Friday, December 30, 2011

How to quit your bad habits

As the calendar inches closer to New Year's Day, we're all setting goals: work out more, be kinder, quit smoking. If you've ever resolved to give something up, you know how hard it can be. In Unhooked: How to Quit Anything, authors Dr. Frederick Woolverton and Susan Shapiro teach that what's holding you back from successfully quitting lies far below the surface of your habits themselves. When you take stock of yourself and understand what's behind your addictions, you're on your way to breaking them for good.

Why are our bad habits often so hard to quit — even when we know they're bad for us?
Dr. Frederick Woolverton: Substances should be seen through the lens of what "helps" us, not what hurts us. While it is true that substances hurt us in all of the obvious ways, what is very often overlooked is how they "help." They help in ways that often no other outside source of comfort, soothing and calming exists. Most frequently, people who use substances suffer from big feelings that they cannot contain or reduce to a size that is bearable. They are unable to live in their own skin. This can be because of genetics or early experiences. An addict feels deeply out of balance, that he has no sense at all of inner equilibrium. The substance chosen to be "abused" is exactly what reduces the size of unbearable feelings. Substances are "self-medication" that make life bearable. Therefore, the good that derives from substances far outweighs the bad, even though from any outside perspective it seems exactly the opposite.

Susan Shapiro: In therapy with Dr. Woolverton I analyzed why I started smoking at age 13. I'd been unhappy, overweight, antsy and socially awkward. One summer I went away and started smoking. I lost 20 pounds, felt happier and cooler, looked better, discovered boys and dating and was able to focus more on writing poetry. It felt like a miracle. I fell in love with Kiss cigarettes -- they felt like a combination diet pill, anxiety soother, oral fixation satisfier, A.D.D medication, best friend and loyal confidante. Dr. Woolverton says, "addicts depend on substances, not people," and I realized for 27 years, cigarettes were always there for me, 40 times a day. It was my longest intimate relationship.   

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle By Tom Venuto

If anyone is looking for a new approach to losing weight that works, burn the fat, feed the muscle is for you. I say new approach because the product does truly use a new approach, standing apart from most of the other weight loss products out there.

For starters, its been on the market since 2002 and in the weight loss field, that is A LOT of time. That can only mean 2 things: it works and people like it.

Burn the fat feed the muscle by tom venuto is a product that is designed to help you personally lose weight.

The keyword here being "personally," and I say this because that is exactly what it does, helps you lose weight in a way that your body agrees with.

I like to think of it as like having your own little personal instructor or nutritionist in your back pocket.

The main problem with all the other diets out there right now and the sources people get them from is that they are general sources of information.

That person in the magazine telling you about diet xyz and how healthy it is and how it worked for them does not know your body type and therefore cannot properly instruct you on how to lose weight.

This is why lots of us who weren't blesses with magnificent genes (including me!) have a hard time losing weight, no matter what we try.

The problem is we have not started at the core and answered our primary weight loss question: What is my body type and what kind of diet setup will work best for ME?

Burn the fat feed the muscle gets you to find out that core question and allows you to take it from there.

The program also changes you're the way you think about life in general and speaks on topics like goal setting to set you up for sure success.

Which Will Be Your Facial Toner?

In the past years, our society has been witness to an increased concern about people's appearance and the way we present ourselves to the rest of people around us. As such, the importance of almost every beauty product out there has skyrocketed among both men and women alike. Among them, the one that has among the highest demand is no doubt the facial toner.

In fact its importance has become such, that dermatologists and other skin care specialists all around the world recommend these toners to anyone serious about carrying a daily skin care routine. People who have issues with excessive skin dryness and uneven skin complexion might find this product beneficial. It works as an additional beauty enhancer. However, that depends on the toner you are using. Several products contain alcohol-based ingredients that may dry up the skin. Beautiful skin is simple, once you start using products on your face that are right for your skin.One of the most important reasons why facial toners are necessary is their power to restore the skin's natural pH level. Our skin is commonly acidic in its nature, with a pH range of around six. However, the moment we use any traditional cleanser, that pH balance is modified by the alkaline properties of the cleanser, which in turn causes the skin to work extra in trying to restore its natural pH level. Contrary to what most people think, toners are not meant for tightening or "toning" the skin. This is a misconception that has been carried out along the years due to the tightening effect perceived immediately after applying a facial toner. Another sought-after benefit of facial toners is their ability to almost eliminate any light wrinkles and other fine lines from our faces. If on the other hand, you happen to have oily skin, a facial toner will help control the production of oil, which in turn is perfect to prevent acne and other similar skin conditions.

Toners are ideal vehicles for ingredients you might not use on your face every day, such as green tea extract, or apple cider vinegar. When these are blended with hydrosols like rose water and orange blossom water, the result can be a delightful experience - and a therapeutic one. Toning becomes something to look forward to, as you refresh your face with heavenly scents, and you see and feel your skin tighten and your pores reduce. Plus you can find toners that contain cucumber extract, calendula flowers, and other healing herbs that calm and heal the skin. The right toner can work wonders for your skin, and is a basic component of my "beautiful skin is simple" routine. Who would be your right one?

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Male Yeast Infections

Women are not the only ones who can get yeast Infections. Men can get it also with the main difference being that the symptoms of infection in a male are far less pronounced and it can go on unnoticed for a much longer period of time. The most common way that men develop yeast infection is through unprotected sex, however, they can also get it if they happen to have a compromised immune system because of complications from HIV or Diabetes.

The symptoms for a male yeast infection are as follows:

A Burning Sensation in the Urethra

A noticeable red rash

Unpleasant white discharge

Itching all around the genital area

Ways to Combat It

As always, prevention is always the best medicine and one of the surest ways to prevent a yeast infection is to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well as a diet that does not help produce yeast.  There are a lot of foods out there that can actually render any medications that you are talking useless and most doctors that treat male yeast infections generally recommend a diet change as part of the treatment process. Avoiding food that are filled with processed sugar while eating more raw fruits and vegetables in a good start and your doctor can recommend some other good diet changes along with the medication.

Friday, December 23, 2011

There Is More To Eating Disorders Than Meets The Eye

Primarily women suffer from many different eating disorders. These can include anorexia, compulsive eating, binge eating, fad dieting, bulimia and more. All of these eating disorders are proliferated by wide variety of myths associated with them. Often, people think that eating disorders are associated only with those who look emaciated, that it is a mental illness or is defined as a choice. However, these are solely myths, because there is more to eating disorders than meets the eye. Most eating disorders are psychological issues, and the societal pressure to be extremely thin has defined beauty for many women. Eating disorders are often determined by social norms, personality traits, personal concerns and genetics. People needing eating disorder treatments often suffer intensely, and often use the manipulation and control of food and their weight as a tool for coping with life's stressors.

Eating disorders are one of the most treatment resistant and is the deadliest condition known in the field of psychiatry. However, there are many eating disorder treatments available that offer a comprehensive nutritional, medical and psychiatric assessment in order to meet every need that you may have. Regardless of your eating disorder, the level of care you receive is second to none, and is provided to you in a plethora of experiential and traditional treatments. These therapies can include art, acupuncture, movement, psychodrama and meditation. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program, in which both traditional Western psychotherapy and Eastern philosophies are combined together to facilitate the most effective and fast resolution to your eating disorders. As with any eating disorder treatment, nutrition therapy is paramount.

A licensed and registered dietitian who has extensive experience in Eating Disorder Treatment heads the nutrition therapy component of any eating disorder treatment. It is a non-diet approach, and you will learn how to redevelop a healthy relationship with food. Not only will you receive nutritional therapy, but also a personalized nutritional plan that will assist you in developing healthy eating behaviors in a highly supportive environment. In addition to nutritional therapies, it is also paramount for you to have a clear and active mind that will help you achieve the sense of wellness that you need and deserve. Once you have received clearance from medical staff, you will begin working with an on-site trainer, who will assist you in not only developing healthy relationship with exercise and food, but will assist you in reconnecting with your body. All of this takes place in the most confidential, safe, calm and supportive environment possible.

If you or someone you know is in need of an eating disorder treatment, getting the help that you need is often painful and asking for help is extremely difficult. However, the best eating disorder treatments available understand this, and know that you may be feeling afraid and extremely vulnerable. It is important for you to understand, however, that this is your time to be heard, understood and take your life back from the roller coaster that you have been riding called an eating disorder.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

How to keep in shape during the winter season

So you spent the entire summer under the AC, with a cold drink in your hand. Winter's here and now you notice that you've got big love handles escaping the sides of your pants! So what do you do to get fit again? Here's our five-point program, whether you're in the chilly foggy North or a balmy pleasant South.

1.    Stretch and stretch some more – A lot of guys who want to get fit quick head straight for the dumbbells. "Bad idea," says Krishna Kumar, fitness specialist and personal instructor based in Delhi. "Always start your workout sessions with lots of stretches. In fact, you could go the army way and concentrate more on stretches than heavy weight workouts," says Krishna.

Apart from warming up your muscles, stretches can also help with muscular strength. Do a hamstring stretch where you stand and try to touch your toes. You can flex your knees a bit but don't over-exert yourself while touching your toes.

Also try the upper back stretch by holding your hands over your head. Rotate your shoulders forward to really get a good stretch for your upper back. Hold the stretch for a slow count to ten and feel your body thank you.

2.    Watch what you are eating – Yes, you've heard it lots of times, but it still holds true - you are what you eat. Quit starchy, oily chips and all that street food you've been gorging on. While you're at it, cut down on carbs after 7 p.m. Replace your usual source of carbohydrates with good carbs like the kind you find in potatoes and oatmeal. "Eat egg whites and fish for proteins or pulses if you are vegetarian. Go for apples, grapefruit and berries for fibre. And most importantly, have 4 to 6 small meals a day. That will keep your metabolism stoked all day," advises nutritionist Dr. Vaibhav Singh. And remember to have proteins in all these meals. Carbohydrates should be reserved only for before and after a workout. Supplement your diet with probiotics to keep your stomach healthy. One way to do this is to include regular doses of yoghurt in your diet. Feel those muscles under the layer of fat already?

White Glistening Teeth is Joy for Everyone, Go Get It

Ever wondered how the celebrities you see on TV got their set of white teeth; glistening with a brilliancy that is too real to believe. Believe me it is indeed possible for everyone to have them and flash it along with their smile. It adds to one's charisma, and gives them the confidence they have longed for.

Most of us have contempt for our teeth, and we tend to take them for granted. We treat them so badly; as if they are lifeless, but one fine day we discover that our teeth are no longer what it used to be; white, healthy and strong. Teeth are protected by a layer of cement, often also called enamel that is non-regenerative as in some animals. For some individuals the coating is thick enough to last even past seventy years and more perhaps, but if not properly cared for then you should expect it to decay much earlier; even as early as during the teen age.

If you are still in your prime of age, then you can think in terms of improving upon what you already have, but for others some kind of treatment or special attention is inevitable. You may even have to consult a dentist for that purpose.

The chief reason for stained teeth is the coloration that are inherent to in food, and more so in the tobacco that go into the making of cigarettes and the artificial colors used for making savories and cakes. But non-smokers may be wondering why they too have stained teeth. Well for them tea, coffee and cocoa can possibly be making the mischief, and they may be even unaware of that. But, can one really avoid, tea, coffee and the cocoa in the chocolates you relish? Will you have to give up all the pleasant things for the sake of a set of white teeth? You really don't have to really. Only be a little prudent about the way you treat them; let it be little gentler, and do it with care. Interesting beauty and health tips are being shown on many cable TV providers these days and also satellite TV provider Dish Network. You can follow them and make yourself beautiful and charismatic.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Best Way To Build Muscle - Build Muscle The Right Way Using Proven Methods

When it comes to building muscle it seems like there are a thousand conflicting ideas doesn't it. I personally go for the broscience approach and that is what ill be using today; what I've learned over the years that I've been lifting.

For those of you who don't know what bro science is, it's the name given to practical, TESTED methods that are passed on from guys who have built real muscle.

You wouldn't want to be taking advice from some 150-pound guy dressed in a lab coat reading out of some textbook, would you? Lets start.

Diet (a typical bodybuilders diet)

When if comes to building muscle, the best way to build muscle is to setup a ratio of Protein (40%), Carbs (40%) and HEALTHY Fats (20%). Trust me, this ratio is crucial. If you eat too many carbs without any protein, your body will go into a catabolic state and start storing any carbs that weren't used as fat.

Carbs are needed for energy, not only energy for you to workout, but also energy for protein to be absorbed properly, so on the other hand if you eat too much protein and not too many carbs, you simply wont have enough energy to turn that protein into muscle, and if you eat too many fats, you know what happens (you get fat!).

Another thing you have to make sure you do is have to do is have more smaller meals everyday. Six meals spread two hours apart are best.

This will keep your metabolism stable, which is turn helps you burn, a lot of fat longer. It will also keep your insulin levels low which would create the best environment to lose weight.

This is that meal plan that has worked for me:

For my 1st meal, I have a cup of rolled oats with water.Sometimes I add my protein powder to the oats, then add water and eat it like that or sometime I have the oats with water and then drink the protein powder separately after mixing it in a glass of water. The oats will give you all of the complex carbs you need and from the protein powder you get your needed protein.

Second meal I have another cup of rolled oats with a cup of protein powder. It might seem boring, but I'm concerned about building muscle and nothing else.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Top Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimers

 Most people may think the symptoms are part of the normal aging process; nothing could be further from the truth.  When you notice any of the symptoms noted below it is important to see a doctor as they may be due to other conditions such as depression, med/drug interactions or an infection.

"More than 35 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, according to the most in-depth attempt yet to assess the brain-destroying illness. The report, released in September 2009 by Alzheimer's disease International, says the updated count is about 10 per cent higher than predicted just a few years ago, because earlier research underestimated Alzheimer's growing impact in developing countries. Barring a medical breakthrough, dementia will nearly double every 20 years.

By 2050, it will affect 115.4 million people, the report suggests. Alzheimer is the most common form of dementia and affects one in 20 Canadians over 65 — about 290,000 people. The number rises to one in four in those over 85.  Close to 75 per cent of Canadians with Alzheimer's are women. According to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, by 2050 the number of cases around the world will quadruple to around 106 million people. "CBC Source"

To help you know what warning signs to look for, the Alzheimer Society has developed the following list:

Monday, December 19, 2011

An Upcoming iPhone App - EGrader for Individuals in Fitness Field

SmartPhone Software Inc., an iPhone Application developer company has designed a fitness application for the army personnel to use worldwide. Let's have a look into this app, what are the features, purpose and benefits of this app.

This App for iPhone users electronically grades the participants in the various tests they undergo. App provides administrative instructions to the participants or the individuals for the various tests i.e. how to take the test, when to take the test, general rules to take the test, information about the time and the other participants who have taken the test.

eGrader iPhone app have four modules in it, They are as follows

1. eGrader Module

2. Calculator Module

3. Timer Module

4. Import-Export Module

The eGrader Module of this app or the tool will assist the individual while he undergo various tests, which are APFT test (Army Physical Fitness Test), HT/WT test and Body mass% test. This module will collect the information of the individual taking the test and create the list of the participants who are taking the test.