Ladies, you know how it is. As gals, our weight seems to fluctuate by 5 pounds throughout the month. Some of it is not entirely in our control and is due to hormonal factors (where we are in our cycle). But if your pants are fitting just a bit tight and you need to drop 5 pounds, I’ve found that there are ways you can do that almost effortlessly.

This is what works for me.

Trick Your Brain

It’s been said that all diets do is trick your brain into accepting less food. Your brain has a lot to do with your stomach, like it or not. Studies have shown that we really have no clue how much food we eat. Did you know one lab actually set up diners with a “bottomless” soup bowl (it was rigged underneath to constantly refill as the person ate), and they consumed nearly double the calories as the other diners, without feeling any more full? They simply couldn’t be convinced that they had eaten more calories until they looked under the table to see the way the equipment was rigged!

What’s the point? Sometimes we have to use little tricks to our advantage so we consume less food without feeling deprived.

For instance:

Use a smaller plate. Ever noticed how vintage plates are much smaller than modern ones that practically resemble turkey platters? Ever noticed how we’re all getting bigger? Researchers say there is a connection between the size of the plate and the amount of food you dole out onto it. Makes sense.

Another trick pertains to eating out: When you get your order, immediately cut your food in half and put it in a to-go box. You will most likely only eat the food on your plate and take the rest home to eat later instead of gobbling it all down at once.

Never eat from a “bottomless” pit. In other words, don’t eat tortilla chips directly from the bag. Set a portion out, put the bag away, and eat those. You’ll be more aware of how much you’ve consumed.

Drink a glass of water before you sit down to eat. It will help you feel sated, sooner.

Another trick that works to dull your appetite? Drink a tablespoon of oil before you eat a meal. I know it sounds gross, but it really works. You can use olive oil if you like (in fact an entire diet was built around this trick, called the Shangri-La diet), but I prefer coconut oil because it tastes better and has many health benefits. The fat tells your brain that you’re full.

Go to bed earlier. There are two reasons this works: One is because you won’t be up snacking at night if you hit the sack early. Another is because when you’re well rested, you’re less likely to engage in stressed out, sleep deprivation induced carboholism. Try going to bed when your kids do, or shortly afterwards, for a few nights a week.

If you do these things over the next few days, you’ll likely drop a couple of pounds at least. Works for me!

Ah, Summer. It brings shorts, flip-flops, popsicles, picnics, the beach…

… and the removal of excess body hair.

As a gal who is not blessed with pale hair or Scandinavian ancestors, I can’t get away with letting that aspect of beauty care go.

I’ve tried everything. Shaving of course (still have the scars on my left shin from when I shaved with baby oil at age 12 and watched the skin of my leg come out the other side of the razor!), depilatories (the natural mom in me shudders at the thought of that now!), strip waxes, hot waxes, cold waxes, etc.

I haven’t done laser or that method that involves electrocuting each hair follicle (sorry, the name escapes me at the moment!) because those seem awful risky as well as very expensive.

This Summer, I discovered sugaring.

I went to my local drugstore and brought home a package of Nad’s sugaring kit. Called “sugaring” because it’s basically made from a mixture of sugar and lemon juice, it’s natural and contains no harsh chemicals that might trigger allergic reactions (although you should probably still do a patch test).

I love this stuff.

It’s actually more effective (on me) than traditional waxing, and FAR less painful. I use it everywhere I need to remove excess hair before hitting the pool. It doesn’t leave my skin all red and angry, and it’s more environmentally friendly because one tub goes a loooong way, and the cloth strips can be reused indefinitely. For $20, it’s a great deal. I’ve done several treatments and have plenty of “sugar” left in the tub.

Since it doesn’t require heating, there’s no risk of burning yourself. I’ve had that happen with hot wax kits and it’s a double pain whammy! And the trouble with “cold” wax kits and strips (that have wax already applied) is that they simply don’t remove nearly as much hair.

The nice thing about waxing and sugaring is that since the hair is removed from the root, there is no stubble. Even when the hair starts to grow back a bit, it’s far less noticeable. It also tends to make the hair follicles appear smaller which makes your legs look more attractive.

Eventually, if you keep it up, the hair follicle weakens and your legs will permanently have less hair. That has certainly been my experience.

I shared some more tips and tricks for successful sugaring on my blog.

Last week we found ourselves the somewhat unwitting owners of a new puppy.

We found her outside when we walked out to take a jaunt around the neighborhood.

As a kid, I always had dogs. They were the outdoor variety, but they were loved and well cared for. In fact my parents bred Shetland Sheepdogs for years.

I didn’t want my kids to grow up with a fear of dogs. Thankfully when my parents got a set of puppies several months ago, they were able to spend a lot of time with those dogs and watch them grow up. That helped a lot.

But, I feel the timing still isn’t right for this new addition. Although I do have a nice fenced backyard, I’m not sure I have the resources (money, energy, time, etc) for a new “baby”. Puppies require a lot of training (she has bitten me in play many times and has drawn blood – although it is getting much better). They need monthly vet visits (not something my budget allows presently). And I couldn’t bear it if something was terribly wrong later on and she required surgery.

This puppy is adorable but was likely abandoned. I’ve tried to find her owner through various means but no luck yet. I don’t have the heart to take her to the county shelter where I know there is a possibility she’ll be “put down”. So she’s ours for now. We’re reading up on puppy care and training, and giving her as much love and affection as we can.

It occurred to me today that dogs, like babies, often come when least expected. Anyone have suggestions on how to locate a loving home for Sally?

(If you live in the metro Atlanta area, you can contact me through my website if you’re interested!)

I entered a packed theatre last night and barely got a seat for this movie even though I arrived 30 minutes early!

As soon as I saw the trailer for 500 Days of Summer I knew it was going to be my kind of movie. It didn’t disappoint. I can say it’s the best romantic comedy I’ve seen in years.

It has everything. Love, laughs, great music (the soundtrack rocks if you dig 90′s Brit pop and alternative music),  sadness, and eye candy. Zooey Deschanel is just the cutest thing ever and everyone in the audience would have eaten from her hand. But hello!? – when did Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the little kid from 3rd Rock from the Sun grow up into such a hot man?!

Don’t be thinking this flick is all saccharin though. As it’s advertised – it’s not exactly a love story. More of an unrequited love story. That’s what makes it so charming – because we can all relate to Tom’s feelings of longing and sadness when the relationship ends. In the film, we look through his eyes at the beginning, middle and end (and not necessarily in that order!) of his relationship with Summer. You can’t help but be caught up in it. It’s full of delight throughout.

At its heart, the story is a hopeful one. You’ll just have to see it to know what I mean.

Carrie Lauth doesn’t usually write movie reviews. She usually writes about parenting and natural living on her blog, Natural Moms Talk Radio.

One of our family’s favorite meals and a Friday routine is Taco Night. Our secret to really delicious tacos at home?

Frying the tortillas in oil.

I use a cast iron skillet and pour about a half inch of peanut oil or olive oil in it on medium heat. When bubbles start to appear, I place a small corn tortilla in the pan. It takes a few seconds to cook, then I lift it out with two forks, folding it in half first.

Then I place the tortilla on a paper towel or paper bag to drain. If you cook them for less time, they’re softer and more pliable but greasier. Cook them a few seconds more and they’re a little chewier but less greasy. This makes the shells absolutely delicious!

Then we pile the table with all the fixings. To make things easier, we have two bowls for everything, one on each end of the table so everything’s in everyone’s reach.

• Salsa (hot for the grownups, mild for the kids. I usually make mine homemade.)
• Sour cream
• Ground beef, seasoned
• Ground turkey, seasoned
• Refried beans
• Black beans
• Guacamole (super easy to make, simply mash fresh ripe avocado with salt and pepper and a little lime or lemon juice and diced onion)
• Diced onions
• Diced tomatoes
• Diced black olives
• Shredded cheese

What could be better? All the kids enjoy helping out and there’s something for everyone to do, whether it’s opening cans or slicing the olives (easy to do with a small knife) or simply pouring the cheese into bowls. Tacos are certainly nutritious too. The cheese and corn tortillas provide calcium, the cheese, meat and beans provide high quality protein, and there are fresh raw veggies too for vitamins and minerals.

Yum!

Part one of this article on working out at home instead of the gym appears here. It describes the upper body exercises you can do.

After doing some upper body work, I headed outside for a brisk walk. After 20 minutes of walking at a quick pace, I came back in and did some lower body exercises.

Tot Squat

Hold a young child on your back and with your feet shoulder width apart, simply squat up and down, making sure your knees don’t come farther than your toes (watch yourself in a mirror – your butt needs to stick out a bit).  You should look like you’re about to sit down in a chair but change your mind at the last moment.

The kid provides some extra weight and since it throws off your center of gravity a bit (like holding a barbell across your back), it forces you to pull in your abs, strengthening your core. Squats are a classic move and work all muscles of the lower body and stomach all at once. Try to do 10-15 reps, and at least 3 sets.

Heel Press

Find a step you can stand on and hold on to a railing or door frame or stability. Allow the backs of your heels to hang off the back of the step, then raise up on your toes. Your body is all the resistance you need for this one. Do 3 sets of 10-12 reps.

Plies

A plie is just a squat but your legs are farther apart and your toes point out at an angle. These are great for the thighs, inner thighs and butt. If you have something to hold in front of you (like a baby or toddler or a gallon of milk) for some extra weight, do so. Do 3 sets of 10-15 plies.

That’s it! A complete workout that you can do in 30 minutes from home with no equipment. Now we have no excuse to not get fit.

It’s my routine to work out at the gym 3 times a week. I enjoy the hands on help from trainers, the accountability of seeing familiar faces, and the convenience of barbells, dumbbells and other exercise equipment. Oh and my favorite part – the kid care!

But this week was especially busy for me, and I only got to the gym once. Today I was determined to get a workout in even though I couldn’t swing going to the gym. I ate dinner with my parents and while the kids visited with their Grandma and Grandpa, I looked around at what I could use to fashion a workout.

Here’s what I came up with. Part One covers upper body and abs.

My Dad had some 30 pound free weights. I typically do squats with a barbell that weighs 95 pounds, so those were fine for my legs, but were too heavy for my arms (I use 20 pound weights for rows and 10 pound weights for my biceps).

So instead, I did planks.

Planks

My trainer taught me this exercise. Basically you assume the position of a full, military style pushup. And you just HOLD it. It’s deceptive because it looks pretty easy, but requires a lot of ab strength as well as upper body and even leg strength.

Be sure your shoulders, hips and ankles are all one long, lean line. Hold it as long as you can with good form, then rest. Repeat this exercise 3 times.

Toddler Press

If you have a baby or toddler, lie down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Have your toddler crawl over to you and when they are on top of your chest, place your hands under their arms and lift them up and down above your chest. They’ll love it and you’ll be doing a bench press. Do 10 or 12 reps then rest. Try to do 3 sets.

Do The Hula

I grabbed a hula hoop and hooped for about 5 minutes without stopping. This is a great workout for the core. If you keep your arms raised around your shoulders, it also keeps your heart rate up.

Sit Ups/Crunches

For another abs exercise I simply laid on the floor on my back with my knees slightly bent and did sit ups. To make them more challenging, I didn’t let my head hit the floor but only went down 3/4 of the way. If you can’t do a full sit up, that’s fine. Just come up as far as you can. Do 3 sets of 10 reps.

Part Two? Lower body!

This week on Natural Moms Talk Radio, I interviewed a mom who made her dream of owning a brick and mortar retail shop a reality.

Her name is Christy Funk and her store in Orange County California is called Belly Sprout. She offers all kinds of products for natural and organic parenting, including wooden toys, cloth diapers, BPA free products, natural skin care for mom and baby, and more.

She also hosts parenting experts and educational meetings at her store. She talked to me about the challenges of raising a retail store while raising two young sons.

The recent publication of an article entitled “The Case Against Breastfeeding” has the breastfeeding advocates in a tizzy.

I even added my own thoughts on my blog, specifically mentioning the author’s use of the word “Furious” to describe how she felt when breastfeeding.

The author has several claims. Among them:

1. Breastfeeding isn’t as great as the popular media would have you believe. Many of the “benefits” are overstated.
2. Breastfeeding makes “meaningful work” impossible since it takes so much time. Pumping and working aren’t doable for most.
3. Breastfeeding is anti feminist.
4. Breastfeeding gets in the way of co-parenting.
5. Breastfeeding is bad for marriage relationships.

If you’ve read the article, what are your thoughts?

Is it one mom’s attempt to explain away her guilt by playing sour grapes? (Well I don’t want to breastfeed so to avoid guilt I’ll pretend it doesn’t matter.)  Is it backlash against lactivism? Are there any valid points to her arguments?

Let’s hear it.

Right now in my girls’ room, my 8 year old son and 6 year old daughter are spoon feeding their 3 year old sister, who happens to be wrapped up in a blanket, swaddle style.

What’s going on?

An experiment gone amok, I’m afraid.

You see, my 3 1/2 year old daughter has developed a bad habit of pooping in her pants. Not entire poops, mind you. More like productive farts.

This child has been potty trained for well over a year, both #1 and #2, day and night. She doesn’t have developmental delays or health problems that are causing this.

She is just too occasionally busy to get to the potty on time. One of the reasons I know this is true is because she never does it when we’re out somewhere (when the result would be embarrassing to her – other kids would find out), and usually just a few minutes after these itty bitty accidents, she produces a normal B.M. on the potty.

The bottom (ahem) line is that she doesn’t want to stop what she’s doing and take care of important paperwork.

And mommy is getting tired of the cleanup work. I try insisting that SHE do the cleanup, but that just creates a bigger, stinkier mess in the bathroom.

So today, my oldest son suggested a new tactic. He said we should treat her like a baby when she has accidents. Since babies poo in their pants, she should no longer be able to enjoy Big Girl privileges such as: watching House online (our weekly must see TV), playing computer games, eating certain foods, etc.

It sounded like a good idea at the time.

Only.

I think she’s enjoying the babying a bit too much. A moment ago, they were feeding her a “bottle” which turned out to be a baby doll sippy cup. They even warmed the thing on the stove. (Which is hilarious, considering my kids were breastfed and never had bottles and I’ve never warmed one in my life.)

The 10 and 6 year olds have been “rocking” her and toting her around in their arms all night. They fed her “baby food” (yogurt). Then I heard her “crying” from her bed. Two older kids came running.

I think something has gone terribly, terribly wrong with the experiment.

What do you think?