5 Great Snacks for Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time when you may think about your nutrition more than before. In previous years, we've told women that they were eating for two. This lead to many women consuming way too many calories, not to mention lots of junk food. This put a strain on their health and that of their babies.

Now research has shown that pregnant moms need about 1 extra snack per day to help grow a healthy baby. That works out to about 300 extra calories per day. The hard part is deciding how to spend those calories every day. Obviously they can be used to eat a candy bar or choose snacks that pack a nutritional punch.

Protein is a great choice for a snack because it is the building block for every cell. It also helps many moms when they are feeling fatigued or even nauseated. Some moms go for fiber to help decrease some of the more common but uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy like constipation. There are plenty of ways to spend the extra calories. Here are some of my favorite snack combinations:

Crackers and cheese.
This is a great way to get some protein and fiber. I loved being able to eat a few slices of cheese with some nice whole grain crackers. It was also fun to try lots of different crackers, even trying some of the newer version of old favorites that have less fat.

Nuts.
A bag full of nuts was always handy to have around and it did not require preparation or refrigeration. There were times in pregnancy I had specific cravings, like almonds or pecans, but usually I could eat almost any type of nut available. These are great protein powerhouses.

Fresh fruit.

Every morning you could grab an extra piece of fruit for your desk. An apple, banana or orange requires very little thought or preparation. I am fond of the mandarin oranges. Now you can find fruit cups almost every where in the grab and go sections of stores.

Hard boiled eggs.
These are compact snacks to carry with you, but do require a fridge. If you like these, they can be an easy way to increase your protein. Some moms I know also swear by their ability to quell morning sickness.

Dips and sticks.
Carrot sticks and celery are great. But today we often use broccoli and other veggies with dips. Try bean dips, humus and other fun sauces on your vegetables.

adapted from Robin Elise Weiss

Exercise & Pregnancy

Exercise is of benefit to anyone. Pregnant women are no exception.

Some studies have shown that exercise can reduce the length of labor, shorten the recovery time, and even help with postpartum weight management.

The fact that we need to exercise is not in question. The bigger questions is how and when do we exercise? Life has everyone a bit more hectic than we used to be, not to mention lots of convenience items to "help" us out.

No longer do we need to walk in the airport, climb stairs in the mall, or walk the lawn mower, we have machines to help us out. Not only are we not getting our regular exercise but our daily activities are more likely to be desk related.

There are quite a few ways to get some easy exercise into your day:

Take the stairs whenever possible.
Park further away and walk to stores.
Walk to do short errands.
Use a video if you can't get to the gym.
Walk around the house or up and down stairs while commercials are on television.
Schedule your workout like any other appointment.
Get up to change the television channels.
Use a push mower or vacuuming your house.

Tip by Robin Elise Weiss

Yo Yo Dieting

Sharing some info on Yo Yo Dieting....Surely for once we have experienced it right!...

Losing weight is easy. Just ask Oprah Winfrey, or the millions of other dieters who are on a weight-loss roller coaster. They manage to lose five, 20, or 50 pounds only to gain it all back. Doctors call this "weight cycling," but it's better known as yo-yo dieting.
Yo-yo dieting can be extremely frustrating. Recent studies suggest that repeated cycles of weight loss and weight gain may also be harmful to your health, but no study has definitively proven that. If you've ever tried to lose weight or plan to diet in the future, you should know the ins and outs -- or rather the ups and downs -- of the yo-yo diet.

Why does lost weight come back?
Many people look for quick fixes to their weight problem. They starve themselves or go on a fad diet and rejoice as the pounds disappear. But as soon as they return to their old habits, the weight comes right back. Even dieters who take the slow-and-steady approach to weight loss can sometimes go back to square one. Simply put, permanent weight loss requires a lifelong commitment taking in no more calories than you can use -- a goal that's often reached by exercise. Anyone who wants to lose weight but can't make that commitment is bound to end up on the yo-yo.
As you age, another factor comes into play: Weight can build up or quickly return because your metabolism slows down, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive & Kidney Diseases. Studies show, however, that this weight gain is preventable: So if you're eating the same way in your 40s as you did when you were 20, you probably just need to cut back calories or increase your activity.

What are the health risks of yo-yo dieting?
No matter what your size, any sudden weight gain or loss may be hard on your health. A study of 485 female heart patients published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that yo-yo dieters had relatively low levels of HDL cholesterol -- the "good" cholesterol that helps prevent heart disease. The shortfall of HDL was especially severe in women who had lost and regained at least 50 pounds. However, researchers found no direct link between low HDL and heart disease in any of the women. Other studies have found that yo-yo diets may slightly boost a person's blood pressure (although it's unknown whether the higher level is only temporary). Fluctuations in weight also seem to increase the risk of gallstones.
Of course, these risks have to be put into perspective. A yo-yo diet may shake up your system, but it's not thought to be as unhealthy as obesity itself. Extra pounds can make you a target for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, orthopedic problems, and other ailments. For those who are carrying extra pounds, even a modest reduction in weight can greatly improve overall health.
If you're overweight, you shouldn't let the specter of yo-yo diets keep you from trying to lose weight. Instead, you should feel extra resolve to keep weight off once you lose it. If you're already at a healthy weight, try to keep it steady.

Can yo-yo dieting change my body type?
Contrary to common belief, yo-yo dieting doesn't make a person fatter. In fact, people who go through a complete weight-loss cycle tend to end up with the same proportion of fat and muscle they started with. If you work out during your cycle, you may actually be more muscular than you were before.

Does yo-yo dieting make it harder to lose weight in the future?
Many people fear that yo-yo dieting will slow down their metabolism and scuttle future attempts to lose weight. You should be concerned if you go on repeated starvation diets (less than 1,000 calories a day). You'll probably lose weight and muscle temporarily. But if you start to eat the way you did previously, your body may react by storing the fat faster and more efficiently, and you could add more pounds than before, according to the Mayo Clinic. Also keep in mind that controlling weight can be more challenging as you grow older because of hormonal changes that tend to encourage weight gain and perhaps changes in body composition.
If you have a history of yo-yo dieting, it's time to rethink your approach to weight loss. Remember: Permanent changes in your weight require permanent changes in your life. By getting plenty of exercise and eating only the number of calories you need to maintain or lose weight, you can reach a healthy weight -- and there won't be a string to pull you back.

Article by:
Chris Woolston