It's About Time

Yeah!!! Britain did one of the smartest and fairest things I've seen in a long time. They banned some cosmetic ads (that I've seen magazines already) that were deemed false advertising.

The ads were airbrushed too much and did not show the model (Julia Roberts) realistically. It showed her with flawless skin, no wrinkles, etc. (Like she's not beautiful enough)

It's high time we take a stand against perfection being flung in our faces everyday! Love us in spite of and even for our flaws.

Want to advertise and sell your product to real women? Then show real women!

Julie

*If you are a stay-at-home mom who has ever struggled to make ends meet, or a working mother who would like to transition to a business that allows you to spend more time with your family, then Project MAHMA is for you!

Project MAHMA(Moms at Home Making A Difference…and a Lot of Money!) is a global coalition of moms (and dads) who are earning an income from home and giving themselves the gift of freedom— including more time with their families—while at the same time offering others the gift of better health and a better life.

Visit us on the Web at: Project MAHMA

Quote: Age Does Not Diminish.....

"Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop if ice cream fall from the cone."

~Jim Fiebig

Healthy Summer Tips

Summer with its hot temperatures and high humidity is in full swing. Playing in the sun, soaking up that natural Vitamin D is what summer is all about, but remember, too much of a good thing isn’t always good.

Before you hit the beach, relax by the pool or engage in a water gun fight in your backyard, keep in mind that ultraviolet rays from the sun can do a number on your skin; in fact, they are the most common cause of premature aging. Here are some simple ways you can protect yourself, your loved ones and still have fun in the sun.

Reduce Sun Exposure During Peak Hours
UV rays are the strongest and do the most damage between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so the less time you spend outdoors during these hours, the better. That doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the fun though. Just hit the pool or the beach later in the day when the sun is lower. You will still have plenty of time for fun and you won’t melt as quickly or risk sunburn as easily.  And don't be fooled on an overcast day—you can still get burned because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. Shade is good when you can find it.  

Cover Up
Be fashionably smart. Wear protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible. Remember to cover your hair and head with a wide-brimmed hat. You might even consider carrying an umbrella for shade.  The more protection you have the better off your skin will be.

Protect Your Eyes
Always wear sunglasses. They also deflect harmful UV rays that reflect off of water, sand, and other surfaces. This helps reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions. What’s great is you can splurge for a really nice pair or go cheap and get some at the drug store for under $10. Studies have shown that cheap sunglasses that are rated to protect against UV rays are just as good as the more expensive ones – And you won’t be as upset when you sit on them in the car!

Apply Sunscreen Generously
Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen evenly on all areas of the skin—and don't forget your lips, nose, ears, neck, hands, and tops of feet. Apply at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and remember to re-apply every two hours, especially after swimming. If you are not sure how much to apply, it’s better to use too much than not enough. A shot glass full is approximately enough to use on an entire body. It’s easier to apply the sunscreen before you get dressed, too. This way you will be sure not to miss any areas like under sleeves or under collars.

Keep Hydrated

Dehydration can occur very quickly when we perspire and babies and the elderly are especially vulnerable. Water is the best way to re-hydrate and the optimal amount to drink is ½ oz for every pound of body weight. If you think you will be floating after drinking that much in a day, keep in mind your body cannot function properly without an adequate amount of water and most people don’t consume near enough.

The benefits of staying hydrated are:

·         Weight loss – the more you drink the less you will weigh. It helps our stomachs feel fuller longer and often times when we think we’re hungry we are really just a little dehydrated. So the next time you feel the urge to snack, try drinking a big glass of water and waiting 15 minutes – you may find the urge to snack will pass.

·         You look younger – the more hydrated you are the more youthful your skin looks. Fine lines, blemishes and dark circles are less noticeable and since your skin is the biggest organ your body has, when it has proper hydration it’s happier. In turn it makes you look more radiant and healthier.

·         You have more energy – when you feel yourself lagging especially in the afternoon, remember to re-hydrate with some water or a good sports drink that isn’t loaded with sugar. You will find your energy level pick up and you will feel more alert.

Becoming dehydrated can happen very quickly and severe dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion and deadly heat stroke. Here are some of the warning signs of dehydration:

·         Headache

·         Backache

·         A dry mouth and sticky saliva.

·         Reduced urine output with dark yellow urine or cloudy urine.

·         Acting listless or easily irritated.

If someone is listless, vomiting, showing signs of confusion or feels sick seek immediate medical attention as these are signs of heat stroke.

Very few people realize that the early symptoms of dehydration are headaches and backaches as well as muscle cramping. If you feel one of these symptoms coming on, try drinking a good amount of water or a good sports drink. You may be surprised to find the symptoms go away!

Also, reduce alcohol intake. A cold beer may sound refreshing to some after getting really hot, but in reality alcohol can cause dehydration making you feel worse.

Encourage children to play outside in the morning and evening hours and try to help them find indoor activities to do during the hot afternoon hours. Heading to museums, indoor parks and other indoor attractions are great to do to help entertain lively youngsters. And never, never leave a child in a car. The temperature rises quickly and death can occur in a matter of minutes.

Drownings occur every year and they can happen in a blink of an eye. Never leave a child unattended around a pool and restrict access to pools with fencing and put up the ladders when not in use. Babies and toddlers are most at risk because most do not know how to swim or float and can drown in as little as an inch of water.

Check in on family and neighbors

When it gets hot, it’s a good time to check in with elderly family members and neighbors to make sure they are staying cool enough and staying hydrated. Don’t assume that everyone has air conditioning or can afford to run it even if they do have it. Many may be trying to avoid high electric bills and aren’t staying cool.

You can bring them a cool dessert like some jello with fruit or a nice pasta salad as an excuse to stop by. If they appear not to be taking the proper precautions to stay cool, then invite them to your house for a barbecue (ate indoors) and help them get help in staying cool. It may be as simple as pooling money from other family members to help pay their electric bill, buy them a cheap window air conditioning unit and install it for them, or call a son or daughter of your elderly neighbor to inform them of the hot house their parents are living in.

Don’t forget your furry friends

Our pets are very susceptible to the summer heat and humidity and dehydration can happen very quickly. Always provide fresh, clean water, constant shade or bring them in during the hot parts of the days.

Notice any signs of listlessness, weakness or vomiting as these are signs of heat stroke and require immediate veterinarian attention.

Your animal’s appetite may decrease during the hot summer months. That’s OK as long as they are eating something each day. They aren’t doing as much and therefore their bodies don’t require as much food.

Don’t be so quick to shave your pet’s coat thinking it will keep him cooler. In reality, fur is a great insulator to both cold and heat. Plus, you may cause your pet to get sunburned more easily since his skin is not equipped to being exposed. Check with a qualified breeder or your veterinarian before shipping him off to the groomers for a shave.

So get outside this summer and enjoy Nature. A cool walk in the woods, a lazy day poolside or at the beach or a fun summer barbecue in the backyard is a great way to enjoy life and recharge the old batteries.

Have a safe and happy summer!

Julie

*For more information on health and wellness as well as our full line of Sports Nutrition products including Performance – a great hydration sports drink check out our website To Be Healthy – Sports Nutrition.

I have to admit, getting back into exercising or even just getting started can be hard, but once I get going I feel so much better and I have lots more energy!

Exercising in the ‘Hood

I decided that I had been off the exercise wagon long enough.

The excuse I was using of my husband’s surgery and my surgery had worn out, so I was left with no choice but to get back into exercising. Plus, seeing that number on the scale creep back up is enough to make me lose my appetite. The really frustrating part is no matter how much I scream at the scale, it is never intimidated.

Since my husband is off work from his surgery, I decided I would just walk around our neighborhood while he watched our son. That way if one got on the other’s nerves too much, it wouldn’t be hard to find me. You may want to re-think that strategy if your goal is to get away from your family. There is something very therapeutic from walking alone.

I also don’t recommend wearing headphones as it can be very soothing hearing the birds chirp and the squirrels play. That may not be your scenario though if you have kids following you saying, “Mom, Mom, Momma, Mommy! Where you going?” You may also need to be able to hear your neighbor’s mean dog barking at you as he is learning to find his way up and over the fence.

Our neighborhood has enough hills and steady inclines to give us a varied landscape in which to walk. Couple that with weight lifting 2-3 times a week and maybe I’ll start losing the weight gained from stress and even get some of that energy back. Though I doubt if I have enough self esteem to wear walking shorts and pump iron with an I-Pod strapped to my arm while I walk. It may be good for you, but it does make people look and laugh at you as you walk by. I hope to be fit enough someday to be able to do that and not care what my neighbors think. Till then I’ll stick with my longer jean shorts to cover my cellulite and t-shirts with sleeves long enough to cover my jiggly arms.

I’m sure some of the residents around the neighborhood thought my husband and I were stalking children or casing houses as we were driving slow down cul-de-sacs and turning around. Really, we were just marking the mileage off on our van’s odometer, so we knew how far we had to walk. If you don’t want to appear as a stalker, you can go to a paved walking course at a park that has mile markers and time yourself. That way you know how far you walk in say 30 minutes. Then just walk that long at home to get the comparable distance.

While walking this morning I wondered if a stroll around the neighborhood was enough of a challenge to get me back in shape. We don’t have any exercise equipment at home except for a couple of hand weights. Would a neighborhood walk be comparable to the many different machines you find at the gym?

I think you can achieve the same results walking around most typical neighborhoods and here’s what I discovered:

Experts suggest walking on uneven terrain to help build leg and core muscles. Walking on most city sidewalks fulfills this requirement. Except for the well to do couple that have lived in the same house since it was built, and who just put in a new concrete driveway and sidewalk, most sidewalks are anything but flat. They are busted up from tree roots and years of salt thrown on them every winter. You get added core stabilizing moves when you find yourself skidding and sliding on the ones that have turned to pure gravel.

You get quite a workout stepping up and down and over broken sidewalks, rocks, large sticks, dog poop, gum and toys left out. Plus there’s a hidden strength benefit for your arms. You gain upper body strength when you have to catch yourself after tripping over something and sailing face first into the pavement. Having all your weight suddenly thrust upon your hands and arms and then jumping up quickly hoping no one saw you are some extra ways to build strength and stamina.

Exercise gurus also say to lose weight while walking you should add short, fast sprints in order to raise your heart rate. I can manage to get in a few longer sprints trying to avoid the mean dog that always ends up chasing me. I have found that the run in addition to the fear of being eaten alive does wonders at raising your heart rate.

If you want to avoid this then try and time your walks with meter readers, mail carriers and other delivery people to help distract the loose dogs. Having some tag team friends to share your “run for your life” with can help break up the boredom and you won’t feel so alone. Remember when being chased, you don’t have to outrun the dog, you just have to be faster than the other guy. Predators always go for the weaker, slowest prey.

You can also walk just inside the yard of a dog who is held captive by an invisible fence. But I must warn you, most property owners frown at such practice and many dogs learn to push past the fence shock and will charge through the invisible fence after you. Everyone I have ever known that had an invisible fence had a dog that managed to learn to push through it. They also say the shocked look on the face of the person the dog was chasing after was absolutely priceless.

Another way to add short sprints and faster heart rates is to walk in really bad parts of town after dark. Though I cannot recommend this for safety reasons, hearing gunshots, having creepy people follow you and being generally scared out of your wits will raise anyone’s heart rate to at least their target rate if not past it. Again, it’s not the safest way and I would caution against it, but it is an option. Maybe your neighbor will allow you to take their mean dog with you for protection and wearing bullet proof vests is another way to build stamina- I hear they are very heavy.

If you happen to be fortunate enough live out in the country you can use the uniqueness of the land, it’s wildlife and all the varied opportunities that come with it as an even better place to walk and get fit. Being surprised by a skunk, being chased by a swarm of bees, stepping in groundhog holes and yes, even being chased by a neighbor’s mean dog (I can’t get away from that scenario) are all great ways to build your strength and cardio fitness.

And if you happen to see me trying to outrun the neighbor’s mean dog, come join me! I always could use another decoy friend.

Julie

**If you are a stay-at-home mom who has ever struggled to make ends meet, or a working mother who would like to transition to a business that allows you to spend more time with your family, then Project MAHMA is for you!

Project MAHMA(Moms at Home Making A Difference…and a Lot of Money!) is a global coalition of moms (and dads) who are earning an income from home and giving themselves the gift of freedom— including more time with their families—while at the same time offering others the gift of better health and a better life.

Visit us on the Web at: Project MAHMA

 So no matter where you live, you have wonderful opportunities to use your neighborhood as your own personal fitness course. Who needs an expensive gym when you got every possible scenario right outside your door!

Oh, Spare Me

While talking with a couple of moms I know who are younger than me, the subject of having kids came up. Yeah, I know, imagine that.

One of them mentioned about being "old" when their last one was born and the other one said she was old, too when hers was born.  I asked how old is old. She said, “Oh I was really old – 35!”

I had to walk away. I wish I was that young when my son was born!

Sheesh. “Kids” today.

Teaching Moments……They Aren’t Just for Kids

Today has been a typical day in the house with a 3 year old.

Going from the “Terrible Two’s” into the “Tyrannical Three’s” has been really hard on all of us. I believe the stress from trying to navigate these sometimes rough waters of toddler hood can be overwhelming at times.

Today my son thought it was "pick on the dog" day. Everywhere he went my son terrorized the dog from scaring him with toys, to lightly slapping him as he ran by and even kicking him by accident (I think) while flailing his feet around. I had been after him all day about being mean to the dog and the timeout corner never seemed to get very cold. What was worse was when I really got upset with him the last time he did it he did the unthinkable….he smiled.

That sinful grin made me lose it. I was so horrified at his response I pulled him up off of the floor and pointed down the hall and ordered him to his room in a voice that I’m sure made my husband wonder if my head was going to spin around on my shoulders.

I was so upset at the meanness my son had been showing lately that I lay down on our bed in exasperation and pondered where I had gone wrong as a parent. What had made my son enjoy hurting a family member? The more I thought about it the more upset I became.

I said a prayer, asking God for guidance as I surely had no idea how to turn this around.

It wasn’t long before the answer came to me.

I called my son in from his room. As he peeked around the corner with trepidation, I did what I’m sure was the last thing he expected – I invited him to crawl up into our bed and snuggle with me.

As he eagerly settled in, I took this moment, this calm and loving moment to talk to my son about the basis of the “Golden Rule.” I did my best to break it down into terms he could understand. I asked him how he would feel if someone he loved, such as I, his mommy walked by and slapped him, or scared him or worse. I explained how our dog deserves our love and kindness just as much as he does.

I tried to explain it simply as, if you are mean to others, they will be mean to you, but if you are nice to others, they will want to be nice to you. I then asked him if he wanted others to be nice or mean to him. He thought for a moment as I’m sure he was pondering how much fun being mean had been. I then noticed his brow furrow a little as the image of him being on the receiving end of meanness entered his mind. He then said he would want them to be nice to him. With great relief, I explained to him what he then had to do to make others want to be nice to him.

The lesson of the Golden Rule is one of the simplest of lessons to learn, but it is such an important one as it is the basis for all the other lessons that follow.

I was glad God gave me the inspiration to use a very bad and disturbing moment and turn it into a teachable moment for my son.

The funny part is I found I learned a lesson or two in it as well. I learned to ask God for guidance when I can’t find my own way down this sometimes dark road of parenting, I learned to show my son that I love him even if I don’t always like what he does, and I learned to take a bad situation and teach my son right from wrong. A lesson that may have to be repeated, but hopefully with some perseverance, will one day “stick.”

The value of a teaching moment for my son that taught me something at the same time is surely priceless.

Julie

*If you are a stay-at-home mom who has ever struggled to make ends meet, or a working mother who would like to transition to a business that allows you to spend more time with your family, then Project MAHMA is for you!

Project MAHMA(Moms at Home Making A Difference…and a Lot of Money!) is a global coalition of moms (and dads) who are earning an income from home and giving themselves the gift of freedom— including more time with their families—while at the same time offering others the gift of better health and a better life.

Visit us on the Web at: Project MAHMA

  

We're Still Recovering

My husband and I are still recovering from our surgeries.
He is making great strides and I am so proud of him for pushing through the pain and doing his exercises.
I would have been closer to healed by now if I had taken it easy longer instead of cutting the grass, pulling weeds and other strenuous stuff! I hate laying around, but now I have to as I have managed to rip my stitches and pull something inside - very painful and stupid of me.
I just have a hard time sitting around looking at everything that needs to be done and not do anything.
I also have a harder time asking for and accepting help from others.
I guess God is forcing me to on this one.

I will be up and publishing here real soon I hope.
Thanks for sticking with us.