As for my sister, her major health concern for women was healthy body composition and adequate exercise for a healthy heart. It is a well known fact that heart disease is the number one deadliest disease worldwide.
My own concern for women is more emotional/mental than physical. For a woman to successfully beat a life threatening illness or successfully maintain a healthy body composition, or whatever the challenge may be, they must first believe that they are capable of succeeding.
I think that people relate best to the challenges they face. My mother is a breast cancer survivor who still struggles with the medical costs five years later because her insurance was limited in its coverage. My sister is at a point in her life where her goal is to achieve a healthier body composition and some of her friends are beginning to experience heart health challenges. I have struggled with self confidence my whole life, so it is easy for me to recognize it in others and the important role it plays in any story of success.
American Cancer Society (ACS), 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2009 from http://www.cancer.org/downloads/PRO/BreastCancer.pdf
I think that self esteem and self confidence play a huge role in how women take care of themselves. I have never met a single person let alone woman that doesn't struggle with poor self esteem at some point. This may sound silly, but I look down on myself for being one of the few people in my graduating class that has not graduated from college yet. However, I am proud of myself for sticking through with it and working hard each semester to pay for my own college education. Self esteem is a big issue without adding the uncontrollables (hormones) to the equation. We must conquer our issues within ourselves, so that we don't teach our daughters to do the same in their lives.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about the role our self esteem plays in our health until reading your blog. Now that I think about it, I can tell you it has been a huge factor in my life. I have suffered from a low self esteem all my life and as a result found myself 100 lbs over weight. I have finally learned to accept myself, and yes I even like me and am now full of confidence. Because of this change in attitude I finally feel like I have control over what I eat and the exercise I get. I have lost 52 lbs to date and know that by this time next year the other 48 lbs will also be gone. At 52 years old, I am finally on my way to a healthy body!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that women must have a good mental state. Overcoming serious illness requires a lot of mental strain. I am happy to hear your mother is a 5 year survivor of breast cancer. My mother is going on 29 years this year. I am sorry to hear that she is still having to pay for it due to her insurance coverage. Nice post!
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