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Some women breeze through pregnancy, don’t even realize they are pregnant, or simply love it every step of the way.  I am not one of those women.  When I was in the hospital giving birth to my last child, I gripped the rails of my bed and told my husband, “If I survive this, we are NOT having anymore children!”  How soon we forget.

Don’t get me wrong, I think pregnancy is a miracle and I enjoy keeping up with my baby’s progress week by week.  I look at my two boys now and would do it all over again.  However, I could do without the extreme exhaustion, all day nausea, headaches, tender breasts and bloating that always accompany me the first trimester.  Let’s be real.

 

Get Lots of Rest

When I first suspected I was pregnant I was still competing in the Crossfit Open and working out harder than I do all year.  My husband and I would be working out in the garage during the week together and I would have to stop in the middle of a workout to rest because I was just so tired.  It was hard for me to accept in the beginning, but I came to realize that it’s okay to skip a workout, take a nap at 4 in the afternoon, or go to bed before the kids.  Growing a baby is kind of a big deal, so I think learning to recognize when you should rest is not only important, but necessary.

Ask for Help

The first trimester is tricky because you usually don’t look pregnant, nor do many people usually know.  Don’t feel bad asking people for extra help.  I was finishing up my school year in my first trimester and it was incredibly difficult to juggle work, field day, kids, household, church callings, and so on all while dragging from nausea and exhaustion.  I’m the type of person who likes to do things on my own because I want them done a certain way, so it is extra hard for me to ask for help, but it is so necessary.  I had to learn to delegate or ask for help when I wasn’t feeling up to a task.

At home I often asked my husband to feed and bathe the kids because after a long day of work I couldn’t fathom doing much more than lounging on the couch.  When church responsibilities seemed to overwhelming or I wasn’t up for a weeknight activity I asked for help.  When I was too tired or too sick to stay up late writing a post for Stay Fit Mom I asked Tracy for help.  The moral of this story is, ask for help and you’ll find that lots of people are more than willing to give it.

Don’t Stress about Your Diet

When I was sick my whole first trimester, most days the last thing on my mind was what I was going to make for dinner.  My meal prep basically went right out the window.  Does that mean I threw it all to the wind and ordered pizza every night? No.  I tried to find some healthier, quick and easy options, and luckily I did.  At my neighborhood Walmart I discovered the new LEAN CUISINE® Marketplace meals, which I am so great for.  What I love about the new dishes from LEAN CUISINE® is all the modern health benefits tailored specifically for you!  You can get organic ingredient options, gluten-free options, or even protein- packed (perfect for this pregnant momma!) meals.  Here are a few of my new favorites.

I basically survived my first trimester thanks to these, and I am sure they will come in handy during my second and third trimester at times as well.  Next time you go to your local Walmart check out the new dishes from LEAN CUISINE® and look for the special offer June 14-28 in the Superfridge!  You can check out LEAN CUISINE® on Pinterest, Facebook, and twitter!

I’d love to hear which  LEAN CUISINE® is your favorite in the comments!

Don’t Stress about Exercise

Just like your diet, there will be plenty of time get it together after your first trimester.  By the time I made it to week 8 I was hardly mustering up enough energy to workout after a long day of work.  Like most things in your first trimester of pregnancy, the exhaustion will pass.  Learn to listen to your body and rest as needed.  You will have plenty of time to get workouts in when your energy returns sometime between 12-14 weeks.

This Too Shall Pass

No matter what it is- morning sickness, fatigue, restless leg syndrome, headaches- it won’t last forever.  This mantra is the only thing that kept me going.  I would look at my healthy, beautiful boys and remind myself that it is all worth it, and that I wouldn’t feel helpless and fat forever.

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