Party Tricks

on May 31, 2012
in All Posts

Wheeeeeeeeew! Thank you so much for your comments on the post-baby birth control post.  People sure love to discuss birth control!  In all seriousness, your comments were – as usual – extremely helpful.  Even though many highly respected medical organizations say it works well, enough of you commented, “I am a LAM method baby” or “I was doing LAM and now I have two children 11 months apart” to totally freak me out.  I may be exploring other options.  Especially since Marissa C made me realize that I will probably be traveling a lot for work when the baby is four months or so and thus pumping (which reduces the effectiveness). 

 

And this is why I discuss such topics on the old bloggie.  Live and learn. 

 

And eat!

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Breakfast is served.

 

Greek yogurt

Anne P’s peanut butter bar

Strawberries

 

Simple but delicious.

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So, yesterday, I worked out extremely hard.  And by extremely hard, I mean that I swam 0.5 mile and went on a 2.0 mile walk.  It’s all relative, right?  At this point in my pregnancy, that felt like an Ironman.  I was so ridiculously sore by the evening, slept like a metaphorical baby, and was stiff as a board this morning.

 

Do you purposefully stretch every day?  I confess – I am really bad at stretching.  I got away without stretching for years because I’m naturally freakishly flexible.

 

Case in point:  My stupid party trick.

I miss those jeans.

Not to be confused with the Husband’s stupid party trick, which is more about mad skills than stretch-ability.

File under “reasons why I married him”

Anyway, not only are my shoulders ‘double-jointed’, but I can put my legs behind my head (I’ll spare you an image of a 9-month preggers lady doing this).  Since I’m so flexible, I’ve never really felt the need to regularly stretch… until now.  My hamstrings are always SO tight.  I’ve been making a point to stretch out for 10 minutes or so every evening – while watching TV, of course – and man… it feels so good.

 

Are you naturally flexible?  Do you regularly stretch?  Any cool party tricks?

{ 49 comments }

 

  • Claire @ Live and Love to Eat May 31, 2012, 9:11 am

    Since my IT band started bothering me I’ve become much better with stretching – and doing yoga once or twice a week works wonders for me!

  • Hillary May 31, 2012, 9:13 am

    I am the least flexible person ever. This was a big problem when I danced—for fourteen years. I thought I’d get more flexible over time; no such luck!

  • Megan@ The Running Doc May 31, 2012, 9:14 am

    Wow, I wish my shoulders were that flexible! I was a gymnast for 8 years so I used to be super flexible, unfortunately without regular practice I’ve lost almost all of it.

    An unrelated to this post question, how do you imbed those videos into your post? I tried for a while to post a video last night and could not for the life of me figure it out!

    • Caitlin May 31, 2012, 9:14 am

      Do you blog on a PC? If so, you MUST download Windows Live Writer. It will change your blogging life.

  • Faith @ For the Health of It May 31, 2012, 9:16 am

    I’m the worst stretcher ever, but I’m trying to remember to do it more as my mileage increases. There’s nothing like that sweet, sweet bliss of releasing a tight hamstring!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) May 31, 2012, 9:21 am

    I am not naturally flexible. I am horrible about stretching, but am trying to be better about it. It is important and it should be done. That being said, I need to go stretch…

  • Shelly May 31, 2012, 9:22 am

    I love seeing how flexible people are- and in different ways. In my yoga class there are two older women, one is really flexible in her upper body and one is really flexible in her lower body. They were talking to each other a few days ago saying “I wish I was a flexible as you!”
    I really admire both their practices because I’m not flexible at all- and I’m years younger than both of them!
    So if you count yoga as stretching, I’ve been stretching twice a week for about a year. Prior to that, very rarely- maybe for a little while during or after a run, but nothing lengthy.

  • Lauren May 31, 2012, 9:24 am

    I can do the same “Party Trick” as you! In my 28 years, you’re only the second person I’ve heard of being able to do the same thing. 🙂

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat May 31, 2012, 9:24 am

    I’m definitely not flexible, so I envy you!! My mum and dad always said I was as stiff as a board, but I do always like to point out that I CAN touch my toes with my hands without bending my knees, and a lot of people can’t even do that! As for stretching regularly… I wish I could say I was better at it. However, right now I’m suffering from a foot injury (tendinitis according to my physio, but I’m not 100% convinced), so I’m making a big effort to do the stretches he gave me. I’m desperate for it to get better!

  • Rachel May 31, 2012, 9:27 am

    There’s this scene in The Big Bang Theory where two people are going out for a run. The girl says to the guy, “let’s stretch first!” and touches her toes. He bends ever so slightly at the waist, arms hanging down. She says, “Why aren’t you stretching?” to which he replies, “I am.”

    That guy = me.

    • Johanna B May 31, 2012, 10:30 am

      I love Sheldon.

  • Katie @ Soulshine and Sassafras May 31, 2012, 9:33 am

    I’m pretty naturally flexible. It took 6 months of yoga for me to regularly be the stretchiest person in the class, and a year to be one of the stretchiest in my intermediate/advanced class. I’ve sort of fell off the yoga band wagon recently in favor of running, but I really need to get back – my hamstrings are getting pretty tight.

  • Tara May 31, 2012, 9:34 am

    Lol, that party trick made my shoulder pop just watching! 😉 I am the most inflexible person I know, but I’m also a bad stretcher and would rarely do it. It never bothered me until I started doing C25K and my calves suddenly felt like rocks all the time. Now I do stretches to try and avoid that feeling. I still don’t notice a greatly improved flexibility, but at least I’m trying!

  • Katie May 31, 2012, 9:46 am

    Very impressed with both of your “stupid party tricks”! How did you realize you could do that with your arms!? For those with no hand/eye coordination, the Husband’s under the leg bounce was pretty impressive. 😉

    • caitlinhtp May 31, 2012, 7:18 pm

      My husband’s hand eye coordination is truly ridiculous. It extends to all sorts of stuff and really does amaze me at times. I hope babyhtp has his coordination and NOT mine.

  • kwithme May 31, 2012, 9:48 am

    I am super flexible too. Although it has caused all sorts of problems for me. I am hyper-mobile in feet, ankles, knees, outward rotation of my hips, and elbows. It is very easy for me to hyperextend these joints. The foot and ankle problems cause me balance issues. I do lots of core and balance work to strengthen the surrounding muscles because the tendons are too long to support the joints. It was cool when I was younger, but now that I’m almost 40 all that flexibility is just an injury waiting to happen.

  • Alex @ Raw Recovery May 31, 2012, 9:51 am

    Wow, you both have cool party tricks. Your husband has mad skills. I sadly do not have any party tricks, except for some reason when I imbibe I do tend to stop speaking english and go immediately into french or romanian. I do not know why I do this but I was raised bilingual and for some reason the romanian comes out. Weird.

  • Kate @ life's precious moments May 31, 2012, 9:53 am

    Those are awesome party tricks! Ha! I’m not sure I have anything super cool like that!

  • Annette@FitnessPerks May 31, 2012, 9:58 am

    I love blog stuff like that too-we all learn together 🙂

    Cool tricks! I am naturally flexible, but not at my joints necessarily…I just can do the splits and stuff. (I was a gymnast and a dancer). Yummy lookin’ b-fast!

  • Amanda K. May 31, 2012, 10:05 am

    now that i have a baby i don’t understand the phrase “sleeping like a baby.”
    the only logical meaning is, “sleeping soundly, then waking up screaming every 3 hours demanding a snack.”
    so if that’s what you’re experiencing, i’m oh-so sorry 😉

    • Caitlin May 31, 2012, 10:07 am

      hahah i did laugh when i typed that

  • Jo May 31, 2012, 10:12 am

    Nope, I’m the anti-flexibility girl. If I don’t do some yoga stretches or just goofy random stretching for one or two days, I turn into the guy from Big Bang Theory someone was referencing above. Well except my fingers. They’re long, bendy and seem not to be connected – I used to be the weird 6-year-old making the Star Trek salute (on crack) when no one else could.

  • Marissa C May 31, 2012, 10:28 am

    Glad to help 😉 Hope you find something that works for you!

    PS–Will you be using pacifiers? Not related to BC (although apparently that can affect LAM too?)–just curious because I wanted to send you a particular baby gift and if you don’t plan to use them it will be pretty useless!

    • caitlinhtp May 31, 2012, 7:17 pm

      Aw Marissa. You are so sweet. I think we may use pacis. I’m not really sure, to be honest. You don’t have to send me anything!

  • Johanna B May 31, 2012, 10:28 am

    I am not naturally flexible. I do yoga a couple of times a week and stretch for about 20 minutes every day. and yet, I am still stiff a lot of the time. Imagine if I didn’t do those things to help myself.

  • Kendall @On An Inhale May 31, 2012, 10:40 am

    My shoulders are double jointed too! I used to do that in school and everyone would get freaked out!

  • Laine May 31, 2012, 11:07 am

    My party trick (which I don’t actually do at parties) is doing a wide legged standing forward bend, then my head touches the floor and I can lift my legs up into handstand. It took me a long time to get to that point in yoga class and I love it!

  • B @ Crags and Veggies May 31, 2012, 11:10 am

    Peanut bar for breakfast looks delicious! I stretch regularly and LOVE yoga! Not only does it help tone my body, but it’s great for relaxing and pulling out stress from my body!! The flexibility it gives me also helps me with climbing, my favorite sport!

  • Earthy Nicole May 31, 2012, 11:12 am

    I’m really flexible but not double jointed, so it’s not freakish 😉 Lol. I don’t regularly stretch anymore (although I would if I made time for it because I enjoy it) but when I run, I MUST stretch my hips and hammies afterwards. As for party tricks… I can touch my tongue to my nose… which is actually kinda freakish looking, lol.
    xx

  • Ramona May 31, 2012, 11:47 am

    Girl, I loved reading your birth control post yesterday. After having our first child, Merle and I decided to let Jesus take the wheel in whether or not we had another child. Not the best method, but Merle and I are comfortable in the idea of expanding our family.

    There’s so many things about the human body I just don’t know. I love these posts Caitlin. You are so honest. Thanks.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed May 31, 2012, 12:35 pm

    I love to stretch. Sometimes I find myself stretching in awkward places like in a friend’s living room… or in public haha. I can’t help it, it feels so good!

  • Miladybowen May 31, 2012, 12:45 pm

    I am naturally more flexible than average. Years of dance instilled good stretching habits in me, and I wish I could say I am super regular about it. Every time I make a list of things to improve in my life, stretching more still makes the list. I have to say, it makes a huuuuuuge difference in how I feel. I get less headaches and backaches when I stretch a lot. Maybe I should stretch now . . .

  • Laura @ She Eats Well May 31, 2012, 1:42 pm

    I danced for over 20 years and miss being as flexible as I used to be. Yoga helps though. Can you seriously still put your legs behind your head pregnant? If so, that is amazing!!!!

    • jameil May 31, 2012, 4:21 pm

      LOL. I was thinking there are some of us who actually want to see that. Talk about a party trick! Do it from the side. LOLOL

      • caitlinhtp May 31, 2012, 7:16 pm

        yes – i just tried! LOL

  • Sana May 31, 2012, 1:50 pm

    I feel cool because I can touch my nose with my tongue, buttt you win with your crazy arms!

  • Carina May 31, 2012, 2:28 pm

    I’d missed the birth control post. Seems like condoms might actually be a really good idea for a while. Not hormonal, nothing implanted, low risk of failure if used correctly. Curious as to why you didn’t seem to consider that.

  • Ari @ Ari's Menu May 31, 2012, 2:47 pm

    My party trick is rapping the entirety of Gangsta’s Paradise. Without the cd. You’d be surprised how many friends that one earns me 😉

    • caitlinhtp May 31, 2012, 7:12 pm

      omg make a youtube video!

  • Breanne May 31, 2012, 2:58 pm

    I’m super flexible naturally, but I’ve found that if I don’t stretch regularly I do lose it. In fact, I used to be able to do that same should party trick, but I stopped doing it and now I *can’t* do it (this is probably better for my shoulders anyway).

    I’m in the middle of getting certified for BodyFlow (a group exercise format by LesMills that wonderfully combines Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates), so I’m stretching even more regularly now. 🙂

  • Amber K May 31, 2012, 3:18 pm

    I am definitely not naturally flexible, so I really should stretch more than I do. But it always feels so boring. I should probably do it the next time I’m watching TV!

  • jameil May 31, 2012, 4:20 pm

    If I don’t stretch, I imagine that’s what you’re feeling at 9 mos pregnant w/o stretching! I know the next day (and sometimes that night– eek!) what I failed to stretch after a run. My flexibility has definitely improved! I lead a group of brand new runners and harp on stretching constantly. It helps that stretching feels delicious to me! Like I could happily do it all day. (But I hate yoga because it’s slow & quiet. Remember that guy who played Al Green and such during yoga, used to be on Oxygen? That was my kind of yoga.)

  • Sarah May 31, 2012, 6:38 pm

    Speaking of spacing babies, mine are 18 months apart and I LOVE it!!! Sometimes I even wish they were closer in age. They are into the same things at the same time i.e. cars and racing tracks and trucks and more cars….. Nappies & BF & sleepless nights all over and done with in the space of 3 years. Now I’m getting my body back and they have each other to play with every day.

    • caitlinhtp May 31, 2012, 7:11 pm

      18 months sounds pretty reasonable. 🙂

  • Christa May 31, 2012, 6:40 pm

    hahaha the legs behind the head of a 9 month pregnant lady made me laugh! if you have a girl, you should name it Christa 😉 (thats my name if you haven’t noticed) hehehe

  • Coco May 31, 2012, 10:52 pm

    I do the SAME party trick!!! I have never met anyone else who could do it!!

  • Jen May 31, 2012, 11:35 pm

    My party trick was to twist my arms 360 degrees and lay my hands down on a table (or other hard surface) with a completely natural stance. It appeared that I was just standing with my hands – palms down- on the table until you looked at the elbow area & saw that my arms were twisted in a circle…I freaked a few people out with that one! 🙂 Sadly, I am unable to perform that trick as I once did (awwww…the lost talents of youth). I can still turn my arms 360, but cannot maintain the natural stance, especially if I am trying to do both arms at once!

    I am totally impressed with your talent and the husband’s…although I did see the golf trick a while back, I am still utterly amazed & still think that he should go on Letterman’s “stupid human tricks!” OR, you could go on together & do both of your tricks…how cute would that be?!

    My, I am chatty tonight! 🙂

  • Jen May 31, 2012, 11:40 pm

    I cannot believe that I am still talking (forgive me!), but, on a side note, I also once performed a back walkover while holding a full bottle of beer…without spilling a drop! I still have no idea how I pulled that one off (I don’t think that I even realized that I was holding the beer), but my friends were QUITE impressed! 🙂

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