Arthritis And Joint Pain - Cause And Effect

Ice Bath Weight Loss Arthritis And Joint Pain - Cause And Effect.

Arthritis is the main cause of pain. It is commonly characterized by inflammation of the joints, or the area where two bones meet. This disease is often a result of regular degeneration of cartilage tissues inside the joints, where it breaks down and could not protect the opposing bones anymore. Hence, causing stiffness inside and swelling outside.

There are over a hundred different types of arthritis but the most common are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Whichever the type, the popularity of this disease became widespread as it affects both the elderly and the children. In the USA, it is noted that 46 million individuals have been diagnosed with arthritis

Arthritis symptoms are easy to be noticed, thus easy to be prevented also. Here is a list of some symptoms of arthritis for preventive action to be taken:

• Inability to use the hand to write, type, pick-up or hold things

• Inability to walk or difficulty in rotating the ankle

• Difficulty to move the elbows, knees, back or neck

• Difficulty to sleep continuously

• Easy to get tired or exhaustion

• Fever

• Muscle aches

• Weakness of the areas around the joints

• Weight loss

• Skin rashes (for children)

Joint Pain-the Effect

Joint pain is the adverse effect of the disease arthritis. It is usually coupled with the stiffness and swelling being felt around the joints. This happens when arthritis occurs and the cartilage that smooths the bones, when rubbed to each other, is deteriorating.

The effect of joint pain to the body is usually the incapacity to move and engage in certain actions. Because of this lack of activity, individuals suffering with joint pain can also obtain other diseases like obesity, high cholesterol and heart failure.

To treat joint pain is to treat the symptoms of arthritis. Thus, arthritis treatments are to be observed so that one can continue enjoying mobility. Here are some suggested remedies for joint pain:

• Cold therapy through an ice pack

• Hot therapy through a hot bath

• Massaging with essential oils like eucalyptus and olive with anti-inflammatory effects

• Physical therapy to exercise the joints

• Adding herbal supplements like peppermint, willow bark, or ginger to one's meal

• Epsom salt through bathing or adding to lemon juice

• Taking of natural joint supplements such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin

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Arthritis - Treating Mild Osteoarthritis Pain

Ice Bath Weight Loss Arthritis - Treating Mild Osteoarthritis Pain.

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis, is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when cartilage in your joints wears down over time. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, although it is most commonly affects the hands, hips, knees and spine. It typically affects just one joint, though in some cases several joints can be affected, such as with finger arthritis.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis and it gradually worsens with time, but treatments can relieve pain and help you remain active. Actively managing your osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your osteoarthritis pain.

For mild osteoarthritis pain that is bothersome, but not enough to have a great impact on your daily activities, your doctor may recommend the following:

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  Rest. If you are experiencing pain or inflammation in your joint, rest it for 12 to 24 hours. Find activities that don't require you to use your joint repetitively. Take a 10-minute break every hour.
  
  


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  Exercise. With your doctor's approval, exercise regularly when you feel up to it. Stick to gentle exercises, such as walking, biking or swimming. Exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable. Avoid exercising tender, injured or swollen joints. Stop if you feel new joint pain. New pain that lasts more than two hours after you exercise probably means you have overdone it.
  
  


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  Weight loss. Being overweight or obese increases the stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as on your knees and your hips. Even a small amount of weight loss can relieve some pressure and reduce your pain. Talk to your doctor about healthy ways to lose weight. Most people combine changes in their diet with increased exercise.
  
  


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  Heat and cold. Both heat and cold can relieve pain in your joint. Heat relieves stiffness and cold relieves muscle spasms. Use a heating pad, hot water bottle, or a warm bath. Heat should be warm, not hot. Apply heat for 20 minutes several times a day. Cool the pain in your joint with cold treatments, such as with ice packs. You can use cold treatments several times a day, but don't use cold treatments if you have poor circulation or numbness.
  
  


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  Physical therapy. Ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist. A physical therapist can work with you to create an individualized exercise plan that will strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your range of motion in your joint and reduce your pain.
  
  


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  Occupational therapy. Find ways to manage daily tasks without stressing your joints. Speak with an occupational therapist for help managing tasks or work without putting extra stress on your already painful joint.
  
  


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  Pain creams. Over-the-counter pain creams and gels available at the drugstore may provide temporary relief from osteoarthritis pain. Some creams numb the pain by creating a hot or cool sensation. Other creams contain medications, such as aspirin-like compounds, that are absorbed into your skin. Read the label so you know what you are using. Pain creams work best on joints that are close the surface of your skin, such as your knees and fingers.
  
  


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  Braces or shoe inserts. Consider trying special splints, braces, shoe inserts or other medical devices that can help reduce your pain and immobilize or support your joint to help you keep pressure off it.
  
  


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  Chronic pain class. Ask your doctor about classes in your area, or check with the Arthritis Foundation, to find classes that help people with osteoarthritis or chronic pain. These classes teach skills to help manage your osteoarthritis pain. You'll meet other people with osteoarthritis and learn their tips for reducing joint pain or coping with your pain.

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Arthritis - A Deadly Disease

Ice Bath Weight Loss Arthritis - A Deadly Disease.

Arthritis is the disease basically associated with the old people but the children may be affected by this disease. People of the age group 65 are mostly affected by arthritis in North America and they together constitute 70% of the total population. Women are at the major risk of getting affected by arthritis as compared to the men and this disease is more prevalent in the women of all ethnic races and cultures. According to an estimate about 46 million of people USA are suffering from this disease and the number increases every year. About one million people are admitted to the hospital just because of the problems they face because of arthritis.

Recital

All the persons suffering from arthritis complain the problem of extreme pain. The pain may be different according to the location and the individual. Rheumatoid arthritis is very worse in the morning and is characterized by stiffness. In the earlier stages the symptoms cannot be easily recognized. In the old individuals and the children pain may not be the major diagnostic feature as the old people move little and the children refuse to move the limb when it is paining. Important features of arthritis include speed and time of onset, pattern of joint movement, symmetry of symptoms, early morning stiffness, locking with inactivity, tenderness and other systemic factors. Physical examination and the radiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of the disease. Arthritis has been known from prehistoric times. Extra articular features of arthritis or joint disease include cutaneous nodules, oedema, ocular inflammation, diarrhea, bursitis, lymphadenopathy and urethritis. Blood tests indicate the presence of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF) and extractable nuclear antigen.

Malady

In USA arthritis is the major cause of disability among the individuals and 20 million people are dependent upon the doctors and the physicians for their survival. It has been found that the 50% of an individual's salary who is suffering from arthritis is lost in the treatment of arthritis. The ability of a person to remain active is lost completely. Some also suffer from obesity, high cholesterol and risk of heart disease. Depression may also be found in such individuals.

Indications

Apart from the type of arthritis the common symptoms are pain, joint stiffness and swelling and a persisting pain around the joints. Other symptoms include inability to walk and move hands, malaise and feeling of tiredness, fever, weight loss, poor sleep, muscle ache, tenderness and difficulty in moving the joints.

Types

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is a disorder where the body starts destroying its own tissues for some unknown reasons. The attack is not only restricted to the joints but also to other parts of the body. The major damage is caused to the lining of the joints and the cartilage resulting in the erosion of two opposing bones. The joints of the fingers, knee, wrists and elbows are affected in the rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is having symmetry and causes severe deformity in few years. It basically affects the people of age group 20 or more. This disorder in children causes pain, fever, skin rashes and limitations on the day to day activities. Actual cause rheumatoid arthritis is not known till present but the scientists are very actively engaged in finding out the treatments as possible for this disorder. The drugs that are administered against rheumatoid arthritis include intravenous injections of either corticosteroids or monoclonal antibodies. Remicade is a drug which is presently being used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and can be effective for short term only. Surgery can be done to replace the affected joint but there is no complete cure of the disorder. Other dangerous symptoms can also develop in later stages which include heart problems, gait abnormality and skin nodules.

Osteoarthritis

It affects the larger joints of the body like that of the back, hip or the knees. This is generally the result of the wear and tear of the joints. It begins in the cartilage and results in the erosion of two opposing bones. It starts with a minor pain which is experiences while walking and the pain becomes continuous during the night. The pain causes hindrance in the daily activity of the individual. It is basically a disorder very common among the old people especially the women of the age group 65. Osteoarthritis cannot be cured but can be prevented from becoming worse. Weight loss is the most common feature of this disease. Physical therapy of the joints may be helpful in getting some relief. Joint replacement may be of little help.

Severe Arthritis

Arthritis is a dangerous disease and in more intense cases it can result in severe deformities. The majority of the individuals suffering from the rheumatoid arthritis have deformed fingers. The deformity may also be seen in the wrist joint so it cannot be moved properly. Other problems include appearance of carpal tunnel syndrome due to nerve entrapment. In later cases the sensation of the fingers also gets lost. Infectious arthritis is another form of severe arthritis. It is characterized by appearance of sudden chills, fever and joint pain. This condition may be caused by bacteria. This disease can be easily diagnosed and prevented from becoming intense. Psoriasis is another form of arthritis. In this case first the patient develops skin problems followed by arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and swelling. There is no cure for this disease and this occurs on a small scale. Lupus is a collagen vascular disorder that can be frequently found associated with arthritis. The symptoms of lupus include skin rash, extreme photosensitivity, hair loss, kidney problems, lung fibrosis and constant joint pain. Another problem that has been found associated with arthritis is gout which arises due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints leading to inflammation. The joints lose their activity and often swell.

Inhibition

Rheumatoid and the osteoarthritis are not curable but one can prevent himself from being affected by physical therapy, losing weight and eating healthy. The individuals who feel pain in the joints must immediately consult the physicians so that the treatment can be started as soon as possible in order to prevent the disorder from becoming intense.

Ministration

Once arthritis is diagnosed treatments are available for a number of symptoms that are frequently experienced. Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis are not curable. The treatments used against them can help in relieving pain for a short period but complete relief is not possible. Treatments include physical therapy, changing the lifestyle, orthopedic bracing, medications and dietary supplements. Arthroplasty also called joint replacement surgery can also be performed. Physical exercise has given better results in treatment of arthritis.

Medications

Physicians generally start the treatment with the use of drugs. The first choice of drugs is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen and tramadol are the general pain killers which are basically used. The drugs although effective are also associated with a number of side-effects like the abdominal pain, bleeding, liver and kidney damage and ulcers. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be used for prolonged periods without the prescription of the physician. Corticosteroids are presently being used for the treatment of arthritis. They help in reducing the inflammation and also prevent the joint damage. Corticosteroids are associated with a number of side effects like ulcers, hypertension, cataracts, diabetes, skin bruising, and weight gain. Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is generally used for the treatment for the rheumatoid arthritis as they are helpful in preventing the joint damage. The commonly used DMARDs are methotrexate, hydrochloroquineand minocycline. They are also having many side effects in the form of liver and kidney damage, bone marrow suppression and possibility of other infections.

Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide can be taken for getting relief from inflammation. These drugs make an individual more prone to other infections. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have been used for getting relief from inflammation and joint pain. They are also having some side effects as a person becomes susceptible to the risk of heart disease and other infections.

Occupational therapy and the physical therapy can help the people suffering from arthritis. Physical therapy can teach an affected individual how to relax the limb without damaging the joints. It can also provide splint and braces for the joints. Physical therapy also teaches how to drive the car, take bath and perform household work. Occupational therapy teaches how to reduce on the joints and perform the daily activities. Physical therapy also makes use of ice, heating pads and ultrasound guided massage therapy. Both these therapies help an individual to remain free from some of the difficulties of arthritis.

It can be concluded that arthritis is a very painful disease affecting the joints and there no complete cure for it only one can practice the use of physical and occupational therapy. Drugs can be helpful but are at risk and make an individual more prone to other infections.

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Are Hoodia Diet Pills Useful For Emotional Eating

Ice Bath Weight Loss Are Hoodia Diet Pills Useful For Emotional Eating.

If you suffer from emotional eating, you know that you don't eat out of hunger. Instead, you eat because you are depressed, angry, frustrated, and maybe even excited. Your emotions dictate when and how much you eat. Emotional eating often leads to overeating and if it's left unchecked, can result in significant weight gain. To prevent this from happening, it's important to learn how to manage it.

One solution emotional eaters consider is hoodia diet pills. Hoodia gordonii is a natural appetite suppressant with virtually no side effects. The plant is found in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa and also in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and in some parts of the United States. Just a small piece of the plant can suppress appetite for hours. It is found in powder or liquid form in a variety of diet supplements. The idea behind hoodia diet pills is that if you feel full, you'll eat less. Thus, you'll lose weight - or prevent any weight gain.

While hoodia holds some promise for weight loss, it is ineffective in curbing emotional eating. As I mentioned, emotional eaters don't eat out of hunger. They eat as a result of their emotions. Hoodia gordonii suppresses your physical hunger, not your emotions - or your response to your emotions. This is an important distinction. Hoodia diet pills may make you feel full, but if you suffer from emotional eating, you're going to eat anyway!

The key for emotional eaters is to recognize and understand the relationship between their emotions and their eating habits. Once they do that, they can learn specific strategies to deal with those emotions other than turn to food. Here are a few things that can be done to help manage emotional eating:

1. Write A Food Journal. Most people don't like to journal but it is an important first step to combat emotional eating. For a couple of weeks, keep track of what you eat, when you eat, and why you eat. Take careful notes of the emotions you experience when you eat. When you look back at your journal, you will likely see a pattern. For example, you may notice that you tend to binge eat when you are bored. These trends are important clues as to what triggers your eating habits.

2. Stock Your Kitchen With Healthier Foods. When we eat as a result of our emotions, we tend to turn to comfort foods which are high in fat, sugar, and calories. Ice cream and candy bars are perfect examples. The easiest way to prevent turning to these foods for comfort is to leave them out of your home in the first place. If low fat microwave popcorn (the snack-size bags) is all you have in your kitchen, then that's the only choice you'll have when you are going through an emotional eating battle.

3. Exercise. The next time you are stressed and find yourself heading for the freezer for a scope of ice cream, go for a walk outside or jump on your treadmill if you have one. Also try to get on a daily exercise routine. Regular exercise will help you manage stress more effectively.

4. Relax. Meditation, yoga, and even a nice warm bath can help manage stress and emotions. Turn to these relaxation techniques instead of food.

5. Get Support. Friends and family can help. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Online resources such as forums and message boards can be an outlet for support as well. And if necessary, don't be embarrassed to seek professional help and support.

6. Maintain a Balanced Diet. If your diet is a train wreck, it will only make your battle with emotional eating that much harder. For example, if you're not getting enough calories in the day to support your minimum energy needs, you'll be more likely to succumb to emotional triggers. And if you're getting a lot of empty calories such as foods high in sugars, then you'll feel more hungry throughout the day.

Eat small meals throughout the day and try to include more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources in your diet. These foods are not only healthy for you, but they will give you energy and help you feel fuller throughout the day.

While hoodia diet pills - or any supplements for that matter - aren't effective in combating emotional eating, implementing the steps outlined here are the important first steps in getting your eating habits under control.

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Agelessness - Part II

Ice Bath Weight Loss Agelessness - Part II.

Fourth Step...

This aspect of you involves the physical realm. This area has many implications and could easily be a very large book. Since we exist in the physical realm it is easy to associate the physical aspects of agelessness more readily. I will briefly touch on the various ways to slow down, reverse, and shift the process of aging.

The physical realm is massive, impossible to address in a few paragraphs, so let's discuss some of the areas most people think about like skin care, managing your weight, being energized, keeping your mind sharp, and remaining flexible and pliable.

Skin care...

Your skin is your largest organ and covers your entire body. It consists of pores that allow things in and let things out. Sweating is vital to release toxins from within your body, which is one reason antiperspirants are so harmful - they stop sweating, and that keeps the toxins in your body. Many also contain aluminum which has been proven to contribute to various diseases. Never use a deodorant that contains propylene glycol because this is a toxic chemical that is found in brake fluid and airplane de-icing fluid. Would you want that in your body?

Did you know that everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your blood stream and carried throughout your body in literally seconds? Kind of scary, isn't it? So if everything that you rub onto your skin anywhere on your body goes directly into your body, it means you must be able to eat whatever is placed on your skin!

People want to look young so they continually spend large sums of money on skin products purchased from drug stores to upscale spas. Many of them claim to reduce wrinkles and create firmer skin. Some of them help this to some extent, but many are full of toxic ingredients that are undermining your overall health and creating multitudes of toxic build-up within your body. Also understand that younger skin has more to do with what you put into your body than on it. However, it is important to take care of your skin. So let's talk about both of these areas.

Since everything you place on your skin is absorbed into your blood stream, it only makes sense to use products that are wholesome and pure. Your best choices are organic ingredients as these will be free of harmful toxic substances. Here are some definite "no's."

1.Laurel sulfate or laurel sulfeth - these are foaming agents used in products such as body gels, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners, bubble bath, and similar products. It is known that one drop can remain in the brain for days and can damage

the immune system, eyes, liver and heart. It is a mutagen - highly toxic.

2.Propylene glycol - a synthetic petrochemical mix found in de-icer and brake fluid - used as a preservative in many products.

3.Parabens - methyl, ethyl, butyl, propyl - inhibitor of bacterial growth that extends shelf life, a preservative. It is known to cause skin rashes, allergic reactions, highly toxic,

and has been linked in a high percentage of cases to breast cancer. These are present in skin and body products, even make-up.

4.Synthetic fragrance - one fragrance can have as many as 250 (some health advocates say as much as 800) chemicals included in it - all highly toxic to your body.

5.Synthetic colors - cancer causing agents - anything that says FD&C or D&C i.e. red, blue, yellow.

6.UREA - a preservative used similar to parabens - can release formaldehyde at just over 10° heat. It is highly toxic to your body.

We talked about unhealthy choices, so now I'll share some healthier choices. There are wonderful moisturizers that are inexpensive and really nourish your body, such as: shea butter, rose oil, jojoba oil, Hawaiian kukui oil, unrefined coconut oil, cocoa butter, avocado, and many more. There are companies that produce organic skin products that are much more beneficial for you. Lily Organics is one of my favorite product lines as most of their ingredients are organic, good enough to eat! I have seen remarkable transformation of my mature skin since using them. I know this because people continually tell me my skin looks good. Aubrey Organics, Jason Naturals, and Jurlique of Australia are all companies that provide organic, healthy product lines although every product may not be totally organic. Read the labels. Pay attention to what you are putting on your skin. If you wish more information please feel free to email me with your request. All of these companies have a website listed at the conclusion of this article.

Note: Be sure that you follow these 3 simple rules for your skin every day: hydrate, exfoliate, and moisturize.

Equally important, if not more so, is what you take inside your body through diet and what you breathe. Although there are many things that are necessary for youthful skin, we're going to address a few of the important ones.

1.H²0 - This is vital! You should be drinking ½ ounce pure water per pound of body weight every day! Other liquids do not count in this for you consist of over 70% water and must refill the reservoir daily. In addition, water removes toxins by flushing them through you, thus aiding youthful skin.

2.Omega-3 fat - You cannot overdue this important nutrient for all of your body. It's a lubricant that provides easier elimination of waste, more flexibility of joints, more supple skin, less pain, shinier/healthier hair, and so on. The omega-3's are also vital for hormone balance as all hormones in your body begin with good cholesterol, which is created through good fats. Get this through consuming cod liver oil and fish oil daily - best choice is Carlson Labs products as they are contaminant-free.

3.Lots of organic veggies - From a recent survey I learned that over 60% of Americans do not eat any vegetables per day. That blew my mind. Veggies contain vital nutrients that keep you younger and healthier because they provide necessary vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and fiber to keep you healthy. It is best to consume 6-8 dark or brightly colored vegetables and fruits every day.

4.Protein - The animo acids found in protein are needed for connective tissue, adrenal glands, muscle and joint strength/health, and of course to keep your skin looking firm.

Many people do not eat enough protein every day since so many people skip meals or eat a meal on the run, grabbing something quick and easy. Rule of thumb, at least as a starting place, is 30% of every meal and snack should be protein!

5.Choose organic - It's known that organic produce, hormone-free meats, poultry, and dairy, raw and fresh foods, whole grains, nuts, seeds, have a better effect on your health than non-organic, processed, cooked foods. More nutrients are found

in the organic products without chemicals. Chemicals age you faster as does sugar, white flour, and table salt.

There are many other important things to enhance your agelessness, perhaps adding a few supplements to your daily regimen, but since each person is a unique individual there is no one format that will be a healthy choice for everyone. It's best to do some detective work and research what works for you.

Exercise should be part of your life because exercise helps you with agelessness. First of all, it helps keep your body slimmer, and we know that slimmer bodies contribute to better health. Second, it keeps you more limber and flexible. Thirdly, it helps toxins to be released from you through movement and sweating. Fourth, it assists hormone conversion and your metabolism.

Exercise could be walking, swimming, stretching, bicycle riding, playing tennis - whatever works for you. Is has been said that walking is one of the best ways to exercise as it is a natural state for a human being - easy on your body, as well as it connects you with nature.

Use your mind! Read, write, do crossword puzzles, anything and everything to stimulate your brain. When you don't use it, you lose it - a fact of life! And then all you can think about is your aging self. Do things for others - visit someone, cook a dish for someone who could use a touch of love, do community service, work part-time or even full-time. The more active you are the better you will feel about yourself and your life.

The following are dietary choices that are most detrimental to your health and will age you the fastest:

1. Trans fatty acids - any processed non-organic oils

2. Sugar - white processed sugar, corn syrup, fructose, all sugar substitutes

3. Caffeine

4.Alcohol

While there are many other things that disrupt your health, the above named items tear down your immune system and adrenal function in the worst way. Your adrenals are your stress indicator with the purpose of keeping your body in a constant state of equilibrium - hard to do in this world today, so even more important to not overload it further. Your immune system fights free radicals from invading your body and destroying your health. If it isn't strong, well, I bet you know the result of that!

Hormone balance is important for agelessness. This includes sex hormones, adrenals, thyroid, pituitary and others. Each is vital to agelessness since hormones are your main age fighter. Using natural progesterone cream is usually necessary to offset the overload of estrogen prevalent in our society today. Utilizing expanded tests that alternative health practitioners perform for your thyroid and adrenal function is another avenue to pursue for agelessness. 80% or more of our population experiences adrenal fatigue on some level during their life and many never get it restored to normal balance. Hormones normally decline as years advance, but so often people experience a more rapid decline due to their lifestyle choices. It makes sense to use some assistance in this area but be careful not to use synthetic hormones or randomly use any hormones without proper testing for deficiencies.

Imbalanced hormones are a prime contributor to weight gain and loss of energy - even more reason to pay attention to your hormone balance. Elevated cortisol levels and lowered DHEA, found in your adrenals, are known to add weight, reduce energy, cause multitudes of health problems, and age you faster. Lowered thyroid function can do the same thing and often goes hand in hand with adrenal fatigue. Read my article on Adrenal Fatigue found on my website for more information.

Fatigue, lack of energy, and lethargy are common complaints as people get older. When your body is balanced and healthy, this does not occur! Fatigue simply means there is imbalance and it could involve your diet, lack of exercise, toxic liver or colon, low thyroid or adrenal function, and many other possibilities. Getting back in balance isn't always easy, but with perseverance it can be done. I've been way out of balance in the past and through due diligence and much perseverance I reversed my physical imbalance so that now I am balanced. You can do it too!

Recap...

There are many things required in the physical realm to restore and maintain your health

1. Pay attention to what you put on your skin - many ingredients are highly toxic.

2. Make healthy choices with your diet - you are what you eat!

3. Exercise.

4. Use your mind - don't use it and you lose it!

5. Weight gain has many contributors; hormone imbalance is one.

6. Balance can be accomplished with perseverance.

Note: It's your choice!

As I mentioned earlier, this section on diet and skin care could easily be a very large book. There are many people with many different ideas in the world. Some things will work better for you than others - the way it is for every aspect of life. Begin with small steps and make a few changes. Know it takes times to undo what you've been doing for many years. Never give up because it's the one who continually focuses on what she/he wants who gets it!

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A Variety of Natural Arthritis Remedies

Ice Bath Weight Loss A Variety of Natural Arthritis Remedies.

Are you suffering from arthritis? Did you know that there are natural ingredients that can cure arthritis that are right in your supermarket? It's true. A couple of proposed natural treatments for arthritis have been proven to be successful over the years. The most common and widely used natural remedy for arthritis is the use of heat and cold to treat the disease. Applying heat to a joint can provide significant relief and you can use electric blankets and even hot packs. Taking a bath can also play a significant role. Cold can also be used as a natural remedy for arthritis in that by wrapping an ice cube in a piece of cloth and pressing it on the joint will relieve pain.

Another most effective natural cure for arthritis is by mixing dilute garlic, lavender, sage, rosemary, thyme or juniper oils in the proportion of one part to ten of olive oil and applying the oil combination on the painful joints can lead to immediate relief and curing of arthritis. Another simple treatment for this illness is the use of hot vinegar, which can also be applied on the joint as it helps reduce the pain and swelling around the joint. Using 1 to 2 teaspoons of cod liver oil is likewise known as an effective way to lessen the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Adding alfalfa seeds to your tea and drinking it up to 3 to 4 cups daily will also reduce inflammation on your joints.

The most attractive feature of these natural arthritis remedies is that they are safe and have not been shown to cause the same adverse reactions as the pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs. Below are some of the more well-known natural remedies for arthritis:

• Glucosamine & Chondroitin
  These compounds are naturally found in the body and can aid in promoting joint health and repair.


• MSM
  A naturally occurring sulfur compound that reduces swelling much like other arthritis medications


• Manganese
  An important antioxidant nutrient that is useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis


• Niacinamide
  This is also known as Vitamin B3. It helps maintain the integrity of cells and tissues, slowing the progression of arthritis.


• Turmeric and ginger extract
  Both are anti-inflammatory herbal extracts that are effective in curing rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

The Home Treatment Programme, which was developed by Charles de Coti-Marsh over 60 years ago, offers a natural method of managing your arthritis and relief from the associated pain. This program presents three essential components; namely: diet, supplementation and postural management.

Weight loss can be considered one of the natural cures for arthritis, as the joints affected get relief when there is less weight and stress placed upon them daily. There might be natural cures for arthritis that meet with the body's needs for healing. Again, be sure and check with a doctor before taking large doses of any supplement or when using a program with prescription arthritic drugs.

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A Tongue In The Cheek Look At Insurance Companies

Ice Bath Weight Loss A Tongue In The Cheek Look At Insurance Companies.

Almost everything in life can be insured! I once read that as soon as value can be allocated to something, that "something" can be insured!

We insure our cars against theft, damage, rain, fire and accidents. Our homes are protected against brake-ins, water damage, fire damage and structural damage. We take out cover on our own lives for when we are not able to work anymore or to provide for our loved ones when we're no longer there. There are also medical policies which will take care of our medicine bills, dentist bills and even hospital visits. If we are our own bosses and we have our own offices we are able to take out commercial insurance to cover us in case practically anything goes wrong. We can even take out insurance for our pets in the form of a pet medical aid!

Have you ever stopped to think how much fun life would be if insurance companies were really able to offer insurance on EVERYTHING? I would like to recommend the following insurance policies:

The "I am getting fat policy" - We all gain a couple of unwanted kilograms at some stage or another. There is always a reason to celebrate, from weddings and anniversaries to birthdays, christenings, housewarmings and the very popular "hey, it's Wednesday" parties! By leading such jolly lives we unfortunately tend to expand horizontally sooner or later! Therefore I would like to be able to put in a claim against my fat! This claim will be able to cover the trolley load full of fresh fruit and vegetables I need for my new diet, the hip new clothes once I am back to my ideal weight... and of course a couple of very expensive slimming and cellulite treatments at a weight loss clinic!

Secondly, there would be the "I don't feel like going to work policy" - Let's be honest, we all have days when we just really don't feel like getting up and sitting in traffic to go to work. This policy should be quite comprehensive as it will not only need to cover the temp worker who will be able to do my work at short notice, but also the full body massage and mud bath that I will just have to pamper myself with at a fancy spa - this is off course part of the de-stressing technique to get me back to work and is actually to my boss's benefit. Insurance companies, please take note, this policy should be taken out by employers, not employees!

Lastly, there would be the "I told you not to do that policy" - This policy comes with a baseball bat and an ice pack. The next time someone pulls in front of you on a highway, talks on their cellphones in the cinema or smoke in a non-smoking section you can give him/her a big whack with the baseball bat, hand them the ice pack and phone your insurance company to sort out the rest of their medical expenses.

Don't you think life would be so much more fun that way? But yikes, just imagine how high our monthly premiums would be.

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A Spiritual Approach to Body Image, Self Esteem and Weight Acceptance - Its Not Just About Weight

Ice Bath Weight Loss A Spiritual Approach to Body Image, Self Esteem and Weight Acceptance - Its Not Just About Weight .

Oh No, not another self help ANALytical article - nah, I will never be that kind of writer. This piece of work is my platform to exercise my freedom of speech and if it touches someone in a profound way that is the proverbial icing on the cake!

I am going to tell you straight up that I am EVERY woman out there the only difference is I have embraced the concept that my THOUGHTS about the food I eat are much more dangerous for me than the actual food I consume!

This piece of work for me is my way of saying good bye forever to all the conditioned beliefs that we as women have been taught. Whether it be my ass is too big, too flat, too small or my stomach is too giggly, too puffy, too thick or my face is to round, too square, too thin, too fat...whatever you "learned" about your body I am here to tell you that you can RE-LEARN in a kinder, gentler way.

This book is for every woman who has ever opened a pair of panty hoses and thought NO WAY will these ever go on this body. Whether you were buying your panty hose in an egg, (come you 1970's women you remember the brand that came in the egg) or from the woman, Victoria who has a secret and refuses to share it with ALL of us this book is for you... in other words age appropriate for all who seek.

I here by declare this the decade of the deliciously double sized diva's ~ bigger thighs, bigger waists, bigger thoughts, bigger confidence and most importantly a bigger understanding of you really are at a soul level!

The female body has been admired from the beginning of time; however criticism of the female body has never been more prevalent. Full figured women are in, svelte sickly thin women are in, curvy busty women are in; who gets to say what's in and what exactly does it IN mean. Is it the fashion magazines, Hollywood, the guys who hang on the local corner??? And, if you are not IN what does that mean? Do you hide only to come out at night?

Let's think for a moment about jeans? Skinny jeans, low rise jeans (what were they thinking?), cropped, fitted, spandex, designer cut (yea, 4 sizes smaller than the tag implies), and let's not forget Spanx.. From overly thin models zipping up their size 0 jeans telling us if we eat this cereal for two weeks straight we too can look like her, or how about the woman who has a really shitty day and comes home and sits crossed legged in her designer chair and tell us we need to eat this brand of cheese and all the shit storms in the world will be meaningless! I don't know about you but, I am a REAL woman and after a load of shit storms on me I want a vodka on the rocks and BIG plate of pasta! But, alas, the voices in my head return..I'm too chubby, my face is too round, my clothes size is 16 I shouldn't eat pasta.

Ok, back to reality..count my points, visit Jenny, eat only protein, or the ultimate level of commitment, sit patiently by the door salivating while waiting for the UPS guy to bring my pre ordered, pre cooked, pre portioned "nutritious" weeks supply of food. Even as I write this my head swirls with so many thoughts of failure. I take a moment to regroup and I say STOP IT...STOP IT RIGHT NOW! COME ON! I am so tired of my intelligence being insulted that I finally had to speak up!

The times we live in.. 100 calorie packets (gimmick? I think so), low fat, no fat, reduced this and that. And, don't forget our over indulgent voices in or heads; voices that are relentlessly reminding us we aren't good enough until we ________ fill in the blank ladies! You know that voice, our arch nemesis! The one that makes us want to hide, not wear a bathing suit, not want to give our presentations, not go out to dinner or be social, the voice that needs to be quieted. But, how you ask. I say only one way, by the Soul.

That's what I said THE SOUL. For so long we have been looking for the cure all in a pill, the pill that makes us thinner, prettier, smarter, classier, well at last I have the ultimate answer, the ultimate pill.... It IS YOUR SOUL that can put to rest all the chattering inside you. Imagine that a self contained pill.. Just like the Wizard of Oz reminds us....it has always been in your own backyard! So if you are ready to explore that backyard read on!

DELICIOUSLY DOUBLE SIZED DIVA'S has absolutely nothing to do with our body size, our net worth, or our material possessions but rather with what's at our core; our Souls. I know what some of you may be saying..yea, yea, yea, the soul.. Are you WILLING to keep an open mind? After all, has any of this other stuff really worked this far?

Can you relate to any of this; maybe it's painful memories of prom, or lost opportunities. Are you finally ready to take back your life? Does free will and choice appeal to you? Are you sick and tired of going into your closet every morning only to emerge hating yourself? IF you answered YES to ANY of these I invite you to become a DIVA!

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

A Road Warriors Guide to Eating Healthy

Ice Bath Weight Loss A Road Warriors Guide to Eating Healthy.

Whether you are socializing with friends or entertaining a client for business, you'll find yourself more often than not eating out at a restaurant of some sort. According to Heathline.com, "People dine out more frequently. Sixteen percent of all meals and snacks were eaten out in 1977-78; that rose to 27 percent in 1995."

For all of us who are looking to invest in our personal health this is alarming! You're telling me that more than a quarter of our meals will be eaten out? For traveling business people and extroverted socialites the amount of meals on the road is incrementally higher.

The Keystone forum proclaimed in May of 2006, "Frequently eating foods prepared away from home is associated with obesity, higher body fat and a higher BMI." Now that we know that "32 percent" of an average person's daily calories will be from a meal away from home, lets see how a wise road warrior should navigate the restaurant menu...

When you first look at the menu, AVOID THESE 3 THINGS AT ALL COSTS!

deep fried foods (anything battered that got a scorching bath of trans fats)

refined starchy foods

any sodas, juices, or other sugary foods (except whole fruits, which are great)

Think about how many times you eat out a week. These food sources do the worst damage in our food supply - trans fats, refined vegetable oils, refined starchy carbohydrates, and processed sugars.

Do not eat that heap of french fries that looks so delicious steaming on your plate! The mounds of pasta and rice that the restaurant "blesses" you with? A big no no. All of our bodies crave these carbohydrates at some time or another. The secret is after a high intensity resistance training workout, your body can handle a higher amount of carbs than normal to help replenish the muscle glycogen depletion you had during the intense workout.

Just kindly ask your server for the side salad with dressing on the side, and/or a plate of steamed vegetables to substitute and you have made one huge step toward eating like a wise road warrior should. Most restaurants will allow this healthy option for you if they offer burgers and fries.

For the competent road warrior (all of us) you should eliminate sodas and fries from your diet all together. You are what you eat, and your body is not mocked! These are just some of the which have transformed me into the chiseled road warrior you see today.

So instead of

Burger or sandwich or burger

chips or fries

soda or other sweetened drink (and no, diet sodas are NOT healthy!)

Try this:

Burger or Sandwich

Salad or veggies

unsweetened iced tea or water (diet drinks are poison by the way)

What will these changes do for you? You'll avoid 400 - 900 calories for each meal that you choose to invest in your health and body! Imagine how many calories over a week, month, and year you would be saving just from this one subtle change! The next time you eat out, you will be equipped with the knowledge of a wise road warrior. Why are you putting your health on the back-burner? Enjoy life with the body you deserve.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

A Berkey Water Filter Maintains a Clean Water Supply

Ice Bath Weight Loss A Berkey Water Filter Maintains a Clean Water Supply.

Water is one of the most important elements in the world. Not only does it cover seventy percent of the face of the earth, but it also accounts for more than sixty percent of our body's composition. It is an essential element to successful weight loss and also to the body's ability to maintain healthy functions. Ensuring everyone has access to clean water is a task to which many have devoted their whole lives. These philanthropic folks realize that the water we have today is the same we will have decades and centuries down the road. Once the supply is contaminated, it is impossible to make more water in a laboratory test tube. As with anything, prevention is a better method than remediation. A Berkey water filter will make sure that the water you drink is free from contaminants and healthy to consume.

Many of us do not realize it, but our clean tap water contains certain particles that are called dissolved solids. These dissolved solids include, among other things, calcium, nitrates, phosphates and potassium. These are not harmful, but depending on the concentration, they may cause significant calcium deposits in lines and on faucet fixtures. They leave spots on glassware washed in dish washers and add a distinctive taste to tap water. The amount of total dissolved solids varies widely from one geographic location to another, and these solids are generally the result of runoff from agricultural sites. They can also come from locations where salt is used to de-ice roads. Berkey water filters are capable of purifying your drinking water by removing suspended solids and harmful bacteria.

Berkey manufactures a variety of filters that, when used in conjunction with a home water filtration system, will supply your entire family with healthy, clean water that can be used for many things such as bathing, washing laundry, and drinking. Water filtration devices offer so many benefits, in fact, that they are not merely for residents on well water but should be considered by households consuming city water. The taste of tap water can be greatly improved with a Pur water filter, Brita filter, or a Berkey water filter. All Berkey filters are easy to use in the home or on the road as a camping filter or while traveling in a foreign country.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

9 Ways to Renew, Recovery and Feel Your Best

Ice Bath Weight Loss 9 Ways to Renew, Recovery and Feel Your Best.

If you are just starting to workout, then you are probably a bit shocked. Symptoms include achy muscles, stiff joints, and other aches and pains. Starting a new workout plan can be a shock to your system and it is important to remember to take baby steps. Be patient, start slow and make small steps forward every week. If you take on too much, to quickly, you may overdo it and increase the chances of developing injuries and losing confidence.

On the flip side, you may be an exercise junkie. You love the gym, participate in sports, thrive on competition and can't get enough activity. For example, a lot of the fighters that I train love to work hard and train multiple times per day. If this is you, then learning to schedule your training properly and learning to recover is essential. Increased workload takes its toll of your body and learning to recover will be the difference between a high level of performance or fatigue, exhaustion and poor performance.

More than likely, you are somewhere in the middle of these two examples, but the ideas we will discuss, will still help you elevate your game, get more out of your workouts and help you feel better between workouts. I am going to lay out a handful of tips and discuss each of them briefly. My suggestion is to start with one or two of these ideas. Implement them into your routine each week.

The more often you train, the more focused you should become on these techniques, because more work requires more recovery. So lets get started&

1. Warm up (preventative) As simple as this may seem, most people screw it up. Warming up is NOT a 5 minute walk on the treadmill. Warming up prepares our bodies for the work we are about to do, increasing blood flow to muscles, warming up joints and preparing our nervous systems. Neglecting a warm up is one of the quickest way to injury.

I prefer to start my workout using the foam roller, move on to small band work to warm up the hips and shoulders, then move into dynamic warm up drills and agility work. This works great for me, but your warm up may need to prepare you for other activities.

Bottom line: take ten minutes and get mentally and physically prepared for the work you're about to do.

2. Corrective Exercise all of us have imbalances, weaknesses and small ailments that have built up over time. In order to perform at your best and stay pain free, you have to address this. For example, most people have weakness in the hips, tightness in the neck and upper back and lack proper control of their core musculature. If this is not addressed properly, then you will develop some type of knee, back or shoulder pain very quickly.

Bottom line: Have a professional assess your movement patterns, identify imbalances or limitations, and create a plan for correcting these before problems arise.

3. Massage Massage is one of the most amazing ways to stimulate muscle recovery and to allow the mind the relax. There are lots of different types of massage out there and its important to find a qualified therapist. A good therapist can help you address imbalances, relieve tightness, decrease soreness and speed recovery between workouts. Plus, it just feels good (most of the time ).

Bottom line: Ask around and interview a handful of therapists. Tell them your goals and limitations, then schedule a consistent time to meet them every week, bi weekly or monthly. Just depends on your training volume, availability and budget.

4. Self Myo-fascial Release Foam rollers, tennis balls, peanuts (2 tennis balls taped together), The Stick and other tools have become a life saver for myself and other people at our gym. These are a simple way to start workouts, break up adhesion (knots, tightness) in your muscles and help you move easier. An invaluable tool to use in between massages, ART and other therapy.

Bottom line: Buy one and use it frequently.

5. Ice Ice is one of the most underrated fix it methods. If you train intensely or recently started a new program, you will inevitably work hard, strain a muscle, sprain a joint or develop some type of small pain. Pain is basically inflammation in an area. Ice is a simple way to reduce inflammation and reduce pain. You can use ice massage, on muscles, after a tough workout or take an ice bath (intense but effective) or simply use ice packs around a sore area. This is a lifesaver as your intensity or workload increases.

Bottom line: Drop the pills and start with ice if simple joint or muscle pain comes your way.

6. Contrast Showers Increased blood flow can help flush out lactic acid in sore muscles. If you are stiff, sore or simply run down toward the end of the week, contrast showers may help ya speed recovery. Simply let the water run over the sore area and alternate between bouts of cold and hot water. I usually do cold blast for 10-20 seconds, followed by 1 minute of hot water. It is an eye opener, but you typically go numb after the second cycle. Well worth the initial shock .

Bottom line: Feeling a bit stiff and sluggish? Add these contrast showers to your routine.

7. Time Off This is a big one for the exercise junkie, especially for an athlete juggling multiple training sessions per day. Stress (exercise) breaks our bodies down. Our body then rebuilds to become stronger or more resistant to that stress, if proper rest and nutrition are made available. Lots o food athletes and competitive people love to just work hard and neglect taking proper time off to allow their bodies to recover.

Bottom line: Take at least one day COMPLETELY OFF and cycle the intensity of your other workouts to allow your body to rebuild. You should be getting stronger and making progress each week.

8. Catch some Zs Amazing things happen when you sleep. If you are training hard, then I would recommend getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Ideally you would go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 7am. There are lots details I will not dive into, but the bottom line is that a good nights sleep helps repair your body, refresh your mind and build strength in your whole system. Without it, you will be a step behind mentally and physically.

Bottom line: Turn your TV off, read something (non work related), drop the caffeine, brain dump to dos, and allow yourself to relax before hitting the hay.

9. Proper Nutrition Last, but not least, is the fuel you put into your body. Good nutrition supplies our body with water, amino acids (building blocks for muscle), minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, fatty acids and energy. When proper fuel is provided, the body is able to recover, rebuild and become stronger, in a shorter amount of time. Unfortunately, the average Americans diet is void of all the essential things we need to recover and perform at our best. In order to separate yourself from the competition and perform at your best, you have to take nutrition seriously. It affects every aspect of your body, mindset and performance all day long.

Bottom line: If God made it, eat it. Get the garbage food out of your life and start eating better quality foods. Id also recommend using a food journal to help you become conscious of your eating habits.

Utilizing these techniques helps people progress faster than they ever thought possible. Start by using one or two of these techniques, make them a habit in your life and then add other tips as you go. Taking these tips seriously allows you to feel better and to perform more work, more often when necessary.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

9 Free Metabolism Boosters

Ice Bath Weight Loss 9 Free Metabolism Boosters.

There are a lot of products on the market which are touted as improving your metabolism and thereby helping you lose weight. Often these products have dubious effectiveness, and can cost a lot of money. Here are some totally free methods that can fire your metabolism up and get you burning fat.

Eat spicy foods

Hot ingredients such as capsicum peppers, chili peppers, ginger, horseradish and wasabi have been shown to increase your metabolism for several hours after consumption. Warning: this is not an excuse to eat a fat-laden lamb bhuna!

Drink plenty of water

There's a myth floating around that drinking ice cold water will cause you to burn more calories, as your body will have to expend energy warming the water up. Sounds good, but there's absolutely zero evidence to back this up!

But that doesn't mean that water isn't important for weight loss. Keeping properly hydrated will improve your energy levels, aid digestion, and assist your body in flushing out toxins and fat.

Eat more frequently

Eating smaller, more frequent meals helps to stabilise blood sugar, leaves you less hungry (and therefore less likely to give in to temptation) and raises metabolism by helping the body digest the food and turn it into energy more quickly.

De-stress

When we are stressed, our bodies produce a hormone called Cortisol which can affect metabolic function. If a lot of Cortisol is produced, this can cause weight gain. Try to take some time each day to de-stress with a long walk, a good book, a relaxing bath, a manicure, meditation or anything else - non-food-related of course!

Build muscle

You've probably heard it said before that "muscle burns more than fat" or "muscle weighs more than fat". Not very scientific, but simply put, muscle cells require more energy than fat cells even while the body is at rest. Add some strength training to your cardio and you will find your lean muscle mass increasing and your daily calorie burn increasing along with it.

Get plenty of sleep

While we sleep, our bodies repair muscle or other tissue which is injured. Muscle can only be built by tearing it and rebuilding it (which is why you ache after a strength workout or unaccustomed exercise.) This process cannot be efficient if you aren't getting enough sleep. As explained above, lean muscle mass will help you burn more calories per day.

Increase your protein intake

Instead of a bag of chips, have some greek yoghurt, cottage cheese or grilled chicken breast as a snack. Protein is harder for the body to digest, so you burn more energy just eating it. Also, protein is essential for building lean muscle mass.

Cut out sugar

While it may give you a quick energy boost, refined sugar sends your blood sugar levels spiking and then crashing, which throws your metabolism into havoc. Instead of a cupcake, reach for an apple or orange instead. It will release its sugar more slowly, giving you a sustained energy boost without the corresponding crash.

Move about more

Studies have shown that people who fidget more can burn up to a third more calories than those who are naturally still. Whilst it would be difficult (and potentially irritating!) to develop fidgety habits, it is good to move around more often - particularly if you have a desk job or spend most of your day in school. Make the most of every opportunity to move - go to the water cooler at least once an hour, get up and walk around during the commercial break, take a walk at lunchtime instead of sitting and watching TV. If you're stuck in traffic in your car, devise an upper body dance workout to go along with whatever you're listening to. I have to admit this has earned me some curious looks from fellow motorists!

Keep all these tips in mind, and you can increase your metabolism - without spending a penny.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

8 Ways to Create Balance to Achieve Lasting Weight Loss

Ice Bath Weight Loss 8 Ways to Create Balance to Achieve Lasting Weight Loss.

Need to lose weight? Dreading the thought of another diet program? You don't have to follow diets to lose weight. There are many people discovering this for themselves and they are the ones who are finding long term weight loss apposed to short term fixes. The key to weight loss is finding the right balance of what you eat, what you think, and what activity you do. It is not about following a perfect plan. It is impossible to be perfect every day! Finding the right balance helps you to decrease your calorie intake, increase your metabolism and keeps the self-sabotage at bay. Here are 8 steps to bring more balance into all corners of your life so you too can find weight loss success.

1. Eat more frequently during the day-

Skipping meals or waiting too long between meals can have a negative impact on your metabolism and results in overeating later in the day. It's best to have 3 small meals and 1-2 snacks throughout the day. You will feel more satisfied and eat less. Plan to have a snack or meal every 4-5 hours.

2. Portion Sizes-

Appropriate portion sizes are still quite misunderstood. Most Americans are eating 2-3 times the recommended portion sizes. Limit your grains, cereals, pastas, and rice to ½ - 1 cup serving sizes. Keep meat, poultry and fish to 4-ounce portion sizes. Restaurants are notorious for giving extremely large servings of food. Keep this in mind when eating out. Eat half of the food on your plate or take the rest home for lunch the next day. Studies show that when people are given large portion sizes, they eat up to 56% more calories without realizing it. To add insult to injury, our portion sizes are larger than they have ever been. Start to become more aware of the portions you are served wherever you are.

3. Eat the right fats-

Yes some fat is important. Omega 3 fatty acids are an important strategy for weight loss success and yet most Americans are not eating enough of these healthy fats. Some reports show these fatty acids may be helpful in increasing your metabolism. They are also shown to be a wonderful mood supporter and people report significantly less food cravings and triggers to eat when they incorporate omega 3 fatty acids on a daily basis. This is especially important for any emotional eaters out there. Omega 3's are found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod; they are also found in canola oil, walnuts, and ground flax seeds.

4. Increase fruits and vegetables-

Fruits and vegetables are not only packed with important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they are also loaded in fiber and low in calories. Include 5-8 fruits and vegetables every day. This is one of the most important diet changes you can make. When you fill your plate up with fruits and vegetables you eat less of the higher calorie foods. For example, let's take a sample steak dinner.

Original meal:

8 ounce steak

Whole baked potato with fixings

½ cup steamed broccoli

Meal Makeover:

4 ounce steak

½ baked potato with fixings

½ cup steamed broccoli

Side salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and 1 tbsp light vinaigrette dressing

By changing the balance of this meal to include more vegetables while decreasing the steak and potato we saved approximately 350 calories. Saving 350 calories daily can result in almost a 1 pound weight loss per week. Small changes are the key.

5. Eat when you're hungry, Stop when you're full-

Our bodies have an innate weight management mechanism. It performs this task by making you feel full when it is time to stop eating. Every time you eat past full you are taking in more calories than your body needs which will result in weight gain. Start to become more aware of your internal cues for hunger and satiety (fullness). You will be amazed how many times you wait too long to eat and how often you eat past full and enter into stuffed. It's common for all of us to do this from time to time. However, it's time to check in with yourself and see how often you are falling into these food patterns. Listen to your body, it will tell you when you are physically ready for food and when you are ready to stop.

6. Exercise regularly-

I know, this isn't anything you haven't heard before but it is a crucial part of weight management. It is important to engage in regular aerobic and weight bearing activity. The aerobic exercise helps you to burn the fat and weight bearing activity increases your metabolic rate. Muscle burns up to 90% more calories than fat. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn in a day. By adding three to five pounds of muscle you could actually burn 100 - 250 additional calories a day. This combination of aerobic and weight bearing activity is what really kicks weight loss into gear.

7. Limit Sugar-

Sugar becomes a major issue for many people wanting to lose weight. Not only does it add calories, it also causes insulin spikes leading you to store more calories as fat, it stimulates your appetite, and is a major food trigger for emotional eaters. However, it doesn't mean you need to go all or nothing. When people try to omit all sugar from their diet they can become obsessed about sugary foods and end up in a binge. Find the right balance for sugar. Avoid daily use of sugar and instead have some guiltless treats once in awhile. A little cake at a birthday party or some ice-cream with friends is a good way to incorporate sugar once in awhile to avoid the negative outcomes.

8. Pamper yourself regularly-

Who wants to argue with that?! The reality is many people eat for emotional reasons. Food makes us feel good on many levels. The problem occurs when eating becomes the only coping mechanism your subconscious knows of. This is why that pesky urge to emotionally eat is so strong. It is hard to reason your way out of it. For many people food is the only thing they know that makes them feel better. When you start to do other things that make you feel good on a regular basis such as taking a hot bath, going for a walk, having a hot cup of tea; then your subconscious starts to register these activities as coping mechanisms as well. Over time this will decrease the constant urge to use food. You can't expect to have a bad day, go take a bath and not have an urge to eat. It is something you need to do regularly and something you truly enjoy so your subconscious starts to recognize it as a new choice.

© 2005, Meri Raffetto

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

8 Ways to Burn Belly Fat Without Exercise

Ice Bath Weight Loss 8 Ways to Burn Belly Fat Without Exercise.

Looking to burn belly fat without exercise? Or, if you are like me, searching for additional ways to burn belly fat beyond traditional exercise. Here are some great ways to increase your metabolism without getting on an exercise machine, lifting a dumbbell or doing abdominal routines.

1) Walk

Walking has been heavily documented as the best thing for sedentary people to add to lose weight permanently. Everyday find opportunities to walk more often. To the corner store, around the house, or in place. It really does not matter as long as you walk at least 30 minutes daily. Consistently increase your walking pace to 3.5 miles per hour.

2) Stand Up

Standing burns 33% more calories than sitting. Be sure to stand for a total of 3 hours daily to burn belly fat. Next time you find yourself sitting on the couch watching TV, Stand Up! For an increased effect walk in place as you watch TV.

3) Suck In Your Stomach

Yes, merely sucking in your stomach will tighten up your belly and strengthen the muscles underneath your future six-pack. Here's what you do - Suck in your stomach as far as you can (Pull inwards, not squeezing). Focus on pulling in your belly button as far as you can. Hold for 5 seconds, keep breathing, and release. Rest for 10 seconds and repeat, this time focus on pulling in from the top of your belly. Alternate. You will feel the burn.

Start off with 10 reps twice a day. Over the next two weeks increase the frequency and the duration of sucking in your stomach farther and farther, more and more often, holding it longer and longer. In your car, at your desk, walking, remember don't hold your breath. Eventually you want to get to the point where you are doing it constantly and unconsciously.

4) Turn Off The TV

People who watch television for 3 hours daily or more are 60% more likely to be or become obese. Watch TV for an hour a day and find something else to do. Garden, clean, build something, whatever as long as you find yourself moving.

5) Breathe

Did you know the number one method to eliminate waste from our bodies is exhaling? When you burn fat, your body creates a lot of toxins that must be eliminated. If you have ever had a science course you will undoubtedly be familiar with the fact that mass cannot be created or destroyed, only converted. When you burn wood, the mass of the wood is converted to energy and gas. The same thing happens when we burn belly fat in our bodies. We in essence, breathe out all the fat.

If you were sealed in a glass container that just happened to be sitting on a scale, and you lost 40 pounds, the scale would not show the weight loss. Why? Because the weight of all the fat lost would be trapped in the air of the sealed glass container. What I am trying to say is, breathe! Practice deep breathing exercises, short breathing techniques and any other breathing exercise that interests you.

6) Take a Bath

Do not worry, this is not as easy as it sounds. Here we are talking about cold water immersion. Water cold enough to make you shiver. Fifteen minutes of shivering is equal to jogging for 15 minutes. In their training, Navy SEAL's are forced to sit in the ocean as waves crash over them for up to an hour. This is not warm water, rather 45-50 degree water. Due to the severity of this training, SEAL's are constantly monitored for hypothermia. This is not recommend or endorsed.

Instead there are two techniques endorsed to .

A) Fill a bath tub with very cold water to ankle height. Get in. Walk in place 2-4 minutes. This is much more bearable than what the Navy does, but yet still triggers an increase in your metabolism that lasts quite awhile.

B) Take a bath as normal but instead fill the tub as high as possible with water at room temperature, 70 degrees. The water should not feel warm, but rather cool. Get in, read a book, practice your breathing exercises, etc. for 30-60 minutes. Drink ice water to speed the effect.

After 10-15 minutes you will find your body slightly shivering. This is good, but do not push it. When your body tells you it's time to quit, get out. There is no need to rush. In time you will be a pro at burning belly fat trough cold water immersion without risking your health.

7) Take A Steam Bath

Sweating is an excellent way of detoxifying. But, do not do this after your cold water immersion, the effect on your metabolism would be lost. You can artificially cause your body to sweat by taking a sauna or a steam. When your body is hot by fever, exercise or by steam, your heart rate increases. Blood circulation increases to cool the body, perspiring takes energy, thus burning calories and releasing hundreds of toxins. Another excellent method to burn belly fat.

Please, do not be mistaken. I am not recommending dehydration. In fact I recommend drinking lots of water, even bring water in with you to stay hydrated. Make sure it's HOT water, cool water will defeat the purpose. If you are dehydrated you will not sweat as much, if at all.

Start with 10 minutes but keep 20 minutes as the maximum. No access to a steam? No problem. Have a seat on your toilet, turn the shower on, HOT, with the door closed and the fan off. You can also put a sauna suit on to increase the effect. Drink lots of water. You could even walk in place to burn additional calories.

8) Do what the Shaolin Monks Do

Technically, I guess you could call some of these techniques exercise, however these will firm you up, and make you tougher than weight lifting, without touching a dumbbell.

A) Stand with your arms straight at your sides and your elbows locked. Forcefully press your palms down and raise your straight fingers back quickly. Repeat 49 times. You should feel this in your forearms and triceps. Do this daily and your arms will be as firm as a wood board.

B) Stand with your arms at your side. Imagine a fly at chin level at the edge of your reach. Forcefully, fluidly, throw your arm up with your left shoulder focusing on speed. Imagine catching the fly in your vertical fist, and squeeze it as hard as you can. Hold it for a second. Now, throw the right arm up and squeeze, then throw the left fist up and squeeze hard. Repeat 49 times. This will firm up the arms, chest, shoulders and improve your coordination.

C) Stretch your arms straight out in front of you. Spread your legs wider than shoulder width and squat down 1/4 of the way. Pause. Stay in this position as long as you can, aiming for 5 minutes to start. Keep your arms up. If you can only hold this for 30 seconds. No problem. Stand up, rest a moment and repeat until you have reached 5 minutes. This will tone your legs like no other exercise can. Shaolin Masters can squat down to parallel and keep their arms outstretched for an hour, easily.

Some of you may not think these are easy ways to lose weight, but they will cause your body to burn belly fat while burning body fat. Follow these tips for burning body fat with our recommended diets, or better yet, add them to the burn belly fat exercise routine to speed your results.

Ice Bath Weight Loss.

8 Reasons Why Milk And Weight Loss Are Enemies

Ice Bath Weight Loss 8 Reasons Why Milk And Weight Loss Are Enemies.

If we are to believe the dairy industry, milk & weight loss go together like Christmas and candy. But is this claim fact or fiction? Glossy magazines everywhere display glamorous pictures of celebrities like Glenn Close, Sheryl Crow, Mariska Hargitay and Brooke Shields, looking seductive and gorgeous ... and all because of dairy products.

Scientific studies, like those reviewed in the prestigious journal, "Nutrition Reviews", suggest otherwise. After reviewing 49 research papers on the weight-milk connection Nutrition Reviews reports:

* 41 of the 49 studies indicated no relationship at all between dairy and weight loss ...

* Two analyses demonstrated that milk products and dairy consumption was linked with increased, rather than decreased, weight ...

* The other six established a correlation between dairy weight and loss ... but they were paid for by none other than The American Dairy Association ...

There are eight reasons to be concerned about America's love with dairy products:

1. Dairy products all contain lactose, a very concentrated sugar. Sugar and weight problems ... need we say more?

2. Lactose sugar is a tasty buffet to all parasites, mycotoxins, microforms and other nasties that thrive in our digestive system and gut, stop us us from proper digestion and steal the vitamins and minerals that ought to be utilized for dazzling health. The less efficient our digestion, the harder it is to lose weight - and keep it off.

3. Milk - and all animal products - are highly acidic. This creates acidic human lymph and blood, and the way the body protects its organs from this acid-bath is by surrounding each priceless organ with fat. Dr. Robert Young emphatically states that our fat is literally preserving our lives! The solution, clearly, is to remove the poisons from our bodies if we sincerely want to be skinny.

4. This problem is heightened when we eat "dairy products", instead of 'just' drinking milk, because it requires 10 pounds of milk to produce one pound of hard cheese, 12 pounds of milk to produce one pound of ice cream and 21 pounds of milk to make one pound of butter. If milk is acidic, imagine the toxic outcome of even more concentrated acids!

5. The plastic container of milk that you pick up at the grocery has been boiled at a temperature of 160 degrees centigrade. This massacres the vast majority of the enzymes in milk - the enzymes we must have for digestion. Care to guess where this undigested food and drink is stored? As fat on your body!

6. The Dairy Association suggestion "24:24", meaning three glasses, or 24 ounces of milk every day. That's 300 calories that could be used for food, which is more fulfilling to most dieters than drinking a beverage.

7. The romantic image of the satisfied cow grazing in the pasture is not today's reality. Instead, the cows are fed grains, chiefly soy beans, rather than grass. This results in about three times greater production than cows once gave. Unfortunately, the cows are no longer robust and can't live without antibiotics on a continual basis. These antibiotics, of course, are in their milk and a steady supply of antibiotics does nothing for either our wellness or our weight.

8. Did you know that cows' milk contains the blood and pus of these poor animals. Nice thought.

The belief that milk and weight loss are natural allies is merely propaganda. Cow's milk is wonderful all right - for baby cows. It won't help a human to lose weight and it is unquestionably detrimental to our bodies.

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6 Ways Anyone Can Lose a Few Pounds

Ice Bath Weight Loss 6 Ways Anyone Can Lose a Few Pounds.

[1] Switch to Sugar-Free Sodas

According to the American Dietetic Association, eliminating soda alone could help you lose 11 pounds per year and the less you drink the less you will crave it. Consider a soda a splurge, like a dessert, and choose the low-calorie options. Coca Cola recently released Diet Coke with Splenda, which is considered a better option than aspartame to many weight watchers as well as Coke Zero, which tastes a lot like Coca Cola, but without the sugar.

[2] Eat a Salad First

In a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Dr. Rolls reports that women on average ate 7 percent less pasta if they first had one and one half cups of salad with reduced fat or non-fat dressing. If only her name wasn't Dr. Rolls!

[3] Drink Water

Few people get enough water and certain medications can make you even more dehydrated. If you want to burn more calories, drink it chilled. One gallon of ice water will help you burn 200 calories more than if it was room temperature. You burn about 1 calorie per ounce of chilled water that you drink. Always have bottles of water with you, especially in the car on hot days. You'll be less likely to run through a drive through and get a soda.

[4] Get a Pedometer

It's actually a fun way to watch the calories you burn. 1000 steps equals 50 calories burned, so wear it on your errands and it just may motivate you to add a few extra steps to your daily routine. For under $20 you can get one that has an automatic voice tell you how many calories you've burned and inform you when you've met your exercise goals.

[5] Get More Sleep

According to many studies, just one week of sleep deprivation reduces the production of the growth hormone that helps control the body's proportion of muscle to fat. When the body produces less of this hormone, there is a tendency for the body to store fat.

[6] Buy Controlled Servings of Food

Okay, so if you have to snack, spend the extra few cents on the new 100-calories packs of cookies or crackers, the small cans of cola that are just 100 calories, or the mini-bags of popcorn. The calories are easy to keep track of, you won't be tempted to overeat just don't open that second bag!

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19 ways to burn calories in 15 minutes!

Watching TV=16 calories

Passenger in car=16 calories (50+ if your teen is driving)

Kneeling in prayer=16 calories

Taking a bath=24 calories

Talking on phone=24 calories

Family picnic (without arguing)=24 calories

Computer work=24 calories

Pumping gas=32 calories

Making Beds=32 calories

Grocery shopping=37 calories

Dusting=40 calories

Clearing dishes from table=40 calories

Stretching=40 calories

Picking flowers=48 calories

Walking 3 mph=52 calories

Vacuuming=56 calories

Carrying infant=56 calories

Hula dancing=71 calories

Jogging in water=127 calories

* Based on a female, age 45, 5'4", 140 lbs.

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5 Proven Ways to Naturally Speed-Up Your Metabolism

Ice Bath Weight Loss 5 Proven Ways to Naturally Speed-Up Your Metabolism.

Are you looking for a way to speed up your metabolism but don't want to take pills and drink shakes in order to fit into that new bathing suit? Well keep reading because I am going to share with you 5 ways you can increase your metabolism - and the best part is these methods will increase your metabolism 100% naturally!

1. Drinking ice cold water. Here is something that many people are not aware of; when you drink ice cold water your body has to heat the water to body temperature before it can be processed! Therefore you can burn more calories in any given day simply by drinking cold water! So next time you have a glass of water, make sure you drink it ice cold!

2. Eating 5-6 small, healthy meals throughout the day. Normally your body will horde calories as there are relatively long gaps between meals. However, eating small amounts more regularly throughout the day will encourage your body to naturally burn calories and body fat more quickly as your body knows it will be fed more often.

3. Eating more fish. Fish helps to naturally boost your metabolic rate due to the large amount of omega acids 3, 9, and 6 contained in them. These are "healthy fats" and they help your body maintain the correct balance of nutrients, which in turn will result in your body being able to burn more of the calories you're eating instead of storing them. This again will naturally increase your metabolism.

4. Supplement with CLA. What is CLA? According to medterms.com CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) is an unsaturated fatty acid found in the milk and meat of goats, sheep and cows. CLA has many health benefits and particularly aids weight loss and muscle building. As CLA is naturally produced in the milk and meat of animals it is considered a safe, healthy and natural way to help lose weight, gain muscle and increase metabolic rate.

5. Interval cardiovascular training. A number of studies have shown that doing intense physical exercise followed by a period of rest is more effective at inducing fat loss than simply training at a moderate intensity for the same duration. Doing interval training creates what is called 'after-burn' - following interval training your body burns at a higher rate than it would normally, thus burning more calories and naturally speeding up your metabolism.

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4 Steps to Increase Your Weight Loss

Ice Bath Weight Loss 4 Steps to Increase Your Weight Loss.

Learning to take bite-size chunks is much more manageable than taking on larger and sometimes overwhelming weight loss goals. Take small incremental steps towards your goal. Concentrate on just losing small amounts of weight at one time, five pounds is a great incremental goal. When you lose the first 5, celebrate, then decide if you want to work on the next five right a way or do you want to practice using your maintenance tools for a while and let your body adjust to it's new weight. Practicing maintenance throughout your dieting program will help to instill habits that will keep you from back sliding when you get to goal. It also helps push back the all or nothing diet or binge mentality that many of us have. So when it comes to the size of your goal keep it small enough to chew on.

Take Small Actions And Steps Toward Your Incremental Goal And It Will Lead You To Your Larger Goal.

Concentrate on just losing small amounts of weight at one time. Five pounds is a great incremental goal. When you lose the first 5, celebrate, then decide if you want to work on the next five right a way or do you want to practice maintenance tools for a while and let your body adjust. Both are fine and practicing maintenance throughout your dieting program will help to instill tools that can keep you from back sliding when you get to goal. It also helps push back the all or nothing diet or binge mentality that many of us have. Another reason not to focus on a large amount of weight to lose at one time is because it can be overwhelming and defeating. Learning to take bite-size chunks is much more manageable and allows you to be creative as well.

Sack Sabotaging Thoughts.

"It's OK to eat this because I'm celebrating." "I don't have time to work out." " I'm too tired and had a bad day at work.My family is really bugging me and picking on me I deserve some cake." Do these excuses sound familiar? These kind of thoughts can derail your best health and weight loss efforts. When you catch yourself making self-defeating excuses, squash them down by saying or thinking, "I really will enjoy being thinner, healthier and more energetic this summer, especially in my bathing suit at the beach" or ask yourself a question to put your mind to work in a manner that supports your efforts.

You can do this by asking "what can I do to keep with my exercise and nutrition today when my day gets hectic and I start to make excuses?" By asking ourselves these types of questions our brains starts to go to work to find the answers that support our weight loss efforts. Our brain reacts to our thoughts so when we send it a message like "I deserve a quarter-pounder with cheese and French fries" it will start to process the information and search for answers as to why you deserve it. It will come up with images of the things that took place to drive you to eat the cake or ice cream. It will pick out pictures and thoughts that support our bad day giving us the permission we seek to go off program. Everything is cause and effect and if we can feed ourselves with the right thoughts our brain will search for the answers that support us.

Ditch That All-or-Nothing Mentality.

Instead of ditching your diet and exercise plan when things go out of sync, have a plan 'B' ready and waiting in the wings. Being flexible can be your greatest ally in a wellness and weight loss program. When things go amuck and schedules need to change look over your upcoming week and learn to tweek it and restructure how to make everything fit. Make flexibility part of your lifestyle and ditch the rigid attitude. Learn to be happy with a shorter version of the big picture on the days when something comes up. If you find you have had a little too much birthday cake at the office then pull back a little at dinner or add some time to your workout, don't use it as an excuse to blow the day. Having an all or noting attitude can defeat you before your even out of the gate, if you can look at your weight loss program as being successful with 70 percent of your goals achieved in any given day then you can call it a win. If you can do that then all the little things add up to big results. Nothing in life is a sure thing other than death and taxes so don't hold yourself up to a standard that doesn't exist. Instead take a steady route to your success. Everything we do when broken down is done in small steps.

Don't Let Curve Balls Throw You.

Everyone plans their dieting and workouts around the perfect day and as soon as something goes off course they ditch the diet and exercise first. Instead assume the non perfect day and have plan 'B" ready, willing and able to be implemented. If your get stuck at work late one day and won't have time to cook healthy then just keep some healthy frozen dinners at hand in the freezer or a list of healthy take out in your glove compartment. If you have to go to your son's baseball game and can't get to the gym then walk laps around the field with light hand weights while he is not at bat. If it's raining out and you can't go for a walk pop in a light exercise walking tape. For every curve ball there is a home run waiting to be hit. Think about how great it will feel to hit it.

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3 Tips In Losing Weight The Healthy Way

Ice Bath Weight Loss 3 Tips In Losing Weight The Healthy Way.

Despite the images of fit and sexy bodies parading all over Hollywood, at least 30 percent of the entire American population or 300 billion are actually suffering from obesity as of the year 2010 according to Gallup online news source.

Losing weight and staying fit nowadays is not only applicable for women who want to look attractive in a two piece bathing suit ala Kim Kardashian or men to look as gorgeous in skinny fit jeans like James Franco. In fact six (6) out of ten (10) Americans wanted to lose weight to feel healthy. These people believed that feeling and being healthy will eventually make them look better. When you plan to follow a healthy lifestyle, take these advices religiously:

The Healthier way of eating

Remove red meat from your diet - ditch those fast food junks and consume sea food, fish and chicken dishes instead. Avoid high calories condiments in the form of dips, sauces and the likes.

Take lesser fried food - Fried foods are the best culprit for not staying fit and healthy.

However, you can opt for olive, corn and other vegetable oils for frying. Try healthier alternatives. You can even add herbs and other spices to liven up the taste.

Kick start you meal with a healthy soup and/or salad. Appetizer can curb hunger, avert overeating and control food portions. These factors are vital when you want to lose weight. Be wary of high calorie dips and sauces and opt for vinaigrettes instead.

Finish your meal with a fruit. Instead of calories packed Oreo cheesecake or a mud pie, choose fruits instead. You can opt for low fat fruit pastries or fresh mixed fruits. Frozen yogurts are delicious and healthier alternative for high calorie ice cream.

Increase your activity levels

If you follow your diet religiously, however just bum around, it takes a miracle to lose weight no matter how you feed yourself with whole grain wheat bread, fruits and grilled chicken. Good diet should also be paired with the right lifestyle and exercise.

Think of the activities that makes you sweat. You can even try walking to the nearest grocery store or brisk walking in the park thrice a week. You can also try sports that require a huge amount of energy that will most probably cost you a lot of calories and unwanted fats. Sports such as badminton, tennis and swimming are some of the many sports that effectively reduce the amount of calorie in the body. You can play these sports regularly.

Lessen your high - calorie intake

Fact: the more you try to shortcut your diet or your weight loss program, the most probable it is to fail. It's very impossible to lose weight when you can't stop your KFC's double downs or McDonalds' double cheeseburgers. Losing weight takes time and requires discipline. Find alternatives to your daily junks such as the following examples:

Trade your cokes to low calories fruit ice teas and smoothies

Trade your potato chips with homemade baked potatoes with low fat sour cream topped with your favorite cheese in moderate amount. You can even try oven baked fish chips with herbs for those mouth watering tastes.

Trade your chocolate mud pies for frozen yogurt topped with your favorite nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pistachios.

Unless you have God given naturally fit body and divine metabolism, losing weight is not a very difficult task. In fact some people are just so blessed that even though they eat a lot, their metabolism are fast. Don't be jealous. There is no point of whining and fretting because the best way to start off losing weight is within your means and it is your choice to start living healthy.

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3 Summer Blast For Weight Loss

Ice Bath Weight Loss 3 Summer Blast For Weight Loss.

The summer has just crept up on you and you really want to lose weight for the summer. You wanted to be on the beach having fun and not worry about how you look in your bathing suit. And now you are frantically looking for tips on how you can shed some pounds fast. Well fear not you have stumbled on the right place.

Summer is a great time for outdoors but it also great for the person who desires to lose weight. The secret that you will use to lose weight this summer is to eat your way to a thinner you. Eating these foods will ensure that you not only lose weight but that it will not come back.

With summer comes great fresh produce. Produces which are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. The best and simplest way to lose weight is just to have a fun time with all the summer fruits and vegetables that are available. And the great part is you do not have to worry about over eating on your fruits and veggies. The more you eat, the more your body will thank you. Go ahead, have some fun this summer.

Water Melon

One of the greatest fruits of all time for the summer is watermelon. This fruit is 50% water, and it will keep you hydrated in the summer and the best part of it is that it is sweet. During the winter months you will probably get water melon but it is never the same great taste as in the summer. So enjoy it while it last because you will only find that great tasting melon during the summer.

Grilled Veggies

Enjoy your summer by just going crazy with your grill. Grill all your veggies for the summer. Grill your onions, bell peppers, garlic, tooted, carrots, zucchini, and lettuce. Just give them a quick wash and slice them and throw them on the grill. Add some olive oil. When summer is over you will be longing for your new found love and will be dreaming for summer to return so that you can have more grilled veggies. If you have never tried grilled veggies, this summer is the best time to do so.

Fruit Desserts and Ice Drinks

You will need something to cool you down during this hot summer and the best way to do that and maintain a slim waist line is to load up on your favorite dessert with added fruits. Stay away from high calories cold drink and grab on to a fruit dessert. A frozen banana covered in chocolate is much better than that smoothies or high calories sweeten specialty coffee drink. You want to drink lots of liquids to stay cool but remember that you do not want to add more calories to your diet with these liquids. Do not be fooled because the smoothies says fruit smoothies, it has so much sugar and calories you might well be drinking a soda. Try an Ice skim latte rather than a smoothie.

The objective is to lose the weight so watch your calories and have fun with these summer fruits and veggies.

For a limited time get a copy of my FREE E-Book Weight Loss Secrets. Grab your copy today at . Do not delay. Don't miss out!

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14 Tips for A Better Juice Fast

Ice Bath Weight Loss 14 Tips for A Better Juice Fast.

I'm a fairly healthy person and "walk my own talk" in the field of natural health, but let me tell you, I had to mentally prepare for the 40-day juice fast that my husband and I completed last summer. These are some of the things we learned from our research and by doing the fast.

General Juicing Rules:

o Drink freshly prepared juice and do not store the juice for over 24 hours. If you can't drink it immediately, put it into a glass jar (filled to the top) and put a lid on it to prevent oxidation. Juice rapidly loses therapeutic and nutritional value during storage.

o Raw fruits and vegetables are not always compatible when eaten together. Apples are the exception. You can also mix pears with Jicama.

o Melons should be juiced by themselves. Making the entire meal melon is an option.

o Avoid using pre-bottled or sweetened juices. All the live enzymes are inactivated when they are pasteurized.

o Juices don't stimulate acids to be released from the stomach, but orange and tomato juice are high in acids and you may want to mix these juices with other less acidic ones.

o I've read that cucumbers may not be good to mix with other vegetables as they are in the melon family, but it seems to work fine for us. We do limit cucumber to less than 25% of the total volume however.

o Don't add more than 25% green juice to your vegetable juices (unless you have a barf bucket handy!)

o Juicing Greens--you might want to do this in between harder vegetables, the juice sludges at the bottom and doesn't pour out easily if you juice them first. For example, I juice a couple of carrots, then a bunch of parsley, then cram a couple more carrots in after the parsley to get the juicer moving again.

o Dilute all fruit juice with water (one part juice to 2-4 parts water) and drink throughout the day. We've found that 2 cups fruit juice blended with ½ tray of ice cubes comes up to 4 cups--the perfect dilution and it's frothy cold.

o Vegetable juices need not be diluted.

Tips for a Better Fast:

o Your pre-fast diet should include several days of higher volumes of raw fruits and vegetables. You may also want to add the "Excelsior" drink to your diet ahead of time. See recipe below this section.

o Get plenty of exercise outside is best to get that oxygen flowing.

o Sunbathe if possible--10-20 minutes of direct sun per day.

o Take hot and cold alternating showers or baths.

o Sleep with a window open so that you can get lots of clean fresh air.

o Use Enemas--A fast does not always help eliminate impacted waste materials from the colon, so plan a colon-cleansing regimen. Enemas can cleanse when taken once or twice a day. Fasting without the aid of enemas allows toxins in the colon to be reabsorbed. This can poison the body and the organs of elimination (particularly the kidneys) which become over-burdened and damaged. For complete instructions on how to take an enema, see the link in the resource box.

o Avoid negative influences. Do not listen to terrified relatives and "friends" who will warn you that you will pass out at any moment and starve to death. Stop reading all the grim reaper parts of the newspaper and turn off the news. It will be there when you complete your fast. Focus on positive, wonderful thoughts and surround yourself with uplifting music, books, and movies.

o Continue with normal activities, but minimize overly strenuous physical or mental work.

o No coffee, soft drinks, cigarettes or anything else by mouth. Your health care supervisor may prescribe some nutritional supplements depending on your case. Many clients say this is the easiest way to quit smoking.

o Do not chew gum while fasting. Avoid mints and hard candies. They promote the release of digestive enzymes and makes you really hungry. Following the fast, there is a loss of appetite for caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sugar, and junk foods.

o Cut back on some supplements and medications. If you are over 65 you will want to take your daily vitamins (if you are on them) during the fast. You will need to discuss this with your health care team as to which medications should be continued with a fast. Usually most medications and supplements are withdrawn during a fast, but exceptions occur--especially when they have to do with the endocrine system (e.g. Insulin, thyroid, heart medications, etc.) And even though juices provide lots of nutrients, some physicians recommend use of an abbreviated list of vitamins and minerals for elderly fasters.

o If you are hypoglycemic, have someone supervise your fast. You may need to add a protein drink to your program or add some egg white powder to your juice.

o If you wear dentures, keep them in during your fast so that your gums will not shrink.

o Do take time out for naps if necessary.

Fasting dips: A fasting dip occasionally happens during fasting as toxins are loosened and cleansed from the body, cell by cell, even within deep tissue. At certain times of your fast you may experience feelings of weakness, discouragement, negativity and an overpowering urge to just want to quit (We sure did!) Little things may seem like big things and emotions, memories and hurts you have harbored from the past are trying to come out. During these times, breathe, meditate, talk to someone who has experienced fasting, pray and do an enema. Tomorrow things will look different. You will have regrouped and can continue the process until your goal is complete.

You can read about our entire 40-day fast by going to our Juice Fast Blog, our daily journal of what we juiced, how we felt, and how it went, at:

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