Maryann Jacobsen's Blog, page 4

Bone Density After 40: Five Things Every Woman Needs to Know

“I’ve got the results of your bone density scan,” said the nurse from my doctor’s office. “The doctor wanted me to tell you, you have the bones of a 30-year old.”

I’m not going to lie, being 51, this was nice to hear. But I wanted more details on what that exactly meant. I did my own research as soon as they sent my results.

I didn’t have to get a bone density test, but I wanted to know where I stand. Especially as I inch closer to the period of rapid bone loss which occurs one year before a woman...

Pandemic Dinner Rotation [Back to School] 2020

I feel like it’s been a long time since we talked. You know, really talked.

My last rotation was at the beginning of quarantine which feels like years ago. So much has changed and not changed at the same time. We are in this new normal that feels off and unnatural, especially this time of year when school starts.

But that makes the planning of meals even more important. Many families are gearing up for school with a good portion of kids staying home for distance learning. This means parents are ho...

Freezer Bean and Cheese Burritos [Recipe]

This recipe has been updated from September 2011 version

Before kids, I used to buy those frozen bean and cheese burritos at the grocery store. I didn’t grow up eating burritos, but it was something that caught on in my young adulthood and has stuck with me.

Looking back at old posts, I realize I was kind of obsessed with coming up with my own recipe for freezer bean and cheese burritos. I went from using a pot to the slow cooker to the instant pot, which makes the whole process a lot easier.

So, I...

Why Midlife is the Ideal Time to Embrace Your Body (and How to Get Started)

Women come to midlife with a variety of experiences with their bodies and appearance.

Some may have struggled with their bodies from a young age, while others got extra attention for how they looked. And yet others may have had a more neutral experience.

But it doesn’t matter because at midlife this central question comes up for everyone: how am I going to choose to live in this body as I age?

Of course, many women never consciously ask or answer this question, but they risk ending up in “in-betwee...

Overcoming Body Image Challenges at Midlife with Hillary McBride

A woman’s body changes at midlife as does her feelings about her body. Many women become unhappy with these changes while others find them freeing. Either way, how women choose to live in their bodies as they age is important to their health and well-being.

Body image is important because it lays the groundwork for both physical and emotional self-care women need at this time. If a woman fights her body, it can be harder to give it what it needs. And bodies speak up a lot during midlife demanding...

Can Vitamin D Protect Us from COVID-19?

I was at a physical and asked my doctor if vitamin D could be added to my labs.

“There’s no evidence it’s helpful,” the doctor said.

I wasn’t up for debate and simply told her I take vitamin D and like to know my levels. In fact, every year I like to check to see how if the amount I’m taking is enough to keep my levels above 30ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). She reluctantly agreed.

I never went back to see this doctor and I still get my vitamin D levels checked. When hearing about the link betwee...

Vitamin D for Kids: What Parents Need to Know

This post was originally posted February 2015 and was updated in May 2020

Lisa’s family lived on the beach, so she made sure her kids had on factor 50 sunscreen before she went outside.

She was surprised to discover her 12-year-old daughter diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency after experiencing pain and weakness in her legs following hip surgery.

“We live right by the beach so Tyler was outside with her friends every day last summer,” her mom said in an article on the Daily Mail. “I’ve always been ...

Run Injury Free at Midlife and Beyond with Jeff Galloway [Podcast]

A couple of years ago when I considered doing my first half marathon in years, a friend gave me Jeff Galloways book Running Until Your 100. In it, he advocates for people especially those 45 years and older to add walk breaks to their running. When done right, he claims that people of all ages can remain injury-free while obtaining the many benefits of running. Galloway is an Olympian runner and coach that has made it his mission to improve peoples quality of life through running. He is the...

Quarantine Dinner Rotation

We are on week 5 of our quarantine in California. It seems like a lifetime ago I wrote my previous post about what to do with kids at home.

My initial motivation quickly waned as I realized this wasnt going to be just three weeks. And seeing the pain and suffering going on and really just mourning life as we knew it. For days I was distracted while working and using up much of my energy to help my kids adjust.

But now that we are further into this, and my kids distance learning is in place, it...

10 Things to Do with Your Kids at Home

Like a lot of parents around the world, my kids will be home from school for at least 3 weeks but most likely more. One of those weeks would have been spring break and the getaway we planned is not happening.

With growing cases of COVID-19 in the US, many schools have closed. Most companies are allowing their employees to work from home. And a good portion of people (like myself) already work from home.

So, there are many households walking that fine line between homeschooling and working. Here...