The Vacation Rescue Plan – Come Home in Better Shape Than When You Left!

It’s the last day of your holiday and after walking around in flip-flops and a bikini for a fortnight it’s finally time to pack your case and take a return flight back to reality.

Taking stock, you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. You’re totally refreshed, tanned and feeling ready to face the world again. Your holiday has done you the world of good.

Then reality strikes!

Changing back into your going home clothes you notice that the waist is a fair bit tighter than before you left, your hips are bulging a bit and your thighs just about fit into your trousers. Basically, the lard-monster has paid you a visit, and the likelihood is that he’s going to be staying for a while!

For many women the above scenario is all too familiar. Two weeks of overindulgence and poor food choices leave the average woman with a weight gain of about 5 to 7 pounds. Nearly all of it fat!

Now, obviously this isn’t great. We all like to think of our holidays as being a rejuvenating experience, not one which will leave us fatter and less energetic than before we left for the sun, but what can we do to avoid piling on the pounds whilst still having the holiday experience we’re hoping for?

Plan, plan, plan

The main reason that so many of us put weight on during our holidays (or any other time for that matter) is that most of us are ‘reactive’ eaters. We never pay much attention to what we’re eating or when we’re going to eat it and either wait until we’re ravenous before we find food or simply eat ‘because it’s there’ (especially on all-inclusive getaways).

Neither of these scenarios are great. Waiting too long between meals usually means that you’ll overeat when you finally do sit down to a meal and the other approach is an obvious route to obesity.

If you want to win the battle of the bulge you’ve got to think ahead. Plan for AT LEAST three meals per day (though ideally, five or six SMALLER feedings work best) with a good rule of thumb being that you should not eat again within 2 hours nor leave it longer than four. The result of this approach is that you are giving the body regular, yet small, quantities of food and then digesting them before you eat again, meaning that there is very little left to lay down as fat.

(Note: This only works if you consume smaller quantities of food. Six pizzas will still make you fat!)

Ideally, your planning should also include WHAT you are going to eat as well as WHEN. This reduces the likelihood of eating rubbish or ‘non-foods’ as we rarely, if ever, actually plan to eat poorly, we simply eat out of a reaction to hunger and immediate availability.

Fresh is best

If you really want to avoid piling on the holiday pounds this summer then avoid processed foods at all costs!

Laden with sodium, sugar and all manner of artificial colourings and preservatives, processed foods fall into the category of ‘non-foods’, meaning that they lack the vitamins and minerals that are needed in order to maintain optimal health. In addition, these foods are calorie dense and appetite stimulants of the highest order. Eat them at your peril!

Avoid ANYTHING from a packet, jar or tin, opting instead for fresh produce such as locally grown fruit, vegetables and meat or fish dishes.

This isn’t as difficult as it may sound. Normally, you’ll find that as long as you have a little meat or fish, some steamed, roasted or stir-fried vegetables and the herbs and spices that are grown in the region that you are taking your holiday in, that you’ll be onto a winner. It’ll be healthy and taste delicious too.

Whatever you do, avoid the ‘chips with everything’ approach. Not only are most chips pre-packaged and processed mush (instead of real potato) but they’re fried in polyunsaturated oils that have been found to contribute to numerous medical conditions including obesity and some cancers.

Mix and Match

During our holidays (though it’s true in day to day life too) we tend to ‘pad out’ our plates with carbs, carbs and more carbs.

Everything from bread (including croissants and pastries) to pasta, pizza to ice cream and even the beer, wine or cocktails that you drink around the pool are predominantly made up of carbohydrate.

It has been proven that excessive ingestion of carbohydrates, particularly those with high glycemic values like potatoes, wheat, sugar and alcohol, can lead to excessive insulin output which is known to increase fat retention leading to obesity and diabetes.

If we want to avoid the pitfalls associated with carbohydrate consumption there are three things we need to do:

1.Determine your biochemical individuality to find out how much or little carbohydrate you should include in your diet (See accompanying article)

2.Cut back on all high glycemic index carbs opting instead for those that release their sugars more slowly.

3.ALWAYS eat protein and fat with your meal. This is important in reducing the effects of insulin as well as providing a well-rounded supply of vital vitamins, minerals and amino acids that will also serve to suppress your appetite.

You need to drink more than you think

Though water consumption has just about been ‘done to death’ in the media recently, still too many people are oblivious to its importance in maintaining optimal health and vitality, opting instead for fizzy drinks, fruit juice, tea, coffee and alcohol as their main sources of fluids.

The problem is that NONE of these fluids do the job of water and nearly all are damaging to the body.

Even if you drink a couple of litres of fruit juice or lemonade you still cannot consider yourself to be hydrated. These fluids, due to their carbohydrate content, actually require water so that they can be digested properly. They will dehydrate you.

There is simply no substitute for water. You’re either drinking it or you’re dehydrated.

Dehydration is bad enough back here in the UK but add the holiday sun and the obligatory alcohol into the equation and you’ve got serious problems. Not only are sunburn and heat stroke going to get you but you’re more likely to put on weight too as the body mistakes this thirst for hunger. Found yourself incessantly snacking on holiday? This may be the reason!

So, how much should you be consuming? At least 1 litre of WATER (any other fluids do not count) for every 50lbs of bodyweight, so if you’re ten stones (140lb) you’ll need around 3 litres just to maintain balance. And remember, if it’s particularly hot, if you sweat a lot or you’re being active, you’ll need a fair bit more.

Eating healthily on holiday doesn’t have to be a bore or a chore that detracts from your enjoyment of the experience. You don’t even have to count calories, miss out on treats or abstain from alcohol. In fact, by paying more attention to what you eat you’ll find yourself more alert, energetic and able to enjoy the experience so much more.

And just think; you may even come home looking better than you did before you went away! Wouldn’t that be great?

See you on the beach!

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.

Fudge That’s Better Than Sex

I didn’t quite know what to think when my daughter came home from work and told me that one of her friends had said that “my fudge was better than sex”. I hadn’t met this man at this particular time, except to say a passing “hello” when I picked my daughter up from work. I knew he was a very good friend to her, that she had even rented a room from him and that he had worked at the newspaper plant where she works for about 20 years, so when she told me of his remark I had two thoughts; 1. That he was having some really bad sex, 2. Maybe may fudge was that good (nah it is the same fudge I have been making for years and I have never heard this comment about it).

Hopefully you are still reading this and my title caught your eye as I hoped it would.

This is and isn’t about my fudge. This is however about how our neighbors, friends and enemies remember us now and in the future, right now, I think I still like being remembered for my Fudge.

This is an election year. This is one that should be going in the history books for the following reason: During the democratic primaries for the President of the UNITED

States of America, it came down to a former First Lady running against a Senator of color with a promise of change from both candidates and turned out to be one of the longest primary battles in a very long time. The man of color, (I hope I am being politically correct with my terminology I really don’t want to offend anyone), with a dream of hope and a promise of change has won the primary and is now the Democratic candidate for the president of the UNITED States of America. Yes we sure are making history with this one, who would have thought that a man of color could possibly be the President of the UNITED States of America. And let’s not forget who we having running on the Republican ticket. A Vietnam hero that in the past said, that he would vote against a bill that would provide better benefits and assistance to our soldier when they returned home after serving their tours of duty. His reasoning for this was that they wouldn’t want to stay in the military and serve. Why do we allow our soldiers to be treated so poorly when they are the ones that are literally dieing for us?

This election as with past elections has turned into a mudslinging contest, this one has taken mudsling to new levels. And for this reason it will go down in history. It has been tainted with prejudices, lies, discrimination, and down right ugliness. I know that we have never really truly been a UNITED people, but, I thought we had made some progress. As a country that screams democracy at our neighbors here and abroad, think of what is going through their minds as they watch this, and how are they going to remember the elections of 2008. I think I still like being remembered for my Fudge.

And yes let’s not forget about the other history that is being made and that would be the nightmare on Wall Street. Yes they got caught as they say “with their hands in the cookie jar” making bad decision. But they came out screaming for money and our government said ok here you go. This is one example of the help they got, our government committed $85 billion to bail, executives of the giant AIG insurance company and they (the AIG executives) went for a week-long retreat at the St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, California, which is a spa and resort this cost the tax payers more than $440,000 to celebrate. Then there is the infamous $700 billion bail out which still isn’t enough. Wall Street crashing has been blamed on homeowners that took out mortgages that they couldn’t afford, people that overcharged on their credit cards, mortgage companies making risky loans and anything else they can blame it on. The sad reality is that the majority of the people that have lost their homes didn’t loose them because they decided not to pay their bills, their jobs were taken away or the owner of the place they were renting couldn’t pay their mortgage due to circumstances beyond their control, so now they have no place to live. And what it all boils down to is the fact that, Wall street fell flat on their face and instead of owning up to their mistakes, Wall Street and the Government made it is easier and less painful for themselves by starting the blame game, instead of saying “We messed up, We are sorry and We as a UNITED people, we will do whatever it takes to resolve the situation. I have a question for you, where do you think the average person like you or me would be if we hade made the bad choices that were made by the Wall Street Executives, or the Government agencies that sat back and watched this happened? I think we would be sitting under the jail somewhere not at a fancy spa. Is this how we want our neighbors here and abroad to remember us? I think I still like being remembered for my Fudge.

As a country that screams democracy to the point, that we send, our men and woman, (some that are still considered minors in many ways), off to war to fight for and defend not only our freedom but the freedom of others countries, and God Bless those that have chosen and still do choose to serve in our armed forces to do this for us but, when it comes to those soldiers what has our UNITED country done for them. Our Rebulican candidate served and was a prison of war in Vietnam. He came home a hero, but in reality most of those soldiers if they did come home were spat on and made to feel shame our UNITED government let them lay their lives, bodies, and souls on the line, just as they had in previous wars and wars since then and then said “C’ya wouldn’t want to be ya”when they came home. Did you know that when a soldier is called up from the reserves to serve in our current war, Iraq, if he/she gets injured when they come home they are considered no longer active duty, so the military tells them that they are not the military’s responsibility anymore. This means that this soldier has no insurance to cover his/her injuries, no income, and most likely no future. This soldier exist is every neighborhood, the active duty soldier that came home disabled is no longer the militaries problem they will help as little as they can get away with. Where’s that soldiers freedom? How is that being a UNITED people? If we are trying to tell a nation that we are a free and democratic caring country, and that we want to show you how to live like us because our way is better, what kind of memories of how we treat our soldiers do you think they have? I think I still like being remembered for my Fudge.

When there is a natural disaster in another country we rush so fast to get aide to them that we trip all over ourselves and make sure we announce it all over the world that the United States is sending aide and when they won’t let us in their borders we scream at the top of our lungs until they do. We say that they are horrible and that their people are dying because they won’t let the good old USA help them. We plaster our TV with all the injustices in the world. What about helping our own first? Is it just me or does it or doesn’t seem that when we have a natural disaster, our citizens have to scream at the top of their lungs on our TV’s to get our Government’s attention to get help. When Katrina, for example, hit it changed us forever, talk about a disaster and people being forgotten, and still being treated unfairly. If we truly are a caring and UNITED country then why when things like Katrina, and oh yeah Ike (yeah remember him?) we can’t just figure out how to rebuild our neighborhoods and put our families back together. Instead of becoming a country that is taken over by the blame game of politics, accusations of racism, price gouging, and down right poor management, that has left our citizens hanging out to dry with very little confidence in a government that is suppose to be here for us. You can bet that our neighbors were watching during Katrina and have been watching to see what we have done since. How do you think they are remembering us? I think I still like being remembered for my Fudge.

When 9/11 came around this year and there was still no memorials for the lives lost at the towers or the lives lost in Pennsylvania I could only ask why? I don’t understand, the people that lost their lives that day were innocent victims of terrorism, they were rescuers that were doing their jobs trying to save lives, and they were the brave souls that took over a hijacked flight that was headed for the white house and their loved ones have nowhere to mourn, that’s a disgrace. How is it we live in a country where our politicians, which set the budgets that pay the salaries of the soldiers, fireman, EMT, police officer, teacher, or any other civil servant. The politician lives in multimillion dollar homes, and some of them can’t remember how many they have while the fireman who has just saved your house from burning down goes home and hopes he has enough money left after filling his car up with gas to buy groceries, how is that right? How is it that these men and women whether they are fighting in a war here or abroad or they are combing the neighborhood for your lost child ,why aren’t they being better taken care of themselves, they shouldn’t have to fight for their own rights and freedoms just as hard as they fight for ours on a daily basis.. We shouldn’t have to hold fund raiser to bury them or pay for their hospital bills this is ridiculous. You can bet our neighbors have been watching how well we take care of those who take care of us. . How do you think they are remembering us? I think I still like being remembered for my Fudge.

Ok you are probably saying what about the Fudge. Last year my daughter caught her hand in a machine at work and has had some surgeries. After this last surgery her doctor took her off of all caffeine including chocolate so I banned all chocolate from the house including my fudge, if anyone asked I wouldn’t make it because she couldn’t have any of it. But a few days ago she came home with a request for my fudge and this was one time I couldn’t and wouldn’t turn down the request. It was from the man who was the first person to say that my Fudge was Better than Sex. Except now we have become friends and unfortunately we have a very sad anniversary coming up on October 18th 2007 we lost a very dear friend, so yes I would honor the request and make the fudge. When he came by to get the fudge and put the first piece in his mouth, for one moment in time I had joy, I saw his pain and sorrow disappear and a smile appear and the tears we shed were of joy not pain.

I have a thought, remind you it’s just a thought, but maybe if Wall Street and Our UNITED government would just dig in and do what needs to be done then people might remember us a little more nicely. Me I think I’ll just keep on being remembered for my Fudge.

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?

Obesity And A Poor Diet Can Be Harmful 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 can make them much more likely to have obesity. Regardless which school of thought you choose to believe in, obesity will cause undue stress on the body everywhere from the circulatory system to the skeletal system. If left unchecked, obesity will cause weakness, breakdown, cardiac arrest and death.

Obesity is defined as an unhealthy increase in body weight. This increase in body weight can be due to stress, poor eating habits, lack in activity or fitness, etc. This extra 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. According to a recent Oprah show obesity is defined as more than 35 inches at the waste for men and 30 for women. If you are over this measurement at your waste you are at greater risk of developing COPD, heart disease, cholesterol driven coronary blockages, even kidney and renal failure.

On a recent show on TLC they showed the short life of a 750 pound morbidly obese man named John Keitz. The hour long 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 that grew out of his body and its weakened condition after years of this uncontrolled morbid obesity. His body had basically given up.

He did, however embark on a rehabilitation program after having been bed ridden for 7 years, which showed good intentions and was a good start. Its just the stress and damage caused by being morbidly obese for so long had already greatly weakened his body and it was just a matter of time. How can this happen? How does one become obese or morbidly obese? Is it by personal choice and eating habits or is it solely genetic?

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 and exercise (especially aerobic exercise) does play a major role. John Dietz loved fried chicken, potato chips and junk food. He continued to eat these items even after starting his rehabilitation program at the nursing home or facility he was taken to.

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 health 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, along with heart and even breathing difficulties and problems.

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 (just like morbid obesity, crash diets can also cause serious health problems).

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. There are people of all sorts and sizes on this show and one is bound to be similar in stature and composition to you. You can learn a lot about dieting, fitness, and even trials, tribulations and hardships they go through.

Where Can I Rent An Apartment Spending No More Than 900 Dollars A Month In Orange County And Long Beach Area?

I am looking for an apartment (not a studio apt!!), that is reasonably priced and over 500 square feet in the orange county area. Also am considering the Long Beach area as well with the same criteria.

Southern California: Where Life is More than a Day at the Beach

Southern California is a large, exciting area with hundreds of attractions. Here are our top ten suggestions of attractions in Southern California to visit.

Hollywood Boulevard: You will see the Walk of the Stars where the famous stars have their own stars in the pavement. You can visit Whiskey A Go Go, where Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin performed. This is also where you can find the Viper Room and many fascinating shops.

Pacific Coast Highway: This is a long, scenic stretch of highway that runs the entire length of the state. Find a place to pull off and relax on the beach while watch the tide rolls into shore.

Universal Studios: This is an amusement park next to the studio by the same name, which has produced many of the best Hollywood films.

Disneyland: This is the most famous amusement/theme park in the world. Be sure to get a Fast Pass to bypass long lines for rides. Check out the package deals for lodging and a lot of extras.

San Diego Zoo: This is one of the pre-eminent world zoos, with more animals and exhibits than almost any other zoo. Be sure to get a map, sunscreen and some bottled water to prepare for the 1-2 days needed to experience this park.

Santa Monica Pier: This famous pier is one of the best places to watch people strolling and skating. It is very picturesque at night when the Ferris wheel and the shops are all brightly lit.

Newport Landing Whale Watching: The whales swim by and wave their tails in the air for the tourists. You can also take a guided boat tour for a closer look at the giant sea mammals.

Knotts’ Berry Farm: This is a jam and jelly factory combined with an amusement park. You can also tour the farms.

Movieland Wax Museum: This wax museum features true-to-life statues of famous Hollywood stars.

Sea World: This water park provides terrific shows, aquatic wildlife and even dolphins you can pet.

Where Can I Go To See Xmas Lights Decorations In Neighborhoods Close To Orange County.no More Than 2hours Away

like when i was younger, family members would take us to neighborhoods to look at christmas lights and it wouldn’t be just couple houses it’d be like 80percent of the houses have decorations on it…so i just wanna go drive or walk around neighborhoods that actually have lights on more than couple houses….i already know bout the boat parade in long beach and newport….SOME ONE HELP ME

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