Something To Talk About

For years I never discussed weight and foods with my daughter. Well, at least not in any real context. We talked about healthy foods verses unhealthy foods and being able to identify them. Fruits and vegetables were healthy, bacon and salami were not healthy. That was the extent of our conversations. I also didn't use the word "fat" around her. I didn't want to perpetuate the body image issues that are so prevalent in our media.

My intentions were good. However, over the years, I've realized how little I, myself, knew about health. As I learned more, I realized that I would have had a much easier, healthier road if I were taught these things growing up. So, I changed my stance. I realized I needed to prepare her for a healthy life. So we began to talk. We talked about foods, calories as energy, micro (Vitamins) AND macro nutrients (protein vs carbohydrates). We talked about how each affects insulin levels and how insulin affects how you feel. We started talking about BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate - the caloric intake your body needs to function just to keep your heart, kidneys, liver, etc working properly...if you just laid in bed all day).  We even calculated her BMR. Then I taught her about TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure - the amount of calories needed to walk to the refrigerator, take a shower, play a game, read, ride her bike...basically anything other than just sleeping). Then we talked about how much energy (calories) were needed to do each activity. We talked about how heart rate rises and falls with each activity. I put on my heart rate monitor and showed her my heart rate as I laid down. Then I stood up and showed her how it raised a little because standing takes more energy than lying. Then I walked and showed her how it raised again, then ran and showed her how it raised more. Then I stopped, an she saw how it lowered as less energy was expended. We talked about heart rate and calories and how they were both measurements of energy expended. 

Lastly, I introduced her to choices. She now had her TDEE, and we talked about dividing them up over the day to give us energy when we'll need it. We talked about snacks and how they help keep your insulin levels from spiking. We also talked about how protein was a longer lasting fuel than carbohydrates, and would keep her insulin more leveled, but how carbohydrates were good quick burned fuel if she needed energy fast. So we talked about balance....the need for protein AND carbohydrates..AND EVEN fats (fat is essential for brain function).  I explained to her that living in a very wealthy country meant that she would have an abundance of options...and she would have to make choices from those options. 

We now put our lessons into our lives. When we go out to eat we talk about our days activity plan. Will it be a lazy movie day, or will we be going to the park to play?  How will we need to fuel that activity?  Once we have a targeted calorie range, we talk about what she wants to eat. When she wanted the chocolate chip pancakes, I said ok. How much of it can you have?  When she found out that half of the pancake would be her total breakfast calories, they didn't look as appealing. She wanted the whole pancake. I then reminded her that a pancake doesn't have any protein, and we could also take this as an opportunity to get in some fruits or vegetables.  The more we looked at the menu, I geared her towards the silver dollar pancakes. I told her I would split the order with her, and we could add fresh strawberries on top and add the turkey bacon.

We now continue to do this with most meals. With going out to eat, we try to incorporate one healthy with one treat. For example, if she gets the chicken tenders (she is still a kid!), then she gets a Caesar salad with it instead of the fries. If she really wants fries, then she can get them and have the tomato soup instead of the tenders. 

The important thing isn't which combination she chooses, or if she chooses right 100% of the time. The important part is that I'm providing her the tools she needs to live a healthy, long life. 

Quarantine

My schedule has been off all day today. Normally I go to the gym directly after dropping my daughter off at school, but this morning I had to take the hubs to the doctor. I thought he had Strep, but the culture came back negative and it turns out it's Hand Foot & Mouth Disease. It's viral, so there's nothing he can take to get better faster. He just has to wait it out. 

HFMD is highly contagious. It's not just airborne, but can pass through touching him. He has hives, and if touched they can spread the HFMD. I've quarantined him to the spare bedroom and he's not allowed touching anything outside that bedroom. I really don't want the kids to get this...especially the baby. 

After the doctor's, I went to my daughter's school to fill in for another mom who asked me to do her lunch monitor duty because she had a meeting she couldn't miss. I was happy to help, but once I got there, I noticed another mom had signed in for the grade I was suppose to be covering. I checked the email, and sure enough it said 9/18, but when I looked at the weekly schedule, it said she does it on Thursdays, not Wednesdays. So I replied to her email and asked if she meant 9/19 instead of 9/18. She replied "yes"...that was it. There was no "I'm sorry I got the wrong day"...nothing. I'm a little perturbed. However, I saw the cutest thing. My daughter has a boy best friend that she has a huge crush on. I saw them sitting next to each other at lunch. He's a really nice kid. It was so cute. See??!!

After leaving the school, I contemplated on whether to go to the gym immediately, or whether I should wait until after my son's nap. I was absolutely exhausted and wanted a nap myself, but I also wanted to weigh myself before I ate lunch. I knew if I went to the gym, that the baby would sleep at their child care, and I would lose my chance at a nap myself. So we went home and I tried to get him to sleep. He fought the nap for almost an hour!  I was so happy when he fell asleep and I fell asleep soon after. 

After the nap, we went to the gym. I swam 1/2 mile (40 minutes) and then weighed myself. 

Not a huge loss, but still a movement in the right direction (-0.8 lbs)...and it was after I ate both breakfast and lunch. 

I had to go to the grocery store to get something for dinner. I was absolutely exhausted so I needed something fast, yet healthy. I got one of those store cooked roasted chickens, Stovetop stuffing, and green beans to steam. Total cook/prep time was 5 minutes...and it was good!  The best part is that there is enough for lunch tomorrow!

Plan B

My daughter has discovered that playing goalie means less running and has been volunteering to be the goalie at her soccer games. I feel so guilty. I know her sedentary lifestyle is a direct result of MY sedentary lifestyle. We're going to change that though. I've made a commitment to her. We've signed up for the Chicago Hot Chocolate Run, and we start training this week! 

Yesterday we had decided to get Mexican after her soccer game. I planned out my meal before going and added the counted the calories. The plan was chicken fajitas, no guacamole, no sour cream, no tortillas, 1/2 cup of beans and 1/2 cup of rice, along with 12 tortilla chips and salsa. This was around 750 calories, which was high for one meal, but since I ran in the morning, I had the calories to go a little higher for eating out. 

When we got there, the waiter informed us that they were out of salsa, so he gave us guacamole with our chips. (What Mexican restaurant runs out of salsa??!!)  I looked at my husband and told him that I couldn't eat that.  He thought I was just being difficult and told me one time wouldn't hurt. After all, we were out to eat. I explained to him that it's never just one time. All those one times add up, and that's how you end up fat. I had made a plan and I was going to stick to it. If this is going to work, I have to learn how to eat out and stay within my calorie range. He offered me a chip and I told him I didn't want a plain chip and I wasn't eating the guacamole with it. I decided that if my only option was guacamole, then I just wouldn't eat the chips and would instead wait for my food. Then I had an aha moment. I remembered when I used to do Weight Watchers, that I would always get pico de gallo. When the waiter came back to take my order, I asked him if they had pico de gallo. He said yes, so I got that. The hubs tried the pico de gallo and loved it, so he decided to have his chips with the pico de gallo instead of the guacamole too!

After Mexican, I dropped the family off at home and went to finally get a haircut. It had been forever since I got it cut. The last time, the lady accidentally ran the scissors through my hair as she was combing it and took a huge chunk out...twice!  After that mishap, I was nervous to get it cut. It grew and grew, and I had to decide if I was going to become Rapunzel, or take a chance with another salon. I'm so glad I took the chance because I love the new place!  My hair looks fabulous and feels so healthy. I ended up cutting 6" off. 

When I got back, the hubs had gone grocery shopping and had our favorite recipe book out. 

I'm in love with every recipe I've ever made out of this book.  Last night, he made a pasta with eggplant and a red sauce. It was divine, and only 350 calories!  Which left enough calories for wine!

Today was a lazy day. When we woke up, it was down pouring. We layed in bed for awhile then had coffee and breakfast before getting ready for church. After church we had the leftover pasta...with more wine. ;)  It was the perfect meal to put us in a food/wine coma, so we took a nap until 5!  We didn't mean to sleep so late, but we probably needed it. The boy had kept us up a lot the night before. 

I wanted to get some items from Old Navy while the hubs was home to watch the kids, so I threw some shoes on and headed out the door. I was giddy. I must admit, I halfway enjoy shopping when I don't have the kids with me. And now that I'm down a size, I had a lot more options. I needed to get some size 14 jeans. 

Before church, I went to my "skinny clothes" storage bins to find a smaller pair of jeans, since the ones I had been wearing were too big. Weird thing though, last month, I pulled the size 16 out to wear because I was down from a size 18. However, there's not one pair of 14's. The next size I have is a size 12 (which are still too small). I have no idea how, when I was gaining weight, I went from a size 12 to a 16...skipping straight over the 14's. So, I went to get some 14's and then to get a few pieces to put together some outfits that I had pinned on Pinterest. I also picked up some more workout clothes. I love their compression pants and semi fitted technical shirts. 

When I got home, this is what I did...

Yep, it's mid September and I turned on the fireplace. This is my favorite thing about our house and fall/winter. It is so relaxing. 

Summer still?

This summer I was a horrible mom. I thought since I would be staying home with the kids that I'd be the perfect mom that would take her kids to the park all the time and other fun activities. I even bought season passes to Six Flags amusement park. Then reality happened. It was hot. I don't do well in the heat, my daughter has VERY fair skin, and I had a newborn who wasn't old enough for sunscreen. Basically...I made excuses. :-(

I soon realized that I couldn't handle both kids at the amusement park by myself. The baby couldn't be left alone, and my daughter needed someone to ride the rides with. That ended up being a huge waste of money. Lesson learned. 

I did eventually discover a pool close by and made a commitment to take them swimming in the afternoon (after the sun started going down slightly) at least once a week. A few times we even made it twice a week!

My daughter needs to be more active. When she plays soccer, she struggles with running and balance because she doesn't do it much. Yesterday, I made a commitment to her. I committed to playing outside (or going somewhere inside if it's raining) WITH her. Not just taking her to the park and sitting with the baby while she plays, but actively playing with her. So yesterday, we went to the soccer field and played soccer together, and then went to the park afterwards. Of course, it had to be hot as hell yesterday. 95 degrees in...mid September...in the Midwest!  Can't we just be done with summer already?  It's my least favorite season.

It was hot, but I had made a commitment, so we just took ice water and parked the baby in the shade. As hot as it was, and as sweaty as we got, I had so much fun playing with her!!  I can't wait to do it again!