An awesome running AND nursing sports bra? Yep! I found one!

2016 update below

 I'm so happy with my Moving Comfort Juno bra!  I've run while nursing all my babies, but have never been super comfortable.  With our first baby I just wore two compression sports bras.  Worked ok support wise, but not great and it's funny how when you're not used to it (larger cup size), the girls bouncing around actually throws your gait off, did for me anyway, drove me nuts!  With our 2nd baby I bought my first encapsulating bra (sports bra with cups, not just a solid piece of 'hold em down' fabric) and it worked better, but often I'd have to wear a compression bra on top of that as well.  Then we had our 3rd baby and I bought a more expensive sports bra, sometimes you have to pay for quality.  I think it may have even been a moving comfort, but it was kind of old school with a cotton outer.  I remember running the St George Marathon with it.  Rained the whole entire race and two spots on the top hem of the bra rubbed me so bad I was bleeding by the end.  But it was a good bra support wise.  To nurse however I'd have to hook it on the loosest setting in the back, only hook one hook (not the 3 it had, make sense?) and just pull one side up while I nursed.  Yes it gave me the access I needed, but was uncomfortable smashing the top of my breast (I hate the word boob, don't know why, just do) and I worried I was ruining the band.

The Juno.  Isn't it cute! 

ANYWAY!  Sorry for the digression.  Not sure what happened to that bra but wanted a new one anyway after 3 years.  I found the Moving Comfort Juno and it is just fabulous!  Not only do I get the support I want, but I like the way it looks and it is a breeze to nurse with.  I'll highlight my favorite things about it

• Great support.  It is more encapsulating than compression, but kind of does both.  Has a nice wide band on the bottom which is important, and the straps don't have elastic, another important feature.  Bounce comes from too loose a band and flexible straps and I do not like bounce.  The straps on the juno also adjust really easily, and from the front - even easier!
• Comfortable.  It's kind of a pain to get off when I'm done wearing it, but not horrible, and it's easier to get on.  Although it is a racerback style bra, it has 3 rows of hooks in the back to tighten the band down just a little more.  The straps are a great width and slightly padded and I have noticed no discomfort with them at all!  Actually I have noticed no rubbing anywhere from this bra, very important.  The bra will dry well when I use it in tri's and breathes well otherwise.
• Cute.  Yep, here's my vanity again.  I have a few sports bras that buckle in the back like a regular bra and they are definitely easier to put on, but I don't always love where the strap hits my shoulder blade and they don't always fit well under shirts, especially tank tops, and don't look as cute alone.  I don't go sports bra only very often, but on the occasions that I do I prefer a racer back look.  Anyway, love the look of the back of this bra, and it looks great and is flattering from the front too.  The formed cups are gentle but flattering and not padded, just formed.  Fun colors too!
• Nursing friendly.  No more pull the bottom up and squish the breast access, this bra has straps that slide in and out of the body of the bra in front easy peasy thanks to great velcro.  Now I know, I said velcro.  But you wouldn't even know its there!  Super trim and not scratchy at all and yet it works!  I have fastened and unfastened this bra so many times already and I initially worried maybe the velcro would wear out and not hold as well, but I have no worries at all so far.  I save the Juno for running and wear other bras on the bike.  I run 3 times a week and teach 2 fitness classes so I'm really in this bra almost every day and when I get back from a workout, my Ella is usually ready to eat.  I'm tired and hungry and don't want to put her off for a shower and new clothes so I really appreciate that I just scoop up my sweet little bundle and nurse her right then.  Will also be really convenient when I start racing soon not to have to change at the finish line before I feed her, and is great when I take her on runs in the trailer and she needs to eat.  Oh and I'm really impressed with how well the bra has held it's shape.  I worried my pulling it up and down would but a kink in the cup but has done great and washes up well.

I don't really have any complaints, but to give an honest review, where the bra hooks together in the back I'll feel like something's there and move the tag sometimes, but it's not that.  It doesn't hurt or rub, just something I'm aware of.  Not a deal breaker at all.
Sizing wise I think they're on.  While nursing I wear a 34C normal bra and went with a 32D Juno.  Now yes the band is tight but that's important and I wanted that.  I do kind of wish I went with a C now that I'm settling into my milk supply, but I needed the D that first month and haven't noticed any new bouncing.  I know when I wore it the month before I had Ella I was sure that was the right size because I was kind of popping out all over, but I forgot that your rib cage goes in a little and for me at least, I go down about a cup size from right before and after baby once my supply settles.  Just keep that in mind if you're expecting.

Thank you Moving Comfort!  They are a great company to deal with too, great website, very knowledgeable customer service and live chat.  I love live chat.  Hope this helps someone, it's really frustrating as a woman to have anything be uncomfortable while exercising.  It's hard enough to fit it all in timing wise, the last thing you need is something else like clothing to get in the way of a good stress relieving break.  Time to get out and enjoy spring!

*I bought this bra myself, it was not a freebie

Edit to update - This post has almost always been my most viewed post, and it's years old now (updating today in March 2016).  A couple other bra's are worth mentioning including the Moving Comfort Jubralee which I have used.  Nice smooth soft fabric, back closure, traditional bra straps, possibly not as much support as Juno but pretty close and easier to get on and off.  Fiona and Rebound Racer from Moving Comfort are two other options to check out too thanks to their front velcro straps making it nursing friendly.  Shefit is a new bra that I saw and recommended to a friend who loves it a lot! Very customizable and nursing friendly.  Stay active my pregnant and nursing friends!  Pay the money for one of these great bras, and get the right size.  Keep hydrated and listen to your body.

5 reasons I love the bike trainer...no really!

Sick I know, but it's true. I've had a trainer for years and years and use a Kirt Kinetic Road Machine right now and covet a Powertap or Computrainer but medical bills from my little ambulance ride and ER trip in February have definitely put those on hold for a few years. I have usually used the trainer every winter, but aside from 2010 when I was training for Ironman St George I didn't use it a ton. Well having a baby changes things for an athlete, at least for me. I all of the sudden have to be even more efficient with my time. No time for "hmm, where should I go, what should I wear?", my sweet baby will probably wake up or it will be time to take or pick someone up from school. So without further rambling, here are my reasons for this insanity

1. Convenience - it's in my basement, set up ready to go all the time so that as soon as I have a minute I can run down there and work hard.
2. No clothing dilemma - lame excuse I know, but I don't like being cold at all so to just able to throw on any shorts and sports bra and not worry about it being weather appropriate or matching (yeah I just said that), is awesome!
3. No traffic - there have been many times in the last couple years where I wonder why I'm putting my life at risk just to ride my bike. I thankfully haven't been in any accidents (at least with a car, I broke my foot on the bike all with my own sweet skills), but there are so many close calls out there with drivers being too close, too fast, too rude, or just plain not paying attention and I get pretty anxious sometimes about leaving this world and my beautiful children and husband, just to ride my bike. Now I know accidents can happen anywhere. I could get hurt or die in a car, walking, in my house, I could just get sick, but traffic makes me anxious sometimes and the trainer takes that away.
4. Better workouts - for me anyway. Now I should preface this with I probably get a better lung burn climbing real hills and mountains outside and there's nothing like using outdoors to practice balance, bike handling, and a feel for the road, but on the trainer I can sit down (or stand up) and push hard and strong watts (ignore the fact I have no way to measure those watts, stupid medical bills, it's just a feeling for now) without worry of traffic or stop lights to get in my way. Hard to keep the heart rate up when you're riding cautiously around cars or coasting on a flat or downhill. There is no coasting on the trainer, your wheels just stop, I have to pedal all the time. This is a reason some people say you can count time on the trainer as longer than outside (ie 50 minutes on the trainer is like an hour outside) but I try not to since I usually have sweet mommy interruptions such as 'I'm hungry, honey the baby's hungry (I have nursed on the trainer by the way), please put my Polly Pockets dress on,' or my personal favorite 'Mom! Wipe my bum'. Ah, the good life :) I suppose I would get away from those sweet interruptions by riding outside, but with 4 kids and a husband who works a ton and travels, you gotta do what you gotta do!
5. Me time - now getting outside is great for that too, but I try not to listen to music when on my bike outside and I love turning on YouTube for music or triathlon or ultra running videos, or watching a show on the computer in front of me since we don't have TV. If I'm not doing a specific workout I will stand or spin fast or grind out a big gear on commercials and ride steady in between or shift to a harder gear every commercial or song. It's just nice to get some hard work done while enjoying music or shows I like as well, a true mom, multitasking!

So as I've stated, I do recognize the need for riding outside as well. I actually road outside yesterday on the road bike for an hour thanks to my good friend Heidi for watching my kids since dad is in Boston with Altra for the week. The ride was good, it was good to breath fresh air, look at houses around me and dream, exciting to push up hills and go around corners and remember how to handle a bike on actual roads. I don't think everyone has to love the trainer and use it, but for me right now it's working and working great! I don't know that I'll ever pull my Roo off the trainer at this point. Maybe I'll just bring it to T1 and ride the bike course virtually, that's cool right? :)

What it's come to now

A mama's gotta do what a mama's got to do!  My husband has been out of town for the last 8 days (comes home in 38 hours and 23 minutes....I mean 2 days or so) and I've actually done really well getting either a trainer ride or short run with the baby in the Chariot in each day while my other kids are at school or a playdate.  Until today that is.  It's getting late and I hate to give up my sleep to ride once sweet baby is asleep for the night, so I thought I'd try this.

Yeah she didn't really go for it.  We lasted about 2 minutes.  Darn.  I tried right?

So yep, getting back into things again, I mean not like usual training but more than walking the kids to school and back.  Tried to run about 2.5 weeks postpartum like I have before, and I don't mean for miles, I was hoping to do 1/4 mile walk/run intervals (don't think speed here), but it just didn't feel right.  I've always heard that you really need to let the pelvic floor heal well in those first few months for it to heal and behave well forever for you, so when it didn't feel right I respected it and only walked.
Well this week I decided to try again adding some running to my walking and it felt good actually!  I can feel some strain in my lower abs which can be expected, but things are reasonable otherwise.  I won't try to show off or look like superwoman here, but want to be realistic for other very active/athlete moms out there.  I've been walking 3 miles briskly (that means minus kiddos, they play in the bleachers while I walk around the track with the trailer or they stay home with Dad) 3-4 times/wk since about 2 weeks, and just this week at 4 weeks I did three 1/2 mile running sections with 1/4-1/2 mile walks in between.  Yep, no straight 3 miles running right now.  I bet I'll be there in a few weeks, but I'm trying to be cautious.  I don't have any real race wishes until about 2 months from now so I'm ok taking it slow.
I also jumped back on the tri bike on the trainer last week.  You'll recall I did the spin bike at the gym a lot that last trimester since I didn't want to change my tri bike fit to accommodate my big ol belly.  So I really haven't been on my tri bike in, hmmmm, 6 months or so!  It feels good!  Less annoying to the remaining pubic symphysis pain I've dealt with this time around that is still lingering just a little, and easier to push harder.  I can ride much closer to normal vs running close to normal right now.  Yeah the first few rides were a little tender, but I attribute my cooperative lady parts to a birth without meds, in the tub, good perineal support from the midwife, and gravity assisted (not laying down) and not too long pushing.

It's taking some getting used to again being super time efficient.  I mean I've always had to be, but where I have 3 trips a day to take and pick kids up from school, and a napping baby that is going to need me and only me when she wakes up there's no time to hang around on the computer or wonder what I should do, what I should wear, where I should go, etc.  Another reason I love the trainer, so convenient to have it downstairs ready to go.  I have loved getting out in the unseasonably warm sunshine this week though and don't mind pushing the Chariot when there's only a baby in it.  Anyway, seems like many friends are getting ready for a quickly approaching race season.  Hope training is going well and your early season races are great!  I'd be more ancy to join you if it wasn't for my warm cuddly baby; much easier to handle not racing right now than with an injury  :)

A good reason to do nothing

and her name is Ella.  I'm in love.  I would like to get back to activity, but this significant anemia may hold me back longer than I thought.  Of course I'm a little dissapointed, but I'm doing all I can to build my hematocrit back into normal ranges and we'll get there when we get there.  Guess there's a reason I didn't have a race schedule for 2012 set in stone.




I really am ok with it though.  I mean I don't love the headaches and quick fatigue and looking like a ghost, but I would do it again in a heartbeat of course for this sweet little girl of mine.  The other kids adore her and it's been so much more rewarding as a mother than ever to watch them love her.



 So maybe I'll start working on pulling my core back together in the next few weeks, maybe a little weight training at home, yoga, pilates,  I don't know.  Won't swim bike run for a while.  Just plan on getting healthy and enjoying the best finisher prize ever

The long awaited news!

It's a GIRL!

We had our beautiful baby girl Wednesday evening about 5:45.  She was 9lbs 14oz and 21 inches long.  She was born in the water and everything was just so great!  My husband and kids were all there watching her peaceful arrival and we're all in love!  There are lots more details about the birth and more pics on our family blog which you are welcome to visit.

I used Hypnobabies training (the home study course) with this pregnancy and even though it's my 3rd natural birth so you'd think I had the hang of it already, this one was definitely smoother.  I stayed in calm and in control well, kept my confidence, kept focused and relaxed which made things not painless, but a whole lot more manageable than they have been before.  I have been pondering the approach to positive affirmations and mental training I did daily to prepare for her birth, and will continue to ponder how they might be applied to my training and racing as well.

Anyway, time to get back to snuggling my little baby.  Sometimes it seems that's all I'll even do (and I'm fine with that right now, I love her to pieces!  Sitting on the couch nursing and cuddling and gazing is all I want right now), but I felt a twinge of desire to get back into it in the next few weeks.  We'll just start with walking this week though.  Thanks for the well wishes I've received already!!

My family of 6, wow!

And the Fit2bMom winner is!....

Brittany!

Congrats Brittany, I will email you the info you need to get your own Inspire tank.  Enjoy!

Thanks everyone for entering the random drawing!  If you want another chance at free stuff you can check out my contest below where you guess the gender, birthday, and weight of this little baby of ours who has still yet to make his/her grand entrance.  Stay tuned!

1 more day to win a free Fit2bMom top!

Win this super awesome maternity active tank! 
Enter a comment in the post below. 
Drawing is tomorrow!

Fit2BMom maternity activewear review & giveaway!!

What better time than now to do this review seeing as I'm due tomorrow (and still pregnant, better keep busy right?!).  Just means the product is fully and completely tested  :)
Honestly, other than my sleep, having my kids involved, feeling the baby kick inside (and sometimes random stranger comments) the thing I'll miss most about being pregnant is being able to wear these tops!  While all my other maternity stuff is driving me crazy because it doesn't fit any more, these tops are still going strong as big as I've gotten.  And yes, I may not seem huge to some, but A) I feel huge so don't argue with me there  :)  and B) I grow right out in front so I can put maternity clothes through the ringer well.  I'll be surprised if this baby is smaller than 9lbs, and at my 39 week appointment I measured 42cm.  Yep!
This is our 4th baby and I've never had real maternity workout clothing, just wore bigger stuff or my husbands tech shirts or whatever would fit.  Since our 3rd child though I've started teaching water fitness twice a week and well, I just want to still look cute while pregnant and nothing drives me crazier than how I look in an over-sized tech shirt with baggy sleeves down to my elbows and no sign of my new found cleavage, which if we're being honest about, I might as well enjoy while it's not leaky and being spoken for by a baby all the time right?!  And I'm not talking about everyone seeing exposed cleavage, just the shape that goes along with a big belly.  Hate the way over-sized shirts go from my shoulders to belly with nothing in between.  Vain, I know.

Lets see, how did I come upon Fit2bMom, well it was actually December of 2010.  I entered a contest and won a discount code and was super excited to use it....until we miscarried....again.  So when we finally got pregnant again last summer and stayed pregnant I couldn't wait to use it.  I currently have 5 tops and use all of them all week for teaching and for my own workouts.  I've even worn some paired with a cardigan or something over/under as regular tops.  Fit2bMom does have a very nice casual clothing line as well.  I got most of my tops around 15 weeks and worried I wouldn't be able to fill them out, but I did and it felt good to give my growing belly room, and to show off the little at the time baby bump.  And now with the not so little (and we're talking about a 42inch waist right now) baby belly, these tops not only still fit great (which really is miraculous in and of itself), but are flattering.  I love their length.  Even at 39 weeks all my tops still cover the very bottom of my belly and back without riding up at all and I don't feel like I'm stretching the fabric out.  Oh and the fabric?  Awesome! SO soft, hasn't snagged on me at all, washes easy, and breathes well, no complaints there at all.  All of the tops I have have shirred waists which I tell ya, is the way to flatter a pregnant belly.  2 of the tanks I have have super cute backs as well!  So here are some pics.  Most are a month or two old, but honestly they all still fit great.  I'm so impressed something can work so well for a not even 20 week belly to a 40 week belly, same top, same size.  And as for sizing I think they're all pretty on.  I can wear an XS sometimes in pre-preg stuff, but most of my tops are a size small and while I worried when ordering that I should go with a medium so they'd still fit at my biggest round out there belly, the small has worked just fine.

Probably my favorite back, black sports bra is mine.  All the tops I have do have a built in bra as well 

Ok, it's pretty cute from the side and front too!

Super cute back of the Cool Down Tank

Love this Balance Tank. Has a great neckline and banded hem on the bottom.
Check out my 39 week pic below in this top, it's still going strong.

I was fortunate to win 2 of the tops I have, but the other 3 I've purchased.  Even though I only got to use them in 1 pregnancy, they've been my splurge of all my pregnancies, and yes I really think they're worth the money.

Just stay active.  It keeps the aches and pains of pregnancy limited and helps you feel strong and confident and a bit like your usual self.  It doesn't have to be my active, or your friend's active, or anyone's specific definition of active, just keep moving.  Go for a walk, take a class (spinning sitting upright is surprisingly comfortable), do some basic weight training at home even (bicep curls, tricep lifts, shoulder presses, calf raises, etc), just be Fit!

If having a baby is in your now or in your future, definitely check Fit2bMom out on Facebook for updates and sales and contests.

So how about winning a Fit2bMom top of your own?! 
Yep, the wonderful ladies there have given me the ok to give away one of their fabulous Inspire Tanks! 
Same one I wore in that Massachusetts duathlon I did in October!  So here's how to win:
Leave me a comment here telling me your favorite piece of clothing from Fit2bMom's website.  You can earn 1 additional entry by sharing their website on your blog or Facebook (like them on FB if you don't already). 
Just tell me which you do.  So 2 entries total possible, and I'll draw a winner, hmmm, how about Valentines day?  Seems like a good day since you'll love their clothes and I'll hopefully be loving on a sweet squishy warm baby!

Yep, still here

and still pregnant.  I'm still doing pretty ok physically which I'm grateful for.  Nights are rough.  Rolling over with a 20lb ball in front of you is harder than one might imagine.  I'm really not even thinking about racing this year (which I will do and do look forward to, it's just not the foremost thing on my mind right now), just excited to meet this baby. 


We're due Friday, but who knows if this baby will come by then or not.  I tend to hope/think so though.  Kind of slacked off working out this week, think I only got 3 workouts in.  At times I feel like I'm just 'sitting around' waiting for this baby to come, but it's good to keep moving.  Saturday morning I had a very nice cardio/weight/swim workout at the pool and while short and sweet it was refreshing.  Here's to hopefully only a couple more!

10 days to go! Get your guesses in!

UPDATE:  Baby is here and we have our winners!    Looks like Bethany was closest on the date (which I'll give her since even though she entered later, she nailed the date, next closest early entry was 3 days off), and Crystal was closest on weight.  Congrats ladies!  Email me at lhowlett12 at gmail dot com!

If anyone is out there (it's been kind of dead on here lately, are ya'll just waiting to read the big news or something cool?  Yeah, me too) AND interested in free stuff, play guess the baby stats with me!  Guess the gender, birth day, and weight and I'll send the winners for birth day and weight a prize.  Don't have to be closest on both, just birth day or weight.  Maybe an even awesomer prize if you nail both.  I have a pair of Injinji socks, a Road ID gift certificate, and could probably score someone a sweet Altra discount code too in case of a tie.  And if you don't want to guess details I have a simple little poll on the side bar for boy or girl.  Thanks for reading!

So here are the stats from my other 3 kids.  I'm due February 10th by the way

M - 1 week late, 8lbs3oz

T - 1 week early, 9lbs15.6oz (I like to call that 10lbs!)

K - 3 days late (we argue about this, husband thinks she was 3 days early), 9lbs6oz