Running After Baby // Week 14

It's been a while since I've written specifically about exercise. I'm doing a lot of it, despite what the number on the scale might tell you. (But that's another post for another day!)

(Old photo alert!)

Accomplishments:

I don't think I shared my 5K time from last month's race. Obviously I wasn't in any sort of racing shape. Still, I crossed the finish in 25:15. Not too shabby for two months postpartum. That's basically 8:08/mile. My ultimate goal with the 5K is to get under 22 minutes. My PR is something like 22:03, but I know it will take a while (and lots of track workouts) to get there.

Another huge win for me was running an 8-miler two weekends ago with my running buddy Ariana. This past weekend, Stephen and I ended up getting into a fencing project at home, so I actually only ran like 3 miles on Sunday. Next weekend, though, I'd like to tackle between 9-10 miles with my friend. It felt really great to run long again.

Really great.

Goals:

In my last running after baby post, I wrote about how I planned to run a 10-mile race in November. Unfortunately, I didn't realize at the time that the date of that race conflicts with one of Stephen's cross country races. A paid gig trumps paying to run in my book. So, I don't have a race on the calendar right now.

Regardless, I'm still following Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Novice plan. I'm currently in the middle of week 5, though my long run is a bit farther than is on the plan. I'll probably just aim to increase the distance of my longest run until I reach around 13 miles, hopefully by November. I like being in half marathon shape, whether or not I plan to run for speed, because I find that distance is pretty manageable to knock out on a weekend without cutting too much into family time.

For cross-training, I do kettlebells 3x/week for about a half hour. I do Barre3 online 2x/week for about half an hour as well. I also take some walks to round things out. I do yoga to decompress at least once a week, but I'd love to find time for daily practice, even if that means just 10 minutes.

Other goals include getting a bit speedier with my general training pace. I run between 8:30-9:30 for most of my training runs. I'd love that to be more between 8-9.

Big Shift:

The biggest difference in my running these days is that I do most of it before the sun comes up. Stephen leaves for work relatively early. So, unless I set my alarm and nurse Eloise, I'm out of luck. Our treadmill is acting funky, too, so we need to get that looked at. I can usually fit in 3-5 miles in the morning, which is all I really need to do during the week.

I may even dare to say I'm enjoying being a morning runner. It's basically the only time that belongs to me during the day. It's the only time I find that I have quiet, which is important to me. So, yeah. I'm digging it. I know my body feels more sluggish in the morning. That's something I need to work on -- warming up.

Right now, I'm most excited for fall running. The leaves are already starting to change. I may drive out to the country and do some runs when the colors are wild and pretty. I love listening to the wind go through the trees and re-fueling with cider and donuts.

What are you most excited about in your fitness routine?

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Crazy Carb-Monster Me

I haven't written much about my diet post-baby. Holy hell, it's been bad. Like really, really bad by anyone's definitions. Permit me to just lay it out on the table for you . . . because admitting you have a problem is the first step. My name is Ashley, and since my second baby was born, I have been existing on mostly white bread, cookies, and all other forms of crap because I'm tried, stressed, and lazy. And eating this way is just making me feel more tired, stressed, and lazy.

Now that Eloise is almost 10 weeks old, I need to stop this craziness. I need to stop excusing my poor eating habits with the whole "but I'm breastfeeding" or whatever. You guys know that I struggle with sugar. I'd say over the last two years, I've struggled more than ever because I am an emotional eater and, well, my emotions have been put to the test over and over again.

As I've gotten older, these habits have gone from being unhealthy from a purely nutritional standpoint to worse. I'm just going to say it -- I'm at my highest weight ever. Yes, I "just" had a baby, but I was actually at my highest not-pregnant weight before I even got pregnant with Eloise. It's still a healthy weight for me, but now that I'm 10 pounds above that highest weight (which is almost 20 pounds over my before-Ada weight) . . . well, I'm starting to see the landslide effect.

I don't like to bring up matters of weight too much. And weight isn't the best indicator of health -- I know this. I've shared a few times that I had an eating disorder. I have healed from that experience for what's now been over 8 years (go me!). So, this isn't that rearing its ugly head. It's more that my metabolism is slower than ever now that I'm older. My eating habits still haven't changed despite knowing the "right" way to eat. And I plain need to stop using food as my coping mechanism. I'm 33 years old, for goodness' sake!

I am really fortunate to have access to healthy, wholesome foods. I am lucky that I enjoy cooking and creating recipes. I need to use these things to my advantage. So, I am. Of course I'd like to see the number on the scale creep lower, but that's not the whole goal. Yesterday I started what I am hoping is my last attempt at eating like an adult.

What does this mean to me?

• It's not restricting. All things in moderation, right? I will still want to eat sourdough bread. (Just maybe a piece or two versus half a loaf.) I will still want to drink champagne and have cookies from time to time. And I definitely don't want to do calorie counting on the regular. 
• It's not flavorless. I hate when I've tried dieting in the past and all the foods I make are bland and, well, the same thing a million times because I know that meal is "safe" or whatever. I want to enjoy cooking vibrant, flavorful meals. Food is one of life's pleasures, and healthy food can be really darned good. I need to remember that.
• It's not obsessive. Because I've spent lots of years of my life obsessing over the things I put into my body. Even when I started "healthy" eating, it became this weird game of having to eat only "clean" foods or feeling awful about myself.

But, yeah. It means getting over my salad aversion or actually drinking a green smoothie again. Choosing to eat the carrots instead of reaching for the potato chips for crunch (which I've become obsessed with lately for some reason). Filling up on protein even when an egg doesn't sound as good as a slice of pizza or cookie.

My body craves so much so often, but I would like to re-train it to crave nutrition. I know it's worth it. It's just going to require foresight -- planning to make things convenient. I totally see why people gain weight once kids are in the picture. Life . . . is . . . exhausting. There's hardly time to shower, and I've started working again -- so, yeah. Planning!

Is anyone else at this point with their eating right now? I think many of us -- myself included -- tend to go on bouts of being really all about the healthy foods and then cycling back to eating poorly. I give myself some grace on this matter because, yes: I did just have a baby. And, yes: I've been through a lot and my emotions have been tested. But now I am able to get back into running and can do other things to help my mood and general wellbeing. The food has to stop being the crutch.

So, here's lunch from yesterday:


A good start! It was incredibly delicious, full of healthy fats and veggies, and it was exciting to eat. It didn't even take too much time to prepare. But it was more difficult than just grabbing last night's dessert and calling it lunch. We'll see how day two goes, but I hope to check in with you guys from time to time.

Happy Monday. To new beginnings!

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Running After Baby // Week 9

Here's a topic I've wanted to write more about on the blog for a long time: Running! It seems like years since I've engaged in any sort of formal training. Or since I've had any real running goals. I am beyond ready to dive in and get my legs back.

This run was a promising start.

A photo posted by A S H L E Y // neverhomemaker (@neverhomemaker) on Aug 15, 2016 at 5:24am PDT

Two of the five miles (miles 3 and 4) were run under 8-minute pace (7:55, 7:53). Boy did I feel it today! As the mornings get slightly cooler, I can see my paces getting faster. I really don't like running in the summer sun and humidity, so I am looking forward to more runs like this one once the fall weather sets in.

Goals:

I am currently following the Hal Higdon novice 1 half marathon plan with hopes of running a 10-miler in mid-November. I don't have a pace goal at this point. I'm just looking to start my journey by getting my endurance back.

A photo posted by A S H L E Y // neverhomemaker (@neverhomemaker) on Aug 1, 2016 at 5:35am PDT

If you've followed me a long while, you know that running full marathons isn't my thing. I have trained and gotten injured too many times to want to attempt that distance anytime soon (or ever) again. So, my ultimate training goal -- long term -- is to finish a half marathon in under 1:40. I tried a few years after Ada was born and go close with something in the 1:42 range.

But that's a long way off. Right now? I'm getting ready to lace up at the start of a 5K tomorrow night. I'd love to just run under 8:30s the whole time, but I am worried I may have spent my speedy legs too soon this week. We shall see what happens. I'm more interested in getting back into the running culture in our area. I used to do Sunday long runs every week with a great group of women, and I miss that time!

Other stuff:

I'm experimenting with becoming a morning runner. I much prefer running in the evening, but Stephen's cross country schedule will end up conflicting with that. I am finding if I wake up whenever Eloise eats around 5-6 AM, that I love getting out and starting the day by sweating. I usually have to pump a bit, but it's been nice to build a little breast milk stash that way.

I have set a goal this month to start doing core exercises. I have been totally cleared and all that jazz. I do some already through Barre, but I might ask Stephen to "train" me by encouraging me to do what he has this athletes do. I'll report back progress. I'd also like to get into the groove with doing push-ups again. It's been a really long time. I can do like 10 without whining, and I used to do 50 with no problem!

Last, we live a mile from a track, so I'm hoping -- like I did after I had Ada -- to do a timed mile soon. From there, I like to track my progress and see how that mile time gets faster as the months go on. I will probably do that starting next week and go from there. My fastest mile two months postpartum last time around was 7:45.

What's on your race calendar or goals list lately? 

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Body After Baby // Week 3

You guys said you wanted to hear more about the postpartum period, both with adjusting to life with two kids and with regard to recovery. So, today I'm going to write about my recovery so far (Eloise is 3 weeks old as of yesterday), as well as some of the differences from the first time around.

You always hear that all pregnancies are different. And I've learned that this statement totally applies to recoveries as well. When I had Ada, I felt so much pain after birth. My tailbone hurt. My tear stung. I had issues with urine leakage. I generally felt blah and spent a great deal of time on the couch. I did start running (too) soon after giving birth (within a couple weeks), and I know I shouldn't have because I was still bleeding (which increased and turned bright red with activity), having a lot of pelvic pain and, yeah, leaking. Still, the exercise gave me something normal to grasp onto, so I kept it up.

This time around, I don't feel like I just have a baby. I feel, well, surprisingly normal despite carrying a little extra weight. I am thanking my lucky stars for it, too. I think two pushes versus two plus hours of pushing may be to credit for some of it. I did have tearing just as significant as I did with Ada, but it didn't/doesn't hurt and is healing well. I also stopped bleeding during week two. Instead of wanting to spend days on the couch, I've been itching to get out and about thanks to the summer weather. Movement feels good and even therapeutic.

As far as stats go, I gained a total of 24 pounds in my pregnancy, topping off at 162. Here are a couple photos from two weeks postpartum.

I lost 16 in the week or so after giving birth. I have only lost another one since. I am at 145 pounds right now. My goal is to eventually get back to 135 pounds, which is where I seem to stick after kids. Before kids I was more like 125, but I find this weight takes a ton of diet and exercise, more than I'm willing to do at this stage of life. I know it could take a while to get back to a goal weight, especially since nursing isn't some magic weight loss cure for me. I held on to 8 pounds while nursing Ada for 17 months.

I don't have any diet plans right now. I am loosely tracking what I eat, mostly to keep a log of how much protein I'm getting in each day. (I'm trying to consume at least 65 grams per day.) I struggle getting enough, so I write down what I ate and -- next to it -- I write the grams of protein. I am also trying to keep an eye on my sugar intake. I'm not limiting myself, but I have a sweet tooth that can go easily out of control. Eloise also tends to nurse right during my meals, which makes me want to grab a quick cookie instead of waiting to make a good lunch with eggs, greens, and whole grains.

I am also back exercising with no pain or incontinence issues. I know it's like TMI to keep writing that -- yes -- I leaked after Ada's birth. But it's just a reality of the postpartum period that few people talk about. This time around I haven't had any urine mishaps. My bleeding has stopped and hasn't increased with activity. And I don't have any pelvic pain. It's kind of incredible.

I know very well that my body is still healing, though, so here's a rundown of what I've been doing.

• I am sticking to slow two to three mile jogs about every other day. After Ada, despite all the issues I was having, I pushed myself to go farther and farther and didn't rest between sessions. I also wanted to get back to my paces ASAP. This time around, I don't even take a watch, but I estimate I'm running 10 minute miles. I go slow and walk whenever I feel like I just don't want to push. I also make sure to do a little walking before/after the jogging to warm up and cool down.
• I have done some Barre workouts. These feel amazing to stretch and strengthen my body. Again, I don't do anything that's over 30 minutes, and I don't do more than one type of workout per day. 
• I am also thinking of starting a yoga challenge (on YouTube) and trying to get in at least 10 minutes of stretching and relaxation each day.
• Other days, like today, I just do gentle walking. I have no races on the calendar or other reason to be in any kind of mode where I NEED to do exercise all the time.
• If at any point, I do get pain or other signs I need to step back, I will. But my midwife said to go ahead and do what feels good as it feels good.

That's how recovery is going. At least at week three. I won't be updating every single week like I did the last time around. So, maybe look for another one of these posts around week 6. I would like to run a 5K in late August. Not for time, obviously, but it's a Women's Distance Festival that I try to participate in every year. I suppose that's my current fitness goal. I look forward to updating you on how it's going!

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One Week // Postpartum

I'm just about one week out from when I delivered Eloise Joy, and I'm feeling . . . great? I'll backtrack for a moment to explain the question mark. After I delivered Ada, we stayed in the hospital 24 hours and the day we got home, this gloom set over me. I cried, a lot. Over seemingly insignificant things. I felt anxious and angry.

I wanted everyone to go away and to stop holding my baby. I sat on the couch for several weeks, not wanting to get up. I would go to my room and cry sometimes when family was over. Definitely a case of the baby blues that lasted a good three weeks.

Mood

This time? We were in the hospital 72 hours total. When we got home, I was bursting with energy. Not in an unnatural way. I was ready to see Ada and hug her tighter than I had in nine long months. I was ready to do things. I was ready (and still am!) to go places. I was just ready to resume everyday life.

I was bracing myself for some conflicted emotions after the whole journey it took to get us to this point. I am still on watch and have asked my family to please tell me ASAP if I show warning signs of PPD to encourage me to get help. I'm not going to make any grand proclamations right now -- but I'm wondering if I'll continue on this up-swing?

Physical Recovery

Maybe some of this difference has to do with my physical recovery. It, too, has been much better than the first time around. Now, I won't kid you. I tore just as severely with a quick two-push delivery as I did with Ada's grueling 2 hours. Perhaps even a bit worse. That surprised me. But I think less time overall spent pushing treated the rest of my body well. Plus, I knew more of what to expect with all the bleeding, soreness, and other issues, so it wasn't as demoralizing.

That being said, it's summer. I am looking forward to the Mega-Period ending and for everything else to return to normal.

Night Sweats

I don't think I wrote about the crazy night sweats I had after delivering Ada. They were downright awful. I'd wake for weeks just drenched. Trying to navigate breastfeeding for the first time while waking in the winter nights completely damp and chilled was terrible. I had one night of some sweating in the hospital but haven't had any sense. I do wonder how my body is ridding itself of the excess fluids from pregnancy, though. Maybe I'm not out of the woods yet.

Sleep Paralysis

You guys. I had a mild episode of sleep paralysis the other night. I am really, really, really hoping it won't happen as severely as it did with Ada. Basically, I woke up unable to move with tremendous pressure on my chest feeling like someone was pressing down. I was trying to scream out Stephen's name but nothing would come out of my mouth. And then I woke up gasping.

I have told my midwife about it, but she isn't familiar. I know it has something to do with my body not getting out of REM sleep as I wake up. Not fun. Have any of you experienced this? Thankfully I've had it before so it isn't as frightening this time around . . . but I am trying to get good blocks of sleep to keep it at bay.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is going well. Eloise has a strong latch and is nursing from each side pretty much every feed. I think an average feed is taking around 20 minutes right now. She does like to comfort-suck. And we're right on with the newborn 10-12 feeds per day right now. She'll nurse about every two hours during the day and maybe space things out to 3 hours on occasion.

Another difference with nursing so far is that my let-down reflex isn't as strong, but my milk production seems to be plentiful. With Ada, I used to get this wave of sadness when my milk would let down . . . and so far, I haven't had that. I am also far less overwhelmed with having to feed Eloise all.the.time because I know it doesn't last forever.

Weight + Exercise

I started pregnancy at 138 pounds and I think I topped off around 162 (the week before she was born). I am down to around 146 right now, but I don't have any major weight goals for anytime soon. Ultimately, I just want to be back around 135, which seems to be my happy weight when I am eating well and running.

This is annoying, though: I am ravenously hungry and trying to limit sugar, which I'll get to in a minute (it isn't dieting, I promise you!). As far as exercise goes, I have started walking a bit. Unlike with Ada, I don't feel like my organs are going to fall out of my body -- but I'm not going to test my luck. I may do a little bit of Barre sometime soon. Mostly stretching. One of the 10-minute videos.

Oh, and funny thing -- Eloise TOTALLY calms down when I do Barre squats.

Misc.

There's the not-so wonderful news in all this goodness. My urine test before delivery showed both Group B and Group D strep strains. I flipped out momentarily because, I mean, STREP D? WTF?  I don't get sick very often. I've never had all these sorts of infections. I am really starting to wonder what is going on with me. My midwife says it is probably just being immunocompromised from pregnancy. It's definitely a source of anxiety for me, so I am hoping we can clear whatever is going on up soon.

I am on antibiotics -- for the 1,000,000th time this year -- to try to kick out the D from my system. They are 4 times a day for 10 days. After just being on hefty IV meds during delivery. Ugh. I am really hoping I can kick these UTIs. I've never, ever had them in my life. I will say that I am worried about developing yeast, thrush, or major digestive issues like C. diff. I am taking probiotics and don't know what else to do. I am trying to limit sugar, but I am SO HUNGRY FOR ALL THE CARBS and can't seem to.

Overall

I do think the time of year has something to do with things being better this time around, too. Not only is Stephen off from school basically tomorrow, so I have lots of help transitioning. We are extremely close to the longest day of the year. Seeing the sun start to rise before 5 AM and set after 9 PM makes me dread the long nights far less. It's warm outside, so we're able to get sun and fresh air. I guess I am going to try to stop questioning why I feel so well and, instead, be thankful.

It's been a long stretch of sadness and anxiety and uncertainty, and I'd like to think that maybe -- just maybe -- the clouds are lifting. I'll be back soon with some answers to questions I've received about how we're adjusting to family life. What it's like having an older kid and a newborn (she is so tiny!!!). If Eloise reminds us of Ada. And etc.

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Postpartum Body Update

It's been over a year since I last updated you all about my postpartum fitness and weight. Partially I feel it's just not relevant to speak about my body in terms of "postpartum" anymore -- Ada's nearly two years old and I've moved on with my life. And -- also partially -- I was frustrated with being stalled at 5 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight no matter how much I was training or eating well.

I know 5 pounds isn't much. Still, I just didn't want to talk about it + generally had accepted the extra weight as new normal. My clothes fit a bit tighter, but athletically, I was still performing well. It sounds trite, but my body image did improve after pregnancy, not necessarily by conscious effort or personal growth. Perhaps by necessity, if that makes any sense.

I have decided to write on this topic again because I've received lots of emails and comments related to "getting back" or the before-baby body. How long it takes. What I did to slim down. What works when nothing else seems to, etc. I usually reply with a response about how I'm not back to normal. That each woman is different, each situation after pregnancy is different, and there's really no magic answer, unfortunately.

I still stand by these words, but in the interest of hope, I'd like to share with you that it took a long 23 months after giving birth -- and 6 months after weaning Ada -- to return to my pre-pregnancy weight. My stretched stomach is finally getting flat, the skin getting tighter again. And the magic solution ended up being TIME.

I never did any hardcore dieting or supremely healthy eating to get back to my weight. I didn't cut out entire food groups with the hope of sliding the scale in my favor. Yes, I trained for half marathons, but didn't do any more exercising than my body was used to before, during, or after pregnancy. In fact, as I read through my posts over the last several years, I'm struck with how lax I've become about fitness these days. Or, maybe to state in better words, how better balanced I've become at incorporating activity into my daily routine.

Balance is a good thing.

I read my pregnancy running posts now and feel a bit shaky about how intensely focused -- hell-bent -- I was on getting in those miles despite morning sickness or exhaustion or whatever else I was feeling at the time. I ran more then than I do now, and I'm pretty sure it's because I was trying to prove a lot to myself and to others. While I'm hoping to gain more discipline as I look to new running goals, at the same time -- I'm racing faster than ever, so something seems to be working if I'm focusing solely on performance.

Sure it's absolutely annoying when it seems like all other women are shrinking back to normal with little effort. Sure it seems sometimes that the breastfeeding + weight loss thing is just a cruel joke or reserved for a privileged few. Sure dieting and lots of exercise might get you back into your jeans faster. But as hard as it is to accept in this culture of constant comparison -- it's really is true: Each woman's body responds differently to the hormones and other jazz associated with pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, etc.


Time was all that worked for me, along with eating like I always have and exercising moderately and then more intensely at times. Weaning did seem to help. And now that I'm back to "normal" I'm already beginning to think about number 2, so the cycle will continue. At least now I know what to expect and can stop being so hard on myself.

But you, too, should give yourself a break, which I know is easier said than done.

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A Fall Half Marathon

Happy Friday, folks! It's a dreary one here in upstate NY. But in a way, I like it. Leaves are beginning to fall (yes! already!), and my favorite season is now upon us. Autumn also means another racing season. One that isn't too humid for my liking.

Woo to the hoo!

I've signed up to run race the 1st annual Runner's World Half Marathon on October 21st. That's 9 weeks away, so I'm already completing week three of training. I'm following Hal Higdon's advanced training program, but cutting out Monday's run and lengthening a 3 mile run each week as I see fit.

Runs make up 5 days of my week. Rest, 2. I might consider adding some cross-training, but right now I'm trying to get back into the rhythm of serious training. It's an adjustment. My body is feeling it. I'm pushing myself. I'm ready to go outside my comfort zone again for the first time since I became pregnant 18 months ago.

Here's a glimpse . . .


I'm trying my best to follow this plan to a T, since I haven't been strict with my training since before having Ada. It's difficult to re-learn the discipline, but I think it will be rewarding in the long run. Still, I am taking liberties -- for example, this weekend calls for a 5K race. I'm doing that next weekend instead.

I ran my first double-digits run last weekend since June. It was tough and I almost gave up at mile 9 because it was hot and my legs were tired. Seeing 10 pop up on Stephen's Garmin was rewarding, though. I feel motivated to reach my sub-1:45 goal. A new PR for me, hopefully.

Otherwise, my runners club friends have been fantastic at keeping me accountable. I've had lots of company on training runs and kind words said in my direction. You gals are the best!


If you ever told me that nine months after having a baby I'd be back into my pre-pregnancy shape, or even fitter, I would have called you a liar. Now? I am a believer.

There won't be any more postpartum body updates. 9 months of pregnancy. 9 months after. There's no reason to dwell there any longer. No photos, since I look pretty much the same. (Plus, we took enough on Writing Chapter Three this week.) My weight, however, is now back where I started. Some of the time. I still waver in a three-pound range.

Eh. I'll admit, I do take pleasure in being back closer to "normal," even if I use a number as a gauge. I am starting to get definition in my abs again. But, seriously. None of this has been without struggle and frustration.

To pregnant or other postpartum women out there: Breastfeeding isn't a miracle weight-loss tool. At least, it wasn't for me. Even running/working out hard isn't going to necessarily get you mind-blowing results. The weight dropped off ever-so slowly for me. There was no rhyme or reason to it. My body did what it wanted to do.

So, if it doesn't happen immediately for you either, that's totally normal. But through patience and understanding your body and new priorities, you, too, will normalize after a while. Or find a new normal. Or get fitter/stronger/slimmer/etc. Our bodies and lives are so different, there's really no telling.


Anyway, back to running! I invite you to join me as I chase a PR in the half marathon this fall. And I'd love to know what races you all are running and how you plan to succeed.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Postpartum Fitness Update

Ada is 7.5 months old, which makes me 7.5 months postpartum. I would say I'm feeling back to the "normal" me by now, though there are certainly still some notable differences.

(If you're new or catching up, you can read about my postpartum fitness challenge month 1, month 2, and month 3.)

I could drone on about how I haven't lost any more weight since (130 and holding) we last visited the topic. How my mid-section is still wider. Posterior, flabbier. The truth is, my shape/size isn't so horribly different . . . I've been very hard on myself about the excess skin and fat stores.

Somehow, I'm feeling better about it. Could be that I've been spending more face-time with real-life moms who can relate. Could be that I'm appreciating my return to previous fitness levels over return to previous clothing sizes (though my clothes are fitting, just not as well).

What's more interesting than how much I've gained/lost is my running. I made it to another group run this weekend! I already wrote about how much group runs rock. Yesterday I did 8.5 miles (others did 11 and even 18!) and felt great despite the heat and humidity.


I can't remember if I already wrote about my current racing/training plans. I'm in a bit of limbo. Not signed up for any events I intend to race this summer -- though I do plan to race a half in October.

Right now, it's all about maintenance.

I'm sticking with mileage between 20 and 30 miles a week split between 4 or 5 days, not 6 as I had initially tried. Too much. That's a pretty wild weekly range . . . and a roundabout way of explaining that I usually end up running around 25. Long runs these days are between 8 and 10 miles. I don't see a reason to go farther until later in the summer. Gives my body and mind a bit of rest.

I thought it was interesting when Emily mentioned that she still have pelvic floor pain after long runs. Though I wouldn't classify what I'm experiencing as "pain" -- I certainly have discomfort after my runs longer than 8 miles. Again, nothing that hurts -- just aching. Any other running mamas experience this? Does it go away?


Speaking of discomfort: When we were visiting NJ last week, I ran twice with Stephen. Each time a 10K. Each time, rife with HILLS. Usually I welcome some incline, but this was way more than I am used to. (I like hills, but not so sustained!) It left us both sore, but really impressed on me how I need to work on my core strength.

After the long downhill in our last run together, I felt more like THIS than the confident jogger I'm pretending to be in the first photo in this post.


I've neglected my mid-section in all of this returning to fitness. I see more planks in my future. Not just for running, but as Ada gets heavier and squirmier, I will need more stability to avoid back pain, which I am getting from a mixture of poor breastfeeding posture and lifting with my arms/back.

This month's stats:

Pushups: 50 (up from 45 -- but I am sticking with this max from now on)
Situps: 30 (down from 33 -- to be honest, I didn't do situps this month, just this test!)
Pullups: 2 (Up from 1. YES!)

Goals this month: a.) Run a mile in under 7 minutes. b.) Focus on core strength with planks, pushups, etc. c.) Run with a group at least once a week.


I'm behind on sharing all the Writing Chapter Three post with you all!

• First, we have some fun photos from our trip to NJ.
• Then I wrote about how I'm buying all organic groceries to examine the costs/benefits -- and I'd love to incorporate your own curiosities in my quest.
• And most recently, I share our $0 DIY play room solution. We might not have room, but we have definitely made the most of the space we do have.

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Demand and Supply

One of the most frequent questions I receive related to my running these days is about increasing mileage and breastmilk supply issues. I thought it'd be helpful to post all this information, as I see it ringing true, in one place.

When I was pregnant (at 32 weeks, I think -- above), I took a breastfeeding class and asked a question about running and supply. The lactation consultant sort of looked at me blankly and said she didn't know, but thought probably a half marathon wouldn't be in the cards while EBF (exclusively breastfeeding).

By now, we all know this isn't true -- I've done several races these past 6 months, first chilly 10Ks to hilly 15Ks. So, how have I managed to continue breastfeeding exclusively AND train for a half marathon?


#1: I increased my mileage slowly. True, I started running 3 weeks postpartum. But I kept it in the 2 to 4 mile walk/run range -- it was more for mental sanity than physical fitness. The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding are particularly important because that's when supply is established. To be honest, I couldn't shouldn't have manage more than what I was doing at the time anyway.

After 6 weeks, I still didn't train with any structured plan. But I did increase my mileage with a weekly long run. It was helped to not sign up for a big race too soon after giving birth. Instead, I gave myself almost 6 months so I wouldn't need to rush into running. I did a few 10Ks in January, but with the idea that time didn't matter. I sincerely think this relaxed approach to training helped me build my supply AND ease back into being a runner without encountering injury or absolute depletion.

#2: I let Ada call the shots. Sure, it was hard in those early days with the cluster-feeding. There were times when I felt like I was glued to the couch for the entire afternoon and evening. I love hyperbole, but I'm being entirely serious. Glued. So, I would feed Ada -- no bottles -- during those times like it was my job. Which, sort of, it was. Waiting to run until Ada was done and then sneaking in shorter bursts of running on those cluster-feeding days (and, yes, skipping my workout sometimes) meant my body was getting the cues from Ada to produce more milk.

After all, that's what the cluster-feeding is for. It's the baby's way of telling your body that he/she needs more food. Supplementing with bottles of expressed milk in the first six weeks isn't terrible by any means -- but to play it safe, it's best to put baby to breast as often as possible because he/she is the most efficient at expressing milk and sending the signals to the body for HOW MUCH to produce. (In the early days, I wasn't able to pump much -- nor is pumping entirely advisable while things are regulating.)


#3: I guzzle water and when I'm full, I guzzle more. My water bottle is now an extension of my body. Hydration is absolutely key to maintaining good breastmilk supply. It's that easy.

#4: I consume enough calories and choose particular foods to fill my tummy. Training for a distance race taxes the body of a normal person. Training for a distance race taxes the body of an already taxed new mom and breastfeeding mom. Like whoa. I am hungry all the time, so I eat all the time. I mean it: All. The. Time.

If you've been following the blog, you know that I am not back to my pre-pregnancy weight even at 6 months postpartum. I haven't at all tried to diet, restrict calories, etc. while breastfeeding AND training. It would be silly. I desperately need the fuel for both activities, so I don't count calories and I listen to my hunger cues. I may not always choose the best foods, but I'm trying.

I also try to incorporate the following lactogenic foods into my diet:

• Oatmeal (I observe a HUGE difference when I eat oats. HUGE!)
• Fenugreek 
• Garlic 
• Nutritional yeast 
• Fats, like olive oil 
• Dark beer on occasion 
• Here are some more good foods, spices, etc.

#5: I get as much rest as I can. Luckily, Ada isn't a terrible sleeper. Sure, she has her moments, but I'm usually able to get at least 7 hours of (almost always interrupted) sleep a night. I've never been much of a napper, but these days -- I can doze even when the sun is shining in my face. If I'm tired and have the time, I do take the opportunity to rest versus catching up on emails or blogging. And sometimes rest means skipping workouts.

I'll be the first to admit that my training for the most recent half marathon was far from perfect.

My plan had me running 5 days a week, but I -- instead -- averaged 3 or 4. When I had time and energy, I tried to make up some of the long runs I missed . . . but I often skipped the other miles entirely and didn't look back. I still finished in a respectable time and got my fitness to a level closer to my pre-pregnancy days.


Overall, I treated running these first 6 months as a second . . . or maybe a third, fourth, or fifth priority in my life. My health and well-being came first. I'm sure some of you are thinking: "Shouldn't the BABY come first, Ashley?" No. The way I see it, if I'm not healthy and thriving, she won't be either -- especially since we have this symbiotic relationship right now. I make the time to eat and take care of myself so I can do the same for her.

Of course, she's a very, VERY close second priority. And then running comes in somewhere after that . . . along with e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g else.


You may have already read, but today on Writing Chapter Three I posted about Ada's first adventures with solid foods. I wouldn't exactly call her a foodie just yet . . . but she's getting more used to tastes and textures as each day passes.

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Postpartum Fitness Challenge: Month 3

I guess you could say I slacked this month on my fitness challenge (check out month 1 and month 2). Yet in other ways, I did a lot. Our half marathon is on Sunday, so the main focus the past several weeks has been on getting my long run distance up. I struggled with it -- A LOT -- mostly with finding motivation to run for nearly 2 hours when I could be eating a fantastic brunch and hanging out with Stephen and Ada.

My most recent long run was a practice half. Not with regard to speed, though. Just with not stopping home for supplies/etc.

The wind was absolutely wicked that day. Stephen said it slowed him down a good bit, too. I think I would have had more consistent mile paces between 8:50 and 9:00 otherwise. Even if not, I could bomb this weekend's half terribly and still know I could complete one in under 2 hours, which is my goal. Another goal: No stops at Porta-Johns along the way.

Last year, below, I stopped at almost all of them!


Here are last month's stats. And here's this month's:

Pushups: 45 (no change, but I didn't really push myself past this mark)
Chinups: Still 1 (same as above, I just didn't focus on upper-body this month)
Situps: 33 (up from 30 last month! w00t!)
Mile Time: ??? (Waiting on this one until after this weekend's half marathon)

My goals for the coming month with running revolve around speedwork. I've always done some sort of (very, very, very) loose speedwork, but noting in the recent past that actually challenged me to the point of improving dramatically. I did my first-time-in-a-long-time formal speedwork session last Tuesday -- eight 400s, two miles total, at 6:48 (mile) pace with 2 min rest between each repeat. Kicked my BUTT. But I know if I stick with them, I could get closer to my old race times, which would be great!

I also haven't gotten in any double workouts lately. This one has decided she HATES the BOB. Or being in strollers, in general.


Otherwise, a big focus -- as you already know -- has been on my diet. After Easter, my sugar consumption got farther out of control than it already was. As a result, I only lost one pound this month. Nothing like last month's 4 pounds. But there is encouraging news to this part! At Christmas, we had invested in a fancy digital scale. Before that, I had always weighed myself on an old-school one that was consistent, but needed to be calibrated each time. So, I pulled out that old one again this week. And I found that I'm really only 3 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight, not the 6 or so I thought I was.

This puts me at 130 on the digital scale and 127 on the old one. (No photos this month -- there isn't any change.) I don't really care what the a.c.t.u.a.l number is, but to know I'm closer than I thought to my pre-pregnancy weight, which will be 127 on our new scale, has me thrilled. I definitely think by 9 months postpartum, I'll be back -- and that's what my midwife told me is a healthy rate at which to lose the weight.

Overall, I am feeling good about my activity level. I'm excited to start training seriously again after this weekend's half marathon. The sugar stuff is coming along slowly, and I still have a lot of trouble entirely eliminating it from my diet. I'll write more on that another time.

Here's to a great half marathon this weekend! What are you up to? Any races or other adventures planned?

And if you follow Writing Chapter Three, you can check out yesterday's video post full of questions and answers from our readers.

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Postpartum Fitness Challenge: Month 2

I'm falling a bit behind with a postpartum fitness updates. It's been just over 20 weeks since I gave birth to Ada. The best part is that I didn't imagine I'd be in good shape this soon. I'm back to running 5 days a week. My speed is returning slowly but surely . . . and I'm on my way to racing (well, we'll see) my first post-baby half next month.

In my last update, I gave you all the starting numbers. I thought about updating each of these categories each month. But I realize my measurements won't necessarily change dramatically. So, I'd like to refresh those stats perhaps next month or even the month after.

I don't feel like I look much different.

THIS MONTH


But my weight loss has finally started. I lost 4 pounds, going from 135.6 to 131.5. I credit occasional twice-daily workouts, the nicer weather -- which leads to more general activity, and eating less nut butter. Seriously! I was addicted to the stuff all winter.

These days, I'm snacking on smoothies and cheese with carrots, etc. I think the biggest physical change is that my stomach is getting flatter, less puffy. It still sticks out quite a bit compared to before pregnancy. Otherwise, my clothes -- jeans, specifically -- are fitting much better. Still not like they used to, but I can slip on a few more pairs this month than I could last.

More exciting than my physical changes: Here's how big the babe got since early March. Incredible. She's up to 14 pounds at least.


FITNESS: HOW I'M DOING

I tried running my timed mile last night and failed miserably because the wind was blowing against me. Stephen told me -- regardless -- I need to do a proper mile on a track, so I'll be sure to do that soon (early next week) and post about it. I did time a few miles I ran with the jogging stroller today, the fastest of which was in 7:45!

Here are last month's stats. And here are this month's:

Pushups: 45 (up from 35)
Situps: 30 (up from 28 -- not much change)
Pullups: 1 (up from 0, though I had been doing 2 and then got lazy about them!)
Mile time prediction: I'm thinking on a track I could run a mile in 7:15 or less. We'll see how generous I'm being soon enough.

GOALS FOR THIS MONTH:

• I have a long way to go with my eating habits. I'm trying desperately to eat less sugar. But I tend to grab cookies instead of veggies when I'm in a rush, which feels like it's all the time. I can easily prepare grab-and-go fridge foods, I just need to take the time: Goal: Bake only once a week and make those treats last.
• The farthest I've ran in preparation for my half marathon in May is around 11 miles. I'd like to run 13 once before the race. Goal: Keep up with the long runs. They are o hard to get in these days.
• When I read that Kristen ran 10 miles with her little one in the jogger, my jaw dropped. I'm still struggling to complete 3 without feeling exhausted. So, I told Stephen about it. He looked at our stroller and said: Uhm. Have you ever looked at these tires? They're hardly blown up. OOPS. He inflated them to acceptable levels and it has CHANGED MY WORLD. Goal: Run 5 or 6 miles with the jogger by the month's end.
• I had a half marathon time goal to finish under 1:50. But now I've changed my tune. I really don't expect to finish in any particular time. I just want to run and feel great. What's cool is that the course basically goes past our house this year. I'm hoping the weather is nice so I can steal a kiss from Miss Ada along my path. If that take a few minutes off my time, so be it!

Another goal: Get a haircut . . .


My hair has never been this long, and it's getting in the way. I have a few ideas that I pinned on Pinterest. But nothing is decided yet. I tend to go through phases where I want to cut all my hair off. I mean ALL of it. I'm trying my best to resist doing something I'll regret.

Alright. That's it for now. I'll post about my mile next week. And if you're following Writing Chapter Three, you can read Part 1 of the Zero-Intervention Hospital Birth series. We're excited about it! And if you want to contribute, be sure to check it out.

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My Postpartum Fitness Challenge

It's crazy, but in a few days, we'll be a full year from when the whole pregnancy and parenting adventure began. And as much as I enjoy riding out the whole "I-just-had-a-baby" thing, I have to admit it's getting rather, well, old.

Ada is going to be 4 months in a couple weeks. Life with a newborn baby is getting a bit more predictable. Our breastfeeding relationship and my supply are both well established after months of hard work. Best of all, I feel nearly back to my normal self physically.


I've been running since 3 weeks postpartum. And I am now in a place where I feel ready to train again. Not just run, but train to get my paces back and to increase strength. When I was pregnant, running was all about staying fit and healthy during pregnancy.


I immediately gave up on running hard when I saw the plus sign on my pregnancy test. All those months of taking it easier felt great and even helped to heal my IT-band injury that plagued me during the 2010 marathon season.

I'm so thankful to have continued chugging along until my 37th week. And I developed a new stronger relationship with running that was almost purely focused on enjoyment versus competition.


And then I had Ada and my attention moved toward getting out of the house for my sanity between feedings. It worked for for a while. But as the months have rolled on, I've felt a nagging dissatisfaction with my workouts. Trouble with motivation. A weird-for-me focus on my weight and extreme disappointment when breastfeeding didn't magically and immediately give me my old body.

As much as I'd like to continually remind myself that my body has done something miraculous in having a baby, which it most definitely has, I -- like most people -- don't have a perfect body image and -- yes -- have struggled with my transition over the past year. I'm not ashamed to admit this to you all. I think it's a common mental-thing that comes with so much change (like gaining 29 pounds) in a short period of time.


This is all a very long introduction to my new personal fitness challenge. I realized that it's not exactly the number on the scale that's weighing me down. No, my weight normally fluctuates during the year and throughout different training cycles -- and I don't necessarily give it much thought.

Instead, I have underestimated exercising hard and its positive impact on my life before Ada. It was my true stress release and gave me a feeling of accomplishment when I'd reach new PRs or other goals. And to combat new insecurities I'm feeling -- as well as to get back into better shape -- I'd like to get back to it!

I don't have specific goals at the moment. But I have a few general ideas for where I'd like to be by the summer.

• I'd like to run a 7 minute mile. (My fastest ever was run a couple months before pregnancy and was in the high 6:40s.)
• I'd like to get my upper-body strength back. (Before pregnancy, I was able to do 5 chin-ups and up to 60 pushups at a time. I had to give up a lot of upper-body focus as my stomach grew . . . for obvious reasons!)
• I'd like to incorporate ab-work into my regular routine. It's something I've never done. But I've certainly lost a lot of core strength that I used to take for granted.
• And I would like to fit into a few pairs of my old jeans (which means losing a dress size). This item is the least important to me right now. Though I'm about 8 pounds above my usual pre-pregnancy weight-range, I'd like to try to lose just 5 pounds by the summer.

Why blog about it? Accountability. With caring for Ada, I've found myself letting a lot of workouts slide. I'm fine with skipping from time to time, but I'm letting it happen more and more. Also, as we open our new site in the next couple of weeks, (never home)maker is going to be more fitness-centric. Anyway, I got my general structure from Brittany over at A Healthy Slice of Life. Her postpartum updates have been encouraging and her approach is moderate and healthy. We chatted a bit on Twitter today and agreed that it's best to compare yourself to, well, yourself. (Thanks, Brittany!)

BASE STATS:


Sharing my weight and measurements is something I debated. (BTW, I'm 5'7" -- which is something I forgot to mention in the original post.) But with accountability comes full disclosure. In other news: Wow. That mile was difficult. But it's important I keep speed-training if I want to get near my old race paces. Also, I imagine it looks ridiculous to count half a chin-up. I felt quite accomplished nearing the bar, so I decided to add it regardless!

BASE PHOTOS:


Alright. I guess that's what we're starting with. Check back in April for an update on my progress. Short-term, I'm hoping to shave at least a few seconds off my mile time. I'd also like to add about 10 pushups and 5 situps to those that fit into my comfort zone.

What are your current fitness goals? And how do you stay accountable and on-track to meeting them? I'm already dreading next month's timed mile! But I know it's the only way I'm going to push myself. So, in a way, it's also exciting.

ALSO: HAPPY 28TH B-DAY TO STEPHEN!


Stay tuned for the awesome chocolate-banana (and beer!) cake I made for the occasion. I write this with absolutely zero exaggeration: It is the best. cake. ever.

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