You impatiently wait a few moments before reading that exciting word, PREGNANT, on the test.  Your heart races.  Images of walking a carriage on a nice spring day start to play in your mind.  You tell your husband and you’re both thrilled to be starting your family.  But, wait.  Not so fast.  There are nine months to get through before baby arrives.  Your journey between now and then will be long and winding and filled with a ton of surprises.  What kind of surprises you ask?  Well, these are the things that surprised me when I was pregnant!

 

 

 

• Morning Sickness is not confined to the morning hours.  I was sick from dinner until the wee hours of the morning and completely devoid of heartburn and nausea during the day.  Some women are sick 24/7 and others don’t get sick at all.  It’s all individual.
• Your areolas turn into a mood ring.  As the pregnancy progresses, hormones cause a darkening of not only your nipples but your nether areas, stomach and face as well. While chloasma, the brown spots appearing on the skin, cannot be prevented, after child birth it usually fades over time.
• It’s okay to not love being pregnant.  Movies portray pregnant women as thrilled to be in the condition they are, happy and completely content.  However, not every woman wakes up every day loving the journey she’s on.  While we may fall head over heels the moment we see the positive sign on the stick, the changes that occur in our bodies can make us feel out of control and sometimes, depressed.  If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, such as uncommon sleep patterns, loss of appetite, inability to stop eating, exaggerated and uncontrollable mood swings, talk to your doctor immediately.
• It might be 40 degrees outside, but to you it’s 80. Because your blood flow increases to support your body as well as your baby’s, increased sweating is common during pregnancy.  Feeling excessively warm is not out of the ordinary for most pregnant women so dress in layers so that you can remove clothing if you become hot.  Also, having a cold bottle of water handy at all times can help keep the body cool. 
• The glow everyone talks about… might be acne. While some women are relishing the radiance that their pregnancy has given them, others are battling acne the way they did in high school.  Because pregnancy hormones increase oil production, sebaceous glands can become clogged causing cystic acne to occur.  While pregnancy acne cannot be avoided there are ways to help combat it.  Wash your face religiously in the morning and before bed with a mild, detergent-free cleanser.  Make sure your moisturizers are oil-free. Do not squeeze or pop your pimples no matter how tempting it might be.  Before using any pimple creams, talk to your doctor first.  Some ingredients in zit zappers, over the counter and prescription, are not safe for pregnant women to use.

No matter the symptoms you are experiencing, try to enjoy every moment.  Whether you’re jolly and in love with the amazing feat your body is accomplishing or cursing every second, this is the most amazing experience you will ever have.  Even if you’re frustrated, bloated and completely uncomfortable during your pregnancy, the moment the baby arrives safely in your arms, you’ll experience pure joy.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements explains that iron is essential for our health.  If you don’t have enough, this can result in fatigue, decreased immunity and inability to perform your work because iron is needed to deliver oxygen to cells, including those in your brain.  Left untreated it can affect the heart.  Teenage girls need the most iron because they have the greatest need.

Women who are at a greater risk for low iron levels are female athletes, pregnant women, women who are of childbearing age, women who have had more than one child, those who use an intrauterine device and women who have heavy menstrual periods according to www.womenshealth.gov.

If you have kidney failure and are undergoing dialysis, keep in mind that this puts you at a higher risk for developing anemia because the kidneys can’t make enough of a hormone called Erythropoietin that is essential in the manufacturing of red blood cells.  Erythropoietin and iron can both be depleted during dialysis.

According to Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences,  the recommended daily iron allowance is 15 mg for non-pregnant 14- to 18-year-olds and 27 mg for a pregnant 14- to 18-year-old; 18 mg for a non-pregnant 19- to 50-year-old and 27 mg for a pregnant 19- to 50-year-old.  A breast-feeding woman needs 9 mg daily.  Women over the age of 51 need 8 mg daily.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that a non-pregnant woman with anemia take 50 mg to 60 mg of oral elemental iron twice daily for three months for the therapeutic treatment of iron deficiency.  Discuss this with your physician and figure out what the optimal amount is for you based on your age and other needs, including whether you are still menstruating and have a heavy flow, are pregnant, if you are a young woman or if you are in menopause. Remember always consult your physician before starting any new dietary supplements!

Specific – Everyone’s favorite resolution is to simply “lose weight.” But, if we were specific about this goal we would have a greater chance of achieving it. A better goal would be something like “I want to lose 10 lbs by summer.”

Measurable – Being able to measure your goals helps keep you on track. I used to work for a commercial real estate company and every project we worked on had a timeline stating what needed to be completed and by what date. This timeline allowed us to track our progress and allowed for NO surprises at the goal end date.

Attainable – No matter how much you want something or how hard you are willing to work for it, some goals are just not attainable. For instance, the president of the United States must be a natural born citizen. Therefore someone who is not a natural born citizen can never become president and such a goal is futile. Whereas, aspiring to some other high ranking office (such as the Governor of California) is much more attainable.

Realistic – I am not one to shoot down people’s goals but sometimes we make goals that are darn near impossible. It is not to say that these goals cannot be achieved but the chance of failure is high. I once made a goal of running a half marathon. Running a half marathon is not an impossible goal, but it was rather unlikely for someone who hadn’t done any cross country running in over a decade. I later changed my goal to running a 5K and then a 10K and now I can definitely see a half marathon in my future.

Timely – How many times have we heard someone say, “I am going to start my diet TOMORROW.” If they allow themselves, they will continue to postpone that diet day after day. By setting a Stop Point they know that tomorrow is one day closer to their goal end date therefore allowing them less time to accomplish their goal.

A goal without the items listed above is like a business with no business plan… destined for failure.

Well, it’s a new year and a new start to working on that new and healthier you! Whether you believe in New Year’s resolutions or not, there is no better time than now to start working on a healthier you. A healthier you is not as hard as you may think. The first step is putting it in your mind that you want to be happier and healthier and then taking the necessary steps to make this happen.

 Steps to a healthier you:

 -  Put it in your mind that you want to be healthy and be willing to make those changes.

     -  Make a list of the things about your health and your body that you want to change. It is always better to see your goals on paper and look at the list daily.

-  Surround yourself with positive people with goals and ideas. Negative people will only bring you down.  Positive people and things bring positive results in your life.

 -  If you do not visit your doctor on a regular basis, make an appointment now for a check-up.

 -  Join a gym or pickup some workout videos. If you cannot afford this, go for a walk at least 20 minutes/day, five times a week. You can also go online for tips of exercises that you can do in your home when the weather is bad.

 -  Say goodbye to diets. Extreme diets are unhealthy. Make the decision to start a lifestyle change where you incorporate fruits and veggies into your meals every day, and stick to it as much as possible.

 -  Avoid sugar and white flour; they just pack on the pounds. Replace your white bread with wheat and your rice with whole grain/brown rice.

 -  Drink plenty of water instead of sodas and sugary drinks.

  – Take time for yourself everyday. Pamper yourself with a bath, a massage, read your favorite book, watch your favorite TV show or just enjoy some quiet time alone. This will not only make you a better mom and wife/girlfriend, but it will make you feel so refreshed.

  -  Even in the toughest times, try to remain positive. A positive outlook on life will help you mentally in tough situations.

It is up to you to decide to make the decision to live a healthier, happier life. You are in control of your destiny so don’t wait, start today!

It’s no secret that many more are turning to organic living in this tight-fisted economy.  But even before the recession was confirmed many had been testing this alternative lifestyle for various reasons. In my opinion, organic living can improve life in four major aspects: physically, mentally, spiritually, and globally.

Physically: We all need energy to get us through our day. However, when we’re in a rush we don’t always choose the best foods to fuel our bodies. One can curb this hazard by not only packing foods from home while on the go, but packing “organic” foods.  These nutritious choices are chemical, herbicide and pesticide free, can be found at most grocers and are more nutritious than foods that are not organic. The USDA regulates all organic foods. They must pass rigorous testing before they are legally allowed to be labeled as organic.  Everything from milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, and yes…even organic meat can improve the look, feel and overall health of your body.

Mentally: When you look good, you feel good. Not only will consuming organic foods cause you to improve your body, it will indirectly improve your state of mind. When you are consuming healthy products, your body begins to repair itself against damages done to free radicals that have been attached to foods you may have been eating for years. The slow improvement of your body’s overall state will begin to cause a shift in the mind. You will begin to smile more, laugh more, and stress less because you will begin to notice the improvements and like the way you look. Even if you are pleased with your body now, think of how more active your mind may become due to the reduction of free radicals!

Spiritually: It’s like a chain reaction. When your body feels good, your mind feels good. When your mind is at ease, your spirit is at ease. You will be less edgy, stressed, cranky, and negative overall. It’s amazing how one’s entire life can change over one’s choice to go from ordinary foods to organic. And this isn’t just with foods. Many of today’s items such as clothing, household products and even beauty products are all becoming organic. This is due to the immense amount of studies that are starting to expose what the chemicals we are so “used to” are truly doing to our bodies inside and out. What these studies don’t show, yet it’s still evident, is that they also affect our spirit. What we do in the conscious realm ultimately affects our subconscious, which will inevitably follow through to our spirit. The more you free yourself from free radicals and chemicals, the more you free your spirit.

Globally: Not only is living healthy and organic good for your body, it is also good for the Earth. The reduced use of pesticides, herbicides and chemicals is not only good for the food but good for the soil. The Earth grows these products naturally and when these chemicals come into play they also linger in the soil, altering the process and even eliminating it in some instances. Fresh soil makes for fresh produce. We can even take organic global living as far as recycling, reducing emissions into the atmosphere, saving water and electricity and replanting trees. While it may not seem like it helps you physically on the outside, just think of how good you’ll feel on the inside…and how much the Earth would appreciate you for a cleaner atmosphere.

There are so many benefits to healthy organic living that I can’t begin to name them all. The best way to find out these benefits is to try it out for yourself, but as always when you change your health routine in any manner you should seek the council of your physician. Even if you just take one step towards organic healthy living, it’s a step towards a healthier lifestyle. Who can argue with that?!

Be happy! Be healthy!

A healthy smile not only begins with brushing every day.  It also takes daily maintenance to make that smile beautiful. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. So improve your smile today!

Steps to a beautiful smile:

1) Brush at least twice a day (but preferably after each meal) with fluoride toothpaste

2) Use an electric toothbrush for that brighter white smile

3) Floss daily after brushing your teeth

4) Avoid sugary drinks & snacks

5) Visit your dentist every six months

6) Avoid smoking cigarettes, this causes bad breath & can stain your teeth

7) Avoid red wine, coffee & drinks such as grape juice which can also stain your teeth

8 ) Brush after eating fruits. Even though fruits are great for your body, they also have a lot of acid that can eat away your enamel

9) Avoid chewing hard items such as ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy

10) Use a non-alcoholic mouthwash to fight plaque, gingivitis, & bad breath

(Crest Pro-Health is a great choice & is recommended most by dentists)

(Interview with Flaimahmy, November 10, 2009)

FM:  You are somewhat of a pioneer.   Tell us about your decision to open Cafe Slush, an organic restaurant, in an up and coming neighborhood of East Atlanta.

AP:  During my pregnancy I had gestational diabetes.  I was told that it was a warning sign and at that point started being very particular about what I consumed because it is on both sides of my family.  In my search for a healthier diet, food as well as beverage, we just started changing everything from my favorite thing, smoothies, to just a healthier way of being able to consume it.   That’s sort of where it came from, just being careful of my sugar intake; I started to implement more natural sugars rather than processed sugars in my diet.  We started making our smoothies a certain way and eating certain types of foods.  As I gained knowledge I wanted to share it with others.

Kandi Burruss

FM:  We know that Kandi Burruss (Atlanta Housewives) gave you a very good review recently.  Do you find  that your clientele are already eating organic foods or are they more often trying organic for the first time?

AP:  I would say most are trying it for the first time.

FM:  For someone visiting your restaurant for the first time, what menu suggestions would you offer?  What is your specialty?

AP:  As far as smoothies, any of them because they are all totally natural, no sugars, yogurts, ice…they are friendly to whatever diet.  As far as  the smoothies I usually ask, “ What is the preference?”  If it’s something that you’re looking to gain a certain benefit from, then I can direct them to certain foods.  As far as taste, the biggest seller would be our freshly squeezed white grapes, then we add strawberries, peaches and pineapples.  That would be the number one if you are looking for a really sweet, refreshing taste.  As far as the sandwiches, the most popular would be the turkey phillies using an all natural meat and organic vegan bread.

FM:  Do you and your family eat strictly organic?

AP:  Yes.

FM:  What is the biggest misconception that people have about organic foods?

AP:  It is that they have to sacrifice taste and that is far from the truth.

FM:  Why do you think people think that?

Marion H. "Pooch" Hall

AP:  They think that it is missing something and I always tell them that the only thing it is missing is chemicals, pesticides…it actually allows you to really taste the true flavor of the fruits and vegetables that you are consuming because it hasn’t been coated with anything artificial.

FM:  How expensive are your menu choices?

AP:  Most sandwiches are combos because we sell everything in combos.  Most are five ($5.00) to seven ($7.00) dollars.

FM:  Do you think people typically believe that it costs more to eat organically?

AP:  They do, yes.

FM:  This is a family venture for you; your Mom helps out in the kitchen.  Are your husband and two sons involved as well?

AP:  They are.

FM:  What do they usually do with you?

AP:  My older is now seventeen.  He is excellent at peeling and juicing the fruits.  The younger is my taste tester.  If it passes his taste (test) then it’s usually a winner.  My husband has become the greatest at the lemonade and tea making.

FM:  What so far has been the most challenging part of running a family business?

AP:   The biggest challenge of working with my husband and boys is keeping them from consuming all the beverages…they LOVE huge samples.

Dikembe Mutombo

FM:  Do you have plans for expansion of Cafe Slush into other parts of Atlanta or to other cities perhaps as a franchise?

AP:  We are.  We are considering that, yes.

FM:  At the end of a long day what is your favorite thing to do?

AP:  My favorite thing is to get on the Internet and continue researching.  I love researching, finding out new things everyday.  My favorite is to research the different herbs.  I love finding about  the benefits and the different natural remedies for ailments and diseases.

FM:  We consider you to be a Fly Mommy.  What do you think makes you a Fly Mommy?

AP:  I’m one in the true sense of the word.  I hold it down as far as  my daily business activities and then come home and complete that role at the same time.

www.cafeslush.com

Having a baby is a very exciting and emotional time in your life. Bringing another person into this world can be one of the most memorable experiences that one can have. This can also be a time when you don’t feel as beautiful as you did before you were pregnant. This can be caused by those raging hormones, stretch marks and the extra weight that you packed on during your pregnancy.

I remember when I first came home from the hospital with my new baby. I was so excited to finally have him home. I was still very much sore and could hardly walk after my C-Section. So my mother decided to stay with me for a while. I was so emotional that I broke down crying to my mother. I remember looking in the mirror naked and could not hold back the tears. So I turned to my mother for comfort and said “What has happened to my body”. My mother quickly responded without any hesitation that “You have just had major surgery and brought another life into this world. Your body needs time to heal.” Although I see now that she was correct, at the time I really didn’t see my body getting back to the way it was before pregnancy. Even now it is not 100% like it was before. I have just learned to accept and embrace my new body. There are several things that I did to help my body to recover close to what it was before.

Getting Your Body Back After Pregnancy:

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Once the doctor gives you the okay to exercise get to it! Exercise will help to clear your mind and improve your body. It also helps to stay active during pregnancy so that your body will snap back quicker. This will also help to maintain a healthy pregnancy weight.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. This will not only be good for you, but if you are breastfeeding it will provide nutrients your baby needs also.

Moisturize your skin during and after pregnancy. Cocoa butter worked wonders for me during and after pregnancy. There are also many creams that you can try. It is not proven that they prevent stretch marks but moisturized skin feels so much better.

After pregnancy wear a tummy band to help the stomach get back to its original size.

Surround yourself with positive people and be positive yourself. Being around happy people will lift your spirit and your mood.

Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding provides vitamins and minerals your baby needs and it will also help you to burn extra calories. In addition it will work those stomach muscles to help it snapback in no time!

Continue to take your prenatal vitamins if you are breastfeeding. This will also help to make sure your baby gets the nutrients that they need.

Drink plenty of water. It is important to stay hydrated during and after pregnancy especially if you are breastfeeding.

If you are depressed after the baby or having thoughts of hurting your child call your doctor immediately.

Remember it took 40 weeks for your body to get that way. So give it that much time to get back to normal.

Make time for yourself. After the baby it is very important to have “Me time”. Use this time to go shopping, pamper yourself, or have lunch with your friends.

Above all understand that having a baby is a major change in your life and for your body. Even if your body is not exactly how it was before the baby embrace the way it is now. Every woman is beautiful, so just work with what you have and love the new you. Your baby will love you regardless of how your body looks; just think of the sacrifice that you have already made for your child.

Thank God for a warm October or I would have been quite cold in my $3 Old Navy flip flops on the ride home from the hospital.  While I did have pre-hypertension that caused severe swelling during my pregnancy, my experience is not all that uncommon.  And while swelling is a part of the reason that your feet expand during pregnancy, there is something else going on.

The pregnancy hormone relaxin loosens the joints in your pelvis so that your baby can make its way into the birth canal.   Relaxin also loosens the ligaments in your feet causing them to spread.  So while my feet may now need a size 9, they didn’t actually grow, but they did expand a full half size.   The bones aren’t as tight as they once were.  Swelling caused by pregnancy will go away after childbirth but feet spreading is permanent.

During the latter months of pregnancy, a nice comfortable pair of shoes is a necessity, especially if you are experiencing swelling (also called edema).  Here were my staples:

• Flip Flops:  Flip Flops with a sturdier sole.  They weren’t as confining as a sneaker but had the support of one.

• Uggs:  When the weather became chillier, I lived in my Uggs.  Fashionable or not, they were comfortable, warm, supportive and easy to slip on and off.  Besides, did you see the new cable knit Uggs?  Adorable and so versatile!

• Open-Toe Pump Slides:  For a dressier occasion, I always chose my 2″ open toe pumps.  They didn’t have the pressure of a stiletto and looked dressy enough to wear with a nice outfit.

After pregnancy, it’s recommended that you wait six weeks before you start buying any new footwear.  Allow for any swelling to reduce before you re-size your feet.  In fact,  you just might want to wait till you’re finished having children before you spring for that pair of Louboutin’s!