6 Simple Steps For Getting Our Belts Around Today's Health and Wellness Issues

Recently there was a news flash which reported that the United States Coast Guard had upped the average weight per person by 25 pounds which means fewer of us would be able to travel on ships and ferries at the same time. At first I thought maybe they were overreacting but then I looked down at the 5 pounds I had packed on in recent months eating those dastardly ice cream sandwiches for desert and decided that it probably was true.

But then again was it really? I really didn't know for sure and decided to take a closer look at my neighbors, co-workers, fellow airport travelers, and friends. What I found was shocking as their belt sizes seemed to be growing faster than livestock on steroids and their general wellness deteriorating faster than a shopaholic can make it to the mall after hearing the word sale.

The next question was what has changed making those of us who are typically fairly health conscious to all of the sudden start moving in the wrong direction when it comes weight management and health and wellness.

The truth is many reasons for this are quite obvious.

The first obvious one would be that fatty high calorie food simply taste better and delivers a higher crave-ability factor. After all most people crave what they can't have and psychologists tell us that the subconscious mind doesn't do a good job of distinguishing between can and can't have. So by telling someone they can't have their chicken fried steak and gravy with cheesecake for dessert it actually only giving them more motivation to sneak off and indulge when no one is looking.

The second thing is stress. Stress causes the body to secrete hormones such as cortisol which cause the body to store fat. Here lately most of us would consider our stress levels to be somewhere between very high and very, very high due to finances, loss of job security, natural disasters, gas prices, relationship struggles, mortgage foreclosures, and so on and so forth.

There are other reasons as for the general decline in health and wellness but the two listed above are two of the most common.

So what can be done?

Most people know what they need to do to keep their waist size under control, blood pressure in a manageable range, cholesterol low, and reduce their chances of falling victim to a serious illness which puts life on hold but may need a casual reminder once in a while.

While the steps below have proven to be tried and true for me and my family they are not for everyone and certainly not intended to diagnose or treat any major illness. This article is meant to help you start the race toward returning to health and wellness rather than providing information for crossing the finish line.

Steps for maintaining and reducing belt size while encouraging wellness

*Stay active: If you can squeeze in 20 minutes a day to take a walk or participate in some type of light doctor approved exercise you might be surprised how much good it will do both in short and long-term. So dust off those walking shoes and get going.

*Don't eat too much: One of the best pieces of advice for me has been simply not to consume more calories than I will be able to burn. For example if you are behind a desk all day consuming 2000 calories or more for lunch will eventually end up as excess body weight.

*Control saturated fat intake: According to the American Medical Association a heart healthy diet includes only 10 percent or less of saturated fat. While few have the discipline to achieve this lofty goal it is not too difficult to keep it under 20 percent with a little effort.

*Don't forget about supplements: Supplements can play a valuable role in health and wellness when used in the right way. A few examples would be to take bilberry based remedies for eyesight, B12 to keep dangerous cardiovascular saboteurs such as homocysteines under control, and glucosamine and chondroitin to improve joint health.

*Mental health is important for both maintaining weight and overall health: When you are feeling bummed out it is difficult to stay active. Additionally, most of the pharmaceutical medications for mental health have a list of side effects just about as long as this article which could make alternative herbal and homeopathic remedies realistic options worth considering.

*Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep is terrible for both short and long-term health. Most sleep experts stress going to bed at a certain time and getting up at a certain time to help alleviate sleep deprivation. If you feel you might need a little help and don't want to trouble your doctor for a prescription there are a number of safe and effective homeopathic remedies currently available.

Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic consumer advocate for the use of alternative natural health products and supplements, with over 10 years experience in the field. To learn more about natural remedies for supporting current and future health visit Purchase Remedies.com

Relationship Tips - Simple Truths

There are some simple truths so basic that it seems impossible for them to remain so elusive to the general public.

One of those simple truths regards money. The key to having money, fiscal health and, in time, amassed wealth is - are you ready? - make more money than you spend. If you're not happy with your financial status then either earn more or spend less. Want financial security? Save. How much do you need? Name a number, pick a date you want it by and work backwards from there, including interest, and get started. It is simple math; if you can't figure interest, compounding and all of that, ask for help from a financial advisor or accountant.

The next simple truth is weight loss. If you want to lose weight the two key components to success are diet and exercise. If you eat a certain amount of calories you will maintain your current weight; eat a lesser amount and you'll lose weight. If you add exercise to your regimen you'll burn more calories so you can eat more or change the mix of calories and exercise and lose weight. Simple.

So why are so many books, CDs, seminars and magazines devoted to Money and Weight? If it's all so simple why do we need to spend billions of dollars being told what we already know?

Because simple isn't easy, that's why. And the same is true for relationships.

The simple truth about relationships is just as easy as the ones for money and weight loss. "Be OK with not being right, even when you are right". Take a moment to let that sink in. Please; it's important.

Consider this: have you ever tried to argue with a drunk? Ask someone when they are drunk if they are OK to drive or if they think they've had too much. They will answer that there's nothing wrong with them and, as their inhibitors have all been relaxed and their judgment literally impaired by chemicals, they might add that they have 'never been better'. Try to continue the conversation and you'll see they are just incapable of 'sobering up'; it's not a mental process, it's as a chemical and physical state.

Or try having a conversation with someone who is angry or scared. Depending on the extremity of the situation they are in a biologically programmed 'fight or flight' mode and can't reason correctly. This is why it is policy in many cities that police officers involved in a car chase are not allowed to leave their car at the end of the chase and must wait for back up. Having been in the perilous situation of a car chase, they are in an altered state of mind and not capable of the caution and neutrality needed to handle the situation (for more on this see Malcolm Gladwell's 2005 book, Blink).

In even the healthiest relationship there is bound to be arguing and when it happens you have two people who are, in a sense, of diminished capacity because both of them are addicted to being right. You're not addicted to being right? OK, I guess you're right. (Think about it...).

In the case of the drunk or the angry or sad person, or at the end of a car chase, what happens if the tactic you use is to apply the same energy back at the other person: two drunks, two yelling or crying people, two adrenaline junkies flying towards each other across space... It is a recipe for disaster and someone, if not both, will wind up hurting in some form and nothing will be resolved.

In a relationship, when nothing is resolved, the next step is detente and that starts with'd' and so does 'divorce'; if not married, it leads to breakup. The problem with divorce or break up is, of course, that about 95% of people go out, find someone else and then recreate the situation again and again. If only along the way they'd learned the simple truth: be OK with not being right even when you're right.

Now it's absolutely true that giving up being right, especially when you KNOW you're right (how often does that happen?!) is against everything we've ever learned. It has a precedent in the New Testament with 'if someone slaps you, turn the other cheek' and that all sounds good on parchment paper or in a holy sanctuary, but in real life?

The idea presented here isn't about asking you to become a victim or a punching bag. It's not just a rhetorical device either as in just saying 'You're right' without meaning it or in an annoying 'I know you are by what am I tone of voice'. Employing this idea is using a high powered tool that will save a relationship and empower the person wielding the tool.

Now you might still be reacting and resisting because of a million reasons including the next highest on the list, "But I always give in. Why do I always have to be the 'better person'?' and while that may be true, it doesn't pack any punch in the world of becoming a master of relationships.

Allowing yourself to 'not be right', even when you are right, gives you the chance to say, 'OK, I love you and I'll listen to you.' Sometimes 'being heard' is all your partner wants from you and is enough to diffuse even the most highly charged of situations.

On those rare occasions when you are NOT right, even when you knew/thought you were, you'll actually get to learn something too. Double benefit.

Now if you both agree not to be right, even when you are right, then what kind of a world would that produce? Actually a world of masterful communications, openness, communication and clarity but - OK who would want something as crazy as that?

Take the challenge; try this tool out and see what changes for you. But remember, as in money, weight and any of the 'big ticket' items in life we'd like to master, simple is not always easy; in fact it rarely is.

But is it worth it? You'll see for yourself.

James M. Lynch invites you to visit http://www.doityourselflifecoach.com and take a free e-course on LOVE and Relationships.

3 Simple Ways to Empower Your Health and Happiness From Inside Out!

Empowerment is not just about confidence and speaking up or taking risks. It's really all-inclusive - relationships, finance/career and health. Integrative empowerment involves spirit, mind and body. One of the reasons we struggle throughout life is that we are taught to compartmentalize ourselves.

There is too often a disconnect between how we really feel and what we do, or what we say. We talk about "pursuit of happiness" yet, when we or others attempt to come from an inner place of authenticity, if it does not fit inside of a narrow little box, there is not uncommonly, shame, guilt or blame heaped upon the one who finds a little courage to venture outside the "accepted" behavior for the group they currently associate with.

Well, I think it's time to talk about how these dynamic impacts in a negative way everything from your health and aging, to whether or not you die with your joy and happiness locked deep inside of you. Over the many years I spent practicing medicine, I found that the people who were happiest, healthier and had the happier relationships tended to be open-minded, less concerned about what others thought of them and more likely to have a sense of humor or playfulness.

When we think that acting like an "adult" means that we have to be "serious", or that to be successful we have to "work hard" or that health comes from focusing on avoiding being sick - we disempower ourselves in all of these areas. These are just common myths, common beliefs.

Just because a lot of people see life this way, does not mean that it is the best way, and certainly not the only way. As you may recall, the majority at one time also thought that the world was flat. What I have found is that, while there are principles or "secrets of the universe" that when followed work no matter what culture, century or educational level you apply them to, most of the stuff we believe is just a bunch of hand-me-down beliefs that may no longer apply to the current times or be in your best interest.

For example, happiness is not something that can really be obtained outside of you for any significant time. Haven't you noticed how transient our feelings can be when tied to some person, place or thing? Or how about working hard - why can't we be successful without all of the "sacrifice" and struggle? Of course we can, but if you only see life this way - this is the way that your nervous system will cause you to focus to "make you right".

In fact, if your success comes easy, if you have this belief of hard work and struggle, you may sabotage yourself just because you feel guilty about life being so abundant for you. Hopefully, you get the point - much of the way we look at life is making our experience hard and full of struggle not because it has to be this way, as much as it is because this is the way we expect it to be.

You do have the right to change your mind. In fact, that is the only way you can let new, more empowering information in.

Here are 3 simple ways that you can switch your paradigm to one that is more likely to give you results tending toward more health and happiness and I use them all and they are working for me. Let me make it clear that I use to also believe, very much so, that life was hard and that success took much struggle and preventative health meant, "avoiding disease".

For Mind Health:

1. Make it your business to escape the trap of all work and no play -

examples:

Get uncomfortable and play at the beach, get messy and wet in the sand, join a group that sets an intention to go on "play dates", watch funny movies, this could be a long list. Let your imagination and "inner kid" come back to life. This is the best way to "anti-age" yourself. The point is, stress is a killer, accounting for as much as 90% of all visits to primary care doctors. When you play and relax, you counteract the cascade of the stress response which damages your brain cells, - literally.

For Body Health:

2. Of course, exercise and plenty or rest, but also some less often realized ideas include focusing on health and instead of fearing that you will be the next cancer victim. Worry actually weakens your immune system. Well, guess what? A weakened immune system makes you more susceptible to cancer and other diseases. Hence, the fear that you have is making you more likely to experience the very thing you want to avoid.

Your brain and mind cannot tell the difference between something vividly imagined and something really happening. You may just be scaring yourself to death with all of your fear of having a disease.

For Spirit:

3. Spirit is not the same as "religious" though some people do use the term interchangeably. Happiness is generally a response to something we want. The key to peace of mind and joy though is to either desire without "needing" and wanting to control or hold on. It has been so empowering for me to realize that I cannot micromanage the Universe and it is futile to try. It is also better for my health and mind. It just makes for much resistance and unhappiness and blocks the joy that can only come from within. Joy/happiness that is lasting is coming from our core, our spirit and looking for it outside ourselves is looking for it in "all the wrong places". The belief that you can "be happy when _________ is one of the most common self-sabotaging myths going. Let it go.

These are three real and lasting yet uncommon ways to empower up from the inside out. Notice that they all overlap in many ways, as our mind, emotions, body and spirit are one - all interconnected and until we start to bring these pieces of ourselves into a whole unit, we are not very likely to find the joy, abundance and peace of mind that a truly empowered life can bring.

Website: Visit http://www.ValenciaRay.com for your free jump-start report & audio, "7 Common Myths That Block Your Vision for Your Life - And What to Do About It"

Valencia Ray MD is a former eye surgeon who with clear intention sold her medical practice to now show women entrepreneurs and professionals how to eliminate blind spots that they don't even know are limiting not only how they see themselves, but also limits their vision for business success, happy relationships and good health.

Every week she gives uncommon tips and strategies in her Mind Muscle Minutes and blog, to expand your vision for your business, relationships and a healthy lifestyle, and how to make it happen! You can claim your free reports and learn more at http://www.ValenciaRay.com

Sexual Health: 5 Simple Ways to Boost Sexual Vitality

Ready to put the spark back in your love life? We've got all the juicy secrets to boosting sexual vitality and creating a more nurturing, loving relationship.

Healthy digestion not only improves your physical well-being and reduces risks of illness and disease, it can also boost your sexual health and deepen the intensity of your relationship. Today, I'll talk about the top 5 eating-related lifestyle adjustments you can make to invigorate your sex life.

Healthy digestion is an important first step in maximizing the intimacy and endurance of your relationships - specifically, how you absorb foods impacts your sexual vitality. To add passion to your sex life, try these five simple ways to improve digestion:

1. Sit down to eat

The stress of eating while doing other tasks, such as running, standing, driving, doing business, concentrating, and reading, can lead to ulcers and poor digestion. Sitting down to eat focuses your attention on the present moment, so you can fully enjoy your meal and your partner's company without distraction. This simple step not only improves digestion, but also cultivates appreciation for your food and relationship.

2. Chew your food

Digestion begins in the mouth. Amylase enzyme in saliva breaks down carbohydrates so the body can more easily absorb them. As complex carbohydrates (like brown rice) are converted into simple sugars, they become naturally sweeter. Chewing foods 50-100 times not only improves digestion, it also allows you to more easily embrace the sweetness in life, including being with your partner.

3. Eat at regular times

A regular mealtime schedule brings rhythm to your daily routine. When your digestion functions on a predictable cycle, you are in harmony with the natural order, and your relationships with people, animals, food, and yourself are more balanced.

4. Eat whole foods

Over time, eating rich, heavy, or greasy foods, such as meat and hydrogenated oils, burdens digestion and blocks sexual function. Cooked whole foods, like leafy greens and grains, nourish digestion and help the body cleanse and revitalize your reproductive organs.

5. Eat a moderate amount of food

Skipping meals, dieting, overeating, or under eating can all weaken your digestion, which becomes overworked and exhausted. Eating a moderate amount of food restores digestive function and boosts sexual vitality as you absorb more nutrients and energy.

By improving your digestion, you'll strengthen your body from the inside out. As you learn the art of eating, your relationships will become sweeter as well.

Julie S. Ong is Your Guide to Macrobiotic Living and author of The EverythingR Guide to Macrobiotics (Adams Media, 2010). She helps couples boost energy, improve sexual health, and nurture loving relationships through better ways of eating. To find out how she can help you take your relationship to the next level, visit her site at http://www.everythingmacrobiotics.com. Copyright 2010 Julie S. Ong.

Success and Goals - Follow Some Simple Steps to Achieve Health, Relationship, and Financial Success

Success is the feeling inside of you when you know that you are achieving your goals in the areas of health, relationships, and family. You may be seeking success in all of these areas, or just be focusing on one area for the present time. In any case, you can enjoy this feeling that comes with success by following a few simple steps to ensure that you are taking steps in the right direction.

Write down the success goal you most want to achieve. Be as specific as possible. For example, don't write down that you want to make lots of money, because that is much too vague. Instead, write down the exact amount of money you want, the date by which you want it, and the exact manner in which you will receive it. You can always alter or amend your success goals, but start out by being as thorough as possible.
Now write down the steps you will need to take to get you from where you are currently to where you want to go. This may take some time for you to write down, but it will provide you with a road map to get to where you want to be.
See what you must learn I order to achieve your goal in this area. Do you need to take a class, find a mentor, or read some books to learn what you will need to know? If so, write that down and begin to do your research. Everything in life is a learnable skill, so get started now and learn what you need.
Every morning and every evening, look at what you have written. Make any changes you need to make and write down how you are feeling after taking a step to get closer to your success goal.


By doing this on a regular basis you will achieve success simply by focusing your attention on what you want.

And now I invite you to find out more by visiting http://www.SuccessAndYourLife.com to learn what many of us now know. I have used these principles for almost two years now and have achieved great financial success in my life, so I know you can do it as well in your life.

Sexual Health: 3 Simple Veggies to Spice Up Your Sex Life

Want to put the spark back into your relationship? Has your relationship grown stale and lacking in the intimacy department? We've got the nutritious yet tantalizing recipe for greater closeness, romance, and satisfaction.

Eating whole foods is a naturally healthy way of living that not only improves well-being, but can also enhance the quality of your relationship. Today, I'll talk about the top 3 simple veggies to include in your recipes to spice up your sex life.

Food is an important ingredient in the growth and vibrancy of your relationships - specifically, foods that nourish whole health, such as organic vegetables. To spice up your sex life, try eating these three simple veggies:

1. Root vegetables

Whole vegetables include all portions of a vegetable: the roots, joints, and leafy greens. Some examples of root vegetables include carrot, burdock, daikon, parsnip, and kuzu root. Because roots grow downward, life force energy (known as chi in Chinese) is downward and grounding. Roots nourish the lower half of the body, including the reproductive organs, resulting in increased sexual vitality. Rich in B vitamins and minerals, roots also provide strength and endurance, both of which are imperative for a thriving, passionate relationship.

2. Round vegetables

The center of a plant, between the root and greens, possesses stabilizing energy that balances and nourishes the body's middle organs. Round vegetables, like winter squash, cabbage, and onion, contain abundant centering energy. Naturally sweet and high in complex carbohydrates, these foods allow you to embrace the sweetness in life, including spending time with your partner. Round vegetables help to strengthen the connection between you and your partner, creating a deeper and more meaningful relationship.

3. Leafy greens

While roots provide strength, greens add a light, relaxing quality to the body. A balancing contrast to dense and heavy foods, leafy greens-such as collards, kale, and dandelion greens-are ideal for cleansing a woman's reproductive organs. Because they grow upward, they lend expansive energy to the upper half of the body, including the heart. Leafy greens help you become more receptive to the love and joy that comes from a nurturing relationship. Benefiting the lungs, they also increase social interaction and communication. Dark, leafy greens are rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin C.

By incorporating high quality whole foods in your diet and embracing true health and wholeness, your inner beauty will naturally shine through. And as a wonderful bonus, your relationships will become deeper and more intimate.

Julie S. Ong is Your Guide to Macrobiotic Living and author of The EverythingR Guide to Macrobiotics (Adams Media, 2010). She helps couples boost energy, improve sexual health, and nurture loving relationships through better ways of eating. To find out how she can help you take your relationship to the next level, visit her site at http://www.everythingmacrobiotics.com. Copyright 2010 Julie S. Ong.

How to Have Money, Love, Great Health, Success - It's Simple If You Properly Apply a Universal Law

Yes, you can have what you want. Is it money? Is it love? Is it health? Is it success? You can have what you want. You can have it all. How do you do it? You decide. Life is a decision. You can have money, happiness, health, success. You decide.

Is it possible in this economy? YES. It is especially possible because of this economy. It's possible because while everyone is taking the elevator down getting more and more negative by the day, you decide to get more and more positive and more and more positive will come your way.

This economy is a great demonstration to us of how the universe works. Negative collects negative like lint collects lint. Check out the news if you don't believe negative is collecting negative. On second thought, please do not check out the news. The news is the negative that is generating the negative.

The good news is, as you watch this phenomenon of more and more negative cascading downward, you can see by the very same universal law, you can spin upward. Just as negative collects negative, positive attracts positive. The more positive you get, the more positive comes your way.

Money, love, health, success, are all synonyms with positive. As you get more positive, your get more money, as you get more money, you get more love, as you get more love, you get more healthy, as you get more healthy, you get more success. All those words are interchangeable.

You can see that by witnessing what is happening with the negativity going on --- negativity generated by people believing what the news is telling them. You can see the more negative, the more unhappy, the more unhealthy, the more non loving, the more and more negative and scared people are getting in a downward spiral.

Decide to use that law in your favor. Watch the universal law so obviously at work with all the negativism. Decide to be positive in spite of all that is going on and decide to use the same law to get more and more positive. Decide to collect positive, decide to spin upward where you can have the money, the love, the happiness, the health---all the goodness of life.

It's just a decision.

You do not have to be run by the negativity in the world. Be positive in spite of all of that and watch what happens. You will be very pleasantly surprised.

The Release Technique http://www.releasetechnique.com shows you how to implement the universal law positive attracts positive. You're invited to experience a FREE email course sampler PLUS an opportunity to get a free info booklet and audio CD. Click here to get your free gifts . Learn that life is YOUR decision. Go to releasetechnique.com for more information or to sign up now.

Larry Crane has been teaching The ReleaseR Technique for over 30 years.