When I was pregnant with my second child, I joined the YMCA in Rhode Island. I didn't want a repeat pregnancy and delivery, so getting in better shape mattered! It was amazing how the Lord used that time in my life. My oldest had fun in the nursery, and I got a break from the long days of caring for a young toddler.
During that time of getting in physical shape, the instructor taught me something that revolutionized my firstborn and really helped my parenting--it was regarding the effects high fructose corn syrup had on some kids. My daughter had steady behaviors for the most part, but I was noticing random ramp-ups in emotion and their being difficulty bringing those emotions back down. Because of her food allergies, I was used to keeping a very watchful eye on her eating. We weren't big processed food people or sweet-eating people, but lollipops had come on the scene as a treat every so often. It didn't take long for me to see a direct effect after the lollipop that looked a lot like what that Y instructor shared. Sure enough, cutting out HFCS ended those sudden flare ups and difficult-to-control emotions. It was many years later our acupuncturist tested this daughter and said her issue was with food dyes. Those candies all had dye, but I was still thankful to have avoided HFCS with my kiddos. We moved out of New England a few years later, a family of 5, but that teacher was a game changer and I'm so thankful.
Twelve years ago I rejoined the YMCA here in Virginia. I'd hit the gym early before our homeschool day started. It saved my sanity to have that time before a full day of educating, cooking, cleaning and training children. When the kids reached middle school and I entered my late 30's, I injured myself and couldn't use the YMCA. I was spending a lot of time and money on recovery efforts, so the Y stopped.
It would not be less than 7 years before the Y re-entered our lives. Health needs drove the decision this time, which is no surprise. We were in our mid forties and had learned a great deal about nutrition and the importance of moving our bodies. The Lord used the Y yet again to bless us, not just me directly, but this time, my husband.
Suddenly, a little more than a year after joining and regularly using our Y (even during the pandemic through the Virtual 360 workouts), I've got fresh hope to fix some long standing problems I've had. As when my second baby was on the way, a very unexpected blessing has come to me through an amazing personal training gift and trainer.
Maybe one day I'll be strong all over and have better mobility. It is hard to imagine, but not hard to remember my younger self...it is kind of funny to me to sit back and see that the YMCA has been a common thread of blessing in my life. When I was just starting out with marriage and children I couldn't say that since our journey with them was new...but after more than 20 years and three separate times of joining and using the Y, I can say it :).
Holding out hope~
During that time of getting in physical shape, the instructor taught me something that revolutionized my firstborn and really helped my parenting--it was regarding the effects high fructose corn syrup had on some kids. My daughter had steady behaviors for the most part, but I was noticing random ramp-ups in emotion and their being difficulty bringing those emotions back down. Because of her food allergies, I was used to keeping a very watchful eye on her eating. We weren't big processed food people or sweet-eating people, but lollipops had come on the scene as a treat every so often. It didn't take long for me to see a direct effect after the lollipop that looked a lot like what that Y instructor shared. Sure enough, cutting out HFCS ended those sudden flare ups and difficult-to-control emotions. It was many years later our acupuncturist tested this daughter and said her issue was with food dyes. Those candies all had dye, but I was still thankful to have avoided HFCS with my kiddos. We moved out of New England a few years later, a family of 5, but that teacher was a game changer and I'm so thankful.
Twelve years ago I rejoined the YMCA here in Virginia. I'd hit the gym early before our homeschool day started. It saved my sanity to have that time before a full day of educating, cooking, cleaning and training children. When the kids reached middle school and I entered my late 30's, I injured myself and couldn't use the YMCA. I was spending a lot of time and money on recovery efforts, so the Y stopped.
It would not be less than 7 years before the Y re-entered our lives. Health needs drove the decision this time, which is no surprise. We were in our mid forties and had learned a great deal about nutrition and the importance of moving our bodies. The Lord used the Y yet again to bless us, not just me directly, but this time, my husband.
Suddenly, a little more than a year after joining and regularly using our Y (even during the pandemic through the Virtual 360 workouts), I've got fresh hope to fix some long standing problems I've had. As when my second baby was on the way, a very unexpected blessing has come to me through an amazing personal training gift and trainer.
Maybe one day I'll be strong all over and have better mobility. It is hard to imagine, but not hard to remember my younger self...it is kind of funny to me to sit back and see that the YMCA has been a common thread of blessing in my life. When I was just starting out with marriage and children I couldn't say that since our journey with them was new...but after more than 20 years and three separate times of joining and using the Y, I can say it :).
Holding out hope~
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