non-baby QOTD

"Seriously, is there anything the far right won't blame poor people and people of color for? Global warming (oh wait, that's not man-made)? Missing socks? The Cubs?"

from Poplicks.

Me and Food (and Babies)

I didn't really have a lot of food cravings when I was pregnant. Every once in a while, sure, and I did have food aversions on occasion, but nothing like the mythical "pickles and ice cream" moments knocked-up ladies are supposed to experience.

Nursing, however, has been another story.

First of all, I am hungry all the time. I am hungry, and I am losing weight. Fast. Like, worrisomely fast. Like, I weigh less than when I got pregnant and it's only been two weeks since I went to the hospital fast. So now comes the ice cream, except...

I crave whole foods like nobody's business. And water. I've almost given up soda entirely at this point. I feel almost like I'm learning to eat like an athlete. High-calorie foods with high nutritional value -- give me more, please! Protein and complex carbs! Nuts! Cheese! Salami and chicken liver pate! Bread with savory spreads. Hummus. Bruschetta sounds good...maybe I could puree some beans...that chili recipe in the Chronicle today looks nice...

And, of course, I have hardly any time to actually cook. (Friends are bringing my household dinner every other day. Thank you again, whittles, for volunteering to organize it all!)

In a nutshell, then (mmm, nuts), I may be eating the healthiest I ever have, only a lot more volume. A lot more. Oh, except for the milkshakes, which are tasty and calorie-packed, but hardly health food. (No Kelis jokes, please.) When I've got more fall fruit around than just apples and grapes, I'll probably switch to smoothies.

two unrelated notes

1. Unexpected pleasures of soccer: I learned today that the US national anthem sounds really quite pretty when played on steel drums.

2. Fritzi had a taste of baby formula today -- she licked the residue off the cap that was sitting on my desk. She seems to think it's a lot like crack, only tastier. Uh-oh.

My Post-Pregnancy Body

It's a definite advantage to be a nearly-forty fat chick when it comes to the aftermath of pregnancy.

There's a lot of anxiety expressed about the changes that pregnancy works on a woman's body, and a lot of words written or said in reassurance, a lot of creams and exercise advice sold, and so on, and so on.

Women worry that they'll be fat. Well, I am already fat.*

They worry about stretch marks. I already have stretch marks.

They worry about sagging breasts. Guess what? Already there, too.

Post-pregnancy, so far, I feel a little softer around the middle, it's true. And I think I may end up a bit more curvy-looking than I was before (now I have hips!). My clothes (and shoes) may not fit right any more, although I haven't really checked yet.

I'm OK with all of that. I'm not at war with my body, not trying to engage in any holding actions or anything. Being a middle-aged fat chick means I'm more psychologically prepared to take what comes. I have less to lose, I suppose. That's one way of looking at it. Or, more tools to take what comes on its own terms, is another.


* I was very disappointed when my breastfeeding class opened with the very good question, "we know the advantages of breastfeeding for children; what are some advantages for the mother?" And the first answer from the peanut gallery was a perky shout of "weight loss!"

Of course, as noted earlier today, it's also true, if you consider weight loss an advantage. I consider it just another fact. Actually, I'm kind of glad at the moment that I come with extra padding to begin with -- I can afford to lose some more, if things continue to go that way. I have a built-in margin of error. That's kind of reassuring at the moment.