How Pregnancy Cravings Work...

... at least for me.

A few weeks ago, at our Saturday trip to the farmers' market, as my husband and I purchased our lovely grassfed beef and local produce, I caught a whiff of the bagels from a stand.  All of a sudden, I needed to have one.

Me: Husband, I need a bagel immediately.
Husband: Really?  Do you even like bagels?  You haven't had one in awhile.
Me:  Yes, I know, but I need one now.
(Approach bagel stand)
Me: No, I probably shouldn't.
Husband:  There's nothing nutritious about them.  You don't need one.
Me:  You're right.  I've been Primal for so long.  I don't know what came over me.
(Leave market)
Me: I should have gotten a bagel.
Husband: (Shakes head).  Do you want to go back for one?
Me: No, no, no, it's okay.  Let's just get some coffee.

(Yes, I drink coffee pregnant, and yes, some caffeine is safe.  I usually do a cup or a cup and a half a day.  Sometimes I drink regular; sometimes I drink decaf.)

After each trip to the market, my husband and I ritualistically walk to our local Dunkin' Donuts for some coffee with milk.  A small iced is my preferred drink of choice; my husband prefers hot coffee but drinks iced in the summer.  I used to be the girl who drank at least three cups of coffee a day, so cutting back to a small took some adjusting, but I've managed just fine.

Once in DD, I start eyeing the bagels.
Me: Do I want a bagel?
Husband:  If you want one, get one.
Me: Nah, it's okay.  I don't think they even really taste that great.
Husband: You sure?
Me: Yes, yes, I'm fine.

(Leave Dunkin' Donuts and walk home)

Me: I should have gotten a bagel.
Husband: (shrugs).

We proceed to make a fabulous breakfast of bacon and eggs, get the kitchen organized, and decide to head to the CrossFit Regionals.  As we get in the car and start driving off, I turn to him and say:
Me: I really need a bagel.
Husband: Are you sure?
Me: Yes.  Please.  It's urgent.  I don't know what I'm ever going to do if I don't get a bagel now!
Husband sighs, and we park the car at Bruegger's.  I dash inside and order an everything bagel, toasted with cream cheese.  My husband orders one too.  I impatiently pace the store floor as I wait for my bagel to be toasted and greedily snatch it out of the hands of the clerk when he gives it to me.  We get into the car and I dive into bagel as quickly as possible.  Tears are practically streaming down my face, I'm so happy.  It's a euphoric moment.

A few minutes pass.

Husband: That bagel really wasn't very good.
Me: What are you talking about?!?!?!? That's the best thing I've eaten in forever!

So folks, I really wish I could be that person who was a super clean pregnant eater.  I confess, I'm not.  Sometimes, the cravings are so overwhelming, I don't know what to do but to give in.

So, my general rule of thumb is to still eat a primarily Primal diet, and limit a big craving to one a day.  Sometimes I have more; sometimes I stick to Primal.  It really depends on the day (and dare I blame this little Peanut?)

But, I try to make sure I always have food on me to try and offset a craving (Larabars can be my best friend at times).  I also try to take it one day at a time.  I don't eat bagels everyday, nor do I eat flour on a consistent basis.  I just try to find a happy medium that will work for me right now.  I'm confident that I will go back to my previous eating habits.

I think these cravings come, in part,  from not sleeping well.  While I've been fortunate enough to not have morning sickness, I became quite the insomniac during my first trimester.  Sugar and processed grains probably gave a quick and dirty insulin boost to keep me going, even though I mentally know those won't have great effects over the long term.  But sometimes, it's hard to convince your body of that.

But man, that bagel was pretty awesome.

Another Confession

Confession: my primal eating habits have fallen a bit off kilter.  Lately, I've had cravings for bagels, pizza, donuts and other sugary sweets -- something highly unusual for me.  Sometimes it's easy for me to resist these cravings; other things they are so intense, I'm near tears thinking about those foods, and no matter how I deny it, the craving won't go away.  For someone who's been a pretty clean eater for over a year, it's been a hard go lately.

I hate to make excuses for myself, but perhaps I can shed some light into why these cravings are so intense:

I'm having a little CrossFitter in February!

The day I found out I was pregnant in May, we had had a particularly intense WOD at CRCF; three rounds of:
1 minute box jumps
1 minute wall balls
1 minute pull ups
1 min double unders
1 minute push ups
1 minute rest

This WOD destroyed me, and I found it harder than usual.  I was gasping for breath, and it just didn't seem right.  I already had an inkling that I might be pregnant, so I tested that night and voila!  My thoughts were confirmed.

So many ideas raced through my head; a mix of excitement, feeling overwhelmed, thinking it was surreal, and then scared.  Would I be able to still do CrossFit?  How quickly would I have to scale back? Should I skip CF all together and resign myself to a life of walking and water aerobics?  Could I still lift weights?  And how could I still exercise once I had a baby?

I immediately started my online research, but there really isn't that much information out there about pregnant CrossFitters.  (I'll give links to all the good sites I found).  But after speaking to my coaches, I was reassured that I could safely and happily continue CrossFit, but with modifications as needed.

Still, I found that my cardiovascular endurance slowed down greatly.  High metcon WODs, which were always my favorite, were harder.  And some days, my workouts felt easier to get through than others.  It's definitely been a bit of a challenge for me, but I just remind myself that I have a little person inside me, and I need to listen to my body.

Now, I am 15 weeks along in my pregnancy, and my goal is to encourage other women to stay fit and healthy throughout their pregnancies.  I still work out at CrossFit at least three to five times a week.  And I want to share my own experiences with my health, with exercise, prenatal care choices, and other fun stories.

For the next 25 weeks, I'd like to take you all on my journey as I strive to have the healthiest pregnancy possible.  We know that exercise is essential for the health of a mother and baby, and I hope you'll follow me along!

And here's another picture of my little Peanut.  Can you believe how clear the ultrasound is?  I love the little hand waving!

Everything in Moderation...?

Often in the food world, I'll hear or see the phrase "in moderation."  Examples: "Have pizza, but in moderation."  "Use butter, but in moderation."  "You can eat anything, as long as it's in moderation."  For many years, "in moderation" was my adage to live by; in essence, it was my battle cry to shield myself against any self-doubts about the food that I chose to put in my body.  But once I started to rethink my food choices, I became disgusted with my use of the phrase.  In my mind, it was a cop out -- a tool used to justify any food decisions I made.  A bagel for breakfast?  Fine, because it was in moderation.  A sandwich on white bread with pretzels for a side?  That seemed to be in moderation, or at least pretty standard.  Stacey's pita chips and hummus?  Definitely fine since it was "healthy" and in moderation.  Dessert and a margarita?  A splurge, but not something that I did every night, so it had to be moderation.  Right?  It wasn't until last summer that I realized my "moderate" choices added up to adversely affect my health.  Plus, these food options were highly processed/refined with little true nutritional value.  All of a sudden, I couldn't hide behind the expression: I was now exposed and I had to deal with the reality that "in moderation" was merely my excuse to eat whatever I wanted.  There was nothing "moderate" about it at all.  So, I chucked "in moderation" out the window, and decided to strive to eat food in its most natural state.  For me, it was a liberating moment and I finally felt released from my carbo-holic ways.

Recently, however, I had a conversation with two friends, both who follow a Paleo diet.  One made a comment about how she will eat "in moderation."  I stopped in my tracks, turned with my mouth agape, and asked her to clarify.  But before I even gave her a chance to speak, I did a complete word vomit on why I hated the phrase.  My comments were well-received, but I finally gave my friend a chance to talk.  It turned out that her definition of "moderation" was far more conservative than mine.  For my friend, "moderation" was eating healthy most days, and indulging in the occasion splurge (although she confessed, it was sometimes more than occasional).  Still, she's a fabulous athlete, in great shape, and eats a diet based on protein, nuts, fruits, and veggies, so I realized this motto truly worked for her.  We agreed to disagree. 

So, my question is: is "in moderation" a phrase to live by or a cop out to eat what you want?

Links

I love Darya Pinto's reasoning for not counting calories in her recipes.  Food is about quality, not quantity, and all calories are not created equal.

Is it trash or is it dinner?  This great NY Times article may potentially help you to rethink edible food -- it is fascinating to think about how much food we do throw out, even though we could eat it.

(photo courtesy of NY Times)

This article links to obesity trends in the US.  Check out the infograph on obesity trends in the past 20 years -- scary!

Just some food for thought.  Recipes to be posted later this week!

A very good day...

Consists of:
-Reading a good book (current selection: The Omnivore's Dilemma.  I know I'm a little behind the times, but it's such a relevant read.  Every American should read this book.  It's so eye opening about our food sources).

- Drinking iced coffee to beat the summer heat.

- Saying "no!" to that tempting donut, and knowing that I'm healthier and my tummy will be happier for it.

- Being outside after a rainfall, still able to smell the rain and feel a cool breeze finally break the heat.

- Obtaining a new personal record at CrossFit.  (Today, I back squatted 195 pounds 3 times, for a new 3 rep max!  Who knew my thunder thighs would one day allow me to be so strong?)

- Catching up, on the phone, with friends and family.

What made today a very good day?

Summer Recipe: Pesto

There's just something so lovely about herbs in the summertime, especially basil.  I love the smell and taste of basil; there's just something so comforting and familiar about it, and I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment when I went to cut basil from my back deck today to use for dinner:

My husband asked if I would make pesto for dinner, and I was happy to oblige.  It's easy, convenient, and delicious.  In the past, I've associated pesto with pasta -- specifically gnocchi or tortellini.  But in my desire to rid my diet of processed foods, pasta isn't a healthy or practical dinner choice.  So, pesto chicken seemed like the tastiest and best option.

When I went to our local market to purchase chicken breast, I was faced with an economical and ethical decision.  Did I purchase the boneless chicken breast at $2.99 a pound, only labeled with a barcode and a price?  Clearly, that conventionally, farm produced chicken was pumped with hormones, antibiotics, potentially fed animal by-products, and who knows what else.  Or, did I buy the hormone free, antibiotic free, pure vegetarian diet chicken with a price tag of $7 a pound?  After a brief debate, I opted for the latter.  Quality of food is important to me, especially when dealing with meat.  I don't want to put unnecessary junk in my body.  If I'm going to "eat the earth" and consume foods in their most natural state, that means paying attention to labels and how foods are produced.  It's easy to forget that a piece of clean chicken was once an animal, and the way in which that animal was raised could potentially have a profound affect on my own health.

This afternoon, I cut my basil, and prepared all necessary ingredients:

Pesto:
-1/3 cup (organic) olive oil
-1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (this will definitely make it cheesy, which I love.  Scale back a bit, though, if you want it "less cheesy")
-1 garlic clove, minced
-2 cups fresh basil
-a sprinkle of black pepper
-a dash of sea salt (optional, since the cheese is pretty salty)

Place all ingredients in food processor; blend for 15 seconds.  Mix around as necessary; process again if needed.  Voila!  Pesto is ready.  My husband grilled the chicken and an eggplant, we cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces, and I mixed the pesto into the chicken for a little pesto chicken salad.

It was a delicious dinner, and perfectly eaten on our back deck as the sun went down.  Enjoy!

For the love of fat: a vacation story

Last week, my husband and I went on a fabulous vacation to the beach.  Our days were spent laying out, taking a quick dip in the ocean, perhaps putzing around a small town center, and eating.  Eating featured front and center of our lovely trip away, and for the first time in a year, I liberally ate foods I had spent the last 12 months avoiding like the plague.

In a nutshell, I ate:
English muffins
Cereal
Chicken tenders
More french fries than I can count
Bakery muffins
Ice cream (well, I eat that one at least a couple times a month)
Brownies
Dinner rolls
Croissants
Sandwiches
Mashed potatoes...

And the list goes on.  And it seemed that the more I ate, the more I wanted it.  How did this happen?  Even though my body was in such distress (to the point where I was up at night), I still wanted more.  Most of it wasn't that tasty, but man, that croissant was AMAZING.  I totally abandoned Mark Sisson's 80/20 rule (eat 80 primal, 20 percent cheat) and turned it into 20/80.  According to msnbc.com, fatty foods produce a chemical response in our body similar to the chemicals found in marijuana.  Eating fatty foods makes us feel good.  This was partly for evolutionary purposes; we need fat to survive.  But fat in the form of muffins does nothing to benefit our health.  And honestly, I feel pretty disgusting after my vacation choices, and I feel a bit desperate to get back to how I felt before I left.  I don't necessarily regret falling off the horse a bit; I guess I wish I had shown a bit more restraint.

Now, I am in the slow process of detoxing.  Why?  I know those foods have little benefit for me, but it's been a rough process.  (Confession: lunch yesterday was a huge plate of gnocchi and bread; my snack was a cupcake).  Today has been easier as I've started to retreat back to my old standards of eggs, Greek yogurt with fruit, almond butter, cottage cheese, salad, and meat.  But it's the first time in a long time that I've felt like I'm struggling with my food choices.  Vacation was a lovely respite, but it's time to get back into the swing of things -- and that includes eating fresh, local, and clean foods.  And to start, I'm committing myself to not eating out and not bringing processed foods into the house.  Out of sight, out of mind -- right?

When you go on vacation, do you stick to your normal food routine, or do you throw it out the window? How do you get back on track?