Thrive

What the heck are you eating? 

Face it, even if you think you are eating well, you probably have no idea of the extra calories in your diet {I didn't}.  You know, the ones keeping you bloated, and feeling unhealthy?  The one thing I know for sure, is you can go to the gym for as many hours as you want, and if you over indulge in even what you think is healthy, you are setting yourself up for failure.  I am living proof. 

After having three daughters in the span of four years, let's just say my "last 20 pounds" did not seem to go away.  Well, it did go away, a couple of times, then creeped right back on to my behind.  Why?  How could this happen?  I felt like I was eating all the right things: protein powders and energy bars before (for stamina) and after workouts (for recovery), fruit and veggies, not too much pasta, and the like.  I wasn't sitting around eating ho-ho's.  It just didn't add up for me.  The weight on my licence was more of a pipe dream than reality (and NO, I felt no need to tell the DMV of it's inaccuracy).

I don't mean to pull out the Oprah card, but I did see a show where her entire staff went vegan for a week.  I was amazed at how they all were commenting on how fit they were feeling, and no longer had bloating issues.  They seemed to have more energy, and said they felt better than they ever remembered.  The best side-effect?  Weight loss.  Like, a lot of pounds dropped.  So I started investigating... how I would even go about becoming a vegetarian? Would I even be able to figure it out, and still feed my carnivore husband and children at the same time?  I should also tell you that my husband is a triathlete who competes in Ironman distance races, and the man can eat.  How could I convert him as well, and still get him enough nutrition to get through long, vigorous workouts?

In my online hunt for all things vegetarian, I came across this site, No-Meat Athlete, where this guy hit the nail on the head for me.  Not only was the site geared towards vegetarians, it was basically vegan as well.  And the guy was an athlete.  Bonus~that gives him instant street credit with my husband.  It was full of recipes and ideas for leaning into this healthy change in lifestyle.  But the best part about finding the No-Meat Athlete site was coming across the post he wrote about the Thrive books, written by Brendan Brazier.  It's a great website, check it out.

Brendan, you made this lifestyle part of my everyday life, and I promote your book to everyone who asks, "Jenn, how did you lose the weight?".  Because guess what?  It's still gone.  I've had to buy all new pants.  All-new-pants....in a single digit size.  Want to know the secret? 

Stop eating crap. 

By that I mean acidic food.  The entire American diet is based on eating highly acidic foods, and until you start eating foods that produce an alkaline body, you are going to feel like crap, and not like how you look in pictures.  It's just a fact.  There is quite a long list of the crummy acidic foods we feed ourselves, and our children everyday in the book, and I will talk about them more as well.  Basically think of everything that's in your pantry....about 85% of it is probably on the acidic list.  Yes, I still have some of that stuff around, but we focus on it way less than we used to, before we knew better.

Please don't think that your family is all big boned and it's not going to work for you.  Or that you have "bad genes" and you can't do anything about it.  Just because your family might be bigger people, doesn't mean YOU can't decide to be healthy.  They are probably eating many of the same foods that are producing crummy health for all of you.  That's like saying that gravity only works for most people, but not for you.  It will work, I promise you.  I KNOW so {no, I'm not a doctor, but I can google like one}.  I just hope you might be willing to lean into the lifestyle a little, and the results will come.

The weight on my licence is actually over what I weigh now...funny how now I am ready to march up to the DMV for the new picture and get the weight corrected on my licence now.  When I was was working out like crazy, I was frustrated that I never lost enough weight~I know now it was my diet that held me back.

I'll be talking more about the Thrive books, and how they have changed the way I eat, and the way I feed my family.  First stop?  Breakfast.  Stay tuned~it's not the "breakfast cereal" you're used to.  And, yes, my husband eats it too!

Have a great day...and eat some extra veggies today!

{Jenn}

Pride

Watching the scene in Boston play out last night was amazing.  A successful conclusion to a horrific week.  Seeing people come out of their homes to cheer for the law enforcement personnel as they left the area, was tear jerking, to say the least.  From all of the fear, came pride and gratitude that couldn't be contained.

Earlier, while the operation was still in full-swing, I couldn't help but think...are those guys hungry?  How are  they functioning if they haven't eaten? How many hours have they been out on this case?  When was the last time they slept?  I'm sure they were running on adrenaline, but I know how I feel about my own husband when he is out too long on a case.  I know I'm his wife, but worry like a mom too...can't help it.

And, what I know most of all...how were their wives/significant others watching this news coverage without losing their minds?  I know my husband would want to be first in the stack for SWAT, and I know how I worry.  Seeing it unfold in front of me on TV might be unbearable.  And with one officer's life already taken... I didn't want to imagine what else could happen. 

You see, as a spouse of a cop, you block it all out.  Every piece of it.  You get used to the uniform, the guns, the vests, the body armor.....but when they walk out that door, it all melts away~at least to me.  I tell myself he "goes somewhere" and comes back.  Thinking about the middle part is too difficult.  I would never sleep, or be able to function if I envisioned everything he does each day.  Forget about SWAT, I don't even want to think about that part.  So I know that this all playing out on TV has had to be extremely difficult for the wives and families of those involved, and we should all say a prayer for them to get through this.  

Because even if they don't realize they need the lift, they do.

A few years ago, I saw a police take-down in traffic, directly in front of me, as I drove my daughter home from preschool.  I sat there in my car, frantically trying to figure if I was seeing my own husband as the officers got into position around the car.  Once I realized it wasn't him, it dawned on me~oh my gosh, that's what he does everyday.  Every single day.  I did not like it.  It blew my reality up, and scared the heck out of me.  It's always in the back of my mind...

To every cops wife, spouse, partner who had to hold their breath this week, as you prayed for your loved ones safe return home, know that all of us in this extended law enforcement community worried and prayed along with you, and we will continue to do so as you deal with the aftermath of this week from hell. 

Thank you for yet again another reminder that our "good guys" always show up. 

Be safe.

Have a great day

{Jenn}

PS....all the photos came from this site below...

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/19/surreal-photos-of-swat-teams-combing-watertown/

Boston

Once again, my heart sunk down into my stomach upon hearing the awful news of the day. 

Once again all of us think what kind of world do we LIVE in anymore? 

We live in the most resilient country in the world...that's where we live.  Boston, our hearts are with you.

{It's amazing how you can feel disgusted and sickened by the cowards who committed these acts of terror, while at the same time,  feel utterly proud, amazed and grateful all at once for those who ran straight into danger, without regard for their own safety.  That's how days like this make me feel}.

Sadly, the 26th mile was to be dedicated to the children of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting~and some of their families were there....when I turned on the news, and saw what was unfolding, my thoughts instantly went to my post about it...

Read it again...it's still true.  And always will be.

Good guys always show up...and there will always be more good than evil in this world. 

Believe it.

Say a prayer tonight to someone, or something.  And if you're not sure how to pray, just say 'thank you' in your heart to those who keep all of us safe everyday, and are willing to give their lives for total strangers, just because it's the right thing to do.

Have a safe night,

{Jenn}

Anxiety

If your child has anxiety about going to school, regardless of what grade they are in, it's probably as hard for you to watch as it is for your child to endure.  No one wants to see their child upset walking towards that school bus, or in tears going through the school doors.  There are ways you can help to ease the anxiety of your child, and ways to shift their attention often enough to make going to school an easier task.

I have been the mom who has left a very young one in tears at school, only to make it back to the car in tears myself.  I've also been the mom who had to wrestle the same child into a car seat when it was time to go.  It's rough.  And people don't talk about it~mainly because it seems like such a simple task~ you drop them off at a safe place, you pick them up from a safe place.  It would be nice if it was that easy to do all the time, and your child understood that.  I'm hoping if you came upon this post, then you will find it helpful for you or someone you know who may have a rough go of it. 

There are lots of situations I could discuss here, but let's focus on one for today, as my kids are on spring break....{that means they are keeping me very busy}...

~Your child doesn't want to come to school, or has anxiety over riding the bus~

There are instant things that come to my mind when I see a child who struggles coming to school:

1. I wonder if the child has difficulty during any transitional times, not just in school
2. I wonder what is causing the anxiety in the child for them to act out/refuse to leave their parent
3. I wonder what I can do to shift their attention away from the fear/anxiety they have

There are ways to address these issues, and they may be easier than you think.  Here is one attention shifting idea I have used over the years that has had great results...more ideas will follow, but you have lots to do today, I'll try and be brief... :)

The "IMPORTANT" envelope 
When riding the bus is new, or scary, or anxiety inducing {especially if it is after a break from school, or vacation}, you are going to want to shift your child's attention off of the fear of riding the bus/leaving you.  One way to do that is to give your child a "job".  A really, really important job.  A job so important, they are the only ones who can be responsible for it!  They must be the ENVELOPE DELIVERY PERSON who will deliver this envelope to a teacher, a classmates mom, the principal or whoever the heck is important in your child's eyes. 

Talk this up.  Pump them up. 

This is a job not even the president could handle.  Let them hold the envelope, and protect it while on the bus.  Or if they are a "I want it in my folder kid" then put it in their folder, book bag, wherever THEY want to put it. 

Let your child feel some control. 

It's hard going to school everyday, and your child has no say in it {thank God}.  Anointing them with this important job title is a big deal, and it helps them feel some control over 'having to go to that place again where they make you do work'.  Try it.  And on a paper inside the envelope, tell the teacher/principal  you were trying something to help them get on the bus happily, as a kid with a mission.  They will go with it, trust me!

Give them that 'destination person'.  It will focus their attention as they leave you, they can think about it on that bus ride, and when they get to school, there's no time to worry when you have a job to do.  They have to deliver that envelope to a very important person!  Go a step further and email the teacher, or make a quick phone call telling them what you're doing so they can really praise your little one for being so responsible.  Maybe even ask them to write a response back to you and put it in...get ready....ANOTHER envelope to send home.  The teacher wants to have happy kids in class, I promise you!

This simple activity will do three things:

1. Shift their attention to something positive
2. Provide a new focus {away from the fear}
3. Allow your child to feel in control

This may seem really simple, but sometimes the simple things are the things that work.  There is no harm in trying, right?  It can always be tweaked to meet your needs.

Do you have a specific issue you'd like me to help you figure out?  Just ask.  I love using that teacher part of my brain.

Have a great day!

{Jenn}

Homework

If daily homework has become the stuff of nightmares, it may be time to ask for some assistance...

Picture credit here

As a teacher, homework was something I cringed a little over sending home.  Not that I didn't think kids needed more practice, but I knew the kids would be beat at the end of the day, and I never wanted my extra work to be a burden for parents.

Some children...well, okay, most children work very hard all day to "keep it together" and remain focused on schoolwork.  By the time the bell rings at the end of the day, they are done.  Let's not even talk about how scheduled some kids are, with activities on multiple nights of the week. 

Take it from someone who had serious swim team practice {as a kid} every night of the week~it wasn't always easy.

We have to face it~kids are being asked to do more and more in the classroom, and that is not going to change.  But if the homework load is becoming such a tedious process, that it is turning your home life into a war-zone, it's okay to talk with the teacher. 

I'll give you an example from my own children.  One of my daughters has CAPD, and a "Mixed Expressive and Receptive Language Disorder" {I wrote about it here at length}.  Excessive homework is truly the stuff of her nightmares~and mine.  During first grade, she was getting a large packet sent home, with work for the week.  It was good, because we could do a little each night and get it done by Friday....in the beginning anyway.  Quickly it got harder and harder.  The nightly homework took longer...and longer to complete.  Frustration set in for both of us, and even as a teacher, I struggled with what I could do.  I solved the problem, and this may be an approach you could take too.

It was actually an easy fix.  I just sent her teachers an email.  I kindly described the difficulty we were having, and said I was willing to work with my daughter each night, but not to the point of "shut-down".  So we came to an understanding that I would work with her each night for a certain amount of time {20-25 minutes} on all that needed to be accomplished for the week {which included the homework packet, math on the computer, and reading a portion of a book}.  I would make sure we did a little from each page {like 5 problems instead of 20}, and I would be making sure she was understanding the skills~if not, I'd be letting them know. 

The teachers agreed.  And it made a GIANT improvement in our home life.  It became a manageable task, instead of an overwhelming one.  No teacher wants to be the source of your frustration, believe me {if you don't want to email the teacher, or cannot, then call the school and leave a message for the teacher to call you back.  Or maybe write a note and leave it in your child's folder}.

So, don't just keep dragging on, figuring the teacher is going to MAKE YOU do the entire packet with your child, if they can't handle it.  That is not good for anyone.  And the teacher needs to know how it's going at home as well~remember, they do not know the struggles you are going through unless you tell them. 

A simple email changed our evenings from hectic and frustrating to something we could handle.

Be that voice for your child.  There will always be a middle ground to settle on~be willing to find it. 


Any questions, let me know :)

Have a great day!

{Jenn}

PS~this is not a sponsored post, but I found the above picture from this site on Pinterest, and it fit the bill for my post here... :)   Looks like it links to a great resource as well!  Bonus.