In my last post, Is Chivalry Dead in The Subways? a couple of the readers were concerned with offending a woman who appeared to be pregnant. The question raised was “how can you tell if a woman is pregnant?” Yes, some woman may appear to be pregnant, but in reality, they may only have a bit of a tummy. Maybe they’re still carrying baby weight or maybe they’re carrying Budweiser weight.
Well, I did some research and have to say that there is a lot of content on the subject.
According to an article I found on the BBC, some tell-tale signs that a woman is pregnant are:
-Huffing and puffing
-Belly and back rubbing
-A coat that doesn’t fasten
-Flat, very comfy (not necessarily attractive) shoes
-Swollen ankles
-A pregnancy book sticking out of her bag
-A waddling sort of a gait
-Swaying from side to side when standing still
Here are some other sites and articles I ran into that were not only amusing, but also informative:
Pregnant or Fat? – This is actually a heartfelt mommy blog about her son, Grey. Obviously, this mom has a good sense of humor, but has probably been misjudged as being pregnant when she was a little plump.
Fat or Pregnant Test – Okcupid has an entertaining online test to determine how good your detective skills are when it comes to pregnant women.
Babycenter tips - Good tips on how women can let people know they’re pregnant and not overweight.
Parents Connect Article – This is a great article written by a woman who is 11 weeks pregnant and has issues with people mistaking her for being fat.
Pregnant NOT fat – Lucy Cavendish was a size 12 until she became the first editor of Observer Food Monthly. Now, six years and four children later, the self- confessed glutton has been shocked into dieting by being told she is obese. The problem is, she’s missing her brie, wine, sausages and puddings.
Mom Remedy – Elisa explains why you shouldn’t ask a woman if she’s pregnant. Duh
I’m Not Fat-I’m Pregnant! - After an unflattering photo led to tabloid speculation that Lisa Marie Presley was “piling on the pounds” like her late father Elvis had, the singer was “mortified,” she wrote on her MySpace page. In fact, her weight gain was actually a baby bump: She was expecting a child with her music producer husband, Michael Lockwood, in 2008.
Ravings of a mad housewife - Funny story about a woman who was hit on by a dirty old man that likes a little junk in the trunk.
Hopefully, these examples educated you more on the subject. At the end of the day, just give your friggin seat up. Your not going to offend anyone unless you announce to everyone on the subway that you are giving your seat up to “the person that appears to be pregnant but may be fat.”
Tags:
Babycenter,
BBC,
fat not pregnant,
Pregnant,
Signs a woman is pregnant
Lara also is founder and editor of Grits in the City
Homemade Eggplant Parmigiana with Pesto – Paprika
I’d been curious to try Paprika for a while. I was craving Italian, as well as something a little more gentle on the wallet, so Paprika was a perfect option. Somehow though (sadly) I missed an even better option – their prix fixe menu. Offered only from 5-7PM, you have an option of an appetizer and a main course. The appetizer selections include the soup of the day, tomato, mozzarella and basil, or arugula, pears, walnuts, and goat cheese. For your main course, you can choose from gnocchi with tomato and mozzarella, penne with braised vegetables and tomato, grilled chicken with arugula and tomato, and roasted Arctic char with spinach. Duly noted for the next visit.
Homemade Gnocchi – Paprika
To start, we shared the homemade eggplant parmigiana with pesto. The serving of eggplant was very generous, smothered in a tomato ragu topped with a thin touch of cheese. For mains, we each elected to order something different so we could try more of the menu. One friend ordered the butternut squash ravioli. I liked that the pasta was very thin and larger than typical ravioli, making the pasta less overwhelming in the balance of the dish. However, I did not find the butternut squash and its accompanying sauce to be especially flavorful or memorable. I would be curious to try other ravioli offerings they may have in the future. Another friend ordered the gnocchi, which was served with prosciutto, sage and a tomato sauce. I oftentimes find gnocchi to be too chewy and served too cold to boot. I really enjoyed theirs though. It was just the right consistency – somewhat soft and moist, but not a rubber-like texture. The sage paired nicely with the tomato sauce, giving it a bold, rich flavor.
Penne – Paprika
My favorite item though was my dinner selection, which sadly seems to not be listed on the menu and I’ve been unable to get them to confirm the exact name. The pasta is prepared fresh locally daily. It essentially was a basic penne prepared with a light tomato sauce, garlic, and chicken (click here for another view). I was originally torn among several other items on the menu when the server recommended this as her favorite. She said though it sounded simple, it really was her favorite thing on the menu. From our conversation, it seems the servers try most of the items on the menu – which is always helpful to customers looking for assistance in ordering. I think it was the simplicity that made this dish so good. The sauce was nothing crazy – no rare flavor combinations or odd ingredients present. But what it was though was extremely fresh – the flavor was very strong and natural. It was perfect when paired with a heaping portion of garlic (I love garlic, and this dish had slivers of garlic peppered throughout). The chicken was in very small bits, so you almost forgot it was there and it just blended into the pasta. Definitely a lesson that sometimes simple is the way to go.
Paprika – 110 St Marks Pl (between 1st Ave/Ave A) – 212.677.6563
Reservations Optional (Suggested at Peak Dining Hours)
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East Village,
Grits in the City,
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italian,
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Sleep is good....
Irene Ross is a NYC-based Health Coach, CHHC, and AADP. For more information, visit her website at www.eating4achieving.com
Admittedly, when you live in an urban jungle like New York City, it can be difficult to get adequate sleep. We’re constantly assaulted by sirens and other street noises. And there are noisy neighbors—I once had one living above me who vacuumed every single day after 1:00 AM, moving and dragging heavy furniture, throwing and dropping things.
Or maybe you have “monkey brain”—what we wellness professionals use to describe that highly active mind that keeps us tossing and turning all night, while we think and worry about the next day–or week or even month.
And, who among us hasn’t resorted to alarm clock-watching? “Well, if I fall asleep now, I’ll still get 5 hours. “ And so on. Usually until about 5 minutes before you need to get up—then you fall into a sound sleep!
And you feel pretty rotten the next day, right?
We all really need 7.5 hours of sleep at night, and some people require even more—but there’s no such thing as requiring less sleep. As we sleep, cells replenish and recover. Without it, all of our body systems suffer—everything from brain/cognitive function to cardiovascular and from immune to metabolic and hormonal. We become more injury-prone. And, let’s face it: We don’t exactly make good food choices when we’re tired, often reaching for those high-fat and sugary comfort foods, which are diet busters and energy zappers.
Says New York City chiropractor, Rocco Tetro, DC ,“My patients who suffer from sleep deprivation have a decrease in concentration which then decreases the quality of their work at their jobs. “
Dr.Tetro continues: “They also have a difficulty in maintaining their treatment plan in my office which then increases the time it takes them to recover from a back injury. Since they are constantly tired they tend to slouch more at their desks at work which then contributes to more neck and back problems. They also tend to miss more days at the gym or their regular routine which then makes them feel worse.”
Ok, fine, we need sleep—but how do we keep from tossing and turning? Here are a few very simple tips:
1. First, be sure your mattress is comfortable and is supportive; remember, we spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping (or trying to), so the mattress is a vital piece of furniture. And don’t ignore the box spring; a good box spring; it absorbs shocks and stress—so, even if you can’t see it, it’s doing its job.
2. I know this can seem counterintuitive, since I always preach about the need to drink enough water; but don’t do it 2 or 3 hours before bed, or you’ll be up all night running to the bathroom. It’s also the same with exercise; everyone should incorporate some physical activity into their day, but if it’s 2-3 hours before bed, you’ll find yourself alert and energetic—hardly ready for sleep!
3. Learn meditation or some other relaxation techniques. There are many yoga studios and meditation centers in NYC that can help you learn. In fact, there’s a meditation workshop coming up at my favorite yoga studio, Sonic Yoga. And don’t be discouraged if you find meditating hard at first, because it’s a process. Just think of that scene in the movie “Eat Pray Love” where Julia Roberts tries to meditate, looks at the clock, sees that it’s only been a minute and then says “Kill me now!”
4. Incorporate regular little routines to help you get ready for bed: Play soothing music, take a relaxing hot bath; read; take a leisurely walk.
5. Don’t use the bed to watch television, eat or other non-sleep or non-sex activities.
Tags:
Irene Ross,
Rocco Tetro DC,
Sleep,
Sonic Yoga,
www.eating4achieving.com
Lara also is founder and editor of Grits in the City
Regional – UWS
I went with a group of friends to Regional for brunch a few weeks back. They had been wanting to go there for their brunch special. Essentially, if you buy a mimosa or a bloody mary for $6, they will continually refill it so long as you are at brunch. Note though, apparently they only offer the bloody mary special on Saturdays. Sundays it is mimosas only. This particular Saturday, they were fairly busy, though I’ve walked by other times and it’s been a more manageable crowd. They do take reservations, so I recommend going that route if possible, just to avoid any issues. And, as is the norm for most, that all of your party is present prior to requesting to be seated.
Complimentary Bread Basket
Their menu is pretty varied for brunch. All of your more standard brunch categories are nicely represented – what I refer to as eggy and sweet carbs. They have a wide variety of egg options, all served with potatoes and ranging from $9-$11. Some of the more creative options include the grilled pizza with bechamel, pancetta, onion and pecorino romano topped with a fried egg and the spaghetti fritatta, which is filled with a Bolognese ragu and parmesean. Their sweet options range from $9-$10 and include pancakes (blueberry or plain), French toast, and granola with yogurt and fresh fruit.
Marinated Chicken Breast Grilled Sandwich
Being an Italian restaurant though, they include in many of their other options – from pasta to their grilled sandwiches (press grilled on ciabatta bread) to even a burger – mostly ranging from $9-$12. Some of the more interesting options included the penne with smoked salmon and vodka sauce, the fettuccine in veal ragout, and the prosciutto grilled sandwich, prepared with mozzarella and an olive tapenade. I ultimately chose the marinated chicken breast grilled sandwich, which was served with eggplant and zucchini and a celery sauce. I’ll admit - I am not a fan of celery. In fact, I believe its soul purpose is to be mashed up in the midst of other (far superior) ingredients in stuffing/dressing and call it a day. However, it actually worked here. Perhaps because it’s ever so slightly salty. Whatever it was, it worked. The vegetables were very fresh and the bread, though crispy as is the norn for a panini style, managed to not cut up the corners of my mouth. I approve. It was accompanied by french fries and a small salad. Usually I opt for sweet over for savory, but I think I’d go savory here again when I return.
I was pleasantly surprised though to see they have all other sorts of notable specials. Monday night is pasta night. All of their pastas on the menu are $9 (dine-in only). Tuesday night they offer a prix fixe menu for $25, which includes an appetizer or salad, any pasta or entree, and a dessert. They also have happy hour from 5-7PM during weekdays, which includes $5 for house liquor mojitos, martinis, and house wines. And if you order a drink not on happy hour special, there’s even a coupon on their website for a free tapa!
Regional – 2607 Broadway (b/w 98/99th St) – 212.666.1915
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brunch,
good for groups,
Grits in the City,
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lara ruth,
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Restaurant Reviews NYC,
specials,
UWS
Freedom Lights
Every year on September 10th I get very depressed. It’s really amazing and this year was no exception.
Where were you on 9/11? I was in my office on 100 William Street that faced both towers. Before work, I went to the gym on 14th St. and 5th Ave and remembered looking at the towers that morning and thinking how beautiful they were.
Little did I know that I would witness the most brutal terrorist attack in the history of the US later that morning.
The feeling I felt that day never left me, nor do I think it ever will.
Imagine how the families and close friends of the victims feel every year. This year, there are a lot of issues surrounding 9/11 - we haven’t caught Bin Laden, there is a Mosque development debate and the New Freedom Tower is not close to being built.
Putting politics and any negativity aside, I hope people can reflect on the memories of everyone that perished that day and remember that 9/11 includes the Pentagon and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
New York City, the US and the World have come a long way in nine years and that is due to the resolve of everyday people.
God Bless everyone that made the ultimate sacrifice that day.
Tags:
Flight 93,
Pentagon,
September 11,
World Trade Center
My wife and I ride the subway separately to work every morning. Now that I have a deeper appreciation for pregnant women, I don’t ever sit down if the subway is even semi-crowded because I want my seat to be available to someone that may need it. Let’s face it, riding the subway during rush hour sucks most of the time. And now that school’s back in session, they’re even more crowded.
I did catch myself last week sitting down and a woman was standing with her back to me. After the subway stopped and people got off, the woman turned around and sat down next to me. And yes, she was about 5 moths pregnant. But the young girl in her 20’s that was sitting down in front of her never even budged to get up.
So, there are exceptions and unless you decide to never sit down, you will overlook this from time to time. Does this mean you’re a bad person? No, but if you’re like me, you’ll feel pretty rotten about it.
My wife, who is now 8 months pregnant and still commuting to work, tells me that people give up their seats MOST of the time. Although she hasn’t conducted a formal survey, she says that 90% of the time someone gives up their seat if there isn’t one available for her. That’s pretty good, don’t you think?
However, in mid July, when she was about 6 months pregnant and noticeably showing, no one gave up their seat that morning. Well, some idiot guy ran into the subway as the doors were shutting and knocked her over. Yes, knocked her over and the guy didn’t even apologize. Apparently, he stood a couple of feet away from her and pretended like nothing happened. (OK, count to ten and find a happy place)
Yeah, pretty horrifying, but the best part of story is that about a half a dozen people (men and women) began yelling at him and frankly, he almost got his ass kicked. Go New Yorkers!
Thank goodness Melissa was okay. People helped her immediately and gave her a seat and completely ostracized that dude. Obviously, that was an extreme situation, but people don’t accept that.
The moral of the story – always offer your seat to a woman that is noticeably pregnant or anyone else that may need it….it’s the right thing to do. I’m sorry that you may be hungover from the night before, or comfortable in your seat, but do the right thing and don’t be a total D-bag.
Chivalry is not entirely dead in NYC, but it definitely has its moments.
.
Tags:
Chivalry,
nyc subways,
Pregnant women
