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Parents Need to Make Time to Release Stress

Often, the things that are the most difficult to do end up being the most rewarding. Parenting fits this description. Children are a blessing, but they can also the biggest source of a parent’s stress. Parents of kids who have special needs experience high amounts of stress. It is very important for parents to make time to release that stress in a healthy, appropriate, way. Parents want to make sure that their children have everything they need. Parents of kids who have special needs frequently end up focusing so much of their attention on their child that they forget to … Continue reading →

Stress is my Middle Name

What a night! Single parenting is always stressful, but tonight was one of those nights that I thought I might rip my hair out. I had so much to do and my list kept getting longer and longer as the night went on. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? When one thing gets crossed off inevitably something else goes on the list, all while your children quickly undo everything you just did. It’s hard to keep up with, especially if you are balancing work and school on top of that like so many of us are. I … Continue reading →

8 Ways We Self-Medicate Anxiety

Everyone knows what it’s like to have anxious moments. In fact, our body’s natural stress response is an invaluable tool we need to respond appropriately in times of crisis or danger. But when it is a near-constant companion – fueled by everyday thoughts or situations that do not warrant a heightened stress response – anxiety can be harmful. In fact, it can hurt so much our minds and bodies become desperate for relief, any relief, as fleeting as it may be. Though there are healthy means of relieving anxiety, such as exercise, meditation and prayer, all too often we choose … Continue reading →

Family Fitness: Stress and How it Affects the Family

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How many arguments do parents have when one or the other arrives late from work? How many times have you heard a partner say, ‘I thought this was the one place I could catch a break!’ The myth of family is that the home should be a bastion of peace and tranquility. The stresses of life should not walk in the front door and sit down to share the supper table with the wife, kids, parents and in-laws. Family Stress Family stress is very much like normal stress in that the stress itself is inevitable. Families, after all, are comprised … Continue reading →

Eleven More Ways To Fight Aging

You don’t have to grow old gracefully if you don’t want to! Here are ten more choices you can make that can help increase your life expectancy. Skip a meal — if it works for rats, it could work for people too. A study found that rats fed 30% less than normal lived 30% longer than normal. Studies done in humans showed that a leaner eater had a heart that looked 10-15 years younger than a regular eater. Manage stress. Stress releases hormones into the bloodstream that can raise your blood pressure and lower the effectiveness of your immune system. … Continue reading →

Staying Active Despite Your Desk Job

If there is one detriment to maintaining an active lifestyle it is a desk job. Some people, me included, spend hours sitting in a chair staring at a computer screen. Apparently there are some offices who have found a way to work around this; workstations that fit over treadmills. What a great idea. The original concept of this came from a man who suffered a leg injury in 2008. Up until then he had been active. So he came up with what is called the “TrekDesk.” He was able to continue working, walk off 26 pounds, get better sleep and … Continue reading →

The Importance of Taking a Little Time For Yourself

Sometimes, you can be overextending yourself without even realizing it until someone else brings it to your attention. I had no idea that I was doing it until I had an appointment with my midwife today. We are actively working on preventing my blood pressure from going up during this pregnancy because that was an issue with my first pregnancy, and we are approaching the issue from a few different angles. I’m exercising regularly, I have made some dietary changes, and I have incorporated some vitamins and supplements into my daily routine. Anyways, today she asked me to describe a … Continue reading →

Fight Feelings of Hopelessness with Activity

Feeling hopeless? Maybe you’ve got the economy on your mind. Maybe it’s the crummy job market in your area, or worries about losing your job. We live in stressful times! New research from Kuopio University Hospital in Finland shows that an active lifestyle may help improve your outlook on life. Researchers interviewed nearly 2500 men between the ages of 42 and 60. Participants were asked about their mood and physical activity levels and were tested for physical fitness. The more active the men in the study were, the less likely they were to experience feelings of hopelessness. The more vigorous … Continue reading →

Mom Fitness: So Moms, What Do You Think?

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Newsweek features an interesting article this week that found moms who have kids are not necessarily happier. In fact, it showed that stay at home moms and moms who work have a lot of things in common when it comes to what makes them happy. According to the list, the top things that made moms happy were: Taking a bubble bath alone Working out and going on a family holiday tied Receiving a massage or a romantic date with a spouse tied Playing with the kids or downtime by herself tied Sleeping What was interesting is that both SAHMs and … Continue reading →

Fitness Goes to the Dogs

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Do you remember the scene in One Hundred and One Dalmatians when Pongo comments on how dogs and their owners often look the same? It’s a mildly humorous statement, yet it can be accurate. Your dog may be a very accurate reflection of your personal health. If your dog is overweight, chances are he or she isn’t getting enough exercise. Does that suggest that maybe you aren’t getting enough exercise too? The average pet owner that walks their dogs regularly is going to cover more ground than those who just hit the gym to work out. Studies suggest that dog … Continue reading →