Shower Skipping Options

Are my readers wondering how the gym membership thing is working out for me?  I thought so! ;) Kate cries every time from the moment I walk out of the door until the moment I walk back in the door. Except for this one magical time when Ms. Brenda was working there, and another girl named Kate played baby dollies with her.  I still really like the child care staff and the place, I just have a serious mamas girl.  So we set the clock for 15 minutes...I run to the weight room as fast as I can...and the child care staff pulls out all of the tricks that don't work.  My usual workout goes like this.  Bust it for 5 minutes on the treadmill. I alternate between maxing out the incline or maxing out my speed. Then I run over to the weight area and I pick about 3 exercises (back and biceps, chest and triceps, or shoulders).  Then I watch the clock and wait for the child care staff to come get me...and they do.  And then we go check out.  Worth the drive yet? Absolutely not.  I just keep hoping they will become a familiar face for her so I can work out longer.  And if this never happens, we have been enjoying the pools as a family so I am not a total waster of a gym membership.

So I am able to work up a sorta decent sweat and I am not even able to wipe off the sweat before I pick Kate up.  I have been rotating through some shower skipping options.  I buckle the 2 kids in, crank the ac, and stand outside my car and wipe, spray, de stinkify. 

My arsenal

 

YouSmell Wipes in Lemon Verbena - I got this in one of my PopSugar Must Have boxes. I really like the smell.  The wipe is nice and wet and big enough to do the job.

Secret Re-Fresh - My local grocery store had these on sale for $1.49 instead of $3.49 so I bought every single smell there was.  These are alcohol based so are drying (which is nice to soak up those leftover sweat particles) but I feel like they don't do as good of a job as the wipes.  Sometimes I use the wipes and then spray with one of these.  My scent ranking in order of best to worst is Citrus Breeze (LOVE this one), Romantic Rose, Pasion de Tango, and Fearlessly Fresh (not a fan at all).

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths - These are wipes that have more of a makeup remover wipe texture but have a powder finish that helps you to feel clean and dry.  I think this one is my favorite shower skipping alternative.  I have tried invigorate and restore and I like both scents.  The only problem I have is one wipe doesn't do the job.  I need two. 

So there they are.  This + dry shampoo + makeup remover wipes means I never shower again.  Just kidding.  That is my 10 minutes of peace and quiet at night so I will never give that up.  Anybody else have any shower skipping faves? 

When Your Belly Weighs More Than Your Dumbbells

I am just finishing up month 2 of 3 of my trial gym membership.  So far so good.  I got one of my friends (IT woman turned personal trainer) to create a pre natal workout plan for me because I would go to the gym and look at all the things I couldn't do instead of find things I could do. 

She set me up with 4 different workouts.

1. An in gym full body workout.  I do 2 sets of 8 - 12 reps at about 1/3 of my usual weight and always wear my heart rate monitor.  Sometimes I laugh because I am holding my 5 lb dumbbells and it doesn't even counter balance the weight in my belly. 

2. An at home full body workout.  I continue with the 2 sets of 8 - 12 reps.  I already have adjustable dumbbells, but I purchased this resistance band set for $30 and I love it.  It has a door hook and a ankle wrap connector and all comes in a nice little bag you can carry around.  This plan has a lot of variety so I am not stuck doing the same exercises every time.  I am fitting this workout in at nap time or after bed time. 

3. A pool workout which I have not yet had the courage to try but want to.

4. A late in the pregnancy workout which I haven't needed yet but ask me in a few months!

I try to balance 2 or 3 workouts a week with some walking or biking around the hood and I make use of the treadmills and old lady bikes at the gym when I go.   Mom, I know you use those bikes and you are not an old lady, but that is what I will always call them.  P.S. I was really sore from using one of those old lady bikes last week for 20 minutes.  Work it, work it!

Anybody know when I won't be able to ride a bike anymore?  I guess my belly will tell me. 

New Year, New Gear

I paused on running long enough to feel slightly out of shape.  Boo.  Christmas vacay, plus a little sickness, plus laziness.

Yesterday I got back out there.  I had new gear to test out!

Hunter got me the Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 sunglasses in carbon.   Even better, he got me the G30 lenses. I don't know what those lenses are officially good for (although Hunter has rambled a little bit about it to me).  They aren't too dark, but I don't have to squint in full sunlight. You can wear them when the sun is not all the way up or is setting. You can wear them in the shade.  I really like the lenses.

He also got me these socks and a new racer back running tank.  I had to pull out the next pair of my tenny runners too.  New year, new gear!

Side note...I think Wyatt missed running too.  Apparently sitting in a stroller causes him to reflect on how to be a better toddler.  He was a perfect angel after the morning run and entertained himself off and on.  I can think of no other reason.

Heart Monitor Training - Part 2 - Resting Heart Rate

Unlike max heart rate, resting heart rate is a reflection of your fitness level.  One morning, when you don't have to wake up to an alarm, pick up your heart rate monitor and record your rate for a few minutes while you lay there and zone out.  Pick the lowest number that your monitor reports.

My number when I was in pretty good shape was 52.  For some reason my new one is 51.  Who knows?

I have two watches / heart rate monitors that I use.  I love the Garmin Forerunner 305 for tracking heart rate, average pace, current pace, and distance.  I was able to get this for around $200.  I am sure the newer models are cooler, but I love this watch / monitor and plan to use it until it dies.  Does anybody have a newer watch or different brand they absolutely love that I need to check out?

I also have a $20 Reebok watch and monitor.  This one works with all of the treadmills I have tried.  I got it off of the Woot site and have not had any issues.

Be sure to stock up on CR2032 batteries because I burn through these like crazy and I think most heart rate monitors use these. 

Related Posts:
Heart Monitor Training - Why Am I Trying It?
Heart Monitor Training - Part 1 - Max Heart Rate

Post Workout Refresher

Now that I am running regularly again (at least for a month), I have to pull out all of my old tricks that I used at the gym to feel and look fresh without actually being fresh. Back when I worked at corporate 'merica, I would go to the gym during lunch frequently. If I didn't get too sweaty (yoga, weights, etc) I would skip on the shower so I could get back to working or lunch.  Whatever. 

Running outside in Florida is nothing at all like doing yoga or strength training in a nice air conditioned gym, but I don't always have the luxury of showering when I get back.  I feel like I should wait for nap time.  My other option is to let Wyatt play in the bathroom but judging by how many times I have to save his life just while I am brushing my teeth and washing my face this would not be enjoyable.  Wyatt, don't chew on the toilet scrubber.  Wyatt, we don't play with the cords. Wyatt, don't pull up on the toilet.  Fine, you can pull up on the toilet.  Just let me close the lid. 

So, to the point..here are some tips for how to feel fresher after a workout if you can't get to a shower right away.

1. Wait about 15 minutes before you do any of the steps below because you need to stop sweating, otherwise everything is a waste of time.
2. Spray your hair at the roots and base of the neck where you get all schweaty with dry shampoo.  I prefer TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo.  Let it sit for a few minutes and then brush your hair out.  You will have fabulous volume now.  Repair it as needed.  If you don't have a blowdryer and curling iron to blast and reposition, then a new, fresh ponytail is your friend.  
3. Wipe your face with one of those fabulous face wipes that smells good. I like Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe with Chamomile and White Tea or Yes to Blueberries.
4. Wipe your whole body with one of those fabulous face wipes.  If you live in Florida, go ahead and use 2 or 3 wipes.
5. Change your clothes if you can.
6. Apply makeup if you aren't a stay at home mom.
7. Apply fresh deodorant. 
8. Mist new clothes and body with your favorite body splash

Eau de Run is gone de gone!  Happy working out or skipping showers. 

Sports Bras for Nursing Women

If you are a male, you may want to stop reading.  I am about to talk about things like bounce, cup size, sports bras, and nursing.  I repeat...all males, stop reading!


Before I was pregnant I could run in the cheapo compression sports bras.  To be truthful, I was so small chested, I could have run in band aids and been happy.  No joke!  Due to pregnancy and nursing, things are a little bit different "around here", and the first time I tried running in one of the sports bras I used to wear, I could not handle the bounce.  It drove me crazy.  I figured it was time to invest in a real sports bra.  Moms, those nursing sport bras that are sold at places like Destination Maternity and Target will not cut it for running.  Basically if it it has nursing friendly clips, do not buy it if you want to feel good while running.  I do love to wear those around the house and for things like walking and yoga.  


Here are the 3 sports bras that I have had good luck with for running as a nursing mama.

Nike Dri-FIT Maximum Impact Shape Wire-Free Sports Bra #419413

Nike Maximum Control Rival Convertible Straps Soft Cup Sports Bra #381303

Champion Double Dry Zip Tech Bra Style 1699

Note: Do not spend a lot of time wearing these before or after your run as they can mess up your milk supply.


Note:  These are good recommendations for people like me that were an A cup before pregnant/nursing.  If you were larger, there are probably better options for you.  You probably learned to deal with bounce before you got pregnant.  It was news to me!


Note: I have not run in 2 weeks so I feel like a phony writing this.
 

The Deoderant Challenge

I work out a lot, suffer from social anxiety (aka the sweats), and live in a tropical climate so I am always searching for the best deodorant.  I usually use regular ol Dove.  It has higher concentrations of aluminumy type stuff and always did "allll riiiight" for me.  Florida humidity was making me doubt.  I tried 2 of the newish clinical strength deodorants.

I was excited about the Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof AP/D.  The instructions say to use 2 clicks in the morning and in the evening.  After 1 week the Secret one did not compare to regular ol Dove and I felt like I was using excessive amounts of deodorant. The Dove Clinical Protection AP/D instructions say to use 2 clicks at night only.  The clicker wasn't as efficient as the Secret deodorant so I usually used 3 clicks but did not have to reapply in the AM per the instructions.  The Dove one worked pretty good.  I don't know that it is worth the price difference compared to regular ol Dove, but I will test it a little longer.

I am not sure that there is a best product out there.  I have tried deodorant without anti-perspirant (Toms).  I have tried almost every brand.  I have tried mens.  I had good luck with Certain Dri but you have to be very careful about when you use it especially after shaving. 

I admit defeat and now have more crummy AP/D I feel that I have to use up so I am not wasting them.  Should I quit using them completely so I don't get Alzheimers, breast cancer, other unforseen problem?  Who knows.  I have not done the "no product" test.  Maybe I can try that for a week.  I can throw my deodorant savings into body splash purchases.  ;)   Is this TMI?  Too bad.  Just wait til I publish my nursing sports bra recommendation post.

Happy Monday.