Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Freak of nature

I took some of my birthday and Christmas money (thank you, Santa!) to the running store for a new pair of shoes today. After a dalliance with my old flame, Asics, I have realized that my blocky Brooks Addiction really are the ones for me. I went through the rigamarole of getting fitted, since it's been a whole pregnancy and shoe redesign since I last bought a pair.

And it turns out I am possibly the only woman on the planet to go from a regular width shoe to a narrow width shoe after pregnancy. I know, you're so jealous! Of course, it would be much more envy-worthy if the same transformation had happened to my posterior.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The girls strike again

We've had lots of cold, rainy weather lately. I had about 45 minutes in which to squeeze in a run today - not enough time to get to the gym and back with any kind of decent workout, so I decided to brave the cold drizzle for an outdoor run. I got dressed in my cold weather gear, and then pulled out my water resistant shell. When I went to zip it up, I found that it wouldn't. The girls are just too big, even when "double bagged" as Louise put it. So I went to pull on my quilted Brooks jacket. Again, no way were the girls fitting in that (and honestly, the postpartum belly made that one impossible, too). I finally settled on the baggy fleece that I wore through week 32 of my pregnancy. Good grief.

It was late spring after Max was born when I really started running, so I never needed anything heavier than a t-shirt until he was well established on solids and the girls had already started shrinking again. If I'm going to keep this up, I'll have to invest in some cool weather gear that actually fits my postpartum and nursing physique.

In happier news, I'm now running 3:30/walking 1:30. Foul weather really ups my motivation to run fast!

And happy birthing thoughts to Louise, who is either just about to or just has given birth to her new baby!! I must mention that she ran her entire pregnancy, and ran 4 miles as recently as a couple of weeks ago. Hats off to her! So congrats Louise, and welcome, Baby!!!

Three for the road

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The first double buggy ride last week - Max was crying because the sun was in his eyes, and Sami was crying because that's what babies do. But we all made it around the block in one piece, though I may have left my sanity somewhere along the way.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Plodding along

The miracle weight loss that occurred after Max was born hasn't occurred this time. Yikes. I am not terribly overweight, but I am about 8 pounds above a comfortable weight, and a good 15 above where I'd *really* like to be. Since the initial 15 pound weight loss, I've been eking out a pound per week, which is healthy, but still very frustrating.

So I am making a conscientious effort to quit eating so much junk, and to exercise each and every day. Not so tough right now, but I wonder how I'm going to keep up the exercise routine once I'm back at work. I'm averaging about 45 minutes per day of some kind of exercise - running, walking, lifting weights/stretching. And that's EVERY day. How on earth can I squeeze that into my lunch hour and eat my lunch, and pump 2-3 times per day, and run errands, and make healthy meals for my family and breastfeed and and and and...

I just need to remind myself that I trained for a marathon with a nursing infant, I can definitely maintain a basic level of fitness. It's just going to take a whole new kind of commitment this time around. To seal that commitment, I've already signed myself up for the New Year's Day 5K (13 days away!), the Martha Jefferson 8K in March, and the 10 Miler in April. The jury's still out on the C'ville Half on April 18, but as long as I'm in 10 miler shape two weeks before, I might as well do the half, right? I'll find some way to make more hours in the day.

Monday, December 15, 2008

I did it!!

I actually ran!! I took advantage of the balmy weather while Max was at school and Sami was chillin' with the Supportive Husband. I ran 3 min, walked 2 min for 20 min. I know, nothing spectacular, but hey, I JUST gave birth less than four weeks ago, and I haven't run since I was 20 weeks pregnant. It wasn't quite the euphoric experience I've been having in my dreams, but I'm on a high anyway. I did it!

I managed to squeeze the girls into one of the sports bras I used when I was nursing Max, but since I didn't start running until he was a good 6 weeks older, I'm spilling out, and it really isn't enough support. I had to hold my posture strangely erect to keep things comfortable; I felt like the prow of a ship. My core muscles are conspicuously absent. And I definitely need new shoes (helloooooo Santa!!). But I did it! I'm back!!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

On the road again

I ran all of about a half a block today. The nursing boobs were NOT happy - I definitely need new running bras. Yes, Mama is back in fine form and talking about her boobs again. And the running did not feel like the running I've been doing in my dreams. I felt heavy and slow. And large chested.

I did manage to get both kids in the stroller for the first time today! Max happily climbed in and kept up his usual commentary - "Hey, that's a big truck. Mom, why aren't we on the sidewalk? Look at the Christmas!" - while Sami wailed the entire time. Naturally, she settled in and fell asleep just as we pulled up in front of our house.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

In fine form

And the wagon has come to a screeching halt. I've got a sinus-y head cold that is exacerbated by the lack of sleep that comes with a newborn. Plus it is raining. So there will be no run today.

I started having running dreams again, like I did during my pregnancy with Sami. In them I'm running, I'm fast and light and euphoric. And then the baby cries and I wake up all tired and heavy and sick and lactating and it's some ridiculous hour of the night, and making that dream come true is just out of my reach.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Game on!

I could never believe those women who were at the gym days after giving birth, until now. I had the world's easiest birth, left the hospital the next day, and felt completely recovered almost immediately. Boy oh boy did I luck out! Even after Max's relatively easy birth it was more than a week before I wanted to walk farther than the distance from the nursing chair to the bassinet.

I've been taking long walks daily since Sami was 2 or 3 days old, and today finally found time to hit the gym! Nothing hardcore - I walked there and back from my parents' place, which is maybe a mile total, and then lifted some weights and stretched. It felt great to be able to move and twist and bend again, though I'll admit that the emotional anguish of squeezing my postpartum belly into my workout gear more than made up for any lack of physical pain. I feel good, but I am definitely still recovering - I still have the feeling like my pelvis isn't connected all the way around, and I can practically feel my ligaments trying to knit themselves back together. Add in the ten extra pounds I'm still carrying, and general loss of muscle tone and I still have a really long way to go. But I am on track for the New Year's Day 5K, even though I'll probably walk all or most of it. I love having a goal again!