Get Healthy Mom!

One of the problems many mothers have after they have started a family is keeping their weight down where they'd like it to be. Part of your changing physical build is due to having children, something that can't be taken back once they're born. But you can exercise and tone your muscles, to make the most of the figure that you have. And part of that, is learning to eat healthy in the face of your various time commitments.

Lots of women feel guilty if they throw out leftovers, which can be an attitude inherited from their own budget-conscious mother. But you're not saving anything except space in the compost pail, if you're eating that last scoop of potatoes, or the vegetables off a toddler's plate, simply so they don't go to waste.

Don't sabotage your own diet, by cooking in too large a quantity for what your family will consume in a meal. If by chance you're actually a bit short and someone is still hungry, make sure you keep extras on hand that will fill the gap, like garlic bread to go with spaghetti, veggies and dip, or a bowl of fruit.

Try to balance your preferences, with what is cooked for the family meals. That means if you eat as individuals for breakfast and lunch, make sure you get a good variety of fruits, vegetables and grains. Try yogurt and fruit with granola for breakfast, or a tossed salad in a fajita wrap for lunch. Remember to balance your intake of one food group with the others, and select good sources of protein.

We know water is good for us, but with soda, juice, coffee, tea, energy drinks, and other drinks so readily available, it's hard to make the decision to choose water. Here are 7 great reasons to drink more water.

* Keeps skin looking great. If your skin looks tired and unhealthy, so do you. Staying properly hydrated removes all the toxins that build up in you skin, and helps prevent it from drying out. If you have the opposite problem; puffy bloated skin, lack of water is likely your problem too. When skin doesn't get water, it retains what it already had, leaving your skin cells full, puffy, and not too attractive. If you want to look beautiful, you should keep yourself hydrated.

* It's cheaper. Sure, if you buy bottled water, it's about as expensive as soda, juice, and coffee. However, studies have shown that tap water is usually as clean and safe as bottled water, and costs a whole lot less. If you have a problem with the taste of your tap water, buy a filter pitcher or one that attaches to the faucet. It still costs a lot less.

* A healthy heart. When you're properly hydrated, your blood is thinner and easier to pump. This means your heart has to do less work and ultimately lasts longer. Studies have shown that people who drink plenty of water have fewer heart problems.

* Toxic build-up. Sure, it sound's like something from a bathroom cleaner commercial, but you have toxins in your cells too. Some come from the environment and others you produce yourself. Either way, they're in your body and you need to get rid of them. Just like you use water to flush your toilet; your body uses water to flush out toxins. Getting rid of this waste helps you function more effectively and feel better.

* No sugar added. While fruit juices may contain many nutrients, they also contain a whole lot of sugar. This is especially true for many bottled juices from the grocery store. This sudden burst of sugar triggers your insulin response and makes you tired and sluggish. It also helps to convert that sugar to fats faster. Sugary sodas will produce the same reaction and they usually contain no nutrients at all.

* Caffeine is a diuretic. So why water? Why not drink diet soda or coffee all day? These drinks contain caffeine, which actually causes you to lose water throughout the day. You retain some of the water content of the beverages, but not as much as when you drink pure water. You can try decaffeinated beverages, but the best way to use the water you drink is to get it pure and clean, with no chemicals added.

* Energy Boost. Think you can't get through the day without your morning caffeine boost? Well water can give you energy as well. Your body is made up mostly of water. It loses it throughout the day, so you have to replace it for your body to work efficiently; particularly the heart and digestive tract.

As mentioned earlier, water helps your body work better by getting rid of excess waste. The more efficiently your whole body is works, the better you'll feel and the more energy you'll have. Maybe enough energy to skip that cup of coffee. So go ahead, skip the vending machine, go to the faucet, and get yourself a nice, refreshing glass of water.

Many women accept PMS as a fact of life. They think that the have to deal with the crabbiness, moodiness, cramps, bloating, and other painful and annoying symptoms over and over with no relief. Many women never even mention their PMS symptoms to the doctor for this reason. But there is help and you don't have to live with these symptoms month after month until you reach menopause. In fact, it's important that you talk to your doctor and get treatment as soon as possible.

The most obvious reason you should get your PMS symptoms treated is if you're experiencing depression as one of your symptoms. Women who experience depression normally may have an increase in symptoms shortly before their period. If you are being successfully treated for depression, you also may have breakthrough symptoms with your PMS. It is vitally important not to let depression go untreated even if it is only periodic. Untreated depression symptoms can escalate to suicide and destructive behavior.

We used to think that women either got PMS or they didn't. Now we are aware of a more serious form of PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD. While the symptoms of PMS are painful, annoying, and bothersome, the symptoms of PMDD are so severe that they cause you to alter how you live your life. It is important that PMDD be recognized and treated immediately before it causes serious damage to your psychological health. That's another reason why it's important to see your doctor about your symptoms. He or she will be able to help you tell the difference between the two disorders and offer you treatment options.

Another reason to get treatment for your PMS is that it might not be PMS at all. There are a lot of other disorders that have similar symptoms. It is important to have these symptoms diagnosed and treated in case there is a serious problem.

If your symptoms are not serious and you are not having suicidal or dangerous thoughts, you might want to start keeping a journal of your symptoms for a few months before you see your doctor. This way, she can pinpoint if your symptoms are caused by PMS, PMDD, or some other problem. This will help you get treated properly and have you feeling better in no time.

Once you go to the doctor and find out you do have PMS or PMDD, there are treatment options that can help, including; dietary changes, herbal remedies, and hormonal birth control. Just remember, you do not have to live with these symptoms.

Most of us know that mammograms are an excellent way to find breast cancer, but many women don't starting getting regular mammograms when they should. This may be due to the pain and embarrassment of the procedure, or that they simply forget to make an appointment.

Regardless of your personal feelings, it's very important to not only know when mammograms are recommended, but also to make sure you actually make your appointment and go to it. It's an appointment that could save your life, or at least a lot of pain and suffering.

While almost all doctors agree that mammograms are an important line of defense in the war against breast cancer, they often disagree about what age you should start getting regular mammograms. Here is some basic information to help you sort though the arguing and make an informed choice.

Most doctors agree that you should get your first mammogram at age 40. They also agree that you should have mammograms every year after the age of 50. The disagreement is how often you should get a mammogram when you are between 40 and 50.

There are some doctors that say mammograms should be given yearly after age 40. This is because, while tumors are still rare at this age, they grow much more quickly. If you get a mammogram more often, you're more likely to catch problems when they're still treatable.

So, you're probably wondering why anyone wouldn't want to get yearly mammograms after 40? Despite the previous reasons, many doctors recommend only getting a mammogram ever 2 to 3 years before you're 50. This is because younger breasts are more dense and mammograms are less accurate. They end up missing tumors that are there, or finding tumors that are not actually there. This means that unneeded biopsies are being done, while serious problems are being overlooked, which wastes time and resources.

As a contrast to popular opinion, there are some doctors that recommend a mammogram at age 35. Their reasoning is that if you have a mammogram when your breasts are healthy, your doctor is more likely to be able to see changes and detect a problem earlier. However; it is not recommended to have yearly mammograms this early, just one for comparison.

You may also want to start getting mammograms earlier if you have a family or personal history of breast health issues. If your mom or grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, especially at a young age, your doctor will probably want to start regular mammograms earlier. You will also want to get regular mammograms if you have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, in case of relapse.

Don't forget that mammograms aren't the only way to prevent breast cancer. You should start having regular breast exams done by your doctor starting at about age 20. You should also learn to perform breast self exams and do them regularly. With this combined defense system, the chance of catching a problem when it's still early is very good.

We moms have a difficult job on our hands. We often wear many hats and are so busy that we can easily forget to make time for ourselves. Many moms know the importance of taking time out but still argue that they just don't have the time.

The truth is there often isn't much time. Modern family life is busy and there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day, which leaves you with only one thing to do, and that is to make the time. I know you may be thinking it's not as easy as that, but it really is.

If you come to terms with the fact that you will always be busy and that your life is hectic then you'll have no choice but to make the time. I'm not talking about a whole day (although it is advisable if you can manage it) but instead take 30 minutes or an hour here and there.

Give yourself a little time to have a nice bath and read your favorite book or magazine. You can go for a walk or to the gym or even treat yourself to a little pampering. Or you can just sit back with a hot cup of coffee, some nice chocolate and think. Whatever you choose to do doesn't really matter; the important thing is that you make the time.

As a mom you have an important role in your family. The mom is often the backbone of the family and helps to holds everything together. Realize that your role is so important that you can't afford not to take care of yourself.

By taking a little time for yourself you can recharge your batteries and come back to your family with a fresh outlook. You will not be the only one to benefit either. Your partner and kids will benefit as well because you'll feel better and just generally be more relaxed and happy.

If you're finding it difficult to make the time, talk to your husband or partner about it. Let him know how important this is to you and try to come to an agreement that suits the whole family. Chances are your husband will be more than happy to let you have this time.

Pre-schedule a few times on your calendar and treat it as an appointment. At first you don't have to start with a lot of time. Start with 30 minutes to go down to your local coffee shop or simply to curl up with a good book.

The bottom line is that by making time for yourself you are not only ensuring you are happier and more satisfied with your life, but you'll also be teaching your children the importance of taking care and valuing themselves. That's definitely a good thing.