Posts Tagged ‘Health’

Summer Dehydration – Both Spiritual and Physical

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

parenting summer dehydration

It seems that summers are getting hotter and hotter and busier and busier! With everything we have to do during the year, it flies by with lightening speed! Just as we survive the holidays, anniversaries and birthdays – summer hits! Here are just a few suggestions to make your summer easier:

  1. Drink plenty of water. There are so many options for fluid intake today. Water remains the number one best way to hydrate your body. It is important to teach your children to drink water – especially small children so they will grow into healthy water drinking teens and adults later. Simply drinking water makes you think clearer, helps with weight loss and keeps you hydrated.
  2. Begin every day with an attitude of gratitude! Being thankful creates a positive atitude…..which creates happiness…..which creates positive forward motion!
  3. Sit down and create a summer schedule for your children. If you don’t, you will spend the majority of your day being worried, frustrated and angry and your children will become resentful – all of which will create stress for you and your household.
  4. Make a list for your children of projects you want them to accomplish during their time off. Make sure they understand what is acceptable and what is not.
  5. Make a list of friends that will be acceptable for your children to hang out with or have over. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. No matter what happens or doesn’t happen – don’t forget to have some FAMILY FUN! It doesn’t have to cost money, you just have to be with your family .

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Workout Procrastination

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Exercise!  It is the one thing we can do everyday that will undeniably bring happiness, make us feel good and add years to our lives.  Yet everyone goes through the overwhelming urge to lay down on the couch, sit in the most comfortable chair in the room and give in to the urge to do nothing!  Try this…find a picture of yourself that makes you feel good about yourself – no matter how old it is. Hang that picture on your bathroom mirror.  Write GO FOR A WALK across the bottom of the picture.  Set your phone alarm to wake you up one hour earlier in the mornings.  I promise that after programming yourself to systematically get up one hour earlier every morning, look at that picture and read those words everyday – you WILL get moving!  Try it!

Toddler Workout

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Making the Most of Your Workout

If you have little ones, chances are leaving for a jog or the gym is a luxury you won’t get to experience very often. So how do you work off those extra pounds? Take your kids with you! Put them in the stroller,  let them ride bicycles or tricycles while you jog. Find your local high school track. They are fenced and you can let your children run around on the field while you jog around the outside!  Playground trips can also be turned into a fabulous work out. Be creative – who said being a mom can’t be fun?  You will be accomplishing two very important goals:  First, you will get into shape, and, Second, you will be ’spiritually’ training your children that physical fitness is important and creating what I call a ‘family value memory’ that they will never forget!

Burn Calories, Cut Grime.

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Turn up your favorite tunes and get into some vigorous sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming. Housekeeping chores can burn a significant number of calories all along, but…..add some dancing, exaggerated movements and bingo!  You become your own fitness trainer.  So you get a clean house, a stress release, and a nice workout all at the same time – what more could you ask for.

Sweat Together

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

Take a walk, or better yet, take the kids for a walk.  If their pace is too slow, add some lunges, jumping jacks, or running in place every few minutes to make yourself work harder. Working out together will not only give you an opportunity to spend quality time with your children, but also give you a great workout. Plus, if your children see you workout on a consistent basis they will be more likely to join in and stay active throughout their life. After all, being a parent is multitasking, right?

Hold the Mayo

Monday, May 18th, 2009

A tablespoon of regular mayonnaise has almost 100 calories!!! Yikes! Use it wisely, or not at all.  Learn to love mustard.  It is packed with flavor and has ZERO calories!

How to Avoid the Drive-Thru

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Stock your car with bottled water and healthy snacks.  Have a small snack before the cravings hit, and you will be less likely to pull into that drive-thru.

Summer Skin Care and Teens

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Teach your kids early how to protect their skin from the sun.  If your teen just simply has to have a tan, opt for the mystic spray tans.  These are really the only safe tans out there.  By doing this, you could save your child from skin damage or possible cancer later on.  Most importantly, teach your children what skin cancer is and how to prevent it.