If you are on twitter you may notice today some women tweet A LOT with the #mamavation hashtag. Head to this site to familiarize yourself with what the hoopla is about. In a nutshell Mamavation is the beautiful brainchild of a woman named Leah who did remarkable things in her fitness journey and is using the tools she learned along the way to develop a group of women that use their camaraderie to inspire, support, and hold each other accountable in their own fitness journeys.
I may not be a typical mamavation mom but I feel an affinity with this group of women. First of all I am not a mom yet, I am pregnant with my first. Second I am not actively trying to lose weight, once again I am pregnant so the scale should not be working in reverse for me for the next six months.
This is why I feel like I belong with this group:
- I love supportive communities and I have seen nothing but support and honest accountability with this group. They will love ya but won’t blow smoke up your butt.
- Being overweight going into my pregnancy I need to do what most of them are doing… eat sensibly, eat clean, exercise moderately. These are universal habits that all of us need to adhere to, but many of us have had challenges with.
- I am serious about my lifestyle goals and have taken many steps to achieve them along my journey, you need to be serious in your commitment to yourself to be of benefit to the rest of the community.
For more background on me I used to be a jock in college. In grad school I put on some weight but could still easily do a 5K, backpack, surf, etc. 3 years into my PhD program I was in a bad car wreck with mostly soft tissue injuries along my spine which resulted in 15 months of rehab to get my walking legs back. I still have not lost all my depression weight from that time period.
I am serious about wanting to be healthier. In 2008 I was able to return to field work hiking up to 10 hours a day at elevation in the mountains. In 2009 I wanted to regain some of my grace and flexibility and completed a 200 hour level I yoga teacher training program. I am now a certified yoga teacher and have gone on to complete a prenatal, postnatal, and fertility yoga certification. I teach at a local ashram and studios as a sub. I also cook with whole foods due to my food allergies (sugar cane, oats, coffee, and alfalfa diagnosed in 2006). If you have any questions about natural sweetener alternatives to refined sugar I really am an educated source on this topic. I am also somewhat of a slow foodie – natural, local ingredients are where I have a lot of fun.
So where am I now? I am 15 weeks pregnant. I am 6 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. I am working towards a homebirth and need to do everything I can to maximize my chances of that happening and this is where the commitment to my weight comes in. My midwife only wants me to gain 15 pounds (so I can gain 21 at this point). I generally eat nutrient-dense food but moved to simple carbs in my first trimester since they were easy to digest, but my midwife wants me back on my regular nutrient dense diet. I am food journaling for one week before my next prenatal visit with her. I am also an inconsistent exerciser who is using the snowy/icy weather as an excuse to stay indoors and be a lump on a log… which is silly since I have a road bike on a trainer stand in my living room, weights, a balance ball, and a yoga certification. I will do a 6 mile hike with ease one day and not attack my cardio for like three days. Sigh, truth is truth… that kind of consistency does not show my commitment for a homebirth.
I have the tools in my head about excellent nutrition. I have DI college athletic training as well as a yoga certification to be able to kick my own butt. I attend prenatal yoga once a week as a student and teach as well. I have a supportive husband who does not exercise himself but never makes fun of me when I do. I have advantages but do not always do the right thing. I do not hold myself accountable and the interaction with the community is part of the mamavation magic.
This preggo mama wants to see the inspiring mamavation mamas reach their fitness goals, and tag along with your motivation in the process. Thanks for letting me play so far.
Wow! I can relate to you so much! I have a Kinesiology degree and although well-educated about health and exercise science I still find it difficult to be active, eat right and maintain my weight. My 2nd daughter was delivered by a mid-wife, so I know that you'll greatly enjoy the mid-wife approach to child birth. Congrats and enjoy your pregnancy!
You are preparing yourself even now for recovering from child birth. I have a feeling that you'll bounce back within a month if you are even over your starting weight after baby is born. You are inspiration. I wish I'd know you when I was pregnant!
You know, I had my very first personal training session with Billy Blanks when I was PREGNANT! Everyone told him to take it easy on me and this is what he did. Squats…I hated them. He had me put a deck of cards along the ground, one card in front of another. I squatted picked up the card. Then squatted above the next card dropped it. Then squatted to pick it up…then squatted to pick up the second. HOLY SHIT! It's like 100 squats when you count it all up. He said that squats will help with everything. I also practiced doing it with the laundry when I did it at home. (I can't do the cards anywhere but the gym…mental block or something.) Anyways, you totally have to hook up with @mommymomo on this. She is going to get preggo soon. Ask her about it. We are organizing a preggo fitness thing and maybe you can be part of it. xxoo
i love it love it love it! Good job momma!!! Working out while preggo is not only okay, but good! Its a new passion of mine! I cant wait to chat more about this. i'm excited to have you on board with us!!!!