6 Months Postpartum: The Body & FASTer WAY to Fat Loss Results & Review!

To register for the next round of FASTer Way to Fat Loss, Click here!

11 Months Postpartum Fitness Update

As many of you know, fitness is a huge part of my life and is super important to me. After I had my first and second son, it took me a LONG time to get back to where I was pre-pregnancy. Like…18 months. I always chalked the long ((and slow)) postpartum weight loss journey to nursing. I was really scared to limit too much food intake because I was so worried about my milk supply. I also figured my body just wanted me to hold on the extra weight until I was done nursing. And, bottom line, that I wasn’t like some people that were able to drop the weight while nursing and “bounce back” in a few months.

Fast forward to postpartum baby 3, and I happened to see a few other mamas who had just had babies, were nursing, and started a program called FASTer Way to Fat Loss. The reviews seemed pretty good, and these mothers looked AMAZING, lost their baby weight…and kept their milk supply! BUT, I’m like any other person out there and resisted any sort of change. Because lets be real: change is scary! And it puts you out of your comfort zone. I kept pushing it out of my mind thinking “There’s just no way that would work for me….”

But then something in the back of my mind thought “what the hell. If you do what you always do, you’ll get what you always get.” I thought 6 weeks isn’t really that long of a time (the length of the program) and if it didn’t work at least I would know and I TRIED. So, I put myself out there. And so I went for it. Because, at the end of the day I wanted change. I wanted to feel good about myself, feel confident, have more energy, feel like I was on a plan, and mostly wanted to fit in my clothes again!

I can hands down say that FASTer Way to Fat Loss is THE BEST THING I have ever done for my nutrition, eating habits, my lifestyle.. I’m happier, I’m more confident AND I’m eating more carbs. HELL YES. I’ve had pizza almost every week since I’ve started the program, I’ve had cake, cookies, gummy bears, pancakes, syrup. ALL OF THE THINGS. I’m not done yet, but the progress I’ve made in the last 2 months has been incredible.

Update: I continued on the program through January of 2020 and continued to see results! I did not sign up for another round, but just continued to do the program on my own!

I lost 18 lbs, and lost 14 inches in 6 months

As you can see, there is a huge difference between these photos. Also.. this is not easy for me to post because I am definitely not where I want to be yet…so be kind, friends! The reason I show this is that I want to help other people and honestly feel this program is truly amazing and I thought these photos spoke volumes.

I’m leaner, fitter, and so much happier. I’m still not where I want to be, but I feel like I’m on a structured plan and I’m totally focused on something that is sustainable, that works, and is HEALTHY for me and my baby! Believe it or not, my milk production/supply is BETTER now than before I started.

As you all know, I mentioned that I wanted to try this out before even really talking about this on my blog. I wanted to be sure I believed in it, and it worked, before I even really spoke about it (I was your guinea pig!)! Well, here I am, 8 weeks later, living proof that this program works. No gimmicks, no supplements. Just fueling your body at the right times with good, whole foods.

I 100% believe in this program.. If you’re interested in registering for the program, click here: .

Now, on to how this program works, what it entails…

What is FASTer Way to Fat Loss?

The FASTer Way to Fat Loss is a 6-week online fitness program. The program was created by Amanda Tress, and it helps you learn to fuel your body effectively and maintain energy throughout the day while you naturally burn fat. It’s basically a strategic program that combines intermittent fasting, carb cycling, macro counting, and strategically paired workouts so that you are working smarter, not harder.  If you have no idea what those words mean, I’ll answer them in the Q&A below!

What makes  FASTer Way to Fat Loss different ?

First, it’s NOT a diet. Or a fad. I hate the fact that this sounds even the slightest bit gimmicky because it is the farthest thing from that!

It’s a healthy way of eating. We count macros (proteins, carbohydrates and fats), not calories. The focus is on why proteins, carbs and fats are each essential parts of a healthy diet. Carbs are not bad, and fat doesn’t make you fat. This is a lifestyle change that is actually sustainable!

I’m not sure the name  FASTer Way to Fat Loss (or FWTFL for short) does it justice, but its different than any other program out there. No supplements. No gym memberships. No crazy meal plans. No weigh ins. In fact, they want you to stay off the scale. They want you to focus on keeping/building muscle and losing fat. The goal is sustainable progress, not overnight transformation.

What are macros & why do I need to count them?

Macronutrients (or macros) are the molecules our bodies need to grow and be active. We use these molecules as energy to do work on a cellular, tissue, organ, and organismal level. This energy helps us break down nutrients, repair damaged cells, grow new cells, and more. Macronutrients are broken down into three basic categories: carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

I was familiar with doing macro counting…however this was still a little bit of a learning curve! It was 100% COMPLETELY worth it though! I can say that it is an adjustment tracking all of your food and entering it, but after the first week it just becomes part of your day. Most of the time I enter everything the night before, or right when I wake up.

How do you track your food?

This program encourages you to use the MyFitnessPal app to track calories and macros. It’s a free app to download on your phone. Using the MyFitnessPal app is pretty easy! You put in your weight and your goals and then it calculates everything for you. Then every day you enter in the food you’re eating and watch the chart change to try to hit your goals.

During Prep Week of FWTFL, there are helpful videos ( I listened to these videos driving in the car-time is something I don’t have a lot of these days! ha!) that teach you how to set up and effectively use MyFitnessPal to track your macros based on the program, and once you get through the first week it is like second nature. I do have to say that planning your day out is the most important part of tracking your macros! I try to enter my meals and snacks the night before so I have time to adjust each macro before eating a thing ie. Do I need to add more carbs? Fats? That way I don’t get stuck at 6 pm wondering what else I need to eat/find that I’ve eaten too much one.

What is carb cycling?

We not only track our macros in FWTFL, but we also cycle our carbs and fats. This may sound a little overwhelming, but it’s actually a very simple practice of varying our carbohydrate intake each week to maximize the body’s ability to burn fat. The program has 3 regular macro days (higher carb), 2 low macro days (this was still a lot of carbs for me!) and only 2 low carb days! Every week, I actually look forward to the low-carb days where I can fill up on healthy fats and protein (think nut butters, avocados, olive oils/sunflower oils, nuts, etc., but then love that following the low-carb days I can then go back and enjoy the carbs that I missed for the 2 back to back low carb days. This is such a departure from what I have done in the past- limiting carbs 5/7 days ( I did do carb cycle but only on 2 days). I find this is so much more managable and a LIFESTYLE! The fact that I can have a plentiful amount of carbs 5/7 days is amazing and I’m SO. HERE. FOR. IT.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

During the FASTer Way to Fat Loss, you engage in a daily 16/8 fast protocol. This means that you fast for 16 hours each day (most of which are overnight while you are sleeping), and consume ALL of your daily calories during an eight hour feeding window. While there are other fasting schedules that can be followed for similar results, this is the one that worked for me! 

Daily periods of fasting changes your body at a cellular level. In addition, it helps to regulate hormones like insulin and HGH to make the fat stores in your body more accessible energy sources. The time given to your cells to repair during fasted periods, allows cells to remove waste and function optimally.

Intermittent fasting allows time for the body to utilize fat as its main source of energy, which means you not only lose weight overall, but will see an improvement in your overall body composition. Intermittent fasting allows you to maintain muscle mass which speeds up your metabolic rate, while helping you shed fat.

This is the only part of the program that I hadn’t had experience with (in the past I have counted macros and done some carb cycling) and was most nervous for. I am a huge breakfast lover and proponent of it!

And guess what? I love it.

Honestly, its one less thing I need to do in the morning when I have 3 kids 5 & under…! Do I get hungry? Yes..sometimes I’ll feel a pang of hunger but I drink a TON of water and any feeling of hunger doesn’t last for very long. Even though I break my fast at noon, I usually eat breakfast foods because I just love them that much (ie. oats, pancakes, eggs, turkey bacon, etc.)But you can break your fast with whatever you want!

I will say that I slowly worked my way into the fasting during prep week. I started with 12 hours, then 14 hours, and then all the way to the 16!

Can you do this when breastfeeding?

Yes. Basically what you alter for being a breastfeeding mom is the lower carb days (you don’t go below 100 g net carbs, regular program is 50).

What made me feel so confident was seeing other mom’s do it with no issue with their supply, and the fact that my coach is a Labor & Delivery nurse (medically qualified & educated), who also did FWTFL while nursing and was successful. There are no supplements, drinks, etc. to take doing this and you are just eating plain, natural food that God has created for us to eat!

I can tell you that I had NO issues with my supply, if anything I had an increase!

Who will coach me through this?

I had an amazing coach in Allie Janszen! She is a Labor & Delivery nurse as well as a pregnant mama of two (soon to be three). She is so encouraging and helpful on a daily basis! After you join the program, she will contact you to join a facebook group that will be integral to your success! Every day you send a screen shot of your macros. I love that there is accountability built in this program. Everyone is super encouraging to each other and Allie is so accessible for any questions you may have, especially when prep week can seem a little overwhelming.

Do you have to do the workout portion of the program?

FASTer Way to Fat Loss comes with a workout program has two options: at home and gym. I love this about the program especially for people who may not have the experience that someone like myself has (professional sports background). I personally did a combination of the workouts they suggested, as well as my own strength workouts through STA Sports performance (highly recommend if you live in WNY). Most of the workouts I used from FASTer way were the low carb days where we did HIIT or sprint workouts and it helped me have a bit more variety to my sprint sessions.

For those who aren’t experienced, they have great options for home workouts with videos & explanations of every single exercise! I love that they offer a home and gym option for those who may not be able to get to a gym!

Most of the workouts can be completed in 45 minutes or less!

Please know that you can decide to not do the workouts at all, or do some of the workouts. Also, the schedule is fairly flexible. Technically, the week is: Monday & Tuesday- Low Carb, Wed, Th, Saturday- Reg Macro, Friday & Sunday-Low Macro. However, due to my work schedule/child care I switched some of the days around. The only thing that you have to abide by is the 2 low carb days in a row, with a regular macro day following. I love the flexibility of the program!

What did I eat on the program?

Like I said earlier, I broke my fast on most days with breakfast at 12 noon. I have oatmeal almost every day (its great for nursing mama’s and a good slow burning carb!). I add in eggs, chicken sausage or turkey bacon and put peanut butter in my oatmeal. On my higher carb days, sometimes I have Kodiak Pancakes WITH Maple syrup. Yes, real maple syrup. Not low sugar, fake syrup!

In the afternoons, I usually have a salad with avocado, especially on low carb days. I have Quest bars and lots of fruits on higher carb days- think bananas, apples, plums, strawberries, blueberries. Dinner it honestly varies every day. I use Sunbasket meals twice a week so I enter the macros on those days straight from the recipe card. Other days we will grill out and I enter how much I’m eating of everything. Go -to’s are salmon, grilled chicken, fajitas, burrito bowls, sweet potatoes, salads, avocados, brown rice & stir fries, fruit, steamed vegetables, sweet potato fries. ANY of the recipes on my website are also fair game- you just need to fit them into your macros!

The hardest days are my “regular macro” (higher carb) days when I have to go to work just because of the amount of food I have to pack for work. I usually pack simple foods -like oatmeal, an apple & banana, and some eggs/bacon. Then I try to eat more between 5-8 pm so I don’t have to pack as much.

Do you have to be dairy/gluten free?

I know some coaches for FASTer way do require you, but my coach Allie does not. I still saw results and I have had yogurt, gluten and cheese throughout the 6 weeks.

Can you drink alcohol?

YES! Just fit it into your macros. And obviously they recommend limiting alcohol intake to 1-2 times per week.

Can I have coffee in the mornings? 

You will be fasting in the morning, but coffee is okay to have.

Can I have treats? I have a sweet tooth!

Yes! Your coach will actually URGE you to have a treat on Saturdays! I also sneaked in different snacks during the week- ie. gummies, 1/2 cookie, etc. I always just made sure it fit into my macros and that I did it on a high activity day (leg day usually!). Like I stated before, this is all about manipulating what & when you are eating, and manipulating it to work for you, not against you!

Also note that I had pizza & cake 3/6 weeks I was in the program! I can’t tell you how much freedom this program gives you while still seeing results.

#PROGRESSOVERPERFECTION

What I love about this program is there are some days where I’ve gone over with my macros, gone under my macros, missed a workout…etc. but still, I have some incredible results to show for it and am constantly working towards my goal everyday.  The mantra of the program is “Progress Over Perfection”. 

My plan moving forward:

I’m continuing to follow the FASTer Way program including macro counting, the FASTer way schedule AND the intermittent fasting combined with my own workouts. Stay tuned for my next update in 6-8 weeks!

HOW DO YOU JOIN?

The next round of FASTer Way To Fat Loss starts on January 4th with Coach Allie! The best part of the program is that you are part of an amazing community and have a coach who is there to help you every step of the way! Sign up with my referral link .

Also, if you have ANY questions whatsoever, please feel free to reach out to me in the comments below or via email or FB/ instagram!

xo

Alex

FASTer Way to Fat Loss 3 Week Update

FASTer Way to Fat Loss Update

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Alo Yoga High-Waist Ripped Warrior Leggings • Alo Yoga • $125
Quay Empire Sunglasses • Quay • $60

HAPPY MONDAY! Who is ready to get after it this week?!!

I’m officially 3 weeks into the FASTer Way to Fat Loss program and I wanted to share 4 things that have surprised me about the program, and what have been my hottest items at the grocery store the last month!

If you don’t have any clue what I’m talking about, check out my 4 months postpartum post where I explain a little bit about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss program!

4 things that have surprised me the most about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss Program:

1. How Quickly I saw results: I’ll admit I was pretty skeptical of the program going into it especially because I’m nursing. BUT I swear that I saw a difference in my body within 5-7 days. I could see changes in my body, clothes fitting better and the crazy thing was…I was eating ALL of the food! This kept me super motivated on and on track! I’m currently halfway through the program, and have lost weight & inches (technically I’m not supposed to weigh myself so shhhh….don’t tell!!But I already have lost a few lbs!)

2. How easy the intermittent fasting is: I was honestly really worried about skipping breakfast and not eating until noon. Going 16 hours without food seemed pretty much impossible. ha. Can you tell I love food?!! I pretty much was convinced that I might shrivel up and waste away during the 16 hours. lol.

   It’s turned out that intermittent fasting is one of those things that sounds harder than what it actually is (for me anyway). Its really just getting past thinking about eating all the time! In order to make the transition easier, during “prep” week I worked my way up to the 16 hours of fasting. And this is coming from someone who LOVES breakfast. Truthfully, It makes my mornings so easy to not eat and I really feel like its working!

3. My milk supply has been great: Outside of the intermittent fasting, maintaining my milk supply was probably my biggest concern going into this whole thing. I’m happy to report that MY MILK SUPPLY HAS INCREASED. Guys, I have more milk now than I did before AND I’m getting leaner relatively quickly! I have no issues on low carb OR low macro days. So, this was clearly a pleasant surprise!

4. Prep week is overwhelming, but after a few days everything becomes second nature: During prep week, I felt a little overwhelmed with info and scared i wasn’t going to be able to manage this. Crazy as it sounds, after a few days, I was starting to take the time to plan the night before (I totally recommend this) and punch everything in to myfitness pal! Remember, knowledge is power! I can’t say enough how much you will learn about fueling your body when you join the FASTer Way to Fat Loss.

Project Social T Tommie Striped Tank Top - Women's • Project Social T • $37.95
Alo Yoga High-Waist Ripped Warrior Leggings • Alo Yoga • $125
Quay Empire Sunglasses • Quay • $60

The next round starts on July and you can register here: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/#Alexsahlen2 . THIS IS an affiliate link, but please know I didn’t even share the link before I started because I wanted to be sure it was something I could stand behind! I truly love how I feel right now and I’m starting to feel confident that this can get me where I want to be physically WHILE I’m nursing my little guy!

I have another 3 weeks left in the program and I’m excited to see where it will take me! I’ll be sharing my results mid July on the blog including a Q & A on the program.

My current grocery store list:

As always, let me know if you guys have any questions about the program!

xo

Alex

My Three Sons: The Transition from Two--> Three Kids

I’ve done a lot of reflecting over the last 4 months, that is, when I’ve had time to think. Which has basically been only when I’m in the car, or nursing in the middle of the night because my house is crazy town. ha. Probably the most asked question I get from friends, family, acquaintances, and honestly random people is “So, whats it really like with 3?”

Well….it’s taken me a LONG time to gather my thoughts and really get clarity on Life with 3. Partially because its been so busy, partially because I wanted to wait until I felt like I really had a handle on what its like. But first…we need to talk about the transition from one to two because that really sets the stage.

Flashback: The transition from one child to two

I’m going to be real with you guys. Going from one kid to two absolutely rocked. my. world. mentally, physically. Everything.

And even though it was super hard for me to adjust to the new family of four dynamic, I never really felt I was “done” after having Sebastian, our second. I wanted to be done with pregnancy, and the sleepless nights, and pumping. Done with the weight gain ((then losing it)), and done with all of the crazy stages you go through: separation anxiety, the teething, etc. We were in such an amazing place. The boys were napping at the same time, Seb could play on his own, and was going into the 2 year old Pre-K. I wanted to continue gaining this independence. Going places was getting so much easier, including travel. And I was pretty scared of moving into the so called “zonal defense” 24/7 when you add a third child.

But…. I wasn’t done feeling a baby kick for the first time. Or nursing and snuggling with a newborn, smelling that baby smell. Or experiencing a babies first smile, giggle, and step again. Or watching a baby grow into a toddler into a little boy. Watching his/her relationship with their siblings and my husband. Those were the moments I wasn’t done with.

Regardless of wanting and desiring those special moments one more time, I was definitely super anxious after finding out the news we were expecting our third. Two kids to three. How would we manage? I felt like the transition was so hard from one to two. How would we manage with ANOTHER?!!

So. How is it really?

Well, in a nutshell, it’s hard. And I’m gong to be completely honest. Three kids is kicking my ass. I’m more tired than I’ve ever been. Some days I feel like I’m barely managing it all, that I’m drowning- family, work, things around the house, and having some time for myself. Leaving the house is literally a mission at times. I’ve never ordered more from amazon prime. haha. I look around and the house looks like a tornado hit it half the time.

But then I take a deep breath and realize that my kids are happy. and loved. and healthy. And this is a season that seems like an eternity, but its not.

What keeps me sane in the organized chaos?

This is what keeps me sane: I believe that there are seasons of your life where certain things get prioritized. And right now, prioritizing my babies is where I’m at.

I know people talk about having it all. I don’t believe in having it all. I think the second you realize that “having it all” doesn’t exist, you immediately remove pressure from yourself and really focus on the couple things that need to be on top of that list. And that doesn’t mean that the items on the bottom of the list get forgotten about or don’t matter. They’re there. But they are tucked away for a rainy day when your priorities and life changes.

So, I know I’ve got a LONG way to go. I’m only 4 months into this crazy show and I’ve got a lifetime to go, but here’s some things I’ve learned in my transition to a family of 5:

1. The early stages of being a family of four have prepared you for being a family of five: when it comes to be outnumbered, I feel like I’m somewhat used to this. With my husband working late seasonally, I’ve had to be there putting multiple kids to bed on my own multiple times a week and just figuring it out over the last couple of years.

   Things that I stressed about with my middle, I didn’t stress about this time. For example, “what if the baby cries when I’m trying to make their dinner” “what if he needs to eat during lunch”. That never even crossed my mind this time around. #beentheredonethat

   You learn that everyone adapts, based on your experience with your transition to two kids. If the big kids have to wait longer for lunch, they will. If they go down for their nap 25 mins later, who cares. If the baby has to cry for 3 minutes while you cut up food, it’s okay. If the kids watch the ipad for an hour because you have a screaming baby and you’re on your own…its OKAY. You’ll all survive.

2. Your experience with three children can be completely different based on the temperament of your infant: NO DOUBT my life would’ve been a lot more stressful had my first been born last. Colicky, crying all the time definitely would make this journey more challenging. Samson is a pretty happy, chill baby (most of the time) which makes it easier to manage. Don’t mistake this for me saying he’s easy, because he certainly has his moments..for instance how he’s slept the last month (like crap), and how he screams nonstop in the car. So, let’s just put it this way-no infant is easy. Some are just easi-ER. And that can make things less or more stressful for sure.

3. Letting go. Let go of perfection, let go of cleanliness, let go of even self care for awhile. Embracing the season rather than fighting it makes this ride much more enjoyable. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not forever. 

4. Leaving the house takes on new life: When I go places with all 3 kids, its either we are leaving ____ (insert place) bloodied, bruised, wounded and someone is always crying. Or, like the grocery store the other day….I swear that angels were singing as we walked out, and I felt literally like SUPER MOM. haha.

   This is probably the number one thing I’ve struggled with the most and really has had me feeling frustrated and tied down because the energy I need to invest to go to simple places is CRAZY.

   Leaving the house with two seems so easy now. I think this also has been amplified by a winter that has seemed about 3 years long. Have you ever tried to get a 4 year old, a 2 year old and an infant dressed for 30 degree temperatures for 3 months straight? yes, it is torture. Also: see winter with kids ((hell)).

   But, as I say that, its always worth getting out of the house. And yes, you’ll have some days that are better than others but my advice is to start small to gain confidence. Also, don’t give any fucks about what anyone thinks. You’ll never see them again, and if they can’t respect you for getting 3 tiny humans out of the house on your own, they’re not a good person. So…there’s that.

   On a side note, I’m so looking forward to summer, where we can throw on a pair of shoes and call it a day. No gloves, hats, boots, coats, layers. No wondering where we should head to that day. The best part of summer for me, is keeping it simple. Outdoor time. Walks. Bike rides. Playground. I try to live by the saying “KISS”. “Keep it simple, stupid”. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Kids are actually really simple tiny humans and they don’t care if they go to the park 8 days in a row. End of story. 

5. Lower your standards: I’m not saying wear sweats every day of your life and leave your house a pig sty... because truth be told I actually feel more put together this time around than I did with my second. Seriously. I feel like I learned how to manage my time better after having two kids (see #1) but if you’re struggling, cut yourself a break!

6. GET HELP. End of story. You don’t get a medal, trophy or a special announcement as best mom ever for doing EVERYTHING on your own. Have family help and take the older ones places. Get a “mother’s helper” so you have time to get things done around the house. Ask family friends for help. Its worth it.

7. Plan ahead: Being ahead of the game is super important at this time for me. A lot of times I meal prep and cut up vegetables/food for dinner and put them in containers while the baby is napping in the morning or early afternoon because come 5 pm, I’m on my own with 3 kids & trying to make dinner with three kids all running around…aint nobody got time to be slicing sweet potatoes! LOL!

   My advice: think ahead for everything. Pack diaper bags while baby is sleeping or the night before, put your toddlers shoes on while he’s snacking and sitting in his high chair…you get the drift. Be ahead of the game! It will help you be more efficient at home or getting out the door!

8. YOU 👏🏼 ARE 👏🏼 ENOUGH 👏🏼 I’m a big believer in speaking light & truth into yourself. I did this a lot as a professional athlete. One of my favorite sayings (especially to athletes I coach) is “Nobody is going to believe in you more than yourself.” This is so, so true and honestly every single day I tell myself that I am enough. And yes, there are some days where I believe it more than others. BUT I do think by speaking positive to yourself, you truly can make a difference in your own attitude and self esteem. Sure, I can always strive to be a better ME. But who I am- as a woman, mother, wife, and human being complete with all my imperfections…is enough.

So is the transition to 3 hard? YES. Is it harder than the transition to 2? I guess for me it hasn’t hit me as hard as the transition to two. I was so used to focusing on only one child’s needs. Now, I’ve had the experience. Will it feel like that for everyone? Probably not. I don’t know.

But what I can tell you is that the love that my older two have for their baby brother is intoxicating.

I can tell you his smile lights the room.

I can tell you that his presence completes our family.

I can tell you the support from friends and family was and IS absolutely heart warming and overwhelming.

So, yeah, it’s hard. Every single day is a battle…. with sweet, silly, heart melting moments mixed in.

But I absolutely positively cannot imagine my life without our smily baby Samson.

xo

Alex

Motherhood: 6 Ways its Changed Me & My Mothers Day Gift Guide

Motherhood may have given us gray hairs, wrinkles, loose skin, stretch marks, and a lot of other physical side effects that we might not want (ha), BUT I know its given me SO much as a person to be thankful for. I’ve grown leaps and bounds as a human being, and I’ve no doubt become a better person because of my 3 little guys. In honor of Mothers Day next week, I’m highlighting how motherhood has changed me:

1. Showed me the purest form of love: They always say you never know love until you have a baby. Having kids is like having a piece of your heart walking outside of your body. It actually aches when they’re hurt, when you miss them, when they’re going through hard times…its an incredible feeling that you would literally do anything and everything for their well being and happiness.

2. It’s slowed me down: Gone are the days that I need to be on the go …going somewhere, doing something, being busy, never home. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but there’s something to be said about actually soaking life up and slowing down. I actually LIKE staying home or doing simple things like playing outside with the kids, long walks in the neighborhood, playground days, and trips to the library. Call me boring, but I’m cool with it. Seeing life through their eyes is the best feeling ever…how they learn, grow and experience new things is amazing.

3. I’ve become more easy going: Ok, anyone that knows me knows I am superrrr Type A. I’m all about schedules, routine, and things being perfect, and I’m UBER competitive. Well, if you’re a mom you know that living up to this is pretty much impossible if you want to maintain your sanity! It probably took me up until having 3 kids to really just embrace this, truthfully. But, proudly, I’ve learned to roll with the punches, missed naps, tantrums. crying, messy clothes & house, and tough days. Yeah, sure does it bother me sometimes? Of course. Am I still a little uptight? yes. But I am able to take a deep breath and just go with the flow ((most of the time)).

4. I’m more patient: Patience. One of the most coveted virtues there is. Becoming a parent MAKES you more patient whether you want to be or not. Dealing with babies crying for hours (my first), epic toddler tantrums (my second), or dealing with no sleep with your third baby and having 2 others to look after…yup. Patience is earned, and you don’t have a choice.

5. I don’t take things for granted as much: Little things used to bother me so much…work life, social things, etc. Now…if something happens I know that all is good because at the end of the day as long as our family is healthy we are ALL GOOD. That’s not to say I don’t get fired up every now and again (ha) but I definitely am able to take a deep breath and take things in stride A LOT better now. I don’t take a single day that our boys are healthy for granted and now thats what really matters.

6. I’m more focused and efficient: Time is your biggest enemy when you become a mother. It goes by so dang quick. Your time with them, and your time away from them. I’ve found I’ve become so much more efficient with my time now that I have kids because I want to make it count if I’m away from them. If I’m working out, its going to be a killer workout. If I’m at work or at an event, I’m going to make it worthwhile because I know what I’m giving up to be there! Time=the most precious thing in life!

So, Motherhood. Probably the most challenging, yet rewarding thing in life you’ll ever do. I know that I no doubt appreciate my mom more now that I’m a mother myself. Truth be told, there’s no way you can ever repay your mother for their sacrifice, life and commitment to you…but we sure as heck can try!

I wanted to share a few of my favorite mothers day picks for your mother, MIL, grandma, etc.

1.Dyson V8- This thing is a game changer. I know it seems like a lame gift, but this guy cleans sooo fast and when you clean faster, it means more time to do other things! WINNING.

2. Dyson Blowdryer- you guys know I’ve pledged my love for this blowdryer. Another time saver, makes your hair so soft, and is just all around amazing quality. An amazing gift to give.

3. Apple Watch-Another one of my go-tos gifts

4. Airpods- These are so good for everything- exercising, listening to podcasts, talking hands free. Great gift.

5. This crockpot is hands down the best crockpot I have ever used. the food cooks great and the food NEVER sticks to the actual dish. I can’t say enough about it. I know its pricy but the quality is amazing and the food turns out great-so much better.

6. This air fryer is a great gift. I swear I’ll never cook fries in a oven again. The air fryer takes away all the grease and makes them nice and crispy. There’s so many great recipes also to put in a air fryer.

7. Bath bombs make a great gift!

8. I have a kitchen aid mixer and although I’ve never used it (haha, I never bake) its supposedly one of the best. My mom LOVES hers.

9. If your mama or MIL is into scrapbooking, snag her a cricut! This is the best way to scrapbook!

10. You can never go wrong with a new pair of slippers. I love these.

11. Barefoot dreams is always a go-to for me for gifts. They have amazing sweaters/cardigans as well as blankets and throws that are so cozy!

12. Real Simple is a great mag to send to Mom!

13. The Vitamix is a top blender and allows you to make shakes, soups, etc.

14. My mom has a roomba and loves it! Another gift to make her life easier.

15. My holy grail product- Dr. Brandt baggage no more. TRUST ME this stuff is legit.

16. I haven’t tried Drunk Elephant but I have heard amazing things about their products. A mask would be an awesome gift idea!

17. The Clarisonic is a basic essential and makes a good present!

18. Tory Burch Miller Sandals. These can be dressed up or down and look good on a 20 year old, or a 75 year old! Iconic!

19. I love Birks more than anything in life and these are so comfy and GOOD for your feet. The gift that keeps on giving-great quality, last forever!

20. Last but not least…this is my FAVE Tula product. I swear by this and how it brightens your under eye area (hello, all moms need this!!). This is a great present for any mom, any age. If you don’t buy it for your mom, buy it for yourself!

Have a great Sunday!

xo

Alex

My Favorite Home Workout Exercises

First Saturday in April! Let’s go! So excited because this weekend the weather is actually supposed to be SPRING-like! Give us all the outdoor time!

On any given week, I try to make it to the gym 3 times a week for my workouts. If I get 4 in, thats a really good week (that has yet to happen since I had Sammy lol). The other days I either run, or work out at home. In my basement I have kettlebells and bands …which have been a lifesaver to be honest over the last year or so. Its so hard to squeeze as many workouts in as I want with work, kids, etc. The biggest challenge I think with home workouts for me (and for many people) is what exercises to do! So, I wanted to share my favorite go-to exercises that I do ALL of the time. These exercises are mostly compound (where I use my whole body) which allows for a higher energy expenditure, calorie & fat burn. When I only have 30 minutes, I want the most bang for my buck!

1. Squat to Push Press. This is a simple exercise where you have two kettlebells, hold by your shoulder. Squat down, squeeze the glutes as you stand, and push press the KB’s when you stand. Here is an example of the exercise. Anything with a squat is a great exercise because it tightens that booty.

2. Broad Jump: You need NO equipment for this. Gets the heart rate up, is an explosive movement and you only need about 6 feet of space! Example here.

3. Kettlebell swings. These are fantastic for not only strength, but conditioning. Sometimes I use two, sometimes just one and hold with both hands, sometimes I use a heavier weight for less reps, and other times I do high rep (like 30) for conditioning. The key is the slight bend in the knees, thrusting the hips, and squeezing the glutes during the forward motion. As seen here!

4. Row. A row is an easy way to incorporate some upper body work into your body. Lean on a bench or table…as seen here.

5. Dead Lift. This has to be one of my favorite exercises of all time. Key is slight bend in knees, feeling the pull in your hammys, and squeezing the glutes on the way up. As seen here. The footage shows a bar, but you can use KB or free weights! Such a good exercise!

6. Last but not least, I love lunges. Whether you do reverse, lateral, or just standard ones, these are fantastic. If you’re advanced, you can do a lunge to a step up, or a lunge to a bicep curl. Crucial in your form for the lunge is keeping your chest up, and front knee at 90 degrees. As seen here.

I noticed that there are some HUGE sales this weekend and I’m always down for some new workout clothes or athleisure. SO I rounded up a few of my faves! Keep in mind Old Navy has a huge 50% off sale right now!

Have a great weekend! xo

Alex

2 Months Postpartum: The Body

Stash Pocket Salutation Peony 7/8 Tight • Athleta • $71.99
Athleta Athleta Women's Encore Tank Top • Athleta • $33.93
Nike Pro Classic Mid-Impact Swoosh Sports Bra 842398 • Nike • $30

2 Months Postpartum: The Body

It’s been 2 months since my little guy was born. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday he was born.. but at the same time I can’t even remember life without him. Does that even make sense? 🤷🏼‍♀️

There is so much that goes into the postpartum period of having a baby. Not only adjusting to the baby, but the mental and physical side of things for YOU, the mama. Everyone provides so much support right after the baby, but when that first month is over and everyone goes back to work, and their own lives it can be HARD. You’re at home with a crying baby and it can get overwhelming especially if its your first baby. The 24/7 care can be exhausting. Combine that with hormones, breastfeeding, as well as with the physical changes that pregnancy and postpartum brings its no wonder there are so many women with the baby blues or even PPD. So little attention is brought to a woman’s mental state after pregnancy.

As you know, I write about everything…baby, mom stuff, recipes, fashion…it has super therapeutic in a way for me with this third baby. Having a baby can be isolating but this has given me an outlet when I might be otherwise cut off a little bit from society and my “regular” life.

But my favorite posts by far have tp be these body/fitness updates because even though I get frustrated on the DAILY- weighing myself, seeing an unflattering angle in the mirror, trying pre pregnancy jeans on.. the list goes on LOL... (I’m just being real with you during this postpartum phase) when I look back on my previous monthly posts, I can see that I’ve made progress. And I know there are SO MANY other women who feel the same way. And if I can see positivity & progress in my own journey, so can you.

Sometimes progress is hard to see when you’re grafting day and in and day out and things aren’t happening as fast as what you’d like. I encourage you to take progress photos and look at all of this from a “big picture” standpoint. How far you have come, rather than how far you have to go.

I know I feel inspired when I see other women work hard for things they want and I hope in a small way I can do the same for you. I’m not where I want to be yet (not even close), but I’m loving sharing the journey in depth with all of you.

Postpartum Feelings

I've been a mother for almost 5 years. To some of you, I'm still a rookie. And let me tell you, a lot of the time I sure do feel like a rookie. I think in our own way we are all newbies trying to find our way not only for our children, but for our new life as parents, caregivers. Because just when you think you've figured it out, they go and change on you again :) 

I can't tell you how many times over the last 4 1/2 years I've come across messages of "love your ____(insert either body, scars, battle wounds, mom pooch, tiger stripes, curves, stretch marks" etc. ) in social media, magazines, tv. It’s everywhere. Don't get me wrong. I love messages of positivity to uplift women whether you're a mom, a teen, or a twenty something post college graduate. But I guess a part of me has fought this message internally. And its always made me feel weird and to be honest, like an outsider when it comes to this topic. I don’t know if this message is realistic, for me anyway.

I don't love my postpartum curves. I don't love my stretch marks. I don't love my loose skin. I don't love my c- section scars. What I do love? MY SONS. My beautiful three boys. (they of course were worth every ounce of pain, sacrifice, skin sagginess, scars, and stretch marks FYI !)

If you asked me if I could have heathy children and do without the loose skin & stretch marks I wouldn't think twice. Absolutely I would take that. And I bet I'm not the only one who would -whether people want to admit it or not. Those battle scars…They’re just human.. and part of the process for some of us.

What I do is thank my pre-pregnancy body for being STRONG, fit and healthy enough to carry my babies…not my stretch marks or loose skin.

And my postpartum body? I might not love every part of it. BUT I RESPECT the HELL out it. My curves, stretch marks, loose skin and scars.

In my opinion, the most important way (and most realistic way) you can love your body is by respecting & appreciating it throughout all the crazy seasons of life us women go through.

Now…on to Month 2!

Post surgery:

This was the best recovery by far from all of my C sections. I think because my incisions opened (superficial layer, not infected or anything) the last 2 times I was really careful. In addition, I had a lot of help at night with my husband bringing baby to me in the middle of the night to nurse (not getting up out of a chair holding baby) which was #husbandgoals. Lastly, the horrible weather we had the first 4 weeks postpartum actually went in my favor because I didn’t go for walks or leave the house. Haha.

I have no issues with my incision and hopefully every day the scar will fade. Although having the scar doesn’t really phase me, to be honest. I think out of all things “postpartum” that is the thing I least care about.

Workouts

I’m getting 3-4 strength training workouts in during the week and trying to get 2-3 days of cardio in. I’m careful with my cardio; I want to be sure my body is able to handle the impact. Because of this, I’m really focusing on weights and getting stronger right now. During pregnancy I lost so much muscle- and gained a lot of extra fat so I’ve got to ease my way into it. In addition, I have about 2 cm of separation still between my abs-which I am doing DR exercises to improve.

I’ve gone on 3-4 runs and my times have already started to lower. I’m soooo far off where I used to be but I’m trying to focus on what I CAN do and not what I used to be able to do. I know I’ve done this twice before; and I can do it again if I want it bad enough.

Nutrition

To be honest, my nutrition has been better this postpartum period than it was with the other two. I’m eating less cereal/empty carbs at night and if I need a snack at night I choose Greek yogurt. During the day I’m pretty structured and disciplined. Breakfast is usually eggs with turkey bacon, eggs on its own, or chicken sausage always paired with oatmeal. Lunch is usually chicken or salmon with salad, and you have all seen my dinners throughout the week in my Monday meal plan.

Of course, I have “splurge” meals (like pizza last week saturday, for example) and I usually have a treat or two after going to the grocery shopping (I blame the “hungry me” for buying my fave love crunch granola haha)

For those that have breastfed, you know the struggle is real with nursing hunger…or HANGER. Ha. I literally CANNOT go to bed without eating something because I’ll wake in the night hungry.

I definitely don’t portion out my meals too much, I would say breakfast and lunch I know pretty much the macros I’m eating but dinner and before bed all bets are off. For me, maintaining my supply is most important and if it takes me 3 months longer to achieve what I want, then so be it.

Weight/ body image

My clothes are definitely fitting better but I would say 70% of my closet doesn’t fit, or it doesn’t fit comfortably/ the way I want it to. Which is super frustrating, but it is what it is. I’ve accepted it, respect it and I’m going to keep showing up like a bad penny at the gym getting after it.

I’ve also bought 2 new pairs of jeans because I’m not putting some ridiculous pressure on how fast “i bounce back”. Some of my pants are going to take about 6 MONTHS to fit back into, and thats just reality. You don’t get a medal, a trophy or anything special for fitting into your jeans quicker! I’ll get there and I know from my other two babies it takes time. A lot of time. Like over a year. And it takes sweat. Discipline. And of all things, consistency.

Weight wise the scale hasn’t budged in about 4 weeks. It has. not. budged. a. single. pound.

4 weeks of being intentional about walking (the first 2 weeks. Working out the last 2 weeks, 5 days a week.

4 weeks of intentional, healthy eating.

So, basically, I’m still 15-ish lbs above pre-pregnancy weight.

Frustration is an understatement.

I found with my other two babies I was able to lose a majority of the weight (over a 12 month period-let’s be clear!!) but I coulden’t get as lean/lose the last 3-4 lbs until I stopped nursing. Whether that was hormones, or my hunger, I’m not sure. We will see this time around! Everyone’s body is different and reacts a different way to nursing.

So, if you’re in the same season as me (this awkward postpartum phase), know that taking small victories like FEELING good, fitting into pants better, having more energy, being able to lift a heavier weight, or running faster/longer means far more than the scale anyway.

And as those small victories keep piling up ….you’ll see movement in the scale. Because that’s really how it works.

End of Story.

xo

Alex

Pregnancy Fitness #2: Swimming/Aqua Jogging

Pregnancy Fitness: Swimming (Aqua Jogging)

Hi babes! Hope you are all doing well! Happy weekend! Hope you are all settling in ready for the big storms hitting this weekend! Yikes!

We are currently settling in at home now and big brothers will be joining us tomorrow. I have so much to share about the birth of baby Sammy, but I have honestly just been trying to rest, recover and soak up every moment so far!

Before I had baby Sammy, I wrote up a “series” of pregnancy fitness posts for the blog to post during the first couple of postpartum weeks (the first post I wrote was about Running while pregnant), and I’ll be posting 2-3 more that I wrote up throughout pregnancy.

Today I’ll be sharing Pregnancy Fitness: Swimming. In each of these posts I’ll talk about what workouts I did, what I liked/didn’t like about the particular form of working out, and my must haves for each! I linked my aqua jogger…and a ton of bathing suits that I am loving right now …a few maternity and the rest just regular (sooooo excited to be out of maternity clothes woot woot!!!!!)

Some super cute Bathing Suit Picks!

Super cute $35 flattering H & M blue and white striped suit | gingham. yes plz | AErie cute lace up. On sale!! | Love me some leopard | ‘I’m getting this Anthro bikini!!! | Another HM suit!! | Dying to buy a tularosa suit. I love their style!! | M I C K E Y suit!! So cute | my all time fave flattering suit for EVERYONE | This bikini is so frilly and feminine! LOVE | Classic black suit for everyone- on sale!! | Gorgeous maternity suit | striped maternity suit | Barbie suit!! | Cute tankini maternity | Black basic maternity suit!

My swimming background

I’ve been swimming ever since I was a baby..I’m pretty sure my mom had us in the water at like 3 months old! Partially this was due to the fact that she never really learned how to swim and she wanted to make sure that we didn’t turn out the same way. So, we were in the water ever since we were babies and also took swimming lessons. I didn’t love the lessons; but as a kid I did enjoy swimming. As you all know, soccer was obviously my passion so any swimming I did was leisurely. But let me be clear that I’m no Michael Phelps ha.

Intro to Aqua Jogging

Fast forward to college, where my roomie was a cross country runner. Because I have quite good endurance, when she would have extra mileage to do for her workouts for the week, sometimes I would run with her at night. The family that runs together, stays together..amiright??!! LOL.

The Aqua Jogger & some Amazon swimming picks!

Cupshe is awesome quality/price for suits LOL!!!!

Anyway, she ended up at some point getting injured and not being able to run for an extended period of time. The coaching staff and trainer instructed her to head to the University pool and swim with an aqua jogger. I had never heard of it and had no idea what it was! But, being the great friend and roomie, I decided to join in with her to make it less boring for her!

What is aqua jogging you ask? Aqua jogging is basically where you run in the water! You have a belt that goes around your waist and you are able to swim upright and run in a running motion.

There are all kinds of positive studies that show using aqua jogging as a form of cross training/injury prevention allows you to maintain your current cardiovascular level and fitness without the impact of actually running. In fact, they have done studies where participants have actually replaced 1-2 runs/week and still maintained their fitness level. In addition, aqua jogging is a great form of cardio for runners or ANY athlete with running in their sport who have an injury to continue exercising without impact.

Honestly , i am SO thankful that I was introduced to aqua jogging during my collegiate soccer career. It certainly isn’t the most “fun” workout (its a little bit boring at times) but there are so many benefits and it helped over the course of my professional career ( and AFTER!!) recover faster after travel, games, and also was a GOD SEND when I was injured! It allowed me to stay active, keep a good fitness base, and manage my weight while injured.

When I found out I was expecting with my first baby, swimming was one of the most popular forms of exercise that I read about for pregnant women. It was a great cross training option for me that I mixed in with my running, walking, and lifting. With each pregnancy I found I utilized the pool more and more, and this last baby especially. It also gives me a different option for a workout when not pregnant- if I’m sore, tired, etc!!

Reasons why I loved swimming/Aqua Jogging while pregnant:

1. Weightless: When you’re in the water you’re said to only feel 10% of your body weight. That literally has to be every single womans dream when pregnant! Feeling weightless for that 30-45 mins is amazing!

2. Reduces swelling: I always got a lot of comments from people about the fact that I had little to no swelling during my pregnancies. When you’re pregnant, your body produces 50% more blood and fluids to support the needs of your body and growing baby. I attribute low swelling during my pregnancies to good diet, staying active, but also my time in the pool. When you are submerged in the water, the outside water pressure pushes the extra fluid tissue water into your veins and kidneys …and out of your body into your urine! I swear i have to go to the bathroom 4 times after swimming! I’ve even weighed myself after and there is no doubt I lose a pound or two of fluid retention.

3. No impact: I love the fact that I can get a workout in without it hurting any of my joints or muscles. Pregnancy is a huge demand on the body and being active without impact is a WIN. No uncomfortable pounding (like running when you get bigger)…and the bigger you get the heavier that uterus, placenta and baby are! The pressure is unreal…to not feel that..AMAZING.

4. Calorie Burn: The calorie burn for any activity in the water is HUGE. Obviously you have to work harder because of the resistance of the water, and aqua jogging is said to burn anywhere from 8-12 calories/minute depending on how much you weigh. That’s 80- 100 Calories for 10 minutes; similar if not more than running!

5. I don’t need to get my hair wet: haha. I know this one is kind of vain but I love aqua jogging because I don’t need to get my hair wet :)

6. Refreshing: Last but not least, I always felt so refreshed coming out of the water. If you are pregnant during the summer months, get. in. the. water!! And, even thought this last pregnancy ended in january, I still enjoyed getting in the water even though it was so cold outside. The first minute or two might be a bit chilly, but once you get going its totally worth it!

My workouts:

I usually have two forms of aqua jogging workouts: Intervals and steady state.

During this past pregnancy, 75% of my aqua jogs were steady state mostly because that is what I felt my body could do at the time. Earlier in the pregnancy, and when I utilize swimming for cross training, I definitely do more intervals. This basically means I “jog” steady state for 5 mins as a warmup and then pick either time or distance to “sprint” in the water, and then jog. So, 30 seconds “sprint”, and then into 30 seconds “jog” and repeat. This gets the heart rate up, makes the workout go faster, and burns more fat/calories!

The cons of swimming/aqua jogging:

1. The first would have to be obviously access to water! I am lucky and have access on a personal level (indoor) as well as belong to a fitness club with a pool.

2. Comfort level in a public pool while pregnant: I know some women can be self conscious working out, being in a swimsuit while pregnant, don’t like being in a public pool…etc.

3. Boring: It can get a little boring. I try to play music, or get someone to join me (my mom, or my husband)

4. Time consuming: It does take up more time than a simple run or walk— driving to and from the pool (if not at your house), changing, full shower after…etc.

Bottom Line: Swimming is a WIN

The pros clearly outweigh the cons IMO and I honestly feel so grateful to have been able to swim and stay active throughout my pregnancy. It was so amazing to have the option especially in the later stages of pregnancy where just moving seemed challenging! Also, I missed running so much and this filled the void a little bit.

I definitely recommend getting in the water if you can- whether that is at your house, a friends, a local high school/college or the YMCA that you belong to! In addition, the aqua jogger is fairly inexpensive!

Have a great weekend xo

Alex

Make your own Panera Bread: Family friendly Chicken Avo Panini

Happy Monday! I’m dragging a little this morning and not sure why. I feel like last week is finally catching up with me. Sometimes I get on a high and work on adrenaline and that might be the case after our big trip last week!

I wanted to share a favorite recipe of ours that I’ve modified in a couple of ways to make more healthy! It is honestly one of our go-to weekend meals because its quick and easy; but also satisfies us like we’ve gone out for a meal even though we are too tired to go out! ha! #thatparentlife Also, bonus, the kids like it!

I am so obsessed with paninis and if you love them too, you NEED to try this recipe. We have a KRUPS panini machine that my mom got us for Christmas but I think you could probably cook this on the stovetop or even in a George Foreman. Looks like you can panini presses at all levels of price including like $20 so its a good investment if you have kids & want to make sandwches, paninis or even a fancy grilled cheese!

Chicken Avo Panini

Ingredients:

Chicken Cutlets
Italian Seasoning
Olive Oil
1 Lemon juiced
2 garlic minced
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt
3 tablespoons mayo
1 tomato sliced
1 avocado sliced in pieces
Cheddar cheese (shredded)
Bread: we use soft sided Italian (a lot easier for the kids to bite down than regular Italian. I have tried to find wheat but haven’t found it yet! That could also work!)

Also: those who DON’T like Mayo: please do not let this scare you away from the meal! I don’t ever eat mayo and I LOVE this sandwich :)

1. Marinate the chicken in a ziploc bag- put the cutlets in a bag with olive oil, italian seasoning (to taste), 1/2 lemon juiced and 1 garlic minced. Make sure you mix it around so it all gets covered. Place in fridge. You can do this 8 hours before or 20 minutes before!

2. Make the sauce. Combine garlic, the other half of the lemon, the greek yogurt and mayo. Stir and put saran wrap over the bowl and place in the fridge.

3. When you’re ready, put some olive oil in a bowl and cook the chicken in a frying pan. Slice your tomato and prepare the avocado while the chicken cooks.

4. Turn your panini machine on.

5. Take the sauce out of the fridge. Spread on the bread, add chicken, 2 slices tomato, avocado, and desired amount of cheese. Spray machine & put sandwich under panini press.

6. Remove from press and repeat process with any other slices of bread. Let cool. Enjoy!!

So, there you go! What I love about this is its pretty quick and you can either prep before you are gone for the day (before work or a weekend day) and throw in the fridge, or you can make it right before! To me there is really no taste difference it just depends on how much time you have!

I also always use cutlets; if I have breasts than I cut them in half and pound them because it cooks so much faster & you need it thin for the sandwiches!

Hope you all enjoy!!

xo
Alex

HBD!! Getting Older is a mindset....

I’m sitting here on the morning of my 36th birthday, and I probably should still be sleeping. Its a rainy, dreary morning but I have so many thoughts on my birthday so here I am!

Its funny when you’re a kid and you think there’s this “cut-off” age where you become old. Like..35 or 40 or whatever it is.

But when you actually hit that age, you don’t even actually feel old. lol, I guess in my mind age is just a number, and if you look after yourself you’ll feel, look and even act younger. I can’t really say that it bothers me like it does some people. Obviously I’m aware of it, ((and sometimes I think about it more than others)) but its all part of life!! I think back to 10 years ago and there’s certain things I’d take from my 25 year old body but I love my experience and wisdom so much more! Don’t get me wrong, there are some days where I totally feel my age (especially when pregnant or newly postpartum), or have days when I look in the mirror and don’t love what I see, but I’ve honestly have had people in my gym ask me “what sport I play” (ie. in college…LOL…umm I graduated like 15 years ago) and some that can’t believe I have kids because I don’t look old enough and am so fit…and thats what I remind myself when I have a negative day!

Today, in honor of my 36th birthday I thought I would share 6 ways I really look after myself to not only feel young (read: energy), but look younger as well. In addition I’m sharing 3 of my favorite memories from this past year!

6 non negotiables on looking after yourself & the aging process

1. Sleep. Obviously this is a tough one if you are a mom (or parent). But, once the newborn/first year stage is over with I always make sleep a priority and try to get at least 7 hours a night no matter what is going on. Sometimes its hard to look away when you see laundry, dishes, etc. but that sleep will help repair your body, skin, and brain. Everything else will be there when you get up.

2. Exercise: You all know I love to stay active and workout…and that could vary from a 30 min walk with the kids to a run, or a lift! But moving helps my body look and feel SO MUCH younger. Start with small goals- don’t try and change your whole life. Add more movement 1 or 2 days a week and gradually increase. Everything in life is a habit and after 3 or 4 weeks you’ll find the habit has stuck more often than not. I love these pegasus Nike shoes, these zella live in leggings to run around in all day, my Apple ipods (so great for working out), and my Apple watch. I’ve also had a Fit bit and have enjoyed that as well!

3. Nutrition: I never grew up loving salads, fish, sweet potatoes, or vegetables. I ACQUIRED a taste for them because it is what makes my body feel good, and I want to live a long time! So, if I can do it, so can you! Change is hard, but we can do hard things ladies!!

   Change your mindset about eating and you’ll find you have more energy eating for alllll of the things! Eat vegetables, whole foods, etc. Give it time for you to start to accept it in your palette! And of course add in pizza and treats every now and again…remember that 80-20 rule :)

4. Water: I’m sure you’ve read this a thousand times, but drinking enough water affects your complexion, how you feel, and how your body functions. I can tell you with certainty that 95% of the time I have a headache its due to lack of water because I’ve been busy. I drink a couple glasses of water instead of reaching for medicine to “fix” my headache. Trust me. Drink your water! This is my favorite water bottle- keeps water cool for up to 24 hrs and is super cute. Can’t go wrong with Swell water bottles, great quality and make great gifts as well.

5. Stay out of the Sun: This is one that I probably have to thank my mom. I honestly was shielded as a kid lol- hat, so much sunscreen, stayed in the shade (I used to get sick in the sun!!) Nowadays I see young college students with more forehead wrinkles than me and it makes me so sad. Stay out of the sun and use SPF! I use SPF 30 even in the winter on my face, and wear hats in the summer to shield my face as well as SPF 50.

   There are so many great self tanners out there these days that you can use in your own home! I definitely hit up tanning beds after years of being covered up when I was a kid (I am super fair) which I completely regret but fingers crossed that into my mid-20s through now I have been super sun smart that I’ll be okay. Obviously you want to be sun smart because of cancer risks, but also think of your skin & aging! I’ve linked my favorite SPF’s from La Mer- the SPF 50 and the La Mer SPF 30 (use mostly in winter), as well as my favorite self tanners: Josie Maran & gradual self tanner Banana Boat. I use Josie Maran all the time and the gradual self tanner is really great too- I just started using that as well. Love this Lululemon hat & this Nike hat to keep your face out of the sun!

6. Mindset. I spoke about this briefly already but honestly I don’t “dread” my birthdays. I’m proud of who I am, how I look because I work hard at it, and look after myself so I have a lot of energy and don’t feel too much different than when I was 19. Both of my post baby bodies were fitter and leaner than when I was 19 (and I am determined to get there after my last baby!), and I’m a lot smarter, more experienced and stronger. Everything in life is mindset!

Goodbye 35….3 of my favorite memories this past year

1. Hitting up NYC for my birthday last year and taking a helicopter over the city. That was definitely one for the bucket list, and it was amazing to get away for 30 hours away from the crazy life of parenthood just the two of us!

2. Our family vaca to Hawaii: As stressful as it was traveling that far, it was awesome to have a family trip and catch up with family we haven’t seen from Aus/NZ. Seeing the boys connect with their cousins was amazing and we really had a great time. A trip I definitely won’t forget.

3. Finding out about Baby3: This was obviously a surprise, and initially we had mixed reactions but I think God had his plan for us and we are more than excited to meet this little guy!

Below I have listed some of my favorite products for my skin, staying healthy & active!

Thanks for reading & Hope you all have a great day!! xo

Alex

Pregnancy workouts & The Ten Minute Rule

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great week!

We’ve officially been back a week from Hawaii and we are all finally adjusted back to the Eastern time zone…that took awhile esp. for my youngest. I def learned a lot traveling with the kids for such a long way and will share that in a separate post! The good thing is they have both been sleeping in between 7-8 am every day since we got back (even later the first few days) and I have been loving that as it gives me some extra time in the mornings to myself to run, and get ready for the day, or check my emails and have some quiet time.

Its been a minute since I shared my workouts with y’all so I thought I’d hop on this week (( before I did a hawaii recap)) and share my workouts over the last 5-6 weeks as well as some tips I have for motivating and keeping yourself moving throughout the second trimester!

I’m officially 21 1/2 weeks so I’m definitely starting to feel ((and look)) a lot bigger. Its definitely hard looking in the mirror sometimes after being so lean and fit, but trying to enjoy the process & embrace the extra curves!! I still have felt pretty good when working out most of the time which is a lifesaver for me mentally.

Tips for 2nd trimester workouts

1. Change your mentality: This is a big one for me- I still struggle with it. My main goal is not to challenge myself and “get better everyday”, but to move, sweat, feel good and stay active. I have to remind myself of this when I’m running and I’m moving slower, and when I’m lifting and I get out of breath quickly, or I’m not able to lift as heavy of weight. This allows me to keep things in perspective and not get down on myself!

2. Find workout clothes that are comfortable: This might sound silly, but look good, feel good, play good..haha. But seriously, I always have an extra pep in my step when I have a killer new workout outfit to wear in the gym and finding clothes that FIT and make you feel comfortable (and looking good is a bonus) with your extra weight is really important. Its actually mind boggling to me that the top brands (ie nike, adidias, etc.) don’t have a maternity workout line!! With my first pregnancy I was able to wear a lot of my pre- pregnancy leggings and then when I got bigger just wear them lower. I find now that my bump is A LOT bigger with my 3rd and I don’t want to ruin or stretch out my nice leggings so I’ve stored them away. I’ve either sized up when I’ve seen my faves on sale, or bought maternity activewear. My fave maternity workout gear so far are Gap and Isabel Maternity by Ingrid and Isabel. They have some super cute leggings and they are comfortable, and wick sweat! I’m definitely still searching around for more brands so I’ll be doing a post on my favorite 2nd trimester Preggo clothes along with activewear!

3. Any movement counts: There are some days where I might have the day off, but I’m really active with the kids and walk a lot. Walking counts! So even if you’re not a runner, a 30 min walk everyday is going to help you in the long run down the line!!

4. Find your motivator: My #1 motivation is feeling good and time for myself, and knowing that staying active keeps my baby healthy. Thats what keeps me going day in and day out. Also on the back of my mind is keeping a few extra pounds off, and remembering how LONG the road back to fitness/pre-baby body is and how much easier it is to be active throughout and only take off 6-8 weeks vs 6-8 months!

5. Give yourself grace: Remember some days your body isn’t feeling it…go for a slow walk or just rest! Give yourself grace…you’re growing a human!

6. Every day will be different: As you can see below, sometimes I can run 8:30 miles and feel like a million dollars…and some days I feel sluggish and slow. It. doesn’t. matter!! You’re out there! Every day will be different. It’s like a rollercoaster dealing with your body during pregnancy. I’m just grateful to still be moving and take it as it comes! Don’t get too down on the crappy days, or too high on the days you feel great!

   Last but not least…the 10 minute rule. My fave tip. This one is GREAT if you’re just starting to workout (pregnant or not!!), or are super tired!!

7. The ten minute rule: I use this sometimes. I tell myself to walk/run for 10 minutes, and if I’m still not feeling it, to go home. 99% of the time I keep going! Once you start moving the positive energy and endorphins will keep you going! Trust me.

Workouts:

15 weeks: +8 pounds, (sick all week…ugh)

Sunday: 3 miles, 25:35, Splits: 8:49, 8:17, 8:25
Monday: 2.5 miles, 9:04, 9:02
Tuesday: home lift
Wednesday: Lower workout
Thursday: HIIT bike, upper lift
Friday: home workout
Saturday: off

16 weeks: +9 pounds

Sunday: 3.30 miles, 8;45, 8:47, 8:52
Monday: Lower lift
Tuesday: home workout
Wednesday: Upper, HIIT sled work
Thursday: 3 miles: 8:54, 8:23, 8:20
Friday: Lower Lift
Saturday: off

17 weeks: +11 pounds

Sunday: 3 mile run, 8:22, 8:13, 8:13. 24:50
Monday: Lower Lift
Tuesday: 3 miles, 9:07, 9:27, 9:15. 27:51
Wednesday: Upper lift, 10 mins of running: 80 yard pickup, 80 yard jog.
Thursday: Lower Lift
Friday: 3 mile run. 8:37, 8:16, 8:03
Saturday: off

18 weeks: +14 pounds

Sunday: 3 miles, 8:54, 8:56, 9:06. 29:10
Monday: Lower Lift
Tuesday: home lift, HIIT stair work
Wednesday: Upper lift, 45 min walk
Thursday: 3 mile run, 9:09, 9:12, 9:24. 27:49
Friday: Lower lift, 1 mile walk
Saturday: off

19 weeks: +15 lbs

Sunday: soccer workout
Monday: lower lift
Tuesday: travel-off (trip to Hawaii)
Wednesday: 3 mile run, 25.58. 8:59, 8:31, 8:25
Thursday: lower workout with bands
Friday: 3 miles: 9:44, 9:38, 9:43. 29:11
Saturday: Band workout

20 weeks (no weight taken, vacation)

Sunday: off
Monday: 3.14 miles 9:12 ave.
Tuesday: 3 miles: 8:41m 8:42, 8:16. 25:42
Wednesday/Thursday: travel/off
Friday: Lower lift
Saturday: 3 miles. 9:06, 8:55, 9:02. 27:07

Have a great weekend!!

xo

Alex

I guess 3 was meant to be....{{Pregnancy thoughts}}

Wow. What a crazy couple of months. I feel like I was getting into a great rhythm in LIFE..work, working out, family time, independence...also with my blog posts, and managing everything...and then BAM. Surprise! Baby #3 on the way, and RIP to me getting anything. done. ever. Ha. 

I guess thats the way life is sometimes, once you get the hang of something, it changes. 

I've always been really upfront and transparent as a person, and thats carried over onto this blog. We are super excited to add to our family, but it was definitely unexpected. I had so many mixed emotions finding out, the first being a little bit of shock. A little  bit of...I'm not sure if I can do this again. A little bit of I just started to get a little more independence...and SLEEP.

But you can be sure there was a lot of excitement in my heart wondering if it was a girl or boy, and knowing this baby would fully complete our family. 

I think deep down I knew I wanted to have one more child, I was just wrapping my head around actually doing it ALL over again. After all, I just stopped breastfeeding Seb in March.

Let's just put it this way: Since September of 2013, I've been breastfeeding or pregnant for all but 6 of those months. You guys...that is FIVE freaking years. I really wanted to enjoy the summer and just be me. Not breastfeeding. Not pregnant. Just me.

Thinking about a pregnancy, weight gain, and the stress/anxiety of expecting a baby and hoping everything goes smoothly...., and then when the baby actually arrives the sleepless nights, breastfeeding/pumping, and just adjusting to a completely different family dynamic. I just coulden't wrap my head around it. 

Family of 4 was just so easy in my mind- we were pretty much through the tough part. Seb is 2 in October, starting preschool. Max is super independent. Traveling gets easier every time, and when my husband is home we are man for man. I feel like we can give them enough attention. I enjoy the one on one time I have with each of them. And most importantly, we have two HEALTHY, beautiful, happy boys that I almost feel greedy wanting more.

But there was always a longing feeling inside of me feeling so heartbroken to not snuggle another baby, breastfeed again, and completely watch another human being change our lives and hearts.  You never hear people regret having their last child. You always hear people say "I wish I would have had more kids."

So, here we are. 14 weeks pregnant this week!

Real Talk: Let's talk 1st trimester, because it is OVER. Thank you Lord! I found out around 6 weeks, and within a week I felt like I had contracted the boubonic plague. Having 2 littles and one on the way in the first trimester was ROUGH, y'all. I can't even explain the fatigue. My nutrition was absolute shit. I had no energy, and tbh you're supposed to limit caffeine? Well caffeine did not do a thing for me those first 6-8 weeks. I needed some sort of AED to give me life!!

I had the worst food aversions. Basically everything that I would normally eat (read: clean) was not going to happen. I've eaten far too many pieces of grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and pizza the last month or so than I would care to share. I tried to eat the best I could (I'm prob not giving myself enough credit..but guys..the struggle was so so real) and I guess I've done a decent job? because I'm only up 5 or 6 lbs at almost 14 weeks. This is a little less than pregnancy #1 and #2 {{probs bc I never. ever. sit. down. with 2 toddlers lol}}. 

Other than the lack of energy and nausea here and there, I've felt good and have been really active. The great weather has certainly helped keep me active, and even when I was struggling for energy, I knew a workout would never make me feel worse ((it usually gives me more energy)) so I think being consistent with my daily activity (steps, walking) and workouts has really helped me. 

I'm feeling SO much better now, and excited to share my last pregnancy journey with you all!(yes, this will be our last :P) 

Thank you ALL for your sweet messages and love over the last week or so! We are so blessed to have baby 3 on the way and all of you in our lives!

xo

Alex

Meal Plan Monday & snacks I'm loving

Anyone else have a sunshine hangover? Can we all just skip work today and celebrate SPRING and no more snow?! Kidding...{kind of} Hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to get after this week!

Today I'm sharing a unique recipe... Pork is not something I have in my usual meal rotation but this meal is actually super tasty, healthy, and even kids like it because its more sweet than spicy. The Hoisin sauce I use to flavor this meal is pretty low in sugar and carbs which makes me love this recipe even more.

Pork Stir fry with Snow Peas

Pork Tenderloin, cut into cubes
4 cloves garlic
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & minced (2 tablespoons)
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
2/3 pound Snow Peas
1/2 Red & Green Pepper, chopped
Mushrooms
3 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
1/4 cup water
Rice

1. Toss the pork with half the garlic, half the ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes. 
2. While pork is marinating, start cooking the rice. Heat a skillet over high heat and add olive oil.  Add the remaining garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add mushrooms and peppers. When mushrooms begin to sautee/peppers soften (3-4 mins), add sugar snap peas. Cook for 2-3 mins. Remove into a separate bowl to cool. 
3. Heat the same skillet used for the vegetables and cook the Pork mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Return the vegetable mixture to the skillet when Pork is nearly cooked through. Add the hoison sauce and soy sauce to taste, cook until juices thicken. I like to add 1/4 cup of water as the juice thickens- I think it makes it perfect to spread over the rice! Totally up to you though. 
4. Serve over rice and enjoy!! 

Snacks I'm loving

Also, I wanted to share a few snacks that I've been loving for me...and a few for the kids. My boys love the Nature's Bakery fig bars. I just saw today that they have an Organic Oat and Honey option so I snagged it and they LOVE them. I like how there is no high fructose corn syrup, that they're organic, and not too messy!

Strangely enough,  Neither of my boys like cow's milk. I don't really force it because I'm not super sold on cow's milk anyway...so we try to get their dairy through almond milk in their oatmeal, yogurt (Seb really isn't feeling it at the moment..hopefully that changes!) and various cheeses. These Horizon cheese stars are Max's favorites. I think he likes the taste as much as the different shapes :) These I have only been able to find at Target. Just what I need, another reason to "force" me to go into target..ha. 

I've completely overhauled my diet the last 3 weeks and cut out all sweets so finding alternatives for my sweet tooth has been a challenge to say the least. I've been loving the thinkthin Cake pops lately though. My favorite flavor definitely has to be the chocolate. Low sugar and it hits the spot after dinner when I crave something sweet!

Last but not least... is this Buff Bake Peanut Butter spread. GUYS. This is so freakin good. Not nearly as good as Nutella, or Peanut Butter Company  {{these are clearly off limits at the moment}},  but it certainly satisfies and packs some extra protein. Beggars can't be choosers at the moment so I'll take what I can get,  I love how these two treats are somewhat guilt free and help me satisfy that sweet tooth that never seems to disappear! 

Have a great week everyone! 

xo

Alex

Sebby's 1st Birthday Party/1 year update

Hey everyone! Happy friday! Hope you had an awesome week. 

Last week was super hectic preparing for Seb's 1st bday party and then heading out 3 days later for vaca! I knew the timing wasn't going to be ideal but with our work schedules is was really the only weekend that worked. 

I decided to do a Peter Rabbit theme after seeing some supplies on zulily and thought they were super cute. He has a Peter Rabbit themed nursery so I thought it would kind of come full circle.

The weather has actually been really amazing lately so we had it outside at our house. Menu included your party favorites: veggie tray, snacks, pizza, subs, cake, and ice cream. I feel like its hard enough to prepare for a party but to cook too for it is really stretching it with 2 little ones so we just ordered out. 

                                                                                                             Fun with our cousins!

I got some really awesome Etsy decorations: center pieces, high chair "I'm one" decoration, a Peter Rabbit crown, Peter Rabbit water bottle stickers, Peter Rabbit, garland, paper plates, napkins, cups, a Peter Rabbit onesie, and my mom made some super cute descriptive food labels with Peter Rabbit on them. Etsy is literally the shit. They have everything you could want. Oh. and the cake. was. seriously. amazing. 

We had a decent day but the wind was blowing at 20 + mph in the morning which made setup really tough. The table cloths were blowing everywhere and it made setup slightly stressful haha. The party was super fun all in all and the kids all had a great time. 

Remember...when planning kids birthday parties:
1. ETSY and PInterest all the way for theme ideas, invites, and for specialized party supplies.
2. Dollar store for basic supplies, balloons, etc. 
3. Plan and order early, early, early. For instance, I ordered Seb's onesie and they sent a green one...so thankfully I had enough time to send it back and have them send a new one in baby blue! 
 

                                                                                      This cake though....Had to post an up close photo. 

My one year old:

As for Seb, he is a full blown toddler now! He is super mobile, walking everywhere (and trying to run), eating everything in sight and exploring and getting into everything. Unlike his brother, he could care less where I am and just takes off running! I'm gonna be that mom that has their kid on a leash at Disney next time haha.  He's also started to be super crazy with screaming. Max never really did that so this is new...he screams to get attention, when he doesn't get what he wants. I don't even understand it and it drives me crazy. His brother will then start screaming at the same time to be funny so...our house is super loud ! Also he is starting to stomp his feet. Soooo like I said, a toddler ((yikes)). The good thing is he's still pretty goofy and happy most of the time so hopefully this is just a phase he's going through until he learns how to talk.

SLEEP He's still up once a night but every now and again he will sleep through the night( he's done it twice while we have been on vacation...score!)Part of me wants to just completely night wean him but I think I'm holding on a little because I'm not sure we will have another. So for now its okay, I think he will wean himself on his own time. 

Nursing Still nursing before naps (so morning and afternoon), when he wakes for the day and before bed. If he wakes in the night he will nurse then and sometimes that takes the place of his morning nurse. So 4 times a day usually. I haven't tried to give him milk yet and I haven't really decided if I'm going to. Max hated it so we just give him yogurt and lots of cheese. So we will see I guess. 

Brother It amazes me how much he learns from his brother and how he feeds off energy from his brother! The next year will be tough but I think when Seb is around 2 yo they will be able to play more together :) 

Likes:

-trucks, cars
-balls
-food! 
-screaming

Dislikes: 
-face being cleaned
-nose being wiped
-being confined anywhere
-the word NO. lol
-sitting still

Hope you guys have a great weekend :) 

Alex

Max's 3rd Birthday Party...and 6 tips for your first kiddo party

Happy Birthday to my big boy Max who is now three...where has the time gone?! 

I know a lot of people go really overboard with parties and invite tons of people including kids from their child's preschool class but I just can't get my head around that right now. For Max's first birthday I felt so CRAZED and last minute with everything and it was just a family party with 25 people. Last year I felt the same. So this year I vowed to be ORGANIZED. There is nothing worse than being super stressed trying to get ready for a party. I honestly tried to keep it really simple this year by repeating last years theme! I had some leftover supplies from last year ...and With the baby, work, and Max loving the farm theme last year I thought..hey, why not. Let's take the load off! 

                                                       Family photo on the hay ride :)

                                                                      Farm Tour!

 We went to Kelkenberg Farm last year for his second birthday and he loved it. So many activities (all included in the price): Hay ride for everyone, pony rides for the kids, a farm tour where you see all of the animals, and the chance to milk the goats. Its a great, laid back atmosphere and we just grill out, have some cake and hang out! 

                                                              Looking after the ponies!

Like I said, I had some supplies from last year (plates, cups, silverware) and I had little die cut labels that my mom made for different foods that we offered. I used a farm theme to rename foods such as "pigs in a blanket" (hot dogs), "cow dung" (brownies), silverware were "pitchforks" (forks), "butcher knives" (knives), and "shovels" (spoons), "greens" (salad), and "farm fresh fruit" (assorted fruits ie watermelon, etc.), and "pig tail pasta salad" (tuna salad). 

I picked up a majority of my supplies from Birthdayexpress.com online as well as Party city and the dollar store. All in all it was an awesome time! I honestly wish I would have had someone helping me along with Max's first birthday, so here are a few tips I have for anyone embarking on their first "bash" for their child!

1. Pinterest that ish!!!
Start Pinteresting a couple of months before the birthday and get an idea of your theme. There are soo many ideas on there and let your child lead the way! If they're older, you can let them pick or at least help you narrow your ideas down. For 1st birthdays, its a little more fun because mom gets to lead the way because they can't talk yet ;) 

2. ETSY THAT ISH!! 
Ok guys, once you get your ideas down, check out etsy. Order your child's birthday outfit {yes, birthday outfit. its a "thing" now. just do it. } early incase it doesn't fit, you don't like it, it gets lost in the mail...whatever. Order it, and check it off the list. I also found some awesome things on etsy like Invites. Last year I just got the pdf and went and printed them out. I would totally not do that again and save money elsewhere. It was freaking awesome having them delivered to my house and not having to deal with either lugging my kids to kinkos to print them, or spending probably the same amount of money with hiring a babysitter just to get them printed out! Its just one less thing to do. I guess if you have a great printer you could do it at home but clearly that is not me. You can also find random things on etsy to enhance your party- for example I got farm theme water bottle stickers (see below) for really reasonable prices as well on etsy. 

3. Order supplies early: 
Like I said, I used birthdayexpress.com. They were great and the prices were decent with free shipping. They have everything you can imagine. I do a lot of online ordering..with the two kids and working I don't get much time to get out on my own and when I'm with the boys I'd rather spend the time outside at the park.

4. DOLLAR STORE GUYS. 
yes, yes and yes. You can get kids wrapping paper, bags, treat bags (if you're doing the kid thing), bowls,big utensils, etc. ALSO BALLOONS. Ok so funny story...last year I spent the $40 on the helium tank...pumped a bunch of ballons (which took forever when I didn't have the time #thestress #omg) and they ALL BLEW AWAY IN THE WIND. I literally almost died in that moment.

That was my cue to never blow them up myself again. So anyway I found out the dollar store sells balloons and blows them up for you for a dollar. Oh. and you can call ahead and get them done in advance? sign me up. This year I bought 20 balloons, for 20 dollars. 20 dollars LESS than the stupid helium tank and I spent {zero} minutes on them. I also brought a few farm theme balloons with me I hadn't used from last year and they pumped those up for me for....yup, you guessed it. a buck! So, moral of the story is save your time and money and hit up a dollar tree. 

5. get help.

Seriously, get help. Especially if you have a baby. Babies are literally like put on earth to make you unproductive!!!!  Have someone come over the day of the party to watch said baby so you can prep. Have others make a simple side dish so you don't need to deal. Remember, It takes a village, mammas. Let's embrace that. Nobody gets a medal for doing it all on their own!! 

6. Take it all in ...and remember it is worth the work! 
After all..they're only ____ years old once #tear. 

xo

Alex

Thursday Thoughts 6/1/17

Hi everyone! Happy June! Hope you are all having an awesome {{shortened}} week! YASS to 4 day weeks! :) I had a quiet memorial day as my oldest was away with my parents at the races and hubby was away coaching. Let's talk about how EASY one kid is! I feel like I got so much done! Laundry, organizing, cleaning, down time and even some quiet time. 

I took Sebby to the grocery store, {{and because for once in my life I wasn't in a complete rush}} ALSO...sans car seat! Things will now be 83984542 times easier {and lighter} without lugging a car seat into said store. YASSSS. I grabbed some new items at the store...and I'm obsessed. First things first- the HERO bar. Literally tastes LIKE a candy bar. But isnt! Definitely try out Quest's newest amazing invention. 

Next...my husband is obsessed with ThinkThin's flavored oatmeal. I can't break away from my plain quaker oats with Peanut butter mixed in, but he SWEARS by the flavors he has tried. I guess it changes things up for him. Anyway, I was browsing at Wegmans and found ThinkThin Unwrapped Protein Bites (I chose peanut butter flavor of course). I decided to try them out. These are *awesome* when you need a quick snack..with only 170 cals, 22 g carbs for 8 pieces and 10 grams protein you can't go wrong!

Lastly. I cannot believe it has taken me so long to try Halo Top. Guys. This was so so good. I have been eating Arctic Zero the last 2 years, I can honestly say that the texture of Halo Top tastes so much more like ice cream than Arctic Zero. I snagged the vanilla and mixed it with..yes..of course PB. With only 240 cals for the entire pint..makes you feel a little less guilty for treating yourself! 

                                                                        Halo Top...definitely going to try this flavor! 

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend...xo

Alex

Pregnancy weeks 12-16: Our big scare

Wow. All I can say is the last 4 weeks has been a huge emotional rollercoaster and probably the scariest time of my life. When my OB asked me if I wanted to do the optional neo-nucal scan at the prenatal specialist at 12 weeks, I didn't think much of it because I did it with Max. For those who haven't had it before (or who have never been pregnant), they test for chromosomal issues like Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and look for other abnormalities. So I said yes. 

I showed up to the specialists office where they did the finger prick to get a blood sample. This would be sent off and would give me percentage chances of any issues with the baby within 5-7 days. Then I proceeded into the room where the ultrasound tech would scan me vaginally and externally on my stomach. Everything seemed to be looking great. I was happily texting family photos of the baby as the tech left the room to grab the dr. After a few minutes I started to wonder...why am I waiting so long? I don't remember even speaking to the dr. last time, why is this taking so long? A long 10-15 minutes went by and finally the Head Dr. came in. She told me she wanted to have a second look. Cue: Panic mode. 

I felt like I was in some sort of movie or something. Was this real? 

Heart pounding, she proceeded to show me an area that she was concerned about: the stomach and the intestines. She was worried that the baby had something called gastroschisis. Basically this is a birth defect where there is a hole in the abdominal wall and does not close. Due to this hole, the intestines are outside of the body when the baby is born. So you can probably imagine how shocked, scared, upset...I felt numb and none of it was making sense to me. I was a mess. She told me she wanted to see me back at 16 weeks but did tell me it was "highly unlikely" that the intestines would go into the stomach this "late" in development. Hearing those words crushed me. She did tell me she could not rule out omphlocele, a similar condition that is associated with other birth defects...but was much worse. But honestly I coulden't even think about that. 

The rest of the day was a daze to me...I literally could not stop crying and questioned everything I had done until this point. I just didn't understand. I am healthy, eat great, am super active-- the very little they do know about this birth defect is that some of the risk factors are women who are young (teen or early 20s...clearly not me!!), and first born (this is my second), and issues with diet (umm..hello...I'm cleaner than clean!). I spoke to my OB and he assured me that this was a sporadic event (if it was indeed the case) and there was nothing I did, or could do moving forward. He told me I could exercise, and do everything as normal while we waited. I did cut back a little bit out of fear and I added in more swimming (less impact) while I waited.

Thoughts of life in the NICU for anywhere from 4 weeks -6 months flooded my head...thoughts of how I was going to manage my little man at home missing me while I was helpless watching my baby in the hospital fight for its life...Thoughts of numerous surgeries {{some of these babies can have up to a dozen surgeries before they are 2 months old}}..it was so overwhelming.

I was beside myself as you can imagine. I know looking at the internet can be dangerous at times, but I knew I had to get more knowledge. After all, knowledge is power. Where else to get it but to find out from people who have been through it? I joined a few Facebook support groups, and got my head around the whole thing. After about a week I was ready to take this on if it was really it. I've never been one to question  the great moments or the tough moments and this was something we would have to get through as a family. 

The more research I did though, I was finding that some books/pregnancy information were saying that the intestines go into the body through the umbilical cord between 10-12 weeks while others were saying 13 weeks is when it happened. How could the specialist be SO sure that this was happening to my baby? How could she be so sure? A sliver of hope slid through me as I had my scan at week 12. Maybe my baby was just a little late and she was wrong? 

I tried to keep myself busy over the 3.5 weeks. After the first weeks feelings of shock, disbelief, worry, and just being completely so scared..to gathering info...to the last week or so where it felt as if not knowing for sure it was almost like there was nothing wrong.  

The weekend prior to the appointment I was so sick to my stomach. Like this was it. Shit's gonna get real Monday morning. No more not knowing. This is it. 

I went to the appointment and the ultrasound tech was telling me how great everything looked...but she had to wait for the final word from the Dr. The Dr. came in and confirmed that the intestines were indeed inside the body and that everything else looked great. I have never been so relieved and happy before! 

As any mother knows, seeing their child in pain is the hardest thing to ever go through. Seeing the photos of these little babies absolutely broke my heart on the support groups on Facebook. Honestly my heart goes out to the families that are dealing with this rare {but increasingly more common} birth defect. I think about those families and little fighting babies every day now. They're almost a part of me now. 

Like I said before, this was the longest, most stressful month of my life so I am so happy that MAY is here. New month, healthy baby, bring it on!! We are so blessed and grateful. For those that knew, I thank you so much for your support, thoughts, and prayers during this super difficult phase. 

Oh...and its a BOY!! {{sometimes mommas just know}}

Until next time...

xo

Week 5 (top left), Week 12 (top middle), Week 13 (top right), Week 14 (bottom left), Week 15 (bottom middle), Week 16 (bottom right). As you can see, my body is slowly changing everywhere...gains..gains..gains...Gonna have some work to do when this little guy comes out!!!! 

Weekly Roundup:

12 weeks: 

How have you been feeling? Good..until I had my appointment.
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? Cravings are slowly fading :) 
Do you have any food aversions? Not any more than the usuals
Weight gain so far? Nothing logged for this week..
Any mood swings? Yes...permanantly scared to death for my little one
Sleep: getting more uncomfortable. Stomach is no longer an option
Stretch marks: no
Clothing: Still wearing my normal gear..jeans are now becoming a challenge though. Had to unbutton mine in New York when I was out with my cousin for dinner. 
Rings: ON
Movement: none yet
Starting to show? End of the day the secrets out..ha ha. 
Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!
Random thought of the week: No random thoughts...just praying for the babe.

Sunday: 5 miles: 8:07, 8:02, 7:55, 8:05, 8:23. Should have been off but coulden't resist the 70 degree temperatures! 
Monday: lower lift
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: 4.75 miles in Central Park: 8:33, 8:09, 8:13, 8:04
Thursday: Soccer workout: 40 mins
Friday: 30 min elliptical, accessory work upper lift
Saturday: lower lift

13 weeks:

How have you been feeling? Things are sinking in..trying to get my head around all of this
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? Cravings are slowly fading :) 
Do you have any food aversions? Not any more than the usuals
Weight gain so far? +8 total
Any mood swings? In tears one minute then optimistic the next. 
Sleep: Has been tough due to thinking and worrying
Stretch marks: no
Clothing: Officially pulled out the maternity gear people! Its game time! Maternity jeans are too bid so leggings will be my go-to in this inbetween stage!
Rings: ON
Movement: none yet
Starting to show? Yes
Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!
Random thought of the week: Had my D license this week so adding to my stress levels. Yikes. Talk about pressure. Diet was horrible this week. Got some nice J Brand maternity jeans though!! 

Sunday: 30 min aqua jogging(swim)
Monday: off
Tuesday: 3.36 miles with Max in stroller: 8:49, 9:03, 9:14, 8:46. Felt so slow and tired..
Wednesday: off
Thursday: Soccer session: 45 mins
Friday: 40 min aqua jogging
Saturday: 3 miles- 8:30, 8:31, 8:33
Sunday: off

14 weeks: 

How have you been feeling? Ugh..worried, tired, stressed. Trying to be positive!
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? Cravings are slowly fading :) 
Do you have any food aversions? Not any more than the usuals
Weight gain so far? +9 pounds
Any mood swings? Yes...permanantly scared to death for my little one
Sleep: Getting a little better now
Stretch marks: no
Clothing: Sticking with leggings and a size up in all of my tops/gear. I did buy Athleta's maternity leggings and they are AMAZE you guys!
Rings: ON
Movement: none yet
Starting to show? Yes
Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!
Random thought of the week: Getting me through the last couple of weeks was the Melting Pot date I had with my friends this week...

Sunday: off
Monday: Lower lift, 45 min aqua jog
Tuesday: 3.34 miles with Max ..soo COLD!! 9:00, 9:10, 9:04, 8:48
Wednesday: off
Thursday: 45 mina aqua jog
Friday: 3 miles 8:38, 8:29, 8:23
Saturday: lower lift

15 weeks:

How have you been feeling? Getting a little nervous heading into the appointment!
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? Cravings are slowly fading :) 
Do you have any food aversions? Not any more than the usuals
Weight gain so far? +10 pounds
Any mood swings? anxious!
Sleep: sleeping is going okay considering everything. By 9:30 I'm pretty tired and need to be in the sack by 10 pm ha
Stretch marks: no
Clothing: Leggings is my go to..
Rings: ON
Movement: none yet
Starting to show? Yes
Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!
Random thought of the week: My stomach looks huge!

Sunday: off
Monday: 45 min aqua jog
Tuesday: 3 mile run with Max 8:50, 9:21, 9:24
Wednesday: lower lift
Thursday: 45 mins soccer workout
Friday: off
Saturday: 40 min aqua jog
Sunday: off

16 weeks:

How have you been feeling? So H A P P Y
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? A bottle of wine to celebrate! Too bad I can't! Ha!
Do you have any food aversions? Not any more than the usuals
Weight gain so far? +11 pounds
Any mood swings? Just elated...seriously elated!
Sleep: is amazing
Stretch marks: no
Clothing: Starting to get to that point where things really start to look bad cause I feel really big..
Rings: ON
Movement: none yet
Starting to show? Totally
Boy or girl: Its a boy!
Random thought of the week: B L E S S E D 

Sunday: Off
Monday: Lower lift
Tuesday: Soccer workout 60 mins
Wednesday: 3 miles, 8:38, 8:41, 8:42
Thursday: Soccer Workout 60 min
Friday: Upper lift, 35 min swim
Saturday: Lower lift

Pregnancy Workouts/Update: Weeks 8-12

Hi everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! Here is a little Pregnancy update of weeks 8, 9, 10 & 11. The struggle. was. so. real. So tired. But now so HAPPY to be out of that first trimester. Trying to catch up a little bit blogging as I didn't share with everyone until week 12 that we were expecting. Coming next week will be week 12, 13, 14, 15. I'll be 16 weeks on Sunday. Below you will see a photo collage. I promised myself that I would do a weekly photo. I saw a pregnant {{fit}} woman do hers in her bathing suit and it really was incredible watching how the female body transforms. Not just the stomach area-she was so lean to start and her legs, arms, stomach all gained to support the life growing inside of her.

And as amazing {{and hard}} as the whole process is, I wanted to do this to show that these changes happen to everyone, even fit mommies like me who eat pretty well and work out during pregnancy! So I'm embracing it this time around because I'm creating something special :) Please keep any comments positive especially as this mama gets bigger! 

Also coming next week is an awesome healthier option to CHICKEN WINGS..yes. Wings. Pretty sure I bleed Frank's Red hot sauce and am obsessed with it --even more so than normal during this pregnancy. So keep an eye out for next weeks posts! So yummy!! 

Enjoy and thanks for joining me on this journey...

xo

Alex

                 From top left to bottom right starting with week 5 and ending with week 12. Can definitely see a difference everywhere! 

Week 8:

How have you been feeling? So. stinking. Tired. I mean you guys. I feel like I can’t even move in the morning.

Do you have morning sickness? No

Do you have any cravings? I’m really enjoying cheese and bread at the moment. Those are two thijngs I didn’t really eat a lot of when I was leaning out …so just living a little :)

Do you have any food aversions? YES. I cannot believe that my go- to breakfast item of oatmeal mixed with peanut butter is totally turning me off! It is crazy! The smell of it makes me want to vom.

Weight gain so far? +3 pound

Any mood swings? Ask my husband. Ha ha!

 Sleep: has been amazing! Can’t get enough.

Stretch marks: no

Clothing: Still wearing my normal gear

Rings: ON

Movement: none yet

Strarting to show? No..just looks like I have a beer gut after dinner.

Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!

Random thought of the week: Everyone at my OB coulden’t stop talking about how surprised they were to see me back again - ha ha! I was a tough nugget that first 6 months when I was pregnant with M... Ha

Weekly Workout schedule:

Sunday: Had a great run. 7:57, 7:38, 7:23 and 7:18 were my mile splits.

Monday: Lower Lift

Tuesday: Soccer workout –about 45 minutes. Mostly stop and go, agility but everything at about 75-80% maximum effort. I just cruise J

Wednesday: Upper Lift

Thursday: 4.5 miles in central park.. I’m in love with that place. 8:10, 7:54, 8:04, 8:09 and 8:26 splits.

Friday: Off—tons of walking …like over 20k steps in the city

Saturday: off

 9 weeks

How have you been feeling?And the fatigue continues. Starting to get really tempted to have a nap.  And work has been super stressful so that has made it tough.

 Do you have morning sickness? No

Do you have any cravings? CARBS.  

Do you have any food aversions? Totally made a crockpot meal for the two of us this week and the smell of it…I just could not eat it. I had to make something else for myself.

Weight gain so far? +3 pounds  (same as last week)

Any mood swings? I think I’ve been pretty cool.  

Sleep: Has been great other than the fact that I wake at 4 or 5 am STARVING and need to go down stairs and eat. For those of you who have been pregnant, you know the type of hunger I’m talking about. This isn’t the kind you can brush off. This is like a never -going -back -to -sleep till I eat again.  

Stretch marks: no

Clothing: Still wearing my normal gear

Rings: ON

Movement: none yet

Starting to show? Starting to get thicker but only changes I would notice

Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!

Random thoughts this week: The pasta that I had when I went out to eat was divine. :P See above in cravings

Workouts:

Sunday: FELT AWESOME. 3 mile run and just felt so good. Like I was just cruising. 7:15, 7;20 and the last mile I totally tanked. Was breathing too hard, going uphill for almost a whole ½ mile and had to slow myself down. But I was still stoked about how I felt for a majority of the run.

Monday: Lower Lift

Tuesday: 3.34 miles with Max in the stroller. Let me just tell you how much harder of a workout this is with the running stroller!! 8:39, 8:20, 8:34, 8:26 splits. I felt tired, fatigued. Usually the day after a lower lift is pretty tough. But I got it in.

Wednesday: off

Thursday: 30 min elliptical

Friday: Lower Lift

Saturday: 3.4 mile run again with Max in the stroller. 8:36, 8:28, 8:28, 8:20 splits

10 weeks

How have you been feeling? I final caved for a minimum of 2 naps this week. When M went to sleep, so did I. Unfortunately I am only home 2-3 times a week when he naps- if I was home every day, I would probably have napped every day. Motivation this week to exercise was tough but I ALWAYS felt better after the fact {{read:more energy}} and never regret getting out there.

Do you have morning sickness?No

Do you have any cravings? Fruits and can I tell you how much I love siggis yogurt right now?

Do you have any food aversions? This week it was the crockpot rotisserie chicken that literally I had to force feed myself. Even salads I’ve had to get really creative with just to get them in my system

Weight gain so far? +2 (5 total)

Any mood swings? Feeling ok emotionally

Sleep:  Naps, night time sleep..give me more! 

Stretch marks: no

Clothing: Still wearing my normal gear

Rings: ON

Movement: none yet

Starting to show? Starting to pop out a little bit more now but definitely not “showing” 

Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!

Random thoughts: Another dr apt…does anyone else hate how they bring up “birth plans” and child labor at like week 10? C’mon Doc. Give me a little time. Legit have PTSD thinking about that ish.

Weekly Workouts:

Sunday: 6 x400m , 90 seconds each. 2 minute rest in between. (Normally I would do these at about 80-84 and at my best 72-76.)

Monday- lower lift

Tuesday- off

Wednesday-Upper lift. 15 minute interval bike ride 30 seconds “fast”, 1 min recovery/slow

Thursday:  soccer workout – 45 mins

Friday: lower lift

Saturday: 8:16, 8:20, 8:41, 8:45. Felt tired.

Week 11:

How have you been feeling? Starting to feel less tired! Hallelujah! 

Do you have morning sickness?No

Do you have any cravings?  Judging by the disgusting amount of candy I eat on Easter Sunday, I would have to say sweets? LOL.

Do you have any food aversions? None other than the usuals I’ve mentioned

Weight gain so far? +1 (6 total)

Any mood swings? Other than my eaters remorse..I think I was a happy camper

Sleep: sleeping good

Stretch marks: no

Clothing: Still wearing my normal gear

Rings: ON

Movement: none yet

Starting to show? Getting there..

Boy or girl: I’m thinking team blue right now!

Weekly workout:

Sunday: off

Monday: 4 X800s : 3:25, 3:27, 3:30, 3:30. Normally I would do these in 3-3;3:10 and at top fitness level 2:50-3 minutes. 3 min rest in between each

Tuesday:Soccer workout

Wednesday: Soccer Workout

Thursday: Upper lift

Friday: lower lift

Saturday: 4 mile run *;34, 8:35, 8:05, 8:00 and 7:58 splits. Got a second wind halfway through somehow!

Sunday: 5 mile run –should have been a day off but easter Sunday was so gorgeous. 68 and sunny…in March! So I went for it. 8:07, 8:02, 7:55, 8:05, 8:23 splits.

Until next time...

Another time around the sun: Pregnancy #2

Little nuggets first scan...Hello world!

Well here we go again! Sometimes I still can’t believe that we went through with having another after that first year with Max…I am sure some of you can relate. But somehow you forget ..well not forget…but seem to block out the child labor, 9 months of pregnancy, sleep deprivation, leaking boobs, fussy moments. And all of those really tough moments are outweighed by the smiles, giggles, hugs, kisses and first steps your baby takes. I know it sounds so cliché, but it is so true that they are so worth it! ha. 

My first pregnancy was really tough because at that point in my life it wasn’t exactly what I wanted or planned for. But I think I never really would have been “ready”. I loved my life as a pro athlete, I loved having the freedom and flexibility to do what I wanted, when I wanted, to travel, and to spend what I pleased on myself or anyone else for that matter.

And while I do miss certain parts of that life, I sit here and wonder to myself what I did with my time. Life is so much more meaningful as a parent and I think that that purpose does not necessarily take away from your work, social life and other passions, but makes you whole.

What really hit me the hardest was how I had dedicated my life, especially the last 12 years, to fulfilling my dream of becoming a pro soccer player. To see my successful season end in a injury was tough, but to find out I was pregnant just 8 weeks after that was devastating to my passion and what I had lived for up until that point.

I had planned on playing for another year and I think deep down inside I knew once I saw the line on the stick that it was the end of my playing career. I was 32, not young for a pro athlete. My responsibilities outside of what I did as an athlete I knew would probably make it virtually impossible for me to get back to the level I was at and competing day in day out.

I was a player that needed an off season of 2 training sessions per day (2-4 hours/day) of preparation to compete. I am so blessed to have played with some of the best players in the world and really cherish those moments. I think at the time you are so caught up in the moment, in performing at the top level, living your whole life based around training, under pressure, that sometimes you can’t even really enjoy it.

Max has no doubt come into our lives and changed it for the better. We are so blessed to have our healthy 22 month old and another on the way. Being a mom is definitely a big challenge, but its also the most rewarding, amazing thing you can do in life. So here's to our future family of four! 

Me, on Max's due date (June 9, 2014) after my last pregnancy run!! 

How did you find out you were pregnant?

Well..I was actually in New York the last weekend of January. I was originally supposed to fly back home on Friday night, but Philly had a huge snowstorm the week before causing my college roommates baby shower to be postponed. So I jumped at the chance to take the train from NYC to Philly and head to surprise Kacy at her sprinkle! I ended up totally surprising her (it was super hard to keep it a secret ..ha) and spent the night with her. Sunday morning I woke up and started to feel sick after breakfast. I had already taken one test and it had said negative but it was a few days before my period was due. Friday morning I had also felt sick but put that down to the stress of that days meetings in the city. When I started to to feel sick on Sunday, my period was officially 2 days late..and I thought. Ok. This is it. I could not believe it..Max was a “surprise” and this time it happened after one cycle. Honestly, I wasn’t super excited about being preggo over the summer but I kept hearing about people having difficulty getting pregnant which is why we started trying right away. 

When did you officially find out?

I took a test that Monday morning and it said pregnant!

How far along were you?

I think it was 5 weeks

How did family/friends react?
I think some were surprised..some weren’t because I had said that we were going to have another. The best reactions were from the receptionists and nurses at my OB..ha! Let's just say they were pretty surprised after seeing me throughout Max's pregnancy. 

First pregnancy symptom:

To be honest with you I did feel nauseous twice in that weekend that I found out I was pregnant but literally have not had any sickness since. So I would really say the fatigue. That was new for me. I had sleep insomnia basically my whole first trimester with Max so this all encompassing fatigue was crazy! 

What is your due date:

October 9, 2016 

Any names:

A few for girls..boys I am stumped!

For all you mama's to be to, check out some of these articles I've found: 

NY Times Article about Exercising while pregnant

Injury prevention for mother runners

And a funny..(but true) article to finish the blog off: 8 similarities of between a zombie apocalypse and having a newborn baby! 

Coming next week: Weeks 8-12! 

xo,

Alex