March 2019 - Page 3 of 3

It can be really hard to juggle fatherhood and a full-time job not to mention your hobbies, socializing and seeing other family members. But it is also really important to stay on top of your health and well-being, so we’ve made a list of some great tips on how to squeeze exercise into your daily routine.

The Gym

A good hour-long session at the gym may seem like a distant memory to you by now and with such a hectic schedule you’re probably more likely to be wondering how to get a six pack in 3 minutes. However, it is important to free up time for yourself to focus on your own goals as well as those of your family. Come up with a plan with your partner that includes scheduled times where you are both free to partake in your own hobbies and interests. Getting back to the gym even once a week will do wonders for your self-esteem and will give you a new lease of life that you can make the most of with your children.

Walk, Don’t Drive

As a father, you will probably find yourself spending a lot of time in the car taking your children here, there, and everywhere. Try to replace some of the shorter car journeys with walking instead. Not only will this be great for your health, it will also give you some bonding time with your children where you can fully focus on their conversations.

Commute

Like most of us, your morning commute is probably too long to be able to get there on foot instead. However, try parking a little further away from work and walking the last stretch. You’ll be amazed at what a positive impact such a subtle change to your routine can have.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

You probably won’t want to hear this, but a lot of parents eventually have to face the fact that getting up a little earlier can solve a number of time-related problems. By going to bed earlier you can set your alarm for a time that allows you to go for a quick morning run.

Socializing

Try to combine socializing with exercise by seeing if your friends would like to join you for a gym session, an exercise class or simply join you for a stroll rather than meeting up at a bar or coffee shop as you’d usually do. This way, you get to do both whilst saving some time.

Becoming a father doesn’t have to signal the end of a healthy lifestyle. It is important to make time to dedicate to your health and fitness and this will only have positive effects on your abilities as a father. You’ll have more energy to run around with your kids and it will teach them the importance of fitness too. For more tips on how to handle fatherhood, take a look at going-dad.com.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a common, long-standing condition that affects the digestive system. Its typical symptoms are abdominal pain as well as irregular patterns of bowel movements. As a result, IBS is perceived as a functional gastrointestinal disorder that can be triggered by a variety of factors. However, it can be often misdiagnosed when a specific pattern of complaints leads to similar symptoms. The bottom line is that if you’re struggling with abdominal pains throughout the day, it might not be IBS. In fact, in our fast-paced environment, there are other causes of acute pain attacks that subside within a day or so.

IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, stress, gastrointestinal, digestion — **Stress, courtesy of flickr**

You’re stressed out

Stress can be a trigger for IBS, but, more often than not, the absence of stress management can lead to the development of a chronic condition. Indeed, stress can affect your digestion and gut health. Your brain controls the gut via the nervous system. When you are going through a hectic time, your gastrointestinal system responds to reactions in your nervous system, which impacts the effective release of enzymes to break down food or the categorization of nutrients. As a result, you can experience indigestion, difficult bowel movements, acid reflux, etc. Managing stress can prevent it from triggering IBS in the future.

You don’t look after your diet

We get it. You’re busy. You don’t have time to think about what you’re eating when you have a family. Consequently, you indulge in food that makes you happy. Your diet is not a top priority. You want food to create pleasure; however, you forget how it can affect your body. Unhealthy food clogs your arteries. Junk food destroys the microbiome in your gut. While you can have a cheat day here and then, you shouldn’t make it a habit!

You’ve got a food intolerance you don’t know about

Most people know about food allergy. However, food intolerance can be left unnoticed if minor cases. For instance, a minor lactose or gluten intolerance can not interfere with your diet in distinct ways. You might experience some abdominal discomfort as your body tries to digest the food, which can be wrongly attributed to IBS.

How to tackle the issue?

Ultimately, you need to book an appointment with a specialist of gut health, a gastroenterologist, to make sure that your abdominal pains receive the attention they deserve. If you’re worried about a gastrointestinal condition, a specialist will be able to help you understand what is going on. More importantly, they will have the equipment you need to run tests and provide a safe diagnosis. In other words, not every tummy pain is IBS!

What to do before you see a doctor?

However, before you book an appointment, it’s a good idea to keep a health journal that lets you track what you eat, how you feel, and significant elements of your routine. This can be a helpful background to understand the cause of your pain. Additionally, it can highlight patterns you might not have noticed, such as how your meal or emotions affect your gut health.

IBS affects 15% of the population. However, it is often misdiagnosed in individuals who have not expressed abdominal concerns in the past. You can avoid extensive tests by listening to your body and recognizing the signs of stress, unhealthy diet habits, and food intolerance.