Moderate exercise can be very beneficial to women, even nursing mothers. Once your doctor has given you the go ahead, begin exercising on a regular basis. You may need to start up gradually, depending on your level of fitness before your pregnancy. Depending on the healing process following the delivery of your baby, you should be able to resume exercising four to six weeks after the birth of your baby.

If you have some pregnancy weight to lose, you might be surprised to find that breastfeeding mothers lose weight much more rapidly than non-nursing mothers, even while consuming more calories.

• Plan your exercise routine after nursing so your breasts won’t be full and uncomfortable. Wear a supportive sports bra.
• Stay hydrated. Drink a glass of water before and immediately after exercising.
• During hot weather, drink more.
• If you regularly lift weights or do other exercises involving repetitive arm movement, start slowly.
• Don’t over do when it comes to exercising while nursing. If you tire easily or the baby needs you, don’t despair, you can exercise again tomorrow. It’s best to take each day at a time.
• Take walks with your baby. If you carry him in a backpack, his extra weight will use up even more calories.
• Weather permitting, go for lots of walks – this counts as exercise and gets you out of the house as well.
• With a mat and a towel, there’s no need to leave baby to get your exercise for the day. Just place baby nearby in a safe carrier or swing and put on some fun music
• It the weather keeps you inside, try carrying your little one in a sling while you do housework – and try dancing with him. You may feel silly, but he’ll love it and so will you. Nobody will see you, and postpartum mothers are supposed to act a little bit goofy – the technical term is “baby brain”.

Moderate exercise is good for both you and your baby. Try to make it fun so that you’ll stick with your exercise program. Eat anything you want to in moderation, and remember that many mothers lose weight while lactating even without modifying their diet or exercise regimen. You will usually keep about three pounds of extra tissue in your breasts as long as you are nursing, so factor that into your weight loss goals. Enjoy nursing your baby, eat a healthy diet, and you most likely will lose weight while eating more food than you were used to eating before your little one arrived.

Enjoy breastfeeding your baby and take time to get to know your little one. Make exercise a regular part of your life and continue to stay active as your child grows. Not only will you lose weight quickly, you’ll create a healthy happy lifestyle for your family.

Candidiasis, commonly known as yeast infection is caused by a group of microscopic fungi or yeast. Present on all surfaces of the body, the problem with candida occurs when they multiply in numbers and cause an infection. This is particularly problematic in warm, moist areas such as the vagina, mouth, underarms, and nail bed and in small children, the diaper area.

Yeast infections can and regularly do occur after taking an antibiotic. In women, vaginal yeast infections result in burning, itching, and heavy discharge. Yeasts are commonly found in women’s vaginas and it is only after the overgrowth of the yeasts that the problem occurs. Along with antibiotics, steroids are a main cause of the overgrowth of yeasts in the vagina.

When candida causes problems under breasts or other areas where skin folds create a warm moist environment for yeast to grow, the area can be treated with a topical cream and usually clear up in a short time.

In rare cases, the yeast infection may spread throughout the body. Even common mouth and vaginal yeast infections can cause critical illnesses in people with weakened immune systems. Always consult a physician regarding yeast infections that don’t respond to treatment.

Nearly every time my friend takes an antibiotic, she ends up with a yeast infection. But that’s no surprise since that is one of the leading causes of vaginal yeast infections. That is because while antibiotics are taken to kill bad bacteria that are making us ill, it also kills good bacteria that help to keep yeast infections at bay. The warm, moist cocoon known as the vagina is the ideal host for candida to grow and with a reduction in bacteria to fight it off, it wreaks havoc until treatment is rendered.

Devices such as catheters also open the body to yeast infections. People with weakened immune systems, those undergoing cancer treatments or surgery patients are susceptible to yeast infections.

Eating foods that contain probiotics can help to slow the growth of yeast and promote good bacteria in the digestive track. Plain yogurt with probiotics is an excellent choice and will help to balance your system.

If you have a weakened immune system, contact your doctor at the first sign of yeast infection. Don’t try to treat it with over the counter medicines if the yeast infection is oral or vaginal. Other places such as under arms or breasts or stomach can be treated with anti fungal cream. If you find that the infection is not responding to the treatment, contact your doctor.

If vaginal discharge lasts for more than a week and has a foul odor that continues, seek medical care. There are other medical conditions that could be causing the discharge and any infection lasting more than a week needs to be evaluated by a physician.

Maintain a healthy diet at all times and exercise regularly to keep your body at its healthiest and your immune system working at peak condition. My Fitness4Her Diet and 30 Minutes To A New You Exercise Program were developed specifically for women’s fitness. While yeast infections can occur easily under certain circumstances, keeping the body healthy will help to protect you against problems should a yeast infection strike.

Do you dread mealtime because of that overly full feeling you have every time you eat? It sounds like you suffer from bloating. You know that gassy feeling in your gut that makes you feel like you are going to explode. It’s terribly uncomfortable and relief from it can be embarrassing to say the least. The good news is there are ways that you can prevent bloating from occurring in the first place.

• Don’t gulp your food. Gulping your food or drink when eating allows air to enter your stomach. This excess air has to come out either by belching, by passing gas or back into the stomach where it begins to make you feel bloated.

• Don’t overeat. Eating past the point of satiety will make you feel bloated and swollen. Overeating on a regular basis will result in weight gain and stress on your digestive track. One remedy for this is to eat 5 small meals rather than 3 large meals each day. When you eat more often you eat less food and never feel hungry. You are less likely to overeat since your next meal is only a couple of hours away.

• Eliminate soda. Not only will the carbonation make you feel gassy, the sugar in these drinks can be a major cause of gas especially in people who are fructose sensitive.

• Exercise regularly. When participate in a regular exercise program like my 30 Minutes To A New You Exercise Program, you allow your body to absorb the gas in your colon. 30 minutes of an aerobic exercise helps to prevent constipation and allows gas to move naturally out of your body.

• Avoid gassy foods. Beans, collards, broccoli, cabbage and other green leafy vegetables, although good for you, can cause bloating and gas. Fatty, greasy foods can also make you feel gassy. Beware of which foods disagree with you and limit or completely avoid them altogether.

• Follow directions for medications and let your doctor know if any of them make you feel bloated or constipated. Some medicines have unpleasant side effects on our digestive systems. Check the common ones for your particular drug and find out if you should start taking with food or on an empty stomach.

• Quit smoking. Many people who smoke claim that smoking after eating helps their food to digest. Apparently this sentiment is held by many of them, judging by the number of smokers that head outside after a big meal. However, smoking is one of the main causes of gas and bloating to begin with. Each time you inhale, you draw air into your body, which can result in excess air in the stomach. Smoking weakens the esophagus too.

If you suffer daily from bloating and gas, begin cutting back the amount of food that you eat. Try to choose healthy foods that are easily digestible and drink plenty of water, every day. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and try to take a short walk after each meal. This little stroll will move the gas out of your stomach, reduce stress and lift your spirit. Make it a habit and you’ll probably forget all about this gassy affair.

Mental health as well as physical health is important to a long and happy life. But while there is usually visual evidence of physical ailments, mental illness is not as obvious to the casual observer and oftentimes masks itself even to those closest to the individual who harbors the condition.

Depression is a common ailment of mental health. While there are levels of depression from mild to severe, any type of depression can have an effect on your physical health as well. That’s why it’s important to recognize depression and take precautions to guard against its negative effects.

Women and Depression Fast Facts

• One in four women will experience severe depression at some point in life.
• Depression affects twice as many women as men, regardless of racial and ethnic background or income.
• Depression is the number one cause of disability in women.
• In general, married women experience more depression than single women do, and depression is common among young mothers who stay at home full-time with small children.
• Women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse are at much greater risk for depression.
• At least 90 percent of all cases of eating disorders occur in women, and there is a strong relationship between eating disorders and depression.
• Depression can put women at risk for suicide. While more men than women die from suicide, women attempt suicide about twice as often as men do.
• Only about one-fifth of all women who suffer from depression seek treatment.

• Depression can – and should – be treated.

If you suffer from depression, please talk to your physician. If it is a mild case, your doctor may prescribe a medication for you. He or she may refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist for further evaluation by a trained specialist. Don’t be afraid to talk with a professional, they may be able to help you help yourself. Be sure to follow your doctor’s advice and do ask inquire about participating in a regular exercise program.

Exercise releases endorphins, those feel good hormones that make your body feel wonderful after working out. A regular dose of these is good for fighting depression. Also, it has been proven that self-esteem and confidence levels rise after a strenuous workout and usually fights off any depression lingering about.

I find a power walk to be a great way to let my troubles melt away. Sometimes I listen to the sounds of nature and other times I rock to my portable music in my iPod. By the time I return home, my body is tired but my mind is refreshed.

Exercise helps to maintain hormonal balance, especially in women. Your diet, too, has a lot to do with how you feel both physically and mentally. Reducing sugar, caffeine, saturated fat and sodium can help to reduce irritability, frustration, and feelings of sadness and despair, especially for those whose systems are sensitive to certain stimulants and enzymes.

It is very important that you speak to your doctor about your depression, whether mild or severe, there may be help for you through medication or therapy. In addition, a healthy sensible diet that is nutritionally dense and a regular exercise program can improve your overall outlook on life and help to restore your vitality and enthusiasm for life.

Most of us, at one time or another, have had a headache. An ache or pain, which might be sharp or dull, concentrated in the forehead and occasionally the back of the head. But a migraine headache is much more severe. Described as a severe throbbing, usually located on one side of the head. Any light or sound makes it worse, and the terrible aching may be accompanied by nausea. The excruciating pain is almost unbearable and the slightest movement only intensifies the pain. Some people even have visual symptoms such as flashing lights or an aura, as well. If you suffer from migraine headaches, you are not alone. Twenty-eight million Americans suffer from the debilitating pain of these headaches. Unfortunately, there is no cure for migraines.

However, there is hope for effective relief, as medications are being developed to ease the pain and discomfort. The first step is getting a correct diagnosis. If you think you suffer from migraines, talk to your physician and inquire about the latest in migraine medications. Unfortunately, only about half of migraine sufferers are diagnosed, and even less receives proper treatment, according to the American Migraine Study II.

Although young boys experience more migraines than girls prior to puberty, past the age of 11 girls begin to have the majority of migraine headaches. This increase in the incidence of migraines in girls over boys continues to escalate until adulthood when women suffer migraine headaches 3 to 1 over men.

There is significant evidence that there may be a connection between migraines and fluctuations in estrogen levels in women. The problem appears to be the response of the central nervous system to normal hormonal fluctuations. While these hormonal fluctuations are normal, it is the central nervous system’s response that is faulty.

During our teen years, changes in hormones, especially the onset of menstruation, might signal the first sign of a migraine headache. The highest incidence of migraine occurs in women around the age of 40 prior to menopause. Fortunately, for most women, aging and menopause often reduces the frequency of migraines.

Although, headaches are common at the time of menstruation, not all of these headaches can be classified as migraine. Menstrual migraines occur, usually without aura, and are headaches that occur only during the period of 2 days before and 2 days after the onset of menstruation. They occur most frequently on the first day of your period, while premenstrual syndrome (PMS) related headaches usually end with the onset of menstruation.

Women who use oral contraceptives may be surprised to learn that these may actually be a trigger for a migraine. Some women find their migraines are alleviated after starting oral contraceptives, while others claim their migraine attacks have gotten worse and are associated with premenstrual syndrome.

Talk with a doctor and ask about medications and nutrition. What you eat and drink can also trigger a migraine and your physician may be able to give you a list of foods to put on your watch list. Although not everyone is sensitive to the same foods, those that have a reputation of causing migraines should be eaten with caution.

To help with your migraines, maintain an exercise program, designed for women, that includes strength training and aerobics. Remember, it takes as little as 30 minutes a day to keep your body fit and healthy. Please be sure to inquire with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.