SOLID SOULMATE

Photos: Omotola re-signed as BO16 ambassador ahead of birthday

2016-02-04T13:48:00.000+01:00

Award winning actress Omotola has just been re-signed for one more year as Ambassador for BO16 hair range by Ghanian cosmetics giant Ghandour . Rocking her Natural hair, Omotola whose birthday comes up on the 7th of February was surprised by over 400 marketers of BO16 presenting her an early birthday cake and singing birthday songs. The outstanding actress and philanthropist was wearing a peach top and black trousers with impeccable makeup by Ghanian ace makeup artist sandra Don-Arthur. Also in attendance was her business manager , Michael Djaba and Alli Ghandour . Many of the women who travelled to Accra from different states said it was their happiest day Ever. See more pics after the cut...

Answers for the Four Big Questions About Patient Transportation

2016-01-04T09:42:00.003+01:00

Every day, thousands of patients and their families are faced with the challenge of getting to the hospital for routine care or a much-needed appointment. Since these visits are not considered emergencies, patients need to find an alternative to ambulances.
What Is Non-emergency Patient Transportation?
Also referred to as non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), patient transportation provides a means for people to visit the doctor's office, urgent care, hospital, or other medical facility for routine appointments. NEMT should not be considered as an alternative to an ambulance in the event of an emergency. Instead, it fills a gap for people who are unable to transport themselves to routine appointments.
Patient transportation is ideal for individuals who find it difficult to drive themselves to an appointment. This can include individuals who are limited in mobility or unable to drive due to medications, as well as those who do not have a license.
How Does It Compare to Ambulances?
As the name suggests, NEMT is not an emergency service. However, it shares many similarities with ambulances. Most companies employ drivers who are experienced EMTs capable of providing CPR and first aid or even operating an AED. They are also often trained in defensive driving techniques and meticulously monitored on the road in order to ensure the constant safety of their passengers.
Although an ambulance is not necessary for most non-emergency medical transportation, the vehicles used for this service are heads-and-shoulders above the average cab. Most NEMT shuttles are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs or stretchers.
When (and Where) Is It Available?
This depends on the service provider. Some services only provide shuttles for medical appointments, while other providers have much more comprehensive plans. Some providers even offer to arrange travel to special events like weddings or graduations for those who have trouble traveling on their own. Regardless of the destination, what sets NEMT apart from other services is a dedication to the safety, comfort, and special needs of their passengers.
Do I Have to Pay Out of Pocket?
Many insurance companies, as well as federal and state social insurance programs, will cover the cost of patient transportation for qualified members of their program. To qualify, an individual usually needs to demonstrate two things: first, they must have a medical need for which they need to be driven to a treatment center. Second, they need to demonstrate that they are incapable of transporting themselves.
Individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria are often deemed incapable of traveling on their own:
- unable to get up from bed without assistance from someone else
- unable to walk on their own
- unable to use a chair or wheelchair
To find out if your insurer will provide compensation, contact them and ask how to determine if your appointment is a medical necessity. Next, talk to them about options for transportation to and from the treatment facility.

The Faith, Hope and Love of Christmas

2015-12-24T20:30:00.000+01:00

Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be for all people, for today in the city of David there has been born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10HCSB).

And now abide faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

The good news (the gospel) announced to the shepherds on the first Christmas has been celebrated throughout the centuries. Mary was chosen by God to bring the Son of God to the world. An angel told Joseph that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised His disciples that although He was leaving, He would still be with them because His Father would send them the Holy Spirit to help them, teach them and help them remember the things He had said. The Holy Spirit brought gifts with Him to enable Christ's disciples to carry on His work. There would be specific, individual gifts but the abiding gifts of faith, hope and love would be given to all believers.

Faith is the revelation of the good news.

Through faith we see God for who He really is. His nature is revealed to us through faith. Faith is not blind. It allows us to see the miracles that God has wrought through His Son. As C.S. Lewis says, "The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares the way for this, or results from this."

When you believe in the miracle of the Incarnation and invite the Christ who chose to be born in a manger to take residence in the manger of your heart, you experience the greatest miracle of all - forgiveness of your sins, reconciliation with God and a place in His forever family.

In faith, the servants of God in the Old Testament looked forward to this miracle and the revelation of God's presence. Disciples in the New Testament and followers of Christ ever since that time have all come to God through abiding faith.

All we need to know about God we see in Jesus. Through faith in Him, we see the nature of God revealed.

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ (Colossians 2:9).

Hope is the fulfillment of the good news. We hope because of God and God does not disappoint.

God's word in the Old Testament prophesied of God's salvation through the coming Messiah. His word in the New Testament recorded that salvation obtained through the miraculous birth, sinless life, sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the men of old believed God would deliver what He promised, men today look back upon that accomplished fact in history. The Son of God gives all believers the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Like Abraham, our faith is in a God who fulfills His promises. Our hope is not a "hope so," but "I know He will." We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure (Hebrews 6:19). Peter calls our hope a living hope (1 Peter 1:3).

Love is the good news.

God does not need faith. Neither does He need hope. We do. He provides what we need so that we might see the love He has for us. We love Him only because He first loved us.

God is love. It was love that brought Jesus to earth. It was love that enabled Him to endure temptations and shame so that He could be our perfect substitute. It was love that led Him to the cross. It was love that resurrected Him from the dead.

He loved us and wants us to love others the same way - sacrificially (John 15:9-14).

The King of kings chose to be born in a stable because of His love for us. There is no greater love. Love is the gospel story.

The 3 Best Weight Training Options for Building Muscle Mass

2015-12-24T19:00:00.000+01:00

Do you think that lifting heavy barbells and dumbbells is the only way to build muscle mass? Then think again. In this article you will find 3 weight training options that are proven to build muscle mass.

Add these weight training options to your bodybuilding repertoire and maximise your muscle gains.

So heavy barbells and dumbbells are taking the fun out of your muscle building workouts. You have enough motivation but weights seem to be going nowhere. What is happening you think!

The solution might be simpler than you think.

No. It does not require any $200 per hour coach to figure it out. You need a change in your bodybuilding option.

Why change works in the bodybuilding world

In one word. Homeostasis.

Homeostasis, also called adaptation or your body's ability to adjust to any new stimulus is the biggest enemy of your muscle building gains.

When you constantly lift heavy barbells and dumbbells, the stress on the muscles, joints and nervous system compounds. Every week the stress adds and finally the body adapts.

It adapts not just to the workout routine, but to the kind of stress itself. At this point your body demands new stimulus, it wants new options to grow.

Your 3 Awesome Weight Training options to build muscle mass

The language of muscle is tension. It does not care how you provide it. Machines, dumbbells or barbells. All it perceives is tension.

With that being the constant factor there are 3 options you have to build muscle.

Each stresses the muscle-skeletal and nervous system differently and hence should be part of your muscle building toolbox.

Option One: Bodyweight Training

Before you reserve bodyweight training only to rehab, travel fitness or when you get back from layoff, let me share a secret.

Bodyweight training, also called calisthenics is becoming the next best thing in bodybuilding, flexibility training and sports.

The new body dynamics researched in calisthenics is showing us how to use it either individually or in conjunction with weight training to maximise muscle gains.

Since bodybuilders are excellent at doing push ups, pull ups and other bodyweight exercises, the best way to incorporate them is by doing single limb moves. Master one arm pull ups and single leg squats for 4-6 weeks and see how your barbell weights go up.

If you are serious bodybuilder, take time for bodyweight training. Your brain and muscles will thank the new stimulus and grow from it.

Option Two: Kettlebell Training

The latest craze for kettle bells has not gone unnoticed by intelligent bodybuilders. Although kettle bells do not provide the incremental poundage increase, they are VERY different in stimulating your nervous system and are more easy on the joints.

Mobility drills have been shown to carry over to heavy weight training easily. All this means more weights loaded and more muscle mass gained.

Option Three: Plyometric Training

Want to increase the recruitment of fast twitch muscle fibers which have highest potential for growth?

Add 2-3 week plyometric workouts to build a new muscle-brain connection that no other form of weight training can bring.

How to add newer weight training options

Heavy barbell and dumbbell training is the bread-and-butter of bodybuilding. But don't fall to the routine.

Intelligent bodybuilders should realise the value other options bring to the table and maximise your muscle gains by adding them.

The best way to add them is by creating a 3-4 week window every 4-6 months. During this time you train exclusively with the newer form of training. At the end of 3-4 weeks, get back to your heavy barbell training.

Conclusion: Business leaders know that the biggest marketing breakthroughs come from non-business world. Bodybuilders should realise the important of adding newer options to their muscle building workouts to keep them fresh, up to date and effective.

Calisthenics, kettle bell and plyometric training are excellent for accelerated muscle training for both beginner and advanced bodybuilders alike as they stimulate your brain and muscles in unique ways to maximise muscle growth.

Mateen Sidd is a Muscle and Strength Coach who is passionate about muscle building and helping skinny hardgainers gain muscle mass NATURALLY without dangerous drugs or useless supplements.

Some Essential Grooming Tips for Men

2015-12-24T16:00:00.000+01:00

Well! Grooming is equally important for both men and women. However, women take it very seriously and men are a little lazy about this. As you know that professional environment is just the same for both the sexes including the competition, the work pressure as well as the level of stress. There is one area where males still need to overpower the female dominance; is the art of dressing well. Although, men dress very well these days because of the awareness and fashion trends but, still lag behind in some key areas of fashion.

This article talks about the essential grooming tips that will help men to be a better person in the professional life. Among the huge list, there are some style and grooming tips that modern men have to follow to look handsome and stylish.

Clothes Selection: The first thing that people notice about your personality is the way you've dressed yourself. Where being clumsy is considered to be a lazy man; when you overdress yourself, people will laugh on your back and you'll be the fashion disaster of the company. Make sure you choose your clothes well. When you're in doubt about what to go for, keep it as simple as possible in order to keep a subtle look. This way you'll be more confident. Remember to keep it formal because casuals are meant for some other time.

Communication Skills: This is the next thing which people notice. If you're good looking but you are poor with interpersonal skills; you won't be even noticed. However, your looks and communication skills together, is what will please people and compel to come and talks to you. Communication skills also help you in your work profile rather than just providing a style statement. The soon the man masters in corporate communication, he can find himself settling soon. Make sure you practice in front of the mirror before you greet someone or introduce yourself. This helps build a positive impression.

Hair Style: If you're wearing a coat suit at work with your hair standing straight (spikes); you would not be considered as a professional person. Your hair style should complement your attire in full form. In addition to your hair style, washing your hair is also important as well as the length. Make sure you do not give any opportunity to others to point fingers. You can also give your hair style a makeover after intervals in order to change your looks.

Personal Grooming: Personal grooming counts your nails are clipped, you smell nice, daily shower, clean teeth and more. Start your day with a proper bath which includes all the basic cleaning. Wear a comfortable men's underwear that keeps you confident and comfortable the entire day. This can include any style from men's briefs to men's bikinis or men's thong underwear. Wear clean, ironed clothes and matching accessories (shoes, belt, tie and more).

Confidence: This is one of the most important aspects that are unseen yet people can see it in the way you do your work. With every passing day and the work pressure, it is very necessary for you to be confident in whatever you do. Dressing well from the most basic (men's underwear) to the top layered article (jacket or suit) are responsible in your confident attitude.

These are some essential grooming tips that will make an enterprising corporate man reach success in his life. With all his hard work and dedication towards his job, these aspects will help him be a better person among his colleagues and authority.

Cover Male is one of the sexiest men's underwear brand that believes in keeping everything stylish and comfortable down there. The popular label offers numerous styles like thongs, briefs, g-string and many more for the modern men.

Understanding Chiropractic Treatment

2015-12-24T14:00:00.000+01:00

A Chiropractor is a health expert who deals with matters related to the spine. By understanding X-rays and getting a detailed case history, they use spinal adjustment techniques in order to reduce any interference that is experienced with its functioning and thus aim to make you healthier. It is the belief of chiropractic treatment that a well-functioning spine and nervous system can help improve the overall functioning of your entire body.

Benefits of Visiting A Chiropractor

• Get More Flexible: Your range of motion and flexibility often improves after undergoing treatment regularly. Chiropractors are trained to give you exercises that will help you stretch your muscles and strengthen them. When the muscles get stronger, they become more flexible and also help you recover faster if you get injured.

• Improve Your Sports Performance: Most trained athletes have regular sessions to help them improve their performance. These exercises and spinal adjustments help your muscles get to their full potential so that you can get fit and improve your performance when playing sports.

• Recover Faster: This treatment helps to control and limit the inflammation that is present in the body. When this happens, recovery periods are shortened and your body will be able to heal faster.

• Reduce or Get Rid of Pain: This is the most sought after reason for chiropractic care. People who are suffering from pain due to a chronic disorder or an injury look for alternative treatments that will help reduce the pain or get rid of it. The exercises and adjustments help to strengthen muscles and release endorphins into the blood. Blood circulation also improves. Together, pain experienced in the body is reduced and many people heal faster.

• Release the Tension in your Muscles: When your muscles are tense, the circulation in your body gets impeded. This impeded circulation then causes muscles to contract and get tense, starting a vicious cycle. Have you ever felt a knot in your muscles? This is the result of their contraction. Through rehabilitative treatment and myofacial release, chiropractors can help to relieve this tension and make you feel better.

• Eliminate Scar Tissue: Tense muscles, if left untreated, develop scar tissue over time. This tissue is only about 60% as effective and flexible as the normal muscle. As you get older, you will start to get pain and not be able to function as well. Various methods are used by chiropractors in order to eliminate the scar tissue.

• Think More Clearly: The cognitive ability of a person is often improved after chiropractic care. Since your body is able to work at an optimum level, all the organs will function better.

• Improve Your Breathing and Sleeping: Common effects of this treatment are your breathing and sleeping patterns. Since the adjustment helps remove the tension in your muscles and helps you relax, you will be able to sleep better. Breathing is also improved as a result of this.

Four Steps To Optimal Health

2015-12-24T12:21:00.001+01:00

1. Decide - You must first decide that you have the ability to lead a life of improved health. As time goes on your understanding will expand and within one month you will go from desiring improved health to living for optimal health.

2. Detach - The next step is to detach from emotional burdens you've been harboring.

3. Detoxify - After the emotional/psychological component to wellness and health has been resolved all that remains is to rid your body and life of toxins. Since endothelial dysfunction is the foundation of 100% of all disease toxin is defined as anything which interferes with endothelial activity. In the detoxify step I explain all the actions you may choose to perform in order to guarantee yourself a life of optimal health.

4. Everyday - There are multiple activities to promote endothelial function however there are only two simple actions which allow the Joy spot to persist. Doing them over the course of 30 days effortlessly replaces your belief in disease, suffering and discomfort with a belief in your power to control every experience in your life.

Health Benefits:

A private session of this technique has proven to prevent, treat and/or reverse both emotional and physical disease. It has remedied ailments including overeating, anorexia, weight loss, bulimia, stress, social anxiety, performance anxiety, anger, depression, blockages in career, fear and all phobias. It reduces wrinkles and signs of aging making you feel more youthful, vibrant and full of energy. The Perfect Health M.A.P. is superior and unique because it physically improves the function of every organ in the body. Its power is its efficiency which makes it far better than other modalities of attaining emotional freedom. You will experience lasting improvement after just one session.

What is a toxin and why detoxify?

Considering that the endothelium is the root cause of nearly every ailment a toxin is anything that impairs or deplete endothelial function. The scientific research is conclusive. Detoxifying your life stops, reverses and eliminates 95-100% of all physical ailments resulting in perfect health and an optimal quality of life.

How to improve perfect works?

Optimal health is the result of the healthy endothelial function. Emotional distress is the primary cause of endothelial dysfunction throughout the entire body. Once stress has been eliminated you will learn the simple steps to detoxify physically and promote endothelial health in everyday life. This easy to follow process is 100% holistic and effective. It is the scientifically supported way to naturally eliminate the root cause of disease.

How to Connect With Others to Improve Your General Health and Wellbeing

2015-11-26T18:30:00.000+01:00

We hear and read a lot about how to improve our general health and wellbeing but mostly I find it's around diets and moderate or intensive activities. Whereas these may be important elements of any health and wellbeing programme, frustration may set in if you've reached a plateau in
your weight loss schedule or if you simply find life has fewer surprises for you.
Why not consider a different approach? In this article I focus on connecting with others to help improve general health and wellbeing. You only need to take one small step to see how you might benefit from connecting with others.
Connecting with others through learning. Enrolling on a learning course is traditional but it's still a wonderful opportunity to engage and wallow with others in a topic you love such as fashion, criminology or garden design. You may need to organise yourself and arrange transport, but it might also help you build confidence through chatting and engaging with others. Or you might like the idea of a learning holiday, to be whisked away on a cookery adventure in Tuscany, a wine making experience in the Loire valley or mastering photography in Spain.
Connecting with others through hobbies. Joining a hobby group or society, if you haven't done this for some time, may take a bit of courage but the benefits are worth it. Most groups allow prospective members to test the water for free first, so get your diary out and start planning. Local community centres, church or village halls are having a bit of a renaissance and are welcoming new groups. If you can't find a group near you, why not think about setting up your own? Most national hobby societies provide the help to do this. From sporty to crafty, traditional to trendy, there's a hobby out there for you. And if you like the idea of getting out and about on day trips, then check out your local freebie magazine for walking groups, theatre groups or 'friends of' groups.
Connecting with others through volunteering. First think carefully about how much time you can give to volunteering. It doesn't matter how many times a week or month or year you volunteer, just so long as you stick to it. Reliability is the key! If you are the outdoorsy type, then you might like to consider local landmarks such as canals and waterways, troughs and peaks, parks and woodlands and check out their volunteering opportunities. If you are the indoors type, you might like to consider advocacy, design or mystery shopper. It may help to carry out a bit of research first, so you become familiar with what's happening in your area. Why not check out national websites that co-ordinate volunteering activities or pop round to your local charity shop or organisation?
So whether it's through learning, hobbies or volunteering, connecting with others could help you improve your general health and wellbeing. You just need to take one small step!

Gary Mary

Type 2 Diabetes - Sometimes You Just Have To Stop Eating!

2015-11-26T17:30:00.001+01:00

Being overweight is the single biggest risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. However, losing ten pounds and keeping it off can significantly reduce your risk. No one knows the best way to lose weight or the best diet. It's very likely different approaches work for different people.

All the nutritional advice in the world is going to be futile if you can't avoid one simple rule when it comes time for you to lose weight. Weight loss requires you consume fewer calories than your body needs for energy purposes, so it's forced to rely on other means for energy.
1. Exercise can help you lose fat by increasing your caloric expenditure.
2. Eating healthier foods will increase satiety after your meals so you eat less than you otherwise would.
Sometimes though, the rule itself is very straightforward. You just have to stop eating. Going a lengthy period during your day without consuming any food whatsoever is not going to harm you. You're not going to faint or fall over because you're on an empty stomach, where supposedly you need to eat right at that instant. Your body is remarkably adaptable. When you have an empty stomach, it knows it must rely on other sources of energy, as food is not immediately available. There is still some fuel your body can use from the breakdown of your last meal, as insulin has ensured there is always some glycogen available for an instant supply of energy in the form of stored carbohydrates. However, if you're able to go just a little bit longer without a meal, your body will be forced to use its fat stores as well to fuel its metabolic processes.
What sounds like a consequence is evidently a blessing in disguise.
If you're overweight or a Type 2 diabetic, it pays to learn you don't have to be eating all the time. If anything, frequent eating is what brought about your condition in the first place. If you're always eating, your blood sugar is constantly on the rise. Combine blood sugar spikes with little physical activity and weight gain, and you have all the necessary ingredients for the development of Type 2 diabetes.
When you stop eating temporarily and intermittently throughout your day, you stabilize your blood sugar. You'll also be less likely to consume more calories if you are looking to lose weight. As you already know, you must have a caloric deficit to lose weight. Doing mini-fasts on a daily basis can help you do this.
Don't eat after dinner, and eat less than you usually do at night. Skip your lunch on an odd day. Cut your breakfast short. Don't be afraid of temporary hunger.
There are many ways to stop eating, so learn what works best for you.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body

The Danger Of Dehydration In Cold Weather

2015-11-26T17:21:00.001+01:00

On a hot summer day, when the sun is blazing and the sky is completely cloudless, the beads of sweat on your brow prompt you to ensure that you are consuming plenty of water. This is especially the case when you are doing hard physical work or exercise outdoors - because your body loses fluid much faster. The fluid
loss from your body, which stimulates thirst when the weather is warm, does not trigger the same reaction when the temperature drops. This is not just because you feel cold, it's because cold temperatures affect thirst sensations.
Getting the correct balance of fluid in your body depends on thirst stimulation. When you feel thirsty, you consume fluids voluntarily - and your kidneys will conserve or excrete the fluid as necessary. This process is facilitated by fluid controlling hormones, like AVP (plasma argentine vasopressin), and a couple of things can stimulate these hormones. When your body loses fluid, the level of sodium in your blood rises, and your blood volume reduces overall as well. Both of these reactions stimulate your hypothalamus to discharge AVP, which makes your kidneys produce urine at a slower rate. This replenishes the fluid in your body. Simultaneously, your hypothalamus sends a signal to the cortex of your brain, to generate a thirst sensation - encouraging the intake of water required to restore healthy salt levels.
When the weather is cold, the thirst response of your body declines by as much as forty percent, even if you are suffering from dehydration. This occurs because your blood vessels tighten when you are cold, to stop blood from traveling easily to the body's periphery. This allows your body to preserve warmth, by attracting extra blood to its' center.
However, due to this, your body is 'tricked' into believing that it is correctly hydrated. Your brain will not detect the reduction in blood volume, so the AVP hormone is not discharged at the normal rate - in spite of increased blood sodium levels. Consequently, your body will not preserve water and you will not feel particularly thirsty. This is why athletes tend to drink less water, when training in cold weather. Also, their kidneys do not receive the hormone signals to preserve water, so urine production rises. This condition is known as cold induced urine diuresis.
There are a few other factors that can cause dehydration during the winter too. In cold weather, you lose more fluid via the respiratory process. For instance, when your breath is visible, that is really water vapor being lost from your body. If you exercise vigorously in extremely cold temperatures, you will lose lots of vapor when you breathe.
Insulated underwear, thick coats and other warm clothing items can help your body preserve heat. However, the extra weight also means that your body has to work ten to forty percent harder. As a result, it generates more sweat - which leads to a loss of fluid. In cold air, sweat evaporates much quicker. Often, this makes people wrongly believe that they are not sweating in cold conditions. This can cause a reduced thirst sensation.
Revealingly, animals such as dogs and rats also exhibit reduced thirst sensations in colder weather. Typically, they drink back the lost fluid though. They also tend to experience increases in central blood volume, because of cold induced vasoconstriction.
It is important to drink plenty of water, particularly when doing physical activities outdoors in cold weather. You can check by examining your urine to see if you are correctly hydrated -- it should have a clear color. In addition, you might be dehydrated if your lips and mouth become dry, if your skin is flushed or if your saliva thickens. Severe symptoms include muscle cramps, abdomen and chest pains, sickness, dizziness and confusion, dimmed vision and a raised pulse. You need to seek medical assistance immediately if you experience any of the aforementioned dehydration symptoms, but more importantly, stay hydrated to avoid them entirely.

When it comes to staying hydrated please check out some of the best reusable water bottles I have found at http://solidsoulmate.blogspot.com and always remember to watch for the signs of dehydration, be safe and have fun.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9232340

How To Successfully Lose Weight And Get In Shape

2015-09-24T09:48:00.003+01:00

The first step to achieving any goal is to actually set one, it's just common sense. Just saying you're gonna work out isn't enough, you have to set an actual goal. Instead say, "my goal is to learn 30 pounds" or "my goal is to get a six
pack". Set a well defined but achievable goal and write it down. I can't stress how important it is for you to write down your goal. Saying or thinking a goal is one thing, but actually writing it down and having a tangible reminder makes you more committed to achieving your goal. Keep your written contract with yourself somewhere you can see it throughout the day so that you don't have the excuse of forgetting.
Give Yourself a Deadline
Every goal MUST have a deadline.Your boss wouldn't give you a goal without a deadline so why would you do any different. By giving yourself a deadline you are forcing yourself to achieve what you have planned. If you want to lose 30 pounds by Christmas then make that your goal and set the deadline. The more time you give yourself to procrastinate the longer you'll give without achieving anything. You can say that you are going to lose weight for 3 years without getting anything done, but if you say you are going to lose 30 pounds before Christmas you just might do it! Now don't give yourself a ridiculous goal and schedule. It is impossible to lose 30 pounds in 2 days, and if it is possible it's probably not the best thing for your health. Give yourself enough time but don't give yourself too much.
Designate a Time to Do Your Routine
Have a designated time throughout the day to do you workout, go for a walk, or eat your meals. By designating a time into your daily routine you give yourself no excuse to skip a day. I understand that things come up and you might miss a gym day or not have time to cook a meal, but by setting aside specific times you'll keep this from being a daily thing. On top of that you won't be able to use the excuse that you just don't have enough time for your health. I guarantee you do, you're just not wanting to make time for it. If you want to achieve your goals you will find time!
Keep a Journal
I know this may sound out of the question but keeping a journal is a great way to stay on track. Write anything you want in it. How you feel, your cravings, your workout, how your day went, your progress. Write anything and everything down so that you can look back on it and see how far you've come. One major reason people quit is because they feel like they aren't getting any results. You may be getting results just not in the form you were hoping for. Maybe instead of losing 5 pounds you lost an inch around your waist. Or maybe instead of dropping a dress size you're more alert throughout the day. Don't limit your results to just one thing, there's many good things that come from a healthy lifestyle.

My Waist Training Review and How I Permanently Lost 5 Inches in Less Than 2 Months

2015-09-23T19:00:00.000+01:00

I am a recent college graduate who has tried almost everything to lose weight. I am a pretty active gal, so exercise was not the problem. I ate a normal American diet, addicted to coffee and indulged in fast food maybe once every other week. I am speaking in past tense because I no longer do such things so I can maintain my current figure.
Waist training made me lose 4 inches in a little over a month. Ever since I started waist training, I have gotten into the habit of keeping fit and juicing often. This is my review on waist training and how it worked for me.
The Product:
Most of us would give almost anything to get that hourglass shape, but what are our options? Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jessica Alba have introduced this new thing that has helped them lose weight post pregnancy. The buzz has been high, but so has the criticism. Critics have been raving about the idea of the new found waist trainers! So what exactly is a waist trainer? A waist trainer is a latex/rubber waist garment that constrains your waist and holds heat around your waist area (Not similar to a corset.) They come in different sizes and types. Waist training is a gradual process of waist reduction using a waist cincher, (trainer). The question I was asking is, does waist training work?
Some of you may be skeptical on what a waist trainer is. Many confuse 21st century waist training with the old school waist training. The practice was very popular in the Victorian times but has been something that has come back by popular demand. The oldies used leather and lace corsets with over 24 steel bones, that basically restrain your waist ridiculously. A waist cincher is basically the 21st century version of a waist corset. Now you may ask, is waist training safe? Let's check out the pros and cons.
Pros vs Cons
Pros:

Instantly reduces waist by 4 inches.
Has thermal areas on it to increase sweating on your core area.
Helps posture and back.
Psychologically encourages you to lose weight.
Minimizes food consumption.

Cons:

Shortness of breath the first week.
Hard to move around with the first week.
Waist area can get uncomfortably hot.
Extreme use can cause temporary health problems.

After reading so many waist training reviews and articles, I was a little skeptical due to the negative vibe. That did not stop me from experimenting though. Based on the pros and cons I mentioned, I believe my waist trainer worked wonders! Some critics and journalists have made a point that corsets have been proven to physically damage a woman's body, causing intestines to, for lack of a better term, "squeeze" together and injure in the stomach region. The key point is the term corsets, not polyester or latex waist cinchers. I do believe that wearing a hard, steel- boned corset could potentially damage a woman's body for the rest of her life, but not a latex/rubber waist trainer due to the elasticity and agility. After owning a corset, I have come to seriously appreciate the flexibility in my latex waist trainer. Corsets often left me feeling winded, out of breath and deeply uncomfortable. The steels bones within the corsets typically leave dents and scars on the torso and can take up to three days to dissolve. Long story short, wearing a steel bone corset sucked. The thing I liked about using my waist trainer is the fact that over time, the trainer reduced water weight, suppress my appetite and is very maneuverable. I personally wear my waist trainer at least 4 hours a day. I begin my days by putting my waist trainer on and then, my usual exercise gear. Sometimes, if I'm preparing to sweat a lot, I'll put clothes on first to avoid having to clean my waist trainer directly. The waist trainers are flexible and allows me to bend and stretch during my exercise routines, which is great for my waist training exercises.
Who is waist training for?
I believe waist training is for any lady who is either looking to lose weight or shape there waist. Most mothers like waist training because it helps them lose baby weight, post pregnancy. Most mothers have found that waist trainers helps boost their confidence and motivates them to eat less and work out more often. I have personally experienced that mothers often spend so much time caring for their children and households that they barely have time to exercise as often as they'd like to. Waist trainers can be worn throughout the day and are flexible enough to carry out daily routines. They are tight enough to give you the hourglass shape underneath your clothes and lose enough to allow you to bend. Plus a quick waist exercise with it on is highly effective than a long waist slimming exercise without.
Working hard is part of our everyday lives! Our feet and our backs hurt after spending hours standing or even sitting. Waist shapers hold your back upright, giving you a naturally beautiful posture. I experienced the difference when I started wearing it to the office. Let's just say it redefines the term "sitting upright."
How to use a waist trainer.
One thing for sure, is that you cannot just wear a waist trainer and expect magical results. Yes wearing it, in itself, will enable you to eat less, will sweat your waist and help your posture, but for long term results, you need to work. Exercising is important especially waist training exercises. Watching what you eat is also important. Waist training automatically decreases the amount you consume, but you should still watch what you eat.
My personal results
None the less, my before and after corset training compared to my before and after waist training was completely different. The first week of waist training with a waist cincher was horrible. Given the fact that it was the summer, I couldn't stand the heat around my waist. It was hard to do some activities and I was just overall mean. My husband called me "the one who shall not be named" for a while because he felt like I was evil for the first few days. I then combined my waist training with juicing and working out then things started changing. After a month and a half I had lost over 4 inches off my waist and it felt amazing.
Final rating: Highly recommended
The only thing I did not like is how uncomfortable it was in the beginning, and the frustration. Women always do uncomfortable things to better themselves so I managed to persevere. It worked in my experience and if you are serious and willing to try it, it will work for you. Waist training with a waist cincher is one I would recommend to every lady looking to get an hour glass figure.

Could the "Free Zone" Help You Stick to Your Diet?

2015-09-23T14:00:00.000+01:00

By definition diets involve some mix of restrictions that, after the initial burst of determination wears off, can lead to feeling deprived, unsatisfied, and resentful - and ultimately to a "pity party for one" hosted by the refrigerator. It's exactly that process that torpedoes the whole plan, time and again.

But it doesn't have to be like that. Because there's a way you can drop-kick deprivation that actually motivates you to stay with the plan. It's called the "Free Zone"
Happily, it can tuck neatly into virtually any self-imposed diet. Those folks on commercial diets may want to check with the administrators about using this tasty technique.
In this Zone we can eat whatever we want, and within reason as much as we want. Easy now, we still have to make some smart choices.
First let's look at possibilities for your Zone. It can be a time {first Sunday of the month?}, or a place {favorite restaurant?}, or a food {Mexican?}, or an occasion {birthday parties?}, or a recurring event {monthly lunch with your peeps?}, and so on.
Timing is everything in making your selection. It should occur often enough to give you something within reach to look forward to, and yet infrequently enough so you don't undo all your other good work.
The example given for the "time" option already has that discipline built in. If it's a fave restaurant, be very specific with yourself about how often you'll go there.
Say you decide you want to go all in at all birthday gatherings. If you have a large, extended family and lots of friends that love to party, that would not be a good choice. So maybe you narrow it down to just celebrations within the immediate family, and then you're doing it right.
So, what if your Zone occurs when you didn't expect it - perhaps friends invite you to that selected restaurant when you've already hit your pre-determined quota? Go, and enjoy with the same smart choices you made before you knew anything about the Free Zone.
You don't want to abuse the concept because that is totally counterproductive to both your diet and this diet-saver. Rather look upon the Free Zone as a now and then reward for all the other times you're sticking to the plan.
And when your Zone does roll around, relax, enjoy, indulge without any guilt whatsoever. Tomorrow we'll be good again, but today we're zoned for being gleefully "bad."
So then, my Free Zone? Pizza!
Since it doesn't involve a multi-course meal or a multi-food party, I usually have it up to twice a month. And then savor it right to the point I head for the Tums.

Find a whole lot of other ways to watch your weight without feeling deprived, and with or without an actual diet, in my eBook, "Dieter's Survival Guide," one of the helpful publications at http://www.NiceLifeBooks.com

Who Should Do The Most Work After A Marital Affair? Who Has That Responsibility?

2015-09-23T11:09:00.000+01:00

As you are struggling to navigate the days after you find out about your spouse's affair, it can become clear that, in order to ever move past this, both you and your spouse are going to have to put forth a great deal of effort. Recovery doesn't happen on its own, but those couples who don't recover can continue to struggle in a marriage that makes
them both miserable.
It can feel unfair to the faithful spouse that they have to put up a considerable amount of effort. After all, they didn't cheat. They did nothing wrong. So why are they now faced with this huge obstacle that is going to require all of this work?
Because of the inequality of it all, it can become very tempting to keep score and to insist that your spouse is the one who should be mostly responsible for the recovery. A wife might say: "it took me quite a while to convince my husband to be honest about his affair. I would ask him what made him do this and he would always tell me that he didn't know why he did what he did. Finally though, after I would not accept that answer, he admitted that I was concerned more with the kids than with him. He said that I'd let our sex life slide and I was no longer that playful woman who he loved to be with more than anyone else. He told me that in order for him to truly be happy in our marriage, I would have to put more emphasis on the physical side of it. I told him that I could do that, but that I do not want to be physical with him when he doesn't compliment me and treat me nice in the way that he used to. He agreed that he would make an effort in that department. I told him that I also needed for him to be accountable about spending more time at home. Well, weeks have gone by since that conversation and he hasn't made good on his promises. He told me that I haven't made the effort either. He says we've only had sex a couple of times. He said that it's up to me to make the effort first. I think that this is ridiculous. The person who cheated has to make the most effort. Isn't this true?"
I do agree with you that most people assume that the biggest initiative must come from the spouse who cheated. They are the ones who caused the damage and so they are the ones who are mostly responsible.
However, in reality, it often takes effort by both parties to make things right again. If the cheating spouse is the only one making any changes, then he can feel resentful. If the faithful spouse doesn't see any changes, they can feel distrust and suspicion. And, if either party continues to be unhappy in the marriage, then you are vulnerable to future cheating or unhappiness.
Overcoming all of this is difficult and it takes work from everyone. I know that it is just human nature to keep score when someone hurts you. But, you have to be practical. You have to decide if it is more important to keep score or if it is more important to you to have a sound, recovered, and healthy marriage which makes you happy.
Because if you want that, then there's just no way around putting in the work. It doesn't magically happen. And it's not going to happen if both people do not feel that they are getting what you need out of your marriage. Expressing what it is going to take to make your marriage fulfilling is a very good first step that you've already taken. Not every one is willing to do this.
So you have a good start. Now it is time for you both to show you're serious about making those efforts and those changes. Sometimes, both spouses are waiting for the other to act first. No one wants to be the one who is trying so hard while the other does nothing. This is understandable. No ones wants to feel like they are the only one who cares. The problem is that while you're both waiting, no progress is being made. Someone has to be the first to make the good faith effort. Someone has to decide that recovery is more important than waiting and watching.
Think about it for a second. What is it that you want the most? Most of us just want to be happy and to have peace and faith in our lives again. It's very difficult to have this if no one is trying. And it's silly when he's not trying because you're both keeping score. Sometimes you have to be the bigger person. Because I'd suspect that if you make an effort, you will see him making one too. It basically feeds on itself and forms a cycle. You give a little and then he does. You get a little and then he does. You're encouraged by his effort and so you put in more of your own effort and he reciprocates.

So while I think in theory that it's the cheating spouse who should take more initiative, I often know that this isn't always reality. It often takes effort on the part of both spouses and a willingness to stop keeping score. Sometimes, I was resentful of all of the counseling and soul searching after my husband's affair.

How To Get Over Being Shy And Get What You Want From Men

2015-09-06T07:20:00.002+01:00

Most women have an innate insecurity mechanism. We worry about one thing or another like cellulite, wrinkles, stretch marks or our weight for example.
For many women the thought of flirting with men to initiate contact is worse than giving a speech to
an audience of 1000 people. Why? Because we doubt ourselves. We convince ourselves from the outset that a guy won't be attracted to us. This can be the case even if we receive lots of evidence contrary to our self-opinion, like men looking at us, paying us compliments and pursuing us. Our perception of ourselves will always be the opinion that we listen to.
They say you should always face your fears. So I am going to lay down 3 challenges for you to take up. Add them to your bucket list, phone a friend for moral support or do them with a friend but you must complete all of the challenges within a month of reading this article. Think of me as your personal coach. We all need a coach to motivate us, to push us outside of our comfort zone so we realize our potential. Like my yoga instructor says, quoted from the creator of Bikram Yoga - Bikram himself, "You have much more under the hood than you realize." You can do these tasks easily.
Challenge Number 1
Write your name and number on a piece of paper and walk up to 3 different men over separate days that you see while out and about and like the look of, hand them this note and walk away. You don't need to say anything to them. This is called flirting in the 21st Century. Men are often too scared to approach us and immune to our subtle flirts. This method removes all confusion by telling them that you are feeling it loud and clear. Who cares if they are taken or doesn't call. Obviously, don't approach a man if he is with a woman. You have nothing invested in this, you didn't even strike up a conversation with them - so don't think of a no call as rejection because it really isn't!
Challenge Number 2
Walk up to man that you are attracted to, he could be in a bar or club or on the street and kiss him on the lips. I don't mean a peck either. I'm talking tongue action. I suggest you ask him first, but this will increase your confidence immensely and build you up for challenge number 3.
Challenge Number 3
Your last challenge is to go out clubbing or bar hopping and ask 100 men on the same night if they will give you their number. I recommend you do this challenge with someone else. You will get numbers and you don't need to do anything with them, although you can if you like. The last rule is you can't hone in on any of these men until you have asked 100 men for their number. After that you are free to zone in on the one or ones that you liked. This rule will not only help you to finish the challenge but it will increase men's perception of value in you because you are making them wait for your attention.
All of these challenges are designed to improve your confidence so that you can get a relationship you want with a man that you want. I don't recommend you employ challenge number 3 as an ongoing dating strategy because men should be the ones asking for your number. You can give them yours but they should do the calling and pursuing because men want to hunt women and find that role more natural than taking on that role than the persona of the one being pursued.
Like I said, you can do these challenges with a friend - even a male friend to make it more interesting. You can turn it into a competition to make it more fun, but you must complete the challenges from beginning to end. I have two sisters, so if you have sisters, especially a sister who is more confident and outgoing than you - do the challenges with them.

Four Tips for Beautiful Outdoor Weddings

2015-09-05T21:04:00.002+01:00

When it comes to beautiful decorations, it's hard to top outdoor weddings. Instead of relying on venues with impressive artwork and architecture, they utilize natural scenery to provide a memorable site for your special day. However, you often have to deal with challenges that aren't concerns with indoor ceremonies and receptions. If you're worried about your nuptials going off without a hitch,
though, these four tips can help keep the day on track.
Be Prepared For Weather
The biggest challenge with outdoor weddings is the possibility of inclement weather. Let's face it- who wants to get married in the pouring rain? To make sure your special day doesn't get derailed, you must have a backup plan. In some cases, such as a beach or park event, you may want to rent a tent so that you can hold the ceremony outside even if it's raining. If you're having your wedding at a hotel, golf course, or another commercial venue, then you may want to ensure that there is an indoor location where the event can be held if the weather is bad. It's also a good idea to plan to have the ceremony outdoors and the reception indoors so that you only have to deal with the weather for a short period of time.
Think About Guests
Even if the skies are clear for your nuptials, you may encounter other weather conditions that cause discomfort for your guests. If you're getting married in the summer, you may end up with an extremely hot, sunny day. Consider having ushers hand out cold bottles of water to guests as they sit, or have a table with water, lemonade, and other refreshments nearby so they can help themselves. Passing out travel-size tubes of sunscreen is also a good idea to prevent sunburn. If you're having your ceremony in the fall when the weather might be cool, rent some space heaters to surround the site and pass out lap blankets to keep your guests warm.
Watch Out For Wind
Wind can be another problem at outdoor weddings. Consider it when you're choosing your gown, bridesmaid dresses, and your hairstyle. For the dresses, skip lightweight or gauzy fabrics such as silk or chiffon that will blow around too much. Explain to your hairstylist that your ceremony is alfresco, so she can come up with a style that won't move too much if the wind picks up. For the groom and other male members of the party, some gel or pomade is a good idea to keep their hair looking neat.
Bug Off
Even if the sun is shining and the temperature is mild, outdoor weddings can face a serious problem- insects. To keep bugs from bothering you and your guests, you may want to have an exterminator treat the site a few days before the ceremony. You can also place citronella candles or bug zappers throughout the space to keep pests at bay.

Free Radicals Damage In Our Body And How To Stop Them

2015-09-05T17:00:00.000+01:00

Certain chemicals or molecules are produced in our body on a daily basis due to activities of breathing, our body metabolism, the body's interaction with the environment-toxins, pollution, chemicals, radiations and sunlight. All these create harmful molecules which can eventually lead to chains of diseases in our body. These harmful molecules are known as free radicals.

What are free radicals?
They are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. These molecules are considered oxidized. They are very reactive and unstable with unpaired electrons. Due to their unstable nature, they grab free electrons from a nearby molecule to become stable causing that molecule to rather become unstable and hence become a free radical. This newly created radical needs to find a free electron to be become stable and the cycle continues.
Damages caused by free radicals:
Even though they are vital for many normal processes in our body (I.e metabolism, cellular signaling and immunity), they can cause problems. Their activities have many implications in our body due to their highly reactive nature and they are difficult to control. Free radicals cause the following damages to our body;
1. They cause damages in our DNA. If these damages are not repaired, they result in accumulated changes in our body overtime. Such changes are;
a. Skin getting wrinkles
b. Sun spots
c. Memory loses its sharpness
d. Eyesight diminishes
e. Organs do not function properly
f. Energy decreases
g. DNA damage also lead to cancer
h. In effect, your body ages quickly.
How to stop free radicals damage- Antioxidants:
How can you stop free radical damage? Our body has inborn systems that normally help neutralize these harmful free radicals. Much of this maintenance is done by enzymes which are able to minimize their damage. Also, some antioxidants like vitamins from the food we eat are able to neutralize and minimize free radical damage. It is therefore important to eat healthy diets full of nutritious foods with lots of vitamins and antioxidants in order to keep your body healthy always.
Antioxidants are molecules which help control free radical damage in our body. Scientific research has shown that antioxidants can play a protective role in a number of diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases which are caused by these chemicals. The various types of antioxidants are vitamins (Vitamins A, C and E), enzymes (glutathione, superoxide dismutase), and others such as carotenes and polyphenols.
Sources of antioxidants:
Well known sources of antioxidants are vitamins such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E). Antioxidants are also found in plant constituents such as anthocynins (plant pigments), carotenoids and polyphenols (especially flavonoids) from vegetables. Fruits and fat-soluble antioxidants from vegetable oils. Some other antioxidants we ingest in foods comes from different sources such as;
Vitamin A
Liver, sweet potatoes, butter, cheese, carrots, broccoli and spinach.
Vitamin C
Red peppers, guavas, broccoli, oranges, lemons, pineapples, cauliflower, kale and cantaloupe.
Vitamin E
Nuts, oils from nuts, olive oil, avocados, wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds and some green leafy vegetables.
Carotenes
Sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, kale, beets and many other colorful fruits and vegetables.
Polyphenols
Tea, fruits and vegetables, chocolate, olives, grapes, olive oil, wine, nuts, herbs and spices.
Lycopene
Tomatoes, watermelon and carrots.

Hope this article helps.

The 6-Pack Myth

2015-09-05T15:23:00.001+01:00

Have you been into a newsagency recently and seen the latest editions of the fitness magazines? Maybe you've been online and seen a promotion with a fitness model. If they are male, the fitness model definitely has a 6-pack, and if they are female, there is a good chance they will have one as
well. There is usually a program or offer or article or video in which the secrets to this 6-pack are revealed. Did you know it is unlikely that you'll ever get that 6-pack? Did you know that the people selling the idea know this, and rely on you failing as part of their sales pitch? Crazy, right? I'm going to explain why this works.
Let's talk about the models first. They have impressive abs, no doubt about it! And if you read the article, they'll tell you that you can have abs like that too. The truth is a long way from there. Here's the rub - that model trains fulltime to look like that (for years), has great genes and actually spent the better part of 2-3 months getting ready for that shoot. That's right - 2-3 months of hard dieting. on top of the years of preparation training. To get those abs, the models diet to strip as much bodyfat from themselves as possible. They cut carbs and fat from their diets, do heaps of cardio, and even resort to dehydrating themselves for 24 hours before the shoot. Then there's the lighting, the photographer and all the editing software. They don't tell you about that in the article, do they? If you looked at that model 24 hours after the shoot, they wouldn't have abs that good.
For the average person on the street, those abs are unobtainable. If we follow the guidelines in the article, we might well see an improvement in the appearance of our abs, particularly if we were pretty close to seeing them or could actually see them before. It is highly unlikely that we'll wind up with abs like the models. At some stage, we'll give up, and go back to our normal ways. It's how our brain operates - we need success to motivate, and if we are sold on quick success, we also have quick loss of motivation. How do we get that motivation back? In part, it comes back to us in the form of another model showing us great abs on the cover of a magazine or on an advert or website. And off we go again.
So, why does this approach work? It works because it uses a very basic form of marketing - concept reinforcement. Every time we see a person with great abs on a marketing product, we are being sold the idea that this is both desirable and achievable. It's desirable, because every person with great abs always has an equally good-looking person near them, or is portrayed as "successful", or looks amazingly happy. See that enough times, and our brain is taught to conflate the two ideas into one - we are led to believe that good abs leads to success, happiness and a high level of attraction to potential mates.
It also works on another level - every time we see an image of a person with great abs, usually with a marketing by-line, we are being told that another person has been able to achieve this look. That way, when we fail, which they actually want us to and know we will, we are led to a conclusion that the fault lies with us, and not the product/marketing/program. It's a strange idea, but it works - our failure leads us to buy into the concept more, not less. It's not our fault; it's the marketer's fault for selling unrealistic ideas. But they do it, because they know it works.
So, how do we get off of this crazy roundabout? Well, first things first - we need to accept the reality that good abs don't mean you are fit and healthy. All that good abs shows is that you are lean and have good genes. Sure, training can improve the appearance of your abs, and dieting can definitely improve the appearance of your abs, but it doesn't automatically mean you are fitter, healthier or better than you were. Rather than focusing on your abs, it might be worth focusing on a whole pile of other markers of health.
There are a range of indicators of health, all of which have varying degrees of validity and reliability. For example, cardiovascular health can be assessed using measures of blood triglyceride levels, or blood pressure, or haemoglobin/ferritin levels, while lung function can best be measured using peak flow. For physical performance measures, there is a range of testing options available that can measure everything from flexibility to strength to rate of force development. All of these can be measured over time and compared back to the baseline; and that's something that your abs can't tell you. All of the health measures can be within healthy range without your abs being even close to visible.
At this point, it might be worth considering the types of body fat levels observed in elite athletes. After all, if there were a group of people who we would expect to have the "best bodies", it would be reasonable to assume this is that group. For most people, their abs become visible at about 15% bodyfat. Male Olympic swimmers typically have bodyfat levels between 10-15%, and many of them have poorly defined abs. Male elite level cyclists and marathon runners tend to sit at 8-10%, a similar level to female gymnasts. Elite rugby athletes are quite often around 18-20%, and some are even higher than that. It's pretty hard to argue that elite rugby players are unfit, and the athletes in the other sports target bodyfat levels for optimising performance, not health.
So, where does that leave you? On the one hand, you can buy into the slick marketing spin of supplement and publishing companies, whose sole purpose of existence is to make you believe that you need what they sell. Or, you can follow the true indicators of health, and recognise that a healthy body doesn't have a certain appearance, it has a certain function. That's not to say that you shouldn't desire a 6-pack; just that it won't make you healthier than the person who doesn't. Oh, and that whole appearance equals attractiveness myth that marketers use is pure bs - while we might initially seek that which is visually appealing, in the long term we seek that which is appealing on a series of levels. Be healthy, be happy, seek enlightenment and be a decent human, and your need for that 6 pack might just disappear into the ether, where it rightly belongs..

Latent Truth About Lies

2015-09-05T07:30:00.000+01:00

Lie brings doubt, ruins relationships, shakes faith and elicits calamity. In other words, lie is synonymous to evil. But if we only stick to negativities about lie, then we are simply being unfair in our judgment.

Men lie for diverse reasons: to deceive, to avoid responsibilities or punishment, for peace, to ease tension, to motivate, to protect heritage or beliefs. Men also lie to protect truths. So, lie exists on a neutral ground, why we employ them is what defines its' being good or bad. Good lies are told either for the betterment of the subjects or to help one win a personal unselfish goal while bad lies are told either to harm or for selfish interests.
To understand the vital roles good lies play in our lives, we need understand the human system first. Men are basically attracted to and bettered by things that bring them pleasure. Also, men are principally influenced by their senses, that is, what they see, taste, smell, feel or hear. Consequently, men are affected both positively and negatively by what they hear. For example, an abusive statement provokes, while an apology revokes anger.
In as much as people are affected positively by truths, it is crucial to understand that some truths can be evil. But a lie is an art for the wise and an imperative tool for manipulating fatal truths for the good of their subjects. For instance, a woman suffering from a cardiac disease might die of shock if she is told that her husband just died in a fatal accident. It's a fact; her husband is dead, but it does not help to break it to her as it is. To help the situation, one could employ intelligence in the form of a lie. If she gets the message that her husband 'had a minor accident' and that he has been taken to a hospital when actually, he is in a mortuary; you are saving her by regulating the shock with lies. In this case, lie is necessary. To further illustrate, when people from different parts of the world complained about weird flying devices and strange abductions, it raised tension. But the tension would have been petty when compared to the feeling that would have surfaced if the government after their investigations had stated that the devices were alien machines. That would have led to distress; people would have felt insecure which would have resulted in commotion and lasting negative effects on the people. So even if the government's dismissal of the UFOs and their abductions as rumors were lies; they were good ones, though.
To avoid the negative effects of truths, sometimes, lies become a necessity. Sadly, some people condemn lies totally. But such people seem more like deceivers for a saying goes that "an average person tells four lies a day... The most common lie is: I'm fine"; though I think an average person tells more. So, a person who says he or she does not lie is simply growing lies.
A good Lie is necessary, but it requires utmost care to convey because a lie can pull down a castle of truths.
In sum, before condemning a lie, we should try and understand its purpose because that is what determines its being good or bad.

Why Do Relationships Fail?

2015-09-05T06:57:00.003+01:00

Balance... Single people have lots of time to rejuvenate, pamper, process, prissy, ponder, pontificate and produce. They can choose to go to the bank, sit in a bath, watch tv, eat chocolate, work late, fart, walk, go out, take a date, have sex, sleep alone, talk about anything they want with whoever they
want. No guilt, no peering eyes, no judgemental overlord. So, the minute people get into relationships, some part of them is in serious grief for the days when they were single. And it's any wonder. Being single, looks great, from the outside. But what many people forget, is that most of those benefits can be achieved in a relationship and that they were single and hated it. Otherwise why wouldn't they still be single. So, the first answer as to why relationships fail is that we are perpetually dumb and blame the relationship for our incompetence at work, our lack of self management, our ridiculously busy lifestyle - in other words "we blame relationship for the crap in our lives." When really it's us.
Evolve... Never have more people spent more time moaning about the inevitable than is done under the banner of "getting it right." There are two reasons for it: pride (the devils helper) and ignorance (virtual reality). Pride generates shame, shame generates pride. So, when we cock up, say things stupid, make errors, we are so hard on ourselves that there's no room left for anyone else to do it. Of course, that leaves our poor partner in the unenviable role of devils advocate. They get to express what we repress. So, if we're beating ourselves up about something on the inside (even not knowing what it is) they express it. Instead of saying "oh, darling, thanks for being a total arse and expressing what I've been repressing, and saving me from cancer, self destruction and being fired at work" we say nasty things like "I wish you'd shut up." Not smart.
Interconnectedness (Evolve Part 2... the second part of "getting it right" - virtual reality). If we've got unfinished business with mum or dad, (sounds like therapy but it's not), we set up an expectation of our partner. If they behave in any way, even for one minute, one second, in a way that reminds us of that unfinished business we hated, disliked, judged in Dad or Mum, we react with "I'm outta here" Where to? Well usually not in a real sense, outa here, but in a commitment or romantic or loving sense. Then people start to see other people as attractive. As soon as someone else wins the "Who's Your Best Partner War" that's when virtual reality has taken over and the lunatics are now running the Asylum. Every human has every trait so that other person who looks so much different to the one you're with, is just as dumb, just as reflective of your parent's stuff. It's just covered in greener grass. Always remember "what makes green grass grow?"
Vibration... There are seven levels of thought, seven levels of brain, seven levels of change, seven levels of human being, and because we are adaptive human beings, we get used to what we've got and therefore drop into the lower levels of thought very quickly. Lets take an example: Recently I had back surgery. Before the surgery I was begging for pain relief. I went through the surgery voluntarily and knowing that one slip of the surgeons knife, I'd be pooping in a plastic bag from a wheelchair the rest of my life. After six weeks of recovery I could dance again. I went to physio, ate special anti-inflamatory foods, spent many hours in rehab yoga. Really looked after my new back. But day by day I got used to a painless back and wanted to do much of what I was doing before the operation. (can you see the adaptation happening). I gradually dropped the physio, got less frequent with yoga, ate a bit of inflammatory food, (there are so many good reasons not to do all that stuff). Eighteen months later I was in surgery again. We adapt, we forget, we take things (each other) for granted, In my book, Sacred Love" the byline is "the honeymoon that lasts forever" and what I mean by that is "do daily, what you do on your honeymoon" - be very very thankful. Otherwise you'll adapt and then think with a lower vibrational part of your mind and yup, boom, bust, bang, you'll vacillate between glad I'm here, and wish I wasn't. This headspace is you, thinking with your bum, not your head and certainly not your high head.
Priorities... People go nuts with their priorities in relationships. A man who might want a family as his highest priority, suddenly starts working seven days a week when he gets into a relationship, thinking that he's demonstrating his commitment to family. A woman who has a career suddenly starts to want to hang out with friends, socialising, talking about make-up or whatever, thinking that they are now in a relationship and that means a shift in values. We are all bipolar, but those of us with strong creative and therefore dominant right brain strength, suddenly start to fluctuate on their priorities and values. This of course drives their partner to their left brain and the rift begins. One being all over the ship with their values and the other turning to stone in theirs. When we become wishy washy on our values we are fluctuating emotionally on something that is fixed mechanically. It's like having an emotion about an island. "Oh, Tasmania, I don't know whether I like that little Island down the bottom of Australia or not. Can they move it?" Values are set in stone. The only thing that can change values is a personal nuclear meltdown. That's rare, so, usually all this values turbulence is just personal drama caused by mirrors, reflecting back unfinished business (see item 3 above)
Conclusion
The purpose of a relationship is not happiness. When the reason you are in a relationship is to get happy it means you were miserable outside the relationship and thought you'd be happier inside the relationship. So, don't trick yourself or delude yourself that you'd be happier being single or elsewhere. No way. You were miserable before and so you need to deal with that, without thinking or blaming the relationship for it. A big key here will be "stop blaming your partner for arguments, upsets or disagreements." It's you... and that's the way to cause love to be the focus of life. In nature, love means supported and challenged in balance. Disappointing isn't it?

Cycle of Friendship

2015-09-03T22:00:00.000+01:00

Our friendship developed about the same time our bodies started to blossom. Now, 40 years later, having taken its toll on us - we realized time was not our friend.
Longstanding friends understand you like no other. They help you grasp your swords of life. The
bond is nurturing, cathartic, a lifetime of flowing memories. So not having seen her lately, I've been a bundle of lecherous nerves, bloated with high hopes to see her again. I need her to keep me sanely in sync. I want to sing the Stylistic's song "You Make Me Feel Brand New" when I see her.
Like any trust-worthy, dependable friend, she always refreshed my inner Zen, refilled my empty coffee mug and balanced my unevenness. I anticipated and trusted that her visits would make me feel so right when I felt so disfigured.
Sprouting our way through adolescence, my momma and Aunt Flo warned me "Friends can be needy, burdensome, and onerous. There'd be friends like this," my momma said. Sure, we had our share of love-hate brawl sessions. She occasionally pained me, disrupted plans, and made me miserable, but I always had to be the bigger person in this kinship; the one who always had to be flexible with changing plans or clothes, ending dates early, making up excuses for "not tonight," or compromising on sexual positions.
Through the wears and tears of our thirties and forties, my friend and I always found a happy medium. I always welcomed her visits. Especially after that little voice in my head cried for nights, "Do I have a bun in the oven?" She was rarely a thorn in my side, never too oppressive or imposing. She proved to be a bit of dead weight though when she insisted on showing up during those stressful "trying to make a baby" years. I prayed for her temporary expectant departure - say 9 months, but fate had another design.
When we fought, she bled me dry. After, we would embrace, make up, and celebrate our reunion. Like all celebrations with good friends, we would indulge. Inevitably during her visits extra pounds appeared, but I got over it.
Now, pushing mid-life, when I finally have my mind together - or so I thought, my body is falling apart. I really could use a visit. I know she really wanted to visit me. I kept waiting for signs that she might be on her way, but with depleted resources, hemorrhage of assets perhaps, she canceled month after month. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I really did miss her. Her visits always made me want to sing. She brought music to my ears. As always, a good friend makes you feel normal, and I am just erratic without her.
The years have left us chronologically young, but biologically withered. Now with her cycle completed, she leaves my days and nights heated. Her defunct essence rests in my viscera and disjointed memory. Youth, curves, moistened femininity, memory, patience, restful dreams, and my libido all gone to rest with her.
Goodbye youthful friend. I will always cherish your cathartic, ever-flow within me. Your string-along faithfulness and monthly rejuvenating will be missed.

How to Find Friendship in Young Children

2015-09-03T19:22:00.002+01:00

An adult always seeks friendship in like-minded people around him. But have you ever imagined of making friends with young children? The joy and benefits of it are simply great! To learn more, read on.

Children are young and innocent and sometimes very helpless. Yet there are several vital tips you can learn from them. Here they are:

They know about love more than anybody else. If you just tried making friends with them, they will tag along after you, never leaving your side and will give you all the love you will ever need.

They are fun to be around. You can play games with them and spend happy and delightful times, without being aware of time especially when you are feeling low.

They can teach you how to be down-to-earth, and they are right out truthful and honest about everything they say. Many of us, adults have forgotten how to be truthful all the time and how to be honest with the people around us but you can relearn those from children.

They have many questions in their minds and are very inquisitive about everything they come across. Answering their "why" questions will give you great insights on life. For example, if they see a picture of their grandpa who has passed away some time ago, they will definitely ask: "Everyone is around. Where is grandpa?" How do you explain that to a three or four-year child? Or they might simply be curious about how a toy works and ask: "Why does it work this way and not the other way?" And you have to come up with satisfying answers otherwise they will keep questioning. This definitely stretches your own mind.

Sometimes they will talk absolutely nonsense, funny stuff. And that sure will give you a belly aching laugh. However, you do not laugh at them but laugh with them and have a good time indeed!

They will miss your absence more than anybody else and will be the first ones to hug you when you show up again. That very moment you feel close with them and you wonder why you were gone in the first place and you feel like never leaving them for a long time again.

I do hope that you get the idea now and you are convinced that you can find great friends in young and innocent children who will teach you more than you can ever teach them.

Free Radicals Damage In Our Body And How To Stop Them

2015-09-03T07:00:00.001+01:00

by Gary Mary
Certain chemicals or molecules are produced in our body on a daily basis due to activities of breathing, our body metabolism, the body's interaction with the environment-toxins, pollution, chemicals, radiations and sunlight. All these create harmful molecules which can eventually lead to
chains of diseases in our body. These harmful molecules are known as free radicals.
What are free radicals?
They are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. These molecules are considered oxidized. They are very reactive and unstable with unpaired electrons. Due to their unstable nature, they grab free electrons from a nearby molecule to become stable causing that molecule to rather become unstable and hence become a free radical. This newly created radical needs to find a free electron to be become stable and the cycle continues.
Damages caused by free radicals:
Even though they are vital for many normal processes in our body (I.e metabolism, cellular signaling and immunity), they can cause problems. Their activities have many implications in our body due to their highly reactive nature and they are difficult to control. Free radicals cause the following damages to our body;
1. They cause damages in our DNA. If these damages are not repaired, they result in accumulated changes in our body overtime. Such changes are;
a. Skin getting wrinkles
b. Sun spots
c. Memory loses its sharpness
d. Eyesight diminishes
e. Organs do not function properly
f. Energy decreases
g. DNA damage also lead to cancer
h. In effect, your body ages quickly.
How to stop free radicals damage- Antioxidants:
How can you stop free radical damage? Our body has inborn systems that normally help neutralize these harmful free radicals. Much of this maintenance is done by enzymes which are able to minimize their damage. Also, some antioxidants like vitamins from the food we eat are able to neutralize and minimize free radical damage. It is therefore important to eat healthy diets full of nutritious foods with lots of vitamins and antioxidants in order to keep your body healthy always.
Antioxidants are molecules which help control free radical damage in our body. Scientific research has shown that antioxidants can play a protective role in a number of diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases which are caused by these chemicals. The various types of antioxidants are vitamins (Vitamins A, C and E), enzymes (glutathione, superoxide dismutase), and others such as carotenes and polyphenols.
Sources of antioxidants:
Well known sources of antioxidants are vitamins such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E). Antioxidants are also found in plant constituents such as anthocynins (plant pigments), carotenoids and polyphenols (especially flavonoids) from vegetables. Fruits and fat-soluble antioxidants from vegetable oils. Some other antioxidants we ingest in foods comes from different sources such as;
Vitamin A
Liver, sweet potatoes, butter, cheese, carrots, broccoli and spinach.
Vitamin C
Red peppers, guavas, broccoli, oranges, lemons, pineapples, cauliflower, kale and cantaloupe.
Vitamin E
Nuts, oils from nuts, olive oil, avocados, wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds and some green leafy vegetables.
Carotenes
Sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, kale, beets and many other colorful fruits and vegetables.
Polyphenols
Tea, fruits and vegetables, chocolate, olives, grapes, olive oil, wine, nuts, herbs and spices.
Lycopene
Tomatoes, watermelon and carrots

Finding the Best Acne Treatment and Best Clinic for Doing It

2015-09-03T07:00:00.000+01:00

Depressed with your stubborn adult pimples? Relax, as you can get rid of them with the new advanced range of treatment procedures. If you think that you cannot get rid of these pimples and the scars that they leave behind on your skin, then you are absolutely mistaken. With advanced medical equipment, treatment procedures, you can get rid of these pimples as well as their scars.

Although teenage acne disappears on their own, adult pimples are so stubborn and difficult to treat that it often becomes a persistent problem for many people just like you. If you have an oily and sensitive skin, then the condition will be even worse since the root cause of these acne and pimples is the excessive sebum secretion from your sebum glands that get deposited on the open pores of skin and in contact with bacterial infection, creates these pimples. Hence, when you are finding a solution for acne and your pimples, you need to find the best treatment procedure that will cater to these problems.
How to treat these pimples?
If traditional treatments haven't been beneficial for you and if you are looking for a solution for acne and pimples and, then you must switch to the laser treatments. With chemical peeling treatments as well as dermabrasion, you can get rid of your pimples and their scars. As in most of the cases, the scars are depressed scar that are very much visible on the skin, you need to opt for these techniques for removing these scars.
With this permanent treatment of acne, you will be able to notice the gradual disappearance of the scars and your skin getting an even and smooth texture. The laser or radiofrequency equipment helps the scars to lessen as they are brought closer to the surface of an even more tightened skin. Hence, scars become even less visible.
Choosing a good clinic:
These methods for permanent treatment of acne are professional techniques and cannot be done by yourself. Hence, you need to seek help from a good and renowned clinic that will assist you in this procedure and perform the needed treatment procedures that will be more suitable and applicable to your condition and situation. Therefore, trusting a clinic that gives you a thorough and detailed consultancy regarding how the procedures are done and how useful it might be for you, is always the best clinic.
A renowned dermatologist of doctor will always know about the latest techniques, technologies and pimple treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you choose a trustworthy and learned doctor with special degree in this regard. A good clinic will never offer before and after images of their patients for advertisement purposes, but they will let you know about the professional treatment methods and how they are done.
Whether the pimple treatment method will be suitable for you or not, if not, which method will be better for you, are some of the factors that the clinic and doctors there will consult with you. However, before you enrol to a clinic's treatment methods, you must get an idea of the number of sessions, costs that it will charge you and how much pain you will have to bear.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil to Treat Acne

2015-09-03T02:00:00.000+01:00

Acne is a skin condition that can affect men and women at many different stages in life, ranging from those troublesome teenage years when excess sebum can wreak havoc on the skin, to the 30s and 40s where those that have never suffered from it before can suddenly develop the ailment.

Although there are many artificial products that are designed to help clear up acne, one long-established and very effective natural choice is tea tree oil. Although toxic when consumed, used in low concentrations as a topical product it can successfully treat a variety of medical and skin complaints.
This product is often used to treat acne due to the terpinen-4-ol that it contains, a constituent known for its anti-microbial properties. When applied to acne, it can effectively kill off the bacteria that cause it, leading to a great reduction in the swelling and redness that come along with the condition.
With that in mind, it is important to note that tea tree oil used neat can be very strong, causing skin irritation, blisters and itching. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to dilute the product before treating acne, so as to see results without further damaging the skin.
The product can be diluted by simply mixing it with warm water; try mixing tea tree oil will an equal part of warm water before applying to a freshly-cleaned face. Care should be taken to only apply the mixture to the areas of skin that are suffering from acne, so as to avoid causing irritation on other parts of the face.
To apply, use a cotton swab soaked in the mixture and administer directly to your acne. If you prefer, you can create an astringent for you face by adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a cup of warm water, which then can be applied to the whole of the face before moisturising. Due to the potentially irritant qualities of the oil, avoid using any treatment more than once a day.
Tea tree oil can also be blended with other oils and products to create a face lotion or moisturiser. For an entirely natural approach, use recipes provided by reputable natural skin and beauty product retailers to make your own face cream, and then add a couple of drops of tea tree oil for its antimicrobial properties.
You could also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shop-bought lotion of choice in order to create a product that is tailored to treating your acne. In all cases, do a patch test on a sensitive area of skin - such as the inside of your arm - before applying to your face; dab a little tea tree lotion on your skin and then leave for a few hours to see if any redness or irritation develops.
If it turns out that you are sensitive to this oil and it causes skin irritation during your patch test, there are other natural alternatives available to help ameliorate the appearance of acne. One of these is argan oil, which has been shown in studies to effectively improve the condition.
Argan oil is a very gentle alternative, which is highly unlikely to cause any irritation to the skin; to use it, apply it as a night-time moisturiser by massaging a few drops into a clean and damp face before sleeping. The product promotes skin healing and can greatly reduce the redness and irritation of acne over time.
Tea tree oil is a highly-effective natural ingredient for treating acne if used with caution. To ensure best results, dilute the product with water or as mix it with a lotion and use once daily to kill off acne-causing bacteria. If you find you are sensitive to the product, do not despair - gentle argan oil makes a safe and powerful alternative.