Waking Up To Your Alarm Before You "Have To"

If you prefer to sleep until the latest time possible - getting up with just enough breathing room for you to get dressed and head out for work - chances are pretty good that you are able to get up to your alarm without much problem, as you will know the moment that you hear your alarm that you absolutely have to get up! If, on the other hand, you like to start out your day by being productive even before it is time for you to "have to" get up for work, it can sometimes be difficult to bring yourself to get up when you hear that alarm go off.

Downloading an app on your phone such as the Sleep Cycle app is one of the best ways to prod you to get up before you "have to"; this app (and others like it) function by waking you up when you are at your lightest state of sleep - which is beneficial, because you will feel less tired when you are woken up at this point in your sleep.

People also have a tendency to lie in bed when their alarm goes off before they "have to" get up, talking their body into staying right there; practice getting out of bed right away (perhaps going to the bathroom to rinse your face and brush your teeth) and worry about "waking up" after that!

And finally, if you want to get out of bed before you have to, it all comes down to discipline - to a "choice" - and the best time to settle on making this choice is before you go to bed, deciding that you are going to get up the next morning (focusing on one morning at a time!) and not worry about whether you want more sleep.

Some people take all these steps and still are not able to get up when they want to (and if this is the case for you, it might be best to simply try staying up a bit later and being productive then), but for most people, these steps are enough to help them get up before they have to!

Relieving Stress

Mind is All

Everyone knows that it can be annoying and frustrating to deal with stress, but one thing about stress that is important to be aware of is the fact that it can lower your immune system - which, of course, makes you more susceptible to illness - and often tends to create a decline in overall quality of life for those who are dealing with it; for this reason, it is important to know how to relieve stress, and while "the right approach" will vary from person too person, here are a few things that anyone can keep in mind.

Simply finding a quality way to be active is one of the best ways to get rid of the stress that has started plaguing you, as this will enable your body to release endorphins that will help to relax you and improve your overall state of being; when you are dealing with stress, stay active in some simple, calming way such as yoga or walking, and you will soon find that the stress is disappearing.

In addition to being active, being still is another great way to help your body get rid of stress; if you have been dealing with stress, try simply sitting still with nothing but peace and quiet, and you will likely find that the stress you have been dealing with it is beginning to go away.

And of course, one thing a lot of people find is that there are external contributors they can use in order to help relieve stress, such as hot water (in the form of a hot tub, a bath, or a shower) or music; figure out the external contributors that work for you, and be ready to indulge in these should stress attack!

Of course, you will need to be able to identify and acknowledge when stress arrives in order to purposely get rid of stress in your life - but as long as you are able to do that, you will be able to indulge in the stress reduction technique that works best for you, and will be able to get rid of stress and enjoy life a whole lot more as a result!

Staying In Shape at Home with a Stepper

It is always difficult for anyone to stay in shape. Gym memberships and exercise equipment are just two of the many things we spend money on. The exercise equipment usually collects dust while the health club memberships end up being a complete waste of money. If you want to get an exercise machine the best idea is probably to get a full body workout machine that you can do in the house. This is why a StairMaster step machine is usually the best choice for those wanting to stay in shape.

StairMaster SM916 StepMill.

A stair stepping regiment is often considered the most difficult of the cardio workouts available. A full body work out is a true description. 8 inch tall stairs that revolve is the main part of the stairmaster sm916 stepmill. The act of climbing a flight of stairs is duplicated almost perfectly by this machine. A sensor allows for a smooth workout regardless of the user when using the step mill. The sensor can adjust the pace of the machine according to the descent of the pedal.

In order to make sure everyone has a level of exercise that works for them it includes different options. There are different settings that target belly fat, calorie burn, or heart rate thresholds so you can vary your exercise. There is also an option to see how you compare with a firefighter test. It is easy to see why this type of test is included on the stairmaster since fire fighting is often viewed as the most physically demanding of all occupations. All of these options can be viewed on the crystal clear LCD screen display.

Get a complete work out machine for your home and stop wasting money on health club memberships and useless exercise equipment. A stairmaster stepmill is a perfect investment for you home. It will last you for many years into the future and is the best of all the full body work outs you can get. The 1980s brought many things to the world and the first stair master exercise machine was one of them. At least one good thing came out of the 80s.

Can You Really Get Better Balance And Energy From A Necklace Or Bracelet?

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As people look for any way to get "an edge" - whether in work, in sports, or just in general - plenty of different "miracle products" emerge that sound absurd on the surface, but that nevertheless cause people to wonder to themselves, "Does that product work?" One such product that has emerged over recent years is bracelets and necklaces that are purported to increase the energy and balance the wearer has in their body, using some sort of scientific mastery to achieve this effect; and of course (as absurd as this product sounds), people naturally want to know whether this product really does work.

The product you are most likely to see being sold by "salesmen" (and being pitched in infomercials) is the Power Balance Bracelet, which supposedly works due to the crafy implementation of holograms and ions. Many people are thrilled when they have a "test" performed on them with this bracelet on, as the salesman will try to cause the prospective buyer to lose their balance, first without the bracelet on and then with the bracelet on; despite the impressive sales pitch, there is no scientific backing to say that this product works, and most have found that it does not!

On the other hand, there is also the Star Necklace by Phiten, which you may have seen being worn by such athletes as Josh Beckett, Matt Hasselbeck, Joba Chamberlin, and most of the 2010 Rangers World Series team! This product has titanium in the necklace, and while some scientists claim that such a small amount of titanium would be incapable of having an effect on the body, scientific evidence does suggest that titanium can have positive effects on the body, and lots of people who wear these necklaces claim that they have worked for them.

While there is no definitive proof that the Phiten Star Necklace and the Phiten Star Bracelet actually work, there is also no definitive proof that they do not work; and with the way in which so many people have become convinced of their effectiveness, they are definitely worth a try!

Life-Extending Habits

Do you want to improve your health? Would like to improve your quality of life? Are you looking to extend your longevity? The following healthy habits will give you the best chance at living a long and healthy life.

Walk every day. Walking helps you deal with stress. It gets your blood moving and strengthens your heart and lungs. Walking can improve your bone density, which is great for preventing osteoporosis. You'll burn calories while walking and you'll soak in the rays, which will help your mood and give you some vitamin D. Walking will help you stay positive, and it can can be done with a child or neighbor, too.

Stretch regularly. Take the time to lengthen those muscles each day and you’ll prevent injury and increase your flexibility. Flexibility is key for improving balance, which protects us as we age. A good stretch also helps you relax and feel less stressed.

Fill your cup with tea or water. Instead of imbibing extra calories or artificial ingredients, make these two life-giving beverages your primary hydrators. Water does wonders for your body, hydrating but also removing toxins. Tea is packed with antioxidants.

Floss and brush every day. You'd be surprised to learn how interconnected dental health is to your overall health. If you floss every day, you'll increase your chances of living longer--possibly by years. For best dental health, use a soft bristled brush, floss gently, and rinse after each session.

Eat something that was just picked every single day. Aim to fill your diet with “live” food – food that was recently picked. You'll find fresh produce gives your body exactly what it needs--fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients, trace minerals, and water.

In addition to these good habits, try to end one bad habit each year. Choose one habit, and use all your resources to change that one habit that year. Some suggestions are: quit smoking, quit eating highly processed foods, stop overindulging with alcohol, or the like. You know what your bad habits are. Make it your goal to replace vices with healthy habits, improving your life as you age.

How To Have A Relaxing Day By Waking Up Earlier

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For some people, one of the hardest things in the day is “waking up on time,” and because of this, they end up hitting the snooze until the last possible minute (or even until a couple minutes after “the last possible minute”!), and end up having to rush through the morning to be ready for work; as counterintuitive as it sounds, however, one of the best ways to set yourself up for a great, relaxing day is to wake up earlier than you need to!

When you wake up earlier than you need to, one of the first things you should plan to do is take a slightly longer shower than you need to; when you do this, you will be able to allow the hot water to both wake up your body and relax your body – which, of course, will put you in great position for the rest of your day.

In addition to taking a longer shower, you should also consider doing something to get your blood flowing in the morning; this does not mean you should necessarily do a heavy workout (which, quite frankly, is not the best way to start a day), but rather, it means you should do something such as yoga, or should go for a walk, to slowly ease your body into the day.

And of course, most of us have heard it said before that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but many of us end up eating breakfast on the go, or end up skipping breakfast completely; when you wake up a bit earlier, however, you will be able to sit down to enjoy some breakfast or coffee in a relaxed manner – perhaps with a newspaper in hand (rather than with the strident sounds of the television or radio).

It is not always easy, early on, to wake up before the time when you “absolutely need to,” but once you begin forcing yourself to do this a few times, the extra level of relaxation you will head into your day with will quickly make it a whole lot easier for you to wake up this extra bit early!

Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

Are you concerned about your blood pressure? High blood pressure can be very concerning, but there are solutions. The following are natural ways to lower your blood pressure.

Hold your pet and give it some attention. Studies have shown that holding and petting your pet will help your blood pressure fall. The unconditional love will help you deal with stress, and the experience of touching a warm, furry or fluffy animal each day naturally slows your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure.

Hire a massage therapist. Getting a massage will slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. If that's too pricey, consider getting a backrub from a friend or partner; this works well, too. To make the massage even more effective (for lowering blood pressure), massage in some lavender scented lotion.

In studies, it has been proven that lavender lowers blood pressure. You can use a lavender essential oil diffuser in your office or home. Only use true essential oils; the fake stuff (synthetic) won't be nearly as effective.

Try meditating; just fifteen minutes of daily quiet think time will help you manage your blood pressure. Lock yourself away from everyone and let yourself relax, focusing on your breathing and thinking only restful, positive thoughts.

Be affectionate with a partner or child. Your blood pressure will sink when you spend time cuddling with someone. Try cuddling up while watching a movie or turn down the heat so you'll want to snuggle with your partner while falling asleep.

Keep an eye out for changes you can make in your life situation that may lower your stress. Identify stressors in your life and evaluate possible changes. Try to think outside the box, considering a job change, an education change, hiring out, or exchanging favors with someone to ease your burden.

If you have high blood pressure, it's important to keep an eye on it. Hopefully you'll find ways to lower your blood pressure and keep it at a healthy level.

Use A Thin Wallet - And Save Your Back!

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In spite of the grand health measures many of us take in life, we often fail to realize that it can sometimes be the smallest things that will make a big difference in our long-term health. As funny as it might seem, one of the minor things that can actually make a big difference in your health is the size of your wallet, as sitting on a large wallet can put undue strain on your back and can even cause injury to your sciatic nerve. If you happen to have a bulky wallet that you keep in your back pocket - and you are looking to slim down a bit - follow these tips to get your wallet down to a safer and more manageable size!

The first thing you will need to do is make sure you are getting rid of any of the things in your wallet that are not necessary - and once you start to really look at your wallet, you will be shocked by just how much of the stuff in there is not necessary at all! There is no reason to keep receipts in your wallet, there is no reason to keep pictures, and in fact, you really should not have much need to keep any cash in your wallet. At the start of each day, you should leave the house with nothing in your wallet but the essentials - that is to say, your driver's license, a credit card, a debit card, and enough cash to make sure you have some on you in case of emergency.

After you have gotten rid of all these extras from your wallet, your old wallet will become much thinner, but even with this, the wallet itself might be bulky; if you truly want to protect your back, consider buying an ultra-thin wallet such as the All ETT Billfold or the Geoffrey Beene Mirage Slim Passcase Wallet.

With your excess items cut out and a thin wallet in hand, you can head out for the day without a big lump in your back pocket that you are stuck sitting on all day long!

Finding Foods That are Easy on the Stomach During Pregnancy

Morning sickness can cause the early part of your pregnancy to be just miserable.  Finding things to eat can be a struggle. It can be hard to find nutritious food that sits well in your stomach. Here are are a few suggestions that may help you find some foods that will work for you.

Fresh fruits are an option for some people.  They are sweet and don't have an offensive smell. Strawberries and orange juice are two things that may or may not work for you. High in foliate and vitamin C, it is worth the shot to try to eat oranges and strawberries. Bananas are high in foliate and potassium.  These are both things that pregnant women need very much.

If you are struggling with protein in your diet consider yogurt. This dairy product is high in protein and also has probiotics (live bacteria). The probiotics can also assist in preventing yeast infections that plague some women during pregnancy. Malt-o-meal may be a great hot cerial to try on your stomach. Malt-o-meal is high in protein and also in foliate.

Mild tasting lentils are also something worth trying out. Packed with iron, fiber, and protein, lentils are a good thing to try out. Another great mildly flavored food to try is Quinoa. This has a mild nutty flavor and is high in protein and iron. You can make a nice breakfast with this an some raisins and brown sugar.

You can get large amounts of fiber and iron from figs. It seems like many people are able to stomach sweeter fruits more easily. A hand full of nuts can also be an easy small snack that carries some decent nutrition. Nuts have protein, fiber, and omega fatty acids.

We all know how important it is for mom to stay healthy and eat right during pregnancy. Unfortunatey this can be hard to do when nothing is sitting well on your stomach. Give some of these foods a try and see what combination may work for you.

First Aid Tips For Kids Health

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When it comes to bruises, bumps, and scaped knees some kids need more care than others. It can be a wide variety of reactions from a complete melt down over a paper cut to a kid wiping himself off and getting back up while gushing blood. Basic first aid for your children can be a bit tough. Here are some tips to get their mind off the pain and help distract them while you get them cleaned up.

Using novelty Band-Aids is a great way to get their mind off their injuries. Cuts and scrapes always feel better it seems when there is a Band-Aid on them. You have such a great assortment of band-aids from fairies to bacon and pickles. Getting to pick out their new personal body sticker not only will keep their wound clean but will keep their mind on something else while you get a chance to clean them up with soap and water.

If you have a child that is scared of getting their abrasions cleaned because of the fear of it stinging you could consider getting a product such as Bactine, which is formulated to be a painless antiseptic for cuts and bug bites. Otherwise if you have a tougher child hydrogen peroxide can be a fast and easy way to clean out a cut, some kids even get a kick out of how it bubbles on their cut. It is really important to get a cut cleaned up.

If you need an icepack there are a number of reusable icepacks which are geared towards kids. Which can include fun characters like Hello Kitty, Spiderman, and Elmo. This is a great way to get them a cold pack they may actually use.

Getting Protein Into Your Body

While you probably already know that protein is important for your body, you may not know how easy it can be to get protein into your body. After all, it might not be practical to eat meat all the time, but this does not mean that it is impractical to get protein!

It can seem difficult to get the fifty grams of protein that you are supposed to get, but it is actually quite easy once you realize the foods that have the protein you need.

You are taking care of a large portion of your protein needs for the day if you start out the day with two or three eggs. Each egg has about six grams of protein, so if you have three eggs in the morning, you only need 32 more grams the rest of the day.

Nuts are another great place to get protein, but the best nuts for protein are peanuts. Peanuts give you a lot of the protein you need without bogging you down with a lot of the other stuff you do not need, which is the biggest reason why they are so great for you. Peanut butter can also be good, as one tablespoon of peanut butter contains about 7 grams of protein!

Of course, fish are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, but they are also extremely rich in proteins. And if you are looking for protein from products that are already part of your regular life, think about dairy products such as yogurt and milk.

Finally, one really easy way to get lots of protein all at once is by drinking smoothies that have protein powder in them. You will have a healthy treat that is great for any time of day if you make a smoothie with orange juice, bananas, and strawberries and add some protein powder to it!

Check out The Primal Blueprint - one of the best books for helping you understand how to lead a healthy lifestyle!

Remember, when you start shopping for protein-rich foods, that your food will be healthier and will be more full of protein if you buy food that is organic. The less processed your food is, the better it is for you; and the better your food is for you, the healthier you will continue to be!

What Is The Statute Of Limitations?

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When you visit the hospital for a procedure, you certainly do not want anything to go wrong. But even if you do not want to think about this possibility, there are times when things go wrong. When this happens, one of the things that comes to mind is the possibility of suing for negligence or for malpractice. If you are ever in such a position, and you are considering suit, it is important to understand the statute of limitations. Essentially, the statute of limitations sets a limit on how long someone has before they are no longer allowed to file suit for malpractice. The statute of limitations varies from state to state, so make sure you familiarize yourself with the specifics that relate to your state if you are thinking of filing suit.

The limit on how long a person is allowed to wait before filing a malpractice suit is the basic foundation of the statute of limitations. This allotted time varies from a couple years to several years, and there can be extenuating circumstances that stretch this time even longer. But in those instances where negative ramifications of a surger or operation are recognized immediately, the basic statute of limitations applies. The statute of limitations begins immediately in these cases, and generally the person will have between two and four years to file suit.

Delayed identification of negative effects is one of the major extenuating circumstances that can extend the statute of limitations. Perhaps an ommission or an instance of negligence occurred during surgery - or perhaps a downright mistake was made - but there is no evidence of this for a couple of years. This is why states allow for the statute of limitations to begin late - in this instance, it begins when the negative effects are discovered.

Finally, all states also impose an absolute cap on how long people have to file suit, even if the problem is discovered late. For instance, the cap in Massachusetts is seven years, so even if someone discovers a problem that was directly related to a surgery that took place eight years earlier, they can no longer file suit, no matter how blatant the ommission or act of negligence might have been. This time is far shorter in the state of Florida, with the absolute cap being set at four years.

If you happen to find yourself in the unenviable position of needing to file a malpractice suit, familiarize yourself with the statute of limitations in your state so that you can act accordingly.

Fun Ways To Keep Your Body Active

Most people are aware of the fact that it is important for them – for the health of their body and their mind – to remain active, but many people also feel that they could replace the word “exercise” with the word “work” without feeling that they are being in any way dramatic; if you are wanting to keep your body active, but absolutely hate exercising, here are a few fun ways to give your body that activity it needs, without feeling like this activity is work.

Rock climbing is one of the best full-body workouts you can engage in, and if you have a nearby area with good rock climbing, this is also a great way for you to get some fresh air while you are at it; even if you have to pay a bit of money and climb at an indoor gym, however, rock climbing can be invigorating, lots of fun, and a great way to keep your body in excellent shape.

Many people find that camping is something they enjoy, as it gives them an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday life, and to enjoy a simpler, more primal activity; if you enjoy camping, a great way to stay active is to add a bit of hiking on top of your camping – either hiking in a national park where you can hike for a while and set up camp wherever you want, or driving to a campsite and hiking around to explore the area.

And although you may not have thought about this, one of the best ways to keep yourself active is by playing golf (of course, you would have to ditch that golf cart and walk all 18 holes instead!); with the regular contours of a golf course, and with those 30 extra pounds of golf clubs on your shoulders, you will have a fun, pleasant afternoon that also doubles as a great way to keep your body in shape!

It is not always the easiest thing to stay in shape, but when you look for ways to stay in shape that will also be enjoyable, you will have an easier time remaining active, and maintaining a healthy body and mind as a result.

Clearing Up A Sore Throat

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There are definitely a lot of sicknesses and illnesses that are worse than a sore throat, but when you have a sore throat, it can be easy to forget that it is not truly "the worst thing in the world," as "the worst thing in the world" can be exactly what it feels like, and while you can certainly go to a doctor and be prescribed something that will ease your discomfort until the sore throat goes away, there are also a number of things you can do on your own to cause your sore throat to no longer be a problem.

The first thing you should realize about a sore throat is that you will typically be doing things that will either make it better or worse (and of course, you will want to be doing the things that make it better!), and one of the biggest ways in which this is true is in the things you are putting into your body; when you have a sore throat, make sure you are eating and drinking the right things - things such as soup, tea, and water - as this will go a long way in helping your sore throat clear up more quickly, and in easing your discomfort until it goes away completely.

Resting your voice as much as possible when you have a sore throat will also be important, as this will give your throat time to heal itself without constantly being further aggravated; when you do have to talk, however, try to talk as normally as possible - and while it might seem better to talk in a whisper, this can actually aggravate your throat a lot more than simply talking as best you can.

And of course, you should give a sore throat the same considerations you would give to any other illness in your body: make sure you are getting plenty of sleep, make sure you are relaxing (as this will help your immune system to operate at a more optimal level), and make sure you have patience.

When you follow these tips, you will be able to make that sore throat go away, without too much effort spent and without too much time wasted!

How To Conserve Energy While Playing Sports

When you are playing sports, it can seem natural for you to “go all-out, all the time,” – especially if you are a competitive individual – as this will give you the best chance of winning and performing well, but as you get older, it will also be important for you to learn how to conserve your energy when you play sports. After all, you will not be able to help your team much if you are sapped of energy by the middle of the game – and you will be no good to your body if you overexert yourself, to a point where you cannot play again anytime soon!

The first step to conserving your energy while playing sports will take place even before you step onto the field, as you will need to make sure that you are stretching fully; by giving your body all the stretching it needs (not just in the areas of your body you think you will be using, but in all areas of your body!), you will prevent both injury and fatigue once the competition begins.

You can also conserve energy during the sporting event itself at times by not running; if you are playing soccer, for instance, you can play your zone and not only conserve energy by not running all over the place, but also be in proper position when the ball comes your way! Know the times when you can conserve energy on the field in whatever sport you play, and you will feel much more energized as you compete.

Lastly, you need to drink water throughout the competition to replenish your body and your muscles; take the time to come to the sideline every once in a while to fill back up on water.

You can stay in shape and feel great by playing sports, but if you are not careful, it can also be a great way to hurt yourself or to become over-fatigued; follow these tips, and you will be able to keep your body safe during sporting competitions, and will be able to keep up your energy all the way throughout.

Preventing Or Fighting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Mind is All

If you have ever dealt with carpal tunnel syndrome, you know that it is nothing to fool around with. The onset of carpal tunnel syndrome can affect your life in a great number of ways, making even such small tasks as eating or drinking a glass of water difficult. If you have a job that requires you to do regular, repetitive movements with your wrists or hands, you could be at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome yourself. But if you are dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome, or if you fear that you might be in danger of carpal tunnel syndrome, here are a few things you can do.

First off, if your carpal tunnel syndrome is resulting from a job that requires you to do a lot of typing, examine the setup of your keyboard; you will want to make sure that, when you type, your wrists are facing downward, instead of having to bend upward. Carpal tunnel syndrome can show up in your wrists quickly if you are typing all the time with your wrists bent upward.

If you have found that your hands or wrists are starting to swell, or are starting to feel painful, you should start icing your wrists regularly. You can also prevent swelling and pain by taking ibuprofen. Start fighting it early on, and you will be in better shape for winning the battle.

If you work with your hands a lot, you should also aim to give them regular rest. This will cut down on the repetitiveness of your movements, as you will be taking a break to do other things.

Finally, you should consider buying a couple of wrist braces - they don't cost much money. There are many of these braces that are made specifically to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. While such braces can feel clunky at first, it does not take long to get used to them. What's more, you will notice the positve effects of wearing these right away!

Your best bet for fighting carpal tunnel syndrome is to begin fighting before it sets in. After all, the last thing you want is an uphill battle against an affliction that causes you a great deal of discomfort. Familiarize yourself with the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and knock it out before it gets going. You certainly will not regret it!

Shop For Wrist Braces

Tips For Cutting Out Coffee

People sometimes jokingly say that coffee is the most widely available drug, but even though this is said as a joke, the truth is, coffee is a stimulant much along the lines of a drug; of course, coffee does not have the adverse effects on the body that most drugs have, but if you try to quit drinking coffee, you are likely to find that the withdrawal symptoms you will experience can certainly feel like you are quitting something much harder than coffee - and for this reason, it will be important that you know a few things you can try in order to wean yourself off coffee if you have decided that this will be a good move for you.

When it comes to cutting out coffee, one of the best things you can try is slowly scaling back on the coffee you drink; if you slowly cut back on your coffee intake, you will eventually get to a place where it is no longer necessary for you to have coffee in order to function, so start by figuring out how many milligrams of caffeine you typically consume in a day, and then try cutting back 20% of this original level every week until you are no longer dependent on coffee.

You should also realize that there are lots of alternatives to drinking coffee, but some are actually worse than coffee for your body; rather than switching to energy drinks that are packed with sugar and other unnatural ingredients, start eating some "energy foods" that will help to replace the energy in your body that your body has been used to getting from coffee.

And quite frankly, water is the one thing your body needs more than anything else, and you can help your body make the transition away from coffee by giving it as much water as you can as you cut back on the coffee; water will make it less likely that you will end up having those awful caffeine headaches, and will also help to give you plenty of natural energy.

Even though coffee will not ruin your body in the same way a drug would ruin your body, it is certainly nice to be able to have coffee as a treat instead of being dependent on it, and when you follow these tips, you will be that much closer to being able to cut coffee out of your needs completely.

Two Painless Methods For Becoming a Runner

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If you've hoped you could get into running, but found the initial workouts to be too difficult, take heart. Most wanna-be runners give up because they push too hard on the first few workouts, frustrating themselves. The least painful way to go from walking to running is to walk, then run, and then walk, and then run, slowly increasing how much you run versus walk. It’ll take time and perseverance, but eventually you’ll get there.

Build up to being a runner by using your stopwatch to guide you. Your handy dandy stopwatch can be an incredibly effective training tool. When working out, start out by walking to warm up. Then pick up the pace, going into an easy run and jogging along until you feel like it's getting too hard to be pleasurable. Note how long you were able to run before it became uncomfortable. Thirty seconds? Now use your stopwatch to walk for double the time you ran. Alternate running and walking in this manner, always walking double the length of your run time. As you enjoy subsequent run/walking workouts, you'll want to change your ratios such that you walk and run equal amounts, and later run double what you walk, working towards running without any walking breaks at all.

Another way to ease into running is to use a heart rate monitor as a trainer. The heart rate monitor will help you adjust your exertion level such that it's never too much for you, but is challenging enough. Calculate out what your fat burning zone heart rate is, and then set out for your workout by walking. Once your muscles are warmed up, start running, watching your heart rate monitor, pushign yourself until your heart rate is up in your fat burning zone. Once you hit heart rate numbers in the upper part of your range, slow down and walk for a while, just until your heart rate reaches the bottom of your fat burning zone. Keep running and walking, always keeping within your fat burning heart rate zone, so you'll have an exercise session that is challenging but not too hard. Keep this up until you can run but stay inside your fat burning heart rate zone for an entire thirty minutes without walking.

These methods may not be the fastest ways to become a runner, but they are the least painful and are easy to stick with.

Cooking Fish

Cooking fish can be intimidating for the first time, especially if you are unsure on types of fish to even get. The great news is that fish is not only delicious but very easy to cook. With a minimal cooking tools and ingredients you too can cook fish with ease. Tilapia is a great fish to learn how to cook as a beginner fish. Getting flash frozen tilapia is very easy.

One of the easiest ways to cook fish is to pan fry them. You will need a good quality stainless steel pan. First, you will need to thaw your fish filet in the refrigerator over night. When you are ready to cook, rince the filet off and pat it dry. Take a quarter cup of flour and put it into shallow bowl along with a tsp of pepper and 2 tsp salt. Then stir the flour mixture. Place the fish into the mixture and gently coat both sides. After you have both sides coated shake off the excess flower from the fish. Heat your pan with a 1/4 cup of coconut oil until hot. When the oil is hot add you fish. Cook on each side for two and a half minutes. The fish will be done when the flour coating is crispy, and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Another great way to prepare fish is to bake it. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Place a tablespoon of butter in a oven safe container along with your tilapia filet.

Sprinkle fish with salt, pepper, and dill weed. If you wish, slice a lemon into rounds and place over the top of the filet. Place this into the oven for 20 minutes. It is done cooking when it easily flakes apart with a fork. If the fish isn't quite done simply put it back for another 5 minutes and check again.

These are two easily ways to cook fish, but there plenty of other options available. Books such as Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking is a great reference and well worth getting to learn many other ways to cook fish. Don't let fish intimidate you when cooking, they are quite easy to make.

Tips to Improve Your Freestyle Swim Workouts

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If you like to swim freestyle, you'll benefit from these reliable swim stroke exercises, all of which will strengthen your stroke and improve your times.

To improve your freestyle times, you've got to work your whole body and switch up your strokes during your workouts. You'll need to practice the breaststroke, freestyle (of course), and some kickboarding, along with using paddles. Begin your practice with freestyle laps, being sure to always reach forward, extending as far as possible with each stroke, and letting the stroke glide in front of you before pulling down. Focus on pulling through the water with force, pushing the water behind you, making sure not to cross the stroke across your body or push the water to the sides. Make sure your kicks are strong and coming from the hip, and that your knees are only slightly bent. Try to glide across the top of the water, not thrash at the water. The smoother and stronger the moves, the better the times.

Practice several lengths with paddles on your hands, which will help you move much faster and will increase the water resistance. Then try a couple lengths with your hands balled up into fists (and the paddles off, obviously). Then, resume your normal freestyle stroke, noting how different it feels. You'll be so delighted by how powerful your hands feel that you'll stroke harder and be faster.

Swim until your shoulders are feeling it (stopping before risking injury, of course), and then switch to a kickboard workout. Resting your upper body on the kickboard, kick with long, deep strokes, keeping your legs mostly straight. Push each stroke such that you feel it the entire length of your leg. Use the kickboard until you feel the burn. While still on the kickboard, switch to a breaststroke kick, exercising your legs in a new way.

Complete your workout with a last set of freestyle laps, just you, no props. Try to make these your best laps yet.

Tips For Staying Healthy In Cold Weather

When the weather is cold, people are much more susceptible to sickness, but while this is going to be the case regardless of the measures you take, there are still a number of things you can do to keep yourself healthy when the weather turns cold - after all, unlike spring and summer (when airborne allergens can make you sick, and there is little you can do!), the cold is fairly easy to protect against.

One thing that you need to understand is that keeping heat in your body will be important for keeping yourself healthy when the weather is cold, and more heat escapes your body through your head than through any other part of you; in addition to keeping your head covered in the cold, you will also want to keep your extremities (fingers and feet) warm, and will want to keep your chest covered with layers.

One thing that might seem minor on the surface, but that can actually make a big difference, is scraping frost off your car in the morning, and then driving in a cold car for about 10 minutes before the car warms up; instead of doing this, go outside about 15 minutes early and turn your car (and the defroster) on, so that your car will be warm, and your windshield will be cleared, by the time you get out there - realizing that the small amount of extra money you will spend in gas will be worth it for keeping you healthy!

And finally, realize that it is important to keep your body clean if you want to stay healthy, and because it can be so cold to prepare for a shower when it is cold in your house (and because you may not be sweating as much when it is cold), it is easy to push showers off for a day or two; make sure you are still showering daily, however, in order to stay healthy!

When you keep these tips in mind (and when you make sure your children are following these tips as well!), you will be able to keep a healthy family all throughout the winter.

Exploring The Proper Shaving Technique

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Shaving can be a nuisance, and many guys end up complaining about the havoc it wreaks on their skin, and even end up dealing with the annoyance of ingrown hairs – but one of the reasons so many people end up feeling that shaving is a nuisance is because they actually do not take the proper approach to shaving. Taking the right approach to shaving is not difficult at all, as soon as you know what you are doing; if you have been feeling that shaving is a real nuisance, it might just be a case of you lacking the proper education, and therefore taking the wrong approach.

For most guys, "shaving the right way" is no problem when they first start, but they eventually lose the patience to make sure they are going about it the right way, neglecting to acknowledge the fact that “going about it the right way” is an important part of protecting their skin; one of the first (and most important) aspects of “going about shaving the right way” is using hot water on the face – and even running hot water in the sink in order to create steam. Using hot water and steam in conjunction with shaving cream will be much better than using shaving cream alone; the hot water and steam will help to open up your pores, and this will then allow the shaving cream to condition your face and protect your skin.

And finally, you need to shave often if you want to shave correctly; the more often you shave your face, the more your face will be used to it, and the shorter the hairs on your face will be (which also makes a difference); if you have not shaved in a while, make sure you shave “with” the hairs (instead of “against them”) at first, until you have shaved close enough for it to be comfortable shaving against the hair.

By following these tips, your shaving experience will be a lot less of a nuisance, and you will be able to shave each day without worrying about the way it will cause your face to feel!

Losing Belly Fat

One problem a lot of people run into is that they want to lose belly fat, but they find that it seems they are unable to do this no matter how much they work out - to a point where the rest of their body looks the way they want it to look, but they are unable to do much of anything about their belly; if you have experienced this problem yourself, you know how frustrating it can be, but the good news is that there are actually a few easy ways to start burning that pesky belly fat!
In order to burn belly fat, the first thing you will want to do is make sure you are eating in such a way that your body is encouraged to naturally burn fat on its own; when you eat a lot of carbs and avoid fats at all costs, you will actually be encouraging your body to store fat - but when you skip the carbs and instead enjoy some fattier foods, you will kick your body's fat-burning mechanism into high gear!

As you adjust your diet in this manner, it will also be important that you keep your body active, as an active body is much more likely to be a fat-burning body; this does not mean that you need to engage in vigorous workouts on a regular basis, but it does mean that you should try to walk each day, and should try to work out every once in a while.

And finally, you will want to be aware of the fact that you will need to have a bit of patience in order to achieve the results you want to achieve; while it would be nice if you could see that fat melt away immediately, it will usually take a little while for you to see results, but if you stick with what you are doing, these results are sure to come.

Remember these things as you aim to shed that pesky belly fat, and soon your body will look the way you have been hoping for it to look!

How To Get Your Protein

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As you probably know already, protein is important for your body's health and wellbeing; what you may not know, however, is just how easy it is to get protein into your body. After all, you may not be able to eat meat for every meal, but this does not mean that you will be unable to get protein into your body!

It can seem difficult to get the fifty grams of protein that you are supposed to get, but it is actually quite easy once you realize the foods that have the protein you need.

Anyone who starts their day off with two or three eggs is already getting a large portion of the protein they need for the day. If you have three eggs in the morning, you will only need about 32 grams of protein the rest of the day, as each egg has about six grams of protein.

Nuts are another great source of protein, and peanuts are the best nuts of all. The biggest reason peanuts are great for you is becasue they contain lots of protein without containing lots of other stuff that can be bad for you. You can also get about 7 grams of protein just from one single tablespoon of peanut butter!

Of course, fish are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, but they are also extremely rich in proteins. And if you are looking for protein from products that are already part of your regular life, think about dairy products such as yogurt and milk.

Finally, one really easy way to get lots of protein all at once is by drinking smoothies that have protein powder in them. You will have a healthy treat that is great for any time of day if you make a smoothie with orange juice, bananas, and strawberries and add some protein powder to it!

Check out The Primal Blueprint - one of the best books for helping you understand how to lead a healthy lifestyle!

When you buy these foods, remember that foods are more likely to contain beneficial protein - and are more likely to be healthy for you - when they are organic. Your food will be better for you if it is less processed; and if your food is better for you, you will continue to be healthier and healthier!

Avoiding Heat Exposure This Summer

When the weather heats up during the summer, it can be very easy to subject yourself to heat exposure if you are not careful - and because you will usually not realize how close you are to heat exposure until it strikes, you need to learn to take the proper precautions. If you are going to be spending time in the sun this summer - regardless of whether this will be by the pool, at a sporting event, on the golf course, or somewhere else - make sure you avoid heat exposure yourself by following these tips.

Heat exposure can begin to occur at temperatures as low as 80 degrees, so even when it does not feel oppressively hot, you need to be aware of the risk, and the best way of all to chase away heat exposure is by drinking lots of water. When your body sweats, it needs to be replenished, and if you are not replenishing the water in your body you will end up feeling dizzy, dehydrated, and sick - so keep water with you when you are outdoors, and drink plenty of it!

You also need to make sure you dress for practicality over looks; not to say that you cannot look good when you are outside, but remember that fewer layers will keep you from overheating, and lighter colors will keep you cooler than darker colors will, as they do not absorb the sun nearly as much.

And if you start to experience a pale appearance, dizziness, tiredness, lightheadedness, nausea, or any of the other symptoms of heat exposure, you should take immediate action; get out of the sun right away, and hydrate slowly while staying on your feet.

Summer can be plenty of fun, and the heat can even be fun, as long as you are not subjecting yourself to risk; follow these tips, and you will be able to enjoy your time outside without having to worry about heat exposure!

Understanding What To Look For When Picking Fruits

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It can sometimes be difficult to know exactly what you are looking for when you are shopping for fruit at the grocery store, and this can be frustrating, as you will sometimes come home with a week's worth of fruit that is actually not worth eating at all. For this reason, it will be helpful for you to know some tricks to consistently picking good fruit, and while there are lots of different types of fruit – and while there are lots of different fruits to select from – here are the most important things to look for when selecting three of the most popular fruits: apples, oranges, and bananas.

Apples: picking apples can sometimes be difficult, as color is not the clearest indicator of whether an apple is good or not; as you go through the bin of apples, spend a bit of time with each apple before you put it in the bag – making sure that there are no black spots on the apple, no severe bruises, and no extreme discoloration, so that you do not end up with one of those “bad apples that spoils the bunch.”

Oranges: In comparing apples to oranges, oranges are much easier, as you can already eliminate about half the oranges in the bin simply by looking at color, as the brighter the orange of the skin, the juicier the orange is likely to be; as you pick up oranges that are a bright orange color, you will want to look for oranges that are mostly firm, as these will be the ones that are still holding their juice.

Bananas: And when you are picking up some bananas at the grocery store, it will mostly come down to what you are looking for; if you are wanting to eat your bananas right away, pick out bananas that are already yellow, but if you are wanting to wait a little while before eating bananas, you will be just fine picking out bananas that are still green.

Making sure you are selecting good fruit can sometimes be a bit of work, but when you get this good fruit home and it is available to you to eat, it will be well worth the effort!

Enjoying Low-Fat Alternatives To Milk

There are plenty of elements in milk that are great for the human body, but milk has something else that is not great for the human body: a lot of fat! Some poeple choose to avoid milk altogether, and they instead eat other foods that enable them to replace all the protein, vitamins, and calcium found in milk. But you can still get the great stuff found in milk without avoiding it altogether if you happen to enjoy milk.

Of course, the most obvious alternative when it comes to "low-fat" is to switch to skim milk, which allows you to continue drinking milk! With skim milk, you will have none of the fat found in 1%, 2%, or whole milk, but you will still have all the good stuff. While some people say that skim milk tastes "too watery," and they therefore do not care for skim milk, you should make sure you give it some time before you make a firm decision. Many people actually find, after giving skim milk some time, that they even prefer the taste of skim milk!

You can also stick with "milk" while switching away from milk altogether by going with soy milk or rice milk. These two options are actually even more healthy for you than regular milk, and even though they taste a bit different from milk, some people actually find that they prefer the taste of these alternatives. And even if you do not care to use soy milk or rice milk in your cereal, you can still use them when you cook or bake something that calls for milk in the recipe.

And of course, the most "low-fat" alternative you could possibly find to milk is to switch away from it completely! If you usually eat cereal with milk, you can try eating it plain, or can even try eating it with apple juice or orange juice. And if you usually put milk in your coffee, consider acclimating yourself to the taste of coffee without anything in it at all.

In the end - if you enjoy milk - there is nothing terrible about drinking it, even when it comes to whole milk; but your best bet is always to go with the most low-fat alternative you can find.

Staying Awake Without Coffee

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If you are a coffee drinker, you have probably spent years hearing conflicting reports about whether coffee is or is not healthy for you, and in fact, you may have reached a point where you no longer pay attention or even care at all - but while the general consensus these days seems to be that coffee is really not so bad for you at all, there is still the undeniable fact that it is not good for your body to be dependent upon any one thing. And in spite of the fact that many coffee drinkers claim to not actually be affected by the caffeine, they would find that this is not truly the case were they to go a few days without it - and if you have realized that this is the position you are in, here are a few things you can do to stay awake without coffee, even if just to wean yourself off to a point where you are no longer dependent on it.

Knowing how much sleep your body needs, and getting this amount, is the most seemingly obvious solution - but this is not quite as simple as it sounds, as each person's body actually requires slightly different amounts of sleep, and what's more, you can feel sluggish if you get too much sleep just as you can if you get too little, so you should figure out how much sleep leaves you feeling optimal, and then you should always aim to get exactly this amount.

Another thing worth trying if you are wanting to be less dependent on caffeine is to try pushing back the time of day when you make you coffee; by either pushing back your "coffee time" by five minutes each day or by a half hour each week, you will eventually reach a point where you no longer actually need coffee at all.

And if you want to replace the energy boost you get from caffeine with something else, you should try eating foods such as oats and apples, as each of these go a long way in giving your body the energy it needs!

Tips For Helping Yourself Work Out Every Day

Plenty of people reach a certain point where they suddenly realize that they are not nearly in as good of shape as they would like to be, which leaves them feeling like they should do something to change this quickly - but if you are wanting to get back in shape yourself, the first thing you need to realize is that one of the biggest keys will be that you work out every day, as you will not get nearly the results you are hoping for if your workouts are irregular!

Having a set time of day during which you work out is one of the best ways to make sure you are working out every day; getting into the habit of working out again can be difficult if you have to force yourself to do it at different times each day, but when you have a certain time of day during which you work out, the question of whether or not you "feel like it" goes out the window!

Another thing that will also help you to work out on a daily basis is providing yourself with variety in your workouts; you are likely to get sick of your workouts if you simply do the same ones over and over again, but when you are always changing things up, your workouts will remain fresher and more enjoyable.

And finding workouts you can do outdoors is another way to make your workouts more enjoyable; when you find such workouts, you will be able to get out of the confines of the gym, and will instead be able to get fresh air and sunlight - each of which are great for your body - in addition to getting your body back into shape!

No one said that getting back into shape is a piece of cake (and if they did say this, they were not telling you the truth!), but by keeping these tips in mind, it will be much easier for you to work out daily - and this will make it easier for you to get back into shape.

Exploring The Benefits Of Using A Bicycle

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Many adults think of a bicycle as something that their child enjoys (or as something they themselves enjoyed as a child!) without realizing that bicycles are just as much for adults as they are for children - and in fact, when you take a look at the benefits of riding a bicycle, you might even decide that bicycles are more for adults than for children!

Of course, there are some people who use a bicycle as a means of transportation and there are others who simply use a bicycle for recreation, but regardless of which way you end up using a bicycle yourself, one of the great things about it is that it requires no gas and hardly requires any maintenance, which means the initial purchase of the bicycle is just about the only investment you will need to make.

There is a lot of increased awareness these days on the importance of taking care of the heart, and the bicycle is extremely useful, in that it helps to promote cardiovascular efficiency - which means that, when you ride your bicycle, you will be increasing the way your heart works at the same time.

Of course, there are health benefits to riding a bicycle beyond just having a healthy heart as well; when you ride a bicycle, you will also be giving your body a very intense workout - and not just on your legs, but even on your abdominal muscles and on the muscles in your arms and back as well.

And finally, riding a bicycle can actually be quite relaxing, depending on where you ride it; if you take your bicycle out on a bike trail along a river or a lake, or if you take it through a quiet neighborhood or a serene stretch of woods, you can minimize stress and increase your relaxation - all while also enjoying the other benefits already listed!

Now is as good a time as ever to buy a bicycle if you have ever thought of picking one up; and if you have not thought about it before, you should start thinking about it now!

Tips For Solving Problems With Falling Asleep

While some people find that it is difficult for them to stay awake during the day, others have difficulty falling asleep when the day ends (of course, there are also those people who have a hard time with both!); those who have a hard time falling asleep often resort to unnatural measures such as sleeping pills to help them fall asleep more easily, but these measures only mask the problem instead of fixing them - but the good news is that it is absolutely possible to fix the problem of "being unable to fall asleep."

For some people, when they have a hard time falling asleep, the assumed solution is to try to "get their body used to falling asleep at a certain time" in order to fix this problem, but this is a solution that fails to take into account the fact that the human body will sometimes need different amounts of sleep; rather than training your body to fall asleep at a certain time, train your body to always wake up at a certain time, as this will allow you to listen to your body, and to go to sleep when you are tired.

Unwinding a bit before you go to bed - clearing your mind and moving away from the day you have just finished - will also help a bit; this can usually be achieved by reading, meditating, taking a shower, or simply relaxing a bit before you try to fall asleep.

And instead of allowing yourself to rely on unnatural sleep aids such as sleeping pills, try to find different, natural sleep aids such as melatonin, as putting these natural sleep aids into your body will help you a lot more in the long run than putting in that other stuff.

Being unable to fall asleep can be a frustrating affliction, as it can put you in a position where you are remarkably tired every single morning, but when you take the proper steps to start solving this problem, you will soon find that you are able to fall asleep quite easily, without any problem at all!

Exploring Three Natural Ways To Take Care Of A Cold

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A cold can be one of the most frustrating illnesses to deal with, as it is often not debilitating enough to force you to stay home from work and rest until you get better, but it is sometimes hard enough to get rid of that it lingers for weeks, causing you to suffer at work and at home throughout this entire time; while you can take various medicines and over-the-counter drugs to help you take care of a cold, here are three natural ways to make a cold go away.

Stay warm: Many people forget about "staying warm" because it is such a simple solution, but realize that you will help your body to get rid of this cold that has been plaguing it when you simply keep your body warm; in addition to keeping your body warm, you should also keep your throat warm - drinking hot tea (mixed with honey to soothe your throat further!), as this will help you to recover more quickly.

Another great way to help you get rid of a cold is by staying hydrated; by drinking lots of water, you will give your body the tools it needs to fight off this cold, and when you drink other liquids - such as apple juice or orange juice - you will be pumping vitamins into your body, while also helping your body to urinate away the bad things that have collected inside it.

And of course, one of the best ways of all to make a cold disappear is staying rested until you are fully healthy; when all you are dealing with is a cold, you may not want to take off from work, but realize that one day in bed can do you a lot of good, and even though the cold might not be completely gone after one day in bed, it will have receded enough that a few days of going to work and "taking it easy" when you return home should be enough to complete the process of curing this cold.

Know how to take care of your body in a natural manner, and you will be able to prevent diseases from taking hold of you, and will be able to make diseases go away when they come your way.

Does The GoFit Ball Work?

You may have seen people with one of those big exercise balls in their home and thought to yourself, "There is no way that thing really works." But rather than simply assuming that these things do not work, it is better to actually research and find out for yourself. And you just might be surprised what you turn up when you do some research on the GoFit ball!

First off, be aware that there are many companies that make exercise balls, but not all of these are created equal, as some have a tendency to pop easily or to become sticky over time. The GoFit is the best when it comes to exercise balls, as theirs are durable without any stickiness or funny odor! What's more, you can get a GoFit ball without spending a whole bunch of dough; for instance, the 65 centimeter GoFit ball - along with a 25 minute instructional DVD - costs only $33 (and it is only 24 dollars if you shop for it on Amazon!).

If you decide that you want to purchase a GoFit ball, keep this in mind: when picking a size, you should judge it based off the length of your legs, rather than based off your height. This is an important consideration to keep in mind, as you will find that GoFit suggests sizes based on height, but this should be adjusted accordingly if your legs are long or short for your height.

So then, the question becomes: "All right, it's inexpensive, sure - but does the darn thing actually work?"

The short answer to this question is: If you use it correctly, on a regular basis, it absolutely works! You need to keep the ball inflated to the proper size (it comes with an air pump as well) and use it several times per week; if you do this, you will significantly strengthen your core. Furthermore, you will feel a huge improvement in your back - even if you have had back problems, and even if these back problems have been severe!

For a minimal price, you can have a fun, easy workout that actually works; the GoFit is well worth the small investment, as you will surely see if you buy one yourself!

Exploring Sweets That Are Not Quite So Unhealthy

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There are plenty of people who try to make it sound like eating healthy is the easiest thing in the world, but if you have a serious sweet tooth, it can be a whole lot more difficult for you to keep cravings from bringing down your diet. While you will undoubtedly need a certain amount of will power in order to be able to stick to the eating plan you have chosen, it can also help when you know certain foods to eat that are both healthy and beneficial; if you have a sweet tooth, one of the things that will particularly help you is knowing some "sweets" that are really not that unhealthy.

Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate in excess is no good for you (which is really no different from any food!), but when you eat dark chocolate in moderation, not only is it "not bad" for you, but it actually is an antioxidant, which means that it will help your body to chase away disease.

Honey: While most sweets have a tendency to make you tired later in the day - giving you one of those sugar crashes everyone dreads - honey not only avoids the sugar crash, but it also gives you natural energy; using honey as a sweetener is a great way for you to get some extra energy from your food while also boosting the taste.

Fruit: When fruit starts making its way onto your dessert plate, it can be difficult at first, but once you get used to having fruit after dinner, you will begin to find that this is actually a great way to get something sweet while also staying healthy; when you are first getting used to this, try adding a little bit of sugar to your fruit, then quickly wean yourself down to fruit alone!

Regardless of what you do to help yourself, "eating healthy" will be a chore if you have a major sweet tooth - but when you try adding these things to your eating habits, things will become a little bit easier!

The Truth About Low Carb Diets

The principle behind low carb diets is that you will lose weight if you eliminate or severely reduce the amount of carbs in your diet because carbohydrates spike blood sugar levels and cause your body to produce insulin. This is something every diabetic knows: extra insulin production causes the body to store extra calories as fat. The result? A diet of no or very few carbohydrates, which can indeed result in impressive weight loss.

If the results of low carb diets are so impressive, why are so many people still overweight? For one, low carb diets are difficult to sustain. Your body needs carbohydrates for energy; it’s very taxing on your system to extract energy from a low-carb diet, forcing your body to take energy from your fat and muscles. People who eat a low carb diet and doesn't continue to build muscle will lose a good deal of muscle in addition to fat, making them lose tone and definition.

What part of a low carb diet is good and worth examining? The diet highlights the fact that Americans tend to eat too many carbs, especially in the form of refined sugar and starches, so limiting carbs is a good idea—to a certain extent. However, you have to honor your body's need for carbhydrates or else risk trying to perform athletically with a body that is fatigued, weakened, and low on fuel.

What is the healthy option? It's wise to reduce your simple carb consumption, eating small amounts of complex carbs instead. Increase your consumption of fruit, vegetables, protein, and fatty fish. Make sure your diet plan incorporates exercise, including resistance training, since you need to build muscles, not lose muscles. Pay attention to the following: portion control, calories, and quality of food, all in addition to exercise.

This is the kind of weight loss plan you want: something sustainable over time.

Doing Yoga On The Beach

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There are not a lot of things more enjoyable and relaxing than doing a bit of yoga on the beach (that is, if you are a fan of yoga - or perhaps even if you are not!), but before you can go out there and start in with your yoga, you will need to make sure you are taking the proper steps to properly do yoga on the beach.

A lot of people make the mistake of trying to do yoga on the beach in the same clothes they would usually wear to the beach, but instead of going out there in a small bikini, it would be much smarter to wear the clothes you usually wear for yoga, as this will ensure that you are comfortable and have a full range of motion without showing off more of your body than you might have intended to.

You should also keep in mind the fact that yoga is meant to be relaxing, but if you end up on a part of the beach with a lot of kids running around or college students drinking and yelling, it will not be very relaxing at all; choose a flat area - preferably with packed sand, such as you will find after the tide has gone out - that is far enough away from all the other action of the beach that you will be able to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.

And although yogis will usually advise you to face the sun when you are doing yoga - especially when you are doing yoga outside - doing yoga on the beach certainly allows you to break this rule, as facing the ocean while doing your yoga can provide the optimal amount of relaxation and unwinding; if you find this to be the case for yourself, do not worry about where the sun is so much as you worry about where the ocean is.

By making sure you are keeping these things in mind, you will be able to enjoy some yoga on the beach that will help you unwind and relax in a way that nearly nothing else can help you to do!