The Blind Bind of Male Depression

The Blind Bind of Male Depression
Many men have a difficult time recognizing that they are
depressed. Men often interpret the word "depression" as
describing a state of helplessness or hopelessness,
accompanying a general sense of feeling fragile or
vulnerable. In many ways our culture conditions men to
ignore these states or to experience little awareness of
them. Men are taught "boys don't cry," and are uniformly
rewarded with praise and validation when they "act like a
man" instead of tearing up or expressing fear in response
to a harshly distressing encounter. Such an encounter
might be a football injury or a harsh and critical baseball
coach or an abusive peer. After years of this kind of
persistent reinforcement these boys grow into men with a
form of blindness whereby they often do not see or
understand the nature of depression. In ignorance they
become bound by painfully repetitive behaviors and feelings
with no knowledge that they can change. What men do
recognize is what they call "stress" and they will commonly
describe events and situations as stressful with no
awareness that those events and situations are the triggers
stimulating an internal state of dis-ease that often leads
to depression. The following are some of the less
recognizable experiences that men commonly describe as
"stressful" or "stress-related" and that are symptomatic of
depression.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

high levels of anxiety, irritability, and/or anger; low
energy and/or fatigue; difficulties concentrating; frequent
worries about others' opinions; loss or lack of confidence;
loss of interest in favorite activities; weight loss or
gain; loss of sex drive; sleep problems; inability to
relax; addictions; obsessive-compulsive behavior; frequent
suffering from vague physical ailments.

TRIGGERS OF DEPRESSION

Many normal and joyous life experiences can trigger
depression. A new relationship, a new baby, a new home or
job, a large inheritance, or even winning the lottery.
Each of these events bring additional and, at times,
unfamiliar experiences that can challenge a man's sense of
confidence to address such responsibilities. Generally,
when men feel a lack of confidence they will double up
their efforts. However, when such efforts fail and a man's
confidence is compromised longer than is tolerable his
sense of self worth is diminished and that places him at
risk for depression.

Separation, divorce, loss of a job, retirement, death of a
loved one, constant and unrelenting pressures from others
to do things their way--these also can tax a man's sense of
competency and self-worth. As commonly learned growing up,
men experiencing loss will tend to suppress tears and
sadness and will instead present a "stiff upper lip," or
get busy and support others, or express anger at the
perceived offender, or find ways to occupy their thoughts
so they can avoid uncomfortable feelings. As well they
will reject any idea that they cannot optimally perform.
And if, by chance, they do have trouble functioning
effectively, they will suffer intense anxiety, tension, and
fatigue. When this happens and they cannot change what
they believe is causing their distress, they will begin
experiencing more of the symptoms listed above.

Physical illness and unrelenting pain can also trigger
depression. Pain is the body's red alert system that
something is misfiring, and the nervous system is the first
responder to engage our defense system to bring relief.
When pain is intense enough or it persists long enough it
creates unrelieved stress on our natural biological defense
systems. Once that happens our immune system and other
related defense systems become compromised and can no
longer provide necessary relief. One of the common results
of this biologically-based depletion is depression. The
biological and chemical effects of untreated depression
then synergistically trigger an even wider system breakdown
that further weakens our body and makes us susceptible to
other physical disorders.

THE BLIND BIND OF MALE DEPRESSION

Men are conditioned from the time they are little boys to
be problem solvers, doers, thinkers, and action takers.
Such conditioning primes them to naturally assume the roles
of dedicated employee at work and primary caretaker at
home. They push themselves to meet time lines, sales
quotas, budget schedules, financial, emotional, and
professional expectations of family and friends. They are
not taught to consider or are not aware of the cost these
pressures can impose on their physical well being and
emotional peace of mind. They are blinded to the
understanding that if the cost gets high enough fatigue,
irritability, impatience, and the other symptoms listed
above start to manifest. They do not recognize that in an
effort to gain relief from these symptoms they engage in
behaviors that potentially exacerbate the problem. And so,
in ignorance, they compulsively and impulsively bind with
the distracting excitement or mind numbing experience of a
increasing variety of behaviors. Some examples include
alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, spending, long periods on
the internet, and working harder and longer. Ultimately,
instead of bringing relief, these binding behaviors bring
an additional set of worries that now includes
substance-related depression, financial debt, social
isolation, family conflict, a shame-driven perception of
self, and a widening rift between the painful state of
depression and the support that can bring relief and
healing.

HEALING FROM THE BLIND BIND OF DEPRESSION

Men did not ask for this blind-bind state of being. And
they cannot return to their pasts and change the
experiences that conditioned them to overlook or ignore or
to have little understanding of the symptoms of depression
and the interactions that trigger it. However, men can
learn to recognize the symptoms and then, at the very
least, seek out more information. Depression is treatable
and a few basic steps can begin the process. Awareness is
fundamental. The next step requires action. Here are some
recommendations:

get eight hours sleep; do something you enjoy each week;
walk for twenty minutes, three times a week; eat healthy
meals that include fruits/vegetables--depression leeches
the body of nutrients; schedule a massage; practice deep,
slow breathing throughout the day; take a work
break—go in late, leave early, take the day off;
consult with a physician; talk about frustrations with a
trusted friend; get professional counseling.

This last suggestion, getting professional help, is
significantly important. Often men know that these
activities can help to lift their mood and alleviate stress
but hard as they try, they falter at following through with
them. Understandably. Depression is a condition that
effects the mind, the body, and the emotions. Many men
routinely grow up with few tools to address these areas
when compromised. However, with the help of a skilled
psychotherapist who has experience and training working
with men in the treatment of depression and anxiety the
blind bind of male depression can release. And with that
release men can then acquire the tools to alleviate the
symptoms of depression, to prevent its debilitating
reoccurrence, and to live with a consistent sense of
healthy and enjoyable connection with self and others.

----------------------------------------------------
Ms Desert is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in
Baltimore, MD with a holistic private practice and
specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and
trauma. For more information please visit her web site at
http://www.singular-pathways.com or email in confidence at
http://www.singularpathways@msn.com

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Healthy?

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Healthy?
Your mother always told you that you needed to eat right in
order to grow tall and strong - and she was right. Just as
you wouldn't put water into your car's gas tank, you
shouldn't be putting inferior fuel into your body's gas
tank. But perhaps some of us have been swayed by food
manufacturers' promises of fortified goodness in everything
from sugary cereals to prepackaged processed foods. They
have vitamins in them, so they must be healthy, right?
Eating healthy is about more than just vitamins and
minerals - here's what you stand to gain by eating right.

More Money in Your Wallet

What most people won't tell you is that eating right is
actually more economically smart. When you choose fruits
and vegetables over processed foods, you will reduce your
overall spending on groceries. While it is true that
fruits and vegetables can be more expensive in the short
run, you can use them for more meals, while makes them less
expensive to use per meal. For example, if you make a box
of macaroni and cheese for dinner, that's going to cost
about $3.00 for the package and $0.50 for the milk and
butter you add. But if you were to make a salad for
dinner, it will cost about $1.00 altogether, including some
salad dressing.

But it's not just the actual costs of healthy foods that
will help you boost your financial health. By taking the
time to spend money on healthy foods, you will reduce the
health care costs you need to spend. Since your body will
be healthier, you won't need to spend money on additional
supplements or extra doctor's visits. This all adds up to
a healthier life and a healthier bank account.

You won't have to spend money on additional medications to
help you maintain your blood sugars or your cholesterol
levels. And studies have shown that those who take fewer
medications tend to live longer lives. While you don't
want to stop any current medications you are on, you might
be able to reduce the list of medications you may have to
take - and you already know how expensive they can be.

Controlling Your Weight

When you choose healthier foods, you will also be able to
more easily control your weight. Instead of focusing your
diet on foods that can spike your blood sugar, causing you
to feel hungrier and thus eat more than you should, you can
eat wholesome foods which have fiber and nutrients in them.
The added fiber will help you to feel fuller for longer,
while also keeping your blood sugars even.

Fruits and vegetables also naturally have fewer calories in
them, which helps you to have a lower caloric intake,
leading to weight loss or weight maintenance. In addition,
eating healthy exposes you to more tastes - vegetables,
fruits, low fat dairy, low fat meats, and whole grains.
The more tastes you have on your plate, the easier it will
be for you to eat only what you need, rather than filling
up on sugars and high salt processed choices - which tend
to make you feel hungrier.

Increased Immune System Function

The better your body is functioning, the more likely it is
that you won't get sick. Going back to the car example,
when you fill it with premium foods, you won't have the
buildup and the grime in your engines - the same idea
applies to your body. By supplying your body with
nutrients, you will enhance the body's response to illness.
Your immune system will be strong and ready to defend
itself against all sorts of attacks. And thus means that
you will be able to fight off not just colds and flus, but
also more serious diseases you might pick up. Even if you
do get sick, it will be easier for you to get over that
illness and get back to health.

Reduced Chances of Chronic Illnesses

Cancers and heart diseases are also much less likely when
you eat healthy foods. When your cells are getting the
highest levels of nutrition, they aren't susceptible to
cellular damage, which can lead to cancers. And if you
focus your diet on non-animal sources of nutrition, your
cholesterol levels will be far lower, reducing your risk of
heart attacks, plaque buildup and even strokes. This is
especially the case as you get older. Since your body
begins to slow down, you need to make sure you are only
giving your body foods that are healthy as anything else
can be difficult for your body to process, which can then
lead to illness.

Eating healthy isn't just something that you should do,
it's something that you must do. With each bite of
unhealthy food, you are damaging your body. While medicine
is able to fix many age related problems, it's up to you to
prevent these problems from happening in the first place.
A long healthy life is something that's completely in your
control, so why not do what works? Eat right.

----------------------------------------------------
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Buy Food, Not Vitamins

Buy Food, Not Vitamins
She did it before me! I love Judy Foreman, health
columnist for the Boston Globe, who recently published a
column called "the fading allure of vitamins," which I
thought was wonderful.

In this column, she states, "my love affair with vitamins
and supplements is over. With a few exceptions, I'm
tossing them out." She goes on to describe how studies on
Vitamins C, E and beta carotene had great press and
promises, but scientific studies failed to show these
promises could be kept. This information is significant,
because many people choose to buy supplements based on what
is called "anecdotal information"-meaning "my friend's
friend took it and said it was wonderful, so I need to buy
it."

I discussed this particular issue with my students,
especially the weight-lifters taking powdered supplements
to build muscle or some such claim. When I asked them WHY
they spent all this money on powders and pills, they
replied "because my trainer said it works" or "everyone at
the gym takes them, and they said their workouts are much
better." I then ask these same students what they think
happened to the folks for whom the supplements did not
result in a better workout. They don't know, but I do-and I
tell them. These are the folks who stop coming to the gym,
who stop buying the supplements because they do not work,
and it was easier to go somewhere else to work out than to
be a "non-believer" surrounded by believers. This comes as
a surprise to my students, who then begin to understand
that this could, indeed, be true. This gives me the
opportunity to explain that their "data" is biased, and
can't really be supported by the information they
"collected." The "research" upon which their conclusions
are based is faulty). Do they stop taking the pills?
Probably not, but hopefully, they are beginning to think
that chewing their nutrients in the forms of food may be
preferable to swallowing a pill or tasteless powder.

Muscle building supplements aside, though, please
understand that all is not lost. Throwing away your vitamin
and mineral supplements is not the end of the world. I have
always felt that pills are not the most efficient way to
get your nutrients. Unfortunately people think that when
they take a pill, they don't have to eat food. What you
need to remember is that these pills are SUPPLEMENTS. They
are supposed to supplement your diet, not REPLACE good
eating. I have a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement I (try
to remember to) take regularly. I suppose I take them as
insurance. Also, they give me peace of mind, meaning I
feel better because I think I'm doing my body a favor. I
apply this principle when I give my son a bottle of
vitamins to take with him to college. Does he take them?
I have no idea. But I certainly feel better knowing he has
them!

On a more serious note, you need to understand that your
body is uniquely designed to work best with whole foods.
For example, when you take a vitamin C pill, that is all
you are giving your body-ascorbic acid (the chemical name
for vitamin C). But when you eat an orange, you are also
getting other nutrients, including potassium, calories, and
plant chemicals called bioflavonoids that may help the body
absorb vitamin C more efficiently.

So I absolutely agree with Judy Foreman. Toss out those
supplements that have "magic" claims. Instead of
supplements, buy whole foods. It's what your body is
designed to process.

Imagine what you can do with the money you'll save. Your
body, and your wallet, will thank you

----------------------------------------------------
If you would like more information on becoming At Peace
With Food™, as well as access to interesting articles
and links to nutritional resource websites, visit=>
http://www.AtPeaceWithFood.com/freetips.html

Plastic Surgery in Men

Plastic Surgery in Men
While men still make up a minority of patients having
plastic surgery and office-based cosmetic procedures, those
numbers have been steadily increasing since 2000. Men are
becoming more common in the plastic surgeon's office,
although most still desire a good degree of discretion and
privacy. The top male cosmetic procedures in my experience
include liposuction, rhinoplasty, gynecomastia reduction,
blepharoplasty and Botox®.

It is no surprise that liposuction remains the top
procedure for men given the number of potential body areas
and that it can be done in both young and old alike. Unlike
women, however, most male liposuction is done primarily in
the abdomen, flank, and neck areas. Even in relatively lean
individuals, fat collections at the side of the waist and
flanks are common as one ages. Today's liposuction
techniques have been refined to produce better results with
less rippling and etching procedures for those leaner males
who want an easy way to the 'six-pack' abdominal look.

Male rhinoplasty has been a mainstay plastic surgery
procedure for men for many years and remains a popular
operation for the teenage and young adult male. It is far
less commonly performed in the older male over 40 who have
come to accept their nose, no matter how disproportionate
it is to other facial features, and would feel very
'abnormal' if it were changed at this point in their life.
Rhinoplasty may frequently be performed with chin
augmentation if it will improve a man's facial profile over
a rhinoplasty alone by bringing the chin more forward.

Gynecomastia reduction is, in my opinion, the one male
plastic surgery procedure that is on the rise. Whether it
be a small protrusion of the nipple in a teenager, to a
more traditional larger gynecomastia in adolescents, to the
sagging and deflated appearance in the middle-aged and
older male, improvement in the male chest is sought out
like never before.now. Liposuction, nipple lifting and
reduction, and pectoral implants are potential methods for
male chest enhancement. Refined liposuction techniques,
known as etching, provides better definition to the
pectoral muscle outlines which can be combined with any of
the other chest contouring procedures.

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in the male remains a
common procedure. Most men wait until their eyelid problems
are more severe than many women as some aging around the
eyes is more accepted in men. There still remains the
senior male who only has his upper eyelids done due to
visual field obstruction.

Men increasingly are joining the Botox and Lipodissolve
injection therapy ranks as well as having other traditional
(e.g., facelift) and more exotic forms (e.g., pectoral or
calf implants) of plastic surgery.

----------------------------------------------------
Dr Barry Eppley runs a private plastic surgery practice
through his hospital-based medspa locations at Clarian
Health in Indianapolis. To learn more about the latest
trends in plastic surgery, spa therapies, or skin care, go
to his daily blog, http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com .

Tips for Eating Right as You Age

Tips for Eating Right as You Age
As you begin to get older, it is going to become more and
more important that you eat right, since you need fewer
calories as you age. The choices you make in nutrition are
going to be so important, since you have few calories to
work with when making the right decisions. Making the wrong
choices when it comes to aging and nutrition can lead to
weight gain and even more health risks, so it's time that
you learn to eat right. Whether you need to lose a few
pounds, you want to eat to feel better, or you just want to
stay in good shape, it is imperative that you eat the right
foods and get as many nutritious foods as you can each day.
So, the following are a few tips for eating right as you
age that will help you make sure you get the proper
nutrition.

Tip #1 - Get Plenty of Protein - If you are going to eat
right and get the proper nutrition, you need to make sure
that you get plenty of protein in your diet. There are
plenty of foods out there that are rich in protein, and
eating the right foods are better than trying to take
protein supplements. While you don't want too much protein,
about two 3 oz servings of meat each day is about enough to
suffice. A few great foods that are great sources of
protein include chicken, beef, eggs, fish, cheese, pork,
and milk.

Tip #2 - Watch the Fat Intake - When it comes to aging and
nutrition, it is also important that you watch the fat
intake you get each day as well. While you do need some fat
in your food to stay healthy, you'll want to avoid too much
fat; in fact, only about 20-30# of your calories each day
should be calories from fat. On the other hand, diets that
are extremely low on fat can be bad for your body, since
they won't give you the nutrition that you need.

Tip #3 - Eat Carbs for Instant Energy - When you need
instant energy, carbohydrates are what you need, as well as
fiber. In order to get the nutrition you need, about 55-60%
of your daily caloric intake should be carbohydrates,
although you want to get most of this from whole grains,
vegetables, and fruits as well. While a bit of sugar and
refined carbs are okay, you'll want to do your best to eat
right and get the best nutrition possible by eating
healthier carbs. The fiber is specifically important, since
it helps you make sure you have plenty of good bacteria
inside your intestinal tract. You can find fiber in foods
such as corn, brown rice, oatmeal, strawberries, bran
cereal, whole grain breads, apples, and carrots.

Tip #4 - Meet Your Vitamin Needs - As you get older, you'll
need to eat right to make sure that you get plenty of the
important vitamins your body needs. Vitamin A is important
and you can find it in milk, eggs, fish oils, and liver,
although you can get other forms of the vitamin from eating
carotenoids, including carrots, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin,
red and green peppers, cantaloupe, and mangos. Some of the
other important vitamins you need for proper nutrition
include Vitamin B6, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Choline,
Folate, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.

Tip #5 - Eat to Get Important Minerals - Minerals are very
important when it comes to aging and nutrition, although
you don't hear as much about them as you do vitamins.
However, they are extremely important to seniors. Calcium
is important if you are going to avoid osteoporosis,
chromium can help with weight regulation and blood sugar
regulation, iron is important, magnesium helps to
supplement the bones, and potassium, selenium, and zinc are
other important minerals that you need to get in your diet
on a regular basis to feel and look your best.

It is important that you eat right as you age, and the
right foods can provide you with the nutrition that you
need each day. Make the most of what you eat, and remember
that aging and nutrition should go hand in hand if you want
to live out a long and healthy life.

----------------------------------------------------
Ron Godlewski has written many articles on health,
wellness, and maintaining vitality as we fight the effects
of aging and while we are dieting. Check out
http://www.pillfreesupplements.com where you will find more
articles and information on how you can actually improve
your general health while making your lifestyle changes.

Lose Weight With These Simple, Effective Strategies

Lose Weight With These Simple, Effective Strategies
One of the greatest challenges facing us here in the US
continues to be obesity and general health issues that are
associated with being overweight, which it seems more and
more of our population is these days. Recent studies
confirm that one of the reasons the American culture has
such serious struggles with obesity and weight control is
our inability to figure out when to stop eating.

In fact, when Americans were contrasted with another
culture that is often touted for having one of the lowest
obesity rates as well as less health issues associated with
being overweight, the French, it was found that the French
respond to different cues that tell them when to stop
eating than Americans do.

Americans cited outside factors many times to determine
when they were finished eating, whereas the French who were
questioned cited internal cues, from their bodies, to
determine when to stop eating.

Americans cited things like when their television show was
over, or when their plate was empty, or everyone else was
done eating, while the French commonly cited their cue as
their level of satiety, whether they were full or not, and
also whether they felt they needed to continue eating.

It is clear that listening to internal rather than external
cues dramatically increases the likelihood that one will
stop eating when their body has signaled it has had
adequate "fuel" for the time being.

As you can see, those who felt more influenced by their
external environments were more likely to keep chomping
away, even if their bodies felt totally satisfied. It may
also be that the different groups pace their eating
differently. I, as an American, notice quite a few people
who seem to eat very quickly, and this can really sabotage
anyone's attempts at weight control or weight loss.

Why? Well, because if you are eating at a pace faster than
your body can signal the brain that it is full, you've
passed your window of opportunity to stop eating while
you're actually satiated, and you will continue to eat past
that point.

Yep, that's the all too common occurrence we get where you
feel like you're busting at the seams from overeating.
You've most likely either taken too little time to eat and
not given your brain enough time to catch up, or you've
ignored your "full" cues and kept on going.

I've done it many times myself, and often wonder what
possessed me to keep eating beyond the point at which I
felt "full". Perhaps it was because the food just tasted
too good, or, if I dug down even further, there is usually
some external cues that are going on that influenced me.

Take for example Thanksgiving dinners and other settings
where the American culture has made it almost "expected"
that you stuff yourself silly. You may actually feel that
it is abnormal to stop eating when satisfied in certain
social situations, and those thought processes are
precisely why our nation has a very hard time with
controlling our weight.

Some of the best advice I ever got was to chew my food
completely, and to make sure I savor and enjoy every bite.
I was taught by example, thankfully, by my mother, who
always ate very slowly, and who also incidentally happens
to still be very trim in her mid fifties thanks to her
common sense approach to eating.

I learned to eat slowly and enjoy the food, instead of
"inhaling" it as some people would say. I feel this has
greatly improved my weight control abilities because I
notice that I'm much more attuned to when my body tells me
it has had enough. I may not have cleaned my plate, but
who cares if they are just excess calories my body will
store as fat anyways?

Another good piece of advice is to use smaller plates, this
way we are not filling up a larger plate, and that
subconscious thought that we should clean our plates won't
sabotage our diets and make us eat larger amounts due to
larger plates and servings.

If you're really watching what you eat and want to control
your portions, I have heard the suggestion that taking a
teaspoon full of fiber may help you to eat less when taken
about a half hour before a meal.

The fiber will expand in the stomach, leaving less room for
food, and making you feel full faster, and consequently
lowering your caloric intake. Many people say this is
their favorite diet trick because it fools them into eating
less.

You may want to avoid sugar substitutes in your diet.
While this may seem counterintuitive, there is a lot of
emerging evidence that sugar substitutes actually make us
eat more in the long run because they do not satisfy our
natural sugar cravings, they in fact increase our cravings
for sugars and carbs.

Last but not least, try very hard not to watch your
television while eating. There are numerous studies that
show that people eat a lot more while sitting in front of
their television than if they are sitting at the dinner
table, because they are more likely to ignore their
internal cues that they are full or satisfied.

So, sit at the table and have some good conversation at
your next meal time. This creates a definite, set aside
time for eating, which will help train you to listen to
your internal cues better. Because it most likely will
include conversation, it will also increase the time you
have you mouth full, and give your brain more time to catch
up with the cues being sent from the stomach.

----------------------------------------------------
Danna Schneider is the founder of a popular online source
for dieting and weight loss, including this which is a
review of a 12 hour hunger suppressing diet patch
http://www.dietingmagazine.com/transdermal-diet-patches.html

. She also founded http://www.fitnessnewsmagazine.com , an
online help site dedicated to reviews of exercise
equipment, the latest offerings and breakthroughs in
physical fitness, and workouts and more.

Top 7 Health and Beauty Fashion Accessories for 2008

Top 7 Health and Beauty Fashion Accessories for 2008
1. GHD Hair Straighteners

There is just something about these hair straighteners that
shouts "wow" each and every time I use them on my hair.
They are by far the best hair straighteners in town and do
such an incredible job. GHD hair irons are fantastic at
either straightening my hair or making it curly depending
upon my mood and the look I am trying to go for. Regardless
of what style I am after, GHD lets me do it easily and
effectively.

2. Lipstick / Lip Gloss

Where would any girl be if they didn't have their lipstick
/ lip gloss with them. Personally, I use lip gloss which
gives my lips that extra shimmer and shine and I have been
getting really good complements about it. The fuller your
lips look, the more attention you will generate. Lips to me
are very sensual and so deserve to be looked after and
shown off.

3. Eye Liner

Eye liners are fantastic for getting attention to your
eyes. They say you're eyes are the windows to your soul so
make the most of them by highlighting them with an eye
liner than goes well with your skin tones and mascara.

4. Jimmy Choo Shoes

What can I say about Jimmy Choo that hasn't been said
already? Girls just buy a pair and thank me later, they
look gorgeous and ever girl should have a pair in their
wardrobe.

5. Sunglasses

Have you ever been in a club or walking down the road and
just see some really cool chick getting all the attention?
Yep, I bet she had shades on. Sunglasses just bring that
element of coolness to a person whether it is sunny, light
or dark, it doesn't matter, they just look good. Apparently
the latest craze is following Drew Barrymore with white
shades but stick to something you feel best wearing.

6. Perfume

Everyone should make an effort to smell the best they can.
Therefore why not try attracting men while you're at it.
Experiment with different perfumes until you find something
you feel really suits your natural smell. Get friends
opinions too so you get a different viewpoint which is a
really good idea. Also, let me just quickly mention how
important it is to make sure you have the right deodorant
to keep yourself fresh and light. Maybe consider wearing a
light body fragrance if perspiration is something you
suffer from badly.

7. Makeup

If you have an uneven skin complexion or a few bumps or
marks you want to cover up, makeup can be a girl's best
friend. Make sure you still moisturize and use suncream
while out in the sun but so long as you keep the makeup
light is can really help you look fantastic.

----------------------------------------------------
For additional hair and beauty related health topics find
me at
http://ezinearticles.com/?Cheap-GHD-Ceramic-Hair-Straightene
rs---Are-They-Worth-The-Money?&id=984676 and
http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-ghd-hair-straighteners .

Drug Free Depression Anxiety Stress Treatment

Drug Free Depression Anxiety Stress Treatment
Depression, anxiety and stress have always been around in
our society. However, since 1990 they have tripled and on
the increase. These have now surfaced as chronic medical
conditions. They are a handicap to the sufferers because
their thoughts, moods and bodies are all affected. It is of
utmost importance that proper depression anxiety stress
treatment is implemented. Depression can make people feel
sad and prevent them from functioning normally. Other
symptoms include panic attacks, sleeplessness, edginess,
hallucinations and excessive drowsiness. These symptoms if
not treated can last weeks, months or even years.

Generally people affected by depression, anxiety and stress
are given prescribed depression anxiety stress treatment
anti-depressants to treat these mental disorders. The most
popular and well known drugs are Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa,
Luvox and Prozac. Very often these prescribed depression
anxiety stress treatment medications have side effects and
harmful when used over long period. These anxiety and
depression treatments are habit forming and sometimes they
could even aggravate the conditions. Brain tumors,
suicide, psychosis, abnormal bleeding and violence have
been revealed to have links to the use of such
antidepressants.

However, appropriate depression anxiety stress treatment
can help those who suffer from these mental conditions. It
is a recurring ailment and it is therefore crucial to find
an effective treatment. The development of depression and
anxiety is a combination of chemical imbalances and other
factors.

Prescribed antidepressants only work for about 30% of those
who are affected. Researches have been investigating
possible natural depression treatment alternatives that are
both effective and safe to these drugs. For centuries
natural herbs have been used to treat depression, anxiety
and stress. Medical doctors are giving their approval for
the use of such alternative depression treatment herbs to
give relief to these mental conditions.

Natural antidepressants are becoming more and more popular
as a treatment for mental illness. It is believed that
many anxiety and depression treatments pose no risk of side
effects or withdrawal symptoms. Natural antidepressants
are more effective, less expensive and less intrusive than
depression anxiety stress treatment drugs. They are
without side effects and can be used by everyone. These
natural depression treatments can be safely used over long
period. In addition to treating the existing symptoms they
are able to prevent relapses in the future.

Such natural depression anxiety stress treatment products
often contain ingredients like passion flower and
l-tyrosine. These components are well known in helping to
promote serotonin,endorphins and other neurotransmitters in
the brain. Another natural source of herbal remedy for
depression is the plant 5-HTP, extracted from the Griffonia
simplicifolia plant. Natural depression treatment products
can alleviate these life destroying mental conditions
within a few short months. The anxiety and depression
treatments get to the root of the problem by correcting the
body's chemical imbalances. These alternative depression
treatment products are generally very reasonably priced and
can be obtained without a doctor's prescription.

There have been tons of money and time spent on clinical
studies regarding medical prescriptions. However, products
for natural remedy for depression have been medically
approved to be 100% safe for permanent use. Depression,
anxiety and stress are a debilitating illness and more
research and time could be spent on such natural relief for
anxiety products. If you or someone you known are currently
suffering from these mental ailments natural depression
treatment products is the preferred solution. Remember
these natural antidepressants have so much more benefits
over the dangerous medically prescribed depression anxiety
stress treatment drugs such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.

----------------------------------------------------
Discover how to overcome your depression, anxiety or
chronic stress conditions with cutting edge natural
treatments that are safe and not habit forming. Find out
more information at
http://www.depressionanxietystresstreatment.com

10 weight loss tips to help you keep your New Years' weight loss resolutions

10 weight loss tips to help you keep your New Years' weight loss resolutions
The most common New Year's Resolutions ever - lose weight
and get in shape! More than 60% of Americans will agree. If
you are one of them, read on...

I have been dealing with weight loss for many years now. I
have learned a great deal of knowledge and gained years of
experience about weight loss so I am gonna try to help you
reach your weight loss goals with these easy-to-digest
weight loss tips. They're not exactly easy to follow as it
takes a lot of determination and hard work BUT they work
and if you are serious about losing weight, these tips can
save you a lot of time and effort!

1. Do some type of cardio exercises on a DAILY basis
(walking, jogging, swimming, stationary cycling, aerobic
dancing, etc.) Forget about this twice-a-week thing, you
wanna see weight loss results fast?

Do it on a DAILY basis. When we are, our metabolism is
super-charged and it also puts us in a "healthy" frame of
mind. If possible, do it in the morning! People who have
exercised in the morning make better food choices during
the day.

2. Throw in some weight training into your exercise
routine. Toning your muscles can boost your metabolism
greatly and make you burn more calories, even while you're
sleeping!

3. Always eat your breakfast! Skipping breakfast sends a
message to your body that you're "starving" because you
haven't had food in 18+ hours. As a protective mechanism,
your metabolism slows down and your body begins to burn
your muscle as fuel.

4. Forget about those rubbish fad diets! For healthy,
permanent weight loss results, you need to re-fuel your
body with the right nutrients. These include protein,
carbohydrates, some fats, etc... Just eat like normal,
control your portions, and be slightly selective on the
food you take. It's no rocket science! Have I mentioned
that you need to forget those crap fad diets?

5. Average out your meals into 6 small to medium meals a
day. Developing the right eating habits can train your body
to continue working all day long, helping you burn more
calories in the process.

6. Don't count calories, you don't need to. Just have a
healthy mix of food in appropriate portions. What's fun
about eating anymore if you're to carry a calculator around
to count calories?

7. Be active. Walk more, climb the stairs, whatever it is,
look for the "difficult" way to do things...the way the
requires the most effort!

8. Avoid alcohol! It depresses your metabolism, stimulates
your appetite and fills you up with calories! Learn to
drink green tea instead.

9. Drink at least 8 BIG glasses of water a day. Your body
needs plenty water to function properly... especially when
you're going through any weight loss programs. Carry a
bottle of water with you if you must, drink frequently
throughout the day.

10. Avoid the "3 P's"....weight loss pills, powders, and
potions! These are to my best knowledge... RUBBISH! In my
years of trying out these magic quick fixes, I have
encountered NONE that actually work.

Let me guess, you are either excited about the tips and
ready to lose weight, OR, you think I am asking too much
from you and it is not possible for you.

Well, choose which side you want to be wisely, if you want
to lose weight, you need to work at it, you need to work
hard, and you need to work smart.

Let me give you an example, both John and Joe is working
out an hour a day. John works out in the morning, Joe works
out in the evening. After 70 days, John's weight loss
results are 3 times higher compared to Joe!

Now why is that so? John works hard and he works smart
while Joe only works hard. Think about it my friend!

Cheers!

----------------------------------------------------
Jimmy Dickens is a weight loss coach and mentor from
Boston. He teaches people how to lose weight fast with a
unique system he created called the "Gimme Weight Loss Now"
System. If you're looking for a complete, step-by-step
weight loss system that can help you lose weight fast, do
visit his website and grab his system (in the form of an
ebook) at http://gimmeweightlossnow.com

10 Causes of Obesity Not Related to Food

10 Causes of Obesity Not Related to Food
As Americans grow larger each year, the topic of obesity
and its causes are still being debated. The weight loss
industry tends to focus on the idea that obesity is from
over consumption and lack of exercise.four donuts

While over consumption and a sedentary lifestyle are
factors in becoming obese, there are other factors worth
considering, according to the director of the University of
Alabama at Birmingham clinical nutrition research center,
Dr. David Allison.

Allison and his colleagues suggest there are a total of ten
factors in addition to lifestyle and diet that are making
Americans fatter.

1. Because American's are more stretched for time than ever
before, they get less sleep. Too little sleep actually
causes weight gain.

2. There are many pollutants in our environment, which
affect hormones, which regulate body weight.

3. When you are too cold or too hot, your body uses more
calories to create a level of comfort. Most everyone today
works and lives in temperature controlled environments, and
our bodies don't need to work as hard.

4. As bad as smoking is for you, it aids in weight loss.
Less and less people are smoking today than ever before.

5. The use of drugs, including contraceptives,
anti-depressants, blood pressure, and diabetes medications
are on the rise. Many of these contribute to weight gain.

6. Other factors for obesity include age and ethnicity. For
whatever reason, European Americans are more svelte than
Hispanic Americans and middle aged people. The population
of the United States is aging and becoming more Hispanic.

7. The older a woman is when she gives birth, the more
likely her child is to become obese. Today more women are
waiting until middle age to give birth.

8. Not only do our ancestors play a role in our body type
and weight, so do the environments of our ancestors.
Believe it or not, environmental conditions that make a
grandparent obese may create obesity in their grandchild.

9. Fertility and obesity have been linked together. Studies
suggest that people who are obese are more fertile than
their slim counterparts. Following that thinking, if
obesity can be genetic, and more obese people are having
children, the population of obese people will increase.

10. Like attracts like. Obese people tend to marry obese
partners. Again, if there is a genetic component to
obesity, and more obese people are marrying off and
reproducing, there will be a spike in the percentage of the
population that are obese.

If you are considered obese, be certain to consult your
personal physician before beginning an exercise plan or
weight loss program. With any weight loss program it is
important to drop weight at a pace that is healthy for your
body. Your doctor may be able to suggest a nutritionist as
well as a personal trainer who has experience with clients
that are considered obese.

Remember that even though some factors are beyond your
control, like genetics and environment, you do have the
power to make lifestyle choices that can enhance your well
being and create better health.

----------------------------------------------------
Debbie endeavors to encourage women over 40 to take care of
their bodies and feed their minds with good positive
thoughts. She shares her expertise on natural weight loss
and radiantly healthy living at her blog
http://weonadiet.com .

How To Avoid The Super Supplements Syndrome

How To Avoid The Super Supplements Syndrome
If you were to build the house of Super Supplements &
Fitness - nutrition, exercise, and motivation would make up
the foundation; they would also make up the framing, the
walls, the roof and pretty much the whole house.

Supplements would then maybe be the satellite dish, or
perhaps the little gnomes in your garden - not real
worthwhile without the house there. So why would you treat
supplements as a precursor to weight loss and write off
nutrition and exercise as expendable activities. Are you
one of these serial supplement users? Do you subscribe to
the "abc" product plan or the "xyz" metabolism makeover? If
that's you - Stop! Please!

There are new diet pills and gimmicks hot off the press
every month, just waiting for their prey - the desperate
dieter wishing for that next "breakthrough" product. Don't
be that victim. The confusion from the diet and weight loss
industries mixed with a dose of media muddle would have you
believe that Super Supplements are indeed needed for
weight loss, and it's your fault if these "worthwhile"
products don't work for you. Many of these hocus-pocus-like
solutions tout their creams, potions, wonder pills or
gadgets as a no-effort and no-exercise-required approach to
fitness - the fat is going to just melt off.

Let's get this straight; fat does not melt off - unless you
use a strategy involving a blowtorch. But I don't recommend
that. Even the manufacturers stress that their products
should be used along with proper nutrition and exercise. If
you ever need some good entertainment - watch a late night
infomercial for a diet product. Look at the before and
after pictures they show. If you look carefully you'll
often see in real small print - the size of a toenail
clipping - "results achieved along with proper diet and
exercise".

Wow! That is a real breakthrough product. Ever heard of the
placebo effect? Often these products are just a good excuse
to eat right and exercise - which then produces the desired
effect of weight loss.

Yes, there are a few helpful supplements out there. But
again, they are not "needed". Even the useful Super
Supplements can be used as a crutch, delaying the onset of
proper nutrition and exercise. What you eat and how much
physical activity you get will make up 95% or more of the
results you achieve.

So why would you try to maximize the 5% when you can get
the most effect from just working out and eating right. And
when you do include supplements in your diet, be sure they
are legitimate and proven products with research to support
their claims. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes
an excellent report on how to avoid supplement scams - it's
called "The Red Flag Report" - with a fitting subtitle, "I
lost $350 in two weeks. Ask me how!" It gives a list of the
top 7 red flags to watch out for when buying diet products
and exercise equipment. Here they are:

A supplement or product is too good to be true if it says
the product will:

Cause weight loss of two pounds or more a week for a month
or more without dieting or exercise

Cause substantial weight loss no matter what or how much
the consumer eats

Cause permanent weight loss (even when the consumer stops
using product)

Block the absorption of fat or calories to enable consumers
to lose substantial weight

Safely enable consumers to lose more than three pounds per
week for more than four weeks

Cause substantial weight loss for all users

Cause substantial weight loss by wearing it on the body or
rubbing it into the skin

You can download the full supplements report with some
more detail about each of these 7 red flags along with
examples of products that would violate each of them.
Download the report here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/redflag.pdf

If you get just one thing out of this article I would
really be pleased if you realize that you don't need any
supplements to be successful with weight loss. You are
empowered, you have the capability, you have all you need
to do this, without any gimmicks.

----------------------------------------------------
Zach Hunt is a Nutrition expert, personal trainer and owner
of Physzique, a fitness coaching service in Spokane, WA. Go
here: http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com /index.html
or you can go here for more super suplement tips:
http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com/articles/super-supplement
s-spokane.html

Hearing Aid Comparisons And Ratings

Hearing Aid Comparisons And Ratings
You have just been diagnosed with hearing loss. But with so
many choices of different styles, models and manufacturers
of hearing aids, no wonder it is hard to decide.

Although your audiologist will give you advice, it is
always better to understand the different types, their
features, how they work to increase your knowledge and be
able to compare the hearing aids yourself. Because
ultimately, the choice should be yours and you will be the
one to use it.

The first thing you will need to consider is whether you
want an analogue, digital programmable/analogue
programmable or fully digital hearing aid. Analogues are
the least expensive and the microphone sends out a signal,
the signal is amplified and sent to the ear. The
digital/analogue programmable hearing aids are a
combination of an analogue hearing aid, but have the
computer software to customize and program it. This allows
the hearing aid to adapt to the environment by manually
switching to different listening programs.

Although, the fully digital hearing aids are the most
expensive, they have the highest sound quality and clarity;
better programs and settings to suit every listening
environment and more channels to detect more frequencies.
This is achieved through digital signal processing.

In addition, check whether the hearing aid has directional
microphones - as this will help to emphasize sounds. Some
models have many different programs and settings, ask
yourself whether you will benefit from these. Some models
are automatic and adapt to the wearers preferences, whilst
others require a switch; some are compatible to mobile
phones.

To make an informed decision, always ask questions and find
out more about the hearing aids, or the company you will be
dealing with - be realistic! Finding the best and most
suitable model and type of hearing aid, at the best price
will be hard. So make sure you check whether they have a
money-back guarantee, trial periods, warranties, clauses,
any services that can help with payments, how to get your
hearing aid serviced or repaired.

In order for you to rate and choose the ideal hearing aid,
you will need to consider the severity of your hearing
loss, the costs, what aspects of the hearing aid are
important to you, whether it will meet your needs and what
you want to achieve out of the hearing aid.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find any up-to-date
hearing aid ratings of quality and performance of various
brands, without retailers writing them with a vested
interest. This is because hearing loss is very individual
and one particular model cannot suit everyone's' needs.
Also, hearing aids are continually updated with newer and
faster technology, and prices are constantly changing due
to competition.

The success of any hearing aid will depend on the wearer's
knowledge and understanding of their hearing loss and
hearing aids; the expertise of the audiologist in choosing
the most appropriate hearing aid.

----------------------------------------------------
Allan Tan is the author of
http://hearing-aid-ratings.blogspot.com/ and provides
helpful information on hearing loss, different brands and
types of hearing aids, hearing aid ratings, Bluetooth
compatible hearing aids, which you can read up in the
comfort of your home on his website. He and his partner set
up this informative site to help people understand more
about their hearing loss.

Fit Over 40

Fit Over 40
I have local Combat Endurance Training classes - a home
based fitness course designed to use one's body weight to
improve core strength and better fitness in general.
There's a 7 pm class on Monday and Wednesday and a 5:45am
class on Tuesday and Thursday morning. There's a large
number of folks in both classes.

I'm finding it very exciting that I have many people in the
over 50 year old age group. It seems that there is a
growing number of people who are realizing that they are
going to be on the planet for quite a number of years,
barring any detours, and they are opting to spend their
golden years in good health and feeling strong and healthy.
What a great decision.

Health and fitness is a lifestyle. It may be difficult to
get to a class or get out of bed in the morning but it's
good to think about the results if you make the sacrifice.
Good health, good attitude, and looking forward to each day
are wonderful things to strive for. Disciplining yourself
to do the things necessary to have them is a life style
choice that will reap you tremendous rewards.

I had another wonderful surprise a while back when I got an
email from one of my Karate schools saying that an old
Karate acquaintance of mine was in town and had left his
phone number. This gentleman is a highly respected Black
Belt who really was a role model for me as I was coming up
through the ranks in the martial arts. He and I have always
been friends and I immediately called him and brought him
back to my house to meet my family.

The old times and old stories began to flow and I reminded
him of the story that he had told me many years ago about
his grandfather who made it a habit to walk on his hands
across the kitchen floor and back every Christmas. He said
that he remembered seeing his grandfather do that when he
was 80 years old. His grandfather told him as a young man
that being healthy is free and easy so it's a good idea to
take care of your health. His grandfather lived to be 97
years old.

Choose to be healthy. Choose to do the things that others
may not have the desire or commitment to do. The good
choices that you make to stay healthy will continue to
reward you as your years move on.

Make good decisions about your health,

Fred Nicklaus

----------------------------------------------------
Core strength training is essential to good health and
ultimate performance in any sport. Find the secrets to
maximum core strength deveopment at
http://www.combatendurancetraining.com