Overweight - Answering Your Critics
By Trevor JohnsonThere are those that walk amongst us who have followed all the advice, diligently dieted and exercised with genuine effort for long periods of time, yet still fail to lose their excess weight.
Even more heartbreaking for those of us who genuinely struggle with obesity are the accusations of sloth and laziness from those thin people who eat junk all day long and show no physical sign of their own gluttony. "Why can't you just be like everyone else?", they demand. "It must be all your own fault."
"After all," they say in derisory voice, "Losing weight is easy. Just eat less and exercise more. If you don't lose weight, you are just weak willed."
Every person who has never had a real problem thinks they know all the easy answers. All those underlying unwarranted generalisations we face from others just about every day of our lives is a little recognised yet very real and severe form of discrimination, based on the same types of wrong thinking as prejudice against race, skin color, creed, gender, and other well recognised forms of hatred.
In fact, life experience has taught me that the less a person actually knows about obesity and weight loss, the more they think they know.
I spent time a few years ago under the care of some of the most distinguished and knowledgable internationally renowned Professors researching weight loss and obesity from the University of Sydney and the Royal Prince Albert Hospital's Obesity Clinic in Sydney, Australia. I will always remember what Professor Ian Caterson told me one day:
"The more we learn about obesity, the more we realise how little we really understand and how much more there is to discover."
Would any of those permanently thin critics care to explain a man with whom I shared many physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions during my time on the program at the Obesity Clinic? He was normal down the left side of his body, though obese down the right side of his body only.
Next time someone verbally berates you for carrying excess body weight and tries to tell you how easy it is to be lean & trim, try asking them what they would recommend to that man that some of the top obesity researchers in the world don't yet know.
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The Top Ten Things You Don't Want to Hear About Losing Weight
By Suzanne Hiscock(But What You Need to Know if You Want to Get Fit!)
10) No, you won’t end up looking like the latest hot young model/singer/actress!Let’s face it: your body is your body. It’s the only one you’ve got. Can you still look great? Sure! But there are some things you can’t change. You can’t make your legs longer or your feet smaller. You can’t grow five inches or elongate your torso. You have what you have, so work with it! Concentrate on making a healthy and fit you instead of wishing you looked like someone else. You don’t have to be perfect to be attractive. A strong, fit body as well as the self-confidence it brings can make any person attractive!
9) It’s better to be muscular and weigh more than to be flabby and weigh less.I’ve said it so many times: I’d much rather be 135lbs and muscular than 120lbs and flabby. I’ve been both, and 135lbs with a lower percent of body fat was definitely better! I was smaller, stronger and had much more energy. So, don’t always seek that magical number on the scale, but look at your total body composition instead.
8) You can’t get fit in a week.Okay, well, you can, but only if you’re one week away from being in peak condition and you keep working out. Otherwise, forget about it! If you want to look good for that class reunion or because you’ll be in a bikini soon, then get moving way before that. Or better yet, get moving for your own health and not for “things” like reunions and bikinis.
7) You need to put some effort into it.
You want to get fit? You have to work at it. You have to plan it, you have to schedule it, and, most importantly, you have to do it. No excuses. Sitting on the couch, telling yourself you should be doing something will not burn up a lot of calories. If nothing else, get out there and start walking. And while you’re out there walking think about a plan of action for a healthier you and get started on it today – not tomorrow!
6) You need to exercise.Can you lose weight just by diet alone? Sure, you can! But if you want to get fit, you need to exercise those muscles, including your heart. And that heart won’t get any exercise if you’re sitting on the couch, eating broccoli. Lose the weight that you need to lose and you’ll just end up with a thin, but flabby, body. Get moving! Weight training is ideal, but if you’re really not into weight training, find an activity you like to do that work all your major muscle groups.
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Tips For Successful Weight Loss
By Annette CroftThroughout my childhood and teenage years I watched as my mother tried every fad diet under the sun. I recall one time she ate boiled cabbage and nothing else for a whole week. I felt my mothers’ frustration and misery, however I could not understand why it was so difficult for her to lose weight and keep it off – until that is I became a weight management coach.
For the past two years I have been assisting people to achieve their ideal weight and in this time I have experienced what contributes to a successful weight loss story.
Getting serious - It all starts with you and how serious you are about losing weight. The key to successful weight loss is partly dependent on your level of commitment. How would you rate your seriousness on a scale of 1 – 10 (10 being deadly serious)?
No quick fix - If you have made the commitment to get serious about losing weight then you need to make the commitment to do it safely and effectively. One piece of invaluable advice my own family doctor passed onto me is that slow and steady is always the best option. The longer it takes you to lose weight the less likely you are to put it back on.
Staying motivated - Always keep the end in mind! Write down all of the reasons why you are motivated to lose weight now. Record these reasons on a piece of card that can be kept in your wallet or purse. Each morning and before going to bed remind yourself by reading aloud why you are motivated to lose weight.
Facing challenges - Every day you are likely to face challenges, which can disrupt your focus and get in the way of your weight loss goals. Write down all of the challenges that you know have made losing weight hard for you in the past. This will help you to develop a better strategy this time. Three common challenges are lack of results, boredom and lack of support from spouse, family and friends.
Choosing a weight control program - I recommend choosing a diet / weight control program that offers all of the following for best results:
Provides a balanced nutritious program that is safe and effective
Support system and regular progress follow-up
Teaches you better eating habits
Teaches you how to maintain your weight once you have reached your goal weight
For two years Annette Croft has been assisting people reach their ideal weight with the aid of a nutritious, simple and convenient weight management program. For a free weight profile and consultation please visit
www.getslim-n-trim.com. For more articles please send an email to
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20 Ways to Lose Weight
By Sheila Dicks20 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT
1. Take it one step at a time
Start by paying attention to what you eat. Cut back on fat and sweets and add more fruit and vegetables. After you have that under control, add exercise. If you hate to exercise try it for only 15 minutes a day at first, then a 1/2-hour. Keep in mind that while you are exercising you are burning calories and not eating. Also, it will be easier if you chose an activity that you enjoy.
2. Find a friend
It is always good to have support when you are trying to lose weight. Find a friend who wants to lose weight and compare notes, weigh-in together and maybe even have a contest.
3. Use weights
Working out weights will build muscle and raise your metabolism so you will burn more calories. Also, muscle takes up less space than fat so you will be smaller ( but probably weigh more).
4. Eat fewer carbs
Don't eat as much bread and pasta and you will see a difference.
5. Set a goal
Set a deadline to lose the weight and write it down. For example, ' By Dec 14/04 I will weigh 150 lbs or less'. Put it somewhere you will see it daily.
6. Give up soda
If you drink a soda or 2 a day you are adding empty calories. If you find it hard to stop completely, cut back at first and drink water instead.
7. Grill or boil
Avoid fried meat, grill and use lots of spices. You will get used to it and probably enjoy it more.
8. Don't buy junk food
When you go shopping, don't go on an empty stomach and you will be less likely to buy junk food. Keep your home 'junk food free' so you won't be tempted to indulge.
9. Eat breakfast
Consume most of your calories early in the day and always eat breakfast. Don't eat after 8pm and not only will you avoid those added calories but you will sleep better.
10. Give yourself a treat
When you tell yourself that you can't have something you want it more. Give yourself a treat once a day ( ie. half a cookie) and you won't feel you are missing out.
11. Use smaller plates
Trick yourself into believing that you are eating more by using a smaller plate.
12. Drink lots of water
Drink water when you are feeling hungry and you will get that 'full' feeling.
13. Don't eat everything on your plate
Many times we eat just because it's there. Pay attention to when you have had enough.
14. Eat five or six meals a day
Eating more frequently will keep you from getting too hungry.
15. Plan your workout sessions
Write your workout sessions in your journal or planner.
16. Stay away from fad diets
Fad diets don't work. If you lose weight fast chances are that you will gain it back ( and more) just as fast. It takes time to put it on and time to take it off.
17. Do several workouts a day
While you are watching TV do crunches and leg lifts.
18. Measure your food
If you decide to have junk food for a snack - be sure to measure and control what you eat.
19. Keep pre-cut vegetables
...and ward off those cravings.
20. Create Good Habits
It is a known fact that when we do something twenty-one times it becomes a habit. Create good eating habits.
Sheila Dicks is a wardrobe and image consultant who teaches women how to look slimmer by dressing to suit their body type. Visit her at
http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download a copy of her e-book Image Makeovers and get How to Build a Wardrobe free.
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Weight Loss - It's in Your Head
By Helene HaberWhen you truly consider the weight-loss process, the battle waged is mostly in your mind. “Should I eat the corn muffin with butter or would it be better for me to have margarine or better yet, have jelly? What am I doing eating this muffin anyway? It’s so caloric and filled with saturated fat. I’m such a pig. I have absolutely zero willpower.” It’s no wonder you’ll eat that muffin with the butter and slather jelly on top to quiet that negative self-talk.
What you need more than a diet is a way to shift those negative self-defeating thoughts to more adaptive, positive self-statements. As with most things worth doing, this requires a bit of practice. First, become aware when you’re using a negative statement, then determine what about that thought is faulty and finally, replace it with a self-defense response or coping thought. In the corn muffin example, instead of listening to “I’m such a pig” which clearly mislabels who you are, respond with “Pigs are animals and I am human. I don’t have to be perfect.”
Many people cannot change their eating habits until they change their thoughts about food, eating and drinking. By shedding “distorted” thoughts and replacing them with productive ones, eating habits can be changed. It is possible to rid yourself from many self-critical thoughts, but like any ingrained habit, it takes vigor and vigilance to change. Here are some other thinking distortions to challenge:
Shoulds. Should statements are more about other people’s values, not ones chosen by the person who wants to lose weight. Additionally, should statements reflect an attempt by the dieter to motivate herself without really believing in the value. Better to determine what works for you. “I will eat up to two Hershey kisses daily and thoroughly enjoy them.”
All-or-Nothing. This kind of reasoning is the foundation for perfectionism. An all-or-nothing individual views the world as black or white. Since there is no allowance for gray areas, the behavior is either perfect or a failure. “I’ve ruined my diet by eating all that pizza. I can’t stay on a diet and I’ll just always be fat.” Maybe the problem does not arise from the behavior… maybe the problem is with the diet that does not allow for pizza. “I do not want to give pizza up for the rest of my life, so what I need is a way to include pizza in my diet without feeling like a failure. Let me try having a salad (dressing on the side) before the pizza to take the edge off my hunger.”
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Weight Loss - Steps to Healthy Permanent Weight Loss
By Cathy Gariety
10 Steps to Healthy Permanent Weight Loss
1. Research different diet plans and make decisions based your health needs and input from your doctor or nutritionist. Also consider the credentials of the person or corporation that is promoting the diet. Is the diet healthy?
2. Combine different diet plans if necessary. It’s not as important to stick to one diet plan as it is to find an eating plan you can live with.
Example: I had a major amount of weight to lose and researched methods on the web. I had to relearn proper eating habits from one plan and later combined that with concepts from another that I found was valid. Continually change your eating habits to reflect new research.
3. Buy a pedometer. My goal was 12,000 steps per day and reached that easily in my job as an ER nurse. Do you realize how many miles that is? I measured my stride and when it was calculated, it was five miles per night! Occasionally I had to make the effort to reach that goal, but it was well worth it!
4. Drink water! If you can’t drink eight glasses per day, at least drink four. It tastes better if you add lemon or lime slices.
5. Be flexible! It’s not critical that you follow a certain diet plan to the letter. The important point is that you continually lose weight and do it in a healthy way. Change your eating plan as you learn about your body and it's needs.
6. Set realistic goals. – Instead of a 10# weight loss in a month, set goals regarding your eating plan, continuing to see the scale go down, or starting an exercise program. Use SMART goals - specific, measureable, achieveable, realistic and time limited.
7. Realize that calories count. If you continually take in more calories than you expend, you will gain weight. Period. There isn’t an eating plan devised that you can lose weight on by eating all you want, especially if you had an appetite like mine!
8. When you set up your eating plan, first plan the calories for your necessities – your dairy, fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates and protein – then add your treats or desired foods. Make following this a daily habit.
9. Increase your activity and start an exercise or activity plan – whether it be walking or sports – anything that burns calories or increases cardiovascular health.
10. Take into consideration other health issues you have such as diet changes for hypertension, diabetes or lowering cholesterol.
Think of these as lifestyle changes, which they are! Don't expect perfection out of yourself but make constant, persistent movement toward your final goal: a healthier, more attractive body!
Copyright 2005. Cathy Gariety. USA
Cathy Gariety is a Registered Nurse and Professional Life Coach specializing in stress management. Visit her website at
http://www.garietygroup.com for a free Mini Stress Management Program.
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Natural Weight Loss: Lose Weight the Fun Way! Learn More
By Ashley GreenReal success comes from enjoying what you do. That will make you stick around enough to see the results. Same happens with weight loss. Many people end up being unsuccessful in their quest to lose weight just because they are force to do things which they inherently dislike. Here are certain tips which can really make you enjoy your weight loss journey!
Most people who are trying to lose weight feel they love food so much, they cant go on a diet or follow an exercise routine. They lament that even if they try to diet and exercise, its emotionally so depriving that they cant sustain it.
So,
the trick lies in finding out the things that appeal to you , make a list, and start working on them. Lets take an example to make things clearer. Consider, Julia likes sweets, brownies, Thai food, ice cream and loves dancing: then this is how she can proceed:- First, set priorities and see where health figures in your chart. Is staying healthy and looking good as important to you as buying a new car or having a beautiful house? Look around in the family. Are the elders of the family healthy or do they have a long list of prescriptions?
GENETICS MATTER.
. Secondly,
understand your tastes. Do you like the rich taste of creamy dairy products? Or, perhaps chicken?
.
Buy books on healthy cooking. There are thousands of recipes that can help you cook a delicious and healthy meal which can satisfy your appetite as well as your taste.
Tip: Many people in low calorie food workshops are amazed at how delicious healthy food is. Many foods like brown rice, momos, oat and soy breads, stuffed chapatti, cold coffee with skimmed milk, black salt, whole wheat pasta, chicken made in hung curd, bran biscuits with jaggery, salad with balsamic dressing, or a roast potato and walnut salad with hung curd and mustard dressing, are outstanding.
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How To Lose Weight and Improve Your Health Dramatically
By Rudy SilvaMost of you are looking for ways to improve your health, lose weight, or get rid of an illness that you have. Here’s some information that will help you achieve these results. It is call “Using the Natural Body Cycles” for achieving maximum health. By learning how to assist your “Natural Body Cycles”, you will be in tune with what your body is doing to maintain your weight and health.
Getting in tune with your Natural Body Cycles requires change in the way you eat. Since all of us are addicted to the way we eat, it is, sometimes, difficult to change these habits. But if you are serious about what you want, this is best information I have found that will give you good health.
Using this method to gain better health, you will experience side effects because you will be eliminating more body toxins and body wastes than normal. The side affects maybe headaches, stomach upsets, body pain, diarrhea, or similar types of symptoms. These conditions will not last and will disappear as you get rid of more toxins. So if you experience these side effects, don't let them stop you from moving forward on this eating pattern.
Here are the 3 natural body cycles:
Cycle 1 time period: 4 a.m. to 12 noon
This cycle is the time where your body is eliminating toxins, acids, wastes, and derby by urine, bowel movements, sweat, mucus, and other secretions.
Cycle 2 time period: 12 noon to 8 p.m.
This is the time when your body should be taking in food and digesting.
Cycle 3 time period: 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
This is the time your body is absorbing and using the food you have eaten during the 12 noon to 8 p.m. period.
Here’s how to use cycle 1:
During the elimination cycle, 4 a.m. to 12 noon, eat and drink only fruits and their juices or drink vegetable juices. For breakfast eat a bowl of fruit or have a fruit smoothie made with strawberries, apple juice and fruits in season. Before noontime eat fruits as snack. Forty-five minutes before noon eat your last fruit. You can eat and drink all the fruits and juices your want up to noontime.
Eat fruits such as,
Bananas, oranges, apricots, strawberries, melon, watermelons, apples, peaches, nectarines, prunes, grapes, and so on. Eat all melons or watermelons together and not with other fruit and wait 1/2 hour before eating other fruit. Melons require their specific enzymes to be digested in the stomach so other fruit eaten with melons will just sit in your stomach waiting to be digested. (Not a good idea since the other fruit will begin to rot while waiting to be digested.)
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Secrets to Losing Weight
By Bill NadraszkyMany people struggle with losing weight either for a short time in the spring or summer or for their whole life. There are many things that you can do to make the difference between being overweight or not. Based on the way that your lifestyle is there are two big things that you have to concern yourself with, diet and exercise.
Diet is what you eat. We all know that we should not eat food that is bad for us but how about the flip side. How about eating more foods that are better for us. Today at lunch I could have gone out for fast food or I could have stayed in and eaten the soup and fruit that I brought with me. I ate the soup. Today is generally the way that I eat which is eating by design. I plan in the morning what I will eat and then pack it with me so that I do eat it and not something that is more convenient at the time. Tomorrow I may go out for lunch instead but I know that in two weeks I will have eaten all but three meals or so by preparing them myself and not by having a restaurant prepare them for me. I eat what I should and if I eat any prepared food that I know that it is one bad decision compared to all of the good decisions that I make.
Water is also a big part of my diet. I drink water throughout the day so that my body can easily digest my food and also so that I am not hungry and looking for some junk food.
Exercise is the other part of a great health plan and is the basis, to me, of how to best lose weight. I ride a bike to work all summer so I can get two good workouts in a day but on the weekend I take it easy so that during the next week I am not getting too sore to keep up my exercise schedule. Exercising one a day is a great way to get better health and if you can keep up a high heart rate of at least 30 minutes a day it will burn more calories constantly during the day every day. Now that winter is coming I will be balancing my cardio on an indoor elliptical trainer with some weights to gain a bit more muscle. The importance of weight training can not be understated. If you have more muscle your body has to work a little harder to keep itself going, this will burn more calories.
Lastly I think that losing weight has a lot to do with a great, excited attitude. I have always found that when I am in my best shape I have a great attitude about my exercise and my eating. Workouts are a breeze and I am working towards my exercise goals consistently. My eating is really good and I am proud of the things that I am putting into my mouth and finally my outlook is great because I feel excellent about the way I look and feel.
Adopt these tactics and your weight loss will be a lot easier and more fun than it has ever been before
Bill Nadraszky is a lifelong fitness nut. You can read his rambling at
http://health-fitness.xptechsupport.com. you can also find products for sale at his Health and Fitness store.
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Confessions of a Yoga Teacher
By Paul M. Jerard Jr.The following are questions that Yoga teachers still need to answer, despite overwhelming evidence that Yoga is “the mother of all health maintenance systems.” Mainstream thought is finally catching up, with the progress Yoga is making, but it has taken 5,000 years for us to get this far.
Seriously, How Can Yoga Make You Lose Weight?
Finally, some of the “Yoga and Weight Loss” studies have come in, and even, a little bit of Yoga is much better, than none, for weight control, but there are a number of reasons why. Yoga is a lifestyle change that includes a safe diet; exercise, adjusting posture, breathing, and a whole lot more. Most of the Yoga practitioners, I know, consume more water, eat more moderately, and take more care of their bodies, in comparison to the many who don’t want to leave the couch.
Aren’t you supposed to jump up and down for at least a half-hour per day to exercise enough to lose weight?
Maybe the masses have been “brain washed” into thinking that you have to feel the pain, suffer, starve, and have a near death experience, to lose weight. Depending upon your size, the average person, in a moderate Hatha yoga class, is burning in the neighborhood of 200 calories per hour. There are Vinyasa Yoga classes, that will burn more calories, with much more flowing and active movement. Just remember, that your safety is top priority, and you will be fine.
There are also Yoga classes where you can feel the pain, heat, and suffer. This is great for those who feel the need to “pay for their sins.” Maybe this is considered “penance,” for years of consuming excessive pizza, burgers, and buffets. If you feel you must suffer, you may even find a Yoga teacher who missed his or her calling as an interrogator.
If you search hard enough, you will find a Yoga class for every niche. More moderate Yoga classes look easy on the outside of the class, but I have seen many people find them to be a challenge, on the inside of the class. The real benefit of steady Yoga practice is training for longevity. Long-term practice will yield optimum health benefits in mind, body, and spirit.
Couldn’t you just invent a Yoga pill?
This has been the ultimate dream of “couch potatoes,” but every time a weight loss pill comes out, there is a down side. Just look at the health problems that resulted from fen phen and ephedra. This should wake people up, but someone will always put their life at risk, no matter how many warning labels are printed.
In summary, the benefits of Yoga practice have always existed, through steady and safe practice. Seek out a safe teacher and go from there. Never push yourself to the point of strain. Moderation is key, so it is wise to avoid extremes.
Paul 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.
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Will Yoga Help You Lose Weight?
By Jeff SmithI suppose it was only a matter of time before the mass marketing about diet and fitness and weight loss caught up with Yoga.
After all, Yoga is certainly going through a period of resurgance - not the first, as these things typically move in cycles as does most of the market.
Typically though, when you read about Yoga, the topic is peace of mind, spirituality, relaxation, meditation, perhaps physical conditioning and strength (both physical and mental).
This time though, the debate rests squarely on yoga's ability to shed pounds in a society that is struggling with record levels of obesity on the one hand, and a severe "thin" image problem held by popular celebrities on the other.
A recent study started the heated debate by claiming a link between yoga and weight loss.
Specifically, the study found that middle-age people who practice yoga tended to experience gradual weight loss over a 10-year period, while those that did not practice yoga seemed to experience fairly substantial weight gain over the same period.
Since the study was released, a constant barrage of skeptics have pointed out flaws in the research that range from self-reported results to missing many other factors that may lead people to both practice yoga and have reduced weight.
As usual, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, at least based on my own experiences.
It is much more likely that the positive factors of yoga and meditation have on your mind and body impact your self-image, nutrition choices, and overall stress level which are major factors in weight control. We point to many of the benefits of practicing yoga over at:
http://www.yogasuccess.comStress not only results in unhealthy binge eating and poor nutritional choices, but actually has physiological impacts on your body that often result in craving foods that can result in greater weight gain such as sugars, starches and carbohydrates.
In the end, what is important is that you are becoming healthier, happier, experience less stress in your life and enjoy your life to the maximum possible.
Let the journalists fight it out over who is technically right, after all, they are likely all fighting to meet deadlines and beat each other's coverage of the story.
It's time I took a break and go practice some meditation.
Discover A New World Of Peace, Tranquility, Happiness, and Spirituality To Help You Make Sense Of It All. Visit Us At
http://www.yogasuccess.com - it's Like A Breath Of Fresh Air!
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Building A Better Body, One Brick At A Time
Copyright © 2005 Tom Venuto
The quest to develop a stunningly fit, lean and attractive body is a long, slow journey. It's not something you achieve overnight by popping a few pills or strapping an electric gizmo to your belly.
Which reminds me, did you know that by the time the FTC finally blew the whistle on the electronic ab belt scam, the makers of those "ab zappers" had swindled over $100 million dollars from unsuspecting consumers? Fortunately, some of those companies had to pay it back, and then some! The FTC charged three companies - Fast Abs, Ab Tronic and Ab Energizer - with false advertising and deceptive warranty practices for these "ABSurd" gimmcks.
But I digress… back to what I was saying about the journey to a better body...
Last week I looked out my window, and where there was once nothing but a dirt-filled empty lot, there stood a sprawling six story brick condo complex. If someone looked at this massive completed structure for the first time, they might not be impressed. However, since I observed the entire construction process unfold from my living room window, I was impressed - amazed even - at what goes into erecting this kind of structure.
I remember watching the crew humming around diligently every day like busy bees, laying one brick after another. From one day to the next, it didn't seem like much changed. But slowly, over a period of a year and a half, I watched the building gradually morph into the finished product.
When you look at someone with an incredible body as a finished product, you often tend to dismiss the long, arduous journey and hard work it took to build that body. Unless you were side by side with that person in the gym (and in the kitchen), observing the work involved, it's easy to attribute such a chiseled physique to genetics or give credit to a supplement (they just took product XYZ and voila - overnight abs). What you don't see or appreciate are all the months and years of sweat and hard work.
Getting in shape is a lot like a construction project. First, there must be a picture in the mind. Then the vision goes onto paper as a blueprint. It takes months just to lay the foundation. More months of work will follow. On a daily basis, it doesn't seem like much is happening. You look in the mirror and appear, for the most part, the same as you did yesterday. But sure enough, the small improvements are slowly accumulating like compounding interest in the bank. One day, you look in the mirror and "suddenly," your blueprint has become reality.
The body of a fitness model, figure competitor or bodybuilder is no more likely to be built overnight than a high rise is to be built overnight. It's not physically possible. Accepting the idea that any type of pill, powder, drug, supplement or machine of any kind will make it happen sooner than nature intended (without negative consqeuences or side effects) is pure folly. You can't force it.
Growth and development of any kind always requires a gestation period. For a baby, it's nine months. For corn, I believe it's about three months. If you were an expectant mother, would you want to hurry the process? Could any new development in nutrition or medical science speed up this wonderful miracle even one iota? If you were a farmer, would you try to harvest your crop before it was ripe? Would you dig up your seeds to see if anything was growing down there?
The answers are obvious. If only we would adopt the same patient, nurturing "mother's" or "farmer's mindset" towards getting in shape, then no one would waste their money on "fast abs" or "exercise in a bottle" or any such silliness ever again. We would understand that one must sow first, then reap the harvest, but that you can't sow and reap in the same season.
If you ever get frustrated with the rate of progress in your fitness or weight loss program (and who doesn't), just remember; success is always guaranteed to the persistent. Nothing in the world can stop someone who knows what they want and is willing to continue paying the price until they get it. It just takes time.
Become the architect and builder of your own dream body. You WILL build the body you want eventually if you're patient enough and you refuse to quit. And set your goals HIGH! Create a fantastic blueprint. Michelangelo said, “the greatest danger is not that we set our goals too high and miss them, the greatest danger is that we set our goals too low and we reach them.” Envision a castle - a veritable Taj Mahal of a body! There's nothing wrong with building castles in the sky, as long as you patiently work at putting the foundations underneath them. There are very few unrealistic goals; only goals with unrealistic deadlines.
So keep laying those "bricks" - every day - one at a time - and sure enough, eventually, you'll build yourself a palace.
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Tom Venuto is a certified personal trainer, natural bodybuilder and author of the #1 best selling diet e-book, "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle. You can get info on Tom's e-book at
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Home Remedies
Copyright © 2005 Andy CasasantaEver have a bee sting? Try rubbing an aspirin on it. Gum in hair? Soak the gum-coated hair in Coke® and it should wipe out easily. While not being a replacement for medical attention, and you should always seek your doctor when you feel you have to and please take these home remedies with a grain of salt. Here you go and enjoy
ACNE, BLACKHEADS, AND PIMPLES:
Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples. Apply fresh lemon juice on the affected area overnight. Wash off with warm water next morning. For acne that hasn't seemed to respond to anything, brew 2-3 tsp. dried basil leaves in 1 cup boiling water for 10-20 minutes, cool, and apply to affected area with a cotton ball. Garlic has been used successfully in the treatment of acne. Pimples disappear without scars when rubbed with raw garlic several times a day.
BLADDER INFECTIONTake a bag of fresh or frozen cranberries and boil them in water (they will fall apart). Cool and drink. Don't add sugar! This remedy is also useful for people with kidney problems.
DARK CIRCLES AROUND EYESMake a paste out of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder, and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
ENERGIZER
Simmer 1 cup honey and 3 cup water together slowly. Allow 1 cup of the water to evaporate. Strain off the top surface, and put the remaining liquid into a stoneware crock or dark bottle. Put a towel over it so it can breathe, yet be free of dirt. Place in a cool place. You can add cinnamon, clove, or the juice of 2 lemons, if you like. Take a glass of grapefruit and lemon juice in equal parts to dispel fatigue and general tiredness after a day's work.
GUM IN HAIRSoak the gum-coated hair in Coke® and it should wipe out easily.
MOSQUITO BITESApply lime juice diluted with water on bites with cotton ball. Apply one of the following to bites or stings to reduce pain and swelling:aloe Vera gel, garlic oil, baking soda and water, vinegar, honey, plantain tea, aspirin.
HangoverEat Crackers and honey. Honey has a high source of fructose and will be helpful in removing the remainder of the alcohol in your system. Aspirin for a headache or you can chew on some willow bark, willow bark contains a substance used in aspirin and will help your headache. You can find it in a health food store if you want to try an alternative to aspirin. Plenty of water, it will help flush out the alcohol, also too much alcohol leaves the body dehydrated, so have a drink of water.
HeartburnDon't lie flat on your back. Heartburn is caused by the acid in your stomach moving upward to your esophagus. Try having a bowl of rice pudding, made with milk, this should help absorb stomach acid. Coffee and chocolate can inflame heartburn, so avoid them if you can. If you heartburn is a regular problem, you should think about going to the doctor.
WartsRubbing liquid vitamin A on the wart everyday will eventually take it away, but it's a slow process. Use castor oil on the wart and then wrap the offending area up tightly with a bandage. Repeat this 2 times a day.
Bad BreathTry some parsley. This food garnish is rich in chlorophyll, a green plant compound that kills the bacteria that cause bad odor.
Chapped LipsTry using castor oil. Carry a small squeeze bottle of the oil and apply it with your finger often throughout the day. Popular lip balms contain petroleum and alcohol, both of which may dry the skin on your lips.
I'm sure this is the tip of the iceberg, but these are the ones I know of. These home remedies are in no way a replacement to a Doctors care so if you feel that you might need to see a Physician, please do so.
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Mr Andy Casasanta. Has devoted a portion of his life to health and well being for himself and others. All the subjects of his articles has effected his life in one way or another. Which has inspired him to create a tremendous health and pharmacy website. Save on all popular drugs such as Viagra, Lipitor, meridia, and hundreds more all for pennies on the dollar. Please visit:
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Home Remedies part 2
Copyright © 2005 Andy CasasantaBack by popular demand, home remedies article #2. While not being a replacement for medical attention, you should always seek your doctor when you feel you have to and please take these home remedies with a grain of salt. Here you go and enjoy.
Acne and Blackheads:
-Rub the acne area with a fresh garlic clove.
-Drink at the very least 8 8oz glasses of water a day. Even more in the summer.
-Mix one part of cinnamon into 3 parts of honey.Use as a scrub.
-Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples.
-Pour a little salt into a small bowl, add a few drops of water and mix till it turns into a paste. I've heard using a little toothpaste (paste, not gel) to this mix gives it a little extra kick. Use this recipe to exfoliate. Do not leave on overnight. Wash your face and rinse off.
-Baking Soda as an exfoliate
-Vitamin E gel tabs. Use as a facial moisturizer.
-Honey and oatmeal as a facial scrub and exfoliate.
Dark Circles Around Eyes:
-Cucumber slice. Cover eyes with cucumber slices. For 15 minutes.
-Potato slice. Cover eyes with Potato slices. For 15 minutes.
-Lead a healthier life style. Get plenty of sleep, water and a multi-vitamin
wouldn't hurt.
-Make a paste out of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. pineapple juice and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
-Moisturize with extra virgin olive oil or vitamin E.
-Try used Chamomile tea bags (cool bags) over eyes for 15 minutes.
Energizer:
-Try eating an apple or 2
-Mix 1 tomato, 1 orange, 1 clove of garlic. For best results, use a juicer.
-Aloe Vera Juice. One of natures best detoxifiers.
Gum In Hair: There a few of these. Here they are
-Try using baby oil
-Try peanut butter
-Non stick cooking spray
-Ice
-A mixture of baking soda with water. Rub it in hair, brush it out.
Mosquito Bites:
-a paste of baking soda and water.
-aspirin capsule. Works well with bee stings. But for bee stings,try to remove the stinger.
-Use calamine lotion.
Hangover:
There seems to be a lot of these also but I cold tell you what I
used to do for a hangover. I am not suggesting you try it but it worked
for me. First off, you wake up with a sour stomach and massive headache.
Alcohol dehydrates, so its time to replenish your body with water. Try a
glass of water with one tablespoon of sugar. Water to rehydrate, sugar for
the sour feeling in your gut. Sometimes I will take something for the
headache. Aspirin or Advil whatever you want. Next, ice-bag for my head.
I used to stick my head under cold running water in the laundry sink. When
your stomach is settled down a bit, and depending on how your feeling, time for breakfast.
Bad Breath:
-Try some parsley. This food garnish is rich in chlorophyll, a green plant compound that kills the bacteria that cause bad breath.
-Use the juice of half a lemon, one teaspoon of salt. Gargle.
-Brush your teeth with a couple pinches of baking soda. When done, brush again with regular toothpaste (optional).
I'm sure this is the tip of the iceberg, but these are the ones I know of. These home remedies are in no way a replacement to a Doctors care so if you feel that you might need to see a Physician, please do so.
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Submitted By Mr. Andy Casasanta. This author has devoted a portion of his life to health and well being for himself and others. Which has inspired him to create a tremendous health and pharmacy website. In this site you will find up to 40 health articles and growing, and an 11000 reciprocal link exchange page. Save on all popular drugs such as Viagra, Lipitor, meridia, and hundreds more all for pennies on the dollar. Please visit:
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10 Super Tricks to Lose all the Weight you Want for Life!
Copyright © 2005 RS Marketing NewsI hate the word “obese”. With as much as 60% of the Americans being fat, you’d wonder why there isn’t some sort of law suit against certain institutes, public facilities, theatres, and most of all the airlines. Why? The seats are to small.
Think about this for a second, now there is more fat people than there are skinny. Being embarrassed because of your fat isn’t the only problem though. If you don’t start losing weight, chances are a lot greater, you’ll pay for it in the long run. If you don’t have any physical problems that are apparent to you, they may be sneaking up on you.
Hey, I’m on your side. I hate the ideal of going on a plane and hoping that somebody sitting next to me will be skinny. With that said, there may only be a 40% chance of that happening. It’s been rumored that fat people may have to start paying for 2 seats when going on board the air craft. Now these are only minor costs. Especially since you may not fly that much.
The serious problems that I’d like to drown you with is the medical problems. If you are anything like the majority in your class, it’s already affecting you emotionally. I can sympathize with you at the clothes store. It is highly embarrassing.
Sometimes, you try every way possible to make yourself happy with the body you have. It only works temporarily. I even find my self justifying my size. I find clothes that are sloppy. They hide the most when you are wearing oversized clothes. However, when you pass by a mirror at the mall, you discover how ridiculously fat you really are. What is worse, the clothes make you look bigger.
Well, if you are not affected emotionally with all this then maybe it’s time to look at some other problems. Heart problems may slip up on you. Diabetes can be another. However, you’ve obviously heard all this stuff before. It’s not secret. Every time you’ve ever went to a doctor, they tell you to lose weight. Easier said than done.
I do have a way. It’s not the only way. I am sure you’ve tried slim fast, dexatrim, the atkins diet, and some of those crazy diets like the grape fruit diet.
Before you or anyone can lose weight, it’s best to get a little knowledge. Now rest assured that if you try to starve your body, it’s natural for it to attempt to protect itself. This is why its important for you to understand that no one can lose weight for you.
If you truly want to lose weight, you must understand that a true pound is worth 3500 calories. If you try to lose a pound in one day, the body will try to save itself. If you trick the body and retrain your body into a routine, then you will more than likely have success and still be happy.
Okay, if your ready to lose all that emotional stress, that embarrassment and most of all that weight, then I have 10 super simple steps to help you and get you back to a healthy body.
· Frame of Mind. The first thing is to remind yourself that you are doing this for you. You do not owe anyone anything. You can’t lose weight for your spouse and they can’t lose weight for you.
· Set a realistic Goal - Don’t say your going to lose 100 lbs. Tell yourself that you want to lose 4 lbs this week. Big goals are always accomplished with little goals.
· Trick you body. Do not skip meals, just eat less at those meals. Don’t stuff yourself. Just quit early. Eat slowly. Do not eat in front of the television. This has a tendency to make you eat more without realizing it. Try eating in front of a mirror.
· Plan your meals. If you don’t plan them and you go out to that favorite fast food place you’ve been supporting, then you will not lose weight. We are trying to change your habits.
· Track what you eat. Write down everything you eat each day and evaluate it. The more education you have, the more weight you’ll lose. Plus it gives you something to do. It also make you consciously aware of your goals.
· Shop on a full stomach. Most people buy more junk food and everything looks so good when you are hungry. If you go grocery shopping, it is extremely important that you eat something before you go.
· Eliminate 2 Fats – You should actually get rid of two different fats. Animal fats which are better known at saturated fats and trans fats. Unfortunately, trans fats are harder to find. You can do some research on this while your sitting there not doing anything.
· Exercise. I know this is the hardest thing for you to grasp. Did you know you can actually exercise in your office, on your couch or anywhere you please. Just do something more than you did before. Instead of asking someone to do something for you, do it yourself. Make exercise you friend. Do you like to window shop? Go look at some skinny clothes and look forward to it. Climb stairs at the mall.
· Buddy System. It’s always been a known fact that if you are doing something with a buddy, chances are great that you’ll do better. It’s the natural competition in each of us that keep us going. If it’s not competition, it’s someone to talk to about your anger, your thoughts, and your goals.
· Get motivated. Read as much motivational books you can. To achieve anything, you must want to. When you lose your motivation, it draws you down. Keep your spirits up and your weight will come off.
See you at the scales.
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Randall Stafford
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The Number 1 Way For Obese People To Lose The Fat
Copyright © 2005 strength-training-woman.comThe number one way for obese people to lose fat is the exact same for those that are only 20 pounds overweight. Strength training is the best way to cut through fat and burn through calories. There's no difference between strength training for the obese and strength training for everyone else.
When we strength train, we add lean muscle mass to our body. This lean muscle mass burns through 35-50 calories per pound of muscle every single day. Let's take a look at that number from a different point of view. If we have 5 pounds of lean muscle, that muscle will burn about 250 calories a day. Here comes the fun part. If we have 10 pounds of lean muscle mass, then our muscles burn about 500 calories a day. Hopefully you can see why adding lean muscle is the best way to lose fat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that we are obese if we have a BMI (body mass index) of 30.0 or greater. Being obese is not healthy. It leads to a host of diseases and illnesses. I'm almost positive you already knew that.
Obese and over weight people can use functional exercises to begin changing their health. Exercises like squats and bicep curls will help strengthen the muscles we use in everyday movements. Often these movements are difficult for obese people. Keep up your workout routine and you'll notice that getting in and out of the car, walking to the mailbox, going upstairs and simply lifting heavy boxes will all become less of a hassle.
Strength training for the obese is the same as strength training for slender people. The difference comes in the starting point. It's so important to talk with your doctor, get the go ahead to workout, and then create a routine that you feel suits you best. Take one step at a time and before you know it, you will have taken 5,000 steps.
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Lynn VanDyke is the proud owner of
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Boost the immune system the natural way part 1
Copyright © 2005 David McEvoySince Dr Peter Koeppel, one of the leading experts on immunology and biochemistry at a leading Swiss pharmaceutical company released a paper on the use of nucleotides and RNA for human health applications. Much information has been sought regarding these valuable building blocks.
In part one of this series we will explain what a nucleotide is and how it links in very closely with our DNA. The beneficial implications of supplementing the daily diet with these naturally derived conditionally essential dietary building blocks, that are know as nucleotides will be explained in part 2
Where do nucleotides come from?
As any good nutriontist will tell you, any thing that the human body needs can be obtained from food. Foods that are naturally high in nucleotides are listed below.
• Liver
• Tripe
• Lean Meat
• Fish
• Mushrooms
• Fungi
• Yeast extract
However to boost your immune system from nucleotides we must take them in a more concentrated form, this will be covered in more depth in the next article.
Part 1. Understanding Nucleotides and DNA
Dr Koeppel states that nucleotides are the building blocks that are necessary for making new DNA and RNA.To help us understand this better; we need to think back to high school when we learned about the double-helix of DNA. Remember the spiral-appearing ladder with the different colored rungs? That is a model of the DNA that makes up the genes and chromosomes found in us all. DNA is a very large molecule, and the rungs of the DNA ladder are made of a combination of two different nucleotides. The nucleotides are molecules, called guanosine and cytosine, that pair up together, or adenosine and thymidine, which also pair up together. Adenosine and guanosine are called purines. Cytosine, thymidine and uradine are called pyrimidines. RNA is similar to DNA, except that the molecule uradine replaces thymine in that pair, and RNA is an intermediary between DNA and protein. A gene is a discrete sequence of DNA nucleotides, and genes are what make up our chromosomes. So, it makes sense that genes are made of DNA.
While all of this sounds very technical, what you need to understand is that nucleotides are molecules that are essential to the creation of new DNA and RNA molecules which are then used by new cells of all kinds. This is important because nucleotides, either by themselves, or in combination with other molecules, are involved in almost all activities of the cell (and therefore, the body).
What is DNA in layman’s terms?
Deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, which makes up the genetic material in cells, is comprised of units called nucleotides.
Conclusion
Nucleotides can be simply described as the nutritional building blocks of new cells. There are 5 key nucleotides, which form the crucial building blocks of DNA and RNA, and are therefore essential for ongoing new cell production and system repair.
In part 2, we are going to explain how nucleotides are involved in many of our body’s vital functions, and more importantly how by supplementing our diet with nucleotides we can help to boost our immune systems
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Dave Mcevoy: A great resource for nucleotides is Nucell Active for more info visit
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boost the immune system the natural way part 2
Copyright © 2005 David McEvoyOther than taking a decent amount of exercise and following a healthy diet, we may feel there is little we can do to help our bodies maintain themselves. However, it is possible to boost the immune system and encourage cell production through the use of supplements containing nucleotides – the body’s essential cell building blocks.
The body has an ongoing demand for new cell production, and must create cells at the same rate at which its cells die. To do this, a typical cell must double its mass and duplicate all of its contents in order to produce the two new ‘daughter’ cells.
This multiplication of a cell starts with the doubling of the information (inter-phase) - namely the DNA. Previously we discussed how the DNA is formed by the five key nucleotides. A normal DNA consists of 3 billion nucleotides.
It is only after this multiplication of the DNA that the M-phase can start. This is where the two cell nuclei are formed and the cells start to divide into two separate cells.
Cell proliferation is a lengthy and complicated process, dependent mainly on energy and supply of the specific building blocks, the five key nucleotides.
Research has shown that by providing extra dietary sources of nucleotides, the multiplication of these new cells can be speeded up. This applies to the following cell types:
Intestinal mucosa cells – the cells lining the gut
Bone marrow cells, namely leukocytes (especially Lymphocytes) – more commonly termed as the white blood immune cells
Erythrocytes – Red blood cells
Certain brain cells
For years, nucleic acids and nucleotides were considered essential nutrients. Now these nucleotides are increasingly considered to be limiting in certain diets and during periods of stress and illness.
It was thought that the body could synthesise sufficient nucleotides to meet its physiological demands via ‘de novo’ synthesis of nucleotides. However, research during the last several years indicates that this is not correct. There are certain conditions in which the body requires dietary nucleotides to meet its physiological requirements.
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T'ai Chi in the Information Age – Ancient Cure for Modern Problems
Copyright © 2005 Bill DouglasAccording to a twenty-year study by Kaiser Permanente, between seventy and eighty-five percent of illness is caused by stress, meaning that in the U.S. alone stress is costing us about one-trillion dollars per year in healthcare costs. Since most absenteeism is due to stress, US business is losing upwards of $300 billion per year.
On a more personal level, it is disturbing to realize that aging is accelerated by stress, and stress is a growing issue with all of us. Studies show that change is stressful, even "good" change. So as we computer jockeys settle into the saddle of a new age of rapidly changing information, we need an edge that can help us stay healthy, sane, “younger” and more vibrant, even as we are often at the very center of the hurricane of modern change, such as keeping up with new hardware and software.
Ironically an ancient mind/body tool provides the perfect balm for our generation's modern problems -- it is called "Tai Chi" (pronounced tie-chee). T'ai Chi is a gentle series of relaxing motions that cleanse the body's tissue of accumulated stress and, by doing so, boosts all aspects of our health systems. According to emerging research boosting the immune system’s strength dramatically, while reducing the incidence of depression, anxiety, and even reducing chronic pain conditions, are just a few of T’ai Chi’s myriad benefits.
What makes ancient T’ai Chi the perfect modern balm is that it doesn't require special facilities or clothing, and doesn't even make you break a sweat, meaning you can do it in office attire in an empty boardroom just by kicking off your heels. Yet, it provides the same euphoria of a long run, the cardiovascular benefit of moderate impact aerobics, and burns nearly as many calories as downhill skiing.
Our time is filled with paradox. A problem in this modern age stems from the great promise of the information age -- a tidal wave of data being created by and offered to our "left brain"; that part of our minds that is analytical, calculating, and categorizing the world. Of course, this is a powerful and important part of who we are. This is the part of the mind that gets things done, pays the rent, builds the houses, and makes the cars. Our "right brain," however, is getting left behind in our rapidly changing techno-world, and this imbalance of thought processes is at the heart of modern stress.
Our right brain is the feeling, smelling, sensing . . . enjoying part of the mind. This is the part of the mind that smells the flowers, not to analyze the smell, but to be filled with its beauty -- and this is the part that has been left behind in the digital world. When we go to the cyber mall, for example, our right brain doesn't get to play. The cyber mall is a wonderful thing that saves us time, money, and gas for our cars (and thereby saves the environment), but there are no Auntie Anne's Pretzels to smell in cyberspace, or warm sunlight streaming in through the big skylights.
So what do we do? We get the best of both worlds. T'ai Chi is a series of exercises to balance the mind. T'ai Chi teaches us to experience life for sheer pleasure, thereby creating balance in our busy "get things done yesterday" world. If you learn T'ai Chi and practice in the morning before you sit down at your computer, your right brain (the sensing and enjoying brain) will be turned on more. You will feel the texture of your computer keys. You will remember to take the time to get a nice cup of green tea or herbal cinnamon spice tea, and you'll interrupt your staccato keyboard occasionally to smell the tea's rich aroma, feel the warmth in your hands, and breathe the breath of life deeply into your lungs.
Although you are at the cutting edge of the information age revolution, you are also in the garden of life. This will give you an edge in the long run. Why? Because chronic stress diminishes our cognitive skills and therefore, our creativity.
Einstein said, "Creativity is more important than knowledge." Even if we have the world's knowledge at our fingertips, if we are too stressed out to use the knowledge "creatively,” we are much less effective. Plus, we're not as much fun!
The bottom line is T'ai Chi is a set of exercises to practice enjoying life. It's not enough just to say, "I'm going to enjoy life more." We actually have to practice mind/body tools that can positively affect our brain wave activity, in an integrative way, as T'ai Chi is proven to do.
T'ai Chi is an extremely sophisticated mind/body science that evolved over millennia, and is now being made available to all of us after centuries of being closely guarded secrets in China. Even though the practices are ancient, they are in many ways just as cutting edge as the multi-gigabyte computer.
Don't just be "cutting edge" with your left-brain. Go all the way and stretch the envelope with your right brain, too, by weaving T'ai Chi into your life. You will be forever glad you did, as you discover balance and calm in the eye of the modern world’s ever accelerating storm of changes rushing at us.
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Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, and Founder of World T'ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 50 nations each year). He's authored and co-authored several books including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to T’ai Chi & Qigong,” and has been a Tai Chi source for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reader’s Digest, etc. You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, and also contact Bill Douglas at
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Dealing With Emotional Stress
Copyright © 2005 Trevor DumbletonOne very difficult form of stress to cope with and manage is emotional stress. After all, it is often self-created, it can come out of nowhere and the stress caused by it only heightens the emotions felt. Thus, as the emotional stress increases, the emotions get worse, heightening the emotional stress. Thus, the problem recreates the cause and the problem only gets worse.
Emotional stress is often triggered by a dramatic event that puts a person's nervous system under severe strain. This could be an event such as losing a loved one, seeing someone die, or being put into a life-threatening situation. An event such as this can put severe strain on a person's mind and nerves and the incredible strain can cause changes in the way that the brain works. In fact, a severe emotional strain could even cause someone to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, emotional stress does not arise from a sudden shock. It can also arise from a total emotional strain that adds up to an overwhelming strain that prevents a person from thinking about anything other than the problems that seem to have no solution. Then, as the stress mounts, the mind is left in its own cocoon of stress that can only call attention to itself, cutting the person off from the world outside. Thus, emotional stress can lead to detachment, and inability to concentrate, fatigue, and even memory problems.
Unfortunately, emotional stress also increases moodiness, which can often make things worse. In fact, those attacks of emotional excess can turn emotional excess up to unbearable levels, leading to further attacks. Then, as these bouts of emotional stress keep adding up, it all becomes too much and the sufferer is left almost completely lost and alone in their own cycle of emotion that hammers incessantly at the brain.
In order to deal with emotional stress, the person who suffers from it needs to take a break from everything that is creating all the emotions. For instance, going on a vacation can be an excellent diversion, as it provides the brain with new inputs that are not charged with associations. By leaving the so-called "scene of the crime" the person who suffers from emotional stress will be able to remove some of the emotional stress by removing its triggers. Then, hopefully, the loop will be broken, allowing the person to start fresh.
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Weight-Loss Secrets: The 3 Meal Lie / The Fat Maker & Heart Killer
Copyright © 2005 Jarvis McCraryWelcome to Weight-Loss Secrets. This article series is going to consist of common sense conclusions that can be derived from current research and generally accepted facts.
I won't waste your time like the scientists that took 2 years to determine that eating fast food makes you fat (duuuh). At times you may find a lot of these topics VERY theoretical but since I don't have millions to dump into proving the obvious we'll just have to act ahead of science and wait for the studies to catch up to common sense 20 years from now.
Want a sample of these common sense health conclusions?
Sure you do......
COMMON-SENSE CONCLUSION: Eat 3 Meals get Fat FAST!
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3 meals sounds logical. You've heard it all your life. Hell, you've eaten 3 square meals all your life. But Why!?
Bet you've never really given it any thought have you? What's more natural than bacon, eggs and sausage with some flapjacks in the morning? A hamburger for lunch and a nice steak for dinner?
That doesn't sound sooooo... bad does it?
Except for the fact that it's the exact opposite of YOUR nature!!
Think about it. Humans have been around for millions of years (or 6,000 depending on your religious beliefs) and for the majority of that existence it required you to catch your own dinner or you wouldn't eat.
Think about that for 1 second and the natural eating plan starts to become clear. If you were a caveman you would get up in the morning and prepare to hunt for today's dinner. Meat was planned to be that evenings feast.
Meat wasn't there for breakfast or lunch and dinner was a real maybe. Until the lucky hunter caught meat he ate things that were a lot easier to catch - fruits and vegetables!
So a typical day would have the hunter rising and eating nuts, berries, veggies or fruit (slow-release carbs that provide continuous energy for the hunt).
During the day the hunter could turn to these same items to stave off hunger and keep him fueled for the fight without making him sleepy.
An end of day successful hunt would provide meat and a feast!
And so it basically went for millions of years....
Can you imagine teleporting a caveman raised like that to present day America and letting him eat at your table? What do you think would happen to him when fed your diet of non-stop meat and between meal snacks? Of course he'd get fat as a pig!
We'll the jokes on you. You are that caveman. Your genes and his share over 99% of the same DNA. You body reacts just like his would in today's toxic environment.
If I was a caveman you'd better believe that I wouldn't be getting up 3 times a day and chasing down some animal just because its time to eat. My family line probably discovered that plants were edible.
I know I would have. When cavewife tried to get me up for the breakfast hunt I'd have snatched the nearest plant ate it, took a couple chews, tasted it. Ummmmm, tastes good. I'm not sick. Here baby, eat this and give some to the kids. Wake me up for the next hunt....
See? It doesn't make sense. It really seems natural that we would only have to hunt and eat meat once a day and really the body is probably adapted to comfortably going without meat for days at a time.
Evolution hasn't adapted us to live in today's food world and probably wont for another couple million years.
The answer is to eat more like our genetic ancestors if we want improved weight control energy and health.
Heart disease is the #1 killer - 98%+ of those deaths can be attributed to plaque buildups that cause blockages leading to heart attack and stroke. - You were born with clean arteries how did they get so blocked?
Maybe it has something to do with the food we eat. Which raises another point. In the early 1900's a doctor could go his entire career and never see a heart attack.
Huh! Well, what's so different today? Could processed and fast-food have anything to do with it? Hmmm.....
America on verge of obesity epidemic - Heart blockages #1 killer
Hmmmmmmm.........
Think there's a link?
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How to Obtain Optimal Health
Copyright © 2005 Monique HawkinsYou should already know that nutrition is very important to your quality of life. If you want to have a healthy life and lifestyle, you will need to have a healthy diet with proper nutrition. You might hear all the time that your nutrition greatly affects the way you live and your quality of life but have you ever really thought about why? Do you really understand why it is so important?
If you really want to take the steps to live the long life that you deserve and to be as healthy as possible and enjoy those years, than you need to learn all you can about the importance of optimal nutrition. What you eat really affects your body and health.
1. What is optimal nutrition?
2. What nutrients do you need to be healthy?
3. What foods give you these nutrients?
Importance of Optimal Nutrition
Optimal nutrition is very important to your overall health and fitness. Studies have shown that people can actually live longer if they have healthy nutrition. It is proven that there is a link between optimal nutrition and long life and long term health.
If you take a look at society, you will notice an increasingly large number of people that are overweight and obese. You will also see problems such as poor teeth and acne, dry, brittle skin, dry hair and other problems. You will find many people on medications for headache, stomach problems, acid reflux, constipation, heart disease, high blood pressure and more. What may be more alarming than the high amount of medications is the fact that most people receive very little information about what is actually causing their disease or condition. Instead, they get a pill.
What many people never know is that what they are eating (or not eating) can be causing these health problems. You also need to understand that you will have to make changes and adjustments to your intake over the years and stages of your life. Just like toddlers need a different diet from teenagers, you also need to alter your diet as you continue through all of life's stages. Understanding what is best for you through each stage of your life is the best way to remain in optimal health.
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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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Setting Objectives For Weight Loss
By Roy Thomsitt
I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for weight loss, the majority of people will be thinking in terms of how many pounds in weight that they, or someone else, should lose. That is similar, in a way, to those who consider setting financial objectives, and then state money as an objective.
Really, if they think about it more closely, money is not an objective; the real objective is what you are going to do with that money. If it is to buy a new house, then the objective is that new house; if it is to retire to Mexico by the sea, then the objective is that new home in a new location, Mexico; if it is to help poor children in Africa, then the objective is helping children in Africa. The objective in those cases is not the money itself; money is worthless if it sits there doing nothing. It just happens to be that many objectives require money to achieve them.
In a way, there is a similarity with weight loss; should weight loss be classed as an objective in itself? Perhaps not, but that does not really matter; what matters is finding the best way for you to lose weight. If you think about it, your decision to lose weight is as a result of other factors. Weight loss is not something you have suddenly considered in isolation; a number of other things have probably caused you to think of weight loss as being necessary. It is those “other things” that should be the subject of your objective setting.
Why You Need To Broaden Your Weight Loss ObjectivesWeight loss is a very narrow objective. You may think, “why not, what else is there to say?” Losing weight is not an easy task. That extra weight has probably been the result of many years of bad eating and exercise habits. So, you decide to lose weight. Well, you won’t lose weight, and keep it off, without the full co-operation of your subconscious. For years, your subconscious has been your chief assistant in making you fat. Now you are suddenly going to say that the new name of the game is weight loss.
With that narrow objective of weight loss, you have done nothing to convince your subconscious this is a good idea. You have given no reason or reasons, so why should your subconscious co-operate with this meaningless weight loss exercise?
In your attempts to have a narrow body, you need to have a broader mind and set of objectives. Carefully chosen objectives will broaden your argument with your inner self, and are likely to be far more motivational. You will be choosing a sensible diet and exercise regimes to assist in reaching those objectives; weight loss will be incidental, just as money was in those earlier examples.
How To Set Weight Loss ObjectivesYou need to sit down quietly, and try to think as clearly as possible of the reasons why you have decided you want to lose weight. The true reasons, that is, not something like “cos I’m too fat.”
Once you have isolated the reasons, whether there’s one, two or many, then write them down. Those are the reasons you have suddenly decided to lose weight. Those should be the subjects of your objectives. I will give a few examples to help you to understand the concept:
1. Reason to consider weight loss: You’re embarrassed going into a boutique and trying on size 18 dresses.
Objective: To be able to go into boutiques and try on size 12 dresses…..successfully.
2. Reason to consider weight loss: You’ve read a lot about the association of being overweight and hypertension, and your blood pressure is high at 150/90.
Objective: To achieve a stable blood pressure of 120/70. (NB such blood pressure targets need to be discussed with your doctor, and will vary according to age and other factors. This is purely for example purposes.)
3. Reason to consider weight loss: You’re sick of being introduced to women, and sensing them looking you up and down with disgust.
Objective: To have women look at you admiringly again.
Those are just three examples; you may have more or less, but you could find it an interesting exercise analyzing yourself to see why you really want to lose weight.
How To Achieve Weight Loss ObjectivesConsider those three example objectives above, and you will see that none mention losing weight. However, all are based on convincing reasons, that are more likely to get full co-operation from your subconscious. With those three objectives, losing weight can play an important part in achieving them, without being the main objective itself. So what you have done is to bring a broader front (if you’ll pardon the expression) to your weight loss objective setting.
There’s no reason to stop going to Weight Watchers or other weight loss group; there’s no reason not to have a target weight. After all, they are now in harmony with the three objectives you have already used to seduce your subconscious into co-operation.
How, then, can you set about achieving those objectives? A combination of meditation and visualization each day should help you convince your subconscious you are serious about these objectives. Here are a few tips:
1. Write the objectives down and keep them handy.
2. Read the objectives and repeat them, orally if possible, morning, lunch time and evening.
3. Morning and evening, in a quiet time lying down, relax your body, and focus on your breathing. Gradually dismiss all distraction around you, and then start to focus on each objective in turn. Repeat the objective in your mind, and visualize your successful achievement of it. See yourself proudly trying on that size 12 dress in front of admiring assistants; or walking into a party of strangers and the women looking admiringly at your new physique.
Give no dates for your objectives, let that come naturally. Repeat the process as long as necessary; weeks, months, years. Each time you visualize the achievement of your weight related objectives, your subconscious becomes more in tune with what you, consciously, want. Together, you will become a powerful team in the weight loss game.
This
setting weight loss objectives article is by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of routes-to-self-improvement.com
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The Best Free Weight Loss Program for natural weight loss
by Janice Elizabeth SmallThe best things in life are free and that is truly the case when it comes to planning your weight loss program.
Whatever you do, don't waste your money on diet patches, pills and potions - they may harm you and they will certainly harm your wallet. Stand well clear of anything which is supposed to help you lose weight that hasn't been prescribed by your doctor.
After all you already own everything you need to lose weight. You don't need the latest diet program. You don't need more fitness equipment gathering dust in a corner. You don't need a gym membership. You don't need diet foods. How much have you paid in the past for all the diet books and paraphernalia that were meant to help you but had no lasting effect on your weight?
To start a successful natural weight loss program you just need the following basic plan:-
1. Eat good healthy home cooked foodHealthy in this case means low in fat, sugar and salt and with plenty of fruit and vegetables, natural whole grains and lean proteins. There are a ton of fantastic healthy and delicious recipes out there that you can use. You'll find them on the internet, in your own cookbooks or you can borrow recipe books from the library. Select the best meals you can and create a weekly meal plan. Enjoy your food more on your weight loss program than ever before! Plan your meals on a weekly basis and keep to it. Your shopping list becomes your best ally in your weight loss plan.
Eating out is often the downfall in any weight loss program. If you can't avoid it, and especially if you eat out a lot, choose your restaurants with care and select the healthiest dishes from the menu. You could also ask them to prepare something healthy - most good restaurants would be able to provide plain fish or chicken for you with a salad (dressing on the side!)
2. Don't eat unless you are physically hungry and stop eating as soon as you are satisfiedIf you are overweight, you can be sure that you have eaten more food than your body needs in terms of calories. Chances are you've done that both through your choices of food - high in fat and sugar - which bulks up your body without filling you up and also through eating larger portion sizes than you really need of everything.
If you've forgotten what a normal portion is, it's best to think of a meal as being about the size of your two clenched fists. Put that much on your plate to start with and see how it feels to eat that much. About right? Stop there. Too little? Have a spoonful more or fill up on salad or vegetables - you can't do much harm with them!
3. Add as much movement into your day as you canMost weight loss programs have an exercise element. Great though this is in theory, it's where many people give up. It's just too demoralizing when you go red in the face, sweating and heart pounding after a couple of minutes when you're supposed to do twenty! Twenty minutes! You're lucky if you can do five. Why put yourself through this when you're clearly not ready?
The best way to add more movement into your day is by walking. Walk everywhere! It's free! If you can afford it, get a pedometer and measure how much you're doing each day. Aim for 10,000 steps every day when you're trying to lose weight - it's also great to stay at that level once you reach your target - it will help you stay slim.
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Proven Ways to Lose Weight Quickly and Naturally
I firmly believe that healthy living is a matter of choice - not luck. You CHOOSE to lead a healthy life or otherwise.
The following article sure supports my point:
Proven Ways to Lose Weight Quickly and NaturallyChileshe MwapeLosing weight requires major lifestyle changes, including diet and nutrition, exercise, and behavior modification. Once you have made up your mind to lose weight, you should make that commitment and go into it with a positive attitude. We all know that losing weight can be quite a challenge. It takes time, practice and support to change lifetime habits. But it's a process you must learn in order to succeed.
1. Change Your Eating Habits - To be successful at losing weight, you need to change your lifestyle and not just go on a diet. This requires cutting back on the number of calories you eat by eating smaller amounts of foods and choosing foods lower in calories. It also means being more physically active.
Consider limiting portion sizes, especially of foods high in calories, such as cookies, cakes and other sweets; fried foods, like fried chicken and french fries; and fats, oils, and spreads. Reducing dietary fat alone without reducing calories will not produce weight loss.
2. Increase Physical Activity - Most health experts recommend a combination of a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss.
In addition to helping to control weight, physical activity decreases the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and reduces the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. Researchers also have found that daily physical activity may help a person lose weight by partially lessening the slow-down in metabolism that occurs during weight loss.
Exercise does not have to be strenuous to be beneficial. And some studies show that short sessions of exercise several times a day are just as effective at burning calories and improving health as one long session. Look at the exercising aspect of your program as fun and recreation and not as a form of grueling and sweaty work.
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