Working Out While Pregnant

For those of you who haven't been following this blog very closely in the last few months - TA DA!  I'm pregnant.

OK, let's be real ... I highly doubt any of you reading my blog at this point are surprised by this news, since you've either seen my previous posts on the topic or have seen my ever growing belly in the last couple of months.  And yes, it's starting to get pretty big.  Considering I'll be 7 months this Friday, that's to be expected, though.

Since I've been pregnant, I've been getting a lot of questions about working out while pregnant and how things are going for me on that front.  Today I thought I'd talk a little about what I'm doing these days, and also how I'm able to do it (from a wardrobing perspective).

But first, lemme post a selfie.

Ok, ok.  This isn't exactly a super current photo - I posted it on Facebook before the turn of the New Year.  But I haven't gotten a much bigger since this photo, so ... accurate enough!

As you can see in the above photo, I'm just about to teach a cycle group fitness class.  Yes, at almost 7 months pregnant, I am still teaching.  And yes, it's going just fine.  Which brings me to the topic of what I'm doing right now to "work out".

My typical workout routine these days is:

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - Teach TBC (participate at about 50-75%)
Wednesday - Lap Swim with Coach Amanda
Thursday - Teach TBC (participate at about 50-75%)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Every other weekend teach Cycle (participate at about 75%) or walk/be generally active
Sunday - walk/be generally active

Now, before you all go crazy and tell me a pregnant lady should not be doing so much - my doctor is fully aware of my activity levels and supports me in what I'm doing 100%.  In fact, at my last visit to her office, she told me "I far prefer to see someone, for example, stay running as long as possible.  Because even if you dial it down from a 9 minute mile to a 12 minute mile, you're still running.  So when you get back to it post delivery, picking back up is MUCH easier.  After the baby, you'll go out and run 2 miles as a test and say to yourself: 'hey, that wasn't so bad'.  Where as if you totally just stop being active during pregnancy, when you finally do go back, it's going to be WAY harder.  And at that point you NEED to be active to help your body get back to what it used to be.  But you'll just be frustrated because it will be such a struggle after not working out for so long.  So listen to your body, modify when you need too, but stay active as long as you can."

What does this all mean?  Well, basically: I'm taking my doctor's advice above, and listening to what feels ok or not so OK to my body while I work out.  Or in other words, I've just been keep on keepin' on. 

This being said, coming up on 7 months pregnant, I'm realizing that the above schedule is starting to be harder for me to maintain - not so much on the day of, but the problem is the morning after.  Depending on what I did in TBC, especially, I find sometimes I have more low back stiffness the next morning than I would like to admit.  And I'm also getting more tired immediately following class as well.  Both issues are a total bummer, but not totally unmanageable.  I just figure that as I grow from month 7 to month 8, I'll be doing more modifications and less activity as I learn what my changing body can handle (at least in TBC, which seems to be the only class where I'm noticing some minor issues).

Physical capacity aside, the real issue for me, starting around Thanksgiving time, was finding workout clothes that fit my ever expanding belly.  Unfortunately, most women see pregnancy as an opportunity to stop working out (if they were even working out to begin with), so the market for maternity athletic apparel is incredibly slim ... and high priced. 

This meant that at first, I had convinced myself that I could just buy some cheap workout gear at a size or two larger than my standard, non baby weight, and call it good.  Who needs maternity workout gear, right?

Well, uh ... apparently me.

Whoops.

You see, I quickly discovered how uncomfortable it is to have an elastic waist band pressing into my baby bump ... no matter how stretchy my non-maternity workout pants were. Couple that discovery with some pretty good black Friday sales deals on apparel and ... I was sold.  Maternity workout gear, here I come!!

After reviewing my options and comparing sale deals, I ended up buying maternity workout pants from Target, Old Navy and Motherhood Maternity.  I also purchased a few maternity workout tops from Target and Old Navy, and a clearance maternity swim suit from Motherhood Maternity.  (Since my standard workout bras still seem to work for me, and I had a pair of padded bike shorts from when I was "bigger" that fit fine for cycle class, I didn't need to buy anything else.)

Now that I've been using this gear for a couple of months, here are my thoughts:


The Bad

Target BeMaternity by Ingrid & Isabel Active Capri

Black - available here

Seriously, if you work out - like, AT ALL - don't buy these.  I say this because, at first glance, these look like great pants.  And if you wear them just like regular leggings, they pretty much are!  The belly area is roomy, the V shaped vent in the back is nice for a growing belly ... but the rest, no. 

Want to know why?  Try taking a deep lunge or bend over to touch your toes in front of a mirror. 

Yep, totally see through.

For $30 at Target, and knowing the quality I get at JC Penny for similar priced (non maternity) workout gear, I guess I had higher expectations out of these pants than what I got.  Granted, I didn't pay $30, since I got them on the 40% off all clothing savings event over the Black Friday weekend this past November.  But considering these retail at the same price as the other pants I'll speak to below ... well, there are better options out there.

Unfortunately, since I already own these and I need options, they stay in my rotation.  I just make sure to wear nude colored underwear underneath and a longer/tunic type top for extra insurance.



The Good

Old Navy Maternity Compression Capris

Blue - available here , Pink - available here

These pants, out of the three brands I have purchased, are my favorite.  And actually, I kind of ... love them!  Though some might think the style of waist on these isn't ideal (since they're not the soft, stretchy, unprinted kind you usually find on maternity pants), for me they stay in place the best while moving around, and I like the fact that they're the same print all the way up the belly so I don't have to worry about my shirt being long enough to cover any "unprinted" fabric. 

In fact, these pants are so great, I wear them all the time - even not at the gym!

Now, keep in mind that I'm using these for TBC based classes.  This means a lot of plyometric and cardio moves in a confined area, coupled with tons of strength training and bending in all directions.  I am not wearing these for running, and frankly if I WAS wearing them for running, I would find the "compression" claim in the name a little disappointing.  Not disappointing enough to NOT wear them, mind you, but enough for me to say I wouldn't call these compression myself. 

Compared to the $30 price point for the Target option above, knowing that these fit so much better, and the fact that these currently list at Old Navy for $26 (plus they are pretty much always on a 20-40% off sale coupon for an additional discount) - these are a steal!

On a tangent here, I also bought a pair of Motherhood Maternity workout pants that I would rank a medium - not as good as the Old Navy pants above (which were good enough that after buying them in blue, I went back and bought them in pink), but not as terrible as the Target pants I discussed above.  The Motherhood Maternity pants were also not the cheapest option, I believe closer to $40 per pair regular price.  Unfortunately, now the Motherhood Maternity pants are no longer available online, so I'm not going to do any further review.  I would however recommend that you do consider options at that store as well, if you're looking for other styles besides Old Navy to try out.


C9 Champion Women's Maternity Performance Long Tank

Assorted colors - available here

To be fair, I didn't try out many options in the maternity performance top arena.  So far, I am fortunate that some of my old performance race t's are oversized enough that they work for my cycling classes, and I was willed a few maternity workout tops from a friend as well (#winning).  When it came down to it, I actually only purchased three tops in this category - two from Target in the above cut, and one from Old Navy. 

After wearing both tops from Target and Old Navy, I find I prefer the fit and fabric of this Target top the best.  Though at $16-22 per top ... for basic performance material ... it does seem to be a little overpriced.  Welcome to the world of maternity clothing price gouging.  Ugh.  Sorry folks.

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And well, I suppose that about does it.  My current maternity workout schedule and the gear that helps me do it.  I know I kind of glossed over some of the details of what I bought, so if you have any other questions, feel free to ask away in the comments below.

*** Note that I didn't review the swimsuit I purchased, since it was a clearance item and hasn't existed on the internet in months now.  If you're looking for a maternity suit yourself, I recommend you check into current offerings at Motherhood Maternity (since they offer the most options in 1 piece, which is what you'll want for lap swimming anyway) or SwimOutlet.com (last I looked there, they had a few options that, although they were twice the price of Motherhood Maternity, were still some of the only good options I found for non-fashion/lap swim suitable suits).

Recipe: Delicious Soup - Simple Tomato Soup from Scratch

Over the Christmas holiday, finding myself short on groceries and having unexpected company en route for lunch, I was in a bind.  Looking in the pantry, the only thing I had in large enough bulk to make a sizable meal for 4 adults was canned tomatoes.

D'oh!

But - ah ha!  It's lunch.  I don't need a huge meal, right?  So I got the idea to try tomato soup from scratch and serve it with a side of bread and various raw veggies. 

I'm glad I punted, because I was pleased with the result.

The below is a merger of a few different recipes I found online.  Enjoy!


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Simple Tomato Soup from Scratch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 quart jar of tomatoes with juice (roughly 4 cups canned, feel free to use store purchased)
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 small/medium onion, diced
• 1 tsp. thyme
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste (approximate)
• Butter or oil for sautéing
• Salt and pepper to taste

 

 

Directions


1. Sautee diced onions in butter or oil until translucent.  Add tomatoes, chicken stock, and thyme.  Bring to low simmer for 5-10 minutes.

2. Using an immersion blender, blend simmering mixture into a smooth, liquid soup.  Add tomato paste as needed to enhance color of soup (some home canned tomatoes are less red than others, so the tomato paste helps enrich the look of the soup).  Continue simmering for another 5-10 minutes.

3. Taste soup.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Allow to simmer on low until you are ready to serve, or at least 30 minutes in total.

4. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Also freezes well. 

Leg Day Every Day

Since I'm on a health article kick, let's continue the trend.

 

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What Your Legs Can Tell You Right Now About Your Brain In 10 Years


A new study from the journal Gerontology that says meaty, muscular legs are linked to a similarly powerful mind—even later in life.

The study focused on 324 British twins, ages 43 to 73. The twins, all female, took two neuropsychological tests 10 years apart. They also took a test to measure leg explosive power (like when you slam on your car brakes really, really hard) at the beginning of the 10-year period.

The results showed that more leg power at the beginning of the study resulted in less cognitive change 10 years later (the more muscular twin actually performed 18% better on memory and cognitive tests than her less-fit sister). Brain imaging also showed differences between the fit and unfit twins, with the buffer sister having significantly more brain volume than the other.

The connection between physical fitness and brain health isn't new—past studies have associated everything from walking to weight lifting with mind power. But many of those focused on self-reported physical activity, and let's be honest, we've all fibbed about how much cardio we've done before. This study in particular, however, focuses on physical fitness—testing how well bodies perform because of exercise.

Researchers narrowed their focus to the strength of the lower legs because they contain the largest muscles in the body and can be exercised through habitual activities like standing or walking, according to a press release from King's College in London. They narrowed it even further to that of twins, to make sure the leg power measured wasn't purely genetic.

Though researchers don't know why stronger legs result in quicker minds, they believe physical activity's effect on the brain stems from hormones released by working muscles.

And the best news? If your thighs are feeling a little scrawny after reading this, you can start working on them now, to keep your wits about you 10 years from now.

 

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Source article here.

Everything in Moderation ... ???

Since I'm kind of on a New Years Resolution kick lately, what with my last few posts being themed around healthy eating and health goal achievements, I thought I'd continue the trend today and discuss the dreaded topic of ...

"Everything in Moderation"

Dun-dun-dun!

About a month ago, I read an article titled "Everything in Moderation Is a Terrible Rule to Eat By".  At first, I totally took the click bait into the article and read it because I was like - Say what?  No way!  Moderation is key!

But after reading the article, I walked away thinking ... you know, I kind of agree. 

Just look at the opening paragraph of the article:

" “Everything in moderation” is attractive advice, but also a trap. It amounts to saying we shouldn’t have too much of anything, which is true by definition: that’s why we call it “too much.” But the word “moderation” is vague, and its vagueness makes it a friendly, big-tent kind of concept: however much you eat, you can find a way of convincing yourself that you eat in moderation."

Well ... dang.  As much as I like the moderation saying, I guess I can't argue with that statement.  I mean - think about it.  Many people today do not understand things such as portion control, how to make proper meal selections like eating several servings of fruit and vegetables daily, and don't really try to limit themselves on out to eat items like pizza/burgers/fried foods to once a week or less. 

So if people are already overeating in a category, is saying "everything in moderation" really going to help them?

For example:  we just reviewed last week in my Government Dietary Guidelines post that American men as a demographic way over eat animal based proteins on a regular basis, and that sugary drinks compose of 47% of the added sugars Americans consume every day (regardless of gender).  Using this example, let's make up a fictional character named John Doe.

So, John Doe normally eats three times the daily recommended intake of meat each day, and drinks 5 sodas.  To him, what is moderation?  Since that's his daily average, would he consider that moderation? 

Or say, John Doe decides he is in fact eating too much, and chooses to "moderate" himself by cutting back one serving of each item a day, thus reducing himself to two times the daily recommended intake of meat and drinking 4 sodas ... would he consider that moderation?

Thinking through the above, if John Doe is only ever directed to eat "in moderation", at what point does he actually get himself in line with healthy portions?  And will he ever truly practice "moderation" in the way that a dietician or health care professional would approve?

Interestingly, the article specifically addresses this topic, going on to say:

"Nutrition professionals have a specific meaning for the word: moderation means small portions, especially when talking about food that we should eat little to none of. This isn’t the “everything in moderation” that Aristotle wrote about, where we try to avoid extremes of too much and too little. There’s no such thing as too little candy: you can skip it entirely and still be perfectly healthy. Instead, nutritionists use the concept of moderation as a tool for managing cravings. Here’s how two dieticians described it in the Journal of Nutrition Education:

“[T]he message of balance, variety and moderation also can help remove some of the psychological baggage attached to healthful eating in the U.S. It can eliminate “all-or-nothing” perceptions that give rise to guilt, and in many cases, overeating, when people inevitably choose less healthful foods.”

There are some good ideas here: eating a little bit of junk food doesn’t have to derail your diet, and knowing that it’s okay to treat yo’self can make it easier to stick to a healthy eating plan in the first place."

And of course, then they throw in the big "B" word into the article:

"But.

Once you give yourself license to eat anything “in moderation,” it easily turns into license to eat anything, and call it moderation. The word has become an excuse, a way to say “screw you, I’m going to eat whatever I want”—all while smugly proclaiming that you live by simple, folksy advice and don’t have to worry about the latest in nutrition science."

And then the article gets even better!

"Not convinced? Think about this: The junk food companies love the concept of “moderation”.

For example, look at the Back to Balance Coalition, made of 18 “leading food groups” that have signed a statement of principles promoting moderation. Their motto: “All foods fit in a balanced diet.”

And those food groups? They include the Sugar Association, the National Confectioners Association, the Corn Refiners Association (makers of corn syrup), the National Potato Council (remember that most potato consumption in America is through chips and fries), the Grocery Manufacturers Association (members include Coca-Cola and Hershey), and the Snack Food Association.

Their statement declares that “All foods can fit within a healthful, overall dietary pattern if consumed in moderation with appropriate portion size and combined with physical activity.” In other words, these groups really don’t want you to say that you should stop eating their food, or that you should think of your diet as unhealthful if it includes their foods."

Bahahahaha!  Sugar and fried potatoes as "food groups".  That's a good one.

Especially copupled with this quote:

"The reference to physical activity is also technically true while mostly meaningless: Sure, you can burn off the calories in your pack of Doritos, but that doesn’t erase the fact that you ate it. We also know that you can’t rely on exercise to keep you healthy if you’re eating crap."

Anyway.  This blog post is getting long winded.  What's my point?  Well, why not take one last article snippet?

" “Everything in moderation” is a crappy rule to live by. But it’s great as inspiration for coming up with rules that can help you in the long run.

It’s true that small portions of junk food are better than large portions, and that you don’t have to completely cut a well-loved treat out of your life. So decide—now, not when you’re standing at the sundae bar—what treats are worth eating and how much you can “afford” to eat without sabotaging yourself.

...Choose your treats on their merits, deciding for example whether that slice of cake tastes good enough to be worth a minor setback in your weight loss. You can be mindful of your cravings and create triggers to redirect yourself to better choices.

... If you’re not trying to lose weight—or if you’ve decided that you just don’t care what you eat (maybe this is a stressful time in your life and you just need to get through this last year of school with whatever comfort foods it takes), be honest with yourself. And be honest with others too: don’t dismiss dietary advice with “Duh, everything in moderation.” Instead tell the truth: “That’s probably good advice, but I’m not going to follow it.” "



***Thanks to this article for the above references.  Keep in mind that I only quoted a small segment of that piece - to read the article in full, click here.

New US GOV Published Dietary Guidelines

Wow!  I read an article today backed by the US Government that I could actually agree with.

Color me surprised.

Basically, the article was written about the newly published dietary guidelines.  But some interesting snippets I particularly enjoyed:

- After a backlash from the meat industry and Congress, the administration ignored several suggestions from a February report by an advisory committee of doctors and nutrition experts. That panel suggested calling for an environmentally friendly diet lower in red and processed meats and de-emphasized lean meats in its list of proteins that are part of a healthy diet. But as in the previous years, the government still says lean meats are part of a healthy eating pattern.

- While lean meats are promoted, the government does suggest certain populations, such as teen boys and adult men, should reduce their meat intake and eat more vegetables. Data included in the report shows that males ages 14 to 70 consume more than recommended amounts of meat, eggs and poultry, while women are more in line with advised amounts.

- Guidelines always have been subject to intense lobbying by food industries, but this year's version set off unprecedented political debate, fueled by Republicans' claims the Obama administration has gone too far in telling people what to eat.  Congress got involved, encouraging the administration to drop the recommendations based on environmental impact and at one point proposing to set new standards for the science the guidelines can use. That language did not become law, however. A year-end spending bill simply said the guidelines must be "based on significant scientific agreement" and "limited in scope to nutritional and dietary information."

Before I can move on from these snippets, I just have to say: it never ceases to amaze me what corporations will do.  Though I shouldn't' be shocked that lobbyists pressed for an inclusion of more red and processed meats into these guidelines, I'm glad the ones in charge stuck to their guns.  The simple reality is, Americans do eat too much meat overall, and we certainly don't need as much red and processed meat as we get.  So I'm thrilled to see the verbiage dropped any reference to meat beyond "lean meats are part of a healthy eating pattern".

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Beyond the more amazing facts above, these basics left me feeling ... "aaaahhhh". 

- Released every five years, the guidelines are intended to help Americans prevent disease and obesity... the main message hasn't changed much over the years: Eat your fruits and vegetables. Whole grains and seafood, too. And keep sugar, fats and salt in moderation.

- One new recommendation is that added sugar should be 10 percent of daily calories. That's about 200 calories a day, or about the amount in one 16-ounce sugary drink. The recommendation is part of a larger push to help consumers isolate added sugars from naturally occurring ones like those in fruit and milk. Added sugars generally add empty calories to the diet. Sugar-sweetened beverages make up a large portion of those empty calories. According to the guidelines, sugary drinks comprise 47 percent of the added sugars that Americans eat every day.

- "Small changes can add up to big differences," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

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Finally, some realistic guidelines for how to shape your daily diet.  This, I approve!



***(Want some additional help in shaping your daily eating patterns?  Check out this "Healthy Eating Plate", published by the Harvard Medical School.)***

What 2,000 Calories Looks Like

Building off of last week's post, since it is officially New Years Resolution time, I thought I might highlight a few photos from an article I read a few weeks back. 

Overall, the article was about how quickly calories can add up when you eat out.  To which you might say - yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Hold on just a minute, though.  Browse through the below.  Would you have expected these meals to rake in the calories they do?  Just think about that ... and then pass judgment.

Read It & Weep! 3

Late last month, I hinted at the fact that I was about to be published again in the local paper.

I don't think that the article has officially hit the presses yet, but since this topic is well timed due to New Years Resolution Season and many of you won't see the actual paper itself anyway (since it's a small publication), I thought I might just go ahead and share.

Enjoy!

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Three Steps to Resolution Success

Happy 2016! Now that we’re a few days into the New Year, how are your resolutions coming along? Are you making progress towards your “new you”? If you are like many Americans resolving to improve your health in 2016, you are not alone. Every year, almost anyone you talk to has resolved to do something along the lines of lose weight, eat healthier or be more fit. And yet, statistics show that less than 10% of people actually achieve these types of goals by year end. 

What can we do to improve these statistics? By following a few simple guidelines, anyone can improve their odds of resolution success. Let these three steps show you how.

Step One – Start Small

Sometimes we sabotage ourselves on our resolution goals before we have even started. Though your goal may be to lose 20 pounds, or run 5 miles, or change to a more plant based diet … it is important to remember you do not need to hit that goal overnight. In fact, trying to achieving these types of goals too quickly will have the opposite effect, since major changes in your existing routine end up feeling overwhelming and unmanageable. As a result, you may not stick to them at all.

Developing small, manageable stepping stones towards your end goal is key in ensuring success. For example: instead of that 20 pound goal, start out by focusing on losing a half a pound a week; rather than go all out on a 5 mile run, just aim to run 20-30 minutes a day / 2-3 times per week; and don’t try to go vegan overnight, instead work to incorporate an additional produce item into each meal. After a few weeks of incorporating small changes into your daily life, minor adjustments like these will slowly become part of your regular routine. Then, with the changes mastered, you will open the opportunity to introduce additional small, maintainable changes – and those too, eventually will become habit as well.

Step Two – Move More

For any resolution goal directed towards improving health – weight loss, increased fitness, etc – moving more is a vital component to that success. But as stated in number one above, taking an all in approach towards getting more activity is a guaranteed fail. Not only will your body feel sore or stiff following a new or intense workout regime, but a quick switch into a high volume workout plan will begin to feel impossible to maintain on week two … or three or four, if you even make it that far.

Using the inspiration above, and considering your current level of activity, start with a slow build into a routine. If you’re currently not active at all, start by going for a brisk 20 minute walk 2-3 times per week. If you’re already walking, try adding some short running intervals to your routine, or join a group fitness class once a week. And if you’re already doing a class once a week, consider adding a second class or an additional new activity to your schedule. The key here is to build gradually, letting your body adjust to an increased volume of movement each week. Even adding 20 minutes of additional activity once a week – and maintaining that long term – will take you to your end goal.

Step Three – Examine Your Eating

Just like moving more, examining your eating is another vital component to healthy resolution success. And as stated in point one above, changing your existing diet overnight is not the solution – instead, incorporating small changes here or there is the ticket. 

Take some time to examine what you eat at every sitting (yes, even those daily snacks and late night freezer runs), and see what small changes you can make each day that still fulfill your appetite or craving, but with a slightly healthier twist. What may seem like an inconsequential omission from your meal, such as the cheese on your daily sandwich at lunch, actually makes a big difference long term: leaving off that cheese could save you around 150 calories a day – over the course of 365 days, that’s 54,750 calories, or the equivalent of what it takes to create approximately 15 pounds of body fat. Even if your goal isn’t weight loss, those spare calories open up the opportunity for you to add something with higher nutritional value into your daily eating instead, improving your health even more.

**Natalie Cobb is a Group Fitness Instructor at the Chaska Community Center. She invites you to join her for a work out every Tuesday/Thursday at 5:30pm. Drop in class is $5.25 / $4.25 (members).**

2015 Year in Review

Ah, another year on the books. 

Having run this blog for a few years, it's weird to think I've done a year end recap three times now (including this post).  But, it's a cool thing to think that I've had this journal of sorts going since 2013 ... even if it is a somewhat eerie feeling to know I've been documenting my "healthy" lifestyle in the public eye for so long. 

Somehow, the end result leaves me feeling a bit of deja vu. 

Anyway, enough psycho babble.  Let's get started, shall we?

2015, a year in review!

Races

I know I've kept you pretty updated this year with my running progression - or lack there of, technically, since I never really got up to speed after my set back with plantars fasciitis late 2014.  In fact, since then, it seems like running just wasn't the same for me. Mostly because ... well ... it hurt.

I did try to tough things out for the first few months, thinking eventually things would get better.  And it seemed like things were finally starting to shake loose this summer.  Of course, that was just in time for me to find out I was pregnant mid August, after which I was forced to suffer through some horrendous runs with morning sickness strong enough to kill a horse.

But when all was said and done, I was glad I raced what I did.  And it left me with a new all time race record - 17 races, with 16 bibs earned.  That's one more than I've ever done in a year before ... all with many being completed while pregnant!

Plus, I finally put my swimming fears aside and did my first real outdoor tri.  That's nothing to shake a stick at.


Feb - Tri-U-Mah, Indoor timed tri, no bib provided
April - Hot Chocolate 5K
May - Lake Minnetonka Half Relay, Cinco de Miler 5 miler, Run the Inferno 5K
June - Carlyle Sherstad 5K, Rainbow Run 5K
July - Freedom Five 5K, Gandy Fly-In 5K, Chase the Police Tri
August - Webster Education 5K
September - Lake Run 5K, Suds Run 5K, Women Run the Cities 10K
October - TC 10 mile, Patriot Power Run 5K, Mankato 10K


Total miles raced - about 78 miles
(Not too shabby considering I didn't run any half marathons on my own to really bank miles...)

Cumulative info:
     Races 55 - 71
     Bibs 53 - 68

And of course, don't forget the ever growing medal collection:

Heh!



Costumes

With my ever growing belly this fall, costumes seemed to be a bit more of a challenge for 2015.  But, none the less, I did my best to keep the tradition alive.

And of course, being an InkNBurn Ambassador helped in that category just a bit.  *wink*

Check out www.inknburn.com

 

           

 

 

 

Keeping Healthy

With my pregnancy progressing in September and morning sickness being my foe, I found that running wasn't exactly a great fit for me anymore.  Though I did try to tough out running through October, since I had paid for a handful of races in advance (and with my doctor's encouragement, might I add), I decided after my last race in October to take a break from running until after the baby arrives.  That's not to say I don't run AT ALL, since obviously I am active teaching and doing other things, and I still find myself sprinting from here to there on occasion. But longer runs were giving me weird stomach cramps and other things, so I decided for me ... other cross training methods were enough for now.

I know I'll likely pay for this come May of 2016 ... but whatever.  I will have 3 months of maternity leave to work that out, and I already have a jogging stroller for the occasion.

Besides, you imagine running with a belly that's gotten this big:

 

 

And to be fair, running hasn't exactly been my gig at all in 2015.  Which is why earlier in the year I decided to focus on cross training as much as possible.  That meant starting out my year with Class Pass, which I eventually dropped (for various reasons, mostly cost and convenience ... and the fact that I already had a paid gym membership closer to home).  Regardless of my dropping, I did still have fun making an ass of myself in the process.  I mean - when else would you EVER try Jazzercise?  Am I right?

Although I did drop my ClassPass membership, I found it opened me up to the habit of using other exercise methods as a way to stay active.  Technically, I was already open to swimming, biking and yoga - but ClassPass reminded me that I should be doing those things more often.  So I did get back into those disciplines quite a bit more in 2015. 

Cross training is always a good thing, right?



Changes


Aside from the obvious thing - pregnancy - I didn't have any real major changes this year for me from a fitness or physical perspective.

However, from a blogging perspective, this was quite a year for changes.

Not only did you see me celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary, you got to see me open up about some of my more personal adventures.  That included a long European holiday in March and an extended review and recap of my brewery adventures throughout Minnesota (and some other locations as well).  Although inclusion of these stories may have seemed a little off topic, given this is more a fitness based blog, I decided to include them anyway.  Why?  Because I think it's important to show that while I do encourage a healthy lifestyle, it's OK to do things that aren't traditionally known as "healthy" or "good for you" once in awhile ... as long as you keep yourself active and healthy along the way.



Finally

Hm.  I guess this is where I'm supposed to draw some sort of big conclusion about life and what I thought of 2015, since that's what I did in 2013 and 2014.  But to be honest, those were very different years.  And when I think of 2015 ... well ...

2013 was when I was peaking in my physical fitness, my life was finally coming together, and I was feeling great about things.

2014 was a year of struggle where I tried to cope with a miscarriage, some physical setbacks, and I still tried to maintain a healthy attitude and life balance.

So what about 2015? 

I can't really say 2015 was an AMAZING year.  But I wouldn't rate it as bad, either. 

I say this because I think coming into my mid 30's (yikes, that makes me feel old, lol!), I've finally settled into a happy place in my life.  Some time around 2012 or 2013, I finally learned to accept things in my life for what they were, and to eliminate things from my life that didn't make me happy.  And somewhere in that process, I found an authentic me that I've just become ... happy with. 

Which means, I don't really go into a year expecting it to be AWESOME or BAD anymore, I just hope that I can continue to maintain that authentic me.  And have a good time while I do it.

And in 2015, I did just that.  So I think that's just fine.