Boot Camp for New Dads

New Dads can get broken into the whole experience of fatherhood by attending a Boot Camp for New Dads--a program offered by the Women's Health Information Center at the N.C. Women's Hospital at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. The program helps future fathers address their fears, ask questions, get advice and interact with new dads and their newborns.

Here are five tips for first-time fathers from the Boot Camp:

1. Prepare for Emotions: Many mothers experience intense swings in mood, and some develop post-partum depression. “I suggest learning what could happen and how to recognize it and what’s available to treat it,” says Scott Reynolds, a Boot Camp graduate from Chapel Hill. He and his wife learned about the emotional issues in advance of delivery so they were prepared for any challenges that might arise.

2. Engage Fully. “Don’t shy away from things that make you uncomfortable,” Weiskott says. “Jump in fully and be present in the moment. Take advantage of bathing and changing diapers as great bonding opportunities. Use a baby carrier whenever possible -- walking around with your baby attached to your chest is probably the closest a man can get to the physical and emotional feeling of being pregnant.”

3. Understand Crying: “Babies do cry -- it’s part of their job description,” Barman says. By paying attention to when and how your baby in bawling – and what soothes the situation – you can figure out what’s going on. “Often she’s just hungry or over-stimulated.”

4. Stay Fit: There’s really no secret to dealing with the sleep deprivation that comes with a new baby, according to Reynolds: “Eat healthy, try to exercise, and don’t take on additional responsibilities outside of the home -- you won’t have time for it.” And nap when you can.

5. Keep Calm. With a dramatic changes to your life and routine, it can be hard to stay cool and collected. But that’s the key to keeping your wife and your baby on an even keel. “Even if something is wrong, your mood and reaction reflects on [their] disposition. If you’re freaking out it doesn’t help achieve a positive outcome.”

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Your Eyes are Bigger than Your Stomach

Remember when you were a child and your mother told you to eat all of your food because it was good for you? And she also reminded you how fortunate you were to have food on your plate because there were poor children in Biafra who didn’t have anything to eat.

Well, you’re all grown up now and while it’s important to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet, there is no need to CLEAN YOUR PLATE. That means it’s unnecessary to pile on all you can eat because “it just looks so delicious” and then go out of your way to finish it all. Calories add up---especially at middle age---while your metabolism is continuing to slow down. If you’re taking in more than you’re burning off, you could easily see an extra 5-10 pounds in a matter of months.

More fruits and vegetables are definitely the way to go. Why not try color-coded days by eating only fruits and vegetables of a certain color. For example: On Monday, make it a green day and eat all vegetables and fruits that are green in color. For lettuce, I would recommend a mixed green variety because plain lettuce has no nutritional value. On Tuesday, you could do a red day and so on and so forth.

Today, I decided to do a mix and match day: purple and red so I’m loading up on the blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon.

Got Fat?

Are you one of those women fighting the battle of the bulge? Well, if it's any consolation, you'll be glad to know you're not alone. Thousands of middle-aged women can attest to the fact that they've put on a few extra pounds. Some, like me, are trying to SQUEEZE into clothes that don't fit anymore instead of accepting the fact that it's time to go up a dress size or two.

I'm going to spend some time blogging about Women's Heath---starting with the 7 unhealthy habits that keep you from losing weight:

#1 SKIPPING BREAKFAST: If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Still, many of us skip it because we think it will help use lose unwanted pounds. But get this: that bad habit actually adds pounds. Studies have found that by skipping breakfast (or any other meal for that matter), your body is storing fat because it thinks you are starving and is trying to keep a "reserve" for you.

Now I don't know about you, but that's NOT the kind of favor I want my body to do for me so I guess I'm off to eat a mango.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for Bad Habit #2

Mommy Facts

55 percent of women are classified as working moms.

10 million women are classified as single moms living with children under 18.

67 percent of women in Kentucky, ages 15 to 44, are mothers. This is among the highest rates in the nation. The national average is 57 percent. 81% of women 40 to 44 years old are mothers.

There are 4.0 million women who have babies each year. Of this number, about 450,000 are teens, and almost 100,000 are age 40 or over.

24.8 years old is the median age of women when they give birth for the first time.

There are 23,870 florists nationwide. Their 125,116 employees will be especially busy selling bouquets for Mother's Day. The value of shipments of Mother's Day cards by greeting card publishers totaled $147.9 million in 1992, up from $80.2 million in 1987.

Source: US Census Bureau

Not All Blogs are Created Equal

I normally don't blog about other people's blogs but I came across such an interesting one today that I really felt compelled to share it.

A 36 year old mom from Northern Virginia has made visiting restrooms a part of her livelihood. Well, maybe "livelihood" isn't the best choice of words but it's safe to say she's been on a mission inspecting bathrooms in the Metro DC area. Either she eats out A LOT or she just has way too much time on her hands. But I don't know how that could be with two young boys to take care of.

Anyway, I read, with interest, her descriptions of the various restrooms she's visited. Mind you, I don't know any of the places she refers to but based on her recommendations, I know that when I travel to the DC area, I'll be very conscientous of where I'll eat based on her reports.

I am impressed with the fact that she would take the time to inspect and then post her findings to the general public. But isn't that something a state health inspector should do for us?

Nevertheless, I applaud this woman---who isn't even a baby boomer---for what she's doing. And get this: she even has a contest running until May 19 where she will give a $50 gift card to the person who directs her to the cleanest, dities, most interesting bathroom in the DC area.

Now, when she starts visiting houses, I'll give her a couple of addresses. You can read her blog at www.lavatorylady.blogspot.com

50 is NOT the "New 30" no matter what the Media Says

Several months ago, Oprah did a show about 60 being the new 40 and 50 being the new 30. Women who came from good "aging gracefully" genes flaunted themselves on stage and in the audience to let the rest of America know they weren't taking growing older lying down. They were determined to do whatever it took to keep up a youthful appearance.

A few weeks ago a report come out indicating baby boomers aren't as healthy as our parents from the previous generation. So what really gives here? Yes, we baby boomers are probably not as healthy as our parents were because we've bought into a concept that our parents didn't. We have been driven to believe everything we read and see and read in the media. We've been brainwashed and some of us have gotten downright lazy with our physical activity.

Baby boomers are overweight because some "expert" keeps telling us what we should or should not eat and then in the next breath, some other "expert" comes out and says we've been eating the wrong things all along.

We are unhappy with the way we look because we live in a society where it's all about a youthful appearance. There's no such thing as aging gracefully according to the media. Just look at Hollywood. And don't even get me started on the plastic surgery option.

Who told us 60 was the new 40? Why have we bought into that theory?

I like looking good. I love feeling healthy and just like my mother and grandmother, I'm doing it my way---instead of being brainwashed into believing I have to look a certain way, be a certain size to enjoy who I am.

Beverly Mahone
Author
Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com

Cruisin' with the Top Down

It was such a beautiful day here in North Carolina on Friday so this baby boomer diva decided to go cruisin’. First I had to wash the car because you can't style and profile in a 2006 Sebring LXI if it's dirty. It just isn't cool. The sports car belongs to my baby boomer hunk of a husband. Since we're in a commuter marriage, he decided to leave HIS CAR with me and take my little reliable, good on gas mileage, Ford Focus back with him to Maryland for the week.

I was going to take it to the car wash but I figured I needed to burn off some calories since I didn't go to the gym or the trail all this week. I sat my grandson in his stroller while I washed the car. He was actually enjoying watching me spray the car with the hose. I was thinking one day he'll be doing this and I'll be sitting in his stroller :)

When I finished it was spotless! The tires needed a good touch up but I figured I'd leave that to the professionals at another time. I then buckled up my grandson in his car seat in the back, dropped the top, put on my shades and put the pedal to the metal. All the while I kept thinking of that opening clip on "Full House" where the guys are driving in a convertible with little Michelle in the back seat.

It felt good to be cruisin’ with the top down and being in the company of my second favorite (little) man!