You guys, I feel like I should share my shame – sometimes I send my kids to school with lunches consisting of an apple, a hunk of cheese, an uncut bagel and a packet of Scooby gummies – all in a plastic grocery bag.
And I still have the nerve to show my face at school.
Brent at Think Fitness Studios
1. Why are people so unmotivated to work out?
This all comes down to a lack of inspiration. Motivation and inspiration are two different things – you need to be inspired first. You can’t maintain motivation without inspiration. The best place to start is to choose activities that inspire you. An exercise program must be interest-driven in order to be successful.
2. How do you inspire people to get physical?
I find out what their interests are, what they have enjoyed in the past – sports they may have played or maybe what they have always wanted to try. Starting with interests creates momentum.
3. What exercises can moms and dads do in their livingroom every day?
There are so many exercises you can do without leaving the comfort of your own living room. Some examples would be lunges, abdominal planks, squats – even using your couch or chair for push ups and triceps dips can be effective. Creating a circuit of 3 to 5 of these exercises and completing 2 to 3 sets can help you keep fit while being very time efficient.
4. Can you recommend any exercises or physical activity you can do with babies?
There are many. A lot of this comes to creativity (and of course safety). At my fitness centre, Think Fitness Studios, we have 15 ‘Mom & Baby’ classes per week that expose participants to a great array of effective exercises such as lunges with baby, squat press (pressing your baby in the air as you come out of a squat) and trunk rotations (sitting on the ground while twisting side to side with baby in hand). Not only are these great for fitness but also allow for some great bonding time with your little one.
Doing lunges, pressing his son – that’s the daddy workout way!
5. What are your thoughts about working out with your kids?
Everyone should workout with their kids, or have their kids involved somehow. My weekend ritual is to take my 3 1/2 year old with me to the gym where I get my workout in, and involve him in some of my exercises. What’s great about this is that exercise becomes ‘the norm’ for him due to this early and consistent exposure. Later we go to the park , run around and play some active games together. Fitness is absolutely essential for the health and development of our children.
6. How important is diet?
What you eat plays an very large role in your health. There is so much to be said about this. Developing good eating habits can make an enormous impact for weight loss, energy levels, disease prevention and overall health. For fitness results, diet is about 80% of the picture. What you eat impacts your body’s ability to metabolize calories, recover post-exercise and your energy levels for the next day.
7. Do you have to go to or belong to a gym to get a good workout?
If the gym is not you’re thing, don’t sweat it. You don’t need a gym to get great results. There are some many exercises you can do at home our outdoors that provide variety and yield results. In addition, there are many programs that you can follow to provide program direction. One program I’m involved in allows you to access effective workouts anywhere, on your phone, computer or TV – it’s called Evolve Function Fitness (evolvefunctionalfitness.com) and the great thing is, you don’t need any equipment – just your own body.
8. Why do you love being a personal trainer?
I feel I was born to help people achieve and I’ve always loved being physically active. Being a personal trainer allows me to utilize my passion to help people tap into their inner athlete.
9. Best part about being a dad?
One of the best parts of being a dad is the new perspective it gives you on life and what’s really important. Also, being a dad really allows you to realize just how much influence you have on the development of your child. There’s nothing like hearing my son’s little voice and having him hug me.
10. Your favourite way to workout?
I really like variety when I workout so I would say for in the gym, I love functional strength training with weights, particularly full body movements with barbells. In saying this, one of my favourite modes of exercise is running – particularly trail running, where I am far away from the hustle of the city and taking in fresh air.
Brent Bishop is an on-air fitness expert, lifestyle host, and celebrity trainer. He is the owner of Think Fitness Studios, a performance-inspired, boutique personal training centre in Toronto. Bishop is an on-air Fitness Expert on national television, Functional Fitness Host of the series Body Fuel, author of The Think Factor and the male Fitness Brand Ambassador for New Balance Canada. Brent has made several media appearances on North American networks including KTLA, WFLA Daytime, Global TV, CTV and CityTV to name a few. Additionally, Bishop is a regular contributor to numerous print media such as Best Health Magazine, Canadian Health and Lifestyle, Inside Fitness, Fitness Business Canada, Canadian Living and Sweat Equity Magazine.
Twitter: @I_AmBishop
My kids devoured these – and a fair amount of sour cream too. This makes A LOT and they are good for lunch the next day. If you use larger tortillas (which I did the first time) hubs dubbed them “man-sized” taquitos
What you need:
-1/2 bag of butternut zig zags (pick up a bag at SAM’s Club) or use good ol Butternut Squash strips/cubes
-1 can black beans, rinsed, drained
-1 cup of corn kernels
-1 cup old cheddar cheese, shredded
-4 ounces melted cream cheese
-2/3 cup salsa – go with the spice your kids can handle
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
-salt & pepper, to taste
-flour tortillas (small or “man-sized”)
-1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, melted togehter
Garnish for serving: sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce
What you do:
Preheat oven to 375°. Grab a bowl and mix the butternut zig zags, beans and corn. Add the cheese and mix together. In a second bowl stir together melted cream cheese, salsa, spices, salt & pepper. Mix both bowls together.
Scoop up the mix and form a line about an inch wide in the lower half of the tortilla. Rolle the tortilla tightly and place seam down on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush taquitos with the oil/butter mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Serve with sour cream, guacamole and/or hot sauce.
The questions are exhausting – though I’m sure we’ve all asked one at one point or another. After all the questions we’ve fielded over our lifetimes, it doesn’t get easier and it doesn’t get less abrasive. People are only curious, and people don’t mean to be rude, but until they’ve lived through being asked those question, they don’t realize how crass it is to ask questions out of idle curiosity. When did it become appropriate to openly pry?
(I mutters *a-hole* under her breath every time!)
Unfortunately, it seems the questions start to increase in number and intimacy as we get to this age. It’s like 40 brings the “question climax” – these are the final ones, will they break us? Will we stop politely answering and lash out? Do we even need to answer?
No, we don’t. We are never obligated to answer. And yes, they may make us snap. Some of these questions are not only personal, they’re painful.
Being a 40-something mother, we don’t have to tell people whether it’s our first marriage, second or third, why we’re having a baby or how long we’ve been trying. People always seem to assume that a baby at that ‘late maternal age’ means it’s a last chance, last-ditch effort to become the appropriate statistic. There are more losses, it’s harder to conceive and pregnancies may be riskier. The “What are you guys waiting for?” (mutters *asshole* under her breath) may be the most painful of all. They don’t know about suffering the silent losses, the sadness of peeing on a stick and not expecting two lines. They don’t know the stress of genetic counselling and wanting to wait for the genetic testing before getting excited because the numbers from the blood work didn’t look good.
Oh, and if you DON’T have a baby by 40, it’s the worst.
“You’re missing out.” (*a-hole*)
“You poor thing, you never found Mr. Right.” (*a-hole*)
“You must be having problems conceiving.” (definitely muttering *a-hole*)
Well-intentioned people throw you at their single male acquaintances to help you couple up, because of course, that’s your whole life’s goal.
But if you do choose to be a 40-something mommy, they want to know the details. You’ll hear old wives’ tales and horror stories – and everyone knows that the dangers of trisomies and miscarriage goes up at ‘late maternal age’ so you’re already taking some risks that you don’t really need to be reminded about.
Like we need to be reminded. (*a-hole*)
All we want is a family. We planned it this way. We wanted to travel, sew wild oats, build a career. We wanted to wait until we were ready to stop focussing on ourselves and have the ability to settle down and focus on a child. Why is it so hard to believe that we could plan – to want – to spend our years being parents, not grandparents.
If one more person reminds me that I’ll be almost 60 when my kids finish high school they should be prepared for my death glare.
(*a-hole*)
I’ve perfected it.
They don’t appreciate the other side of this. I’m content. I’ve had my life and loads of experiences and I’m more well-rounded. I’m more settled and ready to focus on my child’s life, I’ve had my fun and I’m ready for this. I’m established. I’ve built my career, my home, my social network and my bank account. I’m no longer bewildered by all of the responsibility and have passed the point of worrying what others think, making it easy to make the right decision for my family, not just the prevailing, popular one.
So welcome, 40 is the new baby.
So what’s hot on the kid circuit this year for Valentine’s Day presents?
Beanie Boos
If your kids don’t know about Beanie Boos, then you’re about to rock their little worlds. I don’t know if it’s the extra-large glittery eyes, or what, but my kids are obsessed with them. Can’t go wrong with a little Beanie Boo. They come in keychain size, 4-inch size or even bigger, and are pretty inexpensive.
School Supplies
I don’t think there’s a child alive that hasn’t begged for a fun pen. They place them ‘just so’ at the check-out at toystores, at Target, at the drugstore. The kids beg and plead – and then destroy or lose them within two days. But they’re coveted and make a perfect special Valentine’s Day treat.
Heart-Shaped Spiderman
While I don’t like going crazy on the candy for Valentine’s Day, I have a hard time resisting these tins. My boys love them for hiding away their important little stones and lego guys and pieces of stuff. Might be Spider-Man, might be Star Wars, might be Minecraft – or go Hello Kitty, Barbie or the traditional red box.
I Heart Mom shirt
Etsy has some pretty spectacular options, but the guy at the Tshirt store in the mall knows me by name and gets a kick out of the things I have written on Tshirts. My husband and boys have more than a few. I am a regular, and why not for Valentine’s day. Because of course they love their awesome mom. I’m sure these come in the ‘Daddy’ version too…
Red Egg Shakers
Egg Shakers are a great instrument. They keep the beat and are really fun to play with, so give the kids a gift of music and then have a morning dance party and shake it up with them! If you’ve never played with these, they’re exactly like eggs, only filled with sand or beads and very much like maracas, only without the stick or fancy painting.
Valentines Arts & Crafts
I’m not so crafty, or Pinterest-y for that matter, but I do like finding activities that we can do together. My boys actually like stitching, and I can see them going a bit crazy for this one! Part of the fun of Valentine’s Day is, after all, getting to have fun with the ones you love.
While the Tshirts come in at $22, my Tshirt guy does them for half that – and the keepsake tin with lollipops is $15, the other three choices are under $7. Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be about big showy presents, it’s about sweet little treats and lots of smiles.
Happy Valentine’s Day
1. How long should you wait after a breakup to get back into dating?
There’s no set formula for determining whether you’re ready – it’s really a matter of feeling like you are. However, a smart person I know once told me (after the breakup of my 8-year relationship) that I could expect to grieve about one month for every year we were together.
I have no idea what her inspiration for saying this was – I’ve actually looked to back it up, and found no source – but it turned out to be very true in my case. Since then I’ve noted similar patterns with shorter relationships (1 month together equals 1 week of feeling bad after being dumped).
In instances where you were the one who instigated the breakup, of course, these timelines might look very different. It’s also important to have an idea of what kind of relationship you’re seeking when you start dating again. Some are looking for more serious commitments than others. I definitely wouldn’t advise going straight after the Next Big Love, in any case. Take some time to enjoy the process of dating, and being single while it lasts.
2. “The dating scene has changed since I was last in it” or “I was with my ex since high school, I’ve never been out in the dating scene” are 2 very common concerns, how do you address these concerns?
Even if you were last in the dating scene three months ago, it has always changed.
I think the worry that you’re doing it wrong is pretty universal. When it comes to online dating, which is probably the most popular way for people who have had children to put themselves out there again, you really have to take a few hours to learn the ins and outs of a particular website that they want to use.
I mean, if your grandfather’s on Facebook and your Aunt Helen has an Instagram, there’s no excuse. These are platforms that anyone can navigate if they really take the time to explore and learn. Go through the entire tutorial and save yourself months of frustration! But many people won’t bother, or fear the technology for whatever reason and just have convinced themselves that they can’t do it. So I run an event a few times a year called the Modern Dating Boot Camp, in which I basically school people in the best practices of navigating online dating in general, and them some of the more popular dating websites. If they attend that session and they still find they can’t or don’t want to do it for themselves, then they hire me. I also have to recommend a great book published last year: Modern Romance, by the comedian Aziz Ansari. It’s hilarious, and absolutely full of good advice for those who might be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of dating again.
3. Is online dating really safe?
I believe that it’s no less safe than “traditional” dating, which means it’s as safe as you can make it. There was a story in Vanity Fair about a female producer from NBC News, who was romantically duped and financially defrauded by a so-called “celebrity surgeon.” He made an utter fool of her and there were many red flags along the way, but even a woman as accomplished as this, with a hard nose for news, failed to follow the basics.
Here’s one: don’t deliberately seek a relationship with anyone who lives more than about an hour away. Why would you? Don’t give anyone big gifts of money, or pay for them to come and visit you with your credit card. If someone says he’s the Pope’s best friend, don’t believe him! Keep your spidey senses intact, and follow the basic rules of common sense: don’t date long distance, and don’t give away your money or your ID, and you’ll be fine.
4. I’ve met someone. How long should I wait to jump in the sack (a momma still has needs!)?
This is tough. It’s a personal choice, and there is no correct (or incorrect) response.
I know of many good, lasting relationships that began as nights of passion; I also know that many people would need to really know and trust someone before getting it on, no matter how long it’s been. But in my experience, anywhere from the 3rd to the 6th date tends to be the norm for people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, who form the bulk of my clientele. If the issue hadn’t at least been raised in conversation at that point, I’d suggest that’s the time to put it on the table.
5. Do people really get tested still?
People do get tested, but I’d say that it’s not something that is talked about in online dating profiles the way it was once listed in the personals at the back of NOW magazine. “Drug and disease free” is one of those phrases that, when I encounter it online, almost immediately tells me that this individual has been “out of the game” for some time. It’s dated. I hate to say it, but the public conversation about STIs has really stopped ever since HIV became a treatable chronic condition rather than a death sentence. However, it’s definitely conversation that still takes place in private. I recommend bringing it up once you’re ready to move beyond the kissing stage. The truth is that every single STI is treatable, and many, if treated, can no longer be communicated, so it shouldn’t a conversation to fear. It’s only a bad conversation if you have to divulge things after the fact. So get tested, get treated (if necessary), and be okay with asking. If they haven’t been tested recently, then use a condom.
6. How long should I wait to introduce my new love interest to my kids?
Another tough one, and very personal. I think if you’re someone to whom the idea of dating is a very big deal, then you should wait until you’ve been seeing the person for several months. In that scenario, I think you’d want to have at least a couple conversations about your expectations for the way they’re going to interact with your kids, and how they will be introduced.
That intoxicating first rush of a new love can sometimes blind you to a person’s faults, and if you meet a guy who later falls out of favour, you may regret having brought him into the situation for any number of reasons. But if your children regularly interact with your adult world, if they know your friends and your co-workers, then someone you’re dating is just another friend in the beginning. It won’t be a big deal to the kids unless you make it a big deal, so that’s what you really need to watch out for.
7. What are the pitfalls of getting back in the game when you have kids?
Underselling yourself is a problem. It’s unfortunate, but a lot of newly single parents feel their chances of finding romance are reduced simply because they have children. People will settle for the first person who expresses an interest, rather than being discerning and recognizing that they have a lot more options than they might think.
I can tell you from my own personal experience that I was never more popular in my life when I put myself out there after splitting with my son’s father. To the right sort of person, having kids is not the obstacle people think it is, particularly not online. Women right now have a better chance at finding love after kids than any time in history, yet there’s this sense of desperation that results in poor decision-making.
8. What are red flags to look for when starting to connect with someone new?
Online, the number one red flag for me is distance. If someone’s living in the Arctic Circle then sure, it’s probably advisable for them to cast as wide a net as possible geographically. But if you’re living in the GTA and getting inquiries from people in Florida, or Germany, or even Montreal, you should ask yourself why they’d be reaching out to you. I mean, we’re all special, but no stranger is 2000-miles-away special. I’d be questioning the motives of someone who wanted to begin a relationship on those terms.
Another warning sign is no profile pic. As I always tell my clients who are reluctant to post a photo, nothing screams “I’m married!” quite like the lack of a picture. If you’re worried about being recognized by someone you know, my response to that is, well what were they doing looking at a dating site? It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but it’s also not the kind of thing people call each other out on, in my experience.
Other, more general things I’d be wary of include someone who never seems to bring up the next date, or won’t make concrete plans. You need to be with somebody who understands that moms with kids can’t “play it by ear” when it comes to getting together, and someone who never makes those moves but waits for you to ask may also not be as “into it” as you are.
If you’ve been dating someone for a while, like more than a month, and you’ve never been invited over, that’s another red flag for me. Are they married? Are they a hoarder? Do they live with four roommates they haven’t told you about? If they can only ever meet at your place or in public, that’s a clue that something is off.
And if anyone asks you to give or lend them money, or to invest in a business opportunity, you run, don’t walk, away from that person. That’s just not a normal dating interaction at any age or stage.
9. Online dating – what are the best sites out there to meet a normal person?
All the actual dating websites are full of normal people, with a sprinkling of what I’ll kindly call less traditional characters. But my favourites tend to be the big free sites: OkCupid, POF (Plenty of Fish), and Zoosk.
In my job, I’ll sometimes come across the same person’s profile on four or five different websites. You’re going to see individuals who use multiple websites to increase their visibility – and this is a practice I recommend.
I will say that I don’t personally recommend the dating apps, such as Tinder or Bumble, which have the ability to put you in immediate contact with a stranger. In my opinion, and my clients’ and friends’ experience, they’re really just for hookups. If that’s what you’re looking for, however, then by all means swipe right!
10. What are good ideas for a first date?
If you’ve met the person in a “real world” setting, then the first date is going to be more like a real date, and less of a getting-to-know-you session. You may have even already discussed what you’d like to do together – go for dinner, catch that play, or check out an art exhibit. Your thinking is going to be a little different than on a blind date, or with someone you’ve met online.
But since I’m usually setting up dates for people who have never met in real life, for me, it’s “anything but coffee.” I’ve actually blogged about why I think coffee is a lame first date – although I understand that it has many advantages. It’s cheap, there are cafés on literally every street corner these days, and who doesn’t love caffeine? But I suspect that part of the reason that so many first dates never result in second dates is that people are setting themselves up for failure by planning these very uninspiring get-togethers.
I like a moving first date, one that starts on its feet and keeps going, and if things go well, then maybe you end up sitting down to really have a conversation. So instead of saying “Meet me at the Starbucks,” it’s “meet me near the Starbucks,” and if the weather’s good, you choose a busy neighbourhood to walk around. You can get a lot more comfortable walking side-by-side with someone. You get a sense of their physicality. You see what they notice – are they people watchers? Do they comment on store windows? Fancy cars? A good busy neighbourhood is ideal for that sort of thing.
In smaller places, head to the cutest, oldest part of downtown, or even the Farmer’s Market. Street festivals are another great idea for that reason, or a park on a busy Saturday afternoon. Heck, I’ve even sent people to Costco on a first date! It’s perfect: you stroll around, there’s a ton of stuff to look at, and best of all, free samples! Just make sure one of you has a membership first.
As long as you choose a public place that’s relatively populous, you’re going to be safe, there’s going to be a lot of things to look at and talk about, and if things go well, there’s always a place to sit down and grab a coffee, or a drink, or a three-course-meal if you like each other enough.
Anne Marshall is a dating coach, writer, and matchmaker. As the Yenta-in-Chief of Junia Matchmaking Services, she’s helped dozens of couples find each other online, and form lasting bonds in the real world. View her recent interview on CBC here or visit Junia Matchmaking Services for more professional advice.
Beet chips are delicious, good for you, and a whole lot of mess to leave and scare the pants off of the rest of the family!
What you need:
-Beets
What you do:
Nicole says:
No seasoning but I did learn – PEEL THEM.
Literally all I did was slice them (implement of destruction obvious) thin, and because my oven has a dehydrate option stuck them in the oven till they were crispy (turning about 1/2 way through). They can be made in a dehydrator too – will probably just take longer than 30ish minutes per side.
You can also make them in the oven. I have seen recipes that call for 375° for15 to 20 minutes. You have to watch them carefully so they crisp and don’t burn.
Okay, who am I kidding, they’re little for quite long enough to test-drive every last nerve of your very being. But they’re only young enough to be thrilled by Mickey, Minnie and the gang for just a short while. Maybe until they’re 12? Maybe until 10?
So, what I want to know is, do you Disney?
Disney isn’t just that loveable mouse from our childhood, it’s not just a cartoon franchise or a resounding rendition of “It’s a small world after all.” Disney is an all-consuming entity that can find its way into a child’s heart as deeply as it can find its way into the depths of your wallet.
The Disney Store
The Disney Cruise
Tokyo, Paris, Orlando, Anaheim, Shanghai, Hong Kong
Disney Land
Disney World
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Rides, fireworks, parades – and countless trinkets and treasures they can’t live without.
Yes, but do you Disney?
We just can’t decide. There are so many other places we want to take our children. My boys are 5 and 7. They’ve never been on a plane. Is the first place we whisk them away to going to be a culturally contrived yet magical kingdom? Shouldn’t we show them the ocean? A Costa Rican Sunset? An Amazon rainforest? The Valley of the Kings? The Great Barrier Reef? The Great Wall of China? Something exotic, foreign and real? Or do we simply indulge them in the fantasy while they still buy into it, and let them go on thinking that the world beyond our city limits is really the happiest place on Earth?
With the recent purchase of the Star Wars franchise, my husband is full forces in for a Disney adventure. Not the least of all because of the new Star Wars park, bringing that galaxy far, far away to a park not that far away at all.
I’m torn. I have great memories of Disney World as a kid. But it just seems like a vacation that would require a vacation from my vacation. Yet there’s so much to do, so much to see, so much excitement. Why not let them believe just a little bit longer, let the world be that place that magic makes happen.
…Honey get your mouse ears out, we just might do Disney.
What you need:
-2 pounds ground beef (your choice of lean, extra lean or medium)
-6 tomatoes or 1 1/2 cans tomatoes or 1.5 jar of tomato sauce (more if you like your chili thinner – you gauge, you can always add more as you prefer)
-1 can of kidney beans (white or red – my boys like the white ones and call them ghost beans)
– 4 heaping tablespoons of chili powder
-2 heaping tablespoons of garlic powder or 3-5 cloves of pressed garlic
-1 1/2 tablespoons salt
-2 tablespoons vinegar
-1 teaspoon ground pepper (white pepper is less spicy, black pepper is fine)
-2 tablespoons cumin
-1 teaspoon paprika
Optional:
-1 large onion, diced ans sautéed
-1 cup corn kernels
-1 diced red and/or green pepper (two peppers are fine if you love peppers)
-cayenne or hot sauce to taste
To serve:
-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
-1 container sour cream
-nacho chips
-hot sauce to taste
What you do:
Put all chili ingredients except beans into a pot. Bring temperature up to medium high and stir, stir, stir. Once it’s really starting to cook, drop the temperature down to low – just above minimum. Stir in the beans, put a lid on it and let it simmer.
You can leave it simmering for hours and hours – just pop in to stir it every little while. Each day you may want to add half a cup of water. There is a fair bit of liquid that will cook off, just stir. Each day just put it on the stove and simmer if you’re around.
Chili is ready to serve after an hour, and is really really good, but it’s even better on day two, and on day three it’s perfect! Leftovers are just so good. Eat a bowl on its own, or sprinkle cheese or top with a dollop of sour cream – or both cheddar AND sour cream. You can stir in the hot sauce to your preference, I leave out the heat because my 7 year old hates spicy food, though my 5 year old can pretty much eat fire (like mama!).
Enjoy!
Before last week I’d never heard this word. Of course, now, I’ve plowed through pictures of babies born with microcephaly, researched where the virus originated, and read a mountain of travel warnings, hysterical commentary and those that are downplaying any risk. Some countries are much more concerned than others – Brazil has seen an exponential spike in cases of microcephaly, causing the warnings and interest, and The Washington Post reports that El Salvador has asked its population to postpone families for two years – just to be safe.
Zika virus is like any other virus. Mosquitos carry and transmit this virus. If you get infected, you may or may not feel significant symptoms. You may get a low-grade fever, feel crummy, develop a rash, have redness and sore eyes and have muscle stiffness. Doesn’t sound any worse than a mild flu.
Except if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive (TTC).
It seems the risk is only to those who are pregnant or going to conceive imminently. There is a travel advisory to act with caution and avoid mosquito bites. According to the CDC:
So, should you travel? You need to decide for yourself, and we’re neurotic, so we always err on the side of caution – far, far, far on the side of caution – but for this one, we think it’s a limited concern. We wouldn’t go while pregnant or trying to conceive – goodness knows we already have the pressure of “advanced maternal age” and other high-risk issues, but as long as we’re not pregnant or TTC, we’re beach bound.
In fact, with the life of the virus in the body limited to a week, maybe two, it’s probably fine to TTC a month after coming back. But that only even becomes a concern if mama gets bitten and catches the virus.
We checked in with the resorts to see what they’re doing – and they’re being very proactive to afford their guests comfort and peace of mind. RIU Resorts Told us their measures “include controlling the mosquito population that is spreading the disease through their bite. These measures include: cleaning and eliminating objects and areas that may accumulate water, spraying, treating sanitary water with chlorine and biological control methods for natural springs, as well as including physical barriers.” Furthermore, they’re monitoring guests and employees and plans to do follow up in any confirmed cases.
We also spoke to Sandals Resorts International, who confirmed much of the same, noting it “will handle any individual concerns on a case-by-case basis, with guests’ peace of mind of paramount importance. All Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts continue to meet and exceed on-resort environmental standards – from increasing eradication methods to the removal of potential mosquito breeding grounds – maintaining the highest possible protocols in the world led by a team of professionally trained environmental health and safety officers.” In addition, they focus on “education for team members and local communities, building awareness and recommending preventative measures to extend beyond the resorts.”
So, does Zika cause microcephaly?
At the moment there is no conclusive evidence that Zika virus causes microcephaly and stunts brain development during gestation, however, it seems like it has to be more than just a coincidence that the rate of microcephaly in southern climates has risen with the proliferation of Zika. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have weighed in on what it would take for conclusive findings.
While that may take a long time to conclude, Scientific American also reports:
We are not doctors and we are not virologists, just mamas trying to figure out if we should travel, and we’re sharing our insights. You need to make informed decisions and should speak to your doctor for more information. Urban Suburban Mommy is in no way dispensing medical advice, only sharing some of the information we have gathered for ourselves.
There are always ski trips if sun vacations have you concerned.
