Archive for July 23rd, 2007
July 23rd, 2007 -- Posted in Portraits To Art |
Free Weight Loss Tip
Are you trying to lose weight but failing?
How about a couple of free weight loss tip that require very little thought…as a matter of fact, you don’t have to do much at all in order to implement them. There are no programs to follow, or diets to follow. Just follow these simple steps that will help you to lose weight each day.
The first thing you need to do in order to be successful with anything in life is get in the right mind set. If you are trying to balance your budget for example, you tell yourself that you are going to create a realistic budget and stick with it. The same is for weight loss. You are going to create a weight loss plan and stick with it.
Stay positive. This is vitally important. Once you begin a plan for losing weight you must absolutely stay focused. Temptation is at every corner so keep reminding yourself of what you are trying to accomplish….weight loss! This might mean hanging up a pair of pants that you want to fit into in 6 weeks in your bedroom. Keep some kind of motivation in front of you.
Make a realistic goal. Just like anything you do, goals are important. If you say you are just going to lose weight, then that is a very broad goal. Instead, make a goal to lose 5 lbs in the next 5 weeks. Then from there you can make a smaller goal to lose about a 1lb or more per week. Little goals will add up to one big goal in the end. Unrealistic goals will leave you defeated and unmotivated to continue once you realize how unattainable they are.
Make a plan. Now you are ready to achieve your goal of weight loss. You have got the right mind set and you have a goal in mind. Now, how are you going to get there? This is critical. You must have a plan. A plan is going to get you from your starting point to the ending point-lose 5lbs in 5 weeks!
Have a way to measure your progress. This is also key to your success. If you don’t keep track of your results from one week to the next, you could easily lose motivation because you don’t “see” the results. How excited you will be if you weigh yourself in week three and have lost 3 lbs? Will you be more motivated to lose those next 2 lbs? Of course you will.
If you want more weight loss tips or further motivation and information, head on over to http://provenweightlossreviews.blogspot.com/ and get motivated!
Eric is a health nut ever since he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and was told to lose weight. He has lost over 30 lbs in the past 9 months and his blood pressure is within normal range
By Eric Sage
July 23rd, 2007 -- Posted in Portraits To Art |
Acne Medicine, Isotretinoin - The Price Of Beauty
When Isotretinoin was first used as an acne medicine, it was hailed as the new wonder drug that could cure acne. But is it? Why is it not more widely used for everyone with acne then?
When 13-cis retinoic acid or isotretinoin first came out as an acne medicine, it was regarded as a wonderful new way of treating acne, especially severe acne. It appeared to be able to cure acne, especially the severe from known as cystic acne.
I have a friend who has very severe acne. She is actually quite pretty. Unfortunately, it is hard to notice that as the acne seems to take all the attention away from her features. It was so bad everyone could see the problem but nobody dared to talk about it for fear of upsetting her further. Her face was constantly looking red and inflammed. Scars had begun to form from the healing lesions. Her self-confidence was really low and she had tried everything to cure her acne.
One day, we noticed that she looked like she had a bad sunburn. Her face was dry and peeling and she looked quite uncomfortable. When one of us finally plucked up enough courage to ask her about it, she explained that she was on a new acne medicine.
This new acne medicine works by reducing the amount of the natural skin oils (called sebum) produced. It also works by having a peeling effect on the skin.
We asked if the drug had any side effects. She looked at us like we had asked her if elephants could fly. All medications have side effects, she said. Acne medicine is no exception.
I looked up the side effects of this wonder acne medicine. The list was quite shocking, to be honest. The first highlighted side effect was a warning that this drug can cause deformities in unborn babies. Under no circumstances should a patient who is pregnant or who has the possibility of getting pregnant take this drug. Effective contraception is a must.
Other side effects included dryness and soreness of lips, eyes, skin, liver and other major organs. Eyesight could be affected. Liver tests needed to be done to ensure there was no harm done to the liver. Even bloody diarrhoea was a potential side effect.
To add to the list of more side effects of this acne medicine, it could also increase blood fat and sugar levels. These too had to be monitored, especially in patients who had other problems such as high cholesterol and diabetes.
It could even cause depression, anxiety and mood changes.The list of warnings was longer than the paragraph on how this acne medicine worked !
Fortunately, the side effects were said to be short-lived and would be reversible if the medicine was stopped. However, we were worried as isotretinoin needed to be taken for at least 12 to 16 weeks.
This wonder acne medicine did not sound so wonderful to us. We did try to talk her out of it. She became unhappy, saying we did not understand how much she had gone through, suffering with her acne problem for years. She explained that with any acne medicine, one had to weigh the benefits and the risks. To her, the risks were worth the potential promise of a cure.
There are few lessons that can be learnt from this story. The first and most important is that while acne is not in any way a fatal disease, it can cause debilitating effects on its sufferers. It affects their self-confidence, the way they see themselves, the way others see them. It can control their lives. Acne has been known to cause depression in some, especially if it is severe.
Unfortunately, while there are acne medicines available, many have side effects. These medicines can cause problems in themselves.
However, in the end, it is the sufferer who must decide if the risks outweigh the benefits.
By Karen
About the Author
Karen Cheong has created a blog providing information on the various forms of treatment for acne. She also shares personal stories and those of her friends in the blog. To find out more, come visit http://www.acnemed.info/
July 23rd, 2007 -- Posted in Portraits To Art |
So Much to Do, So Little Time – Guide to Visiting Panama
So much to do, so little time! Scheduling a trip to Panama can be an adventure with so many choices of things to experience and when to go. There is so much to do in Panama that you would need an entire month of solid tourism to experience the abundance of beauty and culture Panama has to offer. Looking at the tiny isthmus on the map, you may think that there could not possibly be much worth exploring in Panama. Once you begin researching and making reservations in Panama, you will be amazed at the excitement and relaxation that can be found in the country.
For a retreat, you may visit one of the deserted islands in the San Blas Archipelago if you want to do absolutely nothing and worry about absolutely nothing for days. For a wildlife adventure, visit the Darien region and hike through untouched rainforest, where there is plenty to explore until you drop. If you prefer a more bustling scene, partying until the wee hours with the Panamanians or simply enjoying a beer and a good dinner by the water on the causeway, Panama has it. If you want to be one of the few that can say they went snorkeling in the Atlantic in the morning and took a dip in the Pacific before sunset, Panama is the place to do it.
In the small town of Boquete, you will find cooler temperatures that rarely reach above 22 degrees Celsius. The highest peak in Panama, the Volcano Baru, poses a challenge to any serious outdoorsman wanting to walk the same paths as the original settlers of the Americas.
Transportation is very affordable in Panama regardless of your preferred method of travel. There are buses that run from the city all over the country and all the way to the Costa Rica border every day, as well as daily flights all over the country and in some places up to four flights a day. If you don’t want to be on someone else’s schedule, then you may rent a car and drive where ever your heart desires. The infrastructure in Panama is very modern and easy to navigate. The main roads that take you from the east side to the west side of Panama are just like any four or six lane interstate in the US, and the speed limit will enable you to get to your destination much faster than in the states. Driving in Panama City can be a challenge sometimes, but all you need is a little patience and a good horn.
Of course we cannot neglect to mention one of the most significant attractions in Panama, the Panama Canal. Visiting Panama without seeing the Panama Canal is like going to China and not seeing the great wall. Watching the bulky vessels navigate through the locks is very impressive, and prompts us to wonder what these ships are carrying and how many of our own possessions have traveled through the canal on their journey to the store shelves and eventually into our homes. Whatever your heart desires, you will find it here in Panama; just make sure that you have plenty of time because you will not want to leave once you begin to discover what Panama has to offer.
About the Author: Laurie Cooper, of Cpanama Real Estate Corp., is an expert on Panama real estate. For more information, please visit http://www.cpanama.com
Author: Jon Ashurov
July 23rd, 2007 -- Posted in Portraits To Art |
Calcium: Supplement for Weight Loss?
Do you know that research suggests that calcium intake is an important factor in helping you lose weight and keep it off? The role calcium plays in bone health is well-known, but the idea that abundant calcium in the diet can help us maintain normal weight is likely a new concept for you.
In this article, I will tell you why calcium influences weight loss. You will also learn how to get more high-quality calcium into your diet. I will give you the inside story on the best calcium supplements and how to make sure you are absorbing the calcium you take in.
Calcium - Not Just for Bone Density
The idea that calcium intake may be related to body weight has been borne out by several studies in the past ten years. Studies in rats and mice suggest that higher calcium intake alters the metabolism of fat cells, causing less fat to be stored and more fat to be released.
Why would this be so? To find out, we need to go back to our hunter-gatherer origins. The Paleolithic diet contained an abundance of calcium - 2000 milligrams or more. Human calcium physiology is still tuned to that level of abundance. Therefore, if we don’t get enough calcium, it is a signal to our bodies that we are starving. That tells the body to slow down the metabolism, and to burn less fat, even if adequate calories are being consumed. Abundant calcium is a signal to the fat tissue that your body is well-nourished, and no longer needs to store fat, but can burn it. Fat storage is reversed, fat burning increased.
Another way calcium helps in weight loss is to help reduce cravings. The combination of high calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C has been proven to quickly reduce all kinds of cravings. People with the highest intake of calcium lost the most fat on weight control programs regardless of exercise level. Significant weight loss was even observed in overweight people who were not watching their diet, when they increased their calcium intake!
Here are some other reasons it is good to make sure you are getting plenty of calcium. Adequate calcium may play a role in increasing HDL (high-density lipoprotein) in the blood. It also has been given credit for; reducing occurrence of kidney stones, reducing risk of colorectal cancer, reducing fracture risk, and reducing age-related bone loss. Long-term calcium restriction and lack of vitamin D can promote high blood pressure, too.
Are You Getting Enough Calcium?
The average American typically consumes only 600- 700 milligrams of calcium per day, and many are well below that level. To increase calcium in your diet, partake of aged raw cheese, yogurt, and butter from grass fed cows. Cheeses made in Switzerland are made from raw milk and aged over 60 days, which increases the availability and absorption of calcium and other minerals contained in the cheese. Switzerland Emmenthaler and Gruyere are available in many supermarkets. Look for the red print on the rind which says it was made in Switzerland.
Other easy-to-obtain sources of calcium are some varieties of canned fish, such as sardines and salmon. Typically, they contain some very soft fish bones. While I don’t advocate consuming much canned food of any kind, canned fish are a convenient source that can add to your other sources. Once or twice a week is fine.
What to Look for in a Calcium Supplement
The best absorbed form is called calcium citrate. Avoid the oyster shell calcium. It can be contaminated with heavy metals. In a study where calcium gluconate, calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate were given together, the body absorbed 2/3 of the gluconate, 1/3 of the phosphate and none of the carbonate.
Other Nutrients that Help Calcium Absorbtion
Just taking a lot of calcium is not adviseable. Other nutrients that balance calcium intake and help calcium to be better absorbed are magnesium, vitamin A and D, boron, manganese, and potassium. Since magnesium is difficult to absorb, it is good to take a supplement. Cod liver oil is an excellent source of vitamins A and D. Boron and manganese are especially important. They can be taken in supplement form, and also are found in some foods. Foods that contain boron include apples, legumes, almonds, pears and green, leafy vegetables. Foods that contain manganese include ginger, buckwheat and oats.
To be absorbed, calcium requires vitamin D and stomach acid. For this reason, it’s important to avoid antacids and the H2 blockers such as Tagamet and Zantac, which block or suppress the secretion of stomach acid. Contrary to what the makers of heartburn and indigestion remedies would have you believe, the last thing in the world most people need is less stomach acid. Heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and a lack of stomach acid. Ulcers are caused by a bacteria, not by too much stomach acid. A simple way to improve your calcium absorption may be to take a betaine hydrochloride supplement just before or with meals, to increase your stomach acid. You can find it at your health food store.
In conclusion, supplementing with calcium and the co-nutrients that aid in its absorption are a good idea, especially if you want to lose weight. Make sure to provide the foundation of a wholesome diet and regular exercise for best results.
Ellen Landauer is a Health Seminar Leader and Coach with 3 decades experience, and a Certified Advanced Rolfer with a practice for over 25 years. Her mission is to empower people to achieve optimal health as a gateway to the joy of higher human functioning. Ms. Landauer has initiated a wholesale supplement program for a limited number of selected applicants.
For more information on the wholesale supplement program, optimal health and/or Rolfing, please visit http://www.healthfreedomcoach.com
You will find much helpful information, inspiration, and enjoyment at: http://wwwfibromyalgiachronicfatiguecom.blogspot.com
Ms. Landauer is presently conducting a Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Project in the form of a survey. You can take the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=376992536079
By Ellen Landauer
Copyright 2007 - Ellen Landauer. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all the links active, do not edit the article and give author credit.
July 23rd, 2007 -- Posted in Portraits To Art |
Travel Insurances
Travel Insurance Risk covered under travel insurance Travel insurance covers a wide arena of aspects and risks under which one can claim the monetary benefits. The international travel insurance is an excellent proposition to claim for any medical problems that happen while traveling. Details about Travel Insurance policies The travel insurance companies function like any normal insurance company that endows users with insurance policies. These policies can be bought in addition to mediclaim policies.
The consolidated health and travel policies are pretty advantageous. These insurance policies can be bought as per one’s requirement. Online booking of travel insurance It could be a combination of high value or cheap travel insurance policies. It is always advisable to remain on the safer side and getting a travel insurance policy made.
Travel Insurance
Travel health insurance is a legal policy that one can buy from a private firm or even the tour operator to compensate in terms of money if any sort of emergency is caused during any journey. One can claim insurance if any harm is caused to the baggage, vehicle or for even any sort of injury or death for that matter. It is a kind of financial cover through which one can claim benefits if any sort of loss is incurred during travel. These policies generally hold good even outside national boundaries.
Risk covered under travel insurance
Travel insurance covers a wide arena of aspects and risks under which one can claim the monetary benefits. If the ticket is cancelled and the booking has been done from an authorized centre one can claim compensation. Even if any delay is caused due to unforeseen circumstances, one can claim the insurance money. Most of the cases fall under the category of thefts and loss of luggage. Damage to any of the personal assets or possessions is surely one of the claim structures in the insurance policies. The international travel insurance is an excellent proposition to claim for any medical problems that happen while traveling. The risk factor of emergency evacuation and repatriation is also included in the policy. One can even claim the funeral expenses if the ceremony has to be held overseas. The service providers even include other add-on costs for adventure sports and travel to high-risk countries etc.
Details about Travel Insurance policies
The travel insurance companies function like any normal insurance company that endows users with insurance policies. These policies can be bought in addition to mediclaim policies. The consolidated health and travel policies are pretty advantageous. These insurance policies can be bought as per one’s requirement. These are generally claimed trip wise or in a yearly manner. There are various policy rates available for various age sects. For example, special incentives are provided for students and senior citizens. The travel insurances are generally inclusive of the motor insurance but still one must be careful enough and one must read the offer document carefully before investing. The annual travel insurance also provides cheaper traveling fares on selected modes of transport and can even be segregated on the basis of business or holiday travel.
Online booking of travel insurance
There are many agencies today that offer online booing of insurance policies. It could be a combination of high value or cheap travel insurance policies. Many seasonal and group-booking discounts are also provided to the interested party. The e-booking has eased the task to a very great extent and one can sit at home and provide oneself with foolproof safety. The companies adopt the concept of new-for-old replacements for policy renewal.
Be Safe! Be Happy!
One should always take the precautionary measures and get oneself and one’s belongings insured before any travel trip. It is always advisable to remain on the safer side and getting a travel insurance policy made. It surely doesn’t reduce the travel risk but yes does equip the family and the individual with a certain amount of security.
By tim
About the Author
Tim Haynes is a successful author and regular contributor to http://mytravelinsurance.wordpress.com/
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