As you know, I was in Utah for most of last week visiting my brother and cheering him on during his college graduation from BYU.
Me and my little brother the graduate.
When I went to BYU seventeen years ago (choke!), I had no car, therefore I didn’t get to venture out much other than the Varsity theater, watch cheap shows at the HFAC, play late nights of SkipBo with my roommates, and eat lots of Fruit Loops at the Cannon Center. I had always planned on hiking Y Mountain, but before I knew what had happened, I got swept off my feet by this handsome boy from AZ with clear blue eyes, transferred to ASU, finished my Bachelor’s as a Sun Devil, and married him. There are so many things in Provo I’d always planned on doing (performing with the Osmonds, having lunch with Robert Redford, ski jumping in Park City, you know, the usual stuff), but never got the chance to. Hiking the Y was definitely one of them.
Y Mountain
By the time I got from the car to the head of the trail I was already sucking wind. What the heck?!? The trail is a moderate level, although pretty steep hike with switchbacks all the way up. As I was practicing my lamaze breathing techniques on one of the blessed benches along the trail, a kind lady generously gave me another justification for all my huffing and puffing: the increase in altitude. Sweet! San Antonio sits at 700 ft. above sea level and I was hiking at 8,500 ft. Just add that excuse to the list!
From L to R: Kimball's gal, Kimball (my bro), me and Baby #4 in front.
After a slow hike with many rests, we did make it to the top of the Y. The view and extended time with my brother and his sweet girlfriend was well worth the accelerated heart rate and tender calves the next morning.
I will admit, however, there were many times I had to put the mental whip down and just let myself take my time up that mountain. In fact, I find myself doing that a lot this pregnancy. I think this fourth time around, I’m finally learning to be a bit more patient with myself and life in general.
In most areas of my life, I am a rather intense person who has pretty high — often ridiculously so — expectations of myself. This pregnancy I’ve let myself slow down, said no to many commitments, shelved many projects, and am focusing on the important stuff: family, home, and health. Call it maturity, AMA (Advanced Maternal Age), or probably just plain exhaustion, but I’m enjoying my time as the tortoise rather than the hare.
I need to remember this even after Baby #4 makes his/her debut in the fall.
Slow down.
Appreciate now.
Be more patient with myself and those around me.
Even though it may be slow, the movement is still forward and upward.
Not everything is a race.
How about you Fit Mommas? Have you ever had to force yourself, or been forced to slow down? Or chosen to stop beating yourself up about what you “should” be doing versus what you are doing?
Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!
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{ 23 comments }
Good for you to be patient with yourself! How fun to be back at your alma mater. I hope you enjoyed some chocolate milk and/or ice cream! My first hike to the Y was when I was 20 weeks pregnant. My daughter, who is 7 now, thinks it’s so clever for her to say, “I swam up to the Y!” Your wee one can say the same.
Such a good reminder! I remember after being on complete bed rest for 15 out of 24 months with my two kids; aside from the trial of being forced from my strenuous daily workouts into inactivity while my babies grew safely, the worst part was after the babies were born. My muscles and heart had gone to mush. I couldn’t walk up my stairs without getting really winded. It was so hard to take it slow and be patient with the process as my body regained its strength. It was a humbling experience to say the very least. I had to remind myself that I had all the time in the world; I was not competing or trying to meet a deadline. I had to remind myself A LOT! But the changes happened, and I came back stronger than before and found more balance in my life. And then again when I stress-fractured my hip and had surgery on both feet – in the same year! Ugh!! Again with the patience and rehab process. I have come to think of these periods as almost a tender mercy: a reminder that slowing down, having time to reevaluate, and finding balance again is a good thing.
Ha! I love that!
Aren’t bodies just amazing? After going through those very difficult things, with time you were able to rebuild your strength. Balance is a very good thing.
You will probably hate this, but this somehow gives me encouragement. I guess it’s ok if I have a hard time hiking the Y if Trainer Momma does too! All excuses aside.
I can’t compete with your altitude claims nor your pregnant state. I just think hiking the Y is hard. Short, but hard.
I graduated from BYU almost 15 years ago, lived there 3 1/2 years and never made it up to the Y! Maybe because, like you, I didn’t have a car. Now I’m inspired to take my family on the hike. Since I’m in Salt Lake, and I now have a car, I really have no excuse!
I am not making this up:
On our hike there was a family with Dad, Mom, 4 year old, 2 year old, and 2 month old. The 4 and 2 year old walked the ENTIRE THING. I kept telling them they were my pacers! If they started catching up, I’d pick up the speed. I did go slow, but I was not going to let the 2 yr old beat me.
I think you are so wise to have this change in perspective, as hard as it is. I don’t think I’ve ever been one to be an over-achiever, in fact, sometimes I think there’s a lot more I could be doing! I’m reminded by many in my life that for this season of my life, I should be here, with my five boys and all the extra stuff is EXTRA. If I can get laundry done, beds made, and dinner ready – that’s been a good day! With my last baby, now 7 months old, it was amazing to me how much I didn’t get done that use to be easy to accomplish! I really have had to take a step back and focus on the necessities and then just enjoy my family while their young.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! You have a great family!
I’ve shared your website with my sisters and my mom. We all love to hate it – especially your workouts! Thanks for doing this!
Kudos to you for doing it! When I was 12 weeks pregnant I walked my first 5K with students from my school. My dear co-workers made it my job to stay in the back of the pack to make sure all of the kids made it over the finish line. I walked – very slowly. One of my students stayed with me the whole time (patient little girl). I was proud of myself for finishing, and then rewarded myself with a nice long nap when I got home. It is amazing what our bodies can do, but it’s also important to listen to them as well.
The Y is definitely a beast! You look at that thing from a distance and think it’s all fun and games, but once you get to those infamous, straight-up switchbacks…WEEW! I hiked it about a year ago as one of the last items on my to-do list before moving to Salt Lake, and the end sure put me in my place. And you did it pregnant. Hardcore!
Like most hikes, it is definitely deceiving. But a gem! In TX we have NO mtns to hike and I miss that terribly… It felt so good to be outside and hiking up a mtn!
Loved reading about slowing down. Our #7 is on the way and I have been forced to slow down. While this is frustrating at times and my strong bod is mushifying I have to remind myself that I am working on a pretty serious and impressive project.( brains eyeballs smiles) and that the bod has and will be able to have her day again. Thanks for the reminders and encouragement.
YES! When I was pregnant, with all 3, I had a really hard time breathing. Something about those big babies taking up all that space:D I really couldn’t exercise AT ALL! But in those last few weeks, it made me really appreciate working out, and I knew when I was able, I’d hit it hard, and (eventually) I did.
And I’m back to working out every morning, at the crack of dawn, one solid hour, and loving every second of it!
Yeeha for #7! I love the image of an “impressive project”. That makes me smile. Supposedly my “project” is as big as an avocado right now.
Ahh — in my dreams. Someday I’ll get this workout done before the kids awake. For now, I eventually drag myself to the gym. It’s getting done, but it isn’t pretty.
I think you are awesome for hiking the Y pregnant! I have lived in Provo for 5 years and just did that hike last year for the first time, it was much harder than I anticipated! Now I am pregnant and I know I would have a majorly difficult time making it there, so good for you!!
During my first pregnancy I was working full time, and was so tired by the end of the day that I didn’t exercise much, other than occasional walks with my husband. Pregnancies #2 and 3 I was determined not to gain so much and I worked out faithfully every day, probably at a higher intensity than I should have (I only gained 20 and 18 lbs). During my 3rd pregnancy, my membranes ruptured at 34 weeks and I required an emergency C-section. So when I was expecting #4, my doctor told me to take it easy or he’d put me on bed rest. I didn’t exercise at all because I was worried about pre-term labor. I carried to term (even after moving across the country at 7 1/2 months) and delivered a healthy 8 lb baby (VBAC) but I felt like a whale because I had gained so much. It took a long time to get rid of the extra weight. The point of this history is to say that it took me until #5 and #6 to figure out the moderate approach that you’re talking about. Don’t push too hard, but move every day. I walked and lifted some weights, carefully, fed myself well, and tried to ignore the piles of laundry and dishes that I couldn’t always get to. And then had two more C-sections. Pregnancy is hard–it takes a toll mentally and physically–and I love what you say about being patient with yourself. I have to remember that even now. My youngest is 2 and I’d like to get rid of at least 10 more pounds, but it’s been a slow process. I just love your blog because you really get it–you know exactly what you’re talking about. Thanks for motivating me, while at the same time reminding me not to take myself too seriously.
PS–I’m going to Women’s Conference at BYU this week, and you’ve inspired me to take an early morning hike up to the Y again. It’s been over 20 years! If you don’t mind my asking, about how long does it take to get up there?
I don’t mind at all. It took us about 45-50 minutes to get to the top. There was plenty of resting going on
. It’s a WONDERFUL hike.
I’ve lived in Utah my whole life and never hiked to the Y…sad! Kudos for you for doing it pregnant! On a side note – I was in SA a couple weeks ago. I was training for a run and was scheduled to do a 8 miler the first day there. Can you say 80 degrees and humid? Two things I definitely wasn’t use to. I pulled the “I’m seriously going to die” handle after 6 miles and had to quit. My tank was soaked front and back like never before. Kind of felt like an endurance rock star! but I’ll take my high climate and 40 degree morning runs!! Funny how we adapt to our environment! My skin however, was absolutely gorgeous while I was there
Definitely missing that!
Your blog struck a cord with me. I was in peak week training for my first Ironman last October when I was hit from behind by a truck while cycling, then run over. 9 fractures in my pelvis, ribs and clavicle forced me to a wheelchair for 6 weeks and caused me to watch my husband complete his first ever tri from the chair. Being nearly 100% dependent on others definitely forced me to slow down. For the first time in my memory, sitting in traffic didn’t irritate me–I had nowhere to be. There was no anxiety about getting my “to do” list done–my “to do” was to rest and let my body heal.
Heal it did. 12 weeks after the accident I was cleared to start swimming and cycling (on my sweet new ride!) and I was able to start running 2 months after that. It was a little discouraging to “run” a distance of two mailboxes, then walk one for 10 minutes total. Run/walking was better than sitting in a wheelchair though and with patience and perseverance, I will compete in the Eagleman, a half Ironman, in June.
Wonderful, inspirational story! Wow. I’m so sorry about your accident — cycling always does come with a risk. Good luck in June!
I’ve lived in Utah my whole life and never hiked to the Y…sad! Kudos for you for doing it pregnant! On a side note – I was in SA a couple weeks ago. I was training for a run and was scheduled to do a 8 miler the first day there. Can you say 80 degrees and humid? Two things I definitely wasn’t use to. I pulled the “I’m seriously going to die” handle after 6 miles and had to quit. My tank was soaked front and back like never before. Kind of felt like an endurance rock star! but I’ll take my high climate and 40 degree morning runs!! Funny how we adapt to our environment! My skin however, was absolutely gorgeous while I was there Definitely missing that!
keho
I’ve lived in Utah my whole life and never hiked to the Y…sad! Kudos for you for doing it pregnant! On a side note – I was in SA a couple weeks ago. I was training for a run and was scheduled to do a 8 miler the first day there. Can you say 80 degrees and humid? Two things I definitely wasn’t use to. I pulled the “I’m seriously going to die” handle after 6 miles and had to quit. My tank was soaked front and back like never before. Kind of felt like an endurance rock star! but I’ll take my high climate and 40 degree morning runs!! Funny how we adapt to our environment! My skin however, was absolutely gorgeous while I was there Definitely missing that!
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