Health is a tricky thing, and it can feel like you have more questions than answers. The Sheaf recently accepted health-related questions through a callout on Instagram, and we did our best to give you an answer here. Read through to the end to see how you can be a part of the next iteration.

I need a bigger booty. Why is this so much work?

Everything in this life takes work, and that generally sucks. Looking in the mirror and taking a mental Photoshop tool to your body has never worked for us. Our suggestion would be to focus on your mentality when striving for that big booty.

We would argue that, although determination and willpower are integral to reaching goals of any kind, being kind to yourself is equally important. Our suggestion would be to try to learn to love the way you look now while you work out. Loving yourself and the way you look is incredibly hard in the world we live in, but we believe in you.

Working out can help you reach your goals, but what we are saying is that seeing physical changes can take some time, and if you’re comfortable in the body you have, waiting to see the fruits of your labour can be little less hard.

Do I really feel depressed or is it just my hormones temporarily messing with me?

Depression versus hormones or depression and hormones? If a hormonal imbalance is causing depressive symptoms, you may not find relief from antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.

Hormones, such as those produced by the thyroid gland, can affect depressive symptoms — depression is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol are hormones that can all affect mood-related symptoms based on their levels and your body’s sensitivity to them.

Women are more vulnerable to experiencing feelings of depression because of fluctuating hormones. The yo-yo effect of hormones throughout a woman’s life and throughout the menstrual cycle can affect her mood and can be especially detrimental to those vulnerable to depression and anxiety.

While premenstrual syndrome symptoms are generally manageable on a daily basis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder causes debilitating physical and emotional symptoms. Researchers believe PMDD may be an abnormal reaction to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle.

Studies have shown a correlation between PMDD and low levels of serotonin. Serotonin levels control mood, attention, sleep and pain.

The only way to really know where your depressive symptoms are coming from is to talk to your doctor. Keeping a diary of when your symptoms are the most problematic can help your doctor determine if there is specific timing throughout your cycle that may be hormone-related depression or if there are certain events that could change your hormone levels.

Why does my back hurt?

Oof, that is relatable. Your back could hurt from a number of reasons. Jack’s back hurts due to a high school football injury, bad posture, a job where he has to lift things and sitting a little too much in general.

Jack uses a foam roller and a massager and tries to go to the Recreation Services fitness class “Yoga for Backs” — it’s at 12:05 p.m. on Mondays, and if you get to even one class, the method used there is pretty replicable in your own home.

Finally, the quality of the furniture you sit on most often can have an impact as well. Jack suggests researching and purchasing a high-quality chair if you do lots of studying at home — it’s helped him a ton.

As with all health matters, please consult your doctor. If you would like to be part of the next advice article, keep an eye on the Sheaf’s Instagram where we will post calls for questions on our story.

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Jack Thompson / Sports & Health Editor

Shawna Langer