Just enough to hit all the key points

When I woke up this morning, I thought it was going to be a stay-in-bed day. I'd had a crappy sleep and had to get up at the crack of dawn for a chiropractor appointment. But Chiro Kelly set me straight, and I was able to brave the elements to get to the gym. That was the highlight... My workout was tough, and the walk home from the grocery store even tougher.

I started with a walk:

Walking - 2/3 mile - 3.2 mph/10% grade/12:40 min

I'd meant to go 3/4 mile, but had an everlasting contraction and my back was seriously aching so I called it quits. I had to take a 2-3 minute break sitting down to let the midsection to unwind.

I took it easy thereafter, rotating through the following sets:

Squats - 45 x 12, 12, 12
Presses - 45 x 14, 10, 9
Seated row - 75 x 10, 8, 7

And that's it. I did an extra long stretch and then headed to the grocery store. And by the time I was headed home from there I was tired. And my back hurt. And it took forever to walk home. But I made it. And will live long enough to make supper, including brownies. :-)

Weigh-in - 159!

Chatting at the gym

French gym dude: 'Ow many weeks?
H: 35 weeks.
FGD: [calculating in his head]...
H: In two or three weeks, I'll be ready to go!
FGD: [looks pregnant lady up and down, raises eyebrows] You do vay-ray well!
H: [sheepish] Well, I'm trying...

Here is what I was doing:

1000 m row/5:18

21-15-12 reps:

"Kettlebell" (db) deadlift - 40 lb*
Incline chest press - 20 lb dbs
Step ups - Did reps per leg
Lat pulls - 70 (reality: 21-10-10)

* Using a db instead of kb meant I didn't have to bend very low for these, but the height was pretty much perfect for what I could handle. It's a good alternative to the RDLs I've been relying on lately.

Back extensions - 8, 8, 8 (This was risky because my back is already under a lot of strain, but I stopped each rep before it began to hurt.)

1000 m row/5:22

Catching up

I didn't make it out last Friday because we went away for the weekend. A weekend during we which mostly just sat and ate. In a good way. Ah well. It felt good to move again today (though frankly, most workouts are followed by an afternoon of not being able to walk without staggering and groaning -- my sacro-iliac area really seizes up afterward. This has been the case for months now, after workouts specifically.)

Anyway, I'm still taking it easy-ish on the weights, mainly because I've begun thinking of the giant belly as holding an actual person who needs protection. So I'm being a bit more cautious.

So, today:

Walking - 2/3 mile, 3.2 mph @ 10% grade (10-11 minutes?)
DB presses - 17.5 dbs x 12; 20 dbs x 8, 7, 7
Presses - 45 x 10
Calf raises (BW, single-leg) - 10, 10, 10/leg
Squats - 55 x 12, 12, 12
RDLs - 65 x 13, 12, 12
Rowing - 1500 m/7:55 min

It all felt fine. No major contraction action. I would walk for longer -- I don't get too out of breath and my legs are okay on the grade -- but my hands get uncomfortably swollen from swinging, and my back begins to hurts early on, even though the grade actually feels like it make it easier on my back than flat walking would be. So mixing it up with rowing seems like the right thing to do. The feels like it works my lower posterior (calves through butt), and the rowing works the upper posterior. Just what I need.

Weigh-in: 156.

Apparently, I'm not likely to gain much more weight from now to the end. All my parts are in place, and though the baby will likely gain another 2 lbs or thereabouts, he'll be displacing amniotic fluid at the same time. And god forbid my hands take on any more water...

Bodyweight helps to avoid contractions

I had a great workout today! As in, it felt really good. I wasn't even going to go -- I thought I might go for a walk instead -- because all last evening and through the night I experienced fairly continuous contractions. Which aren't uncomfortable per se, but they make it uncomfortable to move much (and can also be a sign of "overdoing it"). So I played it by ear today, and just rested for most of the day. By the afternoon, I realized I felt fine and hadn't been contracting, so I decided to head to the gym for a gentle bodyweight workout. I find bodyweight workouts can still be really intensive, because I tend to push through the reps quickly. I also mixed things up by starting with a hill-walk.

Walking - 1/2 mile @ 3 mph/12% grade (10 minutes)

3 rounds:
Row - 500m (2:22, 2:24, 2:35 min)
18 push-ups - knees on bench, hands on dbs (20 on the last set)
40 squats

I had a contraction during the last rowing set, so had to go a little slower. Those squats are HARD! I can do the first 20 at a good steady pace, but during the second half of the set I have to pause for about 3 breaths after every 5 reps or so. I can do the push-ups without a break (and at a good pace). I try to touch my forehead or belly to the floor on each rep. Whichever touches first!

According to my sources, increased contractions are normal for this point in pregnancy. The ole uterus is just getting warmed up for the big show!

Weigh-in: 155. Expecting the chocolate pudding to show up at any time.

I'm writing this immediately after returning home from the gym/grocery store. It feels like the baby thinks we're still at the gym, and is doing a few more sets...

Maybe scaling back

I took it a bit easy today, even though I didn't feel tired at all. At 34 weeks, I'm a month from term (ie: ready to deliver), and feeling the baby so much that it really seems like a living thing in there. So I'm feeling a bit... cautious and protective. I'm not sure if I'll keep feeling this way or if it's just today, but I kind of think it's okay if it persists.

Row - 2000 m/10:27 min

Push-ups (full-length, suspended*) - 3, 2
Thrusters - 40 x 13, 11, 10
RDLs - 60 x 15, 15, 15
Press - 60 x 4

Row - 1000 m/5:25 min

* Feet on a step bench, hands on 10 lb dumbells. I lowered til my belly touched, and elbows bent further than 90 degrees. These were hard. I just wanted (again) to see if I could.

Another quirky pregnancy symptom: sweat. As in, my ability (or tendency) to do so recently increased yet another notch. That's probably all I need to say about that.

Weigh-in: 155. Back down, despite ongoing randomized swelling. Must've been the extra helping of chocolate pudding that Angela force-fed me last night. No wait, that's not how it works... ?

See? It does get better.

I felt like a normal person again today. Phewf. A good thing, because I have plenty of things to do today besides working out (groceries, housecleaning, attempt gluten-free pastry from scratch, hosting bookclub... get up at 4 AM to see hubby off on his trip...) So, to warm up for the busy:

Row - 2000 m / 10:30 min
Squats - 45 x 15, 15, 15
Seated row (close grip) - 75 x 10, 8, 8
Bench dips (feet on a ball) - 10, 10, gave up to avoid permanent wrist damage*
DB presses - 17.5 dbs x 10, 8, 8
Calf presses (single leg, bw) - 10/leg x 3
Plank - 55, 50 seconds
Row - 1000 m / 5:20 min

* I think we've seen the end of the bench dips for now. They hurt my wrists. A lot. (Hm, maybe I should try real dips? Wrists position is a bit more neutral, and if I can do sets of 10 with my feet on a ball, surely I could do one or two full dips?)

Feeling less puffy today, but still weighing in around 157.

Not even Rage Against the Machine could save this workout

I must remember that there have been good days and bad days throughout. And I will continue to have good days ... I will remember this on days like today, when I think this out "working out" thing must be drawing to a close, that I'm too big, and have no energy left. When I can't imagine dragging myself another step...

On my way to the gym today, I almost convinced myself to bypass it entirely, get the groceries, go home, and go to bed. I was tired. Despite the big sleep-in this morning. But I kept going, and managed this circuit:

4 rounds:
Row - 500 m (2:50, 2:43, 2:38, 2:32 -- slow because tired, but at least I improved!)
Push-ups* - 25, 20, 18, 18
15 RDLS - 50, 60, 65 lbs (I only did 3 rounds; my hands and back were toast)

* I have a new and improved method for pregnant push-ups: knees on a step bench, hands on 10 lb dbs (gives extra inches and takes some strain off the wrists), lower myself 'til my belly touches the floor (resulting in an elbow bend of much further than 90 degrees). These are considerably harder than the regular girlie push-ups -- as the numbers show. (The 1st set was done without the dbs and my belly didn't quite touch, so I was able to do a few extra.)

Weigh-in: 157. The extra weight is water, and it's all in my hands. That's what it feels like, anyway. Yuck.

Press PB and weird pregnancy symptoms

After a relaxing weekend during which my total physical exertion consisted of snowshoeing about 200 m and back (then collapsing immediately back on the couch), I felt I at least should have the energy for some weights today. So I gave this a whirl:

Row - 1500 m/7:50 min

Squats - 50 x12, 55 x12, 60 x12, 65 x10
Presses - 50 x10, 55 x7, 60 x6, 65* x3, 1, 0
Calf presses (BW, single-leg) - 10, 10, 10/leg
Lat pulls (chin-up grip) - 100 x 8, 8, 6

Row - 1000 m/5:30 min

I cut my last row a little short (I'd planned another 1500 m) because my arms were killing me, I was getting tired, and I still had to stop for groceries AND walk home. So. I was pleased that my hands survived the workout though. A strange thing has occurred, and my midwife-consultants have chalked it up to the affects of both relaxin and mild edema: all the joints in my hands/fingers ache like crazy. I don't seem to be having any other joint problems (even the odd twinge of sciatica is no worse than during the frisbee season), but my hands? I feel like an old lady in that particular place.

Also, the hair on my legs seems to have stopped growing. Or it's disappeared. Anyway, I'm apparently off the hook for shaving for awhile, which is good because my legs are getting harder to reach.

Finally the weigh-in = 155. Progress!

High reps again, plus push-ups!

Another high-rep/bodyweight day. I feel like I've grown exponentially in the past week, so this continues to be a great workout:

3 rounds:
500 m row (2:25 min)
40 squats
15 lat pulls (70 lb)
10/leg calf presses (standing, single leg)

Finished with:
1500 m row (8:10 min)
5 full-length push-ups!! (yes, my belly touches when elbows hit 90 degrees)
Plank - 35 sec (but this was after the push-ups)

I am going to look shit-hot in a tank top this summer. Even if said tank top is milk-stained...

So. Very. Tired.

I dragged my ass to the gym yesterday because I know it's the only way to help alleviate the swelling in my hands and feet. Oh the joys. I don't think I would've gone if I didn't have a car at my disposal. Yes, it's true - I drove the one kilometre to the gym. (I did have to get groceries after though, so...)

Anyway, the workout was pretty good, all considered:

Row - 1500 m/10:55 min

3 rounds:
15 squats - 50 lb
15 good-mornings - 50 lb
13, 10, 10 bench dips - feet on a ball
(All of these were pretty hard -- had to really squeeze to get out the last couple reps of every set.)

Row - 1000 m/8:15 min

No extras. Just groceries, home, and staggering through the rest of the day, tragically napless.

(Weight - no change.)

Variation on a theme

I feel like I've grown a lot all of sudden, and am starting to feel a little... awkward. My range of motion while rowing has suddenly diminished -- I can't really lean forward or back, just move my legs and arms in an out. So each row is shorter. I'm trying to focus on pulling really hard to my chest, while squeezing my shoulder blades together. No idea if this is a good idea, but I want to get as much back workout out of the rowing as possible.

Anyway, the circuit today was similar to the last, but with some weight. And an extra set. And now I am very tired and need a nap. Am consider making pizza for supper instead of the more energy-intensive meatloaf.

4 rounds:
500 m row (2:28 min, quite consistently)
9, 8, 7, 7 presses (55 lb)
14 walking lunges (30 lb, except first "tester" set - 25 lb/16 rep)

Finished with:
12 presses @ 40 lb
1000 m row (steady - 5:20 min)

No ab-specific stuff. Everything feels ab-heavy these days!

I was thrilled to feel no discomfort on the lunges. Taking time off from exercises that were hard on the pelvis has work. Of course now, I'll probably have to wait another 3 weeks to do lunges again.

Weigh-in: 154. I'm supposed to be gaining like a pound a week as the baby packs it on. There hasn't been much (if any) change in the past month, so I'm not sure what will happen. Curious.