Monthly Archives: July 2012

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Top 10 Tips for Traveling with a Toddler

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This past weekend the toddler and I went out of town to visit the grandparents. My baby has traveled on airplanes with me ever since he was around 5 months old. He loves airplanes!
Here are a few things I have learned over our travels that may help some of you have a smooth trip when traveling with a little one:

1. Bring snacks. Children get bored and hungry regularly, and you never know when there may be a flight delay or traffic if you’re traveling by car. Snacks keep everyone sane and the kiddo happy.

2. Baby carriers are great! I used a Baby Hawk Mei Tai (Baby Hawk) when the toddler was an infant. It was a life saver for walking through the airport! And, it allows you to be hands free for carrying whatever else you have to hold (i.e. a much needed cup of coffee). The beauty of the baby carrier is that it also allows you to travel lighter because you won’t need a stroller. Now, for my toddler aged kiddo, I use an Ergo Baby Sport carrier (Ergo Baby Carrier). I feel like it’s a bit more sturdy for a wiggly, larger child.

3. Bring an already prepared cup/bottle. I know that the TSA consider us all terrorists but don’t be afraid to bring a cup or bottle already prepared with your child’s preferred beverage, even if it is over 3 ounces. You won’t get hassled because of it. It goes through a quick residue screening and you’re on your way, and the baby is happy (isn’t that what it’s all about).

4. Bring toys. In the digital age most kids are accustomed to playing games on a smartphone or iPad to stay entertained. They also enjoy watching movies from iPads and portable DVD players. But, in the age of strict air travel rules, electronic devices are only allowed to be powered on at certain times. So, to keep your digital aged kiddo happy, don’t pull out the electronics until you’re up in the air, not during the gate time. And, ensure that your flight is long enough for them to get their “fix.” Otherwise, you may experience a toddler meltdown because he/she was only allowed to power the digital device for 30 minutes and that wasn’t enough time to get through an entire animated movie. Good old fashioned toys do the trick!

5. For my breastfeeding moms, nursing the baby at take off and landing is a good way to prevent ear discomfort from elevation change. This can also be accomplished with a bottle. However, the soothing comfort of nursing may also reward you with a sleeping baby for the majority of your flight. Then, mom and baby can have a peaceful travel time.

6. Choose a window seat when traveling with a toddler. At this age, they get very “antsy” and the window seat gives a little extra wiggle room without compromising their safety from limbs hanging out in the aisle. And, my kiddo finds great joy in controlling the window shade!

7. Moms, hydrate yourself prior to getting on the plane. Don’t plan to let the seat tray down to enjoy any of the airline supplied refreshments. The “antsy” toddler we talked about in tip 6 will surely want to put the tray table back up just as you are enjoying your beverage. Just spare yourself the mess and pre-hydrate.

8. Change a toddlers diaper/training pants prior to getting on the plane. Yes, the airplane restbox restroom has a changing table but believe me, it’s only suitable for 9 month olds or younger.

9. Take advantage of the special pre boarding time given to families traveling with small children. It gives you extra time and space to get all of your essential items out of your bag and in a convenient location and it gives the kiddo time to explore a little before the plane fills up.

10. If you experience a flight delay, it’s best to allow your kiddo to burn off some steam by letting them “roam free.” We usually do this by allowing the toddler to walk up and down the concourse while we follow. He gets a kick out of having the freedom to roam and it keeps him happy. And by the time we’re ready to fly, he’s ready for a nap and so are you 🙂

Happy trails to you and your little one on your next trip!

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Run for a cause

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Running is a hobby of mine! I started running about two years ago and since then it has become my passion. Running is great exercise, a great way to meditate, a great way to relieve stress, and a great way to experience the beauty of being outdoors.
This year, I have found even more meaning in my running, running for a cause.
There are thousands of races (5Ks to Marathons) held each year, and many of them are started or held for a certain benefit or cause. There are also many organizations who benefit from having runners bring awareness to their cause.
This year I’ll be running in the 2012 ING New York City Marathon, while raising money for the American Cancer Society. While the ING NYC Marathon is one of the most sought after marathon entries, a large number of its participants are actually charity runners, like myself.
For me this gives running a whole new meaning in my life. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, so fighting cancer is a personal goal of mine. I will be able to do this by running and by raising money through running for significant cancer related research and to provide resources for cancer patients and families.
I am excited to run with Team Determination of the American Cancer Society in November as we fight cancer. Breast cancer is my cause! What’s yours???

You can check out my American Cancer Society Athlete Page at:
My ACS Page

Some other great causes that you may want to support through running include:

Team in Training for Leukemia & Lymphoma

Crohn’s & Colitis Team Challenge

Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancers

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So, you wanna lose a few pounds…..

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This past week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of a new weight loss drug, Qsymia. On the one hand this is great. With the current obesity epidemic in this country, we need something to help us out. On the other hand, this is giving people an additional crutch in the battle of the bulge. I am not going to go into detail on the drug itself, you can read all about it in the link below. However, I do want to highlight some statistics from the article.

Studies done on Qsymia showed that most of the patients on this drug lost at least 5% of their body weight with an average weight loss of 6.7 % of their body weight when recommended dosages were used and 8.9% of their body weight lost with the highest daily dosages used.  This weight loss occurred over the course of 1 year. While this is pretty good weight loss, the same and even better could be achieved with good ole fashioned diet and exercise.

For instance, 5% of a 200 lb person is only a 10 lb weight loss over the course of a year. This same person could cut their daily caloric intake by 250 calories and lose more than this over the course of a year. And, if that same person, added in the daily recommended 30 minutes of exercise, they would lose even more.

I highlight these facts because many times we are motivated to look for a quick, simple, solution to a big problem. However, what seems like the “easy” solution, isn’t always the best or most effective solution.

I have patients tell me everyday, “I have tried everything and I just can’t seem to lose weight.” Usually they have not tried “everything.” Losing weight is a battle between calories in and energy expended out. You have to burn more calories than you consume to win this battle.

In this blog I plan to add more post about different things I have had experienced that have helped me and others to lose weight, and maintain healthy lifestyles.

Just remember, don’t always go for the “easy” solution!

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm312468.htm

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Are you a runner?

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Are you a runner? I am!

However, I never would have imagined that I would become a runner. I started running using the Couch to 5K Running Program (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml) in August of 2010. It is a run/walk interval type of program that trains you to run a 5K (3.1 miles) within 9 weeks. It’s such a wonderful program because when you first start out, you don’t feel like a runner at all. But, by the time you cross the finish line of your first 5K, you’ll learn that you truly are a runner!

Enjoy the photo and poem below! It’s great motivation for newly minted runners, and those of us who need reminders and confidence boosters at times.

Run on my friends, run on!

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Know Your Status!

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Do you know your status? Have you ever been tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)?

Well, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just made this task of getting tested a bit simpler and more confidential. You will soon be able to perform the test on yourself at home. The process for this will be similar to at home DNA testing to determine paternity where you are assigned a unique number, you mail off your sample, and receive confidential results at home.

I think this is wonderful! It will give those people who are too fearful of being judged to go to their doctor for testing the chance to still find out their status. Knowing your status is very important to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS. And, if you are infected, you have the opportunity for early treatment to live a long and still fulfilling life.

Here are some interesting and important facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

-African Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV.

-In 2009, African Americans comprised 14% of the US population but accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections.

-Young African American gay and bisexual men are especially at risk of HIV infection.

-In 2009, black men accounted for 70% of the estimated new HIV infections among all blacks. The estimated rate of new HIV infection for black men was more than six and a half times as high as that of white men, and two and a half times as high as that of Latino men or black women.

-In 2009, black women accounted for 30% of the estimated new HIV infections among all blacks. Most (85%) black women with HIV acquired HIV through heterosexual sex. The estimated rate of new HIV infections for black women was more than 15 times as high as the rate for white women, and more than three times as high as that of Latina women.

So, either go see your doctor for testing or test yourself at home, but KNOW YOUR STATUS!

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm310542.htm

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Affordable Healthcare Act

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I work for a federally qualified health clinic (FQHC). These are medical practices that receive grants from the government to provide medical care to low income families (including those on Medicaid and non-insured patients). Patients can be seen at these clinics regardless of their type of insurance or their ability to pay. I chose to work at a clinic like this because I feel like I am doing the most good with this type of patient population. These patients usually come from a very complex social as well as medical background and are at times, challenging to treat.
The Obama healthcare plan will give many of the patients I see, the chance to have adequate healthcare all over the country, not just areas that have a local FQHC.

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On your mark! Get set! Go!

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Hello readers!

Welcome to my blog! This is my first time venturing into the blogosphere so bear with me. The goal of this blog is to bring you along on my journeys through balancing a husband and toddler, a medical career, vegetarianism, and long distance running. The views expressed here are truly my own! Hopefully you’ll find some of the information here helpful or useful to you, but if not, you’ll probably at least experience a few laughs! My world is not totally balanced, a bit messy at times, and can move at rapid speed!

Flying by the seat of my skirts and hoping to save a few lives in between!

–Shayla