Tag Archives: support

LIfe, Parenting

Strong Mom Empower Summit

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sherry aikens and Kerri lee Walsh
Me (Sherry Aikens) and Olympic Volleyball Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh who was the Keynote Speaker Discussing her experiences as a mother.

Strong Moms Empower Summit  I know that their has been some controversy about the Strong Moms campaign being sponsored or created by Simalac. But the Message which is being said is important regardless to who is speaking.  We need to stop beating an judging other mothers.  Now I have to put aside my feeling about to breastfeed or not to breastfeed, or somewhere in the middle.  Because that is every mothers choice and I am not to make the choice for another women.  It is her child and her baby.  Not mine.

The message was we as mother have to stop judging other mothers,  because their choice is their choice… period.  I agree what might work for me might not work for someone else. So who am I to judge another mother. Regardless, to who is started or pays for the conversation about mom judgement, we are all smart enough to have a conversations and express out ideas or thoughts regardless to who foots the bill.

So what was the conversation about at the Strong Moms Empower summit???

Here are some of the tweets coming out during the summit:

lessons: Stop judging other moms, pick each other up, deal w/stress away from children, be positive & strong & empowered!

  “When you don’t have confidence in yourself you are more likely to be critical of others” via

Walk for a moment in her shoes before you judge. We never know the background story from

Children react – both positively and negatively – to parents emotions, facial expressions, tone of voice.

“There is no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.”

  Inspiration via on mothering/judgement: it’s not the stuff we do as mothers that matters, it’s who we are.

  I Might Parent Differently Than You – But That Doesn’t Mean I’m Wrong 

  Agreed! Motherhood should bring us together, not tear us apart. We’re all in this together! 

left the summit feeling unstoppable as a woman and as a mother! Thank you for that!

So I think Chantal statement shows how talking no matter who brings us together is what is really important so lets support each other.

I will be straight with you. Simlac was mentioned as the sponsor at the once at the start of the conversation and once thanks them for sponsoring in the end. (no reference to breastfeed or not to breastfeeding.)  There was no formula laid out in samples or anything mentioned.   So was the discussion valid yes,  do we judge as mothers and can we take simple steps to stop the cycle. Yes,  so lets keep talking and see what change can happen.

Disclosure: I was not paid for this post I did receive lunch and a bracelet form BaubleBar (which is too small for me) at this lunch.  The Opinions in this post are my own.

Fitness Fridays, LIfe

Diet Down Falls So I ate it all #fitnessfriday

This past week I was away went to a conference.  I thing it was great for me to grow but bad for my waist line. I did not blog last wee which just made things worse.  And down comes the spiral.  I ate a lot of carbs and sugar this week 2 things that will mess with my diabetes.

Exercise/food:

Sunday- I drove 9 hours to NC left at 2am arrived at noon.  And I ate.. I needed to stay awake.. i started healthy celrey and peanut butter .. then I need to open another peanut butter.. start of the spiral

Monday got up and ralk/ran on treadmill for 1/2  ate large bagel, lunch burger loaded, onion rings and shake.. dinner pizza and order of bread sticks

Tues: bagel, country fried steak, hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy, crappy food in the car

Wed: cheese cake factory, skinny tacos , and calamari

Thus: walked 8000 steps with Hillary,. Chilipolte

Friday: walked  3000 steps, ate 1 pancake, salad, and pretzel bites w/ cheese.

 

So I gained 267 …

I am disappointed I hated falling off the wagon and can feel the extra weight in my waist.   I know I will get back on track. Focus and get good sleep and I should be good.

I know this is not the great est post but I figured I have to be honest and try to get back on track.


Fitness Fridays

Turning 41 and Numbers don’t Lie #FitnessFriday

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So this week I turned 41. Yea I love my 40’s. I think being 40 is about celebrating you..Glitter and Sparkles.. being your true self the diamond you were meant to be.   You are smarter, wiser and experience more than in your  20’s. The thing is mind which is at the height of confidence and knowledge does not have the body to match.  Your body is older and more stubborn.

It is harder to get and stay fit  after 40.  I know people always told me until to you get there you don’t understand.  So heed my warning if you are unhealthy get fit before you are 40’. The weight I lost in the past came off much easier when I was under 40, or even under 30.

So this week in honor of my birthday I celebrated, not the smartest move (it was a perfect day).

Saturday we when to downtown Philadelphia.  My husband was home and I always wanted to eat at Village Whiskey which was on Food Networks “Best Thing I ever ate”- ready to drool

  • Burger- Beef patty (at least 1 ¼ meat) , bourbon onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato, thick apple-wood bacon, roll  oh yea Duck confit (duck leg fat)
  • Fries- cooked in Duck Fat, covered in Cheese sauce and Braised short rib on top
  • We must not forget the Tatar Tots and fried Pickles I ate off my daughters plate.

(I am sorry no pictures I was so excited to eat it I forgot the Food “dirty pictures” (I would say the other word but worried I will get ban by Google))

I should have had the burger minus the meat, bread, bacon, and duck confit –  Because seriously the onions were to die for.. so going to try to make them this weekend- with a salad and 5-10 duck fat fries (the fries is why I went in the 1st place)

Then I my birthday, went out with the girls Hillary and Liz  (after a walk) an impromptu lunch.  I had crab dip (yea the bowl), salad, and Cheese Cake Factory Peanut butter Cup cheese cake-  which I did take home and proceeded to finish over the few days.CheeseCake Factory

My exercise in hopes to head the food off at the pass:

  • Saturday-walked 7451 down town..then I ate
  • Sunday-walked 3067-  that day sucked still celebrating
  • Monday-walked 10,280 which is 5.5 miles
  • Tuesday-walked 11,500 steps  which is 6.16 miles
  • Wednesday-walked 10,358 which is  5.54 miles
  • Thursday- walked 12,935  which is  6.91miles

So back to my bargaining and playing games with myself.. yea bargain and games do not work I of coursed gained back 4 lb 264. I did log everything I ate and was honest.  Also looking at the fitbit log I can see that I was more active the week before in less days. I love the Fitbit it really is great at looking at the big picture.

Good News!!!

Here is the thing I know I am changing so this week I decided to revisit my measurements as a boost to keep me going:

4/24/2012  5/24/2012
hips 54 52.75 1.25
waist 45 42.25 2.75
breast top 45 44.75 0.25
breast under (the boobs) 41 40.5 0.5
thigh 6″ above knee 25 24.5 0.5
calf 6″ below knee 17.75 17.5 0.25
lower arm 10.5 10 0.5
upper arm 14.625 14 0.625
neck 15.25 15.25 0
total inches lost 6.625

Yea 6 5/8 ”  inches –  in a month and they don’t lie.

So I will continue, next week more salads less duck fat.

This is the last day to enter my self hosted Giveaway to win $50 gift certicate to Dicks Sport or Juniona.com–  I want you to look better feel better in the size you are in.



You’re just steps away from better fitness.

Try Fitbit now.

Wikipedia: Fitbit Inc. is a company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. →

Fitness Fridays

Confidence & Goals #FitnessFriday

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This past week, I did  not win  the Mamavation Mom contest.  I was surprise how many people expected me to  be upset about not winning, or that I was not going to continue getting healthy because of the loss. The thing is that is not me, anyone who knows me,  knows that once I get something in my head, I proceed. I really don’t like people telling  me I cant do something.  I lost simply because I did not have enough votes, really it is all good.

In my life I have lost probably about 100+ pounds.  I am not a serial dieter.  Actually, I have only every dieted 3 times in my life (sophomore in college, before I got married, and when I did the 3 day breast cancer walk). The reason is I am NOT unhappy if I am plus size. I  know that is a statement  that would bother “some” people.  Because most people think if you are overweight… “you must be unhappy”.  Nope not me..My body size does not affect my confidence level,  I am confident regardless of my size.

Also I do think that.. I am a beautiful women, and I accept it as a truth in my life, it just makes everything easier.  I have seen women struggle with self-esteem,  telling me they “Feel like the only thing they control in their life is there weight”.   I think that is sad, that someone told you it looks are that important,  want to shake them saying “You can be and do anything!”    I think everyone is beautiful… you just have to believe it.  I happen to love the fact that I am tall, I have long legs, great nose,  and my breast are small, it makes me look smaller than I appear.

I am actually pretty good at losing the first 30 pounds.   By my experience, most fat people are very good at losing weight the problem is the long term keeping it off  through portion control  and inactivity.  So why am I overweight it is simple; I love to eat, love to sit,watch TV and I have a husband that thinks I am sexy no mater what size I am (lets face it I would not be with him if he said otherwise.)

So why NOW, do I want to get healthy?   If you watched my mamavation application video.. it is because of my health and lack of good health care. So things have to change so I can grow old with my husband and be there to see my grandkids.

Yes,  I will have  struggles at  losing weight, get frustrated,  tired and don’t want to do be good.. but I am hoping my better head will prevail.

GOALS So I decided this week I want to set fun goals to strive for in the next year.  Things that I wanted to do once I get in a healthier place weight-wise.

  1. I want to have a picture taken by PinUp Photographer Celeste Giuliano.  I love the look of a 1950 pin up girl.  I just think it would be really fun to do.   Check out some of her work, they are inspiring to me. Yes I could do the picture now .. but it is a goal.
  4. I want to wear point heels- reason when you are big you feel hurt in high heels
  5. I want to shop in regular stores being a size 12 would be nice,  the clothes are better.  I don’t think I will every be a size 6 or 8 (height thing.. and Cindy Crawford she is I think a 12)
  6. Airplane seat.. I want to sit with room on both sides in an airline seat.
  7. I want to buy a bicycle where my height is the biggest reason it need to be custom and not my weight.
  8. I want to water ski and get up ( I got up once in high school)
  9. I want to own a Vintage 50’s dress. The cool kind like you would wear to a party at the club. There is a local store called retro vintage.. I want to shop there.
  10. I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle
  11. I want to ride a horse again and not feel like I am hurting the animal
  12. I want to amusement ride were I am under the max weight (Like the Sky Bike at the Franklin Institute)
  13. I want to run a 5 k completely (no walking)

So this week was a great week:

  • Monday walked with the kids and did exercises with mamavation
  • Tues walked 10k steps at mall.  Then ran with Fleet Feet North Whales, and did mamavation #2weekchallenge
  • Wed Ran around the block walked walked 10k steps at mall.  Then ran with Fleet Feet North Whales, and did mamavation #2weekchallenge
  •  Thurs: walked with kids and did mamavation #2weekchallenge
  • Friday walk with kids and did mamavation #2weekchallenge

Food: I have been eating healthy for the past 2 week.  I need to make sure I am eating enough.  I need to talk to a nutritionist

Weight loss 263  -1   (started at 271)

Question of the week!  So what do you love about yourself? or What is a fun goal you want to accomplish?

Fitness Fridays

My two worlds comming together! Support & Mamavation

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SUPPORT What does that  mean for me ?  The past week  I have learned that I am getting support from all sorts of different places.  As you might know I am a finalist for the Mamavation Mom Campaign.  Voting has been going on the past week. If you want vote go here.  My family and friends have been voting/sharing with their friends.  My Aunts and uncles have been talking with their friends and voting.  My Sister-in-law who never reads bloggs got my mother online to vote.   A friend from church Kara asked her entire running train group to vote for me this past week.  I love how my offline community has gotten on line to show support emailing their friends and ask there groups to vote for me.   Thank you!

In the past year ..I have heard of talk about online friends not being “real” friends which I think is BS. Many of my online friends have become offline friends through conferences, and other events.   But what about the friends you have never met face to face.

I tweeted on a Saturday night my daughter go sick 11pm at night.  I had twitter friends who showed concern when it happened and some followed up with me on her health for the next few days.  I don’t think I told my parents about her getting sick.. but because I share parts of my life on twitter in real time my tweeps (twitter friends) are there and supporting.  Then many went on to share my Mamavation tweets.

Here are some thank you to my online tweeps for there support this last week.

My lovely friend Lori of Miss Ruby Sue put up a giveaway post for me on her site for a lovely handmade  doll.   Lori and I met on line a few years ago when we are on Good Morning America together.  Lori is for a different world from me she is Idaho and is a Mormon , 2 things I am not,  we talk for hours and it is like a breath of fresh air when I talk to her.  I adore her,  she is a wonderful sounding board and fabulous  lady.

The regular commenters on my Fitness Friday post Barb, Stephanie, Diane, Hillary, and Jo-Lynne  know that they will be reading my fitness Friday post every week has kept me going. I know that they will be there  every week reading and linking up to my posts.   Thanks girl for keeping me going since January.  Something can be said about online accountability

CecilyK a great friend who asked her followers  to vote for ma as a birthday wish. Cecily originally an online friends has turned in to an amazing off line friend and a voice of reason in my life and I love her for that.

Last Monday while sitting on a train coming back from NYC, I was overwhelmed by the online support for my trek to be the Mamavation mom.  Most of my online friend who have step up to the plate and ask there fans/flowers to vote for me.  Moved to tears of happiness I was reading the comments and well wishes of my friends.  I am truly honored by your support.

So to those who say that who you meet online is not real.  It is just a means to start a relationship.  For me those relationships are supportive and nurturing.   So do I think linking up with a group online will work for me to loose weight.  You betcha.. long as I am honest.  Because my support will be watching me as I go.

I hope I win tonight to be one of the Mamavation Moms for Campaign 12.  If I don’t’ I will continue for every person who voted for me, shared my story, and talk to a friend in my behalf.

 

So how did I do this week.

I went from 267 (last week it was from 267-265)  to

263  (down a firm 4)

I am finally eating better and seeing results.  It must be from keep the food journal on line.

This post is part of the mamavation monday link up

UPDATE: I did not win the #MamavationMom contest @weightsover and @lilacmomma did the ladies are going to be awesome! Good Luck to them!