Thank goodness! For the first time in weeks--or has it been months?--I finally took a walk! I feel great!
It was a sunny but cold day today... but I didn't mind. I just bundled up, strapped on my iPod and went traipsing through my neighborhood. It felt great to get out and breathe some fresh air, even if my walk was fairly short (compared to pre-pregnancy exercise sessions).
I'd been taking it easy because of a minor pregnancy complication. But I hadn't seen any signs of the complication, and my body was feeling pretty good. Plus, my doc hadn't suggested bed rest, so I figured a short walk would be okay.
One reason I was anxious to walk is because a vicious bout of the flu is being passed around my family right now. Hubby was down with it a few days ago. The last thing I want to do is get sick, and I know exercise can help give my immune system a boost.
I'm so glad I got some exercise today! As long as everything stays okay with my pregnancy, I'm going to try and ease into an every-other-day habit. Now's a great time, too, since Spring is on the way!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Finding Insurance
(Sponsored Post)
In the past, Hubby and I kept our insurance levels at the bare minimum. Essentially, we purchased just enough to cover our belongings, and we generally chose higher deductibles so we could lower our premiums. It seemed to be the wisest financial choice, since both of us are skilled professionals with income.
However, now that we have Baby on the way, we've had to rethink our position on insurance. Since this is our first child, we really have no idea what type of financial impact this "new addition" will have on our life. As a result, we both want to make sure that we have adequate insurance coverage in the event of an emergency, disaster or other damaging event.
And we're not the type of folks to blindly go with the first insurance company that offers us their business. Instead, we prefer to browse around and shop for price quotes to ensure that we get a good deal. Fortunately, there are plenty of insurance websites that can help us find the right coverage for the right price. Car Insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance and health insurance are just a few of the different types of insurance that can be researched online.
Hubby and I haven't yet made any final decisions about the new insurance coverage we will need. But by researching different types of insurance with online insurance websites, we're confident that we'll be able to choose an insurance plan that meets our new and growing needs.
In the past, Hubby and I kept our insurance levels at the bare minimum. Essentially, we purchased just enough to cover our belongings, and we generally chose higher deductibles so we could lower our premiums. It seemed to be the wisest financial choice, since both of us are skilled professionals with income.
However, now that we have Baby on the way, we've had to rethink our position on insurance. Since this is our first child, we really have no idea what type of financial impact this "new addition" will have on our life. As a result, we both want to make sure that we have adequate insurance coverage in the event of an emergency, disaster or other damaging event.
And we're not the type of folks to blindly go with the first insurance company that offers us their business. Instead, we prefer to browse around and shop for price quotes to ensure that we get a good deal. Fortunately, there are plenty of insurance websites that can help us find the right coverage for the right price. Car Insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance and health insurance are just a few of the different types of insurance that can be researched online.
Hubby and I haven't yet made any final decisions about the new insurance coverage we will need. But by researching different types of insurance with online insurance websites, we're confident that we'll be able to choose an insurance plan that meets our new and growing needs.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fighting Disease With Diet
My mom's long and painful struggle with cancer has really made me take a long, hard look at my own life.
We've all heard stories of people who "pointlessly" lived the "perfect" healthy life. They ate healthy foods, exercised regularly, didn't smoke, didn't drink excessively, and didn't do drugs. Yet they still ended up with fill-in-the-disease-here and died too young.
And we've also heard stories about very old people who lived extremely unhealthy lives. They ate nothing but potato chips and candy bars, they were sedentary couch potatoes, and they smoked 2 packs of cigs a day. And they also lived to be 90+ years old without a single major illness.
But health experts say that those people are the exception, not the rule.
So what's the truth? Is it all just a game of chance? Does living healthy really make a difference in the final outcome?
I've always believed that life is pretty much a craps shoot. But I've also believed that it's important to play the odds. By this I mean that healthy living doesn't guarantee a healthy life... but it does put the odds in your favor.
And to a certain extent... it's all about achieving some kind of balance between the "ideal" and the "realistic."
Or am I just deluding myself... and it's all just a matter of spinning the roulette wheel and hoping for the lucky number?
We've all heard stories of people who "pointlessly" lived the "perfect" healthy life. They ate healthy foods, exercised regularly, didn't smoke, didn't drink excessively, and didn't do drugs. Yet they still ended up with fill-in-the-disease-here and died too young.
And we've also heard stories about very old people who lived extremely unhealthy lives. They ate nothing but potato chips and candy bars, they were sedentary couch potatoes, and they smoked 2 packs of cigs a day. And they also lived to be 90+ years old without a single major illness.
But health experts say that those people are the exception, not the rule.
So what's the truth? Is it all just a game of chance? Does living healthy really make a difference in the final outcome?
I've always believed that life is pretty much a craps shoot. But I've also believed that it's important to play the odds. By this I mean that healthy living doesn't guarantee a healthy life... but it does put the odds in your favor.
And to a certain extent... it's all about achieving some kind of balance between the "ideal" and the "realistic."
Or am I just deluding myself... and it's all just a matter of spinning the roulette wheel and hoping for the lucky number?
Seafood Awareness
What did one oyster say to another?
We're still friends, even if you are a little cracked.
I know… I know… terrible joke. I never claimed to be the next Steven Wright.
But ever since I've started eating seafood again, I've been focusing more on the quality of my seafood. Although I think this type of food is generally healthy, there are some warnings associated with many different types of seafood.
Fortunately, websites like BeOysterAware.com help me learn more about the issues surrounding seafood, such as the risks and cautions associated with eating oysters.
BeOysterAware.com is a great place to learn about Gulf oysters as well as find new recipes for preparing and serving these mollusks. So check it out if you're looking for loads of information about oysters.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Potato Chips
As many of you know, my mom is very ill. As a result, I've kind of been grabbing meals whenever and however I can. Many times this is a standard sandwich, since it's easy and simple.
Unfortunately, I have a horrible habit of eating potato chips with sandwiches. I like the contrasting texture of the potato chip's crunch. I also feel the need to have "just a little something" with a sandwich, and chips just seem to be the perfect accompaniment. (Why else would they always come with sandwiches in most restaurants and delis?)
I've been trying to come up with a healthier substitution for potato chips as a sandwich side dish. Pretzels and corn chips really aren't a better solution. Baby carrots or cucumber slices provide a crunch, but they're not really satisfying when it comes to taste. Anyone have a better suggestion?
Unfortunately, I have a horrible habit of eating potato chips with sandwiches. I like the contrasting texture of the potato chip's crunch. I also feel the need to have "just a little something" with a sandwich, and chips just seem to be the perfect accompaniment. (Why else would they always come with sandwiches in most restaurants and delis?)
I've been trying to come up with a healthier substitution for potato chips as a sandwich side dish. Pretzels and corn chips really aren't a better solution. Baby carrots or cucumber slices provide a crunch, but they're not really satisfying when it comes to taste. Anyone have a better suggestion?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
No Exercise!
Because of a (hopefully) minor complication, my doc told me to avoid exercise for a while. So what have I been doing in the meantime?
Well... my mom has been terribly sick, so I've been spending plenty of time with her. When I'm not at my parents' house, I'm usually:
Well... my mom has been terribly sick, so I've been spending plenty of time with her. When I'm not at my parents' house, I'm usually:
- Napping
- Reading
- Eating
- Watching TV
Homestyle Restaurants
Depending on where you live, you may be familiar with "homestyle restaurants." The meals are supposed to mimic "homecooking," and generally include classic favorites like mashed potatoes, meatloaf, fried chicken and hamburgers.
In my part of the world, we have a homestyle restaurant on every neighborhood block. Quality differs, and in some cases may be just a step above the typical diner or "greasy spoon." Other homestyle restaurants, however, may actually come close to imitating the type of meals Grandma used to put on the table.
Choosing a healthy homestyle restaurant meal isn't always easy. Around here, butter is added to every vegetable. (Except green beans, which are cooked in ham broth.) Many dishes are fried, and the "wheat" bread is rarely 100% whole grain. Salads in homestyle restaurants are typically nothing more than some iceberg lettuce with a tomato slice and a couple of carrot shreds.
As a result, we try to avoid homestyle restaurants as much as possible. When forced to eat at one, however, I usually stick to these menu items:
In my part of the world, we have a homestyle restaurant on every neighborhood block. Quality differs, and in some cases may be just a step above the typical diner or "greasy spoon." Other homestyle restaurants, however, may actually come close to imitating the type of meals Grandma used to put on the table.
Choosing a healthy homestyle restaurant meal isn't always easy. Around here, butter is added to every vegetable. (Except green beans, which are cooked in ham broth.) Many dishes are fried, and the "wheat" bread is rarely 100% whole grain. Salads in homestyle restaurants are typically nothing more than some iceberg lettuce with a tomato slice and a couple of carrot shreds.
As a result, we try to avoid homestyle restaurants as much as possible. When forced to eat at one, however, I usually stick to these menu items:
- Baked potato
- Vegetable or seafood soups
- Broiled fish
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day Dinner
My previous Valentine's Day would have included:
Today, however, Hubby and I dropped things back a notch. No wine (since it's not good for Baby), and lunch out instead of dinner. My lunch wasn't the greatest--crab cake sandwich and onion rings. But hey... that's what the Baby wanted!
By the time the day is through, I'll probably have consumed a total of 2,200 calories. Much less than previous Valentine Day celebrations... and almost right on target for a pregnant lady needs.
The biggest saving grace is the lack of wine... since a bottle can easily have 1,000 calories (and it wasn't unusual for me to drink a bottle on my own during "special" occasions). Whew! It's always hard to believe how many calories I was really consuming during the days I was still drinking.
- Expensive restaurant meal with wine... including dessert.
- Wine at home
Today, however, Hubby and I dropped things back a notch. No wine (since it's not good for Baby), and lunch out instead of dinner. My lunch wasn't the greatest--crab cake sandwich and onion rings. But hey... that's what the Baby wanted!
By the time the day is through, I'll probably have consumed a total of 2,200 calories. Much less than previous Valentine Day celebrations... and almost right on target for a pregnant lady needs.
The biggest saving grace is the lack of wine... since a bottle can easily have 1,000 calories (and it wasn't unusual for me to drink a bottle on my own during "special" occasions). Whew! It's always hard to believe how many calories I was really consuming during the days I was still drinking.
Domain Registration
(Sponsored Post)
I own a few different blogs, but most of them rely on the blogger platform domain name. However, I've been thinking about using a domain registration service for some of the more popular ones.
Registering a domain name would give my visitors an easy-to-remember website URL for my blogs. If I want to increase traffic and boost my blog's performance, a domain name is practically essential.
Paylessdomains.com.au is a great service for bloggers who want a new domain name. It's relatively inexpensive, and it offers lots of extra features (for a fee), such as web hosting packages, email hosting and SSL Security Certificates. Register for more than one domain name and you can get discounts, too. The service is perfect for anyone looking for an Australian domain name.
I've registered domain names in the past, and the process is always very simple and easy. If you're hoping to boost traffic and develop a popular blog, a domain name is an inexpensive way to create a memorable blog URL.
I own a few different blogs, but most of them rely on the blogger platform domain name. However, I've been thinking about using a domain registration service for some of the more popular ones.
Registering a domain name would give my visitors an easy-to-remember website URL for my blogs. If I want to increase traffic and boost my blog's performance, a domain name is practically essential.
Paylessdomains.com.au is a great service for bloggers who want a new domain name. It's relatively inexpensive, and it offers lots of extra features (for a fee), such as web hosting packages, email hosting and SSL Security Certificates. Register for more than one domain name and you can get discounts, too. The service is perfect for anyone looking for an Australian domain name.
I've registered domain names in the past, and the process is always very simple and easy. If you're hoping to boost traffic and develop a popular blog, a domain name is an inexpensive way to create a memorable blog URL.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Taking It Easy
So because of a minor pregnancy complication, my doc advised that I "take it easy" for a little while. This means I've been spending the last couple of days on the couch. I am the quintessential couch potato. I'm surprised that the TV remote control hasn't become permanently embedded in the palm of my hand.
Another downside to "taking it easy" is that I'm trying to spend very little time on my feet, which means I am eating meals that require very little kitchen prep. My typical daily menu includes a few frozen dinners and the occasional delivery pizza or Chinese. Not exactly the healthiest foods.
Fortunately, Hubby is off work for a few days... so he can cook for me and pamper me! We just loaded up on a bunch of groceries, so he has plenty of ingredients for healthy meals. Now I only need to convince him that salad is a better dinner choice than fish 'n' chips!
Another downside to "taking it easy" is that I'm trying to spend very little time on my feet, which means I am eating meals that require very little kitchen prep. My typical daily menu includes a few frozen dinners and the occasional delivery pizza or Chinese. Not exactly the healthiest foods.
Fortunately, Hubby is off work for a few days... so he can cook for me and pamper me! We just loaded up on a bunch of groceries, so he has plenty of ingredients for healthy meals. Now I only need to convince him that salad is a better dinner choice than fish 'n' chips!
Kustom Fitness Website
(Sponsored Post)
The web can be a great tool for anyone looking to get fit, lose weight or become healthy. And it doesn't have to cost a lot of money! Kustom Fitness is a free website that allows you to plan your diet, track your goals, schedule workouts and more!
Kustom Fitness is also a great social networking website. You'll be able to meet friends and workout partners who share the same interest in fitness and weight loss. By joining a group of likeminded folks, you'll be more likely to stick to your healthy lifestyle since you'll have support and encouragement from others.
The website even offers Kustom Fitness Mobile, which allows you to stay connected through your cell phone!
And though there are a few additional services that require payment, most of these tools are absolutely free!
The web can be a great tool for anyone looking to get fit, lose weight or become healthy. And it doesn't have to cost a lot of money! Kustom Fitness is a free website that allows you to plan your diet, track your goals, schedule workouts and more!
Kustom Fitness is also a great social networking website. You'll be able to meet friends and workout partners who share the same interest in fitness and weight loss. By joining a group of likeminded folks, you'll be more likely to stick to your healthy lifestyle since you'll have support and encouragement from others.
The website even offers Kustom Fitness Mobile, which allows you to stay connected through your cell phone!
And though there are a few additional services that require payment, most of these tools are absolutely free!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Maternity Exercise Gear
At this point, I can still squeeze into some of the larger exercise sweatpants and shirts that I purchased after finding out about my pregnancy. But in a very short period of time--probably just another few weeks--I'm going to have trouble fitting into my workout clothing. As a result, I've been doing some browsing for maternity exercise clothes.
The results? In the secondhand market (eBay, thrift stores, etc.), there's almost no maternity exercise clothing. The same is true of discount stores (like Wal-Mart). There are some very pricey specialty stores that sell maternity workout gear, but the cost is crazy! A 3-piece yoga suit like this one costs $118! That's way ridiculous!
Since I'm not running or doing anything super strenuous, I don't really need fancy moisture wicking fabrics. I'll probably be ok in just plain cotton tees and shorts this summer. It's not the best choice, but it's certainly the most economical.
The results? In the secondhand market (eBay, thrift stores, etc.), there's almost no maternity exercise clothing. The same is true of discount stores (like Wal-Mart). There are some very pricey specialty stores that sell maternity workout gear, but the cost is crazy! A 3-piece yoga suit like this one costs $118! That's way ridiculous!
Since I'm not running or doing anything super strenuous, I don't really need fancy moisture wicking fabrics. I'll probably be ok in just plain cotton tees and shorts this summer. It's not the best choice, but it's certainly the most economical.
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