HALF-WAY- My Fit Pregnancy Journey

20 weeks in, this is where I'm at!

The biggest update is I've CHANGED. Now obviously I've changed in my appearance, belly is there, starting to get the aww your pregnant and it's cute comments, boobs are in full effect and hips are preparing.

But here are the 4 biggest changes:

1. For the first time ever I'm training STRICTLY for my health. I can't see my muscles, or the benefits of the effort, I'm not training to lean down or lose weight and I'm not working toward a goal, competition, or personal record. I'm training because I want to be strong even if I don't look it, I'm training to take care of my body even if it won't show, and I'm training (hard) because I feel so much better afterward. Yes, there have been days I don't want to go and the thought of a nap sounds great, but I still do, and always so glad I did!

2. I never thought about muscle gain while expecting, just weight gain. The more I thought about it (and after a wise friend confirmed), it's actually pretty likely. I'm eating plenty, I'm still lifting heavy and my body is working even harder with a baby on board. I may not see it now but it's possible to add some good muscle mass, and how pleasing it would be to see once the layer of body fat comes off.

3. I've changed my rep range, I've always been a super set higher rep kinda gal (still heavy of course but per my body type kept the intensity high). My strength is still there, the weights are still heavy, but my endurance is low. So what once was 12-15 reps is now about 8, and I'm okay with that.

4. I will admit I'm not logging my food. I actually picked it back up a few weeks ago and found that I actually wasn't eating ENOUGH to support a growing baby all while working out still. So I got a handle on that and found a good place with getting enough food but working hard to pick the right ones.

So I've embraced the change, physical and mental, and still going strong on my journey. Still training hard, squatting low and dead lifting heavy. The only thing I've stayed away from is the leg press (something about my feet up, spread, and pushing just doesn't seem right). I still catch myself and make sure I'm not eating using the pregnancy as an excuse but because I'm hungry. I'm up 14 pounds since October which is about half what I've gained at this point the first two times around. Still wearing a few pair of my jeans (the stretch ones of course and can button them but I just use the belly band instead). Again not something I could say about the first two pregnancies. I feel great, really I forget I'm pregnant until I look in the mirror, or down here lately. The training has kept me as mobile, energetic, and capable as I was prior to the belly. Pull ups are almost a no go with the extra lbs but the assist bands keep me at it. Not sure what the next 20 weeks will bring but I must admit I am over the moon excited about a new baby, which I'm thinking will come out swinging kettelbells!

Signed with Love, Sweat and Grit
2 Timothy 1:7
Christie FitNix

Why I Started FITNIX

FITNIX, what's the point? Well there are a few let me explain!

YOU!
I have a desire to help! To motivate, encourage, inspire and sympathize, to spur each other along. To share my experiences, how I maintain my busy life as a wife and mom and keep my nutrition and fitness a priority. To celebrate the athlete in all of us, as a lifter, competitor, runner, cross fitter, or tough mama! Life is a journey and we must prepare our bodies for the process by taking care of them. I love training and I want you to love it too, find ways to make progress and not stress about perfection! To bring you new lifting techniques, workouts, recipes, and the must haves of any dedicated diva!

FINALLY MY CLIENTS SAY!
So much to say and share with my clients (past and present) and never enough time to do it! FITNIX gives them a place to continue their session from home, to know that I am motivating and cheering them on at the gym or from home. A constant open forum for conversation, questions, and even chatter between clients about how AWESOME their workout was!

MOVING AGAIN YOU SAY?
As an Army wife I never thought I would work or much less have a career with all the moving (so far 6 states in 9.5 years). Content with that truly, being a stay at home wife and mom for 8.5 years was BUSY enough. And while I still make that my first priority God has clearly shown me that He will open the doors and provide the right place for me to continue my passion and help others along the way. With each new move presents new challenges and with no time to waste before the next move getting started is no easy feat. Who knows maybe one day I will be coming to a city close to you and I can really be your trainer :-) As FITNIX grows so does my opportunity to have a cliental NO MATTER WHERE THE ARMY SENDS US!

A HEART TO SERVE!
I don't claim to know everything and am perfectly aware that I never will! I am passionate about all aspects of health and fitness and constantly look to learn more. As an experienced volunteer at church and as an army wife I truly love to help and serve others. FITNIX gives me a place to continue that act of service. I'm here to help how I can, if I don't have an answer someone I know will! Regardless of the state, phase I'm in with children, currently employed or not, packing or unpacking, FITNIX gives me a place to serve you at all times.

As you share my page, posts, pictures, etc. you help make all of this a reality for me! I love when I see a new follower and they tell me who sent them, that makes me smile! I will always work hard to keep you engaged and I absolutely love when you share your journey with me! Help me reach 2,000 and I will celebrate with another fabulous giveaway! Working on the prizes as we speak!

Signed with GRIT, SWEAT, AND LOVE! 2 Timothy 1:7
Christie (Fit) Nix
Find me at www.facebook.com/fitnix5
Twitter @fitnix5
Instagram @fitnix5
Pinterest: FITNIX

WHERE DO I START

I get a lot of questions on how to get started, here are some guidelines and suggestions to help you tackle the beginning of a fit life!

Set three small goals for the week, for example 3 workouts, track my food, and more water.

1. Workouts: look at your life (calendar), commitments, kids commitments, appointments, work, etc. and see where you are going to fit those workouts in. Get up earlier twice and go to bed later, squeeze two over the weekend and one early morning, while the kids are at school, etc. schedule those 3 workouts into your calendar and don't cancel!

Kids are a problem you say? Work with/around that. When my girls were small strapping them into a double jogger was a go to workout, find a gym with a day care, do a playground workout while your kids play, or some tabatas while you wait at soccer practice, (I will post those at the end). Excuses are just that, excuses. If you can make the time for coffee, shopping, nails, play dates, you can squeeze an hour toward a healthier you a few times a week. AND DON'T FALL INTO THE I FEEL BAD FOR MY KIDS TRAP! Your kids can sacrifice a play date for a fit mom!

2. Track your food: I can't stress enough how monumental a food diary is. I use myfitnesspal and even have friends I follow and that follow me as accountability. You will get a grasp on how little or how much you are eating. Going out for dinner, you can search a healthy (or the less of two evils) option while you are deciding what to eat. I will post about calories and macros in a future blog but the biggest advice I could give is get your protein, veggies, and watch your SUGAR! Milk has lots of sugar,fruit has lots of sugar (fruit isn't bad but eating fruit all day and saying your on a diet is not the way to change your body), and drinks out with the girls has lots of sugar. With a food diary you can learn what you are doing well and what needs to change that maybe you didn't notice before.

3. Drink More Water- this is an easy one, for so many reasons! Find a water bottle that is at least a 1/4 of a gallon and set your sights to work toward 4 of those a day. I have a 1/2 gallon jug (that everyone has seen me carry) and I try to have two of those a day. I stick to just water or water with lemon or grapefruit slices, no more artificial flavoring for me, and the water you drink during your workout counts!

Start there and have a successful healthy week! These small changes will become habits and then you can build upon those! Like 5 workouts a week!

PLAYGROUND WORKOUT- repeat 3 times or for a duration of 30 minutes
Bench step ups x 12 each leg
Bench dips x 15
Bench incline push ups x 12
Plank for one minute (in the grass or hands on a bench)
Jumping pull ups on the monkey bars x 12
Walking lunges hands overhead x 20 each leg
Step taps (at bottom step tap w foot and switch to other foot as fast as possible, repeat) 45 seconds
Bear crawl around playground
Jog around playground


TABATA WORKOUT
Download a tabatas timer on your phone. It should be set for 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest for a total of 4 minutes. That will be one tabatas round. Perform at least 5 rounds of tabatas. That will be 20 minutes of intense movement. For each round pick four different exercises (usually body weight).

For example:
Round 1
Push ups, star jumps, bicycle crunches, jumping switch lunge.
Round 2
Burpees, plank get ups, mountain climbers, jump squats
Round 3
Long jumps, decline push ups (feet on a chair or bench), knee tuck jumps, jump rope
Round 4
Mountain climbers, speed skaters, Russian twists, air squats.

Repeat those movements for each round until the four minutes is up. So round 1 would be push ups for 20 seconds, 10 of rest, star jumps for 20 seconds, 10 of rest, bicycle crunches for 20 seconds, 10 of rest, jumping switch lunge for 20 seconds, 10 of rest, push ups for 20 seconds, 10 of rest, star jumps for 20 seconds, 10 rest, and so on until its been four minutes.

Rest for one full minute between each round then repeat the same pattern for round 2, then round 3, then round 4 and back to round 1 for a 20 minute workout.