Your Secret Weapon in the Weight-Loss Battle

Ice Bath Weight Loss Your Secret Weapon in the Weight-Loss Battle.

The first thing, of course, is to commit to losing weight. If you're uncommitted, then no system will work, and it's probably why you are still carrying the fat and maybe adding to it. First, you have to decide that you are fed up (ha!) with lugging it all around and having clothes look lumpy, and having bathing suit season bring on feelings of terror and desperation, and feeling ashamed and guilty about your fat.  You absolutely must commit to the idea that you are in control of what goes into your body. Once you do that, the rest is amazingly easy.

Commit

A few honest soul-searching minutes naked in front of a mirror will help you get started. The harder you find this is to do, the happier you will be with the outcome it's going to give you. Take handfuls of your fat (yes, I mean it) and see how you feel about it. Imagine the fat gone. Imagine the body underneath the fat, the you that is cloaked in this overcoat of fat, and decide that you're going to set it free. Whenever you feel yourself wavering in confrontation with a bread basket or a platter of fried chicken, summon up this moment. Rekindle your commitment to the emerging you.

Study

At first, don't change anything. Spend a week paying attention to what you eat, when, and how much. Observe the situations, times of day, or particular foods that trigger you to want to eat. You now know these are your hot zones and you can be prepared to win in your encounters with them.

Think about these questions:

• How do you behave around second helpings or the second dollop after the first spoonful  has landed on your plate? It doesn't matter why you feel you need it, just notice if you do feel you need it.


• How do you feel about leaving food on your plate? How you feel about food left over? Do you feel  some tension around food left uneaten, whether it's on your plate or still on the platter or in the pan?

Your observations during this week are going to show you your strategy for your weight-loss campaign. You will know where your enemy (your appetite) is weakest.

Now Act

• Begin your campaign -- and this is a campaign --  by making your first portions smaller. Not a lot smaller, just a very little bit smaller. Do the same with your second portion, if you take one. Do it for everything, including vegetables for now, until you begin to see smaller portions as the normal size for you. You are training your eyes and your stomach to have new expectations. Continue reducing you portion size just a little bit every week.


• Start listening to your hunger center. As you adjust to smaller portions, you will begin to be aware of signals that you're actually getting full. You will find that as you eat less, you also need less to feel satisfied (particularly as you begin to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing your body change).


• When you notice yourself being regularly satisfied with eating less, you can experiment with making your meat or main portion even smaller and add a bit to your vegetable portions. This will keep you eating the same amount of food but will give a little beneficial shift to the calorie count.


• Make adjustment to your portion size as you begin to lose weight, until you feel you are eating a quantity of food that feels like enough but that still allows you to continue losing weight.

There you are. That is all you have to do. No calorie counting, no pills, no giving up your favorite foods, nothing but just slowly making your portions smaller until that becomes normal eating to you. Stick with it until you are the weight you want, and keep on eating this way, being mindful of how much you put on your plate. Don't go back to your old ways and you'll never have to worry about weight again.

Tips:

1. Use small-sized dinnerware. I'm serious. The eleven inch dinner plate that is now our standard tableware is designed to hold a huge amount of food, especially great slabs of meat. It's almost impossible to resist trying to cover all that blank space with food.  Fancy restaurants will fill in around a small portion of precious entree with sauce swirls and artistic food decor because a big empty plate makes us feel like we're not getting enough. Get smaller plates and bowls for your regular use. You'll be amazed at the difference it will make.

2. Practice "Forget You!"  Decide that  for you, for now, certain foods simply do not exist. Put your most serious food threats into this category. Once Iyou have decided to make a certain food  off limits, it will cease to be a threatening temptation to you. It doesn't exist. The only time you allow it back into your  world is when you know for certain that this is going to be a uniquely superior version of it, or it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don't reject a chance at something really great. This strategy will save you over and over every day but will let you have the really good stuff when you're sure it will be the really good stuff. Look at that piece of cake or those fries: how good, really, is it going to be? Is it worth it?

3. Develop your inner smug. This is your most effective weapon against the people around you urging you to ignore your program and have the chocolate cake or the deep-fried ice cream or whatever. While telling them  no, thanks, just keep repeating to yourself the mantra "Better you than me", and you'll get through the situation just fine.

This plan is simple, easy to follow, allows for backslides and mistakes, is non-shaming, and can accommodate any additional wholesome changes in your eating habits you might like to introduce. Once you have dealt with your weight to your satisfaction, you might give some thought to how healthful your food habits are in terms of nutrition for the long haul. Corny as it sounds, you really are what you eat.

Good luck, and hang in there!

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Your Hidden Weapons of Fat Destruction

Ice Bath Weight Loss Your Hidden Weapons of Fat Destruction.

You have weapons of fat destruction. And you are hiding them - probably unknowingly. This explains why your waist is being overcome by enemy number one: unsightly belly fat. Are you ready to obliterate it?

As a biochemical evil-doer, belly fat slowly destroys quality of life.

Among men, it yields boobs. It keeps your soldier from standing at attention. Among women, it stores the "junk-in-the-trunk". It smothers sex drive. It zaps life-giving energy. It disrupts mental focus.

This evil-doer is very demanding. Belly fat screams for ice-cream and soda without warning. If you don't yield to its desires, it holds you prisoner by making you feel edgy, light-headed, and generally pissed off until you give in.

This evil doer is a liar. Almost hourly, it tries to convince you that, "One more soda isn't gonna hurt you". At night, it whispers, "Everyone in America is eating chocolate right now, you should be too". When you wonder if you should be exercising it tries to convince you that, "Exercise is not important".

Perhaps the most insidious characteristic of belly fat is its ability to keep you in your comfort zone -your fat comfort zone. Today, 60% of Americans are fat. Our children are following in our fat footsteps. And few people are doing anything about it. Instead, they hold tight to the myth that "carrying belly fat is genetic or a normal part of aging". Wrong.

At 30% body fat, I reveled in my own comfort zone for an entire year before I decided to take military like action. Once I uncovered my hidden weapons of fat destruction, I descended to 11% body fat and gained about 10 lbs of muscle in 90 days and have kept it off ever since. I've seen worse case scenarios do the exact same. In addition to ridding themselves and man-boobs and belly fat, some cured type II diabetes!

Forget about fad diets. Forget about fad supplements. Forget about fad drugs like Synthroid, Xenical, Meridia and the newer Accomplia that have side-effects worse than obesity. Forget about eating some exotic algae or fancy fruit drink to lose fat. If these mass produced and mass selling products were effective we wouldn?t be the fattest country in the world.

As a pharmaceutical chemist, I've uncovered a trove of fat destroying weapons that would make a fat military general envious. Under the proper lifestyle and dietary circumstances the arsenal can be employed by your own body. Is Michael Moore reading?

Human Growth Hormone (hGH), Leptin, IGF-1 and Testosterone

I'm going to spare you the biochemistry lesson. All you need to know is that in addition to being weapons of fat destruction, the above hormones are great for living young, building muscle, obtaining vibrant looking skin and ensuring that your bedroom energy is rockin'.

Unfortunately, if you are sporting belly fat, you probably have very little of them courtesy of surging insulin levels. Insulin prevents your body from unleashing these vital fat destroyers.

The only way to get your weapons of fat destruction back on the front lines is to "increase insulin sensitivity". Don't fret over the science jargon, just keep reading.

Insulin sensitivity is the opposite of insulin resistance (type II diabetes). Sensitivity to insulin means that you won't have much of the fat storing hormone in your fat belly. You will live thin and slim.

Insensitivity to insulin means that your body is resistant to it and therefore does not use it up fast enough. As a result, your belly bathes in it. You get fat.. Simple right? Don't worry, medical doctors usually choke on their words when trying to explain it to patients (future drug eaters of America).

To increase insulin sensitivity, do the following:

1. If it tastes sweet spit it out. Don't complicate this one. I don't care about the mom-in-a-thong promoting the newest health/sports bar. I don't care about the dumb-jock on the verge of "roid-rage" promoting a sweetened protein shake. And I don't care about how scrumptious that organic apple looks. If it tastes sweet spit it out. Maybe save it for birthdays. You'll be having many more by sticking to this rule.

2. Eat three meals per day and space them out by 4-5 hours. No snacking. Meals should be 50% healthy fat, 20% low glycemic carbs and 30% protein.

3. Key nutritional supplements can also be used. Among them are cinnamon (2-6 grams daily) and banaba leaf containing 1% corosolic acid (50-250 mg daily). The best time to use is 30-60 minutes prior to meals. These supplements are safer and more effective than any prescription drug. In fact, using "combinatorial chemistry", drug labs are trying to make a synthetic copy-cat of both as we speak - they've been failing for years.

4. Expose that white belly to God's healing rays! Showering 85% of your body to sunlight for 20 - 45 minutes three to five times per week will increase insulin sensitivity while controlling sugar cravings. Skin damaging sunscreen is not allowed.

5. Use my free, insulin controlling workout (sign up for my free Secret Cures eLetter above) to ensure that you pack on that dormant, sexy muscle.

Some readers will have a momentary lapse in judgment. They will continue to hide their weapons of fat destruction and instead choose to be a "drug eater of America". This is futile and dangerous. Not a single prescription drug address - insulin sensitivity. This is the primary reason none of them reverse obesity, insulin resistance or type II diabetes. They just mask symptoms. This is a stark reminder that Mother Nature provides the best medicine.

Cute, Dimply Fat Eradicated

The above tactics will bring hGH, leptin, IGF-1 and testosterone front and center. Insulin will decrease (along with blood sugar) and your weapons of fat destruction will emerge. No matter how cute, squishy and dimply your fat might be, it will be eradicated. The shock and awe that follows will leave your peers secretly wondering, "Wow! What did they do to get rid of all that unsightly belly fat?"

But, But, But?

"But, my doctor told me to stay on my med's and that they would control my weight, am I supposed to get off my drugs?"

"But, I heard that Xango would cure my obesity and my toe fungus. Are you saying to stop drinking it?"

"But, I've been overweight my whole life, it runs in my family."

Stop! Don't say another word. Your fat cells are eating your brain. Use your hidden weapons of fat destruction before your quality of life is destroyed.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

You Can Be a Cruise Ship Owner Even If You Are Not Rich

Ice Bath Weight Loss You Can Be a Cruise Ship Owner Even If You Are Not Rich.

Unlike fractional ownership of aircraft and houseboats, fractional owners of a cruise ship can all use the ship simultaneously. There is plenty of room for you and the other owners to live on the ship any time you want, or all the time. You can use it as a full-time residence, and so can the other co-owners.

The first obvious benefit of shared ownership is acquisition cost. There are many cruise ships on the market in all price ranges, sizes, ages, and conditions. There are many smaller and older cruise ships available for less than one million dollars. At the lower end, some smaller cruise ships in fair condition can be acquired for about $250,000. At the highest end, the biggest new mega cruise ships now cost about $500 million to build.

Do the math. If one hundred buyers pool resources in exchange for a percentage of ship ownership, the acquisition cost will be divided by that same number. One percent ownership of a $250,000 cruise ship would cost a mere $2500 for ship acquisition. At the other end of the scale, one percent ownership of a brand new mega cruise ship would cost five million dollars.

There are some other figures that must be tabulated into the total cost of ownership. Acquisition cost is first and foremost. The next figure is the cost to put the ship in service. On an older ship this cost may be higher than the acquisition cost. On the other hand, the cost to put a ship into service can be much lower if you were to get a good deal on a ship that already meets the international standards for ship safety, especially SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). Maintaining compliance with Chapter II SOLAS 74 amendments is cost prohibitive for some older ships and they are typically scrapped instead of being refurbished at great expense. There is a very important SOLAS implementation date coming up on January 10, 2010. On that date all commercial international ships will be required to be in compliance with the new fire safety codes. The most important new codes deal with the use of combustible materials in the ship. It will be expensive to replace all combustible materials in ships with non-combustible or flame resistant SOLAS compliant materials that meet the new safety standards. This will result in many ships being sold for scrap metal.

The looming SOLAS 2010 implementation date offers both perils and opportunities. The biggest peril is the possibility that the expense to bring a ship into full compliance with international standards will be greater than the value of the ship. However, there is a silver lining in this cloud. This pending SOLAS implementation date has already started to show up as a primary factor in the asking and selling prices of ships on the market today.

SOLAS 2010 also offers a tremendous opportunity for those who may prefer to have a very large houseboat instead of a commercial ship. Ships that are not in compliance with SOLAS 2010 are now selling for a song (inexpensively). A cruise ship can easily be converted into a megayacht with the stroke of a pen. Privately owned yachts, not in commercial service, and not carrying passengers or cargo for hire are exempt from many of the SOLAS requirements. Operating costs are also lower for a private yacht. It cost less to register, flag, and insure a private yacht. Megayachts can be flagged and classified for unlimited service. That means that a megayacht can go practically anywhere you want it to go. There is one major drawback to registering a cruise ship as a private yacht. You cannot use the yacht commercially. This cuts off a potential revenue source.

There are many decent cruise ships for sale at prices of less than one million dollars that would make good private megayachts. For example, take the 'VERGINA SKY' is a ship that I have personally inspected and so I can talk first hand about it. The asking price was $750,000. Here are the specifics of the ship in a nutshell:

Current Name: Vergina Sky

Ship Details: Built: 1971 in Japan - totally rebuilt 1992 in Greece

Dimensions: LOA 97.8m x LBP 82m x beam 14.6m x draft 4.49m Dwt: 500 on 4,49 GT/NT: 4,668 / 1,717

Description: Pielstick 2 x 8400bhp, twin screw, bow thruster, 3 x 500kw generators, 16 knots, 2 saloons, restaurant, 3 bars, casino, duty free shop, disco, swimming pool, 120 cabins for 318 guests. Lying Greece

My Comments after inspecting the ship

This is a well built little 'Pocket Cruiser.' At just over 320' in length overall, it is a small cruise ship. Many experienced cruise passengers prefer smaller more intimate cruise ships for a variety of reasons. This ship can go places where the big cruise ships cannot reach, such as shallow draft ports and even many rivers. It has an omni-directional bow thruster and can turn on a dime (relatively speaking of course). I have carefully examined this ship from the engine log to the ultrasound hull report. This is a sound and safe little cruise ship. It is also a very fuel efficient and economical ship. My first time on this ship was in the middle of the summer in Greece when it was very hot outside. The ship is fully air conditioned and it was cool and comfortable inside the ship. I checked the engine room to see how many generators were running. I am happy to report that all the electric and air-conditioning requirements can be met by running just one of the three Daihatsu generators. These generators are very economical to operate in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance.

I was able to negotiate with the owner, John Kosmas and get some concessions. I got the price down to $500,000. And at that price, he agreed to bring the ship into compliance with SOLAS 2005 and also to include new paint topside. The ship was fairly well furnished even including bed linen, but the ship had been laid up for years. Its most recent service was in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Cruise ships that trade exclusively in the Mediterranean and Black Seas tend to have smaller cabins and fewer amenities than the typical cruise ships that frequent the Caribbean. The bottom line is that this ship was an economy model, not a luxury model. When I was inspecting the engine room, I asked for the engine log. When I opened it I noticed all the entries were in Greek. I was able to discern some dates and other data that told me when the ship was last in service, but I could not read the Greek entries so I handed the engine log back to the ship owner, and told him "It's all Greek to me." Being Greek, Mr. Kosmas failed to find the humor in that.

Let's look at the numbers on this ship. 100% of the acquisition cost would have been $500,000. 1% thus = $5000. One hundred buyers could own one percent each. There are 120 cabins so each co-owner could have a private cabin with 20 cabins left over. However, these cabins are a bit on the small side. Every cabin does have a bath and shower, but the size is just too small to be comfortable for most people, especially if the owners intend to live onboard full time. On a ship this size I would recommend that there be no more than 60 joint owners so each can have two cabins and will have the option of converting those two cabins into a two room suite. To keep the numbers simple lets say that this ship has 50 buyers who each buy 2% of the ship. Buy in cost per owner would then be $10,000. If there were only ten buyers, then the acquisition cost per buyer would be $50,000. $50,000 will not buy much of a house on land, but on this ship it would buy 10% of a ship like the Vergina Sky and twelve cabins that could be converted into a fairly large home.

At the economy end of the scale, a co owner could buy 1% of an economical cruise ship for about $5000. However it is not necessary for all co owners to have equal shares in the ship. Ownership can easily be divided up into 1% increments. If one buyer wanted 5%, then his cost of acquisition would be $25,000. He would be entitled to 5% of the ship's cabins, and would have five votes on operations and management of the ship, such as itinerary planning.

Before becoming a joint owner, it would be imperative to find other people who have similar goals. I would suggest composing a preliminary DCCR (DECLARATION OF

COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS). You can do this before you even shop for a ship. Write your version of how you envision the shared ownership of a cruise ship as it should be. Then see if you can find some people who agree with your goals and your DCCR, subject to some revisions and concessions to accommodate other joint owners.

Step One: Determine if you and your family have the desire and financial capability to become joint cruise ship (or megayacht) owners.

Step Two: Find others who agree with your concept for shared ownership of a ship.

Step Three: Shop for a ship. This is the fun part.

Step Four: Buy a ship.

Step Five: Put the ship into service.

Even if you are not rich, you can afford to jointly own a cruise ship. But then comes the next logical question: Why would you or anyone want to live on a cruise ship? Who would this be suitable for?

If you are retired or otherwise have a stable income from a dependable source you probably can afford to be a cruise ship co-owner and live full-time onboard a cruise ship. If you work in a field where you can work from home online, then you too can probably afford to become a co-owner of a cruise ship. Most modern ships have satellite Internet service available 24-7.

Operating a cruise ship is expensive. The expenses include the cost of fuel, labor, maintenance, repairs, spares, food, port charges, insurance, technical management, shore management, registration, and the other costs of operating the ship. At first glance these costs may seem expensive, but in reality the cost of living at sea is actually a bargain considering what you get based upon what you pay. The best value does not always translate to the cheapest price. If the ship is well managed, the management will seek the highest quality goods, services, and labor at the very best global value. If the owners are dissatisfied with either technical or shore management, they replace them.

If there are many other co-owners of the ship to split the operating expenses of the ship, it can be affordable for those with a moderate level of income, such as a retirement check. I do have specific operating cost figures but I won't bore you with that data. The bottom line is that it would not be prohibitively expensive for a middle-class average person to be able to afford to own a fraction of a cruise ship and be able to afford to live on the cruise ship full-time if they elect to do so.

For comparison purposes it is noteworthy that you have expenses in land based housing too. Those expenses include property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance and repairs, yard care, and utilities. Additionally you have transportation costs and of course food costs. Most people also spend money on entertainment too. When these expenses are added up the maintenance fees for living aboard a ship are comparable.

There are actually some savings resulting from living aboard a ship. The ship's executive chef buys food and kitchen supplies in bulk for the ship and can get better prices than the average shopper. Other savings result from the large freezers and the mobility of the ship giving the food service management the ability to stock up on supplies in countries where prices are low. Some crew and owners may choose to fish for leisure. This can supply some fresh food at even lower costs to the owners. Labor savings are realized when the crew is hired based upon the best global labor rates. The laws of supply and demand drive prices down in some places in the world. Proper ship management can capitalize on these disparities. All the savings would be passed on to the cabin owners resulting in an economical cost of living similar to what you could expect to spend with a conventional home. Ship management should have accounting transparency will all books (financial records) open and available for any owner to inspect. Also ship management should submit all financial records quarterly to an outside auditor for the peace of mind of the owners. Anybody in the chain who spends any of the ship's operational funds should also be periodically audited. For example, a good way to audit the executive chef would be for one or more of the live-aboard co-owners of the ship to go to the food market district of each port of call and they should try to haggle and get a better price for the same food than the price the executive chef was able to acquire. If the executive chef cannot find better deals than the ship's co-owners, then the executive chef should be given his walking papers. The executive chef position is a vital position on a cruise ship. This is a position of trust because he will bill the food he buys to the ship. He must never be tempted to accept bribes from vendors or suppliers. Therefore, he should know that he will be routinely audited and any substandard performance will result in termination of his employment.

The biggest value of all onboard cruise ship is in labor costs. The better cruise ships tend to be labor intensive, providing passengers with unrelenting attention and extravagant pampering. The hotel staff on all cruise ships provides the basic services including food preparation and serving, laundry, cabin stewarding, entertainment, casino operation, beauty shop operations, This is one area where I would prefer to not scrimp because of the very good value in these services due to the low cost of international labor. I would prefer to go beyond the level that most cruise ships go in the area of spas. Land based luxury and specialty resort spas are very expensive, but the exact same level of service, professionalism, skill, and treatments can be provided on a cruise ship at extremely low cost. Labor is the key and the primary reason for most of the expense of spas. Labor is a tremendous value on a cruise ship because the cruise ship managers can choose workers from the global marketplace where it is easy to get the best value for the money.

Spas

Spa treatment is customized for each client. Spas commonly offer services such as:

Soothing massage therapies, skin and body treatments drawing from European and Eastern principles, expert hair and nail services, and a full menu of therapeutic treatments utilizing a deep-cleansing facial at the start of the program, as well as a series of detoxification and contouring wraps, lypo-reduction wrap, as well as marine mud and herb wraps. Massage Therapies including: Swedish Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Deep Tissue Treatment, Maternity Massage, Therapeutic Foot Massage (Reflexology), French Hydrotherapy Massage.

The healing therapies include a variety of massages, reflexology, facials, firming and many other body treatments. Plus a wide variety of services and wellness programs specially designed to meet the individual's needs and desires. A full service salon offers all manner of hair treatments (including a certified colorist), as well as a variety of manicures, pedicures, and 'facelifts' for your hands. Extensive skin care includes: Age Management Therapies including, Glycolic Facial, Anti-Aging Facial Peel, Microdermabrasion; Facials including: Aromaplasty Facial, Teen Facial, Gentleman's Facial, Nutrisource Facial, Regulating Acne Facial, Vitamin "C" Skin Renewal Facial; Body Treatments including: Decleor Sauna Mask, French Hydrotherapy Massage, Andromeda Salt Glow, Mummy Mud Mask, Seaweed Body Wrap, Safe Sun Treatment, Herbal Wrap; as well as various hair and nail treatments.

Additionally, spas also can facilitate weight reduction programs, and even administer physical therapy. In short, you can be treated like a king, on the budget of a pauper.

Labor Costs - International competition provides the most value to the ship owners.

On paper it seems to make good sense to man the ship with a Philippine crew. I love the Philippines. I have been there several times. English is still widely spoken and usually spoken quite well. The people are usually friendly and happy to see foreign tourists. A large percentage of ships worldwide are manned by crews from the Philippines. The Philippine government has a pretty good structure and system to facilitate the export of Philippine labor. In spite of how attractive it seems on paper, I would recommend NOT hiring a crew from the Philippines. Philippine workers tend to be envious of others, and especially of everybody else's wages. They tend to think they are getting the raw end of the deal. It is rare to find a Filipino who is happy with his employment. While I am sure there are many good employees from the Philippines, there are more who are dissatisfied than satisfied with their employment. There seems to be a cultural anomaly in the Philippines where people feel that employers are bad guys. I would hesitate to recommend a crew from the Philippines in spite of the apparent advantages on paper.

My recommendation (for what it is worth)

I do know something about what I am writing about here. I am the former President of Adventure Spa Cruise. My advice is not just uninformed ranting. Back to the point now, the second best manning nation for a ship is India. I highly recommend India for the medical staff and the entire hotel staff, including the spa, and every other position except the deck and engineering. The labor costs in India are very attractive. I would also recommend using an Indian based manning agency. It is best if the ship's owners do not have to deal with every employee issue or concern. The manning agency takes the pressure off the ship's management, and their service is very reasonable. Indian employees tend to make better employees than do Filipinos. Indians also speak English, albeit not quite as well as Filipinos. I know Americans tend to get all worked up when someone uses a broad brush to paint an entire ethnicity. I love the people from the Philippines, but as employees they tend to be more problematic than do Indian employees. I realize that this statement is politically incorrect, and these days that might get me thrown in jail. I usually do not worry so much about being politically correct. I call it the way I see I and I let the cards fall where they may, and hope I can stay out of jail for speaking my mind.

All deck and engineering positions should be filled with an all Ukrainian crew. The ship will realize the most value for the money with Ukrainian deck and engineering staff. The Ukraine has a long maritime history and tradition. Maritime training and standards in the Ukraine are among the best in the world. Ukrainian deck and engineering staff are as good as or better than any other, but the cost of their labor is a very good value. The labor for deck officer and engineering staff are governed by international agreements, including STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers).

Putting a cruise ship into service

After acquiring the ship, it will require some more investment to put it into service. At this point the joint owners will need to reach some agreements on many points. The cost of putting a cruise ship into service as a megayacht (very large private yacht) is much less than putting the ship into commercial service. However, if you can afford to buy a ship can easily meet SOLAS 2010 requirements, and can afford to flag and register it as a commercial ship then you can use the ship commercially to produce income and ROI (return on investment).

There are many marketing options for a commercial cruise ship. If the owners use no more than half the cabins, then that will leave sufficient means to produce enough revenue to at least pay for operating costs, and possibly produce a profit above operating costs. I will just briefly touch on some of the options available for marketing cruise ship capacity.

1. Conventional cruises. There is a trade-off here. You can produce revenue by providing conventional cruises. This will require that the ship have an itinerary that suits the commercial cruising market.

2. Freight and cargo. Some cruise ships have enough cargo capacity to produce some revenue by booking freight.

3. Assisted living. A cruise ship is well suited for assisted living, including crew and facilities. The going rate for assisted living in the average city in America is higher than the average cost of a cruise of the same duration.

4. Timeshares. This is an option not available to conventional cruise ship operators but could be facilitated if your co-owners agree to this type of marketing to fill cabins not used by co-owners. I will not go into the figures here, but timeshares tend to be high profit sales. There is a good chance that if the joint owners use no more than half the ship's cabins for their own personal use, the remaining cabins could easily produce more than the total amount all the joint owners combined have invested.

Ships that would easily meet SOLAS 2010 tend to cost a bit more money to buy up front, and cost more to put into service. So I will give you couple of examples.

The Orient Venus is one of my favorite high-end ships. The specs:

M/V ORIENT VENUS

BUILT: JULY 1990 AT I.H.I.TOKYO

JAPANESE FLAG

JG. NK OCEAN GOING

GRT: 21,884 TONS

DWT: 4,863 TONS ON 6.50 M

LOA x B x D : 174.0x24.0x8.7 M

M/ENG: DIESEL UNITED-12PC2-6V x 2 SETS ,

TWIN SCREW CPP

SPEED: SERVICE ABT21.0 KNOTS / ABT 56.70MT /D

FUEL TANKS CAPA: IFO 1,500.4 M3 /MDO 87.30M3

GENERATOR: 1,600KWxAC450Vx60HZx 3 SETS

ENGINE ROOM M0 SYSTEMS

CRUISING RANGE: ABT 7,000MILE

PASSENGERS: MAX 606 PERSONS

CREW: 120 PERSONS

ABA WOG

DELIVERY: BY ARRANGEMENT

INSPECTION : KOBE.JAPAN

OWNERS PRICE USD 22 MIL net here

My personal assessment of the Orient Venus

It is a late model and beautiful ship. It has many highly desirable attributes for a residential ship. It is a high end luxury cruise ship with an extraordinarily high tonnage to passenger ratio. This is very important for a residential ship. More living room and more space per passenger is far more essential for a residential ship than for a conventional cruise ship. When passengers are only on a ship for a short time, they can tolerate cramped living quarters, but when they live year-round on a ship, the extra space is quite valuable. The owners have been trying to sell this ship for $22,000,000. That may seem like a high price, but when you divide it by the number of cabins (195) the asking price per cabin is $102,564. This price is in line with what you would expect to pay for a condominium. The last word I got from the owners is that they will sell the ship for $18,000,000 now ($92,307 per cabin). The cabins are all "outside" cabins and are large. The ship can accommodate 606 passengers and a crew of 120, for a total of 726 people.

Several ship brokers have this ship listed. I usually do not talk to ship brokers. I prefer to talk directly with the ship owners. I am in contact with the owners of the Orient Venus. I could probably get this stunningly beautiful ship for less than $15,000,000 today, and get some concessions and extras thrown in to boot.

Another example of a high end ship that would make do well as a commercial cruise ship, plus accommodate a hundred or so full-time live aboard co-owners is the Dream Princess, originally named Song of Norway.

GRT: 22,945

Max Draft: 6.7 M in sea water

Length: 194 M.

Total No. of Cabins: 538

Total No. Of Beds + Berth: 1280

Outside Cabins: 346

Inside Cabins: 192

Cabins size range: SQ. M: 11 -18.

Main Engines: 4 Wartsila Sulzer - 18,000 HP.

Service Speed: 16 Knots.

Public Rooms:

Main Dinning room - "King & I"- about 500 pax.

South Pacific Lounge about 400 pax.

My Fair Lady Lounge about 500 pax.

Bars- 5

Self Service Restaurant on the swimming pool deck

Large Swimming pool

Disco

Casino

Duty Free Shops

Gym

8 passenger decks

extensive outdoor areas

Ship was redecorated / refurbished extensively during 2005.

The asking price on this ship is $31 million USD. Divide the asking price by the number of cabins and the average cost per cabin would be $57,620. Of course some cabins are better than others so co-owners would have to agree of the shared usage before agreeing to the purchase.

I have some bad news for the ship owners and some good news for you. This ship will not sell for the asking price.

Fuel

Ship fuel is cheaper than automobile fuel for a few reasons. There are no road taxes on ship fuel of course and also it is different fuel. Ships main engines usually run on IFO180 or IFO380. Generator engines tend to be more finicky and commonly require diesel (MDO), which is still cheaper than automotive diesel. IFO 180 and 380 costs much less than MDO, usually about half the price. Ships consume a lot of fuel. So fuel cost is a major concern. I have some suggestions. If I were a co-owner of a ship I would be willing to invest a little more in the ship to increase fuel efficiency, and thus lower operating costs. There are many things that can be done to increase fuel efficiency. I would start with hull resistance. There is a new silicone-based paint from International Paints that when applied to the hull reduces amount of resistance in the water sufficiently to result in a 3 to 5% decrease in fuel consumption. A similar coating for the propellers also has been proven to increase fuel efficiency.

In addition to hull and prop coatings, there is an even more promising way to achieve dramatic fuel savings.

There is a company called Kiteship that has developed and produces kites for racing sailboats. These sailing kites do not require a mast. The kites fly high above the vessel, attached by cable and controlled from the vessel. Dave Culp of Kiteship has done a technical feasibility study on fitting a very large kite onto a conventional cruise ship. This would dramatically reduce fuel consumption. It would convert a fuel guzzler to a "green machine." This is tantamount to converting a powerboat into a sail boat. The design of a cruise ship limits the amount of sail that a conventional ship can safely accommodate. A cruise ship lacks the ballast of a sail boat. If used in addition to the main engine(s) the kite will increase fuel efficiency. If the kite is used to pull the ship with the main engines shut down the ship's speed will be reduced substantially. However, in this case, not only would the ship save IFO (main engine fuel) but also save MDO (generator engine fuel). If the kite were pulling the ship unassisted by the ship's engines, then the propellers could be used to propel the ship's generators without firing up the diesel generator engines. Even if the ship were traveling very slowly in the water, the propellers would turn in reverse if freed from the main engines. This is a very simple and easy task for the ship's engineer to accomplish. In other words, the ship can be pulled by the kite, and that motion will push the ship's propellers providing power to produce electricity and power the air-conditioning without using any fuel. The trade-off is a loss of speed and also some tacking is required, further reducing actual speed. What's the rush? Why not go for maximum fuel savings? The salient point is that a high flying large kite can pull a cruise ship. If I were a co-owner of a cruise ship I would hope to find like minded co-owners who would be receptive to using such state-of-the-art technologies to save fuel.

There are hundreds of cruise ships on the market but I will just mention one more here. This cruise ship has RO/RO (Roll-On, Roll-Off) capability. This would be very convenient for live aboard owners who want to bring their "toys" with them. The garage deck will accommodate 6 to 8 trucks, or 60 to 80 cars. That converts to a lot of co-owner toys such as motorhomes, travel trailers, campers, cabin cruisers, ski boats, jet skis, sailboats, houseboats, bass boats, motorcycles, ATVs, cars, and trucks.

Specifications:

650 PASSENGER CRUISE SHIP FOR SALE

VESSEL IS FULLY FITTED WITH SPRINKLERS

SOLAS 2005/2010 FITTED

TWIN SCREW CRUISE

VESSEL DIMENSIONS LOA 137.10 X BREADTH 21.00 X 5.8 METERS DRAFT

BUILT 1981 / POLAND

REBUILT 1991

REBUILT - UPGRADED 1999

REBUILT - RENOVATED - REFURBISHED 2002

CLASS R.S. ICE CLASS L2

GRT 12637

PASSENGERS 650 IN 230 CABINS (BASIS 3 BERTH OCCUPANCY)

ALL CABINS WITH PRIVATE FACILITIES (INCLUDING SUITES AND SEMI SUITES)

9 DECKS

HELICOPTER PAD

MAIN ENGINES SULZER 4 X 4,350 BHP

SPEED ABOUT 17.5 / 15 KNOTS ON ABOUT 45 / 36 M/TONS + 9 TONS DIESEL OIL

BOWTHRUSTER 800 BHP

STABILIZERS

120 TONS PER DAY WATER MAKER

RECEPTION

LOUNGE

RESTAURANT (420 SEATS)

NINE BARS

CASINO

DUTY FREE SHOP

CHILDREN'S PLAY ROOM - TWO DISCOS

TV/MOVIE CORNER

DUTY FREE SHOPS

HAIRDRESSING SHOP

JACUZZI

ONE PASSENGER ELEVATOR

LAUNDRY SPA & HEALTH CLUB

TWO SAUNAS

CLINIC

TWO SWIMMING POOLS (ADULT & CHILDREN)

Cost per cabin based on asking price, $71,739. This ship will sell for less than asking price. It is already SOLAS 2010 compliant. It would cost very little to put into commercial service.

Conclusion

Becoming a co-owner of a cruise ship is not a far fetched idea. It is practical and feasible if you are able to find like minded people who would be willing to share the expenses.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Would You Like to Lose Weight Before Next Summer

Ice Bath Weight Loss Would You Like to Lose Weight Before Next Summer.

You didn't quite get there? Those last pounds around your waist didn't vanish? The bathing suit doesn't look as good on you as it did in the pictures where you bought it?

It's not unusual for people to not "quite get there" in their attempts to lose weight.

There are several reasons for this.

One being not taking it serious enough.

Some people think they can continue eating unhealthy and fattening food if they follow a diet and/or an exercise regiment. The problem with this is if you set up goals and plan your diet or exercise, the diet will give you all the calories you need. Everything else just adds to your weight or at least slows your progress.

Another common mistake is to take it too serious.

You plan a diet and get a gym membership. All the sweets and fatty foods gets thrown out and you go "cold turkey" on ice cream, sodas, beer, fried food, and so on. I think you can guess what happens next, right? Exactly, you get a big relapse and start eating unhealthy and fattening foods like there is no tomorrow! The secret is to plan for extra food intake every now and then. Having friends over for dinner on Saturday? Eat a lighter breakfast and lunch. Movie night with your buddies? Eat potato chips but skip the Cola, drink carbonated water instead. As long as you keep your calorie intake in check you can make some deviations from your diet, just not to often.

Yet another mistake people do is that they don't plan enough, or at all.

It is very important to plan your weight loss thoroughly otherwise you're bound for failure (and it can in fact be dangerous with malnutrition and dehydration as a result). There is a simple reason for this. It is enough that you get one bad day, you're tired after work, you or your kids catch a cold or you just run out of ideas for what to eat. It is then you are most likely to revert into old behaviors. That is why it is so important with a carefully planned diet.

The same thing applies to exercise, if you don't have a set goal to do so many miles on the treadmill or bike, you are more likely to fail as soon your everyday routine is disrupted.

Here is a few things to consider if you are serious about your weight loss:

* If you are going to lose more than "a few pounds" you should do a health check up.

* Get a diet planner. The internet is full of them, some are good, some are not. Read reviews and ask around.

* Before starting exercising, get at least one session with a personal trainer to get a exercise regiment made especially for you. it is very important to exercise right to avoid injuries.

* Declare to everyone around you what you intend to do. That way it is easier to say no to birthday cakes and such without being socially awkward. Also you get peoples eyes on you as extra support!

* If you have a spouse that needs to lose a few pounds, get them onboard too! It's a great way to spend time together and support each other!

With the right planning and motivation, there is no reason why you shouldn't get in great shape and lose weight before next summer!

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Worldwide Myths Regarding Weight Loss

Ice Bath Weight Loss Worldwide Myths Regarding Weight Loss.

Sugar increases obesity while honey decreases it

It is a common and worldwide myth that intake of sugar is a very harmful practise and it induces obesity, diabetes and heart problem. Many extensive researches in this field have shown that effects of sugar are not so bad on the general health but it adversely affects the teeth.

Furthermore sugar can be derived by various other natural resources other than sugarcane. Like apple [95% of energy comes from sugar present in it] and carrot [88% energy comes from sugar].Our body cannot differentiate between the sugar consumed from the different sources, hence it metabolises then to obtain energy from them.

One table spoon of sugar contains only 16 calories, which is easily converted into energy in body metabolism. Hence sugar does not induce weight gain unless taken in a very large quantity. The recipes containing higher amount of sugar like sweets, ice creams, cakes, chocolates puddings etc. may cause obesity. Honey is a derivative of natural sugar, containing minerals, vitamins, enzymes etc., and is useful for healthy body.

Potato and rice are responsible for weight gain

Potatoes and rice are common dietary products, which contains least amount of fat but higher amount of starch and carbohydrate. Their consumption provides energy at a slower pace required for our daily regime over a longer period of time. Further, the major portion of energy received from the fat remains latent in the fat cell causing obesity.

By consuming potatoes and rice the abdomen remains full for a longer time; due to which we lack hunger, hence we eat less and are very effective in weight loss. But if potatoes and rice taken in fried form like wafers, finger chips, fryums, may definitely cause weight gain.

Consumption of excess fruits and vegetables are effective for weight loss

It is true to some extent that fruits and vegetable contains less fat hence effective in weight loss.But some fruits like avocado, nuts dry fruits etc contain ample amount of fat, hence should be eaten in moderate amount

Restricting diet is effective in Weight loss

Again this is not true that by restricting diet or by eating less effective weight loss is possible. The metabolic rate remains elevated for half an hour after eating. The energy obtained from the food is used in the process of digestion and metabolism. Further the metabolic rate is different for different people, hence their energy requirement is also different, and also the energy expenditure is lower for the people eating less.

Only rigours exercise can burn fat, hence effective in weight loss

Rigours exercises can neither melt the fat cells nor transport fat cells from one part of the body to another part, and can't consume the fat. Rigours exercises can increases the energy consumption of the body. Aerobics and other weight exercises may adversely affect the legs joints, heart, hips, and spine

Push ups and cycling can reduce the abdomen and hips fat

Exercise like cycling and push ups may only elevates the level of energy consumption in the body, there is no apparent affect on the localise fat cells of the body. But it is possible that the energy present in the fat cells of face, arms, thigh are consumed in the process of accelerated metabolism induces by cycling or exercises.

Sauna bath is effective in fat loss

Sweating and dehydrating, in the vapour or sauna bath may temporally decreases the body weight but as soon as the water content become normal by hydrating, the previous body weight is attained

Drugs can cure fat problems

Weight loss drugs contain amphetamine which blocks the signal of hunger been sent to the brain. Hence the person may feel less hungry. Addiction of these drugs has adverse effects; hence for desirable results the amount of intake is gradually increases with time. The side effects of the drugs are very adverse. They induce anxiety, insomnia, accelerated heart beat, mental disorder etc., hence drugs are not the permanent remedy for weight loss.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Winter Horse Care Tips - In Three Parts

Ice Bath Weight Loss Winter Horse Care Tips - In Three Parts.

Part One - Pasture and Shelter

Pasture time for your horse is important all season long even when it's snowy and cold. We might not like the cold but, horses are wild animals and they don't mind being outside. Horses thrive best in temperatures ranging from 14 degrees to 77 degrees. They will also huddle together for warmth if necessary.

Watch out for glazed over paddock and icy patches by the pasture shelter and frozen water buckets. For ice patches, put something with some "grit" on it to make it easier for walking and try spreading some alfalfa meat on ice to help melt it. Dirt, fireplace ashes or burn pit ashes work great for some extra traction. Keep water always accessible, breaking up frozen tops on water buckets or troughs can be done in just a few minutes, sometimes a ball in the water can help keep the top from freezing.

A shelter or run in shed works great in the pasture or paddock to protect horses from wind, snow and rain. This shelter should have clean bedding and water. Dry hay should also be provided in the shelter even if there is hay in the pasture. Remember to keep an eye on your horses - some will try to "dominate" the shelter and deny access to other horses. You need to make sure everyone has access to shelter, food and water.

A shelter is OK for most days but in severe weather conditions, a closed barn is better for protection of your horses. If you choose to "stall" your horse there are a few things to keep in mind. Your barn shouldn't be much warmer than the outside air temperature that your horses will be turned out in. Don't totally seal your barn, air flow is good for horses (and humans working in the barn too). Make sure your barn has good ventilation but no cold drafts so as not to cause respiratory problems in your horses.. Make sure to have clean shavings/bedding in stalls daily along with clean water and hay. If horses must be in stalls, provide entertainment for them like a jolly ball or horse pac-a-fier toy. Let horses out every day if weather permits.

Part Two - Feeding & Watering

Before the cold weather really sets in, you should make sure to get your horse a dental checkup - horses need to chew well to get all the nutrients out of their food especially in the winter. Eating and digesting is part of what keeps horses warm in winter, especially if they are outside. Food is energy and energy creates warmth so keep hay available 24/7 to help your horses maintain their warmth from digesting. If your horses are in stalls rather than outside and you choose to use hay nets, be sure to keep them low so that the hay dust isn't a problem for your horse's respiratory system.

Remember, winter coats can hide ribs so keep an eye on your horses - increase feed immediately if you start to see weight loss - increase hay portion not grain - timothy hay, orchard grass and long stem hay are great for keeping the gut working, generating heat and keeping weight on. It is much harder for horses to gain weight in winter so, try to maintain their weight with an abundance of hay all season. Also, keep an eye on pasture mates as some can get possessive of their food and won't let others eat - make sure that each horse has their fair share of the available food.

Keep water always available in stalls and in the pasture. When horses don't or can't drink enough, they can have problems with impaction colic and other concerns. To help with keeping outside water troughs from freezing, put a large ball in it (like a soccer ball or basket ball). This will help to easily break up any thin layer of ice that might build up when the horse pushes the ball to get a drink. Experience shows that rubber water troughs are tough and won't crack easily like inexpensive plastic ones so you can easily break up frozen water and refill. Be careful of frozen water buckets in stalls, check them often and refill with fresh water as needed. If your horse isn't consuming enough water, to help work the hay they have eaten, put a salt block out where they can easily access it and this will help keep up their water consumption.

Part Three - Hoof Care / Blanketing / Bathing

Your horse's hooves and their care are especially important in the winter due to the unavoidable slippery conditions. If you ride in the winter, be sure to pull horses shoes and trim regularly, long toes are clumsy and can make for an uncomfortable ride. Using a non-stick spray (like you would use for cooking) on the hooves top and bottom helps to prevent snow from sticking and makes it easier to walk.

If possible let your horse's coat grow out, don't clip. Horses are designed to be "in the outdoors" with no problems. They do best with the natural protection of their coat. A horse's winter hair coat is more insulating than most blankets - but not if it's wet. A wet horse can lead to hypothermia so, if your horses get wet outside take a few minutes and attend to them. Towel dry - remember legs and dry against hair grain to really get all the moisture that is by the skin. Then curry, quickly - then cover with a blanket - wool is good to absorb moisture and provide warmth. Take off after about an hour and they will be ready to do it all over again! Horses also can't stay as warm if they are dirty or muddy, their coat can "fluff" to keep them as warm. If they are muddy you can brush through the mud so hair can "fluff" and insulate more efficiently. Just because we are cold, doesn't mean our horses are.

If you must blanket your horse, there are a few points to consider. Blankets should cover horses neck as well as their body, just like humans they want to be "warm all over". A good rule is to blanket senior and unhealthy horses since they don't have the ability to handle the cold as well as younger, more fit horses. Stalled horses might need blankets due to inactivity. Also, if you clip you should blanket. Use a medium weight with fleece under for above freezing temperatures and add a cover for below freezing. Cotton is too cool and will not warm your horse or keep them warm, especially if they are clipped. Remove blankets during the day - brush and check for irritation from blanket and make any necessary adjustments.

Well, that's all for this three part series. I hope it was helpful as well as entertaining.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Win the Winter

Ice Bath Weight Loss Win the Winter.

Long nights, short days, sparkling snow flakes and people dressed in warm clothes are the images evoked for the word winter. The winter season is marked as Hemanta ritu and Sisira ritu in ayurveda. Hemanta ritu starts from mid November and ends in mid January. This falls in southern solstice which is called as visarga kala or dakshinayana in ayurveda. Sisira ritu starts from mid January and lasts till middle of march. Sisira ritu falls in Northern solstice which is called as Aadana kaala or uttaraayana.

Winter causes health problems when adequate precautions and safety measures are not taken. But winters can be enjoyed to full extent when we alter our diet and lifestyles a little as nature desires. As we are part of nature these changes help us to face the seasonal changes without much serious health problems.

Beat the winter time Blues

Few experience a condition called Winter Time Blues. This condition precipitates symptoms like increase in appetite, craving for sweets, chocolates or starchy foods, weight gain, mild depression, irritability and short temper. This condition is well marked in persons who live in places which experience long severe winter.

In winter the agni or body fire increases with the support of vata . Hence there will be a marked increase in appetite. The frequency of food consumption increases. We should keep a watch on the type of food we consume to satisfy our appetite during winter. Avoid consumption of junk foods, too much of sweets and oil food as these lead to weight gain.

Simple remedies for this condition are exposing our body to sunlight, exercising for 30 minutes and using bright light when you are indoors

Pamper your skin during winter

During winter skin can not replenish its moisture naturally due to less humidity in air. Low humidity due to indoor heating, hot showers and bath exaggerates this condition and skin is bound to become dry and irritated. Dry skin tends to crack and bleed. Cracked skin looses its ability to protect the body and increases the risk of infection. The best ways to keep the skin soft, healthy and moisturized are

o Avoid long hot showers and bath.

o Quick three minutes bath is advisable.

o Use moisturizing body wash.

o Apply petroleum jelly on tough areas like knees, elbows and heels .

o Apply lip balm to prevent cracking.

o Twenty to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week can give your skin a healthy glow

o Ayurveda stresses on massaging body with oil during winter

Special care for your face

Avoid washing your face repeatedly. This washes off natural oils from our skin and makes the skin dry, scaly and wrinkled. Use luke warm water instead of hot water to wash face. Apply moisturizer lotion if you feel dryness on skin. Apply sun screen lotion to exposed parts of body and face when you go out in sun.

Preventing cold and cough in winter.

Consume well balanced good nutritious food, exercise thrice in a week and sleep well to keep up natural resistance. Avoid direct contact with those who have colds and wash your hands frequently.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a drop in body temperature to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less than this. This can be fatal if not detected promptly and treated properly. Any body can be the victim of hypothermia. The elderly are at the highest risk as their bodies do not adjust to the changes in temperature quickly. This condition takes few days to few weeks to develop. A temperature of 60F to 65 F can trigger this condition. A drop in body temperature triggers fatal responses from body. The blood vessels near the body surface narrow to prevent heat loss. Muscles tighten to generate heat. Person affected by hypothermia will be having symptoms like shivering, drowsiness, slurred speech, week pulse, slow heart beat, slow and shallow breathing. If the body temperature falls down below 86 F he may slip into coma.

Do not try to treat a person with hypothermia at home. Immediately shift him to hospital as soon as you notice the symptoms. Do not give alcoholic beverages and do not give him hot water bath.

In ayurveda it is advised to drink hot water, wear warm clothes and to stay near fire place at indoors in winter to prevent this condition

Frostbite

The exposed areas of body like face, feet, wrists and hands are affected by frost bite. The skin on the affected part becomes white, stiff and feels numb.

Warm the affected parts gradually. Wrap the area with warm clothes or keep the affected hands under arm pits and seek the medical attention immediately. Do not rub the affected areas as it may damage the underlying tissues.

Protect your tiny tots from cold.

Children are usually thrilled to go outside irrespective of weather conditions. To ensure that these tiny tots have a safe and fun winter, take some simple measures to keep them warm and unharmed both inside and outside. Ensure that they stay warm while waiting for school bus in low temperature conditions. Keep them as dry as possible in cold weather and make them to wear properly fitting warm clothes. Cover their head, face and neck as much as possible. Inadequate head protection lead to loss of almost half of body heat . Don't allow them to overexert and sweat. Sweating cools the body which is hazardous in winter and it becomes difficult to warm up again. Keep them well hydrated as they may not drink sufficient water in winter due to less thirst.

Other general precautions by Red Cross for winter.

Dress in layers so you can adjust to changing conditions. Avoid overdressing or overexertion that can lead to heat illness.

Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.

Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.

Wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.

Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.

Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.

Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.

Daily routine for winter

1. Tickle your taste buds with sweet, sour and salt tastes.

2. Satisfy your appetite with hot soups, milk and balanced food.

3. Pamper your body with mild oil massage.

4. Always wear warm clothes.

Home made natural scrub for winter.

* Mix yellow gram (channa), green gram (moong), fenu greek seeds (methi) in equal proportion. Get this mixture floured. Use this flour as scrub while taking bath instead of soap and body washes.

* Mix few drops of coconut oil in little water. Rub this all over body at the end of bath or shower. Dab the body with towel. This helps to increase the moisture of skin naturally.

We wish you a healthy winter. Have a great winter!

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Why We Gain Weight And How To Lose It

Ice Bath Weight Loss Why We Gain Weight And How To Lose It.

Our emotions decide whether we gain or lose weight. How you feel at any given moment will be the controlling force of your weight loss effort.

Weight loss is all based upon our feelings and I would challenge anybody to refute that statement.

We as human beings do things that bring us pleasure and we avoid those things that cause us pain.

Why do we decide to overeat or indulge in those things that may not be the best for us? Because it brings us pleasure.

Think about many occasions in your lifetime in which food was the main focus. When we celebrate with friends or family, we eat.

When we mourn a loss of a loved one, food again is there

consoling people. When we are nervous, we eat. Sad, we eat.

When we are happy, what do we do? That's right, eat. So by overeating and consuming excess calories with excess food,

we start packing on the unwanted pounds.

But it brings us short term pleasure to eat. If it brings us pleasure, it is emotion-based. The instant pleasure of eating that Godiva chocolate or extra piece of pizza outweighs the pain and guilt that will come at a later time when you notice the scale starting to creep up again.

We do things at the moment that will bring us pleasure right then and there, often not thinking of the future.

So, if weight gain is tied to emotions, then it stands to reason that weight loss would be as well. If we do things based upon pleasure, we must find pleasure in starting and maintaining a weight-loss and fitness program.

If you do not receive some pleasure from it, you will not continue it. We must have strong enough reasons in the not-so-distant future that will be pleasurable enough to keep us motivated in continuing our weight-loss attempts.

What are some of your motivating reasons for you to reach your goals? I bet they are emotion-based.

Do you want to fit into that new bathing suit to impress your spouse? Do you want to attract the person of your dreams? Do you want to enter your first bodybuilding or fitness show?

Or do you just want to feel better and have more energy?

Whatever you chose, the benefit you will receive later on must be pleasurable enough so that you will resist the temptation of giving in and enjoying immediate pleasure of a piece of cake or scoop of Ben and Jerry's.

So how do you solve your emotions so that you are not tempted to give up and throw in the weight-loss towel?

First off, I don't think you ever solve the problem, you simply learn to manage your emotions better.

All of our actions are done because we get some sort of

emotional payoff from them. When you sit down at night and gourge on food that you know you shouldn't be, you are getting a payoff of instant pleasure.

In order to stop this, we must substitute that payoff with a new payoff of feeling better, looking better, or whatever it is you want badly enough.

You must prioritize what things mean to you.

Is the future pleasure you will earn for losing 30 pounds going to outweigh the pleasure of eating junk right now, at this moment? You must ask yourself some hard-hitting questions.

It often amazes me that we will often times walk right up to strangers and ask them out on a date yet we do not want to ask ourselves some questions that may help solve a problem.

Ask yourself: What is it I am thankful for, right now?

What in my life would I like to change, right now? Why do I want to change it?

What will these changes bring about, either now or in the near future. What is it in my weight-loss efforts that I want to truly achieve? Why do I want these goals so bad?

How will achieving them make me feel?

Do I really need this cookie/cake/ice cream

right now or am I pacifying something that is not going right for me, right now.

How will giving in to these urges make me feel a little later, when the cycle of guilt comes back?

If you ask yourself some basic questions and learn to answer them honestly, you can start focusing on the things that really matter to you.

When you start doing what matters, this in turn will bring about pleasure because you will have a sense of purpose and a feeling of relief knowing that you are working on making things better.

And this in turn, goes right back to emotions and how you are feeling at any given moment.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

Why Me I Didnt Ask For This The Sandwich Generation, Part II

Ice Bath Weight Loss Why Me I Didnt Ask For This The Sandwich Generation, Part II.

The harsh, cold winters are terrible for the elderly. Many attribute their painful physical conditions to that. There is also the risk of falling on the ice and in snow. The fact is, arthritis not only affects elderly people, but it can affect anyone at any age. However, since seniors believe that arthritis is handled better in warmer climates, many move away from their children to live in Florida where the heat is soothing. However, there are days when Florida's hot and humid weather can also cause pain. Another option that seniors have looked to is the desert climate of Arizona, which is quite advantageous for people with arthritis. Nonetheless, wherever they decide to go, the decision to leave will not diminish the fears or anxieties that their child may have in regards to their parent's well-being, especially when they are an only child. There is always the concern that something can happen that might uproot everyone's lives.

For example, you may have a situation like this:

The telephone rings. You answer. It's the emergency room at the hospital. It's the call you were dreading. The nurse speaks with a concerned voice, "Mrs. J., your mom was crossing the street on foot and was hit by a car. I want to let you know the nature of her injuries. She has internal bleeding; broken vertebrae in her back, a shattered pelvis and her arm and leg are broken as well. It's a wonder she survived. She is in a terrible amount of pain. Your father is very anxious and doesn't make sense when he talks. I think he is in shock. The doctor is examining him now. Can you please come soon? It is extremely urgent. Your mother is asking for you. The seriousness of her injuries requires immediate surgery. Your mother has agreed to it if it would stop the horrendous pain. Even with the surgery, the doctor is not sure if she will ever walk again. I am letting you know that she will have to stay here after her surgery until she is moved into a rehabilitation center."

You sit stunned by the complicating issues in this sudden, unanticipated mess, trying to figure out how best to break the news to your husband and children. How will they react when they find out you have to leave immediately? Who will take care of the kids when you're gone, perhaps a week or more? Taking mental notes, you wonder about the power of attorney and the living will that wasn't made at the time your parents moved, as they were both in full capacity and robust at the time so dad didn't think it was necessary. However, recently, dad has had some health issues with his heart which are causing you great concern. You are worried that dad might have a heart attack with all this stress. You say to yourself, 'I hope there is a will, because this can complicate matters. I don't even know if they both have life insurance and if so, how much? I'll have to take care of that later when I arrive in Florida, as one of my "Must Do's." You suddenly remembered what the nurse said, that your mom was going to be moved to a nursing home or a rehabilitation center after she leaves the hospital, if she leaves the hospital.

Now you are apprehensive, after considering the big "What If," what if they don't have long-term care insurance? My God, between the nursing-home residency, of which Medicare only covers a small portion, and the cost of long-term care, a mind-boggling figure of anywhere between $50,000 to a $100,000 a year may result.. Who is going to pay for that? "I can't think about that now," you say to yourself. "All of this is making me nervous." As you rush and make calls the wheels of your mind are still in motion pondering on the "What Ifs." You are starting to feel queasy and angry at the same time. You stop for a moment and say, "they'll have to sell their home and perhaps move into an assisted living facility which will be costly as well. Come to think of it, the worst could happen, they might just end up moving into my home. If mom can't walk, who will take care of her? Dad can't. Will I have to give up my job? Oh no, this can't be happening. WHY ME, I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS! I don't mind dad living with us. He is such a sweetheart, but what about mom? It would be sheer hell. We never got along. To make matters worse, Jimmie dislikes my mom and the feeling is mutual. I am almost sure that my home will end up being a battle zone. I don't know what to do, why did she have only one child?" Your hands are shaking. "I hope my mother-in-law will watch the kids while I'm gone. What will Jimmy say? Now this will give him a good reason to leave.

Relieved that you were able to get a flight for that evening, you begin to pack. You inform your employer that you had a serious family emergency and need to leave immediately. You ask him if you could use your vacation time for this. His approval comes as a big relief.

Between the cost of airline tickets and other additional expenses added to the credit card, a hefty bill is tallied, adding more debt to your finances. Plus you lose your vacation time, time that was intended to be used at a later date. Whatever the results, the reality of the situation at hand is adding weight to your already hectic schedule. By now you know what's in store for you; the cost of flying back and forth between New York and Florida will become exorbitant. On the other hand, you could move to where they live, but that would wreak havoc for all back home. Lastly as a dreaded alternative, you could have your parents move into your home. This way you would be able to keep an eye on them even though this arrangement will also wreak havoc for all concerned. You find yourself trapped by making the choice between: "what you would rather do" and "what is required for you to do." You have officially joined the privileged ranks of the "Sandwich Generation," sandwiched between responsibility for those that raised you and choices that define your own life.

Whether the aging parent becomes confined to a nursing home, a rehabilitation center or an assisted living facility, the demands on the Sandwich Generation still exist. These caregiver's nerves are strained to the utmost. They suffer from depression, anxiety and even some may develop heart problems from all the stress. As it is, the wife-mother-daughter generally is a multi-tasked person holding down multiple jobs and responsibilities all at once.

Now let's take a look at another example. Mrs. B. is a sixty year old stay-at-home grandmother who never had to work because her husband always made decent money. Both of her children have married and maintain successful careers. Her daughter, Sue, finally was able to have two children after several unsuccessful attempts. With so much spare time on her hands, Mrs. B. can do all the things she wants to. Travel, play Mahjong with friends every other week, go to Broadway shows and participate in community activities. Since Mrs. B is a stay-at-home wife, she comes to be the lucky candidate who assumes the babysitter role at a moment's notice for her daughter. How can she refuse to take care of her sweet, innocent darlings once in a while? Happy and doing well, she feels her life is blessed. However, add to this context an aging mom with advanced dementia, the situation changes and becomes overwhelming, piling on additional responsibilities. Now Mrs. B's daughter has just received a promotion and has to put in more hours at her job. Sue is so excited, since it will raise her salary $30,000 a year. She's hoping that mom can take care of the kids full-time.

"Don't get nervous, it's only temporary until I get the hang of it, then I will put them in daycare," she says. At age sixty, Mrs. B. is not looking forward to spending 40 + hours a week taking care of a baby and a two-year-old toddler. She also has the responsibility of an aging mom with dementia. Since her father passed away over three years ago, Mrs. B. has been noticing changes in her mother's personality. Apparently she has been suffering from clinical depression with mood swings, wherein she would become enraged, unresponsive or withdrawn. She also watched her mom slowly fade into the never-ending fog of memory loss, repeating herself over and over again. Mrs. B.'s mom would become increasingly bewildered and confused, even in familiar surroundings. Lately, her appetite has been poor, and to make matters worse, she has developed a foul odor. She has been neglecting her personal hygiene as she does not realize that she has to bathe and change her clothes. Since Mrs. B. is the oldest of three sisters and as she lives the closest to mom, and supposedly had more free time on her hands than the others, she has become the designated primary caregiver, against her wishes. So as a result, Mrs. B.'s mom moves in with her daughter. Both situations have disrupted Mrs. B.'s comfort zone. It also has interfered with the quiet life that she built with her husband since the kids got married and moved out of the house.

The full-time baby-sitting issue in regards to her grandchildren is becoming a serious problem for her, going on for several months now. She cannot understand why it's taking her daughter so long to put them in daycare. Mrs. B. is too tired. She is wound tighter than a rubber band. The baby is teething and crying constantly and the toddler still in diapers is hungry, tugging at her pants. Suddenly the door bell rings. It's her next door neighbor asking if she could pick up her mail for the next four days since she won't be home. Smiling, Mrs. B. agrees and closes the door. She starts to fume, feeling envious of her neighbor, who has the freedom to take off when she wants to while Mrs. B. is trapped at home with two grandchildren, constantly changing diapers and doing the laundry.

She says, "What does she think I am, her errand girl? With all that I am doing, she has the nerve to ask!" Not even the girls at Mahjong call her anymore. They have been avoiding her like the plague. She calls her daughter constantly, complaining about the kids and her mom. The daughter, avoiding the issue, puts her on voice mail. Mrs. B. screams at her mom. She calls her sisters and vents on them for not helping out. She vents to the mailman, the supermarket cashier, whoever might lend an ear. She can't wait to vent on her husband when he comes home. There is no way for him to avoid the sound of her shrilly voice, her expression revealing her anger. He is deeply concerned that she may be having a nervous breakdown. The peaceful life of Mr. and Mrs. B. is long gone.

Meanwhile, Mrs. B. can hear her aging mom fussing because she has a terrible case of the runs, soiling her underwear and nightgown, she needs to be washed and changed just like the grandchildren she routinely babysits. Mrs. B. has found herself in a situation that is not easily solvable. She starts to freak out. She is extremely tired and cranky. She needs sleep in a desperate way. The horrible consciousness and sandwiched existence cause tears to stream from her eyes. "I can't stand it anymore. I hate what I'm doing. I don't want to do this any longer. I want it to go away," she cries. "I am only one person, how can I separate myself into so many pieces and satisfy everyone at the same time? Doesn't anyone care about me? I have needs too." She sits there stressed out, her body wracking with heart wrenching sobs. Frightened by grandma's emotional state, the baby starts to cry and her whole face turns red while the toddler starts to cry as well. Finally, she screams at the top of her lungs and says, "WHY ME? I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!"

Do these examples sound familiar? If so, you are not alone. Caring for aging parents is not an easy task. It saps your energy and robs you of your peace of mind. Very few people are emotionally ready to undertake this role. The comfort zone which you have created for yourself, including the freedom to come and go as you please, career fulfillment, and an active social life with your friends becomes completely disrupted. With care-giving, you feel captive to the needs of whoever you are caring for. Also, it puts you in the awkward position of parenting your own parents.

In the final part of this 3 part series, I'll address ways I have had to deal with being a member of the Sandwich Generation, and ways to help cope with the stress involved with being a caregiver.

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Why Do So Many Women Suffer from Heart Disease

Ice Bath Weight Loss Why Do So Many Women Suffer from Heart Disease.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans and it is befitting considering the health of the heart, on many levels. Most people really do have good hearts, mainly women, but many hearts or heart centers have shut down and hurt is the number one reason for this. Many a women's heart is damaged, i.e. "a broken heart" or "broken-hearted." Usually some man or male caused the damage. When you shut the heart down in an attempt to protect yourself from hurt, this emotional constriction results in a physical constriction (of the blood vessels in the heart), i.e., poor blood pressure (or high blood pressure). High blood pressure means the blood pressure is high due to constriction of the blood vessels so the heart has to work faster and harder to get blood to flow. This activity taxes the heart.

Now when you harden up your heart emotionally speaking, you have just spun into effect the physical manifestation of hardening up your arteries (that are connected to your heart), hence, arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a medical condition or pathology that basically means "hardening of the arteries", from the Greek word arteria meaning "arteries" and Sklerosis meaning "hardening." Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 3rd ed., pg. 94

In addition, hardening up the heart makes the heart heavy, i.e., a "heavy heart."

Many women suffer from angina pectoris, a stinging pain in the heart. When your heart has been pained or hurt, emotionally speaking, the emotional hurt or pain stores in the tissues of the heart and can manifest as physical heart pain that doctors call angina.

Metaphysically speaking, the heart is the seat of our true inner-self, the doorway of spiritual illumination, the center through which we express our capacity for deep feeling, nurturing, unconditional love, affection, forgiveness, compassion and sensitivity for oneself, others, and life. Our fears of being hurt, insecurity, feeling unloved, broken-hearted, arrogance, insensitivity, intolerance, misplaced affections and desires; long-held hurt, bitterness, anger, hostility, rage, excessive anxiety and stress, heavy-heartedness, resentment, and lack of forgiveness can block the flow of vitality in the heart area.

There a lot of unhealthy hearts in America, a lot of hurt, injured and damaged hearts. But believe it or not, hurt is actually good for the heart because you can't know love without knowing pain/hurt. Pain causes the heart to evolve, to blossom. Pain also leads to hate in many women. While hate is detrimental to the body, however, it is simply one extreme of the polarity. Hate and love are the same thing in nature or essence, simply differing in degrees, just like ice and steam, both of which are water but differing at degrees (or temperature). That's why there's such a thin line between love and hate, because they are in essence the same thing. Duality exists in all things. This is Universal Law!

Love is the best elixir for a healthy heart and the best mendicant for a broken heart. Like John Travolta's character in the movie "Michael" was singing in the backseat of the car: "All you need is love!"

Formula of the month: JOINT FORMULA

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People with joint problems should greatly modify their diet and incorporate more green foods which are alkaline and which neutralize acidosis, start drinking cherry juice concentrate, drinking more water (to flush the body, mainly the joints), and start bathing in sea salt and essential oils of Eucalyptus and Peppermint.

Our Joint Formula contains the best anti-inflammatory herbs available today - Boswellia, Devil's Claw, Meadowsweet, Uva Ursi, Mullein, Guaiac, and Safflower. To order, visit our Shopping Cart.

FOOD FACTS and TRIVIA:

Why are commercial brand chicken eggs white? ANSWER: because they are sterile. Chicken eggs are naturally brown. Chickens are not farm raised today. They are caged in cages located in buildings with synthetic lighting that fool the chickens and makes them produce eggs throughout the day, which greatly taxes the chickens.

Spiritual Facets

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." MATTHEW 7:13-14

The Peacock's Complaint A peacock was discontented with his ugly voice, and he went to the goddess Juno to complain about it. "It's true that you cannot sing," said the goddess, "but your great beauty more than makes up for it." But the peacock was not to be consoled. "What is the use of beauty," he asked, "with a voice like mine?" Now Juno grew impatient. "Each has his destined gift: you have beauty, the eagle strength, the nightingale song. Yet you alone are dissatisfied. Complain no more, If your present wish were granted, you would only find some other grievance. MORAL: Instead of envying the gifts of others, make the most of your own.

"If we would have the Creator hear us when we pray, we must listen when the Creator speaks.' - Thomas Benton Brooks

"You can't keep a good man down without staying down with him." - Booker T. Washington

"Cross the river, before insulting the crocodile." - African proverb

"None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free." Johann W. Goethe (German Poet, 1749-1832)

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Whats the Quickest Way to Lose Weight 10 Tips to Lose Weight Fast

Ice Bath Weight Loss Whats the Quickest Way to Lose Weight 10 Tips to Lose Weight Fast.

You're reading this because you want to know what the quickest way to lose weight is. Well it may shock you to know that there is no one best way to lose weight. What you can do, is take daily and consistent action towards reaching your weight loss goals. Of course, if your regular diet includes high fat, low energy, sugar filled food, than switching to fruits and vegetables will have you losing weight right from the start. Within a week or two you'll start feeling better and you will drop that excess fat.

Dropping weight too fast though will just lead you back to your old ways, and the pounds are sure to come back. Stop stressing about that special occasion months ahead of time, getting into a bathing suit for summer, or any other reason that pushes you to unhealthy dieting fads. Here are 10 strategies you can start today, that won't have you starving or depriving yourself just to lose weight.

10 Tips to Lose Weight Fast

1. Eat breakfast

With the busy lives we all lead, breakfast just seems to never fit in. Stopping for a coffee and bagel does though, but that's not a great breakfast choice. Give yourself the time in the morning to eat, even a small breakfast, high in protein, fiber and including fruit. It could be 2 egg whites or 1 whole egg with 1 egg white, whole wheat toast and an apple for the road.

2. Eat 5-6 times a day

You may be thinking that's too much, but 5-6 smaller meals a day will increase your metabolism and keep you from feeling hungry, throughout the day. Healthy snacks between breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in those meals.

3. Don't drink your calories

Unless its sugar free or calorie free soda, stay away. If you're normally drinking 1-2 soda's per day, you're drinking hundreds of empty calories every week. Just cutting soda from your diet is one of the easiest ways to lose weight. Orange juice and other types of juices may seem healthy, but they are loaded with sugar and calories you just don't need. Stick with water, no calorie or low calorie drinks.

4. Start drinking more water

You should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day, equal to 6-8 standard water bottles. This is a task at first, especially if you never drink water, but it's crucial to your success. Water consumption helps to increase your metabolism, keeps your stomach satisfied, flushes your system and controls water weight.

5. Track your food intake with a food journal

If you are just starting a new diet plan, than you have to track the calories you're taking in. However you break it down, it comes down to calories and extra calories equal unwanted weight. Many resources online or applications for your smart phone will show you how many calories to consume everyday. Keeping track of your calories will also keep your food choices in check.

6. Don't set unrealistic weight loss goals

If your goal is to shed 10 pounds your first week and you don't, you're setting yourself up for failure. When you don't hit that unrealistic goal, it leads to being discouraged, bad feelings and ultimately, more bad eating decisions. Many health professionals claim that losing 2 pounds a week is the very healthy. Not that this is your goal, but think about being 104 pounds lighter this time next year. The knowledge, health advantages and long lasting results you would gain, far outweigh rushing the process.

7. Start with quick 15 minute workouts

Many don't like exercising, but we all know we should. Don't buy another gym membership, go for 2 weeks than quit. Start at home with quick interval training sessions. If you search online for interval training workouts, you will find numerous pictures, explanations and videos. The best part is that it all can be done without weights.

8. Treat yourself once a week

Now this doesn't mean to eat a whole pizza, then ice cream, go to the movies and eat every snack available. You could eat 2 slices of pizza, 1 serving of fat free ice cream and salt/butter free popcorn. While you do this though, be sure to track your calories and don't exceed your day's allotment.

9. Stay off the couch

Reality TV has taken over. How full is your television recorder with shows to watch? Forget about them for now and get out. Sitting on the couch for hours after work leads to boredom and boredom leads to snacking. Play a game with the family, go for a walk, or do anything that keeps you active.

10. Rest, Rest, Rest

Probably the most overlooked weight loss tip. The body requires rest if you wish to lose weight; shoot for at least 7 hours per night. Research shows that depriving the body of proper rest elevates hunger hormones, and decreases the hormones used to make you feel full. Rest is especially needed if you begin to workout regularly. Worked out and exhausted muscles will not rebuild themselves as quickly without proper rest.

Conclusion

The easiest way to lose weight is simply doing several small things all at once. Commit to making better nutritional choices, exercise more frequently and soon you'll notice those bodily changes. True success comes after you commit to a lifestyle change and stop searching for the next lose weight fast fix. Start applying these 10 simple steps, build your food, exercise and health knowledge slowly, then apply one new strategy at a time and success is sure to come.

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What Are You Hungry For Feeling Hungry

Ice Bath Weight Loss What Are You Hungry For Feeling Hungry.

Need something to eat?� Are you sure?

The next time you reach out for the biscuit tin, ask yourself this question:-

"What am I hungry for?"

So often when we think we're physically hungry, the reality is that we're not.� We are actually feeling starved of some emotion or other.� It might be love; it might be comfort; it might be warmth or affection. But whatever it is, food won't satisfy it.

Ironically the feeling is very similar to that of physical hunger - it's an empty feeling in your stomach, like a big black hollow - but being able to differentiate between physical and emotional hunger is an important factor in successful weight loss.

Early Associations With Food

Unfortunately at a very early age we are taught to associate food with emotional solace.� If we fall over and hurt ourselves, we get an ice cream; if we're upset about something we get taken to the sweet shop to cheer us up, and so on. �Thus, these associations and eating patterns have been ingrained in us for many years and, unless we break them, we will continue behaving in the same way for the rest of our lives.

However, the only thing that will satisfy you if you're hungry for love is love.� The only thing that will satisfy you if you're hungry for affection is affection.� That is the hole that needs filling and it needs filling appropriately.

So, the next time you're reaching for the biscuit tin, ask yourself that question:-

"What am I hungry for?"

If it's not physical hunger, then don't bother eating because they'll just be wasted calories and you'll be wasting energy too.� Your emotional hunger will remain, whatever it is, and will simply be joined by other negative emotions such as guilt.

Satisfy The Right Hunger

Determine what it is that you are genuinely hungry for and seek it out.

If it's love, call up the person who loves you most in the world and have a chat with them.

If it's affection, go and get a cuddle from someone - even your dog or cat if there are no human beings around!

If it's friendship, call a mate or go on-line and message someone on Facebook

If you're bored and need stimulation, read a book or magazine, do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle, do a jigsaw puzzle - anything that absorbs you

If you're stressed, listen to some music, take a bath or go for a walk

There are lots of different emotions that may need satisfying at any given time and lots of potential strategies.� The key is finding the right ones for you.� Once you do, emotional eating will be consigned to the dustbin of history and how truly satisfying that will be!

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What Are Some Helpful Tips For Recovery After Plastic Surgery

Ice Bath Weight Loss What Are Some Helpful Tips For Recovery After Plastic Surgery.

When it comes to plastic surgery, recovery and recuperation are an important issue. Every patient will want a speedy recover, if not for anything but to show off their new work. First and foremost, your doctor's suggestion and recommendations are of the utmost importance. Now with that stated, there are several things that anyone can do to help safely speed up your recovery after your new plastic surgery.

You always need to follow the surgeon's instructions, due to the nature of the procedure, only the doctor will know what is best. You are going through an operation that involves your skin and therefore thing like bathing and general cleaning care can cause some serious side effects if you fail to follow his instructions for post-op.

After your procedure is completed, your doctor will also schedule you for post-op follow up appointments. Just because you may or may not be feeling what you think is 100%, do not think for a minute that it will be ok to skip an appointment. You need to go to every scheduled appointment so that the doctor can see if there are any possible complications. Some of these complications may not be visible to the untrained eye.

After having your plastic surgery, you most likely may feel depressed or moody for a while. You may even feel excessively tired, but this is normal as the body attempts to repair itself. These are just normal side-effects. Your doctor may also prescribe you medications that will assist you in your recovery. It is important to take them even if some of them may cause a slight weight loss or even depression.

Your doctor may even prescribe you pain pills depending on the procedure you have undergone, it is very important that while taking any type of pain medication that you do not drive. No matter what happens, do not drive while taking pain medications. Always try to keep yourself cooled down, especially in the areas where the procedure happened as this will help to reduce topical pains as well as swelling unless you doctor specifically told you not to use ice packs to cool yourself down.

Do not over stretch the areas that you had plastic surgery on as this will not only cause issues, but may cause pain or swelling. The same also applies with contracting the area that was operated on as the same things may happen.

All of these simple concepts will help in your post-op plastic surgery procedure.

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