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This post is to notify all users of this site about a few "house rules."

I see the people from Europe, Asia, and the Islands, and I know what you are up to. So here is a few reminders about those of us that operate blogs in the United States of America.

I write this blog for a living. If you copy the blog, you are infringing on my right to make a living in the United States.  That is a big problem. I will find you. 

Under no circumstances are you allowed to copy any post in this blog without the consent of the author. No exceptions. All violators will be reported. The author charges a minimum of $250.00 USD and up to $1,000.00 depending on the popularity of the article, per paragraph. Google translate will be used to find any perpetrators. The offending person will be billed for the past use, demanded to remove all unauthorized content. The bill is due and payable upon receipt. By copying, spinning, rewording, translating, or otherwise using the content you understand these terms and agree to pay the author immediately. Payment is due in full and in USD only.

You may read the blog and site the blog as a reference. You must use the blog name, date of the article, and put the information in a proper format. Otherwise, again, it is considered copyright infringement.

I have had to crack down on a few people that have used the blog to spin the articles and repost them as their own in various languages. Good thing I know about how to look up i.p. addresses, spoofing, and find out who these people really are.  The entire web site was taken down once it was reported.

This blog, all contents, and comments thereof are the sole property of H. Jennings in the United States of America.

When Life Isn't Normal

Most of you know I lost my Mom to cancer.  I also recently lost an aunt to cancer as well.  It isn't fair. It isn't right. These women were in their early 50's, had children and grandchildren.  They were loved. They were part of our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year traditions.
After mom died, it was nearly February before I could take down the Christmas decorations. Every time I picked up a piece of the ceramic village, I couldn't breathe. I would set it back down and tell myself I would put it away as soon as I was able. Each day for a month, I would attempt the task. It never hurt less, but the repetition helped numb me enough to get these things put away.
Mom was in the hospital when I went to visit her after she moved to the Vancouver, Canada area.  Although she had moved in late July, the passes across the state were dangerous to attempt, and it wasn't feasible until the weather started to clear in February 2013.  Her house was just as she had described.  Her touches were all over the exterior.
Once inside her house, the Christmas decorations were still up.  She had become too sick and frail to put any of the decorations she lovingly put out, away. Every single piece: from the girl figure skating on the glass pond in the village, to the baby Jesus in the manager, was a reminder she wasn't going to be back. Normal was dead.
The second year (last year) was a bit easier. I decided to view life differently. It was an experiment of sorts. I decided I wasn't cheated out of a normal life with my Mom. I got to see her from the time she was still a teenager. I had been blessed with the most time. I had given her grandchildren. She loved us girls, but let's face it; she LOVED being grandma. I told myself that she would want us to be thankful. She would want us to be together. She would want us to be happy.
I pulled out her holiday silver and set the table with the nicest dishes I own. I sewed special napkins for people to write on. I decided that I would make new memories.  I would forge new traditions woven from old ones.
This year, I will put those napkins back out. Life has changed a lot this year. I am not blind, nor ignorant to that. Families blend and change. People leave us and pass on. Those that are left here have an important choice: live in the past and fear the prospect of venturing out, or look to the future. My favorite song is by Danny Gokey (from American Idol).  The song is called "Hope in front of me."  If you have never heard it, here is a link to youtube https://youtu.be/O5GFiDdGGGM. It is my hope that you will choose to press on. I had to pick up the pieces mom left behind and integrate them into the future.  You want to know something, it is working out pretty well.  She was a pretty amazing person. The best part of having a future is this: by keeping her in my heart while pressing toward the future, is that there are times I feel her so strongly by my side that tears spontaneously roll down my face. Not from pain, or pity but from overwhelming peace and contentment.
I do not have a mother. But I do have two father figures. I do have in-laws. I do have my grandma. I have friends that love me. I have my siblings. I have my health. I have my kids. I have our neighbors, and the people we have collected along our journey. I have enough. It is not normal, but it is enough.
United States Copyright date November 13, 2015. No part of this blog post, nor posts in the past may be used, transferred, translated, nor altered in any way without express written permission of the author. 

Best Shoes For Women With Flat Feet

*Please note: I use this site to both review products and from time to time I earn money by the product links in this page which are affiliate links to Amazon. Full legal disclaimer per Amazon's request is at the bottom of the page.*
I have flat feet. Once upon a time I had high, glorious arches.  Then I had children.  Children really do change every single part of your body.
I will preface this review blog post with the fact I now wear orthotics.  If you experience foot pain, even with the help of specialty shoes, then you should probably talk with a physical therapist and get fitted for an orthotic also.  Feeling like you have grandma shoes beats pain ANY day of the week.
My first pair of running shoes were Ascis. They were not meant for flat feet, nor were they meant for running.  I found them on sale for sub $40.00 and that should have been my first tip off that they were not good for me.
I started running on a treadmill, which cushioned the blow somewhat. However, the second I stepped outdoors, I had blisters and shooting pain up my leg. I decided to buy another pair of shoes hoping for a bit of relief.
I purchased Brooks Ravena 4. They were bright, purple, and were so much better than the other pair, I was in awe.  However, after about four months of steady wear, they started to break down.  This is the point that I realized that I had to see a doctor.  With the orthotics, the Brooks Ravena 4 is now my #2 choice for those women with flat feet.  <iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=writeonrunnermom-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0089OQYTA&asins=B0089OQYTA&linkId=M2T2WXTWYR6KOMND&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>
About 6 months later, I decided to buy another brand.  This time, I got the Pearl Izumi EM Road H3. These were billed as shoes for those with flat feet.  The arch hit completely wrong.  Even with the orthotic, I felt like my foot wasn't secure, and the toe box was just wrong.  Perhaps if you are sub 100 lbs and have only slightly flat feet these will work.
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=writeonrunnermom-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00H0AZHUQ&asins=B00H0AZHUQ&linkId=TP6M5S6KR7UHZ5V4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> Finally, got a pair of Brooks Addiction 10's.  I love them. I have worn them over a year and even though the tread is worn down, they are still very supportive. I have put on at least 200 miles.  Even though I spent $125.00 on these shoes, they have been worth every penny.  These are by far my top choice for shoes.  The Addiction provides excellent value, very supportive, and even though they look like old lady shoes, and are a bit heavy, they are still going to be your best bet for long-term use.
Copyright November 12, 2015 United States of America. Unauthorized use of any blog, post or comment is forbidden without express written permission of the author.
*Legal disclaimer* “H.Jennings is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://www.blogger.writeonrunnermom.com.”

Are you READY to lose weight?

Advertisers for weight loss drugs drive me crazy.  "Do you want to lose weight?"  They ask knowing the answer nearly everyone has is, "Why, YES I do!"  They give you the name of a rep, or sell you samples, get you hooked into protein powder that is twice what it costs in the store, and you lose, for awhile at least. Then, the weight sneaks back on and then some.

Everyone wants to lose weight.  But are they READY to lose weight? As the question implies, you have to do some soul searching.  Do you want to budget your caloric intake? Are you ready to stop buying things that do more harm than good? Wanting to lose weight is one thing, being ready to move into a different lifestyle is a different one entirely.

As of two years ago, I had in my shelves EIGHT weight loss related books. I knew how to lose weight.  Negative balance of caloric intake after exercise with healthy, balanced eating.  Piece of cake, right?  You wouldn't be reading this post if it was THAT easy.

You can lose weight alone.  You can download free apps, menu's, and work really hard.  You can do this for years. I did this for seven years.  I incorporated running, numerous apps, and watched everything I ate.  And then, I realized I could not lose weight like this alone.  The running wasn't working by itself.  The eating wasn't right. I couldn't figure out why those pesky 20 lbs I regained after Mom passed would not go away.

I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting on October 30, 2014.  A bright, chipper blonde woman greeted me when I walked in and said she was happy to see me there.  Weird, but okay.  I was weighed by another very nice lady who asked how I was doing.  I told her I was frustrated.  I told her I was ready to give up eating right and exercising, because as my weight could attest, things weren't going so well. That night I weighed in at 171.4.

The leader of the group asked why I wanted to lose weight.  My reason is the same as it has been for the last five years, "so that the doctors never glaze over my medical complaints because I am overweight." She looked at me puzzled.  I told her Mom died of lung cancer.  Mom was overweight.  She couldn't breathe so the first doctor she went to told her to lose weight.  They gave her weight loss pills instead of listening to her lungs."That is a heck of a reason" she said when I was done.

As the weeks went on, and I started following the advise clearly laid out for me, a weird thing started to happen, the pounds began to come off.  By the first of the 2015, I was down 12 pounds.  Then, not another ounce for one month.  Two months came and I had to do something.  The weight loss competition I had  entered through Fleet Feet Sports was not going as planned.

The doctor I consulted through the weight loss challenge asked what medication I was on.  I told him anti-depressants, metformin (to manage PCOS), and one other.  He asked how long I had been on the metformin.  I told him six years.  He explained that over time, metformin needs to be adjusted and as you lose weight, you should be lowered or taken off it all together.  This was never discussed by my doctors.

I went off metformin in the following two weeks.  The next month I was down another five pounds.  (Are you seeing what I mean when I say weight loss is a SLOW process?) I increased my protein, and decreased my carbohydrate intake. In May, I made the Lifetime achievement through Weight Watchers.  I held the gold star charm, and I was ecstatic.

I was still 10 pounds from my "wish" weight.  You know, that number you "wish" you could get to? It was a realistic number for me.  I had weighed that in 2005.  The "wish" weight was 142 lbs. I was still "healthy" 10 pounds above that, but I wanted to keep pressing.

Yet again in June I hit a two month stall.  Medication wasn't an issue. My eating wasn't an issue.  I was constantly hitting at or below the points I was allowed each day.  My body constantly felt tired, heavy, and bloated for seemingly no apparent reason. I would get cramps once a month so bad that I was scheduled for complete hysterectomy in February.  I cancelled the operation, hoping that with weight loss would come some relief.

Then in early August, my fingers started to hurt.  It was painful to clinch and release my hands. My scalp began to turn bright red and flake.  I knew it was psoriasis patches that plagued my entire family.  I spoke with a doctor who mentioned how some people found relief from eating a Paleo diet.  He told me that it was a long shot, and most people could only stick with it a few weeks at most.

I could continue to eat pizza, bread, rice, pasta in moderation, take medication to treat the beginning stages of arthritis, or I could give up gluten, and most grains and try to see if diet made a difference.  I still followed the Weight Watchers diet, but used gluten free Paleo options (sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, quinoa, etc.).  In one week, the red patches were completely gone.  In ten days, I had lost two pounds, and the pain in my fingers.  I could run with a clenched fist and still move my fingers later.

Yes, it could be a coincidence.  I am not celiac.  I do not have a wheat allergy.  However, what I discovered after starting a Paleoish diet is that my body turned grains into sugar and stored it.  Once I stopped eating wheat, and non-organic dairy I stopped gaining weight.  I stopped having to fight to keep off weight.  I could eat all the lean protein I want, vegetables, and low sugar fruit.  I can eat seeds, nuts, and gluten free bread.  I started tossing the meat I cooked for dinner on a salad. I had coconut yogurt layered with berries, and a banana for breakfast.

As I write this, I am only two pounds shy of that "wish" weight.  I can get there.  I am dressed and ready for my meeting tonight.  Just because I made "Lifetime" doesn't mean I will ever not need the accountability.  In the meetings, I find ideas, recipes, and make friends.  Friends you make on the journey are like gold.  They keep you reaching for the next goal, and then the next, and they hang with you. They want to see how far you can reach perhaps more than you.

In the last two months, I have had no nausea from pain.  I have clearer skin than I have had in a decade. Like I said, it could be a coincidence.  I'm not a doctor.  I can only speak for my body and myself.  I know I don't lie awake at night with gas pain and bloating from dinner.  I don't wake up starving.  I wake up and after a cup of coffee, I feel great.  Like, REALLY I could do a commercial awake.  Annoying my kids with my bright, chipper attitude great.

I ran a 10K last weekend with ZERO joint pain, muscle aches, and I ran the entire way. Maybe you can do 6 miles without an issue, but up until this point, I would have a few problems at night, or the next day.  I ran the entire distance in one hour and ten minutes.  Then I walked three miles the next day. 

So, yes, you can try another diet style.  You can do the Paleo thing for a few weeks and find a measure of success.  Or you can realize doing it on your own doesn't make much sense.  You can join a group and be READY to make a change forever.  I can't tell you how much better I feel.  I have a leader that checks in on me, balances every crazy change I make, and encourages me like you wouldn't believe.  I am blessed beyond measure to have finally found what works for me.  Perhaps it will for you to.  You won't know until you are ready.

Copyright October 5, 2015 United States of America. No part of this blog, nor contents of the comments may be used, transferred, copied, translated, altered in any way, shape or form without the express written consent of the author.

Summer Recap 2015

When I was eight years old, summer seemed to last forever.  I would help my parents, read, build forts (my grandpa was a lumber hoarder so I had plenty to work with), and ride my bike to my friends house.  It was the 80's and I had until 7 pm to be back at home.

Being an adult during the summer isn't as simple.  Owning a business, having kids, and taking care of a home means that there is a lot more work and very little time to read. (I purchased "Eve" and have yet to get beyond the first chapter due to being so rushed the last couple of weeks).

On the last day of school for the kids, my husband went in for surgery.  We spent the next four weeks in recuperation mode.  It was hard, and the kids spent way too much time in front of their video game console.  There wasn't much I could do about that.

Two weeks before they went back, we managed a trip to a theme park, went fishing, visited the beach, and shoved the entire summer into a short window.  It was bliss.

The first leaf twirled on the deck in a brilliant red.  We have been racing around in an effort to beat the seasonal clock. Decks to paint, leaves to rake, gutters to clear, it is a long crazy list.

Thank goodness, my husband is fine.  The surgery was successful, and we are glad to be back on a "routine."  Boys are back in school, and coffee orders are picking up.  Life is back to normal.

United States Copyright October 6, 2015. No part of this blog may be used for any purpose other than reading. You may not spin the context, translate, or use the post for any purpose without the express written consent of the author. The author maintains all rights to the material in this post and all future and past posts.  We check google translator for those that violate the terms. If you are caught, you will be reported.  The author charges a minimum of $250.00 US dollars per paragraph for any unauthorized use. This includes translations.

Mostly Perfect Portal Party

"Hey Mom, do you have everything ready for my party Saturday?"  My oldest came down as I was finishing up my day at my home office.
"What party?"  I asked still focusing somewhat on the task at hand.
"My birthday party."  He said with marked panic.

Oh. Fudge. Balls.

I am not the Mom that fails at party planning.  Nope.  I have everything nailed down tight with names two weeks before.  I have the cake baked, decorations done, and Pinterest envy themes.  Except this year.  There I sat, facing my computer so he couldn't see the deer-in-the-headlights expression and panic I was exhibiting. "Uh, yeah, sure Buddy.  You said you wanted a Portal theme right?"  He nodded happily.
"I knew you had everything.  I just wanted to make sure."  His faith in me was crushing at this moment.  In my head I began to pray, "Dear Jesus, Please let Pinterest have LOTS of cheap ideas for me."

Party City has ZERO Portal video game birthday party theme ideas.  You have to make things up.  I was sweating bullets trying to figure out how on earth I planned to pull this off.

Sure enough, Pinterest had a few Moms that went over the top and was able to piece together colors, and a theme in two hours of printing and cutting.  The result was perfect.  The kids thought I had spent hundreds of dollars, and weeks of prep work.  Neither of which was the case.  I spent the most at Party City, but it was still sub $50.00.  But I had to have the balloons with his name on them. 

I don't have pictures of the rock candy and matching M&Ms which were not cheap, but I didn't have time to sort through king sized bags for the two colors I needed. All cutlery, plates and napkins were from Dollar Tree.  I got silly string there, because 12 year old boys are too old for traditional party goodies, but not too old to LOVE silly string. 

These are propulsion and repulsion juices.  Whatever that means.  I found eight pack blue and orange blank juice bottles at Dollar Tree and attached a stretched out Aperture logo.  I will warn you, these juices aren't the best tasting, but they matched the theme and the boys thought they were genius. 

These images were found by looking up "printable Portal images."  I neatened up the lines, used color pencils, and painted four canvas art squares with "Gunmetal Gray" acrylic. Once the paint was dry, I used Modge Podge to attach the print-outs.  They look really nice in person.    These are nice because after the party, they went up in his room for art.  When you are 12, that is "cool."

Someone posted a Companion Cube with the images.  I filled them with the "goodies" i.e. a compass ring, mini slinky, and one of those half ball things that flips in the air.  I added a few pieces of candy for good measure.  The boys actually took great care in opening the cube, because all them intended to keep it.  Whodathunkit. 

I didn't have enough time to bake a cake, so I prayed.  It is the random prayers that get answered and let you know that God cares enough to send you a chocolate pudding cake marked down to $3.49 at your local grocery store.  I made the chocolate frosting at home, and used cream cheese frosting to write.  The cherries were frozen.  This is a replica of the "bribe cake" they use in the game.  I guess the cake is a lie.  Still don't know what that means. 

What is a party without balloons and streamers?  I went with blue and orange since that is what I could find at Dollar Tree, and the big boy approved.  I used a blue table cloth.  As with all parties, I suggest putting a Sharpie marker out by the paper cups so people can write their name on the cup.  No one wants to share cooties. 

So, I pulled off a party in two days, nine hours, and fifteen minutes.  New record.  Not that I plan on doing this again.  Next time, I will have my stuff together.  But it's nice to know that in a pinch, I can pull off the impossible (a.k.a. the time Before Pinterest).

Copyright March 30, 2015 all photos and ideas herein are property of H.Jennings.  If you would like to use my images, please contact me FIRST.  Do not spin, translate, use in any way, shape, or form without full written consent. 

Of Juice Fast, and Diet Fads

It's tough when someone you love starts selling diet products.  You want so much to be supportive, and yet that part of you that is logical and understands that diet and exercise are the ONLY long term solutions to weight loss makes you block the Facebook posts.  I have been there.  I have tried a few of them, and lost some weight.  Water weight, but long term, I gained what I had lost back and then some.  Not worth it.

Juice cleanses are exactly as effective as fasting.  Studies show, fasting for 24 hours with clear liquid is okay, and safe once in a while.  Those that do three to seven day juice cleanses are not benefiting themselves at all.  As a matter of fact, those that do the juice cleanses end up weighing up to five pounds more 30 days after they stop the cleanse.  The reason is your body is in starvation mode from lack of nutrients.  It will hold on to carbohydrates, salt, and fat for storage the next time you decide to do a fast. It is better to eat right, and exercise consistently. 

Weight loss is a BILLION dollar industry world-wide.  We ALL want to be beach ready-yesterday.  This taking two years to lose 40 pounds sounds like... work.  And yet it's worth it. 

Our bodies are magnificently made.  We have kidneys, and appendix that filter out most of the junk we eat.  Our colon is hundreds of feet of awesome.  We abuse it by eating the wrong foods (high red meat, low fiber diets).  Your colon is responsible for the absorption of nutrients you eat.   Your overall mental health can be effected by the health of your colon. 

We need to think of our bodies as a temple.  You wouldn't walk into the Roman Colosseum with a can of spray paint. But that is what we are doing to our bodies when we opt for short term solutions.

You need to eat 0.4 grams of lean protein per pound of body weight every day.  You can get the protein in a delicious smoothie made with protein powder, veggies, and fruit.  You can eat poultry.  Tofu, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese are also good options.

To lose weight, you need to know your body mass.  I like My Fitness Pal app, and Fitbit.  Weight Watchers is fantastic also, but I have the caveat that you need to be in a meeting. Weekly face-to-face accountability is the best weight loss tool there is.

Here are the five tools I have used to lose weight and keep it off:

1. Write down every single thing you eat.  I have been using the fitbit app lately and I love the system that they use; within goal is a green arrow, yellow arrow is below, and red arrow means you are doing some late evening cardio.  It is a clear, easy to understand system.

2. Move a little everyday.  You don't have to train for a marathon, but you have to do something everyday.  A pedometer (plain, old, strap-to-your-pants pedometer) is only $8.00 at most sporting good stores and with that aim for 10,000 steps every single day. 

3. If you are feeling emotional, call a friend and go for a walk.  Stay out of the kitchen at all costs.  Growing up food was comfort.  We ate a lot of spaghetti.  As a matter of fact, that is what my mom for our rehearsal dinner.  Sad=chocolate chip cookies.  Happy=ice cream with the chocolate chip cookie.  Food was both our enemy and best friend. Breaking that habit has been a decade in the making. 

4.  Sure, you can have a treat, but not every day.  Chances are, you don't have supermodel genetics.  They can eat cake everyday and stay trim with yoga.  I don't have it like that.  I have to run up a cliff to make a scale move.  Most of us can afford to have a treat two times a week. 

5. I have to eat a lot of fiber.  I compete with the likes of horses for the grams of fiber I consume.  We eat two pounds of spinach and a pound of kale every single week.  There are four of us.  One of whom, won't eat kale.  You get the picture, we put away our greens in a serious way. 

I will throw in one more piece of advise: join a local weight loss group of some type.  I have joined two, because I want to know how to make my body the strongest, leanest machine it can be.  I will always have a bit of junk in the trunk and stretch marks, but isn't that what makes us unique and beautiful?

Don't strive for perfection or quick weight loss.  Strive for one goal.  Hit one goal at a time and you will reach your big goal before you know it. 

Copyright H.Jennings, United States of America, March 23, 2015.  Do not steal, translate, swipe, copy, or otherwise spin my posts.  If you steal any of my works, may you get seagull poop on your sandwich. If you want me to write posts for you, ask nicely.
 

This Is Normal, and You Are Too

I spoke with our Pastor after my Mom died.  "It just feels like I am fighting the wind with everything I have to just get through the day.  Is that normal?"
"Whatever you are feeling is normal."  He said with a nod and compassionate glance. 

That sentence had never been uttered to me before.  Normal is a setting on your dryer after all, not the loss of a parent.  So I was not sure how to respond. 

He followed up my puzzled expression with, "You are going to feel better when you do.  Not a minute before then.  You can't force better.  You will never be the same.  Death is a forever change that you learn to live with.  However you feel is okay.  Anger is okay.  Pain is okay.  Frustration is okay.  Tears are okay.  But you must face how you feel ever single day.  Every day is going to feel different.  You will reach a new level of normal and okay."

I am normal.  Which means, we are all normal.  Let that sink in a minute.

It is okay that I felt betrayal and anger when two years after Mom died they wanted to scatter ashes two weeks before we could be with them.  It is okay that I didn't want to go scatter ashes the day before my son's birthday.  We lost Mom the day after he turned ten years old.  I didn't need another birthday marred by the circumstances beyond my control.  I get that we all move on at our own speed.  My reaction was okay, and their reaction was okay.  We are all okay.  We love each other and are working to move on. 

Copyright March 28, 2015 H. Jennings United States of America.  Don't steal this, or any post on my blog.  They belong to me.  If you want me to write for you, just ask.  I am agreeable until you snatch my stuff.  Then I get cranky.

Why I Was Wrong About Vaccinations

I don't like being wrong.  Actually, I hate it.  But here it goes.  I was wrong. 

Mostly.

We have no idea what causes Autism, so we cannot know what doesn't cause it either.  There.  I feel better.

What I do know is that today, I have seen how vicious and ugly people can be on this topic.  I have seen that there are people that rely solely on natural medical and conspiracy outlets to ascertain medical information.  I have read these blogs and articles and found a tiny drop of truth in a waterfall of misinformation.  I have also seen articles that are written on "credible" news outlets that are full of doctored and trumped up research.  I went to the web sites that each used as "sources" and there wasn't a peer reviewed research paper in the lot. 

I encourage truth.  I encourage you to get uncomfortable with how you feel about the topic and wade deep into both sides.  Each side comes with shared pain and grief.  Feel the grief of others.  It makes us human.  Right now we need that. 

I got the comment from the Mom who's happy, healthy little two year old became withdrawn and regressed for years after getting their vaccines.  It isn't fair.  Her experience is real.  Her pain is valid.

I understand my own anguish from suffering so intensely as a child with chicken pox that I swore I would give my kids a cure if there was one.  Thank heavens, there was.  They will never get chicken pox.  They will be vaccinated.

I chose to spread out the shots over a two week span.  It was miserable watching them have the shots.  It isn't comfortable to think about. 

There is some research suggesting things like maternal age, circumcision, genetic predisposition, and weakened immune systems could possibly lead to an increased risk of Autism.  But let me ask you this: even if your kid got Autism would you love them less?  The answer is a firm "no."  Our kids are precious no matter what condition they are predisposed to.

The thing I know in my heart I am right about is choice.  We should have a choice.  I have family that is Jehovah's Witness.  Rastafarian's and JW both have similar stances on medical treatment.  Bob Marley died from early refusals to treat cancer.  I have a right to my personal belief, and you have a right to yours.  We do not have the right to push our personal opinions on others.

We have a right to refuse vaccinations.  If you don't vaccinate, you understand, you could spend days and weeks with sick babies.  Your child may die.  I honestly pray that is never the case.  But you have weighed that risk and decided that the cost is worth it.  I don't have a right to tell you otherwise.  

You know that I will vaccinate.  I can't stand to have my kids sick.  I understand that I am blessed beyond anything I worthy of to have the kids I have.  I understand that some of you may not have healthy kids.  To you, I offer a hug. 

Can you get tested and find out if your child's immune system is compromised prior to vaccinating?  I suppose the technology is there.  But what then?  Do you put the children in a bubble?  We do the best we can and wade into the unknown. 

Why We Vaccinate

President Obama and I don't agree wholeheartedly on many topics.  But when it comes to vaccines, that guy got it 100% right.  Our society is successful because we understand the risks and look toward the greater good.  Before a single shot was administered to my children, I read the information, and researched the side-effects.  My husband has a Bachelor of Science from UC Davis.  He is the one that had the final say, and was there to get the shots for himself, and eventually, our sons. 

Vaccines do NOT cause Autism.  Think back to when you were in early grade school (at least those of us born before the mid-90's).  There was always one kid in the class that was obsessed with trains or video/board games, never really made eye contact, threw a fit if one type of food touched another food on the plate, got low grades because he/she wouldn't participate in class/group activities, wouldn't get dirty, and cried when they had to talk in front of the class.  We all have that uncle or cousin that "keeps to themselves" and won't come to family functions.  Autism was ALWAYS there, it was just not diagnosed.  The rate of Autism is up right now because it is being diagnosed. 

There is a strong genetic predisposition for those with Autism.  Kids are getting treatment so they can grow up and be productive, happy members of society.  It has absolutely nothing to do with vaccines.  These conditions have always been part of our society.  Autism will begin to emerge between two and three years old whether they have had the shots or not.  http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/fl/Unvaccinated-Children-with-Autism.htm

We are also seeing a rise in Autism not because of vaccine usage, but rather maternal age.  Those over 40 when the child was born have a 50% greater chance of having a child with Autism.  Mothers with high toxin exposure through hair dye, employment, or living situations also can lead to having a child with Autism.  http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.  In the last 30 years, more woman have chosen to have children "once they are settled."  The only issue with waiting until you have money to raise a kid, is that your body has had that many more years of contact with potential toxins.  The older you get, the more they pose a risk to you and your baby.  It is easier to blame a vaccine. 

In cases where entire groups of people are unvaccinated (Amish), they have a lower instance of autism.  They also have children when they are in their teens to early twenties, and they eat what they grow organically.  They avoid contact with the "outside world."  They have never been to Disneyland.  They don't dye their hair or get their nails done.  This is not reflective of those of us that live in cities and closely dwell with others.  If you have contact with children in public school, you are now in contact with students that have immigrated from other countries Russia, Ukraine, India, and most recently Mexico.  These students enter the school without the shot records as long as they promise to have the list complete within the first few weeks.  Some Western states allow parents to opt out of vaccines all together for personal and religious reasons.  Only two states in the U.S. requires all students to be immunized to attend public school. 

Parents are responsible for making good decisions for all the kids their children come into contact with.  You wouldn't give your first grader peanut butter and jelly for lunch then insist they sit next to the kid with the peanut allergy.  Most people would choose to protect the child that cannot protect himself.  We are responsible to teach our children to care about those around them.  The best way to teach this is to get our vaccinates up-to-date for ourselves, and our children. 

I vaccinate mainly because I remember how sick I was with chicken pox.  My mother's ex-friend intentionally gave me the disease because her kids had it and she told me, "it was better that I get it while I am still young."  My mother never spoke to her again.  Five days with high fevers, chills, pox in my ears, nose, and eye corners.  It was another full week before the spots started to heal.  I got the disease when I was ten and in 5th grade.  I was so sick I couldn't eat.  I have the deep scar marks on my neck, shoulders, abdomen and feet.  I would give anything to not let my children suffer like that.  That disease, unlike measles, was not eradicated.  There is still the chance that you could get sick from chicken pox without the vaccine.  I know people that lost hearing due to the pox in their ears.  I know those that ended up in the hospital from dehydration.  Because that woman gave me the disease, I have an extremely high chance of getting Shingles.  I will be first in line on my 55th birthday to get the shot.  I suffered enough.

I get that watching your kid receive their shots sucks.  I hate seeing my kids in pain for any length of time.  A few hours beats days and weeks of welts, fevers, and chills.  A few hours will always be better than holding a baby that can't eat and drink.  A few hours will always be better than sitting in a hospital with a child that is clinging to life from getting a disease at the Happiest Place on Earth. 

The one family that brought their kid to Disneyland with measles should have been able to realize that nearly 84 people in 14 states* have been effected by their choice.  And their siblings, and their friends, and their families. 96,000 people die from the disease world-wide** most of these cases are outside of the US but like most deadly diseases, failure to treat early on could trigger encephalitis, the exact condition that killed renowned children's author Ronald Dahl's daughter.  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/roald-dahls-heartbreaking-letter-about-measles-vaccine/

The most terrible thing about making choices is that we are all bound by them.  Unless you are Amish, each of us is linked to one another.  We watch each others children grow up on social media.  We wave and hug in the grocery store.  We cannot make choices that could cost a human life without understanding the sometimes harsh repercussions. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/patient-ed/conversations/downloads/not-vacc-risks-color-office.pdf

Copyright February 3, 2015 H. Jennings United States of America.  No part of this blog post, or any content herein may be transferred, spun, reworded, translated, misused, copied, or quoted without due credit to this blog. 

*Report by USA Today January 29, 2015.
**2013 WHO statistic

10 Reasons Why You May Not Be Losing Weight

The scale was up two pounds last Saturday.  I have still lost over 13 lbs, but that hit like a bowling ball.  I was livid.  HOW can this be?  I have increased my exercise.  On the Weight Watchers Active Link I log between 9-14 points EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I have increased my protein by 9 grams a day.  What gives? 

So, I asked some friends, and group nutritionists and the answers I got were not the ones I expected.  I am going to condense the finding in this highly glamorous blog. 

1. Take a look at your medication.  Then look again.  I have been on Metformin for years to manage some of my PCOS symptoms.  Turns out Metformin can cause a disruption in the T3 to T4 (Thyroid gland) production.  This can throw off your best efforts to lose weight.  I will bet you didn't know that.  It can help people lose weight initially, but in the long run, it may cause you to plateau or stagnate. Some birth control medication will thwart weight loss and cause weight gain. 

Lesson: Make your doctor sit down and LISTEN to you.  Bring in ALL your medication including supplements and have your doctor go over the side effects.  Make sure you have a written list of symptoms you are experiencing.  If they are uncomfortable, or do not know the consequences of the drugs you are taking on your weight loss then find a doctor that does.  And do NOT leave the office until they send a referral. 

2. You are not eating enough protein.  Atkins and South Beach both promote high protein no sugar, no grain diets.  They are a little bit right.  Protein cannot be stored as fat.  (Did the light bulb go off?  It did with me).  I added a scoop of protein powder to my coffee in the morning and suddenly the scale is moving again.

Lesson: Lean meats are good.  Vegetables are great.  Fruit is delicious.  Brown rice, sweet potatoes, and whole wheat fiber bread are fine.  Our brains work better if they have carbohydrates in moderation to work with. 

3. You will not lose a ton of weight running.  Running uses protein/muscle AND carbohydrates/ calories.  Your body has to repair from running, so it will take the good stuff with it.  Believe it or not, walking fast for a long time is a lot better for straight up calorie burning than other high intensity activities.  Running is good for improving muscle tone, heart and lung muscles, and endurance.  You need to hit that target heart range and keep it there for at least 45 minutes.  Going over the target zone won't burn fat.

Lesson: Walk a few days a week, do yoga, weight lifting, and run a few days a week.  Keep the activity changing so your muscles don't get used to one single activity.  Find you target heart range and stay there to burn the most fat and carbohydrates.

4. Dairy isn't the devil.  Okay, so we aren't baby cows.  We probably don't need the extra calories that slugging down moo juice provides.  However, it is loaded with calcium.  And in the protein infused dark chocolate organic milk is super handy if you are finishing at the gym and don't want to carry a turkey sandwich to go.  Most of the protein milk is lactose free, so your tummy will thank you.  I also love organic Greek yogurt, and lactose free cottage cheese.

Lesson: Organic, fat free Lactose free milk is a great high protein way to fuel up without carb loading. 

5. Calories are not created equal.  Sugar calories are easily stored by the body.  They sneak their way into white flour, popcorn, chips, white rice, sugar, "regular" Russet potatoes, and artificial sweeteners.  The body loves these and will use them to enlarge fat cells. Or, if you go for a walk after eating a bag of M&M's the calories from the candy will be used first, not the weight you have been trying to lose.  The body is very efficient at storage.  The easily obtained calories will be used before the reserves.  Protein based calories are not able to be absorbed by the body and they will make their way through the digestive track fairly quickly. 

Lesson: Balance protein with vegetables.  Hummus and vegetables, or Granny Smith Apples with PB2 (powdered peanut butter that is 90% Fat Free), or celery and fat free cottage cheese are great ways to fuel up with the stuff that will force your body to pull from it's fat storage.  Make your body use the fat cells.  Don't eat Macaroni and cheese with a side of bread.

6. About eating the calories you just worked off…  Depends on how you worked them off.  Did you run a few miles?  Then eat back 40% of those calories with protein, fruit, or vegetables.  Did you go for a long walk?  Then there is no need to eat more.  Those calories came directly off your hips, butt, and boobs (okay, maybe that is where I lose the most weight).  The low intensity activities like yoga, and walking are very efficient at helping you drop weight.  Do those at least three days a week for at least an hour total per day.  I break mine up over lunch and then an after dinner session.  However, if you are weight lifting, running, roller derby, or playing basketball, then you are going to need to refuel, or your body will think you are trying to starve it. 

 

Lesson: Not understanding how your body uses fuel for each activity will lead you straight to a plateau or worse, weight gain.  Know your body, and your activities and eat appropriately. 

7. You can't guess the calorie count of food.  I use My Fitness Pal, as it is the only option for my phone.  I have a Windows phone and cannot use Android apps.  Eating out last week on a date with my husband, I learned that a Red Robin California Chicken Burger has over the entire daily allotment of calories.  If I didn't have the app, there is NO way I would have guessed it was SO bad for you.  I thought it was "healthy."  Tracking your food helps you have a plan for what you eat, and give you an idea what it is going to take to either maintain or lose weight.  If you have Android and are part of Weight Watchers, I recommend that you use the tracking system.  It is much better than MFP as I have used both in the past.

Lesson: Just because it's chicken doesn't make it healthy.  Get an application for your phone and use it every day.  

 8. You go to bed hungry.  If you have eaten all your calories for the day and you are still hungry, then eat a small snack.  I like rice cakes, raw almonds, or a slice of low-fat Swiss cheese.  If you go to bed hungry, you will not sleep well.  No sleep means the next day you are more likely to make poor eating choices.  It is a cycle you can avoid just by having a small snack.  I advise having 50 calories at the end of the day to put toward a snack.  I eat five small meals a day to ensure I don't get too hungry and overeat.

Lesson: Eat the snack.  Sleep better.  

9. You are not sleeping enough. New parents aside, most of us make choices that land us in bed late and up early.  It is best to make sure that you have the television, phone, and computer screen off for at least an hour before going to bed.  That way we have a high quality of sleep.  Don't drink a lot of water before you go to bed.  Silence your cell phones and land lines.  Do whatever it takes to protect your bed time.  We all need at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep at night.  Otherwise, our bodies go into "flight or fight" mode and try to store all the calories we consume.  If you don't get enough sleep, you have a lot less power over the cupcakes at work.  

Lesson: Go to sleep so the next day you are prepared to make good eating choices.

10. You give yourself 20% more credit for exercise than you did.  Cover the screen on the exercise machine with a smiley face.  It is worthless.  Use a heart rate monitor with a chest strap to get as close to perfect results as possible.  If you always go with the number on the machine screen, which doesn't take in to account your weight, height, age, and heart rate, you absolutely will not get an accurate number.  It will always give you a higher calorie burn number than what you did.  If you allow the number on the screen to dictate how many calories you intake if you have just run, you could be overshooting your goal!  All the calories add up.  Make sure that you get an accurate read on your work out.  The calorie tracker applications will also give you a higher number.  Go with a heart rate monitor and get an accurate read.  Or if the tracker isn't in budget, use the application on your phone but take account it could be off by as much as 10%.

Lesson: The best bet is to invest in a heart rate monitor. 

Copyright January 27, 2015.  This blog, and all posts therein are property of H.Jennings.  So do NOT translate, spin, or otherwise steal my stuff.  I work really hard to come up with funny, interesting and relative topics to write about.  Don't even think about violating US copyright laws.   I can see your IP addresses from other countries.  Don't think I don't know what you are doing.  Every single time I report you.  I hope you are found. 

Happiness is Reality

"If I won the lotto, I would still be here because of the notoriety of the job" our local postman said.  I laughed.  He has a great attitude for someone who has been doing the same job since before I was born. 
If he can come to the same job day after day for years and years and always manage to have a good attitude, even over the Christmas holiday, we should all be taking notes. When I talk to people that seem happy all the time, they all share the same advise.

"I don't have good days and bad days, I just have days."  In this life, we get to choose what day we have.  Yes, good days are magnificent, and we want to celebrate them and wish they lasted forever.  But then the bad days come and we can only see those particular days and then the "aftermath" of them.  It can be tricky.  The best advise is to wash the good and the bad in the same mindset.  This can be hard, especially if you are a woman during child rearing years.  So take a deep breath, and just be okay no matter what happens.

"I completely disconnect when I am away from work."  Clearly, these people don't own their own business.  Inventory comes in on the weekends, and customers that are early risers on the East Coast don't have any idea they are calling at 3 in the hallow of darkness am Pacific Time.  I disconnect in Mexico, when I have accidentally left my cell phone on the counter at home.  Disconnect was a gift from God.  I would do it again in a hot minute, but then I would not have my phone to take pictures with. 

"I love you so much, I am going to leave to run now."  I have found that I am so much happier now that I quit the "mommy guilt" of having "my thing."  I run.  I get dressed in workout gear, I pay my money to join various groups, and I leave my husband and children to go be with other runaways.  We come back, stinky, sweaty, and happy.  Life is better when you get to be yourself a few times a week. 

"Don't tell on yourself, and don't volunteer for things."  My husbands life motto has taken me over a decade to adopt, but dang, it is a good one.  He used to get upset with me for doing more than I could fit in my schedule because I would always just say, "yes."  Now I say, "no" more often than "yes."  If I don't have the money, time, or energy, I am not going to force myself to be part.  I would love to fight all the great causes.  But right now, I have little kids that I want to cook chocolate chip cookies for.

"I love my job."  The words actually took me by surprise.  They came out of MY mouth!  I decided last fall that even though this job, and this life make me stir crazy sometimes (Why do people call and ask what flavor of creamer tastes best in decaffeinated coffee?  How do you even answer that without sarcasm?)  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I get to be a part of my kids lives.  I have never missed a single game or awards ceremony.  I get to work with my husband (which is totally fantastic 89% of the time).  I had to change MY attitude toward MY job.  I get to have a job.  I get to go to work.  I get to talk to people.  I get to drink amazing coffee absolutely every single day of my life.  I get to be happy.  And so do you. 

This work is copyright January 15, 2015.  No part or in whole may be reproduced in any way.  Property of the United States of America and the author, HJennings.  Do not steal, use, rewrite, hack, spin, translate, or use this blog for any reason.  If you violate my polite warning, I hope that your heater goes out.  Because being a thief is a cold, dirty crime.

New Years Resolutions

I have not made a list of "New Years Resolutions" in over three years.  Was I too busy?  Was it useless?  I don't know, but this year, I decided to change that.  Okay, today I decided to change that.  It's only two days into the month/year, so I can TOTALLY get away with that logic.

1. I will avoid slamming my finger in car doors this year.  It is just too painful and makes typing a full-on nuisance for over a week.  (In case you were wondering why no blog last week).  Do you know what you need your fingers for?  Oh, only everything.

2. I am going to be diligent about my budget.  I kinda let the last year slack a bit with my couponing, and scouting of sales.  I glanced at my monthly grocery bill (not eating out, which we did less than once-a-month) and the $900.00 total was enough to give me a heart attack.  Granted, that was only since we stopped having garden access (which knocked down the grocery bill by a couple hundred bucks every month because we do almost a vegetarian diet in the summer). 

3. I will be honest about how things effect me.  My mom did a lot of things right.  But being honest with people wasn't always one of them.  She would be angry with someone for YEARS and when asked why, she wouldn't really know or remember.  She just knew there was a reason.  I would often do the same thing and give people the silent treatment or be nice to someones face only to trash them later on.  It isn't acceptable.  This year, I will tell you if you piss me off and why.  Then I will go for a run, forgive, and forget.  Because I love to run, and staying angry makes you fat.

4. I will take responsibility for my actions.  If I screw up, I won't make my husband feel like a tool for pointing it out.  I am going to own the mistake and offer ways to fix it.  Then go for a run.

5. I will make peace with where I am. 

6. I will train for, improve on, and set realistic goals for my business, my family, my body, and my races.  I will not do something I am not prepared for. 

7. I will be completely honest with myself.

8. I am going to try new things every month.  I have never been downhill skiing.  (Bunny slopes do NOT count).  I want to try that.  I have never had sushi.  (California Rolls do NOT count).  I am going to get out of my comfort zone and go for things that are new and different.

9. I am going to re-work the book.  I want to add more things that have made me who I am.  Like that time when I was eight, and my Dad picked me up from school early to go cut down a Christmas tree for my Mom.  We were REALLY poor, and didn't have the budget for a nice cut one from the store.  So there were chopping down a HUGE tree and shoving it into my Dad's Datsun 200SX.   We arrived home with the tree and told her, "We threw a FIT in the car, and you have to go clean it out."  She was SO mad, and SO confused.  Then when she saw the tree, she was the happiest I had seen her.  Her face lit up, like, well, a Christmas Tree.  She put on Christmas music and decorated the whole thing.  Those were the times that I knew my Dad loved us.

10. I will not allow these resolutions to make me feel guilty if I don't complete them.  Because life happens.  Sometimes, things don't go according to plan.  There will always be the cold day the door shuts on your finger and you are so cold and numb you don't realize that you just smashed your finger until you pull off your glove.  There will be illness.  There will be strife.  There will be bumps.  There will be twisted ankles, big, nasty blisters, and terrible run times.  But for every low, there is grace that leads to something even better.  There will be love.  There will be moments your youngest falls asleep in your lap and you decide to blow off chores so that you can watch him sleep.  There will be moments of inexplicable beauty that leave no room for doubt of a Creator.  There will be surprises that leave you breathless.  I, for one, am looking forward to the rest of 2015.  Because every day I get to be alive is a great day.

Copyright January 2, 2015 by H. Jennings of Washington State, United States of America.  No part, or whole of this blog may be copied, translated, re-worded/spun, distributed in any way, or credit taken from the author.  If you steal this work, or any part thereof, may one brand new, bright red sock be washed with your white load.  May all your whites be pink.