Museum Day

A couple times a month I plan museum days with the kids. Our library has a wonderful museum pass program, that allows free entry into certain museums in our area. Each museum has a different deal with the library but the library's rule is that you can visit each museum once a month. Which is perfect, we had a family membership to the children's museum and I don't think we ever went more than once a month. 

Usually every morning we have something to do, whether it is my daughter's gymnastics or I have a session with a personal trainer. So we do whatever we have to do that morning and then I pack us up to go to the museum. I will usually pack a lunch and snacks as well so we don't have to wait till they are finished eating to go. Each museum has their own food policy but the ones we go to it is fine to bring in outside food. As soon as we get there we sit down and have lunch then we go play for the rest of the day. The way it normally works out the kids get 4 hours of play before the museum closes which is more than enough time to tire then out. 

The library is a great resource for families, especially families on a budget. I will post more things to look for at your library in the future. But for now go check out yours and see what they have to offer you.

Health Insurance

When I was working we used the health insurance my company provided, because it was a non-profit and the pay is poor they tend to "make it up" by providing good health insurance. With my first pregnancy we didn't pay anything, all the visits, the extra visits for my medical problems and then the hospital... Nothing! All the well baby check ups and sick check ups, nothing other then the copay. When we moved and I became a stay-at-home mom we had to take my husband's company's medical insurance, which is just horrible. His company paid for the first $1,500 of the $3,000 deductible, then once we hit the $3,000 we were responsible for 20% of all the bills until we reached $6,000 out of pocket! Ouch. My second pregnancy we wound up doing just that paying $6,000 out of pocket by the end of the year. Since it was a different doctor, my extra care was done at the hospital instead of a doctors office so that brought up the costs of things. With my first doctors they would have just had me do a test in their office, with my second doctor the minute something was slightly wrong she would send me straight to the maternity ward of the hospital. This year I was counting on it being easier financially on us, provided the kids stayed healthy. Which for the most part it was, a couple runs to the doctor in the beginning of the year then up until December just well baby checkups. For over 3 weeks both kids were sick and we made about 6 trips to the doctor. Just after Christmas I got a huge bill for blood work I had done in the beginning of the month. So I know we've got a bunch more bills coming. 

I find myself debating between taking my child to the doctor and worrying about the end cost of it. That is a horrible feeling. Do I take my baby who has a fever or my daughter who has been complaining that her knee hurts (she says knee but she points to her knee or ankle at different times, plus there hasn't been any trauma to it) or do I hold off and see if they work through it? I shouldn't have to feel that way. If my child is sick or in pain, my first thought should be how soon can I get them in, not is this really worth the possible cost. Then when I make the decision that it isn't really dire to go to the doctor, the little voice in the back of my mind is going you are being a bad mom, what if this is something more. Where is the support for families like us, the ones in the middle? If we made less money we could go on medicare and have everything covered. But my pride wouldn't allow me to take a handout like that and that would mean our kids would miss out on a lot more things. If we had better jobs, we'd have better health insurance options and/or the money wouldn't be the concern. 

Weight Loss

Thinking about losing some weight? Who isn't? Whether it is baby weight or just pounds packed on over the years, the best time to make that change is now not tomorrow. Almost a year ago I decided to make a life change, not a New Years Resolution. My change was that I wanted to be healthy, feel comfortable in my body, be around for a long time for my kids, and have the energy to be the outgoing mom my kids deserve.
When I was 22 my father died from a heart attack. He has missed so much of my life in the past 6... 7 years. I do NOT want my kids to not have me around for major times in their lives. During both my pregnancies I was borderline gestational diabetic, if you have gestational diabetes you are very likely do develop diabetes within 5 years. I would have had diabetes by the time I was 31, that is scary. Having to prick my finger 3-4 times a day plus miss out on food I enjoyed, not what I wanted.
So a year ago I made the decision to order Nutrisystem, this would be the very first time in my life that I would choose to diet and lose weight. In high school my mother forced me to do several fad diets/ diet pills. It never worked, mostly because I didn't stick with it and they were fad diets. Because of that I resisted doing anything relating to my weight, which also consisted of going to the doctor for annual checkups because I didn't want to hear it from the doctor that I was unhealthy.
January 16th 2013 was my very first day doing the Nutrisystem program. I weighed in at 258.2 pounds, I was wearing size 24/26 pants. In February I started working out with a group of women I met through the Nutrisystem online community. We started with Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. After we finished that we did Jillian Michaels 90 day Body Revolution. Midway through April I was down 25 pounds, by middle of July I was down 40 pounds. I struggled at times but I have never regained the weight. Each time you lose 10 pounds Nutrisystem sends you this cute little bear, that become very special to you, by October I received my 50 pound Nutribear. At the end of October I joined a gym and go 5 times a week. Then in November I started working out with a trainer 1-2 times a week. Right now I am working on getting my 70 pound Nutribear. As of this morning I weighed in at 194.8 and am wearing a size 14 jean (not comfy pants). This year I plan on reaching my goal weight and body fat percentage, 135/20-25%. It is taking some time but this isn't a resolution it is a life change. I have learned so much from this life change and so much about me has changed. I am doing more with my children, not tired nearly as much, happier, I find ways to show off my body not hide it.
Why am I sharing this? So that you know anyone can do it. Whatever program you are thinking of doing, stop thinking and start doing. I knew nothing about nutrition and working out, I still have a lot to learn but now I am able to give my kids a better start. I don't want them to EVER have to worry about their weight and health. I want health and exercise to just be a part of their lives. Eat well rounded meals, save treats for special occasions, and to be active daily. It is cute because when I do workout DVDs at home they will try to do things with me (ages 1 and 3).
Ok so a program like Nutrisystem may sound expensive... It can be, however I some secrets to share with you...
1. If you sign up for the automatic delivery, each month you have an order process the cost goes down by about $10. This is for the first 5 months. So my very first order was about $250, I chose the cheapest plan. Then after the 5 months it was down to $203.
2. Some health insurance companies offer discounts on diet programs. No need to call up your insurance provider and sit on hold for an hour either. Call the customer service for the diet program and ask them. I get a 12% discount with Nutrisystem and all I had to do was tell the customer service agent what insurance company I had, 5 minute phone call. This brought my plan down to $190
3. Nutrisystem has a click program. Everyday an article, with very useful information, is posted on their website. You go read it and then click on a box/picture on the side of the page. 50 clicks (days) gets a $10 off coupon. Check with whatever plan you decide to use for little perks like this one.
4. Costco gift cards, this might be one for Nutrisystem only but it's worth a shot if you are trying something else. Costco sells Nutrisystem $100 gift cards for $80 normally, then every once in a while has a sale on them for either $60 or $50. If you buy a bunch of cards when they are $50 you are then only paying for half the cost of an entire month of food! I am paying $95 a month for food, 3 meals and 1 snack a day! Even if you don't have a costco membership you can still get these wonderful gift cards, they just add a couple dollars to each card you buy.
5. Lastly My programs will have refer a friend deals. If you get a friend to sign up you will get a one time coupon. Nutrisystem will give the referrer and the referee $30 off. If anyone reading this is interested in signing up feel free to send me your email address and I will send you a $30 off coupon.