How the St. George marathon became the weekend that changed our lives forever

I'm pretty sure it's been at least 6 months since I last posted. There's NO WAY October 1st was only a month and a half ago. Remember me? Yes...I am alive. Yes...my husband survived his 10th marathon. And no, I had no idea that the St. George marathon this year would be the beginning of my family's life changing forever. NO IDEA. Get ready, because I'm going to get a lot more personal here on FitMePink than I ever thought I would. Ready? Here goes.

My big sister is my hero. She always has been. And now I know FOR SURE that she always will be. I spent my years growing up copying her every move. Everything she did was cool. Everything she wore was cool. She wasn't ever thrilled to share her clothes with me, but I had to practically beg her to wear something of mine, because if she ever wanted to wear my clothes? Then I had truly entered the world of coolness that every little sister dreams of achieving. Recently, my sister inspired me to become a certified Zumba instructor. Since she was so passionate about Zumba, I knew I had to do it. I left my baby home all day for the first time to attend the certification class. Totally worth it! My sister is a leader, my sister knows who she is, and is true to herself in all she does. She's definitely not the type to run a marathon just because everyone else is doing it (I'm totally that type!) She's an amazing mom, an amazing wife, an amazing sister, daughter, and friend.

I know we all have trials, but I don't think many of us will experience a trial quite like the one she's going through right now.

It all started last April. She was pregnant, expecting her fourth baby in October. Her husband, who'd lost his job a few years back, was finishing school. He graduated, and had seemingly plenty of time to secure a job before the birth of their baby boy. Several times, he was sure he had something promising, only to have it fall through yet again. Finally in July, he was offered a new position. The downside? It would require 8 weeks of training in Chicago. The date he would begin training was pushed back again and again, until he was told he wouldn't be starting until the end of September. A little disappointed, they figured that at least he could be home for the baby's induction on October 7th for one of his weekend trips home (promised every two weeks during training). And at least she had Zumba to look forward to...teaching 8 classes a week does wonders for a missing-your-husband state of mind.

With no husband, she was relieved that we would be visiting for the St. George marathon. Early Saturday morning, we left her with two of our kids, and her three, and headed down for the race. My husband hadn't trained, and we really should have just stayed home to spare him the pains that result from lack of training. But having spent the entry fee, he couldn't stand the thought of not actually running the 26.2 miles, so in Southern Utah we were. We got back to my sister's house late Saturday afternoon, and decided to spend the night, and hang out with her on Sunday before driving home.

Sunday morning, the contractions began with some spotting. She came out of the bathroom in tears, not wanting to be in labor with her husband so far away. We hung around all day, not sure we could leave her even though she assured me it was nothing. She figured she was just having contractions, and that they would just go away. Sending us home was a sign to the universe that this baby could not come two weeks early. At 6 pm we left, and I texted her to make sure she was okay. She wasn't. She'd just had two big contractions, so we turned around, I nursed my baby, and left my husband in charge of 6 kids as we headed to the hospital. Her baby was born two hours after we got there. It was a miracle to witness. I will never forget watching my strong sister give birth to this beautiful, precious, purple bundle. I will never forget cutting his umbilical chord. I loved all 5 lbs. 13 oz. of that little Jack as if he were my own. And I will never forget the hours, days, and weeks that followed.

Soon after birth, exhausted, and husband-less, the doctor came in to tell my sister that there was a slight chance the baby could have Down Syndrome. "Don't worry about it, it's probably nothing," he said. I watched her face, watched the doctor, wanted to kick him out of the room in a not-so-loving manner for tearing my sister's already upside down world into more broken pieces. We cried all night long. A few days later, her husband caught an early flight home, and relieved that the worst was over, we drove home with our three kids, including my amazing little baby who survived once again without her mama.

Before the hubby flew back to Chicago, my mom arrived to take over from Tennessee. Phew...the worst part is over, we thought. The baby's here. He has Down Syndrome. He was born into an amazing, loving family. They'll be okay. And then the throwing up began. "It's totally normal," the doctor said. "Just feed him some formula to help weigh it down." "Hmmmm... 4 lbs. 10 oz. I'm not too concerned yet. Let's re-weigh him in a few days." Finally, the waiting for answers had to stop. They were going to the emergency room whether the doctor liked it or not.

Two weeks after his birth, I was at the hospital again. This time, I was waiting at Primary Children's hospital for my sister's ambulance to arrive with her sweet baby. Severely dehydrated, he'd had zero nutrition in his tiny body for two weeks. I have no doubt that faith, prayers, fasting and blessings kept him alive when a doctor didn't. Diagnosed with duodenal atresia (apparently very common in babies with Down Syndrome...should've been one of the first things they tested for), he had to undergo surgery for the blockage in his intestines, but not until he was well enough. So three weeks ago, he had his first surgery. And this morning, they found another blockage and performed another.

My sister is my hero. Her family has been spread throughout the country. Her husband in Chicago, her kids with her in-laws in Southern Utah, and her at Primary Children's hospital because the only thing she can offer her sick (but recovering!) baby is her love, her swaddling arms, and her prayers.

Last night I sat in the hospital cafeteria with her as she talked to her kids on the phone, sang the "Transformers, more than meets the eye..." song to her 4-year old, listened as her 6-year old sang his made-up song to her, and as her 8-year old said their "family prayer." Today I watched her sit, exhausted in the waiting room while her now 6 lb. baby underwent another surgery. I saw her talk to her husband, and tell him the good news that the surgery went well, and saw her breathe a sigh of relief as she realized that his 8 weeks of training will be over in two days!

As I've watched my sister over these past weeks, I've realized how shallow my life has been. Every day I've woken up, worried about whether or not I can fit in an hour of exercise. I've been nearly devastated as I've driven to the gym without the chest strap of my heart rate monitor, for crying out loud. I've felt sorry for myself when my husband has had to stay late at work until, oh, 8:00 at night. So tonight, I sit here grateful beyond words for the birth of my sweet nephew. He has taught me more in the short 6 weeks of his life than I ever could have learned in a lifetime without him. I've learned that prayers really are answered. I've learned that my family is the most important and treasured of all my posessions. I've learned that the most important thing I can do is to nurture and cultivate my relationships with my loved ones, because tragic things happen every day. They need to know I love them. I've learned that a lot of people love me and would do anything for me. I've learned (again) that my husband is amazing...he's totally stepped up in the childcare department when I've completely dropped the ball to help my sister. I've learned that there really is a God in Heaven who is keenly aware of even the tiniest of babies. Through his tender mercies, we were in St. George at the right time so my sister wouldn't have to deliver her baby alone. I've learned that good things don't happen by coincidence. And I've learned that my sister is still my hero.

I think one day I'll look back and wonder when my life changed forever. I'd say it was the day Baby Jack was born. Welcome to our family, sweet baby. Hopefully soon we'll get to welcome him home where his family can all be together again. When that day comes, maybe I'll start thinking about training for the marathon I signed up for in May, or actually teaching the Zumba I was certified to teach. But until then, as I've said before, exercise IS important...but some things are more important!

I'm BAAAACK!

In my two month hiatus from FitMeBlogging, a whole heck-of-a-lot has happened. I'm ready to start blogging again, mostly because I'm dying to start working out again. Exercising, and blogging about fitness seem to go hand-in-hand. So before I figure out how I'm going to fit fitness into the chaos of motherhood once again, I'll start with a quick recap of the past two months!

First, I bid farewell to my husband as he left for the Wasatch Back Ragnar race a few days before I was due, and prayed that the motorcycle ride my cousin took me on that morning wouldn't send me into labor! It didn't! (NOTHING sent me into labor--not my spin class, not walking 3 miles, not painting new shelves in every closet of the house, not lift class, not reorganizing closets, not cleaning--NOTHING until the day I actually did NOTHING. I finally went into labor in the middle of the night on the day I was scheduled to be induced...5 days after my actual due-date! Hooray!)

A week after the race, I gave birth to this angel baby. I can't believe she's already a month old!

Everything life-changing always happens in sets of 3. Having a new baby was no different! A few weeks before she was born, we found out that my husband could possibly be losing his job. He was encouraged to apply for a new position that could either keep us where we are, or could move us to Colorado Springs. A few days before she was born, he was offered a new position/promotion RIGHT HERE. No big move with a new baby...phew! I am SO GRATEFUL for the blessing of a good job in this economy, but those first few weeks of my husband working LONG hours to adjust, I was sort of wishing we'd just taken the severance package so he could be home with me! Oddly, though, having both of us adjusting to hard things at the same time has really strengthened our marriage.

The third big change happened this week: I turned 30! On Sunday, August 1, 2010, I officially entered the 30's club! I was kind of sad to say good-bye to my fun 20's, but hopefully it just gets better! My husband threw me a "surprise" luau-party that would have actually been a surprise if my 4-year old hadn't told me how much I was going to love the cakes they bought me! Oh well...I had a blast anyway!

With all my life-changes and post-baby-feeling-not-so-cute stage, I was having sort of a mid-life crisis. What does one do in such a situation? Chop off 8 inches of hair, that's what!

It's short, it's sassy, it's blonde again (I dyed it for the first time in 4 years), and I'm hoping I don't regret it! Hair always grows, right?

Now that I've gotten the first post-baby blog post over with, I hope to be back much more regularly! And speaking of "regular," I have to say that there REALLY is something to a whole food/plant-based diet. Hemorrhoids? Gone in a week. Baby weight gain? Only 4 pounds left to lose...I haven't done ANY exercise yet. My body definitely still looks frumpy, but the weight is falling off quicker than ever before! All I'm doing is eating TONS of fruit and veggies. Check out a few recipes I've tried here! It feels good to be back. I'm going to start working out on Monday with an early morning spin class. Can't wait! I also let my sis-n-law talk me into running this crazy race in September. Life does continue after a new baby...phew! I'll see you soon!

Sex and the City Sountrack Review...I'm NESTING like crazy over here!

Hi there! Sorry I've been avoiding you, little blog. My nesting instinct kicked into high gear about two weeks ago, so I've been busy painting, building bunk beds, designing closet organization systems, forgetting dentist appointments, making homemade freezer jam, taking my son to swim lessons and soccer practice, trying to sell a car so we can upgrade to a mini van, reading hypnobirthing books, and trying to avoid my good friend, Murphy. You know, the guy that visits when you don't want him to? I'm due with this baby a week from tomorrow. My husband is running a relay race this Friday and Saturday. So I'm telling myself that the baby isn't coming until Sunday or later. For the first time EVER I'm not in a hurry to give birth!

With my first, I tried EVERYTHING to go into labor. I even resorted to drinking castor oil. With this one, I'm perfectly content to keep her inside. I feel great. I'm really enjoying being a mother of two. And my house is in shambles due to my crazy 39-weeks-and-nesting instincts, so I need a week to get my life in order!

Looming in the back of my mind has also been my obligation to post a review of an album I received in the mail, courtesty of the One2OneNetwork a few weeks ago. I have to be honest. I've never even watched an episode of Sex and the City, I didn't see the first movie, and don't plan on seeing the new one. If I HAD seen the movie, and if I'd LOVED the movie, or felt any sort of attachment to the characters and story, then I probably really would have loved the soundtrack. But I didn't see it, and I didn't love the music. There were a few fun songs, but I probably won't be rocking out to it again anytime soon. (And it definitely won't be my choice labor and delivery music...nor will I be RUNNING to it--I'm so excited to RUN again...in the near future).

But for any Sex and the City fans out there, it might be worth a listen. Here's what you'll hear:


Tracklisting:
1. Alicia Keys “Rapture”
2. Dido “Everything to Lose”
3. Cee Lo “Language of Love”
4. Erykah Badu “Window Seat”
5. Natacha Atlas “Kidda”
6. Michael McGregor “Euphrates Dream”
7. Liza Minnelli “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
8. Ricki-Lee "Can't Touch It"
9. Alicia Keys "Emire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"
10. Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis "Love Is Your Color"
11. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon “I Am Woman”
12. Sex and the City Men’s Choir “If Ever I Would Leave You”
13. Sex and the City Men’s Choir “Sunrise, Sunset”
14. Sex and the City Men’s Choir “Till There Was You”
15. Shayna Steele, Jordan Ballard, Kamilah Marshall “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”
16. Liza Minnelli with Billy Stritch “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
17. Cyndi Lauper “True Colors”
18. Aaron Zigman “Divas and Dunes”

When I first saw the names of Leona Lewis, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson, I was pretty excited to get this soundtrack. And there were definitely a few great songs, but nothing I personally would fork over any money for. But that's just me.

What about you? Are you a Sex and the City fan? And more importantly...any last bits of advice before I enter the world of THREE kids vs. TWO parents? What about labor and delivery? I'm going all natural this time around if everything goes as planned. What are your experiences? Give me some POSITIVE words of advice...I'll take all I can get!

I'll let you know when the baby's here, and I'll check back in before then if I can pull myself away from the major house projects! (And good luck to reader Jill who's also due next week!)

Happy Mother's Day with some pregnancy woes

What is it about being pregnant that makes a woman super approachable? I don't know if it's just me, but seriously EVERY stranger I meet feels completely free to comment on my ever-expanding belly. I'm always asked when I'm due, and when I say "not until June 22nd," eyes start bulging. Yes...I realize that my tummy doesn't look like it could possibly get any bigger, but trust me...it will.

Last week while visiting my sister and family, I went to a few of her Zumba classes. (Best Zumba instructor, ever!) Before going, I made the comment that I was going to look a bit ridiculous shaking my booty with my ginormous front side. My dad said, "You just think everyone's watching you, but they're not." I said, "Normally, I'd agree with you. But when you're 8-months pregnant in a Zumba class, everyone really is watching you." I was right. I went to two back-to-back classes with my cute (also pregnant...just not showing yet) sister, and after each one, several people came up to me to offer their thoughts and advice. "Are you trying to go into labor?" "You really should probably slow down a bit." "When are you due?" "I was watching you during class thinking...that girl's baby is going to pop right out!"

Is it really so odd to see a pregnant girl working out? Dancing and hip shaking...maybe so. But it's not just Zumba. While lifting weights last week, a man stopped and asked me all sorts of questions about whether I felt the baby moving while I worked out, whether my exercise was "doctor prescribed," and whether I thought it was "safe." After a Spin class, a funny lady asked when I was due, then exclaimed "Are you sure there's only one in there? Because I just kept thinking 'That girl's about to have her baby!'" Today in church, a teenage girl saw me and a friend (who's scheduled to have a C-Section in two weeks), and yelled, "When are you guys due, because you both look like you're about to pop!" Watch out, everybody, my belly's about to explode!

Yes, my friends. I have been blessed with a short torso, so there's really nowhere for the baby to go but OUT. I'm just praying that all of the you're about to pop comments aren't predictions of anything soon to come. I've never actually gone into labor before (I even drank castor oil with my first), and this pregnancy is the first time that I really don't want to...until my actual due date! Here's why:

1. I'm terrified of having THREE kids.
2. I handle pregnancy a lot better than I handle the newborn-sleep-deprived-engorged-with-milk-out-to-my-elbows stage.
3. My husband is running the Wasatch Back (a 2-day, 180-mile relay race) two days before my due date.
4. My mother-in-law (AKA babysitter) along with several other family members are also running the race. If I go into labor, the kids are coming with me...crap!
5. We don't have a name.
6. Every other reason in the book that having a baby in June just isn't convenient for selfish-me!

So maybe I should stop Zumba-ing, Spinning, and Lifting. But before I have a baby, my workouts always seem to get more intense. Not because I'm trying to make any body changes, but because I know post-baby workouts are much harder to come by. I'm taking advantage!

And as anti-baby as I sound, I really am actually looking forward to holding my sweet little girl next month. As hard as newborns are, there's nothing like having a piece of heaven in your arms. A piece of heaven that grows all too quickly! One of my favorite quotes on motherhood (thanks to my friend, Evelyn) is this:

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. -Elizabeth Stone

My belly is ever-expanding, and my heart is about to split into three. Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done. Carrying a child is the rudest thing I've ever done to my body. But I thank my Heavenly Father EVERY DAY that he's loaned me these precious children. I can't imagine my life any other way.

So am I offended by those who take it upon themselves to analyze the shape and size of my body? Not at all (or at least not much)! A miracle is occurring inside of me, and as much as I want to have my old body back, I'm trying to enjoy every last minute of this pregnancy. I get to bring a real person into this world. I am blessed, and I can't wait to meet her!

Selfish Blogging

Tonight, I was at my weekly get-together-to-sing-a-little-and-talk-A-LOT night with my girlfriends. It was the first time we've gotten together since before Christmas, and it was great. It's our "singing practice," but we didn't even sing a single note tonight. We talked, and laughed, and relished in the beauty of away-from-home-and-kids time.

Four of us are pregnant, and listening to the two that are still in their first trimester made me SO GRATEFUL to have those 13 weeks of you know what behind me. All night vomit fests should be enough to force every woman to never have a second child, but somehow we forget.

One of my so-miserable-she-hasn't-washed-her-hair-in-five-days friends asked me how in the world I manage to keep working out when I'm pregnant. Honestly, when I wasn't feeling good for those few months, working out was the only thing that made me feel better.

A few nights ago, I was feeling sorry for myself. I had just watched Julie & Julia and was wondering why in the world I even write this silly fitness blog. I definitely don't have the knowledge or skills MizFit has, or the organization SimpleMom has, or the 365-day plan Julie Powell had.

But tonight, after talking to my lovely friends, I realized why I blog. I've started and failed at a lot of things in life. I've dreamed big dreams I've yet to accomplish. But I've somehow mastered the art of fitting fitness into my occasionally chaotic life. If I accomplish NOTHING else in a day, I can almost always (as long as the last two weeks don't count) say that I exercised in some way. And somehow, blogging about it keeps me motivated and accountable.

So for those of you who stop by and read what I have to say, thank you! YOU are my inspiration! I can't wait to share 2010 with you!

The FOURTH Day of Fitness...Pregnancy Tips

On the FOURTH Day of Fitness, FitMePink Blog gave to me...TIPS FOR YOUR PREGNANCY!

When I was pregnant with my daughter a few years ago, I was determined not to stop working out. I received a lot of slack from a lot of people. I needed to take it easy. I was hurting the baby. It wasn't healthy to work out so much. Blah, blah, blah. I felt pretty in tune with my body, and thought I knew what signs to look for to tell me to slow down. The first time I knew I needed to calm down a bit was pretty early on. I'd run 6 miles that morning, and my husband and I were outside visiting with a neighbor in the evening. I started blacking out, said I needed to sit down, and the next thing I knew, I woke up to my neighbor pouring water on my face while my husband tried to wake me up. I'd never passed out before. The nurse reassured me that passing out is actually normal when you're pregnant. Who knew?

I continued working out like I had before, and let my growing body gradually slow me down. When I was in the hospital, the nurse told me that I had an awesome baby. My contractions didn't phase her one bit. Her heart rate remained constant no matter what my body did. She attributed it to my working out.

Last April, I found out I was (unexpectedly) pregnant. I found out on a Thursday morning, and went on a long 13-mile run that Saturday. Later that day, at a family Easter party, I started bleeding. I had miscarried. For a while, I blamed the long run, although my doctor and nurse both told me it was completely unrelated. I couldn't help but wonder, though.

When I studied to be a Personal Trainer several years ago, I remember learning about pregnant women and exercise. I even told women not to let their heart rates go higher than 140 bpm. But myself? I've completely disregarded my own advice with each pregnancy, and continued exercising at a high intensity. And (so far), this pregnancy is no different. I'm 13 weeks pregnant (hallelujah...welcome back, energy!) Two days ago, I cycled. Yesterday, I ran. My heart rate went as high as 180 bpm as I sprinted for 3 minutes. And I feel great! BUT...should every pregnant woman exercise this intensely? The answer is a resounding NO!!!! Should I? Probably not for long, but for now I feel okay. Your level of activity BEFORE getting pregnant should help determine your level of activity WHILE with child.

Traditionally, pregnant women have been cautioned to stop intense physical, high-impact activity. Dr. James Clapp III, author of Exercising Through Your Pregnancy, however, has studied the effects of frequent, lengthy, intense workouts on athletes. He actually found that pregnant athletes' bodies were not only conditioned to handle these strenuous workouts, but that they actually had easier, healthier pregnancies! And the babies? Healthy and fine!

The key is listening to your body, and slowing down as it needs to! I definitely won't run my whole pregnancy...somewhere between 20 and 32 weeks I'll NEED to stop. But I will cycle. I will lift. I may switch to lighter weights at some point, but I won't stop (that is if all goes well...if my doctor says "STOP," I'll listen! But if the lady next to me on the treadmill says "STOP," I'll just politely smile and keep running!)

But what is my advice for other expectant or future-expectant mommies?

1. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! If you want to excercise, get the go ahead, then GO AHEAD! If you have certain medical conditions, you may have to stop or modify your exercise. Just ask!
2. DRINK LOTS OF WATER! You don't want to raise your core body temperature...especially in early pregnancy, so stay hydrated! (Even while swimming...you may not feel thirsty, but drink up!) Dehydration late in pregnancy can cause pre-term labor!
3. Don't skip the warm-up, or the cool-down! Avoid injury! And remember that the pregnancy hormone relaxin softens tendons and ligaments, so overflexing or extending the knee joints isn't a good idea unless you're conditioned for it.
4. STOP EXERCISING IMMEDIATELY if you feel light headed, chest pains, or if you experience vaginal bleeding, uterine contractions, or if your membranes rupture.
5. Eat a balanced diet! You NEED to replace the calories and glucose used during exercise!
6. AVOID EXERCISES ON YOUR BACK after the first trimester, or if you feel light-headed or dizzy.
7. Enjoy the miracle that is happening inside of you, and listen to what your body tells you!

And BEFORE getting pregnant, CLOSE YOUR DIASTASIS! Read more about this awful gap in your recti muscles here!

How do you feel about pregnancy and exercise? Do you use pregnancy as an excuse to slow down, or as a reason to keep on? Am I crazy for continuing to work out intensely? Should I stop? Discuss!

Confessions of a Chocoholic...and a big announcement!

So I have a few confessions...

• Who am I kidding? I am NOT giving up chocolate until Christmas. I've found that depriving myself of one of my true loves--chocolate--does nasty things to my mood. But I am going to try THIS chocolate that I read about on THIS blog.
  

GREEN AND BLACK 85% CACAO DARK CHOCOLATE. It's LOW in sugar, LOW on the glycemic index, chock full of antioxidants, and rumor has it that it also tastes great! Haven't tried it yet, but after reading Bonnie's raving reviews, I'm sold. So for those of you joining me in the no chocolate challenge, you win! I lose!

• I never told you about the funnest race of the year...the Vegas Ragnar.
  

We had a blast. Getting NO SLEEP when it's my choice, and not a result of screaming children is actually really fun! I ran with my husband, my sister-in-law, my brother, my cousin, and two of my favorite old roommates. It was a 180-mile party! Somehow having them there made me run my fastest time ever...go figure! I'll be running more of these crazy Ragnars in the future...let me know if you want to join in on the madness!

• There's a real reason for my lack of posting. I'M PREGNANT WITH BABY #3! A little nausea + MAJOR EXHAUSTION + still trying to work out in the morning + needy children and husband = blog deprivation. I'm only 8 weeks along, so I have a loooooooong way to go. But I'm thrilled that I get to bring another human being into this world.

I may focus a bit more on having a fit pregnancy, but other than that, fitmepink is still fitmepink! I'll try to drag my lazy self off the couch with more updates and less confessions.

See you soon!

Letter to a Pregnant Friend...6 Tips for Losing Baby Weight

Dear Friend,

You've reached the end of your third pregnancy. You will deliver your sweet baby boy in a few short weeks. It's hard not to start worrying about losing the baby weight. But you'll get there. Be patient with yourself. In my mind, the best approach is the gradual approach.

My 2nd baby just turned one, and I still have a few pounds to go! If I could turn the clock back a year (or put myself in your soon-to-be-new-mommy-again-shoes), I would probably tell myself to relax just a bit. When my own little bundle-of-pink-joy was 4 weeks old, I started running. I just HAD to get back into my workout routine. To be honest, starting so soon probably did more harm than good. I would finish my quick 3-mile run on the treadmill to console a screaming baby, get a snack for a sad-mommy-deprived toddler, try to throw a shower into the mix, and end my morning routine pulling my hair out, and totally exhausted (and ornery). Not to mention MAJOR back pain for several weeks.

As you know, time with a brand-new baby is SO SHORT. In a few blink-of-an-eye-months, the baby won't even want to be held as he explores the world away from you. So here's my first piece of advice: Enjoy the little piece of heaven that is yours until HE and YOU are ready. Hold him, squeeze him, cuddle him, smell him. Losing the baby weight will take a while either way, so you might as well savor this sweet time. Be patient with yourself! Remember how long it took to put the weight on...expect it to take just as long to take it off!

When you are ready to face reality, here are a few ideas to get you going.

1. Don't "diet." I know this is a strange bit of advice, but something mentally happens when you feel "deprived" of the foods you love. For me, if I know I can't have something, I want it so much more! Having a new baby is stressful enough. Don't deprive yourself, or beat yourself up over an occasional indulgence. However, pay attention to what you eat! Eat healthy, and eat for hunger. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Here's a list of some of my favorite cart-fillers! Load up on these "super foods" before reaching for the processed (although yummy) junk!
2. Drink water! DO NOT DRINK YOUR CALORIES. I'm not even a fan of diet sodas, but I'll stand on that soap box another day! Water, water, water. Drinking water may also speed up your metabolism...woo hoo! And rather than forcing 8-glasses down each day, use the color of your urine as a gauge! If it's relatively clear, and you're going every 3 or so hours, you're getting enough.
3. Breastfeed, if possible. While I'm a big proponent of breastfeeding, I have to say that I have a love-hate relationship with it. I've nursed both of my babies for a full year. I love it while I'm nursing. I hate it when I need a break. But apart from the fact that breastmilk is great for your baby, it also uses up your fat stores (and upwards of 300 calories a day...just don't use it as an excuse to eat whatever you want!)
4. Sleep! This is definitely where I don't practice what I preach. My baby is just NOW! FINALLY! HALLELUJAH! sleeping through the night! Go to bed early if you need to. And if possible--I know, usually impossible--sleep when the baby sleeps. Rest is soooo important to weight loss! When tired, your body releases cortisol and other stress hormones that actually promote weight gain. When I'm tired, I'm also more likely to reach for the unhealthy food choices.
5. EXERCISE!!!! Like I said, give yourself time before jumping in, but when you're ready, move it! Lately, there's been much discussion on the fact that three 10-minute sessions are just as effective as one 30-minute session. So do what you can, when you can! Go for a brisk walk to get your heart pumping. Add some resistance training (apart from lugging a new baby around...unless you use him as your weight as you do your overhead presses!) And here are a few more of my favorite workouts.
6. LOVE YOUR BODY! The human baby-making body is truly a miracle. Look in the mirror each day, and remember that you've been a partner with God in bringing a baby into this world. YOU are a miracle...and one HOT MAMA!

I can't wait to meet your bundle of joy! Good luck!

Love,

Robyn

P.S. Here is an excellent post from Mama Sweat on having a Fit Pregnancy! Enjoy!

LOTS OF TIPS FROM THE FITALICIOUS FAMILY OF READERS

***Only a few more days to enter the healthy recipe contest! Send in your recipes***

When we decided to start this blog, we hoped not only to impart some of the little knowledge we have of health and fitness to our readers, but to gain some insight as well. You ladies (and Michael) know your stuff! So in case you aren't keeping up with the comments, here are a few of the tips we've learned from our fitalicious family of readers (that means you!).

In response to a question about fitness for pregnant women, Tami said:
The elliptical kept me sane as a prego mom. Also, fast walking/jogging to the park every day helped me feel better. Exercise is said to reduce swelling in the legs and to shorten labor. Good luck!

For skin-care products, Christie recommends Origins Perfect World moisturizer and Bare Essentials make-up. They are just the best.

Regarding skin care, Michelle had some great at-home remedies:
I like to use just plain old, regular, white sugar to exfoliate my entire body. It's important not to push AT ALL, just move the sugar around gently and thats enough. It works everywhere, except for my feet (I use Ped Egg and then moisturizer on my feet, I recommend it highly...Exfoliation has been the number one way for me to rid myself of acne (which I am also prone to.) My skin is so hyper sensitive I can no longer use even Proactive Solution's sensitive formula anymore. I use banana boat sunscreen for babies spf 50. For whatever reason it doesn't make be breakout. It feels a little greasy going on, but soaks right in after a few minutes. Then I do the rest of my make-up.

Michael (yay for male readers...nevermind that he's our brother and has to...) said on acne treatment:
Dr. Fulton gave me one free bottle of this:
After one bottle, I was sold. Nothing gets rid of acne like that stuff.

Lots of you helped set the record straight on work-out myths as well!

Melissa said:
My physical therapist told me that stretching before a workout can actually hurt you. Always do most of your stretching after you've worked out.

On ab-work (Listen up, here! We all want to lose our mummy tummies...) Tami said:
Watch out for doing crunches and sit-ups. Not the best way to work the ABS! The abs are postural muscles and we definitely don't walk around in a hunched position all day, so why would you do this to work out. Besides that, it can create or worsen a diastasis ( a separation of the rectus abdominus muscle that comes from being pregnant or doing sit-ups and ab work wrong). Do work the abs by holding them in on all the work you do. Planks are great, heel slides are great, holding the abs in as you do bicep or tricep curls or holding them every time you stand up from a chair has you working them all day long.
For more info check out the book "Lose Your Mummy Tummy" by Julie Tupler

Christie attests to the importance of strength training:
I've been working out with a trainer for almost a year now. Strength training really has made a difference for me. And no, women can't bulk up unless they do steroids. You're right on!

To which Erin responded:
Yes, women can bulk up and do without the use of steroids...I'm a living example!!

Any thoughts? Just for the record, though, Erin definitely doesn't look like a woman on steroids! She's a hot, buff mama!

On to the food stuff!

On eating healthy, Lyenna (who happens to be 5 lbs. from her pre-pregnancy weight 8 weeks after giving birth!) suggests portion control.
I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm satisfied, not full. I also cut out extra fat. For example, I use mustard instead of mayo, for a sandwich and pile on the veggies to make it more satisfying. Also a good rule of thumb is to pay attention to serving size. If it's bigger than your fist (use this for fruit, potatoes, etc) or palm (use this for chicken, steak, etc) it's too big. Also with dessert, have it, just don't go overboard.

Aly (the beautiful cake maker) suggests:
Lots of...Fiber/Grains
Fruit and Veggies

2 servings...dairy
Easy on the...leans meats

8 glasses (or more)...of water

Essential Fats/Oils: Very small amount

All in moderation 6 days/week...

AND one over induldging day that I throw it all out the window!

Tami (who really is a health and fitness expert) says:
I try to avoid the five whites which are well known for giving you a "gut," "rice gut," "spare tire," whatever you want to call that extra around your waist line.

The five whites:
White flour
White pasta
White sugar
White rice
White potatoes

So what the heck do I eat? Hmmm.... good question!
Whole wheat bread
Whole wheat couscous
Quinoa (said to be the most nutritous grain, it's high in protein - use like rice, or like oatmeal)Brown rice (brown rice cakes are nice to snack on)
Oatmeal
Whole wheat pasta
And I try to eat my vegetables
Go for variety in color

And finally, some extra motivation...cuz I know we could all use some!

Christie nailed one of my motivating factors for exercise on the nose:
The only thing that motivates me is my extreme desire to eat bad food. I work out so that I can eat bad. Sure, I'd like to lose a few pounds, but if I can keep myself from gaining, I've done good.

And we know she runs like crazy...she ran a marathon a few years ago...

Miguelito said:
I guess one motivation is to keep up with you two. There's nothing better than a mid-morning jog in San Diego with my sisters.

We love our cute little brother!

And my favorite from Evelyn:
It is the one thing I can fully accomplish during the day.

If you cross nothing else off your to-do list for the day, you can feel accomplished knowing you did something good for yourself!

Thank you so much for making this blog better than we can make it ourselves. We hope our readership keeps growing so we can keep learning from you inspiring people! Have a great weekend!

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No laughing, sneezing, or coughing...

A few nights ago, my husband and I decided to go for a walk. It was a beautiful night. The sun was setting, the kids were sitting quietly in the stroller, and the breeze was gently blowing. It was seemingly perfect. We decided to go for a long walk, since it was such a nice evening and all.

I just love this time of year. Really, I do. But did I mention the blowing breeze? Yeah...what started as a refreshing breath of fresh air turned into an allergy-inducing, I-want-to-rip-my-itchy-eyeballs-out-of-their-sockets kind of a breeze.

And then the sneezing began. We would walk a few steps, then I would turn to my husband and say, "Hold on. I need to sneeze." So we would stop, I would (while standing) cross my legs, and sneeze. Then we'd proceed. That is, until I had to sneeze again. Then the ritual would continue. Stop. Cross legs. Sneeze. Try not to let any dribbles out. My husband never asked about my sneezing ritual, so I never explained. I don't know if he'd really *get* it, anyway.

But since Fit Me Pink has been on my mind a lot lately, I thought...what better way to introduce myself to our new readers than to talk about my personal issues in the nether regions, with hopes that someone, somewhere can relate.

Urinary incontinence isn't a disease, but it is a sometimes persistent condition affecting women (and I suppose men, but I won't delve into that) that can and should be treated. In my case, the cause is pregnancy and childbirth (although I do remember laughing so hard I pee'd my pants pre-babies). This type is called stress incontinence, due to hormonal changes (yep, my hormones are crazzzzzy during pregnancy) and a growing uterus. The added stress of a vaginal delivery can also weaken the pelvic floor muscles (as if we need more to deal with besides a newborn baby!), so when added pressure (caused by laughing, sneezing, coughing, lifting weights, etc.) is placed on the bladder (especially when it's full), watch out (and keep your legs crossed!)

Strengthening the Pelvic Floor Muscles

You've probably all heard of kegel exercises, right? These are SO SO SO important to do...before getting pregnant, during pregnancy, and after. Every woman will benefit from them. Luckily my husband saw me give birth both times, so seeing me pee my pants wouldn't have phased him. Other people aren't so forgiving! Luckily we went on our little allergy-inducing walk, so I could remember that I too need these! (By the way, mom, if you're reading this...no, I'm not in depends yet...no *real* need to worry...just an occasional post-sneeze dribble when my bladder's already full!)

Anyway, a popular way to identify the pelvic floor muscles is to stop pee-ing mid pee. And then start again. Got it? So contract the muscles to stop, and release the muscles to restart. Once you've mastered this, try to perform the same contraction without urinating in sets. Here are a few techniques I found here.

Quick pumps: do 15 reps of quick pumps, pause for 30 seconds and repeat. Start at 15 and work your way up to 100 reps two times a day.

Hold and release: contract the muscle slowly and hold for 5 seconds, release slowly. Work your way to at least 25 reps two times a day.

Elevator: slowly contract 1/3 of the way, pause, then 2/3 of the way, pause, then all the way. Do 10 reps two times a day.


Phew. That's hard work! Anyway, I hope I didn't scare you all off with all this potty talk. I promise it won't always be this way! Come back soon! And try not to laugh, sneeze, or cough until you've practiced what we talked about. And please hit us up in the comments with your experiences, what kegel methods have worked for you, what helps you remember to do them, and any other insights. (Also let me know that you still want to be friends even though I occasionally wet my pants!)

Until next time...