

Lunch:
cheat lunch with parents at McGrath's (my first time!)
Halibut fish and chips w/ ketchup
Garden salad, no dressing
Asher's bowl of New England style clam chowder
2 coconut prawns
2 chunks of carrots from Asher's seasoned vegetable side selection
2 pieces of See's candies (I love samples!)

Evening snack: (I wasn't hungry 7 hours later at dinnertime)
1 Ruby grapefruit
1 banana w/ almond butter

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 33: KB strengthening

I did a mix of bodyweight and KB work today.

Activity:
Pullups 2 x 4 (narrow grip), 2 x 3 (wide grip) then,

Goblet squat (10 kg) x 10
Single leg deadlift (12 kg) x 10
Ab Roller x 10

Repeat cycle 10x

Breakfast:
Large bowl of Vitamix drink (same recipe as yesterday)

Lunch:
Spinach salad with red bell peppers, tomatoes, 1/2 can light tuna; balsamic vinegar & olive oil
1 orange

Snack:
1/2 GF paleo Chocolate chip raisin scone

Dinner:
Curry beef (organic ground beef, onions, diced carrots, spinach, garlic, curry) on romaine lettuce
1 pear
1 handful Thompsons raisins
15 dark chocolate chips
1 GF paleo chocolate chip raisin scone

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 33: Thursday Run

Asher and I had a nice morning run! The rain even stopped while we were out.

Activity:
35 min run with Asher in double stroller, mostly level terrain. Wore SIJ belt. Felt great.

Breakfast:
1 GF paleo Raisin scone
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip scone
1/2 large bowl Vitamix drink (1 C cultured Coconut milk w/ probiotics, 1 banana, 2 carrots, 2 kiwi, 5 stalks kale, 1 honeycrisp apple, 6 Tbsp ground organic flaxseed)

As I looked down at my half-empty bowl of Vitamix drink, I thought to myself, "I used to be able to eat this entire bowl!" And then I realized that my stomach space has been greatly reduced since my uterus is way up above the belly button now with a growing 33 week old fetus! It sure doesn't take much to make me feel full these days!

Lunch (not hungry):
1 Ruby grapefruit
1 GF paleo chocolate chip scone

First dinner (not hungry):
1 med bowl of chicken broth with winter melon, carrots, peas
1/4 tilapia filet

Second dinner:
1 sm bowl of slow cooker Flank steak with carrots, garlic and chicken broth
1 GF paleo chocolate chip scone

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 33: Wednesday Swings

There was a Weather Advisory warning of snow and freezing rain in our area yesterday, and overnight. I didn't know how cold it would be in the morning, so instead of going for a run, I did a KB workout in my living room.

Activity:
KB swings (10 kg) 10 x 100 (various combinations of one- and two-handed swings)

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

I just am having the hardest time making myself eat my usual vegetables! We now have all the ingredients for my usual Vitamix drink, but no way have I gotten up the motivation to actually make the drink, much less to drink it! And the third trimester is when the fetus stores the most DHA (this is where the ground flaxseed comes in handy) for healthy brain development!!

Lunch:
Bowl of leftover slow cooker Italian pot roast with carrots and celery
1 pear
1 GF, paleo Chocolate chip scone

Snack:
Handful Thompsons raisins

Dinner: (not hungry/no appetite....knew I had to get some kind of green vegetable in light of what I have been eating during the day today and what I usually eat...)
Bowl of paleo Kale chips (kale, grapeseed oil, sea salt and pepper, baked 15 min on parchment paper at 350 degrees; be sure not to overdo the salt like I did!)
Glass of Goat Milk Kefir (blueberry and pomegranate flavor)
Leftover half of Olive Garden chocolate cake from last night

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 33: Tuesday Snatches (yay)!

It was with great eagerness that I set my alarm last night so I would have enough time to get my snatch workout finished this morning. As usual, I was awake from 3:30 until about 5 a.m.; just not able to fall asleep! Anyway, the workout was great fun, can't wait to do it again next week! :)

Activity:
KB snatches (10 kg)
15/15/15/15 x 5 (R/L) alternated with 20/20/10/10 x 5 (R/L) = 600 snatches

The last two sets of the 15/15 and the 20/20 I did without setting the KB down. I was having a little bit of trouble with pinched callouses on my L hand, so I did as many reps as I could on the L before switching to the R (I did the normal reps on the R, which felt really great), and just continued on the L until I was finished with 60 snatches.

At my midwife appointment, I weighed in at 120.0 pounds. I was sure with all the glutenous, comfort eating we did in SC that I would have gained a few pounds. That, and the baby growing, of course. Well, my belly is definitely getting bigger, so we know the baby's growing even if my weight isn't increasing...

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs with 1/2 avocado
3/4 banana
1 orange

Lunch:
1.5 bowls paleo beef stew with carrots and celery, ginger
Medium bowl of salad using Romaine lettuce, green bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots; balsamic vinegar and olive oil
2 pieces "Aplets and Cotlets"
1/2 handful roasted mixed nuts

Dinner:
1 bowl slow cooker paleo "Italian Pot Roast" (from Primal Blueprint cookbook)
2 GF paleo Chocolate chip scones
Cheat dessert (mini): 1/2 of a slice of chocolate cake from The Olive Garden
Handful Thompsons raisins

Fluid:
5 cups water

Pregnancy Week 33: Stroller Run

We bundled up this morning and set out for our run. It was a good one.

Activity:
30 min run over mostly level terrain, pushing double stroller.

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up omega-3 eggs with 1/2 avocado
1 GF paleo Cranberry Walnut chocolate chip cookie
1 kiwi
Handful of mixed nuts

Afternoon snack(ate breakfast late, so didn't have an appetite at lunchtime):
1 honeycrisp apple
1 slice of pear
1 banana
2 pieces of "Aplets & Cotlets"

Dinner:
Slow cooker beef (paleo) with carrots, celery, cilantro
1 square of Hershey's dark chocolate
handful dark chocolate M&Ms (see a trend tonight? yes, we were watching the Oregon v Auburn game...and I needed some comfort)

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 33: Saturday Run

I did a nice run today with my 10 YO white German Shepherd Dog Priya. Way back in the day, when I was a marathoner, Priya was my faithful training partner. We'd go for long runs (the longest I ever asked her to run with me was 12 miles--if I had to do more mileage, I would finish those first, then swing back by the house and pick her up for the last 12), many times in the dark, sometimes in the rain, snow and even ice. She was always game, and though I did have to pull her along in the later miles, she was always a good sport and would respond to my encouragement by increasing her speed (for a few steps)! It's been a long time since I've run with her alone; maybe a few years since we've had Odin for 4 years and he is the more hyper (and younger) dog who we try to exercise more. Since I'm eight months along and my pelvis can get wonky easily, I decided to take Priya with me today; Odin can be unpredictable around other dogs/distractions and I didn't want to have to worry about being pulled the wrong way. I had a great time (and I think she did too, especially having Mommy all to herself for once)! I was reminded of the good ol' days...Priya running in front of me, kicking back dirty road water on my legs, stopping to poop and pee in the middle of the road (who has time to go to the curb when one is running, she asks?!), and (after running off her initial energy) settling into a nice stride next to me. Priya was my very first pet (now we have Odin, prior to him, I have fostered several other German Shepherd Dogs), and she is still my best friend!

Activity:
30 min run with Priya, moderate speed, mostly flat terrain, SIJ belt

Breakfast: (we need to go grocery shopping!)
eaten prior to run: 1 GF paleo Chocolate scone
1 banana

Lunch:
1 can light tuna mixed with 1 diced red pepper and 1/2 avocado, sea salt
4 pieces 70% dark chocolate with mint

Dinner:
3 slices Beef sausage
1 bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts seasoned with Olive oil, dried dill, parsley and basil, sea salt, pepper and fresh garlic
1 Honeycrisp apple

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 32: KB strengthening, Press pyramid

Friday's a great day for a fun little workout!

Activity:
Upside-down KB clean-press pyramid (12 kg) R/L 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5
Single leg deadlift (12 kg) x 10
Ab Roller x 10

Repeat cycle 5x

Breakfast:
Medium bowl Vitamix drink (same recipe as 1/5/11)
1 GF paleo Cranberry Walnut chocolate chip cookie

Lunch:
Large Romaine lettuce salad with tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers (ran out of spinach!), balsamic vinegar & olive oil
1 Ruby red grapefruit

Snack:
1 Fuji apple
4 pieces of 70% dark chocolate with mint squares

Dinner:
Trout, cooked with sea salt and pepper
Vegetable stirfry (cauliflower, celery, carrots)

Fluid:
8 cups water

Pregnancy Week 32: Hilly Run

I was planning on doing a KB workout today in light of the bodywork I had done yesterday and how I tend to feel laxity in my pelvis if I run on the day after. However, the pregnancy "can't-sleep-even-though-I-am tired" syndrome has been in full effect, and I was awake from 3 to 5 a.m. (alarm set for 6 a.m.). I ended up going back to sleep, waking up to turn off the alarm, and then sleeping until Adam had to get up for work. The challenge with that arrangement was that I woke up not only with a headache, but also very very tired! Strange to me how I can be sleepy at bedtime, but unable to fall asleep, sleepy in the middle of the night but unable to fall back to sleep, and then wake up sleepy in the morning! Now that I've written that out, the end result doesn't seem so strange after all (lack of sleep = being/feeling sleepy!). Ha. This was the long-winded explanation of why I ended up running (despite the potential delayed-onset of pelvic discomfort) this morning instead of KB training (I find running to be "easier" and less mentally taxing than KB training a lot of the time, esp during pregnancy when I don't push myself too much when running. When I have a headache, I can tolerate running much more than the total-body tension that I perform with KB training).

Activity:
2.0 mile run on 0.5 mile hilly loop (with SIJ belt)

Amazingly, my pelvis felt alright for the entire day. Yay!

Breakfast:
(pre-run) 1 GF paleo Chocolate scone

Lunch: (I was hungry but didn't have an appetite for the Vitamix drink I had prepared for breakfast, so I ended up waiting until lunchtime to eat again)
Large Spinach/mixed greens salad with tomato, cucumber, olives, green pepper; balsamic vinegar & olive oil
4 pieces "Aplets & Cotlets"

Dinner: My aunt from Canada came to visit my parents, so we went out for dinner to welcome her. I did my best to eat paleo, but as you know, it's always challenging when you dine out and don't know exactly what ingredients (seasonings/sauces) go into each dish, AND even if you do know, the chef might decide to substitute an ingredient without warning!

Stir-fried string beans with "almonds" (looked more like peanuts to me)
Scallops with stir-fried vegetables (carrots, broccoli, bamboo, water chestnuts)
Curry Beef with bell peppers

Also, my aunt brought 70% dark chocolate squares with mint....and I ended up having about 8 of them! Those who know me well will automatically understand why I had so many: 1. I love dark chocolate; 2. I love anything combining chocolate with mint; 3. My favorite shape is Square; 4. My parents don't have any chocolate in the house, which is why I had to resort to eating the Aplets & Cotlets after lunch to satisfy my sweet tooth!

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 32: Rest Day

I took today as a rest day. The headaches that were frequent during the second trimester had been fairly rare during this last trimester, but for the last 2 days, I've had a headache that would start in the early afternoon and last all evening. Tylenol helped for a period, drinking more water didn't seem to change things noticably either. This morning, I woke up with a headache, despite taking Tylenol before bed and around 3:30 a.m. (when I couldn't go back to sleep). Today was a great day to take a break....but only after I had done a little activity! ;)

"Grease the groove" activity:
Pull-ups 4 x 4 wide grip and narrow grip

I had another Myofascial Release session today, and felt good (ie. no headaches or other physical distress) for the rest of the day. This type of bodywork has been helping my SIJ issues (and my posture)...I no longer wear my SIJ belt to sleep as I did during my first pregnancy (I think I wore that SIJ belt 24-7 (except not when bathing) starting week 20 of my first pregnancy!), in fact, I only wear the belt when I run, and that is preventative as I expect moderate ligamentous laxity this far along in the pregnancy.

Breakfast:
Medium bowl of Vitamix drink (1 C coconut milk, 2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 stalk kale, 2 oranges, 1 kiwi, 1 honeycrisp apple, 6 Tbsp organic golden ground flaxseed, 1 frozen banana)
1 GF, paleo Chocolate scone

Lunch:
Large spinach salad with cucumber, red pepper, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, celery, balsamic vinegar & olive oil
Handful of nuts including raw walnuts, raw pecans, and roasted cashews

Dinner:
Slow cooker beef flank steak w/ carrots, celery, ginger, garlic, cilantro, chicken broth
Sauteed string beans with garlic
2 pieces "Aplets and Cotlets"

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 32: Tuesday KB snatches!

It took a while to get started this morning....but I ended up having a great workout!

Activity:
KB snatches (10 kg) = 600 total snatches
15/15/15/15 x 5 (R/L) = 300
20/20/10/10 x 5 (R/L) = 300

I ended up doing 4 cycles of the 15/15/15/15 before I thought about mixing up the intensity...then, I had too much fun doing the 20/20/10/10 sets that I finished all 5 cycles before going back to the 15/15! I found that if I really pulled my free arm back during the back swing, I got a better hip hinge and therefore, felt like I just had to stand up and the KB floated overhead. What a fun movement KB snatches are!

Breakfast:
1 banana
1 Ruby grapefruit
2 GF paleo Chocolate scones

Lunch:
Steamed broccoli and Red Pepper & Spinach sausage
1 GF paleo Chocolate scone

Snack:
1 honeycrisp apple

Dinner:
Modified paleo GF "fish sticks" (ran out of almond flour): wild-caught Rockfish dipped in egg, 2 filets
Large bowl of Roasted seasoned brussels sprouts
2 squares of Hershey's Pure dark chocolate
4 ounces Mona-vie w/ glucosamine

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 32: KB swings and presses

It seems like the Benedryl I took last night had the opposite effect on me, keeping me wide awake instead of making me drowsy. Since I couldn't sleep, I decided to get some KB work done!

Activity:
High volume swings-various combinations of two-hand and one-hand swings
(10 kg) x 100
(12 kg) x 100

Repeat cycle 5 times for a total of 1000 swings

Then, Tracy Reifkind's "shoulder smoker" with 8 kg (R/L):
1 clean, then military press in descending ladder, x 12, x 10, x 8, x 6, x 4, x 2, x 1


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

Snack:
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip scone (from The Gluten-free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam)

Lunch:
Spinach salad (2 handfuls organic baby spinach, 1 tomato, 1 honeycrisp apple, 2 red pepper and spinach sausages, sliced; balsamic vinegar and olive oil)

Snack:
1 handful roasted cashews

Dinner:
Organic ground beef stirfry with kale, green onions, organic ground flaxseed substituted for 2 eggs, garlic powder and dried ginger
1 GF paleo Chocolate chip scone

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 32: "Swinging" in the New Year

Happy 2011! I didn't feel up to exercising until about 7 p.m. today! The right side of my ribcage felt achy, like a side cramp, most of the day. I am also starting to feel like my guts have nowhere to go...and I have at least 5 weeks until the baby is considered full-term! Yikes! Adam did some myofascial release and that helped. I ended up having a pretty nice workout, when I finally got around to doing it!

Activity:
High volume KB swings (10 kg) 10 x 100 = 1000
Side planks (advanced) 10 x 18 = 180 each side

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up Omega 3 eggs w/ 1/2 avocado
1 GF paleo cranberry walnut chocolate chip cookie

Lunch:
Bowl of leftover Paleo Chili
1 pear
1 banana

Snack:
Handful roasted cashews

Dinner:
1 Ruby grapefruit
1/8 wild Rockfish filet (sea salt, pepper & cayenne pepper)
1/2 C steamed broccoli
1 square Hershey's Pure Dark Chocolate

Fluid:
7 cups water

Pregnancy Week 31: A Little KB for the Last Day of 2010

This pregnancy has been different from my first in many ways, one of which is that my skin has been extra sensitive. While traveling in SC, I broke out with a rash, possibly from scented laundry detergent, and exacerbated by cold, dry air and insufficient fluid intake. I started taking Benedryl overnight and today, am feeling the after-effects...drowsiness! Today's workout is in honor of my philosophy that Something is better than Nothing!

Activity:
KB clean-press (12 kg) 10x5 (I did this in front of Asher in the kitchen during his lunchtime!)

Breakfast:
2 sunnyside up omega 3 eggs with 1/4 avocado
1 pear
1 GF paleo Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip cookie
1 square of Hershey's Pure Dark Chocolate

Lunch:
Large Spinach salad with 1 roma tomato, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 can light tuna, balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Dinner:
1.5 bowls of Paleo Chili with added kale, carrots

New Year's Eve Dessert!!! Chocolate cake from Olive Garden..YUM

Happy New Year to all!