Monthly Archive for August, 2008

Why Cardio Does Not Work In Me?

by Ricardo Daryans

It's funny how cardio can work well for some, and not at all for others. It's supposed to work great for all women and men, but it's not always so. Here's why and what to do.

After all, some men and women do cardio 6 hours, 9 hours, or more per week, and still have belly fat to burn. On the other hand, it works just fine for others. British researchers wanted to get more insight into this paradox, and studied 35 overweight men and women, who weren't previously exercising.

The results: the subjects lose an average of 8.2 pounds, exercising 5 times per week for 12 weeks. By now, it seems cardio works, and in a great way. But wait, there's still more.

If we analyse the results we'll find some surprises. The best subject lost 32.3 pounds in 12 weeks, but the worst subject actually gained 3.74 pounds. That's an inmense variance in fat loss terms.

The scientists analized the results and classified the subjects in two groups. They called the first group the "compensators" and the second one the "Non-compensators". In the first group there were people who were hungrier after the cardio training. They were eating more after the exercise, therefore, they were consuming more calories and they weight loss was poor. They consumed an extra 268 calories per day.

If your appetite increase when you do slow cardio, then it will ruin your cardio training. You will not achieve the same results as other people. Then, maybe is time to change your cardio program and find the right one to your needs. You have to check your appetite and calorie intake to see if you are "compensating" for your efforts. And if it's happening, it's better for you to use a program of high-intensity resistance and interval training (i.e. Turbulence Training) for your weight loss efforts.

As Australian Professor Steve Boucher has shown in research, interval training increases hormones called catecholamines. And increased catecholamines can reduce appetite, among other fat-burning benefits.

The most of people will rarely be in the very small group of people who lose 33 pounds after 12 weeks of cardio. To be realist, there isn't a lot of people who can achieve to loss 8 pounds in that lapse of time with aerobic exercise.

What you have to do is check your appetite, and consider giving high-intensity exercise a go for your next workout program. Beat the curse of cardio with high-intensity Turbulence Training.

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Losing Pregnancy Weight – How to Keep the Weight Off

by Teresa Brown

Is image everything in today's society? Image represents money and power. Image represents status and privilege. Image represents youth and beauty. It can represent many things but for the Mom who is looking to lose weight after giving birth, striving to fit into a Hollywood image can keep her down in the dumps with a good dose of self-loathing. Losing pregnancy weight is about going beyond the "image" and embracing wellness.

Proper weight management involves more than just losing the baby fat. We know that there are many factors that can influence or affect our eating habits. These factors can range from emotional and financial stress, self-esteem issues, and lifestyle. Because of this, the typical quick-fix weight loss remedies work only for the short term and is not the answer to permanent weight loss or good health. The smart way to seriously lose the pregnancy weight for good is to find a program that uses a holistic approach to weight management.

1. Go for a lifestyle program.

A good lifestyle program will take into account the physical, behavioral and psychological components of weight management. Therefore, it will be better able to equip you with the necessary tools to achieve permanent weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. It is continuous because it will address your ever-changing needs as you make the gradual transition towards health and fitness. There are Mom-based lifestyle programs available that are both convenient and practical for you to trim your tummy and get healthy.

2. Exercise to minimize your time and maximize your calories.

Our muscles are the fat-burning factories of our body. And if you don't use your muscles, you will lose them. Therefore, if your goal is to lose the pregnancy weight fast, you need to do the exercises that can re-build your lost muscles. Muscles will burn the baby fat in the most efficient way possible.

You can do these exercises at home without the expensive gym fees or equipment. Resistance training is strength training that tone and strengthens your muscles using different forms of resistance such as a free weights or your body weight to do lunges and squats. Because muscle burns fat, the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn.

3. Choose foods that will boost your metabolism.

The tummy is a popular "problem" area for Moms. Trying to get rid of the "Mommy belly" can be challenging but not hopeless. Your body is a fine tuned machine that works like a team. Therefore, if you are going to exercise to lose your tummy, you need to fuel your body with the right foods to keep it healthy and fit. You should be eating whole grain foods, lean meats, fruits and vegetables.

Foods high in fiber and protein such as bran and wild salmon are said to be "fat burning foods" because your body expends more energy to digest them, than the calories they provide in return. These foods also aid in providing your body with the necessary nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that are required for proper body function. Remember: the less processed the food, the better it is for your body.

4. Make it a Family affair.

Why reap the benefits of losing the pregnancy weight on your own? You can share the benefits of eating right and regular exercise with your family. You are the heart of the family and as such you can be the family instigator to get them on the health wagon. Plan more family activities that include more physical activity. Gradually introduce new healthy recipes and encourage healthy snacks and choices for your family. With the family on board making the transition to a healthy lifestyle will flow more smoothly and seem more natural.

Trying to strive to live a healthy lifestyle holistically with a lifestyle program is the better choice for Moms who want to lose weight for the long term. Losing pregnancy weight is more than just being able to fit into your skinny jeans. Making a lifestyle change that will make you look, feel and be the fabulous Mom that you are, for the long term.

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Asscher Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

by Alice Sy

How do people choose their engagement ring? In choosing an engagement ring, most partners choose something which is unique and fits the personality of the partner. That's why many choose diamond rings because they are all unique in their own ways and characteristics.

How does an Asscher diamond engagement ring look like? How is it different from the other diamond rings?

The Asscher stone has a very distinct shape; it is a square with deeply-trimmed corners that is similar to an octagon. Sometimes others refer to it as the square emerald cut. Because of its unique cut and elegance, an asscher diamond can be purchased as it is, without any other additional accessories.

However, it still depends on the buyer whether or not they want to add specifications. This type does not have any standard that's why each piece is one-of-a-kind.

And what adds more attraction to an asscher diamond engagement ring is the presence of these parallel lines which makes it more distinct. It is like creating an image of many mirrors which are reflecting different angles.

Asscher diamonds are also rare and very exclusive just like the other styles of diamond rings. This type is chosen by couples because it adds and gives a more personal touch and represents individuality and elegance. It is another fancy type of diamond which is starting to gain popularity to public. Normally, this type has a cut deeper than the other types. They also are smaller than the others.

But the size doesn't really change the value of this type, again, because of its uniqueness. But unlike other types, this is not always available to some jewelers. It would be better to inquire the availability from high-quality jewelers. And remember to always be careful in choosing and identifying genuine gems.

A perfect choice for a personalized engagement ring is this asscher diamond engagement ring which is truly sophisticated and shows individuality. You will never regret buying any type of engagement ring you want as long as you took very special consideration on the details.

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What Causes your Anti-Aging Skin Care Treatment to Retreat

by Regina Anoche

Many factors negatively affect your skin's condition . Some environmental factors like our lifestyle is one of the major reasons why our skin becomes dull and unhealthy. Unless you start using an anti-aging skin care treatment, your skin is doomed to speed up its aging process.

We always think of the sun's ultra violet rays as the worst enemy of our skin. Think again. Cigarette smoking is just as worse as that. Even the people who do not smoke are prone to premature skin-aging, then how much more are the smokers?

As cigarette smoking decreases Vitamin C in the body, the wrinkles and dryness of the skin increases. According to some research, Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant so it keeps the youthful and moist all the time.

Alcohol can also damage the skin permanently due to the blood flow near the skin's surface . This causes the small blood vessels to dilate and can become permanently damaged, causing a flushed appearance and broken vessels on the surface. So avoid any amount of alcohol intake if you want your anti-aging skin care treatment to become effective.

Being exposed to both hot and cold weather without any protection can turn the freckles into brown sun spots, the soft skin into dry and leathery in appearance plus the presence of wrinkles and fine lines. It also increases the risk to skin cancer. So do not forget to put on your anti-aging skin care product before going out of the house to protect your skin.

Exposure to cold winds and low temperatures can dry out your skin, too. So if you happen to expose yourself out in the cold, make sure to use a good moisturizer. Use a moisturizer indoors too, for heated rooms can be very drying to skin.

Do not forget to include exercise in your anti-aging skin care program. Regular exercise program will help you look younger at any age by making you energetic and enthusiastic.

Never take sleep for granted because it will really make you exhausted. People who lack sleep develop the signs of aging on the face first, with dark circles, eye bags, and sagging skin. Let your anti-aging skin care work more effectively by getting 8-9 hours of sleep each night.

Starting out with any anti-aging skin care treatment can be more useful if you know the real reason behind your damaged skin. Good thing is that these treatments is becoming more in demand and just within the reach of those people who need them. You can start treating those wrinkles and other signs of aging as early as you first noticed it to prevent them from becoming worse.

Start living a healthy life and forget all of those bad habits you used to have. Pampering your skin is the most important step in helping your anti-aging skin care treatment to work. And most importantly, keep a stress-free mind and you will become youthfully beautiful in your entire life!

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Laser Eye Surgery Risks Explained

by Jonas Laquil

We all know that one of the great things about living in this modern era is that we can now do things that seem to be very much impossible for us years ago. One of those things aside from the development of the PC and the internet is laser eye surgery.

It is no secret these days that laser eye surgery can be in many cases a very good way for people to forego the struggle of having to live with bad eyesight.

Nevertheless even though laser eye surgery is understandably very popular these days like all medical procedures it is not without its risks.

In this article we will discuss these risks and complications and talk about what can be done in each instance.

Possible complications that can take place in laser eye surgery

We've all heard about over and under correction associated with laser eye surgery, maybe some have heard of flap wrinkles too, but it is more than likely that you will not have heard of some of the more dangerous laser eye surgery complications such as central corneal Islands in the eyes.

It is very rare and only 1% of patients suffer from it but central corneal islands have been known to create problems for patients. Essentially central corneal islands occur when tissue is not removed uniformly across the eye.

Your doctor may simply prescribe corrective contact lenses to cure this problem or you may be able to have more surgery to attempt to correct the problem.

DLK is one more complication that can arise. In most cases this will take place when a number of foreign bodies have gotten themselves trapped under your corneal flap.

Symptoms to this include but are not limited to: pain in the eyes, the sensation of something being trapped in the eye, unusually blurred eyesight and sensibility to bright lights.

When patients experience these types of symptoms, they must immediately talk with their doctor, even after years of surgery. A common remedy for this is for your doctor to prescribe oral and topical medication to cure the condition.

Epithelial in-growths can grow under the patient's corneal flap and in doing so cause significant vision problems.

The corneal ecstasia is another complication that can essentially weaken the cornea and make it bulge out after the surgery. This is caused by an error in judgment by the surgeon when a deeper incision than necessary is created during the flap creation process. It can also occur when the surgeon removes more corneal tissue than necessary.

When this occurs the only available option is to perform a corneal transplant to put the damage right.

So these are a few of the eye surgery complications that can take place, it's important to remember that these complications only happen to a very small percentage of people undergoing laser eye surgery.

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Why To Use A Pepper Spray – Benefits Of A Pepper Spray

by First Home Security

People have different needs when it comes to protecting oneself. One person may just want some protection against wild animals when they go hiking, while another may need something to protect against possible assailants in a bad neighborhood.

As you see there are different cases and scenarios which require different methods of self-defense, let's go ahead and discuss some of them.

It is a very natural feeling to want to defend our things, our loved ones and ourselves when a dangerous situation arises for instance, when a woman is attacked during the night while walking back home from the gym or any other place for that matter.

The most common suggestion made in such situations is to change one's schedules and routes to avoid possibly dangerous confrontations. However, this is not an option that everyone can avail.

Obviously some people would rather protect themselves than live in constant fear of what might possibly happen.

One way that can be used to provide such protection to oneself is via self defense classes. However, this can actually escalate a dangerous situation in some cases, and most people do not like a violent and physical approach to their defense.

This obviously rules out the possibility of acquiring a weapon such as a gun or any other fire arm. The best possible solution in this case is to use what is popularly referred to as pepper spray.

The main ingredient in pepper sprays is oleoresin capsicum (a chemical linked with chile peppers), and it is effective against both animals and humans in case of a situation where they become a threat.

Pepper sprays are classified as non-lethal self defense tool that is very effective at deterring attackers due to its instant effects. The spray works like any ordinary aerosol spray, but has a slightly higher area of effect.

According to the Scoville scale which rates capsaicin heat in peppers, the hottest type of Chile is the habanero and it is rated at 300,000 units, a pepper spray on the other hand is rated between 2-5,000,000 units which is the reason why it is so effective.

Once it is used against a person or an animal it acts as an inflammatory agent that when in contact with the nose, eyes, lungs and other parts of the persons body it causes immediate capillary dilation.

In most states pepper spray is not considered a lethal weapon however, in other parts of the US such as Massachusetts you do need a fire arms ID card if you want to have this personal protection item. Pepper spray is mostly used by women because it is a very convenient object to carry inside a purse and can effectively stop an attacker in his tracks.

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Cold Sore Cures – Is It Possible To Cure Cold Sores?

by Denny Bodoh

Cold sore cures - there has been a lot of argument whether or not they actually exist. Right now, I would like to give you the facts and put an end to the confusion about cold sore cures for good.

Some very respected medical experts state there are no cold sore cures. Other equally respectable professionals tell us there are excellent cold sore cures that work very well. Who is right and who is wrong?

Truth is - both sides are totally correct. They just are not talking about the same thing.

Those people stating cold sore cures do not exist are talking about the herpes virus. This virus causes cold sores. They are often called oral herpes. Once the herpes simplex virus invades your body, it is with you for life.

Cold sore cures, from their point of view, must remove the herpes virus from the body to be a true cure. Since the herpes virus cannot be taken out by any known method, they will shout there are NO cold sore cures.

On the other hand, the respected experts saying there ARE cold sore cures are talking about dealing with the visible reality of the oral herpes cold sore.

Their claims are based on the idea that you are cured of the cold sore disease when you no longer exhibit the symptoms. Yes, this is true even if you still carry the virus. They also believe you have cured a cold sore when an outbreak is totally healed.

Think about this.

Diseases are actually measurable symptoms of an attack by some pathogen. You can carry the germ, but you do not have the disease if you do not display the symptoms.

The same can be said about cold sores too.

Nearly everyone in the world is infected with the herpes simplex virus - at least 90% according to estimates. But, for some fortunate reason, a good third of those folks will never experience a cold sore.

It could be said that their bodies have BUILT-IN cold sore cures. The rest of us have to develop our own personal cure.

Methods of quick healing or prevention of cold sores can be cold sore cures. True - we will always have the herpes simplex virus. There is no vaccine that will change this fact. But the virus does not have to become active.

Whether your deepest desire is to cure an oral herpes cold sore right now, or you want to cure future cold sores before they happen, there are amazing cold sore cures that will work for you.

A word of caution, however.

Most cold sore remedies you buy at the store do nothing to actually cure cold sores. They are primarily designed for comfort. Do not expect much more. I would guess by now you have already found this to be true.

All cold sore cures are based on proper nutrition. The best way to achieve success is to start a daily vitamin regimen - and stick to it. This is a long-term commitment and very powerful method of coping with herpes virus.

Also, lysine has been proven to cure cold sores for many people. Some lucky individuals have every day high levels of lysine due to diet and lifestyle. Other people have to take lysine capsules to achieve the same success.

Do you suffer from long-lasting outbreaks or frequent occurrences? If so, put the above suggestions into play first. Then, if you still need help, you have created a solid foundation for additional cold sore cures.

It is not difficult to find great cold sore cures. That is a fact. But do not be disappointed if one or the other does not work for you. Your body is unique and often quite different - with different needs.

Getting quality nutrition and raising your immune system to a higher level will help any treatment work exceedingly better. And it will help in the creation of your own list of cold sore cures.

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Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms

by Roselyn Capen

Of all the types of breast cancer, the one claiming more lives than not is Inflammatory breast cancer. IBC is a very aggressive cancer, and it gets its name from the symptoms women diagnosed with it show. This can occur in women of any age, and is fortunately, a rare type of cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer can also develop in men, though the chances are extremely thin.

In Inflammatory breast cancer, the cancer cells block lymph vessels of the breast. This gives rise to the apparent inflammation and redness of the breast of a person diagnosed with IBC. Other forms of cancer usually develop in women as they age, but that is not the case with IBC. It can occur in young women, too. It is also said that African American women are more prone to developing IBC, and at a younger age too, compared to White women.

The progression of IBC is its most alarming feature. The time lapse between the first symptom appearing and the cancer reaching a very advanced stage may be leek than two weeks. This however, may be one of the reasons for early diagnosis of IBC, since the symptoms are very apparent early on due to the cancer's fast advancement.

The unique characteristic of Inflammatory breast cancer is that no lump formation is associated with it. This characteristic makes it all the more dangerous, because mammography and ultrasound can not detect it, and it often goes undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed. Biopsy is the best method for diagnosing IBC.

Typical symptoms for Inflammatory breast cancer are extreme reddish to purple-ish, bruised appearance of the breasts, tenderness and immense swelling, which accounts for its inflamed appearance. The skin around the breasts may be rough and uneven, the nipples may get inverted, there might be persistent itching and heaviness accompanied with burning aching sensations. Usual symptoms like change in color and texture of areola and breasts are present, too. You might also have swellings under your arm and above and below your collarbone, which you should never ignore.

The most common misdiagnosis of Inflammatory breast cancer is mastitis. Mastitis is just a breast infection that shows the same symptoms like redness and swelling, as IBC. After a week or two of treatment for mastitis, your symptoms should start disappearing; otherwise, it's not mastitis. Lymph vessels can get blocked because of other reasons than cancer, too, such as operations on the chest. This is not any type of cancer. The best way of making sure is getting a biopsy done.

The treatment for Inflammatory breast cancer has greatly improved over the last few years. When the mortality rate used to be 100% few years back, today, around 60% women diagnosed with IBC live through their natural life-span. For treating IBC, a combination of therapies is required. Doctors usually start with chemotherapy and hormonal treatment, and follow it up with neoadjuvant therapy and mastectomy, after which, radiation therapy is highly recommended to prevent a recurrence of cancer.

Through all the misery of Inflammatory breast cancer, you should remember the figures of mortality rate decreasing immensely. These indicate that you have a great chance of fighting if off and being happy like all other people that you know.

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Symptoms Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

by Roselyn Capen

Of all the types of breast cancer, the one claiming more lives than not is Inflammatory breast cancer. IBC is a very aggressive cancer, and it gets its name from the symptoms women diagnosed with it show. This can occur in women of any age, and is fortunately, a rare type of cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer can also develop in men, though the chances are extremely thin.

There are lymph vessels in the breasts. When a person develops IBC, the malignant cancerous cells block these vessels. IBC develops in women at a younger age, compared to other forms of breast cancer. Some studies also suggest that White people are less likely to develop this cancer than the African Americans, who are also said to be vulnerable at a younger age.

Inflammatory breast cancer can start showing symptoms early on, and become very advanced within a matter or few days. This can be very sad, especially when women delay seeking medical advice regarding the symptoms, as the cancer can advance very rapidly, and it can be very late already, when they seek medical help. However, the symptoms for IBC are so alarming that women almost immediately seek advice, and this is one reason for relatively earlier diagnosis of Inflammatory breast cancer, in most cases.

Mammography and ultrasounds are not the best diagnosis techniques for Inflammatory breast cancer, since it is not usually accompanied with the formation of a lump. This characteristic makes the cancer undetectable. However, if other symptoms prevail, a biopsy can certainly determine if cancer growth is present.

Typical symptoms for Inflammatory breast cancer are extreme reddish to purple-ish, bruised appearance of the breasts, tenderness and immense swelling, which accounts for its inflamed appearance. The skin around the breasts may be rough and uneven, the nipples may get inverted, there might be persistent itching and heaviness accompanied with burning aching sensations. Usual symptoms like change in color and texture of areola and breasts are present, too. You might also have swellings under your arm and above and below your collarbone, which you should never ignore.

The most common misdiagnosis of Inflammatory breast cancer is mastitis. Mastitis is just a breast infection that shows the same symptoms like redness and swelling, as IBC. After a week or two of treatment for mastitis, your symptoms should start disappearing; otherwise, it's not mastitis. Lymph vessels can get blocked because of other reasons than cancer, too, such as operations on the chest. This is not any type of cancer. The best way of making sure is getting a biopsy done.

The mortality rate for IBC used to be 100% some decades back. Now, due to great advancement in technology, it has dropped down to 30% to 50%. Systemic therapy is a great treatment option with both chemotherapy and hormone therapy tried. This is usually followed by a surgery - neoadjuvant therapy - which should ideally be followed by mastectomy. Radiation therapy following the above combination of treatments reduces the chances of a redevelopment of cancer greatly.

Yes, there is still a high mortality rate for Inflammatory breast cancer, but do not let that bring you down. You should keep in mind technology has bettered, and is still improving, and that there are people who love you. You will live as normally as you want to.

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All About Liposuction

by Aazdak Alisimo

Television is covered with shows about plastic surgery - from real life expert shows to makeover shows. Magazines are just as filled with ideas about plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation or facelifts. Most of all, these are filled with stories about liposuction, and how great it is.

The word liposuction is easy to define from its parts. The lipo- comes from lipid, meaning fat in Latin, and suction is just what it says it is. A liposuction surgery is performed by a plastic surgeon, and it is usually done in a hospital or surgery center. Most patients have to be put under general anesthesia.

The standard surgery itself is gruesome, although not scarring to the individual who receives the surgery. Small cuts are made in the skin of the area where the fat is to be removed. Cannulas, the instruments that will suck out the fat are inserted, as are injections of saline and anesthetic solutions.

The cannula is worked around in the fat layer under the skin. This dislodges some of the fat cells, which are then sucked up with the cannula and removed from the body. This can result in up to about 10 pounds of weight (fat) being lost, but no more. Liposuction is not about losing weight.

Other types of liposuction are being developed right now, including laser assisted liposuction - and they are already in use in some places throughout the United States. For now, patients are just bandaged up very tightly and sent home, hoping that dents and rippling won't occur as side effects.

Liposuction is not a good alternative to weight loss programs such as diet and exercise, and in fact, most doctors won't even work on patients that are overweight and expecting to lose a lot of weight through this process. Liposuction is just meant to work on problem areas of the body.

Men who get liposuction tend to get theirs done on their flank areas, or on their abdomen areas, while women also get their tummies done, but then get their thighs worked on. There are, of course, other areas where liposuction can be used to great effect, but it cannot make skin tighter or firmer.

Doctors can refuse to perform a liposuction procedure on any patient, but they are more likely to refuse to perform one on someone who smokes, or a patient who is under the age of 18. Also, conditions like diabetes will usually disqualify you for being able to have a liposuction procedure performed.

While liposuction seems like the easy way out to lose weight, it is not the answer for most people. Not much weight can be lost through a liposuction procedure, so it is often best to keep up with a diet and exercise regime, and leave liposuction to those who have just one or two problem areas.

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