Physical Health: A Cornerstone of Well-being

Encouraging children to engage in regular physical activities is crucial for their physical development. Exercise helps to build strong bones and muscles, improves cardiovascular health, and supports a healthy weight.

Parents and caregivers should foster a positive environment around physical activity, incorporating fun and engaging activities that children can enjoy. This could include sports, dancing, or even a simple walk in the park.

Mental Health: A Vital Aspect of Development

Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to the well-being of children. Fostering a positive and supportive environment at home and in school can significantly contribute to a child’s mental health.

Encouraging open communication, building self-esteem, and promoting resilience are key aspects to focus on. It is also important to recognize the signs of mental health issues and seek professional help when needed.

Nutritional well-being: Fuelling the Body and Mind

A balanced and nutritious diet is essential for the physical and mental development of children. Ensuring that children receive the necessary nutrients can support their growth, improve concentration, and boost their energy levels.

Parents and caregivers should prioritize whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins, while limiting processed foods and sugar.

Cost-effective Health Solutions

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be expensive. There are various cost-effective solutions available to support the physical and mental well-being of children. For instance, many communities offer free or low-cost sports programs and activities.

Additionally, utilizing resources like the BuzzRx savings card can help to reduce the cost of prescription medications, ensuring that children have access to the necessary health resources they need.

Conclusion

Nurturing healthy habits in children is essential for their overall development and well-being. By focusing on physical health, mental health, and nutrition, parents and caregivers can provide a solid foundation for children to thrive. Additionally, exploring cost-effective solutions can help to alleviate the financial burden associated with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Let us work together to support the next generation in living happy, healthy lives.

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About the author

Mitchell Windich lives in Los Angeles, California, and is a dedicated health enthusiast with a keen interest in holistic well-being. With over a decade of experience in the health and wellness sector, he has garnered valuable expertise in promoting a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. Mitchell, 40 years old, holds a master’s degree in nutrition and has been featured in several health-focused webinars discussing strategies for achieving optimal health and vitality.

Photo credit: FreePick

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Dehydration can significantly impact productivity, health, and overall well-being. Presented by commercial heat pump manufacturer, Clade Engineering, this explores the importance of hydration and provides practical strategies to keep your workforce well-hydrated and comfortably cool. 

Understanding Dehydration

Dehydration happens when the body loses more fluids than it takes in. This disrupts normal bodily functions and affects everything from muscle function to brain performance. As you can imagine, this makes it harder for us to focus and work effectively and, if left unchecked, can lead to serious health problems, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially during heatwaves.

Common causes of dehydration include inadequate water intake, excessive sweating, and illnesses that cause the loss of bodily fluids.

Signs and Symptoms

It’s important to recognise the early signs of dehydration, which include thirst, dry mouth, and a decreased need to use the bathroom. As it progresses, symptoms can become more severe, such as dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and fainting​. It’s important for team leaders and HR managers to recognise these signs in staff members, and encourage everyone to stay hydrated.

How does Hydration affect the body and mind?

Hydration directly impacts our brain function and, by extension, our ability to be productive. The brain, composed of about 75% water, relies heavily on adequate hydration to function at its best. A lack of hydration can lead to reduced concentration, memory lapses, and decreased problem-solving abilities, resulting in a decrease in productivity and an increase in errors​.

Physical symptoms of dehydration include muscle fatigue, cramps, headaches, and overall weakness, which can significantly impact those of us in physically demanding roles. Of course, those working in less physically demanding roles may also experience general discomfort that affects their performance​​.

Dehydration can also negatively impact mood and morale, leading to irritability and increased stress levels – two things best avoided in high-pressure work environments. A well-hydrated workforce is generally happier and more harmonious, fostering better teamwork and collaboration.

Daily Water Intake Recommendations to Hydrate

When it comes to drinking water, health experts generally recommend a daily intake of 2.5 litres for men and 2 litres for women. However, these guidelines can vary based on individual needs, climate, and activity levels​. Employees engaging in strenuous activities or working in hot environments may need more than the recommended amounts.

Strategies for the Workplace

1. Promote Regular Water Breaks: Encourage employees to take short breaks to drink water. Consider setting up hydration stations with water dispensers and reusable cups.
2. Provide Reusable Water Bottles: Distribute branded water bottles to staff and encourage them to keep them filled throughout the day.
3. Use Technology: Hydration reminder apps and smart bottles can help track water intake and remind employees to drink regularly.
4. Incorporate Water-Rich Foods: Offer fruits and vegetables like strawberries, cucumbers, and watermelons in the office kitchen to boost hydration.
5. Adjust Hydration for Weather Conditions: On hot days, remind employees to drink more frequently. During colder months, ensure they understand that indoor heating can also lead to dehydration

Strategies for Remote Workers

For remote employees, staying hydrated can be more challenging without the structure of an office environment. Here are some tips:

1. Encourage a Home Hydration Routine: Remind remote workers to start their day with a glass of water and to keep a water bottle at their desk.
2. Virtual Hydration Reminders: Use team communication tools to send regular hydration reminders and tips.
3. Hydration Challenges: Organise friendly competitions to motivate remote workers to meet daily hydration goals.

Alternatives to Water

While water is the best option for hydration, other drinks like herbal teas, fruit juices, and electrolyte solutions can also help. Be cautious with caffeinated and sugary drinks, as they can have diuretic effects. Electrolyte drinks can be particularly useful for replenishing essential minerals lost through sweat, especially during intense physical activity.

Use Tools and Apps

Hydration trackers and smart bottles can be valuable tools for maintaining good hydration habits. These devices remind employees to drink water and track their intake throughout the day​

Special Considerations for Vulnerable Individuals

Older adults and young children are more susceptible to dehydration. Ensure these groups have easy access to fluids and are encouraged to drink regularly. For older employees, set up hydration reminders or check-ins. For those with children, share tips on keeping kids hydrated​.

Keep Your Staff Hydrated

During these hot summer months, creating a hydration-friendly environment is key. By recognizing the signs of dehydration, understanding the factors contributing to it, and adopting effective hydration strategies, you can help prevent dehydration-related health issues. Employers can provide accessible water sources, encourage regular water breaks, and integrate hydration into wellness programs, while those in leadership should set the tone by prioritising their own hydration and encouraging others to do the same.

Stay safe, stay hydrated!

The post Keep Your Colleagues (And Yourself!) Hydrated This Summer appeared first on The Parent Social.

Embracing the great outdoors should be a cherished experience for children, free from the concerns of sun damage or discomfort. The following are practical strategies to ensure your child can safely bask in the joys of outdoor adventures while safeguarding their delicate skin.

Understanding The Elements: Sun, Wind, And Cold

Exploring the great outdoors is vital for a child’s development, but the sun, wind and cold can be tough on their delicate skin. Protection starts with understanding each element’s effects. For sunny days, ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses a risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage. Windy conditions can sap moisture, leading to dryness, while cold weather can make skin rough and chapped. You can counter these challenges by preparing your childrens’ skin for each type of weather, ensuring outdoor play is safe and enjoyable.

Choosing The Right Sun Protection For Your Child

Selecting the right sunscreen involves more than just picking a high SPF. Look for water-resistant formulas offering broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are often recommended for children’s sensitive skin, as they’re less likely to irritate. Remember to apply sunscreen generously about 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours (or more frequently if your child is swimming or sweating).

Protecting Skin From The Wind And Cold

The bite of cold and the whip of wind demands a vigilant approach to your child’s skincare routine. When temperatures drop, the air can strip moisture from their delicate skin, leading to discomfort and sometimes exacerbating conditions like eczema. Daily moisturising with a thick, fragrance-free cream forms a protective layer against these harsh elements. For sensitive skin, eczema relief products designed for young skin can be particularly beneficial. In the UK, eczema creams and ointments are formulated to provide deep hydration and soothe irritation. Dermatitis cream and specific creams for dermatitis are also available for children who may suffer from these skin conditions. On particularly cold days, a heavier balm applied to cheeks and lips can prevent chapping.

Creating Safe Outdoor Environments For Play

Ensuring safe play areas involves more than supervising your child. Use sunshades or play tents as safe havens from direct sunlight. Plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon when the sun’s rays are less intense. By creating a balanced outdoor environment, children can enjoy the benefits of play whilst staying protected from excessive sun exposure.

Teaching Your Child About Skin Care And Protection

Educating your child about the importance of skincare empowers them to make smart choices. Teach them to apply their own sunscreen, choose appropriate clothing for the weather and understand why these steps matter. Making skincare a routine part of their day instils good habits that last a lifetime, ensuring they remain vigilant about skin health as they grow.

Knowing how to protect your children’s’ skin from the elements allows your family to embrace outdoor activities confidently.

The post Children’s Skin: How to Protect for Safe, Enjoyable Time Outside appeared first on The Parent Social.

Traditional wet wipes

I used countless wet wipes when my children were babies. Then I used many more to clean bums properly as they got older. Most recently, my eldest uses them by the dozen to freshen up now she’s started her periods. They’ve been a bulky staple in my bag for many years.

Despite being a fan of their cleaning power, I’ve always known wet wipes are bad for the environment. I didn’t realise quite how bad though; the UK throws away 11 billion of them each year. They also cause 300,000 annual sewer blockages. We’ve been there ourselves after a couple of incidents where the children have thrown them down the loo by mistake.

Wype: eco-friendly toilet wipe gel

Wype is a convenient, eco-friendly alternative to wet wipes. You apply the vegan, cruelty-free gel – which is made with 99% natural ingredients including aloe vera, camomile and coconut – to your regular toilet paper and it transforms it into a biodegradable and flushable wet wipe. 

The gel has a good consistency and one squirt/pump is enough for a single piece of toilet tissue. After folding the paper (to spread the gel), it has the perfect moisture level and leaves you feeling fresh and super clean after use.

Wype product details

The 100ml bottle contains enough gel for 200 pumps, which the makers say, on average, lasts one person 4-6 weeks, but hey we’re all different It is also gentle enough to use on babies.

The bottle (recyclable aluminium) is really nicely branded so isn’t embarrassing on display in your bathroom or in your bag if you’re out and about and using public loos. At £9.99, it works out at 5p a wipe; the refill at £5.99 brings it down to 3p per wipe.

Boots now stocks the Wype starter kit online.

Find out more

Visit https://wypeuk.com/ for more details on the range and the company, which won the 2021 Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge for preventing 3.5 million wet wipes from polluting the environment.

The post Wype: Eco-friendly wet wipes that are peachy appeared first on The Parent Social.

I would not stockpile, but here’s what would be on my essentials list for a Coronavirus lockdown or any other period of quarantine.

Lockdown shopping list

Olive oil – the starting point of about 80% of my cooking

Tinned tomatoes – I’m half Italian, tomatoes feature quite heavily in my cooking

Pasta – (see above)

Soup – As a working-from-home freelancer I always have a stock for lunch; might grab a couple (I mean a couple) of extra cans/cartons .

Calpol – Suddenly realised yesterday that we’d run out. Went to get our usual bottle and discovered, surprise, surprise, it had run out at Boots and Asda. Managed to get a 24 packet of the fastmelts, which we’ve never had before   

Flour (plus yeast) – We make quite a lot of bread; 350g of flour will make a loaf and it costs about 30p

Paracetamol – Matt suffers with headaches, so we always need some in the house. Also, required if we get a temperature. We were extremely low, so I bagged two very cheap packets at Lidl. Which? has a great article about the cheapest places to buy popular medicines

Cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas – these are staples of so many favourite family meals. They are always on my shopping list.   

Lentils – We had Lincolnshire sausage & lentil simmer for the first time the other week. Amazingly the kids loved the Puy lentils; healthy, filling and pretty cheap, I’m going to buy more and look for other recipes. Suggestions welcome  

Tinned tuna – We’re all fans of fresh fish, but store cupboard tuna pasta bake is one of Maria’s favourites. It requires two tins of the fishy stuff, so I’ll make sure I get some in

Wine – No explanation required

Berries, bananas and any other fruit that freezes well – Not just about fruit, this is a good guide on stocking your freezer

Frozen vegetables – I’m a big fan of frozen veg anyway: it works out cheaper, means I include it more regularly in the kids’ meals and it cuts down significantly on waste

Milk – We get ours delivered from milk&more; no trips to the supermarket and it comes in environmentally-friendly glass bottles. They also deliver our eggs, butter, orange juice and a number of other groceries

Rice – Another staple in our household from accompanying winter warming chilli con carne to a quick egg-fried rice at lunch

Replenish first aid kit – embarrassingly, until a couple of years ago I didn’t have one. Make sure you do (for any event). The Millie’s Trust one is great.   

Pack of A4 paper – pencil and paper are the best boredom busters ever

Bleach – my dad has always been obsessed with it and uses copious amounts when cleaning floors and bathrooms (he does a lot of my cleaning!)

Chocolate and biscuits  – Long shelf-life and good for energy and morale!

Here the Independent provides a list of the supermarket rules for lockdown shoppers.

The post Lockdown Shopping List (and no, toilet rolls aren’t included) appeared first on The Parent Social.

Hedrin or Lyclear?

Actually, there as so many more options. Most treatments recommended need to be left in for 8-12 hours. I opted for Full Marks for our first treatment as it was one of the quick ones.

The first attempt – Full Marks

Friday evening was spent with a bottle of wine and Full Marks solution as we treated the whole family.

This was a five minute treatment, which said no second one was required.

It took us ages to get it through the girls’ dry hair. We poured on loads and whilst it immediately made the top of their hair hugely greasy, it was really difficult to spread through to the ends. We had to shampoo and rinse multiple times to get rid of the residue and followed up with plenty of combing.

A couple of days later there were more lice.

The second attempt – Boots own brand for nits

Again this appealed as it said it worked in 15 minutes. It also had the advantage of being cheaper than the well-known brands. Boots Pharmaceuticals Head Lice Solution was also very greasy and was tough to get through the whole hair. We had to shampoo and rinse their hair twice as it remained greasy. We then combed through their damp hair thoroughly to remove the lice and nits (eggs). Lots came out.

A few days later they were itching once again.

The third attempt – Hedrin

We used Hedrin Treat & Go. Again, this was greasy. We left it to dry (though it never felt properly dry) and all went to bed with it in. It required a number of shampoo and rinses. We did lots of combing.

We repeated a week later. A day or so after the second treatment, I was horrified to find more nits and then a couple of days after that some lice.

The fourth attempt – Lyclear

Lyclear is a one go treatment. We applied to dry hair and left for 15 minutes. We then combed through the hair with the comb provided before rinsing. Success!!!

Follow up – Vamousse

Since writing this post the girls have got nits several more times. Most recently we’ve been using Vamousse, which has been the most effective at clearing them.

Comb for nits (Nitty Gritty)

I had a lot of recommendations for the Nitty Gritty comb from people reading this post. I invested in one and it is really efficient at getting them out. We use it routinely after baths.

Follow up 2 – NitWits All-In-One

After several more effective treatments with Vamousse, it seemed the lice were becoming resistant. We tried out NitWits, which worked very well, quickly and had a very convenient easy spray applicator. Also no laborious combing is required with this treatment. A comb is still provided though so you can ensure dead critters are all removed after if you choose to. Massive thumbs up.

NitNOT

We’re yet to try this, but it has been recommended by a friend who didn’t get on with other treatments due to the length, curliness and thickness of her daughter’s hair. She describes NitNOT as being like runny honey in consistency. It kills the lice and then you comb through for all the dead ones and eggs with the comb provided. It is also eco-friendly and hypoallergenic.

Lice and nits aftercare

After finally getting rid, we now use Vosene Kids 3 in 1 conditioning shampoo. It has tea tree oil and lemon eucalyptus, which are a big lice deterrent. We follow up with the leave in Vosene Kids Conditioning Defence Spray, which as well as being a repellent has the bonus of detangling the hair.  

* We’re also looking forward to testing out the new Vosene Kids Apple & Lemon Head Lice Defence Spray (£2.99 from Amazon), which is launching at the end of August 2024 ahead of the new school year. 

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When a friend came over to visit with his children, we took them to the park and walked there and back. Back home I went to pour some wine. At that point he told me we’d walked over 2000 steps and burned off more than 200 calories during our little trip. I’d definitely earned that glass of wine! He knew this as he had a Fitbit. I was hooked.

I don’t ‘do exercise’

I’m not sporty and I’ve never been a member of a gym. Come the evening, when the kids are in bed, I just want to relax and veg out.

However, I do like walking. Not yomping, but rather going for walks with the family. I’ll always walk somewhere local as opposed to getting in the car. I’m also quite competitive and a bit of a fidget.

That evening I downloaded an app called Stepz – a simple pedometer and step counter – from iTunes. The only problem was, as much as I am addicted to my phone, I wasn’t actually carrying it around every single second. It was a good rough guide but I wasn’t properly counting my steps.

The Fitbit Charge 2

Part of the online dashboard

My husband, seeing my unprecedented enthusiasm for something exercise-related, ordered me a Fitbit. What a lovely thing to do! Or was he perhaps hoping it might help cut down on our weekly wine expenditure..?

He went for the Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate and Fitness Tracking Wristband and I’ve just (November 2020) upgraded to a Fitbit Charge 4. 

It is so easy to set up, the instructions are clear and a minimal profile is all you need to get going. You can see a lot of the information on the wristband itself (which also displays date, time and text messages), but downloading the app means you can really drill down into the data if you’re that way inclined.

This is A LOT more than a pedometer, but my focus over the five days I’ve had it has been this. The daily suggested target to hit is 10,000 steps.

10,000 steps 

The morning rush to make the beds, get three children breakfasted and ready for school and the school run itself means I clock up a lot of steps in a short period of time. By just after 9am I’ll usually have made almost 5,000 steps. The afternoon school run adds another couple of thousand. That means I’m almost guaranteed to hit 10,000 each weekday (weekends can be more challenging).

Getting active

I work from home sat at a laptop so have many hours of being very inactive. Now this is where the Fitbit is really starting to shape my routine. One of the features is the 250+ steps per hour. You can set this for as many hours as you want; I’ve got it for 12 hours. I’m sedentary from 9am-3pm, so in this period I’m not naturally doing 250 steps each hour. The Fitbit alerts me 10 minutes before the hour’s up if I haven’t made my 250. This makes me step away from my desk and have a sudden burst. I’ll go and get washing out of the machine or pass the hoover round briskly or just do a few ‘runs’ up and down the stairs. I can’t possibly let the hour slip by without hitting the target! It really doesn’t take long to get that 250.

I’d never have dreamt of getting up and having a little sprint around the house previously. It means I actually get my heart rate up, something that doesn’t happen on the school runs and general walking.

It’s already starting to change my actions in a positive way. I won’t take the shortcut or cut corners, I’ll just go the normal route but try and do it marginally quicker. I won’t take the lift if I can use the stairs. I’m making little tweaks like leaving a couple of minutes later for the school run so that I’m forced to walk a bit quicker.

I’ve found my exercise nirvana: something that doesn’t seem like exercise at all.

Fitbit friends

Another great feature is that you can synch up with any of your friends who have a Fitbit and go head-to-head. You can compare your step total with your friends at any time, and this is based on a seven day total. It is great motivation!

The Weekend Warrior challenge

I got invited to a Weekend Warrior challenge. This is more competitive than day-to-day comparisons. It tallies up your steps over the 48 hours of the weekend and pings you with progress reports and words of encouragement during the period or when there’s been a change of ranking. It keeps the momentum going and really helps with the general lull in activity I get at a weekend.

Other stuff

I’ve begun to look at things like my resting BPM to see if/how that improves. I’ve even had a go at ‘relaxing’ with its deep breathing exercises.

Sleep tracking 

You can wear your Fitbit to bed and it analyses how much awake time, REM, light sleep and deep sleep you get a night. Surprise, surprise I don’t get enough sleep. I’ve now been set a target. Oh, and by the way, did you know you burn calories whilst sleeping?

I haven’t familiarised myself with the rest of the functionality yet as at the moment I’m really enjoying what I’m doing. There’s even something to help you increase your water intake. I drink about a glass a day, which is terrible.

I’d like to try and cut down on the wine as well, but one step at a time…

Other health posts: The One Investment Dads Need to Make Now

The post Fitbit Charge – It’s changed my approach to exercise appeared first on The Parent Social.

Buying a First Aid Kit

A bit embarrassed that I was so inept and actually concerned that I have three children and I wouldn’t have anything to hand if they did have an accident, I Immediately went to the chemist and bought a Steroplast First Aid Kit for the Home.

The kit contained the essentials – bandage, tape, two low adherent dressings, triangular bandage, gloves, safety pins, two wipes and 10 assorted plasters – and I felt a lot more at ease knowing that we now had it in the house.

Millie’s Trust First Aid Kit

Then Steroplast got in touch to tell me about Millie’s Trust, the charity they sponsor. The trust was created by the parents of Millie Thompson who tragically passed away in a choking incident at nursery in October 2012. It aims to make first aid training readily available for minimal costs and in as many places as possible.

Steroplast makes a first aid kit for Millie’s Trust. The kit is BS8599-1 compliant, which means it’s definitely suitable as a small work place first aid kit, but it’s actually designed and created to be ideal for nurseries, pre-schools and individuals. As Millie’s Trust raises awareness in particular about paediatric first aid there are added extras included in the kit for paediatric use, and each kit comes with a choking & CPR guide for emergencies.

This first aid kit contains A LOT!

The kit comes in a nice clear Millie’s Trust-branded case and contains:

One large sterile dressing  
Four medium sterile dressings 
Two sterile eye pad dressings
Two triangular bandages 
20 sterile saline wipes (cleansing wipes) 
40 washproof sterile plasters
Six pairs of nitrile gloves 
Five low adherent absorbent dressings 
One way valve resusciade (the shield mask for mouth-to-mouth)
One Burnshield emergency burn care dressing (hydrogel) 
Two sterile finger dressings
Five 20ml pods of sterile eye/woundwash 
An emergency foil blanket 
A pack of five sterile gauze swabs 
Burnshield Hydrogel 50ml 
One conforming bandage 
Microporous tape 
A pair of paramedic scissors 
Green plastic disposable tweezers 
A bag of six safety pins 

... and one black wall bracket in case you want to mount it onto the wall.

The kit is really comprehensive and so well stocked. It has the essentials and then actually quite specialised items; I wouldn’t have expected things such as an emergency foil blanket, the Burnshield dressing – a special dressing for burns and scalds, which provides protection against infection and minimises trauma and skin damage – and the hydrogel, which is used to treat burns, scalds and sunburn. A conforming bandage, by the way, is a bandage that  ‘conforms to any body shape.’ I had to look this up!

At £22.00 I think this is outstanding value as there is simply so much in there.

The only minor criticism I have is that the plasters are all the same size. That said, for larger wounds there are many types of dressings and gauze.

Call Millie’s Trust Contact Information

Website at www.milliestrust.com
Email at info@milliestrust.com

The post Family First Aid Kits appeared first on The Parent Social.

There’s been a lot of change in the world of ‘dad’ in the last decade – more stay at home dads than ever before, and new shared parental leave policies across many parts of the world as examples. But there’s one area that’s getting worse…dads’ health, and that’s not just a pressing concern for dad, but his children too.

According to the NHS, the level of obesity in the UK is more than three times what it was in the 1980s, and in the US almost three quarters of adults are now obese. “Overweight children are more likely to become overweight adults,” according to a study led by Susan Jebb of Oxford University, and 40% of children across the world are inheriting their obesity from their parents. It’s time to challenge our approach to health before it really is too late.

Here’s how dad’s can deliver the change needed:

Use fatherhood as the motivator, not the excuse

‘I just don’t have the time’ is something we hear a lot. And hey look I get it – we’re super busy trying to hold down work, and spending as much time with the little ones as possible, but we need to start using our roles as fathers to set the example. A lot of this change starts in the mind, and not even with our exercise, but our sleep! It is recommended that adults should get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and it has a huge impact on our health, both in our daily focus energy and also in our muscle development. But one in three adults now gets less than 6 hours sleep a night!

Take a HIIT and think ‘progress’ not perfect

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HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training (what did you think we meant?)

There’s a huge range of exercises you can do, and doing it in short intense bursts will help burn the calories even quicker. Things will always come up that change your planned routine as a dad – kids got ill, partner needs you to help, work needed you to stay later, and all of that is ok. The important thing is that every little bit makes a huge difference in the long term.

How to start getting ‘progress not perfection’:

• Integrate something into your everyday, such as walking to your place of work, and taking a leisurely jog instead of the bus or car.

• Invest in some dumbbells / kettlebells, and a jump rope for those five minute moments you have at home.

• Find a fellow dad to maintain the exercise routine. Push each other all the way.

• Be hard on yourself – make sure you get a good range of exercises in your routine – Burpees, Air squat, Pushups, Killer abs, Plank, variations, Core workout, 5-minute legs.

Cut the crap from our diets

All the exercise gains won’t make a shred of difference if you’re not eating right. Aiming to lose around 0.5-1kg (1-2lb) a week to reach your required weight is doable, as long as you eat right. Here is how you can achieve it:

• Stop eating so much sugar – Sugar is broken into glucose and fructose once in our bodies. Our bodies naturally produce glucose, and there is no physiological need for fructose at all. It’s only metabolized by the liver in small amounts. Try losing the sugar from your coffees and teas for a week to start, and you’ll notice the difference in energy already.
• Carb substitutes – pasta is delicious, but did you know a typical plate of spaghetti can add 100-150 grams of carbs just on its own! Think about courgette spaghetti instead of regular high-carb spaghetti, or even butternut squash.
• Prep like a boss– meal preparation takes your focus on health to new levels, and means you’ve always got something delicious and healthy in the fridge.

Dad’s health is an investment, not a cost. It’s time we fix it – both for ourselves and to set the right way for our families. Make sure you’re investing in the right thing dad.

For the full guide to dad’s health head over to daddilife for more details and the specific tips from the likes of Jason Khalipa, Jay Cardiello and Barry’s Bootcamp.

The post The One Investment Dads Need to Make Now appeared first on The Parent Social.

Update – one of the twins caught chickenpox before I could book the appointment. So, so spotty and really itchy. Not fun  

My twins are five and have not yet had chickenpox despite being exposed to it on a number of occasions.

Their big sister had it when she was 18 months old. She wasn’t particularly ill with it just very spotty and rather uncomfortable. However, I know that different children are affected in different ways and there can be complications. I know a few horror stories.

Other countries vaccinate against chickenpox

We don’t routinely vaccinate against chickenpox (varicella) in this country. I thought that was because it’s usually a ‘mild’ illness. However, further reading has suggested that with all the debate relating to the MMR jab, authorities are reluctant to add another vaccination into the immunisation schedule for children. I learnt from my Italian dad that they immunise against it in Italy. It’s also offered in a number of other European countries as well as Japan, Australia and Canada (approximately 33 countries in total), and the vaccine has been routinely administered to children in the US since 1995.

Why I’m considering the chickenpox vaccination

It might not be a really dangerous disease in most cases, but it is pretty unpleasant. I distinctly remember having it when I was seven. I caught it off my best friend. She hardly had any spots but was really poorly. I was fine but was absolutely covered. The itching sent me practically insane, so much so my mum had to buy me painting by numbers to try and keep me from scratching. That and the infamous calamine lotion! That discomfort can all be avoided with a vaccination. I was also a bit of a swot so I was seriously fed up about having to have two weeks off school.

That leads me on to the other reason I’m considering it. Chickenpox is contagious for quite a long time so if my twins got it, they would have to be off school for quite a while (allowed back only when the last spot/blister scabs over). No doubt they wouldn’t catch it at exactly the same time so that’s potentially a lot of time off of work for me. That’s something that would be very tricky to manage.

• My twins caught chickenpox 16 days apart. It was extremely difficult to manage with work as one literally was able to go back to school just as the other broke out in spots. Also the first twin to get it seemed to be recovered (ie the spots seemed to have all scabbed over), went back to school for a couple of days and then was really unwell. We had to take her to A&E as she was hot, lethargic and unresponsive. Three of the spots had become infected and she had to have antibiotics.

Useful links

NHS on chickenpox

Chickenpox vaccine 

BBC on why we don’t immunise in the UK

Guardian on the real reason we don’t immunise in the UK

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