Project Fit Pregnancy: Week 38

Fact: the first 35 weeks of pregnancy were a breeze compared to the last 3. It’s really hard to explain. I’m not having many braxton hicks, or a lot of heartburn, or swelling, or anything like that. Just tired I guess. Maybe it’s all mental. Recovery time after physical activity seems to be much, much longer as well, and I think that’s a large part of the problem.

I had intended to work out three times last week, but on Thursday, which was supposed to be a workout day, I biked several miles instead. Yeah. In the middle of the day, on what must have been the hottest day of the year so far, I loaded Garrett into his “bike seat” strapped his helmet on, and rode down to join some friends for an afternoon at the creek. It was fun once we got there.

I was still determined to squat when we got home, but housework kept me busy until chore time, after which, I decided to go to bed instead. True story. I went to bed before 8:30. For a couple days after that escapade, my quads were so tired, I thought I might die (not that I would ever exaggerate).

The two workouts I ended up doing looked like this:

Tuesday:

Goblet Squat:

25 lb x 8 reps
25 lb x 8 reps
25 lb x 8 reps
25 lb x 8 reps

Romanian Deadlift:

45 lb x 6 reps
45 lb x 6 reps
45 lb x 6 reps
65 lb x 6 reps
65 lb x 6 reps
65 lb x 6 reps

Bent Over Barbell Row:

50 lb x 8 reps
50 lb x 8 reps
50 lb x 8 reps
50 lb x 8 reps

Friday:

Goblet Squat:

25 lb x 5 reps
25 lb x 5 reps
25 lb x 5 reps
25 lb x 5 reps
25 lb x 5 reps

Standing Barbell Shoulder Press (OHP):

45 lb x 5 reps
45 lb x 5 reps
55 lb x 5 reps
55 lb x 5 reps
55 lb x 5 reps
55 lb x 5 reps
55 lb x 5 reps

Romanian Deadlift:

65 lb x 5 reps
65 lb x 5 reps
65 lb x 5 reps
65 lb x 5 reps
65 lb x 5 reps

I continue to feel really lame about my workouts lately, and am finding that it’s hard to stay motivated knowing that there’s so little strength or muscle development going on at such low weights. But they are challenging, and that’s what matters. I feel like squatting has made a significant difference in pelvic floor strength – which is to say that I’ve had no problem with stress incontinence this pregnancy – so I definitely want to keep it up.

I’ve also been making a concious effort to do more walking. Partly because, after Thursday, biking was killing my legs, but also partly because I realized that I’m hardly having any braxton hicks. They really slowed down at the end with Garrett as well (odd, don’t you think?), but I thought the impact and jostling of walking, as opposed to biking, might help get things going again. I’d really like to get as much labor “prep work” done before the real thing as possible. Also, despite the baby being “way down there” (the midwife’s words) at my last check-up, I’m not certain he/she is anymore. i know that it’s all gonna fall in place and happen when and how it should (right?). I’m just getting impatient. Really impatient.

Until next time… TTFN!