Hello October!

HELLO NEW MONTH! Who loves October? It is seriously one of my favorite months! The change in weather, the change in leaves. THE BEST! And as the weather is getting cooler, there is so much more opportunity for doing your exercise outside and enjoying some fresh air. Since it is the beginning of the month, don't forget.

1) GET YOUR MONTHLY WEIGHT IN: Take your beginning of the month weight TODAY, or tomorrow! BUT ASAP! Get those scales out of their hiding places and get your weight, then put them back away. Do not get in the habit of weighing yourself every day. The scale is a liar anyways and not what you want to be watching. Especially if you are doing a new workout that involves strength training. You might gain weight at first. So just weigh yourself once and be done for the month!

2) TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS: Take time to get your measurements done. THIS IS THE MONEY MAKER (as it were!) Because as women we actually will lose inches first over weight. And doesn't it feel great knowing that your tops are feeling looser for an actual reason. Seeing those numbers go down is so rewarding!

3) TAKE YOUR MONTHLY PICTURES: Set up those cameras or have your spouse or partner take them for you. This is where you are actually going to SEE the difference and seeing is believing right!?! Make sure you get those pictures taken, even if no one will ever see them. You will and they are great to compare from month to month to show, "HEY I really am losing weight!"

4) SET YOUR GOALS: the last thing you want to do, and it is a BIGGIE, is to decide what your daily, weekly and monthly goals are. Write them down and put them where you can see them everyday. Your mirror in your bathroom is a perfect place to remind you everyday to work hard to reach your goals so you don't give into those temptations around you.

You are worth all this hard work and I know that as you continue to trust your program. Follow the food and nutrition guide that you will get results. These programs really do work but it all has to be done together.

If you don't know where to start on your weight loss journey, I would love for you to join me. And since I have this postpartum weight to lose, we WILL be doing it together! Send me an EMAIL to chat and let's get you started today on your journey!

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!

Welcome Baby Elyse

Just wanted to give you all a little announcement! Elyse Cheyenne was born Thursday at 1:01pm. She is 7 pounds 5 ounces and 19.5 inches long. I had quite the birth experience which I will be sharing with you all very soon but wanted to give you an update! Welcome to the world little Elyse!

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!

#1 Tip For A Healthy Pregnancy

MOVE YOUR BODY MORE AND EAT THE FOODS YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE EATING! 

Hey moms! CONGRATS on your pregnancy. You have an amazing journey in front of you. The next 9 months are going to be super slow but also fly by faster than anything you ever thought possible. Trust me, I know. I am currently 40 weeks and 6 days pregnant. Just waiting for our little girl to decide that she is ready to come out! Yes, I am overdue by almost one week. Thankfully, I am scheduled for an induction tomorrow because I AM READY to meet our sweet little Elyse!

Looking at the next 9 months you have heard all the stories from your friends about how much they went through while pregnant and even how much they gained while pregnant and you are determined to do better. I want you to know that IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTROL YOUR WEIGHT GAIN WHILE PREGNANT. I have proven it! I have had a fit and healthy plus size pregnancy! 

This is my 3rd full term pregnancy, (my 6th pregnancy total). With my first, I didn't exercise, or rarely did, and ate whatever I wanted because I WAS FINALLY PREGNANT after 8 years of TRYING AND FERTILITY TREATMENTS! And I KNEW that I would lose all the baby weight I gained just from breastfeeding because all of my friends did and my sister in law, wow she lost 75 pounds just from breastfeeding. Well, I was wrong! I gained 55 pounds with Mason. I weighed a total of 255 pounds. The day after I had him I was down 16 pounds and there I stayed for 10 months until I seriously made changes to what I ate, then I started to lose weight.

With #2, Collin, I was determined to not gain as much. I had gone through two miscarriages at that point and had gained some weight back from after losing it with Mason. I was starting out 27 pounds heavier with #2 than with #1 (food became my comfort during my miscarriages). Just before I got pregnant though, I started exercising again, and running in races, and even signed up for my first half marathon. And I always said, "Come hell or high water, pregnant or not, I am running that half marathon!" So just after my 4th race I found out I was pregnant with Collin. I continued running and training for my half marathon and completed it at 29 weeks pregnant. Then stopped running at 30 weeks because I WAS DONE! TIRED! I ended my pregnancy with Collin at the EXACT same weight I had given birth to Mason. And the day after I had him I again lost 16 pounds and was stuck at 239 for forever. 

After yet another devastating miscarriage at 14 weeks along that almost took my life, battle with deep depression I again was back at my 255 pounds. And then I found my answer. I finally found a program that incorporated only 30 minutes of exercise but the most important thing...IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOOK AT FOOD IN A WHOLE NEW WAY! No more cutting calories, no more restricting food groups. NO MORE Denying me sweets and treats. I finally found the key that worked for me. I lost 20 pounds in just 5 months. And then I got pregnant again! I was determined to continue eating the same way through my pregnancy and still exercise only 30 minutes 5 days a week. Now at the end of my pregnancy I have only gained 26 pounds. Less than both pregnancies. Even though I am ending 9 pounds heavier at 264. I have worked really hard to control my weight gain. Keep it steady and this is how! 

MY #1 TIP TO HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY IS ALL MOVING YOUR BODY AND CONTROLLING THOSE CRAVINGS! 

GONE are the days of eating for 2. Or eating whatever sweets your heart desires. With so many processed foods and chemicals found in most boxed foods, and our favorite sweets, it is just better in the end to just SAY NO! And feed yourself the good stuff your body wants and needs. And here is the crazy thing.

When you are feeding your body what it needs, you won't want the sweets and treats!

I am feeding my body 6 cups of veggies a day, Protein, fruits, carbs (yes even carbs!), and healthy fats.

The key is to EAT WHOLE FOODS and just say no to sweets every day, occasionally, it's okay. If you want more information about the plan that I followed to help me eat the right amount of foods,
 CHECK IT OUT HERE. What you'll get: year membership with access to over 600 separate workouts, including an entire portal just for ACTIVE MATERNITY! Meal plans, recipes, healthy cooking shows, trainer tips and ME as your coach and mentor and virtual personal trainer! I promise you, I wouldn't share this if it didn't work for me.

26 pounds. I have only gained 26 pounds this pregnancy. I feel great. I have stayed active and I know that I will lose the weight after I have Elyse because I finally found the one thing that actually makes sense to me. That actually makes it fun. AND IS SO EASY TO FOLLOW AND MOMMY PROOF! I would love to help you have a safe, healthy and fit pregnancy. 

** Check out my 1 week postpartum bump (or lack thereof) update! CLICK HERE! 

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: 41 Weeks!

41 WEEKS! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE READY! Today is the day of my induction. Later today we will be meeting our little girl! HOW EXCITING! Kinda freaky because our lives are about to change and have a whole ton of pink in it but very exciting! Many times this past week, we thought she was coming. Matt says my engine was just getting revved up. But it has been exhausting. Contractions are EXHAUSTING! I generally contract late at night, go to sleep and sleep till I have to wake up and go to the bathroom, and then start contracting in the morning. But they never lead to anywhere. Oh well!

We have been having a fun week with Gummy here (my mom) The boys love her. And playing pillow fights with her. It has just been really great having her here. Sad that it is taking so long for Elyse to get here, which means less snuggle time for Gummy but it has still been fun for the boys! 

By the time you finish reading this, the induction should be underway. And by the end of the day we should have a baby. If you want to be one of the first to know how things are going make sure you are following me on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM! 

***UPDATE!*** So my induction was bumped from today. They overbooked the L&D and had my due date written down wrong (as the 27th) so they thought this was an elective induction not a medically necessary induction. I am now scheduled again to be induced starting tomorrow morning. The doc did have me come in where he did do a pretty aggressive membrane sweep and is hoping I go sometime tonight after that. I am currently 4cm dilated. And her head was right there. He actually was bobbing her up and down to strip me more. Felt very weird! So...tomorrow might be the day, unless I get bumped again.

Total Weight Gain: Gained 26.8 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 264.6 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, BIG TIME. I thought I lost it before, nope, Saturday, I am positive I lost it.

Baby’s Size:  Jackfruit (~19-22 inches, 8 or more pounds) 

Labor Progress: As of my weekly check up appointment last Thursday I was 80% effaced,  3 cm dilated and Elyse was engaged in my pelvis -1 to 0 station. 

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! Won't be flat or an outtie. :( 

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Yep, thought for sure many times this past week that it was the real deal because I was having consistent contractions for a few hours, 10 min apart then 5 minutes apart then they stopped. So sad.

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:  Napping is required everyday. Especially with all the walking I have been doing. 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! I am just getting so full very quickly

Excited About: Being induced tomorrow. We finally get to meet this little girl that we have been waiting for, for years!

Workouts: Pretty well for this week! I got in 6 days of regular workouts this past week plus some nightly walking and RUNNING to get this baby out! I'm didn't do any  COUNTRY HEAT! (so sore in my pelvis to shake it!) And I am enjoying finding prenatal yoga routines online.

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

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!

Labor Inducing Lemon Cupcakes

Charlottesville folklore has it that if you eat these Lemon Drop Cupcakes at Cappellino's Crazy Cakes you will go into labor 24-48 hours later. Well. Cappellino's closed down a couple of years ago. So I did a quick Google search and found a homemade recipe that insured labor would start after eating these cupcakes. (I later found out that the cupcakes can still be found in town but at another location.) Yesterday I went to work in my kitchen and whipped up a HUGE batch of these cupcakes. They make 24. The breakdown of the lemony goodness is, lemon cake, with lemon syrup, with lemon glaze, and lemon buttercream. The fresh lemon is what is supposed to make you go into labor. I did make some alterations to the recipe.

One thing, you all know I don't eat a lot of sweets. This is A LOT OF SUGAR! Once upon a time I would have been find eating 6 cupcakes in one siting, but not anymore. I got 4 down over the space of 4 hours. By number 3 I was ready to puke, but my friends said to eat as many as I can and then one more. So just before bed I forced down a 4th. But here I am, the morning after my cupcake binge, still pregnant. 40 weeks and 6 days. Induction is scheduled for 24 hours so one way or another this baby is coming out!

Lemon-Sugar's Labor Inducing Lemon Drop Cupcakes

Lemon Drop Cupcakes 

(Modified from Lemon-Sugar)

INGREDIENTS:

Cake Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups white sugar
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest (4-8 lemons, depending on size) I USED 9!
3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/4 fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract

Lemon Syrup Ingredients: 
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (I added an extra 2 tablespoons of juice)
1/2 cup white sugar

Glaze Ingredients:
2 cups powered sugar
31/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (I used 4 tablespoons)

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons fresh squeeze lemon juice (I used 4 tablespoons)

Optional Lemon Zest Decoration:
4 lemons, well scrubbed
2 cups sugar
1 cup cool water

DIRECTIONS: 

Cake Directions: 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare 24 cupcake tins with liners.
2. Cream the butter and sugar in bowl of stand mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, then add lemon zest.
4. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. In another bowl, combine lemon juice, buttermilk and vanilla.
6. Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture alternating to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.
7. Fill each cupcake liner 1/2-3/4 full (do not over fill, they will explode!) Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake!
8. Remove from oven and remove from cupcake pans as soon as possible. Let cool on a wire rack.
9. Begin prepping the lemon syrup.

Syrup Directions:
1. Combine sugar and lemon juice in pan over low heat until sugar has dissolved, stirring frequently. Set aside.
2. After cakes have cool for 10 minutes, spoon the syrup over the tops of the cupcakes.
3. Allow the cakes to cool completely before glazing and frosting.

Glaze Directions:
1. Combine sugar and lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whist until smooth.
2. Using the back of a spoon, smooth some glaze over the top of each cupcake. Will run a little.
3. Each cupcake will use about 3/4 teaspoon of glaze.

Buttercream directions: 
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and salt for 30 seconds.
2. Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and lemon juice and beat for 5-6 minutes until frosting is fluffy. Can add food coloring to make more yellow (I didn't because I didn't want any artificial coloring or flavors in my cupcakes.)
4. Add to piping bag and frost as desired.
5. Decorate with yellow sugar pearls, sugar, or a lemon drop candy or even a sliver of lemon zest for decoration. (again, I didn't add a topping I would go with candied lemon zest if I had thought about it more!)

Candied Lemon Zest Directions (just for fun!): 
1. Remove zest from lemons with a veggie peeler, keeping the pieces long. Remove white pith using a paring knife. Place julienned zest in a small bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand 30 minutes; drain.
2. Bring sugar and cool water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When sugar is completely dissolved, add julienned zest, reduce heat to medium low, and cook 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand overnight.

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!

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! 

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!

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!***

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!

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!