it's hottt

images-1

why? two words: THE SUN.

nothing drains me more these days and it's not like i'm out jogging in it either! just walking up to the store and/or driving around in my truck (even with the air cranked to the max) still makes me crazy tired more so than any of my gym workouts. which is why i'm glad this little guy will be outta here before the texas heat really shows out. God bless and be with you preggo mama's this summer (wherever you are)! i mean that sincerely. be safe, stay hydrated, and stay indoors.

CYMERA_20140610_220531

the weekend was rather warm too, so Chiso and i jumped at the chance to hit the pool with my sis, Michelle,  and her daughter, cousin Livvy.  time for swimming lessons for these two.  we did a family maternity shoot last month and i totally want to do a look in my bikini now! i enjoyed wearing it and sporting my bump.  most likely Sonny will have to be the camera man for that though, lol.

20140607_194359_1

something about the pool makes me want chips, hot dogs, burgers, and ICE CREAM! thanks, Sonic.

remember that summer stir fry i made? i finally got some shrimp from HEB and made it again.  this time i added red bell pepper and yellow squash too since they were on sale.  and yall know the more color in your meals, the better.

PhotoGrid_1402260019417

i have still been eating the heck out of nectarines these past few days. i can't get enough of them! plus the longer they sit in the fridge the softer they become. so i must eat them while they are still crisp. all of them.

IMG_20140610_171114

was sad to finish the last of this stir fry today for lunch but it'll be back soon.

CYMERA_20140610_204419

Q: do i ever feel my bump is too small?

A: during my first pregnancy? yeah. this time around? nah. when people ask me (especially at the gym) how far along i am these days, 'almost 10 months' is the last thing they expect to hear.  their faces say it all, and 'you're so tiny!!!' is usually soon to follow.  then the women reflect back on their own journeys and express how ginormous they were compared to me before delivering, and the men usually tell me the same about their wives, sisters, friends, etc!! never, ever gets old.  i welcome the questions (yes, the same ones over and over ;) ) and LOVE to discuss my journey with anyone willing to listen!   i enjoy hearing all about other women's preggo stories by the same token as they are all unique.  anyway, that darn, 'every woman is different' statement refers to, well, everything, including bump size. the 'right' size doesn't exist. also: bump size is not an indicator of your baby's weight.  mom's height, weight, activity level, the way baby is positioned, how much fluid present, etc, etc, etc...... so.many.factors.  so don't compare bumps.  especially if you trust your OB and he/she assures you that you and baby are on track every check-up, just as mine has!  done deal ^^'.

Q: what's your biggest pregnancy pet peeve? vent below!

le

rainbowls

nectarines are on sale!!! so you know what that means.... Summer time is near.  i watch for that price drop every Spring and it's finally time.  they are my fave fruit but my love for them is conditional... i will only eat them when they are solid and crispy like apples.  after a certain point ( peach consistency ) i can't do it!

Sprouts Farmers Market had a gigantic fruit sale (as always) so i got a few different kinds and made this bomb salad topped with fresh mint for us to snack on for the next few days.

there are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, and of course, nectarines up in there.

our television STAYS on the Sprout channel but i actually got to catch an ep of The Pioneer Woman this week.  she made this 10 min shrimp stir fry that looked so easy and so tasty i got up and went to make it immediately!  i used chicken instead of shrimp,

fresh zucchini, grape tomatoes, grilled corn, fresh cilantro, garlic, and my last lemon. i didn't even measure yall, but here are the steps for what i did:

1. cut chicken breasts into bite sized chunks
2. saute extra virgin olive oil with about 2 tbsp butter on med-high heat in a very large wok or cast iron skillet.
3. add in minced garlic and stir til translucent.
4. add chicken chunks and cook just until done (i added lemon pepper seasoning to them).
5. remove proteins from skillet; add chopped zucchini and let cook for 2 minutes. push them to the corner of your wok.
6. add corn and cook 1 minute. push to corner of wok.
7. add grape tomatoes last; cook for 1 minute.
8. add chicken, fresh herbs , and squeeze your lemon into wok with veggies; combine.
9. shut off heat and let sit for about 10 minutes or so before serving.

will be making this again and again with different proteins no doubt. the more color on your plate, the BETTER! rainbowls rule.

read below, but do it in reverse :) have an awesome Friday nite.

le

3 SPOTS LEFT - HOMEMADE PIZZA COOKING CLASS!!!

it's finally time... TO MAKE PIZZA!!!!!

only 3 spots left for THIS coming Tuesday's class (March 25th) so sign up right here!  remember, there are now 3 options to choose from.  bring a buddy and save.

be prepared to WOW your little ones, significant others, look, your ENTIRE family will be happy you came ;)

email me directly with any questions whatsoever at:

le@fitfoodiele.com

happy sunday to you and yours!

le

'my kids didn't ruin my body. Ben did. and Jerry.'

i snagged my blog title from a random preggo message board concerning weight gain and had to include it in this post somewhere!  while the commenter was being funny, there is so much truth to her statement.  i stated on IG that the full list for preventing 'stretchies' (as my best friend refers to them) would be posted here to my blog, but honestly the list is quite short and sweet and focuses on these 3 things:                              skin, diet, and exercise.

overall great health begins on the inside, and so does the handling and even prevention of 'tiger stripes'.  i do the whole cocoa butter & sometimes olive oil thing on my belly at night (ok almost every night..sometimes i'm already in the bed and say screw it) and sure, that helps to keep my belly smooth, moisturized, and the itching to a minimum.   does that actually prevent them from forming? in my opinion, not at all.  i don't believe they are hereditary either, but eating habits can be.  nevertheless, stretch marks are caused by          ----->rapid<------ weight gain and / or weight loss.  for all the creams, treatments, and remedies i researched, avoiding aggressive weight gain is usually in the fine print somewhere and one of the biggest factors in avoiding stretchies altogether.  since babies don't go/grow from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye in your belly, it's important to make the weight gain process a gradual thing as best you can.  now, i have a few preggo friends fighting hard to get through their first trimesters, and i can empathize with them greatly as the memory of my own is still pretty strong :shock: .  for the majority of women, you either can't eat a thing, or you want to eat everything during that time span.  or, you can only eat certain things without...well, you know.  so when your appetite and normal eating patterns have pretty much been shot for a few weeks or more, motivation to stay active, be active, and eat healthy can be at an all time low. what has worked for me after getting back on track around week 14? read on!

1. eating a skin nourishing diet

• antioxidants - nourishes and protects skin.  eat leafy, dark greens, blueberries, strawberries, and fresh, unprocessed produce, period.
• vitamin E - protects skin cell membranes. eat nuts, seeds, avocados, broccoli, cabbage (pictured above and part of my dinner one night), and collard greens.
• vitamin A - repairs skin tissues.  eat carrots, sweet potatoes, mango, squash, & red bell peppers.
• omega 3s - keeps cell membranes healthy for glowing skin. eat fish (salmon's a winner), fish oil supplements, walnuts, eggs and oysters.
• prenatal pills - keep popping them, everyday.

2. chug, chug, chugging that H2O

• keep those skin cells plump and hydrated by drinking a full glass or bottle of water with every meal. how much in a day exactly? half your body weight in oz is a standard rule, especially if you are staying active.  i know, pee, pee, and more peeeeeeeee
• all natural, flavored, herbal, decaffeinated teas (in the bag) sweetened with Stevia have helped me achieve my water intake goal these days.
• seltzer water with a bit of 100% juice is awesome too and the closest thing to soda i will go.
• snacking on water-filled fruits and veggies counts too. watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, cucumbers, bell peppers, & celery are great picks.

3. MOVEing

• if you're a reader of my blog then you know physical activity is automatic and understood! exercising keeps your skin elastic, flexible,  improves your body's blood circulation, keeps those joint lubricated and from getting stiff...the list goes on.  plus it just makes you feel so much better in most cases.  you'll need all the endorphins you can scrounge up.. every drop.
•   staying active *drum roll* prevents you from gaining too much weight too fast which is what we're trying to prevent!
• as you grow, modify your movements and your workouts as needed.  as i near the 3rd tri, prenatal yoga, the elliptical, walking outside, zumba, and spinning will be my go-to activities.  light weight training here are there for my back and upper body, but that's about it.  slow down, but don't stop.

postpartum

KEEP IT GOING.  exercise will be added back into your routine eventually, but use that inactive window of time to sustain those healthy nutritional habits as you enjoy your newborn, breastfeeding or not.   your skin and body will still need to get those vitamins and nutrients to renew itself from all the stretching.  no crash diets! you'll need to lose the weight as gradually as you gained it.

if you get'em, treat'em 

• bio oil - this method gets high marks and reviews across the WWW as it is great for both old and new scars.
• glycollic acid - women who use this cream on new stretch marks saw huge improvement as it is proven to boost collagen.  the word 'acid' always makes me raise an eyebrow, but unlike Retin-A, which apparently causes severe birth defects if you are preggo or breastfeeding, you can safely use this cream during and after pregnancy.  it can be bought over the counter, but you can get a stronger dose from a dermatologist.  read up on the pros and cons of this method.
• laser treatments - this is not my area of expertise, but according to Dr. Oz, banishing them completely is just not possible at this time.  laser treatments can successfully reduce redness, diminish the appearance of white marks, and improve the texture of the skin, making them a lot less noticeable though.
• and then i came across a story that was shared on bodybuilding.com from a young lady with a surefire stretch mark treatment (and four kiddos later might i add). it's worth reading and checking out her progress pics; some of her methods just might work for you too.

battle scars, stretchies, war wounds, tiger stripes, etc...there are far worse things to worry about.  so nip them in the bud while you can, or minimize them as best you can.  these knuckleheads were worth it.

Q: what has worked for YOU?  prevention and  minimization? share and help another mama out.

le

all natural + BOO

there are so many cute Halloween snacks on Pinterest and IG and this is as creative as i could get this morning.  that rain pouring down outside explains that face-  it's supposed to last all day here in Houston!

a year ago today...whew.  now he talks back and can operate an iPad better than his grandparents.

anyway, we'll be carving pumpkins indoors tonight then.

***because it took me all day to get this post up, i'm happy to announce the sun is now, in fact, OUT!****

up early livin' the FITzee lifestyle this morning and getting my workout in before the busy day begins.  so, how did i get that sweaty?  you wanted a cardio workout so you got it!

repeat this 3x's through, but in between each set:

• run one full lap around your track (or time a 2 minute run at a steady pace through your neighborhood)

OR

• 2:10 minutes on the treadmill at 6.5 mph.

leave a comment and tell me what a SWEATY good time you had doing this!

*********************

you should know by now that FITzee Foods meals are prepared with all natural ingredients.  why is this so important though?

because all-natural refers to food that is:

• minimally processed
• additive-free
• chemical-free
• no genetic manipulation
• hormone-free
• antibiotic-free
• sweetener-free
• food coloring-free
• flavoring-free

i researched some of the more popular,  frozen, pre-packaged  'tv dinners' and i'd like to show you something:

(clockwise from the top left) Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Michelinas, & Smart Ones.

scary, huh :shock: .

processed foods have a completely different affect on my body, and you will notice a gigantic difference too once you start to eat whole, all natural foods on a consistent basis.  they slow my digestive system to a halt, they're not as filling which intensifies my hunger or cravings ( usually with sweets/sugar), and they tend to bloat me from the high soduim or sugar levels.  besides, having to google ingredients before eating your meal kinda makes it less and less appetizing.  FITzee Foods keeps it fresh, all natural, and simple, but that means anything BUT bland, friends.  see for yourself just how flavorful and filling these meals are.

now that's an ingredient list i can dig and feel great about sharing with my growing fam bam. no additives or preservatives also means a shorter shelf life, so this is just a reminder to either refrigerate, freeze, or eat your FITzee meals immediately upon arrival.  if frozen, they are good for up to two more months.

you can check out the FITzee Foods Facebook & Twitter pages, or click here to order!

BE SAFE TONIGHT ;)

le