Wellbeing through….babywearing!?!

Yes, you read that correctly. Babywearing is good for you – AND for your baby!

Having used a sling extensively for my first (colicky) baby, I did a lot of research on which new sling(s) to buy when pregnant with my daughter and was actually surprised to find so much compelling information about the large number of benefits to both the baby and wearer (not just mum, but any carer)!

In brief, babywearing benefits include:

• It’s GREAT exercise – and as it builds muscle, it will help your metabolic rate which will help new mums get back in shape more easily
• It helps to promote a fantastic bond with your baby
• You can get on with other things – such as caring for other children and yourself! Even if you have a fussy baby!
• Baby’s physical development is promoted by being carried – particularly the vestibular system which controls balance (this is helped by being in sync with the wearer’s body movements) although you should always ensure that your baby is in a suitable carrier and correctly positioned
• Numerous studies have shown worn babies cry less – a huge benefit for parents’ wellbeing!
• Toddlers can also benefit from the security offered by a sling / carrier – although you might want to build up to carrying them for long periods if you are not used to carrying their weight!
• It feels fantastic to be close to your baby and to be able to respond to their needs quickly.
• It can make going for a walk fun – no need to worry about getting pushchairs in and out of places, or over rough terrain.

Alison Cain from www.handinhandbreastfeeding.co.uk has written an interesting article about modern western babywearing and some of the responses she gets: Click here to read the article.

I know a lot of new mums who are unable to exercise for some time after birth (often well beyond the recommended 6 weeks) – sometimes because of stitches or physical restrictions or maybe due to the practicalities of getting out to exercise with a little baby. The great news is that even after a Caesarean Section, there is no reason not to wear a newborn baby – they generally weigh 10lbs or less  and you’d be carrying them anyway! Just strap them on and get moving!!!!

And if you need additional help with getting into shape, check out our Results page, and then head over to the retail store:

Herbalife in Men’s Fitness Magazine – July edition

There’s a great article in Men’s Fitness this month, about Iain Grant’s tremendous fat loss success using Herbalife nutrition products and his tips for weight loss. Click here to see a preview of the article!

You can order the entire range of Herbalife products from our online store, for courier delivery within 3-5 working days. Delivery is FREE for all orders of £75 or more.

Special May Bank Holiday Offer

It’s such a beautiful day it’s put me in a generous mood! Place an order for £50 or more at our online store this weekend and get £5 off. Simply quote “maybh10” when you pay via Google Checkout. If you spend over £75 you also qualify for FREE delivery!

Happy shopping!!!

Note that due to the bank holiday, orders will not be processed until Tuesday 26th May. Offer ends on midnight Monday 25th May 2009 and may not be used in conjunction with other offers or discounts.

I have been very slack! aka My Birth Announcement!

Hello!! Firstly, I must apologise for my tardiness – it has been AGES since my last post. so I’ll get straight to it.

My daughter, Amelia, was born at the end of April after a really great pregnancy! In total contrast to last time, my “Herbalife” baby was born naturally weighing a healthy 7 lbs 14 oz. I am so pleased that I not only managed to go to full term this time, but things were healthy enough for me to be left to have a spontaneous labour at 41 weeks and a VBAC delivery. I can’t tell you what a relief this was after my first pregnancy which was plagued with ill health and ended in a failed early induction and emergency c section (see previous posts for further details).

The last 3 weeks have been a bit of a blur as we’ve been settling into our new routine as a family of four! It’s true that having 2 is much more hard work than having 1 +1 but it’s all good, and I’m loving being mum to a little baby again, now that my 2 year old is fiercely independent and wiping my kisses off!

Amelia is an exclusively breastfed baby so continuing to benefit from the Herbalife products even outside the womb – she’s gaining weight VERY well and is perfectly proportioned… and gorgeous (well, we think so!)

I haven’t been on a weighing scales since before I was pregnant and am not worrying about weight loss for a few more weeks – once I’ve had my 8 week check-up I’ll start exercising again and revert to two shakes a day (at the moment I am still having one shake a day at breakfast time for good health and supplementation) although I’ll be eating more calories than when I was previously losing weight and having additional protein to maintain a healthy milk supply. Watch this space for my post-pregnancy weight loss progress – starting some time in July.

Even though I am enjoying my “babymoon” at the moment, you can still order from my online store!

Tips for staying on track at Easter (….resurrected)

In the spirit of recycling, here is a reminder of a previous Easter post….

Many of our clients, and countless other people, are well into a new year healthy eating or Weight Management plan or may just be starting a programme in time for summer. The Easter weekend is probably second only to Christmas in being a difficult time to stick to any sort of healthy diet.

Here are a few tips to getting through the Easter weekend:

• Chocolate is high in fat (and therefore very calorie-dense) and nutritionally poor – it will seriously impact your weight loss progress if you are not EXTREMELY careful!!! While no chocolate eggs are a “healthy” or “diet” option, it is true that some are less fattening than others. This link will show you the calorie details of some of the most common eggs: Easter egg calorie counter.
• If someone does give you chocolate, and you can’t bear to pass it on, why not keep it in the fridge and eat a little of it over a number of days or weeks. If you have a little of this instead of a pudding after your main meal it will have less impact on your weight loss.
• Rather than eating chocolate eggs with your children, why not take the traditional approach and decorate fresh eggs! Much less fattening and a great source of protein (egg protein is of high biological value as it contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body) and an average of only 78 calories per medium egg.
• Once you’ve painted the eggs, have an Easter Egg Hunt to get outside in the fresh air and get moving! This is such great fun for all ages, and much better for you than sitting in front of the TV eating chocolate!

If you are following one of our Herbalife Programmes, here are some extra tips:

• Have a chocolate shake!!! If you don’t have any Chocolate Formula 1, or don’t have time to pick any up from me, try a spoon of low calorie hot chocolate powder in a Vanilla shake
• The Chocolate Peanut Protein bars are seriously YUMMMMMY – why not ask for some instead of chocolate eggs! They are high in heart-healthy soy protein, nutrient dense, and provide great nutrition for in-between-meals!
• Make sure you use your products as directed – if you don’t have the correct nutrition levels, you’ll feel hungry and more inclined to “cheat”
• Thermojetics Green Tea Boost and Thermo Complete will help you to control any cravings – if you are not already using these products, contact me to arrange to get some!

Whatever you do, and whether you celebrate Easter or not, I hope you have a lovely long weekend with your families and loved ones!

Pregnancy Update: Full term & still feeling GREAT!

Just a quick update…. in case I don’t make it through the night!

I’m officially “full term” at 37 weeks tomorrow – although I think I am already over 38 weeks based on my dates. I am delighted to say that this pregnancy has (so far) been AMAZING compared to last time.  I am pretty sure that is in large part due to my improved health and fitness levels, normal pre-pregnancy BMI and ongoing use of Herbalife nutrition products everyday which have prevented any cravings or excessive weight gain. Despite having a large bump now, I am still feeling really well and have energy – I’ve been out walking and playing with my son everyday that the weather has been fine this week!!!! (At this point in my last pregnancy I’d been in and out of hospital, was very unwell and was about to have an attempted induction.)

Apart from a slight blip following on from a very unexpected family bereavement in February, my blood pressure has been great and my liver function is still totally normal – no sign of either pre-eclampsia or Obstetric Cholestastis returning…. so only a short time to go now and I am really delighted!

I’m feeling like I don’t have too much longer to go (maybe just wishful thinking??) so if the posts dry up over the next few days – you know why!!!!!

Getting active in Spring (even though heavily pregnant)!!!

The sun is shining, the daffodils are in full bloom ( I must confess to feeling some affinity – being Welsh and in “full-bloom” myself!) and after months of dark cold short days I am definitely feeling the desire to be more active. This is the perfect time to start getting into shape for summer and if I have no excuse, neither do you!

Being almost 9 months pregnant and having certain related mobility issues (huge bump, shortness of breath etc!!) rather than mourning the temporary loss of my beloved Body Balance classes and gym sessions, I was looking for a way to maximinse what I CAN do – which is mainly walking these days….. and I think I’ve found a good option……

Some of you may remember that I “discovered” fitness shoes last summer and have been extolling their virtures  for some time (but find MBTs too unbalanced with a huge bump), so last week I got a new pair of FitFlops and started wearing them around when doing my every day jobs (feeding ducks, doing the shopping, ironing – all that other “mummy stuff”) and I have to say, I am delighted with them – they are even sparkley!

As someone who suffers from Symphasis Pubis Disorder/ Pelvic Gurdle Pain in pregnancy, I have to be careful with my choice of footwear at the moment and have to say, these are absolutely fantastic. They are SO comfortable I am actually wearing them around the house as well as out – in fact they’ve become my standard footwear during waking hours.

Not only am I more comfortable in my ‘normal’ activities, but I am more inclined to walk and stand for longer than I might otherwise as my back isn’t aching (not sure if this is due to a better posture or if it’s due to the cushioned sole). The fact that these shoes help to tone your legs and bottom (with their wobble-board type sole) is a bonus rather than my main reason for wearing them now, and I’ve a feeling they’ll continue to be a favourite for summer. I may well be off to Fitness Footwear to get a few more pairs in other colours and styles!

If you’re also looking for some exercise that you can do without going to the gym, or doing anything too strenuous for reasons such as pregnancy or injury, you may want to consider:

• walking (esp. with FitFlops)
• gardening
• house-work (not personally a fan of this one!)
• swimming
• tai-chi
• yoga
• pilates

For lots more detailed information on incorporating any exercise into a healthy lifestyle that includes our Herbalife nutrition product ranges, you can also download the Herbalife Fitness Manual, and visit our Sports Energy & Nutrition pages.

Best of health, Sarah

News: Obesity rivals smoking danger – it’s official!

Experts from Oxford University have published an article in the medical journal The Lancet detailing their findings that being obese is as hazardous to your health as a lifetime of smoking.

The report suggests that even moderate obesity can shorten your life expectancy by a few years. About 25% of UK adults are considered obese with a BMI of over 30.

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a measurement that uses a scientific formula to determine an adult person’s safest, healthiest weight based upon their weight and height. BMI is a powerful tool you can use to help create your personal path to improved health as a high BMI can be associated with serious health risks including:

• obesity
• heart disease
• diabetes
• cancer

What is your personal BMI calculation?

Click here to find out using the online BMI calculator from our international store!

Your BMI can be a good starting point, but you should also consider your body composition (ie fat vs lean muscle tissue and water) and also your body shape. If you are especially muscular, are pregnant or breastfeeding, then your BMI will not be an accurate refelction of your health risks. See our previous post on body shape when determining your overall health risks.

If you are interested in a Personal Wellness Evaluation from SK Nutrition, or you’d like advice on incorporating the Herbalife Weight Management or Nutrition Programmes into your healthy lifestyle, contact us via our website.

You can read the BBC’s coverage of the Oxford University report by clicking here.

Hopsital Bag Recommendations for Mums-to-be

As I am now over 33 weeks pregnant (hoorah – not too long to go!) I’ve been preparing my “labour bag” and as well as the usual lists of nappies, nighties and nursing pads, there are some Herbalife products I will definitely be packing and would highly recommend to anyone else:

For Mum-to-be

• Radiant C Spray – a refreshing spritz to help stay cool and calm in labour and refreshed at any time
• H3O Pro sachets & water bottle – plenty of hydration and energy for labour without caffeine or artificial additives!
• Formula 1 sachets (& OJ cartons to mix with)  enough for both of us as last time hubby had to pop out for food!
• Protein Bars – quick & easy way to boost our energy
• Aloe Hand & Body Lotion

For Dad-to-be

• Lift Off - an energy boosting drink (containing caffeine) which won’t give him a “downer” afterwards!
  
• NRG – caffiene and guarana in tablet form – also great for concentration when returning to work after sleepless nights!!!!
  
• Protein Bars & Formula 1 sachets (as above)

For Mum & Baby

• Aloe Soothing Gel -cooling &  soothing for any minor skin irritations and gentle enough for baby’s bottom!
• Being a new mum can be tiring so it’s important you get the daily nutrition your body needs for optimum functioning. If you’re going to be breastfeeding, it’s even more important that you take the right nutrition every day – something that can be hard to do when you’re a tired new mum. However you are feeding, you may want to consider the Herbalife Healthy Breakfast Programme as an addition to your daily regime. It’s a fast and convenient way of getting a good start to the day, topping up your levels of essential vitamins and minerals, and the high soy protein content will help you feel full for longer – so you can prevent snacking on unhealthy mid-morning snacks! (We can also help you get back into shape if you are left with a baby bulge!!!)

For information on how you can incorporate these, or any of the other Herbalife products into your lifestyle, please contact me. You can also visit the UK store to purchase online (international customers click here).

NEWS: It’s time to get rid of those love handles!!

Did you see the latest research on  “love handles” yesterday? It seems that a French study of 120,000 men and women has shown a strong link between a large waist measurement and decreased lung function. Another great reason to make NOW the time you get your weight and health under control.

The report, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine , showed that the results were independent of smoking or overall BMI and reinforces the message of the need for a healthy lifestyle. Here is an extract from the BBC coverage of the report:

The team set out to look if there was an association between lung function and metabolic syndrome – a collection of health problems including high blood pressure and cholesterol which are strongly linked to carrying excess weight around the middle.

Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of greater than 35 inches (89 cm) for women and 40 inches (102 cm) for men. They found a strong association between a large waist measurement and decreased lung function regardless of overall body mass index.

The association remained when they excluded those with existing cardiovascular disease or respiratory disease.

There was also a significant interaction between metabolic syndrome and smoking, with a higher risk of lung function impairment in current and former smokers than in those who never smoked.

Abdominal obesity may affect breathing through restricting the diaphragm or chest wall, the researchers suggested. But there could be other explanations. Fat tissue may increase inflammatory processes in the body which may in turn lead to respiratory problems.

You can see the full article on the BBC website by clicking here.

Many of our clients have seen a significant decrease in waist size by following a healthy balanced lifestyle including Herbalife nutritional programmes and exercise.

Our personal service includes a Complimentary Wellness Evaluation and a list of recommendations on how you can affect your health and well-being through simple but effective steps! Once you get started, you will also receive weekly follow-up and support to help you achieve your goals. And this all comes with a 30 day guarantee, so you have nothing to lose but the weight! Spring is a great time to start making these changes, so get in touch today.

You can see testimonials from a selection of our clients here or visit our store to contact us or browse the full range of Herbalife products.