We all change, regardless of whether or not we try not to. We learn things. Life imprints new ideas into our minds.

Despite this, those who value us often wish we would not change for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes they want us to stay the same because of nostalgia.

Other times they got something out of the old you that they are afraid they will lost in the new you.

But beyond that, people often fear your change because they fear the unknown and they fear what might come next from you. This is a selfish reaction because those in your life are not trying to change you for you.

Instead, they are trying to change you for them. So how do you resist them without losing them as friends?

Everyone has a right to express their thoughts and feelings

Our emotions are a part of who we are. When your friends express dismay over your change, remember that when people are expressing their thoughts and feelings, they are giving you an opportunity to understand why they think what they do.

At the very least, you will know what you are up against. But if you care about the person who is resisting your change, you will probably want to know what is causing that feeling of  sadness and how to fix that person’s sadness over your change.

Just pay attention to what your loved one is saying. If they ask you any questions about your change, give them a respectful answer as to why you are changing the way you are.

State your position as clearly and articulately as possible so that your loved ones understand where you’re coming from.

Spend time getting to know you

Do not let other people overwhelm you. Be aware that you need time to sort through your thoughts and feelings so that you do not find yourself manipulated by others.

Think carefully to what your friends are saying and compare this to the reasons why you began changing in the first place.

Recall your experiences before changing or taking decisions. Then think analytically about what other people are saying. Are they right? If you really think they are right, then reverse your course.

Are they only partially right? Then partially push yourself in the direction that they want you to go. Are they completely wrong? Then ignore them. Why would you want to do something that is going to make your life worse for people who are wrong?

Diet and nutrition counseling for virtually all overweight and obese women of childbearing age can reduce health risks linked to excess weight for mothers and children alike, as per a newly released position paper from the American Dietetic Association and the American Society of Nutrition.

The position, reported in the recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, represents the associations' official stance on obesity, reproduction and pregnancy outcomes:

Given the detrimental influence of maternal overweight and obesity on reproductive and pregnancy outcomes for the mother and child, it is the position of the American Dietetic Association and the American Society for Nutrition that all overweight and obese women of reproductive age should receive counseling previous to pregnancy, during pregnancy and in the interconceptional period on the roles of diet and physical activity in reproductive health, in order to ameliorate these adverse outcomes.

The joint ADA/ASN position and accompanying paper were written by Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD, RD, LDN, assistant professor of maternal and child health at the University of North Carolina; and Janet C. King, PhD, senior scientist at Children's Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, Calif.

An estimated 33 percent of U.S. women are obese, as per the authors, who write that a long-term goal of health professionals must be to reduce the number of women who become pregnant while obese. They add that the effect of a woman's nutritional status previous to pregnancy is an issue of great public health importance.

"Among obese women, who already have aberrations in glucose and lipid metabolism, the further adjustments induced by hormonal changes in pregnancy create a metabolic milieu that enhances the risk for metabolic disorders such as gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia," as per the position paper.

Infants born to obese mothers have "a higher prevalence of congenital anomalies than do offspring of normal-weight women, suggesting that maternal (obesity) alters development in the sensitive embryonic period." The authors note neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly are about twice as common among children of obese women. "Other birth defects more frequent in offspring of obese women include oral clefts, heart anomalies, hydrocephaly and abdominal wall abnormalities."

Objectives of the new ADA/ASN position are to provide guidance to nutrition professionals in becoming aware of risks and possible complications of excess weight and obesity for fertility, course of pregnancy, birth outcomes and short and long-term maternal and child health; and to commit ADA and ASN to identifying gaps in scientific research needed to improve knowledge of risks and complications and develop effective strategies "that can be implemented before and during pregnancy as well as during the interconceptional period," the authors write.

The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org/.


Posted by: Evelyn    Source

Depression seems to be a sign of the times we live in, with more people suffering from it across the globe.

There are many medicines that can be prescribed to alleviate depression, but before seeking medical intervention first try and see if you can help yourself.

Often there is no one there to ask how you are feeling, so you have no outlet and things can get bottled up inside.

By writing in a journal, it means that your feelings and thoughts are let out and will help you to understand possibly, what causes the unhappiness that you feel with your life.

Exercise in any form will be good for the mind, a brisk walk, yoga practice or a type of routine that you will enjoy could make a big difference to your mental well being. Do not force yourself to do something you do not like, this will have a very negative effect on your sense of self.

As you perform your chosen activity let your mind discharge all its worries and think things through ultimately clearing your head.Although it can be daunting at first, getting out and meeting people will be a big help.

Look out for groups or organizations that might interest you, if you like gardening join a club that meets regularly in the summer. Local papers often advertise these different social groups, detailing places and times where they meet in your area.

You can try and find an activity that will change your attitude and help bring you out of your dark place. Voluntary work, for example can be very rewarding and provide a great sense of self worth.

Some of us waste our money on new possessions on a regular basis.

I knew a man who purchased a new hammer every time he couldn’t find his old one.

Being wasteful can put an economic toll on our bank account by forcing us to spend money. But hoarding can be equally troublesome.

Especially for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder and poor impulse control, hoarding can hamper a home owner’s ability to work and manage daily activities.

Clutter also simply looks bad and creates a home full of dust-collectors. Even worse, many pack rats refuse to return borrowed items. Being a compulsive hoarder is often similar to stealing in many cases.

Causes

Compulsive hoarders often have all sorts of fears that drive their hoarding. Many pack rats think that any one of their possessions might become useful someday.

Some pack rats think that normally useless items have sentimental value, while other items might be missed by others if they are discarded.

Compulsive hoarders are also often afraid of being wasteful and attempt to hoard items in order to be economical.

However, truly important possessions are often lost and require hoarders to buy replacements of the lost item.

It’s all literally in your head

Many researchers have actually discovered that some brain abnormalities might be the cause of compulsive hoarding. Brain lesions, strokes, surgeries, and infections can all lead to the compulsive hoarding disorder.

But compulsive hoarding can also come from past psychological trauma. Horrible family experiences and past stress can lead to symptoms of compulsive hoarding.

Sure, some people might hoard simply out of habit, but there are times when pack rats need a proper psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis in order to determine the cause and possible treatments for the individual suffering from compulsive hoarding.

Cleaning up the clutter

If compulsive hoarding comes from bad habits or past emotional stress, you might need cognitive behavioral therapy in order to recover from compulsive hoarding.

Oftentimes, psychotherapists will help patients develop healthy thinking patterns and thought exercises that will help the pack rat overcome anxieties over getting rid of unneeded possessions.

The medical treatment used for compulsive hoarding is the serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications. These are generally not effective because compulsive hoarders might not realize the harmful effect that hoarding has on their lives.

In order to cure compulsive hording, patients need to be able to identify their problem before effective treating can occur.

How you can recover from compulsive hoarding?

To get rid of your pack rat mentality, you must become aware that you are capable of providing for yourself and your family. You do not need all of the things that you hoard. Not only that, being a pack rat can often cost you money.

Many pack rats go out and buy new possessions that they thought they lost because those essential possessions are lost among the clutter.

Get rid of reading materials that you haven’t read in a month and every week get rid of things that you can’t find a foreseeable use for in the future.

Posted by Steve Olechowski, Google Product Managment