I’m not sure at what point it becomes ridiculous to refer to my excess weight as “baby weight,” but as I near my baby’s seventh birthday I’m pretty sure that I am no longer allowed to use the weight I gained during my two pregnancies as my excuse anymore.

You May Know This Story Already

My story is probably pretty similar to many of your stories. I never seriously struggled with my weight until after I went through a couple of pregnancies. With my first baby, the weight started coming off somewhat quickly after giving birth, but then when I turned around less than a year later and got pregnant again, I quickly found that my hunger skyrocketed as I continued to breastfeed until my fifth month of pregnancy. I’m sure my caloric needs were elevated, but I used my situation as an excuse to eat whatever I darn well pleased, whenever I wanted it.

Unfortunately, my trend of eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted kept on even after I had my second baby. It also kept on after I weaned him. Even when I had no viable excuse for eating like a crazy woman, I still kept eating like a crazy woman.

The Scale Doesn’t Move

A couple of years ago I started working out with a personal trainer. I got really strong and I did lose inches, but the scale hardly moved. I figured I was just destined to be larger and chalked up my weight to all the muscle I was schlepping around. What I realize now is that while I was indeed gaining muscle, I was also still eating every meal as though it was my last.

Then I talked to a nutritionist who told me to try tracking my calories and exercise. After I finished balking about the idea of tracking calories, I went ahead and signed up for MyFitnessPal, largely because it was free and because I was told it was easy to use.

Tracking What I Eat

It turns out that I was eating way too much. I already kind of knew this, but I didn’t realize the extent. I’m now in my third month of using MyFitnessPal, and I’m down 15 pounds. If you’re like me and you always figured that the scale just didn’t move for you because you’re a scientific anomaly, I suggest trying out this free website/phone app  and see if the scale starts to move for you too. Input what you eat and what exercise you get, and just don’t eat beyond your allowed calories. It’s pretty simple.

Just to clarify, MyFitnessPal didn’t ask me to write this blog. I finally found something that works for me, and so I’m glad to pass it along to you.

Contributed by Tamsen Butler
Tags: counting calories, diet, excercise, exercise, fitness, losing weight, post pregnancy baby weight
Posted in: Reviews
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Push ‘N Snap Cabinet Locks

Units: About 900,000

Importer: Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard

Young children can disengage the cabinet locks, allowing access to cabinet contents and posing the risk of injury, due to dangerous or unsafe items.

Incidents/Injuries: DJG has received 200 reports of locks that did not adequately secure the cabinet, including reports of damaged locks. Of the reported incidents, the firm is aware of 140 children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years who were able to disengage the locks and gain access to the cabinet’s contents. In three of the reported incidents, the children who gained access swallowed or handled dishwashing detergent, window cleaner or oven cleaner, and were treated, observed and released from emergency treatment centers.

Description: This recall involves Safety 1st Push ‘N Snap cabinet locks with model numbers 48391 and 48442. The model numbers are printed on the back of the product and on packaging. The locks are used to secure cabinets with two straps that wrap around the knobs or handles on a cabinet door. When the product is in the “lock” position, a green triangle is shown through a window on the device. The Safety 1st logo is embossed on the front of the lock. Locks manufactured between January 2004 and November 2010 are included in the recall. The date of manufacture is embossed on the back. The arrow on the date wheel points to the month and the numbers of either side of arrow represent the year of manufacture.

Sold at: Bed Bath & Beyond, and other retail stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from January 2004 through February 2012 for between $2 and $4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately remove the recalled locks from cabinets and contact DJG for a free replacement Push ‘N Snap lock with model numbers HS158 or HS159. When removing the recalled locks, consumers are urged to immediately store dangerous items out of reach of children.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact DJG toll-free at (866) 762-3212 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website

Contributed by Dan
Tags: Bed Bath and Beyond, cabinet locks, child proofing, China
Posted in: Recalls
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There is a saying that goes “A smile increases your face value”. Especially if it’s found on your own child’s face. Truth is, some parents have this notion that their children should always be smiling and always be happy. The result? They try to keep the little ones from being frustrated. Are you one of those parents? If so, you might want to stick around and read this. But first, let’s define frustration.

Why We Become Frustrated

Consult any online dictionary and it will tell you that frustration is felt when one is unable to accomplish a goal. For example, it happens when a child can’t piece train tracks together or close the lid on a plastic box. It’s different from anger. How? According to the American Psychological Association, anger is defined as a strong response that arises from feeling that someone or something has wronged you.

Now that we have that covered, let’s take a look at reasons your kids should be frustrated.

3 Reasons Your Kids Should Feel Frustration

1. Frustration is a natural feeling. The sooner you help your kids (a) label it and (b) help them deal with it, the better. Why? Because in life, emotions come and go the way the sun rises and sets. It’s unavoidable, inevitable, and unstoppable. By allowing children to acknowledge this fact of life and use frustration in a constructive manner, you give them an invaluable life tool that will make them better adults.

2. Frustration is a great motivator. Jim Taylor, Ph.D. who writes for Psychology Today says that frustration helps us get over hurdles. You notice that when something blocks our goals we become more determined to plow through? That’s frustration at work.

3. Frustration highlights silver linings. Every obstacle, no matter how miniscule, has a valuable lesson to teach. Let’s say your child is helping you crack eggs for the first time. Despite providing her with instructions, she uses too much force thus breaking not only the shell but the yolk as well. Visibly upset, you help her through a few more until she finally succeeds. Now, if she hadn’t been frustrated she probably wouldn’t have tried to get it right. Also, had she not gone through the entire exercise along with failure, she wouldn’t have learned how to apply the correct pressure.

The best feeling in the world is seeing your kids in the purest state of joy. Unfortunately, life isn’t all smiles and laughter. Frustration will come and go so the best thing you can do is let them feel it. Besides, aside from temporary emotional turmoil, it teaches them valuable life lessons.

Do you agree?

Author Bio: Anne Mercado is the quirky author behind Green Eggs & Moms, which offers clever parenting tips and news to keep moms with young kids sane. When she’s not hunched over the computer working, you can find her either counting down to ten to get her kiddo to move faster, or reading a horror book.

Contributed by Guest-Blogger
Tags: determination, Feelings, frustration, mental health, Psycology
Posted in: Parenting
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When I received two Doodle Rolls in the mail from Imagination Brands to review, I quickly stuffed them in my purse before the kids caught glimpses of these fun kits. I knew exactly when and where I would pull the Doodle Rolls out for the kids to try; every Sunday after church a bunch of us meet up for lunch at a restaurant and sometimes keeping all the kids in the group happy and occupied proves to be a challenge. Upon my first quick glance at the Doodle Rolls, I was pretty sure these would be a big hit.

A Clever Product

The Doodle Rolls are pretty basic, but awfully clever. The plastic container holds a roll of paper in one compartment and crayons in another. It’s all inclusive – you hand your kid the package and there is everything he or she needs in order to get creative right away. I like how the package is set up, because the roll of paper can be perforated easily. This allows kids (or parents) to easily decide how much paper they want to use.

If you’re wondering how my kids reacted to these Doodle Rolls, I want you to picture a crowded casual dining restaurant. We had just gotten to the point to where the kids were getting restless but the adults were still trying to enjoy the meal when I pulled the two Doodle Rolls out of my purse. My daughter (who is a huge fan of anything crafty) squealed in delight and immediately went to work drawing with her friend. My son was skeptical at first until I showed him how the paper comes out in a long roll, and then he was sold. My son and his friend pulled out generous lengths of paper and together colored a story that had something to do with Star Wars, zombies, and horses.

The Doodle Roll Was a Big Hit

All the kids in attendance enjoyed these Doodle Rolls immensely. The parents were impressed too, but when it comes right down to it, I think the opinion of the kids is what really matters here. The age range of the kids with us at lunch were from around 4 years old up to 9 years old, and all of them had a great time with these kits (the suggested age range is 3+). I do wish I would have had access to Doodle Rolls back when my kids were younger; it would have been great to have one of these in my purse to whip out while sitting in waiting rooms or while grocery shopping.

If your young child enjoys doodling, there is an excellent chance that these Doodle Rolls will be a big hit.

Contributed by Tamsen Butler
Tags: ART, crafts, creative toys, doodle rolls, drawing, review
Posted in: Reviews
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Johnson & Johnson is recalling more than half a million bottles of Grape Liquid Tylenol for children under the age of 2 years old due to a dosing issue which can occur if a protective covering is mistakenly broken while extracting the medicine form the bottle. So far, no injuries have been reported and parents may continue to use the medicine providing the protective cover has not been broken or pushed through.

This marks the second massive recall for J&J’s Liquid Tylenol in the last few months. They have not yet reported when the product will return to the shelves.

Again, this recall is only for Liquid Tylenol ages 2 years and under.

For more information click here.

Contributed by Dan
Tags: Johnson & Johnson, medicine, recall, Tylenol
Posted in: Recalls
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