Category: health

race report : just run for a just cause (my first 10k!)

You guys, things have been so crazy the past few weeks. I’m ready for some normalcy! Over the weekend David spent a night and a day in the hospital getting IV antibiotics and being evaluated. He just wasn’t getting over his pneumonia as an outpatient and it needed to be taken care of (he’s been sick almost three weeks now). He was admitted late Saturday night but got to come home Sunday evening, thankfully.

On Friday I got a migraine while at work. I was the only nurse there and it was awful. I used to get migraines as a kid but I hadn’t had one in almost ten years until last month when I had strep, and now again this month. I hope this is not going to become a thing again! Anyway, some nurses from another department helped me out on Friday while I was so sick, and my mom came to pick me up because I couldn’t drive. Thankfully I felt better that evening and got a good night’s sleep.

I was worried that I would feel hungover the next day from such an intense headache because I was determined to run this 10k! I actually felt well though, and despite rushing to get myself and the kids there on time, it was a good morning.

This race was put on by a large local church and the funds raised went to fight human trafficking. My parents came to do the 1-mile family walk and they pushed the kids in their strollers. My brother and sister-in-law also ran the 10k, and I ran the first 5k with my running buddy Joanna from church.

I am so happy and proud to have finished the 10k with no walking and a negative split. The first 5k went by super fast since Joanna and I were talking the whole time. The second 5k I was alone because we had drifted from my brother and sister-in-law, but it was fine. I was able to push myself a bit more. The weather was overcast and cool-ish so I didn’t even need sunglasses. At the very end I was definitely pushing myself (I just wanted to finish) – my legs and lungs felt great but my stomach was reaching the point where I had to be careful or might have thrown up. :) Thankfully that didn’t happen and my family was waiting for me at the finish line!

Official results

Time: 1:06:32
Pace: 10:45/mile
Overall place: 160/238
Age group place: 17/35

After walking out my crampy muscles we were able to enjoy the free smoothies and coffee. There was a big inflatable slide that Meredith had fun on. And then we went back to my parents’ house for a big breakfast and more family time.

I am so grateful that my migraine didn’t come back. My hips and legs were sore, but stretching helped a lot. I was able to get a bunch of chores done, and then later that night was when David went to the hospital. I was awake until after 1:00 a.m. that night, and up early with the kids on Sunday. Looking forward to some normalcy soon, but this race was definitely the highlight of my weekend. Lots of fun and a great cause!

September 29, 2014
ultimate healthy living bundle
Have y’all heard of the Ultimate Bundles? They are a hugely discounted bundle of resources – ebooks, ecourses, and bonuses like free product – that are only on sale once a year for a few days. Currently there are three of them: healthy living, homemaking, and DIY home. They couldn’t be more appropriate for me, and I’m sure many of you too!

Last year my mom bought me the homemaking bundle, and this year I’m super excited about the healthy living bundle. In fact, I signed on to be an affiliate with them because it’s such a great deal and I really love the resources included. Seriously, read about what it is here! If you’re interested in healthy, natural living at all – I think you’ll get really excited when you see what’s in this. Here is what I really want to dig into:
- DIY natural remedies
- essential oil info
- gardening notebook (for planning purposes – this is one of my goals!)
- green cleaning recipes
- guide to simple living & decluttering
- dealing with picky eaters (kids)
- becoming a better home cook
- making organic food affordable
- freezer cooking
- natural beauty recipes & gift ideas (I think I’m going to make my Christmas gifts this year)
- tons of real food recipes including Well Fed 2 (a paleo cookbook)
- bonuses: free yogurt or sourdough starter, online yoga membership, real food menu planning service, and lots of beauty/baby products
So cool, right??

In fact, there is so much stuff included that it sounds overwhelming. I have two thoughts on this: one, the bundle comes with a product guide to identify what specific resources you should start with for your priorities. And two, the resources are yours forever, so I intend to take one area at a time to focus on and make it my goal to develop for a month or so, and then move on.

If you’re interested, get your copy right away, because the offer is only good until the 15th, or until 30,000 copies are sold.

So I’m curious – what healthy living areas are you most interested in learning about, or what is your priority right now? Lately I’ve been focusing on food and beauty products, but I really want to develop more in the areas of natural remedies, green cleaning, gardening, and making things from scratch. Look for more about all of these things here on the blog as I get around to tackling them!
September 10, 2014
new running shoes

I got new running shoes, and I kind of hate the way they look.

Let me start over, because apparently the fact that I got new shoes requires a back story and I have way more thoughts on the matter than one would expect. So.

The shoes I had been running in were probably about four years old. They were high quality, and I had been fitted for them. But I never logged a lot of miles in them because I ended up having two babies, so I thought that they might last me awhile. In the back of my mind I had a feeling I might need to get new ones prior to running a half marathon, but I still had hopes.

On Sunday I went running outside on the street since it was evening and cloudy and David agreed to watch the kids. It was my longest run yet at four miles and it was actually a really great run except I began having hip pain in what felt like my joints. Not bad enough to slow me down but it definitely made the run uncomfortable. The pain persisted all night (I woke up multiple times because I couldn’t get comfortable) and all the next morning until I finally took ibuprofen.

Now, I know that this pain might not be directly related to my shoes, but I got scared. I decided not to do another run until I got new shoes. (I also resolved to stretch well prior to each run, which I hadn’t been doing.) So on Tuesday I got to leave early from work and I took myself to Luke’s Locker and got fit tested again. I have a neutral step and wide-ish feet. I’ve definitely gone up a size since having kids.

I tried on a few different shoes that fit my needs, and the ones I ended up with are actually the same as my old ones, only the updated version. And I think they are kind of ugly? At the very least, they are the opposite of my style, which is neutral and clean and minimal. These are…not that.

I actually had kind of internal crisis after I bought them. I knew they were the best choice for me but I was sad about it. I think I was hoping for a change, and definitely a different look. I was bummed all evening about it (so silly) but Meredith saw them and said they are “so pretty” and made sure to tell me how much she likes the purple parts. And then I ran the fastest 3 miles I have in a long time, with no hip pain.

I could totally turn this into a metaphor for life right now but I won’t, because I’ve already had two introspective posts this week and we probably don’t need a third. I’ll just say that I guess I’m coming around to my new shoes.

September 5, 2014
whole30 : one month later

It’s been about a month since I completed my first whole30. I thought it was a good time to check in and share what I’m eating + how I’m feeling nowadays. Whole30 was so good for me, and I got immediate results, but the goal was to change my life for good – so if I went right back to my old habits it wouldn’t have been worth it.

So far, though, it definitely has been! This is what I am eating lately:

Breakfast

I have the same breakfast now that I did while on whole30. I fry or scramble five eggs (Meredith usually eats about two of them, but if she doesn’t I eat them all – I love eggs!) and I cut up a banana, a few strawberries, and toss in some blueberries. If I can find unsweetened coconut flakes I’ll add those to the mix.

One change that I’ve made is that if I am drinking hot coffee – which I have been lately because it’s cheaper (I grind it at the store and make it in a French press) – I add a splash of creamer. I never found the taste for black hot coffee. I use the Natural Bliss brand, so while it does have a bit of sugar, at least it contains all real ingredients. But if I am drinking cold brew coffee I just add coconut milk.

Lunch

At the beginning of each week I cook about two pounds of chicken breasts in the crockpot (season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, cover with about two cups of chicken broth, cook on low for 8 hours) and shred it up. Almost every day for lunch, unless I have good leftovers from dinner, I make a salad and add some of this chicken and strawberries. For dressing I use olive oil & raspberry balsamic vinegar. This is whole30 compliant and I love it!

In addition to the salad I eat a cup of Greek yogurt. One day I would love to try making this myself but for now my favorite brand is Chobani. In my research I found that dairy in general isn’t too bad for your health, and yogurt in particular has benefits because of its fermented nature. I do notice slight bloating after having it, but it doesn’t last long and it’s worth it to me to keep it in my diet.

Notice that my breakfasts and lunches are still very healthy. They are also easy to make and I find them delicious. I’m grateful that I’m the type of person who can eat the same thing almost every day and not get sick of it. (My junior year of high school I ate a hot pocket and small package of Oreos every single day for lunch. I cringe to think about it now!)

Dinner

I have been a little more lenient with dinners for a few reasons. One – lately I’ve begun to enjoy trying new recipes and having the freedom of variety. Two – my family is more likely to eat what I cook. Three – it gives me something to look forward to! In general, though, I am still trying to cook real, healthy food.

Side note: I cannot say enough good things about the blog Don’t Waste the Crumbs. It is all about eating real food on a budget and her meal ideas are simple and yummy and things that even kids and picky husbands will eat. She is also inspiring me to try to make more things from scratch, and I am getting really excited about it. I think I’m going to try my hand at sourdough bread soon!

So anyway, when I make my dinner meal plan every Saturday, I pull from a list of go-to ideas and then I’ve begun looking at the above website to fill in the gaps with a couple new meals. Three meals per week are already taken care of: one for leftovers, one for dinner at Mom & Dad’s, and one is breakfast for dinner. Usually we end up having another meal at my in-laws’ house as well.

Here are some of the meals that we’ve eaten recently: crustless quiche, tacos, egg salad with bacon lettuce wraps, southwestern salad.

I do want to mention that if we eat at someone else’s house I will just eat whatever they serve, even if it isn’t too healthy. Moderation, right? :)

Snacks & Desserts

This is where I have to be honest. I have become kind of addicted to dark chocolate covered almonds! They are technically paleo-approved, but I’m sure I’m eating way too many. Right now I’m okay with it, though.

I have also been having ice cream several times a week. It’s funny, because when I was pregnant with Liam I ate whatever I wanted but ice cream was one thing my body couldn’t tolerate. I didn’t eat it for almost a year and I didn’t miss it. Now that I’m eating healthier though, I want it all the time! Maybe because it’s summer? Anyway, I don’t buy it for myself but my husband loves to treat me. And my parents always have it. So…I’m working on it. :)

I haven’t been eating many sweets or desserts other than those things. However, I discovered the cafe at work (which serves Starbucks) accepts our name badges for payment, meaning it comes right out of our paycheck. So I’ve had a few too many mochas lately as well. I think the solution to this is to bring my own K-cups and creamer to work (we have a Keurig) so that I can have a good second cup of coffee without all the extra sugar and expense.

My Body

The weight that I lost while on whole30 has so far stayed off, mostly. I have been weighing in about 1-2 pounds higher, with clothes on in the middle of the day. My clothes have become even looser, I think, although I haven’t done any more measurements.

I’ve started half marathon training and I’m feeling stronger. My energy remains high for most of the day, still no afternoon crashes.

My mood isn’t quite as high as it was the last week of whole30 (I think I felt the best I ever have in my life that week), and I do notice a correlation between eating a lot of gluten and irritability, but in general I’m in good spirits!

Overall I am still eating soooo much better than I did before. My outlook is different, I feel better, I’m happier with my body, and I have an excitement surrounding healthy, real food that I never had before. I used to dread cooking and planning meals, but now it’s kind of fun. Things that seemed impossible before are now no big deal!

If you have ever thought about trying whole30 for yourself, I highly recommend reading the book It Starts With Food. And let me know if you have any questions!

August 14, 2014
natural personal care products

This post has been in the works for literally years, starting with way back when I decided to switch all my personal care products to natural versions. It’s been a super long process because first I used up what I had, and then whenever I would try a new brand if I didn’t love it I would still use it up before trying something new. Finally I’ve come to a place that I’m pretty happy with, although I’m sure I will still try new things (and update as I go).

So as I’m choosing products what I think about is:

1) Is it natural and safe? There are some brands that I trust (you’ll notice several) but I also use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database. I try to choose products that are in the 0-2 range on their website, but in a couple cases I went with a 3 because I loved the product and it was just fragrance or something like that bumping it up. Also, not everything is in the database so then I have to check ingredients.

2) What’s the price? There are some awesome natural products out there but they can get super expensive. I’m on a budget so I’ve been trying the cheapest stuff that fits my other criteria.

3) Where can I get it? I know ordering stuff online is pretty easy but I like to be able to go to a physical store that is close by and pick something up if I need it. I get most of my stuff from Target, Whole Foods, HEB (a local grocery store), or Ulta.

4) Does it work and how do I like it? This is where I evaluate the product for itself, how it works, do I like how it smells, do I have any problems with it, etc. It helps that I have normal skin with no special issues so most products work on me pretty well.

Okay let’s get to it: this is what I’m using now!

Face

Cleanser : Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Cleansing Milk. This has been a favorite for years. It works well to remove eye makeup and I love the pump dispenser and citrus smell.

Exfoliator : Mineral Fusion Facial Scrub. I use this about once a week. I used to be so bad about remembering it but then I started keeping it in the shower and it’s much easier to grab and use that way.

Moisturizer : Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Daily Moisturizer. I actually prefer the Vitamin C version because of the scent (I adore citrus), but the lavender has a better rating.

Eye cream : BareMinerals Firming Eye Cream. Do I notice a difference when I use eye cream? Not really yet, but I’m in my 30’s now so it’s pretty widely recommended. I admit that I skip it a lot though.

Makeup

Facial sunscreen : Mineral Fusion Brush On Sun Defense. This is a little extra sun protection for everyday wear (i.e. when I’m mostly inside) since I have fair skin. I love how easy it is to apply. I’m still looking for a favorite stronger sunscreen for when I’m outdoors a lot.

Foundation : BareMinerals Pressed Powder. (Mineral Fusion also has a good one, but I find the compact really hard to open.) I love mineral powder foundation because, as you can probably tell, I go really light on the makeup anyway and this evens out my skin tone while still looking natural. I’ve tried the loose powder version and it’s just a little too messy for my liking.

Blush : BareMinerals READY. I think I try a new color every time I get one and they’ve all been good. I use this lightly though. Again, the pressed version is just easier than the loose kind. I use this brush to apply it.

Concealer : BareMinerals powder (and I use this brush to apply it). I don’t use this very often but it’s pretty effective in dealing with mild red spots and blemishes. I’m still on the hunt for a natural cream concealer for when I get a bad blemish.

Mascara : Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!. I have tried SO many natural brands of mascara, hoping to find a cheaper one, but I keep coming back to this. From what I’ve tried, it’s the best all around.

Hair, body, and miscellaneous

Shampoo : For my kids I use The Honest Company (it’s in my favorite orange vanilla scent) and I use it sometimes as well. Most of the time I use Nature’s Gate (note the price in that link is for a pack of 4). It lasts a really long time.

Conditioner : I don’t use conventional conditioner anymore, but I love the The Honest Company’s Conditioning Detangler spray. Smells and works great, and Meredith loves me to spray her hair too.

Lip balm : I can’t stand dry lips. I’ve actually found that Lanolin – which I had on hand from breastfeeding but hardly ever needed for that purpose – works amazingly well for this, which makes sense. And I usually only need to apply it once a day. I also love Pacifica Lip Tint for a hint of color.

Deodorant : I was so resistant to giving up my antiperspirant! I hate to sweat, but that stuff is so not good for our bodies. I tried several brands and so far my favorite is Kiss My Face Active Life. I have to be honest though, there was a big transition period where my body adjusted to operating without antiperspirant. I’ve gotten to a good place, but it’s been a combination of giving it time to adjust and getting used to sweating a little. If I work out, I’m still going to sweat. If I’m outside during the summer for long, I’ll still sweat. That’s the reality of going without antiperspirant. But at least I doesn’t smell bad. :)

Toothpaste : I do like Tom’s of Maine and it was my go-to until I started having trouble finding this SLS-free version. (SLS is linked with mouth sores, which I deal with from time to time.) Some stores also only carry it in peppermint, which I hate. So I started ordering toothpaste from The Honest Company as well, and I think I’ll probably stick with that. I love their kids’ version too.

By the way, if you can’t tell, I love The Honest Company. I used their diapers for Liam before we switched to cloth, and now I get their essentials bundle. It’s awesome because you don’t have to get it every month, but only when you want it. I usually order one every 3-4 months and get the stuff that I’ve run out of. If you want to try it, I’d be grateful if you used my referral link to sign up.

Bar soap : Actually, the soap I use is handmade by the daughter of one of my patients. I’m obsessed with it. But since she doesn’t ship yet, I will also say that I tried and love Zum Bar as well.

Body lotion : This is one product that I still want to experiment with, but I do like Kiss My Face Vitamin A & E Moisturizer. I really want to find a citrus scented lotion though. This one is kind of an almond/earthy/milky smell which is fine but not my favorite.

Menstrual care : Getting real here for a minute! Thankfully I haven’t needed this much at all in the last several years (thanks kids!) but I switched to the DivaCup and never looked back. If you are curious about it I’d direct you to this blog post. I also switched to cloth pantyliners (mine are by Charlie Banana) for the light days when using the DivaCup isn’t necessary.

Okay, whew! I think that’s pretty much everything I use! I know there are a lot of ways to make your own products as well, but I’m a working mama who would rather spend my spare time in other ways, and I’m dubious as to whether I could make anything that would compare to this. I do, however, want to make my own household cleaning products, and that’s my next venture!

Please share with me if you have any natural products that you love, I want to try them!

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Referral links included where available. Thanks for your support!

July 28, 2014