Status Report

I have reached the point in my pregnancy where I am actually daydreaming about and craving exercise. I love exercise, but I hardly ever do it, because part of me hates it. I have caught myself fantasizing about yoga practice and sit-ups and running on the treadmill, even weight-lifting. I am already designing fitness programs for three, five and six months from now. The way my baby sits it is virtually impossible for me to exercise at this point in time. My lungs are so completely compressed that just trotting up and down the stairs one time requires a complete cool-down routine. Making dinner occasionally becomes an impossibility half-way through preparation. I am forced to sit on a chair and either wait for Sean to get home and finish, or else boss my sweet children around telling them what to stir, what to wash and when to add things.

This morning everything hurt when I woke up. As I lay there I remember thinking, "Why does my stomach hurt? and my back?" Then I rolled over and in the process happened upon my ever-expanding belly, "Oh, yeah! I'm pregnant - that's why everything hurts!"

I really do not enjoy pregnancy - even when I feel really lucky to even be pregnant. I'm grateful to be almost done with all of this - it is not my cup of tea. I admit I am jealous of women who "love" being pregnant. I can't decide if I have an attitude problem, or if I have legitimate reasons to want to skip over these nine months. For now the sofa is my friend and sleep is a sweet escape from my reality. Two more months. I will survive!

Under Fifteen Minutes - Finally

I just had to update anyone who is following my exercise schedule. This morning I did my mile in 14:45. I made my goal. Wahoo! After my run I worked on strength training for about twenty minutes. Now I'm shooting for a mile in 10:00. It will take me a little while, but I will keep you all posted. It just feels so good to make my body so happy.

15:36

I am slowly upping my miles per hour on the tread mill. I am proud to announce I did my mile in 15 minutes and 36 seconds tonight. I am only 36 seconds behind my first goal. Yea for me! Perhaps I am celebrating 36 seconds too soon. ;>

The Twenty Minute Mile

Although I will never be an Olympic athlete, I have recently begun rudimentary fitness training. About a month ago, Sean and I transported our back-breakingly heavy treadmill upstairs to the only appropriate place we could find indoors - our bedroom. While every interior decorating book I have either pored over or perused assures me this is the most inappropriate place in one's home to locate an exercise device, beggars can't be choosers. The treadmill has mostly been staring at me from its grey backside, begging me to open it up and let it stretch out its limbs. I acquiesce from time to time and run (walk, actually) a grand total of one-quarter mile at a time. This is pathetic, I know.

I have also recently become very alarmed at the likelihood of developing osteoporosis in my later years. I do not drink milk and do not consume a large amount of dairy in other forms. I am also lazy about boosting calcium in my diet through plant life. I was reminded in a health book that weight-bearing exercise, something as simple as walking, can increase bone density. This is something I have heard many times over many years, but as I have struggled with lower back pain for almost three years now, it struck a serious chord this time around. I decided to take action.

So tonight, I donned my workout clothes, set the workout button to a varied routine and pressed "Start". I actually ran for part of my walk because my legs are not long enough to keep up with the 4 mph pace that popped up at staggered intervals. I actually walked/jogged for an entire 20 minutes! I actually sweat! My heart rate actually went up and I sustained it, be it ever so briefly! It was amazing. I felt amazing! And while I know a twenty minute mile is a ridiculous thing to brag about, I am happy for my treadmill; I think it was very grateful for the exercise.