sports and health

7 Health Tips To Help You Live Long And Happy

2008-02-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

In order to live a healthy life, it is absolutely essential that you follow the seven tips listed below.

I am not a health expert. But I have read books written by health experts. My favorite book on health is Eat, Drink, And Be Healthy. Almost all of the statistics and recommendations are based on this book.

My thoughts are, if you can’t trust 30+ years of Harvard medical research, who can you trust?

Every recommendation on this page may not turn out to be 100% accurate. However, as of this decade, this is about the best that we humans know so far about eating right and being healthy.

If you follow the advice on this page, you will be way ahead of about 99.99% of the people on this planet as far as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Take these suggestions to heart. Apply as many of them as possible into your daily life. And I promise you will be on the road to a much longer and healthier life…

1. Exercise And Maintain A Healthy Weight

The absolute, most important thing you need to do to be healthy is exercise and maintain a healthy weight. What is a healthy weight?

That, of course, depends on how tall you are. The best way to determine if you are at a good weight for your size is to calculate your Body Mass Index (opens new window). I highly encourage you to click on the link and do a quick five second calculation of where you currently stand.

Eating the right things is very important, but your top priority should be getting your Body Mass Index under 25. If yours happens to be above 25, make a goal today to get your weight into this “healthy range.”

It’s so important that you get your weight under control. Follow the diet plan that I am about to present to you. And get started today on an exercise plan if you currently aren’t on one. Speaking of exercise…

It’s essential that you add some sort of physical activity into your life.

Even if you are at a good weight, you still need exercise in your life. Not only will your heart will thank you, but it will also help…

protect you from certain cancers
prevent diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis
reduce your risk of falling
relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety
and help you maintain a healthy weight!

I hope I have mentioned enough by now the important of maintaining a healthy weight. But let me ease your mind a little about daily exercise…

A brisk walk is nearly as effective as a morning jog. You don’t have to make exercise painful and excruciating. What you need to do is get in the habit of doing a little bit every day. My workout routine is nothing elaborate. I jog a mile every day when I first get up. I also occasionally do some push ups and sit ups. And that’s about it.

I could go on and on about the benefits I have received from my morning jog. Here are just a few…

better mood throughout the day
decrease in anxiety and stress
much higher energy throughout the day
removal of the post lunch dip

The benefits truly go on and on. But I’ll let you experience them and find out for yourself!

As far as what type of exercise is best, I’ll only give you one piece of advice. And that is to have an exercise that works all of your muscles. For example, I jog every morning. But that does very little for my arms and shoulders. Which is why I also do some push ups and some weight training a couple times a week. You must give all of your muscles a workout. Otherwise, you are going to experience problems down the road with the areas of your body that you aren’t giving it’s proper exercise.

So, have a little variety in your exercise routine. This will help all of your bones stay healthy. And…

Maintain a healthy weight. Get started exercising. Now, let’s bring on the food…

2. Start Eating Good Fats

Easily, the biggest myth when it comes to eating is that fats are bad. This is completely false! Some fats are extremely healthy for you.

So many diets out there consist of eliminating all types of fats from your diets. Not only does this give you nothing good to eat, it’s also very unhealthy. Here’s a good rule of thumb…

“The more that people eliminate fats, the fatter they get!”

You need to have certain fats to live a healthy lifestyle. So, what are good fats and what are bad fats?

The bad fats are saturated fats and trans fats. You can live with a little saturated fats in your life. However, trans fats should be completely removed from your diet. These fats, typically found in many things that you order at restaurants, are contributing significantly to the obesity that is currently in the world today.

Saturated fats can be found in things such as butter, chocolate, margarine, chips, and french fries. These fats are solid at room temperature.

The good fats are unsaturated fats. Whether it’s polyunsaturated fats or monounsaturated fats, these fats are very good for your heart. You need to include these fats in your diet.

Unsaturated fats can be found in foods such as corn, nuts, fish, vegetable oil, and olive oil. These fats are liquid at room temperature.

The number one thing you should do when it comes to eating is to eat less saturated/trans fats and replace them with good, heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Here are some tips to help you do that…

replace red meats with more healthy meats such as chicken or fish
let nuts be your favorite snack
when choosing a meat, get the leanest cut possible
replace butter when cooking with olive oil or vegetable oil
cut back on milk and other dairy products as much as possible

I cannot even begin to tell you how important it is to start eating healthier fats. Besides having a healthy weight and exercising, it’s the most important thing you can do to become healthy. Use the suggestions above and your heart will thank you.

3. Load Up On Whole Wheat

The second most important healthy eating tip is to eat plenty of whole wheat. The best way to explain the benefits of eating whole wheats is “almost every benefit imaginable.” If you want more specifics, visit this article at WHFoods.

The more important questions are, how do we add whole wheat in our diet? And also, how can we tell if something is whole wheat or an impostor?

The first place to get started is obviously in your bread selection. Look for the term “100% Whole Wheat.” Do not purchase any alternatives to this term. For example, terms such as…

made with whole wheat
100% wheat
contains whole grain

…simply do not cut it! These are impostors to the healthy “100% whole wheat” label. This is the only thing you should look for when it comes to bread.

As far as other products go, look for “whole wheat” in the title. Whole wheat buns, whole wheat rolls, whole wheat cereal, etc., etc.! And speaking of cereal…

Cereal is another excellent source of adding whole wheat to your diet. Don’t think that eating healthy cereals is going to taste bad either. Here are a few that are loaded with whole wheat…

General Mills Total
Wheaties
Cheerios
Wheat Chex

Kick-start your morning with one of these cereals and one or two slices of whole wheat bread. It will make all of the difference in the world!

4. A Variety Of Fruits And Vegetables

This probably won’t come as a shocker, but eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is very important when it comes to healthy eating. It’s the third most important step behind good fats and whole wheat.

When it comes to eating fruits and vegetables, there are two words that are essential. Those two words are more and different.

Try to eat as many different colors of each. With vegetables, have some green lettuce, orange carrots, red tomatoes, yellow corn, and brown beans. Each vegetable has it’s own unique health benefit. SO, if you want to get all of the benefits from eating vegetables, start eating as many different kinds as possible.

The same goes with fruits. Have a yellow banana, red apple, an orange, and a purple plum. I’ve yet to figure out why fruits aren’t more popular than what they are. They are very delicious and healthy at the same time!

Here are the top three benefits to having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables:

decreases the chance of a heart attack or stroke
protects against cancers
lowers your blood pressure

Try to have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Don’t count potatoes because there are some negative side-effects with potatoes. Also, uncooked fruits and vegetables are better because being cooked destroys some of the phytochemicals (benefits).

I will discuss in a little bit the use of common sense when it comes to your diet. Fruits and vegetables could easily be included in that section. Be smart and eat an abundance and variety of fruits and vegetables.

5. A Multivitamin Life Insurance Policy

A daily multivitamin is one of my four steps in how to have a perfect morning. It’s so important to get in the habit of taking a multivitamin. Here’s why…

No matter how perfect your diet is, it’s nearly impossible to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need. And since your body doesn’t naturally make these things for you, a multivitamin is the perfect way to make sure your body gets it.

You may have heard some negative things about multivitamins such as that your body doesn’t use 90% of what’s in the pill. And that statement may very well be true. But that other 10% that your body does use is extremely important!

Some of the vitamins that you likely have a hard time getting enough of on a daily basis are vitamins B₆, B₁₂, D, and Folic Acid.

The daily use of a multivitamin makes sure you get all of these essential vitamins!

6. Alcohol In Moderation

Of all of the seven health tips, this one is probably the least important. However, study after study shows that drinking one or alcoholic drink a day adds great benefits to your health. More specifically…

Men who have one or two alcoholic drinks a day are 30-40% less likely to have heart attacks. For women, this number is slightly less but still very significant.

If you are young (under 50), it’s not the end of the world if you haven’t been drinking one or two glasses of wine everyday. However, I would highly encourage anyone over 50 to start having a glass of wine at dinner. Or, as some people like to do, a “shot and a beer” at lunch time.

For women, I need to mention another important statistic. Anything more than one drink a day for women increases the chance of breast cancer by 20%. So keep it to just one glass a day ladies.

As I mentioned before, drinking alcohol in moderation isn’t the most important thing you can do. But it’s just another piece to the puzzle towards living a healthy lifestyle.

7. A Final Touch Of Common Sense

The more that I study nutrition, the more I realize that most of it comes down to common sense.

Don’t get me wrong though. I still learn new things when I study nutrition. For example, I had no idea how important whole wheat was. Or that small doses of alcohol each day was actually good for you!

But when you study nutrition as much as I have, the more often you see the same things being mentioned time and time again. Eat fruits and vegetables. Avoid butter as much as possible. Don’t put so much salt on your food.

These things we already know. It’s just that we forget about how important they are and why we are doing them. I’m sure that it’s your plan to live a long and healthy life isn’t it? Just remember, your diet and exercise plan are extremely important. Never forget how important they truly are.

When you are out shopping at the grocery store, try to go for the healthy stuff as much as possible. You already have a good idea of what is good and bad. For example, pizza is bad. Fish is good. Ice cream is bad. Apples are good.

When all else fails, please, use your common sense. It will lead you to making healthy eating decisions a majority of the time.

If one box of cereal lists several health benefits on the front cover and another one says “chocolate fudge”, you know which one you should choose!

28 Easy ways to fix baseball

2008-02-15T10:58:00.001-08:00

Um yeah, baseball could use a little work right now and as always, the Hernia is here to help. Listed below are 28 insightful ways to help the tainted sport before it's too late.

Consider this giving baseball a sick boob job.

In lieu of a tougher steroid policy, allow hitters to use giant red wiffle ball bats.
Inject the crowd with heroin.
Mic up each fan to the stadium P.A. so they can really yell at the players, umps and managers.
Replace 'Take me out to the ballgame' with anything by MegaDeth or Slayer.
Let "Body Suit Guy" roam free.
Allow wild animals to roam the field during live play.
Each time a team begins a winning streak, peel a section off of Bud Selig's face.
Insist player's wives attend games in the nude.
Bring. Back. Dibble.
Stop grabbing each other's Johnsons like you're holding on for dear life, ya sick bastards.
Install a trap door at home plate in every stadium.
Force all teams to outfit monkeys in full uniform to be first base coach.
Screw the current umps, brings in Drebin's crew.
Let Gary Sheffield attack pitchers that throw at him.
Hijack the train at Minute Maid Park and burn that thing down in Yuma.
Force the Pirates to bring out their relief pitchers in a wheelbarrow.
Let Joe Torre manage games virtually from his home in Maui.
Allow announcers to openly curse during broadcasts.
Don't let anyone in MLB shave for the entire season.
Force Tampa to play all home games inside a Hooters with Nerf balls.
Release the Cleveland flies into Joe Buck's hotel room on every road trip.
Provide a cabinet of tools on the pitcher's mound so they can really fuck with things.
Force every player caught using steroids to use a chopstick as a bat for 3 months.
Every time someone mentions the courage of David Eckstein they should be submitted to a can of dirty Joba Chamberlain farts.
Make Bartolo Colon and David Wells pitch shirtless.
Put a toilet in left field at Fenway Park.
Find out what happened to the Expos.
Make the Rockies pitching staff throw underhand.

Asian Health and Beauty Secrets

2008-02-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

The people of tropical Asia have reaped the rewards of their botanical heritage for centuries.
At last, some of nature's beauty secrets are available to us all in tantalizing treatments such as these....

Long limbs and vital statistics are minor contributors to the beautiful body. Much more important is the state of mind that sits hands of dedicated therapists in a spa context on top. While there is barely a woman can improve her body by upping the respect that she pays to it.This is achieved by taking time for herself- a vital part of life that most of us ignore.

The Asian approach to achieving and maintaining a healthy and beautiful body is a sensible one. For a start, it has no time for fad diets and punishing stomach crunches!Traditional body treatments from the tropics outstrip those from everywhere else in the world in number and variety and all of themrely on natures own pharmacopoeia to produce results.Certainly not skin deep, they not only cleanse and soften our skin but also draw out impurities from within. Their ritual of application (especially at the hands of dedicated therapishts in a spa context)e relaxes us, empties our minds and soothes who is content with her natural shape, every our souls in an atmosphere of peace.

All this emphasizes the oriental philosophy that regards beauty as a holistic concept embracing both the inner and outer self. For example, there are everyday words in the Indonesian language that are part of the more specific lexicon of body care which have no real equivalent in English. Indonesian women talk about having a lulur or mangir or mandi susu as readily as westerners talk outstrip those from everywhere else in the of taking a shower.This chapter reveals world in number and variety and all of them some of the more exotic body treatments, be they scrubs, baths, wraps, heat treat- ments and polishes, for glowing skin... and imoroved self-esteem!

Mandi Susu

The tale of Queen Cleopatra and her milk baths is well known, yet do you know anyone who pours a few pints into the tub before climbing in? Trust the Indonesian people with their deep grasp of the good of the natural, to have their own form of milk bath. Known as Mandi Susu, it has soaked Javanese princesses for centuries as an elixir of eternal youth. Milk, from a goat, sheep or cow, makes skin radically soft and pure to the touch. Modern formulations of this popular ritual have eliminated the taste and smell of milk while maintaining its nutrients with softening proteins. The Mandi Susu is a sought-after bathing ritual at the St Gregory Javana Spa in Singapore where therapists leave you soaking in a cloudy white tub for 20 minutes and advise you not to rinse afterwards. At home, you can pour fresh or powdered milk in with the bath water. Or for superior baby-soft skin, try natural yoghurt or buttermilk, but be ready to hold your nose!

Ocean Bath

This bath focuses on the healing properties of unrefined sea salt harvested on the east coast of Bali. Although not strictly thalassotherapy, this bath relies on the nutrients in the salt to draw out toxins from the body. The benefit of sea salt is based on the premise that sea-water has practically the same chemical make-up as human plasma allowing the body to easily absorb its healing properties. The Ocean Bath at The Spa at Jimbaran, Four Seasons Resort, Bali is altogether a more exotic affair. Not only are the pure sea salts mixed with Bali Sunset Oil containing coconut, vanilla and citrus blends to uplift the senses, this hour-long treatment kicks off with a scalp, neck, shoulder and back massage. As if that were not enough, it takes place in the privacy of your own villa, where the bath tubs have earned an international reputation for their depth, size and comfort.

Floral Bath

For those of us born outside tropical Asia, the floral bath is the nub of the 'tropical spa experience. We can hardly believe our eyes when a bucket of vivid blooms is tossed into the water purely for our pleasure. It is a sybaritic moment when the velvety petals tickle our bare skin. Flowers - jasmine, gardenia, tropical magnolia, hibiscus, frangipani, bougainvillea, poinciana, rose, globe amaranth, alamanda and ylang-ylang - are chosen both for their fragrance and rich colours. In line with tropical mores, Asians believe flowers are the tangible link to the forces of the spiritual world, representing a symbolic purge of our earthly Impurities. In Asian spas, the Floral Bath is not usually offered as a treatment on its own. It is often used as the finale to one of the many tropical body treatments on the menu. It becomes an opportunity to savour the cleansing experience and relax for a further 20 minutes or so.

Aromatherapy Bath

The bath is a perfect place to enjoy the sensual pleasures ofaromatherapy oils. Simply drop one or a combination of essential oils into warm water and spuddle. Some of the oils' properties are absorbed into the skin while the rest evaporate into the atmosphere for inhaling, simultaneously soothing muscles and mind.

A Few Recommended Bathtime Blends
Use up to ten drops of these essential oils either together or separately.

For calming : camomile, lavender, rose
For detoxifying : ginger, sage, rosemary
For passion : ylang-ylang, geranium, sandalwood
For brain boosting : grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, peppermint, pine

Balinese Boreh

If you reach for the Vicks pot at a hint of a chesty cough, this body scrub is for you. Out of all the oriental treatments the Balinese Boreh offers the most potent sensation - an all-over deep heat experience. The scrub is purely and simply a herb and spice mix: It is a centuries-old village recipe using spices we more readily associate with curry, and is prepared to warm the body at the first sign of windy weather.

As a tropical people, the Balinese live in fear of the cold and the health problems It can bring, so the whole family has a boreh both as a curative and preventative treatment. It feels really hot; it's good for fever, headaches, muscle aches, arthritis and chills. It increases the blood circulation and its exfoliating ingredients - cloves and rice - soften the skin.

The boreh is not recommended for pregnant women as the penetrative ingredients direct the heat away from the womb area to the bodys extremities.

While most Balinese spas offer the boreh, this recipe comes from the Nusa Dua Spa.

Ingredients: 20 gms (4 tsp) sandalwood, 10 gms (2 tsp) whole cloves, 10 gms (2 tsp) ginger, 5 gms ( I tsp) cinnamon, 10 gms ( I tsp) coriander seeds. 10 gms (1-2 tsp) rice powder (finely ground rice), 5 gms (I tsp) turmeric, 10 gms (I tsp) nutmeg, 10 gms ( I tsp) lesser galangal water or spice-blended oil, 3 large carrots, grated The first eight ingredients are ground together in a pestle and mortar or bought prepared in powder form or dried in balls.

Steps : Add a little water or a spice-blended oil to the herb and I spice mix to make a thick paste. For those who cannot tolerate a strong heat sensation, mix a greater proportion of ground rice powder to reduce intensity. Cover your body; leave for five to ten minutes; feel the heat! Rub the skin vigorously so that the mixture flakes away. Gently rub the grated carrot into the skin.This replenishes moisture after exfoliating, Shower and moisturize.

Traditional Lulur

The queen of treatments literally, this spice and yoghurt exfoliation and body polishing process has been practised in the palaces of Central Java since the 17th century. There, the pursuit of beauty has long been a daily ritual and the Javanese Lulur an integral step, leaving skin soft, supple and shining. Today, the Javanese Lulur {lulur is Javanese for 'coating the skin") Is more usually administered each day during the week prior to one's wedding day. This stems from the belief that a bride should be at her most clean and pampered in preparation for child bearing - her first and foremost duty as a married woman. This lulur is on the menu at all Indonesian spas offering 'traditional' treatments; it includes a massage, a spice-wrapped and yoghurt-coated body blitz, and a blossom-filled bath. It is an aromatic experience and lovely for all skins, although, if you're having difficulty choosing a body treatment, this one responds best to younger skins. The turmeric content can turn skins temporarily yellow, but generally this is a favourite, all round body treat. For a traditional lulur that really makes you feel like a princess, the Pita Maha Private Villa Spa in Ubud, Ball, offers an hour and a half treatment using this recipe.

Ingredients : small bowl a favourite body oil, 30 gms (2 tbsp) rice powder (finely ground rice), 10 gms (2 tsp) turmeric, 5 gms ( I tsp) sandalwood ,3 drops jasmine oil splash water, 500 gms (2 cups) natural yoghurt handful a selection of fragrant flowers like rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, frangipani...or whatever you like. The rice powder, turmeric and sandalwood are ground together in a pestle and mortar or bought packaged as a powder.

Steps : Massage your body with your favourite oil. Pulverize the spicy ingredients into a brown, granular paste, with a splash of water, and smear onto your body. Once dry, gently rub the paste off the body in order to exfoliate and polish the skin. Rinse your body under the shower. Splatter your body with natural yoghurt using your hand to cover all crevices.Yoghurt contains a form of lactic acid that restores the natural pH to your skin and moisturizes it. After rinsing, soak in a warm, flower-filled bath. Petals float over your body and the scent envelops you in a floral haze.

Volcanic Clay Body Scrub for Celluite

Sadly there is no quick fix for beating that orange peel look that decorates the thighs of 95 percent of women. Improved diet, drinking water, dry skin brushing, swimming and yoga all help. And luckily the volcanic island of Ball is home to mineral-rich clays, which seep into the skin to break down those fat cells that are packed in a mattress effect under- neath. A good cellulite treatment is the Volcanic Clay Body Scrub at the Nusa Dua Spa.

Ingredients : 25 gms (2 tbsp) Balinese clay (or any clay with purifying properties),30 gms (2 tbsp) sea salt water

Steps : Mix incTredients together, adding a little water to make a light paste. Wipe cursorily over entire body. It leaves a thin, white film and feels prickly as it penetrates the skin. Once the paste is dry, rub the skin so that it is sloughed away. Shower and massage.The best essential oils for cellulite are nutmeg and rose.Add a few drops to a carrier oil or your favourite body cream, and apply liberally.

Cucumber Wrap for Sunburnt Skin

Feel the heat seep out of your sunburnt body using cucumber and essential oils. The best Cucumber Cooling Wrap is offered at the Spa at Bali Hyatt. Here's their recipe.

Ingredients : 2 kilos (4 lb)cucumbers, plus skin and pips, whizzed in a blender, 2 drops lavender oil ,2 drops tea tree oil, 2 drops camomile oil

Steps :Cover your body with the cucumber mixed with the essential oils. Wrap the body in a gauze or cotton sheet; leave for 30 minutes. The cucumber feels cool on tender skin and you can sense the heat being drawn out of your body. Cucumber leaves the skin soft, so moisturizing afterwards is optional,

Mandi Kemiri for Mature Skin

If our skin tends to be a bit rough and leathery, youll go nuts for a Mandi Kemiri, which literally leaves it glowing and feeling like silk. The pale, round kemin or candlenut oozes so much oil that when crushed, it both exfoliates and deeply moisturizes the body. This luxuriant skin scrub is exclusively offered at Jamu Body Treatments in Jakarta and dmu Traditional Spa, Kuta, Bali.

Ingredients 10 pieces peeled candlenuts, a few shavings galangal (can substitute with ginger or omit)

Steps : Grind the nuts coarsely in a pestle and mortar and add the white ginger so that the mixture looks and smells vaguely like crunchy peanut butter. Rub gently over the entire body and then rub harder with the palm of your hand. The nut oil extracts dirt from the skin's pores so that when the scrub sloughs off with rubbing, the granules, which started out as a taupe colour, have turned dark with dirt. Rinse under the shower. If you like the oily feeling on the skin, which is neither heavy nor clogging, don't use soap. Enjoy the lingering nutty aroma.

Coconut Body Glow for Sensitive Skin

Some 60-70 percent of women believe they have sensitive skin; if you fall into this category, try one of natures treats: freshly shredded young coconut (rich in nutrients but not over-abrasive). The Mandara Spa at The Chedi in Bali offers this scrub using nutritious coconuts from Sulawesi.

Ingredients : half young coconut, freshly grated, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (or I cm tumeric root, grated), 1/4 kilo (1/2 lb) carrots, grated or blended, 2 tbsp gelatin, already set.

Steps : Mix the freshly grated coconut with the turmeric (the latter is used for its cleansing properties and high vitamin C content), Gently rub the mixture all over your body. Leave for five minutes and wipe off with a wet, warm cloth. Mix the carrot and gelatin and apply to the skin.This adds conditioning nutrients to the skin after the exfoliating process.

Papaya Body Polish

This erotic-sounding elixir has become synonymous with The Oriental Spa in Bangkok. Around the world people talk with titillation about their pureed papaya, smeared into all the body crevices which are left to sweat under a plastic sheet. Papaya contains certain enzymes, biochemically known as papain (it is used as a meat tenderizer) which soften and revitalize the skin when absorbed. The papain also settles the stomach, making it one of the best things to eat for an upset tummy. It is also perfect as baby food.

At home use ready-to-eat rather than unripe papaya (as the acid is too strong), puree it and spread it everywhere, without rubbing. Allow your body to sweat by rolling yourself up in a plastic sheet for 20 minutes. Wash off and feel the results!

Just as Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to keep her skin smooth, tropical Asian women daub mashed, ripe papaya around their eyes to keep their wrinkles at bay. Due to the fruits mild exfoliating properties, the skin loses a layer and wrinkles appear less noticeable. The enzyme contained in papaya works like an alpha hydroxy acid (a natural fruit acid that acts to remove the flaking cells on the skins surface) without the tendency to cause skin irritation.

Bali Kopi Scrub

If you swoon when you pass a city coffee bar, imagine that smell for a full 45 minutes while the most fragrant of blends is smothered all over your body. Admittedly this coffee body scrub was only recently invented to cater for our addiction to the aroma of freshly ground beans. In Indonesia, where this scrub is offered, people stick to drinking the stuff, less as an excuse to sit and chat and more to give them energy while they work.

This scrub, rougher than some and ideal for male skin, is offered at all Mandara Spas (at The Chedi, lbah. Bali Padma and Nikko in Bali), the Novotel in Lombok and Malaysia's The Datai) according to this recipe.

Ingredients : 200 gms (6 oz)Balinese coffee beans, ground,40 gms (3 tbsp)kaolin clay (or cosmetic clay available at health shops), pinch ground pumice stone (optional), 1/4 kilo (1/2 lb)carrots, grated or blended, l0gms (1 tsp) gelatin, already set (optional)

Steps : Balinese coffee is the most fragrant of all Indonesian varieties, but you can substitute this for your favourite blend. Crush the dried beans quite finely and mix with the kaolin clay and ground pumice.Add a splash of water. Rub over the entire body, later rubbing more vigorously so that the mixture sloughs off. Rub the carrot, which can be mixed with the gelatin for easier application, into your body to replenish any lost moisture during the exfoliation process. Shower and moisturize.

Aloe and Lavender Wrap

Aloe is grown and used in abundance in Indonesia, its long, spiny leaves cut and squeezed to release a sticky juice, ideal to pacify upset skin, stimulate the scalp and add fullness and lustre to hair.

While aloe is a major ingredient in all kinds of sensitive skin products, there is nothing more seductive than a coating of aloe, lavender and banana leaves, offered in this wrap at the Spa at Jimbaran, Four Seasons Resort Bali.

Ingredients : 1 tsp fresh aloe to cover body aloe vera gel (store bought) a few spritzes lavender essential oil mixed with distilled water 12 pieces banana leaves (approximately 20 cm x 10 cm) 4 lemons or limes, cut in half few drops lavender essential oil generous amount lavender body lotion (or your favourite).

Steps : Stir the fresh aloe into the bought aloe gel and smear the mixture over the body, but first rub it between your palms to take off the chill.With a good gel, this feels wonderfully soft and slippery, rather than sticky on the skin. Spritz the lavender essential oil in distilled water over your body for a heady fragrance. Place the banana leaf patches over the top of your body and round your arms, so that all limbs are loosely covered. According to Balinese tradition you should not lie on top of banana leaves as this denotes part of the ritual that prepares a body for cremation.While banana leaves are not beneficial to the skin in themselves, they do help to take the heat from the body. They feel gentle and soothing on the skin without feeling cold. A cotton sarong can be placed on top to keep the leaves in position. Lie still for 20 minutes. As the wrap is conditioning and relaxing the skin, this is the ideal moment for a head massage from a friend or loved one! Remove leaves and shower; then douse your body with warm water infused with the juice of the lemons or limes and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Together these rinse and soothe the skin. Finish with lavender body lotion.

Java Wrap

The Java Wrap is a global beauty phenomenon waiting to happen: an age-old process for a new-age answer to slimming. It started out as a 40-day ritual to rid the midriff from post birth bagginess and, even today, the Indonesian woman lovingly restores her body this way. It is believed that the Java Wrap helps flush out the bacteria which gather in the body after childbirth. It gets the lymphatic system going, reawakens the bodys organs, and cleanses and heals.

New mothers can also benefit from the mineral and citrus paste that is smeared around the middle, then bound tight in a cotton corset. As the old sayirig goes: 'you have to suffer for beauty". This figure-saving treatment is time-consuming rather than really uncomfortable, unless you visit the St Gregory Javana Spa in Singapore where all the work is done for you.

The special paste recipe is fairly standard throughout Indonesia where it has been handed down from one generation to another, and administered woman to woman in the household. This treatment is best done by one friend to another,

Ingredients :

eucalyptus : strong antiseptic, benefits digestion, crushed sea stone/coral : calcium and other mineral content which warms and firms,fresh lime juice : an astringent which flushes toxins from the body, betel leaf : a leaf with antiseptic properties to cleanse womanly odour, massage oil : containing mint and eucalyptus essential oils for anti-viral and decongestant properties, also cooling.cotton cummerbund : 8-10m long, 10-20 cm wide (8-10 yds long, I ft wide)

Steps Mix enough ingredients to half-fill a cereal bowl with sufficient massage oil to give the paste a tacky texture that sticks to the body. Rub the paste gently from above the tummy button to below the bottom. Let it dry for 10 minutes, so that its healing properties start to soak into the skin. Wrap the cummerbund neatly and tightly around the body starting under the bottom and weaving upward to the waist. The wrap physically constricts the body and helps to squeeze it back into shape! Leave for 20 minutes, shower and moisturize with a gentle oil or lotion. Post partum women in Indonesia also drink copious amounts of nourishing tonics such as turmeric, lime or betel leaf water.

Attracting Men - Secret Tips

2008-02-11T22:23:00.000-08:00

When you're single, female and over 35, there is a powerful law that you can use to shift from the single state to a woman with a great relationship.

Just as gravity pulls everything to the earth's surface including your feet, your car tires, and your house so does the law of attraction pull experiences to you. Most importantly for this article, it affects your ability to attract or repel an appropriate man. The good news is you can use the law consciously or unconsciously. Most women use it unconsciously. They push potential soulmates away from them. If you are single and wondering if you will ever have a fabulous relationship, you may be using the law unconsciously.

It's time to wake up. You have the power to shift your beliefs to bring you what you prefer in relationship. Are you ready?

When you use the great law of attraction consciously, you bring what you believe into your life. What you think about most, talk about most and feel most intensely most often shows up in your life. So, what do you believe about men?

Here's a tip. It's a refrain that you repeat to yourself like a song stuck in your head. You repeat that refrain to your friends. It has been a part of your conversations for a very long time. What is it that you think, say, and feel about men? Does it sound something like this phrase... "There are no good men?"

Perhaps, you believe a variation of that refrain such as "All the good men died in the war or are married." Has it occurred to you that if you believe either of those statements or their variations, it will be impossible for you to attract a good man? It is not logical to believe such a negative idea about a group of people and expect to attract someone in your life who will please you from that group.

Your belief serves as a filter that only attracts the men who fit your belief. Therefore, if you believe that all the good men died in the war, you are doomed to attract only the bad or unsuitable ones who survived the war. Worse yet, you are destined to attract only married men. Either way, you will remain single and alone because neither dead nor married men are available to be your soulmate.

You can see how your thoughts and feelings lead you to act in ways that attract unsuitable men into your life, right? A secret of the universe is that men generally respond to women just as we instruct them to in subtle and unsubtle ways.

My student, Cindy, proved the power of her belief that there were no good men for a very long time. When she met me, she had been alone for sixteen years. She was very tired of her single state, wanted a change but didn't know how to make it happen. That's where the shift in belief work made all the difference. Within six months, she had met a wonderful man and within a year she had married him. Life brings you what you believe.

So, what is the next step for you if you're tired of being alone?

What about shifting your limiting belief about men to one that will let love into your life? It will make all the difference in the quality of your relationships.

fast quit smoking

2008-02-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

So you have finally had enough and want to quit? Try

"My Plan" just click the picture below.

Price Slashed By 2/3rds

Price Slashed By 2/3rds

Fast Quit Smoking

Please let me explain a little about myself. I am a smoker. I have smoked since I met my wife 32 years ago. ( I will ponder that one for a while). Anyway smoking has never really bothered me till 2004, that was the year my heart decided to throw up it's hands in disgust with me. Well since then I have tried every which way to stop, but, like I said I am still smoking as at this writing.

So why listen to me about giving up or quitting smoking? Well I have gone through everything you are likely to ever go through while trying to stop smoking. From anger, depression, being snappy at everyone, over eating, cheating and lack of willpower to name but a few. Because of all this, and still being unable to completely give up smoking, I decided to really look good and hard into this somehow mystical problem I, and many others, have.

I am an average guy with average intelligence and do understand all the critics and their points of view for having a smoke free world. I said I understand them but not necessarily agree with them all as there are some people out there, I am sure you have met them, that no matter what we do will say we should not be doing it.

An example of them; some time ago while in the USA there was a study on handling money, specifically paper notes. The study went on to inform us that we were all at a potential risk of getting cancer from this. True or not no one stopped handling money and no more was heard from this doom and gloom crowd. The point is do things you feel are right for you not because someone else thinks it is right for you. But I digress.

The reason I am still smoking now is, funny enough because I did discover the Fast Quit Smoking System myself. I applied it and after two weeks with, get this, no drugs, patches, injections or tablets (pills), I completely gave up smoking.

So why am I smoking again?

The same reason many are unable to give up themselves, I have a partner and son that smoke. All us smokers know how extremely difficult if not impossible it is to stop smoking if there is someone in the household who smokes and does not wish to give up.Why was this a reason to start again you may ask, I must be stupid after giving up especially after being able to with family members smoking around me. Well actually no, I am not stupid, I have a method in my madness.

Let me explain, you see my wife and son tried to stop while I was giving up but could not go through with it as they were not on my Fast Quit Smoking System. No I did not tell them what I had discovered as I was not sure it was the answer.

So finally, with me smoking again, my wife and son became very highly motivated to fully quit smoking and asked me what I did to stop and why I started again as I still suffer greatly from my heart condition and they were very happy for me when I had stopped.

So here is the kicker, I told them not smoking was easy because of the secret to it I had discovered but I did not want to live in a home, after I had given up smoking, with the smell of smoke anymore so if my family would not give up smoking it was not my place to force them. So I just started again with the secure knowledge that I could easily give up again.

Well here we are, I have my wife's agreement to quit smoking and my son's if I will show them how I did it. This I obviously have agreed to but will not start the System with them till the new year. Partly because I want to prove to myself that my Fast Quit Smoking System really will stand up to the test of time. Secondly my wife would be miserable if she quit before then as she, like myself like to smoke during the festive season and the added pressure on her is not beneficial.

Finally I will say that if you choose to smoke, continue to smoke or wish to give up, it is your choice. Do it because you want to not because you saw some blackened lungs on an add to quit smoking. Find the right reasons for you. Spending over $3,650.00 in a year on one pack of smokes a day might do it for you, double if you smoke two packs, but whatever reasons you are here at my site there is plenty of great information to read and shortly I will be placing an e-book here about my Fast Quit Smoking System for everyone to try. Good luck.

52 Proven Stress Reducers

2008-02-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.
Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table, make lunches, put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
Don't rely on your memory. Write down appointment times, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc.
Do nothing which, after being done, leads you to tell a lie.
Make duplicates of all keys. Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden and carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring.
Practice preventive maintenance. Your car, appliances, home, and relationships will be less likely to break down/fall apart "at the worst possible moment."
Be prepared to wait. A paperback can make a wait in a post office line almost pleasant.
Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now.
Plan ahead. Don't let the gas tank get below one-quarter full; keep a well-stocked "emergency shelf" of home staples; don't wait until you're down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more; etc.
Don't put up with something that doesn't work right. If your alarm clock, wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers - whatever- are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or get new ones.
Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic departures.
Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet.
Always set up contingency plans, "just in case." ("If for some reason either of us is delayed, here's what we'll do. . ." kind of thing. Or, "If we get split up in the shopping center, here's where we'll meet.")
Relax your standards. The world will not end if the grass doesn't get mowed this weekend.
Pollyanna-Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings. Count 'em!
Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back directions, what someone expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old "the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get," idea.)
Say "No!" Saying "no" to extra projects, social activities, and invitations you know you don't have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect, and a belief that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and be alone.
Unplug your phone. Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep, or read without interruption? Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect. (The possibility of there being a terrible emergency in the next hour or so is almost nil.) Or use an answering machine.
Turn "needs" into preferences. Our basic physical needs translate into food, water, and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don't get attached to preferences.
Simplify, simplify, simplify. . .
Make friends with non-worriers. Nothing can get you into the habit of worrying faster than associating with chronic worrywarts.
Get up and stretch periodically if your job requires that you sit for extended periods.
Wear earplugs. If you need to find quiet at home, pop in some earplugs.
Get enough sleep. If necessary, use an alarm clock to remind you to go to bed.
Create order out of chaos. Organize your home and workspace so that you always know exactly where things are. Put things away where they belong and you won't have to go through the stress of losing things.
When feeling stressed, most people tend to breathe short, shallow breaths. When you breathe like this, stale air is not expelled, oxidation of the tissues is incomplete, and muscle tension frequently results. Check your breathing throughout the day, and before, during, and after high-pressure situations. If you find your stomach muscles knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax all your muscles and take several deep, slow breaths.
Writing your thoughts and feelings down (in a journal, or on paper to be thrown away) can help you clarify things and can give you a renewed perspective
Try the following yoga technique whenever you feel the need to relax. Inhale deeply through your nose to the count of eight. Then, with lips puckered, exhale very slowly through your mouth to the count of 16, or for as long as you can. Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve. Repeat 10 times.
Inoculate yourself against a feared event. Example: before speaking in public, take time to go over every part of the experience in your mind. Imagine what you'll wear, what the audience will look like, how you will present your talk, what the questions will be and how you will answer them, etc. Visualize the experience the way you would have it be. You'll likely find that when the time comes to make the actual presentation, it will be "old hat" and much of your anxiety will have fled.
When the stress of having to get a job done gets in the way of getting the job done, diversion - a voluntary change in activity and/or environment - may be just what you need.
Talk it out. Discussing your problems with a trusted friend can help clear your mind of confusion so you can concentrate on problem solving.
One of the most obvious ways to avoid unnecessary stress is to select an environment (work, home, leisure) which is in line with your personal needs and desires. If you hate desk jobs, don't accept a job which requires that you sit at a desk all day. If you hate to talk politics, don't associate with people who love to talk politics, etc.
Learn to live one day at a time.
Every day, do something you really enjoy.
Add an ounce of love to everything you do.
Take a hot bath or shower (or a cool one in summertime) to relieve tension.
Do something for somebody else.
Focus on understanding rather than on being understood; on loving rather than on being loved.
Do something that will improve your appearance. Looking better can help you feel better.
Schedule a realistic day. Avoid the tendency to schedule back-to-back appointments; allow time between appointments for a breathing spell.
Become more flexible. Some things are worth not doing perfectly and some issues are fine to compromise upon.
Eliminate destructive self-talk: "I'm too old to. . .," "I'm too fat to. . .," etc.
Use your weekend time for a change of pace. If your work week is slow and patterned, make sure there is action and time for spontaneity built into your weekends. If your work week is fast-paced and full of people and deadlines, seek peace and solitude during your days off. Feel as if you aren't accomplishing anything at work? Tackle a job on the weekend which you can finish to your satisfaction.
"Worry about the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." That's another way of saying: take care of the todays as best you can and the yesterdays and the tomorrows will take care of themselves.
Do one thing at a time. When you are with someone, be with that person and with no one or nothing else. When you are busy with a project, concentrate on doing that project and forget about everything else you have to do.
Allow yourself time - everyday - for privacy, quiet, and introspection.
If an especially unpleasant task faces you, do it early in the day and get it over with, then the rest of your day will be free of anxiety.
Learn to delegate responsibility to capable others.
Don't forget to take a lunch break. Try to get away from your desk or work area in body and mind, even if it's just for 15 or 20 minutes.
Forget about counting to 10. Count to 1,000 before doing something or saying anything that could make matters worse.
Have a forgiving view of events and people. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world.
Have an optimistic view of the world. Believe that most people are doing the best they can.

Five Easy and Cheap Ways to Dress Up a Man's Wardrobe

2008-01-26T20:08:00.000-08:00

More and more men are making an effort to become more interested what they are wearing and how they look. It's no wonder why then men's fashion and style is more popular today than ever before. Guys are beginning to realize that they way they look is an asset in every aspect, affecting their business life, personal life, and love life. All of this shows why it's so important to look your best.

Developing a sense of style for a man is much more than following all of the latest celebrity fashions and trends. It requires a real effort, but ultimately, it comes down to your style, image, and personality. Here are five simple ways you can change your wardrobe for the better:

Wear more color - One of the easiest ways to dress up your look is to a great way to wear a wide variety of colors. It doesn't take much, maybe just a brightly colored t-shirt underneath a v-neck sweater. Something as simple as a new colorful shirt or sweater can work too. The idea is to spice up those dull neutral tones especially around your face. That is the part of your body you want people to focus in on the most and the colors also add a touch of energy to it.
Never wear sloppy shoes - The first thing a woman looks at on a man is his shoes. That in itself shows the importance of a nice pair of clean shoes. You don't need to necessarily wear dress shoes. If you want to wear sneakers, make sure your sneakers are in good condition. It doesn't take much to keep your shoes clean. A quick shine can make them look brand new in just a few minutes.
Treat yourself - This tip is only viable if you have the money to buy yourself something expensive. If you do, then fashion experts say to always own one item that makes you stand out from everybody else and keeps you stylish. It can be anything, really. You can get yourself a new leather coat or a pair of top name, designer jeans. Whatever it is you choose to buy make sure it's something you will enough to get your money's worth.
Wear a really nice belt - Belts serve another purpose besides holding up your pants. Most belts are actually only worn for the added style they give an outfit. The type of belt basically depends on your overall outfit. The only real rule with wearing a belt is that it should match in color with your shoes. The latest trend in belts is large and elaborate buckles.
Buy a fancy watch - Watches are the final touch to your complete wardrobe upgrade experience. There are countless different watches that can go with any type of outfit, setting, or mood. I know some people who own a good number of watches that they only wear with a certain set of clothes. Think of watches as a man's version of jewelry and take it just as seriously as a woman does with hers.

Rocawear defines the lifestyle for today's young hip consumer and provides the efficient business acumen to retail partners necessary to be successful. As the ad campaign tag-line goes......WE RUN THE STRIP.

beijing olympics 2008

2008-01-20T21:25:00.000-08:00

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, will be celebrated from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008, with the opening ceremony commencing at 08:08:08 pm CST (12:08:08 UTC) at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Some events, including football (soccer), sailing, and new 10 km marathon swimming events will be held in other cities of China. With the equestrian events being held in Hong Kong, this marks the second time the same edition of the Olympic Games has been hosted by two National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

The Olympic games were awarded to Beijing, People's Republic of China after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 13, 2001. The official logo of the games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylized calligraphic character jīng (meaning capital), referencing the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing one color of the Olympic rings. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit. Athletes will compete in 302 events in 28 sports, just one event more than was on the schedule of the Athens games of 2004. Several new NOCs have also been recognized by the IOC.

The Chinese government has promoted the games to highlight China's emergence on the world stage, amidst concerns about environmental issues and social problems due to its economic rise. Nevertheless, former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has said the Beijing games will be "the best in Olympic history."

Reflexology Treatment

2008-01-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

Introduction to Reflexology

Reflexology is a therapy that focuses primarily on the feet. It's a popular alternative therapy, used primarily for stress-related conditions such as digestive disorders and tension headaches, and to promote relaxation, improve circulation, reduce pain, soothe tired feet, and encourage overall healing.

It's also used for post-operative or palliative care. A study in the American Cancer Society journal found that one-third of cancer patients used reflexology as a complementary therapy.

Reflexology Treatments

So today, reflexologist, Amy Kreydin, is going to show us what a typical session is like. Let's take a look.

Usually you begin with a consultation about your health and lifestyle. You will then be asked to remove your shoes and socks and sit comfortably in a reclining chair or on a massage table. Otherwise you usually remain fully clothed. The reflexologist will examine your feet and begin with brisk movements to warm the feet up. Then pressure is applied from the toes to the heel according to your comfort.

Lotion or oil may be used. A typical treatment lasts from 45 minutes to an hour.

Reflexology Pressure Points

The underlying theory is that there are "reflex" areas on the feet and hands that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body.
For example:

The tips of the toes reflect the head
The heart and chest are around the ball of the foot
The liver, pancreas and kidney are in the arch of the foot
The low back and intestines are towards the heel

Practitioners believe that applying pressure to these reflex areas can promote health in the corresponding organs through energetic pathways. A scientific explanation is that the pressure may send signals that balance the nervous system or release chemicals such as endorphins that reduce pain and stress.
Reflexology is recommended as a complementary therapy and should not replace medical treatment.

What Does a Reflexology Treatment Feel Like?

Most people find reflexology for the most part to be very relaxing. Reflexology shouldn't be painful. If you feel discomfort, be sure to tell the reflexologist. He or she should work within your comfort zone.

Some areas may be tender or sore, and the reflexologist may spend extra time on these points. The soreness should decrease with pressure. If you're ticklish, not to worry. The reflexologist applies firm pressure to the feet.

Before Your Reflexology Treatment

If you're pregnant, talk with your doctor first and let the reflexologist know. Be sure to give the reflexologist a complete and accurate health history. If you have foot ulcers, injury, or blood vessel disease such as blood clots, consult your doctor before having reflexology.

5 Acne Treatment Tips You Can Use Today

2008-01-15T00:25:00.000-08:00

Dealing with acne can be embarassing at any age. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do everyday to make sure your skin is less prone to flare ups. Here are five tips for taking control of your acne starting today.

1. Exercise - Keeping in shape can help fight acne by fighting off negative stress levels that can come from negative self-esteem and depression. However, some safeguards need to be in place to ward off acne that can result from your workout routines. Watch what you put on your body with regards to clothing, sports gear and equipment.

For example, tight lycra and nylon exercise outfits might look great in the movies and on magazine models, but if you are susceptible to acne problems, avoid these synthetic fabrics that tend to trap in body moisture and heat resulting in a bacteria frenzy. Instead, choose loose clothing made of cotton or natural blends to allow more air to get to your skin.

And when you are finished with your workout, get out of clothing wet from perspiration or water sports. Shower and change into dry, clean clothing. And keep your sports gear and equipment clean, too. Dirty headgear, for instance, can irritate forehead areas prone to acne problems. So toss headbands into the washing machine after workout sessions.

2. Cosmetics - To avoid pore-clogging and skin irritations that are similar to acne and that can contribute to acne, use products labeled noncomedogenic or oil-free. Shimmering facial colors can contain a flaky mineral called mica that can cause skin irritations and clog pores. Other additives in coloring that can cause similar reactions are coal tar derivatives, carmine and heavy cream in blushes.

More preventative measures include using a lip gloss that promotes a matte finish instead of a high gloss for less pore-clogging; note the more the shine, the more then comedogenic content and the more the pores can clog. Beware that eye creams can contain heavier concentrations of moisturizers than regular creams and lotions, meaning they have greater potential to clog pores in the surrounding facial areas.

3. Diet - Studies show that diet does not play a role in either the cause or the treatment of acne. However, what is recommended for acne preventative care is this: what is best for your body is best for your skin, especially since your skin is the largest organ of your body. So remember to watch your diet and consume healthy vitamins, minerals and other supplements. This will help to prevent and help conquer acne breakout.

4. Hygiene - A healthy skin regimen should include no harsh scrubbing or over-washing, because this can cause possible skin irritation or possible over production of oil to replace what has washed off, clogging pores in the process. Products with gentle exfoliation ingredients are OK to use; i.e. not scratchy nut or fruit shell pieces that can tear skin. And skip alcohol products when possible; these can take off the top layer of your skin and cause your glands to product more oil, clogging pores in the process.

If you do spot acne-troubled areas, do NOT mess with them. Remember that these are already weeks in the making, and squeezing or picking blemishes can force the infected area to regress back inside, further troubling the region and possibly leave a scar. If necessary, seek help from a dermatologist for alternative treatments.

5. Shaving - Shaving for both genders is actually an excellent way of exfoliating or removing dead skin to help with the prevention and spreading of acne instead of leaving the remains to clog pores. And for some light acne cases already in process, shaving can help rid whiteheads and blackheads from the face. A word of caution: for areas with infection or high inflammatory activity (redness, sensitive, open acne, sores, etc.), do not shave. Or at the very least, use a shaving cream for sensitive skin!

Complementary medicine

2008-01-15T00:23:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), one of the oldest continuous systems of medicine dating back 4,000 years. It is the most commonly used system of healing in the world.

TCM is based on the belief that what happens to one part of the body affects every other part of the body. Similarly, organs and organ systems are viewed as interconnected structures that work together to keep the body functioning.

One of the TCM concepts is qi (pronounced “chi”), which is considered a vital force or energy. Qi flows through the body via channels, or pathways, called meridians. Imbalances in the flow of qi cause illness; correction of this flow restores the body to balance.

Acupuncture restores the balance, thus allowing for the normal flow of qi throughout the body and restoring health to the mind and body.

What should I expect on my first visit?

The first visit to an acupuncturist usually begins with the practitioner taking a detailed history. After review, the practitioner will begin diagnosing your ailment. Palpation (to explore by touch) of various acupuncture points on the body, an examination of the tongue, as well as pulse, are common diagnostic techniques in acupuncture.

Using all of the information, the practitioner will then determine the cause of your symptoms. Needles will be inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body. The acupuncturist may use moxa or electrical stimulation to enhance acupuncture’s therapeutic effects.

The number of treatment sessions depends on the seriousness of your condition. A typical course of acupuncture treatment is 10 sessions, although significant improvements can occur after just a couple visits. Your first visit may take 90 minutes, with subsequent visits lasting about 60 minutes.

Does it hurt?

Unlike hypodermic needles, acupuncture needles are solid and hair-thin – not designed to cut the skin. They are also inserted to much more shallow levels than hypodermic needles, generally no more than 1/2 -inch to an inch. While each person experiences acupuncture differently, most people feel only a minimal amount of sensation as the needles are inserted. Some people report feeling a sensation of excitement, while others feel relaxed.

Conditions commonly treated with acupuncture

Diseases of the muscles, bones and joints

Sprains
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fibromyalgia

Diseases of the nervous system

Strokes
Neuralgia
Anxiety, depression and other nervous disorders
Nerve paralysis
Headaches/migraines

Digestive disorders

Indigestion
Stomach ulcers
Gall stones
Diarrhea
Constipation
Nausea and vomiting
Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diseases of the respiratory system

Asthma/allergies
Bronchitis
Sinusitis

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels

Angina
High blood pressure
Obesity
Drug addiction
Smoking

Obstetrics and gynecology

Fetal malposition
PMS
Menopause symptoms (hot flashes)
Dysmenorrhia
Amenorrhia
Uterine Bleeding
Infertility

Who provides acupuncture in Wisconsin?

Most acupuncture treatment in Wisconsin is provided by certified acupuncturists who have graduated from an accredited school and have passed the national board examinations. Medical doctors with additional training can also provide acupuncture treatments.

Locations and contact information

technorati

2008-01-14T07:05:00.001-08:00

Technorati Profile

Save your skin

2008-01-13T04:57:00.000-08:00

Keep your face in good nick with our skin-saving tips

There was time when all a man's ‘grooming accessories' added up to was a razor blade and a bottle of splash-it-all-over. Such days are long gone. We chaps now spend an estimated £1.3 billion a year on grooming products (Datamonitor 2004) with the latest ‘must-have' addition to our man bags being the man pen (£9.99, www.menpen.co.uk). It's a cosmetic concealer stick that covers blemishes, under eye bags and shaving nicks and used by actors and male models to help disguise all manner of imperfections. But since we all know you can never put your hand on a pen when you need one, we'll revert to these skin-saving tricks:

Eye Bags: Rest a couple of cold teaspoons over your eyes for one minute – then lightly tap your eyelids to stimulate blood flood and rinse the region of its toxins.

Large Skin Pores: Reduce unsightly pores by dabbing them with a slice of lemon, a natural toner which will tighten the skin.

Razor Cuts: Don't dab with a tissue – instead press it in place for 2 minutes then gently rise it off the cut.

Building Muscle Mass

2008-01-13T04:49:00.000-08:00

While a common workout goal of many men is to develop a muscular body, leanness plays a large part in the equation. Simply put: If you aren't lean, you won't see muscle definition. Most would rather err on the smaller side and have good muscle definition than work on getting “huge.” This preference leaves men questioning which approach is best: building muscle first and then working on becoming lean, or vice versa.

Since building muscle requires a hypercaloric state and losing body fat requires a hypocaloric state, it's unlikely you'll accomplish both processes at once. To see results you’ll need to pick the right type of training cycle.

Here are some things to consider when building muscle mass and picking the appropriate training cycle.

Consider how much body fat you want

The first thing you need to think about when determining which training cycle you'll use is how much body fat you are comfortable sporting around. If you don't mind carrying around a little extra weight while building muscle mass, you might be very comfortable with just diving right into a muscle-gaining program at the outset.

If, on the other hand, you find yourself frequently checking the mirror with disgust when you can pinch more than an inch or two on your waist, you’ll likely prefer getting lean first and then building muscle mass.

Consider how fast you want to build muscle

Building muscle mass takes calories. There is no way around this -- you simply cannot build tissue of any sort without energy. And when there is more energy supplied than what is actually needed to build that muscle, the body also starts building -- you guessed it -- body fat.

Therefore, the best way to prevent extra body fat when building muscle mass is to limit the extra calories consumed.

Here's the kicker, though: If you're only eating 100 to 200 calories more than is required on a daily basis to stop any fat loss from accumulating, you won’t likely get very far. You'll be lucky to gain a pound a month -- and if this is the case, you’re going to be on one long muscle-gaining cycle. Some may be OK with this, but most want to see immediate changes.

Add to the fact that the body might speed up its metabolism to accommodate these extra calories and you might not see any weight gain at all -- you'll simply look the same as you do now.

Obviously, the more calories you eat, the better the chances of maximizing the muscle you’ll build. Everyone has a limit as to how much muscle they can physiologically build in a month's time (for most men this is around one to three pounds with the rate slowing the larger you get), so if you want to max that out, you need to eat enough. You think you're going to gain three pounds eating a measly 100 extra calories a day? That’s not going to happen; it takes about 2,500 to 3,500 calories a day to build a pound of body tissue, depending on whether this is fat or muscle mass.

You’re on your way to building muscle mass...

Consider the p-ratio

The final factor to consider is the influence the P-ratio has on the type of weight you gain. Generally speaking, those who start leaner when trying to gain muscle mass have a tendency to put on weight that is leaner as well. Likewise, those who have a higher body fat percentage will add more mass in the form of body fat instead of muscle.

From this perspective, it helps to be leaner when trying to build muscle. So, how lean do you have to be? Generally, somewhere in the neighborhood of 8% to 15% works, which shouldn't be hard -- particularly if you've been going to the gym on a regular basis and practicing self-control over your dietary habits.

Do take note, however, that those who are leaner (with about 4% to 7% body fat) will gain more fat initially. At this point, their body is very lean and the body will be fighting to stay that way. So, when given extra calories, they'll likely gain a couple of pounds of fat first to bring body fat levels up to a healthier range.

The end result

The best approach is to become as lean as you are comfortable with. Once this has been established, begin a moderate bulking period. Aim to eat 300 to 500 calories per day above your normal intake. Shoot for about a half to one pound per week of weight gain. If you aren't gaining, increase your caloric intake; if you’re gaining too quickly, decrease your intake.

Add in a small dose of cardio as well, not only to maintain decent cardiovascular conditioning, but also because cardio helps with nutrient partitioning (directing the extra calories toward muscle tissue) and with creating a better overall environment for adding lean muscle mass.

Don't go crazy with the cardio, though, since it’s obviously burning off the calories that could have been used to build muscle tissue.

making muscles

If you are contemplating in which direction to go with your workout, consider these factors and lay out a solid 6- to 12-month plan that incorporates both “bulking” and “cutting” phases. By the end, you'll have made good progress -- so long as you stick with your goals and focus on achieving one at a time.

soccer techniques

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Technique refers to a player's ability to perform specific mechanical movements such as kicking, trapping or throwing the ball. The mark of an experienced player is smooth, efficient motion and the ability to elegantly transition between different techniques.

Soccer skill can be developed through repetition, observation or visualization. With regular training and practice of a specific movement or technique, the player builds confidence and the target motion becomes natural to him.
Another type of "training" one should consider is watching quality games on the TV or videos in slow motion. The act of observing other players' skills can help better your own technique.
Visualization is a radical new method used to instill and develop one's ability. It focuses on picturing yourself in the third person, while applying a specific technique.

The following sections will break down the fundamental skills most often used in the game.

-kicking
-ball control (controlling the ball at speed)
-heading
-dribbling (drills, basic dribbling, intermediate moves and advanced)
-tackling
-goalkeeping
-practicing alone

Yoga: Minimize stress, maximize flexibility and even more

2008-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

Besides relieving stress and improving your body's flexibility, yoga can help you manage health conditions and cope with disease. Explore yoga's benefits, risks and how to select a class.

Your kids are demanding the latest video game, your boss wants that report done yesterday, and your spouse wants to know what's for dinner. Stress is everywhere. If it's getting the best of you, you might want to make like a downward-facing dog or a cobra and try yoga. This series of postures — sometimes named for mammals, fish or reptiles — and controlled breathing exercises have become a popular means of stress reduction.

Though the practice of yoga has been around for thousands of years in India, its popularity in the United States has grown steadily only over the last 100 years or so. Today yoga classes teaching the art of breathing, meditation and posing are offered nearly everywhere from trendy health clubs in big cities to community education classes in small towns.

What is yoga?

Yoga is part of the Hindu religion and a way of life. The ultimate goal of yoga is to reach complete peacefulness in your body and mind. While traditional yoga philosophy requires that students adhere to this mission through behavior, diet and meditation, chances are you aren't looking for a complete change in lifestyle but rather increased flexibility, relaxation or stress relief.

If that's the case, then like most people in the United States, you're interested in hatha yoga — a style of yoga designed to encourage a more flexible body and a calm mind.

Hatha yoga: The most popular form of yoga

Hatha yoga focuses on physical poses and controlled breathing. Several versions of hatha yoga exist. Which version you choose depends on your personal preferences. But all varieties of hatha yoga include two basic components — poses and breathing.

Poses
In a typical hatha yoga class, you may learn anywhere from 10 to 30 poses. More experienced yoga students might know many more, including more-advanced poses that require advanced stretching and twisting. Poses range from the seemingly easy, such as the corpse pose, which involves lying on the floor, completely relaxed, to the most difficult poses that take years of practice to master.

Remember that you don't have to do every pose your instructor demonstrates. If a pose is uncomfortable, or you can't hold it as long as the instructor requests, don't do it. Good instructors will understand. Spend time sitting quietly, breathing deeply until your instructor moves the class on to another pose that's more comfortable for you.

Breathing
Controlling your breathing is an important part of yoga. In yoga, breath signifies your vital energy. Yoga teaches that controlling your breathing can help you control your body and gain control of your mind.

You'll learn to control your breathing by paying attention to it. Your instructor might ask you to take deep, loud breaths as you concentrate on your breathing. Other breathing techniques involve paying attention to your breath as it moves into your body and fills your lungs, or alternately breathing through one nostril.

Yoga, stress relief and other health benefits
Yoga offers a good means of relaxation and stress relief. Its quiet, precise movements focus your mind less on your busy day and more on the moment as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.

Other health benefits of yoga include:

Increased flexibility. As you learn and refine new poses— such as touching your toes — you'll find that each time you practice, you can reach a little farther. More range of motion means you'll be less likely to injure yourself in other physical activities.
Management of chronic health conditions. The breathing and relaxation methods used in yoga might help you if you have asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, low back pain, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis of the knees or memory problems. Yoga can also be helpful when combined with other therapies for heart disease and high blood pressure. Yoga, when combined with a vegetarian diet, aerobic exercise and medication, has reduced cardiovascular disease rates and blood pressure levels.
Weight loss. If you're overweight, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to drop those extra pounds.
Balance. Yoga classes tailored for elderly adults can help them stay steady on their feet and avoid falls and hip fractures.
Coping with cancer. People with cancer and their caregivers who practice yoga may improve their quality of life and sleep better at night.
Alzheimer's caregiver stress and fatigue. Yoga practice may help family caregivers by boosting their mood and ability to cope and manage stress.

While you shouldn't expect yoga to cure you, it can help some health conditions when combined with treatment recommended by your doctor. And if you're perfectly healthy, yoga can be a good way to supplement your regular exercise routine.

Yoga risks
Yoga, overall, is considered safe if you're generally healthy. Some yoga positions can put significant strain on your lower back and on your joints. See your doctor first if you have any joint problems or a history of low back or neck pain. You might want to avoid certain yoga positions depending on your condition.

Also see your doctor before you begin a yoga class if you have any of the following conditions, as complications can arise:

High blood pressure that's difficult to control
A risk of blood clots
Eye conditions, including glaucoma
Osteoporosis

If you're pregnant or nursing, yoga is considered generally safe. But avoid any poses that put pressure on your uterus, such as those that require you to twist at the waist. Some yoga classes are specifically tailored for pregnant women. Check with your obstetrician if you have any questions whether yoga is right for you and your baby.

How to find a yoga class

If you've decided to try yoga, look around for classes in your area to see what's offered. You can also learn yoga from books and videos. However, individualized attention to your specific needs won't be available with these teach-yourself-methods.

When you find a class that sounds interesting, call and ask questions to get an idea of what to expect, including:

What are the instructor's qualifications? Where did that person learn yoga, and how long has he or she been teaching?
Does the instructor have experience working with students with your needs or health concerns? If you have a sore knee or an aching shoulder, can the instructor help you find poses that won't aggravate your condition?
Is the class suitable for beginners? Will it be easy enough to follow along if it's your first time?

Also find out what you need to bring to class. Some classes require you to bring a mat or towel to sit or stand on while doing poses. Other classes will provide this.

At the end of a yoga class, you should feel invigorated, yet calm. If this isn't the case, talk to your instructor. He or she might have suggestions for you. Otherwise there may be another yoga class better suited to your needs.

Tai chi: Improved stress reduction, balance, agility for all

2008-01-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

The ancient art of tai chi uses gentle flowing movements to reduce the stress of today's busy lifestyles and improve health. Find out how to get started.

The graceful images of people gliding through dance-like poses as they practice tai chi (TIE-chee) are compelling. Simply watching them is relaxing. Tai chi, in fact, is often described as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through gentle movements — connecting the mind and body.

Originally developed in China as a form of self-defense, tai chi is a graceful form of exercise that has existed for some 2,000 years. Practiced regularly, tai chi can help you reduce stress and enjoy other health benefits.

Understanding tai chi

Tai chi, sometimes called tai chi chuan, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. To do tai chi, you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pausing.

Anyone, regardless of age or physical ability, can practice tai chi. It doesn't take physical prowess. Rather, tai chi emphasizes technique over strength.

Tai chi is used to:

Reduce stress
Increase flexibility
Improve muscle strength and definition
Increase energy, stamina and agility
Increase feelings of well-being

Tai chi has more than 100 possible movements and positions. You can find several that you like and stick with those, or explore the full range. The intensity of tai chi varies somewhat depending on the form or style practiced. Some forms of tai chi are more fast-paced than others, for instance. However, most forms are gentle and suitable for everyone. And they all include rhythmic patterns of movement that are coordinated with breathing.

Although tai chi is generally safe, consider talking with your doctor before starting a new program. This is particularly important if you have any problems with your joints, spine or heart.

Stress reduction and other benefits of tai chi

Like other practices that bring mind and body together, tai chi can reduce stress. During tai chi, you focus on movement and breathing. This combination creates a state of relaxation and calm. Stress, anxiety and tension should melt away as you focus on the present, and the effects may last well after you stop your tai chi session.

Tai chi may also help your overall health, although it's not a substitute for traditional medical care. Tai chi is generally safe for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Older adults may especially find tai chi appealing because the movements are low impact and put minimal stress on muscles and joints. Tai chi may also be helpful if you have arthritis or are recovering from an injury.

Despite its ancient history, tai chi has been studied scientifically only in recent years. And that research is suggesting that tai chi may offer numerous other benefits beyond stress reduction, including:

Reducing anxiety and depression
Improving balance and coordination
Reducing the number of falls
Improving sleep quality, such as staying asleep longer at night and feeling more alert during the day
Slowing bone loss in women after menopause
Lowering blood pressure
Improving cardiovascular fitness
Relieving chronic pain
Improving everyday physical functioning

Learning to do tai chi

Wondering how to get started in tai chi? You don't need any special clothing or equipment to do tai chi. To gain full benefits, however, it may be best to seek guidance from a qualified tai chi instructor.

A tai chi instructor can teach you specific positions and how to regulate your breathing. An instructor also can teach you how to practice tai chi safely, especially if you have injuries, chronic conditions, or balance or coordination problems. Although tai chi is slow and gentle, with virtually no negative side effects, injuries are possible if tai chi isn't done properly. It's possible you could strain yourself or overdo it when first learning. Or if you have balance problems, you could fall during tai chi.

You can find tai chi classes in many communities today. Contact your local senior center, YMCA or YWCA, health club, community education center or wellness facility for help finding qualified instructors.

During tai chi classes, the instructor can give you personal guidance and correct any errors in your style before they become habit. Eventually, you may feel confident enough to do tai chi on your own. But if you like the social element, consider sticking with group classes.

Putting tai chi into practice

To reap the greatest stress reduction benefits from tai chi, consider practicing it regularly. Many people find it helpful to practice tai chi in the same place and at the same time every day to develop a routine. But if your schedule is erratic, do tai chi whenever you have a few minutes.

You can even draw on the soothing concepts of tai chi without performing the actual movements if you get stuck in stressful situations — a traffic jam or a work conflict, for instance.