Thankful

 

I loved reading everyone’s 30 days of Thanksgiving posts during the month of November.  It was nice to hear some of thing things that people are thankful that are not the usual things.  Why do we have to wait until November though?  Don’t you think we should express our Thanksgiving on a more regular basis?  It seems like it would UP the positivity factor in life and possibly help to keep out some of the negative stuff.

SO – I’ll start!

I am thankful today for:

MONDAYS!!  Okay – not many people like Mondays (usually I”m one of them) – but today I choose to be thankful for Monday because its a new week – new opportunities to SHINE at work – fresh start to my workout schedule – and…. um, I”m sure there are other good things about it that will come to me later 🙂

HEALTH – I have always been a relatively healthy person.  I don’t get sick often.  I take good care of myself (thank for teaching me to do that Mom & Dad!).  However, until being pregnant, I never fully REALIZED how important it is!  Words truly cannot express how grateful I am that I have had such an “easy” and healthy pregnancy so far!  I find that I am in the minority in this aspect.

 

What are YOU thankful for today?  Comment below but also SHARE it out loud!

Week 21

Officially sporting a full on bump now!

Wow – I am more than halfway thru this pregnancy already!! That’s CRAZY! Here is an update as of Week 21:

How far along? 21 Weeks

Total Weight Gain? As of my 20 week appointment I have gained TEN pounds!  Y*I*K*E*S  The doctor assured me that is right within normal range – but still – that seems like so much!

How big is baby? He is the size of a pomegranate

Gender: It’s a BOY!

Maternity Clothes? Very much so!  The pants for sure – still wearing a mix of tops… and I have no maternity workout clothes or anything.

Morning Sickness? None – hooray!

Mood Swings? I wouldn’t describe it as mood swings – more so, easily irritable.

Buy anything for baby this week? No… I don’t think we’ve bought anything yet to be honest!  Last I heard the hubby was mid-way thru an Ebay auction for the baby monitor we want – but not sure if we won 🙂

Stretch Marks? None that I’ve noticed – but do people start seeing them NOW – during pregnancy??? Or do they show up after the fact?  I have just about used up my Oh Baby! Mambino Belly Butter…. and while I liked the scent – I hated how “hard” it was in the jar.  You literally had to dig it out and then it would get all up under my fingernails – yuck.  SO, I have ordered the Cocoa Butter belly butter, beautifying oil and body scrub from The Body Shop…. hopefully I”ll like this better.

Sleep? I sleep pretty good and fall asleep easily…. my back is hurting a little bit though.  Maybe I need more pillows?!

Best Moment This Week: Well…. this actually happened last week – but I would obviously have to say SEEING our baby boy at our anatomy scan – we got to see 3D too!!!  All limbs are accounted for and he has a brain, a pumping heart and stomach! yay!

Worst Moment This Week:  Destination PROCRASTINATION.  I waited until a few days ago to START a paper for my HR Mngmt class that we should have been working on all semester long.  SO, worst moment(s) were putting that bad boy together in the late hours of Sunday PM to submit on Monday!

Movement: Nope – nada!

Cravings: Nothing to report!  The “carbonation” craving has gone away too….

Labor Signs: None thankfully

Belly Button In or Out? It’s in, but it’s definitely flattening out… I must have a shallow belly button or something?

What I miss? Alcohol, sushi… and the “ease” of having a normal lunchmeat sandwich without heating it up.

What I am looking forward to? Our 3D ultrasound in a couple of weeks and my most FAVORITE holiday next week – Thanksgiving!  Food & Family – what else do you need?

Milestones: Hubby and I agreeing on a nursery theme! 🙂

Get Extreme with ChaLean Challenge Group – Day 3

Hola 🙂

I started participating in a new challenge group on Monday!  So far everyone participating is TOTALLY awesome and dedicated!  I decided I wanted to track my journey with videos throughout the 90 days 🙂

Here is my first one – Day 3.

Contact me if you’re interested in getting involved in something similar!! I have some other challenge groups starting SOON!

11/26 starts my 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge

12/3 starts BRAZIL BUTT LIFT 🙂

Happy Wednesday!!

Body Beast – Turkey Power Meatloaf

Another YUMMY recipe for you guys!!

My hubby started the BODY BEAST workout on Sunday!  Its one of Beachbody’s NEWEST additions to their line of amazing at home fitness programs!  I am excited to do it myself sometime post-pregnancy 🙂

Anyways – once he committed to doing the program he decided he wanted to do it FULL OUT 100% by the book!  That meant NUTRITION – meal plan and all!  He made me laugh the other day with his quote, “Insanity + Oreos does not equal abs”  🙂  So true!  He’s always kind of maintained a consistent weight, but he’s never gotten the amazing infomercial quality results he’s been after because he hasn’t committed to the nutrition aspect.

 

Anyways – I have been working hard to pack his lunches and plan his meals according to the BEAST nutrition guide!  Luckily it came with a TON of really delicious recipes in the book!  Last night I made the Turkey Power Meatloaf.  It was AWESOME!  I almost had a second serving myself!

Here is the recipe – notice there is NO CHEESE!!  I was nervous that it was not going to be moist enough, but it was still excellent!  Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Turkey Power Meatloaf  (from Body Beast)

2lbs ground lean turkey

1 cup all natural salsa
1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

2 lg eggs ( lightly beaten)

3 cloves finely chopped garlic
1tsp sea salt
Ground black pepper
Fresh chopped parsley

Preheat oven 375
Combine all and press into 9×5 loaf pan
Bake 60-70 mins until done
Let it cool for 10 mins and slice into 8 pieces.

211 calories
10g fat
3g sat fat
125mg cholesterol
485mg sodium
4g carbs
1g fiber
1g sugar
25g protein

Greenberry Shamrock goodness

Greenberry Shakeology…..its one of those things that I have only met a handful of people that prefer it…..But lately, I hear more and more people who are choosing it over chocolate. I tried Greenberry about a year ago and didn’t like it very much….

However, my parents DRILLED this phrase into my head when I was younger and was trying new food/flavors (mostly in relation to veggies…lol)…”Today may be the day that you like it”……and I cannot tell you how many times that was TRUE!

Anyways – because of that saying always ringing in my head, I had been wanting to try Greenberry again and perhaps try a different recipe to prepare it with.  So my friend told me about this “Shamrock Shake” that trainer Chalene Johnson put out…  Check it out:

I made it EXACTLY per the recipe and its DELICIOUS!  SO good!!  I have no clue how to describe the taste, but its just really good and no “wheatgrass” after taste like the first time I tried it.  SO, if you have some unused Greenberry Shakeology sitting in your cupboard, TRY this recipe!!!  Also, think about getting the Shakeology packets that come with 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 Greenberry!

Please contact me if you’re interested in learning more about Shakeology and/or if you would like to try a sample.

Week 18

How far along? 18 weeks

How big is baby? the size of a sweet potato 🙂  5.6 inches 6.7 oz.

Total weight gain/loss: 5ish lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yes!  I have worn my preggo dark denim jeans for the past 2 days in a row.

Sleep: Sleeping GREAT!  My hubby bought me this awesome pillow…looks like this:

 

 

 

 

I know it looks really silly – but I swear its SO comfy!!  We call it my “cocoon” 🙂

Best moment this week: That surprised look on people’s faces when I tell them I’m 18 weeks along.  In my mind I feel like I”m getting HUGE – but it make me feel not so large when people seem ‘surprised’ that I’m pregnant at all.  Okay ‘huge’ may be an exaggeration, but I am def. growwwwwwwing!

Movement:  I still don’t feel anything 😦  I hear it feels like a “butterfly”…WELL, what is that supposed to feel like?  I have not felt anything yet that did not seem like digestion.  Not subtle ‘flutters’ or anything.

Food cravings: I kind of crave the bite or burn from carbonated beverages.  I don’t drink soda really – so this is odd for me.  I have been drinking sparkling flavored waters and some ginger ale too.  Other than that, no cravings really.

Food Aversions: none

Gender: We find out SOON!!  11/9 is our anatomy scan.

Labor Signs: None

Pregnancy Symptoms:  Acne  – and some moodiness.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: clear skin…sushi…and my Express wardrobe!

What I am looking forward to: Picking out a nursery theme

Upcoming appointments/events: Anatomy scan 11/9, 3D Ultrasound later in November, Dermatologist (still deciding if I’ll go) 10/25 and regular physical was supposed to be this morning, but I missed it.

Weekly Wisdom:  Hormones are for real!

Milestones: I think I can officially say I have a bump now.  Last week had significant growth spurts in the belly…and it def. has more of a bump look than a overweight ‘pouch’ look.

Do you have any gender predictor ‘tales’ ??  I did an online Chinese lunar calendar thingy today and it says GIRL.  My sister and sister in law are predicting BOY.  Hubby says girl because he seems to think I’m crabby (although he used a different word) and that its caused from extra girl hormones in my body…. Someone posted a babycenter article the other day about finding out gender at WEek 6!!  Something to do with WHERE the placenta is attached – right or left side.  Not sure where I fall in that theory as I thought it was confusing….We’ll know for sure soon though!

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 Weeks & 4 Days
Total weight gain/loss: 2.5 lbs
Maternity clothes? Bought a few things, but still wearing mostly regular clothes
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Sleeping great
Best moment this week: Tuesday after FitClub – I felt GREAT after working out – must be the endorphins
Have you told family and friends: Yes!
Miss Anything? Alcohol – I miss having a glass of wine with dinner…..& SUSHI!!  I have had some cooked sushi – like crunchy shrimp roll and a veggie roll – but its just NOT the same
Movement: No, nothing yet.. but CAN’T wait!!
Food cravings: Carbs & savory food in general……I was so shocked at myself the other day!  My husband brought home pumpkin donuts (and I am a pumpkin freak!! love everything pumpkin) and I CHOSE my leftover steak and sweet potato to eat over the donut!  I just have not been craving sweets much which is very surprising to me!
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Have you started to show yet: looking chubby for sure – but nothing that looks like a defined bump
Gender prediction: I can’t decide!!  Some old wives tales predict a girl based on the heartbeat 140+ and my lovely acne covered skin…..but then I took an online quiz (and those MUST be accurate! lol) and it predicted a boy!  So I’m still 50/50 on either one!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy if you ask me – Moody if you ask my husband
Looking forward to: Feeling the baby move!

865 Fit Club – Insanity Core Cardio & Balance

Hello!

If you follow me on Facebook – you know I run a FREE Fitclub each week to promote health and fitness to the community.  Also, if we’re not friends on Facebook – send me a request!

This morning’s workout was Insanity Core Cardio & Balance.  This is actually the recovery week workout that you do in between month 1 and month 2.  Its still a tough workout, but not nearly as intense and plyometric as the usual Insanity workouts.

The weekends were always the time that I am most likely to slack off on my regular workout routine, so I really LOVE that I can get together with friends and new attendees Saturday morning to workout!  It keeps me motivated and then I can spend my Saturday my workout is out of the way!!

I never got to finish the full program when I was doing it before I got pregnant.  I finished month one, and then went on vacation, and then found out I was preggers, and I never moved on to month 2.  I will definitely be adding this to my post-baby fitness calendar next year 🙂

If you’d like more information on the Insanity program – check it out here:

Dear Pregnancy Boobs:

Hello!  I’m glad you decided to show up!  I just wanted to let you know that you are MORE THAN WELCOME to stay with me even after your jobs are done in the next year or so.  Don’t run away and head south once the nursing is over!

Love,

Your New Home

Les Mills Combat – PREORDERS – October 1st

Les Mills Combat Pre-Order

Starting October 1st, 2012

Are you Ready?  Will you STAY with the FIGHT? A workout inspired by ancient warriors and perfected by masters.  The ultimate workout which is intense, fierce, and focused. Les Mills Combat pre-order begins on October 1st,2012 so that you can have this workout at home and in time for Christmas for you and your loved ones, family, and friends.  Les Mills Combat is created by Beachbody, the same company who produces P90X, Insanity, Turbofire, Body Beast, and many others.  Make sure to tell all of your friends about the Les Mills Pump Combat pre-orders so that NOBODY misses out.  Check out this 1 minute video clip and feel like a kid waiting for Christmas again.

  INTENSE

FIERCE

FOCUSED

Will you be able to

By making me your free Beachbody coach you will be ready to make your Les Mills Combat Pre-Order on the 1st of October.  This will first be available exclusively through a Team Beachbody Coach like myself.  If you do not have a coach yet and are excited about being one of the first people ever to go through this program then feel free to contact me or make me your FREE COACH so that you are ready to go through one of the most amazing home fitness workout programs in the world.

Click to make me your FREE coach and be sent the link for pre-orders on the morning of October 1st