How to Lose Weight the Easy Way

If you think you have to follow strict rules or suffer to lose weight, think again. The easy way to lose weight is to indulge your weaknesses.

Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But when I finally understood this concept, I understood why most diets fail us. That's right. The diets fail us.

Because they force us to follow rules that go against human nature.

It's really quite simple. The more you can't have something, the more you want it. Until you become absolutely obsessed.

Think about it.

Suppose you like to snack at night. If you follow a diet that eliminates snacks or eating after a certain time of day, you constantly have to fight the urge to snack at night.


And that's like asking to fail.

In fact, that's probably when you will fail. And if you decide you can't live with that restriction, you'll abandon the diet altogether.

But if you schedule a satisfying snack for that time every night, it'll be easier to stick with your weight loss program. So by indulging your weakness, you overcome it.

Another common problem is having a sweet tooth.

What if your diet doesn't let you indulge often enough? Or you're only allowed to take one or two small bites of a tasty snack and it doesn't satisfy you?

That's almost like torture.

This time, suppose chocolate is your weakness. If you can't have it, how are you most likely to fail on your diet?

That's right. By eventually giving up and splurging on chocolate. Because you'll feel deprived and become absolutely obsessed with eating it.

But if you put chocolate and other sweets in your weight loss program in amounts that are satisfying, you'll reduce or even eliminate the problem. And you're much more likely to stay on your eating plan. And lose the weight.

So again, by indulging your weakness, you overcome it.

Now understand that when I say you overcome your weakness, I don't mean you won't crave chocolate. I just mean you're more likely to keep your cravings under control and stay on your diet.

And you may find that the more chocolate you eat, the less chocolate you want.

It's like working in a candy store. If your boss never allows you to eat candy, you'll want it more.

Sure, you may try to follow the rules at first. But eventually, you'll start sneaking candy.

You'll promise yourself you'll only do it once. But we both know you'll do it again. And again. And again.

Until you're stuffing yourself with as much candy as you can get.

Now suppose your boss tells you that you can eat all the candy you want whenever you want. Your face will light up as you imagine yourself gorging on candy every day.

But the reality is you'll probably indulge in your favorites at first, then level off. You may eat candy from time to time, but your obsession will evaporate.

After all, if the candy's always available to you, what's the urgency in eating it?

You'll still like candy as much as you always did. But you'll probably eat much less when you know you can have it anytime.

It's just human nature. The more you can't have something, the more you want it.

And the reverse is also true: the more you can have something, the less you want it. So you're less likely to binge and ruin your weight loss.

Again, by indulging your weakness, you overcome it.

Have you ever tried a low-carb diet? When you cheated, did you reach for another steak or did you grab some carbs?

Exactly. We always cheat on a diet by breaking the rules.

So stop torturing yourself with strict diet rules. Instead, indulge your weaknesses and lose weight the easy way.

by:Debbie Fontana

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Weight loss tips

In Daniel Reid�s great book The Tao of Health, Sex & Longevity, there�s a section on foods that �kill� fat.

Reid lists the foods (and juices) to help obesity, which include Carrot juice (possibly the single most cleansing, nourishing of all the veggie juices); a combo of Carrot, beet and cucumber juice, which corrects acidosis by alkalinizing the system; Spinach, which cleanses the lower bowel; and Cabbage juice, which helps with digestion and elimination.

He also mentions "Foods to Avoid: all refined starch and sugar, especially white bread and sweet pastries, overcooked meats; fatty meats; chocolate; pasteurised milk; cooked eggs; alcohol."

Well, just goes to show. I don�t think fat on meat is a bad thing: in fact I think it can sometimes be good for you. I don�t mind eggs either, since they�re protein, but I do agree that frying food is not as healthy as broiling and steaming.


But generally I think Reid�s suggestions are fantastic, and I recommend getting the book (and no, I don�t get commissions from anyone for punting their stuff ;)

Reid also has a large section on Food Combining, which is � I believe � essential for weight loss and health in general.

But what is Food Combining it? I can't go into exhaustive detail now, but in essence it�s the claim (and I have demonstrated the truth of it in my own life) that different food types should not be combined.

Don�t mix protein and starch, for example. If you follow this rule, you will find that, amongst others, your digestion will improve remarkably.

For a more detailed explanation, there�s a lot of info out there, but one book I found great was Harvey and Marilyn Diamond�s book Fit For Life. Check it out (and other books too) - and do your digestive system and figure a favor.

Not only will you have less gas and �bloat�, but I found you lose weight.

If you want to prove food combining works, try this experiment: eat a pure protein meal, or a pure starch meal. Do NOT mix the protein and starch. See how easily the meal is digested.

Then mix protein and starch in a meal, and note how long it takes to go through, and whether you have gas. I think you�ll conclude that it�s best not to mix!

Other food combining tips: eat fruit alone; eat different types of fruits separately; eat melon as a fruit separately (i.e. not mixed with any other kind of fruit); and drink (unpasteurised) milk by itself, alone.

by:Will Mason

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Teaching Children Independence and Responsibility

by:Lori Radun

Do you remember that phase in your child�s life when all you heard was �I want to do it!�? You�re in a hurry, and you want to help your child get dressed, but your two or three year old will have no part of that. You must wait for 15 minutes while she masters the socks and shoes. Your helpful child, at this age, wants to take out the trash, put away the silverware, bake cookies, and clean the bathroom. What on Earth happens to this independent child?

Not all children, but many, shift into a new phase. Picking up their toys is a dreadful task. Playing is so much more important than doing homework. Getting them to hang up their coat or make their bed is like pulling their two front teeth. In the teenage years, you get another glimpse of independence, but it�s not exactly in the areas you might want. Teenagers insist they have all their academics, social relationships, and life in general, under control. You may think differently, but who are you? To a teenager, you�re just an old fashioned and unintelligent parent.


Regardless of what children may want or think they need, parents have a job to teach responsibility and independence. It is a lifelong commitment that isn�t always so easy, but here are some tips to keep you on track.

Encourage Independence by Refusing to Step In

When your child reaches an age to take on an age-appropriate activity, show your child how to do it, then let go and let your child struggle. It can be hard to watch children fight with their shoelaces, or stumble over their words in a new friendship, but it is in these moments that children are learning. The joy they feel when they gain a little more independence can be very rewarding, and a strong motivator to try new tasks in the future.

Believe in Your Child

Children need to know you believe in them. Encourage your children with positive words such as, �You are a smart girl. You can figure this out.� Teach your children to think positively about themselves by modeling this behavior in yourself. The Little Blue Engine didn�t give up and the reward was confidence. Confidence builds on itself, and your child will gain greater self esteem when you encourage independence and responsibility.

Build in Life Skills through Routines

Routines give your child practice and repetition. If, for instance, the after school routine includes putting away the lunch box and coat, having a snack, and doing homework, your child learns responsibility as a way of life. If you want your child to have good personal grooming skills, build brushing hair and teeth, and washing face into a morning and bedtime routine. When a child does the same thing over and over, he learns independence without even thinking about it.

Let Children Fall Down and Experience the Consequences

Resist the urge to be a helicopter parent and hover over your child. Life is full of opportunities to succeed and make mistakes. The lesson is reinforced and learning takes place when children are allowed to make mistakes. If your child makes a bad choice, let him experience the natural or imposed consequences. A �D� or an �F� on an exam sends a very clear message that the child needs to study harder. The effect is not the same when you are hounding your child to study so she doesn�t fail. When your child makes the choice to extend his curfew by an hour, he loses the privilege of going out the next weekend. Guaranteed he will think twice before staying out late the next time.

Coach your Children towards Independence and Responsibility

When your child is faced with a future or past decision, ask a lot of open ended questions that encourage your child to think for himself. �What do you think you should say to your friend?� �What could you have done differently in this situation?� Giving advice teaches your children what you want and what you think is best. Coaching your children supports them in developing good decision making skills, and honoring what is best for them. It�s okay if they don�t make the best choice. Live and learn.

The goal in raising children is not to protect them from pain or undesirable circumstances, but to equip them with what they need to be responsible, independent and resilient adults.

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Convertible Cribs: Tips On Choosing A Baby Crib That Will Grow With Your Child

by:Christina Moyer

Cradling Your Sweet Baby Through The Tender Years

Over the last several years, convertible cribs have become a popular choice among expectant parents. Because convertible cribs are easily converted from a crib to a toddler bed, twin bed, full-size bed, or day bed, families are increasingly making this choice for their sweet bundles of joy. Besides the cost saving benefits of a convertible crib, there is comfort for every new parent when they know that their child is sleeping comfortably and peacefully.

As the name suggests, convertible cribs allow you to alter your baby's crib after he or she has outgrown it. Most parents find this time easily identifiable as their child has made an attempt to climb out of their crib. Manufacturers also suggest that your crib should be converted once your child reaches 35". The time to make the switch is certainly dependent on each individual child but can be as early as 15 months and as late as two and a half years.


From Convertible Crib To Toddler Bed - Easing The Transition For Everyone

It is common for most of us to sleep best when in a familiar environment. It is no different for a young child. Often, convertible cribs change to toddler beds using the safety bed rails. Many come with conversion kits that make this easy for the consumer. The crib mattress can also be used with the toddler bed, which saves money for the family. It is important to read carefully any information that comes with a convertible crib that is being considered for purchasing to ensure that the proper materials and tools are included.

Convertible cribs can also be turned into full-size beds. Full-size mattresses and frames are all that is needed to make this transition. Typically, these do have to be purchased separately. Choosing a convertible crib that can become a full-size bed is advantageous because of the longevity that it provides. Some of these types of cribs are versatile and can be switched from a crib to a toddler bed or day bed, and then to a head board and foot board for a full-size bed.

Safety Standards To Look For In Convertible Cribs

Safety is at the top of a new parent's list of priorities. Choosing a crib that meet these standards is paramount. JPMA is a certification program that guides parents and caregivers in making wise choices in regard to safety of juvenile products. Convertible cribs that meet these standards will have this listed in their descriptions or features. Hardwood frames and recessed hardware are two components that are important factors to your baby's safety. The most popular convertible baby cribs meet and most often exceed safety standards. Again, reading product information and customer reviews are excellent resources for parents in determining if a convertible crib is best for their baby and also for them.

Expression of Individual Tastes and Styles

The makers of convertible cribs have kept in mind that all new parents have their own tastes and styles. Convertible cribs come in an assortment of finishes such as white, natural, cherry, caramel, amber, and more. Some are even available in pink or blue. There are also many different types of convertible cribs that can match any style preferences you may have. Parents who have already created their nursery may choose a convertible crib which complements the decor. Other expectant families may choose to purchase the crib first and create the nursery around the style of the crib.

A convertible crib will provide a welcome place to rest your child's precious head each night. The versatility and familiarity of a convertilbe crib will comfort your child for many years to come as they grow.

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A Simple Self Hypnosis Technique To Powerfully Transform Your Mind

By Peter Wellington
Hypnosis is a natural state of relaxation, albeit a degree deeper than one would normally experience but essentially we all go into trance like states each and every day. Daydreaming is a fair example of a trance type experience. Whenever you find yourself engrossed and slightly unaware of the things going on around you are probably in a trace state. Activities such as reading a novel or gazing silently up at a starry sky, a sense of entering in, while watching a movie, these activities can cause a deepening sense of relaxation that can lead to a trance experience.

The object of self-hypnosis is to implant positive life enhancing thoughts into the sub conscious mind. These thoughts will then act on our behalf during our lives. The benefits of this mind programming technique are enormous and allow us to live our lives to our full potential.


It is also possible to purposely enter into a hypnotic state and it’s my intention to teach you a simple but effective technique for self-hypnosis. Let’s just go over the stages that you can expect to traverse as you enter into your hypnotic trance:

Preparation Stage - try ensuring that you are lying down on a bed or some other comfortable platform. As this is an eyes closed technique you can not expect to drive or operate machinery or any kind,

Induction Stage - you will go from a sense of normal awareness into a state of comfort and relaxation

Deepening Stage - at this point your conscious mind will drift of and have a far less influence on your consciousness

Purpose Stage - this is where you begin to implant those thoughts into the subconscious mind. The thought patterns that will cause you to act in a particular positive way

Wakening Stage - You will journey from the hypnotic state into full awareness, with a sense of vigour and alertness that you will program during the Purpose stage. Sometimes this stage can be deferred and you can purposely use the hypnotic trance to enter into normal sleep. This is a great technique if you suffer from insomnia

A simple Self Hypnosis Technique For You to Try:

Betty Erickson's self hypnosis technique is a fantastically simple technique for the novice to try at home. Just as a bit of background on the lady, she was the wife of the great Hypnotherapist, Dr. Milton Erickson, who had an enormous impact on the field of hypnotherapy.

Essentially it follows the pattern we have already discussed. Firstly, ensure that you are in a comfortable position, lying prone is best. Relax and breath deeply, taking a count of two for breathing in, a count of two for the hold and a count of two for releasing the breath.

Announce your objective and speak it out quietly to yourself, something like" I am entering into a state of trance for the purpose of *****." This stage simplifies the purpose to your unconscious mind and the conditioning will begin to have an immediate impact on your thought patterns.

Also tell yourself how you are going to be when you wake up from the trance a little latter. Say something such as "in 15 minutes, I will be able to, ****." "When I wake I am going to ****." Focus on those things you want to be, or feel, or think. Tell your mind how things are going to be from now on but do it in a gentle affirming way. In a manner that supports the things that you have already done. You will not pull yourself down and deride what you have done previously.

Next let your mind wander gently off and do not hold onto it as it softly drifts wherever it wills. You will also pay less attention to the bodily sensations that you would normally be taken with. Close your eyes and visualise an image or sound; become aware of your feelings and sense that you are in a restful place, hear the sounds and smell the fragrances of that location. Make the colours there as vivid as possible. Do this with about two or three different locations or visions or sounds.

Finally, after about 20 minutes or so it will be time to wake from the trance state that you have placed yourself in. Gently become aware of where you are and tell yourself that you are going to wake up after a count of 10 or so. Affirm to yourself that you will wake up invigorated and completely aware with a deep sense of restfulness and peace.

Of course there's a great deal more to the matter and I would encourage you to find out as much as you can about the subject as you journey on this path of life, fulfilling your dreams and adding to the pool of genius called humanity.

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Natural Treatments For Beautiful Skin

By Shabi
Your skin naturally sheds dead cells every day, which helps to keep it smooth and fresh looking. But after the age of 35, the dead cells that make up the outer layer of your skin are not shed as rapidly as when you were younger. As dead cells accumulate, they make your skin look dull and dry and you lose the healthy, radiant look that characterizes youthful skin. You can greatly improve the appearance of your skin by regularly removing the top layer of dead skin cells, a process called exfoliation. Exfoliation is accomplished by using grainy scrubs that physically remove dead cells through gentle abra­sion, or fruit-enzyme skin peels or alpha-hydroxy acid skin peels, which dissolve the top layer of dead skin cells.


Natural scrubs are made from finely ground fibrous plant mate­rial such as oatmeal, corn meal, almonds, and apricot kernels. Be cautious when using grainy scrubs, because many are too harsh to use on the delicate skin of your face. For a gentle scrub that will not irritate your skin. Although many grainy scrubs are too abrasive to use on your face, they are perfect to use as an allover exfoliator for your body. Your body builds up dead skin cells just as your face does and benefits from a weekly exfoli­ating treatment.

Fruit-enzyme peels are made from fruit or vegetable enzymes that exfoliate the skin in approximately 20 minutes without scrub­bing. Many contain green papaya, which contains the protein­ digesting enzyme papain. Dead skin cells are composed primarily of protein, and enzyme peels digest the dead skin cells on the sur­face of the skin without harming new cell growth. Enzyme peels are gentle exfoliators and leave skin noticeably smoother and softer after only one treatment. They can be used as part of a weekly or monthly facial treatment and can even be used daily as part of a program to rejuvenate aging skin.

Alpha-hydroxy acids are natural exfoliators derived from foods such as citrus fruits (citric acid), sour milk (lactic acid), grapes (tar­taric acid), sugar cane (glycolic acid), and apples (malic acid). These gentle, natural acids work by loosening the "glue" that binds the outermost layer of surface cells together, which increases the shed­ding of dead skin cells and encourages the formation of new skin cells. The idea of using the natural acids found in foods to renew the skin is not new-Cleopatra bathed in buttermilk, and red wine has been used for centuries as a skin wash. Alpha-hydroxy acids improve skin texture and color, reduce fine lines and age spots, and make pores appear smaller. Although you will usually notice smoother skin after the first treatment, you'll need to use alpha­hydroxy acids on a regular basis for two months or longer to see a significant improvement in skin texture and diminishment of fine lines. There are a variety of natural products available, and most contain between 5 and 15 percent alpha-hydroxy acids. Products that contain higher percentages of alpha-hydroxy acids will create faster results, but often cause stinging or tingling sensations when applied to the skin. These reactions are not usually a cause for con­cern, but severe stinging or redness indicates an undue sensitivity or allergic reaction and you should try a different product with a lower concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids.

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The Link Between Heart Disease & Cholesterol - Fact or Fallacy?

Author: Craig Burton
Heart disease is the number one killer in the world. One out of every two men and one out of every three women currently develop heart disease. The UK has one of the highest rates of death from heart disease in the world - one British adult dies from the disease every three minutes - and strokes are the country's third biggest killer, claiming 70,000 lives each year.

Heart disease is the common name given to a range of conditions, including:

Coronary artery disease (including heart attack) Abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias Heart failure Heart valve disease Congenital heart disease Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) Pericardial disease Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)


Facts

Before 1920, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) was rare in America, but by the mid fifties it was the leading cause of death among Americans (which corresponds with most Western Countries). So what had changed?

Whilst modern medicine would have us believe that this epidemic is the result of diets that are too high in cholesterol and saturated fat, here are some interesting facts that contradict that claim: between 1910 and 1970, animal fat consumption decreased from 83% to 62%; butter consumption decreased from 18 pounds to 4 pounds per year; and margarine, shortening and refined oils consumption increased by 400%.

In order to determine the scientific validity of the proposed link, it is first essential to examine the role of cholesterol.

Every cell membrane in our body contains cholesterol because cholesterol is what makes our cells waterproof – without cholesterol we could not have a different biochemistry on the inside and the outside of the cell. When cholesterol levels are not adequate, the cell membrane becomes leaky or porous; a situation the body interprets as an emergency, releasing a flood of corticoid hormones that work by taking cholesterol from one part of the body and transporting it to areas where it is lacking.

Thus, low cholesterol – whether due to an innate error of metabolism or induced by cholesterol-lowering diets and drugs – can be expected to disrupt the production of adrenal hormones and lead to blood sugar problems, edema, mineral deficiencies, chronic inflammation, difficulty in healing, allergies, asthma, reduced libido, infertility and various reproductive problems (1).

Other cholesterol facts:

· Cholesterol is the body’s repair substance: scar tissue contains high levels of cholesterol.

· The bile salts, required for the digestion of fat, are made of cholesterol. Those who suffer from low cholesterol often have trouble digesting fats.

· Cholesterol also functions as a powerful antioxidant, thus protecting us against cancer and aging.

· Cholesterol is vital to proper neurological function. About 17% of the human brain is composed of cholesterol.

So what is happening when the body is producing a high amount of cholesterol?

By going back to its function one could hypothesise that it is in a state of repair. From what? Ever heard of free-radicals? Try this on for size: "Once these naked, wildly destructive electrons [free radicals] are on the loose, they also eat holes in arteries that then attract nature's band-aid: cholesterol.” (2)

So what happens when we take statins (cholesterol-reducing drugs)? “Instead of seeing cholesterol as a messenger of free radical overload, or a call to arms to find the underlying problem and fix it, we kill the messenger (cholesterol) with drugs. Unfortunately, the cholesterol-lowering drugs, act by inhibiting the enzyme HMG COA reductase, which turns off the body's ability to make coenzyme Q10. This deficiency guarantees that the victim will go on to get high blood pressure, heart failure, cancer or other consequences.” (2)

Statins – the wonder drug?

Statins, the new “wonder drugs” are currently the top-selling medicines in the world with annual sales of more than US$ 19 billion. In the UK according to the NHS, doctors wrote 31 million prescriptions for statins in 2003, up from 1 million in 1995 at a cost of 7 billion pounds. (3)

That’s a lot of money being taken away from an already depleted health service to fund a drug that’s effectiveness in increasing life expectancy is questionable and has shown to cause serious side-effects.

Here are just a few more facts about statins:

“The November 2003 issue of Smart Money magazine reports on a 1999 study at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London (apparently unpublished), which found that 36 percent of patients on Lipitor’s highest dose reported side effects; even at the lowest dose, 10 percent reported side effects.” (1)

“Active people are much more likely to develop problems from statin use than those who are sedentary. In a study carried out in Austria, only six out of 22 athletes with familial hypercholesterolemia were able to endure statin treatment. The others discontinued treatment because of muscle pain.” (1)

Vioxx – another wonder drug

It has however been estimated that one such wonder drug, Vioxx, could have caused 27,785 heart attacks or deaths since it was approved for use in 1999. In September 2004 Vioxx was withdrawn due to health fears. Today, more than 4,200 lawsuits have been filed against Merck, the company responsible for the drug, and yet still Merck’s lawyers claim that "there is no reliable scientific evidence that shows Vioxx causes cardiac arrhythmia.” (4)

Why is cholesterol the enemy? Good question

Dr Paul J. Rosch gives a better understanding of how results can be manipulated in his article “More on the Preposterous Polypill Panacea”. Rosch examines the new Polypill (a pill combining a statin and various other drugs, claiming to reduce heart disease by 80%) and outlines the concepts of how researchers use the terms ‘relative risk-reduction’, ‘absolute risk-reduction’ and ‘number needed’ to treat to spin the truth. This brings to mind a comment made by Harry Truman: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.”

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