Jillian says to use challenging weights… a little baby counts, right?
My quest to get Ripped in 30 with Jillian Michaels continues. You know, I didn’t really used to understand the point of workout DVDs – they seemed boring and repetitive – but now, I tooootally get it. DVDs are so great for those days that you’re watching kids solo, the weather isn’t cooperating, or you can’t get to the gym. I pull on my workout clothes when I wake up, and the moment Henry starts to snooze, I pop in the DVD and go. I usually can get to the end before he wakes up. But if not, I pick him up and use him as a weight. He really likes doing squats. He also loves it when I lay him down and do push-ups over him – a kiss every time I push down! And he enjoys it when I do the running man or other cardio moves; I guess I look pretty darn silly. We make Ripped in 30 a very fun (sweaty and torturous) game.
I’m still on Workout 1 (there’s a grand total of 4) but think I’ll be able to move onto Workout 2 very soon. I’m scared! Some of the moves are so, so hard, although I am moving away from the modifications in Workout 1. Wahoo. Progress, people. Progress.
Post-workout snack. I’m going to split lunch into two big snacks since brunch was so late.
A big smoothie with soy milk, banana, frozen strawberries, and a huge hunk of sunflower butter. Plus hummus rice cakes.
Post-Baby Birth Thoughts
I’ve had a few people request that I write my thoughts on drug-free labor, the Bradley Method of birth, and recovery now that I’m 10 weeks removed from the experience. (For background info, check out Pre-Birth Review of Bradley Method Classes, Birth Story Part I, and Birth Story Part II.) So, if you’ve got any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section, and I’ll answer them in my round-up post later this week.
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I once carried a friend’s child on my shoulders while doing squats
oops – I meant lunges, but squats would work, too!
I did workout with my baby all the time! Lunges, kicks, squats, pushups, etc. It made it more fun and I didn’t have to feel bad about not spending time with him.
Yes – week 2 is hard, but I think week 3 and 4 are easier so there is something to look forward to!
Regarding birth, I guess I’d like to know if you felt any “pressure” to have a med-free birth and if so, how that impacted you while the actual birth was going on.
I’ve been very very very hesitant to say I want to go med-free, because I don’t want to feel like a failure or that something was “wrong” with my baby’s birth after the fact if it doesn’t happen. You were so open about it on here that I imagine there were a lot of expectations going in. I feel like I read a lot of blogs and stories where women hype up drug-free labor and delivery SO MUCH, and then something goes wrong and they’re crushed. So I guess I’m curious as to your take on that (if I’m making any sense–I’m not sure I am).
This is something I am struggling with as well so I’d love to hear your thoughts, Caitlin!
Dang girl! I admire your work ethic…you’re putting me to shame and I don’t even have a baby. Makes me feel guilty about not getting up 30 minutes earlier to do my Jillian workout DVD. Thanks for the inspiration
My husband and I completed the Bradley course and are expecting our little one in ~4 weeks. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the Bradley follow up post!! What relaxation methods did you find most helpful. Did you really practice the methods/exercises beforehand? Did they pay off during labor? Were you still nervous in the weeks leading up to labor?
Using Henry as a weight is genius! Good work!
love it! i used to always say my son must want me to get into shape because he loved watching me jump around doing my workout tapes (jillian’s 30-day shred) and sometimes when he was fussy one way i could get him to turn that frown upside down was to hold him and do lunges.
Gotta love Maggie in the corner there, probably secretly wondering why you never used HER as a weight!
Haha actually, I did!!
Recovery question: Are you still taking the placenta capsules? How much of a supply do the capsules provide? I know you don’t have anything to compare your experience to but do you really think the capsules helped with your hormones/mood?
Kudos to you for getting ripped!
I love your birth story and hope to have a drug-free birth as well, when the time comes. I wonder, if you get pregnant again, do you think you will you go drug-free again? I know it is painful, but do you attribute getting through it so well to Kristien and the Bradley Method classes?
Haha, I never thought I would workout at home either but had to get on board once I had my twins. We still keep our gym membership since it’s so cheap, and plan to return later. My husband and I are doing P90X together and wake up at 4:20 every morning on weekdays. It’s rough but feels great the rest of the day. It’s awesome you get in so much exercise even when you had a rough night. I couldn’t muster the strength until mine were almost 9 months. I love all the pics you post of him and the dogs. So adorable; Henry gets cuter every time we see him!
haha – wake at 4:20 every day
Your dad is funny
That’s totally adorable! I love the image of you doing squats and kissing him.
I love that picture!!! You look so strong!
Hah, what a great idea! I just told my roommate you use your baby as a weight, and when she wasn’t sure what I meant I demonstrated, using my cat instead of a baby. My cat was way less cooperative than Henry seems to be.
So when you’re really feeling up for a challenge, do 2 of her workouts in a row, like levels 1 & 2. Butt kicker.
I adore that photo of you holding him doing squats!! Go you!! And I’m sure he’d get a laugh out of me working out as well.
That first pic is JUST great.
I’m not even pregnant yet, but I’m inspired to get into shape reading your thoughts post-birth. Keep it up, Caitlin!
Do you think having a baby (not the birth, the every day life) is harder than you expected?
Childcare and fitness all at once – lady, I am impressed.
Haha that’s so adorable how you incorporate Henry into your workouts!
Hi there. I am fairly new to your site and have been reading since just before Henry’s birth. I enjoy reading your ongoing trials and tribulations.
I don’t have any children of my own (by choice) so I don’t really have any experience other than watching all my friends have babies, raise them, etc. I live vicariously through people like you!
But I do have a question for you, and that is in many pics I see you holding Henry up by the armpits and to me this looks weird.
Don’t mean to be negative, like I said I have no children of my own so no experience, but somehow it just seems like it would not be the best way to hold him up. Is it really ok to be using him like a weight? Is this good for him at his young age? Especially if you are lifting him up and down by his little arms?
Just curious …
He doesn’t seem to mind
Most mommas I know lift their babies like this occasionally. He also likes to fly above my head supported only by my hands on his tummy (which I think would be so uncomfortable!) and he doesn’t care – he loves it! Maybe it’s like cats carrying their kittens around by the scruff?
Babies aren’t as breakable as people think. I’m convinced that they are made of rubber. Once they get to the point of being able to hold up\support their own heads (and it looks like he is there), you’re probably fine. Once he starts moving about, he’ll add extra challenges to your workout by crawling underneath you as you do push ups and planks. (I watched my nephew do this to my poor sister-in-law while she was trying to do the 30 day shred.)
My mom totally did this with me and my brother 30 plus years ago. She did it up through our toddler years so I remember it and thought it was fun.
I think the way she is holding him is completely fine. If she were holding him from his wrists, that would be something different, but she isn’t yanking any limbs out of joints. I was surprised to see the comment. Have you ever picked up a child?
Can you please explain what contractions FEEl like? I’ve heard they start off like menstrual cramps, but what does it feel like as they get stronger? I keep wondering what this “worst pain of your life” is like…. Also, is the pain constant or does it last only as long as each contraction (ie 30-90 secs or so). I would love to hear a detailed explanation of what contractions/labor pains feel like (if you can remember, you may have blocked it out!)
Thx!
I was curious about the “ring of fire” I’ve heard people mention and if you actually felt it giving birth? Also, would like to see update stomach pics like you did the week after-so curious to see what it looks like for a normal person after giving birth.
Oh babies definitely count as weights. Get it in whereever you can. I was in the doctors office for 5 hours today for allergery testing with my 4 year old. As my 1 year old napped on me I did calf raises and squats while I rocked her…Motherly multitasking at its finest!
Such a cute pic of you using baby weights!
I just found out like a year ago that my mom had med-free births for all 3 of us kids. I was like what?! I always knew she was a tough broad, but woah.
I’m really curious about what Kristien thought during your labor & delivery. I feel like so many blogs are written from the mothers point of view (obviously, since it’s 90% women who write them) that we don’t hear as much from the fathers/partners perspectives through the experience. It must be really scary for them to see the person they love so much in extreme pain/discomfort. I’m curious as to what he was thinking, how he stayed calm, helped you through, if he thought the Bradley Method was helpful, etc.
Hi Caitlin,
I’m a while off having kids, I’m nearly 21 and partnerless,but I would just like to know how you pushed through all that pain. Obviously the light at the end of the tunnel was a beautiful baby boy and that must have kept you focused, but so. much. pain. and the meds are there readily available.
I’ll put it into perspective, I usually get a migraine before bed but after the surgeries have closed. Commonly I treat this as dehydration and lack of sleep, so I drink heaps of water and try to sleep but the pain persists so I grab a panadol (Tylenol in America) until I can reach a doctor in the morning to check for an underlying issue. To end the pain and sleep is too tempting.
How do you say no to an end to the pain?
I guess I have nothing but admiration for people who have drug-free births:) But I’d love to know how you resisted pain meds. Obviously being an athlete helps.
I have started that Fit in 30 DVD 4 times. This week makes 5!!! Wish me luck!
I love that first GET RIPPED picture!
You should send that in to SHAPE magazine!
Super motivating! Jillian is a hard taskmaster! I also had a drug free birth. I didn’t use the Bradley method but visualization combined with deliberate breathing exercises. I was skeptical that these methods would sustain me throughout labor, but it worked! I was blessed with a 13 hour labor and delivery. I feel like that is relatively short for my first baby. You’ve definitely motivated me to get my workout in with my babe today! Thanks!