Browsing Tag

Wellness

Online and In-Person Mental Health and Wellness Resources

Posted on October 11, 2022

It’s been a rough year, and I think I speak for a lot of us when I say there’s been an increase in anxiety and depression. Being trapped at home, being isolated, worrying about the safety of your friends and family, trying to keep a business afloat, working from home or losing jobs, or worrying about losing jobs, being home with the kids or worrying about the kids safety if they still went to daycare… We’ve all had a lot on our plates.

I’ve leaned on a lot of resources this past year and luckily, Long Beach has so many helpful wellness resources. In honor of World Mental Health Day, I wanted to share these resources with all of you.

Online Resources

Affordable Tele-therapy without Insurance (Individual, Couples, Family)

Open Path offers teletherapy without insurance, and out of pocket costs start around $35. You can browse different therapists to find one that suits your needs and then connect with them via email to schedule appointments.

Website: https://openpathcollective.org/

Telehealth Psychiatrist/Doctor Visits

Circle Medical offers Telehealth psychiatrist appointments to treat depression, anxiety, and adult ADHD. They also have Telehealth dr appointments for regular wellness checkups and treatment for issues such as STDs/STIs. Circle Medical is currently only offered for California residents.

Website: https://www.circlemedical.com/

Free Crisis Text Line: If you need to talk but aren’t comfortable talking on the phone

If you need someone to talk to ASAP but don’t want to actually talk on the phone, this crisis hotline is a great resource. You can text the word HOME to 741741, or visit the website I linked below. This hotline is great because it’s not only for suicide, it’s for anyone who is struggling. You’ll be linked with a real person and your conversation is confidential.

Website: https://www.crisistextline.org/

Life Coaching: Cassandra Vitale

Cassandra is a Long Beach local whom I met through a mutual friend. On Mother’s Day this year, I decided to gift myself her 8 week course called Activate Your Love. It helped me immensely with communication within my family as well as outside of it, and also helped me recognize patterns of behavior that weren’t helpful for me. This course changed my life in a huge way.

Website: https://www.cassandravitale.com/activateyourlove

Online and In-Person Resources

Parent Coaching: Mary Van Geffen

Being home with the kids 24/7 during the pandemic was incredibly stressful. Jason and I both had to juggle work and parenting, and we had no childcare and no breaks. It was hard to stay patient with the kids when we were trying to do so many other things. Sessions with Mary gave me a lot of tools for remaining patient as well as tools to deal with sibling conflicts and other parenting issues. I highly recommend following her ig because she offers a lot of knowledge for kids of all ages.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/maryvangeffen/

Physical Therapy: Dr Q

Dr Q is primarily a women’s health physical therapist, but she is so much more than that. I started seeing her following a surgery for endometriosis and to remove scar tissue from my c section, but the tools I learned seeing her made a big impact on my physical and mental health. I learned to recognize new feelings in my body such as when I was tensing up without realizing, or forgetting to take deep breaths. If you have had kids, have a vagina, or you are someone who pees (men too!), you can benefit from Dr Q. What I’m saying here is that literally everyone can benefit from seeing her. She offers telehealth appointments but if you go in-person, her office also offers pilates as a form of physical therapy and it’s amazing and covered by most insurances! Win!

Website: https://www.instagram.com/drq_dpt/

In-Person Resources in Long Beach

Sohma: Acupunture, Chiropractor, Sports Medicine

I have been going here regularly for acupuncture, chiropractor, and Chinese medicine supplements for the past couple years, and it’s done wonders for my anxiety. They also offer massage and sports medicine. All of these treatments are great for mild ailments to help you avoid medication, or in conjunction with your current treatments.

Website: https://www.sohma.org/

Hotel Maya

I would not have gotten through the last year with my sanity and my job if I hadn’t been able to take advantage of the Hotel Maya’s day rates. Getting away for 9 hours to catch up on work and decompress has been a lifesaver. Their day rates include access to amenities such as the pool and hot tub as well, so it doesn’t have to be all work and no play!

Website: https://www.hotelmayalongbeach.com/special-offers

Sun Elite Wellness Pod

Sometimes you just want to relax your mind and body but you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. Sun Elite has an amazing Wellness Pod called the Cocoon and it uses a combination of infrared heat, dry heat, and vibrating massage. You get into the Cocoon for a 15 minute session and your body is enveloped while you head sticks out and there’s a cooling fan for your face. It’s incredibly relaxing and it’s good for detoxing and soothing sore muscles too.

Website: https://sunelitetan.com/elite-wellness

The Salt Lounge

The Salt Lounge has a salt room that features 550 lbs of crystal infused Himalayan pink salt. It’s a great place to relax and rejuvenate, and you can go in alone or with a partner or friend. The salt is so soothing to touch and the room smells amazing. It feels like being lost in your own world, but in a good way. They also offer crystal light therapy and reiki.

Website: https://www.thesaltloungelb.com/

Affordable Therapy without insurance ($15/session)

I have not personally utilized this resource because they only offer in-person sessions and it’s hard for me to get a sitter, but I wanted to share it because it’s an affordable option compared to regular therapy rates. They offer individual counseling, couples counseling, and family counseling.

Website: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-education/community-clinic-for-counseling-and-educational-services

Solo Vacation

This is something I’m embarking on this week for the first time. I’ll be staying in a glamping trailer for 3 nights and giving myself the opportunity to hike, read, meditate, and recharge. This will be the longest I’ve ever been away from my kids since they were born, and it’s much needed! Since the shutdown, the kids have spent a lot more time at home and Jason also began working from home, and I’ve really been craving a break. I’m excited about this opportunity and will share more about it when I return. The location I’ve chosen is only about 90 minutes from Long Beach and I’m linking it below in case anyone wants to schedule their own relaxing retreat!

Website: https://www.houfy.com/lodging/tiny-tiki-retro-hideaway-1-hour-from-los-angeles/6356

Daily Life

Can this Isavera Fat Freezing Belt Give You a Slimmer Waist Line?

Posted on December 23, 2020

Isavera Fat Freezing Belt Wellness Health Weight Loss @parentdaze

I have always stored fat in my midsection.

Even when I’m working out regularly and eating well, I still have a spare tire around my waist that I can’t seem to get rid of. There are a lot of factors that contribute to belly fat, independent of diet and exercise.

Women in particular tend to store fat in our midsections, and we can blame evolution for this. Our bodies still think we need to keep our ovaries warm to protect them, even though we now have clothes, homes, and furnaces.

In addition to making me self-conscious in my crop top, excess belly fat (or any fat) increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and a whole host of other diseases and ailments. And this is why I decided to try the Isavera Fat Freezing Belt. (I used the Isavera Classic that’s specifically for the stomach, but Isavera also makes products for legs, arms, and male chest.)

This belt is not meant to replace a healthy lifestyle

I want to note that this belt is not meant to replace a healthy lifestyle, which is why I’m comfortable endorsing it. It is not designed for weight loss, and isn’t a “get thin quick “device. This belt should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise, and I also recommend talking to your doctor before starting to use it.

The price tag of $2000-4000 per Cool Sculpting session was a little steep for my budget

So now let’s get to the science. I’m sure a lot of you are thinking this belt is too good to be true. If I wasn’t familiar with Cool Sculpting and the lymphatic system in general, I would have agreed. But let me tell you why I believe in this belt, even though I just started using it and don’t have any results yet (but I will report back in a couple months with pics and details!)

I’m sure a lot of you are thinking this belt is too good to be true…

Fat freezing (or cryolipolosis) has already been proven as a way to eliminate excess fat. Fat freezes at a higher temperature than skin, and Cool Sculpting is an FDA approved procedure.

Once the fat cells are frozen, they are cleared out via your lymphatic system. When you lose fat via diet and exercise, your fat cells simply shrink, but they’re still there. When your fat cells are frozen, they’re completely eliminated from the body.

Fat freezing has already been proven as a way to eliminate excess fat

As great as Cool Sculpting sounds, the price tag of $2000-4000 per session was a little steep for my budget, and most people need multiple sessions to achieve optimal results. Isavera offers the opportunity to get the same results in the comfort of your own home. You’ll need more sessions with your Isavera belt than you would Cool Sculpting sessions, because Cool Sculpting uses a vacuum to target more layers of fat at once. But the lower price tag is totally worth it for me, and I’m able to sit and work while I wear my belt so it isn’t a huge process.

Once the fat cells are frozen, they are cleared out via your lymphatic system

So, why can’t you just use ice packs you have in your freezer right now? The gel packs Isavera uses are specifically formulated to be used for fat freezing. They reach temperatures that are 11 degrees higher than the temperature at which frostbite occurs. If you want to avoid frostbite, DO NOT use regular ice packs or ice to freeze your fat.

Why can’t you just use ice packs you have in your freezer right now?

Now that we’ve reviewed the science, let’s talk about the process of using the Isavera Fat Freezing Belt. When you first receive your package, you’re going to want to lay your gel packs flat and put them in the freezer for at least 24 hours. I keep mine on a cookie sheet to make sure they stay flat.

Let’s talk about the process of using the Isavera Fat Freezing Belt

Once the gel packs are frozen, you insert them into the belt and wear the belt for up to an hour. You’ll receive a link after your purchase with the specifics of how long to wear it, and which pockets to put the gel packs in. You’re going to start with 5-10 minutes and work your way up. Make sure to refer to the instructions from Isavera, and pay attention to your skin’s response as you go.

After your session is done, you lube up your skin with lotion and use the massagers provided to massage the area. This helps break up the frozen fat cells so they can be more easily eliminated through your lymphatic system. The elimination process can take up to 10-12 weeks, so it may take a while for you to see results, although I did see some photos in Amazon reviews of people’s results in as little as 30 days.

Your lymphatic system is responsible for eliminating all types of toxins and waste from your body

In addition to exercising and maintaining a healthy diet as you use your fat freezing belt, I also suggest taking other steps to improve your lymphatic system. Not only will this aid in the elimination of fat cells, but your lymphatic system is responsible for eliminating all types of toxins and waste from your body, so you want it functioning properly to achieve optimal wellness.

Other ways to support your lymphatic system include drinking plenty of water, performing lymphatic massage, acupuncture, and jumping on mini trampolines.

Stay tuned for my Isavera results in the coming months, and if you purchase your own belt, please share your results with me too!

***Disclaimer: This product was gifted to me by Isavera. All opinions expressed here are my own.***

Daily Life

How to: A play-based method to help kids learn to cope with big feelings and pandemic anxiety

Posted on December 4, 2020

How to: a play based method to help kids cope with big feelings and pandemic anxiety @parentdaze long beach parenting

2020… I never imagined there would be a global pandemic in my lifetime, and I definitely didn’t anticipate living through one with 2 kids at home. It’s been stressful, to say the least. Juggling working from home while also watching the kids has been hard. Sometimes it feels like I’m only giving partial effort to any one thing: working, cleaning, parenting, my relationship, self-care… It’s really hard to give 100% when there are no breaks and everyone is home all the time.

Juggling working from home while also watching the kids has been hard

And if parents are feeling the stress, it’s no wonder that kids are too. We literally picked them up from school one day and told them they wouldn’t be returning for an undetermined amount of time. They don’t get to see their friends, family visits have either stopped or changed drastically for most of us, and the routine they used to find familiar is gone. We’ve also canceled birthday parties, the playgrounds are closed, and for a while, so were parks, beaches, and almost every other public outdoor space.

Our kids don’t get to see their friends and the routine they used to find familiar is gone.

That’s not easy for littles. They need exercise, they need social interaction, they need stimulation for their brains. And now, parents are responsible for filling all those roles. We’re not only parents anymore; we’re also teachers, friends, chefs, and maids. We’re in charge of PE, and sometimes we’re nurses. Even though we know our kids are struggling, it’s still incredibly difficult to fill all of these roles while still leaving time for ourselves and our other responsibilities outside of parenting.

Kids need exercise, social interaction, and stimulation for their brains. And now, parents are responsible for filling all those roles.

I’ve noticed that Katie in particular has been having a hard time during the shutdown. She’s very social, and very physically active. Since we’ve been home, she has been getting upset about little things, and she has a hard time calming herself down once she gets worked up.

Purrble is an interactive toy that helps facilitate self-soothing behavior

We recently received a Purrble as part of a brand collaboration. Purrble is an interactive toy that helps facilitate self-soothing behavior. Studies show that kids calm themselves down as they calm others, and Purrble fills that role. When Purrble first wakes up, it has a rapid heartbeat. As kids pet its back and sides, the heartbeat gradually slows down to a purr. It has sensors that respond to touch, so if your child starts fidgeting or jostling Purrble again, the heartbeat will speed back up.

Studies show that kids calm themselves down as they calm others

We love that this method of calming is play-based, and it doesn’t make kids feel shamed for their big emotions. I also love that it’s a tool I can use when I’m tapped out. Stopping what I’m doing every few minutes to respond to an outburst is really taxing, and it makes it hard to get things done. That doesn’t mean Purrble will replace the guidance of a parent, but it’s really helpful to be able to hand it to Katie when she’s upset and give her a chance to soothe herself before determining if I need to step in.

Stopping what I’m doing every few minutes to respond to an outburst is really taxing, and it makes it hard to get things done

I was surprised how much I enjoy Purrble too. Petting its soft fur is really soothing to me when I’m stressed. I also noticed, while browsing amazon reviews, that several other adults had Purrbles of their own, so it’s not just for kids. Purrble is 20% off for holiday week (12/1-12/6) as a Prime member exclusive benefit. Click to shop for a Purrble of your own and be on your way to a calmer household.

This method of calming is play-based, and it doesn’t make kids feel shamed for their big emotions

*This post was written as a part of a paid partnership with Purrble. All views and opinions expressed here are my own*

Opinion Pieces

12 things I wish I knew in my 20s, and why I’ll never have 6 pack abs (but I don’t care)

Posted on February 27, 2020

@parentdaze selfcare health wellness long beach @explorelongbeach

Self-care, amirite?

It’s the hot new buzzword that has somehow become synonymous with mani-pedis and facemasks as a way to put you on the path to health and wellness.

Something I’ve learned this year is that real self-care isn’t skipping cleaning your house to do a girls’ brunch. The real self-care is the messy shit. It’s making time to be alone with your thoughts at a time when you want to the least. It’s eliminating toxic habits and relationships from your life. It’s having an emotional meltdown that somehow helps you figure out a new path to becoming your best self.

The real self-care is the messy shit.

I’ve done a lot of work over the past year, and found some new habits that have really enhanced my well-being. And I find myself thinking, I really wish I knew this in my 20s. And so, I’m sharing those things here:

1) Stop listening to what society says is healthy.

Guess what? I hate kale. I think it tastes like dirt, and I’ll probably never make a habit of eating it. I also refuse to replace noodles with some sort of vegetable noodles (Please stop telling me once you put the sauce on, spaghetti squash tastes the exact same as real noodles. It doesn’t.) I also keep meaning to make time for yoga, but I just don’t like it that much. Maybe someday.

I’ve spent too much time worrying about what I *should* do

But for now, I have plenty of healthy habits that work for my life. I love a huge spinach salad with feta and strawberries, I love jogging, and I make time to meditate as often as I can (I know, if I added in some stretches with the meditation, it would basically be yoga… I might get there, I might not.) But the point is, I’ve spent too much time worrying about what I *should* do and then feeling guilty when I’m not doing those things. I’m perfectly capable of picking healthy habits that work for me and that I enjoy.

2) Wasting time is okay, as long as you’re aware that you’re doing it.

Becoming aware of my time wasting has had such a positive impact on my life. How do I determine what’s “a waste” and what isn’t? For me, wasting time is doing things that have no positive impact on my life and that I don’t feel good after doing. This doesn’t mean setting aside time to read or watch TV or go on a walk. It means when I absentmindedly open facebook and scroll through my newsfeed for an hour, or when I open my web browser and see a news article that interests me and 30 minutes later I’m reading about a dispute between one of the Kardashians and their current love interest.

Am I okay with wasting this time? Is it keeping me from anything I should be doing instead?

I’m not saying I never do these things anymore, but I try to be aware that I’m doing them. “Am I okay with wasting this time? Is it keeping me from anything I should be doing instead? Am I going to be mad at myself when this period of free time is over and I didn’t do anything that makes me feel good?” Sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes it’s not. But being aware has been helpful for me to make conscious choices.

3) Decide what HAS to get done and what can wait.

I used to have a bad habit of creating a never ending to-do list every morning. I would start writing down tasks for the day like work deadlines and any appointments I had to go to, and all of a sudden I was adding things like “go through the kids’ clothes” and “organize the closets.” Clearly these tasks are not getting done today.

I realized that actually MOST of my to-do list wasn’t even necessary.

I realized that actually MOST of my to-do list wasn’t even necessary. Yes, I do have a handful of things I need to do each day, and I try to add in a couple small extra tasks to work on if I have time. If I don’t have time, or I’m absolutely tapped out and need to take 20 minutes to go on a walk instead, I put those tasks on another day’s list when I have less going on.

4) Taking breaks makes you more productive.

This used to be my biggest productivity block. I would get so frantic trying to get everything done that I was skipping meals, skipping workouts, and just never taking breaks or time for myself. I felt cranky and burned out all the time. I thought I was too busy, and I felt guilty to leave this massive workload undone while going on a walk or taking 20 minutes to eat lunch. But taking those breaks has enabled me to do twice as much work in the same amount of time.

I was skipping meals, skipping workouts, and just never taking breaks or time for myself.

You know the analogies “put on your oxygen mask first” or you can’t pour from an empty cup?” I know, I used to roll my eyes at them too. And now I’m learning how true it is, and wishing I had listened sooner.

5) Stop beating yourself up when things don’t get done.

Sometimes there just isn’t enough time. Even after setting a reasonable to-do list and taking breaks and doing everything “right.” It happens. In this case, I need to regroup, figure out why I didn’t get things done, and try better next time. Maybe I overextended myself, maybe something came up. Whatever it is, I can learn from it, but life will go on.

6) When you feel like you’re at your worst, things can only go up.

This is a hard one, and no one believes it when they feel like they’re at rock bottom. (I also don’t suggest telling people this while they’re struggling because it doesn’t help and kind of makes you look like a jerk.) For me, I’m fortunate that I’ve never had a true rock bottom, but I’ve had sadness like we all have. Most of my problems have been pretty light compared to the suffering that some others have gone through. Nonetheless, I’ve had times in my life that I felt like my world was crashing down. When I drove out to California from Michigan, my uhaul trailer was stolen and I lost everything I owned. I was devastated at the time, but now I look at all the material goods I have managed to acquire since then. I have everything I need in life, and nothing is truly irreplaceable.

I have everything I need in life, and nothing is truly irreplaceable.

Several years later, I learned what real pain was when I lost a pregnancy. I felt so silly looking back and thinking about how worried I was about my stuff, when there I was with too much stuff and all I wanted was the baby that I lost. Again, looking back, if I hadn’t lost that pregnancy, I wouldn’t have Isabelle. It’s not always clear at the time if things will get better, but they will. Some struggles will make you look at previous struggles and you’ll laugh at how insignificant they were. Other struggles will truly change you as a person, and break your soul in half. The only upside of feeling broken is that you can rebuild from the ashes, when the time is right.

7) Decide how much money you need to be happy.

This number is different for everybody. Decide how much you need for bills, for savings, for emergencies, for fun spending money, etc. There is a delicate balance between having enough money and having enough free time. Lately there has been a culture of “do what you love” and “you can’t take it with you” in the media. I do agree… to an extent. While I don’t think it’s healthy to kill yourself for a job and miss out on life along the way, I also don’t think it’s wise for everybody to quit their jobs to teach surfing 2 days a week so they can spend their lives “living.”

Everything has a value

And realize that everything has a value in the workplace. Is the extra 1 hour/day worth it for you if you take the job with no commute, or is the extra $10k the farther job offers what will make you truly happy? This is something that’s different for all of us, but worth considering.

8) Be choosy about how you spend your fun money.

I started to realize that I was spending on things that didn’t really make me happy. For the price of a couple Starbucks coffees a month, I can get a massage and I feel good for the rest of the week. I can skip one dinner out and get a couple new houseplants and some throw pillows to make my reading space cozier, and then I enjoy it every time I sit there. I still get Starbucks sometimes, and I love date nights and girls’ nights, but spending is another thing I try to do with purpose, and after evaluating if it’s what makes me my happiest self.

9) Stop living like “tomorrow isn’t promised.”

This is another one of those issues that is really popular in the media right now. And it’s not entirely wrong. Tomorrow ISN’T promised. And I absolutely agree that we should make a point to enjoy life. But, it also doesn’t mean we can spend every moment enjoying life. I was noticing how guilty I would feel when I wasn’t “in the moment,” but it isn’t practical to live like that all the time.

I don’t stare at my kids thinking of how #blessed I am the whole time either.

I absolutely love spending couple time with Jason, but sometimes we’re both just tired. It’s okay for us to spend some evenings together chatting but on other nights, maybe I want to read and he wants to do something on his computer. Nobody can spend every evening holding their spouse’s face in their hands and talking about how much they love each other. That’s crazy. The same is true with kids. Sometimes I sit on the floor and read to them and we build with toys. Once or twice a month I also have nights where I’m just tapped out and I make them a lazy dinner and let them watch a movie while they eat. And I don’t stare at them thinking of how #blessed I am the whole time either. Yes, it’s important to look around at the world and appreciate what we have, but it’s also okay to zone out sometimes. Nobody can be “on” all the time.

10) Re-evaluate your goals and decide if the cost is worth it.

I used to think that someday I’d have a 6 pack. But lately I’ve realized that my stomach is where I store my fat, and it’s the last place I lose it. If I want to get my body fat low enough to have a 6 pack, that means giving up pizza, beer, and pretty much every other indulgence. I don’t eat these foods every day, but I do like to splurge sometimes and I don’t feel like having visible abs would bring as much joy to my life as these occasionally pizza and beer nights do.

Personally, I think I look better with a little bit of fluff, and I definitely feel better.

Not to mention, I don’t like how the rest of my body looks and feels when my body fat gets low enough to have a flat stomach. Personally, I think I look better with a little bit of fluff, and I definitely feel better. So, I’m eliminating 6 pack abs as one of my goals. Sorry, not sorry.

11) If you think something is wrong, be your own advocate.

I had a surgery last year for endometriosis and while my physical health was much better after, I was still having issues like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings that made me feel like I was in the first trimester of pregnancy. My OB tested me for menopause 3 times and every time he came back and said well, it’s not menopause. At this point I started seeing a chiropractor who also specializes in functional medicine.

Normal estrodiol (a form of estrogen) levels are between 0-160, mine was over 600.

She ran a blood panel and found out that while normal estrodiol (a form of estrogen) levels are between 0-160, mine was over 600. I was so relieved to finally know what was going on, and proud that I fought for myself. I knew something was wrong and it was frustrating to have spent so much time not feeling like myself. This leads me to my next point…

12) Give natural remedies a shot.

Let me start by saying I’m very pro-medicine. I had the surgery to remove endometriosis first, and I have already spent 10 years of my life on medicine to regulate hormones. I don’t like the physical or mental side effects of hormone supplements and I wanted to try something else. This was all a very long process. I was getting chiropractic adjustments and taking supplements to help with gut health. I changed to a healthier diet, I eliminated almost all soy, dairy, and food dyes. I try to eat mostly organic (when it works with my budget…)

I was having horrible mood swings that were affecting my relationship with Jason and I felt like I was always cranky with the kids.

The hot flashes and night sweats got better, but I was still having horrible mood swings that were affecting my relationship with Jason and I felt like I was always cranky with the kids. At this point, I started seeing an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. Going through all of this was difficult emotionally and financially. On one hand, I felt shitty all the time and it sucked. I just wanted to feel better. On the other hand, none of this stuff was covered by insurance. Just the blood work I did to find out how high my estrodiol was cost us $450 of out pocket. Adjustments, acupuncture, supplements, and herbs added hundreds more. Jason asked me a few times, what makes you think this next thing will work? I am so grateful for his support this past year, and I’m fortunate that we had the means for me to try all of these things while I figured out what worked. Now I am honestly feeling the best I’ve ever felt in my life. I cringe when I look back at how I used to feel every single day. I honestly can’t believe I lived my life that way. And it’s not that I wake up every day with unicorns and rainbows in my eyes like some kind of Disney princess, but I can handle stress and be reasonable and enjoy life most of the time. And I think that makes life pretty great.

Daily Life

Because You Don’t Want to End Up in a Nursing Home (and 4 other reasons you need a Revolution Balance Board)

Posted on March 7, 2019

Katie, age 4, balancing on a Revolution Balance Board

If you live in SoCal, chances are you know someone with a Revolution balance board. And it’s probably someone who surfs or skateboards.

The motions you need to balance on the board are similar to those you need to balance on a skateboard or surfboard, so that makes sense. If you have never seen a Revolution Balance board, here’s what the board does:

When you try to stand on the board with the roller underneath, the roller moves back and forth.

I know the image looks like my daughter just standing on a board and not in motion, so allow me to explain. The “board” is like the deck of a skateboard, and you put the roller underneath it. When you try to stand on the board with the roller underneath, the roller moves back and forth. It takes core strength, focus, and balance (not to mention practice), to be able to keep both ends of the board off the ground.

It takes core strength, focus, and balance

Revolution FIT balance board on the Rocker base

Does this type of balancing sound a little too advanced for your current ability level? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! It took me several attempts and a lot of hand holding before I was able to balance on my own. This was using my neighbor’s 101 Balance Board that comes with the board and roller, but there’s an easier way to get started if you don’t already have great balance.

There’s an easier way to get started if you don’t already have great balance.

What I would recommend to beginners, and what I started my daughter on, is the FIT Exercise Balance Board. It comes with 3 different bases so you can work your way up to using the roller. The first base is called The Rocker. It looks like a half cylinder and is the easiest of the 3 bases. You can still feel your core engaging as you try to balance, but there is minimal fall risk and you can start to get a feel for the motion required for the next bases.

You can still feel your core engaging as you try to balance, but there is minimal fall risk.

The second base is called the The Wobble Cushion. It’s like a round rubber pillow that you fill up with air.

Revolution FIT Exercise Balance Board on The Wobble Cushion Base

This one is a little bit more difficult. The board can move in more directions with this one and I think it can really help prepare you for the third base, when you’re ready. And then, of course, the roller.

The roller is the most difficult, and there’s a bit of a learning curve.

The roller is the most difficult and there’s a bit of a learning curve. I would definitely recommend holding onto a sturdy chair or to someone’s hands the first few times you use it. When I was starting out, I would sometimes lose balance and both of my legs would shift to the side at the same time. This is where holding onto someone or something comes in handy because you don’t want to end up on the ground.

If you’re like me, getting the hang of balancing on your own might take a couple weeks.

Revolution FIT Exercise Balance Board on The Roller base

If you’re like me, getting the hang of balancing on your own might take a couple weeks. If you’re like my almost 4 year old, it might be a matter of days. It’s crazy how quickly kids can learn things!

So, what’s the point of it?

So, what’s the point of it? Could this back and forth balancing motion have any benefits for the average person, even if you don’t surf or skateboard? And is it worth the price tag? Here are 5 reasons you might want a Revolution balance board of your own.

ONE – Because you had a c-section/have a ventral hernia/have diastasis recti

In 2017, I had a c section with my second baby. Recovery was rough, and getting my core strength back was even rougher. (The price you pay when they have to cut through your abs to get your baby out, amirite?). Traditional ab workouts like crunches and planks were especially difficult, even moreso considering that I have a ventral hernia and diastasis recti.

So, what else is there to do for your core?

So, what else is there to do for your core? Anything that involved bending my body together too much or leaning forward like you do for planks was difficult. Introducing: Revolution Balance Boards. A neighbor of ours has one and I first tried it out at his house. I could feel it engaging my core without bending, and trying to get better at balancing on it was super addictive. (Shout out to my neighbor for not complaining about all the times I asked him to hold my arms while I was learning how to balance on it!)

Trying to get better at balancing on it was super addictive.

Now that I’ve had some time to heal, I am using my own RevBalance board and have even been incorporating other exercises as well. It’s super versatile and they have endless workout suggestions using the board on their website.

TWO – Because you suck at meditating

I know, technically you can’t “suck” at meditating. But I have such a hard time clearing my mind that my

Meditation on the Revolution 101 Balance Board

version of meditating usually consists of me mentally going over my to-do list and wondering why I’m “wasting” time meditating when I have so much to do. Even when I play relaxing music or listen to a guided meditation, it’s really difficult for me to clear my head (thanks, anxiety!)

My version of meditating usually consists of me mentally going over my to-do list

Standing on my balance board while I meditate solves this problem for me. I like to bring my board out to the park or to the beach and look out at the ocean, and then meditate as I balance. Thinking about balancing doesn’t require my whole brain, but it does occupy enough of it that I am able to clear my head more easily and focus on my breathing and the feel of my body. It’s really relaxing and I feel good knowing I am also improving my core strength and balance at the same time.

THREE – Because you have a kid who can’t stop moving

My almost-4-year-old… Where to begin. She started climbing out of her crib at 18 months, by 2 she was doing monkey bars, by 2.5 she ran her first 5k with me. This is great for days I’m able to take her to the park or the beach or a trampoline park, but when we’re stuck at home because of rain or some other reason, it’s a struggle.

By 2.5 years old she ran her first 5k with me.

Katie on the Revolution FIT balance board with The Roller Base

The end result is usually timeout after timeout because she won’t stop jumping on the couch, jumping off the swivel chairs at the desk, climbing anything in sight, hanging off of the door frames, you get the idea. She needs to move her body, but living in SoCal means we don’t exactly have the space to set up obstacle courses in our apartment (nor do I think our downstairs neighbor would appreciate it…)

She won’t stop jumping on the couch, jumping off the swivel chairs at the desk, climbing anything in sight…

So, you can imagine how excited she was when our balance boards arrived. It was good for her for a couple reasons. The first, like I said, is that it gives her the chance to be active with her body.

She needs to learn that practicing to get better at things is a part of life, and it’s a rewarding process.

The second is that it’s something that she needed to practice at because she wasn’t able to balance on the

Katie, age 4, balancing on a Revolution FIT Exercise Balance Board

roller the first day it arrived. Or the second. Or the third. She has always been so physically capable so when she isn’t automatically good at a physical task, she gets frustrated. But this is a good thing. She needs to learn that practicing to get better at things is a part of life, and it’s a rewarding process.

This is a physical task that requires focus

I also like that this is a physical task that requires focus, like I mentioned in the section about mediating. Her

and I could both stand to be a little more focused.

FOUR – Because you want to live long and live in your own home.

Did you know that flexibility, muscle power, and balance are the keys to longevity? These 3 factors will determine whether or not you will be capable of living alone in old age, and they also affect your fall risk as you age (and your mortality as a result.).

These 3 factors will determine whether or not you will be capable of living alone in old age

In a 2002, a study involving 2000 people aged 51-80 tested the ability to sit down into a cross legged position and then stand back up again without using their hands or sides of legs. Those who performed poorly were twice as likely to die in the next 6 years compared with those who scored higher.

Those who performed poorly were twice as likely to die in the next 6 years compared with those who scored higher.

So, how can you get to work on muscle power, balance, and flexibility? Squats are wonderful for this, planking is another exercise that incorporates all 3. And of course, the RevBalance Board*, which is way more fun than regular squats and planks!

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and cannot make any official claims on behalf of RevBalance. Using a RevBalance Board does not guarantee longevity. These are simply facts from studies about factors that affect the ability to live alone and live longer.*

FIVE – Because you are easily bored with “regular” exercises.

If you’re anything like me, you’re not a fan of counting out reps in the gym. I’ve always liked jogging for my cardio, but lifting weights was never really enjoyable for me. I liked the result, but it’s hard to push yourself to do workouts you don’t enjoy.

Lifting weights was never really enjoyable for me.

Incorporating my balance board into body weight activities makes them so much more enjoyable. Squats, overhead press with weights, curls, literally every exercise is more fun on the board. It adds an element of focus when you have to balance as you work your muscles. Bonus points that you can do it outside when the weather is nice! Just pack up some dumb bells and your board and head out!

So, is it worth the price?

So, is it worth the price? Without a doubt. The boards are made really well so they last practically forever. Everyone in our family enjoys them and can barely walk past a board without hopping on for a quick balance. And if you look at all the benefits combined – balance, core strength, focus, indoor/outdoor use, novel fitness activities, it’s easy to see why these boards are worth the investment.

Daily Life

Why My New Year’s Resolution of Self-Care was a Cop Out

Posted on January 16, 2019

My initial New Year’s resolution was “more self-care”…. Until I realized what a cop-out that was.

How do I decide if I achieved it or not? How do I know if I should pat myself on the back and say, “Yes, I’m awesome,” or “I kind of bombed it”? And then do I make another wishy-washy goal for 2020? Neither really makes me feel good. I need to regroup, so I put on my big girl panties to deal with it.

How do I measure this “self-care” I’m referring to?

So, goals. I need to decide how to measure this “self-care” I’m referring to. I think to start, I want to make time to work out at least twice a week, do a facial once a week, and do something relaxing like take a bath or meditate once a week as well. This means I need about 2.5-3 hours of time I will need to borrow from somewhere else.

Where is my time currently going?

Where is my time currently going? This will help me decide where I can borrow from, or how to find “new time.” Right now, the obvious priority is the girls. I’m home with them most of the week, while also working from home and trying to manage a household (dinner, cleaning, etc.). I can do some things while I’m with them, but I want to be better about separating my tasks. Multi-tasking often leads to half-assing everything.

Right now, the obvious priority is the girls.

Passion Planner

I mentioned that I wanted to find a good planner in one of my instagram posts, and for Christmas I was gifted the Passion Planner by my brother and his girlfriend. I am already obsessed! I love that it has a full month layout because I need to see everything at once, and then it has columns for each day that are broken down into half hour increments.

I started by blocking off times I am sleeping, commuting, feeding the kids, etc.

I started by blocking off times I am sleeping, commuting, feeding the kids, etc., so I had a better idea of what times were available for me each day. My hope was that I would find time I was squandering, but unfortunately I am just as busy as I thought I was! This meant I needed to allot certain times for work, play, cleaning, etc.

Scheduling everything…. It feels weird and formal, but it’s really been working for me.

So, scheduling everything…. It feels weird and formal, but it’s really been working for me. It’s helping me be more focused and present in the moment. I often find myself answering an email while I’m playing with the girls, or stopping to read a book to my kids when I’m supposed to be working. And also the opposite problem: sometimes I start playing and don’t stop for hours and I get behind, or I start working and all of a sudden 2 hours have gone by and I haven’t given the kids enough attention. (Working from home problems… The struggle!)

I am not answering emails, checking instagram, cleaning, cooking, etc.

Play time with the girls

My new plan is that I now have scheduled times for everything, and I bought myself a timer. There are times that are specifically for play. During those times, I set the timer and I am reading or playing and giving my kids my undivided attention until the timer goes off. I am not answering emails, checking instagram, cleaning, cooking, etc. The kids deserve that, and I made sure that there are a few hours of each day that we are playing together (in addition to the times we go to the park or aquarium or wherever.)

Another one of my goals this year was to make more money.

I also have times scheduled for work. Another one of my goals this year was to make more money. Well, technically it was contribute to a better quality of life for our family, but a lot of that comes down to money. I wanted to be able to pay for things like gymnastics lessons for Katie, maybe some new furniture for the new apartment, that type of stuff. Nothing crazy, but it all costs money. And more money means more work.

I need to be working smarter, and scheduling work time is the answer.

I think what I need here is to be working smarter, and scheduling work time is the answer. I am very fortunate that my in-laws agreed to help with the girls another day during the week, in addition to an overnight on the weekends. This helps me work in larger chunks which is easier for me than squeezing one or two hours in here and there. I can do the bulk of my work during those times.

I don’t work as efficiently after 14 hours of watching the girls

Me working from home

I am also still using “quiet time” (formerly nap time, RIP naps for Katie!) to work as well. It’s kind of hit or miss, depending on how quiet the girls actually are. And then I have some time after they go to bed, but I don’t work as efficiently after 14 hours of watching the girls, so I am allotting that time for some of my easier tasks.

Picking up isn’t as essential to me as work or spending uninterrupted time with the girls

The last thing I am scheduling is every day cleaning/cooking. This is the type of thing I can do easily while the girls are awake, but not during our designated play time. It’s a little scattered, has a lot of interruptions, but as long as I keep the house somewhat in order, we’ll all live. Picking up isn’t as essential to me as work which has deadlines (also money), or spending uninterrupted time with the girls, because they won’t be little forever.

As I keep the house somewhat in order, we’ll all live

I know this wasn’t as fun as some of my other posts, but I’m guessing if you are still reading this, you are another busy mom looking to find your own balance which is why I decided to write about my trials and errors. It’s not perfect, but it’s providing me a little more structure and stability amidst the chaos that is life with 2 littles.

It is also still a work in progress, so I’ll be posting updates as I go. I would love to hear any other tips from moms out there who are figuring out the juggle!

Product Links:

Erica Panty I’m wearing on my couch

Passion Planner