Archive for Health

Smoking: Why Quitting is So Important

February 8, 2012 Amy Health, Personal Flair


It has been a year this February since I picked up the habit of smoking again. I have been an on and off again smoker since I was thirteen. When I met my husband back in 2005 I decide to try and quit for good. I was successful in my ability to quit to the tune of six years, only to regrettably pick up on my bad habit once more. This time I want to quit for good.

There are many benefits for me to be a nonsmoker, besides the most obvious ones which are health related. Trust me, I do want to be healthy, and coming from a family that has had many deaths due to cancer, I’m not proud that I’m tempting fate. I fear if I continue to smoke it isn’t a matter of if, but when.

Not to mention, even though I don’t smoke in my home, my children still get exposed when the smoke creeps in from the garage or I break down and have one while driving my car. I feel extremely guilty that my addiction has controlled me to the point that I have put my children at risk by allowing them to breathe secondhand smoke.

I also want to be a good role model for my children. I’m not just focused on their health, but also don’t want to continue to give them the impression that smoking is okay. My children look up to me and the odds of them smoking are far more significant if I smoke. As their mother, the last thing I want to do is to let them down. That really sunk in when my three year old asked me for pink cigarettes on her birthday. I was horrified and ashamed that I had set such a bad example for her.

I also want to be healthy like I was before my children. I enjoyed walking and going to the gym. I was very conscious of what I ate and how I treated myself. When I smoke I can’t exercise like I want because my lungs feel tight and it’s hard to breathe, making getting into shape that much more difficult. Not to mention, the cravings for a smoke creep in during my exercise routine, and I’m driven to stop so I have a cigarette.

I also strive to take good care of my skin and teeth, but no matter how good my facial products are and how great my dental routine, I can’t stave off the effects of the cigarettes. They make my skin dehydrated and can lead to fine lines and wrinkles which make me look older than I really am. And let’s face it, yellow teeth aren’t very youthful or sexy either.

These are only a few of the reasons that quitting smoking would be beneficial to my life and family. I know it isn’t going to be an easy journey, but it’ll be worth it for everyone I love, including myself.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/shuttercat7/676683782

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Living With My Eating Disorder

January 25, 2012 Jessi Health, Outreach, Self

It’s hard for people to understand what it’s like to have an eating disorder unless they’ve actually been there. Today, Bethany continues her story by sharing what her daily life is like and views of food as a lifelong sufferer of body image issues and eating disorders. If you didn’t read yesterday’s post, The Origin of My Eating Disorder, it is an intimate look at how Bethany’s story, and struggle, began.

~Jessi~

I don’t have the luxury of a treat being just a treat, or taking a little taste. If I have a fry–I blew it. If I eat something more than what I a lot myself–I blew it. And, even if it’s healthy, if I have more than one–I blew it. I’m a failure, I’m worthless, and I will never be acceptable. For me, that chunky little girl who was constantly tormented by family and schoolmates for her appearance is still crying out to be someone loved and pretty.

When my mind turns to these guilty feelings and thoughts then–as my therapist likes to call it–my “f*ck it” mentality takes over. I reason, “Well, I had one fry and blew my diet, so why not have the whole bag?” I will continue to binge all day long feeling nothing but failure, guilt and regret. This will continue on and on until I get into the mindset that I’m going to eat healthy and I will get skinny. Then, I’ll go days eating only healthy foods–and very little at that.

My eating disorder is constantly at war with me and my life. Even though I get on a mental level that this is wrong and I don’t want my daughters to learn that this is okay, or even healthy, emotionally I can’t seem to let go. It’s difficult for me on many levels. I can’t even go one day without my body image or what I feel I’m doing right or wrong constantly crossing my mind.

What does give me hope that I will someday overcome my body image issues and eating disorders is that I was finally able to find an excellent psychiatrist and therapist that I’m really comfortable with. I want to learn to cope with the deeper issues that started my eating disorder, such as being neglected and abused, being left without food and never understanding what proper body cues are–like when you’re actually full versus the need to binge because you never know when your next meal is coming, getting over worrying that there will never be enough food for everyone in the house, because there certainly is, or finally not having to feel like starving myself to be accepted.

I would like to one day look in the mirror and actually love who is looking back at me, to be a confident person and healthy individual, and to also teach my daughters how to be confident and healthy. The last thing I want is for my girls to struggle with this. Therefore, I plan on continuing my journey to finding that girl inside me and helping her to cope with all she has been through, because I know for me this is something far more emotional than just an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are serious and can have deadly consequences. If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, there is help available. Please talk to your doctor, confide in someone you trust who will help you find assistance or contact the National Eating Disorders Association at 1(800)931-2237.

(Photo: flickr.com/photos/stofiska/3021577770)

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The Origin of My Eating Disorder

January 24, 2012 Jessi Depression, Guest Posts, Health, Outreach, Self

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), eating disorders effect up to 24,000,000 men, women and children of all ages.

Today, we’d like to welcome Bethany, an MGF reader who bravely came forward to share the origin of her lifelong struggle with eating disorders. Because her story is extremely personal and honest, we’ve changed her name for her privacy.

~Jessi~

No one is certain what causes an individual to suffer from an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating, etc. There are many types of eating disorders that people struggle with every day. Some theorize that there are many who have a predisposition to developing eating disorders due to genetics, and many others who believe that eating disorders are born from traumatic life experiences.

I’m not certain whether it’s one or the other, because I’m no expert, but what I can tell you is what it’s like for me as someone who has struggled constantly with my weight due to my eating disorders. I’ve struggled with this for over 18 years, and for me it’s still a fight to keep it under control.

My struggle began far before my eating disorder took over. I was born into an extremely abusive home, where my siblings and I were left alone for days and sometimes even weeks at a time with no food. We were forced to live off of sugar water and garbage to survive–basically whatever we could find. When my grandmother would bring food for us, or our parents actually were there and bought groceries to cook, we would eat to the point of excess because we never knew when our next meal was going to come.

When school was in session, we were guaranteed at least one meal because we were on a free lunch program, but for me, school was a mixed blessing. Even though I was able to eat at least once a day, I was constantly teased because I was chunky from living off of sugar water and whatever else I could get my hands on between actual meals. Being teased didn’t stop with just my peers at school, but continued on with my parents when they would actually grace us with their presence between alcohol and drug binges. Needless to say, that my self-esteem was nonexistent, and by the time I reached the seventh grade, I couldn’t cope with the struggles I was faced with and something inside me just broke.

It was that year that I decided I couldn’t stand being teased by family and peers any longer, so I took on what I thought was nothing more than a strict diet. I wanted to lose any excess pounds and fast. I rarely ate, and I exercised three hours a day. I was so pleased with how quickly I lost the extra weight that I became hooked. At five foot two, I was able to get down to one hundred pounds or, many times throughout my life, less than that.

The problem I faced, besides becoming addicted to anorexia and never thinking I was thin enough–no matter how thin I became, was that eventually I would give into my urges to binge eat, causing my weight to constantly fluctuate throughout my lifetime.

In my late teens to mid-twenties I was even able to get so small that my waist was always around twenty-five inches with bones showing. My friends became concerned about me because they thought I looked sickly, I was always cold, and my uterus started to hemorrhage. Yet, despite all my issues, I felt fat even at my smallest.

It wasn’t until the birth of my second child that I really started to put on weight. I went through a period of extreme depression and went up to 145 pounds and then, for longer periods of time, almost 200 because I began binge eating to cope with what I was dealing with on the inside. On the inside, I felt lost, like a part of me was dead. I realize now that my issues with food stem from my hurt over such a broken and painful childhood.

My eating disorder has become more than just my past. It has been part of my life for many years, and learning to deal with it in order to live a better life on a daily basis is constant struggle.

Please join us tomorrow when Bethany tells us what it’s like to live with an eating disorder on a day to day basis.

Eating disorders are serious and can have deadly consequences. If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, there is help available. Please talk to your doctor, confide in someone you trust who will help you find assistance or contact the National Eating Disorders Association at 1(800)931-2237.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/caseywest/366618202

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YouTube, Zumba and LMFAO

January 23, 2012 Jessi Athletics and Recreation, Health, Weight Loss

Getting healthy is one of my big goals for the year. Besides being more intentional about the food and drinks that I choose, I’m also looking for an exercise regimen that I can stick to and actually enjoy. To date, I’ve been doing walking videos, which I like, but I want something that’s more active and can be done from my own home.

I’m going to be brutally honest here. I’m not comfortable shaking my groove thing in front of a large group of strangers–for two reasons. One, I’m still trying to build my self-confidence, because I’ve always been a curvy gal who has always felt extremely vulnerable in those types of situations. And two, I’m not what anyone would call a good dancer. Coordination isn’t my strong suit, and if I want to embarrass myself in public, I’d rather do it with my mouth than by falling on my face amongst a room full of folks who were born to bust a move.

Still, despite my lack of booty-shaking ability and fear of public humiliation, I’ve been curious about Zumba since it came to my small community a couple years ago. I realize I could go to the gym and ask questions or watch a demo, but I’m also one of those people that feels compelled to buy, even if I’m not interested.

It’s like running into a restaurant or gas station just to use the bathroom; I always have to spend some money there just to keep from feeling guilty. So, I’m afraid that if I go and meet eye-to-eye with an instructor, I’m going to walk out with a membership that I might not exactly want or will chicken out and never use.

BUT…like I said in my planning spontaneity post, I’m committed to trying new things this year. So, I’ve been racking my brain to find a way to experience Zumba without making myself completely uncomfortable or laying down money I don’t wish to spend.

Then, I had a DUH moment.

“What about YouTube? Surely someone’s made a video or two.”

So, I checked it out and sure enough whammo–Zumba videos a plenty. And what I really liked about it was that there were so many options with so many instructors that I could pick a song that was particularly butt-shakey, like LMFAO’s I’m Sexy and I Know It, and find several routines to a song that I listen to over and over anyway. Or, I can select routines based on difficulty and intensity because different classes seem to work out at different levels. Pretty cool, huh?

And seriously…who can sit still when they hear that song? Take a look…

I totally love this particular class because the women are all different ages and body types. Rock on with your bad selves, ladies!

So anyhoo, my plan tomorrow is to go through YouTube videos of Zumba routines and make some playlists. Then, I’m going to play them on our XBOX and see if Zumba is really right for me. I’ll get a real taste of the workout without feeling self-conscious or backing myself into a corner that will end up costing me cash. Sweet.

Do you Zumba? Have you used YouTube for workouts? When I have some playlists put together, I’ll let you all know so you can check it out and see if it’s for you, too.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/ilovememphis/5619510684

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Wellness Wednesday: Benefits of the Flu Vaccine

January 11, 2012 Amy Health, Wellness Wednesday


Well it’s apparent that the cold and flu season is upon us and it’s important to consider the benefits of getting your yearly flu vaccine.

This is especially true if your children will either be in school, starting school, or are even in just a daycare program. When around many other individuals, your children will be exposed, and then exposing you and the rest of the family, to many germs. Not to mention that if you have infants in the household, it’s extremely important to protect them since their immune systems are still developing.

The flu can be deadly for infants and the elderly, so taking precautions to ensure everyone’s safety is important.

The CDC recommends that everyone get their flu vaccines on a yearly basis–as soon as it becomes available. Try to get your flu shot before December if possible because it helps to ensure that the protective antibodies are in your system before the flu season has its highest activity.

The flu season can actually start as early as October and last as long as May, so it’s helpful to get vaccinated throughout the flu season, as early as possible. Remember that many vaccines can be readily available as soon as August and continue on through to September or October until they have been distributed.

Experts believe that it’s important for everyone who is six months and older to get vaccinated to help boost their protection against the flu virus itself. Most people can benefit from the flu shot, but it is especially important if you:

  • Are pregnant,
  • Are younger than five, or even more important younger than two,
  • Are 50 or older,
  • Have a chronic medical condition,
  • Work in a nursing home,
  • Are a health care worker, or
  • Care for a child that is six months old or younger.

However, there can be some minor side effects from getting a flu shot, such as soreness, redness or swelling in the area where the shot was given, minor fever or aches. This is mild considering how horribly sick you may get from actually catching the flu, so in my opinion, it’s far better to get the vaccine than the flu itself.

It is important to keep your family safe and healthy during this time of year and the flu shot is one way to help protect everyone from getting sick.

Photo: flickr.com/photos/europedistrict/6263270500

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Wellness Wednesday: Tired of Being Tired

January 4, 2012 Amy Health, Tips and Tricks, Wellness Wednesday


If there’s one thing that drives me nuts it’s that I constantly feel drained lately. Yet despite how I feel, I’ve got to push on through. Having three kids is a full time job in itself, and I can’t afford to be exhausted all the time.

I decided to make some small life changes to help get back on track and amp up my energy levels! Being energized is very important to us mamas if we’re going to make it through the day! So, I decided to come up with a list of simple things we all can do to rev up our internal engines.

Breakfast: Having your morning meal within an hour of waking up jump starts your metabolism. A higher metabolism leads to higher energy levels to keep you go, go, going throughout the day. So, grab something that’s good for you, like a banana, handful of nuts, or a bowl of high fiber cereal. You will be happy you did!

Fish: Fatty acids and omega-3s found in fish fuel your brain, making it sharper and will help you to function better. It will keep you going and prevent you from feeling mentally drained throughout the day.

Sleep: I know it’s hard getting eight hours a night with kids and work. But, getting yourself and your family on schedule, so you can get plenty of rest will help keep you energized and your mind working throughout the day. Your brain can’t function without good sleep, so try to get in your solid eight ladies!

Small Meals: Eating small amounts every few hours gives your body a consistent amount of fuel to keep going. This is because eating every few hours in small amounts helps to keep blood sugar levels stable. In turn, this leads to a more energized and motivated mama.

Vitamins: Believe it or not, a simple multivitamin a day can make a huge difference in how you feel. Your body needs the right amount of nutrients to function each day. Without the proper nutrition your body will grow tired and weak.

Water: I can’t express enough that water is so important. If your body is dehydrated it won’t function well. When dehydrated, your blood thickens, even if you are only a little dehydrated, forcing your heart to have to work harder to distribute nutrients throughout your body. This will lead to fatigue.

I hope that these tips and tricks help you ladies to feel great and spunky! I sure know it’s helped me out a lot!

Photo: flickr.com/photos/stephcarter/405289474

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