Weight Loss Story -- What Did I Do Wrong?
Weight Loss Story -- What Did I Do Wrong?
By: Michael Smith, MD
Two basic approaches to losing weight; one approach is correct and the other is wrong. Which approach do you think we consistently choose? Yep...the wrong one. The Real Weight Problem Gaining weight is your problem, not losing it. Until you learn how not to gain weight, all weight loss efforts are done in vain. First, recognize that there are two types of weight gain...Natural Age Related Weight Gain and Weight Regain. 1. Natural Age Related Weight Gain Gaining weight as you age is inevitable. Even body builders, athletes purposely building muscle, can not keep...http://www.articlefeeder.com/0-25136-7-Weight_Loss_Story_--_What_Did_I_Do_Wrong.html
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The 4 Tools We Need To Lose Weight
Copyright © 2005 strength-training-woman.comAsk most people what their New Year's Resolutions were and you'll likely find the answer- lose weight. With so many of us wanting to shed the pounds, why is the obesity pandemic reaching new heights?
Weight loss tends to conjure up images of near starvation and tons of cardio. Most of us do not even start on our New Year's Resolution simply because the thought of it stops us dead in our tracks.
What if we had some tools for weight loss? 4 simple ideas that are practically guaranteed to shed fat, drop the weight, and slim us down? That would be a major first step towards a weight loss program.
Tool 1- Strength TrainingWe have to recognize this as a viable fat-loss method. Every pound of muscle burns 35-50 calories per day. Adding lean muscle mass is the best way to jump start and sustain fat reduction.
Tool 2- CardioCardio is good, but it's not the only tool we should use. Cardio should be done as a partner to the other ideas. Anything that gets your heart pumping will do: walking, jogging, running, dancing, swimming, biking, or house cleaning.
Tool 3- NutritionNutrition is often the hardest part of the weight loss process. We simply forgot how to eat well in our culture. We need to eat protein, carbs, and fat to sustain our way of life. Cut one of the three out and imbalances will occur.
Tool 4- RestRest is not a luxury. It is a necessity. We should eat well every day and we should workout 5-6 times per week. The leftover 1-2 days are meant for rest. Our muscles need time to rebuild and repair themselves.
Using strength training, cardio, nutrition and rest to our advantage will result in fat loss. There is no magic bullet. Just simple and effective tools to create the body we want. Make a promise to yourself right now. Try using the above tools consistently and to the best of your ability for 4 weeks. You'll look great and feel amazing.
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Lynn VanDyke is the proud owner of
http://www.strength-training-woman.com . She is a personal fitness professional, yoga instructor and nutritionist. Her site is quickly becoming the authority for all things strength training.
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Weight Control Program Tips: Lose Weight Safely
By David Arnold LivingstonLosing weight is one of the major health concerns nowadays. That is why more and more people have been painstakingly involved in various weight control programs to lose a few pounds. However it can only lead to depression if the program does not suit its purpose. It is because these programs often cause misconceptions that build up high hopes, which can even add up or be the factor that can cause further weight gain if the chosen weight control program is not suited for the individual. Some people want to lose weight fast which in reality is difficult since it may take a few months before the body adjusts to the new diet intake. There are several weight control programs. Some can help. Some make matters worse. To serve as a guide in choosing the right weight control program, the following information and tips can be of great help.
Successful weight control programs usually start on instilling a positive attitude towards weight gain. One may lose the desired pounds but he can once again go back to the old habits of diet and can once again regain the lost weight. Losing weight can be easily done if the mind is in total in control of the body. Successful people who obtained the desired weight used positive mental attitude and optimum self-control to push through the difficulties and temptations that can interfere with the chosen weight control program. Weight control is not only meant to get the curvy figures shown in ads and magazines. It is also meant to avoid the danger of several diseases that can abruptly end one's life. These diseases may include hypertension or high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, gallbladder disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems and other forms of cancer.
In choosing the right type of weight control program, safety must be of utmost consideration. The diet must not just be trimmed down but it must also include the nutrients needed by the body to keep on going. The recommended daily allowance must be there including minerals, vitamins and proteins. The diet must have less calories and fats which can be 30% of the total daily calories content of regular meals. Skipping of meals is not advisable since it can only create more cravings which can again add up to the overall weight. Food types that are high in fiber must always be on stock since it can be of great help in the chosen weight control program. These types of food may include vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals and fruits. Low calorie raw vegetables are also preferred. Keeping a list of the food or juice taken can help the individual to assess the eating habit so as to make the necessary changes needed for successful weight control.
Commercial weight control programs can also be chosen but be sure to have access to the vital information to be considered such as the fees and costs involved. The dietary supplements or the types of food to be taken must not have any negative effects on the metabolism of the individual. Some diet supplements may cause allergies and other side effects which can endanger the health or the overall well-being of the individual. The maintenance of weight is considered as the most difficult stage since there must be constant and persistent applications of what should be done.
David Arnold Livingston is an advocate for great health and shares resources at:
http://www.yrweight.com/Article Source:
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Top Twenty Weight Loss Tips, Tricks and Solutions
by: Roy BarkerHere are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started, keep you going, and help you stick to your diet.
1. Never leave home "starving." Always have a light snack before eating dinner in a restaurant, such as a piece of fruit, a glass of juice or a carrot.
2. Don't go food shopping on an empty stomach! You'll be tempted to buy everything in sight.
3. Don't be tempted by treats. Store them out of view, off counter-tops and as out-of-reach as possible.
4. Don't eat in front of the TV. Watching the boob tube -- instead of watching your plate -- lulls you into overeating. Also avoid being tempted by food and snack commercials.
5. Make it a rule in your house to confine your meals to the dining room or kitchen table! Never eat standing up! This leads to mindless snacking.
6. Think before you drink. Alcohol adds lots of calories, but no nutrients. Also, it weakens your willpower to avoid the wrong food choices. Hangovers can cause wicked cravings for fatty or high carbohydrate foods that can sabotage any attempt at weight loss.
7. Fill up on soup first. Begin every meal with non-cream hot soup; it forces you to eat slowly and fills you up so you won't overeat.
8. Take time to taste your food. Don't gobble food down! Rushing through your meals doesn't give your brain the time that it needs to signal your body that you are full.
9. When dining out, request sauces and low-calorie dressings on the side.
10. There is no law that requires you to finish everything on your plate.
11. Prepare a shopping list (with menu ideas in mind) and stick to the list. Avoid being tempted by bargains that grocery stores place on the outer aisles and at the back and the front of the store. The healthiest foods are usually in the long narrow aisles.
12. Use non-stick pans to reduce the need for cooking with fat.
13. If you must use oil, try a flavorful one like olive or sesame oil. Now remember, a little goes a long way! Make just a spritz of oil go even further by buying a Misto. A Misto is an aerosol can that you can fill with a good fat such as olive or canola oil.
14. A pinch of grated cheese or blue cheese will provide a flavorful kick without adding a lot of calories to a salad or grain dish.
15. If you cook in large quantities for your family, store leftovers in individual serving size containers. This is a way to practice portion control for yourself so you don't eat too much at one sitting.
16. Nibbling off someone else's plate may seem harmless -- but those calories do add up!
17. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. A beverage before mealtime will also help you feel full faster and longer. Water also helps your body digest food, which is especially important now that you're eating a fiber rich diet.
18. Store really tempting treats in opaque containers or silver foil -- and stick them in the back of the refrigerator. Out of sight out of mind!
19. Are you stuffing yourself? If you have to loosen your belt a few notches after meals you're definitely eating too much!
20. Mashed bananas, prunes and apple sauce are great baking substitutes for fat, especially in bread, brownie and cake mixes.
About The Author
Publisher & Author: Roy Barker. More detail and recommended guides are at
www.weightmanagement-weightloss-resource.com/ where you'll see easy weight loss assistance is at hand.
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Massage Therapy does Your Body Good
by: Dakota Caudilla
If you’ve never been for a massage therapy before this, one advice…try. Before the massage therapy begins, you would have started experiencing the benefits of a massage therapy. The low lights, the burning of scented candles, the soft, calming music related to massage therapy all contributes towards this serene atmosphere. By the time you start taking a few deep breaths of the room, you would have started to sink into a very warm and comfortable corner of your soul as every single muscle of your body respond to the massage therapy atmosphere.
Massage therapy is one of the most effective ways to helps relieve tired and stressed bodies and minds from the onslaught of daily life. Destination spas with massage therapies are flocked to endlessly all year round. People receive most benefits from massage therapies when they get a regular dose of massage therapy. You can visit a spa as many times as twice a week to once a month – this depends on your budget and need. Some people complain that although massage therapy is beneficial, they find the services expensive and are often perceived to be a reward instead of something that they should indulge in on a regular basis.
But here’s something to think about: massage therapy is good for our bodies, and our bodies are important to us. The condition of our body can be improved with massage therapy and if we value and would like to upkeep our bodies, we will have to consider massage therapy in a different light. Our body is the one and only physical shell that we will ever be given – there will never be another.
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Health Risks Due To Long Hours At Your Computer
by: Hege CrowtonDid you know that spending long hours at your computer can put your health at serious risk? Most people does not even consider that possibility, but t does, Working at a desk is extremely hard on your body, and I would like to share this with you so maybe you can avoid some of the most common health risks. The most common of them all is back pain.
BACK PAIN: Its Types and Treatments
Are you fed up with taking all the treatments for your back pain which you feel do not work? Are you a constant patient of physical therapists, chiropractors? Is your back pain causing you distress and trouble because you can not do the activities you wish you could do? Have you been advised surgery to correct your back's structural abnormalities?
Back pain may be classified into two types: acute or short term, and chronic. It the low back pain is short-term, it is most probably due to lower back trauma. Certain disorders such as arthritis may also cause acute back pain. Trauma such as sports injury, vehicular injury, and injuries incurred around the house may also result to back pain.
Back pain may range from simple muscle ache to stabbing pain which results to limit in a person's flexibility and range of motion. The person suffering from back pain may also be unable to stand straight. If the back pain persists for over three months, the back pain is classified as chronic. It is usually progressive and the cause is normally difficult to pinpoint.
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Your Guide To Finding Healthcare Information
by: Dakota CaudillaThe Internet is a wealthy source of information and if you’re looking for healthcare information, the Internet can be a resourceful vehicle for you to find reliable and trustworthy guides and advice on healthcare products and supplies. It all depends on how you find the information and who is dispensing the healthcare information.
If used properly, the Internet allows us to find healthcare information quickly and easily. Many website owners provide free healthcare information on a wide range of topics like diseases, health conditions, therapies, medical products and symptoms of diseases, etc. Lists of healthcare providers and healthcare institutions can also be found online, if you go to the right website.
Some people contend that the healthcare information provided by website owners is not reliable. This is true, to a certain extent. The healthcare information found online can NEVER be relied upon fully and the healthcare information printed out from websites cannot replace professional advice that your doctor or healthcare practitioner can give you. But the healthcare information found online can be used as a basis for your visits to your doctor. For instance, browsing through the healthcare information online prior to your visit to the doctor, you’re better prepared with information and questions that you might want to ask your doctor during the visit.
It’s either very difficult to verify, or almost impossible to verify the source of the healthcare information or advice available online. This is where reliability is in question. But most professional healthcare advice websites will give you the source of the advice, and with this, you can easily verify the source of the healthcare information.
One thing is for sure, consumers have to be extra careful about buying pharmaceutical products or medicines online. In fact, the act is dangerous enough for certain governments to consider making buying medication and healthcare supplies online illegal, unless you’ve got the ‘green light’ from your doctor and can prove that your doctor’s permission or prescription allows it. Even then, there’s a huge question mark hanging over our heads.
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Eat More, Weigh Less
by: Gary Gresham
To eat more and weigh less sounds impossible doesn't it? But with a few simple facts and gaining a little knowledge you may be able to turn the tables on your weight loss success. You may actually lose unwanted pounds without having that constant hungry feeling.
Eating more and weighing less begins with learning a new way of eating that promotes weight loss without feeling hungry. You are eating healthier to lose weight.
Nine out of ten people who try to lose weight fail to keep it off. Dieters know that empty feeling in the pit of your stomach, not to mention that growling sound that erupts when you lower your food intake.
The key to eat more and weigh less is figuring out the energy density of foods. Energy density foods are divided into four categories:
1. Very low energy dense foods, which include most fruit and vegetables, skim milk and broth based soups.
2. Low energy dense foods, which include cooked grains, cold cereal with skim milk, low-fat meats and salads.
3. Medium energy dense foods, which include meats, cheeses, salad dressings, and snack foods.
4. High energy dense foods which include candy, chips, cookies, crackers and nuts.
Our senses play an important role in being comfortable and satisfied with the amount of food we eat. A meal begins with our eyes and tiny portions make us feel we will never be full. While large portions of food make us believe that when we are done we will be satisfied and happy.
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Lose Weight Cycling
Cycling is one of the most "complete" exercises, which means this alone is sufficient to meet your body's requirements for burning some fat combined with breathing exercises, IF done correctly. This article exlpains the essense of cycling.
Lose Weight Cycling
A Different Weight Loss Tip
By Terje Ellingsen
This is no diet but a weight loss tip that is a little different than most of the weight loss tips around. It is targeted to people suffering from food addiction, especially overweight people that love to eat unhealthy, fat food in huge portions. It is a psychological weight loss approach for changing food or eating habits by erasing the mind pattern that holds the old food habits and replacing them with a new and healthy pattern. Your job is to repeatedly perform an exercise where you associate strong positive feelings to losing weight and negative feelings to eat your favourite food. Here is what you do:
I
Imagine yourself overweight and heavy, eating your favourite food; hamburger, french fries, potato chips, bacon or whatever. Think of this food as garbage that you have picked out of a trash can, that someone else has not been able to finish and has discarded. With cats and dogs eating side by side with you, hoping to get what you don’t finish. Imagine that the hamburger meat is not cooked to your satisfaction, possibly under-cooked and cold besides, with a smell less than inviting coming from all the added condiments which are running from the sides of the partly cooked, partly eaten burger which may have your stomach turning upside down. Think of all the nasty, unhealthy things that may have happened to your “less than good for you” food before you got to it. Perhaps horse meat or even dog mean was mixed together with toxic fillers and flavouring added just to mislead you into believing you’re eating fresh and tasteful food…. Your heavy stomach is growing bigger and bigger, it’s about to blow up, your heart rate is accelerating, you having problems breathing, your stomach starts to hurt tremendously… you feel pressure from in your stomach like the rotten food wants to come up… Are you still hungry? Are you nauseated? Do you want to vomit? Go and vomit! Keep on elaborating on this image until you can’t stand it anymore – only your fantasy sets the limits.
II
Now, make a list of all kinds of fresh, healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, various sorts of grain, nuts and seeds. Imagine these foods arranged attractively on your plate. Imagine yourself eating this food as a healthy, sound, slim and strong person radiating your soundness, joy and great self image. You feel better than ever before. You are a successful person that succeeds in everything you do. You are eating living, fresh food from Mother nature, no flavours added, no chemicals only the fresh, healthy food that God has provided for you. You look at yourself walking or jogging along the beach, people smiling at you and you smiling back as you experience a feeling of energy and the joy of being alive. You see yourself having conversations with people you meet in a nice and trustful atmosphere. You know you have an excellent looking, healthy and strong body and that you only eat food that make you strong and healthy; tasteful and fresh food directly from nature. You’re feeling great, you’re feeling secure with yourself and you’re loving life. Keep on elaborating on this image as well.
Continue to eat as you did before but practice these exercises every day; when you find yourself about to eat what you know is not beneficial to attain and sustain a healthy body, imagine the first practice mentioned above before you eat and after that takes effect, take your imagination to the second practice. Once you start with a routine of eating better, eating healthier, soon the second practice will not be in your imagination but become a reality. It is vital that you repeat this exercise as often as needed. If done consistently and focused, you will surely change your food habits for the better. While the first imaginary practice may have been a bit gross, it is up to you and your imagination to create what will to the trick for you.
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet marketer. He runs the website
11-Weight-Loss.net. Terje enjoys to give advice and help people with
healthy foods like negative calorie food and
exercise weight loss tips Article Source:
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Fit for What?
Copyright © 2005 Tanja GardnerUnless we’re talking about our bodies, and the amount of exercise they can do, we usually talk about being fit in relation to something. An object is ‘fit for use’, clothing is ‘fit to be worn at work’, and food is ‘fit to be eaten’. My parents used to have a running joke that they were fit – fit to drop! Everything else is fit 'for something'. So why do we insist on describing ourselves as ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ without relating the concepts to anything else?
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
It’s a basic truth that the human body wasn’t made to sit still for any length of time. We spent tens of thousands of years evolving in an environment that required us to move – to find shelter, to catch food, and to keep ourselves safe from predators. We’ve only been living lifestyles that allow us to be sedentary for the lesser part of a hundred years – not nearly enough time for evolution to adapt our bodies to this new environment. We see this constantly reflected in modern rates of heart disease, atherosclerosis, chronic aches and pains, and muscular and bone deterioration in people who have become inactive as they age.
On top of this, activity has a very real effect on both stress and energy levels. Our bodies have a ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ way with energy – if we don't constantly use and then replace energy (with activity, followed by rest and good nutrition), we start noticing our energy levels gradually draining away. We feel tired, lethargic, and as though any amount of effort is just too much to be worth it. And if we’re also under stress – for example, at work, or in a difficult relationship – we feel the energy loss and the stress even more intensely.
These are general principles that seem to be true whoever we are. But different lifestyles require different amounts of energy, and exact different prices in terms of stress. We enjoy doing, and our bodies are suited for, different kinds of activity. It makes sense then, that the amount and type of activity that will help us reach our optimum fitness, will be different.
DIFFERENT STROKES
If that’s the case, then getting ‘fit’ without a frame of reference seems like a meaningless concept. Unless we know what we want to be ‘fit for’ – what fitness means to us – there’s no reason for us to get or stay that way. If my life is basically calm, quiet and easy-flowing, and I’m quite happy to keep it that way, my ‘optimum fitness’ is going to be very different to someone who’s discovered a deep fulfillment in setting themselves a goal and achieving it. Someone who’d just like to go for a walk with friends without getting puffed is going to have a different optimum fitness level to someone who wants to discover how it feels to finish a marathon.
On top of this, what people want often changes over time. Perhaps at one point in your life, you enjoyed spending a couple of hours a day exercising, but now you’re finding there are things you’d like to do far more with that time. Alternatively, when you first started creating your optimum life for yourself, it might have been enough for you to just keep your body healthy. As you tried new activities though, you might have discovered you were actually enjoying some of them for their own sake, and wanting to get fitter so you could do more of them. So at different times in your life, you’d have a different optimum fitness level.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE “FIT FOR”?
Which brings us back to our original question – can we talk about being fit, without knowing what exactly we’re ‘fit for’? The way we see it, your optimum fitness level depends completely on what you want to be able to do in your daily life, how you want to be feeling, how much energy you’d like to have and how exercise fits in with the rest of your life. So your first step in moving closer to optimum fitness needs to be to make that all-important decision “What do I want to be fit for?”
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Optimum Life's Tanja Gardner is a Stress Management Coach and Personal Trainer whose articles on holistic health, relaxation and spirituality have appeared in various media since 1999. Optimum Life is dedicated to providing fitness and stress management services to help clients all over the world achieve their optimum lives. For more information please visit check out
http://optimumlife.co.nz, or contact Tanja on
tanja@optimumlife.co.nz.
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How to create fat burning vitality
Copyright © 2005 Rick RakauskasYour Breath and Your Body
If your intension is to create vitality and fitness, or maybe it's to burn fat and lean up, or maybe it's all of these things and more, and you wish too achieve lasting results, it can be of great benefit to you, to be conscious of two aspects.
I. is your breath
II. is your physical body
I. Your BREATH
· Be conscious, that the way you breathe, can either,
vitalise or devitalise,
both your physical body, and your vital body (also known as your aura or your etheric body).
This can have a cumulative effect on both your "mental" and "emotional bodies".
Give thought to this!
A vast majority of us are walking around barely breathing in enough oxygen to blow up a balloon. No wonder the heavy feeling of depression is modern mans new up and coming dis-ease. Not even noticing how we are hold our breath when we exercise, eat, and yes - holding on to our breath when we talk, not to mention when we are sitting at the computer or working behind a desk only exasperates the problem. Breathing not only supplies oxygen, as you breathe, the oxygen inhaled purifies your blood by helping the removal of waste products.
Non conscious irregular breathing will severely limit the processes which play a critical role in your circulatory and respiratory systems. Your heart and lungs need to work harder. Your digestion and metabolism becomes sluggish, and the faster you breathe, the less you are able to live a vital life.
Oxygen deficiency is a major contributor to the feelings of anxiety, stress, and the onset of the disease process, leaving all of your organs, tissues, and cells malnourished and devitalised. All 75 Trillion of them. It is a proven scientific fact that no disease can live in a purely oxygenated state.
· Some benefits of "being conscious of your breath", are…
- Conscious rhythmic breathing, increases your rate of metabolism, which as a direct result improves digestion, and helps promote weight loss.
- Conscious rhythmic breathing, calms and steadies your mind, which as a direct result improves your focus and concentration.
- Conscious rhythmic breathing, strengthens your immune system, which as a result enables your body to live harmoniously within its environment, decreasing illness and disease.
- Conscious rhythmic breathing, gives you the ability to lower or raise your blood pressure, which as a result, improves your quality of living.
- Conscious rhythmic breathing, and an imposed rhythm on the everyday life, creates wellbeing, which as a result, creates space to experience, joy.
As one of our most brilliant, creative, and health conscious poets of the romantic period so eloquently put it:
"He lives most life whoever breathes most air"
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
· If it is your intention to tone up and lean up, you first of all must realise that to burn fat you need fire, and fire needs to breathe!
Three Points to Breath ~ an instruction manual, say's...
More oxygen = more fire
More fire = more fuel can be burnt (fat)
More fuel can be burnt = more power
More power = the power to shape the body
This is as true to the human body as it is to the combustion engine. Sure you can lose weight by starving yourself, or by minimising your fluid intake, yet with every action there is sure to be a reaction. If you evaporate one litre of water that your body is holding as fluid, you may have temporarily lost a kilogram of weight on the scales, yet as sure as the tide will turn, so will the fluid.
After you have decided were it is you are going, choose the best path to get there, and choose "Knowledge as your Companion".
II. Your PHYSICAL BODY
And FOOD…
· Be conscious that the food you eat, can either,
vitalise or devitalise,
your physical body, which has an effect on both your mental and emotional bodies.
Give thought to this!
· Fat is GOOD, here a few reasons why...
- Fats are accessed, consumed and used in the regenerative and healing process.
- Fats and oils are needed to renew and build new muscle tissue.
- Fats are the most concentrated sources of energy in the diet.
- Fat is a fuel.
Eliminating fat from our diet, does not ensure we will lose weight loss and gain good health. Why is this?
Because there are different forms of fat found in the foods we eat, and by eliminating fat completely, we eliminate, "the most concentrated source of energy found in the diet". Eliminating the foods that contain fats associated with obesity and heart disease in your diet, and eating the "power fats", that improve your vitality, is the way to go.
· The singular distinction you must be aware of is the difference between healthy "power" fats, and unhealthy, fats.
· The two fats that you should practice eliminating from your diet are, saturated fats and trans fats.
Saturated Fats are fats that stay hard at room temperature, and are mostly sourced from eating animals and animal products. You find them in meat, whole-milk products, poultry skin, and egg yolks.
Coconut oil also has a high amount of saturated fat.
Trans Fats are man made fats, and are produced through hydrogenation, that is, heating oils in the presence of oxygen. Many products found on the supermarket shelf contain trans fats, because the fats help them maintain a longer shelf life. Margarine contains high levels of trans fats. Unfortunately it is not Law that product manufacturers tell you how much trans fats their products contain, but you can find out if it's in a product, by looking at the ingredient list. "Knowledge is King", and if the ingredients contain hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils, then it contains trans fats. If the consumer voices their opinion, and does not buy these products, manufacturers will be required to change their ways.
The two fats that improve vitality and well-being are monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. These fats come from the vegetable kingdom, nuts and seeds, e.g. like linseed, olive and peanut oil, cold pressed oils, coconut oils, avocados and soy-based foods. These fats are necessary to your body for a variety of vital reasons: regulating hormonal production, improving immune function, lowering total cholesterol, lubricating joints, and providing the basics for healthy hair, nails and skin.
· Do you chew your food?
Food needs to be mixed with the four types of saliva, found in the body, for optimum absorption. Then it can be easily digested by the body, and the nutrients absorbed into the bloodstream. The body can only absorb liquefied foods. If solid foods are not made into liquids, the body cannot absorb the nutrients, in the food.
To absorb these nutrients, the body uses four organs of digestion, via the four digestive juices.
I. the mouth secretes saliva (ptyalin)
II. the stomach secretes saliva (pepsin)
III. the pancreas secretes saliva (trypsin)
IV. the liver secretes saliva (gall)
There is a very old, and very wise saying, that states…
"It's not what you eat people, it's what you absorb!" So…
CHEW your FOOD!
Your PHYSICAL BODY,
And your FEET…
· How hard do your feet hit the earth?
The condition of your feet has an effect on the condition of health in your body, and your metabolism. Located on the sole of your foot are reflex points for all of the bodies organs. In particular, there is a point that relates to the kidney's.
The kidney's have numerous functions to perform in the body, with the most common and understood function being the filtering of waste products that are excreted in the urine. A not so well known function of the kidney's is to store and distribute spiritual energy, or ancestral chi. The kidney's are like a big battery, powering your body. Look after them!
· So if you are of "heavy foot", lighten up!
A favourite saying I use when I walk or run is,
"I am as light, as a butterfly,
My feet barely touch the ground"
Keep well.
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Brett J. Hayes Core Fitness Trainer
http://www.vitalityplusaustralia.com.au==================================
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Benefits of a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables
Copyright © 2005 Jane OelkeWe know we need to eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables everyday. Actually now, to prevent cancer, 8 to 13 servings per day are recommended. A serving is one cup of raw fruits or vegetables, or ½ cup cooked. At a recent lecture I asked a lunch audience to raise their hand if they had at least one fruit or vegetable already that day. No one in that group raised their hand. This is not uncommon. Our processed and convenience foods contain very few fruits and vegetables.
To prevent chronic diseases, fruits and especially vegetables are very important. Vegetables especially have the antioxidants, minerals, and phytochemicals in the correct combination that help keep the blood sugar in balance, create better energy in the body, and along with fruits build up the immune system.
Each color found in fruits and vegetables focus on building the immune system in its own way. It is important to get a variety of colors, so that you will get a full range of phytochemicals (beneficial plant chemicals) in your daily diet. Research is finding that eating whole fruits and vegetables gives you many more nutrients than you could possible add to a vitamin and mineral supplement. There are over 12,000 phytochemicals, and I have yet to see a supplement, unless it has whole fruits and vegetables in it, have all of the 180 different vitamins or minerals that are required by our body to function daily.
The different colors in fruits and vegetables help our immune system react to different stresses in our daily life. So look at the different colors in your diet. See if they include each of the colors listed below. This is one way to know that you are getting the full benefit of nutrients possible in your diet.
Green Foods – broccoli, kale, leaf and romaine lettuce, spinach, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
Green foods are especially good for the circulatory system. They contain many minerals and B-complex vitamins. Some phytochemicals found in green foods are sulforaphane and indoles that are very powerful anti-cancer compounds. Researchers have tried to use these as isolated phytochemicals but find that they only work while in the whole food form.
Red Foods – tomatoes, watermelon, red cabbage.
Red foods contain many phytochemicals that reduce free radical damage. The phytochemical called lycopene is especially helpful to prevent prostate problems, and reduce the effects of sun damage on the skin. Lycopene is the phytochemical that make the red foods get their red color.
Orange Foods – carrots, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe.
The orange foods have the carotenoids the help prevent cancer by repairing the DNA. As our mothers told us, carrots, and other orange foods, are especially good for our eyes, and help with night vision. The deep orange foods help our bodies get the vitamin A we need, without getting excess that can lead to osteoporosis.
Green/Yellow Foods – yellow corn, green peas, collard greens, avocado and honeydew melon.
This combination of green and yellow foods contains the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that help reduce the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. These foods are also helpful in reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Orange /Yellow Foods – oranges, pineapple, tangerines, peaches, papaya, nectarines
These foods that are orange and yellow in color are high in antioxidants, especially Vitamin C, and help to improve the health of the mucus membranes and connective tissue. They help prevent heart disease by improving circulation and preventing inflammation.
White/Green Foods – onions, garlic, celery, pears, chives
White and green combination foods contain a variety of phytochemicals. Garlic and onions contain allicin, the anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal phytochemical, and they can act as a poor man’s antibiotic. Add garlic and onions in your meals to reduce the effects of potential toxicity of high fat meats. Celery has many minerals, especially organic sodium, that keeps the fluid in the joints healthy.
Red/Blue/Purple Foods – red apples, beets, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, prunes, concord grapes, blackberries.
These dark colored red/blue/purple foods are very rich in powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins that protect again heart disease by improving circulation and preventing blood clots. They have many anti-aging phytochemicals that keep the blood circulating reducing the effects of the Standard American Diet rich in trans fats and processed foods.
When you make a salad make sure you have a variety of different colors. Strive to get at least 5 colors on your plate. Use fruits to balance the rest of the colors needed. This way you will get closer to the 8 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables required, and you will get the variety of nutrients you need daily.
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Jane Oelke, N.D., Ph.D. is a Traditional Naturopath and Doctor of Homeopathy in southwest Michigan. She is the author of “Natural Choices for Fibromyalgia” and “Natural Choices for Attention Deficit Disorder.” She is a professional speaker on natural health topics. She can be contacted at DoctorOelke@aol.com or through her website at
http://www.NaturalChoicesForYou.com==================================
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DETOXIFY YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH
Copyright © 2005 Judy ThompsonAs we age, our health may diminish or deteriorate. Synonyms to deteriorate include such words as: decline, weaken, spoil, oxidize, rot and rust.
What causes such harm to our health? What, if anything, can be done about it? Over the years we get a build up of toxins in our bodies.
One form of toxicity is by heavy metals and is an excessive build-up of metals in the body. These include mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and many more. Common sources of heavy metals are: dental amalgams, vaccinations, food, water and the environment. While most toxins are excreted from the body through the kidneys and bowel, over time a build-up of these poisons does occur.
Toxic metals and other environmental pollutants are known to be a cause of many serious or chronic health conditions. Even low levels of lead intoxication may cause aggressive behavior and learning disabilities. Accumulation of aluminum and mercury may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Research has pointed to parasites as being a primary cause of cancer. Pesticides and chemicals used in solvents or various household products, may very well contribute to diseases such as Parkinson’s or Multiple Sclerosis. Some researchers even believe that all illness is a result of toxicity brought about by yeast and fungus infections, which are great decomposers of life. And this list could go on and on.
Removing toxins from the body will help a person who is already in pretty good health to be able to continue that good health for a longer period of time. In addition, removing toxins from the body of a diseased person, will allow the body’s natural healing processes to work a lot better. Thus, the person will have a better chance to regain optimum health.
Before beginning any program to detoxify, you should discuss it with your physician. This is especially important if you are taking any prescribed medications.
There are many ways to detoxify. Some we may do as a natural part of our everyday activities, or even in the foods we take in daily. Things we do that cause us to perspire, whether it be running or working around the house, will cause our bodies to excrete toxins. Some of the heart-healthy foods we consume that are known as antioxidants will also help us to eliminate toxins. Even if you decide on specific methods to detoxify, you should continue or even increase the good things in your daily living that have a positive effect on your body.
With some methods of detoxifying, you may feel worse before you feel better! As the body begins the process of getting rid of toxins and parasites, you may be very uncomfortable. Realize, however, that this may indicate that your cleansing process is truly working.
Some people like to use saunas for detoxification. Other people may choose to go to a health food store and talk to a knowledgeable clerk about what is available there. When I began my research for this article, I learned that there are really a lot of ways to cleanse the body from the poisons that may cause most of our illnesses and diseases. I have personally used several methods for eliminating toxins.
The method that I have found to be the most satisfying to me is the use of all-natural detoxification pouches. Detox pouches are easy to use, very effective, and are fairly low in cost. They can also be sent to a lab so you can find out what toxins are being removed from your body.
Detoxification pouches look similar to gauze pads. You simply apply them to the bottoms of your feet before you go to bed at night and the poisons are drawn out during the night. As the pouch absorbs fluids it will become moist and change color. This method of detoxification puts nothing into the body. It only takes harmful toxins out of the body.
To briefly sum up this article.
(1) It is known that a build-up of toxins in the body is a major cause of disease.
(2)When the body gets rid of these toxins it is allowed to be healthier.
(3)There are many available ways for a person to eliminate toxins and live a healthier life.
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Judy Thompson is a former Health teacher and for many years has been a student of natural nutrition. The detox pouches may be ordered from her website. Go to:
http://shopnutronix.com/333015895==================================
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What to look for in good Health Insurance
Copyright © 2005 Octocat LtdHealth insurance is a kind of protection that provides payment of benefits for covered sickness or injury. Included in health insurance are various types of insurance such as accident insurance, disability income insurance, medical expense insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Before sign the health insurance policy make sure that you have read thoroughly the benefit’s section. Take note of any health care service that is not covered by your health insurance policy. Also, pay specific attention to how the health insurance policy is worded. Sometimes, health insurance companies hide the health insurance coverage exclusions within the definitions of words.
For instance, a health insurance company may define the term ‘emergency’ as anything that is life threatening condition that cannot be reasonably treated by a primary care physician. Whereas, your definition of ‘emergency’ may be anything that requires quick medical attention.
Clearly, there is conflict for the two definitions. If you find yourself in an emergency situation where you incur a broker arm, for instance, your insurance company may deny coverage for emergency room treatment of a broken arm for the reason that the broken arm does not fall under the life threatening category.
Therefore, you should read over carefully the health insurance policy definitions, paying close attention to the seven key words:
medical emergency
medically necessary
accidental injury
experimental or investigational
pre certification
pre-existing condition, and
reasonable and customary
These words and any words that are open to interpretation should be regarded with wariness. Find out how your health insurance company defines each of these.
Finally, find the section describing the procedures you must follow in order for your insurance company to reimburse you. These policy conditions or prerequisites are typically worded in a positive tone. Read through each condition carefully, make notes and call your health insurance company with any questions.
You should also compare health insurance contracts before you sign one. In order to compare exclusions, take two policy contracts and find the exclusions sections. If you want to compare a number of health insurance contracts then you could use an online service.
After you obtain your free quote for the health coverage you desire, apply for it online, and you'll obtain all the information that you'll need to compare exclusions of each health insurance policy (though sometimes this will require more research.)
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Mike Spencer recently became unemployed and moved into self employment. He was forced to find his own health insurance plan to protect his family. It wasn't as easy as he first thought. Here he shares the pitfalls of various plans and what you need to look out for when picking a good plan for you:
http://www.1st-for-health-insurance.com/articles/what-is-health-insurance.html==================================
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The Power of the Pomegranate
Copyright © 2005 Michael Brooks
The juice from a pomegranate offers some of the worlds most powerful antioxidants. In fact, studies show that pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than other known antioxidant drinks such as red wine, green tea, blueberry juice, cranberry juice and orange juice. In addition, there are some studies that suggest pomegranate juice my help in the treatment of prostate cancer and may prevent some brain injuries in babies. Not bad for a fruit that many people are not that familiar with.
The Cancer Research
After skin cancer, prostate cancer is next as the cause of cancer death among men in the United States. A recent study at UC Los Angeles found that drinking pomegranate juice helped fight prostate cancer. The study was performed on 48 men with recurrent prostate cancer. Half of the men drank 8 ounces of pomegranate juice a day and the other half did not drink any pomegranate juice. The men that drank the juice were able to go 37 months before symptoms reappeared, the non-juice drinkers only went 15 months without symptoms. This study was small and is certainly not the final word on the subject. However, the research is promising and certainly warrants giving some consideration to adding pomegranate juice to your diet.
Brain Injury Research
A new study on mice conducted by the University of Washington School of medicine in St. Louis could hold promise for expectant mothers at risk of premature birth. Pomegranate juice may help their babies resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow associated with premature birth. The phenomenon, which is called hypoxia ischemia, causes brain injury in approximately 2 of every 1,000 full-term human births.
In this latest study, researchers temporarily lowered brain oxygen levels and brain blood flow in baby mice whose mothers drank water mixed with concentrated pomegranate juice, their brain tissue loss was reduced by 60 percent in comparison to mice whose mothers ingested other liquids.
What is a Pomegranate?
The pomegranate is a native fruit of the Mediterranean regions and has been grown there for thousands of years.
The tree was brought into California by Spanish settlers in the late 1700’s. It’s primarily grown for fruit production in the drier parts of California and Arizona. The actual fruit is pink to bright red in color and is the approximate size of a softball. For those of you on a diet, one pomegranate is approximately 100 calories. When you open up a pomegranate there are little fruit sacs inside that look a little like vitamin E capsules (except they are red). The fruit is held together by a white, spongy, bitter tissue. Try not to eat the tissue as it does not taste very good. You can get the actual fruit in supermarkets from about October thru January, for the remainder of the year you will need to buy the juice.
How to Eat a Pomegranate
Pomegranates can get really messy when you open them up. Be careful as they stain.
1. Cut off the ends
2. Slice into sections like you would an apple
3. Place sections in a bowl of water and let soak for about 10 minutes
4. Separate the fruit sacs from the white spongy tissue
5. Throw away the white tissue and drain the fruit.
6. Eat and Enjoy
If this is your first time eating a pomegranate you may find the fruit a little bitter and tart. It reminds me a little of cranberry. Give this fruit a chance as you will learn to love it.
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Mike Brooks has been a life long follower and proponent of the fitness lifestyle. Through his avid research, Mr. Brooks has come to the realization that being healthy is a choice and encompasses not only proper diet but also a fitness regimen that includes the mind, body and soul. Mike Brooks is the publisher and editor-in-chief for the health information site
http://www.Ultimatehealthreport.com .
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Squeeze To Relax!
by: Tim WebbThis heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How on earth is squeezing anything going to allow for relaxation to occur? Surely it will generate more tension, won’t it?
Well, not necessarily. Indeed, combined with focused breathing it is a great tool to alleviate stress and will help those stubborn tense muscles to let go!
It is a common affliction for many people to have unnecessary muscular tension throughout their bodies and this becomes the norm. Hectic lifestyles and sedentary jobs all contribute towards tension in the body as well as bad posture.
This being the case it may sound ludicrous to suggest creating more tension by squeezing. However, it is by initially squeezing that a wonderful physical contrast is created leaving the body feeling more tranquil. Also, once you have experienced the difference it will also encourage you to consciously become less tense and to use less energy when going about everyday tasks.
Below are some simple instructions that can be instantly used to experience how squeezing muscles and breathing in a specific way can help tension to subside!
1. Sit or stand comfortable.
2. Inhale and squeeze a muscle group.
3. Hold for a second and then, as you release this muscular tension, exhale slowly and fully.
4. Repeat this five to ten times. Note the distinction between how your muscles felt to begin with and now, after having let them relax from a contracted position.
5. Note – If you are looking for a quick way to loose tension all over your body all you need do is, from a standing position, inhale and squeeze your entire body and then on the long slow exhalation release all tension. Try this five times and feel the positive effects!
Whether you squeeze and then relax one muscle at a time or your whole body you should have the feeling of almost deflating like a balloon and loosing undue tension.
It is also worth bearing in mind there are no long periods of squeezing muscles and holding the breath! It is not required and is dangerous.
You can utilise this method whenever you feel stressed, tense, or angry and it will go a long way towards reminding you that a relaxed body is almost always better and happier than a tense one.
Give it a whirl and feel for yourself!
© Tim Webb 2005
About The AuthorTim Webb is a fitness instructor, Ju Jutsu instructor and competitor. He specialises in easily accessible deep breathing exercises that combine breath and mind together. His site
http://www.BreathForSuccess.com offers a product that provides deep breathing exercises for invigorating yourself, alleviating stress and anxiety, and highlights how your breath can be tied in with your goals to move you towards them in record time!
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Healthy Nutrition - How To Get On The Right Path
by: John GibbIn a world filled with increasing hustle and bustle, many people have turned to fast food to help necessitate the needs of their busy day. However, in doing this, many people are sacrificing the healthy nutrition necessary to keeping your body in its best working order.
Obesity rates in industrialized nations, especially America, are rising to a fever pitch. In order to prevent obesity or malnutrition from stopping your body, a simple diet plan with help from supplemented nutrition can help get you on the right track.
First off, it’s important to get the nutrients your body needs. On a daily basis, it helps your body a vast amount if you achieve your daily recommended values for the vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and K. In addition to this, it is key that you consume a high amount of calcium daily. This can be achieved by simply taking a calcium supplement, and can come from such sources as calcium citrate, calcium bicarbonate, and coral calcium, all readily available.
A sound and healthy nutrition plan contains enough carbohydrates to get your energy going throughout the day, enough protein to allow your tissues to rebuild themselves properly and maintain and grow new tissues, and a low fat level. Also, it is definitely important, and stressed by doctors everywhere, for you to get enough water daily. 7 glasses is usually a figure that is thrown around to necessitate the needs of most bodies.
Also, you should be sure to maintain a low cholesterol level. This can be achieved by avoiding excessive consumption of animal products such as eggs and meats. While eating meat can be a great way to achieve your daily protein levels, too much of it has proven to be damaging to ones health. By following these simple ideas, you can be on your way to a better, healthier nutrition.
About The AuthorJohn Gibb
For more information on nutrition, be sure to check out
http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com.
This site is dedicated to giving nutrition advice, reviews of the best supplements we personally take, and helpful nutrition articles.
You may use this article as long as you leave the link intact.
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The Formula for Preventing Depression
by: Paul M. Jerard Jr.
While it is arguable that depression is not always preventable, there are many cases, when using the following ideas, will keep you in good spirits - most of the time. Unfortunately, we cannot be happy all of the time, but there is something we can do about it.
Working with a variety of clients over the years, I have seen how Yoga and exercise changed, and continue to change, them for the better. It is a well-known fact that endorphins are produced from a variety of exercise routines, including gentle Hatha Yoga.
Endorphins reduce stress and enhance good moods. Just that information alone is enough to start an exercise program, but weight control, muscle-tone, circulation, flexibility and a variety of other health benefits, should be an incentive to start a mild exercise program.
If you have been inactive, I suggest a beginner Yoga class with a very mild-mannered Yoga teacher. Without pushing this any further, let’s look at other options to start, and things to avoid.
Participate in social activities, support groups, senior centers, or local church activities. The activities could be in your local mosque, temple, or shrine, as well. There is always an activity that you can find around any religious center.
You could also join a league for golf, tennis, fishing, bowling, bocce, or any other activity where people gather to share a few laughs. Take competition in stride, and don’t take anything too serious.
Many social groups also function as support groups. The collective activity is good for all involved. Stay away from “alcohol drinking” clubs. This is not just bars, or nightclubs, but local clubs, who organize for the common good, and then, routinely get together to drink.
There is a conflict here, in that alcohol is a depressant, and if you are prone to depression, this is not a good combination. On top of that, there are plenty of health problems that accompany alcohol abuse.
Substance abuse is not a solution to depression, and you won’t find a purpose in life through it. So, let’s keep it simple and stay away from drinking alcohol - altogether.
If your friends and family abuse alcohol, they need counseling, and you will have to look outside your normal circles to get guidance. You need to surround yourself with positive and energetic people. Also, don’t hang around your house too much, especially in dark or unlit areas. Get outside, take a walk, go shopping, get a little sunlight, and if you are in the house all day, open the curtains during daylight hours. If you have a sunroom to relax in - that’s good, too. Lack of sunlight can cause elevated levels of melatonin, which is sometimes called the “sleep hormone.”
Lastly, visit the self-improvement section of your local bookstore. It is a hidden treasure within itself. This is a great reason to leave the house.
Audio books are also good for traveling in your car or listening to in your sunroom. Pick out books that really captivate your imagination. If your local bookstore has CD’s, you may want to pick up some relaxing music for your ride home.
About The AuthorPaul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org==================================
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Acne Control The Natural Way!
by: Kirsten HawkinsWant to get rid of those zits in your face but you are currently low on budget? How about looking for acne control to avoid the sudden appearance of acne in your skin? So how do we do this?
First, what is acne? Acne is a skin disorder caused by the hormones action on the oil glands of the skin which is called the sebaceous glands. The excretion of oils from this glands can lead to congested skin pores. This is when acne occurs. The face, neck, chest, back and shoulders is where the glands are most profuse, that is why most acne are found on this locations. People who are with this kind of disorder often tends to be depressed, and humiliated.
There are a lot of factors that can generate acne to transpire. First is our Genes. Genetics can't be changed but other factors like our daily routine and the way we take care of our skin can be improved to make acne control no problem at all. Don't feel so sad about your acne because there's lots of things you can do. This acne control tips will help you say bye-bye to those zits.
1. Include Fruits and Vegetables in your daily Diet. A healthy diet consists of at least four to five servings of fruits and vegetables. Acne control will be a lot easier if you start including this in your daily habit.
2. Rose water can be used as a facial cleanser. Dipped in a cotton, clean your face using this everyday for at least two to three times each day.
3. Don't wait for your pimples to form. If you see a bit of it in your face, do something. Acne control is best done early. Pat some ice on the affected area for this will make it less swollen.
4. Acne control is easier when accompanied with multivitamins. Start taking vitamins that contains zinc supplement. Zinc helps in making your skin stronger and acne resistant.
5. Cucumber can help in acne control. Blend it with some water to form a mask. Put it in your face and leave it for about half an hour before rinsing it off. This is a good and affordable acne control remedy that can also refresh your skin.
6. Use only mild soaps and avoid soaps that contains petroleum based products and animal based ingredient for this causes your skin to get dry and irritated.
7. Using alcohol free facial cleansers makes Acne control trouble-free. Alcohol tends to dry your skin more.
8. Makeup also prompt the occurrence of acne. Choose your makeup wisely. Most of the makeup available contains petroleum based ingredients that makes skin dry. An all natural makeup helps acne control become more effortless.
9. Lastly, Drinking loads of water is very important. It flushes out the dirt in our body, Making acne control more natural.
Now you have a list of some helpful tips in acne control. It is your choice if you are to do these methods. There are lots of ways in acne control, be it naturally or by technology. Skin products are always around for you to pick your choice. The thing is, these products are very costly. If you are the innovative type of person, better try this methods in acne control. It is all natural and wont do any harm in your body. No side effects of course! Plus, you can really save a bunch out of this. There's no harm in trying! Saying goodbye to those acne is just a step away!
About The AuthorKirsten Hawkins is a freelance writer specializing in skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Visit
http://www.acnesolution411.com/ for more information on acne and acne treatments.
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Positive Energy
by: Paul M. Jerard Jr.
Most of us who study Yoga have been taught that an abundance of Prana (vital air or vital energy), can be found at the ocean, lakes, large open fields, and in the mountains.
Although the air is different, this same energy can be found where people assemble for a positive reason. For example: when people assemble to meditate or pray.
You can feel it in your home, at a church, mosque, temple, shrine, ashram, seminar, martial arts hall, etc. This is when people bond in a mass for the common good. The energy can be used to help humanity and our little planet for the best. You can project this energy outward by acts of kindness every moment of your life. This is not to say, you allow yourself to be abused. You can be kind to everyone who comes into your life, without becoming a “doormat.”
You have influence over a limited number of people who you see in a day. Why not make every contact a harmonious and positive experience?
Some examples would be:
Stop making foul gestures, becoming angry, and swearing when another driver on the road has irritated you.
Don't take advantage of respect with anyone.
Treat everyone as special – no matter what their economic status.
In regard to your next question: What is the mystery behind attracting positive energy?
To be honest, there isn't one, but I will give you the formula.
Firstly, you have to realize that you have infinite potential, and it comes from within. You also have unlimited potential from the outside, when you engage in prayer, and meditation, on a daily basis. Prayer and meditation will positively charge you, and you will contribute to the benefit of others as a result of it.
In turn, all of this helping of others will result in finding people around you who are more than willing to give you a helping hand.
The following ideas will cultivate positive energy around you.
Make it a point to wake up in the morning with excitement and say hello to everyone you come into contact with. This goes for the security guard, janitor, maid, garage attendant, cashier at the store, and anyone you may overlook in the course of your day.
Stop criticizing your family members, co-workers, friends, and associates.
Be diplomatic first, before giving any advice.
Let your family know that you love them everyday.
Be sincere and treat everyone as important.
Take time to give to people. This doesn't have to be expensive. You could give a sincere compliment, a card, a letter, or flowers. Become a trustworthy partner with family, friends, co-workers and associates.
Set goals - whether they are tangible or not. It is a healthy practice to have goals at any age. The final results will be that your positive energy will attract positively charged personalities and successful people will seek you out. If this is a major change for you, it will not happen overnight.
Let me share a related Zulu saying: “Patience is an egg that hatches great birds.”
Why should you become an eternal optimist?
Every one of us has a choice. When you fall down, you must pick yourself up. You can't blame life's hurdles or obstacles – you have to find solutions to get over, around, under, or through them.
Focus on your past achievements and learn to be happy with yourself. Everyone has failed, at some point, but we must constructively learn from our past experience.
Your individual approach, to life's daily obstacles, is the gateway to success or failure. Therefore, success is a matter of choice.
Building Positive Energy
In relation to what most of us see as possible - success is unlimited. When primal man first discovered fire, could he imagine the concept of a forge? When modern man discovered the forge, could he imagine sky scrappers?
To build positive energy for pursuit of common goals and success, you need a support group. Find and seek out like-minded people.
About The AuthorPaul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org==================================
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How Slimming Down Can Add More Cash in Your Wallets
by: Tracy LeeAre you unhappy with your current weight but aren't "motivated" enough to do something about it?
Well then... have I got an incentive for you!
Did you know that your wealth can increase dramatically as your weight goes down?
This seemingly incredible link between your weight and your wealth was revealed in a study published in the Economics and Human Biology journal by Jay Zagorsky, author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research.
But before you get too excited, it's important to know that losing a little weight here and there won't make a significant difference to your wealth.
If you really want to impact your wealth, you have to move from overweight or obese into the normal range. A drop of 5 or 10 pounds is simply not enough.
“The typical person who loses or gains a few pounds had almost no change in wealth, but those who lost or gained large amounts of weight had a more dramatic change,” Zagorsky said.
For example, white women who dropped their body mass index score (BMI) by 10 points saw a wealth increase of $11,880.
It's also interesting to note that a person's net worth tends to reach a peak when the weight is in the normal range. Coincidence?
Of course, nobody can say for sure from the study whether a person's wealth affects obesity, or whether obesity affects wealth.
However, the researchers also reviewed the people in the study who had a sudden increase in their wealth after receiving inheritances, and found no significant differences in their BMI scores in the following years.
This seems to suggest that wealth doesn't affect weight.
And from a "gut feel" perspective, it seems intuitive that it's probably weight that affects wealth.
Unfortunate as it is, obese women do tend to get discriminated against at work, and bring home a lower salary than their non-obese colleagues.
Plus, there are a number of health problems associated with obesity, and these obese women will have to fork out more money to tend to these problems.
In short, obese people make less, and spend more unnecessarily. With a double whammy like this, it's no wonder obese people will have more problems when it comes to increasing their wealth!
So, now that you've got a good incentive in front of you, please go and take immediate action to shed those unwanted weight... NOW.
Remember, as you make yourself slimmer, your wallet will grow fatter!
Copyright 2005 Tracy Lee
About The AuthorTracy Lee is the owner of the "Weight Loss for Women Over 40" site. Get the latest news, tips & tricks that can help women over 40 to lose weight safely and permanently, and your complimentary copy of our Special Report "9 Little-Known Insider Weight Loss Secrets To Help Women Over 40 Make Those Extra Pounds Disappear" instantly here:
http://www.weight-loss-for-women-over-40.com/insidersecrets/.
This article is available for reprint in your ezine, website or e-book. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included WITH A LIVE LINK back to our website. Otherwise reprint is prohibited.
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Warming Up Yes! It Is Essential
by: Leonard RogalskiI know what you’re thinking. Warming up is for sissies, and wimps. You wouldn’t be caught dead on a treadmill or exercise bike. You’re here for one reason-- to move big iron and get massive.
Well what if I told you that warming up could help you lift heavier, which in turn could help you get bigger if you are not over training, eating enough protein and getting enough rest. And I’m convinced it will help prevent injuries, provided you don’t do something stupid after you warm up like trying to squat 300 when you can barely get ten reps with 100.
How will warming up help me lift heavier?
Lets take barbell curls for example. If you start off with your heaviest weight which let’s say is 100 pounds. You, for one thing, will have to spend some of your energy just getting into the groove. I’m sure other people will have different opinions of what that means, but to me it means getting mentally into the lift and deciding what tempo I’m going to use. Am I going to do slower reps emphasizing the negative portion of the lift or am I going to do my reps a little more explosively. (Hint: All this should/could be decided during the warm up based on how strong you’re feeling on that particular day or on how mentally you are into your training on that day.)
But if you start out with an empty bar and do say two sets of 10-20 reps and then move up from there in whatever increments you choose you may find that you are feeling strong on that day so you’re going to try and do 102.5 pounds for 8 solid reps. You may only get 6, but that’s how you build a big, strong body, by slowly, (I can’t emphasize SLOWLY enough) increasing the weight and/or reps on the basic exercises.
How does warming up help to prevent injuries?
Ever see a glass blower? When the glass is hot they can bend and shape it into any design they want. Of course we all know what happens to glass when it cools.
Think of your body in the same way. When you lift weights without warming up your muscles and tendons are like cooled glass. However when you warm up before hitting the heavy stuff your muscles and tendons are like the hot glass. Now don’t misunderstand me you can still get injured even if you warm up thoroughly, but are a lot less likely too.
THE ROUTINE:
Before I get started on the exercises that comprise the warm-up I would like to explain why you won’t find any descriptions of how the exercises are supposed to be done. I’ve left them out for two reasons. One is because I think that most of the people reading this will have at least a couple of years (if not a lot more) of training under their belts and will already know how to do the exercises.
Secondly, if you are new to bodybuilding I would suggest you hire a competent personal trainer to teach you the basics. Please take your time, ask around, and find a good competent, trainer. Don’t be fooled if they tell you they are certified, that doesn’t mean they know what they are doing. The best thing you can do for yourself, in my opinion, is to learn how to do the exercises correctly in the beginning. This way you won’t have to break an old habit and then learn a new one. Not to mention the fact that you will be a lot less likely to get hurt if you learn the proper way of performing the exercises in the beginning!
After years of working out this is the warm up routine I’ve found that works for me.
10-15 minutes of some sort of movement, my favorite is the treadmill. The idea here is to get your body to the point where it feels warm. You don’t need to be sweating profusely.
Next we move dumbbell laterals. I do them standing, but you can do them seated on a bench. I do two sets, I don’t count reps, I just go until I feel I’ve done enough. Do them slowly and in complete control. Two sets of 10-20 should be enough. Don’t be afraid to go really light on these. I’ve hurt my shoulders a lot over the years, so I use one pound dumbbells.
I can hear a lot of you laughing, saying to yourself I’d never be caught dead using one pound dumbbells. Maybe, not now, but trust me if you ever hurt your shoulders they’ll be your best friends-in the gym that is. Remember you can never start too light, but you can always start too heavy.
Next up are shrugs. Yep you guessed it, it’s two sets of shrugs, with the 1 pound dumbbells. Again I don’t count reps, but two sets of 10-20 reps will probably be sufficient. Remember this is a warm up, so do them slow and in control.
From the shrugs we move to good mornings. I have an old hollow EZ curl bar that I use for these. Again it’s two sets, this time shoot for 20 reps on both sets. Do them slow and don’t bounce at the bottom.
Next we move on to the abs. I like two sets of swill ball crunches. If you train at home and don’t have one, or your gym doesn’t, do two sets of 20 reps of whatever you like--sit-ups (if they don’t aggravate your lower-back), leg raises, etc.
VARIOUS POINTS:
That’s the warm-up. As far as I’m concerned, your abs, shoulders, lower back, and traps, are involved in some degree in everything you do in the gym, so they need to be treated as such. Some of you might be shouting hey what about the hip/glute/leg area. Good point. But I feel that the 10-15 minutes of light jogging or walking or biking that starts this routine is sufficient enough to warm-up that area.
This is just a basic warm-up. If you feel two sets of an exercise isn’t enough add another. Everyone is different. As I alluded to in the previous paragraph, for me that’s enough warm-up for my lower body, but if it is not enough for you add two sets of bodyweight only squats to the routine.
Even though you went through the routine above,you should still start light and pyramid the weight up on any exercise. Just to give you an example even though they are relatively warm, I still start my dumbbell shoulder presses with the one pound dumbbells and move up from there.
CONCLUSION:
Don’t let your ego prevent you from warming-up. Once your hurt a part of your body, it never feels perfect again. So if you’re not hurt, warm up so you’ll stay that way! And if you are hurt give this routine a try. Don’t be afraid to put your own individual spin on it. You won’t regret it. Keep Training!
About The AuthorLeonard Rogalski - I have been involved in the fitness industry for over 20 years.
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What No One Is Willing To Tell You About Losing FAT!
by: Leonard Rogalski
You know I’m almost ashamed.
All this content on the internet and no one is willing to speak the truth.
All everyone wants is for you to buy some expensive supplement.
Did you realize that protein has a higher thermogenic effect than any other food—meaning that the human body has to burn calories to just breakdown and actually use protein! More than yes carbohydrates and fat.
Which is one reason why low carb diets are effective for losing fat-not just water weight.
Or how about this shocker—if you combine too many carbs and fat in one meal it shoots up insulin and raises blood fats. Making appear that you just ate a high fat calorie loaded mean at some fast food place.
Now, that I’ve gotten your attention, I’d like to clear up what I feel is the worst misconception about diets.
When you decide to that you want to get into better shape it shouldn’t be about just going on a diet or just trying to loss weight, it should be about trying to lose FAT.
If you are just concerned about losing weight or with the numbers on the scale than you may be burning off muscle along with fat.
And since muscle is what burns calories when you resume normal eating, guess what your body has less calorie burning muscle so your metabolism is slower, hence you gain back most if not even more weight than you lost.
Honestly if there is one thing that we can all learn from body builders is this, if you are not seeing results in the mirror—ie a smaller waist, firmer hips, thighs, etc. than it is not going to al-of-a-sudden happen one day over night.
About The Author
Leonard Rogalski
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LOSING FAT AND TO GET YOUR FREE REORT BY EMAIL THAT COVERS THINGS THE WEIGHT LOSS INDUSTRY DOES NOT WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF PLEASE VISIT
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Surprise! Many Fats, Even Some Saturated Fats Can Actually Be Good for You!
by: Michael GearyI’ll preface this article by saying that it will help if you have an open mind and accept that some of these facts are a slap in the face to politically correct nutrition in this day and age where fats are admonished by nutritionists, doctors, etc. To start, eating an adequate supply of healthy dietary fats is vitally important to your overall health. Fats are one of the main components in all of the cell membranes throughout your entire body. If you eat enough healthy natural fats, your cellular processes will proceed normally. On the other hand, if you eat man-made, heavily processed, chemically altered fats (damaged fats) that are found in most processed foods, your cellular function will be impaired as these damaged fats become part of your cell membranes, the body will have to work harder to operate correctly, and degenerative diseases can develop. In addition, healthy dietary fats are essential for optimal hormone production and balance within the body and are therefore essential for the muscle building and fat burning processes. Other important functions that dietary fats play in a healthy body are aiding vitamin and mineral utilization, enzyme regulation, energy, etc.
I cringe every time I hear so called "health experts" recommend restriction of dietary fat, claiming that a low-fat diet is the key to good health, weight loss, and prevention of degenerative diseases. Restriction of any one macronutrient (protein, carbs, or fat) in your diet works against what your body needs and can only lead to problems. All three basic macronutrients serve important functions for a lean, healthy, and disease-free body. As Dr. Mary Enig, Ph.D, and one of the leading fats and lipids researchers in the world notes in several of her books and articles, there is very little true scientific evidence supporting the assertion that a high fat diet is bad for us. For example, if these so called "health experts" that admonish fat are correct, and a low-fat diet is the solution to good health, then why did traditional Pacific Islanders who typically obtained 2/3 to 3/4 of their total daily calories from fat (mostly from coconut fat), remain virtually free from heart disease, obesity, and other modern degenerative diseases (that is, until Western dietary influences invaded)? Also, why did traditional Eskimo populations, consuming up to 75% of their total caloric intake from fat (mostly from whale blubber, seal fat, organ meats, and cold water fish), display superior health and longevity without heart disease or obesity? Why did members of the Masai tribe in Africa remain free from degenerative diseases and maintain low body fat percentages on diets consisting of large quantities of raw whole milk, blood, and meat? What about the Samburu tribe of Africa, which eats an average of 5 times the quantity of dietary fat (mostly from raw whole milk and meat) as overweight, disease-ridden Americans, yet Samburu members are lean, healthy, and free of degenerative diseases? What about traditional Mediterranean diets, which are known to be very high in fat (sometimes up to 70% fat), and are also well known to be very healthy?
These examples of high fat diets and the associated excellent health of traditional populations around the world go on and on, yet it seems that many doctors, nutritionists, and government agencies still ignore these facts and continue to promote a diet that restricts fat intake. Well, the problem is that the good fats (the natural unprocessed health promoting fats) have gotten mistakenly lumped together in nutritional advice with the deadly processed fats and oils that make up a large percentage of almost all processed food that is sold at your local grocery store, restaurant, deli, fast food joint, etc. These deadly processed fats are literally everywhere and almost impossible to avoid unless you know what to look for and make smart choices in what you feed your body with. Take note that I’m not recommending following a super high fat diet. Active individuals that exercise on a regular basis certainly also need adequate supplies of healthy carbohydrates for energy and muscle glycogen replenishment as well as good sources of protein for muscle repair. The above examples of the high fat diets of traditional populations and their corresponding excellent health were simply to prove the point that you don’t need to be afraid of dietary fats as long as you make healthy natural choices and stay within your daily caloric range to maintain or lose weight (depending on your goals). Following is a list of some of the healthiest fatty foods (some will surprise you!) as well as some of the deadliest fatty foods to try to avoid at all costs:
The Healthy Fatty Food Choices:
• Coconut fat: Coconut fat is approximately 92% saturated fat, yet surprisingly to most people, is considered a very healthy natural fat. The health benefits of coconut fat lie in its composition of approximately 65% medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Specifically, about 50% of coconut fat is a MCT called lauric acid, which has very potent anti-microbial properties helping to enhance the immune system. Also, MCTs are more easily utilized for immediate energy instead of being stored as body fat. Coconut oil is also an excellent cooking oil for stir-frying, etc. since saturated fats are much more stable and do not oxidize like polyunsaturated oils when exposed to heat and light, which creates damaging free radicals. The best sources of healthy coconut fat are organic coconut milk, virgin coconut oil, or fresh coconut.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Olive oil is approximately 71% monounsaturated, 16% saturated, and 13% polyunsaturated. Choose “extra virgin” olive oil, which comes from the first pressing of the olives and has higher quantities of antioxidants. Unlike most other oils on supermarket shelves, extra virgin olive oil is not extracted with the use of harmful industrial solvents and is one of your healthiest choices for liquid oils. Try making your own salad dressing by mixing a small amount of olive oil with vinegar. This is healthier than most store bought salad dressings, which are usually made with highly processed and refined (chemically damaged) soybean oil extracted with industrial solvents.
• Dark, bittersweet chocolate (>70% cocoa): The cocoa bean is a very concentrated source of antioxidants and responsible for part of the health benefit of dark chocolate. The fat portion of the cocoa bean (cocoa butter) is a healthy natural fat, composed of approximately 59% saturated fat (mostly healthy stearic acid), 38% monounsaturated fat, and 3% polyunsaturated fat. I’ll limit the description of healthy chocolate to ONLY dark bittersweet chocolate with >70% cocoa content. Most milk chocolates are only about 30% cocoa, and even most dark chocolates are only about 55% cocoa, leaving the remainder of those products composed of high amounts of sugar, milk fat, corn sweeteners, etc. Look for a quality dark chocolate that lists its cocoa content between 70%-80%. A dark chocolate with cocoa content in this range will contain mostly cocoa and very little sugar. Keep in mind that although dark chocolate can be a healthy treat, it is still calorie dense, so keeping it to just a square or two is a good idea.
• Avocados or guacamole: The fat in avocados (depending on where they’re grown) is approximately 60% monounsaturated, 25% saturated, and 15% polyunsaturated. Avocados are a very healthy natural food that provides many nutrients, fiber, and healthful fats, while adding a rich flavor to any meal. Try sliced avocado on sandwiches or in salads or use guacamole in wraps, sandwiches, or quesadillas.
• High fat fish such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, etc.: Just about any fish or seafood are good sources of natural omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, but the higher fat fish listed above are the best sources of omega-3’s. Due to the radical switch to a higher proportion of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats like soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, etc. in our food supply during the middle of the 20th century, the average western diet is currently way too high in omega-6’s compared to omega-3’s, which wreaks havoc in your body. This is where good omega-3 sources like high fat fish, walnuts, and flax seeds can help bring you back to a better ratio of omega-6/omega-3.
• Nuts (any and all - walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamias, etc.): Nuts are great sources of healthy unprocessed fats as well as minerals and other trace nutrients. Macadamias, almonds, and cashews are great sources of monounsaturated fats, while walnuts are a good source of unprocessed polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3’s). Try to avoid nuts that are cooked in oil. Instead, choose raw or dry roasted nuts.
• Seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds): All of these seeds are great sources of natural unprocessed healthy fats. In particular, flax seeds have received a lot of attention lately due to their high omega-3 content. However, keep in mind that omega-3 polyunsaturated fats are highly reactive to heat and light, and prone to oxidation and free radical production, so freshly ground flax seed is the only way to go. Instead of using the store bought ground flax seed, you can buy whole flax seed and use one of those miniature coffee grinders to grind your own flax seed. Try grinding fresh flax seed into your yogurt, cereal, or even your salad. If you’re using a flax oil, make sure it’s a cold-pressed oil in a light-proof refrigerated container, and use it up within a few weeks to prevent it from going rancid. NEVER cook with flax oil!
• The fat in organically raised, free-range animals: This is where most people have been misinformed by the mass media. Animal fat is inherently good for us, that is, if it came from a healthy animal. Human beings have thrived on animal fats for thousands of years. The problem lies in the fact that most mass produced animal products today do not come from healthy animals. They come from animals given loads of antibiotics and fattened up with hormones and fed un-natural feed. The solution is to choose organically raised, free-range meats, eggs, and dairy. At this time, the price is still a little higher, but it is worth it, and as demand grows, the prices will come down.
The Deadly Fatty Foods:
• Hydrogenated oils (trans fats): These are industrially produced chemically altered oils subjected to extremely high pressure and temperature, with added industrial solvents such as hexane for extraction, and have a metal catalyst added to promote the artificial hydrogenation, followed by bleaching and deodorizing agents…..and somehow the FDA still allows this crap to pass as food. These oils aren’t even worthy of your lawnmower, much less your body! They’ve been linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. Even small quantities have been shown in studies to be dangerous. If you care about your health, check the ingredients of everything you buy, and if you see partially hydrogenated oils of any kind, margarine, or shortening, protect yourself and your family by choosing something else. The FDA has mandated that all food manufacturers have to show the quantity of trans fat on all labels by January 2006.
• Refined oils: Even if the oils are not hydrogenated, most oils on your supermarket shelves are refined, even most of the so called “healthy” canola oils. Even most refined oils still undergo the high temperature, high pressure, solvent extraction, bleaching, and deodorizing processes. Anything labeled vegetable oil, soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, and even many canola oils have been damaged by this refining process. This damages the natural structure of the fats, destroys natural antioxidants, creates free radicals, and produces a generally unhealthy product. Take note that the explosion of heart disease in the middle of the 20th century coincides quite nicely with the rapid increase in the use of hydrogenated and refined oils in the food supply at that time.
• Anything deep fried: including tortilla chips, potato chips, French fries, donuts, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, etc. All of this crap doesn’t even pass as real food in my opinion!
• Homogenized milk fat - Milk fat is a very healthy fat in its natural raw state. Traditional populations around the world thrived in perfect health while consuming huge quantities of raw, non-pasteurized, non-homogenized, full fat dairy products. Once again, food processing ruins a good thing by pasteurizing and homogenizing milk fat, rendering it potentially dangerous inside the human body. Unfortunately, you will find it almost impossible to find raw milk in the US unless you personally know a farmer. Check out realmilk.com for more info on the benefits of raw milk and to find out if it’s available near you. As an alternative, cultured dairy products like yogurt have at least had beneficial microorganisms added back to them making them better for you. Realistically, since you probably won’t find raw milk, sticking to skim milk is the best option. If you use butter for cooking, cultured organic butter is the best option.
I hope this article has shed some light on the truth about dietary fats and made you realize their importance in a healthy diet. Visit my website below to find more free fitness articles and bonuses for stopping by.
About The Author
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Michael Geary is a nationally dual certified personal trainer (NCSF-CPT, AFAA-CPT), and author of "The Truth about Six Pack Abs" ©2004-2005.
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