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Clinical Depression? What Is That?

July 14th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments
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Depression is a mental disorder that is often characterized by prolonged periods of sadness and melancholy, experts from the field of psychiatry say.

However, just because someone slopes around and hates the world in general, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she is suffering from depression, but if this kind of behaviour, that feeling of emptiness, loss of self-worth and absolute lack of hope for happiness goes on , then, that individual is probably, indeed, depressed. Still, there are several types of depression too.

Manic or Bipolar depression is characterized by sudden and extreme changes in mood – one minute he or she is in an elevated state while the next minute (day or week), the same person feels as if he or she is hell.

Postpartum depression – characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother where physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible reasons why some new mothers go through this.

Dysthimia – characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it’s been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case of illness, should be seen to immediately.

Cyclothemia is characterized by a nominal similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the sufferer of this mental illness has a problem with severe changes in mood.

Seasonal Affective Disorder – characterized by being depressed only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall). However, studies prove that more people actually become ill during the Winter and Fall seasons. Or they could suffer from mood swings, wherein a person’s mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in quite a short time.

‘Clinical depression’ or as some call it, ‘major depression’, is the actual medical term for depression. Actually, clinical depression is more a disorder than an illness, because it refers only to those who are suffering from the symptoms that cause depression.

However, despite it being an actual disorder, clinical depression can be treated very successfully. Doctors are usually very optimistic that patients suffering from clinical depression will soon be well on their way to regaining good mental health if they are treated as soon as they have been diagnosed. Patients who have sought treatment for clinical depression have proven to be very successful in their hopes, given that 80 percent of those treated have found relief from their disorder.

If you are looking for answers to questions related to clinical depression, the depression section of the health center is highly recommended, as well as books on psychiatry and the Internet, which offers a great deal of useful information, although self treatment is very much frowned upon. Clinical depression may not pose as great of a threat as the other types of mental illness, but it is best to leave it in the hands of the professionals who can treat and cure this disorder.

Clinical depression is often an extremely debilitating disorder and is extremely distressing to suffer or observe. Learn more here: Treating Depression Free reprint avaialable from: Clinical Depression? What Is That?.

Alternative Treatments For Improving Wellness

July 8th, 2010 Harriett Laycock 1 comment
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The wellness industry has been perceived in many different ways by many different people. Sometimes it is thought of as something that is only practiced in strange, back-water, hippie communes. Other times it is seen as a valid method to improve physical health and emotional well-being without relying on expensive prescriptions.

Many of the alternative treatments on the market today will target different people and different ailments. Some companies and products, like the D Gary Young Living Essentials, have been discussed in a lot of circles, and there has been both good and bad things said about them.

The founder of the company, Gary Young, has been a proponent of essential oils and alternative treatments for a long time. His company focuses on distilling therapeutic oils from lavender and other herbs in a way that is meant to improve various wellness conditions.

These are products that the company claims can soothe headaches and help improve other complex situations. There are different D Gary Young Living Essentials for different problems, and some of the products can be used as dietary supplements while others are simply rubbed into the skin.

Of course, not everyone accepts this approach and they haven’t tried the products Gary Young recommends. The medical community, for example, is always quick to point out the lack of evidence to support the company’s various claims. On the other hand, there are many people who dislike the way the healthcare system is going, and are looking for different ways to get healthy.

These treatments and alternative medicines aren’t for everyone, though. The good news is that you don’t have to be a hippie living in that backwoods commune in order to try something different. In recent years, these products have actually hit the mainstream and a lot of people are taking a new interest. With a little research, they are learning that there are some potential benefits to these products.

In the end, one of the most difficult hurdles for these products like Gary Young’s essential oils to overcome is the concept of “wellness.” Health benefits are lot easier to measure than wellness benefits, so products that are mainly targeting this area are going to have a difficult time getting other to understand potential benefits.

That doesn’t mean that wellness is something that should be ignored. Many of us live a busy, hectic lifestyle, and this can, in fact, have a detrimental influence on our health as well as our wellness. If you think you might be ready to try something different to improve your current situation, then some alternative remedies might do the trick.

D Gary Young Living essentials or wellness oils from other companies can be a wonderful way to live a better life. Products from Gary Young are known for being high in quality and are a good way to start.

Appetite Suppression On The Atkins Diet

June 10th, 2010 Gail Jones No comments
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One of the most common, but nevertheless astonishing effects of ‘doing’ the Atkins diet is appetite suppression. Many advocates of the plan report that the inter meal hunger pangs they used to have just vanish and quite rapidly too. This factor makes it easier to remain on the diet and continue losing weight. While other diets have their followers hungry between meals, the Atkins dieters receive relief from continuous hunger. The Atkins diet, with its specific recommendation of foods and ingredients, has powerful appetite suppressing effects.

The first key component is the amount of protein in the Atkins diet. Protein, much more so than carbohydrates, has the power to satiate hunger pangs. If you have ever eaten a carbohydrate heavy meal and then felt hungry again a few hours later, you know that carbohydrates don’t have much lasting effect as a hunger satisfier. Protein, on the other hand, when it is combined with a small amount of healthy fats, can keep you feeling satisfied for much longer periods of time.

One of the most powerful appetite suppressant foods on the Atkins diet is the simple egg. Eggs are a great form of quick and easy protein. A recent report showed that eating eggs for breakfast would actually keep hunger pangs at bay throughout the remainder of the day. The research concerned two groups of women. One group ate only eggs for breakfast and the other had a breakfast of bread and cream cheese.

The calorie count for both breakfasts was exactly the same. The subjects kept track of what they ate for the rest of the day and answered questions about their hunger levels and satisfaction levels throughout the day. The results of the study showed that the women who ate the eggs for breakfast felt more satisfied throughout the entire day and they ate less at each meal than those women who were in the buns group.

Eggs contain about 6 grammes of protein each, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels and produces a feeling of well-being. Both of these factors help to control cravings. Egg yolks also contain lutein and xenazanthin. These nutrients have been proven to have amazing effects on eye health. Therefore, it is important to consume the whole egg, and not just the white. Eggs contain choline which is important for maintaining brain function and memory. These nutrients are just an added benefit to the appetite suppressant qualities.

Broccoli and cauliflower, two of the most suitable vegetables on the Atkins programme, also have appetite-suppressing effects. These vegetables are very bulky and they help make your stomach feel full. When your stomach feels full, it will actually create a chemical response in your brain. Your body will reduce its call for food because it assumes that your stomach is full of high calorie foods. This will happen regardless of what is in your stomach. You can achieve the same results with water and psyllium husk fiber. Both broccoli and cauliflower provide bulk in your diet and are essential vegetables on the Atkins diet.

The Atkins diet focuses on eating small, protein balanced meals a few times a day. This will help maintain your blood sugar in a stabilized state and avoid carbohydrate-induced cravings. With high carbohydrate diets, you are riding the wave of carbohydrate highs. After you have eaten, you feel great and full. Then a few hours later, you come crashing down and are hungrier than you were prior to eating the carbohydrates. This cycle continues and, over time, you will eat more and gain weight.

The protein, fat and vegetable recipes of the Atkins diet put your blood sugar back in equilibrium. They give you just enough of each sort of food, with the correct amount of carbohydrates (from the vegetables). The vegetables provide quick carbohydrate energy, and the protein gives the meal its staying power. This combination suppresses your appetite effectively throughout the day.

The Atkins diet is actually a craving control plan that suppresses your appetite. If you’ve had a problem with carbohydrate cravings before, this new way of eating will help control those cravings. The more you eat on the plan, the better your cravings will be controlled and the easier it will be to follow the diet – the more you practice the diet the easier it gets.

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Hypnosis And Weight Loss – Why You Shouldn’t Use The Term “Diet”

June 9th, 2010 James No comments

Over eating and obesity are unfortunately huge problems within the western world.

The word diet makes people groan! This means that increasing numbers of people are looking to find a safe effective and ethical way of losing excess weight and maintaining that weight loss. Hypnosis is thankfully a superb tool for assisting in weight loss.

Overeating is actually one of the most prevalent addictions. It differs from other addictions such as smoking or drug use in that it is not possible to never go back to using the substance again. Hence, we can say I’ll never smoke again or I’ll never use cannabis. However we cannot say I’ll never eat again – it’s just not possible.

* Do not use the term diet

The simple fact is that diets do not work consistently; instead they tend to make money for those who formulate them. They are subject to fads and often are a short-term fix.

Take note – due to the rebellious nature of the conscious mind it is crucial that you never label what you are doing as a `diet`. The very nature of the word will in many cases cause the conscious mind to start to rebel.

At heart the conscious mind is a creature of habit and does not like change. Hence, if you introduce the concept of a `diet` then change will be anticipated and resisted. It will imply a change in eating habits – a forceful adaption of your current eating regime before you will notice positive change.

* Challenge yourself instead.

Try substituting the word `diet` with its negative connotations of hard work and sacrifice with challenge. This implies a path of lesser resistance particularly if you term it an `exciting challenge`

Make it more of a game, a voyage of discovery. Establish what are your main food culprits e.g. fries, Ice Cream, chocolate etc – those foods that keep you from your ideal weight. Choose at least the top three.

Once you have arrived at the top three culprits, then take one item on your list say Ice Cream and challenge yourself not to eat any for a week. Experiment – if a week is too much then aim to significantly reduce the amount of servings that you consume.

After the first week, then rinse and repeat the formula – challenge yourself with a different culprit for another week.

Use your imagination and visualise yourself ignoring or at least reducing your consumption. Use positive self-talk as a form of self-hypnosis.

Continue to do this for at least three weeks with other items on your list. You may find yourself experiencing reduced cravings in general as the habitual response to elimination and reduction kicks in.

Since this is only a one-week challenge, and you know that you are able to have that items afterwards, the rebellion will be very little and your weight loss will be dramatically enhanced.

* Reinforce with Self Hypnosis Or Weight Loss Hypnosis Script

You can reinforce the above process by utilising periods of self-hypnosis or the use of a weight loss script. There are many excellent audio and visual weight loss scripts available and you would be well advised to use one in conjunction with the above methods.

Above all, make it an exciting rewarding process and one in which you shape results. Diets are boring – challenges are fun!

There is so much more to discover about weight loss and hypnosis – this article is only a small snapshot. So do read more and you will be rewarded with a slimmer healthier you!

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Thinking Your Way To Weight Loss

June 8th, 2010 James No comments
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Most women think, say and do things that counteract their desire to lose weight; some are even aware of it. Yet no one ever does anything to fix it. Just because you have always “poor mouthed” your body doesn’t mean you can’t change. If you really want to lose weight, it’s time to take a cold, hard look in the mirror.

This exercise isn’t so you can look at your reflection and think, “Wow, you big, fat pig, you really need to lose some weight!” In fact, I find that this “honesty” does nothing to serve us. Look in mirror and realize the real cause of your weight gain…YOU. Besides, saying “I’m fat” isn’t being honest; I’ve heard thin women make this comment. Saying these things is just putting yourself down. It’s time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and complaining about how fat you’ve gotten or how you’ve let yourself go.

I just told you that your thoughts become your words and your words become your actions. So if you think you’re fat, ugly, overweight, pudgy, whatever, you will begin speaking these thoughts (making your mind believe it as a “truth” and cause others to believe this of you), and you will eventually do things that cause you to become or stay this way.

Here’s an exercise to get you out of this mentality (believe me, I used to be there and it’s no picnic) and into a thinner, healthier body; one you can be proud of and confident in.

Step 1: Get out a sheet of paper and make a list of ALL the things you think about your body – and BE HONEST! Write these things on the left side of the paper. (Example: 1. My thighs are too big, 2. I’m a huge, fat pig…we’ve all said this one)

Step 2: Twist around your comment and make it something positive. Write this positive statement on the right side of the paper, on the same line as the comment. I know this may be a big step for some of you, but do it, and do it for every comment you write. (Example: 1. My thighs are perfect AND beautiful, 2. I’m healthy, fit and am in control of my body)

Step 3: Fold your sheet of paper in half, so that only the positive column is showing. Read off each positive statement ONLY, in a row, every morning before work or every night before you go to sleep. Do this for at least 21 days.

This may sound ridiculous. I don’t care. It works, and if you’re not willing to try it, don’t bother trying anything else to lose weight. If you are negative about your body and you try other weight loss methods, you will eventually self-sabotage, and your whole life will be spent losing weight and gaining it back. I promise, I was there once.

Also, saying positive (twisted-around) statements will sound like you’re lying to yourself, but the truth is that the negative statements you say are actually a lie you’ve taught your mind to believe. Don’t feel foolish saying the positive stuff, when you start making it a habit, you will see subtle but serious changes in your behavior (and on the scale!).

Do this exercise today, and I look forward to hearing about your progress!

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Atkins Diet Basics

June 6th, 2010 Michael James No comments
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The short name for the ‘Atkins Nutritional Approach’ is the ‘Atkins Diet’, which was the brainchild of Doctor Robert Atkins. Dr. Atkins had put on a lot of excess weight while he was studying in medical school and after reading about a certain diet in a medical journal, he decided to improve it and publish it under his own name.

Atkins, in his Atkins diet book, stated that he believed that the prevalent theories about weight gain were terribly wrong. First, he mocked the idea that saturated fats were bad for weight loss; instead he said it was it was the carbohydrates that caused the weight problems Americans have these days. Atkins held that on the contrary, our obsession with avoiding fat actually worsened the problem. He pointed out that the low-fat diet foods on the market were high in carbohydrates but were not helping the nation, which probably meant that people on a ‘normal’ diet often ate foods that were worse for them than what they had been eating before.

The Atkins diet moved the focus. Atkins said that by cutting out carbohydrates, people would burn stored body fats. And, of course, if you lose the fat, you lose the weight. He said it was not just a matter of eating less. Atkins held that your diet could actually help you burn calories and The Atkins Diet supposedly burned more calories than were consumed everyday. But the claims were contested.

Dr. Atkins also promulgated the positive influence that his diet should have on people with Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease you usually get early in life, but Type 2 is more often closely associated with diet and surplus body weight. Therefore, it should follow that any diet that helps reduce weight, will help people with Type 2 diabetes. The Atkins diet is low in carbohydrates, which ought to be avoided by those with Type 2 diabetes regardless of the caloric intake, which the Atkins diet does, so Atkins claimed that those who suffer Type 2 diabetes would no longer need medication such as insulin. Doctors do not agree with Atkins on this point, although they do agree, that a lower carbohydrate intake helps control Type 2 diabetes, but there is no proof that carbohydrates cause diabetes.

What does one have to do to follow the Atkins diet? Well, it goes in four phases – Induction; On-Going Weight loss; Pre-maintenance; and Lifetime Maintenance. This is a brief synopsis of the first phase – The Induction Phase.

The Induction phase is the most difficult phase of the Atkins diet. Atkins is flexible about the time period ” but recommends it lasts for two weeks. During this phase carbohydrates are severely limited ” you can only consume up to 20 grams per day. The goal is to enter a fat burning metabolic phase called ketosis when the body, starved of glucose, will start converting stored fat into fatty acids needed to power the body. Weight loss during this phase can be extreme ” some Atkins followers reported losses of 5-10 pounds a week or more.

The aims of the final three phases in the Atkins diet are to learn the ideal carbohydrate levels for the next two phases, which are continued weight loss and weight maintenance. Many millions of people are still losing the weight they want to on the Atkins Diet ” but be aware of the risks of consuming in too much cholesterol and fat.

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Getting Motivated To Lose Weight

June 5th, 2010 James No comments
Losing weight isn't just about looking better. It can have some very significant
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It’s difficult to accept that despite their best intentions and resolves to lose weight a majority of people fail in their mission. Look at the plight of overweight people desperate to lose weight for too many and too well-known reasons! They follow the prescribed rules, grudgingly stick to recommended diet and feel cheated at the end of it all as the needle on their weight machine refuses to move down. So what could be the possible reason?

There is not one reason for that state of affairs. Let’s look at different possibilities of why it so happens. May be, the person chose a very unviable program for the purpose or perhaps he has had some very illogical expectations. Another possibility could be that the program was designed to start showing results over a longer period of time. It’s doubtful if so many people lack that will power as is often reported. So, what could be the reason for making weight loss so difficult?

Primarily, any weight loss program revolves around specific diet to be eaten in a defined manner. Further, it necessarily asks for increased activity on the part of the follower. But, one of the main components for any weight loss program is the attitude. Irrespective of the plan and or the exercise schedule, the key to success of the program is the right attitude. In the absence of that attitude, it’s almost impossible to be successful in your program.

Assuming that you have the right attitude, and everything else is fine and satisfactory, how you propose to start. Will you favor a red day/green day program and then talk about its ills to whomsoever you meet, or perhaps you would prefer joining a diet class and get a weekly quota of the much needed speech of exhortation to keep you pepped up and struggle with your diet for the rest of the week? Then, there is the option of using diet supplements along with your chosen weight loss program. You should understand that the toughest part of any weight loss program is getting started with it and developing a taste for items you are permitted to consume and avoiding the rest.

It’s important to choose a program that you find easy to follow and imposes minimum instructions. There are many who find it quite cumbersome to follow green/red revolution. And, quite many followers of that program opt to walk out of the program. You need to look for a somewhat realistic weight loss program. Imagine going out with your family for a Sunday brunch only to realize that there is nothing that falls within your prescribed diet plan for weight loss. Or consider going to a buffet party with family and friends and keep looking for a dull and boring salad as nothing else on the table falls within your prescribed menu! You’ll have to learn to live with the weight loss plan you so carefully opted for from among many others. And, it will last for quite a while, not just a couple of days or weeks. And, you would better develop the attitude necessary for carrying it forward on a day to day basis.

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What Health And Fitness Benefits Does Regular Walking Offer You?

May 25th, 2010 Hamish Hayward 3 comments

When you consider the benefits of walking as a form of exercise, they’re almost too good to be true. Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure, increased lung capacity, reduced risk of depression and even a reduced probability of certain types of cancer. Add in weight loss, increased energy, and generally feeling better and the list of benefits is truly amazing.

Considering the fact that walking can be slotted into your daily schedule whenever it suits you, and the fact that you don’t need to pay any gym membership fees, and you might start to wonder why more people don’t include walking as a key part of their exercise activity. Another point worth remembering is that all you need to get started is a decent pair of comfortable shoes – there’s no need for any special equipment, expertise or training.

One possible answer as to why more people aren’t including walking as a part of their exercise regime might be that they aren’t aware of the long list of available benefits. We do have a bit of a “no pain no gain” culture which might make it hard for people to understand that a low impact, low injury workout such as walking could produce so many positive effects.

The evidence is clear and unambiguous. Walking has the potential to provide many health benefits. Consistency is the critical thing here – low impact exercise taken on a regular basis should be the target. Ideally, it should become a normal part of your day to day routine.

Opportunities to do this are plentiful. Walk to the office and leave the car at home. Forget the elevator and use the stairs every second time. Take a short 10 or 15 minute walk around the block during your lunch hour instead of slouching in front of the computer. When carried out as a matter of routine, small changes can have a large positive effect.

It’s not out of the question that the fact that so little effort is required could be part of the problem. For some people, the idea of getting so many benefits for so little effort may be, quite literally, incredible. If you find yourself taking this viewpoint then the use of a pedometer to monitor your progress might be something that could help to convince you. Track your effort and results by counting the number of steps you take each day – or convert this into calories burned or distance covered – whatever is most meaningful and interesting for you.

It should soon become obvious that small changes to your daily routine – walking instead of taking the car from time to time – can have a major impact on your fitness and health. Raising the visibility of your walking workout benefits may well be all the encouragement that is necessary to ensure that you exercise daily and reap the rewards available to you in terms of health, fitness and general well being.

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Losing Weight Is Easy With These Tips

May 12th, 2010 Jacob Ryan No comments

One of the most frustrating things in this life is being overweight and feeling like you need to spend all your money on every commercial you see that is selling some kind of weight loss product. If you feel this way then I am glad you are here. The truth is you do not need to purchase anything to lose weight, all you need is the knowledge of how the human body works and some self discipline. By the time you are done reading this you will have learned three great tips and tricks to get back into shape and get the body you deserve.

1-Stop eating the junk food

In America, we have so many foods that are full of what we call empty calories, these are a main reason we have trouble losing weight. An empty calorie is something that has a lot of calories in it but has no nutritional value whatsoever. The majority of junk food and processed foods that are available today all consist mainly of empty calories.

2-Stop drinking as much coffee

I am not saying you need to stop drinking coffee all together, but you do need to stop drinking as much coffee as you have been. The first reason is because typically, people add a lot of cream and sugar to their coffee which will obviously make you gain weight. But the other reason you should cut back is because it speed up your metabolism in a way that is not natural.

3-Make sure you are working out

It is one thing to go to the gym every so often and get a workout in, it is another thing to actually have a plan of going three to four times per week and not missing a workout. You need to put together a workout plan and stick to it for at least twelve weeks then switch it up. By the end of the twelve weeks, you should know what your body responds best to and what it does not respond very well to.

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