1. Where are the safety pins?
Well the days of hiding the bump I believe are coming to an end. Today I was digging through a drawer looking for the stash of safety pins from over 5000 friggin races....can you tell I was having trouble finding one? All of a sudden I am finding that things, mostly pants, are getting snug. I can't remember how far along I was when I started to show with Emma. I could always go back and look at her baby book. I continue to struggle with split feelings about this growing body. On one side I am honestly over-the-moon excited to be pregnant. I remember with Em just loving my belly and each day...until I saw the photos and realized people were just being nice when they said I looked great. I wouldn't say I was as bad as Jessica Simpson is now but pretty darn close! 70lbs later I know how hard it was to lose that weight and how I felt about my body. I don't want to repeat that. I don't think that I am but today's pant problem got me stressed. Maybe I need to hire a friend that can tell me to put the fork down or a nice honest, "Girl your butt is huge!"
2. My heart says yes but my legs say oh no! I'm trying really hard to compare myself with others pregnant or not but it is hard when it seems like everyone is out there killing it! The other day I went to the track in my hometown to do repeats. I did my warm-up fine and then it was time to pick up the pace...yeah it was quite different from my picked-up pace from just 3 months ago!! Same thing yesterday in running group as I trudged along watching all the fast people I not so long ago was running next to. This is something else I am trying to keep perspective about. It was a lot of work to get my speed back after Em and honestly was the fastest I have ever been. However, I know I can do it again and right now I need to be careful and that looks different for everyone. Which leads me to my last point....
3. Identity crisis...I am a runner....I push through pain and exhaustion to get the miles in and stretch myself physically. And then I became pregnant. In running group people called me the "fast girl"....well now I am thinking about joining the turtle group. Again I know it goes without saying that I am so happy to be pregnant. I have never been one of those women who God has blessed with the ability to get pregnant at will and after losing a baby last year I am ALWAYS mindful of my body and not taking things too far. This does however have me feeling like I am having a bit of an identity crisis and really finding my identity as a pregnant running mom. I know I can do it and I will be even stronger in the end....it's just making that change that has me tangled.
I know I said a lot....any advice from anyone out there who dealt with the change? I know so many of you ran pregnant....who did you mentally make that adjustment? Oh and anyone interested in applying to be my honest critic? Kind of like my own personal Clinton Kelly!
Wow, I can't believe you are just now feeling snugness in your jeans! I think I felt my jeans getting tighter the day I got pregnant:) I know how you feel. When I was pregnant the 1st time I couldn't care less about the gained weight. The second time, I looked longingly at the slim ladies around me and couldn't wait to get the baby out and the weight off. If I were to get pregnant now (my boys are 10 and 12), I might freak a little. I don't know what to tell you except to try and cut yourself some slack. The speed will come back and any exercise is good for the baby. Hang in there girl!
ReplyDelete15 weeks...so exciting! I had to stop running around 16 weeks when I was pregnant last year. It was really hard to say it was time to stop, but I knew my body needed the break. I ended up gaining a lot of weight - about 45 pounds (my baby was nearly 10 pounds!). I also had trouble keeping my BP in check during my pregnancy. Lessons learned --- 1) listen to your body - you are going to have to slow down; 2) you can be healthy by eating well, drinking lots of water, and walking; and 3) I didn't think it would be possible, but 6 months since the birth of #2 I am training harder and faster than I was before getting pregnant. It's almost as if taking a break from running allowed me to come back better and more determined than ever. I wish you all the best and will offer to be your virtual training buddy when you're ready to get back into running post-pregnancy next fall/winter. XOXO, Becky
ReplyDeleteUMMMMM HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!! did I miss something ?!?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteI suck at blogging I swear. I can never keep up with all my favourite peeps - you're pregnant! CONGRATS you are gonna be such a hottie :) b/c you already are. and I felt snug on day one b/c I started eating for 5, just incase.
I am pregnant with Baby #2, and running with this one is different than baby #1. I ran until 37/38 weeks with my son, but now at 26 weeks, I am wondering if I will make it another 10! However, do not worry about the speed too much. If you can think of the pregnancy as a time of base/endurance training, it will come back afterwards. I was able to get most of my speed back within 6 months of Jack being born, and I was running 10/11 minute miles while I was pregnant with him. 11 weeks after he was born I ran Boston in 3:54, and by the summer I was doing the small races in the 7 minute range. It will come back- promise!
ReplyDeleteYes, I had a hard time adapting to my life each time there was a major change.... becoming the pregnant runner and now trying to be a running mom. All I can say is that you will get it back. I actually came back faster post baby without even trying. Plus pushing a jogging stroller will make you much stronger. While I miss my running terribly, I wouldn't trade a single mile for a cuddle with my baby.
ReplyDeleteNo advice, I just tip my hat to you still running being pregnant ... I sat on my a$$ and got chubber-liscious :-)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a runner until after I had all my babies, so I have no idea what it would be like!
ReplyDeleteI didn't really show until 5-6 months with my first baby, but by around 15 weeks with ALL the rest! It was not my favorite thing :P.
So excited for you and your new little baby!!
how i missed the pregnancy announcement post in the first place, no idea. so this is news to me! congrats!!!
ReplyDeletejust listen to your body. and eat that cookie if you want to girl. baby loves cookies! :)
Wow time has flown! I swear I was doing the rubber band trick to expand the waist on clothes at 10 weeks. I was on bedrest for both of mine at 16 weeks so I was far from killing anything on the running front while preggo.
ReplyDeleteTime. Give yourself time to adjust after the baby is here. I didnt get much running in while my wife was pregnant, but afterwards I found myself ready to get out there and got MUCH FASTER. Pregnancy is a wonderful thing and running will be there when you are ready.
ReplyDeleteI would say just listen to your body. I consider myself a runner but when I was pregnant with Abby I didn't run, I just physically couldn't do it and I was okay with that. Once I had her I started running again as soon as I got the okay!!! Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteI ran through all 3 pregnancies and loved it. I did take it very slow especially the larger I got. I was all tummy when prego so I had to be real careful to keep balance as a major consideration. I know you will figure it all out as you go. As the month’s progress you will figure out how to manage through all the changes in your normal positive way that you do.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help. I have never been pregnant, but you should probably do what feels right to you. I know many people who run through their pregnancies!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was just wondering how far along Jessica Simpson is!? That is one big belly!
As a momma who's been pregnant 7 times, I'm telling you just let it all go. You were beautiful the last time and no one was lying. You'll be beautiful again. No, you don't need to gain 70 lbs, you can monitor what you eat. Yes, you know you can run but it's OK to be a little slow for a little while. You already know it all comes back and this little one is SO worth it. But sometimes we need to hear it anyway because your body is no longer your own and that's wonderful and beautiful, yes but hard as well. If running slows down, cross training doesn't have to. Squats and lunges can be done while vacuuming or walking around the house... Embrace it, show off that belly while you run, people will love seeing you and when they say you look great tell them you feel great!!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap! Where have I been? I had no idea that you were pregnant. Congratulations! You'll figure it all out I'm sure. <3 <3
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I remember going through all of those same emotions when I was pregnant, too! It's hard not to get the same results from your body when you don't feel all that different. I continued to run up to the end of my pregnancy, but gave myself the okay to be slower. And about half way through, I started mapping out a post-pregnancy plan and set some race goals for later, which was fun to have something to look forward to. I also did a few pregnant races for fun -- no pressure for time.
ReplyDeleteThose 40 weeks go quickly, enjoy it as much as you can!
I always felt the same way and the identity thing. What made me get through it was thinking how lucky I was to be able to workout and be fit during pregnancy and reminding myself it was only temporary and to look at it as a break or something different from the norm!!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a runner when I was pregnant with my youngest but I walked a ton and did pilates multiple times a week right up until the day he was born. Listen to your body and you'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteYour turtle is still probably faster than my speed - so maybe I should come run with you now while I can keep up ;)