Author Archives: Stephanie

Giveaway! Biokleen: Making Life Brighter, Naturally

by Stephanie Posted on April 30, 2012

Many years ago I made the commitment to clean up my act for the sake of the environment and future generations.  Since then I’ve made some serious changes in how I  run my household.  I’ve always been big on recycling, but in the past 5 years I’ve kicked it up a notch by composting and doing tons of research to figure out a way to make my home a safe haven for my family.  In doing this, I have spent hours researching not only cosmetics (I’m a total product junkie), but also other areas that are more easily overlooked.    One of the hazards that many people never consider is the cleaning products they use.

There are so many products out there that are extremely toxic – not only for the environment, but for us as well.  Bleach is one of the most commonly used sanitizers and its horrible for us.  Just one whiff of the stuff is enough to give me a pounding headache.  Inhaling the poisonous chlorine fumes  is likely to cause respiratory irritation and also contribute to problems with the immune system, lungs, and heart.

 

I do have to admit that I sometimes miss the way bleach gets things sparkling white.  In the past few years I’ve had to settle for less then bright laundry, but that was a sacrifice I was willing to make.  Now, I’m happy to say that I no longer have to settle for dingy socks thanks to Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus.  This stuff works great!  It’s marketed as a laundry booster that helps brighten colors and whites, but it can also be used on carpets and most upholstery fabrics.  It did a fantastic job of getting my dullest socks bright white again!   I even used it on my kitchen sink.  I simply sprinkled a little in some hot water and let it soak.  It did a great job of getting rid of the stains that had accumulated from pouring coffee down the sink daily.  I have to admit – I’m impressed.  Biokleen has restored my faith in clean laundry and a sparkling clean house.

Those of you that have read any of my posts know what a freak I am about using safe, non-toxic products.  I can honestly say that I’m really comfortable with using any Biokleen product.  They are a family run company that makes all of their products in the USA, and all of their ingredients are reviewed by third parties – so you know its safe (and you don’t have to just take their word for it).  After reading over the “Our Promise” on their website, and learning all of the great things they do – and ingredients they use to keep the environment & their customers safe – I’m looking forward to using more of their products.

WIN!

We here at Takes a Village are really excited to work with such a great company & now you too can get the benefits of Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus.  The nice people at Biokleen are giving away a 32 oz. bottle of Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus to one lucky Takes a Village reader.

To enter, simply visit Biokleen’s website and comment below with which product would best suit your green cleaning needs and why.

For extra giveaway entries, comment for each completed:

1. Like Takes a Village on Facebook.

2. Like biokleen on Facebook.

3. Follow Takes a Village on Twitter.

4. Follow biokleen on Twitter.

5. Tweet or Blog about this giveaway. (1 entry per day).

6. Join the village on Google Friend Connect on right sidebar.

7. Click to Vote for us on Picket Fences on the right sidebar.  (1 entry per day!)

8. Click to Rate us on Top Mommy Blogs on the right sidebar.  (1 entry per day!)

9.  Add Takes a Village to your Google+ circle.

10. Subscribe to our Feed, lower right side.

Giveaway winners will be chosen via Random.org. You must be 18 Years or older to enter. US only please. Contest ends on May 14th.

Thank you to the lovely people at Biokleen for providing samples for us to review.  

 

Posted in chores, Cleaning, Environmental, Giveaway, Housekeeping, natural, Nontoxic, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Saving Our Girls’ Self Esteem One Signature at a Time.

by Stephanie Posted on April 23, 2012

In an earlier post Julie discussed the fact that her 6 year old daughter is already expressing concerns about her body image.  It breaks my  heart to know that a child can already be worried about fat intake at the tender age of 6.  Her story really stuck with me and as I was going through some boxes the other day I found a paper I had written in college.  The paper was about body image and the media’s role in creating that image.   Written in the 90′s,  I had chosen to compare photographs from three different magazines.  Now, I ain’t one to brag, but I’m quite impressed with 19 year old me.  Even then I was really aware of press’s power over women’s self-concept.  If I remember correctly, the 90′s were really tough on women.  That was the super emaciated Kate Moss era.  Remember that?  I certainly do.  Unfortunately, things haven’t gotten much better today.

It seems that popular media outlets are still perpetuating the idea that being super thin is what our young women should be.   Not only is it unhealthy and unattainable for our girls but it’s also extremely dishonest.  Airbrushing and photoshopping have become so widely used that most models and celebrities don’t even look like the images that are released.  This type of dishonesty is causing some serious damage to our younger generation and needs to be addressed.

Enter offourchests.com.  This brilliant movement was started by two parents, Seth and Eva Matlins,  that became concerned about the unattainable beauty standards perpetuated by the media after adopting their daughter EllaRose.  These two bad-ass parents started writing letters to major media outlets asking that they ease up on all of the photoshopping and start being a little more realistic about the images they use.  They even went as far as lobbying for the passage of legislation, the Self-Esteem Act, that would require all “meaningfully” altered images to include a warning label basically stating, “This image has been photoshopped”.  Off Our Chests, is an online bulletin board that is “on a mission to make the world a happier place for women and girls”, encourages women and girls to be “a truly, madly, deeply happy woman in today’s world” and to “never hate on anyone’s happy”.  Fantastic isn’t it?  It’s amazing what happens when you get passionate and dedicated parents fired up (something we know a little about here at TAV).  Off Our Chest is a safe forum where women can voice their frustrations about the hardships  still faced in society.  Personally, I think it’s amazing!  Need to get something off your chest?  Need advice?  Need encouragement?  Maybe just need a laugh?  It’s all there.

Off Our Chest even has a great program that gives books to girls in need.  They have partnered up with FirstBook.org and with every story tee that is purchased from their store, a book is donated to an underprivileged girl.  What’s not to love?  This site is amazing.  Not only do they “talk the talk” but they “walk the walk” by actually helping out the community.

So I’m here to ask you, please get involved in this organization in any way you can.  Check out the website.  It’s super fun and amazingly inspiring.  I can play around on it for hours and always leave it feeling super empowered.  And for crying out loud, sign the petition for the Self-Esteem Act or buy a story tee!

 

 

 

Posted in Beauty, body image, diet, non-profit, Parenting, Politics, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kneipp: Keeps Me Going {review + coupon code}

by Stephanie Posted on April 9, 2012

This is hard to admit, but pregnancy hasn’t been all rainbows and unicorns for me.  I, like many other women, have had to deal with many of the unpleasantries that accompany being with child.  Now, in my third trimester those unfortunate side effects are really starting to kick in.  I’m noticing my feet are now starting to hurt if I stand too long or walk to much.  My back is starting to ache from carrying around all the extra weight my little guy has added.  These last few weeks haven’t been a picnic, so when Julie gave me to opportunity to review an all natural pain reliever, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

Kneipp Joint Muscle Active Gel with Arnica has been a life saver.  I’ve used it on my aching feet to help get me up and going again.  It is great for use on sore, over-worked legs, pregnant or not.  I’ve also had my husband rub it on my lower back at the end of a hard day.  The cooling sensation kicks in right away taking away the burn that can sometimes accompany the ache earned after a long day.  The gel goes on smoothly and is absorbed quickly,  which works out well because I have to admit that the fragrance smells like an old man’s cologne.  Luckily the smell fades really quickly and didn’t bother me much (wish I could say the same for my husband’s opinion, I want more rub-downs!).  For me, the benefits by far outweigh the smell.

According to the Kneipp website, “quality is all-important. This means raw plant materials of first-class quality as the basis for all products, complex analysis processes and gentle processing in innovative production methods. Moreover, in Kneipp’s view, quality stands for guaranteeing the highest degree of usefulness, efficacy and safety of our products. The products, which are left in as natural a state as possible, are manufactured with the greatest of care, not unlike prescription medicines.”

This is the perfect product for me.  I’m already such a freak about anything that goes on my body, even more so now that I’m pregnant.  I feel really safe using this and can’t help but get behind the philosophy of using raw natural materials to heal.  I wish more companies made it a point to use safe materials in their products.  That would make this paranoid future mommy’s life so much easier!!

Save

Kneipp is kindly offering Takes a Village readers 15% savings on all arnica products through April 16, 2012.  Simply enter the code Arnica12 at checkout.

Special thanks to Kneipp for providing product samples for my review!
Posted in Coupon Code, Discount, holistic, natural, pain relief, Pregnancy, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Real Women Have Curves (Even more when Pregnant)

by Stephanie Posted on March 26, 2012

I’m not a skinny girl.  I have never been a skinny girl.  Even as a pre-pubesent child I had a butt that earned me the name “nalgona” (which roughly translates to “girl with a big butt”) from family members.   I’m not in any way complaining.  Being raised in the Latin culture, this is something to be proud of, and I always have been.  I love my curves!

That’s not to say that I don’t sometimes get down on myself if I get a little too curvy, which can happen really easily.  I am a Mexican-American woman and you all know my peeps can make some seriously good food, and I love food!

With that being said, keeping myself at a healthy weight can sometimes be a challenge.  For me, it’s not all about the superficial aspect of staying thin (Now I’m no saint. Like most woman I too get upset if my jeans get a little too tight), but I have some seriously messed up genetics to contend with if I gain too much weight.  I’ve written about my challenges with gestational diabetes before, and many of you know how difficult that can be.  Even pre-pregnancy, if I gained too much weight I’d end up borderline diabetic.  So yes, staying on target has always been an issue for me.   Luckily, I do like to eat healthy (most of the time), and I love to exercise.  That made this challenge doable.

Then I got pregnant.  This is the one time in a women’s life when it is acceptable to gain weight.  Actually, if you don’t gain enough you get in trouble.  That’s not a problem with me – bring it!!!  Yet, in my second trimester, as I grew bigger and bigger, I have to admit that it caused some turmoil.  I knew I was supposed to be gaining weight, but there was still a side of me that was having a hard time accepting it.  I knew that gaining weight is part of the process of having a child, but I couldn’t help  feeling vain – even allowing it to bother me. But let’s get real folks –  no one of normal body size likes to gain too much weight.

Now in my third trimester, I’m completely in awe of my body.  Just knowing what’s happening inside of me and how everything is coming together to create a human being is incredible.  When you think about it, your body morphing to accommodate a growing child is really an extraordinary time.   I’ve also become really attached to this belly of mine.  I realize that this is the only time in my life that I am going to look like this, and I want to honor this brief period.  I’ve seen way too many women get down on themselves and cover up in tent-like clothing during their pregnancy.  In a society when so much importance is placed on being thin (a topic for another post), I can see how that is possible.  Yet, I’m not one for a pity party so I’ve enlisted the help of a good friend.

Luckily for me, I have an amazingly talented friend Joy of Matching Hats Photography.  She also has a deep appreciation for the pregnant body.  She, along with her equally talented husband Austin, have photographed numerous pregnant couples.  The two of them are fantastic at capturing precious moments in peoples lives (weddings, babies, as well as belly bump photos), and are going to do a photo shoot featuring my husband, me,  and my ever growing belly.  How great is that?

This is a really exciting project for me.  Not only will I end up with some touching memories,  but you too will also benefit from Joy’s talent.  She is planning on putting together a “How To” post to explain how you folks can get equally fantastic photos of yourself at home.  So stay tuned…

 

Posted in Beauty, Health, Pregnancy, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lost (And found) In Transition

by Stephanie Posted on March 2, 2012

My best friend just called and invited me on a weekend trip to Tokyo.  She’ll be there on business staying in a fancy hotel and would love for me to join her.  (Lost in Translation anyone?)    Normally, I would have been on a plane the next day gearing up for a fun filled trip of shopping, eating and plenty of cocktails (in this case, it would just be shopping and eating, sadly no cocktails for me for at least another 15 weeks).

We’re talking about my best friend; she and I are famous (or infamous?) for taking Ab Fab trips around the world to shop, spa, eat, and drink our way through cities.  It’s trips like these make the life of a flight attendant glamorous.  It’s also these perks  that I must remember when I’m dealing with the business passenger that is having a total meltdown because we ran out of the chicken entree.  But I digress; my best friend invited me to Tokyo and instead I can already sense I’m going to be talking myself out of the trip.

Doubts like, “At 6 months pregnant am I going to be comfortable on a plane for 12 hours?”, “Can I afford this trip? After all I have to furnish a nursery and buy a new car?”, even “Will my snoogle fit in my carry-on?” have flooded my mind and stopped me dead in my tracks.

Holy shit!  What the hell has happened to me?  Where is the girl that lived for trips like this?  I’ve never had a problem jumping on a plane at the last minute to visit friends in cities like London, NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco.  That was the norm for me.  As a matter of fact, I was hardly ever in LA.

Who is this new woman I’m becoming, and who the hell does she think she is?  Really?  This is a weekend in Tokyo people!  This is my last chance to get one more trip in before I can no longer travel without a car seat, stroller, and diaper bag.  Why would she rob me of this experience?

And then I realize I’m talking about myself.  That woman is me.  I guess the “new” me.  The new me is having a really hard time letting go of the old me, and that makes me really sad.

No one ever talks about this transition that happens during pregnancy.  I’ve heard of it happening after the baby arrives, but not during pregnancy.  I would imagine that it’s quite common.  I’m  just surprised at how it’s affecting me.  Of course I’ve known all along that my life is going to change when I have this child (It already has.  I would kill for a cocktail and dessert right now).  I’ve seen first hand how the changes effect one’s lifestyle and that is why I waited so long to have kids.  I’ve also seen the joy that comes from having children and understand that it’s a great trade off.

So why the blues?  All I can say is that I guess I really should take a few moments to mourn the loss of my old self and old lifestyle.  I owe it to myself.  So why fight it?  It’s time to say goodbye to the jet setting, wine swilling, potty mouth that I am (at least for now) and usher in the patient, nurturing stay at home mom I hope to become.  The transition will be both a blessing and a challenge that I’m (mostly) ready to embrace.

It’s not all bad, as I sit here and feel my son kick and punch in my belly I’m reminded of all the adventures that are still to come.  My attitude is instantly changing.  Yes, weekend trips to Tokyo will be on hold for a while but I’ll find other ways to get my kicks.  I’m already organizing kid/pet friendly trips to the California central coast with good friends.  Plenty of wine there!

 

 

Posted in Adjusting to Parenthood, Behavior, Parenting Advice, Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Toxic Cradle of Love

by Stephanie Posted on February 25, 2012

This baby of mine will be here in 15 weeks.  15 WEEKS!!!  That is really exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time.  I have a lot of stuff to do!  The number one thing is getting the nursery together – even though I have a feeling it will be a while before he sleeps in it.  As my best friend put it, “The baby basically gets a VIP pass into your bed for the first few months”.  This makes sense especially if you plan to breast feed – which I do.

Even knowing that, I’m still wanting to get it done before the little fella gets here.  Something tells me I won’t have time after his arrival.  Being the neurotic freak that I am, I started my search & some of the info I found really scared the crap out of me!

Did you know that the materials that some companies use in items such as cribs are extremely toxic?  Yes, you read that right.  I said a crib can be toxic.  The majority of cribs on the market are made of unsustainable wood, formaldehyde filled plywood, and VOC (volatile organic compounds) heavy finishes.  That infuriates me!  A crib is supposed to be a place where your new born baby, still very delicate and developing, spends most of his or her time.  Do you want your child breathing in toxins like formaldehyde?  I sure as hell don’t!

So I started my search for a safe non-toxic crib and was astounded by what I found.  I found out that if you really want something nonpoisonous, you better be ready to shell out for it.  There are some amazing cribs out there, but they are way beyond my budget (most hovering around $700-$1500).  Don’t get me wrong, there really are some gorgeous models out there, but please, I still have to furnish the rest of the nursery – so it’s just not going to happen.  After salivating for a few hours I decided to move on and get real.  Ah well, a girl can dream!

Believe me people, I have spent hours trying to find a safe crib that won’t break the bank.  As I agonize over not being able to afford these amazing cribs I’m getting more & more upset.  Why do I have to look to other countries (part of the reason for the high cost) to get a decent non-toxic crib?  There are very few companies in the US that make them.

How sad it that?  You would think that here in the good ol’ U-S-of-A we parents would expect and demand safe products for our children.  Why isn’t the government doing more to regulate the materials companies use when manufacturing products as important as cribs, or at least requiring companies to describe the possible toxins included?  I guess this is just another situation where the almighty dollar wins – and cheap, toxic, chemical laden, yet overpriced products end up on the market for us to spend our hard earned cash on.  What’s even more disheartening is that most parents don’t even know what they are exposing their babies to.  Even shopping bags have child safety warnings!! Why don’t cribs?

OK, I’ll get off my soap box now.  But I won’t put my precious child in a poisonous box to sleep in every night.  Please comment to share your thoughts – especially if you’ve come across a crib that is safe, well-crafted, and hopefully easy on the eyes as well as the wallet!

 

 

Posted in Environmental, Nontoxic, Parenting Advice, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Custom Kumquat Salsa: Make it Yours!

by Stephanie Posted on February 14, 2012

As I sit here looking out into my garden I see that my Kumquat tree is starting to look really loaded down with those yummy looking little oranges.  Usually I’d get really excited about making a marmalade or even a cake, but –alas– my dreaded gestational diabetes is getting in the way this season.  So, I started scouring the internet looking for something to do with my kumquats that doesn’t include tons of sugar.  In my search I found a great recipe for kumquat salsa at Simple Recipes.  The recipe is as follows:

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups chopped cleaned and thinly sliced kumquats
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • Pinch of kosher salt

METHOD

Combine all ingredients. Add more or less red pepper & cayenne to desired heat. Let sit for 1 hour for the flavors to blend fully.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups of salsa.

Great served with steak or seafood such as halibut, black sea bass, or salmon.

That all sounds fantastic doesn’t it?  But I’m one if those people that loves to mess with recipes, especially if it’s something like salsa.  I make a few kick ass salsa’s, so this is one area that I’m pretty confident in.

So, let’s get jiggy wit it:

Instead of red peppers flakes – let’s add a diced jalapeno (a habanero would be great if you like your salsa spicy).  I may even add some diced avocado because I really like the way the flavor tends to wake up when added to citrus.  The fun thing about salsa is that you can mold it into what ever your little heart desires.  If you choose to have a sweeter salsa maybe add some more fruit. Pineapple would probably work great.  Looking for something more savory? How about adding corn, or black beans?  The possibilities are endless.

I’m sure most of you could easily come up with a fews ways to make this recipe your own, so have at it!  Let me know if you create a super magical kumquat recipe.  Don’t be greedy; I just shared my tips with you!  Now get out there and have some fun with kumquats!

Posted in diabetes, diet, Food, Gluten Free, Recipes, Vegan, Villagers | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Drowning in my Baby Registry

by Stephanie Posted on February 6, 2012

Now is the time when I’m supposed to be putting together my baby registry, and I have to admit I’m stressing out about it.  I know – most of you are thinking: “What’s the big deal? Just ask for free shit already!”  But every time I start to research I get really overwhelmed.  I’d like to choose the safest products for my baby, but it just seems like consumerism overload.  The fact that I am already super anal about anything that goes on my own skin is making this much more difficult.  I wouldn’t ever use Johnson & Johnson’s chemical laden products on myself — much less my baby, but that’s a whole different post.

Something as simple as searching for a car seat makes me practically break out in hives.  There are hundreds to choose from!  Never mind walking into a store like Babies R Us – that place is insane! Looking at all these advertisements is making me wonder:  Are these companies purposely feeding off of a parent’s anxiety to keep their precious cargo safe?

It reminds me of when I was planning my wedding.  Companies know that, like your wedding day, having a child is another (if not more) important time in your life, and they know that most people will shell out lots of their hard earned cash to make it special.  They thrive on our inexperience & fears, and they make millions.  But do I really need all this stuff to keep my baby safe and happy?  Are 10 different pacifiers really necessary?  

After spending the last 3 years painstakingly sifting through my mothers “collection” of various items (the accidental accumulation of over 30 years of junk), I don’t really care to open my life up to that clutter again.  It just seems so unnecessary.  At this point I’m more concerned with quality over quantity.  I’ve attended too many baby showers where I’ve seen my friends get lots of super “cute” yet super unnecessary items.  Yes, I’m sure the $50 tiny cowboy boots are going to look super cute on the baby, but I’d rather have a nursing pillow thank you.  

Luckily, I have quite a few friends who feel the same way I do.  Fortunately for me these friends are also having kids and going through their own trial & error that I’m benefiting from.   I have an awesome like-minded friend that is planning to share her list with me and I’m so excited to get it!

Now I’m turning to you my fellow villagers.  Would you help me out here?  Would you please take the time to comment about the products that made your life easier and you just couldn’t live with out?  This overwhelmed future mommy would really appreciate it.

+++++++++++

Special thanks to Yvonne Niedergesasess for sharing her amazing registry thus saving me hours of research and anxiety.  I am forever indebted to you.   

Posted in Baby Registry, Getting Organized, Gift Idea, Housekeeping, Parenting Advice, Pregnancy, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Little Ninja Inside Me

by Stephanie Posted on January 28, 2012

The past few weeks have been extremely frustrating for me.  At around 16-18 weeks of pregnancy I started getting bombarded with questions like “Are you feeling the baby move yet?”- “How are those kicks feeling?” – and from my doctor, “Are you keeping track of your baby’s kicks?”.

I know these questions are normal at this stage of pregnancy, but because I wasn’t feeling anything the questions made me, well, paranoid, quite frankly.  I started to wonder: Is something wrong with my baby?  Is something wrong with me?  What the hell is going on?  WHY AM I NOT FEELING MY BABY?!  I know – I tend to be dramatic sometimes….

Fast forward a few weeks:  My husband, mother in law, sister, and I (yes, it was a family affair) went to our second trimester ultrasound screening.  Not only is this screening a time when they measure all the baby’s body parts to see that all is developing properly, but this is also a time when they can get a good look at the baby’s goods and tell you what you’re having.  We were beyond excited!  After a few moments of silence while the technician went to work she asked if we wanted to know the sex.  OF COURSE!  She snapped a shot, and there it was! A tiny little turtle head: My boy’s penis!  After much whooping, and screaming (my sister really wanted a boy & she can get super loud) that I’m sure the whole office heard, I was also told that I have an anterior placenta which explains why I wasn’t feeling my baby.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the term anterior placenta: It basically means that the placenta is attached to the front of the uterus – shielding the baby from the abdomen. In most cases, the position of the placenta is posterior – towards the back of the uterus.  As my doctor explained it the placenta acts like a pillow, cushioning me from feeling my baby’s kicks and punches.  So, I was just going to have to be patient & wait for my boy to get big enough to karate chop his way through my annoying placenta.  (Kidding! I am totally aware of how important and amazing my placenta is.)

Now in my 22nd week of pregnancy the paranoia is long gone!  This boy is performing some serious martial arts inside of me.  It started as a few very subtle thumps that I almost dismissed as gas, to full blown “my stomach is feeling like a bass drum” kicks!  I have to admit that I’m enjoying every little bit of it.  After feeling like I was robbed for so long I welcome every thump as the tiny little gift that it is.  It’s almost like he’s making up for lost time.  Thank you son for being so active & giving mommy the reassurance I need to know that everything is ok.

Posted in Behavior, Health, Pregnancy, Villagers | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Get in Shape Girl: Exercising Our Lady Parts

by Stephanie Posted on January 19, 2012

In a previous post I’ve discussed my passion for exercise, and how it has helped get me through everyday life.  Now, more then ever, I’m realizing just how important it really is.  Exercise is crucial in  controlling my gestational diabetes and it has lowered my stress levels throughout this pregnancy.  As I delve more and more into my preparation for childbirth I’m learning that exercise is even more relevant.  Giving birth is an athletic event often likened to a marathon, and I have to train for it.

Most books and birthing methods discuss pretty much the same exercises, but one in particular seems to be the most prominently mentioned . Yes folks, it is the almighty  Kegel.   For those of you that aren’t familiar with Kegels, they are the excerise that help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.  What are the pelvic floor muscles you ask?  With out getting all Dr.Oz on you, the pelvic floor muscles are all the muscles that support the organs of the lower abdominal cavity such as the uterus, bladder, and bowel.  For a pregnant woman about to give birth – you can see how strengthening these muscles can be very important.

To locate your pelvic floor muscles, try to stop your urine flow midstream.  There they are!  It’s as easy as that.  Once you get that down you can now practice Kegels.  According to Dr. and Mrs. Sears and their book, “The Pregnancy Book”(my favorite pregnancy book so far), there are a number of different ways to practice Kegels.  To name a few, they mention:

Reps- These kegels mainly consist of contracting and releasing your pelvic floor muscles.  Dr. Sears recommends starting with 10 reps four times a day and working your way up from there.

Holding-Contract your PFM and hold for five seconds – then release.  Repeat 10 times and gradually increase the length of time you keep those muscles contracted.

Super-Kegels-This is just contracting your PFM and holding.  You’ll probably start in the 5-10 seconds range.  Work your way up to 15-20 seconds and you are in the super kegel range.  Nice work!!!

Now some of you may be thinking that kegels don’t apply to you, but they do.  Kegels aren’t just for pregnant women - All of us – men and women – can benefit from them.  Yes!  I said MEN too!  Kegels are known to help men increase the size and intensity of erections, and also help fend off premature ejaculation.  For you non-pregnanct women: Kegels help with incontinence, and also may be beneficial for women that have persistent problems reaching orgasm.  I don’t know about you, but I’m sold!

So next time you’re at the gym working all your outside muscles don’t forget to also work the more discreet – yet equally important – “private” (pun intended) muscles too.  No one will ever know what you’re up to.  Sneaky little thing, you.

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