A Loud Call of Chips and Wine!

Habits. Aren't they oddly more noticeable in others than in ourselves? Maybe it was the recent never ending string of colds and flu or a last chance to make a resolution, but I decided to make some changes to my diet and my overall health.

It's not because of my age, or because I have a kid, or because of breastfeeding or because my husband doesn't eat as well as I think he should, or because he should be exercising more or because nobody ever calls me to motivate me to go out and exercise,  or "at least I think I do more than so-and-so friend, or because my work-out clothes are ugly, it's not because it's too dark, or too cold, or too rainy or too late, or too early, or because "The Good Wife" is on. It's BECAUSE of ME. I have adopted habits and beliefs, seemingly some without my own knowing,  that are not working for me.

1. Spending too much time in coffee shops with or without my friends and their kids drinking coffees and eating muffins, cookies or biscuits.
2. Telling myself that I need something sweet to feel like my meal is over? (wtf? this one is weird.)
3. Baking is better than store-bought, which might be true, but not if I end up eating 10 of the 12 muffins I baked.
4. I don't like most veggies.
5. I'm not overweight.

So for the last two weeks or so I've been implementing some new or forgotten habits to my routine...

1. Daily green drink. One first thing in the morning and one at 3pm.
2. Five minute meditation just before my husband leaves for work while he plays with the kid.
3. No sugar, honey, jam, yogurt, milk, cheese, white rice, wheat toast and pasta, pancakes, muffins, maple syrup, butter, and eggs. Hardly any meat and if so only the size of my palm.
4. If I can skip coffee I do, if not, I put a tiny bit of milk in my coffee.
5. More greens; broccoli, kale, collards, lettuce, green beans, cucumbers, and fresh herbs.
6. My snacks are less coffee, muffins, raisins, toast with jam, dried fruit, cookies, and waffles and more apples, almonds, ginger tea, blueberries, and green drinks.
7. I go for the 60-40 rule; 60% of my plate consists of veggies or fruit.
8. Daily activity: I've found a variety of neat yoga, strength training and cardio workouts on youtube, and I make a point of doing at least 30 minutes every day especially if I can't make it outside to exercise. Cafemom Studios and Ekhart Yoga are great!

and I've noticed some significant changes:

1. No more bloating, gas, stomach aches, and heavy lethargic feelings after meals.
2. Fruits that didn't used to taste that sweet like apples and berries are super sweet to me now.
3. I crave sweets much less and I've been more or less able to curb these cravings with distractions or ginger tea. This is the biggest daily challenge. It's funny, I found myself online one afternoon searching for "healthier" desserts for almost 3 hours!!! Crazy.
5. I don't feel deprived when I see others eating a bacon and egg breakfast of champions, a mountain of nachos, or slices of chocolate pecan pie. It's funny, I thought I would, but it seems my body has taken over my mind and happily steers me towards the fruits and veggies.

I had one relapse. There was this bag of chips, not a bag of pretend healthy, organic pita chips, real O'lays salty, crispy chips leftover from a party we had. It was Friday, 5pm, time for wine and chips? Right? OMG. Pain, cramps and dizziness. Wine and chips? What was I thinking?

How long do they say it takes for habits to form?  21 days? Well, I'm game for 21 days and maybe even for more! What habits would you like to put in gear? Check out what Leo has to say about sticking to a habit on his blog and let me know how you're coming along!

Zumba at the Masoniac Hall on Victoria

If you are looking for something super fun to do on a rainy winter night, come check out Zumba at the Masonic Hall on Victoria Street near Kingsway. Magdalena Lima is a Capoeira player, samba dancer and Zuma instructor extraordinaire! She leads us through a variety of latin and world music choreography with easy to follow moves and lots of sweating! Just when you think your legs are going to give out, her contagious smile gives you that extra kick (no pun intended)to keep you going. Call the Trout Lake Community Center to find out about the next free demonstration class, to sign up for a series of 5 classes or for drop-ins. You can look at Zumba on youtube, but don't be dissuaded by the cheesy clips, it's just plain fun! The ladies in our class are of all ages and I think the best thing about the Masonic Hall is that there are no mirrors, so you can dance away and always feel like you look fantastic! Yay for Zumba!

Day 2 of Sun Run Training

Baby and I ran around Trout Lake today for our second training of pain and agony! Felt great! We ran through a cloud of screaming crows and to celebrate 20 whole minutes of jogging without stopping, Baby had a swing and I took photos....

6 Week Nutrition Challenge

Is this the right time of year to try this 6 week nutrition challenge? Why not? I've enrolled a friend who is going to take this on with me until our last challenge day February 1st, 2011. We haven't decided on a prize yet, but I'm going to think of something big!

1. Eat one big salad a day.
2. At least one serving of beans a day
3. One serving of steamed greens a day
4. Avoid white flour
5. Avoid sugar
6. Satisfy sweet tooth with fruits
7. Limit holidays sweets: Select 1-3 sweets (ie: 1 dessert or 3 small cookies) (except Christmas Day)
8. Limit coffee to one small cup a day.
9. Drink water throughout the day.
10. Allow for 1 cheat a week

So today is the 1st day. It's good to have a fridge well stocked on the first day! Looking forward to my beet, pecan, feta, and pear salad! Yum. Plus a small lentil soup! Double Yum. If anyone else reading this post is interested in joining us, write us a comment! We'll let you in on the prize! (It's going to big!!!)

Here are my potential pitfalls! I'm naming them in bold so they know I'm aware of them!

Cookies....
Chocolate....
Frozen waffles...
Baked goods of any sorts... 
Here are your replacements you deliciously sweet yummies!

Dates and other dried fruits
Nuts
Boxes of mandarin oranges
Frozen berries
Carrot sticks
Organic apples

Wish me luck!
 

Mommy Touch

It's fairly common knowledge these days that physical touch such as holding and rocking a baby has physiological and emotional benefits. It's been proven that touching increases the baby's heart and gastrointestinal function, and promotes respiration. Also, holding and rocking often helps digestion. Kissing, cuddling, making eye contact and massage are all ways parents bond with their child, letting them know that their needs are being met. But what are the effects of physical touch for mommies?

I ask myself this because the other night, my husband was rubbing my back in bed and all of a sudden tears came gushing out.  I couldn't really say why I was crying, just that a flood of emotions just let loose out of me. What a release! I can say that since the birth of my child last January, I feel like I've been in a never ending aerobics/yoga/weight training/marathon event. The toll of lack of sleep, lugging my wiggling Baby and the emotional roller coaster of adjusting to parenthood seems to have wound itself up in every fiber in my body. Everyday I feel like I need a massage. Everyday I feel like I need 100 hugs.

Wouldn't it be great if MSP could offer a free monthly massage to all moms? (with childcare included of course) Prenatal massage has shown to relieve stress, reduce water retention, muscles and joint pain, and increase circulation. Some studies even show that women who receive regular prenatal massage reduce the probability of suffering from postpartum depression. I don't think any woman would argue that quiet music, a calm atmosphere, and physical touch can ease what is quite possibly the most stressful time of a woman's life. I think I will scrounge around in my Christmas budget and find a way to treat myself to a massage. So, next time you see a mom you know, give her a hug. Take her hand and squeeze it. Rub her shoulders. When you say to her; "Keep in touch!" Mean it and do it!

Step Away from the Baby

Do you know why I have an awesome husband? Because after a long last day at work, saying goodbye to his co-workers and packing up his things, he comes home and takes over the screaming, crying and whining baby. My patience was already wearing thin when I got my finger caught in the clasp as I was trying to tie Baby into his highchair. It hurt so much I started crying, like a tired, damn it hurts, I can't take this anymore, and it's kinda of funny at the same time type of cry. And then baby started to cry again because I was crying. What a mess. My husband swhooshed in just at that moment. I swear I heard the sound of his super hero cape whip up behind him.

I've run away upstairs. I can still hear a faint cry but I choose to ignore it. For my sanity. I choose to ignore it. Thank you my husband. Meu querido.

Active Mom and Baby

As a new mom, it seems that on most days, the walls at home seem to get closer and closer together and by midday I'm itching to get out of the house. I've done some fun activities to beat the "piles of laundry to do, dishes to wash, carpets to vacuum, don't want to play on the floor anymore" blues.

I've done a lot (okay, maybe not a lot) of those painful "burpies" with Fit For Two and their workouts really do get you back into shape. A sport bra with extra support is essential and way better than wearing 2 bras at a time. I found mine at Lady Sport. I purchased one with velcro straps with makes it super easy to access for mid-workout baby milkshakes! ah ah! Working out outside at Kits Beach or Trout Lake, breathing in the fresh air while Baby fools around on my yoga mat beats the smelly gym any day.

Baby and I trained for the 10Km Turkey Trot with Lynn and baby Hannah, by taking long walks around the city. The seawall is so awesome! I also discovered the 19th avenue bike route from Commercial Street to Main Street. Main Street is a good motivator, there's lots of neat coffee shops to stop in for a mid-walk tea. There's no lack of walks and runs in Vancouver, some are stroller friendly, and for those that are not, dad and baby can always cheer you on at the finish line!

Yesterday, I visited Unity Yoga Teahouse and Studio and took my first Mom and Baby Yoga class. It was great! The studio is relaxing and unpretentious and the tea room adjacent to it is great for chatting with other moms. The floor seating was really popular with Baby too!  The instructor, Lou, led us through a series of gentle yoga poses, stretches, and infant massage with the option of incorporating babies to our session. The November sun was shining in, Baby barefoot on my mat banging the floor with his eggbeater and charming the other babies with his smile. What's not to love about doing yoga with wee ones cooing around you?

I'm always open to try something new.... any suggestions?

Sun Salutations

 

Yesterday, I went online to learn how to do Sun Salutations. This morning I managed to wake up before Baby and decided to do a few. I opened the blinds and WOW! The sun sure was saluting back at me! 

Thank you Mother Earth, God and the Universe!

Teaching My Body to Relearn

I've been observing Baby as he has been learning to sit up, balance and move about on the floor and I can't help but admire how straight his spine is and how his head just seems to sit there at the top, perfectly balanced on his thin, little neck. He seems so at ease sitting cross-legged on the carpet, while am sitting next to him feeling sore and uncomfortable. As he's been gaining more and more weight, I've also noticed how my body has been reacting to lifting and supporting him. Every fiber in my body seems to be screaming: "What about me? I need a massage!"

Ohh... how I love massages! But, there's something bitter sweet about getting a professional massage, it feels so good but when its over, you just want more and it just doesn't feel as good when you massage yourself.

And so, if you ask and let go, the universe provides.

Thanks to my friend Nisha who treated me for my birthday, I just had my second Alexander Technique session with Gabriella at the Alexander Technique Centre.  http://www.alexandertechniquecentre.ca/.

Quoting from Gaby's website, "The Alexander Technique is a practical, self-care, educational method for improving awareness, movement and posture. It provides the tools to recognize our habits and patterns of responses so that we can change them. It emphasizes the relationship of the head, neck and back which is fundamental to improved use of the body."

I've come away from these 2 short sessions with more awareness of how my body moves and holds itself, especially when holding and breastfeeding Baby.  It's also really wonderful to do something for me, and have someone guide me toward feeling better. Unlike a massage, it nice to know that I can apply what I learn and it will benefit me over time. I look forward to more learning!!! Thanks Nisha and Gaby.