Mommy Tip #1 - Squats

Although I've only been a mom for a little over 3 months I feel like I learn something new everyday so I've decided to add a new section to my blog called mommy tips. I love reading about other people's experiences with motherhood so I wanted to be able to share mine in quick little blerbs here and there. Mommy tips will be little tips about anything mommy related that I discover on my journey in parenting! So here it goes! :)

Mommy Tip #1:

Finding time to workout as a new mom is hard sometimes. Running is my main means of exercise but sometimes it's a struggle to get out the door! Here's my mommy tip on how to squeeze in a workout at the most unlikely times.

Squats are a girls best friend! I used to do 100 squats a day on top of my normal workouts and I love what they do for my butt and legs. As a mom I now have a built in weight of about 13-14 lbs. His name is Connor!

Sometimes the little guy won't take a nap unless I rock him to sleep. This is the perfect time for me to get in a mini workout. While I rock him I do sets of 10 wide squats. You can also try a traditional squat or side lunges. Not only do I feel the burn but it actually helps C fall asleep from the rocking up and down!

If you want an added challenge, make a rule that every time you change a diaper you have to do 5-10 squats while holding baby. You'll be surprised how sore you are the next day!

Hope you enjoyed the very first mommy tip! Feel free to share some of your mommy tips in the comments. I'd love to hear them!

xoxo Jessenia

Running - Mommy Style

If you know me, you know I love running. My freshman year of high school my mom convinced me to run cross country to get into shape for soccer and also because she ran when she was in high school. When the season first started I hated it! I remember we would have to run around the fields behind the school and when we got to a part where our coach couldn't see us we would walk.

As the season progressed I fell in love with it. I especially loved racing. Putting everything you have into training and then competing in a race is such an amazing feeling and not only are you racing against the other runners but your racing against yourself. I was constantly trying to beat my PR.

Even though I loved racing and running I was always one of those runners who was content with being in the middle of the pack - not super slow and not super fast. I trained hard but when I felt like being lazy I did. lol.

I continued running through college and up until I got pregnant, competing in 5ks here and there and I did my first half marathon last October. I had always thought I would be a pregnant runner but once I got pregnant it just didn't feel right to me. I know there's loads of research on the pros and cons but for me personally it didn't seem like the right choice so for a whole 9 months I didn't run. It was the longest I have gone without running since I was 14. Needless to say, I missed it .. a lot!

After my c-section the doctor cleared me to run at 4 weeks and I started out really slow with walk breaks. It always sucks to have to start running from scratch but I kept at it and built up my endurance. As of now at 12 weeks I pretty much feel back to normal with my endurance and pace. I'm running a 5k soon and then I'm going to be training for a half marathon starting in January.

Although most of the time I run by myself while my husband watches Connor, I still feel like running has changed for me. Being a mommy runner is much different! When I go out for a run most of the time I think about Connor at home. What is he doing? Is he hungry? Is he still sleeping? My husband is great with him so I know I don't have to worry but that's just what moms do!

I also can't just run for as long as I want or decide I want to run another mile mid- run because I know I have to be home to feed Connor since he still doesn't go very long between feedings. Even though these might seem like bad things they aren't at all! I love knowing that when I walk in the door after a great run my little man will be waiting for me! I love him so much! I also can't wait for him to get a little bigger so he can ride in the BOB running stroller without the car seat. I hope he likes it! That way we can  go on long runs together and of course when he can run, I hope he'll be running next to me!

I have read many forums about mommy runners who say they are in better shape and have more determination post baby than they did before and I think I could say the same for myself. I'm not in better shape quite yet but my determination is higher because I have something to work for. I'm working off the baby weight and working towards feeling strong again. My goal is to beat my PRs for a 5k and half eventually and when I do I know I can look forward to seeing my husband and my sweet baby boy waiting for me at the finish line!

Hope everyone is having a great week! If you're a mommy runner, how has it changed for you?

xoxo Jessenia