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Letter from the Editor

Too Much of a Good Thing: Finding the Balance

In this age of information overload, it’s virtually impossible to ignore all the up-to-the minute news, warnings, and advice one can encounter in a single day of working at her computer. As a mother of three, I’m like a dog who’s been trained to bark, or in this case, click, when I spot an online article that promises to inform me about, say, the worst foods to feed my child, or a drug-resistant staph that’s sending kids to the ER with nasty skin infections, or why pregnant women need to take precautions when using cell phones (see below!).

I’ve written about health for two decades and firmly believe that parents owe it to their children to be informed on the best ways to protect them from things like household poisons (Here I go again, but FYI March 15 thru the 21 is National Poison Prevention Week—for info ck out this really informative website here.

But being informed is one thing; being overwhelmed and totally freaked out by what you read is another. This 24-hour access to all things potentially deadly, harmful, or injurious, has a tendency to put us in a heightened state of alert—sometimes without us even realizing it. I’m 10 years in to parenting, and one of the things I can tell you is that worrying about what could go wrong doesn't do anyone any good (besides, kids are really good at picking up on those vibes, never mind what worrying does for your own stress levels). Taking steps to protect your child (putting child-safety locks on cabinets with medicine, having her wear a helmet whenever she rides her bike, making sure she gets enough sleep) are completely necessary. Fretting over that non-organic apple that your son happily ate at a friend’s house last week, or the extra half hour of Dora your 3 year-old insisted on watching, is most definitely not.

I guess it boils down to finding that balance that we’re all in search of. A lot of that comes with the confidence you gain during the hours, days, weeks, months, and eventually years spent on the job. One of the best bits of advice for first-time moms is what I so often hear from women who’ve gone on to have second and third children: If I’d only knew then what I know now, I would have enjoyed the ride so much more. Here’s to making the ride more fun, and less scary.


Be Well,

Maureen Connolly
Editor, Real Savvy Moms.com

News Bytes

Three Meals In One

In some parts of the country, winter still has its grip. March definitely came in like a lion, so enjoy those hearty, home-cooked meals while you can. In this Real Savvy TV segment featuring Chef Will Rece he demonstrates how to make three meals from one, starting with Roasted Chicken on a Bed of Winter Vegetables, Quick Chicken Pot Pie, and Corn and Chicken Chowder. Yummy!

Click here to view the video

Colorblock Clothing
By Rita Ragone, Real Savvy Moms Celebrity Hair and Makeup Expert

The newest fashion trend for spring is color-block clothing. If you apply this trend correctly, you can look 2 inches taller and 10 pounds thinner. The way to do this is to first figure out your body type.

If you are a bit thick in the waist or wide hipped, you will want the darkest part of the color-block to be in a triangular shape across your waist/hip area, with lighter chunks of color above and below that area.

If you are bottom-heavy, wear an a-line shaped dress with brightness in the hip area and above.

An all-around print dress looks great on almost any body type- as long as the print is small, evenly spaced, and in a wrap-style dress.

Another way to wear color-block styles is by adding a scarf around your neck or around your waist. You can create your own style and make an older suit look new. This works especially well with one-piece zip-front pantsuits that are back in fashion. Whatever you choose, wear what looks good on you and integrate your own flair with an updated piece of wardrobe. The newest colors this season in color-block styles are orange, black and white; lime green, yellow, and black; and turquoise, green and lavender.

Pastel prints are also wildly popular this season. You will see lots of baby doll styles in intarsia prints, ruffles around the neckline and sleeves, and kimono-style tops. Some great places to shop for affordable styles are Siegel.com, and Metrostyle.com.

All of the styles mentioned here look great with jeans or leggings, and can easily bring you into summer, so have fun experimenting with all of these new colorful new trends!

‘Til next time!

Nimble Core Muscle Series
By From the Trainers at NYC's Nimble Fitness

Last time we discussed how to co-contract two very important core muscles—the pelvic floor and the transversus abdominus (or TVA), which is the deepest abdominal muscle and forms a protective girdle around your abdominal organs and lower spine. When your TVA is strong, it supports the more superficial abdominals and has a huge role in stabilizing the lumbar spine.

This week’s TVA strengthening exercise is what we call the “100 pulse”—a safe exercise for any fitness level that is performed in a sitting position. Sit in an aligned posture with your lower back in its natural curve. Be sure to have your shoulders, rib cage and pelvis “stacked” over one another. Start with an exhale and pull your navel to your spine without changing the natural curve of your spine--nothing should move, except your tummy being pulled in. Now inhale, but keep your navel glued to your spine. Not so easy, is it? Next exhale and draw your navel in again, being careful not to change your posture. Build up to doing 100 pulse-like repetitions. If we have learned anything over the years of training is that every women is different. Remember that it’s all about your comfort level, so be aware of how you feel.

Are Pregnancy and Cell Phones a Dangerous Mix?
By Dana Sullivan

Last summer, a study published in the journal Epidemiology suggested that women who use cell phones during pregnancy -- and let their small children use cell phones -- increase their child's risk of serious behavior problems by 80 percent. At least that was what some news organizations reported.

But the researchers involved in the study point out that they didn't actually conclude that the cell phone/bad behavior link was a "causal" one. "It was just statistical," says one of the researchers, Jorn Olsen, Ph.D., professor and chair of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health, in a press release. By causal, Olsen means the research didn’t show a direct link, but rather establish a statistical connection between usage and behavioral problems. Olsen and his team had looked at a survey of mothers of 13,159 Danish children who were enrolled in a long-term study examining how various exposures during pregnancy affect children's long-term health. The children were seven years old when the survey was completed.

The children whose mothers used cell phones while pregnant had a 54% higher risk of behavior problems -- emotional and behavioral problems, hyperactivity, inattention, and problems with peers. Kids who used cell phones themselves had an 18% higher risk of behavior problems. And kids with both exposures had an 80% higher risk of behavior problems. The researchers did not examine whether or not women who use their cell phones frequently pay less attention to their children, which could also result in behavioral problems.

Dr. Olsen says the study suggests "calls for caution in using cell phones during pregnancy and early childhood," and that not knowing what may cause a health problem related to cell phones does not mean that the problem does not exist. "We have to keep an open mind, especially for a technology that is becoming commonplace around the world," says Dr. Olsen. “We hope that our results will inspire others to study cell phone use early in life” he adds. “If cell phone use during pregnancy or in early childhood causes an increase in childhood behavioral problems or other health problems we need to know as soon as possible. Children may well be more susceptible than adults to exposure from cell phones.”

For more tips on how to protect you and your child when using a cell phone, go to: http://www.environmentaloncology.org/node/201#10Precautions.

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