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THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER NEWSLETTER
—TUME UP—
Take Care of Yourself and Increase Your Mileaae
I should go jogging, I shouldn't eat this cookie,
I ought to eat more veggies, I need to quit smok
ing...and since I shouldn't, I'll eat a double ba
nana split and not enjoy a single bite.
Too often we find ourselves trying to follow the
“health commandments” because someone else
wants us to. We do healthy things for a spouse,
lover, parent, doctor or our friends. Doing certain
things and avoiding other things because of a list
of “shoulds” is a prescription bound to wear thin.
How would it feel to make a choice for yourself
that is enhancing because it feels right? Take ex
ercising for example. You can “have to" or you
can opt to take up a regular program because
your body feels good in motion, rather than pur
suing some cultural ideal that is today's “must."
Stress is created by the mind set of “have
to's." This stress has an effect on your health
and well-being even though the stress is created
out of following a supposed “commandment.''
When making healthy decisions for yourself,
stress is reduced because a “should" becomes a
“want." A decision made by you and for you
leaves open the option to further change and ex
plore, using yourself as a compass.
Once we make healthy lifestyle choices for our
selves, the question inevitably arises, ‘should I
enjoy unhealthful things?' According to Fernando
Too often we find ourselves trying to
follow the "health commandments"
because someone else wants us to.
Vega. M.D.. "It's as important to enjoy downing a
beer or a hot fudge sundae as it is to enjoy a
pleasant evening with friends. When I enjoy
something, I tell myself, I’m doing this for me.'
"I tell my patients: when it is time to correct
something we do, our attitude and motivation is
as important as the desired end. It’s better to re
fuse a cigarette, a drink, or a dessert with the
positive attitude, 'I’m doing this for me,' than to
refuse it because you have to or because some
one else thinks you should."
A starting point for making healthy choices is
to figure out what you really enjoy and what you
dislike. What are your goals and aspirations?
What behaviors are standing between where you
are now and where you want to be? Next, replace
the "I should do these" with "I want to do these
because..." If you despise a specific "command
ment food" don't eat it! Remember that healthful
lifestyle choices are made to enhance life, not
prolong it.
Heidi Reeder
/P§0M THE HIP
INSIDE
THE STRESS
DIET
THE LITTLE
VOICE
AND MUCH
MUCH MORE
Are you coming apart
at the seams?
Worried? Depressed?
The Crisis Hotline is
available 24 hours a clay
by calling 686 4488 In
stead ot keeping prob
lems to yourself, talk it
over with someone who
can help you keep
things in perspective All
calls are anonymous
making this a low risk
opportunity to seek
help
Do you need
legal advice but
can't aftord a lawyer?
The ASUO offers free
legal services to regis
tered students ASUO
Legal Services is local
ed in 334 EMU and by
calling 686 4273 It s bet
ter to consult an attor
ney and work things out
than to worry and worry
without taking any ac
tion1
Support Groups
are a part ot the Coun
selinq Center program
rrnng to assist students
who are grappling with
mental health issues
Groups are currently
meeting tor eating disor
ders. adult children ot al
coholics. women's is
sues, people of color,
gay men. and many
more For more mlorma
tion. call 686 3227
Don't let stress
get the best of you.
The Counseling Cen
lei Student Health Cen
ter and Lifestyle Plan
ning Program all oiler
support and counseling
services tor tree To see
a psychologist, call the
Counseling Center at
686 3227. tor a psychia
trist. call the Student
Health Center at
686 4441 lor a health ed
ucator call 686 4456
Pai