Thrush, weight problems and resolutions
I suffer from vaginal thrush on an occasional basis. But I've noticed that every January it comes back with a vengeance. Why is this?
Thrush is a condition caused by the overgrowth of a naturally occurring micro-organism, Candida albicans, which is present in the vagina. The condition is very common and affects up to 75 per cent of women at some stage of their lives.
Vaginal thrush causes a range of symptoms including itching, irritation, soreness and swelling. It can also cause a cheesy, white discharge, pain when urinating and discomfort during intercourse.
It can be triggered by a range of factors including diabetes, pregnancy, or as a side effect of drugs such as antibiotics, cortisone and the pill.
But many sufferers notice that the use of bath cosmetics can also trigger an attack of thrush. If you have received these as Christmas gifts, their use could explain why you get thrush at this time of the year. Try to take showers instead of baths and avoid using douches, powders or deodorants in this area.
Wearing cotton underwear and forgoing tights will help to keep the area cool. See your doctor who will prescribe a pessary or cream.
Next year ask Santa for some chocolates instead!
I've never had a weight problem but after the excesses of Christmas I've put on a half a stone. I mentioned to my sister that I was going to have just one meal a day plus snack on fruit and water but she says this type of weight-loss programme will affect my metabolism. Is she right?
It's so annoying when sisters think they know better than you do - but in this case she knows what she's talking about.
Your body monitors the number of calories it gets to use as fuel for the body to function effectively. Too much and it stores the excess as fat, too little and it tries to conserve what it has. This is what is meant as "starvation mode".
Following the weight programme you describe will result in your metabolism slowing down, making weight loss more difficult.
You should aim to lose the extra pounds slowly by making small but sustainable changes to your diet and routine. Weight loss requires two things - to eat less fattening foods and to increase exercise levels.
Start by upping the amount of exercise you do, and aim to do some everyday, even if it's just walking briskly for 30 minutes. Stick to natural foods and keep off the fast, convenient ones. Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables daily and drink water regularly. Following this pattern you can expect to lose about 1lb a week.
Yet again I've made New Year's resolutions to change my life. Every year I make the same ones but never get anywhere with them. Why by the second week of January do my good intentions just fizzle out?
The problem with resolutions are that they tend to be either unrealistic or so vague that we have little hope of achieving them. We all fall into the trap of making these promises and sometimes feel we must somehow suspend our lives until we achieve them.
But what would your life be like if you reached your goals? Would you be any better than you are now?
Or are you just using these issues to put living your life to the full on hold? If you seriously want to change things, you have to alter your focus.
Instead of saying I want to lose four stone, decide to make minor changes in your lifestyle such as cutting out the junk food or getting a bit more regular exercise.
You won't succeed overnight but the small changes will by this time next year make a difference.
If you want to change careers, think seriously about what you might like to do instead. Maybe some of your hobbies or interests could point the way to a new way of working.
The main thing is not to throw in the towel when you falter. Even if it's a case of two steps forward and one step back, it's still a step in the right direction. Enough tiny steps will eventually lead you to where you really want to go.
Thanks to all the readers who have taken the time to write to me during the year with their experiences and suggestions. I wish you all a very healthy New Year.
- Marion Kerr