My 5 year old son recently asked me why I was growing boobies under my arms (thanks, buddy) and I tried my best to laugh. That’s why Dr. Rebecca Puhl and colleagues’ recent article, Parental Perceptions of Weight Terminology That Providers Use With Youth, caught my eye. Parents use language that influences body image and this article is the first to research the topics.

My husband and I have a joke. When we see some lone soul running along the side of a country road, we pose the question, “Is he/she running or fleeing?”  If you could see the faces of these people, sometimes you would assume fleeing, because running is painful…and hard.  Like why in the hell else would they be out there in sub-zero weather, or equator-like heat, to pound out the cement, putting mile after mile behind them with gritted teeth?

Today’s blog is a bit of a mishmash.  Why? Because there’s a lot going on in the world to help other people and September is a popular month for it. I couldn’t choose just one topic so here’s a little bit about World Alzheimer’s Day, Prostate Cancer Awareness month, YACK, Charity Water and Childhood Cancer Awareness.

If you think your oral contraceptive is safe, think again. Qualitest Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest manufacturers of oral contraceptives, issued a massive recall today of birth control pill packets. The Alabama-based company claims that due to a packaging error, the oral contraceptives dosage may be incorrect. This could leave women with insufficient contraception—and potentially put them at risk for unintended pregnancies.

Effective immediately, the voluntary recall includes the following oral contraceptives:

While being a mom is undeniably rewarding, it can also be unbelievably tiring and stressful, and sometimes takes a toll on your body. Kathy Kaehler, fitness trainer to the stars, and co-author of the new book Mom Energy shares her favorite 10-minute workout for busy working moms to re-energize themselves.
 
Since the workout requires no equipment, you can do it at any time in the comfort of your own home. You’re using your body to work as your resistance. Exercise is cumulative, whether you decide to split the time in half or do all ten minutes in one sitting.

What is your idea of a good mom? 

Is it a woman who always looks great, never loses her cool, manages her home, business, family and self with ease and perfection? Are her kids always neat, bright and well behaved, her house always spotless, her marriage perfect and her style always cutting edge? 

Who came up with all this and what benefit could it possibly give us by finding fault with ourselves if we have anything less? 

When I read about class of 93' graduates Brent Woodall along with Mark Bingham both from the University of California, Berkeley, the story for me was not just about their contribution to the Cal community as outstanding student-athletes, but for the first time I learn about them as victims of 9/11.

If you are anything like me, you are constantly running around – getting the kids ready for school, rushing off to work, coming home in just enough time to get kids fed (I’m pretty fortunate that my husband usually picks up the kids from daycare and cooks), help them with homework, get them in the shower, and finally in bed! That’s not even counting sport activities, school events, and other time-consuming activities!

Today commit to 1 more…reading 1 more page of that inspirational book, 1 more healthy meal, 1 more minute/rep while working out, 1 more moment of focused attention on those you love, 1 more call to get the word out about your business, 1 more minute to appreciate all you have, 1 more…

Last Wednesday my running partner Jude emailed me about an upcoming run on Saturday.  It was to raise money for the Red Cross to support the local military bases and community.
 
The Red Cross does amazing work helping people in crisis. I checked their website and found that they are responding to the victims of Hurricane Irene by providing shelter, food and other assistance in light of the flooding, wind damage and power outages.