Dieting: Don't Cheat Yourself

Once upon a time, "cheat days" were a staple of my diet. For those of you who may not know what a cheat day is, here's the most simple description I can give you: a cheat day is a day you don't adhere to normal dietary restrictions—you take the day off and eat as you please.

The problem with having a day where "anything goes" is, at some point, you start seeing those days creep into other days as well. And, while it may not be as excessive an act here and there, it can be detrimental to your overall goal to maintain a healthy lifestyle because even a few hundred extra calories added on each week can become sneaky, unwanted, pounds later.

We all lapse, once in a while, there is no guarantee or expectation that we will always make the best choices where food is concerned, but the main purpose of staying true to your decision to be healthy is to feel good about the gift you are giving to your body.

That gift, the one of a life that is filled with more energy and a better quality of life, far outweighs the temporary joy you feel from "cheating".

So, stick to your plan, don't build in days that defy said plans—at the same time don't punish yourself if you fall off the wagon every now and then either—and remember that cheating is never a good thing.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Breast Milk Baby Doll...What?!?

Please explain to me the value in a child having a doll that can "breastfeed". I'm sorry, but the purpose of that kind of doll is lost on me—completely.

The Berjuan Toy Company, located in Spain, has developed a toy called the  "Breast Milk Baby", the purpose of which is to help "...young girls express their love and affection in the most natural way possible, just like mommy!"

Are you kidding me? Is there no end to what a toy company will do to sell merchandise?

Call me old-fashioned, call me short-sighted, or call me a prude, but there is no way I could ever deem this to be an appropriate toy for my daughter.

Young girls these days, it seems, are being brought up in a world where motherhood is glorified. And while I have no problem with the message, I do have a problem with the timing of its delivery—could we please allow our daughters to be little girls before we start teaching them how to be mothers?

The ability to love and nurture another is a lesson that can be learned without props like this one, and it's past time that we, as consumers, start drawing the line on what should and should not be appropriate entertainment for our children.

I, for one, would not encourage the purchase of this item for any girl/woman who is not an expectant mother—I see some value in this item as a teaching tool for expectant/new mothers who want to learn some of the fundamentals of breast-feeding—as, again, I find little value in it.

That said, I am certain there are many who will buy this item without a second thought because it's "just a toy" and, while I can respect that perspective, I feel a need to reiterate the point of the impressionable minds of our young girls.

Don't allow them to grow up too fast. Let them enjoy being babies before they start learning how to care for one.

Just my two.

Related articles

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Apathy, Change, and You

Each day is a challenge. I wake up every morning, trying my best to arm myself with whatever mental armor I need, so that I won't be blindsided by negativity. However, the one thing I never account for is the fact that everyone around me will be doing the same thing.

As a society, we've been trained to be skeptical of everything and everyone. We question our leaders, question our laws, and rail against the ways of the world that have led us to this mass chaos that, seemingly, has no end. Yet, none of us is truly willing to take responsibility for the role we might have played in this mechanism. We're, all of us, content to put up our walls or stick our heads in the sand.

Many of us assumed we could leave the important decisions to the more informed, more educated, and more involved segments of society. We stopped paying attention to the signs that signaled something wasn't quite right because we had problems of our own to tend to—let somebody else handle this mess. 

The problem with that attitude is that it's pervasive—it never stops at one person—and a society that mass produces an attitude of apathy isn't one headed in the right direction. You have to stand for something if you ever expect to live a life of purpose.

Read a newspaper, watch the news, seek out the knowledge you need to start making the small steps that can eventually get us all back on the right track.

Be the change you wish to see in the world...isn't that what Ghandi said?

Are you being that change or letting the world change you?

Everything Comes To The Light

It's impossible to live a lie for very long. At some point you have to address the issues around you for what they are and try to bring the truth into focus. It won't matter that beneath the surface there lies a mountain of pain or that neither you, nor the involved party—assuming there is one—are ready to accept the truth. The ultimate goal, for you, will be to find peace.

Peace of mind, peace in heart, and peace for the soul you've neglected for so long by living in a way that's untrue to what you believe is the best version of yourself.

The trouble with love and relationships is that so many of us feel the need to give away the most important parts of what makes us who we are, so that we can co-exist with another. While compromise is always necessary where love (and to some extent friendship) is concerned, sacrifice should not be— there is a difference between the two.

However, when companionship is wanted, needed, we do what we feel we must to make it happen—we go outside of our character. We make changes because we feel it's better to be broken than alone. But, ask yourself this: is it worse to be alone with your self-respect and dignity, or broken but with someone?

A person that loves you, cares for you, and wants what's best for you, WILL NOT let you compromise who you are to be with them—they will love you for and, sometimes, in spite of those things, and you will work together to find a place for those parts within your relationship. You won't have to choose—and you shouldn't.

Despite what people tell you, two halves  don't make a relationship whole—you should be able to bring all of yourself to the table when you make the decision to turn over your heart. If that's not possible, step away—no matter how much it hurts.

The 6 iPhone Apps This Busy Mom Can't Do Without

I own an iPhone—proudly. I have been on-board with one since 2007, and would not switch to another smartphone if you paid me.

I consider myself an app-addict and often peruse the Apple App Store for new items to that can help me stay organized and focused. At present, I have better than 150 apps on my phone—most of which are there for that "just in case" moment, but some are used almost daily—this list speaks briefly about the latter.

That said, I tend to keep my app choices to those which are offered for free because, in this economy, I don't need my money going to something frivolous or unnecessary. So, if I do shell out any money for an app, trust that I've researched it long enough to consider it worth my while.

So, let's get started:

1. My Fitness Pal (free): Calorie counting has become a way of life for me—despite what the doctors or weight watchers has to say :)—I do so as much to evaluate my sodium and fat intake as I do to make sure I am keeping my eating habits in check. This app offers a huge food database (I have yet to enter an item that wasn't in their listing) and online syncing. It's been an invaluable tool in helping me to maintain my fitness goals.

2. Nike Training Club (free): This is a great way to either diversify a routine you've already established or get you started on your way to one. I use it, at least 2-3 times a week as a supplement to my regimen and I have to say it has been phenomenal.

3. Cozi (ad-supported, free version): I recently have had to start re-organizing my calendar to include varying activities for the different members of my family and Cozi has been a nice tool for giving me that quick glance of what's on the menu for the day. It offers color coded dots for each family member and gives you the option of setting reminders (via email or text) for all the most important tasks of the day. It's the PDA for my famLay—okay, that was cheesy. But, it really is great.

4. All-in-Yoga ($1.99): I love this yoga app for it's simplicity and ease. I'm still a novice so I didn't see a need to spend a ton on a yoga app that I wasn't sure I'd use very much, but I use this one 2 to 3 times a week. It's been a little up and down lately, due to various updates, but I still favor it above most of the others I've seen/used.

5. Facebook (free): Of course, just about everyone updates their Facebook account via a mobile phone these day,s and I am no exception.

6. BlogPress ($2.99): I write two blogs and BlogPress offers me a decent way to keep both updated with fresh content as well as write on the go—something I have done on more than one occasion.

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Staying Fit Means Keeping Excuses To A Minimum

As a mother of two, I worked hard to get back to my pre-baby body after my pregnant one took over and—though I haven't one regret about the experience of being pregnant—it was a challenge that was both frustrating and character building at the same time.

So when I hear women say that it's "impossible" to look good post pregnancy, I find myself perplexed—call it arrogance, call it ignorance, call it an inability to empathize, but I feel it's just an excuse to not do better.

There are many women out there who managed to get back to a healthy size minus a gym or a trainer and despite the responsibilities of being a mother.

I choose to take a little time for myself, everyday,  to exercise. I do yoga, meditate, or play with the kids, but I make a decision to put my body into motion. I work hard at it not only to appease the vain side that exists to some degree in every one of us—let's face it, we all like to look great in a pair of jeans—but also to teach my children to 1) never neglect the Temple God gave you, and 2) to always remember to make time for bettering yourself—even if it means putting something or someone on hold for a moment.

Now, before the mommies cite me for being a bad parent, let me make this very clear: my kids are my top priority. They don't lack for anything as far as love, attention, and nourishment are concerned—nor does the hubby for that matter. But, in order to be that woman who can do it all, or at least appear to, I have to attend to me first, and that means feeling good about the skin I'm in.

Every woman deserves to look in the mirror and feel like a pretty girl—no matter what her age. Being fit—like it or not—contributes to that perspective, and you won't get fit by sitting on the sofa making excuses.

Am I saying you have to be a size 4? No, absolutely not, but I am saying that there is always time for you, so, take it and use it wisely.

Jon Bon Jovi Blames iTunes For Music's Demise?...Seriously?

In case you haven't heard by now, according to Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple and creator of iTunes) is the reason why music is dying. In an interview published by the Sunday Times Magazine, the rocker is quoted as having said the following about Jobs and his iTunes downloading model—which allows patrons to pick and choose the music they want from an artist's album for between $0.99 and $1.29 per track—he's "killing the music business".

Not for nothing, Jon—and, might I add, I was a big Bon Jovi fan back in the day—but music has done a fine job of killing itself without any help from Mr. Jobs or iTunes. As a matter of fact, I would contend that if not for services like iTunes, I might never buy any music at all.

Why?  Well, that's easy, because most of it is overpriced, poorly produced, crap.

Who on earth wants to spend better than $10 on a CD that will have, at best, three to four songs worth listening to? How is that a good return on one's investment?

And, piggybacking on that last thought, here's the quote by Bon Jovi that really got me going:

"Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like [emphasis added], and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it,"

See that right there is the root of the problem. Back then you could count on the quality of an album based on the artist hawking the product. You knew that if you spent your hard earned money on an artist like Pearl Jam, Guns N' Roses (before Axl went crazy), Babyface, TLC, or Coldplay, you were getting quality music. Their reputation and product made them a must-get from the time they released an album.

You can't make that mistake nowadays because most of the acts you hear on the radio won't be around long enough for you to care about their reputation. As a matter of fact, most of them are built only for that one big hit and the rest of what they give you will be fluff or worse.

The good bands, artists, etc. will always have people willing to buy their music because they pay attention to the quality of their work. Can the same be said for artists like Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, or P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, or whatever the heck his name is nowadays?

I don't think so.

Thank goodness iTunes gives me options—as a consumer—because that has saved me from both an empty wallet and that feeling of regret. These days it's a lot less about the experience of making a decision "based on the jacket" than it is about making an informed choice about who's worthy of your hard-earned money.

The bottom line is this: if you're making good music, people will buy the album—period.

All this talk of Bon Jovi has me feeling nostalgic. So, just for old times sake, here's one of my personal favorites from his younger days:



Ahhhh, the memories. I forgot just how big a crush I had on Richie Sambora. He was definitely a doll.

Diet and Exercise: The Only "Fad" That Ever Truly Works

You know what galls me the most? The thing that really just eats at my nerves—fad dieting. Never in my life have I been the type to latch onto the latest hip product or drug that will "revolutionize" my workout or help me drop however many jean sizes in less than 8 weeks!

Give. Me. A. Break.

Listen, because this is something that I know for sure: Unless you have a medical condition which keeps you from losing weight effectively, the only weight-loss method that will ever work for you is combining a healthy, well-balanced, diet with 30-60 minutes of exercise on most days of the week.
This is not rocket science, it's just that simple.

Fad diets are a temporary fix to what can be a long-term problem, and those who tend to use the quick route are often those who either a) don't have the time, energy, or motivation to put in the type of work necessary to get in shape, or b) want to believe there's an easier way to remedy a problem that took them years to get to.

If that sounds harsh or insensitive, I apologize, but it is what it is.

Being fit, being healthy, and being the best version of the physical you that is humanly possible takes hard work—every day. It's not easy and it's certainly not something you can do for 12 weeks and then stop. You have to make a lifestyle change and stick to it. If you don't, you will eventually return to the the same you that you are hoping to leave behind.

That being said,  the only question you ever need to ask yourself before beginning a weight-loss plan is this: how committed are you—really?

Breaking Down The Wall

Living a healthy lifestyle is a change I undertook a while ago—only getting serious about it in the last year—by educating myself on good nutritional habits and making proper food choices at the grocery store. As a person who shunned the reading of nutritional labels, it was amazing for me to come to the realization that I wasn't nearly as healthy as I thought I was. I ate far too many processed foods and was much too lenient where indulging in fast food was concerned. 

Those realizations led to the setting of two goals: 1) change my eating habits (less meat, more whole grains, and little, if any, fast food) and 2) make more of an effort to maximize and diversify my workout regimen (yoga, pilates, and cross-training were all added to the menu).

I started down the road of better living and, for a time, felt better about myself mentally, spiritually, and physically.

However, what I didn't account for is what happens when you hit the healthy living wall and suddenly, either through circumstance or frustration, decide you don't want to do it anymore. What are you supposed to do then?

In my case, a familial obligation led to my "fall off the wagon". I made commitments that wreaked havoc on my fitness schedule and made room for some uncharacteristic eating behaviors on my part.

I indulged myself in several slices of cake, as well as a few trips to Chick-fil-A (that Spicy Chicken Sandwich is sinful) and Burger King and, although I felt an immense amount of guilt each time I broke ranks with what I knew was the right thing to do, I still managed to rationalize the behavior.

However, the problem with rationalization is that it allows you to start down a slippery slope of acceptance that can eventually lead to your returning to old, familiar, behaviors again, and that has its own set of problems.

So, how do you break through the rut?

Well, I have to tell you, for me, it starts with reaffirming my original goals—eating better and maintaining my workout regimen. I have made a lot of progress over the last 9-months and I don't want to allow a few days of regression to set me permanently off track. So, I've resolved to find my groove again.

We are all human—capable of making mistakes—but that does not mean you can't get back on track. Perhaps that wall is just your subconscious' way of telling you to take a break. It is possible to get burned out if you don't take the time to reset.

Do you have to go on a binge to do so? Of course not, but don't forget to allow a little room to indulge yourself every once in a while.

Related articles

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Take Control of Your Day

It's not always easy to stay cheerful and focused—as a matter of fact, it's hard work—however, as a wife, mother, and superwoman (yes, I am), I find that it's a much harder thing to allow the negative forces of life to rule me. I simply don't have time to add those demons into a day that already has the potential to be a challenge.

Let's face it, there are multiple reasons to get up in the morning and say, "this day will mirror the rest of em'—poorly planned and poorly executed—so why bother making the effort to be productive?" Well, if you're like most, you make the effort based on the possibility that the day could turn out to be special.

My advice is to focus on the latter point more. Stop making it tough for yourself to find the positive spaces within the harried levels of your daily life. Wake up and take five minutes to imagine the day as a success—visualize yourself getting something done and being a productive piece of this overwhelming puzzle—not a failure.

You have a responsibility, to yourself, to be more than just an instrument utilized improperly by someone else. Take control of your day and make something good happen.

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It's Not Always Easy Remembering To Smile

Recently, I have abandoned my daily yoga routine. I abandoned it not because it's not useful—trust me it is—but because I haven't been able to find the time to fit it into my busy schedule. However, of late, the lack of it has caused me to spiral back into my daily stress-filled ritual of trying to do too much with too little.

One of the basic mantras of the yoga routine I follow is to remember to "smile" and "be grateful for everything the day hath brought". I often forget to actually smile during the course of a normal day—on the inside, not the outside—because I'm so focused on the outward responsibilities that I have yet to complete.

The solution to my problem is easy enough: I'll just have to get back to my morning yoga ritual. I miss that moment of personal reflection and meditative contemplation—breathe in the positive, exhale the negative.

I must get back to that.

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• Know Yoga, Know Peace (bodymindlifestudio.wordpress.com)