January 2009 training summary

Well, January is rolling to a close. I've heard a lot of rumblings about winter being half-over. Almost, anyway. I don't dispute that the days are getting longer & the sun seems to be getting stronger. But it's still awfully cold out.

So the first month of 2009 resulted in a weight gain of 4 pounds for me (right on schedule for a pregnant lady). I spent about 10 hours exercising (592 minutes); my average heart rate over that time spent exercising was 150 beats per minute (not bad, as I'm running at about 120 just getting dressed - it's a struggle with the belly). I burned approximately 5,600 calories - almost 3 full days worth of eating. All exercise combined, I "moved" a total of about 47.6 miles, which includes the the stationary bike work outs, snow shoeing, XC skiing, and swimming. For some reason, I didn't bother to record the elliptical distances, which is really annoying.

It doesn't sound like much, I know. I spent half the month doubting my own body, and trying to balance the whole "exercise = 10 minutes of walking a day" crap they feed you when you're pregnant, and the drive to actually DO something. But after talking with my doctor late last week, and seeing that what exercise I have done has not in any way harmed the baby (and in many ways has helped it), I do plan on just plain listening to my body from here on out. Which is what I should have been doing all along. Live and learn. When I need to take a break, I will. When I need to stop, I will. When I need to nap, I will. And when I need to eat, I will (but not crap). It's not rocket science.

The doctor encouraged me to exercise up to exhaustion (but not pushing through it) right up until delivery. Unless something comes up, I'm just going to trust her on that. I think I'm tuned in enough to know when something is amiss in my body. I have an amazingly active baby in my belly, and I'm just going to assume that means it's joining in joyfully.

Next up: February. I'm hoping for some more good snow - it's all icy out right, and isn't good for much other than ice skating - not something I'm good at, and not something I could safely do right now even if I wanted to. The risk of falling is too great.