Fit Pregnancy-- Bikini Body Mommy

I started working out regularly (up to 6x a week) in July 2015.
Summer 2016 was going to be my year I was going to be looking HOT.
I had perfected amazing eating habits, drinking water habits, eliminated soda almost completely & I was the strongest I had ever been.

Ricky & I were also trying to expand our family and so 2016 is actually NOT going to be the year I'm looking hot in my bikini. But, the good thing is we are on track for 2017.

My last progress picture & first pregnancy picture.
6 weeks along. 

So I spent all of February, March & April unable to eat almost all meat & pretty much every other food for that matter.
There was also a billion other unfavorable pregnancy side effects so working out was really the furthest thing on my mind.
I think I went to the gym about 4-5 times the whole 3 months.

I struggled to drink water in the beginning and I also couldn't (and still cannot drink coffee) but oh man is Pepsi my lover right now. Not excessively. Maybe like 3-4/week. I'm dying without coffee. Don't judge me!

Now that I'm in my second trimester my house is a little less hoarder-ish, we all have clean underwear & the dishes are done regularly again.
I have no routine because most days I needed a nap to even make it until 7pm.
I swear this pregnancy is 10x worse than my pregnancy with Charley ever was.
Boys.

I'm feeling a little more alive so I needed to seriously figure out a workout routine that was safe.
First of all, I HATE working out at home. I absolutely hate it. 
I love being a gym rat, having my headphones in and being left alone to work on me.
Mentally & physically.
It is therapeutic.
I know some enjoy workout video's and having their kid(s) around and stuff.
NOT ME. NOT ONE BIT.

My entire life revolves around Charley 24/7 and working out is one of the few things that is done for me so I don't especially like to have company or an audience. It's almost like taking a bath. I want to be left the hell alone -- FOR A WHILE. 

HIIT is out the window for the rest of 2016.
I still plan to hit the gym because literally working out at home sucks but some days it's better than nothing especially on days when I am more tired.

After much research and talking to my doctor he told me to do whatever I was comfortable with. He and I both agreed that it's almost impossible to get a good workout in at 140bpm or below. He also explained that I could push myself but that if I can't breathe; Hudson can't breathe. So to be mindful of that.
After only 3 months "off" I have lost some strength, mostly in my back.. which is starting to really kill me again.

I will also add that at 15.2 I am able to eat enough meat that I feel like I can actually workout without being sore for an entire week. Which last week when I worked out I was sore for 6 days -- thanks to my protein, pre-workout & supplement deprived body.

I came across the Bikini Body Mommy page and figured I'd give her pregnancy series a go.
She has a week by week pregnancy workout program which was appealing to me.
Today (Week 15) I completed my first workout in the series.
That normal "home workout" frustration came from both the toddler and the dogs but overall I still felt like I got a decent 20 minute workout in - targeting good muscle groups while keeping my heart in a steady, healthy area for both Hudson and myself. The good news is you can use whatever dumbbell you're comfortable with which can really beef up your workout
I haven't really looked into or tried any of her other workout programs but I think she's got a great personality and they are probably worthwhile if you like the home workout thing. A majority of them are free but even the paid subscription (which the pregnancy series is a paid subscription) is only $2/month for complete access to all workouts.

This particular workout was 20 minutes long. 5 min warm up/cool down.
My heart rate was in zone for me for most of my workout. I'm sure pausing to get the toddler/dogs situated played a role in that. I'm not super concerned about calories at this point as I am still at my pre-pregnancy weight. It's a little discouraging getting a 152 calorie burn when I normally get about 300 in the same time frame (when not pregnant) but the end goal is overall health for 2 people so I'm pleased with my workout! 

Of course there's a million reasons why working out during pregnancy is great for the mother but there's also some incredible reasons to workout for the baby.
- Your may boost your child's athletic potential. One study found that 20 year olds who were exposed to exercise in utero performed better at sports than same age peers whose mothers did not exercise during pregnancy. After all, Im trying to make Hudson an all star. He can thank me later.
- Your child may have a healthier heart. The developing babies of prenatal exercisers have more efficient hearts than those of non-exercisers, and this higher cardio fitness level seems to last into the childhood years.
- Your children may grow up to be smarter. Some research indicates that kids of moms who workout during pregnancy have better memories, in addition to higher scores on intelligence and language tests.

So in short I feel like I'm improving his brain, heart & athletic abilities. 
Other benefits of a fit pregnancy here.

Newest Additions

Yeesh.
2016 is flyyying by.
One of these days will be the day that I can catch up with life (&laundry) without time literally slipping between my hands. I think.

There have been some monumental things happening over at the Holt Haus lately.
We spent most of the fall/winter doing some remodeling which was a good, distracting, complicated, annoyance -- and just enough to keep me focused from the hell that surrounded me last Halloween.

Spring is partially here and because the weather doesn't want to make up it's mind some days still feel like winter unfortunately. Hey winter, buzz off.

Ricky and I had been saving up for a trip to the Dominican Republic for sometime in April/May -- A Charley FREE trip but with all the Zika virus issues and with us not knowing whether or not I'd be pregnant we started thinking about other vacation options. In February we were really feeling the Winter Blues and decided to take our DR monies and plan a trip to Disneyland which we left for about a week later. I spent the entire vacation dealing with a sinus infection from hell. I actually caved and took antibiotics because after 2 boxes of kleenex, a raw nose, a gallon of distilled water (nasal irrigation) and a lot of essential oils, sometimes you just need antibiotics. After beginning the antibiotics I endured some night sweats, some clammy hands, and a clear nasal passage. I usually always get the most awkward side effects so I chalked it up to that.

Oh, and the Kleenex box I had signed by Doc McStuffins.

After coming home from Disneyland I had a pregnancy test lying around so I pee'd on it and there it was. THE line. I know better than to get excited when it's that early. I told Ricky and we both were excited of course, but completely guarded and cautious. Me more than him.

I spent a few days the next week miserable with the flu.
After the flu subsided the nausea, heart burn, food aversions, constipation, and hunger all kept me company for the next 2 months. Alongside some sour patch kids, 7-11 nachos, and Martinelli's Sparkling Cider. Healthy, I know.

I had my first appointment mid april at 10w and had my due date pushed back a week, due to ultrasound measurements but so far everything was good -- minus the severe pregnancy symptoms that had me molded to the couch.

This last Monday May 9th was my second appointment. It was Ricky's flex day off so he was going to stay home with Charley but to be honest with you -- I am TERRIFIED to go to the OB by myself anymore. I don't know that I am strong enough for bad news by myself right now. So Ricky AND Charley came with me. The wait was quite lengthy. I am seeing a new, new OB because my first choice now delivers at an out of network hospital and my second choice switched practices before my first appointment. So my new, new had me all stressed out in the beginning.. BUT things are going well with him and I like & trust him as my provider.

Anyway,
After our lengthy lengthy wait and watching "Work from Home" "Try Everything" and "NO" on YouTube a dozen times each my Dr came into the exam room and fired up the ultrasound machine.
I was so not expecting an ultrasound at this appointment and we had plans to find out the gender on the 21st of May at a private scan after Charley's dance recital. We really wanted Charley to see her sibling on the ultrasound machine and be part of the experience. We however, were going to have them write down the gender and do a reveal -- LIVE via Facebook -- just the 3 of us. (The Facebook didn't know about our growing secret yet).

My doctor had no trouble finding the babe and went to work examining the brain, length, heartbeat & then said let's take a peek at the genitals and in that split second I knew we were likely about to find out the gender -- just the 3 of us and I was so glad they were with me!

Our babe was spread eagle and there was no denying the nub. The perks of having a doctor do your ultrasound is that they tell you a LOT more information than the ultrasound techs ever will -- because they can! So he takes a picture and says "I can't tell you to paint the room blue but that's a penis."

With our upcoming trip I knew we had to tell our parents in a fun way before my big mouth spilled the beans. Of course, Ricky and I were happy for anything at this point but we are both over the moon to have one of each.

We stopped by the party store for some blue confetti poppers and headed to his mom's first. We showed up un-announced and had her pop the magic! She had said this one was a boy the entire time & right she was!

Next stop unannounced was my parents house. My brother helped us out with time to make sure my mom was awake and let us know when he and my dad were back from golfing.
We showed up again, unannounced & asked who wanted a push pop. (Confetti popper). My mom said she didn't want one and my dad asked what flavor to which I replied "Cherry or Blue Raspberry" CLEVER. I KNOW!

You can watch the shenanigans here.

So our plans changed a little bit and WE WENT LIVE on Facebook and boom goes the dynamite!
An impromptu gender reveal and pregnancy announcement all in one.

Hudson Alexander Holt should be here around November 14th, 2016! 

HI-YUH

Long time, no talk. blog.

My last blog was obviously very personal, therapeutic & necessary.
Since then I have quietly been focusing on myself without carrying the weight of the world and being treated as a doormat every time someone "needs" essential oils.
It's not that others treat me badly & that's not what I'm saying at all.
It's that I allowed myself to become a doormat because I thought I was helping people - which I was but I was discounting myself in doing so.
I also owe a million thank you's to everyone that has reached out to me after what I went through last October. & to squish the elephant in the room - NO. I'm not pregnant. 

I owe a million thank you's to my team for allowing me to step out for the time it took me to get grounded, centered, & back on the horse.
I don't think this will be the last time life.. "life's" me.

I have taken time "off" for about 4 months to deal with myself, my life, my role as a mother & really whatever the hell I want; because I can. Because I have worked my ass off to be able to do that.
Because that is what is SO glorious about residual income.

In the time off I took I have filled up my schedule with me.
It was great, but I miss ALL OF YOU.
I also miss blogging, sharing oils & learning about the precious gifts of the earth!


I have so much to blog about, but I will just leave this short & sweet.
To celebrate the end of my break, make sure you enter my giveaway!