I love to think of exercise as time to prepare for labor these days. I’ve read many times that giving birth is like distance running or the hardest race of your life. You trained for those, right? So when I now do squats or bicep curls in Pump or charge up hills on my walks, I imagine myself keeping my body in shape for that momentous occasion and the endurance of the weeks thereafter. Gives it a whole new meaning!
I’m also really enjoying making conversation with my pregnant and mom friends in Pump! I’m trying to absorb all the information I can.
Including the wonderful Pregtastic podcasts! I’m obsessed with them and have them on whenever I’m walking or in the case of today, during my shower! This little speaker was a $20 Amazon find that works quite well to play over the shower sounds:
Lunch today was delicious! Just what I was in the mood for:
Yesterday after our run, Matt had a slice of bread with Nuttzo to tide him over to brunch. I had a bite and it tasted amazing! Karen bought us a jar for Christmas, and I forgot how good it was : ) So I replicated that slice for lunch with the addition of strawberry jam
Hard-boiled egg on the side
And a cara-cara orange!
This lunch didn’t quite fill me up, so I went back upstairs and had a bite of chocolate brownie bread Matt brought home on Saturday and a glass of milk for some more protein (trying to get in as much chocolate protein as I can these days).
My afternoon destination involves wearing clothes that are easily machine washable. Any guesses where I’m going?!
Khushboo says
Peanut butter on toast us one of Life’s simplest pleasures- yoyr lunch looks delicious!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
I love the simplicity of drinking milk for more protein. A nice cold glass can be so satsifying!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
I love that speaker. How cool.
The meal looks yummy too. I am hooked on citrus right now! Love my mandarins.
Pregnancy is definitely an exciting experience the first time. the second time I was way more nervous because I knew what to expect. My advice… snap tons of pictures in that baby’s first year cuz it goes by so quick!
Blessing @ Working Mom Journal says
Cant guess! But I want to say that you inspired me to eat eggs all weekend.
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
That’s a great way to approach your workouts. I am not pregnant but maybe that’ll help me in my workouts 😉
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
That lunch looks so simple but really delicious and healthy — love it!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Such a great way to think of your workouts! I’ve never experienced labor (still a bit young for it over here!) but it definitely doesn’t look easy!
Lindsay @ Running the Windy City says
Your lunch looks delicious! Also, I love your plate its so simple and pretty.
Em (Wine and Butter) says
Awww – you sounds so grown up in all your posts now!!
It must feel a bit like (or a lot!) like EVERYTHING has changed. 🙂
KathEats says
🙂
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
I love hard boiled eggs. They are a great for lunch especially when they are in egg salad. Yum! I really want to try cara cara oranges now that you keep talking about them. They sound like they would be good 🙂
TeenyLittleSuperChef says
Are you going out to play in the mud? I seriously haven’t a clue what you’re going to do this afternoon. Your lunch reminds me that I need to restock my Nuttzo supply though. You definitely got me hooked on that stuff. I don’t know whether to thank you or be mad at you for that 🙂 My wallet has definitely taken a good beating from buying that stuff
Becca @ Blueberry Smiles says
hmmmm, good clues. Gardening?
Your lunch pics are making me crave a juicy orange!
Kinley @ Better Off Barefoot says
Playing with a baby? That’s my guess 😉
Jo says
Ditto — that was my guess too. You’re visiting friends with small children, or you’re visiting a daycare, haha!
KathEats says
You were right!!!!!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
I haven’t a clue where you’re going either, but I love your new workout mindset! And how lucky to have other lovely Body Pumpers to get pregnancy advice from. 🙂
Amelia says
I applaud all of the pregnant ladies in my Pump class. One of the girls pumped right up until 2 days before labor. One of our instructors is 8 months pregnant right now and she is still lifting heavy and does quite a few abs (modified a bit). I always look at her weight selection and think, “Okay, if she is lifting THAT much plus a baby, then I can definitely go heavy today!”
There is nothing like the flavor of GH bread paired with nut butter and jam. Yum!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
I have experienced two labours…one with an epidural and one without any medication at all…verdict? Much preferred the labour without the medication…shocked? So was I! My first pregnancy, labour came on super fast that the admitting nurses did not believe me when I said I was in labour…they passed me off as a first timer who doesn’t know anything. They were wrong! I was hooked up right away…but unfortunately,my son’s head was the wrong way, hard part of head pushing on my back and therefore I had no relief between labour pains. Basically, the nurses said I would not last if I didn’t have an epidural…I specifically did not read up anything about epidural’s as I knew I did not want one…choosing at this point was not an option. To cut this long story and get to the point…my recovery was waaaaaaaay better after no medication. I felt amaaaaaaazing and just wanted to get up and go home. That is because I felt like **** after the epidural. Being in shape really does help the recovery…keep your stomach muscles strong to help your back during pregnancy, labour and for recovery! I gained 30 lbs with both pregnancies and easily lost it all by keeping active and eating healthy nutritious meals. It can be done! Whew! Didn’t mean to go on for so long…hope it helps!
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
I’ve never tried nuttzo before but it does sound pretty tasty!
Keep those workouts going girl for the BIG workout to come!
Kathy W. says
Hey, congratulations on your recipe in the March O Magazine!! (Good placement too, at the top of a page!)
Karen says
Just saw this too and was about to post the same! 🙂
KathEats says
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!! Very exciting!
Kathryn says
Labor is amazing. In some ways it’s the same as exercise because your body is working but it really cannot compare. Your body just does everything on its own and all you have to do is relax and let your body and your baby do their thing. Yoga and visualization were amazing because they helped me accept uncomfortable feelings (I will not call labor painful just like I wouldn’t call lifting weights painful) and not be scared of them. For me, that was the important link between exercise and labor. I’m sure you have Ina May’s book on your reading list – Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth – but if not, you might want to check it out!
Allison K says
This book is awesome. Do NOT read “what to expect…”
ES says
What to Expect is awful! Definitely my least favorite pregnancy book.
twobrokenarms says
I’m with you. Worst book ever. I had a wonderful pregnancy book, but the title escapes me right now (mommy brain after 4 years?).
KathEats says
I have Ina May but haven’t read it yet!
Megan says
I LOVE Ina May’s books, particularly Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth, as well as Spiritual Midwifery. I feel like no matter what type of delivery you have (nonmedicated or medicated), Ina May’s books will only help normalize childbirth and take the scariness out of it. I agree about the What to Expect book, not super helpful, but worth browsing through. I’m reading through the Bradley method book (and would love to take a class if I didn’t live in Germany), and there is some good stuff in there too.
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
As labour inevitably apprioaches (I am 37 weeks tomorrow), I too am curious to see how my body responds !
KathEats says
ooooo good luck!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
I love the little speaker. I need something like that. I hate earbuds in my ears unless I absolutely have to so the speaker is perfect.
Yes, I’d say that labor is like the hardest race of your life in some respects but not fully. However, I was training for a half marathon one spring and summer in the 95F South Carolina heat and humidity and I’d actually say birth is better and easier in some respects..but it’s one of those things, truly unlike anything else. And I LOVED birth. I loved it…I hope you do too!
Eileen says
Without going into ALL the details, I’m just going to provide a gentle warning that all the preparation in the world won’t necessarily change the course of the delivery. I had a C-section, then two VBACs. Even the two VBACs couldn’t have been more different. Long story short, I am a very quiet, controlled person; I’ve run marathons and numerous half-marathons, and I was in really good shape. I screamed like an absolute banshee. My husband and I look back and laugh, because he’d never seen me so out of control in our lives.
Happily, the outcome, all three times, were happy, healthy babies. I’m just saying, the experiences were SO FAR out of my control and so different … be prepared for that. And, irony of ironies, I had a midwife for my C-section birth, and a plain old MD group for my two VBACs.
marci says
I definitely view exercise differently during pregnancy! It’s not about being hardcore or losing weight or even maintaining it, just about feeling good and keeping moving. Many people say it’s the key to a good delivery, I’ll let you know how that goes soon enough!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I guess life in general, including your body, takes on a whole new meaning when you’re pregnant! And I love those headphones/speakers!
Katie says
Hi Kath! Congrats on your pregnancy! I recently found out that I am pregnant too – only 8 weeks – and I’m regular Body Pumper too. I was wondering if you have had to modify anything yet? I heard after the first trimester we shouldn’t lie on our backs for extended periods of time. One suggestion for these tracks (triceps, chest, etc.) I read was to put 2 risers one on side of the bench and 1 on the other, to create an incline instead of a flat surface. Is this what you or the pregnant women in your classes do? I’m curious because there aren’t any pregnant women in my classes and I don’t really want to tell my instructor I’m pregnant yet because it’s still early, and I’ve felt fine so far. 🙂
Deena says
I take pump and have a couple pregnant women in class who create an incline with their benches for the tracks when we have to lay down. One of them is towards the end of her second trimester and skips the abs part altogether. Hope that helps!
KathEats says
Hey Katie,
I reduced my squat and back weight immediately. I just didn’t feel like my lower body could handle lifting that much since it involves a lot of lower ab control and my uterus was crampy in the beginning and I just didn’t want to put strain on that part of my body.
I’ve kept my upper body weights the same though, and that’s going well.
I don’t think incline is necessary until the second trimester, but I plan to do that.
I haven’t been doing abs since 7 weeks since I had that bad cramping. It happened the morning after I’d been at Pump and I wondered if it could have contributed to the pain, so I stopped doing abs. I’ve still done some plans, but like with squats, I just don’t want to put pressure on my lower abdomen, so crunches and the like are out.
For a while I was leaving early and skipping both abs and stretching, but then I decided to stay and just do some general core/back stretches during abs (like being on all fours and putting leg and arm in air) and then today I asked myself what else I could be strengthening and you know what I thought of KEGELS! This is TMI, but I did them to the instructor’s ab directions (2:2, 3:1, singles) and it was good workout down there! Ha!!
Katie says
Thanks for the info! I appreciate it all, even the TMI part 🙂 What a good idea!!! I have also felt a little uncomfortable during the ab exercises. I have also felt cramping and some stretching/pulling in the lower abdomen, which is probably normal in these early stages but I’d rather play it safe and not strain myself. I will start doing the incline thing in my second tri too.
P.S. I’m SOOOO excited for BERF to make its debut! 🙂
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
You must be going to play with a baby! I haven’t worn nice clothes besides date nights in over 3 years because of my munchkins. Lunch looks perfect!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
i haven’t had an orange in forever! added to the grocery list.
glad you’re enjoying your pregnancy workouts!
Jen says
I am a runner and an Ironman Finisher. Giving birth naturally was the most physically challenging thing I’ve ever done and there’s nothing that could have prepared me for it! That being said, I’m SO thankful I kept active throughout my pregnancy and I feel very lucky that I was able to continue working out. I know many women can’t keep working out due to complications. I’d also highly recommend looking into the Bradley class exercises. I think they helped me prepare my body for labor. Also, pre-natal yoga helped keep many of the aches and pains at bay.
Angel7 says
Gotta make some of your Julia Child eggs 🙂 I am glad you gave us instructions to perfect hard-boiled eggs!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
larabar says
I always found that I felt better by eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day (3 girls under the age of 6 over here!), especially when my belly began to expand! Walking and keeping up with light to mederate excerciese really helped me! Keep on squattin’! =)
larabar says
moderate…=)
Michelle (Better with Berries) says
That little speaker is so cute! And I need to start cutting my oranges like yours – they look like they would taste so much better that way. Just like how sandwiches taste better when cute diagonally 🙂
Emily says
mmmmmm nuttzo. so yummmmmy.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
I was obsessed with eggs during my pregnancy! Around the 4th month, I was in prenatal yoga and someone mentioned hard boiled eggs. I had never been a big fan before but it sounded sooo good! I think I ate at least one a day after that.
Jenn says
Labor is a crazy physical endurance test. I seriously don’t know how some make it through! When are you premiering berf?
KathEats says
2 weeks
Sarah (I Dream of Beets) says
Hmm… either gardening or to a paint-you-own-pottery or portrait studio.
TinaD says
I’m going with painting or something crafty. It’s still not warm enough to put plants in the ground.
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
You’re either playing outside or with kids. Or gardening 🙂
Love that idea of working out NOW so later can be better too–for you and the baby. SO exciting!
Maria@ Sinfully Nutritious says
Your oranges always looks so perfect. I just want to reach through my screen and grab a piece.
Not sure where you are headed, but I know you will have fun. You always do!
Jen@FoodFamilyFitness says
I was just thinking about having eggs and toast for dinner, but in the form of a sandwich, but hard boiled eggs and toast sounds SO much better!
Susan (Oliepants) says
Eggs are fantastic any time of day! I love a great sweet orange.
Jasper @ crunchylittlebites says
are you going to the auto-body shop for repair lessons? 😀
Destini says
I have one of those little speakers for my ipad! I enjoy watching netflix while i cook or listen to music.
Have a great day
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Your oranges always look so sweet and juicy! I never liked them cut with skin on, but yours make me want to try it again, lol.
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
That bread looks so good! Your bread always looks amazing.. wonder why 😉
Clare @ SweetnSimple says
Your lunch looks beautiful 🙂 I am loving those oranges these days, they are so fresh and delicious!
Deirdre @ Oh Well Whatever says
The whole labor thing is quite the workout. I think the best thing you can practice leading up to labor is patience and acceptance. There is a chance it can take a very long time and you little to no control over it. You get a pretty great reward in the end though so its all good.
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic says
Great way to think of your workouts! Now you have a new purpose. I had boiled eggs for breakfast this morning – I should have followed them up with an orange, though.
Jamie C. says
Hey Kath, Congrats on your pregnancy! I have a link I wanted to share with you, just got an email with it today and was checking out your blog…. thought I would share. Hope you don’t mind, I’m sure a lot of people are sharing information with you these days ; ) Anyways, hope you find it interesting.
http://chriskresser.com/the-high-price-of-antibiotic-use-can-our-guts-ever-fully-recover
Jamie C. says
I totally forgot to ask too… have you tried the Trader Joe’s roasted almond and flax butter? It is sooo good! Reminds me of the taste of Barney Butter without as much sugar and other added goodies.
KathEats says
Thanks for the link.
I haven’t tried that since we have no TJs here 🙁
Michelle says
Im so happy for you! Congrats to you and your husband !
I have given birth to three children and have run several marathons…child birth(in my opinion) is nothing like running a marathon. Being in shape helped me not tire so quickly in labor but the pain…well anyways…I did forget it (somewhat) 😉 You will do find..breathing helps the most:)
laura says
When I was pregnant (now have a 2 and 1/2 month old), I did the 25 minute yogadownload prenatal yoga podcast at night several times a week before bed. The woman that leads it talks about preparing for labor and holding the poses as long as a productive contraction lasts. It was incredibly helpful to remember those thoughts during my 25 hour labor! Blessings to you and Matt as your prepare for your little one.
Jonna says
Hi Kath,
Sounds like all is going well! Have a question for you on Nutzzo…I was getting ready to order
some on-line (after I placed my Wild Squirrel Order!) and read some reviews on the original kind.
Someone said the sunflower seed taste is overwhelming? Was wondering what you thought. I was hoping for more of a peanut taste. I don’t really care for straight sunflower butter (unless it’s Naturally Nutty’s cinnamon vanilla one!) and don’t want it to taste too “sunflowery” Any thoughts on that before I order?
Thanks!
Jonna
KathEats says
Hmmm. Well it is not that peanut buttery…and I could see how some would say lots of sunflower. It’s got a pretty earthy taste to it. The best part is the mega crunch!
twobrokenarms says
I was induced at 37 weeks (because I had a number of complications), and it took 36 hours of labour. I had an epidural after 18 hours (thank the stars – when a nurse can change your contractions from every 2 minutes to every 30 seconds in the blink of an eye, you need something). I only have one child (and that’s ALL I’m gonna have), so I can’t compare pregnancies, but I’ve gotta say that any excercise that you can get in helps. I think that walking helped me.
Ellie@Fit for the Soul says
That’s so cool Kath! I feel like we’re in the same boat because although I still have a month till marriage, and probably 2 years before I have a baby, I often work out with the mindset that it’ll help me go through labor as ‘smoothly’ as possible (pun intended) and also help me be in shape and stay strong for the kiddos! Countless sleepless nights, runnin’ around, etc. 😀 So great job girl!
Andrea @FrSeed2Stomach says
your citrus fruits always looks SO good! mine never taste as good as yours look!
Jenny@vegetarianhatesvegetables says
When I was pregnant with my twins I was going for 3 mile hikes every day. My doctor was staunchly against it, but I ached so badly when I didn’t. I’m glad I listened to my body instead of my doctor.
KathEats says
I can’t believe your doctor was against hiking – unless you had a complication of sorts.
Joss says
that orange looks extra bright and delicious 😀
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
Oh man, PB & J sounds AMAZING right now…and I’ve been loving oranges lately, too!
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie says
Total back to the basics lunch. Love it 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Is there something different about a cara-cara orange? I’ve seen them popping up lately and saw them at the grocery store yesterday…
KathEats says
They seem to be less tart and juicier?
Lorin says
I’m doing Body Pump tommorow at my college rec center for the first time. So excited!!!
Megan says
Keep up your exercise, my regret is that I let the fatigue get to me and didn’t exercise as much as I should have/ would have enjoyed, live and learn, now I’m not in great shape this point, 30 weeks pregnant… Even on tired days, it will help energize you, so good for you for keeping up the exercise. But listen to your body too, and don’t feel guilty if you need to bum around on the couch at times, you’re growing a human :).
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Peanut butter and jam or jelly is just the best! Very satisfying for very little effort!
Nicole says
If you want some great info on pregnancy and birth (that won’t scare you like the What to Expect books do LOL), get the book “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin (probably the most famous midwife in america!). This is the book I would recommend as a childbirth educator if someone told me I could only recommend one (but boy would that be hard!). It will empower you, encourage you and help you to see how normal and healthy pregnancy and birth are 🙂