The 4 Exercises to Do to Lose Weight Post-Pregnancy

Posted on January 17, 2016

Like most celebrities who get paid to be fit and trim, many moms are eager to get back into pre-pregnant shape and down to their pre-pregnancy size sometime too soon. It is not advisable to start with aerobics or other heavy exercises immediately. You must wait at least six weeks before starting to exert after pregnancy by vaginal way and eight weeks after pregnancy by Cesarean.

Here are the four best ways to get back into your pre-preggers shape:

1. Walking: This is probably the easiest way to carry out your weight loss early pregnancy plan. It is safe and easy; grab your partner and go for a stroll in the neighborhood. A nice walk in the open will surely make you feel better and uplift your mood. Keep in mind not to overexert yourself.

2. Running: If you are an habitual runner then there’s nothing to worry. Getting pregnant doesn’t mean the you will have to stop running . Just keep in mind not to overdo it; never run to the point of exhaustion. Regular burns extra calories and can help you in your weight loss early pregnancy plan.

3. Yoga: If you want to stay fit and lose weight during and after pregnancy then doing pre-natal yoga is the best thing for you. Yoga has many benefits, it is a great stress buster, helps in easing back and joint pains ( very common in pregnant women), and also helps in childbirth and post delivery stages. Overall regular Yoga can help you to go through your pregnancy with minimal worry.

I like Pilates which did a great job for me.

4. Swimming: Swimming is a very good way to exercise and can help in weight loss early pregnancy. It can significantly lower your weight as swimming exercises the whole body. Join any water aerobics class or pre-natal swimming to stay fit and healthy during your pregnancy.

Safety considerations for exercise during pregnancy

To ensure that our exercise program provides us with all of the wonderful benefits outlined above, we also need to do whatever we can to ensure our safety and that of our baby, so below is a list of safety considerations to be aware of; and remember to always speak to your Doctor or Obstetrician if you are unsure.

Avoid becoming overheated.
Avoid high intensity exercise.
Avoid frequent and prolonged exercise after week 28 of your pregnancy.
Limit the amount of exercise that you do lying on your back.
This is of particular concern from your second trimester on.
Avoid the use of hand weights over0.5kgin weight during aerobic classes.
Perform Pelvic Floor (Kegel) Exercises.
Wear a good supportive bra.
Avoid rapid changes in direction and be very cautious if you are doing Step exercise classes.
Stretch gently.
Have a light snack approximately 2 hours before exercise and carry a small carton of fruit juice to your workout.
If at any time during your exercise session you feel very hot, faint, dizzy, short of breath, experience vaginal bleeding, have palpitations, blurred vision, or severe or continuous headaches – STOP EXERCISING IMMEDIATELY.
It is also important to stop if you experience lower abdominal pain, tightness or cramping, back pain or pubic pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your obstetrician as soon as possible.

0 comments

The 7 Tips You Need to Read Before Going Back to School After Having a Baby

Posted on January 14, 2016

You don’t have to let the fact that you had a baby before or in the middle of college deter you from returning or starting. Despite all the obstacles and challenges associated with returning to school after a baby, if you put in a plan, you certainly can do it and findAnanny.com wants you to use these beneficial suggestions to get it done.

1. Build a Support System – The most important thing for a student mom to have in place is a strong and reliable support system. Not only will you need help with childcare and managing the needs of your new baby while keeping up with your studies, you’ll also need a shoulder or two you can cry on when things get difficult. Finishing school as a parent will be a challenge, and having a few people in your corner can make all the difference.

2. Create a Routine That Works For Your Family – There is no hard-and-fast rule about how you have to structure your household routine, especially when your little one is still an infant. Find a schedule that works for you and build around it. If online classes are more conducive to learning and completing assignments than a traditional classroom setting, that’s the best solution for you. On the other hand, getting out of the house and interacting with your classmates may help you manage the demands of parenthood more easily. Whatever works for you is the best solution, regardless of how well it would work for someone else

3. Set Realistic Goals -You may have planned to take on a full course load before your pregnancy, but that may not be realistic after the birth of a child. Rather than setting goals that aren’t feasible and being disappointed when they prove to be a bit more than you’re ready to handle, take your time and make a plan that you can actually adhere to. Celebrate each milestone along the way and stay focused on each smaller goal as they approach

4. Work Out a Reasonable Timeline- Finishing school on the standard time table may be out of the cards for you as a new mom, and that’s okay. The goal is to finish, so take the time to figure out when you can realistically complete your studies. You may have to shoulder a lighter burden in terms of classes and finish later than some of your peers, but you’ll still leave with a diploma, which is better than trying to take on too much only to end up burned out and frustrated enough to quit school altogether. You may also have ideas of returning to school days after the birth of your child, however, that may not be possible. Finding the right time to return to school after you recover from delivery and have bonded with your new baby may be a bit more complicated than simply returning as soon as you’re discharged from the hospital.

5. Find a Caregiver You Trust – Your child will have to be cared for while you’re at school since you won’t be able to take her to class with you. To make the transition into school after becoming a new parent, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve found a childcare provider you absolutely trust and have no qualms about leaving her with. If you’re distracted and worried about your child’s safety while you’re in class, your academic performance probably won’t reflect your actual abilities.

6. Prepare for a Bit of Separation Anxiety -Regardless of how excited you are to get back into school after your maternity leave ends, you will feel at least a little bit of separation anxiety until you adjust to the idea of no longer spending the entirety of each day with the fascinating little person you’ve created. If you’re prepared for the stress of leaving your child in someone else’s care and understand that it’s just temporary, it can lessen the sting and help to make that pain a bit more manageable.

7. Don’t Be Scared to Adjust Your Schedule – As a new mom and a student, your schedule may have to be adjusted a few times until you find the one that works for you. Making adjustments is not the same as admitting defeat, so don’t be afraid to finagle things until you find the methods that work best for you and your new family.

0 comments

Tips

Don’t Walk Down that Aisle Before you do These 9 Things as a Couple (TIPS)

Posted on January 12, 2016

Obviously, you want to have many conversations about marriage and children before you even consider it. You have to know where both of you stand in your views toward marriage and children. Your views have to be aligned and compatible in this area for a proposal to make sense. It’s important that you know how he or she views marriage and whether or not he or she wants children one day.

Here are 8 other things Couples Should Do Together BEFORE getting Married:

0 comments

9 Things to Do to Avoid Hair Loss After Pregnancy

Posted on January 11, 2016

Bellyitch Rewind

Hair loss is a normal occurrence for a woman after a pregnancy. Telogen effluvium is the medical term for post-pregnancy hair loss, which happens to nearly 50 percent of women after they give birth. A temporary condition, this hair loss should not cause a woman to become bald or experience visibly thin spots. Use these tips to reduce or prevent hair loss after pregnancy.

Steps

Avoid hairstyles that pull or stretch your hair. Braids, cornrows, weaves or tight rollers can pull hair and cause stress and trauma to your scalp. Hair that is excessively pulled is more likely to fall out naturally, without the extra issue of telogen effluvium affecting your hair growth cycle.
Maintain a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are not only naturally health, but they also contain flavonoids and antioxidants that protect hair follicles. Additionally, these foods encourage increased hair growth, which can offset any hair lost after pregnancy.
Add vitamins and nutrients to your diet. Vitamin B complex, vitamins E and C, zinc and biotin help increase hair strength and health. Take extra supplements or eat foods rich in these nutrients and vitamins to help retain pre-pregnancy locks.
Select a shampoo with quality ingredients. Shampoos that contain biotin or silica improve hair health and stimulate follicle growth. Use this shampoo regularly and rinse with cold water.
Comb your wet hair with a wide-toothed comb. A wide-toothed comb reduces the amount of pulling and stress you apply to your hair as you attempt to remove tangles after washing it. Excessive pulling of your hair can increase the chances of it falling out.
Reduce the use of heated styling tools. Heated styling tools like curling irons, hot rollers, flat irons and blow dryers dry hair out and may increase hair loss. Allow your hair to air dry and style it naturally. If you must use heated styling tools, use the coolest settings possible or give your hair a cool shot of air afterward with your hair dryer.
Trim split ends. Split ends cause your hair to be less healthy. Unhealthy hair is shed in larger amounts than healthy hair.

Avoid stress. Having a new baby to take care of can create more stress in your life, but try to avoid additional stressful situations or feelings. Stress can cause your hair to fall out or decrease in thickness. Avoid stress to increase your chances of retaining more of your pre-pregnancy hair
Get a shorter haircut. Long hair weighs more and pulls from your scalp with its constant downward pull. Shorter haircuts cause less pressure to your hair follicles, which will decrease chances of increased shedding. A shorter hairstyle may cause your hair to look fuller and healthier, in addition to being easier to take care of than longer styles.

Take it easy and good luck new moms!

0 comments

The 15 Rules to Adhere to When You Bring your Baby Home from the Hospital

Posted on January 10, 2016

Bellyitch Rewind

When you bring your newborn home there are a lots of things in the environment that can easily get him or her sick. But there are things you can do to minimize the risk of your new baby getting ill.

Here are 15 simple tips you can try to follow compliments of Newborn care:

Be Firm With Friends and Relatives – It’s natural to want to show your newborn off to your nearest and dearest, but they can present a health risk for her. It’s important to keep in mind that not only is it okay to be firm in regard to your child’s health, it’s imperative. Don’t let a cousin with a case of the sniffles handle your new baby or allow loved ones to pick her up before washing their hands.
Insist on Good Hand Washing Habits – One of the most effective ways of protecting your newborn’s health is to insist that everyone who touches her wash their hands thoroughly before doing so. Hands come into contact with so many germ-laden surfaces and objects throughout the day that it’s just not a good idea to skip a thorough scrubbing before cuddling.
Keep the Kisses Away from Baby’s Face – Newborns are so cute and cuddly, they seem to be just begging for affection. No matter how much you want to cover her little face with kisses, it’s smart to keep in mind just how many germs are carried by your saliva.
Don’t Skip the Vaccinations – There’s a battle raging amongst parents about the efficacy of vaccinations versus their perceived risks, but vaccinations do prevent many illnesses. Not only should your infant be immunized according to doctors’ recommendations, but so should older siblings and adults that will be caring for her.
Remember that Breast is Best – Breastfeeding isn’t always an option, but it’s one that should be carefully considered if there’s any feasibility at all. In cases of adoption, low milk production or a mother’s need to be on medications that can be excreted through breast milk, formula is a perfectly adequate nutritional substance. It doesn’t, however, contain the antibodies that boost a baby’s new immune system.
Avoid Crowded Places – Shopping malls, restaurants or even dinner parties can be crowded areas with high concentrations of people who are carrying communicable illnesses. In the interest of keeping your baby healthy, it’s wise to save his big debut for a time when his immune system is a bit more developed.
Pay Special Attention to Older Siblings – Older siblings who attend preschool, daycare or elementary school are exposed to illness-spreading germs all day long, and they may have developed a resistance that allows them to still carry those germs without exhibiting symptoms of illness themselves. Make sure that your older children understand the importance of good hygiene, especially when it comes to spending time with a new baby.
Keep Your Doctor’s Appointments – Time is a commodity that new parents seldom have an adequate supply of, but it’s important to remember that appointments with your pediatrician should be kept if at all possible.
Hire an Experienced Caregiver – The rookie nanny you’re considering might be enthusiastic, but she may also lack the experience or training that will allow her to confidently care for a newborn without spreading illnesses. While it’s perfectly acceptable to hire a nanny with little to no practical work experience, you should make sure that she’s well-versed in the care of newborns and minimizing the spread of germs.
Keep the Nursery Clean – When you’re sleep deprived and living on the quick snacks you can fit in during Baby’s naps, the idea of house cleaning probably isn’t an appealing one. Making sure that your newborn’s nursery is clean, however, is one of the best ways to prevent her from becoming sick.
Practice Good Crib Safety Habits – Guarding your newborn’s health doesn’t just mean keeping her clear of illness-causing germs; it also requires you to be focused on her safety. Fluffy pillows, snuggly blankets and soft crib bumpers may seem like great tools for keeping her comfortable, but they can actually increase her risk of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants’ cribs contain no pillows, plush toys or thick blankets.
Minimize Play Dates – If your older children are accustomed to hosting play dates, it may be a smart move to consider putting them on hold for a few months or working with other parents in your playgroup to find alternate hosting solutions until your newborn is a bit older.
Keep Pets Clear of the Nursery – Fido might be man’s best friend, but he doesn’t need to be licking your newborn’s face or spreading dander throughout her nursery. Making the baby’s room a pet-free zone for a while can reduce the number of germs and contaminants that she’s exposed to during the earliest days of her life.
Sterilize Bottles and Nipples – It simply isn’t possible to keep every germ away from your newborn, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make an effort to protect her from them when you’re able. Sterilizing the bottles and nipples that she puts into her mouth during feeding time is one of the measures that you shouldn’t neglect.
Take Care of Yourself! – An exhausted, overworked parent’s immune system might not be the most effective, so it’s important that you make every effort to take care of yourself, too. When you’re sick, it’s difficult to avoid passing those illnesses on to your baby. Guarding your own health and well-being isn’t self-indulgent; it’s a necessary step of preventing the spread of illnesses to your child.

0 comments

Don’t Tell Your Boss You’re Pregant Until You Do These 2 Things!

Posted on January 9, 2016

For many women, especially those who work in high pressure, productivity-related jobs, telling their boss and department heads they are pregnant can be stressful. It doesn’t have to be if you prepare. American Pregnancy put up a great post sharing excellent tips on how to prepare to do just that.

Of the tips that stood out, as an attorney, I highly endorse the following two:

Read your company’s maternity leave policy in their handbook and do some online research as well to get to know your state’s laws concerning pregnancy, maternity leave, and pay for when you’re on leave.
Put a plan into place that you can present to your boss. Think of who can cover on short notice if nausea sets in unexpectedly or you need to schedule a doctor’s visit during lunch.

Also, as the post notes, you don’t have to wait until you are 12 weeks to make your announcement, but since your chances of miscarrying reduce by 80% by then, it would be a good time to wait until you are at least that far along.

Certainly, you are free to wait longer but you may start to show at 20 weeks and you want to make sure you give your job adequate time to plan for your maternity leave and departure.

I know that some women elect to put it off as long as possible because they fear they will lose out on plum projects and opportunities if their office realizes they will be away from the job in the coming months. It’s a fragile thing, but planning is the best remedy to alleviate some of that anxiety.

Once an employer realizes you know your rights, they may be less likely to do something stupid like try to fire you or take away key responsibilities that you can handle perfectly fine until you deliver!

0 comments

5 Things to Purchase with Your Christmas Gift Cards that will Help You Get Back in Shape

Posted on December 27, 2015

Bellyitch Rewind

The day after Christmas is also a busy shopping day as people return gifts that didn’t fit or they don’t like and others use the gift cards they got from family and friends. This is also the time of the year that people pledge to change their lifestyles and become more healthy and to eat better and work out.

1. A Powerful Blender or Juicer: A major part of the high holiday season and winter is eating high calorie foods, drinks and desserts. It’s certainly a time to be packing on the pounds. Many people usually pledge to change their eating habits for the New Year. Healthy shakes and juices are common ways people transition out of their bad heating. I cannot wait to purchase my first Vitamix and I’ve heard great things about the Magic Bullet.

2. A Workout DVD – Because not everyone’s schedule can accommodate a gym, having a DVD at home that can be popped in and done in the comfort of the home is ideal. After having my first baby, I lost a ton of weight, about 1-2 pounds weekly from breastfeeding and

Pilates for Weightloss

3. WorkOut Clothes – If you have brand new fancy work out clothes in your drawers or hanging in your closet, you may feel obligated to wear it to a gym, maybe. I love how good quality pieces feel on my skin and when I can, try to go with a powerful label that is native to Maryland where I live, Under Armour. But if you cannot get a LuLu Lemon level of price point, there are many other options sold online and in specialty stores at the mall.

4. A steps counter – Because some people walk a lot to and from or as a part of their job, it’s great that steps counters like the Fitbit Flex are now trending and being used by more people. If you can see how taking the steps or getting out one stop before the closest one to your job can encourage you to rack up more steps, and burn more calories you will. That’s part of the appeal to steps counters. They are on sale these days and can be found as low as $35.

5. A food scale – If you will be starting one of those programs that require you to watch your portions and weigh your food so you have precise amount of protein, you should invest in a food scale. They are modestly price and are sold at big box stores like Target and Walmart or specialty stores like Williams-Sonoma and the like. Consider the Ozeri Digital food Scale which runs about $15 and can be ordered from our affiliates Amazon.com

Good luck and be healthy!

0 comments

Which Christmas Song Are You? (QUIZ)

Posted on December 25, 2015

4fa8c341-aece-4f76-b041-1f91583db649_560_420

Which Christmas song is your favorite? If you could be a Christmas song, which one would it be? Let us guess with this Playbuzz Quiz! Test it out and share your results with your friends!

0 comments

Tips

10 Super Last-Minute Gifts You Can Get in Under One Hour

Posted on December 23, 2015

Whether it’s your child’s favorite art teacher, that dental hygienist who always hooks you up with extra floss samples, your physical therapist, the office admin or mail room staff, we all have those folks that we plum forget to get Christmas or Holiday gifts for at the end of the year. Then, we’re stuck either feeling bad about not getting them anything or doing the last minute scramble.

Fret not! We’ve got you covered!

If you have some spare moments during the day or your lunch hour, jot down to the local discount outlet store like Ross, Marshall’s, Burlington Coat Factory, TJMaxx or the like and pick up one or more of these quick and easy super last-minute gift items.

A Leather or hard cover journal
A pack of Note Cards
A Note pad and Pen Set
A Cookbook
A gift box of Chocolates
A wrapped Scented Candle
Novels or Meditation Guides
A Mug
A Box of Hot Cocoa Mix
A Starbucks Gift Card

Then head down to the dollar store,and pick up bags, tissue paper and a pack of holiday cads. Fill out the Tag and you’re done! Last minute shopping done in under one hour! Boom!

Good luck!

0 comments

Tips

4 Christmas Breakfast Recipes to Make this Holiday

Posted on December 12, 2015

In the hustle and bustle of Holiday shopping, decorating, Christmas Card photo taking, and wrapping, Christmas breakfast may be the farthest thing from people’s minds.

We’ve got you covered with 4 recipes for Christmas breakfast starting with a yummy and quick recipe for Chorizo Scrambled Egg Breakfast Taco compliments of IMUSA, leader in Hispanic cookware, combines chorizo, lime juice, eggs and cheese (among other ingredients) to make an outstanding breakfast taco that your guests will remember.

Ingredients

6 eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 chorizo links (about 7 ounces)
1 medium onion
1 cup cilantro, divided
1 medium tomato
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sharp cheddar
10-12 corn flour tortillas
Chipotle Tabasco (suggestion for topping)

Preparation

Mix sour cream, lime juice, and salt in a bowl and put aside.
Char tortillas over gas flame or directly on electric burner until blackened in spots, turning with tongs. Place in IMUSA tortilla warmer or aluminum foil and set aside.
In an IMUSA non-stick sauté pan add olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Sweat onions for about one minute and add diced chorizo
Cook for 5-6 minutes until chorizo is browned.
Add half of the cilantro and all of the cooked chorizo to beaten eggs and mix. Bring eggs back to the IMUSA pan and cook on low heat, mixing from time to time.
Place cooked eggs, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and remaining cilantro in separate bowls and lay them out throughout the table with the warm tortillas.
Allow your guests to assemble their own breakfast tacos

Cinnamon rolls

Heat 1 cup of milk in a saucepan until it bubbles and add ½ cup of butter to the milk and stir until the butter melts.

Set aside until it cools to 110 degrees or luke warm.

Add luke warm milk mixture to the bowl of a mixer and dissolve a package of dry yeast into it.

Add ½ cup sugar, 3 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 3 eggs to bowl and mix.

Add an additional 1 ½ cups of flour ½ cup at a time until fully mixed.

Dump dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead the dough until smooth (about 8 minutes).

Gather dough into a ball and put it into a lightly greased bowl turning to cover all of dough.

Cover and allow to rise about 1 hour. After risen roll out to a 10×14 rectangle.

In a small bowl combine ¾ cup of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and sprinkle over rectangle.

Sprinkle ½ cup of raisins over the top and roll up dough along the long side.

Cut dough into 12 equal pieces and place in a greased 9×13 baking dish cut side up.

Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rise over night.

The next morning preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and allow the dough to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking for 25 to 30 minutes.

While the rolls are baking mix together 1 teaspoon corn syrup, ½ teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons of half and half and 1 ¼ cups of powdered sugar and whisk together.

Drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls and serve.

Egg and sausage quiche

Brown 1 lb. of bulk breakfast sausage in a skillet.

Drain the sausage and set aside.

Cube 8 slices of wheat bread and layer it into a 9×13 dish.

Layer the sausage over the bread and then layer the cheese (2 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese).

Mix 5 eggs, 2 cups of milk, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of dry mustard and pour it over the cheese layer.

Mix 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and ¼ cup of water together and spread it over the top of the other ingredients.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning bake for an hour at 300 degrees F or until set.

Let cool 20 minutes before cutting into squares.

Hashbrown casserole

Cut a stick of butter into small cubes and mix it into 2 lbs. of shredded hashbrown potatoes in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl mix together 1 pint of sour cream, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, 8 oz. of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 grated onion.

Pour this mixture over the potatoes and toss to combine.

Pour into a 9×13 baking dish and cover with foil.

Refrigerate casserole overnight.

The next morning bake covered for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes.

Additional shredded cheese can be added to the top during the last 30 minutes of baking.

0 comments