While perusing around on Facebook last week, I came upon an article that was linked to by the Marriage Bed’s fan page.  The article was posted by Paul on the Generous Husband, but he linked to the original article her read here.  The article is about 4 years old, but I still believe the information being pertinent today.

As I read this article, it made a lot of sense.  I believe my DH and I are in a happy marriage.  We agree on things for the most  part, but honestly, he usually makes better decisions than me, so I usually defer to him in most of our “disagreements”…which is all they usually are.   We don’t fight, verbally or physically.  We don’t get into loud shouting matches with each other.   No, we’re not perfect, but my marriage isn’t stressful.   My job, that’s another story, but not my marriage.   That’s where my stress comes in.

I sometimes get envious of how my DH can just drop things at the door.   The only thing that seems to really keep his mind preoccupied is his Dad’s health, which I totally understand since my Dad’s health is an issue right now, too.   I attach my emotions to everything, though.  At work, I try to be a compassionate employer and a compassionate servant to the people who walk through the door of my company.   I try to treat people better than I would want to be treated.   But when you work with (and for) people, there will always be conflict.  Employees misunderstand what I have said, and instead of coming to me for clarification, they let it fester until they blow up at me.    Or customers blatantly break handbook rules, and expect to be the exception to the rule and get angry at me for that.   ( I work in childcare)    I love it especially (not) when they are mad at me because I have to follow State guidelines or lose my license.   I carry this home and cannot drop it at the door.  It festers in my mind all night.   This quote applies to me … “The things that lead to emotional health and lower levels of heart disease are being in a supportive environment and learning how to delegate: you can’t have a to-do list with 20 things on it if you can only do five,”  

So how would you rate your marriage?  Are you in a good marriage or a bad marriage?  What can you do to make it better for both of you?

Anytime I go to login to my email account, I always check out the yahoo articles to see what is new and interesting.  I happened on this article about 7 health benefits of sexual intercourse.    So besides being an intimate bonding time with your spouse, you are getting some wonderful health benefits, too!  Here are some of the health benefits:

1.  Sex = exercise: your burning calories!

2. Sex keeps you looking younger: I would want to see more proof on this one, but if it is true, ladies, could this be our fountain of youth?

3. It’s good for your heart: wanna lower your blood pressure?  want a better chance of not having a heart attack?  sex can help!

4. Sex boosts immunity: immunoglobin A is produced more often which helps your immune system. It would be interesting to see if I get less colds and sinus infections, since immunoglobin a (igA) works with your nose, eyes, ears, digestive tract and vagina to protect those areas from outside foreign substances.

5. It can cure the common headache….kind of: Intimacy and bonding helps you to relax, and oxytocin is released during sex which helps decrease pain.

6. Sex gets the blood pumping: sex increases blood flow which gets oxygen molecules moving through out your body and you feel better.

7. Sex helps you sleep better: oxytocin not only can help decrease pain and increase endorphins, but it relaxes you so you can sleep better.

Do you think any of these hold water?  I think these can offer some of these benefits, but I am not trying it out on my next sinus headache to see if it works!    What other benefits do you think sex has on your physical health?

Over the past few days, I have learned just how weak my pelvic floor muscles have gotten.   On a 4 hour trip to visit my family over the holidays, we were ALMOST there, then all of the sudden I had to go NOW or pee on myself.  I had to make an emergency stop and run into the bathroom!  I had just gone the bathroom an hour before that.  On the day I was returning home, all the sudden I was going the bathroom every 8 minutes….. so thinking I had a bladder infection, I called my doctor and asked could she call me in something for it so I could start getting some help on my way home.  She did, I took it and made it home with far fewer stops….which was weird.   I finally put two and two together yesterday…. I wear panty liners and each time I was in the bathroom, I smelled pee on them….  my bladder is leaking and my pelvic muscles aren’t holding.

So on my way home from a function with DH’s family, I tried to do some kegels on the way home.  I couldn’t hold more than 4 seconds!  Then they would give.  I was severely out of practice.   By the time I went for bed, I could hold for 6 seconds, but wasn’t able to hold like the article I linked to above, so I’ve got some work cut out for me.

There is also an article on them here at Christian Nymphos written by yours truly.  I have always been a person who could really care less about kegels and really thought they were stupid….well, now I wish I hadn’t.   I will start back doing my kegels…. trying to get my muscles back in shape in hopes that I can stop this urinary incontinence problem I am having…. cause it’s getting annoying!

So if you are in the same boat I was in years ago thinking they weren’t important, think again. Start doing them now…. there is still time and hope!  LOL.   Besides, good, strong pelvic floor muscles feel really good to your DH if you do them during intercourse!    Happy  kegeling!