I am always curious about different diets, how to eat healthier/cleaner, but most importantly, what is going to make me FEEL the best. My husband and I talk about this a lot, what can we put in our bodies that make us think clearer, wake up more energized, work harder, WORK OUT Harder, etc.
I definitely remind him that his love of white bread and eating 10 sandwiches a day is definitely NOT the optimal way to go, but he does not always listen. I feel like it is a victory when I make him a wheat sandwich and he doesn’t complain!
The problem with eating super clean ALL the time, is that unless you are a magical unicorn (and I definitely do know a few lucky b*tches who are), then you have cravings for something other than broccoli and chicken, and eventually you are going to give in. When I go too long without eating what I really WANT, I end up going nuts over a meal and eating more than I should.
I also have a problem with cutting whole food groups out of your diet: ie. Atkins diet, and to some extent now, the Paleo diet. Now, it is not that I have never played with Atkins back 5, 6, 7 years ago when it was more popular. And I’ve seen friends who have had total body makeovers going Paleo, but for me, I have always wondered how Paleo can work when you cut out most grains/beans.
For that matter, how are legumes (beans) not considered natural? They are grown from the Earth and generally don’t need much to make into a meal, nothing refined about that. Who has read “Born to Run?” (I have a signed copy, thanks to my lovely friend, Shannon who got it signed for me in Singapore!)? The Tarahumara Indians eat mostly only a bean paste and tortillas. They run crazy, and are super thin!
Laura, another Houstonian and blogger over at Mommy Run Fast, just read a book about how the Paleo diet CAN work for endurance athletes. She is also doing a giveaway for 2 books HERE if you want to check it out. I put in to win, so cross your fingers for me.
Actually, why don’t you go ahead and browse over to Laura’s blog, but forgo entering the contest, so my odds stay higher?! I need to read this book. And I’m too cheap to buy it. Heck, I am too cheap to buy most things. I just asked for FOUR running books for valentine’s day/anniversary: A Life Without Limits, The Long Run, Pre: The Story of America’s Greatest Running Legend Steve Prefontaine, and Finding Ultra.
PREGNANCY FOOD MYTHS
Let me start with a story of my coworker, I’ll call her CW for “coworker”. Clever, eh?! CW apparently was a bit heavier a few years ago. I would have never guessed this, as she was a cute, petite girl, but anyhow, she explained to me one day at lunch that during and after college, she had just entered that carefree arena and ate whatever she wanted, gaining some 25-30 pounds. She finally decided to change her ways, and cleaned up her eating and began running 6 miles 3-4 days a week.
CW got pregnant last year with her first baby. She immediately stopped running, stopping drinking ALL caffeine, and was hyper crazy about everything (maybe that is dramatic, because she is actually a pretty relaxed person, but she did cut out a lot of stuff). I didn’t really think much about this, because hey, what could I say, I hadn’t yet been pregnant.
Well, now that I am, looking back, I think that is a little extreme. Heck, when I asked my doctor about caffeine intake, as I previously posted, she laughed and said “no problem, have a cup per day!” There are many myths out there still being perpetuated, so let me free your mind! (and I’ve linked to sources! So you can trust me. Hello?! I am a lawyer, I’d never lie. I took an oath! hehe).
Myth #1 – NO CAFFEINE: ”There does not appear to be any relationship between caffeine consumption and preterm birth,” Chescheir says. Also, if a pregnant woman drinks less than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day — the amount in about one 12-ounce cup of coffee — there’s no clear evidence she faces any increased risk of miscarriage or low birth weight.
Myth #2 – YOU ARE NOT EATING FOR TWO: Most of you probably already know this, but you are not eating for two. In fact, most websites suggest there is no need for extra calories the first trimester, only approx 150 calories extra per day the second trimester, and 300ish extra calories per day in your third and final trimester. If you eat everything you want every day, you will likely gain too much weight.
Myth #3 – YOU MUST EAT MEAT - if you are vegetarian, it is possible to continue on with a healthy pregnancy if you are vigilant about what you eat. Your prenatal vitamins will supply tons of iron, but otherwise, just make sure you eat foods with lots of vitamin and protein.
Myth # 4 – NO DELI MEATS – come on! I can’t believe they even tried to throw this out there to begin with. How many times have you gotten sick from eating lunch meat while not pregnant????? Probably never. Then why would you get this mysterious listeria while pregnant? It just isn’t that likely. If you are just really worried about it, microwave the meat to a high temp before using. But you’ll be fine, I promise!
Myth #5 – NO SUSHI – Again, if it is a place you’ve been and feel safe that their food has never made you ill, it is probably not an issue. The main concern here is getting food poisoning, which I hear is just doubly as painful pregnant, as not. Would I go to sushi once a week? Probably not. But I’d certainly go if I was craving it, tend toward cooked items, but maybe indulge in one or two pieces of sashimi. The other concern here is mercury levels, so stick to fish that is lower on the mercury scale!
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WHO LOVES MOROCCAN POUFS?
Or are we over those already? Because I was planning on putting a few poufs in the baby room. My thought there was that they would turn into really good seats for toddlers in a few years!
On Living Social right now you can buy these amazing gems for $110!!! There are something like 20-25 colors! Highly recommend you check them out! Click the picture to take you to the site.
In other news, Houston has been experiencing some massive fog the last few mornings. Below is my drive to work, and a picture of me, because, well, I was bored sitting in traffic, and I wanted you guys to see that I don’t wear black everyday like the baby “bump” pictures indicate (I am just trying to wear the same or similar outfit each week for a collage!).
Is there anything you WOULD NOT eat while pregnant?
What was your worst pregnancy craving?
Anyone pregnant and on the paleo diet??
Crystal this is my second comment in about 5 minutes but just wanted to let you know that I am loving your blog! I’ve also been through law school and tried to warn many friends from cutting whole food groups out of their diets. I’m with you
Thanks so much! I loved yours too!!!! Can’t wait to read more.
I ate sushi, maybe once a month in the later months, drank a healthy amount of coffee throughout, deli meat, soft cheese. I did only have one glass of wine total. You will figure out your own comfort level but I agree, those risks are often overblown.
Thanks for sharing about the giveaway! that fog is intense… I’ve heard about it on the radio in the mornings, but haven’t had to drive in it yet… stay safe!
I like your thoughts on the diets. I didn’t know that with Paleo you cut out beans… that does seem odd to me.
I haven’t thought about diet while pregnant (goes to show how close I am to taking that step!) but don’t think i’ll have too many issues other than wanting to eat way more than needed!
Hope you’re feeling good!
Great overview of the diets. Seriously, any extreme is bad for you. You simply burn more than you put in – no rocket science there.
I stayed clear of raw sushi, but I never really ate a ton of it anyway.
I enjoyed coffee and a glass of wine a week at the last tri. All is well:) I actually craved salty things, which means my hus def knocked me up bc I’m a sweets gal:)
Can’t wait to see your progress!