Just before Christmas I found out I’m pregnant! WooHoo! We couldn’t be more psyched - it’s taken 1 miscarriage and 2 years to get to this point. We’re definitely excited and blessed.

The week of Christmas I was at the gym 4 times - my heart rate was really high so I just scaled the cardio back some but I thought - “yah man, I can do this pregnancy thing! I rock!”

I’m 8 weeks now though and I could use some encouragement. I made it to the gym 2x last week and had great workouts but I was exhausted the next day. And the “morning” (it happens multiple times throughout the day) sickness is bad. I eat a little bit every hour but I’m having to use a timer this week to keep me moving just a tiny bit. Like, set the timer and do some chores - set the timer and sit - repeat.

I know that this is completely normal and that this stage should pass soon but I’m a “get up at go” and “pull my bootstraps up” kinda gal so it’s been tough not beating myself up not getting to the gym or eating enough calories.

So, I thought I’d make a commitment to post here to remind myself of the difference that Scott talked about this week between focus and energy. My focus is to be a fit, happy, healthy, pregnant wife yet my energy is going into making a baby. As long as I keep my focus my energy will return and I’ll get back on track in no time.

Today I walked the dog for 10 minutes.
I’ve kept down: 1 slice Ezekiel bread with 1 Tbsp almond butter and 1 tsp. honey, 1 cup tea with milk and 1 tsp. sugar, 1/3 c. cottage cheese, 1 package apple-cinnamon oatmeal, 1 mug peppermint tea, small spinach salad, 1/2 chicken breast

Directions:
1) Place turkey tenderloins in a sealable plastic bag and set aside.

2) In a small bowl combine soy sauce, mustard and rosemary.  Pour over turkey, seal bag and shake to coat.  Marinate in the refrigerator for 1-4 hours shaking once or twice.

3) Preheat oven on the broiler setting.  Remove the turkey from the marinade and place on rack in the broiler pan.  Broil 4 inches from the heat, turning once, for 15-20 minutes or until meat is cooked through and when pierced with a fork the juices run clear.  Slice and serve with cranberry chutney (I did not serve with the chutney).

4 servings
Calories:  155
Total fat:  3.4g
Protein:  26g
Carbs:  0

Note:  The nutrition data includes information for the full amount of the marinade ingredients.  Depending on marinating time, ingredients, cooking method, etc., the actual amount of the marinade consumed will vary.

Day 1

Weight: 134 3/4 lbs (or 9st 8 3/4lbs in UK speak)

Target: 133lbs (9st 7lbs)

I’ve been hovering near my target for a couple of weeks now and even got to 133 1/4lbs a couple of times but an eating extravaganza to London put over 2lbs back on, I spent a week losing it, and then managed to put a bit back on this weekend. No worries just back to the treadmill today!

Warm up on the bike, some chest and back weights, followed by 1 hr on the treadmill - 8-9% incline and 5km/hr.

I started a new job yesterday. Yay! There was one down-side, though. You see, at my last job, I could wear jeans to work. All my more formal pants were bought two years and fifteen pounds ago. Yesterday I discovered that all those pants (which I need to wear for my new job) are too tight! Oh, no!

Taking matters into my own hands, I’ve decided to walk more. I absolutely abhor walking on a treadmill, but walking with a destination in mind is fine. Therefore, my plan is to walk into work on days when it’s not raining. It’s exactly 5k (about 3 miles). According to Google Maps, it should be a 61-minute walk. I did it this morning in 53 minutes, but it’s all hilly, with a steep uphill part towards the beginning and a long downhill bit towards the end. (You can see what I’m talking about if you select the “terrain” view.)

The reason this is a 75-day challenge and not a 100-day challenge is that 75 days from now, May 18, is my birthday. Woot! The goal is to fit comfortably into my work pants by that point. (Whether that’ll be the full 15 pounds or not remains to be seen.) In the meantime, my mom apparently still has the larger-size pants I gave her to give to charity, when I was absolutely certain I would never need larger-size pants again, and I may take one pair or two just so I’m not super-uncomfortable for the next few weeks.

Anyway…

Day 1: 53-minute walk into work, 5 kilometers

Cheers,
Julie

Day 1 3.73 miles 581 calories
Day 2 2.99 miles 464 calories
Day 3 rest (alarm didn’t go off, setting 2 tomorrow.  This wont happen again!)

All help and support is great!  Thanks everyone!  Scott, Joi and Carlyn please jump in!  I appreciate any input!!!!

I have been doing treadmill since 1st of Jaunuary but today i put th eincline to 7 and walked a little iota above a mile to burn 200 caloories. That takes some of the cerea, toast ,banana and yogurt off. I should have read my pulse rate before i started but i did get it up to 94 and that is pretty good considering i had taken my Propranolol with breakfast and it slows it weigh down. I have premature ventrical coontractions for maye 35 years. I always feel really good as far as heart goes i have never had to gointo doctor except for yearly refill of the medicene so i must have it well under control.

Do any of you have suggestions of a product or food one can take to rid the body of a abundance of water? I occasionly feel puffy as i had a difficult time takin goff my ring this morning. I guess i can go to doctor and get her advice.

Anyhow i weighed intoday at 144.2, i am a little disapointed because I have ben trying to be very good eating but probably the portions to big. I made a subway veggie sandwich for lunch yesterday and for dinner black bean burritos but i at 2 of them. Well i will work more with the food portions.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  i think i will go chovel somemore snow for exercise this afternoon.

Over a year ago I had gained 10 pounds above my normal weight.  I worked and got it down to only 5 and have maintained it at 5 over my goal.  The painful little things I had to do to get rid of the first 5 are second nature now.  It’s time for wave two.  Time to identify and eliminate more bad habits to get to my goal. 

Very challenging.  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SELF RESTRAINT???? ha!

1. Finish getting over my knee/leg injury and remember to stretch after exercising no matter what else I have to do.
2. Get back to 143 pounds by January 31st.
3. Get to 140 pounds by May 1st. (The lower the weight, the harder it is for me to achieve the goal).
4. Get a picture from my 40th college reunion in June to replace the horrid one from my 35th reunion that served as motivation for changing.
5. Finally manage to do full body push ups. This has been a goal for about 3 years and I’ve gotten close but haven’t accomplished it.
6. Run a 5K in less than 30 minutes in the spring/summer.
7. Continue to do things outside my comfort zone (things that fit within my values)

Plan:

Work off 2000 calories per week at the gym. Continue to get my husband to stretch my legs once or twice a day. Practice the push ups. Start a food log. Go back to training for running in March. Complete at least one of the various projects that I have partially done so I have a sense of accomplishment.

I’m going on an eastern Mediterranean cruise in May so I need to be in good enough shape by May to allow for the change in routine while on the cruise and still maintain the changes I’ve attained over the past four years especially for the college reunion. The good thing is that the two family members we’re going with are as dedicated to exercise as my husband and I are so I know they’ll support my time in the gym while on the cruise.

Today: 30 minutes on the elliptical and 35 minutes walking at 3.5 mph at one degree on the treadmill. 405 calories, 55% fat. That makes my total for this week so far 899 calories. As long as my leg keeps improving, I should have no trouble reaching 2000 calories by Saturday.