The Yellow Mist: Hypnotized into Eating Right

So last week Nick and I started a hypnobirthing class with with an instructor who lives near our home. (You can check her out here.) I had started out my pregnancy with an attitude pretty much like Amy Poehler in Baby Mama: And how many of you are planning on using toxic Western medications to drug your baby for your own selfish comfort? Anyone? Uh, yeah. That was me, bouncing on the Swiss ball saying "Woot woot!" with my hands in the air.

But the more time has passed, the more the idea of hypnobirthing has crept into my mind and taken hold. When I tell people about taking the classes and they ask me if I'm crazy--and I guess I can see the combo of hypnosis and natural childbirth elicits that response--I just tell them that I figure the relaxation techniques will help in case the epidural doesn't work. Truth is, though, I know for sure the epidural isn't going to work because I'm not getting one. I'm just too afraid of people thinking I'm some wacko hippie to tell them the truth. It's funny how pregnancy and parenthood have a way of making even perfect strangers feel entitled to share their (usually unwanted) opinions.

We've only been to one class so far, and our assignment for the week was to listen to "Birthing Affirmations" and a track called "Rainbow Relaxation," which turns out to be so very effective that I relax myself to sleep every time I hear it. Gonna have to work on that.

Rainbow Relaxation walks you through what is basically a guided meditation in which you encounter mists of every color of the rainbow. Each mist has a different meaning and causes a different result in your body. The yellow mist makes you want to eat right to care for yourself and your baby. It seems to be having more of an effect than the others.

I have really noticed a difference in my appetite and my food preferences since we started practicing this "hypnosis". If you know me at all, you know that I'm a food freak any time of year, and the holidays are no exception. It's a veritable naughty food clusterf***. I find myself paying more attention to when I'm full, eating slower, and passing on things like truffles, toffee, and delightful mint M&Ms that come but once a year. That. Is. Not. Normal. I'm happy about it, though. This is the first time since the beginning of my pregnancy that I haven't had a constant desire to gorge on pizza and Dunford donuts. And whether it's the hypnosis or that my body has finally reached it's maximum level of sugar toxicity, I don't care. I'm rolling with it.

I'm pretty committed right now to figuring out some kind of food plan that I can stick to even when I'm busy and even after Baby Boy comes, so I will be posting my food plans, experiments, and hopefully lots of pictures. Just don't judge me if some sweet rolls and rice pudding make it onto the menu. I want to eat healthy, but don't go thinking I turned into a Grinch.