Nine Months of Fashion: Maternity Fashion Tips

Congratulations, your baby is on its way. But now your jeans are tight and aren't fitting so well, and you can't wear that shirt to work because it is showing your belly. So what are you going to do?

It is time to invest in some maternity clothes.

Do I hear you groaning? Most women think of pregnancy clothes as being huge, shapeless sacks, baggy trousers and lots of elastic waist tracksuit pants. But it doesn't have to be!

The good news is that these days there are lots of stylish and sexy maternity clothes. Stylish and sexy aren't words you linked with pregnancy clothes in the past, but this is a new era for maternity wear.

Regardless of how fashion-conscious a woman is, the fact is that she is only pregnant for nine months, so she also should be practical and finance conscious while shopping. Purchasing maternity clothes as soon as possible in the pregnancy is the best option. The fit of maternity clothes these days has changed, and many are made to last from early pregnancy to accommodate the increase in abdominal size and to the postpartum period. Most maternity clothes are equipped with adjustable waistbands, rather than the old-fashioned panel, which allows the clothes to grow with the pregnancy. Ladies do not forget that “Comfort is the watchword during pregnancy as far as clothes are concerned”

Fitted clothes are important in pregnancy so the woman doesn't look big all over. Treating yourself to some nice clothing along the way is one way to pick up your self-esteem if it's struggling at times.

Don’t Forget Ladies: You don't need to spend a fortune on new maternity clothes.

During the first trimester invest in a few long singlets or camisoles in basic colors such as white, black, grey, red, making sure that they are extra long length.

It’s now time to invest in maternity wears during the second trimester due to the expanding belly. Here are few essential maternity items can last the whole pregnancy and afterwards: Stretch pants, Slim Fit Skirt, A Dress (preferably black), Maternity T-Shirts, A Tunic Length Sweater for cold weather, A Button down Shirt and Maternity Jeans. Ensure you have the right accessories to complement your look and spice you up.


















Ditch the 4 inch, stiletto heels and stick to lower heels, flats and wider shoes. Stick to slip on shoes or sandals because you won't want to be fiddling with straps and buckles by your third trimester when your belly is so big you can’t even reach your feet anymore!












Wear comfortable bras and underwear and adjust as your breasts, hips and abdomen increase. Invest in maternity underwear which billows out and covers your entire abdomen and maternity bras, which have several rows of hooks (at least 5 or 6) to accommodate the changes in your rib cage and also have adjustable cups.


By the third trimester you'll be filling out your maternity clothes nicely and they might be a tight squeeze by the end of the third trimester.

Comfort is the most important thing now because it is not too long from now. So if you feel like wearing baggy jeans flip flops, what are you waiting for??

10 Fantastic Health Benefits of Yogurt

1. Yogurt can give you flat abs.
Eat 18 ounces a day and you can drop a jeans size. People who ate that much -- in conjunction with cutting their total calories -- lost 22 percent more weight and 81 percent more belly fat than dieters who skipped the snack, according to research from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They also retained one-third more calorie-torching lean muscle mass, which can help you maintain weight loss. "Fat around your waist produces the hormone cortisol, which tells your body to accumulate even more belly flab," says nutrition professor and lead study author Michael Zemel, PhD. When you eat yogurt, the calcium signals your fat cells to pump out less cortisol, making it easier for you to drop pounds, while the amino acids help burn fat.

2. Most brands of yogurt contain good-for-you bacteria.
The words "live and active cultures" on the container mean that your yogurt has probiotics, beneficial bugs that live in your digestive tract and help crowd out harmful microorganisms that can cause intestinal infections. (Only a very small number of companies put yogurt through a post-pasteurization process that kills off all bacteria.)
But many varieties now also contain special strains of probiotics meant to help regulate your digestion or strengthen your immune system. The research on them isn't conclusive, however. "If you suffer from a particular health problem, like bloating or diarrhea, it's worth trying one of these products for a couple of weeks to see if it helps," says FITNESS advisory board member Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD. Otherwise, save a few dollars and stick to conventional brands.

3. Yogurt is loaded with vitamins.
One serving is a significant source of potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iodine, zinc, and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Yogurt also contains B12, which maintains red blood cells and helps keep your nervous system functioning properly. "Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products, such as chicken and fish, so strict vegetarians can easily fall short," says Jackie Newgent, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of Big Green Cookbook. Eating more yogurt can help close the nutrient gap: An eight-ounce serving contains 1.4 micrograms of the vitamin, about 60 percent of what adult women need daily

4. A cup of yogurt a day can help you recover faster after a workout.
With the right ratio of protein to carbohydrates, yogurt, particularly high-protein Greek yogurt, makes an excellent post-sweat-session snack. "The perfect time to grab a container is within 60 minutes of exercise," says Keri Gans, RD, a nutritionist in New York City. The protein provides the amino acids your muscles need to repair themselves, Gans explains, and the carbohydrates replace your muscles' energy stores, which are depleted after a hard workout. It's a bonus if you drink a bottle of water along with it: The protein in yogurt may also help increase the amount of water absorbed by the intestines, improving hydration.

5. Not all yogurt is equal when it comes to calcium and vitamin D.
Since it naturally contains calcium, you'd think the amount would be the same no matter which yogurt you pick. Wrong. "The levels can vary widely from brand to brand, so you really need to check the label," Newgent says. How much is in a container depends on processing. For instance, fruit yogurt tends to have less calcium than plain because the sugar and fruit take up precious space in the container. "Vitamin D isn't naturally in yogurt, but because it helps boost calcium absorption, most companies add it," Newgent explains. Reach for brands like Stonyfield Farms Fat Free Smooth and Creamy and Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy, which contain at least 20 percent of your daily value for both nutrients.

6. Yogurt may prevent high blood pressure.
Every day 70 percent of us consume more than twice the recommended amount of salt; over time that can lead to hypertension and kidney and heart disease. The potassium in yogurt, almost 600 milligrams per eight ounces, may help flush some of the excess sodium out of your body. In fact, adults in a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition who ate the most low-fat dairy -- two or more servings daily -- were 54 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who ate the least.

7. A daily serving of yogurt keeps colds away.
Dig into four ounces each day and you may find yourself sniffle-free in the months ahead, according to a study at the University of Vienna. Women eating this amount had much stronger and more active T cells, which battle illness and infection, than they did before they started consuming it. "The healthy bacteria in yogurt help send signals to the immune-boosting cells in your body to power up and fight off harmful bugs," says lead study author Alexa Meyer, PhD, a nutrition researcher at the university. Allergy sufferers, who typically have low levels of certain T cells, may also find relief by adding yogurt to their diets. In a study in the Journal of Nutrition, people who ate seven ounces a day had fewer symptoms than those who opted for none at all.

8. Yogurt can help your smile.
Despite its sugar content, yogurt doesn't cause cavities. When scientists at Marmara University in Turkey tested low-fat, light, and fruit flavors, they found that none of them eroded tooth enamel, the main cause of decay. The lactic acid in yogurt appears to give your gums protection as well. People who eat at least two ounces a day have a 60 percent lower risk of acquiring severe periodontal disease than those who skip it.

9. Raw doesn't mean better.
Virtually all the yogurt in your grocery store has been pasteurized -- that is, exposed to high temperatures to kill any harmful pathogens. Raw-dairy fans claim that unpasteurized milk, yogurt, and cheese are better for you because they contain more health-boosting bacteria, but pasteurization doesn't destroy beneficial probiotics, Newgent explains. Plus, studies show that those who eat raw yogurt don't have stronger immune or digestive systems than people who stick to the pasteurized stuff. And raw-dairy products carry a risk of food poisoning. "E. coli and salmonella are two of the pathogens that can lurk in these foods and end up in your body," Newgent says.

10. Yogurt is a high-protein food.
Yogurt can be an excellent source of protein, but "one variety may contain more than double the protein of another," Blatner says. Greek yogurt, which is strained to make it thicker, has up to 20 grams of protein per container; traditional yogurt may have as few as five grams. If you're eating it for the protein, look for brands that provide at least eight to 10 grams per serving.

What to Look For in a Yogurt
Forget the fancy promises. To find a healthy yogurt that's low in calories, fat, and sugar, follow as many of these guidelines as you can.
Per 6-ounce serving:
Calories: 100 to 150 (if you're snacking, stick to the lower end)
Fat: 3.5 grams or less (low-fat or nonfat)
Saturated fat: 2 grams or less
Protein: at least 8 to 10 grams
Sugar: 20 grams or less
Calcium: at least 20 percent of the daily value
Vitamin D: at least 20 percent of the daily value


Source:http://www.fitnessmagazine.com
Photo Credit:Google images

Stammering/ Stuttering

I just watched the King’s Speech (Yeah! I know I am kinda stale). Well watching that movie enlightened me and I want to shed a lil bit of light on the subject of speech disorders dwelling particularly on ‘Stammering’ which was the speech disorder that King George VI suffered from. The movie told the story of King George VI speech disorder and how he overcame the problem through speech therapy from the great Lionel Logue. Enough said about the King’s Speech!!

Stammering(alalia literalis or anarthria literalis) is known as ‘stuttering’ (alalia syllabaris). Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak.

Stuttering is typically a developmental disorder beginning in early childhood and continuing into adulthood in at least 20% of affected children. In rare cases, stuttering may be acquired in adulthood as the result of a neurological event such as a head injury, tumour, stroke or drug use.

There is essentially no "cure" for the disorder at present. Though the rate of early recovery is very high in a young stutterer, with time a young stutterer may transition from easy, relaxed repetition to more tense and effortful stuttering, including blocks and prolongation. Stutterers commonly report dramatically increased fluency when talking in unison with another speaker, copying another's speech, whispering, singing, and acting or when talking to pets, young children, or themselves. Other situations, such as public speaking and speaking on the telephone are often greatly feared by stutterers, and increased stuttering is reported.

The exact cause of stuttering is unknown but the most likely contributing factors include the following:
- Genetics: Children who have first-degree relatives who stutter are three times as likely to develop a stutter. Approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also.
- Child Development: There is evidence that stuttering is more common in children who also have concomitant speech, language, learning or motor difficulties.
- Neurophysiology: Recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter.
- Auditory Processing Deficits: Auditory processing deficits have also been proposed as a cause of stuttering. Stuttering is less prevalent in deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and stuttering may be improved when auditory feedback is altered, such as masking, delayed auditory feedback (DAF), or frequency altered feedback.
- Pressure: Such as peer pressure, time pressure, stressful speaking situations, insistence on perfect speech, high expectations, and so on.

Therapy
There are no instant miracle cures for stuttering. Therapy, electronic devices, and even drugs are not an overnight process. However, a specialist in stuttering can help not only children but also teenagers, young adults and even older adults make significant progress toward fluency.

The following therapy can be of help to stutterers:
- Fluency Shaping Therapy
- Stuttering Modification Therapy
- Electronic Fluency Devices
- Anti- stuttering Medication
- Diaphragmatic Breathing
- Support Groups

Do you think you are the only one suffering from this disorder? Nope, you’re not, famous Englishmen King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who led the UK through World War II stammered. Lewis Carroll, the well-known author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was afflicted with a stammer. Also the following people stuttered and didn’t allow their affliction to affect their success: Vice President of The USA, Joe Biden, Charles Darwin, Marilyn Monroe, Emily Blunt, Tiger Woods, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis, Phillip Larkin, Samuel L. Jackson, and Annie Glenn. Lest, I forget even Moses of old, the leader and liberator of the Hebrews and Demosthenes, the greatest Greek orator of ancient times stuttered!

Let your voice be heard!!

Bowling for Boobs!

Abuja set to host the first ever Bowling For Boobs Competition in Africa to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness

Stand Up To Cancer Naija is happy to announce it’s signature fundraising event for breast cancer awareness tagged “Bowling for Boobs 9ja”. The national tour event will kick off with the median edition holding at the dome entertainment centre central Area, Abuja on the 29th of January, 2011. The event which will be a bowling competition, with six teams, of eight players in each team, all competing against each other. The objective is to have fun while raising awareness and money for breast cancer project in the grassroot; prior bowling experience is not required. The event will be hosted subsequently in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other cities in Africa.

Each bowler is to register with N20,000, after registration they will get a t-shirt and a socks complimentary. The funds generated from this event will be used to support the ongoing grassroot breast cancer projects under Stand Up To Cancer Naija. “Like a Bra our event aims to uplift and support women battling breast cancer!” said Caleb Egwuenu, Project Director of Stand Up To Cancer Naija. We are calling on everyone to take up teams or join in a team, in this incredibly colourful and outrageous social event. Raffle tickets and prizes will also be available. The Line of confirmed celebrities featuring in the event are; UTI, Waje and Uche Jumbo, many more are to be confirmed soon.

For more information on this event, please contact Caleb Egwuenu, Project Director, Stand Up To Cancer Naija on 08033626680 or the Event Publicist Bode- 07032521755

Regular Breast Self Examination is the key. It can never be over- emphasized.

Feel Your Boobies!!

Improve Indoor Air Quality to Optimize Respiratory Health

By Kristina Gundersen


We often take for granted the air we breathe. It is all around us, we need it to survive, and we breathe it every second of our lives. Yet few of us consider how air quality impacts our health. Although we cannot really control the air outdoors, it is easy to improve air quality in the home environment by taking some straightforward measures. You’re on your way to breathing easier in four simple steps.

Damp Dusting
Is your home a dust-filled environment? Do you have pets, lots of decorations, or carpeting? Then your home probably has more dust than you should be breathing. Luckily, there is a simple remedy: dusting with a damp rag instead of a dry one. The water on the rag enables the dust to stick to the rag and traps it on the rag, thus preventing the spread or movement of dust that occurs with dry dusting.

Natural Cleaners
Do you use chemical products like shower and toilet bowl cleaners, disinfectants, bleach, or window washing fluid? Then you may be breathing toxic chemicals. Opting for natural or odorless cleaning products like Bon Ami for tubs and toilets, baking soda and water for countertops, vinegar for windows and hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant is a smart option for people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory conditions like asthma or emphysema.

Houseplants
Ever wonder if the air we breathe is pure? Before investing in an expensive, complicated air purification system, try incorporating some houseplants into your décor. Plants are nature’s own air purification system. Try putting at least one in each bedroom near a window and two or three in the living room to cover the extra square footage. Some powerful air-purifying, humidity-balancing plants are the Bamboo Palm, the Boston Fern, the Peace Lily and English Ivy.

Mold Abatement
Do you have areas of your home that smell damp or musty? The culprit may be a dangerous substance called black mold. Sometimes it is visible as black or dark gray splotches, sometimes it is not so easy to find. Anywhere where water damage has occurred, there are usually mold spores growing. A leaky pipe under the sink, for example, may be a source of black mold growth. It typically grows in bathrooms and on windowsills, anywhere where there is frequent condensation. If you can see the mold growth, try spraying it with bleach. If you cannot determine the origin of the musty smell, contact a mold abatement specialist who will take air samples and inspect your home until they locate the source.


Kristina Gundersen lives in Washington State. She is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on accredited online universities for Guide to Online Schools.