(Please dismiss the fact that he hasn't trained at all in the past twelve weeks. But that's not stopping me from encouraging him that he could TOTALLY do this.)
Also, it seems that we need to replace our kitchen cabinet doors and drawers before we sell the house and the cabinets and drawers that we ordered two weeks ago won't be in until the first week of July. So leaving at the end of June might be problematic since no one will be here to complete the installation.
Why, do you ask, should we replace our kitchen cabinets?
Well, if you look very closely, you might be able to spot that they are falling apart.
And, there's a door missing. (We'd rather keep our canned goods hidden.)
(Shucks. I just noticed we never finished painting our kitchen. Add that to the list.)
We've known for a few months that we needed to do repair work on our cabinets, but we've just been too busy - uninspired - lazy - and/or tired to fix them. But now that we're selling the house, we have no choice unless we want to actually, you know ... sell the house. For a decent price.
Also, I'm not convinced that this pregnancy issue will be resolved before the end of the month and I don't want to leave town until I get the green light from my doctor. Have I mentioned that I'm still testing positive on all pregnancy tests? And that I'm showing all signs of being pregnant? As in: I'm tired. I'm queasy. I have food aversions and cravings. I'm overly emotional. And I've been gaining approximately two pounds a week, which is totally normal for me because my metabolism shuts down when I'm pregnant since my body thinks it's incubating a moose.
But can you imagine anything more depressing than having all the symptoms of being pregnant without actually GESTATING a baby?
According to my doctor, the reason I've been having all of these symptoms is because I've got such high levels of HCG present in my bloodstream. Yes... I'm sure the reason I've been gaining all this weight is entirely due to the presence of HCG and has nothing to do with the fact I sometimes eat chocolate cake and ice cream for dinner.
Exhibit 1: Charlie made this cake for me yesterday to help shake the grumpies.
Last week he made cupcakes and brownies. And now that Mommy can hardly fit in to any of her pants, she might soon have to break the Kitchen Aid mixer if Daddy keeps up all of his good deed-doing. Or, perhaps this is his payback for me coaxing him in to completing an Olympic distance triathlon that he hasn't prepared for?
Despite all this, I've been thinking A LOT about exercise and how excited I am to get in to a really good routine once I'm given full medical clearance. In the meantime, I've been doing a lot of low-impact stuff including walking to the refrigerator and cake eating.
Tonight as I was driving home from a meeting, I thought about how some people just make exercise a part of their every day lives, and other people (like me) go through BURSTS of working out, followed by prolonged periods of doing nothing. And then BURST. Nothing. BURST. Nothing. So, I'd like to pose this question to all of you, on the other side of the computer.
Do you exercise routinely?
If so, what do you do?
And if not, why?
Ugh! I am so sorry you are suffering thru the first trimester while not gestating. I am a huge blob at the end of the day that can not be peeled off the sofa. Totally queasy. Totally headachy. I am so sorry.That is the worst. : (
ReplyDeleteI am getting married next May and am trying to lose 20 lbs, and i go through the bursts and laziness too so dont feel bad. I've never been one of those people to like exercising and i still dont.
ReplyDeleteI usually lurk here, but I'll come out to answer this one.
ReplyDeleteI run. I'm on my eighth week of couch to 5k, and it actually seems to be working to make running possible for a total non-athlete and klutz. I needed to lose pregnancy weight after a full term loss, and I wanted to do it reasonably quickly so I could try again, but the regular exercise (first in my life, I swear) has had some pretty helpful mood regulating effects as well. The first few weeks are more walking than running and were gentle enough for me at six weeks postpartum.
I hope you find something you can enjoy - it makes a big difference to at least not hate whatever form of exercise you wind up with.
I don't exercise.
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm lazy.
I should exercise.
Because I'm totally out of shape.
And overweight.
I should diet.
Or at least be a healthier eater.
But I don't.
And I have a stepdaughter's wedding coming soon, so I do have incentive.
Yet I still don't.
But I will.
Perhaps we can start together, when you get the okay from your doctor.
ah, exercise... In a past life (pre-kids), I would work out for and 1 - 1.5 hours a day. Ah, free time... now, I do still make time to work out, but now I run as fast as I can for however long I have. My weight lifting work outs include lifting a 18lb 7 month old and a 35+lb 3 year old.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are doing a great job and even bursts of working out are better than never doing anything. Besides, lifting cake to my mouth sounds like far more fun! Hooray that Charlie bakes for you!
That is so me! I go in bursts w/exercise too. Nice to know I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that you're still feeling the effects of your ectopic pg. You're so strong. You will overcome this setback. Blessings on you and your family!
Good luck w/the move to VA. I was born there and lived many happy years in Fairfax County. And good luck w/selling your CA home. I know how hard it is to leave San Diego.
Hugs!
I'm like you...burst, then nothing. Burst, then nothing. I've been finding it hard to fit into some pants again, so it must be time for another burst.
ReplyDeleteI find it difficult for me to keep a routine because, frankly, after I've put the boy to bed, I'm exhausted from the day and just want to relax for an hour before I go to bed. Does that make sense?
I'm sorry about all the pregnancy symptoms ... it's not like you need your body to keep yelling at you!
ReplyDeleteYes, I exercise regularly (3-5 times/week). I use cardio/strength DVDs, paired with a stackable cardio step, and pairs of 3- and 5-lb dumbells. I like The Firm.
The other day, hubby said, "I really like this whole firm muscles thing. Keep doing what you're doing." And yesterday, when I was about to hit muscle failure and was ready to throw in the towel, he looked at me and said, "Wow, I should get my soldiers to do this workout." Now, that's motivating!
I exercise routinely because if I don't I will curl up in a ball and implode. It definitely wasn't always this way, two years ago I made the choice to enter a career path that deposits me directly into a slightly stress filled life that has no promise of being less stress filled for the next, um...30 years? So I run 6 days a week and yoga-it on the 7th. Exercising for me has become like eating and breathing, gotta get it done to survive or risk implosion. :) Sometimes if I have a set of exams on the horizon I may only exercise for 15-20 minutes a day, but anything to get the blood pumping and the sweat running. Like your tramp excursions! :) Hang in there Jen through this stress filled time. Some of us choose running, others of us choose chocolate cake, I happen to choose both!
ReplyDeleteNot... definately not. Why? Laziness... pure and simple. For awhile I would get on a kick where I would go to the gym, then stop, then go, then stop. Now I've given up all together. For the past month I have eaten 2-3 sugar cookies and a Mt. Dew for breakfast every day. I think that officially means no good food decisions are being made right now. :-)
ReplyDeleteI do. I have to say I love to exercise. I crave it. I try to do Bikram Yoga 4 days a week, and the days I cannot get a class in I try to supplement with 30-40 minutes on the elliptical. I tell you I love Bikram. It is my 90 minute mental vacation. I do way too much thinking, constantly, so this 90 minutes is the only way I have found to completely turn off that inner conflict. Try it. =)
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong couch potato, I found myself wishing I were in better shape. I'm 39 and had 5 pregnancies, so I was feeling pretty "squishy" when my husband, who also has been fighting with his weight, decided to buy a Wii. We now have EA Sports Active: More Workouts and I've completed one 6 Week Challenge and I actually do feel stronger and more flexible. I've gained weight though, because working out 4 mornings a week makes me HUNGRY!!
ReplyDeleteGood question. I'm a burst/nothing kind of girl, but this year I've been slowly morphing into more consistency. Like at least 1x per week. I think I've pretty much hit that every week. I don't know what has changed though, excpet that I really, really want to be healthy now (verus just lose weight).
ReplyDeleteI just walk a half hour about 4-5 times a week. I know this is not much, and I don't even walk that fast- but it is better than nothing and makes me feel good and have more energy.
ReplyDeleteCharlie is so sweet to make you baked goods :)
Yes, I exercise regularly! I'm kinda addicted at this point.
ReplyDeleteMonday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I jog 3-4 miles either pushing my twins in the stroller or immediately after they go to bed (if the weather or our schedule didn't allow for a daytime jog). On Tuesday and Thursday, I do an hour of zumba at a local elementary school from 6-7 (my husband is home w/ the boys). It's subsidized by the city, so it costs TEN DOLLARS for three months! Awesome!
Tonight is actually the last night of zumba until September, so next week, I'm going to start swimming laps at the community center on Tues and Thurs evenings.
Oh and we have started walking or riding our bikes everywhere we go that is closer than 3 miles if it's not raining, which adds a lot of cardio to my day. And I do weights Monday and Wednesday in the playroom while the boys are playing. And I do 15 minutes of yoga every day, also in the playroom. I gradually worked up to all of this. In December, I started doing light yoga every day. Then in January, I added walk/jogging two miles and on February 1, I started weights twice a week. In March, I added the zumba and a mile to my jogs. Now, it's become a routine/habit. I almost never miss a day and when I do, it's because I'm really sick.
Maybe in Virginia it will be easy to get on a set workout schedule?
Good Luck!
I don't exercise. Or wait, I play softball, lug around kids, play basketball, hike seven miles to shoot a caribou (probably more like .5 mile!) then pack it back down (or just yell at the other people packing it) uhm...walk through the tundra to pick berries, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm too busy (=lazy) to make time. But...boy do I NEED to!
My reality just does not allow for the time i would like to devote to working out. A 40 hour work week where my husband isn't home in the mornings when the boys and I get up kills the morning workout. After work I spend some time outside or go for a walk with our boys if it is nice (and I'm seriously considering investing in a good quality bike trailer) and they go to bed around 8pm. I could work out after that, but that's when I do those critical things like laundry, dishes and pick up around the house. On a good day I am in bed when my husband leaves for work at 10:30pm. On a bad day, like yesterday I don't hit the pillow til 1am and then getting up at 5:30 comes super early. I keep telling myself that it will get easier when I'm not chasing after 2 two year olds all the time.
ReplyDeleteIt was so awesome chatting with you on the phone last night! We can't wait to see you guys and introduce you to our William! ;)
ReplyDeleteIs getting up 2-5 times a night to nurse a baby considered working out, b/c if so, I work out DAILY (or rather, nightly). If not then my only exercise is some situps and leg lifts I try to do while playing trains on the floor with my older son. So lets say 10-15 minutes 3 times a week. Not much. But my stomach is slowly coming back from the 2 children in 3 years...
ReplyDeleteOh, and I schlep a baby and 3 year old to and from the baby-sitters everyday. That counts for something right?!?
First of all, I am so sorry for all you are going through. The medical stuff---it has to be so upsetting and frustrating.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, ZUMBA!!!! Have you heard of this or done it? It is the most fun workout! I go 2-3 times a week and love it. It's latin dance aerobics. I love it because people of all shapes and sizes do it, you don't have to be a professional, and the moves are fun! You can really let loose! Look it up on youtube. I have an almost 4 year old and 21 month old twins. I am BEAT at the end of the day but I muster up enough energy to go to Zumba and I NEVER regret it!
I am also in a burst right now---wanting to run a 5K by 4th of July. I've been training. We'll see.
~Ilissa
I'm trying to re-train my brain by at least doing 10 minutes of something every day exercise wise... but by nature I'm the burst then nothing type. Troublesome, but hopefully the 10 minutes per day habit will take hold eventually, and after I've done 10 minutes I always feel like doing more.
ReplyDeleteI do exercise routinely (every day). I have given myself a "no excuses" policy which means I get on the treadmill for 30 minutes each day, sometimes more. On a rare occasion I miss. We have a treadmill in our living room so I truly have no excuse. I love the way I feel when I incorporate some running vs. walking (even fast, at an incline, alone)!!!
ReplyDeleteI used to do the burst/stop thing you mentioned. Then I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and elevated homocysteine recently (I'm 42). I have no choice but to eat right and exercise, unless I want to go on medication, which I do not. I'm finding it not that hard at all, as I love healthy food and the way it makes me feel, any way. BTW, for anyone reading, I urge you to get your cholesterol checked, as well as homocysteine. I've read up and learned that homocysteine is not talked about in the mainstream media b/c as one article put it "there's no pharmaceutical treatment for it." You can help bring it down by taking folic acid and B vitamins, and eating broccoli, asparagus, and spinach. Supposedly it's that easy. Will find out more from my dr. Check it out b/c a high level can lead to heart disease. Sorry for the detour but maybe it will help someone.
Best wishes for your health and happiness, Jen!
-Karen
I'm a BURST/nothing-er.
ReplyDeleteNope - no exercise for me. I hate it, hate it, hate it. And I feel guilty about hating it - which just makes me hate it even more....
ReplyDeleteI do make time for it. It's really hard. We live in South Florida, so imagine the 70 percent humidity, 105-degree heat index by 9 a.m. I'm tenure track, mother of two small ones, help with my husband's business and myriad other things. But I am fiercely determined to have my running time. It's like my yoga; my time to work it all out. Without that, I/we would surely go crazy.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mental thing; you only have to convince yourself.
I keep thinking I need to start working out. I just never seem to get around to it. First it was winter and much too cold. Now we are just SO friggin busy!!!
ReplyDeleteSo, I finally got a blog and now I don't have to leave you anonymous notes. I just want to say thank you for sharing with us. You inspire me with your positive attitude through all of your stress. Keep your chin up!
ReplyDeleteWell that's an easy one. NO and simply because I am totally lazy. However since I trying to lose weight I try to walk the dog a few times a week and I'm thinking about breaking out my bicycle that has not been ridden in years, tossing it in the back of the car and driving to a place where the ground is level and riding.
ReplyDeleteSorry your body is being so nasty to you. Hope the issue resolves itself soon. It's so totally wrong that you still feel pregnant but clearly, or perhaps not so clearly, aren't.
Now you know how Julie "A little pregnant" got her blog name : )
OK lazy people, we need to formulate a plan. We need to encourage each other. WE CAN DO IT.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of you ... you inspire me. I really want to be one of those people who need exercise like they need to breathe. I want it to just be something that I do every day without thinking and planning and pushing myself to do it. I so admire people who don't let ANYTHING get in the way of them and their exercise.
I'm much the same way ... when it comes to ice cream.
Jen I can't even begin to imagine the heart break and struggle you are still facing with this loss. Hang in there and know we are all cheering you on.
ReplyDeleteremember you were the one who inspired me to lose to weight. I thought you have triplets and henry you get out and do the stroller and hike I want to do that. So I started a walking video in my front room when my three were sleeping. Then when my husband was home I would start to walk outside every day. Then I started to run, I moved to the gym and started in on weights, and am now training for a triathlon as well. I have lost 101 pounds in a year and am a whole new person inside and out. I finally feel like I am at a place where I don't have to exercise every day. I do 4 days a week in addition to our bike rides with the girls. The girls now can ride 3.5 miles while I run with them. It is awesome. I know henry isn't there yet but maybe the triplets can ride and you push henry. I love doing the Jillian michaels videos I am doing the 30 day shred right now. Wow I have abs after doing that. Just do what you can make it a routine and eventually it is just like breathing. If I don't exercise now I am tired and feel a little down. So it has become a free drug that keeps my waist line down. :)
Every weekday morning around 5:30am~ish (give or take 15 minutes) I am at the gym.
ReplyDeleteMonday - 1 hour spinning
Tuesday - 1 hour interval cardio/weight training
Wednesday - 1 hr 15 min spinning
Thursday - 1 hour core/weight training
Friday - 1 hour spinning
I REALLY need to fit in a yoga class, keep meaning to do it on a weekend morning, but sleeping in always sounds more appealing by the weekend.
About a year ago, I saw a picture of myself and was absolutely horrified by the rolls on my mid section. The next day I went to my local gym and signed up for a membership. The following day, I went to my first class. For 6 months I went 7 days a week for 1.5 hours a day. Then when I went down 2-3 sizes in clothing I reduced to 5 days a week. Prior to this I was a "burster". Something about that picture just did it for me and the fact that I was turning 40 (last December)and no way was I going to enter my 40's looking like that. The 40's are going to be my years. Now if I don't excercise daily I loose my mind and feel sluggish. I love the energy burst it gives me and fitting into smaller clothes is nice too. It is also helping with my premenopausal symptoms alot.
ReplyDeleteI do 60 minutes of elliptical and treadmill and 30 mintues of weights each day.
You have to commit and go with it for a good length of time to feel the payoff physically and mentally.