According to a medical advisory board it's a good idea to create and follow an exercise program. "Start and stick to a fitness plan now and you'll be rewarded with a healthy body that's fit for pregnancy," they tell me.
So you're telling me if I do some yoga now I'll still be able to put my shoes and socks on by myself up to the time that I pop? That's not a bad idea!
Since I don't get much of a workout right now my goal is to make up a plan is to eventually do Yoga once a week then an hour walk/jog on the days I'm not yogaing. For now I'll start with a half hour walk/jog with my dog Snoop.
Babies or no babies it's a good idea to get in shape and that's the second challenge I'm giving myself.
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
The Update Part 1
Here's an update on my previous challenges (cooking and jogging):
I suck.... I ran once this last week and haven't cooked yet. Cooking is just REALLY hard for me. I printed out all of these yummy recipes that seemed like they'd be easy to cook, but I got SO overwhelmed and got a headache just trying to figure out what was what at the store. Basically anything that needs more than five ingredients is out of the picture for me right now. I bought a couple of boxed dinners that have the stuff you need... Chicken, parmesan sauce, and all that extra stuff separated into different baggies. Then on the box it takes me through step by step how to make it. I know it's pathetic, but seriously that's all I can do... And I haven't even done THAT yet!! I'm making the chicken parmesan tonight though. I'll let you know how it goes.
Meanwhile, please let me know your favorite EASY (key word there) recipes. I'm seriously going to take baby steps with this cooking thing.
PS: Everyone keeps telling me about allrecipes.com but I can't seem to find the easy section... where's that?
I suck.... I ran once this last week and haven't cooked yet. Cooking is just REALLY hard for me. I printed out all of these yummy recipes that seemed like they'd be easy to cook, but I got SO overwhelmed and got a headache just trying to figure out what was what at the store. Basically anything that needs more than five ingredients is out of the picture for me right now. I bought a couple of boxed dinners that have the stuff you need... Chicken, parmesan sauce, and all that extra stuff separated into different baggies. Then on the box it takes me through step by step how to make it. I know it's pathetic, but seriously that's all I can do... And I haven't even done THAT yet!! I'm making the chicken parmesan tonight though. I'll let you know how it goes.
Meanwhile, please let me know your favorite EASY (key word there) recipes. I'm seriously going to take baby steps with this cooking thing.
PS: Everyone keeps telling me about allrecipes.com but I can't seem to find the easy section... where's that?
Monday, September 22, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
The Stripper Stint
As I've said before... I don't particularly like to exercise. I don't find it fun, it's hard and often boring to me. Lately I've discovered Exercise on Demand and it's changing my life! One program it has is "Carmen Electra's Striptease Workouts"! It brought flashbacks of last summer when I decided to become a stripper. I was working in Atlanta, GA for the summer and missing my husband, who was still in Utah. Here's the experience I documented:
***July 17th 2007 at 9:33 PM***
Dear Diary,
I never exercise, I hate it. A gym pass would be worthless to me because I know I’d never go. I hate running, I’m convinced I was born with shin splits, and I can’t run 20 yards without getting a side ache. I've been told it's because of my breathing or because of my shoes but practicing "in through the nose, out through the mouth" and a nice pair of shoes later the aces are still there.
I think workout tapes are pretty cheesy but I know if I could find one that looks fun I’d probably try it. By recommendation I was turned on to Carmen Electra’s “Aerobic Striptease Workout DVD’s” I’m too indecisive to just pick one so I bought the whole box set. I gave my husband a quick call to make sure I had his approval.
“Hey honey, you know how I never exercise?”
“Yea?”
“Well, I found some DVD’s that I think will help me to exercise, I promise I’ll use them.”
“Oh yea?”
“Yea, it’s ‘Carmen Electra’s stripping workout DVD’s”
“Ok, get it!”
“Really? It’s $37 is that ok?”
“Oh yea, that’s fine, go ahead and get it!”
That went easier than I thought.That night I watched the run through of each of the routines at a friend’s house. We both laughed and said we’d try it that weekend.
You know how a lot of times when we say we’re going to do something… And turn over a new leaf we have to go all out? Like, when men say they’re going to fix up the yard so they go out and buy a new lawn mower and all new lawn equipment? Or when they say they’re going to repair something and they go and by a whole new tool set to do it? Well, the same concept goes here. I had to get a stripper pole.
The next day I began researching stripper poles. I found they ran between $85 and $300. I looked into the $85 one. I called the husband again and convinced him I HAD to have a pole to get really get into this exercise thing. “Perfect” I thought. It comes apart into three pieces (easy to transport back to Utah), and I can buy it at a Spencer’s store here and practice on it.
Despite the mixed reviews saying it’s a great party feature, while not very stable I took my chances. At the check out line I was very adamant about making sure I could return the item if it didn’t work how I wanted it to. “
No problem, so long as all of the pieces are inside the box.”Great, I took it home (to another friends house) and temporarily installed it.
“Dangit,” I screamed. “It only goes up to 8 feet six inches. How tall is your ceiling?” I demanded. “Nine feet,” my friend told me. I immediately got on the phone and called my husband.
“How tall are our bedroom ceilings?”
“???…I don’t know.”
“Well, what’s your guess?” I pressed.
“....Ummm…”
“Think it’s 9 feet?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that tall”
“Are you sure?”
“Yea”
"Ok thanks.”
I moved the pole to a lower ceiling in my friend’s apartment… the hallway was a good testing height. I extended it to meet the ceiling, tightened it and made sure it was straight. Once I was satisfied I decided to take it for a spin. I put my leg around the pole and… SMMMMMMAAASH down it comes… I tried it again and got the same result. So back in the box my pole went.
I immediately began searching for another pole. $50 on Craigslist, a tall black stripper pole that’s “suction mounted." She's selling it because her ceilings are too tall... Good reason, it makes me feel a little better knowing it hasn't been through too much already (or so I hope).
I email her and get a response the next day. I’ve decided to return the Peekabo Pole to Spencer’s the next day.
I’m next in line at Spencer’s when another employee comes up to me with a 'what are you doing here' look on her face.
“Can I help you?” She asks me.
“Yea, I just want to return this.”
“You can’t return that it’s an adult item....”
I’m going to spare you this whole conversation but basically, my normal timid/non-confrontational self would have walked away and started crying but this time I went off. I was not about to loose $85 for a piece of crap... Besides, what am I going to do with TWO stripper poles?
Long story short, I was able to return the item for a full refund… On a Spencer’s gift card (never use your debit car at Spencer’s cause they won’t give you cash back unless you ring it up as credit.) I sold the card on eBay for $75. I could take loosing $10, no biggie.
Meanwhile, I have this other Long-A stripper pole I bought from a lady in Atlanta sticking out from the trunk of my car through to the drivers seat. I bring it inside to experiment but I soon find my ceilings are too short. The woman I bought it from said it was 7 feet tall. I took in into the carport (no... not a garage, so all of the neighbors were watching me install my stripper pole in my driveway) and extend it to the ceiling there. I get it to stay and I tug a little. I wasn’t totally satisfied. I went into the house and grabbed a bar stool. I came back out, stood up on the stool and leaped for the pole… Imitating what a fireman (not stripper) would do. It was still standing!! I know the people across the street had to have been wondering what the heck I was doing but I didn't care. I am so happy at this point. I lean the pole up against my bedroom wall for a few weeks and finally one weekend I get ready to mail it home.
I go to USPS and ask if they have any 7 feet tall boxes.—They don’t. And they can’t mail anything that tall either, so I go to the UPS store. The guy at the counter was already in a bad mood… I could tell when I walked in, no smile, no “how are you?” just a grumpy “I’ll be with you in a moment.” I proceed to ask him if he has any boxes 7 feet tall.
“No, but I can make one,” he said. “What are you mailing?”
“A pole.”
“How big is it?”I hold out my hangs in a circle, trying to demonstrate its circumference.“I can go get it for you,” I told him.
He just kind of nodded, but I went out and got it. I brought it in and he stared at me like I was crazy.
“What is this, some kind of pole to hold a truck up?” He asked me.
“No... It's just a pole” I was reluctant to tell him the truth.
He asks me how valuable it is (I guess it's some shipping question). I tell him $50, and he gives me a weird look. He measures the pole and it comes to 110 inches. I have no clue how tall that is.
“Eight feet five inches,” he tells me.
'Seven feet my A' was my first thought... The girl who sold me the pole was just trying to get rid of it!'Ok, cool, mail it!' I’m thinking. But he doesn’t look too happy. I tell him I still want it mailed and he takes it back to the back to make me a special box.
“I’m curious as hell to know what this is and why it’s not very valuable." It wasn't a direct question so I ignored it, hoping he'd drop it."What is this?” He finally just asked.
Poor guy, I didn’t want him to think I was some kind of terrorist so I confessed.
“Well, my husband lives in Utah...” I’m trying to think of a way to put it. “And… Well… It’s a stripper pole, and he didn’t want to drive home with it so I’m mailing it.”
“Oh.” Is all I get from him.
“So now you’ve seen it all huh?” I ask.
“Oh no, I’ve seen a lot weirder.” I was hoping he’d give me an example to make me feel better but he didn’t.
So there went another $70 for shipping ($30 for actual shipping and $35 for making my a custom box).
I’m “exercising” I’m learning a chair dance Carmen promises will get my husband off the couch and in the bedroom. It’s about 2 o’clock in the morning. I live in a duplex and I’m trying to keep really quiet so I don’t wake up the guy next door.
So Carmen is telling me to sit on the chair then lean back and put my feet in the air and toggle them back and forth... It's hard to explain... But anyway, I have one of my hands on the ground to keep my balance (and that's what she's doing too). Now she’s telling me to make sure I keep my butt centered on the chair so I don’t loose my balance and fall over. Now I’m thinking ‘how am I going to loose my balance when my hand is on the floor?’ Well, I don’t understand physics, and I hate it anyway, and no sooner than that question came to my mind, next thing I know WHHHHHAAAAAAM!!
It’s the loudest noise I’ve ever heard, and I’m on the ground, chair and all on top of me. I could have sworn my butt broke through the hard wood floor cause I hit it so hard. My immediate reaction was silence—I was praying my neighbor didn’t hear. I was imagining hearing him getting up and yelling to me, asking what happened, and I really didn’t want to explain to him that I had just lost my balance and fell off my chair while I was practicing a lap dance routine.
I sat there for a few moments in silence (well, besides the sound of Carmen, she was still going) then I started to laugh. I turned the DVD off… I was done for the night.
***July 17th 2007 at 9:33 PM***
Dear Diary,
I never exercise, I hate it. A gym pass would be worthless to me because I know I’d never go. I hate running, I’m convinced I was born with shin splits, and I can’t run 20 yards without getting a side ache. I've been told it's because of my breathing or because of my shoes but practicing "in through the nose, out through the mouth" and a nice pair of shoes later the aces are still there.
I think workout tapes are pretty cheesy but I know if I could find one that looks fun I’d probably try it. By recommendation I was turned on to Carmen Electra’s “Aerobic Striptease Workout DVD’s” I’m too indecisive to just pick one so I bought the whole box set. I gave my husband a quick call to make sure I had his approval.
“Hey honey, you know how I never exercise?”
“Yea?”
“Well, I found some DVD’s that I think will help me to exercise, I promise I’ll use them.”
“Oh yea?”
“Yea, it’s ‘Carmen Electra’s stripping workout DVD’s”
“Ok, get it!”
“Really? It’s $37 is that ok?”
“Oh yea, that’s fine, go ahead and get it!”
That went easier than I thought.That night I watched the run through of each of the routines at a friend’s house. We both laughed and said we’d try it that weekend.
You know how a lot of times when we say we’re going to do something… And turn over a new leaf we have to go all out? Like, when men say they’re going to fix up the yard so they go out and buy a new lawn mower and all new lawn equipment? Or when they say they’re going to repair something and they go and by a whole new tool set to do it? Well, the same concept goes here. I had to get a stripper pole.
The next day I began researching stripper poles. I found they ran between $85 and $300. I looked into the $85 one. I called the husband again and convinced him I HAD to have a pole to get really get into this exercise thing. “Perfect” I thought. It comes apart into three pieces (easy to transport back to Utah), and I can buy it at a Spencer’s store here and practice on it.
Despite the mixed reviews saying it’s a great party feature, while not very stable I took my chances. At the check out line I was very adamant about making sure I could return the item if it didn’t work how I wanted it to. “
No problem, so long as all of the pieces are inside the box.”Great, I took it home (to another friends house) and temporarily installed it.
“Dangit,” I screamed. “It only goes up to 8 feet six inches. How tall is your ceiling?” I demanded. “Nine feet,” my friend told me. I immediately got on the phone and called my husband.
“How tall are our bedroom ceilings?”
“???…I don’t know.”
“Well, what’s your guess?” I pressed.
“....Ummm…”
“Think it’s 9 feet?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that tall”
“Are you sure?”
“Yea”
"Ok thanks.”
I moved the pole to a lower ceiling in my friend’s apartment… the hallway was a good testing height. I extended it to meet the ceiling, tightened it and made sure it was straight. Once I was satisfied I decided to take it for a spin. I put my leg around the pole and… SMMMMMMAAASH down it comes… I tried it again and got the same result. So back in the box my pole went.
I immediately began searching for another pole. $50 on Craigslist, a tall black stripper pole that’s “suction mounted." She's selling it because her ceilings are too tall... Good reason, it makes me feel a little better knowing it hasn't been through too much already (or so I hope).
I email her and get a response the next day. I’ve decided to return the Peekabo Pole to Spencer’s the next day.
***The next day***
I’m next in line at Spencer’s when another employee comes up to me with a 'what are you doing here' look on her face.
“Can I help you?” She asks me.
“Yea, I just want to return this.”
“You can’t return that it’s an adult item....”
I’m going to spare you this whole conversation but basically, my normal timid/non-confrontational self would have walked away and started crying but this time I went off. I was not about to loose $85 for a piece of crap... Besides, what am I going to do with TWO stripper poles?
Long story short, I was able to return the item for a full refund… On a Spencer’s gift card (never use your debit car at Spencer’s cause they won’t give you cash back unless you ring it up as credit.) I sold the card on eBay for $75. I could take loosing $10, no biggie.
Meanwhile, I have this other Long-A stripper pole I bought from a lady in Atlanta sticking out from the trunk of my car through to the drivers seat. I bring it inside to experiment but I soon find my ceilings are too short. The woman I bought it from said it was 7 feet tall. I took in into the carport (no... not a garage, so all of the neighbors were watching me install my stripper pole in my driveway) and extend it to the ceiling there. I get it to stay and I tug a little. I wasn’t totally satisfied. I went into the house and grabbed a bar stool. I came back out, stood up on the stool and leaped for the pole… Imitating what a fireman (not stripper) would do. It was still standing!! I know the people across the street had to have been wondering what the heck I was doing but I didn't care. I am so happy at this point. I lean the pole up against my bedroom wall for a few weeks and finally one weekend I get ready to mail it home.
I go to USPS and ask if they have any 7 feet tall boxes.—They don’t. And they can’t mail anything that tall either, so I go to the UPS store. The guy at the counter was already in a bad mood… I could tell when I walked in, no smile, no “how are you?” just a grumpy “I’ll be with you in a moment.” I proceed to ask him if he has any boxes 7 feet tall.
“No, but I can make one,” he said. “What are you mailing?”
“A pole.”
“How big is it?”I hold out my hangs in a circle, trying to demonstrate its circumference.“I can go get it for you,” I told him.
He just kind of nodded, but I went out and got it. I brought it in and he stared at me like I was crazy.
“What is this, some kind of pole to hold a truck up?” He asked me.
“No... It's just a pole” I was reluctant to tell him the truth.
He asks me how valuable it is (I guess it's some shipping question). I tell him $50, and he gives me a weird look. He measures the pole and it comes to 110 inches. I have no clue how tall that is.
“Eight feet five inches,” he tells me.
'Seven feet my A' was my first thought... The girl who sold me the pole was just trying to get rid of it!'Ok, cool, mail it!' I’m thinking. But he doesn’t look too happy. I tell him I still want it mailed and he takes it back to the back to make me a special box.
“I’m curious as hell to know what this is and why it’s not very valuable." It wasn't a direct question so I ignored it, hoping he'd drop it."What is this?” He finally just asked.
Poor guy, I didn’t want him to think I was some kind of terrorist so I confessed.
“Well, my husband lives in Utah...” I’m trying to think of a way to put it. “And… Well… It’s a stripper pole, and he didn’t want to drive home with it so I’m mailing it.”
“Oh.” Is all I get from him.
“So now you’ve seen it all huh?” I ask.
“Oh no, I’ve seen a lot weirder.” I was hoping he’d give me an example to make me feel better but he didn’t.
So there went another $70 for shipping ($30 for actual shipping and $35 for making my a custom box).
***Later that week***
I’m “exercising” I’m learning a chair dance Carmen promises will get my husband off the couch and in the bedroom. It’s about 2 o’clock in the morning. I live in a duplex and I’m trying to keep really quiet so I don’t wake up the guy next door.
So Carmen is telling me to sit on the chair then lean back and put my feet in the air and toggle them back and forth... It's hard to explain... But anyway, I have one of my hands on the ground to keep my balance (and that's what she's doing too). Now she’s telling me to make sure I keep my butt centered on the chair so I don’t loose my balance and fall over. Now I’m thinking ‘how am I going to loose my balance when my hand is on the floor?’ Well, I don’t understand physics, and I hate it anyway, and no sooner than that question came to my mind, next thing I know WHHHHHAAAAAAM!!
It’s the loudest noise I’ve ever heard, and I’m on the ground, chair and all on top of me. I could have sworn my butt broke through the hard wood floor cause I hit it so hard. My immediate reaction was silence—I was praying my neighbor didn’t hear. I was imagining hearing him getting up and yelling to me, asking what happened, and I really didn’t want to explain to him that I had just lost my balance and fell off my chair while I was practicing a lap dance routine.
I sat there for a few moments in silence (well, besides the sound of Carmen, she was still going) then I started to laugh. I turned the DVD off… I was done for the night.
**Now**
As I read this right now for the first time since I posted it last year I laugh at my dedication. Just like the unfinished handy projects and resolutions husbands and wives make to take better care of things around the house... I fell through with my determination to be my husband's stripper. But who knows, it's 2009. Perhaps I'll add it to my list of resolutions.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
The Trips to Brazil and Back
I have yet to go out of the country but I have had "a taste of Brazil" if you know what I mean (wink wink nudge nudge). First off, let's star with saying if you are ulrta-conservative, a member of my family or get bashful when you hear the words "Brazilian Wax" let's save both of us the embarrassment, reading this post probably isn't for you. Obviously, I'm not a very private person. And I figured I'd give some words of wisdom for my lady friends who may be curious about the same thing.
Besides my yearly visit to the GYNO no strange person gets to see my whooha. I have a feeling when you're pregnant how you're looking "down there" is one of the last things on your mind but just in case I get self conscious, and for kicks and giggles, I've decided to do some experimenting myself... Ya know, kind of like a buy it and try it, except with LOTS of trial and error with one goal in mind...
We'll start with the problem: Hair. Sometimes ya just don't wait it in certain areas...
I've tried many different tactics to rid myself of the blasted stuff. Remember my birth control post? Well this is going to be a similar but a little less elaborate, oh and maybe more graphic.
I started to consider lazier hair removal but once I heard it was painful and that it's harder on people with dark skin, I put that idea on hold. Here are my other attempts.
Besides my yearly visit to the GYNO no strange person gets to see my whooha. I have a feeling when you're pregnant how you're looking "down there" is one of the last things on your mind but just in case I get self conscious, and for kicks and giggles, I've decided to do some experimenting myself... Ya know, kind of like a buy it and try it, except with LOTS of trial and error with one goal in mind...
We'll start with the problem: Hair. Sometimes ya just don't wait it in certain areas...
I've tried many different tactics to rid myself of the blasted stuff. Remember my birth control post? Well this is going to be a similar but a little less elaborate, oh and maybe more graphic.
I started to consider lazier hair removal but once I heard it was painful and that it's harder on people with dark skin, I put that idea on hold. Here are my other attempts.
Shaving
/5
/5If you're going to try it this way I only suggest you get a mirror, doing the balancing act in front of the bathroom mirror just won't cut it. Plus, you could get hurt! Trust me, slipping and sliding with a razor blade in your hand aimed at very important bodily organs is NOT a good idea.
The results: Nice for about a day then ya feel like a porcupine. A few days later... a porcupine with an itch. I give it/5 stars cause it can be worse.
The results: Nice for about a day then ya feel like a porcupine. A few days later... a porcupine with an itch. I give it
/5 stars cause it can be worse.Nair/Veet Stuff
.5 /5
.5 /5 I should have known this wasn't the best idea from the beginning. After spending 20 minutes down the hair removal isle trying to decide whether to get the sensitive skin or bikini.. Finally choosing some kind of sensitive (with aloe vera) I did everything wrong.
... The label says something like 3 minutes. To make sure it worked REALLY well I decided to add another 5--First bad idea.
...The label says to avoid certain sensitive areas and I tried but I just wanted it ALL gone so I gave into my internal temptations and just put it all over--Second bad idea.
...I waited another couple of minuets before really trying to take it all off (tripling the directed time), then got the water really hot-- Third and Fourth bad idea.
...I closed my legs--The WORST idea.
I knew something was wrong when I felt the burning. 'Jump in the tub' was my first though but the water was so hot I didn't know which was burning me more.
Let's just say the next 5-10 minuets of trying to get the stuff off was some of the worst pain I've ever experienced. Every swipe felt like I was peeling my skin off with an acidic rake.
Ladies, I know we're told to keep our legs closed but this is one instance you DON'T want to do it. Or better yet... don't put the stuff there!
I get it.5 stars /5 if you follow the directions
... The label says something like 3 minutes. To make sure it worked REALLY well I decided to add another 5--First bad idea.
...The label says to avoid certain sensitive areas and I tried but I just wanted it ALL gone so I gave into my internal temptations and just put it all over--Second bad idea.
...I waited another couple of minuets before really trying to take it all off (tripling the directed time), then got the water really hot-- Third and Fourth bad idea.
...I closed my legs--The WORST idea.
I knew something was wrong when I felt the burning. 'Jump in the tub' was my first though but the water was so hot I didn't know which was burning me more.
Let's just say the next 5-10 minuets of trying to get the stuff off was some of the worst pain I've ever experienced. Every swipe felt like I was peeling my skin off with an acidic rake.
Ladies, I know we're told to keep our legs closed but this is one instance you DON'T want to do it. Or better yet... don't put the stuff there!
I get it
.5 stars /5 if you follow the directionsSmooth Away (as seen on TV)
/5
/5If you've seen the infomercials for Smooth Away, don't be fooled! They show women softly caressing their legs, zoom in and show a silky smooth leg free from hair. They give you smaller pads to use in "the bikini" area. After trying it on my legs and realizing instead of turning my leg nice, shiny, and smooth it was just smooth and ashy. It also wasn't an easy "wipe on wipe off" motion it was more like "push down real hard and get a workout while trying to wipe the hair away." I seriously can skip an arm workout at the gym after smoothing my legs away. After testing on my legs I realized it doesn't get the hair as close as shaving does, and it makes the area you use it on real tender... I opted not to try it on my goodies.
/5 stars 
/5 stars for the workout you get while trying.
/5 stars 
/5 stars for the workout you get while trying.Waxing
/5
/5Ok here we go, here's where it gets good. I had always been curious about getting a Brazilian wax. The fact that I have the lowest pain tolerance imaginable kept me from trying it for years. Two things made me brave enough to do it. 1. I found to one of my ultra conservative friends gets one regularly. Waaa? 'If SHE can do it, I can do it,' I thought. 2. It came up in a conversation with one of my girlfriends who had also never had a Brazilian and we decided to take the leap together! We sort of worked as each other's coach.
In preparation I did a lot of research. I came across a story about one woman taking a bite stick in with her. I wanted to do that--Anything that would help. I heard of No Scream Cream but not until after the fact. So I drugged up on ibuprofen and hoped for the best.
Having a friend with me gave me motivation to try not to scream... Or at least not first.
I had never had anything besides my eyebrows waxed before so I had no idea the surprise I was in for. Everyone I'd asked about it said it hurt a lot but said it was worth it. All I kept thinking was 'it had better be!'
Thetorturer esthetician was nice. She tried to make good conversation but really, all I wanted to do was focus on not screaming.
"Does anyone ever cry?" I asked her.
"Oh no, if you cried I'd feel really bad."
Great... Pressure.
"Well, I've never had anything waxed before. Nothing besides my eyebrows," I told her, hoping to get some sympathy-Permission to cry if need be.
I told her I almost brought a bite stick and she offered me a towel. Great! I'll take it. I shoved the towel in my mouth and braced myself for the unimaginable pain I knew would soon be bestowed upon me.
Now, I'm not sure why they do this but the scenario would go something like this:
"So what are you studying?" She'd ask me, probably trying to lighten the mood, although I was in no mood for talking. Besides, I had the towel in my mouth, remember?
I'd take the towel out, and begin to answer...
"Broadcast..... JOOOOOOOOUUUUURNALISM!!!!" Right as the first, and worst strip of hair was ripped away. Why did she do that? Couldn't she have at least waited for me to put the towel back in my mouth?
I could feel the tears start to form. I felt betrayed.
"Oh yea?" She'd say, and she's ask a series of follow up questions I'd try to answer as quickly as possible as not to be fooled again.
The whole process took about an hour... Yea, an hour of: Question, Ans-RIIIIP!!! wer!!!
I wasn't alone though, my friend said it wasn't easy for her either. After it all I felt accomplished, brave, and like I had achieved a new level of womanhood. I told them all it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but really... It was.
The good news: A month later it's still nice and silky smooth. I looked like a plucked chicken the first couple of days but after the tenderness went away I was LOVIN it! I felt lighter, nicer, cleaner and just better!
I recently went for a second round but nearly a year later (I tested out those other products in between) and decided/learned it's best to NOT shave between those. Good news though--It only took 15 minutes the last time! I went to a much better salon known for their 15-minute Brazilians.
In the end I recommend finding a GOOD salon for those. Do your research and don't pick some place just cause it's cheap. Take a bite stick or ask for a towel to keep from screaming and prepared to be tricked into answering questions right as they pull the trigger.
In preparation I did a lot of research. I came across a story about one woman taking a bite stick in with her. I wanted to do that--Anything that would help. I heard of No Scream Cream but not until after the fact. So I drugged up on ibuprofen and hoped for the best.
Having a friend with me gave me motivation to try not to scream... Or at least not first.
I had never had anything besides my eyebrows waxed before so I had no idea the surprise I was in for. Everyone I'd asked about it said it hurt a lot but said it was worth it. All I kept thinking was 'it had better be!'
The
"Does anyone ever cry?" I asked her.
"Oh no, if you cried I'd feel really bad."
Great... Pressure.
"Well, I've never had anything waxed before. Nothing besides my eyebrows," I told her, hoping to get some sympathy-Permission to cry if need be.
I told her I almost brought a bite stick and she offered me a towel. Great! I'll take it. I shoved the towel in my mouth and braced myself for the unimaginable pain I knew would soon be bestowed upon me.
Now, I'm not sure why they do this but the scenario would go something like this:
"So what are you studying?" She'd ask me, probably trying to lighten the mood, although I was in no mood for talking. Besides, I had the towel in my mouth, remember?
I'd take the towel out, and begin to answer...
"Broadcast..... JOOOOOOOOUUUUURNALISM!!!!" Right as the first, and worst strip of hair was ripped away. Why did she do that? Couldn't she have at least waited for me to put the towel back in my mouth?
I could feel the tears start to form. I felt betrayed.
"Oh yea?" She'd say, and she's ask a series of follow up questions I'd try to answer as quickly as possible as not to be fooled again.
The whole process took about an hour... Yea, an hour of: Question, Ans-RIIIIP!!! wer!!!
I wasn't alone though, my friend said it wasn't easy for her either. After it all I felt accomplished, brave, and like I had achieved a new level of womanhood. I told them all it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but really... It was.
The good news: A month later it's still nice and silky smooth. I looked like a plucked chicken the first couple of days but after the tenderness went away I was LOVIN it! I felt lighter, nicer, cleaner and just better!
I recently went for a second round but nearly a year later (I tested out those other products in between) and decided/learned it's best to NOT shave between those. Good news though--It only took 15 minutes the last time! I went to a much better salon known for their 15-minute Brazilians.
In the end I recommend finding a GOOD salon for those. Do your research and don't pick some place just cause it's cheap. Take a bite stick or ask for a towel to keep from screaming and prepared to be tricked into answering questions right as they pull the trigger.
**Additional info for those who have asked**
A Brazilian way takes away ALL the hair I mean Everythang girl! A Playboy takes away everything but what they call a "landing strip" (don't ask me why they call it that) but I guess they leave a little section (which you can actually get designed like a heart or something if you're interested). And yea, you pretty much get totally naked. The first time I went they gave me wannabe panties and moved them from side to side and the second time the lady was like "You might as well take everything off cause I'm gonna see it all anyway." But hey, if you can deliver a baby you can do this, trust me!!
I give Brazilians a/5 because let's face it... It hurts. And the trickery, that's not cool.
I give Brazilians a
/5 because let's face it... It hurts. And the trickery, that's not cool.Saturday, May 24, 2014
Not pregnant. Just fat
Question: If a friend of yours exclaimed that she ripped her jeans would your first reaction be to ask if she's pregnant?
I'm asking because this happened to me, and it's the second time this question has come up (my husband's funeral is next week) and I'm really starting to feel self conscious.
Next, I'm extremely bloated. Like so bloated I'm always sucking my stomach in when I'm wearing tight shirts to keep myself from looking pregnant. I need a girdle people.
I took a pregnancy test to be sure.
Negative.
I'm a hypochondriac, so even though I'm breastfeeding, not ovulating, on birth control, and can't get pregnant from making out, I still worry I am. Why else would I look this way? Why did I manage to wear my size 4 jeans through my entire pregnancy but rip them last week?
Why are my workouts with baby not slimming me down? Now I've gotta run too? Like real, hard, exercise? Yuck!
I took two more pregnancy tests to be sure.
Still negative.
I once saw a guy on the Discovery channel that had elephantitis and his face got really really big. Maybe I have that in my stomach?
I was hoping I'd have an excuse. But I'm not pregnant. And I don't have elephantitis. I'm just fat.
I'm no longer in denial. It's time I do something drastic. Commit myself to something. A gym pass just won't cut it. It's not enough to motivate me. I think I'll join Stroller Strides. It's not Jenny Craig, Weight or Watchers, but it's cheaper than getting lipo.
Monday, May 19, 2014
My plan to shed pounds
This post brought to you by Delta Labs. All opinions are 100% mine.
Nine months and counting. That's how long I've been breastfeeding and with all of the raving about it helping to lose pregnancy weight I thought I'd be back to my pre-baby size by now. And last week I did something I never in a million years thought I'd do.
My husband and I were walking around the mall with our daughter. He was pushing her in the stroller as we passed Victoria's Secret. I looked at the huge poster hanging from the display window of a beautiful Victoria's Secret angel and said "I wish I was that skinny."
This is a stark contrast from the young girl who growing up hated being skinny. I got made fun of, called names, and hated when I was photographed. In middle school I was sent to the guidance counselor because someone accused me of having an eating disorder.
In high school boys didn't like me as much because I didn't have "enough meat on my bones."
When girls in college told me they were jealous of my size I told them not to be. That it was a curse more than a blessing, and that I would trade in a second if I could just gain some weight.
I had never looked at the models with envy and longed for their tooth pick figures, and wondered why anyone else would want that.
I can most definitely testify to the grass being greener on the other side. And now here I am on the other side. Gaining weight wasn't easy when I was skinny, and loosing it isn't any easier. But with determination, bit my bit I'm getting there, and I'm hoping to stay on top of it.
I've found myself uncomfortable in my own skin at times. I'm not wearing makeup as much, and I'm skipping buying clothes for myself so my daughter can have more. Meanwhile I'm stuck avoiding my stretched-out maternity clothes, and pre-baby clothes I can't quite squeeze into until I lose the baby weight.
I'm too scared to step on a scale. My fear stemmed from my husband buying a scale recently, and naturally, I wanted to weigh myself. I weighed only five pounds less than my highest pregnancy weight.
That can't be right. I thought. To this day I don't think it was because it also put my husband at ten or so pounds heavier, and it never seems to zero out (it's one of those arrow-spinning scales). But I'm still avoiding weighing myself. Weight is such an arbitrary number anyway right? Who cares how much I weigh?
More than weight I think I just want to be able to buy clothes in a size I'm comfortable wearing, and be able to just feel confidant again. I told my husband I don't feel attractive and he told me it's all about confidence. It wasn't exactly the reaction I was looking for but it was probably the one I needed to hear. When you feel good about yourself I think others can tell.
So what am I doing to feel more confidant?
1. Well, I'm still on the hunt for skinny jeans. I tried on a few pair at the mall (luckily before I walked past the skimpy lingerie store and got green with envy) and it was quite the work out! Getting them on and off my calf and ankle was seriously strenuous. So far I REALLY like the Old Navy brand, and the price is right, but I'm still wanting to try a designer brand to see if they fit or feel any better. I want to hit up Ross--One of my favorite stores and get some new tops that fit me, and don't hang like maternity shirts.
2. I want to keep cooking and eating better. I like to blame breastfeeding for me hanging on to extra baby fat like a reserve for my daughter, but I also had to blame myself. I was eating out way too much and my metabolism isn't what it used to be. I'm making at least three dinners a week now which is more than ever in my entire life. *Pats myself on the back*.
3. I signed up for another yoga class with my workout buddy (pictured below). Now that Lil' J is older she can crawl around and play with the other babies while i get more of a workout. We just registered for another eight week class.
I also will do cardio, either at home, running, or stroller strides--something I'd still like to try. I love spending time with my daughter and I'm trying to keep her with me as I cook and exercise--1. So I have company and 2. So she can see what it's like to live a healthy life starting at a young age.
3. I'm going to apply makeup, even if it's just lipstick and eyeliner outside of work. I want to look nice off-air too.
And finally, 4. It's a total shot in the dark but I'm trying a postpartum weight loss supplement. I figure what the heck, it couldn't hurt, it has fenugreek and other vitamins in it which help with milk production (I've noticed it working in that department) but it's also suppose to help with fat burning. I'm normally not a sucker for these types of things but I figured I'd try it and see how it goes. I'll let you know. But I imagine with a combination of a healthy diet and exercise routine, I should notice some improvements.
They also sell prenatal vitamins and other health-related goodies. If you comment on this post before April 15th you'll be entered to win a free bottle of prenatal vitamins. I'll draw a winner using random.org and announce her on my facebook page. Good luck!
Nine months and counting. That's how long I've been breastfeeding and with all of the raving about it helping to lose pregnancy weight I thought I'd be back to my pre-baby size by now. And last week I did something I never in a million years thought I'd do.
My husband and I were walking around the mall with our daughter. He was pushing her in the stroller as we passed Victoria's Secret. I looked at the huge poster hanging from the display window of a beautiful Victoria's Secret angel and said "I wish I was that skinny."
This is a stark contrast from the young girl who growing up hated being skinny. I got made fun of, called names, and hated when I was photographed. In middle school I was sent to the guidance counselor because someone accused me of having an eating disorder.
In high school boys didn't like me as much because I didn't have "enough meat on my bones."
When girls in college told me they were jealous of my size I told them not to be. That it was a curse more than a blessing, and that I would trade in a second if I could just gain some weight.
I had never looked at the models with envy and longed for their tooth pick figures, and wondered why anyone else would want that.
I can most definitely testify to the grass being greener on the other side. And now here I am on the other side. Gaining weight wasn't easy when I was skinny, and loosing it isn't any easier. But with determination, bit my bit I'm getting there, and I'm hoping to stay on top of it.
I've found myself uncomfortable in my own skin at times. I'm not wearing makeup as much, and I'm skipping buying clothes for myself so my daughter can have more. Meanwhile I'm stuck avoiding my stretched-out maternity clothes, and pre-baby clothes I can't quite squeeze into until I lose the baby weight.
I'm too scared to step on a scale. My fear stemmed from my husband buying a scale recently, and naturally, I wanted to weigh myself. I weighed only five pounds less than my highest pregnancy weight.
That can't be right. I thought. To this day I don't think it was because it also put my husband at ten or so pounds heavier, and it never seems to zero out (it's one of those arrow-spinning scales). But I'm still avoiding weighing myself. Weight is such an arbitrary number anyway right? Who cares how much I weigh?
More than weight I think I just want to be able to buy clothes in a size I'm comfortable wearing, and be able to just feel confidant again. I told my husband I don't feel attractive and he told me it's all about confidence. It wasn't exactly the reaction I was looking for but it was probably the one I needed to hear. When you feel good about yourself I think others can tell.
So what am I doing to feel more confidant?
1. Well, I'm still on the hunt for skinny jeans. I tried on a few pair at the mall (luckily before I walked past the skimpy lingerie store and got green with envy) and it was quite the work out! Getting them on and off my calf and ankle was seriously strenuous. So far I REALLY like the Old Navy brand, and the price is right, but I'm still wanting to try a designer brand to see if they fit or feel any better. I want to hit up Ross--One of my favorite stores and get some new tops that fit me, and don't hang like maternity shirts.
2. I want to keep cooking and eating better. I like to blame breastfeeding for me hanging on to extra baby fat like a reserve for my daughter, but I also had to blame myself. I was eating out way too much and my metabolism isn't what it used to be. I'm making at least three dinners a week now which is more than ever in my entire life. *Pats myself on the back*.
3. I signed up for another yoga class with my workout buddy (pictured below). Now that Lil' J is older she can crawl around and play with the other babies while i get more of a workout. We just registered for another eight week class.
 |
| My workout buddy. Attire from Agoo. |
I also will do cardio, either at home, running, or stroller strides--something I'd still like to try. I love spending time with my daughter and I'm trying to keep her with me as I cook and exercise--1. So I have company and 2. So she can see what it's like to live a healthy life starting at a young age.
3. I'm going to apply makeup, even if it's just lipstick and eyeliner outside of work. I want to look nice off-air too.
And finally, 4. It's a total shot in the dark but I'm trying a postpartum weight loss supplement. I figure what the heck, it couldn't hurt, it has fenugreek and other vitamins in it which help with milk production (I've noticed it working in that department) but it's also suppose to help with fat burning. I'm normally not a sucker for these types of things but I figured I'd try it and see how it goes. I'll let you know. But I imagine with a combination of a healthy diet and exercise routine, I should notice some improvements.
They also sell prenatal vitamins and other health-related goodies. If you comment on this post before April 15th you'll be entered to win a free bottle of prenatal vitamins. I'll draw a winner using random.org and announce her on my facebook page. Good luck!
Saturday, March 29, 2014
5 tips for keeping your baby fit.
Most babies come fully equipped with instincts that they need to help them grow and develop into healthy active adults, but we give them the things they weren't born with like protection, nourishment, love and healthy habits. For example, a baby does have an instinct to nurse, but not for brushing her teeth. This is why I think it is a great idea for parents to start a morning exercise routine with their babies that consists of developmentally appropriate strength building movements. Just ten minutes in the morning is enough for a baby, they will tire quickly if you push them too much but just a little exercise is invigorating. These moves have the added benefit of also being able to help your baby expel gas. I would recommend either feeding your baby after the exercise, or at least an hour before to prevent causing any digestive discomfort.
1. Baby pull ups.
This move is good to start trying when your baby is one month old. Lay your baby on your lap with your knees together. Your baby's head should be by your knees, and the bottom should be on your thighs. Wrap your baby's fingers around your thumbs so he is holding on and begin to slowly lift your thumbs away from your baby, upward. Your baby should hold on tight and pull back on your thumbs, and even tense his neck or try to lift his head a little. Don't actually lift your baby off of your legs, or raise his head more than an inch or so in case his strength suddenly gives out. Simply pull up, then lower your baby gently back down 4 or 5 times with slow fluid motions. This move primarily tones your baby's arms, but the neck and stomach also benefit.
2. Baby squats.
To start this move, you can keep your baby laying on your lap as described in the first tip. Then, place the palms of your hands against your baby's cute little bare feet and press up toward her bottom. If your baby doesn't push against your hands, try tickling her feet for a couple of seconds before trying again. if your baby's legs tremble or shake when you are beginning to push, don't worry, this is fairly common in newborns, it comes from a lack of muscle tone. This exercise is actually one of those that physical therapists use for helping tone a baby's legs. Repeat 4 or 5 times, as you do these exercises with your baby every morning, your baby will quickly become stronger and able to do more.
3. Baby push-ups.
Although your baby will do a lot of this kind of exercise when placed on a blanket on the floor for tummy time, most of the work down there will be done by your baby's back, not the arms. This exercise is very similar to the first one, except that you will pull your baby's arms toward your chest to get ready, then push them back toward your baby's own chest. Think of your thumbs as the bench press weight bar, and your lap as the bench. If you don't meet any resistance try making the first little push of the motion two or three times very quickly, as soon as your baby begins resisting your pressure, keep pushing steadily toward your baby's chest.
4. Baby sit ups.
Now I know your baby won't be sitting up for a few more months, but that doesn't mean you can't start building the strength your baby will need right now. This exercise move is a lot easier if you prop your baby up with a pillow or rolled up blanket so he is in a reclined but sitting position. Now, lift his legs up about 4 or 5 inches off the ground and tickle his knees. The knee tickling isn't important, it's just fun. Now holding his knees, pull his legs quickly toward you just a little bit, and as soon as you have resistance press them down to the floor and hold them firmly, pulling just a little bit toward yourself. Your baby should let out a big grunt and try to lean forward. This is what a sit-up looks like at the age of 1 or 2 months. Only do 4 or 5, unless your baby insists that you keep going. He is the boss after all.
5. Baby side-lifts.
Now this move is really for the strengthening of your baby's neck. The muscles that keep your baby's head steady are not in the front or the back, they are on the sides of the neck. To start, roll your baby onto her side, and prop her up on a pillow, a rolled up blanket or your lap. Hold her with one hand on her chest and one hand on her back, and lift her up until she is almost perpendicular, then lower her back down. When she feels the motion of being lifted she will automatically stiffen the muscles in her neck to help lift her head. Don't support your baby's head on the side, her shoulder is there and provides plenty of support, but do be prepared to quickly lower your baby back down if her head starts to wobble or look uncomfortable. This move is a good one to practice all through the day. Whenever you pick up your baby, roll her onto her side and lift her up sideways before positioning her on your shoulder or lap. The more often you do this exercise, the sooner your baby's neck will be strong and stable.
I hope you and your baby have a great time doing these exercises together. Who knows, getting your little one into a healthy groove with working out every morning, may just inspire you to make it a part of your morning routine as well! If you like to work out at night, and want to do these exercises at bedtime with your baby, try to finish the excises part of the routine at least an hour before it is time to go to sleep. Exercise can get babies wound up and can make sleep difficult if the two are too close together. Please pass these tips on to any new or expecting parents you know, and if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them! Happy parenting!
For safety tips and my "Tripi's Tip of the Day" visit http://www.everythingmom.com/blogs/naomitripi/
1. Baby pull ups.
This move is good to start trying when your baby is one month old. Lay your baby on your lap with your knees together. Your baby's head should be by your knees, and the bottom should be on your thighs. Wrap your baby's fingers around your thumbs so he is holding on and begin to slowly lift your thumbs away from your baby, upward. Your baby should hold on tight and pull back on your thumbs, and even tense his neck or try to lift his head a little. Don't actually lift your baby off of your legs, or raise his head more than an inch or so in case his strength suddenly gives out. Simply pull up, then lower your baby gently back down 4 or 5 times with slow fluid motions. This move primarily tones your baby's arms, but the neck and stomach also benefit.
2. Baby squats.
To start this move, you can keep your baby laying on your lap as described in the first tip. Then, place the palms of your hands against your baby's cute little bare feet and press up toward her bottom. If your baby doesn't push against your hands, try tickling her feet for a couple of seconds before trying again. if your baby's legs tremble or shake when you are beginning to push, don't worry, this is fairly common in newborns, it comes from a lack of muscle tone. This exercise is actually one of those that physical therapists use for helping tone a baby's legs. Repeat 4 or 5 times, as you do these exercises with your baby every morning, your baby will quickly become stronger and able to do more.
3. Baby push-ups.
Although your baby will do a lot of this kind of exercise when placed on a blanket on the floor for tummy time, most of the work down there will be done by your baby's back, not the arms. This exercise is very similar to the first one, except that you will pull your baby's arms toward your chest to get ready, then push them back toward your baby's own chest. Think of your thumbs as the bench press weight bar, and your lap as the bench. If you don't meet any resistance try making the first little push of the motion two or three times very quickly, as soon as your baby begins resisting your pressure, keep pushing steadily toward your baby's chest.
4. Baby sit ups.
Now I know your baby won't be sitting up for a few more months, but that doesn't mean you can't start building the strength your baby will need right now. This exercise move is a lot easier if you prop your baby up with a pillow or rolled up blanket so he is in a reclined but sitting position. Now, lift his legs up about 4 or 5 inches off the ground and tickle his knees. The knee tickling isn't important, it's just fun. Now holding his knees, pull his legs quickly toward you just a little bit, and as soon as you have resistance press them down to the floor and hold them firmly, pulling just a little bit toward yourself. Your baby should let out a big grunt and try to lean forward. This is what a sit-up looks like at the age of 1 or 2 months. Only do 4 or 5, unless your baby insists that you keep going. He is the boss after all.
5. Baby side-lifts.
Now this move is really for the strengthening of your baby's neck. The muscles that keep your baby's head steady are not in the front or the back, they are on the sides of the neck. To start, roll your baby onto her side, and prop her up on a pillow, a rolled up blanket or your lap. Hold her with one hand on her chest and one hand on her back, and lift her up until she is almost perpendicular, then lower her back down. When she feels the motion of being lifted she will automatically stiffen the muscles in her neck to help lift her head. Don't support your baby's head on the side, her shoulder is there and provides plenty of support, but do be prepared to quickly lower your baby back down if her head starts to wobble or look uncomfortable. This move is a good one to practice all through the day. Whenever you pick up your baby, roll her onto her side and lift her up sideways before positioning her on your shoulder or lap. The more often you do this exercise, the sooner your baby's neck will be strong and stable.
I hope you and your baby have a great time doing these exercises together. Who knows, getting your little one into a healthy groove with working out every morning, may just inspire you to make it a part of your morning routine as well! If you like to work out at night, and want to do these exercises at bedtime with your baby, try to finish the excises part of the routine at least an hour before it is time to go to sleep. Exercise can get babies wound up and can make sleep difficult if the two are too close together. Please pass these tips on to any new or expecting parents you know, and if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them! Happy parenting!
For safety tips and my "Tripi's Tip of the Day" visit http://www.everythingmom.com/blogs/naomitripi/
Monday, March 24, 2014
5 tips for teaching your baby to sit up.
One of the first developmental milestones that new parents look forward to is the day their baby learns to sit up. Most babies will learn to sit by themselves somewhere between 6 and 8 months, however, it can happen as early as 4 months or as late as 10 months with no cause for alarm. As soon as your baby can support and control her head and has mastered rolling from back to belly, she can start learning to sit. There is no way to insure that your little Buddha will develop at the same pace as other babies, but if you are becoming concerned, and want to help encourage her to learn to sit, here are a few things to try.
The muscles in your baby's back, sides, belly and thighs are essential support for a sitting baby. These muscles are easy to strengthen as well. To work all the muscles together, you could hold your baby in a sitting position on a medium sized exercise ball, and slowly roll the ball a couple inches forward, backward, then side to side. As the surface your baby is sitting on angles downward, your baby will automatically lean "uphill". The muscles are flexed, and the concept of self-correcting for balance is reinforced. Though you can also work each of your baby's core muscle groups separately, it is a good idea to strengthen them with balance-reinforcing activities.
2. Go through the motions.
Now the process of maintaining a sitting position is only half the puzzle your baby has to figure out. Getting there is the difficult part. One of the best and easiest ways for a baby to get into the sitting position is to first raise himself up on his hands and knees, then to walk his hands backward, while letting one leg collapse into a sitting position, then the second one. To teach the technique, you need to walk your baby through the process about 5 or 6 times in a row a couple of times a day. This will help create muscle memory which will give your baby a clear process to follow when they are ready to try it on their own. Start with your baby on his tummy, then help him prop himself up with his arms. Next, push your baby's legs under him one at a time, keeping one hand under his stomach to lend support in case he collapses. Then, take hold of both of your baby's arms, moving your hand from under the tummy to hold one, and physically walk them back toward your baby's knees. Be careful not to let your baby lunge forward during this process, try to keep the balance of weight over your baby's knees. Try to naturally guide your baby to collapse his legs into a sitting position by leaning to one side and then then the other while walking your baby's arms more slowly back toward his knees. Once he is in a sitting position, let him enjoy the position for a minute or two, then lay him back onto his stomach, and begin again.3. Be the "Bumbo".
Although a Bumbo or Bumbo type seat is great for certain things, I highly discourage parents from leaving their baby's in them for very long. It is not because there is anything wrong with the Bumbo, it is because those seats do their jobs too well. Your baby is completely supported on all sides, and does not have to work at all to keep her balance. As a result, muscle development can be slowed, and balance-correcting skills can fall behind. I think the best sitting support system there is, is you. You can sit on the floor with your baby in a sitting position between your legs. Offer maximal safety in the form of blankets and pillows and minimal support, only correcting your baby's balance a moment before she topples over.4. Toy with motivation.
As your baby's interest in toys develops you can capitalize on his burning desire to grasp his favorite toy. If you dangle it just outside of his reach, he will be highly motivated to figure out a way to get at it. For example, if your baby is able to get into the "crawl" position, on his hands and knees, try dangling his favorite toy an inch or so above his forehead. In order to see it better he will be motivated to back up. Then if he wants to grasp it he will have to figure out how to take the weight off of his hands while maintaining his height. This technique can be used at every stage of development, from rolling over to standing, and even walking. Try to be conscious of not frustrating your baby though. If he begins to fuss quite a bit it's a good idea to allow him to get the toy and play with it for a while before resuming the exercise.5. Solo act.
After your baby has gotten the basics of balance down, whenever you have a few minutes when your baby is happy and content, prop her up with a few pillows, maybe a "Boppy" pillow and a few others, give her a toy. Then let her be on the floor by herself until she needs your help. The Independence promotes self-reliance and self discovery. Without your hand to catch her and sit her back up when she falls to the side she will have a more personal experience with the physics involved in keeping herself upright. I do not recommend that you remove yourself too far from your little wibble-wobbler, just move a few feet away so you can observe, but not intervene unless she gets herself in an uncomfortable position. If she falls to the side, if she is in a safe position, do not sit her back up for a few seconds. These moments just after slumping too far to the side are the ones where most of the learning happens.Over time your baby will eventually sit, even if you don't use any of these techniques. These are just ideas to help you encourage your baby's development to stay on schedule. I have seen quite a few babies learn to sit early, and most of them were babies that I worked with, and who I used these techniques with, but they don't always help. Every baby has their own natural schedule for development, and sometimes it is quite resistant to our attempts to speed it up. Some babies even learn to walk before they learn to sit up without help. If you have found these tips to be helpful please forward them to any new or expecting parents you might know. Happy parenting!
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Toddler Tuesday: 5 fun kid games.
Now that your baby is entering the world of the big kids, it's time to have some fun! Not that there wasn't a great deal of fun to be had watching your baby suck on her own feet, but now that she's starting to walk, talk and interact more, you can play too! Many games will spring up naturally between you and your little pal, but sometimes it helps to get an idea or two for new games to try.
1. Chase me!
This is the "Monopoly" of toddler games. You can play one-on-one or with a lot of friends, it can go on for a very long time, and depending on who you're playing with the rules might be slightly different. Basically, you either let your toddler get a little ways ahead of you, and then make a big deal about how you're going to catch him, or you can run away very slowly, shrieking about how scared you are that your toddler is going to get you. Whenever anyone gets "caught" kisses, hugs and tickling are the result.
2. Funny face.
This is a great one for a quiet Saturday when you just want to sit with your little jitter bug on the couch. How it works is, you hold her on your lap facing you. Then you poke your cheek and make your eyes cross as if there were a button in your cheek that made you cross your eyes. Then when she pokes your cheek you do it again. You can also touch your nose and stick out your tongue, pinch your chin and wiggle your eyebrows, or any other variation you might think of. This gets really fun when you bring in a mirror and watch your sweet little clown-bottom try some funny faces of her own.
3. Where did you go?
This is a good toddler game to play if you have missed the gym and need a workout. What you do is sit on the floor, and wait for your toddler to walk behind you. Then you make a big show of looking for him while purposefully missing where he is over and over. As your toddler tries harder and harder to show you where he is, you can actually pick him up to look under him. Then toss him onto your shoulder and lumber around the room turning quickly from side to side when you hear him laugh, saying "I know your around here somewhere, I can hear you laughing!" When you are out of breath, you can find your toddler again and tumble to the floor expressing to him how much you missed him and showering him with kisses and tickles.
4. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!
This is also a good exercise game. This one is excellent for little climbers. In this game, you sit slightly forward on a chair, with a good sized space between you and the back of the chair. Then you encourage your little jaguar to climb up. As soon as she gets right behind you, reach back and get a good hold of her then start the count down. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!! At which point you jump up and run around the room, giving your little astronaut a good bumpy piggy-back space ship ride, complete with the best sound effects you can produce. Dump her in a pile of pillows and cushions, or carefully on the couch, then return to your chair. Try to act like you don't know why she is laughing and climbing up behind you again until she gets all the way up, then repeat the flight around the room.
5. Wrong words.
This is one of my son's favorites. When he brings me a book that I have read a hundred times and I need to spice it up a little for my own sanity, this game comes in real handy. It's pretty simple, You start reading the book, but when you come to certain pivotal moments in the storyline, you say the wrong word instead of the one on the page. Most likely your little smarty pants will correct you on your "mistake". If he doesn't, you can pretend to try to correct yourself, substituting sillier and sillier words for the one you got wrong until your toddler either corrects you or turns the page. Then you can continue to make mistakes on the next page. If my son isn't enjoying the game when I substitute funny words, I will often change my strategy to substituting funny sounds. Sounds which toddlers find particularly funny are squishy sounds, ding-dong's, woo-woo-woo's and "stinky" sounds.
It is amazing how quickly playing a game with your toddler can transform a dull or frustrating afternoon into a fun and special bonding time for you both. It can seem like it would be hard to shift gears from grouchy and grumpy into giggles and grins, but it happens very easily when I hear my little guy laugh. I hope you find these tips helpful. Please forward them to any parents of toddlers you know who might also like them, and as always, questions and comments are welcome. Happy parenting!
By: Naomi Tripi
http://tripibabytips.blogspot.com
1. Chase me!
This is the "Monopoly" of toddler games. You can play one-on-one or with a lot of friends, it can go on for a very long time, and depending on who you're playing with the rules might be slightly different. Basically, you either let your toddler get a little ways ahead of you, and then make a big deal about how you're going to catch him, or you can run away very slowly, shrieking about how scared you are that your toddler is going to get you. Whenever anyone gets "caught" kisses, hugs and tickling are the result.
2. Funny face.
This is a great one for a quiet Saturday when you just want to sit with your little jitter bug on the couch. How it works is, you hold her on your lap facing you. Then you poke your cheek and make your eyes cross as if there were a button in your cheek that made you cross your eyes. Then when she pokes your cheek you do it again. You can also touch your nose and stick out your tongue, pinch your chin and wiggle your eyebrows, or any other variation you might think of. This gets really fun when you bring in a mirror and watch your sweet little clown-bottom try some funny faces of her own.
3. Where did you go?
This is a good toddler game to play if you have missed the gym and need a workout. What you do is sit on the floor, and wait for your toddler to walk behind you. Then you make a big show of looking for him while purposefully missing where he is over and over. As your toddler tries harder and harder to show you where he is, you can actually pick him up to look under him. Then toss him onto your shoulder and lumber around the room turning quickly from side to side when you hear him laugh, saying "I know your around here somewhere, I can hear you laughing!" When you are out of breath, you can find your toddler again and tumble to the floor expressing to him how much you missed him and showering him with kisses and tickles.
4. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!
This is also a good exercise game. This one is excellent for little climbers. In this game, you sit slightly forward on a chair, with a good sized space between you and the back of the chair. Then you encourage your little jaguar to climb up. As soon as she gets right behind you, reach back and get a good hold of her then start the count down. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!! At which point you jump up and run around the room, giving your little astronaut a good bumpy piggy-back space ship ride, complete with the best sound effects you can produce. Dump her in a pile of pillows and cushions, or carefully on the couch, then return to your chair. Try to act like you don't know why she is laughing and climbing up behind you again until she gets all the way up, then repeat the flight around the room.
5. Wrong words.
This is one of my son's favorites. When he brings me a book that I have read a hundred times and I need to spice it up a little for my own sanity, this game comes in real handy. It's pretty simple, You start reading the book, but when you come to certain pivotal moments in the storyline, you say the wrong word instead of the one on the page. Most likely your little smarty pants will correct you on your "mistake". If he doesn't, you can pretend to try to correct yourself, substituting sillier and sillier words for the one you got wrong until your toddler either corrects you or turns the page. Then you can continue to make mistakes on the next page. If my son isn't enjoying the game when I substitute funny words, I will often change my strategy to substituting funny sounds. Sounds which toddlers find particularly funny are squishy sounds, ding-dong's, woo-woo-woo's and "stinky" sounds.
It is amazing how quickly playing a game with your toddler can transform a dull or frustrating afternoon into a fun and special bonding time for you both. It can seem like it would be hard to shift gears from grouchy and grumpy into giggles and grins, but it happens very easily when I hear my little guy laugh. I hope you find these tips helpful. Please forward them to any parents of toddlers you know who might also like them, and as always, questions and comments are welcome. Happy parenting!
By: Naomi Tripi
http://tripibabytips.blogspot.com
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