TARANITUP's SparkPeople Blog

Morning Exercise Making a Comeback?

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:27:23 EST

I just got finished with a great, sweaty elliptical session. I was reading a book with fairly short (4-5 page chapters) so I started on level 10 elliptical and each time I finished a chapter I would go down a level for the next chapter. Also between each chapter I would do 10 pushups. My HRM says it was a 28 minute / 281 calorie session. Not too shabby for 5:15 am. My baby is now starting to sleep later and later (this moring was 4:50 yay! I pretty much consider that sleeping thru the night -...

Getting Ambitious for June - ZWOW Challenge

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:25:38 EST

I am starting to feel my body getting strong and fit again after the baby - it took a few weeks postpartum for hormones to even out but I feel I am there (regular cycle started back up which I have been told is the starting point for normalcy hehe). So I am working hard this month to get some strength back and the extra pounds off which is happening, slowly but surely.

June I am going to start back up with pushing myself further - a ZWOW challenge with my friend TRICIA4626 from wor...

New Start Pic - and My First Jog with Emerson

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:47:34 EST

I'm feeling pretty good about things today and this whole week. I seem to have turned a corner with the stuckness I was feeling previously. In fact last night I decided to see if Emerson is ready to go in the jogging stroller because I finally feel I can do a slow paced run without my organs falling out of my vajajay. Sweet!

So today was our first jog - I took it nice and slow, short and sweet. My only real goal was to go over 1/2 a mile and try to keep the pace at 11:00 mile or b...

WOWZA (I'm Back)

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:55:34 EST

I'm baaaaaack! You may be thinking, "But Tara, you never left! You have had a perfect attendance at Sparkpeople for the past 30 months? what do you mean you are back?"

Oh, I am back.

I have finally gotten into my GROOVE the past 3 days. I have been eating FANTASTIC foods. I have been doing PHENOMENAL workouts. I feel great. amazing. fantastic.

The scale is moving... in the direction I want it to. It will still take me quite sometime to get where I want to be b...

New Game Plan

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:30:27 EST

I have come to peace with the fact that I had a totally unrealistic expectation on how quickly I could lose my pregnancy weight. Instead of planning to be back to my pre-baby size (and less) by the middle of this summer, in 3 months, I've extended it to February when I'll be turning 30. This allows me to take it at a slow and manageable pace and I am hoping will not burn me out and frustrate me when things don't happen extremely quickly. So I've set my weight expectations for each month and I...

Mounting Frustrations and Fat Pics

Wed, 8 May 2013 09:39:26 EST

Ugh... It is really not very often that I have to vent about weight loss because in the past, when I know I am doing the right things, I LOSE WEIGHT. Period.

That does not seem to be the case right now. I gained 39 pounds with the pregnancy. However, to get to my ultimate goal, I'd like to lose an additional 21 pounds for a grand total of 60. So I knew the first few weeks postpartum, my body would be going through a ton of changes and weight would be coming off daily. That did happ...

April Fitness Wrap - Up

Wed, 1 May 2013 11:54:13 EST

Well folks, in April...a baby was born unto me! (Hehe). So I wasn't sure how my fitness minutes would play out. I set pretty low goals since I expected to be sidelined for weeks. You know me, though... I had to have some kind of activity. So, I blew away my April goals. I also now know what I am capable of even with 2 children so I have revised my total year goals upward (I had given myself another huge break for May that I really don't need).

Here are the April stats.

...

Five Pound Challenge

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:33:26 EST

Tomorrow I have decided to launch a one week challenge for myself - a kick start to my post baby weight loss, if you will. I will weigh in Monday morning first thing and would like to see a 5 lb loss by next Monday morning.

How will I do it?

Track food every day and eat WELL
Walks daily with Emerson
Circuit training (probably mostly Jillian although avoiding some of the plyo until I'm fully healed in the pelvic/abdominal wall)

I have been doing ok b...

Fun Fitness Project

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:25:28 EST

Today I kicked off a fitness project that I think I'll really enjoy. I have a pretty extensive collection of workout DVDs and have never really been able to judge which ones are best and most effective in terms of calorie burn. So what I am setting out to do on my maternity leave is to do each workout with my new Polar FT4 heart rate monitor and document how many calories I burned with each. That way I will know which ones pack the most powerful punch.

I just did level 1 of JM 30 D...

Crazy Goal?!

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:48:52 EST

I am feeling a tad bit invincible today. I started my food tracking and have done great - low end of a fairly low range (which will change once I can ramp up my workout intensity in a few weeks) - and have gotten a good amount of light exercise in today. I love the empowered feeling of doing the right thing for your body!

So then I started looking at my monthly goals. As I said in a past blog, I set a pretty low minutes goal - 495 - for April, due to knowing I'd be giving birth. I ...

Fitness Plan

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:32:59 EST

I have started to think about my course of action to get fit post-baby and one thing I have decided is to take things slowly and managably. I am out of work until June 17 and I'd like to be well on my way back to normal by the time I return, so I am setting mini chunk goals to get there.

April 12-30 - not cleared for much exercise at this point and my body is in the healing process. I will set very small goals for this time period - 15 minutes of light activity per day (mostly walk...

Some Baby Details and Pics

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:47:06 EST

Hey everyone! I am so glad to finally be home and with my family and not in a hospital where I am being monitored every second! Yeah!

So at my 39 week appointment Andrew and I had a massive argument on the ride there. I was screaming at him for something stupid. when they took my blood pressure at the appointment it was through the roof - I am pretty sure due to the argument lol. So they had an easy decision to make - induction time.

We headed to the hospital after get...

Welcome Emerson!

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 08:08:18 EST

Just stats for now!
Emerson Elizabeth
April 8 at 11:38 pm
7 lb 15 oz
22 inches long
Mom and baby doing great!

comfortably numb

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 17:26:49 EST

Just updating... I have my epidural and am feeling no pain. Dilated 5 cm and everything going great so far. We should have a baby by late tonight or early tomorrow.

39 Week Bumpwatch

Sun, 7 Apr 2013 11:02:22 EST

March Fitness Wrap-Up

Wed, 3 Apr 2013 07:25:25 EST

I had a pretty great March considering I am right on the finish line of this pregnancy. I set goals with the understanding that I could have the baby in late March and since I did not, I blew most of my goals away.

Activity / Goal / Actual / %
Pushups / 330 / 411 / 125%
Planks / 23.66 / 28.29 / 120% (these #s represent minutes spent in full plank position)
Minutes / 830 / 1146 / 138%

So now are are in April and will DEFINITELY have a baby so if I miss out ...

38 Week Update

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 17:38:32 EST

Today was my 38 (plus 1) week appointment. I am getting scared - this baby is already measuring approximately 8 lbs 2 oz and my first was born at 5 lb 9 oz. So this will most definitely be a different birth experience than anything I have seen. I am between 2-3 cm dilated and basically the doc said that means I could go into labor tonight or 2 weeks from now. Blah. My cervix is very soft so most likely if I have any really high blood pressure readings they will do an induction right away - la...

No Baby Yet (and some Pics)

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:13:58 EST

Not much going on in the form of contractions or signs that Emmy is making her way down the canal to face the world... although I am being very vigilant for ANYTHING that might imply that.
I'm ready to meet her... I dont even have any anxiety about the birth, just ready for something to happen.

Being home is nice...I still bring Gianna to daycare for limited hours so I can get some rest. I have still been working out... I am proud to say I believe I will still get 1000 fitness...

Nesting

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 20:33:48 EST

Well folks I am on the home stretch. 37 weeks on Sunday and I am officially freed from work - a high blood pressure reading took care of that on Friday. March fiscal year end and late stages of pregnancy are not a match made in Heaven, of that I am sure. My BP was 154/100 when I went in for my appointment mid-work day... they immediately told me work was finished but more importantly.. if we didn't bring that down, I could be heading to the hospital to have a baby. During the non-stress test ...

36 Week Bumpwatch - and Change in Exercise Goal

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:43:27 EST

I am feeling so so ready to have this baby already. Super uncomfortable and with the added business volume at work I am just feeling overwhelmed. Was sort of hoping Emmy comes early but this morning I had my cervix checked and was 1 cm dilated which really means pretty much nothing :) I have an appointment Friday afternoon mid-work day for a BP check and if things are like they have been it will be elevated. At that point I am going to ask to be done with work - I'll be about 37 weeks. I am n...

Active Weekend!

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:45:21 EST

We had some fantastic weather this weekend. Low 60s and sunny which to some of you is COLD but to us in Pennsylvania felt like a great reprieve from the winter. My husband really enjoys our family walks and hikes and is always chomping at the bit by this time of year from being cooped inside. So even though I am extremely large and very uncomfortable by now, he has been making a lot of sacrifices lately because I dont feel like doing things so I agreed to a good hike. We went to a park and wa...

Feeling UGHHH

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 12:27:09 EST

So I am feeling weird today. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep I felt a SERIOUS pain rip through my abdomen accompanied by babygirl moving . I figured it was just a full body movement on her end and it stretched me in a painful manner...whatever. Then this morning as soon as I woke up I had to run to throw up.. bile. Yuck. I ate breakfast and started feeling really nauseous again when I got to my desk and then had a massive vomiting episode in the work bathroom. Now that seems to have...

Operation GTG

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 09:09:58 EST

Some may call me a bad mother that my baby is not even born yet and I am already planning and salivating thinking of getting back to goal weight. I'm actually a great mother - and a much happier and better one when I can get around well and feel good about myself. So any naysayers can quit while they are ahead. I will get plenty of bonding time with Emerson (and Gianna) after the birth. However, fitness WILL also be a priority. I am a born multitasker and I will do it!

So on to Ope...

Big Baby

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 09:38:47 EST

I had an ultrasound today and at 34 wks 2 days the baby is in the 63rd percentile with an estimated weight of 5lb8oz already. Yikes! I delivered my first at 5'9! But all is perfectly on target and she is doing great. Oh boy my vajayjay isn't gonna like this.

February Fitness Wrap-Up

Fri, 1 Mar 2013 08:24:41 EST

Here are the results:

Pushups - Goal 455, Actual 489 - 107% (I have found a new way to do pushups - they are still full pushups but I put my hands on my treadmill - it gives me a little extra belly room so I can still do the full motion - for the most part).

Planks - Goal Average 0:51 per day, Actual Average 0:55 per day - 106% - spent 25 minutes 31 seconds in plank position this month

Minutes - Goal 830 Actual 1030 - 124% - Happy to log some extra minutes tow...

Update on Me and Mine...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:28:43 EST

Hey ya'll. You have seen a lot about the baby and pregnancy story lately so I figured it was time to update on my whole life in general.

Fitness:
Still been keepin' it real. I work out every day. Even if I plan to rest I make sure I get at least 15 minutes of SOMETHING. It's just in my DNA and I don't plan on stopping that... ever. Probably even when I am banned from exercise after having the baby I will still make sure I do something - even if it's sitting in a hospital bed ...

Work is Picking Up...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:42:25 EST

I feel like I write this same blog each year... but just as an FYI I may not be AS active on spark in the weeks to come. March is Fiscal Year End and we always see a big pickup in business (and stress) starting right about... NOW.

Should be fun going through the craziness 8+ months pregnant!

Baby Birthdate / Weight / Length Pool

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:19:05 EST

Hey there... just for fun... if anyone cares to put in your hunches about Baby Hudock 2013!

www.babyhunch.com/poolpage.php?pooli
d=6af4fb99183060945756befcae932e79

Bumpwatch - 32 Week Bump (Mountain?!)

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:27:28 EST

I'm ready to cross that finish line...

Starting to Get Sentimental!

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:13:16 EST

The past few days I've been really letting it sink in that we are soon going to have another baby to love the heck out of. Sometimes that gets lost in all of the hullabaloo of pregnancy mixed with daily life. I am really excited to see how my Gianna interacts with her sister. Last night she wanted to "go on a piggy back ride on the baby" (see pic). LOL. Now to make sure she knows that can't happen after the baby is born haha.

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 09:23:56 EST

This pregnancy has been enlightening to me in a few ways because I have grown a very large belly in comparison to the rest of my body, and almost the entire time I have "appeared" ahead of where I actually am in gestational age. People have not been shy to point this out.

I clearly remember in the past asking a pregnant woman when she is due and when she responded, I can only hope I masked any surprise I may have felt that she was "only that far along" when she seemed so big... bec...

January Fitness Wrapup

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 07:07:47 EST

I'm happy with how January went - especially considering I was in pain for much of the month, I still found ways to get the minutes in. I gave myself a lower monthly minutes goal so I didn't feel a huge amount of pressure to meet them and ended up way exceeding it - but that will help me later on for my total year goal.

Here are the results:

Pushups - Goal 505, Actual 519 - 103% (they are getting super hard for me now as I get a bigger belly so I am proud of this!)

My New Desk Chair (Pic)

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:58:05 EST

I finally brought in my new office chair... which helps me with the back and hip pain because I can do pelvic tilts and rolls all day long if I want :)

I actually have been switching back and forth from a normal chair to this and I like!!

I Feel 100 Years Old!

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:24:29 EST

Wow... my body is really getting tired of being pregnant. I ache - all the time! Yesterday I literally felt like if I took another step my hips would crumble to ash and I'd just fall down. Now today when I get up from my chair at my desk I feel like I am hobbling. I just do not remember my body feeling this way with my first pregnancy. I know I had a lot heavier start point and maybe my body was more accepting of this extra weight but I feel very discouraged that after all my healthy choices ...

Back to Lunch Packing

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:46:10 EST

I have been such a slacker the past few months with not keeping the house well stocked with good groceries, and eating so many meals at our work cafe - simply because I didn't feel like packing a lunch. Last Friday I finally bit the bullet and did a huge stock up so now I have no more excuses - time to spend a little time making good and nourishing lunches for myself. The past few weeks I've put on a few too many pounds that are NOT all baby so I have to keep reminding myself I still have 11 ...

ABCs of Me

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:04:44 EST

A is for ABOVE and BEYOND...Does competition push you? Yes! But my favorite person to compete with is myself and what I've done in the past!
B is for BLC rounds... Sorry I'm not currently in a BLC, but may after the baby is born!
C is for CHILDREN...you have? Stepson Bryce - 8, daughter Gianna - 3, new babygirl with EDD of April 14
D is for DOWNFALL...what's you're biggest temptation? Salty foods
E is for EARLY Bird or Night Owl? early bird
F is for FURRY FRIENDS...y...

Orlando Trip (oh and are we due for a bumpwatch pic?)

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:27:22 EST

I haven't been in blogging mood lately but CODILYNN2 asked to hear about my trip so I gotta deliver... hehe :)

It was good on the business end - I work with a lot of our field sales reps on a daily basis so always a good time to get in sales meetings with them in person. We got a lot of things resolved and it was a pretty laid back few days work wise. QUITE funny being the only one not drinking at the dinners and just taking it all in lol. But I'll look forward to the next one when...

Every Extra Minute...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:03:01 EST

This is the first month where I have deviated from my habit of trying (and mostly succeeding) in doing 60 minutes of exercise daily, in the past 2+ years. My body is getting sore, achy and big with this baby and it is no longer a realistic goal for me. January's fitness minutes goal equates to roughly 30 minutes per day. Some days I still get 60 - some days 40 or 45 - and some days 20. But each day I am making sure to do what I can that day.

I don't feel like I am slacking by reduc...

Bumpwatch - 26w4d

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:01:13 EST

Just a quick pic for ya.

No Gestational Diabetes! Heck, No 3 Hour Test Either!!!

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 16:27:18 EST

I had pretty much resigned myself to having to take the 3 hour glucose test (absolutely HELL on earth) because I had gestational diabetes last pregnancy. I just got the news that I passed the one hour test and don't even need to take that step and DO NOT have GD this time!!!!

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 236

That being said - I am still going to control the carbs as I've been doing - I know how my body feels when I eat "right" vs "not" and no matter what labe...

SP Hurt My Feelings - Wah Wah

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 12:54:04 EST

Not really :) But kind of.

I told you all I was stopping running but what I really meant was I stopped REQUIRING myself to run to meet goals. If I still feel the urge to get on the treadmill for a few minutes and jog, I am still going to. Just no pressure.

So last time that is what I did. I told myself all I wanted was a half a mile and that would satiate me. I ended up doing 0.8 miles and was admittedly kind of slow - I am hefting a BIG bump these days. But when I went ...

My Pregnant Friends - GREAT Prenatal Pilates Series

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 10:35:21 EST

Just sharing my recent discovery on Youtube - a great series of 10 minute prenatal pilates videos - done by a really adorable woman who is 36 weeks pregnant :)

There are supposed to be 5 parts but I have only found parts 1 - 4 and each are true to form 10 minutes long.

I use 3 lb weights for the ones that call for weights, and 2 big pillows for the video that is on your back (it says you can use 1 pillow if in 1st trimester, otherwise use 2).

Enjoy! I've attac...

Hanging Up the Running Shoes

Thu, 3 Jan 2013 13:12:30 EST

Well folks, the time has come. Everything I've read on running during pregnancy paired with what I've spoken to my OB doctors about has said that it is safe to run until your body tells you its time to stop. I believe my body is telling me that now.

I can only run about 0.5 miles before I have to pee - uncontrollably.
After I do run, my pelvic area feels strained - like I pulled something.
It's time to stop.

So, hard as it is to let go, I'm hanging up the runni...

Doesn't It Feel Nice?

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 12:56:05 EST

I was thinking how lovely it felt this year to not have to set the "lose weight" New Year's Resolution that I set every year prior to 2010. I live that lifestyle now... nice to be able concentrate my efforts on other areas of my life as we start a new year!

Not that fitness isn't a huge part of the yearly goals I set, of course it is... but its never that shot in the dark, "I WILL lose weight this year" mindset.

Awesome!

Numbers Chick - 2012 Wrap Up - Final Results on Goals!

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:45:11 EST

2012 has been a very eventful year for this numbers chick - lots of good, a bit of bad, and a baby on board!

Health and fitness wise, here is the breakdown:

The good 250
Hit all 3 fitness goals for the year (more detail below)
Realized unequivocally that this is officially MY LIFESTYLE... nothing temporary about the way I live fit these days. What a great realization!

The bad 230
I let a month of back to back vacations pu...

FINALIZED: 2013 Fitness Goals!

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:53:37 EST

These are a bit revamped from when I'd originally looked at this in early November, all increased since I originall set them - of course. You know me, can't rest :)

Please keep in mind I'm factoring in having a baby - so I had to be realistic from around February through May and may even have underestimated my capabilities. But rest assured I will always work to the best of my ability - just don't want to put undue pressure on myself!!!

This year I'll still be focusing o...

Bump Watch - 24 weeks (+5 days)

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:05:52 EST

So I am happy to report that although you'll soon clearly see that my baby has gotten bigger (hence the belly growth) I have been working hard on eating well and exercising so that my weight won't continue to rise faster than it should. So since my last pic at 20 weeks I have gained only 2 lbs (about 0.5 lb per week) so I'm happy with that. Have been feeling mainly great. I went a 10 day stretch without having to take the Fioricet for the awful headaches so that was awesome... I have energy.....

We Only Do What We Can...

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:18:48 EST

I picked a very difficult time of year to control my carbs - but I felt it needed to be done prior to my glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes and I don't regret it. But, I have not been 100% strict with it. What I have done is track my carbs most days in the week and aim to stay in the GD diet ranges. I've also given myself a few days off - Christmas, New Years Eve, and one other day so far. I don't track on those days and allow myself what I have been craving on the other days. It...

Walking/Jogging Pregnancy Goal

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:04:03 EST

Just checking in with some good news - I achieved my total pregnancy running/walking goal of 300 miles at 24 weeks!!!! Yes! Officially ran and walked 300.77 miles - and no sign of giving up yet :)

PS> Just for clarification - a walk is when I actually walk with the intent of getting my heart pumping - and counted as fitness minutes - not just incidental getting myself from place to place.

Safe and Healthy Holidays to All!

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:06:53 EST

That is all!

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