You can learn to live in the moment -- but first be prepared to spend 7 minutes eating a raisin

By Shelley Levitt - womenshealthmag.com

I've been perched atop a stool in a Beverly Hills beauty salon for more than 3 hours — my punishment for using the cheap drugstore stuff to touch up my roots. The result is an inky 2-inch band across my hairline, a sulky I-told-you-so colorist, and this seemingly endless $275 rescue treatment. Bored beyond tears, I'm completely unable to focus on the book that's in my lap. Instead I'm wondering, Is there time to defrost the mahimahi for dinner tonight? Should I splurge on that Marc Jacobs hobo or search for a knockoff on eBags? When the assistant finally summons me to the shampoo station, I mutter, "Huh?" — I've been daydreaming about a vacation in Belize — and, forgetting that my legs are wrapped around the stool's upper rung, I hit the faux cement floor with my shins, then knees, then elbows, the stool clattering to join me among the soggy clumps of shorn hair.

I wish I could say this sort of thing rarely happens to me, but the reality is that I'm the type who often finds herself standing in front of the microwave, holding the soy milk that is clearly meant for the fridge. I search frantically for the car keys that I just tucked into my back pocket 2 minutes before. More troubling are the stretches of hours — sometimes days — when I'm on autopilot, going from work to workout to dinner with friends, not quite tuning into conversations, looking at my watch a dozen times during a single Pilates class. My body is present and accounted for, but the feeling, thinking, observing parts of myself are vaguely…someplace else.

Because of births, deaths, good news, bad news, good movies, bad movies...Here's the scoop on what gets our tears flowing

By Sandy Hingston - womenshealthmag.com

The editor who asked me to write this story did so because he knows I'm a crier. He's seen me cry at appropriate times (on 9/11), at inappropriate times (in editorial meetings), and at just plain weird times (when my pen runs out of ink). Like most men, he's scared when I cry. I can see it in his eyes as he edges back from my desk: What's the matter with her? Is she coming unhinged? How can she get so upset over a lousy pen?

Tom, you moron, it's got nothing to do with the pen. Any woman could tell you that.

But what it does have to do with is something I never really gave any thought to. I cry becausewell, because. Because I feel bad. Because it feels good. Because I have unresolved attachment issues and am regressing to a preverbal state to reforge a symbolic internal connection to my mother.

Or maybe it's because I'm getting my freaking period, okay?

Cry, Baby
I first cried on the day I was born. Like most babies, I cried at a pitch between C and C-sharp. Yet my mom could pick me out by the sound. I cried because it was all I could do, the only tool I had to summon food and comfort. I cried more and more for the first 6 weeks of my life, then at a steady rate — mostly in the evening — until I was 12 weeks old, when I began to cry less. That was also when I started to cry tears you could see.

 

Too busy to stick to your 3-day-a-week routine? No sweat. When it comes to staying fit, doing a little can mean a whole lot.

By Selene Yeager

When your schedule is overloaded like a sherpa on Everest, there are days, weeks, even months when you make it to the gym as often as the paparazzi spot TomKat's offspring. But luckily, that doesn't mean you're destined to morph into Kirstie Alley before she met Jenny Craig. In fact, U.S. military studies show you can stop the skid toward mush by doing just one- to two-thirds the exercise you usually do. "Women make the mistake of thinking, 'If I can't do my full routine, why bother?'" says Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., fitness research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts. "But just one workout a week will maintain your strength. And if you exercise at the same or greater intensity, you can keep your fitness while doing much less than usual." Just how long will this kind of bare-minimum workout keep you in decent shape? If you can devote about 20 minutes to exercise once a week, you can preserve fitness for up to 2 months — plenty of time, we hope, for whatever's clogging your schedule to ease up. Until then, here's precisely the least you need to do to keep your endurance, strength, and flexibility intact.



Endurance
Expert Rec
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) prescribes 20 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity (brisk walking, running, or a cardio-intensive class) on most days of the week to keep your heart and lungs pumping like champs. To keep your pounds in check, the USDA recommends 60 to 90 minutes.

 

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We've got the surprising new facts on the device that could change how women handle contraception in the next decade

By Cara Birnbaum

If you're like most of us, when you hear the letters "IUD" you think of either (1) something Saddam has been hiding; or (2) a birth control device that's equally scary. Well, it's time you rethought both of those. The IUD, short for intrauterine device, is a small, T-shaped piece of soft, flexible plastic that a doctor places in the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy. Maybe the most useful fact worth learning about the IUD is that 18 percent of female gynecologists of childbearing age use it, whereas only 2 percent of American women do. Which made us wonder: What do they know that we don't?

First of all, you can blame the IUD's sketchy reputation on an old version called the Dalkon Shield. It caused major health problems about 30 years ago, when 2.2 million American women were already using it. A.H. Robins Company, the Shield's maker, pulled it from the market in 1974 because it played a role in thousands of infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and sepsis. The conditions caused infertility for some women and have been linked to at least 17 deaths. Yeah, it's enough to scare Paris Hilton celibate. But in 1974, the pocket calculator was considered high-tech — so comparing the old IUD with today's versions is like pitting Pong against Halo.

"Those of us who are familiar with the newer IUDs realize this is a safe and effective form of contraception," says Susan Loeb-Zeitlin, M.D., assistant attending obstetrician-gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She believes the IUD's recent surge in popularity came about because younger doctors, who didn't deal with the Dalkon debacle, are more willing to give the new models a chance.

Visit our Birth Control Forum

 

Appeared in the October 2006 issue of Women's Health

So you went out for dinner with friends and ended up polishing off a fried appetizer, a mammoth entree, and a vat of tiramisu (along with a couple of cocktails). Don't panic. "Feeling guilty has never burned a single calorie, but learning from your error can save you thousands," Dr. Gullo says. Everybody slips — the key to success is to take it in stride.

To bounce back after a binge, the most important thing to remember is that all the effort you put into eating right before your little lapse was not in vain. "No one ever got heavy from one slipup. It's when you let it become a chain that you get in trouble," Dr. Gullo says. So instead of declaring that you blew your diet and cramming your face full of every high-calorie treat you see until nightfall (since you'll just wait and start fresh tomorrow), begin eating healthfully again with your very next meal — or snack.

And no matter what, don't step on the scale at the end of the day. "Weighing yourself after overindulging isn't healthy or helpful," Dr. Kearney-Cooke says. Depending on your salt intake or where you are in your menstrual cycle, your weight can fluctuate several pounds. Instead of trying to assess the damage every time a stray cookie slips between your lips, pick one day each week for your weigh-ins and stick to it.

To battle the bulge, get your brain on your side.

By Megan McNamara

womenshealthmag.com

You already know the secret *to weight loss: Eat fewer calories than you burn and you'll be zipping up those size 4 jeans in no time. So why aren't we all as svelte as Heidi Klum? Because lasting weight loss has little to do with crunching numbers. "In focusing on calories in and calories out, the field of nutrition has ignored the most critical variable: behavioral and cognitive changes," says Stephen Gullo, Ph.D., a weight-loss expert in New York City.

In other words, if you don't want to fall headfirst off the diet wagon the next time Mom rips into your new haircut, you have to retrain your brain. "To deal with unhealthy eating behaviors, we must challenge the thoughts, feelings, and cues that have been built up over a lifetime," says Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D., the Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Not to get too Freudian, but many doctors and weight-loss experts say that permanently altering your waistline means permanently altering your relationship with food.

From the very beginning of your pregnancy journey, your breasts are at work. They are evolving and preparing for the arrival of your baby.

What changes can I expect?
Your breasts go through a number of changes during pregnancy. These changes include:

• Growth and enlargement
• Tender and hypersensitivity
• Darkening of nipples and areolas (the skin around your nipples), due to hormones that affect pigmentation of the skin
• Darkened veins along your breasts (due to increased blood supply to your breasts)
• Your breasts may start leaking a yellowish, thick substance known as colostrum
• Nipples stick out more; the areolas and nipples will grow larger
• Small glands on the surface of the areolas called Montgomery's tubercles become raised bumps.
• Your hormones are the cause of these changes and you may experience some effects more than others.

How can I handle some of the changes?
Here are some helpful suggestions you can do to make some of these changes more comfortable and easier to manage.

Growth and enlargement: For some women this is something to look forward to, finally you will have some curves!. For women with large breasts there may be less enthusiasm. Buying a good supportive bra can help. If your breasts size increases greatly, you may want to sleep in a cotton supportive sports bra at night.

What to look for in a bra

• Good support
• Deep band beneath the cups
• Wide shoulder straps
• Adjustable closure (back-fastening bras give you more flexibility to adjust than front-fastening bras)
• Avoid under wire bras

Sensitive and tender breasts: Hormones in your body are preparing your breasts for lactation. The milk ducts are growing and being stretched as they fill with milk early in pregnancy. All this causes your breasts to be more sensitive, particularly your nipples. This can be a bonus for your sex life or can cause you discomfort.

Colostrum: This is known as pre-milk, which is a sweet and watery fluid that is easy to digest. During your second trimester your breasts will begin to produce colostrum. Colostrum appears thick and yellow at first and as birth draws near it becomes pale and almost colorless. Colostrum will provide your baby with his first few meals before your milk comes in. Discharge may occur at any time, when your breasts are massaged, or when sexually stimulated. There is no need to be alarmed when this happens and there is no need to worry if it does not happen. Women who do not experience discharge in pregnancy still produce and provide milk for their baby.

What about breast cancer?
Continuing with self-breast exams during pregnancy is important. Unfortunately during pregnancy it is more difficult to accomplish because of all the changes your breasts are going through. Your breasts are growing in size, are tender, and sometimes may even be lumpy due to all the preparations for your baby. It is still important for you to exam your breasts during pregnancy every 4-5 weeks.

Very common lumps found among women during pregnancy are clogged milk ducts. These are red, tender-to-the-touch, hard lumps in your breasts. Warm compresses (running warm water over your breasts in the shower or applying a warm wash cloth) and massage, will probably clear the duct up in a few days. If you are unsure of any new lump, tell your doctor on your next visit. Keep in mind breast cancer is rare among women younger than 35.

If you are planning on having a baby and are over the age of 35, you may want to consider asking your doctor about a mammogram before you get pregnant.

Permission to republish granted to Julie Snyder. All rights reserved and protected under all International Treaties and Agreements such as the Berne Convention.

Listen up, your libido is calling

 

Women may be ignoring their own wolf calls, say researchers who found a way to quantify sex drive — the first test of its kind. Thirty men and women filled out a survey after seeing clips of sexual images as their brain activity was monitored. Arousal was the same, but only the men admitted to it, says study author Yoram Vardi, M.D., of Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel. Why? Women fear letting go and being in their body, says Aline Zoldbrod, Ph.D., author of Sexsmart. Here are three ways to get control of your on/off switch.

Lotion Motion
The best place to discover yourself is in the bath, right? Wrong. Sexologist Blaise Parker, Ph.D., says the fun begins after you're dry. Parker suggests applying lotion afterward, paying close attention to how it feels being touched and how it feels to do the touching. For an added lift: Chew on some Good & Plenty licorice while you apply cucumber lotion, like Bath & Body Works' Cucumber Melon (Bath and Bodyworks). The combo increases blood flow to the vagina, according to the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation.

Hot Little Pill
In a study published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, women taking the supplement ArginMax reported a boost in sex drive. The secret? L-arginine, one of the pill's main ingredients, may help blood flow to the right spot. "L-arginine enhances the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and could improve desire," says Cynthia Finley, a nutritionist at Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center.
 

September 05, 2006

TUESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of developing autism is significantly higher among children born to men who are 40 and older than it is among children with fathers under 30, researchers report.

The reason appears to be genetic, researchers suggest.

Autism is a growing problem, affecting 50 children in every 10,000, compared with just five in 10,000 only 20 years ago. This increase appears to be partially due to more awareness of the condition and changes in the definition of classic autism to include autism spectrum disorders. However, it could also be that there is an increase in the incidence of autism, experts say.

The condition is marked by social and language problems and repetitive patterns of behavior. Autism spectrum disorder includes pervasive developmental disorder; Rett's syndrome, Asperger syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder.

Choosing and Using a Babysitter

Planning time away from your new baby means that you will need to find a trusted babysitter to care for your baby like you would. That may seem impossible, but knowing what qualities you need in a babysitter will help you to find the best person to take care of your child. The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) recommends taking the following steps to familiarize a new babysitter with you, your baby, and your home. Also, we have provided a Babysitter Checklist to remind you of the information the babysitter will need while caring for your child, such as numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.

Tips for Familiarizing a New Babysitter with Child Safety and Your Home

Safety/First Aid:

• Ask if the babysitter knows infant/child CPR and Rescue Breathing.
• Remind the babysitter that infants should not be placed on an adult bed of any kind.
• Remind the babysitter to place the baby on her/his back to sleep.
• Be sure that the babysitter knows the signs of illness in an infant including: changes in skin color, sweating, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Show the babysitter where the fire extinguishers are kept, and explain how they are used.
• Be sure to show the babysitter where the first aid supplies are kept.
• Remind the babysitter to keep all balloons or plastic items away from the baby.
• Instruct the babysitter that children should never be unsupervised in the bathtub. He/she should take them with him/her if they must answer the telephone or the door bell.
• Remind the babysitter to keep the bathroom door closed, and the toilet seat and lid down when not in use.

Familiarity with your House:

• Before leaving, be sure to give the babysitter a tour of the house.
• Ensure that all windows have been closed, and that the babysitter knows to keep them closed.
• Show the babysitter how to operate your child safety gates, and indicate where they need to be kept.
• Also show the babysitter where the flashlights are located.
• Make sure that you have put away all sharp items including scissors, knives, and any other objects that can cause injury.

The following Web Sites have more information on first aid for babysitters: