More Steak Please

After advising dieters for years to satisfy their hunger with liberal amounts of steak, eggs and other saturated fats, the promoters of the Atkins diet now say that people on their plan should limit the amount of red meat and saturated fat they eat.

Responding to years of criticism from scientists that the Atkins version of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat regimen might lead to heart disease and other health problems, the director of research and education for Atkins Nutritionals, Colette Heimowitz, is telling health professionals in seminars around the country that only 20 percent of a dieter’s calories should come from saturated fat. Atkins Nutritionals was set up by Dr. Robert C. Atkins to sell Atkins products and promote the diet.

An Atkins spokesman said Ms. Heimowitz has been giving these seminars for five years, but that they do not represent a departure from the original premise of the diet.

Atkins representatives say that Dr. Atkins, who died last year, always maintained that people should eat other food besides red meat, but had difficulty getting that message out. There has been a revision in expressing how the diet should be followed, not in the diet itself, they say.

But in their consumer publications, Atkins officials have never set limits on saturated fat, and Atkins is widely known as the diet that lets you eat all the meat you want.

Dr. Atkins did more than anyone else to popularize the idea that dieters could eat fat and lose weight. As millions followed his advice, sales of red meat soared and steakhouses grew in popularity. His book ”Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution” has sold 15 million copies. Atkins Nutritionals reported $100 million in revenues for 2002.

The change comes as Atkins faces competition from other popular low-carbohydrate diets that call for less saturated fat. A book on one such plan, the South Beach Diet, came out in April 2003 and has sold more than five million copies. Atkins representatives made the revision, Ms. Heimowitz said, because ”we want physicians to feel comfortable with this diet, and we want people who are going to their physicians with this diet to feel comfortable.”

The Atkins regimen remains a high-fat diet. But Atkins officials are specifying the amount that should be saturated — the kind that comes from meat, cheese and butter — and the amount that should be unsaturated — the kind that comes from most vegetable oils and fish. The revision places more emphasis on fish and chicken.

Paul D. Wolff, chief executive of Atkins Nutritionals, said the company is trying to get its message out clearly. ”The way the book was promoted was, here’s the program that is counterintuitive,” he said. ” ‘You can eat a lot of bacon and steak.’ It was the marketing of the book. The media saw it as a sexy story.”

”Perhaps what was communicated in the past was unclear,” he said. ”We would agree with that.”

So why not tell people straight out that you can’t eat all the steak and eggs you want, Mr. Wolff was asked.

”Interesting question,” he said as he hung up to catch a plane.

The clarification came as a surprise to Atkins dieters who were interviewed. ”A lot of people will be totally shocked,” said Ellen Bain, a graphic designer in Brooklyn. The message she said she had taken away from reading Atkins books and Web sites was: ”The fat in the diet is very good for you; it doesn’t make any difference what kind of fat it is. There are no limits of any kind in the meat department, like steak and eggs for breakfast, a burger for lunch and beef stir-fry for dinner.”

Ms. Bain, who said she has lost 48 pounds on the Atkins diet since July 1, said, ”Is it possible that now they are revising their thinking?”

Beef, pork, lamb and butter were on the list of ”foods you may eat liberally” in ”The New Diet Revolution,” first published in 1992; its update is No. 1 on the New York Times advice, how-to and miscellaneous paperback best-seller list.

”Atkins for Life,” Dr. Atkins’s newest book, published a few months before his death, says: ”You should always eat a balance of different types of natural fat.” The precise proportion of saturated and unsaturated fat was unspecified, Ms. Heimowitz said, because ”trying to tell consumers to do math is futile.”

Russ Klein, a marketing executive, who has been on Atkins since Dec. 21, interpreted the phrase ”foods you may eat liberally” to mean ”eat until you are full.” And, he added, ”I think it’s probably true you can eat all the red meat you want.”

Ms. Heimowitz said people read the phrase ”eat liberally” as a license to gorge on red meat. ”Not making a distinction between one kind of protein and another, that was a mistake,” Ms. Heimowitz, ”and that is why we had to write another book, to get the story straight.”

But, she added, ”Even in the old book it says ‘eat until you are satisfied but not stuffed.’ ”

Total fat in the revised Atkins diet remains much higher than other diets recommend: 60 percent of the calories are still derived from fat, twice the level recommended by the Agriculture Department. Of that, one-third can be saturated fat — also twice the level recommended by the department. The rest should be poly- and mono-unsaturated fats.

That means that a person who eats 1,500 calories a day could eat a 17-ounce strip steak every day, according to Mindy Hermann, a registered dietitian. After the diet’s first phase, the amount of fat allowed drops to 55 percent, but the percentage of saturated fat stays the same.

Dr. Atkins said that carbohydrates caused obesity and eating fat helped regulate levels of insulin, which helps produce body fat. Ms. Heimowitz said, ”Saturated fat isn’t as much of an issue when carbohydrates are controlled; it’s only dangerous in excess when carbs are high.”

But Dr. Frank M. Sacks, a professor of cardiovascular disease prevention at the Harvard School of Public Health, scoffed at those scientific claims. ”What they are saying is ridiculous,” he said. The revision, he added, ” has nothing to do with science; it has to do with public relations and politics.”

The medical establishment largely disputes Dr. Atkins’s reasoning and says that high levels of saturated fats are dangerous.

Dr. George L. Blackburn, associate director in the division of nutrition at Harvard Medical School, said the diet’s new version is ”definitely healthier,” but that ”all of the studies we have on Atkins are based on the Atkins of the 1970′s: eat all you can as long as you keep carbs out.”

Why SEO, Brings More Value to the Local Advertiser

SEO can bring local advertisers more business than traditional advertising, by following a few simple steps. There is a disconnect between the term, “World Wide Web” and how the Internet is actually used. Yes we can reach around the world and watch videos of local beach surfers on the isles of the sea, but when we need to find a scooter shop or find someone to re-upholster our couch the, “very local web” magically appears. The local web is segmented in the minds of the Internet surfer with help of some carefully planned and executed Search Engine Optimization. This is how a typical search goes:

First we go to Google and look for “scooter”, but the search shows results for mobility scooters, electric scooters, and moped scooters. But we want to get our scooter repaired, so now it is time for the second search with the term “scooter repair”, and the results are narrowed down to just the type of scooter service we are looking for. But there is still a problem. We are seeing results for Internet scooter resellers, Scooter shops in other Cities or even other States. Time for the third search term, “scooter repair Orem”, and we then see the “very local web” come into view. This type of search happens for all kinds of products and services, and tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of searches like this happen every day.

In Orem Utah, Endurance Scooters is a local scooter dealer who has a repair shop, sells new scooters, and sells parts locally and on the Internet as Scooter Stock. When we search on the term “scooter repair Orem” the first page of results shows seven or eight links that will lead users to Endurance Scooters or Scooter Stock, without any Pay-per-click advertising. The owner reports over ninety percent of the business come in from Internet users. Why does the business owner dominate the first few pages of an Internet search….. You guessed it SEO. Search Engine Optimization works wonders on the local level; it is easy to make a big splash in a small pond, using mostly free methods of SEO.

The steps are simple; we will use the previous example as a case study, but remember these steps can be used for most local business, products and services.

Step One: We need to get a free website evaluation from several SEO consulting firms. Often many of us work to get a website up, but do not look beyond that. The most common issues that come back from any free evaluation will center on meta tags, key words, page descriptions, and content related issues. If you are a scooter repair shop, be sure your meta data has “scooter repair” in the mix; be sure you have a landing page devoted to scooter repair. Somehow get your website fixed. Generally the cost is reasonable and can be done by the same people who designed your website, do not spend thousands for this, one or two hundred is plenty, and it can often be done for much less.

Step Two: Write a blog on the website devoted our products and services and how they are available in our Town or City, this is very important, also we need to include in our blog, our local address and contact information. We will use our Town name, product or service several times in the blog, but do not over do it; our blog needs to be useful and interesting. The length of the blog entry will need to be two hundred words or better, that sounds like a lot of writing, but it is not, it is about one half of a type written page. Cost for this step is free, just your time and the time of a good friend to proof read our blog before posting. If we must pay someone to write something on our blog, do not spend more than twenty five dollars, or we have spent too much.

Step Three: We know our address and phone number, so go signup in as many local Internet directories as you can. Google has a local directory, super pages, newspapers, Television and Radio stations often have Internet directories, professional associations, and government. One thing we must do, is put a website link to our product or service landing page, from step one. This step can be done at little or no cost, we can even have an administrative assistant do this work.

Step Four: Time to show off with some article marketing, we are in business offering our product and services because we are experts in what we have to offer. Let’s take that knowledge and share it, write a few articles about us and our services. If we own a scooter repair shop, write about changing the oil in a scooter, or how to store a scooter in the wintertime or how to find parts for scooters. You can have staff members write articles about something they know best. We need to make the articles informative, useful, and fun. Try to say with general topics like routine maintenance, or tips for making a product purchase more useful or last longer or get more value out of it. Do not write articles that give out competitive advantages or trade secrets or how to do the extraordinary things we can provide, be helpful, but not overly helpful. We can hire people to write for us, the cost for each article should be no more than twenty five dollars. With our articles in hand, post them to websites focus on publishing articles, some sites are “how to” sites, some are industry specific, others publish categorized articles like Buzzle. Once again the most important part of an article is to place a website link to our websites, that is what I am doing with this article by putting in a link to iXod Search Engine Optimization. This allows an incoming links to our websites, and another opportunity for the search engines to provide information about our company and put the link in the search results. Posting and publishing our articles can be done for free as well, it is a bit tedious and time consuming, this task can also be hired out for two or three hundred dollars.

Step Five: Do the math and watch the results, for the cost of a modest print advertising campaign, we have Search Engine Optimization working for us, and unlike Print, Radio, or Television, our efforts are visible on the Internet long after the last advertisement is played on the Radio or tossed away. Now you know why SEO brings more value and huge cost savings to the local advertiser.

Oaxaca To San Cristobal De Las Casas And Palenque, And More: A Driving Tour

Alvin Starkman  M.A., LL.B.

Introduction

This 2,000 kilometer driving tour serves the needs of vacationers to Oaxaca who also want to take in the sights in central Chiapas, as well as those who want to at least consider visits to the Pacific coastal resorts in Oaxaca and the Gulf beaches and cultural sights in the state of Veracruz … all without foreclosing a side trip to Puebla. The south central circuit of Mexico provides travelers with a leisurely and culturally diverse driving segment within the context of a two or three week vacation, with virtually no backtracking. 

 

For this particular trip, our first day took us from Oaxaca to Tuxtla de Gutiérrez, then to Chiapa de Corzo.  After visiting the impressive lookouts at the Parque Nacional Cañón del Sumidero the following morning, we carried on to San Cristóbal de las Casas where we spent two days in the city and visiting nearby villages.  The following morning we drove to Agua Azul, and then on to Palenque, touring the ruin the following morning.  That afternoon we continued through Tabasco, then Veracruz, spending our final night at Orizaba.  Our sojourn concluded with a return home to Oaxaca, via Puebla.  As a result of personal time constraints the excursion lasted only six days.  It easily could have been extended by a week or more, taking in many additional sights and cities.  Accordingly, while we saw many of the highlights noted in the tour books, a close examination of all that is available is highly recommended, in particular for those with time to spare.

 

For most of the drive the highways were excellent.  We passed through 14 toll booths and nine military checkpoints, at the latter having been stopped, questioned and required to pop the trunk, only once.   We did experience, however, one disturbing incident involving state police, in Acayucan, Veracruz, noted as an Addendum.  It convinced us to deviate from our otherwise steadfast rule against night-time driving.  

 

Distinct from Oaxaca, in Chiapas there is signage encouraging drivers to use the paved, wide, right hand shoulder; warning that physical abuse of women is met with jail time; cautioning that the fine for littering is ninety times your (daily) wage; and along many stretches of two lane highway there are small home-made signs indicating where gasoline is for sale (from householders; sometimes in plastic 10 or 20 liter containers out front as your notification).  In addition, one encounters checkpoints aimed at regulating and policing the transport of animals.

 

Oaxaca to San Cristóbal de las Casas

  

The drive from Oaxaca to San Cristóbal takes about 8.5 hours, but is best done in two segments, with an overnight, assuming you want to visit more than one sight en route.

 

As you leave Oaxaca for the drive towards Mitla along Highway 190, fill up with gas, since there are lengthy stretches of highway without stations after you turn off and head towards the coast.  You’ll approach that first interchange after close to a half hour of proceeding along straight, essentially flat highway.  Take the 190 cut-off to Tehuantepec / Matatlán.  After about five kilometers of rolling hills, you’ll reach the “world capital of mezcal,” Matatlán, with production facilities and shops peppering the roadsides for about three kilometers.   The billowing smoke is from deep pits being readied for baking agave, and to a lesser extent the stills fueled with firewood. 

 

For the next hour and a half you’ll be climbing, at times considerable inclines, then descending into fertile river valleys, along curvy, well-paved yet at times repaired highway. If you hadn’t filled up for gas earlier, do so just beyond the first military checkpoint, an hour into the drive, at San Pedro Totalapan.

 

The predominant vegetation is agave under cultivation — occasionally on the steepest of hillsides — and mixed brush, with pole cactus and palm interspersed.  Towns are encountered, with small stores, restaurants, pharmacies, mechanic shops, and even a guest house at about the two hour mark, in San José de Gracia.  In the area around El Camarón you’ll one again encounter a few fábricas de mezcal.

 

Your final descent towards the coast begins at about three hours into the drive, when you’ll finally find yourself speeding along straight-aways.  Once you reach Marilú, you’ll feel you’re in the tropics, with signs offering fresh fish (mojarra) and cold coconut milk. 

You’ll then have the option of heading up the coast to Huatulco, or down towards Salina Cruz, Juchitán and Tehuantepec.  

 

The new toll road to Chiapas, along Highway 200, has an interchange which can potentially create a bit of confusion.  At kilometer 240 of the trip, more or less, you’ll encounter a traffic circle with signs which do not assist in terms of reaching your destination.  Take the exit which includes the words María Romero, and then ask to ensure that you have the right highway.  Traffic and pedestrian activity, at least as of early 2009, are sparse.  You’ll be heading towards La Ventosa, so when you see a sign so directing you, you’ll know you’re on the right road.  At about four hours into your trip, near kilometer 270 of your day’s drive, you’ll pass through the La Ventosa toll booth, with clean washrooms and a gas station close by.  From this point, until your arrival at Tuxtla, you’re home free.

 

For the next 60 kilometers you’ll be driving across flat winding plains.  There’s a stretch of 15 kilometers with two sets of large white windmills, very unusual and impressive to the eye, the second set with power generating equipment apparent. There are thereafter a couple of provisional checkpoints along sections of new, and then old and badly pot-holed road in the process of being repaved.

 

Your arrival at San Pedro Tapanatepec follows along good highway traversing mango orchards, with a bit of ranching.  In town you’ll find a gas station, Banamex, etc.  After passing through the next military checkpoint, once again you’ll begin your climb into the mountains, arriving in Chiapas approximately six hours into the drive. 

 

The approach to Tuxtla is uneventful, marked by continuing periods of ascent and descent, stretches of plains, and traveling through a couple of small cities. Upon arriving you’ll encounter a traffic circle, easy enough to navigate.  You are not required to enter the city, but rather, will be traversing a number of  overpasses in the course of about 20 minutes.  You’ll be passing high above and to the left of the city, then descending towards the fork in the road leading you to Chiapa de Corzo.  Note that the cut – off is not well marked, so when you see the choice to veering to the right or left, turn off to the right. 

 

The two main attractions which you may find at Tuxtla and / or Chiapa de Corzo are the zoo and the Cañon del Sumidero.  Both are easily accessible via Chiapa de Corzo, but could require a bit of backtracking.  The advantage of staying in Chiapa de Corzo is that it’s quaint, you do not have to enter the metropolis of Tuxtla de Gutiérrez, and it makes for an easy morning beginning for a boat tour of the canyons.  However, if you wish to take the boat trip as opposed to driving through the national park, you may have to wait an hour or two in the morning until there are sufficient tourists to fill up one of the many waiting vessels. It all depends on the time of year in terms of level of tourism.  We arrived at the docks shortly after the 8 am opening, only to be told that we’d likely have to wait at least an hour.  We therefore hopped back in the car and drove to the lookouts in the Parque Nacional Cañon del Sumidero.  The site, via boat or drive, should not be missed. 

 

The highway from Tuxtla to San Cristóbal de las Casa is perhaps the best quality stretch of roadway and most pleasant to navigate on the whole trip. Unfortunately the drive takes only about 35 minutes.  It begins immediately after you pass through the toll booth as you leave Chiapa de Corzo.  Almost all of the drive is ascent with easy curves.  You’ll descend to San Cristóbal over the final five minutes of the brief ride.  “Must” visits while in the area of San Cristóbal, preferably with a guide notwithstanding that you’ll have your own vehicle, include Chamula and Zinacantán. 

 

San Cristóbal to Palenque

  

Although along the basically good, two-lane highways descending from San Cristóbal to Palenque there are several homes and businesses offering gasoline for sale, and at Ocosingo you’ll find gas stations, it’s best to fill up as you leave San Cristóbal.  Don’t worry about your departure time, since with stops en route you’ll probably be too late to take the tour of the ruin, and in any event it’s best to visit the site during the early morning hours before the afternoon sun and heat preclude enjoying your visit to the maximum.  Without stops, the trip takes about 4.5 hours, over the course of about 200 kilometers.

 

About 11 kilometers into the drive you’ll find a cut-off to the left, onto highway 186 to Ocosingo.  Take it, even though there is no sign for Palenque or Agua Azul.  Notwithstanding several ascents, you’ll gradually descend  into the hot jungle environment characterizing  Palenque, a stark contrast to the relatively cold climate of San Cristóbal you’ve just left

 

You’ll pass through pine forests and lumber mills, ranches, quaint roadside eateries, and stalls offering local produce for sale.  At about 65 kilometers into the day’s drive, a “don´t miss” stop is at one of the two or three amber outlets, in an area where the mineral is mined and then worked into predominantly silver accented jewelery.  If you’re in the market for amber, wait until your arrival here.  You will have likely visited the Amber Museum in San Cristóbal, so by the time you’ve reached these workshops you will have learned how to detect the real thing from the glass and plastic imitations.  These stalls boast true amber, and for the asking you’ll be shown pieces in the rough, how to identify the fakes, and how raw amber is fashioned into fine jewelery.

 

On the approach to Ocosingo you’ll have an opportunity to also stop at craft and coffee outlets.  In the course of the decent you’ll encounter cultivated bromiliads used as impressive garden borders, and produce changing to tropical varietals such as bananas, coconut palms, sugar cane, and perhaps surprisingly, still some corn. 

 

Almost immediately you’ll then begin to encounter more switchbacks and peaks and valleys, with once again a net descent into a lush, green forest environment with streams, waterfalls and even a water park and an ecotourism site.  After the military checkpoint just over 100 kilometers into the drive, your descent will be characterized by predominantly straight-aways for close to 40 kilometers as you arrive at the cut – off to the left, for Agua Azul, another “must” on your trip.  Don’t be surprised to find that you have to pay two separate tolls or entrance fees.  In the parking area, you’ll be asked by a youngster if he / she can guard your car.  We declined.  Later we found that our car aerial had gone missing. Give the kid 10 or 20 pesos, both here and at Palenque. 

 

The ride from Agua Azul to Palenque takes about two hours.  A few kilometers into the drive you’ll pass through a stretch of stalls on both sides of the highway, selling hand embroidered skirts, blouses, dresses and shirts.  From here on, until Palenque, the highway descends, with easy curves and lengthy straight-aways, featuring corn, sugar cane and plantain.

 

Get an early start to your day at the ruin.  The gates to the park open at 7:30 am, with tickets to the site available for purchase at 8 am.  You can secure a guide while waiting to buy tickets.  Suggest that you wait for a group of about eight people to make the cost more reasonable. You’ll be given a per person rate on the basis of eight or ten in the group.   In our case, the guide decided to take us for his per person rate for eight, with only six of us, presumably anticipating that it would take a fair bit of time to get the other two, and preferring to finish the tour before the hottest time of the day … or perhaps anticipating being able to fit in another tour if he finished with us early enough.  

 

Palenque to Orizaba, or other stopovers in Veracruz

  

If you intend to spend the night in Córdoba or Orizaba, you might want to consider leaving Palenque early the following morning because of the driving time involved.  Of course if you intend to head to the city of Veracruz, another plan might be in order.  Between Palenque and Orizaba you’ll encounter at least three cut – offs leading to Veracruz, and at one point you’ll only be about 50 kilometers away from the city.

 

Choose carefully from your various lodging options, if for no other reason than to reduce the likelihood of encountering the problem which beset us … feeling compelled, at dusk, to change our plan regarding where to spend the night, and as a result having little choice but to drive at night, not the optimum way to enjoy any trip through Mexico.

 

Leaving Palenque along route 186 you’ll immediately encounter palm and sugar cane under cultivation as well as cattle, on both sides of a good, two lane highway with flat curves and straight-aways.  After about 25 kilometers, immediately after passing through your first checkpoint you’ll turn left.  During 2009, the highway was being converted from one lane in each direction, to a lane and a half, quite common throughout southern Mexico.  As noted earlier, this wide shoulder is perfectly legal to drive on, and in fact speeds up traffic flow as long as drivers are prepared to yield to the right. Aside from this construction, the highways for the rest of the trip back to Oaxaca, or to Puebla, are excellent. 

 

Within an hour or so the highway will be solid four lane, minimum.  It will be basically toll road for the rest of the journey.  About 125 kilometers into the day’s trip you’ll have the option of staying at an impressive Hilton Hotel & Conference Center, easily visible from the highway. Just before that complex you’ll see a large underpass where there’s a gas station. About 25 kilometers further, as you enter Villahermosa, take the Cárdenas cut off and proceed along highway 180.  You’ll be continuing along a highway with plantations of bananas, coconuts and sugar cane, and fields of familiar tropical flowers.  Consider a brief stop at La Venta, a small town known for its Olmec ruin.  But the site closes at 4 pm, so keep that in mind if interested in a visit to the site. 

 

After about a half hour, roadway curves will once again begin, and less crops will be apparent, now with more herds grazing.  You’ll pass through river plains and over a large suspension bridge.  Based upon the recommendation of at least one tour book, we had planned to spend the night in Acayucan, Veracruz, but as noted earlier felt compelled to continue on to Orizaba, after dark (see Addendum).  The saving grace, at least in our minds, was somewhat of a comfort in passing through four toll booths over the next 2.5 hours, between Acayucan and our ultimate stop for the night, Orizaba.  The cut – offs  are clearly marked and leave little room for error.  From Acayucan, just continue along the highways marked for one or more of Puebla, Mexico City, Oaxaca, since it’s well after Orizaba that you’ll actually be turning off for Oaxaca. 

 

For those interested in floriculture, plants, cactus and succulents, consider a stopover at Fortín de Las Flores, perhaps as a taking – off point for a diversion to Veracruz.  Córdoba is a reasonable option for spending the night, close to Fortín de Las Flores, and with many more hotel options as well as daytime sights.  But Orizaba also has a number of interesting options worthy of consideration for a stopover, and a visit to its tourist office makes for a good start for a short, pleasant visit to the city before continuing on to Oaxaca.  

 

 

Orizaba to Oaxaca

  

The drive from Orizaba to the Oaxaca / Puebla interchange is extremely scenic, climbing dramatically for all but the final few minutes. The snow-capped peak of Orizaba is particularly impressive.  You’ll pass by areas of large, ornamental agave, used as property boundary lines.   Simply follow the signs indicating Puebla / Mexico for about 30 – 40 minutes, until you finally see the Oaxaca cut – off, at which point you’ll either carry on to Puebla, or return to Oaxaca. 

 

The home stretch of your journey should take about 2 ½  hours, without stops other than to rest and gas up.  However, there are couple of worthwhile sights to consider.  Unless you want to spend time in Tehuacan, your first stop will be at the onyx / marble village of San Antonio Texcala.  Take the second Tehuacan exit (after the Tehuacan toll booth), onto highway 125 leading to Huajuapan.  After 6 km you’ll arrive at the village, with several factory outlets where you can by almost anything into which onyx and marbel can be shaped — tequila sets, plates, sinks, lamps, tables, bowls, boxes, unicorns, fish, hash pipes, and of course a number of diverse ornaments with religious imagery.  Prices are about half of what you’ll pay elsewhere.

 

Next is the Museo de Agua, or water museum, actually a misnomer because it is so much more.  Take the well-marked next exit after your return to the toll road, for Sangabriel and Chilac.  There will also be signage for the museum. You’ll be given a tour (in Spanish) in the main building, and of the outside surrounding landscapes.  You’ll learn how progress is being made to teach villagers in desolate regions where water is scarce and soil fertility is lacking, to conserve and recycle water; to use compost, worm culture and other techniques to enrich the land; and to grow and market nutritious produce such as amaranth. 

 

In terms of the land use and sights, near Tehuacan you’ll see long narrow white-topped buildings where poultry is produced and then trucked throughout the state of Puebla and other nearby states.  There will be a couple of lookouts demarcated as stops for tourists to pull over and appreciate and photograph the deep valleys and high mountaintops.  Long, well-marked expansion bridges showcase the valleys and mountains.  You’ll pass over a geological fault.  There will be several kilometers of impressive pole cactus.  Close to the approach to Oaxaca you’ll see vendors on each side of the highway selling brightly colored miniature wooden trucks. 

 

The last of several toll booths is Huitzo.  About 15 – 20 minutes later you’ll approach Oaxaca.  A few minutes after entering the city, you’ll be given two opportunities to turn to the left (one of the signs is difficult to interpret), but unless you’ve been provided with specific instructions to get to your hotel or B & B, and know it’s in a northern suburb, best is to just keep driving straight, eventually entering onto a one-way street which will lead you to the core of the downtown area and the zócalo. 

 

Addendum

  

We had planned to spend our last night in Acayucan, Veracruz, having noted three hotels, one of which piqued our interest because it appeared to be the only middle-of-the-road  and  acceptable option, at least for us.  Immediately upon entering the town, at about 6:30 pm, we were pulled over by two state troopers, and asked to produce some type of sticker about which we knew nothing.  I produced license and ownership without a request to do so.  The more belligerent of the officers, Taurino Santiago Ramas (Santiago) insisted he would phone for a tow truck, and did pull out his cellular and make a call. 

 

After ten minutes of heated banter, I told me wife to just ask him “how much?”  Santiago said he didn’t want money.  This was a shock, since my initial assumption was that it would just be a matter of how long, and how much. He became more testy, almost as much as we had become.

 

Out of the blue, Santiago’s mood suddenly changed. He asked us about our plans for the night.  We indicated that we intended to stay in town.   He immediately mentioned his hotel recommendation and how to get there.  It was the same hotel at which we had planned to stay.  We assured him we would indeed lodge there, whereupon he told us that we would have to pay a 1,000 peso fine the next day.  In the same breath, in a softer tone, he proposed “but since I’m a nice guy, and have a kind heart, if you like, instead you can pay something to me.”

 

I pulled three fifties and a twenty peso bill from my pocket, and offered him one hundred pesos.  Santiago demanded, “I’ll take them all.”  So 170 pesos lighter we got back in the car, hearing Santiago’s loud laughs, directed at his partner, us, and anyone else on the crowded street within earshot. 

 

But I think we got the last laugh.  Santiago certainly assumed that we were going to stay at his suggested hotel, and in fact we drove off in that direction with he and his sidekick watching.  He had probably called not for a tow truck, but the hotel, and advised that we’d be coming by, and confirmed the amount of his commission for the referral.  Otherwise, he probably would have demanded a bigger bribe. Of course we did not want to stay anywhere he suggested.  We were concerned that overnight our belongings might be snatched from the car.  We decided it would not be prudent to stay in Acayucan at all, so we high-tailed it out of Dodge, and drove a further 2 ½ hours, during the night, until bedding down in the city of Orizaba. 

 

Vision is More Important Than Know-how for Successful Goal Achievement

At the dawn of the new millennium, the then Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was faced with a dilemma. In less than two decades his country would exhaust its primary source of income – oil. He needed a solution and he needed it fast.

He decided to convert Dubai into the world’s number one luxury tourist destination and triple the inflow of tourists from 5 million per annum to a whopping 15 million. This was not a totally pie-in-the-sky idea. The Crown Prince had built the world famous and only 7-star hotel the Burj Al Arab as well as top class golf and race courses – all pretty remarkable especially considering that half a century earlier it had been a modest trading town built on a creek.

It helped that Dubai is graced with great weather virtually all year round and long stretches of soft sandy beaches adorn its coastline. The only problem was that the coastline was originally only 72km long – certainly not sufficient to cater for the huge influx of tourists that the Crown Prince envisioned.

But herein was the key to his vision. We are often encouraged to think big. Sheikh Mohammed doesn’t think big. He thinks in MEGA proportions. His plan was to create a paradise island off the coast of Dubai in the shape of a palm tree. This man-made island would increase the coastline by 56km.

Nothing of this size or shape had ever been done before and, to add to the challenge, so that the island blended in with its surroundings, he wanted the island to be constructed entirely of natural materials – sand and rock. Robert Berger, Project Manager from 2000-2004 said,

“When I first heard of this project I didn’t believe it could be done. It’s incredible.” He added, “If God wanted an island to be built in the shape of a palm tree he would have built one.”

I smiled when I heard that because if you believe that God or your equivalent thereof, exists in each and every one of us, maybe that exactly what God was doing.

A project of this scale needed the world’s best engineers. Some of these were to be found in Holland where Dutch engineers have increased Holland’s land mass through land reclamation by 35%.

Sheikh Mohammed stipulated that the palm island was to be made only of the buffeting waves, particularly those generated during the intense winter storms when winds could gush up 56km per h and waves could be as much as 2m high, the island needed to be protected by a breakwater. Also, while some scientists and politicians, for that matter, were still debating whether Global Warming actually was a true phenomenon, the researchers on this project were factoring into their equations the extent by which water levels would rise as a result of Global Warming. Nothing could be left to chance, once built the island needed to stay in place.

Fortuitously, the Arabian Gulf was the ideal location for this proposed structure. It is too shallow for the formation of the huge waves that could engulf and swallow the island. The researchers calculated that the breakwater would need to be at least 3m above the waves and about 12km long.

If you thought the stakes were already high, they were about to get even higher. The developers wanted work to start on The Palm Jumeriah before all the research had been completed. Although years of research and baseline studies had been conducted this was still a risky undertaking. There were so many variables to this project and unknown variables at that.

If the researchers were wrong the island could be literally swept away but the developers were working to an incredibly tight schedule. They had to create an island out of nothing, install its complete infrastructure (gas, electricity, water, roads, etc.) plus build luxury villas, shops and hotels all by 2006. Roger Berger said,

“This maybe is the only place in the world where something like this can be done. To have the vision and the courage to carry it through.”

Work on Phase 1 of the project started August 2001 and then something happened that shook the world to its foundations – 9/11.

This was one of those unknown parameters that no one could have prepared for. People did not want to travel period far less travel to the Middle East and suddenly the idea of building a luxury tourist destination in Dubai seemed almost preposterous. Dubai itself ground to a halt as fear and panic rippled through the world like the shock waves of an earthquake.

Amidst it all, one man in particular was calm and resolute. I guess logic dictated that confidence would eventually be restored and if confidence didn’t win the day, defiance would. Sheikh Mohammed wanted to be ready when that time came plus the developers had already invested millions of dollars into this project. The project would continue. It was a bold and wise move.

Another challenge came from the need to build the breakwater and the island simultaneously. If the breakwater was completed before the island it would cut off access to the site. On the other hand, if the island pushed ahead of the breakwater then it would be exposed to the elements.

Teamwork here was not just desirable, it was absolutely crucial. The breakwater team and the island team had to work together in total synchronicity and, given the scale and complexity of the project plus the daily changing parameters of this project to say that this was not an easy undertaking was an understatement.

And did I mention that nothing like this had ever been done before? The engineers were all of impeccable pedigree having worked on some of the world’s largest and most complex projects such as Hong Kong’s acclaimed Chek Lap Kok airport designed by British architect, Sir Norman Foster, but the palm island project eclipsed them all. To create The Palm Jumeirah state-of-the-art technology was needed.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or, to be more precise, Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) were used to measure whether the island with its 17 fronds was taking shape as it should. The world’s first privately-owned high resolution satellite, Ikonos, was used in this exercise. The satellite orbits the earth 14 times a day and is responsible for the great images which helped the engineers to ensure that the sand placement was measured to an accuracy of 1cm and help capture the imagination of people around the globe.

In fact, people were so excited about this project that its capacity doubled from 60 to 120 thousand. Despite all the challenges, The Palm Jumeirah has risen spectacularly out of the sea it is a triumph to modern engineering, visionary leadership, great team work and razor-sharp decision-making.

Some of you may be thinking, “The developers of this project had loads of money and so it was easy for them to conceptualise and create a project of this magnitude.” If you are, you’re be missing the point. You see anyone can think in MEGA terms, anyone can have MEGA dreams.

I was reading a story about John Maclean who was left paralysed after a road accident when he was just 22 years old – one minute an athletic young man and the next fighting for his life.

When he first started his rehabilitation he swam two strokes and was so exhausted he had to be hauled out of the therapy pool and taken back to his room. He was asleep before his head could hit the pillow. For John Maclean doing those two strokes was a huge achievement but nothing compared to the goal he set himself – to swim the English Channel.

This was something that had never been done before by a wheelchair athlete and it is an endurance feat that even relatively few able-bodied individuals attempt. To have any chance of achieving this goal day by day he had to stretch himself, push past his fatigue and develop new neuromuscular pathways to coax his body to acquiesce to his stubborn will. He too built up a phenomenal team around him – individuals who bought into his vision.

And so it was, in 1998 and less than two weeks after his first attempt, John Maclean finally achieved his goal and completing the gruelling Channel swim in 12 hours and 55 minutes. This is just one of his many awesome sporting achievements.

So don’t be afraid to dream big, really BIG. If you hold on to your vision and each day push yourself a little further than you’ve gone before, all the while continually adjusting to your heightened awareness and new conditions, you too can achieve MEGA goals.

Your results, unlike The Palm Jumeirah, may not be visible from space but a new star might just be visible from land.

More on the Tacking Point Lighthouse

A coastal town such as Port Macquarie wouldn’t be quite the same without a lighthouse, and the one that is here is small, but mighty. Visitors to the area will want to see Tacking Point Lighthouse, which is situated on the headland at none other than Tacking Point. It is the 3rd oldest lighthouse in all of Australia, and named for its location. Explorer Matthew Flinders named this area in 1802. He chose the name because he just happened to sail through the area to change out his tack.

The history of Tacking Point is colorful and interesting. Many people had complained that a lighthouse was sorely needed in this area for quite some time before one was finally built. There were not very many lights in this area, and Tacking Point was a place that most ships had found very difficult to maneuver around due to the very rocky shore. As a result, there was a large number of shipwrecks here, more than 20 all told. The decision was made to construct a lighthouse.

Tacking Point Lighthouse was designed by James Barnet, a noted lighthouse designer, and built by the team of Shepard and Mortley. Construction began in 1879, and the end result was a structure that was 17 feet high, and made of cement rendered bricks. The light that was placed inside the lighthouse was a fixed light which was no more than 1000 candelas. In 1919, the light was changed over to an oil light with a wick, and then eventually to lights that flashed automatically, and were powered by automatic acetylene.

When this change took place in 1919, the loyal lighthouse keeper was out of work. He had done this job for around 40 years, and had his own little home just a small distance away from the lighthouse. It must have been quite a blow to this man to have to leave a job he had filled for so long, and had probably grown quite fond of. Today, the house’s foundation is still there beside the lighthouse.

For visitor who enjoy sightseeing and spectacular scenic views, along with the occasional glimpse of a whale or dolphin, Tacking Point is the place to be. There is something to be seen from every direction, such as Port Macquarie itself, other lighthouses, and an expanse of beach that is breathtaking. Surfing is very popular in this area, and there is always a panoramic view of color and movement from Tacking Point.

Tours of this local landmark lighthouse are offered daily, and while you are in the area, you may want to check out the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club. There is also a Tacking Point Tavern and a Tacking Point Restaurant for your convenience when visiting the area.

Tacking Point Lighthouse is classified by the National Trust of America, which is quite an honor. Make sure you take the time during your holiday in Port Macquarie to pay a visit to this small brick tower that has saved countless lives over the years.

Fish Oil Fat Busters — 2 Easy Tricks To Burn 26% More Fat Per Day

Not all fats make you fat. Some fats can even make you skinny! Well, they can help you lose weight and keep it off when combined with exercise and a nutritional diet and attitude.  And “which fats are these miracle fats?” you ask. They’re the omega 3 fatty acids that you get from fish oil. 

Here’s why fish oil and weight loss go hand in hand:

Omega 3s burn fat by decreasing insulin levels. Insulin tells your body to store more fat instead of burning your current fat as fuel. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that people who supplement their diet with omega 3 increase the number of fat calories burned per day by up to 26%!

 

Combining fish oil with exercise makes you lose even more weight. According to a study at the University of South Australia, people that got omega 3s AND exercise lost more weight than those getting only one or the other. 

 

Fish oil helps weight loss by making you less hungry. A recent study showed that when overweight people took omega 3 supplements in addition to following a weight-loss program, they felt fuller longer. 

 

So here’s how you can burn the fat away (26% more per day!) and make it really work:

 

#1. Take fish oil supplements daily. High-quality proven omega 3 gels and liquid supplements are an easy way to ensure that you get the right amount of omega-3s for your body.

 

#2. Exercise daily (or AT LEAST four times a week). If you like hitting the gym or taking fitness classes, this part will be fun for you. If you don’t, let’s find something that you like to do that counts as exercising (as long as you do it four times a week!). 

 

These items count as exercise: brisk 20 minute walk during work break, playing a sport (a pick-up b-ball game at the park or gym, a weekly company baseball game, weekend hockey or soccer, an hour at the ice rink), cleaning your house, a hike, boogie boarding, surfing, rollerblading at the beach, chasing after your two-year-old all afternoon, shopping for two+ hours, building a dog house or shelves, assembling a piece of Ikea furniture, gardening, washing and waxing your car, a night out dancing. 

 

Yes, anything that gets you moving (and hopefully your heart rate up!) counts. The first choice we mentioned — a 20 minute brisk walk — is always an easy one to fall back on if you’re busy.

 

This one-two punch is really a great way to melt away the fat and achieve the flat stomach and lean body you want. So, if you want to burn away 26% more fat per day, start with natural fish oil supplements.

 

How To Be More Romantic In A Sexless Relationship & How To Renew Your Sexual Desire

In the beginning of a relationship things are so fresh and unpredictable. The best part about it is developing and exploring feelings and emotions with one another. Every minute and second counts, you feel like you are going to combust if you don’t see each other too soon. It’s a craving you can’t get under control. The appetite and bond for each other is so strong it’s the best feeling you’ve ever experienced in your life. Love or nothing is the case at this point. The sex is so hot, explicit and so crazy addictive. No one can satisfy you better, you dare to think of another person, you think with so much passion the feeling will last forever.

Then as the relationship get older the fire suddenly subsides and the bedroom with is so cold that you can see your breath! Man what to do now? I call this the hell storm of the relationship, because the sex is still there somewhere, but you have to go through the storm to get to it back on track. A sexless couple can ruin the bond between one another.

 So many things can cause the sex life to die like stress, being overworked, medications, medical conditions, alcohol, infidelity etc. Whatever ever the case hopefully if you want you can get it back with the right moves form the heart. Having an healthy appetite for sex is so important in order to keep the relationship alive.

Great sex can give you energy, help you shed a few pounds, relieve harmful stress and so on and so on. Expressing love with one another is such a beautiful thing when a commitment is involved. Having sex should never be boring, it should be explored and fulfilling. It just puts the Hancock on everything about a relationship besides trust. How to have better sex should always be a train of thought, if not then you are less likely to participate. “I’m I right“?

Here are some creative, hot and sexy ways to renew your sex life:

Take a hot and steamy shower together, there’s nothing like two wet naked bodies rubbing together in water, with all of the emotions stirring up it so sensual and relaxing it’s sure to end just the way you like. Be careful though it could get slippery.

Make plans to go own a romantic getaway. Nothing like going to an exotic beach to get you in the mood. A different atmosphere can really put some naughty thoughts into your head. Naughty can be so fun! Be adventurous explore some adult sex toy websites. Adam & Eve.com is a very popular one. You never know what wild side may come out when you browse around adult sites. It can change your whole perspective about sexuality. Try being sexy about it, get a more sexier perfume or put on some exotic and jaw dropping lingerie. Show a little more skin, if it’s one thing men love besides filling up their bellies it’s the skin and scent of a woman. By the way add a little lap dance for the entertainment, shake what your mama gave you! Same goes for you guys too, it doesn’t hurt for you to be more creative, it‘s a two way street. Surprise your lover with gifts and special occasions.

Make time for a night for just the two of you, lay in the bed in your birthday suit and where a sign that says “I’m hot for you” By flowers, give a full body massage with some oil with some aromatherapy candles in the room to get you more in the mood, make it fun and different etc. For example; an candlelight dinner in the nude is a start. Might not be for everyone though, “I’m laughing right now“, it was just a thought They always say knowledge is power! Reading tells and shows us so much, there are books about sexuality. The Female Orgasm Revealed is a very popular one it explains and shows how a woman body works and how to satisfy her to the fullest. Many think they know everything about sexuality because they’ve experienced sexual intercourse and different positions, but it is about more than just having sex.

Touching, kissing, stroking, rubbing etc, Showing feelings physically is a turn on, a touch can go a long way. Take the time to explore each others bodies. Learn what areas of the body makes your partner more aroused. Study each other I guarantee you’ll love it! Sexual health makes it so much more enjoyable. Communication is just as important as great sex. It is very crucial you know each other’s needs and wants. Talk! I know that you’ve been together for awhile and it seems you already know each other, but there are always some issues to be talked about that you thought were cool. Be more understanding to each other’s feelings.

Rekindle the romance by revisiting an old favorite spot you two use to love, like a restaurant, the beach or even a skating ring. Fun activities is a open door for passion to emerge. It can make you realize the reason you two are still together. Recognizing your partners character is five stars. Expressing your love and devotion may be all that is needed to get things started. If you think you might need a little more too boost your sexual desire, there are female and male enhancements that are safe and very effective at giving you your love life back. Last but not least spontaneity, it can be an adrenaline rush and it can be so fulfilling. Try some new sex positions with your lovemaking. It just adds more spice into the bedroom. Sex shouldn’t be boring, it should add a burst of energy and light into the relationship, so have fun explore and you can never have enough of it. Well, sometimes you may need a break, but not for long.

Lorna Darden

The Ixtapa Real Estate market offers more than oceanview; fishing, surfing, food, culture

If you are thinking of buying properties in the Ixtapa real estate market it is most likely you are asking yourself “What’s happing in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo?” Cultural events are an important consideration for anyone looking for Mexico Real Estate; fishing, surfing, cheerleading tournaments, cultural celebrations, great food – Ixtapa offers a wide variety of events and activities for people of all tastes, as this sample of events from the past year shows.

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo welcomed the year with a spectacular display of fireworks. At exactly 11:59:50 on December 31st, 2008, a 15-minute-long show of continuous fireworks began, with shapes of chrysanthemums and the traditional “castles in the air.” The incredible display could be enjoyed from various beaches in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa – a real bonus for anyone considering Ixtapa Beachfront Real Estate. More than 100 different restaurants and hotels offered wine, liquors and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s famous cooking traditions to visitors and residents who celebrated the New Year here.

One of the advantages of Mexico Beachfront Real Estate is the sea and all the activities and adventure it offers. At the beginning of May Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo hosted the 26th International Sailfish Tournament, which included marlins as well. Ixtapa is internationally recognized as one of the best destinations for sport fishing – during this season Sailfish in the area can reach up to 175 pounds.
Almost immediately following the fishing tournament, the city hosted the 15th National Cheerleading Championship, organized by the Asociacion Nacional de Porristas (National Cheerleading Association). The event welcomed more than 1000 participants from universities throughout the country. The Association is recognized on an international level, having participated in competitions such as “The United States All Star Federation”, “The International All Star Federation”, “The International All Star Federation for cheer and dance teams” and the “Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation.” Likewise the competition was judged by an international panel.

Last year, from September 18th to 21st, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo also hosted the Latin-American Surfing Tournament, a six-star competition (the highest possible category in surfing championships), and the most important competition of its type in Latin America. This was made possible by the logistic support, planning and organization of various local and national organizations, and by the ideal conditions in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. The city welcomed more than 100 participants from various countries including Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Panama, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The competition took place on “El Palmar” beach in Ixtapa, one of the most ideal places for surfing not only in Mexico but also in the world.

Raising More Than Just The Temperature

When it comes to a loss of libido, there are many natural methods of restoration that can be undertaken. If you wanted to, of course.

Back in the Sixties, the sexual revolution was happening and anyone that wasn’t swinging from the chandeliers in their pursuit of the ultimate orgasm was not considered hip. Now, it is just those people that are more concerned with putting a hip out just getting in and out of bed, let alone embarking on any sexual gymnastics.

Even back then, sexual freedom was a new thing to be enjoyed but it was really only enjoyed by a select few. The rest, just as with every other generation, found their libido soon gave way to the everyday stresses of kids, work and bills. Some men, and women come to that, would embark on extra marital affairs. However, with the declining security of the family arrangement many couples are looking to revive their libido and their flagging love life at all stages of their lives.

Doctors have often prescribed manufactured drugs to help with loss of male and female libido. However, more of us are looking to alternative therapies to help with this problem as with many other maladies. Very often the body is willing but the emotional and mental side of things is lacking and this can be due to things like everyday pressures of life, low self esteem over a changing body in later years and many other things. However, people are missing out on a very rewarding area of their lives if they don’t make the effort to keep it up (so to speak).

So, how can you revive the libido when it’s all ‘in the mind’? Emerging into the front place for libido lifters is aromatherapy. This can come in the form of patches, oils or fragrances that you can put in a room.

Aromatherapy patches that look similar to nicotine patches are worn on the inside of the wrist and can be sniffed regularly throughout the day, building your enthusiasm to fever pitch by the time you get together with your partner at the end of the day. Sort of a scratch and sniff for the uninterested. Make sure you go easy on it while shopping – Tesco staff are not accustomed to being accosted by the elderly.

If you’re not entirely happy with this idea for raising the libido, try aromatherapy oils. These are an essential selection of oils that can be massaged into the skin. What I want to know is if you can’t be bothered to get your rocks off are you surely going to find the inclination to give someone a massage?

Alternatively, drop some of these oils into the bath water. If one party is willing and the other isn’t, this is a good, sneaky way of arousing some interest.

Essential oils can also be burnt in appropriate holders in the bedroom but if your libido has flagged because your life is so busy with kids, work bills etc then anything with a naked flame within the house is probably not a good idea. This also applies to the elderly for the obvious reasons.

Foods have long been documented in history as aphrodisiacs and these usually take the form of anything that resembles phallic symbols. Probably no real libido enhancing effect from the nutrients but originally a male idea and if your partner gets interested by something as obvious as a parsnip, definitely don’t take them to Tescos!

Staying with food, it has long been thought that the many spices that raise body temperature will also raise libido. If a high temperature is all that is needed how come menopausal women are not at it like rabbits? How come the beach is not overcome with people that have lost all self control in the summer?

Of all the essential oils, foods, patches, herbs etc that are marketed for the increasing of sexual excitement, most will contain a select few ingredients. These will encompass rose, vanilla, jasmine, ginger, Ylang Ylang, Jojoba and Cedarwood among others. This now begs the question as to why all these ingredients are used in fabric softeners? Are we not fighting a losing battle if our clothes smell so nice we want to keep them on yet put the same ingredients into our baths, our rooms and our skin in an effort to taking our clothes off?

If you’re looking for stimulation stirrers, libido lifters or arousal rousers, there are a multitude of products on the market to try. Alternatively, you could spend that money on a decent bar of chocolate (better than sex any day – or am I just doing it wrong?) and just roll over and enjoy a good night sleep.

Obesity And A Poor Diet Can Hurt In More Ways Than One

Obesity has been actively argued as being derived from poor diet and then others state it is mostly caused by genetics and a persons DNA will make them more likely to have obesity. Regardless which school of thought you choose to believe in, obesity causes undue stress on the body from the circulatory system to the skeletal system. If left unchecked, obesity will cause weakness, breakdown, cardiac arrest and death.

Obesity is an unhealthy increase in body weight. This body weight places added stress to the heart and circulatory system as it must not only work to feed and fuel more cells, but it must also work harder as the body is pushed harder to carry this additional weight. Depending on how obese one is can really multiply this cardiovascular stress.

On a recent show on TLC they showed the short life of an 750 pound man John Keitz. The episode chronicled the last few years of his life and the toll that morbid obesity can take on ones body. He lived to be 39 years old and died from an infection. His body had basically given up. He did, however embark on a rehabilitation program after having been bed ridden for 7 years. Its just the stress and damage caused by being obese for so long had already weakened his body. How can this happen? How does one become obese or morbidly obese?

Is it their fault or is it genetics. It is probably a combination of the two as there are some people that are naturally obese and there are those that are naturally skinny or even anorexic. Regardless, diet does play a role. John Dietz loved fried chicken, potato chips and junk food. Its hard to say that if he had replaced that with health food that he would not have been obese, but he probably would have been less obese and even mobile.

His extreme weight caused his legs to literally unbuckle or give out. People with lesser cases of obesity may not have their legs giving out, but they will have similar problems developing from the extra weight. Skeletal problems like bad hips, deformed and malformed bones, bad joints, necessary hip and knee replacements, and other injuries associated with obesity.

There are several things that work for treating obesity, but it is basically a change of lifestyle that is needed to make a permanent change to a healthier body. Yes, diet does play a major role. A healthy diet consisting of the major food groups and high in protein and low in carbohydrates like the South Beach Diet is very helpful in weight loss. The South Beach Diet is a realistic diet and can be achieved.

Do not pay attention to unrealistic diet ads like lose 20 pounds in one week. This is impossible and if it were it would be a crash diet and very unhealthy or even risky. For a good idea of what it takes to lose weight for all kinds of people and all kinds of body shapes and ages watch the TV show The Greatest Loser. It shows two groups of B rated stars trying to see which can lose more weight and features a workout guru, psychologist and renowned doctor. You can learn a lot about dieting, fitness, and even trials, tribulations and hardships they go through.

Along with a diet like the South Beach Diet, proper exercise is the key. Lack of exercise is not only a constituent of obesity, but just plain unhealthy. Exercise helps everything from weight loss to mental health. It is key to remember that a physician should be seen prior to starting any new diet or physical activity.

For one that does not ordinarily exercise it is best to start slow with walks and other low impact exercise like slow jogging, These are aerobic exercises and will build up the bodies cardiovascular system, increase metabolism, and add to the effectiveness of any weight loss diet.

After ones fitness has been built up gradually, running is a great weight loss activity and there is not anything better. There are all kinds of infomercials on TV about everything from cardio boxing to dance aerobics, etc. These do work and can have great results, but require a lot of motivation to do it every day in front of a TV. Most people that purchase these programs have good intentions, but these intentions become like New Years resolutions and are quickly put off or forgotten.

Running is better as you can constantly change your scenery and explore new roads, parks, terrain, etc. It is even better if you can find some running buddies. Join a local running club. There are thousands of running groups and they are in almost every city. One of the biggest helps to losing weight is to have some friends in the same boat as you. What better way than to run it off than with a local running club?

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