Life Snippets: July 2015

Its been long I have not shared my life snippets. So let me show what all has been going around lately. You can say it's almost half yearly life snippet post. You can see my last life snippet from 2014 here.

Life Snippets Lakme Nail Paint - theitgirl.in
My current color crush from Lakme (there is no name mentioned )


Remington Volume and Curl
I ordered these from amazon during sale. They deserve to make it on blog, so will review super soon.


Dinner Date-theitgirl
Husband's birthday celebration After a baby the most difficult task is getting some couple time.



Pakode - theitgirl
Barish Ka Mausam and Pakode are match made in Heaven

Tangle teezer review - theitgirl.in
I lovee this product. But only drawback I am facing now a days is during rainy season it does not seem to detangle nicely, You can read my review on Tangle Teezer


Baby Books
I ordered these two along with these from amazon. But then I could share since I did not disclose by then that I was pregnant.Also do you want to see the inside of this journal ?
Review on book coming soon. Also, anyone want to but that book (take from me at lesser price)

Family Picture - theitgirl.in
Last but my favorite one. My cute little family around which my life rotates.
This little girl has got attitude, she does not smile easily especially in pictures.

                                                                     ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                                               Mukta

5 Problems while Feeding a Newborn "Solved"

Throughout my 9 months I had delivery phobia. Yes !! seriously the way my friends or loved ones use to explain the pain they went through, it always gave me goosebumps. But for me, I think feeding was more difficult from delivery. No, seriously feeding made me emotionally drained.
Delivery pain I had to go through for one day or to the maximum 2 days but feeding pain, I had to go through it after every hour for minimum 2 months. then it felt like it is a never ending pain. Being sleep deprived served as cherry on top.



Now if you are wondering what pain I am talking about or How can feeding be painful ! Oh dear you don't know the truth then. Scroll down to read my experience and knowledge I gained about the basics on feeding.

1.How to know if baby is getting enough milk:

I was feeding my child for first two days without the realizing that she is getting "nothing". Hence, she was left always hungry. In fact, I used to feed her for one hour to see she is as empty stomach as before. Her weight loss confirmed it. That was a complete emotional roller coaster for me to not being able to feed my child (mom guilt and mood swings). I thought I failed as a mother. I felt guilty. But then I kept trying and consulted doctors. Slowly and steadily I got hold of it which took me around 2 weeks.

My advice: Baby will get hungry after every hour which is very natural and that does not mean you are not feeding. If she wets her nappy at least 5 to 6 times and her weight is steadily increasing be it in grams, then she is having enough milk. But if you see a consistent weight loss, then do consult your doctor. Also, feeding requires time. You as well as your little one are new to this and it does not come naturally to everyone. At least it did not come naturally to me, I had to work hard and stay consistent.



2. Formula Milk:

Now if you are wondering what I gave her for first 2 weeks, I gave her formula milk on 5th day. I alternated formula with feed so that she is not hungry as well as my milk supply is regulated. According to me feeding is extremely important for a child and one has to very consistent and determined if one wants to feed her child well but just in case you are not able please do not punish yourself. Please do not judge anyone for not able to feed her child. She is trying her best, and let her do what she thinks is best for her child and herself.

3. How to increase milk supply:

I completely trusted my gynaecologist and have followed her religiously throughout my pregnancy and even after that. She advised, the more I feed my child more milk will be produced, which is absolutely true (personal painful experience) The more I fed her, I got more used to pain and more milk supply. Slowly and steadily, pain flew and now I love feeding her. Its our special bonding time.

Also, there are few foods which help in increasing milk supply like cracked wheat(daliya), white cumin powder, cumin seeds and makhane.

4. Sore and cracked nipples:

Since I could not feed for 2 weeks whereas my daughter was continuously trying for milk made my nipples sore and very painful. It started bleeding. I was advised to do wet warm compresses and apply neosprin when I am not feeding. Also, even when I was recovered I had to apply

My advice : Start applying nipcare during pregnancy to prevent dry and sore nipples later.

5. Pumping Milk :

When I was getting blood in milk, I made sure to pump milk to see she is not drinking infectious milk and also pumping was less painful. For that I bought Chicco manual Pump. It used to take 15 minutes and one can even store that milk in fridge for 4 hours. To use that milk, do not microwave or directly heat it, instead boil water in a container and keep bottle in it i.e. thaw the milk.

After around one complete month, I could easily feed her and she did not have to take formula at all. That was the time I felt proud of myself to pass that hurdle.

Advice:
If you are introducing bottle to her, make sure you sterilize them well. Traditional method of boiling bottles in container is the best method till date. Also use glass bottles instead of plastic ones, they are less prone to causing infection.

I hope this post helps future mom to be's and they know how to handle a problem if any arises.
If you have any question. feel free to leave in comments. I would try my best to answer what ever I can through my personal experience.

                                                               ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                                         Mukta

Heath Talk: Diet Update 5

Last Monday I did not update the website because i was getting monotonous and I did not want to write diet update just for the sake of it. Also, I was about to get my new diet, hence I thought I would share the update directly after I get my diet that is Today.

fitness motivation


Dietitian has changed my diet because I was getting cravings and also the results were not that prominent.  After reading the diet I realized my happy days are over and now I cannot eat what ever I want to.

Diet 2.0 (If you are starting with same diet, start with Diet 2.0)

Healthy eating diet chart : ttheitgirl


I think it is difficult from previous diet but then hard work is required. I am going to strictly follow this diet for next 15 days and check my weight on 15th day. Lets see how it goes.

P.S. : Any here knows how to make sprouts as quickly as possible ? If yes, please share in comments below. I have searched online but it is getting all the more confusing. Please share a easy and fast method, I would appreciate it.

                                                                   ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                                             Mukta

Healthy Vegetarian Salad

healthy vegetarian salad with olive oil dressing via theitgirl

As you all now I am on a weight loss spree, I am trying my level best to include as much healthy recipes I can in my diet.
Apart from being nutritious and healthy, this is one salad I can eat all day long, yes it is that yummy.

Ingredients:

Vegetables:

Lettuce
Tomato
Carrot
Sweet Corn
Baby Corn
Mushroom
Any other vegetable which you can eat in its raw form.

healthy vegetarian salad

Dressing:

Olive Oil: 2 big spoons
Honey: 2 big spoons
Lemon: Extract juice of approx 2 lemons.
Seasoning according to taste

Honey, Lemon and Olive Oil dressing


In a bowl, mix above ingredients along with salt, pepper, black salt and roasted cumin powder. Taste and check if you want to add any of these more. (according to your taste bud)

Recipe:


  • Chop all the vegetables and blanch them slightly.


healthy salad


Tip: If you are making this salad on a short notice, after blanching them drain hot water and add the veggies to cold water for instant cooling.

  • Now add the dressing.
  • Mix well and keep it in fridge for 2 hours at least. It tastes best when it's cold.
  • If in  hurry keep in freezer for 1 hour and then in fridge.

When serving mix well to stir dressing settled down and enjoy !

healthy vegetable diet salad


                                                                       ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                                                 Mukta

5 Health and Fitness Questions Part 1 [How to avoid junk and cravings]

While I was starting my diet, I had many questions and misconceptions in mind. It all got cleared by my lovely dietitian and by reading various health and fitness blogs/articles. So I am sharing few of them along with solutions/answers which came to my rescue.

How to avoid junk and Cravings (theitgirl.in)


I am no fitness professional or a dietitian, changing my lifestyle is learning process for me which I am jotting down here so that it can benefit others. Always confirm your health professional before following any of the things below.


1. Whenever I visit someone's place they offer me juice/cold drink, how do I deny that ?

I politely say NO, once or twice, if they still seem to force to drink something  for company I ask them to give me a glass of lemon water with less sugar.

healthy fresh lime : theitgirl


2. How to avoid junk when going out with family for lunches/dinner ?

I try not to eat pizzas, burgers or pastas. They are yummy hence tendency to eat more. Also, the universal fact, they are carbohydrates which lead to weight gain.I do not need to elaborate more on that right ?
I Start with a soup, maybe clear or veg soup. For starters I have stir fried or tandoori snacks. I always order a salad with low fat dressing. And in end, I have one chapati (tandoori) with any vegetable sabzi. I avoid dal and paneer with butter laden gravies. I also try to have a glass of hot water/green tea when I reach home.


how to avoid junk and cravings: theitgirl


3. It is advised to have your dinner by 8 maximum. What if I feel hungry after finishing off my dinner at 8 ?

I have a glass of warm milk without sugar if possible. If I am still hungry, I have fistful of nuts or a fruit.

resist midnight temptation


4. I have marriage to attend what can I have ?

First and foremost, I have a fruit and glass of milk before I leave for any function. If possible I have my mini meal, which seems stupid to my loved ones but I don't worry about that, I just do my thing.
then follow the routine mentioned in point 2 above.

5. I am addicted to chocolate/or any sweet, how do I resist the temptation ?

I try and control the temptation for first time and divert my mind because once I have a bite of it I crave for more and then it is a vicious circle. Hence, it is all about mental strength here. If I give in once then there is no stopping and once I say No to it I get the will power to say No every single time it is offered to me. Even after all this you are not able to resist the temptaion have Jaggery/Dates/Raisins/Anjeer

healthy substitutes for sugar cravings (theitgirl)

If you have any health or fitness related query, fill the form here or you can contact me on any social media or even comment below.

                                                     ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                             Mukta

Health Talk: Diet Update 4

This week I have been very very inconsistent. It is like I have taken it very lightly. Since I was guilty about the mess I have created with my diet and exercise, my dietitian asked me to move over guilt and exercise harder this weekend. I am happy to be under a dietitian who instead of keeping me on soups and salads only, is teaching me the art of healthy lifestyle. I know this path may take some more time than what I aiming for but then I will be sure that what she has asked me to follow can be done for lifetime and not for a specific period of time.

Diet Series: theitgirl


Let's see in what all I failed last week,

  • No exercise.      
  • Eating after 8. 
  • Having outside junk twice.
  • Skipped methi seeds water once. 
So in all I messed it up completely and its bad. Each day is new one, so I have come back on track again. This is my second weekend after my diet and do not want to mess up with it this time. Let us see how it goes. 

                                                                 ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                                           Mukta
 

Health Talk: Diet Update 3

So this is my third update on my diet course that I am following and I kid you not I am already feeling better about myself for feeding my body healthy stuff. Though there is no weight loss by now (it's just 2nd week, how impatient I am ) nor there is any inch loss but there is this satisfaction that I am able to control my cravings as well as avoiding unhealthy stuff.



Coming over to weekend,
  • I exercised.
  • Only on Saturday night I gave into my craving which my dietitian asked me counter back by doing some extra exercise, which I did.
  • Sunday, we had family dinner and I followed a pretty healthy diet and to know how I did it wait for my question/answer post coming soon on blog.
  • Rest I followed all the things, starting from methi seeds water to ending day with hot cup of water. (If you don't know what I am talking about, read my diet series.)
  • Though I could wake up that early on Sunday. 
I think for the first weekend, I did fairly well though there is still lot more work to do on my diet and exercise.



So, what about you ? How was your weekend. 
Also, I am starting with a series where I would be answering all the fitness or health related questions. If you have any (it can be super silly), make sure to fill the form below  and I would discuss it on my blog.  First part of the series would come up tomorrow and I am pretty excited about it.



                                                               ~Live Love Laugh~
                                                                        Mukta