I ran again today. That is three times the past two weeks. This is progress people. Progress.
As I was on my run today, I thought I would make today all about how to deal with the holidays.
Now, as a wise woman has said to me over and over, "it is a holiDAY, not a holiWEEK, or holiMONTH." True right?
I tracked my food Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Then Thursday hit. I decided to enjoy the holiday. I did not write down a single bite. Then today came and bam, I wrote down everything. (Except for that popcorn that hit me in the last hour or so.) Thanksgiving was a holiDAY!!! Yipee!
I also exercised on Wednesday and then took the holiday off and today I was out running. It was so nice to actually run outside. I think it was the second time in this neighborhood. It wasn't too cold and that is nice. I think next week that is supposed to change around these parts so I am glad to have taken advantage of good weather today.
Here are some more tips to get through a holiday.
1. Pack gum-I didn't chew it until later on in the day, but in the past it has saved me. You will not eat things with gum in your mouth. Sure, you can spit it out, but then you have one more step to go through before caving.
2. Eat fruit/veggies. They are always at the party. They will fill you up and are good for you. (I made my plate yesterday about halfway filled with fruits and veggies.
3. Use a small plate. It seems like it is a lot of food and big plates give you too much food.
4. Drink lots of water. Again, it fills you.
5. Make room for the things you love. For me, it is pie. I had pie yesterday and it was awesome. I ate less turkey and potatoes so I could eat the pie.
6. Let it be a day event. HoliDAY!!!
Well, there will be fun answers to some of your questions in the future. I just found this topic to be fitting for this time of year.
Cheers.
11/29/13
11/25/13
Mommy Monday
This post is going to be all about breast feeding. I am sure you are thrilled. If you don't want to hear about it, just move along.
For many people, breastfeeding is awkward. Talking about it is hard for some people. They get uncomfortable. In fact, my health students brought it up because one of their other teachers is talking about it as part of her Human Development unit. I guess she used me as an example. Anyway, they pretty much were trying to get me to be shocked or embarrassed. Little did they know that I do not get embarrassed about this topic anymore. I basically told them: "why be embarrassed, that is what they were made for."
See, our society likes to think that breasts are sexual. Which they are, if you let them be. I have always just thought of them as a piece of fat that sometimes get in the way of sports participation. (I often tell people that God knew exactly who I was going to be and blessed me with small ones.) Media has made it that breasts are very important to a woman's sexuality. Men are obsessed with them. Okay, so maybe not all of them but many are. I find this a little bit offensive. I hate the whole over sexualizaion of women's bodies in general so the boob discussion just gets me fired up.
Seriously, my breasts give nutrition to my baby. And being able to breastfeed him is an amazing experience. I often fall asleep while feeding him because it is just such a relaxing time. He also finds comfort in it and lately it is one of the only things to get him asleep because he is teething. I love it.
Sure, in the beginning, it was very hard. We were rookies at it. I think many women quit trying because they haven't mastered it, it really isn't because they can't. Like I said, Ellis and I had a hard time learning. I was fixated on my low milk production and was pumping when I really should have been learning how to nurse. As soon as I got off the whole "I suck at this," we learned pretty quickly.
Now, please do not be offended if it didn't work out for you. I also feel that many things in parenthood and mommyhood are individual. You get to make choices. Thank heavens that we have things like formula to assist in this. Ellis is actually getting me about half the time and formula for the other half, which with my working and low production has to be the case. This is our journey and we do it our way. Your journey may have been different and that is great. Thank heavens we only have us or the wet nurse as options because I find the whole wet nurse idea a little weird.
The last bit about nursing that I want to include here is the whole nursing in public thing. I can see both sides of the story and have my own opinion. I really think that in the society we live in, it is hard to publicly feed your child. If you decide to uncover, you would probably be reported to the police because of this "lewd" act. I personally don't want to be out there in public. I do think that I should be able to breastfeed in public without judging eyes, if I am covered though. I seriously don't see the big deal because seeing it happen doesn't get me all excited. I think that will be all I have about public breastfeeding.
I like how at church I actually have a room to go to feed Ellis. I There is a special mother's room with two nice chairs, and a changing table. I would just nurse under my cover in church but I know some people could take offense, so I don't. The really cool thing about hanging out in one of those nice pink chairs is that you get to chat with other nursing mothers. These women are my heroes. Mainly because they have more than one wee one and have more experience. One of them has seven kids and I just look up to her. It was also nice to chat with her and know that she couldn't nurse until the last three kiddos. See, it is hard. The other woman I have chatted with is a working mom like me and that is a good thing to hear too because sometimes in my church you can be judged for working instead of staying home. Believe me, if it were in the stars, I would be at home with Ellis and not working, but in order to keep benefits, I work.
And really work is not conducive to breastfeeding I only get to pump once a day. I wonder why my production is still wacky? But I am just going with the flow(no pun intended) and giving Ellis as much as I can. And that must be enough, even if I struggled for a really long time for it to be okay to supplement and feed. It is what it is.
Cheers.
For many people, breastfeeding is awkward. Talking about it is hard for some people. They get uncomfortable. In fact, my health students brought it up because one of their other teachers is talking about it as part of her Human Development unit. I guess she used me as an example. Anyway, they pretty much were trying to get me to be shocked or embarrassed. Little did they know that I do not get embarrassed about this topic anymore. I basically told them: "why be embarrassed, that is what they were made for."
See, our society likes to think that breasts are sexual. Which they are, if you let them be. I have always just thought of them as a piece of fat that sometimes get in the way of sports participation. (I often tell people that God knew exactly who I was going to be and blessed me with small ones.) Media has made it that breasts are very important to a woman's sexuality. Men are obsessed with them. Okay, so maybe not all of them but many are. I find this a little bit offensive. I hate the whole over sexualizaion of women's bodies in general so the boob discussion just gets me fired up.
Seriously, my breasts give nutrition to my baby. And being able to breastfeed him is an amazing experience. I often fall asleep while feeding him because it is just such a relaxing time. He also finds comfort in it and lately it is one of the only things to get him asleep because he is teething. I love it.
Sure, in the beginning, it was very hard. We were rookies at it. I think many women quit trying because they haven't mastered it, it really isn't because they can't. Like I said, Ellis and I had a hard time learning. I was fixated on my low milk production and was pumping when I really should have been learning how to nurse. As soon as I got off the whole "I suck at this," we learned pretty quickly.
Now, please do not be offended if it didn't work out for you. I also feel that many things in parenthood and mommyhood are individual. You get to make choices. Thank heavens that we have things like formula to assist in this. Ellis is actually getting me about half the time and formula for the other half, which with my working and low production has to be the case. This is our journey and we do it our way. Your journey may have been different and that is great. Thank heavens we only have us or the wet nurse as options because I find the whole wet nurse idea a little weird.
The last bit about nursing that I want to include here is the whole nursing in public thing. I can see both sides of the story and have my own opinion. I really think that in the society we live in, it is hard to publicly feed your child. If you decide to uncover, you would probably be reported to the police because of this "lewd" act. I personally don't want to be out there in public. I do think that I should be able to breastfeed in public without judging eyes, if I am covered though. I seriously don't see the big deal because seeing it happen doesn't get me all excited. I think that will be all I have about public breastfeeding.
I like how at church I actually have a room to go to feed Ellis. I There is a special mother's room with two nice chairs, and a changing table. I would just nurse under my cover in church but I know some people could take offense, so I don't. The really cool thing about hanging out in one of those nice pink chairs is that you get to chat with other nursing mothers. These women are my heroes. Mainly because they have more than one wee one and have more experience. One of them has seven kids and I just look up to her. It was also nice to chat with her and know that she couldn't nurse until the last three kiddos. See, it is hard. The other woman I have chatted with is a working mom like me and that is a good thing to hear too because sometimes in my church you can be judged for working instead of staying home. Believe me, if it were in the stars, I would be at home with Ellis and not working, but in order to keep benefits, I work.
And really work is not conducive to breastfeeding I only get to pump once a day. I wonder why my production is still wacky? But I am just going with the flow(no pun intended) and giving Ellis as much as I can. And that must be enough, even if I struggled for a really long time for it to be okay to supplement and feed. It is what it is.
Cheers.
11/23/13
Stupendious
Lots of things to be thankful for this time of year. Wait, there are lots of things to be thankful for all year. I am glad I am doing this once a week and remembering to be thankful not just in November, but all year long.
1. Soup. We have had amazing soup this week. One was a Portuguese cabbage soup and another was a spicy squash soup. Have I mentioned that Reuben rocks the kitchen?
2. New clothes dryer. I know I am truly an adult now that I am excited about things like appliances. I was so excited to dry clothes on Wednesday. Seriously? Very adult-like.
3. Running. Man, have I missed it.
4. Phone calls with Sue. My mom is so cool. She may be a little stressed this week because their big move is happening this week.
5. Mail. Ellis got a card and new snowsuit from Grandma Sue. I think she likes him a bit.
6. Testing. Friday classes are hard for me. They are an hour and five minutes long which feels like two days(the rest of the week, classes are only 46 minutes long). I administered a test to my Freshmen connections class on Friday instead of the long classes and that was nice.
7. Heat. It has gotten chilly in these parts. It is nice to have a furnace that works well and keeps us warm.
8. Baby giggles. Ellis has started to chuckle while awake this week. He has always laughed in his sleep but he is learning to laugh in awake life. He is also holding his neck up better and sitting with a bit of aid. Have I mentioned how much I love that bugger?
9. Modern Medicine. Teething has commenced. We love baby ibuprofen and also frozen chew toys. Silly kid is not a binky boy anymore so these things save us at night.
10. Winter clothes. I sure do love my beanies. Of course, hats are my thing. I also like my winter coats. They are so cozy.
11. Little tidbits of revelation. God is a huge presence in our lives, if we let Him in. Being a parent has made me understand just how much God must love me because I am His child. How miraculous.
1. Soup. We have had amazing soup this week. One was a Portuguese cabbage soup and another was a spicy squash soup. Have I mentioned that Reuben rocks the kitchen?
2. New clothes dryer. I know I am truly an adult now that I am excited about things like appliances. I was so excited to dry clothes on Wednesday. Seriously? Very adult-like.
3. Running. Man, have I missed it.
4. Phone calls with Sue. My mom is so cool. She may be a little stressed this week because their big move is happening this week.
5. Mail. Ellis got a card and new snowsuit from Grandma Sue. I think she likes him a bit.
6. Testing. Friday classes are hard for me. They are an hour and five minutes long which feels like two days(the rest of the week, classes are only 46 minutes long). I administered a test to my Freshmen connections class on Friday instead of the long classes and that was nice.
7. Heat. It has gotten chilly in these parts. It is nice to have a furnace that works well and keeps us warm.
8. Baby giggles. Ellis has started to chuckle while awake this week. He has always laughed in his sleep but he is learning to laugh in awake life. He is also holding his neck up better and sitting with a bit of aid. Have I mentioned how much I love that bugger?
9. Modern Medicine. Teething has commenced. We love baby ibuprofen and also frozen chew toys. Silly kid is not a binky boy anymore so these things save us at night.
10. Winter clothes. I sure do love my beanies. Of course, hats are my thing. I also like my winter coats. They are so cozy.
11. Little tidbits of revelation. God is a huge presence in our lives, if we let Him in. Being a parent has made me understand just how much God must love me because I am His child. How miraculous.
11/22/13
Fitness Friday
Okay peeps. I love exercise and fitness. This is the reason I teach Physical Education and Health. I am calling out for your fitness related questions. I know you are curious about some topic. Please comment with questions or you can email me: softballrita@yahoo.com
I could just keep writing about my exercise and eating habits, but I am already getting tired of it. I would find it fun to research topics for you(if I don't already have the knowledge) and write posts about your interests. So, seriously, if you have read this post, you are now responsible to comment and ask me a fitness related question. Don't be a slacker and think that you can just leave here without doing so. I know who you are. I have my tracking methods. haha.
Life is good on my fit journey. This week I ran for the first time in over a year. It felt great and Ellis even enjoyed being pushed around the indoor track. He fell asleep by lap three! I thought I could run more and wanted to, but also felt it probably is a good idea to ease back into it because of the bum knee and having been carved out like a pumpkin three and a half months ago. I am doing the Couch to 5k program. You can read about it HERE if interested.
The weight loss is going. I didn't lose as much as I had wanted to this week but I do know why....endless fries at Red Robin and pizza for faculty lunch last friday. Today, I am limiting my going out to a sandwich and chips. No fries. I know, weird for this burgers on Friday girl, but for now I need to watch it. This time of year is hard in general to lose weight, so it must be so. Maybe a burger and fries only on payday week!
Tracking my food intake for Weight Watchers is a bit difficult for me because of not being able to track on my phone, but I am being stubborn and refusing to pay them for the three months until it is all free again. Oh yes, I will be back at goal weight in three months.
Well, be sure to get me your fitness and nutrition questions.
Cheers!
I could just keep writing about my exercise and eating habits, but I am already getting tired of it. I would find it fun to research topics for you(if I don't already have the knowledge) and write posts about your interests. So, seriously, if you have read this post, you are now responsible to comment and ask me a fitness related question. Don't be a slacker and think that you can just leave here without doing so. I know who you are. I have my tracking methods. haha.
Life is good on my fit journey. This week I ran for the first time in over a year. It felt great and Ellis even enjoyed being pushed around the indoor track. He fell asleep by lap three! I thought I could run more and wanted to, but also felt it probably is a good idea to ease back into it because of the bum knee and having been carved out like a pumpkin three and a half months ago. I am doing the Couch to 5k program. You can read about it HERE if interested.
The weight loss is going. I didn't lose as much as I had wanted to this week but I do know why....endless fries at Red Robin and pizza for faculty lunch last friday. Today, I am limiting my going out to a sandwich and chips. No fries. I know, weird for this burgers on Friday girl, but for now I need to watch it. This time of year is hard in general to lose weight, so it must be so. Maybe a burger and fries only on payday week!
Tracking my food intake for Weight Watchers is a bit difficult for me because of not being able to track on my phone, but I am being stubborn and refusing to pay them for the three months until it is all free again. Oh yes, I will be back at goal weight in three months.
Well, be sure to get me your fitness and nutrition questions.
Cheers!
11/21/13
Throwback Thursday. Thanksgiving 2010
I am very Thankful that Thanksgiving is so close. Not only is it great to share a meal with wonderful people, but having a break is awesome!
Crazy to look back. I probably would never have imagined I would be in 2013 with a little wee one of my own, who will celebrate his first Thanksgiving. Crazy indeed.
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