A thankful heart, my 21 week pregnancy update and goals for the day...

After yesterdays amazing 10 mile walk, I am setting a goal of walking 3 miles. We are driving up to Dallas today and my parents will FINALLY get to find out the sex of their grand baby on the way!! We are looking forward to a lovely dinner and special time with them as we present them with a gift that will tell them if it is a boy or girl!

My pregnancy is still going well and I feel great. My appetite is strong, make that very strong but I find logging my foods and making goals each day a wonderful way to control cravings and overall daily consumption. I have to keep this mindset this week as we attend 2 family Thanksgivings. The fist is at my in laws. For those who do not know my husband is half Thai. His Mom is from Thailand and makes the most amazing food! So for Thanksgiving instead of the traditional turkey and dressing, she does a Thai feast! Thai food is one of my favorites so I am going to have to be every aware of how much I consume! I am doing so well and I want to be able to stay on track despite being pregnant over the holidays.

My goal of gaining 1/2 a pound a week is soon to change. In this phase of the pregnancy it is not uncommon to see weight gains of 1 lb a week. I received an email from What to Expect and other pregnancy sites and they said this week my baby will be the size of a banana! I need to really stay focused as I enter into this next phase of the pregnancy which is weight gaining time! If I can keep a steady .5 - 1 lb a week, I will be on track for my pregnancy.

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving! I know this year my husband and I are so grateful for many things. It has been an incredible year for us. After moving back from Russia in February of this year, we were given the biggest blessing of all. In July we created a new life, our precious baby. This has been the most amazing and life changing event in our life together and it comes at a beautiful time for us. This December, we will celebrate 10 years of marriage and this anniversary will hold a very special meaning to us, unlike any other.

I am also thankful for life itself. Every morning I wake up, take a breath and give thanks to God for another day to live. Life truly is a beautiful gift. So this year I am giving thanks for many things but most of all I give thanks for my relationship with God and what it has done in not only my life but how it has blessed our marriage beyond anything we could have imagined over these past 10 years.

Goals to achieve today -
1. Drink 1.25 gallons of water - 2 liters done so far this morning....
2. Walk 3 miles - 1.55 done this morning so far....
3. Stay within 1800 - 1900 calories for the day

This weeks plan....

Monday - 10.12 mile walk - DONE!
Tuesday - 3 mile walk
Wednesday - 3 mile walk
Thursday - Early am walk - 2 miles.....Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Friday - 2 mile walk
Saturday - 2 mile walk before heading back home.
Goal 22 miles for the week

Workout results 11/23

I did it! I walked 10.12 miles today and that is NOT including all the walking around shopping I did! I had to break my walks up into 4 different sessions outside from the early morning to an evening walk. I am so proud I surpassed my goal for the day! Now I am off to take a bath and let my husband massage my tired feet!

Daily Goals -
1. Drink 1.25 gallon of water - DONE!!!
2. Complete scheduled workout - DONE!!!
3. Log foods and stay on track with calories - DONE!!!

Daily Totals -
Time - 166 mins - 10.12 mile walk
Calories burned - 1,011
Calories consumed - 1,862

Weekly Update -
Miles - 10.12/22
Calories burned - 1,011
Fitness minutes - 166

Monday - 10.12 mile walk - DONE!
Tuesday - 3 mile walk
Wednesday - 3 mile walk
Thursday - Early am walk - 2 miles.....Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Friday - 2 mile walk
Saturday - 2 mile walk before heading back home.
Goal 22 miles for the week

Goals for today and this weeks schedule...

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." - Epictetus

Goals to achieve today -
1. Drink 1.5 gallons of water
2. Walk 9 miles - 1.55 done so far this am - 7.45 miles left to go
3. Stay within 1800 - 1900 calories for the day

Next weeks plan....MUST stay on track for this week and watch out for too much turkey!

Monday - 9 mile walk
Tuesday - 3 mile walk
Wednesday - 3 mile walk
Thursday - Early am walk - 2 miles.....Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Friday - 2 mile walk
Saturday - 2 mile walk before heading back home.
Sunday - 3 mile walk -
Goal 24 miles for the week

20 week pregnancy update! Half way there...

Yesterday my husband and I attended our 20 week doctors appointment. The good news is we received more positive feedback from the doctor! In regards to my health, everything is on track. My weight gain, fundal height, blood pressure and over all well being is going very well. He said once again how impressed he was at how good I am doing with my exercise, nutrition and weight gain.

I am now half way through my pregnancy and it leaves me with many emotions. My first is a feeling of excitement because I am even closer to meeting my precious baby. However I am also a bit sad. I LOVE being pregnant and it is just going by so fast. To be honest, I wish it could last longer. I know some of you are thinking I am crazy but it is a feeling I cannot describe. I used to think if I was ever pregnant I would be counting down the days until I could be myself again but now, I feel totally different. I am a Mother to be and I wake up every morning with a purpose. I no longer workout for the sole purpose of reaching a PR, burning a certain amount of calories or even training for a race. Instead, I exercise for the health of my baby and to ensure that I am the very best that I can be for my child. I love the feeling of knowing that through God's wonderful blessing, we have created life together. So yes, I am sad, I am half way through this life changing and beautiful journey I have been on. The good news is soon, I will old my baby in my arms and begin a new journey, one that I am sure will be beyond anything I could have ever dreamed.

The doctor confirmed what the ultrasound showed us on Monday. The baby's health is wonderful! The weight, length, heart, spine, brain etc....are perfect and developing well for 20 weeks. My next appointment is December 17th which will be my 6 month checkup along with the standard glucose test for gestational diabetes. I am not too concerned with this but apparently it is done for everyone to ensure all is well.

After my appointment yesterday I went shopping and got my hair highlighted and I developed a terrible headache. I came home and went to bed at 6 pm! I was hurting so bad. But after a good nights rest, I feel far better today. As a result I was only able to get in 1 mile yesterday but at least it was something. As a result I am off my miles for the week so I have posted the new schedule I will be following.

Monday - 1 mile walk - DONE!
Tuesday - 4 mile walk - DONE!
Wednesday - 6 mile walk - DONE!
Thursday - 1 mile walk - DONE!
Friday - 2 mile walk
Saturday - 3 mile walk
Sunday - 3 mile walk
Goal 20 miles for the week

Monday - 3 mile walk
Tuesday - 3 mile walk
Wednesday - 3 mile walk
Thursday - REST! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Friday - 3 mile walk
Saturday - REST!
Sunday - 3 mile walk -
Goal 15 miles for the week

I am now heading out this morning to buy our Turkey and all the yummy ingredients for our Thanksgiving we are having this weekend. It will just be my husband and I as we are going to Dallas to see the family on Tuesday. This weekend we are continuing a tradition we started 10 years ago when we were first married. We decorate while listening to the Carpenters Christmas Album and then we watch White Christmas and my favorite Little House on the Prairie Christmas special...yes, I am a huge fan! The wassail will be on the stove all weekend, pumpkin bread in the oven and I am sure many carols being sung throughout the house!

Off to shop for a perfect Turkey,Christmas lights and cranberries! Blessings to all of you...

Workout results 11/18

Quick post for tonight, I am so tried and ready for bed and it is only 6 pm!!! It was a good day. My blister was a bit better but even after buying some special pads for it, I still had issues. It is on the back heel of my right foot and when I walk, it just hurts so bad. I was still able to do 6 miles for the day! Yea! I had to break the miles up between a morning walk and an afternoon walk due to my foot but I still made it and that is what matters! So far I am on track with my miles for the week so I am hoping by Sunday I will reach my 20 miles.

Miles for the week - 11.08/20

Daily Goals -
1. Drink 1.25 gallon of water - 124 oz done so far....(updating as I drink more)
2. Complete scheduled workout - DONE!
3. Log foods and stay on track with calories - DONE!

Daily Totals -
Time - 99 mins - 6 mile walk
Calories burned - 610
Calories consumed - 1,969

Workout results 11/17

My walk for yesterday and today was hard. On Sunday I decided to wear some super cute shoes to church and it gave me a blister on my right foot. I was hurting so bad yesterday I could only do 1 mile. Today was a bit better but my pace was slow. I am hoping that tomorrow that it will be better. I was going to try to do another 2 miles tonight but I am calling it a day as my foot hurts. Other than that, the day was wonderful! I felt fantastic!

Daily Goals -
1. Drink 1.25 gallon of water - 140 oz done so far....(updating as I drink more)
2. Complete scheduled workout - DONE!
3. Log foods and stay on track with calories - DONE!

Daily Totals -
Time - 68 mins - 4 mile walk
Calories burned - 406
Calories consumed - 1,887....pre-logged dinner for tonight.

Fitness Schedule for this week - Complete at least 20 miles of walking. So far this week - 5/20 miles done

Monday - 1 mile walk (blisters on feet) - DONE!
Tuesday - 4 mile walk - DONE!
Wednesday - 4 mile walk
Thursday - 4 mile walk
Friday - 4 mile walk along with ST
Saturday - 3 mile walk
Sunday - Rest

The best moment of our life. Ultrasound and pregnancy update....

Today was by far one of the most amazing moments of our life! This morning we had another ultrasound of our baby to determine not only the sex, but to assess the fetal anatomy. The good news is that the baby is SUPER healthy in every way! From the brain to the spine and heart. We were able to view details of the brain, bones, kidneys, hands, feet, face.....everything! It was amazing! A true miracle from God. We were first and foremost wanting to make sure the baby was healthy and are so thankful to God that all is going well. The baby was kicking like crazy, grasping on to the umbilical cord and so on. To see this was beyond words. We were crying, laughing and holding each other in amazement. The lady who was performing the ultrasound said like 3 or 4 times how active my baby was! Maybe I do have a little triathlete on my hands!

Now for the part were I make everyone wait....SO SORRY! I am going to tell my family the sex of the baby at Thanksgiving so in order to keep things a surprise I am holding off telling online friends for now. I know, I know, I make you wait and then make you wait some more! SOOOO sorry!! Hope everyone understands but I have family members who read my blogs and I want to be able to call everyone and tell them first instead of them reading it online.

For our parents we are telling them in person on the 24th. We are buying a gift for them and when they open it, they will obviously know if it is a boy or girl! We are both only children so this is a HUGE moment for the grandparents and I want them to be able to share in the good news first. Now, as soon as my family knows I will broadcast it from the rooftops and we will also post the ultrasound photos as well. I cannot tell you what your emails and comments have meant to me. Thanks SO much for supporting me during this time.

I finished my morning shopping for the baby and now I am waiting for my husband to finish a meeting then we are off to do some more and celebrate tonight with a special dinner.

I am heading out now for a walk, my baby needs me to continue with my fitness schedule!

Thanks again for all your amazing support! More photos to come soon....

A busy weekend...

In a few hours I have my cousin and her husband coming to see us so I am blogging early today. I have pre-logged our dinner for tonight as we are grilling here at the house. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to Resistance Festival then Sunday we are going to finish painting and doing random thing around the house. Monday morning is our doctors apt where we finally get to find out the sex of our baby! I cannot wait!!!

I am going to try and get in another 2 or 3 miles today if I can get back from the store in time before they arrive. If not, then this weekend I will make up the miles. I have already met my 20 mile goal of the week so I guess if I needed to I could take today off.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend and I will report back on Monday on how our doctors apt went.

Daily Goals -
1. Drink 1.25 gallon of water - only 1/2 gallon done so far
2. Complete scheduled workout - Rest day or maybe 2 mile walk if I can...
3. Log foods and stay on track with calories - pre-logged all meals - 1,936 calories for the day.

Workout results 11/12

Another strong day but as a result I am once again ready for bed, so this will be a short post. Here are my 4 day totals for the week as well as my results from today.

Weekly Totals - (M,T,W,TH)
Time - 394 mins
Calories burned - 2,492
Miles completed - 20.01...already reached my goal for the week!!

Daily Totals -
Time - 103 mins
Calories burned - 650
Calories consumed - 2,060

Daily Goals -
1. Drink 1.25 gallon of water - DONE!
2. Complete scheduled workout - DONE! 6.25 miles walked today!
3. Log foods and stay on track with calories - DONE!!!

Workout 1 - AM walk - 4.25 mile walk/16:57 mm pace
Time - 72 mins
Calories burned - 448

Workout 2 - PM walk - 2 mile walk/15:39 mm pace
Time - 31 mins
Calories burned - 201

Workout results 11/11

Another great day! Not as hard of a workout as other days but I was able to get a strong walk in and stay on track with all my goals! Tomorrow I am hoping for another strong day. My goal is to walk 4 miles and get some ST in as well. As of now, I am now ready for bed!!! This little pregnant lady is TIRED!

Daily Totals -
Time - 65 mins
Calories burned - 395
Calories consumed - 1,863
Distance totals for the week - 13.76 miles/20

Daily Goals -
1. Drink 1.5 gallon of water - DONE! I am going to float away...LOL
2. Complete scheduled workout - DONE!
3. Log foods and stay on track with calories - DONE!!!

Workout - 3 mile walk followed by 20 mins of yoga.
Time - 45:09 mins
Mile 1 - 16:01
Mile 2 - 15:27
Mile 3 - 14:01