Mamavation Monday

There is an amazing group of mom's over at Bookieboo...it is a group of moms with one thing in mind, a healthier lifestyle. I am joining a group over there called the Mamavation Sistahood, which is a group of women that will all support one another while obtaining a healthier lifestyle. This is something that I so desperately want...to be healthy, NOT super skinny just healthy, WHATEVER that may mean for MY BODY, I accept it.


Over the last week, I made some definite changes.

Nutrition: I became conscious of EVERYTHING i put in my mouth and made deliberate decisions not to eat off of my kids plates(or finish their dinner). I ate 5 to 6 small meals a day and drank tons and tons of water. My meals were all (ok, NOT ALL) healthy, no chips (except for the one that I tasted while making my daughters lunch), no cookies, a couple of peices of chocolate(enough to satifsfy my craving..but not a whole candy bar), and TONS of fruits and veggies (which I think sent my body into some sort of shock ☺)I even ate out but made sure not to choose healthier items. I added extra calories to each of my meals as I am still nursing my son but made sure that they were healthy choices and not empty calories.



Workouts: I did 6 days of workouts, alternating between strength training and cardio(kick you butt fat burning stuff!) My workouts were done at home using the Power 90 tapes...they kicked my butt but I got results! I didn't want to work out on several days and tried to talk myself out of it, especially when it was already 9pm when I started to work out!



This is the first week in a long time that I have :

1. Slept soundly

2. Had energy throughout the day

3. Cared about what I put into my body

4. Been able to fit into a smaller pair of jeans...





Results from week 1:

3.5 pounds lost

2 inches lost off of my waist

1 1/2 inches lost off of each thigh



I NEED TO "HIGH FIVE" somebody! I feel great and am going to keep it up! Thanks everyone for your support! We'll see what next week brings but as for now, I am taking one day at a time.

The best medicine

When was the last time you laughed?  I mean real, true, hardcore belly laugh, tears streaming down your face, about to fall off your chair and pee yourself laugh?  Chances are you don't do it often enough. 

Studies have shown 2 things about laughter recently:  it IS truly contagious, and it has amazing health benefits.


Laughter is contagious
According to a 2006 study the brain responds to the sound of laughter and preps the muscles in the face to join in the mirth. One of the researches who spear-headed this project, Dr. Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist at the University College London: "We've known for some time that when we are talking to someone, we often mirror their behavior, copying the words they use and mimicking their gestures. Now we've shown that the same appears to apply to laughter, too--at least at the level of the brain."

Health benefits
Laughter has been shown to reduce pain, anxiety and depression.  It triggers endorphines in the brain, which are the "pleasure" drugs our brain produces.  Large scale studies have been completed on "entertainment" therapy finding that patients undergoing painful treatments report less pain and side effects when watching funny TV/videos and laughing out loud in response to the comedy seen.  These studies have been particularly helpful in understanding and lessening painful treatments and side effects in children undergoing cancer treatment.  Additional studies have shown that laughter can be almost as effective in treating depression as many typical and "standard" treatment medications, because of the endorphines and dopamine released in the brain.

As busy HOTmamas, we are stressed out and likely aren't taking time for ourselves as far as our health (ie: diet and exercise.)  We are taking care of EVERYONE ELSE in our lives: husbands, children, parents, friends.  But there is something small we can do for ourselves each and every day: we can laugh, outloud and with gusto and reap the health benefits WE DESERVE!

So, when was the last time you belly laughed?  What prompted this?

Workout Wednesday: Meditation

Meditation. 
When many hear that word they think of a specific religion (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism) or of "new age" crystals and uncomfortable yoga positions. 
But meditation is so much more.  It's exercise for your mind.  It's realizing and celebrating the connection between mind and body.  Meditation can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, lower the severity of respiratory illness, aid in the treatment of depression and anxiety, and so much more.
Meditation is about breathing.  It's about letting go of the stress and strain of our everyday lives.  As moms, we have more stress than most others out there.  Our lives are not about just US or even just US and our partner anymore.  Our lives revolve around little bodies who need us for EVERYTHING.  Or bigger bodies who need our guidance, money, and the keys to the car.
Working out at the gym is GREAT for your body.  But it's only part of the overall physical health picture.  A healthy body needs a healthy mind, and a healthy mind aids in the physical body's ability to GET and STAY healthy.
How do I know this?  I was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease in May of 2003.  My particular disease was not well understood at the time.  But certain facts had to be faced: loss of mobility of my right arm, changes to my bones & muscles, burning intractable pain, spread of the disease to my other limbs, and eventually the inability to continue working.  My specialist said that meditation, breathing techniques and visualization had shown some positive results in neurologic studies.  These studies did not focus on my particular disease, but he thought I should give it a try.
So I did.  I researched on the web, got some books on basic meditation, and signed up for a "Meditation 101" class at a local Buddhist center.  After the very first class, I felt more centered, more in control of my mind and body.  I learned I didn't have to be in a lotus position on the floor to meditate.  I could do it in a comfortable chair or even lying on my bed.  I learned to concentrate and slow my breathing.  I learned to visualize positive things inside my body: healing on a cellular level.  I learned to lower my blood pressure, respiratory and heart rate.  I learned to ESCAPE MY PHYSICAL PAIN.  In fact, over the next 2 years, my husband and specialist were AMAZED at my focus, decreased pain, lower blood pressure, lower heart and respiratory rate.  During hospitalization after hospitalization, nurses would check and recheck my vital signs, in disbelief.
I have since learned how to visual on a deeper level, how to transend my body and experience my mind more fully.  To "quiet" my mind to better "listen" to my body.

There are all different types of meditation.  Some meditate with prayer, finding the quiet and calm a better way to commune with their god.  Others meditate during/after yoga, to experience a deeper sense of relaxation.  Others meditate with breathing exercises to open the lungs.

Now, sit down in a comfortable place.  Lower the lights.  Light a candle.  Close your eyes.  And BREATHE.  Just breathe.  Concentrate on the in-breath and the out-breath.  If you find your mind a flurry of activity and thoughts, then count to 10 backwards and forwards while working on your breathing.  You'll notice that those thoughts just melt away.  You don't have to do this for long...maybe 5-10 minutes.  After a while, you'll meditate for longer or more frequently throughout the day.  I find it particularly helpful during a really stressful/busy day at work.  I sit at my desk, close my eyes and forget about everything I'm supposed to be doing.  I take a moment for ME.

Oh, and the happy ending to the degenerative neurological disease?  In 2008 I went into remission.  No symptoms.  No pain.  Only health.  My doctor cannot explain it.  No medical answers.  If you don't go into remission within the first year...you don't go into remission.  At least there are no reported cases.  Until mine.
Was it the meditation?  I cannot say for sure.  But I wouldn't underestimate the power of the mind-body connection.  Not for a minute.