Pregnancy Running Wrap-Up Report
It's been a couple of weeks now since I've done any running, but I wanted to record a few final thoughts on my running and exercise journey throughout this pregnancy.
My last run was sometime around December 7 (at about week 36 of pregnancy)-- and it was my regular 2.4 mile route. I jogged most of it with a few walk breaks. At that point, jogging was actually more comfortable than walking (at least, walking fast enough to keep my heart beating at an exercising rate). Since then we've been so busy with concerts, Christmas preparation, Grammie's visit and funeral, and final wrap-up of my youth orchestra and lesson teaching, that I just haven't had time for much exercising. Plus we've had a lot of rainy and cold weather and I haven't been able to take the girls out in the jogger as much. I've managed a few workouts on the elliptical while the girls nap, but beyond that I haven't done much beyond the normal day-to-day bending over to pick up toys, carrying toddlers around, sweeping floors, carrying laundry up and down stairs etc. Sometimes that feels like enough of a workout in and of itself, at least at this stage of pregnancy!! And I had planned on tapering things off after our Thanksgiving Day Road race anyway, just to give myself a bit of a rest.
The good news is my weight gain hasn't increased too much, even though I haven't really been exercising, and there have been lots of holiday treats around. This morning at my 39-week appointment, I'm up to a 18-pound total weight gain for the pregnancy (I've alternated between gaining and losing a pound or two at each appointment for the last five weeks or so). So obviously running isn't the sole reason why I haven't gained as much weight with this pregnancy. It seems my general activity level must be higher chasing two kids around, or I just don't have time to eat as much, or this baby has petite genes, or a combination of all those things. It seemed like no matter what I did when I was pregnant with L, I would step on the scale at each appointment and discover with horror that I had gained 5 pounds or more-- so I ended up with a total weight gain of around 40 pounds. Not only did that make the last few months of that pregnancy very uncomfortable and difficult, but it took me nearly 5 months after the birth to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I'm hoping it won't be that long this time. It sounds really vain of me to say that, and I suppose vanity has something to do with it. But looking back, I remember most of the reason that I worked so hard to lose the weight after L was born was that I was sick of wearing maternity clothes, none of my regular clothes fit, and we couldn't afford to buy me a new wardrobe in the meantime. Pretty good motivation to lose the weight! So I'm hoping I'll be closer to jumping back into pre-pregnancy jeans much sooner after this baby. Plus it will just feel nice to be healthy and strong.
I think, had I had the time in the past few weeks to keep up with running, and had weather permitted, I might still be running now. It certainly felt comfortable enough a few weeks ago. I did read somewhere that you lose your conditioning more quickly while pregnant, and that even a week or two off from workouts can be more like a few months off to the pregnant body. Even though I don't feel too out-of-shape yet, I do feel that now is not the time to be heading back into a full-fledged running routine, even though we're less busy in the weeks ahead and I have the time. So, I'm gonna put my feet up until the baby's born, and perhaps even after... we'll just see how much I'm itching for activity when she gets to be a few weeks old. With my other two summer babies, I was hankering to get out and about exercising a week or two after birth. But this time I'm sort of predicting that I'll be more inclined to stay inside, keep warm, hunker down and just snuggle my baby/babies. And I think that's perfectly fine! Spring will be here soon enough.
So, maybe I've rambled a bit too much here, but I guess the main conclusion that I've drawn from my active pregnancy is that I ALWAYS feel better when I'm moving. Amidst first-trimester fatigue and nausea, if I could just get myself out the door for a run I was like a new woman. Even in these last few weeks, I tend to feel a lot better doing small amounts of activity (like cleaning a bathroom or brining a load of laundry upstairs) rather than sitting on my butt. This will certainly be a lesson for me with any possible future pregnancies, and just for life in general. Hey, if I can stay active while pregnant, I've got no excuses for the future (as far as bodily limitations... however, we may have to look into purchasing a triple jogger!!)
Thanks to all who have encouraged me, and special thanks to anyone who has watched my kids for me while I've been out running. You have all helped me more than I can say!!
And that's a wrap.
**For those of you who are checking the blog to see whether baby has been born, the answer is no! I went to the doctor this morning and I'm dilated to 2 cm now. Of course this doesn't mean anything. It could still be another week! I'm still having regular contractions, and find myself wishing they would just get more painful already so I would know for sure that this baby will come soon. When that happens, I'll let you know! Praying for patience! C'mon, little girl!!**
My last run was sometime around December 7 (at about week 36 of pregnancy)-- and it was my regular 2.4 mile route. I jogged most of it with a few walk breaks. At that point, jogging was actually more comfortable than walking (at least, walking fast enough to keep my heart beating at an exercising rate). Since then we've been so busy with concerts, Christmas preparation, Grammie's visit and funeral, and final wrap-up of my youth orchestra and lesson teaching, that I just haven't had time for much exercising. Plus we've had a lot of rainy and cold weather and I haven't been able to take the girls out in the jogger as much. I've managed a few workouts on the elliptical while the girls nap, but beyond that I haven't done much beyond the normal day-to-day bending over to pick up toys, carrying toddlers around, sweeping floors, carrying laundry up and down stairs etc. Sometimes that feels like enough of a workout in and of itself, at least at this stage of pregnancy!! And I had planned on tapering things off after our Thanksgiving Day Road race anyway, just to give myself a bit of a rest.
The good news is my weight gain hasn't increased too much, even though I haven't really been exercising, and there have been lots of holiday treats around. This morning at my 39-week appointment, I'm up to a 18-pound total weight gain for the pregnancy (I've alternated between gaining and losing a pound or two at each appointment for the last five weeks or so). So obviously running isn't the sole reason why I haven't gained as much weight with this pregnancy. It seems my general activity level must be higher chasing two kids around, or I just don't have time to eat as much, or this baby has petite genes, or a combination of all those things. It seemed like no matter what I did when I was pregnant with L, I would step on the scale at each appointment and discover with horror that I had gained 5 pounds or more-- so I ended up with a total weight gain of around 40 pounds. Not only did that make the last few months of that pregnancy very uncomfortable and difficult, but it took me nearly 5 months after the birth to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I'm hoping it won't be that long this time. It sounds really vain of me to say that, and I suppose vanity has something to do with it. But looking back, I remember most of the reason that I worked so hard to lose the weight after L was born was that I was sick of wearing maternity clothes, none of my regular clothes fit, and we couldn't afford to buy me a new wardrobe in the meantime. Pretty good motivation to lose the weight! So I'm hoping I'll be closer to jumping back into pre-pregnancy jeans much sooner after this baby. Plus it will just feel nice to be healthy and strong.
I think, had I had the time in the past few weeks to keep up with running, and had weather permitted, I might still be running now. It certainly felt comfortable enough a few weeks ago. I did read somewhere that you lose your conditioning more quickly while pregnant, and that even a week or two off from workouts can be more like a few months off to the pregnant body. Even though I don't feel too out-of-shape yet, I do feel that now is not the time to be heading back into a full-fledged running routine, even though we're less busy in the weeks ahead and I have the time. So, I'm gonna put my feet up until the baby's born, and perhaps even after... we'll just see how much I'm itching for activity when she gets to be a few weeks old. With my other two summer babies, I was hankering to get out and about exercising a week or two after birth. But this time I'm sort of predicting that I'll be more inclined to stay inside, keep warm, hunker down and just snuggle my baby/babies. And I think that's perfectly fine! Spring will be here soon enough.
So, maybe I've rambled a bit too much here, but I guess the main conclusion that I've drawn from my active pregnancy is that I ALWAYS feel better when I'm moving. Amidst first-trimester fatigue and nausea, if I could just get myself out the door for a run I was like a new woman. Even in these last few weeks, I tend to feel a lot better doing small amounts of activity (like cleaning a bathroom or brining a load of laundry upstairs) rather than sitting on my butt. This will certainly be a lesson for me with any possible future pregnancies, and just for life in general. Hey, if I can stay active while pregnant, I've got no excuses for the future (as far as bodily limitations... however, we may have to look into purchasing a triple jogger!!)
Thanks to all who have encouraged me, and special thanks to anyone who has watched my kids for me while I've been out running. You have all helped me more than I can say!!
And that's a wrap.
**For those of you who are checking the blog to see whether baby has been born, the answer is no! I went to the doctor this morning and I'm dilated to 2 cm now. Of course this doesn't mean anything. It could still be another week! I'm still having regular contractions, and find myself wishing they would just get more painful already so I would know for sure that this baby will come soon. When that happens, I'll let you know! Praying for patience! C'mon, little girl!!**
Hey Abby, we'll be thinking of you guys and praying for you this weekend.... hoping for a safe delivery and healthy baby... she is one lucky girl to have 2 great parents and 2 great sisters!! Love you all :)
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