Nutrition Know-How
First for Women
By: Ann Louise Gittleman
August 2, 2004

Easy fix for pregnancy pounds

I gave birth three months ago, and I've been struggling to drop 35 pounds of baby weight ever since. I try to do a workout video during my daughter's morning nap, but it's hard to find the energy after being up all night with her! Is there another way?

Yes-turn off the workout video and take a nap! Lack of sleep can lower the body's levels of leptin, a protein that regulates appetite and weight loss. A sleep deficit also raises levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that triggers carbohydrate cravings. So for now, give your body a well-deserved break and catch up on shut-eye. You'll effortlessly speed weight loss plus restore the energy you need to resume your exercise routine once your daughter starts sleeping through the night.

The smarter artificial sweetener

I have a serious sweet tooth-I just can't say no to dessert. But I know it causes a host of health problems, so I made the switch to sugar-free goodies instead. Problem is, now I have constant stomach cramps and bloat! I thought I'd feel better after nixing sugar, not worse. What gives?

Cutting back on sugar is a great way to reduce mood swings as well as risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. But most store-bought sugar-free snacks contain calorie-free sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol or maltitol. These chemically altered plant compounds taste sweet but act like laxatives, causing bloat, cramps and diarrhea. A better alternative: Stevia, an herbal sweetener (available at health-food stores) that is proven to be gentle on the stomach. Try stirring Stevia into unsweetened applesauce or sprinkling it over a baked pear for a sweet tooth-satisfying dessert that won't derail your goals.

French trim-down secret

My cousin and I have always looked like sisters. We have the same coloring, build and size 18 figure. Or we did until she was transferred to Paris for work and dropped to a size 10 in six months-even though she's eating steak, Brie and pate every day! What's her secret?

Your newly trim cousin has been eating a typical Parisian diet of high-fat meats, cheeses and cream. So why has she lost weight? French fare usually is free of hormones and antibiotics, toxins that can trap fat in body tissue. Plus, the locals tend to linger over meals, allowing the stomach time to register satiation, so they're not as tempted to overeat. My advice is to enjoy chemical-free foods and savor every bite. Within weeks you'll be slimmer and healthier-no diet necessary.

Turning off the hunger switch

As a mother of three toddlers, I never seen to have time for a decent meal. So throughout the day I tend to graze on my kids' favorite foods: cereal, bananas, snack mix and the like. Yet even though I do nothing but eat all day long, I always feel hungry. How can that be?