Self Care

Self Care | The Before

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35 Weeks pregnant with Edith and self care routine in place.

35 Weeks pregnant with Edith and self care routine in place.

I have always loved makeover shows especially What Not To Wear. I would sit there and think oh how I would love to do that but at the same time how embarrassing it would be to actually be picked for the show. I promised myself that I would never get myself to a point where my friends and family or random people would see me on the street and say that lady needs to go on a makeover show. However after becoming a mother I feel like that is exactly what I need.

As a mother I have really fallen into the stereotype of that women who puts her family first and herself last the majority of the time. Until recently I hadn’t put any effort into my clothes, my hair, my skincare, make up or anything. The only thing I have been doing for myself, and even with this I slack at times, is getting in my workouts and attempting to eat healthfully. 

8 months postpartum and ...yeah.

8 months postpartum and …yeah.

I would say a big part of this was a result of postpartum body the first time around (you can read about that here). It is really a challenge to wrap your head around a postpartum body because it’s so foreign and such a huge shock. I mean as women we spend nine months growing a human being and then all of a sudden the baby Earth side and we are left with this foreign body. We don’t know how to dress this new body and on top of that we are dealing with swollen, leaky boobs, a baby who needs our attention, a lack of sleep and basically we are trying to figure out how to navigate our new life.

I wore maternity clothes until I was basically a year postpartum and even then I only bought clothes that were as cheap as I could find and then when I was ready to actually invest in new clothes I found myself back in maternity ones. I rarely took a shower that was longer than 10 minutes. I had no skincare routine and makeup ….what’s that? Oh and hair? I have had my haircut a total of three times in the past two years. I basically did nothing that made me feel good. I spent my days in yoga pants, sans make up (not that I think you need make up to feel/look good), I couldn’t even be bothered to wash my face and doing anything more than throwing my hair up in a pony tail was considered fancy. Basically I didn’t do anything to make me feel mentally or physically beautiful. Until now. 

I’ll end this post here and next week I’ll return with the now. 

What does self care mean to you?

For mamas or anyone who has experienced big changes in body image or even just lifestyle how have you focused on your self care? What challenges have you faced and how have your/are you working to over come them? 

Fitness Friday | Grokker

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fitnessfriday
The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grokker.

So it’s no secret that I am really making an effort to get back to regular workouts.  One thing that I am finding however is that getting out of the house to workout is a bit of a challenge to coordinate with two kids.  That being said I have been trying to find ways to fit in a workout at home, even if that workout is only 20 minutes long. I mean a short workout is better than no workout, am I right?

Well that’s when the new health and wellness site, Grokker, comes into play. I tell you I have been hearing about this site for a few months now because Neil can’t stop talking about it.  He asks me weekly if I have tried it out yet and every time my answer is not yet, until now that is.

grokker yoga

When the opportunity to work with FitFluential and Grokker came my way I decided that this was the perfect time to finally check out what all the hype was about. To top it off Grokker is also hosting the October Fitfluential 4 Weeks to Wellness Challenge on their site so it provided me with even more incentive to get working out and participate.

The 4 Weeks to Wellness Challenge provides you with weekly workouts and healthy recipes to try.  The one thing I appreciate is that they offer alternatives for the day as well because sometimes I just don’t want to yoga and would rather do a HIIT workout. Also to be honest the recipes videos just aren’t my thing so I’d rather sub a quick workout for one of the recipes and focus on my own recipes. Hey, I’m not saying the recipe videos aren’t well done, they just aren’t for me.

So far I have done the:

Yoga for Beginners – Sun Salutations (18 min)

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Metabolic Meltdown (23:02)

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and

Yoga for Kids: Beach Fun (18:53)

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Edith has become so interested in yoga and has to get out her go-ga mat almost everyday.  She has a toddler yoga book that goes through a variety of poses that she follows along with so I figured that she would love to do go-ga with mama (or dada).  She went nuts for this video and I can see us doing this a few times per week.

grokker kids yoga

While I might be short on time to go out to the gym or to a yoga class I can always find 20 or so minutes in the day to do a workout video even if that means doing yoga for kids with Edith. I currently am using the 14 day free trial of Grokker but I plan to buy a subscription after this time because I really do enjoy using it and find it helpful for me to keep up on my workouts. I have been slipping in a quick workout during naptimes or right after Edith goes down for bed. I need to get my butt up and out of bed in the morning and work on fitting in my workout then but for now this works. I like not having to fumble with a DVD I can just turn my computer on (I need to get this linked up to my ChromeCast which would make it even easier) and choose which workout I want to do. Easy peasy.

Have you tried Grokker? What to do you think?

For those of you who are still wondering what exactly Grokker is here is a little more info:

What is Grokker?

Grokker is the community driven content network offering high quality, expert-led
videos in three key wellness areas: yoga, fitness and cooking. Grokker makes it
easy and enjoyable for enthusiasts to discover valuable content and seamlessly
organize and share choice topics, experts and opinions with a larger like- minded
community.

How do they choose content?

Grokker offerings must pass strict editorial, quality, and taste standards, with
category managers actively curating a selection of the best tutorials on each
topic available from other Web sources. All content available on Grokker has
been viewed and vetted, as well as categorized and tagged by its editors.

I haven’t tried them yet but Grokker also offers group classes if you are the type of person who really thrives on a community centered workout this might be something for you:

What are Grokker Group Classes?
Grokker group classes are a new feature for the network, which promotes
community-driven wellness through a portfolio of high-quality, in-house produced
fitness, yoga and cooking videos. Grokker group classes allow fitness
enthusiasts to engage with each other and the trainers themselves via online
chat, bringing the group fitness experience right to the users’ living rooms.

The Group Class Experience
Group classes offer Grokker members a way to benefit from the social and
accountability elements of attending a live class, without any of the downsides of
commuting to a gym or studio. At the appointed time, Grokker members join the
class from the Grokker homepage. Upon entry, they are announced in the chat
window and can join in the pre-class chat with other Members. The video class
begins playing precisely at the stated time and after class is complete, members
may continue their chat discussion with fellow class-goers.

 

Moving Out of My Comfort Zone

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Lately I have been really stepping out of my comfort zones, pushing myself a little bit, whether it is to talk with other parents at OMSI, attend MeetUp groups or pushing myself to run harder or faster.

The other night for example I went out for the first time alone in Portland. I went to an event by myself, no friends, no husband no baby. I was shaking in my boots as I walked through the door but I was determined to spend my few ours sans bebe having a good time because I mean really would it have been worth it if I hadn’t?

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I checked in to the event, received my drink tickets and headed to the bar to get some liquid courage aka a beer. I attempted to strike up a conversation with another lady who seemed to be at the event by herself as well but in the end she just wasn’t interested in talking and quickly got her drink and found her friends. I honestly felt like I went to the bar alone and was trying to pick up, but in this case I was just trying to make friendly with other women at the event.motherrunnerbeer

I moved on and decided to go over to the merch table where I ended up buying myself two tops, retail therapy much? Again I tried talking with some of the women at the table but everyone seemed to be more interested in their friends who they came with.  At this point I was feeling pretty rejected but was determined not to give up (yet).

I walked over to a new are and saw a group of women sitting on an L-shaped couch near where the presentation would be happening.  There was one seat open on the end so I asked if anyone was sitting there and sat down hoping to strike up a conversation with them but again they were very into their small group discussion already.  At this point I looked around the room and everyone was grouped off and it was at the point where the rejection had set in and I really had no desire to try and interject myself into someone elses conversation (again). I decided to just sip my beer and wait for the presentation to start.

Then it happened. Someone who also was attending the event alone sat on the stairs next to me.  I had never been happier to see another (lonely) person, after how the night had been going. We got to talking and had a great conversation while we waited for the presentation. We talked about running, races, a little about family and moving.  It was so nice to connect with another mom about something other than breastfeeding and baby bowel movements. I can’t say that I walked away with a long lasting friendship, honestly I can’t remember her name (mommy brain much?), but I did have a great conversation.

A few things that I took away from this experience:

  • If an event is at a bar with (free) drinks flowing it doesn’t make people more open to talking.
  • If an event is at a bar next time I will find a friend or at least a MeetUp mom to go with.
  • Large events often make it harder (for me) to meet people, especially when I am new to a city.
  • I like small more intimate events.
  • I can go out without the baby and survive.
  • Trying something outside of my comfort zone is empowering.

Have you ever gone to event alone? I mean not knowing anyone AT ALL who is going to be there (and knowing people only via social media or blogging doesn’t count). How do you approach a situation like this?

Review & Giveaway: Belli Skincare

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There are a number of prenatal and postnatal beauty products out there today and it can be a real challenge to figure out which ones you should try and which ones you should just pass on.  I recently received a package from Belli Skincare containing their Your Best Baby Bump Duo and their Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen.  Although all three items had their pros and cons, I absolutely loved them all and would recommend everything.  I really look forward to trying products from Belli’s Motherhood Line and maybe even their Baby Line. Check out my review of each product below:

Your Best Baby Bump Duo $49.99

I received the “Your Best Baby Bump Duo” which includes the Elasticity Belly Oil and the All Day Moisture Body Lotion

Elasticity Belly Oil (regularly $39)

Maintains the look of smooth, healthy skin with scientifically researched* ingredients that help prepare skin for stretching during pregnancy.

  • A luxurious blend of pure plant extracts to nourish and moisturize the skin
  • The aromatherapy benefit of lavender soothes and calms the senses
  • Contains Vitamin E and grapeseed oil, both are rich in antioxidants
  • Used in fine spas as a pre-natal massage oil

Pro: I love the smell! It is really wonderful and I am looking forward to packing it up and taking it to the birthing center with us so that Neil can use it to massage my back. I also love how it sprays on so easily and isn’t too greasy feeling. Neil also loves the smell of this oil.

Con: The spray is nice but sometimes it goes on a little wild- I have learned to remove my shirt before putting it on now so it won’t get all over my clothes. The other con is the price- it is a little expensive at $39.

Would I recommend? I would and I AM recommending it to moms-to-be.  I would recommend getting the Your Best Baby Bump Duo because it is a good deal and has both the oil and the lotion.

All Day Moisture Body Lotion (regularly $19)

Deeply moisturizes, soothes and comforts dry skin.

  • Features lemon oil which is known for its uplifting qualities
  • Chamomile soothes and refreshes
  • Shea butter moisturizes and smooths

Pro: Smells like lemon cookies! I absolutely love this lotion and so does Neil. We both used it after spending too much time in the sun and it did a good job at soothing our burnt skin.  It also really does a great job at moisturizing.  I also love that it smells like lemon cookies but the smell isn’t over powering and really mellows out shortly after applying.

Cons: I really can’t think of any cons! It is a little on the more expensive side for some but honestly I think the price is pretty competitive for the quality.

Would I recommend? I would definitely recommended this to anyone regardless of whether you are pregnant or not.

Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen SPF-25 $24

Shield yourself from UVA and UVB rays with pregnancy-friendly sunscreen ingredients.

  • Features zinc oxide & titanium dioxide– minerals that act as physical sunscreen filters
  • Sun exposure during pregnancy can result in chloasma– dark brown spots that 70% of pregnant women experience
  • Lightly tinted to blend in with all skin types
  • Oil-free
  • May be worn alone or under makeup

Pro: It doesn’t have the normal sunscreen smell (which I hate). Although it is tinted it blends right in and I find it evens my skin tone out just a bit (maybe I’m the only one who notices though). It isn’t heavy on the skin and it works really well with my makeup.  I usually wear a tinted moisturizer and lately I have just been wearing the Belli sunscreen instead.

Con: It is a little expensive, especially if you plan to reapply frequently or if you are a little heavy handed with it.  I wouldn’t wear this as my go to sunscreen if I were heading to the pool or the beach but it is good for everyday wear.

Would I recommend? I would recommend this, however, if you know you really need a lot of sunscreen in the summer and/or spend a lot of time lounging on the beach I would also have another facial sunscreen for that and use this as more everyday use.

Giveaway: (closed)

Winner:

One lucky reader will win both the  Your Best Baby Bump Duo and the Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen. This giveaway is open to U.S. & Canada residents only. Giveaway is open until June 8, 2012 at 6pm EST.

To Enter:

Mandatory: Visit the Belli Skincare site and tell me something you learned or a about a product that interest you.

Additional Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry):

  • Follow @Belliskincare on Twitter
  • Tweet about this giveaway: “I want to win @runwithtongs @BelliSkincare giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-3jU”

Disclaimer: Belli Skincare provided me with these products at no cost. I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway.

Did you know? You can take advantage of savings on Belli products by clicking on the bright pink Share & Save button that appears on the far right-hand side of belliskincare.com.  When they click the button and share Belli with at least 3 of their friends via email, Facebook or Twitter, they and their friends can receive an exclusive promo code good for 20% off their purchase at belliskincare.com.

What’s In My Shower?

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What’s In My Shower?

Over the past few years I have been working to find natural body products that I really love and that work well for my husband and I.  We easily settled on a few body washes that we really love but it has taken years and many bottles of shampoo and conditioner before we finally found a few that work for both of us.  Now that we have found our favorites we have eliminated non-natural products from our shower and rather than having a ton of different brands of products (for testing purposes) we now have just a few which makes the showering experience so much more pleasant- less clutter = more peaceful.

Current Conditioner: Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon– I actually picked this up because it was on sale for $5 off at our local co-op a few weeks ago and I fell in love instantly.  It smells amazing and it works really well to condition my hair without leaving a residue.  It is also great for summer if you are looking to put some natural highlights in your hair, the lemon helps, like when I was as kid and sprayed a mixture of lemon and water in my hair to create natural highlights in the sun. Other conditioners I like: BWC Daily Benefits, Kiss My Face Whenever and Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Conditioner

Current Shampoo: Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint– I haven’t always been a fan of Dr. Bronner’s but about 6 months ago we gave it a second chance and I really am liking it and Neil is loving it.  I do find that I need to occasionally use  a different shampoo (which I’m currently out of) because it can leave a bit of residue in my hair but overall I like it.  I also love that Dr. Bronner’s can be used for so many other things such as body wash and the peppermint is great for clearing out your sinuses. Other shampoos I like: BWC Daily Benefits, JASON Smoothing Sea Kelp and Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo

     

Current Body Washes: JASON Purifying Tea Tree, Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint and Kiss My Face Anti-Stress – I know it looks like a lot but I use them all depending on my mood.  JASON is my everyday go to, Dr. Bronner’s I actually don’t really use as a body wash but Neil does most days and then the Kiss My Face is really perfect when I want to relax. Other Body Washes I like: Dr. Bronner’s Rose and Kiss My Face Active Athletic

Other Products:  Eco-Armour Shaving Foam, Bulldog Natural Skincare Face Wash (for Neil not me) and Kelapo Coconut Oil. The shaving foam is for my legs and I love it. The face wash is Neil’s and he loves it (I don’t keep mine in the shower).  Lastly, the coconut oil is used by both Neil and I for different reasons; I use it on my pregnant belly and Neil uses it on his scalp to moisturize it.

What’s in your shower? What are you favorite natural body care products?

Frozen Grains

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Last night Neil and I headed to the gym after work to get in a cardio session in before heading home for a little yoga and dinner. I was already planning on making red curry vegetables and tempeh for dinner so I was delighted to see a box from Village Harvest Rice sitting on my doorstep.  Neil and I anxiously opened the box to find a variety of frozen whole grains just waiting for us to heat them up.  Since I was already making curry for dinner and planning on making a grain to go with I was excited to try one of the varieties out.  I let Neil choose and he decided on the red quinoa and brown rice blend.  All I had to do was cook my curry and heat the grains up on the stove for 3-4 minutes.  Simple and quick.  I was as little weary about whether the grains would hold up or if they would be mushy like other heat and eat grains I had tried before.  

Conclusion: The grains were perfect.  They were not over cooked, not mushy and they held up really well with the curry sauce.  I am very impressed!  This is just the thing I need to have in my house for busy nights since grains always take the longest to cook.

Since we were pretty hungry last night we didn’t have enough for leftovers so I made beans, greens and grains this morning for our lunches.  I decided to try the wheatberry and barley blend to serve along with my stir fry of black beans, spinach, zucchini and peppers. I snuck a few bites and I’m excited for lunch to come.

I think lunch will be the perfect fuel for my run this afternoon. Then it’s off to yoga and out for a drink with the Hubz.

Happy Friday!

{Guest Post} The Importance of Self-Care

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Hi Cooks, Vegans, and Lovers! I’m Stacy and I blog about healthy homemade vegetarian food. Lindsay actually won my blog’s first giveaway, so imagine my surprise when we connected as classmates at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition! Through my coaching practice I help busy people overcome overwhelm and paralyzing perfectionism to take back control of their health and lives.

Lindsay has been insanely busy, so I was thrilled when she asked me to contribute a guest post. She needs time to address all aspects of her life (that’s why we’re holistic health coaches!).

That is why I want to talk about self-care. Self-care gets a bad rap as being selfish, indulgent, luxurious, and unnecessary. Not true.

If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will. And if you’re not showing up for yourself, you can’t show up for others.

This lesson can be hard to learn. I am a lifelong perfectionist who believed the mantra, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” And I tried. The results were a crabby, critical, over-caffeinated, insomniac, and unhappy person.

No matter how much easier I made other peoples’ lives, all they did was cause more problems for me to solve. They were looking out for themselves, and I wasn’t looking out for myself – my fault, not theirs. I was worn down, resentful, and couldn’t do my job as well as I wanted. I was trying so hard to be perfect that I actually made more mistakes. Enter self-care.

What exactly is self-care? Self-care is any activity that recharges and nourishes you: exercise, meditation, massage, girls’ night, a book, or a bubble bath. You might have a whole weekend away, or just 5 minutes of peace and quiet. There is no right or wrong way to fit in self-care. You have to start where you are.

Feeling stressed? Think there’s no way you could possibly have enough time and energy to do this? Let’s start small.

Are you sitting down? Posture check! You should feel as if the top of your head is suspended from the ceiling by a string. Plant your feet on the ground. Feel where your body contacts your chair. Inhale deeply through your nose – your shoulders shouldn’t move, but your belly should expand. Hold the breath for 3-5 seconds and exhale fully through your mouth. Inhale again through your nose, hold it, and exhale through your mouth. One more time.

Ask yourself what you need with curiosity, not judgment. Quiet time alone, or in nature? Physical touch? Music, laughter, a cup of tea? How can you nourish that aspect of yourself? Give yourself permission to fulfill your own needs, and banish the expectation that anyone else will do it for you.

If what you really need is a bubble bath but you “don’t have time” because (for example) you have to make dinner for your partner, you resent your partner for not taking care of you AND preventing you from taking care of yourself. Ask your partner to contribute to the meal, or to pick up pizza so that you can at least take a hot shower with an aromatic body scrub for 10 minutes after work. Then you can really enjoy that time with your partner more, without resentment.

Now that you’ve chosen a method of self-care, here comes the hard part: put it in your schedule. Write it down. Make an appointment with yourself. And then show up for it. Start with 5 to 15 minutes and see how you feel.

How are you going to start nourishing yourself?