How to Lose Weight Naturally - Part Two

I'm like most of us - as a teen, I could wolf down half a large pizza and two big Cokes and never see the effects on my hips. The scale showed two extra pounds? No problem. I just thought about losing weight and it was gone. But as an adult, no one ever accused me of being too thin. I bounced all over the scale, and my closet had clothes in it covering five different sizes! When I got pregnant, I literally thought this was it for me, goodbye any recognition of a waistline. Thanks to losing weight naturally with fresh, healthy food, that didn't happen.

I think one of the most important keys to losing weight is to not deny yourself to the point of feeling resentful. Denying any pleasure in eating is no way to go. Instead, it's a matter of shifting your eating pleasure to other foods. Here's my trick: Cookie in cupboard is calling my name. (I try not to have cookies in the cupboard to begin with, but occasionally they jump into my grocery cart when I'm not looking. Bad, bad cookie.) Cookie in cupboard must be eaten. Alrighty, but first I must eat something really healthy and nutrient-rich before moving on to said cookie. Often (but not always) I don't have a desire to eat the cookie after I've eaten a piece of my favorite fruit, like grapefruit or a banana or both! If I still want the cookie, I figure I've gotten some goodness in me anyway, and I won't be floating along on a nasty sugar buzz.

So now you're thinking, "The girl just ate two pieces of fruit and a cookie! You can't lose weight that way!" My rule: Never feel guilty about eating fruit and vegetables. Ever. Eat until you explode if you so choose, unless you're drenching your vegetables in cheese. Then we gotta talk. But if they're nice and fresh, eat all you want. Because if you eat all those fresh fruits and vegetables, you will lose weight. There's no way around it. You're filling up on things so full of nutrients that I guarantee that cookie will not feel nearly so enticing once you've worked up a veggie buzz. And yes, my friends, there IS a veggie buzz.

More on that later...

How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy and Beyond

It's January, the month of the diet. Resolutions are made and broken this time of year, and I'll dare say most of them revolve around the waistline. There is so much I could share on this topic that I know it will never fit in one posting.  But I'll give you my very best advice in a condensed form, and in later posts I'll expound on some things. If you have weight to lose after your pregnancy, or if you just plain want to get healthier, the most important thing to remember is that what you eat while you're trying to lose weight needs to be something you can comfortably eat for the rest of your life.

I have known people to attempt to lose weight through all sorts of extreme eating measures - rice and chicken broth for 6 weeks, cabbage soup at every sitting, or meals made up of nothing more than grapefruit and bacon! While these may work temporarily, who wants to eat only grapefruit and bacon for the rest of your life? The big factor for weight loss is not cutting back on food take - it's increasing the food! Increase the high-nutrient stuff you were meant to eat in the first place. If you can focus as much of your eating attention on fresh fruits and vegetables, you'll be amazed at not only how much weight you lose (and fast!) but at how much better you'll feel.

When I found out I was pregnant, I started eating healthier and healthier, including as much large salads, fresh fruit, and raw vegetables as I could. I managed to gain only the needed amount of pregnancy weight. After pregnancy, I continued my healthy eating because I was nursing. Combining nursing with my new eating habits knocked off that post-pregnancy weight in record time.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman gives lots of science-based advice in his books, one of which I have reviewed here. (Disease-Proof Your Child.) His books, including Eat to Live (look for an up-and-coming review on that one), totally changed the way I look at food. I'm not a vegetarian - not completely - and I still eat things I used to, but I eat a lot less of them. In fact, the more I add fresh fruits and vegetables to my meals, the more I crave the healthy stuff!

The most fun part of eating like this is you can stuff yourself silly on the days you feel like you want to eat all day. And you can stuff yourself silly on all the other days too. In fact, you should. Keep a big container of cleaned fresh veggies onhand, and grab those first if you feel like reaching for the Ding Dongs. Make big elaborate salads to go with every meal, and eat until your heart's content. Keep big bowls of fruit, with a large variety, cleaned and ready to eat. You'll find the more easily accessible the fresh food is, the more you'll reach for it. And pick up a copy of Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman if you really mean business! (For the record, Dr. Fuhrman isn't paying for or aware of any of my blogging about him - this is strictly based on my own experiences with what I've learned from his books and website.)

Whew! This is my "How to Lose Weight" information in a nutshell. I'll cover more over the coming days, so check back! In the meantime, whether you have weight to lose or not, have yourself a salad feast in the coming days. Experiment adding all the goodies you can to it, and eat till your heart's content.

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Your Hobby as a Lifeboat!

You may have noticed that the last week or so, I've had only two measly posts. Informative? Yes. Captivating? Of course! But hopelessly short, with not even a photo to amuse you. It's got me thinking how important hobbies are to moms. And how we shouldn't let go of them, because then we're letting go of ourselves in some way.

Us Mommy Bloggers are often in the same sort of mothering boat, so busy paddling our families along that we sometimes forget to sit still and let the current take us for awhile. Our boats are filled with laundry, baby rattles, and dinner dishes, frequently so overloaded that we push ourselves to the back of the boat to be buried underneath it all. This is about where I've been sitting in the boat lately. Where the heck did I go? Can you see me there, peeking out around a pile of diapers? Yes, that's me - the tired looking one with no makeup.

If you're hanging out in the Mommy Blogshire, chances are you're here because you enjoy reading and writing. Most likely, those two activities are an important part of who you are. I'll just bet, if you're like me, erasing those two items from your daily life make you a very unhappy boat rower. So here is my little reminder to you and to my overworked self to not forget time for ourselves. Sit in a corner of the boat with your journal or that lonely paperback you keep waiting next to the bed. Heck, get out in the dingy for awhile and let someone else row, even if it's only for a few blissful, uninterrupted moments.

Maybe you're a scrapbooker. Lots of you out there. Or maybe you make flower arrangements or study Karate or snake charming. Whatever it may be, don't forget it or think of it as a waste of time. Grab hold of it as a lifeline! I know whenever I get swept away with my daily responsibilities, a good 30 minutes devoted to a hobby recharges me like nothing else. I'll fight the couch potato urge and do something creative instead. Man oh man, I can float the rest of the day on that well-spent 30 minutes!

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to end this post so I can go and reflect on what I just said. Because this poor little entry took me four days to finish! I shall put the "Do Not Disturb" sign around my neck and not do a blasted "responsible" thing for a whole 30 minutes - I promise.

Kiss Dry Skin Goodbye!

The first few years of your child's life are probably the only ones he'll hug and kiss you with reckless abandon. The first time my son wrapped those chubby arms around my neck and engulfed my cheek with his mouth, I just melted. And I'm not even speaking of the effects of his drool!

But that brought some concerns to mind (see "The Hum"!). What face lotion had I used that morning? Did I really want him eating it? I'd long been concerned with the ingredients for my own health, but now my chunky monkey was chewing on them.

I've always believed there's a natural solution to all our physical needs. I can't imagine God thinking, "Too bad they have dry skin. I guess they'll have to wait for someone to invent Oil of Olay." Instead, we have countless plants, herbs, and oils to experiment with and learn from. In many cases, the simplest, purest solution is the best solution. Take, for instance, my favorite lotion.

I used to fork over copious amounts of money to purchase "natural" face lotions, tonics, and other general magic in a bottle. The prices were steep, but I loved the results and I felt I was doing the most for my skin. Then I started learning about parabens, preservatives, and other icky additives. But when I became pregnant, I knew I wanted to keep things natural. Somewhere in the back recesses of my brain, I had stored the fact that women use coconut oil to prevent stretch marks. I don't know where I heard it originally, but no matter. I purchased some. (It took some looking to find coconut oil without added stuff, believe it or not. I learned it's best found with the cooking oils, and not in the health and beauty departments. Look for organic.)

It wasn't long before I was using coconut oil for things other than my increasing stomach. I found it works wonders on freshly shaved legs. After those wonderful baby kisses started, I discovered using a small amount of coconut oil on the face absorbs quickly, leaving no oil, and improving skin over time. The best part? It's moisturizer for your whole body for about $7 a 14-ouce jar! (What department store sells their lotion for 50 cents an ounce???) I also experiment with melting smaller amounts and adding a drop or two of an essential oil for a natural fragrance. It makes a nice scented body lotion, and when I run out, I whip up another "flavor".

Now my little darling can munch his mommy's cheeks until he reaches the age it's just not cool to like your mom so much. I sure hope that's a long, long way off - but whatever that age, this mommy will have great skin and a youthful, dewy glow!

Help! I'm Exhausted and I Can't Get Up! Food Boosts for Tired Moms

Your nine-month-old is teething, your work-at-home computer is covered in a layer of baby drool, and your boss wants it when? Mommying is exhausting, but you can't just lay down and nap. Heavens, no! The baby won't give you the luxury of taking a nap, so how can you? When you've just got to keep on going, you have to make sure to eat right. There are some great energy-giving foods that can really give you a boost when life saps you.

Eat your spinach. Ark! Ark! Ark! (or however one spells that sound Popeye makes)
That's right, spinach. Loaded with iron, spinach is energizing. That one-eyed sailor really knew what he was talking about. But you don't have to eat it canned. Fresh spinach leaves from the produce department can be had - prewashed! One less thing to do. Throw on a little chopped tomato and some walnuts (another good energy food), and you may just find you have the strength to conquer the Brutus in your life!

Get Fruity
Lots of fresh fruits are known for energizing. Bananas are loaded with potassium, which is a must-have for the dragged-down mama. Easy, shmeazy. They come prepackaged and you don't have to wash those either. Hey, we're all about ease, dear.

The Magical Fruit
Okay, we all know the little rhyme, so let's not get gross. But truly, beans are full of protein and iron, not to mention a whole host of other vitamins and minerals. B vitamins? You got it, baby. Try keeping a nice container of hummus in the fridge, along with some whole-wheat pita bread. This is a filling snack, and since it's so full of health benefits, it's okay that it is completely addictive. It's also one of those things that can be eaten over the sink in a pinch. (Don't forget, anything eaten over the sink doesn't count. I think the calories must slip down the drain or something. I forget.)

Get creative with your food. Your kids play with their food, so why can't you? If you can keep lots of healthy, easy-to-grab foods around, you'll be more likely to snag a handful of sunflower seeds than a Twinkie. Trust me - your body will thank you for it. And that teething baby? He needs you awake - not face-down in a bowl of Ben and Jerry's. (P.S. No, beer is not an energy food and yes, we wish it was.)

Parenthood Under the Influence - Sleep Deprivation

You think I didn't notice, that I'm totally oblivious to what I've done. Well, I'm not. It took me awhile, but I caught on. Yes, in the month of February I wrote two blog entries on the exact same topic. I did notice. After I wrote and published the second one. For those of you who read regularly, you may have realized that on February 6th, I did an entry called Veggin' Out with Baby Food. Then on February 21st I wrote Beating the Baby Food Doldrums. Same topic, different words. But I didn't even notice until I was looking at previous posts to make some adjustments. I reread the first entry, but I barely remembered writing it. Why? Sleep deprivation.

Parents of babies very rarely escape being denied a full eight hours of sleep. Some parents can't get a full night's sleep even up to baby's second year! So what the heck do we do, sleepy moms and dads? Hang up our sleeping caps until Junior graduates? Possibly so. But at least there are a few tips to get us through the first stages of babyhood.

Sleep when baby sleeps. A load of diaper doo, right? We've all heard that one, and if you're a working mom, that one is virtually impossible. But it can at least be done on the weekends. Saturdays are a great time to nap in shifts. Take turns with your husband and hole up in the bedroom, without the (gasp) baby monitor! Let the other parent sit with baby while you get some much-needed rest. When you're done, switch off. Now everyone's rested, at least for an afternoon.

If you're up a lot with baby in the wee hours, make sure you've got a very comfortable setup. In my baby's room is a rocking chair with a Boppy pillow and a footstool, a side table with some books, a lamp on a dimmer switch, and a glass of water. If my son wakes up in the night and I have to nurse him, I at least have comfortable surroundings. I still don't get sleep, but since I keep comfortable, it's easier for me to doze back off once I get back to bed.

If you nurse, drink some chamomile tea about an hour before baby's last feeding for the day. You'll calm down, and the effects of the tea will pass to baby, aiding in a deeper sleep for him or her.

There's no magic solution to getting a full-night's sleep when baby doesn't want to, but at least there are little ideas here and there to help out. In the meantime, think of all the great stories you're saving up. You can tell people how you diapered the wrong end or how you (oops) burned a pot of beans that stunk up the neighborhood when you had to leave them on the deck to cool. Or how you wrote nearly the same blog entry twice (sorry). And when your little one grows up, has a baby, and becomes sleep deprived, you can have a nice laugh.

Are Herbs Safe for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers?

I've always liked to use herbs to treat health issues. It's a good feeling to know I'm using something from nature. It's also fascinating to me that we are provided with cures and remedies for just about anything, and those aids are growing right out of the ground!

But as soon as I was pregnant, I started hearing that even herbal teas were a no-no. I couldn't imagine that should be the case for every herb. After all, wouldn't that mean you shouldn't even add any herbs or spices to your cooking because it would be too dangerous?

I started digging into it, and I found not a single herbal expert that concluded all herbs were dangerous for pregnant or nursing mothers. In fact, most herbs seemed to be on their "safe" list. But since there are definitely several herbs pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid, it's good to know what's what.

I found a pretty thorough list which you can see at this link:. It covers a large amount of herbs, giving separate lists for pregnancy and lactation. One thing here surprised me, however. They have garlic marked as a caution for lactation. I've found quite the opposite information elsewhere. For instance, at ivillage.com, one specialist actually recommends garlic as a way to get babies to nurse longer, as most actually prefer the taste of mother's milk a few hours after mom has consumed garlic. (For the full article, click this link: )

Some herbs actually aid in lactation. Fenugreek, for instance, has been used to increase lactation for hundreds of years. I found an excellent article on the subject at .

My experience with asking doctors about alternative forms of medicine is that they usually aren't very well versed in these areas. That stands to reason. After all, their area of expertise is not alternative medicine. But if you can find a doctor who does understand these things, you've hit gold. There's a better chance of that by going to an osteopath.

In the end, the very best thing you can do is find a doctor who understands and appreciates the use of herbs and vitamins. There are so many valuable things from nature that can aid us in staying healthy that it's a shame, in my opinion, to rule them out during this most important stage of life.

For What Ails You

Being sick is bad enough, but when you have little ones relying on you, you need to get healthy quick! If you're pregnant or nursing, you're unable to take most over-the-counter medications as it is. And if you're like me, you'd normally rather not deal with those over-the-counter side effects either. I got a crash course in treating illness the natural way through my recent bout with the flu. In an attempt to get better as quickly as possible, I put many of my old tricks into practice and learned some new ones as well.

First things first: If you feel the slightest onset of a cold or flu, kickstart your health. Lemons are a great source of Vitamin C, and when your body is fighting off illness, Vitamin C is used up more quickly. Try half a lemon in a full 16-oz. glass of water about four times a day. (You should be drinking lots of water anyway.) If taken at the very beginning of a cold, or even if you think you've just been exposed, you can often nip that virus in the bud before it even gets a chance to set in.

If you can't knock a fever, try this little trick I learned recently: Garlic. Garlic is often referred to as Russian pennicillin. Raw is always best, and I know you can get it in tablets, but garlic in its whole form is always the most loaded with the healing properties you need. If you can get a hold of organic garlic, all the better. I know, I know. It's stinky stuff. But you're sick and probably won't be going anywhere anyway. If you don't want to offend your family, have them eat a little too. Not only will they no longer be offended by your smell, they'll be building up their own immunities as well. I've heard some concerns about the flavor of the garlic getting into breast milk. I have no evidence whether this is true or not. It certainly can't harm your baby, or there'd be a lot of unhappy Italian bambinos out there. My family eats a lot of garlic, and so far not a single complaint from my little guy!

Got a sore throat? The lemon and the garlic will help, but if you still need more of a kick, don't forget the time-old remedy of simple tea with honey. Or just a teaspoon of honey can soothe the throat too. If you have green tea around, try that. It's loaded with so many health benefits they're too many to number here.

If you're feeling stuffy, try a good snort of salt water. Some sea salt mixed with water, as strong as you can handle, will really help clear out the sinuses. If you're prone to sinus infections, this can really aid in keeping a cold from turning into an infection later. Gargling warm saltwater is also a great way to help a sore throat.

Don't forget to eat the hot stuff! It may initially make your nose run even more, but nothing can clear the sinuses like some jalapenos or hot mustard. Capsaicin, the stuff that makes hot peppers hot, also has the power to release endorphines - something we could all use more of when we're under the weather!

For sinus infections, nothing is better than yogurt. The live cultures in yogurt are a natural antibiotic and will fight off that nasty infection. For a tasty way to take it, mix 1 cup of the yogurt with a cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup milk. Mix it in the blender for a healthy smoothie. (The blueberries are loaded with countless beneficial properties as well. They're great for diarrhea, constipation, and urinary tract infections, not to mention their power to sharpen your thinking and memory!)

There is so much good information out there to fight off the cold and flu season without the use of conventional medications. It does take some digging through, but the possibilities are endless. So if you're pregnant, nursing, or just plain unable to keep up with kids while doped up on cold capsules, try a little something natural for what ails you. You'll be pleasantly relieved!