Neal and I have an unspoken agreement about weekend mornings. Almost every weekend I wake up early, take Theodore for a walk, and enjoy some much needed me time while Neal sleeps in. On Saturday mornings I love to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, write in my journal, clean up the house, and watch cooking shows. On Sunday mornings I head over to The Pedal Studio for spin class, run to the farmers market, and go grocery shopping. For Neal and I, we both get exactly what we need from of our weekend mornings, and I love it!
Sunday mornings have quickly become my favorite time of the week! I absolutely love getting an awesome workout in first thing in the morning and then heading over to the farmers market for an iced coffee and fresh produce after class. During this pregnancy, it has been a true accomplishment to make it to the next Sunday! If you had told me 9 months ago that I’d still be taking spin classes at 37 weeks pregnant I would have been shocked! My goal this pregnancy was to stay as active as my body would allow me, always keeping the baby’s health my top priority, and I’ve truly been amazed at how my body has continued to respond to my spin workouts!
The key for me has been to hydrate (before, during, and after class), watch my heart rate (I don’t go over 160 bpm), and to adjust the bike as my belly grows (being comfortable is key). Early on in my pregnancy I could workout at about the same intensity as before I was pregnant, but now at 9 months I’ve really had to backed off! Yes I still take 45-60 minute spin classes, but I spin at a much slower pace and keep my heart rate under control.
I burn anywhere from 300-600 calories a spin workout, just depending on how I’m feeling that day. Some days I have much more energy and other days I just take it easy. My goal has never been to burn a certain number of calories but instead to stay active. While I’ve enjoyed going for walks, spin has given me the much needed release I get from a good workout. It gives me time to clear my head, to break a sweat, and always leaves me feeling great about myself. Pregnant or not, that’s what spin has brought to my life.
I also make sure to have a snack right after class, which helps to replenish any energy I may have lost during class. Whether it’s banana or mandarin oranges, I just need something with carbs to refuel my body. Pre-pregnancy I drank rehydrate and a post-workout recovery shake, but fruit has worked great for me while I’m pregnant.
I know a lot’s about to change after we have the baby, but I really look forward to returning to my Sunday spin classes after my body has healed. For me it’s more than just a workout! It’s a time for me to relax, reflect, and recharge, which I know I’ll need more than ever after becoming a mom!!
I learned a long time ago, after dealing with much insecurity from being an obese child, that fitness should always be about you. You have to love the workouts you do and you have to love how you feel after doing them. No you may not always love every moment of your workouts, but the goal is always to end them knowing that you just did something amazing for yourself!
Sunday spin is my me time and what it does for my body is both mental and physical. My hope is that everyone finds a workout they love and a time each week where they don’t allow anything else to get in the way of that activity.
