Women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have babies with birth defects than are mothers of normal weight, a US study suggests. For many types of birth defects, including spina bifida, heart, limb and genital defects, mothers were between 1.3 & 2.1-fold more likely to have been obese. This week we focus on Maternal Obesity Vs. Birth defects.

Enjoy good health,
Namita Nayyar, AFI

If work requires prolonged standing or sitting, move & stretch those legs, rotate ankles & wiggle the toes once in a while. This will help reduce incidence of Varicose veins.

Winning against Odds

Angie Pikshus had every reason to decide life had dealt her an unfair hand. Her mother died when she was still a baby. She never really knew her father or a peaceful security of a stable home; instead she was moved from foster home to foster home. When she was in the eighth grade, she was moved to Arkansas to live with some relatives. Angie was an orphan, was twenty pounds overweight ( hence, growing out of her clothes), and now on top it off, she was moving away from her friends.

Angie had ample reasons to feel cheated, but she decided to do something about her situation. She decided she needed to lose weight, so she began running strictly for exercise, to burn off the excess weight. The more she ran, the more she enjoyed and applied herself to task. She began to train and began entering races.

She won three marathons and several ten kilometer races. She won the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon  twice, the Memphis Express Marathon, and the Atlanta Avon 10-K, among other events.

She excelled in spite of obstacles working on the principles of commitment, dedication, and hard work.  The same principles will work for you, too.

Note: WF Members receive motivation like this in their e-mail box every Monday morning! Those of you looking for added motivation, can go ahead to download Free motivational Wallpaper Changer at http://www.womenfitness.net/downloads.htm

"Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have"
- Norman Vincent Peale

Directions:

• Place the potatoes and celeriac in a pan of salted water, bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes or until soft .

• Heat the grill to medium. Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of cling film, and beat them with a rolling pin to an even thickness. Brush them with the olive oil sprinkle over the herbs and crushed coriander seeds and drizzle over the lemon juice.

• Grill the chicken breasts for 5-6 minutes until golden . Turn the breast, over the paste with the pan juices and continue grilling for 5-6 minutes until the chicken juices run clear when pierced with a knife. Set aside and keep warm.

• Drain the potatoes and celeriac thoroughly. Add the milk butter and seasoning to taste mash until smooth. Stir in the chopped coriander.

Nutritional Information: (per serving)
Calories 353
carbohydrate 30g
(sugars) 9.6 g
protein 18g
fat 9.5g
(saturated) 4 g
fibre 7g

Maternal Obesity Vs. Birth defects

Women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have babies with birth defects than are mothers of normal weight, a US study suggests. (The study was published in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine). Researchers interviewed 10,249 American women whose babies were born with birth defects between 1997 and 2002. The women were contacted between six weeks and two years after the baby's birth and asked their height and weight before pregnancy, along with other demographic and medical information. They were compared to 4065 women who had babies without birth defects during the same time period. For many types of birth defects, including spina bifida, heart, limb and genital defects, mothers were between 1.3 and 2.1-fold more likely to have been obese.

Mothers of babies with the following seven of 16 birth defects were more likely to be obese than mothers of infants without birth defects:

• Spina bifida, a condition that occurs when part of the spinal cord is uncovered, causing incontinence and problems with mobility.

• Heart defects.

• Anorectal atresia, malformation of the anal opening.

• Hypospadias, which occurs when the urethra opens on the underside instead of the end of the penis

• Limb reduction defects, such as small or missing toes, fingers, arms or legs.

Click here, to read the complete article on Maternal Obesity Vs. Birth defects.

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As the name of this yogic system implies, the discipline involves action. The aim of Karma Yoga is to attain union with the Supreme by means of right action, which means, quite simply, action undertaken for its own sake and not for the sake of reward. Read more about Practicing Karma Yoga at http://www.womenfitness.net/karma_yoga.htm

Our bodies are genetically conditioned on how we lose or gain weight. Interestingly enough, the first place where we gain weight is the last place where we lose it. We cannot reduce only the part we do not like. Once we lose fat from our body, we lose inches everywhere even where we do not want to lose. Read more about Tummy Exercise Myths at http://www.womenfitness.net/tummy_myths.htm

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