Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2016

Lori-Ann’s Daily Fitness Routine

Fitness was always a big part of my life growing up. My father was a physical education minor at Albion College in Michigan, and my mother worked as a nurse. Every Friday evening we would go to the local YMCA to swim and play other sports. Even through their 70’s my parents were very in to health and fitness. Every year for over 25 years they would walk the Mackinaw Bridge from one end to the other! My mother was an avid walker, she walked two miles everyday, no matter what the weather was like. And my father even continued to be a pitcher on a local recreational sports team. Needless to say, I grew up in a very health and wellness-minded household.

However, between going to law school, being a single mom, and owning my own business, there wasn’t a lot of time for me to work out. After having my second daughter at the age of 31, I decided to make my health a priority again. I gained a lot of weight during both pregnancies so I started seeing a nutritionist, who recommended I start running. Running? I’d never ran before. But I laced up my tennis shoes, and off I went. And I haven’t looked back since. Before a long day at work I would put the girls in their stroller and hit the pavement. Their cheers of “Run, Mommy, run!” still resonate in my brain. That was my time. My “happy hour” if you will. Soon after picking up running I added strength training. And that routine remained for many years, until a couple of years ago when I hurt my back. At that time I decided to switch up my routine a bit. I now also incorporate group classes including spinning, Pure Barre, and yoga to help take the stress off of my lower back. I work out five days a week either in the gym, at home, or at a local studio. I still run, but not as much. And I still strength train with a trainer three days a week.

Since regaining my love for exercise I have accomplished many of my fitness goals. I have run 3 half marathons and countless 5 and 10K’s. But my biggest challenge when it comes to health and fitness is finding that balance between eating right and exercising. It’s easy to get in a one hour workout, but controlling what goes into your mouth for those other 23 hours can sometimes be a challenge.

Now a days I use fitness as a tool to keep my body and my mind strong. The endorphins I get from exercise are the best form of stress relief money can buy. Meditation has also helped me along in my fitness journey, I try and set aside time each day to mediate. I’ve found that leading a healthy lifestyle has made my world a better place.

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Posted on Monday, April 11, 2016

How to Help Your Child Cope With An Illness

When my daughter was born, she had a serious illness that kept her in the hospital months after. At the time, I was also caring for my other daughter who was just a toddler. It was difficult to go through this diagnosis with my new born but it also taught me invaluable lessons that can keep both you and your family positive through it all.

There are many common emotions that a parent feels when their child is sick, such as sadness, guilt and even frustration. I know that I felt these same feelings and even feelings of helplessness. However, learning about my daughter’s illness helped me better understand what my child was going through and the care she needed. The more you know about their condition the better understanding you have of what behaviors and symptoms are normal and what to look out for.

As the mother, you are also your kids team leader. So staying positive is key. Try and treat your child just as you would your healthy child. I found that keeping things as normal as possible helped both me and my family. Kids tend to thrive on routine and they look for structure, depending on the diagnosis, it is best to keep your family’s routine the same as it was before your child became ill. During a diagnosis, it is normal to want to overly protect your child, but try not to shelter them too much or limit the activities they still love to do.

As the child’s caregiver, it is easy to forget to care for yourself both mentally and physically during the process. Make sure to take a few moments out of your day just for you, go for a walk, read a book or take a hot bath. This will give you the energy and strength to care for your child and make the best medical decisions. It’s important to also talk with your child about their illness and listen to what they’re feeling and answer any questions they might have. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions too about your children’s illness especially if there are things that you don’t understand.

If you’re like me and have another child who is healthy, make sure to spend one-on-one time with them and make sure they feel part of the family too. Figure out ways they might be able to help out with their brother or sister which will make them feel more involved.

It is not going to be easy everyday and there will definitely be your fair share of bad days but it’s important to remain positive, keeping laughing, telling jokes and doing activities that bring you and your family joy.

Posted on Monday, April 4, 2016

Save a Life, Donate Organs

Did you know that more than 123,000 men, women, and children in the United States are currently waiting for organ transplants? Donating organs is an opportunity to help others and possibly save a life.

Organ donation means giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. In certain cases, you may donate organs while you are still alive. More often, organ donations occur at the time of death.

Any person of any age can be an organ donor. Your medical condition at the time of your death will determine which organs or tissues can be donated.

This may all sound a little technical or maybe even morbid, but saving a life through organ donation is a wonderful way to help other people.

If you would like to become an organ donor, enroll in your state’s donor registry, or check the organ donor box on your driver’s license application or renewal form.

Also, share your wishes with your family, so they understand what you want to do and why it’s important to you.

Save a life. Consider organ donation.