Thursday, October 15, 2009

5 Reasons to Lose the Pregnancy Weight !

5 Reasons to Lose the Pregnancy Weight !

This is the right moment to lose your pregnancy weight. This is the moment to stop rationalizing why you should put it off. Need one good reason to get started? How about 5 good reasons to lose the pregnancy weight?

Life is what you make it. So if you are miserable with your current situation, why not make the necessary changes to wellness? This does not mean banking on the false promises of quick-fix diet pills and diets that are out there. And it doesn't mean joining your local gym in hopes of spending hours on the treadmill to trim your tummy. It does mean that you have to realize that this task requires a change in lifestyle and that change to wellness begins with you.

1. The Power lies within you.

You are the captain of your "ship" (body) and therefore, the ability to trim your tummy and get lean and fit will be up to you. You are responsible for what and when you eat. Choosing a lifestyle program, as your means to lose the baby weight, is a smart choice because it takes into account the psychological obstacles, appropriate exercises, nutritional knowledge, skills and tools that are needed to achieve success. Weight loss is not only about losing body fat but also of achieving wellness.

2. Respect yourself.

As any busy Mom would agree, days seem to fly by and before you know it, you are overweight Mom with low self-esteem. It's easy to get lost in translation between your pre-baby and post-baby existence. You can learn how to have a balance in your life with a lifestyle program. All work and no play will make for an unhappy-can't-lose-the-weight Mom. A Mom who feels good about herself inside and out results in a happy family.

3. Lose Inches off your Body

Moms are not as fashion savvy as they would like to be out of practicality of dealing with children but mostly out of embarrassment of being overweight. You can burn the baby fat and become your own goddess by doing strength training. Resistance training re-builds your muscle into toned muscles and it doesn't require a lot of your time.

4. Eliminate Fatigue

When you exercise and eat right, your body will have more energy. Also, just psychologically knowing that you are looking and feeling better, can contribute to increasing your energy and putting you in a better frame of mind. A proper diet and healthy approach to life will keep you energized to maintain a balanced life and keep the weight off.

5. Reduce Stress.

The unpredictability of life makes stress inevitable. You can reduce stress in your life when you life a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating right, getting enough rest and exercise and spending quality time with your loved ones and yourself. Also learning skills to cope with certain stresses can help to make life more manageable. As we all know, reducing stress will contribute to your wellness and that of your family's.

Losing pregnancy weight will require that you commit to the task and to do so for the long run by changing to a healthier lifestyle. The right lifestyle program can guide you in losing the baby fat and becoming the healthier for it. You can have everything only if you let it happen He sums up all the reasons for you to re-claim a healthy lifestyle and live your life.

Losing pregnancy weight can be daunting but there is no time like today to start now. Be sure to check out www.coupons4save.com for more products and more information on losing the baby fat and getting healthy again.
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www.coupons4save.com.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Tired Of No Results? Try The Best Pregnancy Diet

The best pregnancy diet offers answers and solutions to your weight loss problems. The best pregnancy diet is one that is practical and usable by anyone with a weight loss after baby delivery problem. The best pregnancy diet is the one that offers the three most successful ways of losing weight for new mothers. When you eat a healthier diet, get plenty of vigorous exercise and choose to breastfeed your baby, you are using the best pregnancy diet. These three techniques are responsible for most of the weight loss achieved by new mothers. They will work for you too.

The best pregnancy diet is one that lets you choose what foods you want to eat as long as they meet the criteria of a healthy diet. The object here is to eat fewer calories. When you got pregnant, you gained weight. After delivery, you found that you need to get rid of what weight there was left over. The best pregnancy diet recommends the same foods you were advised to eat with your postnatal advice. A high fiber, high protein diet rich with fruits and vegetables is called for. Lean meats, fish and skinless chicken supply needed protein. Low fat dairy products like yogurt lend protein and vitamin D. But any wholesome foods may be eaten as long as they fit into your plan for healthier food and fewer calories. The best single piece of advice is to drink plenty of plain water. It gives you a nice full feeling and it flushes out your system while rehydrating you.

There are still stories out there about waiting for six to eight weeks before doing any exercise. Unless you had some complication or perhaps a C-section during the birth, it's recommended that you begin exercise as soon as you feel you can.The best pregnancy diet means burning calories by increasing your metabolism. That calls for exercise. It's probably best to wait for a day or two, then begin. Most new mothers begin by pushing a stroller around for a few minutes every day. This simple act exercises your arms, legs and abdominal muscles. After a while, you get to know your physical condition and can add exercise as you see fit. If you are one of the lucky ones, you can join one of the health clubs that have special programs for new mothers. They usually offer free day care for the baby while mom works out. Then later, she can relax and unwind again in the hot tub.

The best pregnancy diets call for the new mother to breastfeed her baby. When she does so during her postpartum phase, her body begins a hormonal change that starts breaking down her body fat. That process makes the nutrients for her baby's milk. It's responsible for a 500 calorie loss every day. The best pregnancy diet recommends combining breastfeeding with diet and exercise to achieve a weight loss of at least a pound every week. The combination of all three techniques will result in a healthier lifestyle that is beneficial to the new mother. It should be said that when she breastfeeds, she should consume at least 1500 to 1800 calories every day. That will guarantee her baby an adequate supply of nutrition.

In conclusion, the best pregnancy diet combines eating a healthier group of foods, getting adequate exercise and breastfeeding to offer the most successful method of losing that unwanted baby weight. It has worked for untold numbers of mothers throughout history, and it will work for you too.
Information about the Author:
Of course this is just a few tips on the best pregnancy diet. Many people ask us how they can lose that baby belly and we help many by sharing what worked for us. More questions? losing-baby-weight.com

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Lose Weight After Baby-How Do I Get Started?

You just had a baby. Great! Now you are a real family! Just one problem. You need to lose some serious weight to get your health and your figure back. The baby comes first! But then you need to think of yourself coming in a close second. After all, the little guy (or girl) is counting on you to give him a good start at life.

There are some things you can do for him and for you. Losing weight after baby requires a good plan and the ability to stick with it. Consider these three most often used ways to begin your goal of losing weight after baby.

First, Breastfeeding is Nature's way of beginning to lose weight after your baby. The new Mother's body undergoes some major changes after the birth of her child. Her body is changing with a flood of hormones. One effect is the production of breast milk. When the new Mother begins to breastfeed, she can lose at least 500 calories each day.

That will begin the weight loss program Nature blessed you with. Those hormones begin the breakdown of body fat into the nutrients that your baby needs to grow. This is a smart beginning for the Mother determined to lose weight after baby.

Most Doctors advise newly pregnant women to gain 15 or more pounds to insure that the developing baby will receive the necessary nutrition in the Mother's body. After giving birth, Most Mothers lose 10 to 12 pounds counting the amniotic fluids and blood loss. After all that, most Doctors say the new Mother should begin to lose some weight after baby. She should begin a healthy diet and lifestyle change.

Her diet should include a lot of fiber and liquids. Fruits and veggies are a good source. She needs a high protein, low fat source, such as lean meats, skinless chicken and fish. Include dairy products, as long as they are low fat things like yogurt and skim milk. Water and fruit juices are also very important to replace all of the fluid lost with breastfeeding.

Losing weight after baby is hard work! That means the new Mother will have to look for ways to exercise that fit into her busy schedule. The old way of thinking was to wait six to eight weeks after the birth to begin any serious exercise. That is still true for Mothers who have had complications with the birth, or if they had a Caesarean Section.

Rest is necessary for recovery. But if the new Mom had a normal vaginal birth with no complications, there is no reason why she shouldn't start a careful exercise plan as soon as she feels up to it. For some, they start right away, but most wait a few days and then begin walking or pushing a stroller. They start slowly and cautiously, to see what general condition they are in.

After a couple of days, they start to gain confidence in their plan if everything goes well. The new Mother should look to exercise her arms, legs and abdominal muscles first. Walking is almost as good as running, but without all the impact. And pushing a stroller does exercise those areas. The exercise will increase her metabolism and help her to lose weight after baby.

To sum up, the new Mom must make choices that will help both her and the new child in her life. Losing weight after baby is the right choice to make to help her regain a healthy lifestyle. Breastfeeding, a healthy diet and regular physical exercise are the three most common and successful choices a new Mother can make.
Information about the Author:
Of course this is just a few tips on losing baby weight. Many people ask us how they can lose that baby weight fast and we'll answer how long you can expect it to take in another article. More questions? losing-baby-weight.com

Rib Pain During Pregnancy

Rib pain during pregnancy can be a persistent problem, especially during the third trimester. Your rib cage may feel mildly sore or extremely tender and bruised. You may have discomfort on either side, or both sides, though it is commonly worse on the right side of the ribs.

Pain occurs in and under the ribs as your uterus grows. Later in pregnancy, your abdomen becomes stretched, and your uterus stretches upward as well as outward. Your pelvis and abdomen are becoming full, and your baby is beginning to press up under your ribs and chest. This upward pressure from your baby may also make you feel short of breath.

This pressure on your ribs and diaphragm may also result in shoulder pain, because there are nerves in the diaphragm which can refer pain into the shoulders. This pain can be very sharp! It may also result in indigestion or acid reflux as your baby puts the squeeze on your stomach.

Additionally, as your breast become larger, they also place pressure on your ribs. During pregnancy, your breasts may increase by one full cup size or more. The extra weight pulls your shoulders forward and down, and places strain on the upper back, neck, and often results in pain around the rib cage.

As your body prepares for the delivery of your baby, your hormones are hard at work loosening your muscles and ligaments. This loosening can allow your ribs to shift and move in ways that were not natural before, causing discomfort. Your ribcage is not only loosening, but expanding as well, not only to make room for your baby, but also to help increase your breathing and lung capacity. Even though you may be feeling short of breath, your body is taking in about forty percent more air than it did before you became pregnant.

Rib pain during pregnancy can cause the greatest discomfort when you are in a sitting position. Practicing good posture is especially important. Try to make sure that you sit up straight with your shoulders back. Slouching will compress your abdomen and result in more pain.

Try to wear loose clothing so that you do not add any extra pressure to your belly. Try getting a new bra. It is especially important to have a supportive bra that is not too tight. Under wire bras may put too much extra pressure on your ribs. Now may be a good time to invest in a good nursing bra. They usually offer nice support without being too tight and will be useful once your baby is born.

Holding your arms up over your head can take some pressure off and provide temporary relief from rib pain by lifting the ribs away from the uterus.

Practicing doorway chest stretches can also be helpful because they, too, will help rotate the shoulders up and back, which can also help lift the ribs away from the uterus.

Stretching and prenatal yoga are great for keeping your body long and loose. The less compressed you are, the less your rib cage will hurt. Breathing and relaxation exercises may also be effective. There are a variety of hands on techniques that can help to gently stretch and lift your ribs away from the uterus. Applying these techniques to your breasts, chest and abdomen, can really relieve a lot of pain and pressure from your body, though you will need a friend or partner to help you.

Scheduling a visit to your massage therapist, chiropractor, or acupuncturist, may also help provide relief from rib pain during pregnancy.

If you are having rib and flank pain that goes through to your back, and or burning or pain with urination, you should contact your health care provider. This could be an indication of a urinary tract infection.
Information about the Author:
Orit Cox is a Holistic Health Practitioner and massage therapist in San Diego, CA and content writer for www.pregnancymomandbaby.com, an information resource for pregnancy and mothers. Orit is also the author of The Pregnancy Pain Guide, featured at www.PregnancyPainRelief.com, where you can discover easy-to-implement techniques to relieve pregnancy pain.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Impact Of Aging On Male Fertility

Any debate on advancing age and its effects on fertility has always been linked to women as if men do not get impacted at all. This understanding or the lack of it has been exposed thoroughly and research indicates that men too experience significant changes related to fertility in terms of decreasing sperm count and motility as they grow older.

This is a result of the physiological changes that are inevitable and one of them takes place in the form of the reduction of the testicular mass. Simultaneously, there is also a decrease in the testosterone level, the seminal tubes lose their resilience and with the epididymis and the prostate glands shedding cells; the pace of sperm production definitely takes a hit.

To compound the above problems, one out of two men suffer from a benign prostate condition which may not be dangerous to life but seriously inhibits the motility of sperms leading to lesser probability of the egg getting fertilized. Advancing age also weakens the muscles accountable for ejaculation; with the result the sperms ejaculated do not have the legs in them to reach the egg. It is a paradox that despite these problems, semen characteristics continue to remain very much within the standard norms and do not reflect major changes.

Another significant development that has been noticed is the DNA duplication process running into errors and that is the primary reason that semen donation has been restricted till the age of 40, as it has been discovered that the sperm cells of a man in his late forties would undergo far greater divisions as compared to an individual in his twenties.
Certain other complications like the Marfan syndrome, which is a genetic disorder associated with the connective tissue, causing abnormally long limbs and Apert Syndrome, which leads to deformities in the skull, face are known to occur in the offspring fathered by males over 45.

It is an accepted fact that aging by itself does not impact the sexual performance or thwarts a person from becoming a father. It is not the physical aspect that gets affected due to age but problems that are caused due to medication or mental factors that may precipitate a decline in the fertility levels. A case in point is impotence which may be due to some medications being taken for hypertension or diabetes; affecting the sexual performance of an otherwise healthy person. Such individuals need to consult their physician for an alternative mode of treatment.

Low libido due to reduction in testosterone levels, impotence and lack of understanding among the partners invariably causes a lower sex drive which in turn impacts fertility and need to be addressed accordingly. Research has revealed that the ability to have a satisfactory sexual life in the middle years of an individual often determines his sexual performance in his later years, influencing his capability to father children at that age.

Decreasing testosterone levels seriously affects fertility and manifests itself in the form of abnormal weight gain, insomnia, lack of self confidence, anxiety, problems with memory and even loss of hair. The problem needs to be tackled from different perspectives and only then can a practical solution emerge.

It would be incorrect to ascribe loss of fertility to male menopause, as various other reasons like stress, medication in addition to aging also play their part in negatively impacting male fertility. The key to maintain a top physical and physiological state is to indulge in regular exercise, minimize stress and seek timely medical advice. While the subject of male fertility demands far greater attention and research, current information borne out of extensive study shows that men can and do have the capability to father children even in their later years.
Information about the Author:
Steve Taylor is the webmaster of popular Male Fertility Information website. visit us online at www.malefertilitysupplements.com

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Decorating for a Terrific Baby Shower

If you are planning a baby shower, you want to make a great impression, not only on the expectant close friend or family member, but also on your guests. It isn't always easy to come up with fresh, fun, and simple ideas to entertain everyone. Where do you even start? This article should help with some great ideas to get your baby shower started and inspire you to greatness.

Theme

If you want your party to appear organized and planned out, then a theme can be very helpful. A good theme can make your party more fun, while making decorating decisions easier on you. The simplest baby shower theme is the "baby" theme, with storks, bottles, rattles, bonnets, and diapers. If you prefer a more unconventional theme, try a seasonal theme. You could do a winter theme with snowmen, snowflakes, sleighs, and icicles.

Or try a Valentine's Day theme with red hearts, cherubs, and roses. Your theme could relate to Christmas, New Year's, the Fourth of July, or Easter. If you don't want either the "baby" theme or a seasonal theme, try a beach party with beach balls, blankets, buckets, or a sand castle (if you have sand and want to put the effort into building one.) Once you have chosen a theme, the task of decorating will be much easier.

Color

If you already know the gender of the baby, then you could always go with the traditional blue for boy, pink for girl. If the parents are keeping the gender a secret, or don't want to know, then you can still use a certain color scheme as the basis for your party decoration. You could go with the mother's favorite color, or a light, cute color like light green, pale purple, or bright yellow.

You aren't required to use just blue or pink, especially if you aren't sure if it is a boy or a girl. Just keep the colors fun and upbeat for a baby shower (no black decorations, please.)

Decorations

Although there are many, many options for decorations, don't be overwhelmed. Choose a theme and stick with it. Balloons make excellent decorations. You could go with blue or pink, or if you a using a Valentine's Day theme, you could get balloons that say, "I love you, baby!" If your theme is the Fourth of July, then go with red, white, and blue balloons.

You could even throw in a few pink ones if you don't know the baby's gender. Try using baby food jars as weights to hold the balloons in place. Add some streamers that match your color choice. Another great decoration idea is something to symbolize motherhood. For a gift table centerpiece, get a big lioness and some smaller cubs. You could also use a large teddy bear and some smaller baby bears. You can add a tiny diaper to the baby bear if you so choose. Stuffed animals in mother and baby sizes make great centerpieces!

You could even customize them to match your theme by adding a scarf for a winter theme, or a star-spangled hat for the mother bear for the Fourth of July. If your theme is Valentine's Day, then you should be able to easily find teddy bears that fit right in to your theme. If the mother-to-be has a favorite animal, then try using a stuffed version of that for the mother and baby centerpiece, like a stuffed cat and some kittens.

Favors

While there is no rule that says you have to provide party favors for a baby shower, they will be appreciated. In addition to being thoughtful, party favors can also be used as prizes for shower games. They also make great decorations. For instance, you could have cute napkins with babies painted on them that could be decorative and serve as a take-home party favor.

You could also give away the mother and babies stuffed animal centerpiece mentioned above as a party favor or prize. Small stuffed animals are affordable, make cute baby animals, and are easy to find, whether you are talking about a teddy bear, stuffed lioness, plush cat, or other animal. Other traditional favors include photo frames, candles, crystal booties, and candy tins. There are many great party favors, so don't forget them!

The best baby showers require a lot of planning and effort, but the above suggestions should give you a great place to start and help stimulate some ideas. Just come up with a theme and a color scheme, then get decorative items to match them. Next, pick out some party favors and plan some activities. Soon the party will start to take shape.

Although baby showers require planning, they don't have to be a huge pain! Make sure that your baby shower is loads of fun for all your guests and a party to remember.
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Have your baby shower decorated in no time with great stuffed lions, cute teddy bears and many more fantastic stuffed animals from www.KCPlush.com

Friday, October 2, 2009

The Natural Treatment of Infertility

Infertility is the inability for a couple to conceive a child despite having regular unprotected sex. After 1 - 2 years of attempting to naturally conceive, approximately 85 percent of couples will find themselves pregnant. Although one in seven couples have difficulty conceiving, the number of couples who are actually infertile is relatively low. There are two types of infertility; primary infertility and secondary infertility. Primary infertility is if you have never naturally conceived a child, and secondary infertility is if you have had one or more babies in the past, but are having difficulty conceiving again.

There are many reasons for infertility. It is often commonly regarded as a problem specific to women but within 80 percent of cases with couples who are diagnosed as infertile, half of these are partially also due to male factors. Signs of male infertility can include a condition called azoospermia; a lack of sperm production or oligospermia, whereby he produces too few sperm required to fertilise the female egg. Symptoms of infertility which occur in females are most commonly a related to ovulation disorders. If a female fails to ovulate, this prevents egg fertilisation. Symptoms of ovulation problems include irregular menstrual periods or a lack of periods altogether, also referred to as amenorrhea. Hormonal imbalances can also contribute to ovulation problems. If the fallopian tubes are blocked at one or both ends, this will also be problematic as the egg is then unable to travel through the tubes into the uterus.

Although there is no specific time frame to say when a couple is infertile, your GP will only advise you seek medical attention if you have failed to conceive after one year of actively trying. In order to then diagnose the condition, a medical evaluation may determine what factors are causing a couple's infertility. If a medical and sexual history fails to establish the problem such as a low sperm count or absence of ovulation, specific tests will then be carried out. For the female, the first step in testing is to determine if she is ovulating each month. This can be done by monitoring changes in morning body temperature by using an FDA-approved home ovulation test kit which is available over the counter. Ovulation tests can also be carried out by your GP via blood tests for hormone levels or ultrasound tests of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating, further testing will then be advised.

It is important to be aware before attempting to conceive, that simple lifestyle factors including stress or diet can largely affect a woman's hormonal balance and therefore the ability to conceive. Similarly, lifestyle issues can influence the number and quality of a man's sperm. Regular alcohol consumption and the use of substances such as marijuana, nicotine, and certain medications, can significantly reduce sperm quality and sometimes quantity. Stress is also a huge factor as it can trigger hormone imbalances. Ultimately, infertility in both males and females can largely be due to naturally controllable factors such as a poor diet, lack of exercise and stress. Conceiving is also highly dependent on when intercourse should occur in relation the female menstrual cycle and establishing which key days within the cycle are when fertilisation is most likely to take place can help significantly. Addressing a natural approach to combat infertility can have miraculous results and avoid processes such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) which can be both expensive and there is no 100 percent guarantee that it will be successful.
Information about the Author:
Laura Yates is a holistic health writer for Megavista Health. For more information on the natural treatment of infertility, please go to "http://www.megavista-health.com/infertility"