Flashback

If you’re not into indulging a bit of wallowing, feel free to move on.

 

Sometimes, I really miss the long haired, skinny, not-pregnant version of me. And thanks to some photos from a summer wedding finally popping up on Facebook, I got a reminder of those days that I just didn’t need.

Ugh.

On a positive note – look at those arms! I can work on those. Yes. I. Can.

The ‘I don’t know what to make for dinner’ dinner

Move that body: 2.7-mile walk with Denali

The menu plan called for leftovers last night.

Except we didn’t have any leftovers. And the chicken that had been in the fridge was put in the freezer.

What’s a girl to do? I mean, besides cry and make the husband go get Subway.

Here’s what:

Take leftover bag of diced potatoes with onions and throw it in a skillet with canola oil.

Add the three mushrooms and half a green pepper that you found in the crisper, sauteeing until potatoes are crisp and vegetables soften.

Add spinach leftover from the week’s pasta dish and halve some grape tomatoes leftover from, umm, something. Cook until spinach begins to wilt.

Add egg mixture made with 4 eggs, 3 whites and a half-cup of fat free milk. Cook in the skillet until the eggs begin to set on the sides. I would have used 3 eggs and 4 whites but Mark was watching and got a little too curious for my liking.

Top with cheese. I used about 3/4 cup Touch of Philadelphia mozzarella because that’s what I had and using 3/4 cup meant I could finish the bag. Who cares if I really wished that I had cheddar. Pop the skillet it unto a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.

While the frittata is baking, wonder just what your husband is doing to the dog. Does Denali really enjoy this?

Remove frittata from oven when cheese is bubbly, maybe even browning, and eggs are set. I cut it into four servings and served with low-calorie whole-wheat toast. The recipe would serve four comfortably with the addition of a side of fruit. No fruit? It serves more like three, three and a half.

Word of warning: When you are serving, don’t forget that the handle of the skillet is hot. Because it is. And if you touch it …

Well, OUCH!

What’s your meal in a pinch?

Three Things Thursday: All apologies

Move that body: 3.58-mile run (three walk breaks totaling 0.4 mile or 0.5, I got confused)

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway here.

1. I am sorry to say … but today’s run was the worst pregnant run to date. It was my slowest, with my pace creeping above the 12-minute mark. It was 12:02 to be exact, and about 45 seconds slower than any run recently recorded. My pace, though, wasn’t why it went awry. It was these cramps or muscle strains or … well, it was pain. I ran the first 1.5 miles, took a walk break of 0.15, ran the next 0.35 and felt a little off and then walked another 0.1. And then it was wretched. Absolutely wretched. I felt like my groin muscles were going to rip to pieces. So I walked again, listening to my body. After a decent rest, I gave it a go again – SLOWLY – and felt better. I was even able to finish strong though that’s kind of a joke these days.

It was just a bit disconcerting to feel such discomfort as I haven’t had much of that at all and definitely not to that degree. I am hoping it’s a one-time thing as I’m not sure what I’ll do otherwise. I don’t feel “done” with running yet. I just don’t.

2. I am sorry to say … that I may be reconsidering Chicago 2012. Don’t worry, though – I’m not giving up my marathon dreams. At Ladies Night at the running company, I was chatting with the ever awesome Casey about post-preggo running and how I considered a spring marathon but definitely didn’t want to do the Flying Pig with its challenging (but doable) climb around mile 6 in the race. He mentioned St. Louis and Grand Rapids, which sent me on a search of May/June races. And that’s where I found the Sunburst Marathon. It’s in early June, close to home and albeit being an established race it is far smaller than both Chicago and Cincinnati. For those marathoners out there, do you prefer HUGE races or a more moderate-sized group? Advice for a first marathon?

3. I am sorry to say … that Denali ate something in the yard today, and I don’t know what it was. I’m actually afraid to know what it was. My suspicion was that it was a small, dead something. And I’m sorry that’s all I could think for a No. 3. So here’s my challenge: Ask me a question. Any question. Any topic – running, pregnancy, Denali, running with Denali, Mark, weight loss, eating. Whatev.

One more day till the weekend!

Weekly check-up: 8 is great

Move that body: 15 minutes upper body circuit and 1.5-mile walk with Denali

I discovered something new today. OK, not brand new but new to me.

The wall push-up.

Yep, after a good 16 weeks of not doing anything resembling a push-up or exercise to work my chest muscles, I did a wall push-up. Twenty-five of them, actually. I could have done more – they weren’t really difficult – but I had cake balls to dip and it was the last exercise of the morning.

The rest of my upper body workout consisted of doing an exercise for 1 minute straight before moving onto the next muscle group. The biceps got worked out three times, triceps two, shoulders three and back two. I think. I did this at 7 a.m. – you can’t expect me to remember something that long ago.

***

Warning: Snarkiness looms ahead.

I am 32 weeks pregnant today. THIRTY-TWO. Eight months, if you want to count it that way. And if you want to count it another way, I have 8 weeks left. EIGHT.

Holy crap, I’m going to have a baby.

It would feel a bit more surreal if I didn’t feel like a cow today. Then again, that’s probably because I decided to cinch my “waist” (aka the narrow space that’s left between the boobs and a belly) with a snakeskin belt in an effort to feel a bit more fashionable. The effort might have been worth my heifer feelings if my flat iron had decided to work this morning. And, no, I didn’t drop it in the bathtub. It just decided not to get hot. So now my hair is pulled back in a nub with about a billion pins. And no, you aren’t getting a picture.

Of course, I shouldn’t being calling myself a cow or a heifer. The Pampers Month 8 pregnancy e-mail I just got said I should view my changing body as “a soft, protective home for your baby.”

Easy for them to say.

Other Month 8 happenings:

• Your baby's brain is developing more folds and connections. Bones are hardening and the skin is getting thicker. If you're expecting a boy, his testes are moving into the scrotum now, although some boys' testes don't get there until their first birthday. Not what I wanted to know …
• Your little one is also putting on fat and getting chubby cheeks (both kinds). He's gaining about half a pound each week, bringing him to between four and six pounds. The fat stores energy for his trip through the birth canal. He may be preparing for the journey by pointing his head down. Yeah, he might be … if his head wasn’t stuck underneath my ribcage.
• Your baby sees a good amount of light now, so he's tuned in to the passing of day and night. He has clear, complex, and sustained sleep and activity cycles, often coordinated with Mom's rest and waking times. Some research suggests that dream sleep, called active sleep in the fetus and infant, begins at this stage.
• With more baby than amniotic fluid, there's not a lot of wiggle room in the womb. You feel those stretches and kicks. And you can see the movement too, since your uterus is thinner. How active your baby is now and how he responds to light, sound, and movement is somewhat a part of his personality. Great. He likes to stay up late and beat up his mom.

My cup runneth over … NOT

I get portion sizes. I do. Heck, I eat my nightly ice cream from a 4-ounce ramekin.

That’s Turkey Hill Skinny Minty. And yes, I “topped it off” but you can only add so much to such a tiny vessel. No, four sizes of ice cream for this girl.

Back on topic …

When I was actively losing weight and following Weight Watchers, I measured. I weighed. I tracked. I kept my portions to what they should be and only ate beyond that if I was hungry. I learned that a serving of pasta really is a cup – not a bowl from Olive Garden. A piece of steak is more like the “I’m going to save some cash” filet mignon and not the 12-ounce ribeye smothered in blue cheese. I got portion sizes.

Until tonight.

I prepared a Tomato & Spinach Pasta Toss using Kraft with a Touch of Philadelphia.

The ingredient list was pretty simple:

• 2 cups uncooked rotini (I used 1 cup Ronzoni Smart Taste and 1 cup Ronzoni Garden Delight)
• 8 ounces Italian sausage (I used sweet Italian turkey sausage)
• 6 ounces baby spinach
• 1 (15-ounce) can Italian-flavored diced tomatoes
• 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese with a Touch of PHILADELPHIA (I had received a coupon to try the cheese via the Kraft First Taste program)
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 button mushrooms sliced thinly (this was my own addition)

Simple and short. But when you break it down for a serving, it’s pretty pathetic.

There wasn’t even 1.5 ounces of protein per serving! And when you consider my healthy substitutions and my omission of the grated parm (on accident), the calorie count for a dinner portion was between 200 and 225.

“Woman, where is my food!”

Mark thought I was mad at him for leaving his shoes in the hallway when I gave him his portion. I then explained to him my confusion at the serving size and promised that I’d give him another scoop.

And then he was happy. So happy that he magically transported us to a bright, warm day at Cedar Point four years ago. Funny how those things happen …

Are you mindful of portion sizes? How do you keep portions in check?

Thank goodness

Move that body: 2.7-mile run (1 walk break and 2 breathers)

Don’t forget to enter my Asics sports bra giveaway here.

… for unisex race swag.

I may have complained a few months ago that my F4F quarter-zip and my RnR shirt were too big but they do the job nicely now that I’m one day shy of 32 weeks.

… for Mozzarella-Stuffed Bruschetta Burgers from Iowa Girl Eats via Peanut Butter Fingers.

I made these last night for dinner and holy YUM! Even without the balsamic glaze, which I was too lazy to make, these were divine. Just ask Mark. He said so.

… for my hatchback.

The crib fit perfectly in the back (with the seats down). Guess who has some work to do this weekend. I bet you that person’s name is NOT Kim :)

… a husband who leaves his shoes by the back door.

It sure does mean that I never have to look for footwear when I take out Denali in the morning.

… gas station hot chocolate.

I haven’t had one of these in ages … or at least in the two weeks since we moved. With a high of 50 degrees today (today being MAY 17!), I thought it might be nice. And seeing as the gas station had a $3 credit card minimum, my hot chocolate purchase meant that I also got some healthy snacks for my emergency drawer at work – pistachios and a Fiber Plus bar.

What are you grateful for today?

Let the good times roll

Move that body: 2.1-mile run (one walk break of 0.1 mile)

Note: It’s in your best interest to read the whole post.

I’ve got good news … my iPod seems to be back in action. No more pausing!

Since my post on Friday, my nano has behaved through a full trip to the grocery, lots of errand running on Saturday and some “me” time today. I think I went a good hour, hour and a half today and had no issues. I think it just dried out.

But a BIG thanks to everyone who offered condolences and tips. They were greatly appreciated :)

Now, I have some good news for you. OK, who I am kidding. It’s good news for me, too.

Last night, I hit up ladies night at the running company with these lovely ladies:

“L” and Holly – and many, many other fabulous gals.

We shopped, talked, laughed. Seriously, one of the best times I’ve had recently. I also tried on some adidas shorts that, despite their fabulousness, do not work for this 31.5 weeks pregnant lady. Same with the Brooks running skirt. But watch out, 3RRC, in 12 weeks or so, I’m coming for you!

Don’t worry – I didn’t walk out empty handed. I scored a free bra and pair of socks from the Asics rep.

Didn’t know Asics made bras? Yeah, me either. But they do. And I have to say, I was quite happy with the one I got during this morning’s run. I was given the Asics Cross Back bra (size medium), which features “two layers of lightweight support fabric in front, with encapsulation cups and a stay put chest band.” There’s also adjustable straps.

My thoughts:

*It’s cute. Cute enough to wear if you run in just a bra (but we all know I only do that on the treadmill in the basement).

*It really does breathe. I’ve been wearing a C9 bra from Target and a Tek Gear bra from Kohl’s. Both are just a single layer. No matter the conditions or distance of the run, my bra is soaked when I’m finished and (TMI WARNING) has led to some painful, umm, headlight situations since I got knocked up. It’s all I can do not to rip it off in the front yard when I’m finished with my run. In the Asics bra, the bra didn’t feel wet. In fact, I felt comfortable enough in it, dampness-wise, to leave it on while I made a veggie egg white omelet. I’m sure my neighbors loved that. And, as far as the pain, no problems. A good thing, too, given that the girls have gone back to first trimester soreness.

*Sort of on the breathability – it didn’t smell afterward. I hung up the bra on the towel bar (one I installed in the new house, I might add), and Mark has yet to inform me that it stinks and insist on throwing it in the wash.

*It doesn’t chafe. And I’m sort of shocked. It has a tag – a real tag – and I thought it would bother me. Alas, I didn’t notice it.

*It didn’t feel tight around my rip cage and didn’t leave any marks but, at the same time, felt snug.

Full disclosure: This review was just my initial thoughts after one run (my third this week! Do I sense a late preggo comeback?), and I was in no way bribed compensated by Asics to do this. Seriously, everyone at Ladies Night got a free bra. I was just pleased with the product.

Now here’s the part where it pays off to read the whole post. The lovely Asics rep was kind enough to give me not one but TWO bras to giveaway on this here blog.

I have one Cross Back Bra (left and the one I tried), which retails for $40. I have it in a size Large, which is recommended for ladies who wear a 38B/38C. For sizing reference, I tried it in a medium and was a 34B pre-pregnancy and have been wearing my pre-weight loss 36C bras lately.

On the right, we have the Max Mesh Bra, which retails for $45. I have it in a size Medium, which is recommended for the gals who wear a 36B/36C.

Mandatory entry:

*Be a follower or read me via Google Reader. Leave me a comment that you do so, along with which bra you would like.

Additional entries:

*Visit the Asics site and tell me which product you would most like to try out. Leave me a comment telling me what it is.

*Visit the Asics site and leave a comment for Mark me with which product you think I should try after I birth baby boy.

*Post a link to this giveaway on your blog, FB page, Twitter feed, etc. and leave me a comment for each telling me that you did so.

I will pick two winners via Random.org – one for each bra – Saturday night and post the winner Sunday morning. If the second selection chose the same bra as the first winner, I will continue to randomize until I get a winner for each bra.