Mommy Plannerista

Planning. Passions. Parenthood.

Health and Fitness: 40 Things to Track in Your Planner

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My One Word for the year 2020 is RECLAIM and one of the things I want to reclaim is my health. The truth is, I’ve gained a lot of weight these past few years and I don’t feel as strong as I want to be. Since I’m not getting any younger, I figured that when it comes to reclaiming my health it’s now or never.

With that in mind, I wanted to track some things regarding my health in my planner so that I can always keep myself in check. So far, I have a medicine log, doctor visits log, and my monthly health log that includes various health routines or incidents I want to keep track of.

If you’re at a loss as to what types of health and fitness things you can track in your planner, I’ve listed down 40 of them to help you get started.

  1. Vitamin Intake
  2. Medicine Intake
  3. Health Log
  4. Skin Care Routine
  5. Hair Care Routine
  6. Period
  7. Headache
  8. Anxiety
  9. Depression
  10. Mood Log
  11. Allergies
  12. Doctors Visits
  13. Water Intake
  14. Meals / Food Intake
  15. Exercise / Workouts
  16. Self-Care Routine
  17. Pain Tracker
  18. Therapy Notes
  19. Weight Log
  20. Body Measurements
  21. Blood Sugar
  22. Blood Pressure
  23. Headache or Migraine
  24. Sleep
  25. Stress Levels
  26. Triggers
  27. Medical Expenses
  28. Medical Insurance
  29. Dental Records
  30. Vaccination Records (kids and pets)
  31. Moods
  32. Intermittent Fasting
  33. Healthy Habits
  34. Health Goals Progress
  35. Health Products Inventory
  36. Calorie Log
  37. Baby Care
  38. Cardio
  39. Meal Plan
  40. Recipes

I hope this list helps you track your health more this year. There are so many more things to track that will depend on your personal health and fitness issues. Just think about what you need and start figuring out how you can best track them in your planner.

There are many health and fitness planner inserts in many layouts and sizes available online. They come either in printed or in printable versions. However, you don’t really need them. You can just use any paper you want or any type of planner or notebook you prefer. Just choose one that works for you. The most important thing is that you be consistent in your tracking.

To see more of my planner system, follow me on my Instagram planner account, @mommyplannerista.plans.

Review & Giveaway: Euky Bear Sleepy Time Room Mist and Sleepy Time Massage Balm

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I have previously blogged about how much we love the Euky Bearub. We use it until now and so I didn’t hesitate when I was given another opportunity, this time to review the Euky Bear Sleepy Time Room Mist and the Sleepy Time Massage Balm.

I know most of you guys must probably already know the importance of having an effective bedtime routine to prepare your kids for sleep. These two products are meant to help with that.

Let me tell you about them.

Euky Bear Sleepy Time Massage Balm

The Euky Bear Sleepy Time Massage Balm is made from 100% natural oils including lavender (known for its ability to improve slumber) & chamomile (used to aid sleep, soothe and relax) that would help your little one prepare for sleep. It is also combined with other natural skin-friendly oils such as coconut oil, sweet almond & jojoba, which helps bring a blissful atmosphere of calm to baby’s bedtime.

Dermatologically tested & proven gentle on skin, it is suitable from 3 months & up. It is not tested on animals and has:

– No mineral oils
– No synthetic fragrances
– No parabens
– No phthalates
– No sulphates

It comes in a 50g tube and costs Php 550.00.

Euky Bear Sleepy Time Room Mist

The Euky Bear Sleepy Time Room Mist is a gentle and calming room mist to help prepare your little one for sleep. It is also made from 100% natural oils and delicately infused with lavender and chamomile. You spray it into the air or on your linen or pillow before nap or bedtime.

Suitable for all ages, this product helps prepare your kids for sleep. It comes in a 125ml spray bottle and costs Php 550.00. It is vegan-friendly and has:

– No synthetic fragrances
– No parabens
– No phthalates
– Not tested on animals

The Verdict:

We’ve been using both products for a month now. We use the massage balm almost daily. As for the room mist, I often forget to spray it because I’m not used to using room sprays. My husband is very sensitive to scents because it triggers his asthma and so we avoid them most of the time. However, we were still able to use the room mist maybe twice or thrice a week.

I gotta say, the Euky Bear Sleepy Time Massage Balm was a big hit for us especially for my seven-year-old, Ziggy. I never used to give him a massage but after trying out this massage balm on him, he got really hooked. In fact, he insists on a massage now every single night. He’s even willing to give me a massage just so I would massage him in return. Haha!

Ziggy says it really does help him sleep better and I agree. After a massage, it doesn’t take long anymore for him to fall asleep whereas he used to complain about not being able to fall asleep fast. I like that the smell isn’t overpowering. The balm is easy to spread on your skin and doesn’t leave it feeling too oily like other balms do.

As for the room mist, I think it also helps as well. Our youngest, Zander, doesn’t really want to be massaged. Whenever I try to, he keeps thinking I’m tickling him for some reason, which is weird because I apply lotion on him a lot. But I noticed that he falls asleep faster now too even without the massage balm and I can attribute that to the room mist, which I spray about 30 minutes before bedtime.

I was really very worried about the smell because I didn’t want it to trigger my husband’s asthma. Since we co-sleep with our boys I had to spray in the master’s bedroom so he would undoubtedly smell it too. But the scent wasn’t overpowering at all. Actually, the scent disappears quite quickly. I spray it when he’s not in the room so by the time he gets inside he doesn’t smell anything anymore.

Overall, we’re pleased with the results especially with the massage balm. Ziggy is actually planning to purchase a tube because we’ve nearly finished off the one we have. Haha!

Euky Bear products can be purchased at Lazada, Rustan’s, Hobbes and Landes, Mamaway, Ogalala, Babymama.ph, and online at www.eukybearphilippines.comwww.eukybearphilippines.com.

The Giveaway!!!

Our friends at Euky Bear Philippines have been so generous and offered to sponsor a giveaway for you, my dear readers. One of you can win a gift pack containing one Euky Bear Sleepy Time Massage Balm and one Euky Bear Sleepy Time Room Mist.

This giveaway will be hosted on my Instagram account with the following mechanics.

  1. Must follow @mommyplannerista on Instagram.
  2. Must like the giveaway post on Instagram.
  3. Must comment on the giveaway post sharing their kids’ bedtime routine and tag 3 friends.
  4. Must repost the giveaway post on Instagram with the hashtag #MPxEukyBearSleepyTimeGiveaway. Profiles must be public so I can view your post.

This giveaway will run from Monday, January 21, 2019 to January 27, 2019. It is open to Philippine residents with a valid Philippine address. The winner will be drawn randomly. Winner will be notified via a DM on Instagram and must respond within 48 hours. If not, I reserve the right to choose another winner. Euky Bear Philippines will be responsible for mailing the prize to the winner.

    Good luck, everyone!!!

    Benefits of Yoga for Depression, Stress, and Mindfulness

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    Yoga has gained a lot of recognition in physical and mental health wellness. Through different poses, you can improve certain aspects of your life. This includes mental health problems like depression and stress. The original intention for yoga was to relax the body and the mind in preparation for meditation. Mindfulness can help alleviate many of the problems we perceive in life. How we choose to look at things, what we choose to focus on is all a matter of paying close attention to where the mind goes to.

    It takes a lot of discipline to keep your thinking positive or to let go of thoughts that don’t serve the moment you’re in. Yoga was developed to counterbalance those challenges we face with the mind and the physical body. Here is what yoga can do to help you with depression, stress, and the ability to be more mindful.

    Yoga for Depression

    Firstly, yoga can be quite a physical exercise. The poses, breathing, and meditation is all helpful therapy against the symptoms of depression. Physical activity of any kind increases your endorphin levels which are the happy chemicals in your brain. Depression symptoms like concentration issues and loss of energy are reduced through yoga.

    There are a lot of people using yoga therapy to help them manage mood disorders such as depression. Scientific research has found that yoga is very beneficial for physical and mental health. A Boston study found that taking some classes two times per week could help ease depression. This has a lot to do with breathing that accompanies yoga.

    The deep breathing in yoga was found to be helpful for adults with clinical depression. Whether they were taking antidepressants or not, there was an improvement. The study had participants taking a 90-minute Iyengar yoga class three days a week. They were also instructed to do 30-minutes session at home.

    What they found 90 days later was that most people had a lowered scored of depression based on a screening questionnaire. About half of the depressive symptoms were gone. Many believe that even when a patient hasn’t responded to traditional treatments, they may fair well with yoga. Antidepressants don’t target the autonomic nervous system while the deep breathing of yoga does. A doctor explains that if your autonomic nervous system is balanced, the rest of the brain is going to work better.

    Some of the essential poses that help ease depression include:

    • Bound Angle Pose (BaddhaKonasana)
    • Bridge Pose
    • Corpse Pose (Savasana)
    • Dolphin Pose
    • Easy Pose (Sukhasana)

    Yoga for Stress and Anxiety

    Yoga has been found to have a positive effect on your mood and anxiety level than other kinds of exercise. This is most likely because, through yoga, you are increasing the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This is the chemical that regulates nerve activity. It is what keeps you calm. If you have anxiety or other mood disorders, your GABA activity is reduced. There are drugs that can increase GABA activity and they are commonly prescribed. When given to patients, it decreases anxiety.

    The issue with the pills is that there are side effects, including addiction to the medication. Another method to try is yoga. Through the breathing, the poses, and the mastery of your own mind, you can reduce anxiety. You can fix the damage done in the body by the rising of brain chemicals like cortisol. You can ease all the tension in muscles that are telling your brain there is something to fear. Yoga is a body/mind connection and helps with all types of mood disorders.

    Yoga poses for anxiety include:

    • Legs up the Wall
    • Child’s Pose
    • Seated Forward Bend
    • Standing Forward Bend
    • Cat/Cow Pose

    Yoga for Mindfulness

    Mindfulness is intertwined with yoga and is very effective in helping you with many health issues. It has become an important tool to combat a variety of mental and physical health problems. It is often practiced in yoga, especially at the end of class in savasana. You maximize the benefits of your yoga practice when you use mindfulness throughout it.

    Mindfulness can only be achieved by being able to relax the muscles in the body. Yoga helps to rinse out old energy and toxins and also releases tension. The mind begins to slow down and this allows you to truly let go of your thoughts. Doing yoga consistently allows you to practice your mindfulness in a safe environment. Eventually, you can take that tool out into the real world. It’s all about practice. Daily practice it if possible. Yoga helps you get to the point where you’re really present in your body. The breath work in yoga allows you to be fully present in poses and in the moment.

    Yoga can help you with mood disorders like depression and anxiety. It can help get you into the mental head space to take the moment in. Mindfulness has been found to be a powerful tool to help prevent further problems with anxiety and depression. By being aware and following your intuition, you can avoid some of the events in life that make things difficult. If difficulties occur that are out of your control, you can be in the moment and accept things. You have more clarity during moments of acute stress and are more confident in making choices quickly. Yoga is the foundation of that strength.

    #7DaysOfCetaphil: First Time Mom 101

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    Last week, from August 20 – 26, 2018, Cetaphil had a week-long event celebrating healthy and beautiful #MyCetaphilSkin held at SM Makati. The  #7DaysOfCetaphil highlighted three prongs of holistic health through various discounts, promos for all Cetaphil products, as well as shared discussions and activities daily from 3:00 – 4:00 pm.

    I was fortunate enough to have been invited to Day 5 of the event which was entitled First Time Mom 101. The event aimed to unite first time and experienced moms in giving their babies the utmost care with Cetaphil Baby.

    The afternoon started with a talk by Dr. Donna Marie Leelin – Sarrosa. She taught us all about proper skin care for babies. Even though I have four kids now, I still learned a lot from her talk. I actually appreciate baby skin care knowledge more now that my youngest child happens to have very sensitive skin. One of the things I learned is that Cetaphil Baby is safe to use on babies even starting on day 1!

    Cetaphil mom ambassador, Kaye Abad, also graced the occasion and shared with us her experiences as a first time mom to her son. It was interesting to learn that our experiences are similar although I’ve been a parent longer than her.

    Dra. Leelin-Sarrosa, Kaye Abad and the Cetaphil team

    It was definitely a fun learning session spent with my fellow mom bloggers. It was also great that there were promos that customers could take advantage of then. Some of the promos included a free sling bag for every purchase of P 1,000 worth of Cetaphil products, a free pouch when you buy 1 Cetaphil PRO wash and 1 PRO moisturizer, a free swaddle when you buy P 700 worth of Cetaphil Baby products, plus savings when you buy the 2+1 Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

    It’s just too bad I wasn’t able to attend the other 6 days because the topics were also interesting. The complete line up of topics were as follows:
    Day # 1: Complete Your Health Routine with #MyCetaphilSkin
    Day # 2: Skincare 101
    Day # 3: How to Protect Atopic Skin
    Day # 4: How to Achieve Glass Skin by Sarah Lahbati
    Day # 5: First Time Mom 101
    Day # 6: No to Oily Skin
    Day # 7: Choose Your Cetaphil

    To learn more about #7DaysofCetaphil, follow @cetaphilph on Instagram and like Cetaphil Philippines on Facebook.

    5 Things I Love About BioCair Disinfectant Pocket Spray (and a giveaway!)

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    Several months ago, I blogged our review of the BioCair BioActive Anti-HFMD Disinfectant Pocket Spray. While we are thankfully over the kids’ bout of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, we are still very vigilant about keeping bacteria and viruses at bay. So, it’s good that we were able to try the regular version, which is the BioCair Disinfectant Pocket Spray.

    Just like the Anti-HFMD version, we love this product. Let me tell you the five reasons why.

    1. It’s non-toxic.

    A lot of healthcare products in the market these days are effective but use harmful ingredients. BioCair Disinfectant Pocket Spray is not like that at all. In fact, it is a non-toxic, non-alcohol, and non-corrosive disinfectant made with only pure water and BC-65. BC-65 is a non-alcohol, non-toxic formulation that works by destroying the cell wall of the pathogen. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s also eco-friendly!

    2. It kills bacteria and viruses.

    There’s danger lurking around our kids and we can’t even see them. I’m talking about harmful bacteria and viruses that can make them sick. That thought is enough to make me paranoid. But using this product kills 99.999% bacteria and viruses under 60s, including yeast, fungus, bacteria, and viruses. Now, we moms can rest easy knowing that we’re doing our part in banishing these things from harming our kids.

    3. It’s child-friendly.

    If you’re a mom, especially to a toddler like my youngest, you’d know that they like to get their hands on anything and everything, including cleaning tools. That can be very dangerous. So, it’s good to know that BioCair Disinfectant Pocket Spray has a child-friendly formula, is pH Neutral and suitable for sensitive skin too.

    4. It’s handy.

    The spray bottle is smaller than my hand. That said, I have no problems holding it. Plus, it fits nicely in the toiletry bag that I always have in my handbag whenever I go out. You can bring this everywhere with you. This is great because I already have so many other things in my Mommy bag and don’t want to add any more bulky things in it.

    5. It’s easy to use.

    To use, simply hold the bottle 4 – 6 inches away from the surface, then spray. No need to rinse after spraying. That’s it! You’re done! You can use it to disinfect just about anything too, from toilet seat covers, door knobs, mobile phones, keyboards, kitchen surfaces, and even chopping boards. Personally, since I bring it with me in my bag, I use it to disinfect high chairs whenever we eat at restaurants and on the handles of grocery shopping carts too (because you never know who used those before you, right?).

    The BioCair Disinfectant Pocket Spray retails for Php 600 only. You can buy them from Mothercare branches or from MilkandHoney.Ph. To learn more, visit the BioCair website. You can also follow the distributor, Koofty Enterprise, on Facebook and Instagram.

    The Giveaway!!!

    Now on to the exciting part. BioCair Philippines is generously sponsoring two (2) bottles of the BioCair Disinfectant Pocket Spray for this giveaway. Yay!

    Read the full mechanics below.

    1) There will be two giveaways – 1 on the Mommy Plannerista Facebook page and 1 on the Mommy Plannerista Instagram account. Participants can join once on each of the giveaways, giving them a maximum of two entries.
    2) To join on Facebook:
    – Must like Mommy Plannerista on Facebook.
    -Like the giveaway post.
    – Comment below the giveaway post and tell me how you keep bacteria and viruses away from your family.
    – With your comment, tag three (3) of your friends.
    To join the Instagram post:
    – Must follow MommyPlannerista.blog and Koofty Enterprise on Instagram.
    – Like the giveaway post.
    – Comment below the giveaway post and tell me how you keep bacteria and viruses away from your family.
    – With your comment, tag three (3) of your friends.
    3) One winner will be drawn on Facebook and one on Instagram. Participants can only win once. If a person’s name is drawn twice, I will draw another one. Winners must be willing to provide their full names, email, mailing address, and contact numbers to facilitate delivery of the prizes.
    4) Winner will be drawn via Random.org.
    5) Participants must use their personal Facebook and/or Instagram accounts only.
    6) This giveaway is open to Philippine residents only with valid Philippine address.
    7) BioCair Philippines / Koofty Enterprises will be in charge of delivering the prizes to the winners.
    8) This giveaway will be open from June 12 – 18, 2018. Winners will be drawn no later than a week after. Winners will be announced (and will be tagged) on both Facebook and/or Instagram.
    9) This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Facebook or Instagram.

    Go ahead and join now! Good luck!

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