Starting Out Small

CLEAN EATING! one of my new health changes…

Now that Passover is behind me, I decided to take charge of my “bad” eating habits. As of May 2nd, I have decided to join a gym again and exercise regularly. But, my more difficult lifestyle change; I am aiming to start eating “clean”. As my sister in law explained to me, it is a healthier way of eating. So, of course, I immediately type in Clean Eating in the search space on Google.com to see what it means. Here is a good site that explains it:

http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating/

Well, it is very simple, clean eating is basically eating chicken, lean meats, fish and fruits and vegetables. Basically, skip all the good things in the grocery store! LOL All the healthy foods are on the outside of a supermarket (if you have ever paid attention). Groceries know how to entice their customers. HOWEVER, if you are a smart shopper and only shop with what is on your list, then you will be okay and not tempted.

It has only been my third day so far and it is not too bad, I have to say. I am cutting out all processed sugar and white flour. I am a HUGE junk food person and I think that is where my biggest problem lies. I have an extra 15 lbs. that I feel I don’t need on my body. No one believes me that I am really the weight I tell them, but it is true. Scales don’t lie, or do they? LOL!

I have always been a gym person, it is MY time, I have more energy and love going, but when I went back when my third child was 6 months old, I found that she started to nap in the early am hours, so I ended up NOT going, because there was only babysitting until 12PM at my gym. I ended up leaving my many year membership there and found out that they actually have NO babysitting there anymore, so being a SAHM, I couldn’t have kept going there anyway…so, for 1 & 1/2 years I have not been exercising. SHAME ON ME! I now have joined this week and have gone to work out every day. I am quite proud of myself. It was a LONG time coming, but it feels great to jump right in again…

Now, I am not the type to just e a s e my way into it, instead, I go full force! I did a full hour on the treadmill (which I never do!) with a level 3 incline the whole time. I was so proud of myself. Then, on Tuesday, I did a SPINNING class, I have always wanted to attempt, but was afraid of the bikers. They all seem so determined and excited about it, but in a way, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up. This class was fabulous. If anything, the instructor gave me the motivation to join the gym…for real! It was so difficult, but I did the full hour. I couldn’t believe it. But, boy, what a job it does on your tush, ouch! I was in so much pain last night, I actually had to take a 600 mg. motrin. I felt better in the morning, though my knees, legs and tush are still sore. I hope I can manage to keep up with it and take it at least one time a week!

I once attempted about a year ago to stop eating all my junk food, processed sugar, etc. but lasted maybe two weeks, I hope I can continue for longer this time. I truly want to make this a life change. I don’t want to give it up forever, but feel that I can “cheat” once in a while, not multiple times a day like I have been. It is tough for me to not “finish my toddler’s unwanted snacks” or nibble on a snack I am preparing for the kids at home, but I am trying, so far so good.

I am approaching my 40th birthday…not in a few months, but a little over a year and I feel that as you get older, it is that much tougher to shed the pounds, I don’t want to have health issues, so I am trying my best to eat right, exercise and GET ENOUGH SLEEP! Another one, I am not that good about. But, I have been trying to get at least 7-8 hours a night now, when I use to average 6 or less. All the celebrities say, sleep is a big thing, it gives them clearer skin, etc. and I believe it is all true. SO…now that I have poured my heart out, please comment and share your thoughts, okay?

Also, shop our boutique, www.startingoutsmall.com every Tuesday, we have a special going on now, 10ontuesday. Stock up on baby gifts and save an extra 10% on orders of $30 or more! Happy shopping!

StartingOutSmall, LLC.

www.startingoutsmall.com

1 year ago

May 4, 2011

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SUCH AN IMPORTANT ARTICLE for anyone who has a HOUSEHOLD! Please read!!!!

We are all so busy in our day to day life, that we often lose site of the really important matters in our life. For example, our health and the health of our children, spouse and families. Why you ask? You think that we are always cognizant of this? Well, you are quite wrong. I am saying this b/c even though we think what we are doing is helping our children and ourselves by having a nice clean house, eating healthy foods, etc. we aren’t often.

What do I mean? Well, often the household cleaners we are using are extremely harmful and we may or may not even know that. When we have our cleaning help come and clean, what are they using to clean? Some cleaning crews or cleaning help bring their own products, others use what you have in your house. I can assure you that probably most of us have at least 75% of products that are super harmful to yourselves and others. We are so busy trying to keep our houses neat, washing the floor from our crawling babies, but what we are washing the floors with, are so bad for our babies to be crawling on, having exposed to their skin and ingesting…Additionally, how often have we placed food directly on a baby’s high chair tray right after it has been cleaned/wiped quickly with chemicals…we DON’T usually think about it, but it can have detrimental effects later on in that child’s life. It is much better to use NATURAL household items, such as BAKING SODA, VINEGAR or BORAX. I personally use vinegar and baking soda a lot. My husband and son particularly complain about the smell of the vinegar, but I feel it is healthier. I happen to LOVE the nice smelling household products, but after reading this article, it freaked me out. It is so much better NOT to use the scented fragrances. They are not required to say what their perfumes, dyes are made from, due to infringement of their rights; as stated in the article:

“Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, household cleaners are the only household products for which manufacturers are NOT required to list all ingredients. Certain ingredients (such as fragrances) are considered trade secrets and government regulations are designed to protect proprietary information. Without full disclosure, consumers can unknowingly submit themselves and their families to unhealthy exposures to these chemicals”.

Believe me, I am the first one to say, it is so much easier squirting a chemical on the table and cleaning it up in two seconds, but it is the after effects we must consider, the health of our loved ones, isn’t that so much more important than any clean house? BUT, you CAN have a clean house, you just need to use safer products. This article is so helpful and detailed, it helps you learn how to look for the products that will be better for you, how to detect the “bad” chemicals, etc. There are some helpful sites to go to as well. Check them out and keep them handy after reading the article. In fact, I will write them here for you:

Research the chemicals listed on product labels through the Household Products Database (www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov), the Cosmetics Database (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com), Toxnet (www.toxnet.nlm.nih.gov) and Scorecard (www.scorecard.org).

Good Luck everyone and try and think before you take your next mop and floor cleaner or glass cleaner. You can spend less money and use common household products that can do the same trick and in a healthier way.

I would love to hear any other recommendations or suggestions about this topic of being more GREEN and living a healthier lifestyle.

1 year ago

February 22, 2011

green household products healthier environment chemicals danger caution helpful health

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