Not Yet... Maybe...Just Kidding...Kind of

I get the bad blogger award.  I really limit my to-do list these days, and I still can't seem to get that done.  No wonder the blog just keeps getting pushed back. :)

What is new?  I started working again (part-time).  It is hard to leave Isla and hard to get it all done, but it is good as well to be something other than "mommy" for a minute.  So far so good....fingers crossed my employers continue to work with me.

Dave and I also have a new niece! 

Her name is Virginia, and she is a doll. 

We managed to survive our first 4 hour car ride with Isla to go meet Virginia in the hospital.  We were worried the car ride would be awful, but it exceeded expectations. 

I also rode socialized on my bike with the group for the first time in about 14 months.  It was great to be back out there.  I LOVE my bike.  

Let's all wave to the camera! LOL!

I did the RRS 10 miler (longest run so far) in 8:50 something pace today, so I continue to make progress in pace and distance.  I did seem to forget how to dress for racing, though, because I completely under-dressed this morning and FROZE.  My mind must have felt speedy when I got dressed this morning and opted for shorts and a tank.  I was pretty miserable the entire 10 miles, and I realized that because I run slower, I have to bundle up more.

Okay, and now to the point.  Not yet...maybe...just kidding....kind of...that pretty much describes my training.  I manage to get some of my workouts done.  Just some of them.  It is not because I don't plan, try, put in the effort to "make it happen."  It is simply that a lot of times now, I just don't have control.  My life now revolves around not only Isla, but also Dave's schedule.   

Sometimes it seems like I am doing nothing and just logging zeros.  People even ask how my training is going, and I respond, "what training?"  But when I look back in my log, I am accomplishing something most days.  I am just not used to such low volume, but I am getting off of my butt.  And honestly, a little bit kicks my butt these days.  There is no way I could accommodate volume in my workout schedule now. 

It is really hard for me to log a zero instead of a planned workout.  This is probably the hardest thing about returning to training for me (besides the really weak hips/core and extra 10 pounds).  It is the part of new mom reality that still blows my mind because when I do log that zero, I don't know how I could have prevented it.  

Currently I am running about 4 x a week for 2 to 5 miles, getting on the trainer x 2 and swimming x 2.  Every workout is pretty short (30-45 minutes), but I am slowly seeing some progress with them all.  Lack of strength is still a HUGE issue for me, and I have to find a way to start addressing it. 

So, that is it on the training and life front for now. :) All is good and it is moving forward inch by inch. 

How is Isla?  She is great.  Oh, I mean, she still doesn't sleep, has fussy periods, etc....but she has some really cute smiles so it makes it all worth it.  I try not to bomb facebook and twitter with Isla pictures, so if you will just indulge me for a second.  :)  Here are a few of us from this past week.

One morning I did a track workout and then jumped right back in bed with her for snuggle time before I had to get us ready for work.   

 It wasn't enough snuggle time, so the next day I put us both back in bed to play and sleep.  :)

This is Isla at the end of our nighttime walks when she passes out and practically falls out of her sling.  

 I am not sure how she felt about me putting a hat on her this day....

Isla finally got to meet her Great Pop Pop from Pensacola this week.  

We survived our first grocery store trip without dad.  

  And last night she fell asleep playing with her toys, which was just precious.

Till next time!  xo

Back On The Plan

October is here and it is time to get back to work in more ways than one.  I resume life as a physical therapist on Monday.  It is starting to really hit me that I will not spend every minute with my daughter.  I have only been away from her for a maximum of two hours, so my heart will need a bit of an adjustment period.  I know it is good for me to work and for her to experience new people, kids, and situations....but I am sure going to miss every minute.  Even right now she is passed out on my lap- we are rarely not within arms' reach of each other. 

Isla passed out in my lap while I blog.  If I am lucky she will give me 15 minutes:)

It is also time to get back to work with triathlon!  Now, I am actually stoked about this.  I have resumed training with a coach and a plan this week.  I love it.  I am happy.  I don't need to guess what needs to happen with training.  I LOVE this.  (have I said that already?) 

So, first week back and it is tough.  The training is not the tough part as we are still just trying to slowly increase my fitness and strength.  It is just getting it done.  I think 4:30am is just going to have to be my permanent wake up time, even on weekends.  My friends know I am just not that chipper in the morning.  I don't like that one bit, but with Dave's job, it is my only chance to train.  So, do I want to sleep in or do I want to do triathlon?  I can't have both.

It is going to be different and sometimes hard, but fun and wonderful too.  I will try hard not to complain when it gets overwhelming.  (I recently heard I complain too much- so I am on a mission to laugh more and complain less!  I take constructive criticism to heart and do always try to be a better person).  After all, I do have a lot of great things in my life, especially friends.  And I am thankful for all of your love!

 An awesome package came in the mail from Isla's fairy godmother :). Thank you friends for all of the fun surprises!

It will be fun to chart the next three months on the blog and compare them to the first three postnatal months.  My goal is not to compare any times now to pre-baby and just look for a lot of post-baby PRs.  As Kari would say, here we go!

I want to end this post with a few little pictures to illustrate some differences I am noticing between mom and dad as pictures appear on my phone.

Mom and Isla play with horses. 

Dad and Isla watch sports.  Dave took this picture of Isla and called it "couch potato."  LOL!

Hey- at least they get to watch the Saints win!  Who DAT!!!!

12 Week Fitness

I am now at the 12 week mark in my postnatal journey.  I am not exactly sure where I am "supposed to be" or want to be at this point,  but I am happy with the way things are progressing.  I thought I would share for you mothers-to-be what my "training" has looked like since Isla's arrival.

How much am I training?

The first few weeks consisted of mostly walking.  I was still recovering from the c-section.  I would try to jog, but I just couldn't seem to run a mile without stopping.  So, I would jog a minute or two, and walk a ton.  I really was not truly able to run a few miles without stopping until week 5, and then it just clicked. 

How about pace?

My pace is slowly getting faster and I can go a little further.  My longest run right now is 8 miles.  My limiters currently are:

1.  Weight:  I still have at least 10 pounds to lose- 15 or more to get to a racing weight.  (FYI- I gained 35 pounds in pregnancy, and that was after no exercise for 2 months and putting on 5 or so pounds to help get pregnant.  So, I have some work to do).  I am 5'4", and 10-15 extra pounds is a LOT of weight for me to haul around.  

2.  My incision area still pulls and bothers me with adhesions to my pelvis.  I should have done scar mobilizations and I didn't.  I should have addressed this very early on.  Dern.

3.  Lack of muscle/strength.  Enough said.  I started TRX last week to start addressing this.

4.  Sleep/nutrition/stress.

What about swimming and cycling?  Currently I can get in about 1-2 x 30 minutes a week of each.  Isla is not a big napper, so the trainer is not a great option yet.  I also don't have the help with Isla to really get to the pool yet.  So, these things will just have to develop with time.

Hope this helps share some "real world" insight to post pregnancy.  There are plenty of athletes more "elite" than I who made much faster comebacks, but I think as long as you are moving towards your goals, there is no right or wrong pace.  Health doesn't ever need to be a competition...just so that we all get there.  :)

Isla is looking fit at 12 weeks.  And she rocks!