Welcome to Optimal Health Mama

Thanks for cruising by and becoming part of my personal revolution of self-love, health, and hilarity!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Green and Clean

I have been noticing my eating habits getting a bit out of whack lately.  With a smidge of PMS and  my husband being away on tour with his band,  I might be seeking solace in a jar of peanut butter, some chips and salsa, a couple of cartons of coconut milk ice cream, and some organic chocolate.  Not horrible foods to indulge in, but my digestive system is a little out of whack. 

I also have a pretty big race coming up-  The Broad Street Run!  It is a 10 mile race and only the second race I have ever run.  I owe it to myself and my body to clean up my act and get myself in full training mode.  Here is my planned regiment for the next 30 days:

Exercise:
Crossfit 3-4x/week
2 runs during the week- 1 long (8-10 miles) and 1 short (3-6 miles)
Rebounding 10-20 minutes/day depending on my workout for the day

Eating plan: 
Breakfast- Green Smoothie
Lunch- Sun Warrior Protein Smoothie with lots of fruit and/or coconut water/meat and my superfoods (maca, camu camu, etc.)
Snack- Lara Bar
Dinner- Sun Warrior Protein Smoothie with more fruity yumminess

My blog friend Lauren inspired me to get my act together.  Please check out her blog at:
www.rawissexy.com
Lauren is about to enter a bikini competition and is totally going to wow some crowds.  She is incorporating lots of clean eating into a great physical regime. 

Wish me luck!  Tomorrow is day 1.  Now I have to go finish off a jar of peanut butter and tortilla chips hahahaha

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Plastic Surgery

Today I was driving in my car and the radio announcer was promoting their new contest- winning a breast augmentation.  For a minute, my normally desensitized brain fog lifted, and the strangeness of "winning boobs" started to overwhelm me.  My brain started going in a million different directions.

When did it become so socially acceptable to be giving away body parts?
Why are so many women interested in or have thought about plastic surgery (myself included)?
What does this say about women/society's impression of women/body image?
Why would this be a completely unacceptable suggestion for a man?

Wow.  So needless to say, I had a lot on my mind today.  I can't really answer any of the above questions. I can only really talk about myself and my own experience with plastic surgery, or lack there of.  I have had no plastic surgery.  I am not really against it, whatever you want to do.  But in my opinion/observation, very few people look better after they have had plastic surgery.  Think Heidi Montag, the Cat lady, and the Barbie Twins.  Perfectly beautiful women, absolutely ruined, psychologically and physically by trying to augment their bodies.


I'm not sure if there is a woman out there who has not considered what it would be like to have physical perfection.  I have pondered a tummy tuck to get rid of some loose skin on my stomach from two pregnancies.  I have thought about what it would be like to reflate my boobs that have fallen victim to four years of breast feeding.  BUT...those imperfections make my body my own.  It makes me unique, and whether it is conventional or not, it makes me beautiful.  Shouldn't it be more important to love our physical imperfection?  As human beings, we are absolutely, positively incapable of perfection.  If we dwell on "flaws" are we truly living?  Are we appreciating the beautiful things are bodies do?  Are we really taking good care of ourselves physically and psychologically when we beat ourselves up, starve ourselves, or compare ourselves to others? 

It is easier said than done to be "comfortable in your own skin."  If I never heard that fucking phrase again I would be so happy.  I am all about LOVING yourself.  Fuck comfort.  It isn't always comfortable to love yourself.   Don't break out the pizza and beer to show yourself some love.  Respect and love your body.  Exercise.  Show yourself what that beautiful ass body of yours is capable of doing.  Stop eating shit.  Your body is a temple.  Don't feed it garbage.  Stop trying to live up to other people's standards of beauty.  You are beautiful and uniquely you.

When I look at my body, I see a strong, healthy woman who has given birth to two beautiful children.  I see a person who can run 10 miles, take care of their family, get their doctorate, laugh heartily and has enough energy to enjoy life with their friends and family.  I fuel my body with nutritious foods and don't worry for one second anymore about counting stupid ass calories.  I walk away from every work out I do feeling empowered and impressed with my strength and stamina.  I don't focus on flaws anymore.  It's a waste of my time and my time is precious.  I focus on strong shoulders, powerful legs, and a beautiful glow that comes from living a full life surrounded by positive people and lots of love.  I hope you walk away from this blog and try to do the same.  You are a beautiful gift to this world, and every single "flaw" is a piece of your beauty.       

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Utilizing Green Smoothies in preparation for Green Beers

Good Morning Sunshines!!!!  Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you!!!

I love a celebration and I love to go out and toast the town!  Nate's band is playing tonight and I plan on having a couple of cocktails and a night that resembles that new Avril Lavigne song.  Sometimes a mom has  to do what a mom has to do.  The next few days are going to be chock full of shows and my signature drink: vodka and seltzers with lime (not raw, but at least it's vegan!).    So I have to prepare. 

One of the best ways to get your body primed for a night on the town, especially if it involves drinks, involves three words:  hydration, nutrients, and hydration.  The best way to hydrate is obviously water, but fruits and veggies are a great way to get hydration and nutrients in one powerful punch.  So here is how I prepare:

I start my morning with a 32 oz green smoothie.  Today I did 2 bananas, 1 cup pineapple, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1 cup water and spinach. 

Hydrating throughout the day is also really important.  I plan on drinking 3-4 drinks tonight.  My drinks consist of about 1oz of vodka/drink.  So I tack on another 10 oz of water to my normal 65-70 oz to make up for the dehydrating effects of booze.  Drinking water in between your drinks is a great way to 1. pace yourself and 2. prevent one of those bitching headaches you get from dehydration. If you are drinking beers, for every ounce of beer, you need to replace it with one ounce of water.  You will be Chumbawumbaing (pissing the night away, get it?) but you will thank me when you aren't hung over.  So- 12oz of beer=12 oz of H20. 

Also, make sure to eat.  Don't ever drink on an empty stomach.  You are just asking to act like a complete slut/gigolo asshole if you don't eat. Oh yeah, and be ready to finish your antics with a powerful puke session, not a powerful make out session.

A great hangover cure is coconut water.  Coconut water is starting to become the hot new trend so now it is becoming readily available at whole food stores and grocers in cans or juice boxes.  It is full of electrolytes and is a fantastic way to hydrate.  It's natures gatorade (minus the shitty high fructose corn syrup). In third world countries and during World War II if they ran out of blood to do transfusions, they used to use coconut water.  Pretty cool huh?   I get mine directly from a young coconut (I have two in my fridge on reserve for this weekend).   I have seen young coconuts at Wegmans, Kimberton Whole Foods, and the Asian Grocer in Marchwood Shopping Center. 

 Okay!  So hydrate, eat, and enjoy!  I hope everyone has a blast tonight!  Remember to behave responsibly and do not risk the lives of others by getting behind the wheel if you have been drinking.  Drinking and driving = biggest dickhead move on the planet.  I have my designated driver all lined up and I hope you do too! 

And as always, don't do anything I wouldn't do!!!!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Lent-10 minutes of face time/person/day

There are three people that often get the least favorable "Jane."  Those three people are my husband and my two children.  They get the tired Jane, the stressed Jane, the cranky Jane, and the Jane that does not feel like playing pretend because I have a huge paper due tomorrow- oh yeah-and fend for yourselves for dinner (everyone LOVES that Jane). 

So, for my lenten practice, I have decided to spend 10 minutes of completely focused individual time with Nate, Molly, and Lilah.  Thirty minutes a day reserved just for my three best friends.  Yesterday I spent 10 minutes playing pretend with Lilah and I spent 10 minutes cuddling and talking with Molly.

Over the past couple of days, I have notice the hardest person to get face time with is my own husband.  He is so busy with the band, tour, work, etc. and I am so busy with school, the kids, blogging, crossfit, and keeping up with the housework (that's a lie, my house looks like a turd sandwich right now) that we are like two ships in the night.   It makes me a little sad to think that our lives are so hectic that it is a challenge to find 10 minutes together!  I really like my husband!  I WANT to spend time with him- preferably more than 10 minutes!   I know many married people with children can relate to this.  But despite the odds, everyone is getting their Jane time and I find that I am feeling more bonded to each member of my family.  

Just a quick sidebar- I watched the most hysterical/touching movie last night on Logo- But I'm a Cheerleader!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179116/

If you haven't seen it, you have GOT to check it out.  

Thursday, March 10, 2011

For anyone with Sinus problems

Whenever I eat something that has corn in it, I end up waking up the next morning with a horrible sinus headache.  So yesterday, like a dumb ass, I ate some tortilla chips.  I'm pretty sure after this morning's pain, that will never happen again. 

Anyway.  I have known about the healing properties of capsaicin, a substance found in cayenne peppers, that helps clear the sinuses passages.  I have previously recommended a mix of fresh lemon juice, cayenne, warm water, and stevia/ honey for sinus problems.  Now I have found the most amazing product EVER. 

Sinus Buster.  This shit works. I was walking around miserable and in pain today.  So much so, that I went to Rite Aid to get Advil Cold and Sinus or ANYTHING that would make the pain stop.  I ABHOR taking any over the counter/ non-herbal medicines, but I was desperate.  I noticed this little beauty as I was scanning the sinus products.  is homeopathic with no drug interactions.  Score.  Grabbed it (along with the advil because I am such a skeptic), got in the car, snorted it, and BAM.  My horrible sinus headache was GONE.  Like mother f'in magic.  I couldn't believe it.  My head and nasal passages cleared and have stayed clear.  I feel 100% better. 

So, for any of you with sinus problems, I would HIGHLY recommend this product.  I am still in shock at how well it works. 

If you have ever had any surgeries on your sinuses or have any pepper/capsaicin allgergies, don't take my word for it, talk to your doctor first.  But for the regular Joe's, give it a go. 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Celebrating Sacrifice

To all of my devoted friends/ blog readers-

1. I am so sorry I have been slacking off on my blogging.  As most of you know, Nate is about to go on tour with one of his bands- Black Cowgirl.   I am super excited for him, but have spent the last couple of weeks husbandless and lost in a sea of my own neurosis (schoolwork/kids/everyday dramas- nothing serious, just life). 

2. Thank you for your continued interest in my blog and what I have to say.  It warms my heart and still shocks me how many of you check this thing ;0)

Today I am going to talk about Lent.  I am no longer a practicing Catholic, but Lent is still something that is very important to me to celebrate.  If you look at Lent as a celebration, I find the whole sacrifice thing gets thrown out the window.  As I have been thoughtfully approaching what I am going to do for my Lenten practice, I have been coming up empty.   What the hell else food wise is there to sacrifice?  Almonds?  I  mean, come ON!  I cannot possibly get rid of facebook.  That shit is not going to happen.    I have no time to volunteer at a homeless shelter, and honestly, with Molly and Lilah in tow, I think we would do more harm than good.

I was hoping that while I was writing this blog today It would help me to come up with something creative and original, but  I am blankity blank blank blank.  After doing the lent thing for 31 consecutive years, I'm kind of running dry on new things to do.  Hopefully by tomorrow, I will have it all figured out.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

My Feminist Manifesto

Feminism refers to movements aimed at defining, establishing and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. 

Today's blog is in response to "feminists" who are giving Natalie Portman shit for thanking her partner for providing her with "her most important role" as a mother in her Oscar speech. 

There is nothing more counter intuitive than a "feminist," or any person for that matter, deciding for Portman what should or should not be important to her. 

What can we do as women to help shift the negativity of feminism and help each other on our continued path towards equality?  It is really quite simple. 
BE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER WOMEN

In order to unite as sisters we need to remember that there is no defined role for women.  That is a beautiful, liberating thing.  You can be whatever you want.  Yeah, seriously.  Whatever you want.  So in our quest as women to find what we want and who we want to be, can we please stop berating other women for their choices and start showing each other some love?  Can we please celebrate that different women want different things?  Can we stop comparing ourselves to other women and just enjoy being the women that we are? 

I am exhausted of bullshit and drama.  I cannot believe the amount of life we waste judging other people. This is inspiring me to work on myself by not participating in negative speech or passing judgment on others.  I am hoping this frees up my mind and frees up my heart by letting in more positivity.  I do not understand why human beings are so scared of and resistant to opening our hearts and loving each other.  Maybe I will learn that in my 700 level courses.