Best Advice Ever on Post-pregnancy Weight & Appetite Management by Nutritionist Rashi Chowdhary

It’s been over a year since I popped my son, but the post-pregnancy weight – well, that’s just taken long term residence in my body :-). I wrote to the gorgeous Rashi Chowdhary, Dubai based nutritionist and an inch-loss expert, asking her thoughts on how to deal with postpartum weight and the humongous appetite increase thanks to nursing. Below is her awesome advice on how to move forward.

 
Lets do some ground work here! There are couple of basic really important things new mums need to keep in mind before dropping those pounds.

1.Healthy milk = Healthy baby
For the first 4 months, do not complicate your life by counting calories/ cutting down carbs or watching your fat intake.

Going very low on calories will lead to a nutritionally deficient diet as well, which could bring down your energy levels and reduce your milk supply. That’s the last thing you want for your newly born. Breast milk is the best for your baby, and the benefits extend well beyond basic nutrition.

2. Don't be in a rush
Give yourself a good 8-10 months to get back to your pre pregnancy weight. So take it easy and start only after about 3-4 months.

3. Be size wise
In fact, its the worst time to judge your progress by how much you weigh.Your aim should be to get back to your pre pregnancy size. Most women lose weight on the scale but feel unhappy about the way their jeans look on them. Now would be a good time to introduce yourself to weight training and build up some healthy muscle mass. This guarantees lesser stretch marks, a healthier fat to muscle ratio and a tighter ass!

4.A quick fix is never a good fix!
No matter how desperate you are, do not take up a plan that involves you to "give up" a certain food group. The key to healthy weight loss is a great balanced mix of all the nutrients, water, food supplements and occasional treats you love! So lose weight in the real world and not at the cost of your social life!!

Talking about appetite...

If you are complaining of not being able to bring back your pre-pregnancy appetite, you've got to snooze to lose! Now I know, with your baby constantly craving for your attention, this is easier said than done.

But when you don't sleep well, your body does not release the appetite hormone " leptin" in adequate amounts. Leptin is the satiety hormone, it gives your brain the signal to stop eating when your stomach is full.

But if you do not have enough of the hormone leptin then you are never full or satisfied and feel the need to constantly feed yourself.

If you're done with erratic baby timings and are now getting restful sleep but still have a bigger appetite then you are definitely doing something wrong.

And "NO" its not about will power, it's all about chemistry, it's about your hormones being out of whack.

Your appetite is regulated by a complex system and the real story is much more complicated than you think.

There are some easy steps you can take initially to bring your appetite back to normal.

1. A difficult birth or a cesarean puts you at risk of low iron levels so I recommend new moms to wake up to iron rich fruits or dry fruits. Four to five apricots and some blue berries would be ideal. The vitamin C from the berries will help better absorption of iron from the apricots. You'll get a whole lot of antioxidants and Vitamin A right at the start of your day. But the trick is to eat is within the 1st  20 minutes of waking up before your tea/ coffee or green tea.

2. You need to eat every 2-3 hours and this is no new news! But if you're going to keep biscuits or processed junk as your back up snack then eating like this will only work against your metabolism.

If you are looking to reduce your appetite and losing inches, then you need to get smart with your snack options!

You've gotta eat fat to burn it...so when I say fat, think avocados, nuts, washed olives, whole eggs and organic peanut butter. All of these have a very minimal effect on your glucose levels. When your glucose levels are in control, your body is more receptive to insulin. Keep your insulin levels in check and you've rid yourself of many lifestyle diseases.

3. Protein works as a great metabolic booster, you burn more calories while digesting them. Protein is a fabulous way to suppress your appetite naturally. In fact, most of my clients in Dubai have very low intake of protein through the day. So I recommend organic soy milk, sprouts or yoghurt with walnuts as mid meals.

4. Now, this is a complete cliché but if your body is dehydrated then your body cells cannot communicate with each other efficiently and your food nutrients are not well absorbed. Having three liters of water daily will ensure a better functioning liver and a quicker metabolism. 

5. Refrain from processed packaged food as these will only rob your body off essential nutrients. Stick to foods close to their natural original form Always!

6.Start moving!! You cannot expect to see your body shape change if you don't make changes in your activity levels.

Depending on how fit you were pre pregnancy choose a fitness regime that works for you and STICK TO IT!

I'm sure all of these done together will make a big difference to the way you think and feel which will eventually lead to Healthy Inch loss.

P.S. I highly recommend Rashi’s Facebook page where she offers great advice on a variety of health and nutrition related topics.

Real Parties in Dubai: Little Mermaid Themed Birthday Party

I am swoooning over this Mermaid themed birthday party organised by the very creative team at 3flowers. They had me at those gorgeous mermaid costumes for all the little guests. Big task but what fun!!

Sadly, when I wrote to them inquiring about the party details, I was informed that they no longer live in Dubai and have moved to Switzerland. But there is so much inspiration in these pictures that I had to share them. Such a girly theme this is :-)

P.S. Lots more inspiration on mermaid theme parties here and here.

P.P.S. More ‘Real Parties’ posts here featured on the blog including Parisian, Airline, Bollywood, Baby Einstein and Circus themes.

(Images courtesy 3flowersinabucket.com)

DIY Festive/Diwali Gift Baskets

Gift baskets are an essential part of most festivities in the Indian tradition, and Diwali is no different. The foodie in me always loves to unfold a gift basket as they usually come loaded with delicacies. And of course, your excitement towards a gift basket is directly proportional to the way it’s looking (read wrapped). :-)

So continuing with the festive spirit on Lifealicious, I am so excited to introduce Vinita Kundani to you, a genius when it comes to wrapping presents. She shares with us a simple and quick way to decorate baskets this Diwali or for any traditional occasion really.

1: A simple cane basket - how the original one we used looked like
2: Materials needed:
* Fabrics such as satin, organza, net, to cover basket and ribbon, to cover handle
* Embellishments
(If you wear Indian, you can easily reuse borders of sarees, dupattas, etc.) 
* Gun glue (not shown in the image) 
3/4/5: Wrap fabric around the basket, we used a pink shimmery satin fabric for the base, and ribbon around the handle - we used one in gold organza. With the help of gun glue, fold and fix around the basket 
6: Fabric covered basket 
7: Embellishments stuck on the handle using gun glue. You could either stop here or add a bow as described in the next step 
8: Make a bow using a net fabric and add an embellishment.

 
Voila!! Your basket is ready with goodies :-)

P.S. If you would like to learn or enquire about gift wrapping services, contact Vinita on vkundani[at]gmail[dot]com

P.P.S More Diwali Trend Alert posts here and links to some stunning Diwali decor ideas previously featured on the blog.

Diwali Trend Alert: Color blocking in jewelry

Wearing and buying jewelry plays an important role during Diwali. If you’re wondering what to buy and/or wear with your outfits this festive season, Jayna Lakhiani, founder of Miranya, tells us that color blocking in jewelry has sharpened this season - bright colors are screaming out loud - heaps of yellow, orange, fuchsia which will slowly change to pastels in 2013.

Check out this page for lots of super color blocking jewelry inspiration.

P.S. If you would like to pick up Indian outfits, jewelry, clutches for Diwali, check out Vibrance Festive Fiesta happening today at Emirates Towers. Lots of designers exhibiting, including Miranya. More details on their FB page here.

P.P.S One more Diwali Trend Alert post here. Looking for decor inspiration for the house this Diwali? Links to some stunning ideas previously featured on the blog.

Real Parties in Dubai: Circus Themed Grown-Up Birthday Party

In today’s post of Real Parties, I am thrilled to bring you a super fun Circus themed party that my dear friend, Geetu Ahuja organised to celebrate her birthday. I loved her theme implementation in the games, cake, decor, photo booth and drinks.

The highlight of the event, for me, was the photo booth. I have always loved this whole concept of photo booths for a long long time. They always bring so much to an event. And at Geetu’s party, the photo booth set-up and execution, by Imprint Design, was just fantastic. The props were so in tune with the theme. I’ll let the pictures do the talking :-)

Cake in theme

Games in theme

Geetu’s always chosen fun themes to bring in her big day. Here’s what she has to say:‘There comes this time in a year, where for some reason I just want my friends and me to get our souls 'inside out' cos I truly want to celebrate the significance from growing a year in maturity to living another year of life with some 'crazy spice'. Maintaining the trend of my desi videsi themes in the past, I landed up with my latest recipe of "Geets da cirque" for this year’s celebrations.’

P.S. More ‘Real Parties’ posts here including Parisian, Airline, Bollywood and Baby Einstein themes.

Words I’m Loving – Of making choices & living with them

I saw this movie The Words recently, and I was deeply moved by these words:

We all make difficult choices in life. The hard thing is to live with them

Diwali Trend Alert: Long, floor length kurtas

Come Diwali and I’m almost always lost as to what to buy in terms of outfits, simply because I don’t wear Indian very often. If you are like me, than I’ve made our lives a little easier with my Diwali Trend Alert posts where I will be speaking to designers and fashionistas to see what’s hot and happening to wear this festive season.

In today’s post,  Raina Chandnani, a gorgeous Mumbai based fashion designer, models and shares one of her latest designs, a long floor length mul fabric kalidar kurta, perfect for a Diwali pooja or lunch. It’s not just trendy but looks super comfortable too.

Have you bought your Diwali dresses yet? What do you have in mind to wear?

P.S. If would like to get in touch with Raina to design your outfits or see more of her work, you can reach her on rainachandnani@gmail.com

P.P.S Looking for decor inspiration for the house this Diwali? Links to some stunning ideas previously featured on the blog.

Pinterest Picks: Offbeat Invites

Invites, according to me, play quite an important role in getting guests enthusiastic for a gathering/ party/ event, etc. That said, we do not always have the time or want to invest too much in them. Which is why I am loving this first pick for the post. It’s a great picture invite, so DIY, and easily customizable for any event. Perfect for to be circulated via the web.

Below are some more fantastic ones that I found very unique but will need considerable time and effort.

1. Sparklers with matches included: ideal for any celebratory event or even a farewell as seen below
2. & 3. Ideal for little and big boy events such as birth announcements and birthdays

 
4. Corset invite perfect for a bachelorette or a girls only birthday celebration
5. Ballerina invites for little and big girl parties
6. Egg invites for a birth announcement or baby shower

P.S. You can see more invite ideas on my Pinterest board here.
P.P.S All image sources are available from my Pinterest page too.

Words I’m Loving – Of Parenting & Letting Go

“Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. The moments that used to define them - a mother's approval, a father's nod - are covered by moments of their own accomplishments. It is not until much later, as the skin sags and the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit atop the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.”

― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The mother in me wants to remember these words forever. I’ve only spent a little over a year with my son but my attachment to him, in this short period of time, is stronger than so much I’ve spent an entire lifetime on. I shudder to think, what will be of this attachment, as I spend more years with him. How then can parents let go… but they must.. to keep this precious bond alive and going on for as long as we are here....

P.S. I shared some more of Mitch Albom’s awesome quotes on my Twitter stream, you can read them here.

Get Inspired: Ganpatiji on a Ferrari

I’ve always seen a very traditional take on decorations for Ganesh Chaturthi, and understandably so – it is a traditional festival after all. But when I saw Ganpati on a Ferrari recently at my neighbor’s, I quite loved the influx of modernity to the usual decor, and how the idea was brought to fruition by a simple yet stunning addition.

This cut-out style car would also be great for a car themed party, as a photo booth set-up or backdrop for the food/ dessert/ giveaway tables.

(P.S. Big thanks to Meenakshi and Anita Khanchandani for allowing me share this)

Super Fun & Hilarious Group Game (With Free Printable)

I love playing group games. I think they help people bond so much better. A few months ago, I combined four of my favorite games, Dares + Movie Quiz + Clay Pictionary + Charades, into one, so, instead of playing one game, you play a medley. It was an instant hit!

The beauty of this game is you can customise the four games and the tasks under each game based on the age group of your guests – so it can be a family, kiddie or adult game ;D or for a special occasion such as a baby or bridal shower.

How to play:
I created a quick and simple table with four columns, each for a game category mentioned above, and assigned points depending on difficulty and fun levels ;D. Therefore, Dares came out with the highest points, followed by Charades, Clay Pictionary and Movie Quiz. Under each category, I listed 10 challenges.

On a separate sheet, to be used by the game host only, I selected and listed 10 each of dares, movie quiz questions, clay pictionary words and modified famous sayings for charades (a twist to the usual movie charades ;D).

We made two teams, 10 players each, and gave each team the opportunity to chose a category and a number within the category, and accordingly they had to perform their challenge. Strike of the number on the table below as the challenge in a category is completed. So for instance, if a team chooses No. 5 from the Dare category, that gets struck off.

 Download image here

Since dares are assigned the highest marks, our sporty friends dived straight into it, and with the kind of dares I had lined up, we all just LOLd away!

While the internet is loaded with inspiration, if you wish to receive my copy of the challenges for the various categories, just send me an e-mail on nishka (dot) manglani (at) gmail (dot) com or leave me a comment below.

A Venetian Experience with a Baby

I haven’t seen anything quite like Venice before – a city built on water, with such a gorgeous heritage. Beautiful views and water canals are everywhere and perhaps its lifeline. It’s also a great city to get completely lost in, wander through many a narrow streets, get mesmerised and smitten and charmed with what the city has to offer.

But should one go there with babies/ toddlers? Well, Venice is probably not such a baby friendly city given the way it is built. Bridges come at every few meters to connect you from one side of land to the other - which means if you have a baby in a pram, you have to carry them up the steps, down the steps, walk a little distance, and again go up and down – you get the drift?  There is no transportation on land.

But should that stop you from visiting this beauty. Probably not. If you go equipped with a baby carrier, which works a lot better, and/ or a very light pram, you are in for a comfortable time. However, if you have a toddler who doesn’t like to sit in their pram or walk, you may be in for some discomfort.

That said, I saw so many families with three and more young kids holidaying in the city. I believe that when you travel with lil ones, you have to be realistic in your expectations of what you can or not do on a holiday. If the frame of mind is in the right place, you will love Venice, with a baby, just as much as we did :D

Stay & kids’ essentials:
Since Venice is so full of bridges, when it comes to hotels, I would suggest you pick up something that is close to the water taxi stations. If you are traveling with a lot of luggage, you will be very thankful for this choice.

We stayed in Hotel Canal Grande, and as the name suggests, it was on the main water canal in Venice called the Grand Canal. I would definitely recommend this to anyone traveling with kids. The staff are very courteous and helpful, and I love them for offering me their kitchen to make fresh mashed up meals for my son. They also have a nice breakfast spread and serve the best coffee I had on my trip.

Hotel Canal Grande has two water taxi stations just steps away and is just opposite the Santa Lucia train station. If you are coming into Venice and/ or getting out via trains, there’s not too much of a walk with your bags to the hotel.

If you are from the subcontinent and the kid(s) are used to having Indian food, there’s an Indian restaurant, Ganesh Ji, just a few meters away from the hotel. It is the only Indian restaurant in Venice and serves delish food.

I traveled with enough stock of diapers and milk powder, but I did see the same along with baby food jars in pharmacies and local grocery stores. Fresh milk, yoghurt and fruits were easily available. We also had a fruit and vegetable market very close to the hotel.

Reminiscing a Rainy Day in Roma

The weather in Dubai today, or shall I say the absence of the sun during the day (:P), reminds me of the morning Rome welcomed us back from the cruise - a cloud laden sky followed by a day full of light rain. It was also my son’s first rendezvous with the downpour and what a lovely day it was :D

The way you see a city, interpret it, experience it, reminisce it, also depends on the weather among other things. I was lucky to see Rome with this overcast, and the joy of being in the city in this weather is a memory very close to my heart.

 
A very early morning shot from our cruise room as we get ready to dock in Rome
(Photo credit: Hubby, Manish)

  Cold coffee in a roadside cafe

A hot cuppa indoors

Yay! Masala Nomination for Lifealicious

As clichéd as it may sound, I really cannot believe that my baby, this blog, has received its first recognition, even if it is just a nomination at this stage :D Lifealicious has been selected in the Masala! Awards 2012 Best Asian Blogger category, and I am beyond thrilled! As a PR professional, there were many times when we recommended clients to participate in these awards and many when clients came to us wanting to be a part of it. So it really does mean a lot to have Lifealicious there now.

My blog and I have reached this point thanks to my amazing readers who keep me motivated to keep this space going to the best that I can. Grazie mille! (The after effect of an Italian holiday :D)

But just like most social media campaigns are run these days, to win in this category, I need your help with a precious vote. If you’ve liked reading this space, please do take a moment and follow this link to cast your say in the Best Asian Blogger category. And may I add, if you do participate, you also get a chance to win one of their fabulous prizes which add up to a whopping Dhs. 100,000 ;D

Words I’m Loving – The pressure to be happy

My affection to Twitter is not a new thing for you my readers. I absolutely adore the magic with which words are weaved together and shared. Read this tweet by @nandu on my timeline and fell in love with it.

I've concluded that the pressure to be happy is one of the main causes of sadness.

Spot on, a bane of modern society really. The irony is, despite all the efforts we put in to be happy, sadness looms around ever so often.

Real Parties in Dubai: Paris Inspired Baby Shower

I’m so excited to share with you a gorgeous Parisian themed baby shower held recently for one of the warmest women I know in Dubai, Simran Ramsinghani.

I am in love with how the theme was executed and the attention to detail - a beautiful French restaurant oozing of softness, romanticism, Eiffel towers, balloons, pink poodles, yummy food and desserts. J'adore! 

This theme would also be so amazing for a birthday party or a bridal shower. Simran’s kindly shared with us the party details and vendors in Dubai who assisted her family and friends in bringing this memorable event together. Read below for details :-)

Invites often give the first signs of how an event will be. This one had awesome written all over it.

Super chic decor with lovely baby-esque messages incorporated

Check out the themed cupcakes, sippers and personalised bottle wrappers, C’est magnifique!

Blessed parents-to-be, Rohit and Simran

Returns/ Favors - fine chocolates in Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, Dark Lemon and Pepper flavors

The photo booth set-up complete with laced umbrella, hand fan as props

   
**********

Party Details, as told by Simran:

It took me a long time to come up with a theme that would suit my personality, be a sweet memory of a lifetime and also be one that everyone (men, women and children) could relate to.  An Evening in Paris fit the bill - romantic, graceful, soft, glamorous, creative, manageable, unique, fun, and suits my personality of a coffee shop dreamer/gazer who likes to be in her thoughts. 

The core team had a lot of fun putting the baby shower together with this theme. I thoroughly enjoyed conceptualizing and visualizing it - such good memories of creative juices flowing from each and every one in the planning committee.

The foil balloons, the Eiffel tower sippers, the Eiffel tower cut outs, the poodle paper plates and poodle printed glasses – were ordered online and shipped from the US. Ritu from Creative Box is my magic fairy to convert all my demands and wishes into reality :)

All these efforts and gestures put together, and the flow of energy, love, warmth and blessings on the day of the event itself, and the lovely photographs captured by Melrish make it a precious memory that brought me closer to my family and friends in such a beautiful way. Bless, xxx 

Vendor Details:

Venue: Bistro Madeleine, Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City
Invitations, decor, return/favor packaging and all the creative detailing: Creative Box
Cake: Sherry’s Cakes
Cupcakes: Sugaholic
Photography: Melrish
Returns: Finer Things, the fine foods' store next to Barracuda Beach Resort,  Umm Al Quwain
Simran’s hair and make-up: Punam Rani

P.S. If you have organised or attended or know of a really cool party and want it to be featured in this section, please send me an e-mail on nishka [dot] manglani [at] gmail [dot] com.

Local Event Alert: Chocolat Chic Hosts Dubai’s Undiscovered Talent

There’s something so charming about exploring exhibitions and open markets, vendors from near and far, experienced and up and coming talent, all coming together to bring stuff not meant for malls. And the thrill that follows…of discovering something so unique.. it’s a lovely experience :-)

Which is what makes me all excited about this effort by Chocolat Chic, a lovely café and patisserie at Boardwalk, Dorrabay in Dubai Marina, who are offering their space to bring together local artists and entrepreneurs to showcase their handmade items. The event is spread over two weekends, 13-14 and 20-21 April, and with being a mommy now, I must also point out that there will be a covered play area for the kids complete with a bouncing castle and arts and crafts workshop :-)

What’s also great about this event is that one of the exhibitors will be our very talented cousin Dipti Mulani (I have blogged about her creativity here earlier) with her debut show of paintings. Below is a sneak peek into some of her work I really love, that will also be available for sale at Chocolat Chic. Your chance to grab her work here before she shoots to fame.. :-) Do visit her website to learn more about her and her work www.diptimulani.com

 

The event starts at 10am, for more information call Chocolat Chic on 04-3990433.

Real Parties in Dubai: Rocking Airline Themed Birthday Party

When it comes to hosting parties, there are those who simply throw one and then there are those who put in so much thought and creativity that it makes attending their soirees a really fun affair. Our friends Rocky and Nandini Bhatia fall into the latter category. Recently, we attended Nandini’s Airline themed birthday celebration and I just had to share this amazing theme and its super execution with you.

  Hosts (top left) and guests following the theme to the T

The boarding pass (invite) that set the stage for a fun journey

What’s an airline theme without some strict security check :P – The Entrance

No stone left unturned to implement the theme

Oh yes! and the generic airport seating area was re-created too

Vendor Details:
Food: Pizza Express (Live and yummy pizza and pasta station)
Flight Information Board & Security Check-In Installations: Costra Advertising
Cake: Yummy Tummy
Photography: John Eapen
DJ: DJ Raj (Suraj Serai)
Bartending: Flaming Trio

P.S. If you have organised or attended or know of a really cool party and want it to be featured in this section, please send me an e-mail on nishka [dot] manglani [at] gmail [dot] com

Get Inspired: Capture these moments for your baby

As I take the tiniest steps into photography, I like to browse and be inspired on how I can capture moments. Since A was born, it’s all about baby photography, not surprising ;D and so I have been pinning some really cute ideas on my Pinterest board here. You can either keep them in mind when shooting a baby next or to brief your photographer when taking their first portraits :)

Below are some of my favorite ones:

  (Images via Pinterest)