Mi-Bra

Thank you all so much for your entries to win one of Carolina’s Mi-Bra‘s.

It was great to hear from all of you, and there were a number of really excellent tips shared on ways to maintain an active lifestyle — I’m thinking of making these into an article later in the week

So, without further ado, the winner is…

Karolyne — I’ll be in touch with you soon to make arrangements for posting your prize.

To everyone else, a huge thank you for entering.

Don’t forget to check out Carolina’s Facebook page, if you haven’t done so already.

Stay healthy everyone!

At the time I hinted I had a little piece of news to tell you concerning this, but you would have to wait a while longer to hear what it was.

Well, a few of you picked up on my clues, but I’ve been meaning to confirm what I was talking about for some time now.

27 Weeks Pregnant

The good news I’ve been wanting to share with you is that we are expecting another little addition to the Thomassian household.

We are all hugely excited about this baby’s arrival in February 2012, and I’m sure it will be a lot of fun with Elissa to “help” out

I am almost 27 weeks pregnant, which you can see from my self portrait —>>

By the time the baby arrives, Elissa will be two years and 4 months old. This will certainly be an interesting challenge!

Elissa loves to be around other children, and is an extremely social child. However, I’m fully aware that this may be a different story when the baby is here all of the time.

I hope to keep things pretty normal on Dietriffic throughout this time, but I also know that it’s going to be hectic for a while. I hope you will bear with me, as I try my best to keep everything running smoothly.

Preparations For Birth

I’ve been feeling great throughout most of this pregnancy, apart from a few weeks of sickness and extreme tiredness in the early days.

Right now I’m simply trying to eat well and stay active, so that I am prepared for what lies ahead.

If you’re a women, you may already know that giving birth is one of the biggest marathons you will ever go through.

It always amazes me how little some women prepare before giving birth, though.

Obviously each circumstance is different, as is each birth, but a little thought and preparation beforehand, to get your mind and body in gear for the whole experience, is definitely going to pay off.

Exercise Routine

As I said, I am almost 27 weeks pregnant right now, and I am currently working on my physical fitness. I must confess, I have been slacking in the months which have just passed, but I am getting back on track now with a regular, albeit short, routine.

Last time I was pregnant, I took a pre-natal exercise class, which was wonderful.

It was amazing to meet the other mums, and I really believe that the workouts, coupled with the breathing exercises I learned there (and God’s help) enabled me to have a very positive birth experience.

We have moved house since then, which means I can’t attend that class this time. So, at the minute I am working on a routine which elevates my heart rate, strengthens my core and legs, and improves flexibility.

Eating

As far as my diet is concerned, I’ve mostly continued as normal, with particular attention to my fruit, vegetable, and protein intake.

In the UK, we recommend a 100-calorie increase per day for the first six months, and 200-calorie per day increase for the last three months.

At you know, this isn’t a huge increase, so it’s important not to believe the “eating for two” mantra you will hear people spouting.

Remember, gaining too much pregnancy weight, increases your risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, so avoiding that, if at all possible, is wise. It also makes losing weight post-birth much easier.

If you decide to breastfeed, though, you don’t need to think too much about that either. Not to mention the mega, super duper benefits for your baby, too

Books I Recommend

I read quite a bit when I was expecting with Elissa in preparation.

A lot of my information came from the web, but I also borrowed some books from the library, and purchased a good few books from Amazon, too.

Childbirth Experience
The single most amazing book I have discovered is Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth. This book is an absolute must read, particularly if you favor a natural birthing experience.

I must caution, however, there are some things contained in the book, which you may find a little “way out.” I recommend taking what you can from the book (which is a lot, I assure you), and leaving the rest, if it doesn’t suit you.

This book will empower you to believe in your body’s ability to give birth, without fear, simply trusting it to do the work it was designed to do.

Fitness DVD
Throughout my last pregnancy, I did the Complete Pregnancy Fitness DVD by Erin O’Brien, and throughly enjoyed her routines. I will now be using this DVD once again.

Baby Sleep Schedules
I also read quite a few books about sleep routines.

I think I purchased Gina Ford’s The Contented Little Baby first. But, I have to say I don’t like her approach, and I didn’t use this method with Elissa.

Personally, I much preferred the methods found in the ebook, Mastering Naps and Schedules, by Nichole Johnson. I found this to be an invaluable resource, and to this day Elissa is a wonderful sleeper, who still naps in the middle of the day for up to 3 hours.

I also read the book Three In A Bed. This book is all about the benefits of sleeping with your baby. It was a huge eye-opener to me, and is based on medical and historical evidence of what is best for your baby. It’s certainly an interesting read.

Choosing Names
Of course, I also leafed through various baby name books. One of the best books I used was The Complete Book Of Baby Names. This book has 100,001 names to choose from, and can partly be attributed to our choice of Elissa’s name

Weaning
I also highly recommend Gill Rapley’s Baby-Led Weaning approach, when you get to the baby weaning stage. If you like the idea of skipping the pureed stage completely, you’ll love this book. It worked really well for us last time around.

Anyway, that’s just a little summary of what’s been going on with me lately.

If you have any pregnancy resources, tips or anything else to share with me, I would absolutely love to hear from you…

Now I’ve heard people going on about the power of social media, and statements to that effect. And I’ve experienced it to some degree.

Connecting with people, making friends, developing business relationships, and getting some website traffic can all be considered ‘power’ to some degree or other.

But, I never imagined it would go further than that.

So, when I received an email recently from a television producer here in the UK, I certainly didn’t think she found out about me via my Twitter profile.

In fact, I initially laughed out loud when I read the email.

Not because I didn’t like what I read, but it just seemed a bit unreal at that point.

Basically, this company make pretty big shows. I had put in here what they are, but I’ve removed them for professional reasons.

I’m obviously not at liberty to go into specifics about the show I was contacted about, but needless to say, it’s an exciting opportunity for a dietitian to be involved in mainstream media.

Anyway, following this email, I got in touch with the producer to chat with her about the possibility of doing this TV show, and to get more details about what it involved.

svilen001

You’ll see from my title, however, that I said Twitter “almost” got me a job. So what happened?

Well, it’s basically a timing issue. I simply cannot work with their schedule, due to another little piece of news which will be revealed all in good time.

Too curious to wait?

Well let’s put it this way. My husband is partially to blame! I say no more.

I hung up the phone with a mixture of feelings.

Elated to even be considered for such an opportunity, but a little sad that it had been snatched away so suddenly.

Anyway, back to the story…

During the course of my conversation with the producer, I was curious about how she came across me. I have a faithful number of followers, but I’m hardly someone with celebrity status.

So, I asked her where she found out about me, and to my surprise she had simply searched on Twitter (not Google) for Dietitians in the UK.

I was pretty stunned! I never imagined something that big could come from simply being present on Twitter.

If she had said she found out about me on my website, or my LinkedIn profile, or one of the websites I write for, like Health Central. Or, even those I have written for in the past, such as Diet Blog, or Zen Family Habits, then I wouldn’t have been that surprised.

But I didn’t expect her to say Twitter was the source.

So there you have it. That’s how a simple little Twitter account almost landed me one of the most interesting projects of my career thus far.

Lessons for you…

People are talking, connecting and paying attention, via social media sites to what is being said. And, as we’ve seen, they’re also looking for potential partners, clients, and employees.

Those of us who stay active on these sites know very well there are plenty of naysayers out there who simply cannot wrap their heads around why people would “waste” their valuable business time on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. with a slew of updates, photos, random thoughts, and whatever else.

Let them think what they think. It only takes one opportunity like this to prove them wrong.

To leave them sitting in their scepticism while you pursue greater things.

Want to get started on Twitter, Facebook, or some other social media site? Here’s what to do:

1. Present yourself as a professional — Don’t simply be John Smith. Be John Smith the Web Developer, or Joe Bloggs the Fashion Consultant, or [insert politian name] the Yellow-Bellied Liar.

2. But be approachable — Refuse the temptation to only add professional info. Be human. Are you a mom? Engage in a particular sport? Have a weird talent? Add a handful of things like this, too. It makes you appear less clinical, and thus more approachable.

3. Contribute regularly — You don’t have to be on it every minute of the day. You don’t need to have the app and annoy people every five minutes from your iPhone. It appears narcissistic. You’re not that important, and what you do say just becomes noise when you do this.

4. Give more than you take — Like all things in life, you’ll be more rewarded by giving than taking. Forward other peoples links. Return messages. People will like you more and give more in return to you if you do this. It’s a basic principle of human psychology. We like those who have time for us.

So there it is, my personal experience of using social media, and how beneficial has been for me (so far).

If you’re on Twitter, or you want to get started on Twitter or Facebook, don’t forget to add me

Enter To Win Your Copy

If you set new year’s resolutions at the beginning of January, perhaps you are already struggling with keeping them.

Well, I’ve got a little surprise for you today… something great which will help you eat the food you love, and still stay on track with your diet!

I’m talking about Now Eat This! Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito’s new cookbook. The book is packed with common no-no foods, which have been revamped to be healthier.

I’ve had a tiny sneak peak at the book, and it looks great. Along with the recipes, Rocco has also included healthy tips and ingredient substitutions, which are super helpful.

So, why am I telling you all this?

Well, I’ve got 3 copies of the cookbook to give away — here’s how you can win your own copy of Now Eat This! Oh, and they’re signed by Rocco himself.

How to Enter

I’m trying to grow my new Facebook fan page, and so I’d love to connect with you there, and also share the word about Dietriffic on social media.

Melanie Thomassian – Registered Dietitian

There are a few ways to enter to win Rocco’s cookbook. You may enter more than once…

• Please “like” my fan page on Facebook for 1 entry.
• For those of you who had already “liked” my page on Facebook prior to this competition, just leave a comment under this article telling me so for 1 entry.
• You can also share this competition with your Facebook friends for 1 entry — we love making new friends!
• Or, you could share this competition on Twitter for 1 additional entry.
• Just remember to come back here and let me know how you shared the “Dietriffic love” — this is the only way I will know that you wish to enter the competition.
• Unfortunately, we can only send the book to U.S. residents.

Comments must be entered by 6pm EST, Monday 7th February, 2011.

Winners will be chosen at random.

For those living outside of America (that’s me too!),  and also for those who don’t have the chance to win, Rocco shares healthy tips and recipes from both his Twitter account, and his Facebook page.

And, if you are having trouble finding the cookbook in bookstores, it is also available in Kindle and Nook versions.

Best wishes everyone!

You can get more details about Eat This Now! by following this link.

Or, if you are living in the UK, follow this link.

sxc.hu: mattox

Thank you to everyone who entered our recent competition to win a pre-release copy of The Healthy Eating Handbook.

There were so many really great answers (including some which were emailed to me instead of posted below the article), and I have to say it was extremely difficult to make my decision.

Which is why there is not going to be a winner of the Healthy Eating Handbook.

Sorry…

…there are going to be two winners instead!

Yep! I just had to.

My first choice…

The first winner I settled on was Carriann Horstead.

Here’s what Carriann had to say,

For the past 20 years I have struggled to lose weight. I literally have tried everything with the same result–initial weight loss then gaining it all back. I have made peace with my body and now just want to eat healthy. The problem is, I no longer know what a balanced healthy meal looks like.

I have turned to the internet to try and re-learn what normal healthy eating is. Dietriffic’s Healthy Eating Guide will be instrumental in my journey to be healthy and love life.

Carriann talks about no longer knowing what a balanced healthy meal looks like. I think that’s the case for a lot of people, and so the handbook is just perfect for Carriann, and others like her.

Really well done to you, Carriann! I wish you all the best, and I’ll be in touch via email shortly.

And my second choice…

As I said, there were some really awesome answers, and something another reader said really resonated with me.

In her answer, Jamie not only mentions her own struggles, but the knock-on effect it’s having on her daughter.

This is a massive issue for me, and part of the reason I put together this Handbook. Not so much to help people achieve massive weight-loss in a short amount of time. But, to instil healthy eating habits into families, so that our children understand and view food properly.

Here’s what Jamie said,

Hey Melanie – first let me say I really appreciate your positive attitude and continued encouragement. I just recently quit WW because the online diet program was a nightmare to try and follow, and the shop nearest me doesn’t have meeting times I can make. Every time I popped into one of the chat rooms it seemed some 1 was excited and everyone else was carping.

My 16 year old daughter and I are both obese. It breaks my heart for her because she is beautiful inside and out. I feel responsible for her poor eating habits and well, I am sick and tired of awarding myself worst mom of the year! I really want to break out of the mindset that says we are stuck here!

Heredity has taken over and I’m ready to tell Heredity that we have a slim athletic side to our genes! I feel your book would give us something positive to focus on as we step up to the challenge of changing our eating and moving lifestyle!

Thanks for the opportunity, Peace, Jamie

Because both are struggling, and there’s a young life at stake here, I decided I’m going to give Jamie a copy of The Healthy Eating Handbook, too. I know it will be helpful to both her, and her daughter, if they apply the lessons and techniques in the book.

For everyone else,  thank you so much for participating.

I’ll be releasing the Healthy Eating Handbook very soon, and will be offering a special launch offer, so you can get your hands on a copy of the book, and all the bonuses, at a VERY reduced price.

sxc.hu: mattox

I recently asked about the challenges you face when trying to live a healthy lifestyle — thank you so much for your help.

Your queries and comments have been really useful, and I’ve been trying to combine these ideas, with the comments and emails I get on a regular basis, to help you out.

For a long time I’ve been working on a guide, that would be beneficial to the vast majority of people, who are trying to live a healthy lifestyle.

The Book

So today, I want to tell you about this exciting project, “The Healthy Eating Handbook.”

This is a step-by-step guide to help you…

• Understand what “healthy eating” actually means in a practical sense.
• Transform the eating habits of you and your family.
• Plan, prepare, and enjoy your meals each and every day.
• Significantly reduce your grocery shopping bill.
• Learn from my mistakes and experiences.

Basically, it’s healthy eating made easier than you thought possible.

The guide contains lots of tips and tricks, which can be implemented instantly.

The book also comes packaged with:

• The Healthy Eating Workbook — so you can begin applying the practical instruction from the book.
• The Healthy Eating Fridge Memory Chart — to remind you of the key principles in the book.
• The Healthy Eating Meal Planner — to help you get planning healthy meals right away.
• The Healthy Eating Meal Plans — containing two sample menu plans.
• Healthy Eating Recipe Ideas — with over 50 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks.
• Your FAQ’s Answered — questions and answers to those burning queries I get asked all the time.
• Home Exercise Handbook — your step-by-step guide to working out at home (including instructional images), to help you get started exercising right away.

Get it ALL for free…

I want to give away a free pre-release copy to one my loyal readers.

The catch?

All you need to do is write, in 100 words or less, why you would like your very own copy of The Healthy Eating Handbook.

The person who best expresses their need to have a handbook like this, will win a free copy. That’s it, very simple!

It’ll probably take you about 3 minutes. 3 minutes to potentially change the rest of your life!

The competition closes Tuesday, the 14th September 2010, 6 p.m. GMT.

I can’t wait to hear from you

Best wishes!

Flickr: margilevin

In the three years I’ve been running Dietriffic, I’ve managed to attract a certain type of person — those who wish to live a healthy lifestyle, in a convenient manner, which fits with them and their family.

During this time, you’ve told me about the particular challenges you face in trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Lately, however, there’s been a rise in the number of people who find good, nutritious food, beyond their budget.

I’m going to try to address this issue for you very soon, but what I want to know from you today is:

What challenges do you face when trying to employ a healthy lifestyle for both you and your family?

This is your opportunity to air your specific frustrations and challenges with your favourite dietitian And, have them addressed in a way which will help you move forward.

So, please share your challenges below. Don’t be shy! And, I look forward to hearing from you…

Eco-Friendly Sports Bra

Thank you all so much for your entries to win the wonderful Mi-Bra.

It was great to hear from all of you, and I know Carolina was really pleased that you went over to her group on Facebook and joined up.

So, without further ado, the winner is…

Lisa Mikus — really well done Lisa!

To everyone else, thank you so much for entering.

I hope to have more competitions in the coming days, so do stay tuned for that.

Best wishes!

Win Your Very Own Mi-Bra

To help say “Thank You” to my awesome readers, I’ve teamed up with Carolina from Girl Habits, for your chance to win one of her Mi-Bra’s absolutely free.

The Mi-Bra, is a super comfortable, eco-friendly sports bra.

One of the things I love most about it though, is the convenient little pocket on the front — think marsupial pouch — to stash your iPod or some extra change, keeping your hands free as you workout.

It’s black, made of 90% organic cotton, comes in sizes small, medium and large, and retails at $20.

So, now you want one, right?

Here’s how you can get your hands on this fab product for free?

To enter our competition:

• Join Carolina’s Facebook Group by clicking here.
• Then come back to Dietriffic and leave a comment under this post, so that we know you’ve joined the Mi-Bra group.
• Names will be checked, then I’ll then enter you into the competition.
• Entries close 6 p.m. GMT on Saturday 24th July 2010.
• The winner will be selected at random.

Eco-Friendly Sports Bra

So, that’s it… easy or what?

If you’ve got a lovely friend, who you think would also like a chance to win the Mi-Bra, please share the competition details with them too. You can do that by clicking on the ShareThis link below.

Stay tuned to find out who the winner is

Because there’s no faster way to success than to observe and be around those who’ve already been there, done that, and got the t-shirt!

The same goes for losing weight.

In this special report (which is free) I reveal 15 Secrets of Naturally Thin People.

Rather than tell you all the details, read the introduction to it below, and then click the link at the bottom of the page to get your free copy (no opt-in necessary).

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Introduction

Learning From the Naturally Thin
Do you have a friend who doesn’t bat an eyelash when it comes to ordering lunch or dinner… even dessert?

Have you ever asked that person how much they weigh, or how many calories they consumed yesterday? If you have, I’d guess they didn’t have a clue, right?

If you haven’t done it, try it… just so you see their look of complete bewilderment.

You see, they just don’t keep tabs on that kind of stuff.

Perhaps you just cast them aside as the “fortunate?”

I put it to you, that these people are the very individuals you should be watching and learning from. They obviously know something most of the population don’t have a clue about, right?

I figure it can’t do any harm to examine how they do things, can it?

In fact, even though this is a free report, don’t lose sight of its value. If you get a grasp of the principles you’re about to learn in these secrets, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the secrets of these naturally thin people, so you can begin emulating them today!

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Like I said, it’s a free download with no opt-in. However, I am going to request a very small favour from you before you get it.

All you have to do is recommend Dietriffic.com to (up to) five of your family and friends.

That’s it.

I’ve even made it really easy for you. You don’t have to leave this site to get it.

Simply click on the link below, follow the instructions, and you’ll immediately be taken to the secret page where you can get your free copy of this report.

It’ll probably take less than 60 seconds.
Edit: There was a slight error. You’ll have to click a link on another page (it’ll take you an extra 5 seconds )

Click Here To Recommend Dietriffic And Get Your Free Report

P.S. Thanks in advance. Your support helps me to provide a better service of free information.