Blog 9 Correct Post

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Blog 9

• What are the biggest challenges to regular exercise and a healthy diet that you face?  How are these challenges going to change for you over the next five years?

The biggest challenge I am facing right now is time and energy. I know that once I start putting exercise and my health first, I always have more energy and am more effective at accomplishing my goals anyway. It really and truly is just starting, and then feeling (and seeing the results). Over the next five years I will still be juggling raising a family and work, but will have one child in college and one teenager, as well as a grade school child. Super busy, put more freedom in regards to attending a group exercise class. I love Jazzercise, and found I was much more consistent when I attended.  I feel that it is imperative I stick with my exercise plan and continue to eat very healthy, because I am approaching middle-age and need to be diligent in dealing with chronic disease risk factors. I am very excited about the next five years, I am ready to give myself a new challenge and active my goals in this area.

 

Thank you,

Amy Hicks

Blog 9

• What are the biggest challenges to regular exercise and a healthy diet that you face?  How are these challenges going to change for you over the next five years?

The biggest challenge I am facing right now is time and energy. I know that once I start putting exercise and my health first, I always have more energy and am more effective at accomplish my goals anyway. It really and truly is just starting, and then feeling (and seeing the results). Over the next five years I will still be juggling raising a family and work, but will have one child in college and one teenager, as well as a grade schooler. Super busy, put more feedom in regards to attending a group exercise class. I feel that it is imperative I stick with my exercise plan and continue to eat very healthy, because I am approaching middle-age and need to be diligent in dealing with chronic disease risk factors. I am very excited about the next five years, I am ready to give myself a new challenge and acjive my goals in this area.

Blog 8

     I think different aspects of society can do a lot in terms of changing images of menopause, aging, and getting older. I saw a bumper sticker  that said "I'm out of estrogen and I've got a gun". Of course I chuckled a bit because I am going to be dealing with menopause sooner than latter. However, I do not like the idea of being perceived as "hormonally unstable", or an emotional basket case. I think women in there 40's and 50's and beyond should be viewed as more confident, savvy, and "feeling comfortable in their own skin". I think if the media showed older women in more of a positive, attractive, and sensual way, women would connect beauty to the age they are at, instead of "sexy"only applied to a twenty or thirty year old. Also, our culture does not value age in general, so we lose that aspect of respect and admiration for those in a different season of life. In addition, I feel the medical community (the responsibility lies with women also, as they are able) to embrace aging and menopause as a normal course of human life. Of course, remedies and medications may be appropriate for some. In general, the attitude should not be to "fix" because this is a "problem", but rather to enhance quality of life by addressing particular symptoms. Individually, we can communicate honestly and demand respectful care and consideration in regards to these issues.

Thank you,
Amy Hicks

Blog 7

   I would acknowledge their feelings. It would be a very scary and frightening situation. Sometimes we tend to ignore overwhelming problems and hope that they just go away. Of course, if our symptoms seem to improve slightly, we ,may convince ourselves that "it " is gone. On the other hand, without the facts and confirmation of a diagnosis and proper education, it can be even more frightening, hence the fear of the unknown. I would offer my assistance in having my friend visit a health care practitioner, and request all available tests for STD's. I would then offer websites from this course, and even our textbook, as well as other trusted and current resources to read and study all available information. I would offer encouragement and a peaceful attitude towards my friend. Once, or if, a diagnosis is made, then education will be a powerful tool to deal with the issue. Of course, prevention of recurrence would be important, as well as communicating with all sexual partners, if necessary. The situation could help others who are not practicing safe habits or are at risk, and can encourage others to go forward with testing.
Thank you,
Amy Hicks

Blog 6

     I do not think all prenatal testing should be routinely done for all pregnant women.  I personally received screening tests during my three pregnancies, including blood tests and ultrasound tests. I do see the value in pregnant women receiving these because they are non-invasive and can ease a mother's worry in most cases, or offer the chance to receive more advanced diagnostic tests, if she so chooses. However, some women may not want any testing done, for religious, medical, or personal reasons. In addition, there is a change for a false-negative results; therefore bringing unnecessary anxiety, extra expense, and medical risk if further testing is pursued.  I do think, just like all aspects of pregnancy, it is a personal choice that the medical community must respect. My opinion to have initial testing done, might have prompted me for further action, depending on results. I would assume that I would want as much information about possible health problems with my baby; but I do not think you really know what you would decide unless you are actually faced with that situation. I think the technology available now is amazing in utero, whether diagnosing or actually even performing surgery. However, we must leave these options up to the parents, despite the benefits we perceive.
Thank you,
Amy

Blog 5

Honestly, I never really thought about having children when I was growing up. I always knew I wanted to marry, though. What became a turning point for me was when my mother passed away suddenly, my husband and I had been married about two years. This certainly changed the course of my life as I journeyed through this difficult time. My husband and I were able to draw closer from this experience. I began to see myself as a mother, and felt confident in the possibility of this role. I have been blessed with three children, and feel it is truly a calling for me. All women are different, and feelings about motherhood can change as you go through seasons and the ebb and flow of life. I think having a strong, flexible, safe, and nurturing relationship is so important when you think about having a child, or are faced with pregnancy. Of course, circumstances such as financial security, physical and emotional health, and available support and help can effect a mothering experience. I moved to a different state when I was pregnant with my third child, and my other two were ages 5 and 8, and did not know a single person in our new location. Yes,this is challenging and I have missed the "sisterhood" and support that I was unable to receive from other women in my family but have also grown immensely as a person. The experience of having and raising children is a lifelong journey, and has become the core of all facets of my life.

Thank you,
Amy Hicks

Blog 4

     I have three children ages 16, 12, and 6. When my son was in seventh grade, he participated in an abstinence only program. I attended the session for parents who wanted to preview the presentation first.  Although I am completely aware of teenage sexual behavior, I thoroughly support abstinence only education. The program presented facts and visuals of STD’s, interviewed many teenagers about their experiences with sex, explained biological processes of pregnancy, sexual behavior, and transmission of diseases. Importantly, the program was holistic in presenting sexual behavior as an expression of love in a committed and mature relationship, not just as an instinctual act. I feel the program elevated the self-worth and choice making ability of the individual. Resources, tools, teenage thought processes, and techniques to make critical “in the moment “decisions were presented in an engaging way. The truth is, if your only goal is to reduce teenage pregnancy and STD’s, yes abstinence plus , which is really comprehensive sex education , may provide a means to that goal by educating teens in contraceptive use. What about the long lasting emotional and relational effects, even if a pregnancy or STD does not occur? Yes, the numbers can show “success” in terms of avoiding some negative outcomes of teenage sex, but these can also be very real and damaging experiences as one is forming values and expectations for future relationships. The portion of an abstinence plus program that truly promotes abstinence is a very small percentage, and is negated by the focus on contraceptive use. It is reported that on average only 4.7% of abstinence plus page content is devoted to the topic of abstinence and 0% to healthy relationships and marriage (Martin, Rector, Pardue, 2004). Over twenty eight percent of the page content is used to describe and encourage contraceptive use. This computes to six times more content to promote contraceptive use than the goal of promoting abstinence (Martin, Rector, Pardue, 2004). However, I do think everyone should be educated on the biological process, success, and failures of contraception. I feel this should be done thoroughly and factually in a mandated health class, not alongside abstinence education. If you really feel this is the best goal for all teens, you cannot degrade it by assuming it won’t work and then offer abundant contraceptive use information. Alarmingly, abstinence plus programs are essentially encouraging teen sex by not discouraging it and giving a false sense that as  long as it is “safe”, it is a normal and acceptable activity.

                “While comprehensive sex-ed curricula do not overtly encourage teens to engage in sexual activity, they do not really discourage it. The focus is on reducing the risks of STDs and pregnancy among teens. Abstinence is presented as one technique for avoiding immediate risks, but the predominant emphasis is on using contraception, especially condoms. For the most part, teens are not urged to avoid sex per se, but to avoid sex without contraception. As long as the teen feels “comfortable” with the activity, protected teen sex is not criticized, but is presented as commonplace, healthy, and largely unproblematic. The decision to use contraception during sex is almost always presented in a very favorable light, while teen sexual activity itself is rarely questioned or criticized.” (Martin, Rector, Pardue, 2004 )

            One poll showed that 94% of adults and 92% of teenagers feel society has a responsibility to send a strong message to  teens to wait until they are  graduated from high school before engaging in sex (Martin, Rector, Pardue, 2004) Of the nine abstinence plus curriculum  reviewed (942 pages), not one stated this view. Of the same curriculum, only 9 weakly written sentences encouraged teens to wait before they begin sexual activity (Martin, Rector, Pardue, 2004). I and many others feel teenagers in high school are not mature enough to engage in sex. Do you think they are conscientious enough to purchase condoms, store them correctly, have them available and use them (correctly) every single time? Do you think the majority of girls are ready to educate themselves on their monthly cycle, ovulation, and side effects of birth control? Are they ready to monitor their health, and watch for sign of STD’s? Are they completely aware of the effects of alcohol and drugs on contraceptive use and efficacy?  In conclusion, knowing that some teens will not remain abstinent, parents can make the choice to provide contraception for their child or the medical community may provide education and resources as well. I think schools as a whole should not offer abstinent plus education, but teens should have access to help if they choose to have sex despite best efforts to encourage them to choose abstinence. 

References

Martin, S., Rector R., Pardue M.G. (2004). Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic

            Abstinence.  The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved November 22, 2009 from

            http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/upload/67539_1.pdf