30.11.10

@ 32 weeks - and it's a Pingu

Here I am, taken last Sunday, 32 weeks pregnant:



We also found out we're having a little Pingu! We went to a 3D ultrasound at 29 weeks 6 days. So creepy, yet so nifty! I think he looks more like husband of feitpingvin than he does me hehe...

31.10.10

Twelve weeks to go - YIKES!

I'm now entering the third trimester - twelve weeks to go until miniPenguin is due to arrive. Twelve weeks! I can’t believe how quickly things have gone. It’s so unreal. In some ways it still feels as if I had just found out yesterday, although not quite, as miniPenguin is giving me quite the kicking treatment as I write…

Things have been very easy-going for the most part; no real problems or issues worth mentioning. Of course certain things have been a bit strange – all I seem to want to eat is refried beans and rice with salsa and melted cheese. Or pasta and tomatoes. Washed down with a shitload of candy. And I don’t miss wine or beer; giving up alcohol has been surprisingly easy, which is not something I had expected. I’ve been very lucky, I suppose. It’s my first pregnancy ever, and I don’t know if all of this is “normal” or not, as it seems like everyone experiences so different things that it’s difficult to qualify “normal” vs. otherwise…

So it’s just as well I’m writing on one of my few off-days. Because I do get them. Really. I’m exhausted, both mentally and physically right now. The Norwegian Skeptics Conference - Kritisk Masse - was this weekend. Yesterday was especially exhausting as it involved sitting for hours in a dark assembly room, listening to (very interesting) lectures, and then dinner and entertainment afterward. We started at 9 am, I left for home after 10 pm. I think. I attended some of the (equally interesting) lectures today, but my body kept saying “no.” It needed natural light, and fresh air, and some more rest than I had gotten that night. So after 28 weeks, I have discovered that my pregnant body does not like being deprived of natural light or fresh air for very long durations. (How did I manage two different long haul trips?) I suppose not drinking enough water to avoid having to run out and pee during the middle of a lecture didn’t help too much either. Hmmf. I was hoping to do a workout today to perhaps make me feel a little better, but no. I had a headache and figured the best thing would be to lie down or something. I feel a little better now, but still woozy. I should be OK for tomorrow though…

I’m also noticing that the growing Ball of Baby, which will probably be a Death Star of Baby at the very end (especially considering the rate I’m gobbling down M&Ms), is making simple things a bit more difficult. Like bending or even squatting down to pick stuff up. And speaking of squats, barbell squats and deadlifts are rather challenging when there’s a big Ball of Baby in the way of everything. Cardio workouts are also getting more challenging as my diaphragm and lungs are being compressed. I can still jog though, and that’s a good thing. I haven’t really started feeling things too much in my back – I have a very strong back – but I know it will eventually come. However, I will continue working out and trying to live as normally as possible until it is absolutely impossible to do so.

The one thing both husband of feitpingvin and I have not been doing, is actually getting our shit together with regard to preparation for miniPenguin’s arrival. We have some baby clothes and some carrying gear – that’s it. We don’t have any other stash. We really need to do that. Soon. The upcoming Christmas/New Year holidays are going to interfere with getting shit together, and once that’s over there will be three weeks left and anything can happen. We really need to get it together right now

Oh, and we’re going to do a 3D ultrasound in about two weeks. Hopefully, we’ll find out if we’re having a Pingu or a Pinga this time around!

12.10.10

The Ball of Baby groweth...

I have been really busy lately. The last time I posted was after I got back from a business trip to Sao Paulo and before going on a family visit and sort of vacation to the US.

My Ring of Baby has turned into a good-sized Ball of Baby, and it seems to be getting bigger all the time. We had an ultrasound done about a month and a half ago, and everything looked great - healthy here, healthy there. Good stuff. The only thing that didn't go as planned, was the lack of cooperation from miniPenguin with regard to letting us know if we're having a Pingu or a Pinga. Hmmf!

Anyway, was running up until about week 22 or 23 or something. Pulled a calf muscle and it's still not healed enough to start running again. This sucks because I really don't feel like I get as much (and most certainly not the high) out of the elliptical, which is my alternative cardio. Weightlifting is going OK, although I'm quite the weakling now. I'm still going to post a photo of me lifting anyway... just because...



It was taken at week 24. It's a weird photo, taken with a compact camera. All of the lifting photos husband of feitpingvin took were a bit strange. The rest are here.

22.8.10

"5+5+5=15"

Today's workout:

Warm-up: 10 minutes run/jog on the treadmill

For 15 minutes do:
5 push-ups
5 chins/pull-ups (assisted OK)
5 dips (assisted OK)
15 Bosu ball squats

If you're pregnant, do this at a comfortable pace. If you're not pregnant, do as many rounds as you can.

6.8.10

(almost) barefoot, pregnant, and still running

As most people know, I'm pregnant. Sixteen weeks today. How... interesting...

Things have been relatively good so far, at least compared to what many other experience. I haven't had any major nausea/morning sickness, for example. Sure, food doesn't taste quite the same and I'm for the most part not really interested in food at all, but I can still eat. I've had some bad fatigue and nasty headaches, but they haven't been an everyday occurrence, nor have they really been so debilitating that they have affected work or life otherwise.

The only major issue I've had is that my normally near elite-level athlete lungs have turned into the lungs of a sofa-sitting chain smoker. At least that's what it feels like. Ugh. So exercise has been somewhat tough at times. But I'm still exercising on average 5 days a week...

Yeah, yeah. I know it could be worse, and I know that I'm doing better than "the average woman." Although I am not average. I am used to doing a bit more. Much more. At you're-not-working-out-hard-enough-if-you-don't-taste-blood-in-your-mouth intensity. But even if I didn't suddenly get smokers' lung, I would have to cut back on the intensity level for the sake of my unborn baby anyway. (And Krav Maga is out until the baby is born. I found out I was pregnant a week before G2 grading, so I couldn't do that... boo!) Taking it easy takes some getting used to. But unless I'm on medical orders to do so, there's no way I'm going to give up my exercise!

Anyway, running. Yeah, I'm still running. Well, now it's more like a fast jog. Part of it is due to having to haul around a growing Ring of Baby. It's also the smokers' lung thing; I huff and puff a lot. At least at the start of the run/jog. It's always been this way and it doesn't seem to be getting better. My doc OKed me to use Ventoline, so I'll try to see if that helps. Otherwise, I've found that I have to do a longer warm-up, 10 minutes or so, and mix running/jogging and walking in that warm-up. Once I get past that stage, I'm actually able to do a proper 20-30 minute run/jog.

I've also noticed a major shift in my center of gravity, and this is affecting my technique. This is why I love my Freaky Fuschia Five Fingers more and more. Because I'm not restricted to a certain unnatural running style with these shoes, as opposed to traditional over-constructed running shoes, I can easily adjust to the changes in my body, and still run/jog comfortably. Brilliant stuff! I can't wait to see what kind of looks I will get, once Ring of Baby turns into a Ball of Baby, and I'm jogging along with my FFFFs... :-P

25.6.10

Hah!

I'm finally able to do unassisted pull-ups (or chin-ups?) again. With my palms facing away from me. OK, it's just one or two at a time, but I can do them!