Whirlwind Wednesday

I felt: Tired and crabby, rushed and overworked, with no time for anything much.

I slept: 5 3/4 hours in 4 chunks :(((

I worked out:  10 minutes of yoga and 20 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Allie del Rio's Timecrunch Cardio.

I ate:  79g chocolate and 50g biscuits - 129g - not too bad, but that's partly because I'm getting some really nasty reflux. I think it's because there's just not much room for my stomach down there right now!

I am grateful for:  The hope of a better night's sleep.

Tuesday Nap and Walk

I felt: Glad the meeting I was in ended early, as it gave me a chance to have a nap and then go for a little walk in the late afternoon sunshine, rather than being stuck in a stuffy meeting room all day.

I thought: How weird it is that blogger automatically takes on the language of the country you're in, rather than that set as your computer's preference. A bit disconcerting to see all the menus in German as I write :)

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 5 chunks, including a nap after lunch.

I worked out:  37 minutes of yoga.

I ate:  127g biscuits and 101g chocolate - total 228g :(

I am grateful for:  Sunshine, even in the cold.

Travelling Monday

I felt: A bit nervous - flying quite close to my pregnancy "cut-off". Still, it all went fine :)

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 4 chunks.

I worked out:  27 minutes of yoga around 5.15am, and then 41 minutes of Pump, Jump n' Jab. I used 3k's for most of the weighted sections, except the last where I swapped to my 2.5k neoprene coated weights, mainly because the others were getting too slippery with sweat :o

I ate:  89g chocolate, and some apple rings with a scoop of lemon sorbet - not bad :)

I am grateful for:   The company of my mum and stepdad - they're good people.

Step-Pump Sunday

I thought: How repetition is making my daily perineal massage practice less of a chore. I'd certainly rather not tear, so I know it's worth doing, even if it is rather uncomfortable.

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 5 chunks, including a half hour nap mid-morning. I was up for about an hour in the night and couldn't sleep, thinking about things to do next week (yeah, really useful - not). So, instead I went downstairs and put away the dishes etc.

I worked out:  50 minutes of step and pump with Tonya Larson. Not going to become a favourite, but I think my DH might enjoy the pump section...

I ate:  130g brownie and 35g chocolate - 165g total.

I am grateful for:  My DH, who is being wonderful looking after our son, so I can look after our unborn child :)

Sleepy Saturday

I felt: Tired - probably cos I was up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night. Still, my DH and I managed some snuggle time, which was lovely :D

I slept: 7 3/4 in 4 chunks. Got up and practised yoga and chanted between 3.30am and 4.30am, and slept well after that.

I worked out:  35 minutes of yoga in the early hours, including 30 breaths in yogic squat. Later, 41 minutes of cardio-sculpting with the Ultimate Fat Burning Workout, using 2k's for the weighted sections and 1/2k's for the cardio sections.

I ate:   About 100g biscuits after lunch. Then 59g chocolate and 37g biscuits after dinner - total 196g - not great.

I am grateful for:  Feeling strong, even if I do get out of breath going up two flights of stairs.

Fit on Friday

I felt: Tired and emotional. Cried on the phone to the school nurse (hope she didn't notice). Still, got some good news in the afternoon, so I'm feeling more hopeful again.

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 5 chunks, including a nap in the afternoon.

I worked out:  41 minutes of cardio-sculpting, using 4k, 3k, 2k, and 1k for the cardio sections.

I ate:  95g of chocolate cake :) I think partly eating less is because I had a larger, healthy snack around 5pm. Also, though, my stomach seems to be shrinking - the baby is taking up more space, and I really need to go for little and often, or else end up feeling refluxy - bleurgh!

I am grateful for:  Chanting, which lifts my spirits.

Manifestation

I felt: Exhausted and weepy.

I thought: About the Law of Attraction and ideas of manifestation. We have been without much help with our son for about a month now, never had that happen before. I wonder whether part of it is a cheap shot by one person who attacked us saying our son is only as nice as he is because we don't spend much time with him. At some level, have I been wanting to spend more time with him to "prove her wrong"? On the other hand, the timing sucks as I feel so tired, and struggle with him physically given my very pregnant state.

I slept: 8 hours in 3 chunks, though the last bit was after being awake for a while and then practising yoga at 5.20am.

I worked out:  32 minutes yoga, including a long (maybe 20 breaths) in squat, doing kegels. Later, I did 26 minutes of Time Crunch Cardio with Allie del Rio, because I was in a time crunch :)

I ate:  15g chocolate after lunch, 15g chocolate and 21g biscuits after dinner - total 51g. I also had a moma oat pot (150g), but I'm not sure whether to count that seeing as it's fairly healthy and slow energy release. Overall, a good day.

I am grateful for:   My therapist.

Well-Rounded Wednesday

I felt: A bit annoyed (see I thought), a bit hopeful.

I thought: About my son's allergies. They seem to be getting worse, and we can't always tell what on earth he's reacted to. At least we have an appointment with a specialist clinic next month… Then, got a letter saying the appointment had been cancelled. Turned out it was a computer SNAFU, and it's just been moved forward by half an hour, but that took about 20 minutes to find out *doh*

I slept: 7 3/4 hours in 4 chunks :/

I worked out:  32 minutes of yoga first thing, then 52 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Alison Davis-McLean's Cardio Overdrive. This time, I did it with 2k's in the main, and 1/2k's for the "cardio" sections, and so worked up a good sweat :)

I ate:  64g chocolate and 123g cake after dinner - 187g.

I am grateful for: My mother, who listened to me rant, and shared some of her own good news, which cheered me.

No Yoga For Me Tuesday

I felt: Disappointed with the hypnobirthing meditation I did - didn't feel relaxed much after nearly 40 minutes. Makes me worry I'm not suggestible enough to benefit from this. I know I do sometimes go deeper with my own meditations, so maybe it's just a question of working out how to do it for myself...

I thought: About how we are trying to encourage our son to practise yoga. It could help him in so many ways. For the moment, though, it's a two person job to get him in a lot of poses :D

I slept: 8 3/4 hours in 3 chunks, but still felt tired. Don't remember feeling this tired with my son, but then again, this baby is about the same size now as my son was when he was born, and I've still got nearly two months to go!

I worked out:  41 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Alison Davis-McLean's Ultimate Fat Burning Workout.

I ate:  At a guess, 120g brownie after dinner. It was a very tasty brownie :)

I am grateful for: Breakfast, always my favourite meal of the day.

TGIM?

I felt: A bit annoyed - I did another hypnobirthing meditation, but someone started sawing outside, and the volume was too low to cope with the noise, but I didn't want to get up to change it as I worried that would completely get me out of the zone. Overall, not a very successful practice.

I thought: How for mums, Mondays are in some ways like Fridays for singles - finally, some time for me!

I slept: 9 hours in 4 chunks - best night I've had in a while, though my dreams were pretty funky, and not in the good sense.

I worked out:  52 minutes of cardio-sculpting, Firm-style, with Alison Davis-McLean's Bootcamp Maximum Calorie Burn. I didn't like it as much as her Ultimate Fat Burning Workout, but it was still pretty good. I like that so many of the Pink Firm's have standing ab work, seeing as lying down abs are not easy in my pregnant state :)

I ate:  71g biscuits and 69g chocolate after dinner - total 140g.

I am grateful for:   Time to sleep and work.

Simply Sunday

I felt: Chuffed. My DH and I decided to implement more structured play activities with our son, and they worked well. A music session and a yoga session with him - we'll be doing both again!

I thought:  About chakra balancing.

I slept: 8 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  37 minutes of yoga at about 3.30am, then back to sleep. Later, I did 47 minutes of cardio-pilates with Ellen Barrett - nice to get off the Firm-wagon for a day :D

I ate:  83g biscuits after lunch, and 135g biscuits and 40g chocolate after dinner - total 258g :(

I am grateful for:  My DH, who has been taking point on nights with our son.

Stretching Saturday

I felt: Tired.

I thought: About the language used in hypnotherapy tracks. The area has interested me for a while, and I'm quite excited that in 2 weeks I'm going to do a one day training in hypnotherapy for labour as a CPD course - nicely timed for my own benefit, too :D

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 3 chunks - could have done with more. My own fault for going to bed late: 11pm :)

I worked out:  47 minutes with Emily Walsh's Cardio Fusion Sculpt (used to be called Total Body Lite). I enjoy this workout, though I'm not sure about the claims that it's a rest-day workout to allow your muscles to rebuild. Though, maybe that's because I used 2k for light and 3k for medium, whereas their medium was 5lbs - under 2.3k.

I ate:  8g of chocolate after lunch, and 110g brownie, 40g biscuit, and 20g chocolate after dinner. Total - 178g - not great. Still, when I was weighed by my obstetrician on Friday, I'd actually lost 0.1k, though the baby is growing fine. So, I can't be doing too badly :)

I am grateful for:  An easy day.

End of Week Catch-Up

Thursday

I felt: Tired and quite stressed, story of the last few weeks *rolls eyes*

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  30 minutes of yoga, followed by 36 minutes of cardio sculpting with Allie del Rio's Hardcore Cardio Fusion Express.

I ate:  100g biscuits and 55g chocolate.

I am grateful for:   Good advice from a friend.

Friday

I felt: Stressed still. Something else has come up at work, and we still don't have much help with our son, so working flexi-time hours is a godsend, but I'm still struggling.

I slept: 8 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  20 minutes of yoga in the morning, and 62 minutes of Kelsie Daniels' 500 Calorie Workout in the afternoon. For the weights, I used 2.5k. It really helped me work out some of the stress - I felt much calmer and able to cope after.

I ate:  90g chocolate and 36g biscuits after dinner - total 126g - so-so.

I am grateful for:   A good obstetrician who inspires confidence and calm.

Re-Deja-Vu Wednesday

I felt: Stressed and upset - someone at work was really vitriolic.

I slept: 7 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  Practised 22 minutes of yoga in the morning (as well as doing a total of 3 guided meditations across the day). Also did 40 minutes of cardio sculpting, back with Alison Davis-McLean's Ultimate Fat Burning Workout. This time, I used 2k weights for the weighted sections (feeling a bit weak and tired), and 1/2k weights during the cardio sections (they don't use any), to up my heart rate seeing as I don't do the high impact moves.

I ate:  87g biscuits, 25g chocolate - total 112g.

I am grateful for:  My mum, who I talked with about the work stress.

Something New Tuesday

I felt: Rather stressed, stupid work stuff.

I slept: 7 3/4 hours in 3 chunks, better than yesterday, at least.

I worked out:  23 minutes of yoga before breakfast, then 20 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Go, and 20 minutes of Cardio Sculpt with Emily Walsh of the Firm, as I felt I wanted something new. Total 63 minutes.  

Once again for the Firm workout, I don't know if the back blurb was just written by an idiot, or based on something else, but it promised a low impact cardio workout. Instead, there was high impact added to every single move! Fortunately, many moves they showed low impact first, and for those they didn't I just adapted myself *rolls eyes*

I ate:  28g of chocolate hazelnuts after lunch, 88g biscuits and 77g chocolate after dinner - total 193g :/

I am grateful for:  The bitter sweet comfort of chocolate.

Déjà-Vu Monday

I felt: Tired mostly, but also quite happy with a few things. Saw a doctor at my son's school, and it was nice to have the evidence that we are really on top of all his issues.

I slept: 7 hours in 5 chunks - bah!

I worked out:  6 minutes of stretching in the early morning, as my back was sore, and down my left leg a bit. Then, I did the same workout as yesterday - 40 minutes of cardio sculpting with Alison Davis-McLean's Ultimate Fat Burning Workout. I like that it mixes weights sections with a dance section and a kick box section, and I now feel I've really got the hang of them :)

I ate:  Nothing after lunch, but after dinner I had 136g brownie, and then topped it off with 77g chocolate and 34g biscuits - total 247 :(

I am grateful for:  All the people involved with my son's life.

Rough Day

Ultimate Fat Burning Workout

I felt: Self-pitying at some points, loving at others. It was a bit of a roller-coaster, not helped by pregnancy hormones.

I thought: About how other families with special needs children cope without any help. Since our son was about 6 weeks old, we've always had someone come in to help, even if just for a couple of hours a day. Now, we've had three weeks of a lot less help than usual, with none at all for the last 24 hours, nor the next 24, and I was in tears several times today. I feel pathetic that I can't cope by myself, but he takes so much care, mental and physical, it's really exhausting.

I slept: 8 1/2 hours in 6 chunks.

I worked out:  40 minutes of the Firm's Ultimate Fat Burning Workout, with Alison Davis-McLean. I liked this a lot better than the other of her workouts I tried. There wasn't too much high-impact, and while they recommended using 2-5lb weights, I used my 2.5k weights (5.5lbs) and felt strong. It was also funny to see Jennifer Galardi as one of the background exercisers, as she's since moved on to doing her own workout dvd's under her own name, rather than just as "Firm" talent.

I ate:  15g chocolate after lunch, and about 80g chocolate and 65g biscuits after dinner. Total 160g, not too bad given the circumstances.

I am grateful for: My DH, who took the night shift with our son so I could at least get some sleep, and took him for his bath while I worked out.

Balance

I felt: Disappointed, a couple of people have let me down.

I thought: About the breathing that is recommended in hypnobirthing, and how similar it is to yogic breath. Although the book I have says many hypnobirthing mothers don't want to be active, knowing that I'm very used to combining breath and movement, I think I may still keep moving during my birth, rather than just meditating in stillness. We'll see...

I slept: 8 hours in 4 chunks - I was up for a while twice in the night, the second time I went and practised yoga, then managed to sleep some more.

I worked out:  36 minutes of yoga in the early morning, then 41 minutes of the Firm's Burn and Shape. I used 2k for light, 3k for medium and 4k for heavy. With my new dumbbells, I was able to combine 2 in one hand for 6k on the lat rows. It was good to do this workout again so soon, to get the routines clearer in my head and get more out of them :)

I ate:  94g chocolate and 25g biscuits - total 119g.

I am grateful for:  A lovely day.