Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Bump Update: 20 Weeks

HAPPY HALF WAY POINT TO ME!!!!! Yay for finally being at 20 weeks! this is so exciting and HUGE for me. With 3 miscarriages under my belt, making it half way is such a huge sigh of relief. I am feeling Elyse kick so much now. Everyday, multiple times a day and often I ask Matt if he can feel her kicking. Not yet for him. We even did the remote control test. (Where you lay on your back and put a long remote controller on your belly and it should move when she does.) Well it didn't work. Not yet. I give it another 2 weeks before Matt and the kiddos can feel her moving. 

Things, pregnancy wise have been going pretty straight forward. I have the normal round ligament pain, but a little more since I pulled it in my last pregnancy with Collin. I have to be careful when I move so that I I am having Braxton Hicks Contractions already. Not regular or anything but maybe one every other day. 



Total Weight Gain: 7 pounds total weighing in at 244.4 pounds.

Symptoms: Feeling great overall. I had a bad migraine on Tuesday so that wasn't fun, but it went away after about a day. I do have some shoulder pain from sleeping on my right side. 
Baby’s Size: Mango/Banana
Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops still good to go on regular shirts, but quickly starting to get too big! 
Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new.
Gender: GIRL!!! 
Sleep: I am only waking up once a night to go to the bathroom. But started having some crazy weird dreams! Having some hip and shoulder pain from sleeping on my side. I just hate it. So I am flipping over from one side to the other a lot. 
Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night. 
Cravings: Nothing really this week. Maybe veggies and Shakeology. I have been really good about getting in my Shakeology every day!
Aversions: nothing yet
Excited About: HALF WAY TO MEETING OUR LITTLE GIRL! And feeling her kick so much more than before! That has been fun. Pretty soon Matt and the boys will be able to feel her kick from the outside.
Workouts: Got in my workouts 5 days a this past week, which is awesome! Still getting lots of massages from Matt for that. I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates specificallyCizeDiary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. Did you see my post about how my belly is different now compared to my other 2 pregnancies? Be sure to CHECK IT OUT
Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

How Different Can Pregnancies Be?

The story of my 3 different pregnancies. All pictures are at 20 weeks!

Pregnancy #1 (Mason)
I lost a ton of weight before I got pregnant with Mason. But once we got that + sign I stopped all exercise and just started eating whatever I wanted. I didn't care. I was finally pregnant after 8 years. I earned it. And I "assumed" I would lose the weight while breastfeeding. (we all know what assuming means and oh yeah, I was an a** because I did not lose 1 pound from breastfeeding!) Oh, and I gained 55 pounds making me 255 pounds day of birth!

Pregnancy #2 (Collin)
I had again lost a lot of weight through eating right following a nutritionist given plan. I had gotten into running that summer and even ran a half marathon at 29 weeks pregnant. AMAZING RIGHT! But again once I got pregnant, all I learned before went out the door and I let my comfort eating take over. And once that half marathon was over, I stopped all running and most exercise. I was tired. I was sore. I was done! And I gained a total of 20 pounds putting me to again, 254 pounds day of birth.

Pregnancy #3 (Elyse)
First time in all pregnancies that I was the heaviest starting weight. 200 with Mason, 234 with Collin and 237 with this one. But...I was determined to continue exercising (which I have) and eat right (again doing!) And have gained the LEAST amount of weight while being pregnant at this point in all 6 of my previous pregnancies (including my 3 miscarriages!) Only up 7 pounds as of today. I have more energy. I feel better. My belly is carrying differently. I am doing more strength training with cardio this time around. Really mixing it up. And only doing 30 minutes 5 days a week. AND IT SHOWS! I think I look better than I did when I was a cardio queen with Collin. (even though I am actually about 10 pounds heavier, NOW, on the scale than I was with Collin at this point) All because I am taking care of me from the inside out. Feeding my body what it needs and wants, and still allowing myself some treats WITHOUT guilt. Hoping to be at 255 at time of birth, but only time and baby will tell!

The point is, don't stop exercising. Don't just do one thing to stay healthy. To truly be healthy it takes a mindset change, a lifestyle change. A desire to change. And doing the whole package to stay healthy, pregnant or not. Doing just exercise doesn't work. Eating right only doesn't work. You have to do both exercise, and eating right along with working on you mentally for the changes to truly last and work. 

This is what it truly means to have made a lifestyle change. That I continue WANTING to do the things that make me feel better, look better, be better during any changes that occur in my life. This is what it is like to LOVE myself and to finally ACCEPT myself and it feels amazing!

Have you gone through life changes that just rocked you off your goals or health and fitness plans? What did you do? What are you willing to do to get back on them? Comment below!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Get Organized In Just 5 Days!


I had a major pregnancy/mom brain happen yesterday! I posted a picture and talked about how I HAD to get some more almond milk because I was out and I need it for my daily shake. Well, made it to the store and FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT, even though I had a list with me. Sad thing...I forgot to put it on the list in the first place! So it was like a double pregnancy brain whammy! UGH! It wasn't until I was at the second store (cause the first one didn't have everything I needed) that I remembered. I felt so silly. How could I forget something that I just thought of. And that is just the first thing I forgot to do. I have so many things I forget to do. So...I felt inspired. My FREE GROUP'S THEME WEEK is going to be about



And I want you to join us if you want to be better organized! I am in the process now of making printables, and lists of ideas for the group! It will not disappoint and I want you in there! We have so many things in our lives that distract us but we still have to be the "perfect mom" and remember everything. That ain't gonna happen...speaking of the perfect mom, have you seen the trailer for the new movie, BAD MOMS? Click the link and let me know what you think...See and I just got distracted again with what I was going to say. We all have things in our lives that WE CAN NOT FORGET and I want to help you with that. 

If you would like to join the FREE GROUP and get tips to help you be more organized in just 5 days, CLICK HERE TO JOIN! It is held through at PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP, so you have to have an active facebook page (and if you don't click on the picture that says "CLICK HERE TO JOIN" and request to join the group I might not be able to get you added). Once you sign up,  MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON THE picture to join the group to help you get STARTED NOW! Group officially begins the 23rd, but don't wait till then to sign up. You might forget about it! 


Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

How To Get The Perfect Night's Sleep

Being pregnant it is hard to get a good night sleep, let alone perfect, but I can do things to help my sleep be a little better. If you want to improve your sleep quality then check out this little chart. Think about it. Are you having a hard time sleeping but notice that you are playing on your computer right up until you turn out the lights. Might not be the best thing.I honestly do read prior to going to bed and that is what helps me go to sleep. Might not be the best but it actually knocks me out the fastest. 
(Mason taking a nap on Archer a few years ago)

My 5 Tips To A Perfect Night Sleep:

1) Listen to your body. If you are tired. Then go to sleep. Don't fight it. 

2) Pick a reasonable time to get to sleep at night. Maybe trying going to sleep 30 minutes earlier to see if you feel more rested the next day. 

3) Don't guzzle a ton of water just before bed, because you are probably going to have to get up in the middle of the night to take care of that.

4) Try meditating as you are laying in bed before you fall asleep. Think of the things you are thankful for. It can actually leave you feeling positive before you fall asleep, therefore waking up positive and ready to take on the day.

5) Do not exercise too close to when you go to sleep. Your body will be pumped and amped up too much. At least 2 hours before you go to bed, BE DONE with your workout.

6) BONUS TIP: Always kiss your spouse or partner goodnight and tell them that you love them. Never go to bed angry! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Monday, May 2, 2016

Cinco de Mayo: Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Cinco de Mayo is just a few days away! Personally we celebrate Cinco de Mayo here in the Allen household every year. It brings up back home to Arizona a little bit. So this year, why not make it even healthier and enjoy great tasting foods.

Back in the Phoenix area (Gilbert/Mesa) there is my very favorite restaurant called Rancho de Tia Rosa's. And every time I go I always get salmon tacos (even though I do not like seafood) and it topped with a mango salsa. It is AMAZING! (just like everything there) So...let's recreate it just a little bit...

I know that the salmon is marinated in a sweet marinade with honey, but the salsa topping totally covers taste of seafood for me enough that I will EAT IT! So check out this mango red pepper salsa I found that is pretty close to it. This would be great on top of chicken or salmon as tacos! Serve with brown rice with some fajita seasoning on top and some black beans too for a super healthy, yummy dinner!
MANGO RED PEPPER SALSA

Ingredients: 
2 ripe mangos, peeled and diced
1 red pepper, diced
Half red onion, chopped
3 tomatoes
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Juice of half an orange
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Cover and allow to sit in the fridge for at least one hour (overnight is better.)
Serve with chips, or on top of tacos! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 
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