Shredding

I'm half way back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm not overly consumed with reaching the original number just yet, or ever again really. I'm pretty satisfied with my current physical state, with one exception. My main concern is that none of the pants I own fit anymore. My wonderful mom sent me a few surprises, including a new skirt that is a perfect fit and very comfortable, and I purchased one pair of shorts and one pair of khakis -- all of which will hopefully get me through until I can wear the old stuff again. So I've been walking every. single. day, and thought I might up the ante with some sort of workout program to hasten the process. (I can only wear that one pair of khakis so many times before a girl becomes desperate!) I'm not quite brave enough to jump back into kettlebell training, so last night I started the 30 Day Shred by Jillian of The Biggest Loser. 20 minutes a day for 30 days - sounds reasonable for a new mom, right? Last night kicked my tail. I couldn't lift my arms after the cool down, but I feel pretty good today and ready for Day 2! Hopefully this will at least get me back in shape to get down to some serious core work - my favorite, the kettlebell.

The Epidural

Josie has arrived! It was a relatively quick labor, as we got to the hospital to induce at 12:30pm and had a baby at 10:51pm. We were able to induce by choice, not because of complications, so things went very smoothly and we're all doing really well.

For all the ladies who might one day have a baby, I would highly recommend getting the epidural. I was on the fence about whether to go natural or take anything for pain, so I labored for about 3 hours after my water broke without drugs. Good grief - I felt horrible. With every contraction during those 3 hours, I was LOW and kept getting lower. The pain was terrible and took a lot of energy out of me, especially considering the lack of sleep I was working with and the long process of delivering a baby. At my lowest point (aka highest pain), I was only dilated 5cm - half way to the necessary 10cm - so I decided for the epidural and received it about 10 minutes later. (Longest 10 minutes ever!) I did not feel another contraction the entire time. !!! GLORIOUS.

Let me stress that the difference between no epidural and epidural was like Jekyll and Hyde. I was a different girl once they had the medicine going. I was alert, had more energy, and only had to push 5 times before the whole thing was over. I had had concerns that the epidural might be bad for the baby, but the nurse explained that the epidural hardly affects the baby at all because it is a local anesthetic rather than the IV painkillers that go into your bloodstream, and thus into the baby's. With the IV drugs, the baby's heart rate decreases and makes an obvious impact on how the baby acts. Scary stuff! So my worries were calmed, and I delivered a healthy baby girl in less than 12 hours. And a lot of that time was just the inducing part...

I admire women who go the natural route, but there is no badge of courage I could earn that would make me feel another contraction ever again if I had the choice of getting an epidural. Next time, I will not hesitate! Please and thank you.

Dairy Free Fettucine Alfredo

I love pasta, especially the cheesy kinds like mac&cheese and fettucine alfredo that I can't have due to my dairy allergy.  Amy's Kitchen makes a mac&cheese microwavable dinner that is dairy free, but it costs an arm and a leg for one dinner and isn't quite like the real thing.  I found a recipe online for dairy free fettucine alfredo and gave it a whirl last night.  It was fairly easy to make, even for me, who doesn't do a whole lot in the kitchen.  One part of the recipe threw me, though - the recipe (and I double checked a couple other recipes to verify) called for 3 Tbsp of nutritional yeast.  I did not realize there is a difference between nutritional yeast and active yeast, so I picked up the active yeast and put 3 Tbsp in my one serving of alfredo sauce!  As you might imagine, it turned out to be a LOT of yeast...  I don't know what this has done to me.  I feel fine...   Also I talked with the nurse at my doctor's office and she said not to worry.  Whew!  The fettucine alfredo was not 100% delicious, but I'm willing to try again - maybe nutritional yeast will do the trick.  More garlic, too.

Not to Offend - but you're dumb! PART 2

Re: my previous post - the Winston Man died of cancer last week.  (!!!!)

Not to offend - but you're dumb!

I started seeing a new hairstylist, and over the course of my first h/c with her, I told the entire salon that no one under 60 should smoke.  It occurred to me later that I might have offended the 20- and 30-somethings who were also getting their hair cut, dying for a cigarette break.  But who are we if we don't have opinions?  I'm sticking by it - if you're over 60, you are exempt because you might have been smoking before everyone knew how bad it really is, and you have a 45 year addiction.  It might be hard to quit.  But under 60, well, you know the risks and chose to put your life on the line.  Seriously!

Now I read about college students who have taken up pipe smoking, and I think, "do they think they're cool?"  Not fooling me, Joe Camel.  Smoking is not for me.  In fact, it's not for anyone, unless you have a death wish.  Maybe that is harsh.  But so is smoking, on your lungs (apparently not pipe smoking, but whatever), gums, teeth, throat, etc etc etc etc.  Gross, and dangerous!  

Another Reason to Drink Almond Milk

I thought I should expand on the comment on the last post about soy milk and estrogens. I've read in a few places that soy milk has enough estrogen to mimic birth control pills, which is particularly scary for babies fed soy. In her book The Garden of Fertility, Katie Singer says, "Infants who are fed soy formula receive the equivalent of three to five birth control pills each day." Sorry, but my baby doesn't need to be on birth control, and I wouldn't say anyone needs to take 5 a day!! Want proof online? Google "soy milk birth control" or "soy milk estrogen" and see what you come up with. If anything, it'll make you think twice about what is marketed to be a "health food" and what is really healthy.

Got milk?

I stopped eating dairy in August 2008 or so.  Why?  By process of elimination, I figured out that whenever I ate dairy, I would have an allergic reaction all over my face about 1-3 days later.  I knew I would have to find alternatives to dairy because there are a few things I can't live without:  cereal and grilled cheese.  There aren't too many non-dairy cheeses out there, so I have to stick with Veggie Shreds and Slices.  But the alternatives to milk are vast, and only a few will really serve as an acceptable substitute.  For anyone who is like me and doesn't eat dairy, here is my advice:  ALMOND MILK.  Here's why:

1. Soy milk has a terrible texture.  Almond milk is very smooth (the package says "luscious").
2. Rice milk has a funny taste.  Almond milk comes in unsweetened, unflavored varieties that have a very mild taste that won't overpower your cereal.
3. You can use almond milk as a milk substitute in recipes.  Add it to your scrambled eggs, or make your pancakes with almond milk - I find I like the taste of the almond milk versions much more than when prepared with regular milk.
4. Almond milk has 20% of your recommended daily calcium.  Drink a glass of calcium-enriched OJ with your almond milk cereal, and that's over half of your calcium for the day!
5. You would think almond milk would be very expensive (wouldn't it take a lot of expensive almonds to make milk?).  Not so.  In fact, the brand Almond Breeze is almost always on sale for cheaper than soy at our grocery store. 
6. I don't do dairy, and Shelby doesn't do sugar.  So we were delighted to try the unsweetened chocolate almond milk as a hot chocolate alternative!  Yummy :)

Almond milk is a must for anyone who doesn't eat dairy.  Even if you can eat dairy, try the almond milk - you might like it more than cow's milk!

Fat Ol' Kentucky

Front page news today:  Kentucky is one of the fattest states, and it's getting worse despite our best efforts.  More than 40% of Kentuckians are overweight; 28% are "severely overweight," including one 33 year old who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.  Although the most common form on diabetes, Type 2 usually affects older people (older than 33, for sure), and obesity and diabetes are seriously linked.    According to the American Diabetes Association, "While the [Diabetes Prevention Program] also showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked  better."  Prevention is key - Get moving Kentucky!

Whole Foods Is No Better Than Walmart

About 10 days ago, I was half-watching the news, half-dozing on the couch, when a story came on about yet another beef recall.  Big deal!  Old news!  Happens all the time!  

But -

My ears perked and my jaw dropped when I heard the beef was recalled from WHOLE FOODS stores across the nation, including Kentucky.  The high priced, high and mighty, "safe" grocery store is no better than Walmart, the store that usually gets the short end of the stick.  Forget China, forget cheap labor - there can be problems anywhere, some just at a loftier price.

A Day Without Driving

Last Saturday, I was excited to spend a relaxing day at home.  I took my enthusiasm to an extreme and challenged Shelby and myself to avoid driving all day.  I originally intended to stay at home - shut in - and the imposed "no driving" rule would keep me there.  But when my new BlackBerry wasn't working properly, we had to go to the cell phone store.  Shelby held me to my rule, and said we could not drive to AT&T.  Instead, he found that the store was only 4.5 miles from our house and suggested we 1) bike there or 2) go without the email feature on the BlackBerry until Sunday.  First I asked to look at a topo map to see what hills I was in for (only one big one), then decided to go with option #1.  I'm in pretty good shape, right?  No problem.

Well there were some problems.  About 20 minutes before we left, I had just eaten a hot dog and had had nothing to drink since probably dinner the night before.  We took this trip about midday, temperature around 90-95 degrees.  I kept telling myself the bike created a nice breeze, when really I was terribly thirsty and hot.  I knew there was that big hill along our route, and I could feel myself growing weaker with every small hill I conquered.  Finally we arrived at the Big Hill and I was determined to get to the top.  This is when I should have called it quits.  Instead, I wobbled to a stop about half way to the top and told Shelby I had to walk.  I slooowly walked until I had to sit down.  I was close to being sick.  All I could think about was getting something to drink.  My saving grace was a Speedway just beyond the top of the hill.  When I felt a little better, I got back on the bike and got some water (without getting sick!).

Re-energized/hydrated, we made it to the store and got my phone working.  We took a different route home on our bikes, walked the Big and Bigger Hills, and made it home without incident.  Our leisurely day at home turned into a 10 mile bike ride, followed by a therapeutic dip in the pool to soothe my muscles and cool us off.  I liked our day without driving and I'd do it again.  And next time, I'll beat that hill.

But I thought I hated that...

In my latest experiment to clear up my skin, I have been eating more fruits and vegetables, less junk, than ever before. I'm amazed at how great things taste that I thought were awful. Here is a list of foods that I had written off as gross, only to realize they're not so bad - they're tasty!

• Bananas. Everything about bananas used to make me sick: the smell, the taste, the texture, etc. I had one last night and it was actually pretty good. I think it's the first one I've eaten completely - ever.
• Grapefruit. Just had some mixed with avocado. DELICIOUS! The bowl was empty, but I wanted more!
• Asparagus. I always avoided asparagus for the more familiar broccoli or peas. But wow! It's great, and not that exotic after all.
• Onions. My mother has spent years tormenting me with putting onions in everything. I hated them! But like most things in life, she was right - onions really take a dish up to the next level of goodness.
• Granny Smith Apples. I love a crisp apple, but never liked the tart/sour taste of a granny smith. I always stuck to the galas or the braeburns, but never red delicious (still not a fan of those). Granny smiths are actually pretty good, and I'm assuming they have more fiber because the skin is a little thicker than other apples. Gotta get the nutrients!
• Mustard. A ketchup-only girl through and through, I thought mustard wasn't sweet enough and had too much of a bite. But put ketchup on one thing and mustard on another, and you've got two totally different meals! Keeps things interesting and works on more than just hotdogs.
• Cucumbers. Great on a salad. But you already knew that.

More to come, I'm sure...

Farmer's Market: A Lesson in Genetics

I just heard about one of the first Farmer's Markets to start in the area, and I'm so excited to go this year. Last year I kept telling myself I'd go, but I never made it to one. The whole "locavore" idea is interesting to me, so I'm ready to help out the local farmer by buying fresh food from them. Unfortunately, it seems that many farmers are being bullied by Monsanto, the company that produces Roundup and it's genetically enhanced seed counterpart, along with injecting cows with hormones to produce more milk. I'm curious to know how many farmers at the Farmer's Market use Monsanto's seeds and how many have felt (or, by chance, avoided) the company's wrath. This area has a lot of high quality, local food choices, including local bison farms, grass fed beef, and fruit & vegetable co-ops throughout the year. But if these small farms haven't felt the effects of companies like Monsanto, how long until they do?

Wedding Arms

With the wedding fast approaching, it's crunch time for last minute details - including significantly increased motivation to make it to the gym before the sun comes up.  The question is not how much weight I want to lose (don't wanna), the question is how to get Katharine McPhee's arms (gotta have 'em).  

Shelby gave me my birthday presents early, which included a kettlebell (I'm sure to mistakenly call it a kettleball) that I hope will help me with this new wedding arms goal.  Then, Katharine & I can make our own "3 Months to Great Arms" video - assuming that's how long it took her and how long it will take me/how much time I have... 

Beauty IQ - Go vs. No

Since moving to Louisville, I've noticed a lot of people are interested in good beauty products (skin care, makeup, etc.). I had barely heard of Aveda until I moved here, and now I see an Aveda salon practically on every corner. Of course, Arbonne is popular among most ladies I know personally. The skin is your body's largest organ, so it makes sense to use some sense in deciding what to put on it. Unfortunately, cosmetic companies are not regulated and can advertise benefits without disclosing any harmful effects their products might cause.

So how do you know what's best? Do you splurge on the $20 mascara? Will Clearasil do the trick on that ugly bump, or will it trick you into cancer in the process? Your hairstylist knows what's safe to put on your head, right?

Lucky for us, someone has gone to the trouble to test a lot of the products we use day to day. Skin Deep is a database that ranks skin care and cosmetics with a handy color-coded guide to know what to use and what to steer clear of. Pretty handy, don't you think?

Keep in mind: green means go, red means NO!

No No Nalgene

Live in Canada? Trying to find a reusable container to hold your drink?

Don't waste your time looking for the popular Nalgene bottles.

Last month, companies in Canada pulled Nalgenes from their shelves due to the potential harm the plastics pose. I've been on the fence about the plastic bottles for a little while now, but was still drinking out of my favorite pink one until about 6 weeks ago. I switched to a Klean Kanteen, which is stainless steel and (as far as we know) will not leech chemicals into my drinking water. It also fits in my car's cupholder (Nalgenes do not). Worth a try - until they find something dangerously hazardous about stainless steel anyway!

79th out of 100 - I want a recount.

Prevention Magazine ranked the 100 Best Walking Cities of 2007. Madison, WI topped the list, followed by Austin, TX. Laredo, TX and Newark, NJ were 99 and 100, respectively. Where is Louisville on the list? A discouraging 79th.

I love to take walks here! Maybe it's my geographical location, maybe it's the company, but on a day when I could do anything I wanted, I would definitely take a walk in the city. This list makes me want to prove Prevention wrong, or improve for next year. Move Louisville up to at least the top 50 for 2008!

Thinking Twice About Eating Out

When I worked at Outback in high school, I loved the cheese fries, and I loved to special request them "layered" with the cheese throughout. A super date consisted waiting an hour or more for this deliciousness. Little did I know what I was doing to myself. Not only was I wasting my time waiting so long for any kind of food, but according to research done by Men's Health, Aussie Cheese Fries are rated the Worst Food in America. Luckily I've changed my eating habits since then and generally don't frequent many chain restaurants. No wonder my college roommates didn't recognize me in pictures from my pre-college, cheese fries years!

Also note that Quizno's had the worst sandwich. I do love the chain of Jersey Mikes, which I'm guessing is better for you than Quizno's and has much better, softer bread. Subway doesn't hold a candle.

17.2 is a Winner

I found out that although technically I am 24.9 years old, I'm really only 17.2!

This site will tell you how old you really are based on a questionnaire of what you eat, family history of disease, exercise regime, etc. If I had taken the test when I was 17.2, I probably would have been somewhere in the mid 20s range, due in part to my daily snack of Cheez-its and M&Ms washed down with a Diet Pepsi. Most teenagers want to be older, anyway. Now that I'm on my way to wrinkles, a missing metabolism, and menopause, young is the new old, and I'm on top of the trend!

Shelby also took the quiz and his 26.9 years is actually an 18.0. Even with my head start of being 2 biological years younger, he almost beat my RealAge. It's mysterious how someone who claims to not eat fruit could rate so well!

You can also find out how old your dog is at www.dogage.com. "No more multiplying by 7," so says the site.