Mamma Leone Says...

Healthy Pregnancy

2010-04-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking lately, what constitutes a healthy pregnancy? To me, it's keeping your mind, body and baby in check at all times....

I must say, before I get into this post further, I have always been into fitness and health. I grew up in a very active family; my mom was a (fast) marathon runner and dad competed in triathalons. Together, they raised three children who have always been competitive in sports, focused on eating what's right, and overall we take good care of ourselves. My mom was the most beautiful pregnant woman EVER, she always stuck within the 20 lb arena and took pride in having a healthy pregnancy. This is her, pregnant with me at age 23!

I mean.. come on!

With my first pregnancy, I was focused on eating right and working hard to stay fit. I was nervous to "lose" my body, not fit into my skinny jeans, and feel out of shape. I learned quickly, that I was NOT going to let myself fall apart. Here are some simple motto's I tried to stick by...

8 Months Pregnant!

Everyday, get at least 30 minutes of exercise or some sort of activity. I stuck with a personal trainer up until 6 months and felt GREAT!
Drink LOTS of water ALL the time!
Eat small meals throughout the day, don't gorge on 3 large meals, which will lead you feeling tired, bloated and probably not very happy.
Breath & take breaks; something about pregnancy made me stress around the clock. I would try to end my day with a warm bath, candles and even just 10 minutes of yoga stretches.

For my second pregnancy (6 months today!), I've tried to stick with the same health tips. Although, I was much more sick during the first trimester, I made sure I was getting enough exercise, REST, and nourishment. During both pregnancies, dinner has always been the hardest meal to eat. By the end of the day, I'm tired, want my bed and have no desire to cook or eat a meal. It hasn't been the easiest on my family but it's something I just can't help while I'm pregnant. If this sounds like you (for dinner or any other meal), my recommendation is the following...

5 1/2 Months Pregnant!

Keep fresh cut fruit in the fridge at all times. I found that at night, I wanted lots of fruit! It is refreshing and a great treat to end your day.
Buy healthy cereal! One thing I tend to make myself for dinner is cereal with almond milk and berries/bananas. I try to add in some nuts for protein in order to get some nutrition. Some cereals I try to stick with are Kashi Heart to Heart, Wheat Chex, Grape Nuts, and my splurge is Honey Nut Cheerios.
Write a list of ALL healthy/somewhat healthy food that you like to eat. This might be hard because of daily / weekly changes in cravings, but try to stick with it. I loved having baby carrots and low fat ranch dressing close by at all times to snack on or natural peanut butter and rice cakes.

Another key exercise tip I'd give to all pregnant woman is to buy prenatal workout DVD's. While pregnant, I tend to prefer working out away from the gym, something about lots of sweaty people and my growing belly turns me off. So, I've found that a good workout tape is a must-have. In fact, tonight I made myself (at 5 p.m.) do my favorite workout tape by a close friend, Autumn Calabrese. Autumn has a 14 month old son and should be an inspiration to ALL pregnant and new moms, she is in crazy shape and really takes health to the next level! I had to post a picture of her for all you pregnant moms as inspiration that you TOO can look great being pregnant.

www.mightymommies.com

To end, I'd like to say that being pregnant does not mean you have to gain 40-70 lbs. I understand some woman are put on bed rest and it's just impossible to stick to a plan, but really you don't have to let yourself go! Have fun with food but don't get out of control, this is your body and your babies health!

New Post!

2010-04-17T10:53:00.001-07:00

I just posted a new blog on massimoleone.blogspot.com! Check it out, I will most likely start posting on this site once Isabella is born! It is a work in progress :)

I'm Italian!

2009-10-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to marry an Italian Man! You know those tall, dark and handsome men who love to drink red wine and eat great food?! Well for those that know me, my dream came true! On, Sunday, October 8th, 2006, I became Lindsay LEONE, otherwise known as Mamma Leone!

I remember so clearly when this dream started... I was about 7 years old, and watched my Aunt Sheri marry an Italian man, Bob Marino. Uncle Bobsly came from a large Italian family with two amazing sisters, now my favorite aunts! I would listen to the Marino's each holiday as they enthusiastically yelled over each other's voices and in a lot of ways brought LIFE to us Van Houten's!

The Marino's, like most Italian families, have many family traditions. The one that is forever in my mind is Sunday Supper. For as long as I remember, Sheri would slave over her stove after church, making and perfecting her famous Italian Sauce & Meatballs!

This tradition has inspired ME to fulfill my dream of cooking for my own Italian Family... Mamma Leone's homemade sauce & meatballs every Sunday!

The stuffed shells were a bonus for Massi this week!

Thanks Aunt Sheri & The Marino's for allowing me to dream as a little Dutch girl... and THANK YOU to my husband for falling in love with me and allowing us to have our own Sunday Italian dinners! I know your Mom would be proud!

Fab Foods!

2009-06-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

I recently read Lisa Rinna's book, Rinnavation! I have to say, I LOVED IT! Lisa lays it ALL out and is a true inspiration. I highly recommend buying it if you struggle or would like help in the following areas...

-Losing those last 5-10 lbs of baby weight, reviving your fitness plan & getting your mo-jo back in bed!

The biggest piece I took from the book was Eating Clean (sorry honey, my mo-jo was second). Eating clean means cutting out processed food, alcohol & sugar. I have to admit, I typically eat clean, but I realized I need to be more disciplined for the results to actually appear. So, over the last 2 weeks I have to stuck to only the foods below and the pay off has been 4 lbs!

Go ahead.. Challenge yourself... Lisa did for me!

Spinach
Asparagus
Brocolli
Whole Grains - Oatmeal, Wheat Germ, Quinoa
Berries - Blueberries, Rasberries
Apples
Grapefruit
Natural Peanut Butter
Trail Mix - Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Dried Cranberries, Figs
Fresh Juice - Beet, Carrot, Apple
Omega 3 Eggs
Yogurt - I like the non-fat greek
Raw Honey (the only sweetness I add to yogurt/oatmeal)
Beans/Legumes
Olive Oil / Avocado

*Try to go without red meat for a week. I ate only lean protein & fish! Believe me, I love my burgers.

You're Fired!

2009-06-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

If my job were "mommy blogging" I would be fired! I went out so strong with my first post to my own blog (this one vs. Massimo's), and then gave up. Maybe, it was the fact that my newborn / baby has turned into a pre-toddler; crawling all around, climbing everything in sight, throwing tantrums when I don't give him solid food. My life has turned into busyness!!

Regardless, I'm gonna keep at it! Below are my thoughts on our favorite topics...

1. Shopping / Good finds for baby

Foam Playmates are a must for when baby starts becoming mobile - sitting up, crawling, standing! We love our multi-color mat so much that it's in our living room for ALL to see. :) Massimo's bottom loves it too for all those falls & wipeouts! The price cannot be beat - check them out at Babies R us, One Step Ahead or just Google baby playmats.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2302496

2. Development / Toys for baby

Although we're so far from our family, Massimo gets to see them everyday! One thing I highly recommend doing is...

Create a photo album of everyone you want your baby to know closely. I go through the photo album everyday and talk about each person, what they mean to us and what we're going to do with them next time we see them. I swear he knows people's names and smiles the entire time I show him the book - it makes Mommy happy too! :)

3. Career or personal advice for mom

One thing my manager tells me often is how relaxed and calm I am as a mom... it must be the meds I take each day before work (just kidding!). In all honesty, being a mother has calmed me in many ways - I used to be intense, dramatic, and never able to relax. Believe me, I still have those qualities but just toned down a bit!

A few things I like to remember and do before I head out for the day; 1. is to remember that my baby will learn different things when I'm not around (from daddy or the nanny) and that it's so good for him. 2. reflect on your babies daily routine as you go in and out of meetings. 3. Listen to calm / spa music on the way to and from work - it will allow your mind to relax and also keep you from driving too fast!

4. Health / Fitness for family

This week I attempted my first Juice Cleanse! It's day 3 and I'm scoring myself a A-. The first day was extremely hard - no caffeine, lots of water and of course juice all day long. My head hurt, I was tired / weak, and wanted to "chew" more than ever! Day 2 was a piece of cake, I looked forward to my tea, water w/ lemon, juices and had the most energy I've had in a long time. I also worked out for an hour! Day 3, today, I've already cheated - I'm weaning back caffeine and I had a few bites of oatmeal along with veggie juice. I plan to go strong all day with a small salad with protein for dinner.

Overall, I think cleansing is a great way to take a break from all the food we put in our bodies everyday and just be simple! I know I've enjoyed the break as well as the time to meditate on health and well being. Email me if you want to hear what the juices consisted of!

5. Faith for family

Many of us come from different faiths and once you have a child you realize how important spirituality becomes to your marriage and family. How do you add faith into your life that is meaningful everyday? It's a challenge but not impossible to add faith into your daily routine as a mom!

Personally, I start each day counting the blessings in my life. Throughout the day I remind myself to pray for the simple things; safety, health and happiness for my family & friends!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Enjoy your weekend!

Mamma Leone

Let's Get Started...

2009-04-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but my brain is like a roller coaster all day long, thinking about my family constantly -- new ways to challenge babies thinking, shopping & taking out summer clothes, trying to balance health & fitness, and making a point to add God into our lives every single day! In trying to organize and keep track of all my thoughts, I'm making a point to write each thing down in a little notebook I carry in my bag... try it for a week, I swear it's so helpful!

The topics below, are what I find to be the HOT items always going off in my little brain. My goal is to provide my "weekly" advice on each...

1. Shopping / Good finds for baby

-How many outfits does your baby go through daily? 3, 5, 12? In our house, we go through about 3-4. One outfit I always find easy and comfortable for baby is this one piece from target. We tend to wear it more to bed, but I always find myself going back to Target to buy more... the designs they carry are great!

http://www.target.com/Newborn-Boys-Just-One-Year/dp/B001PN1BM2/ref=sc_qi_detaillink?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_r=12KH0XR21KC4Y7AHM417&pf_rd_p=436115101&pf_rd_i=B001PN1BM2&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_m=A1VC38T7YXB528&pf_rd_t=5101

*Price is usually $5 each in-store.

2. Development / Toys for baby

-Last week I bought Massimo a rubber ball to play with. When I tell you this ball has been the center of the world, I am not lying! One game we love playing is sitting with our legs open and we roll the ball back and forth... or "he" tries to roll it back. He also loves when I throw it in the air! So simple and yet goes so far... here's a video of our game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX_VGKUBaaM

3. Career or personal advice for mom

-Take a bath with your baby! You might already be in a routine with bath time, and God knows how hard it is to change that routine. However, maybe once a week (especially after a long day of work), surprise your baby and join them in the tub. It is one of our favorite family activities!

4. Health / Fitness for family

-One of the biggest parts of my life is fitness! Without exercise everyday, I feel tired, bad about myself, and unproductive. About a month ago, my husband and I joined a gym where we can bring the babe to the nursery ($7 / 2 hrs). Not only does it give us time together, but Massimo LOVES the nursery.

5. Faith for family

-Prayer is always been in my life. I remember when I was a little girl, my mom/dad would tuck me in and ALWAYS say a prayer for me. When my son was born a month early, the first thing I did that night was pray for him as he lay there in the NICU. To this day, he hears my voice in his ear every single night... I pray for his health, safety, loving nature and that he will grow up to love God with all of his heart.

The great thing about prayer, is that you can do this across ALL faiths!

Have a great week!!
~Lindsay

So what is this blog all about?

2009-04-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

My goal is to create a separate blog from massimoleone.blogspot.com, which talks about the "active" role of mothers; nurturing, protecting, developing and loving!

I want to share my thoughts and experiences on motherhood. Within this blog you'll get a weekly dose of content across the following topics...

1. Shopping / Good finds for baby
2. Development / Toys for baby
3. Career or personal advice for mom
4. Health / Fitness for family
5. Faith for family

Stay tuned for my first submission this weekend!