I decided my next criteria in a mid-wife who was sensible enough to see that I was growing enough and not require me to step on a scale.  And in fact, I found such a lovely midwife, (Nicki Kerrigan…awesome!) She and her mid-wife assistant  took my protein levels every week which really made me astute to not counting cookies for lunch as good enough for baby and my nutrition!  I was also closely monitored on water intake…and never once did I have to step on a scale.

So, I’ve been in the habit of not stepping on scales.  But then Riley tempted me at the gym.  (He loves numbers.)  (Yes I have my first YMCA membership, and I think I’ll keep it for these cold MN months.  But come warmer weather I’d rather hit the pavement.)  I was so surprised to see I hadn’t gained weight through the holidays, ( I think I eat less being soooooo busy, over-all that it compensates for extra goodies) but then I was all on top of the world, and stepped on the scale at the gym again…just for ‘fun’, to find I had now gained those post 7 pounds.

My mom reminded me not to get sucked in to the scale scene like I’ve learned in the past.  I think this clip is so funny and I for one can relate to it: watch?v=xlvpXKCNWKQ

My whole life I’ve sorta had a somewhat obsession over size, especially due to a ’round’ face shape that I always perceived as a bad thing.  Finally, I ran into Simple Healthy Tasty’s blog, and she really helped me see how eating healthy helps to curb cravings.  I tried it and found when you use as many healthy ingredients as you can to cook, over time you do loose cravings and tend to naturally desire the right amounts.  I am not so strict as I was on my ‘ingredient list’, for better or for worse, but I have gained an over all  understanding of what my body needs.  I also came to feel differently about some of Tammy’s health requirements, but I learned a lot from her and love her blog for great recipes and inspiration.  And simply awesome herbal remedy info.

However, I now find when I’ve gained a few, it seems just eating one meal a day that is vegetable based, (say a breakfast green smoothy) or a salad at lunch (with beans or cheese in it so I won’t be hungry.) seems to do the trick as far as getting back to size goes.  Or try to do so a few times a week atleast.  Like I say, I don’t hover over my weight any more or a measuring tape either.  I just occasionally put on a pair of bloomers that I know if they feel tight I need to shake a few, but I hardly ever do it on purpose.  I have way too many emotional suckers to add weight to the baggage…. And after eating one vegetable based meal a day, coupled with two normal meals, I tend to be back to normal with in a month or so. (And normal isn’t my dream size, but I think I’m letting go of that one till the celestial kingdom.)  Tammy’s blog is really great too about not beating yourself up for eating a little more than you’d like to have.  She’s really the sweetest thing.

I don’t buy dressing from the store so making it right when I’d want it is too much an ordeal and keeps me from making a salad.  So I made a jar of dressing for the week to make things easier.  What I like is that it has fresh ginger in it and fresh garlic too which is great, I’ve heard, for illness prevention!

This nice zippy recipe is from Rumbi’s Mango Chicken Salad which a friend referred me to.  I change it up by adding honey rather than sugar (and use my following adjusted amount) use yoghurt instead of mayo, skip the soy sauce using instead some sea salt, and put in fresh ginger rather than powdered and use less of the designated powder.

It turned out to be a really zippy dressing, good but a titch zippy for me.  I think I’d try 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 1/2 tsp fresh ginger next time.