Spring Into Spring: 7 Ways To Be More Optimistic

We set the clocks ahead for daylight savings and many of us woke up to a darker sky feeling sluggish thanks to a one hour loss of sleep. If you hit the snooze, pulled the covers up over your head still feeling bummed out about your waistline, bank account, career or love life, you’re not alone. Despite more daylight our worries will still be there. So how do we spring into spring, a season that’s all about new beginnings and rebirth? For practical ways, to cultivate optimism in our lives we turned to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services who shares these tips and tools.

1. Focus on the good.

“A daily exercise I often have my patients do is keep an appreciation or gratitude journal. When you focus on all the things to be happy for in your life then more great things come. Think generally and use your senses. What do you appreciate seeing, smelling, touching, tasting, listening to? Write it down. Within a few weeks you'll train the mind to pivot to an appreciate thought when a negative thought comes,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

2. Make plans.

Making plans to see relatives, to see a new exhibit a movie or to travel gets our mind moving forward towards something positive that we can be hopeful and optimistic about. Dr. Hafeez suggests making plans to do 3 things per month for the next 3 months. “Choose things that you know will bring you joy and then go do them! Feeling excited about what is coming and talking about how fun it will be keeps us optimistic and forward moving,” says Dr. Hafeez. 

3. Control what you can, delegate the rest! 

We get pessimistic and worry about the worst possible outcomes when we realize that we cannot control every detail. This leads to anxiety and an even stronger feeling of having to control conditions, and even others. According to Dr. Hafeez, this is a trap. “Figure out what needs to get done. What actions you can take. Then let go of anything else that is beyond your control with faith that everything will turn out fine. Envision the desired outcome,” advises Dr. Hafeez.

4. Limit your news watching and avoid it before bed. 

“There is a very common pattern I see people falling into,” says Hafeez. “People awaken and immediately reach for their smartphone for news headlines. They then turn on the TV news as background noise. They listen to news in their cars, have news alerts going off on their phones all day, catch the evening news and then the 11pm news before bed. No wonder they're less optimistic! What you choose to look at will impact your mood. Remember, good news doesn’t get ratings,” she adds.  

5. Don’t snooze. Instead just breathe.

When the alarm goes off give yourself a few minutes to just lie there, eyes closed focused on your breathing. Breathe in counting to 4 and then breathe out. Do a mental scan of your entire body from head to toe thanking your cells for restoring you as you slept. “Deep breathing is a form of meditation and in the morning, you have a small window of opportunity to decide what kind of day you want it to be,” says Dr. Hafeez.  

6. Distract yourself with something that requires focus.

The key here is to pick something you truly enjoy doing and do it daily. It can be painting, coloring, yoga, a 20-minute walk or jog, listening to music and dancing around your living room. “When you are fully engaged in something, you can’t ruminate which leads to pessimism,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

7. Make feeling good top priority.

When you commit to feeling good you instantly start to think more optimistically. According to Dr. Hafeez, when you’re mindful of your own negativity and shift to a better feeling positive thought you feel powerful. You’ll feel like you can conquer anything when you can master your own mindset.

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www .comprehendthemind.com

Did You Know Your Pharmacist Can...? Plus Win a $500 Shoppers Drug Mart Gift Card!

Of course your pharmacist can fill prescriptions. Everyone knows that. But in honour of Pharmacist Awareness Month, I'm sharing some lesser-known services that your pharmacist can take care of for you...and the chance to win a $500 Shoppers Drug Mart gift card!!

Now, did you know that your pharmacist can...

• Administer flu shots?
• Administer other vaccines, such travel vaccines (how I wish I needed some of these right now) and the shingles shot?
• Renew and extend prescriptions?
• Provide advice on diet/healthy eating/cholesterol/high blood pressure?
• Provide support for managing diabetes, such as helping you select a blood glucose monitor and helping you understand how to use insulin and insulin pumps?

And one of my personal favourites:

• Provide advice on over-the-counter medications?

Some of the most incredible help I've received from my Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist has actually been over the phone, on the occasions that I am feeling so unwell (or one of the girls is so crummy) that I have to send my husband to the pharmacy for me. 

These calls tend to open with a similar script: "The symptoms are XYZ and for the love of God please tell me there is something over-the-counter to help us!" The kind pharmacist will then ask me questions, determine an appropriate product, and put it aside for my husband to pick up.

I'm sure you must have your own great example about how a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist has helped you out...so how would you feel if I told you it could win you a $500 Shoppers Drug Mart gift card by sharing your story?

At the link below, you have a chance to tell your own story, and one This Mom Loves winner will be chosen by a panel of judges (not me!) to win a $500 gift card! It doesn't have to be long; 50-200 words is all that's required...and did I mention that one of my readers will win this prize? Make sure to tell them This Mom Loves sent you! (Note that there are other bloggers participating in the campaign, but you can only enter once - there will be one winner per blog.) Full contest rules can be found here.

Entries will be judged by the following criteria:

The contest judging panel will judge the qualified entries based on how the story best reflects the themes of the Love Your Pharmacist Online Contest. The pharmacist submitted must be a Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore or Real Atlantic Superstore pharmacist. The Love Your Pharmacist Online Contest themes require a pharmacist: 

1. Demonstrating a caring approach 
2. Using an expanded scope of practice service 
3. Making a difference to the health of the patient, child or parent 
4. Going over and above what the customer would have expected 

You have until Friday, March 31st to enter, and here's the link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NJFPWP


Good luck!

March Break Wish List

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Our March Break this year is shaping up to be a much-appreciated staycation. We work hard (and by "we", I also mean my girls, 10 and 8) and I know we're very excited to slow things down for a week. (I'm particularly looking forward to turning off my alarm!)

Today I'm sharing with you what's on my wish list for a perfect March Break:

• Great reading material. I love my psychological thrillers and celebrity memoirs, so you can bet I'll be devouring some of these over the break. I've also been a magazine lover since I could read (and my aunt let me read her Teen magazines), and while I still keep a couple of hard-copy subscriptions, I love the Texture app for reading a huge range of magazines on my tablet. I hope to get all caught up before the holidays are over! It's also important to model a love of reading for kids, so I definitely plan to cuddle up on the couch with my girls and a whole pile of books. (One already takes after me, with her nose constantly in a book, and let's just say the other takes after her father!)

• A night on the town. After weeks of cooking from a box or can or hitting the drive-thru (hey, I'm keeping it real, here!) I'd love a nice restaurant meal and night out with my hubby (I'm thinking prime rib and garlic mashed potatoes...) It will be fun to pull out a nice dress and heels (which I don't wear teaching kindergarten), and I definitely plan to make use of my Dr. Scholl’s® For Her™ , with several slim-fitting insole and cushioning options to fit different kinds of heels and flats, so that I don't have to suffer for fashion with foot pain! (If you're lucky enough to be going out of town for a break, make sure to throw these in your suitcase too!)

• A clutter-free home. Yes, I am a bit obsessed with this. I really do believe that things go better for me when I have my house in order, and March Break will give me the chance to do some extra spring cleaning (though there are very few areas yet untouched by my urge to purge!) We recently scaled back on our board games collection, which was perfect timing leading up to our staycation, and I am actually excited about going through a box of electronic odds-and-ends and continuing to curate my clothing collection. To each her own, right?

• Heat. I know, I will be in Canada in March so this is highly unlikely, but I do have a lovely fireplace! As happy as I am to be staying home for the break, I have to admit that part of me is wishing we were heading south (as we have a couple of times before) for some sun and sand. If your break is taking you somewhere sunny, even if it's just the great Canadian outdoors, remember the sunscreen. I wear it year-round - even though I'm the least outdoorsy gal you could meet! Coppertone ClearlySheer SPF 50 and Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60 filter UVA and UVB rays to help provide sunburn protection. ClearlySheer feels weightless on your skin, won’t clog pores or cause breakouts (I only use sunscreen with these qualities now), and works great under makeup. The Kids Lotion is waterproof*, so it’s ideal for water-loving kids. If you’re headed to the beach (lucky you!), remember that reapplying is just as important as putting on in the first place, so reapply at least every two hours, or after being in the water. (*Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in the water or sweating.)

• A little bit of Ireland. My husband and I both come from Irish roots, and live in a very Irish community, so no March Break is complete without the wearing of the green for St. Patrick's Day. We will also be taking in the local Irish Concert, and my girls have been practicing all of their favourite tunes in anticipation. I'd like to leave you with a little taste of Ireland: my daughter Olivia rehearsing the song Danny Boy. Enjoy, and whether it's a vacay or a staycay, I hope you have a wonderful March Break!

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Teach Kids To Fight Germs #SDMFluFighters

Not long ago, I wrote an article for Parents Canada magazine all about teaching young kids not to spread germs. I interviewed a doctor - more specifically a pediatric infectious disease specialist - who said, "The number one way to reduce bacterial germs in any environment is to vaccinate your kids. Not only are they safe from those particular illnesses, but they also have less risk of developing infections from antibioticresistant superbugs."

So, assuming that your kids have been vaccinated (you all went to Shoppers Drug Mart for the flu shot this season, right?), here are some other ways to teach kids about germ-fighting. (I am writing this post at the end of a day when 12 of my 29 students were absent...so these are definitely concepts I'm sharing in the classroom as well!)

Whether we like it or not, kids quickly absorb information that comes to them through screens, and this great Germ Smart - Wash Your Hands video really engaged my students - and they were able to answer questions about it after. 






Picture books are a fantastic way to reinforce important concepts with little ones. A home daycare provider I know recommends Germs Are Not For Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick, and I also love Sid the Science Kid - The Trouble With Germs. 

For older kids interested in more advanced information, Achoo! The Most Interesting Book You'll Ever Read About Germs by Trudee Romanek really delves into the topic.

You can use songs to make germ-fighting more fun, for example by teaching kids to sing the ABCs once or the Happy Birthday song twice while they wash their hands (20 seconds is the recommended time frame), and if you want to take an extra step, you can buy a special gel that glows under UV light, showing kids what spots they missed after handwashing (usually under the fingernails and between the fingers).

The main points to stress with your children, aside from handwashing:

• Cough and sneeze into the elbow
• Use tissues (kids usually need explicit instruction on how to wipe or blow their noses)
• Keep hands away from the face

I enlisted Iylie, one of my incredible kindergarten artists, to create a piece of artwork to go with the topic of germs and handwashing - can you believe what she came up with? She presented it to the class, noting that it was abstract, with germs in the corner and a triangular sink in the middle. (I know, wow, right?)

I'd like to end with another great quote from the pediatric infectious disease specialist, who shared some words of wisdom for the antibacterial-obsessed parents out there:

"Stressing ourselves out by trying to decontaminate our environment is an exercise in futility.” She suggests being reasonable in terms of cleaning surfaces with soap and water, but not obsessing over it.

I wish you and your children good health throughout this flu season and beyond!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. Opinions are, as always, my own.

When to Keep Sick Kids Home - Plus $150 Shoppers Drug Mart Prize Pack Giveaway

"Mommy, I don't feel well..."

We've all been there (despite good hygiene, lots of sleep and vaccinations such as the flu shot), and many of us have struggled with staying home from work or arranging alternate child care for our sick kids. It's not easy! According to a recent Shoppers Drug Mart poll, 30% of adults with children have sent sick or contagious kids to school or daycare...though 86% of parents say they are annoyed when others do this!

When an illness is serious, we know there's no choice, and we move mountains to keep our child home to recover. But sometimes, it's not so cut and dried...are they too sick to go or not?

Often daycares have very clear policies about when kids can and can't be present, but school can be a bit more iffy. As a teacher, my two biggest guidelines are to keep kids home if:

1. They don't feel well enough to be there. If they have a high fever, are sleepy, teary or in pain they won't be in any position to learn.

2. They are contagious (or likely contagious) with something icky (not a medical term). You never want to pass on vomiting, diarrhea, rashes or other diseases like pinkeye. A good way to decide is to ask yourself how you would feel if a classmate came to school and passed the same illness along to your child (and in fact, it's possible they did!)

Sometimes we have to make the decision about whether or not to send under-the-weather kids to optional events like sports, parties and playdates, and those two rules may not be enough to help us decide whether it would be socially acceptable to have our kids attend. For insight, I consulted Lisa Orr, etiquette expert and owner of Orr Etiquette (and a friend I've made as we both make appearances on THE SOCIAL) for some words of wisdom.

Lisa Orr of Orr Etiquette

According to Lisa, "illness etiquette is that you should never bring a cold, flu or disease as a hostess gift, so that means you should not attend if there is any chance you might be contagious.  A quick call to your pediatrician is always an option if you aren’t sure if your child is contagious but a good rule of thumb is if you have a child who is feverish, lethargic or is coughing and sneezing up a storm then it’s better to stay home and play another day."

Then there's the flip side - your child is perfectly healthy, and you want to keep it that way...so when Jenny's mother calls and mentions that her little girl hasn't been feeling well, is it awful to suggest that Jenny keep her germs at home? 

Lisa says, "It is absolutely not rude – and the fact that they have volunteered the information is a great sign because they’re really inviting your input for how to handle the situation. In this case I would say something like, 'I’m so sorry to hear that she’s not well, but thank you so much for letting me know, I really appreciate it. Why don’t we reschedule our playdate,' or, 'It sounds like she’s not up to the party but I’d be happy to drop off her loot bag at school and we can organize another time to get together.' In the end the sick child will get the rest they need, other children won’t get sick and your child can play with their friend when everyone is well again."

To make sure your child stays as healthy as possible when surrounded by other children (and, almost as importantly, doesn't gross other people out) make sure you're teaching and reviewing the basics: using tissues for runny noses, coughing into sleeves, keeping hands off the face, and washing hands regularly.

Finally, get vaccinated: no matter where you stand on proper etiquette, flu shots should be part of the plan. You'll get peace of mind that your children likely won't be spreading the flu, or tracking it home from daycare, school or another gathering. Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies across the country are making it easy by offering walk-in flu immunizations administered by a pharmacist - every member of my household is vaccinated.

Now that we've settled that, it's time for a giveaway!

One lucky This Mom Loves winner will receive an awesome Flu Fighters pack from Shoppers Drug Mart valued at $150 containing the following:

• Life Brand Hand Sanitizer

• Cough Drops

• Vaporizing Cold Rub

• Electrolyte Maintenance Powder

• Disinfectant Wipes

• Vaporizer

• PC Chicken noodle soup

• PC Facial tissues

• PC Feeling Soothed Tea

• $100 gift card

All you have to do to enter to win is post a tweet or Facebook update that contains all three of the following:

1. A link to this post (the one you're reading right now!) 

http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2017/01/when-to-keep-sick-kids-home-plus-150.html 

2. A tag for @thismomloves

3. The hashtag #SDMflufighters

For example:

When to keep sick kids home - plus win a $150 prize pack from @thismomloves
http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2017/01/when-to-keep-sick-kids-home-plus-150.html
#SDMflufighters

Feel free to use that exact tweet, but be careful with Facebook: if you copy and paste, you still need to type @thismomloves manually or the tag won't pop up and I won't be notified in order to count your entry!

The giveaway runs until Monday, January 16th at midnight Eastern, after which time the entries will be totalled and a winner will be chosen through random number generation. Good luck...and happy flu-fighting!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Realistic Resolutions for Your Health in 2017

Note to readers: I will be working with Bayer on a series of sponsored posts throughout 2017. As I'm sure you know, opinions are always my own.

I'm not big on official new year's resolutions. Even in terms of health, I don't smoke, I hardly drink (some of my friends would tell you that drinking *more* should be my resolution!) and I keep a healthy weight. However, there are some small, realistic tweaks that could enhance health for many of us. Maybe some of these will appeal to you!

If you're facing a "holiday hangover" (not the alcohol-related kind), part of the problem may be the germs you were exposed to when getting together with friends and family. Does anyone not have a cold? (Fortunately, my month-long cold symptoms seem to be subsiding, but the pleurisy I was diagnosed with before Christmas still won't go away. Yes, pleurisy. Look it up, I had to!) If you've got annoying nasal congestion, hydraSense® can help get rid of it, so you can breathe better...important for work, play and exercise!

Speaking of exercise, I am a huge proponent of walking...and while many experts out there insist that walking outside is the way to go, it's not happening for me in Canada in January - I can't even handle the 10 second dash in from the hot tub in this weather! I absolutely adore my treadmill - and, as regular readers know, the amazing treadmill desk my dad built for me. Again, there are experts who urge us not to multitask, but I find I am quite capable of walking and doing one other thing, like blogging, at the same time - I'm actually at my treadmill desk right now as I write this! On days when I'm not teaching, I get on the treadmill first thing after breakfast, otherwise I walk as soon as I get home from work. Either way, it gives me a boost of energy and makes me feel that I'm doing something positive for my health.

Now, while I'm not in the habit of publicly discussing my digestive, um, habits, it's safe to say that while holiday eating is fun, it may lack the fibre we need to keep things...moving. Keeping yourself hydrated can help, and for effective relief of occasional constipation without bloating, cramping, or gas, you may consider RestoraLAX® for a bit of assistance.

If you can tell me that you and your kids get all the recommended daily vitamins and minerals through your food, then good for you - I'm very impressed! I like to keep it real here on the blog and I will freely admit that I do not...and while my girls are certainly better eaters than I am, I know they can't tick every nutrient off the list. Therefore, since they started chewing they've been taking FLINTSTONES™ vitamins (the #1 brand choice of pediatricians) every night when I take my One-A-Day®. (It's wonderful being approached to work with brands that I already use and love.) Vitamins can help provide the nutritional support we need when we may not be getting dietary needs from food alone...but try to keep in mind the famous advice from Michael Pollan: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." (And yes, potatoes are a plant!)

There are tons of people out there who promote adding meditation to your daily routine, which is something else that just takes a few minutes and can apparently have huge benefits. While studies show that meditating can actually help the brain process information faster, it's just not something that has appealed to me enough to give it a serious try. I'd love to hear from others who do it - what do you feel are the benefits for you? And how do you manage to sit still and clear your thoughts for any amount of time at all? Sell me on it!

My final piece of advice relates to sleep - something I've written about many times here on the blog, since it's so important to me. One small tweak you can make is to pledge to power down an hour before bedtime. The light that emanates from your phone, computer or TV can actually activate the brain and make it more difficult to fall asleep. Go with an old school book or magazine right before bed to help your body prepare for sleep...and help you feel much more refreshed in the mornings!

Are there any other simple tweaks you're adding to your routine to better your health this year? Let me know!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Bayer. Opinions are, as always, my own. To make sure products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

The Flu Shot: Myths and Family Photos plus a Great Giveaway!

Our whole family gets the flu shot at Shoppers Drug Mart every year, and just a week ago we made an outing of it. (And by "outing", I mean we went out for dinner after. I'll use any excuse.) 

I know there are a lot of myths circulating about the flu shot out there, and I'm hoping this post can help encourage those who are hesitant about the vaccination. (I like to think I'm a pretty smart woman, and I do my research before any health treatments for myself or my kids too.)

Here are some common myths dispelled...plus some cute Winn family photos...if I do say so myself!

The flu vaccine gives you the flu.

FALSE. Flu vaccinations delivered via a needle are either made with an ‘inactivated’ flu virus that’s not infectious, or with no flu virus at all.

{Note: you're always going to hear someone who swears the flu shot gave them the flu, but more likely they had a different type of illness entirely - one that could have been present even before the flu shot - or happened to get a strain that wasn't covered. It was not caused by the shot.}

You don’t need to get the flu vaccine every year.

FALSE. In order to best protect yourself from the flu you need to be vaccinated annually. Getting a vaccine doesn’t need to be a complicated, time consuming process.  Canadians can drop in to their local Shoppers Drug Mart or select grocery stores at any time of day, without an appointment.

You should wait until the height of flu season to get vaccinated so you’re protected for longer.

FALSE. While it’s never too late to get vaccinated, it’s best to receive your flu shot soon after it’s available, likely  October. The antibodies delivered via the flu vaccine that protect you against infection take up to two weeks to take effect, and since the flu peaks between December – February it’s important to get vaccinated weeks before the holiday party season starts.

{Note: I don't know about your family, but from my experience at least someone in every household is sick at Christmas. I want to make sure my family and I are as protected as possible.}

Pregnant women need to get consent from their doctor prior to receiving the flu vaccine.

FALSE. There is no recommendation for pregnant women to seek consent from their doctor prior to vaccination. However, there are some people who should seek their doctors’ advice prior to being vaccinated, including those who have a moderate – to – severe illness and patients with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. 

***

Are you convinced yet? If not, perhaps this will help: 70-90 per cent of flu cases can be averted through vaccination! I like those odds.

Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies across the country are making it easy by offering flu immunizations administered by an injection-certified pharmacist at all hours, without an appointment, just walk-in.

Now that we've settled that, it's time for a giveaway!

One lucky This Mom Loves winner will receive an awesome Flu Fighters pack from Shoppers Drug Mart valued at $150 containing the following:

• Life Brand Hand Sanitizer

• Cough Drops

• Vaporizing Cold Rub

• Electrolyte Maintenance Powder

• Disinfectant Wipes

• Vaporizer

• PC Chicken noodle soup

• PC Facial tissues

• PC Feeling Soothed Tea

• $100 gift card

All you have to do to enter to win is post a tweet or Facebook update that contains all three of the following:

1. A link to this post (the one you're reading right now!) 
http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2016/12/the-flu-shot-myths-and-family-photos.html
2. A tag for @thismomloves
3. The hashtag #SDMflufighters

For example:

Flu shot myths dispelled - plus win a $150 prize pack from @thismomloves
http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2016/12/the-flu-shot-myths-and-family-photos.html

#SDMflufighters

Feel free to use that exact tweet, but be careful with Facebook: if you copy and paste, you still need to type @thismomloves manually or the tag won't pop up and I won't be notified in order to count your entry!

The giveaway runs until Friday, December 9th at midnight Eastern, after which time the entries will be totalled and a winner will be chosen through random number generation. Good luck...and happy flu-fighting!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. Opinions are, as always, my own.

The Perfect Guide For Women's Health and Happiness - From a Woman Whose Wake-Up Call Changed It All

I'm all about women helping other women. (Or, really, people helping other people...but sometimes women need it more.) Paying it forward is essential: I love to answer questions from new bloggers or or aspiring TV guests, I support teacher candidates from faculties of education every year, and I'm happy to offer some words of wisdom or just a listening ear to new moms.

Sometimes, though, it's also important to pay it back.

The author of today's guest post - and a brand-new, possibly life-saving book for women - once helped pull me up. Years ago, as the Executive Editor of Today's Parent magazine, Kerrie Lee Brown was one of the very first big-magazine editors to give me a personal reply to a pitch (not a generic 'no thanks'), and words of encouragement. The first post I sent her wasn't a fit (and she told me why; they had covered something similar in the recent past), the second one almost made it but was eventually passed over due to space restrictions...but the third time was a charm, and she forwarded my query to a colleague who ended up accepting and then editing my first of many pieces for the magazine.

For that, I will always be grateful to Kerrie Lee Brown. Here is her story.

**********

What happens when your life seems perfect—a loving family, healthy kids, and an impressive career—and all of a sudden something stops you in your tracks?

This is exactly what happened to me when I ignored some serious warning signs and ended up having a heart attack at age 39. I was not your typical cardiac patient either—physically fit, non-smoker, and no immediate family known to have heart disease.

My unexpected wake-up call changed everything including my perspective on what I was doing and how I was doing it. As a working mom, in the media no less, I never thought something like this would happen to me. But it did. And now I share my story with other women, moms in particular, about what can happen if you don’t take time for yourself once in a while.

In my new book “My Heart, My Self – A Guide For Women Who Do Too Much” I dig deep and reveal my vulnerabilities—which is something a lot of us women shy away from because we are supposed to “have it all together.” I didn’t listen to my body and felt I needed to do everything for everyone, all the time, forgetting about my needs—until my body finally told me it needed to slow down, or it would shut down for good.

But who had time for a heart attack? I have two active boys who needed to get to hockey practice… so needless to say I didn’t go to the hospital. And that was my first mistake. I was lucky, and ended up having surgery to fix my electrical heart problem, but I learned a valuable lesson.

I learned the harsh reality that keeping all balls in the air is not always what it’s cracked up to be. My goal now is to educate women and help them realize that no one is exempt from health issues. I am living proof that life can catch up with you if you don’t take time for yourself.

My book also includes “10 Signs You Need To Slow Down” which I feel is essential to leading a stress-free life—and enjoy unique Brain Break exercises to help you reflect on your own daily stressors, and practical tips to help real women, just like you, take time from your busy schedule to focus on your health needs. Even when they may not be so obvious…

After all, kids need a healthy mom. Bosses need healthy employees. Partners need healthy partners. You get the picture.

My Heart, My Self will help you:

·         Learn to slow down (what all women need—especially moms!)

·         Tackle the guilt factor and never-ending desire to appear okay

·         Recognize daily stressors that hinder achieving optimal health

·         Accept the things you cannot control

·         Listen to your body and change your lifestyle

·         Realize you don't have to do it all...all of the time!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kerrie Lee Brown has a passion for health and wellness that spans over two decades. Her unique experience and perspective on the demands women put on themselves has positioned Kerrie as an expert on maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Besides writing for various mainstream publications including Chatelaine, Glow, Best Health, Women’s Running etc. she has appeared on numerous television and radio shows as a health expert. Kerrie is best known for her roles as editor-in-chief of Oxygen Women’s Fitness, founding editor of American Health and Fitness, and executive editor at Today’s Parent magazine. For more, visit www.kerrieleebrown.com

CONTACT INFO:

The much-anticipated book, My Heart, My Self, is available on Amazon in eight countries and Createspace.com. For more information visit http://www.kerrieleebrown.com/books.html

Editor’s Note: With incredible insight and real-life testimony from international journalist, motivational speaker and women’s health advocate, Kerrie Lee Brown—My Heart, My Self will help any woman realize that she too may be at risk if she doesn’t slow down. Go out and buy your copy today!

Boost Your Immunity During Flu Season - Plus a Giveaway!

It's true: flu season is upon us. Coughs, chills, aches, fever, fatigue, and runny or stuffy noses...who says it's the most wonderful time of the year? It's hard to say what's worse as a mom: getting sick yourself, taking care of a sick child, or taking care of a sick husband.

But never fear! Getting the flu this year is not a foregone conclusion. The obvious preventative measure, of course, is getting a flu shot (we’ll be heading to Shoppers Drug Mart very soon) since 70 – 90% of flu cases can be averted through vaccinations.

In addition, there are several ways we can try to boost our immunity to stay healthy, contract fewer illnesses and bounce back faster when we do.

Not smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight (check, check, and check) and eating a healthy diet (hey, no one's perfect!) are all lifestyle choices that can improve immunity.

Today, however, I'd like to wax lyrical about my favourite healthy habit: getting enough sleep!

Sleep is so important for adults, and experts say that sleep deprivation can actually suppress immune system function. Obviously when there are special circumstances (e.g., feeding a baby during the night) moms can't all get the recommended eight hours. However I'm always surprised by how many women say that they just don't have time for sleep - not realizing that they would be so much more productive (not to mention healthier) during the day if they had adequate rest.

In a recent issue of Redbook magazine, Dr. Helen Koenig, an instructor of medicine and infectious disease, is quoted as saying, "Sleep allows your immune system to regenerate overnight. While you sleep, your body releases chemicals called cytokines that help you better fight infection...It isn't glamorous or sexy, but it works!"

Speaking of glamorous and sexy, I'm not the only one who believes in the incredible value of sleep. A couple of super-productive and energetic celebrity moms feel the same way as I do. "Sleep is my weapon,” says Jennifer Lopez,  “I try to get eight hours a night." Beyonce agrees: "Having peace, happiness and healthiness is my definition of beauty. And you can't have any of that without sleep." If these power women find time for shut-eye, what's our excuse?

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I know it's not always easy, but common recommendations like limiting caffeine and screen time before bed and sleeping in a cool, dark room can really help. (I even tuck my alarm clock under my bed every night so the glow of the screen doesn't disrupt my sleep. For real.)

It's not just parents who need to get enough z's. According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, school-aged children (Kindergarten through Grade 5) should be getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Do some quick math: start at the time you usually wake your children up in the morning, and count back ten hours. Are they out cold every night by that time? As a teacher, I can't even begin to tell you how important it is that kids come to school well-rested...and not just because of the impact on their immunity.

My girls are both great sleepers (we can have the whole sleep-training discussion later), but my 10-year-old mini-me requires lots of downtime: reading before bed, and then some thinking time in the dark before she actually drifts off and I can officially start counting her sleep time. That means I have to make sure she's in bed well before that invisible 10 hour timer starts ticking.

See? We take sleep very seriously!

I can promise you, much to the amusement of my book club ("It's ten o'clock! Past Kate's bedtime!") I will remain passionate about getting at least eight hours of sleep a night throughout this flu season and beyond. And of course I will be heading to Shoppers Drug Mart as soon as possible to get my flu shot.

Now for a great giveaway! One lucky This Mom Loves winner will receive an awesome Flu Fighters pack from Shoppers Drug Mart valued at $150 containing the following:

• Life Brand Hand Sanitizer
• Cough Drops
• Vaporizing Cold Rub
• Electrolyte Maintenance Powder
• Disinfectant Wipes
• Vaporizer
• PC chicken noodle soup
• PC facial tissues
• PC Feeling Soothed Tea
• $100 gift card

All you have to do to enter to win is post a tweet or Facebook update that contains all three of the following:

1. A link to this post (the one you're reading right now!) http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2016/11/boost-your-immunity-during-flu-season.html
2. A tag for @thismomloves
3. The hashtag #SDMflufighters

For example:

How to boost your immunity with sleep and win a $150 prize pack from @thismomloves
http://thismomloves.blogspot.ca/2016/11/boost-your-immunity-during-flu-season.html
#SDMflufighters

Feel free to use that exact tweet, but be careful with Facebook: if you copy and paste, you still need to type @thismomloves manually or the tag won't pop up and I won't be notified in order to count your entry!

The giveaway runs until Sunday, November 13th at midnight Eastern, after which time the entries will be totalled and a winner will be chosen through random number generation. Good luck...and happy flu-fighting!

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart. Opinions are, as always, my own.