Hey Everyone!
First, thank you for supporting Healthy Dine Out over the past 4 years now; time sure is flying by! We have been growing the website out, and boot-strapping our way to where we want to be with this site. We are effectively a social enterprise, with hopes of giving back to our communities as we grow! My personal goal for HDO is to have it be a great health tool for people wanting to eat healthy when dining-out, or dining-in. Notably, there will be some new site upgrades coming soon that will make it easier for restaurants to post their healthiest menu items for you all to see. And, with a little luck, an app., that will make it easier to locate these menu items and write “healthy menu foodie reviews.”
As you might have noticed, I have not been posting very much of late, and there has been a great reason for my lack of engagement! I now have a little baby boy who is almost three months old. He is thriving and I am finally starting to get some needed sleep. Or, well… I’m getting used to not sleeping as much! Now that I’m getting used to being a mom, I’ll be much more active again.
That all being said, do I have a treat for you all! We have some excellent, and inspiring news stories coming onto our site… Stay tuned for interesting articles about A Vegan Marathon Runner – Jerod Killick, a Sri Lankin Cook/Blogger, and news on the Crop Club in England.
I’ll end this post with some thoughts on health and now motherhood.
As you probably guessed, I am one for eating healthy; I love feeling great and being able to move easily! During my pregnancy, I can say I ate really healthy foods! I also did have some cravings like a ton of black olives, eggs, and tomato sauce! To this day, I can’t touch tomato sauce now., ugh. That being said, it happened that I gained a whopping 73 pounds during my three trimesters, which for someone who has a hard time gaining weight in the past, still amazes me… Seriously, this weight gain had a big impact on my body too. 
Yes, I received the dreaded stretch marks, “which I now consider a loving road map of how my son arrived here.” As well, I had terribly achy hips, a lack of consistent sleep, and water retention galore. What I also received was an understanding of how hard excess weight is on the human body. My weight was very much belly weight, and with my baby boy being 8 pounds, 11 ounces when he came into this amazing world… I get why I had such hip pain!
That all being said, by eating healthy, yet not limiting my caloric intake after giving birth… I have been doing great on loosing the extra pounds. I think though, having a large number of pounds to loose can be daunting, and as Jerod Killick mentions in his captivating article that is being published today, “there are no quick solutions that are healthy or sustainable.”
So I end this post with some reflections, “If you are looking to loose some extra pounds, be it after child birth, or for other reasons, have patience with yourself! Slow and steady wins the race… Keep your focus on healthy foods and healthy habits, like taking relaxing walks in the evenings when home from work. And, try to get some shut eye; a great sleep goes a long way!” 
I hope you enjoy the articles that grace our site in the coming weeks and months as much as I do. Thanks for dropping in!
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**Crystal Knutson** is the passionate founder of the **Eat Clean Sharing Community**, a dynamic digital space where people come together to stay accountable and eat healthier! A decade ago, Crystal launched this community as a way to make more informed food choices and realized that education sparks a deeper responsibility for what we eat.
With food reviews, mouthwatering healthy recipes, and fun challenges, Crystal has transformed the website into a lively personal health journal that inspires everyone. As a member, you’ll dive into exciting discussions, share your own journey, and connect with others who are just as pumped about clean eating. Join the **Eat Clean Sharing Community** and let’s make healthy eating an adventure, together!
My love for writing shines through in the health-related articles I craft, each designed to be both useful and informative. I delve into the latest trends, tips, and research to provide you with valuable insights into the world of clean eating.
I also enjoy conducting interviews with industry experts and innovators who have impactful messages, products, or services to share. Through these conversations, I aim to highlight the incredible work being done to promote healthier lifestyles and provide inspiration for our community.
Join me on this journey towards better health and well-being, one clean meal at a time.
