DIY Pregnancy Workout Shirts

I am currently 18 weeks pregnant. I feel like for the past few weeks, whenever I go to the gym, I either look pregnant, or like I partied too hard with a few too many beers!  Since the latter is definitely not the case, I wanted to treat myself to some cute workout tops!  I searched the internet for some, but honestly didn't see anything that was quite my style, so I decided to make my own!

I wanted one long sleeve top since it's still chilly out, and two tanks for my actual workouts.  At first, I was going to use fabric and under wonder to individually cut out and sew letters on the tops.  However, I quickly decided I needed another option. 1) Sewing on a tank you are wearing to the gym is uncomfortable 2) sewing can take a lot of time 3) I really don't enjoy sewing all that much even though I do it all the time!

And there it was, right in front of me at JoAnns Fabric...Cricut Iron-On!  My prayers had been answered! I was going to just use the pre-cut iron on letters I had purchased from Hobby Lobby as I didn't even know that Cricut made iron-on vinyls!  This thrilled me! I ended up purchasing the two glitter iron-on's from JoAnns and the pink from Hobby Lobby!

My world is forever changed! Cricut iron on vinyls are fantastic, easy, and colorful! I simply love them!  First I watched the following You Tube video found here.  And then I watched the first video about how to setup your machine at the Cricut website.

I made the "I'm so crafty I make people" long sleeved top first.  It's my only layered lettered top.  Behind the letters is a large light pink heart my friend had put on the shirt with fabric I had chosen and under wonder.  Remeber, I originally was going to iron on letters, and this shirt was filled with the iron on letters in the same words, but sewing was too challenging so I took them all off and replaced them with the Cricut letters.

I used the Cricut Cartridge "Songbird" for these letters. I liked the flowiness of the words.

You can see in the videos above that the letters are cut backwards with a clear plastic side that you put your iron directly on to heat transfer the vinyl letters.  This is an example from one of my workout tanks!

If you are doing glitter letters, you can only layer them ontop of the Cricut "Ultra-lite" iron-on, not vice-versa.  So I started by cutting out the words in the shadow format.

I completed all of my shadow fonts and proceeded to cut out my regular fonts in glitter gold to go on top.

Just a glitter layer to go!

I tried to place the words as is, but quickly realized the spacing was going to be off, so I cut each glitter gold letter out individually to iron it on.

You can also put a piece of fabric in between your iron and the letters, but I found the clear plastic covering was sufficient.  Here's an example of what I'm saying with the workout tank "Training my future workout buddy"!

I also found it easiest to peel back that clear plastic covering when it was still warm.  If you let this cool too much the letters tended to stick more the the plastic than the shirt, in my own experience.

I then finished up by making my two workout tanks using the Chalkboard Cricut cartridge.

First, I did the "Brewing a Baby not a Lager" and finished with the "Training my future workout buddy"

Which top is your favorite!?!  Would you make your own pregnancy tops?

17 Weeks Pregnant!

How far along: 17

Gender: Still no positive guess, but everyone refers to baby as “he”

Weight gained: 7.6 lbs

Inches gained: About 5 around biggest part of belly

Working Out:  Not great on these this week.  I worked 10 hours on Wednesday and then packed for ATL/Knoxville. I worked 6.5 hours and then drove 6 hours to Knoxville on Thursday.  On Friday I got a long walk in before leaving for ATL (Yay!). On Saturday I walked about 2 miles with my friend in ATL (Yay again!!). On Sunday I was exhausted and we came home from ATL, I napped for 2 hours! On Monday, I worked like a show horse and crafted ALL DAY for baby (as well as drove 45 min each direction to my friend’s house where I crafted). On Tuesday, I drove 6 hours again to get back home and worked 6 hours…as you can see, there wasn’t really much time set aside for work outs!

Clothing Choices:  Maternity jeans and tights needed! Baby grew this past week for sure!  I also disguised my bump some while on a friend’s bachelorette trip by wearing a peplum top on our night out! Yes, I felt clever ;)

Stretch marks:  Only those from soccer years ago on the thighs.

Belly button: Inny

Sleep: Sleeping at dad’s house was fine because I brought my big “bean” pillow (Lechco maternity pillow), but in Atlanta for the bachelorette trip, I didn’t sleep well. I had two pillows as well as a mini pillow, but that just didn't cut it!

Best moment this week: Getting to feel baby move for the first time!!! It was amazing! Dad made a salad on Friday (March 21^st) for lunch, and afterward I kept feeling baby moving, it felt like it was pushing ever so slightly near the pelvis area! I felt it again later that night when I was with all the girls in Atlanta, and then again at least once every day since! It’s magical!!!

Hardest moment this week: Being away from Neal Thursday – Monday, that was just tough, especially when I wanted him to see how excited I was for feeling baby move.

What I’m missing: I thought I wanted beer or wine, but while I was at the bachelorette trip, I honestly didn't feel the desire for it anymore.  So I’m not missing much!

Movement: YES!!!! (see above!)

Cravings:  Nothing too major, just enjoying apples and cheese still, but I’m not craving it as much as I just enjoy it.

Queasy or sick: Feeling good!

Looking forward to: Finding out gender.  I made a baby mobile with one of my best friends, Hope, this week, and I can’t wait to find out the gender and decorate the rest of the nursery!

Week 17 Workouts (yes they were lacking!)

• Friday - 45 min walk w Dad
• Saturday - 2 mile walk w Natalie from our rental to Ikea and back

Week 16

I must say, I totally love pregnancy.  I have been really lucky to not be sick throughout this time, and I hope baby continues to develop healthy and perfectly sweet!

How far along: 16

Gender: I really don’t have a guess anymore, we’ll be happy either way.  I know people say that but secretly wish for one gender over the other, but really, we don’t care.  I think generally boys are less moody and typically more carefree and would be super fun to be around, which is oh so nice, but I think dressing up a little girl and watching her grow into a young woman would be amazing!  I say this becuase went to David’s Bridal this week to try on a dress for my sister-in-laws wedding (I’ll be 35 weeks when she gets married, eek!) and while we were there I saw young girls looking for prom dresses with their moms and I thought, oh that’s crazy, that could be me!

Weight gained: 5.8 lbs

Inches gained: About 4.5 around biggest part of belly

Working Out:  Yep! During all the days that it was actually warm out, the dogs got 15-30 min walks (longer walks if they were together and shorter for each one if I took them one at a time)

Clothing Choices:  My maternity jeans seem to only work for like 2 days before I have to wash them b/c they stretch so much, so that’s annoying.  I want some workout tanks, and plan to make some next week, so I don’t feel self-conscious at the gym. I feel like I sometimes look in-between being pregnant and maybe just having a beer belly.

Stretch marks:  Only those from soccer years ago on the thighs.

Belly button: Inny

Sleep: Not bad!  However, I did notice that my arms and hands easily fall asleep now, which is really irritating!

Best moment this week: Getting some tanks, onsies and a pullover to put words on for myself and some for baby OR going to the store and trying a bunch of different strollers out and realizing our initial online pick is the one we still really want!

Hardest moment this week: My arms falling asleep Saturday night.  It made it really hard for me to get a good rest that night b/c I just couldn’t get them to stop falling asleep.

What I’m missing: Honestly, I really want beer or wine.

Movement: There are times I think I feel a flutter, but then I think it’s just my stomach grumbling.

Cravings:  I’ve wanted all things sweet!  I will try to eat strawberries, pineapple or apple instead of brownies/cookies, but sometimes I just give in!  My favorite food right now is apples, pineapple and cheddar cheese, and yes all together and in the same bite!

Queasy or sick: Feeling good!

Looking forward to: I really can’t wait to feel the baby move and I’m looking forward to seeing a bunch of my girlies when I go to my friend’s bachelorette party this upcoming weekend!!!!

Week 16 Workouts

• Wednesday – Tone it Up TLC workout x’s 2
• Thursday – Puppy walk, 30 min (15 each pup!)
• Friday – Puppy walk, 40 min and both together!
• Saturday – Walked the puppies for about 15 minutes with Neal and then we went to the gym for leg day (we do 10 min of cardio, some warm up stretches, and then different weighted lifts for the booty, hamstrings, quads and calves)
• Sunday – Worked out with my hubby again - back and bicep day!  See my Instagram post here
• Tuesday – I just finished work (10 hours, yikes!) and plan to take a quick puppy walk and do 1-2 rounds each of Thailand Tush and Santorini Bikini from Tone it Up's weekly workout schedule when I get back from getting the oil changed in the vehicle...wah wah grownup tasks stink!

Week 15

How far along: 15

Gender: I am really going back and forth, but can’t wait to find out (2^nd week in April!)

Weight gained: 5.6 lbs

Inches gained: About 4 inches at biggest part of belly

Working Out:  not quite as much as last week, but still did something active 4 out of the 7 days.

Clothing Choices:  Comfy clothes like yoga pants!  I did wear my jeans some, but need to get them washed since they are stretching out. I typically wear jeans at least 3 times before washing since I don’t really get them dirty or smelly.

Stretch marks:  Nope

Belly button: Inny

Sleep: I just don’t feel well rested. I slept a ton on Saturday, but other than that, I am sorta tired feeling still.

Best moment this week: Friday’s appointment went great! We got to hear baby’s heartbeat for the first time!

Hardest moment this week: Waiting on Friday for the appointment, I get so nervous because I think the baby’s healthy but I don’t really know for sure so I psych myself out.

What I’m missing: Normal sleep.  I think the time change has something to do with it, but I just am not feeling rested.

Movement: None yet, I don’t think.

Cravings:  I want lobster and an over medium egg a lot, and thankfully on Friday after baby’s appointment, my hubby took us to Red Lobster!

Queasy or sick: Not really, felt pretty good.

Looking forward to: I really can’t wait to feel the baby move

Workout Wrap-ups

Week 15 

• Thursday – Two Tone it Up Workouts – Love Your Body with HIIT and Summer Slim
• Sunday – Walked both puppies for about 15 min each and then went to the gym with the hubby and did a little cardio, shoulders, and triceps
• Monday – Walked both puppies for 15 min each and Tone It Up Malibooty 3xs
• Tuesday – 30 minute dog walk

Week 14 Second Trimester Begins!

Hooray for the second trimester!!!

I love seeing this little bump grow and I am simply overjoyed!

Here's a summary of Week 14:

How far along: 14

Gender: I keep saying boy this week

Weight gain: 3.6 lbs (I've been like this for 3 weeks and am going to talk to my doctor since in the 2nd trimester I've read that it's advised to gain about 1 lb per week from now until the end of 8 months)

Working Out:  Moderate workouts, 6 different Tone it Up workouts & a dog walk along with a gym session with my hubby!  See below for details!

Clothing Choices:  I’m loving my fleece lined tights from Hazel & Olive Boutique with long shirts and my maternity jeans!

Stretch marks: Nope.

Belly button: Inny

Sleep: Not too bad!  Slept a lot this Sunday, which was oh so nice!

Best moment this week: Feeling like I had a little more energy!

Hardest moment this week:  Staying up late when we had company, I think I did a good job, but my body just didn't feel great the next morning.

What I’m missing:  Nothing really this week, I mean an adult drink sounded nice when everyone else was ordering them.

Movement: None yet, I don’t think.

Cravings:  I’ve wanted ice cream, either a Sonic Blast or a DQ Blizzard, nearly every day!  I did treat myself to 2 this week!  Also, my new 'obsession' for snacks has become apple slices with cheese, somtimes adding cinnamon or peanut butter!

Queasy or sick: Not really, felt pretty good.

Looking forward to: Our appointment on Friday (15 weeks 2 days)

Workout Wrap-Ups:

Week 14

• Tuesday (technically 13 w 6 days) – Kettlebells with Katrina 
• Wednesday – Karena’s Holiday Arms
• Friday – Beach Babe DVD 1, HIIT and Bikini Sculpt
• Saturday – 10 min dog walk
• Monday – Tone it Up Under the Sea 3xs & 3xs Short & Sweet Shoulders.  I modified the Under The Sea Crab Crunches (had a pillow under by back) & the Fish Out of Water (did bird dog planks)
• Tuesday – Worked out with the hubby at the gym! 10 min cardio and then chest and biceps 
• All of the workouts mentioned with specific names can be found on Tone it Up!

Question: What's your current food craving (even if your not prego, indulge me!)