Fit Mama

so in this midst of folding laundry, something im sure all you moms enjoy, i cant help but get super excited/distracted thinking about the event that is happening friday.
wait for it....
we are FINALLY joining a gym! having been a gym addict for years, it is quite exciting! ive always said that when i became pregnant i would never give up working out or staying fit, but thats easier said than done!
of course i know the benefits of being active during pregnancy but as any of you moms already know...its not always possible. whatever your barrier may be, things happen in life but the benefits of staying fit during pregnancy are huge!
better now than never!
since i am dedicated to having a natural birth this is more of a necessity than simple want. birth is like a marathon, or so i have heard, and what better way to succeed and push through the pain of a marathon than to train. a good friend of mine is pregnant as well, due just a week before i am and she recommended looking into the bradley method of birth. i cannot wait to buy the book and get started!
this method has the highest success rate of natural births. from what i have researched so far, eating high levels of protein, doing an insane amount of kegels (yes ladies there are multiple benefits to this one!), as well as some other exercises are key components to finishing this marathon.
kegels, though every woman has heard about them for their other benefits, having a kick butt birth is one most people fail to mention.
doing kegels is a great workout! (though you dont break a sweat) but what do you use to push that baby out? MUSCLES! all muscles need to be strengthened, the stronger they are the easier the inevitable will be!

now for overall fitness the fitter you are while pregnant the easier it will be to bounce back, for lack of a better term, after you have that bundle of joy. everyone has heard the wonders of breast feeding in helping you shed that pregnancy weight but what so many women forget is that the more muscle you already have the easier it is to burn the fat.

so here is the plan, not only do i want to increase my cardio (which as of now has been lacking) and get back to lifting weights (always done in a safe method, you are pregnant dont forget) but i want to start yoga. natural birth is all about how you cope with pain and how you can train your body to relax and find your zen, what better to assist in that search than a yoga class?

i truly believe that staying healthy is not merely something you deserve but something your baby deserves as well! your baby deserves a healthy mom that can keep up with everything he or she throws your way.

i will definitely report any physical changes i can see along the way.

XOMB

cheese(cake) and wine kind of day

i don't know what has been going on with me this week, but i have been so completely out of it. i feel like i haven't given my all at the office and i'm disappointed in myself. thought maybe i was just in a cold weather funk (we southerners get those), even tried going to the gym...but nothing really seemed to work.

worse part is while trying to stick to the whole healthy pre-wedding, bride-to-be diet...i cheated. but you know, sometimes a girl just needs some red wine! and maybe a slice of cheesecake!

i don't know if it's my inner Golden Girl or what, but no sweet is more comforting to me that a good piece of new york cheesecake! another thing to add is this; i normally am not a big red wine drinker, i seem to be very picky with my reds, but i have got to say that this merlot is quite good! not as dry as a lot of merlots tend to be.

current goal: expand my love and appreciation for red wines

(sort of) current goal: to realize that even wine is a reflective surface when taking pictures

solid goal don't you think? i don't really see any negatives to achieving this goal!

conserve water drink virginia wine

back on the healthy note however...i'm going to be starting a new workout plan (in addition to the gym) with my mamma. go check out my feel the burn page and take a gander! it's pretty great! 30 days of pre-wedding boot-camp!

Xo  Martina

what a weekend

this weekend has been full of great memories! one of my little brothers just turned 21!

it's crazy to think that he is already that old, as i feel i was just there myself! EM and i hosted him and three of his friends at EM's apartment for some birthday festivities prior to hitting the bars. it was a lot of fun!

now the weekend is over and the work week is staring at me in the face. it snowed quite a lot today, which is disappointing for the sole fact that i am ready for spring!
i must admit though that this town truly is beautiful when it snows.

in fact word is the city schools already closed for tomorrow. how i miss being in high school (for that reason...and that reason only). a snow day would be real nice.

i on the other hand am taking a break from working while EM naps next to me. how i love working while he just sleeps (in a non creepy twilight way).

as fun as this weekend has been, i have been horrible at sticking to my diet! i really have to hit the gym hard this week. i've done so well and have lost 6 lbs already, i don't want to allow a weekend like this to just make me gain them all back.

that would be disappointing.

just have to keep calm and work out!

Xo  Martina