Why do casseroles sound gross?

Hubby has leftover chicken and rice from dinner last night, and I am trying to put together a casserole to take to my dad. I've been browsing for recipes online, including my favorite site www.allrecipes.com. You'd think there'd be hundreds of chicken and rice casseroles. And, indeed, there are. Unfortunately, they all sound gross to me.

Maybe it's pregnant-lady tastes. Or perhaps it's because I haven't eaten a chicken and rice casserole in years. But every single recipe looks disgusting. Most include some type of "cream of" soup... such as cream of celery or cream of chicken. Frankly, the idea of eating "cream of" and rice just kind of nauseates me.

It must be pregnant-lady syndrome, right?

Either way, maybe I'll just turn the chicken into a nice potpie and eat the rice myself over the next few days. That may be the best way to use both ingredients with little waste, and avoid making Dad anything with "cream of" in the ingredients.

Unless someone here has a great chicken and rice casserole recipe?

Feeling Blue

I think I may be feeling a bit depressed. I don't know if it's because:

• I'm not getting enough exercise.
• My hormones are kicking into overdrive.
• I'm stressed about the upcoming changes in my life.
• I miss my mother terribly.

It's probably a combination of all those things. I know that eating right and exercising will help me combat some of this sadness--and might even give me a burst of energy. But I just can't seem to get my tush out of my chair today.

I'm definitely going to make an effort to take a nice brisk walk tomorrow. But for today, I think I'll just plop on the couch and watch some TV. Not surprisingly, that sounds like a really appealing activity.

Passed The Sugar Test

Whew! Just got the news that I passed my 3-hour glucose tolerance test. That means I don't have gestational diabetes. It's a huge relief, since I was really worried about it.

However, I probably should take my moderately-high results from the 1-hour test as a warning. It's time to cut back on the sugar! (It just sucks, 'cause I am totally craving candy bars and ice cream.)

I'm not a total sugar-aholic. A 1-pint container of Ben & Jerry's will last me for four snack sessions... that's basically 1/2 cup serving of ice cream each time I eat it. That's probably not too bad (especially since Hubby can eat the entire pint in one sitting!).

Nonetheless, I do need to try limiting my sugar to just one sweet snack per day... plus cut back on those starchy carbs and add some more veggies to my diet.

Another Walk

I've been averaging about two 30-40 minute walks each week. Hardly enough to maintain any kind of cardiovascular fitness. But, in truth, it's all I've been able to accomplish lately.

I'm going to seriously commit to increasing the number of walks I take. I'd love to be walking five or six days a week. Funny... my belly's going to keep getting bigger (and heavier), and now's the time I'm going to try and increase my exercise.

I did manage a 40-minute walk today with Hubby. It was such a beautiful day! We took the dogs with us--and they thoroughly enjoyed it!--and just ambled around the neighborhood. I wish every day could be this gorgeous!

Failed The "Sugar" Test

My OB just called and told me that I failed the 1-hour glucose test, which means there's a chance I have gestational diabetes. To double-check, I am supposed to have a 3-hour glucose test tomorrow. I admit that the news has left me a bit shaken.

In recent years, I've prided myself on being a relatively healthy person. I made pretty good food choices and exercised more than the average American. Pregnancy has kind of sent all my good habits out the window. I've barely been exercising, and I've been eating sweets and starchy carbs like they're about to be banned. So really, this news about the 1-hour glucose test shouldn't be a surprise to me. But it is. A very unpleasant surprise.

All that's required is a 12-hour fast for the 3-hour test, but I'm going to pay attention to my diet today anyway. Maybe I'll be lucky and I'll pass the 3-hour. Maybe this is the "scare" I need to get my diet and exercise back on track.

Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll pass the 3-hour with flying colors...

Short Break

Due to my mother's passing, I'll be taking a short break from blogging. I'll probably be back in a week or so.

Sugar... Sugar... Sugar

Originally, my OB/Gyn warned me to avoid too much sugar during the pregnancy. "Sugar is fertilizer for babies," he said. "Whenever you want to eat sugar, imagine a 10 pound baby crowning."

Nonetheless, sugar has been the one thing I've been craving during this pregnancy. It's strange, since I've never before had a sweet tooth. Yesterday's sugar binge included a Snickers bar and 3 TastyKakes! It wasn't one of my finest moments.

Fortunately, those types of binges are becoming fewer. Most days I limit my sugar intake to just a cookie or two... or maybe a slice of pie. Sure, it would be better to avoid it all together. But at least I'm trying to keep my portions fairly moderate.

As a result, my weight gain has finally stabilized! I was starting to worry. But I've only gained about 2 pounds over the last 4 weeks, which is what my OB/Gyn suggested at my last doctor's visit. So I'm back on track, and I'm happy about that.

Walking Weather

Today was the perfect weather for a nice, brisk walk. Well... so it's more like a waddle. But it still counts as exercise!

The air was crisp and cool, but not so cold that I needed gloves. I just wore a light jacket to keep of the chill of the wind, plus a pair of sweatpants. The sun was shining brightly, and a lot of folks around the neighborhood were working in their garages.

Spring is definitely in the air! I'm really looking forward to ditching my baggy sweatpants, however. I bought them two sizes too large so I could fit into them during pregnancy, but they make me feel fat all over (instead of just fat in the tummy).

Swollen

Cut today's walk down to 35 minutes, and felt pretty good afterwards. So far, no signs of pains or aches. I do have some seriously swollen feet, however.

Other than that, though, spent most of the day sitting in a chair. Most of the time spent with my mother is spent sitting by her bed, holding her hand, etc. I don't get a lot of activity when I'm at my parents' house.

As for my diet, it was pretty decent today. I resisted the urge to eat a mini lemon pie, a slice of coconut cake, and a huge container of French fries. And I'm planning a meal of stir-fry veggies, tofu and brown rice for later this evening. So overall, my diet is going ok today.

Sore!

Ok... I guess I am still in the "athlete" mindset instead of the "pregnant" mindset. I went for a walk yesterday--a slow ambling stroll, really--and felt pretty good. So I kept walking for longer than usual. My total time was about an hour, which is still less than I used to do back during my "fit" days.

The result? My legs were sore, my ankles were swollen, and my feet hurt! I keep forgetting that I'm out of shape and carrying an extra 20+ pounds! Not to mention I'm walking funny these days--it's more of a waddle--so my weight is distributed differently on my hips, legs, knees and feet.

Speaking of knees... I've been having some serious knee pain lately. I've had knee pain in the past--usually when I've been running too much. I assume this new pain is a result of my extra weight and strange gait. I just hope it doesn't affect my future fitness activities (post-baby).

Ready To Walk

I visit my sick mother every day. She spends some days mostly sleeping or napping--or with other visitors--but at least I'm there to give Dad a helping hand. However, because these visits are time-consuming, it's not always easy to find time to exercise.

Then I had a revelation! Why not take a walk while Mom naps?

My parents live on a great road for walking. Although there are no sidewalks, the road is rural, safe, and relatively flat (so I can see oncoming cars).

So I packed up a bag with a pair of capris (good for warmer and cooler days), a tee-shirt, a sports bra, my old running shoes, some athletic socks, and a sweatshirt. They're my most basic pieces--nothing fancy or moisture-wicking--but they'll get the job done in a pinch. I keep the bag in my car all the time so it's ready to grab whenever I have a free hour.

The only thing I'm missing is my iPod. But maybe that's a good thing. Since the road is fairly rural, it's probably a good idea for me to keep my ears open (for dogs, animals, cars, etc.). And this will give me a chance to really enjoy nature, especially during this beautiful Spring season. Perhaps it will help clear my mind and lower my stress levels.

Sleep!

Many experts agree that adequate sleep is important for maintaining our health. Unfortunately, my sleep has been both sporadic and restless. I chalk it up to a few different reasons:

Pregnancy: It's harder for me to find a comfortable position these days. I prop myself up with lots of pillows (right now Hubby and I have ten on our bed!), but sometimes I just can't get comfortable! Moreover, I find myself waking every hour to use the bathroom. My bladder has become the size of a peanut, I think.

My mother: Her terminal illness and daily care is starting to take an emotional toll on me. I tend to have a crying jag most nights--usually shortly after I get into bed, perhaps because my mind is clear to think about her. And I also dream about her a lot, too, which interferes with my rest.

Reading: Around the time my mom took a turn for the worst, I started reading books in bed before turning in for the night. Big mistake. I've always wrestled with insomnia, and for many years followed the standard sleeping rule: Use the bed for sleeping only. As soon as I started reading in bed, I found it much harder to fall asleep at night, which means I get fewer hours of rest.

I've been trying to follow Steve Pavlina's guidelines for How to Become an Early Riser, but I just don't have the discipline to do it. Nonetheless, I'm going to keep trying. I need to do something to get my sleeping schedule back on track.