4 Ways to Celebrate Women’s Health Month
Happy May, ladies – one of the best months of the year where you get to celebrate yourself and the other women in your lives. While we want and hope all the mamas out there are celebrated this weekend for Mother’s Day, we also hope that all women are celebrated this month, because May is Women’s Health Month!
So, how can you celebrate yourself and the ladies in your life? Don’t forget to empower the women in your life [and yourself] to get and stay healthy! That may look like encouraging healthy eating or exercise habits, going to therapy to get your mind right, or scheduling those yearly appointments that you always dread. We want to make sure you and your community of women take this month to celebrate each other, so we put together tips on how you can do just that.
Tip #1: Routine screenings are a must
First things first, scheduling routine screenings are vital to being your healthiest and living a long, happy life. Not only does preventive care keep disease at bay, but it also allows the opportunity to detect problems early on so that we can provide effective treatment before things progress. Nothing is more important than taking care of yourself, which is why we personalize each exam for you. So, make your health a priority and schedule an appointment today!
The following services are essential for preventive care:
- Well Woman’s exam and pap smear
- Annual mammogram
- DEXA Bone Density scan
Tip #2: Take care of your body, inside and out
We’ve heard it all before, diet and exercise are key to staying healthy. Moving your body regularly lowers your risk for many health conditions, like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Just 30 minutes a day will put you in a good place to take back your health! Start with a goal of 90 minutes a week until you can work up to 150 minutes a week.
The 80/20 Rule for Nutrition
Have you heard about the 80/20 rule? 80 percent of getting healthy should be spent in the kitchen (AKA diet) and 20% should be spent exercising. Because you can work out all you want, but if you’re not eating right and fueling your body with good nutrients, your body can’t function the way it was built to. Nutrition is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and believe it or not, there are healthy eating habits you can create so can have a well-balanced diet.
Just remember to add a colorful variety of foods at every meal, including:
- Whole grains
- Fat-free and low-fat dairy products
- Lean meats
Tip #3: Address the mom guilt
When it comes to raising your kiddos, do you ever feel like you aren’t doing a good job? Welcome to mom guilt – the feeling of inadequacy or worrying that you should be doing more than you are, in order to be a good enough mother. Whether it’s through comparison, self-doubt, choosing between having a professional career, staying at home — or both, mom guilt is a real thing.
A moment of guilt now and then is entirely normal, but it needs to be managed so the guilt doesn’t take over and so your mental health stays, well…healthy. Being a mom is one of the most rewarding and hardest jobs in the world, so give yourself a break, and some credit, because you are superwomen and you are MORE than enough for your family!