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Inside AdSense: Six AdSense optimization tips for forums

2008-02-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Inside AdSense: Six AdSense optimization tips for forums

The Secret To Weight Loss Is A Whole Body Affair

2008-02-12T02:43:00.000-08:00

In order to lose the weight from your body, you've got to get your body working correctly. It all comes down to an elemental equation of diet, exercise and healthy habits.

While the existence of mucoid plaque is up for debate between the medical and scientific world and certain "holistic health practitioners," the bare truth of weight loss comes down to what goes into your body (diet), what comes out of your body (proper digestion), and what you do with your body (exercise).

You may very well build up harmful toxins in your body if you're not prepping the machine for prime action. Then you've got a sickly, flabby, rusty contraption that is uncomfortable and doesn't work right. This is what has caused the epidemic of obesity. To reduce weight and experience real weight loss, not just temporarily, look at what goes into your life and your body.

Excessive amounts of processed foods and white flour in your diet may cause a reduction in the body's ability to eliminate waste for a short amount of time. That can lead to bloat, discomfort, lessening of nutritional absorbency, and a lack of energy. These are also the result of improper diet in general, because of an overall lack of the right nutrients and just plain not giving your body what it requires. In turn, your feel less like exercising. Unfortunately, this is part of the cycle that leads to weight gain problems and unhealthy lifestyle.

The more natural and whole foods you include into your diet, the better. Foods higher in fiber content help the body to function optimally and minimize what the body doesn't need. The less processed your food is, the more originally occurring nutrients and vitamins you absorb from your food. The more the body gets what it needs, the less you'll crave the harmful stuff. And the fewer empty calories your body has to store, the less padding you'll have.

It's important to stay fully hydrated to help the body get rid of harmful toxins in your system. This allows your body to function properly by keeping the cells healthy. In turn, food is digested properly and the function of body systems are at their peak, leading to mush improved metabolism. Drinking sufficient water, coupled with high fiber foods, helps you feel more satisfied and less prone to cravings shortly after eating.

Fiber is vital in the digestive process. The body cannot completely break it down. As it moves through the digestive tract, it absorbs and binds intestinal residue to itself. This ensures that the unwanted waste passes from the body in short amounts of time and remains easy to pass, as well as getting all the harmful stuff your body doesn't need out of there!

The best sources for fiber are exactly what you've heard before: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fruits such as plums and apples provide much of their fiber from their skins, as does the potato. Leafy greens, of course, carry the fiber in their leaves. Celery contains a high amount of fiber in the stalks, which is also an excellent vehicle for tasty protein such as peanut butter.

Insufficient fiber in the digestive system can lead to all sorts of intestinal complaints, including diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and it has been linked to bowel cancer. Refined foods are processed so highly that the vast majority of fiber content is removed, not to mention nutritional value. White Bread, white flour white sugar, and instant products are all refined foods. A quick in doesn't mean a quick out, and the high caloric intake of these products means more has to be burned.

Not enough exercise can lead to intestinal disorders and less effective digestive function. Exercise improves the activity of the intestines and keeps the body's metabolism up. So, little or no physical activity not only slows down your metabolism, it also slows digestion. No wonder the less we move around, the more we expand and sag. It only makes sense.

The body's systems are all intertwined, and you really are what you eat and what you do. Pay attention to your body from top to bottom, and be aware of the whole health value of what you eat and your daily activity level. Chances are, then, when you commit to a healthier digestive system and regular exercise, you will see regular weight loss.

By: Ken Nickless
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Ken Nickless is a 64 years retired businessman and entrepreneur now living in Brisbane Australia. Having spent over forty years in the manufacturing arena specializing in MIS systems introduction, Quality Control implementation and Operations Management Ken now spends his time with website development and internet marketing. In his spare time Ken enjoys golf and spending more time with family and friends.

For More Weight Loss Information: www.nickmarketing.com/TopSecretFatLoss/

Remember to weight loss

2007-12-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

May 2004 I returned with my family from a Disney vacation with the realization I had a weight problem. I had a hard time fitting into some of the safety harnesses on some of the rides. I also had lived in my house for 6months and never saw the end of our own yard. The walk was to hard. I was winded just going to my mail box.

I was 5ft 3 inches and 265 pounds. When we were at the beach and a child said something mean about me to my son, not knowing I was his mother. My son defended me but was very embarrassed. I had just worked my way out of another depression. I was tired of not having energy to do anything. I had had enough. I began with an announcement to my family that I am going to lose this weight! I cut out all junk, extra carbs and doubled my vegetable intake. I made two dinners every night, my family's and mine. I cried the first two weeks at the dinner table. This was so very hard. Being obese was harder though. After one month I dropped 20 pounds. I started to have energy again. I needed to so something physical. I needed to move. I started walking. At first I walked about 1/2 a mile every morning. It was embarrassing and hard. I had reached the point when I didn't leave my house much. I was exposing myself. I was laughed at, yelled at, had things thrown at me, but I remained steady in my course. By the end of the second month, I was walking 3 miles every morning. I was push mowing my yard ( the one I couldn't even walk before). I Lost another 20 pounds. I wanted to move more. I ordered a beginners low impact aerobics video. I did it every morning and followed with a 3 mile walk. I was no longer getting harassed. My husband began telling me he was so proud of me. I decided to keep the dietary changed permanent. My Family joined me. We cut out red meats, sugar, and started eating vegetables, and whole grain products. I was beginning to laugh more. I created a more specific goal. I wanted to get out of plus sized clothes. I started out in a size 26. I was down to an 18. I wanted a 12. I wanted to move more. I decided to try jogging. I lost 15 more pounds. On September 15, 2004, I ran for the first time. I made it a whole 1/10th a mile. I did the walk-run program. All I wanted to do was to be able to run a mile some day. I achieved that goal on October 1, 2004. I cried. I did it. I loved it. I wanted to run more. I had lost another 10 pounds. I decided to try for 5 miles by January. I was still doing aerobics every morning. I graduated to medium impact. So I would wake up every morning at 5 am, do my workout for 45 minutes, then head out the door. I ran 4 times week. I went down another size. The scale became my favorite part of the morning. I wan down to a size 14 and lost another 10 pounds. I made my five mile goal. I decided to see if I could go 8 miles. I did. I was addicted. By May I had left the plus department and bought my first size 12 jeans. I cried again. I bought my first pair of technical running shoes. I bought running shorts. I had a secret goal. I wanted to run a 5 k. I did not tell anyone. Every morning It was on my mind. I read everything I could fine to prepare. September 2005 I ran my first 5k. I had lost almost 90 pounds. I ran it faster than I thought I would. I was flying high. I did it. During a run in October, I broke 10 miles and survived. I decided that I wanted to run a marathon. I picked one out in the following September. I marked my calendar. I was very very scared. Weigh loss was no longer important to me. Training was. I re-arranged my diet to accommodate running. I developed a very strict running schedule. I graduated to high impact aerobics. I began strength training. I made sure I was finished before 9 am. I had a family to take care of. I had found balance. I found my time. I found myself out there some where. September 30, 2006 I ran the Akron road Runners Marathon. It was very hard. I made several mistakes. But at mile 20 I knew I was going to finish. I had run the whole way. I was in pain. My foot was swollen. But I was going to finish. I crossed the finish line at 5:08:10. I sprinted the last 100 feet. I thought I was going to throw up. I did it. I ran 26.2 miles. I was a "runner". When I crossed that line, several things happened to me. I left the old me behind. I found a new identity. The fat me was still at the starting line. I had self esteem for the very first time in my life. I had lost a grand total of 125 pounds and dropped 10 sizes in clothes. My husband takes me out more often. I can go out to eat and not feel like I am under a spotlight. I can keep up with my two kids. I turned 40 and feel better than I have ever in my whole life. I am running a half marathon and a a marathon this coming summer. I encourage others to find themselves through exercise. My son wants to begin running 5k races. My husband even managed to loose weight and become interested in weight lifting. As a family we are happier and healthier. I hope someone reads this and realizes that what I most important is your health, physically and mentally.
by: Chrys Marty

Somebody talking about weight loss

2007-12-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

A little over three years ago my first child was born. As I looked at the pictures I realized I was much heavier than I had thought. The scales only went up to 350 so I had not weighed in a while. When I found scales that did weigh me I was closer to 400 pounds than I had imagined. I also happened to have a doctor’s visit that same month and was told that my blood pressure was high, my blood sugar was high, and I have gout arthritis.

I started thinking about my little girl’s future and my lack of ability to get in the floor and play with her when that time comes. I decided then I needed to do something. But like many commitments I had made to myself over time I did not follow through. It was not till about 2 years ago with we were expecting our second child that it hit me. Any story or event that I would have to tell to my daughters would have to start with “I remember when…” My best was in my past. Sure I had always been large, but I was a highly recruited high school football player and had great stories to tell. I knew this was not the example I wanted to set for my little girls. I wanted them to always believe that their best, whatever it is, is in front of them. It was then I decided that I had to set that example. I wanted my athletic best and health best to be in front of me!
I was reading that a local hospital had a new very low calorie plan that was offered under doctor’s care. My mother had just been diagnosed with diabetes and needed to lose weight too. So we started this program together. Over the next twelve weeks I drank just 500 calories of shakes a day and worked out and trained for a 5K. I lost about 97 pounds during this time. Since then I have lost another 25 and run a ½ marathon and a triathlon. The physical activity has played a vital role in helping me keep the weight off. I now look at food at fuel instead of fun (most of the time) and am looking forward to another triathlon in July and my first marathon in October in Chicago. In November I will register for the Florida Ironman and spend next year preparing for that, I want to be able to say that in less than 3 years I went from almost 400 pounds to an ironman. If I have learned anything, I know that will not be the end. Great health is not a destination in itself, it is a journey, a journey that I am enjoying and making the most of each day.
by: Brad

I did it

2007-12-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

In the early morning hours of October 6, 2005, my life changed forever. My husband of 35 years, Richard, suffered a massive heart attack and died in my arms. We had decided months earlier to start eating right and losing weight. We knew that our excessive weight was affecting our health and that the numerous prescriptions that we were taking were all weight related – high blood pressure, diabetes and pain medication.

After three months of short term goals written on post it notes daily, i.e., “breathe in and out” and “brush hair and teeth”, I made the decision to LIVE it – not DIEt and changed my daily eating habits.
When Richard died, I weighed 232 pounds. Today, I weigh 155 with 17 pounds to go to get to my goal weight of 138. I am now the “average American woman” in a size 14. It isn’t easy. But I’ve learned that if you don’t have the high calorie food in the house, chances are that you’re not going to drive to the local convenience store at 9 pm to pick up the bag of chips or pint of ice cream.
My daily calorie intake averages 1200. I have cereal and fruit for breakfast. Low calorie snacks for that “afternoon pick me up” and fish, chicken or pork for dinner. I limit my carbs and avoid breads (my weakness). Do I indulge???? Of course! I LOVE dark chocolate – but limit myself to two small miniature pieces three times a week – not a large serving and certainly not every night.
My exercise routine is simple. I walk everyday. And now that I enjoy clothes shopping, when I go to the mall, I park at the opposite end of my favorite department store which means that I have to walk the full mall to get back to my car. I also have a house cleaning schedule that includes cleaning a single room every day (with Sunday’s off to enjoy my Sunday paper) and I play music so I can dance while I clean. Nothing better than listening to the Eagles!!!!!!
I feel great – and people tell me that I look great. It’s still a daily struggle to keep the weight off. I only wish that Richard and I had started this sooner together. I know that he’s looking down at me – with pride – knowing that I’m here for our children and grandchildren.
I DID IT – you can too.
by: Carolyn

Another weight loss story

2007-12-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

December 31, 2006. I made my annual New Year's Resolution to get healthy. I had been making that resolution and not sticking to it for some years at that point. But this year was different. I would turn 40 in 2007, and that scared me. No longer did I want to lose weight so I would look good, but rather I wanted to lose weight so that I could live well. With 40 approaching, I realized that it was just a matter of time before I would be taking daily doses of high blood pressure medication, high cholesterol medication, and maybe diabetes medication, if I continued to live as unhealthy as I was. I was 5'2" and at a high weight of 167 pounds and bursting out of my size 14 and just about into a size 16 (although I refused to buy anything in that size). After 3 kids and many bags of chips, fries, and takeout, I realized that I was not the person that I meant to be. I wanted to return to the size that I was before I had kids - a size 6. That was my goal and I wanted to get there before New Year's Eve 2007. And so the journey began...

I joined an all women's gym and resolved to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes for 5 days a week. The gym had a contest. If you could lose at least 10 pounds within the next 6 weeks, you would get the next month's membership for free. I signed on and boosted my walking schedule up to 6 days per week. I resolved to make healthy eating choices and cut my portions in half. By the end of the 6 weeks, I was down 13 pounds, and had bumped up my treadmill walks to a walk/jog. Watch out. I was on a roll!

With the money that I saved on my next month's membership, I made an appointment for a half hour session with a personal trainer. Her name was Lia. Lia called me before our session to discuss exactly what I was looking to get out of our meeting. I told her that although I was doing very well with my cardio, I thought that I needed to add strength training to my routine and didn't really know what to do with that. I asked her to put together a routine that I could do on my own a few times a week that would strength train most of my muscles. Lia went through a routine that she put together for me that included upper body, lower body and core. The only equipment needed would be dumbells. This meant that I could either do these workouts at home or at the gym. My meeting with Lia changed my life. Anytime in the past, when I attempted strength training, I always used lighter dumbells. Lia pointed out how I would need to add more weight. I saw immediate results which motivated me to keep it up and add more weight as I saw fit.

For the first time in my life, my eating was in total control. I three meals per day and snacked only when hungry. I ate the same dinners that I made for my family, but just cut the portion sizes. I also enjoyed a glass of red wine with dinner a few times per week. For the most part, I skipped desserts. I decided that I would only have a dessert, if I really wanted it. That meant skipping the birthday cake at all the kids parties that I attended. I only ever ate that cake because it was given to me. The cake usually wasn't very good, usually some dry commerically baked cake. I decided that I would not waste my calories on stuff like that anymore. The same went for bread. If I went out to dinner, I decided that I would only enjoy a piece of bread from the breadbasket, if the bread was really worth it. My new attitude towards food went a long way in helping me continue to shed the pounds.

By April, I was able to run a mile and a half continuously, so I decided to bring most of my running outdoors. I was also down to a size 10. My annual physical was very successful. My chloesterol was down to 166 from 210 the prior year. My blood pressure was 110/70 and all my other scores were within the healthy range. My husband ran with me to show me a 2 mile cross country trail in our local park. He used to run that trail when he was in high school. The trail had some difficult inclines and hills. I fell in love with running it immediately and decided to make an effort to run that trail at least once per week. In the end, I usually got there at least 3 times per week.

By the end of May, I was just about down to a size 6 and doing the 5K cross country trail in our local park. The hills on that trail were much more challengin, but I loved the run. My goal in running was just to complete the milage. If I had a day where I was feeling tired, I always give myself permission to slow down, or to even walk a bit. I figured that if I was having a bad day, and going slow or walking a bit, at least I was out there and finishing, which was a lot more than if I did nothing at all. At the time, I was going through some marital problems. I found running to be my sanity saver. I would crave my runs. They cleared my mind and I felt so good after them. Some days, I would be so frustrated that I would do an all out fast 2 miler. I would feel sweet relief when I was done - all my frustrated energy was put to good use. Running just about saved my life at this point. And I thank God for those tranquil trails. Just me, my running shoes, the birds, squirrels, and a few other runners running through the woods. I loved the peaceful feelings it would bring me.

At this point, people were really beginning to notice the changes in my body. Not only had I shrunk to a smaller size, but because of my running and strength training, I was firm and strong looking. My body was better than it was when I was the same size in my twenties. I was in better shape too. I continued on with my running and decided at the beginning of August that I would try my first 5K race. My goal was to finish and not to finish last. Image my surprise, when I finished at a time of 28:40. Not too shabby for a beginner. I ran another 5K two weeks later and improved upon my time, finishing at 28:00. By this time I was down to 114 pounds and between a size 2 and 4. I was just trying to get a handle on maintaining my weight and not losing any more. I was amazed by the amount of food that I could now eat without gaining weight. It's really true what they say about what exercise does to your metabolism. Mine went from the speed of slow and backwards to the speed of light. I signed up for three more 5K races. In my third race, I once again improved my time and was down to 27:15. My confidence was now growing. It was at this point I realized that I could really be a runner, not just a tag-a-long. I read somewhere that women have a tendency to downplay their abilities, and it wasn't until this point that I realized that I had been doing that all along. My speed was improving, and with time, I have the ability to be a good runner, or anything else that I put my mind to. It took me 40 years to realize that I had the power all along. My next race, I improved my time once again, coming in at 25:15. This time, I also placed first in my age group. Now, granted, this was the smallest race that I had completed (only 150 entrants), but when I look at how far that I have come in such a short period of time, I have to say that I am very proud of myself. At the beginning of the year, the only race that I might have won, was a race to the refrigerator. I wish that I had found this inner strength years ago. But the fact is, I am grateful to have found it at all. Some women go through life and never discover their inner strength. Running has done this for me. And now I'm addicted.

I'm running another 5K this weekend, but will be running this one with my 6 year old son, so this race will not be about time - it will just be about sharing the experience with my youngest son and helping him to find his inner strength. When I think back to New Year's Eve, I am so grateful that this was the year that I made it - I kept my resolution. And now that I'm here, I never want to go back to the person that I was before. I see so many possibilities for myself in my life now and so many things that I am capable of. My husband and I went out to dinner with friends a few weeks ago and stopped off for a drink afterwards. I was asked to show proof of age before they would serve me - what a hoot! A friend of mine asked me to run a half-marathon with him next year. I'm thinking about doing that, but first I want to successfully complete a few 10K races. That will be my next challenge and I have no doubt that I will be happy with my results....

Weight loss story

2007-12-02T19:20:00.000-08:00

At the pinnacle of my obese state, I weighed in at 242 lbs. Not exactly slim given my height of 5’-9”. I had high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and high cholesterol readings. A two block brisk walk would bring about heavy perspiration and excessive huffing/puffing. My doctor informed me that I was pre-diabetic and had metabolic syndrome. And worst yet, I ended up admitting myself into the emergency ward with what my family doctor believed at the time was a heart attack. Thankfully, the blood tests, ECG’s, treadmill stress test etc. proved otherwise. Since he was unable to find any markers associated with a heart attack, the cardiologist deduced that the severe chest pain I had experienced was likely caused by indigestion of something that I shouldn’t have eaten or shouldn’t have eaten too much of. In any event, the trip to the hospital served as my wakeup call. At age 49, I had arrived at a fork in the road so to speak. Did I want to continue my sedentary lifestyle complemented by pathetic eating habits and head towards an early grave? Or did I want to smarten up by turning my life around and be in a position to look forward to spending time with my future grandchildren. I opted for the latter.

Since June of 2006, I am happy to report that I have lost 56 lbs. How did I do it? Eating sensibly (as I prefer not to use the 4 letter word DIET) and lots of exercise. The concept of course is quite simple. What is difficult is the amount of determination and will power that is required to stick with the program. One thing that I learnt a long time ago, when it comes to weight loss there are simply no quick fixes. To me, this meant lots and lots of healthy foods. Cut back big time on the red meats, pastas/rice, desserts and in general items loaded with saturated and especially trans fats. Ample servings of fruits and vegetables. Eight glasses of water every day. Eat a sensible breakfast every morning (Not bacon, eggs or pancakes slobbered with syrup/butter). Instead of having the King Kong size burger with supersized fries at lunch, I would order an Oriental Chicken Salad with Grilled Chicken together with a supersized Diet soft drink. I also had to conquer some demons. Namely what I refer to as my DANGER/COMFORT foods such as peanut butter and packaged instant noodles. In the past, I could literally polish off half a jar of peanut butter or consume six packages of cooked noodles at one sitting. I’ve managed to overcome my urges for these DANGER foods. In terms of exercise, my regime consisted of a minimum of 90 minutes of Tai Bo mixed in with some elliptical trainer stints. The exercise routine was repeated at least five times a week. In early January of this year, I signed up for a Learn to Run clinic. Thirteen weeks later, I completed my first ever 10K run. At my last checkup, I was advised that I was no longer pre-diabetic. My blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels etc. were normal. My typically resting heart rate is now around 65 beats per minute – a far cry from 85 beats per minute not that long ago. Although I recently turned 50, I have never felt better. I feel (and sometimes act) like I am 20 years younger. In fact, I have signed up for 4 more 10K runs. I also possess every confidence that I will reach my ultimate goals of losing another 26 lbs (to get down to 160 lbs.) AND to run in a marathon within two years’ time.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR INNER BEAUTY

2007-12-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

TAKE CARE OF YOUR INNER BEAUTY
by: Hifzur Rehman

Let us talk about beauty from a different angle!
We have our own criteria for judging the beauty of a woman. We look the beauty of a lady from a certain angle and then pass the remarks whether she is beautiful or not. It’s not fair. Let me tell every woman that she is unique and beautiful.
The business of beauty is thriving everywhere. Women are spending much of their time and money on buying beauty products. Even in the third world countries, women living below the poverty line, buy cheap and substandard beauty products, which give more harm to their skin than good.

It’s the fundamental right of every woman to look beautiful. Every woman wants to listen the sweet words “you are beautiful”. But the beauty of a woman is far from her looks or figure. Physical beauty is only one aspect while a beautiful charming personality is a complete blend of many fine characteristics such as good manners, etiquette, behavior, smile, intelligence, sense of humor, social and family values etc., all make a woman look beautiful and attractive.
Didn’t you know that there is a marked difference between a carefully hand woven expensive Persian carpet and a cheap machine made carpet. Both of these cannot be equated. A beautiful woman is like an elegant hand-knotted Persian carpet. Each and every silky, colorful thread of her character, nicely woven into her personality, gives a woman an everlasting beauty and attraction.
Looks are very important indeed but the characteristics of a person are much more important. Besides taking care of your physical beauty, why not think of improving your inner beauty. The beauty which everyone admires is becoming a rare commodity these days. While on your way to a beauty parlor keep on thinking ways of improving your inner beauty.
Take care of yourself and take care of your inner beauty. No doubt you are a beautiful person!

Beauty Secrets of the Stars

2007-12-02T07:39:00.000-08:00

Beauty Secrets of the Stars
by: Josh Bernstein, DDS

It comes as no surprise that many of the most beautiful and famous people go to great lengths to maintain their youthful appearance. They work out with personal trainers. They go to the best hair salons and rejuvenating spas. They use exotic skin care products. And they go to the best cosmetic surgeons.

Cosmetic or plastic surgery can be as simple as a "lunchtime peel" or as involved as a complete face-lift. Botox injections can eliminate "frown lines." Liposuction can reduce excess fat. You can reduce or enlarge just about anything! But there is one beauty secret that is not well known. It beautifies the most looked-at part of the body. It provides dramatic transformations in one visit. It doesn't require surgery. In fact, you can stay awake through the entire procedure. What is it? Cosmetic Dentistry.

While plastic surgery certainly has its place, cosmetic dentistry has its own distinct advantages. It doesn't matter how beautiful the rest of the features are, if the teeth are ugly, no one's going to pay much attention to the rest. Beautifying a smile provides instant gratification. The changes to one's appearance can be incredible! A "smile lift" immediately improves confidence and self-esteem. The recovery time is insignificant. You can eat with it, smile with it, talk with it and kiss with it!

Beyond appearances, cosmetic dentistry has the unique advantage of being able to improve one's health. So many people are walking around with historical dental work that is compromising their oral health. Many others have worn their teeth to the point that their bite is causing symptoms of "TMJ," such as headaches, muscle pain, and even dizziness. Top cosmetic dentists address these problems. The frosting on the cake is that patients leave looking their very best.

Beauty Sleep

2007-12-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

Beauty Sleep
by: Cathy Gatson

Sleeping is a necessity, not a luxury. A good night's sleep is just as crucial to maintaining wellness as is a healthy diet and proper exercise.
The Importance of Sleep
Sleep is a restorative process. While we're sleeping, our brain is cycling through the 3 stages of sleep: light, deep and REM. Sleep restores, rejuvenates and energizes the body and brain. Our immune systems are recharged, cells grow and repair themselves, and our bodies conserve energy.

Dangers of Sleep Deprivation
Unfortunately, to many sleep is not valued. In this "open all night" society we now live in, four out of ten Americans are trading much-needed sleep hours for longer hours at the office, gym, club and other activities which seem more important or interesting. What they may not realize is that lack of sleep takes a toll on our mental and physical well being. Studies performed by the National Sleep Foundation show that even minimal sleep loss has a profoundly detrimental impact on mood, cognition, performance, productivity, communication skills, accident rates and general health. For optimal functioning throughout the day, the average adult needs between seven to nine hours sleep a night. According to the NSF, the American adult population functions on about six and a half hours of sleep per night.
Don't Sleep?
For some, lack of sleep is not a choice, but a condition. Millions of Americans suffer from insomnia. According to the NSF, a third of Americans are using over the counter or prescription sleep aids at night. If you suffer from insomnia, here are a few tips to help you get some shut eye:
• Pray before bedtime. The bible tells us to "Cast your burden upon the Lord. Don't go to bed with a heavy load. Give it to God. Remember Joy comes in the morning"
• Avoid caffeinated food and beverages like coffee, teas, soft drinks and chocolate 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.
• Exercise regularly, but complete your workout at least three hours before bedtime. Keep your body calm.
• Make sure your mattress is the right one for you. Flip your mattress over periodically.
• Develop a bedtime ritual. Taking a warm bath 90 minutes before bedtime will relax your body and usually make you feel sleepy.
• Make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable.
• Have a cup of warm milk.
• Play relaxing music.
• Go to bed and wake up the same time every day. When your sleep cycle has a regular rhythm you will feel better.
Be a Sleeping Beauty
A friend of mine once told me that a woman should present herself to her husband at bedtime like a present. Interesting…so I polled a few colleagues and found overall most husbands prefer their wives to be lingerie clad at bedtime. Nude came in a very close second and pajamas were considered very un-sexy. Wives preferred their hubbys wear only boxers to bed. Whatever your sleepwear preference, bedtime is the opportunity to prepare your mind and body for the rest it deserves. Here are a few more tips to help you sleep pretty:
• Always remove your makeup and cleanse your face thoroughly before bed (Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin). Going to bed without washing your face not only leads to mascara-stained sheets (Andrea Eye Q's eye makeup remover pads $3.50+ voted best by Allure Magazines 1999) but the dirt picked up during the day can clog pores and lead to acne.
• Brush and floss your teeth.
• Vaseline works wonders on rough spots while you sleep. Try it on feet, elbows, and knees and dab a little on your lips too.
• There are several night creams on the market now claiming to be more effective if applied at bedtime, here are a few to try: Lancome - Primoridale Intense Night Cream $41.50, Murad Perfecting Night Cream $41.50. If these prices are more than you normally spend then L'Oreal Age Perfect Night Cream and Oil of Olay ProVital night creams are available at Wal-Mart and Target. Prices range from $14 - $15.
• If you wrap your hair in a scarf at bedtime, remember to wash it regularly.
• Wear your fancy nighties to bed. Don't save them for a special occasion. You are a special occasion.
• After your bath or shower ritual slather on a lotion that relaxes you and helps you fall asleep like Origins Night-a-mins moisture lotion or Calm to Your Senses Body Souflee.
• Marilyn Monroe is said to only have worn Chanel No.5 to bed but if you prefer something a little lighter then Issey Miyake's L'Eau D'Issey Soothing Night Fragrance is a good pick.
Here's wishing you brighter days and more restful nights!
Cathy Gatson is a freelance writer and owner/operator of a hair and body salon located in Northern California.

Secret of Health & Beauty

2007-12-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

Secret of Health & Beauty
by: G.J Bajaj

AMLA, proudly known as 'Indian Gooseberry' has been the key constituent of many Ayurvedic formulations. And nowadays, it has been accepted by almost all medical branches as a result of extensive research carried at Germany, England, India, and various other countries.

IN AYURVEDA, importance of Amla has been ascertained from the experiments and experiences of ancient Rishi-Munis of India, namely Charak, Chyavan, Atreya, Kartik, Vrat Koumudi, and many others. Amla is considered one of the strongest rejunevatives (rasayana), particularly for blood, bones, liver, heart and skin.

q SOURCE OF NATURAL VITAMIN C : Amla is exceptionally rich source of vitamin C and powerful anti-oxidant. 100 gm. of Amla contains about 700 mg. of vitamin C, which is thirty times the amount found in oranges.

q VITAMIN C : Vitamin C is essential for making 'Collagen' in the body. Collagen provides much of the framework in the cell or tissues, just as the skeleton provides the framework for the body. Thus, Vitamin C plays the vital role in growth and repair of tissues in ALL PARTS of human body, and hence it is useful for treatment as well as prevention of so many diseases. It enhances the overall immunity.
" When your immune system is strong,
You get sick less often, and recover quickly."

q POTENCY OF AMLA : Research has shown that Amla is 12 times more assimilable and creates more potent medicinal effect than synthetic vitamin C, known as Ascorbic acid. Researchers have also shown that just 8.7 mg of natural vitamin C from Amla is equivalent to 100 mg of synthetic vitamin C. The synthetic vitamin C is missing vital nutrients such as Rutin, Bioflavonoids and the "J" & "K" factors.

q MODERN SCIENCES: The modern sciences too, have accepted the supremacy of Amla towards imparting health and beauty, due to its very high vitamin C content.
q UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE researchers, published the result of their study, based on a single measurement of vitamin C in the blood of 19,496 individuals aged 45 to 79 state that : as concentrations of vitamin C in blood plasma went up, the risk of dying from all causes went down.

This report in the March 3, 2001 issue of 'Lancet' state that the risk of death from all causes including heart disease, cut in half for individuals who have highest levels of vitamin C in blood. In the findings of Dr. Kay Tee Khaw, the high blood levels of vitamin C were associated with a decreased risk for cancer.

q AN ANTIOXIDANT : Oxidation is removal of electrons from the molecular oxygen and to convert it to an active form called as 'oxidant'. It has a tendency to acquire electrons and damage most cell structures by releasing DNA damaging free radicals. The Vitamin C in Amla is a well-known antioxidant, which is able to inactivate DNA-damaging free radicals, by releasing oxygen electrons. Thus vitamin C in Amla prevents the abnormal growth of cells in all parts of body.

q H.L.NEWBOLD, in his book "VITAMIN C AGAINST CANCER", has interviewed four Noble Prize Winner scientists, and professors from some of the world's best-known medical centers. He reports the latest findings about vitamin C as a promising new weapon in the battle against cancer- not only for treatment, but also for prevention. Few lines between the covers of his book have been quoted below:

…. (Nobel Prize Winner) Dr. Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron began an experiment with 1100 terminally ill cancer patients. The results: the 100 patients taking vitamin C had lived four times as long as 1000 control patients who received no added vitamin C.

…. cholesterol is broken down and eliminated as bile acids. Vitamin C is beneficial to heart patients.

…Mr. Cameron said that in terminally ill cancer patients treated with vitamin C : not only their lives prolonged, but also the quality of their lives was greatly improved during the time they did live. This freedom from pain was most important for terminally ill cancer patients.

…We (human beings) cannot make our own vitamin C.
…one should not wait for the application of vitamin C until one gets ill. We should take it all the time.

…like oxygen and water, vitamin C is an indispensable part of the life of every living creature on this globe.

q PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES: Amla is not only a wonderful antioxidant, but it has proven anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic, yeast inhibiting, nematicidal, anabolic, anti-hepatoxic, anti-hyperhidrosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, anti-spasmodic, hypolipidemic, and hypotensive relieving properties. It also acts as an antacid and anti-tumorganic agent. In addition, it increases protein synthesis and thus useful in cases of hypoglycemia.

q PREVENTIVE AND IMMUNITY ENHANCING, ANTI-AGING USES OF HEALTH FOOD : AMLA POWDER
HEALTH
1. Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, Intermittent fevers
2. Hyperacidity, Bilious vomiting, Gastritis
3. Ulcer, Jaundice, Hepatitis
4. Hemoglobin, Red blood cell count, Anemia
5. Cholesterol, Hypertension, Cardiac disorders
6. Diabetes
7. Ophthalmopathy, Cataract
8. Rheumatism, Osteoarthritis
9. Diarrhea, Dysentery
10. Gonorrhea, Spermatorrhea,
11. Sexual rejuvenation
12. Scurvy, Bleeding gums
13. Cancer
14. HIV
15. Heavy metal poisoning

q PREVENTIVE AND IMMUNITY ENHANCING, ANTI-AGING USES OF HEALTH FOOD : AMLA POWDER
BEAUTY
1. Premature graying and hair loss
2. Skin diseases, wrinkles on skin
3. Obesity
4. Anti-aging

q RECOMMENDED DOSES : Daily intake of dietary vitamin C
(According to U.S. RDA), are listed below :

Infants age below 1 year : 30 to 35 mg
Children age 1 to 14 years : 40 to 50 mg
Adolescent age 15 to 18 years : 65 to 75 mg
Men age over 18 years : 90 mg
Women age over 18 years : 75 mg

In accordance with above chart, as a HEALTH FOOD & BEST DIETARY SUPPLEMENT, about one teaspoonfull of vitamin c rich, quality Amla Powder is sufficient for enhancing general immune system. Daily doses of powder can be adjusted with the age.

As we cannot make our own vitamin C, and the body excretes any excess of the same, the regular intake of herbal Amla Fruit Powder is highly recommended for all the people.

Essentials of Facial Beauty

2007-12-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

Essentials of Facial Beauty
by: Kristine Llabres

Beauty regimens are normal for ladies for it is one way of maintaining their vivacity and prettiness. Women tend to apply several creams, lotions and use different soaps and beauty care liquids in order to attain their desired complexion or maintain their very own smooth and silky skin.

At this moment, not only women are meticulous and particular in their skin tone and looks but also men who are conscious of their appearance and how they will carry themselves and interact with other people.

Nowadays, a face pack does not only cleanse your skin and pores but it also helps in maintaining the tautness and balance of your skin. There are different face packs according to your skin type, so choose the one that suits you.

Dry Skin Pack
The dry skin is usually flaky and dull looking around the eyes and cheeks. That is why it needs to be motorized well. Wash your face with milk and oatmeal instead of ordinary soap since the milk moisturizes and nourishes the skin while the oatmeal acts as an exfoliate agent.

To have extra moisturizer, make a pack with a mixture of ten almonds, two spoons oatmeal, four tablespoons of full cream milk, two spoons china clay, juice of half a lemon and one mashed avocado. Apply it gently on your face then leave for twenty minutes. Dampen cotton wool with cold milk and wipe it off. Finally, splash your face with cold water and apply light moisturizer.

Oily Skin Pack
The oily skin has active sebaceous glands that secrete more oil leaving the skin greasy and dull thus it attracts a lot of dirt which then clogs the pores. It definitely needs a thorough cleansing routine to remove the surface grime and unclogged the pores.

You need a pack that rejuvenates, tightens and exfoliates skin. You can mash six strawberries with a teaspoon of Brandy, two spoons of breadcrumbs, two spoons of fuller’s earth and a few drops of rose water. Mix those well then apply a thick layer on the face and neck and leave it for twenty minutes.

Strawberries have Vitamin C and certain acidic properties they leave the skin sparkling clean. The breadcrumbs help to exfoliate dead skin while fuller’s earth will tighten the pores and brandy would help to add some glow.

Combination Pack
With this type of skin, usually the nose and forehead are oily then the eyes and cheeks are dry. Cleanse the center zone with an astringent while dab the rest of the face with cold milk then apply a pack made of half a cup of powered, dry peas mixed with three spoons of curd, juice of one lemon and half a cup of papaya pulp. Apply it then leave again for twenty minutes, after rinse off with cold water. Better still to rub an ice cube dipped in rose water over the T-Zone.

Always see to it that your face is clean, free from harsh chemicals and radiantly white and flawless. Avoid exposure in different pollutants and always be protected against ultraviolet rays. Take a lot of care and be extra beautiful inside-out!

Beauty and Romance

2007-12-02T07:32:00.000-08:00

Beauty and Romance
by: Frank Duru

Like any other society, Latin culture is one that is embedded with traditions, values and celebrations. Of all the different attributes that are associated with Latino's, there is no question that passion and romance are considered to be two of the most intriguing.

If you are of Latin descent and are interested in seeking a relationship with another Latin man or woman, there are many ways you can go about creating the perfect romantic dating experience, that both you and your date should be able to enjoy with no strings attached.

The following are a few ideas of how you can create romance on your dates:

Dinner - Dinner is always a perfect dating choice, because you can make it as casual or romantic as you would like it to be. It all depends on where you go, and the way you act during the meal. If you are interested in being romantic at dinner, listen intently to what your date has to say, take his or her hand from across the table, look them in the eyes and be honest when you express yourself. However, you should keep in mind that romance can be interpreted as an invitation to sex, or even make the other person feel uncomfortable if they are interested in taking it slow. Therefore, be a tasteful romantic and know when to draw the line. For although you want to capture your date's interest, you don't want to make them feel uncomfortable in the process.

Dancing - Dancing is a great way for you to have fun, while still getting to know and remaining close to your date. Going to a club, or attending Latin dancing is how you can keep the romance freely escalating without having any further expectations hanging in the air.

Walking - You would be surprised to discover the power behind a nice leisurely walk. There is something truly magical about making nature apart of your date. Although not everyone is fortunate enough to have a beach close to them, there is sure to be parks, waterfronts and old fashioned neighbourhoods awaiting your footsteps. Holding hands and talking on an evening stroll, watching the sunset in silence, and gazing up at the stars, are just some of the ways you can use simple beauty to add to the romantic atmosphere of your date.

Due to the fact that traditions are an important part of Latin culture, dating someone of your same ethnic background is usually a plus when it comes to family relations, especially if you are interested in perusing a serious relationship with your dating partner.

Nevertheless, despite your dating intentions, there are many ways you can make your dating experience a beautiful time that you can truly enjoy who knows where a little romance can take you.

Practical Steps

2007-11-27T02:28:00.000-08:00

Thera are ten practical steps to keep your innovation system alive & well (by Joyce Wycoff)

• Remove fear from your organization. Innovation means doing something new, something that may fail. If people fear failing, they will not innovate.
• Make innovation part of the performance review system for everyone. Ask them what they will create or improve in the coming year and then track their progress.
• Document an innovation process and make sure everyone understands it as well as his or her role in it.

• Build in enough looseness into the system for people to explore new possibilities and collaborate with others inside and outside the organization.
• Make sure that everyone understands the corporate strategy and that all innovation efforts are aligned with it. However, also create a process for handling the outlier ideas that don't fit the strategy but are too good to throw away.
• Teach people to scan the environment for new trends, technologies and changes in customer mindsets.
• Teach people the critical importance of diversity of thinking styles, experience, perspectives and expertise. Expect diversity in all activities related to innovation.
• Good criteria can focus ideation; however, overly restrictive criteria can stifle ideation and perpetuate assumptions and mindsets from the past. Spend the time necessary upfront to develop market and success-related parameters that will take you into the future.
• Innovation teams are different from “regular” project teams. They need different tools and different mindsets. Provide enough training and coaching so that when people are working on an innovation team, they can be successful.
• Buy or develop an idea management system that captures ideas in a way that encourages people to build on and evaluate new possibilities.

Environments in the Future

2007-11-27T02:23:00.000-08:00

In the dentist's office, there is a sign that reads: "You don't have to floss all your teeth, only the ones you want to keep." With a little re-working, this would be an excellent directive for the future of work: "You don't have to trust all your employees to work where, when and how they are most productive, only the ones you want to keep." TRUST is the key to optimizing creativity and performance and there are two sides to the equation:

1. If you (as management) do not trust employees to make wise decisions regarding freedom to work where, when, and how they are most productive Ü why are you employing them?
2. If you (as an employee) do not trust that your organization will provide the tools and encouragement to work where, when, and how you are most productive, why are you working there?

Before reading further, please take a moment to close your eyes and visualize what it would mean for you to have the freedom to choose the context for your work. What do you see? Are you working on a laptop on your sailboat? Talking on a cellular phone at the beach? Putting work aside to spend some time with your daughter when she comes home from school? Video-conferencing with colleagues around the world? Whatever you envision the future of work to be, it is likely that it involves three concepts:

1) performing work from outside the traditional office (telework);
2) working in a setting that is not the traditional office; and,
3) using technology that, for the most part, already exists today but is not being used to its fullest potential. Let's examine each future trend more closely.

How to writing

2007-11-26T00:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, Blog was ready and now must thinking about how to writing. As usual the writer wants to convince the readers and agree with the point of view.

After looking in somewhere, finally I got the answer and here it is:
Persuasion is generally an exercise in creating a win-win situation. You present a case that others find beneficial to agree with. You make them an offer they can’t refuse, but not in the manipulative Godfather sense. It’s simply a good deal or a position that makes sense to that particular person.
But there are techniques that can make your job easier and your case more compelling. While this list is in no way comprehensive, these 10 strategies are used quite a bit because they work.

Repetition
Talk to anyone well versed in learning psychology, and they’ll tell you repetition is crucial. It’s also critical in persuasive writing, since a person can’t agree with you if they don’t truly get what you’re saying.
Of course, there’s good repetition and bad. To stay on the good side, make your point in several different ways, such as directly, using an example, in a story, via a quote from a famous person, and once more in your summary.

Reasons Why
Remember the power of the word because. Psychological studies have shown that people are more likely to comply with a request if you simply give them a reason why… even if that reason makes no sense.
The strategy itself does make sense if you think about it. We don’t like to be told things or asked to take action without a reasonable explanation. When you need people to be receptive to your line of thinking, always give reasons why.

Consistency
It’s been called the “hobgoblin of little minds,” but consistency in our thoughts and actions is a valued social trait. We don’t want to appear inconsistent, since, whether fair or not, that characteristic is associated with instability and flightiness, while consistency is associated with integrity and rational behavior.
Use this in your writing by getting the reader to agree with something up front that most people would have a hard time disagreeing with. Then rigorously make your case, with plenty of supporting evidence, all while relating your ultimate point back to the opening scenario that’s already been accepted.

Social Proof
Looking for guidance from others as to what to do and what to accept is one of the most powerful psychological forces in our lives. It can determine whether we deliver aid to a person in need, and it can determine whether we muster the courage to kill ourselves.
Obvious examples of social proof can be found in testimonials and outside referrals, and it’s the driving force behind social media. But you can also casually integrate elements of social proof in your writing, ranging from skillful alignment with outside authorities to blatant name dropping.

Comparisons
Metaphors, similes and analogies are the persuasive writer’s best friends. When you can relate your scenario to something that the reader already accepts as true, you’re well on your way to convincing someone to see things your way.
But comparisons work in other ways too. Sometimes you can be more persuasive by comparing apples to oranges (to use a tired but effective metaphor). Don’t compare the price of your home study course to the price of a similar course—compare it to the price of a live seminar or your hourly consulting rate.

Agitate and Solve
This is a persuasion theme that works as an overall approach to making your case. First, you identify the problem and qualify your audience. Then you agitate the reader’s pain before offering your solution as the answer that will make it all better.
The agitation phase is not about being sadistic; it’s about empathy. You want the reader to know unequivocally that you understand his problem because you’ve dealt with it and/or are experienced at eliminating it. The credibility of your solution goes way up if you demonstrate that you truly feel the prospect’s pain.

Prognosticate
Another persuasion theme involves providing your readers with a glimpse into the future. If you can convincingly present an extrapolation of current events into likely future outcomes, you may as well have a license to print money.
This entire strategy is built on credibility. If you have no idea what you’re talking about, you’ll end up looking foolish. But if you can back up your claims with your credentials or your obvious grasp of the subject matter, this is an extremely persuasive technique.

Go Tribal
Despite our attempts to be sophisticated, evolved beings, we humans are exclusionary by nature. Give someone a chance to be a part of a group that they want to be in—whether that be wealthy, or hip, or green, or even contrarian—and they’ll hop on board whatever train you’re driving.
This is the technique used in the greatest sales letter ever written. Find out what group people want to be in, and offer them an invitation to join while seemingly excluding others.

Address Objections
If you present your case and someone is left thinking “yeah, but…”, well, you’ve lost. This is why direct marketers use long copy—it’s not that they want you to read it all, it’s that they want you to read enough until you buy.
Addressing all the potential objections of at least the majority of your readers can be tough, but if you really know your subject the arguments against you should be fairly obvious. If you think there are no reasonable objections to your position, you’re in for a shock if you have comments enabled.

Storytelling
Storytelling is really a catch-all technique—you can and should use it in combination with any and all of the previous nine strategies. But the reason why storytelling works so well lies at the heart of what persuasion really is.
Stories allow people to persuade themselves, and that’s what it’s really all about. You might say that we never convince anyone of anything—we simply help others independently decide that we’re right. Do everything you can to tell better stories, and you’ll find that you are a terribly persuasive person.
As I mentioned, this is in no way a complete list. What other persuasive writing strategies work for you?
Enjoy this post!