Posts by defrog3

Becky, so sorry you're going through the morning sickness.  I understand the exhaustion and lack of motivation to do anything.  During my pregnancy I took the philosophy of "9 months up, 9 months down" with respect to my weight and exercise plan.  Remember, you are building a whole new person right now--your body needs energy to do that!  I found that roasted sweet potatoes (with real butter, ahhhh!) were a great food, especially in the first and early second trimester (for me, that's when the weather was colder).  And, its so good that you're craving salad and veggies--my brain told me they were poison from mid-second trimester onward!  I lived on fruit, steak, and hummus!

There's a great book I found @ Barnes & Noble called, "I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat?" It has a lot of great tasting recipes designed to be nutritious for you AND your little one! 

Rest and be well,
Denise

hi there!  writing quickly b/c I'm back at work (started last week, sorry for not participating in the discussion!).

I'm off the wagon, sort of.  Trying adjust to being back at work while being organized enough to pump breastmilk for an hour + 1/2 every work day, commuting 3 hours/day into Manhattan and trying to spend time w/Abby is really a struggle.  I've been picking at Halloween candy and giving in to my urges for sweets.  Today I bought a large fruit salad for lunch/afternoon snack, though, so I hope that will help me to relax a bit.

I've signed up for Saturday post-natal yoga classes--bring baby with me to exercise a bit--hooray, its lots of fun!

Hi, all, I'm running to my OB's office for the final checkup, not a lot of time to write.  My excuses (without further explanation, as most of us have similar issues!):

1)  I'm too tired!

2)  I don't have time!

3)  Just one bite won't be too bad!

Be well, I'll try to touch base again later today!

Denise

Hi there!  I'm so happy I came back to see the recipe exchange thread!!  I love food (my problem) and new ideas on how to prepare healthy meals!

Sara, I like your recipe--just last week I made Mediterranean Lentils and Rice--they're very similar, although my recipe has a few more calories!

EDIT:  And as a new "mummy" I'm still trying to adjust to life after baby.  Abigail is now 6 weeks old:  she's gained 2 pounds since birth and is doing very well.  I love being a mom!  When the weather has cooperated, I've been taking her for walks around the park (a 3 mile loop), but the past week or so it has been pretty awful outside, so we've been house bound.  I'm using her as a weight for upper body workouts, though, and we do tummy time together.  I also do a few bridge poses in the morning and sit her on my lower abdominal area while I do them.  Hooray for breastfeeding, too--I only have 7 pounds left to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight, which makes me happy happy happy!  (Especially because I gained 10 pounds in just the first trimester!)

Gotta' run now--but I'll try to become more regular/to check back later in the week for the recipes!! 

Happy healthgain to all!

Denise

I got an email about ingrid12's post--sorry ingrid, but I can't help you with your question--I've never had migraines.

Update:  I'm due with baby #1 on 8/27/09--no interventions needed--just a little vacation while I was ovulating, per my OB's recommendation.  His thought is that 35 isn't old to be TTC, and what more people need is to take some R&R while trying to make it happen.  DH and I were both laid off for a while last year, so we stopped trying.  After landing new jobs, the first month we tried again (while on a weekend getaway), *BAM!* we conceived.

Good luck to all,

D

Good morning,

Thanks to everyone for the kind words about Sylvester-kitty last week.  He was a good cat.  I miss him!  :(  But on the positive side, at least he's no longer in any pain, and we won't have to worry about how he'll adjust to the baby (that was a big concern). 

I have 39 days until my due date.  Feeling overall pretty good, but I'm anxious for this to just be done with, already!

I've been doing well with my eating goals--I'm eating very well (my co-workers are impressed!), actually.  Lots of fresh produce is coming in to the area now, which is helpful!  I'm actually snacking on a locally-grown muskmelon (a bigger, sweeter version of a canteloupe) right now; the kid is kicking with delight (all from the sugar, I'm sure)!

And, surprisingly, I've been doing well with exercise, too.  Since the weather has been warm enough, I've been going to the town pool after work and walking across the shallow end (I'm not a good swimmer!) for 30 minutes or so.  It feels great to do!

Another neat thing--I saw one of my friends this weekend (after a long time of not seeing her).  She said that, aside from the obvious baby-belly, I look THINNER than I did before getting pregnant.  I had been thinking that I've lost fat in my face and my legs, but it was nice to have someone else mention it! :D

Happy healthgain to everyone this week!

Denise

Hi again!  So my challenge this week has been not to eat such large meals, as I'm wont to do, but to eat smaller meals all day long--this in an attempt to avoid baby-induced indigestion (TMI alert:  oh, yes, that's been fun, waking up at 2am with dinner in my mouth for a second time!)

Julie, thankfully,  I haven't had too much heartburn/indigestion during the day.  Its mostly at night, I think b/c I'm going to bed so early these days (like, 9:30?) so I can get up at 5:30 for work.  We normally don't finish dinner until 8:30pm, so I think digestion has just slowed down so much that I'm lying down too early.  I'm a side-sleeper, so I'm very fortunate in that regard.  But to compensate a bit, I bought the Boppy total body pillow and am using that with an extra fluffy regular pillow to keep myself propped up a bit.  Seems to be working so far!

So, having gotten that off my chest (whew!), I thought I'd share my yummy recipe that I found:

http://caloriecount.about.com/whole-wheat-rol lups-tangy-white-recipe-r240701

This is a good lunch or light dinner meal.  Even my husband liked it for dinner (he needed some Sun Chips to go with it--they would have been too much for me, though).  Very filling and tasty!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Hi, all,

Thanks for the words of encouragement.  Yes, we're getting set with all of the crazy things to prepare for this kid to arrive.  My mom and sister threw a baby shower for me a couple of weeks ago, where I received so many presents, I feel like I'm going to need a new house for all this stuff!

Unfortunately, the crib that we were given (second-hand, it was gently used by a friend of the family) had a broken plastic piece that supports the mattress--when we called the manufacturer, they told us that it was discontinued model and that we can't buy the replacement part.  So, now we're off to crib shopping... grr...

Sara, I'm counting my lucky stars that is has been unseasonably cool here in the NYC area--they're saying that we're going to remain about 10 degrees below normal for at least the next week.  Whew!  I hate summer, so my sympathies are going out to your cousin!  I had to buy two new pairs of work shoes (I refuse to wear open-toed or sandal-like shoes to the office--closed toed shoes just aren't very forgiving of swollen feet!) in a size and a half larger than normal. Thank goodness I normally wear only a size 6 and only had to move up to a 7.5!

Raven, my husband and I will be married 4 years on October 22nd--I think that for the first few weeks after the baby arrives, my goal will be to take a shower every other day.  Then I'll start moving on to brushing my hair, using makeup, etc. progressively, each week.  We're hoping to have our first "date night" on our anniversary--my mom and sister are already lined up to babysit!

Wenchie, if you're looking for recipe ideas, can highly recommend the site, DrGourmet.com--its been great for healthy ideas for me (without any major diet restrictions), but there are plenty of recipes that are listed as "coumadin-safe," and/or "low in vitamin K," and/or "low-sodium".  While I admit that I haven't done an evaluation of the site for someone with as restricted a diet as you have, it might be worthwhile for you to check out!

Good luck in your search.  I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be, to have so many dietary limitations!  I tend to whine about the do's-and-don'ts of pregnancy eating--I should learn to quit my belly-achin'!

Ack its Wednesday already!!

I'm here, I'm here!!  Have to write quickly, as I'm at work (yikes!).  I've been so exhausted (long story), I've not been on the PC at home at all this week...

Check-In: doing well, baby's growing well, I've gained a total of 22 pounds so far, which is OK for me--only 10 weeks left until my due date!!

Cardio:  I love road biking and spin classes.  I can't get out on the road now now, though, b/c my belly's in the way!  And, well, I don't belong to a gym right now (trying to save $$), so the spin classes are out.  But I've really found that biking is the best way to get my heart rate up for an extended period of time without killing my joints.

Pouring rain in the NYC metro area AGAIN.  I feel like I've moved to Seattle, its been so rainy and dreary here for about a month.  *sigh*  I hope there's a little break in the rain for my baby shower, which is happening on Saturday.

Jen--I'm not a "dog person" in the sense that I would ever want to own a dog, but German shorthairs are really neat animals.  When I was a kid growing up, my neighbor had 4 of them (yes, at the same time), and they were a lot of fun to play with.  Good luck!

Welcome, declanphineas--I so love that you're into belly dance and Bhangra--I would love to learn more about that!

msmeg--so sorry for your loss.  Hopefully your friend wasn't suffering or in pain with her illness.

Best healthgain to all!
D

I'm here!  Running late for work, as usual, but thought I should do at least a quick post!

My husband's grandmother died over the weekend, so I've been very busy with his family, etc., etc.  I plan to post more in the next day or so!  Grandma was the matriarch of the clan, and she passed rather quickly (diagnosed w/lung cancer about 6 weeks ago), so everyone's been in a bit of a tizzy...  I only met her 7 years ago, but I'm going to miss her terribly; she was so terrific...

Welcome to Meri, congrats MsMeg on making a year on this site!  I too can't believe that its been a year already!

Will be back!

Hi, I need to go through my recipes and will share one that I like most later in the week.  

TIEGURL:  Congratulations on graduating!  Very happy for you.  Your plan sounds very cool--sending you good wishes!

SARA: Good work on getting to the gym during your first week at the new job! 

CONSTANZA:  Your recipe is one of my favorites for the holiday season--its always a crowd pleaser!!

My update:  belly is getting huge, kid is kicking like crazy.  I'm tired a lot, don't want to do anything but sleep...  But we spent the holiday weekend at the beach, and I did a lot of walking on the boardwalk, so that was exciting.   Got sunburned though, even though I had SPF 30 on--there's something about being preggers and sun sensitivity, so I'm going to have to be VERY careful this summer!

Hi, all,  I'm here today, too. 

I hear what you are all saying about patience.  I find that I'm very impatient, particularly with myself.  I've found that, especially in the past, I haven't allowed myself (or, given myself permission?) to screw up--be it at work, with exercise, eating, whatever.  Its been a process to take errors/mistakes/slip ups in stride, and I find that I'm a much happier person for it.

Carrie--good luck with achieving your goal.  I had a similar one when I was 29 going on 30--I almost made it, too!

Sara, great work at getting to the gym this week.  I'm sure it must be a relief, being in between jobs for now!  Working out is a great way to spend some time!  However you feel comfortable managing the group size, I'm fine with it.  I tend to like the smaller sizes, though, as the threads are easier to follow and I feel like I can get to know people better.  Have you heard from the doctor?

Dove, 30% BF is not that high.  My lowest ever was 27% (just before my 30th birthday!), and pre-pregnancy I was at 33%.  You're doing the right things; there's going to be daily fluctuation.

My update:  went for my 6-month checkup yesterday.  Doctor is very happy w/my weight gain (turns out that when I weighed in on his scale in April, I was 212 pounds--yesterday on his scale I weighed in at 212.7!  My scale has been consistently higher than his, though--its a kinda' nice feeling, weighing less at the doctor's office than at home...), how I'm looking/feeling, and thinks I'm doing great.  He wants me to take a glucose tolerance test in the next few weeks to check for gestational diabetes--I have diabetes on both sides of my family, so I try to be careful about that.  I've scheduled that test for 5/30--hopefully I'll come back OK!?  My only other complaint so far has been thorasic (sic) back pain.  I'm doing exercises at my desk for it, but I think I need to make a more consistent concious effort to keep my upper back from slouching forward...

Original Post by supersized:

I find that when I commit to a workout in person, it's a very powerful thing for me as I don't want to let the other person down or come across as a flake. For me it comes down to respect. If I want these people's support in my journey then I need to deliver on my health and diet promises. It's one thing to try and not succeed it's another thing to be constantly talking about trying but never trying.

Regarding this week's topic, Sara, you said it best!  I too need to commit to a group or another person in order to stick with an exercise regime.  Its very difficult for me to "go solo," so I've had to either join a class or have a trainer to really stick it out.  This group has been a terrific tool for me, too--although its not "active," it keeps me focused on my diet and physical well-being, which has been key for me as I'm going through the pregnancy journey (Little One just sent a kick to the group, by the way!! LOL).

Dove, so cool that you're in Cape Verde--its one of those places I've wanted to get to, one of these days.  If I remember rightly, Christopher Columbus or Magellan (or both??) stopped by these islands on his trans-Atlantic trip in order to resupply?

Anyway, question for you--what does WLS stand for??

Happy week to all!

A lot of Americans think they're eating a healthy diet these days. But it's easy to be fooled by our assumptions and the ways that food manufacturers play on them.

Take chicken. The average American eats about 90 pounds of it a year, more than twice as much as in the 1970s, part of the switch to lower-fat, lower-cholesterol meat proteins. But roughly one-third of the fresh chicken sold in the U.S. is "plumped" with water, salt and sometimes a seaweed extract called carrageenan that helps it retain the added water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says chicken processed this way can still be labeled "all natural" or "100% natural" because those are all natural ingredients, even though they aren't naturally found in chicken.

Producers must mention the added ingredients on the package -- but the lettering can be small: just one-third the size of the largest letter in the product's name. If you're trying to watch your sodium to cut your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, it pays to check the Nutrition Facts label. Untreated chicken has about 45 to 60 mgs of sodium per four-ounce serving. So-called enhanced or "plumped" chicken has between 200 and 400 mgs of sodium per serving, almost as much as a serving of fast-food french fries.

Adding salt water became widespread when big discount stores began selling groceries and wanted to sell chicken at uniform weights and prices. Plumping packaged chicken helps even out the weight. But that means consumers are paying for added salt water at chicken prices -- an estimated $2 billion worth every year, according to the Truthful Labeling Coalition, a group of chicken producers that don't enhance their products.

Makers of enhanced chicken, including some of the biggest U.S. producers, say many consumers prefer it in blind taste tests and that it stays moister. Ray Atkinson, a spokesman for Pilgrim's Pride, says the company sells both enhanced and unenhanced chicken because consumers ask for it. He also notes that even at 330 mg of sodium, the enhanced chicken qualifies for the American Heart Association's mark of approval.

A survey released this week from Foster Farms, a member of the Truthful Labeling Coalition, found that 63% of consumers are unaware of the practice, and 82% believe that salt-water-injected chicken shouldn't carry the all-natural label. The telephone survey polled 1,000 consumers on the West Coast.

Here are some other foods that may not be as healthy as they appear.

Salt substitutes. If you're trying to cut down on salt, check with your doctor before you start using a salt substitute. Most contain potassium chloride, which can exacerbate kidney problems and interact badly with some heart and liver medications.

Artificial Sweeteners. Sugar-free gum, mint and candy have fewer calories and are better for your teeth. But they frequently contain sorbitol, a plant extract that isn't completely absorbed by the body and works as a natural laxative. Consuming a single pack of gum or mints can cause bloating, flatulence, stomach pains and diarrhea in people who are sensitive to it. Some diabetics find that such sugar alcohols, which are sweet but have few calories, can raise their blood sugar. Others include maltitol and xylitol.

Trans fat. There's been a remarkable reduction in these artery-cloggers in processed foods recently. But manufacturers are allowed to round down: Products labeled zero grams of trans fat can have up to 0.49 gram of fat per serving. You could still be consuming significant amounts of trans fat, "especially when the serving size is unrealistic," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, a nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, a nonprofit professional organization. If the ingredients include partially hydrogenated oil, hydrogenated oil or shortening, a product isn't completely trans-fat free. And it may have considerable saturated fat as well.

The same rounding principle applies to zero calories, fat and carbohydrates. Walden Farms, which advertises a line of dips, spreads and dressings as "Fat Free, Sugar Free and Calorie Free," says its products do have trace calories and up to 0.49 gram of fat and carbohydrates per serving.

"Wheat bread." This is a meaningless term, since almost all bread is made with wheat. Some manufacturers add to the illusion by using a brown wrapper or darkening bread with brown sugar or molasses. The more healthful stuff is whole wheat, which includes the outer bran and the wheat germ inside, good sources of nutrients and fiber. Check the ingredients. If the first one listed is "enriched wheat flour," you aren't getting much whole grain.

A few bread makers are still displaying the USDA's old Food Pyramid on their packages -- the one that recommended six to 11 servings of bread or pasta a day. That's been replaced by a more individualized pyramid that recommends only six carbohydrate servings, three of which should be whole grains.

Fiber. Companies are adding fiber to all kinds of products -- including yogurt, ice cream and beverages. In many cases, the added fiber comes from purified powders, not the kind of fiber found in whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits. The latter have been shown to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease and may cut the risk of colon cancer. But there isn't much evidence that "isolated" fibers like inulin, maltodextrin, oat fiber and polydextrose have the same effect, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit consumer-advocacy group. The Nutrition Facts label doesn't differentiate between the kind of fiber counted, so check the ingredients.

"The added fiber is probably better than nothing, but it's not as good as fiber from natural sources like fruits, vegetables and whole grains," says CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson.

Yogurt. The yogurt aisle is dizzy these days with products that promise to reduce your cholesterol, control your blood pressure, protect your digestive health or boost your immune system. In many cases, it's a single ingredient that provides the benefit, and you can find much more of it in other sources. For example, Promise activ SuperShots say they "Help Control Blood Pressure" thanks to 350 mgs of potassium. There's much more potassium in a banana, a cup of spinach or a baked potato. DanActive probiotic dairy drink's immunity-boosting claims stem from its L. casei Immunitas active culture. There's lots of research interest in such probiotics, but for now, the marketing is ahead of the science. The friendly bacteria in DanActive has mainly been shown to fight diarrhea in people taking antibiotics.

Super water. The Center for Science in the Public Interest sued Coca-Cola Co. earlier this year over claims on its VitaminWater beverages. The center argued that the drinks -- with names like "defense," "rescue," "energy" and "endurance" -- are mainly sugar water with 125 calories per bottle. Coke called the lawsuit "frivolous" and said its VitaminWater brands are properly labeled. "Consumers today are savvy, they are educated and they are looking for more from their beverages than simply hydration," said Coke spokesman Scott Williamson.

Government surveys show that most Americans aren't deficient in many of the vitamins supplied in these drinks. If you consume more than you need, the excess gets excreted.

Omega 3. Many foods are adding these essential fatty acids, said to cut the risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis and help promote brain health. But you can get a lot more from natural foods. You'd need to drink 45 eight-ounce glasses of milk that is fortified with 32 mgs of omega 3 to get as much of these fatty acids as you get in a three-ounce serving of salmon.

Will any of the products mentioned here hurt you? No, but they may not help you as much as manufacturers would like you to think. "Try to buy foods as close to their natural state as possible," says Ms. Taub-Dix.