For many of us, facing nine long months without our favourite indulgence is enough to make a girl break down and cry. (And that’s independent of all the hormonal changes of pregnancy that are making you...well, break down and cry.)
It’s hard work maintaining a healthy lifestyle, isn’t it? Eating well, and exercising, and getting enough sleep, and managing stress…it’s time consuming and challenging for all of us. But especially for moms—we’ve got a hundred things on the go and it’s so easy to fall into the bad habit of paying more attention to our kids’ well-being than our own.
When your child is diagnosed with a severe allergy (like a severe allergy to bee stings, for example, or peanuts) it can be terrifying. The only way to cope with that fear is by arming yourself with knowledge. Here are five commonly asked questions about serious allergies in kids.
How many of you learned about periods from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret?
I’m pretty sure Judy Blume educated an entire generation about the finer points of puberty. Or, maybe, you remember having The Talk with your mother. For many of us, it's a poignant memory.
I was in grade four when I first started noticing I couldn’t see the blackboard clearly. It soon became a major source of frustration and embarrassment—getting called on to answer a question was more than a little awkward—and it definitely hindered my school performance that year.
If you're headed to BlissDom Canada this year, you're probably getting pretty excited.
You might also be freaking out just a little.
Or, a lot.
For many of us, conferences can be stressful and exhausting. It might be the travel issue, the awkward moments of trying to remember someone's name, the stress of trying to fit everything in to a compressed chunk of time. Maybe you’re dreading leaving your kids for a few days (both a stressor and a stress-reliever, in my book...but maybe that’s just me).
Have you got a kid in college or high-school? If you do, I bet you'd love to help her gain an academic advantage, not to mention a health advantage. I was recently sent this fantastic infographic for feedback, and because I thought it was so great, I wanted to share it with all of you.
It's filled with well-researched information in an easy-on-the-eyes format. (And truth be told, we can steal a few of the tips for ourselves.)
In case you need another reason to eat broccoli: in a British study published this week, a compound found in broccoli has been shown to help prevent osteoarthritis. The compound is called sulforaphane and it’s found in all cruciferous veggies—like cabbage and Brussels sprouts—but broccoli has the highest concentration.
Research from Toronto's Ryerson University recently revealed this shocking statistic: 30-40 percent of couples sleep apart at night.
And we're not just talking about people heading for divorce. Many of these couples enjoy healthy, happy marriages. They just happen to not share a bed.
I know, it's all very Fred and Wilma Flintstone, but bear with me a moment...there may be good reason for the trend.
Flip-flops are the quintessential summer footwear, and we all love them. But…are they good for you?
Sad to say, but no.
Here’s the deal with flip flops. Their chronic use is linked with a variety of health issues, like plantar fasciitis (a painful inflammation of the tissues of the heel and arch) and low back pain.
It’s supposed to be completely natural. It’s supposed to just…happen. At least, that’s what you might have always thought. But for many of us, getting pregnant is anything but easy. And it’s anything but stress free.
Trying to conceive can be an incredibly anxiety-provoking time for many couples. And it’s a vicious cycle, because stress itself may be a hindrance to achieving that sought-after pregnancy.
A small cloth covered my eyes and I felt myself gliding backwards into the large metal cylinder. I heard a soft hum and then rhythmic clicking. I focused on the sound of my own breathing.
I was having a CT scan of my head. This was two weeks ago.
At the time, the thought circulating through my head—yes, the one that was being radiologically sliced and imaged and analyzed—was this: being a patient really kinda sucks.
Angelina Jolie has opened up to the world—today, in a New York Times story called "My Medical Choice" that carries her byline—revealing that she just completed a series of surgeries to remove, and reconstruct, both her breasts.
Used to be, getting a pap was your yearly routine. But things have changed. Have you tried to book an appointment lately? You may have noticed some policy changes at your doctor’s office. And these changes are causing a fair bit of confusion.
On our YMC Facebook page recently, a member asked: Why do women now have to wait 3 years to get a pap done? Why is this service no longer available during an annual physical?
Are you wondering the same thing? Well, here’s the deal.
I don’t know about you, but it always takes me several attempts, and multiple back-and-forth text messages, to finalize a date with girlfriends. It’s difficult, isn’t it? We’re all busy; we all have competing demands. But I always find, in the end, it was absolutely worth the effort.
Got a weird twinge in your neck? Kid just woke up with a strange rash? Something odd about the way your tongue feels? Hmm...what to do...ooh, I know. Jump on the old laptop and Google that freaky symptom!
Or, maybe not.
I typically assume most patients have already Googled themselves silly before turning up in my office. And that assumption usually turns out to be correct. But is it a good idea?
What’s one of the first things that happens when you encounter a stressful situation? You tense up. Your shoulders rise, your stomach tightens, your jaw clenches.
It’s part of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response in the face of danger. Your body is literally getting ready to do battle. With a saber-toothed tiger. Except that, in reality, there aren’t any of those around.
Just your two year old.
Having a temper tantrum in the grocery store.
(Which, let’s be honest, does bear some resemblance to a saber-toothed tiger.)
Most moms are not getting quite enough sleep. Most moms also don’t get enough exercise. But which is more important? And if you only have time for one, in a given 24-hour period, which one should you choose?
Well, it’s a tricky little conundrum. But I’ve got some answers for you.
