Is Sunlight Bad For You

Is Sunlight Bad For You
Is exercise bad for you? What about healthy food or water?
Too much of these can kill you, but they are good for you.
If you have pale skin and lay in the sun all day at the
equator, you will get third degree burns and will have to
be hospitalized. It has been studied and shown that
sunlight gives you a non-toxic form of vitamin D. Your body
can store this pre-vitamin D from sunlight hitting your
skin. The vitamin D in foods and supplements is toxic and
too much causes death by liver failure.

Because of this the body will try to get rid of any excess.
But with the form from the sun, the body can convert it
whenever your body needs vitamin D. They know that below
the 42 degree latitude, you can get vitamin D from the sun
all year round but above that you cannot. At the latitude
of Boston, MA, there are 3 months of the year that your
body cannot get any vitamin D from the sunlight there.

A study in England showed that the highest rate of skin
cancer was among people who were under fluorescent light
all day and were never in the sunlight. Sunlight does not
cause wrinkles but some things like smoking does. So if you
do things that cause it and sunbathe, your skin will age
faster than normal. When you sweat, the toxins in your body
that cause cancer and wrinkles will sweat out onto the
skin. The water evaporates and leave these toxins on your
skin. So make sure to wash them off your skin after
sweating a lot.

Studies show that sunlight prevents cancer and vitamin D is
good for bone density and for the immune system. Lack of
sunlight can cause depression. So what would be the
motivation for people to say it is bad for you? Money.
Sunlight is good for you but it is free. More people are
sunbathing now than 20 years ago since it makes them feel
better and look better. Since when is looking better and
feeling better bad for health.

Decades ago these companies sold sun tan lotion and said it
will help you tan, not burn with millions in advertising.
Everyone used it and baked their skin under the sun with
oil and butter that was in the lotion. Then they stopped
selling it. Maybe they realized that they were hurting
people and did not want to be sued.

But by saying that the sun hurt them, they had something
else to blame.Now they want to make money by you using
sunscreen. Studies show that it causes cancer. This will
then cause you to be pale. Then since you look like you
have not been out in the sun, they want you to spend money
buying skin dyes and pills that will darken your skin so
you will look like you got sun. Kevin Trudeau's book,
Natural Cures, has sold ten million copies, making it the
best selling health book ever!

Kevin Trudeau says in Natural Cures,"In the Natural Cures
book I talk about the fact that the sun does not cause skin
cancer. The sun is needed for life. If you do not spend
time in the sun you will be sick. The sun is vital for
health, longevity and to be disease free....Without
sunlight you develop diseases including depression, lack of
energy, poor sleep, poor digestion, weight gain, arthritis,
constipation, bad breath, body odor, cancer, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, ADD, stress,
headaches, susceptibility to colds, flus and viral
infections, PMS, male erectile dysfunction, loss of sexual
desire in women, infertility anxiety and more."

----------------------------------------------------
Chuck Bluestein is a nutritionist, herbalist and a fasting
expert. His website has information on weight loss, healthy
diet, fasting, neck and back pain, natural cures, pure
water and how to be happier.
http://www.phifoundation.org/neck.html

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell: Part 8

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell: Part 8
The Taste Connection

Though we often imagine our taste buds as the center of
taste perception, the human nose—not the
tongue—is the main organ of taste as well as smell.
While our taste buds help us to distinguish between
substances that are sweet, sour, bitter and salty, it is
our olfactory receptors (remember those five or six million
yellowish cells called the olfactory epithelium) that
distinguish all other "tastes."

Little wonder, then, that when we have a stuffy nose our
favourite foods seem to lack their delicious flavour.
Hence, if you're suffering from the symptoms of the "common
cold" and find yourself wondering why your beloved
out-of-the-way restaurant's food just doesn't taste up to
par, it may not be that the restaurant has changed chefs.
It may be instead that your plugged nose cannot smell the
complex blend of aromas that make up its "flavour."

While you may be already familiar with why your food lacks
its flavour when you are suffering from a cold, what you
may not know is that your ability to smell aromas has a
significant impact on your ability to lose weight. In "The
Use of Flavor to Enhance Efficacy of Reducing Diets," Susan
Schiffman claims that diets which are low in both flavour
variety and intensity are more apt to fail in the long run
than those with a wide variety and high intensity of
flavour because they fail to satisfy the basic needs of
overweight people—their need for flavour. It may be
that many overweight people don't necessarily crave fat;
they just have a "high flavour threshold." Individuals
seeking to lose weight should introduce a variety of foods
and flavour enhancers to their diets that will heighten
their sensory experiences.

Her study concludes that overweight individuals can become
satisfied with smaller quantities of food so long as they
receive the taste that they desire. Though we may have
eaten a nutritious meal, if it hasn't satisfied our "taste
buds," we may still feel hungry, claiming that our food
just didn't "hit the spot."

Your Metabolism, Appetite and Aromatic Food—the
Connection

Did you know that exposure to aromatic food has been shown
to contribute to the metabolism of foods that we eat? It's
true! Exposure to mouth-watering aromas, in fact,
increases our saliva production and stimulates our
digestive tracts which in turn encourages efficient
metabolism of the food we eat. In short, exposure to food
aromas actually increases our bodies' absorption of
nutrients.

Have you ever thought that you weren't hungry and then walk
into a bakery where fresh bread is baking and notice that
you instantly have an appetite? Or how many times have you
gone to the grocery store to pick up "a few items" and find
yourself putting a few freshly-baked croissants, muffins,
or buns into your basket as you walk past the bakery
section? It isn't just a coincidence that all hotdog
venders fry their onions beside a fan or an open
window—they want your business and they know how to
get it. Food aromas are simply Mother Nature's way of
ensuring that we receive our proper nutrients. Aromas from
savoury and sweet foods not only ensure the proper
metabolism of the foods we eat but they also ensure that we
eat.

But did you know that an over exposure to food can have the
opposite effect on our appetites?

It's true. While an exposure to foods can stimulate our
appetites, an extended exposure to foods can cause us to
lose our appetites. Simply speaking, an extended exposure
to various aromas may in itself satisfy our appetite for
food, even if we haven't had anything to eat!

How many of us can remember spending an entire morning in
the kitchen preparing for a large family meal only to find
that when we finally sit down to enjoy the benefits of our
hard work we no longer have an appetite? Bakers,
restaurant employees and individuals working in plants
where food is being prepared often experience this same
sensation and report that after a long shift they do not
feel as hungry as one would otherwise expect. In fact, the
last thing they feel like doing is eating.

So while a lack of exposure can make us forget to eat, an
overexposure can make us not want to eat. Where our noses
are concerned, it is possible to get too much of a good
thing.

Obviously, then, a proper balance should be sought. The
saying, "moderation in everything" holds true—even
for our sniffers.

Can smelling chocolate help us to control our sweet tooth?

The short answer—Yes! So, all you chocoholics who
want to curb your cravings should work a few shifts at your
nearest chocolate factory or become a food product
demonstrator for a chocolate manufacturer at your local
grocer. After a few shifts, chocolate will never again
look the same for the very same reason discussed above.

----------------------------------------------------
Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab,
a world leader in the development of innovative products
that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger
memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual
health. To learn more about enhancing your sex drive, go
to http://www.scentuellepatch.com

The Best Way to Train for Size

The Best Way to Train for Size
Many bodybuilders know less about 'weight training' than
Medical rehab personnel and Professional Sport Coaches.
Ironic? - yes, after all - bodybuilding is weightlifting.
Yet bodybuilders tend to seek out information from anyone
who promises to make them big, tell them the secret on how
to get big like the Pro bodybuilders - when the only secret
is that steroids are the ONLY way to get that kinda big. So
what do Pro Sport Coaches and Med. rehab people know that
you may not - that's what is about to be covered, so pay
attention if you want to know the truth - go elsewhere if
you're looking for a bunch of golden promises.

Very little money has been spent on 'bodybuilding'
research. On the other hand millions have been spent on
ways to improve the performance of Pro and 'Olympic'
athletes. Not to mention the years of research put into
studying muscle rehabilitation for medical purposes. It is
from these sources that the real information on getting
'big' (as big as is possible with or without steroids), can
be found. The information is out there, you just have to
look for it - the important facts to you, the bodybuilder,
will be covered in this article.

Training/growth facts

What the studies prove. The goal of every bodybuilder is to
get bigger muscles. With this goal in mind lets cover what
research has taught us - and how to put it to use . FIRST:
Muscle strength in the adult human is relative to cross
section area (size). An equal cross-sectional area of
muscle from any average trained women or man has about the
same 'strength' (i.e.: can generate the same amount of
force, 6 kg - cm2), there is very little variation. To put
it another way, generally speaking - all human muscle
tissue has (about) the same amount of strength, or is able
to generate the same amount of force. So the greater the
size, cross-sectional, the greater the strength.

However, it is important to point out that bone structure,
muscle attachments, neural factors, etc., play a very
important part in performing 'feats of strength', so two
people with equal cross section areas of muscle may still
perform very differently -- not due to stronger muscle
tissue, but due to other factors. What does this mean to
the bodybuilder - it means that if you wish to increase
muscle mass you must train the muscle to be able to
generate more force - which in turn means the muscle must
grow.

Putting this information to use. To increase muscle size
(or mass), you must increase the cross sectional area.
Because there is a limit to the amount of force (strength)
a set cross-sectional area of muscle can generate -muscle
tissue must increase in size (cross-sectional area) to be
able to handle a greater force (to become 'stronger') - the
result: bigger muscles. So the best way to make your muscle
bigger - - train in such a way as to increase the amount of
force you can generate - and, of course, to make the muscle
grow as fast as possible. This last statement 'as fast as
possible' is another key term - most types of resistance
training will cause your muscles to grow, the question you
should be asking is, is this the fastest way?

You will find the best answers research has to offer here.
Applying this information to your training. This is where
powerlifters, bodybuilders and endurance athletes part
ways. The goal of an endurance athlete is not to increase
muscle mass - the goal of a powerlifter is to be able to
generate as much power as possible - the goal of a
bodybuilder is to increase muscle size as much as possible.
Some training principals apply to all three, but there are
also some significant differences. What will be covered
here is the best way to get 'big'.

SIDE NOTE:

The untrained muscle responds much better than the trained
muscle. This simply means that the untrained person will
experience much faster gains in strength and growth than
the person who has several months of GOOD training under
there belt. This is a well known fact - not someone's
opinion.

TRAINING FOR GROWTH

First, be sure NOT to skip the above material - the above
facts play an important part in understanding how to train
correctly for growth. Different types of exercises will not
be covered here - why? - the type of exercise you do (i.e.:
push-ups, sit-ups, presses, curls, etc.) have nothing to do
with growth they determine which muscle(s) receive the
stimulation.

The 'method' you use is what will cause your muscle to
become bigger, stronger, faster, etc.. Let's make sure this
is clear, as many people do not understand this, and it is
an important point - it is HOW you train - NOT the exercise
itself - - that cause muscles to grow. Research on muscle
recovery for medical reasons has been done for hundreds of
years now - that's correct - 100's. Research was greatly
stepped up after World War 2 - it was at this time that the
benefits of resistance training began to be understood.

Before you say 'big deal' read on - PRE has changed much
over the years. It was first started by DeLorme, T.L. who
did the research on it (Restoration of muscle power by
heavy-resistance exercise. J. Bone Joint Surg.
27:645,1945). Many of the principles still hold true - but
many refinements have been made as well.

----------------------------------------------------
Supplementstogo is a leader in discount nutrition
supplements with the largest selection of diet pills,
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supplements. Find more information on the products you are
searching for at http://www.supplementstogo.com/ . Want
more expert advice visit
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Body Detox Tips: Spa Treatments

Body Detox Tips: Spa Treatments
A body detox program shouldn't be all about suffering and
sacrifice. It should be fun, too! Learn about some of the
different spa treatments that you can try to give your
natural body detox a boost:

1. The foot bath. So let's discuss your feet for a moment.
Your feet? Yes. Many people involved in a whole body
detox enjoy a detox foot bath. This is not the same as the
plastic vibrating foot bath you got as a gift that you
never use. A detox foot bath uses a metal container that
puts an slight electric charge in the water. This charge
won't hurt you, but it binds to the toxins in your body and
transports them out through the pores in your feet. One
thing you will notice is that your sinuses will drain
almost immediately.

2. Skin brushing. This is a great pick-me-up for any whole
body detox. It involves taking a brush with natural
bristles and going over your entire body with it. Use a
long handled brush. Do it before you shower. Start at the
soles of your feet and work your way upward to the top of
your head. This stimulates blood circulation and helps get
the lymph system going. It also just plain feels good, too.

3. Contrast Showers. These are extremely popular and very
easy to do at home. Simply jump in the shower and make it
as hot as you can for about 3-5 minutes. This is important
in any natural body detox as it helps remove toxins from
your body. Next, turn the water to cold for anywhere
between 30 seconds and 1 minute. This closes your pores to
avoid any other toxins seeping in from the bathroom. It is
also very invigorating.

4. Clay Baths. Clay-bentonite clay in particular-is known
for it's abilities in drawing toxins out from the body.
While you may pay out the nose if you go to a spa for this,
there are many versions you can do at home. The advantage
of this treatment in your whole body detox is that it can
draw metals out of your system that not many other
treatments can. If you have never done a clay bath before,
you will be surprised by how good it feels.

5. Herbal Steams. Ever hold your head over boiling water
with a towel draped over your hair? Herbal treatments work
the same, but have the added benefit of using certain
plants with known detox properties. Boil up some today,
place a couple of drops of essential oils on your forehead,
and get to it!

6. Epsom Salt. This old-fashioned remedy is a boost to any
whole body detox. Epsom salts supply sulfate to the body
to aid in removing toxins. Dissolve some in a hot bath.
Finish off with a shower in cold water to close pores to
avoid any new toxins coming in. After that, cover up and
go to bed so you can sweat toxins out overnight.

Using any and all of the methods above will not only help
detox your body but make you feel pampered a little in the
process. They are a great way to benefit your health and
pamper yourself at the same time.

----------------------------------------------------
John Khu is a health enthusiast and author of a new eBook
titled "Body Detox Tips". He is devoted to educate others
on the benefit of body detoxification. He is also the
owner of the website called http://www.bodydetoxtips.com
which provides complete and up-to-date information.

Bodyweight 500 Fat Burning Exercises

Bodyweight 500 Fat Burning Exercises
Bodyweight 500 workout has 12 exercises. You'll do each
from 25 to 50 reps before moving to the next exercise in
the series. You can take a rest within an exercise, but
don't move to the next exercise until you have completed
all of the reps for that exercise.

For example, when it calls for 50 pushups, you could do 25
pushups, rest, then another 15 pushups, rest, and then
finish with 10 more pushups. Then you'd move to the 25
jumps.

Let's take a look at each exercise and the form for all
movements.

First up, you start with 50 Prisoner Squats. In this
exercise, place your hands behind your head, squeeze your
shoulder blades together, keep your chest up, and do
regular bodyweight squats. To squat, push your hips back
first, then bend your knees and squat until your thighs are
parallel to the floor. Squeeze your glutes, and push
yourself back up to the start position.

The second exercise is the classic pushup for 50 reps.
Place your hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart
on the floor, squeeze your abs and keep your body in a
straight line from head to feet. Lower your chest to the
ground, keeping your body in a straight line, and then
press up to the start position.

Twenty-five jumps are next. Start with your feet
shoulder-width apart, quickly drop your hips and then jump
up. Land softly and bend your knees to absorb the impact,
then explode up into another jump as quickly as possible.
Repeat for all 25 jumps.

Next, move to Stability Ball Leg Curls for 25 repetitions.
Lie on your back and place your feet on top of a ball.
Squeeze your butt and bridge your hips up so your body is
in a straight line from heels to shoulders. Bend your
knees, contract your hamstrings, and curl the ball toward
your butt while keep your butt up in the air. Return to the
start position and do that 24 more times.

Keep the ball handy, and get ready for 50 Stability Ball
Jackknifes. Place your elbows on a bench and the laces of
your shoes on the ball. Your body will be suspended in a
straight line between the ball and the bench. Squeeze your
abs and keep your body in a straight line as you tuck your
knees into your chest by bringing the ball forward.

Use the bench for the next exercise as well, where you'll
do 50 step-ups (25 for each leg). Place one foot on the
bench, and use that leg to pull you up to the standing
position. Step back down, return the foot to the floor, and
then repeat. Do all reps for one side and then switch.

Time for some upper body exercises. This time, you'll do 25
pullups. Grab the bar with an overhand grip and hands
slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Pull your chest
up to the bar with each rep. This is one exercise where
almost everyone will have to split up the 25 reps into
smaller chunks. Do whatever you can, but there's no doubt
your workout will slow down here.

Then move into forward lunges for 50 reps, doing 25 for
each side. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and
step forward (with a slightly exaggerated step), place your
foot on the ground, bend the knee and drop your hips
straight down. Push through the lead leg to return to the
start position. Do all reps for one side and then switch.

Next up is 50 Close-grip Pushups. These are the same as
regular pushups, but with your hands placed only
shoulder-width apart, no wider. Keep your elbows tucked
into your sides to emphasize your triceps.

Move back to the bar to do 50 Inverted Rows. Set the bar at
hip height in a squat rack or smith machine, lie on the
ground underneath it, and grab the bar 3 inches wider than
shoulder-width apart. Keep your body in a straight line and
row your chest to the bar while supporting your weight on
your heels. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the
top of the movement.

Now its back to 50 bodyweight squats, regular style, with
your hands in front of you or at your sides.

Then finish off with 25 chinups. Grab the bar with a
shoulder-width, underhand grip and pull your chest up to
the bar. After 24 more reps, you are done.

Congratulations, you've completed the Bodyweight 500
workout!

----------------------------------------------------
Find out why bodyweight exercises are better than slow,
boring cardio for fat burning and bodysculpting in your
free report, The Dark Side of Cardio, from
http://www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Nutrition and Your Pregnancy......It Does Matter!

Nutrition and Your Pregnancy......It Does Matter!
When a woman is healthy, balancing carbohydrates, fat, and
proteins, and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables
usually ensure good nutrition.Women with fears of weight
gain or with eating disorders may choose to work with a
health professional, to ensure that pregnancy does not
trigger an eating disorder. Eating healthy salads will
help you to control your weight and. there is a wealth of
information available today that offers tips for eating
well starting from the moment you get early pregnancy
symptoms. Healthy eating begins long before conception
ever occurs. Try eating starchy snacks, like toast,
saltines, cheerios, or other dry cereals when you feel
nauseated. Some women find eating dry crackers before
rising from bed in the morning helpful for nausea. You'll
need to avoid eating or drinking certain things during
pregnancy, such as: certain types of fish, such as
swordfish, canned tuna, and other fish that may be high in
mercury (your doctor can help you decide which fish you can
eat)foods that contain raw eggs, such as mousse or Caesar
salad raw or undercooked meat and fish processed meats,
such as hot dogs and deli meats , unpasteurized cheeses,
such as feta, brie, blue, and goat cheese unpasteurized
milk, juice, or cider. Try eating frequent, small meals,
and avoid greasy foods. At least in the later stages of
pregnancy, she needs to consume more energy than usual, but
this does not mean eating twice as much. In general,
eating a variety of fresh, whole (unprocessed) plant foods
has proven hormonally and metabolically favorable compared
to eating a monotonous diet based on processed foods.

Since studies indicate that most women get less than half
the recommended amount of folic acid, the March of Dimes
recommends women consider a supplement of 400 micrograms of
folic acid preconceptually to prevent the incidence of
neural tube defects. If increased weight gain is
recommended, an emphasis should be placed on high-calorie
food group items that contain a higher fat and sugar
content. Iron is the only recommended nutrient for which
requirements cannot be reasonably met by diet alone during
pregnancy. Thirty milligrams of ferrous iron is
recommended, and iron should be taken on an empty stomach.
Calcium supplements, if recommended, should be taken with
meals. When the development of major organs begins during
early pregnancy, often before a woman starts prenatal care
or realizes that she is pregnant, preconception care is
recommended for every woman of reproductive age.

Trying to conceive is the most natural and pleasurable part
of having a baby, but can also be the most stressful. As
your body adjusts to the growing baby, you may have nausea,
fatigue, backaches, mood swings, and stress. A stress free
pregnancy is one of the greatest gifts that you can give
your new baby and.more rest is needed as the woman copes
with the added stress of extra weight. Massaging sore
areas of the body during pregnancy can reduce aches and
stress. Relaxation techniques can be used to cope with
such conditions as stress or morning sickness. Finally,
mood swings and stress are common symptoms reported by many
women in the early stages of pregnancy. The following herbs
are recommended for pregnant women: red raspberry leaf tea
is regarded as an all-purpose remedy.

There are seven main classes of nutrients that the body
needs: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals,
fiber and water. Most people think of nutrition as
optional if they are taking prenatal vitamins, but the fact
remains that prenatal vitamins are a supplement, think of
them as your lifeguard. Prenatal vitamins are a necessary
staple in pregnancy. Your doctor will want you to start
taking prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid, calcium,
and iron as soon as possible. These vitamins and minerals
help ensure the baby's and mother's health as well as
prevent some types of birth defects. Ask your doctor if you
should change prenatal vitamins if it seems to be making
your nausea worse. Meanwhile get plenty of sleep, eat
right, take your prenatal vitamins and get some moderate
exercise by taking short walks. However your odd food
cravings may not be as strong if you are taking your
prenatal vitamins and fish oil capsules. The importance of
pre-natal vitamins and fish oil capsules, your doctor will
tell you; that if you are trying to conceive, or you
believe you may be experiencing early pregnancy symptoms,
you should be taking daily pre-natal vitamins. It is
important that the mother's diet contains sufficient
protein, iron, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins C and D
for the formation of the baby's muscles, bones, and teeth,
and to make hemoglobin. Supplementary iron and vitamins C
and D are often recommended, but iron tablets can cause
constipation and other distressing effects in some people.
Heating techniques may also reduce food's content of many
heat-labile nutrients such as certain vitamins and
phytochemicals, and possibly other yet to be discovered
substances. Nonetheless, processed foods tend to have an
inferior nutritional profile than do whole, fresh foods,
regarding content of sugar and high GI starches,
potassium/sodium, vitamins, fiber, and of intact,
unutilized (essential) fatty acids. According to the
United Nations World Health Organization (WHO: 1996), more
than starvation the real challenge in developing nations
today is malnutrition-the deficiency of micronutrients
(vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids) that no
longer allows the body to ensure growth and maintain its
vital functions.

We are now in the 21st century, have the luxury of liquid
vitamins and an absorption rate of 98%. The benefits of
this mean a healthier you, whether you are pregnant or not.
There are so many online sources to consult with in the
comfort of your home; there should be no problem in finding
all the information you need. Take care of your mind & body!

----------------------------------------------------
Pregnancy is an important matter & Chuck Arnone has
highlighted the necessary requirements for your nutrition.
http://www.provitaminliquid.com

Stress Comes In Many Forms

Stress Comes In Many Forms
In today's busy world everyone will experience stress at
some point in their life. It cannot be avoided. Stress can
be a good thing. It prompts our body to release chemicals
into our bloodstream to help us cope with everyday
problems. But prolonged exposure to stress can cause
long-term psychological and even physical damage.

The American Psychological Association has categorized
three main types of stress that people commonly experience.
Considering the implications involved in some forms of this
condition - heart problems, depression, and fatigue - it is
important to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Acute

This is a very common form of the condition. It is a
temporary form of tension that tends to go away rather
quickly and can be a reaction to both good and bad
situations. One example of this form of stress as a "good"
reaction is the "buzz" or feeling of exhilaration that can
be experienced after a particularly exciting roller coaster
ride. An example of a reaction to a "bad" situation would
be the "butterflies in the stomach" feeling we feel before
a visit to the dentist.

This form of stress generally has no long term harmful
effects since it usually disappears relatively quickly.

Acute Episodic

This type of stress can be a little more serious and is
common among those people who tend to worry a lot and feel
they are in a constant state of panic. When people are
consistently late, disorganized, constantly worried and
have too many things that are going on at once, this type
of tension can hit on a frequent basis. Needless to say,
this form of stress does not give rise to any good
reactions.

The symptoms of episodic tension are similar to regular
acute tension, but they can have long-term impacts. People
who suffer from frequent episodes of acute tension are more
subject to heart disease, high blood pressure, tension
headaches and more.

Chronic

This is the kind of stress that most people deal with on a
daily basis. It can stem from financial situations, poor
relationships, trauma and even lousy working conditions.
While its effects are often easy to ignore at first, it can
lead to some serious outcomes. This type of stress is
associated with heart attacks, outbursts of violence,
stroke and even suicide.

Stress can be a normal bodily reaction to a scary or even
fun and exhilarating situation. It can also be a long-term
killer. Keeping stress under control and limiting it where
it can be can help people enjoy life to the fullest and
avoid some serious medical conditions down the road.

----------------------------------------------------
Colin Cherry writes on a broad range of subjects. For a
copy of his free report "Stop Suffering from Panic and
Anxiety", check out his website at
http://www.stressrelieftipsonline.com

Why all the Diet Talk, Rants and Raves?

Why all the Diet Talk, Rants and Raves?
Your diet is ruining your body.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but someone had to say
it. I can talk about exercise until I am blue in the face,
but until you take charge of your diet, it would all be in
vain.

Today's statistics show that nearly 60% of the population
is currently overweight or obese. While this is shocking,
according to a new study reported by WebMD, three out of
four US adults will be overweight or obese by the year
2015. That's 75% of us.

Wow, those are some scary numbers. I certainly don't want
to become part of that statistic, and I know you don't
either.

So what's the deal? Why are we getting fatter and fatter?
It all comes back to that little word...diet. The diet of
today's adult is simply out of control. Here's why:

Portions gone wild. It all started in the 1970's.
Restaurants began to increase their portions and as a
result the unsuspecting public ate more. Since then
portions have continued to grow and most people continue to
clear their plates despite the extra calories.

Convenience food mayhem. Junk food used to be only found in
vending machines-not so today. Have you ever noticed how
the checkout line in the supermarket has changed in recent
years? It used to be stocked with gum, mints and a few
candy bars. Now everything from potato chips to cookies sit
within arm's reach. Very few people get through their day
without consuming some kind of convenience food.

Fast food fallout. How many fast food restaurants do you
pass on your way to work? Probably more than you can count.
How many times do you stop in for a quick bite? Probably
more times than you would like to admit. Fast food has
never been more available than it is today-and it shows in
the waistline.

Here's something you may not know: If you were to exercise
everyday of the week but failed to change your eating
habits from those listed above, you wouldn't see any
visible results.

Now don't get me wrong-exercise is a vital ingredient for
improving your fitness level, health and the shape of your
body. Exercise and good nutrition go hand-in-hand. You
won't make progress toward your goals without them both.

So where does this leave you? The way I see it, you are
faced with an opportunity. With just a few small changes to
your daily eating habits you could be well on your way to
having an incredible body. Couple this with an exercise
program and you will be unstoppable.

Keeping with my goal to give you practical tips to improve
your health and fitness level, here are three ways to
improve your diet.

Slash your portions. Even though that mountain of pasta
looks great, remind yourself that it is three or four times
more than you really need to eat, and those extra calories
are going to land right on your waist. Consciously make an
effort to reduce your portions at each meal and watch how
your weight shrinks and your energy soars.

Pack your snacks. Instead of turning to a bag of chips or
packaged cookies in mid afternoon, reach for a piece of
fruit instead. It only takes a few minutes to pack healthy
snacks for your day, and it will save you a boatload of
extra calories. Convenience food is packed with sugar, fat
and empty calories that will only leave you more sluggish
and uncomfortable than you are today.

Cut out one fast food meal per week. If you currently eat 5
fast food meals each week then only eat four this week.
Next week reduce that number down to three. And then two,
and then one. Once fast food isn't a regular part of your
diet you should look at it as something to be had as a
treat-not a dietary staple. Now that you have three simple
ways to drastically improve your eating habits, this brings
us back to exercise. You need regular challenging exercise
in order to achieve and maintain results. It's as simple as
that.

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Weighing in on weight control

Weighing in on weight control
Have you ever tried to lose weight? I'm guessing that the
answer is probably yes. Most of us, at some time, have
looked at diet books, diet pills, potions, anything we
could find to get rid of unwanted pounds.

My question is not "did any of these methods work, long
term?" because I am pretty sure the answer is "no." My
question is "how often did you weigh yourself, and did it
help?" I suppose if you are currently trying to lose
weight, you can simply change the "did" to "do and does."

You should know that I once weighed about 25 pounds more
than I do today. I have been on many different diets, and,
for me, none of them worked. Well, they did work, while I
was on them. But once I stopped the diet, the weight came
right back. While I don't exactly remember all the diets
I've been on, I do remember the scales I've been weighed
on-both my own, and at the group meetings I used to attend.

And when I belonged to group programs, I remember I
wouldn't eat the day of the meeting, because we had to
weigh in. Then, after the meeting I would go out and eat.
I'm afraid I wasn't a very good groupie.

Let me tell you about my experience with owning a scale. I
have a professional scale-you know, the one with the
weights, the big one that you move every 50 pounds, and
then the smaller one for the individual pound. Many years
ago I conducted my first weight control group out of my
living room in State College, PA. I guess I bought a good
one, because it still works.

Over the years, I have found that weighing myself doesn't
really help me with controlling my eating. I used to weigh
myself all the time. I'd weigh myself at the beginning of
the day, and then at the end of the day. Eventually I
learned that the numbers on the scale weren't always very
helpful. Of course I weighed more at the end of the day,
but it wasn't from gaining fat-it was simply the weight of
the food and drinks I hadn't digested.

As I "evolved" my weight control programs, I would only
weigh myself every few days. But even that didn't help me.
See, if I found I had gained weight, I would be depressed,
and I would eat more. Conversely, if I saw I had lost
weight, I would be very excited, thinking, "If I did this
before, I can do it again." Guess what I would do? Yes, I
would eat. So, for me, weighing myself every few days was
no help at all!

Each person finds his or her own weight strategies, for
better or for worse. I think, for me, the best thing is to
just not weigh myself at all, or perhaps maybe once every
few weeks. The reality is, I know when I have overeaten.
Luckily for me, I don't punish myself, and I try to just
move forward. I have learned to balance my overeating with
periods of eating less-and according to my doctors' scale;
my weight has stayed the same for the last 10 years (plus
or minus a pound or two).

If you are a person who weighs yourself all the time, try
giving yourself a week off-you know you deserve it. Pay
attention to how you are feeling, emotionally. Hopefully,
giving yourself this week off will be a liberating
experience. Perhaps you will learn something about your
behaviors, and realize that if you aren't a slave to the
scale, you don't have to be a slave to your diet.

If you can learn to trust yourself not to rely on a single
number, you will be able to learn to trust yourself to make
healthy choices for yourself. Perhaps…over time.. you may
discover a way to lose weight-a whole new way.

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