You may wonder why it is that you crave sugary, cookie, cakey foods, especially when you’re trying to lose weight.  Here’s why…when we don’t get enough sleep our bodies want energy, so we crave foods that give us quick energy, and then within an hour or two our energy plummets.  Often when people diet they deprive themselves from eating and this too causes your body to desire quick energy, and that’s when you crave the high fat, high calorie carbs.  So the solution?? 1. Get enough sleep.  When you get enough rest your body will be less likely to crave quick energy.  2. Don’t Deprive Yourself of Food.  We need food for fuel or energy.  When you’re trying to lose weight, listen to your body, and feed it when it’s hungry…just chose wisely!  Chose healthy foods that will fuel your body!  Reach for whole grain breads and pastas, nuts (especially almonds), low fat cheese (such as mozerella), and plenty of veggies and fruit.

Interested in learning more?  Email me at info@fitbysara.com for a free 20 min. coaching consultation!

Prenatal yoga is so useful to prepare you for your labor.  The breath alone will help reduce stress and tension, and specific postures help to open your pelvis making labor easier.  I had both of my sons completely natural (yes, no pain meds), and I attribute it to prenatal yoga.  When the pain became intense I would focus on my yoga breath and picture riding on a wave.  Deep inhale as rode the wave up, and deep exhale as I rode the wave down.  My doulas couldn’t believe how calm and centered I was throughout my birth.   My husband even commented, “It’s kindof sad that we decided not to have any more children since your birth was so beautiful.”

For specific prenatal yoga exercises to help prepare you for your birth checkout my prenatal yoga dvd’s I created around each of my own trimesters of pregnancy.  (1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester prenatal yoga).  Visit: http://fitbysara.com/prenatal-yoga.php

Have you been consistently working out and eating healthy to reach your weight loss goals?  If so you deserve a reward!  Rewards will keep you motivated to stay on track. Some examples of good rewards are a manicure, pedicure, massage, etc..  For example, mark your calender at week 3 with a pedicure and notice how you’ll stay motivated!

As you approach your third trimester, you may have a harder time breathing because your baby is pressing on your diaphram. Below I describe a great prenatal yoga posture to lengthen your waist and open your ribs allowing in a full breath.

How to do the yoga posture: Seated cross legged comforably on the floor (you may want to put pillows underneath you) place your right on the floor next to your buttocks.  Extend your left arm up towards the ceiling.  Inhale reach even more towards the ceiling, then exhale lean over towards the right side.  Use your breath (inhale in throught the nose and out through the nose with your mouth closed) and imagine lengthening your waist, creating space.  Hold for 4-8 breaths and repeat the sequence on the other side.  Perform the stretch 4-6 times on each side. Notice how much deeper you can breathe!  You can find this exercise on my prenatal yoga DVD for the 3rd Trimester. click here: http://fitbysara.com/prenatal-yoga.php

The Children & Adolescents Committee of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey presents a free educational session intended for parents and school professionals. Participants will learn the basics of why children and adolescents with brain injury experience behavioral issues, what those behaviors look like, and how they are a way to communicate feelings and frustrations. Parents and school professionals will also learn how to prevent and manage behavioral issues, both at home and in the classroom.

The seminars will be held:

Thursday March 13, 2008
7:00-9:00 PM
Children's Specialized Hospital, Mountainside

and,

Tuesday March 25, 2008
6:30-8:30 PM
Weisman children's Rehabilitation Hospital, Marlton

For more information or to RSVP, contact Erica Puopolo at 732.738.1002 or epuopolo@bianj.org.