You should read this one – cuz I wrote it TWICE for you. Daggum blog deleted the first version, which was perfect… *eyeroll* It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.
Throughout this blog post, I may mention items I love, and provide you links to purchase – these links are affiliate links and if you choose to purchase an item through them, you incur NO additional cost, and I receive a little perk for sharing these items I love with you. Enjoy.
33 Weeks Update
Holy wow. 33 Weeks already! Part of me feels that this pregnancy has flown by, and the other part of me feels that it has absolutely dragged on. It’s not news to most of you that I haven’t exactly enjoyed the process of being pregnant… don’t get me wrong, I appreciate and respect the journey and am honored to be blessed with the opportunity to carry life when so many are not given that blessing. However, the FAST changes that have happened have surely been SOMETHING! I’ve got an extra 50 lbs on me – YES! F-I-F-T-Y and that has been a hard aspect to wrap my brain around. With the extra weight, my body doesn’t do what it used to so easily, the waddle is real, getting out of bed should be an olympic sport, and a lot feels so different too. More on that a little later…
Let’s talk about the munchkin! Amelia is doing AMAZING! She’s a wiggly little thing, loves to sleep during my CycleBar classes (unless I’m cramping her – which she loves to let me know with a foot or a booty swiftly into my ribs), LOVES sweet tea, and likes to ‘play’ with daddy in the early mornings before mama is awake. For the most part, she has been a good baby (somebody knock on some wood with me here) only sometimes plays with my bladder, and is relatively quiet when it’s bedtime. At our 32 week check-up, we got to see her again. She was measuring just a touch behind at the previous appointments so the docs decided why not just take a look to be sure? When I say she was measuring behind, I mean that my belly was measuring small in the super scientific measurement they do where they have you lie flat on the table and get the tape measure out. Gravity, and the fact that they talk to you while they do this (and I’m sure I held my breath) all kinds of up in the action there.
During the sonogram, we got to watch Amelia move her arms and legs, verified she IS in fact a girl – I’ve been having exceptionally vivid dreams lately where our baby was born and the nurse goes ‘Congratulations on your baby BOY!’ – in the grand scheme of things, not a HUGE deal, however … EVERYTHING is pink. Well, homegirl flashed her lady parts all up in the camera and we confirmed FOR SURE she is a little girl. lol. Little miss Amelia Grace, measuring in at 4 lbs as of 32 weeks and fiesty as ever. I CANNOT WAIT to meet this little munchkin.
We also got news that on top of her little (read: BIG) head, measuring 1 week ahead of schedule, she has HAIR! Which probably isn’t shocking to a lot of you, I’m sure you expected this with the amount of hair on my head and John’s very Italian furriness, but ironically I didn’t have any hair at all til I was 2 years old! So her having hair already is exciting! Here comes ALL the bows, headbands, and daddy is already in the know about how to learn to braid!
As we get closer to her due date, and mama gets even more antsy and uncomfortable, we are getting everything ready for ‘go time’. Our ‘plan’ has been discussed with everyone that needs to know, the bag is packed, her nursery is coming along nicely, and we are washing the cutest tiniest loads of laundry EVER. Stay tuned for a blog post about our baby shower, her nursery reveal, and what I packed in my go bag.
Stretch Marks & Itchy Skin Prevention
As she grows, and so does my belly, I have been desperately trying everything to prevent stretch marks. ‘They’ say that when your skin gets itchy, you BETTER moisturize, so that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. At around 32 weeks, my skin started feeling like it was ripping – which it wasn’t, but it was a terribly unpleasant feeling, so I switched from my usage of Vitamin E capsules to Fre Skincare’s organic Argan Oil (a limited edition product) along with my collagen that I add to my hot beverages or smoothies. The switch from Vitamin E capsules applied topically to the Argan Oil was based on research I did AND the fact that Argan Oil is not a sticky mess like Vitamin E. Argan Oil replenishes the moisture in the skin as well as prevents aging – so the leftover from applying to my belly, I add to my hair and apply to my face too. Win win win. 😉 I have also been using an avocado oil, shea butter, and essential oils scrub from Trader Joes in the shower for even more exfoliation and moisturizing. Stay tuned for my results after baby arrives for the true test if my methods have prevented stretch marks!
Read more about Fre Skincare here.
My Fit Pregnancy
At 33 weeks, I’m still riding! Still teaching, and I’m pretty sure Amelia will come out of the womb pedaling -lol-.
I need to preface this section with the fact that I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, and any details shared about MY fit pregnancy are those of MY OWN. Please consult with your medical provider before doing anything fitness during pregnancy. Be safe.
My doctor gave me the okay to continue teaching and riding, ‘continue as normal‘ he said! With only one modification – he provided me with a HR to watch for and not exceed, 130 BPM was what he originally recommended… however after realizing I BLEW right by that easily, we modified that. My heart rate during classes is steadily around 150ish, with spurts up towards 180. So, we carefully modified my HR to watch for to 170BPM. If I get close to that, I pull back, recover, then proceed. If you ride with me, you probably notice me checking my watch periodically – that’s not because I’m counting down the minutes I have left to torture you 😉 – that’s me checking my HR.
Why is heart rate important, even more important to monitor, during pregnancy? That’s a great question. So, when your heart rate increases during a workout while pregnant, blood is shunted away from the growing babe to ensure YOU get ample blood supply to your brain and vital organs. Be mindful, be responsible, and don’t shunt blood away from your baby. Staying active and fit during pregnancy is important, but remember the most important thing you can do is ensure you have a safe place for baby to grow and thrive. No workout is more important than that.
“How long can you keep riding for?” Is a common question I get asked lately, and per my doctor I can continue until ‘it hurts or bleeding starts’. So that’s what I plan to do! At 33 weeks, my range of motion is becoming a touch limited while seated on the bike, and my low back is starting to be sore towards the end of the day, but other than that I feel great! I am pulling back from teaching and my last official class will be 2/17/19, brunch, almost one month out from baby girl’s due date. Be sure to book your bikes with me up until then! I’ll be 35 weeks that week, and at this point baby is supposedly gaining a half a pound from 32 weeks until she’s born. :O
My Top Tips for a Fit Pregnancy
- Listen to your body & your doctor this should be a no brainer. You know what’s your new normal, and your doctor has the science to help connect the dots.
- Monitor your HR. If you need recommendations on good HR monitors, go here, here, or here.
- Be comfy! I found that I didn’t need too many maternity specific items outside of my regular high waisted leggings, I also added higher coverage nursing sports bras into the mix, and I REALLY enjoyed my maternity H&M tank tops.
- Give yourself grace. Your body has undergone a TON of changes, fast… it won’t be able to do everything it used to do, and that’s ok!! Remember to give yourself grace through this process, and remember even a little activity is better for you and baby than none.
An Open Letter to My CycleBar Riders
I don’t even know where to start. I’m a puddle of emotions lately (thanks pregnancy hormones), but also because of the outpouring of love, support, and understanding you have all shown me throughout this pregnancy journey.
I know how hard it is to find an instructor you like, one that you will allow into your fitness journey, one you’ll allow to push you when you don’t really want to be pushed, and one you trust enough to take the leaps when they tell you to. Your fitness journey is a vulnerable situation, and I am SO honored you have allowed me the opportunity, continually, to be involved in yours. The fact that you have continued to trust me with this during my own journey is such a humbling thing to me. One I value and cherish and I hope that doesn’t go unnoticed.
I want to remind you, that no matter where you are along your fitness journey, that it is SO important to give yourself grace. This is something I have had to beat into myself over the past 8 months. Some days, maybe your body can’t support your goals, some days maybe just a little movement is all you can do, but some days, maybe you CRUSH the leaderboard! Give yourself grace along your journey. Not every day will be perfect, but every day has SOMETHING perfect in it. Find what that perfect is. Focus on it, cherish it, and come out the other end of the day stronger in SOME way.
The first time I wrote this section, I was so much more eloquent with my words. I was able to articulate the love I feel from this amazing CycleBar LKN community a lot better than I’m able to today in this rewrite, and maybe I’ll be able to recreate that (that wordpress deleted) and i’ll come back and edit this later. But, ya’ll… the community I have seen develop within this ‘just another boutique fitness franchise’ over the past year has gone above and beyond my expectations, maybe because you went on this vulnerable journey with me, maybe because you have leaned RIGHT in to allowing me into YOUR vulnerable journey, who knows what it is exactly. I hope you continue to feel the love of this community and continue to help it thrive.
My last class on the podium before Amelia is 2/17/19, 10am Brunch. I hope you ride with me in my last few classes (sign up here). If you can’t catch me on the podium, let me know when you’re going to class and I’ll ride with you! I still plan to ride up until little one makes her grand entrance!
Follow me for life, updates, baby photos @sydneydelucchi, @cyclestarsyd, and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog!
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