So…. it really rained the last day of Camp 5. That did not stop these women from showing up for a strong finish. Awesome job on the mile ladies! I was proud to stand in the rain and call out those great times! We missed the rest of you who didn’t come the last day. We wish you were in this picture too. I guess you’ll have to come back again this summer ! Alexis and I both hope to see you all again soon. Some of you tomorrow!
Rainy Day Runners
We want to thank each and every one of you who sold tickets and/or bought a raffle ticket to help benefit the American Heart Association. As we embarked on the Heart Walk on May 2nd, we were able to donate over $1000!!! Thank you also to those who walked with us and made personal donations. This is an annual event and we hope to see you all next year!
Watch us on City Vibes Metro on Charter TV3, this Thursday, May 7th at 9:30pm for some great exercise tips. Have to be in bed early to get up for camp? Watch it on Charter on Demand.
Half way there!
For those of you who have been to camp, you’ve heard that before. I know how you feel. I’m two weeks away from my third trimester. For the most part, I’ve been feeling well, but there are days when it feels like I’ll never make it to “cool down.”
The best advice I can give and try to take is to “listen to your body.” There are days when I feel like I can do it all…go to work, get a workout in, play with my two year old, clean, make a home cooked meal and serve it with a smile. (Ok, my husband just read that and laughed…hmm.) Although they seem like they are few and far between they do occasionally happen. So when I can barely find the energy to brush my teeth the next morning, I need to force myself to get my priorities straight. Here are my top ten…feel free to submit them to Letterman, just let me know when they’re on so I can set my DVR…
You guessed it, my workout clothes are fitting tighter. Baby #2 is on the way for the Rougas-Ermilio family. Break out the stretchy pants, the warm blueberry muffins for breakfast, pizza for lunch, pasta for supper and a brownie sundae for dessert because I’m eating for two! Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? According to my adoring father, “it’s ok because you’re supposed to give a pregnant woman anything she wants”. Hmm…
In reality, “Eating for two” is really only consuming an extra three hundred calories per day. As my nurse said at our first doctor’s visit, “it’s as simple as eating a few extra servings of veggies per day”. Who the heck craves veggies? I do have a sweet tooth, brownie sundaes being one of my favorites, but I have to keep in mind that I am not just feeding myself. I am nourishing my baby. It’s therefore my first priority to provide him/her with the best foods by continuing to eat healthy meals that include proteins, carbs and some fat and to continue eating several times throughout the day.
Not only will these habits be good for the baby’s growth but it will help me throughout my pregnancy. My weight gain will be in line with what’s recommended by my doctor, I will be able to avoid heartburn and won’t regret eating all of those M&M’s when it comes time to break a sweat and shed the baby weight.
I’m sure I will occasionally listen to my Dad and succumb to some cravings but I think my sister had a better interpretation of his advice…so off to the mall to buy that cute necklace that will hopefully detract attention from my growing baby belly!
Are you in the process of making life changes? Have you made a commitment to your health and fitness? Are you impacting those around you?
Over the next few months, we will be collecting and adding your stories to our new website. We are very excited about being able to offer you more information, programs and online interaction. We want YOU to be one of our highlighted women, so send us your stories by replying to this blog or emailing us.
Celebrate Your Success! You’re Worth It!
Institute Park is across Salisbury Street from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. We normally meet at the tennis courts in the center of the park at the beginning of camp. Please check the announcements or the home page for weather related changes. Our alternate location in the event of inclement weather is the Phelan Center at Blessed Sacrament Church.
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The Phelan Center is located at Blessed Sacrament Church on Pleasant Street in Worcester. We meet here in extreme weather and during the winter camps. Please check the annoucements or the home page during inclement weather to see if we’re meeting inside at the Phelan Center.
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Later……Okay, not as sexy as it sounds. That’s how long it’s been since I had my son, Noah. Being a Fitness Coach, I
thought I was going to bounce back right into my old jeans by Christmas. I mean, I didn’t expect to be unrealistic and wear them home from the hospital as I’ve heard stories from some women I know, who shall remain nameless to protect them from the countless women who will never again wear those jeans. I am also human, and life happened.
Let me back up briefly. While I was pregnant, I said I would blog about the realities of life changes and getting your life back after having a baby. I know I am not the first woman to have a child. I also will not be the first to lose her pregnancy weight. (Notice I am being positive.) If you know my story, I struggled with weight my whole life and made significant life changes to get healthy and fit. Now, I find myself with a similar challenge but for different reasons.
This first entry will be longer than most and then I will post more often. I will recap the last 9 and ½ weeks as concisely as possible.
Noah Robert Hedlund was born on October, 15 at 8: 20pm after almost 24 of labor (after my water broke). Everyone talks about labor pain and no one talks about the after pain! YOWZA!!! We left the hospital a few days late. Nothing major, both Mommy and Baby were healthy at release. That aside, Noah and I struggled with feeding once we got home. We shortly had to give up our ideals for breast-feeding and formula prevailed. Our home became a much happier place for all.
How does a little person create so much laundry? I still ask this question…among others, but I digress. The first few weeks home as much as I enjoyed my little guy, as the late afternoon approached, I would count the hours until my husband would be home to have a helping hand and adult conversation. It amazed me how I was frantically busy, utterly unproductive and completely exhausted all at the same time. Yet, I was completely and undoubtedly in love with my bundle of joy.
My grandmother was admitted to the hospital the day we were discharged. She was released and admitted again on Thanksgiving morning. She passed away on December 4, 2008. Within a few months, I gave birth to my son and was in the room with my grandmother as she passed away. Two of the most emotional days, both high and low, of my life within 6 weeks of one another…..
So….I haven’t been 100% on track with my own health and fitness. My grandmother’s passing and the holidays took a bulk of time and energy from my entire family. I know I always get on people for making excuses. But, I can’t relive it. I didn’t eat because of my circumstances. I credit myself for that, because the old me would have done just that. I had arrangements for my grandmother to make and still had Christmas shopping and preparations that fell behind and an infant to work around. What can I say? Excuses? Maybe….
I can say that I have been eating well, but not exercising too much. Did I mention that I gained about 50 pounds with my pregnancy!!! Yeah…..but for my family, that’s the low end. I didn’t luck out in the pregnancy genetics department. I didn’t look it, but it was somewhere. Even my doctor was shocked at the scale based on my appearance. I have about
20 to lose still and I have to start working out. I’m working out a schedule with my husband and I also got back to racquetball (and won!)
Look, I’m gonna’ kick my own butt, like I would anyone else’s. I’m also gonna’ trip a few times along the way probably. But, I will get there. I deserve it and my Noah deserves a happy and healthy Mommy. I am sharing my story with you, because I think you deserve to know an honest perspective about getting there in real time.
