Life Skills
Perks of Pre-Pregnancy Workouts
Thinking of motherhood? You should hit the gym first.
So you think you want to settle down, eh? Time to have a family? Then you better be in good shape right now. Because while you know well the benefits of exercising during pregnancy, you may not be aware of the powerful perks of pre-pregnancy workouts.
When you think you’re about ready to become a mother, remember to get fit first for these three reasons.
Easier Transition into Pregnancy Workouts
You know that exercising during pregnancy is great for you and the baby. But getting started in an exercise routine when you’re pregnancy is no easy feat. To make it a little easier, you should go ahead and get in the habit of exercising right now, when you’re not pregnant. That way, your body already craves exercise, and you become accustomed to going to the gym every day.
When baby begins to develop inside of you, your pre-pregnancy regimen will have already developed good habits in you. Now all you have to do is keep them up.
Easier Pregnancy
No, pregnancy is not an easy task by any means. It can be full of morning sickness, sleepless nights, and aches and pains. However, exercise can make pregnancy a little bit more tolerable. Thanks to your dedication to working out before getting pregnant, working out during your pregnancy is made a bit easier.
Not only does regular exercise help you sleep better, but it also improves your moods and helps you block out minor aches and pains that you may be dealing with on a daily basis. On top of that, exercising while pregnant helps your baby be as healthy as possible. But your willingness and desire to exercise throughout pregnancy is increased dramatically if you begin your workouts well before taking the pregnancy plunge.
Easier Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss
After baby has arrived, the purpose of your exercise shifts immediately. You’re on a mission to regain your pre-pregnancy shape, no matter what it takes. Fortunately, your pre-pregnancy exercise routine makes it a little easier to return to your former glory. Because not only did you work out before your pregnancy, but your dedication pushed you to exercise throughout your pregnancy. And now that same determination will have you back in the gym after having your child, as you work to shed those pregnancy pounds.
Is it possible to never step foot in a gym and begin exercising after you’ve given birth? Of course it is. That doesn’t mean you should. With pre-pregnancy workouts, you can prepare yourself for the rigors of staying fit during and after pregnancy, while helping keep your skin nice and tight, whether you’re about to be pregnant, are in the middle of your pregnancy, or gave birth last week.
Making Baby Adjustments
When you begin pre-pregnancy workouts, you should push yourself to your limits. As you learn your body’s ability, you can go a little longer with a little more intensity. But when you become pregnant, you’ll have to re-evaluate your limits to avoid overdoing it.
Once you begin to develop a little bit of a pooch, you may not be able to go as long or as hard as you once could. You may also find it more difficult to maintain your balance the further along you get in your pregnancy. Instead of trying to force your body to submit to your demands, back off a bit to ensure the health and safety of both you and your baby.
If you’ve not exercise prior to getting pregnant, start as soon as possible. Just be careful when you enter your exercise routine that you take it slow and with great caution to avoid falling down or pushing your body too hard. The last thing you want is to be stuck on bed rest as you overcome an exercise-related injury. So exercise while you’re pregnant, but be smart about it.
The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide Nutrition Checklist
Use the following nutrition checklist to stay on track during the holidays.
For each of the 10 NUTRITION standards you meet in the outlined checklist below, you earn ONE point.
If your goal is to maintain your weight during the holidays, then you MUST achieve at least 5 total points each week.
If your goal is to reduce your weight and lose body fat during the holidays, then you MUST achieve at least 8 total points each week.
___ Did you say NO at least 90% of the time when the candy dish or plate of cookies was passed around the office or your workplace?
___ Instead of bringing a dessert or candy to work for everyone to enjoy , did you bring something more healthy like a veggie or fruit platter with a healthy dip? Make sure it’s festive – Use those green, red, orange and white veggies and fruits!
___ Did you skip the bread and breaded appetizers at holiday dinners and parties? Remember, bread and flour products are useless carbohydrates devoid of good nutrition.
___ Have you told yourself that sugar and sweet treats will kill you? Avoid eating sweet treats by eating protein.
___ Did you eat healthy, balanced meals containing protein, whole carbohydrates and fats the day of a holiday party instead of starving yourself and “saving” your calories?
___ Did you stay away from alcohol at 90% of your holiday events? Remember: alcohol causes your body to store fat and not be able to burn fat, and when you add sugar to it, it makes it even more detrimental.
___ Did you stick to mostly protein and veggies at holiday dinners and parties?
___ If you have to bake holiday treats over the next two months, did you bake something low in sugar and high in fiber, protein and healthy fat? Remember that artificial sweetened foods are not any better. Stick with less real sugar or use Stevia and you’re body will look better.
___ If you can’t exercise due to holiday commitments, did you keep your carbohydrate intake lower and focus mostly on proteins, vegetables and some fruits?
___ If you know you’re going to eat more carbs than your body needs at a holiday event, did you plan this into a carb cycling routine? The day prior, eat a lower carb diet, and then the day following, eat a no carb diet – Give yourself an extra point if you also did a damage control workout.
URGENT! Free Child Safety Classes In Killeen!
Attention all parents and clients!
Does Your Child Know What To Do Now?
In light of the recent child abductions and several attempts in the area, the gym will be hosting a FREE 2 part child safety clinic next week. As you know, the gym isn’t that big so I am asking for you to RSVP you and your child(ren).
We will host a expert in child safety as well as local authorities. More information to follow.
- Part One will be conducted Wednesday, November 3rd at 5:30PM.
- Part Two will be conducted Saturday, November 6th at 10:00AM.
Please don’t miss out on this opportunity to arm your family with prevention. Feel free to invite other family members, just include them in your RSVP.
Thank you so much for helping us protect our children.
How Much Should I Drink?
A few answers to this seemingly evasive question.
No, Lori... This is water, not vodka.
Like most things in medicine, the amount of liquid you should drink seems to be constantly changing. So just how much do you need to drink on a daily basis for optimal health? You’re about to find out what the scientific world has determined about your drinking needs. So turn on the tap and get ready to find out how full you should fill your glass.
The Old Answer
Only a few years ago, the medical community had a nice, one-size-fits-all answer to the liquid question. According to the experts, adults needed about eight glasses of water each day. This equaled out to approximately 64 ounces of water. While this acted as a good goal for most adults, it was a goal that was rarely met due to people simply being too busy to remember to down their daily regimen of water.
Today, the old answer is no longer the only answer. Granted, it is still an accepted answer that helps many people remember to keep their lips to a glass of water, but researchers spent plenty of time studying just how much water a person needs and realized there may be other ways to go about liquid intake.
I never drink water. I’m afraid it will become habit-forming – W.C. Fields
The New Answer
Many folks have given up on drinking eight glasses a day. Instead, they’ve decided to go with another popular method for determining fluid intake: replacing the fluids lost during the course of a day.
How much liquid to you shed on a daily basis? Between bathroom breaks, sweating, and sweating, you lose about 10 cups of water a day. Sweat more than the average person or been suffering with a bout of diarrhea? Then you’ll need to add some cups to the total.
To make sure your body has enough liquid, the replacement method requires you to drink the amount that you lose minus the 20 percent of your needed fluids you get through the foods you eat. And while water is typically the preferred liquid, you’ll want to count tea, sodas, and juice, which all contain water.
The Adjusted Answer
While science has deemed that you should drink a certain amount of water based on the amount of water that leaves your body on a daily basis, this equation may not provide a final answer to how much water you should drink. Because while this is a great way for otherwise health individuals to tally up their water needs, people with pre-existing conditions may have different liquid needs.
If you have diabetes, kidney diseases, or any other chronic condition that you must deal with on a daily basis, your water requirement may be more or less than you think. To find out exactly how much water you should sip on each day, you’ll have to head to your doctor.
A DIY Test
Want to figure out if you’re drinking enough water each day? Here are a few questions that will help you determine if you need to up your liquid intake or if you’re drinking just enough.
- Are you thirsty often?
- Is your urine usually dark yellow?
- Do you experience dry mouth often?
- Are you prone to headaches for no known cause?
- Do you feel lightheaded occasionally?
- Do you rarely urinate?
- Are you frequently constipated?
Kid’s Jiu-Jitsu Class Visited By Killeen Daily Herald!
Check out the great article! Thank you Colleen!
12 Tips for a Safe and Scary Halloween
If your little ghost, goblin, witch, or fairy is getting ready to head out for a trick-or-treat adventure this season, be sure he or she knows that safety always come first – no matter how cool your son or daughter’s costume may be. Here are a few hip tips to instill in your trick-or-treaters this Halloween.
Halloween should be a fun time for your children, but it’s up to you to keep it that way. Fortunately, all it takes is a little common sense to keep your trick-or-treaters healthy and safe for years to come. Encourage your children to have a spookily safe Halloween with these tips.
• Look for a costume that doesn’t drag on the ground. This way, your child won’t trip and fall when wearing his or her new identity. Also, ask your child to wear his or her own shoes, since another person’s shoes (especially if they’re too big) can create a tripping hazard.
• Remind your children that cars always have the right-of-way on the street. Therefore, trick-or-treaters always need to look both ways before crossing the street. As it only takes a second for a car to come around a corner, spending an extra moment to ensure cars aren’t coming may make the difference between safety and grave danger.
• Only cross the street at the corner.
• Never hide or try to cross the road between parked cars.
• Wear light-colored clothing or attach reflective strips so your child is more visible in the dark. Also, be sure to make costume accents like bikes, skateboards, or brooms visible with reflective tape, too.
• Make sure that all scarves or hats are tied and fit appropriately so they do not slip down over your child’s eyes.
• All swords, knives, or similar costume accessories should be flexible.
• If your children go trick-or-treating with friends, be sure they plan a route and tell you where they are going and when they plan to be back. Also, take advantage of technology by asking your kids to carry a cell phone if possible. Make sure your child knows how to call 911 and what situations may require that call to be made.
• Encourage your child to carry a flashlight.
• Look for costumes that are marked as flame retardant. However, remind your child that costumes can be flammable and they should avoid getting too close to fires or candles.
• Only visit homes with porch lights on. Do not go up to houses alone.
• Accept treats at the door but never go into a stranger’s house.
• Opt for face paint rather than masks that can cover your child’s eyes and make it hard for him or her to see. If a mask is a must with your child’s costume, make sure the eye holes are big enough to see out of adequately.
• Always use caution around animals and strangers you don’t know. Do not give anyone you do not know any personal information about you.
• Encourage your children to wait until getting home to eat any of the candy collected. That way you can go over it together and pick out anything that has a broken seal or looks like it has been tampered with in any way. Most communities also offer free candy screenings at fire and police departments.
2009′s Coolest Costumes
Here are 2009′s top 10 costumes, according to a CNBC poll.
10. Athlete
9. Disney princess
8. Batman
7. Pumpkin
6. Star Wars
5. Pirate
4. Spiderman
3. Hannah Montana
2. Witch
1. Princess
Adults can get in on the fun, too. Here are the top 10 costumes for grown-ups.
10. Angel
9. Ghost
8. Political character
7. Batman
6. Nurse
5. Fairy
4. Cat
3. Vampire
2. Pirate
1. Witch
The Slow Food Movement
More than a movement, it’s becoming a way of life.
Yummo
Cook your own food using fresh ingredients. Know where the vegetables, meats, and fruits you eat come from. Meet your local farmers if you can. It sounds like some sort of Utopian view of eating, and maybe it is. Known as the Slow Food Movement, this new view of an old way of life is garnering lots of attention from food lovers across the globe.
But is there something you can learn from this slow-and-steady approach to mealtime?
Good Things Take Time
While the Slow Food Movement may have only recently become a household name, it’s been around for quite some time. In fact, according to the web site for Slow Food International (slowfood.com), it all started in 1989. Just remember this the next time you’re frustrated with the amount of time it takes to cook a meal the old-fashioned way. Or when you’re tied up in traffic, building a boat from scratch, or teaching your children good manners. Because while you can get a high-fat, unhealthy meal at the snap of a finger, good nutrition and life takes a bit longer.
Conformity Is Bad
Sit down for an hour or two of television and you’re guaranteed to see multiple commercials for fast food and other restaurants. You’re likely not going to see commercials espousing the benefits of purchasing your own food from local growers and spending time cooking it. If you do see commercials for making homemade meals, it’s probably a grocery store pushing their prepackaged “homemade” meals that only require a little time in the microwave.
You knew it in high school and it bears repeating – conformity is not always a good thing. Yes, conforming to traffic laws and accepted etiquette is a good idea. But conforming to what the media says you ought to eat will do nothing but beef up your waistline, leave you feeling sluggish, and put you at increased risk for all sorts of diseases.
Patience Is a Virtue
One of the most obvious differences between Slow Food and other means of eating is the amount of time it takes to plant, harvest, and prepare foods. Whereas you may be accustomed to sprinting through life without giving a second thought to any of your actions, the Slow Food Movement forces you to think twice.
Where did this piece of celery come from? What chemicals were used to force it to grow faster and with fewer bugs? Did the person who grew and cultivated the celery get paid fairly? In the Slow Food Movement, emphasis is placed on buying local, enabling you to better appreciate the process of growing food.
At the same time, cooking your own food helps you learn patience inside your home, as it is impossible to whip up dinner in the three minutes you allow the people behind the counter at a fast food restaurant. Who knows? The Slow Food Movement may even encourage you to spend more time with your family, which everyone desires.
Support Local
Wondering how you can get your hands on more locally grown and raised produce and meats? Here are a few tips.
- Find your local farmers market and shop there regularly. It’s wonderful to develop a relationship with the people who are responsible for growing your food.
- Contact your local chamber of commerce. Having a hard time finding out where the farmers market is? Head to the chamber of commerce and ask. Someone there will either know or know someone who does.
- Talk with local grocery stores. Individually owned and some chain grocery stores are often willing to stock local fruits, veggies, and meats. Tell a manager that you would like to buy locally as much as possible, and you may have a better local selection in the near future.
Do These 8 Underrated Exercises
They may not be fancy, but these exercises do the body good. So why are you ignoring them?
Eat Plank For Breakfast!
You go the gym, do the same routine day in and day out, and go home But is your routine pushing your body to be its best or are you sticking by a certain set of exercises just because you’re comfortable with them? Read on to find eight exercises that you – along with half the people in your gym – may be neglecting.
Bridges
They seem so basic, because they are. Resting on your forearms and toes, you hold your stomach tight in order to cause your body to levitate a few inches off the ground, keeping your back straight. Thanks to these stripped down, basic exercises, your body gets the basic results you want – a stronger, more supportive core.
Deadlifts
Though pictures of competitive body builders may leap in your head when thinking of deadlifts, you may be surprised that the average Joe or Jo should also be performing this underrated exercise. Why? Because you perform it one way or another almost every day. Whether picking up your child during playtime, grabbing a bag of 35-pound dog food from the bottom shelf, dead lifts are part of life. Getting better at them at the gym only makes sense.
Horizontal Pull-Ups
This one may be neglected because it’s not as available as others. Or at least it doesn’t seem to be available. To perform this, you have to find a bar relatively close to the ground. Hanging underneath it with your body extended out and feet resting on the floor, pull yourself up to the bar repeatedly. While essentially the same motion as push-ups or bench pressing, horizontal pull-ups push your body in slightly different ways and more closely mimic movements necessary for climbing and other activities.
Push-Ups
Always the underdog, push-ups are the essence of basic exercise, working out the chest, biceps, and triceps. In fact, if performed correctly, you’ll be forced to tighten your core muscles during each repetition, which adds to the shape and strength of your six-pack abdominal muscles.
Running
You probably don’t see a lot of body builders on the treadmill. That’s because they run at home. One of the most vital pieces to a complete workout regimen, running consistently improves your cardiovascular health, increases your stamina, and helps tone and shape your muscles.
Squats
Toss some weight on a rack and bend at the knees until you lower yourself toward the ground as far as possible. Return to your starting position and repeat – but do it all with precision and proper mechanics. You’ll feel the burn in your legs, but squats actually work quite a few other muscles and should therefore not be neglected in your routine.
Stretches
Often overlooked as an unnecessary part of working out, stretching is anything but unnecessary. In fact, if you want to get bigger and stronger and maintain your range of motion, the only way to do it is through stretching whatever body part you’re planning to exercise. There are stretches for every muscle, from the thighs to the calves to the biceps to the neck. With a little stretching, you give your body a chance to warm up and prevent yourself from potential injury.
Swimming
It offers a full-body workout that tests your stamina and strength. You’ve known it for years, but you still don’t take advantage of it. What kind of swimming should you get started with? Any kind of swimming will work, and swimming freestyle laps at a moderate pace is a great way to break your body into swimming shape.
And the Downside
Now that you know what exercises deserves a spot in your routine, you may be curious about some of the exercises out there that get too much credit.
The following are a few of the most overrated exercises that you may be doing with a little too much frequency:
- lunges: they’re great in moderation, but it’s not uncommon to overdo lunges and wind up with knee problems down the road
- bench press: very useful in defining the chest and arms, the bench press belongs in your routine; just be careful not to start and end every routine with it
- sit-ups: yes, they strengthen your abdominal muscles, but you’ll never have a six-pack unless you eat right and get enough cardio to burn off the layer of fat covering up you abs
Thin from 40 to 60
Beating the odds and maintaining a healthy figure throughout middle age.
Strong Is The New Skinny
Gaining weight during middle age is only natural, right? Wrong. If you dread the pounds of midlife, cheer up! With the right attitude and an appropriate diet and exercise regiment, you may be able to keep your youthful figure and good health for a healthy start to your silver and golden years.
Weighing Responsibility
Midlife weight gain is unfortunately very common.There are definite factors working against you as you age. Besides fluctuating hormone levels, your metabolism begins to slow down. This means it takes more work to burn the calories you consume. Another problem is that most adults lose between 30 and 50 percent a pounds of muscle each year. The smaller your muscles are, the fewer the calories you are able to burn. Weight gain during your midlife is also a danger to your health as it increases your risks for a range of serious medical conditions from diabetes to heart disease to Alzheimer’s disease.
Despite these possible setbacks to maintaining a healthy weight as you age, it is very important to prevent those extra pounds. There are four main reasons why people gain weight during their 40s and 50s: hormones, overeating, lack of exercise, and stress. Though it would be easy to blame weight gain on changing hormones, research has shown that hormones are responsible for only two to five extra pounds. Poor lifestyle choices account for the rest.
Looking for an answer to combat your lack of good lifestyle decisions? It comes down to maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management. In other words, you’re going to have to start making good decisions soon.
Eat and Burn
The key to avoiding gradual weight gain is to burn as many calories as you consume. This will probably mean eating smaller portions at meals and including more physical activities in your daily routine. When you eat smaller portions, it is important to make sure you include a balanced diet of high protein foods such as meat, dairy, and eggs, and high fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Not only will these healthy foods contribute to your weight control, they will also improve your mood and give you more energy throughout the day.
After watching your calorie intake, you must make sure you burn those calories and speed up your metabolism with aerobic or cardiovascular exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a “minimum of 30 minutes of exercise most days to improve health.” A good goal would be to burn 400 to 500 calories a day, and here’s the good news – it is never too late to begin exercising! Whether walking, swimming, biking, gardening, or weight lifting, find something you enjoy, and make it a part of your everyday routine. Not only will you burn those extra calories, you will feel better about yourself and have more energy to face your day.
Decompress the Stress
A third reason for why people in their middle ages gain weight easily is because of the high level of stress in their lives. When under stress, many people tend to overeat, not exercise enough, or attempt to ease stress through unhealthy behaviors such as drinking or smoking. To manage stress, you must first identify the causes. Then you must take charge of your thoughts, emotions, work schedule, family life, and environment. Aim for a balance of fun, work, and relaxation. For some extra help, find support from a friend, spouse, or therapist to reduce the stress in your life.
No matter how common midlife weight gain seems, it is not necessarily inevitable. You just have to take control. So eat a balanced diet, exercise for your physical and emotional well-being, and reduce the stressors in your life. Then kick back and relax, knowing you won’t be another victim of midlife weight gain.
8 Ways Your Child Can Defeat The Bully Without Violence
Help Me!
Bullying has always been a part of growing up. But how a child deals with it and the repercussions of dealing with bullying have changed dramatically.
Incidences of bullying vary in severity. One thing that’s certain is repeated attacks whether verbal, physical, written, or on the internet erode your child’s fragile self-esteem. The CDC linked bullying to isolation, drug use, violence, and suicide! But your child does not have to be a victim. Follow these tips…
Use The Secret Word to Stop Bullying Before it Starts
The assault can be verbal or physical, either way the first line of defense remains the same. It’s one word… Confidence! Here’s why; Bullies choose their victims much like a criminal would choose a victim.
They go for the easy and obvious target. So if your child looks like a kid who will get bullied, guess what, they’re going to get bullied. On the other hand if your child radiates self-confidence they are less likely to be a victim, it’s almost that simple!
Body Language is Key
Your child needs to walk with their head up; their shoulders square, and make eye contact with people. Just doing so, even if your child needs work on their self-esteem, will keep bullies away from them. This is easier said than done, but it can be learned. So having them change their body language (what they are saying non-verbally) will have a huge impact. Teaching this can serve as a quick fix. However, going to work on their self-confidence will have a greater long-term affect on keeping bullies away.
Embrace Your Role
Children get their first layer of self-confidence from parents. The love you show your child and the time you spend with them gives them their feelings of self-worth. It has been said that the number one role of parenting is to develop a self-confident individual.
Speaking Up
Teach your child how to speak up clearly when they first meet someone. Teach them the importance of making eye-contact when they talk to you. Get them out of their comfort zone and have them explore new things. The more you have them confront fear and discomfort the more confident they will become.
The first few tips are meant to stop bullying before it starts. Now here’s what your child can do if the bully chooses them…
Create A Boundary When Confronted By A Bully
The next layer of defense is to create a boundary. Children can protect themselves with an assertive body posture: Feet apart a little, one foot in front, shoulders square, chin up, eye contact, and most importantly, hands up as if making a “Stop” Gesture! We call this our self-defense stance. Its purpose is to communicate neutrality, awareness and, assertiveness. This stance is designed to get them out of trouble.
Using Words Properly
Finally, your child will have to use their words. Simple phrases and commands said in an assertive voice will tell the bully that they will not be a victim. Simple commands like; “Stop, Back Off, Back Away!” Said in the right tone will stop the bully in his tracks!
Safe Self-Defense
Of course if none of the above works (and the truth is nothing works every time) then your child will have to defend themselves. But only if and when their safety is threatened.
Defeating the Cyber-Bully
Don’t Give Cyber-Bullies Ammunition
Text messaging and social network sites open up a whole new avenue for bullies. Sit down with your child and be sure they understand not to give the bullies any ammunition. Make them aware the minute they text someone or send an email those words can be taken out of context or used against them. Absolutely under no circumstances should your child ever send inappropriate photos of themselves or allow anyone else to take photos that go against good judgment.
Cyber-bullying can be stopped with confidence and respect just like physical bullying.
As you can see dealing with a bully has its challenges. There is no one way that works every time. However, when your child develops high levels of self-esteem and self-confidence a bully’s words or actions will role off them like water off a duck’s back.
Is your child being bullied?
Need help with your child’s self confidence?
Want your child to learn some self defense and life skills?
Call Me at 254-247-4999 for a special offer. Ends October 15, 2010
Your Food, Your Migraines
Understanding the link between what you put in your mouth and what you feel in your head.
Must Have Coffee!
If you’ve ever experienced a migraine headache, you have one more life goal than those who haven’t. That goal? To never have a migraine again. However, to meet that goal, you have to be well aware of the triggers that set you on the painful path to a migraine.
Since some of the most common triggers are those things you put in your mouth, you may want to keep reading to find out what foods and drinks you should avoid to keep migraines from getting inside your head.
Regular Stuff
In your day-to-day routine, you probably come across a lot of potential migraine triggers. From peanut butter and sour cream to raspberries and pizza, nearly every food can be a trigger. Some, however, are more common than others. In most cases, a food-induced migraine begins to rear its ugly head within 20 or 30 minutes of consuming the food or drink.
To avoid migraines, consider avoiding the following foods and drinks that are known to cause migraine headaches:
- coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and other foods and drinks that contain caffeine
- extremely cold foods, such as ice cream, particularly when you’re hot due to weather or exercise
- alcoholic beverages, such as red wine, champagne, whiskey, and beer
- cheeses that have been aged to perfection and other foods containing tyramine (substance formed when foods age)
- foods that contain nitrates and various other additives, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners
Special Instances
In addition to specific food and drink, other diet-related issues can result in the mind-boggling pain of a migraine headache. Your body requires a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals to function properly, and your head comfort requires the same. Any time this balance is thrown off, you put yourself at risk for a headache.
One of the easiest headache-inducing dietary mistakes you can make is missing a meal. Life is busy, you’re always on the go, and sitting down to eat isn’t always possible. But when you opt out of mealtime, you’re upping your risk of a migraine substantially. Another simple way to mess up your diet and your head is through dehydration. Unless you are regularly drinking from a tall glass of water, you’re probably a little bit dehydrated. Decide to drink even less one day and your head could pay the price. A final cause of food-related migraines is fasting. Less common than the others, fasting from all sorts of food causes an immediate lack of everything your body needs to keep going strong.
A Hot Headache Problem
While some people suffer migraines after chomping into a spoonful of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, others have the opposite problem. They suffer migraine headaches when the temperature outside starts to climb. And there is actually research that backs their claims of high-temperature headaches.
According to one study, the risk of suffering a headache climbs seven and one-half percent for every increase of nine degrees Fahrenheit. What’s this mean for you? Either live somewhere with a cool climate, stay inside during the hot days, or be prepared to suffer heat-induced headaches.
Causes You Didn’t Consider
The list of migraine triggers can go on forever. But if you’re suffering from migraines and still aren’t sure why, you may want to consider these triggers.
Your Exercise. It may seem odd, but pushing yourself too hard in the gym can lead to stress-related headaches.
Your Hair. It may look great, but if you keep your hair pulled back tight or in braids all the time or wear an improperly fitting hat, the stress could result in a headache.
Your Perfume. More than likely, you know someone who claims to get headaches around strong scents. If you suffer migraines and are around strong scents regularly, it may be time to give up your favorite scents.
Your Habit. Smoking has long been known to bring on headaches of all shapes and sizes. Put out your risk for cigarette-induced migraines by kicking the habit.
Your In-Laws. Actually, anyone or anything that raises your stress level puts you at increased risk for a migraine.
