Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

How to Find the Perfect Exercise for You!

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Exercise is so important to our health and well being.  We can’t truly be healthy without exercise. 

 

The benefits of exercise are many. It reduces the risk of illness and disease.  We need weightbearing exercise for strong, healthy bones. Exercise helps with weight management. It reduces stress, and improves our mood. Just to name a few!

 

 

 

How to Find the Perfect Exercise for You!

 

1. Go see your doctor. Yes, that’s the first step to finding the perfect exercise for you. Talk to your doctor. Tell him/her that you want to start exercising and get cleared for new physical activity.

 

 

 

2. Decide what your health goals are. Improve your heart health? Lose weight? Stay active instead of slowing down with age? Build muscle? Increase your stamina? You have to choose the health goals that are important to you. Choosing all, or too many, will make it next to impossible for you to meet your goals. Pick one. Reach that goal or be well on your way to reaching it, before you add another one.

 

 

3. Think about the things you love to do. Did you love a certain sport when you were in school? Did you take skating/horseback riding/dance lessons? Is being out in nature your thing or do you prefer to be indoors? Once you focus on the things you love to do, you will be able to narrow down what exercise you will love. Take up those lessons again, find a sports team to play on. Go out and hike that mountain. Well, work your way up to the mountain. lol

 

 

4. Take a good look at your schedule. Committing several hours a week to a sports team/ dance lessons, etc. won’t work if your schedule is already full. No matter how hard you try, you will be setting yourself up for failure. You may need to start out smaller while you work on changing your schedule. Maybe your lunch hour is the only time you have. Take a walk instead of being on your phone or talking to others. Get them to go on a walk with you!

  

5. Do you like to exercise with others? Or do you prefer to be alone? if you prefer to be alone and you take a large exercise class/join a team, you aren’t going to be able to keep with it. And vice versa. Do you want/need someone with you to tell you what to do every step of the way? If you do, getting a trainer or coach will really help you. If you don’t, getting a trainer will make you miserable, and you will stop.

 

Once you find what you love, that fits with your personality, and schedule, it’s time to get moving!

Breast Health Facts

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*This page contains an affiliate link



October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But we should be concerned with breast health year round, not just during October.

My mother is a breast cancer survivor. So I personally know some things about breast cancer. And I try to stay informed about new information. Here are some facts that I have learned about breast cancer.



Breast Health Facts



Breast Health Facts



~Breast cancer is the number two cancer in woman in the United States. Some kinds of skin cancer comes in first.*

~There were 250,520 cases of breast cancer in the US in 2017, the last year that there is data for.*

~There are some things you can do to lower your risk of getting breast cancer, not drinking alcohol, for example.

~You need to know the breast cancer history for the women in your family. Whether you get tested for the breast cancer gene is a personal decision. But you still need to know if women in your family have gotten breast cancer. This information will help your doctor decide how often you should be screened.

~The majority of breast cancer cases are not family related.

~It has not been proven that anti-perspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer.*
If you are concerned, do some research to find one that you are comfortable using. There are many options available now.

~Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk. Even if you can only breastfeed for a month or two, it’s awesome for baby, and will help lower your risk. The longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk.

~Early detection is key to improving survival rates.

~A mammogram is the standard test to check for breast cancer. There are some concerns about the radiation from mammograms. If this concerns you, talk to your doctor. Sometimes, in some cases, another test can be done with less radiation.

~We all need to be diligent in doing our monthly self breast exams. I use this to help during self exams. Right now there is a buy one, get one free sale going on. So you can share one!

~Not every lump is cancer! Please don’t avoid doing self exams, and yearly exams with your doctor. You don’t need to be afraid!



Breast cancer doesn’t just affect women. It affects men, too. Their mothers, girlfriends, wives, daughters, are getting breast cancer. Men get breast cancer, too! So ladies, make sure the men in your life know the facts about breast health!


Here are a couple of things that I made for my mother to celebrate her being a breast cancer survivor.

A pink ribbon scarf, and a ribbon grapevine wreath.



*This page contains an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

*I got these numbers from here and here. And info from here.

Vitamin D – What It Is and Why You Need It

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Since I have experienced low Vitamin D myself, I have done some research.

So I decided to share what I have learned with you!

 

Vitamin D – What It Is and Why You Need It

 

IMG_2093 (1)

 

Your body can not survive without Vitamin D. Vitamin D promotes cell growth, immune function, and it reduces inflammation, and along with calcium, it is important for your bones.

Your immune system is directly affected by low Vitamin D.

Low Vitamin D equals low immune system.

That fact is extremely important to know concerning the virus we are dealing with right now.

 

Some signs of low Vitamin D are

  • fatigue
  • you get sick all the time, or have repeated infections
  • poor wound healing
  • bone pain
  • muscle pain
  • hair loss
  • depression

Now obviously, those signs can come from numerous things.

So it’s important to go see your doctor about your symptoms.

 

Vitamin D is the only nutrient that your body can make when it is exposed to the sun. Pretty cool, huh?

It can take as little as 15-20 minutes a day of sun, exposing your arms, legs, abdomen, and back. You will need at least double that if you are exposing only your arms and legs. Which brings you to an amount of time that is next to impossible to achieve during the winter in the majority of the United States.

 

You may get enough vitamin D from your diet and the sun during the summer. In the winter, however, many people need to take a supplement.

 

Good sources of Vitamin D include:

  • salmon
  • tuna, and other wild caught fish
  • beef or calf liver
  • egg yolks
  • dairy products – milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.

To name a few.

 

Vitamin D What It Is And Why You Need It

 

 

Doctors don’t always order a Vitamin D test when you are having lab work done. You may have to ask.

 

You can get too much Vitamin D.  And too much can lead to health problems.

You can’t get too much by eating foods with Vitamin D and from the sun.

You can get too much from taking supplements.

That’s why it’s important to get your vitamin D level checked regularly.

 

I have experienced low vitamin D myself. I know how awful it can make you feel. If you are trying to eat right and take care of yourself, but still feel bad and have some or all of the symptoms listed above, check with your doctor!

 

 

 

Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?

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*This is a sponsored post.

 

I take my vision for granted.

 

Admit it, you do to.

 

From the time we open our eyes in the morning until we close our eyes at night, we don’t even think about what an amazing gift our vision is. We take it for granted that we will always be able to see. Looking at ourselves in the mirror in the morning. Driving our cars. Seeing how yummy our food looks. Watching tv or a sports game. Looking at the stars in the sky at night.

 

I have been blessed to be able to watch my tiny newborn babies grow into awesome adults. And the many, many memory making moments in between. My daughter is expecting my first grandchild this summer. I can hardly wait to lay my eyes on that sweet little bundle of joy!

 

We take the ability to see all those marvelous sights for granted.   Until something happens to our vision.

 

Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?

 

Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?

 

Think about it for a moment. What if you lost your sight? What if you couldn’t see your spouse, your kids, or your grandkids? I know I would be heartbroken to lose my vision and not be able to see my grandbaby.

Every year nearly 10 million Americans go blind due to Age-related Macular Degeneration. Age-related Macular Degeneration is an eye disease that causes the loss of central vision. AMD causes degeneration of light sensitive cells in the central portion of the retina which enables us to perceive fine visual detail.

 

There’s a man in my town that has been legally blind (not from AMD) for over 50 years. Thanks to new technology, he was recently able to see his wife, kids, and grandkids for the first time ever. What a miraculous gift!

 

If you, or someone you love, have Age-related Macular Degeneration, there is help for you, too!

 

Ending Blindness

 

 

The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a non-profit organization, has been funding research on cures for blindness, specifically AMD, since 1971. Thanks to their research, there are new treatments to stop, and in some cases even reverse, retinal disease.  Medical technology is repairing vision and helping people to see again! This is great news for people over 55 and their families.

 

 

Want more information about AMD, symptoms, causes, treatments? How about an invaluable list of 14 questions to ask your eye doctor? I have never seen a list like this for the eye doctor before! For all that, an at home test to see if you have AMD, and more, download this Guide to Age-related Macular Degeneration PDF packet.

 

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I was compensated for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.

Please Don’t Do This To Your Child!

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The other day I was visiting someone at their house. They had other company as well. I saw one of these women pick up their child by one arm. I was surprised. I have very rarely seen someone pick up their child by one arm. I can’t even remember the last time I saw someone do this.

 

Picking a child up by one arm is painful for the child. It can lead to bruising, dislocation of the wrist, elbow or shoulder.

 

Please don't do this to your child

 

Even if the child doesn’t experience a dislocated joint, they could suffer pulled muscles, tendons, and ligaments. All of which are painful for the child.

 

Did I say something to this woman? No, I did not. Because I didn’t know her. If I saw someone I know pick up a child like this, I would tell them. I do not recommend telling a complete stranger how to take care of their child. In this day and age, telling a parent what to do with their child does not always end well. You will have to judge your situation for yourself.

 

This child that I saw was 3-4 years old. Except age doesn’t matter. Size doesn’t matter. A child should always be picked up using two hands.

 

Never by one arm.  Please don’t do this to your child. 

 

 

Getting Kids to Take Medicine

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I have 6 children, all adults now – 20-34, so I’ve given my share of medicines to kids. Factor in my son having leukemia, and being on treatments for 3 years and 3 months, with a LOT of oral medicines, I’ve gone over the top on the medicine giving experience chart. Sad, but true.

 

Getting Kids to Take Medicine

 

 

Here are a few tips that I’ve used to get the meds into the kids.

 

Getting Kids to Take Medicine

 

Disguise the taste – Most medicines don’t taste very good, and kids are experts at not allowing terrible tasting stuff into their mouths. If you can crush the pill (check with the pharmacy) grape juice concentrate will hide the taste of just about any meds. Use the concentrate straight, not diluted into juice. Mix it on a spoon with the crushed pill. Most kids like grape, and will take this. A small amount of applesauce mixed with the crushed pill will work for some kids. Just remember to keep the amount of grape juice concentrate and applesauce small to make sure the kids get all the medicine.

If they can swallow the pills, or are taking a liquid medicine that tastes bad, a chaser of soda works well to get the taste out of their mouths. My son liked root beer after his medicine. Since we don’t normally drink soda, the kids think this is also a treat. I only give them a very small amount, I use the liquid medicine measuring cups to put the soda in. If soda is not your favorite thing to use, or your kids drink soda regularly, you can try whatever drink they like but don’t get often. Be careful, though, a lot of medicines can’t be taken with dairy, so no chocolate milk.

 

Practice swallowing pills – If your kids can’t swallow pills very well, you can use mini M & M’s to practice with. If the pills they have to take are bigger, try having them swallow regular M & M’s, or half of one. Of course, reward them for practicing. After they swallow the amount you set, give them a few to eat.

 

Ready, Set, Go! – Some kids just need lots of encouragement. Maybe a “Ready, Set, Go!” will mentally prepare them to take their medicine. With my youngest I used to count backwards, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!!” And then he swallowed it.

 

Reward them – I use a sticker chart to track their progress. A simple piece of paper with their name on it, hung on the fridge works. A sticker for every time they take a medicine. You can decide how often to reward them, and what the reward will be. A young child might need a daily reward, while an older child can be rewarded weekly, or at the end of a 10 day course of medicine.

A daily reward could be a board game with you, or a movie/tv show, or video game play. Preferably something they don’t do all day. Or it could be a little prize that you’ve purchased ahead from the dollar store. My son always liked getting a new Hot Wheels car after taking his medicine for a week.

 

Keeping track of kids medicines can be hard, especially if you have more than one kid taking meds. I’ve been using a chart like the one below for about 10 years. It really is a time and sanity saver to use a medicine chart. Do we really need to torture ourselves by standing at the kitchen counter looking at all the medicine bottles trying to remember who got what when? Been there, done that, and prefer to never do it again!

 

Here’s the chart that I use. You can print it right from this page if you want.

 

 

And here’s how I use it:

 

 

I write the name of the child across the top, and the names of the medicines at the top of the columns.
Day 1 you can see I took  my temperature, my antibiotic & some Tylenol at 8. You can see what I did at 12, 4 & 8 by following the lines across. At 2, I took only the antibiotic. You can also look at the medicine at the top of the column, and follow it down to see how many times, and when it was taken on that day. That makes it easy to make sure your getting the correct doses in, while also making sure your not exceeding doses of fever reducers.

 

No more guessing when I gave what medicine, or trying to remember what the last temperature was. This is especially helpful if you have more than one adult giving the medicine.

 

This is all helpful information on getting your kids to take their medicine. but, really, I hope you never have to use any of it!