10 Truths About Aging You May Mot Know

With no exception, all of us age. Now, why is "aging" such
a bad word? What about growing? and lifelong development?
If you are a caregiver, you know this process is not always
easy, but the good news from neuroscience these days is
that there is much each of us can do.

1- Change: We should talk more about change than about
decline, as we discussed recently with Dr. Elkhonon
Goldberg, who wrote his great book The Wisdom Paradox
precisely on this point.

2- Improvement: Some skills improve as we age-In our brain
fitness classes, we typically explain how some areas
typically improve as we age, such as self-regulation,
emotional functioning and Wisdom (which means moving from
Problem solving to Pattern recognition). For example, as a
lawyer accumulates more cases under his/ her belt, he or
she develops an automatic "intuition" for solutions and
strategies. As long as the environment doesn't change too
rapidly, this growing wisdom is very valuable.

3- Decline: ...whereas, yes, others typically decline:
effortful problem-solving for novel situations, processing
speed, working memory, attention and mental imagery. In
other words, the capacity to learn and adapt to new
environments.

4- Let's worry less: Now, there is a key difference between
not remembering where I put my car keys today...which
happens to all when we are too absorbed in something else
and is not by itself a big deal...and not remembering why I
need keys to open my car. Sometimes we tend to worry too
much.

5- Lifestyle: Studies have shown a tremendous variability
in how well people age and how, to a large extent, our
actions influence the rate of improvement and/ or decline.
Our awareness that "it's not all doom and gloom" and that
there's much we can do is very important.

6- Brain Reserve: If we want to maximize our chances of
healthy aging, we should focus on 4 main "brain health"
pillars: brain exercise, physical exercise, stress
management and a balanced diet. And the earlier the better
to build a Brain Reserve that may delay Alzheimer's related
symptoms-studies have shown a risk reduction of up to 38%
thanks to these lifestyle habits!.

7- Brain Exercise: In terms of brain exercise, we must
ensure we engage with activities that provide us novelty,
variety and constant challenge to exercise and cross-train
our "mental muscles" (cognitive and emotional skills). This
is our best "brain food".

8- Computer-based programs: Computer-based brain exercise
programs are great vehicles or tools to help us with our
stress management and mental stimulation needs, as
compliments to other activities in our daily lives. This is
why you are reading more about the Brain Fitness movement
these days, grounded on the research behind adult
neuroplasticity (how the brain can rewire itself).

9- Retirement?: baby boomers (and many healthy adults over
62!) want to remain active and mentally stimulated beyond
arbitrary retirement ages. Why accept arbitrary age limits?

10- Attitude: no matter where we are or what we do, how we
react to it makes a big difference. Let's focus on today
and tomorrow, not yesterday. Let's focus on what we can do
to improve. Let's continually exercise our brains.

----------------------------------------------------
Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO and Co-Founder of SharpBrains,
which provides the latest science-based information for
Brain Training and Memory Improvement, and has been
recognized by Scientific American Mind, CBS, Forbes, and
more. Alvaro holds MA in Education and MBA from Stanford
University, and teaches The Science of Brain Health at
UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute. Learn more at
http://www.sharpbrains.com/

New Generation of Behind The Ear Hearing Aids

Hearing loss is a common condition that affects adults and
children. 1 in 3 people over the age of 60 have hearing
loss. However, a growing number of young people (in their
30s and 40s) are suffering from hearing loss caused by
excessive noise such as loud music, motorcycle engines and
loud nightclubs. Yet, many people refuse to wear a hearing
aid because it makes them look old.

In view of the stigma associated with hearing aids,
manufacturers redesigned their products - targeted at the
baby boomers - to look more hip and cool. New behind the
ear hearing aids now come in various shapes and attractive
colors. They are now smaller and hardly noticeable. When
you do see them they often just look like an ordinary cell
phone or Bluetooth ear piece.

Along with the newer sleek designs and colors of behind the
ear hearing aids comes a new wave of technology. This
advanced technology provides state of the art features,
making behind the ear hearing aid a must have gadget that
the baby boomers don't mind wearing.

Phonak and Oticon are two of the leading manufacturers who
have revamped their behind the ear hearing aids to appeal
to the baby boomer generation and first time users.
Phonak's new Audeo Personal Communication Assistant (PCA)
is a sleek new behind the ear hearing aid that comes in 15
attractive color choices. The state of the art features
include Crystalsound, which is extended high-frequency
amplification, and Digital SurroundZoom the best
directional microphone system. The unique shape and award
winning design gives behind the ear hearing aid a fresh
look.

The Oticon Delta is designed for those who want high-tech
features in a sleek, modern behind the ear hearing aid.
The Delta uses Artificial Design (AI) which functions much
like the human brain by automatically making thousands of
minute adjustments to keep the sound perfect. It uses
directional microphones to help reduce unwanted noise. It
comes in a wide array of colors making it not only a great
hearing aid device but also a cool one. The new Delta
triangular shaped hearing aid was named one of the best
inventions in personal electrics at the 2007 Consumer
Electronic Show.

Behind the ear hearing aids require little fitting
adjustment. So you can buy one "off the shelf" and then
make the necessary amplification adjustments. There are
numerous adjustments that can be made via easy connection
to a computer by your hearing care professional.

The new behind the ear hearing aids are making a strong
comeback in a market that is catering more and more to
younger people with hearing loss. The state-of-the-art
features, unique designs and colors certainly make behind
the ear hearing aid a popular choice not only among the
baby boomers, but also the older people. The new open fit
hearing aids are certainly discovering a new place in the
market.

----------------------------------------------------
For people with hearing problems, getting quality hearing
aids can open up a new world to them. The new style of
behind the ear hearing aids are more discreet, fashionable
and high tech, making them a good choice for the young and
old. Check out our top resources on best hearing aids at
http://www.abouthearingaid.com/home

Lavender Aromatherapy Improves Health

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils and other natural
aromatic compounds from plants to affect one's mental or
physical health. Essential oils, are known as hydrophobic
i.e. non-water mixing or volatile i.e. air mixing.
Essential oils are sometimes referred to as an "oil of" a
plant e.g. oil of lavender. Essential oils are referred to
as "essential" because they are the perceived "essence" of
a plant..

Essential oils and other elements used in aromatherapy are
used for relieving a variety of discomfort from
indigestion to headaches. Aromatherapy is used to alter
mood, inspire confidence, ease depression, and increase
energy. In many cultures essential oils are used for their
antiseptic value to treat infection. In France, essential
oils viewed and considered in a similar way prescription
drugs are in the United States. Essential oil treatments
can be delivered in many different ways- direct inhalation
of vapors, inhalation of steam from a vaporizer, through
massage, or through therapeutic baths. It is important to
note, however, that essential oils are diluted in carrier
oils (neutral, odorless oils) before being used on skin.
Essential oils can be used singly or in combinations with
other essential oils.

Other products used in Aromatherapy besides essential oils
include absolutes, phytoncides, and infusions. Absolutes
are essentially purer forms of essential oils that have had
their lighter, less dense components extracted with
ethanol. Phytoncides are natural antimicrobial liquids used
by many plants to protect themselves from rotting or being
eaten by insects and animals. Infusions are oils or other
liquids that have been infused with herbs, flowers, or
berries.

One of the more popular and widely used aromas is lavender.
Lavender grows well in rocky environments that have good
sunlight. Lavender has woody branches and green leaf-like
shoots resembling rods. The grayish green leaves are oblong
and in curled spiral patterns. Lavender oil is taken from
the flowers of the plant with steam distillation. Lavender
oil blends well with many other essential oils including
cedarwood, pine, clary sage, geranium, and nutmeg. The
flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been
used for making potpourris. . Lavender's Latin name Lavare,
means "to wash". Lavender essential oil has a calming scent
and helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety,
depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. Lavender
aroma eases nervous exhaustion and restlessness and
increases mental activity. Lavender essential oil induces
sleep and is recommended for insomnia. Lavender essential
oil helps ease pains caused by sore muscles, tense muscles,
muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and lumbago.
Massage with lavender oil helps relieve pain in the joints.
Lavender oil helps in restoring hormonal balance and
reduces inflammation of the urinary bladder. Lavender oil
is often helpful for respiratory problems including throat
infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion,
bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis.
The oil is either used in the form of vapor or applied on
the skin of neck, chest and back. It is also added in many
vaporizers and inhalers used for cold and coughs.

Lavender oil helps skin because of its antiseptic and
antifungal properties. Lavender oil is used for various
skin disorders e.g. acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, wounds,
cuts, burns, and sunburn.. Lavender oil is added to
chamomile to treat eczema. Lavender essential oil is useful
on lice and lice eggs or nits in hair. Lavender essential
oil is also good for improving blood circulation by
lowering blood pressure and hypertension. Lavender oil for
digestion increases the mobility of the intestines
increases production of gastric juices and bile and so
eases indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence,
vomiting and diarrhea. Lavender oil also helps improve the
immune system. Lavender can be used as an insect repellent
for mosquitoes and helps heal insect bites. As with many
other essential oils, pregnant and breast feeding women,
people with diabetic concerns or people with unusually
sensitive skin should avoid using lavender essential oil.

The health benefits of aromatherapy has been
underestimated. Aromatherapy has often been considered to
be only a way to make "everything smell nice". The health
benefits of aromatherapy are much more powerful and
effective than is commonly perceived or known by most
people. Aromatherapy is a deeply beneficial natural healing
modality for enhancing emotional balance and physical
health. .

----------------------------------------------------
Jennifer has more than twenty years experience with all
natural health care. She provides all natural aromatherapy
products through
http://www.sweetmedicineessentials.com/aromatherapy-c-7.html

Skinny Legs or Thunder Thighs, Take Your Pick

Some women aspire to skinny legs and others to fuller and
more rounded shaped legs.

The look of the legs is dictated by the shape and size of
the bum.

An ample bottom can accentuate thin thighs whereas a trim
bottom and full upper legs may lead to the thunder thighs
effect.

Neither of these two opposites are the desire of the vast
majority of women.

The ultimate goal is to have legs that appear long in
relation to the body and curvy and that means having to
work at it.

Whatever your basic shape the legs are amongst the most
difficult of body parts to adjust to your desired shape so
here's how to go about it!

Starting with legs that are too thin the first thing is to
bulk up them up without over emphasizing the bum.

At the same time exercises designed to bulk up the muscles
of the legs have a knock on effect on the bottom and that
can be good.

A trim bottom leading to slender legs looks great.

Watch your diet and do plenty of leg only regular exercises
such as cycling, lying on your back, feet raised and
rotating, lifting small weights attached to your ankles
with legs extending or even just running up and down stairs.

These and similar exercises can be undertaken either at
home or without major expense and while the derriere is
gaining some benefit the major toning and muscle building
is happening to the thighs.

If you feel that you have been dealt with legs that are too
short then the smaller you can tone your bottom the longer
your legs can look.

Thunder thighs are a more difficult problem as exercising
can increase the bulk effect unless a strict diet regime is
adhered to and that means will power.

Clearly fat tissue must be got rid of and thigh muscles
must be toned and at the same time the bum needs a lot of
work.

Running and other exercise routines that work on the areas
below the hips are essential to balance the derriere and
upper legs so that both appear attractive.

If you are lucky everything below the waist will look nice
and in proportion but as we women grow older our bums tend
to enlarge and our thighs look heavier, making our legs
look shorter and heavier so that we do not look our best in
jeans.

Recognizing the onset of age related figure problems is
nearly half the problem, having the strength of will to do
something about it is the next and hardest step but who,
amongst us, does not want to stay as attractive as possible
for as long as possible.

Put in the hard work and discipline and the man in your
life will be happy, he won't stray while you are looking
good!

And as for those too skinny legs a little toning here, a
little muscle building there, and as you get a little older
your lower body is likely to become curvier and will fill
out those tight jeans really nicely.

For a women to feel entirely good about herself is a
rarity, we all have hang ups about our looks however much
we are told how beautiful or attractive we are but at the
end of the day we must make the best of what we are born
with and be thankful that one mans meat is another mans
poison.

----------------------------------------------------
For more valuable information about health and fitness,
please visit
http://www.hotexercise.com

3 Anti Aging Treatments to Ask Your Esthetician About

I'm a thirty-something woman, and I'm looking to stay as
fresh and young looking as I can for as long as I can
because I think that your skin is the most important part
of the way you look.

Having good skin versus bad skin really makes all the
difference when it comes to feeling and looking beautiful
and young, and that is why millions of women are flocking
to estheticians and doctors around the world, in search of
the right anti aging treatment for their skin.

And the "right" treatment could be dramatically different
depending on a number of attributes, including race,
gender, ethnic background, environmental exposure such as
sun and diet, products used, and a number of other factors
that we probably wouldn't even think of.

This is why it is so important to not only find the right
treatments to use daily on your face for the best possible
results on your skin type, but it is also to find the right
aesthetic treament if you are planning on actually going
and getting professionally administered anti aging
treatments.

Word of mouth is definitely one of the best ways to figure
out where to go, but what if you don't really know anyone
who can recommend a doctor or skin specialist who they were
no less than thrilled about?

Well, you should first make sure that the places you are
choosing to go offer free consultations. This way, there
is no financial obligation if you choose not to give them
your business, or weren't quite thrilled with the
atmosphere, advice, or treatments options available, and
wanted to further comparison shop.

Once you've actually chosen the facility you ultimately
will allow to work on your most precious beauty asset -
your skin, that's when the personalization comes in. Most
likely, you will be offered a few choices, and based on
your age, and depth of wrinkles or fine lines, it will be a
combination of a couple of things, only three of which
we'll discuss here today.

The most common and popular anti aging treatments available
are variations of laser therapy, chemical peels, Botox
injections, Microdermabrasion, and injectable dermal
fillers such as Restylane. We'll talk today a little more
about Microdermabrasion, Botox, and Restylane.

Microdermabrasion is a process that does not involve any
type of chemicals or invasive needles or surgery, and yet
can have quite a dramatic effect on the appearance of the
skin, no matter what your age is. However, it is usually
not prescribed as a means to rid you of deep wrinkles.

Usually, Botox or injectable fillers are recommended for
deep wrinkles. Microdermabrasion is really a treatment
that targets fine lines, spotting and uneven skin, sun
damage, acne scarring and other scarring and pitting, and
renewing the freshness and vital appearance of the skin.
In other words, it sloughs away the "dullness" that often
comes with aging skin.

In the process, which involves blasting tiny particles of
aluminum dioxide, and then sucking them up through a
vacuum. If the procedure is done in the right localized
area and agressively enough, many times patients will see a
reduction in their fine lines, as well as a renewed,
fresher look to their skin and a great improvement in the
evenness and tone of their skin.

I've had Microdermabrasion before, and was pleased with the
results, but as far as erasing fine lines, it didn't do the
trick, although I will say it even out my skin tone, and
also helped with the appearance of the fine lines.

Chemical peels are another offering that you might have
heard about. They usually custom mix a solution of
glycolic acid, or perhaps some other sort of acid commonly
used in skin care.

This acid solution is applied to the skin and allowed to
set for a specified time frame, and when it is taken off,
the skin usually responds by shedding layers, or peeling,
revealing younger, more vibrant and even skin underneath.

You see, when we age, our skin sheds less and less, and our
cells do not turn over as quickly, which results in a dull
appearance as well as wrinkles and fine lines. The peels,
especially when combined with Microdermabrasion, can help
speed cell turnover like when we were younger, and give us
back that youthful, dewy look.

The final professional anti aging treatment we will talk
about is that all too commonly joked about product called
Botox. Botox is a form of botulism, a feared word because
of it's toxic status and the bad rep for being a food toxin
that causes unpleasant side effects if ingested orally.
But not if it's injected in the right amounts, into the
very muscles that cause you to look "wrinkled" when you
make a facial expression.

Because Botox actually relaxes, or freezes the muscles
where it is locally injected, it is not only a current
wrinkle inhibitor, but it is also considered preventive,
because it will actually prevent wrinkles from happening by
preventing the positions of the skin that cause wrinkles to
occur.

I spoke to an esthetician recently about Botox, and
expressed my concerns about the treatment that I would
somehow be unable to express myself and have the "frozen
face" look that I'd heard could happen.

She said this is a common misconception, and that this is
why good doctors will only use Botox in selective areas,
just locally enough so that they don't relax large sections
of muscle and a patient can still express themselves
through facial expressions, without further wrinkling their
skin.

Botox is still one of the most popular anti aging skin
treatments provided in professional facilities around the
world today, and shows no signs of fading. It actually
might be the way to go for people who want to prevent
further wrinkles, who are not yet ideal candidates for
dermal fillers because their wrinkles have not yet
progressed far enough to be "filled".

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Danna Schneider is the founder of
http://www.acnemagazine.com/acnezine-review/ and
http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/clear-pores-review.html ,
where reviews on herbal products for acne Clear Pores and
Acnezine, news and suggestions on new natural ways to be
acne free for life can be found, as well as skin care
regimens and tips for acne, acne rosacea and other
inflammatory skin conditions.

Ab Toning Exercises After C-Section

While many women believe that ab toning exercises after
c-section are useless, that actually isn't the case. Though
many women find themselves with the 'mother's apron' that
comes from having a cesarean section, there are ways that
you can start to shrink this area and get yourself back
into shape. The trick is you have to do more than simply ab
toning exercises after c-section; you also need to diet, do
some aerobic workouts in addition to the actual toning
work. And while you may be tempted to skip one of these
steps, that may be just the thing that's keeping you from
fitting into those skinny jeans again.

To help ab toning exercises after c-section work, you will
need to revamp your entire diet. If you're still carry
around extra baby weight, just as with any weight, you need
to take in fewer calories than you are burning off,
creating a calorie deficit. To do this, you should increase
the fruits and vegetables, limit the processed foods,
sugars, and fatty foods that you are eating, as well as try
to eat less. This is actually much easier than it sounds
too. Start by leaving one to two bites on your plate at
every meal. Then, start replacing sugary foods with sweet
fruits, regular soda with diet. The smaller changes will
add up as you go along, but it's up to you to find ways to
cut back your calories. By eating only when you're hungry
as well as starting to eat smaller portions five to seven
times a day, you will start to notice weight dropping away.

The next step to help ab toning exercises after c-section
be effective is to include some sort of cardiovascular
workout in your fitness program. By taking the baby out for
brisk walks of at least forty-five minutes a day, you will
help to burn off more calories and increase your metabolism
– not to mention your energy levels. If you don't have time
for a long workout, try to fit in smaller 'chunks' of
workouts to add up to the calorie burn that you want to
achieve.

Finally, there are a number of ab toning exercises after
c-section that you can use to help tone that section of
your body. Here are a few that have worked for other moms
like you:

Pelvic tilt – By lying on your back with your feet on the
floor, lift your pelvis off the ground while you pull in
your lower abdominal muscles. You can either repeat this
exercise or you can see how long you can hold your muscles
in and then lower slowly.

Side crunches – To help hold in the skin that may be
hanging on your stomach, you will want to strengthen your
oblique muscles as well. Lying on the ground with your feet
on the floor, put your hands behind your head, left up as
though you were going to crunch normally and then twist to
the side, letting the opposite elbow touch the opposite
knee. Slowly twist back to the middle and lower down.
Repeat on the other side.

By taking the time to create a plan that can help your ab
toning exercises after c-section work, you will not only
get your figure back, but you will also get your body in
shape to handle the rigors of childhood.

----------------------------------------------------
Lynn VanDyke is a master trainer and nutritionist focusing
on straight-forward fat loss workouts. Her wildly popular
ebook, Melt the Fat is available for immediate download.
Bonuses are being offered for a limited time only. Learn
more about Melt the Fat at http://www.melt-the-fat.com

Heart Surgery And Your Longevity

Nowadays, heart surgery is commonly performed on patients
suffering from heart disease, which is often a threat to
longevity. But does heart surgery make you live longer? Is
Oriental medicine a better approach to heart disease?

According to the most recent report from Journal of the
American Medical Association, at least 12,000 Americans die
each year from unnecessary surgery, and tens of thousands
more suffer complications as a result.

Every year in the United States, surgeons perform 1.2
million angioplasties, during which a cardiologist uses
tiny balloons and implanted wire cages known as stents to
unclog arteries. This Roto-Rooter-type approach is less
invasive and has a shorter recovery period than bypass,
which is open-heart surgery.

Nevertheless, a surgery is still a trauma, and the body
responds to it with major blood loss and swelling, and all
manner of nerve and pain signals that can plague the
patient for months, if not years.

Research has indicated that angioplasty did not appear to
prevent heart attacks or save lives among non-emergency
heart subjects. If that is the case, then why the surgery?

Dr. William Boden of the University of Buffalo School of
Medicine, Buffalo, New York, and author of the study also
added: "If you have chest pain and are stable, you can take
medicines that do the job of angioplasty." Medicines used
in the study included aspirin, and blood pressure and
cholesterol drugs, and they were taken along with exercise
and diet changes in patients participating in the study.

Dr. Boden did have a point about not opting for surgery.
But do medicines, such as aspirin, as well as blood
pressure and cholesterol drugs, save lives and prevent
heart attacks, or are there better alternatives? Heart
health is longevity health. Conventional medicine offers no
miracle cures. Healing the heart has to be wholesome
because it is the "residence" of the body, the mind, and
the spirit. Therefore, medicines play only a minor role, if
any, in the cure of heart disease. Modern Western medicine
addresses only the symptoms, not the causes, of heart
disease. According to the Oriental way, your heart is the
"emperor" of your whole being, and the health of your
entire system depends upon the normal functioning of your
heart. According to Chinese philosophy, heaven and earth
merge to make a human being, and the place where they merge
is in the heart, which is the "center" of the human body,
hence the importance of the heart.

Disturbances in the heart affect your whole body. The
movement of blood throughout your body (circulation) is
managed by multiple organs, which in turn interact with one
another. A failure in any one part of this system can
result in pathology.

If there is a circulation issue, all the organ systems in
your body will be deprived of the nourishment supplied by
your blood, which include nutrients and oxygen. Your heart
has a dramatic effect on everything else in your body.

The force that keeps life going is "qi" (internal vital
energy), which is determined by the balance of "yin" and
"yang." Poor diet, stress, and lack of exercise can cause
your "yin" and "yang" to become out of balance, thereby
disrupting the flow of "qi." One symptom is "thick" blood,
which is the root cause of heart disease.

Severe stagnation in "qi" and in the blood may produce
internal heat, which goes into your blood and steams your
body, drying out your blood vessels as well as raising your
blood pressure.

In Chinese medicine, the basic cause of chest pain is
obstruction of the circulation of "qi" and blood. Chest
pain may be due to either deficiency or excess patterns of
"yin" and "yang," resulting in imbalance and discord.
Accordingly, the Oriental medicine focuses on using
different foods not only to nourish the body but also to
clear any blockage in the flow of "qi."

Truly, foods are directly involved in many of the risk
factors for heart disease. Paying attention to what you eat
is one of the most important preventive measures you can
take.

The foods that best protect you against heart disease
include the following: oily fish, fruits and vegetables,
fiber from whole-grain breads and cereals and unrefined
carbohydrates, nuts and seeds, and green tea, among others.

In addition to the different types of food to protect your
heart, you need to understand the importance of energy
balance. You need enough calories to maintain your energy
level, but no more than what you can burn off. This is
energy balance.

Even when you are dieting, you should not drastically cut
back your calories such that your energy needs are not met.
The number of calories you need depends primarily on age,
gender, and activity level.

Essentially, the Oriental medicine employs foods and
acupuncture to maintain smooth flow of "qi" and blood.

----------------------------------------------------
Stephen Lau is a writer and researcher, writing synopses of
research of doctors and scientists. His publications
include "NO MIRACLE CURES - Only Wholesome Self-Healing,"
"How To Teach Children To Read" and "Blueprint For Success
In Affiliate Business."
He has created websites, including "Longevity for You" on
health, and "Golfing Success Info" on the art of playing
golf.
http://www.longevityforyou.com
http://www.golfingsuccessinfo.com

Health and Fitness for Women

With all of the roles women are expected to play, health
and fitness for women has become all the more important to
consider. By realizing that being a mother, a partner, and
a career woman are all exhausting tasks, you can see how a
woman's body might need more attention. But by also being
more likely to care for everyone else but us, it's not
something that's easily done. Here are ways that you can
start to take charge of health and fitness for women – and
more importantly, you.

Mommy Dearest

The role of being a mom is something that's most concerning
when it comes to health and fitness for women. Not only do
women hold the fetus as it grows into a child, but also
their bodies need to be prepared to give birth to this
child. To help your body be in the best health, you need to
recognize the choices you make will affect your body when
it's time to have a baby. Making good diet choices and
staying active will help you keep your body strong. And
these choices need to begin long before you are pregnant.
The earlier you start taking care of your body, the better
you will be in the long run.

Partner in Health

Next in the list of things for women to do is to be a
supportive partner in their relationship. While this
doesn't seem to be a part of health and fitness for women,
it most certainly is. By making good health choices and
decisions, you will be influencing your partner and
creating the foundation for a long and active life
together. And this doesn't even have to require nagging or
pleading with your partner. By simply taking the time to
exercise with each other and eating balanced meals, you
will do more for your health and your relationships health
than any nagging would.

Career Plans

And finally, the stress of being a career oriented woman is
another issue in health and fitness for women. To help you
maintain your health, you need to make healthy choices in
your life. You need to eat balanced meals, exercise on a
regular basis and simply take the time you need to take to
relax and recuperate from your stress. Make sure that you
are making your health a priority in your life, and you
will find that your work issues all manage themselves.

When concerning health and fitness for women, you need to
realize that you are in charge of your life. By taking
active steps to manage your health, the rest of your life
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Should Your Boss Be Your Personal Doctor?

Working for a doctor could be seen as a perk in terms of
your personal healthcare. After all, nobody likes going in
for a check-up, so the more convenient the terms, the
better. Also, it's comforting to have insider knowledge of
a skilled physician whom you can trust.

Not so fast! There can be unforeseen consequences in having
your boss as your doctor. First of all, he's also your
employer, and making him privy to personal information
could make your job situation more awkward. No boss should
have intimate details about their employees.

Doctors are judgmental by nature. It's how they function.
You don't want that sort of intense focus on anything but
your job performance. As a patient, you deserve objective
attention with no fear of repercussions.

I have a friend who is a type-2 diabetic, and her
doctor/boss kids her in a joking manner whenever she eats
something she's not supposed to around the office. Granted,
it's helpful for her to realize the necessity of eating
right, but she's on pins and needles in the workplace. I'm
very skeptical of this type of arrangement, and it also
leads me to ponder another question: should doctors
practice what they preach?

There is a doctor in our office who is severely overweight.
Recently he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This
afternoon we all went out to lunch, and he ordered fried
chicken and mashed potatoes, a dessert of apple pie and
ironically, a diet coke.

Nobody said a word. Not the other doctor who was there, or
the two nurses, or the other staff members. We were all
painfully aware of the negative effects of this nationwide
epidemic, and the fact that this doctor was committing a
slow form of suicide to eat that lunch.

I felt torn because he is a friend of mine, and I make it a
policy of being truthful with friends. However, I also work
for him, and there is a level of protocol I have always
followed in the workplace. We all occasionally eat fast
food, or drink too much, or otherwise show bad judgment. As
medical professionals, the consequences of our behavior is
a given and doesn't need to be discussed.

But isn't it wrong for a doctor to not generally live a
healthy lifestyle? Should a doctor even be overweight in
the first place? Shouldn't they lead by example?

My doctor friend has diagnosed countless diabetics, and he
knows firsthand how many people fail to change their bad
eating habits. He now knows by experience what they're
going through, and instead of letting it inform his
behavior, it seems to me that he is choosing to act like he
is above it. Doesn't that degrade the kind of medicine he
practices?

If this keeps up, and he doesn't stop eating junk, I am
seriously considering staging some kind of intervention. I
will not sit idly by and watch him ruin his health. That
would be against the ethics of our chosen profession.

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