Look What Eating Rachael Ray Meals Did to my Belly!

Can you believe what those Rachael Ray recipes have done to my belly? It almost looks like I'm pregnant! Oh wait, I am pregnant! Yes, I have been keeping it a secret for awhile. I'm now at about seven and a half months and am feeling great. Scroll down to read today's post about Rachael Ray or continue reading here for more about what's up with me.

So, what pregnancy complication could happen to someone who loves to cook (and eat) so much that she writes a blog about it? Gestational diabetes, of course! I'm pretty mad at my placenta, which creates the hormones that are blocking insulin production and raising my blood sugar levels. This means I get to test my blood sugar four times a day (yes, with the little pokey thing), eat small portions six times a day, completely avoid sugary treats, and eat a certain amount of carbs with each meal.

However, it's really not as bad as it sounds. The meal plan (they don't call it a diet, of course) is reasonable. I'm supposed to have no more (and no less) than 30 grams of carbs for breakfast, 45 grams each for lunch and dinner, and snacks in between meals and before bed of 15-30 grams carbs each. The meal plan has not stopped me from cooking at all. In fact, I find that when I cook for myself, I do much better than when I eat out and rely on the nutritional information provided online.

Luckily, Rachael Ray's recipes are so easy to make work with my restrictions. For example, I've made all of the following recipes with no blood sugar issues: Pan-Fried Chicken with Spinach Salad, Firecracker Enchiladas, Turkey Curry on Flatbread, and Balsamic Chicken with Wilted Spinach. I'll be posting reviews of those recipes in the near future. I just make sure to measure out the appropriate amount of carbs for my plate and increase the amount of vegetables I would normally eat, so that about half my meal is veggies.

So far, I've been able to control the gestational diabetes with just diet and exercise and my doctor thinks I'll be able to continue doing so. Some women have to go on medication or give themselves insulin shots, so I'm counting my blessings. They also have a special clinic at the hospital to help women with gestational diabetes manage the condition, so I'm getting really great care.

So, if in about a month and a half from today I just suddenly disappear for a little bit, now you'll know why!