Marriage and Maintaining Weight

As you may have probably figured out by now, I am very into health and fitness.  It is important to me to be fit and healthy.  I feel like it is the one gift that I can give to my husband and children.  For my husband, I think it is a gift for him for me to be fit and healthy so that I can live a longer, healthier and happier life.  I know that if something happened to my physically, that he would be more than happy to take care of me, but the less stress he has in life, the better for his health as well.  As for my son, I think it is a gift I can give him as far as being a mom that can run and play with him without falling over out of breath, to be able to go out and live an active lifestyle and pass it down to him.  However, when I got married two years ago, it seemed that I hit a bump in the road that I have yet to get over.

I was once again reading an article an Yahoo health that they got from Rodale.com.  The article is titled "Marriage Keeps Wives Fit; Husbands Get Flabby."  I had to read this article because this is exactly opposite of what has happened in my two years of marriage.  The article stated that women usually are motivated to stay fit by having support from their spouse and family.  Men are more motivated by friends rather than their spouse or family.  http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/PVN/marriage-keeps-wives-fit-husbands-get-flabby  I cannot say this is true for me.  I stay motivated by having motivated people in my life, but since becoming a wife, mother, full-time student, and full-time employee, I just cannot seem to find enough hours in my day, week, or month to fit in a decent exercise like I did before taking on those responsibilities.  My husband however, seems to be able to keep fitting exercise into his life, and therefore he has maintained his shape, weight, and fitness levels since our marriage.  I know this is probably irrelevant to anyone else, but this was the most interesting thing I read about this week, just because I would have to disagree with it.

Heart Health Awareness Month

As most of you probably already know, February is "Heart Health Awareness Month."  With that being said, I thought I would list a few things that I have found out that can keep your heart pumping like it should.  Some of these I have learned from my schooling, some are common sense, some I have learned from being a dental assistant, and the others I came across in an article I read on Yahoo Health.  Granted, we cannot prevent hereditary traits from taking over sometimes, we can do our best to keep it at bay for as long as possible.

Since working as a dental assistant for three and half years, I have heard over and over during the time to "floss your teeth to keep your heart healthy as well as your mouth."  Periodontal disease is linked to heart disease due to all the bacteria harbored below the gum line can be harbored in the bloodstream and cause heart blockages.  So, with that being said, take a minute out of your day to floss and brush your teeth.  Also, be sure to take a few hours out of each year to have semi-annual cleanings and checkups done.  Your heart deserves it from you.

We all know that stress is bad on the heart, but lack of sleep can cause unwanted stress on us, and we may not always realize it.  Stop during the day, and take a quick nap.  Researchers found that men who stopped during the middle of the day for a 30 minute nap were less likely to have cardiovascular issues than those who did not nap. http://health.yahoo.net/experts/drmao/6-surprising-ways-heart-longevity

Own a pet.  Another way that I think a person can prevent heart disease, is by being a pet owner.  When you have a pet, it keeps you much more active than you may realize.  Pets can be alot of work as well as fun.  They will keep you moving, smiling, laughing, or cleaning up after them.  Any time spent moving around has got to be better than sitting in front of the television munching.  Also, according to this article http://health.yahoo.net/experts/drmao/6-surprising-ways-heart-longevity, studies have shown that owning a pet can keep the blood pressure lower as well as lower the bad cholesterol.

So, as this month comes to a close, keep in mind throughout the year that these simple things can possibly lengthen your life, or at have the possibility of having a life with one less medical issue.

Yorkshire Terriers

I have a Yorkshire Terrier that I have had for three years this April.  I had wanted a Yorkie for about two years, and searched and searched for the "perfect one" before I found "Taguchi."  He was just a four month old pup when I adopted him, I paid far too much for him, but he was everything I wanted.  He is by far, one of my very best of friends.  He is only five pounds, but he will fight the biggest of dogs out there.  He has been hit by a car, smoked by a football, attacked by our neighbors extremely huge dog (four times now), and he still goes strong.  He is a very dominate little guy, and probably one of the most jealous of creatures that I have ever known.  He has had quite an adjustment over the past eleven months, when he had to let a little baby come into his life, and be placed before him.  However, he has done extremely well for the most part.  I became very curious to see if all Yorkie's are like mine, and if not, what makes him have this "big dog" personality.  I also was interested in knowing if they are considered an "intelligent breed" or if they are just average.  Also, I was curious as to what features were "required" of them to be "show dog" material.  Although, I have no desire to put him in any dog shows, I was very proud to discover that he had all the qualities needed to be in a show.

These dogs are stated by the American Kennel Club to be dogs that offer "big personalities in a small package." http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm.  These dogs are lively as well as physically and mentally quick.  We often say that our dog "trots" around everywhere, and he's always on top of his game.  As I researched, I found out that this is definitely one of the things that is true about them. http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/yorkshireterriers.html.  However, my dog is a barker.  If anyone or anything comes onto his property, he is sure to make a very shrill announcement of it.  This is because they must be socialized alot at a very young age, or they will not do well with new people or things.  My dog was not socialized until he was adopted because he was kept in a very small enclosed glass cage at a pet store.  The is also extremely bossy with other dogs, especially our Golden Retriever.  Another trait they have is that they can be very opinionated.  My dog has this trait without any doubt.  Housebreaking is known to be difficult with this breed due to the fact that they are so low to the ground, and very "prissy."  These dogs often do not like to go out when there is snow, rain, or dew on the ground.  This makes for difficult housetraining.  I have definitely found this to be true in my case.  Also, if we leave him at home when he wants to go somewhere with us, we are sure to come home to some nuggets somewhere in the house.  An awesome trait this dog has is that they are long haired, but shed very little.  They do need brushed and groomed regularly, but mine has never shed, which is an awesome thing if you have allergies.  I was also informed by the people that I adopted him from, that Yorkies come from a hunting background.  I can agree with that statement, because mine chases any living creature possible.  My dog is defintely high-strung due to being spoiled before our baby came along. 

Yorkshire Terrier Breed Standard

Toy Group

General Appearance
That of a long-haired toy terrier whose blue and tan coat is parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail and hangs evenly and quite straight down each side of body. The body is neat, compact and well proportioned. The dog's high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.
Head
Small and rather flat on top, the skull not too prominent or round, the muzzle not too long, with the bite neither undershot nor overshot and teeth sound. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable. The nose is black. Eyes are medium in size and not too prominent; dark in color and sparkling with a sharp, intelligent expression. Eye rims are dark. Ears are small, V-shaped, carried erect and set not too far apart.
Body
Well proportioned and very compact. The back is rather short, the back line level, with height at shoulder the same as at the rump.
Legs and Feet
Forelegs should be straight, elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs straight when viewed from behind, but stifles are moderately bent when viewed from the sides. Feet are round with black toenails. Dewclaws, if any, are generally removed from the hind legs. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed.
Tail
Docked to a medium length and carried slightly higher than the level of the back.
Coat
Quality, texture and quantity of coat are of prime importance. Hair is glossy, fine and silky in texture. Coat on the body is moderately long and perfectly straight (not wavy). It may be trimmed to floor length to give ease of movement and a neater appearance, if desired. The fall on the head is long, tied with one bow in center of head or parted in the middle and tied with two bows. Hair on muzzle is very long. Hair should be trimmed short on tips of ears and may be trimmed on feet to give them a neat appearance.
Colors
Puppies are born black and tan and are normally darker in body color, showing an intermingling of black hair in the tan until they are matured. Color of hair on body and richness of tan on head and legs are of prime importance in adult dogs, to which the following color requirements apply: Blue: Is a dark steel-blue, not a silver-blue and not mingled with fawn, bronzy or black hairs. Tan: All tan hair is darker at the roots than in the middle, shading to still lighter tan at the tips. There should be no sooty or black hair intermingled with any of the tan.
Color on Body
The blue extends over the body from back of neck to root of tail. Hair on tail is a darker blue, especially at end of tail.
Headfall
A rich golden tan, deeper in color at sides of head, at ear roots and on the muzzle, with ears a deep rich tan. Tan color should not extend down on back of neck.
Chest and Legs
A bright, rich tan, not extending above the elbow on the forelegs nor above the stifle on the hind legs.
Weight
Must not exceed seven pounds.
Disqualifications:
Any solid color or combination of colors other than blue and tan as described above. Any white markings other than a small white spot on the forechest that does not exceed 1 inch at its longest dimension.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm

As I read through the qualifications, I found that Taguchi did have all the physical qualifications needed, and that also made me proud to be his owner.  As you can tell, I am very proud of this dog, and I hope to be able to breed him someday, and pick out one of the puppies that has a personality like him.  These dogs are not for everyone, but ours definitely fits in well with our little family, and he is as much part of the family as any of us.

Shakeology

About a year ago, I was just leaving the gym, when I noticed a stack of papers advertising something called SHAKEOLOGY.  I picked one up, and begin to read about this nutritional shake, and I was very interested in it.  It supposedly gave you all the servings of fruits and vegatables that one needs daily.  It was supposed to help in the digestive process, it showed that it was proven to lower bad cholesterol by 38%, and this product was also backed by the American Diabetes Association.  It is suppose to aid in weight loss when used as a meal replacement, and with three moderate workouts a week.  It is also said to be proven to help maintain an increased energy level after four weeks of use.  I really wanted to try the product, but I was about to give birth to my son, this product was quite costly, I didn't know if I could use it while I was pregnant, and so I just pushed it out of my mind, even though I really wanted to try this "miracle" sounding product.

In December, I noticed one of my high school classmates kept mentioning it on Facebook.  She also said that she was an Independent Distributor of the product, and she had nothing but wonderful things to say about it.  Since she had started it, she was able to quit two different medications that she had been taking for her digestive system, she had lost weight, and had lean muscle mass for the first time in her life.  Once again I was awed by this product. (Note:  I normally am not one to fall into things like this, but something about this intrigued me from day one.)  I have struggled with digestive issues all my life, and some days I am willing to try just about anything to help out with the annoyances and pain that it brings at times.  Needless to say, I gave in and sent her a message asking her for more details as far as pricing on this product.  I found out that I could sign up to be an Independent Distributor and sell the product myself, as well as get it for about $50.00 cheaper.  I signed up in December, placed my order a week ago, and I am now in my first week of doing this daily shake.  I have not seen amazing weight loss results or anything yet, but so far I have went two days without ANY stomach issues.  I cannot wait to see if this continues, or if it is just a coincidence.  I can barely imagine life without stomach aches and all the other annoyances that come with stomach aches.  Another thing that has impressed me so far, is that I can actually drink this shake without having to hold my nose and swallow like I do with most shakes.

Here is a list of what they say you would have to eat to equal one glass of this SHAKEOLOGY.  It is pretty hard to fathom, but when you look at the list of ingredients, and then figure it all up, it is true.  Like I've already stated earlier, I am very excited to see what this product can do for me.  Keep in mind that this is just the fruits and veggies part of the shake.  There are other herbal ingredients in the shake that are supposed to aid in weight loss and other health issues.

What Kind of Personality Do You Have?

I am a person who believes that ones personality can effect their health.  I have been known to make statements like "no wonder they had a heart attack, they are always worrying about the smallest thing and making them big things."  Another thing I've said is, "it doesn't surprise me they have cancer, they take life way too seriously, and stress is so bad for the body. "  I also believe that people who work themselves all the time, and never stop to take care of themselves properly are also at a high risk of health problems.  I know that health problems are not always linked to lack of excercise or bad eating habits, or smoking, etc.  However, I do still think that an individuals personality traits can cause them to do some of these unhealthy things that can lead to bigger medical issues.

This week I ran across an article online that talked about all those things that I think about.  I also have noted several things from personal experience since I have had the opportunity to work in the medical field.  It also made me stop and think about how I act myself.  I know that I do tend to stress out about things that I could just let be.  School is my big one.  I am so worried and wrapped up in getting a perfect grade that I think it causes me to get a bad grade at times.

The article I read states that people with a hostile (type A) personality are at a higher risk for heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, and psychological issues.  Many times hostile people tend to eat and smoke more and excercise less, which puts them at a higher risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/2.  People like this can also tend to be impulsive, which could lead to bad choices and decisions.  If a person can get counselling, these personalities can suffer less severe side effects from what their personality trait brings them.  Also practicing things like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can also help calm one.

The next trait is the relaxed trait (type B) personality.  These individuals seem to take life as it comes at them, and just go with flow.  A person like this is less likely to have heart disease issues.  They say that lower anxiety also strengthens the immune system.  Apparantly my high anxiety that I have had ever since I've started classes must surely account to why I have been sick ever since I started school.  People that are more relaxed are also less likely to suffer from gastro-intestinal issues. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/4.

People who are outgoing are also proven to have lower stress levels.  A 2009 study published in Perspectives In Psychological Science say that mingling with others leads to improved coping skills and healthy behavior.  This can go beyond medical and just be positive influence.  For example, if you begin working out and eating healthy, a group of your friends may have the same desire. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/5

Type C Personality:  The people pleaser.  These people are known to need to be pushed sometimes.  If they are having a medical issue, they seem to want to ignore it and just complain about it, hoping that someone else will hear about it, and take it in their hands to get something done about it. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/6.  They also seem to be so passive at times that it gives them a somewhat negative attitude.

Distressed people or Type D individuals seem to notice nothing but negative.  People with a negative attitude are much more likely to be substance abusers or overeaters.  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/7.  All of those issues can of course lead to other medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes risks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, liver problems, as well as others I may not know about it. If you feel badly, you are more likely to make yourself better by justifying things such as substance abuse or overeating.

Optimists are much more likely to live longer than a pessimist.  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/8.  An optimists is going to value life more and of course they will if they are looking at the glass half full rather than half empty.  A pessimist is defintely going to be more likely to suffer from depression due to their outlook on life.  However, there is a line that should be drawn with optimists.  Someone shouldn't be so optimistic that they feel invincible to the reality of life.

Now, I have to just figure out for sure which one of these categories I fall in to, so I can be more aware that I am coping with life in the best way possible, so I can live the healthiest life possible.

Where Do We Draw the Line?

Being a first time mother, I am constantly worrying about the small things in life, like when is it too early to start correcting my child.  What kind of punishment is acceptable and will teach my child to become the best he can be, and what is too much?  With that being said, my attention was drawn to the story I saw in the news this week about a mother that used hot sauce and a cold shower for punishment to her child.  http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/mom_in_spotlight_for_hot_sauce_and_cold_shower_discipline/
http://abcnews.go.com/US/hot-sauce-mom-jessica-beagley-charged-child-abuse/story?id=12796871

This lady in the news feels that it is okay to punish children with hot sauce because it is only a brief moment of pain that could save a child from a lifetime of pain.  She was shown on the Dr. Phil show in November where they played a video of the incident that another one of her children had recorded.  It showed her punishing her seven year old, Russian adopted son, with hot sauce and a cold shower for lying.  Just where do you draw the lines in these kinds of situations?  The lady is now being charged with child abuse.  I feel that she was very wrong for doing this in front of her other children.  Not only was her son punished, but may have felt humiliation as well.  The other problem is, there are books out from what I understand that teach that this kind of discipline is wrong.  In my opinion, any discipline that brings physical harm to a child is wrong.  When it comes down to a person's control issues getting in the way of child punishment, one really needs to be careful because it can lead to abuse without one thinking.  That being said, every child is different, and every child may learn differently.  Also, I'm not an experienced parent, so I do not mean to point fingers and act like I know it all.  I know how I was raised, and I believe I was raised well, and far from abused.  But, just where is the line drawn these days?  I just try to take one day at a time, and learn from my son, and pray that God shows me what to do in as kind of a manner as possible.

Financial Aid Update

I was so excited on Friday, when I logged into my school account for the fifth time and found that my financial aid had been processed, and that I could remain a student.  This was such a relief to me, and definitely an answer to my prayers.  Now if I could just decide for sure what I want to do with my life, that would be a wonderful thing.  I have been working at St. Johns Hospital since December, and there is alot there that makes me interested in a Nursing Career as well as the things that make me want to run in the opposite direction.  I think at this point that I want to be a Pharmacuetical Sales Rep, but I do know that it is a very difficult field to get into, therefore making me wonder if I should do Nursing instead.  However, with all this being said, I am thankful for the people that worked hard to get my financial aid processed even if it was at the last minute.  I figured if I was going to gripe about it in one my last posts, that I should give an update on the status of it.