Well, having a job, being a mom, and being pregnant is really cutting into my blogging time. Although I am not writing as often as I had hoped,  there also hasn't been too much to report.

I did have my obligatory pregnancy freak out a couple weeks ago. Long story short, I was home during the last 2 days of the guys polyurethaning the floors. No, I didn't hang out inside all day, but I certainly got my fair share of toxic fumes. I couldn't help but imagine all the damage that was occurring to this baby every minute i spent in the house. And let me tell you, "googling" is NEVER a good idea. Of course there is nothing online that tells you it is ok  to breath in those fumes when you are pregnant! Everything talks about how that is some "toxic shit"!  Great.

So, in the end, I did what all of us should do when we have these moments- I called my doctor and spoke to the nurse. It does help to hear from the professionals that they have never had someone exposed to that level of polyurethane who had any problems. It also helps to remember that my mom(along with many other women)was smoking during this time..talk about breathing in toxic fumes! So, time has passed and I am now over it..pretty much:)

Other than that little episode, I'd say things are progressing very nicely. I feel much better. I am working out 3-5 times a week with 1-2 days of circuit training and 2-3 days of just cardio(elliptical or outside walks). The weather is certainly helping with the cardio. And my diet is getting back to normal. My meals are, once again, consisting of whole grains, proteins, vegetables, fruits, and dairy. The snacking and deserts, however, have been kicked up a notch:) But, there is the fun of pregnancy...you have to let loose a little.

It is fun to see the belly, and what I am waiting for now is to really feel the baby move around. I can feel a little, but when he/she really gets going, I will be happy:) It is just more reassurance that I have a healthy little cutie in there.
My next appointment will be the big one when they do all the measurements to make sure everything is on track. I can hardly wait! So, assuming everything stays on track, I will write more after that!
Thanks for following, and again, feel free to write in with any questions/comments.
-J

Well, it has been quite a few months. But after countless pregnancy tests and 2 miscarriages, I am happy to say, I am pregnant. I am just 12 weeks, but feel confident that I can resume my blogging. Already, however, I need to change the name of my story with the addition of a tag line- "Follow A Trainer Through Pregnancy…It's Not What You Think!"

Initially, my assumption was this pregnancy would be just like my first. And I would show people how with a few extra bread products and sleep, you really can continue what you were doing. Hell, I ran for the first 6 months with Elsa. Well, that is NOT what is happening with this one:)

These last 6 weeks were similar to my first pregnancy, but heightened to a level I was not anticipating. And it really did kick in right around week 6(when the baby latches on).  It was a Monday, and all of a sudden, the thought of coffee, beer, and any vegetable was just sickening! A very foreign feeling for me regarding all three of these items:) And this really did last for a full 4-5 weeks. I had such random things to eat throughout that month. Trying to stay on track, but finding it very difficult.  For example, one night for dinner, the only thing that I could imagine putting into my mouth was a big bowl of rice with butter and salt…Good news was that it was whole grain rice. Another low point was when we ordered chinese food. I  tried to be good by ordering hot and sour soup and steamed vegetable wontons(which tasted horrible). So, what did I end up eating thanks to my mom's order? - soup, a spring roll, and general tso's chicken! I haven't had that in over 10 years. This time around, it really did feel out of my control. I had to eat whatever sounded appealing and what I thought would settle my stomach.

Soup-That was another random craving-I had soup every day for about 2 weeks. Not fresh vegetable puree soups like I would normally have. No, apparently baby wanted noodle soup..lots and lots of noodle soup. I found some trader joe's brand that seemed to satisfy, but I tell ya, I was VERY close to stocking up on Ramen Noodles from Bj's!

Bubbly drinks- another must have. Just the thought of plain water(which is basically all I ever drink throughout the day) was enough to make me gag. In the beginning, those poland spring seltzers did the trick. The problem is I over did it. I went through a case in about a week. And once that happens, you have to move onto something else. After that, I NEEDED flavor with my bubbles. Well, I have not had soda of any kind in at least 5 if not closer to 8 years. I just don't like it as a product, and I find it too sweet. But, you should see my fridge right now. I tried so many different brands claiming to be a more sophisticated soda…what I settled on was Gus Soda.."the adult soda". Their "cola" was exactly what I needed..Basically, it's a coke.  But it is a little less sweet while maintaining that medicinal syrupy effect. I only had a couple of these over the few weeks, but that was a savior when I needed something.

It is interesting to note my diet prior to this: I had taken out products with any added cane sugar. My diet included whole grains, vegetables, lean proteins, and only snack products with no added cane sugar. Foods were only sweetened with honey or agave. Of course, I kept in my high calorie beers. And whenever we went out to dinner or to someone's house, that way of eating went out the window-I mean come on, I wouldn't want to be rude :) So as you can imagine, this past month was quite a change. But, it had to be done, and I have not given myself any grief!

Then, all of a sudden around week 10, the idea of an iced latte sounded fabulous-Of course, not having caffeine for a full month had it's effects. Not only did I feel fabulous and alert, I was up until 1 in the morning! But side effects aside, I was welcoming the change. The past 2 weeks have been a slow process of returning to my normal way of eating-with a few additions of course….namely cheese. A whole new thing that I never really cared for. But hey, baby needs it's calcium:)

So here is the liberating effect of pregnancy. I am not beating myself up for any of this! You do what you have to do, and try to make smart decisions whenever a healthy item sounds good. For example, I've made myself a salad for lunch 3 times over the past week.  I've been snacking on things like whole grain crackers(no longer do they have to be without cane sugar), cottage cheese, carrots and hummus. But, when I am craving a frozen hot chocolate from Dunkin or an espresso frappaccino from Starbucks, well then, bring it on:) Can you tell what I've been in the mood for during this heat wave? This is the "extra" I allow myself. Pregnancy is not a time to go crazy and eat crap all day every day, but you can loosen up those diet reigns and allow yourself those indulgences without the guilt. As I said, I find it quite liberating.

Exercise- another aspect that is "slightly" different than last time. I guess being 5 years younger had it's effects.
The first time around, I continued my long runs for about 4 months and then at least 4-5 miles a couple times a week until month 6. Very different these days. First of all, running went out the window immediately. Early in the pregnancy I had a cyst on my ovary which was causing pain when I ran. So, right away, I was hesitant of "working through pain". This fear was probably heightened due to the 2 miscarriages. So, I continued with walking. And as I said, this past month was a struggle. I went from working out 5-6 days a week to 2 or 3. And the workouts were definitely downsized. But again, I did what I could and what felt right. I worked with weights maybe once or twice a week, and then just did the arc trainer or went for a 30 minute walk the other days. It is important to try to maintain some level of routine. And now that I am finishing my 1st trimester, I feel things on the exercise front are also getting closer to normal. I am able to do weights about 2-3 times a week, and I have continued with my cardio walking and arc trainer another 2-3 days.  And it really does make a difference. Any amount of exercise improves energy and overall mood. As the pregnancy progresses, the exercises will be modified for safety and comfort, but the goal is to keep them in as long as I can!

Well, I think we are all caught up and I will continue with the blogging going forward. If anyone has any questions or feedback, feel free to write!

Thanks!
-J

So why do we take vitamins?  We do so to prevent colds, have healthier pregnancies, increase our immune system, and simply for overall health. What is important to remember, however, is that some of the vitamins we take are water soluble. What this means is our bodies will only absorb a certain amount of each vitamin and then get rid of the rest. 

Vitamin C, for example. This is a very common one, especially during the winter. There are many products claiming to have 1000mgs of vitamin C. So, you take this Vitamin C bomb, and you think your body is taking in all that extra vitamin C right?. Wrong. What happens is your body absorbs it's maximum amount(about 250mgs) in the first 1 or 2 hrs, and you just pee out the rest. If you really want to battle a cold with Vitamin C, you are better off getting a chewable 250mg tablet, and taking one every 2 hrs throughout the day. This way, your body is consistently taking in the vitamin and, therefore, helping your immune system.

And I do the same for Folic Acid. We are told to make sure that we get plenty of Folic Acid if we are, or are trying to become, pregnant. Again, your body will only take in so much per dose. I take one Folic acid pill in the morning(800mcgs), and one viactiv multi vitamin at lunch(with 400mcgs of folic acid) and another viactiv after dinner. 

With these key vitamins that we take throughout our lives, I feel it is important to consider staggering the dose to maximize our body's absorption of each vitamin. 

Just something to consider:)

-J

Here is the article that will be published in the Westport Minuteman:

Exorcise Sadness With Exercise

Sadness is a part of the human condition, but “being sad isn’t the same as being depressed,” suggests Dr. John Ratey, noted Harvard professor and clinician whose recent book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain touts the importance of physical activity on both our mental and physical performance.

If you have sad feelings that never go away or recur at particular times despite your best efforts to care for yourself, you might be experiencing something more than a minor personal setback. There are several common symptoms of depression that suggest it may be time for professional help, especially if they occur over several weeks. They are:

•   feeling sad, empty or tearful for the majority of most days; 

•   significant loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable; 

•   significant non-dieting weight loss or weight gain; noticeable decrease or increase in appetite;

•   difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much;

•   fatigue, or slowing down of thoughts and reduction of physical movements;

•   agitation;

•   feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt;

•   poor concentration or decision making; and,

•   thoughts of death or suicide.

Seeking help from a therapist is an important step toward healing; however, an increasing number of mental health professionals recommend consistent exercise as an equally important part of the overall therapeutic process. Why? Depressed moods, sleeping problems and anxiety affect our productivity … and not just productivity in the classic sense of being creative or productive at work, but in the personal sense of maintaining relationships and juggling responsibilities. Feeling unworthy in these areas has an across-the-board impact on our ability to handle basic aspects of modern life: caring for ourselves, caring for others, and actively participating in society.

The brain, like our muscles, grows with use and withers with inactivity.    

Since our brains are ultimately responsible for what our bodies do, it is critical to keep them both in tip-top shape.

Authors Brett J. D’Elia (CPT) and Nicole O’Brien (M.A., LMFT) are the principals of Charged! Strength Training Studios and Fairfield Psychotherapy, respectively. Both are located at 1275 Post Rd., Suite A20 at the Brick Walk. For more information on the mind-body connection, private personal training or personal therapeutic services, visit  Chargedstudios.com or Fairfieldpsychotherapy.com, or contact 203.254.7211, training@chargedstudios.com, or therapy@chargedstudios.com.