Bright Families

Why Are My cycles Irregular? Part 2, Body Composition

A quick take on assessing your body type and how your muscle mass and weight distribution can offer clues about hormones and your cycle.

Why Are My Cycles Irregular? Part 1 - Energy Balance

If you're having irregular cycles, a first step is determining how much you eat in a day versus how much you use. A woman's body often shuts down her cycle if it perceives there are not enough resources. The episode includes a couple of examples of irregular cycles in older teens caused by accidentally under-eating.

Safety Class #1 - Responding Quickly to Emergencies

Our inaugural Safety Class covered general principles of watching surroundings and responding quickly; signs of heart attack, stroke, diabetic emergencies; and how to respond if someone is bleeding or unconscious. The kids had great questions and we're all looking forward to next week!

Is Your Daughter Anemic?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NPL-Z-05SE3lTr8dngF4K_3s33ySYQk6/view?usp=sharing
A super quick overview of common anemia signs in teen girls - not just fatigue, but cravings, emotional problems, and light or long cycles. 

Kids and Jobs

A quick overview of various approaches to jobs for kids 10-15, how these can connect with "official" job opportunities later, and how younger kids mature from the experience of working for other families and friends.

Easy Tips for UTIs

This episode covers:
- How UTIs happen
- Why they can recur and become chronic
- How nutrition and supplements can interrupt the cycle

Fertility Talk for Engaged Girls

This is an informal recording of a talk I gave to about 30 college girls, many of whom are anticipating marriage in the next year or two. It's a general overview of fertility in light of nutrition, thyroid, blood sugar, and other factors, presented from the Catholic perspective of sexuality within marriage. 
Audio quality is better in the first hour or so. Full transcript at https://www.brightfamilies.com/post/fertility-talk-for-college-girls

College Girls Health Talk

An overview of key habits for great health in college, based on several talks given to college girls over the last several years. 
Bone Mass
- Developing Bone Mass during this ideal window, through exercise and nutrition
- What's in Bone? Collagen, protein, vitamins
- Why Sleep affects weight, bone growth
Brain Development and how to develop strong relationships
- managing distractions from tech and our own preconceptions
- making eye contact, dealing with feelings honestly
Drinking, and Smoking, and other Drugs
- Smoking dampens feelings and covers indecision and social awkwardness
- Drinking adds a layer of unreality to relationships, and you should question any relationship that involves regular use of alcohol
- Drinking has different biological effects in different people, fatigue, euphoria, adrenaline
- Addiction is more likely with existing depression. What is your habit doing for you? What is it covering?
- Smoking and Drinking lead to nutrient deficiencies, both because of the requirements for their metabolism, and the decrease in food intake that often occurs
Sleep
- Sleep loss leads to poor memory, depression, anxiety, poor food choices, and a generally less enjoyable time
- Morning sunlight helps you start your day and fall asleep
- Daytime sunlight can help with Vitamin D
- Exercise at least 2 hours before bed, use white noise, darken the room
- At some point you just have to say no to whatever is happening lat at night
- Nap before late events like dances, go to bed early when you can
Immune System
- Vitamins, sleep, hydration, stress management, and sugar intake all have a large impact on your immune system
College Students and Diet Fads
- Any loss in calories can affect your cycle, sleep, mood
- Small changes in body fat can lead to large changes in mood and the consistency of your menstrual cycle. If you're not modeling, who cares about the extra 2 pounds?
Menstrual Cycle
- Basic overview of the process and common variations and problems
- At least 20% of girls test as anemic, and that's likely an underestimate
- Exercise the week before your period, consider resting during your period, you may need to snack more as your period ends and you're replacing blood loss