Weekend at home and weekly workouts from 30 and 31 weeks pregnant

Hi, my friends! It’s been a minute since I’ve shared a regular weekend and weekly workout recap to start out the week. Between the babymoon to Santa Barbara, a week-long trip to Florida and my two baby showers, the weekends have been action packed and worthy of their own individual event recaps. Well this past one was a little less celebratory, but still a good one, so a combo post is happening with the workouts and the stories all in one, just like the good ol’ days.

A lovely weekend at home in Walnut Creek

On Friday afternoon, Dave got home early from work and began building a dresser for the nursery, which kept him occupied for a few hours. While he was busy, I went over to my girlfriend’s brand new house in Alamo, which is one town over from Walnut Creek and super nice. There were a few of us there for happy hour and a house tour, and it was a great way to start the weekend and see the beautiful digs.

That night, Dave was in need of an escape after having been hunched over drawers, screws and an instruction manual for hours, so we went out to downtown Walnut Creek for burgers, fries and fish tacos at Broderick Roadhouse. And even though we shared everything, we each walked out of there super full. No pictures were taken of the meal, because, well … I eat a lot of burgers these days, and you don’t need to see all that. 🙂 

Ashley at 32 weeks pregnant by A Lady Goes West

(A pre-dinner shot at 32 weeks pregnant among the shrubbery in downtown Walnut Creek, wearing a very comfy maternity bodycon dress, which is one of my faves.)

On Saturday morning, after a successful Craigslist transaction (I’ve been selling a few pieces that were in our second room, which is now turning into the nursery), I hopped in the car to head to the City, while Dave went to the gym and the driving range. I headed to the SoMa neighborhood to go back to MNT Studio, a most adorable Pilates, barre and yoga spot, which I’ve been to a couple times before.

The beautiful studio owner, Elaine, (who is a new momma to a little boy, just like I will be one day soon), invited me to come in to go through a few prenatal Pilates exercises on the reformer, the Cadillac and a new-to-me chair machine. While we didn’t do a full workout, she did explain the benefits of prenatal Pilates and told me about the studio’s offerings — all the while using me as a model of sorts for some future marketing for MNT.

Pregnant Ashley with Elaine at MNT Studio by A Lady Goes West

(Studio owner, Elaine, and me, posing in the MNT upstairs lobby after our Pilates and photo session. I’m wearing Gap maternity leggings and a Fabletics tank.)

We captured a ton of pictures of my experience moving around the equipment bump and all, which I’ll hopefully share with you soon. It was a fun time chatting with both Elaine and her studio manager/photographer Carlie, and I got in a great stretch at the end too. I felt way opened up from the movements we did, and I definitely plan to go back for a full private Pilates session soon. I think my body needs more Pilates right now!

In the afternoon, I continued working on the nursery, washing some baby clothes and putting things in the dresser, etc. Then that night, Dave and I went to dinner at our friends’ house in Walnut Creek. The very sweet couple who hosted us made a Mexican-themed dinner, including a watermelon mocktail for me, and we sat around chatting and eating for more than three hours. Rudy got to join too, so good times were had!

Delicious mocktail by A Lady Goes West

(It was like a watermelon mojito, minus the really good stuff. But I felt festive drinking it!)

On Sunday, I worked on the nursery, did some blog work, a prenatal yoga session in the living room and took Rudy on a walk. Dave and I also got out for a few unsuccessful outings to HomeGoods and other stores to look for nursery stuff, but I’m pretty sure I will try to get the rest of what we need online — because online shopping is way better! Am I right?

Urban Plates salad lunch by A Lady Goes West

Ashley at 32 weeks pregnant in WC eating Pressed Juicery freeze by A Lady Goes West

(Matcha freeze covered in almond butter drizzle after lunch equals one happy gal, wearing a non-maternity super comfy Gap dress.)

We also had a tasty lunch at Urban Plates and finished up with a freeze from Pressed Juicery before heading home to do some Sunday things and have burgers for dinner. And that was the weekend!

My latest two weekly workout recaps

Here’s a look at how I’ve been moving and grooving …

Weekly Workouts by A Lady Goes West

At 30 weeks pregnant …

The first part of this week, I was in Florida for my first baby shower. It was way too hot outside for a lot of walking, and I didn’t have any equipment other than this resistance tube, but I still did fine in the workout department. 

  • Monday: Did 20 minutes of Bootybarre at home, 11 a.m., took a 30-minute walk, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday: Did 20 minutes of Bootybarre at home, 11 a.m., took a 30-minute walk, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday: Took a 30-minute walk, 10 a.m.
  • Thursday: Taught a one-hour Bootybarre class, 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday: Took 45 minutes of a BODYPUMP class, 12 p.m.
  • Saturday: Rest day
  • Sunday: Did 25 minutes of prenatal yoga at home, 11 a.m.

At 31 weeks pregnant …

This week, I was back home and had access to the gym again, but still kept things lighter.

  • Monday: Did a 25-minute lower-body workout, 11 a.m., took a 20-minute walk, 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday: Did a 25-minute upper-body workout, 11 a.m., did 25 minutes of prenatal yoga at home, 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday: Took a 30-minute walk, did 25 minutes of prenatal yoga at home, 11 a.m.
  • Thursday: Took a one-hour walk, 9 a.m., taught a one-hour Bootybarre class, 5:30 p.m.
  • Friday: Took 45 minutes of a BODYPUMP class, 12 p.m.
  • Saturday: Did about 20 minutes of prenatal reformer Pilates and stretching, 11:30 a.m.
  • Sunday: Took a 20-minute walk, 11 a.m., did 25 minutes of prenatal yoga at home, 5 p.m.

Overview of the last two weeks of workouts

As you can see, walking is officially part of my exercise routine right now, and it’s a great way for me to get some movement and get my heart-rate up, with zero impact. And I don’t exactly swing my arms like a power walk, but I just move a little bit faster than a normal stroll. (It’s so funny for me to add walking to my workout routine, because I used to walk like five miles in the City every single day with a backpack up and down hills and never even consider it part of my daily movement. Oh how things change!)

While it looks like I’ve had a ton of workouts over the past two weeks, a lot of them have been very light, for instance the prenatal yoga I’ve been doing at home. I got the DVD from my doula, and I’m planning to do it at least a few times a week up until delivery. It’s designed to get the baby in the right position in my body, and hopefully it works. More details coming on this soon!

The highlight that I have to report is from my workouts last week, during the 31st week of pregnancy, because for the first time in more than a month, I lifted weights three times. Thank goodness! I can absolutely see the major declines in my strength and overall muscle tone since the beginning of pregnancy, which was expected, but I don’t want to give it up altogether. 

Overall, I’m feeling alright. My motivation to work out is very low, and it’s a struggle to get going, and I get out of breath easily, but I’m still trying!

That’s it for today, my friends! Enjoy your day, and I’ll see you back here soon!

Weekend stories and a #weeklyworkout recap from the third trimester by @apstyle ... Click To Tweet

Questions of the day

How was your weekend?

Walking — how often do you do it? Do you consider exercise or just routine?

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15 Comments

  1. Walking definitely is legit exercise! My time doing IVF and the first 7 weeks of this pregnancy can attest to that! I really need to get back to some sort of lifting. I have little to no strength… which is bad considering I was a personal trainer not too long ago…

    1. Hi Susie! I feel ya!! I flexed my bicep in the mirror the other day and was like … umm .. where did it go? hahahahh! Oh well — I guess we have the rest of our lives to get back into fighting shape — we’re doing something pretty important right now! Happy Monday, my dear mommmmmmma friend!

  2. I lifted until 36 weeks pregnant and then my back pain got so bad that I couldn’t lift anymore. But I felt like I had NO muscle left when I got back to working out. And the core strength was just pathetic (but I had a c-section too). The muscle came back quickly, but I was surprised how quickly it seemed to disappear. And I would walk at the gym on the treadmill as my “workout” when I was that pregnant too. I would get so tired just walking. It sounds like you guys had a fun weekend with friends and getting out of the house! Enjoy these times 🙂

    1. Hi Liz! Ohhh the human body. It’s amazing how quickly things can change. I know that recovery from a c-section is a LOT tougher, so props to you for going through that and getting back into a routine. Here’s hoping things go okay for me! Love to hear other people’s experiences. And I hope you had a great weekend too, lady! 🙂

  3. Looks like a great weekend! I did a lot of walking towards the ends of my pregnancies, I think it’s great when you want to move and shake everything out, but don’t feel up for more strenuous activities. Hope you have a great weekend!

    1. Hi Emily! Exactly!! Shake things out is a GREAT way to explain it hahahah! Things get tight for sure. Walking is a good way to counteract it all. Hope your weekend was great, my friend! 🙂

  4. It’s awesome how active you are during your pregnancy since I know some women can’t be. The watermelon mocktail looks very refreshing and what a great way to feel festive at dinner.

    Have a great day Ashley 🙂

    1. Hi Maureen! I’ve been active for so long, it just wouldn’t feel right to stop now! Even though it’s tough, I’m happy to be doing it! And yessss for mocktails, I definitely get sick of drinking only water, so a festive drink is key. Hope your weekend was great, lady! 🙂

  5. Walking is DEFINITELY exercise is my opinion. I did a class with my sister this weekend and we walked around the city for a bit, before you know it we had walked over 3 miles! And so excited to see how you’re decorating the nursery! 🙂 Have a great week!

    1. Hi Patricia! Walking is the best! I love walking around cities, even though I hated it for a while when I was sick of doing it out of necessity in my own city ahahha. When you are exploring, the miles pile up! And YESSSS decorating the nursery is the best hehehe! I’ve been so ready to get started. Hope your weekend was great, lady! 🙂

  6. We absolutely LOVED having you at the studio. Such a fun time, and you are such a glowing gorgeous mama-to-be! Can’t wait to have you back soon for more Pilates goodness. 🙂

    1. Hi Kelli, my dear! You are the SWEETEST, so thanks for the kind words. And morning walks with the pup are great way to start the day and get some exercise. Hope you’re having a fab week! 🙂

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