6 Tips to Battle Unwanted Pregnancy Weight Gain

Stepping on the scale at a prenatal visit can bring on as much anxiety as an internal exam. And excess weight gain in pregnancy is a battle that many woman face as the weeks go on. For a woman with a health BMI, gaining 20-32 lbs is recommended.  But some of us are overachievers, and our bodies strive to gain 40-50 lbs.   Here are a few tips to curve excessive weight gain.

• Hydrate. Drink plenty of water. Sometimes we feel pangs of thirst and we eat instead. Also, drinking plenty of fluids, like a tall glass of ice water will help the body with cellular regulation and metabolism, as well as helping with mindless snacking.

• Salt. Pregnant woman actually have an increased sodium requirement than when non pregnant. Having an appropriate intake of salt can actually help swelling. That's why, the only conception that pregnant women crave pickles is true. Pickles are actually a fantastic food for pregnant women, high in salt and low in calories.

• Avoid cereal. High glucose levels in the blood contribute to weight gain and excessive fetal weight gain. Cereal is known for it's ability to drive blood glucose levels through the roof. Pregnant women on-the-go often eat cereal often because it's a quick and easy. Try instead, an apple, a balance bar, some trail mix or even a piece of dark chocolate.

• Exercise.  If there was one thing I would recommend to pregnant women, it would be an adequate amount of exercise. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise in pregnancy, after consultation with your health care provider, of course. Exercise in the evening, even walking 15 minutes after dinner curbs weight gain. 

• Don't eat late.  There may be some reasons why pregnant women eat late, like nausea throughout the day, or hunger in the night, but if you can avoid it, don't eat late.  Your body metabolizes fat while your sleep so avoid those midnight snacks.

• Avoid processed foods. As much as you can, avoid over processed foods like refined flours and sugars.  Foods that are processed are very far removed from their natural form. These unnatural foods are difficult for the liver to metabolize and can interfere with metabolism and contribute to weight gain. 

Aquaponics

This is fantastic. Why aren't we all doing this?

http://aquaponics.com/page/home-production

As most of you know, I am a California gal that moved to New York. I live in Manhattan and then Brooklyn, so you may see what I am beyond excited about this taking off. Not only do I think this system is way cool, but I think that it could also be used all over the world where soil is uncultivatable

"Aquaponics is a method of combined fish and vegetable farming that requires no soil," explains Roman Gaus from The Atlantic Cities about the process. "The farmer cultivates freshwater fish (aquaculture) and plants (hydroponics) in a recirculating water system that exchanges nutrients between the two. Wastewater from the fish serves as organic fertilizer for the plants, while the plants clean the water of fish feces and urine."

Growing organic food in almost anywhere.

Because aquaponics is essentially a closed system, with the exception of fish food having to be cultivated or purchased separately, it can function independently, and without many of the normal inputs required for traditional farming. This means that a well-designed aquaponics system can be installed and operated virtually anywhere, including in dense urban environments -- high-rise rooftops, the tops of parking structures, and even basic parking lots are just a few examples of the many locations where high-output aquaponics systems can work.

5 Tips to Tackle Pregnancy Fatigue

1. Get more sleep. Pregnant women battle fatigue from early on in the pregnancy. It's important to listen to your body and get adequate rest when possible. Even going to bed 10-15 earlier or waking up 10-15 minutes later can make a big difference.

2. Exercise. As impossible as it seems, exercise is an excellent way to fight fatigue.  Even as little as 15 minutes a day of aerobic exercise can help to decrease fatigue.

3. Healthy Foods. Foods can act like medicine. Unprocessed, healthy foods can improve stamina and decrease tiredness.

4. Fluids. Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids can increase energy.

5. Take vitamins. B complex vitamins boost energy if consumed daily. Also continuing to take a prenatal vitamin or other vitamins that are prescribed can help fight fatigue related to anemia or a vitamin deficency.