Category Archives: Life

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Life, Parenting

Dads – How to Fit Exercise into a Busy Day

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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.

Going Healthy, Health, Life

3 Common Issues Misdiagnosed As IBS

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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. To identify potential triggers, consider reaching out to companies like Advanced Food Intolerance Labs, who can provide tests to pinpoint specific food intolerances, and help you adjust your diet for better health.

IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, stress, gastrointestinal, digestion
Milk and cookies, courtesy of Maxpixel

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.

Life, Parenting

Which pet is best for your kids?

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Have your kids started to demand a pet? It’s that dreaded moment for some parents where you must choose between what they want and what you want because we all know you’ll be the ones looking after it!

If you’re happy to go ahead, the next important thing to decide is what kind of pet would best suit your family. And don’t forget to do your research to learn about your pet. For example, guinea pigs have sensitive ears and are very social. Here we look at the three most common domestic pets and the pros and cons of owning each one.

Getting a Fish – the easiest pet to look after:

Fish are obviously the easiest pet when it comes to maintenance. They don’t require any exercise other than happily swimming around in their tank. However, this does make them one of the least interesting pets so if you have boisterous children who are full of energy, then a fish may not be the best pet for them.

There are plenty of types of fish to choose from, so the initial buying process can be fun. You can visit aquariums with your kids, and they can choose from loads of different colors and shapes of fish. But be careful, different kinds of fish require different environments. So, if you’re not up for maintaining a professional level fish tank with the perfect climate, go for fish who are quite happy in a simple fish bowl.

Feeding fish is also easy and fish food is usually very affordable. They don’t need much food either and the depending on the kind of fish you choose, the cost of initial equipment is low. So, you don’t have to worry about the financial impact of having fish as pets.

Getting a cat – you are there to serve them:

Cats also do not require a lot of maintenance; they largely look after themselves. They will take themselves outside for exercise and will come home for food and sleep when they feel like it. But like fish, this does tend to result in having a pet which isn’t particularly engaging to have around.

However, depending on the breed that you go for you can get some very playful cats, especially if you get them from kitten age. Cats have a reputation for being quite reserved and keeping themselves to themselves, but if you choose the right breed, they can be a warm, fun addition to the family.

Cats can be really interesting creatures for example, did you know that cats noses are ridged and completely unique to every cat, like a human fingerprint? Be careful if you have young children though, as cats can often lash out after too much heavy petting.

Getting a Dog – they will never leave you alone:

Dogs are the ultimate pet when it comes to bringing some fun into your family. Depending on the breed, they are often full of character and are known for their loyalty. They love to exercise, so make sure your family does too. Dogs are great for helping you to get rid of all that energy your children have.

Just like fish and cats, the temperament of dogs can depend heavily on their breed, so make sure you do your research before buying one. When it comes to feeding dogs, it can have an impact on your finances as dogs, particularly large ones, can eat a lot!

The popular phrase ‘Dogs are for life, not just for Christmas’ shows just how much work dogs can be. Not everyone is up for the commitment needed when you get a dog, so make sure your expectations are realistic before making your decision.

You’ll soon find yourself with some real parent points if you decide to get your kids a pet. If you’re worried that your kids might not have what it takes to dedicate themselves to looking after a pet full time, maybe consider an easy-to-look-after fish. If your kids are full of energy and could handle a spirited dog, go for it. And if you fancy something in between, which could have a more active role in the family without needing too much in return, then you should take a look at the different kinds of cats available.