pregnant-related stories
An Interview With Candace Parker - Face of the WNBA
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
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| WNBA |
That's Fit: It's hard enough for most career women to take time off to start a family, how did you deal with the added pressure of needing to really take care of your body so you could get back to playing professionally?
Candace Parker: I was really focused during my entire pregnancy on eating right, exercising and just taking care of my body. Being active during my pregnancy and having a solid foundation really helped me when I wanted to come back. I rode the elliptical a lot. I still shot baskets. I went on walks with my dogs a lot. I just stayed active.
Small Weight Loss Increases Fertility
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| Photo: eric langner, Flickr |
Women in the study had a BMI of nearly 40. They were given medication (orlistat or metformin) to help them shed pounds. After 12 weeks, researchers discovered that even a modest 5 percent drop in weight increased blood flow to the womb, which reduced testosterone levels and triggered the ovaries to function properly.
When you have lots of weight to lose, it can be daunting to look at your long-term weight goal. Particularly so when you have an important goal -- like getting pregnant -- in mind. That's why it's important to set milestones along the way. If you're overweight and trying to to get pregnant, start with the goal of losing just 5 percent of your weight. Then aim for 10 percent. Short-term goals are more attainable and can help keep you motivated.
Most of the women in the study had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) which can make weight loss more difficult. If you have PCOS and have had difficulty losing weight in the past, ask your doctor for advice. But healthy eating and exercise are necessary for everyone who's trying to lose weight, and they're particularly important for women on the verge of getting pregnant. Check out AOL Health for weight loss tips that work.
Overweight Pregnant Women Should Gain Less Weight
For the first time since 1990, the weight-gain guidelines for pregnant women have changed. Well, not for all women -- just for those who are overweight.Pregnant women with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 should limit their weight gain to 11 to 20 pounds, according to the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council. Previously, these women were advised they could safely gain up to 25 pounds over nine months.
Why the reduction? Because mounting evidence says that excessive weight gain is linked to a number of health problems for both mother and baby. Gestational diabetes and the life-threatening blood-pressure problem called pre-eclampsia are possibilities for mom, and kids born to overweight moms are more likely to be overweight or obese themselves. Therefore, doctors are urged to counsel overweight women to lose weight prior to conceiving. About 55 percent of women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese.
The guidelines for women with a body mass index under 30 do not change. Underweight women, with a BMI of less than 18.5, should gain 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy; normal-weight women, with a BMI of 24.9 or lower, should gain 25 to 35 pounds; and overweight women, with a BMI of 25 to 29.9, should gain 15 to 25 pounds.
Dara Torres - No Airbrushing Here
Celebrity Fitzness Report, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Our fitness expert Fitz sits down with the stars and digs out their great and not-so-great methods for staying healthy.
Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is more fit at 40 than she was at 20, and if you think you can't be über fit too, you should definitely read on. Dara is the perfect example of what exercise can do for you. Here is what the new face of the Got Milk? campaign and author of "Age is Just a Number" has to say about the new book, her body and motherhood.
Fitz: What's your favorite part about being so fit?
Dara: I love the way it makes me feel and how I look.
Fitz: Are you ever critical of your physique?
Dara: Yes, I have my weak parts on my body, but we all have our problem parts. I would like a better rear end!
Fitz: You recently flashed a group of reporters while promoting the Got Milk? campaign. Why?
Dara Torres
Dara Torres promotes her book "Age is Just a Number" at Bookends Bookstore on April 8, 2009 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Dara Torres Signs Copies Of Her Book "Age Is Just A Number" - April 8, 2009 Bookends Bookstore Ridgewood, NJ United States April 8, 2009 Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage.com To license this image (57159505), contact WireImage.com
Bobby Bank/WireImage.com
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 05: Dara Torres after winning the Women's 50 LC Meter Freestyle during day one of the 2009 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix on March 5, 2009 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres
Getty Images
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 05: Dara Torres swims in the Women's 50 yard Freestyle preliminaries during day one of the 2009 USA Swimming Austin Grand Prix on March 5, 2009 at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres
Getty Images
US swimmers Katie Hoff (L) and Dara Torres (R) arrive for a promotional event to celebrate the end of the Olympic swimming programme in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Hoff's ambitious six-event programme at the Beijing Olympics ended without yielding a gold medal as she failed to qualify for the final of the 800m freestyle. She was pipped for gold by Adlington in the 400m freestyle and settled for bronze in the 400m medley as Australian Stephanie Rice reclaimed the world record from the American, and nabbed a bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Torres won silver in the 50-meter women's freestyle event. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US swimmers Katie Hoff (L) and Dara Torres (R) arrive for a promotional event to celebrate the end of the Olympic swimming programme in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Hoff's ambitious six-event programme at the Beijing Olympics ended without yielding a gold medal as she failed to qualify for the final of the 800m freestyle. She was pipped for gold by Adlington in the 400m freestyle and settled for bronze in the 400m medley as Australian Stephanie Rice reclaimed the world record from the American, and nabbed a bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Torres won silver in the 50-meter women's freestyle event. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres
Getty Images for Speedo
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres
Getty Images for Speedo
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Dara Torres of the United States arrives for the Speedo Athletes party at Wish on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Getty Images for Speedo) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres
Getty Images for Speedo
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: Bronze medalist Cate Campbell of Australia competes against silver medalist Dara Torres of the United States in the Women's 50m Freestyle final held at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres;Cate Campbell
Getty Images
BEIJING - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Dara Torres, Rebecca Soni, Natalie Coughlin and Christine Magnuson of the United States show off their silver medals in the Women's 50m Freestyle final held at the National Aquatics Centre during Day 9 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 17, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dara Torres;Christine Magnuson;Natalie Coughlin;Rebecca Soni
Getty Images
Kate Moss - Not Pregnant, Just Eating Like She Is
I was pretty miffed a few months ago when the cashier at the local grocery store asked when I was due (I'm not pregnant), but it's nice to know I'm not the only one -- even super skinny Kate Moss has awkward moments like that. Recently, the tabloids were buzzing with the supposedly 'confirmed' reports that Moss, 35, was expecting another little one with boyfriend Jamie Hince. Supported by photos of the star looking a bit heftier than usual, even Moss's close friends were ringing her with congratulations. But, alas, Moss recently admitted that she's not expecting -- she's just eating a bit more than usual. "Even my friends are phoning me up and saying 'Are you pregnant?' And I'm like, 'No! I just put on a couple of pounds, and they went in the right place," she explained to "The New Yorker," adding that she's recently "grown breasts," and "just started wearing bras," which is "great timing" for the launch of her lingerie collection."
So when she gains weight, it goes straight to her breasts? Lucky cow. Do you believe her?
Yo-Yo Dieters Tend to Pack On More Pregnancy Pounds
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Do you strive to maintain a consistent, healthy weight? Or are you on a near-constant cycle of losing weight, only to gain it back, and then dieting to lose it again?If you're a yo-yo dieter, you might want to pay particular attention to nutrition when you're pregnant. According to a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, yo-yo dieters tend to put on more weight during pregnancy.
Obviously, a trend is not a foregone conclusion. So, if you're expecting a little one and you've been a frequent dieter in the past -- don't worry. Just ask your OB/GYN for diet advice and consider consulting a nutritionist. For tips on a healthy pregnancy, check out AOL Health.
Carnie Wilson Works Out on Wednesday - You Should Too
I just happened upon a photo of Carnie Wilson, capturing the pregnant star working her butt off with her personal trainer on a Wednesday. Big whoop, you're probably thinking. A Wednesday? What's so special about that? Nothing, actually, except that it occurred to me that assigning days of the week to certain workouts or diet choices is a pretty good idea. Ever heard of Meatless Monday? Just an effort to get you to start the week off on a healthy foot, you know, by skimming a little saturated fat from your diet. See meatlessmonday.com for more. Let's get back to Wednesday.
I've got an idea: Make Wednesday a definite workout day. Even better: Make it a tough workout day. This way, you'll know that at least once per week, you're going to huff, puff and sweat. Now, working out most days of the week is ideal, but try to make Wednesday the day you promise to do your body good. No meat on Monday, and a great workout on Wednesday. I'm game. Are you?
Gabrielle Reece Shares Tips for Fit Pregnancy
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
She's done the modeling thing. She's done the professional volleyball player thing. She's done the drop-dead-gorgeous thing. She's done the marry-a-totally-hot-man thing. Yeah. Gabrielle Reece has got a lot going for her. So it's probably not that big of a surprise to learn that Gabby stayed fit during both of her pregnancies. But it wasn't without some effort on her part.She has a DVD series called Gabrielle Reece Fit & Healthy Prenatal Workouts. You can get a sneak peek of some of the moves on FitPregnancy. The moves for moms-to-be are suitable through the second trimester. Oh, and don't worry. Though the moves probably are challenging while pregnant, Gabby doesn't lead you through any crazy bump-set-spike action. The program is designed for those with a low to moderate fitness level.
As fit and gorgeous as Gabby and her husband, Laird Hamilton, are, we expect her kids will follow in their parents' athletic footsteps. Check out the gallery for other famous couples that have us on baby watch.
Biggest Loser Couple Gaining Several Pounds
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Season 3 of The Biggest Loser brought Marty Wolff together with the woman who is now his wife, Amy. After meeting in 2007, they got married in March of 2008, and now, in July 2009, they're planning to gain a few pounds ... in the form of a baby!The couple, who live in Omaha, Nebraska, run a weight loss and self-improvement program, Reality Wellness. Additionally, they've taken what they learned doing the show and implemented a variety of fitness-based local programs.
So how does Amy, who is three months along, feel about becoming pregnant when she's worked so hard to lose so much weight? "So many friends have had to battle weight gain during pregnancy. They all have told me to watch out, it happens so quickly ... I am cautious. I haven't gained any weight yet. I feel like the luckiest pregnant girl ever."
Isla Fisher Is Stunned That Pregnant Women's Bodies are Criticized
We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Every woman's body responds to pregnancy differently -- some stay reasonably slender through the third trimester, while others pack on the pounds immediately. Isla Fisher fell more into the latter category and was stunned to find her weight criticized while carrying her first child, Olive.
"When I was pregnant, I remember someone wrote on a blog that I had gained too much weight. I remember being really shocked that even during something as incredible and beautiful as pregnancy, you are still subject to body fascism."Isla gained 55 pounds during her pregnancy, but she shed the pounds pretty quickly, especially considering she didn't sweat them off at the gym. "I have never been a big fan of working out and I've never been a sporty person ... I've been blessed with good genes. My mum is little, and I'm fortunate that I don't like eating junk food. I just don't like the taste of it."
Mary-Kate Olsen Adds a Few Pounds - Gasp!
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Tabloids are reporting that the normally waif-like Olsen twin has put on a few pounds. This all stems from rumors that Mary-Kate is pregnant. Her rep says she absolutely is not. Apparently, the 22-year-old reveals in her new coffee table book Influence that doesn't even want kids. Maybe after previously battling anorexia, she just wants a few extra pounds. Not a bad idea, I'd say.
Mariah Carey - Champagne is Too Fattening
Did you indulge in a little bubbly on Thanksgiving? Mariah Carey might have -- but not until after 3 PM.Mariah shared on Wednesday's episode of Ellen that she doesn't drink early in the day -- her excuse for not toasting with Ellen, who wanted so badly to get the superstar to admit she's pregnant. Mariah promises there is no baby on the way. It was just too early for a drink, she said. Plus, champagne is too fattening for her.
What's your too-fattening food or drink? I'm thinking anything Ben & Jerry's qualifies. Stay tuned -- Monday's Diet Derailers post will tell all about this disastrous dessert.
Pregnant? Try Water Aerobics - It May Ease Labor
There's no need to spend your pregnancy lounging on the couch. Unless you have a high-risk condition and/or your doctor advises against exercise, being active during pregnancy can have many benefits. One recent study, for example, shows that doing water aerobics during pregnancy can make labor bearable. Half of the women in the study attended three 50-minute water aerobics sessions each week, the other half did not. Researchers followed up with the women after they delivered their babies and found that, while the duration and type of delivery didn't vary, women who didn't participate in water aerobics requested anesthetic more frequently than the women who were active during pregnancy.
So, is water aerobics the magic solution that makes labor more bearable? I don't think there's enough information from this study to suggest that. But water aerobics is a gentle, effective exercise and is a good choice for pregnant women. The American Pregnancy Association has more suggestions for exercise. Before beginning any exercise routine while you're pregnant, it's important to check with your OB/GYN.
Van Linsey Lets Moms-To-Be Golf in Style
Pregnant women can't always do all of the exercises and sports they did before they became moms-to-be, but golf is not one of them. In fact, I've actually heard that a baby belly can help with form (I can't attest to that, not having had a baby and having pretty poor form no matter what).The problem comes in when finding something to wear -- you don't want to dress sloppy out there on the course, but you need to be comfortable and able to move easily. And, just as important, you don't want to spend a fortune on something you'll only wear for a couple of months. What options do you have?
Van Linsey has a great solution, where mainstream meets maternity. The women in the picture above, a model and the line's designer, Vanessa Gobes, are wearing the same shirt in the same size. And Vanessa, who is pregnant in the picture (obviously), is wearing a pair of mainstream to maternity jersey pants, which have a comfy fold-down waistband, so they will fit nearly any size waistline.
Wanna-be moms too worried about their figure to give birth?
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Recently, TV star Katherine Heigl raised a few eyebrows when she said, "I'm finished with the whole idea of having children of my own. It doesn't seem like any fun. I don't think it's necessary to go through all that." Isn't pregnancy supposed to be a gift? A miracle? More meaningful than just some tedious inconvenience? But Heigel is not alone -- according to The Daily Mail, many women are choosing adoption over pregnancy. The reasons are many but a couple are especially common: To keep their career on track and maintain their figure. Says one adoptive mother: "I am quite slim, so yes, a lot of it is pure vanity. I don't like the thought of changing my body for a child. Giving birth and the idea of all that pain filled me with dread."
Is not giving birth because of vanity a selfish move? Or a practical one? In the end, it all comes down to personal choice, but I'm curious -- what do you think?
