If you missed my blog on first trimester fitness you can find it here:
http://www.crashintofitness.com/2016/05/first-trimester-fitness.html
Ahh, the second trimester! The time during your pregnancy when your energy levels somewhat returns, your nausea goes away (hopefully) and you aren't yet so big and uncomfortable as you will be later on in your pregnancy. Absolutely take advantage of the energy and get in some workouts!! As I said before, walking, light weights and prenatal yoga are all great workouts for those who were not regular fitness addicts before pregnancy. I have days, especially after I travel, where I feel SO tired. I really do feel better when I can get off of my sofa and get something done that day. For those who were active pre-pregnancy, definitely keep going with your workouts. Of course, you will probably need more breaks, modifications and lighter weights, but you can still go for it!
My current routine is hot yoga about 4-5 times per week and T25 about 4 times per week. Some weeks I have more energy than others so I take advantage of that energy spurt. And on those days where I'm tired, I rest. No big deal. I've learned not to beat myself up about it taking longer to get through a program. Phase 1 of T25 is supposed to last 5 weeks but it took me 7. It's ok! Something is better than nothing!
I am still sticking with the hot yoga, I just end up in child's pose a lot more often. I have also noticed that my balance is really starting to get terrible and the standing balance series is such a challenge for me. I started adding some deep stretch classes into my yoga routine. They are less intense than power yoga, and more stretching my body out. I think at some point in my third trimester I will switch to just deep stretch and prenatal yoga (I'm so lucky that my studio offers that too!). Doing so much yoga has absolutely been beneficial to me. I am still pain free, and if you follow my posts you know that I had pretty bad sciatic nerve pain during my first pregnancy. I am really hoping that I can hold any pain off for as long as possible!
For cardio I have been doing T25. This is something I switched to during my second trimester. If you are looking for a cardio workout to do, I would HIGHLY recommend T25. Shaun T, creator of Insanity, does T25 but it's a much, much less intense version of his Insanity-type workouts. The workouts are 5 days per week, 25 minutes per day. I always shrugged T25 off as too easy for me, but I decided to give it a try 7 weeks ago when I was having trouble getting motivated for longer workouts. I fell in love instantly. Each workout has an awesome modifier who makes the workouts low impact. I love it! I always follow the modifier. I just started the second phase of T25 today. That was a bit more challenging, but, again, I stuck with the modifications. I plan to do a T25 Alpha (first phase) review on the blog next, so if that's something you are interested in, check that out in a few days.
My main goals this pregnancy are to try to stay in good shape. Nothing crazy, I just don't want to have to start from absolutely zero afterward like I did last time. I'm trying to be the middle of the road between the people who do nothing during their pregnancy and those who are doing crazy CrossFit workouts at 40 weeks. So far I think I am succeeding. I'm taking it day by day and really listening to my body. I just entered my third trimester so I am really hoping I can keep up my workouts for these next 12 weeks!
If you have any questions about pregnancy fitness, feel free to reach out to me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crashintofitness or send me an email at lauren.madara@gmail.com or you can always join my totally free ongoing accountability group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/865878936823860/
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Join us!!
Join my team's February Challenge group! Dust off your old Beachbody programs or order a Challenge Pack from me. We start next Monday.
Www.beachbodycoach.com/dmblauren
Let's do this!!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Weight loss tips
Whenever I'm speaking with a friend about my post baby weight loss they always ask me how I did it. I thought I would gather together a list of tips that really helped me while going through my weight loss.
1) Drink a ton of water. The first thing I do each day after I wake up is guzzle 16 ounces of water. I do this as my coffee machine is heating up and before I make my breakfast. I drink water nonstop throughout the day. I don't go anywhere without a bottle (or two) in my purse. In addition to keeping me hydrated, it also helps keep me full and make sure that I'm not confusing thirst for hunger. I also drink a few cups of herbal tea after dinner each night. This helps keep me from snacking
2) Everything in Moderation. I don't subscribe to the idea of eating 100 percent clean 100 percent all of the time. I like pizza, burritos, craft beer and wine. I watch my portions, I try to eat healthy but I also eat that "naughty" stuff. If I restrict myself from all of that fun stuff, I tend to go overboard on the weekends. Not to mention, I'm miserable if I feel restricted. I also make sure I am actually eating. No 1,000 calorie starvation diets for me! I use my food as fuel.
3) MOVE. I love products like the Fitbit. I've been wearing mine every day since the beginning of June 2013. I compete for steps with my husband. We're both competitive people so we love to "win" with the most steps. I think a lot of people tend to scoff at walking as a form of workout, but I love going on walks with my son in his stroller for some low intensity steady state cardio. It's a great way to get outside and to burn some calories!
4) Find a program you like & stick to it. As I mentioned in my last entry, I found p90x and stuck with it. I love home workouts because it really works with my stay at home mom schedule. I also love how the leg work of planning out what to do on which days is already done for me. I just look at the schedule and push play. But no matter what you do for your program, consistency is key. You really can't expect awesome results if you are only workout sporadically. I notice the most change in my body once i have been working out around 6 times per week for 2 months. Consistency and patience!
Basically, be consistent, stay active, eat good food to fuel your body and drink your water. Nothing happens overnight so give your body some time and love and it will respond.
1) Drink a ton of water. The first thing I do each day after I wake up is guzzle 16 ounces of water. I do this as my coffee machine is heating up and before I make my breakfast. I drink water nonstop throughout the day. I don't go anywhere without a bottle (or two) in my purse. In addition to keeping me hydrated, it also helps keep me full and make sure that I'm not confusing thirst for hunger. I also drink a few cups of herbal tea after dinner each night. This helps keep me from snacking
2) Everything in Moderation. I don't subscribe to the idea of eating 100 percent clean 100 percent all of the time. I like pizza, burritos, craft beer and wine. I watch my portions, I try to eat healthy but I also eat that "naughty" stuff. If I restrict myself from all of that fun stuff, I tend to go overboard on the weekends. Not to mention, I'm miserable if I feel restricted. I also make sure I am actually eating. No 1,000 calorie starvation diets for me! I use my food as fuel.
3) MOVE. I love products like the Fitbit. I've been wearing mine every day since the beginning of June 2013. I compete for steps with my husband. We're both competitive people so we love to "win" with the most steps. I think a lot of people tend to scoff at walking as a form of workout, but I love going on walks with my son in his stroller for some low intensity steady state cardio. It's a great way to get outside and to burn some calories!
4) Find a program you like & stick to it. As I mentioned in my last entry, I found p90x and stuck with it. I love home workouts because it really works with my stay at home mom schedule. I also love how the leg work of planning out what to do on which days is already done for me. I just look at the schedule and push play. But no matter what you do for your program, consistency is key. You really can't expect awesome results if you are only workout sporadically. I notice the most change in my body once i have been working out around 6 times per week for 2 months. Consistency and patience!
Basically, be consistent, stay active, eat good food to fuel your body and drink your water. Nothing happens overnight so give your body some time and love and it will respond.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
An Introduction
Hi! Welcome to my blog! I decided to start a health/fitness/lifestyle blog because I am very passionate about fitness and want to share that passion with others.
Growing up I was always fit, thin and active in sports. I had always loved running and in 2010 I discovered p90x. It was love at first workout. I did p90x on and off again for 2 years and also dabbled in other Beachbody programs such as Turbofire and Insanity. I was in good shape, even though I may have been a tad on the too skinny side.
When I got pregnant with my son in 2012, I was HUNGRY! Seriously, I could not get enough to eat. Despite the fact that I remained active throughout my pregnancy, walking everywhere, doing Turbofire and prenatal yoga, I still gained 67lbs!! I didn't really matter whether I ate salads or burritos, I still packed on the weight each week.
After delivery I had a complication that landed me in physical therapy for months and made it so I am unable to run or do sit-ups. My son was born at the end of May 2013 and that summer I stuck to walks and using the elliptical machine. At 3 months postpartum I started using 5lb weights once a week to do some light lifting and I did some light body weight lower body work once a week as well. Remember, I was in physical therapy so my main goal was to heal my body and do my PT work. I only added light weights when I got my PT's OK.
At 5 months postpartum I was cleared to really get into my workouts. I decided to go back to my trusty p90x. Of course, I was very out of shape and had to modify a lot. I didn't even do the plyometric or ab workout at all. I did doubles, doing Turbofire workouts as my extra cardio on resistance day.
Once I completed p90x, I decided to try the new program p90x3, which was like p90x but only 30 minutes per day. I did 2 rounds of doubles of p90x3. I actually love that program more than p90x (if that's possible!). 30 minutes a day worked really well with my stay at home mom schedule.
By the time I had finished x3 I had lost my baby weight. I decided to do a round of the graduate program, p90x2 to try to gain muscle. I'm currently doing another round of p90x and working to build muscle (especially my booty!) I actually still modify a lot and still skip the ab workout. I do, however, do the plyometric workout, I just don't actually jump but treat it as a body weight leg day. I also recently started to add in 21 Day Fix workouts into my schedule too. They are only 30 minutes so they are "easy" for me to tack on to my current workout schedule.
As you can see, I have a real passion about these programs and about fitness in general. I think it's important for me to provide a good roll model for my son and to also carve out the time to take care of myself!! I want this blog to chronicle my workouts, provide tips and tricks to other people looking to lose weight, and also have the occasional recipe (I am obsessed with my crock pot!).
I thought I would also give you guys my before/after pics so you can see that I am real. In the photo on the left I was probably 157lbs before p90x (after having lost the initial 25 lbs). On the right I am around 118, after 1 round of p90x, 2 rounds of p90x3 and 1 round of p90x2.
I look forward to sharing my fitness journey with you all. Please contact me if you have any questions!!
Lauren
Growing up I was always fit, thin and active in sports. I had always loved running and in 2010 I discovered p90x. It was love at first workout. I did p90x on and off again for 2 years and also dabbled in other Beachbody programs such as Turbofire and Insanity. I was in good shape, even though I may have been a tad on the too skinny side.
When I got pregnant with my son in 2012, I was HUNGRY! Seriously, I could not get enough to eat. Despite the fact that I remained active throughout my pregnancy, walking everywhere, doing Turbofire and prenatal yoga, I still gained 67lbs!! I didn't really matter whether I ate salads or burritos, I still packed on the weight each week.
After delivery I had a complication that landed me in physical therapy for months and made it so I am unable to run or do sit-ups. My son was born at the end of May 2013 and that summer I stuck to walks and using the elliptical machine. At 3 months postpartum I started using 5lb weights once a week to do some light lifting and I did some light body weight lower body work once a week as well. Remember, I was in physical therapy so my main goal was to heal my body and do my PT work. I only added light weights when I got my PT's OK.
At 5 months postpartum I was cleared to really get into my workouts. I decided to go back to my trusty p90x. Of course, I was very out of shape and had to modify a lot. I didn't even do the plyometric or ab workout at all. I did doubles, doing Turbofire workouts as my extra cardio on resistance day.
Once I completed p90x, I decided to try the new program p90x3, which was like p90x but only 30 minutes per day. I did 2 rounds of doubles of p90x3. I actually love that program more than p90x (if that's possible!). 30 minutes a day worked really well with my stay at home mom schedule.
By the time I had finished x3 I had lost my baby weight. I decided to do a round of the graduate program, p90x2 to try to gain muscle. I'm currently doing another round of p90x and working to build muscle (especially my booty!) I actually still modify a lot and still skip the ab workout. I do, however, do the plyometric workout, I just don't actually jump but treat it as a body weight leg day. I also recently started to add in 21 Day Fix workouts into my schedule too. They are only 30 minutes so they are "easy" for me to tack on to my current workout schedule.
As you can see, I have a real passion about these programs and about fitness in general. I think it's important for me to provide a good roll model for my son and to also carve out the time to take care of myself!! I want this blog to chronicle my workouts, provide tips and tricks to other people looking to lose weight, and also have the occasional recipe (I am obsessed with my crock pot!).
I thought I would also give you guys my before/after pics so you can see that I am real. In the photo on the left I was probably 157lbs before p90x (after having lost the initial 25 lbs). On the right I am around 118, after 1 round of p90x, 2 rounds of p90x3 and 1 round of p90x2.
Lauren
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