• Style
  • Home
  • Family
  • Life
  • Culture

A Girl Named PJ

28 weeks: a review

April 26, 2011

28 weeks 4 days pregnant front view

Early in my pregnancy I quickly accumulated a stack of pregnancy books with the assumption that I’d read through them all because if I didn’t, how would I learn the “right way” to be pregnant?

Besides What to Expect When You’re Expecting, the only other book I read cover to cover was The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy, which was a gift from a friend. I can’t say I learned a lot from it; the book read more like a trashy tabloid you toss in your grocery cart while waiting to pay. Take this passage, for instance:

Here are the biggest reasons why we Girlfriends don’t think you need to keep up your gym membership while you are pregnant:

  1. You will be too tired.
  2. You won’t like yourself in the harsh gym mirrors.
  3. You will get fat anyway.
  4. Exercise will not help you in labor or delivery in any way.
  5. You might endanger the pregnancy
  6. Even if you don’t endanger the pregnancy, if something (god forbid) goes wrong, you will forever wonder if your exercising caused it.
  7. It’s “nine months up and nine months down” in the weight department, no matter what you do (give or take a few months on the downside).
  8. Our compulsion to exercise when we are pregnant is a reflection of our inability to surrender and let nature run its course.

I can find at least 17 things wrong with Vicki Iovine’s list of reasons why pregnant women shouldn’t exercise. I’m sure you can too, even if you aren’t pregnant. I exercised before I got pregnant and have continued to work out these past 29 weeks because it makes me good, physically and emotionally. “You will get fat anyway” is not a valid reason to avoid exercising. Yes, you grow a baby bump, but you don’t have to get fat. “Nine months up and nine months down” doesn’t sit well with me either. Friends have proven that it’s not necessarily true. Every body is different, but I don’t think “nine months up and nine months down” is law.

Once or twice a week, I lift weights under the supervision of a personal trainer for 30 minutes. I try to get back to the gym once or twice to do 30 minutes of cardio, but there have been plenty of weeks when I didn’t step on the elliptical machine at all. I’m not hardcore about working out. Never was. I listen to my body and try to do as much as it and my trainer allow me.

Normally I try to take my weekly self-portrait on the one day a week when I’m dressed in a proper outfit (one of the perks of working from home is that I spend most days in pajamas or lounge clothing), but I decided to take this week’s photo after a workout because, well, this is what I’m usually wearing! Very unglamorous…

28 weeks 4 days pregnant side view

{self-portraits taken at 28 weeks, 4 days}

Related Posts

  • The laziest xylophone playerThe laziest xylophone player
  • Celebrating Others, Plus a Giveaway!Celebrating Others, Plus a Giveaway!
  • Learn how to crochet + support Every Mother CountsLearn how to crochet + support Every Mother Counts
  • You say “car-ml,” I say “carra-mel”You say “car-ml,” I say “carra-mel”

SHARE THIS POST:

Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter


5COMMENTS | Life

« pregnant in heels
meet sophie »

Let’s Discuss

  1. JB

    April 26, 2011 at 11:22 am

    …and very beautiful. You’re awesome, baby. You know that magazine you got, “Fit Pregnancy” or something?? I’m pretty sure you qualify.

    Nothing is normal, nothing is “supposed to be” a certain way. You’re doing perfect.

    I love you.

    Reply
  2. Rachel

    April 27, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    That list is absolutely nonesense. I totally agree with you.

    And you look fit and fabulous.

    Reply
  3. Mom #2

    April 29, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    “Glamorous” is in the eyes of the beholder. You look FAB!!!!! Keep up the good work, PJ. Before you know it, Baby F will be on the outside, looking at his beautiful parents. Everything will “fit” just fine.

    xoxoxoxoxo,
    Mom #2

    Reply
  4. cheree

    May 19, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    My sister is a labor and delivery nurse and she says that every woman she delivers who has continued to exercise has an easier time with delivery. Those who let it go, struggle.

    I have continued to exercise and even ran my first half marathon at 12 weeks (I was training prior to becoming pregnant). Working out is one of the few things that lets me feel like I am still me and I have no desire to let go of that.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to dress for the gym | Bunny and Dolly says:
    January 15, 2014 at 9:18 am

    […] the gym after an embarrassingly long hiatus. The last time I regularly worked out was when I was pregnant with Levi, and I credit that commitment for keeping my body strong and my mind (somewhat) clear during my […]

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

PJ Photo (lefty)

CONNECT Social Links (righty)

LET'S
CONNECT

Pages Menu (lefty)

ABOUT PORTFOLIO CONTACT

120×600 AD Banner (righty)

“WORK With Me” Linked Graphic (lefty)

Archives Button Link (lefty)

Subscribe Links (lefty)

SUBSCRIBE

RSS FEEDLY BLOGLOVIN' EMAIL

Search – full width

DIVIDER IMAGE

Featured Series Squares

FEATURED
SERIES



DIVIDER IMAGE

Friends & Sponsors Ads

FREE
DOWNLOAD


DIVIDER IMAGE

RECENT
PINS

SHAUNA WALTON DESIGN on Instagram: "The boldest tile choice of my career to date. 📸: @lomillerphoto . . . . #custom #designer #desingerkitchen #kitchens #interiors #swd #shaunawaltondesign #design #whiteoak #athenaforcrate #bazayblacksmithing #adh #kalistaplumbing @crateandbarrel @kalistaplumbing @adhhardware"SHAUNA WALTON DESIGN on Instagram: "The boldest tile choice of my career to date. 📸: @lomillerphoto . . . . #custom #designer #desingerkitchen #kitchens #interiors #swd #shaunawaltondesign #design #whiteoak #athenaforcrate #bazayblacksmithing #adh #kalistaplumbing @crateandbarrel @kalistaplumbing @adhhardware"AVA - Shauna Walton's Portfolio
Follow Me on Pinterest More Pins
I HAVE MORE TO SAY
JOIN MY NEWSLETTER
Exciting updates, bonus content,
exclusive giveaways

LET'S
CONNECT

A LOOK INTO MY LIFE
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM

    Copyright © 2023 A Girl Named PJ / All Rights Reserved / Disclosure / Privacy Policy