Will You Lose Weight if You Go Vegetarian?

Have you considered going vegetarian because of the many popular weight loss books that claim going vegetarian will ensure weight loss? Is there any truth to such claims?

Most people imagine vegetarians eating only super-healthy, low-calorie meals consisting of lots of fresh, organic produce. The truth is, going vegetarian only means not eating meat products, which still leaves you vulnerable to weight-gaining eating habits. You may think going vegan will solve the problem, but that just means you don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy, which still leaves room for cake, cookies, and candy.

Most likely you're problem isn't that you eat too many calories from meat. It's true that people who consume large quantities of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains are healthier than those who follow typical American diets, but going vegetarian doesn't really mean you'll do that. In fact, many well-intentioned “vegetarians” are actually “carbotarians”, meaning they may not eat meat, but they live on muffins, bagels, high sugar cereal, and other not-so-good-for-you foods.

In fact, protein is good for weight loss and overall satiation. Protein consumption supports muscle and helps stave off cravings. Not that you can’t get enough protein as a vegetarian; in fact many vegetarians get plenty of protein through beans, legumes, and soy products. If you're just thinking about weight loss, you probably shouldn't blame meat for your troubles (unless you regularly eat huge fatty steaks).

However, you’d do well to eat more vegetables and fruit than the average American, that’s undeniable. The health benefits that come from a diet packed with fruit and vegetables are astounding, and yet most Americans forego fresh produce in favor of sweets and unhealthy menu choices. They are usually lower in calories than other food choices, and calorie control combined with exercise is the safest bet for weight loss.

You want to shed those unwanted pounds? You won't have to convert to being a vegetarian to see weight loss results. Just increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, and forego the processed foods and high calorie meats. You'll lose weight if you eat healthfully and exercise regularly.

Does It Matter What Time Of Day I Drink My Coffee?

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People drink coffee for a variety of reasons - some because they simply like the taste, some because they find it to be relaxing, and some because it is simply a great way to get together with friends - but regardless of the stated reason for one's coffee consumption, coffee drinking still comes down to "staying awake" for most people. Because people try to drink coffee in order to stay awake (or - even for those who do not drink coffee to stay awake - it still has this effect), it is useful to know when is the best time of day for drinking coffee.

Lots of people drink coffee shortly before bed, contending that coffee actually has no effect on them; if this is the case for you, however, you should realize that coffee still has an effect on your body, even if you are able to fall asleep after drinking it. While you might go to sleep thinking that you are sleeping just fine throughout the night, chances are, the caffeine is preventing your body throughout the night from getting the rest that it truly needs.

A lot of people also include coffee as part of their morning routine to help them wake up, but when you drink coffee first thing in the morning, you put your body in a position where it becomes unable to wake up fully without coffee, which handicaps you for the rest of the day.

The best approach for coffee drinking is to drink it right around the middle of the day; even though this might leave you feeling more tired in the morning (that is, until your body gets used to this new routine), your body will be able to wake itself up. And this midday cup of coffee will give you a pleasant boost of energy - something that will help to carry you through the afternoon, and that will wear off at night, just in time for you to go to sleep for the night!

How To Get Protein From A Delicious Smoothie

Protein is one of the most important things for each of us to put into our body, but it can sometimes be difficult to get all the protein we need. After all, we are advised to get 50 grams of protein every day, which can be difficult to get with the diets some of us have. And while there is, of course, the option of protein smoothies where we can get lots of protein at once, most protein smoothies taste gross, right? Actually, you can make a delicious protein smoothie that still gives you all the protein you need, as soon as you know how to make protein smoothies the right way!

Some people tend to think a protein smoothie needs to be comprised of milk, peanut butter, and raw eggs in order for it to give you protein. But actually, you can accomplish as much as these disgusting drinks accomplish with a bit of protein powder added to a delicious fruit smoothie.

When you buy protein powder you have to make sure that the stuff you are buying is high-quality whey protein; if the protein powder is low-quality, it is no good, and it is also not giving you everything you need if it is soy protein powder. Secondly, you need to get protein powder that is either vanilla flavored or unflavored if your goal is to make a protein smoothie that still tastes delicious.

Make sure you are buying fresh, organic ingredients when you buy the other things you need for your smoothie - bananas, strawberries, and juice. Orange juice is the best juice to combine with protein powder, but if your taste preference varies from this, you can certainly try something different! You can also try some variations on this, such as adding fresh pineapple or berries, and even a bit of peanut butter or yogurt can taste good with this mixture! Throw your fruit and orange juice in a blender, along with the recommended amount of protein powder, and blend it until it is smooth.

It is easy to get the protein you need in a drink that actually tastes good; all you need is fresh juice, some whey protein powder, and just the right mixture of fruits and berries!

500 Smoothies and Juices!

Taking A Look At The Health Benefits Of Brazil Nuts

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The Amazon region of Brazil is the only place where you are likely to stumble upon the Brazil nut in nature, but in the grocery store, you can find Brazil nuts in just about any bag of mixed nuts or trail mix on the shelf - and even though the ubiquitousness of Brazil nuts might have led you to believe that they are simply "filler" (a cheap nut that takes up a lot of space and saves the company money), they are actually full of wonderful health benefits.

For ages, the Brazil nut has been a staple of the Amazonian diet, and one of the reasons for its prevalence in their diet is - quite simply - the fact that these nuts are high in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that promote bodily health, as well as being high in calories that give the body energy. Brazil nuts are actually so high in selenium (which is an important cofactor for antioxidant enzymes), and the consumption of just one or two Brazil nuts per day can actually lessen your chances of getting heart disease, liver disease, and cancer.

Buy a couple bags of delicious Brazil nuts!

The Brazil nut also helps with the prevention of stroke, and one of the big reasons for all this is the fact that Brazil nuts actually work to lower the "bad cholesterol" in your blood while helping to increase the "good cholesterol."

You should be aware that some people find that they are allergic to Brazil nuts - and Brazil nuts are usually stored and processed in places where lots of other nuts are also stored and processed - so you should make sure you have a thorough knowledge of your personal allergies, and of the storage and processing procedures of the company from which you are purchasing your Brazil nuts. If you are safe to add Brazil nuts to your diet, however, you will be adding a food that is full of health benefits - a food that not only helps to chase away a number of diseases, but that also promotes and advances your health at the same time!

Healing A Hamstring Injury

If you play sports, or if you have spend a good portion of your life participating in athletic events, there is a fairly good chance you have dealt with a hamstring injury at one point or another, as the hamstring is one of the most commonly injured muscles among athletes - but even if you do not play sports any longer (in fact, even if you have never played sports!), you can still end up with a hamstring injury. A hamstring injury can cause you a great deal of discomfort, and it can be one heck of a nuisance - and you may actually be surprised to realize what you should do in order to heal a hamstring injury if you have one.

The most surprising thing of all to most people, when they end up with a hamstring strain, is the fact that they should not stretch it; because of the tightness they will always feel in their hamstring, it will feel as though stretching is the best, most natural way to fix the problem, but because the muscles are trying to heal themselves, this will actually make things worse.

A couple things that you will be able to do, however, to help along the healing process are firstly, stay off your feet as much as possible, and secondly, alternate heat and ice on the strained muscle; when you stay off your feet, you will give your muscles a chance to rest and heal themselves, and when you circulate heat and cold, you will keep the blood flowing while also dulling the pain.

And the trickiest thing about hamstring injuries is the fact that they will often start to feel better, only to get worse when you overexert yourself. If you have hurt your hamstring in some way, make sure you wait well beyond the point when it feels better before you try to use it to its fullest, lest you end up back at square one all over again.

How To Keep Your Back In Good Shape

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While there are certainly things in life that are worse than having a bad back, it can often seem – when you are dealing with a bad back yourself – like there is nothing worse than it, as a bad back can cause you constant pain and discomfort, and can force you to make adjustments in just about every area of your life. While it is certainly easy to put your back in a place where it is causing you problems (as is evident by the great number of individuals who deal with chronic back pain), it is also easy to take care of your back in such a way that it gives you no problems – as long as you pay attention to these few simple steps.

Use your back properly: Using your back properly will be a big factor in enabling you to keep your back in good shape, and all this really means is that you know how to lift things properly, and know not to bend over using your back, and know to sit in good chairs at work, and know to do the little things right!

Sleep properly: If you want to keep your back in good shape, you need to sleep on it properly; this means that – instead of sleeping on one side or the other, or sleeping on your stomach – you should sleep on your back each night, on a good, firm mattress.

Adjust your back: Your back will still need minor adjustments from time to time, even when you are taking the right steps to keep your back in good shape; you can get these adjustments by visiting a good chiropractor or masseuse on a regular basis, or by simply purchasing a good massage chair that you can use regularly in the convenient comfort of your own home!

When you follow these simple tips, you will be able to keep your back in great shape – which will save you a whole lot of money, as well as a whole lot of serious pain and discomfort!

About triathlons

Have you wanted to try a triathlon however found yourself scared of doing those distances? The iron man can be a painful race but it isn't the only triathlon you should look at. There are a number of shorter triathlons geared towards your level of expertise. 

There are three different main levels or distances of triathlons (though there are other distances these are the typical ones you will see). The largest of them and most brutal is the Iron Man which includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile ride on the bike, and a 26.2 mile run. The traditional size is the Olympic triathlon which is a .93 mile swim with a 24.8 mile bike ride finished with a 6.2 mile run. The final tri you are likely to run across is a sprint that contains a .47 mile swim, a 12.4 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run. Sprints have become widely popular across the United States.

If you are interested in training for one, a great reference manual for it is the Triathletes Training Bible. This is considered one of the best books on the sport. This book goes into such great detail about training for a triathlon even down to what your workout plan should be week by week. It is a wonderful coaching book and really get you on the way to completing your first tri. It also if full of raceday tips as well.

It is common after completing your first tri to want to try another or move up to a longer one. One day you may find that you have become the elite athlete you admired.

Tips For Keeping Yourself Awake In A Healthier Manner

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One of the toughest things for many people is trying to stay awake throughout the day, regardless of whether you are an adult going to work each day or a college student slogging through classes, as it is easy for the days to catch up to you and for you to want to simply stay in bed; when this happens, many people drink or eat different things that help them stay awake, but if you are one such person, you will want to make sure that whatever you are doing to stay awake is also healthy for you.

One of the best ways to stay awake throughout the day is to simply get enough sleep and make sure you are waking up at the top of your sleep cycle; most people sleep in sleep cycles of around an hour and a half apiece, and you will feel much more awake when you wake up at the end of a sleep cycle instead of in the middle of one, so figure out how long your sleep cycle is, and aim to always wake up when one sleep cycle is ending and the next one is beginning.

On top of making sure you get enough sleep and that you are waking up at the right point in your sleep cycle, you will want to start your day the right way; if you start out your day in a sluggish manner, this will carry over into the remainder of your day, but when you are able to start out with a walk, a healthy breakfast, and a bit of relaxing, you will feel much more awake - and much more ready to attack the day!

And make sure you avoid sugars and carbonated beverages when you reach a place where it is necessary to put something in your body to keep yourself awake; instead, try for some fruit (apples are especially good at keeping the mind and body awake!), and drink tea and coffee (with no cream or sugar!).

When you adhere to these methods, you will effectively avoid that tiredness that plagues so many people and gives them constant problems, and will instead be able to stay awake throughout the day - in a healthy manner.

Tips For Staying In Great Shape Without "Working Out"

The idea of being in shape and having a body that one can feel good about is something that appeals to most people, but many of these same people cannot quite bring their body to put in the work it needs to put in for them to reach this point; at the same time, however - if you have ever felt this way yourself - one thing you should realize is that there are actually a number of ways to work out your body without actually doing a "workout"!

Rock climbing is one of the best ways to work out your arms, your lats, and your legs; regardless of whether you join a rock climbing gym or just go rock climbing outdoors, this is an activity that can be done simply for fun - but as you do it, you will be seriously strengthening a number of areas in your body, moving you closer to that body you hope to have!

Hiking is a great way to work out your legs more directly, and in a different manner; of course, "walking" is a workout some people choose, but others find walking to be too bland (or to feel too much like they are doing it just to "workout," which turns them off the idea altogether!), but hiking can be done simply for the joy of getting out into nature and exploring - all while giving your legs a great workout over varied terrain.

And you should consider jumping rope if you want to give your body a good cardiovascular workout, but do not especially feel like going for runs or playing sports; jumping rope certainly feels like a workout to some people, but to others, it feels like nothing more than a throwback to their childhood - something that is fun and enjoyable, while also giving their body an inarguably high-quality cardiovascular workout!

When you keep these ideas in mind, you will find that it is easier to move yourself toward reaching the goal of that body you want to reach, all without having to "workout," but instead by being able to simply engage in activities that are a lot of fun!

Keeping Yourself Safe During A Night Walk

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If you are a bit of a night owl, or if you just enjoy getting outside when things are dark and a bit more quiet, taking a nice, relaxing nighttime walk can really be a pleasant way to end the day. But of course, when you walk at night, you are a lot more difficult for drivers to see than you would be while walking during the day, so when you go for a night walk, you need to make sure that you are taking the proper precautions.

Wear reflective clothing: You need to wear something that will reflect the lights of headlights when you are walking at night, as this will ensure that drivers see you long before they would be able to if you were simply wearing normal clothes. Take some time to shop for reflective clothing designed for walking, and you can go out at night feeling much safer; also, there are reflective shoes that you can buy, and there are even devices that flash (similar to a bicycle flash), which makes you much more visible to drivers.

Know where you are: Even though drivers will be able to see you much better when you wear reflective clothing, it is no guarantee that every driver on the road will be paying attention, which is why you should only walk in places that you have walked during the day before, as this will enable you to know exactly where you can step off the road or jump out of the way if the need arises.

Pay attention: And of course, while you are walking at night it will be important that you pay attention! Unlike walking during the day - when you can put in your headphones and shut out the world - you need to remain attentive while you are walking at night in order to avoid being taken by surprise; and in any case, part of the fun of night walking is the quiet all around you, so you should be fine to leave those headphones behind and enjoy the quiet the night has to offer!

How To Fight And Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

For anyone who has ever fought against carpal tunnel syndrome, they know that it is no laughing matter. Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect every area of your life, as it can make it difficult for you do do even such simple tasks as opening doors or holding a glass of water. 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 for anyone who is currently dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome or who may be in danger of carpal tunnel syndrome, these are a few things for you to start doing.

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. Bending your wrists upward while you type can be very bad, and the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome can happen quickly.

Icing your hands regularly is a great thing for you to do if you have started to experience pain or swelling. Ibuprofen can also prevent swelling and pain. The earlier you begin combating it, the better off you will be.

You should also give your hands regular rest if you work with them a lot. In so doing, you will allow your hands to avoid a constant barrage of repetitive movements.

Finally, you should consider buying a couple of wrist braces - they don't cost much money. There are plenty of these that are made specifically to combat 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 no longer be in pain!

Your best bet for fighting carpal tunnel syndrome is to begin fighting before it sets in. After all, it is better to keep carpal tunnel syndrome from setting in than to try to get rid of it once it is affecting every area of your life. Learn the signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and combat it early. You will be happy that you did!

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How To Relax By Taking A Bath

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When you reach the end of a day that has been long and stressful, it is always nice to be able to unwind a little bit, relazing both your mind and your body. There is no "right way" of going about doing this, but of all the different ways people have of relaxing at the end of the day, there are some ways that work better than others. Taking a long, hot bath is one of the best ways to relax both your mind and your body at the end of a long day.

You might think that a bath is a simple thing - you might even think of a bath as just one more way to get clean. But your muscles will be able to loosen as you soak your body in hot water - and this is important after a stressful day. You will also sweat toxins into the water, which will help to make your body healthy as well as making it more relaxed.

As for helping to relax your mind also, one thing you can do is simply sit in the bath and let the steam do its work as you lounge and think about nothing. But if you experiment a bit with aromatherapy, you can truly kick up the mind-related relaxation! Different aromas enable different people to relax, so as you go through the options, it may take you a little while to find the one that works best for you. Among the options for aromatherapy for your bath, you must choose between candles and bath salts; find the one that works best for keeping you relaxed, and and you will be thrilled that you took the time to do so! And remember that there is no reason why you cannot mix and match between candles and bath salts, and between different aromas. Try to find several bath salts or candles that work well for you, and experiment with some combinations in order to reach an intense level of relaxation.

Many people end up only getting more stressed when the stress starts, as they try to solve the problem by "pressing through." A better approach is to find a relaxation method that works well for you - and there are few methods that work as well as a long, relaxing bath!

Finding Alternatives To Coffee

Lots of people dislike coffee, and there are a variety of reasons for this; for some, they do not like the way coffee affects them; for others, coffee has more caffeine than they want; and of course, some people simply do not like the taste. If you are not wanting to drink coffee yourself, but are still wanting a bit of an energy boost each day, it helps to be aware of some of the alternatives to coffee.

Tea is a great alternative to try if the reason you dislike coffee is because the caffeine content in coffee is too high for you. Tea is a nice, hot drink that is nice to enjoy on those afternoons when your friends are all drinking coffee, and with it you will have a much lower caffeine content. In fact, with tea, you even have the choice between green tea (which has less caffeine) and black tea (which has more caffeine) - each of which has significantly less caffeine than coffee.

If the reason you do not like coffee is because of the taste, rather than because of the caffeine content, energy drinks just might be the right choice for you. The most effective energy drink for most people is Red Bull, and you can even have sugar-free Red Bull if you do not want the sugar. In fact - because of the "sugar crash" that can plague you with regular Red Bull - many people find that sugar-free Red Bull works even better for them.

And of course, Five Hour Energy is a great option if you want to avoid both the sugar crash and the high caffeine content. Five Hour Energy - unlike both Red Bull and (for some people) coffee - will not give you a sudden burst of energy if you are on the verge of sleep. But with Five Hour Energy, you will feel more alert and awake for hours if you take it on a regular, sluggish afternoon - and you will feel this way without feeling like you have taken anything at all!

For every different reason a person might have for not drinking coffee, there are available alternatives. If you have been thinking about trying to stay away from coffee yourself, check out these three alternatives; you just might find that one of them is a perfect fit for you!

Finding Alternatives To Coffee

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Many people do not care for coffee, and there are many different reasons for this; some people simply do not like the way coffee tastes; for others, it is the caffeine content that they do not like; and for some, they don't like the way coffee affects them. If you are not wanting to drink coffee yourself, but are still wanting a bit of an energy boost each day, it helps to be aware of some of the alternatives to coffee.

If the caffeine content in coffee is too high, and this is the reason you wish to avoid it, tea is a great alternative to try. Tea is a nice, hot drink for those afternoons when your friends are drinking coffee, but the caffeine content is much lower. In fact, you even have the choice between green tea and black tea when it comes to tea - the former of which has less caffeine, and the latter of which has more.

If the reason you do not like coffee is because of the taste, rather than because of the caffeine content, energy drinks just might be the right choice for you. For most people, Red Bull is the most effective energy drink available, and you can even get sugar-free Red Bull if you want to avoid the sugar. In fact, sugar-free Red Bull works even better than regular Red Bull, as it does not open you up to the "sugar crash" that regular Red Bull can.

And of course, in order to avoid both the high caffeine content and the sugar crash, you can try Five Hour Energy. Five Hour Energy - unlike both Red Bull and (for some people) coffee - will not give you a sudden burst of energy if you are on the verge of sleep. But with Five Hour Energy, you will feel more alert and awake for hours if you take it on a regular, sluggish afternoon - and you will feel this way without feeling like you have taken anything at all!

There are available alternatives to coffee for every different reason a person might have for not wanting to drink coffee. If you have been thinking about trying to stay away from coffee yourself, check out these three alternatives; you just might find that one of them is a perfect fit for you!

Benefits Of Switching To A Saltwater Pool

Anyone who has ever taken a dip in a hotel pool or any other pool designed to accommodate a whole bunch of people understands how bothersome chlorine can be. But you will not just find the negative effects of chlorine in pools designed for lots of traffic; you will also find them in home pools. When you swim in chlorine, you will find that your skin dries out, your hair becomes damaged, and your eyes get irritated. Furthermore, chlorine pools can be difficult to maintain, as the chlorine levels are dependent upon many factors, including heat, pH, and even the number of people using the pool.

Perhaps you have considered making the switch to a saltwater pool, but have held off because you weren't totally sure what the benefits were.

One thing to realize about saltwater pools is that the salt is not the same as the salt in the ocean, and so, saltwater pools do not feel like swimming in the ocean. Rather, a saltwater pool releases chlorine on its own, which means that the chlorine is released on an as-needed basis. This has two distinct benefits: 1) It makes pool maintenance a lot easier, and 2) It makes the water a whole lot better.

With a saltwater pool, the water will feel softer, and you will leave the water with your skin feeling softer as well. What's more, your swimsuit will last longer in a saltwater pool, and the water will not damage your hair and eyes the way a chlorine pool does. Saltwater pools also make life easier by preventing algae and waterline scum build-up, and they are better for people with allergies; all in all, a saltwater pool is a much healthier swimming experience. And of course, when you do your routine pool maintenance, you will no longer have to handle toxic chlorine.

If you are thinking of changing your pool to saltwater, check out The Ultimate Guide To Pool Maintenance, which will help you get started on understanding your new saltwater pool.

With a saltwater pool, you will be able to take care of your pool more easily, and you will be able to swim with the comfort of knowing your pool is safe and healthy!

Introduction to Clipping In

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With the weather warming up, biking season is just starting. Most will get back on their bikes soon, hoping to add up some miles. There are a few simple adjustments you might want to consider that could make a huge impact. Upgrading your pedals can be one of the best and easiest options, which can make a huge difference. There are a number of options you should consider if you are one of those with their origal pedals.

Many people have enjoyed switching to a type of pedal where you can connect your foot to your pedal full time. You have two main forms you can choose from, a clip less or a toe clip pedal. Why switch and what are the advantages? Power simply put, is one of the largest payoffs to switching your pedal. On a regular pedal you are only able to transfer power to your bike as you push your pedal down. Clipping in allows you to add a pulling motion on the backside. Making this type of clips much more efficient.

There are two different types of ways to get you locked onto your bike. The first option is to clip your fott into a basket. Commonly called a toe clip. These are not the preferred method of clipping in for professionals but there are many people who like to start here because they don’t always have to be clipped in to use them. It allows you to stay cliped in or turn it upside down and use it as a traditional pedal.

The second type of pedals are called clipless, though a bit of a misnomer since you are actually locked onto your bike. These are the pedals of choice for your more serious rider. All of the clipless pedals require specialized shoes to use with the specific pedal you choose. There are two main forms of clipless setups. SPDs, which are commonly used for road bikes, and PD's which are used most commonly on mountain bikes. SPDs have a wider pedal and use a more stiff shoe than a PD type.

Before you decide to change your pedals ask if you can try out a pair and put your bike on a trainer. This will allow you to get a sense of how to get in and out of your new pedals efficiently so you don’t crash. It will require you a bit of practice to help remember to detach your feet before coming to a full stop.

How To Prevent Carsickness

If you or any of your children have a tendency to get carsick at times, you certainly understand what a nuisance it can be. After all, getting carsick can turn a simple trip to school or to the store into a fiasco, and it can make a road trip practically impossible. These tips will help you naturally chase carsickness away as soon as you feel it setting in - regardless of whether you deal with carsickness frequently or only every so often.

Fresh air: Opening the windows and getting some fresh air flowing through the car is one of the best ways to chase away carsickness. With a bit of fresh air, you will probably find that the carsickness disappears quickly.

Focus faraway: If fresh air does not seem to help you, another method to try is focusing on a point that is far away from the car. Lots of people end up making their carsickness a whole lot worse by putting down their head as soon as they start to feel sick. By focusing on a faraway point - especially if you add this to the fresh air - will often make you feel a lot better than before.

Food therapy: There are foods that will make you feel better when you are carsick, there are foods that will do nothing for you, and there are also foods that will make you feel worse. A few things that will help carsickness - just as they would an upset stomach - are water and saltine crackers, and ginger ale. Ginger root capsules and ginger snap cookies are two additional things that will help to cure a carsick stomach.

Cool cloth: If you find that none of these other options are working, try placing a cool, damp cloth over your forehead and eyes. You should keep a cooler in the car - filled with ice, with a cloth nearby - if you or someone you are traveling with is prone to carsickness.

Even though carsickness has the ability to ruin a trip, it does not have to; you can chase carsickness away if you follow these tips!

Exploring Easy Ways To Keep Yourself In Shape

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One problem a lot of people face is that they are far too busy to go the the gym on a regular basis, and they translate this fact into the idea that they are far too busy to stay in the shape they want to stay in; the simple truth, however, is that everyone has enough time to stay in good shape, as there are a number of very simple things you can do that - when combined with healthy eating habits - will keep you looking fit and trim.

Walk: Walking might not seem like much of a workout when you are doing it, but walking truly is one of the best workouts you can engage in; although walking can be a bit time-consuming, you will find - when you start looking for opportunities to walk - that you actually have plenty, including during your lunch break, in the evening, or even just at work, taking the stairs instead of the elevator!

Pushups: Many adults dismiss pushups as something that will not be much help to them, because they are such a basic "workout," but pushups really are one of the best workouts you can do for your upper body; throughout the day, get in the habit of dropping to the floor for a quick set up pushups, as this will help you look the way you want to look, and will get your blood flowing - which will make work that much easier!

Flexing: And believe it or not, one of the best ways to work out is by simply flexing; when you lift weights, you are essentially forcing your muscles to tighten up, which is the same thing you will accomplish by flexing - and even though you will not increase strength quite as quickly this way as you would from lifting weights, you will be surprised by just how effective this can be!

Make an effort to add these ideas to your regular days, and soon you will find that you are beginning to look a whole lot more like what you want to look like!

What Are The Healthiest Fast Food Options?

Although we all know that fast food is never exactly the healthiest option, it is sometimes the only option! If you are on the road a lot, or if it makes more sense for the job you work to eat fast food rather than packing a lunch, you might sometimes have no choice but to eat fast food. And if this happens to be the case for you, you will want to make sure you know what the healthiest fast food options are.

When it comes to those jobs that leave you frequently eating fast food, one of the toughest things can be the place where you will be eating is often chosen by consensus vote, which will leave you being unable to choose a place yourself. If you are in this position where you are unable to pick where your food is coming from, be aware that you can get salads from such fast food establishments as Wendy's and McDonald's. Of course, you are not getting organic ingredients (or even ingredients that are necessarily fresh) when you buy salads from these places, but it is better than many of the alternatives!

If, on the other hand, you are able to choose where you will go for your food, one good option is Chick-fil-A. Even though Chick-fil-A is a bit pricier than some other options, this is largely because they are using fresh, healthy ingredients. And this food is not only healthier, but it also tastes a whole lot better - which certainly makes the extra price well worth it.

And when it comes to the healthiest fast food option - as long as you have a bit of time and do not need to go through the drive-thru -it is Panera. You can choose from options ranging from sandwiches to soups to salads at Panera - with many healthy options available among them. But when you go to Panera, be on guard - there are also plenty of unhealthy options on display in the cases at the counter, and these can be quite tempting!

Of course, if you are able to pack a lunch, this is always a better option; but if you are unable to, you should go for one of these options!

Do you Suffer From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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There is nothing worse then having your livelyhood put at risk because of a repetitive stress syndrome such as carpal tunnel. Unfortunately many people who work a lot with their hands are at risk for this syndrome. Computer programmers, receptionists, hair stylists are just a few of the people who often begin to have problems with this syndrome.

Do you have pain in your forearms, hands and wrists?  If so then you may have carpal tunnel. People that suffer from this syndrome frequently complain of numbness in their fingers also. Doctors commonly prescribe painkillers and recommend braces to wear. Sometimes doctors ultimately end up recommending surgery if the symptoms are bad enough. There are things that you can do to really reduce your chances of having to suffer surgery.

What can you do to reduce your chances of carpal tunnel syndrome? Your first line of defence needs to be your body position and posture. Making sure that your wrist is in a neutral position at all times is a great way to start. Wrist neutral means that your wrist is centered and not bent or kinked to far in any direction. Braces can help to keep your wrist in a neutral location while your wrist has some time to heal. Take a look at the way a piano player plays, their wrists are typically pretty flat when viewed from the side. Their wrists are not bent at severe angles at all.

Your chances of suffering from the syndrome are even further reduced if you learn to stretch out and do self massage. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook is an outstanding book in explaining exactly how to massage your arms to reduce carpal tunnel pain. This book is wonderful at explaining how you can fix your own aches and pains and not have to go to a massage therapist if you don't want to. This book also very clear in explaining how to do self massage for carpel tunnel. As far as stretching goes, before you begin using your hands stretch out your fingers and bend them in as far as they will go. Running through your range of motion helps to keep everying loose and healthy. After you have stretched your fingers out completely, do the same for your wrists.  Move them throough their range of motion. Stretching will help prepare your body for the motions it will be repeatedly completing.

A combination of massage therapy, stretching, and correct body positioning can really put you on the path to avoiding pain. Doing these things at least once a day if not more often then that really doesn't take that much time and will save your body in the end. Be proactive if you are in an at risk profession.

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Living Healthy: Natural Foods!

The idea of leading a healthy lifestyle is something that appeals to a lot of people, but one problem a lot of people who have been chasing this goal face in the long run is that they do not quite understand what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle; one of the keys to leading a healthy lifestyle will be not only having the discipline to do so, but also understanding what it is you must do.

A lot of people are under the impression that butter is not good for them, and because of this, they decide to replace butter with margarine or with other similar substitutes, rather than sticking with butter or using something such as oil in its place; while butter is not exactly great for you, however, it is far better than something that is chemically created such as margarine, so if you want that butter flavor, stick with butter rather than a chemical substitute!

One thing a lot of people understand about being healthy is that it is better for them to eat lean meat – such as chicken, turkey, and fish – than to eat red meat such as hamburger or steak, but while this is certainly true, it is also true that organic meat is far healthier than non-organic meat; in fact, you would be better off eating organic red meat then non-organic lean meat – and of course, organic lean meat is even better for you than organic red meat!

And finally, you might imagine that cutting out all sweets will be necessary in order for you to eat healthy, but while cutting out sweets certainly is a good idea, it is not entirely necessary; the main key is to watch what sweets you are eating, realizing that something such as dark chocolate is far better for you than sweets that are artificially colored and artificially sweetened.

As you make sure to keep some of these tips in mind, it will continue to be much easier for you to lead a healthy lifestyle, and to look better and feel better as a result.

Yoga for Beginners

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Long ago in India, Hinduism and Buddhism had a physical practice of well-being and spiritual commitment called yoga.  Today, two types of this traditional practice exist that have been tailored to fit the modern world.

Ashtanga and Anusara are modern yoga.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga was brought to the western world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915 – 2009). It is a practice of yoga that focuses on creating internal heat and pure, detoxifying sweat.

 This is accomplished through a series of yoga poses paired with breathing exercises to promote a strong body and calm mind.

The meaning of Ashtanga is “eight-limbed yoga”.

These “limbs” are principles set forth in the Yoga Sutras. The eight limbs are: moral-codes, self-purification and study, posture, breath control, sense control, concentration, meditation, and absorption into the universe.

The purpose of Ashtanga is to become proficient in all of these goals.

Anusara

Anusara is a new form of yoga – it began in 1997 by a man named John Friend.

Friend's goal was to “align with the Divine,” according to the official Anusara website.

This is what many people think of when they think of yoga; Anusara is where the “Om” comes from.

A meditative state enhanced by synchronized breathing and poses assists one in aligning with the Divine. 

Making your choice

When you are making your decision between these two practices, it is best to weigh all of their similarities and differences in relation to your personality.

If you are a more structured person who enjoys athletics, then Ashtanga is for you.

It promotes goodness in all aspects of your life, and an intense workout when practicing your poses.

Anusara focuses more on doing your best rather than achieving perfection.

The workout is comparable to Ashtanga, but the goal is different. Anusara wants people to feel good about themselves and the world around them.

Alignment with the Divine comes through this goodwill.

Regardless of which practice you choose, a Yoga Mat is vital!

Preventing Headaches Before They Start

Anyone who has a tendency to get headaches understands how much of a kink an unexpected headache can put into any day. Furthermore, if you get headaches somewhat frequently, you might also have found that such measures as ibuprofen are no longer effective for you. It is important for you to learn how to prevent headaches before they even start, especially if you frequently find yourself dealing with headaches, but even for those who only get headaches every once in a while.

For every person, the thing that is causing them chronic headaches will be unique and usually rather specific. Staying hydrated throughout the day is one of the best ways to prevent headaches; in fact, you are supposed to drink a gallon of water per day! Even though this seems like a lot of water, your body needs this much to function optimally, and when you get enough water, you will be less likely to have headaches.

Adults are advised to get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every night, and those who frequently do not get enough sleep tend to deal with headaches as a result. After all, if you are giving your body the rest it requires, it is far less likely to act out against you.

Another frequent cause of headaches, which surprises many people, is back and neck problems; this is great news for a lot of people, as massage chairs and chiropractors can fix these problems.

You should also begin to get in touch with your body, in such a way that you know when a headache is coming on. In this way, you can take ibuprofen early, as it is more effective when taken before a headache is in full effect.

Finally, there are two ways for you to combat caffeine headaches; the first is simply to put some caffeine into your body. But the second, much better way is to drink lots of water whenever you consume caffeine, as caffeine has a tendency to dehydrate the body!

Headaches can make a day seriously difficult to get through, but they do not have to be a serious problem; all you have to do is learn how to prevent them from coming at all!

Ways to Fit Exercise Into Your Busy Schedule

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Every week you swear you're going to exercise, but your busy schedule crowds out the possibility? Let go of the idea that you have to invest hours at the gym to stay fit, and try some of these tried and true tricks to stay toned.

Seize opportunities presented mid-day. Plan your lunch meetings far from your workspace. Force yourself to walk both ways, taking the stairs whenever possible and bringing coworkers or your laptop with you if you need to work over lunch.

Promise yourself ten minutes of exercise each day. Even if your day is completely packed, you can put in ten minutes of sit ups, push ups, and squats before bed.

Sacrifice two mornings (or late nights) a week. Yes, you have to work a full day, but you can sacrifice sleep for exercise--which will energize you--two days a week. Just as some people consider going to religious services as non-negotiable, treat these two days as such and carve out some precious time that cannot be touched by anyone. Make these two days your precious workout days, where you push yourself the hardest and get the most out of your fitness plan.

Look for ways to challenge your body while running errands and doing household chores. Make yourself walk as much as possible while running errands (park far away, make yourself walk fast) and turn the loading and unloading of bags into a workout by bending your knees, lifting them high, etc. Do something similar when performing chores. Transform vacuuming, sweeping, and scrubbing into a full body workout by bending your knees, squatting, and using a little elbow grease.

Make sure your relaxation times are also active. Instead of watching a movie, meet a friend for a walk. Instead of playing a board game, take your kids out for a hike. Choose to do something athletic instead of something sedentary.

By thinking outside of the box, you can fit exercise into even the busiest of schedules.

Great Snack Foods For Backpacking

Among the biggest and most difficult considerations when it comes to planning a backpacking trip is food, as you want to bring food that will give you the energy you need, but that will not be so heavy to carry around with you that it depletes your energy in the process! There are a handful of foods that you should always bring with you when you are hitting the trails - and the good news is that these foods are not only lightweight and full of energy, but are inexpensive as well!

Trail mix: Trail mix is one of the most important things to bring with you when backpacking (after all, there is a reason it is called 'trail mix'!), as the nuts, seeds, and dried fruit and berries you can usually find in trail mix will be essential for providing you with energy while you are on the trail. Another great addition to your trail mix is chocolate (especially dark chocolate) - especially if you will be backpacking in an area that is not too terribly hot - and a great approach to take with trail mix is to visit a store such as Whole Foods, where you can buy all the "ingredients" separately, and to mix your trail mix on your own, catering to your taste preferences.

Granola: Oats are another great way to get energy in a lightweight package; you can get your oats from granola (which often includes such additional, beneficial ingredients as raisins or nuts), or you can get your oats from granola bars. Another great source of granola-type oats is oat-based energy bars.

Cereal: Bring a baggie (or several baggies) of dried cereal when you are going to be hitting the trails, as this provides you with nutritional food that is easy to carry and easy to snack on; try Cheerios or Cracklin' Oat Bran.

When you hit the trail with these foods in your backpack, you will be able to get the energy your body needs while hiking, without having to add a ton of weight to your pack!

Preventing Ticks While Hiking

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There are lots of bugs out there, and there are very few of them that many of us want crawling over our body; but out of all these bugs, ticks are definitely some of the worst! After all, ticks not only crawl on your body, but they also try to make their home on your body. They live off of your blood, and they can be nearly impossible to get rid of once they have made a home! After all, even after you pluck a tick off your body, it will continue to harm you - and you can only kill them by burning them or drowning them. Because of this, the best way to not have ticks making their way around your body is to keep them off you altogether!

Of course, you will have no real problem staying away from ticks if you do not have pets and if you are not the "outdoorsy" type. If, on the other hand, you enjoy hiking and camping, you should follow these tips, and it will not be as difficult to keep them off as it normally would be.

Firstly, know that there are two places where you are likely to get ticks: from trees, and from tall grass. Although you can hardly avoid trees if you are hiking or camping, you can cut in half the chances of tick exposure by avoiding jaunts through tall grass.

Wearing pants and long sleeves is also important, and even though you might think this will make you too hot in the summer, there are actually plenty of "performance apparel" items in which you can still stay cool. At the very least, you should keep the lower half of your body protected by making sure you wear pants.

You can also keep away everything from ticks to mosquitos to gnats to chiggers to fleas by using such bug sprays as Sawyer Maxi Deet Insect Repellent.

If you spray this on your exposed skin before heading out into the great outdoors, you will be in much better shape to ward off ticks!

Of course, you should still give your body a thorough check when you get home - even if you have taken these measures; but you should be fine, as long as you have followed these tips.

How to Chase Away Dandruff Without Drying Out Your Hair

When you are getting dandruff on your head, one of the main things this means is that your scalp is dried out, and in order to fix this problem, you need to use shampoo that will keep your scalp from drying out; of course, the problem with this "solution" is that too much shampoo can cause your hair to dry out, which is just as bad as being stuck with dandruff! If you do not actually have a dandruff problem, you should be able to solve the issue by washing your hair a couple times each week with a dandruff shampoo; if, on the other hand, you struggle to fight off dandruff on a regular basis, here are a few things you can consider doing to make the problem go away.

When it comes to chasing away dandruff, of course, the first key is that you wash your hair frequently enough to make the dandruff go away, without washing so frequently that your hair dries out; this balance is different for every person, but you should have a pretty good idea of what this balance is for yourself.

When you use a particular shampoo on a regular basis, your scalp and hair will get conditioned to this shampoo, and the shampoo will therefore become less effective; try alternating between two different shampoos in order to avoid this problem, and this alone may be enough to make that dandruff go away for good.

In order to follow each of the first two suggestions, you will need to make sure the dandruff shampoo you are using is strong enough to work when used only twice per week, and while this is the suggested usage for all dandruff shampoos, not all are strong enough to accomplish this for serious cases of dandruff; try some different dandruff shampoos until you find the one that works properly for you!

You will no longer have to deal with the unsightly flakes or with the annoying itchy head when you follow these tips - as your dandruff problem will finally be cleared up for good!

Looking For Easy Ways To Get Your Protein

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One of the most important things for keeping yourself healthy will be that you give your body the proper amount of protein, as protein will not only help your body to keep its muscles strong, but it will also give you the energy you need to make it through the day; one problem a lot of people face, however, is that they do not know exactly what they can do in order to get those 50 grams of protein (at minimum!) that their body requires each day, and because of this, they fail to get their protein.

One of the easiest ways to get your protein is to get in the habit of having a smoothie at the start of each day; when you make a smoothie that has a base of milk, combined with a number of fruits and berries, you will get a little bit of protein from the milk and will get a lot of the vitamins and nutrients you need from the fruits and berries - and then, by adding a bit of protein powder to the smoothie (and by perhaps even adding a scoop of peanut butter!), you will be able to get a full compliment of protein to go along with all the other nutrients you are getting from this smoothie.

It is not all that difficult to get protein throughout the day, either - as long as you know where you can get this protein - as there are lots of things you can carry around with you throughout the day to get this protein; get in the habit of snacking on nuts and seeds during the day, or munching on protein bars when you need a snack, and make sure you get a bit of protein during lunch (which you can easily get from a sandwich or from a salad with meat!), and you will be able to keep up your energy all throughout the day.

And when you hit dinner, one of the best (and healthiest!) ways to get your protein is by eating fish; of course, you will probably not want to have fish for dinner every night, but make this a regular part of your dinner menu, and you will notice a marked improvement in your health.

As you learn more about the things that are required for you to keep your body healthy, it will become easier for you to take care of your body - and in the long run, this will pay off in big ways!

Finding A Dandruff Shampoo That Is Good For You

Dandruff shampoo might not seem like a very glamorous shampoo option, but it is a lot more glamorous than having dandruff on your clothes! One thing to realize about dandruff is that it is very common, and it has nothing to do with one's personal hygiene! These are some of the best dandruff-fighting shampoos, because if you do not fight dandruff, it will stick around. And if you are already happy with the dandruff shampoo you have been using, remember that your scalp sometimes needs you to change things up, as any shampoo will become less effective the longer you use it.

The most well-known dandruff shampoo - and also the most effective for many people - is Head & Shoulders. If you have serious dandruff problems, however, keep in mind that many find that Head & Shoulders is not quite strong enough for them. If you have been engaged in an ongoing, failing battle with dandruff, you may want to search for something stronger. While Head & Shoulders sells all different types of shampoos in addition to their dandruff shampoo, there are brands such as Selsun Blue that focus solely on dandruff.

Not only that, but they are among the leaders in research and development regarding the battle against dandruff, and you can use this shampoo knowing that it is designed to work!

Anothe great brand is Nizoral, which - although a bit pricier - is certainly worth the price, as it effectively battles dandruff using a patented ingredient.

Nizoral also focuses their entire operation upon dandruff, and in order to be effective, it only needs to be used twice each week. This means that you can still keep your scalp from getting used to the shampoo you are using, as you can mix in something different on the other days.

As is the case with anything that requires special treatment, it might take you a little while to find the right dandruff shampoo for you. But remember, there are plenty of options out there, and there is definitely an option that will work for you and finally keep you flake free!

Running in Hot Weather

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Everyone loves to exercise during the summer month, but what do you do when the heat advisories start and you are facing 100 degree weather. You can still safely exercise outdoors if you follow a few precautions. Here are some tips to help you stay safe in the hot temperatures.

First and foremost do your best to run or bike during early morning or later evening hours. This is to help reduce the amount of heat your are exposed to. Morning hours are generally the coolest part of the day, if you want to get some outdoor exercise consider getting up earlier in the morning to take your run. Make sure when running early or late to wear reflective clothing and bright colors to stay visible to motorists. A clip on red strobe light can also be purchased to keep you visible.

Another thing you could do is considered changing the exercise you are doing. Swimming for example can be a great substitute during warm weather. For those who have not done a lot of swimming, open water swimming can be a bit difficult. You can pick up extras like flippers, kickboards, and hand paddles to help your workout in the pool.

Staying hydrated is an absolute must for you to do. Hot weather drains the water right out of you, even the process of breathing itself. You will want to make sure to carry a water bottle. Jogging and biking shirts allow you to hold extra bottles of water in the shirt first. There are even now a number of bottles that make having ice cold water possible. Sugary drinks should be avoided, water is the best thing for you.

Recognizing The Signs Of Dehydration

One of the biggest health risks you will face during the summer will be dehydration, but because many people tend to think that dehydration only occurs in extreme temperatures, they fail to take the steps to prevent dehydration, and they fail to make sure they are aware of the signs that indicate dehydration might be occurring. Regardless of whether you tend to spend a lot of time outside during the summer or not, it is still important for you to understand the signs of dehydration so that you can watch for these signs in your own body, as well as in your children's bodies.

Headache: Headaches can be caused by lots of different things (some of the causes of headaches are not even known yet!), but if you have a headache that feels as if it is starting behind the eyes, there is a very good chance that it is being caused by dehydration; when you have a headache (or when one of your children has a headache), make sure you know where the pain is located, as this will help you determine the cause.

Fatigue: Of course, simply failing to get enough sleep or simply overexerting oneself are a couple of the things that can cause fatigue, but if you have been getting the normal amount of sleep and have not been doing any intense physical exertion, you are probably suffering from dehydration!

Dry mouth: A late sign of dehydration is a mouth that feels as if it is made of cotton; if you have not been getting enough water, your mouth will become dry and uncomfortable in an effort to implore you to drink some water!

The reason why dehydration is so tricky is that these signs do not begin to pop up until the dehydration has already set in, at which point it will take a whole lot of water to make the symptoms go away; the best bet, then, is for you to always make sure you are drinking enough water (at least a gallon a day!) on a regular basis – especially during the summer – in order to prevent dehydration from occurring!

How To Keep Your Mouth Healthy

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Most people do a fairly good job of making sure they are staying healthy, but one thing they forget to think about as often as they should is the fact that keeping their mouth healthy is as important as keeping any other part of their body healthy - and on top of that, keeping a mouth healthy is even easier than keeping a body healthy, as long as you know what to do, and as long as you stick to what you should do!

The foundation of keeping your mouth healthy will be that you brush your teeth after every meal (not just at the beginning and end of each day!); when food sits on your teeth for long periods of time, it does damage to your teeth, but by brushing after each meal, you will be able to get rid of this food long before it has a chance to hurt your teeth in any way.

Some people feel that flossing is a habit that is extremely difficult to take up, as it seems like an uncomfortable and - quite frankly - unnecessary thing to do, but you should also realize how important flossing is if you want to keep your mouth as healthy as it should be; in the same way that you will want to brush your teeth frequently to keep food from sitting on your teeth, you will want to floss at least twice each day, as this will keep the food that lodges itself between your teeth from sitting there against your gums and between your teeth for long periods of time.

And of course, if you want to keep a healthy mouth, you will want to do all the "extra" things as well, using mouthwash to kill the germs that can damage your mouth, and using a tongue scraper to get rid of all the excess stuff that sits on your tongue.

When you make sure you are doing these things - and when you also make yourself aware of what you are eating, and avoid putting too much sugar an other harmful foods into your mouth - you will be able to ensure that you have fresh breath and (more importantly!) a healthy mouth, one that will remain healthy for years and years to come.

Ways to Help Kids Deal With Stress

Are you concerned about your child's ability to manage stress? Are you unsure how to assist your child as he or she deals with anxiety? Use these tricks to train your child so he will know how to handle stress.

Have your child go for a walk when stressed. When your child walks away from a stressful situation, he is simply empowering himself to disenage from a bad situation. Children have to learn how to deal with that fight or flight stress response they feel when stressed out. Teach your child to walk away; this alone is an empowering act because it teaches your child to physically remove himself from the situation. Then teach your child to walk or run until he feels better. Physical activity releases stress and is an appropriate response in many environments (recess, gym, at home, outside with friends).

Teach your child how to express and deal with stress through the use of art. Many children find it difficult to verbally describe a stressful situation, but they are able to vent via creative expression. Give your child some art supplies and do some art together such a "emotional painting", where you paint a picture that depicts how you feel at the moment. Let your child go in whatever direction she feels led, without telling her how to do it. She may draw a cartoon strip of something that happened at school or paint an abstract of bright colors. Make sure your child knows you are available to talk, but don't push it.

Help your child learn the therapeutic power of the written word. Many children feel safer writing in a diary than talking about stressful experiences. Buy a notebook just for you and your child, and start writing notes to one another in it. When your child seems particularly stressed, get out the notebook and write to him, asking him to write back about anything he's feeling. Use the journal to promote healthy venting and communication. Your child may feel safe to express volatile feelings through this safe medium, which will help the two of you get closer.

Parenting can be tough, so remind yourself that you are teaching your child how to deal with stress as an adult.

Finding Books That You Will Like

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With books, it can sometimes be difficult to find ones that you are certain you will enjoy - especially if you are not the sort of person who reads all the time, and who therefore knows the specific writers you will like. The good news, however - especially with summer upon us, when you will likely be looking for new books to read - is the fact that there are a few specific places you can look in order to find good books, and when you know what to look for, you will be able to ensure that these "good books" are also book that fit your specific tastes.

Before you do anything else, you should look at book reviews on Amazon; usually, when a book is reviewed on Amazon, people will give detailed responses as to what they liked about a book and what they disliked about a book, which will go a long way in assisting you as you try to figure out whether you will like a particular work of literature.

Joining a site such as Goodreads is also helpful; when you join Goodreads and rate the books that you have read before, you will be able to find other readers who have given similar ratings to these same books, and will then be able to determine (based off of their reviews of other books) what books you might want to check out in addition to the ones you have read already.

You should also make sure you recognize the fact that nearly no one spends more time around books than librarians, and they generally have a very good idea of what different readers will enjoy; take a trip to your local library, tell the librarian what books you have enjoyed in the past, and see what they suggest for you in the future!

With summer upon us, you will probably be looking for new books to read - and when you follow these steps, you will have no problem finding books that you can not only read, but that you can also be likely to enjoy!

Ditch Your Gym Membership For an At-Home Cardio Workout Program

Hate the gym? Commit to an at-home workout program instead. Just think of what you'll save on membership fees, fancy workout clothes, and commute time.

For an at-home workout program to be satisfying, you'll want to buy excellent equipment and gear, which will help you stay safe, injury-free, and enjoy your new pursuit all the more.

Running is an excellent at-home cardio exercise option, one that burns fat and calories, relieves stress, and will improve overall health. A huge advantage is you can perform this exercise anywhere and anytime. Outdoor running is far superior to indoor running because it takes more effort and challenges your body more. You'll need to buy top notch running shoes (replace them every six months) in order to prevent injury, something you'd have to buy even if you kept the membership. You'll also want to buy winter running gear or a treadmill, if you can't handle the weather in your region, an investment that will last a decade or more.

Cardio exercise option number two: biking. Advantages: you can do it inside or outside if you invest in a bike trainer (prop that holds your bike inside so you can train in the winter). When biking outside, you can choose a challenging or easy course, depending on your daily needs. One of the best things about biking is you can cover some serious distance, so you may decide to bike to work or to run your errands on your bike, making even better use of your time. You'll need to get your bike tuned up, check your helmet and other gear for safety (reflective gear is advised), and think about investing in a winter bike trainer.

You'll enjoy the money and time saved if you quit your gym membership and tailor your own at-home cardio workout.

Do Not Get Discouraged By Weight Loss; Get More Information!

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One thing that a lot of people tend to think about - especially given the current state of health of most Americans - is wanting to lose weight; at the same time, however, most people who have tried to lose weight end up finding that they have a hard time achieving success in their efforts - and in fact, these people often even reach a point where they feel like giving up altogether, assuming that something must just be wrong with their body and must be keeping them from getting down to the weight where they want to be.

If this is a way you have ever felt yourself, the first thing you need to realize is that weight loss is one of the most lucrative industries in the world - and what this means is that there are actually a lot of "miracle programs" that are marketed well, but that do not really help anyone lose weight, and are instead simply a means for businesses and entrepreneurs to make a quick buck.

Once you have realized that the fault does not lie with you, but that it instead lies with the programs you have been using, you will also need to realize that every person has the ability to reprogram their genes and lose weight - as long as they are able to find the approach or system that works best for them.

And finally, it will be time for you to start doing a bit of research - looking into the different weight loss programs that are out there; once you are able to find a program that has genuine, good reviews, and that you feel comfortable using yourself, you will be able to start losing weight at last - and will be able to start moving toward the body you want to have. And as you go through this process, remember: every person has the ability to lose weight - and once you get this in your head and find the system that will work for you, you will finally be able to achieve these goals yourself!