Due Date Disappointment

So...your due date has come and gone and you are just sitting here waiting for "WHEN IS THE BABY GOING TO COME OUT!" For 9 months you have been waiting and counting down to your DUE DATE and then BAM, it arrives and nothing happens. Plus all the other moms around you or in your online groups are all having their babies but they are only at 38 weeks. And everyone around you is super excited too and you are getting phone calls, messages and contacted by everyone and their sister, anxiously awaiting for baby to come. Asking if you have had the baby yet and when you think it is going to happen. It can be just frustrating because you just never know unless you have a scheduled induction or c-section. Only 5% of women deliver on their due date.

Worse yet, there is possibly no labor progress. I have read it from other moms and have experienced it myself. The waiting game SUCKS! Collin was 5 days late. But what made it worse for me on this pregnancy is that for the last 2 months I have had 9/23 8 pounds 3 ounces, stuck in my head. My mind just picked this date to have her early in the morning and when the date just came and went and I was still pregnant, I felt so bummed. Now sitting at 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant and still, no baby. And for the past week, I have been having on and off contractions. It is just a waiting game!

SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH DUE DATE DISAPPOINTMENT?

1. Realize that the due date is just an ESTIMATE! That the due date is flexible. Some babies need less time to bake while other want a little more. As much as I hear it  from everyone who messages me, and ugh, don't want to believe it, that the baby will come when they are ready, it is true. Without any intervention, 5% of women deliver on their due date. On Average, first time moms deliver 10 days over their due date. And second or more time moms tend to carry to 40 weeks and 3 days. Only 10% of moms will carry longer than 42 weeks. WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION.

2. Old Wives Tales to induce are truly that...OLD TALES! Dancing under the moon naked (best if full moon), bumpy car rides, pineapple. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. It all depends on if your body if "ready" for labor.

3. There are ways to try to naturally induce your labor but again, if the body isn't ready it probably won't work. 10 natural ways to induce labor:

1. Castor oil
2. Sex, sex, and more sex
3. Nipple Stimulation
4. Evening primrose oil EPO
5. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
6. Spicy Food
7. Acupuncture
8. Exercise
9. Acupressure
10. Membrane Stripping

4. RELAX! Sometimes we get so worked up that we clamp up and that goes against the natural, body trying to open to push a baby out, feeling. If you are anxious to have the baby. Have fears about labor, or birthing a baby, or even after baby comes. Talk to your partner and work them out. The process of releasing fears can actually help you go into labor. Take some time to relax and decompress. Remember that once baby comes you won't have quiet time, alone time or time to just go in the bath for an hour. You are going to be feeding, changing and taking care of a whole new baby. It is going to be a big change. Address your fears, relax and release. 

5. Turn off your computer. Unplug from social media if you have to. Don't respond to text messages. Just turn off everything and don't get frustrated with what is going on around you. The news of other moms having their babies or people contacting you can get frustrating. Again making you close up and be tight instead of releasing and being relaxed. If you get overwhelmed with people asking when baby is coming, just don't respond or just turn everything off. And the same goes for when you have the baby. If you want to have a day or 2 of no one knowing but you and your partner and just family, that's ok too. No one should get upset at you for you wanting your peace and quiet. You will post your announcement when you are ready to do so. Don't feel like you have to post the second you go into labor. Or the second the baby is born. With Collin he was in distress for the first 6 hours. We didn't post anything about having him or what he or we were going through. Only a handful of people knew he was born. And that is ok! 

Just know that it is ok to feel sad and frustrated that you are 40+ weeks pregnant. But before you know it your baby will be snuggling in your arms and your life completely changed for the better! 

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40 Weeks Workout

40 weeks pregnant and I am still rocking my workouts! I have gotten a ton of people saying how they can't believe that I am still working out, hey me too sometimes. What I have figured out is that if you want to be healthy and fit especially while pregnant that you have to CHOOSE to do it. You have to WANT IT and really do it. Would I rather sit on my couch and surf Pinterest or Facebook. HECK YEAH! But...I also did not want to gain more than 30 pounds this pregnancy. That was a huge priority on my list. So what did I do...I worked really hard and made myself workout for at least 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week. That's it. I never had to spend hours and hours at a gym. I didn't do any crazy exercises. I just continued what I was doing for as long as I could then I started modifying more, and here at the end I have been using more prenatal exercises I found on Youtube.

One of my favorite things I have access to though has been the Active Maternity workouts available only on Beachbody on Demand. There is a workout for each of the different trimesters, and even a workout for postpartum after you have been cleared by your doc! I have really enjoyed them and I would do them 2 times a week, up until this past month when I introduced COUNTRY HEAT which has been so much fun!

Check out my Highlight reel for the 3rd trimester Active Maternity Workout! You can find my other videos over at YOUTUBE!

If you are looking at still wanting to be active and fit while you are pregnant. Let me know and let's chat because I was able to have a healthy and fit plus size pregnancy and I know you can have a healthy and fit pregnancy too!

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!

BEST Stretch Mark Belly Balm- 40 Weeks Pregnant Review

Here I am at 40 weeks and still I have barely gained any new stretch marks. I know I just talked about this and it is my #2 must have item for the third trimester. I have one or 2 new marks but honestly they are only about 1 cm in length and they are being torn from a previous mark. So, I call that a win.

I have gained 26 pounds this entire pregnancy at this point. And I am currently at my heaviest I have ever been at 264 pounds. To fight against the stretch marks I assumed I would get, I took action and invested in the HONEST COMPANY ORGANIC BELLY BALM. Using it just twice a day. And that is it. I am going to continue to use it after baby comes to help tighten and tone my belly up. So...We shall see. But check out my pictures and see for yourself.
 
The bottom line. Most women out there have stretch marks. Don't look at them as a flaw but as a way to tell the story to how you are today. I gained my stretch marks because I gained weight too quickly wanting to get pregnant. I didn't care how much I ate, I just did and assumed that I would lose the weight once I got pregnant. They are a reminder that I have fought for my health for years. That I finally took back what I lost control of. I suffered an addiction to sweets and treats and sugar. And I fought so hard to get control of my life back and change how I see food and my relationship. Because of what I went through I now am the healthiest I have ever been feeling better on the inside and out than I ever have been! 

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!

Bump Update: 40 WEEKS!

HERE WE ARE! 10 months, 40 weeks. HELLO DUE DATE! I have gained 26 total so I think I rocked this healthy and fit plus size pregnancy. I was asked the other day if this is the most active I have been while pregnant. I had to think about it for a bit. With Collin I trained and ran in my first half marathon by 29 weeks. Then I did NOTHING! But with this pregnancy I  have worked out more consistently for the whole thing. Not near as many hours at a time as I did with the training but 30 minutes 4-5 days a week. So...I still think I rocked it. YOU GUYS IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND FIT PLUS SIZE PREGNANCY! 

My mom arrived on Monday, all the food has been bought and stocked up on, and teaching is done until January. All the clothing is ready, the bags are packed all we are waiting on is little miss to make her big arrival! We have had a couple of times now where both Matt and I are thinking, "Is it time?" And each time my contractions simmer down. But my body is definitely gearing up for the big day.

Total Weight Gain: Gained 26.6 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 264.3 pounds. I am now 10 pounds more than when I gave birth to Collin. And right on track to where I estimated I wanted to be at 40 weeks! HERE IS TO A HEALTHY AND FIT PLUS SIZE PREGNANCY!

Symptoms: Smaller appetite, eating smaller meals throughout the day. Having to "go" a lot since she is head down. Hard time sleeping. Waddling and lower back soreness like nothing else! CRAVING MILK! CRAVING SWEETS. Loss of mucus plug.

Baby’s Size:  Jackfruit (~19-22 inches, 7 or more pounds) What is a Jackfruit? Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world — one fruit can weigh between 10 and 100 pounds and contain hundreds of seeds that are rich in protein, potassium, calcium, and iron — all of which are important for bodily growth. (glad baby can't weight up to 100 pounds!) 

Labor Progress: As of my weekly check up appointment last Thursday I was 0-1cm dilated. Baby was at a engaged in my pelvis -1. There is still a lot of fluid between her head and the cervix so he said she was still "bouncy" But the same happened with Collin. Once my water broke he just went straight down. I was also 80% effaced. I went from basically 0%-80% in just one week! Next appointment is TOMORROW! 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts but those are tight now. I am actually running out of clothing. 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. I think I am getting some new ones or my old was are just being stretched up higher on my belly. No bright purple ones just the faded white ones. 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. 

Belly Button: Still an innie! I never had my belly button flatten out or pop out during my other 2 pregnancies. It is very close. Less than 1/4 inch which is the closest to being flat out of all 3 of my pregnancies.

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Yep, thought for sure the other day was the real deal because I was having consistent contractions for a few hours, 18 min apart mind you, but they fizzled out to nothing by 9pm.

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 still nap everyday. And I am waking up many times a night to go to the bathroom or trying to get comfy. (If you see me make a comment on FB or IG at 2am this is why!) I am still getting up at night at 11:30pm, 3:30am, 5:30 without fail. Always around 9pm for about an hour she likes to put on a show and be super active! 

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

Cravings:  MILK and SWEETS! I normally don't drink milk any more due to an intolerance I have to it but I have been craving it like nothing else. 2 8oz glasses usually. Funny thing, ice cream doesn't do the trick. It has to be straight up cold whole milk. WEIRD! The sweets is new this week. Everything at Trader Joe's with chocolate is still calling my name. Cinnamon Rolls too. Oh and veggies of course. I am loving me some veggies!

Aversions: Not this week. Everything tastes too good!

Excited About: HELLO DUE DATE! WE HAVE MADE IT! The date that every woman looks forward to and also the date that the baby is set to be EVICTED! Sadly most women go beyond their due date, and I very well could be one of them. I was 5 days late with Collin. Not sure when I will go on my own, but baby girl has been issued her eviction notice of 1 week! So, here's hoping that this is my last prenatal bump update! My mom arrived this week and it has been such a great help having her her. And yesterday was my last day teaching. All the ducks are in a row so baby girl, you can come at any time! 

Workouts: Pretty well for this week! I got in 5 days of regular workouts this past week plus some nightly walking and RUNNING to get this baby out! I'm really enjoying, COUNTRY HEAT! Although I am only doing about 3 days of it a week right now. If you are interested in joining BUSY MOM'S DANCE PARTY just click on the link to request to join and I will get in touch with you with all the details! And I am enjoying finding prenatal yoga routines online. I can't do the 21 Day fix yoga anymore. Too many modifications so I am sticking with prenatal specific ones. 

***If you want to know when I have the baby be sure to follow me over at FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM! Click the Follow button! I will be announcing there first!***

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21 Day Fix Container Tip

Hey there fixers! This post is for you! Are you new to the container system through the 21 Day Fix or the new programs released from Beachbody that come with the Nutrition Fix Containers? CONGRATS on an amazing system that has literally changed MY LIFE and how I see food and my personal relationship with food! 

How many of you had a hard time eating all of your containers in the beginning? Those little containers can be quite deceiving at first huh? They look so small and innocent, until you start to plate your meal! Then it is like "holy crow I have to eat all of that!"  I remember in the beginning that I felt like I was eating all day long. And I was. By the time I got to my mid afternoon snack I felt like I was going to explode. That feeling is normal for the first week, but it took that long to make my stomach the size it was supposed to be. I was eating way more veggies, which take up more space in your stomach then processed foods. And my body was learning to become efficient at burning the food I was eating. 

After 2 weeks now, how many of you are still having a hard time eating all of your containers? By around 2 weeks into the program you should be able to eat all of your containers. “But I’m not hungry…” That’s right. You need to be eating 5-6 small meals a day. And you should never get to that hungry feeling. Why? Because when you are eating that often and the right kinds of foods, your body will not have a blood sugar drop demanding more food to give you energy. By my second week, I felt comfortable eating all 6 meals, and everything I was eating. But I never got hungry. I thought I would blow up in weight because I never felt that hunger. And I felt like I was stuffing my face all day long, with good foods, but still, I was eating more than I ever had in my life! But the key there, was IT WAS THE FOODS THAT MY BODY NEEDED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND WORK RIGHT! My first month I lost 7 pounds! My body learned to be efficient and to burn what I was eating not storing it for later when I was starving.

TIPS TO HELP YOU EAT ALL OF YOUR CONTAINERS: 

So if you are feeling like you just can’t eat any more food by the time you hit your snack or dinner follow these tips to help you out! 

PORTION SIZES! take a look at the sizes of foods you are eating. Make sure you are following the portions exactly. 

MEASURE THEM OUT EVERY TIME IN THE BEGINNING! Secondly, try to eat and you might realize that you weren’t as full as you thought that you were and that you just weren’t hungry. Your body just never sent the signal saying, "HEY I'M HUNGRY!" 

DON'T SKIP MEALS OR CONTAINERS IF YOU CAN HELP IT! So...try eating anyways. If you are stuffed, make sure you eat your GREEN containers first, then RED...saving your yellow for last and eat as much as you can because YOU NEED CARBS, they help you burn energy fast. 

Give it a week or so more and see if you are more able to eat all of your containers. The goal is to not feel hungry but satisfied all day long so you don’t get that itch to eat “other stuff” around the office, your home or out and about!

Comment below and let us know how the container system is going for 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!