Slump is an understatement. I'm in the grand canyon. My weight has been something that I have struggled with, consciously, since I was five years old. I started dieting in the 5th grade and have had severe yo-yoing ever since. And not 5 lbs: down 75 up 90 down 90 up 100. Its awful for my body and my spirit.
I only gained 8 pound during my pregnancy but I started it in a heavy phase. My top pregnancy weight was the heaviest I have ever been. I am now only two pounds shy of that number and it makes me what to cry on a daily basis. (so much for breastfeeding shedding the pounds.)
Why do I keep bending my elbow? what does food give me that a fit body wouldn't?
I know how wonderful it is to be fit. People treat you differently, you feel fantastic and my health is generally better, plus I can show that I have some decent fashion sense- something I don't do when I'm 'hiding' in my fat clothes.
I keep trying to get motivated, apps, mean plans, gym membership and classes but I cant do it. Don't get me wrong I work out at least weekly (not enough I know but better than some of my skinny friends) and I am an active person. But I feel terrible about myself.
So in an effort to get motivated, I have been reading some fit mommy blogs and I have noticed a trend: running.
http://www.coffeecakeandcardio.com/
http://www.rungiarun.com/
http://www.happyfitmama.com/
http://www.foodfitnessandfamilyblog.com/
http://anothermotherrunner.com/
They all run. Personally, I love zumba. I have always loved to dance and I will not stop taking these classes as I swear by them. Even heavy, they have helped keep me fit. I zumba-ed the night I went into labor and as a result of my bi weekly classes I never held water in my ankles and truly believe handled labor better (even though I ended up needed a emergency C-section). But I need to control my diet and lose the weight. And when I was my smallest, I ran, ALOT. So I am going to try to start again.
NOW WHEN TO DO THAT.....
I work full time and my husband works two jobs. Time to myself is limited and my little one doesn't seem to understand that mommy can't hold her and play toys all the time.
In law school, I worked out after I did my homework/reading. Yes, I was a 11 pm gym rat. But now a days, with a infant who wakes for her morning feeding at 5, this night hawk schedule isn't working. That and by 11pm I'm just too tired and have too much to do to prep for the next day to go to the gym. And most nights my husband is still at work and I don't have someone to stay with the baby. So, reality is, I need to work out in the morning. I always said I never understood why people did that to themselves, but now I understand. They had to.
So I'm going back to my college and lawschool days, making myself a strict rise to bed schedule and starting morning workouts.
Wish me luck or maybe motivation? Because 5 am is SO EARLY to be running...
"Common sense is not so common."- Voltaire
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Diaper Rash Remedy
This is a problem that all mothers will face at some point. For us, it only started when our little one started antibiotics, thanks to a revolving cold caught at daycare. Every time she takes it she gets terrible diarrhea. Its not pretty but its true. The result, no matter how fast you address it, diaper rash.
There are a number of creams on the market, Desitin, Balmex, A&D to name a few but my favorite is a homemade remedy that my great grandmother used: "burnt" flour.
How to Prepare:
Take your baking flour (we always use regular flour, someone asked if you can use coconut flour I don't see why not but I have never tried it) and place it in a skillet on the stove. We use a cast iron one because that's what my great grandmother used. Supposedly its better, I'm not really sure if that's true. Using medium-high heat continually move the flour around in the skillet until its is a nice 'brown sugar' brown. Keep moving it to ensure that the flour doesn't actually burn (in which case it will get hard). This browning process removes anything that would contain bacteria and increases absorbency, or at least Grandma Ethel claimed. Store in a sealed container (we always use a glass sealed jar).
How to Use:
When you see diaper rash, or any redness pat this on to the effected area with a pouf. I use a inexpensive soft makeup pouf. This can be used in place of baby powder and with a cream but it works, in my opinion, best on its own. If, however, the effected area is very raw, I would apply some cream* for soothing and then the flour. I sometimes pat some into the diaper itself as well.
Be warned though, that when they wet their diaper its going to look like rust dust (if you have never heard this term, its what urine looks like in a baby diaper when the baby is dehydrated- common in newborns especially those that are breast fed).
If your child is enrolled in daycare or a outside caregiver, make sure you let them know that you are using this alternative so they are not alarmed when they see it in the diaper.
If your child is prone to diaper rash, this is safe enough to use daily. And there's no known issues with flour as there is with talc powder so its safe for baby girls!
* My daughter doesn't tolerate ointments well so A&D is out for us. My mom and most moms seem to prefer Johnson &Johnson Desitin but, I actually like the cream Balmex best. Its firmer, and stays on her skin longer for better protection.)
There are a number of creams on the market, Desitin, Balmex, A&D to name a few but my favorite is a homemade remedy that my great grandmother used: "burnt" flour.
How to Prepare:
Take your baking flour (we always use regular flour, someone asked if you can use coconut flour I don't see why not but I have never tried it) and place it in a skillet on the stove. We use a cast iron one because that's what my great grandmother used. Supposedly its better, I'm not really sure if that's true. Using medium-high heat continually move the flour around in the skillet until its is a nice 'brown sugar' brown. Keep moving it to ensure that the flour doesn't actually burn (in which case it will get hard). This browning process removes anything that would contain bacteria and increases absorbency, or at least Grandma Ethel claimed. Store in a sealed container (we always use a glass sealed jar).
How to Use:
When you see diaper rash, or any redness pat this on to the effected area with a pouf. I use a inexpensive soft makeup pouf. This can be used in place of baby powder and with a cream but it works, in my opinion, best on its own. If, however, the effected area is very raw, I would apply some cream* for soothing and then the flour. I sometimes pat some into the diaper itself as well.
Be warned though, that when they wet their diaper its going to look like rust dust (if you have never heard this term, its what urine looks like in a baby diaper when the baby is dehydrated- common in newborns especially those that are breast fed).
If your child is enrolled in daycare or a outside caregiver, make sure you let them know that you are using this alternative so they are not alarmed when they see it in the diaper.
If your child is prone to diaper rash, this is safe enough to use daily. And there's no known issues with flour as there is with talc powder so its safe for baby girls!
* My daughter doesn't tolerate ointments well so A&D is out for us. My mom and most moms seem to prefer Johnson &Johnson Desitin but, I actually like the cream Balmex best. Its firmer, and stays on her skin longer for better protection.)
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