Summer weekend, MNT Studio and my weekly workouts at 25 weeks pregnant

Hi, friends! What a fun and busy weekend it was over here! I hope yours was great too. Let’s chat about the happenings and then look at my latest week of workouts at 25 weeks … 

As usual, I don’t have much to report from Friday. I taught Bootybarre, and then Dave and I had grass-fed burgers, veggies and ice cream at home — which is perhaps how we’ve spent every single Friday night over the past few weeks. It’s a routine, and I like it!

Touring the hospital in our casuals

On Saturday morning, after breakfast at home (shown below and featuring local sourdough toast covered in almond butter, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds), Dave and I went to visit the hospital in Walnut Creek where I will give birth in October. Because both of us planned to exercise a bit later in the day, we each wore our workout clothes on the tour and were certainly the most under-dressed — but also quite comfortable walking the halls.

Anywho, we had the sweetest older gentlemen as a volunteer tour guide, and he showed us where to park, where to enter the hospital and how to get into the labor and delivery area. We even saw the suites where the big event will happen, as well as the recovery rooms.

I definitely think we have a good hospital, because everything was very nice and welcoming, and they have all sorts of procedures in place to make it a safe and friendly environment. Although I must say, I was sort’ve nervous the entire time we were there and am getting increasingly anxious about childbirth. OMG. 

By the way, I’ve heard from a few people that I haven’t been good about posting bump pictures. Well, my friends, here’s the bump on Saturday, which was the day I officially reached 26 weeks …

Quick lunch at Vitality Bowls

Shortly after our tour, Dave and I popped over to downtown Walnut Creek to grab a quick lunch at Vitality Bowls. Because it was more than 100 degrees out (ugh), we weren’t the only ones searching for a cold lunch, and it took a while to get our bowls in the crowded little restaurant.

I was heading to a workout in the City right after lunch, so I only got a medium Vitality Bowl (with all the good stuff and superfoods, of course). Dave got a large peanut buttery bowl, so I had to sneak some bites of his more-delicious-than-mine meal, but he dug into his before I could get a picture of both. Acai bowls are pretty, aren’t they?

Barre class at MNT Studio in SoMa

Once we were done eating, I dropped Dave off at a friend’s house for him to hang out with some guys, and I began my trek into the City. While I usually take the Bart (subway) into the City during the week, because it was a Saturday afternoon, I figured it would be safe to drive and brave the roads. The traffic on the way in wasn’t terrible (minus a big slow-down to go over the Bay Bridge), and the way home was super easy. Not to mention, I was able to park on the street right outside the studio where I was headed, which was a major win and is not always the case.

I arrived at MNT Studio in SoMa just before 3 p.m. to meet Jill and Caity and prepare for a barre class, taught by the studio owner, Elaine. On Saturday, MNT Studio was celebrating its big grand reopening after renovating its space, adding to the class schedule and changing up the look and feel — with the letters MNT in the name now standing for Move, Nourish and Transform.

In addition to barre, MNT also offers reformer Pilates classes and yoga, and I’d love to go back and try those after I’m no longer pregnant and up for more of a bendy challenge. Did I mention the studio is just adorably feminine and well done? I want to move in!

Once we were thoroughly wowed by the entry, we went upstairs to the larger group fitness studio space and entered the full room ready for class. The barre class we took that day was very Pilates based and included a lot of work away from the barre, which I enjoyed.

I had absolutely no idea what to expect in the one-hour workout, which made it a great sweat session for me, complete with that standard “barre burn.” I like it when I don’t have to think about what is next in the workout in order to teach it, and I also like it when the class doesn’t follow a standard format that I’m expecting. Elaine was a great instructor, and I was able to do much of the workout, with just a few modifications during the core portions on the mat. Good stuff!

After class, we hung out for a bit chatting, and then said our goodbyes, armed with a cute MNT tote bag (shown above). I hopped back in the car and drove to Walnut Creek to pick up Dave, before swinging by the grocery store for a few fresh ingredients for a brunch I planned to host the next day.

Although we had every intention of going out to dinner on Saturday night, the busy day got to me, and once I was finished prepping the breakfast bake for my brunch the next day, it was after 7:30 p.m., and I knew I wasn’t up for an outing. So instead, Dave went to Sprouts and got our favorite Home Run Inn pizza and some Nada Moo for our dining pleasure, while I relaxed on the couch. We ate a late dinner, watched an episode of the latest season of “Bloodline,” and hit the hay. 

Hosting a brunch for my lady friends

I didn’t wake up until 8 a.m. on Sunday after a super deep and long sleep — I must’ve needed it. Then, I only took a few minutes to snuggle with Dave and Rudy before springing into action. The morning was spent cleaning, setting the table, getting myself ready and preparing for my brunch. And this little guy wasn’t quite ready for all that activity so early on a Sunday …

Around 11 a.m., I had five lady friends over to hang out and eat some brunchey food, like this easy veggie egg casserole I made minus the sausage, some muffins, fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, mimosas (virgin for me) and cookie bars. It was a great excuse to pull out our China, fancier wine glasses and my new table runner. I happen to LOVE setting a fancy table and don’t get to do it very often.

I planned this brunch several weeks out, in order to bring these mommas and momma-to-bes together to chat about baby stuff for a blog campaign that I’m working on — and you’ll see the details later this month. The girls were totally happy to be a part of it with me, and we sat around the table chatting and laughing non-stop for almost three hours.

Once they were gone, Dave helped me clean up, and then I sat on the couch and got to work with a few other blog-related things for much of the day. After a load of laundry and some chores, next thing you know it was into the evening, and we had a tasty dinner at home together made by Chef Dave (he is definitely doing almost all of the cooking these days). 

I didn’t actually leave the house on Sunday outside of a couple of short walks with Rudy around our townhouse community, and yet, the day flew by. How does that happen? Overall, it was a productive, busy and fun weekend for sure.

My weekly workout recap

From the weekend to workouts, here’s a look at how I’ve been moving …

Weekly workouts

 At 25 weeks pregnant …

• Monday: Did a 30-minute lower-body workout, 11 a.m.
• Tuesday: Did a 30-minute upper-body workout, 11 a.m.
• Wednesday: Did 25 minutes of power-walking on the treadmill, 11 a.m.
• Thursday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, 8:30 a.m. and taught a one-hour Bootybarre class, 5:30 p.m.
• Friday: Taught a one-hour Bootybarre class, 4 p.m.
• Saturday: Took a one-hour barre class, 3 p.m.
• Sunday: Rest day

Overview of the week of workouts 

This past week had seven total workouts, which is a lot and more than last week. However, three of them were shorter than 45 minutes, and I had a full rest day, so I don’t think it was too much overall. I finally got into the weight-room to do a solo resistance session as well, and I did that not one, but two times, and I even split it up to focus on the lower half one day (sumo squats, deadlifts, reverse lunges and step-ups) and upper half one day (chest presses, rows, side raises and tricep extensions), which felt great.

My favorite workout of the week was taking a freestyle barre class on Saturday and not knowing what was coming next in class — I love that — and it’s super good for the body and mind to be guessing. (You’ve got to be sure you aren’t always repeating the exact same movements in the same sequence in order to keep challenging yourself.) A full week of fitness for sure!

That’s do it. Have a fabulous day, my friends! I’ll see you back here for some kitchen and food talk coming up this week! 🙂 

A fun weekend and a weekly workout report by @apstyle ... Click To Tweet

P.S. Thanks to Meghan for today’s link-up. 

Questions of the day

What was the best workout you’ve done lately?

When it comes to your workouts, do you go in with a plan or make it up as you go along?