How To “Choose” Weight Loss
I want to give you one of the most powerful keys I have everlearned and studied over the past few years.
You can have anything, be anything, and do anything in life ifyou just make the choice to do so.
The power to choose whatever you want is something that thewords written here cannot give justice to. Your future has nothappened yet. In fact, you create your future. The choices thatyou make today will shape your destiny later in life. The factthat you are reading this book tells me that there is somethingthat you want to change in the future regarding your presentfitness and weight loss situation.
You can make it a habit to chose what it is you want in life. Infact, weight loss is also a choice you make. Much like you choseyour mate, your occupation, or your place of residence, you canchose to lose weight and stay thin.
Being overweight is not a life-long sentence you have beenhanded down with nothing you can do about it. You can choose tochange your situation at any moment. If you are at a moment ofcomplete frustration with your current weight, now is as good atime as any to make the choice to change.
Is it a choice you are willing to make? Are you unsure of thefirst step to take after youve made the choice to change?
Do not worry. We are going to go over those steps. I am going tostart with a clean slate with you, so even if you know littleabout losing weight, you will be successful.
Please do not make weight loss and weight management any harderthan it really has to be. Sure, the willpower required may be atest of character, but the actual process required to loseweight isnt physiologically difficult.
You have to expend, or burn off, more calories than you consume.It seems as though the more we become technologically advancedas a society, the more overweight we also become.
Also, with all of the confusing and conflicting opinions on thebest weight loss methods that are available, people are misledand misinformed about what it truly takes to lose weightpermanently.
Its as though many people have suffered “paralysis byanalysis”. There is so many different points of view that becomeoverwhelming, it causes some people to throw their hands up anddo nothing. The way to make weight loss permanent is to replaceyour old unproductive habits that created an unhealthy lifestylewith newer habits that support losing weight. It starts withchoosing to do so.
Exercise your power of choice. You can choose to have anything,be anything, and do anything if you are willing to chose it. Itis a tool at your disposal whenever you need it.
In fact, the very best tool you can use for long lasting weightloss is the tool between your ears. Your brain is the best pieceof equipment you can use to lose weight and keep it off. Themore you feed your mind with powerful, results producinginformation, the better youll be.
Study weight loss. Make it your mission. But do not lose thesimplicity of it.
Weight loss is no harder than choosing to eat right every threeor four hours (the most important process in weight loss andweight management), exercising with some weights/resistance twoto three times a week, and doing some form of cardio/aerobicstwo to three times a week.
To lose weight and stay in great shape does not require any morethan 2 to 3 hours a week total of exercise. Ive trained manypeople that have managed to stay incredibly thin and in greatshape with only 2 hours a week total of exercise.
It all comes down to the way you choose to eat and live. It isyour choice of lifestyle that determines what you weigh.
The most important step you can take is to make the choice thatyou are going to commit to this and stick with it until youaccomplish what it is you want.
There are going to be many days where you want to throw in thetowel and call it quits. But choose not to.
Have faith that you will get what you want. It will requirepatience and persistence, but so do all good things in life.
I asked you to dream about how it would feel to have your idealbody. How it would feel to be as thin as you want to be and asenergetic and as vibrant as youd like to be. How would you feelto have the strength and flexibility you want and to rid yourbody of those nagging aches and pains.
Dare to dream a little and then choose to go after and makethose dreams come true. Theres a huge difference betweenidentifying what it is you want and choosing to go after it.Identifying what you want is the first step in the process.
You must then make the choice to go after it. In fact, Ive justgiven you the key that will unlock any fitness
goal you may havenow or in the future.
The key to permanent weight loss and superb health is the factthat you choose it. Weight loss, muscle toning, or any fitnessgoal you may have is simply a choice that you make.
Anything you want in life, any goal or desire can be yours ifyou simply choose to go after it. Things just do not fall intoplace naturally and without effort. Yes, they do fall, just notwhere you want them to.
You must first “think” of what it is you want and then choose togo after it. And if you do not get what you want? Try it again.Keep trying until you get it.
If you are persistent enough and work hard enough, whatever youwish for will be yours.
Whether you want to lose fat or gain lean muscle and increasestrength, you choose to do so.
In fact, life boils down to a series of choices. The betterchoices you make, the better your life will be.
You can choose to slim down and fit into those jeans or you canchoose to give into your false feelings of hunger anddeprivation.
You can choose to get behind the wheel after drinking or you canchoose to hand the keys to a friend. Some of the choices youmake have a long lasting and dramatic impact on your lifeforever.
The great thing is, if you choose to go after weight loss, youcan be assured that its within your reach because others haveaccomplished it. Any problems that you may face in life, chancesare that someone has faced them and has already battled andconquered them.
Just follow what it is they did to come out on top. The questionof whether or not its possible is not an issue. Its whether ornot you go after it. In fact, the choices you make dictate thelife you will lead.
Where you are today is the result of all the choices you havemade up to this point.
If you want better, you must make better choices.You can eithermove ahead or stay behind.
Remember, weight loss is a choice. Its a choice, much like wechose to go to school to further our education or a choice totake a new job.
We only do things after we make the conscious decision to dothem and to put our heart into them.
You can want anything in life, but its what youre willing togo after that matters. Look at your list of goals that you haveidentified.
Are you willing and determined to accomplish each and every oneof those goals on the list?
Its that one small factor, the step between identifying yourgoal and choosing to go after it, that will determine whetheryou succeed at weight loss or not.
Simply having goals and choosing to accomplish them is whatdistinguishes successful people from those that merely wish.
It wasnt until I made the conscious choice to do a bodybuildingshow that I began making plans about how I was going to win it.
It had started with a thought about what I wanted and how I wasgoing to get it. But it wasnt until I made the absolute choiceto do it that I took it seriously.
Choice is powerful. Choice can be the ignition switch that firesup your vehicle that will allow you to reach your goals.
Like I said at the top. You can choose to have anything, beanything, or do anything. The choice is yours.
Begin using your power of choice. Make it a habit to chose whatit is you want in life and then resolve to get it. After youhave thought about what you want, choose to go after it. So manypeople live lives of quiet desperation because they do not makethe choice to act upon their dreams.
For whatever reason they are held back by fear and often timeschoose not to realize their dreams. Like I mentioned earlier, ifyou can dream it, you can achieve it.
Look over your list of goals you have written. I want you tomake the choice, right now, whether or not you are going to goafter your goals.
Choosing to go after your goals is like switching the “On”switch of a piece of machinery. Until you make the consciouschoice to get what you want, you are still in limbo. By makingthe conscious choice to go forward, you start the process oftaking steps to realize your goals.
Look over your list of weight loss goals. Are you going to makethe choice to go full steam. Is something still holding youback? I can tell you from personal experience, until you makethe choice to go after something, the likelihood of yourealizing that goal is slim.
About the author:
Lose body fat and gain lean muscle in the least amount of timepossible. Personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrunshows you exactly how: Visit
How to Burn Pure Fat and Lose Weight More Quickly
If you’re trying lose weight, maintain your weight, or sculpt your body, than you’re probably trying to discover how to burn pure fat. You want to know what you can do to make your body burn fat faster and more efficiently.
Well, take heart, there is a way to turn your body into an efficient fat burning, weight eliminating machine, but it involves work. The question is “Are you willing to work once you learn how to burn pure fat from your body?” because it will take some effort on your part.
Effort, you say, what kind of effort? Well, there is no miracle pill or supplement to make your body burn fat without any work on your part. But there are supplements to help you body burn fat more efficiently. However, for the purpose of this article, we’ll stick to the basics.
In order to rid your body of its fat stores, you must find a balance of diet and exercise that works. Ahh, exercise – yes, there is it is – there’s your magic secret to burning pure fat from your body.
Let’s start with some scientific facts here. During the first 15-20 minutes of exercising, your body uses its stores of carbohydrates to fuel your body. After this time, it taps into its fat stores. This means that you need to exercise for at least 20 minutes or more to be sure you’re burning excess fat.
Now, if your goal is to lose weight, then there are a few things to consider in your endeavor. First of all, you want to be sure that you’re losing fat and not muscle. Well, you might think, “Hey, weight is weight, right?” You couldn’t be more wrong.
First of all, you
definitely do not want to lose muscle weight. Although it’s true that muscle weighs more than fat, it’s also true that muscle needs more energy to operate. This revs up your metabolism and helps you to burn calories a lot faster, thereby making your body burn its fat stores for energy.
So, if you want to learn how to burn pure fat, then you need to learn how to build muscle. Okay, ladies, you may be thinking, I don’t want to look like some muscle bound body builder. But I assure you, this will not happen. Women are just not genetically built to bulk up, unless they have more testosterone than normal in their systems.
What will happen is that you’ll notice that you’re slimming down and your clothes fit better, even if the needle on the scale does not budge. Your body will become much more efficient at burning fat helping you to lose weight.
So if you’ve been killing yourself with aerobic activity and still are unable to lose those last few pounds, then building a little muscle very well may be the answer.
You can also find a treasure trove of weight loss and fitness information on our site at SeeweightLossResults.com. So be sure to visit us, look around and sign up for fitness article updates before you leave. For positive weight loss tips and reviews, you should visit our site at SeeWeightLossResults.com. Youll discover what it takes to lose the weight and keep it off for good with access to a treasure trove of weight loss tips, articles, ebooks and more. Be sure to sign up for our fitness updates while youre there.
Male Fretting
Menopause: Phytosterols
(Go ahead; try saying it, “Fi-to-ster-ols”)
Menopause (definition): The almost inevitable fretting byhusbands whereby they first anticipate (sometimes in sheerterror), the looming specter of being “outside the affections ofthe marital bedroom” looking in…
Lets concede the obvious. Menopause affects desire…and itcan affect marriage.
That concern is as old as civilization. Even Roman husbandsdreaded the onset of this problem associated with menopause.What was it they said?
“Hic astabo tantisper hac forma et factis frustra?”
(Rough translation: “Am I to stand idle and unnoticed, sohandsome and so heroic, all for nothing?”). Menopause does evoketheatrics in men at times.
Of course, menopause is really a condition which develops inwomen usually between the ages of 45- 50. Menopause occurs whenan imbalance between estrogen and progesterone causes symptomssuch as:
When The Going Gets Tough — The Tough Keep Going
If youve been in a job search for more than a few weeks you may be experiencing the feelings of defeat and despair, not to mention the urge to give up. Its been a tough year, and then some, for those who have lost jobs for whatever reason. Interviewing with no second interviews or offers coming in begins to wear thin – very fast.
Here are some tips to keep your spirits up when youre feeling down during this process.
1. Dont give up.
You may have heard some of these stories before but they remain inspirational.
. Thomas Edison patented 1,093 inventions in his lifetime, but it took him 10,000 attempts to make an electric light bulb work.
. Walt Disneys Mickey Mouse series failed to become an instant hit, but he kept trying and in 1928 he added sound and made it an electrifying success.
. Milton Hershey failed several businesses before he became the Chocolate King and built Hershey town. He even went bankrupt in his first business venture.
(Source Milana Leshinsky – http://www.accpow.com)
These are great successes-after-failure stories that couldnt have happened if these people hadnt continued to pursue their dreams. Anyone can give up — that’s easy! The challenge is to pick yourself up after a failure and move forward. That is what will set you apart from the pack.
2. Accept the ups and downs
Its not unusual to have highs and lows during your job search. Some days you may even feel like youre on an emotional roller coaster. Everything looks hopeful one moment with a job prospect ahead, and then it changes to dark and dismal in the next moment when you receive a rejection. Accepting the fact that this is a stressful time you are going through and that a great deal of it is out of your control will help you put things into perspective.
3. Give yourself permission to fail.
It is very disappointing when you feel like you aced the interview and then wait for the promised call that never comes. Be realistic – you arent going to get a job offer after every interview. Think of it this way, you didnt marry every date you ever dated (at least most of us didnt), and you arent going to get a job offer after every interview. And maybe thats a good thing, at least some of the time. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
4. Work on controlling stress
Stress becomes a problem when it begins to affect your lifestyle and health. Are you waking up in the middle of
the night or skipping meals because you are feeling really down or upset? You may need to talk to someone who is a professional to get some advice about relaxation techniques. Park and Recreation departments in most cities offer relaxation courses of some kind — yoga, pilates, aerobics, or stress control exercises — for a nominal fee, that could assist you in getting back on balance.
5. Continue to get out there
Study after study published continues to indicate that networking is still the number one way to land a job. Take advantage of every opportunity to be with groups of people. This encompasses everything from your childs soccer game to a Chamber of Commerce event. Informal networking can happen at any moment and when you least expect it. An example is of a man waiting for a bus. He struck up a conversation with another man also waiting for the bus and ended up getting a job lead and an eventual offer. No one can predict when an opportunity might come your way.
6. Prepare yourself
Preparing ahead of the interview will give you a definite advantage. What this means is getting focused about what you want the interviewer to know about you. You are presenting a picture of you with words. It is important to identify what makes you unique and what added value you can bring to the position. Reading through the job posting you are applying for and getting a sense of what it will take to do this job will help you look at the process from interviewers point of view. You want to let the interviewer know that you are the solution to the problem, and the best person for the job.
7. Keep in mind – you are not alone
Remember, it is an extremely tight job market and that for every job opening there are four or five equally qualified candidates standing in line behind you. It is essential that you are prepared, focused, and able to tell the interviewer what makes you unique and why you are the best person for the job.
Keeping upbeat is a part of your job right now. When you begin to give into the dark side you will project that to others. You want to stay as upbeat as possible, particularly while interviewing. Bringing confidence and energy to the interview are the two most important ingredients to connecting with the interviewer.
Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and an interview coach. Her books, *Interview Fitness Training Workbook* and *Boost Your Interview IQ* (McGraw Hill) have sold thousands of copies world-wide. http://www.InterviewCoach.com
Medicinal Treatments for Balding Men
The most commonly used drugs that are available to treat baldingare Minoxidil and Finasteride. Unlike Minoxidil, which is atopical product, Finasteride is an orally taken prescriptiondrug. It Is to be taken once daily. Both medications have beenstudied extensively. Theyre most successful at promoting
Its quite evident that hair plays an important role in apersons self image. After all, men are constantly bombardedwith ads that portray male sexiness. These ads employ youngmuscular male models with full heads of hair. But men are notalone! Women too, experience these internal struggles. Much likea woman is supposed to look stick thin and youthful, a man issupposed to look a certain way: strong and virile.
Those who want to play up to the image that theyre supposedto look like-can turn the page of their magazine and findanother advertisement. Ah, the solution-medication. Nowadaysthere are medications for everything! Weight loss, breastenhancement, skin
pigmentation, penis enlargement, and yes-hairloss and balding. Do these medications actually work?
Advertisements will promise you the moon AND a money backguarantee. They may even tell you that you have nothing to lose!Unfortunately, thats the farthest thing from the truth. Many ofthese medications rely on steroids, which can promote acne,irritability, insomnia, skin rashes, and…balding and hairloss. Imagine that? A hair loss product which has the sideeffect of balding. It happens!
In addition, a product which declares its ingredients “allnatural” hardly ever lists the exact contents and theirmeasurements on the bottles label. Products like or similarto Minoxidil and Finasteride are usually derived from companiesthat like to ride on the coat tails of others. If youre willingto give it a shot, do your homework and research the company andfind testimonials from other men like yourself. Why waste yourmoney and time trying product after product? Never purchase aproduct on a whim. Blind purchases often leave bald menvictimized. Contact the owner of the site who manufactures theproduct and ask directly. Inhairit offers an all naturalsolution to hair loss with minimal side effects.
About the author:
About The Author Raj Pandey is the creator of a
Coping With Stress, Its Effects On Your Skin And Health, And Turning Back The Clock
Stress comes in many forms, workplace stress, family stress, grief over loss of a loved one, etc… Some can be avoided, but as we know, many cannot. Some people handle stress better than others, and some even thrive onit.Regardless, stress takes its toll.
Stress has been proven to rid your body of many essential vitamins and minerals. Particularly vitamins C, E, and B. This leads to lethargy, lower focussed mental activities (clinically stress causes more erratic brain activity and a reduction in short term and long term memory), drying out and aging of the skin (in some), and in others a increase in the sebaceous gland activity – which usually brings postules, acne, and rosacea – which all bring more stress as we then become more entangled in how others view our physical appearance.
We cannot stop all stress, but we can take steps to stop or limit its toll on our skin and body. Take a full vitamin suplament every day. Eat a well balanced diet – especially fish meat like salmon (high in omega 3s which is proven to increase brain function and cellular activity, but it also is proven to reduce the aging process of the skin and make cuts and bruises heal faster). Eat more raw fruits and vegetables – atleast 5 servings per day – you will see a notable difference in 4-6 weeks and you will feel better (along with better colon health.
Exercise more often. Aerobic exercise has been proven to release powerful hormones that actually counteract the harmful chemicals and results of stress as it will also improve your bodys
abilities to cope with oxidants.
I cant say enough about meditation and prayer. Study after study have proven a reduction in every skin and body malody even cancer symptoms from people that pray and meditate daily. Take 20 minutes every day and do this you will also live longer.
The latest rage is skin peels for a quick fix. Skin peels will slough off the top layers of skin and reveal fresher, cleaner skin. The most effective are TCA peels and phenol peels (phenol peels are dangerous and should only be performed by a licensed plastic surgeon). TCA, trichloroacetic acid, is a medium depth skin peel that works on the most skin ailments – aging skin, sun damage, even has been proven to treat and cure acne. No other skin peel can safely do all that a TCA peel can.
So there you have it – clear, younger skin in 500 words. Great advice to follow and dont forget to always run anything new by your doctor. They are licensed for a reason and know whats best for you. by your doctor. They are licensed for a reason and know whats best for you.
About The Author
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com or by visiting or http://www.mdwholesale.com.
Medical Spa Menu Offers Hope for Long-Term Blemishes
A medical spa menu usually covers a range of services and treatments from pure cosmetic to deeper corrective treatments.
A basic medical spa menu may include:
- Face Treatments
- Body Treatments
- Corrective Skin Care
- Photorejuvenation
- Laser Hair Removal
- BOTOX Cosmetic
- Restylane
- Collagen
- Microdermabrasion
- Vein Treatments
- Cellulite Therapy
- Corrective Peels
Beyond that, some menus include exotic treatments auriculotherapy, herbal medicine, tui na massage and acupuncture, as well as the usual pampering treatments that go down so well.
As an illustration, here is a summary of the more common offerings:
Corrective Face Treatments
Non-surgical corrective facial treatments are designed to reduce common skin problems associated with aging skin, renew and rejuvenate the skin, balance the overall hue/tone of the skin and address mild acne issues.
Energetic Spa Facials
Energetic Spa Facials are a holistic way of caring for your skin and work effectively to nourish and maintain overall skin health and well being.
Photorejuvenation
Intense Pulsed Light technology corrects or improves a
variety of skin conditions, such as rosacea, broken capillaries, unsightly veins, reddened scars and photoaging due to sun damage. The approach is gradual, with noticeable results achieved over several sessions. Treatment hs been compared to the sensation of a small rubber band gently snapping against the skin.
Botox
Wrinkles are caused by the contractions of underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh, or frown. Botox partially blocks the nerve impulses to them, causing the muscles to relax. After the solution takes effect, the overlying skin is smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles still function normally.
Cellulite Therapy
This is a non-surgical treatment for cellulite, a little like massage. The treatment increases local circulation to tissue temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. This procedure is also used after body liposuction to the smooth the skin. A complete course of treatments generally involves two sessions per week for seven to nine weeks.
About The Author
Jenny Drake has a healthy interest in living life to the full. Her advice and writings are available for free download at Beauty Fitness Lifestyles.
Car Rental Tips and Advice
Lowest Rates Vs. A Good Bargain
Many people approach Car Rental as a lowest-price-possiblecontest rather than to concentrate on the value of the deal theyeventually would get, in terms of what type of car, whatsincluded (air conditioning, automatic gear shift etc) as wellas what type of service they are buying.
The thing is, Car Rental market is very competitive one andrates differences for comparable quality and service arerelatively small, sometimes as small as $10 to $20. These minuetprice differences are going to vanish in the wind when youconsider the long lines and lost time at the cheapest rentercounter, drop charges for remote destinations, late returnfines, and gasoline inflated rates as well as other servicecharges you didnt think about when you shopped for the “bestdeal”.
Dont get us wrong, we dont like to pay higher prices more thanyou do. We do recommend to shop around and check the variousrates available, especially when its so easy to do it via theInternet at comparison sites.
All we say here you need to consider other things beside theprice and when you compare please make sure you compare applesto apples and not apples to pears.
Things to consider when ordering a rented a car
Who is using the car, are you by yourself on a business trip oryou are traveling with the whole family? How much luggage areyou going to have, does the car you are thinking about is bigenough to have you all plus all your hand luggage and bigsuitcases? If not, consider to change to a mini van or a carwith extra large trunk.
Do you need an Infant seat or a child booster? make sure it ismentioned clearly with your order, usually there is a shortageof these seats and they are provided for extra charge. Check thestate laws for where you are traveling.A new law in Denver forinstance, requires Booster Seats for all 4 and 5 year olds whoare not 55 inches tall.
Do you actually need the car in the town or city at the firstfew days? If not, consider to take a taxi, a bus, a train or thehotel shuttle into the city and when its time for you to go outof town and travel around, then, rent the car from the citylocation and by that save up to 15% on Air-Port charges as wellas on city parking fees.
Are you going to a very warm and humid destination? If yes, itsrecommended to order a car with air conditioning, usually theprice difference is negligible, the problem is that its notavailable in all destinations like in some European countries.
Most major rental car companies allow for unlimited mileage inthe same state, but its a good idea to check their policybefore confirming. Many smaller local independent companiescharge mileage after 100-200 free miles per day.
As mentioned before price is not the only factor to considerwhen choosing a car rental company. If you choose a very small,no-name company, dont expect them to provide you with serviceacross all nation or continent, what would you do if the car isneeded to be replaced or serviced for some reason?
Frequent or Preferred Renter Programs and affiliations
Frequent renter programs, Like airlines and hotels, majorcar rental companies track their customers rental histories andoffer preferential service to loyal customers. Most of the majorcompanies offer frequent renter programs that are similar toairline frequent-flyer programs and hotel frequent-guestprograms.
Preferred renter clubs, Most major car rental companiesalso offer preferred renter programs or clubs (one example isthe Hertz #1 Club). When you belong to one of these clubs, youget preferential treatment, including automatic upgrades whenthose cars are available. You can join these programs at anytime, even if you are a first-time renter with that company.While basic-level club memberships are often free, higher-levelmemberships (as in the Hertz #1 Gold Club, which allows you tobypass the rental counter) generally come with a price tag. Whatmost people dont realize is that its often possible to avoidthe membership fee by simply writing or calling your car rentalcompany and asking them to waive it. They will do it because thecar rental industry is very competitive, and they want yourbusiness
If youre still faced with a steep rate, try getting discountsbased on your affiliations with organizations like AARP, AAA orothers. These discounts are usually not great, but they arebetter than nothing.
In addition, always check for corporate rates if applicable toyour situation.
Car Rental Insurance
Some of the Insurance terms seem to be confusing, lets try toclear them out first.
CDW – Collision Damage Waiver.
LDW – Loss Damage Waiver.
PDW – Physical Damage Waiver.
PAI – Personal Accident Insurance.
PEC – Personal Effects Coverage.
ALI – Additional Liability Insurance.
Many of the Credit Cards have most of these coverage, thereforeits not mandatory to purchase excessive coverage. Its betterto check this issue with
your travel agent, insurance agent andyour credit card company a head of time. Some Car rentalcompanies require that you show proof of insurance.
Also be aware that your personal insurance probably doesntapply to your rental car when traveling overseas. All this issomewhat complicated and at times confusing because there are noindustry standards for terminology and policies vary bylocations.
Important things to check and do before leaving theAir-Port
After a long flight and the waiting in lines for your luggageand afterwards for your keys at the car rental counter, it isunderstandable you just want to take the rented car and driveaway to your hotel, but wait! Here is a list of things you mustcheck first.
Start by making a careful check around the car, look for anysmall dents or scratches, in case you find some, dont be lazy,go back to the office and ask a representative of the rentalcompany to write down all of these dents, ask for a copy of thatreport. Other wise you might be responsible for damages youdidnt perform.
Open the trunk, make sure you have a spare tire, a jack and setof tools, there is noting more irritating than to find out inthe middle of nowhere that you dont have a jack when you needto replace a flat tire.
Many car companies will provide you with an extra key if you askfor one. This can come in handy for some of us who are absentminded.
It is recommended to spend some time to get acquainted with thecars features and switches, make sure you know where the lightsswitches are, how to operate the windshield wipers, the airconditioner and even set your favorite radio stations as well asset your side mirrors. It might be quiet frustrating to fightwith the new switches while driving, when all of a sudden itstarts raining.
Make sure you have a map and its better to spend few moreminutes and plan your driving route.
Last but certainly not least, If you have a lot of luggage,dont park the car in the parking lot and go for lunch, in manycountries, this is an easy target for the thieves, Its betterto buy some sandwiches and beverages in the air-port, or stopsomewhere along the way for refreshing but never leave the carunattended.
In case you are involved in a Car Accident
These are the most important pieces of information to collectfrom the involved parties: full name, mailing address, telephonenumber, insurance details, and drivers license number.
Also try to get the names and contact information of anyone whowitnessed the accident. Make a note of the vehicles make,color, brand and license plate number.
Try to pinpoint the exact time and location of the accident. Ifthe police get involved, ensure that you receive a copy of theirreport. Dont forget to inform your insurance agent immediatelyand notify the car rental company. They will let you know abouttheir accident procedure.
If you purchased insurance through the car rental company, theywill have to make the claim. If there is damage to the rentalcar, there will be much paper work to complete
Make sure any involved parties are ok. Any injuries should betaken care of ASAP.
Call the police and/or ambulance (if necessary), and then callthe car rental agency. Be as cooperative as possible. The carrental agency will have its own policies regarding accidents.
Exchange information with the affected parties. Try to recordeverything on the scene. Your notes should include details ofthe accident, identification of the autos and people involved,and the names and badge numbers of all emergency personnel.
Take pictures if possible. If you are on vacation, you willprobably have a camera handy already.
File an accident report with the police, and report the claim toyour own credit card company or insurance company.
When returning the Car
Make all necessary arrangements to return the car on time, thatincludes looking the location in the map especially if youreturn the car in a foreign city.
Late return charges are high and arbitrary, secondly, if you arelate, you probably wont have the time to fill the car withgasoline yourself and the rental company will charge youexorbitant inflated gasoline rates.
In case you return the car in a city location on Sunday, itmight be that the station will be deserted, it will let you invia automated gate, make sure to take the card and leave it overthe dashboard, this is your recorded time of arrival.
In addition, lock the car, take the keys plus your rentalcontract and insert them into the designated box.
About the author:
_____________________________________________________________
This Resource Box Must Be Included With Your Article Copy!
_____________________________________________________________
Amit Laufer is a Writer, Internet Marketer & Netpreneur. MBA &Bsc. Computers Science. Hobby: Photography & Cars. Married withtwo Children.
Owner Editor of: http://www.car-rental-advice.com/
How to Become a Successful Dieter
7-tip Series: How to become a Successful Dieter!
What do thin people know that others do not? Here are the TOP 7 TIPS on how to “think” like a thin person, so that you can become one.
TIP #1: Stop Dieting!!
Or at least, stop calling whatever you’re doing a “diet.” Just the word “diet” alone is enough to make a person’s skin crawl.
Why? Because so many of us have tried special diets before only to lose control due to the severe restrictions by which these diets force us to live.
If we have been lucky enough to lose weight on any of these so-called diets, then statistically MOST of us have gained the weight back,
many of us with an extra pound or two for good measure (no pun intended).
So what’s happening? It’s all in our minds. Diets have bad reps, and your mind is very skeptical of dieting.
If you’ve failed at a “diet” before, you will fail at a “diet” again. So think of healthy weight loss as a lifestyle change- with specific dietary changes, but no outright restrictions. You’ll be happier, and slimmer, in the long run.
TIP #2: Eat Your Favorite Foods
Was that a mis-print? Nope.
I mean it when I say “eat your favorite foods”. Of course, eating does not imply gorging oneself on chips and donuts, but there is nothing wrong with these food items as long as you eat them only in moderation.
But what does moderation mean, anyway? If you listen to your body, it will tell you when it has had enough.
If you tend to over-stuff yourself, then you are probably eating too much!
But there’s nothing wrong with an Oreo Cookie or a handful of Tostado Chips every once in a while.
The only problem is the quantity in which we consume these so-called “bad” foods.
Of course, there are healthier alternatives to most snack foods, but if you’re going to crave something sweet or salty – EAT IT.
Just watch how much you’re eating and stop after one serving size.
Take what you are going to eat, and then put the bag away.
Then drink a glass of water, or a cup of peppermint tea.
And if you have trouble listening to your body at first, start reading the labels in order to understand how much is enough.
Mmmmmm.. Chocolate…
TIP #3: Listen to Your Body
Have you ever tried to talk yourself out of eating something sweet or salty, only to wait a few moments and end up eating it anyway?
Your conversation probably went something like this:
“Joe, you really shouldn’t eat that piece of pie. You had a piece yesterday, and you had ice cream on it, too. Don’t eat it – you’ll regret it.”
“Yeah, you know I did have that pie last night. I’ll wait and eat the rest of it tomorrow.”
“But maybe it will be bad by tomorrow. You shouldn’t waste that pie. It was so GOOD!”
“Hmmm. Maybe I’ll just have a tiny piece and save the rest for tomorrow. How would that be?”
“Well, I guess a little piece won’t hurt.”
And the pie is on the plate with your fork in your mouth before you can say, “A la mode.”
Here’s something to think about: Instead of trying to rationalize with your mind as to why you should or should not have that piece of pie,
try talking with your BODY about it.
This is a new concept to most people, but it really works. Ask your body what it needs.
Remember, food is fuel for your body. Your body knows if it needs proteins, fats, or carbohydrates.
Rarely will your body ask for pie. It is your mind that wants the pie.
But a little pie every now and again won’t hurt anything either.
Remember – Everything in moderation. The key here is to make healthier choices MORE OFTEN.
Learn to tell the difference and to listen to your body, and you will be on your way to a slimmer you in no time.
TIP #4: Move!!!
What do you mean “move”??!!?
What do you think of when I say the word “exercise?” I know what I think about. I think of sneakers and shorts and beads of sweat running down my face as I watch the aerobics instructor lead me through a complicated routine that I really couldn’t follow if my life depended on it. Well, I used to be able to follow those routines, but somewhere along the way, I got turned around and I can’t seem to follow their instructions anymore.
Exercise is often equated to “hard work.” And sometimes I just don’t feel like exercising. Can any of you relate?
Maybe “exercise” doesn’t create those feelings for you. If so – Great! Keep exercising!
But what about the word, “move?” Movement doesn’t have the same threatening connotations attached to it that many people feel with the word “exercise.” I have started a “movement program” now instead of an exercise program. What’s the difference? My movement program doesn’t require a background in gymnastics to perform, and I “move” as often as I can throughout the day. Movement has become a part of my daily routine, rather than a one-hour trip to the gym that I have to do 5 days per week (that doesn’t mean I never go to the gym. I still do! But now I go because I want to, not because I “have” to).
Movement means taking the stairs, walking through the parking lot, dancing in my living room,
playing a game of pick-up basketball, stretching, sitting on my Ball (you know those big, colorful balls you see at the gym or on TV?) so that my lower back is always working and I work on my posture throughout the day.
You see, movement is easy. And it can be fun, too.
Wouldn’t you like to go take the dogs for a walk in the park, and feed the ducks while you’re there? Or to go dancing with some friends? Or maybe you enjoy gardening or cleaning (okay, there have got to be SOME people who enjoy cleaning!)
Get off the couch and enjoy your life. MOVE every day.
TIP #5: Focus on the Progress, not on the Gap
So often when working with people who are trying to lose weight, I notice that many of them focus on how far away
they are from their goal, rather than acknowledging the progress they are making.
In losing her first two pounds on a program, one of my clients said, “Only two pounds! I still have 23 more to go!”
What kind of message do you think that sends to your subconscious mind?
Instead of focusing on the 23 pounds (or whatever it is for you) that you have NOT lost yet,
recognize and acknowledge yourself for the progress you HAVE made.
This will encourage and motivate you to continue on your weight loss path.
Sometimes it’s not easy, which is why a supportive environment, or a coach, can be a huge benefit in your success.
In any case, acknowledge yourself as often as you can.
And focus on your success!
TIP #6: Attract Your Perfect Body
Everything, everything, everything in our lives is a reflection of the vibration we are giving off to the universe.
If you want a healthy body, you can attract it, by becoming aware of the thoughts, feelings and emotions that are prevalent in your thinking about your weight. Everything in the universe is made up of energy (ask a Physicist), and this includes our emotions. If you emit positive emotions, you will attract positive results.
If you emit negative emotions, you will attract exactly what you say you don’t want in your life.
The Law of Attraction is a complex, yet very simple principle that has been clearly explained by Michael Losier in his book, “The Law of Attraction”.
Successful dieters understand that their thoughts and feelings lead to their results (your inner world creates your outer world).
TIP #7: Play
What does playing have to do with dieting? Everything!
If you perceive something to be hard, tedious, boring or no fun, your subconscious mind will do whatever it takes to take you out of the game.
But have you ever noticed that when you do something fun – something you love – the energy of that experience lasts for hours,
if not days, after the experience itself has ended?
That’s because you have raised your vibrational energy, and when you are in a higher vibrational state, life FLOWS with ease.
The same thing will happen when you “play” with your food! Okay, I know your mother always told you not to. But who’s watching?
When you take care of the part of you that wants to play, you will naturally be more loving towards yourself – and that includes in the food and exercise area of your life, too! So, make a Mickey Mouse in your pancakes. Go for a bike ride in the park, or spend an evening dancing! Whatever you do, PLAY!
Lighten up! Play is a critical factor in your success as a dieter and your overall life fulfillment, too.
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Medical question #2. Ovarian cysts. Part2
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a little bit different animal actually. Here is some genetic predisposition.
Classically: an overweight young female presents with oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, anovulation, acne, hirsutism, and or infertility.
What is what? Poly = many. Many, many, many men.
So PCOS means bunch of those bubbles in the ovaries. The follicles did not rupture on time, as they should. Oligo means a little. Meno is derived from menses. Rrhea means flow in Latin
So olygomenorrhea = flowing a little bit (less than it should).
A- is a prefix that means “No”. So, amenorrhea = no flow at all.
Hirsutism. I dont remember where it came from, but means hairy or hairiness. Actually excessive hairiness.
Causes of PCOD or PCOS (disease or syndrome) are obesity, genetic predisposition and some other causes of Luteinizing hormone (LH) excess.
There is a self-amplifying cycle:
LH stimulates theca lutein cells. Theca means sort of capsule. Doesnt really matter, just an anatomical term.
Those cells are special. They produce androstendione and testosterone. Androstendione and testosterone are actually male hormones. You know, bodybuilders use these hormones to get muscle bulk. You probably heard about those hormones. Sport doping uses testosterone.
So, athletes build their muscles and trash their liver.
Rumors say that a famous Hollywood actor used the hormones. Later he got liver transplant.
Though he always denied the use.
Anyway, female body converts androstendione into estrone (a weak estrogen). Fat cells do this. Estrone is a female hormone already.
Basically any body produces androgens (andros = man) and estrogens (female hormones). Just the proportion of those hormones makes us male or female.
The cycle happens in normal person as well.
The estrone stimulates pituitary secretion of LH.
Pituitary is a small gland in you brain. Pea Size.
Its small, but it sooooo powerful.
Pituitary has another name – hypophysis. Hypo means down, phys means growth, so this gland is growing from below the rest of the brain. Pituitary gets bunch of connections from hypothalamus.
Hypothalamus means “below thalamus”.
These two areas of brain regulate almost all the hormone production in organism.
Higher levels in brain hierarchy regulate them.
Hypophysis gets a command. Then it produces some intermediate messengers and hormones.
The hormones go into blood and control whole body.
Hormones are like orders, like messages to the rest of the body.
Brain may give quick orders: Signals go through the nerves. It is like a phone order or cablegram.
Brain also regulates organism through the hormones. This is like a mail order.
Sort of if the brain sends letters by regular mail. The hypophysis is the Post Office in this case.
PCOS kicks in when a woman is obese. There are more fat cells to convert
androstendione to estrone. Estrone has such effect that it stimulates pituitary secretion of LH.
LH in its turn goes back to those theca lutein cells we discussed and turns them on again, to produce more androstendione, which is again converted into estrone.
Self-amplifying cycle
In addition, that increased level of testosterone causes the hirsutism (she becomes hairy like a male) and acne in female.
In a normal person this cycle is probably designed to support the development of fetus.
Estrogen helps placenta to grow. Placenta supports fetal growth.
However, in a person with PCOD the cycle is going out of normal control. In this case LH causes growth of the cysts in the ovaries.
Why?
Because the corpus luteum cyst is partially made by overgrowth of those theca lutein cells. LH stimulates theca lutein cells.
Also, women with PCOS have intolerance to glucose (sugar) and resistance to insulin.
It means there is a lot of insulin (hormone that helps to utilize glucose mainly).
However excessive insulin does not work. Either receptors to insulin do not work or something else, but the glucose is not utilized. Hence, energy inside the cells drops. Hence, a big pile of other problems mounts. As if it is Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes is a different topic of discussion. For us, it is worthwhile to mention that people with diabetes are very much prone to any infection.
PCOS causes acanthosis nigricans also. Acantocytes are special skin cells.
Nigricans means
black in Latin. That thing looks like thickened pigmented skin. When you touch it, it feels like velvet. Usually it happens in axilla, neck, below breast, in inner thigh and vulva. So, mostly all those places where skin folds.
The treatment for PCOS includes different medications: oral contraceptives, progesterone,
glucocorticoids, ketoconazole, spironolactone, cyproterone, flutamide, cimetidine, finasteride, ovarian wedge resection, laparascopic electoracutery, mechanical hair removal, etc.
All methods break the cycle of overproduction. The medications are either hormones themself or hormone-like substances that occupy receptor site and prevent regular hormone to work.
The medications act on different levels. Normal hormones have very complicated regulation. There are loops and feedbacks in the pathways.
To suppress a hormone production or action, you give similar hormone or another hormone or non-hormone at all, that goes to the feedback loop and breaks it and so on. Its really long separate discussion.
Basically, you either decrease hormone production or shift ratio toward female hormones.
Another way, the best probably, is weight loss. No fat cells – no conversion of andrgoens etc. You can make conclusions yourself.
Its the first line of treatment.
For a simple follicular ovarian cyst (not PCOS) doctor rules out ectopic pregnancy. Then he may send patient home and repeat pelvic exam in 6-8 weeks. Especially, if the cyst was small, less than five cm in diameter.
For larger cysts, doctor would order pelvic ultrasound.
Most follicular cyst will resolve on their own in six to eight weeks. Though, a physician may give oral contraceptives. Again, this suppresses stimulation of cyst by hormones from the hypophysis. The hormones are named gonadotropins.
If the cyst is still there after 6-8 weeks, a suspicion arises that the cyst maybe malignant. Then doctor orders other studies. CT scan. Physician may perform surgical procedures also. He looks what is this cyst really.
Corpus luteum cyst is usually not treated. However, oral contraceptives may be used.
Rupture of any kind of those cysts leads to another story. Acute pain, bleeding into peritoneum.
Sometime bleeding is very severe and is true emergency. You need also to distinguish other process in the abdomen. For example, appendicitis looks similar. You can treat mild case of non-complicated cyst rupture with just observation. Appendicitis almost always requires surgery.
There are many other problems arise. Surgeon scratches his head: whats going on? Is this this or is this that? Here is the CT scan gives big advantage.
Now, going back to the question of Ms. L.
If the cyst was infected, I dont see a reason why a ruptured cyst wouldnt become infected.
Cyst content is very nutrient-rich. Remember? All those cells and their products are dedicated to feeding the oocyte (future baby). Should be very tasty for any bacteria.
Rupture may cause significant bleeding as well. This blood is also different from the blood in your vessels.
This blood is sitting in the pelvis, not moving, quickly clotting. Clotting prevents entry of white blood cells. “No flow” prevents entry of antibodies. Absence of flow prevents entry of other protective chemicals (complement etc).
So, it is very nutrient-rich media for bacteria growth.
They can go wild. Why not?
If a female had another pelvic infection before, that infection can flare up. In a normal person peritoneal cavity should be sterile. However, any gynecological or gastrointestinal infection may supply bacteria. Now, mix these bacteria with the content of the leaking cyst. It just destined to become infected.
Actually Ms. L later answered her own question in another e-mail. She had cysts multiple times and they became infected several times.
So, to answer the question:
Will the ruptured cyst become infected? Not necessarily. Rather not. Can it become infected?
Yes.
About the Author
Aleksandr Kavokin MD/PhD, Phila
http://www.kavokin.com
http://www.appendicitis.uni.cc/
Aleksandr Kavokin, MD1994 Russia,PhD1997 Russia – Immunology and Allergy, postdoc at Cancer Center at Med U of South Carolina, postdoc at Yale – Cardiology, Molecular Medicine. http://www.geocities.com/aging_rejuvenation/ http://www.appendicitis.uni.cc/ http://www.geocities.com/appendicitis_disease/
