To those who listen to music when working out:

I need some new songs on my playlist. I like to use my Ipod when I walk/pregnant jog (I should really film what I do, I bet it is entertaining), and when I use the cross trainer. What new songs are out there, or what is your favorite workout song?

One of my favorites, that I could listen to on repeat is Shakira's La Tortura. This song has a great beat, and the lyrics are in Spanish, so I really have no idea what they are saying (duet with a guy). It sounds kind of naughty though. I should go google translate it. For some reason when I hear this song, I imagine I am in a Mexican restaurant, eating a basket of chips and salsa, and this song comes on. I immediately stand up, along with everyone else in the restaurant, and we start shaking our hips and dancing.

Help me find some more music like this!

Hump (me) Bump (me) Day!

Almost 34 weeks! As you can see, my belly is huge. Here is are things I find challenging now:

1.Tying my shoes. I told my patent attorney DH that they should event shoes or ties for pregnant women. He told me to wear laceless shoes. Have you seen any laceless running shoes? I did remember they do make these: Lock Laces Oh well, next time.

2.If I drop something on the floor while sitting, I can not simply bend over to retrieve it. I tried this. This is what happens. Your stomach rests on your legs, and you can not reach down any further. I then tried to spread my legs wide on the chair to pick something up, but then my stomach was resting on the seat of the chair. Finally, I stand up, squat down, and pick up the item I have dropped.

3. My car keys. my house keys, my eyeliner pencil, my brain! Being pregnant for some reason makes you stupid. I keep thinking the baby must be sucking out some of my brain cells. If you see the car keys, we have yet to find those. The eyeliner pencil, somehow I managed to fling yesterday and it ended up in the toilet. The house keys were only lost for a day until I found them in my work bag. I couldn't find the car in the parking lot yesterday. I just accept these things now, and move on!

Hope you have a good Wednesday! Half way to the weekend!

Question from a reader and a recipe!

Since I only had one question submitted from a reader, and it was Crystal that wanted to know what the baby's name will be, I feel it is only fair that I answer it.

Since we have decided to keep the baby name as a surprise until his arrival, I will tell you everything we decided NOT to name him. These were close contenders, but unfortunately did not make the cut:

McWeeks
Carmelo
Squirt
Junior
Mini-me
Giuseppe
Ricky Bobby

Don't forget to send any questions to amber[dot)weeks@gmail[dot].com. Questions will remain anonymous (oops, except for yours, Crystal). The subject can be about anything, (I think)!

DH and I had a very productive weekend getting ready for the baby's arrival. We know have the crib setup, a changing table, a car seat, and I washed all of the cute clothes. Last night for dinner, we decided to try a recipe from DH's Triathlete magazine:

Vegetable Chili with bulgur Wheat
served 6

1/2 cup bulgur wheat, uncooked
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 cup diced zuchinni
1 cup diced yellow squash
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced red bell peppers
2- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
2- 15 oz can red kidney beans
2 cloves garlic ,minced
3 Tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon oregano
salt
pepper

Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil and add the bulgur to the pan, stir, then cover. Continue to cook for approximately twenty minutes stirring occasionally. Drain the excess water after twenty minutes or when the bulgur has plumped up like a rice or a pasta. Set aside

In a large heavy bottom pot heat the olive oil. Saute the onion until translucent and then stir in the garlic. Add the carrots, zuchinni, bell peppers and squash. Stir until coated with the onion and garlic. Continue sauteeing the vegetables until softened. Add the chili powder, cumin and oregano and toss to coat. Stir in the tomatoes and kidney beans. Lower the heat to low and cover. cook for about 20-30 minutes. Add the bulgur wheat and combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Amber and DH's comments and "modifications":

We could not find yellow squash, so added about 1.5 cups of green, red, and yellow peppers. We also has a jalapeño in the fridge, so threw that in. We didn't add any salt or pepper because we thought it was seasoned just fine! Do not worry if it is really really thick. There was hardly in liquid at all in the chili. I added some shredded cheddar to it, but keep in mind chopped green onions, and sour cream would also be nice. The bulgur is a nice touch, because it was filling enough without having to make cornbread to go with it. It says "serves 6" which in our house only serves 3. We decided it was a "keeper" and will definitly make it again.

Enjoy!

Fashion Friday

I will RARELY write about fashion on this blog. Right now I am in a fashion slump. I have 3 pairs of pants that fit, about 3 shirts, and one dress. I refuse to buy anymore maternity clothes with so little time left. I needed something to cheer me up. This morning I went digging through my handbags, and found my black trusty Kenneth Cole handbag. For some reason when I carry this, I feel like a sophisticated business woman with a purpose. I have to try not to waddle when I carry it though or I mess up the whole image!

What do you have in your closet that as soon as you wear it, you feel like a different purpose? A lucky pair of shoes? Some jewelry from a holiday? Or is it simply straightening your hair for work? (Um, Crystal?)

Have a good weekend! DH and I will be doing things like setting up the crib, shopping for babystuff, and enjoying the last few weeks together when it is just "us".

Hump Day/Bump Day!

So here I am at almost 33 weeks. I put workout clothes on because I need to work out/go for a walk/move my booty, and thought I would just try on the clothes to "see how they feel." Then I put on my running shoes to "see how they feel". I then put my hair in a ponytail to "see how it feels." Baby steps, people.

Mondays blog posts: Questions from Readers

So I was talking to my SIL (sister in law) yesterday, and told her that somedays I feel like I have a lot to say, and other days, everything sounds so boring to me. Do you really care that I made a turkey and cheese sandwich for my lunch? Probably not.

So, she suggested taking questions from my readers that I can answer on those "slow days". Maybe we make it a Monday reoccuring blog post?

If you have questions about life, being preggers, fitness stuff, what to eat, ect, please send them to my email address: amber [dot] weeks [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject "FAPM Questions". I will be completely honest when I answer. No sugar coating here!

Hope you had a good weekend, and you can feel spring in the air!

Let's talk Fitness on Friday

I am having problems motivating myself to exercise. This week for example I blamed it on the sunny days making me tired, and then it was the cloudy day making me tired, and then it was the coldish day making me tired. Bottom line, I am tired.

I feel so good AFTER exercising that I have to get over the initial hurdle and just get started. I have tried the following:

1.Sleeping in my gym clothes so I just have to roll out of bed, brush my teeth and go. DH loves my sexy PJs.

2. Pack up everything the night before and put in the car. Who really wants to admit defeat and get the bag out of the car in the morning?

3. Planning a nice treat after working out. I tell myself, "Amber you can sit on your booty the rest of the night and watch Teen Mom if you go workout for 30 minutes".

Any fitness motivation tips out there? I used to have workout buddies to meet at the gym, but now I am just using the cross trainer and not going to any classes. What else do yall do to motivate yourselves?

Hump Day, Bump Day!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and all is going fine! 8 more weeks, or he thinks I could be earlier. Yikes! : )

You know you are pregnant when:

1. You consider eating the jar of kalamata olives, but stop yourself half way through.
2. Your belly button now looks like a 3rd nipple.
3. You call your mom on skype and make her look at your stomach to see if it really is a stretch mark.
4. Being sore is no longer from working out, but from the alien doing flips in your tummy.
5. You know where every bathroom at work, in the city, at the grocery store, etc is for frequent pee breaks.

Seriously, I love being pregnant, and I have very little to complain about. Watch for the next post on Wednesday. The title is "Hump Day, Bump Day"!

What's for dinner?

This is going to be a frequent post, I think.

Since we have moved to the "suburbs" of Arhus, (3 miles from the city center) we have been really good about staying in and cooking. The Danes typically "go out to eat" about once per month (so my colleagues tell me), and with good reason! It is expensive to eat out, and there is not many places in between fast food and fine dining.

DH and I started eating out 2 times a week when we moved here, and now we are down to just one day a week, usually Saturday night.

So by Friday, after a week of cooking, I have run out of ideas and inspiration. On my walk to the bus stop this morning I quickly ran through my head what I had eaten this week:

Sunday: Salsa soup and quesadillas
Monday: Greek salad and almond butter and banana sandwich
Tuesday: uhh, pancakes :)
Wednesday: Pizza night (homemade)
Thursday: Moussaka, salad, bread
Friday??????

It took me about 5 seconds to realize that I had not eaten any fish this week! Yikes! I am supposed to have at least two servings to get my omega 3s which are good for the little alien in me! Oops.

A quick and easy meal for us is salmon with a spice rub, sweet potatoes, and a green veggie. All can be put in the oven at the same time, at the same temperature and it does not require any babysitting.

What are you having for dinner tonight?

Introduction to a FAP Mommy

Hi friends!

Why blog? I chose to start a blog because I need your help. I will soon be a new mommy, but still want to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

I thought this blog could be a good way to share recipes, motivate each other to workout (or take days off), and basically help me keep a positive attitude when life gets crazy.

Amber before knocked up:
I was fitness crazy. I loved to run marathons, and taught a few aerobic classes a week, BodyAttack and BodyStep. Any Les Mills fans out there? In addition to this, I also went to spinning classes, rode my racing bike, and found many ways to get my pulse up.

I am guilty though of not doing any stretching, yoga, pilates, or weights. I found these activities boring, and not endorphin producing.

In terms of my diet, I like food. I don't discriminate. I ate my fair share of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, BUT I also like my sweets, and would never turn down red wine.

Amber after knocked up:
At the beginning of my pregnancy, I had some back pain, that caused me to stop teaching aerobics, and running. :( I decided to start doing pilates and walking and that has made me feel like I am "working out". Many people suggested I take up swimming, but really, who wants to go swimming when it is 20 degrees out, not to mention put on spandex with a growing belly.

My diet has not changed much, except cutting out the red wine. I have started craving cold milk and ice cream, and have stopped eating chocolate. Weird, I know.

One more thing to add is that my DH (Devoted Husband) is a lawyer who likes to race in Ironman competitions (2.4m swim, 112m bike, 26.2m run). Racing and competing in endurance events is something that makes him happy. My goal is to try to help him continue in these activites even after the baby comes.

Welcome to my blog, and let's have some fun!