Bump Update: 22 Weeks

Happy 22 weeks! All I kept thinking this week was being further along than I was and just enjoying this pregnancy. I don't know why I trying to speed up this pregnancy, but mentally I am! 

Also this past week I have had the STRONGEST desire to GET THINGS DONE! To painting a lot of my house, finishing/catching up on baby books, and deep cleaning. I know that if I don't do this NOW that it won't get done. So nesting has set in like crazy for me. Which I am okay with. I don't mind it so much but just trying to fit it in my busy day is hard! But I am getting things done. I finished up 3 baby books, and deep cleaned our glass shower doors. But many other things to do! 

Total Weight Gain: 8 pounds total weighing in at 245.7 pounds.

Symptoms: I had some sickness Tuesday night through Wednesday. But I think that was more food related that pregnancy related! 

Baby’s Size: Spaghetti squash

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts.

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! I am flipping over from one side to the other a lot, but often times I end up on my back. 

Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night. 

Cravings: CARBS! Big time. This is the first time where I just want to eat carbs, breads, pasta and goodies all day long! I have been fighting it and eating the good carbs instead, but I still have that nagging feeling in the back of my head.

Aversions: nothing yet

Excited About: Collin's Birthday today (Thursday, May 19) and Mason's graduation ceremony on the same night. 

Workouts: Got in my workouts 3 days a this past week, which is awesome! I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates specifically, Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. 

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! 

Fruit Infused Water Recipes

I have been talking with a gal who has a really bad addiction to pop. Drinking 4-5 cans a day of mountain due or other like pops. And the thought of drinking water literally makes her gag! I used to be like that. I was drinking many cans of pop a day until one day I just decided I was done and gave it up. I drink it occasionally now but not much. A trick I am helping this gal with is basically suggesting to her not to drink any pop until she meets her water intake requirement for the time of day. Basically drinking 25 ounces of water 6 times a day (25 ounces at each meal following the meal frequency plan). She is keeping a log of how much water she drinks and if she drinks 50-75 oz by the time lunch rolls around she can have a pop after her lunch (making sure to drink 25 ounces with her lunch). But same rules apply for dinner. She needs to have her requirements first. Some days are better than others and it is a learning process for her to overcome her addiction!

This is just one way to help teach your body, yes teach your body, that it no longer wants sweetened and artificial drinks to survive but that it needs and WANTS water. 

If you want some sweetened water, flavor it with fresh fruit. Fill a pitcher with water and add some strawberries, blueberries, and fresh mint. Let sit for about an hour then enjoy! Fruit infused water!

Check out these other awesome recipes: 

Grapefruit Infused Water: 

Combine 2 parts water to 1 part club soda. Add fresh grapefruit slices and a few mint leaves. Allow to infuse for 4+ hours.

Blueberry Lemon Infused Water: 

Add fresh lemon slices and blueberries to a pitcher or carafe of water and allow to infuse for 4+ hours.

Cantaloupe Infused Water: 

Combine 2 parts water to cantaloupe, cubed. Allow to infuse for 4+ hours and add 1 part club soda.

Cucumber, Strawberry and Kiwi Infused water: 

Combine sliced whole cucumber, 1 cup sliced Strawberries and 2 sliced kiwi's to a pitcher of water. Allow to infuse for 4+hours.

Every Day May Not Be Good...But There Is Something Good In Every Day!

Guess what?!? It's raining AGAIN in central VA! We had 17 days straight of rain in the last month. Then just a few glorious days of sunshine, then today. Rain all day long. I can look at this in either 2 ways...I HATE RAIN, it sucks because we have to stay indoors and with 2 boys that is so hard. OR, I LOVE RAIN! It is watering my grass for free. Making my flowers and garden grow. And we need the rain, since we didn't get enough snow this year.

I have had really great days and really, really crappy days. But I always try to find the good in my life. My miscarriage last year, was a HORRIBLE day, but I gained an understanding that it happened for a reason. That it was better that way. As hard as it was to go through it, I not only survived but I became STRONGER because of it!

You can choose to be happy in your life or you can choose to not be. You get to make that choice. Life isn't perfect for anyone but its important to be thankful for the good that we do have in our lives.

So how are you going to look at the day today? 

What is ONE thing that is GOOD in your life today? Comment below! Let's celebrate your amazing day! 

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 NOW!

I Workout Because...

Over the years my reason to workout has changed so much. Originally it was to lose weight to get pregnant because having PCOS made me gain more weight and also difficult to lose weight. Or to lose weight for an upcoming trip with the family.

Now it is so much more. I almost died last year. I have been given a second chance to be with my family. To live a life. And darn it, I better not waste it! That means being the best that I can be. That means taking care of me everyday. That means actually working my butt off to find time to exercise and eat better ever single freaking day. I have come up with emotional and physical reasons that actually rock me to the core on why I choose to exercise and eat healthy every single day. It is so much more than just for my family but it is for me too! It is apart of me and is the main reason why I have changed my lifestyle.

Need help finding your why? Ask yourself these 5 questions!

1.  What makes you come alive?

2. What has happened in the past that made you really think you need a change?

3. How will it affect those around you if you decided to not change and if you decided to change?

4. How would you feel if you stayed the same and never felt?

5. What are you willing to do to get the results you want?

I challenge you to sit down today and think about why you want to exercise. why you want to eat better. And if it doesn't have you crying or emotional dig deeper! Now the second part of this is to WRITE IT DOWN and place it where you see it everyday! Don't just think about it, put it into action! 

Want more help in finding your why and/or achieving your goals? Let's work together. I am a virtual health and fitness motivator, support and educator. This is what I do. Through online private groups and personal emails I help people just like you rock your workouts, and balance your life to achieve your goals!  Send me an email and let's chat! 

What is your reason? 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!

Kids Photo Books

A few months ago we lost all of our photos that were stored on a backup hard drive. ALL. OF. OUR. PHOTOS. Pictures from before Mason was born, all of Collin's birth pictures. Anyways, it was an accident and I have finally accepted it. Good thing I post a lot of the pictures to Facebook and on this blog. That has helped.

Anyways I have a lot of catching up to do as I haven't made any of Collin's baby books and I still have Mason's year 2 to finish, and start year 3 and year 4. Yeah, a lot to do. I am so proud of myself. But I just finished this one so I am so happy! Check it out. Do you do special books for your kids?

 
Click here to view this photo book larger

**Update! I got a good amount of work done on Collin's 0-12 months baby book today, even with the missing photos I have been able to find lots of them. So thankful for social media! (still working on it but making progress!) 

1. 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!