The Health Gazette

We’re role models for our children, so it’s important that we teach our children that exercise can be fun.  Going for a long walk or hike is such a great way to get out of the house, get some exercise, and allow kids to explore the outdoors.

Today my husband, son, and I went for a hike at a reserve called “Blue Sky”.  Our nearly 3 yr. old son had a blast.  He loved when we pushed him over the bumpy rocks or thick sand, and he’d climb out once in a while to gather rocks for his “rock collection”.  It was a lot of fun to be together and get in a workout!

Being a mom can be very overwhelming, exhausting, and stressful.  A great way to ease your mind and get in great shape is through yoga.  When done consistently you will notice a difference in your body.  You will feel taller and longer because yoga literally lengthens the muscles and gives you a deeper awareness about your  prosture (i.e. “stand up straight!”).  Yoga is also beneficial for your mind and spirit because there is an emphasis on deep breathing and focusing inside.  When you complete a yoga class you’ll feel more balanced, refreshed, and calmer.  So go ahead give it a try!

Often we’re rushing in the morning with last minute projects and getting our kids ready- there’s no time to eat breakfast.  But you must eat breakfast if you want to lose weight and more importantly feel great.  Breakfast is literally “breaking the fast”.  You haven’t eaten all night and when you wake up it’s time to start your engine going (your metabolism).  By eating breakfast you’re fueling your body and you’ll notice that you’ll have more energy and a stable mood.  If you don’t eat breakfast you’ll more likely over-eat at your next meal and you may be more  irritable.

Do you feel overwhelm you when you think of preparing healthy food?  Believe me it doesn’t have to be hard to make quick, simple, healthy and delicious meals.  One thing I do to make it easy is to shop for a few necessities in bulk at Costco.  Here’s on my shopping list (besides baby wipes!): organic spinach, carrots, frozen salmon, avacado, frozen chicken breast strips or “naked nuggets” (also great for kids!), balsalmic vinegar, olive oil, and Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal.  I love large spinach salads topped w/ chicken breast, avacado, carrots, feta cheese, and homemade dressing…well kindof homemade-”Good Seasons Italian dressing packets” are delicious mixed w/ balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Sometimes clients share their frustrations about a sudden spike in their weight.  They say they don’t know what happened, they weren’t doing anything different.  That’s when ask, “Where are you in your cycle?”  Depending where you are in your cycle you may experience more bloating (i.e., carrying extra water weight).  So before you decide that your weight loss efforts aren’t working assess where you are in your cycle.