My thoughts at 37 weeks of my pregnancy

As you might already know, I am 37 weeks pregnant (due July 8th) with my first child (a girl :). While I am having some discomfort now, I have been blessed with a wonderful, healthy pregnancy.

Throughout my pregnancy I have been overwhelmed (in a good way) with the idea that another person was growing and developing inside of me. And, that I already loved this baby - who I had never met. I have enjoyed experiencing her growth by noticing how her movements feel different and stronger. I am amazed that I have an approximately 6 lb baby inside of me. While I haven't yet laid eyes on her, I know she will become the center of my life.

As I approach this major life change, it is difficult to imagine what life will be like as a new mom. Things I wonder..

• Will I be a good mom?
• Will I find the patience necessary in caring for a baby or child?
• How will I deal with sleep deprivation?
• How will I deal with not being in control and able to follow a plan? (I am a huge planner.)
• What will it be like to balance being a mom, wife, and professional?
• What will our little girl look like? (I've imagined her will a full head of dark hair, but who knows..)
• What kind of personality will she have?
  
• Will she be an easy baby?

Like most expecting moms, I have a picture of how I think things will be, but I know rationally that I actually have no idea. I am finding comfort in the unknown and realizing that while I have thoughts about how I'd like to be, that I yet to meet the little one who will dictate much of this.

What I ate this week (from my farm share)
We are members of a CSA (Community Support Agriculture). This basically means that we purchased a share in a farm for the growing season. Each week we pick up a box of produce that contains whatever is being harvested at that time.

Last Wednesday we received:
Beets
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Summer Squash
Basil
Strawberries

Here's what I did with all those fruits and veggies.

• Wednesday we ate the strawberries and they were delish. Picked that day and warm from the sun. I also made whole grain pasta with some of the basil and broccoli.
• Saturday I made a salad for a potluck and added grated carrots (from the previous week) and raw beets.
• Sunday we grilled the summer squash and ate along with pork chops
• Monday we had the leftover grilled squash along with quesadillas
• Tuesday I made brown rice pasta with chicken, tomato sauce, and cauliflower (which I steamed before adding it to the pasta).
  

It's sometimes a challenge to figure out how to consume the abundance of vegetables we pick up, but it's a good one to have!

How to Achieve a Healthier Body

Are you confused by conflicting advice on what to eat? Would you like to feel better in your body without willpower or deprivation? Would you like to get peace and freedom around food so you can enjoy life more?

Join me for a F*ree Workshop-by-Phone entitled

"How to Achieve a Healthier Body:

8 Steps to Whole Body Wellness"

Many people want to have more energy and feel better in their body, but they don’t know where to start. Or, they’ve tried lots of things that haven’t worked or yielded lasting results. I created a system to teach others how to feel vibrant and confident in their body and generally enjoy life more.

In this F*ree Workshop-by-Phone, you’ll learn the steps my clients and I use to feel dramatically better with the way we’re eating and living, and I will answer your questions about the program.

In this practical, info-rich program you will learn to:

• make your health and wellness a priority
• choose higher quality foods
• determine which foods work best for you
• practice extreme self-care
• not just feed your body, feed your soul
• start or change your exercise routine
• change HOW you eat
• address the emotional piece of what’s going on

This Workshop-by-Phone is being held on Wednesday, June 11th at 12:00 PM EST.

Click here to register

Are you truly eating WHOLE grains?

You have heard the term “whole grain” but do you know what these words mean? When I ask clients for examples of whole grains, they often say “whole grain bread and crackers.” While these foods may use whole grains, they are not a whole grain.

In order for something to be considered a whole grain, it must not have anything added or removed. The entire edible portion must be intact. The most common whole grain is brown rice. And just like any whole grain, it has three parts – a germ, bran, and endosperm. If any of these parts are removed, it will then be considered a “refined” grain or refined carbohydrate. Brown rice is turned into white rice when the germ and bran are removed.

Why do we care about the bran and germ? These are the parts of the whole grain that contain most of the nutrients and fiber. The endosperm is largely the starchy part of the grain. When we consume a grain that is still “whole,” we may experience the following benefits:

• Feel more satisfied
• Steadier, longer-lasting energy because the grain takes longer to be digested than a refined grain which quickly turns into sugar
• Lower cholesterol
• Reduced risk of certain types of cancer and heart disease
• Improved elimination

Food manufacturers realize that health-conscious consumers want to eat more whole grains, so they have been adding more of them into their products. This is a good thing, but not all “whole grain” products are created equal. Some products have a very small amount of whole grains and others may be made with 100% whole grains. In either case, the packaging may tout that it is made with whole grains. In most cases, when whole grains are added to crackers or bread, the grain is milled into a flour instead of being left whole. In this case, we still get the fiber and nutrients from the whole grain, but it is processed differently by our body because it has already been broken down.

Next time you go food shopping, buy some whole grains. I recommend buying a few and trying a new one each week. Whole grains to look for:

· old fashioned rolled oats

· steel cut oats

· oat groats

· barley

· buckwheat

· quinoa

· bulgur

· millet

· amaranth

· wheat berries

Note that some of the whole grains listed above (such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and amaranth) are not technically grains; they are seeds or berries. From a culinary perspective we consider them grains because of how they are cooked and eaten.

Secrets to Boosting Your Energy

You're invited to attend my F*ree Workshop-by-Phone being held **THIS
WEDNESDAY**.

Are you constantly feeling tired or just want to learn how to boost
your energy in the morning or afternoon? During this workshop you will
discover several simple steps you can take to increase your energy,
naturally.


Secrets to Boosting Your Energy: Tips Every Busy Person Needs to Know

Click here to register:
http://www.wellnesshealthcoaching.com/may08.htm

Here's what you'll learn in this workshop:

* 5 foods that will drain your energy
* 4 types of food that will increase your energy
* 4 simple lifestyle changes you can make that will have a BIG impact.

This Workshop-by-Phone is being held on Wednesday, May 21st at 12:00pm
EST.

What is a Workshop-by-Phone?
A Workshop-by-Phone is a class that is conducted over a phone line (a
conference call line to be exact). You can attend this
Workshop-by-Phone from anywhere in the world.

Click here to register:
http://www.wellnesshealthcoaching.com/may08.htm

Want to pick your own strawberries (or other fruit)?

I just learned about a wonderful website where you can find places, all over the country, where you can pick your own fruit or vegetables.

The site provides a wealth of information, by state and county, on the various farms. You can find out if the farm is organic, which fruits and vegetables you can pick and when, and the address and phone number for the farm.

If you are in the Triangle area and want to pick strawberries, here are some good options for organic farms:

• Whitted Bowers Fruit Farm (organic)
• Volmer Farm (organic)
• Flat Rivery Nursery (not organic but I don't think they spray)

Click here to locate other farms where you can pick your own!

Want to Ease Allergy Symptoms?

Are you suffering from congestion, sinus pressure, or watery and itchy eyes? If so, you’re not alone. Many of my clients, friends, and colleagues have been suffering from allergies recently, so I thought I would share some remedies for easing your symptoms.

Nettle

Nettle is an herb that has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects. Taking ½ teaspoon tincture or 1-2 capsules (preferably freeze-dried) every 2-4 hours may alleviate symptoms. A tincture is a liquid extract that works faster and more completely than other forms of supplementation. Tinctures come is small glass bottles with a dropper.

Allium cepa

This is a homeopathic remedy that relieves runny nose and burning, watery eyes. Homeopathic remedies come in a container that resembles chap stick. The container has little pellets that taste sweet and you let them dissolve in your mouth.

Citrus Seed Extract

Citrus Seed Extract, such as Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), alleviates allergy symptoms – including hay fever. Following the directions on the container, you can put a few drops of GSE in 1/4 cup water or juice 2-3 times daily with or without meals. (Note: you always want to dissolve GSE in liquid. It is very bitter, so dissolving in juice makes it easier to get down.)

Eliminate Dairy

Dairy is a very mucus producing food, and therefore, removing dairy from your diet during allergy season, can reduce your symptoms. I have found that you must remove it completely in order to experience the benefits.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is commonly used to treat allergies by working on stabilizing the immune system, decreasing swelling and inflammation of local tissues to stop itching, decreasing secretions of mucus membranes to reduce nasal discharge and watery eyes, and strengthening your natural resistance to antigens. If you would like names of acupuncturists in your area, email me and I’ll be glad to pass along some names. (Note: Many people are hesitant about acupuncture because they think it will hurt. Trust me, it is not painful at all. In fact, it’s incredibly relaxing.)

Limit Your Exposure

If you are a chronic allergy sufferer, you might want to consider avoiding exercising outdoors.windy days, avoid going outside if your allergies are severe. Particularly on