I can’t believe it’s just over 4 weeks until I become a mum, until I have a tiny person totally reliant on me it’s a scary scary thought but it’s a little too late to back out now. 

At 35 weeks I’m starting to find it that much harder during workouts, in the scheme of things I’m still very small ( or neat as people politely refer to it.) I’ve put on around a stone and a half and it feels like wearing a weighted vest to do anything. 

I also didn’t anticipate how much this little bump gets in the way, to get a burpee done I’ve had to adopt a rather frog like approach, wide legged and very unladylike much to the amusement of Danielle at the gym.

I have now stopped teaching aerobics which was a sad week for me, I’ve met some truly amazing ladies through classes and will be following their progress as eagerly as I ever did and will definitely be staying in touch. 

Hard as workouts are becoming I am enjoying them more than ever and feel that working hard at keeping fit and active is more important than ever as I get closer to “Labour Day!”

Fingers crossed this pregnancy is still without all of those typical pregnancy ailments, no indigestion, no backache, no swelling and no fatigue, is this down to keeping active? I can’t prove it and maybe it’s all in my head but whatever it is it’s working well for me. 

I’m aiming for three to four workouts per week, last week was six and that felt a bit too much this week I’m two down so far: 

Monday 

2km row

21-15-9 wall balls/burpees

thought I was going to spew!!!

Wednesday ( that’s today) 

400m row 

21 kb swings/ 21 goblet squats 16kg 

400m row

15 kb swings/15 goblet squats

400m row 

9 kb swings/9 goblet squats 

200 single unders ( double unders aint an option with my pregnancy bladder) 

Post WOD face haha.

I’ve continued to eat really well and have focussed on lean protein, good fats ( never eaten so many avocados) but as I said before the bagels have definitely become a pregnancy treat for me and I’ll find them hard to ditch after baby is here. 

Tomorrow will be early treat day I usually stick to a Sunday but with a meal out the only workout I’m doing is Pizza Express for time :)

Hope I haven’t bored you too much, it’s a nail biting time, two weeks left in work, four and half weeks to D-day and a million things to complete in a staggeringly short period of time. 

it’s all enough to make you go cuckoo!!!

Keep on truckin’ people xxx

When I said I’d be writing my blog weekly it was at the best a great big lie. 

I really don’t know where time goes and how it flies by so quickly I’m 31 weeks pregnant which means in approximately nine weeks ( give or take a couple either side) I will be the very proud owner of a moving fully functional baby girl ( if the sonographer wasn’t lying!!!) 

Pregnancy is a strange affair to say the least, I don’t want to curse myself but I am having a rather lovely pregnancy much to many people’s obvious dismay. It’s been somewhat strange to see the disappointment on some people’s faces when you say no to any of the following ailments;heartburn, indigestion, back ache, pelvic ache, hip ache swollen feet, swollen ankles or extreme fatigue . 

I’m putting my good pregnancy down to maintaining a healthy exercise regime and diet, yes I’ve had cravings but very few and when I have indulged them it’s been sensible, I’m trying keep my diet clean as best I can but the odd bagel or two have found their way to my mouth on occasion. 

Exercise is still a huge part of my life and as well as continuing to teach two aerobics classes per week ( I’m taking a break when I’m 34 weeks) I’m also trying to commit to at least three crossfit sessions per week. 

I’ve made some changes to my workouts because my body has very strongly recommended that I should do so, Pull ups went to a band pretty quickly as everytime I did one I felt rather dizzy not what you want to feel on a pull up bar. 

Running became uncomfortable after my fifth month so I do a whole load of rowing, I can’t wait to get back to pounding the dirt though especially as my hubby has trained as a running instructor and can fine tune my technique. 

I’m still lifting weights, which I’m surprised still gets a bad rep when you consider the amount of strength you need to labour that bundle of joy squeezing out of your nether regions. I have dropped the weights that I lift maximum for a clean is 40k ( 88lbs) and deadlifting no more than 80k ( 176lbs) and workouts still feel good. 

I’m not so sure why so many people give up exercise when they fall pregnant, I know for some women it’s just not physically possible to carry on for health reasons but for the most I truly believe it puts you in optimum shape to carry and deliver your baby. I am under the impression that Labour is the workout of your life, so it makes sense that you’ve got to train for it. 

I’m going to aim to post again at 32 weeks ( this probably wont happen but the intention is there!!!) 

bump at 28 weeks 

xxx

I’ve decided that I’m going to try and blog as often as I can and at this point this seems to be once a week so here we do go. 

I’m definitely starting to show now and the last couple of days have moved more towards baby bump than podgy boy. I had gone a very very strange shape, my abs stick out at the best of times and they were still there, however I was looking more like I’d gone heavy on the Krispy Kremes and less ‘i’m growing a baby’. 

Food wise there have been changes and some struggles, as I’ve blogged countless times before I strive to eat clean and eat paleo and from next week I’m fighting to get back on track. I have gone off an awful lot of my staple foods such as eggs, steak, un-minced chicken and it’s been pretty hard. 

I have eaten what I can as it’s so important to ensure there’s enough going in and this has meant eating bread, crumpets (I think they may be a craving) and salt and vinegar crisps which I’m pleased to announce I’ve portioned and have used them as treats. 

I’m 16 weeks tomorrow and am still only 3lbs on so I must be doing something right. 

I’m definitely having good and bad days and it’s having an impact on my training, everybody says to take it easier and there’s no other option but to take it easier, my mind says go my body says woe!!!

I’ve already had to adapt some movements as they send me into a dizzy head spin, pull-ups have needed to be subbed for ring rows (my nemesis) or with the band. Toes to bar are very uncomfortable on the abdominals but knees to elbows are still comfortable. 

This week has been very busy and broke down like this…

Monday 

“Helen” (very slow) 

3 rounds 

400m run 

21 kb swings 

12 pull ups 

Tuesday 

Taught 45 minute aerobic class

Wednesday 

Taught 45 minute aerobic class

Thursday 

Chipper Time!!! 

400m run
50 Hang power clean 30/20
25 press up
400m run
50 push press 30/20
25 pull up
400m run
50 OHS 30/20
25 T2B
400m run
max rep thruster 30/20 (I got 16, I’m actually surprised I got to the thrusters!!!) 

Friday 

3:30 am alarm call and off to Center Parcs Nottingham for the Rosemary Conley training convention and lots of hardwork. 

AM a high impact session with Jamie Tunstall, aerobics, conditioning and combat and a very sweaty Kerry, (thighs hate me and Jamie Tunstall after those three point lunges!!!) 

PM Bootcamp training 

     Choreography session with full routine and band work. 

Saturday 

A full on day with Kardy Laguda, choreography sessions, aerobics sessions and toning sessions. 

packed training days but absolutely awesome. 

Sunday 

all about the lay in!!! first steps back to paleo with an a veg-tastic roast dinner followed by a blustery 3 mile walk mainly up hill but it felt pretty good. 

such a beautiful sky, note the blobs in the distance that’s Owen and Ross “Ivan” Miller they ran I strutted with the sounds of Beyonce if this tune doesn’t make you shake your ass you are most definitely a lost cause. 

Have a good week and get outside, get something done!!! xxx

Well I am very sorry for my lack of updates, however for the majority of February and March I have spent much of my time either being sick or trying to stave off the feeling of being sick!!!

Yep you guessed it, I am pregnant and absolutely over the moon!!!

I started my journey into fitness in a rather epic style slimming down from 19st 8 with the ultimate goal of being a mum. I had been told that I was going to have difficulty getting pregnant and to give myself any chance I needed to make some major lifestyle changes; and it’s safe to say I changed my life!!

I’m 15 weeks pregnant tomorrow and so far it’s been no walk in the park, very tired, very sick and I’ve really struggled with food cravings but so far so good and I’ve put 3lbs on to date. 

I intend to use my blog to keep me on track but also show you how I’m doing, I’m still training but have dropped my weights down and think nothing of having big breaks between rounds, it’s taking some adjusting to but I’m getting there. 

Last week went a little something like this;

Monday

5k row

50 thrusters with the bar 

400m run with 10k plate 

Tuesday 

Taught class

Wednesday 

Taught class

Thursday 

Chipper time, I scaled to 30k weight 

200m run followed by 1 full clean 70/45 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 2 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 3 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 4 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 5 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 6 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 7 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 8 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 9 full clean then 5 strict pull ups, 7 kb swings
200m run followed by 10 full clean then 5 strict pull ups and 7 kb swings

Friday 

Strength training, strict press 

10 minute amrap 

10 press ups

10 hang power clean ( 25K) 

Saturday

work 

Sunday 

day of rest, carvery and ice cream ( oh yes I did) 

I just can’t wait to meet my little person!!!

Take care and have a fantastic week people xxx

I’m struggling a bit at the moment I’ve been feeling under the weather for about a month now. 

A lack of energy has meant I haven’t been able to hit my workouts very hard and although I’ve continued to train it’s disappointing to not get that buzz from training as I usually get.

There’s always a silver lining though I haven’t put on any weight and I’ve been getting some seriously good sleep in the last month I’ve hardly been awake past 8pm. 

Sleep is a big deal for me and I’ve written about it before too little and it has a very negative effect on my mood and the way I feel physically. I think sleep is something that we quite often overlook and we maybe push ourselves a little too far. 

Sleep can help improve memory, lower stress and even help you to live longer. Sleep also helps us maintain a healthy weight;

“ Researchers at the University of Chicago found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat — 56 percent of their weight loss — than those who were sleep deprived, who lost more muscle mass. (They shed similar amounts of total weight regardless of sleep.)

Dieters in the study also felt more hungry when they got less sleep.

“Sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same sectors of the brain,” Dr. Rapoport says. “When you are sleepy, certain hormones go up in your blood, and those same hormones drive appetite.”

Amazing thing sleep and as a big bonus especially for us girlies it helps with anti-ageing and skin appearance. 

Hopefully I’m back on track and I’ll start to have a bit more energy soon and I’m going to make a concerted effort to keep up to date with fatgirlstrong because it helps me too. 

I’ve got a super busy week ahead covering lots of classes so predictably I’m off to bed to get me some of the life preserving, weight maintaining, beautifying sleep. 

Night Night xxx

I’ve had a strange month everything seems to be happening all at once, every hour of February is booked up. Usually I’d love it but the last week I’ve felt particularly under the weather and it’s been a bit of a grind.

Not to be a negative Nelly I’ve had a ball but when you feel bleurgh it really is an effort.

This weekend has been packed to the rafters, Brand New on Friday in Cardiff, everyone’s favourite stoner duo Jay and Silent Bob in Londinium last night and a cheeky beach WOD followed by cinema visit today.

I’ve said before how I love to get outside to workout and today was fantastic, a large group from Crossfit Swansea and Crossfit SA1 gathered on the beach to work hard. 90 minutes later and we’d thrown kettle bells, farmers walks Rocky style up large concrete steps, tug of war and team sprint relays!!! Bloody awesome.

It all finished with a giant game of British Bulldogs resulting in blood spill, luckily I gave it a miss as I was feeling a bit too delicate for that.

Team workouts are always fun and it reminds you how great it is working as a team. Thursday’s WOD was loads of fun although it doesn’t look it on paper.

Two rounds - The timer is set by the time taken for each member to do two heavy sled pulls while seated on a tyre!! While that’s happening everyone else in rotation performs:

Burpees (one at a time)

Sit ups

Resistance sprints (due to my mini bus mishap 64kg farmers walk)

Tyre flips (70kg tyre)

Loved it, the gym was buzzing with everyone pushing each other through.

I declared this weekend to be treat weekend (don’t judge me they are treats for me) and after feeling so poorly they perked me up a wee bit. Over three days I have had:

Noodles at wagamama (subbed for whole wheat)

A Bagel

Four chips (I know that’s rubbish!!!)

Five pick and mix sweets

A healthy Burritto, just veggies no sour cream but pinto beans

And the worst by far… Nachos at the Odeon, but hey the Woman in Black was terrifying I needed something to steady my nerves.

In the world of treats I’ve definitely gone next level in comparison to my usual peach and raspberry skinny muffin. I really do struggle to eat rubbish so even some of my treats are borderline healthy.

I’m off to get prepped for sleep which is going to be a struggle after the Woman in Black, I am a total wuss and may have to opt for sleeping with the lights on much to my hubby’s dismay.

Here’s something to think about, I think we forget who’s important sometimes,

Night night xxx

Keep going, because the alternative leads to nothing!!!

My routine is all out of sync and that means everything else in my life get’s a little out of sync so there’s been a lack of blogging going on lately. 

What’s been going on? Running, workouts at home and trips to London to watch some truly amazing human beings give me masses of inspiration at the SICfit London Throwdown. 

What a fantastic weekend, I was a bit gutted that I couldn’t compete but I know it’s for the best and my recovery needed to be done properly, but hopefully I’ll be there next year as part of a team. 

So back to my point, my routine is essential, screw with it and it has potential for disaster, well it used to be that bad now it’s just a bit frustrating and forces me to be a little bit more inventive with the way that I handle my exercise and eating. 

I’ve just about made it through my first week of routine change and have found a new love for kettlebell workouts at home. We only have a 24kg bell at home so I’ve been making friends with it. 

24kg isn’t heavy for a deadlift but if you pick it up repeatedly 90 times boy do you get hot!!! I’ve been working them in at the end of runs and today’s wod:

3 rounds 

30 kb deadlifts

20 sit ups 

finisher of 30kb swings 

and fingers crossed I’ll be back at the gym on Thursday woohoo. 

Food doesn’t cause me many problems anymore, yep I have a wobble now and again and want pizza or junk food but usually by the time I’ve discussed in my head (and sometimes out loud) the pros and cons I usually can’t be bothered to eat the junk and settle for my normal food. 

Going away can cause me a headache and the people with me too when it comes to food, this weekend we were away in London so I took all of my food with me, I know it’s mental but it means I don’t even need to think about what’s been added, the fat content or the size of the portion because I made it. 

Just when I got back to full mobility and impact yep you guessed it I’ve only gone and hurt my foot! The very same foot that not four months ago was in a cast. I want to say that I did it sky diving or skateboarding but alas I slipped getting into a mini bus in front of everyone, I know, very classy.

Fingers crossed it’s going to heal pretty quickly and I don’t have to shuffle too much in class tomorrow night. 

I’m off for some well deserved sleep and to await the toll of the 6am alarm, 

Nothing to do with anything above but it’s so true!!!

night night xxx