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Tips + Tricks to Stay Healthy This Winter

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Dare I say it… Winter is around the corner. I know, I know. We haven’t even fallen back yet. But I’m telling you — the sickies are moving in and they’re moving in fast! I’m trying to stay ahead of the curve and prepare a defense to stay healthy during cold and flu season now.

Here’s what we’re doing to stay healthy this winter:

staying healthy tips

Rest and Sleep

The key for us is making sure we have very few late nights (especially the kiddos) and never say no to a nap! Sleep helps our bodies to recover and rest.

Vitamin C + D

We’re about to enter the ‘dark season’ here in the Midwest. Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) is a real thing with real consequences. Heck, even in the Summer, we just have infrequent sunny days. So it’s no surprise that we need to give ourselves an extra boost of Vitamin D throughout the year, but especially during the cooler months.

Also? Don’t forget to load up on that Vitamin C! Keep your immune system in tip-top shape!

Stay Hydrated

I’m the first to admit that I do not drink an adequate amount of water. In order to do so, I have to make a serious conscious effort.

Last year I picked up one of these water bottles in hopes to remind myself to drink more. Guess what? It worked!

Of course, making sure my kids have their water bottles filled at all times also helps. Not juice, not milk; just water.

Probiotics

As much as I want to keep bacteria and germs away, I’d like to keep the good bacteria around.

My husband and I and the kids all take a daily probiotic to make sure our gut stays as healthy as possible. Because the kids’ probiotics are gummies, if they don’t get them daily I’m reminded. They will absolutely ask me for ‘their gummies.’

Elderberry Syrup

Before becoming a mom I hadn’t given much thought to alternative medicines. And I’m still not saying that you shouldn’t use and trust modern medicines. I am saying that you shouldn’t completely write-off things like elderberry syrup when you’re looking for the means to keep everyone healthy.

It’s been discovered that Elderberry syrup can help to fight viruses, including the flu. If you don’t have access to Elderberry syrup in a local health foods store try this syrup from Amazon.

Creamy Chicken Soup

Maintain a Healthy Diet

It can’t be an accident that sick season and soup season are one and the same, right? Real talk though — obviously we do our best to eat a balanced diet, but kids are ridiculously picky eaters.

One thing they will eat is soup. And the bonus about soups (like this creamy chicken noodle soup) and stews is that you can sneak all kinds of veggies into them!

Hit the Sauna

I am a recovered sauna skeptic. It wasn’t until a group of women from my gym started preaching about the wonders of a 20-minute sauna session that I finally caved and tried it for myself.

I used the sauna for post-workout recovery. And I completely avoided the usual soreness that accompanies a workout. But it has other benefits as well. Deep sweating that you experience in the sauna has been proven to release toxins from the body, aid in better sleep, relieve stress, and help to fight illness.

photo of woman in bed under blankets

How are you planning on staying healthy this season?

One Year Out // My Third Postpartum Journey

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It’s hard to believe that one year ago today I was… anxious. Anxious and excited. I was beyond ready to meet our final and missing piece. It would still be two more days of waiting before Miss Mila Rose made her way into the world. And I spent these days doing a lot of walking and a lot of impatiently awaiting the start of labor.

But let’s back up — because if you had asked me if I wanted to have any more children after Remy was born 3.5 years ago, I would have emphatically said “Hell to the no.” And I’m not certain what changed. But at some point, I realized that our family needed a little bit more craziness. Enter our 3rd (and final) pregnancy.

Looking back on those last moments as a family of 4, I realize that, although I was anxious, I was also calm. I was ready — perhaps more ready than I’d ever been to tackle labor. I knew my body was capable of handling a rough 24-hours or so, all to help this beautiful new creature enter the world.

But what I didn’t realize at the time is that my postpartum experience would be drastically different this third time around. I was heavily prepared to be on the struggle bus shortly after delivery.

When I was okay, I decided not to hold my breath. I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it didn’t. At least, not really. Or not in the same way as before.

And as I round out these last couple of days with my final baby, I’m celebrating the fact that we did it — we made it through our last postpartum period. Hoorayyyy!! Now let me snuggle my last ever newborn for just a teeeeeensy bit longer! Thursday will be here before I know it. ♥ ♥

Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Half Marathon 2019

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Don’t let the fear of not being “good enough” hold you back from achieving your goals!

Nearly two weeks ago I finished my first postpartum race after having Mila and my second half marathon ever, at the Pittsburgh Marathon. I was underprepared.

Like, crazy, crazy underprepared. The days and hours where I should have been running were spent tending to sick children.

But I still got out there. I still showed up. I realized in the wee hours of that morning that I CAN DO VERY HARD THINGS. HECK, I birthed three babies on very little sleep (and one without an epidural). So I knew my body was (and is) capable of more than I think.

So if you think “I could never do ___,” take a step back and give yourself some darn credit! YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Right now my body is still in recovery mode. The mud, sweat, and tears were totally worth that finishers medal (and the finishers beer!). YES, I’m proud of myself for physically finishing 13.1 miles. But mostly I’m proud of the fact that I mentally and psychologically could handle it. Postpartum baby number one and two, I could never have convinced myself to start, let alone finish. But this time my anxiety stayed far from that start and finish line.

That alone was worth the medal. So I’m going to consider this my freaking postpartum medal. And I goddamn earned it!

 

 

Taking A Moment To Find Myself // My 3rd Postpartum Journey

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I needed this Mother’s Day in ways that I cannot even convey to you. Just Saturday, I was a broken down mother — exhausted from the grind, full of self-doubt and self-pity. But late Saturday evening, I purchased a pass to Balance + Brews at Royal Docks in Canton.

Balance + Brews is a group of local yoga teachers that do pop up classes in craft breweries throughout Northeast Ohio. I’ve been meaning to show up for a class for years, but there was always a reason I couldn’t make it. In fact, this time I almost self-sabotaged — I almost decided not to go because I was afraid of going alone. But I bought the ticket anyway. I committed.

And as I was driving down the highway completely alone, blasting music from my college days, I realized… I needed this. I honestly cannot tell you the last time I went further than Target (which is about a half mile) in the car without a child.

And then to have a meal completely alone? It just sealed the deal for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my children. But the weight of always being “on” has really taken a toll lately. It took me until Sunday to realize just how much I missed being with my most authentic self. And in those moments of screaming singing Thursday songs at the top of my lungs, I made a vow to make myself a priority. Starting now.

So to all of the mama’s out there who are struggling to find their new identity, I see you. If you can, go ahead and take a drive, blast that music, and remember who you are.

And Happy (Belated) Mother’s Day.

 

My Name is Rachel… and I’m Suffering from Postpartum Depression + Anxiety… Again.

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My name is Rachel…

I am a mom.

I am a runner.

I am a supporter of local businesses.

I am a coffee addict.

I am a fan of craft IPAs.

I am a lover of yummy food.

…and I am a postpartum depression and anxiety survivor.

Lately, it’s been a bit hard to talk about, which is unusual for me. But there have been many days where I have really struggled as of late.

The feelings came on much later this time around. I got really comfortable with the idea that I would be spared this time around. I was wrong. And that’s okay.

See, I really want to be all of these things WITHOUT also having the PPD/A, but (at least for now) it’s a part of my life. Personally, I know I’ll get through this. I know I’ll survive. But for now, I’ll be dealing with this unwelcome guest — the one who comes and goes as she pleases; the one who shows up at unexpected moments; the one who lingers for longer than I’d like. But I’ll get through this. I’ve been through it twice before and I’ll get through it again.

If you are struggling with postpartum depression and/anxiety PLEASE seek help. And if you want someone to talk to or cry to, shoot me a DM. ❤️

You are NOT alone!

4 Small Ways I’m Taking Control of My Health

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This post is sponsored by Nurx, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

New Year, New Me? Well, kind of. See in years past I’ve let the fact that I was busy raising children really surpass my own health and happiness. I missed routine dental visits and well-checks of my own because I simply didn’t make myself or my health a priority. But something about officially being in my mid-thirties with three young kids has slapped me in the face.

In the months since my 34th birthday, I’ve turned that promise to myself into a reality. Here are some small, simple ways you can take control of your health and wellness, too!

1. Move more!

I have used a fitness tracker of some sort for years now, but have often found reasons not to put it on (like forgetting to charge it). But I’m going on 4 months straight of wearing my fitness tracker! It’s certainly not the be all and end all, but it serves as a gentle reminder to move, move, move as much as possible!

I set small goals for myself, including my 10,000 steps a day, standing up at least every hour for 15 hours, and getting in a little exercise (usually in the form of chasing kids around).

2. Slow down by playing more.

I get it. It’s super easy to get focused on our daily to-dos and endless chores. I’ve been there… often. But something happened when I had my 3rd baby — I realized just how quickly they turn from newborns to toddlers. So I vowed to slow myself down. Those errands that are kind of important but not life or death? I put them off until later.

Instead, I find myself playing and laughing more. It’s made a tremendous difference for the kids and for me.

3. Check my risk for cervical cancer by using The Nurx Home HPV Screening Kit.

Last year I somehow missed my annual gynecological exam. I’m not sure how, as I am certain it was in my Google Calendar; but in December I realized that I had missed my November appointment. I know just how important these appointments can be for things like screening for cervical cancer, so I instead of rescheduling for months out, I used the Nurx Home HPV Screening Test.

The kit is quick and affordable, even for those without health insurance. It’s discreetly delivered to your home for a convenient way to test for 14 strains of HPV that have a high risk of leading to cervical cancer. For those of us that are over 30 and not getting regular pap smears, the Nurx Home HPV Screening Test is an appropriate replacement!

The kit includes everything you need — an extra long q tip, a plastic tube, a plastic bag, a barcode, and a prepaid envelope to return your specimen for testing! It costs just $15 with insurance and $69 without insurance — so there’s really no excuse not to check the health of your cervix right now.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet HPV causes 34,000 new cancer diagnoses each year. The problem is that most men and women contract HPV at some point in their lives and are completely unaware that they have it. Head to the Nurx website right now and order your screening kit today.

4. Take 30 minutes for ME every single day.

This seems like an impossibility most days — I understand. I really do — but hear me out. This 30-minutes does not have to be some grand gesture to self-care. Truthfully, most days it isn’t. But as a mostly stay-at-home mom I know it’s important to take small bits of time and take a nice hot shower or to read a book for 30-minutes before bed. Or, heck!, even go to sleep earlier and catch up on those zzs!

These small moments of ‘me’ time have really helped me maintain my mental health.

Sure, I would love to be all caught up on my appointments, with my housework, and to-do list, but for now, I’m embracing the small changes that make a big impact on my overall health. Take control of your cervical health today by contacting Nurx.