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Do you work on the computer for hours on end? Do you feel your neck and shoulders tighten? Do you have repeated headaches and stiffness of the neck?

If you answered yes to these questions, you need to stop. Take a break and do some simple stretches for your neck.

By stretching your neck every half hour or so, you are allowing your muscles the chance to relax and stretch. You are also allowing circulation to flow once more. You may even prevent another headache from occurring.

Exercising number one:

The easiest neck stretch is generally called the chin tuck. You may want to try this in front of a mirror. Begin, by looking forward. Now bend your chin down toward your chest. Hold for a second or two. Slowly return to starting position. Now simply bend your head backwards toward your shoulders. Repeat five times and repeat throughout the day. This exercise may even help keep you from getting a double chin.

Exercise number two:

Sit on a hard back chair. Keep your back straight. Bend your chin forward toward your chest. Now try to lower your head further. Do don’t drop your shoulders. Only move your head. This will pull on your muscles of your neck. Hold for 10 seconds and release.

Exercise number three:

Gently and slowly turn your head from side to side. Do this three to five times.

The exercises are great ways to stretch your neck and to try to release some of the built up stress that forms in and around our neck muscles. But there are also preventive measures we all should be doing as well, to prevent the stress in the first place such as:

Watching how you sleep. Try to avoid sleeping in positions that causes your head and neck to scrunch. If you sleep with a partner, ask him/her to awake you if they see you in such positions.

Check the position of your computer. Can you reach your monitor with your finger when sitting in your chair. If you can not, you are sitting too far away from it.

Take breaks when you are sitting and working in one position for periods of time. Your neck and your brain needs a break, to release tension.

Kickboxing has become more popular in recent years. Cardio activity involving kickboxing is high energy yet fun. You feel powerful; strength will soar with every explosive kick. Incorporating kickboxing as part of your routine will show you unbelievable results throughout your entire body. The workouts keep you lean, and improve self confidence at the same time reducing stress levels.

New! Amy Bento: Rumble - the title says it all. The video is 79 minutes. The DVD has 3 pre mixes 41-90 minutes. Intermediate/ Advanced levels can have a lower impact round of sheer intense kickboxing fun. If you purchase this DVD, be ready to rumble.

The workout session is well paced. Focus on your form and speed. Combinations vary from simple jabs and kicks to high blocks and knee” smashes”. Amy and her team introduce you to a non-complex, super intense, fitness fighting workout. Rumble features American boxing, kickboxing and a hint of Chinese boxing. The Chinese Martial Art moves bring a different taste to the workout. The choreography isn’t difficult to keep up with. The moves are fun and not intimidating. The techniques combined take you to the next level. You will think you are in the ring, a true fighter. Feel the power generate within you, while you exceed reaching new heights, surpassing your original fitness goals.

Amy will take you through simple combinations in the first segment. In the second segment experience a sweat pouring, fat burning standing boxing bag workout. Get those gloves. Get this video. Give yourself no more excuses. The video ends with a series of dumbbell assisted stretches. Weighed gloves and dumbbells are optional.

The benefits of daily exercise go well beyond staying trim and having rock hard abs. We as Americans have become obsessed with the search for eternal youth, yet we don’t seem to realize that we can accomplish this goal through a few simple exercises that we can do throughout the day.

In 1953, Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer, overheard Indians in Puerto Rico talk about a fountain in which if you bathed yourself you would be forever young. Anxious to find this fountain, Ponce de Leon set out to find the island of Bimini, which held this myth of youthfulness. He found it in Florida, St. Augustine to be more precise. While the story recalls it as the true fountain of youth, we all know that no such thing exists. Nevertheless, we have not given up on the search, and as more years go on the stronger our urge to find one gets. You always hear of some new diet pill, or magical skin cream to keep you feeling and looking younger, longer. These things are not necessary; all you need to do is to make use of your time during the day, and to make it benefit you.

To help illustrate this, just think of what exercise you already do without knowing that you are doing it? Do you ever catch yourself taking the elevator instead of the stairs? That extra little bit of stepping could make a big change in the long run. Just by climbing two flights of stairs you burn around 147 calories. That adds up at the end of the day.

Another effective outcome of exercise that you don’t necessarily notice is stimulation to your mind. If you have ever gotten up early and went out and did something instead of lying around the house all day, then you know what I am talking about. By getting out and doing something that you enjoy, like going to the mall, or gardening, you are exercising, and you’re not stuck in a gym somewhere. We so often take for granted the ways of achieving the goal of good health. We hear it constantly form doctors and the media, yet I continue to see us as an obese nation. Even if you are going to be a couch potato, throw the remote away and get up to change the channels manually when you need to. You could burn of you whole dinner if you changed them as much as I do.

Dress up for two with a fashionable holiday maternity dress. The little black dress for two is a fashion staple for the party-going pregnant mom. The attraction of the little black dress is that it always looks good and can be bought at a reasonable price.

2008-2009 Holiday Maternity Dress Buying Guide

Liz Lange for Target Taffeta Tie-Back Dress – Ebony

The Liz Lange for Target Taffeta Tie-Back Dress has a classic feel, and at $49 is an affordable maternity holiday dress. For a busy holiday season, wear this maternity holiday dress and accessorize it for the occasion. Choose from ebony or ivory.

The Liz Lange for Target Taffeta Tie-Back Dress has a reasonable neckline in the front and the back. The Liz Lange for Target Taffeta Tie-Back Dress is best suited to pregnant women who are looking for something sleeveless. Pair with elbow-length red velvet gloves for an elegant touch.

The dress hem falls just above the knees. Wear with your favorite pair of black, gold or silver comfortable shoes. The dress comes in X-Small, XX-Large and all sizes in between.

Ruffled Chiffon Dress

GapMaternity has a black ruffled chiffon dress. The little black dress for two from GapMaternity has a high v-neckline with a delicate black ruffle. The dress, like the Liz Lang maternity holiday dress is sleeveless.

The GapMaternity dress pleases the eye with wide, black silk trim along the hemline, which lands just above the knees. The GapMaternity Ruffled Chiffon dress contains a chiffon slip with straps a pregnancy woman can adjust, according to GapMaternity.

The little black dress for two from GapMaternity retails for $78 and comes in sizes XS to XXL.

Maternity Jeweled Empire Waist Dress

Old Navy also has a little black dress for two, the Maternity Jeweled Empire Waist Dress. The pretty black dress retails for $39.50. There is a textured stain waistband on the holiday maternity dress, which has two black straps. The dress comes in sizes XS to XXL.

Illusion Dress

Pregnant women can dress up for the holidays without creating undue discomfort, or dipping into the baby savings. The best fashion accessories for pregnant women during the holidays are the accessories that don’t come in different sizes. They can be worn at any stage of pregnancy, and well into your motherhood years.

Velvet Holiday Wrap

A velvet holiday wrap in black, maroon or red can be worn while pregnant, and after pregnancy. A velvet wrap can be worn with any sleeveless dress or gown, or any spaghetti strap holiday blouse.

The velvet holiday wrap may be worn to any formal dinners or holiday work parties. It works for church and for Christmas caroling. It may also be borrowed by sisters or nieces for formal events.

The advantage to a velvet holiday wrap is that it is both warm and fashionable. This is a classic accessory that all women, including pregnant women should have in their wardrobe.

Elbow-length Gloves

Treat yourself to an elegant pair of elbow-length gloves. A pair of black elbow-length gloves made of silk or velvet can dress up any holiday outfit. A short-sleeved blouse or shiny sleeveless top will look cute with a pair of elbow-length gloves.

Velvet Hair Ribbon or Headband

A pretty velvet hair ribbon is instantly sweet and festive. Match it to your outfit, or wear black and choose all red, green or silver accessories, including a velvet hair bow or headband.

You could even use gift-wrapping velvet ribbon in your hair, or give an existing headband a makeover with a new ribbon.

Shiny, Low-Heeled Shoes

Purchase a pair of low-heeled comfortable shoes or boots which can be worn with pants, skirts or dresses. Find a pair in a fun, festive color or in gold or silver. There is no need to wear heels while pregnant.

If you are not experiencing much swelling in your feet, you may be happy to buy a pair of shiny shoes which you can wear to dress up your holiday maternity outfits.

Pregnant women can dress up for the holidays without creating undue discomfort, or dipping into the baby savings.

Jeweled Brooch

I still believe the stories of joyful, natural, unmedicated births. I still believe that childbirth can be pleasant and enjoyable, even orgasmic. I believe that an easy and comfortable birth is possible but I’m not sure it’s possible for me. Despite my good intentions, the births of my children were far from easy. My experiences involved pain, drugs, and this last time birth by surgical means.

I never wanted a hospital birth. As far as I’m concerned the hospital is for special cases — not normal births. My ideal was natural childbirth with as few interventions as possible.

Both of my children were born at the same hospital about 14 months apart. The first time around, I prepared to do it unmedicated. I had a birth plan and everything on it turned out to be the exact opposite of what happened. With my second child, I didn’t want to bother with having to fight do it my way (it saddens me to write that) and I was more open to the possibility of drugs and immobility. To this day, I still wonder if either of my births could have turned out better in a different birth setting, but above all I am thankful for the two healthy babies I gave birth to.

I started having pre-labor contractions early in the morning. I had a 2:30 appointment scheduled for that afternoon and contractions were getting stronger as the day went on. I was excited about the contractions starting and I expected to already be in labor when it was time for my appointment. I actually wanted the baby to be born that day because it was August 8, 2008 and my baby would have had an 8-8-8 birthday. At the appointment the midwife checked my cervix and I was at 2 cm. After being checked the contractions really started picking up.

Avoid:

-Alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and illegal drugs. The use of any one of these – among pregnant women – has been shown to increase premature births, low birth weights, and serious birth defects.

-Over-the-Counter medications. Always check with your physician first – before you take any medication. Make sure that the medicine is safe for both you and the unborn baby.

-Cat litter. Cat litter contains a parasite called, Toxoplasmois Gondii. This parasite causes Toxoplasmosis. This disease can be fatal to your fetus, your unborn baby. If you have a cat, it is recommended that you have someone else change your cat’s litter box. If you think that you must do it, then do it carefully. Always wash your hands thoroughly, and carefully, after changing the litter box yourself.

Deli meats and salads. Cold cuts, tuna or egg salads from a deli, can be contaminated with the Listeria bacteria. Don’t eat deli meats or hot dogs, unless they have been reheated, and served steaming hot.

-Certain large fish…shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel – all contain high levels of methyl mercury. Mercury can damage the nervous system, especially in children and in unborn babies. For more information regarding risky seafood, go to www.epa.gov/ost/fish.

-Raw or under-cooked meat, fish, eggs, and unpasteurized milk. These foods can carry bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli. This can make you, the expectant mother, sick, and can harm your fetus (your unborn baby).

-Cheeses, such as brie, camembert, roquefort, feta, gorgonzola, as well as Mexican-style queso blanco and queso fresco. These cheeses can contain the Listeria bacteria, which can cause miscarriages.

-Saunas and hot tubs…Studies have shown that elevated body temperatures (102F or higher) can cause neural tube defects, and can also cause miscarriages. You should always be very cautious of electric blankets – for the same reason – elevated body temperatures that can cause you and/or your unborn baby health risks and miscarriages.

Physical exercises would help both the would be- mother and the would be-baby a lot.

Leisure time activities prevent the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. If such is the case even for leisure time activities, one would assume the genuine benefits of doing exercise that suits a pregnant woman.

An exercise for the extension of the hip can be done safely. Yoga asana like sukha asana, some selected Pawan muktha asanas can be done (consult a yoga expert) unlike other exercises, Asanas relieves tiredness and rejuvenates each cell in the body. The space inside the uterus is created, the cavity in the pelvic region is also expanded , back pain is lessened apart from having a healthy and strong spinal column. These are the results of regular exercises.

Vajrasana helps easy labor consult a qualified yoga teacher about how long a pregnant

woman can sit in this simple asana which will help her to relieve constipation, improves appetite , relieve flatulence ,acidity ,and stomach cramps as these are common to pregnant woman

Deep breathing and savasana (corpse pose) are the other exercises that will benefit all kind of pregnant woman irrespective of their age and weight

Meditation really helps in calming the mind a lot, induces pleasantness of the mind and improves over all health. It is found out scientifically that the sate of mind of the mother during pregnancy has a lot of impact upon the new born baby.

Good sleep

Good sleep helps god health. Incase of insomnia ,the pregnant woman can do rhythmic breathing Just inhale slowly for 4 seconds and exhale for 4 seconds slowly this should be done for about 3 to 5 minutes before going to sleep this will induce good sleep.

Aerobic exercises

About 30 minutes of cardio work out 5 days a week is considered enough by experts.

The cycle, elliptic, cross trainer are available at the gym can be practiced for a low-impact cardio exercises. While exercising, 50 to 60% of intensity is ideal for pregnant woman, and 70% may be suitable for non-pregnant woman.

Pregnancy needs many precautions for a smooth and comfortable child delivery but what are the precautions that need to be taken and why? The common habits of smoking, drinking, and the use of drugs poses lot of risks for the pregnant woman.

Risks of smoking

Chances of miscarriage, premature birth, sinus, and cancer and breathing difficulties are the commonly reported health hazards for a pregnant woman. How to quit smoking?

Exercise helps pregnant woman to quit smoking. The safe exercises are given in the later part of this article

Risks of Drinking

It is estimated that about 15% of pregnant woman drink alcohol, it shows despite the awareness about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, woman drink alcohol.

It is found out that Fetal Alcoholic Syndrome, has the following risks

Depression, psychological problems, Alcohol and Drug use, Eating disorders

It is clear with such Psycho-somatic disorders that a child can’t continue school successfully or if it continues, it will have poor relationship with other children and teachers. Abnormal sexual behavior of such people is reported in their adulthood.

Risks of Drugs

In 1992, 4 million women gave birth and 5% of them used drugs! i.e 200,000 pregnant woman had the habit of drugs! Alcohol, nicotine and marijuana have a negative effect upon the placenta, premature birth, low birth weight are the other defects that are found out; these babies were shorter than others and had smaller heads than normal.

Body weight

Rate your prepregnancy weight (pounds) anything below the normal weight is considered under weight and anything above the over weight is considered obese. Regular checking of the weight is important as many diseases are associated with obesity and underweight.

Height

normal overweight

5′

102-132

133-147

5′2″

107-141

142-157

5′4″

116-152

153-170

5′6″

123-161

162-180

5′10″

138-181

182-202

(Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

Exercising

1) While exercising, pregnant woman may face some contraindications like bleeding, lying placenta, hypertensions and you should consult your physician.

I was digging through our storage closet the other day and came across the Prince Lionheart baby wipe warmer we used to use when our daughter was an infant. In addition to bringing back some sentimental memories, I realized that, of all the things we bought when she was a baby, the wipe warmer was probably one of the better investments.

We live in Wisconsin and, even with us running the furnace 24 hours a day in the winter, it can sometimes get very cold in our house. When the weather is like that, it’s bad enough having to remove an infant’s clothes to change its diaper without having to torture it further by using a cold baby wipe to clean it up.

The Prince Lionheart warmer allows you to put the otherwise cold wipes inside and it keeps them at a luke warm temperature. They aren’t so hot where they would burn your child but they are warm enough to give some comfort. In fact, it wasn’t unusual for my wife or me to use one on our own hands when we were changing a diaper in the middle of the night and were freezing. The warmer works with most brands of wipes too.

The Prince Lionheart brand wasn’t the first wipe warmer we bought. In fact, prior to buying that particular model, we ended up purchasing a cheaper brand instead. That turned out to be a mistake. That cheaper model heated the wipes up a bit too hot for our liking and, more importantly, had an obnoxious buzzing noise when it was plugged in; something the Prince Lionheart brand did not have an issue with.

I only had a couple minor complaints about this product when we were using it. First, the warmer was supposedly designed so you could load the wipes and then have them pop up through an opening so you would just have one at a time. This never worked properly, even with wipes that were specifically designed for that. We always had to open the lid to get them.

Also, there is a sponge inside the warmer that is meant to keep the wipes moist. That tended to dry out a little too quickly and, if we didn’t remember to re-moisten it every couple days, the wipes would get hard and dry.