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Friendsgiving fun, shopping and my postpartum return to working out

November 21, 2017 By Ashley 22 Comments

Hi, friends! Happy Thanksgiving week! I hope those of you in the U.S. are enjoying a short work week with plans for some festivities. Dave and I will be walking in the downtown Walnut Creek Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, and then feasting on a traditional meal at our house with his little sister, Gwena, who is coming up from Santa Cruz. We’re also planning a quick visit to wine country this weekend, as well as putting up our Christmas decorations. Hooray!

So today, I’m popping in to share some good stuff from life lately, as well as some fitness talk. Finally, after seven weeks and three days away, I made my first trip back to the gym. It went great!

All smiles at our second annual Friendsgiving

First off, for the fun stuff … we had such a great time attending our second annual Friendsgiving this past weekend, with our group of couples friends, who get together about once a month for our rotating dinner party. The friends who hosted Friendsgiving this year, Clare and Nick, did an amazing job cooking up a true feast for us — including a deep-fried turkey and all the extra delicious sides. And this marked my first real social outing since having Baby Brady, outside of activities with Dave. Such a beautiful setting too …

Friendsgiving table by A Lady Goes West

The ladies hung out in the kitchen munching on cheese and crackers, while the guys hung outside and worked on the turkey, once the Warriors game was over. Then, we all met at the table for a full sit-down dinner, which was followed by dessert and a rousing game of Catch Phrase — boys against girls, and sadly, the boys won.

Perhaps the best thing about the Friendsgiving party was that Brady came with us and was a total angel. He slept in his infant seat for a bit in the kitchen, then got passed around among friends. He barely made a peep, and also had his pretty blue eyes open for a good portion, just watching us. We were so proud of him!

Ashley and Brady at Friendsgiving by A Lady Goes West

Dave and Brady at Friendsgiving by A Lady Goes West

As always, we took a self-timered group picture to commemorate the night, as well as some couples pictures! Love this group! And just look at the dogs … 🙂

Group of friends at Friendsgiving by A Lady Goes West

Pitt family at Friendsgiving 2 by A Lady Goes West

Ashley and Dave at Friendsgiving by A Lady Goes West

Refreshing my closet and shopping it up

Seamlessly transitioning subjects here … I went for a very long time without buying any clothes and was able to get through my whole pregnancy with minimal purchases, which was pretty easy for me, because I didn’t have to go into an office every day.

Well, that phase is over. I’ve been doing quite a bit of online shopping lately to fill out my wardrobe and upgrade my beauty tools, because I went for so long without getting anything new (it seems like most of my purchases the last few months were all for Brady and the nursery, of course). I guess it’s a new-mom-treat-myself type of thing, but it’s been happening. I’m SO pleased with everything I’ve bought, so I wanted to share with you …

  • This cardigan is the best piece of layering outwear ever.
  • These leggings are so good for wearing with chunky long tops, and the high waist is KEY for looking slim and trim.
  • I did a bunch of research before deciding on this hair dryer and this straightener, because I MUST find a way to dry and smooth out my hair faster, and both are awesome.
  • I bought these on an impulse, and they work like a dream. And I love supporting this woman-owned company, which I found out about by watching “Shark Tank.”
  • And this cold-shoulder top, because everyone needs a pink blouse with open shoulders.

I may or may not do some more shopping online for Black Friday, and if I do, definitely Nordstrom, because they make it so easy to return.

And for the big news: My return to fitness

Seven weeks and three days away from the gym!

After I got clearance from my doctor last week to begin working out, I did some light barre-style exercising at home with super tiny weights during the week, when I couldn’t get out to the gym. That meant, all of my movement was low-impact and fairly isometric — nothing too functional or powerful at all.

I actually feel like the barre movements felt pretty good to me and not foreign at all, although I found myself feeling slightly less coordinated and out of breath quite easily. I did my workouts while Brady was napping and followed along some of my instructor videos for Bootybarre.

Then, both days over the weekend, I went to the gym! It was so cool to pack my gym bag, grab my headphones and head out. Both days, I walked on the treadmill on incline for 10 minutes while swinging my arms (the key is to NOT hold on to the rails in order to really benefit from the incline), then I did some mobility moves to open up my shoulders and hips, and I also foam rolled (of course). On my first day, I did a bunch of pulling exercises like deadlifts, bridges and flyes, etc., using 10 and 15 pound dumbbells. I originally set out to do four sets of 15 reps per move, but ended my set after three sets, because I could tell I had done enough. The weirdest thing is that squatting felt very awkward. I clearly have a lot of work to do!

After my first workout, my legs felt a little shakey, and I was QUITE sore the next day. That’s why, on the second day at the gym, I worked on the muscles that weren’t sore, by doing step-ups, tricep kickbacks and shoulder raises, using 8 and 10 pound dumbbells, also completing three sets of 15 reps per move. So, these full-body weights sessions were quite short — clocking in at less than 20 minutes for the resistance portion.

Ashley at the gym by A Lady Goes West

Until I can figure out a child-care situation and get my teaching schedule back up and running at a reduced degree, my trips to the gym will only happen when Dave is home in the nights or weekends for now. My goal is to slowly build up my strength again, while being super careful not to do too much.

For the time being, I’m not doing any big overhead movements, nor any crunches or plank movements that would cause me to strain my core (although, lucky enough, I do not have any ab separation from pregnancy, thanks goodness). Even though I could easily jump back into these things, I know that it’s just not a good idea quite yet. Nonetheless, I’m excited to begin getting back into shape. Woohoo!

My first postpartum weekly workout recap

And here’s a detailed look at my first week back into working out …

Weekly Workouts by A Lady Goes West

At 6 weeks postpartum …

  • Monday: Took a 45-minute walk, 11 a.m.
  • Tuesday: Took a 1-hour walk, 10 a.m., did 20 minutes of barre at home, 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday: Did 25 minutes of barre at home, 11 a.m., took a 30-minute walk, 12 p.m.
  • Thursday: Did 40 minutes of barre at home, 11 a.m. (It rained, so no walk!)
  • Friday: Did 40 minutes of barre at home, 11 a.m., took a 20-minute walk, 12 p.m.
  • Saturday: Gym session — walked on the treadmill on incline for 10 minutes, warmed up, foam rolled and did squats, deadlifts, bridges, flyes and bicep curls using 10 and 15 pound dumbbells and my bodyweight
  • Sunday: Gym session — walked on the treadmill on incline for 10 minutes, warmed up, foam rolled and did step-ups, tricep kickbacks and shoulder raises using 8 and 10 pound dumbbells

Overview of the week of workouts

Oh my gosh, I’m back to working out! Let’s just say I see some major soreness in my future. This past week of workouts was full of a lot of low-impact and easy movement, which is just what I need as I ease back into things. Overall, I got my steps in and my heart-rate up almost every single day, which is a win.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Whatever you’re up to this week, I hope it’s amazing. You can catch up with our little family over on Instagram, until we meet here again. I have a giveaway coming for you next week too!

P.S. I’m taking over the FitFluential account’s Instagram Stories on Saturday, so check me out!

Questions of the day

What are you up to for Thanksgiving?

What are you most grateful for this year? (My answer: B-R-A-D-Y!)

When was the last time you were sore and what was the workout that made you that way?

Filed Under: Friends, Weekly Workouts Tagged With: bootybarre, exercise, Friendsgiving, postpartum fitness, Shopping, Thanksgiving, workouts

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About Ashley

I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
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Comments

  1. Christina @ montessoriishmom.com says

    November 21, 2017 at 3:33 am

    Oh my goodness, Brady’s little boots are the cutest thing ever 🙂 Congratulations on making it back to the gym!
    Christina @ montessoriishmom.com recently posted…Stocking Stuffers – 10 Kitchen Tools for 3-5 year oldsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:15 am

      Thanks so much, Christina. His little boots were actually part of the decor for one of my baby showers heheh! Happy Thanksgiving week to you!

      Reply
  2. Emily @ Pizza &Pull-ups says

    November 21, 2017 at 3:33 am

    Friendsgiving looks so fun! Glad you are able to get back to your workouts and are feeling good!
    Emily @ Pizza &Pull-ups recently posted…Lavendar lotion bars (Easy homemade recipe)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:16 am

      Hi Emily! Yesssss — I’m SO happy to be back to exercising! Thanks, lady! Hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  3. Heather @Lunging Through Life says

    November 21, 2017 at 4:09 am

    Brady’s outfit is so cute, and you look awesome! I’m glad you got out to your friends. Yay for being back at the gym!! Soo fun!
    Heather @Lunging Through Life recently posted…Thanksgiving Traditions: New and OldMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:16 am

      Going back to the gym and getting out with friends on the same day — I mean, what awesomeness for a new momma, right? 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, lady!

      Reply
  4. Courtney Koch says

    November 21, 2017 at 5:19 am

    Congrats on getting back into the gym! And it’s so great that you are listening to your body and making sure to stop when it’s done. You look AH-freaking-MAZING so definitely no need to rush it.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:18 am

      Hi Courtney! Thank you, my friend! It’s HUMBLING to start back into fitness, that’s for sure, but I’m glad to be doing it! 🙂 And YAYYYYY for your entrance into the blogging world on the blogger side!

      Reply
  5. Courtney Koch says

    November 21, 2017 at 5:20 am

    Oops! I forgot I have an actual website link to add into my commenting profile here now. Yay!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:19 am

      Yes —- promote that thing all over the place! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says

    November 21, 2017 at 6:08 am

    Brady’s little boots are SO cute Ashley! It must have been so nice to not deal with a fussy baby during Friendsgiving. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Hi Maureen! Yes, it was totally amazing that he didn’t have any fussiness at all at the party — clearly he likes to get out of the house hehe. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too, lady! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Carrie this fit chick says

    November 21, 2017 at 7:01 am

    YAY for being back in the gym!!! That must feel good to release some endorphins before the holidays hit. I love how you guys do your Friendsgiving tradition– such a cute one!

    I’m heading to Tahoe for Thanksgiving 🙂
    Carrie this fit chick recently posted…How to Stay Healthy While Exercising Outside this WinterMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:21 am

      Hi Carrie! Of course you are off to an awesome spot for Thanksgiving, it seems like you guys are always on the go heheh! Have so much fun! Say hi to Dane! 🙂 And YESSSS for being back at the gym!

      Reply
  8. Patricia @Sweet and Strong says

    November 21, 2017 at 7:08 am

    The Friendsgiving looks like so much fun! And so glad you were able to get back into working out. It’s definitly a different kind of sore when you haven’t worked out in a few weeks.

    I need a new coffee pot and will definitly be looking at all the Nordstrom deals online this Friday. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 21, 2017 at 9:23 am

      Hi Patricia! Seriously — it’s pretty humbling to start back in the gym world! But I’m glad to do it. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, lady! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Susie @ Suzlyfe says

    November 22, 2017 at 5:42 am

    This year has been quite a roller coaster of emotions. I am so thankful for this pregnancy and a healthy growing Yoshi! ANd to have friends like you who I’ve gotten to meet. It has been a crazy, extraordinary year!
    Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…Pre-Thanksgiving Catch Up (Injury Update, Fun with Friends, and Yums)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 22, 2017 at 6:02 pm

      Hi Susie! This has DEFINITELY been a roller coaster of a year — I’m with you on that. I’m SOO happy we got to see each other in the flesh earlier this year. Happy early Thanksgiving to you, beautiful soon-to-be-mommmmma! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Nina says

    November 22, 2017 at 7:58 am

    First of all congratulations on your first week working out! It was quite packed even if low intensity so you must be really proud of yourself!
    To answer your questions:
    Where I’m from we don’t celebrate thanksgiving. But nonetheless I’m most grateful for getting a chance at another baby (due January!!). And the last workout that made me really really sore was pole dancing. Soo worth it!
    Nina recently posted…6 little things I do for myself no matter how busy life getsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 22, 2017 at 6:03 pm

      Hi Nina! Congratulations on your little bundle due in January, that is amazing! And I’ve always wanted to try a pole dancing workout — it looks tough! Hope you have a great week, lady! Thanks so much for saying hi! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Nikki @FlimsyLion says

    November 22, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    Congrats on getting back into the gym, it looks like you’re doing really well! All you can do is take it a day at a time, I’m sure you’ll be doing your regular workouts in no time.
    Nikki @FlimsyLion recently posted…Eating While Pregnant – 2nd TrimesterMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      November 22, 2017 at 6:04 pm

      Hi Nikki! Thanks so much for saying hi! Yes — I know it’s good to be taking it slow right now workout wise, and I’ll be back in fighting shape when it’s time. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving, lady! 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

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How was your weekend, friends? Did you take care o How was your weekend, friends? Did you take care of yourself in some way? This weekend, I did a workout, worked, walked outside in the sunshine with my fam, spent far too many hours looking online for area rugs, and I caught up with four friends over the phone, which was good for the soul. I also had some wine, some veggies, a PBJ, a brownie from Panera and wore nothing but activewear and pajamas, with a little lipstick too. Charlotte doesn’t exactly feel like home yet, but we’re getting more and more settled as the weeks go on. Hope you had a good one! What’s one thing you did this weekend?
Brady was all smiles for his first official day of Brady was all smiles for his first official day of preschool as a Charlotte resident (while wearing big-boy undies, BTW). And let's be honest, I was all smiles too. Although I love spending every waking second with this adorable curly haired boy, I also love some time to myself, so I can fit more work into the regular workday and maybe a workout too. Fun fact: Even though I'm an extrovert, over the last year, nothing seems to recharge me like some time alone to think and just be -- and that's not always easy to come by as a mom of a toddler during a year-long pandemic. What recharges you, friends? Hope you can get some of it this week.
G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y closed!! 🎉 Who gets excited for G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y closed!! 🎉 Who gets excited for protein powder like I do? I've tried so many protein powders over the years, and this is hands-down my favorite -- Organifi Complete Plant-Based Protein. It's 100 percent organic, has no soy, no whey, it's vegan, gluten free and dairy free, and each serving has 20 grams of plant-based protein. But the most important part: It tastes delicious mixed with nothing but water. I'm a fan of the chocolate flavor, but the vanilla is good too. I drink this protein powder several times a week, and I look forward to it after a tough workout. As a little thank-you for following, I'd love to give away one tub of @organifi protein to one lucky winner. And if you want to try out anything from Organifi in the future, my code, ALADYGOESWEST, gets you 15 percent off on the site, and I highly recommend the GOLD powder for a nightly relaxing treat too.
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Here's how to enter to win:
(1) Like this post.
(2) Follow @aladygoeswest and @organifi.
(3) Leave a comment on this post telling me which flavor you want to try and tag a friend.
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Each comment is an entry, and you can leave more than one. This giveaway is not associated with Instagram and will close Saturday, March 6. You must live in the U.S. in order to win. Thanks for playing and good luck!
I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer t I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer than an Instagrammer and many times I feel like what I want to share doesn't fit well into a grid. But I'm able to bring much more long-form content to my blog each week. Speaking of that, this week, I debuted a new series called "A Lady Goes West Advice Corner" which has been something I've wanted to put together for a while. In this series, I'm taking totally anonymous questions from YOU and giving you some neutral third-party advice on it all. Here are the questions I addressed in the first advice corner edition:
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-“I became a first-time mom last spring and am currently dealing with all things motherhood. How do I deal with my expectations vs. reality of being a mom?" (such a good one, and I've been there)
-“How do you deal with days when you don't love your body? I think we can all relate to looking in the mirror and being disappointed with what we see?" (this happens to us all)
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The answers are long, they come from my heart, and I hope they can provide some value to you! If this is something you're interested in, head over to A Lady Goes West today to check it out, and you can submit a question for the next edition.
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Here's the direct link: https://aladygoeswest.com/ask-me-anything-a-lady-goes-west-advice-corner-first-edition/
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Have a great night, friends! And when in doubt, talk it out.
G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y closed! 🎉 Who doesn't love a co G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y closed! 🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen giveaway? As a little thank-you for following, I wanted to do a giveaway of one of my favorite products. I've been using Vital Proteins collagen in my morning tea latte for years, and not only does the collagen creamer add a great taste, but it also supports healthy hair, skin, nails and joints too. Today, I'm giving away not only one canister of collagen creamer, but also a canister of collagen peptides to one lucky winner.
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Here's how to enter:
(1) Like this post.
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(3) Leave a comment on this post tagging a friend who wants healthy skin and joints.
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You can leave as many comments as you want, and each one serves as an entry. You can earn an additional entry by sharing this post to your stories and tagging me. This giveaway closes on Saturday, February 27. The winner must live in the U.S. And this giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Good luck, and thanks for being here! 🙂 xoxo
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-2009-2012 in a high-rise condo in downtown Orlando, where we lived when we got married.
-2012-2013 in a one-bedroom apartment in South of Market in San Francisco, which was always freezing no matter the time of day or year.
-2013-2014 in a tiny studio apartment in Nob Hill in San Francisco, which was only 550-square-feet, but we could hear the cable cars out of our always-open windows, so that was cool.
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-2017-2021 in a house that we owned in Pleasant Hill outside of San Francisco, which was across the street from a Starbucks so we went there way too often.
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And now we're here in Charlotte. It's good to be home! I'd love to know: Where do you call home?
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