A Good Mother: Day in the Life Sunday

Friday was my daughter's last day with her day care provider. We first entrusted the wonderful team of providers with the care and safety of our 12 week old baby girl. 12 years later, we say good-bye. It's rather bittersweet. My little girl is growing up. 

Four-wheeling dress

I work. I have always worked and when I was pregnant, I thought about not working but chose to continue. It was absolutely, undeniably hard not being with my daughter during the day but through the worst of times, I always knew my daughter was in good hands when she wasn't with me. 

I remember one time in particular (there were many) coming painfully face to face with my decision to work when a very wise neighbor told me, "good mothers find good care for their daughters."  I was a good mother.

A good mother knows she can't be with her daughter all the time so she ensures she is surrounded by people who will care for her as she grows. My daughter is confident, strong, smart and an amazing human being. She is caring, patient and kind. The younger kids swarm to her like bees in a hive and she always has a lap, an arm or a story to share.

So, Dee Dee, Angie, Denise, Desiree, Steph, Beth, Sheila, Lee, Molly, Heather and the rest of the providers who taught her, made her laugh and kept her safe - thank you.

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What advice would my wise neighbor have for me for the next few years as we move into the new school year, middle school swim teams, friends, fashion and the teens?  What has guided you?

#Fitness: A Day in the Life Sunday

Good morning! I slept in until 8 am this morning. It's been a long time since I've done that. I needed the rest and the loss of 3 productive hours was a good trade this morning.

I've been in this over-50 zone for over 2 weeks now and I have got to tell you, it's not bad.

I have been exercising and eating clean (a work in progress for this carb lover) and just this morning I fit into the dress I wore for my daughter's christening AND the dress I wore out for my birthday dinner that same year - 12 years ago. 

I went shopping yesterday to buy new pants because the ones I have are too big. Need a pant size 6-8-10-12? I got you covered and hope I never have the need for the bigger ones again. Weight fluctuations stink.

There are some real reasons your weight will fluctuate up to five pounds each day:

• Eating and drinking. Weighing yourself after eating a meal or drinking a  large amount will give you a falsely high measurement. Weighing yourself after  you sweat a lot, such as after working out, will give you a falsely low  reading.
• Sodium intake. The large amount of sodium in a fast food or pizza meal  leads to water retention and a falsely high weight.
• Carbohydrates. A meal high in simple carbohydrates will also cause you  to hold water and temporarily raise weight. Similarly, high protein and low  carbohydrate diets give a false impression of weight loss when the body is  simply losing carbohydrate and water weight.
• Hormones. Water retention, and therefore weight, fluctuates with a  woman's menstrual cycle.

My fluctuations have blown past five pounds and over the years, pregnancy aside, were due to stress, no exercise and a lot of food. For the record I am all for falsely low readings but have made a commitment to myself, my closet and my wallet that this is not a short term experiment but a new way of life.

Don't believe me? I went to Trader Joe's yesterday and bought sprouted bread and  nitrate free turkey bacon. Replace the mayo with a touch of guacamole and you have a killer, clean BLT.

What do you do to keep your fitness in check? HR-sphere friends, need some motivation and support? Join the HR Fit Crew on Facebook and get out from behind the desk right now.