The 12th right of Dr. Carolyn Demarco’s A Woman’s Bill of Rights, states, “I have a responsibility to look after my diet, reduce, stress, exercise, and relax on a regular basis.”

Why is this included in Demarco’s bill of rights? Because diet, stress, exercise, and relaxation are fundamental to good health and only you have the power to control these aspects of your life. A doctor can surgically repair any wound, but s/he cannot make you exercise every day or remove items from your dinner plate that are unhealthy. A doctor can only tell you what you should do; you are responsible for putting his or her advice into action.

All doctors acknowledge that diet, stress, exercise, and relaxation are four fundamental keys for good health. Regardless of whether you are in perfect physical condition or currently struggling with an illness, integrating these four keys into your life will have a huge impact on your health. Some of the many benefits include:

• Preventing future illness: A person who puts the four keys into action is more likely to fight-off illness. Numerous studies have shown that a diet high in fruits and vegetables not only fights current illnesses, but wards off future illnesses. A person who experiences high levels of stress is more likely to succumb to illness – so try to bring that stress down.
• Reducing inflammation: Inflammation can cause chronic pain and many other ailments. To learn about how the four keys can help reduce inflammation, please read our article, “Anti-inflammatories, and Reducing Inflammation Naturally.”
• Improving Mental Acuity: When your body is supplied with the right foods, exercised regularly, and allowed to relax without stress, you will find that your mind functions at a higher level. Many people find they can think faster, clearer, and harder.
• Healing Faster: If you have recently had an illness or injury, the four keys can help you heal faster. Exercise alone will help you heal eight times faster.
• Improving Stress, Diet, Exercise, and Relaxation: As you incorporate each key into your life, you will find that other keys are simultaneously improved. For example, if you eat a healthy diet, your body will be able to exercise better and burn energy faster. Conversely, when you exercise more, your body will crave healthier food and be able to relax more. Exercise is also a great way to burn-off stress. When you are not as stressed, emotional eating decreases.

By incorporating these four keys into your life, you will create a strong, healthy body that forms the basis for your future health. Start today by incorporating one of the keys into your life and then gradually work to incorporate the others.

Two weeks have passed since New Years – the night we all vow to make changes. New Year’s resolutions can be invigorating and motivating; they are an opportunity to examine our lives and note the difference we would like to make in the upcoming year.

But two weeks have passed now and some of us are left wondering, “Have I bitten off more than I can chew?” In the spirit of change, many of us get carried away and create long lists of things we would like to change or choose particularly hard resolutions. As the realities of daily life set-in, we realize we may not be able to accomplish everything we had hoped. Feelings of disappointment and guilt are sure to follow when we don’t live-up to our high expectations.

So where do we go from here? First, just because you may have “fudged” a few resolutions or not followed through on others, it doesn’t mean they should be thrown in the trash and forgotten. Every day is a new day and with it comes the opportunity to start fresh. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t changes to be made. Instead of heaping a load of changes onto our lives in one day, we can take a better approach. By gradually implementing new resolutions, we can make changes that last.

You can start by making a list of all of your goals. Then, try breaking your goals into smaller, attainable goals. For example, if one of your goals is to do everything you can to conceive this year, ask yourself, “What steps can I take to ensure that?” Jot down all the different ways you could improve your chances of conceptions. Some items on your list might include:

• Meet with my gynecologist
• Improve my nutrition
• Exercise regularly
• Complete a relaxing activity each week
• Research treatment options with which I am comfortable

Once you have your list, separate each goal into weeks. For example, we could divide our sample list this way:

• Week 1: Schedule appointment with gynecologist
• Week 2: Research treatment options with which I am comfortable, so I am prepared to speak with my doctor
• Week 3: Improve my nutrition by eliminating white sugar, white flour, and other processed foods
• Week 4: Begin exercising three times a week. Find a work-out buddy or sign-up for an exciting exercise class.
• Week 5: Start doing yoga, meditation, or a quiet walk in the park to remain calm
• Week 6: Research other changes I can incorporate into my life to help me conceive
• Week 7: Add beneficial foods to my life – eat more fruits and vegetables
• Week 8: Exercise 10 minutes longer every 3 days, or exercise 4 times a week.
• Week 9: Add a second relaxing activity to my week

Although these gradual changes are not as instantly satisfying as completing an entire set of goals in one day, you are more likely to stick to your resolutions when they gradually become apart of your daily life and routine. Then, when the ball drops and 2010 begins, you will be able to look back at 2009 and be surprised at all you have accomplished.

By Jackie Schuld

The stress of preparing for visiting relatives, decorating the house, finding the perfect gift for others, and cooking scrumptious holiday meals can quickly take a toll on the body. However, women are often reluctant to take the time to re-energize or focus on themselves.

Let’s face it, the holiday season may be a time filled with joy and merriment but if the season usually leaves you feeling run down like you need a holiday from the holidays, then it’s time to learn to give a little something to yourself.

Women’s health expert Belinda Wurn states, “Women are generally nurturers and tend to focus on serving the needs of others. This can have negative consequences for women if they don’t also make time for themselves to relax and de-stress.”

Taking time for oneself can be especially difficult when a woman feels like she doesn’t deserve it. Many women are uncomfortable acknowledging their own accomplishments and strengths. Yet, without taking the time to recognize the positives, they often only see the negatives.

Sydney, who struggled with infertility, explained that all she could think was, “This part of my body isn’t working, and I hate it.” Her feelings of guilt and self-loathing were further compounded every holiday season when the focus turned to families full of young children.

Wurn, who is currently co-authoring a book about female infertility, explains, “The first step to regaining health and fertility is to recognize everything your body endures on a daily basis. Women put incredible loads on their bodies without even realizing it, creating a lot of stress- especially during the holiday season. The body functions as a whole and if one area is overworked, another part often compensates.”

Many women recognize the stress the holidays bring. Yet even though they know they deserve some special time, they still deny themselves because they feel overwhelmed with all the tasks at hand. According to Wurn, that’s when it’s time to delegate duties to family and friends. Instead of baking that pie, ask a friend if they can bring a pie to dinner. And remember that you don’t have to attend every party or help every neighbor or family member who asks. Learn to say, “I’d really love to but my plate is full.” If you’re still having difficulty setting aside time, schedule time for yourself on your own calendar.

Wurn recommends women take the opportunity this season for a self-treat. A self-treat can be as simple as a bubble bath, massage or yoga, or time set aside to read a good book. “When women start to give back to their bodies,” Wurn explains, “It sets in motion a path for better health. Once they are reinvigorated, women are able to offer so much more to others.”

Nicole, who also struggled with infertility, took Wurn’s suggestions to heart and focused on giving back to her body. Nicole stated, “I had to learn to trust my own instincts and do what I felt was best for my body.” Nicole incorporated numerous changes into her life including exercising, eating healthy, and taking time to relax. After four years of struggling with unexplained infertility, Nicole became naturally pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl.

Wurn explains, “Women can take this stressful time of year and make it the beginning of something great.”

Go ahead and buy yourself that stocking stuffer this season—bubble bath oil, a book, or a certificate for a massage or yoga class all fit easily into a stocking.

To learn more about Belinda Wurn or her upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, visit http://www.clearpassage.com/.

by Jackie Schuld

I grew up hearing the old adage, “Everything Happens for a Reason.” I’ve tried to apply the principle to different obstacles in my life, but in September, my mother was diagnosed with recurrent ovarian cancer. As my mother faces a life-threatening illness, it hardly seems fair to think such a painful thing is happening for a reason.

In my job, I speak with infertile women almost every day. I believe that they too must find it painful when people suggest that everything happens for a reason. Did they do something to deserve this struggle? Is there something they need to be taught through infertility? Asking these types of questions only adds unneeded stress and guilt. I believe the old adage still has value, but it is better used when examining life retrospectively.

So what do women do when they are still in the midst of their struggles? Instead of trying to find a reason, women may be better served to use the time to look introspectively. Women can seize the opportunity to examine their lives and see how much time they are devoting for their personal health and well-being. Examining areas like nutrition, exercise, relaxation, personal relationships, and personal happiness can open the doors for growth and change.

This is especially important for women who struggle with infertility. The constant cycle of treatments, charts, medication, and schedules can be very draining and stressful. By taking the time to focus on themselves, infertile women are not only creating something good from an unfortunate situation, they are improving their fertility.

If you would like to read how nutrition, exercise, and stress affect infertility check out our studies of interest at http://www.clearpassage.com/resources/studies.php

By Jackie

Numerous studies provide explanations for the recent surge in infertility. The majority of studies place the blame on women who wait until they are over age 35 to have a baby. These studies suggest that women are getting married later and waiting to have a baby until their careers are established.

Sylvia Ann Hewlett, who holds a PhD in economics, conducted a study for TIME magazine about advanced age and infertility. She told TIME, “Many women are embracing a ‘male model’ of single-mindedness career focus and the result is an epidemic ‘epidemic of childlessness.’”

Although many studies and women acknowledge this, why is the blame placed solely on the female? In healthy relationships, decisions are made together and that means women aren’t the only ones to blame for the decision to postpone parenthood.

Even if the decision to wait is solely the female’s, this choice is heavily influenced by societal pressures. Today, women have the opportunity to do whatever they want. But with that opportunity comes a lot of expectations. Women are expected to be perfect mothers and have stellar careers. With this pressure behind them, women often feel they cannot juggle both.

Playing the blame game will not solve infertility, but reevaluating how we view and speak about women with advanced age infertility can bring a healthy perspective. Women who are struggling with advanced age infertility have enough on their plates. They do not deserve the extra stress and guilt that society places on them for waiting to have children.

Want to read more about males and advanced age infertility? Visit http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/04/30/fertility/ to read an article that discusses how the male’s age affects women who are over 35 and trying to become pregnant.