What are the biggest challenges to regular exercise and a healthy diet that you face?
How are these challenges going to change for you over the next five years?
The biggest challenge I face when it comes to regular exercise and healthy diet is TIME. Working full time, seeing patients independently, attending school full time and planning a wedding does not leave much other time. Because I am a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and I work with children 4 days a week I get the added benefit of having exercise built into my job. This is an excellent bonus for a job that I already love, however because I am very active all day long the last thing I usually want to do is exercise when I get home. Despite having an active career I still probably need more exercise. An excellent way to ensure I get more exercise would be to use the equipment at my job during my lunch breaks and breaks between patients and include more exercise on my days off.
Because I have always been very active and have never struggled with my weight, a healthy diet has not always been my main priority. Since my career is in health care I am very aware of the importance for a healthy diet. Although I try hard to plan healthy meals and take healthy packed lunches to work, I find that a healthy diet often gets pushed aside when I get very busy. Today's society has made it so easy to get pick up because of it's convenience. As we all know convenient doesn't mean healthy. Although I try to make smart choices with my selections by substituting fries for fruit or a salad, water for a coke etc. I can't claim that I always do that. I think that bringing a healthy lunch from home to work and eating breakfast are 2 of the best steps toward eating healthier a person can do.
I will be getting married in May. Within the next 5 years I plan to take some time off of work to finish my master's degree and start a family. I think that having more time will improve my eating and exercise habits. I also think that when I have kids I will try even harder in these areas to keep them healthy and set a good example.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Blog # 8
For this blog I chose to read the article, " Effects of media coverage of Women's Health Initiative study on attitudes and behavior of women receiving hormone replacement therapy". I also chose to complete option 1 of assignment 7, so I was already familiar with the Women's Health Initiative study. For those of you that did not do that assignment, this study basically looked at the risks/benefits of postmenopausal women taking either estrogen-only hormone replacement or estrogen plus progestin hormone replacement. These results were then compared with the control group that was taking placebo pills. The main focus of this study was to see if these hormone replacement therapies decreased a women's risk for heart disease, stroke, breast and colon cancer. The risks for the estrogen plus progestin product were much higher than the benefits which actually resulted in early termination of the study. The results of the estrogen only product showed no difference in risk for heart disease or cancer, but increased risk for stroke and blood clot.
In the article several women who were currently taking hormone replacement therapy were surveyed and asked if they knew of this study and if it effected their decision to take hormone replacement therapies. The study showed that all of the women in the study had heard of the Women's Health Initiative study and that it indeed had an influence on their decision to take HRT. Although most reported that they trusted their physicians some made changed without their consultation. The problem that this study mainly addressed was the lack of difference between women taking estrogen-only and estrogen plus progestin medication. This lack of difference suggests that the media was not differentiating to two and that women were misinformed on the true findings of the study.
I enjoyed this article and I felt it was easy to identify the point it was making. In today's society we have so much access to information that it can sometimes be more hurtful than helpful when it comes to our health. It is so important to find a physician you trust and if you do research on your own make sure it is credible information. After all your health is not something you want to take a chance on because some new Internet study sounded like a good idea.
Reference:
Blalock, S.J. & McIntosh, J. (2005, January 1) Effects of media coverage of Women's Health
Initiative study on attitudes and behaviors of women receiving hormone replacement
therapy. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (Vol 62).
In the article several women who were currently taking hormone replacement therapy were surveyed and asked if they knew of this study and if it effected their decision to take hormone replacement therapies. The study showed that all of the women in the study had heard of the Women's Health Initiative study and that it indeed had an influence on their decision to take HRT. Although most reported that they trusted their physicians some made changed without their consultation. The problem that this study mainly addressed was the lack of difference between women taking estrogen-only and estrogen plus progestin medication. This lack of difference suggests that the media was not differentiating to two and that women were misinformed on the true findings of the study.
I enjoyed this article and I felt it was easy to identify the point it was making. In today's society we have so much access to information that it can sometimes be more hurtful than helpful when it comes to our health. It is so important to find a physician you trust and if you do research on your own make sure it is credible information. After all your health is not something you want to take a chance on because some new Internet study sounded like a good idea.
Reference:
Blalock, S.J. & McIntosh, J. (2005, January 1) Effects of media coverage of Women's Health
Initiative study on attitudes and behaviors of women receiving hormone replacement
therapy. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (Vol 62).
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Blog # 7
1) Many people equate STDs with immorality, promiscuous behavior and low social status. What are your thoughts on this statement?
As we discussed in earlier chapters sex is a part of life. Depending on an individuals ethnic or religious beliefs they may believe that STD's are closely related to immorality and promiscuous behaviors. I have to agree that to some extent STD's can be related to immorality and promiscuous behavior however, I don't believe this is ALWAYS the case. I believe much of the spread of such STD's comes from the lack of information/education on the topic. Perhaps taking Sex Ed. out of schools. If adolescents are not educated on the dangers of STD's and ways to prevent themselves, they are less likely to protect themselves against contracting them. Usually the thought of getting pregnant over shadows the thought of getting an STD. Although most STD's are curable I think it is very important to educate young people on the dangers of contracting an STD and the lifelong effects they can cause. I think if girls in their teens knew that leaving an STD untreated could cause them to be unable to have children later in life, they would probably rethink the decisions they are making.
I have to question the idea that those of low social status are more likely to contract STD's. I do believe it is likely that these individuals often are less likely to be treated for STD's due to limited access to health care. I also believe that in this category are often less educated and less likely to know how to protect themselves. I do know that STD's can happen to any person of any social or economic group. I also think we would be surprised looking at college campuses of high social economic status and the incidence of STD's. Even those that are educated and have access to great health care can make poor choices when influenced by drugs, alcohol or peers.
I think it is important that information on the implications of STD's are readily available to educate persons having or considering having sex.
As we discussed in earlier chapters sex is a part of life. Depending on an individuals ethnic or religious beliefs they may believe that STD's are closely related to immorality and promiscuous behaviors. I have to agree that to some extent STD's can be related to immorality and promiscuous behavior however, I don't believe this is ALWAYS the case. I believe much of the spread of such STD's comes from the lack of information/education on the topic. Perhaps taking Sex Ed. out of schools. If adolescents are not educated on the dangers of STD's and ways to prevent themselves, they are less likely to protect themselves against contracting them. Usually the thought of getting pregnant over shadows the thought of getting an STD. Although most STD's are curable I think it is very important to educate young people on the dangers of contracting an STD and the lifelong effects they can cause. I think if girls in their teens knew that leaving an STD untreated could cause them to be unable to have children later in life, they would probably rethink the decisions they are making.
I have to question the idea that those of low social status are more likely to contract STD's. I do believe it is likely that these individuals often are less likely to be treated for STD's due to limited access to health care. I also believe that in this category are often less educated and less likely to know how to protect themselves. I do know that STD's can happen to any person of any social or economic group. I also think we would be surprised looking at college campuses of high social economic status and the incidence of STD's. Even those that are educated and have access to great health care can make poor choices when influenced by drugs, alcohol or peers.
I think it is important that information on the implications of STD's are readily available to educate persons having or considering having sex.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Blog # 6
View any of the video clips posted in the Supplemental Readings area and reflect on these clips in your blog.
I viewed the video clip, " Why do surrogate mothers do what they do?". Overall I found this clip to be very touching and I admire the surrogate mother for being so selfless and helping an infertile couple she barely knew to have 2 babies. As well as other couples since she had been a surrogate several times.
I would first like to provide the definitions for the two common types of surrogacy; Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate is pregnant with her own biological child, but this child was conceived with the intention of relinquishing the child to be raised by others such as the biological father and possibly his spouse or partner, either male or female.
Gestational surrogacy is when the surrogate becomes pregnant via embryo transfer with a child of which she is not the biological mother.(1)
As surrogacy has become more and more common the controversy surrounding this issue has grown amongst members of different religious and political groups. It is very easy for people that have never experienced the inability to have children to form opinions on this issue. I find this to be a very gray area, one in which a person's opinion may change if they were to find out they were unable to have a child themselves.
If proper health and psychological screenings are completed on a surrogate and a couple wishes to participate in a gestational surrogacy, I find no reason they should not be allowed to. There are so many couples out there that would make wonderful parents but wait until they are educated and financially ready to have children that later find out, they are unable to because of age, infertility, etc. Surrogacy provides these people with hope to have a family of their own and provides an option along with adoption to make a decision in how they want to go about having a family.
Traditional surrogacy is a little more controversial because the child is often that of the surrogate carrying it. Although sometimes it is that of persons (through egg/sperm donations) other than the couple that will be caring for the baby after birth. This has raised many questions like, "why would this surrogate give up a child of her own, that she has created and carried for 9 months to people she barely knows?" Isn't that what people who chose to give their babies up for adoptions also do? Is it possible for a women to emotionally detach herself from the child she is carrying, knowing it is being born to be the child of someone else?? I am not sure of the answers to any of these questions, I have never used a surrogate, I have never been a surrogate, I have never adopted a child or given a child up for adoption. My opinion is that people react to situations when they are put into them and if all parties involved are on board and have agreed to such an arrangement, then it is OK.
Many people think you can not love a child that is not your blood as much. I disagree with this, look at step parents who have adopted children of their spouse and love them no different than their own. Look at parents who have adopted children from foreign countries that make them a part of their family and love them just the same. It really is no different than surrogacy and with surrogacy the parents are often a part of the conception, pregnancy and birth process from the start, which leads me to believe an even stronger love and bond is formed.
Reference:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogate_pregnancy retrieved October 10, 2009
I viewed the video clip, " Why do surrogate mothers do what they do?". Overall I found this clip to be very touching and I admire the surrogate mother for being so selfless and helping an infertile couple she barely knew to have 2 babies. As well as other couples since she had been a surrogate several times.
I would first like to provide the definitions for the two common types of surrogacy; Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate is pregnant with her own biological child, but this child was conceived with the intention of relinquishing the child to be raised by others such as the biological father and possibly his spouse or partner, either male or female.
Gestational surrogacy is when the surrogate becomes pregnant via embryo transfer with a child of which she is not the biological mother.(1)
As surrogacy has become more and more common the controversy surrounding this issue has grown amongst members of different religious and political groups. It is very easy for people that have never experienced the inability to have children to form opinions on this issue. I find this to be a very gray area, one in which a person's opinion may change if they were to find out they were unable to have a child themselves.
If proper health and psychological screenings are completed on a surrogate and a couple wishes to participate in a gestational surrogacy, I find no reason they should not be allowed to. There are so many couples out there that would make wonderful parents but wait until they are educated and financially ready to have children that later find out, they are unable to because of age, infertility, etc. Surrogacy provides these people with hope to have a family of their own and provides an option along with adoption to make a decision in how they want to go about having a family.
Traditional surrogacy is a little more controversial because the child is often that of the surrogate carrying it. Although sometimes it is that of persons (through egg/sperm donations) other than the couple that will be caring for the baby after birth. This has raised many questions like, "why would this surrogate give up a child of her own, that she has created and carried for 9 months to people she barely knows?" Isn't that what people who chose to give their babies up for adoptions also do? Is it possible for a women to emotionally detach herself from the child she is carrying, knowing it is being born to be the child of someone else?? I am not sure of the answers to any of these questions, I have never used a surrogate, I have never been a surrogate, I have never adopted a child or given a child up for adoption. My opinion is that people react to situations when they are put into them and if all parties involved are on board and have agreed to such an arrangement, then it is OK.
Many people think you can not love a child that is not your blood as much. I disagree with this, look at step parents who have adopted children of their spouse and love them no different than their own. Look at parents who have adopted children from foreign countries that make them a part of their family and love them just the same. It really is no different than surrogacy and with surrogacy the parents are often a part of the conception, pregnancy and birth process from the start, which leads me to believe an even stronger love and bond is formed.
Reference:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogate_pregnancy retrieved October 10, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Blog # 5
Interview a woman on her decision to have children or be "childless" (may be temporary). Summarize her response and your thoughts regarding your interviewee's response. Note: you may discuss your own thoughts on having children instead of conducting an interview.
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to have children. When asked to write this blog I sat down and tried to think of the reasons in which I felt so strongly on this topic. To be completely honest I had a some what difficult time determining why I have always felt this way. I suppose part of this decision has been based merely on the fact of being a woman. I believe that we as women, whether we like it or not are wired at some point or another to want to have children. Although this decision is very personal to each individual and includes a wide variety of variables, age, health, relationship status, religion, career, etc I think all women question themselves about having children at some point. I can honestly say I have never even thought about a future without children.
A second reason for wanting to have children is that I have always loved being around children, I find their innocence and zest for the simple things in life to be very refreshing. Much different from the demands and stresses of everyday life. As a pediatric occupational therapy assistant I work with children for several hours each and everyday. Often times the kids I work with come from lower economic families. I see a lot of broken homes, kids with multiple siblings and parents that don't really take an interest in their children. This has been very motivating to me to be a positive, adult influence for these kids, as well as my own children in the future.
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to have children. When asked to write this blog I sat down and tried to think of the reasons in which I felt so strongly on this topic. To be completely honest I had a some what difficult time determining why I have always felt this way. I suppose part of this decision has been based merely on the fact of being a woman. I believe that we as women, whether we like it or not are wired at some point or another to want to have children. Although this decision is very personal to each individual and includes a wide variety of variables, age, health, relationship status, religion, career, etc I think all women question themselves about having children at some point. I can honestly say I have never even thought about a future without children.
A second reason for wanting to have children is that I have always loved being around children, I find their innocence and zest for the simple things in life to be very refreshing. Much different from the demands and stresses of everyday life. As a pediatric occupational therapy assistant I work with children for several hours each and everyday. Often times the kids I work with come from lower economic families. I see a lot of broken homes, kids with multiple siblings and parents that don't really take an interest in their children. This has been very motivating to me to be a positive, adult influence for these kids, as well as my own children in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
