Topic Archive: nutrition

February 16, 2012

Trying To Conceive: Oh, The Things We Do….

After listening to the recent PregTASTIC episode on Hypnofertility, I was reminded of the time when we were actively trying to conceive. What had started out as an exciting project over the months became a chore, a science project and finally a desperate “I’ll do anything” approach…

If you go to any internet forum about pregnancy, you are bound to found a section on “TTC” (Trying To Conceive), often sub grouped into categories like “Not trying, not preventing”, “Assisted Conception”, “Trying for our first”, “Older moms TTC” and sadly also “Trying after a loss”, “Secondary Infertility” and “Long Term TTC”. You never imagine that you will go beyond the generic “TTC” and end up in one of the more desperate subgroups… After all, most of us have spent our twenties trying NOT to get pregnant. Surely it would happen rather quickly as our mothers warned us once we stopped using contraception.

Alas, that’s often not the case – and as the months pass by without that positive pregnancy test, you start reading (and wondering) about the many things you can do to get pregnant, encouraged by the success stories that are posted on forums or the promises made on websites! (more…)

Episode 242 | November 29, 2011

Epigenetics and the Science of Pregnancy

Did you know a mother’s behavior during pregnancy can impact the way her baby’s genes express themselves? It’s all part of a new science called “Epigenetics”. Will eating fattening food increase your child’s odds of becoming obese? Can exercise strengthen your baby’s mind? Does breastfeeding have long term (more…)

November 3, 2011

Hot Mom, Here I Come!

I want to be a hot mom.  I don’t mean skinny, let’s get that straight.  I don’t care about numbers on a scale.  I also don’t mean I want to look good for someone that has three kids.  I want to get rid of that “for someone that has three kids” qualifier.  I mean I want to be HOT.  I want to be sleek and strong and fast.  I want my husband’s jaw to drop when I get dolled up for a night out without the kids.  I want to be the kind of woman that other people look at and think, “Wow, she must work out.”  I don’t want to jiggle, I want to strut! I already know that my body is capable of amazing feats.  I have grown babies and birthed them all by myself.  So now, I want to be the best ME I can be.

Just to clarify, I am not completely shallow.  I also want to be able to keep up with my active boys, and set a great example for them, too. But most of all, I want to do this for me.

When Caleb was born, I set a goal to be a hot mom by the time I turned 30 (14 months after his birth).  I knew this was a big, lofty goal, especially because I hate exercise and love eating.  However, I figured I had plenty of time. Well, having three kids has been a little more hectic than I anticipated, and I didn’t really do much to meet that goal for the first nine months of his life. (more…)

Episode 236 | October 4, 2011

Are Other Pregnant Women Like You?

It’s the question most pregnant women ask themselves throughout their pregnancy, “Am I normal? Do other pregnant women feel the same way I do?” Well, you’re not alone. While each pregnancy is different, most of us seem to struggle with the same issues including (more…)

Episode 234 | September 20, 2011

Five Must-Have Foods When Pregnant

We all know it’s important to “eat right” when pregnant, but what exactly does that mean? Today we’re exploring the five must-have foods every pregnant woman should have on her grocery list… and there are some shockers! How do these foods help you and your baby, and what are some great ways (more…)

January 3, 2011

My Gestational Diabetes

About a month ago, I found out that I am one of the unlucky few pregnant women who has gestational diabetes. Bummer. Of course, I was concerned about baby’s well-being after getting the diagnosis, but to be honest my main concerns were:

1) That moving in to the high-risk category would dash my hopes of having a very low-intervention birth attended by my midwife, who I love.

2) Being unable to eat all of the yummy food that goes along with the holiday season.

My midwife assured me that as long as the diabetes can be managed well through my diet, there’s no reason that I can’t have the exact same birth that I would have if my pregnancy was low-risk. I met with a dietitian to learn how I need to eat in order to meet my nutritional requirements and keep my blood sugar at a good level. I have to test my blood sugar four times a day with a glucose meter. Thank goodness I have no problem with needles! I also  need to have a few ultrasounds done with a perinatologist to monitor baby’s growth. So far, both my blood sugar levels and baby are looking great.  I thought that having gestational diabetes would be torture and that I would have to eat food that tasted awful, but it turns out that all I’m really doing is eating the way I should be eating all of the time. While there is definitely a cupcake (or two) with my name on it once my little one makes her appearance next month, I might even keep up with the dietary changes post-baby.

October 12, 2010

Waiting for the Weight (To Fall Off)

As a pregnant woman, you hear it all the time. You know, people telling you that somehow the extra 30-50+ pounds you put on to have a baby is just going to magically disappear once you start breastfeeding. I personally, think it gives us a false sense of security. Suddenly, that extra piece of pizza doesn’t matter so much. I mean, you are creating human life, right?

Watching what I eat has always been an issue for me. My fat grams and my calories make me happy, at least temporarily. And, let’s face it, when you’re pregnant, it’s easy to turn to food for comfort when you’re not feeling so hot. It seems like the most natural thing to do since any serious movement leaves you panting for air.

During my pregnancy, I was foolish enough to think that my lack of overindulgence would prevent me from gaining too much weight. I mean, I have heard of women stuffing their faces with McDonald’s cheeseburgers and chocolate cream pies on a daily basis. At least I wasn’t doing that bad. But I wasn’t doing myself any favors either. The day I went into labor, I weighed 203 pounds. I had gained 43 pounds during pregnancy, missed my goal and was depressed. But, then again, I thought breastfeeding would make up for all of that. I was wrong.

Here’s the thing. Even if you’re lucky enough to lose the weight through breastfeeding, the odds of you getting your old body back are slim to none. Let me clarify. You can get a worse body… or a better body, but it’s never going to be the same. You can sit there and wait for the weight to “fall off”, or you can do something about it. It’s your choice.

I distinctly remember standing in front of my mirror at about six weeks postpartum, buck naked. I hated the way I looked. None of my clothes fit anymore. My maternity clothes were too big (and when I wore them everyone thought I was pregnant) and my pre-pregnancy clothes… well, let’s not go there. I weighed 18 pounds more than I did before I got pregnant. I was miserable. I was also caring for a newborn and recuperating from some birthing complications. This could have been a recipe for disaster.

I stood there, staring at my body for at least ten minutes. How on earth was I going to get out of this mess? Literally.
For a brief moment, I actually conceded. I thought, well this is what happens after you have a baby. Guess I better go buy a good pair of mom jeans and granny panties. But then something happened. I instantly put a stop to my one-person pity party and made a promise to myself. Not only was I going to lose the weight, but I was going to change my nutritional habits altogether. And in doing so, I would not only help myself, but I would inspire my husband and encourage a healthy lifestyle for my six week old son.

I felt empowered, but I knew I couldn’t do this by myself. So, I contacted my gym and scheduled some personal training sessions to get me started. I’m now 10 weeks postpartum and I’ve lost 10 pounds and at least one inch from all my measurements. I still have a long way to go until I reach my goal, but I’m on the right path. And, perhaps more importantly, I truly feel like a changed person- even if it is more mental than physical (at least at this point).

Here are some key things I’ve learned during this whole discovery process. While it’s helped me become more successful in my personal goals, it may not work for everyone. So, like many elements of parenting, just use what works for you and your family.

• Acknowledge the Problem. If you need to stand buck naked in front of mirror to see every crevice of your body, then do it. It’s ok to not like the way you look. Use that to your advantage. Remember how you feel and allow it motivate you the next time you open the refrigerator door, or decide that today isn’t the best day to go the gym.
• Keep Yourself Accountable. Tell someone about your plans to lose weight and report back to them on your progress. This will help keep you focused. No one wants to disappoint a friend or loved one. If needed, get a workout buddy to help keep you motivated.
• Track Your Nutrition. Write down everything you eat, seriously. It helps for two reasons. First, you are less likely to cheat by sneaking in piece of candy or a can of soda. Second, you will learn the nutritional value of the food you are eating. You’ll be amazed at how many calories are in a tub of movie popcorn or a Starbucks latte, and it will probably impact what you choose to eat in the future.
• Use What You’ve Got. When you have a baby, your whole life changes. So, don’t be surprised if you no longer have the time (or money) to go to a gym. Just work with what you already have. Pushing a baby uphill in a stroller can actually burn a lot of calories. Oh, and you know all that extra laundry you now have? Put it in a basket and start climbing those steps. It’s great for tightening the thighs and butt.
• Create a Reward System. We all loved getting stickers for our good deeds as a kid, right? So, why not reinstate some of those rewards? You may not want a sticker, but an hour long massage or pedicure might inspire you to stick to your goals. Oh, and don’t use food as a reward. That kinda defeats the whole purpose.

Still need some inspiration? Check out some of our previous PregTASTIC shows focusing on health and nutrition. Good-luck!

Episode 010, “Prenatal Exercise”
Episode 011, “Postnatal Exercise”
Episode  022, “Prenatal Yoga and Connecting with your Baby”
Episode 060, “I’m Pregnant, Now What Do I Eat?”
Episode 098, “Stroller Striding to Fitness”
Episode 161, “The ABCs of a Healthy Pregnancy”
Episode 169, “Improving Your Health and Wellness”

Episode 60 | July 16, 2007

I’m Pregnant, Now What Do I Eat?

What vitamins and nutrients enhance fetal brain and neural development? What is the latest on eating fish? Does what you eat influence what your baby prefers to eat later in life? Co-author of I’m Pregnant, Now What Do I Eat? Dr. Hope Ricciotti answers our questions.