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BMI's Health & Wellness Mastermind Group

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Best Diet Type -- Losing Weight for Your Wedding Day

by Michael A. Smith, MD


Diet types for a wedding: safe and effective weight loss in preparation for your wedding.


The best plan to follow is designed to produce 1-2 pounds of weight loss per week. At this rate, weight loss is safe, healthy, and lasting. Plan accordingly and designate the proper number of weeks for dieting following the 1-2 pounds per week rule.


For instance, if you want to lose 10 pounds before the big day, you'll need at least 5 weeks of dieting to guarantee healthy weight loss (10 pound goal/2 pounds per week = 5 weeks of dieting).


Diet Types for Your Wedding


Forget about all the different diets available and stick with the only type proven to produce safe, healthy, and lasting weight loss. A gradual, moderate restriction of calories with exercise is the best diet type to follow and the only one proven to work.


Interestingly, all diet types work by restricting calories. For example, the Negative Calorie Diet works because the recommended food to eat is significantly lower in calories than your baseline diet.


It's that simple. Supporters of the diet claim that negative calorie foods burn more calories during digestion and this leads to weight loss. In truth, the negative calorie foods are low in calories and you end up eating fewer calories than before and that's why you lose weight.


The best diet type to follow in preparation for your wedding is a simple low calorie diet.


Restricting Calories


Restrict calories slowly and only moderately from your baseline caloric intake. Keeping within the range of 200-600 calories reduced, you'll experience safe, healthy, and lasting weight loss.


The following table shows you how many calories to start restricting and the maximum amount to restrict based upon your baseline caloric intake. This is your guideline to healthy weight loss.


Baseline Intake/Start Restriction/Maximum Restriction


2000/200/400
2300/250/450
2600/300/500
2900/350/550
3000/400/600


What to Eat


Eat a balanced diet. Each day eat 35-45% lean protein, 25-35% complex carbohydrates, and 15-25% fat. Healthy fats, like Omega-3 from fish, can substitute for a lean protein source.


Each meal eat 1 source of lean protein, 1 serving of complex carbohydrate, and 2-3 servings of vegetables and fruit. Limit simple carbohydrates (sugars) and unhealthy fats, like saturated fats and trans-fatty-acids.


Wedding Exercises


Your diet type and weight loss plan is not complete without exercise. The most critical aspect of exercise is to tone muscle.


The good news? There's a simple and effective way to tone muscle and lose weight. Not only that, with toned muscle, you'll look tight and buff, surprising all of your guests.


You can find instructions to toning muscle at...www.weight-loss-professional.com/wedding-exercises.html


To Healthy Weddings!


Michael A. Smith, MD
Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website


About the Author
Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content based website dedicated to all dieters.

Visit his site at www.weight-loss-professional.com.

Friday, September 09, 2005

How I Lost 51 Pounds In 4 Months Using The Simplest Diet Plan In The World

by Adam Minsky


Like many people I've been on dozens of diet plans over the years ranging from Atkins to South Beach to Weightwatchers to Jenny Craig and lots more besides. In fact, I've eaten enough cabbage soup to satisfy a small country! I'm 5 feet 10 and I used to weigh 230 pounds and needed to lose a good 50 pounds to get myself in some short of shape. And then it hit me. It's seems so logical now and so simple but I had ignored the simplest weight loss solution of all. Here's how I discovered it.

I was over in the UK on vacation and saying with an Aunt. We were having tea together and my Aunt was watching her favourite daytime TV show called "Today with Des and Mel." The host, a rather charming guy called Des O'Connor was being asked how he stayed so trim and slim and indeed virile at aged 70 (he had just once again become a father) and he gave me the simplest weight loss solution I have ever heard. In fact you'd be seriously challenged to find a fitter and more vibrant looking 70 year old anywhere on the planet.

Des's answer was that he only eats one meal per day in the evening, and in fact eats as much as he wants at that one meal sitting. During the day he may well graze on a bit of fruit and naturally drinks plenty of fluids but he swears by the plan and has done for over 40 years.

This seemed so simple and ridiculously easy and I was very doubtful whether it would work for me. However, it's based on pure logic. By missing out on significant calories during the day, the body makes up for it in the evening and then stores up calories to keep you going the next day until your evening meal. However, I'm no scientist or doctor and I'm only interested in results. Here's how it worked for me.

Week One was a little challenging. I did nibble on the odd cookie to keep me going with my morning black coffee. I missed the social aspect of lunch but contented myself with knowing that I was doing my health and body a huge favor. In week one I lost 6 pounds and in the first month 15 pounds dropped off my body! However, having been on many diet programs over the years I was worried it could all come back.With this in mind I started a gentle walking program in the evenings after my meal of the day and this really helped me with my energy levels. I really didn't want to visit a gym or stress myself by running.

I was eating everything I wanted in the evenings, including ice cream and lots of ribs and fries etc. However, after the first month my body seemed to start regulating itself and I didn't seem to crave these heavy rich foods as much. I think my body started to learn that it needed to eat well and wholesome in the evenings so it could get through the next 24 hours.

In month two I dropped another 13 pounds. In month three I lost a further 12 pounds and in month four another 11 pounds making for a total weight loss of 51 pounds in FOUR months. Truly amazing. I'm still staggered by it. I don't recommend this plan for life and have slowly reintroduced a healthy breakfast and a very light lunch. It's a truly great plan for losing excess weight quickly though - and works like nothing I've ever tried before.

One year on and I'm still at my target weight of 180 pounds. I still do my walking exercise most evenings and feel 1000% better with loads more energy. I've recommended this plan to dozens of friends and I have to say it's worked for 90% of them. Give it a shot, the odds are that it'll work great for you too! Check with your doctor first though to be safe.


About the Author
Adam Minsky runs http://www.nutritional-supplement-resources.com/. Keep up with the latest information on Health Food Supplements and Dietary Mineral Supplements at his site.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Clear your Acne and have Perfect Skin - Naturally!

by Ryan Bauer


Most people who suffer from acne go out and spend good money on common over-the-counter acne treatment products. The truth is, most of these products are full of chemicals that can actually slow down the healing of acne, and irritate your skin, causing farther breakouts.
When an acne product has 20 ingredients listed on it, it can be hard to know if one of those ingredients is actually stopping you from having success. It can be even harder when you can't pronounce the ingredient, much less know what it is and how it is going to affect your skin.
Most mainstream acne treatments are not only much more expensive than common household items, but they also don't always work as well either. With that in mind, I will list some basic household items that can work wonders on clearing up your skin.

Baking soda – A very cheap cooking ingredient that most people have in their homes already, baking soda can be used as a great scrub. The purpose of a scrub is to exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin that can eventually clog pores and lead to acne spots.
To start off, you'll want to mix a small amount of baking soda with some water for form a paste. Baking soda is very effective as a scrub, so you want to be sure to be extra careful when applying it to your face. Gently massage the paste into your skin for ten to fifteen seconds. Then rinse the baking soda off, and pat your face dry with a clean towel.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Though most people that use vinegar to treat acne use the apple cider form of vinegar, you can also use plain old regular vinegar. Regardless of which type you use, vinegar can be very helpful with it comes to clearing up acne. It can kill off acne causing bacteria, balance your skin's pH, and absorb extra oil on your skin.
Starting with clean, dry skin, apply diluted vinegar (eight parts water to one part vinegar) directly to your skin with a cotton ball, and leave it on. If you want, you can also use a stronger vinegar solution (say, 2 or 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar), and apply it directly to problem areas, rinsing it off after ten minutes.
Lemon or lime juice can also be substituted for vinegar. Both of these juices are rich in citric acid, and can exfoliate your skin very well, halting the growth of acne spots, as well as fading previous, non-active acne quicker.

Egg Whites – Rich in protein, egg whites can be used as a mask to heal and rebuild your skin. It can also help to absorb excess oil from your skin.
To start off, crack an egg, removing the yolk so that just the egg whites are left behind. Beat these egg whites, and apply them directly to your face. Let it sit for fifteen minutes, and then rinse the egg off.
Oatmeal – As odd as it may seem, oatmeal can absorb unwanted oil and draw out impurities which reside deep in your skin. Cook some plain oatmeal like you would for consumption. Let it cool off, and rub it over your clean skin. Let it sit for a while, like you would a mask, and then rinse off. If you do this on a regular basis, you should begin to start noticing results soon.

Tea Tree Oil – TTO is a commonly used all-natural household antiseptic, which you can pick up at most drugstores or supermarkets. You can apply TTO directly to acne spots to kill bacteria, or, if you strongly dilute it with another oil (such as jojoba oil), over your entire face.
Tea tree gel can be easier to apply than the oil, and many are made for applying over large areas of skin, so they aren't quite as strong as straight TTO and do not need to be diluted.

Pantothenic Acid (Also known as Vit. B5) – Pantothenic acid can be taken in large quantities for the benefit of acne reduction. B5 works by helping your body to metabolize fats which would otherwise be later turned into sebum (oil) and excreted through the skin. Small amounts of B5 won't help though, and it has to be taken several times a day.
To help with acne, you will need to take 2.5 grams of pantothenic acid (the powder form is much easier to take), 4 times per day, for a total of 10 grams per day.

Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera has been used for many years in kitchens for topical application to burns. Another benefit of aloe is that it can prevent scaring, fade marks and help heal acne spots.
You now have an idea of some basic household items you can use on your skin, that work better than many OTC acne products, and are much cheaper to use. Since we have only really covered basic acne treatments, you can always take this to another level and take all natural, internal acne treatments.

This sums up our basic list of natural alternatives for chemical based acne treatment products. You can take this a step farther by attacking your acne from the inside out. Acne has been shown numerous times to be very closely affected by the digestive system, so keeping your entire digestive system working as smooth as possible can help reduce acne. I will help give you a basic idea of some all natural products you can take to help clear up acne.

Cucumber, lemon and carrot juice, brewer's yeast, and active charcoal pills are all capable of helping the digestive system function normally. Since the digestive system is closely related with the health of the skin, they should help reduce acne breakouts. Flax seed can also be wonderful for helping your skin heal faster.


About the Author
Ryan Bauer is a former acne sufferer who writes health articles and runs his acne treatment website, Acne Elimination.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

What Is Mesothelioma?

by Steve Austin


Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

Mesothelioma is a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that involves the mesothelium, or cells that line an organ, abdominal organs, usually the lungs, and heart. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, where the malignant tumors form on the pleura, the sac that lines the chest cavity and protects the lungs. Other forms of mesothelioma affect the peritoneum (abdominal cavity lining) and the pericardium (which is lining around the heart).

Mesothelioma is usually caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos mesothelioma is a fibrous mineral known to be carcinogenic. People who are exposed to asbestos fibers for just a short period of time (few weeks) or even to a small amount may be at risk. In particular, people working with asbestos and their family members or those who live with them develop mesothelioma. There is a long latency period between initial exposure to asbestos and the development of malignant tumors. On average, 35-40 years elapse before the onset of disease.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma can resemble pneumonia, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, chest and abdominal pain. Often, there is fluid buildup between the pleura and chest cavity (called pleural effusions), which leads to dyspnea (shortness of breath) and sometimes pain. Some people may not have any symptoms.

Treatment for mesothelioma cancer can be surgery to remove the tumors, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the three. Depending on the person’s health, time of diagnosis, and other factors, the survival rate is about four to 12 months from the onset of symptoms. However, occasionally people may live longer.


About the Author
For more free legal information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawsuits, please visit Free Legal Information.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Your Friendly Holistic Neighborhood Online.

by Ray La Foy


HOLISTICTHEORY.COM: YOUR FRIENDLY HOLISTIC NEIGHBORHOOD ONLINE

What could be more relaxing and contemplating than reducing stress while sitting and browsing the Web?

With the advent of the information technology and with almost everybody getting hooked-up with the Internet, everything seems to be technologically connected with almost everything.

Consequently, one of the most sought-after activities in the web today is holistic and alternative medicine. Holistic medicine is a new approach in health care that promotes a collaborative bond among the involved persons. Eventually, engaging oneself to a holistic way of medication will lead to the most advantageous realization of the physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of health.

And so, whenever a person who wants to relieve stress and wants to find better ways in improving their mental and physical condition they would just sit in front of their personal computers and browse the domain where they can find the answers.

There are numerous Web sites in the Internet today that cater to people who would want to try or experience the holistic and alternative way of therapy. And one of the most feasible domains when it comes to holistic medicine is holistictheory.com, a one-stop site for all your holistic information and resources.

Basically, holistictheory.com offers links to the most of the essential information about holistic and holistic medicine. With just one click, the site will divert you to the most favorable information you need. You can find here links to the holistic health care, holistic therapy, holistic way of skin care, holistic nutrition, and even holistic pet care.

In the alternative medicine holistic section, you can find various links to updates and information regarding holistic medicine. You can find sites that tackle holistic medicine programs, holistic alternative medicine, the different holistic approaches in medicine, and the different trends in holistic medicine. You can also find links to holistic medicine and fitness, holistic medicine and lpr, and holistic medicine in different places like Ohio and Vermont.

To note, this section also offers link to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD alternative treatment. Here you can find all the details about homeopathy, the holistic medicine that is being used to treat ADHD patients. This will be most likely helpful to those parents who experience this kind of behavioral disorder in their kids.

On the other hand, holistic health section of holistictheory.com caters to the needs of people who would like to find out anything about holistic health care, holistic health products, holistic health education, and holistic health control.

Basically, this section provides links to holistic health definitions, different issues regarding integration of the modern medicine with holistic health, and some details on the different holistic health conferences.
The holistic retreat section, however, offers link to different holistic health retreat weight loss, holistic health spas, and holistic spa therapy. It also provides sites of the different holistic health retreat center. Here, you can also find a link to Sanctuary Barbados, which is considered as a mind and body spirit centre.

Next you can find the holistic healing section where sites about holistic healing schools and different alternative holistic healing systems can be found. Holistic healing is being referred to as a kind of healing that uses non-invasive and non-pharmaceuticals techniques to help heal the patient. And so, this section will guide you to sites that will inform you about the different holistic healing in the different countries. You can also find sites which will provide information on holistic healing for skin cancer and other diseases.

Lastly, holistictheory.com has their holistic remedies section that offers links to the different holistic health products, holistic beauty products, herbal remedies, and holistic skin care product usually used in holistic remedies.

With all the available and reliable links provided by holistictheory.com, everything you need to know about holistic medicine will be easy and convenient. In this way, reducing stress while in front of a personal computer had never been this better.



About the Author
Holistic Remedies have Merit
Learn more at
http://www.holistictheory.com

Monday, September 05, 2005

Home Remedies

by andy casasanta


Ever have a bee sting? Try rubbing an aspirin on it. Gum in hair? Soak the gum-coated hair in Coke® and it should wipe out easily. While not being a replacement for medical attention, and you should always seek your doctor when you feel you have to and please take these home remedies with a grain of salt. Here you go and enjoy



ACNE, BLACKHEADS, AND PIMPLES:

Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples. Apply fresh lemon juice on the affected area overnight. Wash off with warm water next morning. For acne that hasn't seemed to respond to anything, brew 2-3 tsp. dried basil leaves in 1 cup boiling water for 10-20 minutes, cool, and apply to affected area with a cotton ball. Garlic has been used successfully in the treatment of acne. Pimples disappear without scars when rubbed with raw garlic several times a day.



BLADDER INFECTION

Take a bag of fresh or frozen cranberries and boil them in water (they will fall apart). Cool and drink. Don't add sugar! This remedy is also useful for people with kidney problems.



DARK CIRCLES AROUND EYES

Make a paste out of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder, and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.



ENERGIZER

Simmer 1 cup honey and 3 cup water together slowly. Allow 1 cup of the water to evaporate. Strain off the top surface, and put the remaining liquid into a stoneware crock or dark bottle. Put a towel over it so it can breathe, yet be free of dirt. Place in a cool place. You can add cinnamon, clove, or the juice of 2 lemons, if you like.Take a glass of grapefruit and lemon juice in equal parts to dispel fatigue and general tiredness after a day's work.



GUM IN HAIR

Soak the gum-coated hair in Coke® and it should wipe out easily.



MOSQUITO BITES

Apply lime juice diluted with water on bites with cotton ball. Apply one of the following to bites or stings to reduce pain and swelling:aloe Vera gel, garlic oil, baking soda and water, vinegar, honey, plantain tea, aspirin.



Hangover

Eat Crackers and honey. Honey has a high source of fructose and will be helpful in removing the remainder of the alcohol in your system. Aspirin for a headache or you can chew on some willow bark, willow bark contains a substance used in aspirin and will help your headache. You can find it in a health food store if you want to try an alternative to aspirin. Plenty of water, it will help flush out the alcohol, also too much alcohol leaves the body dehydrated, so have a drink of water.



Heartburn

Don't lie flat on your back. Heartburn is caused by the acid in your stomach moving upward to your esophagus. Try having a bowl of rice pudding, made with milk, this should help absorb stomach acid. Coffee and chocolate can inflame heartburn, so avoid them if you can. If you heartburn is a regular problem, you should think about going to the doctor.



Warts

Rubbing liquid vitamin A on the wart everyday will eventually take it away, but it's a slow process. Use castor oil on the wart and then wrap the offending area up tightly with a bandage. Repeat this 2 times a day.



Bad Breath

Try some parsley. This food garnish is rich in chlorophyll, a green plant compound that kills the bacteria that cause bad odor.



Chapped Lips

Try using castor oil. Carry a small squeeze bottle of the oil and apply it with your finger often throughout the day. Popular lip balms contain petroleum and alcohol, both of which may dry the skin on your lips.



I'm sure this is the tip of the iceberg, but these are the ones I know of.These home remedies are in no way a replacement to a Doctors care so if you feel that you might need to see a Physician, please do so.




About the Author
Submitted by Mr Andy Casasanta. Author of this article and the creator of a tremendous health and pharmacy website. In this site you will find up to 40 health articles, a 7000 reciprocal link exchange page and Generic medications. Savings of up to 80% on all popular drugs. Viagra, Lipitor, Meridia, and hundreds more all for pennies on the dollar. Please visit

http://www.medheadquarters.net/

Sunday, September 04, 2005

The Search for Acne Solutions

by GSET Publishing


Billions of dollars are spent worldwide each year in search of acne solutions. Both consumers and pharmaceutical companies alike are spending the money to find an acne solution that works. Unfortunately, for many, the search is never ending. In most cases of teenage acne, the person will outgrow the acne before they actually find a solution for curing it - but they will spend quite a bit of money looking for that cure.

What many people fail to realize is that in many cases, it takes more than medication to cure acne. It may also require some lifestyle changes, such as the foods you eat, the way you care for your skin, and what you expose your skin to. For instance, if a food allergy is causing your acne - and this is very possible - you can use medication to clear up the outbreak, but once you eat that food again, you will have another outbreak.

In addition to using acne solutions, you also have to keep your skin clean. You must wash your face at least twice a day to remove the dirt that clogs pores. If you live in an area that has a lot of air pollution, you may even need to wash your face more often. You must also keep your hair off your face. Hair contains oils that cause acne. You should keep your hands off your face as well, since your hands and fingers also contain oils that cause or aggravate acne.

Popping or squeezing acne pimples should also be avoided. Not only does this cause scarring, but it can also spread the bacterium that contributes to acne breakouts, making the current breakout worse, and even causing new breakouts in the near future.

Using makeup is another problem. Daily use of makeup is bad enough, but when makeup is used to cover up acne pimples, the pimples heal slower, because the pores become even more clogged. Try to avoid wearing makeup, but if you must wear it, choose makeup that is hypoallergenic, or for sensitive skin. Also, avoid products that contain perfumes.

When using acne solutions, make sure that you follow the directions. Overuse of the product can cause as many problems as under use of the product. Follow the directions to the letter, unless your doctor or dermatologist advises otherwise. The best acne solutions will contain both topical treatment, as well as oral treatment. Acne starts on the inside of the body, but it is prevented and healed on both the inside and outside of the body. Talk with your doctor or dermatologist to find the best acne solution for your condition. Make sure that you are aware of all of the potential side effects before deciding to use any type of treatment.

Furthermore, make sure that you are giving the acne solution you are trying time to work. That is the biggest reason for failure with acne solutions. Some treatments can take up to three months before they prove to be effective. Acne cannot be cured overnight, in most cases. Don’t mix acne treatments. Don’t use one product one day, then another the next day. Stick to one form of treatment, and give it time to work.

Keep in mind that those acne solutions that work for one person will probably not work for the next person. What worked for your mother, brother, or best friend may or may not work for you. We all have different skin types, and different chemical makeup’s - and we all respond differently to medication and acne treatments. Work to find what works for you and your acne.

It is possible to find acne solutions that work for you. You just can’t depend solely on the acne treatment to cure or prevent acne, without making other lifestyle changes, even though those lifestyle changes are very small. You must be consistent in order to be successful. The biggest change you may need to make might be in the foods that you eat. A good allergy specialist can determine what foods may be causing your acne breakouts, and eliminating those foods from your diet will go along way towards helping your acne solution work for you.


About the Author
Acneteam.com strives to provide you with the latest information with regard to acne, the best acne treatments, the "old wives' tales" and info about acne solutions (http://www.acneteam.com/acne-solutions.html). Don't blame the blemishes, we love to help! See for yourself at: AcneTeam.com(http://www.acneteam.com/)