Go get, and subsequently read the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.
I have never been a fan of Koontz, actually never gave him a try before getting these books on the recommendation of a close friend. There is Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, and Brother Odd. The series is about a young man, named Odd, who just happens to see spirits.
The reason I love these books so much is because of Odd. He is quite literally the only character I've ever read who did not stay a character in my mind. Once you get into the first book, you forget Koontz even wrote the story. The words seem to literally be coming from Odd Thomas. His character is vivid and witty.
My only criticism of the series is one that from the perspective of an author cannot really be helped. That is the redundancy that comes in the very beginning of each of the last two books...in order to reiterate relevant points of the story that the reader might have forgotten or for those who might not have read the previous book(s).
I've heard that there is more coming to this series, and I am anxiously awaiting tangible proof of that - as in an actual release in my local bookstore. Until then, I thought I'd pass on the recommendation to anyone else who might love reading as much as I do.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Eat Me
Since I have quite a few pregnant women on my friends' list, as well as many women of childbearing age, I consider this very important to put out there. Also, this is for any women doing birth work that may need this to share with their clients. For everyone else, bear with me. You might learn something!
The absolute most important part of pregnancy is nutrition. It isn't often that pregnant women who are seeing an OB are taught the facts about prenatal nutrition. Now, let me state first off that I do not blame this entirely on the medical profession. The fact is that doctors are taught about it either, and what they are taught applies to the non-pregnant body. The pregnant body is much different, and therefore has different nutritional requirements.
Teaching pregnant women what to eat is about 70% of what I do, followed by about 20% therapy, and 10% acual birth work. That is how important nutrition is when you're pregnant.
First, I will give you a general overview of why nutrition is so important in pregnancy, next I'll give you the basics of how to eat and explain why each point is so important, and finally I'll give some tips on how to meet these guidelines. Also, by request, I'll give a few tips to ladies who are not yet pregnant. So...on to the first point. Nutrition in pregnancy is the foundation of not only mother and baby's health, but also a term pregnancy and an easy labor and delivery. The body systems of the fetus all begin to form in the first trimester. This is also the time that the placenta is formed and becomes attached to the wall of the uterus. Without nutritional backing, none of these things can be completed - at least not well.
The main foundation of eating well prenatally is protein. Protein helps the placenta form, attatch, and stay attached. It also keeps swelling to a minimum. Another thing not well known is that pregnancy diseases like Toxemia, Pre-Ecclampsia, and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (these are the most well-known) are all primarily nutrition based diseases. Which means, with the correct nutrition, these things don't happen. Here are the basics w/ explanations:
1. Protein - you need 80-120 grams a day. Now many midwives differ on this thought, but on a whole we all agree it is important. Some say around 70 grams daily. I have personally seen better results with the higher amount of protein, as long as the sources are quality. Make some quality decisions on what to eat throughout the day and this is easy to achieve. Protein has also been shown to make bouts of early pregnancy sickness either less or eliminated altogether. Here are some good quality sources (these are just a few) of protein to include in your diet:
Pinto Beans - 44 g per cup
Chicken - 30 g per breast
Cottage Cheese - 26 g per cup
Ground turkey - 20 g per serving
Peanuts - 19 g per half cup
Turkey Sausage - 15 g per link
Tilapia - 15 g per serving
Kidney beans - 14 g per cup
Almonds - 13 g per half cup
Yogurt - 12 g per cup
Flax seed peanut butter - 10 g per 2 tbs. serving
Brazil nuts - 8-10 g per dozen
Also, if you like milk and eggs, consuming 2 eggs and 2- 16 oz. glasses of milk daily is an easy way to get half of what you need in a day.
2. Leafy green vegetables - don't cheat on this one. You need at least one good serving daily and this is where most women fall short. You don't have to eat collard greens or anything, a good salad made of actual greens will do. Use Romaine lettuce, spring greens, and spinach leaves. Add a little grilled chicken and cottage cheese (extra protein), then the dressing your choice. That will cover the cottage cheese taste if you don't like it. Leafy greens are important for iron as well as forming complete proteins and helping your body break down and process the large amount of protein being taken in.
3. Water - the minimum is 64 oz. (or 8-8 oz. glasses) a day. Remember this is MINIMUM. You should actually be getting half of your body weight in ounces worth of water. So if you weigh 200 lbs (avg. pregnant women do), you need 100 oz. of water daily. Juice, tea, sodas do not count. This is pure water we're talking about and is super important for pregnant women. Amniotic fluid replenishes itself about every 3 hours, and if you aren't hydrating your body there is nothing there for it to be replenished with. Also, spread water out throughout the day. The body can only process about a glass an hour, any more than that just gets passed straight through in urine.
4. Salt - contrary to popular belief, salt is ok (good even) for pregnant women! Salt your food to taste but skip the table salt. Use kosher or sea salt as it hasn't been stripped of all the good minerals your body needs. Salt is essential for cells to process water and keeps swelling to a minimum.
5. Color - have a colorful diet and you'll take care of the rest! Blue, red, yellow, orange, and green fruits and veggies throughout the day will complete and compliment your pregnant diet and support the growth of your baby well.
Remember that swelling in pregnancy is a sign of something being off nutritionally. Check your protein intake, up your water intake, and make sure you are salting your food to taste and the swelling will almost always subside. Another thing that I tell women is they don't have to restrict. If you decide you want a chocolate shake, fine! Go and enjoy that to the fullest of your pregnant ability (which we all know is A LOT!!!), just balance it out later with an extra glass of water or an extra serving of greens.
Another point I want to briefly address is that of gestational diabetes. Most women do not realize that pregnancy is a natural diabetic state. The body does that on purpose. This is so that you will have to eat 5-6 small, frequent meals throughout the day in order to keep your blood sugar stable and keep your baby's blood sugar stable.
Now, because I was specifically requested to address women who are not yet pregnant, here you go. :) These same things apply to the non-pregnant body except for protein intake. The non-pregnant woman only needs about half of that amount of protein (40-50 g). But taking the time before you are pregnant to practice eating this way makes it that much easier when you are! This is also a good time to learn eating small, frequent meals instead of three large ones. Honestly, this way of eating can benefit pretty much everyone - male or female, pregnant or may never become pregnant. It is really just a good, healthy way of eating.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. Soon to follow: my Engrish blog as promised!
The absolute most important part of pregnancy is nutrition. It isn't often that pregnant women who are seeing an OB are taught the facts about prenatal nutrition. Now, let me state first off that I do not blame this entirely on the medical profession. The fact is that doctors are taught about it either, and what they are taught applies to the non-pregnant body. The pregnant body is much different, and therefore has different nutritional requirements.
Teaching pregnant women what to eat is about 70% of what I do, followed by about 20% therapy, and 10% acual birth work. That is how important nutrition is when you're pregnant.
First, I will give you a general overview of why nutrition is so important in pregnancy, next I'll give you the basics of how to eat and explain why each point is so important, and finally I'll give some tips on how to meet these guidelines. Also, by request, I'll give a few tips to ladies who are not yet pregnant. So...on to the first point. Nutrition in pregnancy is the foundation of not only mother and baby's health, but also a term pregnancy and an easy labor and delivery. The body systems of the fetus all begin to form in the first trimester. This is also the time that the placenta is formed and becomes attached to the wall of the uterus. Without nutritional backing, none of these things can be completed - at least not well.
The main foundation of eating well prenatally is protein. Protein helps the placenta form, attatch, and stay attached. It also keeps swelling to a minimum. Another thing not well known is that pregnancy diseases like Toxemia, Pre-Ecclampsia, and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (these are the most well-known) are all primarily nutrition based diseases. Which means, with the correct nutrition, these things don't happen. Here are the basics w/ explanations:
1. Protein - you need 80-120 grams a day. Now many midwives differ on this thought, but on a whole we all agree it is important. Some say around 70 grams daily. I have personally seen better results with the higher amount of protein, as long as the sources are quality. Make some quality decisions on what to eat throughout the day and this is easy to achieve. Protein has also been shown to make bouts of early pregnancy sickness either less or eliminated altogether. Here are some good quality sources (these are just a few) of protein to include in your diet:
Pinto Beans - 44 g per cup
Chicken - 30 g per breast
Cottage Cheese - 26 g per cup
Ground turkey - 20 g per serving
Peanuts - 19 g per half cup
Turkey Sausage - 15 g per link
Tilapia - 15 g per serving
Kidney beans - 14 g per cup
Almonds - 13 g per half cup
Yogurt - 12 g per cup
Flax seed peanut butter - 10 g per 2 tbs. serving
Brazil nuts - 8-10 g per dozen
Also, if you like milk and eggs, consuming 2 eggs and 2- 16 oz. glasses of milk daily is an easy way to get half of what you need in a day.
2. Leafy green vegetables - don't cheat on this one. You need at least one good serving daily and this is where most women fall short. You don't have to eat collard greens or anything, a good salad made of actual greens will do. Use Romaine lettuce, spring greens, and spinach leaves. Add a little grilled chicken and cottage cheese (extra protein), then the dressing your choice. That will cover the cottage cheese taste if you don't like it. Leafy greens are important for iron as well as forming complete proteins and helping your body break down and process the large amount of protein being taken in.
3. Water - the minimum is 64 oz. (or 8-8 oz. glasses) a day. Remember this is MINIMUM. You should actually be getting half of your body weight in ounces worth of water. So if you weigh 200 lbs (avg. pregnant women do), you need 100 oz. of water daily. Juice, tea, sodas do not count. This is pure water we're talking about and is super important for pregnant women. Amniotic fluid replenishes itself about every 3 hours, and if you aren't hydrating your body there is nothing there for it to be replenished with. Also, spread water out throughout the day. The body can only process about a glass an hour, any more than that just gets passed straight through in urine.
4. Salt - contrary to popular belief, salt is ok (good even) for pregnant women! Salt your food to taste but skip the table salt. Use kosher or sea salt as it hasn't been stripped of all the good minerals your body needs. Salt is essential for cells to process water and keeps swelling to a minimum.
5. Color - have a colorful diet and you'll take care of the rest! Blue, red, yellow, orange, and green fruits and veggies throughout the day will complete and compliment your pregnant diet and support the growth of your baby well.
Remember that swelling in pregnancy is a sign of something being off nutritionally. Check your protein intake, up your water intake, and make sure you are salting your food to taste and the swelling will almost always subside. Another thing that I tell women is they don't have to restrict. If you decide you want a chocolate shake, fine! Go and enjoy that to the fullest of your pregnant ability (which we all know is A LOT!!!), just balance it out later with an extra glass of water or an extra serving of greens.
Another point I want to briefly address is that of gestational diabetes. Most women do not realize that pregnancy is a natural diabetic state. The body does that on purpose. This is so that you will have to eat 5-6 small, frequent meals throughout the day in order to keep your blood sugar stable and keep your baby's blood sugar stable.
Now, because I was specifically requested to address women who are not yet pregnant, here you go. :) These same things apply to the non-pregnant body except for protein intake. The non-pregnant woman only needs about half of that amount of protein (40-50 g). But taking the time before you are pregnant to practice eating this way makes it that much easier when you are! This is also a good time to learn eating small, frequent meals instead of three large ones. Honestly, this way of eating can benefit pretty much everyone - male or female, pregnant or may never become pregnant. It is really just a good, healthy way of eating.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. Soon to follow: my Engrish blog as promised!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?
*I apologize in advance for the certain headache this will give you.*
Hello lovely silly!! Hurry up the cakes. The sun's out, let's play balls. I'm sorry but I cannot guide you. Specifically, to a person of a person in charge. But, please smell the pleasure. Eat the crepe that eats easily from the child to the adult very much once! I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smell.
Defy the keen edge of desire. You don't have to be happy now is the time to be sad. Let's go to good place, deep ride. Do not want to return. Or we could go to Delaware, if you like a variety of uncrowded. Whatever you wish, life is a best. The lone waited for day is rust around the corner. You're extra special to the end. Just look in your mind. All we need is love is we need. You can't in the states. There's always Engrand. Blow on this world! Poor misguided young Muslim Christian Athiest.
This is not here. Dog look at airplane. Mickey Mouse goes into action!
Let's hole. Feel enjoy! I eat your skin. The spices of love chesty. Enjoy clambake. If friends feeling pleasure gather together, we can spend time of the best. I have great character! This good feel is for you. I like the present situation very much. We are always good friend. It's constant. Do the happy day! Don't worry...be sex!!! Stick to coffee and alcohol.
We are all cheerful and good natured kids. Of course, some are little too curious. How naughty we are! Are you a tough guy? For God' sake, who has talks people around the world that I am good at boxing? That's really disturbance! What I want to do is just feeding, sleeping, and hopping. People, please let me alone! Please! Go to hell!! Damn human!! I hate myself and I want to die. Elvis is dead, Sinatra is dead, and me - I feel also not so good. Not feel well? Get drunk. Run around naked. Get killed - get noticed.
Calm down monkey it's bread. Give me a hand, I'm going to milk the cows.
God breath you.
**If you're wondering what just happened, please visit this site and go take some aspirin.**
Hello lovely silly!! Hurry up the cakes. The sun's out, let's play balls. I'm sorry but I cannot guide you. Specifically, to a person of a person in charge. But, please smell the pleasure. Eat the crepe that eats easily from the child to the adult very much once! I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smell.
Defy the keen edge of desire. You don't have to be happy now is the time to be sad. Let's go to good place, deep ride. Do not want to return. Or we could go to Delaware, if you like a variety of uncrowded. Whatever you wish, life is a best. The lone waited for day is rust around the corner. You're extra special to the end. Just look in your mind. All we need is love is we need. You can't in the states. There's always Engrand. Blow on this world! Poor misguided young Muslim Christian Athiest.
This is not here. Dog look at airplane. Mickey Mouse goes into action!
Let's hole. Feel enjoy! I eat your skin. The spices of love chesty. Enjoy clambake. If friends feeling pleasure gather together, we can spend time of the best. I have great character! This good feel is for you. I like the present situation very much. We are always good friend. It's constant. Do the happy day! Don't worry...be sex!!! Stick to coffee and alcohol.
We are all cheerful and good natured kids. Of course, some are little too curious. How naughty we are! Are you a tough guy? For God' sake, who has talks people around the world that I am good at boxing? That's really disturbance! What I want to do is just feeding, sleeping, and hopping. People, please let me alone! Please! Go to hell!! Damn human!! I hate myself and I want to die. Elvis is dead, Sinatra is dead, and me - I feel also not so good. Not feel well? Get drunk. Run around naked. Get killed - get noticed.
Calm down monkey it's bread. Give me a hand, I'm going to milk the cows.
God breath you.
**If you're wondering what just happened, please visit this site and go take some aspirin.**
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