By Katie Wilson

It’s a sort of irony – that women, who are more conscious about the way they look and their weight, are prone to weight gains at various times in their lives, just by virtue of being born among the female species. Girls who hit their teenage years tend to look fat and bloated as they menstruate for the first time; they have a difficult time managing the changes that their body is going through. Women tend to put on weight during a pregnancy and have the most difficult time getting rid of all the extra fat once the baby is born. And then there’s menopause with its unsightly weight gains, hot flashes, mood changes and other symptoms – the less said about them the better.

But you see the pattern here – how nature is biased against a woman trying to lose weight. And now there’s more bad news, well, if you’re among the women who’re on strict diets and also trying to get pregnant. First up, a diet and pregnancy don’t go together – even if you’re just trying. You need to eat healthy food and make sure your body gets the right kind of nutrients when you’re preparing to make a baby. And second and most important of all, new research has shown that women on diets who get pregnant are the ones who gain the most weight during pregnancy and have the most difficulty in getting rid of this weight once the baby is born.

This study from the University of North Carolina might have just sounded a wake-up call to all you would-be moms out there who’re so determined to lose weight that they resort to desperate measures like crash diets and near starvation. Weight loss must be achieved in a healthy way, through a sensible combination of regular exercise and good eating habits. While there’s no harm in trying to lose weight, it’s a pointless exercise when you’re trying to get pregnant as well. Of course, if you just happen to get pregnant without planning for it, then it’s time to stop all the exercise and dieting until you consult your OBGYN.

If regular exercise and healthy eating habits are a routine aspect of your life, you don’t have to worry about weight gain, either pre or post pregnancy. Of course, when you’re pregnant, you’ll have to eat more of the right kinds of food and you are bound to gain some extra weight. But you shouldn’t let this bother you as you have to do what’s best for the new life you’re carrying. And once the baby comes, you can always get back to your diet and exercise routine, again, after consulting your doctor first. So eat sensibly, and have a happy pregnancy.

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By Katie Wilson

There are some of us who hate to work and others who are absolute workaholics. And while the former will do anything to wriggle out of work, the latter abhor the very thought of a day without any. And so they come in to the office, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and spend as many hours as they can slogging and sweating it out. To them, the idea of a holiday is an anathema; they do not understand days off; and they certainly cannot stand the idea of idling around and not being productive.

But there are times when they must stay home, like when they’re ill and cannot function normally and efficiently at work. If you’re one of these workaholics who obsesses about going in to work and being productive even when you’re ill, when the mind is willing, but the flesh is weak, here’s what you can do to maintain your productivity:

•    Stay home and get enough rest: This is the first and most important thing that you must do. If you go in to work, you may think that you’re a hardy and brave individual who doesn’t let a silly illness get in the way of important business, but remember that you’re putting others at risk of catching what you have. If they fall sick, you make them less productive in the process. Besides, the sooner you rest your weary body, the faster you gather enough strength to be able to resume work in a day or two. If you worsen your condition, you may be laid up for a week or more, again, more unproductive days added to your count. 

•    Work from home: Once you’re a little better, and if you’re able to handle work but are still contagious, you could try and run the show from home. Remember though, that you mustn’t tax yourself too much or you may end up worsening your condition.

•    Delegate: Some of the most efficient people I know are those who delegate. I know some of you think it’s a sin, one that’s unforgivable, but it’s one of the most productive things you could do. Your associates can handle the work much better than you can when you’re down and out for the count with the flu or any other illness. So delegate work, but make sure you find the right people to do so.

•    Behave normally when you do return: Once you return to work, don’t obsess about the fact that you’ve been away for a few days, don’t take your subordinates to task for any mistakes that have been made, and don’t be the maniacal superior who’s lost his finger on the pulse of things just because of a minor illness. Think of your time away as a long overdue vacation, and when you’re back, resume work with the passion that you normally exhibit instead of trying to find out all that went wrong in your absence. This way, you’re both improving your productivity and enhancing that of your coworkers as well.

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