More Swine Flu Information

I read this article today and found it extremely valuable. I wish I was able to re-post things here because I know that you would be much more likely to read the information if I could. But alas, copyright laws prevent me from doing so. Somehow the extra step of 'clicking' on a link keeps most of us from gathering more information. Please, please take the time to check out this article.

Sounds Like A Great Challenge

By Ember

While reading one of my favorite blogs from a homeschooler, I learned that the author, Diane Hopkins, has been sugar free for over 100 days. (Click on that to read her post yourself.) That is just the challenge I needed to hear about. I can totally relate to her: I can't just have one cookie. I'll eat them until they're gone. I also couldn't have a candy dish out. I do much better if I just cut something off completely. I know that I need to do this. I am having all kinds of candida/yeast issues on my skin and in my brain. Diane recommends reading the book 'Suicide By Sugar' and I think I will take the suggestion.

I have to make a plan as to when I want to begin my own 100 Day Sugar Free Challenge. Would I be setting myself up for failure if I tried to do it during the holidays? I think that I would be. So maybe the New Year?

Anyone else up to committing to 100 days without sugar? Come on! It'll be great and we can do it together.

One Step at a Time

By Sage

So, two weekends ago my husband and I ran our first half-marathon. It was a wonderful experience, and we plan to do it again next year. Not only was the weather beautiful and the route absolutely stunning, but we felt great! Now if you'd asked me how I felt while I was training for said half-marathon, I would have told you a different story. The training was really hard. Really, really hard. Several times I felt like just calling the whole thing off, but my pride wouldn't let me. The week before the race I was terrified, which was really discouraging because I'm a good runner, and I hated feeling frightened of it. Well, the race, as I mentioned, turned out to be glorious. Why? Because I was prepared; I had slowly increased my distances in small increments over the course of time. Nobody can (or at least nobody should) leap off the couch after lying there without moving for years and decide to run a marathon (or even a 5K) the next day. I was telling my friend about how wonderful our run was, and she said something to the effect of, "Well, I can't even run around the block, so I'm impressed." My answer to that is: "Baloney." If she trained for it, took her time, and took it a step at a time, she could run. Fitness is just a decision, and that's the truth. Anyone can do it.

Eight years ago, when my husband and I first decided to take up jogging, we were pathetic. No, really! I'm so glad it was early and dark outside, because I was never so humiliated as I was when we made our first attempt and we couldn't run half a block without wheezing, leaning over, grabbing our knees and desperately trying not to throw up. But every day we went out and we made ourselves go just a few steps further, and I really do mean just a few steps. "Today, let's just make it to the next house," we'd say. And we did it. The day that we first ran our chosen 3 mile loop without stopping, we felt like the Rocky theme song should have been playing! It took us many, many weeks. We didn't give up, and we got there. From that point until two weekends ago, we never ran more than 6 miles at a stretch, and usually we kept it around 3 or 4. But we approached training for a 13.1 mile run the same way we had approached our first run: a step at a time.

I'm not saying you have to run. Some people don't enjoy it at all. But do something! Set a goal, and realize that even if it sounds far-fetched, you can do it... one step at a time!

Two Cents

By Sage

I'm not getting the Swine Flu vaccine, nor are my children. I've always received the flu shots in the past and I haven't contracted the flu. Then last year I didn't get around to the flu shot, and guess what? I didn't get the flu. My husband did get the vaccine, and guess what? He got the flu. Honestly, I think it's the luck of the draw, either way. I'm not scared of the vaccine, but I don't believe it works, frankly. As far as routine vaccinations go, my children are current on all of them, and I feel good about it. The Church does recommend you get them, and I believe missionaries can't leave the country if they aren't current on their vaccinations. Just my two cents.

Maybe I'm crazy, who knows!

By Tiger Lily

So I am like most American moms who take their babies to the doctors to get them weighed, measured, and vaccinated. Yes, all shots. My first two kids were born on a military facility in Germany. There wasn't a choice, you just did it. Honestly, it never dawned on me to even question it until about a year and a half ago.

My family always got the flu shot. That is, until we all got sick. Me? I thought it was a fluke. My husband on the other hand was totally against it the next year. But to our regret, we got them. This time we all ended up in the ER. After that I was convinced.

So we do not get flu shots. Yet we get all other vaccines. I know maybe I'm crazy but I haven't been convinced otherwise. I have also looked into where the Church stands on it. Their counsel is to get vaccinated. As far as the H1N1? Well, I will be looking into it.

9 Reasons

By Ember

With the Swine Flu (H1whatever) scare going on, I was emailed this information and wanted to make it available to you as you make tough decisions about your family's health. There are believers and non-believers on this site about vaccines. Here is one side about children receiving the flu vaccine this year from Dr. Mercola. Mercola.com is one of my favorite natural health sites. He promotes a lot of products and that turns some people off, but I personally love that he is committed to finding the best products and making them available. I have used some of them and find them to be top notch.

I invite a discussion among contributors and commenters on this subject.