Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Operation lose the baby weight!

I finally started my postpartum workout program!! Woo-woo! I'm so excited about it! Operation lose the baby weight is in full swing :D. I was told by my doctor that I could begin working out again whenever I felt ready so I resumed my workouts when I was 3w 6d postpartum. I didn't exactly ease back into it, choosing to do some P90X workouts first thing. Haha. I know what you're thinking- "What?! She's cray cray!", and yes, I might be. But I felt ready so I went for it. I didn't want to do some lame-o super easy workouts. I took it easy on the workouts at the end of my pregnancy and I was ready to hit it hard. Now it didn't take me long to realize that my body is not what it used to be! Well obviously. I did just have a baby, after all ;]. But I am definitely my own biggest critic so it was hard for me to get back into my workouts and realize that they were a lot more difficult than they used to be. I did a mix of P90X and some postnatal boot camp DVDs that I got with a prenatal program I bought during my pregnancy. Everything seemed to be a tad more challenging for me so I stuck to these workouts for the first month. Then the fun started. And by fun I mean grueling postpartum program that's kicking my butt, haha. I'm doing Pretty Fierce Lean Out by Moms Into Fitness. If you've never heard of MIF, it's run by this amazing momma, Lindsay Brin. She's totally my new fitspiration! I mean seriously, look at her! It's hard to believe that she's had 3 kids! Ahhmazing. Anyways, the program recommends that you're at least 10 months postpartum. Ummm, yeah, I wasn't even 10 weeks when I started it but I am (was?) really fit to begin with so I figured I'd be okay to dive on in. I figured if I was doing some P90X routines before I was even a month postpartum I'd be okay to start this intensive program. And I think I was right. So far ;].

Pretty Fierce Lean Out is a 9 week program designed to help mommas lose the last 5-10lbs and tone up. I only have like 3-5lbs to lose but I think this regimen is perfect for me. You start by taking your measurements, doing a fit test, and running 1.5 miles to calculate your V02 max. Then weeks 1-4 focus on endurance; weeks 5-9 are all strength-based. I'm almost done week 2 right now and I'll tell you what, these workouts are no joke!! They've definitely been pushing my aerobic threshold! But I'm really not a cardio person to begin with. I'd rather lift all day. So these workouts have really been challenging me to keep up my good form when lifting but do my reps really fast to get my heart rate up. I like that there's a good mix of workouts- upper body, lower body, abs, yoga, aerobic and anaerobic. Plus, I love that the workouts aren't super long. It's nice to be done with my workout in under an hour and still be getting in an intense session! It's definitely a tough program but I'm glad that I'm doing it! I'm hoping for some good results. I'm looking forward to finishing the endurance phase and moving into the strength phase. But now, for the moment of truth. Solely for accountability and motivation purposes, I am going to document my measurements, fit test score, and V02 max. Eeeek. Don't judge!

Measurements Day 0
Shoulders: 37" (around)
Dominant arm: 10.25"
Chest: 37.75" (thank you nursing! Haha)
1" above navel: 29.5"
1" below navel: 34.75" (ouch! This is my worst trouble zone right now, for obvious reasons)
Hips: 35"
Dominant thigh: 22.5"
1" above dominant knee: 15"
Weight: 128-129lbs (depending on day/time)

Fit Test Day 0
Push-ups: 30
Squat jacks: 40
V-Ups: 24 (modified)
Switch kicks: 45 (R), 45 (L)

V02 Run Day 0
1.5 mile run time: 16:11
V02 calculated: 33.3762

I am soooo not a runner so that 1.5 mile run was a beast. My knees were killing me. Thank goodness my doctor gave me the green light to start taking glucosamine again! I am very, very far from where I want to be fitness-wise right now. But everyday I'm working on getting closer to my goal. My goal weight has been set at 117lbs. That is 7lbs less than I weighed pre-pregnancy (eek). I'm really hoping that I can get down to that but I'm honestly not too hung up on the number on the scale. I want to tone up and be more confident. If the number on the scale doesn't get as low as I want but I see the positive changes in my body I'll be happy.

On a side note here, as hard as I'm trying to tone up and lose those last few pounds I have to say that I am incredibly proud of my body! It carried a beautiful, perfect baby boy. It delivered my baby without as much as a dose of Tylenol. I'm very proud of myself for having a completely natural birth with Camden. It made me feel so incredibly strong and empowered!! It is truly amazing what the female body can do! Honestly, it's kind of hard for me to believe that I had Camden sans drugs. It wasn't easy. It was the hardest thing I ever did. But I DID IT. My body did it. If I can do that then I can definitely get into shape like I want to! I just need to set my mind to it and work hard. Just like I did during labor. But I'm not about to beat myself up and hate every inch of my now very different body. Not at all. I love my body for what it did. And if it's never quite the same again, that will be okay. Because everyday I get to look at and hold my beautiful son and rejoice in the fact that he's mine. He's worth all the sacrifices and changes. He's even worth the times I have to pause a workout to soothe him or just plant kiss on his smiling cheek. So if I never quite reclaim my pre-pregnancy body I'm okay with that. But I'm most certainly going to try to get in the best shape possible!

Right now I think the hardest thing for me is balancing calorie intake between losing weight and not losing my milk supply. I can't eat too little but at the same time I don't want to eat too much... I want to lose weight but continue nursing. It's a tough balancing act and I'm still trying to get it all figured out. I'm basically just adding one healthy snack per day to account for my breastfeeding caloric needs. But some days I feel super hungry and need to eat a little extra...I'm just hoping I can shed some fat even if the scale doesn't go down all that much. We'll see.

Okay, as usual this post ended up all too long so I'm going to end it here. I'll update my journey along the way and share my new measurements and fit test score after day 21 and my overall results at the end of the program. Wish me luck! :]

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

A few of our favorite things for momma

A few of our favorite things for momma

Since I shared a blog about some favorite things for baby it is only fitting that I make one for momma as well! These items are just a few of the things that have made a big difference for me in my first couple of months postpartum. Like I said with the baby favorites, this list could go on and on. But these are 8 items that I have found to be particularly useful in my first 7 weeks as a momma. 

1. Starbucks tumbler or any other cute tumbler. I recommended this during pregnancy as well to encourage plenty of water consumption. If you plan on breastfeeding you'll want to be especially mindful to consume enough water everyday! Having a tumbler that you like will make drinking water a little more fun. 

2. Button-front pajamas. Trust me, these will making nursing at night a thousand times easier! Especially in those first few weeks when you don't want to worry about troublesome little clips or attempting to hold your shirt up when you're half asleep. I have three sets right now- long sleeve and pants, short sleeve and capris, and nightgown style. I love them. In fact, I'm always on the lookout for more. Also, I'd recommend going with something lightweight cotton. All the hormones after birth make you a lot more likely to sweat. 

3. Avent Thermopads. At first I didn't really want to spend the money on these... but I am SO glad that I did! They can be used warm (by soaking them in hot water) or cold (by storing them in the fridge). I've had issues with clogged ducts and these suckers feel incredible when they're nice and warm. Plus, they can encourage letdown (when warm) and help with soreness as well (warm or cold). You're probably thinking what I was- "why buy these when a plain old washcloth can do the same thing?" Well, these hold their temperature longer than a washcloth would and they're contoured for your breasts. They're definitely great to have!

4. Vita Coco coconut water. I drank this stuff everyday for my entire first month postpartum. The potassium and electrolytes are great for hydration and health. Personally, I like the kind with pineapple because it tastes like a pina colada but wayyy better for you, haha. I'm not recommending these as a meal replacement but I would drink them everyday to boost my hydration level. And they're a nice change of pace from regular water. 

5. Alba Botanica 3-in-1 Pineapple Towelettes. I heart these. A lot. I'm a stickler for washing my face twice a day but with a newborn I found that getting to sleep as soon as baby was asleep became top priority. These towelettes are a makeup remover, cleanser, and toner all in one. Hello timesaver! Plus, they smell amazing and are gentle enough on finicky postpartum skin that you don't have to follow them up with a moisturizer (I know, I know, moisturizing is important but believe me, it doesn't seem that crucial when you're sleep deprived). I kept these by my bedside for speedy face cleaning before I crawled into bed.

6. Coconut oil. I had a lactation consultant recommend using coconut oil on sore nipples instead of lanolin. Reason being that coconut oil is natural and less likely to cause any allergic reactions or adverse effects on momma and baby. I'm all about doing things as naturally as possible when it comes to mine and Camden's health so I was all over this advice. And it worked like a charm! Coconut oil is much cheaper than lanolin, too. Plus it has like a million uses so any leftovers will not go to waste!

7. Half caff K cups. I made the switch to decaf when I found out I was pregnant but once Camden arrived I needed a little jolt to help me get going in the morning. Enter the joys of half caff. I get the boost I need without consuming much caffeine. It's a win-win. These things have become my new morning BFF. 

8. Boppy pillow. I love my Boppy pillow! Breastfeeding is a lot of work. Forget killing your arms/back/shoulders holding baby with no support! Just stick a Boppy pillow around your waist, rest your arms on it, and breath a sigh of relief while baby nurses comfortably in your arms without making your entire upper body sore. And if you happen to fall asleep in your glider while baby nurses (*cough*not like I've ever done that*cough*) baby is nestled safely. Or at least how I used the Boppy Camden was safe from falling incase I did fall asleep. Plus, you can use the Boppy for tummy time and to position baby on his or her back in a slightly upright position if they're having some spit up issues or if you just want to chat with them during alert time. It's multifunctional. I covered mine with a waterproof cover for protection and a dinosaur/stripes slipcover for the cute factor.

So there it is! That completes my favorite things for baby and momma for our first two months. I'll probably make new lists of favorites as Camden continues to grow and develop. I might even go back and make a list of my favorite things during pregnancy and/or for the hospital. We'll see how ambitious I am with these favorites posts. I hope you've enjoyed the first two! And I hope some of my momma-to-be friends find this useful! :] 

Monday, May 6, 2013

A few of our favorite things for baby

A few of our favorite things - baby



Camden is coming up on TWO months old so I thought now would be a great time to share a few of our favorite things! Although this list could go on and on (and on and on and on if cute little baby clothes were included!), I picked a few items we use most often. Every baby is different but these things are favorites for our little CamJammers :] 

1. Aden + Anais muslin swaddling blankets. These things are AWESOME. They're a little pricy for blankets but I promise you they are worth every cent. If you're like me and you worry about baby overheating at night (hello, increased risk of SIDS!), these are perfect for swaddling because they're still breathable. Plus, they're huuuuge which also makes them great for throwing over the carseat while grocery shopping in order to deter nosy people from poking at Camden. Seriously though strangers, keep your germy hands out of my baby's face, thank you very much. 

2. Wipe warmer. Everyone says "wipe warmers are a waste of money" but we love ours. When Camden was just a new little baby in the hospital he would scuuuhreeeam every time we changed his diaper. Specifically, he would scream when a cold wipe touched his buncakes. Jake and I went to Target when he was just a few days old and purchased this warmer. Now, little man no longer screams during diaper changes and that makes for two happy parents. 

3. Vaseline. Per the recommendation of a pediatrician, we put Vaseline (or generic petroleum jelly) on Camden's bottom every time we change his diaper. Yeah, it sounds like an annoyance but guess what? He has yet to get diaper rash! Not even a tiny bit. Now that's something to celebrate! And this stuff is so cheap it's more cost effective than having to use Destin or Bourdeaux's Butt Paste all the time (both of which we do have in our diaper bags and do use when we're out of the house). 

4. Gumdrop pacifier wipes. I have alllllways been grossed out when I see a parent pick a binkie up off the floor, stick it in their mouth and then give it back to their baby. Ack!! If I don't want those disgusting germs in my baby's mouth why would I want them in my own?! I know it's preferable for me to absorb the germs instead of Camden but ideally it would be nice for neither of us to eat those germs. Right? So I use these pacifier wipes religiously. And yes, even when Camden is screaming I still take the time to clean his binkie if it gets dropped. But he doesn't suck on his binkie often enough for this to be a problem. 

5. Lambs & Ivy mobile. Camden rooms with us and therefore doesn't have his own crib yet but I mounted this on the wall above his changing pad. Best. Decision. Ever. Camden absolutely loves it!! On nights when he is super fussy we lay him on his changing pad and he looks up at this and basically calms down instantly. It's a lifesaver. I don't know what it is about the thing but he sure does love it! I'm excited to see how it looks in his own room with the matching crib set (someday)! 

6. Snugabunny swing. This has been one of Camden's most favorite items since his second day home! I love that it is multi-directional so we can control which way it swings. He loves the music features because it helps lull him to sleep. We keep it upstairs in the living room and put him in it while we make meals, workout, and whatever else we need to do in that same general area. And it's super cute.

7. Red Sox binkies. In true Boston sports fan fashion, this was the only binkie Camden would take for the longest time. That is until we found the exact same binkies with a Bruins logo on them. He loves these.

8. Graco Pack 'n Play. Like I said, Camden shares a room with us and doesn't have a crib in here. So he sleeps in the newborn sleeper attachment of his pack 'n play. We like that it fits conveniently at the foot of our bed and the bottom of it provides a little extra room for storage (which we're very short on) for blankets, stuffed animals, and other little baby items. Obviously this thing is also perfect for travel, which we put to good use on our vacation last week. I would have to rank this as a must-have item for new parents. Even if your baby will have his/her own room, you'll probably want something like this for baby to co-room in the beginning. It's great. 

Well that's it! Like I said, every baby is different so every parent's list of favorite things varies accordingly. I just figured I'd throw this out there for any moms-to-be who might be looking for some registry inspiration. Coming up next- A few of our favorite things for momma! Stay tuned! :]