Showing posts with label Womens Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Womens Health. Show all posts

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Questions Every Pregnant Woman Should Ask Herself



You're pregnant! Congratulations! During your 40-week journey, you'll come up with lots of questions, some valid and some silly. To make sure the valid questions get the attention they deserve, I want to make sure you're aware of these three very important topics. Take note—and happy growing, Mama!

Am I eating enough protein?

Women need additional protein during pregnancy. And while moms-to-be have every intention of upping their protein portions, first-trimester nausea can quickly change eating habits. If you're having difficultly filling nutritional gaps with food, you can try supplementing. There is a terrific product called Mommi 3-in-1.  It's the first-ever complete prenatal protein shake with all the vitamins, protein and DHA a pregnant woman needs. Each serving contains 25 grams of protein, 100% daily value of 14 essential prenatal vitamins and 200 milligrams of DHA when prepared with 10 ounces of 1% milk. Best part: it comes in yummy chocolate and vanilla flavors. You get everything you need without the nausea! Win!

Should I receive prenatal testing?

During your 40 weeks, there will be moments of anxiety. And lots of wondering, “Is the baby healthy?” There are certain prenatal tests that can provide you answers. For example, Panorama is a noninvasive, highly accurate prenatal test that screens for several genetic conditions including Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. The test can be administered as early as nine weeks gestation. These tests not only help expectant families prepare for future health implications involving their baby, but they may also provide reassurance that all is well with the baby. If you find yourself anxiety ridden, this test may be a good option for you. It's worth mentioning to your health care provider.

Should I consider cord blood banking?


A newborn's umbilical cord blood contains powerful stem cells that have been used for the treatment of more than 80 serious diseases and disorders in both adults and children. Cord blood banking is the process of retrieving the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta in the moments after birth. Expectant parents only have one opportunity to save or donate the cord blood, and it is among the most critical decisions new mothers and fathers will make. To make an informed decision regarding their options, expectant parents should learn all they can about current therapies and future treatments using cord blood stem cells. Visit cordbankingbasics.com to learn more. If cost is an issue, some families have added this to their baby registry wish list.

Want to track your pregnancy with HealthyWomen? Sign up for the HealthyPregnancy newsletter below to receive weekly updates on your little one's growth and development.

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Get Fit by Labor Day: Announcing the HealthyWomen and Boot Camp Hub Get Fit Challenge!



Great news: HealthyWomen is teaming with Boot Camp Hub to offer women a free Get Fit Challenge. The eight-week online training starts Monday, July 7, and continues for eight weeks, ending just before Labor Day. If you want to lose a few pounds or just feel fit and have more energy, watch HealthyWomen.org for more details.

Trust Me, It Works!

As someone who recently completed one of Boot Camp hub's eight-week online fitness programs, I can say it's worth your effort! I did not meet the very ambitious weight goal I'd set for myself at the start, but what I did do was:

1. Lose 5.6 pounds in eight weeks (which makes me officially no longer overweight)
2. Lose 5.2 inches, almost entirely from areas I wanted to trim
3. Fit back into my summer shorts—comfortably!
4. Complete at least five online workouts every week for eight weeks
5. Add more movement to my daily routine
6. Gain energy and strength, as evidenced by my daily life and my boot camp fitness tests
7. Cut back on sweets and improve my eating habits
8. Quiet the "negative voices" that can lead to failure in fitness (or any endeavor)
9. Set a good example for my family
10. Have fun working out!

My exercise and dietary habits weren't bad when I started boot camp, but, despite my efforts, my weight had crept up, putting me into the "overweight" classification. I want to live a long, healthy life, so I took action and signed on for some intensive online workouts.

The workouts were affordable, and best of all, could be done in my family room, any time of day or night, with no equipment needed. These rigorous interval training sessions were the perfect complement to my twice-a-week yoga classes and daily walks.

I enjoyed nearly every minute of workouts with Jonathan Roche, fitness coach and founder of Breakthrough Health & Wellness Solutions (which runs Boot Camp Hub), and his staff of trainers. They couldn't have been more upbeat and encouraging to me and the others like me who signed on for some fitness support.

Get Motivated

If you're looking for fitness support, this challenge is for you. To keep us motivated and on track, Jonathan and his team will provide 18 custom workout videos for HealthyWomen participants, along with daily missions, motivational videos and written assignments.

The staff at HealthyWomen looks forward to participating in the online boot camp, right along with you. We will support and challenge each other and hope you will too.

Win a Trip to Mexico

At the end of the camp, Jonathan and team will choose one lucky winner to receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Mexico! To be eligible, you'll need to submit before and after photos and participate in weekly surveys. You can win based on what you gain from boot camp—not just the pounds or inches you may lose. Details will be announced soon.

All Fitness Levels Welcome

If you're not in great shape now, don't worry. The coaches provide alternative movements for people at every fitness level and encourage you to challenge yourself but not to overdo it and get discouraged.

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