Last night I attended an online webinar, 'The 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When It Comes To Their Money...And How To Fix 'Em' taught by the amazing Kate Northrup.
(Available until Friday Nov 22nd, 2013 if you would like to watch http://www.themoneylovecourse.com/webinar-recording-the-5-biggest-mistakes/)
I was scribbling notes the entire hour, some about money but many just about being a better person and living a greater life.
Kate talked about valuing myself and those I love. And, about telling those I love just how I value them.
Sooooo...
I am giving myself a challenge: Every evening I plan to post on social media to let people I value know that I value them and why.
I typically end my day with gratitude when I pray silently and thank God for my rich and blessed life and the amazing people in it, but now I am going to share it publicly so those people I value know that I am appreciating them.
I'm hoping this lasts more than 2 days. So please feel free to call me out if I miss a day.
I'll be posting on my twitter @FitnessByGemma (Gemma Rayne Fountain) and on facebook - Gemma Rayne Fountain - Please follow me and friend me.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Got My Mama Mojo Back
If you read my last blog entry you know that I had the 'Bad Mama Blues' last week.
After trying for a month to get my 15mo old son to gain weight, feeding him 4 full meals a day, 3 snacks and 2-4 bottles he only gained 1 OUNCE. I was so upset to learn this and I felt like a failure.
I feed my family very clean, healthy and mostly organic foods. We don't have dairy in our home, except for the odd bit of chocolate. My passion for health and nutrition are evident in my kitchen.
When I was told by the Pediatrician's Physician's Assistant to give my son full fat milk, yogurt, chicken nuggets and cheese I almost pooped my panties. I consider these things to be poison.
I also know the importance of my son gaining weight and the importance of making sure he gets enough protein and fat in his diet. So I was torn between conflicting desires. One, to feed my family healthful and environmentally conscious foods and, two, to make sure my son grows at a healthy rate.
I cried in the Dr's office, I cried in the car on the way to the grocery store after the appointment and I cried in the grocery store.
I panicked at the store and bought the foods I grew up on - Spam and Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup, thinking they'd put some protein and fat in him. I cried harder.
When my rational brain started to attempt to kick back in I bought organic chicken nuggets, organic fish sticks, Organic yogurt, Kefir (at one of the PA's suggestion), coconut oil and almond butter.
I came home and had my melt down right here on my blog.
Thanks to those of you who know me well and reached out to me on facebook to remind me WHO I am, WHAT I believe in and WHAT I stand for. You helped me to get my feet back under myself and come to my senses. Your loving reminders were amazing.
I remembered that I know better than to fill my son with chemical filled, processed foods. I know that they can cause a lifetime of problems greater than being a little skinny.
So here is the current game plan:
We are still offering Finn everything that we eat. Some of it he eats, some of it he hates and some of it he just chews up and spits out at us (which is so cute!). We are still giving him baby food because he loves it and he will eat a lot of it. We are still giving him bottles to get extra calories in him.
What we have started doing:
Mashing up avocado and sneaking it in baby food to get more healthy fats in him.
Adding a little coconut oil to one bottle a day for healthy fat.
He eats Almond butter sandwiches for protein and fat.
He drinks Kefir for protein (and loves it).
He eats organic yogurt for fat and protein.
Adding dairy was difficult for me, but we're going to give it a try and see how it goes this month. But definitely sticking with organic.
My friends reminded me that I DO know how to add protein and fat in my child's diet without adding crap and chemicals. They reminded me of who I am and that I am a great Mummy. I am so thankful to each and every one of you who helped me to remember these things.
Going to keep feeding this kid and see if we can't get his weight up this month.
Being a mama is a difficult, trying, challenging, lonely, guilt-ridden, AMAZING, LOVING, REWARDING, GLORIOUS, BEAUTIFUL, and EMOTIONAL journey. So thankful for social media for helping me stay connected, giving me an outlet and allowing me to communicate with other mamas and friends.
And, as for the organic chicken nuggets and fish sticks... I ate 'em (insert any number of choice words here and notice that I can NOT have crap food in my home or I will eat it, all of it.).
After trying for a month to get my 15mo old son to gain weight, feeding him 4 full meals a day, 3 snacks and 2-4 bottles he only gained 1 OUNCE. I was so upset to learn this and I felt like a failure.
I feed my family very clean, healthy and mostly organic foods. We don't have dairy in our home, except for the odd bit of chocolate. My passion for health and nutrition are evident in my kitchen.
When I was told by the Pediatrician's Physician's Assistant to give my son full fat milk, yogurt, chicken nuggets and cheese I almost pooped my panties. I consider these things to be poison.
I also know the importance of my son gaining weight and the importance of making sure he gets enough protein and fat in his diet. So I was torn between conflicting desires. One, to feed my family healthful and environmentally conscious foods and, two, to make sure my son grows at a healthy rate.
I cried in the Dr's office, I cried in the car on the way to the grocery store after the appointment and I cried in the grocery store.
I panicked at the store and bought the foods I grew up on - Spam and Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup, thinking they'd put some protein and fat in him. I cried harder.
When my rational brain started to attempt to kick back in I bought organic chicken nuggets, organic fish sticks, Organic yogurt, Kefir (at one of the PA's suggestion), coconut oil and almond butter.
I came home and had my melt down right here on my blog.
Thanks to those of you who know me well and reached out to me on facebook to remind me WHO I am, WHAT I believe in and WHAT I stand for. You helped me to get my feet back under myself and come to my senses. Your loving reminders were amazing.
I remembered that I know better than to fill my son with chemical filled, processed foods. I know that they can cause a lifetime of problems greater than being a little skinny.
So here is the current game plan:
We are still offering Finn everything that we eat. Some of it he eats, some of it he hates and some of it he just chews up and spits out at us (which is so cute!). We are still giving him baby food because he loves it and he will eat a lot of it. We are still giving him bottles to get extra calories in him.
What we have started doing:
Mashing up avocado and sneaking it in baby food to get more healthy fats in him.
Adding a little coconut oil to one bottle a day for healthy fat.
He eats Almond butter sandwiches for protein and fat.
He drinks Kefir for protein (and loves it).
He eats organic yogurt for fat and protein.
Adding dairy was difficult for me, but we're going to give it a try and see how it goes this month. But definitely sticking with organic.
My friends reminded me that I DO know how to add protein and fat in my child's diet without adding crap and chemicals. They reminded me of who I am and that I am a great Mummy. I am so thankful to each and every one of you who helped me to remember these things.
Going to keep feeding this kid and see if we can't get his weight up this month.
Being a mama is a difficult, trying, challenging, lonely, guilt-ridden, AMAZING, LOVING, REWARDING, GLORIOUS, BEAUTIFUL, and EMOTIONAL journey. So thankful for social media for helping me stay connected, giving me an outlet and allowing me to communicate with other mamas and friends.
And, as for the organic chicken nuggets and fish sticks... I ate 'em (insert any number of choice words here and notice that I can NOT have crap food in my home or I will eat it, all of it.).
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Bad Mama Blues
I took Finn to the pediatrician today for a follow up visit.
He went in last month at 14 months old and his weight had gone down. They were concerned and asked me to come back a month later after trying to increase his food intake
.
I was SO SUPER, UBER focused on getting this kid's weight up. I even bought frozen french fries and cookies (organic, of course). We started Feeding Finn 4 square meals a day, with 3-4 snacks and 2-4 bottles. This kid has been EATING!!!!!!!!!!!
I was so sure that we would get a great report today at the Peds.
I was wrong.
In one whole month of feeding this kid 24/7 he gained 1 oz. ONE MEASLY OUNCE!!!!!!!!!!!
His weight has now dropped into the 8th percentile. He was in the 15th percentile up until 10 months old and has been declining ever since.
I felt like a failure.
His height and head circumference and development are fine. So this is not a life threatening issue. But that doesn't prevent me from feeling awful. If this trend continues it could become an issue.
The nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors told me that I need to start giving him dairy, yogurt, milk, fried chicken nuggets, cheese, etc to make sure he's getting enough protein and fat. We are a dairy free home, except for some occasional chocolate. We eat a LOT but it's quite healthy.
So I'm overwhelmed with so many feelings. I know that Finn is fine, he's healthy, I just need to make some dietary changes for him. But I still feel guilt, I still feel absolutely awful. I don't want to give him junk because I want him to be healthy. But, have I been preventing him from being at his best health because of my own personal beliefs and views on food? Is this my fault?
I'm not looking for assurance or kind comments with this blog. I know all the responses and know that he'll be fine. I just want to vent about these feelings I'm having. :)
I cried in the Dr'd office. I cried in the car. I cried in the grocery store as I loaded up on foods I loved as a kid like Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup, Campbell's Beef and Vegetable soup, and Spam - foods I haven't had in my cupboards in decades.
I tried to stay as healthy as possible and bought organic chicken nuggets, organic fish sticks, organic coconut ice cream, Kefir drink and organic yogurts. And I bought coconut oil to add to milk and other foods.
So I am going to have a total melt down for the rest of the day today and cry about this. Then I am going to pull myself up by the boot straps and attack this challenge head on once more for another month of trying my hardest to help my son gain weight.
I will offer him these fattier protein packed foods in hopes of putting some meat on his little body.
So far he does not like organic chicken nuggets, he drank 1/2 a small bottle of kefir and only 1/2 of his milk with added coconut milk. I'll take each small success and won't give up on trying things even if he doesn't like them yet.
<Deep sign and a tear rolls down my cheek>
The trials and tribulations of a new Mommy.
He went in last month at 14 months old and his weight had gone down. They were concerned and asked me to come back a month later after trying to increase his food intake
.
I was SO SUPER, UBER focused on getting this kid's weight up. I even bought frozen french fries and cookies (organic, of course). We started Feeding Finn 4 square meals a day, with 3-4 snacks and 2-4 bottles. This kid has been EATING!!!!!!!!!!!
I was so sure that we would get a great report today at the Peds.
I was wrong.
In one whole month of feeding this kid 24/7 he gained 1 oz. ONE MEASLY OUNCE!!!!!!!!!!!
His weight has now dropped into the 8th percentile. He was in the 15th percentile up until 10 months old and has been declining ever since.
I felt like a failure.
His height and head circumference and development are fine. So this is not a life threatening issue. But that doesn't prevent me from feeling awful. If this trend continues it could become an issue.
The nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors told me that I need to start giving him dairy, yogurt, milk, fried chicken nuggets, cheese, etc to make sure he's getting enough protein and fat. We are a dairy free home, except for some occasional chocolate. We eat a LOT but it's quite healthy.
So I'm overwhelmed with so many feelings. I know that Finn is fine, he's healthy, I just need to make some dietary changes for him. But I still feel guilt, I still feel absolutely awful. I don't want to give him junk because I want him to be healthy. But, have I been preventing him from being at his best health because of my own personal beliefs and views on food? Is this my fault?
I'm not looking for assurance or kind comments with this blog. I know all the responses and know that he'll be fine. I just want to vent about these feelings I'm having. :)
I cried in the Dr'd office. I cried in the car. I cried in the grocery store as I loaded up on foods I loved as a kid like Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup, Campbell's Beef and Vegetable soup, and Spam - foods I haven't had in my cupboards in decades.
I tried to stay as healthy as possible and bought organic chicken nuggets, organic fish sticks, organic coconut ice cream, Kefir drink and organic yogurts. And I bought coconut oil to add to milk and other foods.
So I am going to have a total melt down for the rest of the day today and cry about this. Then I am going to pull myself up by the boot straps and attack this challenge head on once more for another month of trying my hardest to help my son gain weight.
I will offer him these fattier protein packed foods in hopes of putting some meat on his little body.
So far he does not like organic chicken nuggets, he drank 1/2 a small bottle of kefir and only 1/2 of his milk with added coconut milk. I'll take each small success and won't give up on trying things even if he doesn't like them yet.
<Deep sign and a tear rolls down my cheek>
The trials and tribulations of a new Mommy.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Just a status update...
Just having one of those feel good, fuzzy all over, kind of days. I am so rich with blessings. Life is so exciting and amazing and the more I count my blessings the more blessings I have.
Celebrating God bringing my amazing husband into the world tomorrow. He was an orphan for almost a year living in state care in Delaware before his adoptive parents found him. His father almost picked another baby, but Eric reached out and grabbed his finger and stole his heart. So they picked Eric to take home that day. The twists of fate that brought us together are fantastic. So thankful and so blessed.
Happy day before your birthday baby, Eric Fountain. I love you so much.
But you still have to do the dishes
Celebrating God bringing my amazing husband into the world tomorrow. He was an orphan for almost a year living in state care in Delaware before his adoptive parents found him. His father almost picked another baby, but Eric reached out and grabbed his finger and stole his heart. So they picked Eric to take home that day. The twists of fate that brought us together are fantastic. So thankful and so blessed.
Happy day before your birthday baby, Eric Fountain. I love you so much.
But you still have to do the dishes
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Our Deepest Fear...
I love quotes. I am a self professed 'Quote Collector.' A title I don with honor.
There is one quote that I love above all others. A quote that inspires me more each and every time I read it or hear it.
It is a quote that was featured in the movie 'Coach Carter'. Written by Marianne Williamson in her book ' A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.'
This quote moves me to tears and challenges me to be better, do better and shine brighter. I want to stand on the top of the highest mountain and yell it for the world to hear.
And it goes a little something like this...
The author of this quote is a visionary, a leader, a best-selling author, a speaker and an influential woman in America. It excites me that she is now running for Congress in California.
I pray that she wins her election as I am eager to see what changes she can continue to inspire in the House of Representatives.
If we want things to change, we must first support change.
There is one quote that I love above all others. A quote that inspires me more each and every time I read it or hear it.
It is a quote that was featured in the movie 'Coach Carter'. Written by Marianne Williamson in her book ' A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.'
This quote moves me to tears and challenges me to be better, do better and shine brighter. I want to stand on the top of the highest mountain and yell it for the world to hear.
And it goes a little something like this...
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
The author of this quote is a visionary, a leader, a best-selling author, a speaker and an influential woman in America. It excites me that she is now running for Congress in California.
I pray that she wins her election as I am eager to see what changes she can continue to inspire in the House of Representatives.
If we want things to change, we must first support change.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Freecycle ROCKS
Freecycle.
What is it?
Think about it. It's a combination of the words 'free' and 'recycle.'
I don't know who started it, or when, or where (Google it if you want to know). But, I do know that I love it.
The entire premise of Freecycle is that one man's trash is another man's treasure.
The goal is to decrease the amount of items going into landfills each year.
The other day I saw a TV by the trash cans of one of my neighbor's homes. I knocked on their door and asked if it worked. They said it did. They had been trying to give it away but no one wanted it (it's not a flat screen you see). So I asked if I could take it and 'Freecycle' it. After explaining what the heck Freecycle was, they said YES.
I posted the TV on Freecycle and 24 hours later someone came and picked it up from outside my garage. I posted an email that it was available, someone replied. They said they'd pick it up today at 11. So at 10am I put it outside my garage. And by 11:30 it was gone. I didn't even have to talk to the person face-to-face (although you could if you wanted).
This week I also Freecycled a bag of women's clothing, a bag of men's clothing, a box of kitchen items, and a bag of penny coin rolls.
My husband was skeptical of this whole thing when I wanted to Freecycle a box of his old shoes. He was embarrassed to offer anyone his 'junk.' I convinced him to let me try to Freecycle them. They were claimed and picked up. A few days later I received an email of thanks from an older farmer who owned a small local farm. He said that the shoes were perfect. That he went through shoes quickly working on the farm and needed junk shoes to work in the mud. He was so grateful. I read this email to my husband and he's been a Freecycle lover ever since.
I urge you to start Freecycling too.
Search for Freecycle in your city. Join and read the rules (you have to post things in a certain format) and start making this earth a better place for tomorrow.
What is it?
Think about it. It's a combination of the words 'free' and 'recycle.'
I don't know who started it, or when, or where (Google it if you want to know). But, I do know that I love it.
The entire premise of Freecycle is that one man's trash is another man's treasure.
The goal is to decrease the amount of items going into landfills each year.
The other day I saw a TV by the trash cans of one of my neighbor's homes. I knocked on their door and asked if it worked. They said it did. They had been trying to give it away but no one wanted it (it's not a flat screen you see). So I asked if I could take it and 'Freecycle' it. After explaining what the heck Freecycle was, they said YES.
I posted the TV on Freecycle and 24 hours later someone came and picked it up from outside my garage. I posted an email that it was available, someone replied. They said they'd pick it up today at 11. So at 10am I put it outside my garage. And by 11:30 it was gone. I didn't even have to talk to the person face-to-face (although you could if you wanted).
This week I also Freecycled a bag of women's clothing, a bag of men's clothing, a box of kitchen items, and a bag of penny coin rolls.
My husband was skeptical of this whole thing when I wanted to Freecycle a box of his old shoes. He was embarrassed to offer anyone his 'junk.' I convinced him to let me try to Freecycle them. They were claimed and picked up. A few days later I received an email of thanks from an older farmer who owned a small local farm. He said that the shoes were perfect. That he went through shoes quickly working on the farm and needed junk shoes to work in the mud. He was so grateful. I read this email to my husband and he's been a Freecycle lover ever since.
I urge you to start Freecycling too.
Search for Freecycle in your city. Join and read the rules (you have to post things in a certain format) and start making this earth a better place for tomorrow.
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