Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen

Friday, August 5, 2016

August Exclusive Health & Fitness Support Group

HEY MOMS! WE NEED TO CELEBRATE BECAUSE SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION FOR MOST OF US THIS MONTH!!!! YAY!!! So what does that mean for you? A cleaner house, at least during the day right? For me...I can finally put most of my energy back into working out! So moms, if you are ready to start this school year strong and truly finish stronger THIS IS FOR YOU! 
Beginning Monday, August 8, I am starting my Back To School, Back To You themed month in my EXCLUSIVE FITNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP! It's 21 Days of getting our grove back just as the kids are getting back into their groove of going back to school. And it's not too late to order because when you do you get a FREE 30 DAY TRIAL OF BEACHBODY ON DEMAND, online streaming through your tablet, phone, computer or smart tv, of the workout within and access to over 100's of other workouts! 

The transition from summer to school can be hard. And the one person that takes the back seat is MOM! We are being pulled in so many directions, school lists, activities, new school schedules, bus schedules...you name it, you got it. But now more than ever, it is time to take care of you. GET IN THE GROOVE NOW! I promise you that if you do this now the transition will be easier.


I am a firm believer that moms should not be the last to be taken care of. We are the ones that keep the household running and you need to take care of you! ALWAYS! Per usual you must be committed to doing a workout and combining it with Shakeology to be part of this exclusive group. Why? BECAUSE I KNOW IT WORKS! Combining the two is the way you will get results! I have experienced it myself and others that I work with. IT CAN BE DONE! Plus with daily motivation, support, access to my tools and recipes, and one on one coaching with me. I know that together we can ROCK THIS SCHOOL YEAR! Are you ready to make sure you stay the priority this school session?
All you have to do is get hooked up with one of the 12 programs, including 21 DAY FIX and 21 DAY FIX EXTREME, the new COUNTRY HEAT DANCE PROGRAM and 22 MINUTE HARD CORPS, that are on special THIS MONTH (The most that has ever been offered in one month) and they all come with Shakeology to help you get your nutrition on track from the get go! You can order now and I will get in contact with you on how you can get added to the exclusive group and get access to all of my tools that I used to help me lose 20 pounds in just a few months or LET'S TALK! Send me an EMAIL, comment below or FILL OUT THIS APPLICATION and let's get you hooked up to have the best school year ever! THE TIME IS NOW TO WORK ON YOU!

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! 

Thursday, August 4, 2016

My Weekly Plus Size Fit Pregnancy Workout Routine

I know I mention it every week in my weekly bump updates but I wanted to give you the full picture into what workouts I do on a daily basis. I am currently doing 5 days a week of actual workouts. I found out early on that trying 6 was just too much and I opted to do healthy activities with my family on Saturdays instead. I do like a mix of workouts and I can't do all the 21 Day Fix approved workouts so I have come up with my own routine.

SUNDAY: 
I used to do yoga on Sundays but I am actually using  Sundays specifically as my hypnobirthing training day doing a full 2 hour session. I love the relaxation I get from it but it is the one day that I spend a whole 2 hours just listening to the entire playlist I have to help me prep and prepare for labor and birth!

MONDAY: 
21 Day Fix Yoga from Sunday to Monday. I have really enjoyed yoga this time around again. It feels amazing! Most moves are modified to accommodate my growing belly. You can click here to view my modifications!
TUESDAY: 
Active Maternity Workout exclusively available on Beachbody On Demand. Loving these workouts based on trimester. Just started doing the 3rd trimester for fun!

WEDNESDAY:
21 Day Fix Pilates. I have to cut one section completely from this routine, but it is after a killer leg section so I just take a longer break. But overall, this is a great workout!

THURSDAY:
Active Maternity Workout exclusively available on Beachbody On Demand. Repeat of Tuesday.

FRIDAY: 
FREE DAY! I get to choose any workout I want to do. Lately though, I have been going back to my yoga! It just feels right!

Also on each day I try to fit in and do the Diary of a Fit Mommy Fit For Two workout, but it isn't consistent. Now that I have moved my weights to my room I think I can fit it in better. Plus we are trying to get in a nightly walk with the family before we put the kids down for bed. It isn't much, because we make both boys walk the whole time but we are up to .5 miles with Collin walking the whole thing and loving it! Great way to get energy out of them at the end of the day!

SATURDAY:
Try to do a healthy activity with the boys. Run around at the park or go for a longer walk. Starting this Saturday I will be volunteering with a local woman's running group and will help with the walking group, so I will be getting in some mileage in on Saturday mornings!

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, August 3, 2016

Bump Update: 33 Weeks

Happy 33 weeks! Things are just flying along aren't they! The big news this week is the BRAXTON HICKS contractions that I am feeling. It is kind of crazy. Going up the stairs I get a small one. Exercising I get a small one. Walking around I get a small one. They are becoming way more frequent now which I think is odd because I have done this having a baby thing a few times already! But I guess my body wants more practice. Practice makes better that is for sure. 
SPD. Have you ever heard of that? I am going to be talking to my doc this week about it because I am pretty sure I have it. It is called: Symphysis pubis dysfunction, or SPD it means the ligaments that normally keep your pelvic bone aligned during pregnancy become too relaxed and stretchy too soon before birth (as delivery nears, things are supposed to start loosening up). This, in turn, can make the pelvic joint — aka the symphysis pubis — unstable, causing some pretty strange sensations and sometimes pelvic pain. I am going to do a blog post about this soon though, after I talk with my doc and confirm my suspicions, but doing certain things cause me to have intense pain in my pelvis almost like it is being ripped in two. Like standing on one leg when getting my pants on, or doing split squats. I have to be perfectly balanced when I do exercises otherwise if I am just off a little I get this feeling that my bones are just going to rip in half! NOT FUN at all! Check back later for a post on it and all! I have had to modify my workouts a little more than usual because of the pain.
HOW CUTE ARE THESE!?! I had so much fun going shopping for newborn clothing. This is the FIRST set of newborn clothing that I have bought. Everything else I have is 6 months and older. But I was on a special mission by my mom and well, it was kind of fun. OVERWHELMING...but fun. Everything is just so pink, and I was trying so hard to avoid pink! both outfits have sparkle, that seems to be my new fave thing for her! 
Total Weight Gain: Gained 20 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 257.7 pounds. 

Symptoms: Heartburn. Heartburn is back in full force, despite what time we eat now. Mostly at night, I am sitting up for at least an hour. Peeing a ton! I am up like clockwork every 2 hours at night to go to the bathroom. Really is getting me ready for nursing! I am making sure I am drinking tons of water though so I don't get dehydrated. My new rule, after every time I go to the bathroom I drink more water.
Baby’s Size: Honeydew Melon (~19 inches inches, 4.5 pounds)
Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts but those are starting to get tight now. Wearing my new Fabletics sports bra in these pictures and LOVE THEM and the fun colors! A ton more coverage and super comfy!
Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new. I am using Honest Company belly balm right now though to help my belly stretch so I do not get any new ones. I apply it at night and right after I get out of the shower. After the shower I actually don't have to apply as much! 

Belly Button: Innie! I never had my belly button flatten out or pop out during my other 2 pregnancies, but this might be the one that I do! 

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Yep, I'm starting to feel them a lot more now. Just a few every day. Before this past week, I generally only got them when working out as just a reminder to slow down a little bit (about 2 in the 30 minutes). But now I am getting them throughout the day. Including some strong ones that kind of make me stop and take a breath. It is a great reminder to sit down and drinks some water! 
Gender: GIRL!!! So excited about all the cute stuff we got for her! We have her coming home outfit and her picture props! So girly, and way too cute!
Sleep: I have to take a nap every day. Matt has been sick with a cold and kept me up at night for a couple nights. Collin is also sick and has been miserable at night. So... this momma just isn't getting the sleep she needs at night, plus pregnancy insomnia, I have a hard time getting back to sleep after I am woken up. I am still getting up at night at 11:30pm, 1:30am, and 3:30am, 5:30 without fail to use the bathroom. This week always around 9pm for about an hour where she is just going crazy! Plus I am flopping over like a fish trying to get comfy.
Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night. 
Cravings: Veggies. Are really the only thing I really have to have with my meals. I really don't have any cravings of things that "I have to have". Peanut M&M's are my go to treat. but I can only eat a little at a time. 
Aversions: Sweets taste too sweet for me, so I can only handle a little at a time. I guess that is my only aversion and kind of good!
Excited About: My next check up with the doc. on Thursday. After that I will be going every other week for a month. It is getting close! Also Mason has kindergarten camp next week so 3 days next week he is gone for half the day! CELEBRATE! This momma is so ready for school to start! I am in pure survival mode right now at home with the two boys who are going stir crazy, but with sickness, and too hot outside, we aren't getting out too much lately! Workouts: Pretty well for this week! I got in 5 days of regular workouts this past week. My regular Workouts include: 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity and Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts in daily. 
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, August 2, 2016

Tips To Strengthening Your Relationship Before & After Baby

Making a baby is HARD and it can take a toll on your relationship with your partner. Not feeling well for most of the 9 months. Body changes. Planning and prepping for new baby. Even financial stress can put a strain on your time together. But it is SOOO important that you make sure that you make time for each other. To have some quiet alone time and get out of the house together on a date. IT IS SO IMPORTANT! Matt and I are celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary next month. We have always had a minimum goal to go on a date at least once a month. We would love to be able go on a date once a week. Have we done it every month? Nope. But we sure do try. And since having our kids it has made it so hard, plus it costs money for a babysitter, but we have not regretted it one bit. Here are some helpful tips to strengthening your marriage before your new baby arrives!
1) WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO DATE YOUR SPOUSE

Because you need to rekindle that love for each other. You fell in love for a reason. After kids come around, the family dynamic changes. The kids tend to take the most attention and the partnership can get lost sometimes. But...kids leave eventually. You and your partner are in this for the long run. I firmly believe that to have a successful marriage, you have to have some quality time with your spouse. Without the kids.

2) WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? THEY NEED ME!

Yes, your kids need YOU! BOTH OF YOU! If you dedicate time each week, or at least a good portion of time once a month, the kids will get BOTH OF YOU! HAPPY and IN LOVE! Isn't that what you want them to remember? Having a strong family takes hard work and dedication to all members of the family including your partner.

3) IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE

Just get out of the house! Go for a walk, just the two of you. Go get a scoop of ice cream. Go have a picnic. Go sample tasting at Costco. Window shopping. Make sure you hold hands. Joke, kiss, enjoy your time without the kids. Try not to talk about the kids. Talk about the two of you which is so hard since so much of your life revolves around the kids, but try to talk about the two of you.

4) BUDGET YOUR DATES IN YOUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL PLANS

To make sure you can always get away, plan for it in your monthly financial budget so that there is no excuse not to be able to do it! It really is that important. For us, I set aside enough to cover a babysitter and a smaller date. And if it is a birthday month for either of us, or our anniversary we budget more to get an extra special dinner and maybe a longer time away. And don't always make it a dinner and a movie. Change it up. Movies, there is no talking. You need to talk together!

5) KID SWAP WITH OTHER PARENTS

To save money for not only you but for another couple, kid swap. One night, you watch your kids and another couple's kids while that couple goes out on a date. And then on another night, they watch your kids while you go on a date. Paying a babysitter can get expensive. And this helps not just you and your partner go on a date but another couple too! It's a win win for both of you.


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, August 1, 2016

What If?

EXCUSES! They are the WORST aren't they? They are the one thing that will make you stop what you know you should be doing. The worst one of all...WHAT IF I FAIL! You very well might fail but, you still tried and that is what counts. You more than likely learned something new about yourself too. And the next time you try you won't fail. Dyson "failed" 99 times and it wasn't until his 100th time that they finally figured it out. (I wouldn't have my awesome vacuum without all those "fails")

Let's get off the F word and just call them struggles. Every time you struggled in the past I am sure you learned something new about yourself. And that is why this is a journey. When you go on a journey you are bound to get a little lost, or turned around. You might even have to back track a little to get back on your journey. AND THAT IS OK! The fact is that you never give up, keep going, keep trying.

I'm here for you when you need me. I want you to succeed! I want you to reach your goals. I want you to love yourself! YOU ARE WORTH IT! Stop saying the F word. Stop making excuses and just do it. 30 minutes! Can you find 30 minutes today?

What are you doing to take care of you today? COMMENT BELOW! I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

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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