my second time on the reformer
Hi friends! How are you? How was the weekend? Hope you had an amazing one with lots of relaxation in there. First of all, I want to say thank you so much for all of your heartfelt comments, Facebook comments, messages and emails following my Family page post. To be totally honest, I was kind of nervous to post it. Not because I didn’t think you’d be absolutely lovely and kind (because you always are), but it can be frightening to put so much of yourself *out there.* Thank you for surrounding me with your positivity. It means so much to me. I had to film a Snapchat “thank you” like 4 times because I kept starting to cry haha.
This weekend was a pretty great one. The only downer is that I think the fall/winter revolving door of sickness has begun. WHYYYYYY. P and I were sick a few weeks ago, and I thought the Pilot ditched it, and he got it the worst. Now Liv is sick, P and I are fighting it (again), and I know that the Pilot is just around the corner. Fellow parents, when does this stop? When do you stop getting sick all of the time? I heard it’s usually when the baby is 2, but when Liv started preschool it all went out the window. Who even knows.
Some pics from lately:
Trip with P and some friends to the zoo:
(She threw her shoe into the flamingo exhibit, and it was pretty hilarious when I had to reach down to get it out)
Friday afternoon, while P napped, Liv and I played outside, blew bubbles, and she rode her scooter. The weather was gorgeous, and we’re trying to hang out as much as we can outdoors.
(Wearing princess dresses, natch.)
I tried out the new Nekter Juice Bar in Liberty Station!
I’m SO EXCITED we have a closer location -the La Jolla one is a bit far- and I love their juices, smoothies and acai bowls. I grabbed a Health Nut smoothie with greens + pea protein.
Dinner was broiled lemon salmon (recipe from Cooking Light) and salad with homemade dressing.
Saturday, we chilled at home, and I made the famous Buffalo Chicken Casserole from Fed & Fit. I had prepped the chicken the day before and bought peeled and diced sweet potatoes from Trader Joe’s (winning) so putting it together was far less labor-intensive. My friend Arsy posted the recipe here if you want to check it out.
It is AMAZING and the leftovers have been fantastic for lunch.
I packed up a serving to eat on the road, since I was heading up to Carlsbad for a Postpartum Exercise workshop led by my lovely friend Jess. When I saw that she was hosting this workshop, I knew I wanted to enroll because I’m always looking for ways to make PBB even better. We learned about postpartum fitness for 6 hours, and also did some safe (yet KILLER) exercises on the reformer.
I’m pretty sure it was my second time on a reformer. (I’ve done the Megaformer at CORE40, but only tried a classic Pilates reformer once.) It looks like a torture device, which makes it appropriate that it would be so intense.
The workshop was incredible, and I always love the opportunity to learn more about and discuss women’s fitness and health considerations. For all of my fellow fitness instructor friends, Jess will be leading more trainings online and through her website. Check it out here. She is a physical therapist and has worked in the health and fitness industry for 16 years. She has so much knowledge to share. <3
PS I finally tried an RX bar. I liked it! A little chewy, but good.
While I was enjoying the workshop, the Pilot took the girls to the aquarium. P hadn’t been since she was a tiny baby, and loved the seahorses. It’s definitely one of Liv’s favorite San Diego spots.
(The fact that he braided Liv’s hair was the first thing I noticed when I saw this pic haha. #talent)
Sunday morning was relaxing and lovely. The Pilot gave me the greatest gift ever and woke up with the girls while I slept in. (My love language is sleep.) We got some work done and chores around the house, and did the usual hanging out and chillin’.
Today is an exciting day because I’m filming the Winter Shape Up videos!! THE BEST PART: Anne is here in San Diego to do them with me, and Grant flew up from Tucson to film them. So so pumped.
Have a wonderful day and I’ll see ya soon.
xoxo
Gina
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I just started back into my Pilates routine. So good for post surgery strengthening. Pilates brings out every weakness, but in a good way. Have fun filming!
yes, it’s an awesome workout. it’s funny that it wasn’t one of my faves before. now i love it
YAY! So excited for the Winter Shape Up videos!!! Thank you thank you thank you! I can’t wait (if you couldn’t tell haha). And that’s so cute that the Pilot braided Liv’s hair!
so glad you’re excited, too!!
All right, winter shape up!!!! 🙂 So stoked, now that I’m finally getting enough energy back to give it a shot. I feel like all I could do over the first trimester was sleep, eat and drag myself through my 13 hour shifts. Now that I’m at week 15, I finally have a little more oomph!!
Gonna have to get salmon in the rotation again… haven’t had any forever and that looks soo good!
yay, glad to hear the energy is kicking in!!
and yes, the salmon was awesome <3
xo
Have fun filming!! Can’t wait for WSU!
hyggewellness.com/blog
o excited!
since you learned so much about post partum fitness (& given your own experience), i wanted to ask you something i have been wondering about. Maybe it would even be worth a post like you did for PPD (which was awesome).
I recently heard from a friend in med school (future gyno) that kettle bell swings and other similar exercises are brutal for a woman’s pelvic floor and are discouraged. I then heard about a colleague who is taking off a year of work because she is still having prolapse issues a year after childbirth 🙁 I researched a bit and saw that several ab exercises are also discouraged because they basically crunch your uterus/organs out of your canal (sorry if TMI). I find this scary and frustrating, we think by being fit we are helping our future bodies, only to deal with something so awful upon giving birth. Have you learned anything about prevention or other helpful things?
yes, i write a LOT about this is the PBB plan. there are exercises that are unsafe, but especially so if you have DR or pelvic organ prolapse. the key is making sure you know how to engage your transverse abdominis, pelvic floor, breathe during the exercises (so your body doesn’t turn into a pressure cooker), and that you progress safely. also, if you have DR, you need to avoid certain exercises (like full sit-ups, crunches, etc) entirely
i think kettlebell swings are totally fine if you’re doing them safely, exhale on the exertion, engage your transverse, don’t have a large DR separation or pelvic organ prolapse problems. also, i’m so sorry your friend is having these issues after the birth. it can feel really isolating and no one talks about it
The reformer changed my life and the reason I got certified in Pilates! Can’t wait to see what you post on PBB for pre and post natal fitness since I’m back in that game again 🙂
now i want to get certified haha.
I’d love to try the reformer but I’m a little (ok a lot) intimidated and it’s kinda big $$. Would you recommend it for beginners (in pilates)? That juice looks amazing, I’m always looking for a good juice place in Seattle and I don’t think we have Nekter.
i was intimidated, too, but i ended up loving them! they usually have a beginners class option, too <3
The revolving door of sick never ends…neverrrrr. Same age kids over here and I can’t even.
All our healthy eating, vitamin taking, nursing antibodies are no match for the preschool germs of death.
right? it’s like no matter what you do, it’s coming for you. wahhhhh
Eeep, don’t know when the sickness stops, but when I feel something coming on, I take ArmaForce by BioCeuticals. It’s got a hefty dose of zinc, vit C, Echinacea, Olive Leaf extract. I take 2-3/day when the sniffles/early signs start to set in, and it’s helped me prevent many flu’s and colds! 🙂
i will look for it- thank you!
Hi Gina!
Do you know why your posts don’t show up in Feedly anymore? They haven’t shown up since October 28th. Just was wondering what happened.
Thanks! 🙂
hi christine,
yes, i’m so sorry for the inconvenience. we’ve been trying to get it sorted out for weeks now. my techie friend, web developer, host, and wordpress manager have all looked into it and can’t figure out why this is happening. fingers crossed it gets figured out soon
SOOOO cool you got to see Jess in action and learn from her! What fun! 🙂
yes, i was so pumped! she’s the best 🙂 miss you, friend!
YAAAY to Winter Shape Up videos! It’s always extra motivating to be able to work out “with” someone!
And I LOVE RX bars! The chewiness is one of my favorite parts, just because I think it makes it last longer? ha. Chocolate Sea Salt is the BEST (although Pumpkin Spice is pretty awesome too…) Have you had FitJoy bars? Always curious about other opinions on nutritional stats and such.