It’s 14

Wow, this feels weird… coming back to my blog after almost 9 months of no posts.

Last year was eventful, to say the least. Actually, it qualifies as a significant milestone in my life path.

Long story short, on May 20, 2013 I gave birth to a healthy baby girl by the name of Nour Alexandra. Then came the hormones, the sleepless nights, the weight loss, the weight block, and finally the recovery.

It goes without saying that all that suffering was extremely worth it. I don’t want to pass a cliché, but nothing, no emotion in the world, comes close to comparison with motherhood.

Motherhood is herculean strength mixed with gushing love mixed with endless giving mixed with fearful worrying mixed with pride mixed with weakness mixed with optimism…

In 2014, I don’t want to list endless resolutions I know I won’t come close to accomplishing; instead I want to give 2014 a title:                       “Perseverance”

 Be it personally, professionally, or academically, this year will be the year of perseverance.

It’s a PLUS - 19/9/2012

It was time to do the Clear Blue! A week had lapsed and still no sign, so doubt was beginning to eat me up in side.

My husband and I stopped by the local pharmacy and bought two Clear Blue tests; apparently there are two kinds, one that can tell if you’re “prego” even before you miss your period and is more expensive, and another than can tell on the same day! How lame! (12,000 L.L. v/s 6,000 L.L.)

Anyway, I bought both, took them home, and put them on my bedside cabinet for next morning! As if they need to be there in my face for me to remember!

The next morning, I got up, took one of the tests from the bag and went to the bathroom to do my business. I waited patiently for the result…

Two lines, a.k.a. (||).

Suddenly I became blind and illiterate. Seriously, it’s like you’re reading the results to an exam you want to pass so desperately! No matter how many times you read “Pass” it still reads gibberish!

Not convinced, I left the bathroom and went back into my bedroom to get the other, more expensive thus more accurate, test and tried again.

A Plus sign, a.k.a  (+).

Hmm, I swear I knew what a plus sign looked like before that day!

I called my husband, who came running into the bathroom, and asked him what he saw. Naturally he said two lines and a plus sign and grinned so deeply!

Still not entirely convinced, I called my Dr. and told him about the test. After saying those early congratulations, he told me to do the Beta HCG blood test.

 I admit, I’m usually a calm person, who takes things easy, but they say when you’re pregnant things change; and I guess calling the lab 3 times in an hour counts.

Mr. Lab Man: “Your HCG level is 3,300.”

Me: “Soo what? What does that mean? Positive or Negative?”

Mr. Lab Man: “It’s a Positive, Congratulations!”

Me: “Ok, Ok, Ok, positive, Ok, Ok.”

And I closed the line in the poor man’s face!

What came after were a bunch of tear filled phone calls, congratulations, and a new sense of serenity and content I had never felt before. May God bless every woman (who wants children) with such a feeling!

Ladies and Gentlemen, yes!

Me.be.mama.9 months! 

Is it too early for “Mommy Blues”?

I’m as blue as a Crayola Crayon, and I’m only in the 20^th week of my pregnancy!

If you’ve been reading my blog, you’d know that I’m very self conscious about my weight and looks. I really care about being fashionable and keeping a fit figure (meaning slightly under weight). So naturally, the pregnancy figure is bothering me.

I don’t know how many moms or moms-to-be can relate with me, but this is really a dilemma. One minute you’re enjoying the changes and thinking about what an amazing thing my body is doing; then you feel so fat, round, heavy and big that you wonder if you’ll still fit through the doorway.

Your inner demon keeps twisting your mood, and external factor don’t help. I mean I’m lucky to have a support system made up of my husband, my friends and family, but there is still the mirror, the skinny jeans that won’t buckle and the high heals that kill your back.

I did some research of the acceptable weight gains during pregnancy and found that I’m well under the threshold…feeling better.

Part	In Pounds	In Kilograms
Blood	3	1.4
Breasts	2	1
Womb	2	1
Baby	7.5	3.4
Placenta	1.5	0.6
Amniotic Fluid	2	1
Fat & Protein	7	3
Retained Water	4	1.8
Total	29	13.2

I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date! - 17/9/2012

I suppose you can guess what I’m talking about from the title! And I don’t intend to be quoting the bunny from Alice in Wonderland.

When we got married, exactly 1 year and 7 days ago, my husband and I decided to put off having kids for about a year just to get used to the new “Married” life style and the responsibilities. I wonder if the doors to heaven were open back then and God heard our plans and approved.

I don’t want to rush things and start planning the baby shower and college applications but things are happening to me that have never happened to me before. Such as:

1.       Late… I’m never late… I mean there could be an entire calendar made based on my cycle. Figuratively speaking!

2.       Weird cramps… it feels like your gut is being grabbed tightly for a new seconds and then nothing.

3.       Acute sense of smell… I mean I usually have a good sense of smell but this is ridiculous, bloody hell! I can smell my husband a mile away, I can smell the cotton that my shirt is made of and I can smell the papers on my desk… you know those very discrete smells that aren’t usually there!

4.       Acute sense of hearing… I can hear each one of my colleagues’ key board typing, and their breathing, and whispers of people talking from other offices.

5.       A little light headedness and an unprecedented disgust for the taste of toothpaste in the morning.

I suppose a quick Clear Blue test wouldn’t hurt.   

PreVue - Wearable Pregnancy Ultrasound Belt

I came across this while trying to get an idea of what my 3D ultrasould scan will look like through google images.

What do you think?

http://www.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=23800

I Haven’t Forgotten My Blog!

For those of you who were used to reading a new post on my Blog every other week or so, you might have started to wonder why I have been away for a little over 3 months.

Well, the truth is, I haven’t been away at all! As much as I would have loved to be on some long vacation, I have been here, on the other side of the screen but over occupied with thinking of the situation I’m in.

And the situation is: I’m Pregnant!

What will follow is stuff I wrote during this period, but never had the guts to publish before now!

Enjoy!

Paparazzi – Beauty Lounge & Spa

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you are well familiar with my rants and critiques of various restaurants, resorts, and other places around Lebanon. These rants are a personal opinion that was built based on an experience, and is in no way meant to defame any of these places. That said, and if you are offended in any way… Sue me!

It was finally Friday, and my friends/ colleagues and I were all in desperate need of a manicure, pedicure, and some pampering. After discussing our options we decided to try Paparazzi – Beauty Lounge and Spa on Bliss Street, because we all had friends who’ve tried it and liked it.

And so it went…

Noor and Aya arrived at the appointment at about 2:40 and began. I followed at about 2:50 because I had to run an errand. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I asked the gentleman at the reception about when I would start, so he informed me that I had to wait for Aya to finish and then it would be my turn.

After ages of waiting, I was able to begin at about 3:45. As I was sitting on the pedicure chair, the non-Lebanese (with all due respect to all nationalities and races) nail artist asked if I had an appointment; I said yes, but she insisted that I check. So I got off the chair and when to the reception desk and asked the gentleman to inform her that I had an appointment. We I returned with the gentleman, she was no were in sight. After 7 minutes of asking the other girls about her and tracking her down, we were able to find her and convince her of my appointment and I sat back down on the pedicure chair in hopes that the confusion was over. She asked me what I wanted to do and if I had selected my color; I told her I wanted a French manicure and pedicure, so again she told me to get off the pedicure chair as we were going to start with my manicure first. Again, I got off the incredibly annoying chair with the sink below the feet that trips you every time and went to the manicure tables. Then again, she decided that she would do both my manicure and pedicure at the same time, so again she asked me to sit back on the pedicure chair.

For someone with a history of hysterical anger episodes, and years of self anger management therapy, I was beginning to get irritated. Even Noor couldn’t help but comment on the extent of my patients, but I told her that she was about to see my other face, literally, if this continued.

I sat down again in that damned chair and began.

In the mean time, Noor was struggling with her own nail artist as she was not able to comprehend the fact that Noor wanted her nails to be filed rounded with a French manicure and didn’t want her toes to be filed too close to the flesh. With no use, the nail artist did exactly the opposite and hurt her. While this went on, another artist came behind Noor and asked her to turn around so she could soak her hands for the manicure. Can you imagine having to twist your back 90 degrees for about 40 minutes? Yes, that was the last straw!!! Noor asked them both to stop, got up, went to the reception desk, complained about the service, and left.

Yours truly was still sitting there trying to teach the nail artist how to file my nails evenly, and how to apply a French tip using the brush.

So much for the rest and the pampering!!

Finally, at 5:15, and after repeating my hand manicure twice, I was done and able to leave… and never come back!

Good Diet=Life Style

I have been dieting on and off since way before my wedding and you know why!

http://byserene.blogspot.com/2011/01/ignoring-scale.html#!/2011/01/ignoring-scale.html

http://byserene.blogspot.com/2011/03/chemical-diet.html#!/2011/03/chemical-diet.html

All that, and unfortunately, nothing gave me the results I required!

It wasn’t until I visited one of the best nutritional experts in the country, that I realized that what I was doing was “dieting”, when what I really needed was a “life style” in terms of food.

And so it goes:

1.       You are asked a bunch of questions about your weekly routine, your food preferences according to certain variable (like what would you eat if you’re super hungry, super angry, or super happy, what you would prefer between chocolate and chips…),

2.       You get on that notorious scale that always adds that extra kilogram,

3.       You do the body composition analysis,

4.       And then, you sit for “the talk”!

The Talk includes:

1.       The do’s and don’ts according to your body type,

2.       The limits or portions your allowed in terms of carbs, proteins, sugars, and fats,

3.       And the things you should absolutely abolish from your existence if you ever wish to maintain the weight your about to loose in the upcoming weeks.

At first you will panic, and say it’s just not possible; but when you finally sum up the courage to give it a chance and do the effort, you will realize that it’s all about balance.

My current life style does not include juice, buns, beans and lentils. It permits only one portion of bread, chocolate, and fruit. But then again, I get a generous amount of chicken, beef, fish, white cheese, and eggs.

Ok... Ok... I admit, I only needed to loose 4 kg, but still… now I know how to tackle the extra weight if I ever commit Roadster Diner again!

I Hate Doctors

Practicing medicine is one of the world’s most difficult, highly paid, highly respected profession.  Doctors go through a lot before being able to get that prestigious title.  School grades must be sky high, extra curricular activities must revolve around science, and university applications must be to die for.  They have to go though course after course of agonizing material, serve endless laboratory and internship hours, and prepare a sleep depriving doctorate that makes them Xanax dependent.

I don’t give a flying f***!! 

All I care about is when I visit your clinic, treat me properly, thoroughly, and accurately, give me the time I need, answer my questions, ease my concerns, and finally, give me my money’s worth of care.  Oh and by the way, try not to prescribe medicine that is impossible to find or isn’t available in pharmacies all together.

Lately I’ve been having an allergic reaction to “something”; it could be my shampoo, my cosmetics, my nail polish, or just dust and pollution.  “Something” was the term my dermatologist chose to diagnose the reason(s) for the rash I have under my eye.  After one glance at my face, she began to jot down a list of creams, cleansers, and an ointment to treat it with a handwriting that requires a cryptographer to decipher it.  Naturally, I couldn’t find the mystical ointment anywhere!  And people blame me for avoiding Doctors for as much as I can.

I Hate Doctors!

The Chemical Diet

...Guaranteed to lose 4 to 6kg / week!!

Before you begin

·         Use an accurate scale to check your weight

·         This diet does not rely on calorie count; instead it relays on the biochemical interactions in the body.

·         This diet is to be followed with extreme accuracy, in the same order and time, because if any food is switched or replaced by another, the diet will not be effective.

·         When the amount of food is not specified, you are free to eat until you are full.

·         Refer to final page for more comments.

Week 1

Breakfast:

½ an Orange or a Grape Fruit + (1 – 2) boiled egg. (To be eaten everyday for breakfast for the first week)

Monday:              Lunch: Any one kind of fruit in any amount (Orange, strawberry, pear, apple, watermelon, melon, plum)

                                Dinner: Grilled cow’s meat (barbeque, grilled steak) with no fat.

Tuesday               Lunch: Boiled or Grilled Chicken (No skins)

                                Dinner: 2 boiled eggs

                                                Salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, rocket leaves, carrots)

                                                1 toast or ¼ brown bread

                                                1 orange or grape fruit

Wednesday       Lunch: White Cheese (halloum, double crème, feta…)

                                                1 toast

                                                1 orange or grape fruit

                                Dinner: Grilled cow’s meat (barbeque, grilled steak) with no fat.

Thursday             Lunch: Any one kind of fruit in any amount (Orange, strawberry, pear, apple, watermelon, melon, plum)

                                Dinner: Grilled cow’s meat (barbeque, grilled steak) with no fat.

                                                Salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, rocket leaves, carrots)

Friday                   Lunch: 2 boiled eggs

                                                Boiled vegetables (peas, carrots, zucchini)

                                Dinner: Grilled Fish or shrimp or tuna in water

                                                Salad

Saturday              Lunch: Any one kind of fruit in any amount

                                Dinner: Grilled Meat

                                                Salad

Sunday                 Lunch: Grilled or Boiled Chicken (no skins)

                                                Tomatoes

                                                Boiled Vegetables

                                                1 orange or grapefruit

                                Dinner: Boiled Vegetables

Week 2

Breakfast:

½ an Orange or a Grape Fruit + (1 – 2) boiled egg. (To be eaten everyday for breakfast for the first week)

Monday               Lunch: 2 boiled eggs

                                                Salad

                                Dinner: 2 boiled eggs

                                                1 orange or grapefruit

Tuesday               Lunch: Grilled cow’s meat

                                                Salad

                                Dinner: 2 boiled eggs

                                                1 orange or grapefruit

Wednesday       Lunch: Grilled cow’s meat

                                                Cucumbers

                                Dinner: 2 boiled eggs

                                                1 orange or grapefruit

Thursday             Lunch: 2 boiled eggs

                                                White cheese (no fat)

                                                Boiled Vegetables

                                Dinner: 2 boiled eggs

                                                Boiled Vegetables

                                                Tomatoes

Friday                   Lunch: Grilled Fish or Shrimp

                                Dinner: 2 boiled eggs

Saturday              Lunch: Grilled meat

                                                Tomatoes

                                                1 orange or grapefruit

                                Dinner: Mixed fruits

Sunday:                Lunch: Grilled or boiled chicken

                                                Tomatoes

                                                1 orange or grape fruit

                                Dinner: Grilled or Boiled Chicken

                                                Tomatoes

                                                1 orange or grape fruit

Week 3

Monday:              All day, fruits at any time with any amount (except for grapes, mangos, dates, bananas, figs)

Tuesday:              All day, vegetables at any time with any amount (except for potatoes or dried vegetables)

Wednesday:      All day, fruits and vegetables at any time with any amount (except mentioned)

Thursday:            All day, Grilled Fish or shrimps in any amount

                                Lettuce and rocket leaves salad

Friday:                  Grilled meat or chicken at any time or amount and boiled vegetables

Saturday and Sunday:    Both days, any one kind of fruit at any time and in any amount.

Week 4

The types and kinds of foods stated in the 4^th week are to be distributed though out the day at any time but with no extras.

Monday:              4 strips of grilled meat or chicken

                                3 tomatoes + 4 cucumbers

                                1 can of tuna in water

                                1 toast or ¼ brown bread

                                1 orange or grape fruit

Tuesday:              2 strips of grilled meat

                                3 tomatoes + 4 cucumbers

                                1 toast or ¼ brown bread

                                1 apple

                                1 orange or grape fruit

Wednesday:      1 spoon of white cheese (no fat)

                                1 can of tuna in water

                                Small bowl of grilled vegetables

                                2 tomatoes + 2 cucumbers

                                1 toast or ¼ brown bread

                                1 apple

Thursday:            ½ a grilled chicken

                                2 tomatoes + 4 cucumbers

                                1 toast or ¼ brown bread

                                1 apple

                                1 orange or grape fruit

Friday:                  2 boiled eggs

                                1 lettuce

                                1 orange or grape fruit

Saturday:             2 chicken breasts (Boiled)

                                ½ kg of white cheese

                                1 toast or ¼ brown bread

                                2 tomatoes + 1 cucumber

                                1 orange or grape fruit  

Sunday:                1 slice of white cheese

                                1 can of tuna in water

                                Small bowl of boiled vegetables

                                2 tomatoes + 2 cucumbers

                                1 toast

                                1 orange or grape fruit

               

Important points

1.       Drink a lot of water (8 glasses/ day)

2.       Boil the vegetables with no additions except salt, pepper, onions or garlic

3.       No oil, butter, or any form of fats or lipids

4.       Drink coffee or tea at anytime but with no sugar, milk, or crème added (Canderel  is allowed)

5.       Drink 1 or 2 cans of diet soda drinks (diet pepsi, diet 7 up)

6.       If you feel hungry, you can cucumbers, carrots, lettuce as long as its after 2 hours of the main course.

7.       Sports activities are advised during the diet

8.       If you want to repeat this diet, it is preferable to repeat the 1^st week twice, and the 4^th week twice.