Maintaining Composure at the Grocery...

It was the usual scene at the grocery store yesterday...one kid in the cart, the other instructed to "hold-on" to the cart so we could run through, get our stuff, and get out with little hassle. However, after the little one was snapped in to his assigned seat I turned around for a brief second and saw a lady standing closely behind me getting her cart. Immediately she says, "Woah!! When is that due?," while pointing at my stomach. I am sure the lady meant well. It wasn't if she was pointing and laughing...it's just the way her comment came out and the in-shock look on her face.  I answered her, smiled, and moved on to start the shopping.

I'm not really the type to let things bug me, but here are some things that would have been helpful to consider before commenting:

1. Don't refer to my baby as "that." It's not as if some alien has taken over my stomach or I'm getting ready to have a watermelon...though I'm fully aware that is what it looks like.
2. Do you think that I don't already know my stomach is big? None of my clothes fit, I can't tie my shoes and I feel disheveled just about every day - thanks for rubbing it in, though.
3. Do you think that if "that" was due like "now" that I would be grocery shopping? You won't find me at the grocery while I'm in active labor...it will be ok!

At any rate, that little rant isn't the real point of my blog today. The incident above did have a positive to it. I stayed away from the cookies, candy, pastries, pop, and other treats on my "bad list" for the duration of our trip. The aforementioned "inquiring mind that wanted to know" surely meant well, but also kept me in check as I considered how much bigger I could get during the duration of my pregnancy if I don't keep my food choices in-check. Thanks for helping me not turn into a total moose, grocery store lady!

Maintaining your composure at the grocery is totally key to keeping on your diet and controlling your weight. At one point, I watched a YouTube video on how sugar controls our emotions, our weight, our urge to eat more, etc. and proceeded to throw out all of the cookies, candy, and junk in our house the next day. If you just don't buy the stuff, there's nothing to worry about later. In example, I can totally binge on a box of ice cream. However, while possibly more costly, it will save you a lot of calories, extra dieting time, and heartache just to go get a cone or sundae once and a while from your favorite ice cream joint. It's also something to do when you're looking for an excuse not to sit at home and do something like...well...binge on a box of [insert favorite flavor here].

I know you've also always heard never to shop on an empty stomach - that definitely helps! It's easy to overspend and buy goodies that you just don't need, but might be craving right then because your blood sugar has bottomed out. One final trick from me and then I'm going to post an awesome shopping tips list from Discovery Health. When you're in the grocery store, pretend like your doctor is shopping along side you. I was Krogering one afternoon and spotted my doctor at the other end of the aisle. I avoided her because I thought, "Oh crap...if she looked in my cart...I'd feel like I had some explaining to do..." I rushed around the store putting back my pop, TV dinners for the kids and sugary snacks to exchange them for whole grains, yogurt, lunch meat, more fruit and other healthful choices. Whew! I try to keep that one in mind each time I'm at the store (assuming no one insults me as I walk in the door giving me another reason to mind my cart).

Here's that article I promised. It's a good one! http://tinyurl.com/y8jpzg7