Body Image Articles () - Hintonburg Health Clinic

Build Body Confidence

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Dr. Erin Lush

Are you happy in your body right now? No changes, no when x happens, but right now?

Starting a new year we tend to put extra pressure on ourselves to meet goals, achieve conventional standards and we can be our own worst critics. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with wanting to live a healthier life (in fact I’m all for it) but it is a problem if you set your expectations to be happy when those results are achieved.

No one is perfect.

And if you think they are, there are lots of things you just don’t see. To be happy now with your situation should be the goal or at a minimum having compassion for yourself where you currently are as we all go through ebbs and flows. After that, you can work towards those health goals.

This has a huge effect on your self-esteem.

And on your confidence too and that can impact your libido. When we feel good, we are more likely to want to share ourselves with our partner. When we don’t, we tend to hide and push them away.

If this is something you’re struggling with and finally want to break free off this year, book an appointment and we can discuss all the ways to get you feeling your best!

Add Sex to your Wellness Routine

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Dr. Erin Lush

Let’s say that again. And now let’s think about it.
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What does optimization mean?
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It’s realizing your best life. It’s ensuring you are experiencing pleasure more times than you’re missing out. It’s learning how to make your body work for you. It’s improving your relationship with your body, yourself and your overall health. It’s realizing there are many ways to experience pleasure, it’s making love not porn.
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When we usually seek help
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When something is WRONG. Not when something is not quite right. If we can live with it, we leave it. It doesn’t have to be this way. You know your body better than anybody else. You know when it’s off. So why not address it? It doesn’t have to be a major problem for it to be a MAJOR problem for you.
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What might be wrong?
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Multiple things. Your libido is low. You’re in a love-hate relationship with your body. You experience pain with sex (vulvodynia). You’ve never achieved an orgasm (anorgasmia). You have vaginal dryness. Your period causes you pain and discomfort every month so miss that week. That pesky UTI keeps coming back (or that yeast infection). Your body is not working for YOU period.
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I work with women to help put a pin on what is missing; what is not quite right and then we work together to develop a plan to fix it. Life’s to short to not fully experience pleasure, am I right?

The Less-Talked About Benefits of Cardio

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Dr. Erin Lush

Does Cardio Makes for Better Sex? Yes, yes it does.

When studying women who participate in cardiovascular exercise including cycling, running, swimming and a combination of the three, researchers found that the women who had a regular moderate intensity exercise routine reported a lower level of female sexual dysfunction, orgasm dissatisfaction and trouble becoming aroused.

How does this work?

Exercise affects your body on a physical, emotional and psychological level. Basically, exercise improves your blood flow, strengthens your muscles, makes you feel good, it releases endorphins and decreases stress. These factors work together to have an overall increase on your libido.

Your thoughts on your body

People who regularly exercise tend to feel more comfortable and confident in their body. This translates to more self-confidence, better body image and a more fulfilling sex life. These women tend to be better at appreciating what their body is capable of and communicating what their body needs to feel good.

If you’re in a rut, how about trying some cardio to boost your libido up!

You Should Masturbate

Posted on October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 by Dr. Erin Lush

Masturbation is normal and healthy. ?
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Masturbation leads to having an orgasm which is quite important. It has numerous health benefits on your body. Let’s start with its ability to improve your immune system, decrease your stress levels, improve your relationship with your body and provide pain relief.

Should every woman be doing it?

YES. Masturbation is not for men only. It is for everyone. Forget the shame associated with it and embrace it. You will thank yourself later.

How orgasms make your immune system stronger

Orgasms increase your levels of IgA. IgA is an immunoglobin that is your body’s first line of defense against infection. It stops bacteria and viruses from sticking to your mucosal surfaces which are mostly found in your respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. This is big if you don’t want to get sick especially with cold and flu season around the corner. A study done in college age adults found that having an orgasm 1-2 per week increased their IgA levels by 30 percent.

The stress-orgasm connection

You know that feeling you get when you are on edge and everything is bothering you? You don’t want to be touched, your anxious and everything is overwhelming? This is when you need to masturbate. Trust me. This is your remedy to relax. Your body releases a mass dose of oxytocin right as you climax. This is your natural anti-stress antidote. As your oxytocin levels increase, your cortisol (stress hormone) and blood pressure fall, helping you bliss out.

DOI: 10.2466/pr0.94.3.839-844

A New Way to Sleep

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Dr. Erin Lush

The answer is YES!

Okay. This is a big one because it is not done nearly as often as it should be. Let’s take a step around all the reasons we don’t do this and focus on all the health benefits it brings to you.

It DRAMATICALLY improves your sleep.

Achieving the coveted eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is elusive for so many people. We all know when we don’t sleep/ sleep well we are more easily stressed, anxious and prone to being set off by the smallest thing. This is because a lack of sleep disrupts your normal cortisol curve (this is your stress response hormone) and good quality deep sleep can help bring this back to normal regardless of what is happening in your day to day life.

How does going to bed nude help with this?

Well to start, it’s better for your body temperature. Your body temperature actually plays a role in your circadian rhythm (your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle). As the day winds down, so does your body temperature signaling to your body it’s time to get ready to sleep. By not wearing your pjs, you are able to help your body maintain this optimal temperature which in turn helps you fall asleep faster. Next, your body temperature has an impact on your ability to achieve and cycle through REM sleep (where you dream). People deprived of REM sleep report being more anxious, depressed and less able to perform tasks. By keeping your body at its optimal temperature, you get to achieve optimal sleep. This helps you wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to take on the day.

If your sleep is off, why not try sleeping naked? You don’t know what you are missing out on.

Your Body Image

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Dr. Erin Lush

In a study of 400 premenopausal women 40% stated that they had experienced decreased sexual desire due to dissatisfaction with their physical appearance. In another study of college aged women, 30% stated their negative body image had led to their sexual dysfunction.

What does this mean for you?

A healthy body image is one where you feel comfortable in your skin. You feel good about the way you look, and you do not associate your self-worth with how you perceive your body. When your perception about your body is off, you may hide yourself from intimate relationships with others and change how you carry yourself every day.

Health is so much more than a number on a scale. Learning how to care for and love your body can change your HAPPINESS levels and the amount of joy you let in your life. If you’re looking for help to take the next steps, I can help you get there. Together we will create a plan to get you on track towards a healthy body.

doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01934.x

doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.04.378

Category: Body Image