To exercise or not to exercise?

 Dr. Marian Fritzemeier, Ed.D. © 2014
Author, Speaker, Educator

Has your doctor's suggested you exercise for health benefits? Did your friend suggest exercising as a way to lose weight? Do kids ask you if you're going to have a baby because of your tummy pouch? 

Should I exercise today or not? It's a question you may ask yourself on a regular basis. Nah, not today, I tell myself. It's raining. Maybe tomorrow...or if I'm lucky, maybe it will rain again. 

This week I spoke to a group of Mothers of Preschoolers in Tracy about The Physical Perspective. Most of us know that exercise is helpful to prevent weight gain, promote weight loss, or maintain our weight, but that doesn't always do the trick. 1 
 

Some of us are motivated by money. The Center for Disease Control says that exercise can significantly lower your annual direct medical costs. Getting people to exercise could cut yearly medical costs in the United States by more than $70 billion dollars. 2 What can it save you? 

Some of us are motivated by health. Exercise reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. 1, 2 It also reduces stress, depression and anxiety. 3 Enhancing mental performance and work productivity (whether your "work" is in your home or outside your home) are other benefits. Exercise can even improve your skin. 

But some of us are motivated by sex. The benefit the mothers' giggled about is that 20 minutes of exercise a day improves your sex life. 3 Who knew that the Harvard School of Public Health studies such things? It's true. Just 20 minutes/day Improves sexual response in women, leaves you feeling energized, and helps you feel more desirable. Dr. David Katz from Yale adds, "Working out with your partner not only will allow you to spend time together, but it will trigger adrenaline & other feel-good hormones to get you in the mood." 3 

I shared with the ladies, "If your husband finds out about this, chances are he'll ensure you get exercise time in!" Maybe that will work...rain or not! 

Sources: 

1. Physical Activity and Health, www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/ Accessed 10/23/2013. 

2. The Benefits of Physical Activity, Harvard School of Public Health, www.hsph.harvard.edu › The Nutrition Source. Accessed 10/25/2013. 

3. Image from www.stockpholio.com 5032496501 4, Pilates, US Army

Our Heart Attitude

Dr. Marian Fritzemeier, Ed.D. © 2014

Author, Speaker, Educator

Perhaps you've grumbled about a co-worker, "She always has such a bad attitude. I can't stand being around her." Maybe you've been told, "You have a bad attitude," or said to your teen, "When you change your attitude, I'll talk to you." Last week I spoke to a group of moms. One segment of the talk was checking our heart attitude. I adapted these questions from a book, Checklist for Life for Moms.¹

•  Do you recognize that your attitudes can have far-reaching effects on your family?
• Do you acknowledge that a negative attitude can easily develop into a critical way of life?
• Do you accept that you can choose your attitude toward a particular person or situation?
• Do you consider that your thoughts & attitudes should reflect those of Christ?
• Do you trust God to show you the positive qualities in those who usually engender negative feelings?
• Do you appreciate the common ground that can be found in negative or difficult family members?

So how do you check your own attitude? How is your attitude critical to your daily life?
Checklist for Life for Moms, Thomas Nelson, 2005.
Image from: www.stockpholio.com Heart by Seyed Mosafa Zamani.

"Do you work?"

Dr. Marian C. Fritzemeier, Ed.D. © 2014
Author, Educator, Speaker

Ever been at a social gathering and someone inquires, "Do you work?"

My gut reaction is, Of course I work. Doesn't every mom work? But I also know the inquirer really wants to know if I hold an important job that requires a college education and offers social status. Another variation is, "Where do you work?" In other words, do you work for a prestigious company and make six figures?

Medical forms also request work information. When I was a young mother I'd respond, "I don't work." But I didn't like how it sounded. It felt like I was less than someone else, less important than a mother who holds a paying job outside the home. My husband and I made the choice for me to be the primary caretaker of our children. So why was I feeling so down when I was doing the most important job at that time?

When our girls entered school, I finally arrived at a creative answer that I felt proud to share. "I'm the Vice-President of the Fritzemeier Foundation." When someone requests my work phone, I simply repeat my home number.  

One day at medical appointment, the doctor inquired, "What's the Fritzemeier Foundation?  It sounds important."

"You're right. I'm impacting the entire next generation by training young people to live independently, develop job proficiency, demonstrate leadership skills, participate in civic responsibilities, and become life-long learners."

"Sound interesting," he nods.

"It's pretty remarkable. No two days are ever the same. It keeps me on my toes."

Back to work.

Image from: Stock.XCHNG www.sxc.hu/ question-mark-1409010-s. Accessed 4/16/2014.