Skin Care: Serious Skin Care

‘Serious skin care’ is about maintaining a healthy and glowing skin all through your life. As you grow older, your body’s natural skin care mechanisms become weaker. So, ‘serious skin care’ is about responding to the changing needs of your skin. Thus, ‘serious skin care’ is about constantly evaluating, analysing and changing your skin care routines. Your skin care routine should change based on the environmental conditions, your age and changes in your skin type.

‘Serious skin care’ is also about awareness. With the technological advancements and research, more and more facts are being brought to light everyday. Also, the composition and nature of skin care products seems to be changing with time. So trying out the new products is also a part of serious skin care. However, ‘serious skin care’ advises using a new product over a small patch of skin (not facial skin) first, just to see how your skin reacts to it.

‘Serious skin care’ also means knowing how to use your skin care products. Good practices include things like applying the moisturizers while the skin is damp, using upward strokes for better penetration of skin care products, removing the make up before going to bed, cleansing before moisturising or applying make up, using the correct amount of skin care products, etc. Thus, increasing the effectiveness of your skin care products is another focus area of serious skin care.

Some precautions, like avoiding contact with detergents, are also part of serious skin care. ‘Serious skin care’ means being gentle with your skin. Things like over-exfoliation, use of low quality products, and application of strong-chemical based products, are all harmful to your skin. Some people have a wrong notion about serious skin care. For them serious skin care is - using large quantities of products as often as possible. However, this really isn’t serious skin care (and that’s why awareness is so important).

‘Serious skin care’ is also about visiting your dermatologist for treatment of skin disorders. Ignoring the skin disorders can be fatal for your skin and might lead to permanent damage. So, if the things don’t improve with over the counter medication, you should immediately visit a dermatologist. Self-surgery e.g. squeezing of acne/pimples is a big no (it can lead to permanent damage of your skin).

So, seriously serious skin care is more about precautions and preventive measures (than treatment). Serious skin care is about being proactive as well as reactive. In fact, we can say that ‘serious skin care’ is about being proactive about the needs of your skin so that the need for being reactive is reduced to a minimum.

By: Nicholas Tan

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Exercise Tips For Walking Off Your Weight

There is so much information about how to lose weight that most people are confused. When folks decide to count calories and have structured exercise programs, they realize these plans aren't easily carried out and they fall back into old habits.

Nature has provided humans with foods for proper nutrients, and the least complex way to watch food intake is to simply eat less of a balanced diet. It's also the safest, since specific plans aren't advantageous for everyone's metabolism, energy requirements, or lifestyle. And while weights, exercise machines and personal trainers help re-size bodies, they are inconvenient and expensive. Once again, the key for weight loss is simplicity. Easy exercise that people enjoy will be done more often, resulting in a greater number of pounds lost. The most simple and easy exercise is walking.

Walking can be done at any time, in any weather, by all ages, without specialized instruction, and it's free. Major muscle groups and joints receive as much of a boost as the heart, and walking is a great social and emotional outlet. Since weight loss occurs when a person takes in fewer calories than he uses, or uses more energy than the calories he takes in, walking helps by burning calories.

One pound is equal to 3500 calories; it can be lost by burning that amount of calories or by consuming 3500 fewer calories than what the body needs. A person who weighs around 165-170 pounds uses about 100 calories to walk one mile. Using these numbers, if an individual reduced their diet by 200 daily calories and walked one mile, they would lose a pound in ten days. They'd lose that pound in 7 days if they decreased daily calories by 300 and walked 2 miles a day. (At slow speeds, more calories are burned because the walker actually is continuously starting and stopping, and at very rapid speeds, more muscle groups are put to work, which assist in burning calories. So, a person may lose more weight, or lose it more quickly.)

However, weight will come off only if walking is done regularly, which means that a person with a goal or timeframe must adhere to their schedule. This is successfully accomplished when a person feels completely comfortable while walking. If their feet bother them, chances are walking will end, along with weight loss. Whenever anyone is serious about walking as an exercise regime, it is imperative to invest in quality walking shoes!

Each foot strikes the ground about 1000 times during the course of walking one mile. That means that there are 2000 opportunities per mile for feet to slide around start developing blisters. There are that many chances to slip or trip on objects underfoot or slick surfaces. The body must adequately shift weight, then balance and absorb the shock with every one of those steps. When one considers the dynamics of one single step, it's amazing how much relies on foot support; there is a reason there are more bones in the foot than in any other part of the body!

One company is geared to those who take walking seriously, providing the best quality in construction and design: Mephisto Shoes. A person is almost assured of finding the most comfortable shoe they've ever worn in Mephisto's line. With well made Mephisto Shoes, a walker will find that feet do not burn or sweat as they may in other brands. That is because Mephisto's experience has resulted in the optimum engineering for walker needs. With an emphasis on support and cushioning, Mephisto materials are used exactly where the foot and arch are the most sensitive and vulnerable. All aspects of long distance walking are taken into consideration, from air circulation for "breathability", to the linings for sweat and moisture absorption, to the proper shape of the shoe for perfect fit. Nothing is overlooked by Mephisto Shoes when it comes to comfort!

Mephisto Shoe representatives are experts in providing buyers with information regarding unique needs. They can offer suggestions for walking shoes for every terrain and preference. With shoes that cradle, caress and energize walkers' feet, a simple stroll can become a pleasant adventure. When a person realizes that long-term walking does not equate to requiring a hot foot-bath or other pain relief, he may walk more often or farther, and lose even more weight.

It's wise to lose weight at a comfortable pace because it then becomes a way of life that can be maintained into the future. Walking off the pounds is recommended by doctors and experts alike. As long as someone's feet are in comfortable shoes, they may find that they literally can go for miles and walk the weight off. With Mephisto Shoes, it's practically guaranteed!

By: Megan Hazel

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Megan Hazel is a freelance writer who writes about fashion topics including Mephisto | Mephisto Shoes

The Best Weight Loss Tips

Log onto the internet and look for weight loss tips and you will come across a hundred different websites offering them. There are ‘Top 10 weight loss tips’, ‘Top 50 weight loss tips’ and ‘The best 3 weight loss tips’.

But when you browse through them all, they either have repetitive content or are out there to promote a weight loss company.

They all start off with a testimonial saying ‘How I lost 30 pounds in one week’ and so on. But the question to be asked is, ‘Just because it worked for him, will it work for me?’ The answer to this question is no. I mean, it might just work. But the keyword here is ‘might’. It brings into account a certain level of probability.

In this article, I am pouring my heart out. Being an obese person all my life, I know what it takes to get those stubborn kilos off your body.

Lifestyle changes

Simply eat less and burn more. You don’t need to give me $1000 to get this tip. You don’t need to go through a 2000 page e-book or buy a video tape that shows you cranky exercises. The only thing that you need to do is get a calorie counter and measure the calories that you are eating.

Now get into the habit of exercising regularly and measure how much you are burning. You can start off with moderate exercises like a slow walk. It will be difficult but the end result will be much better than popping miracle pills into your mouth to lose weight. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Keep realistic goals

Accept the fact that you are obese and it will take time for you to shed those kilos. The faster you accept this, easier it becomes to lose weight. Keep realistic goals. Do not accept to lose 30 pounds in 15 days and so on. Once you have a realistic goal, work towards achieving it and slowly but surely, you will be there.

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What Kinds Of Physical Therapy Work For Arthritis?

Patients with arthritis in our practice are often referred to physical therapists during the course of their management. One question I often hear from patients when I suggest physical therapy is, “But, why can’t I do exercises at home?”

So the big misconception here is that physical therapy is just a bunch of glorified exercise instruction. Nothing could be further from the truth. Physical therapy plays an extremely important role in the management of the patient with arthritis.

Before we go into the treatment modalities that physical therapists use, let’s start with exercises since they are an integral part of treatment.

Exercises consist of stretching, strengthening, and range of motion. In addition, as patients get older they need different types of training such as with balance and gait. Finally, the physical therapist in conjunction with the occupational therapist may look into activities of daily living and suggest some modifications that may be helpful.

But where physical therapy plays a major role is in using different modalities to relieve pain and speed the healing process.

Diathermy is a treatment method which delivers deep heat. It is useful for chronic pain conditions such as deep muscle injury or arthritis.

Precautions in regard to skin and subcutaneous tissue depth should be attended to. For example, a person who is skinny will require much less diathermy than an obese person. Also patients with damage to sensory nerves probably should not receive diathermy.

Iontophoresis (IP) is a procedure where an electric current pushes ionically charged chemicals (ie., glucocorticoids or steroids) through the skin to reach deeper tissues. IP can be used for calcific tendonitis and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Contraindications to use of iontophoresis include allergy to the chemical being applied, open wounds, or neurologic deficits that impair a person’s ability to feel.

Iontophoresis also should not be used near metallic implants, wires, or staples.

Ultrasound (US) is a type of treatment in which high-frequency sound waves are used to “heat up” superficial soft tissues and to help with tissue healing. Ultrasound can be used for tendon injuries or for short-term pain relief related to muscle strain or spasm. Contraindications of ultrasound include the use of US directly over recently surgically manipulated nerves such as a recent laminectomy, directly over malignant tumors, and over joint replacements and permanent pacemakers. US should also not be used in areas of thrombophlebitis (blood clots), near the eyes, over the uterus, ovaries, and testicles. US also should not be used in areas of acute inflammation, over the epiphyseal plates of growing children, and over breast implants of any type.

Phonophoresis (P) is the use of ultrasound to transport therapeutic medications to subcutaneous tissues. P can be used for inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis, arthritis, and bursitis. The same cautions and contraindications exist as for US.

Electrical stimulation (ES) is the process of using electrical current to deliver a therapeutic effect by generating an action potential in nerve tissue. This action potential leads to two potential results. The first is a change in sensory input, ie. a reduction in the ability to perceive pain. The second is a muscle contraction. Low grade muscle contractions can often relieve the severe muscle spasms that occur in association with arthritis. ES can be used for chronic pain related to arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis. It is also useful for muscle spasm as well as neuropathic or radicular pain (pain from pinched nerves in the spine).

It has the same contraindications as US.

Low-level laser therapy- also known as cold laser- acts through the absorption of photon radiation. This leads to changes in cellular oxidative metabolism. Evidence indicates that levels of inflammatory and pain mediators such as prostaglandin E2 can be reduced with this modality. Cold laser can be used for minor musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, chronic neck and low back conditions, and fibromyalgia.

It should be used with caution in patients with malignant tumors or in those being treated with anticoagulants, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs and should not be used over the thyroid gland or over reproductive organs.

Patients and those providing the cold laser treatment should use safety goggles to limit eye exposure to laser light.

These are only a very small portion of the many therapeutic modalities a physical therapist has in their arsenal. In the care of patients with arthritis, physical therapists are an indispensable member of the team.

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Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a rheumatologist and Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For more info: Arthritis Treatment

Yes, There Is Now Nontoxic, Clinically Proven Help For Psoriasis

Psoriasis, which has recently become established as a disease of the immune system, is currently thought by medical professionals to be a condition for which no treatment can offer permanent remission while maintaining the patient’s quality of life. Most treatments today only offer a temporary remission and generate significant side effects, some of which are life threatening. There are new breakthrough formulas available for those who suffer from mild to moderate psoriasis and have clinically proven efficacy and safety. These new formula are rich in growth factors and peptides, which are naturally occurring molecules found in the human body that modulate cell functions.

In contrast to the medications that are now prescribed, the active ingredients of herbal remedies for psoriasis are derived from a natural growth factor and peptide-rich source and no side effects related to these types of products have been reported during the clinical studies that have been conducted up to this point. Some growth factors and bioactive peptides inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of T-cells which are involved in the inflammatory process, resulting in the immune system’s response. Also, natural growth factors and bioactive peptides can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from T-lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes have been demonstrated to be a key element in the inflammatory process of immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, along with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Natural herbal psoriasis supplements also contain proteins including beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumine, and lactoferrin, which possess many recognized immune activities. Additionally, active ingredients like, XP-828L works well upstream at the entire immune system level by down modulating pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines. The first study to demonstrate XP-828L’s potential to relieve psoriasis symptoms was conducted in Canada in 2004 by Dr. Yves Poulin, M.D., a leading dermatologist and psoriasis specialist who has participated in more than 75 clinical studies on psoriasis. The objective of the first phase of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of XP-828L in 11 adults who were suffering from mild-to-moderate psoriasis. The study took place over an eight-week period and led to an extension of a further eight weeks of treatment to asses the efficacy of XP-828L after the initial eight-week treatment. The patients were not allowed to use any other treatment during the study or the period preceding it. The results of this study concluded that the product was safe and no clinically significant adverse reactions or laboratory abnormalities were observed during treatment.

Natural remedies for psoriasis are now available in health food stores and natural product markets, finally allowing help without side effects for psoriasis. For those 7.5 million Americans who have to deal with the suffering associated with psoriasis, this is really good news. In the United States, these supplements will be used orally as a support treatment for those patients using topical or systemic medications; as an alternative therapy for patients who experience side effects or have agreement issues with tropical’s; and to extend the remission period between topical and systemic medications. Stop in your local health food store and ask about what can help with your psoriasis problem.

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Weight Loss By Eating Healthy - Online Diet Plans

You are fat and out of shape and look like a football and people often call you a couch potato. Is this what you want to be? Or you want to look fit and healthy always full of life and vigor. The choice is yours. The only way out is to add a regular exercise regime in your everyday routine for gradual weight loss. Just exercising without any guidance and proper diet control is not going to take you anywhere close to your goal.

The aim of leading a healthy life should start with a proper plan of exercising and diet control. As a beginner for achieving a healthy body does not restrict you from getting the maximum out of your workout regime. The plan must include a chart of 'What to eat When to eat' and a chart of 'When to exercise' to enable you to get the maximum out of the workout plan you want to follow for weight loss.

You must understand that choosing a proper time to eat is equally important as eating a cooking. Eating before an exercise will always make you feel worse salt away problems like sleepiness, indigestion, sluggishness and even cramps and an overall champion health. Similarly if you have no food at all you will be too impotent for exercise and may faint or feet empty all the time. True is important to follow some guidelines for eating if you have the application of weight loss. Following are some basic guidelines but these may be modified depending upon your body response and singular experience.

The cardinal principle of healthy eating is that a big grub should be always eaten at least three to four hours before the exercise and where you are in for a cloudless meal you must have a two to three hours gap between the meal and exercise.

The second principle of healthy eating is simply avoiding eating fat in any form as very over possible.

The third principle of well apprehending eating is to drink a lot of water past you exercise as this will not allow you to dehydrate and keep your body cool.

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Benefits Of Green Tea For Weight Loss

The benefits of green tea in our body are so extraordinary that it is believed that the key to a longer and healthy life may be brewing in your cup! Having a good health is a focus for most individuals. Medical experts tell us to take better care of ourselves if we want to live a longer life. There's an inconsistent information about what is and isn't good for us. And it's a beverage that does a body need.

Caffeine is found in coffee and also in this type of tea and is useful as a cardiac stimulant and also as a mild diuretic which increases urine production. We should wise to limit the number of cups we drink each day so that it doesn't make you nervous or nervy. So don't drink too much caffeine because it can affect your sleeping pattern and limit your consumption of green tea each day.

Many people are trying to lose weight. Each and everyday they heard the new and supposedly effective weight loss plan. And one of the benefits of green tea is weight loss. Several people drink the tea either hot or cold and also take it in the form of a pill. You need to be careful if you do this routine on how much you drink as you don't want to overdose.

I heard that weight loss is one of the first benefits of green tea. I've heard that green tea can help you lose weight by raising your metabolism. And another one benefits of green tea is that it can help wash out fat and toxins from your system. I can not say if is true, but I know that when I drink a cup of hot green tea every night. I feel that it doing well for the most part of it and it is a good reason to keep drinking it.

Another one benefits of green tea here is that if you drink enough of it can help you control your appetite. I have read weight loss aids on the shelves at my local store that claim that this is one of the great benefits of green tea, and that they put this green tea into their product. I found out that there is a gum made of green tea, and that was supposed to help control your appetite in between meals. I don't know if the green tea helps, but I know that chewing gum in between meals can indeed stop you from eating. This is more of a psychological thing than anything else though.

An antioxidant effect is the most well known benefit of green tea. From all benefits of green tea this one is perhaps the most important. As what you have seen, antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged.

Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage, the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. Antioxidants are proven to help prevent against some forms of cancer if you increase the amount of this. Lastly, one of the benefits of green tea is to add a cup or two to your daily beverage menu.

The soothing effects is another benefits of green tea which come down largely to the fact that it is a warm, comforting liquid, even so they are distinct. A recent study suggests that tea drinkers, whether they drink black tea, green tea, or a white tea, have lower stress levels. Naturally, you can get the same effect by drinking black tea, while the green tea has a lower dose of caffeine and more healthy antioxidants compared to black tea does and it is better for your health.

There are many types of herbal tea that comes from different varieties. As what I have found out, ginseng and honey variety is refreshing along with the peppermint green tea. Knowing all the benefits of green tea it's easy to see why it should be replacing regular tea as attach in your diet. Drinking of a nice warm tasty green tea each day can improve your health well so why don't you try doing this to have a good health.

Several people trying to take green tea concentrated to increase its effects. But the only problem with this is that the benefits of green tea have generally been studied with brewed tea. Although there is a good chance that capsules filled with tea would work every bit as well, it is not known for sure and for me a much better idea is not to risk. Enjoy a healthy cup of green tea every morning and every evening, and I assured you will enjoy its benefits. This is not only good for you, but you will appreciate the delicious taste as well. And there is nothing else compared like this.

The great thing about green tea is that it certainly will not harm you if you drink it. It doesn't really matter if you believed in the benefits of green tea that are good for you or not. If the only benefits of green tea makes you relaxed and calm each evening, and perhaps it is indeed worth the trouble you might go to. If you are wondering what it can do for you, even though you do some experiment a little to find out what will happen. Just add green tea to your life, and see if you find that you are feeling better, or possibly losing weight a little more easily.

By: Crizza Reyes

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Loose Weight By Cutting Dietary Fat Absorption

You can lose weight by cutting dietary fat absorption, although in order to understand the need for this you have to appreciate the effect that fat has on your weight. Not only fat, but any form of calories.

The word ‘calorie’ appears to have a bad press, and there have been a lot of ill informed comments made about calories and whether calorie controlled diets are effective or not. Quite frankly, it is all said in ignorance. Whether you agree or not, the calorie is a measurement of energy and the calorie content of foods is what is calculated to be the energy value of these foods.

Once inside your body, that energy is either used up or converted to body mass. It is not necessarily converted to fat, since that extra weight could be in the form of muscle tissue. However, it is converted to body mass and so you can put on weight. The basic equation is that if you take in more energy than you use, then you add weight, and if you use more energy than you take in, then you lose weight. It is slightly more complex than that, but it is basically true.

That does not mean that if you eat a pound of dripping (the fat that drips off cooking meat) you will add a pound of weight. It is the calorific value of the dripping in terms of energy, whether measured in calories or in joules, that is the relevant factor, and if that is 4000 calories, which is about average for various types of dripping, then if you use up 4001 calories in exercise, you can safely spread your pound of lard on toast and eat it without putting on weight (you will have also to use up the calories in the toast).

It is the calorie equation that is important, and if this is negative then you will lose weight. You have to: it is a law of science! Whether your calories are in the form of cookies, candies, avocados (loads of them) or dripping, it is all the same. A meat calorie is the same as a vegetarian or vegan calorie. If you eat more than you use you put on weight.

Different foods contain different quantities of energy, or calories. If you buy a Big Mac you eat 570 calories, and 5 from your Super Pepsi. If the guy next to you has an English Muffin, he will have 140 calories. However, if he then goes home and slouches on the sofa watching TV and you go to the gym for a serious workout, he is liable to put on weight and you lose it. It’s all in the equation!

However, you don’t just use calories in exercise. Your metabolism is also important. In fact 65% - 75% of the calories you use in a day are used up by the body at rest: the metabolism that takes place 24/7 to keep you alive. The heartbeat, breathing and brain activity for example, all use up energy. So not all is doom and gloom, and you can burn up these calories even while you are sleeping.

However, there is another way to prevent the fat you eat from turning into weight. (Incidentally, if you exercise a lot, that weight will likely be in muscle mass, but if not then it will certainly be fat). You have a clue to the way that can be done in the first sentence of this article: ‘dietary fat absorption’.

If the fat is not absorbed into the body, then it is not available to be metabolized into body fat. It will pass through the body unchanged. It is not the fat you consume that makes you gain weight, but the amount of that fat absorbed through your intestines. But how is it possible to selectively prevent the fat in your diet from being emulsified by the bile and absorbed through the intestinal wall?

By means of chitosan. This is a fiber that absorbs part of the fat from the food you have eaten and hides it away from your digestive system. It cannot be broken down into sugars and then into fat to add to your unwanted weight. However, because it works after your meal, you get to eat what you want – that ‘finger lickin’ good’ stuff you love, but don’t suffer the consequences of failing to exercise to work it off. It’s like you just ate lettuce without the fried chicken with the crispy fatty skin.

So what is this miracle substance, chitosan? Biologists would recognize the name as being associated with chitin, the acetyl-glucosamine polymer that forms the carapaces, or shells, of crabs, lobsters and other marine shellfish. Chitosan is formed by deacetylating the chitin and is mainly used to enhance the growth of plants, and also as a filtration aid. So what does it do to help to remove some of the fat from your diet after you have eaten it?

The mechanism by which it does this is not fully understood, and in fact is still disputed in some quarters. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and it appears to act according to the claims. There are two possible mechanisms, one of which is connected with the deacetylation of the chitin molecule. Because of this, the resultant chitosan molecule has cationic groups on the polymer chain. Cations are positively charged, and can react with acids, not the least of which are the bile acids that break down lipids (fats) to render them into a form suitable for absorption.

It is possible for the chitosan to react with the bile acids and prevent them from breaking down the fats into a condition that enables them to be passed through the intestinal wall. However, it has also been proposed that dietary fibers work by increasing the thickness of the boundary layer of the intestine through which the fats would have to pass. This would have the effect of reducing the lipid uptake.

It is also possible that since chitosan is a fibrous substance, it attracts the fats through its charge and absorbs them into a swelling ball of fats and fiber that is not only impermeable by the bile acids, but also passes through the intestinal tract unchanged and eventually excreted. In fact, there is not proof for any of these projected mechanisms, and all are theoretically possible. The fact is that it appears to work, but must be taken for several weeks for the effects to be noticeable.

It is possible to lose weight by dietary fat absorption, and whatever mechanism is used by chitosan, it is well worth trying if you like your fatty foods but also want to lose weight. Combine chitosan with a good exercise regime and you might find that you can control your weight whatever you eat. Chitosan is available over the counter at any health food store.

By: Darrell Miller-1603

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More information on chitosan and fat blocking supplements is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store.

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Fat Loss Success: Small Daily Decisions

There was a father who would say to his young son how do you eat an elephant?" The young on looked up at his father and said "how?" The very wise father resplied "one bite at a time." I believe it is our human nature in our fast paced to want everything right now!

Billions of dollars are spent every year on weight loss pills and "quick fix miracles." We struggle as a society with patience especially with ourselves. Think of someone in your own life who excels at something they do. For example I have one friend who plays the piano flawlessly. While I watch him play it is my human nature to think;"They are so lucky to be so good at that." What I would forget is the behind the scenes the work that it took to develop that talent. Obviously, he did not just sit down at the paino and begin playing Mozart flawlessly. He spent countless hours practicing, and practicing; studying music and the notes on the page until one day he put it all together to produce beautiful music.

Our own health and fitness can be applied the very same way. It is the small decisions we make everyday that literally form who we become over time.

Make a choice to park a little farther away. Make a choice to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Make a choice to drink water instead of the cola. Make a choice to split a meal at a restaurant with your spouse of friend. Make it a habit to stop eating when you feel full.

We are faced with small choices everyday and we do have the power to choose. We are the one bringing the spoon or fork to our mouth. We are the ones choosing what is on that fork or spoon. We are the ones deciding to watch TV for 30 minutes instead of getting off the couch and doing some physical exercise.

Take responsibility for the choices you are making and remember that you are a reflection of all those small little choices that you are making every single day.

Even if it takes several days, weeks, or even months to reach our fitness and health related goals...

Remember the saying; "How do you eat an elephant?" "One bite at a time." "How you reach your health and fitness goals?" One small, daily, decision at a time.

Do something everyday to get you one step closer to the person that you want to be!

Think back over your life to a time that you felt the best you have ever been. Can you remember that feeling? I want you to really feel again how that felt! You can feel that way again! You have to believe that! Don't settle for just being, but strive to be the best you you can be!

Be excited about this new journey you are taking.

Be excited as you find the new potential that you have always had, that you never realized was in you!

Participate in activities that get you excited about fitness.

Be excited about your potential.

You need to always remember that the change has to come from within you... you have to believe in yourself first!!!

You can become who ever or what ever you want to be as long as you want it bad enough, and that is exciting. You are your own sculptor. You are the Michelangelo of your own body and together we are going to make a masterpiece.

All the Best! Chelsie Mecham eFit Today Total Fitness Team

By: Chelsie Mecham

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Join our Revolutionary Fitness Community that is committed to bringing you the exact cutting edge fitness tools that you need to Finally Succeed. Are You Ready to Lose Your First 10 Pounds? www.efit-today.com

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Lose Weight After Pregnancy

For most women, weight gain during pregnancy is normal. Women usually have to eat more to nourish their baby which causes a lot of the weight gain. While being a mother is a beautiful and fascinating thing, having that extra baby weight is frustrating and a lot of women discover that it’s difficult finding the time and proper “know-how” to lose weight after pregnancy.

After pregnancy women feel unattractive, this is not true and shouldn’t be the case. Pregnancy should be less of a struggle and there are ways you can make, the before, during, and after pregnancy a smoother and healthier transition. You can feel great during pregnancy, have a healthy baby and still lose post pregnancy weight. There are surefire ways to lose that stubborn baby weight. Remember that you can be the best and still find time to lose baby weight. Here are some tips to help you lose that stubborn baby weight and keep it off for good:

You have to be motivated and when you make the decision to lose that baby weight then half the battle is over with. A lot of women get discouraged and have a hard time following through, so you need to make a decision right now that you’re ready to start this and Follow Through to the Finish Line. Once you do that you’re ready for the Action steps that are used to actually lose the weight. Now it’s sad that so many women start there life long weight struggle after pregnancy but that’s a fact of life. While your pregnant, it’s a possibility that you may gain an extra 40-60 lbs; you might lose half of it after giving birth and the rest is the excess baby weight you’ll have to work for.

You’ll have to really stick to this and it’s not easy but it’s up to you to decide if the results are worth it. Every time you’re pregnant you could be putting on that extra 40-60lbs so it’s pretty important to lose baby weight after each baby, otherwise one day you might look in the mirror and say what the heck happened.

Action Steps

You don’t have to go on any crash diets after having a baby. This has the potential to be dangerous especially if your breastfeeding. So don’t starve yourself just eat a lot of nutritious Fresh Whole-Foods. Eat 5 small meals a day.

Here are the foods that you should be eating in excess

Polysaturated and Monosaturated Fats
• Fresh Nuts of any kind, Non Salet Almonds, Pecans, Cashews, Walnuts Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
• Avocados
• Dairy
• Peanut Butter

LEAN PROTEINS
• Fish
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Lean Red meat 1 or 2 times a month. Women have a harder time digesting this and there tends to be more saturated fat in red meats. So make sure it’s at least 80% lean red meat.
• Tofu
• Edamame and soy protein
• Supplement Protein Shake

FRUITS
Berries are the best fruits of all but don’t neglect the other fruit because they all have there benefits. JusT make sure to eat lots of fruit.

VEGETABLES
Spinach and Other green vegetable are the best for you, but like fruits you still want to eat all of them because they all have there benefits.

COMPLEX CARBS
• Oatmeal
• Whole Grains
• Whole Wheat
• Oats
• These are all the complex carbs and should be eaten less frequently but having a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast or a bowl of oatmeal won’t hurt anything
Here is a sample meal plan just to give you an idea of how to set your meals up.

Breakfust
• 3/4 cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup Brussels spouts
• 2 slices banana-nut bread

Lunch

• 2 serving Organic Corn & Chanterelle Risotto
• 2 slices pumpernickel bread
• 1 orange

Dinner
• 2 serving Spinach and Semolina Puffs
• 1/2 cup orange-pineapple fruit cup

Snacks in-between Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
• 1 cup raw vegetable sticks; carrots, celery, green pepper
• 1/2 cup bean dip or yogurt dip

Exercise during and after pregnancy and you will be on your way to losing baby weight and getting that body you want so badly. Consult your doctor before exercising to find out what is safe and what’s not safe before and after pregnancy. Your doctor can advise you when it is safe to exercise after giving birth. With your medical history your doctor can assist you in deciding which exercise programs are best for you and how fast you can shift from one level of exercise to the next. I encourage swimming, walking, running, hiking, playing sports, and an active lifestyle.

Now you don’t have to feel unattractive during pregnancy or gain weight after. You can take control of the problem and lose the post pregnancy weight now. It’s simple and there are many things you can do. I have tested all of the things that I recommend to women just like you and all it requires from you is the desire to take your life back and start looking the way that you want to look. It’s possible and I can help you right now. Lose-Pregnancy-Weight Learn more right now. Look at my blog
http://lose-weight-after-pregnancy.blogspot.com/

By: Robert Ryan

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Ryan Drobel writes informative articles on various subjects including Discover How Lose Pregnancy Weight. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction. Just remain intact and included with every reproduction.

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Why Eating Carbohydrates Sabotages Weight Loss

Most people who are trying to lose weight are probably aware of the common advice to avoid carbohydrates, but many are unaware of why this reommendation is so critical and to what extent carbs need to be avoided. Although some experts will proclaim that calories are calories and weight loss is simply a matter otaking in fewer calories than you burn off with exercise and daily activities, not all calories are burned the same way. With some investigation, it quickly becomes clear that calories from carbohydrates are much more difficult to burn than calories from other sources carbohydrates have a strong tendency to promote fat deposition.

The primary problem with a high intake of carbohydrate is the stimulation of insulin production. The purpose of insulin is to promote the uptake of blood sugar (which after a meal is in usually in greater supply than what is needed at that particular moment in time) and store any excess for future use.

Surplus blood sugar initially is converted to a fast-energy source called glycogen, which is mostly contained in the liver and muscle tissue. The body can re-convert glycogen to blood sugar to be used for energy during short periods of physical activity. There is not very much room to store glycogen, so when additional reserve blood sugar needs to be stored beyond what can be kept as glycogen, insulin stimlates the remainder is converted to fat.

There is an enormous amount of potential space for fat storge. Fat cells are plentiful and each cell can enlarge to more than one hundred times its starting volume to allow for additional storage of fat.

Insulin has very strong effects in stimulating fat storage. In addition, because fat burning and fat storage are opposite processes, insulin has a strong suppression effect on fat burning. It is this inhibition of fat burning by insulin that makes strictly limiting carbohydrate intake so important for weight loss.

High carbohydrate intake (and it really doesn't need to be very high) stimulates the release of large quantities of insulin. This high production of insulin effectively prevents the body from burning fat - for 24 to 48 hours! In fact, a single meal containing 20 to 25 grams of refined carbohydrates (about the amount in a slice of sandwich bread) can completely block your ability to burn fat for 1 to 2 days - regardless of what you eat and how much or how hard you may exercise during that time.

Some people might dispute that last statement on the basis that some people do lose weight even though they regularly consume carbohydrates. It's not that eating carbohydrates prevents all weight loss, it's that the insulin response prevents fat burning. Loss of retained water weight and weight loss through the burning of muscle and lean tissue can proceed in the presence of high insulin. The big problem here is that lean tissue is highly metabolically active, so any loss of this tissue will reduce the metabolic rate over time and make weight loss very difficult.

Because of the effects of insulin, minimizing carbohydrate intake is strongly recommended for sustainable fat burning and the most efficient and lasting natural weight loss. This is not to say that everyone will benefit from being on a high protein diet such as Atkins. Excessive protein intake can create its own problems that can ultimately interfere with ongoing weight loss due to detrimental effects on the liver. Instead, the best diet program in most intances involves eating plenty of fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, and moderate quantities of protein from lean meats, fish, eggs, and dairy. The carbohydrates you do consume are best obtained in high-fiber forms from vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts, rather than from refined grains.

Certain low-carb diets I've seen actually suggest eating one carbohydrate-filled meal per week as a way of rewarding yourself for your efforts. I think you can probably find much better ways to reward yourself that don't have the potential to derail your weight loss program like this approach does. First, as we said, any high-carb eating can produce enough insulin to shut-down fat burning for one to two days. If you do the once a week "cheat", you are potentially eliminating your opportunity to burn fat for up to eight days every month - a reduction in your diet's efficiency of about 25%! The other issue is that eating carbs tends to cause carb cravings that could lead to more cheating and eventually cause you to abandon your weight loss plan altogether.

You probably now understand better why you really need to avoid eating refined carbohydrates if you are attempting to lose weight. In my experience, most people who stay away from carbs for two or three weeks will usually stop craving them and then avoiding carbs becomes a much easier thing to do. With some will-power in the early going, your diet will become second nature to you and you'll be prepared to meet your weight loss goals.

By: Dr. George Best

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Dr. George Best writes extensively on the subject of natural weight loss. He has been assisting people with weight loss in his practice since 1992. For additional information about developing an effective natural weight loss plan, please visit www.TrainYourBrain4WeightLoss.com.

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Ten Tips To Lose Weight Effectively

You have to follow some simple tips if you want to lose weight effectively. Here are ten tips which will surely help you in your weight loss program.

1. For losing weight you need vitamins,antioxidants and beneficial fibres.Food with high fibre content is always satisfying. To fulfill above needs your diet should contain lot of fruits and green leafy vegetables.
2. Avoid skipping your meals as it will never help you in losing some extra pounds. Try to have small frequent meals instead of three big meals in this way you can control your calorie intake. Allow yourself some sensible snacks in between the meals for example low fat cheese,crackers or you can munch some raw vegetables.
3. If you want to control your weight always prefer fresh fruits,vegetables and juices as processed food never contains sufficient vitamins. Processed food always contain extra sugar which means extra calories.
4. You should reward yourself after achieving a weight loss goal for example you can eat your favorite chocolate after every achievement.
5. Avoid drinking carbonated drinks they are having lot of calories. Drink lot of water as water keeps your body energetic,makes you feel healthy and helps you in your exercise program. If you really want to lose some extra weight water should be your companion in your every day life. You should drink 8-10 glasses of water per day.If you do not like taste of water you can add some lemon juice to your water.
6. If you often eat outdoors always opt for healthy foods like vegetable and fruit salads. It is a good idea to order baby portions and if you are having a big portion you do not have to finish your plate every time. Overall you should avoid eating outdoors as well as parties this will be a great help in your weight loss program.
7. It is always worth meeting a weight loss expert before you start losing weight as not all weight loss programs will suite you they should be chosen according to your body type.
8. It is a good idea to find a low fat version of your favorite foods and give yourself some time to develop taste for these items.You can try low fat version of cheese and butter.
9. If you want to lose weight always take a brisk walk before the breakfast and after the dinner. Clean your teeth after the dinner it will send a signal to your brain that your eating time is over.
10. You should have an active life style for that always try to find an opportunity to move your body for example it is good to have a walk in your lunch break. You should walk at least ten thousand steps per day.

Jitesh Arora is a weight loss expert.If you want to lose weight effectively you need to know some more simple tips. Want to know more tips visit http://jitu-doctor123.blogspot.com

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Drug Rehab Chosen By 49 Percent of Teen Addicts After 5 Day Forced Detox

In the western Canadian province of Alberta, parents of kids with drug problems can ask a judge to order the kids into special, lock-up alcohol and drug detox centers for up to five days. The hope is that after they've sobered up for a few days, the kids will realize they need help and get into a proper drug rehab program.

Called the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, the new law is seen as an act of 'tough love' by desperate but still-caring parents who feel they've run out of options. It carries a pretty strong message, from both the parents and the state, that drug addiction is not trivial, and here's your chance to do something about it.

Local officials term it a state-assisted intervention. The idea is simply to get teens away from their drugs and druggy environment long enough to flush some of the toxins out of their bodies, in the hope that they'll see the light and voluntarily check into a long-term drug rehab program.

The good news is, it actually works. It may not be drug rehab, but as a first step in the process, it's been a terrific success.

In the first 13 months of the program, from June '06 through August '07, 618 teenagers were ordered into the 5-day alcohol and drug detox and 49% of them admitted themselves into drug rehab when they were released. This works out to more than 300 drug-troubled young people who recognized that their lives were out of control and were willing to get into drug rehab to straighten out.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) released some other interesting statistics about the new program:

* 55% of teenagers ordered into detox were girls

* 56% of those ordered into detox were only 12 to 15 years old

* 58% of those ordered into detox were still in school - not homeless street druggies

* Nearly all of the kids abused more than one substance at a time

* The most-used drugs were alcohol (98%), marijuana (96%), psychedelics like LSD and ecstasy (73%) and cocaine (57%)

And for parents who might have kids with drug troubles, you should know that the AADAC also found that the more actively supportive and involved parents are, the greater are the chances that their kids will successfully kick their drug habits through state-assisted intervention and a successful drug rehab program.

Rod MacTaggart is a freelance writer who contributes articles on health.

info@drugrehabreferral.com

http://www.drugrehabreferral.com

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Protecting Your Heart and Cardiovascular System - Tips for Families With Children

Make heart health a family priority! You don't have to make big changes in your family's daily routines to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Just keep heart health in mind when making small decisions about what to eat, how to get from place to place, and what is most important to your family.

Choose whole foods over processed foods.

Try to reduce foods that are prepackaged and contain a lot of added sugar, salt, or harmful fats (saturated fat and trans fat). Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish, low fat dairy and meats are good choices.

Choose to be active.

If you live close enough, walk or bike to do errands. Next time your family is deciding how to spend a weekend or evening, choose something active - take a bike ride, go swimming, play a family game of soccer, or just have a dance party at home!

Cut down on TV time.

Television viewing is associated with being overweight. Why? Possibly because television is a sedentary activity, TV commercials promote mostly unhealthy foods, and watching TV takes away from time that could be spent playing and other physical activity. Keep your kids active and healthy by limiting their television time, especially during meals.

Eat fish twice a week.

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice per week. Fish contains healthy fats and lots of other nutrients. Offer your kids to a variety of fish, including fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Replace treats with healthy snacks.

Snacks are a big part of most kids' diets. Make sure to offer healthy snacks instead of easy fillers like chips, soda, candy and other sweets. Think of snacks as mini-meals. Offer foods from two or more food groups and use whole, minimally processed foods when possible. Try whole grain crackers and cheese, vegetables with dip, nuts and fruit, or half a sandwich.

Watch out for extra calories from drinks.

Many kids love sweet drinks like soda and fruit punch. The problem is that it's easy to drink too many calories from these good tasting beverages. Plus, most sweetened drinks contain few or no nutrients. Help your kids to choose water to quench their thirst and offer low-fat milk at meals. Even 100% fruit juice should be limited to 4-6 ounces per day for young children.

Limit fast food.

Fast food is highly processed, high in calories, and usually has lots of salt, sugar, and fat. To help create heart healthy habits in your children, choose fast food restaurants only when necessary. Make a point to enjoy meals at a slow pace instead of cramming fast meals in the car.

Don't smoke.

One of the healthiest choices you can make for your family is to not smoke. Providing the positive message that no smoking is the norm for your family will help your children make the same choice when given the opportunity.

Be involved at school.

Educate yourself about the food your child is served at school. Is there time set aside during the day for physical activity? If you feel there is room for improvement, talk to the principal or director of the school.

Writer Barbara Chevaux contributes heart health and cardiovascular disease prevention content to HeartMart.com. Chevaux has been a freelance writer for more than five years and earned a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition. Much of her professional career was in the food industry, where she researched the potential health benefits of consuming dark chocolate. HeartMart is a free website that includes information about heart disease and keys to a healthy heart, including heart healthy diets and dietary supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids.

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What is a Gauss Rating?

A German mathematician named Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) applied mathematical principles to magnetism. Thus was born the Gauss rating for measuring the strength of magnetism.

The gauss rating of a magnet determines the speed in which it works, and the thickness determines the depth of penetration. Some magnet companies list their products by internal gauss, not the external gauss rating. Quick rules of thumb in determining proper gauss strength are taking the external gauss rating and multiply this number by 3.9. As an example, a 500 gauss external strength rated magnet can also be called a 1,950 gauss internal strength rated magnet. It is important that you are not misled into believing you're getting a higher strength product, as both are correct ratings for the same magnet.

The Gauss rating of a magnet can be misleading. The strength of the magnetic field falls off very quickly as the surface of the magnet is moved away from the target area. The actual gauss strength inside the human tissue can be much less then the gauss rating of the magnet as the magnet is moved away from the target area. Not only is the rating of the magnetic important in this determination but also the size of the magnetic. The larger the magnetic the larger the field. For a magnetic to penetrate deep into human tissue it needs to be fairly strong. To penetrate to a depth of one inch it should have a rating of 700 to 1000 gauss external strength. For two inches of penetration the magnet needs to have a 1200 to 2000 gauss external rating.

The material of the magnetic alone does not determine its overall strength. The mass (size) of the magnetic must also be considered. If you had a neodymium magnetic (neodymium is a rear earth material) with a gauss rating of 12,000 and a ceramic magnetic with a gauss rating of 4,000, which would be stronger? Naturally, you would pick the neodymium magnetic, and you would be correct if both magnets were the same size.

Now assume that the neodymium magnet has a 1/2" diameter and is 1/8" thick and the ceramic magnetic has a 3/4" diameter and is 1/4" thick. Now which magnetic is stronger? Even though the neodymium magnetic has a gauss rating of 12,000 the 4,000 gauss rated ceramic has a stronger field due to its mass.

The best therapeutic results are achieved when the magnetic field within the tissue is around 500 to 600 gauss. To attain this rating requires a strong magnetic to deliver the proper amount of energy. The depth of penetration of the magnetic field appears to be at least as important as its strength. This is extremely important. The larger the mass of the magnet, the stronger and more effective it will be. If the magnets are too small, the magnetic field will drop below therapeutic levels before it even reaches the injury site. Magnets constructed from Neodymium are unusually strong in relation to their size. They are believed to have the deepest penetrating fields. Some people may encounter a skin reaction to direct exposure to neodymium magnets therefore many therapeutic magnets are plated with gold or some other non-reactive metal or contained within a pad or holder.

Note: If you come across a magnetic that does not specify if the rating is external or internal you can determine the external rating by dividing the rating by 3.9. Example a rating of 12,000 would have a external rating of 3,076.

Something else to be aware of is that gauss strength of the magnetic field is not cumulative. In other words if each magnet has a manufacturers gauss rating of 2,000 and there are 10 magnets in the product, the strength is still 3,000 gauss, NOT 20,000 gauss. Although, more magnets in a products means that the magnets are spaced closer together, creating a more uniform magnetic field. The number of magnets needed to create a consistent field is also dependent upon the size of the magnets. As stated previously, larger magnets will create larger fields. The key is that you do not want large spaces between the magnets, as large spaces will create empty gaps in the magnetic field, in which there is no therapeutic benefit.

Many suppliers of Magnetic Therapy Jewelry do not specify the gauss rating of their products because of the confusion the rating can cause. Prior to purchasing any Magnetic Therapy Jewelry research the product to ensure it is right for you.

Mike McDonough has been associated with the jewelry and jewelry design business for several years. He has on staff some of the finest artisans designing lovely jewelry. Each piece is one of a kind and crafted with the highest quality materials available. Lovely gemstones and sterling silver atone the jewelry designs and can be viewed at Designs by Elaine Marie and Jewelry For A Purpose

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