Tuesday, July 15, 2008

In good company

It's good to read about other athletes' experiences with pregnancy. As much as I told myself, "I'll run until the end, I'll keep working out, etc." the truth is I just have to take it all as it comes. Yes, I'm still running, but boy is it slow (still don't understand why, my heartrate is similar but my legs and body just feel like lead). And filled with walk breaks. Truth is, walking is more FUN these days. I will still do a little speed work on the treadmill, but it's shorter and a little slower than before. I can't do anything about it, I just got SLOW. So why fight it, why stress out? I just do what I can, figuring as long as I'm getting in my workout (or two) a day I'm dong well.

My weight gain has been minimal so far (4-5 pounds at 17 weeks...I will ask the doctor WHY he thinks I should gain 30-35 pounds, I admit to not understanding trying to gain excess fat when I had plenty of excess to begin with); my weight lifting (arguably the most important thing to me right now, I love my muscles) has been the same and more frequent than before when I was focusing more on running (yay!); and I still feel like I'm doing a lot.

So, as inspiring as it is to read about the fabulous experiences other pregnant athletes are having, it's equally fabulous to read that others have slowed down more than I. Here are two examples I've found so far:

An elite cyclist.

An Ironman.

3 comments:

N.D. said...

The ironman looks tiny! I think you do whatever your body will let you do as long as you can. As long as your weight gain is enough ,then I wouldn't worry about gaining more weight, I don't know why the doc would want that either, I hope to gain the minimum! It is good your workouts are still going on, just listen to your body and you are on the right track not stressing about speed, etc.

N.D. said...

Hahah, I just read your comment on my post. About shooting someone. It made me feel so much better. I have read so many things about people who are active before pregnancy and have no problem losing the weight. I know also that breastfeeding helps so much. I guess I am worried that I'll turn into this lazy butt and become obese, but I don't think that I have it in me - and I'm sure you don't either!

Laura said...

I had gained a total of 2 lbs at 19 weeks, but I was so sick at first I lost 5lbs in the first trimester. I'm 12 lbs at 30 weeks due to having weight to lose when I became pregnant, and having a way healthier diet now. I hadn't really been feeling that things were much harder during pregnancy until I went on vacation and found myself walking around in the heat--that it hit me hard! The fact that the hotel had an outdoor pool was a godsend--if I wasn't working full time I would definitely be considering a pool membership for this last trimester