Time for change

Posted Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 7:16 PM

There are many websites devoted to going green and being more earth and body healthy.

I am all for being more environmentally friendly, but to me, it goes way beyond that.

I am a believer in being more mind and body friendly as well. I admit that fast food is tempting, but I am doing so much better than I used to.

I now buy more organic and homemade products and I try as much as possible to support local businesses and individuals selling their products.

I am a big supporter of no littering, but I can't seem to recycle as much as I wish I could. I have stopped drinking so much soda and coffee and started drinking more water from the tap.

I admit I love the convenience of bottled water, but cringe at the thought of all those bottles in a landfill.

I am thinking of taking up some kind of exercise to get more in shape, but I just don't want to pay to go to a gym.

I know this sounds crazy, but by the time I drive to the gym and pay for the membership and gas (the only gym is in Brazil), then I feel as if I have wasted too much time and money.

I am looking into types of exercise I can do at home. I am considering yoga, but if all else fails, I guess I can always go to Richard Simmons, although my kids would find that way too funny.

My first thing to accomplish is to stop smoking and then maybe buy an exercise bike to use in winter, since I only go walking when it's warm.

I tried a treadmill and even with all the safety features it comes with, I was still too nervous that my kids would somehow get hurt, especially since they are just like me, accident prone.

I am all for going mind, body and especially earth friendly, but I am not the type to get all enthused about something until I do a little research online first, not that this requires much research, but I would like to know my options when it comes to recycling facilities in my area and what all they take and don't take and how much I need before I take it there, etc.

If anyone has the answers to these questions, let me know. It would be much appreciated.

There are so many changes going on in the world right now, I know it's my time to make positive changes in my life to better the future.

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There use to be a group at the Nazarene church called MOPS It was a wonderful mom group. Kids had play time and moms got their own.

-- Posted by sassypants on Fri, Jan 23, 2009, at 9:53 AM

You will be amazed by how much better you will feel when you quit smoking! It's hard at first but after a few months you won't want to ever touch or smell another cigarette. As for excercising i'm not all that great at doing it myself but I think the Dirty Dancing workout dvd looks like fun! Good luck.

-- Posted by ugotitdude on Fri, Jan 23, 2009, at 9:39 AM

Great Nicole! "Way back when" I had preschoolers at home I used PBS program "Body Electric" as my exercise time. I think it is still on WTIU out of Bloomington. If you don't get that station you can probably stream it through your computer?? Even the kids exercised along and she uses things that you have in your house already so you don't have to buy equipment. I even used a couple cans of soup instead of weights she had.

Another thing that helps a lot is a buddy to exercise with and a specific appointment time marked in ink on your calendar. That helps with support structure to stick with. Your spouse's support is real important as well. One real important thing I learned when I had 4 little ones all under 7 yrs old is that if I couldn't invest time into "recharging" myself, that I would wear out and be no good to my family at all. My husband would step in so I could get away to fulfill my own needs several times a week, whether it was a Saturday morning bath, a morning walk before he left for work in the AM, or a night out each month to participate in a book club, all helped keep my energy level up to be a better mom and wife. Now it does take some organizing...I had to get up earlier so I could get out and take that walk before he left at 7:30 and I had to get up earlier on Saturday to take the 30 minute bath before my husband had to start on weekend projects but it was worth it.

The only other thing that REALLY helped me out when I had little ones was a mom's morning out group at church. Each Tuesday morning 8 moms took their little ones to the church nursery and one mom would stay there with a paid sitter to care for the group. Cost each mom $2 for the sitter [now might take a little more; this was a while ago]. This was a lifesaver for me as it allowed me to go to the dentist, beauty parlor, etc without an infant carrier and my mini escorts.

You might look into forming a group at one of the churches in town that can do this so you and like minded moms can have child care and maybe even exercise right there using recordings for aerobics etc??

Best of luck.

-- Posted by Jenny Moore on Fri, Jan 23, 2009, at 6:47 AM

My perspective

Nicole Rodgers

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