Monday, September 29, 2014

Trim Healthy Mama - Facts and Fiction

To read my previous posts on all things THM, please click here.

- This is just another low carb diet. - Fiction

The plan is about separating carbs and fats, as well as eliminating unhealthy versions of these. So no sugar, sodas, juice, and other simple, empty carbs. Healthy carbs are encouraged in the right proportions and settings.

- You have to buy a bunch of specialty ingredients. - Fiction

It doesn't take any special ingredients to keep your carbs and your fats separate. Anyone can get started on plan with simple foods they already have in the house, such as eggs, cheese, butter, oats, etc. The more "exotic" items can be purchased over time as the budget allows. They are only for making the plan funner and easier, but not necessary. I personally know several people who have lost large amounts of weight on plan without ever buying hardly any of the specialty items.

- You are required to eat processed junk food. - Fiction

Just not true. We eat virtually only whole foods around here (please ignore my post on Krispy Kreme below...), and the plan works just fine for me. To join my Facebook group of THM - whole foods style, please click here.

- You have to use only zero-calorie sweeteners. - Fiction

While the book may insist on using only stevia, xylitol, or erythritol, the plan works just as well with whole, low glycemic sweeteners. Again, if you join the THM - whole foods style Facebook group, you will find lots of others who are having success on plan, minus questionable sweeteners.

- You will gain the weight back immediately after going off plan. - Fiction

This plan does, in fact, reboot your metabolism for the better. I have gone off plan for months at a time without gaining the weight back (except for during pregnancy) or suffering any other ill effects.

- The THM principles are based on the Bible. - Somewhat true

Personally, I don't really find that it goes against the Bible (except for making honey off-limits), nor that the principles in the book by and large come from the Bible. I do agree that bread, butter, salt, etc. are all foods the Bible speaks highly of as being important and healthy, and THM incorporates these, so I guess that could be considered as "biblically sound"

- The book is poorly laid out. - Somewhat true

Yes - but there are lots of great resources online, both for how to "tab" the book, as well as oodles of recipes and other tips/tricks. I wish the ingredients for recipes were listed better (with amounts would be a great place to start!), but none of that makes the book unusable. For being self-published by two SAHMs, they certainly did better than I could have done.

- The book is wordy and long. - Somewhat true

If you are the chatty kind, you might like their style. If you just want the straight dope on the plan, you may find the book to be a bit slow-going. In spite of having lost a combined total of 50 lbs on plan, I have never yet finished reading it because I just haven't had the time to do so. But - who cares. Even reading over select parts is doing the job for me.

- The book is full of sound nutritional advice. - Fact

Except for the funky sweeteners, yes, the book has much to teach in the way of sound nutrition. I think for most of us, the revelation that fat does NOT make us fat is an important one. Realizing that juice is not a healthy food, and that it's simple carbs that are growing the obesity epidemic, is monumental. There in an emphasis on fermented food, sprouted/soaked grains, etc.

- The plan is easy to follow. - Fact

Yes. Is it ever! No calorie counting. No starving and depriving yourself. No daydreaming about food while your stomach grumbles on and your metabolism tanks. The authors like to talk about "food freedom," and it's so true. Once you learn the basics of separating carbs and fats, and have a feel for how to "THM-ify" recipes, it's a cinch.

- The plan works. - Fact

Just go to the official Facebook page or the website for lots of testimonials. A friend of mine has lost almost 50 lbs in the last 7 months, without using the sweeteners recommended in the book (her sweetener of choice is coconut sugar). I am currently scratching on 30 lbs lost in 5 months while exclusively breastfeeding, a time during which I usually could never even attempt to lose weight without ruining my milk supply. 

Friday, September 26, 2014

Baby shower gift ideas for moms of many

We host many baby showers at our church, as it is our custom to have one for every baby born to our church members, and not just the first. We like to celebrate mom and baby every time! 

Of course, many babies means many growing and large families. Giving a gift to a mom of many who likely already has all the gear and clothes she needs can be a bit tricky. Below are some of my favorite ideas. 

(I can post this now that I am not pregnant, so it won't sound like I'm trying to drop hints of things I want for myself - ha!)

- Flowers, chocolates, balloons! So simple, and yet always loved. High-quality dark chocolate is not just a delicious treat, it is also great for bringing in mom's milk supply, too. My midwife gives me the baby chocolates and flowers after every birth when she comes for the 1-day checkup.


- Paper plates, cups, plasticware: Many large families, used to living frugally, will not splurge on these, no matter how convenient they would be after baby. Mom will think about you with gratitude every time she uses these!


- Diapers & wipes: Every baby needs these, whether it's baby number 1 or 10. Find out first if Mom prefers fabric or disposable, or certain brands. You can make your gift more fun by making the diapers into a cake, wreath, or other elaborate item like a stroller.


- Frozen meals: A cute idea for a shower of a mom of many is for everyone to bring a frozen meal to keep on hand for after the baby is born. Pinterest has a wealth of freezer meal ideas.


- Lactation-boosting cookies: An economical, yet highly appreciated gift. They can be baked, then frozen, and enjoyed straight out of the freezer. If you prefer them soft, they only need a few minutes at room temperature. Personally, I absolutely LOVE eating nursing cookies during the first month or so of having a newborn. Nothing like sitting down with a couple of cookies and a tall glass of raw milk to recharge mom AND her milk supply during those first busy days and crazy nights of adjusting to a new family member. Click here to see my favorite recipe for these. Only changes I make is to reduce sugar/honey by half, and to use 1 cup each of dark chocolate chips and walnuts. Or, you could try this "Lactation Cookie in a Jar" mix.
- Stuff to keep the older kids busy: This need not be a purchased gift or toy. In fact, the last thing most moms with lots of kids want or need is more toys! It could be a simple consumable like playdough, bubble solution, sidewalk chalk, sticker books, etc. Basically things that don't require mom's help and are not too messy (or intended for outdoor use).


- Membership to a warehouse like Costco or Sam's club if you want to be practical, or the zoo or some other family place if you want to make it fun.


- Magazine subscription for mom to enjoy while sitting down. Again, this could be something strictly for mom (cooking, crafts, homeschooling) or something the whole family might enjoy.


- Professional services: If you are a photographer, offer to do a photo shoot of the family. If your husband does landscaping, he could offer to take over lawn care for a limited time. Alternatively, you could pool resources with others to hire professionals, such as housecleaning help for the first few weeks after baby.


- Stuff for pampering mom: Likely, mom will use her time and resources on herself last. Which, in a large family, may mean practically never. Some ideas are: high quality teas and supplements, body care products, a gift card for a massage or spa treatment, etc.
 

- Small luxury items for mom or baby: There are always plenty of nifty new gadgets and accessories being invented to make taking care of a baby easier. Since many of these might fall into the "would like to have" rather then the "must have" category, even a mother of many may not have them. For example, Bumbo seats were not mainstream until our 4th baby. An amber teething necklace is both cute on baby, and a sanity saver for mom. Another fun new baby item is teething jewelry from brands such as Chewbeads and Nixi. My husband recently bought me one of their necklaces, and I just absolutely love it!



What are your favorite ideas of baby gifts for Moms of many?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Mom tip: Ear infections

Ear infections - they are pretty common for babies to get, even exclusively breastfed ones. It has something to do with how much of their time they spend lying down or even just reclined. If their sinuses are already backed up from having a cold (which can happen even if they are still able to breathe through their nostrils), they are even more prone to getting one.
 
So we all know about the downsides of overusing antibiotics, which are the typical cure for ear infections. In response, more and more pediatricians are in favor of waiting a few days to see if the infection clears up on its own, which it usually does. But who wants to be home with a baby that cries and fusses in pain all night, right?
 
That's where my tip comes in: a natural, safe, and highly effective cure for ear infections.
 
 
 
The product is called "garlic mullein oil" and is made by HerbPharm. You could make your own, though I only ever buy the one pictured above. It is a critical staple item in my at-home natural home remedy kit. One drop per ear for babies and children under 10, two drops for anyone above that age. I usually stuff a little cotton into the ears after I put the oil in, as the extra warmth seems to be both soothing to the ear, as well as helping the oil do its work. Important: do not add ear drops if you suspect the ear drum might be ruptured.
 
The ingredients are all organic or wildcrafted.
 
In my experience, this works better than any antibiotics I ever used back when Solomon was a baby. I remember one time, he went through three courses of antibiotics before they finally started working. This oil, on the other hand, has never yet failed me. I typically notice almost immediate relief of the ear pain (some of the ingredients have analgesic properties), reduced symptoms within 8 hours, and the infection completely cleared up within 24-48 hours (though treatment should continue for a couple days more to prevent a relapse). Also, be sure to treat both ears, even if you think only one is infected.
 
Just this past week, with a cold making its way through the kids, the baby had been incredibly fussy. Particularly at night, he would not stay asleep for more than minutes at a time, and even then only in the swing, not actually lying down. During the worst night, I got 1 (!!) hour of sleep total. While his nose was just a little runny, I didn't even think about the possibility that he might have an ear infection until yesterday afternoon. I treated his ears immediately, and slept well for the first night all week. Today, he was back to his usual happy and mellow self.
 
If you have a baby or toddler, and do not already keep this in stock, I highly recommend buying some right away. You don't want to be at home with a crying baby at midnight without this, when no health food store is open.
 
And please remember: This post is purely informational, and not intended to cure, diagnose, or treat any disease. I am not a licensed medical specialist, I just play one on the internet.
 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Bible Memorization

This week, I came across this old video clip, made by the American Bible Society about my husband's Bible memorization plan.



Of course, my favorite part starts at 3:44. Isn't Solomon so cute with his little voice? At the time of this recording, at age 5, he had actually just finished up memorizing the entire book of Ecclesiastes (12 chapters). His reward was the nice wooden swing set we still have in the backyard. I am kicking myself even more now that we never recorded him quoting the whole thing. It would have been cool to watch now, all these years later. 

And yeah, my husband without a beard also looks pretty funny. And don't even get me started on him doing yard work... there's no truth in television! ;)