Search Results for: blog body image and weight gain in pregnancy

Planned Parenthood Made a Period Tracker App

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There are many health apps out there that can be used to keep track of one’s health. Some health trackers do not include a section that tracks periods. Planned Parenthood created a period tracker app called Spot On. It is focused on tracking your period – and more! Planned Parenthood is a health care provider that specializes in reproductive health care. In addition, they offer a wide range of safe, reliable health care – the majority of which is preventative health care. In other words, the Spot On period tracker app has information that comes directly from the world-class sex … Continue reading →

More Fun Pregnancy Symptoms: Leg Cramps

In the middle of the night a few weeks ago I woke up with a terrible pain in my leg.  I cried out about it, and immediately began trying to rub and move my leg.  My more-than-half-asleep husband drowsily watched me do this.  He watched me try to bend my leg, to rub it, to put weight and hobble around the room on it.  When I made it to the bathroom he followed me, and asked me if I thought I was just having Braxton-Hicks.  In my leg.  Now we know that if I go into labor in the middle … Continue reading →

Learning to Love Your Body

We all know that motherhood comes with a price. Your body goes through a remarkable transformation as it prepares to grow another human being. If you are like most of us, you probably have a few battle scars to show for it. I’ve gotten used to my tiger stripes, but I still struggle with my post-pregnancy body. It’s been almost 5 years since I had Logan and I’m still not to my pre-pregnancy weight. I envy my friends who walk out of the hospital looking like a model in their size 2 jeans again. When I left the hospital I … Continue reading →

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part V

Once I had come to the conclusion that the only way to get some semblance of my stomach back, was to, believe it or not, lose more weight.  I thought that surely if I could get back down to the weight I was before pregnancy wreaked havoc on my midsection, that I might see a slimmer, love handleless, figure in the mirror.   Even though the task was clear and seemingly simple, there really is nothing easy about losing the last few stubborn pregnancy pounds…again since I decided to move the finish line once again.  I wish there was a way … Continue reading →

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part IV

I continued my workout variation exercising any where from thirty minutes to sixty minutes a day four to seven days a week.  I cut back on my baking and baked goods eating which of course made a huge difference in my body’s fat burning abilities.  I increased my protein consumption and never ate past nine in the evening.  Somehow I managed to find the motivation to commit to exercising a minimum six days a week again. I forced myself to exercise even if I procrastinated until ten at night.  I was going to get those last very stubborn five pounds … Continue reading →

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part III

With weeks and weeks of post partum exercise in the bag, I was feeling pretty good about my progress and continued motivation to get the pregnancy weight off quickly.  I had set goal dates to be back down to my pre pregnancy weight (after my son but before my daughter) and my pre pre pregnancy weight (before both babies).  Even though I was making progress, I was losing weight and my muscles were getting toned,  my goal dates came and went without being met.  Feeling more than a little frustrated, I set new goal dates and switched up my post … Continue reading →

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part II

By week two of my exercising excursions, I was ready to try something a little more difficult but still low impact.  I started switching off every other day with a total body toning and strengthening work (because of the stomach down mat work, I was not able to do this workout after week eighteen of my pregnancy).  It was a really hard workout and I was happy to only be doing it every other day! Two weeks into my new post partum workout routine and six weeks post partum, I started feeling a little more tone in my abdominal muscles. … Continue reading →

Twelve Weeks Post Partum

I have reached another one of the post partum milestones. At twelve weeks post partum I have mixed feeling about my progress in the last six weeks. While change has definitely taken place, other aspects of my post pregnancy fitness seem stuck. Compared to my first post partum experience, I am leaps and bounds ahead the second time around, but in terms of my own self imposed goals, I am way behind. I am continuing to exercise at least five times a week. If I am especially motivated, I will get in a workout or two over the weekend as … Continue reading →

Temporary and Permanent Changes

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I experienced many changes with my first pregnancy. Some of these changes were permanent while others were only temporary. Some of these changes were good while others where entirely unwanted. Change is inevitable and a necessary part of life. I experienced more changes in that 9 month period than I did in my entire life. Temporary Changes: I experienced chronic fatigue and nausea accompanied by frequent vomiting from week 5 through week 15 of my first pregnancy. I also gained weight steadily in my 2nd and 3rd trimesters. With a sustained diet and exercise, I was able to lose most … Continue reading →

Do You Feel Beautiful When You Are Pregnant?

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Over the past few years, as many of my friends have gotten pregnant and had their own families, I’ve gotten to witness a wide variety of reactions to the changes that happen to a pregnant woman’s body. Some women embrace their new curves and flaunt them with fitted maternity clothes. These are the same women who eagerly take photos of their growing belly every week. Some avoid wearing maternity clothes until the last minute, wincing at their growing reflection in the mirror. You’ll be lucky to see their baby belly in their profile picture. Some hardly think twice about what … Continue reading →