Hiking Snow Lake

This pregnancy has been very similar to my last one, but as I have gotten farther along I have tried my best to take it easy and be kind to myself. The decision to stop running sooner during this pregnancy was a big one for me, but my joints and bladder have thanked me for it. Running has always been such an integral part of my workout and something I look forward to each morning. Running also allows me the ability to cover more territory in a less amount of time, so walking just takes longer. On particularly warm days when I think about going on my daily walk, in the back of my mind a nap sounds just about right too. This time around I have allowed myself the freedom and flexibility to do both. Some days I am better at pushing myself than others. Even though the thought of hiking is sometimes an exhausting one when all is said and done I have never regretted a day spent in the fresh air. 

Hiking while pregnant is pretty much the same as hiking when you're not pregnant. I just move slower, breathe heavier, get tired quicker and at the end of the day feel sore in different places. These changes when hiking are a good reminder of how in a short period of time my life will change in general too. For a time I will move at a slower pace, I will feel tired and sore in different places, but that is okay. Hiking provides me with the opportunity to reflect on the goodness of my life, the gratitude I have for my health and the blessing it is to live in such a beautiful place. I cannot wait to bring our little guy here, I know he is going to love it just as much as I do. 

Check out my top ten hiking/camping essentials here.