That's Fit

I'm a fan of honesty when it comes to my kids and teaching them about life. Not brutal honesty -- they're only seven and nearly five -- but gentle and age-appropriate honesty. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, saying I had cancer wouldn't mean much to a then-three-year-old and 18-month old. So I explained that I had a "boo-boo" in my "boobie," that a doctor would take it out, that I'd take medicine and my hair would fall out, that I'd be sick for a little while. They understood. And that's exactly how it all happened. We didn't talk about worst-case scenarios. If ever one comes up, we'll discuss it then.

I was also honest with my guys about the tummy tuck I had 12 days ago. I didn't use the word "tummy tuck" and I didn't introduce the term "plastic surgery." But I did tell them I would have an operation on my belly to fix some skin, a muscle, and a hernia. I told them the truth: Mommy's skin stretched a lot when she was pregnant, her muscle separated, and she has a hernia just like Danny had a hernia when he was three years old. Danny had an operation. And mommy will have an operation -- for the hernia and the other things too. My boys understood what would happen, that I'd be resting for a few days, that Daddy and Nana would be taking them to and from school, that I couldn't lift them or race around in the back yard for a short time. By the time I had my tummy tuck, the whole event was somewhat of an non issue. And now I'm better. And they've moved on.

Experts say not being up front with kids about major life events opens up the possibility that little minds will concoct their own versions of what's going on. Since these interpretations are often worse than reality, they say honestly is the best policy. I do too.

A woman almost sent me to the hospital last night because of her overuse of perfume. I was walking down an aisle in Target, when I completely lost my breath! She must have poured half the bottle on her, and I swear I didn't respond so strongly when I was gassed in a Paris subway ten years ago. What is up with that?

I literally had to sprint away from the woman to escape suffocation. It was an obnoxious example of odor abuse. I feel like more and more people are abusing their fragrances every day. Now is this such a big deal? Yeah...Kinda!

We're all human, which means we all have junk food weaknesses.

Ever wonder what the presidential candidates list as their biggest junk-food weaknesses? If so, you're in luck. TIME magazine recently published A Voter's Guide To the 2008 Election. Among topics such as the candidates' signature issues, their liabilities, and their most memorable childhood memories are their favorite sinful indulgences. Take a peek.

• Hillary Clinton loves chocolate ice cream
  

• Barack Obama craves French fries
  

• John Edwards: Give the man a cheeseburger
  

• Mitt Romney likes pie
  

• John McCain chooses sugared doughnuts
  
  

Not all candidates listed their junk foods of choice. Maybe they're holding back; maybe they're clean. What about you -- care to share?

Let's be real for a second: nobody is a machine! We all need breaks to rest our weary minds or bodies every now and then. Otherwise we'd crack and then where would that get us? Sometimes to stay more productive, you have to take a break. But as this great Lifehack article points out, there's a difference between constructive rest and just being lazy.

While that line cannot be easily defined, you can still set guidelines to help stay productive. So when should you decide to take a break? Everyone will have different points, but completing a major task can be one benchmark for rest. After finishing a big project, wrapping up an essay, or replying to all those emails, take a break! Another potential guideline for resting up is after many consecutive days of working hard. You've earned it, so take a day off.

So what do you do when you actually get that coveted time to yourself? Enjoy being away from work, break off and do something else. The article also suggests not to rely on substances like caffeine when you try and get back on the job. And as the old adage goes, keep work and home life in check. Why bring that stress to the dinner table?

Now here's a way to walk, and it comes straight from Mark Fenton, author of The Complete Guide for Walking for Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness. It's a simple six-day schedule -- you get the seventh day off -- and it's intended to boost the intensity of walking workouts for a greater benefit in less time. Check it out, try it, and tell us what you think.

Three days of the week: Engage in 30-60 minutes of purposeful walking. Walk the kids to school, walk to the store for milk, or walk with a colleague at work -- call it a meeting and you'll kill two birds with one stone. Break up your walking if you wish -- 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there -- but walk with a mission. Walk as if you're not late but have no time to spare.

Two days of the week: Get moving for 25-45 minutes of high intensity walking. Walk very quickly and tackle some hills while you're at it. Do this walk all at once and not in mini-chunks of time, and be aware of your breathing. Make sure you aren't gasping for air.

One day per week: Take a 90-minute walk. It can be a hike or even a family excursion in a park. Speed isn't important for this one. Just go long.

Portions are important when it comes to matters of health and weight management. But it's hard to control our portions when measuring cups, spoons, and scales aren't readily available. Since guesswork can sometimes be dangerous, we need some sort of guide when estimating our serving sizes.

Try this on for size -- Well & Fit magazine, published by the Publix grocery chain, offers these tips for estimating serving sizes at a glance.

1 cup = a small fist
1 ounce of cheese = an index finger
1/2 cup of rice or oatmeal = a light bulb
3-ounce serving of fish or meat = a deck of cards
1 serving of fruit = a tennis ball

OK, now I've got a few visuals. How about you?

Are you a believer in medication for that ADHD-diagnosed child? To many parents, this is the single-largest decision that requires attention when ADHD presents itself in the household.

Some parents take away processed and chemical-laden foods (and drinks), while others use other methods to determine if environmental variables can affect their child's hyperactivity.

In order to help parents make the decision about which course of action to take, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry guide was released this week to guide parents in the right direction. With more parents becoming frightened about prescription medication, the timing of this new guide is perfect, as each case needs to be scrutinized individually instead of 'treated' like a statistic. It's now available at ParentsMedGuide.org.

Recently, I wrote a post about "What Not to Wear's" resident make-up artist, Carmindy, and her tips on how to get great, glowing skin. The Californian beauty always looks fantastic without being overly made-up, so I thought it would be cool to check out her advice on how to get that naturally beautiful look.

Those of you out there who are also Carmindy fans, especially New York City-area residents and fashionistas who'll be in town for NYC Fashion Week, are in for a treat as the artist will appear at Byrant Park on Monday September 10th, as a part of the Word for Word Author Series.

Carmindy, who has penned a book called The 5-Minute Face: The Quick and Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman, will appear at 12:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m., and give away some of her best secrets and tricks of the trade including tips on how to enhance your best features and how to look great without spending hours primping. The author will also be available to sign copies of the book. If you love to look great and have fun with makeup, mark the event in your calendar.

As little as a decade ago yoga was a fitness activity that I only knew about through healthy-living, new-age diehards and celebrities like Madonna and Ali McGraw. Since then it has grown into a fitness phenonmen so big that it is a rarity to find someone who hasn't tried it or doesn't know someone who has. In fact, within the past year I have had four friends realize they love the practice so much they've begun the intensive training that will eventually allow them to teach their favorite style.

Until a few months ago I avoided jumping on the yoga bandwagon. Was I curious about it? Yes. Was I also a bit afraid and overwhelmed by it? Absolutely! How would I know what type to try? What if I couldn't stretch my limbs far enough or balance properly? What if I fell over during a tough pose in class and made a fool of myself? These are all valid questions for a newcomer.

Luckily one of my friends currently doing her training offered to give me some classes on the basics so that I could learn the poses and she could work on her training skills. I learned from her that yoga is all about challenging yourself, doing your personal best and working up to harder poses in your own time. It is not about competition or judging anyone else in class. For those who don't have someone to introduce them to the practice but are interested in giving it a try and are unsure of where to start, here is a great guide to the different styles and who they're geared toward. Figure out what you'd like to try, check out a beginner's class and, above all, give yourself time to learn and move forward.

There are so many things to think about when it comes to making decisions in your life, especially regarding health and health care services, that it will help alleviate a little of the stress if you go into any big decisions with a plan.

Start by defining the problem or situation, and breaking it down into smaller pieces if you can. Think about who is going to be affected -- just you, or are others involved? Then gather ideas, information, and other perspectives and write them all down. Look at what you've written down and evaluate all of your options and alternatives, including thinking through exactly how each would play out. And perhaps most importantly, realize that there is rarely a perfect answer, so being realistic with yourself and planning carefully can help make dealing with some of the more unpleasant aspects or results that much more bearable.