Love Tests - How Much Do You Love Your Body?

Love Tests - How Much Do You Love Your Body?
Just how much do you love your body?

This is serious because you need your body to get around,
to enjoy life and to attract members of the opposite sex.
And it you don't love your body, why should anyone else?

So these questions have been devised to help you ascertain
just how much you really love and care about your body:

Q. How many McDonalds do you eat at a sitting?

A Quarter Pounder with cheese contains 510 calories. A
medium portion of French Fries adds another 380 calories,
total 890 calories. For a healthy diet you should be aiming
to consume around 2,000 calories a day. So one 7 oz burger
with 4 oz of fries is using up nearly half of your daily
allowance. Makes you think, doesn't it.

Q. How many portions of fruit and vegetables do you eat a
day?

Fruit and veggies are your best source of essential
vitamins and minerals. If you're not eating yours it's like
NOT putting good fuel in your car, your body won't run as
well as it could.

Q. How much chocolate do you eat a day?

Chocolate facts: dark chocolate is good for you, hurray -
but only in limited quantities. 2 ounces of dark chocolate
up to 3 times a week is good for you.

Q. How much alcohol do you drink a day?

A glass of wine probably does you good. Medical opinion
seems to be divided on whether it should be red of white,
so have whatever you like. But more than one glass and
you're starting to damage your body cells, particularly
your brain cells, and that's not good.

Q. Do you drink water, when you're thirsty?

When you're thirsty your body needs water and not energy.
So save your calories that you would get from a soda for
your food. Water gives your skin moisture, so you don't get
dry skin and (gasp) deep wrinkles.

Q. Do you eat too little?

When you eat below 1200 kcal per day you body goes into
hunger mode because you're not giving it enough energy.
This causes it to try to conserve energy, which actually
makes it harder for you to lose weight. Your body's not
like a machine; you can't just decrease calorific intake
and expect to lose weight; a body needs a balanced diet to
lose weight. Most women need to eat around 1500-1800 kcal
per day.

If you're not feeding your body to the best of your
knowledge and ability you're telling it you don't love it.

If you don't love your body, how long do you expect the
relationship to last?

For a longer life, look after your body.

----------------------------------------------------
David Ferrers M.NLP is has been a professional Personal
Development Coach for 21 years. With his Nutritionist
Partner Susanne Floe he developed
http://GoneForeverWeightLoss.com to enable people to
discover how to use self-hypnosis to lose weight
permanently and painlessly. Both David and Susanne have
personally used the techniques they recommend to
successfully lose weight and maintain the weight loss.

What You Should Look For In A Fitness Center To Avoid Being Pressured Into A Sale

What You Should Look For In A Fitness Center To Avoid Being Pressured Into A Sale
Fitness centers in generally offer the same experience
from fitness center to fitness center.

Sure, there can be differences in Gyms, the general
environment, and the friendliness of staff, to name just a
few.

Typically, however, every fitness center offers the
exercise equipment and the place for a person to get in a
workout.

This is not to say that a given fitness center is without
its benefits. Most of them provide the quality of
experience which fitness-minded people desire. For many,
the local fitness center serves a need and no other
quality or service is necessary to keep the member coming
back workout after workout.

However, many, if not most, fitness centers in , and
elsewhere, cannot provide the focused attention,
environment and quality of training that some of us seek.
It can be intimidating to hire a personal trainer in a
fitness center when it feels like you are on display for
all to see. Most of us, I'm guessing, would prefer to have
the undivided attention of a personal trainer, while not
dividing the attention of those around.

One need not suffer from body or esteem issues to recognize
the beauty of one trainer, one space, one focused course of
training and workout practice.

Unless your fitness center is open 24-hours and is vacant
at, say 2 am, or you belong to an exclusive--and
expensive--fitness center, the ability to maximize the
time, energy and effort to pursue a life-changing workout
regimen without the many distractions found in the average
fitness center in is compromised.

Providing a private, one-on-one training experience that
focuses only on the individual, their goals, their needs
and desires, even their respirations and exertion level...

"It all goes to making the sometimes daunting effort of
getting in shape an enjoyable, challenging and worthwhile
journey."

Now, we might think the midpoint of a journey is when the
distance before us is equal to the distance gained. This is
true in a physical sense. Emotionally, however, we might
consider the first step toward a goal as momentous, as it
took an investment of faith and courage to make that first
stride possible.

Some fitness enters recognizes this investment, one that
may well have been borne out of of any number of personal
reasons that make it a dear investment, indeed. This
recognition is worthy of an investment of our own, which we
pledge, and together we stride toward greater health and
fulfillment.

Discover how a quality private fitness center along with
coaching will help you lose fat and tone up...FAST!!

----------------------------------------------------
Zach Hunt is a fitness center 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 fitness center tips:
http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com/articles/spokane-fitness-
center-in-spokane.html

How Small Business Owners Can Cut Their Health Insurance Costs in Half

How Small Business Owners Can Cut Their Health Insurance Costs in Half
Small business owners can now take advantage of Health
Reimbursement Arrangements, or HRAs, as a way to cut their
health insurance expenses in half. As health insurance
premiums continue to grow, fewer small businesses are
offering group coverage to their employees. For small
businesses with healthy employees, establishing HRAs can be
a great way to help their employees obtain permanent,
portable individual health insurance at a much lower cost
than conventional group coverage.

What is a Health Reimbursement Arrangement?

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or HRA, is simply an
agreement by an employer to reimburse the employee for
their health insurance premiums and other specified medical
expenses. This is considered to be a tax-free fringe
benefit for the employee.

Because family and individual health insurance plans are
underwritten (meaning that the insurance company has the
option of excluding a condition or declining an application
all together), they are much less expensive than are group
plans. In fact, they typically cost less than half as much.

HRAs are also known as Section 105 plans, named after the
section in the U.S. Tax Code that governs them.

How Health Reimbursement Arrangements Work

In today's business climate employees are quick to go
elsewhere if they see a better opportunity. Providing good
benefits is essential to retaining the best employees, but
group health insurance can be too expensive for some small
business owners.

An HRA allows you to reimburse your employees for their
individual health insurance expenses, taking you out of the
middle. Employees carry their own private coverage which
is totally portable and not tied down to their employment.

You no longer have to administer the plan, and you no
longer have to shop it every year. When employees carry
their own private coverage, there are also no COBRA issues
to deal with when employment terminates.

When you establish an HRA for your employees, you define
what expenses that you will be reimbursing, and how much
you will reimburse. For example, you may say that you will
reimburse up to $300/month for covered health insurance and
medical expenses. If the employee uses less than that, any
excess credit accumulates for future disbursement.

When the employee has a qualified medical expense, they
would submit it to you for reimbursement, up to the amount
of their HRA balance. You then simply cut a check for the
amount of the reimbursement. It's that simple. You count
it as a business expense, and your employee pays no taxes
on that reimbursement.

Keeping Your Employees Healthy

Most of your employees will incur medical expenses every
year, including dental expenses and eye glass expenses.
Through an HRA you can reimburse your employees for these
expenses with tax-free dollars.

The best businesses are about more than just selling
widgets and making money. The more the business cares
about the employees and the more the employees care about
the business - the more fun we have and the more successful
we are. So why not reimburse for preventive benefits like
smoking cessation programs, weight loss programs, or even
just annual physicals.

The great thing about HRAs is that you are the architect.
You get to decide what expenses you will reimburse. You
also have the right to exclude part time employees,
employees who have worked for you for less than three
years, and those under age 25.

How to Establish Your HRAs

When you establish an HRA, all you have to do is furnish a
Summary Plan Description to all plan participants. The
Summary Plan Description simply describes who is eligible,
and the benefit limits that can be reimbursed. For
instance, it may list the minimum number of hours they must
work, their minimum age, and the number of months they must
be employed. It will list the benefit limit for
reimbursement of health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket
expenses, term life premiums, and possibly other expenses.
You must also keep a Plan Document in your files, which
documents the same information.

A Better System for Employer and Employee

If you have a small business of healthy employees, an HRA
may be a no-brainer. Keep in mind that because your
employees will be applying for individual health insurance
coverage instead of group coverage, their premiums will be
much lower but the plans will each be individually
underwritten.

Your employees will each get to choose the insurance plan
and deductible that best fits their individual needs. Many
are choosing Health Savings Accounts as a way to further
reduce their health insurance costs. Once everyone is
approved they will have permanent coverage that is not tied
down to their employment. And you can get out of the
insurance business, for good.

----------------------------------------------------
By Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (
http://www.health--savings--accounts.com ) - The nation's
leading independent health insurance firm specializing in
individual and family coverage that work with Health
Savings Accounts.

Honey and Weight Loss

Honey and Weight Loss
Honey and weight loss are often associated. Why is honey a
smarter choice than table sugar if you are watching your
weight and what you eat?

Refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins and are
often called empty calories. They draw upon the body's
nutrients to be metabolized into the system, and when these
nutrients are depleted, metabolizing of cholesterol and
fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher cholesterol
and promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid on the
organs and tissues. The good news is that honey, the
natural sweetener, on the other hand, contains 22 amino
acids and a variety of minerals essential for its
metabolism and hence is helpful in preventing obesity. It
is believed that drinking lemon juice with a little honey
the first thing in the morning is an effective anti
cellulite treatment as it helps to increase body
metabolism. If you are determined to shed weight and speed
up your sluggish metabolism, try this honey and lemon diet
tip. If you like, another very popular recipe associated
with honey and weight loss is a drink that uses honey and
cinnamon as ingredients. Many people have found this home
remedy very effective in losing pounds. The steps are easy:
mix a teaspoon of honey and half a teaspoon of cinnamon
powder (or ground cinnamon) into a paste in a cup and pour
a cup of boiling water. Stir and cover for half and hour.
Filter away any big particles before consumption. Take it
in the morning with an empty stomach about half an hour
before breakfast.

For people who tend to overeat or feel discomfort in the
stomach after meals, honey can be taken for better
digestion. Honey is a simple carbohydrate that one safely
take during fasting because it contains easily digested
sugars. Foods that are rich in sugars or complexes of
sugars are carbohydrates. How the sugars are arranged will
determine whether we call a food a source of simple or
complex carbohydrates. When sugars are bound into rows, as
they are in starches such as whole grains and legumes, they
are called complex carbohydrates. It takes the body much
longer to digest the sugar from a complex carbohydrate.

The latest theory based on the hibernation diet also builds
a link between honey and weight loss. It suggests taking a
generous spoonful or two of honey at night, either as a
warm drink or straight from the jar, and promises to help
us sleep and lose weight at the same time by fuelling the
liver, speeding up fat-burning metabolism and easing stress
hormones.

And if you are considering artificial sugar or sweetener
like Aspartame to help you lose weight, you are completely
on the wrong track. It might get you off from a few
calories but it gives you a bunch of other serious health
problems.

----------------------------------------------------
Ruth Tan is the owner of the website Benefits of Honey at
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com which is an immensely
rich, quality resource on honey and its benefits, and a
plethora of health-related issues.

What is Aromatherapy: Beyond Just 'Smelling Nice'

What is Aromatherapy: Beyond Just 'Smelling Nice'
What do you think of when you hear the word 'Aromatherapy'?
For many folks, it conjures an image of plastic Glade
Plug-In air fresheners; for others, a bottle of flowery
dish soap. For a fortunate few, a pleasing bath with
natural soothing scents comes to mind; for even fewer, a
cold-air diffuser releasing a fine mist of pure Rose petal
oil throughout their home. The rarest concept of
Aromatherapy in these United States is one of highly potent
medicines, effective against a broad range of bacteria and
viruses, with further uses including relief of arthritis
pain, stomach discomfort, sleeplessness, and a host of
other conditions. If this is a new idea, read-on and enter
the wonderful world of medicinal aromatherapy and
therapeutic use of essential oils.

The word 'aromatherapie' was first used in 1937 by the
French cosmetic scientist Rene Maurice Gattefosse after
accidentally discovering Lavender oil's healing effects on
burns he sustained in his lab. He was so impressed by the
oils medicinal actions, he wrote a book it that began the
modern aroma-'therapy' revolution. Medicinal use of
essential oils is widely accepted in France today, where
one can receive a prescription for a blend from their
doctor, and have it filled as we do with pharmaceuticals
here. The inhalation of essential oils to make one 'feel
good' - is truely just one aspect of the practice;
Aromatherapy includes the entire branch of medicine using
volatile (easily evaporated) aromatic compounds naturally
occurring in plants. Some consider the most important
actions of essential oils to not even be associated with
the sense of smell. Beyond acting on through the olfactory
senses, essential oils have been shown to have effects
ranging from broad spectrum anti-microbials and anti-virals
to inflammation reducers and even tissue regenerative
properties.

Essential oils effects on the nervous system and psyche
through the olfactory sense is not to be discounted,
however. Studies have shown repeatable results in essential
oils' ability to lift the spirits and sharpen the
attention. Students inhaling Lemon and Rosemary essential
oils while studying have scored better on tests; other
subjects have slept better while inhaling Lavender (one
article proclaimed these results with "Lavender Works
Better than Benzodiazepines!"). The 'aromatic' effect of
essential oils is a result of the intimate wiring of the
smell sense with certain control systems of the brain. The
olfactory system is the only one of the five senses
directly connected to the bulk of your gray matter - the
rest are routed first through the thalamus. This direct
connection has powerful implications for physiological as
well as psychological effects.

The olfactory sense is closely tied to the limbic system,
which is the center of emotions, plays a significant part
in the formation of memories, and affects our sexual
responses. The olfactory region also connects to the
hypothalamus, which in-turn controls the entire hormonal
system through it's influence of the pituitary gland. One
can easily imagine an olfactory sense receptor being
stimulated by the mist of an essential oil resulting in
downstream stimulation of the brain in a certain way -
stimulating, sedating, relaxing, or otherwise - depending
on the molecular form of the oil.

Though we shouldn't get distracted by the wonderful
possibilities of aromas! The physiologic effects of
essential oils are far more extensive than if used through
the smell sense alone. Medical aromatherapy includes
topical application, oral ingestion and natural suppository
use of aromatic oils as well. Due to their molecular shapes
and sizes, essential oils are remarkably compatible with
human physiology. They are easily absorbed and well
tolerated, for the most part, in small amounts. Essential
oils are not cure-alls however, or placebo-effect-inducing
nice smells - they are potent plant medicines, each with
significantly different actions. Oregano oil is one of the
most broad spectrum anti-microbials known; at the same
time, it takes knowledge and skill to employ it properly as
it is a strong skin irritant. Melissa oil has been hailed
as a cure for Herpes Simplex virus infections by German
researchers. Ginger oil has brought relief to sufferer's of
motion sickness, rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal
parasites - but not to those with the Herpes virus. The
list goes on; the take-home message is that oils CAN be
effective if used properly, and improper use can not only
be ineffective but even dangerous. That doesn't mean
essential oils are something to be afraid of - they deserve
the respect given to any powerful medicine. Consult a
qualified professional for ANY serious condition, and
consider using essential oils if and when appropriate.

Broad acceptance of true 'medical aromatherapy' is a
ways-off in the US. There is a lack of knowledge within the
established medical community, and qualified
aromatherapists are fairly rare, as of yet. With the
growing body of evidence validating the efficacy of natural
medicines, however, and the failing confidence in our
allopathic medical institutions, it may not be long until
essential oils find their rightful place in our medicine
chests. In the meantime, be cautious, have fun, and do stop
and smell the roses, and lavenders, patchoulis,
sandalwoods, and all the other great aromatherapies
available to you!

----------------------------------------------------
The author is a consultant to
http://www.anandaapothecary.com and is a degreed natural
health professional with a private practice in Boulder,
Colorado. She is a regular contributor to the aromatherapy
and essential oil resource library and creator of
therapeutic blends at The Ananda Apothecary.

Weight Loss Motivation : An Essential Element For Your Success.

Weight Loss Motivation : An Essential Element For Your Success.
A lot of people feel they 'lost' it, when it comes to the
motivation behind weight loss endeavors. Whether it is down
the back of the sofa, or dropped in the street, the
motivation just isn't there to lose weight. In fact, there
are hundreds of people who exercise 3-5 times per week in
the beginning, but still fail to meet their weight loss and
fitness goals because they can't stick with it for long.

Can this motivation be regained again so that one doesn't
miss this one important element in losing weight ?

Having really targeted goals is the first step to make sure
you don't lose the motivation again. As a fitness expert I
see a lot of clients for weight loss and they all say, "I'm
trying to lose some weight, can you help me."

Instantly, I know they are struggling and their chances of
succeeding on their diet are slim.

How?

Because they are "trying to lose SOME weight". What is the
exact definition of some weight? Some weight is a pound,
some weight is an ounce, some weight is 100 pounds! Some
weight is an indefinable quantity that you are not really
sure about.

When you are dieting, you have little weight loss
motivation because sub-consciously, you do not know where
you are going to end up with your weight loss program. All
you know is that you are going to lose "SOME" weight. So
if you diet for a bit and then find yourself a pound
lighter ... CONGRATULATIONS! You've lost SOME weight.

Yeah sure, it's not what you really had in mind, I'm pretty
sure you wanted to lose more than a pound, but
sub-consciously - you've achieved your goal, so
congratulations ... and back to eating you go.

While on dieting it is absolutely vital to know exactly how
much weight you need to lose.This will provide you with
weight loss motivation and the keys to success. If you
know exactly how much you are getting rid of then

1) You know what you are aiming for
2) You know when you have got there
3) There is no confusion between your conscious and
sub-conscious minds
4) You can stay motivated as you progress towards your
weight loss target

Now, this may sound to you like it is very simplistic and
silly and that "it's far too childish to work" (as a client
said to me). But ... and let me just say that again in
capital letters, BUT it works ... why does it work? You may
ask ... It works because your sub-conscious mind is like a
child! It is very simple, very honest and without guile.

Also remember if you want to look and feel better than you
have in years and you want to protect yourself from several
health risks, then weight loss is something you have to go
for. Excess body fat is responsible for many physical
threats like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. So, think
of benefits that it is going to bring in terms of long term
vital health.

Also joining a weight loss workout that you can enjoy in
the long run is important. This way you ensure you are
going after some long term efforts you can stick with and
hopefully see results. This can be a crucial factor in
maintaining motivation.

Don't make mistakes like skipping meals thinking it will
help you lose more weight. If you see negative results
because of your mistakes, your motivation may get hurt.

So play this childish game with yourself, put your weight
loss goals own on paper and find your weight loss
motivation and track your every move and results.

----------------------------------------------------
Andy Rogers is an independent reviewer of weight loss
related products and companies. On his site you can learn
about natural weight loss programs at
http://www.scammedfatty.com/Weight_Loss_Plan_Goals.html

Best Way To Lose Weight Permanently

Best Way To Lose Weight Permanently
Most people are aware of the fact that conventional dieting
is not the best way to lose weight permanently. Yo-yo
dieting, where people are constantly taking off weight and
eventually putting it back on again, causes the body to use
less energy, making it very difficult for you to lose
weight. The reason for this is that the body changes in an
effort to maintain energy levels, resulting in you storing
more fat.

Because your body uses less energy when dieting, even when
you are exercising, it becomes more and more difficult to
lose weight. You may try a diet that you have tested
successfully before, but you will usually find that you
won't be able to achieve the same weight loss as before.
Regular yo-yo dieting causes such a metabolism change to
occur that you will find a greater reduction in calories is
required to maintain your new weight.

Be careful of ultra low calorie diets as the body starts to
eat its own muscle tissue through its defense mechanism.
Just look at the slim fashion models with high body fat
relative to their small stature. Because many of them have
done little or no regular exercise, they fail to maintain a
reasonable level of muscle mass. It is not uncommon to see
skinny models with cellulite, a sign that they could be
eating low quality food and that their bodies are retaining
a higher fat percentage than they should.

Being overweight has associated health problems. Diabetes,
for example, is a main concern with overweight people.
Having diabetes increases the likelihood of developing
heart disease by almost 400%. Also, be aware that diabetes
is a leading cause of blindness and is a major cause of
kidney disease. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and
erectile dysfunction are also associated with obesity.

Many people don't realize that by simply slowing down the
rate of eating food it can have a dramatic effect on their
body weight. The longer it takes to eat your food, the less
food is needed to feel satisfied. But what techniques are
available to teach yourself to slow down?

Well, for one thing, try chewing your food a little longer
before swallowing it. This will not only help with the
digestion of your food, but it will also make you feel more
satisfied without the need to eat such a large quantity of
food.

The best way to lose weight permanently, though, is to eat
in a natural way that avoids dieting. You need to eat a
regular four meals a day, spread out as evenly as possible
so that your body receives fewer calories at each sitting.
Adopting this method of eating will allow you to burn fat
efficiently and you will lose weight.

This natural eating system involves rotating the foods you
eat, like proteins and carbs, in accordance with a
particular schedule. There is no limit to the number of
different foods you eat at any single meal; the secret is
in sticking to the scheduled protein/carb mix suggested for
each meal. You never feel hungry with this eating style.

Thousands of people worldwide are using the natural eating
system of rotating foods as the best way to lose weight
permanently.

----------------------------------------------------
Robert Gill
http://www.homebusinesslink.com/weightlossrecipe.html
Best Way To Lose Weight Permanently

Fibromyalgia And Your Diet

Fibromyalgia And Your Diet
Fibromyalgia is otherwise called Muscular Rheumatism,
Tension Myalgia or Fibromyositis. This fibromyalgia is a
syndrome where the patient suffers from chronic muscle
pain. This is complicated syndrome wherein the pain can be
all over the body or just in certain muscles around the
joints. The majority who are affected by this are women
over the age of 30, who suffer from pain in the neck, back
and shoulders. They would generally complain of stiffness,
tenderness, and pain in the joints. It may seem that the
problem is with the joints, but in fact it is a muscular
pain that causes the problem. This can appear in anyone
including children and men of all races and is the second
most common disorder as per rheumatologists.

Due to the steady pain, the person tends to show signs of
stress, sleeplessness, extreme moodiness, and even
depression. This may not be constant but can escalate with
the pain and uneasiness. The cause of this may be due to
certain pain stimulating chemicals in the body and the
increase or reduction of serotonin in the body making it
sensitive to pain. Fibromyalgia causes the pain to be
centralized, wherein you feel the pain elsewhere in the
brain or spinal cord. This can be triggered with just a
slight touch or even external factors like light and sound.
It may seem psychological due to this, but in reality the
pain is genuine and caused due to these factors.

There is no specific recommended diet for fibromyalgia but
a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals can certainly
help in coping with the illness. Magnesium rich vegetables
are recommended for patient's suffering from fibromyalgia.
Cutting down on wheat and dairy products, having food rich
in B12 and proteins, avoiding food with yeast and
preservatives can also help. Caffeine, aerated drinks,
chocolates and tea can be not only healthier but also
reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Turmeric is a powerful
antiseptic and analgesic, 400-500 mg of turmeric everyday
can help reduce inflammation and heal the tender skin.
Ginger is also effective in relieving pain in the body.
Ginger juice can be mixed with some honey or lemon juice
and had as a refreshing drink.

You need to have food that reduces your anxiety levels.
Cutting down on coffee can help you sleep better and open
up ways to better health as well. Dairy products can be
avoided, as they would trigger the irritable bowel syndrome
that commonly affects fibromyalgia patients. Dairy products
tend to increase anxiety in some patients and have a
negative impact on the nervous system. Having whole grain
diet affects some who complain of insomnia and muscle
tensing. It is better to avoid it since the components are
high in phytic acid and subsequently reduce zinc absorption
in the system. Plenty of fruits, vegetables and nuts are
recommended in the diet, as they are rich in magnesium.

Saturated fats in the diet can help reduce anxiety even
though they tend to make you put on weight. Research has
shown that the anxiety levels in the person decreased with
the increase in cholesterol levels in the person. Spices
tend to increase anxiety; hence, a less spicy diet can have
calming effect, as it does not stimulate the body or the
mind. Acidic food can reduce the absorption of magnesium,
which helps relax the muscles. When there is a magnesium
deficiency, the muscles tend to get cramped and tense.
Plenty of vegetable juices and soups along with coconut
water or any fresh juice can be very refreshing and
healthy. Just the simple green salad with lemon juice
dressing can be full of the necessary vitamins.

Patients with Fibromyalgia symptoms should avoid vegetables
like broccoli, okra, potatoes, and cabbage. They should
make it a routine to sleep early in order to avoid stress
and fatigue. Some of the patients who suffer from this
prolonged joint pain can be allergic to wheat. A gluten
free diet is recommended for them, foods that can be
avoided are high fat dairy products, fried foods, red meat
etc. Research has shown that food rich in sodium and fried
stuff can aggravate the pain and inflammation. As mentioned
there no specific diet for fibromyalgia, you could try each
one and decide which one suits you best as health food and
as a way to nursing yourself back to health.

----------------------------------------------------
Hailey Harris is an expert in dealing with Fibromyalgia
after suffering for more than 8 years with health problems.
She is now symptom free and living a pain free life. She
developed Ridfibromyalgia.com found at
http://www.ridfibromyalgia.com to help others learn to do
the same. To receive tons of info, tips, and healing
strategies for free visit
http://www.ridfibromyalgia.com/how.html .

Your Body Does Not Want You To Lose Weight!

Your Body Does Not Want You To Lose Weight!
If you've been working on weight loss, this news won't come
as a surprise.

Your body works to create a natural balance between intake
and output. You may experience initial weight loss, but
then hit the dreaded "weight loss plateau" and notice your
progress has slowed to a complete stop, even if you are
consistently exercising and reducing your calorie intake.

Here are 5 common reasons you hit weight loss plateaus and
solution for each.

Problem 1: One problem could be you are reducing your
calorie intake too much. To burn calories, it takes
calories. When your calorie intake decreases, your body
lowers your metabolism. Your body actually begins to
require less calories to function. Reducing your calorie
intake by 500 or more can cause an increase in hunger, and
have your body holding tightly to your stored fat. Talk
about frustrating!

Solution 1: You can push through this plateau by keeping
your calorie intake to just under your maintenance level
which will keep your energy level and metabolism at higher
levels.

Problem 2: You may also be suffering from a loss of lean
body mass. Your muscles burn fat, and if you lose muscle
through weight loss, you are burning fewer calories. It's
estimated that lean body mass uses five times as many
calories as fat mass, so if you've lost lean body mass,
your metabolism slows down, and with it, your weight loss.

Solution 2: To prevent this you want to be sure you keep
your body nourished through a healthy diet that includes
vitamin supplements if necessary, and by exercising
regularly.

Problem 3: Your plateau may be caused because of your
weight loss success. Sounds crazy, right? You wanted to
lose weight. But don't forget that when you weigh less,
your body requires less calories because it takes less
energy to move your body.

Solution 3: Include a weight training program to increase
your lean body mass which will compensate for the calorie
reduction.

Problem 4: Your weight loss program and exercise plan has
caused your body to make changes so it can better adjust to
it's new routine. Initially your muscles are rebuilding and
using lots of calories. However, your body will eventually
stop adapting and will burn less calories.

Solution 4: You can counter this by keeping your exercise
routine from getting stale. Maintain your body's adaptation
phase by varying the intensity, frequency, duration and the
types of exercise that make up your fitness program.

Problem 5: Boredom can also sabotage your weight loss plan.
If you are bored with your diet, so is your body!

Solution 5: Use your weight loss plan as a reason to try
new foods and new recipes. Vary your exercise routine,
perhaps changing the environment from time to time. If you
regularly visit the gym, try a hike or a jog outside
instead. Try to remember that plateaus are just temporary
and don't have to become roadblocks. Remain positive,
focused, and motivated.

Keep moving... You can push through the plateaus and keep
on the road to better health!

----------------------------------------------------
Debbie helps women wanting to lose weight quickly through
her blog on natural weight loss and weight loss
supplements...http://weonadiet.com .

Effective Tips On How To Lower High Blood Pressure

Effective Tips On How To Lower High Blood Pressure
If you are looking for ways of how to lower high blood
pressure perhaps we should first talk about what causes
high blood pressure in the first place. Well the truth is
that there are many different causes ranging from, poor
diet, lack of exercise, stress and hypertension. High blood
pressure that is left untreated can lead to other more
serious conditions, including stroke and heart attack.
Having some knowledge of what causes high blood pressure
will help you to avoid the risks.

Changing your diet and watching what you eat and drink will
greatly help reduce high blood pressure. One of the major
causes of high blood pressure is cholesterol. People with
high levels of cholesterol are almost certain to have
higher blood pressure when compared to someone with a
healthy diet. Cholesterol causes fatty deposits to coat the
artery walls. Over time these fats form into a hard plaque
that reduces the size of arteries and blood vessels making
them smaller and smaller. Your body still needs to pump the
same amount of blood through these blood vessels, and this
is what causes high blood pressure.

Another great way of how to lower high blood pressure is to
reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. We all like our
sweets and desserts but here again simply by lowering your
sugar intake can really help reduce high blood pressure.
Eating high amounts of sugar or sugary foods causes your
blood to thicken due to the glucose. If your blood is
thicker than it normally should be it is again harder to
circulate and so causes high blood pressure.

Another good way to help reduce high blood pressure is to
cut down on other things that have been shown to be causes
of high blood pressure. These include nicotine which is in
cigarettes and other tobacco products. Excessive alcohol
consumption has also been proved to increase the risk, so
by lowering your alcohol intake it will also help reduce
high blood pressure, as will cutting down on the amount of
caffeine in your diet.

Exercise has also been shown to greatly help reduce high
blood pressure, but always consult your Doctor or a medical
professional before taking up any strenuous exercise
programme, as the wrong type of exercise could make your
symptoms worse. Weight lifting is something that should be
avoided because this can be very stressful on the heart.
Highly intensive cardiovascular workouts are also not good
for people with high blood pressure as this type of workout
greatly raises your blood pressure.

Moderate exercise is the best way, and over a period of
time you will lower your cholesterol, your weight and
therefore your blood pressure. Things like Yoga and slow
movement exercises are especially good to help reduce high
blood pressure as they are very heart friendly. Always
practice warming up and cooling down exercises before, and
after your main exercise as this slowly raises and lowers
your blood pressure rather than causing dangerous spikes.

By using these simple tips on diet and exercise you will be
well on your way to achieving a more normal range blood
pressure level and also help reduce high blood pressure in
the future.

----------------------------------------------------
Discover expert tips on how to lower high blood pressure
naturally here:
http://www.buytryreview.com/recommends/lowerbloodpressure

How to Dine Out and Still Lose Fat

How to Dine Out and Still Lose Fat
Have you ever been sitting in a restaurant and wondered how
many calories or grams of fat were in the meal you've got
in front of you?

No? OK, so you're not as weird about that as me, but I
wonder about it all the time, and after reading this maybe
you should be too.

Some have the information available upon request, but most
don't make it available.

Well, my aunt sent me an email that had the worst
restaurant meals and their caloric content and nutritional
breakdown.

Here's just a few examples.

McDonald's 5 piece Chicken Selects with ranch sauce has
over 800 calories with 55g of fat. 55 Grams of fat!
That's insane. Especially when you consider that they
advertised them under the guise of healthy food because
they were supposed to be chicken breast, but even chicken
breast isn't healthy when it's doused in batter and deep
fried.

My favorite, though was the smoothie from Jamba Juice.
When you hear smoothie you probably think it's healthy,
right? That's how they're marketed after all. But this
smoothie from Jamba Juice had 900 calories, with 160g of
sugar! That's unbelievable!

By the way, those two I just gave you were the "best of the
worst". There were plenty with upwards of 1500 and 2000
calories. That's how many calories many people should be
consuming in an entire day if they want to lose fat and
these entrees (or some appetizers) have them in one shot.

Hearing numbers like that it should be no surprise to
anyone that we have an obesity epidemic in this country.
We simply eat too much, or don't pay any attention to
what's going in our mouths, and don't notice until it's
wound up as gooey fat sitting on our gut, butt or thighs.

You should be wary of any meal when dining out. I'm not
saying that you shouldn't go out to eat. Quite the
contrary. I think it's necessary that we get out of the
house and frequent restaurants. I'd go crazy and get cabin
fever if I didn't get out of the house and eat at
restaurants. What I am saying is that you need to
understand that many meals and drinks are not prepared with
the idea that they're going to keep your waist line in
check.

They are made to taste as good and but as cheaply as
possible because restaurants need to make money, after all.
So in order to make many foods taste better, they are
fried, sautéed, or otherwise prepared to increase the fat,
because fat makes food taste better, or are smothered in
sugar and fat loaded creams and sauces.

So here are a couple tips to watch out for when dining out.

First, avoid the appetizer. Appetizers are usually loaded
with fat, and this includes the veggie dishes because they
come with some sort of dipping sauce.

Next, avoid anything fried, sautéed or cooked in some sort
of sauce. It may sound healthy because it's salmon or
chicken or vegetarian, but if it's fried, sautéed or cooked
in sauce, it's high in fat and loaded with calories.

Last, if you've decided that you're going to eat poorly
when you're eating in a restaurant, at least get a half
order. The proportions on full orders are so out of whack
they could feed an entire village in some starving country.
So do yourself a favor and just ask for a half order, or
split it with whomever you're dining.

Another easy thing to do is to take a drink of water
between every bite. Water will fill you up a little
faster, which means you won't be able to eat as much, which
means you won't store as much fat.

I hope I've enlightened you a little bit, and will begin to
eat a little more consciously when you're out and about.

----------------------------------------------------
Ed Scow's fast, time efficient fat loss workouts have
helped busy men and women lose fat faster than they ever
could have imagined. Ed's workouts can be done in the
comfort of your own home with limited equipment in as
little as 15-20 minutes! To learn more go to
http://www.fatlosstogo.com/

Cosmetic Tooth Whitening in Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic Tooth Whitening in Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic teeth whitening is one of the most sought after
beauty treatments of the face. White teeth are a great
asset not only to a pleasing smile but a more youthful face
as well.

Until recently, tooth whitening has only been primarily
available at a dentist's office or through over-the-counter
dental strips or whitening pens. Dental office whitening
methods have been associated with rapid increases in tooth
whitening but with substantial tooth and gum sensitivity or
take-home custom trays which are both messy and cumbersome
to use. Over 'the-counter whitening strips, while
effective, takes weeks to see any visible results and must
be used for a long time to see substantial improvement in
tooth color.

A revolutionary approach to tooth whitening is a system
that in one hour can increase the color of your teeth from
3 to 8 shades....and is not associated with teeth or gum
sensitivity.! Using a special blend of hydrogen peroxide
and silicone dioxide with a blue light accelerator, the
system oxidizes pigments of your front upper and lower
teeth restoring them to a more beautiful whiter color. All
without heat, mouth sensitivity, or UV light exposure.This
whitening approach is particularly effective for teeth
stained by smoking or substances like coffee or tea. Teeth
with tetracycline or other antibiotic stains, teeth
speckled with fluoride, or teeth with hereditary
discoloration will also show good improvement. Teeth with
existing cavities or cracks should not undergo whitening.
Also, teeth with existing crowns (caps) or veneers will not
whiten as this tooth whitening process is only effective on
natural, live teeth.

As both a physician and dentist, I have been reluctant to
bring tooth whitening into my plastic surgery and spa
practice. I was always concerned about whether the
aestheticians could safely and comfortably provide this
oral treatment to patients, an area in which they have no
previous experience or training. In addition, I was
concerned about teeth and gum sensitivities that typically
occur with rapid teeth whitening systems. However, the
simplicity and safety of cold light acceleration and its
low risk of tooth or gum sensitivity make this new
variation of in-office hydrogen peroxide trteatment very
appealing. It is a perfect complement to the many aesthetic
office applications which we currently do. It can also be
easily combined with other aesthetic treatments whether it
be microdermabrasion, Botox, injectable fillers, pulsed
light therapies, or laser skin treatments. It is easy to
see the dual benefit, for example, of lip injections for
size increase and undelying tooth whitening. It can
literally be combined with just about any aesthetic or spa
treatment. It also helps brings closer the concept of a
'one-stop' beauty service location.

----------------------------------------------------
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 .

Brahmi to avoid Mood Fluctuation and Benefits

Brahmi to avoid Mood Fluctuation and Benefits
Brahmi is an herb that is known to man kind as a brain
enhancer. It is also an herb that has been used as a brain
modulator.

Brahmi is used to revitalize the body and as a memory
support. It helps to overcome the negative effects of
stress. It is exclusive in its ability to revitalize mental
processes whilst reducing the effects of anxiety.

Mood fluctuation though is a disorder that is related to
the brain but still it is highly influenced by the
disturbances of the normal metabolic disorders in the body.
Due to metabolic disturbances, our body remains under
nourished and hence the proper requirement of the cell is
not fulfilled.

Mood fluctuation is a disorder pertains to the nervous
system. Our nervous system works on the release of the
chemical at the synaptic juncture to respond to the
particular situation in the best possible way. Disturbance
in this aspect leads to the very common problem of todays
era the mood fluctuation, though a help of psychiatrist is
essential in treating this problem but this problem can be
averted by proper intake of diet that is enriched with the
proper vitamins and minerals essential for our body to
perform daily functioning in the appropriate way.

What causes mood fluctuations?

Below are the commonly encountered reasons that are
responsible for causing mood fluctuations

1. Disturbed family relations

2. Fluctuation in the life style

3. Hormonal imbalances in the body.

4. Uses of narcotic materials

5. Consuming alcohol

What are the signs and symptoms of mood fluctuations? Some
of the commonly seen signs and symptoms of mood fluctuation
are mentioned below.

1. Uneven feeding habits

2. Loss of weight

3. Disturbed sleep

4. Lack of enthusiasm in work

5. Feeling of weakness and fatigue in the body

6. Inferiority complex

7. Lack of communications with people

8. Hopelessness

How Brahmi can help in averting this condition?

Brahmi is an herb that has been a powerful agent that has a
property by which it can avert the common ill conditions
the brain. Brahmi is the herb that is known to man kind
since ages. It has been a herb that is a herb of choice in
treating the abnormalities and malfunctioning of the brain
and its performance.

Since ancient times Brahmi is regarded as the powerful
brain tonic that has the capability in increasing the
memory and brain functioning. It also has the Adaptogenic
powers that make it an herb helpful in preventing aging.

Brahmi is also very helpful in treating a disorder commonly
known as mood fluctuation. It helps in regularizing the
release of chemicals at the synaptic juncture therefore
avoiding the situation of mood fluctuation

----------------------------------------------------
For more information read about Brahmi at
http://www.herbalcureindia.com . Also read about Colon
Cleanser

Caffeine and Migraines

Caffeine and Migraines
Taking in too much caffeine has been found to cause
migraines.

On the other hand taking in just enough caffeine has been
found to successfully prevent migraines. What's the deal?

Caffeine withdrawal is the primary cause of
caffeine-related migraines.

Therefore, using caffeine as a preventative method in
migraine relief can be done in two ways. The first is the
easiest, and paradoxically also the most difficult. Simply
limit your ingestion of caffeine to zero. No caffeine, no
caffeine withdrawal. Get it?

The second method involves a little work, but it does work.
All that is required is to take in enough caffeine over
intervals that occur close enough together to ensure that
you don't go into withdrawal. Both methods have their
advantages and their disadvantages, both require certain
sacrifices, but more importantly both work to keep caffeine
withdrawal at bay which keeps migraines at bay.

You would think that complete abstinence from caffeine
would thoroughly rid yourself of a caffeine migraine
headache. And yet this is not always the case. In theory,
it works just fine, but as a migraine relief program, it
suffers the same fate as sexual abstinence: Not everybody
is capable of sticking with the program.

Another problem is that the all too easy intake of caffeine
without realizing you are doing it. Complete and total
caffeine abstinence requires educating yourself on all
available sources of caffeine. It's not nearly enough just
to give up coffee and Mountain Dew. In order to
successfully avoid caffeine you have to be aware of all the
sources of caffeine. If you are going to take the route of
giving up caffeine altogether, for instance, you'll have to
be prepared to give up or use alternative non-caffeinated
versions of: tea, chocolate, liqueur, pudding, pain-relief
medications, energy drinks, diet pills, stay-awake pills.

So perhaps, the route of limiting caffeine intake appeals
to you. The advantage here is that you don't have to print
out a twenty-page list of all the products in the world
that contains caffeine. You just merely need to exert
control over when you take in caffeine and how much you
ingest. Once you establish that control, however, you can
practically kiss your migraine goodbye.

This method involves the process of making sure you receive
doses of caffeine. Caffeine restriction works best if you
set out a pattern that you can intake the caffeine at
regular intervals. Coffee and tea rely on caffeine infusion
methods and therefore aren't the best method of ingestion
in this particular method. Because of the diffusion, your
caffeine amount varies significantly from cup to cup.
Ideally, you should purchase either caffeine tablets or
soda. Using these gives you much more precision over
controlling the amount of caffeine you are actually taking
in.

You can find caffeine tablets that contain 100 mg or 200 mg
per dose. Save yourself a little money by purchasing
generic rather than brand name tablets. As for soda, the
amount of caffeine varies somewhat with Mountain Dew on the
high end, though if you want to take the trouble to search
them out you can also find higher-dosage soft drinks
specifically designed for your tastes. For instance, Jolt
Cola!

The following caffeine amounts are found in 12oz servings
of these soft drinks:

1. Mountain Dew: 55 mg of caffeine
2. Coca-Cola: 34 mg of caffeine
3. Diet Coke: 45 mg of caffeine
4. Pepsi Cola: 38 mg of caffeine

Once you have decided how you are going to go about
ingesting the caffeine, the next thing to do is make sure
you keep a detailed journal of your caffeine intake. Keep
an accurate record of the date and time you take the
caffeine, the amount of the dose, how you ingested the dose
(tablet, soft drink,medication, etc.), the time of dose and
the amount of dose, etc. Also note any headaches you get
and be sure to include such information as date, duration
of headache, severity, etc. If you don't see a change
immediately, try altering it a little by either changing
the times you ingest the caffeine or the amount. And make
sure you keep to the regimen once you've found one that
words.

----------------------------------------------------
Steven Godlewski is a self-made millionaire and is
currently working with the staff at PillFreeVitamins.com He
has an extensive background in nutrition as well as other
health related fields. For more health-related articles or
2 FREE bottles of Liquid Vitamins see their website at:
http://www.pillfreevitamins.com SEE Video at:
http://www.emii-dcf.org