Surviving Pregnancy When You're a Type A

I'm going to let you in on a little secret about me that you may not know. My personality strongly leans towards that of a Type A. I think that may be hard for people who only know me through my blog to see, because I come across as carefree, joyful, relaxed, and dare I say creative in most posts. However, much of how I live my day-to-day life would not only be labeled as Type A, but extremely Type A. 

I like to joke that I'm the worst of both worlds. I am highly analytical (Type A), and highly emotional (Type B). I am extremely ambitious (Type A), yet mostly passive aggressive (Type B). Basically, I'm an analytical, impatient, ambitious, rigid, fast talking, multitasking workaholic who cries when things don't go my way. 

Also, apparently, I'm self deprecating. (Another Type A trait I might add.)

So how does someone like myself deal with such an unpredictable event as pregnancy without losing my mind and placing myself in a self-induced coma? Well I'm only 4 months in, but I've found a few things to be extremely helpful for me and wanted to pass them along to all you other Type A'ers out there.

1) Find a knowledgeable, professional staff that makes you comfortable. I say this because I fear that a lot of women don't do this. It's easy to become pregnant and simply go to the hospital where your friend's had their baby or where your mother gave birth. But I think it's important to stop and ask if that's the right place for you? If the people there are the ones you want to surround yourself with during one of the biggest events of your life? For myself, I knew the big, sterile, bright walls of a hospital were not where I would feel the most comfortable during my most vulnerable moment. After much research, I decided on a birth center where one of three midwives will be attending my birth. Amazing women who know me and understand my wishes and limitations when it comes to my birth experience. I didn't want to be another face in the crowd and I didn't want the first hands that touched my baby to be impersonal ones. You aren't your best friend or your mother. You're unique. Take the time to find the best birth place (and people) for you. I think your mental state over the next 9 months depend on it.

2) Remember that those pregnancy rules are mostly just recommendations. Type A's, we LOVE to follow the rules. No deli meat, no raw fish, no more than 8oz of this a week, and no more than 16oz of that. There is a lot to remember when it comes to the do's and don't of pregnancy! And that pregnancy brain --you know, the forgetfulness you've been experiencing -- isn't helping! But if you happen to forget a rule you will not be arrested by the pregnancy police and forced to wear a sign on your forehead that reads, "I'm a bad mother." I know this because one day I accidentally ate blue cheese in my salad (oops) and said pregnancy police didn't arrest me! I got my panties in a bunch for nothing and probably caused more undue stress to my baby by all the worrying I allowed myself to wallow in after the fact. Plus, these rules weren't around a few decades ago when momma's-to-be were puffing away on their cigarettes and sipping their martinis...yet humanity survived. Go figure.

3) Don't read What to Expect when You're Expecting. And/or other books (and internet forums) that will scare the bejeezus out of you and fool your over analytical / hypocrondriac obsessed brain into thinking you have every disease known to man and that there is no way you and your baby can survive such a dangerous phenomenon as pregnancy. Instead, read books that are empowering and informative. Books that present information to you in an unbiased manner and that educate and inform you rather than simply instill fear. Pregnancy shouldn't be written as an apocalyptic event. People survive it everyday.

4) Remember you were created to do this. "This" being give birth. There is a reason women give birth and not men. (There is also a reason why I first wrote that sentence as "men give birth and not women." see #2 pregnancy brain above.) We were created to do this. I don't know about you, but I find immense comfort in that. I have been uniquely designed to give life to another being and if nothing else can soothe my soul and quench my fears, so be it. I was created by the world's most magnificent designer to bring forth life and that fact alone is great enough for me to find peace in.

5) Know that your identity is not found within your birth story. Ladies, why are we so critical of one another when we should be each other's biggest support? And why do we put so much emphasis in our birth experiences as if they somehow define us and prove our womanhood? And is womanhood even a word? ...But really, WHY? You had an all natural birth? Good for you. You screamed for an epidural? That's more than okay. You opted for a Cesarean Section because of this, that, or whatever? That's great, too!  I think it's important to remember that your identity is not found within your birth story. You don't have to stand for other women pushing their birth experience on you. Remember that you are unique, you body is unique, your baby is unique, and only you know what is best for your situation. I am planning an all natural birth at a birth center, but if something does not go as planned and my midwife says I need to be transported to the hospital for a c-section, I refuse to allow that circumstance to shape the rest of my life --what kind of mother, wife, or friend I am. My identity does not lie in a natural vs. medicated birth. Nor does my child's. Don't hold too tightly to the notion of a "perfect birth." Your health, happiness, identity, and sanity does not lie within it.

Remembering and following through with these 5 things has helped me thus far, but I still have 5 months to go! Does anyone else out there have any helpful advice for other Type A personalities to stay calm during their pregnancy? Feel free to leave your suggestions below!

Live Life With No Regrets

Live life with no regrets. Easier said then done, right? At only 24, I could tell you numerous regrets I already have in this life --people I needlessly hurt, decisions I hastily made, words I have spoken far too quickly. I've learned that it is impossible to live life with no regrets. And those who say they have are either a) lying or b) have not experienced much growth. Because the truth is, as you grow and mature and reflect back on your life, you will find regrets. We all will. Some big, some small, but they're there.

One of my biggest regrets in life has been taking my family for granted. I've always had a great relationship with my parents and brothers, but once I was college bound, I simply couldn't wait to get away. Although my hometown was only a 3 hour (and very easy) drive from campus, I chose to only go  home on Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. I stayed at school in the summer --worked and took a few classes here and there -- and rarely went home to visit my parents. When I was home, my evening were either filled with plans to hang out with my old high school friends, or I simply locked myself away in my room and buried my nose in a book.

I loved my parents so much, and, of course, I still do, but I took their proximity for granted. Now, living 3,000 miles away, I grimace when I remember how I sought time away from them. Time to "grow into my own." Whatever that means...

If there is one thing I've learned in these past two years while living in Washington, it's that you always need your parents. Always. You never outgrow them. You never reach an age where you are too old for their advice, you always find courage in their encouragement, pride in their support, and comfort in their hugs.

Or maybe my situation is just unique. I truly do have amazing parents, and I hope that you reading this can boast of that too.  My prayer is that I can be as influential over my children as my parents have been on me. Family is so important and I hope to live more conscious of mine, and never allow them to fall into the "regrets" category again.

Cultivate Your Friendships

Day 8 of the Blog Every Day In May challenge is, "a piece of advice you have for others," and it didn't take me long to realize what piece of advice I wanted to share with you today. So let's jump right into it, shall we?

My advice for you is to cultivate your friendships.

That's it. Cultivate your friendships. I've always considered myself to be a good friend. I am loyal, consistent, and would drop anything I'm doing to help one of my besties in a time of need. I think a great testament to me being a good friend is the fact that one of those ladies below, my maid of honor, has been my very best friend since the first grade. Most friendships don't withstand the test of time, but ours has. And for that, I am truly grateful. 

Unfortunately, I think long-lasting, deep friendships are something extremely rare in this day and age. We get busy. We have jobs, maybe children, and a home full of chores and yard work that needs tending to. Life is hectic, and one of the very first things to get moved down on our list of priorities when things get too hectic is our friendships --and that's a shame. There are few things in this world that enrich our lives more than our friends. Yet, friendship is a delicate thing and if it is not properly cultivated, it will slowly wilt and eventually die altogether.

So go cultivate your friendships. Turn off the TV and pick up the phone. Give them a call or send them a handwritten note. Invest the time and care necessary to sustain them and cause them to thrive. You'll be glad you did. 

Yeast Free in 1, 2, 3...

To be honest, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed because the yeast free cleanse was a HUGE success for me and there is so much information I want to share with you! I've decided the simplest way for me to do this is to divide my yeast free information overload into three different posts: (1) Guidelines and example meals, (2) my experience with the 30 day cleanse, and (3) Q&A session where I answer any questions about the cleanse and/or my results that you may have for me. 

So let's start with the basics.

Yeast. Yeast is a living fungus that thrives in moist, dark places where it can be provided with a constant food supply (i.e. your GI tract). Over the years, yeast cells being building up in your system and are multiplied every time you take a bite of sugary, over processed food. Luckily, we were all creatively designed with natural detoxify organs (your kidneys, mainly) that control the yeast levels by eliminating them as waste. However, some people have a hard time eliminating the yeast and it continues to build, clinging to the walls of your GI tract and making it harder for your body to absorb nutrients. Basically, you start feeling icky and you probably will begin to gain weigh. (Yeast rises, right? It makes sense a yeast filled belly will rise too.) To get rid of the yeast in your system not only do you have to eliminate yeast all together, but also you must eliminate its food source.

Yeast Free Guideline. (30 day cleanse) The following foods must be avoided during the cleanse.

For the first 2 weeks avoid:

-fruit

-butter

For the entire 30 days avoid:

-bread

-grains

-pastas

-dairy

-potatoes

-sugar

-alcohol

-vinegar (Only apple cider vinegar is allowed. I avoided all vinegars though.)

Sounds tough, huh? But the key is to focus on what you can have.

-meats

-vegetables

-eggs

-beans

-nuts and nut butter (no sugar added)

-coconut oil & olive oil

-coffee & tea

-natural sweeteners (like Stevia)

For a more in-depth list, go here!

Example Meals. A lot of people have asked what my day-to-day eating looks like now. I think you'll be surprised at the variety available even with such a restricted diet!

Breakfast. 

-eggs with turkey bacon or sausage (& oftentimes with avocado and/or tomato slices on the side)

-omelettes 

-chocolate protein shake: 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 2 scoops peanut butter, 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond breeze, 5-7 ice cubes. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend!

-almond pancakes

(after two weeks a side of fruit can accompany any of these)

Lunch. This meal has the least variety because usually I eat leftovers from last night's dinner.

-tuna lettuce wraps (made with veganaise)

-salad with steak or chicken

-leftover dinner from the night before

Dinner.

-homemade chili

-salmon/tilapia/cod/chicken/steak/turkey patties (there are endless options for protein!!) with a sautéed vegetable melody

-lemon-garlic broccoli

-eggplant stuffed with ground turkey and veggies

-lobster amandine

Snacks.

-veggies/hummus

-apples/peanut butter (all natural)

-fruit

-nuts

No worries, I plan on sharing the recipes for the stuffed eggplant and lobster amandine eventually! But for the sake of your attention span, and my day job, I think it's time to wrap up this post :-) (Sorry! I tried to make it as condensed as possible!)

I'd love to hear your thoughts/concerns/questions on the yeast free cleanse, so don't be shy! Leave a comment or email me directly! (email found here) 

*Please note I am not a doctor (obviously) nor do I have any medical training. I am simply sharing my personal experience with the yeast free cleanse.  

Getting Out of That Mid-Winter Funk

I don't know about you, but this time of year is always hard for me. The holidays are behind us and the next best thing to look forward to is Spring/Easter, which still feels like it's a million years away. Between here and there are no holidays, cold, snowy/rainy weather, and the mundane 8-5 grind. 

Every. Single. Day. 

It gets tiresome. And if I let it, the bitter cold and wind seeps into my body, giving me a matching bitter attitude. I feel exhausted and cranky and doodle stick figures of me and my hubby standing on a warm beach in the Hawaii sun...Okay, I don't do that last part. Or maybe I do.

So today, I'm going to share with you my strategy for getting out of that mid-winter funk.

1. Buy Fresh Flowers. If everything outside seems dead, bring the life inside your home. Fresh flowers are not only beautiful, but they are fragrant --I figure I just may be able to trick my senses into thinking it's Spring!

Speaking of tricking your senses... 

2. Light a candle. But stay away from scents that remind you of Christmas or Fall like Wintergreen or Pumpkin. I love the smell of anything apple in my kitchen --reminds me of fresh baked apple pie in the summer! Or try a citrus scent. Anything that will make your senses scream Spring!

3. Eat summer foods. Oftentimes, in the winter months we eat that comfort food --chili, baked potato soup, warm baked goods --and forget that we can get summer seasonal fruits and veggies this time of year too! Put some fresh strawberries on your french toast or throw some fresh fruit and nuts on your salad for work. Your taste buds will help you forget that Spring is still 3 months away.

4. Get Organized. Begin your Spring cleaning early! I don't know about you, but I am genuinely a happier person when I'm in a clean environment. Put your Christmas/winter decor away and tackle the organization system in your closet or that pile of mail that's been building in your office. Jumpstarting your Spring cleaning will not only make the process easier when the time does come, but you'll feel great knowing you've being productive rather than spending another evening in front of the TV.

I recently tackled the built-in shelving in our master bedroom. I procrastinated for about 8 months (oops..), but I finally decided to display some books and memories from our wedding and you know what? It felt great!

I also took down the Christmas decor on our fireplace mantel and attempted to make it Spring worthy.

 5. Get in the kitchen. It's so easy to pick up some take out after work or grab a quick bite to eat in a drive-thru. The cold winter months have a tendency to make us inactive, but cooking your own meals are not only healthier and cheaper, but it's also a great time to spend with those you love. Cook dinner with your hubby or kids and then eat it together. At the kitchen table. Let me guess, your mind = blown. 

But seriously, there is no better way to get out of the mid-winter funk than spending time with those you love.

Baked oatmeal recipe, here!

So tell me, how do you get out of that mid-winter funk??