1-Week Postpartum: Nutrition & Fitness

Yesterday, marked 1-week postpartum for me. I can't believe it went by so fast!

As you know, from my last post, I had a couple days of "adjustment" and dealing with the baby blues. I'm happy to report, that I am doing really well! I discovered that there are 4-5 things that I need every single day, in order for me to be a good mom & wife.

1. Get Dressed! Wash My Face! Brush My Teeth!
2. Take a Nap, if possible (not always possible with 2 kids now)
3. Go For a Walk! (even if it's only 5 minutes)
4. Soak in a Lavender Salt Bath (for at least 15 minutes)
5. Eat Right!

----

It's taken some time to figure out when I have time to feed myself & how to be able to eat healthy foods at regular intervals. It, too, was some adjusting, but I think we're getting the hang of things. My husband helps me cook recipes in the evening for dinner & then I heat up the leftovers for lunch. Snacks are easy-to-eat items like fruit & nut butter, hummus & pita chips, etc. Breakfast is my regular Breakfast Protein Shake - very healthy & fast.

Here are some foods we've been enjoying, since coming home from the hospital:

Ina Garten's Greek Salad (no picture)

Maryann's Pepperoni Pizzas

For a complete meal, serve with:

-Milk

-Fruit

-Vegetable (optional)

Taste of Home's Italian BLT

For a complete meal, serve with:

-Milk OR Fruit

-Vegetable (optional)

Note: 

Instead of Italian Bread, we used Great Harvest Dakota Bread. Instead of lettuce leaves, we used spinach leaves. We used Trader Joe's Tuscan Italian Dressing, which was to die for! We omitted the Panko Bread Crumbs. Instead of brushing the outside of the bread w/the dressing, we drizzled it on the inside of the bread, which caused it to ooze out w/each bite. Yum!

Angela's Vegan Enchilada's w/Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce

Note: We added shredded hormone-free, grass-fed chicken to our Enchilada's. If you do this, the recipe is no longer Vegan.

Ridiculously Good Peanut Butter Balls

 

12 oz crunchy peanut butter

approximately 6 pinches stevia powder

2 cups arrowroot powder

1.5 sticks of butter

2 packages Baker's Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares

In a food processor, blend together the arrowroot powder & stevia powder. Start w/a few pinches of stevia & add more pinches, to taste...it should resemble powdered sugar, in flavor. Mix all ingredients together except the white chocolate. Roll into balls. You can make large balls, like mine above (we used a large ice cream scoop to form the balls) or you can make bite-size balls. Next time, I think I'd prefer the bite-size balls, because I never eat a full large ball in one sitting. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, according to package directions. Place wax paper on a cookie sheet. Roll the balls in the melted chocolate & place on wax paper. Place in the freezer until chocolate is hard. Then move to the fridge in an air-tight container. Enjoy!

----

I was inspired by Tina's Body After Baby posts & have decided to set fitness goals for myself. Having a 9-month period where I was unable to do any exercise (besides walking), really made me realize how much I really do enjoy lots of different forms of exercise and want to make sure that fitness is a priority to me. So, I'll be starting my own "Body After Baby" of sorts. Watch for a new "Fitness" tab (currently "Running" tab) where I'll be combining all my fitness efforts, not just running.

For now, I'm just eating healthy & taking my daily walk. I can't do much more, since my abdominal muscles are still separated. 

Here's us on a walk to the park, trying out the Moby Wrap for the first time:

And here's the beginning of my post-baby body progress:

5 Days Post-Baby
Wt Lost since Delivery: 14 lbs

8 Days Post-Baby
Wt Lost since Delivery: 21 lbs

Here's the plan:

Nutrition-wise not much has changed. I have cut out most dairy products, since I know that dairy can cause issues when breast-feeding. I may, at some point, need to go gluten-free as well, since my baby girl is already having some GI issues. But, we'll see what the Kinesiologist says. I am slowly working my way back to The Endo Diet. I will still probably keep hormone-free, grass-fed white meats in my diet, but eliminate all red meat. I have been a bit relaxed on allowing some honey back into my diet, mainly for my lemon/honey hot waters, since I'm still battling the residual effects of Bronchitis. I will be eliminating it again and sticking only with my stevia & agave nectar. I'm still avoiding all soy & corn. I will, of course, be re-tested for all foods, once my hormone levels start to return back to normal. The reality is: I still have endometriosis, PCOS & an increased risk for Type 2 Diabetes. Eating this way is a lifestyle for me, not a diet.

Fitness-wise I will be slowly working up to a regular workout routine. For now, breast-feeding is my main form of burning calories!

1 Week Post-Partum: slow to moderate walking everyday (or most days) as I feel up to it strength-wise

4 Weeks Post-Partum: begin doing pelvic tilts & leg slides and gradually increasing to crunches and/or sit-ups, as my abdominal gap starts to close.

6 Weeks Post-Partum: start introducing cardio classes again (such as Zumba/Kickboxing/etc) and begin the C25K running program (as my midwife allows).

3 months Post-Partum: start introducing toning/stretching classes again (such as Yoga)

5 months Post-Partum: start Jillian Michaels' circuit training

I'd like to make a disclaimer that this plan can change at any point in time. (That goes for what I'm eating, too.) I may move things up or later on this list, depending on my body and on how I feel. For instance, walking to the park the other day with baby in the Moby Wrap was too much for my body at this point, so I'll stick to pushing her in the stroller for now. The key is to gradually add things back in and to only do the things which I enjoy. If any of these things starts to feel like a "have to" then I'll back off on it.

A Moment of Realness: Post-Baby Blues/Guilt

The great thing about having a blog is that you have a place to come and write and let it all hang out. A place to expose yourself and also to ask for help. That's what this post is about.

I started to feel the post-baby blues a day or two ago & I'm keeping a close watch on it, because I had postpartum depression pretty badly with my first daughter.

But, today's tears feel different than hormonal release.

Today I feel as though I'm mourning.

Every since we brought the baby home, I've had very little time with my first daughter. I started thinking today about how much I miss my first daughter. I miss the time we used to have together. I miss the bond we shared. I miss her being my only child. I even question if I did the right thing by giving her a sister. As I type this and admit to these things, tears are falling down my face. The guilt and sadness I feel about this are overwhelming. And the few moments when I do get to spend time with her, I can't stop crying because I feel so upset. We've had almost 5 years together, just us and her. That's a really long time. And now it will never be that way again.

Is this normal? Have any of you other mommies of 2 (or more) felt that way? Please tell me it gets better. Please tell me it will be ok. Please tell me I won't lose the bond that I share with my first born.

Thanks for letting me be real.

Meet Adelyn Anna: My Hypnobirthing/Waterbirth Story

Four years ago, we had a less than desirable experience birthing my first daughter. It wasn't traumatic, just completely different than what we had hoped for. We wanted a natural birth using HypnoBirthing methods. Instead, we were induced 4 days past my due date, which led down a slippery slope of Pitocin, an epidural and 15 stitches later...all of which were on our birth plan that we did not want. So, this time around, we vowed it would be different and we would get what we wanted.

It all started by watching a video by Ricky Lake titled, "The Business of Being Born". The things we learned from that video disgusted and angered us. I immediately started researching natural childbirth and found the waterbirth method, among other things.

With my first child, we read the Hypnobirthing book, but never attended the classes. This time, we attended the Hypnobirthing classes at Woodwinds in May 2011, which gave us 2 months to practice the breathing & relaxation techniques used. Reading the book alone did not equip us the way the classes did. We learned soooo much & got to practice the methods with a trained instructor, as well as build our confidence that we could do this!

We switched from my OBGYN to a midwife clinic, and switched from a hospital 15 minutes from us, to a birthing center 30 minutes from us that did waterbirths. A side note about the location: I was more than willing to travel a longer distance in order to be at a hospital/birth center that was well-known for having great service. I would recommend Woodwinds 100x's over. Every staff person we encountered was respectful of us, our birth plan & what we wanted in the moment. You could tell that each truly cared and that they all loved their jobs. It was beautiful & left us with an amazing experience!

It was not an easy road & took a lot of work to stay with the plan we wanted. We had to maneuver through lots of road blocks along the way.

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 17 weeks pregnant & had to fight every single day to maintain it with my diet & exercise. I was told that if I ever needed to be put on medication for the diabetes, that I would no longer be eligible to be seen at the midwife clinic, which would also force me to forfeit my waterbirth. Many times this was threatened, up until the last week of my pregnancy. But, I started seeing a Kinesiologist and a Diabetes Educator and adjusting my diet until eventually I had it down to a complete science. You can read the complete program that I developed for myself here: http://foodie4healing.blogspot.com/2011/06/10-tips-to-control-gestational-diabetes.html. In the end, I won & never needed to be put on medication (despite high numbers here & there. Praise God!) :)

The week before I went into labor, I was dilated 3cm & 50% effaced. Baby's head was not engaged (meaning, she was floating, still). As my due date neared, there was talk of inducing me at 41 weeks. I fought and fought until I got the midwife to agree that if we made it to 41 weeks, they would just continue to monitor me closer and would not induce me before 42 weeks.

Again, our birth plan was threatened when exactly 1 week before I went into labor, I was diagnosed with Laryngitis. A few days later, we ended up in the ER after I started coughing up green mucus. I was sent home with a prescription for an antibiotic, since the Laryngitis turned into full fledged Bronchitis. I was so mad. I felt horrible and couldn't sleep without taking cough syrup laced with Codeine and even then I still couldn't sleep. How was I going to have a natural waterbirth using Hypnobirthing techniques if I couldn't breathe?! My best friend assured me that my body could handle it, if I went into labor.

A side note about support people: I intentionally chose who was going to be in the room with me this time. My husband, of course, was a key role. We also decided to have my best friend, Jen, because she had had a successful natural Hypnobirthing experience herself. I also knew she'd be supportive of our plan every step of the way (which she was) and would fight right alongside me. She also just knows exactly what to say at exactly the right time, to build me up. I knew she'd be invaluable to me in the labor room. We also hired a Doula, Carlie, who had such a calm & quiet spirit about her. She, too, had had a successful waterbirth at the same birthing center we would be attending. She shared in our Christian values and I knew again, she'd fight alongside us and be that gentle calmness in the birthing room for me. I can honestly say that without any one of these 3 people, I would not have been able to have the birthing experience that I did. They were amazing!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 I was having a hard time sleeping due to the Bronchitis. I would just start to fall asleep and then I'd be awakened by an overwhelming sense of needing to empty my bladder. I would go empty it and look at the clock. I noticed I was getting this sensation about every 6 minutes. It finally hit me around 3AM when the sensation was accompanied by a really strong contraction. I decided to start timing them. Yup, every 6 minutes. Hmm... I called the midwife and said that I thought that I was in labor. She told me to labor at home a little while longer, because they like to see the contractions about every 3-5 minutes apart. I reluctantly agreed. At this point, I started to get a little afraid. I knew this was it & I was all alone (sleeping in the basement, so as not to wake the rest of my family with my coughing fits) & still battling Bronchitis. My body started to shake & the contractions started to hurt. I knew from what I learned in Hypnobirthing, that I needed to get control, gain some confidence and relax. So, I decided to try to get some sleep. I laid back down in bed & turned on my Hypnobirthing cd. After about 15 minutes, I couldn't concentrate through the cd & the contractions were now 3-5 minutes apart. I called the midwife back and said I was coming in.

I went to wake up my husband and daughter. They were so excited! :) My hubby gathered some last minute things together, while I called our friends that would be taking care of our daughter, my mom, Jen & Carlie. My husband was so excited that he ran over the recycle bin at the end of the driveway! Our recycling was everywhere, but he just left it there. Haha! Once in the van & on the way, I was finally able to just relax and start focusing on my breathing. The contractions became so much easier and manageable! My confidence boosted! I can do this!

When we arrived at the hospital, they had me start filling out paperwork, but when a contraction would come, I couldn't focus on the paperwork. I had to walk around and breathe. My hubby finished the paperwork for me & they brought me back to a room. They had me change into a gown (unless I wanted to stay in my own clothes) & put me on the fetal monitoring system. They wanted to make sure that baby's heart rate could tolerate the waterbirthing tub. I ate a few crackers & had some juice to get her moving around. The midwife came in then to check my progress. I was 6cm dilated, 80% effaced and baby was still not engaged! Little stinker! I later learned that the midwife was shocked at my progress at this point, because I was so composed on the phone & while I was on the monitor, that she didn't think I was that far along already! After about an hour on the monitor, it was time to get in the tub.



It was now around 7:00AM or 7:30AM. We actually took the clock off the wall, because I didn't want to be focusing on the time. I only knew the time because the midwife mentioned that she was off at that time & a new midwife, Angela, would be coming on. I'd seen both midwives in clinic before, so I was comfortable with both of them. The second I got in the tub, I began to relax even more. It was heavenly!

As contractions would come, I would grip the tub (so I didn't start floating around), close my eyes and focus on my breathing & on relaxing all my muscles from head to toe. I felt no pain.

In between contractions, I would laugh, smile & giggle with the staff. They kept saying things like, "You're fooling us-You're not really in labor". The midwife even said at one point, "You're making ME look like a wimp!" All my birth companions, the midwife & the nurses all kept encouraging me by saying things like that, boosting my confidence that this really was working!!!

 


The nurse kept checking on baby, who was doing wonderfully! The staff was always so polite, asking me first, if they could check on baby before actually doing it. She also kept checking my water temp & maintaining it between 95-100 degrees (or something like that). I started to get a little warm, so my birth companions took turns getting me cold washcloths & sips of cold water. I also got a little hungry, so  my hubby fed me bites of graham crackers & a muffin.

At this point, the midwife asked if I wanted her to check me. Originally, I wanted to be touched the least amount possible & I did not want to know my progress, because I thought it would discourage me. However, things were going so well, that curiosity got the best of me & I said "yes". 8cm dilated & baby was finally engaged. My water had not yet broken, so Angela asked if I wanted her to break it for me. I asked the risks & at this point, because I was so far along, there weren't many. The one benefit is that they would be able to tell if the amniotic fluid was stained with meconium. If it was, it would be unsafe for baby to be born in the water. I decided I'd wait another half hour & see how my labor progressed on it's own first. Again, they were all amazed (including me) at how "easy" I was laboring at 8cm dilated! It took concentration, but I still felt no pain. They couldn't tell when I was having a contraction by my demeanor, because I would just close my eyes & look as though I were sleeping.

 


After a half hour, Angela checked me again & said there was very little progress. At this point the contractions had slowed down quite a bit & I was getting a little fearful of my labor stopping completely. So, I agreed to have her break my water. After laboring through a few more contractions, I got out of the tub to sit on the toilet (the position encourages the baby to descend) & see if that would get things moving. Two contractions on the toilet & I was ready to get back in the tub... the contractions were starting to become intense. Ben got in the tub with me & started helping me get through them with light touch & applied pressure to my low back.

 


It wasn't long and I started feeling the urge to push. I pushed for about an hour & half. In the last 10 minutes of pushing, I started to let fear into my head. "How much longer is this going to take?" "I don't know if I can keep doing this!" These phrases really did not help me and pushing was tougher than it needed to be because of them. I started to panic.

My labor coaches did amazing! I could hear them saying, "You can do this", "Breathe all the way out", "Relax your shoulders", etc. If it weren't for those phrases, I'd have probably lost it. At one point, I reached down and felt her head! I knew she was only moments away & I was impatient & wanted her out now! I started stretching my own perineum & pushing with everything I had when a contraction would come. I was exhausted in between contractions & just wanted to rest.

Eventually, I heard everyone getting very excited that "she [was] right there!" and that gave me the strength to push a little harder & longer with each contraction. When I would relax, breathe & focus on those things, it was much more manageable.

Ben wanted to catch baby as she was being born, but at the very end, I heard the midwife tell me to move onto my hands & knees and I could sense urgency in her voice, so I did was I was told. One or two more pushes & Adelyn Anna was born at 11:50AM.

Ben & I were in shock & awe. Adelyn was pink in the face, but the rest of her body was white. She was limp and lifeless. You could hear her trying to take breaths, but not quite being able to do it on her own.

The plan was to let her stay in my arms as long as possible & not to cut the cord until it stopped pulsating. But, Angela acted quickly and made the decision to have Ben cut the cord immediately & get her over to the warmer to try to get her breathing.

Less than a minute later, after stimulating & suctioning her, we heard that first beautiful cry. She was perfect & going to be fine! We were grateful to our midwife for making the call.

Daddy was sooo proud, he couldn't wait to call people! And Adelyn sure loves her Daddy, too! She was 7 lbs 14 oz & 20.5" long.

Because I was able to relax & let the stretching occur slowly, I only ended up with 4 stitches (as opposed to 15 with my first daughter). Other differences between my natural labor vs my epidural labor...

• I felt an immediate bond/love for Adelyn that I didn't immediately feel for Izzy. Sure, I loved Izzy, but the feeling was more shock than love, at first.
• I felt euphoric/high for days after Adelyn's birth from the natural oxytocin that my body was giving off. My receptors were already filled w/the epidural w/Izzy, so I never experienced this.
• I immediately felt postpartum depression when I birthed Izzy. This time, I had a small cry the day we came home & I've been completely fine ever since.

 

I feel honored to have the birth story that I do. It was everything I could've hoped for, and then some. If I were to ever have kids again, would I do natural childbirth using waterbirth & Hypnobirthing again? YES! There is no doubt in my mind! We couldn't be happier with our birth story, or with our family of four. :)

 

Thank you to Carlie Ann Photography for taking the beautiful pictures of our birth! They are priceless & we'll cherish them forever!

Weekly Wrap-Up

Popular Posts

My top 5 most popular posts from this week. Check them out, if you missed them!

1. If I Were Anyone But Me...
2. Natural Remedies
3. Pool vs Beach, La Croix & Gummy Bear Brats
4. Father's Day: Como Zoo - Pt 1
5. Healthy Fast Food...In a Glass

Blogger Love - Referrals

A big THANK YOU and shout out to the following bloggers, who were the top referring sites this week! Check out their blogs, if you haven't yet!

1. The Fowble Five
2. I Can Do It Myself - experiments in self-sufficiency for the stubbornly independent
3. Daily Garnish

Blogger Love - My Favorite Posts

These are posts written by fellow bloggers. These are my favorites from this week!

1. I Can Do It Myself @ I Can Do It Myself <---my unborn child's Godmother's new blog!
   
2. Running is for Crazy People @ Healthy Tipping Point (Guest Post)
3. Running for Two: Keeping it Comfortable @ This Runner's Trials
4. Mexico City: Romance & PDA's @ Love Veggies and Yoga
5. First Aid for Summer's Best Fun @ Whole Story

Just For Fun - Popular Search Words

These are the top keywords that people have used this week to find my blog.

1. Gummy Bear Brats
2. Laparotomy with Thomas Hilgers
3. Diabetes Control without Medication
4. Diabetic Friendly Bread
5. Food Blog Weekly Wrap Up Blogspot
6. How to Treat a McDonald's Addiction
7. Laryngitis
8. Meal in a Glass Protein Powder

Just For Fun - Countries Visited

People from all over the world find my blog! Here are the countries that visited this week (besides the USA).

1. Germany
2. India
3. United Kingdom
4. Canada
5. Italy
6. Latvia
7. Romania
8. Australia
9. Philippines

A special THANK YOU to all my readers! YOU are the reason I write this blog. YOU make all the effort worth it! I am grateful for each and every one of you. 

xoxo,

Amykinz, Foodie4Healing

Natural Remedies

Sorry I haven't posted this week...

I'm 2 days away from my due date!

AND...

I have Laryngitis. :( Boo.

I started feeling like I had a sore throat on Tuesday and finally went to the Dr yesterday after not being able to sleep and fighting a horrible & persistent dry cough.

Of course, there's not a whole lot that they can do & could the timing be any worse?!

So, for now, I'm just trying to find relief in whatever way I can & pray this baby stays put until I'm feeling well enough to deliver her with confidence.

Here are my remedies:

All of these things above are mostly natural ways to boost my immune system and help soothe my sore throat.

• Ricola Natural Honey Lemon with Echinacea Cough Drops - Fights Cough; Soothes Sore Throat
• Amazing Grass Chocolate Superfoods Greens Mix - Boost Veggies & Fruit Intake; Detoxifies & Boosts Immune System
• Emergen-C Immune Defense Fizzy Drink Mix - Boost Immune System
• Protech Nutritionals Pro-Zinc Plus Lozenges (got from my Chiropractor)  
• Premier Research Labs CoQ-Quniol - Immune System Support
• Premier Research Labs Max B Liquid Vitamins - Immune System Support
• Hot Vinegar Gargle (not pictured) - Kills Germs; Instant Sore Throat Relief
• Water & Tea - Helps Keep Throat Lubricated

These are my not-so-natural things that I only use if I absolutely need to!

• Ayr Saline Nasal Mist - Helps Clear Mucus; Restores Moisture
• Salt Gargle - (I replaced this w/the Hot Tea Gargle shown above)
• Robitussin with Codeine - Helps Suppress Cough & Lets Me Sleep!
• Chloraseptic Spray - Temporarily Relieves Sore Throat Pain
• Fioricet - Helps Alleviate Migraine & Sore Ears/Chest from Dry Cough

Of course, in the moments when the soothers are working & I'm feeling pretty good, I have to let loose a little. So, we had a 30-second dance party in the kitchen. :)

That's right! This 40-week pregnant Mama can still shake it! :) I may be sick, but my Spirit isn't crushed. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

If I Were Anyone But Me...

I'm currently going through and reading each of my past blog posts in an effort to better organize my blog & pages. This will hopefully help you, my readers, find information easier, as well as update my recipes page.

While reading through some posts from back in 2008, when I was undergoing out-patient eating disorder treatment at The Emily Program, I stumbled across the post below.

Isn't it amazing that things we thought we dealt with, sometimes come back to haunt us again?
----

27 going on 17 - Written May 2008

Isn't it amazing that something said to you 10 years ago can shape who you are today and how you function as a person? Many times I've heard people reference therapy as a thing for "broken" people and people with "problems". While that can be true, I personally believe therapy is for everyone. When you think about the complexity of communication and all the things that need to go right in order for your message to be received as intended, it's no wonder we don't understand each other! :)

Though I'm currently 27 years old, my emotional being stopped growing at about 15-16 years old.

In the past two weeks, I've encountered a few scenarios where I was feeling "left out" (sounds childish doesn't it). It was through recent therapy that I was able to have one of the biggest breakthroughs of my life in understanding how and why I tick the way I do.

Growing up I was the youngest of 3 kids. My sister and brother were significantly older than me (5 & 8 years older). The two of them did and still do share the same friends and are best friends themselves. I was always the one "left out", picked on, called names, etc. I never felt like I fit in. I was always told by my mother (and siblings) that I was too sensitive and was a "drama queen" always making bigger deals out of things than they were, while my dad looked on with no words of encouragement or fighting for me. I'm often told (by my sister) how big of a brat I was. Was it a defense tactic on my part? The message to me was that who I was wasn't okay and that's why I was always left out. This carried over into my friends, who were ruthless when it came to ganging up on one person. And yes, that was usually me - the ganged up on one. Is there some reason why I've attracted these types of people to me? So, when I met my ex-fiancée in high school (a much older man), was it any doubt that I clung to him with full force, leaving my friends and family in the dust? Never mind that they all warned me about him. In the end, I left everyone for him, and in turn, he left me for another woman. Again, the message was, "Who you are is not okay - that is why I am leaving you."

Fast-forward 10 years to me now. I hate confrontation and couldn't figure out for the life of me why I was always so uncomfortable around my family. Why I would get anxious driving to see any of my family thinking, "What are we going to talk about, so it's not weird." Why I get so intimidated so easily by certain people. I've still been told to this day by my family, "Don't dwell on things", "You're so weird", etc. I STILL don't fit in. I was once told that when I get around my family, I'm a different person - my defenses go up and I'm always on guard. I thought they were crazy and imagining things, but now I see, they are right.

I've always felt alone, awkward, unsure of myself, intimidated, etc. And while I'm 10 years older now, that 16 year old girl is still very much functioning inside of me. Could this be why I strive for excellence and never give myself grace? Why I constantly stay busy and have to be apart of WHATEVER I'm "privileged" enough to be included in? Why I cling to any and all invites I get from others, even if I don't really want to do what's been asked?

I've believed for so long that I deserved to be left out and not included because I'm weird and "different" and that's not okay. I'M NOT OKAY. - The phrase brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it. I feel as though, very few people have taken the time to really get to know ME - they've all been quick to criticize, but not quick to love.

The only companion I had through it all was food. It comforted me; it was always there for me to cheer me up, etc. In the end, it's functioned as a literal and physical protective barrier for me. Is this why I get sudden urges that I need to lose the weight and lose it now? Because the more the "truck girl" comes out, the less the barrier is needed? Or is it the eating disorder talking?

So, now I get it. I understand my teenage-self. Anytime I feel that I'm being left out, it triggers all these emotions and stirs up hurt, disappointment, self-hatred, etc. within me. The feelings of not being enough, but being too much at the same time. The feelings that who I am is unlovable. The feelings that if I was anyone but myself, I just might be included.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Popular Posts

My top 5 most popular posts from this week. Check them out, if you missed them!

1. Nesting & Operation Pamper Mommy
2. Pool vs Beach, La Croix & Gummy Bear Brats
3. My Miracle...
4. 10 Tips to Control Gestational Diabetes without Medication
5. Diabetics Eat Burritos, Too

Blogger Love - Referrals

A big THANK YOU and shout out to the following bloggers, who were the top referring sites this week! Check out their blogs, if you haven't yet!

1. The Fowble Five
2. Faith, Fitness, Fun - because life is more than diet & workouts
3. The Wannabe Athlete

Blogger Love - My Favorite Posts

These are posts written by fellow bloggers. These are my favorites from this week!

1. Challenge the Body: Circuit Training @ Faith, Fitness, Fun
2. Lessons from a New Gardener @ Oh She Glows
3. 40th Birthday Ugly Dress Party @ I'm An Organizing Junkie
4. Getting to Know Our Baby @ Daily Garnish
   
5. Clothes Shopping for New Moms @ The Wannabe Athlete
6. ABC Foods @ The Lunch Box Project

Just For Fun - Popular Search Words

These are the top keywords that people have used this week to find my blog.

1. Gummy Bear Brats
2. Foodie on Endo Diet
3. Can Diabetics Eat Burritos
4. Beach vs Pool
5. Blood Sugar Reading After McDonald's
6. Como Zoo Animals
7. Gestational Diabetes Low Reading Tips

Just For Fun - Countries Visited

People from all over the world find my blog! Here are the countries that visited this week (besides the USA).

1. Canada
2. Russia
3. India
4. Germany
5. Ukraine
6. Australia
7. China
8. Japan
9. Lithuania

A special THANK YOU to all my readers! YOU are the reason I write this blog. YOU make all the effort worth it! I am grateful for each and every one of you. 

xoxo,

Amykinz, Foodie4Healing

Pool vs Beach, La Croix & Gummy Bear Brats

I've reached the stage of my pregnancy where every day that I wake up and I'm still pregnant, I'm instantly pissed off.

Don't get me wrong, I am completely grateful that I'm even pregnant at all and that I was able to carry my baby girl to full term. But I just know that she's at weight & ready to come any day, so each day that it drags out, I get frustrated! I'm more frustrated because I'm literally having contractions every 10-15 minutes all day long, but they rarely get closer. It's just annoying. 

Each week there's decent progress on dilation/effacement/baby's​ position, so I know these contractions are doing something (which will hopefully amount to a fast, natural labor later). I just want to meet her already! 

I shouldn't complain, cause I'm actually still feeling pretty good (except when she kicks me in the ribs, like all last night) & I'm still sleeping pretty well (except for getting up to pee every hour). But, I've been waiting for four years for this, so I just want to be done already!!! 


*sigh* Ok, deep breath. Thanks for letting me rant for a minute. :)
----


Yesterday, some friends of ours invited us to go swimming at the outdoor pool at the gym that they belong to. It was a gorgeous day for it! 


I haven't been in a swimsuit in a few months, so when I tried on my maternity suit & felt like it wasn't flattering, I was hoping that one of my non-maternity suits would bail me out.


I was pleasantly surprised by this one! 

Here are some highlights from our pool day...

DD asked me, "Mom, why is everyone sleeping?" LOL

And this is what she did when I ask her to "smile". Lil stinker!

 

I've decided that I'm more of a pool person than a beach person. 

Sure, the beach is fun every once in awhile. And I do like being able to feel the sand beneath my toes. 

But, here's why I really am a pool-lover:

• being able to swim in clean water (except for the chemicals)
• not having to worry about chiggers or swimmer's itch
• being able to find a shaded area to sit (which is hard to find at most beaches)
• not having to clean up the pounds of sand that somehow find their way into everything
• not having to worry about fish touching (or even biting!) me

Do you prefer beaches or pools?

----

In addition to my traditional water, I also sipped on some of this at the pool...

I first heard about LaCroix sparkling water on Holly's blog. LaCroix has 7 different flavors: natural, berry, cran-raspberry, lemon (see above picture), lime, orange & grapefruit. 

I've tried the berry, lemon, lime & orange. My favorites are the berry & lemon.

These are a great alternative to soda pop and since they're water, they'll keep you hydrated, too. The flavorings are very subtle (just a hint of flavor), so if you're expecting a nice sugary flavor, like soda, you'll be disappointed. My husband's assessment, "They taste really watered down." He makes me laugh; they are sparkling water after all. :)

Overall, they are a good alternative for me, for when I'm just craving the bubbles.

Note: I am in no way affiliated with LaCroix and was not compensated in anyway to give this review. This is simply my own assessment of the product that was bought with my own money.

----

Lastly, if you live in MN, chances are you've heard of the new phenomenon... Gummy Bear Brats. They were featured on the news last night. You can read the story & watch the news segment here.

It is what it sounds like. A local meat company is now selling brats made with gummy bears. And their next endeavor? Kool-aid flavored brats. Sound appealing to you?

I just need to take a minute and share my gut-reaction on this... 

While I am all for buying local & finding new and exciting concoctions, I am frankly disgusted with America's obsession with junk food. Why does everything need to be laced with sugar for us to enjoy it? 

The rave is all about the salty-sweet combination. I get it. But, isn't there healthier ways and ingredients to get that flavor combo? 

The worst part is, it seems that parents are thinking this is such a great idea for their kids to eat! Of course it is. My DD would eat nothing but sugar all day long, if I let her. 

Sure, a little bit of sugar here and there is ok, but it's in everything we eat! Is it any wonder diabetes is so prominent in the USA? Or that we have so many obese people? When are we going to wake-up America?