Beyond Mom

The Primal Blueprint (Day 1)

jennydecki — Sun, 20 May 2012 22:40:41 +0000

It’s food experiment time!!

Time again to fix the diet that is making my husband tired, me fat, and the kids ditzy. Ok, maybe there are some other factors but diet is surely one of them. I have not been happy with the way any of us are eating and if you look at my recent LoseIt! history you will be as amazed as everyone else that I can gain and lose weight almost effortlessly eating the same things.

So it must be the food that’s wrong.

Now, I’m no nutritionist, and the nutritionists I’ve talked to at hospitals and in other settings have always advocated the food pyramid and insisted that I had to eat breakfast. Most important meal of the day even if I’m not hungry and all that.

I hated it.

I’ve also tried the Atkins diet but am so disgusted by the thought of no more vegtables or only certain low carb vegtables … I don’t think it’s sustainable.

Isn’t there some kind of blueprint – I kid you not I used the term blueprint – to tell me what to eat and how much that’s not a cartoon plate?

Then something interesting happened.

I’ve been a fan of coconut oil for a while. Ever since I got a sample from Tropical Traditions and made popcorn I’ve been totally sold on coconut oil as a great cooking oil. Then I ran across this post about using coconut oil called 122 Ways to Use Coconut Oil and one of them led me over to Mark’s Daily Apple and there they talk about the book The Primal Blueprint and the primal diet. (I got my book from the library)

Where you can have a pork chop and a salad and it’s not only ok, it’s the right thing for your body.

I talked to my husband about energy and mental clarity and he was on board.
I talked to the girls and they are on board. I was surprised, but really proud of them, they want to try the experiment, too! They did balk a little at “no peanut butter” but even that they overcame quickly and without much drama!
I had a conversation with myself and got over that I’d be cooking more eggs (I can’t eat eggs, they make my stomach hurt really bad, so I kind of hate cooking them because I used to love them) and would only be eating cheese or dairy sporadically, I was okay and on board.

So we are doing 30 days of primal to see how it works for us. If it has positive effects, then it’s going to be the way my family eats and will no longer be considered an experiment.

Today I’ve had beef, pork, a big salad, and some strawberries. The girls have had pounds of fruit, scrambled eggs, and salad/pork for lunch. (Since 6am – not at their last sitting! LOL)

Just because of the way my family runs, we do our “dinner” at around 3-4. Nighttime we have a light snacky type meal, not a full on 7pm dinner because no one sleeps well if we do.

Also? It’s ok not to eat breakfast if you’re not hungry. Or you can have a smoothie instead. I like it already.

Day 1 Results

I don’t feel deprived or angry or hungry. Nice!
The girls feel like they won the food lottery because the three of them got to split a container of blueberries, grapes, and strawberries for breakfast then a couple hours later got scrambled eggs.
My husband – well let me ask him – he says, “I feel pretty good. I just chilled my coffee with a little ice instead of milk.”

So far…so good. I’ll keep you posted on how it continues to go.

Note: There are no paid links or affiliate links in this post. One link looks like an affiliate link and I don’t know why. None of the people mentioned in this post know I’m posting. I am not a dietition or expert. Please talk to you doctor before making changes in your family’s diet.

Dumping Dance and Embracing Yoga

jennydecki — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:09:03 +0000

My daughter doesn’t want to dance anymore.

It breaks my heart, but she’s finishing out the current program and she’s really happy about the recital, so I can’t complain. As much as I want my little fairy-child to consider being a ballerina – I mean, come on, she’s made for it – at the same time I’m about my kids doing what they want, not what I want.

Instead? She wants to take art classes. When I told her she had to pick something for her body, too, she said, “I want to do yoga.”

Ok, yoga and art it is.

Did you want some patchouli oil with that? LOL

Then There Was the Shame

jennydecki — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:47:15 +0000

I am not a fan of TED talks.

I admit it. I’m not techy enough, I’m not genius enough, I’m not cutting edge enough, I’m not NPR enough to be hip enough to be all, OMG it’s so deeeep.

I’m sorry. If you hate me now, I won’t be mad at you. I kind of want to be the person who is inspired by the TED talks but I just can’t get there. Maybe my soul is dead. Who the hell knows.

But then there was the one on Shame. I always capitalize Shame because it feels that way. When things get tough, I get ashamed that I am not doing better, or more, or … or …. yeah…everything.

This TED talk on Shame made me realize, oh hey, everyone feels this?! I thought only people who, like me, suffered from the Curse of Unrealized Potential™ had those problems. But this woman – researcher, smartie, woman-who-speaks – she feels Shame? STFU!

But she does.. and her shame made me feel better. I suggest you watch it and maybe you learn how to navigate your Shame. It certainly can’t hurt.

“Shame drives two tapes – Nothing’s ever good enough and if you can get past that one Who do you think you are.” It’s paraphrased, but yeah, so much that.

This is not my most eloquent post. If you follow me on Facebook you may see this multiple times because I shared it on my page. Sorry about that. Give it a watch and you’ll see why I want to share it with others.

3 Ways to Soothe Hunger Pangs

jennydecki — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:53:31 +0000

When you’re used to eating a lot and then you decide to go and stop eating a lot there’s a good deal of time where your gut (a real term for the brain system in your tum-tum area) is all confused. It wants what it’s used to. It wants more. You have to gently transition your gut from too much to enough and here are a few ways to do that.

First, realize that the crazy you feel is coming from your stomach and you are not really going to go insane if you don’t eat. Then, take a few deep breaths. When my hunger pangs get bad they make my teeth ache. Seriously. It’s horrible and makes me feel like I need to eat RIGHT NOW OR I’LL DIE – it sucks.

Of course, the best thing to do is time your meals so you don’t get that hungry. But when that doesn’t happen – because you’re human and things happen – here are four ways to soothe those massive hunger pangs. Also, please make sure to eat enough calories for the day to properly fuel your body. This is for pangs while you’re learning your bodies real signals, not tips for crash starvation diets!

Hot Tea or Coffee

While you should try to go decaf in order to not have an addiction to a crazy-powerful drug, it’s the warmth and the water that are the #1 ways to soothe your tummy and make those pangs settle down. My favorite hunger-balm tea is Pomegranite Rose from Zhena’s Gypsy Tea (not a sponsored link).

If you do have tea or coffee, please don’t ruin it with a bunch of sugar and cream. The point of the tea/coffee is to soothe your tummy, not add unwanted calories to the mix. Green tea is also supposed to help pangs, but that’s not really a proven thing. Also, the smell of coffee is supposed to help hunger pangs, also not proven.

See what works for you and then keep a stash of your favorite handy to make quickly. When the crazy-hunger hits, you don’t want to have to search your kitchen cabinets for tea bags because it increases the chances you will just give up and grab a snack instead.

Exercise

This is another one that only works if your hunger pangs are fakers and not because you’re truly hungry. Get up and move. If you’re doing something you’re not focusing on your hunger. Not focusing on your hunger makes it less obvious and bothersome.

If you don’t have the time or ability to walk around the block and get some fresh air and away from your fridge, then do an exercise video. Can’t do an exercise video? Clean something. Heck, maybe clean out the dishwasher – that’s gross and might help get you through to mealtime.

Eat Your Veggies

If you can’t ignore it, can’t clean it away, and can’t make it to your next meal or snack then you have no other choice but to eat some food! Don’t make it a big deal. If you have to eat, you have to eat, it’s okay. Don’t feel guilty or bad or gross about eating, because that will make you more likely to give up and grab a cookie instead of feeling good about your decision and choosing a healthy food.

There are veggies, there are fruit, there are portion controlled servings of cereal, whole grains, or peanut butter. There are healthy fats like avocados. There are so many ways you can eat and still feel good about yourself!

Foods aren’t good or bad – they’re just food. Some are healthy, some are unhealthy, some are packed with nutrients, some are cupcakes. They can all have a place in your life. Some more than others!

Do you have any great tips for abating fake hunger or getting through to that next snack or meal? I’d love to hear them!

Four Ways to Fit Exercise Into Your Day

jennydecki — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:02:50 +0000

Don’t Commit Yourself

We all want to rock out our workout first thing in the morning to get it out of the way, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen that way. The snooze button gets hit, the kids spill milk on their pants and extra time is spent getting everything ready so she doesn’t smell sour all day, or you realize that the kids are out of hot lunch money at school, you don’t have singles, and you need to get a lunch ready with nothing but peanut butter, jelly, and a child with a peanut allergy in your kid’s class. (or your child with the peanut allergy – whatever)

These things can be an instant downer and push your workout out of the morning completely. You look at the clock and realize you’ve got no chance to fit your morning workout in. Don’t freak out! Find another time during the day to fit it in. Even if it’s after the kids are in bed, get it in, you’ll be glad the next day you did.

If you are a night person and usually work out at night, find another way to get your workout in. If you usually run and it’s raining, do a video inside. Have multiple back-up plans so you can get your exercise in. It doesn’t work if you only work it sporadically.

Don’t Be A Clock Watcher

Again, if your schedule is hectic – and come on, who’s isn’t? – you may find yourself with fifteen minutes in your day where you finally have a chance to breathe. Use it! Life doesn’t run on a tight schedule and neither should you. If you only have fifteen minutes, get out a 1 mile Walk At Home and power walk your break.

Maybe you only have ten minutes until you need to make dinner. Get in ten minutes of your workout and then redo it when the kids are in bed. It’s better to workout 30 minutes a day in three chunks than to skip them all because the timing just isn’t working for you. I understand you won’t feel that sense of accomplishment that you do when you get your workout in from beginning to end and then stretch it out, but you also won’t feel as bad as if you skipped the whole thing.

Eating Before – Eating After

Have easy to eat meals and food on hand. Not so you can graze all day or anything – that would be not-so-great for your health and well-being – but so you don’t have to choose between making some long, drawn-out egg white omlette and exercising. Eat an apple, have a yogurt – and then work out. If you prefer eating after your workout then reverse the order and get moving!

If you own a microwave and can eat eggs (I do not and cannot – sigh) then here is a quick and easy morning breakfast recipe packed with protein. Meal-in-a-mug challenge sponsored by Egg Beaters (It’s a post by Miz Fit – whom I adore)

Don’t Limit Yourself

Non-standard workouts count! If you have to choose between taking care of the kids and doing a video – choose option C (all of the above). Personally, I like to throw in a DVD and have the kids do my workouts with me (keeping healthy as a family and all that) but when they don’t want to I’ll take them outside and race them to the end of the block and back as many times as I can handle.

The kids get worn out (yea!) and I get my exercise in. It’s not a tape, I don’t know exactly how far I’ve gone, but I feel good about myself. I’m looking into getting either a Striiv or a Fitbit so if you have any opinions on that, please share them with me – I’m kind of paralyzed and can’t make a decision. But I know I did a good thing playing with my kids, being a great parent, and getting exercise in the old fashioned way – play!

So what can you do? Play with your dog, cat, kid, or run back and forth in front of your fishtank – whatever you can do to get your heartrate up and be active.

I hope these will help you get over some of your reservations when you feel like you don’t have time. I was totally inspired to write this by a post I saw over at Miz Fit so go up and check out the microwave recipe and then hang out on her site – as long as possible – because you’ll learn so much and smile a lot. She’s worth your time.

The biggest, most important thing to remember is to try and not be all or nothing about your workouts. You don’t have to do it perfect every time. Be consistent – or as consistent as possible – and eventually you’ll find your routine and find those days where everything goes wrong and your workout is messed up happen less and less.

Be kind and forgiving to yourself, but don’t give up!

Guided Meditation for Children at Bedtime

jennydecki — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:44:48 +0000

I discovered something magical a couple nights ago. It was time for yet another bedtime and that meant another bedtime story. Usually I’m a rock star at stories, but I was tired and I just randomly started with my low, slow voice saying, “Picture yourself in a boat on the river…with tangerine trees and marmelade skies…” I had nowhere to go from there and had an epiphany.

Guided meditation.

So in my best meditation voice (also my best fake-hypnotist “You’re getting sleeepy” voice but toned down) I asked them what color the boat was. “Don’t tell me, just picture it…” and to focus on how beautiful the boat was. After about ten seconds I continued. I asked them about the river, if there were gemstones on the boat, if there were clouds in the sky, what the clouds looked like.

The whole thing probably lasted ten minutes. My older girls were out by the end of the story/meditation and the 2yo was really drowsy. I think she didn’t fall asleep entirely because she kept answering the questions instead of picturing the answers. I’m not complaining, that girl usually stays up well past all of our bedtimes so having her relaxed was a blessing in and of itself.

Have you ever tried guided meditation? It’s good stuff if you are in a place where you can really relax. Like bed.

I know that reading to kids at bedtime is recommended. I hear all the smart, well-read mommies do it, but I like to read to the kids during the day because in our house reading is a fun, exciting activity that transports you to other places. They know how much I love books. I do voices and we get into the stories. Doing that at bedtime would be a hot mess if I wanted the kids to actually sleep.

Just don’t tell anyone that yesterday I started reading my book out loud to my daughter and it was The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry and it was the part in the slums and I had to skip over entire paragraphs so she didn’t have nap-mares. It sure as heck wasn’t Courduroy! LOL

Of course, if I could get Samuel L. Jackson to come over and read Go the F**k to Sleep to them I’m sure they’d be out in a hot minute, that man has the voice of an angel. Sometimes an avenging angel, sometimes a guardian angel – depends on his mood.

Let me know how it works out if you try guided meditation for your kids!

I’ll try to find some resources to help you out if you’re not familiar with the pacing and intonation used for guided mediatation. Give me a day to search.

Photo credit: enzo from morguefile.com

Navigating Multiple Online Classes

jennydecki — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:26:15 +0000

This week the Spring school semester began.

I’m taking six online classes.

At first I thought, “This is going to be so easy! My school calendar is synced to my iPhone, I have the iStudiez Pro app, and my school is signed up for access to the Blackboard Mobile app. Wherever I am, I can post to discussion boards or otherwise keep up with my classes!”

Of course, with a tool like Blackboard, the class is only as organized as the teacher who builds the class. A late syllabus will not come any faster via excellent connectivity if the teacher has not uploaded it. So I’m refreshing my app and not a whole lot is happening and I’m wondering if this is a taste of things to come in the next 15 weeks.

My class lineup is interesting. In order to facilitate a faster graduation time I’ve transferred and changed my major to Interdisciplinary Studies. I should be done by August. So there is a required Interdisciplinary Studies class as well as two music classes (yes, I’ve been avoiding the arts like the plague) and other classes I’ll talk about when something fun or interesting comes up.

Tactile Information and Transport

I checked in on the first day of classes and printed everything available. Yes, I could just look at the assignments in Word, but I’m a note-taker. Keeping the notes on the pages is important to me. I keep those notes in tabbed manilla folders. On the folders I write down important dates for easy reference. If other notes need to go in the file, I put them on post-it notes on the inside cover of the folder.

If you are able to track everything on something like EverNote or some Borg app you’re rocking on your Mac, well, then you are cooler/younger/better than I am. I’m fine with that, I have other fabulous qualities. You know, like my ability to drink copious quantities of wine. It’s a skill, people.

Seriously, the other reason I like having it all on paper is for throwing stuff in a bag and huffing my butt to the library for some child-free study time. Sure, I could hope it’s all on my computer, or I could copy and paste it all into Google Docs, but what if I get to the computer and seven hundred things happen that mean I’m down to just my paperwork and myself. I’m going to want those folders. (Basically, I get really nervous if I don’t have something to hold on to. I’m a dinosaur like that.)

A Special Place for Books

You can’t just chuck your books anywhere or you’ll lose them. Of course that’s assuming you’re able to lose textbooks. I am. It’s happened with books so big they had to resize themselves in order to hide so completely. Once, I found a textbook in the kids’ bookshelf in their room. Really? You wanted to learn about Finite Math? Sure you did. Book stealing little monsters trying to outwit me!

Probably not, but you never know. Kids get that knowing look and you know they’re planning something straight up evil. What? I’m paranoid? Maybe.

My books live in a special place to the right of my desk. I can swirl my office chair to the right, lean over, and swipe the book I need. As you can see, I have a few oversized, paperback books (My Favorite Kind!! *yeahright*) but I hate those books a lot less after I figured out you can pop them into a magazine holder and be done with it.

Books 0 – Me 1

The Plan (As It Stands Right Now)

My plan is to check everything on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I’ll concentrate on homework from two classes on each of these days. With the two music classes, I’m going to break those up and marry them to an English class (I’m taking two of those, too). Then, on Fridays I’ll focus on the other two classes.

If there is a change to the syllabus, I can just shift what classes get taken care of on what days.

The Bottom Line

I’ve never had problems with online classes, but the more of them you take in any given semester the more important it is to have a plan. Sure, I could wing it and would probably do alright. I don’t know if the school I’m going to has a curve, but even without one, standards are pretty low.

Don’t get me wrong, students aren’t stupider than they were when I was young and stupid. They have more of a special snowflake (def. 2) issue than students did when I was in school, but they aren’t dumb. That being said, I do think teachers are lazier. Or more burned out. Or high. *shrug*

Are you an adult learner (or not) taking online classes? What are some of your tips and tricks?

I’ve Never Been to Disney World

jennydecki — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:40:13 +0000

When I was young we went to Disneyland. I have some good memories. We went because we lived within driving distance. I don’t remember much beyond the It’s a Small World ride and Space Mountain and the Pirates of the Carribean ride. I’m sure there was more. I don’t remember where we stayed. It was a long time ago.

But it seems like there are these bursts of Disney activity online when someone goes to WDW and everyone else chimes in about their last trip and how much they are looking forward to going back.

Once, when I was much younger, I applied to work at The Disney Store. It was a group interview. One of the people in the interview was so excited for the discount that they said, “I would pay YOU to work here!”

He was serious.

He was also a really nice guy that I enjoyed working with. He was totally normal until the conversation turned to Disney. Then he would light up like a Christmas tree and get really animated. It changed his whole demeanor in a positive way. That can’t be a bad thing.

What is it that makes WDW such an amazing place? Is there anyone that prefers Disneyland to WDW?

I don’t get it.

I used to know a Pocahontas. To be clear, I used to be friends with a woman who – at a previous job – was Pocahontas at Disney World. She told me about training and the job and how she made money outside of WDW and it was all…fascinating.

But that didn’t ruin the illusion. In fact, nothing ruined the illusion. I just don’t understand the illusion.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people who love Disney. I support them in their dreams of going and having fun and giving their children those memories. I don’t think it’s a bad choice.

It’s just not one I understand.

Breakfast Before School | Short Stories

jennydecki — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:48 +0000

The pain in my head lets me know I’ve fallen. I know I shouldn’t have been trying to climb fences in my uniform. Really, I do know better. It’s just… there’s an apple tree in my neighbor’s backyard and I was really hungry so I decided to, as my mom says, “Make my own luck.” I see the boys do it all the time. How was I supposed to know my skirt was going to get caught on the pointy bit at the top, just as I’m swinging my leg over to get down on the other side?

I reach up and touch my forehead and I feel soft little trails where the pain is. I swear the slight indents spell map, but then I look down and see the little stone has Pam on there. The neighbor’s dead cat. Great. Evidence. I’ll have to cover that up with a hat or something. Where am I going to get a hat?

Time to grab the yummy prize I came here for. The tree towers over me. I feel my mouth water as I think of how it will feel as my teeth break the skin on the…I better grab one and get out of here before someone sees me. I pluck a few apples out of the tree – extras for my trouble – and run back toward the fence when I see, right there, clear as day, the open gate. No time to feel stupid now. I run through the yard almost bouncing in the soft grass, cross the threshold of the yard and clomp like a loud horse onto the sidewalk. I look around as I catch my breath.

I did it! I take an apple out of my bag as I walk – quickly – toward school.

Lounge Music and Snotty Coffee – 21st Century Holiday Comfort

jennydecki — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:46:58 +0000

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I have two holiday comforts I love.

First, the Creme Brulee latte from Starbucks. It comes out on November 15th like clockwork every year and it lets me know that it’s holiday time. It’s my very own heads-up the temperatures are going to plummet, I’m going to be able to see my breath, and I – yet again – am completely out of wrapping paper.

The second comfort is far more important.

I was on a quest for years to find holiday music I didn’t find pathetic and depressing. I know you classic holiday music lovers will disagree and say that White Christmas doesn’t make you want to drink until you pass out – but to each their own – I can’t stand slow, droning music in a minor key.

When I found the music I loved, I decided to start a new holiday tradition in our home. Fun holiday music. From Rockabilly to Lounge to Tiki to Jazz. Music that makes you grin from ear to ear thinking about the joy of the holiday season.

When I listen to holiday lounge music I sometimes forget who I am. Instead of just being an amazing wife, mother, and employee I’m suddenly Samantha from Bewitched. One of my top pics is Ultra-Lounge – Christmas Cocktails. It’s a two-CD set with lively trumpets and fun vocals. Every song reminds me how much I adore the holiday season.

To switch it up on nights so cold you think there may never be another summer again we put on Tiki music! Luau in December by King Kukulele & The Friki Tikis (best band name ever, right?) is one of the holiday albums that my kids probably love even more than I do. They try to hula every time I put it on, and it makes us all forget about the frost on the windows for a little while.

I make it a point to listen to music that is upbeat and fun, because seriously, around this time of year all I have to do if I want to become insane with deep emotion and start sobbing I can look at my kids and they look all lovingly into my eyes and all of a sudden I look like that crying jag scene in The Blair Witch Project and I’m running for the Kleenex.

My upbeat music helps guide that deep well of emotion into joy as opposed to something more meloncholy and maudlin.

Not Just for Christmas

Hanukkah lovers, don’t think I’m leaving you out, either! Kenny Ellis has an album called Hanukkah Swings! and it’s absolutely lounge-tastic.

Really, I think you should be beyond amazed at my inclusiveness. I’d pat myself on the back but I’d probably dislocate my shoulder. I’m subtle like that.

There is also an album by Lynette Washington called Long, Long Ago and it’s dubbed itself a Jazz celebration of Christmas, Chanukah & Kwanzaa. All your holidays in one fabulous place!

I only found one Yule album, and it even mentions the Yule log on one of the songs so I’m pretty sure I’m barking up the right tree with this one. It’s called A Yuletide Celebration and it’s by Kari Tauring.

Atheists? You can listen to anything because it’s just another day for you. You don’t need suggestions and if you like snarky anti-holiday music I’m sure it’s already loaded up and ready to go in your iPod.

So there you have it. A cup of snotty coffee, wonderful upbeat music, and my family are my holiday comforts. They are what make the holidays my magical, special time.

I think I’m going to go put some on right now. Probably Ultra-Lounge. There will be martinis.

I love the holidays.

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