Hollywood Weight Loss Secrets – Movie Star Personal Trainer Tells All!

Writen by Greg Ryan

In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work with some of the most famous movie stars in the world. As a manager and personal trainer of Kathy Smith’s health club I experienced first hand the secrets to the stars. Here are a few things they did to look like they do:

1. They never ate: One out of every four I would say had some sort of eating disorder. If they ate they thought they would get fat, or worse yet, NOT get the job!

2. They would only workout when they needed a job: They only thing that motivated them to exercise was how much the next job would pay them.

3. They had great plastic surgeons: If the weight didn’t come off naturally, they had a backup plan.

4. They exercised everyday only to crash and burn in the end! The only way they new how to go about it was full out for as long as they could.

5. They all had personal trainers: None of them had the motivation to do it on their own.

While you may be saying right now, that I am only joking about the five, but I am not. For the majority of the movie stars in LA this was a way of life. Now for a few, here was their secrets:

1. They cross trained: They put variety into their workout plans.

2. They never ate a lot of white flour foods: Most of their foods came out of the ground. Mostly natural foods!

3. They were more concerned with their body fat levels than their weight: They concentrated more on the balance of muscle to fat, rather than their weight.

4. They did a lot of stretching: Palates and yoga was very popular.

5. They spent a lot of times out doors working out: You may be surprise at the number of people that are in better shape exercise more outdoors.

In the end the ones who stuck to their programs were more of the last group than the first. More information on weight loss secrets can be found at www.resolutions.bz

LOSE WEIGHT NOW! FREE Mini Course here ==> http://www.resolutions.bz Discover the five step common sense way to lose weight. A formula the medical and fitness industry DON’T want you to know about!Greg Ryan best selling author of the Changing from the “INSIDE OUT” book series.

Basic Health Food

Writen by Michael Russell

Attitude. Let’s think about diet in general. The most basic attitudes are those expressed by the well-known statement, ‘Some people eat to live, and some live to eat.’

Eating is seen either as a means of self survival and a process that must be fulfilled in order to keep body and soul together, or eating is an exceptionally satisfying experience of the senses which must be indulged in at least 3 times a day and more often if possible, or eating is a necessary function of nature which is both pleasurable and functional and is therefore to be considered as part of our daily life and culture.

Depending upon your particular personal attitude, you will either follow the inclination to pay more mental attention to diet or you will prefer to remain in the present, but temporary, comfort of familiar tastes and habits, unconcerned as to your choice of food, its quality, good or bad, and its affect upon your health or your family’s.

If the sensory aspect of food is predominant then you will continue to eat and enjoy it with as little thought and consideration of the subject as possible. In fact you will find you will be more comfortable if you stop reading this article and resume what you were doing.

But ten to one you have found an interest in food has become focused because you realize it is not just sensory, but there are repercussions resulting from the type and quantity of food you eat. And in our affluent society the problem is more usually over indulgence rather than not enough food. In fact many people are so fat, yet instead of limiting their intake of food, are paying professionals to lose their weight for them! When there are people who are starving in other countries of the world we should never abuse our good fortune to replace our need with such greed.

If you can accept that in order to apply the natural rules for good health one must begin to consider that cutting down quantity is the first consideration, there is a chance that you will continue to read on.

Some Helpful Rules of Nutrition

1. The first discipline is to stop the habit in mid-stream. Cease reacting to habitual activity regarding your shopping for food and your preparation of food at mealtimes. This will bring about an opportunity for new interest in introducing new foods, re-thinking old habits, re-assessing what are necessities. Think about what you are purchasing and what you are eating. Decide to choose quality, not quantity.

2. We all know that our bodies require many vitamins, minerals, and natural substances to provide fuel for our physical and mental vitality; to build and maintain our body structure; and to sustain all the wonderful complexity of physiological function. We need lots of ingredients in the sense of a lot of variety in our food in order that our bodies have opportunity to select the ingredient they require.

3. Regarding balancing your selection of food, it is an interesting and reasonable premise that we must reduce the quantity of the foods we indulge in and eat most, because we like their tastes. Most nutritionists hear the common response to their advice to cut down on a particular food, for example, cheese – “Oh but I just love cheese!”

The other part of the discipline is to begin introducing the natural foods that we in the past have chosen to avoid. It is possible to apply this guideline to our advantage not only to increase our health and energy but in addition to extends our potential to enjoy a greater variety of food.

4. Quantity of food is often a problem in discipline. In developed countries, most of us eat far too much, so for some time we can reduce the quantity of our meals without losing any weight at all. The rule of one main meal a day may be different from our old habits, but will seem to be a luxury to those living in impoverished countries and circumstances. Try reducing your quantity as you improve the quality of your food.

5. Quality of food improves to the extent you stop and consider each purchase at the markets and to the extent that you can grow your own food organically, to complement the commercial supplies. What is the origin of the lettuce that your select, the fish, the fruits and nuts, the loin chops, the milk? There is nothing better than a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and produce as nature offers. Manufacturing and processing foods is always to the detriment of their food value. In other words, we are not buying the best quality unless we remember that rule.

6. Fresh food contains the vital nutrients. Cooking of any kind will affect these elements so cooking should be reduced to a minimum and salads, fruit and fresh food increased. One should not use aluminum cookware. Stainless steel is best.

Once anyone begins to think before eating, one is halfway towards solving the problem of diet – that is, by becoming discriminating. We have to intelligently choose to build our bodies of the chosen material. We know that whatever we eat today, to a large extent determines our health tomorrow. This is surely the simplest and best health insurance we could have. It does not rely upon chance but upon natural laws, which we can learn to live by.

To undertake responsibility for your health and others demands skill and serious recognition of the importance of your role. It is likely that your work will continue for many years so it is best to seek ways to enjoy food and its preparation as an art form. It requires skill and ability from the purchasing of good quality fruit and vegetables to the presentation of food at mealtimes.

And it does not stop here, without a reminder of the need for good digestion and to take the traditional health advice of 32 chews to every mouthful of food. Not only will this improve your digestion but increase your enjoyment through happier taste buds.

So, improve your own health and that of the whole family by taking a serious interest in food that will lead to many benefits, not only in better health for all, but it may help you to conserve your dollars also.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Nutrition

Child and Adolescent Liver Disease: Are We Creating the Next Generation of Transplant Recipients?

Writen by Alan Hood

Should we be so surprised at the epidemic of childhood and adolescent we are now facing? Were we unable to see that a diet consisting of hydrogenated and processed fats, fried foods and super-starches would not come back to haunt us? With childhood obesity already a pervasive problem we are learning about the related complications and diseases that this extreme condition is exacerbating in our children. At first the weight gain was a disturbing footnote in our modern world. But then we were introduced to childhood diabetes, heart conditions, and sky high cholesterol numbers. While serious in their impacts to a growing bodies health, their occurrence may take a back seat to what could be the greatest problem to encounter the collective declining health of our children. This emerging medical issue is known as Fatty Liver Syndrome.

What is Fatty Liver Syndrome?

Simply put conditions known as Fatty Liver Syndrome arise when the body’s liver starts accumulating fat. According to the Liver Society the statistical population numbers for Fatty Liver Syndrome are 10-20 percent. While the accumulation of fat in the liver is not normal, it in and of itself is not currently known to be harmful or cause permanent damage. One of the livers functions is producing a form of fat known as triglycerides. These are important for new cell production and are necessary to produce hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones. In the liver of a patient with Fatty Liver Syndrome, the liver cells accumulate large droplets of fat that consist of mostly triglycerides. In normal liver operation, fat from the diet is metabolized by the liver and other tissues.

If the amount of fat exceeds the body’s requirement, large fat accumulations may develop in the liver, which results in an increase in liver enzymes and inflammation. This inflammation can cause scarring and hardening of the liver (cirrhosis) and results in decreased liver function.

The types of Fatty Liver Syndrome

The disease popularly known as Fatty Liver Syndrome includes a range of liver conditions. There are listed here in the order of severity.

Fatty Liver (steatosis).

The most common condition. Fatty Liver Syndrome is the accumulation of fat in the liver cells. This condition typically does not result in damage to the liver and is not associated with other liver abnormalities. The scarring or inflammation of the liver typically is not present. Of the three conditions this one is asymptomatic with most patients unaware of their condition.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

The most common form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients who have NASH typically have an inflammation of the liver as a result of its accumulation of fat. At this point the liver may not have scarring present. If left untreated NASH may lead to cirrhosis. According to the Liver Society NASH affects 2 to 5 percent of Americans

Cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is the result of an inflammation left untreated for years. The danger occurs if it may progresses into cirrhosis of the liver. At this point the liver will more than likely have scar tissue. A liver with Cirrhosis encounters progressive and irreversible liver damage.

What causes it?

As with many liver ailments the most common cause of fatty liver syndrome is alcohol abuse. But this may soon be eclipsed by its non-alcoholic variety, steatohepatitus (NASH) In all varieties of steatohepatitis the condition is brought on or aggravated by malnutrition, obesity, diabetes mellitus, Hepatitis C virus, Wilson’s disease, hyperlipidemia or endocrine disorders, and Reye’s syndrome in children. There is also a rare, but serious, form of fatty liver that begins late in pregnancy which has the possibility of leading to jaundice and liver failure. In the real of non-dietary causes, Fatty Liver Syndrome may be caused by certain drug overdoses or chemical poisonings. Some of the medications and substances that can cause fatty liver include amiodarone, methotrexate, high doses of vitamin A, tetracycline, cortisone, phosphorus, prednisone and carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride is one of the chemicals that can injure the liver in a way that makes the liver cells accumulate fat.

This sounds so familiar, where have I heard this before?

Even for those of you that are hearing about this for the first time the subject of the liver and fat seems oddly familiar. Ever hear of foie gras? That’s French right? Yes, Martha it’s French all right, French for fatty liver! (For those of you doubters translate the words “fatty liver” via the Google Translate tool into French and see what you get.) Even the beer&BBQ types know that to make foie gras you funnel a large amount of fat down some French goose’s throat! The liver grows twice the size of normal and before the goose becomes a patient in the French healthcare system he is boxed up by some French Pate house. For those of you who have connected the dots, we are basically turning ourselves in to human pate. The “fatting up” process is something of our own design and own freewill. We trade cages for lazyboys, and the quacking for the bleeps of video games.

Most people are familiar with cirrhosis of the liver, and typically attribute this disorder to the long term effects of alcohol. The heavy use of alcohol leads to fatty liver and inflammation called alcoholic hepatitis, but known to the majority of the population as cirrhosis of the liver.

Symptoms of NASH or Fatty Liver

Most individuals diagnosed with these conditions previously exhibited little if any symptoms or complaints. Some individuals do experience symptoms and here is a brief list:

Jaundice, right-side abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and fever overall itchiness, and small yellow skin nodules,

How is it diagnosed?

Fatty Liver Syndrome and NASH are usually detected as the result laboratory tests yielding abnormal data. In a majority of the situations the lab work was being performed for unrelated issues. In other cases the liver is tender upon examination and is found to be enlarged. The typical results from laboratory tests include the elevation of liver enzymes. These enzymes are typical AST and ALT. If you results are severe enough to warrant testing your doctor my recommend an ultrasound. Other imaging methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Ultimately it is a physical examination (if needed) that confirms the condition of Fatty Liver Syndrome or NASH. This examination is consists of a microscopic examination of a sample of liver tissue (biopsy).

How is it treated?

As of this moment treatment for fatty liver syndrome consists of eliminating or treating the cause of the condition. It is believed that most cases of fatty liver syndrome are reversible. As with many curable diseases and disorders fatty liver syndrome is reversible if caught early in its development stages. Regardless of the background cause it should be the goal of the patient to develop a healthy diet. Since there are no miracle drugs associated with NASH or Fatty Liver Syndrome, people are looking to vitamin and mineral supplements as components in healing. If left untreated, NASH and Fatty Liver Syndrome can result in severe liver damage. In cases like these, the patient may eventually require the extreme measure of a liver transplant.

How can Fatty Liver Syndrome be avoided?

To avoid fatty liver adopt and follow these guidelines:

Follow a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet Exercise regularly to maintain an ideal weight.

Establish a regimen to insure your body is receiving the necessary and essential vitamins and minerals.

Avoid alcohol Review medications to ensure that they aren’t toxic to your liver.

Have blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked regularly

Nutritional causes are treated by impacting the availability of fat and modifying how it enters the liver. As many nutritional causes tend to be rooted in diet deficiencies this can be accomplished by providing available carbohydrates or by adding protein to overcome complete or large deficiencies. ( See South Beach Diet)

Proteins are used to make lipoproteins to carry cholesterol and fats. (Also see South Beach Diet) Doses of L-carnitine, Lecithin, Zinc, and Choline are also increasingly being recommended for patients.

Vitamins, Herbs, and Minerals

There are many well known and traditional vitamins, herbs, and minerals that may help the body deal with liver issues. The following is a list of items that are increasingly being studied in regards to fatty liver syndrome. Always talk with your doctor regarding your supplement and vitamin intakes.

Choline Choline is an essential nutrient that is found in foods, principally in the form of phosphatidylcholine but also as free choline. An association between a low-choline diet and fatty infiltration of the liver in rats has been documented for quite some time. Choline is a lipotrope, which is a substance that prevents deposition of fat in the liver.

Inositol Inositol is primarily used in the treatment of liver problems. It also aids in the breakdown of fats and helps in the reduction of blood cholesterol. It is necessary for the formation of lecithin and functions closely with Choline, folacin, Vitamins B-6 & B-12, betaine, and methionine to prevent the accumulation of fats in the liver.

Lecithin Lecithin is largely composed of choline, plus linoleic acid and inositol. It acts as an emulsifying agent, enabling fats and other lipids to be dispersed in water.

L-carnitine L-Carnitine is a water-soluble, B-vitamin-like nutrient that the body uses to turn fat into energy.

Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Composed of three flavonoids: primarily Silybin and minor amounts of Silydianin and Silychristin, which support liver function by raising protective glutathione levels. Milk Thistle is one of the more well known herbs to benefit the liver.

SAMe It has been suggested that SAMe acts as an “intracellular control switch” which regulates hepatic cellular regeneration, differentiation, protects against oxidative stress, and hepatotoxin exposure. (1) Lowered SAMe levels are suspected to lead to steatosis and steatohepatitis. (2)

Zinc Zinc is necessary for the metabolism of selenium. Both selenium and zinc found to be reduced in patients with Hepatitis C.

Household chemicals and Fatty Liver

If you have been diagnosed with Fatty Liver syndrome it is extremely important that you limit exposure to everyday chemicals that are already noted for their toxicity to the liver. It is important to use gloves or adequate protection when utilizing these chemicals in order to limit absorption. The following is a brief list of household chemicals that you should exercise care around:

Chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons

Found in: Paint Thinner

Can cause liver and kidney damage.

Naphthalene

Naphthalene Also Known As: 1-methylnapthalene, and 2-methylnapthalene May be Found in: Mothballs, Moth Flakes, Toilet Bowl Cleaners, Deodorant Blocks for toilets and diaper pails

Para-Dichlorobenzene

Para-Dichlorobenzene also known as: para-DCB, p-DCB, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene Para-Dichlorobenzene is a probable carcinogen that can also harm the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.

Perchloroethylene

Also Known As: tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents, PCE

Found in: Dry Cleaning Fluid, Spot Removers, and Carpet Cleaners Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested. Can accumulate and persist in human fatty tissues and breast milk.

Phenol and cresol

Found in: Disinfectants

May cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage

Toluene

Also Known As: methylbenzene

Found in: Adhesives, Nail Polish, Cosmetics, Rubber Cement, Paints, Paint Thinners, Lacquers, Stain Removers, Dyes and Inks. toluene in highly toxic, may cause skin, kidney, liver, central nervous system damage; may damage reproductive system.

(1) Matt JM, Corrales FJ, Lu SC, Avila MA. S-adenosylmethionine: a control switch that regulates liver function. FASEB J 2002; 16:15-26.

(2) Rozenthal P, Biava C, Spencer H, et al. Liver morphology and function tests in obesity and during total starvation. Am J Dig Dis 1967; 12:198-208.

Read more about Fatty Liver Syndrome in Children and Adults. Alan Hood is a contributing writer at Houston Medical Center

Guide to the Barbell Hack Squat

Writen by John Gibb

The barbell hack squat allows for the benefits of weighted squats to be utilized with an emphasis on safety over the traditional barbell squat. This exercise works the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus maximus. It’s important to use good form when doing any type of lifting.

For this reason it’s strongly recommended to have a spotter present. Not only can a spotter help you when you reach muscle fatigue, but they can also help motivate and guide you in using proper technique.

To begin this exercise, stand in front of a barbell with your selected amount of weight. Your legs should be just in front of the barbell. Enough so that it easy for you to bend down and grab the bar.

Keeping your back straight, squat down and grab the bar. Your hands should be wide enough for your arms to feel comfortable while standing with the bar in your hand. You’ll also want to grasp the bar with your palms facing behind you. Remember to keep your elbows slightly bent as well.

Begin the lifting the bar by standing, extending your legs. Your arms shouldn’t move during this motion. Keep your back straight and stand, making sure not to lock the knees. Bend the legs and return to the beginning position. Once a set is started, the bar should not touch the ground again until the repetitions for that set are complete.

John Gibb manages http://www.weight-lifting-4u.com The site dedicated to weight lifting.

Bird Flu: A Historical Perspective

Writen by Niall Cinneide

Recent outbreaks have put avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu disease, at the center stage of the global health community. From relative anonymity, the disease acquired notoriety for itself when it claimed more than fifty human lives. The deaths from bird flu disease are relatively small when compared to the number of deaths from other diseases. However, the possibility of a global pandemic is serious enough that deaths caused by bird flu warrant a closer examination and alarm.

Another pandemic waiting to happen

Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the world is ripe for another influenza pandemic. An influenza pandemic occurs roughly every 30-40 years. The last influenza pandemic, which originated in Hong Kong in 1969, claimed 34,000 lives in the United States and even more in the Asian region. Although the viral subtype of the disease is still in circulation, the human body has already developed antibodies for it.

Historical precedence is not enough of a basis towards setting off global alarm bells. However, the patterns seen in the outbreaks point to the possibility of another influenza pandemic. There are an increasing number of cases wherein humans have been infected with the bird flu virus and the death toll from the disease is now more than 50.

One of the first signs of an impending pandemic is the crossing over of the disease from birds to humans. WHO is closely keeping its eye on the occurrence of a first case of human to human transmission of the bird flu virus. The human to human transmission of the disease will pose greater risks of infection to humans, which would effectively signal the start of a pandemic. To date, there are no recorded cases of bird flu being transmitted from an infected human to another.

To date, all human cases of bird flu were contracted by victims after having direct contact with infected animals and their secretions. However, the global health community is very much concerned because the bird flu virus mutates easily and is constantly evolving, and the first human to human transmission of the virus may just be around the corner.

Three global influenza pandemics: a brief history

Three major influenza pandemics have occurred: in 1918, 1957 and 1968. The first pandemic, the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919, had the highest mortality among the three pandemics. In less than a year, 20 to 40 million people died from the Spanish Flu, with over 50,000 lives claimed in the United States alone. Simultaneous outbreaks of the Spanish Flu were first detected in Europe and some parts of the United States. The infection spread to more areas through ships that traveled between the United States and Europe. Asia and Africa were eventually affected. The first wave of the pandemic was highly contagious although it was not deadly. The second wave, however, was deadly and occurred shortly in France, Sierra Leona and United States. It registered a ten-fold increase in mortality.

In 1957, a second pandemic occurred. Called the Asian Flu because it was first detected in Hong Kong and Singapore, it was much milder than the Spanish Flu, claiming between one and four million lives. When the second pandemic hit, the people were more prepared and knew what to expect. This was due largely to the world’s experience with the first pandemic. The Asian Flu virus was soon isolated in Japanese and Singaporean laboratories. The findings helped the World Health Organization alert the world about the onset of a pandemic and vaccines were immediately produced and distributed.

The most recent influenza pandemic happened in 1968 and lasted for a year. Dubbed as the Hong Kong Flu, it was first detected in China and later spread to Hong Kong where it escalated at an alarming rate. Like the Asian Flu, the Hong Kong Flu claimed between one and four million lives. It reached Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, particularly California.

Acne – Prevent Acne In A Sure And Simple Way

Writen by CD Mohatta

Preventing acne in sure and simple way sounds little far fetched, isn’t it? We have started believing that acne cannot be prevented. But let me tell you something by which you can be pretty sure that you will prevent it. This is how…

Acne – what are the main reasons of formation?

The main reasons of acne formation are- blocked pore, excess production of sebum, infection in the sebum and the gland. Suppose we don’t care about controlling sebum production. After all there is not much that we can do about that because it is hormonal. We focus our attention on the blocked glands. Let us remove the blocks daily. If we can do that, the excess sebum will always go out on the skin and never get infected. Our target should be- keep the pores open. What blocks the pores? The pores are blocked by the dead skin cells, that should normally get shed naturally but accumulate on the mouth of the gland and block it.

Acne – How to remove dead cells daily?

How do we remove the dead cells daily? Use of a substance that peels the skin layers from the top is best suited for this. Use of materials that dissolve the binding cement of dead cells is also needed. Peel off the top layer of dead cells. Dissolve the bond between dead cells and make them lose so that they can be easily washed away. Use of retinoids such as tretinoin and use of AHA such as glycolic acid regularly will do this easily. Please consult your doctor about this and ask for the right product. Once you keep the pores open, you will be effectively stooping acne production.

Know more about what causes acne – How acne forms?

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

C.D. Mohatta writes articles on skin, hair and nail – problems, treatments and care. For more information about how to have good skin, hair and nails that looks young and blemish free, please visit http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ You will also find solutions to wrinkles, scars, facial rejuvenation, latest laser treatments, skin blemishes and spots, hair care and hair loss and about keeping healthy nails. This site is dedicated to keep you healthy and make you look good. For keeping yourself young and healthy at all the ages find out more about the skin, hair and nail problems and how to cure them.

How to Stay Healthy in a Hi-Tech World

Writen by Carla Rieger

Computers have changed our world but not without a price. Some of us are getting out of balance. Problems associated with computers are CDT (Cumulative Trauma Disorder), RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), or the worst SOZS (Spaced Out Zombie Syndrome). As with television, you can become addicted to a computer. You sit down at your computer, and seven hours later you finally notice your rear end is numb, your neck and shoulders are in a vice, you are hungry, thirsty, tired, and your spouse has left with all the kids. How did that happen? Where did your mind go? And why did you accomplish so little in that time?

Much has been said about how to support yourself physically on the computer. Invest in a good chair, maintain erect posture, use a wrist rest, and use an anti-glare screen. But what about proper mental and emotional support? For example, if you look at a two-dimensional screen at close range for many hours, it can limit your binocular vision, depth perception and peripheral vision. The constant hum of electronic equipment can switch off auditory skills. These imbalances can cause you to over focus, and become so engrossed in the details of what you are doing on screen. Consequently, you lose track of the big picture, your priorities and goals. Also, the electromagnitic field of a computer can negatively affect body meridians, which in turn affect energy, mind and emotions.

Below are some tricks you can use to stay alert, creative, positive, productive, clear and healthy on computer. Take a 3 minute break every half hour. Set up a timer that will go off reminding you to break. Here are some ideas that will re-balance your system. Try a different one each time:

Drink water: Electrostatic energy around a computer can dehydrate you, which significantly slows down the firing of synapses in your brain. Drink a least 8 oz of water for every hour you are in front of a computer.

Reconnect head & heart: This two minute exercise helps re-energize your mind, moves you out of confusion and helps you feel more positive. Sit in a chair, cross your legs at the ankle, then cross your arms at the wrist and interlace your fingers. Sit like this with your eyes closed breathing deeply for one minute. Then uncross your legs and arms and sit with your fingertips touching for another minute. This second pose is called The Spock Pose.

Neck rolls: Tight neck and shoulders can impair binocular vision and binaural hearing. Roll your head from side to side letting your chin drop to your chest. Go slowly and breathe deeply.

Gaze into the distance: Go to a window and scan the horizon taking in three dimensional shapes off in the distance. This will balance out your vision.

Stretch: Constricted hamstrings, sacrum, spinal support muscles and shoulders can directly effect your mental functioning. Take a few minutes to lengthen these muscles. A great yoga pose to do this is the downward facing dog. Bend forward at the waist and place your hands flat on the floor about three feet in front of you, so that your body is in a V-shape. Keep you feet flat on the floor if possible.

Fun: Fun restores emotional balance. Dance, sing, play solitaire (not on computer, use real cards), hug a tree, go visit a co-worker (don’t e-mail them), play with your pet, call a friend and compliment them on something, read cartoons, look in the paper for a movie to see tonight, plan a trip to the tropics.

Be easy on yourself. Working on a computer can trigger certain debilitating belief systems such as perfectionism and the need for completion. Notice when you hear yourself saying “I’ll just finish writing these last four e-mails”, then I’ll take a break. Create a list of Anti-Zombie Techniques nearby, such as the ones listed above, or add some of your own. Pick one thing on the list and go do it for three minutes. Tiny breaks throughout your day will ensure survival and success on your high-tech adventures.

How to Shift Gears, Change Careers, and Become a Yoga Teacher, Part 1

Writen by Paul Jerard

Do you enjoy practicing Yoga? Does teaching Yoga seem like your ultimate dream job? Does the thought of becoming a Yoga teacher feel like a “calling from within?” How would you pay your bills teaching Yoga? If your life mission is becoming a Yoga teacher; let’s look at a few practical solutions to your obstacles.

If you feel like a “fish in water” during a Yoga class you are not alone. However, when teaching Yoga becomes your own long-held aspiration, your spirit will not be fulfilled in the “daily grind.” You begin to feel frustrated in commuter traffic, and during office hours, when your dream job of teaching Yoga seems out of reach. So what do you do next – if you really want to become a Yoga teacher?

Apparently, you are focused on your goal, so you are far ahead of the majority of people who do not have a clue about what they really want. Here is a formula, and sequence of events, for you to consider: Focus, action, plan, envision, pace yourself, and goal realization.

Focus: It seems like you already are focused on becoming a Yoga teacher, but you should do some research on what teaching Yoga is really like. The types of Yoga teacher training courses will vary, according to style, hours required, on-site training, or correspondence course. Also, the preparation for a 90-minute Yoga class is something the average Yoga student is unaware of.

Action: Most of the world’s population never gets to this point. Most people fall into a “rut” and never take any action to move forward. This requires even more research about what you plan to do, how you plan to teach Yoga, and who you plan to teach Yoga to.

Plan: Write your goals down and only share them with people you can trust. Look at your goal of becoming a Yoga teacher as often as possible. Write down the exact chain of events required for you to become a Yoga teacher.

Envision: Visualization is important in reaching any goal. When you practice meditation, you should see, feel, hear, and possibly smell, what your new career of teaching Yoga will be like.

Pace Yourself: There is a saying, “Rome was not built in a day.” If you try to get to your goal of teaching Yoga too quickly, you will “burn out” along the way. Life is a journey, not a race; “stop and smell the flowers” along the way.

Goal Realization: Once you become a Yoga teacher, do not “rest on your laurels.” Continuing education will be an important and valuable part of your life. A Yoga teacher is a student of healthy living for life.

© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Change Your Eating Habits

Writen by Rudy Silva

Because all of us have been brought up eating junk food, well most of us, it is not easy to change our eating habits. Your eating habits have developed since childhood based on what your mothers or fathers cooked and what your psychological make-up was during that time.

The foods you eat and crave help keep pass trauma and present anxiety in check. Food helps make you feel good when you start to feel bad. Eating is a natural defense mechanism that the brain-body uses to keep you from going crazy.

So, you see, it is very difficult to change our eating habits. When we do, we start to feel bad. We start to feel uncomfortable, we feel pain, we have withdrawal symptoms, and we may feel sick. Is it any wonder that any of us ever succeed in changing our eating habits.

I consider every thing that has been packaged to be junk food. There are a few exception and you need to read ingredient labels carefully. Very few food manufacturers and even restaurants prepare food with your health in mind. Of course, they want to satisfy you, but they don’t use foods that are in your best interest.

Most people eat junk food 85% of the time and then eat good food the other 15%. It should be the reverse of this – eat good food 85% and junk food 15% of the time.

To have better health, here are some foods to stop eating. Eliminate these foods over the next two to three weeks.

* Milk (non-fat or no-fat also) – is a mucus and acid forming food. Milk creates mucus in the body and makes the lymph liquid (we will talk about lymph later) in your body acidic, which attracts parasites and other pathogens.(In the place of milk almond milk or goats milk) Cancer thrives in a body that is acidic.

* Bread – white bread is also acid and mucus forming. It is also more difficult to pass through the colon and gives rise to constipation.

Sugar the #1 food additive. Sugar is in most of all the products that you buy.

* Sodas (regular or diet)- are extremely high in sugar or artificial sugar – 7 teaspoons per can. Most people drink over 35 gallons per year. Sugar is a body poison and leads to many disease – diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and osteoarthirtis and so on.

* Sugar, also, depletes your B-vitamins and calcium and magnesium from your bones and teeth.

* In addition, since sodas are in aluminum cans, aluminum can go into the soda because most sodas contain phosphoric acid. Aluminum has been associated with senility and Alzheimer disease.

* Calcium is also leached from your body to neutralize the phosphoric acid.(its healthier to drink juices of all kinds) There is just no way around it. Sodas suck health right out of your body.

* Regular salt (NaCl) – excessive salt intake is related to high blood pressure, edema, and imbalances in the minerals in your lymph liquid. Sodium, Na, in salt attracts water so the more sodium you eat that more water your body will hold. (use sea salt, it has 25% less sodium, use low salt soy sauce, and herbs to flavor your food)

* Most people eat too much salt – over 10,000 milligrams per day. We only need around 200-300 mg per day.

* Excess salt is also in involved with kidney problems, cardiovascular disease, stomach cancer, and excess sensitive to stress.

* Get your Sodium from eating vegetables that are high in sodium. When you get your salt from vegetables it is organic salt, which does not have the same effect in your body as inorganic salt from a shaker. You need a lot of organic salt or Na in your body. Your stomach is a Na organ. It needs organic salt, Na, to keep its lining from being eaten by the hydrochloric acid in your stomach – an ulcer.

* Foods high in organic sodium are apples, apricots, asparagus, greens, red cabbage, carrots, celery, dulse, egg yolks, figs, fish, raisins, prunes, and lentils.

For the next two weeks try adding the following foods to your eating habits.

* lecithin – is 30-40% choline which is used throughout your body. This is why you want to include it in your diet.

* choline is one of the main chemicals in our cell membrane.

* It is used in our brains to create the neurotransmitter acytlcholine which is required for thinking and memory. Consider lecithin brain food.

* It is used by the liver which helps to prevent a fatty liver. A fatty liver prevents you from losing weight around your belly.

* it helps to break up fats into tiny goblets so that they are easily digestible and will reduce your cholesterol.

* it helps to keep cholesterol from clinging to your artery walls.

* flax seed oil – is an essential oil, omega 3. This means your body does not make it and it is necessary for you to eat it so that you can live without illness or pain.

* it helps to detoxify the liver

* it stimulate the production of bile. Remember that bile helps to breakdown fat so that the liver can better metabolize it.

* stimulate the body to burn fat.

* apple juice and apples – are high in vitamin A, in Potassium and have other minerals that strengthen the blood. They contain malic and tartaric acids, which keep the liver healthy and promote good digestion. Apples help you to lose weight by providing fiber and keeping you regular.

* fiber – you need 30-35 grams of fiber every day. Most people only get up to 10-15 grams. Fiber is one foods that reduce your transient time in the colon. Fiber helps to keep your colon clean, reduce cholesterol, remove toxins from your body and eliminate constipation. There you have it. If you can accomplish these changes in one year, you will notice a big difference in the way you feel and the health that you have.

Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called “Natural Remedies That work.” You can subscribe to his newsletter and read some of the back issues, which give you information of how to have better health. Read his latest newsletter at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/nl-111.html

How Do I Know If I Have Bipolar Disorder And What Should I Do About It?

Writen by Kitty Barker

What is Bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that manifests itself in a person through ups and downs in moods and energy levels. Many a time, it is confused with depression and sporadic mood swings. However, it must be understood that bipolar disorder is not a state of mind. It is a brain disorder – a mental illness which is long term. Till now, no permanent cure has been found for the same. What is it all about thenread on!

Bipolar disorder causes the victims to swing between two entirely different moods. Sometimes, they might be extremely euphoric and excited. Other times, they will be melancholy and dejected. As the word bipolar rightly indicates, there are two parts – mania and depression. Apart from mood swings, other symptoms include going on a spending spree, reduced need for sleep, increased feeling of sensuality and sexual drive, easy irritability, abysmal faith in oneself and so on. The disorder is fairly entrenched if there is an urge to commit suicide or lack of willingness to live. If you have any friends/relatives who keep talking about their lack of desire to live, then its time to rush them to a doctor.

How does bipolar disorder occur?

How does bipolar disorder occur? A lot of it has got to do with genes. Genetically, bipolar disorder gets transferred to the next generation. However, research also shows that it is not merely genetic. For, if one of the identical twins has the disorder, the other necessarily doesn’t. Thus, it is a combination of genes plus other factors. Unfortunately, there are no medical tests that can detect bipolar disorders. No scan or blood test can help. The disorder can be diagnosed only through an understanding of the symptoms, family medical history, environment and so on.

The disorder can occur among children, adolescents, and the old. Among children, there is a chance that diagnosis is slightly more difficult because it may be confused with other typical behavior of children like hyperactivity due to lack of attention, consistent disobedience, irritability and so on.

Can bipolar disorder be treated?

Yes, it sure can. It is seen that those patients who obtain treatment achieve stabilization in their mood swings. They realize that they have a mental illness but cope with it well and lead normal lives. Treatment is done in two ways – medication and psychosocial therapies.

In the case of medication as a treatment, mood stabilizers (medicines with the ability to stabilize mood) are administered for a period of time. The frequency and duration of medicines would vary from person to person. The top most used medicine in this category is Lithium. It is safe to use Lithium even among children and adolescents.

The second type of treatment is the psychosocial therapy. Here, the patient is generally spoken to and counseling is done. While a physician would be able to prescribe the necessary medication, it would be advisable to take the help of a psychiatrist from the beginning of the treatment.

Before going in for any treatment, there needs to be complete discussion among the patient, his/her family and the physician/psychiatrist. For example, if a pregnant woman suffering from bipolar disorder takes mood stabilizing medicines, it might affect the to-be-born. Some of the side-effects may include weight gain, hair loss, lack of sexual drive and so on. When such adverse side effects can be seen, the patient needs to approach the physician and with the psychiatrist’s advice, change the dosage and course of medication.

Other than medication and psycho social therapy, a third form of treatment can also be used for those with chronic disorder. This is called the Electroconvulsive therapy which can be used when medication or the psychosocial therapy do not work. It could also be used when the disorder is more severe leading to suicidal tendencies.

Conclusion

There is nothing to fear if you are affected with the disorder. All you need is speaking to the physician next door, taking your psychiatrist into confidence. Follow the prescribed medication and treatment; you will notice a world of a difference. If you are a person living with someone with a bipolar disorder, do not panic. Seek appropriate medical help and persevere. You will be the one they will derive strength from. Be sure that you provide continued support even after the treatment is over.

Author: Kitty Barker – Kitty often writes for and with Depression-Assistance. You can also see more information on this subject at Manic Depression – should this link be inactive, you can paste this link to your browser – manic-depression-assistance.com/