Attack of the Cravings

So even though I promised myself I wouldn't worry this time around about my weight and how I am going to get it off after the baby, I find myself stressed on a regular basis over this topic. I don't know if its because I've always been little, probably too little at times but its not because I am unhealthy. I just have never had a problem with weight. I mean putting on 30+ pounds with my first pregnancy had me in quite a panic. Although the weight came off rather quickly, I was about 3-5lbs shy of my original weight before finding out I was indeed pregnant again. I think most people would say I "needed" those few pounds anyways!!

Now I find myself more than half way through this pregnancy and at my last appointment gaining 6lbs, IN ONE MONTH!! My doctor says its fine because I have "wiggle room" being small to begin with. Well now every time I sneak a cookie or have a few to many carbs in a day, I kick myself. I know I need to gain and I am not cutting back on food, I have a person growing inside me. I just want to make sure I am putting on the right amount of weight and that the foods I am eating are benefiting the little mister or miss inside. I only have ONE body and I don't want to cheat myself out on being able to love it forever, even after kids. The snacking is worse this time around though, probably due to a growing toddler with lots of energy, wants a nibble every few hours of something. So I have found a pretty great resolution, smoothies! I have been making homemade juices for around a year now, but they don't cut it when it comes to craving unhealthy snacks. Smoothies have been working pretty well though!! I wanted to share some of the best recipes I've found or created myself, pregnant or not you will love these. Some of the ingredients you may have to go out and buy, but most should be easy to find. I plan out a weeks worth at a time so that fruits are still fresh by the time I get to it.

My Favorites:

Apple, Carrot, and Ginger

• 1 cup fresh carrot juice
• 1 green apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon honey

Peach-Strawberry Shake

• 2 medium-size ripe peaches
• 1 cup strawberries, rinsed and hulled
• 1 cup milk (soy, skim, 1%)
• 1 cup ice cubes

* Sugar, as needed (if fruit isn't at this sweetest)

Cherry-Berry Tea

• 3/4c Tea *
• 6 ounces silken tofu
• 10 ounces (2 cups) frozen sweet cherries
• 6 ounces (1 cup) frozen grapes
• 3 ounces (1/2 cup) frozen blueberries

*Brew tea strong, and let it refrigerate before adding to blender (about 40 mins)
**Choose your favorite tea, Rooibos, Black, Hibiscus are the ones I've tried

Super Soy Smoothie

• 1/2 cup pineapple cubes
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup carrot juice
• 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Banana-Blueberry Smoothie

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt

Chamomile-Banana Smoothie (Robby really enjoys this one!)

• 1 cup strong chamomile tea, room temperature
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Golden Nectar Smoothie (this is a great morning smoothie or a pick me up during the day)

• 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice (about 6 oranges)
• 1/4 cup+ 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 ripe bananas

Green Machine (a nutrient-dense elixir !!)

• 6 romaine leaves, chopped
• 4 kale leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs
• 1/2 cup chopped pineapple
• 1/2 cup chopped mango
• 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

Also, we have a huge bag of flax seed we bought from Costco and I try add a few teaspoons to each smoothie for added nutrition.

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Sober birthdays

Pregnant for another birthday.... 

I was pregnant with Robby on my 24th birthday, nursing on my 25th, and I will be pregnant again on my 26th.... If everything goes as planned I will be nursing on my 27th as well. It's crazy to think the second half of my twenties is being spent baring/raising my children! Before baby, I wasn't sure if having ONE child was in my future, now I'm preparing for number two. It hasn't been easy to say the least, it's changed my body forever, it also put a lot of emotional strain on myself and my relationship... I've learned to live more for today and less for yesterday/tomorrow. 

  24th Birthday

 25th Birthday

It also had its hand in slowing my social life dramatically and with that I'll get back to the topic at hand, I went through my heavy drinking phase in my dare I say it high school and early twenties with drinking pretty hard every weekend. I'm sure that has a lot to do with my being able to give up that lifestyle, you know, the been there done that. I know what I am missing out on and well I'm not missing out on much. I am not the girl I was before having babies and I am very thankful that having children has change me. My birthday is rapidly approaching and being sober isn't a big deal. I do find myself daydreaming at times about being able to sit pool side with close friends in a small bikini (crossing fingers my post second baby body is bangin') and have a strong cocktail in hand. I'm not an alcoholic and I don't feel bad for wanting to drink socially/casually again. I'm sure I am not the only mother that feels this way, right!?!? 

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