35 Weeks: Fat and HOT!

35 Weeks now! Life is really good. We just had our second baby shower last weekend...a couple's shower thrown by Shane's family. So much fun! When I say couple's, what I really mean is the men stayed outside and drank beer and played cornhole. I didn't even get to speak to a few of the guys who came, but never inside (which is surprising seeing as how all the food was inside!). I honestly could have played a better guest of honor and walked around and mingled more....but did I mention how friggin HOT it is outside? I mingled for the first bit, then I sat my happy butt down. I didn't hardly move the next day I was so exhausted from the shower. Didn't know opening gifts could do that to someone!

Shane had a surprise shower given a few nights ago by coworkers at his previous company. He left in May, and it was so sweet they still planned this for him! He was very emotional afterwards that so many people care  that much for him. And they should, he is pretty amazing. (Maybe I'm a little biased though!)

Grayson's nursery is almoostttttt complete! All we need is a changing table. We are currently having trouble deciding on one. At the moment, we're entertaining the thought of some type of bookshelf instead of a traditional changing table. The word I've been getting lately from other moms is how they never used theirs...but I already have the pad and cover for it...and washed the cover, so you understand my dilemma (enter monkey covering eyes emoji)! I want to have it available....but something we can use for later. I registered for these really cute wire baskets from target that I have no idea what I will end up using them for....but c'mon, they are so cute! I'll find something. questioned a lot of things on the registry, those included. But he's a guy. Its a good thing I'm the mom and not him!

We have so. many. diapers. I'm actually questioning at this point if I'll use them all. And we got more the other night at Shane's work shower that his mom is bringing over later. This is a good thing of course, but oh my gosh. Diapers. Everywhere. Stacks and stacks. I registered for the recommended amounts of each size....and that just kind of went out the window. But I do feel good that, a) I have plenty for Grayson, and b) I am able to help out another family if we actually do have too many. Diapers are expensive! So is formula. That is a huge motivator for me to exclusively breastfeed (not to mention the nutritonal benefits far outweigh formula...). I know it actually is the better choice, or only choice, for some moms...but really. Breastmilk is free. I never noticed until the other day that they had formula locked behind the counter at the Food Lion. But hey, its a small little container for $30 and it doesn't last very long. That's crazyyyyy! Nooooo thanks.

Well, my coffee is gone and I'm sure anyone reading this is ready for me to wrap up. Today I'm getting candles packed to take to a local emporium Monday morning. I'm so excited! I met the owner yesterday and I get such good vibes from the place. Tonight we are eating at Shane's grandparents' house since his uncle is home from Canada. Everyone have a good weekend!

8 Months Preggo!

Guys. In less than two days (I'm typing this at 10:00 at night) I will be EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT. There's something about saying that that just makes me feel....actually I'm not sure how to describe it. Accomplished? Large as a whale?  Like part of some exclusive group..when in fact, its just a milestone. A milestone for sure, but just a milestone. I'm not sure how I feel. I'll get back to you on that.

But I am definitely feeling it though. Eight months, I mean. Large. I've gained 18 pounds so far. I don't sleep through the night EVER anymore. The culprits take turns each night- waking up to pee at least once, but sometimes up to 4 times IN A SINGLE NIGHT KILL ME NOW, or I get hungry and have to visit the fridge for some string cheese, or I'll visit the medicine cabinet for Tums, or the most evil of them all- back pain. I mean it is just RIDICULOUS.

The only nice culprit I've found for keeping me up at night is the reason behind all this- my sweet Grayson. Are anyone else's babies wild at midnight? He is a maniac!

 I definitely feel blessed and am not complaining though- I've read it over and over: at this stage, check your baby to make sure he's moving if you haven't felt him all day. I was almost worried by how big of a deal they make it. Is my baby okay? Is he going to move? What if I can't get him to move? But no. Even with him running out of room in his little home, he's probably the most active he's been thus far (which probably explains my insane backaches!!).

Shane, I'm hesitant to admit, is jealous of my pillow. I am OBSESSED with my pillow (its a Snoogle if anyone was wondering! BUY IT NOW). Try to take it away from me, I dare you. 32 weeks and I will still take you down. Seriously though, I don't know how women go without them. I would realistically say I wouldn't let myself have a second pregnancy if you told me I couldn't have my pillow the next go-round. I'm that dead serious. It blows my mind that I have to adjust my belly when I get in bed at night. For everyone who's never been pregnant, let me spell it out for you. I literally have to kind of pick up my belly and position it so I can get comfortable. It is the weirdest thing! I feel weird even typing that for fear no one would actually believe me...but anyways. Back to Shane. The poor guy finally gets to be home every night with me now, and I want very little to do with him while we sleep. 1) He's not soft and cushy like my pillow and 2) I get SOOOO hot at night, but he feels like a hot coal to the touch. I feel like I'm suffocating. Two more months, babe, two more months.

On a lighter and less whiny note, I had an AWESOME workout yesterday. The trip to the gym started with a leg workout that would make a grown man cry. Okay, minus a LOT of weight...I went light...but it was still tough, mind you. My legs today are impressively sore. I'm not sure if I've waddled more today because I'm preggs, or from being the day after legs! I did my yoga afterward, and finished with a killer treadmill routine. I was feeling superb and had nothing pressing on my schedule, so I pushed on. With 3 minute increments, I increased the incline by 2- so when I got to 15 minutes, I was at incline 10 and DYING. I mean, dying. I was borderline pushing my pregnant limits to being foolish I admit, but luckily that was time to start backing it down again- same increments. I continued walking another 20 minutes for the cool down. I'm still not sure if that was the smartest thing I've done this week....maybeeee should've gone a little easier, but at the same time, all is well, so....all good, right? I was crazy tired today though. Didn't do a heck of a lot other than run errands with my mom and a teeny bit of yoga.

I feel like I should go to bed here soon...but....who is to say I'll actually be able to sleep?! Sighs. 

The Pregnant Life

Has it been almost a year since I've blogged? My bad, guys. BUT! To my credit, I have tried to log in a few different times over the past few months, and my computer-illiterate self could not log in. It just kept sending me to Google+. Did that happen to anyone else? No? Just me? Thought so. 

Soooo....incase you missed my title, I am pregnant!! 29 weeks to be exact, so...pretty far along. For a quick game of catch up....

• I was SO SICK my first trimester! I was nauseous every morning, but the action ::rolls eyes:: was mostly in the evenings. I HATED food (me? hate food? something's VERY. WRONG.) and as a result, felt extremely weak. My saving grace was having high quality prenatal vitamins. You can find these at many places, but I found a low price at Vitacost. 

The key to a good prenatal vitamin in the first trimester is one that you can take on an empty stomach. Some lower quality prenatal vitamins can make you sick if you're already feeling low and can't eat. These are gluten free, organic, and have high quality foods and amounts of each vitamin. 

The only thing they lack is fish oil- which is fine for me. The recommended amount of fish oil for pregnant women is 200-300mg per day, but my chiropractor told me early on that, in his opinion, we need 3000! HUGE difference, right? But let me tell you...once I stepped up my intake, it made a huge difference- especially with "pregnant brain." I didn't feel like such an incompetent idiot anymore. Now that I'm further along, I think it is part of the reason I AM SO HUNGRY. ALL THE TIME. Fish oil shoots up your metabolism, and with the amounts I'm taking...well I think it has been my saving grace with all the pizza I eat. (Enter monkey emoji covering his face)

Fitness during first and second trimester was....spotty at best. No I mean, at least once a week, sometimes more on a good week. Definitely more towards the end of second trimester. I was still working as general manager of a local restaurant in town, and with coordinating all catering events too, my life felt completely upside down- even before I got pregnant. At the first of the year, we started opening only for dinner, so my work day did not end until 10:00 or later....and I didn't get to sleep in. I wasn't sleeping nearly enough, and by the time we actually opened every day, I was exhausted and ready to be finished. After a long debate, I turned in my notice. I ended up being taken out less than a week later due to a lot of anxiety from job stress. Not the best way to end my career, but taking care of my baby is number one priority, hands down. Luckily, I worked for great people (and with 5 kids, they get it) who totally understood and wished me well.

Now for the last month, I've been home playing stay at home mom- minus the baby, of course. I've been painting the outside of the house (it still looks like a shack, so....), getting the nursery ready, and actually, I've taken over my Mother's candle company. We completely rebranded the company, check it out! www.cleancandlecompany.com It lets me bring out my semi-creative side, and this fall once Grayson (oh yeah, that's his name by the way hehe) gets here and is a couple months old, I can start going to trade shows and trot my candles around for people to grab. 

Another plan, because I love having a different day every day, is start doing online coaching. This is something I've wanted to do for years, and started studying to get my certification, but with work and renovating my house, it was hard to study and didn't feel like the right time. I knew this is what I wanted to do when men and other trainers started coming up to me in the gym (not creepers, just actually nice guys) and telling me they had noticed my routines, and I really knew what I was doing and they were impressed. I understand how to write workouts based on the different muscle groups and then of course different goals each individual could have, and I want to bring that to help others understand it and achieve their goals too. 

All in good time though! For now, I'm enjoying growing my bambino. He is due July 14th. :) 

Hopefully from now, since I know how to log in (pshhh), I will start blogging more again!

-Erin

The Surprising Truth About Egg Yolks

Most meal plans you buy from trainers or online all have one common tip: egg whites only. Sound familiar? This is because the majority of the fat in eggs is all contained in the yolk. There has also been a lot of bad talk about yolks being high in cholesterol. Sounds legitimate.

The truth is, in the '70s, cereal companies spent big bucks convincing Americans that eggs were too high in cholesterol and were associated with heart risks- this fact did not come from well-meaning nutritionists. What you SHOULD know is that there is a huge difference in bad cholesterol, and dietary (good) cholesterol- which eggs are full of! The real problem- NOT eggs- with diabetes and obesity is the intake of too much processed food.

What I really want you to know is I eat whole eggs every day- usually 3- and you should too. When you realize how good they are for you, it’s hard to pass them up. Although the yolk only contains 43%  of the egg’s protein (which is why so many lean towards the egg whites only as a source of breakfast protein),  the yolk is also a smaller portion than the egg whites- making it more protein-rich in actuality. 

What’s Inside

To put it plainly, the yolk of 1 large egg has 2.7 g protein, 210 mg cholesterol,
0.61 g carbohydrates, 4.51 g total fat.

Egg yolks are undoubtedly one of the richest sources of the B-complex vitamin choline- which is associated with better neurological function and reduced inflammation. Not only that, but choline breaks down into bethane, which is used during the methylation cycle. To speak plainly, this helps produce ‘happiness’ hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and neorephinephrine. To top it off, choline helps fetal brain development when eaten by pregnant women.

While the egg whites contain a great amount of protein, it is a fact that all the vitamins and minerals are solely in the yolk.  Minerals include calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, etc.

Egg yolks are high in Sulphur- this is an indispensable nutrient that helps with vitamin B absorption and liver function. Sulphur is also necessary for production of collagen and keratin, which we all know is vital for creating and maintaining shiny hair, strong nails, and glowing skin.

Color

While the actual color tones varies, it does not directly affect the nutritional value. The yellow color characterizing the yolk is due to lutein and zeaxanthin, which are yellow or orange carotenoids known as xanthophylls. Lutein and zeaxanthin protect again vision loss- ever hear the old sayin about eating carrots for better vision? This is the truth behind the joke- yellow and orange foods contain carotenoids and are great for your vision health!

The color is wholly influenced by chicken feed. As you may imagine, the better the chicken is fed, the higher egg quality is produced. This meaning using a feed comprising  a large component of yellow, fat-soluble pigments. A good example of this is alfalfa- a dark green plant.

If I haven’t totally convinced you of while I so highly regard eggs in whole, here’s a fun fact for you! The yolk is often used to make liquors like egg nog. The yolk can also be extracted for egg oil to be used in various cosmetic, nutritional and medicinal uses.

I hope you’ve found this information not only interesting, but highly useful. Enjoy! 

Pizza Salad

Enjoyed my dinner al fresco, tonight! 

So two quick facts: 1. Most everyone loves pizza. Right? And 2. Most everyone hates salad? I know I'm right on that one. 

But here's the thing. Any nutritionist or trainer will tell you how important it is to have a big green salad every day. Not to lose weight (although it is a plus to it!) but because the leafy greens have so many good nutrients in there, it's a no brainer. 

So now, the trick is to come up with more tasty combinations than your average, boring house salads. Since going strictly paleo, my mom and I have stumbled upon enough different ways to make a salad, it's not only different every day, but now we crave them and can't wait. 

Tonight's salad was no exception. And it's so super simple, too! Start with whatever greens you want (spinach, kale, etc), now add pepperoni, olives (I love both kinds!!), mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and lastly, grate some fresh Parmesan or asiago cheese. Easy! And you don't even need dressing. But as with most of my salads, I added a sprinkle of salt and drizzled a little avocado oil. 

Enjoy! 

Oil Pulling with Coconut Oil

I find it a little ironic that an old Indian practice dating back over a thousand years ago is making its way back around and becoming trendy again; and yet still there are many people who have never heard of it: oil pulling. 

If you stand with a group of friends and bring it up, maybe only one or two of them have heard about it or tried it. The benefits though, are rewarding enough to make you wonder why you haven't been doing it all along.

So what is oil pulling, exactly? The most common oil is coconut, but sesame and sunflower oil also work well. 

Step 1: On an empty stomach, take 2-3 teaspoons (I just grab a spoon from the drawer and eyeball it) of your oil (most grocery stores are carrying organic now, but if you can't find any, I love Tropical Traditions brand and you can order it online!) and start swishing it in your mouth. 

Step 2: Do not gargle and do not swallow any. When you have finished, there will be bacteria and toxins pulled into the oil and you will not want to swallow any of it! This should take you 15-20 minutes. If this is too hard for you, try doing it for a few minutes and work your way up. 

Step 3: Once you are finished, spit it all into the trash can. Rinse your mouth out and brush your teeth and gums really well. 

My favorite time to oil pull is when I'm showering, while no one is talking to me! 

To get even more out of your oil pulling, you can add essential oils. Here are some I've found to be great additions:

Peppermint: Known for its cool, minty flavor, this is great to combat bad breath. If you're doing it in the morning, it will also give you a little boost of energy to start your day.

Purification Essential Oil: This is a blend of citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, melaleuca, lavadin, and myrtle. This has many cleaning benefits. 

Melaleuca: Better known as the popular Tea Tree Oil. This oil is undoubtedly great for your teeth and mouth, as well as leaves your mouth feeling extra clean and fresh. 

Frankincense: Surprised? I guess the wisemen wanted baby Jesus to have great oral hygeine! haha! (ok, you don't have to laugh at that....sorry....) But seriously, this is great for keeping germs at bay and helps with any mouth discomfort (think dental work!). 

Thieves: This is a powerhouse oil made up of close, lemon, cinnamon bark, rosemary, and eucalyptus radiata. Theives has numerous attributes, among them relieving bad breath and ridding the mouth of germs. 

Lemon: Just like when you drink water with lemon, this is a great cleansing and detoxifying agent. 

Besides being able to cut out the dyes, flouride, SLS, triclosan, and artificial flavors of the common mouth wash, oil pulling has tremendous benefits.

• Helps with skin issues
• Migraines and headaches
• Sinus infections
• Hormone problems
• Arthritis pain
• Allergies
• Increased oral health
• Reduced plaque on teeth
• Reduced bad breath
• Decreased joint pain and suffering
• Chronic pain
• Increased mental awareness
• Acne
• Elevate Mood
• Energy
• Hangover cure (so I hear! Anyone want to test it?!)
• Reduced bacteria in mouth
• Reduced Sensitivity
• May help with gastro-enteritis
• Improved vision
• Reduce insomnia
• Reduced liver and kidney stress
• Reduced chemical load
• Reduced gum disease
• Whitens teeth
• Increased overall phyiscal health
• Immune health

After all this, how could you not want to try this? It's totally relaxing and the time seems to fly by. For those who are skeptical, just give it a shot. Comment below if you try it and let me know what changes you find for yourself! I highly recommend it! 

Diva Talk

I'm a little late on posting about my race- no surprise there. Planning a race two days before market started for me maybe wasn't my brightest idea. Market is over, and I've logged 130 hours in the last 10 days.

But back to my race. I got 3rd! Out of... 160ish in my age group? I can't remember the actually number. And I got 22nd out of like 1500. So. Happy. My official time was 25:35. The girl who won finished with like 22 some minutes. This is the first race where I've not felt any regret for not trying my hardest. I set myself up with all the things I knew to do, and it paid off. God is so amazing. He gave so much much strength I never knew I had. 

I heard a quote I really liked yesterday watching "Unbroken." They said "if you can take it, you can make it." No one made me do that race it go through all the struggles and sacrifices I went through. There's always going to be things we can avoid to make our lives easier. Being an athlete, starting a new business... Although things we put ourselves through aren't necessary, struggling for a little while can open your life to many more amazing opportunities than you ever thought possible. 

I can't wait to race again. I really wanted to break into 24 minutes, and I came so close. So now I know I can come even closer next time. I haven't run since my race. The second day of market I sprained my ankle pretty badly, and on top of the sprain, I was carrying a really heavy box called a cambro (we use them to transport hot food and keep the food hot) and it fell on my ankle. Needless to say, over a week later I'm still pretty bruised. It really sucks having to go through market injured and being on my feet all day, but I can't tell you how grateful I am that I got to race the week before. 

I know I'm never going to the Olympics, break a world record, or even run the Boston Marathon. The races I enter are still fairly small and don't actually mean anything. But to me, knowing that I can push myself to be better and beat my own times means everything to me. I was never an athlete in high school. I've found something finally that I'm relatively good at. You have to use your talents. For what's a sundial in the shade?