The site is pretty darn cool, my favorite two features being the customized registry section which features a green baby registry and a green kid’s birthday (and other gear) registry. I also really like the parent swap feature – a sort of online classifieds for pre-owned children’s items, local events, eco-businesses, and child care that can be swapped, donated or sold at a used price. It’s free to use and it’s a great way to stay green by exchanging goods rather than buying new.

Other website features include:

• An organic shop with natural baby gear, family apparel, toys, furniture, and more…
• Lauren’s Blog – although in my opinion it’s not so much a blog as an article site, but still there are useful topics covered and it’s a fun read.
• Awesome FREE yoga downloads for pregnancy and other stages of life.
• There’s a parenting information section that covers various topics for eco-smart parenting; Nutrition, Toy Safety, Attachment Parenting, Green living, Child Birth, Fitness, Holistic Medicine, Breastfeeding, Conscious Parenting and more.
• Organic Mommy TV which features some various videos both of products you might like and interviews with guest speakers.
• Organic Green Daddy section which features a blog which FYI is not updated hardly so don’t look there for green news, BUT it does cross post with the article section and I think the articles are useful and interesting for both mamas and dads. There’s also a good organic daddy shop.
• And more – the site has lots of little features and tips to check out.

Overall, the site was easy to navigate, pretty on the eyes, there were no major site glitches, and if you’re an organic, green parent, it’s worth a visit.

Check out Organic Green Mommy.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Looking for a Green Mom Community?

In 2007, Rena Wing,professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the Waren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and her colleagues evaluated the Shape Up Rhode Island weight-loss competitions.  According to this article, Weight Loss Competitions Produce Encouraging Results, “Shape Up Rhode Island reduced the percentage of patients in the study who were obese from 39 percent to 31 percent. Researchers found that individuals who increased their activity the most achieved the best weight losses.”

Also of interest: “Of the initial participants, 3,311 people or 70.2 percent of participants completed at least 12 weeks of the study. Participants who were heavier at the start of the program lost more weight, as did those who generated greater jumps in their physical activity.”

Many businesses, social groups, and just groups of friends are starting to challenge each other to do certain activities geared towards fitness and weight loss. My husband’s company had a 10,000 steps per day challenge that lasted one work week. All participants were given a pedometer to help measure their progress. And, there’s a prize after for the team (of 5) who made the goal and had the highest total number of steps. Since his work place is a sit down work place, this forced some of the workers who don’t usually move around to be more active.

I know that in my husband’s case, although he’s extremely active as it is (he goes to the gym to run, exercise and do weights several times a week), he found that 10,000 steps was more than he realized. But if it can get others moving a bit more, even 5,000 steps per day, this was worth the effort put into it.

~~~~~

Image: Stock.xhcng

Post from: Blisstree

Are weight-loss competitions helpful?

Sensei for Weight Loss is a mobile nutrition program that assists and guides people with busy lifestyles in managing their diets and weight loss through healthy eating and fitness. Coupled with the Wii Fit and you’ve got a healthy lifestyle that you can feel great about!

Contest is closed.

Congrats to Amy B!!

At $15 (for online-only service) to $20 per month (for online and mobile service), it is a cost-effective approach to healthy eating, and is available wherever you are – online at Sensei.com, on your smartphone through their mobile website, and through their iPhone app. Sensei for Weight Loss offers a personalized meal planner that takes into account where and when you eat your meals, what foods you like and don’t like, and whether you like to cook or eat out. Sensei for Weight Loss will also send you personalized grocery lists based on the meal plan it puts together for you, as well as daily alerts on your meals, fitness activities and weight loss goals – all via email or through their app! Learn more about how Sensei for Weight Loss works.

For all of our Blisstree readers, Sensei is offering a fabulous discount! Use the code BLISS when signing up and Sensei will drop the monthly fee for either the Sensei Anywhere or Sensei Online service to $10 per month.

Post from: Blisstree

Sensei Giveaway: Nintendo Wii Fit

Thanks so much to Lesley Hobbs for mapping out these awesome practices for us.

Check it out:

Eka Pada Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose)

Inhale and bring right knee to between the hands, allowing the foot to come towards the center.

Slide left leg back so both hips face the floor. Use a block under the left buttock if necessary.

Bend left knee and hold ankle for quad release. Use strap as shown, if needed. Hold 5-10 breaths.

Release left ankle, lengthen the spine and rest over the bent right knee. Hold 5-10 breaths.

Repeat on other side.
Images: Lesley Hobbs

Post from: Blisstree

Better Sex Through Yoga: Session 2

My reflection is how I identify with my self.

It’s mysterious to me how I could look in the mirror every day, putting on make up, fixing my hair, or brushing my teeth and then be totally shocked when I saw a photo of myself. I was fat and didn’t see it. The power of denial about my weight issue confounded me for quite some time. I would see what I expected to see in the mirror, a memory of me, disregarding the number on my pants telling me there was an ever increasing problem.

Since losing 20-25 pounds I’m shocked at how much of that was on my face and neck.

When I look in the mirror it’s like finding my self again, a part of my inner identity that was hidden under a layer of puffiness.

I really missed me.

Post from: Blisstree

Face Me

Isn’t McDonald’s something else? The word insidious comes to mind.

Their brilliant solution to our ever-widening youngsters in this country is to put fancy work-out areas in some of their outlets. To my way of thinking this is very disturbing.

What’s next, Cardiac Stress Testing at Pizza Hut?

I can understand offering salads…maybe…but fitness and fries?

I’m hoping nutritionists, dietitians, heart doctors, and fitness gurus will be all over this one.

Shouldn’t we be communicating that exercise is part of a balanced lifestyle — not a way to mitigate poor dietary choices?

In the McDonald’s scenario it seems as if the message is: burn off the crap you just ate. (And then go back for more, since you’re already there) — doesn’t this seem like it’s putting the bun before the cart?

The dangers I see is that this logic seems reminiscent of patterns found in patients who suffer from eating disorders.

And of course, shouldn’t we be the ones who are setting the example for our kids, not a fast-food chain?

May I just ask, whatever happened to a good old fashioned game of outdoor stickball — why do we not see kids outside running around as much as we did back in the day?

For the future of our children and for a more slender America, I think it’s time for us to re-claim our kids’ diets and re-vamp their health patterns.

Post from: Blisstree

The Golden Arches Fitness Plan?