Posts Tagged ‘Dont’

Being a fitness trainer, over the past few decades I’ve seen quite a few new mothers join the gym in an effort to regain their figure after childbirth. God bless them for working at getting back in shape. But, my friends and I observed an all too common phenomena which could have made their recoveries so much easier had they avoided it. They were eating way too many calories from nutritionally void junk foods! We saw this scenario in the gym so often that we began to refer to this as a weight gain pregnancy.

 

Many of these mothers approached me for exercise and diet advice. From conversations I had with them, I realized that most were very aware of the additional nutrition needed during pregnancy for both themselves and their babies. And, most of them took precautions to eat nutritionally packed meals along with prenatal supplements. The culprit they seemed to have in common was the additional calories consumed in junk foods.

 

So the dilemma was in getting most, if not all, of their calories from highly nutritious low calorie foods. And, having the discipline to avoid the foods that have little or no nutritional value. Not only would they be able to avoid the dreaded weight gain pregnancy, but this is the healthy path for both mother and child.

 

Now, discipline often needs a friend, so here is what you are going to do. Purchase a book with a glycemic index and calorie count of foods, and check what you’re eating. Oh, and that’s before you put it in your mouth.

 

Count Your Calories

It’s generally accepted that you really only need an additional 300 calories a day during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimester. You will be surprised at the difference in the caloric content between the right foods and the wrong foods. You can eat more of the right foods, not to mention their nutritional value. Again, refer to your book and don’t be a weight gain pregnancy. I must add here, that any artificially sweetened low or no calorie product is basically poisoned gas. Stay far away from it.

 

Avoid Refined Sugars

Keeping your blood sugar level is always important to good health. This is especially so during pregnancy. Refined sugars spike your levels, then drop them way down, effecting your energy and moods. It also creates a vicious cycle. You will be less likely to freak out and binge if you can keep your blood sugar level. Eat small meals throughout your day, refer to your book and don’t be a weight gain pregnancy.

 

Substitute Old Goodies With New Goodies

When you’re dying for that piece of candy, eat frozen grapes or dried fruits. Instead of spooning in that ice cream, mix some fresh berries and nuts into non-fat frozen yogurt. Stay the heck away from soda pops. Instead, mix 100% fruit juice with mineral water. Go from processed to natural. Make this a habit and you won’t be a weight gain pregnancy as they are known in the gym. Try it; it really can be satisfying and effective.

 

MAYDAY  

If you are about to commit homicide if you don’t get that box of brownies. And you really don’t care if you become a weight gain pregnancy at this point, set yourself aside one day out of the week to have a “cheat day.” Whether it’s Sunday or Tuesday, choose no more than one day a week to indulge yourself. Don’t go overboard, I’m not saying it’s OK to binge. Know that it will come again in just six more days. This can be a great way of helping you eat clean, or cleaner, for the rest of the week as well as keeping you sane.

 

Pregnancy can and will change your body, but there is so much you can do to regain or even improve your figure after childbirth. So, avoid a weight gain pregnancy, be strong now, and you will be so much closer to getting back into shape after you’re baby is born.

 

 

 

 

How about clicking pictures of stages of your pregnancy? Sounds wonderful! And it’s just not for making albums to cherish memories. It’s also to divert your attention from the nasty pregnancy symptoms. Whenever you feel nausea, grab your camera, call your hubby, and begin a photo shoot!

 

My Picture of Stages Of Pregnancy

 

This is what Catherine has to say about her pregnancy album – “It’s been a year since my baby was born. Yet, the memories of my pregnancy are fresh in my album picture of stages of pregnancy. Whenever I get the time, I take out the album from the closet and start flipping the pages. The first picture reminds me of that day when my doctor had confirmed my pregnancy. I broke the news to my hubby and he had gone crazy with happiness! He lifted me in my arms and this was when Sarah, my friend who was present at home at that moment, clicked a picture of us. This picture still sends me in raptures every time I see it!”

 

Look what Kate has to say about clicking picture of stages of pregnancy – “Clicking pictures has always been my hobby. So, when my hubby gifted me a digital camera on my birthday, I used my gift extensively during all the stages of my pregnancy! Guess what? I kept my pictures a secret, until I delivered my baby. And later, when I unveiled the album in front of my husband, he was dumbstruck with joy! We had a good time together seeing pictures of big belly; picture of my awkward face when I was suffering from morning sickness, picture of me trying to fit into clothes for which I was too big. It was fun!”

 

And here’s Angela. She is repenting for not having clicked any picture of stages of pregnancy. “It never struck me to click pictures! And now I am missing an album full of pregnancy memories. Well, I have learnt a lesson the hard way now! I will make it a point to click pictures during my next pregnancy!”

 

Flaunt Your Big Belly

 

There was a time when women used to hide themselves in oversized clothes to conceal their big bellies. Not any more! Today, it’s a trend to showoff that big belly for which you have worked so hard! And if you don’t want to, at least click a picture and include it in your album. Feel the delight that creeps into you when you see a picture of your pregnant days after many years. It’s an entirely different kind of joy that grips you. Would you want to miss this joy? Certainly not!

 

So, where’s your camera? Start clicking picture of stages of pregnancy. Stick them in colorful albums and keep them in a special place in your living room. You would want to share the joy and fun of your pregnancy days with your family and friends for many years to come.