FitSugar

8 Surprising Things That Can Swell During Pregnancy

Kate Stahl — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:41:54 PST

We've all heard of swollen feet during pregnancy - a not-so-surprising side effect considering they're supporting all that extra weight - but your feet are not the only body parts that can retain fluid while you're expecting. We've all seen a pregnant woman who looked so fluid-filled you kind of wanted to stick a pin in her to see if she'd pop (or maybe you were one of those women?), but water retention can hit less obvious places as well.

Jessica Simpson recently went to Twitter to talk about her swollen lips, saying it might be the first stage of "pregnancy face," a side effect that Bethenny Frankel dealt with by massage and putting bags of frozen veggies on her face. "I’m a swollen beast. My face exploded . . . I look like a chipmunk,” she tweeted while expecting daughter Bryn. Keep reading for 10 less talked-about body parts that can make for an often uncomfortable, and sometimes unsightly, pregnancy and postpartum experience.

The How-To Lounge: Avoiding Swollen Fingers

DearSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Have you ever woken up with swollen fingers, or left a restaurant or bar feeling like your rings are just a little too tight for comfort? Well I certainly have so here are some tips to help avoid Edema, the medical term for excess fluid accumulating where it doesn't belong.

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Salt is the number one thing that will make you retain water so be sure to watch your sodium intake
Alcohol and caffeine are other factors that should be avoided if you're concerned with bloating
Edema can be caused by a protein deficiency so up your protein intake and increase raw veggies - fiber is important to decrease swelling
Exercise daily and take hot baths or a steam a few times a week to sweat out your toxins
Make sure you are taking the right vitamins. Bromelain helps with swelling and digestion and any high-potency B-complex supplement will help reduce water retention

I hope these tips are helpful - and always remember to take off your rings before you go to bed since most people tend to wake up a little more swollen than normal. Source

Ovarian Cysts: What Every Women Should Know

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:30:00 PDT

I've heard of ovarian cysts, I'm sure you have too. Do you know how they form? Are they something I need to worry about?

Every month, if you're not using a form of birth control that prevents ovulation, one ovary produces 1 egg (occasionally more, which is how we get fraternal twins and triplets). When you ovulate, a cyst-like structure called a follicle is formed inside your ovary. When the egg is released, the follicle bursts. Usually the remaining tissue just dissolves and is absorbed by the body. Occasionally it doesn't, and that's what causes functional ovarian cysts.

Functional ovarian cysts are basically small fluid-filled sacs and are quite common for women to get during their reproductive years. The cysts often shrink and disappear on their own within 2 or 3 menstrual cycles.

You may experience a full or bloated feeling, pressure, or a dull ache in your lower back, belly, or thighs. They can also cause breast tenderness, nausea, or weight gain. Who knew a little cyst can cause all that?

Woman who take the birth control pill or other systemic hormonal treatment usually don't experience ovarian cysts (and the pain that comes from them), because they aren't ovulating.

There are other, more serious forms of ovarian cysts known as Dermoid cysts, Endometrioma Cysts, Cystadenoma Cysts, and Polycystic Ovarian Disease. These cysts can develop from an imbalance of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). These can grow to be very large (like the one shown in the picture), and can cause severe pain. If found, chances are high that a doctor will recommend removing immediately.

Fit's Tips: If you experience severe pain during intercourse, during menstruation, or have swelling in your abdomen, you should see your doctor immediately. They may prescribe oral contraceptives to help shrink the cyst. Surgery may also be an option if the hormone treatment doesn't work.

Ice - It does the body good

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 04:00:00 PST

Ice is nature's anti inflammatory and it is great to use in the first 48 hours of an injury. It reduces inflammation when you have a sprain or a strain, a tear or some tendonitis. And it is safe for the little ones (my girls LOVE ice for any boo boo and I keep a couple of little packs in my fridge for the many occasions that call for ICE). You only want to ice an area for 20 minutes or less. Be careful not to cause damage to your skin like frostbite.

One of the easiest ice packs to find is a fresh bag of frozen peas or corn. For starters it's flexible so it can mold to any body part that needs the ice treatment. Plus there is a timer built in as the veggies thaw and start to smell you know it is time to stop icing. After using peas or corn as an ice pack you definitely don’t want to eat them. So make sure to mark them with a piece of tape or permanent marker that they are for icing only.

Sugar Shout Out: Get Pastel Pretty For Date Night!

Katie Henry — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:55:17 PST

Found: A Two-Step Skin Care Regimen For Clearing Acne and More

Jaime Richards — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:00:44 PST

When I heard about Swell Skin's two-step skin care regimen, which includes a bar soap and an oil, I knew I had to try it. First, how easy is that? Second, products are made using wonder ingredient sea buckthorn oil, rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E, emollients, and essential fatty acids.

The brand's Face Treatment ($32), used in step one, is a very mild soap in bar form. It has just the perfect amount of sudsing action with a faint, fresh nonsynthetic aroma. Skin feels clean and refreshed after use, with no painful stinging sensations or can't-move-my-face tightness. See more when you keep reading.

Foods That Can Make You Look Pregnant

Shape — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:29:06 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Over the weekend, I saw a photo of a female celebrity (who is in a relationship with a male celeb) leaving a café with the caption, "Baby bump?" and I had to refrain myself from shouting out loud, "Come on, can't a girl eat without the world thinking she's having a baby?!"

The truth is having a perfectly flat stomach all the time just isn't normal. After you eat or drink, food and liquids naturally expand your stomach and intestines, so at least a little "bump" is inevitable every single day. So if you regularly get stalked by paparazzi or you have family members who are anxiously awaiting news of a new addition, here's the lowdown on when you might get mistaken for being pregnant:

See which foods may make you look pregnant after the break!

Keep Running: Prevent Plantar Fasciitis With These Tips

Susi May — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:06:42 PST

From pounding the pavement running to spending a day in fashionable shoes that lack proper support, feet take a beating. If you're training for a race this Spring and upping your mileage, it pays to show your peds some love. You can do some preventive prehab to avoid coming down with a case of plantar fasciitis. This painful condition, which can be common in new runners and affects women more than men, occurs when the the fibrous band that runs from the heel bone to the base of the toes stretches too far and tears. These micro tears cause inflammation of the fascia and the tissues surrounding it, making every footstep painful and abruptly stalling your training schedule. If you're experiencing some unexplainable heel pain, try these methods to keep plantar fasciitis at bay.

Winter Running Woe: Numb Toes

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:02:06 PST

If you'd rather skip a run than hit the treadmill, then there's no doubt you're continuing with your outdoor runs even through this brisk and snowy Winter weather. That doesn't mean you're not dealing with some discomfort along the way. I've given you some tips on how to beat burning lungs, but if it's your feet that are bothering you, here are some ways to avoid numb toes.

First, consider your socks. You can't get away with wearing the same thin, ankle-length wicking socks you sported in the warmer months. Splurge on some thicker knee-highs; socks made of wool will keep your feet warm and dry. Be sure your socks aren't too tight as that can cut off circulation (go up a size to be sure). You can also try compression socks to improve circulation in your feet and legs.

If you're already wearing thicker socks, you'll probably want to go up half a size in your sneaks to accommodate the extra fabric. If you don't, the snug fit of your shoe might be the sole cause of your tingling feeling. Choose sneakers designed for colder, wetter weather (think waterproof Gore-tex) to protect your toes from the snow. Tie your shoes slightly looser because as you warm up, your feet will swell, and too-tight laces can cause that annoying numb sensation.

Continue reading for more tips on avoiding numb feet.

What the Internet Looks Like in Protest of SOPA and PIPA

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:46:12 PST

The list of sites that are protesting SOPA and PIPA is swelling, and it's already making an impact on what the Internet looks like today. Some sites have chosen to shut down altogether (like Wikipedia and Reddit), while some make it impossible to enter without reading its message about the bill (like I Can Has Cheezburger and Tumblr), and others are taking a more creative approach at spreading the word (The Oatmeal and Etsy).

Have you clicked around the Internet today? See what the Internet looks like in protest here and be sure to read up on both the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) today.