Health Archives - Page 2 of 16 - mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents

Be #CurvesStrong

October 20, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 11 Comments

What does it mean to be #CurvesStrong? It’s much more than a hashtag.

Thank you Curves® International for sponsoring this post and making me #CurvesStrong.

A month ago I was invited for one month to Curves Fitness® Program. I had seen Curves locations before and had some preconceived notions about what a Curves program was. But since I’m always up to try anything especially when you can do it with a friend, I was game. So wine time turned to workout time and together my friend and I scheduled a month of Curves workouts together.

The program seemed easy: join in the circle of workout machines for 30 minute workout (a two-time circuit) and go. Actually it seemed so easy that it couldn’t possible work. And without complicated rules, routines, and movements, it couldn’t possible make a real impact.

However, the impact was much more than inches lost or a hashtag.

What I learned is that #CurvesStrong, had a lot of meanings to a lot of women. But just searching the hashtag I was transported to stories of encouragement, journeys of women getting years added back to their life because they had the energy, confidence and strength to do more, and amazing stories of weight loss that had given women a new life…all because of Curves.

#CurvesStrong is a movement for women of all ages.

#CurvesStrong: Is health.

#CurvesStrong: Is strength.

#CurvesStrong: Is community.

One of the things I didn’t expect to gain from Curves was friendship. I came in with a friend so I already had that. But each time we both jumped in the ring for our circuit, we also were joined by other women that no matter what their goals – health, flexibility, weight loss – we were in it together. And we laughed together, we shared stories together and of course, when you needed a little something to keep you moving at the end of your set, we encouraged each other. In the middle, you’d always have your trainer there to assist and perfect your movements for the ultimate impact, but together as a group, that 30 minutes seemed to go by in no time. And when I was done, I had exercised, I had stretched, I burned, and I had done something for me.

So the next time, which may be when your pants get snug, you reach a birthday milestone, or hit a new year on the calendar and begin the cycle of “what do I do to be a better me,” don’t do what you always do.

href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/sp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#sp

#curvesstrong https://t.co/obUvgpgp1D

— Teia (@DFWSingleMom) October 12, 2017

Don’t start opening your calendar trying to figure out how you’re going to find an hour to kick your butt doing some exercise concept you’ll get bored of and hate in a month.

Don’t go back to something that worked 20 years ago and think how if you did it again for just a few months, everything would be different.

Worst of all, don’t look at things and decide not to do anything at all.

#ad Working on improving my tomorrows w/ @curves! #curvesstrong! You can too — pic.twitter.com/J2jGnapiAK

— Shannon Schmid (@EverydayBest1) October 5, 2017

I bet if you just looked at your day you could find 30 minutes for you. 30 minutes to breathe, 30 minutes to let go, 30 minutes to move, and 30 minutes to make a difference. And guess what you don’t even have to do one burpee.

So what is #CurvesStrong to you?

Visit Curves online for a location near you and experience what it can do for you.

About Curves

Curves® is a one-stop-shop for every woman’s fitness needs. By enrolling in the Curves Fitness® Program, women are able to participate in a 30 minute, total-body workout on strength training machines. These circuit classes are designed to burn fat, increase strength, and kick start weight loss. Curves® members not only work every core muscle group in just 30 minutes, but they also become a part of a supportive group of empowered women.

Are you ready to get #CurvesStrong?

This post was sponsored by Curves International but the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Workout Your Way with Curves

September 28, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 13 Comments

Want a workout that’s easy, effective and empowers you? This one-stop-shop is all that (and more) and has a 25 year success record.

Thank you Curves® International for sponsoring this post and getting me to get moving for me!

I love to work out.

Well let me rephrase…I love how I feel and how I look AFTER I have worked out.

It’s getting the energy to do it that’s hard.

And considering time is something I don’t have a lot of, working out is often what gets put on the bottom of the to-do list right there with kid-free time with my friends.

I’m sad to say that both of these often get the shaft even though we all know they are necessary for a healthy well-being!

So in efforts to keep 2017 a year for healthy change, Girl Time (which included a lot of wineing) would turn intoCurves® Time by working out with my girls.

The idea was supposed to be something all of us would be comfortable doing and easy for us to catch up while we got in our workout time!

On our first trip, we received a warm welcome from our coaches and in no time went to work!

And thankfully there wasn’t a lot of confusing exercises or instructions – you just listed to the music and gave it your best shot for two rounds of interval cardio and machine work. We finished up with a series of stretches – and man, you needed those.

Ironically, it didn’t feel like work but I could tell from the heavy breathing (and a pulse check – part of the workout), I was making a difference all while hanging with my friends. #multitasking

That day we committed to a month-long promise to keep each other accountable to working out together as a team. And keep us moving when we wanted to skip out when it seemed like there were too many other things to do.

There was sign on the wall that I always look at that makes so much sense.

And all it takes is 30 MINUTES!

So many of us put ourselves on the bottom of the list. Ironically, not doing something for yourself, especially when it comes to your health is how you become better for everyone else.

Make FALL into a good habit this season and make time for you and if you want, your friends too. Now’s a perfect time to sign up for Curves® since they’re celebrating 25 years of making a difference!

And make sure to keep following me on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to see me check-in my progress. And because I did a health assessment when I began my Curves Journey (it’s part of their process too!), I’ll reveal what happened to me after 30 days!

About Curves

Are you ready to get #CurvesStrong?

This post was sponsored by Curves International but the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Favorite Sunscreens and Bug Sprays to Protect Your Family

July 13, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 12 Comments

School supplies may already be on the shelves, but our hottest temperatures are still yet to come! Protect your family with these must-haves for summer including our best bets for Sunscreens and Bug Sprays.

As featured on Good Morning Texas on 7/13/17.

Who made our list for the best, coolest and most multifunctional products to keep your family protected during these hot summer days? Take a look!

Favorite Sunscreens

How much sunscreen do you need?
You need to be putting about 1 ounce on per application (just for reference that’s around the size of a golf ball or shot glass.)

SUPER Sparkle Screen Water Resistant and Roll-on Glitter Sunscreen:
Made by two moms, this makes it fun to keep off the sun with sparkles and it’s also scented.
Find at glittertots.com and Walmart.

NO-AD Paraben Free Sunscreen Cream and Easy Glide-on Sticks:
It’s an oldie but a goodie that passes on the savings to you! Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, now paraben-free and in several easy-to-apply products, it’s called NO-AD because since 1962, the brand doesn’t buy ads so they can give the customer the most inexpensive “no ad price.”
Find at Walgreens and Walmart.

Babyganics Sunscreen Spray:
Coming from the Babyganics line of natural, no chemical ingredients, this mineral-based sunscreen spray is water resistant and free of PABA, phthalates, parabens and nano-particles.
Find it at Walgreens and Target.

Ocean Potion Cream and Clear Zinc Oxide Face Potion:
A beloved brand by those that love the beach, this brand has what you need to have fun in the sun plus its orange-creme fragrance called “the scent of sunshine” makes it feel like you have the sun all around you. The Clear Zinc Oxide Face Potion goes on clear, keeping your pores clear and your face protected with SPF 45.
Find it at Walgreens and Walmart.

Jack Black Oil-Free Sun Guard:
What’s good enough for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks (the brand you’ll find in both teams’ home stadiums) is good enough to keep your team protected, too. This award-winning brand is formulated for extreme conditions with a barrier of protection and stays on during intense physical activity in and out of the water helping to keep it out of your eyes!
Find at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora.com, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bull FrogLand Sport™With Breathable Sweat TECH™ Quik Gel® SPF 50:
This is the one you want when you’re moving because it’s made with a special polymer to letting your skin breathe while keeping you from sweating off your sunscreen to keep you protected plus it’s paraben free.
Find at Walgreens and Walmart.

How often should you apply sunscreen?
You need to apply 15 minutes before going out and then reapply every 1.5-2 hours!

Best Bug Sprays

Bullfrog Mosquito Coast® Sunscreen Insect Repellent Continuous Spray SPF 30:
This is a combination sunscreen AND bug spray in one for the ultimate bottle you need when you head outdoors! It’s deet free, paraben free, PABA free, repels bugs for up to 8 hours, and lasts for 80 minutes in the sun AND comes in a spray!
Find at Walgreens and Walmart.

NATURAL BUG SPRAY RECIPE

Natural Bug Spray

Author: Autumn Reo, mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Scale

Ingredients

1 cup Distilled water
1 cup Witch hazel or rubbing alcohol
3–4 TBSP dried herbs including peppermint, spearmint, citronella, lemongrass, lavender, etc. (use at least one mint.)
Optional: 4-5 cloves.)

Instructions

Boil water and herbs (in any combination from the above.)
Mix well, cover and let cool. (You must be patient!)
Strain herbs out and mix water with witch hazel.
Store in a spray bottle in a cool place.
Use as needed.

Notes

Added bonus: it smells great and is very refreshing to the skin.

Other Helpful Tips

Now’s the time to stock up before back to school! Hats, bathing suits including those with rash guards to protect their skin, and sunglasses are already on sale like 50 percent off) and some at clearance prices! Just check out these looks we found!

We have tons of giveaways happening right now to Academy Sports + Outdoors, Target, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Market Street! Go here to make sure you enter!

Mama, You’re Fat: How The Big Fat Truth Changed My Life

July 5, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 19 Comments

Kids tell it like it is. Here’s How The Big Fat Truth Changed My Life for the better. Be sure to check out The Big Fat Truth on Z Living Sundays at 8pm ET.

“Mama, you’re fat,” my little brown-eyed princess told me as she stood looking at my more than 35- less than 36-year old body getting dressed in the morning.

As she said it, my reflex was to whip my head around so fast to blurt out a few choices expletives I’m often known to use. That’s what I had done the last 30 years of my life, so why would I change now?

But this was my daughter, my baby girl that in many ways is a mirror image of my younger self.

I couldn’t just yell at her and be bitter and mad and all that other stuff. Not just because as a mom and it’s my job to explain things, but also because I knew everything that was about to happen between she and I was going to be mentally recorded FOREVER for us both.

And she was right. No more pretending or excuses.

“Yes, baby, I am,” I uttered. And in that millisecond, all the times I had dieted, lost weight, gained weight, and all the yo-yoing in between flashed before my eyes. So then, with all conviction and more promise that I had ever felt in my life, I responded accordingly, “but don’t worry baby, I’m working on being as healthy as possible.”

See it was looking at her, looking at me, and thinking one day I hoped to be around to look at my granddaughter just as my daughter was looking at me, that I knew that now was the beginning of the next chapter of my life. But not to go on a diet because I was getting married, or because I had a big event I wanted to look good for, or because I was going on vacation and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. But for real, forever change.

Nothing Good Ever Comes Easy

So instead of heading to work out or a diet plan, I went straight to the doctor. I had several friends that had the sleeve surgery and had AMAZING results. They looked amazing. They felt amazing and they couldn’t say better things about how amazing the sleeve had been for them. I did my research and spoke with people relentlessly. This time it seemed I had a choice that would make sense and make a lasting difference. I signed up, got my appointment and begin my pre-op diet of protein, broth and water. However, as I approached my surgery date something happened. Some would say anxiety but for me, it was much more than that. This was a sign that this wasn’t my path. So, I canceled the surgery. And began to make a new path.

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”

That was February and it’s now June. Has anything changed?

Oh yes – it’s changed. Have I lost 50 lbs? Not yet, but I will. So far I’ve lost over 15 inches and 2 dress sizes. But I don’t have a goal weight; I have a goal for life. I didn’t go on a diet; I changed what I ate and how I ate. I didn’t go workout everyday all day.

But I did get help from a trainer to start a lifestyle that was realistic for me.

I didn’t let those same voices get to me and make me feel bad about myself for not being “good enough.”

I am good enough.

Not just to be a mom, but to take care of both my family’s future and myself.

The Big Fat Truth

But I did go looking (and found) encouragement and support to keep me moving, even when I want to stop and eat something that takes me backwards. One of those places I love to find motivation is through others’ journeys, not towards weight loss but a healthier lifestyle. Z Living’s newest show, The Big Fat Truth, deals with the real reasons people struggle with weight, and gives them the tools and the optimism they need to transform their lives. Using problem-solving and motivational skills, award-winning producer JD Roth (author and reality-TV pioneer, championing “transformation television”) takes on the challenge to help save the lives of our greatest unsung heroes.

Watch The Big Fat Truth on Z Living, Sundays at 8 pm EST.

Through their journey, I’m able to navigate mine as well with the encouragement I need in a real way that works for me. The show even has its own FREE Big Fat 30 Day Challenge to help get watchers motivated just like the participants on the show. I plan to keep you updated on my progress and how my journey isn’t as much about “losing weight” (which is nice) but about making the real changes that will make a bigger difference in the rest of my life.

Ab Fab: New Tummy Tuck Tech

June 4, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo

Thinking about a tummy tuck but don’t know how to deal with all the postsurgical stuff? New technology is making it a little easier to get back your even better mom bod.

Thanks to TissuGlu^® for sharing this medical advancement and the Mom It Forward Influencer Network sponsorship of mamachallenge.com.

Whether you were blessed with a small waist or are still battling your baby weight (and your kids well past being a baby like mine) most of us have a little extra something around our midsection we’d like to get rid of. I’ve been working hard like many moms to shape up and be healthy, but just like both my OB and my trainer said, “some parts will never go back.”

Well $#*! (Insert your hissy fit here.)

For some of us, God blessed you and everything goes back and you look great. For those of us that don’t have Heidi Klum’s body, we suck it up (literally) and deal with it. And for other moms, a tummy tuck is their next step.

I’ve known many moms that have gone through a tummy tuck and look great. I know many more moms who have thought about it, but haven’t done it due to all the recovery time and the mess (i.e., drains) that come with it. (Who’s got time for that!)

However, a new technology is making the process a little easier to deal with. It’s called TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive. TissuGlu is the first surgical adhesive of its kind, making a drain-free tummy tuck possible.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Drains are patients’ #1 tummy tuck complaint. NEW TissuGlu® makes a #drainfreetummytuck possible. ” quote=”Drains are patients’ #1 tummy tuck complaint. NEW TissuGlu® makes a drain-free tummy tuck possible. “]

Most patients find drains to be complicated when emptying and measuring the fluid and painful when they are removed. Drains require maintenance for 1-3 weeks after surgery and sometimes cause additional scarring. TissuGlu forms a strong bond between tissue layers, reducing spaces where fluid may collect, allowing your body to resorb fluid. This way the healing process is more natural without drains.

TissuGlu may reduce the need for drains after surgery. By using TissuGlu instead of drains, you may:

Return to normal activities more quickly
Experience less discomfort and pain than when drains are used
Have fewer invasive treatments for fluid management.

I’m not saying let’s all go out and get a tummy tuck. For some of us, exercise might do the trick. But for those mamas that have done the work and still have an area that doesn’t make them happy, then a tummy tuck might be an option for you. And thankfully, TissuGlu is making it a little less difficult to find your best self in your own body.

If you’re considering abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), ask your doctor if a drain-free tummy tuck with TissuGlu is right for you.

Get more information about TissuGlu by going to their website: www.tissuglu.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrainFreeTummyTucks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drainfreetummytucks

Important TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive Safety Information:

Indication

TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive is indicated for the approximation of tissue layers where subcutaneous dead space exists between the tissue planes in abdominoplasty.

Contraindications

Do not use in patients with known or suspected allergies to urethane-based or isocyanate-containing products.

Warnings

Do not use TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive in patients who have had prior exposure to TissuGlu^®. Immunological response associated with repeat TissuGlu^® exposure has not been studied.
The effectiveness for the treatment of patients with BMI > 28 has not been established. Higher BMI patients have a propensity for fluid accumulation and may have an increased risk of seroma formation.
Effectiveness was not observed in weight loss patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Weight loss patients have a propensity for fluid accumulation and may have an increased risk of seroma formation and aspiration.

Benefits

TissuGlu^® may reduce the need for drains after surgery. By using TissuGlu^® instead of drains, you may:

Return to normal activities more quickly
Experience less discomfort and pain than when drains are used
Have fewer invasive treatments for fluid management. The results showed that 73% of TissuGlu^® patients had no treatments after surgery. However, some patients did require additional invasive treatments including reinsertion of drains.

Risks

Clinical studies were performed using TissuGlu^®. There were no increased safety risks with the use of TissuGlu^® than when drains were used. Potential complications associated with the use of the device and the tummy tuck procedures include seroma (fluid) formation. These complications may require treatments such as drain placement and/or fluid removal by needle, which may be performed in the operating room. Additional potential complications include wound healing issues, rash/redness, surgical site or incision infection, scarring, hematoma (bruise or swelling), incision separation, and immunological reaction.

Safety Information:

For full safety information please visit http://tissuglu.com, contact your doctor, or call Cohera Customer Support at 1-800-641-7458.

Disclaimer:

TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive is currently approved for sale in the United States for the approximation of tissue layers where subcutaneous dead space exists between the tissue planes in abdominoplasty. TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive received European CE Mark in 2011, where it is approved for large flap surgical procedures such as abdominoplasty. TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive is not approved for sale in any other region. Any questions related to the indication for use should be directed to your Cohera Medical Account Manager or to Cohera Medical Corporate Clinical Affairs. Refer to the complete TissuGlu^® Surgical Adhesive Directions for Use for prescribing and usage information.

Understanding Health Care

March 2, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

If you have family, you need health care. It may seem overwhelming, but we can make understanding healthcare easier.

Thanks to United Healthcare for helping through my own health care needs for almost 10 years. And now for partnering with mamachallenge to make it not-so-challenging for you.

I gal that rarely ever got sick growing up, I didn’t quite understand the need for health insurance – until I was an adult WITH kids. I mean it’s there *just in case* you get sick or break an arm.

…Until of course one of those happen or even worse, you’re pregnant and find out you have all kinds of complications and your child may not make it without a big medical team and a lot of prayers.

Then you know EXACTLY why you have health care. And so thankful for it too.

Over the years many of us have been confused with that health care is, how it works, and how to make the best of it without all the complicated explanations.

Like everything, I prefer the Cliff Notes version and then if I need to know more, I can dig in. But insurance can seem so overwhelming that you don’t always know what you’re doing or why, except pull out your card when they ask for it.

So UnitedHealthcare is trying to break it down in less words and in a little more fun way to learn by throwing in three chances to win $500 while giving you the 411.

First, the Lingo.

Oh the terms and the acronyms. That alone is enough to make you go WTH. However, it’s not as hard as you think it is.

PPO. HSA. CBO.

You’ve probably heard them, but you don’t always know what you’re saying? Me too.

For instance:

PPO is short for PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION.

HSA is short for HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT (love these.)

But do you know the difference between prior authorization and coinsurance?

But UnitedHealthcare takes all the guessing out of it by being just plain clear. Giving you the power to not just pick the right insurance for you but to be smart about spending your dollars where they make sense for your family.

The Perfect Match engagement is a memory/concentration game with basic cost terminology. Play it and you can win $500!

And once you do your homework, quiz yourself with this quick Perfect Match quiz to make sure you really know what you’re talking about. (Plus there’s $100 weekly and $500 monthly you can win.)

Second, How Does it All Work?

Want to make sure you don’t just know the lingo, but how it works? When doctors and insurance providers talk about referrals and networks, we know they aren’t talking about Facebook or a book club. I’m a visual person so I need a picture to put it all together. As a mom, many times we’re scheduling the doctor visits and therefore paying for them. But wouldn’t it be nice to know what all we’re paying for? This quick video gives it to you clean and simple.

Answer one question in the Look & Learn after you watch this video and you could win up to $500.

Third, Tools and Tips

Want to see if you’ve put it together the right way? Or still need to see what other tools are available to help you figure it all out? Then UHC can help you with tons of calculators, estimators, an app and if you prefer, real life people who can help you figure it out. When I have a question I call them. Or you can click around in your own portal and find most the answers your need already right in front of you. From calculating all the cost for an upcoming procedure or simply just comparing the costs, this is where you go to make it easy for you.

PLUS when you answer these three questions in the Cost Quiz 123, you can win $500!

Feel like you’ve already taken a class in health care? Then you should be rewarded. One lucky reader will win a gift card for $50 from Amazon. At least this way you can be motivated to learn more when you have a new planner or one of these cool new finds. I personally am looking this one.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best Age For Braces

February 4, 2017 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

What’s the best age for braces? Do you judge by the teeth, the responsibility level or when the ortho tells you? You might be surprised.

Thanks to the Texas Association of Orthodontists for helping me figure out one more #mamachallenge. Affiliate links may also be included.

There are many things my hubs is good at…however, noticing when I get a haircut (or anything above my neck prettified), is not his strong suit. (Sigh.)

However, a few weeks ago, he came home and we began talking about our days. We exchanges woes and wees of the day as we made dinner and caught up (as we normally do.) Around an hour had passed by when I looked up and noticed, he had braces!

Yep, the tables has turned. He had been less than two feet from me for an hour and I never even noticed…

At the ripe old age of more than 30 and less than 40, he was sporting braces.

Now understand, we had discussed it, but I didn’t know if he would go through with it. But after an appointment with his orthodontist, Dr. Kapadia, they determined he needed braces.

While he hasn’t loved every minute of it (let’s face it, braces are moving your teeth and anyone who has ever had braces will tell you there are uncomfortable moments), he looked great and his braces are almost invisible.

The only real difference is that he never leaves home without his toothbrush and he’s made good friends with the waterpik.

On the flipside, around the same time that week, my my 8-year-old son shot me his beautiful smile. He’s pretty good at knowing just how and when to smile at his mama. (Boys just know how to melt their mama’s hearts, huh?) However, I couldn’t help but giggle to myself with his cute dimples and several missing teeth. I love his smile, but all the crazy holes from his newly missing baby teeth and his now grown in crooked adult teeth are hard not to stare at.

It seemed like the time had come to head to get braces.

But after a visit to our dentist and the orthodontist, I found out, not so fast.

I was right that he needed to see the orthodontist – but I wasn’t right on when he needed the orthodontic treatment.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) actually recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.

A check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine but it might also reveal that there are kinds of things that need to be addressed before braces should even be put on. There could be underlying problems with the way adult teeth are coming in—with the relationship of the upper and lower jaw, with tooth crowding, or problems that may be occurring due to thumb sucking or other habits.

Signs by your child that show you may need to look into scheduling an orthodontic exam:

Early or late loss of baby teeth
Difficulty in chewing or biting
Mouth breathing
Thumb sucking
Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
Jaws that shift or make sounds
Speech difficulties
Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
Teeth that meet abnormally, or don’t meet at all
Facial imbalance
Jaws that are too far forward or back
Grinding or clenching of the teeth

Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth or teeth ruption by age 7 – even though baby teeth may still be present.

In our case, thankfully, there wasn’t any issues, but a few more baby teeth needed to come in before the braces could be put on his teeth.

However, do you want to know the moral of this story?

There isn’t a right age for braces.

Heck, I got mine in high school. (Ugh.)

But in reality, you just need to make sure you are seen by your dentist and if you have a kiddo, they should see the ortho around 7 years old, but it’s never too late if you haven’t made it yet!

Check out www.mylifemysmile.org for more info or to find an orthodontic specialist in your area.

Put Down the Chocolate: Breaking down PMS

December 6, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 14 Comments

When you’re young they say those hormones are ragin’, but midlife yours really can go crazy. We’re breaking down PMS and how your hormones affect you now especially when it comes to PMS even at the midlife mark.

Thank you Douglas Laboratories for this post. I was selected for this opportunity by Douglas Laboratories and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

So many “fun” things happen when you’re older.

I won’t even begin to start the list, but your hormones definitely take a leading role on how your body works as you hit those milestone years (30s, 40s, and the rest of your years.)

While I’m sure you wish that you could just PAUSE all the talk about menopause, it’s a fact of life, just like the first time you heard the word period.

(Hey, it could be worse, we could be like ants. Now that’s crossing the line.)

Most of your life you’ve heard all kinds of excuses why hormones are messing with you – from your insatiable desire for chocolate during PMS to your complete lack of passion for sex – your hormones played a part.

But it’s not just below the belt where hormones affect you, it’s everywhere.

Our brain, bones, heart, skin and muscles all depend on healthy levels of sex hormones, thyroid hormones and adrenal hormones to function properly. These hormones work in synergy to support our mood, motivation and drive. Hormones allow us to adapt to the demands and stressors of life. Maintaining healthy and appropriately balanced hormones supports healthy aging, quality of life and helps make an active lifestyle easier to maintain. Healthy hormone levels also support healthy sexual function, body weight, sleep and blood sugar levels.

So yes, those pesky little hormones control most everything about you – from the way you act, the way you feel, the way you look and the way your body is performing.

However, that doesn’t mean once you hit your 40s, it’s done. Even though when I was 12 I felt that my world had come crashing down when I found out I had “become a woman,” I learned with a little knowledge and a few tools, life wasn’t just worth living, it was pretty damn good, if I want it to be.

Now I hit 36 (yes, I said it), I thought that menopause was just around the corner. But not so fast. PMS is still alive and well.

DID YOU KNOW?

Florida Hospital Medical Center states that almost 85% of American women experience PMS and symptoms can sometimes get worse as patients age and approach menopause.

What Causes PMS

In my younger years, I knew PMS had hit about the time I felt like someone was beating on my nether regions, rolled up with a heating pad, ready to toss my cookies most of the day, and stuffing my face with chocolate and popcorn. The older I got the more it’s changed, but not without me learning it was a little more than a five-day hindrance. PMS, or pre-menstrual syndrome, symptoms fluctuate with a lot of things including:

Nutrient deficiencies particularly with calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, E and B6
Excess estrogen obtained from environmental factors like plastics and other chemical exposures
Stress
Blood sugar dysregulation
Level of thyroid hormones

But with a good diet, exercise and a little help on what your body is missing, you change a lot of those crazy things your body does right before Aunt Flow comes to visit.

Making PMS Better

Eating a plant-based diet including broccoli, cabbage or brussels sprouts help support healthy detoxification. DIM, an important metabolite of indole-3-carbinol, promotes healthy estrogen metabolism and cell cycle activity.

So put down the chocolate – or at least eat one just bite, not the whole bar.

There is also scientific evidence that adding Vitamin D and Magnesium can support your cycle up and downs during the menstrual cycle that may help explain some features of PMS like cramping and bloating.
Trials also support that Vitamin B, especially Vitamin B-6 can help to get your mood in check.
And Iron has also been linked to PMS as it supports the maintenance of healthy iron storage your cycling body needs (and I don’t mean SoulCycle)

Taking birth control? PMS symptoms can also get out of whack due to folate interactions happening in your body, so getting just the right amount of this water-soluble B vitamin will help things out, as long as you don’t get too much (which can cause a whole new set of problems.)Folate is one of those really important things your body needs to help prevent birth defects, anemia, and keep your brain moving right along.

So are you wonder how you’re going to get all those vitamins and minerals in to make PMS more tolerable?

In addition to diet (and exercise), Douglas Laboratories PMS Support can provide a combination of specific nutrients, including BioResponse DIM®, chasteberry extract, magnesium and B vitamins, specially formulated for support of normal premenstrual symptoms in healthy women. That chasteberry extract is pretty powerful stuff as it helps to balance out those crazy estrogen hormones over progesterone.

Basically, this stuff helps you to get your vitamins, minerals and other stuff your body needs to put your hormones in check and get Aunt Flow moving right along – without all the mess and mayhem she brings.

So as I hit my 36-year milestone, I’m figuring out the end as I know it isn’t just around the corner. This is where life gets good.

You just need a little boost.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

All I Want for Christmas is White Straight Teeth (Free Braces)

November 27, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo 2 Comments

Braces and glasses may be part of growing up, but just because you aren’t a kid doesn’t mean you don’t deserve white straight teeth!

Thanks to Texas Association of Orthodontists for this sponsored reminder!

Braces aren’t just for the kids anymore.

Adults are just as likely to either repeat their braces treatment or finally have the opportunity to get braces on their teeth during their 30s or 40s.

But it doesn’t matter how old you are – everyone deserves a beautiful smile with white straight teeth!

Your smile is one of the biggest confidence boosters and something that anyone can see. If an adult is self-conscious about their smile, orthodontic treatment can provide them with the same benefits younger patients enjoy. Less visible orthodontic materials have made adult orthodontic treatment increasingly popular in recent years.

According to a survey by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), adult patients grew by 14% from 2010 to 2012.

There is also the risk that some malocclusions (bad bites) may get worse if left untreated. If treatment is recommended, there are a number of options available today that make it less noticeable than it was in the past.

Fortunately with today’s technology, the materials orthodontists use to move teeth can be almost imperceptible. As specialists, orthodontists are able to use the full array of “appliances” (the formal name for braces, aligners, etc.) to create a healthy and beautiful smile. These include traditional metal braces with small, sleek brackets and thin wires; ceramic (tooth-colored) braces; braces that go behind the teeth; self-ligating braces, which have a built-in mechanism to hold the wire to the brackets; and clear aligners.

Thankfully, having braces doesn’t have to be a multi-year obligation. The average time between orthodontic appointments is about six weeks, so you miss less time from work and other important commitments and don’t need to be embarrassed about having braces or having a smile they don’t like.

Check out mylifemysmile.org for more info or to seek out an orthodontic specialist in your area.

And if it didn’t get any better, win an orthodontic treatment:

TAO is giving away an Orthodontic treatment to one of my followers! (You need to be located in Dallas/Fort Worth area to qualify!)

All you need to do is enter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

That’s it! Giveaway ends December 31 , 2016 at 11:59PM CST. Winner announced January 3, 2017!

4 Keys to Aging Well: Making 36 the Next 26

November 21, 2016 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Looking for the fountain of youth? It’s easier than you think with these 4 keys to aging well that you overlook every day that will take years off your mind and body.

Thank you Douglas Laboratories for this post. I was selected for this opportunity by Douglas Laboratories and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Water. Sleep. Sex.

Three things adults often say they don’t get enough of…but wish they did.

Ironically all three help to keep our mind, body and spirit, in healthy check, but for many of us, don’t make the cut.

So we continue to feel exhausted, age quicker, and look like it, too.

And even though they are all free, we continue to research and investigate the newest (and often much more expensive) technologies to just make us look like we’ve been sleeping, drinking our recommended ounces of water, and had time for a roll in the hay.

I just celebrated my 36 birthday…

It’s taken a few weeks to admit it’s 36 even though I feel like I look 46, but my soul says 26 (and some days, 16.)

But in that moment of realization, I decided to feel proud of 36. I don’t have to settle with “this is what I’ve to do” but “this is what I get to do – so make it worth it – every freaking day.”

It’s not an easy progression to change your mindset, but I did figure out that it’s not that hard to make some BIG differences in life to make you look, feel, and be better – even if you’re 36, 46, 56 and all those treasured landmark dates I can only hope to celebrate in my future birthdays.

So what’s the fountain of youth that makes it all better?

There isn’t one that we’ve found, but we did find five things that can make a really big impact and don’t involve surgery, trips to foreign lands, or much out of your pocket book.

I’ve said it so many times and yet, it somehow has taken decades to understand it’s really THAT important. However, when I was able to learn a few weeks ago that sleep (or lack of it) was one of the biggest reasons I couldn’t lose weight, my desire to hit the pillow became much stronger. And my idea that sleeping less than everyone else was some kind of medal for “I’m doing more than you and can handle” was a load of crap. Sleep, feel good about, and believe me, your body will bless you with positive benefits because you allowed it to do what it’s supposed to do.

We all know this…drink water to be healthy.

Your body needs water to work. Your skin looks better when you’re hydrated. Your system works more efficient when you drink water.

There are all kinds of reasons you should drink water. The question really is how much.

For years it was you need 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water a day. Then there was to drink as many ounces as you weighed…believe me I tried that one and felt like I was running a river through my body. Most recently experts say you should multiply your weight by 2/3 (67%) for the total amount of ounces of water you should drink. And then for 30 minutes of exercise, add 12 ounces.

While the equations are important, ultimately, the most important thing is to drink the stuff – and a lot of it. It makes you look good, feel good, and it’s free.

While I plan not to share too much here, sex is good for your health. Between the endorphins (the feel good, natural mood enhancers) that it produces and the connection it strengthens between you and your mate, sex is good for you to have.

Wonder when you can fit THAT in between the kids, work, and all the other crap when you’re gotta get done? …Well it doesn’t take a long time to produce a positive and lasting benefit (read through the lines here, folks.)

Remember when you were 26 (or maybe younger) and that healthy glow you had? You can still have that – just go spend some alone time with your partner. Plan it if you have to, but the benefits to both of you will happen if you just give as much time as you care to stand in line waiting for your caramel macchiato – and this is much cheaper than your $5 Venti.

You know I’m right there.

Remember when your mama said “take your vitamins”? Remember when this morning you told your kids, “take your vitamins”? Practice what you preach and take it from Mary Poppins – and make that medicine go down.

Confused about all the vitamins, supplements, and other concoctions you should be consuming to make you look like a Disney princess? Then start with the basics.

General Multivitamin

This is going to give you what you need with the minimum daily allowance of the 10 essential nutrients needed for optimal health.Ultra Preventive ® 2 Daily includes important vitamins and minerals plus powerful antioxidant support derived from natural foods like spinach, blueberries, and strawberries.

Probiotics

Thought this was something just for babies and grandmas? Nope, a probiotic really has less to do with age and more to do with keeping your gut healthy.

Studies have shown the importance of “gut health” and it’s just as important as a healthy brain. Probiotics, like the ones that are found in Multi-Probiotic 15 Billion help to support digestive issues, mental health illness, and neurological disorders with over 15 billion beneficial organisms you need for a stronger immune system and gastrointestinal support.

Fish Oil

Most women that have had children have heard about the benefits of fish oil in regards to the development of a child. However, on a very basic level, fish oil supports healthy cholesterol levels, boosts your mood and helps to maintain strong bones, which we all need.

But not all Fish Oil is made the same.

It all can get quite complicated in regards to DNA and science, but with Quell Fish Oil ® with EPA and DHA, studies show it may help to slow the progression of age-related memory loss, may support memory and learning ability including focus and attention, and may support healthy brain function and promote a positive mood and well-being.

So that basically means this fish oil stuff, along with just two other nutritional supplements, and three things you already can get for free, keeps it all in check so you can remember who you are, how old you are, and make sure that your next birthday is even better than your last.