Fitness and the Working Mom

Is what seems the impossible really possible?

We are inundated with fitness tips – the quick fix, the fast track, the best diet pill – and metabolism boosters, and the hot subject lines keep on rolling. But how effective are they, and for those moms who work full or part time, how do you fit it in while keeping any sanity about yourself?

Difficult? Yes! Impossible? No! Challenging? Yes! Impractical? No!

We can banter about what excuses override the benefits till the cows come home. But in the end, it all boils down to how important being physically healthy is to you personally. This doesn’t mean being an example to other mothers or your children but rather to yourself. You’re your mental health and your longevity of life as well as the quality of life you are living.

Prioritizing physical exercise (even 15 minutes three times a week) can seem absolutely impossible to those working mothers who also act as a roller coaster behind their children all day. It doesn’t mean the fitness isn’t important to them; it shows us they put a higher value on their children than their own well-being. The fitness tips they read are not necessarily wrong; they are just not right for them. One of the challenges that exists among the mothers who have a completely scheduled calendar is that they forget to put in time for themselves BEFORE scheduling their children’s hectic schedules. It isn’t even that these moms don’t want to change their routine. Even if the changes are highly beneficial to them, they just don’t see the value in themselves great enough to make physical exercise a priority.

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The Dreaded Double Chin

The dreaded double chin is an “Ack!” moment we’ve all encountered at one point or another when we look pictures. It doesn’t matter how physically fit we might be, because the camera angle, how we are sitting, where we are looking, etc., can herald its appearance. Most of us know the trick of sticking our chins out to make our necklines look thinner, but in the end the perfect “candid” shot this trick is not option. So what might be able to help offset the Dreaded Double Chin?

Spot exercising is a difficult thing to achieve, especially if you are not doing any aerobic exercises. But it is recognized that we can support certain areas by exercising those muscles regularly. We also need to remember obesity and hereditary are the two main causes of chin fat that give us the double chin. While not much can be done about genetic factors, if obesity is the reason, you may find the following facial exercises useful to help reduce the amount of fat stored in your neckline.

The first is one we’ve been introduced to before: head rotations. Rotate your head from side to side five…

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Decoding Stem Cell Treatments

We’ve all heard about the "miracle" of stem cells and we all are aware of the controversy behind these treatments. We have been told and for some believe and know it is the future of medicine. We are even aware of how the treatment has given hope to several suffering from life threatening diseases like leukaemia, cancer and blood disorders. But what exactly does this treatment entail? How many claims about the treatment’s potential are actually true? Well, here are some facts that may help you gain a better understanding of stem cell treatments.

We’ve all been touched by someone who has gone through the painful journey of cancer and as such I encourage you to be conducting your own reading and research to allow you to come to your own conclusion with regard to your personal view of stem cell treatments. This article is just one perspective based on one person’s research and it’s intention is to provide you a glimpse at some of the facts that are out there.

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Pregnant? Upset Stomach?

An upset stomach is believed to be one of the first signs of pregnancy. The exact cause behind this side effect of pregnancy is not known; however, many researchers believe pregnant women experience an upset stomach because of the sudden hormonal changes. Another reason attributed to this is the acid levels in the stomach increase as digestion slows down during pregnancy.

Nausea (a side effect of pregnancy) is also believed to trigger of an upset stomach as well. Constipation is yet another side effect women experience. With that said, I personally did not enjoy these side effects when pregnant with my son, for which I am grateful. But I did receive quite a few recommendations and tips about how to offset these side effects that I think might be helpful for those who are pregnant, may become pregnant or know someone who is.

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Breast Cancer: One Degree of Separation

I sat down to write a blog about breast cancer, not really sure why since I know so many people who are first-hand experts and I am fortunate enough to be at arm’s length and hold an inexperienced and innocent view. I truly believe there is not one thing that happens on this earth that there is not a higher reason to support the experience, but when it comes to the C word I often wonder what in God’s name is a good enough or high enough reason for anyone to experience cancer. And then I always pose the question, “Isn’t there another way to learn the same lesson or experience the same emotional learning opportunity?”

My very first experience with breast cancer came just two months after moving to California from Vancouver, British Columbia. One of my closest friends, Roberta (Bobbi) Stackhouse, called me with the news she had found a lump while in the shower. I was 28, she was 34, and it was September 1997. When we hung up the phone I cried: not because I felt bad, but because I had not one clue about breast cancer or what she might have to go through in the coming months. From my perspective, my fears of being of “uneducated” and “ignorant” had come true.

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Secrets about Meditation

I’ve written about meditation before and how it is a simple exercise, how to easily begin fitting it into your daily life, and the many benefits it offers, Yet there are lots of misconceptions and myths surrounding it. I thought I would take some time today to share with you a few of these secrets before you start or get too far down the enlightening and invigorating path of meditation. Having a clear understanding of its concepts will allow you to travel a little easier. The following are five of the common meditation facts of which people may be unaware.

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Aromatherapy Dos & Don’ts

New to Aromatherapy? Confused by the sheer number oils and their uses? Feeling overwhelmed with too much information? So was I. Then I took an online course offered through Tito’s Learning Center and was given a basic list of Dos and Don’ts by the instructor, Doris Payne. It has definitely helped me, and I wanted to share some of this new-found knowledge. My intention is that this list of Aromatherapy Do’s and Don’ts will make your journey into this fragrant world simpler.

Don’t Buy Perfumed Oils
They do not offer the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. If you want to practice Aromatherapy or simply want to use oil for its healing powers, make sure you buy only authentic, pure grade essential oils. They will be more expensive but the results will be worth it.

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Depression: What’s Your Role?

It can be heartbreaking to see someone you love or care about crumble under depression. Often depressed people tend to withdraw from their own loved ones, thus making it even more difficult for friends and family to reach out to them. If you know someone who is depressed and want to do whatever you can to help him, you need to first ask yourself a few key questions. Does he want help? Does he even know he’s depressed? What role do I want to play in his healing journey? In addition to the following suggestions, you will want to do some research of your own to ensure you have the tools necessary to handle whatever may result from your stepping in; as with any illness, your role may be to simply recommend an independent support and not actively play a role. For your convenience, I’ve included a few recommended resources at the bottom of this article.

If you feel as though you must do something, then you need to ask yourself one final question: “What is my true motivation for needing to help?” If it is anything other than standing and showing your unconditional love for a friend, then directing that friend to professional help will be necessary. So now that you’ve worked through all the questions and your final answer is still, “I love my friend dearly and just want to make sure she knows I am here without judgment,” here are a few suggestions.

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Divorced Parents: Friends?

I would dare to guess there isn’t a child of any age who holds the dream of his parents remaining together their entire lives. I consider myself very fortunate to have witnessed a parental marriage now lasting close to 45 years and am proud to say it doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. I also am aware of my good fortune and that there are many my age as well as older and younger who have gone through the experience of parents divorcing. At this juncture there is a percentage that holds the dream of their parents at least remaining friends, thus allowing holidays and other special events to be more amicable and pleasant. Staying friends after a divorce may be difficult, but a lot of parents try to maintain a relationship with their ex-spouses because of their children. The important question, however, is whether it is healthy for divorced parents to be friends.

In all honesty, this question can’t be answered with a simple yes or no; it all depends on the situation in which the two people find themselves and their emotional health. First let’s define friendship. In this instance we’ll refer to friendship as two individuals who can share a common space physically, emotionally and energetically while being supportive of the other individual’s personal choices and decisions. This friendship is not an intimate exchange but a human exchange. Ideally, it would be wise for divorced parents to become aware of where they are and work on improving some of the following areas (Note: this is only a partial list.) to successfully embrace and maintain a friendship.

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Deepak Chopra

One of my favorite quotes by Deepak Chopra is, “If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up.”

In this quote he refers to our every present “need” of all things and notes that when we let go of our neediness we allow room for love to appear—both love of self and love of others. Chopra reminds us the secret of attraction is to love yourself. This is a very difficult task to do when our minds are focused on external expectations and keeping ourselves on track to achieve great success. When Chopra says that “Attractive people judge neither themselves nor others. They are open to gestures of love. They think about love, and express their love in every action. They know that love is not a mere sentiment, but the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe,” he reminds us that “attractive” is a state of being; it is the state in which others perceive our self-worth. When we value ourselves, we not only bring more value into our lives but are also perceived differently by the world.

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Concentration and Meditation

I am a firm believer that meditation can happen just about anywhere we find ourselves. The important element is being able to concentrate long enough to receive not only the inspirational benefits of meditation but also the overall health and wellness benefits. If you are like most people, concentrating is the piece that keeps you from feeling as if you are experiencing successful meditation. I would like to share with you a few useful tips I personally use to help me concentrate when meditating—no matter if I am sitting in a quiet, warm and familiar place such as my practicum room or on a noisy airplane.

Perfection!
One of most important things to remember when meditating: all is in perfection! If you are interrupted or lose focus after just a few minutes, take a breath! Do not let the “shortness” of the meditation get in the way of what even a few minutes can bring to you.

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Diseases and Smoking

If you are planning to stub that cigarette butt for good and need some motivation, then this piece may be just what you need! Everyone knows smoking causes cancer, but that is not the only disease you open yourself up to when you light up those death sticks! Researchers have found that smoking in fact creates a fertile breeding ground in the body for several diseases, including those detailed below.

Cardiovascular Diseases
Nicotine increases the cholesterol deposits in the body, which in turn leads to the hardening of arteries. Hardened arteries can cause blood clots, and blood clots increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

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