A new recipe!

Today has been a regular day. It was far too hot to get out in the garden and thank goodness because my energy level was completely on zero. I managed to pick up the house, pick about 6 cucumbers out of the garden and cook a few good meals. So, all in all not too bad! I found a new salad recipe which is good because I get burned out easily on the same old same old. And speaking of salad I picked about 3 cucumbers today were literally the length and almost width of my forearm, so needless to say I will have plenty of salad with fresh cucumbers! Man, I found another fitness type class I want totake after the baby. It's a womens kickboxing/aerobic class. I am so excited to start my post-baby workout. I am going to bust my but especially after all the careful eating I've done through out pregnancy I am ready for the weight to melt right off. HAHA. I can wish right? Well, I will share the recipe and be done for the day!



BLT Salad

any style of chopped lettuce
pre-cooked bacon (turkey or regular)
diced fresh tomatoes
mozzarella sprinkle cheese
sliced cucumber
any style of dressing you prefer

This is an easy, quick salad, that is super yummy! Enjoy!!

Belly Dancing, Love at First Hip Shake

We to a beginner's belly dancing class with a few friends and had a complete BLAST!! At first I was a little apprehensive about shaking and moving my big old pregnant butt! But, I felt completely comfortable with the easy, flowing movements. I was surprised to find my self sweating during the warming. The instructor explained that by isolating certain muscle groups like the hips, torso, arms and chest. It felt so liberating to be able to move without inhibition or worrying about how you look because everyone is moving and shaking. It was amazing to see a room full of woman, all different shapes, sizes and back grounds!! Even though I am not the best dancer I felt graceful and full of moves and rhythm. I am glad I found an exercise that is easy for a pregnant woman and that is fun and new! I love shaking up my work out and trying something new, I feel like it keeps me fresh. Now I feel super motivated to keep exercising and working out! I could definitely feel the burn in my abs (or where my abs used to be), my arms and my legs. We found out classes are $6 dollars a week which is super affordable so I'm definitely going back for more!! But, I definitely want to get a jingle belly dancing skirt because they looked soooo much fun and super sexy!! They are really cheap on amazon and I think it seems like a fun and cool accessory. So, for belly, I give it two thumbs up and it is highly recommended!!

Exercising in the Garden!

I have blogged before about how much I love getting out in my little garden and working up a good sweat. But, I am happy to say my healthy hobby is also paying off in the kitchen. Yesterday, I picked my first home-grown veggies; a cucumber and a yellow squash! And my little Zinnia's have bloomed and I've got quite a few little green tomatoes on the vine! I weeded my garden yesterday and today and picked raked out the leaves vor about 30 minutes and what a sweat! I cannot get over what a healthy hobby gardening has become for me. It gets me out of the house, burning calories and gives me healthy food options that don't cost a ton! I will post some pictures of my little veggies! They were so yummy! Also, if you want to check out more about the benefits of gardening check out this article;

http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/zimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use/gardening-is-good-exercise/

I went to the Doctor today for a check up and was even more encourage to find that my weight is still the same! I am so proud that I have been successfully managing my weight gain and I feel great! My swelling is down, my BP was awesome and my weight gain has stabilized.I wish I had been this diligent with my first pregnancy but I guess you live and you learn. Anyway, check out my little beauties!!!

Exploring the Wide World of Quinoa

Yesterday was a fun day of cullinary exploration. We were low on Hgroceries and I had to get creative. And wow! I was very pleasantly surprised by what I was able to create. I made what I would call a Quinoa and fresh cucumber salad. If you have never tried Quinoa you are in for a pleasant/healthy surprise. I didn't know how to accurately describe quinoa to someone who has never experienced it so I googgled a good definition. It is actuaally pronounced "Keen-wa". Here is some info about quinoa taken from ;

http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/06/24/what-is-quinoa/

Melanie · Healthy Eating · 43 Comments

What is Quinoa?

With so much talk about avoiding carbohydrates these days, it would be easy to overlook quinoa.

But, that would be a mistake… a big one!

For those of you who are wondering, it’s pronounced “KEEN-wah“.

If you’re looking for a highly nutritious carbohydrate, that’s not only going to help you stay lean, but will also maximize your energy levels, look no further… quinoa really does have it all!

So, what does quinoa taste like?
The taste and texture of quinoa is a bit like brown rice crossed with oatmeal. It’s fluffy, creamy, crunchy and somewhat nutty, all rolled into one.

The great thing is, it can be prepared in so many different ways, making it extremely versatile.

Quinoa is commonly thought of as a grain, probably because of how we use it, however it’s actually a relative of leafy green vegetables, like spinach and Swiss chard.

Nutritional qualities
A cup of quinoa will give you around 127 calories, 2 grams of fat, 23.4 grams of carbohydrates (2 of those being fibre), and 4.5 grams of protein.

In fact, it has a pretty similar nutritional profile to that of brown rice, except it’s slightly higher in overall protein content.

So, qunioa is a really great option if you’re trying to maintain an active lifestyle.

What is Quinoa?

4 health benefits of quinoa

1. Complete source of protein
Unlike most grains, which contain an incomplete source of protein (you need to pair them with another food to make the meal complete), quinoa provides the full spectrum of nine essential amino acids.

So, it’s a really great choice, particularly if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.

2. Great for cardiovascular health
Quinoa is especially high in is magnesium, which is important for maintaining good cardiovascular health.

Magnesium helps to relax the blood vessels, reducing the rates of hypertension, heart disease, or heart arrhythmias.

3. Provides antioxidant support
Regular intake of antioxidants is so important for warding off the damaging effects of free radicals, which we encounter on a daily basis.

Quinoa does a wonderful job of boosting your antioxidant levels — being high in both manganese and copper, which help to promote a healthy immune system, and ensure that red blood cells remain in top condition.

4. Reduces the risk of gallstones
Since quinoa is high in fibre, it helps keep the digestive system running smoothly, and can also help reduce your chance of getting gallstones.

A study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, found that those eating foods mostly rich in insoluble fibre, had a 17% lower risk of getting gallstones.

So, if you love your carbs, but would really like to find a healthier option to plain old white pasta or rice, quinoa is a great substitute for those higher-carb foods.

Ok, so now that you know a little more about the amazing super carb, Quinoa, check out how I prepared it.

Quinoah & Fresh Cucumber Salad

1 cup of quinoa

2 cups of water

(prepare quinoa as directed on box)

2 tsp of fresh lemon juice

2 tsp of olive oil

Sea Salt

1 fresh cucumber (diced)

1 cup of stir fried tofu

5 leaves of fresh mint (minced)

5 leaves of fresh basil (minced)

Lite soy sauce

Prepare quinoa and add lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt (to taste) and diced cucumbers. Stir fry the cubed and washed tofu in a tbs. of olive oil and two tbs. of lite soy sauces. Let cool and add to quinoa mixture. Allow to cool and serve. Salt or season to taste. Enjoy a guilt-free and nutritiously filling meal.

Runner's World Article ( A Must Read

This article was a really excellent way for me to start planning my after pregnancy work out plan. After my body and scars all heal I want to jump in there, start out slow but steadily get back in shape.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-520--9397-2-1X5-2,00.html

Update!

Went to the Doctor last week! My weight was good! I haven't gained ANY weight in about a month and a few weeks, which is excellent. It means my diet and exercise have allowed me to stabalize my weight! As the baby gets bigger I know there will be some inevitable gain but I want to keep that under control! And maybe only gain about 5-10 more pounds. We also found out at this Dr.'s apt. the baby is
                                 A BOY!!!!
We are all very excited. I have been hitting up some sale and have gotten a few outfits already! His name is going to be Gabriel Anthony! The middle is after my father's middle name.

Okay, some odd dream phenomenon I have been experiencing lately is dreams of running. I know it is not uncommon to have odd dreams while pregnant but I think this one is a manifestation of my mind. I have been reading running magazines lately and I have always wanted to be a runner. I've found some ways for beginniners to start running. But, I can't do much six months pregnant so I am a little frusterated! I want to start running but I don't think now is a good time to start especially because it is so hot!

Well, I will update soon!