Walk It Out

My friend Lori recently told me that a friend of hers stayed in great shape while pregnant, just by walking 4 miles a day.

I used to LOVE to run, but lately I just don't feel like it. Walking, however, I can do. I did decide that it would benefit me tremendously to walk daily. I usually get in a CrossFit workout 4 evenings a week, and I began adding in a 30 min walk to my routine ever weekday morning.  It's been a great addition. For me, walking 30 minutes equates to only a little over 2 miles, but something is better than nothing.  

My morning walks kick start my day in an energizing, fantastic way, and I burn 150 calories. It's really great!! Walking is so easy. You literally just put one foot in front of the other, and you get to enjoy nature and clear your head, while getting a little vitamin D. It's a great chance to release stress, tension and anxiety, while moving around. Walking is good for the body, especially a pregnant one. Later in pregnancy, walking can also move things along, if you know what I mean. 

Be sure to stretch appropriately before and after, easing the hamstrings, quads and calves. The good news is, all you need is sneakers! Walking is free too! Your pace can be modified and you control the time frame. Bring your iPod and get inspired by some lively jams that put a smile on your face! Walk early in the morning before it gets too hot, or in the evening when it has cooled off. 

Be conscious of your sense of balance as well as your posture while waking. Carry a bottle of water, and be sure to stay hydrated.  Most importantly, as always, listen to your body! 

#FitTip 

Saving Money on Date Night ...

Dating can be expensive. This is a fact. If a couple goes out to eat twice a week, that can quickly and easily equate to $400 a month. 

My husband, Charlie, and I have found a way to cut our dating bill in half. What we do is...we closely monitor online coupon sites including Groupon and Livingsocial. When a restaurant we enjoy runs one, we each buy one deal.  Then we can enjoy a $60 for half the price. 

For example, one of favorite restaurant, Laurenzo's, periodically runs a coupon through Livingsocial. We went there recently and redeemed one of our coupons and devoured $60 worth of delicious ribs and fish, that we had previously paid $30 for. What a steal! This is great way to save money on eating out and entertainment. 

Additionally, we are very blessed to receive restaurant and visa gift cards from clients, friends and family on special occasions including birthdays and during the holidays. These really last us through the first half of the year and we are able to go enjoy a night out to eat together without spending a lot or any money. 

#ThriftyTip

"Mamaste"

Yoga is something I don't do enough of. This age-old form of exercise is a great change of pace from CrossFit or running. It is beneficial in so many ways, especially while pregnant. I have typically done yoga to help better my breathing patterns, and also to learn how to deeply relax and calm the busy, racing mind. 

Yoga will help so much during pregnancy, because we experience such radical changes including stretching ligaments, changing organs, and growing pains of all sorts, really. Yoga keeps you limber, tones your muscles, and improves your balance and circulation, with little impact on your joints.

The physical demands of labor, birth, and motherhood will absolutely require us to need to breathe fully and deeply. That's life! It can get stressful, so I tend to think of yoga as a great escape while burning calories! 

Some local Houston studios offering prenatal yoga include Joy Yoga, Motherhood Center and Alcove Yoga. 

#FitTip 

Super Fun Summer Break that DIDN'T Break the Bank!

I'm excited to recap our most recent adventure. Charlie and I wanted to get away for my birthday, so we used airline miles from Frontier Airlines credit card to fly to Salt Lake City, Utah. The cost of this was $400 for one plane ticket. The other ticket was free. Hooray! We had an absolute blast and saved money in so many ways while enjoying nature and the great outdoors.  I'm happy to share these tips with you so you can cut the cost of your next vacation in half.

We rented a cabin near Heber City, Utah for several nights. They happened to be running a Groupon, which I purchased, and we saved hundreds of dollars! This experience beat staying in a hotel, because it was cozy and romantic, and we were really immersed in nature, and all that Utah has to offer. We stayed at River's Edge at Deer Park, right on the river, where we enjoyed serene views and cool mornings.  Staying in a cabin with a kitchen allowed us to cook. We spent $60 in groceries rather than hundreds of dollars in eating out each meal.  We DID however, enjoy a fine steak and lobster dinner at Z's Chop Haus on my birthday!  It was decadent and delicious to say the least.

For activities, we hiked Little Cottonwood Canyon  and also Dutch Hollow Trail. These didn't cost us a dime, but offered million dollar views. We also tried fly fishing with Utah Fly Fishing Guides, and caught countless trout in the Provo River! I didn't think I could handle a whole half day, (being nearly 5 months pregnant) and neither could our wallets, so I asked for a discounted rate for just a few hours. It turned out to be plenty of time to master this skill, catch fish and most importantly have fun! Sometimes, all you have to do is ask...

We could have potentially spent $2k or more on this trip, but we spent less than half that. It was one of my favorite places to visit, and favorite trips thus far, and I highly recommend you consider visiting Utah. Below you can review how we saved money...

Airfare for 2 = $400
Fly fishing for 2 = $300
Cabin stay for 2 nights = $110
Groceries = $60
Birthday Dinner = $100
Hikes = FREE
____________________________
OUR Trip Price = $970


Airfare for 2 = $800
Fly fishing for 2 = $400
Pricey Hotels = $480
Eating Out = $400
Guided Hikes = $200
_____________________________
Original Trip Price = $2280.00 (or more)


And that's how we do it! #thirtfytip

Good 2nd trimester wod

It's certainly a good idea to keep moving and exercising during pregnancy. If you're going to be CrossFitting while pregnant, remember that these intense workouts need to be slowed down a bit. By all means work hard, but physicians would typically advise that you should be able to hold a conversation during the workout. Don't push yourself to the point that you would pre-prego! 

Listen to your body, and if something feels uncomfortable, modify it. I did the workout below today at lunch at a steady pace, and felt great afterwards. It took me nearly 20 minutes, but all the movements are safe.  

Written by: Kelly Gerszewski, Mom-To-Be, Level 1 CrossFit Trainer and Director of Childcare at Triumph Strength & Conditioning aka TSC CrossFit

www.TriumphStrength.com 

#FitTip

Saving Money and Hot Water

I have a great tip for saving money on your gas or electric bill for your home! You can use less hot water by lowering the thermostat on your hot water heater from 140 degrees down to about 120. This can save you up to $125 a year, or $10ish monthly. 

A lower temperature is also better for your hair, believe it or not. At the end of your shower, rinsing your hair in cold water is good for it, because it flattens the cuticle of your hair and close it, as well as makes it shinier.

#ThriftyTip

Eating Healthy for Baby

We all know that eating a healthy diet is very important for both you and baby while pregnant. We also know that it's not always as easy as it seems. Constant hormonal changes cause us to crave sweets and greasy, salty foods. 

What helps to keep me on track a good portion of the time is knowing now that I am 17 weeks pregnant, I my baby is developing taste buds. I want it to have a good balance of likings to vegetables, meats, fruits,  and other healthy real foods like nuts and seeds. 

Also, keep in mind that you really only need to consume 200 to 300 additional calories daily for baby. You are not really eating for two, as the old saying goes...

It's a good idea to eat small meals frequently throughout the day. A small meal constitutes putting the palms of your hands together as if you were cupping something, then filling it with healthy food. The size of my meals is traditionally pretty large considering the frequency in which I work out. But as long as that's lean meat and veggie salad, I'm okay with that. Reducing the size of my meals lately has been somewhat of a struggle. I have eaten to the point of feeling so full that I became nauseous several times. Oops! 

Also, accept that a treat every now and then certainly isn't the end of the world. That's life. For example, I craved lemon bars all week long, and my Mom finally brought me some. I had four small squares over two days. Now the craving has passed. When I say every now and then, I mean once every two weeks or once a month. This should not be a daily habit.

Don't forget to work out or exercise in some form or fashion at least a few times a week.  The days and I'm just not up to doing  CrossFit Wod due to fatigue, I simply go for a 30 minute walk.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Written by: Kelly Gerszewski, Mom-To-Be

Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, Director of Childcare at TSC CrossFit aka Triumph Strength and Conditioning in Houston, Tx 

www.TriumphStrength.com

New Reeboks

My feet have really been hurting, and I'm so happy I scored these Reeboks at Ross today for $29.99. They have Ortholite Performance Insoles. I'm thrilled I don't have to go spend hundred dollars or more! #winfortheweek