Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen: September 2016

Thursday, September 29, 2016

#1 Tip For A Healthy Pregnancy

MOVE YOUR BODY MORE AND EAT THE FOODS YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE EATING! 
Hey moms! CONGRATS on your pregnancy. You have an amazing journey in front of you. The next 9 months are going to be super slow but also fly by faster than anything you ever thought possible. Trust me, I know. I am currently 40 weeks and 6 days pregnant. Just waiting for our little girl to decide that she is ready to come out! Yes, I am overdue by almost one week. Thankfully, I am scheduled for an induction tomorrow because I AM READY to meet our sweet little Elyse!

Looking at the next 9 months you have heard all the stories from your friends about how much they went through while pregnant and even how much they gained while pregnant and you are determined to do better. I want you to know that IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTROL YOUR WEIGHT GAIN WHILE PREGNANT. I have proven it! I have had a fit and healthy plus size pregnancy! 
This is my 3rd full term pregnancy, (my 6th pregnancy total). With my first, I didn't exercise, or rarely did, and ate whatever I wanted because I WAS FINALLY PREGNANT after 8 years of TRYING AND FERTILITY TREATMENTS! And I KNEW that I would lose all the baby weight I gained just from breastfeeding because all of my friends did and my sister in law, wow she lost 75 pounds just from breastfeeding. Well, I was wrong! I gained 55 pounds with Mason. I weighed a total of 255 pounds. The day after I had him I was down 16 pounds and there I stayed for 10 months until I seriously made changes to what I ate, then I started to lose weight.

With #2, Collin, I was determined to not gain as much. I had gone through two miscarriages at that point and had gained some weight back from after losing it with Mason. I was starting out 27 pounds heavier with #2 than with #1 (food became my comfort during my miscarriages). Just before I got pregnant though, I started exercising again, and running in races, and even signed up for my first half marathon. And I always said, "Come hell or high water, pregnant or not, I am running that half marathon!" So just after my 4th race I found out I was pregnant with Collin. I continued running and training for my half marathon and completed it at 29 weeks pregnant. Then stopped running at 30 weeks because I WAS DONE! TIRED! I ended my pregnancy with Collin at the EXACT same weight I had given birth to Mason. And the day after I had him I again lost 16 pounds and was stuck at 239 for forever. 
After yet another devastating miscarriage at 14 weeks along that almost took my life, battle with deep depression I again was back at my 255 pounds. And then I found my answer. I finally found a program that incorporated only 30 minutes of exercise but the most important thing...IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOOK AT FOOD IN A WHOLE NEW WAY! No more cutting calories, no more restricting food groups. NO MORE Denying me sweets and treats. I finally found the key that worked for me. I lost 20 pounds in just 5 months. And then I got pregnant again! I was determined to continue eating the same way through my pregnancy and still exercise only 30 minutes 5 days a week. Now at the end of my pregnancy I have only gained 26 pounds. Less than both pregnancies. Even though I am ending 9 pounds heavier at 264. I have worked really hard to control my weight gain. Keep it steady and this is how! 

MY #1 TIP TO HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY IS ALL MOVING YOUR BODY AND CONTROLLING THOSE CRAVINGS! 

GONE are the days of eating for 2. Or eating whatever sweets your heart desires. With so many processed foods and chemicals found in most boxed foods, and our favorite sweets, it is just better in the end to just SAY NO! And feed yourself the good stuff your body wants and needs. And here is the crazy thing.

When you are feeding your body what it needs, you won't want the sweets and treats!

I am feeding my body 6 cups of veggies a day, Protein, fruits, carbs (yes even carbs!), and healthy fats.

The key is to EAT WHOLE FOODS and just say no to sweets every day, occasionally, it's okay. If you want more information about the plan that I followed to help me eat the right amount of foods,
 CHECK IT OUT HERE. What you'll get: year membership with access to over 600 separate workouts, including an entire portal just for ACTIVE MATERNITY! Meal plans, recipes, healthy cooking shows, trainer tips and ME as your coach and mentor and virtual personal trainer! I promise you, I wouldn't share this if it didn't work for me.

26 pounds. I have only gained 26 pounds this pregnancy. I feel great. I have stayed active and I know that I will lose the weight after I have Elyse because I finally found the one thing that actually makes sense to me. That actually makes it fun. AND IS SO EASY TO FOLLOW AND MOMMY PROOF! I would love to help you have a safe, healthy and fit pregnancy. 
Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Bump Update: 41 Weeks!

41 WEEKS! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE READY! Today is the day of my induction. Later today we will be meeting our little girl! HOW EXCITING! Kinda freaky because our lives are about to change and have a whole ton of pink in it but very exciting! Many times this past week, we thought she was coming. Matt says my engine was just getting revved up. But it has been exhausting. Contractions are EXHAUSTING! I generally contract late at night, go to sleep and sleep till I have to wake up and go to the bathroom, and then start contracting in the morning. But they never lead to anywhere. Oh well!

We have been having a fun week with Gummy here (my mom) The boys love her. And playing pillow fights with her. It has just been really great having her here. Sad that it is taking so long for Elyse to get here, which means less snuggle time for Gummy but it has still been fun for the boys! 

By the time you finish reading this, the induction should be underway. And by the end of the day we should have a baby. If you want to be one of the first to know how things are going make sure you are following me on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM

***UPDATE!*** So my induction was bumped from today. They overbooked the L&D and had my due date written down wrong (as the 27th) so they thought this was an elective induction not a medically necessary induction. I am now scheduled again to be induced starting tomorrow morning. The doc did have me come in where he did do a pretty aggressive membrane sweep and is hoping I go sometime tonight after that. I am currently 4cm dilated. And her head was right there. He actually was bobbing her up and down to strip me more. Felt very weird! So...tomorrow might be the day, unless I get bumped again.

Total Weight Gain: Gained 26.8 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 264.6 pounds. I am now 10 pounds more than when I gave birth to Collin. And right on track to where I estimated I wanted to be at 40 weeks! HERE IS TO A HEALTHY AND FIT PLUS SIZE PREGNANCY!

Symptoms: Smaller appetite, eating smaller meals throughout the day. Having to "go" a lot since she is head down. Hard time sleeping. Waddling and lower back soreness like nothing else! CRAVING MILK! CRAVING SWEETS. Loss of mucus plug, BIG TIME. I thought I lost it before, nope, Saturday, I am positive I lost it.
Baby’s Size:  Jackfruit (~19-22 inches, 8 or more pounds) 

Labor Progress: As of my weekly check up appointment last Thursday I was 80% effaced,  3 cm dilated and Elyse was engaged in my pelvis -1 to 0 station. 
Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts but those are tight now. I am actually running out of clothing. Wearing my new Fabletics sports bra in these pictures and LOVE THEM and the fun colors! A ton more coverage and super comfy!
Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. I think I am getting some new ones or my old was are just being stretched up higher on my belly. No bright purple ones just the faded white ones. I am using Honest Company belly balm right now though to help my belly stretch so I do not get any new ones. I apply it at night and right after I get out of the shower. 
Belly Button: Still an innie! Won't be flat or an outtie. :( 

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Yep, thought for sure many times this past week that it was the real deal because I was having consistent contractions for a few hours, 10 min apart then 5 minutes apart then they stopped. So sad.
Gender: GIRL!!! So excited about all the cute stuff we got for her! We have her coming home outfit and her picture props! So girly, and way too cute!
Sleep:  Napping is required everyday. Especially with all the walking I have been doing. I am waking up many times a night to go to the bathroom or trying to get comfy. (If you see me make a comment on FB or IG at 2am this is why!) I am still getting up at night at 11:30pm, 3:30am, 5:30 without fail. Always around 9pm for about an hour she likes to put on a show and be super active! 
Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my back! Sleeping through the night. 
Cravings:  MILK and SWEETS! I normally don't drink milk any more due to an intolerance I have to it but I have been craving it like nothing else. 2 8oz glasses usually. Funny thing, ice cream doesn't do the trick. It has to be straight up cold whole milk. WEIRD! The sweets is new this week. Everything at Trader Joe's with chocolate is still calling my name. Cinnamon Rolls too. Oh and veggies of course. I am loving me some veggies!
Aversions: Not this week. Everything tastes too good! I am just getting so full very quickly
Excited About: Being induced tomorrow. We finally get to meet this little girl that we have been waiting for, for years!

Workouts: Pretty well for this week! I got in 6 days of regular workouts this past week plus some nightly walking and RUNNING to get this baby out! I'm didn't do any  COUNTRY HEAT! (so sore in my pelvis to shake it!) And I am enjoying finding prenatal yoga routines online.
***If you want to know when I have the baby be sure to follow me over at FACEBOOK orINSTAGRAM! Click the Follow button! I will be announcing there first!***
Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Labor Inducing Lemon Cupcakes

Charlottesville folklore has it that if you eat these Lemon Drop Cupcakes at Cappellino's Crazy Cakes you will go into labor 24-48 hours later. Well. Cappellino's closed down a couple of years ago. So I did a quick Google search and found a homemade recipe that insured labor would start after eating these cupcakes. (I later found out that the cupcakes can still be found in town but at another location.) Yesterday I went to work in my kitchen and whipped up a HUGE batch of these cupcakes. They make 24. The breakdown of the lemony goodness is, lemon cake, with lemon syrup, with lemon glaze, and lemon buttercream. The fresh lemon is what is supposed to make you go into labor. I did make some alterations to the recipe.

One thing, you all know I don't eat a lot of sweets. This is A LOT OF SUGAR! Once upon a time I would have been find eating 6 cupcakes in one siting, but not anymore. I got 4 down over the space of 4 hours. By number 3 I was ready to puke, but my friends said to eat as many as I can and then one more. So just before bed I forced down a 4th. But here I am, the morning after my cupcake binge, still pregnant. 40 weeks and 6 days. Induction is scheduled for 24 hours so one way or another this baby is coming out!
Lemon-Sugar's Labor Inducing Lemon Drop Cupcakes

Lemon Drop Cupcakes 

INGREDIENTS:

Cake Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups white sugar
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest (4-8 lemons, depending on size) I USED 9!
3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/4 fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract

Lemon Syrup Ingredients: 
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (I added an extra 2 tablespoons of juice)
1/2 cup white sugar

Glaze Ingredients:
2 cups powered sugar
31/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (I used 4 tablespoons)

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons fresh squeeze lemon juice (I used 4 tablespoons)

Optional Lemon Zest Decoration:
4 lemons, well scrubbed
2 cups sugar
1 cup cool water

DIRECTIONS: 

Cake Directions: 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare 24 cupcake tins with liners.
2. Cream the butter and sugar in bowl of stand mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, then add lemon zest.
4. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. In another bowl, combine lemon juice, buttermilk and vanilla.
6. Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture alternating to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.
7. Fill each cupcake liner 1/2-3/4 full (do not over fill, they will explode!) Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake!
8. Remove from oven and remove from cupcake pans as soon as possible. Let cool on a wire rack.
9. Begin prepping the lemon syrup.

Syrup Directions:
1. Combine sugar and lemon juice in pan over low heat until sugar has dissolved, stirring frequently. Set aside.
2. After cakes have cool for 10 minutes, spoon the syrup over the tops of the cupcakes.
3. Allow the cakes to cool completely before glazing and frosting.

Glaze Directions:
1. Combine sugar and lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whist until smooth.
2. Using the back of a spoon, smooth some glaze over the top of each cupcake. Will run a little.
3. Each cupcake will use about 3/4 teaspoon of glaze.

Buttercream directions: 
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and salt for 30 seconds.
2. Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and lemon juice and beat for 5-6 minutes until frosting is fluffy. Can add food coloring to make more yellow (I didn't because I didn't want any artificial coloring or flavors in my cupcakes.)
4. Add to piping bag and frost as desired.
5. Decorate with yellow sugar pearls, sugar, or a lemon drop candy or even a sliver of lemon zest for decoration. (again, I didn't add a topping I would go with candied lemon zest if I had thought about it more!)

Candied Lemon Zest Directions (just for fun!): 
1. Remove zest from lemons with a veggie peeler, keeping the pieces long. Remove white pith using a paring knife. Place julienned zest in a small bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand 30 minutes; drain.
2. Bring sugar and cool water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When sugar is completely dissolved, add julienned zest, reduce heat to medium low, and cook 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand overnight.




Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Monday, September 26, 2016

Due Date Disappointment

So...your due date has come and gone and you are just sitting here waiting for "WHEN IS THE BABY GOING TO COME OUT!" For 9 months you have been waiting and counting down to your DUE DATE and then BAM, it arrives and nothing happens. Plus all the other moms around you or in your online groups are all having their babies but they are only at 38 weeks. And everyone around you is super excited too and you are getting phone calls, messages and contacted by everyone and their sister, anxiously awaiting for baby to come. Asking if you have had the baby yet and when you think it is going to happen. It can be just frustrating because you just never know unless you have a scheduled induction or c-section. Only 5% of women deliver on their due date.

Worse yet, there is possibly no labor progress. I have read it from other moms and have experienced it myself. The waiting game SUCKS! Collin was 5 days late. But what made it worse for me on this pregnancy is that for the last 2 months I have had 9/23 8 pounds 3 ounces, stuck in my head. My mind just picked this date to have her early in the morning and when the date just came and went and I was still pregnant, I felt so bummed. Now sitting at 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant and still, no baby. And for the past week, I have been having on and off contractions. It is just a waiting game!

SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH DUE DATE DISAPPOINTMENT?

1. Realize that the due date is just an ESTIMATE! That the due date is flexible. Some babies need less time to bake while other want a little more. As much as I hear it  from everyone who messages me, and ugh, don't want to believe it, that the baby will come when they are ready, it is true. Without any intervention, 5% of women deliver on their due date. On Average, first time moms deliver 10 days over their due date. And second or more time moms tend to carry to 40 weeks and 3 days. Only 10% of moms will carry longer than 42 weeks. WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION.

2. Old Wives Tales to induce are truly that...OLD TALES! Dancing under the moon naked (best if full moon), bumpy car rides, pineapple. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. It all depends on if your body if "ready" for labor.

3. There are ways to try to naturally induce your labor but again, if the body isn't ready it probably won't work. 10 natural ways to induce labor:

  1. Castor oil
  2. Sex, sex, and more sex
  3. Nipple Stimulation
  4. Evening primrose oil EPO
  5. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
  6. Spicy Food
  7. Acupuncture
  8. Exercise
  9. Acupressure
  10. Membrane Stripping
4. RELAX! Sometimes we get so worked up that we clamp up and that goes against the natural, body trying to open to push a baby out, feeling. If you are anxious to have the baby. Have fears about labor, or birthing a baby, or even after baby comes. Talk to your partner and work them out. The process of releasing fears can actually help you go into labor. Take some time to relax and decompress. Remember that once baby comes you won't have quiet time, alone time or time to just go in the bath for an hour. You are going to be feeding, changing and taking care of a whole new baby. It is going to be a big change. Address your fears, relax and release. 
5. Turn off your computer. Unplug from social media if you have to. Don't respond to text messages. Just turn off everything and don't get frustrated with what is going on around you. The news of other moms having their babies or people contacting you can get frustrating. Again making you close up and be tight instead of releasing and being relaxed. If you get overwhelmed with people asking when baby is coming, just don't respond or just turn everything off. And the same goes for when you have the baby. If you want to have a day or 2 of no one knowing but you and your partner and just family, that's ok too. No one should get upset at you for you wanting your peace and quiet. You will post your announcement when you are ready to do so. Don't feel like you have to post the second you go into labor. Or the second the baby is born. With Collin he was in distress for the first 6 hours. We didn't post anything about having him or what he or we were going through. Only a handful of people knew he was born. And that is ok! 

Just know that it is ok to feel sad and frustrated that you are 40+ weeks pregnant. But before you know it your baby will be snuggling in your arms and your life completely changed for the better! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Friday, September 23, 2016

40 Weeks Workout

40 weeks pregnant and I am still rocking my workouts! I have gotten a ton of people saying how they can't believe that I am still working out, hey me too sometimes. What I have figured out is that if you want to be healthy and fit especially while pregnant that you have to CHOOSE to do it. You have to WANT IT and really do it. Would I rather sit on my couch and surf Pinterest or Facebook. HECK YEAH! But...I also did not want to gain more than 30 pounds this pregnancy. That was a huge priority on my list. So what did I do...I worked really hard and made myself workout for at least 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week. That's it. I never had to spend hours and hours at a gym. I didn't do any crazy exercises. I just continued what I was doing for as long as I could then I started modifying more, and here at the end I have been using more prenatal exercises I found on Youtube.

One of my favorite things I have access to though has been the Active Maternity workouts available only on Beachbody on Demand. There is a workout for each of the different trimesters, and even a workout for postpartum after you have been cleared by your doc! I have really enjoyed them and I would do them 2 times a week, up until this past month when I introduced COUNTRY HEAT which has been so much fun!

Check out my Highlight reel for the 3rd trimester Active Maternity Workout! You can find my other videos over at YOUTUBE!

If you are looking at still wanting to be active and fit while you are pregnant. Let me know and let's chat because I was able to have a healthy and fit plus size pregnancy and I know you can have a healthy and fit pregnancy too!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Thursday, September 22, 2016

BEST Stretch Mark Belly Balm- 40 Weeks Pregnant Review

Here I am at 40 weeks and still I have barely gained any new stretch marks. I know I just talked about this and it is my #2 must have item for the third trimesterI have one or 2 new marks but honestly they are only about 1 cm in length and they are being torn from a previous mark. So, I call that a win.

I have gained 26 pounds this entire pregnancy at this point. And I am currently at my heaviest I have ever been at 264 pounds. To fight against the stretch marks I assumed I would get, I took action and invested in the HONEST COMPANY ORGANIC BELLY BALM. Using it just twice a day. And that is it. I am going to continue to use it after baby comes to help tighten and tone my belly up. So...We shall see. But check out my pictures and see for yourself.
 
The bottom line. Most women out there have stretch marks. Don't look at them as a flaw but as a way to tell the story to how you are today. I gained my stretch marks because I gained weight too quickly wanting to get pregnant. I didn't care how much I ate, I just did and assumed that I would lose the weight once I got pregnant. They are a reminder that I have fought for my health for years. That I finally took back what I lost control of. I suffered an addiction to sweets and treats and sugar. And I fought so hard to get control of my life back and change how I see food and my relationship. Because of what I went through I now am the healthiest I have ever been feeling better on the inside and out than I ever have been! 




Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Bump Update: 40 WEEKS!

HERE WE ARE! 10 months, 40 weeks. HELLO DUE DATE! I have gained 26 total so I think I rocked this healthy and fit plus size pregnancy. I was asked the other day if this is the most active I have been while pregnant. I had to think about it for a bit. With Collin I trained and ran in my first half marathon by 29 weeks. Then I did NOTHING! But with this pregnancy I  have worked out more consistently for the whole thing. Not near as many hours at a time as I did with the training but 30 minutes 4-5 days a week. So...I still think I rocked it. YOU GUYS IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND FIT PLUS SIZE PREGNANCY! 
My mom arrived on Monday, all the food has been bought and stocked up on, and teaching is done until January. All the clothing is ready, the bags are packed all we are waiting on is little miss to make her big arrival! We have had a couple of times now where both Matt and I are thinking, "Is it time?" And each time my contractions simmer down. But my body is definitely gearing up for the big day.
Total Weight Gain: Gained 26.6 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 264.3 pounds. I am now 10 pounds more than when I gave birth to Collin. And right on track to where I estimated I wanted to be at 40 weeks! HERE IS TO A HEALTHY AND FIT PLUS SIZE PREGNANCY!

Symptoms: Smaller appetite, eating smaller meals throughout the day. Having to "go" a lot since she is head down. Hard time sleeping. Waddling and lower back soreness like nothing else! CRAVING MILK! CRAVING SWEETS. Loss of mucus plug.
Baby’s Size:  Jackfruit (~19-22 inches, 7 or more pounds) What is a Jackfruit? Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world — one fruit can weigh between 10 and 100 pounds and contain hundreds of seeds that are rich in protein, potassium, calcium, and iron — all of which are important for bodily growth. (glad baby can't weight up to 100 pounds!) 

Labor Progress: As of my weekly check up appointment last Thursday I was 0-1cm dilated. Baby was at a engaged in my pelvis -1. There is still a lot of fluid between her head and the cervix so he said she was still "bouncy" But the same happened with Collin. Once my water broke he just went straight down. I was also 80% effaced. I went from basically 0%-80% in just one week! Next appointment is TOMORROW! 
Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts but those are tight now. I am actually running out of clothing. Wearing my new Fabletics sports bra in these pictures and LOVE THEM and the fun colors! A ton more coverage and super comfy!Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. I think I am getting some new ones or my old was are just being stretched up higher on my belly. No bright purple ones just the faded white ones. I am using Honest Company belly balm right now though to help my belly stretch so I do not get any new ones. I apply it at night and right after I get out of the shower. 

Belly Button: Still an innie! I never had my belly button flatten out or pop out during my other 2 pregnancies. It is very close. Less than 1/4 inch which is the closest to being flat out of all 3 of my pregnancies.

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Yep, thought for sure the other day was the real deal because I was having consistent contractions for a few hours, 18 min apart mind you, but they fizzled out to nothing by 9pm.
Gender: GIRL!!! So excited about all the cute stuff we got for her! We have her coming home outfit and her picture props! So girly, and way too cute!
Sleep: I still nap everyday. And I am waking up many times a night to go to the bathroom or trying to get comfy. (If you see me make a comment on FB or IG at 2am this is why!) I am still getting up at night at 11:30pm, 3:30am, 5:30 without fail. Always around 9pm for about an hour she likes to put on a show and be super active! 
Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my back! Sleeping through the night. 
Cravings:  MILK and SWEETS! I normally don't drink milk any more due to an intolerance I have to it but I have been craving it like nothing else. 2 8oz glasses usually. Funny thing, ice cream doesn't do the trick. It has to be straight up cold whole milk. WEIRD! The sweets is new this week. Everything at Trader Joe's with chocolate is still calling my name. Cinnamon Rolls too. Oh and veggies of course. I am loving me some veggies!
Aversions: Not this week. Everything tastes too good!
Excited About: HELLO DUE DATE! WE HAVE MADE IT! The date that every woman looks forward to and also the date that the baby is set to be EVICTED! Sadly most women go beyond their due date, and I very well could be one of them. I was 5 days late with Collin. Not sure when I will go on my own, but baby girl has been issued her eviction notice of 1 week! So, here's hoping that this is my last prenatal bump update! My mom arrived this week and it has been such a great help having her her. And yesterday was my last day teaching. All the ducks are in a row so baby girl, you can come at any time! 
Workouts: Pretty well for this week! I got in 5 days of regular workouts this past week plus some nightly walking and RUNNING to get this baby out! I'm really enjoying, COUNTRY HEAT! Although I am only doing about 3 days of it a week right now. If you are interested in joining BUSY MOM'S DANCE PARTY just click on the link to request to join and I will get in touch with you with all the details! And I am enjoying finding prenatal yoga routines online. I can't do the 21 Day fix yoga anymore. Too many modifications so I am sticking with prenatal specific ones. 

***If you want to know when I have the baby be sure to follow me over at FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM! Click the Follow button! I will be announcing there first!***
Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

21 Day Fix Container Tip

Hey there fixers! This post is for you! Are you new to the container system through the 21 Day Fix or the new programs released from Beachbody that come with the Nutrition Fix Containers? CONGRATS on an amazing system that has literally changed MY LIFE and how I see food and my personal relationship with food! 

How many of you had a hard time eating all of your containers in the beginning? Those little containers can be quite deceiving at first huh? They look so small and innocent, until you start to plate your meal! Then it is like "holy crow I have to eat all of that!"  I remember in the beginning that I felt like I was eating all day long. And I was. By the time I got to my mid afternoon snack I felt like I was going to explode. That feeling is normal for the first week, but it took that long to make my stomach the size it was supposed to be. I was eating way more veggies, which take up more space in your stomach then processed foods. And my body was learning to become efficient at burning the food I was eating. 

After 2 weeks now, how many of you are still having a hard time eating all of your containers? By around 2 weeks into the program you should be able to eat all of your containers. “But I’m not hungry…” That’s right. You need to be eating 5-6 small meals a day. And you should never get to that hungry feeling. Why? Because when you are eating that often and the right kinds of foods, your body will not have a blood sugar drop demanding more food to give you energy. By my second week, I felt comfortable eating all 6 meals, and everything I was eating. But I never got hungry. I thought I would blow up in weight because I never felt that hunger. And I felt like I was stuffing my face all day long, with good foods, but still, I was eating more than I ever had in my life! But the key there, was IT WAS THE FOODS THAT MY BODY NEEDED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND WORK RIGHT! My first month I lost 7 pounds! My body learned to be efficient and to burn what I was eating not storing it for later when I was starving.

TIPS TO HELP YOU EAT ALL OF YOUR CONTAINERS: 

So if you are feeling like you just can’t eat any more food by the time you hit your snack or dinner follow these tips to help you out! 

PORTION SIZES! take a look at the sizes of foods you are eating. Make sure you are following the portions exactly. 

MEASURE THEM OUT EVERY TIME IN THE BEGINNING! Secondly, try to eat and you might realize that you weren’t as full as you thought that you were and that you just weren’t hungry. Your body just never sent the signal saying, "HEY I'M HUNGRY!

DON'T SKIP MEALS OR CONTAINERS IF YOU CAN HELP IT! So...try eating anyways. If you are stuffed, make sure you eat your GREEN containers first, then RED...saving your yellow for last and eat as much as you can because YOU NEED CARBS, they help you burn energy fast. 

Give it a week or so more and see if you are more able to eat all of your containers. The goal is to not feel hungry but satisfied all day long so you don’t get that itch to eat “other stuff” around the office, your home or out and about!

Comment below and let us know how the container system is going for you!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Monday, September 19, 2016

PCOS and Getting Pregnant

In 2003 I was diagnosed with PCOS. Matt and I had been married for a year at this point and "assumed" that we would have gotten pregnant right away. When that didn't happen we made our way to the docs and had them run some tests to see what was going on and we were told that I had to lose weight (10-15 pounds) to get pregnant and that I suffered from PCOS. I was like, "what the heck is that!" I was actually mad at the doc for telling me I had to lose weight. Surely I would get pregnant have the baby then breastfeed all the baby weight and excess weight off. Right?!? I finally started to research what PCOS was. To educate myself and now I feel like PCOS (poly cystic ovary syndrome) is much more common, or well known now than in was back in 2003. (by the way writing 2003 just seems so surreal that it was 13 years ago!)

After that appointment I was so bummed. My plans of getting pregnant right away, breastfeeding the weight I gained over the last year was GONE! And now on top of that I had to actually lose weight to get pregnant because I let myself eat what I wanted since I thought it would be easy to get pregnant. Over the course of the next 7 years I went up, up and up in my weight. I battled with depression and anger and sadness with how difficult it was for us. I saw 3 different fertility specialists, the second being so bad that he let me stay on a drug that I didn't even need.

During my 8 year wait to get pregnant I had a massive doughnut and sweets addiction. Every time I would go to the grocery story I would pick up a doughnut. And over time it became 2 doughnuts, then 2 doughnuts and a candy bar. Chocolate Long John's with sprinkles, no filling, were my vice. What made it even worse is that I would eat them in the 5 minutes it took to get from the store to my house where my husband would be waiting for me. I had to "hide the evidence" from him because I didn't want him to know the real reason why I had to go to the grocery store for the 3rd time that week. I was addicted. They helped me feel less bad for a good 5 minutes then of course I felt worse because I just stuffed 2 huge doughnuts in my face and a candy bar and hid it from my hubs.

It wasn't until I reach 239 pounds that I finally decided that I was done with feeling sorry for myself and holding myself back. I sought out a personal trainer and started working on me. It became my obsession. Matt was deployed for a time and I just put everything I had into it. I finally lost the weight I had been trying so desperately wanting to lose. 31 pounds. I started at 228 and hit 197 before I got pregnant through the help of an actual endocrinologists that specialized in fertility treatments and not just dabbling in it like #2.

I tell you all this because what I have learned, what actually worked for me to get pregnant is, that with every single pregnancy I have had I have always been in the pursuit for my health. To not be just skinny but to actually be healthy. Eating the right foods and exercising. That very first doctor in 2003 who said, "if you could just lose 10-15 pounds your chances of getting pregnant increase." With PCOS there is a hormone imbalance and often it is accompanied with a insulin resistance. Through exercise it can help to balance out your hormones and through eating right you won't be putting the foods in your body that give us the problems. Filling your body with good carbs and not junk foods and sweets which make your blood sugars tank! It wasn't until I stopped using a prescribed medication that was meant to help balance my insulin resistance that I got pregnant because I started to feed my body the foods it needed. Not necessarily what I wanted to eat.

My recommendation to all of you suffering from PCOS and wanting to get pregnant is:

1) First look at your eating habits. Really look at them. I was in such denial about my eating that I just didn't see it. I truly couldn't see how bad it was until I hit rock bottom and had to change. It wasn't until I realized that what I was doing was more harm than good.

2) Next, start to change. Change the foods you are eating. Change how often. Seek help. And start exercising. Let that become your obsession. Let eating clean and healthy be your obsession. Not the junk foods. Not the sweet treats. As hard as it is and as tempting as they are, they are not doing you any good. They are the complete opposite of what you want and what your body needs to get pregnant and be healthy.

3) Accept your body for as it is. That it does have a condition which makes it more difficult to get pregnant and to then sustain a pregnancy (in my case). Learn to love your body and not hate it because it really is amazing. When you start to feed it right and learn to love your body, changes will happen. As frustrating as it is to get a negative pregnancy test every single month, keep fighting for what you want. Never give up and believe in your body for what it can do!

Don't know where to get started with eating whole foods, and clean eating or exercise. Send me an EMIAL, COMMENT BELOW or send me a FACEBOOK MESSAGE and let's chat. I would love to have you part of my support groups to help you get on the road to getting pregnant and FIGHTING PCOS forever!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Friday, September 16, 2016

3rd Trimester: 5 Must Have Items

Since I am at the end of my 3rd trimester I thought it would be fun to let you know my 5 favorite must have items. I have used these almost every single day! Check them out below and let me know in the comments what your fave items are in this last trimester!

1. A FUN WATER BOTTLE TO CARRY AROUND WITH YOU

I do not feel amazing every single day, but when I have my water bottle with me, my WONDER WOMAN WATER BOTTLE, I feel like I can take on anything. It just gives me a little boost to my day, and reminds me to DRINK MY WATER so that I don't go into early labor! Find a water bottle that you really like, one that is easy to carry or slip into your purse. And fill that sucker up throughout the day!

2. BELLY BALM THAT REALLY WORKS

I talk about it every week in my weekly bump updates but this stuff really is working. HONEST COMPANY ORGANIC BELLY BALM. I try to use it twice a day to help keep my stretch marks at bay. I already have a ton of them from before I ever got pregnant and this being my third full term pregnancy, I haven't earned any more, or stretched out any of my old ones.

3. COMFY LOUNGING PANTS

Face it, not much will be fitting you by the end of your pregnancy. Even my yoga pants are being super stretched. Make sure you really do invest in some nice comfy lounging pants. I have some old ones from Old Navy, maternity goucho pants, but they don't have them on their site right now, so here are my second favorite pats that I wear around the house. SOMA COOL NIGHTS SLEEP PANTS. These pants are actually amazing. And I have many different pairs of them. They keep you cool while you sleep, which is a must for us pregnant mommas when our core temp feels like we are as hot as the sun.

4. EPSOM SALT

Baths are my groove right now. I took 4 baths last week. (not looking forward to my water bill for this month!) But I need these baths. Not only to they help my aching back and hips, but it is my escape from the chaos of the world. I either watch a tv show and just turn off my brain or I do my hypno-birthing exercises to help me prep for labor. I really have enjoyed DR. TEAL'S EPSOM SALT WITH LAVENDER because it already has the lavender in it so I don't have to add any essential oils to my bath. I will say that it is really, really strong at first for my pregnant nose but once it dissolves in the bath the smell much easier to tolerate.

5. FIND A FUN WORKOUT THAT GETS YOU MOVING

COUNTRY HEAT! I can not say enough amazing things about it but man, I am so loving this workout. Not only is it helping with my cardio stamina, but it is burning the crap out of my legs! Every single time my legs are on fire. Granted I am not doing the workout every single day, I am aiming for 3 days a week right now alternating with yoga to help me stretch more but every single time I do it, my legs are like, WHAT ARE YOU DOING???? And it isn't where my legs normally hurt it is the saddlebag area and hip flexers. Which I normally don't do a lot of exercise with. It is a good change up for me and the workouts have been so much fun. Elyse even likes them. She wiggles her butt back and forth now which is really cute and funny and freaky all at the same time! She has got better moves than me it seems. The main thing in the 3rd trimester is to stay active. Keep moving. Because when you stop, you stop. Everyone I talk to can't believe that I am still working out at 39 weeks pregnant (me along with them sometimes!). They all tell me that they couldn't do it this far pregnant. But with doctor approval you can. You really can. You just have to choose and want to. That is the difference. I am still doing small bouncing movements and shaking my booty back and forth and working my core without doing sit ups. It can be done, just find something that you enjoy doing and hey, dancing is SUPER FUN!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!
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