The Mommy Diet - Softcover

Sweeney, Alison

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1451651449 ISBN 13: 9781451651447

Publisher: Gallery Books, 2011

Synopsis

As a working mom who looks hotter than ever after two pregnancies, Alison Sweeney knows what it takes to look and feel great during pregnancy and how to get back in shape post-baby. (Yes, it’s possible!) In The Mommy Diet, she shares tons of straightforward tips, personal anecdotes, easy-to-follow exercises, fashion insight, nutrition advice, and even a few of her favorite quick, easy recipes.

The Mommy Diet helps moms-to-be stay fit, positive, and pampered during pregnancy and then steers new moms to a healthy recovery and body confidence after the baby is born. It’s a warm, accessible, funny guide to everything from prepregnancy through the first nine months postpartum—an especially crucial time for new moms who want to shed their baby weight safely and establish a fitness routine—and beyond. 

Sweeney, who is busy taking care of two children and juggling two jobs, breaks pregnancy down trimester by trimester, addressing everything from morning sickness and food cravings to sexy maternity style, all the while reminding readers to keep up with exercise as long as their doctors approve. After the baby arrives, she details the perils and pitfalls of carrying around postpregnancy weight and how to navigate the sleep deprivation, not to mention the shell-shocked stress of all the changes to daily life.

You can eat healthfully, be physically fit, look great, and find time to take care of yourself while you learn to be a terrific new mom. The realistic, affordable, and doable advice in The Mommy Diet will show you how.

About this title

About the Author

Award-winning actress ALISON SWEENEY balances life as a mom with her roles as host of NBC’s hit reality series The Biggest Loser and as Sami Brady on NBC’s long-running daytime drama Days of our Lives. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, a California Highway Patrol officer, and their five-year-old son, Ben, and two-year-old daughter, Megan.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Deciding you want to get pregnant—or thinking it might be a possibility soon—is a big milestone. Get ready for your life to change! And until then, enjoy being master of your own body and your own schedule, because that won’t last forever. In the meantime, you need to start taking very good care of yourself—well before you’re actually knocked up. There are many reasons to do this.

First, you want your baby to have the healthiest possible environment in which to grow from the moment of conception. This means getting your body ready now!

Second, chances are you don’t know exactly when you’ll get pregnant. Sure, it could take a while, but it could also happen right away. You never know, so be prepared. If your pregnancy comes as a surprise, please don’t worry. Plenty of healthy babies are born every day to parents who nine months earlier had no idea they were conceiving a child. Still, you want to give your child every advantage you can, right? So we’ll focus on helping you be the healthiest host you can be for the little person who will soon be spending the better part of a year inside of you.

Third, your chances of getting pregnant and having a complication-free pregnancy are greatest if you are healthy and fit. Of course, being healthy and fit doesn’t mean you’ll get pregnant instantly, but it does help. The first time I tried to get pregnant, it took about a year, and I remember being frustrated when my friends got pregnant more quickly, while I kept seeing one line in the window of the pregnancy test instead of two. If you’re in the same situation, it’s best to get past the frustration and to focus on your own journey. Don’t compare your path to anyone else’s. (I know that’s not the easiest advice to take, but I’m going to offer it anyway.) Since I couldn’t make my body get pregnant, I had to focus on the other things I could control, like my health, fitness, and nutrition. I reduced my alcohol intake, too, by mostly cutting out my glass of wine with dinner and skipping the cocktails when I was out with friends. Not to be a downer, but if you have any other unhealthy habits, like smoking or taking drugs of any kind, I highly suggest you deal with them now, before you are pregnant, so your body will be healthier and so you don’t have to deal with the stress of withdrawal on top of everything else.

Fourth, being healthy before you get pregnant makes it way easier to stay active and fit during pregnancy, which, in turn, means you’ll get your body back a whole lot faster after the baby is born. (I know that seems like a long way off right now, but trust me: You want things to be as easy as possible once your bundle of joy arrives!)

I could list about a hundred more reasons, but the point is that everything you do now really matters. And a recent study (published in 2009 in the British Medical Journal) found that most women don’t follow the lifestyle and health guidelines suggested for women who are trying to conceive. Oops. Let’s work on changing that. I want you to have the best and healthiest pregnancy possible, so here are tips to help you set yourself up for that.

Fitness

I’m excited for you—seriously—because if you’re reading this before you get pregnant, you have an amazing opportunity right now to start, amp up, or focus on your fitness routine. As a busy mom, I admit that I sometimes miss those times before I had kids when I could work out (or do anything) pretty much whenever I wanted. If I felt like hitting a certain spin or yoga class, or I suddenly had the urge to spend a few hours at the gym or go for a jog, no problem. Knowing what I know now, I wish I’d spent a little more time working out back then, when there was no need to worry about who else needed me. I could just leave my husband a message (this was before texting—remember that?) and do it! Of course, I wouldn’t trade my current situation for anything, but I want you to enjoy this freedom, and use it to concentrate on yourself. The more active and fit you are before you’re pregnant, the more you can keep doing while you’re pregnant—which, again, is so good for you and your baby. Here are a few things to think about.

1. Keep up—or start—a regular cardio habit. Pregnancy and childbirth are often compared to running a marathon, and you wouldn’t try to run a marathon without training, would you? (If you did, it would hurt. A lot.)

One of the best ways to get ready for your endurance event is with regular cardiovascular exercise (think walking, hiking, spinning, running, elliptical, stair climber, cross-country skiing). Do it at least three times per week for thirty minutes. Preferably more like five times (or more) per week. Not only is it good for you, but it will make you feel fantastic.

If you’ve never worked out before, start slowly and build up your cardio regimen. If you’re working out once or twice a week now, hey, let’s step it up a bit. There’s no downside. And if you already have a great fitness routine, don’t stop!

2. Keep up—or add—regular strength training. This doesn’t mean you have to lift heavy weights and bulk up. Not even close. I’m talking about things like Pilates, yoga, Bar Method, Core Fusion, circuit training with light weights, and abs classes . . . anything that focuses on strengthening your muscles. Yoga, by the way, is one of the best things you can start doing now. It helps you get strong, and it also helps you learn how to breathe slowly and calmly through anything, which will come in handy down the road when you’re having an intense contraction.

3. Always remember how important exercise is, especially now. It may seem unnecessary. You’re about to gain thirty pounds, so why bother working out? But it is not a waste of time. I promise you’ll be grateful to be as fit as you can be going into one of the most physically strenuous times of your life.

4. This isn’t exactly an exercise tip, but it is most definitely related to your overall fitness and health: If you happen to be a smoker, please, please, please stop smoking now. Get that out of the way before you’re pregnant. Do it. This is not negotiable. Okay, I promised not to issue mandates, but I am going to break that promise just for one second right here. Do not smoke if you are pregnant. Please. Okay, that’s it. I’m done.

Food

I wish I could tell you to go crazy and enjoy all the foods (and drinks!) you have to skip during pregnancy. Sorry, I can’t do that. When you’re trying to get pregnant, you need to start eating like you’re already pregnant—because you may not realize you’re pregnant until you’re many weeks along. Besides, this is not a time when you want to be eating and drinking to excess and setting yourself up for possible unhealthy weight gain. Which brings us to the following food for thought.

1. Because dieting to lose weight while pregnant is a no-no, and because it’s easier to get pregnant and have a complication-free pregnancy if you are at a healthy weight, now is the time to focus on reaching your healthy weight, if you’re not there already. If you are underweight, this means gaining a few pounds, and if you are overweight, it’s a good opportunity to lose a few pounds. See your doctor, tell her you’re thinking about getting pregnant, and have an honest conversation about your weight and whether you need to change your eating habits. Remember, it’s what you eat that has the biggest impact on weight gain or weight loss. If you’re already at a healthy weight, that’s great! This is the perfect time to make sure you’re eating the healthy, nutritious foods that are best for you.

2. Get 400 micrograms of folate or folic acid per day. You may have heard that folic acid is a key nutrient to take in while you’re pregnant, because it helps to prevent neural tube defects (serious birth defects). Well, you really should be getting that daily dose of folic acid well before you’re pregnant, because the baby’s neural tube forms very early in pregnancy. You can get it from foods—leafy green veggies (such as spinach), citrus fruits, beans, strawberries, and enriched cereals—but because it’s tough to get the recommended daily amount just from food, most doctors suggest taking a folic acid supplement or a multivitamin with folic acid. Talk to your doc to see what she suggests for you.
Note
MD EATS: Simple Folate-Filled Salad

Serves 1 or 2

This salad is easy to make, and a good way to get lots of nutrients—including a dose of extra folate—into your system.

2 cups raw spinach leaves (100 micrograms folate)

2 tablespoons orange juice (10 micrograms folate)

1 teaspoon olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup whole strawberries, hulled and chopped (36 micrograms folate)

Toss the spinach leaves with the juice, oil, salt, and pepper so the leaves are all lightly coated. Add the strawberries, toss gently, and serve.
Note
MD EXTRA: Banish the Bread Basket

From here on out, let’s make a deal never to eat the bread they give you at restaurants. It’s almost always completely worthless calories. My husband calls it filler. Save your appetite for the yummy thing you’re about to order. Don’t waste your appetite on those empty carbs.

3. Make your carbs whole grains. This is one of the simplest changes to make if you want a healthier diet, and it’s a great habit to adopt now and keep forever. Instead of white bread, regular pasta, and white rice, have whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice. You’ll get more fiber and nutrients and fewer empty calories.

4. I’ll say this again: Eat lots of veggies and fruits. Get in the habit of eating at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. If you’re not doing this now (really pay attention to quantity—you might think you’re doing it, but you may not be), make yourself do it for a few weeks until it becomes automatic. Start with breakfast—it’s easy to have berries or a banana with yogurt or cereal. At lunch, think about salads and veggie-filled soups. For dinner, always make vegetables and salads part of the plan. Snack on fruits and veggies, too! Whenever you’re making a salad, don’t use iceberg or romaine, because they offer no nutritional value. Use butter (or Boston) lettuce, arugula, or mixed greens that give you some health bang for your buck. Mix in some raw spinach leaves, too.
Note
MD EATS: Sanov Family Oatmeal Pancakes

Serves 6

This recipe has been a favorite in my husband’s family since the 1970s. When my in-laws first made it for me, I was blown away. They’re so light and delicious, and they are a good source of whole grains. Don’t be alarmed if the batter seems runny and lumpy. That’s because of the oatmeal, and that’s exactly what it should be like. If you make sure the griddle or pan is hot enough, each quarter cup of batter will make two silver-dollar-sized pancakes. I like to eat two of these with a drizzle of maple syrup, fruit salad, and yogurt for a satisfying breakfast. (I don’t suggest a huge stack of them—think of them as a breakfast side dish, not the main course.) Take the time for a leisurely (and healthy) morning treat now!

2 cups cooled cooked oatmeal (cook according to the directions on the oatmeal box)

1½ cups milk

3/8 cup safflower or vegetable oil

2 eggs

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons powdered milk

¼ teaspoon salt

In a medium bowl, mix the cooled cooked oatmeal with the milk. Whisk in the oil. In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs. Make sure the oatmeal is cool (or it will cook the eggs) and stir the beaten eggs into the oatmeal mixture. Stir in the whole wheat flour, the powdered milk, and the salt.

Heat a griddle or skillet on medium-high heat, and spray lightly with cooking spray or oil. When the griddle or pan is hot, use about ¼ cup of batter to make two pancakes, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Stir the batter occasionally as it sits while you’re making the first batches of pancakes.
Note
MD EATS: When to Opt for Organic

Organic foods are getting easier to find, so I encourage you to choose organic (which means free of chemical pesticides and fertilizers) over conventional whenever you can in order to keep unhealthy chemicals out of your body. Here are the fruits and veggies Meg Moreta says tend to be most contaminated—so if you’re deciding which organic foods to prioritize, these are the most important.

FRUITS

Apples

Pears

Grapes

Peaches

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Tomatoes (technically a fruit, not a veggie!)

VEGETABLES

Celery

Lettuce

Potatoes

Sweet bell peppers

5. Say adios to your wine. Ouch. This could be a tough one for those of us who enjoy a few glasses of wine, or cocktails, or whatever. But seriously, you may be many weeks into your pregnancy before you realize you’re pregnant, and getting tipsy just isn’t a good idea near the start of pregnancy (or anytime during pregnancy, for that matter). I would occasionally have one glass of wine with dinner while I was trying to get pregnant, but for anything more than that, the risk just didn’t seem worth it to me. This is another topic to discuss with your doctor, please. The good news: If you don’t drink, you never have to worry about a hangover. . . .

6. Consider starting a calcium supplement and a prenatal vitamin. For calcium, my doctor recommended those chocolate Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews. They taste pretty good! As for prenatal vitamins, the general recommendation is to start taking them at least three months before conception, so your body has all the nutrients you need for those crucial first few weeks and months of baby development. Some doctors believe morning sickness can be partially attributed to your body getting used to prenatal vitamins, so go ahead and start them before you’re actually pregnant and give your body a chance to get used to them before all the other craziness begins. Talk to your doctor about what makes sense for you.

Fashion

You’ve been dressing yourself for a long time and your body hasn’t started changing due to pregnancy yet, so do you really need Mommy Diet fashion advice now? Well, maybe. Fashion is pretty important. Like it or not, what you wear speaks volumes about who you are. When you get pregnant, and then after you have a baby, it’s not always easy to pull together a great look, especially if you’re not already confident about what works for you. Take this opportunity—when you’re not yet carrying around extra pounds and you don’t have a crying baby demanding your attention—to get your style together.

1. Know how to dress to impress. Yes, I’m a big fan of comfort clothes. (I wear four-inch heels at work with my tall costars, but I wear my Chuck Taylors or flip-flops almost every day at home.) But when you’re going out on the town, practice putting a little effort into how you come across. When you’re dealing with a weeks-old baby, you might not have it in you to pull together a whole ensemble . . . so while you don’t have any excuses, come on, step it up a notch!

2. Clean out your closet. Make room for maternity clothes, and get rid of all the stuff you’ll never wear again. You know there are pieces hanging around in there that should never see the light of day. Why are you clinging to them? I’ll suggest doing a more thorough closet “edit” later, but for now, just try to clean out the crap. Give it away o...

About this edition

• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1451651449
• ISBN 13: 9781451651447
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256