Copyright 2006 Brad Howard
Now, more than ever, becoming fit for life should be your mantra. Obesity is becoming more and more a problem. According to the F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America (2005) report, about 119 million Americans, or 64.5% of adult Americans are either overweight or obese. Consequently, a rise in obesity-related diseases such as type II diabetes, breast and colon cancer, gall bladder surgery and cardiovascular diseases has been seen. So do you really want to be come an obesity statistic or would you rather take that step now to be fit for life?
Fit for Life - It Starts with Small Steps
The simple truth is this - you are overweight because you consume more food /energy than you burn off. However, instead of thinking of how difficult it will be to lose ALL those pounds, start with small, realistic steps. You lose the first pound and the rest will follow.
• Do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, it will always be better than NOTHING. It would be great if you can find a fitness buddy but if not, fine; don't be afraid to go on your own. After all, it is your body that will stand to benefit anyway.
• If you started walking and started seeing the first pounds melt away, change your routine. Boredom has killed many a fitness enthusiast so although you may be elated at the first pounds lost, doing the same thing over and over again will kill your enthusiasm soon enough.
• Challenge yourself a little bit - for 3 days a week at 30 minutes a day, do some weight training exercises. Start light; just use a set of dumbbells (even filled up water bottles will do!)
• Now you are ready to cross-train! Mix and match your fitness routine. Walk, run, jog, skip, whatever keeps you going.
Of course, all this activity is for nothing if you come home panting and then start grabbing a bag of chips. Remember, being fit for life is also a lifetime commitment to opting to eat healthy food!
• Do not deprive yourself of anything. It is human nature folks. If you tell yourself you can never have chocolate cake again... yes, you'll end up wanting chocolate cake... NOW.
• Start taking a look at what you put on your food or what you are eating with it. Sure cauliflower and broccoli are healthy but you are dipping them in cheese sauce, you are just sabotaging your own diet. Start going back to basics. Think of it this way - nude food is good!
• You know what? You really are, what you eat. If you are too busy to cook and grab a bag of chips and chug it down with cola, don't ask other people why you feel 'heavy' and 'down'.
• Drink people, drink! It is said that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Of course, don't gulp down soft drinks go for flavored water instead if 8 to 10 glasses of 'plain' water is too much for you.
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Have you ever wondered what "The Secret" to weight loss is? Let me assure you, it's not what you think. Brad Howard knows, and he's willing to tell you...for a price. Of course, it's not what you think here either. There's really only one way to find out...
http://www.mindoverbodymatter.com
Helpful Treatment for Dry Textured Hair from the Professionals
Copyright 2006 David Maillie
Dry textured hair can be very frizzy and a hair dressers nightmare. It can be so curly and thick that it is hard to manage and shape. There are numerous products we see on TV that promise to treat dry, textured hair from steamers to automatic curlers. What the TV ads don't tell you is that most of these items don't work or take many hours or days of treatment to be effective. In this article we will discuss tips of what trained hair care specialists do for treating dry textured hair.
First you must properly clean your hair. When we say properly clean that doesn't mean to wash your hair regularly. You must remove all the products you use to style your hair. People with dry, textured hair tend to be heavy users of hair sprays, gels, etc... These products can create build up and will block moisturizers from having maximum effect. This is why a hairdresser will sometimes repeat washing and rinsing a persons hair 2 or 3 times before applying conditioner. Also, if you have dandruff, use shampoos that will actually treat the source of the dandruff. Many cheaper shampoos will just remove the dandruff in your hair, but will not treat your dry scalp. This will just exacerbate the problem when you try to treat and style your hair.
Once the hair is thoroughly cleaned, apply a quality moisturizer. Cheap moisturizers are just that (you get what you pay for). Some may even have alcohol and other ingredients which can be detrimental to your hair and cause it to dry out even more.Natural moisturizers (organic is best) based on plants and oils tend to have the best effect. If you want to save some money BJ's stores has their own version of Paul Mitchell's haircare and it works great. To properly apply moisturizer, lift your hair and apply it to the base or roots of your hair first and then apply it to the full length of your hair. This will ensure proper application to both your hair and scalp. How long you leave it in and how often you should apply it is dependent upon how dry or tightly textured your hair is. A good rule of thumb for dry textured hair is 2-3 times per week for maintenance and 4-5 times for the first week..
Hair treatments like oil therapy and such can also be helpful with dry textured hair. In some cases, where the hair is also very thick then a thinning may be necessary. I would discuss this with your hair care professional first. Some other ideas are stay away from franchised hair cutting places (notice I didn't say salon). Last thing you need is a bad style or cut from someone schooled in how to give you a 5 minute haircut.
A specialist will take into account your hair color, texture, facial features, desires, and fashion trends and your body to see what best suits you. They look at the whole picture and see your hair as frosting on a cake. As Jonathon says on the hugely popular show Blowout, "Your hair can make or break you. I want all my clients to feel and look like a superstar when I am done with their hair." This is so true – a great haircut and style will make you shine. And you can also ask your specialist for advice on your hair, products they recommend for treating dry textured hair, even fashion tips.
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David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. For more information on TCA peels for in home use and great anti-aging products and ideas please visit http://www.bestskinpeel.com
I Have Binge Eating Disorder... Now What?
Are you sick and tired of wondering if your eating habits are normal? What about pondering over and over again why you feel like you aren't fully capable of having the potential to take control of your life? Are you the type of person that finds comfort in food? Does food numb your feelings and make you forget about life for a moment? Do you eat when you are not even hungry? Do you stuff yourself full until you feel sick?
If so, you may have Binge Eating Disorder. Although, you probably feel like you are the only one crazy enough to find solace while eating – You are not. In fact, there are about 25 million others who are just like you. Nice to know, isn't it?
Now, what is the next step?
There are many different routes that you can take for getting help. If you feel like you need to talk to someone, but would prefer a more one-on-one atmosphere, then talking to a medical professional regarding your binge eating habits just might be what you need. There are many therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors that can help you get to the root of your binges and help you move forward into recovery.
If you are the type of person that deals better talking to people with your similar problem, join an Overeater's Anonymous Group. These groups modify the 12-step program that you can find for Alcoholics Anonymous. If you don't feel comfortable speaking to many people at once, just sit back and listen. Chances are that you will hear someone's story and relate to it. Maybe you can meet up with that person after the meeting and talk to them about your problem. It's always easier to open up to someone that we know can relate to us – What better the circumstance than this one?
Another option is to talk to a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling and your eating habits. This will allow you to get everything off of your chest about your emotions and the reason that you turn to food.
Pick the route of help that you find most comfortable for you. If you do not feel comfortable, you will not be able to be completely open and honest about what is going on between you and food.
Even though you are part of the 25 million people that suffer from Binge Eating Disorder right now, remember, you do not always have to be part of that number. You can regain control of your life and of your eating habits and be well on the way to joining the recovery number from Binge Eating Disorder by getting help.
Kristin Gerstley is a former binge eater that now has a healthy relationship with food. She is also the owner of http://www.endbingeeating.com which is a site that helps people overcome Binge Eating Disorder. She publishes a free newsletter offering tips on how to stop binge eating and regain control of your life.
