A VOCAL Experiment - See if you can follow

     Yoga has become an integral exercise now that I am pregnant.  It always was important for my golf game, but now it is one of the few exercises that the doctor has approved.  What I have decided to do for my podcast is describe a few yoga techniques which are a part of my routine to keep my body limber and flexible.  See if you can follow my voice and descriptions.  Later I will post the actual movements and you can judge to see how closely you were able to follow along.  Feel free to leave a comment so that I know if I need to work on my communication skills :) 

Workout/Exercise Appropriate Routines

     So since my last post was talking about routines, I figured I could talk about some other routines that have been changed in my life. As previously stated I am a varsity golfer and I have developed my own pre-season, seasonal, and post-season/off-season workout routines. These have been adjusted given the current situation. Below is a comparison of what I used to do to what is now suggested by the doctor:

Cardio - Old Routine included walking, jogging, elliptical, cross trainer, bike, swimming, yoga - all at high intensity 

           - New Routine includes walking, jogging, yoga, swimming at a low-moderate intensity 

Weights - Old Routine included body weight, free weights, and machines - as heavy as my body could handle

             - New Routine includes body weights and light free weights 

Muscle Groups - Old Routine included whole body workouts, specifically working on the core 

                        - New Routine includes arms with free weights, only squats and lunges for legs, and hip rotations but no hardcore core workouts - nothing strenuous or stressful is allowed 

     It was a hard adjustment not doing some of my old workouts, and I think not listening to the doctor from the start resulted in some of my early discomforts. That has scared me to stop working out, but now my body is feeling the need for it. So I think it time to step it up again, stay in shape, but just listen to my body. I mean many athletes have done it and their babies seem fine. Plus summer is just around the corner and my first golf game will be this weekend and my first golf tournament within the next couple months. I am sure that having my energy back, now that I am in the second trimester, will help me stay on track. 

     Note: every pregnancy is different so if you are thinking of using my new workout suggestions it would be recommended that you double check with your own OB/doctor before trying anything new. Otherwise keep fit and have fun!

Routine, Routine, Routine!

    

     So after the last appointment with my doctor, I came out with feeling that establishing a daily routine was extremely important - I mean she only mentioned it to me about 6 times throughout the 30 mins. I will say now that I finally get it, but establishing this is somewhat difficult for me - life happens I am always one that others can depend on.

    

     Sometimes I mess my priorities up and I am starting to feel the consequences. For example: I was starting to establish a routine where I finally got rid of any nausea or tired feelings and was able to sleep in (normally I was waking up at 3am but got to the point where I could sleep until 8:00am) - my day consisted of getting up around 10:00am (even if the last 3 hours was just lying there resting because apparently this is another instruction by the doctor); have breakfast and take my medications (Materna to be clear); shower and get ready for either class or work; walk to either work or class; make sure I ate something small every 2-3 hours; put in a full day at work or class; walk home; nap (another instruction which to be honest is rarely followed); eat dinner; study if possible; and then go to bed or just rest the body. All would be fine and dandy if life were as simple as this to continue it day in and day out - but that is not the reality of the student worker.

     Recently there has been some major disruptions to the 'routine'. Like work now starts at 8:00am on some days, food forgets to be consumed, sleep is not achieved, school work and group assignments are inconsistent - all of which I think may contribute to my entire Saturdays being spent sleeping (this is not a lie unfortunately - the entire day is a write-off!).

    

     However, I am back to working on my journey to establishing a clear, consistent routine. This may involve telling people "No, I can't do that." It seems hard and out of character, but I have to do what is safe and beneficial for me and the baby now. It is much easier having this information out in the open now as people tend to be more understanding.

     So I will continue to work on this and report my successes or failures - hopefully more success stories than the latter - lol.

Golf: The Only Sport That Doesn't Seem to Discriminate

    
     Lucky for me, golf seems to be the only sport that you can continue to play while pregnant that doesn't get much negative media exposure. Above are LPGA players Ursula Wikstrom (left) who is seven months pregnant and Pat Hurst (right) who is seven and a half months pregnant. Ursula happens to be playing in Dubai at that time, in which she finished that round with a +2. Not too shabby I would say considering the temperatures were reaching a scorching 110 degrees.

     Below is Ashley Crain, 26, from Toronto. She teed off and finished the Toronto Star Women's Amateur Golf Tournament at eight and a half months pregnant. She attributes her current success, for example her second place finish at the Michigan Mid-Amateur Tournament, to her expecting baby girl. She has commented that the changes she had to make to her putting style to accommodate her 'bump' has actually made her putting sharper.

     I am looking forward to my adventures both on and off the course. Unfortunately, I do not make money playing golf, so while we are preparing for this little bundle of joy, my golf game will have to take the back burner to employment opportunities.