Back From Hawaii - finally!

Well, it's been a while, but I'm back!

No, I didn't get lost in Hawaii... though I wish I could say that I've been enjoying the beaches there this whole time!

After I returned, life presented me with some challenges and surprises which stole my focus for a while but eventually, life moves on and either normalcy is restored or a new way of being is created. In my case, it is a little bit of each.

The great news that has come out of the past five months is that I am 16-weeks pregnant with our first child! David and I are both so excited and we can't wait to find out if it is a boy or a girl. I said this morning that I wouldn't mind fast-forwarding the next five months to the point at which the baby is already here but, as with most things, it is the process that takes you there which makes the experience that much more enriching. I suppose I can wait, but it will be hard!

At first I wondered how being pregnant would affect my fitness routine. I quickly found out that when you feel sick to your stomach all day long, working out isn't high on the priority list! It proved to be very difficult for me to motivate myself to get up and even just go for a walk but most of the time when I did, I felt better as a result. I'll be honest and admit that for about a month, I did very close to nothing. It was hard to eat but I felt sick if I didn't. I barely had the energy to get up and walk around the house but I knew that I should. I had to give up on my regular gym routine but felt good about getting there to do some cardio once a week! What I realized was that I was giving my body exactly what it needed - rest! There is a lot going on in a woman's body during the first trimester and I felt that honoring my body by giving it rest and the food that it was craving (healthy or not!) was what I needed to do. Luckily, the nausea started to taper off around week 10 or 11 and I was feeling much more like my usual self.

I started exercising again and felt like I was starting from square one! In aerobics class, I got winded after 5 or 10 minutes and when out for a jog, had to walk after about a mile. It was a terrific reminder for me of what it feels like to start exercising for the first time. It's not easy! But, the good part is that the more consistent you can be with your workouts in the beginning, the easier they get!

It didn't take too long for me to get back into shape and I found that the exercise helped improve my appetite. That may not sound like a bonus to many women but I actually lost weight during my first few months so some extra stimulation helped me catch up with myself again. And I'll be honest again, I wish I could say that it was all brown rice and veggies on my plate but the sugar monster caught up with me and kept knocking on my door! I've since learned that a growing, developing fetus loves fat (healthy fats like fish oil, olive oil, avocado, nuts, nut butters, low/high fat dairy, etc.) so the fetus ends up sucking a lot of the fat out of the mother's body. I though that sounded great! Suck it up, baby - maybe then it won't make it to my thighs! However, I also learned that when that happens, it leaves the mother craving sugar/carbohydrates which is probably why a lot of women feel extra hungry and fill themselves up with the very foods that do create unhealthy weight gain. Since the baby is loving those healthy fats, the best way for the mother to stay well nourished and avoid unhealthy cravings is to eat more of those good-for-you fats. I've found that it works pretty well. (Throwing a good amount of fiber in there helps too. Food like oatmeal, flax seed, sprouted grain bread, brown rice, quinoa, beans, soups, fruits and veggies are very high in fiber and will help keep you feeling satisfied and help prevent constipation!) My husband David loves healthy fats and is making sure that I take a teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil (lemon flavored!) every morning. It is supposed to be rich in DHA, a fat that is excellent for brain and neural development. I take it in the liquid form, rather than a capsule, because it absorbs into the body better but the taste (for me) leaves something to be desired! However, I know that it is great for the health of our baby and I've started to see it as an early act of love.

So, it seems that I am entering a new phase of my life and I am looking forward to all of the changes it will bring. I feel very fortunate to be working in the fitness industry for it is a very versatile business! I am being trained to teach a post-natal fitness class called "Stroller Strides", which will allow me to teach with the baby in a stroller once it arrives. Stroller Strides is a great program and it has locations nationwide. To find a class, visit the web site: www.strollerstrides.com. In the meantime, I am teaching a BOSU Fitness class at a local gym and I hope to start training some other pre/post natal clients in personal one-on-one sessions. (If you live in the San Diego area and are interested in training, please let me know!)

While many things seem to be changing, what hasn't changed is my desire to know myself on a more intimate level. It has been the reason behind the quest to "Find My Balance" and it is still a work in progress. Maybe it always will be but the most important thing I have learned over the past five months is that inner strength comes from trusting yourself and knowing what you believe in. A house built on shaky ground will crumble when blown but a house built on solid rock will never waver. Part of knowing who you are means knowing what you believe in. When your values, faith and beliefs are solid, so is your foundation.

There are a lot of forces out there that will want to challenge who you are, how you live, and what you believe. I know that it has at times made me feel like I am standing on the other side of the fence, all by myself! But it is those beliefs that set me apart, that make me who I am, and that give me the strength to stand solid on my own two feet.

So, stay tuned, (pregnant or not) and support a lifetime of healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy hearts!