New Goal: Healthy Gain

You've hopefully been to my main blog and learned about my special blessing from God that's growing in my belly right now.

This pregnancy will give new direction for this blog for a while. I'm determined to have the healthiest pregnancy and weight gain yet. I feel like I've learned more with each pregnancy that I bring to the next.

Pregnancy #1: Weight was in the 150's, ate whatever I wanted, exercised little, gained 35-40lbs. I stopped paying attention at the end because the number was going too high!! Took me 9 months to get back to pre-pregnancy weight and then lost a bit more after (also thanks to being super sick before a gallbladder surgery).

Pregnancy #2: Weight was in the 140's, tried to eat more healthily, exercised pretty consistently in 2nd trimester and most of 3rd trimester. Gained 30ish lbs and it took me 6-7 months to get back to my starting weight and then I was able to lose a bit more.

Pregnancy #3: Weight is in the 130's, goal is to eat well and exercise throughout the pregnancy and not gain more than 30lbs (hopefully less).

Although I've been dealing with nausea these last few months, I've tried to stay consistent with exercise. I definately haven't exercised as much as I was--but still keeping at it. Most of my running happens in the evening and that's just not going to happen with pregnancy. I'm so tired usually by the end of the day that I don't have the energy to pack up the stuff and the kids and get to the lake.

Starting next week I plan to run Monday and Friday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. If I can get another run in, or even some short target spot videos (we have a ton for free on our cable network) during the week, that will be a bonus.

When I found out I was pregnant, I decided my goal was to gain no more than 3lbs during the first trimester. Definately not being able to eat much in the evenings helps with that goal. When I found out yesterday I was already into my 2nd trimester, I realized I met my goal!! I'm still under a 3lb gain.

Not sure yet what my goal will be for the 2nd trimester. Obviously more than 3lbs! But I'm hoping if I have these goals, and track my weight regularly, I won't gain as much as with previous pregnancies.

Of course, I always eat if I'm hungry--but if it's not meal time, I try to drink a glass of milk or eat fruit or cheese.

If I'm too fatigued to exercise, I don't. I am simply trying to hold steady with my running, not increase my speed. I have no doubt I will begin to slow down more and more as the weeks progress. Eventually I may just be walking, but I've read of women who've run through an entire pregnancy and I'd love that to be me. Only if it's safe.

Hopefully this blog will provide some accountability for me as I've shared all the facts and will keep it updated with my progress--the good and the bad!