There are quite a few good things about Fall.... - the changing of the leaves - the feeling of the holiday season coming close - life steadily regaining routine after the summertime. But there are a few other things you can rely on every year that come in the form of Sweet Treats... - Cakes - cookies - brownies - Candies. And with these things, Fall brings CandyCorn.
Not only is CandyCorn one of the most popular Halloween, Thanksgiving, Fall essentials of candy dish offerings, it also serves as a wonderful cure for a common bodily behavior that is also prominent around this type of year from all the sugary-bubbly goodness. Now, I don't take credit for this Solution Therapy hypothesis, test, and proven result (over and over).... Someone else in my family tested this on my daughters, while they were at their house; but I promise,
It Works.
And not just for them.
If you remember in my first Solution Center blog, I described a bodily function that can cause brutal jolts to the body; The kind that make your whole chest expand and thrust the rest of you body into uncontrollable flails of limbs and a head-bobb to match. Not very much fun. After hearing my family member's experience with this newly introduced Hiccup Solution hypothesis, and having my daughters back-up the proof, I decided that it may be a logical solution. However, I needed to test the theory myself.... But I hadn't had the hiccups in quite a while, come to think of it... Well, it's Fall and there is a plethora of CandyCorn, et al, to be had and eaten. And since my family member introduced this type of candy to my daughters at such an early age, it's one of their favorite quick sweet treats to snag... Therefore, we have a stash in the essential candy dish on our table. And quite unexpectedly, but in good testing time, I got the hiccups, just two nights ago...
DING! DING! DING!
Time to experiment!
Half the CandyCorn did it for me! Hiccups:BE GONE!!
And they were, within less than a minute.
I've noticed pieces in the dish that have just the tips bitten off....
So apparently one or both of the girls got the hiccups at some point and remembered the Solution Therapy... and grabbed a nibble of CandyCorn. At least they know how to remedy the "jolt-jerking dance belly hiccup groove" on their own!
Depending on how severe the case of hiccups you are currently experiencing, there are various doses of "medicine" that you can take: bitten tips, half, whole, or in extreme cases...
Pumpkin Size.
No matter your needs or prescribed dose, there's a cure for all sizes and random arm flails.
And thankfully, the CandyCorn making company was smart enough to change the color tones depending on the season and holiday, therefore making this Hiccup Therapy solution available at most times throughout the year. So the next time you have body-wrenching, chest bumpin', new dance move groove-making hiccups, grab a Nibble, a piece, or a chunk of candy dish essentials! [and if you've run out of the essential, you can always revert back to Solution#1]!
Once upon a time, there was a little girl that wanted to be a Dancer.
She told her mom of this dream and luckily, the little girl had a Mom that was willing to embrace whatever ventures the daughter wanted to try.
The little girl was enrolled in a class, at the local Recreational Center...
...and there began the heart's desired fulfillment of expression of soul
through the beats and rhythms of song and lyric
using the art of flowing body movements
in an act called
Dance.
The little girl was 4 years old when she discovered this wonderful outlet of beauty and soul expression. Shortly after the final performance of the season at the Rec Center, the family of the little girl was re-located to a new city...
New City = the search for a new class.
In this new town, it was a little more challenging, as it was a bigger city with more options and even more prevalent: the differences in Teachers' abilities and styles.
The first venture at a new dance class for the little girl, was an attempt at the same type of facility as was originally introduced: the local Rec Center. However, one thing the little girl often did when she needed more of a challenge in an activity, was to FAKE SICK and do her own thing, rather than succumb to the boring-ness of the current activity...
One night, while using this tactic, the little girl embraced her expression of soul more, at that moment, by using her imagination with toys (that were sooo conveniently placed in the room that the little girl's class was in). Ironically, on that same night, the little girl's Father was on his way to the class for a surprise visit to see her "progress" in the class. Whoopsies. Needless to say, the little girl did not return to that class.
However, as was said before, the little girl had a Mom that was willing to embrace ventures... She inquired upon the cause of the playtime, rather than the passioned Dance-time, while it was so readily available for her to embrace and express.... ...After a list of reasons (finally admitted), the Mom and little girl decided to try a new class, at a different place (an actual dance "Company"), with a different teacher. The second place was fun and enjoyable, at first (kind of like a Honeymoon-Phase); but, it was soon discovered that THIS "Company" was, yet again, not up to par with the capacity needed to fulfill the little girl's passioned needs. It was in the basement of the instructor's house, which had been finished into a studio, with dance floors, ballet bars, and mirrors lining the walls.
After Spring recital, the search continued...
Over that summer, the Mom and little girl sought out all the different dance schools and studios in our immediate area. To no avail, they were bummed. And the little girl missed dancing and was craving the embracement of passion and soul of the almost-lost-to-her form of self-expression. During an annual event at the local park, the Mom and little girl were browsing all the craft booths set around, when they came upon a stage, set up in the grass. It was an impressive display... and they had a banner across the bottom, advertising a Ballet Studio, located almost right down the street from their house. (How could they have missed the studio in their search before?!?) It was like a sign from the stars.
After staring at the sign in amazement for a few minutes, the Mom and little girl realized that this was the studio that another family had chatted about, casually, while at a swim meet (the little girl was active!). Not long after this realization, music started, and pretty red tu-tus started to appear on stage, with such grace and beauty; it was almost as if the world was handing the little girl a bouquet of roses for the new found love of this Ballet Studio.
The Mom resourced as much information as she could, at the stage setting in the park... Within a few days, a phone call was made; an appointment set up to tour the studio; and a whole new journey of twirling, prancing, and leaping hearts had begun.
The little girl had found her Home Studio.
Year after year, the little girl indulged in formal class, learning many steps and moves... practicing everyday and performing in yearly Spring Recitals.
All types of dance were explored: Ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, RAD, Cecchetti, modern.
The girl even participated and competed in the Ballet Guild,
in the downtown area of where she lived; a statewide event granting scholarships to dancers for international summer training camps.
While they are ALL wonderful forms of dance and expression of soul to the beats and sounds of music, some were highly more embraced by the little girl...
Ballet, Jazz, and Tumbling.
Sooner than later, in the little girl's career at her home studio, she was at the age and skill level to audition for and dance in the yearly production of the Nutcracker Ballet. For Seven years, the little girl danced various rolls in the production...
Although never dancing the role of Clara, the little girl accepted this, as most of Act II, Clara spends a majority of the time dreaming she could indulge in the beauty of the music through dancing; but, alas, she must patiently WATCH, on a bench-like chair, next to her prince, while others enjoy the lyrical sensations of soul...
One year, for Halloween, the girl dressed up as a belly-dancer; and 5th grade required the choreography and practice of line and circle dancing for Pioneer Day.
Other forms of exercise and activity were explored during these years, in the little girl's life...
And while the girl enjoyed these other activities,
they were not her heart's dream... She danced more than she participated in other "sports."
-----------------------
Shortly after the little girl turned 13 years old, peer-influence into new ventures of life and sport steered the now-teenager away from her passion of dance...
Maintaining fitness (but not flexibility or passion of soul and rhythm) the girl enjoyed these other activities, but longed for her dream of dancing to become reality, once again.
She tried other outlets to fulfill the desire to "play a role" and dallied in the art of Theatre, while in High School. While it was closer to her dream than the other activities, it wasn't Dance; it wasn't her outlet of expression of soul.
During the Theatrical time in the girl's life, an attempt was made, at age 15, to re-define her soul through the art of flowing body movements; yet again, in another new city, new studio, new instructor. The Attempt failed... Miserably. Thus, creating a hole in the girl's heart. And a THUD in her step. The girl eventually left the stage altogether, leaving the dream in the wind... Life had taken hold of her mind, leading the girl on a different path than was originally sought out by the dreams of the Little girl.
But, she still knew how to
Dance her hair Out-of-Bun!! (gotta love Senior Prom!)
---------------
...Struggles with time, weight, and inactivity of the fitness-sort left the now Grown girl sad and "out-of-body." [And the college-sized budget (and more peer-influence) didn't help with that life-style, either].
Then came the most body-altering chaos to the girl-turning-Woman:
A family of her own.
While the Woman loved her new family, she still had the desire to excel in her heart's dream, even if only for personal benefit, and not "professionally," per say...
One day, the Woman made a decision to get her Life and Soul back; to feel the un-inhibited rhythm of her heart. It was time to be set free again.
While the journey was not easy, perseverance and dedication slowly un-gained some extra baggage and brought a gradual incline in fitness and health; mind and soul; beauty and heart back to the "little girl."
She dedicated herself to her new life-change; finding any small way she could to include fitness and exercise into her daily routine of Mom... ...
... ...while still searching for the little girl's soul.
Walking, jogging, swimming, biking: these were some of the re-discovered loves of sport; but they weren't enough... Every now and then, near the beginning of the health journey, music would come on the stereo, and the Woman couldn't help herself... She'd break open into full-on drum-beat dancing in her apartment. [The neighbors below LOVED it...]. She continued adventuring outdoors, whenever possible, to fulfill the desire for nature; but sometimes, the weather and smog would bring her indoors, to the box of machines.
The woman still boogied down, when she could... only, now, with life and family, it was alone in the kitchen... while chores and daily routines were being ignored!
The woman continued to dance when she could, but once again, her rhythm of soul and drumming heart of beats could not be tamed....
Then, one day, an unexpected event happened.
The woman was scheduled to have a "regular" workout at the gym; with a walk/jog on the treadmill, a few jumping jacks on the side, and some moderate handstands and stretches to "cool down." However, when the time came to change into the workout get-up, the woman discovered that she had...
NO SOCKS.
Okay... It's alright... What should she do?
The woman had worn a skirt with biker shorts underneath to work that day... and there was a BIG open room at the gym to "play" in....
Who said you have to wear shoes and socks
at the Box of Machines??
IMPROVISATION.
BAM.
Since the woman had been in the big, open room before.... and there never Really seemed to be anybody in there at the hours that she was there...The woman made a choice.
Our story ends a happy one; with butterflies in the tummy (stage fright), re-found expression of soul (feel the beat!), and a bouquet of Roses for the love of the art of DANCE.
What is the most common skipped meal of the day???
BREAKFAST. Which, to a nutritionist or someone trying to live a healthier lifestyle, this is THE Worst meal to skip.
Why??
Your body fasts throughout the night, resting and digesting; sorting and organizing all the nutrients/waste from the prior day's consumptions. When you wake up, your body needs fuel to function, just as your car needs gas to crank over the engine. In other words, if you don't gas up your belly to rev your mind and muscles, you become the rusty car in the driveway. It also helps prevent your body from storing calories as fat: when you skip breakfast, your body is still in "fast" mode and doesn't know when it will get proper nutrients. Your body acts like a camel's hump does for water, with food.Spare Tire, anyone??
Skipping breakfast is NOT common in our house... As a matter of fact, we all eat breakfast everyday. It's not piles of pancakes and bowl fulls of eggs and sausage, or a full-on buffet-style meal; but simple foods like cereal, yogurt, toast, etc - enough to give our bodies the jumpstart they need [without the pounds of calories and fat].
This morning started out like any other weekday morning; just as I was finishing my workout, I heard the Beep, Beep, Beep of Kaia's alarm clock, signaling the day's official beginning. Holly awoke shortly after and both girls got dressed and ready for school, before making their way to the kitchen for some Breakfast.
Their choices were small, but significant; enough for their LITTLE bellies to feel satisfied and ready for the day.
We headed off to school a few minutes ahead of schedule (unlike the rest of this week, where we left at least 10 mins late each day); so we were off to an extra good start. The girls' school provides "breakfast" every morning, if kids want to grab a bite before class. A good service for growing kids with learning minds. Since we were early, we had a few minutes to chill while we waited for Holly's classroom to open. [Kaia can just go to class; Holly has to be signed in and out each day because of her age]. We decided to head to the lunchroom to see what they had to munch on, for an additional boost to their brains and bodies.
Both girls picked to have a biscuit, no gravy; Kaia added a bowl of cereal; and each girl had a carton of milk. As we approached the cashier, the lady told Holly that she needed to put something ELSE on her plate; that just a biscuit and milk wasn't enough food to make a "nutritionally balanced" meal.
While I agree with having a balanced meal, it's not right to push a child to eat more than they are hungry for; especially if they are instilled with the "clean plate" rule at home... You learn to only put as much food on your plate as you are hungry for - enough to be satisfied and not full.
It also puts the idea in kids' heads that in order to be "healthy," you have to consume a certain amount of food at each meal, whether you are hungry for it, or not... Some kids don't know HOW to recognize when they are full; therefore putting more than they need on the plate will cause them to overeat and become part of the childhood-obesity statistic. So, while they are trying to promote healthy food balance, they are denying the child's right to know their body and when they are satisfied.
Some kids don't know when to stop.
Since I was standing right there, I told the cashier that it was okay; that she had already had something at home and this was just extra. She started to get upset with me, spouting the "balanced meal" point, failing to look at MY lean body and tone to recognize that I, as a person and a Mom, know what a nutritious and balanced meal consists of. I still said that it was okay and started to head to a seat, when she said that for the computer to show that each kid gets all the "proper" foods, Holly HAD to put something else on her plate.
[You cannot FORCE a child to put food on their plate that they don't want or have a desire to eat].
I told the cashier to charge us for "something" and pretend that we got it, and we walked away and sat down, with just a biscuit and a milk. [The cashier was befuddled at my lack of desire to please her food enforcement].
Point Proven: Holly only ate 1/3 of her biscuit and only drank half her milk, because she HAD already had breakfast at home, and was apparently easily satisfied this morning. Had she put something else on her plate, it would have been completely wasted food, because once it goes out, it can't come back into the kitchen. [They say that Americans waste enough food to feed an African tribe for MONTHS, or even a year.... let's validate that, shall we... ??].
As the girls ate, I sat back and observed the kitchen staff, reflecting on the conversation that had just occurred, nutrition, and my own fitness/weight loss journey. As my thoughts flowed, I noticed that the ladies working in the kitchen all maintained an excessivelyWIDER physique than that of someone who is concerned with proper nutrition, a balanced meal, and diet needs... Not that I am judging; just observing.
I slightly chuckled to myself and gave myself a mental high-five for helping MY children understand when to say NO if they don't want something, especially unnecessary calories. [Stop eating when you're full-up].
When the bell rang to go to class, I said goodbye to Kaia and walked Holly to her room; signed her in, and then jogged back to my car, the same way I do everyday, to give my heart a little burst of energy and blood-flow.
So, When is Gym class?? Let's learn about FITNESS, now that we've broached nutrition...
