Natural First Finger Foods for Infants

During the finger food stage of feeding your little one my favorites are (Organic):

Puffed Wheat

Puffed Kamut (related to wheat) – larger and easier for little hands to grasp

Puffed Brown Rice

Puffed Corn

Brown Rice Cakes – Unsalted

* Don’t forget the fruits and vegetables.  You can cook and chop into small pieces any vegetable or non soft fruit that you might feed them at meal time.

The Final 8 – Losing the Last of the Baby Weight!

By Tania Reuben

Lil Dude was born 3 years ago!

I think I’m considered lucky; during my first pregnancy I gained 22 lbs and for my second 17 lbs – ducking to avoid incoming flying objects.  I was nauseous and queasy for all of both of them, but most people still consider me fortunate because I didn’t gain, 30, 40 or more pounds.

However, 3 years later. I’m still carrying 8 of those pounds and had the muffing top to prove it!  My new size 6 frame is just fine, especially since I’ve given birth twice!  I get it.  My self image and esteem is perfectly healthy.  I know I can do better.  I can eat more regularly and step up my exercise.  I don’t need to be a size 4 again, but see no good reason why I can’t get back to my pre baby weight… full disclosure… 128lbs.

I’ve been fortunate in that throughout my life I’ve never  been a dieter.  I’ve eaten carefully with moderation, limit my snacking and whenever the scale creeps up a little – I’d reign it in a little.   That would take care of keeping me trim – ducking again.

Then I had babies!

Pretty much weeks after my delivery I was a few pounds away from my current weight.  I figured that a little exercise and moderation would get me back.  Not so much.  But I was still a size six, so not all was lost.

Last fall I decided I wanted to get back to my pre baby weight, so I started working out  consistently and watching my evening snacking.  Nothing – well almost nothing.  I dropped 1.5 lbs. So… I’m stepping it up.  Not sure where the motivation is coming from.  Perhaps I figure if I head into my forties with this weight… a bad precedent could be set.  Not cool.

I am determined to shed the final 8 lbs.  DETERMINED.

THE PLAN

I’m working out with friends 3 times a week at mommy bootcamp adding

wii Yoga on off days

Stairmaster, with some strengthening exercises if I miss a bootcamp.

I’m being diligent about my diet.  Most notably eating.  Breakfast.  Lunch and Dinner.

The experts seem to agree that if you state a goal and declare it publicly you are statistically more likely to achieve that goal.

I’m keeping  a food diary, but not so much for calorie counting or diet modification… more to make sure I don’t skip meals!  I need to get my metabolism stepped up .  I’m using the free iphone application – www.myfitnesspal.com to track my eating.  I like that it comes with me wherever I go. I’m talking with the folks at at myfitnesspal to see if there is a way I can share my diary on PND.

By the way.  Dr. Oz is really focusing on healthy weight loss on his show.  Tivo it for great whole living advice!

FULL DISCLOSURE:

I weigh 136 pounds and my BMI is 26% (pinch test) or 22% (wii).

My goal weigh is 125 (3lbs less than my 128 pre baby weight) by April 5.

Measurements: Waist 34″ Hips 41″ Arms 12″ Legs 22″

WEIGH IN FEB 2, 2010

I weigh 130 pounds and my BMI is 25.7% (pinch test) or 21% (wii).

Measurements: Waist 31″ Hips 40″ Arms 12″ Legs 21.5″

Down a Total of: 6 lbs and 3.5 inches

WEIGH IN MARCH 4, 2010

I weigh 128 pounds and my BMI is 25.7% (pinch test) or 20.9% (wii).

Measurements: Waist 30.5″ Hips 38″ Arms 12″ Legs 21″

Down a Total of: 8lbs and 7 inches

I figure if I’m going to put some effort into this I might as well bump up my goal a little bit too!  I could have been a few pounds trimmer when I got pregnant the fist time!

Anyone want to join me in their fitness and health goals? 
They always say the last few pounds are the most difficult!

If you want to see exactly what I’m eating my food diary is being posted on: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/PureNaturalDiva
Access using code: PND
When keeping the diary. I’ll choose the food that is closest to what I ate, perhaps not the actual brand. If it’s pasta, I’m eating whole wheat.

MyFitnessPal – Free Calorie Counter

Top Dropper’s December

By Tania Reuben

Thank you so much to everyone who dropped by during the month of December! Sorry it took a little while to get this up!

The following folks worked some overtime to make it happen, each of them visiting every day! Thank you for your loyalty!

Note: Scrolling through PND content will “highlight” hyperlinks.

Vanilla Seven
Rambling Stuff
One World Realty
Art By Paul Baines
Jean sQuared
Business Sphere
On A Lighter Note
The One Minute Guide
Beaded Tail
Everything Has A Reason

When you get a chance check them out!

Thanks to each one of you! Hope to see you again in December!

Using Random.org Top Jokes will also receive 500 EC as extra thanks!

Question: If you know how I can see more than my top 10 droppers, can you please leave me a comment with instructions! I have other visitors that I’d love to give some link love to as well and I don’t know where to find the information… so if I can figure it out next month, this list can grow a little bit!

PND November Top EC Droppers

By Tania Reuben

Thank you so much to everyone who dropped by during the month of November!

The following folks worked some overtime to make it happen, each of them visiting every day!  Thank you for your loyalty!

Note: Scrolling through PND content will “highlight” hyperlinks.

Art By Paul Baines
EzGreatLife
Top Jokes
Business Sphere
Shaine’s Scraps Of Life
Art Shout
Traders’ Hub
One World Realty
Picture to People
Buy-Tees.net T-Shirts

When you get a chance check them out!

Thanks to each one of you! Hope to see you again in December!

Using Random.org Top Jokes will also receive 500 EC as extra thanks!

Question: If you know how I can see more than my top 10 droppers, can you please leave me a comment with instructions! I have other visitors that I’d love to give some link love to as well and I don’t know where to find the information… so if I can figure it out next month, this list can grow a little bit!

Diva Top Droppers – October

Thank you so much to everyone who dropped by in the month of October!

The following folks worked some overtime to make it happen!

When you get a chance check them out!
*
*
Laane on the World
BeadedTail
vanillaseven
Lisgold
60 Were Enough
The Cooling Stream
BetterSpines
Cornymans Money-Blog, everything about financial independence
Guitarbench
Your Fun Family

Thanks to each one of you! Hope to see you again in November!