Archive for June, 2009
Spelling Lessons
I just have to report this delightful conversation I had with my 4-almost-5-year-old daughter recently. She had just gone shopping with her daddy for a new toy horse. She really wanted a “girl horse”, so she systematically looked underneath each toy horse to find one with the correct anatomy. Alas, they were all stallions, so she had to “settle” for a boy horse.
And then…a few seconds after finishing her story, she asked this question:
“Mommy, did you know that [male anatomy] starts with a P? Puh…puh…[male anatomy].”
Thanks for the spelling lesson, Sweetie! (and the laughs)
Fit Mama Week 6
I won’t even bother apologizing for my lack of posts over the past couple of weeks. You know how it goes…
My goals were to:
1. Keep working on self-monitoring of food, beverages, and physical activity.
2. Purchase a new pedometer and record steps per day. Aim for 8,500 steps per day.
3. Review list of motivations daily.
4. Drink 6-8 servings of water per day (including at least 5 servings at work on work days). Limit high-calorie beverages including sodas (not a big issue for me), fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages. Try drinking sparkling water, coffee, and tea (without a lot of cream and sugar) instead.
Lessons learned:
1. I suck at self-monitoring. But, I promise to keep trying. In fact, I pledge to print myself several weeks worth of food records right after I finish this post.
2. I did not buy another pedometer. I admit that I’m dragging my feet because I’ve already tried two different models and I hate wasting money on yet another gadget that might not work. Will keep using the old models until I get so fed up that I’m willing to shell out some dough for a new gadget.
3. The good news is that I’m still walking pretty regularly 2-3 days per week with a colleague at work, about 20-30 minutes at the end of each work day.
4. The bad news: I experienced a “set-back” when my family came to visit. First, Crispy Kreme doughnuts for breakfast one morning, then pies for dessert two nights in a row, and then a cake for an early bday celebration for my daughter. I regained 1 lb in this process. *sigh*
5. The good news: Reviewing my list of motivations helped me get back on track and lose 2.5 pounds over the past week or so (10 pounds to go to reach my initial goal). Yeah…one step backward and two steps forward?
6. I’m doing much better with water consumption and limiting high calorie beverages. Some examples: I keep a pitcher of water at my desk and also drink water with meals. I’ve switched to low-fat milk in my coffee instead of half-and-half (and one lump of sugar instead of two). I dilute fruit juices with sparkling water and serve over ice. I drink herbal teas unsweetened. I’m limiting alcoholic beverages to 2-3 servings per week.
Goals for next week (June 15-21):
1. Keep working on self-monitoring of food, beverages, and physical activity.
2. Make do with my old pedometer (if I can’t bring myself to purchase a new pedometer) and record steps per day. Aim for 9,000 steps per day (or walk 30+ minutes per day, 6 days per week).
3. Review list of motivations daily.
4. Continue drinking 6-8 servings of water per day and limiting high-calorie beverages.
5. Eat 6-11 servings of breads, pastas, and cereals per day (make as many servings as possible whole grain). This equates to about about 2 servings per meal or snack! If you want to learn more about the importance of eating whole grain foods for weight loss (and improved health in general), click here.
How are you doing? Please post your successes, challenges, and comments below.
Best Wishes, Michelle
More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle
If You Give a Mom a Muffin
This charming little poem, based on the, “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie” series by Laura Numeroff arrived in my inbox a while back. Thanks to my friend Sue for sharing this with me, and now I will share with you:
If you give a mom a muffin,
She’ll want a strong cup of coffee to go with it,
She’ll make herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee,She’ll wipe it up.
While wiping the floor she’ll find dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer, she’ll trip over boots and bump into the box of Goodwill items.
Bumping into the Goodwill items will remind her that she has to get these boxes out of her basement and into the car.
When she puts the boxes in the car, she’ll find a bag of groceries and this will remind her she has to cook dinner.
She will get out the chicken defrosting in the fridge.
She’ll look for her cookbook, “101 Things To Do With Chicken”
The cookbook will be sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the Netflix movie she’s meant to send back and the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
The checkbook will be in her purse that is being dumped out by her one-year-old.
As she bends down to rescue her purse, she’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the baby’s diaper.
While she is throwing away the diaper and searching for the hand sanitizer, the phone will ring.
Her three-year-old will answer and hang up.
She’ll remember she wants to call a friend – not for coffee, but for a very strong drink.
Thinking of drinking will remind her that she was going to have a cup of coffee in order to stay awake for the rest of the day.
And chances are….
If she finds her cup of coffee (which she has to reheat by now), Her children will have eaten the muffin that goes with it.
by Kathy Fictorie
Hang in there Moms!!!
And if you’re in the mood to share the originals with your kiddos, click on the book covers below for more info:
by Laura Numeroff
by Laura Numeroff
by Laura Numeroff
Fit Mama Week 4.5
I’m posting late as usual…but by now, I suppose that you have come to expect my tardiness!
My goals for the past week were to:
Goal 1: Try keeping food record/steps record by email.
My progress: Hmmm…I’m REALLY struggling with the self-monitoring component of this “program.” I KNOW it’s important, but I’m finding it really hard to remember to print out a copy of the food record each week; remember to bring it with me everywhere, every day; AND remember to record all my food, beverages, and physical activities. I tried to send myself records by email, but this lasted for two whole days. I think I will have to keep problem solving to figure out the best mechanism for self-monitoring…
Goal 2. Increase my average steps per day to 8,000.
My progress: I’m also continuing to struggle with my bleeping pedometer. What is it with these gadgets? I’ve tried two different models now, and both seemed very unreliable and they reset too easily (when I bend over, or pick up my children). One of my co-workers suggested the model she uses…the reset button is covered…what a concept! I will look into purchasing yet another pedometer. In the meantime, I HAVE been moving more. I’m walking with a colleague at work 15-20 minutes per day, parking farther away from my office, and taking my kids out for stroller walks more. I also tried a couple of fitness DVDs at home on my days off, and have started doing a few sit-ups and push-ups each day. My daughter was totally into doing these exercises with me, so I felt like a pretty good role model for her. Yea!!!
Goal 3. Review my list of motivations daily.
My progress: Yep. Still doing this.
Goal 4. Buy a water pitcher (with filter?) to keep at my desk to encourage drinking more water at work.
My progress: I bought a 5-serving water pitcher with filter to keep at my desk. I fill it up at the beginning of my work day and drink at least 5 servings of water throughout my work day. This simple change has made an amazing difference for me. I feel better hydrated, less hungry, and less likely to drink copious amounts of coffee (with cream and sugar) all day.
Overall, my progress was hit and miss over the past week. As for my weight (drum roll please…), I lost one more pound (4 down, 10 to go). Not too shabby!
My goals for next week:
1. Keep working on self-monitoring of food, beverages, and physical activity.
2. Purchase new pedometer and record steps per day. Aim for 8,500 steps per day.
3. Review list of motivations daily.
4. Drink 6-8 servings of water per day (including at least 5 servings at work on work days). Limit high-calorie beverages including sodas (not a big issue for me), fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages. Try drinking sparkling water, coffee, and tea (without a lot of cream and sugar) instead.
I will keep you posted! How are you doing? Please feel free to post your comments below.
Best,
Michelle
P.S. Here’s your fitness resource of the week:
The Exercise Counts interactive tool from the American Cancer Society — Calculate how many calories your activity will burn. Did you know you can burn about 300 calories per hour mowing your lawn? I may just have to take this chore away from my husband.
“Mommy Wars” Reprise
More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle
“Mommy Wars”
Childbirth: Natural vs. Epidural
Boys: Uncircumcized vs. Circumcized
Diapers: Cloth vs. Disposable
Feeding: Breast vs. Bottle
Sleeping: Co-sleeping vs. Cry it Out
Moms: Stay at Home vs. Working
Baby Food: Organic vs. Conventional
Clothes: Thrift Store vs. Latest Trends
School: Public vs. Private vs. Home-Schooling vs. No-Schooling
Parenting: Permissive vs. Authoritative vs. Authoritarian
Punishment: Time-outs vs. Spanking
Praise: Selective & Meaningful vs. “Over the Top”
Birthday Parties: Backyard parties & homemade cakes vs. “Pump It Up” & gourmet ice-cream cakes
Like most mamas, I too have very strong opinions on these matters, but that’s really beside the point… We mamas need to be more respectful and tolerant of each other. Can’t we just all get along?
Note: I originally published “Mommy Wars” on 02/19/09 as my Parenting Pet Peeve #2. I’m republishing it today (with minor tweaks) in honor of JBJ’s latest episode, “Mommy Competition”.
And the Winner Is…
by Sara Napthali
Start reading along with me today! I will be posting my thoughts on each chapter as I go…
I invite you to do the same!
Happy Reading, Michelle
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