This day I love.......: health

This is a featured post for mental health awareness month

Last week in the UK was mental health awareness week, whilst the whole of May in the USA is mental Health awareness month. Mental health can affect anyone at anytime. Mental health knows no bounds on race, religion, beliefs, gender or age. It can strike without warning and for the majority of long term sufferers we can become very good at hiding it.

Mental health can span across a wide variety of topics. Things such as stress, alcohol, relationships and sleep can all impact our mental health well being. The way we live and the way we interact as humans has changed, our children are now growing up in an 'instant' world with access to the entire world at their fingertips and this in turn presents its own mental health issues.

Teenagers can now access their favourite TV show, album or film instantly on a smart device. There is no longer the waiting a week before the next episode is played or having to sit with fingers eagerly poised over a record button to record your favourite song onto a tape from the radio. Enter into the job market and the expectation that the promotion should be instant is there, even if not consciously aware of it because everything else in life has been instant and therefore so should this.

From an early age children in school are now introduced to ways in which they can communicate their mental health problems. This open communication from a young age are great positive steps to help overcome many of the social anxiety and pressure they feel later in life. It is a valuable life skill to learn and by introducing early on it should hopefully become a normal part of their life.

One in five people in the UK suffer with depression and this in turn has a big impact on the relationship with family and friends. According to research those in troubled relationships are three times more likely to suffer with depression, and this in turn can lead the person with depression to feel a burden or often guilty towards the other party. In these situations relationship advice or counselling are the most positive step forward.

There are many great charities and resources available today to help those who suffer with mental health issues. Let's help to change the stigma around mental health and encourage open communication, we never truly know what someone is going through.

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February seems to have flown past. Even though it is a shorter month I have still managed to run 145miles or 233km, which is quite a lot. Had I known this earlier I would have run an extra 5 miles to round it up!

This month has seen the long runs get even longer with my longest to date of 20 miles. I use the long runs to also go on my Motivational hunt which sees me trying to find a series of five different items as set out in the group Run Mummy Run [Yorkshire and Humber region]. It is great fun to break up the long runs, although I never want to go on a gnome hunt again!

The long runs have also meant lots of early starts, but with it has come some beautiful early morning sun rises. Which if I am honest makes everything worth it.

I have started running to heart rate now, which has taken quite a lot of getting used to. Watching my heart rate fluctuate and trying to bring it into the correct zone has been really hard work and at times frustrating. However I have noticed that with it my recovery times are shortening and I am not longer experiencing the abdominal pain I used to get on long runs. I guess it must be doing something. I might be getting slower at the moment but my endurance has increased.

One of the other changes this month is I have been trying to cross train more. I was given a months pass to try Your Pilates Physio which has really helped with cross training. The website is really easy to navigate and I can also access from my phone too, meaning I can access the workouts wherever I am.

The site has all the videos individual which you can search for certain things, like strengthening or stretches. You can even search for areas such as lower back. In addition the videos have been grouped into workouts so you can do a series of videos such as workout for runners or a workout for the upper back.

At the end of January my shoulder injury got too painful and it meant I have had to have a rest from other forms of cross training such as kettlebells or hoop. I have found with Your Pilates Physio that there are multiple workouts to help with my shoulder pain including a whole group of videos specifically for it. It has therefore been a real game changer this last month and I would love to continue my subscription.

Your Pilates Physio isn't just for runners, it is for anyone wanting to access Pilates workouts. The videos are easy to understand and follow, even for someone like me who is very uncoordinated. The duration of each video is clearly displayed before you begin, so you can tailor your workouts. For future I would love to see some shorter duration videos, for when I only have a quick 10 or 15 mins but other than that it has been amazing to have access to.

My daughter and I are still working through our parkrun alphabet challenge and have collected a few more this month, one of our parkrun days was cancelled due to the bad weather, which given the current weather seems hard to believe.

March sees my first two races of the year, they are both however training runs to the ultra in April and I am looking forward to finally earning a nice bit of bling at last!

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Whilst a firm believer of the 'it takes 9 months to grow a baby, and 9 months to loose the baby weight' at nearly 7 months my weight seems to have stopped still. I am still several dress sizes bigger than pre Little Man and my weight is still heavier than before pregnancy too. Shake that weight contacted me to offer me a 2 week trial to see if their plans would help.

The first step was to choose a plan. The main three are:

Shake it Off - Very Low Calorie diet

Shift and Shake - Ketosis

Simply Shake - Total food replacement

As I am still wanting to run and the Shift and Shake and Simply shake only recommend light exercise I decided that the Shake it off plan would be the best for me. I am not expecting miracle results as the average duration is 12 weeks, with the recommended minimum 4 weeks. However I feel 2 weeks is a good indication and will also help me determine how easy it is to follow.

I think part of my weight is due to my very sweet tooth. I love cakes, chocolate, sweets in fact anything sugary. I have an association that when stressed I eat, or when I am working or concentrating I like to have a bag of sweets next to me. The Shake it off plan allows you to have a low calorie evening meal and a shake that weight product for breakfast and for lunch, as well as one snack.

My first day on the plan and I felt terrible. Suffering with bad headaches, bad hunger pains and mood swings. It may have been my bodies way of wanting sugar and I really felt like giving up. Day 2 was very similar, only to a lesser extent and by day 3 they had disappeared.

I found if I did not drink enough water I would feel tired, sluggish and have a heavy headache. As the week progressed I found things did get easier. Managing 3 children and looking after 2 dogs I was worried my energy levels might not be as high as needed, but I had no issues. Running was also not a problem.

As for the meals themselves I was pleasantly surprised. The shakes were lovely and thick and creamy, the soups were full of flavour and the snack bars gave me the sweet hit I craved. What surprised me was the size of the portions and I guess this is something I am going to take away. Look at the portion size and the type of food I am eating. Also know that I can go without that biscuit or cake!

Overall I have lost 2.3Kg in 2 weeks. It might not sound a lot but it has given me a confidence boost. Shake that weight have helped me to break bad habits, and I now know I can get through the day with out all that sugar. Needing to look at them more as treats, and also look more at the portion sizes of food that I do eat. I shall be taking away a lot from the last two weeks, and hopefully this will help me to continue to regain my pre baby weight.

Shake that weight provided me with 2 weeks of food in exchange for my honest opinion.

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My body has gone on an incredible journey over the past 6 years. A journey that I would not change for all the money in the world, as it brought me three gorgeous children but a journey which has left my body stretched and scared. I look in the mirror and no longer recognise me. My ankles ache each morning with the extra weight, and I am still 2 dress sizes bigger than I was before Little Man, and 3 dress sizes bigger than before my eldest.

Autumn is on its way which brings with it lots of birthdays, wedding anniversary and then Christmas. Each one an excuse to over indulge, an excuse to eat cake and generally an excuse to hibernate. I have decided a big shake up is in order, as my current body size and shape is really starting to depress me.

The first part of this is eating. I have replaced my sugary, snack type breakfast with a meal replacement shake. I decided to bulk buy enough for two weeks in order to make the most of savings and have everything delivered, mainly so I do not have to take 3 children shopping and can concentrate on different meal replacement options. In addition to breakfasts I also ordered some Slim Fast snack bars, as they were on offer, and a few other items.

Whilst it is still too early to see results I am pleasantly surprised by the SlimFast bars, as they have helped with my chocolate cravings. The shakes also give me enough energy for the day ahead with 3 children, and enough to complete 5 Km parkrun! As I ordered these through Chemist Direct , they are also on a auto-reorder feature so I can have them delivered when I need them. Perfect for a busy Mum. In addition there are lots of other products I can add to the order if I need them, like baby wipes for Little Man or toiletries. [For 10% off your order at Chemist direct use code 1CD10OFF16]

The second part is getting out and keeping active. I have decided to set up a hashtag on Instagram, #RunToXmas . I am hoping to build a community so we can all motivate each other. The idea is to run/walk.cycle/swim/jog 1 mile every day until Christmas. The way the mile is completed is entirely up to an individual. Some people may want to walk others run, and it is whatever fits in with your lifestyle. It can also be more than 1 mile, 1 mile is the minimum.

I do hope to see you on Instagram using #RunToXmas, it would be great to share the journey together.

Chemist direct provided the Slim Fast bars and meal replacement shake mentioned. All words re my own opinion

Terms and conditions for discount code

Discount code is valid until 30/09/2016 and applies 10% discount.

Offer excludes infant and 1st stage milk. One user per customer

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As a parent, one of our biggest responsibilities is looking after the health of our children. We try our best to ensure they are eating right and that they look after their bodies and don’t put themselves in too much danger. The trouble is there’s no written rule book that tells you what you should and shouldn't do.

Don’t Bubble wrap

I like my kids to be kids, and whilst it is important for them to be safe you still have to let them experience the world. I know parents who wouldn't want their children climbing trees. I'm not talking massive trees here because we all know children wouldn't be able to get up that high in the first place. Just a few metres off the ground. I’d never stop my kids from doing something like that. It’s an experience of childhood I don’t want them to miss. If they fall they might get a few bumps or scratches, and it will be a lesson learnt. I am worried that some of their playfulness might lead to a trip to A&E but I cannot bubble wrap my kids and stop them from having a childhood like I did.

Do Know Your Options

There are times when children do need to see a medical professional and at that point, it’s important to know what your options are. You need to be aware of the different types of hospitals you could take your child to. If you’re worried about waiting times and the level of attention, you’ll receive you might want to take your child to a private hospital. If you can afford them, private hospitals can offer a higher level of care and are particularly useful if you have a specialist issue.

Other Checks Are Important Too

Finally, don’t forget that you don’t just have to think about your child’s physical health. You need to think about their eyes and oral hygiene as well. That’s why it is vital that you do get them regular check up with the correct professionals. Some kids hate going to the dentist but it is worthwhile getting them used to visiting at an early age to try and reduce this anxiety.

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As regular readers will know my eldest daughter is a little hit and miss with her eating habits. This is of great concern for me and always has been. I worry she is not getting enough, considering how very little she eats. I try to make meal times fun and interesting and try to offer appropriate portion sizes but she is rarely interested. This is why Baobab really appealed to me.

Baobab Fruit Powder: Gram for gram, baobab fruit has six times more vitamin C than an orange and more calcium than a glass of milk. Baobab also benefits from having three times more iron than red meat, six times as much potassium than in bananas and more than three times as much antioxidants than blueberries. Baobab products can be purchased online at www.edenprojectshop.com.

We were sent a packet of Baobab fruit powder. The powder itself is quite fine, not so much as icing sugar but thinner than flour. Tasting the raw powder reminded me of mango mixed with raisin. Yet when mixed in with food it simply adds a fruity taste.

Baobab is set to be the next superfruit. Already well known in Africa, having been eaten there for centuries, the Eden project is raising its profile in the UK. Eden project work with PhytoTrade Africa to support natural harvest and sustainable harvests. The Baobab is known as the 'upside down tree' and the fruit is pollinated by bats.

I found the Baobab really simple to cook with. My husband added a spoonful to boiled water to create a Vitamin C boost drink. It seemed to work as he wasn't feeling as down this week and his cold [man flu] seems to be improving. I mixed a spoonful with tonic water which created a lovely fruity drink too.

Baobab seems to also work really well in savoury dishes such as, Curry, Chillies and even Pie! I have been very impressed with the versatility of Baobab. One of my favourites though is in cookies. The girls and I baked chocolate chips cookies and added a few spoonfuls into the mixture. You could not notice any difference in taste. I added some to the buttercream topping and it added a really lovely fruity taste.