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    7 years ago

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Heaven Gained an Angel

This week's post comes with a very heavy heart.   For anyone who has been a part of my blog or my wellness journey, you have seen the ups and downs of this pregnancy.  The joy, the fear and the excitement.

As we got closer to our scheduled delivery date, June 5th, I started to let down my guard.  The loss last summer weighed heavy on me for the majority of this pregnancy.    However, on May 22nd, we learned that our rainbow baby had passed.

We met him later that night, naming him Thomas James.   He was born at 6:38pm and weighed 6lbs 15oz, perfectly healthy and beautiful, he had two very unique cord complications which at some point over the weekend cut off his supply to me.

This is a loss no parents should ever have to endure, but as we look forward in the upcoming days and weeks I am working hard to focus on the things in Life I have to be grateful for.



First and foremost, this little guy.   He brightens my days, but more so now than I ever could have imagined.  He needs me as much as I need him.   


While I am still recovering from the c-section, we have already started 'moving' again.   From 1 walk a day in the hospital, to 6 (each lasting about 3 minutes) each day has gotten a little better.  Having a reason to keep moving has been so important.   When I got home later in the week, I said maybe we could 'workout' together (very light, very simple given my recovery), his response:

"Mommy, we can do heavy weights, heavy weights won't hurt your boo boo."

While I can't do heavy weights, or weights at all, it melted my heart that he knows his mommy THAT well that he knows I love my 'heavy' weights.

We will be moving forward with walks and very light dancing (approved by the doctor) to keep with routine and keep my mind in a positive space.


Proud to be my walking buddy...


I also have really been working hard to focus on my nutrition.  After Ben was born, I struggled a lot with sleep deprivation, recovery and all the changes of being a new mom.  I turned to food and started living a sedentary life.  I know that that combination made it harder for me to enjoy my new son and harder to be present in my life.

Despite the sadness I feel in my heart, I am grateful to now have tools and support to remind me that healthy food choices aren't about a number on a scale, they are about a mental state. And right now I need the healthiest mind I can have to help cope with these emotions.



Between my shakeology, bananas, water and eggs I am proud to say that I have made strong nutritional choices and felt the impact on my body.


It's not making me less sad, but it's helping me process the sad.


My first meal 'back' home I chose to make zoodles (we had just gone to the grocery store and had some veggies still in the fridge).  I had the choice of pasta and cake, but I knew they would make me tired, they'd make me want to just lay down and sleep.  But right now that's not what I need, and it's certainly not what my family needs.



Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Food Prep!!

Weekly Update: Less than 3 weeks to go!!!   I am feeling larger than large these days.  A little part of me got discouraged when I realized I'm actually on par with what I weighed with my first pregnancy but then I remembered a few things.

1.  This time I started at higher weight, so I've actually gained a lot less
2. I am not even remotely swollen - a HUGE win since last time it was cankle city
3. I am continuing to workout, something I gave up much earlier in my pregnancy last time

So with all that being said, it's about honoring my body, and keeping myself accountable and healthy post partum as well.


And here it is - training to be a newborn mom?  I continue to get up each morning at 5:30 for my workouts, I am actually a little sad that I'll have to miss my workouts moving forward for a few weeks, but I'm pretty sure I'll still be up at 5:30am!



This little guy continues to stay with me through it all, I wish I could know what it felt like to be him during the course of the day!


And here I am with my first little one - the three of us workout together once a week.  Here we are after being awarded 'workout medals' after our weekend routine!


Food news!!! I've been getting sort of lazy with food - meaning I need it to be quick, so I went Italian a few nights - packed with veggies (homemade sauce and broccoli), measured out pasta, and ricotta for protein, packs a lot of nutrients and is SUPER easy to throw together.


And here's another protein and veggie packed meal - butternut squash pizza!


And of course pumpkin cookies, relatively healthy (not totally, but also way better than most!)


Another favorite prep that we've been doing - pre making eggs at the beginning of the week.  Scrambling up eggs and spinach before the week starts has made it super easy for a fast meal or snack instead of having to cook them on the spot (that's also easy, but I'm trying to cut as many breaks as I can these days with time!)


And here's another Italian dish I made that's super easy and full of veggies and protein!



I'm happy to help you with your journey, please contact me via Chapmaki@gmail.com or create a free account under me to connect: www.TeamBeam.us (select Join --> Free Account).
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If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/


If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki


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CONTACT EMAIL: chapmaki@gmail.com 

Monday, May 15, 2017

Pasta Bake!

Veggie Pasta Bake



Don't overthink food prep!! Here is a quick recipe I threw together without much planning at all.

Note: I actually cut up/cooked the 'parts' the day before then mixed and baked the day of

1. Cut up broccoli and steamed (1 head)
2. Cut up eggplant and steamed (1 medium)
3. Sauteed (non stick, no butter/oil) 2 onions and 1 red pepper
4. Cooked elbow macaroni (I used about 3 cups for the recipe, the rest will be eaten by my son and husband over the course of the week)
5. 3 Small Containers of Ricotta (part skim)
6. Grandmas Sauce ( - mainly veggies (about 2 cups worth)
7. 18 small mozzarella balls cut in half

Mix all but mozzarella balls together, put in a large casserole dish, top with the mozzarella balls and bake at 350 about 35 minutes!

SO GOOD. This made 6 servings each with a serving of protein, carbs, healthy fats and a couple servings of veggies!


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21 Day Fix Version:
1/6th = 1R, 1Y, 2G, 1/2B

1. Cut up broccoli and steamed (1 head/2G)
2. Cut up eggplant and steamed (1 medium/2G)
3. Sauteed (non stick, no butter/oil) 2 onions and 1 red pepper (3G)
4. Cooked elbow macaroni (I used about 3 cups for the recipe/measured out 6Y)
5. 3 Small Containers of Ricotta (part skim, measured to be 6R)
6. Grandmas Sauce (about 2 cups worth/6G based on the recipe)
7. 18 small mozzarella balls cut in half (6 balls = 1B, so the total was 3B)

Mix all but mozzarella balls together, put in a large casserole dish, top with the mozzarella balls and bake at 350 about 35 minutes!

SO GOOD. This made 6 servings each with a serving of protein, carbs, healthy fats and a couple servings of veggies!

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I'm happy to help you with your journey, please contact me via Chapmaki@gmail.com or create a free account under me to connect: www.TeamBeam.us (select Join --> Free Account).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/


If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTACT EMAIL: chapmaki@gmail.com 


Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The FINAL COUNTDOWN!

Weekly Update:  Getting down to the wire!!  With my first pregnancy, I was put on bed rest unexpectedly at 37 weeks - now I'm at 36 weeks and refuse to take any workout for granted. And not just workouts - but moving FREELY for granted.  So as I move the next few days and weeks it is for nothing other than the PRIVILEGE of being 'able' to.  I challenge you, pregnant or not - if you are ABLE, don't let the opportunity to 'move' pass you by.


That being said, my movements are slower at best - here is a fun photo from the weekend where I realized I can barely see my feet even sitting these days!  Bending over is more than a chore (it's flat out impossible!) and I get winded often.


Here is a fun 4 year comparison - my first pregnancy and my current.  I don't look much different, older and in less clothes, about the same weight now - but I FEEL a lot different. I have more energy, I'm still moving consistently and my mindset is a heck of a lot different as well.


One thing I particularly like about my workouts these days are that I do them at home, in my time in my space - at MY pace.  I can modify, pause the video, take a break if I need to- and as a result I can continue to maintain my strength without risking injury.


This weekend was also proof that my fitness and consistency is paying off.  We went on a family trip for Mother's Day (a week early) to Boston.  I LOVE Boston, but it's a heck of a lot of walking around - I have to say the most physically draining part of the trip was the hotel beds!  We did about 5 hours of walking around on Sunday and I didn't get sore at ALL the next day - this is a huge win even not pregnant!


Here is another fun shot from our weekend away taking the T.  


While my nutrition wasn't 100% over the weekend, I did what I could to balance out my meals. I made smart choices at restaurants AND brought my trusty Shakeology to start the day.


Once we got home, it was right back to business, not because of how it makes me 'look' but because of how it makes me FEEL.


Here is a staple in our house - Ezekial English muffins - they are found in the freezer section because they are all whole natural ingredients (sprouted grains versus flours).   I like to grill one on the stove with a teaspoon of olive oil..YUM!


And eggs! Always a must in this house - we've been making a weekly batch of them and that way it saves even more time in the mornings just to grab a portion and eat them up!


Here is another photo from our trip away - my cooler with snacks for my son and I, as well as my trusty bananas!


Another quick prep tip - cook a bunch of ingredients and store separately, then you can make various meals with them.  Here is a fajita bowl I made out of sauteed peppers/onions, rice and tofu!



I'm happy to help you with your journey, please contact me via Chapmaki@gmail.com or create a free account under me to connect: www.TeamBeam.us (select Join --> Free Account).
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If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/


If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTACT EMAIL: chapmaki@gmail.com 

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Final Month!

Weekly Update: One month to go!!! Or less?!  I am super proud of myself for staying so active this pregnancy but I'm definitely noticing myself 'slowing down' - that being said, my current version of slow is still so much stronger than when I started my health journey 3 years ago.

This photo is of me holding a pose instead of 'jumping' - I'm ok with SOME moves being jumping, but others just feel weird.   So I am doing what I can, and still so proud of being so strong!


Here is a move I can still jump with - squats/burpees I find easier (oddly) than things like sumo jumps.



Don't let the workout clothes fool you - by day I'm all belly!  My son took this photo of "his baby" and I'm actually pretty impressed with the shot he got!   Workouts are easy, every day life is hard!



One thing a baby bump is good for?  Catching sweat!


And one more belly shot, just because I find them fun - I had to bend over for this one to see my toes, but it's a fun view to see just how much by body is changing these days.



Despite not always being as 'strong' as I had been pre pregnancy (for obvious reasons), I'm proud that I've yet to miss a single morning workout.   These are important to me because they give me my 'alone' time, they start my day out with a positive attitude, and I never have an excuse not to do my workout because there's nothing else I'd be doing that early in the morning!!

One tip I have besides 'just getting up' - is smiling! The second I get up I snap a photo with a smile, it really helps with my mood!




I've also been really working on spending some quality time with my son - not that we won't have time after the baby comes, but I know life is about to get a lot harder.  Here we are enjoying "Mexico" with bubbles and tubes!


I haven't yet taken this week's photo - but here's a fun comparison from the prior two weeks - I am seeing the 'shape' of my stomach change from week to week!


This week was bitter sweet for me in a few ways - it marked the first week of my "Maternity Leave" from teaching.  I remember being pregnant with Ben and counting down the days until I could take off from work.  This time is different.  Between coaching and teaching, I LOVE what I do.  While coaching is my primary job these days, it enables me to be able to have the flexibility to teach these Mommy & Me classes - and I didn't realize just how MUCH I loved them until this week when I realized I won't be teaching for a few months. 


Food news....

I've been craving ICE like crazy.  It must be a pregnancy thing, normally I don't like ice! So instead of just chewing ice all day, I've been using it as an opportunity to make some really 'icey' shakes - most recently Cafe Latte has been my favorite!



Including some wild blueberries we picked and froze from NH last year!



Here's my food prep for the week (along with grilling and eggs!),  Stuffed shells! Packed with veggies and protein - the stuffing is spinach, ricotta, egg, sage and butternut squash.



And here is the grilling!  How do you feed a family with different dietary needs?  You do a buffet!!! 



I'm happy to help you with your journey, please contact me via Chapmaki@gmail.com or create a free account under me to connect: www.TeamBeam.us (select Join --> Free Account).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you enjoy my blog, I'd love to have you in my private (women only) Facebook Group dedicated to health, fitness and nutrition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitandHealthyPrivateGroup/


If you'd like to work with me as your coach, create a free account:  http://www.beachbodycoach.com/chapmaki

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTACT EMAIL: chapmaki@gmail.com