It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or so the song goes. For some it may be true, the holiday season can indeed be a wonderful time to connect with loved ones and create happy memories. However for others it can be a time when if not kept in check, stress levels can skyrocket. So how can you get the most out of this holiday season. Below are some quick tips to help ensure that the memories you create this Christmas, are ones you will want to remember.

1. Make self care your number one priority. That means getting enough sleep, eating well and saying no to requests from others that are going to stretch your time and energy to the max. It’s impossible to care for others if you don’t take care of yourself.

2. Get back to basics. The holiday season can quickly get out of control. Expensive gifts, the round of holiday parties and a never-ending to do list can quickly leave us feeling frazzeled if we are not careful. We can choose to step outside of this 3 ringed circus and really focus on the things that matter most to us by putting up boundaries and knowing it’s okay to say no to things that we are doing from a sense of obligation, rather than desire.

3. Reconnect with yourself. This time of year is a great time to reflect on the year that’s been. Did you do all that you wanted to do? If not, why not? What will you commit to achieving in 2008 that will bring you a deeper sense of fullfillment with your life. Take a quiet moment this holiday season to write down goals for the year ahead.

4. Don’t get caught up in family feuds. People often expect that the holiday season automatically means that family differences will be set aside; and hopefully they will. However, disagreements at this time of year can often escalate due to the increased tensions and higher expectations on all sides. If you know from experinence that certain people or situations are an oil and water mix, remove yourself from the situation and if need be, visit with each friend on seperately.

5. Have fun, relax and forget about getting everything perfectly right. Take the pressure off yourself now and stay focussed on the things that really matter most to you.

(ARA) - Although most postmenopausal women have heard of the traditional symptoms related to menopause - like hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings - according to the REVEAL (REvealing Vaginal Effects At mid-Life) Surveys, fewer have heard of vulvar and vaginal pain and physical discomfort during sexual activity which may also occur during menopause. The REVEAL Surveys were conducted on behalf of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (now a part of Pfizer Inc) and polled 1,006 postmenopausal women and 602 health care professionals who treat postmenopausal women.

Interestingly, half of the postmenopausal women surveyed agreed that they have learned to live with the vulvar and vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, as a normal part of getting older. For many postmenopausal women, a disconnect exists between the symptoms they experience and the conversations they are having with their health care professionals. For example, 25 percent of the women surveyed reported that they experienced dyspareunia, or painful sexual intercourse, at least sometimes; however, less than half of those women (44 percent) have spoken with their health care professional about this condition. So, why are these women keeping quiet?

Embarrassment may be one reason. In fact, among those experiencing dyspareunia who have not spoken to their health care professional about this condition, the No. 1 reason why was embarrassment (39 percent), followed by the belief that there is nothing that can be done medically to help (26 percent). Further, roughly half of all women surveyed (47 percent) agreed it is still taboo in society to acknowledge experiencing symptoms of menopause such as vulvar and vaginal dryness or painful intercourse. But women should not be embarrassed about talking to their health care professional about these symptoms.

“As health care professionals, we are trained to understand all of the symptoms associated with menopause and nothing you say should surprise us,” says Dr. Michael Krychman, medical director of sexual medicine at Hoag Hospital, executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine, and a REVEAL collaborator. “Every woman experiences menopause differently, so talk with your health care professional about any symptoms you may be having. Schedule an appointment and initiate the discussion.”

The first step to understanding menopausal symptoms is starting the conversation, according to Krychman. He provides the following suggested tips to ensure women feel comfortable talking with their health care professional:

* Do your homework. Educate yourself on common symptoms associated with menopause, including those affecting your vaginal health.

* Write down your personal symptom experience or use an online assessor, like the one found at www.revealsurvey.com, and bring those results with you to your medical visit.

* Choose words you are comfortable with and practice what you’re going to say.

* Take notes during the discussion to make sure you remember key points and follow treatment recommendations appropriately between appointments.

For information on the REVEAL Surveys and to learn more about the vaginal symptoms due to menopause, visit www.revealsurvey.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Weight loss is not brain surgery, though with all the diet books and magazines touting new fads, it’s not hard to get lost in all of the noise. However, the basics haven’t changed, so getting in shape doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Follow the steps below to start shedding those pounds!

1. Set a Plan – Unless you’re joyriding, you don’t get in your car without a destination in mind. Fitness works in a similar way. If you don’t know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there, the odds of you staying motivated and dedicated are slim. Sit down and create a step-by-step approach that you can follow.

2. Plan Your Meal Around Veggies and Fruits – Most of us don’t get our daily recommend intake of fruits and veggies, basically because it’s not our focus. Instead, focus on the starch or the protein, either meat or tofu, as the star of the dinner. However, you can consume more veggies and feel full faster, with a lower caloric intake.

3. Build Muscle – Yes, muscle does weigh more than fat, so the scale might not move quite as much at first, but the more muscle you have, the more calories are burned. Incorporate a strength training regime into your workout. If you don’t want to get too bulky, try yoga or working with a low weight, say 5lbs. at a high number of repetitions. You’ll be fit in no time!

4. Drink More Water – Sometimes when we’re dehydrated, we feel hungry, and eat instead of doing what really is needed: drinking water. Drink a full glass of water before every meal or carry a water bottle around with you during the day. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to stay hydrated when it’s at your fingertips.

5. Eat Smaller Portions More Often – When we eat, we are telling our metabolism to kick in, thus burning calories. Then, after the food is digested, it slows down and doesn’t work as hard. This means less calories burned. To keep it moving, feed it small portions regularly.

6. Get Moving – Sorry, all you couch potatoes, but unless you have fabulous genes, you need to get moving to burn fat. This doesn’t mean you have to go log laps at the track if you hate running! There are myriad different ways to exercise, some that don’t even seem like you’re working out, dancing for one. Figure out what you prefer and get with it!