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Prevent Spreading the Flu When Your Husband Has It

December 18, 2017 by Stacy Craft 13 Comments

How to prevent the flu after exposure and avoid infecting your household. Easy tips and tricks that kept the flu contained to only 1 family member.

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It happened quick. My husband said he was not feeling well and I immediately thought he had a case of the man flu (sorry but it’s true). Well within about 5 hours, I knew it was something more serious. Fast forward 24 hours and we had a confirmed case of the flu. Not Man Flu, actual flu. I had to prevent spreading the flu in my house and fast.

Cue the panic button. We have a 7 week old and a 4 year old at home. I knew that I could not get sick because there would be no one to care for the kids. I also did not want any of my kids to get it but I was particularly concerned about our infant.

Here are some tips on what I did to prevent the flu after exposure, once it infiltrated our house. Happy to report that only my husband got it (Sorry Hubs) and we have passed the 10 day mark so I think I am pretty safe in saying that the rest of us are well.

Prevent the Flu After Exposure

Here are some simple steps to prevent the flu after exposure to someone in your family that is infected.

1.Quarantine

As soon as the first symptoms started I went upstairs with the kids and kept my husband in our room. The symptoms had a very sudden onset so it was pretty easy to identify that he was sick and needed to be quarantined. Keep the person in their room and give them a designated bathroom if possible. Stay away and do not engage that person! If you have to take them something, try and have them wear a mask or you can wear one to minimize the airborne particles floating around (this is primarily how flu spreads).

2.Tamiflu and Flu Shots

I am only going to talk about Tamiflu because I personally never get the flu shot. My poor husband actually tried to get his flu shot but something was going on with our insurance and so he planned to go back but never did and then he got the flu. Back to Tamiflu, the miracle drug. As soon as I was pretty sure that he had the flu, we packed up in the car and went to the Dr. This was the closest contact that I had with him after he became symptomatic and I may or may not have held my breath the majority of the drive to the Dr. office. He started Tamiflu within 24 hours of exhibiting symptoms.

Tamiflu helps to reduce the flu victim’s symptoms but equally important it may help to reduce the time that you shed the virus (and potentially infect your poor family). We also got a prescription for me and my 4 year old in order to help us prevent the flu after exposure. The infant was too young for the drug so I was praying that if none of the rest of us got it, he would not either.

I have heard things about the drug making people feel sick to their stomach. We did not experience this but I did give my daughter a gummy probiotic at the suggestion of her pediatrician to help with any tummy troubles. The medicine did not taste good but we got through it.

3.Good Hand Hygiene

At the first sign of illness, I started washing my hands like a crazy lady. They are still dry from all of that hand washing but it is such a good defense against contagious illnesses. When I could not wash, an alcohol based hand sanitizer was my best friend.

4.Lysol

Every time that I left my upstairs post and ventured into an area that my husband may have been, I was armed with my Lysol wipes. I wiped down the counters, faucet, light switches, fridge doors and even the buttons that you push to get ice. Do it multiple times a day. Be a little OCD about it, the benefits are worth it.

5. Vitamins

A women’s daily vitamin plus Emergen C powder was on my daily regimen. My daughter took her daily probiotic. We also tried to amp up our fruit/veggie intake with green smoothies. I figured it would not hurt and might help.

6. Humidifier

I ran the humidifier in our common room upstairs and in the bedroom the whole time we were quarantined.

Verdict After Flu Exposure and Remedies

None of the rest of us got sick!

Surely some of these items had a bigger effect than others in preventing us from getting sick but this is all the things I did in an attempt to prevent the spread of the flu in our house.

We stayed quarantined for a full 6 days, moving back in to the bedroom on night 7. After washing all sheets and comforters and spraying about a can of Lysol of course.

What are your remedies to prevent spreading the flu this time of year? Have you ever been able to prevent the flu after exposure to a significant other that was flu positive?

5 THM Things I Don’t Do

February 18, 2019 by Stacy Craft 5 Comments

5 THM things I don’t do according to the plan and the one thing that I always do in order to make the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle work for me.

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Trim Healthy Mama is a lifestyle (not a diet) that teaches you to basically alternate between low carb meals (S) and low fat with healthy carb meals (E). There are a few more details in the book but that is a very basic overview. The THM plan has worked well for me as a way to eat healthier and lose weight. However, many people find it complicated and difficult to follow.

I decided to share 5 THM things I don’t do that are mentioned frequently in the book or on the Facebook support groups. For me, simplifying the plan allows me to be more compliant. And therefore, lose more weight!

5 THM Things I Don’t Do

Let me start this off with a little disclaimer. These things that I don’t do are probably beneficial to some people. I am sure they help some people stay on plan or to lead a healthier lifestyle. I don’t want this post to sound like I am telling you not to do these parts of the plan.

I just want you to know that they are not necessary in order to succeed. The plan actually started based on the very simple principle of separating fuels (fats from carbs) and some of the newer and more complicated add ons may scare some people off from starting.

So if you like these 5 things that I skip, by all means do them. But if you are struggling with feeling overwhelmed, overworked in the kitchen or just scared to start, read this and know that you can make it work without all the special items and complicated meals.

1. NSI (No Special Ingredients)

If you have read many things on Protecting Your Pennies, you know that saving money is our thing! And one reason that I do not use many or any special ingredients is because of money. The special items tend to cost a lot more than just buying whole foods.

When I committed to the program, a change in my eating habits was my goal. So I stopped trying to eat like I was eating (meaning that I am not attempting to THMify a triple chocolate molten lava cake). And I started trying to eat healthy, simple and whole food meals.

So as opposed to trying to figure out how to take 10 ingredients to make a waffle or a cupcake, I just skip those things. And that is hard for me to say because I LOVE sweets. I choose to go off plan once in a while and eat a treat that will really be enjoyed. Yes it takes some willpower to hop right back on plan but it works for me.

The second reason that special ingredients are skipped in my house is the complication that they add to my life. You will read more about this in number 3. When I hop in the kitchen, I want quick and easy. I want foods I am comfortable with and know that will develop into a meal that my family will eat with no waste.

Special Ingredients Used at My House

While talking about 5 THM things I don’t do, I should probably include what I do purchase. There are a few personal choice items that make my life easier instead of complicating it! So for that reason, I do buy a few of those items fairly consistently. The best news is that these items are typically available at Walmart (and sometimes even Aldi).

Joseph’s Lavash Bread & Pitas

Mission Low Carb Tortillas

Halo Top Ice Cream

Stevia (I very rarely use this but I do usually have it in the pantry)

2. No Shakes, Trimmies, GGMS, Sippers

The first time I did THM and failed, I did try lots of the shakes and GGMS. While I don’t care for the GGMS, many of the shake recipes that I tried from the cookbook were good. I liked them. They were packed with healthy items (although I skip those Okra recipes, I just CAN’T) and tasted yummy.

So why do I not do something that I like? I have two kids and work full time. I am the diaper changer and the runner to extra curricular activities. I am also trying to squeeze in a workout here or there for me. So just like many of you, I am busy.

Although I like the shakes as a snack, most times my snacks need to be quick and even premade or proportioned for grab and go portability. I will make a green smoothie as a breakfast on occasion but in general, my blender stays in my cabinet collecting dust. Only to be used on special occasions.

I know this is not for everyone. I have read on the Facebook groups about plenty of women that have literally burned their motors up from all the use that they give their blenders. But I am just more of a string cheese and handful of nuts THM girl.

3. No Complicated Desserts or Homemade Bread

Lots of people seem to struggle with the desserts that are on plan. The recipes can be time consuming and use lots of special ingredients making them costly. And then if you don’t like the taste, it can be really frustrating to see all of that effort and money wasted.

Since I am not one to stock a ton of special ingredients, I stick to a few very simple desserts that can eliminate my sweet tooth in a pinch. Choosing this path also makes my time in the kitchen much less.

For the bread, I purchase a loaf of sprouted bread for my E meals every week (Aldi makes this so affordable). As I said in number 1, THM meant life changes for me. So as opposed to trying to make a bread that I can eat with S meals, I just don’t eat bread with those meals. It is a small sacrifice for me when I can eat bacon, steak or cheese during those S meals if I choose. And if I am just desperate for something that “feels” like a carb in an S meal, I might choose to have a Mission tortilla or a Joseph’s product.

4. No Eating When I am Not Hungry

The recommendation is trying to eat every 3-4 hours on THM. So for this “rule” I feel like I kind of follow it and kind of don’t.

I never really eat a morning snack. I don’t need a snack in the morning so I don’t eat one. Avoiding a morning snack works for me and I don’t find myself eating more at lunch because I skipped the mid-morning snack. I also don’t experience the sugar valleys with the space between meals here.

I do typically have lunch, an afternoon snack and then dinner. I don’t always have an afternoon snack but I do enjoy one pretty frequently. Lots of people seem to ask on the Facebook THM groups if you HAVE to eat every 3-4 hours.

The principle about why to eat that often is a good one in my opinion. However, sometimes life gets in the way. I also don’t like to eat when I’m not hungry because it isn’t a good habit for me. You may hear to eat smaller meals so that you get hungry by the 3-4 hour mark.

My policy is just to listen to my body. I don’t eat a big breakfast typically so their is not much to cut. I think it is probably the coffee that gives me a full feeling. So for me, sometimes I eat a snack, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I eat every 3 hours and sometimes I go longer. It what works for me.

5. Few Veggies at Breakfast and None Stuffed into Desserts

Ok, so this is not a steadfast rule for me. I will occasionally eat veggies for breakfast. I do like zucchini with my eggs occasionally or a little fresh spinach on a breakfast sandwich. But in general, I don’t eat a lot of veggies at breakfast and I don’t do it daily.

So if you are great about eating veggies at breakfast, just skip this! I think eating more veggies is a great thing and I do TRY to make an effort to include a veggie a couple of times a week in the morning. I just in general can’t stomach eating a veggie for breakfast, so I don’t make myself miserable forcing it. And I still lose weight. Maybe I will get better!

I also don’t make brownies with Okra or muffins with spinach. It just isn’t appealing to me. I choose to eat my veggies at my other meals and snacks. I just try to make sure I get plenty non-starchy veggies throughout the day. Don’t stress about the time of day that they are going in!

1 THM Policy That I Follow Religiously

After writing about the 5 THM things I don’t do, I thought it was only right to tell you the one thing that I always do when following Trim Healthy Mama!

I eat simple, real food meals while alternating fuels. I can tell you 100% honestly that I do not spend any more time in the kitchen when I am doing THM than I would if I was eating in another manner.

By separating fuels at meals, you eat what the plan calls S meals or E meals. There are a few variations listed in the book (Deep S, S helper, FP), however, I think when you are just starting out that just sticking with S or E makes it easier.

My Trim Healthy Mama Success & Resources

You can read about my trim healthy mama story where I have now lost a total of 60 lbs since having my baby boy at the end of 2017.

I have a couple of popular meal plans on the blog that may help you if you are just starting out on THM or if you just need a fresh idea or two. The 7 Frugal THM Dinners meal plan is great if you are on a budget. And the 7 Day THM Meal plan will be of interest if you are visual because I photographed everything that I ate for a full week – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

And if you are a “drive thru Sue” looking for what you can eat on the go, check out my THM S Meals Fast Food Cheat Sheet.

Car Vomit Clean Up Bag

February 23, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Why do kids always throw up in the car? Out of all the times that my little one has gotten sick, about 90% of those times have been in the carseat. It makes me that much more thankful that I am not driving a nice, new car. I think I will hang onto my trusty old car until we make it through these young and vomit filled years! After this last incident, I have stocked my car vomit clean up bag with everything needed to get rid of those yucky messes.

We were literally pulling into the school parking lot recently and she tells me her stomach hurts. I did not even have a minute before I heard that dreaded sound. You see it coming but there is no way to stop it. You just have to let it happen. All over the carseat and floor. Even her little stuffed cat was subjected to the horror of car vomiting.

I proceeded to try and clean up the best that I could until we got home. I go to my trunk and discover I have not one baby wipe, towel or napkin in my car (I have a newborn ya’ll! I should have a baby wipe on me at all times). My poor girl had to ride home covered in a horrible mess. I rotated between holding my breath and spraying Lysol in the car (because every respectable mom would have Lysol, just no baby basics like wipes). After the 20 minute ride home in this condition, I vowed a solemn vow to myself to never leave home without a well stocked car vomit clean up kit.

So after my disaster of an experience I decided to create a little kit that I could keep in my car all the time to help in a time of tummy crisis. Here is what you need in order to create your own car vomit clean up bag. Trust me, do it before you need it or you will find yourself on your front lawn with a water hose, vomit soaked clothes and a carseat fit for the trash can.

Car Vomit Clean Up Bag Contents:

Vinyl Gloves: These are a must for me. I literally could not even unbuckle my child from her seat without being exposed to bodily fluid. The gloves keep things sanitary and will help prevent the spreading of germs. Heck – put in 2 pair.
Store shopping bags or Garbage bag: You want a bag or two depending on the size to help you in your disposal process to keep things as clean as possible. You may be pulled over on the side of a road and not have access to a trash can. I like to bundle up all the trash into the bag, tied it & throw it in the trunk. You can also use an extra store bag to give to the child until you get to your destination in case they feel sick again.
Roll of Paper Towels: This is for the first round of clean up to get rid of the bulk of the mess.
Clorox Wipes: These are the 2nd round of clean up for me to help with sanitation but just as importantly the smell. You are going to have to do more cleaning at home but this will help you be more comfortable on your drive home.
Lysol Spray: I like to have this on hand too. Helps with germs and smell. Win Win. Remember that this and the wipes should not be sprayed or used on your carseat because it could disturb the integrity of the seat. Refer to your user manual.
Anti-bacterial Soap: My daughter calls this magic soap and I have to agree. It is a little magical to smell the burning smell of alcohol after you get finished cleaning up a mess like this.
Change of Clothes: Depending on the age of your child, you might be able to get away with a change of underwear and a big T-shirt. If you have an older child or live somewhere with extreme temperatures, you may be better off rotating a full set of clothes seasonally. Something inexpensive or even something that was ruined with a little stain or hole are great options to throw in the bag.

Throw all of that into your kit and feel better that you are now prepared to handle most messes that come your way! How do you prepare for childhood messes?