Indexes
November 2nd, 2009
November 6th, 2009
November 5th, 2009
November 4th, 2009
November 3rd, 2009
November 2nd, 2009
October 31st, 2009
October 30th, 2009
The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
- Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
- Gated communities in Lodi (112)
- I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (92)
- The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (76)
- David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (57)
- Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (55)
- Universal health care solves big problems (30)
- Words from our forefathers (26)
- With resolve and imagination, Downtown Lodi can surge once again (24)
- 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home (18)
ADVERTISEMENT
Christy Richesin poses with one of her son's newborn footprints. One of the driving forces for Richesin's weight loss is the hope for another baby. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
Biggest Loser: Lodi
Christy Richesin continues weight-loss plan with diet, exercise to prepare for a third child
The guidelines are clear for gaining weight during pregnancy.
And Christy Richesin, of Lodi, wants to make sure she stays within those parameters before she and her husband conceive their next child.
She is on a personal challenge to lose 70 pounds in the next year after nearly becoming a contestant on this fall's season of the hit TV show, "The Biggest Loser."
The 31-year-old successfully shed 25 pounds by trying to eat healthier during the past year, but now she's made weight loss a priority, and has joined up with friends who get her off the couch and exercising regularly with hopes the weight loss will be greater, permanent and represent a lifestyle change. Since the end of May, when the News-Sentinel started chronicling her venture, she has lost two pounds but gained muscle and, most of all, confidence in herself.
In the last month, Richesin, who lives in Lodi with her husband and two sons, has added to her exercise repertoire an Iron Grip weight-lifting class she describes as "hard, but well worth it."
Weighty concerns
Compared with normal-weight women, in general, obese women have a greater risk of developing complications during pregnancy, and once born, their babies are also more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care units.
The weight of the mother has become such a concern that the Teratology Society recently officially declared obesity a pregnancy risk factor, adding that women should be told about the risk in the same way that they are warned about the dangers of smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The Teratology Society studies the causes and processes of birth defects to improve diagnosis and prevention.
Kevin Stewart, a local weight loss doctor, said there are health benefits to losing weight prior to conception to benefit both the mother and child during pregnancy.
Christy Richesin: Weight check. Beginning weight and size: 235/22. Current weight: 205/16. Goal weight: 140 (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
There are two types of weight gain: water weight, which is usually due to high sodium and low potassium intake; and fat accumulation, he explained.
"The problem with water weight gain is, potassium is needed to lock the water into the cells. When there is high sodium intake, the potassium must come out of the cells to buffer the sodium. This causes the water to follow the potassium, Stewart said, adding that a person then has extra water weight around the mid-section, while at the same time the cells are dehydrated. This condition can cause everything from muscle spasms to high blood pressure, pre-eclamsia and gestational diabetes.
The other type of weight gain is fat accumulation. If the adrenal glands, for example, are "clogged" and not functioning, this will increase cortisol, which breaks down muscle and converts it into fat, Stewart said. This also causes increased insulin production, and again can result in gestational diabetes.
The adrenal glands also affect the ovaries and hormone production, which can cause abnormal ratios of estrogen and progesterone. The result, Stewart said, is abnormal ratios of these hormones can cause infertility, and even cause spontaneous abortions later on.
A woman who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall would be considered obese if she weighs 180 pounds or more. A 5-foot-8-inch woman would be considered obese if she tips the scales at 200 pounds or more.
Gillian Hames, a registered nurse who also teaches a local Zumba fitness classes, said obesity affects fertility in a way that is not completely understood.
"One hypothesis is that the hormone leptin may prevent successful fertilization," she said. "Leptin regulates appetite and energy expenditure."
Another serious issue is Type 2 and gestational diabetes, which obese women often develop during pregnancy and can pass onto their unborn children.
"The Type 2 version is epidemic in the U.S., and is a disease that is preventable by maintaining a healthy weight through an active lifestyle and healthy diet," Hames said. "A woman with diabetes (either Type 1 or 2) who becomes pregnant has a higher risk of birth defects, premature birth or still birth if her blood sugar is not kept in control."
In her first two pregnancies, Richesin didn't suffer from any of these ailments. Her glucose levels were average and sugar was never detected in her urine, a common pre-cursor to the onset of gestational diabetes.
"I know skinny women who have gotten gestational diabetes," she added. "But just because I had healthy pregnancies didn't mean I was healthy."
Not just about health
Richesin assumes that her back pain was worse and her energy level lower due to her extra weight.
Her husband, Adam, agrees. "Christy's fear is gaining more weight while pregnant," he said, adding that he hopes the "emotional fallout" that comes along with changing hormones and the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy will be reduced when she weighs less.
"I imagine it will be easier to get around, do everyday things like shopping and taking care of the kids. Maybe she could be in more comfortable clothes, too."
During her first two pregnancies, Richesin struggled with fitting into average maternity clothes. "When you're pregnant and fat on top of it, it makes you feel more insecure," she said.
She still remembers that when she was nine months pregnant with her first child, she was pushing a cart through the local Target parking lot when a thin woman about six months pregnant was approached by complete strangers who wanted to rub her tummy. They had no idea that Richesin was pregnant, too.
"People who don't even know them celebrate a pregnant woman. When you're overweight, no one knows or even wants to carry your groceries out (because they can't tell). I constantly have to announce I'm pregnant, because my body doesn't."
Recent trials and tribulations, in her own words
Things are going really well. I've been attending a hardcore exercise class three times a week and walking/jogging on the other days. I have been taking one or two days off from exercise a week.However, I have been struggling with resisting the smoky sweet and spicy goodness of summer barbecues.
One of my trainers gave me some great advice: bring my own seasoned chicken breast to barbecue parties. And I actually did that for Father's Day!
However, my sister is a barbecue dictator and insisted on cooking it for me. The chicken ended up overcooked and hard to chew. So, it was an easy justification for me to down a few saucy ribs.
Imagine eating carrot sticks and salad, while the whole house and yard is filled with the intoxicating aroma of barbecue. It was too much, and I cracked. Instead of beating myself up over it, I hit the track with my sister and jogged two miles that night.
I will keep packing a seasoned chicken breast when going to summer barbecues. But I will be grilling my own meat from now on.
Expert panel
Leah Palmquist
"I know how much Christy would like to have another child, and I admire her for being patient and waiting because she knows it is in her best interest as well as the baby's. It is a gift she can give to her child before they even arrive."
— Leah Palmquist, friend and trainer
Chad Edwards
— Chad Edwards, Lodi Memorial Hospital nutritionist
Gillian Hames
— Gillian Hames, registered nurse and Zumba fitness instructor
Kevin Stewart
— Kevin Stewart, weight loss doctor
Then there's the weight that doesn't come off following delivery, which is a health concern.
Heeding the recommendation of her obstetrician, Jane Maloney, Richesin doesn't want to continue to add what many women refer to as "baby weight," the pounds that keep piling on between pregnancies and are often hard to shed.
'A license to eat'
When she became pregnant with her first child, Richesin weighed 197 pounds. Afterward, despite nursing, she was 215 pounds and went into her second pregnancy two years later at that weight. After nursing him, she jumped up to 225.
In May, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed its 1986 guidelines that had recommended that overweight women should gain about 15 pounds during pregnancy.
"It is the mindset of our specialty, and our society, that we need to have round, chubby pregnant women in order to make sure they are healthy," wrote study leader Yvonne S. Thornton, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, in the study. "Pregnancy has become a license to eat. We talk about 'eating for two,' but it's really more like eating for 1 and 1/20th."
These attitudes have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the U.S., where 35 percent of women are considered obese.
"Gaining weight during pregnancy contributes to obesity, and it makes it that much harder for overweight women to return to their normal weight after pregnancy," Thornton said.
Richesin, who already knows how embarrassing or even demeaning some doctors can be to overweight women, doesn't want to give them something else to point out when she decides to get pregnant.
She still clearly remembers one local doctor grabbing her gut during a routine check-up during her second pregnancy. When they couldn't hear the fetus' heartbeat, this doctor, whom she declined to identify, told her, "This is why," as he squeezed her fat hard.
"It's almost like people don't view fat as a part of you," she said.
Meanwhile, she will continue down this weight-loss path, and alongside her is husband, Adam.
"One of the biggest obstacles is maintaining the proper motivation to avoid the habits of unhealthy food and to fight the urge to hit the couch instead of the treadmill," he said.
Richesin is also staying on the exercise track, literally. Several times a week, she and her husband load their boys into the double stroller and trek to nearby Lodi High School.
Richesin is taking a healthy summer living class, which is helping her focus on what she eats, especially during the tempting summertime barbecue months.
She continues to participate in Stroller Moves twice a week, and has added an Iron Grip class taught by Cheryl White, fitness director at Fitness Works/Twin Arbors.
The one-hour, high calorie-burning class works all muscle groups along with cardio that keeps participants' heart rates up. It uses barbells and a step.
Richesin is anxious to have another child or two, but ideally not until the weight is off.
"I believe I'll have more energy, being pregnant and chasing two active boys. In the past when I've been tired, we all just lay on the couch and watch TV."
Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com
Editor's note: This is the second in an occasional series.
Search for Ads 
Today’s Print Ads 
RSS Feeds
Reader Feedback
LodiGirl wrote on Jul 10, 2009 7:05 AM:
mo4 wrote on Jul 8, 2009 8:12 AM:
1976 wrote on Jul 8, 2009 12:22 AM:
First of all - yes fat and muscle weigh the same. Christy never said that it didn't. There is no COP OUT in letting people know that to loose weight correctly it means more than the scale going down rapidly. When your body becomes more muscular you will not notice as big of a drop on the scale. But the drop you do see most of the time is pure fat.( Plus muscle burns more calories per lb per day than Fat!) With that said - Christy has lost Over 25lbs not just 2.
As for 1143 - Not that I need to say anything.... Christy has a job. She is a fantastic mother and wife. But you probably wouldn't understand what that entails!
Christy - You are amazing thank you for doing what most of us couldn't. You share your story! Your Real!!! Keep it that way! You Rock! "
tj104 wrote on Jul 7, 2009 11:34 PM:
sam wrote on Jul 6, 2009 5:58 PM:
LodiReaderFromLodi wrote on Jul 6, 2009 4:38 PM:
ordinarycitizen wrote on Jul 4, 2009 10:25 AM:
ordinarycitizen wrote on Jul 4, 2009 10:15 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.