It's been a while since I last posted. I took a bit of a social media break, mostly because life has gotten a little crazier than usual, and I've been working really hard to be more mindful and to be present in reality.
Life-work balance isn't easy. For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I've just been keeping my head above water, but only just. If a wave were to come in, I'd be in real trouble.
I've talked before about my history with PMDD, and it has recently resurfaced - not to the same degree, but I notice it almost immediately after ovulating. I have to laugh a little bit, because in my head and my body, sometimes it feels like I go into this "empty uterus depression." I hate stereotypes of women being useless during "that time of the month," but to be honest, for me, there is totally a link between my fluctuating hormones and my ability to function optimally (Let me assure you, I can still function, but I know I'm better than this).
I don't know exactly how many other women feel this way. There are a lot of women out there who are so much better at functioning while their hormone levels are changing.
To be honest, without my own naturopathic and self care I would be drowning. And I think it's up to us to realize when we're starting to slip and to get help immediately. Here are a few things I've been working on - practices to help other women keep this balance and keep their heads above water.
1) If you're waking up early for work, go to bed earlier. My bedtime has been scaled back to around 9:30pm. That might sound fairly early, but I haven't been sleeping as well due to added life stress, so I'm more tired than usual.
2) Find out if you need extra nutrient supplementation and take your supplements regularly. This may include extra magnesium (especially magnesium malate), B12 injections, vitamin C, etc.
3) Get assessed and consider extra stress and nervous system support. Nervine herbs like oatstraw (Avena sativa) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) can be calming, support sleep, and mood.
4) Don't forget to exercise but it needs to be something you look forward to, and keep it shorter. I've been doing more yoga lately which helps immensely. Even 20-30 minutes of activity will make a huge difference in your mood. If you don't have time to do this everyday, take 5 minutes to stretch out on your floor. Or maybe just do a couple forward folds, moving with your breath.
5) Schedule 30 minutes each day for you. Read a book that you've been meaning to get through. Wind down for 30 minutes before your bedtime to you do an activity that calms you, brings you joy and that isn't work. I've been either reading or knitting, which has been a huge help for my own mental well-being.
6) Talk to a friend or family member. When I'm this busy and stressed out, I embrace my introvertedness (yup, I'm also making up words), and I don't want to go out anywhere. So instead, I'll call my mom or sister, or even just send them a text if I don't feel like I can talk. Partners/husbands are also great for hugs and cuddles. Petting your cat or dog can also have calming effects.
7) Cry. Seriously, go have a good cry. Then get your breath back and work on slowing and controlling your breath.
8) Journal. On days you don't feel like your 30-minute wind-down activity (see #5), then instead write down a few of your thoughts. What are you grateful for today? What do you need to do tomorrow? What are you looking forward to? What are things do you wish you could get done that aren't getting done? Write down anything. Just write for 5 whole minutes, then go to bed.
9) Once a month (or more frequently if you can swing it), do something bigger for you: go get a massage. Go for a swim. Take an exercise/yoga/support/meditation class. There are so many out there! Meetup.com has some great local options, for all interests.
10) Save time by setting up deliveries. For example, use services like MamaEarth Organics in the greater Toronto area and have groceries (and good healthy foods!) delivered to you automatically each week. Do all of your holiday shopping online to save you the time and stress of having to go to a shopping mall and dealing with crowds. Hire a cleaning service to come to your house maybe once or twice per month. Anything that can give you more time for the things you really need.
11) In general, set a schedule for yourself. Choose a time to stop responding to emails. Schedule time that is just family time. Schedule time for you alone. Set a schedule for both work and your personal/family life and do your best to stick to it.
Sometimes even one activity/class per month can be daunting when you look at your calendar, but I think we need to get back to taking care of ourselves. One day per month isn't a lot to ask. Nor is 35 minutes daily for you. That's 35 minutes out of our 960 minutes (16 daytime hours) per day. Of course, finances can also interfere in the above plan, so do only what you can manage.
And ever forget to ask for help when you need it. You may be surprised by how many people come to your aid when you reach out and ask for help.
Showing posts with label women advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women advice. Show all posts
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Thursday, July 30, 2015
The love/hate with menstrual cups and why you should say goodbye to tampons
When I first heard about the Diva Cup I was really taken aback - What? You put a cup in you and it collects your menstrual flow?! This concept was truly weird to me, especially in a culture where we're told how happy we will be using tampons with braids so that we can run and jump in the air as often as we like.
Don't get me wrong, I love running and jumping, but there were downsides to tampons that no one really told me about. We're well aware of toxic shock syndrome: You leave an absorbent material internally, it absorbs moisture, it sits there, bacteria grow, bacteria start "shooting out" toxins (so-to-speak) and your body goes into a toxic shock. Bad news bears. But I never really thought about how the "absorbing" part really affected my body.
The vaginal canal is lined with healthy mucous. It's a natural lubricant produced with the help of estrogen to keep the area moist. It also acts as a "vagina cleaner" by carrying away bad bacteria and allowing good healthy bacteria to flourish. Your tampon, although it absorbs your menstrual flow, is also taking up a lot of space internally, and while there, absorbs your normal vaginal mucous. So the loss of that great mucous can mess up the bacterial flora and your vaginal pH (which helps prevent infections!).
So now what? You can use pads; they make for a healthier vagina, but many women hate dealing with "the mess". Well-known brands often use bleaches, synthetic fibers and chemicals/additives which make them super absorbent, but they are in constant contact with your lady parts which can potentially take up the chemicals and additives.
Your best option would be a 100% cotton pad like Natracare or Organyc. They're less irritating than conventional pads for both regular menstrual use and postpartum when that area is particularly sensitive.
Another great option is the menstrual cup. I personally am a Diva Cup user, and if there's one thing I've learned it's that women either love it or hate it:
The Pros:
Don't get me wrong, I love running and jumping, but there were downsides to tampons that no one really told me about. We're well aware of toxic shock syndrome: You leave an absorbent material internally, it absorbs moisture, it sits there, bacteria grow, bacteria start "shooting out" toxins (so-to-speak) and your body goes into a toxic shock. Bad news bears. But I never really thought about how the "absorbing" part really affected my body.
The vaginal canal is lined with healthy mucous. It's a natural lubricant produced with the help of estrogen to keep the area moist. It also acts as a "vagina cleaner" by carrying away bad bacteria and allowing good healthy bacteria to flourish. Your tampon, although it absorbs your menstrual flow, is also taking up a lot of space internally, and while there, absorbs your normal vaginal mucous. So the loss of that great mucous can mess up the bacterial flora and your vaginal pH (which helps prevent infections!).
So now what? You can use pads; they make for a healthier vagina, but many women hate dealing with "the mess". Well-known brands often use bleaches, synthetic fibers and chemicals/additives which make them super absorbent, but they are in constant contact with your lady parts which can potentially take up the chemicals and additives.
Your best option would be a 100% cotton pad like Natracare or Organyc. They're less irritating than conventional pads for both regular menstrual use and postpartum when that area is particularly sensitive.
Another great option is the menstrual cup. I personally am a Diva Cup user, and if there's one thing I've learned it's that women either love it or hate it:
The Pros:
- No waste! You're saving landfills by keeping your cup in good shape.
- With good care, it can last up to 10 years. This means cleaning it with a gentle fragrance-free cleanser (or Diva Wash) after each emptying, and boiling in water for 5 minutes at the end of your period.
- You can monitor your bleeding. You can measure the volume of flow, the colour, clots, etc. This can reveal a lot of information about your cycles, which your naturopathic doctor can help you with.
- You can run, jump, swim with it in and never even know it's there. Swimming becomes more enjoyable when you're not worried about strings showing.
- You don't feel it. When inserted and positioned correctly, you shouldn't feel it. It also shouldn't leak, unlike most tampons.
- You only need to worry about "changing" it twice per day (with normal bleeding volume). Empty once in the morning and again before bed. No worrying about changing pads and tampons throughout the day.
- It only comes in 2 sizes so many women found that it just wasn't a good fit for them. This may be because of differences in a woman's anatomical structure, or due to the position in which the cup is inserted.
- If you suffer from major dysmenorrhea (painful periods) the added internal pressure of an object close to the cervix may increase cramping/pain.
- If you have really heavy periods, there is a chance it can overflow.
- Because you have an object inserted, there is added pressure on surrounding structures. You might notice that your urine is flowing a little slower than normal.
- Be aware of it during a bowel movement. The same muscles that help with bearing down vaginally also help with bearing down for a bowel movement. When you're in the bathroom, beware that the cup might be pushed down and may need to be readjusted.
- Yes, you have to empty it into your toilet and then clean it in the sink. Some women hate this part of it. But you should only have to do this 2x per day.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Going Braless
I love Thursdays. Thursdays are my day off of clinic and it brings me so much joy to not wear clinic clothes. Especially with the heat wave we've had... dress pants and white lab coats are totally counter-productive when it comes to letting my body breathe.
I've always been the type of person to love comfy clothes. I love coming home, putting on pajamas, or wearing track pants all winter long. But new trend I've started with myself is going braless. I call it "Braless Thursdays".
I almost forgot what it was like to not have an underwire constantly nestled under my boobs... to not have straps on my shoulders all day long. Leaning back on a chair or couch and all I feel is my back - not the clasp digging into my spine.
Then there's the sports bra. I wear one at some point almost every single day when I workout. And it's not just any sports bra, but the most heavy-duty Lululemon bra that straps down the girls better than duct tape could. Like a tight elastic that holds them so close to my body that sometimes I'm afraid they'll disappear into my chest cavity. But it sure does hold up to the bounce test!
Sometimes the girls just have to breathe and so I have given them that freedom. It's not for attention, or to seem overtly sexual in public, but more for just comfort and to remove the restriction that's there the other 6 days of the week.
You could say I'm still "young and perky" and with my breast reduction, no longer have all of that extra weight pulling down from my chest, pulling at my shoulders and back. So I'm lucky in that respect.
I think we're all entitled to our braless days -without any judgement. And if you do stare at me in public, the thought in my head is that you're sad that your bra is clasped tight around you and mine is left in a drawer at home.
There's no bra-burning party about to happen, but maybe a good ol' fashion high five for comfort!
I've always been the type of person to love comfy clothes. I love coming home, putting on pajamas, or wearing track pants all winter long. But new trend I've started with myself is going braless. I call it "Braless Thursdays".
I almost forgot what it was like to not have an underwire constantly nestled under my boobs... to not have straps on my shoulders all day long. Leaning back on a chair or couch and all I feel is my back - not the clasp digging into my spine.
Then there's the sports bra. I wear one at some point almost every single day when I workout. And it's not just any sports bra, but the most heavy-duty Lululemon bra that straps down the girls better than duct tape could. Like a tight elastic that holds them so close to my body that sometimes I'm afraid they'll disappear into my chest cavity. But it sure does hold up to the bounce test!
Sometimes the girls just have to breathe and so I have given them that freedom. It's not for attention, or to seem overtly sexual in public, but more for just comfort and to remove the restriction that's there the other 6 days of the week.
You could say I'm still "young and perky" and with my breast reduction, no longer have all of that extra weight pulling down from my chest, pulling at my shoulders and back. So I'm lucky in that respect.
I think we're all entitled to our braless days -without any judgement. And if you do stare at me in public, the thought in my head is that you're sad that your bra is clasped tight around you and mine is left in a drawer at home.
There's no bra-burning party about to happen, but maybe a good ol' fashion high five for comfort!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
When life's milestones cost gagillions of dollars
I'm at that point in my life where it seems everyone around me is
getting married or having babies. Biologically this is the end of the
"prime" time, so it's really no surprise. But I find that many of us get
tired of the rituals associated with these milestones. We have showers
(usually several- both wedding and baby), bachelor and bachelorette
parties, rehearsal dinners, and Stag and Doe's (the worst of them all).
Maybe that just applies to being in a bridal party. Because who really wants to spend a month's rent worth for a bride and groom just because you said you'd be a bridesmaid. It absolutely sucks. Not to mention the actual price of a wedding if you're the bride or groom.
Nowadays women are staying in school later, and therefore joining the workforce later. So how do you make it all work when you have no monies?
Seriously. I want to know.
But that's not my real beef today. I actually wanted to bring something to attention that often gets forgotten. We put so much effort into a wedding day, so why not give that kind of attention to your Birthing day? A wedding celebrates the beginning of a marriage, but the birth of your kid celebrates the beginning of their life and yours as a family.
I don't mean that so much in the financial sense, but in a symbolic sense. I believe a woman and her partner should be able to plan for their child's birth as you would plan for a wedding: as a special day in both of their lives. A wedding can be a huge production - in a materialistic show-y kind of way. A birthing day is a huge production in an organic human being sort of way. You seriously just produced a tiny human being and made your family 1 person bigger. That's a pretty big freaking deal!
It's one of my goals as a birth doula, to support mothers to make that day special, and not the dreaded account we see in movies and on TV. We've come so far in society to make giving birth a painful and uncomfortable situation. We joke around to pregnant mothers that "The pain's only going to get worse from here on out" and "You're practically going to be pushing a football through your lady parts." We tell them "Take the drugs! No one should have to go through that pain if you don't have to!"
Why do we build it up like it's the worst thing in the world? From what I've said above, it's like giving birth is equivalent to having all of your teeth pulled out. Who says it has to be that way? Why can't a woman be as comfortable as possible without having to get pain medication? Do you know how many tools we have at our disposal? How many relaxation techniques we have! I'm not saying that deep breathing is a pain killer, but it helps to tolerate the pain better. Stress can wreak havoc on our health, so why would it be any different when you're pregnant or are about to give birth?
What other species do you know gets hooked up to an IV, lies reclined and requires an epidural to give birth? Think of dogs! They have whole litters of puppies and no one gives a dog an epidural (I'm pretty sure anyways... that would be absurd.). There are certain circumstances where an epidural has it's place, but why not try to plan your pregnancy and birth to make it as special as a wedding day?
Have a plan, and have a back-up plan in case something medically concerning should happen. Make yourself comfortable. We all think that you have to go to the hospital to have a baby... but why? Something terrible isn't going to happen every time a woman gives birth. The Birth Doula who ran the workshop course this weekend said something that really hit the mark: give birth where you feel safe. A place that you can trust in. If you feel safer at home, give birth at home if you can. If you feel much safer going to a hospital, then go to the hospital. Either way, the point I want to make is to make sure you're comfortable. Bring things into the room that are comforting to you. Have music playing in the room if you like. Have people around you that make you feel safe. Remember and practice your relaxation techniques. Hire a birth doula! Know that you can ask questions. You are allowed to request the evidence that a certain medical intervention is best in your case. You are allowed to make decisions.
So you need help in making those big decisions? Ask about the risks, the benefits, and any alternatives. And lastly, please, please, please, don't put yourself in the mindset of a victim when it comes to having a baby. You are not a victim, you are a warrior and this is you and your partner's day. You deserve to experience childbirth in the way that you want. And it doesn't have to cost gagillions of dollars... though raising children in general usually does...
Disclaimer: This is all within the limits of your health status. Any serious health risks may change your original birth plan, but your comfort and relaxation tools should always be available.
Maybe that just applies to being in a bridal party. Because who really wants to spend a month's rent worth for a bride and groom just because you said you'd be a bridesmaid. It absolutely sucks. Not to mention the actual price of a wedding if you're the bride or groom.
Nowadays women are staying in school later, and therefore joining the workforce later. So how do you make it all work when you have no monies?
Seriously. I want to know.
But that's not my real beef today. I actually wanted to bring something to attention that often gets forgotten. We put so much effort into a wedding day, so why not give that kind of attention to your Birthing day? A wedding celebrates the beginning of a marriage, but the birth of your kid celebrates the beginning of their life and yours as a family.
I don't mean that so much in the financial sense, but in a symbolic sense. I believe a woman and her partner should be able to plan for their child's birth as you would plan for a wedding: as a special day in both of their lives. A wedding can be a huge production - in a materialistic show-y kind of way. A birthing day is a huge production in an organic human being sort of way. You seriously just produced a tiny human being and made your family 1 person bigger. That's a pretty big freaking deal!
It's one of my goals as a birth doula, to support mothers to make that day special, and not the dreaded account we see in movies and on TV. We've come so far in society to make giving birth a painful and uncomfortable situation. We joke around to pregnant mothers that "The pain's only going to get worse from here on out" and "You're practically going to be pushing a football through your lady parts." We tell them "Take the drugs! No one should have to go through that pain if you don't have to!"
Why do we build it up like it's the worst thing in the world? From what I've said above, it's like giving birth is equivalent to having all of your teeth pulled out. Who says it has to be that way? Why can't a woman be as comfortable as possible without having to get pain medication? Do you know how many tools we have at our disposal? How many relaxation techniques we have! I'm not saying that deep breathing is a pain killer, but it helps to tolerate the pain better. Stress can wreak havoc on our health, so why would it be any different when you're pregnant or are about to give birth?
What other species do you know gets hooked up to an IV, lies reclined and requires an epidural to give birth? Think of dogs! They have whole litters of puppies and no one gives a dog an epidural (I'm pretty sure anyways... that would be absurd.). There are certain circumstances where an epidural has it's place, but why not try to plan your pregnancy and birth to make it as special as a wedding day?
Have a plan, and have a back-up plan in case something medically concerning should happen. Make yourself comfortable. We all think that you have to go to the hospital to have a baby... but why? Something terrible isn't going to happen every time a woman gives birth. The Birth Doula who ran the workshop course this weekend said something that really hit the mark: give birth where you feel safe. A place that you can trust in. If you feel safer at home, give birth at home if you can. If you feel much safer going to a hospital, then go to the hospital. Either way, the point I want to make is to make sure you're comfortable. Bring things into the room that are comforting to you. Have music playing in the room if you like. Have people around you that make you feel safe. Remember and practice your relaxation techniques. Hire a birth doula! Know that you can ask questions. You are allowed to request the evidence that a certain medical intervention is best in your case. You are allowed to make decisions.
So you need help in making those big decisions? Ask about the risks, the benefits, and any alternatives. And lastly, please, please, please, don't put yourself in the mindset of a victim when it comes to having a baby. You are not a victim, you are a warrior and this is you and your partner's day. You deserve to experience childbirth in the way that you want. And it doesn't have to cost gagillions of dollars... though raising children in general usually does...
Disclaimer: This is all within the limits of your health status. Any serious health risks may change your original birth plan, but your comfort and relaxation tools should always be available.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
I never thought I'd be upset about losing weight...
This week I had to try on my Maid of Honor dress for my sister's wedding. I was excited yet a little uneasy at the same time. I mean, you want to fit into your dress the first time - sans alterations.
I have to admit I was pretty upset when I tried on the dress and realized it was like 6 sizes too big for me. I mean, the dress is beautiful, but without it fitting properly, my mood had seriously declined... especially since alterations would cost another $60 on top of the already frightening price of the dress.
In all honesty, I've bought beautiful formal/party dresses from Forever 21 for $35, so spending more than $150 on a dress feels like I'm being stabbed and gutted.
So how did this happen?! I mean, it's been 2 months and I've shrunk that much? I should have seen it coming.. I wore a size 2 dress from David's Bridal for our school's formal, so I should have said something when the lady at the dress shop ordered me a size 10 for this wedding.
The truth is that there is no "herbal magic" or miracle weight loss drug. It's not even stress-induced weight loss. Shocking! I know! It was simple diet and exercise. I'm very lucky to not have any underlying medical conditions that affect my metabolism or make it difficult to loose the weight naturally. But don't hate me yet - this has been a huge struggle all my life.
I've always had a gut, ever since I was a little kid. It has stayed with me all my life and I never thought I would be able to change. In undergrad I worked out all the time, I tried eating healthy, I made almost all of my own meals. I ate my Special K with skim milk every single morning, and yet although I was in good cardio shape, I still couldn't see the changes in my body fast enough.
So what was the secret for me? I think the best thing that I've done was go gluten-free, dairy-free; I also eliminate (to the best that I can) soy, corn, refined white sugar, nitrates, nitrites, food additives/preservatives, food colouring, and non-organic meat or corn-fed beef. Again, it's not ALWAYS possible. I try to stay 70% paleo, with the other 30% being rice. I can't help my sushi addiction or get rid of my brown rice toast in the morning. I mean, a girl's gotta eat! And if I go long periods of time without eating I'm the grumpiest grumpy-pants ever! In my family we call it "Kingitis" (since our last name is King). We're all very good at diagnosing it. As soon as one of us gets snappy at the others, we order them to go eat something otherwise they are banished from our presence.
But diet alone didn't change everything. I have to workout 4-5 times per week, doing an hour of my weight aerobics (strength training with tiny intervals of cardio). I say "I have to" because I'm addicted to working out. I get really antsy if I miss working out for more than 2-3 days in a row.
So really, I blame the combination of diet and exercise on my latest weight loss. It's funny that this is truly what can make you get into shape but everyone wants an easier answer. Never waste your time on diet fads or products that claim to be a "weight-loss miracle". If you don't have any medical condition that prevents you from it, diet and exercise truly can change your body. It takes time and dedication. Like I said, I've been fighting my belly my entire life, so I understand the frustration. But when you start to see results, it makes it all worth it. Every time someone goes out for takeout or fast food and you can't order anything... it's depressing. But in the end, it's actually a blessing. Yes, you can't have that fast and easy meal, but you can make better things. More delicious things! Things that your body will take and love you for.
My goal is to keep my body in shape for our vacation in May. To show my dedication, I'll post my before and after beach body (the before shot being a vacation pic from 2008).
Where there is will-power, there is a way :)
I have to admit I was pretty upset when I tried on the dress and realized it was like 6 sizes too big for me. I mean, the dress is beautiful, but without it fitting properly, my mood had seriously declined... especially since alterations would cost another $60 on top of the already frightening price of the dress.
In all honesty, I've bought beautiful formal/party dresses from Forever 21 for $35, so spending more than $150 on a dress feels like I'm being stabbed and gutted.
So how did this happen?! I mean, it's been 2 months and I've shrunk that much? I should have seen it coming.. I wore a size 2 dress from David's Bridal for our school's formal, so I should have said something when the lady at the dress shop ordered me a size 10 for this wedding.
The truth is that there is no "herbal magic" or miracle weight loss drug. It's not even stress-induced weight loss. Shocking! I know! It was simple diet and exercise. I'm very lucky to not have any underlying medical conditions that affect my metabolism or make it difficult to loose the weight naturally. But don't hate me yet - this has been a huge struggle all my life.
I've always had a gut, ever since I was a little kid. It has stayed with me all my life and I never thought I would be able to change. In undergrad I worked out all the time, I tried eating healthy, I made almost all of my own meals. I ate my Special K with skim milk every single morning, and yet although I was in good cardio shape, I still couldn't see the changes in my body fast enough.
So what was the secret for me? I think the best thing that I've done was go gluten-free, dairy-free; I also eliminate (to the best that I can) soy, corn, refined white sugar, nitrates, nitrites, food additives/preservatives, food colouring, and non-organic meat or corn-fed beef. Again, it's not ALWAYS possible. I try to stay 70% paleo, with the other 30% being rice. I can't help my sushi addiction or get rid of my brown rice toast in the morning. I mean, a girl's gotta eat! And if I go long periods of time without eating I'm the grumpiest grumpy-pants ever! In my family we call it "Kingitis" (since our last name is King). We're all very good at diagnosing it. As soon as one of us gets snappy at the others, we order them to go eat something otherwise they are banished from our presence.
But diet alone didn't change everything. I have to workout 4-5 times per week, doing an hour of my weight aerobics (strength training with tiny intervals of cardio). I say "I have to" because I'm addicted to working out. I get really antsy if I miss working out for more than 2-3 days in a row.
So really, I blame the combination of diet and exercise on my latest weight loss. It's funny that this is truly what can make you get into shape but everyone wants an easier answer. Never waste your time on diet fads or products that claim to be a "weight-loss miracle". If you don't have any medical condition that prevents you from it, diet and exercise truly can change your body. It takes time and dedication. Like I said, I've been fighting my belly my entire life, so I understand the frustration. But when you start to see results, it makes it all worth it. Every time someone goes out for takeout or fast food and you can't order anything... it's depressing. But in the end, it's actually a blessing. Yes, you can't have that fast and easy meal, but you can make better things. More delicious things! Things that your body will take and love you for.
My goal is to keep my body in shape for our vacation in May. To show my dedication, I'll post my before and after beach body (the before shot being a vacation pic from 2008).
Where there is will-power, there is a way :)
Monday, March 18, 2013
Growing Up as a Girl
The 2nd edition of my book was just approved and is now up with it's ISBN all published and up on the internets.
If you haven't seen in on my website or on www.ebookguides4life.com, I've written 2 books that were published online; one of them being "Growing Up as a Girl."
Through my teenage years, I was raised by my dad. And really, it wasn't an easy job since he was raising both me and my sister from the ages of 12-18. So I couldn't always go to him with all my "girl" problems. He really tried his best, and I give him full credit for it, but at the same time, sometimes you just need to talk to an older (and more experienced) woman.
That became my reason for writing this book. I'm sure there are young girls out there who feel awkward talking to their big sisters or moms, or maybe they don't have that figure in their life. So I wrote a true-to-life book with my own experiences (and embarrassing stories) from high school so that someone could either learn from it, or laugh at it.
Here is a list of the chapters from the 2nd edition:
Mean girls
Self-esteem, body image and breasts
How to: Shave your legs, dye your hair, etc.
Bra fitting
Tattoos and piercings
Getting your period
Dating
Sex
Birth Control
Getting your first PAP test
Drugs and Alcohol
Eating right and exercise
Getting your driver's license
Picking classes in high school and undergrad
Internet privacy
How to deal with your parents
And a just for fun section on Must-see movies!
I want to encourage and empower future generations of women, and this is my stepping stone. It's basically a reflection on my high school diary... things that I know now that I wish I knew back then.
I completely understand that today's teen girls are a bit different from when I was in school, but really, other than the whole "cell phone" revolution, we still deal with the same situations. I mean, I'm sure Degrassi uses some of the same story lines/concepts from the 80's and 90s as they do today.
If I've peaked your interest at all, you can find a free excerpt on the ebook website by clicking here (there's a link to the PDF on this page).
Keep in mind that my books are based my own experiences and opinions; and apart from my Guide to being Gluten Free, I haven't included any references, except for a few website addresses. It was basically a fun project of mine; wanting to share my crazy teenage thoughts.
If you haven't seen in on my website or on www.ebookguides4life.com, I've written 2 books that were published online; one of them being "Growing Up as a Girl."
Through my teenage years, I was raised by my dad. And really, it wasn't an easy job since he was raising both me and my sister from the ages of 12-18. So I couldn't always go to him with all my "girl" problems. He really tried his best, and I give him full credit for it, but at the same time, sometimes you just need to talk to an older (and more experienced) woman.
That became my reason for writing this book. I'm sure there are young girls out there who feel awkward talking to their big sisters or moms, or maybe they don't have that figure in their life. So I wrote a true-to-life book with my own experiences (and embarrassing stories) from high school so that someone could either learn from it, or laugh at it.
Here is a list of the chapters from the 2nd edition:
Mean girls
Self-esteem, body image and breasts
How to: Shave your legs, dye your hair, etc.
Bra fitting
Tattoos and piercings
Getting your period
Dating
Sex
Birth Control
Getting your first PAP test
Drugs and Alcohol
Eating right and exercise
Getting your driver's license
Picking classes in high school and undergrad
Internet privacy
How to deal with your parents
And a just for fun section on Must-see movies!
I want to encourage and empower future generations of women, and this is my stepping stone. It's basically a reflection on my high school diary... things that I know now that I wish I knew back then.
I completely understand that today's teen girls are a bit different from when I was in school, but really, other than the whole "cell phone" revolution, we still deal with the same situations. I mean, I'm sure Degrassi uses some of the same story lines/concepts from the 80's and 90s as they do today.
If I've peaked your interest at all, you can find a free excerpt on the ebook website by clicking here (there's a link to the PDF on this page).
Keep in mind that my books are based my own experiences and opinions; and apart from my Guide to being Gluten Free, I haven't included any references, except for a few website addresses. It was basically a fun project of mine; wanting to share my crazy teenage thoughts.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
How to Impress the Ladies
This post is dedicated to a friend of mine who was given terrible advice on how to pick up women.
Guys think that women are complicated ... like a sphinx! It's like we give you a riddle that needs to be solved, but every girl likes to tell a different kind of riddle. And sometimes we like to trick you, and other times you just don't answer the riddle in the right tone of voice - which pisses us off. Or you didn't deliver the answer to the riddle at the right time - again... seriously? Yes.
But like any sphinx (or fox or kitten), we get happy over the little things. You just have to know your lady friend and figure out what makes her happy; So when you screw up, have a good distraction ready.
Here are some excellent ways to impress the sphinx ladies: (Disclaimer: these do not work on every sphinx lady; do not expect positive results with each attempt. Choose your words, actions and delivery very carefully... but otherwise it's a fool-proof plan.)
1) Dancing videos on YouTube. Seriously. Who doesn't enjoy a good video of people dancing on the internets. Saxaphone guy, Nathan Barnatt... take your pick. Plus, at school, we could always use study breaks!
2) Dark Chocolate: milk chocolate is bad for you... too much milk, sugar, etc. but dark chocolate says you care about her antioxidant levels while also satisfying those chocolate cravings.
3) A really cheap but amazing pen. Maybe it's because I'm still a student, but you know that feeling of when you go somewhere, and you pick up a free pen with some sort of advertising on it.. and it ends up being the most amazing pen and you don't want to go anywhere without it? Maybe it has a really good grip. Maybe it writes really smoothly. Eitherway, give a girl a really cheap but GOOD pen, and she'll adore it forever. Until it dies and then she'll be so upset and she'll remember the day that you gave it to her (true story, btw. A boy named L.V. gave me the most amazing pen in 8th grade and I will never forget it).
4) Hugs. Give a girl a hug, but not in a creepy sexual harassment way.
5) If she has really busy days, feed her! You can insert dark chocolate here. But anytime you cook for a girl - and it's healthy - she'll be so appreciative that you thought of her. So... learn how to cook.
6) Listen to her. Or pretend that you are listening to her. It doesn't really matter. Just keep eye contact, nod your head and every once in a while throw in an "awww"with a head-tilt.
7) At CCNM, claim that you want to practice your manips and ask if you can palpate for fixations... if you can get cavitation and she feels awesome after that, you'll have no problem scoring a date. Or at least another manip exchange.
8) Complement her on something. It could be anything! "Your hair looks really shiny today!", "You look really cute today," "That was a great answer you gave in class today!" "These cookies you baked are amazing!"
9) Don't ignore her because you think you are being mysterious. We don't have time for mysterious boys. Mysterious boys are often the trouble-makers. Plus, being mysterious is our job and we don't like being imitated.
10) Be her friend. If you're her friend first and actually like hanging out with each other she'll be happy just to see you. And then you can do fun stuff together like: Fly kites, walk a dog, go wine shopping, watch a funny tv show, do arts and crafts, play board games (like Catan!), go out to a movie, enjoy delicious food whenever you're both too tired to make dinner that night, pet a bunny, join a euchre tournament, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Those are my tips for the day. Goodnight and good luck.
Guys think that women are complicated ... like a sphinx! It's like we give you a riddle that needs to be solved, but every girl likes to tell a different kind of riddle. And sometimes we like to trick you, and other times you just don't answer the riddle in the right tone of voice - which pisses us off. Or you didn't deliver the answer to the riddle at the right time - again... seriously? Yes.
But like any sphinx (or fox or kitten), we get happy over the little things. You just have to know your lady friend and figure out what makes her happy; So when you screw up, have a good distraction ready.
Here are some excellent ways to impress the sphinx ladies: (Disclaimer: these do not work on every sphinx lady; do not expect positive results with each attempt. Choose your words, actions and delivery very carefully... but otherwise it's a fool-proof plan.)
1) Dancing videos on YouTube. Seriously. Who doesn't enjoy a good video of people dancing on the internets. Saxaphone guy, Nathan Barnatt... take your pick. Plus, at school, we could always use study breaks!
2) Dark Chocolate: milk chocolate is bad for you... too much milk, sugar, etc. but dark chocolate says you care about her antioxidant levels while also satisfying those chocolate cravings.
3) A really cheap but amazing pen. Maybe it's because I'm still a student, but you know that feeling of when you go somewhere, and you pick up a free pen with some sort of advertising on it.. and it ends up being the most amazing pen and you don't want to go anywhere without it? Maybe it has a really good grip. Maybe it writes really smoothly. Eitherway, give a girl a really cheap but GOOD pen, and she'll adore it forever. Until it dies and then she'll be so upset and she'll remember the day that you gave it to her (true story, btw. A boy named L.V. gave me the most amazing pen in 8th grade and I will never forget it).
4) Hugs. Give a girl a hug, but not in a creepy sexual harassment way.
5) If she has really busy days, feed her! You can insert dark chocolate here. But anytime you cook for a girl - and it's healthy - she'll be so appreciative that you thought of her. So... learn how to cook.
6) Listen to her. Or pretend that you are listening to her. It doesn't really matter. Just keep eye contact, nod your head and every once in a while throw in an "awww"with a head-tilt.
7) At CCNM, claim that you want to practice your manips and ask if you can palpate for fixations... if you can get cavitation and she feels awesome after that, you'll have no problem scoring a date. Or at least another manip exchange.
8) Complement her on something. It could be anything! "Your hair looks really shiny today!", "You look really cute today," "That was a great answer you gave in class today!" "These cookies you baked are amazing!"
9) Don't ignore her because you think you are being mysterious. We don't have time for mysterious boys. Mysterious boys are often the trouble-makers. Plus, being mysterious is our job and we don't like being imitated.
10) Be her friend. If you're her friend first and actually like hanging out with each other she'll be happy just to see you. And then you can do fun stuff together like: Fly kites, walk a dog, go wine shopping, watch a funny tv show, do arts and crafts, play board games (like Catan!), go out to a movie, enjoy delicious food whenever you're both too tired to make dinner that night, pet a bunny, join a euchre tournament, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Those are my tips for the day. Goodnight and good luck.
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