The Chase Doesn't End Because of My Passenger

Last week I went for my 24 week checkup. And I got lectured. Apparently, I've gained too much weight so far in this pregnancy. Odd, when I did the research, I saw that I was right on track for the 1 lb. a week during the second and third trimester...

...and then I saw it, on my chart. MORBIDLY OBESE, just like that. And my OB was talking down to me. Was I watching my diet? Was I really watching what I was eating? Was I exercising? Did I not understand that gaining all this weight now will make it harder after the baby to lose it?

I didn't get it. My OB knows that before this, I was running three times a day, and I completed TWO 5Ks before MC². This was also the same doctor, with my last daughter, told me that studies change all the time, and the weight gain guidelines change all the time.

Right now, a pregnant woman within "average" weight range should gain between 25-35 lbs. during their pregnancy. This is where I fell in last time, and I am on track with during this pregnancy.

However, an "obese" pregnant woman is only supposed to gain 11-20 lbs, if that. There are articles out there now saying that fat mommies-to-be are being encourage to DIET during pregnancy. Are you kidding me?

I asked my OB about my exercise regime. I told her I had taken time off to recuperate from a cold (that was frowned upon). I mentioned my 20 minute walk twice a day, and my every other morning yoga. Should I add back my morning walks as well, or am I pushing myself too hard? "Do the walking in the morning as well," the doc tells me, "You cannot overdo it while exercising, your body won't let you."

Now I have to call bullsh*t. I HAVE overdone it exercising. Training for the 5ks left me with dry heaves on the side of the road. Over vigorous yoga sessions had me in pain for days.


The kicker? I haven't even hit my STARTING weight of when I was pregnant with my daughter! My maternity clothes, especially pants, have been too big. My rings have been falling off. The only thing I've really changed is that I've stopped running because I have a human being sitting on my lungs!

I'm getting the feeling I'm being stereotyped into the "fat lazy slob" label. Which, if anyone who has read this blog knows, I am not. Not only am I exercising as much as I can, I chase a toddler around the house, and get chased around by my husband (Sorry, Ma).

I hope I have to courage to tell this stuff to my OB the next time I see her. I don't want to feel like I'm being punished every time I walk in for my prenatal, and they put me on the scale. Let me grow my child, and then when I'm able, start running again and shed the baby weight.

Let me be pregnant and happy, not stressful and miserable.

Training while on the Baby Train

Walking. Jogging. Walking. Jogging. That's about how my cardio/outdoor exercises have been going. After one wheezing, out-of-breath morning of interval training, I thought I was done with my jogging life until after Baby MC².

Then came some down time of not getting outside at all. Part of it was weather, and I think part of it was not wanting to go out and walk. One of my last mornings out before the two week break, runners were going past me, and damned if I wasn't jealous. JEALOUS! Me, former fat kid who would weep at the thought of laps in gym class, now to the point of weeping with jealousy because she couldn't move faster down the path.

This morning, I got my butt up, and hit the VFW Parkway. As I turned onto the path, I said, "why not," and did a very slow jog to a point I picked in my head. I reached it, and went back to walking. I ended up doing about five intervals this morning. I felt like a ROCK STAR! I'm sure I was as slow as molasses, but I DID NOT CARE - I WAS JOGGING!

I am also aware this won't last forever. At 21 weeks pregnant, there's going to be a point where even the idea of moving beyond a brisk walk will be reserved for dashing to a bathroom ASAP. I just want to stay as active as possible for as long as I can. I know it's good for my energy levels during pregnancy, and hopefully will make labor and childbirth and recovery easier. I'm also looking at the other end, and the more active I stay now, the easier it will be to get back exercising after having MC².

On my other days, I've been doing prenatal yoga DVDs. I'll do another post reviewing the three I've been using.

This may not be training for a 5K, but it's a training of another kind, and actually almost as tough!

Baby on Board

It's the first run outdoors this year; a good a time as any to update this blog, in hibernation since the winter.

My winter training was noneventful, and almost nonexistent. When I could, I would go to the gym and get on the treadmill. I am still not a fan of running on a treadmill, but I would get 20 minutes in, so was doing a little over a mile when I could. Blizzards, back backs, and a knee sprain caused some interruption.

And then there's this:
That, is my new running companion. Around the house, the nickname is "Baby MC²." I found out we were expecting in the middle of January. Our newest family member will make an appearance sometime in early September.

When I did the math, I realized that I was pregnant when I ran the Jingle Bell. Okay, so not PREGNANT, like I waddled across the finish line, but still...pretty cool to me.

This morning's first outdoor run was not as cool. I did more intervals (run-walk-run) than anything. And I kept trying to not beat myself up for it. When I saw my pace was over 18 minutes, I was bummed. Then I looked at my breakdown of pace on RunKeeper. When I ran, I was back to my 16:00 mile, and even better in some parts. So not as bad as I thought, and I rewarded myself with a Decaf Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte for getting out there, and gettin' 'er done!

Then change in thinking is going to be the hardest through this. I have to remind myself that as I get slower, and eventually walk (and then waddle) my morning workout, it's not because I'm letting myself go, or not working on improvement. As a fat girl working it to lose it, it is difficult to watch the numbers on the scale go up with every doctor's visit. It's also not helpful to have an OB that watches your weight like a hawk, telling you after reviewing your last pregnancy weight gain (30 lbs), "let's not let it get that bad this time."

I will continue to exercise with this pregnancy. It will be interesting to see how running with a "hitchiker," (as my cousin called it) will change over the next 25 weeks. I'm also doing prenatal yoga on my off-running days, which I think might help keep me limber for my morning runs.

I'm wondering if i need one of those "Baby on Board" signs for my butt?