Susan Valarian
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Staci and Susan are my skinny gal pals. I used to hate to go shopping with them but now I love it. They have taught me a great deal about how to eat like a skinny person and how to live a healthy lifestyle. Our coffee shop conversations about life and men remind me of the frank conversations from the women on Sex in the City.
The small blessings of good eating habits
I changed the way I ate earlier this year not to lose weight but to get pregnant.
My husband and I had been trying for more than a year to conceive. With my 40th birthday quickly approaching, I was getting desperate. I didn’t want to undergo invasive and costly fertility treatment, so I went to see an acupuncturist instead. A friend who had recently gotten pregnant recommended her.
The acupuncturist stressed healthy eating along with treatments. She asked for a meal diary. She picked it apart and made suggestions. Soon, I stopped eating refined sugars—no soda pop, no cookies, cake, etc.—white breads and most meats. I eliminated caffeine and cut way back on my dairy (cheese, milk, etc.). I piled up on vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower. I never felt better.
I lost about 6 pounds. But best of all, three weeks later I was pregnant.
Susan, Baby Julia and her husband Jay.
Small blessings
I was fortunate: I started my pregnancy weighing less than I had in about 10 years. So midway through, I was only about 5 pounds heavier than normal.
I watched what I ate during those nine months, although I did not stick to my rigid pre-pregnancy diet. For one, it was very hard. Eating that way took lots of preparation and time. And now that I was pregnant, I wasn’t as motivated. Also, I needed more nourishment. Dairy was OK now, so were meaty proteins. But I continued to stay away from caffeine.
I exercised mildly until about my ninth month. I walked several times a week and swam once or twice a week during the summer.
I was lucky: I had no morning sickness and very little back pain throughout. I credit my diet and exercise with helping with that.
