High Blood Pressure In Children

A diagnosis of hypertension is made only when a person has at least three separate readings performed one to several weeks apart. While the condition is most common among adults, children can have high blood pressure too, even as infants. In fact, since the early 2000s there has been an alarming rate of increase among kids and adolescents.

Researchers found a trend of high blood pressure in children ages eight to 17 years who were overweight or obese. As kids grow, their blood pressure increases from a systolic pressure of about 70-90 in an infant to adult values in a teenager.

Among young kids, the "normal" range will depend on the child's gender, age, and height; your child's doctor will be able to compare your child's blood pressure with national norms. As the condition usually does not display any symptoms, diagnosing it in kids especially can be tricky.

Juvenile hypertension is defined as a blood pressure greater than the 95th percentile for their age, height, and gender. In other words, 95% of kids of the same age, height, and gender will have blood pressure below this number.

Although the severe form of the condition is rare in kids, even mild to moderate hypertension over time, if not treated, can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.

Stressful situations can elevate the blood pressure. When the stress level goes down, the pressure returns to normal. These temporary increases in blood pressure are not considered hypertension.

A diagnosis of hypertension is made only when a person has multiple high blood pressure readings over a period of time. In children, blood pressure normally rises during growth and maturation, and varies greatly during adolescence.

Physical activity and changes in position can temporarily raise blood pressure. An increase in body weight will also cause a rise in tension. It tends to develop about 10 years after a young person becomes overweight.

It is highly recommended that children, who either have the condition or are predisposed to contracting it, quit smoking or never start. The use of tobacco can develop into long-term associated heart problems.

Kids with severe hypertension should not participate in weight- and power-lifting, bodybuilding, or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor OKs it.

Consider this: the life of living creatures is in the blood. The Bible tells us that it's sacred and was to be offered back to God, the Creator, for the atonement of sin. (Lev. 17: 11) Therefore, do not take your children's blood for granted. Take good care of it with life-sustaining nourishment for optimum life.

Are Acid Reflux and Diarrhea Related?

A significant number of people who have acid reflux disease also claim to suffer from frequent IBS or irritable bowel symptoms. But is this coincidence or connection. The answer is there does appear to be a connection. There is at least one affiliation between acid reflux and diarrhea, and there could be more. In this article, we will briefly explore the implication of these connections.

The Connection

The first of the two connections is a natural one. This could possibly mean that both acid reflux and diarrhea are symptoms of a larger root problem. In this case, the problem is digestion. Medical sources note that acid reflux disease can occur when the intestinal and lower-stomach muscles involuntarily relax. This, also, can lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diarrhea.

The other link between acid reflux and diarrhea is not naturally occurring, but rather drug related. Several current studies show that drugs taken to alleviate acid reflux are actually helping to cause diarrhea. There are two basic categories for acid reflux medical treatment – protein pump inhibitors (PPI's) and H-2 blockers. Some common brand name versions of these drugs you may recognize are Prilosec & Nexium for PPI's, and Zantac and Pepcid for H-2 blockers. Diarrhea has been found to be a side effect of taking both of these drug categories.

Continue reading to find out why these medications can cause diarrhea and what the treatment options are. You can also sign up for the free acid reflux newsletter at the bottom of the page for natural methods of treating acid reflux that won't cause diarrhea.

The Cause

H-2 blockers and protein pump inhibitors both have been shown to facilitate the excessive growth of the bacteria Clostridium difficile (C-diff). Excessive amounts of C-diff growing rampant in the large intestine, or colon, are responsible for causing diarrhea. And to make matters worse, antibiotics taken for separate problems (or related) can kill the "good" bacteria that are needed to ward of C-diff in the large intestine.

Colitis, a painful form of cramping intestinal inflammation, can result from too much C-diff. Compounding matters, these infections can spread very easily in populated places such as hospitals and dorms.

The Reason

Basically, taking drugs to combat acid reflux actually weakens the body's defenses. The stomach acid in a person's body is not just for digesting food, but also acts as a barrier to prevent unwanted bugs from entering our bodies. The drugs used to suppress stomach acid can actually weaken this form of defense, allowing access to certain bacteria (like C-diff) that would otherwise not be admitted.

This is also a reason that doctors often recommend more natural methods of fighting acid reflux before resorting to medicine. Some of these methods include losing weight (if applicable), eating smaller meals more frequently, eating less fatty foods, eating less spicy foods, limiting alcohol and smoking, and elevating the head when sleeping. These can often go a long way in controlling acid reflux if followed carefully.

Acid reflux and diarrhea are related, probably in more ways than one. If you haven't exhausted these possibilities already, you may want to try utilizing some of the lifestyle and diet related treatments listed above. If you're stuck using the medicinal treatments, then just remember to be aware of infections that can result from a weakened line of defense. And, maintain frequent contact with your physician as a result.

Confidence and The Mental Game of Racing

Racing is a game of confidence. You must have tons of it according to racing super stars James Stewart and Dan Wheldon, two racers I have talked with personally about confidence and the mental game of racing.

Do you set expectations about where you should finish the race based on lap times and who you are racing against? One of the huge mistakes I see racers committing is what I call *placing themselves on the start line.* This means that you mentally have a finish position you think you *should* achieve.

This only works well if you think you should finish first in the motto or race. However, many racers place themselves in third, fourth, fifth and beyond depending on lap times in practice and other factors such as the reputation of other racers.

You are as fast as you think you are, and if you limit yourself with practice lap times, you will finish where you think you *should* finish in the race.

So how do you harness confidence and make it stick lap after lap? Racers get confidence from many sources: past experience, training, equipment, believing in their ability, and quality coaching.

I talked with Indy 500 Champ Dan Wheldon on the importance of confidence for successful racing. He said that self-belief and confidence are the two keys to winning races and championships.

The main idea is that you need to harness the power of confidence to race at the limit and make confident decisions. Some racers just ooze confidence while other racers have to work at harnessing the power of confidence.

How well would you perform if you had a full tank of confidence every race you strapped in the car or jumped on the bike?

Wheelchair Van Jargons

When you try to buy a wheelchair van you may end up getting dizzy listening to all of those jargons the salesman just said. Well, here you can find some of them with a brief explanation. I hope this can help you make a better buying decision with less headaches. These are not exactly "jargons" but some terms that has a high chance getting said over and over again by wheelchair van salesmen.

1. Van conversion

A wheelchair van is not originally a wheelchair van when it's out of the assembly line. They are designed and manufactured as ordinary passenger vans targeted at the mass market. A van conversion is the process where a van is customized with a wheelchair ramp or a wheelchair lift. The interior is also modified to provide easier and spacious access for disabled person on a wheelchair.

2. Kneeling system

With this system the van actually lower its self closer to the ground ( using air suspension ) for easy loading. Air suspension is not standard a standard feature in most vans so the original suspension must be modified for this system. With a kneeling system a person using manual wheelchair can push their wheelchair a lot easier up the ramp. However, this system is prone to error so ask for this only if you really really need it.

3. Hand Controls

When a disabled person would like to drive the van then the van will need additional Hand Controls for easier riding. Since the feet won't be able to hit the brake and the accelerator then these two functions will be handled by hand with the new hand controls.

4. ADA compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides a design guide provides consisting key information about how to create accessible car and van spaces. When you purchase an ADA compliant van you can be sure it is of highest quality, contains the necessary accessories and follow the safety and accessibility standards.

5. Crash test

Converting a van is a big deal. Any kind of modification made to the car will have an effect to it's rigidity and safety. Even though the original van have passed a crash test the converted van may not have been tested before. Please, choose only from manufacturers / seller that has passed the crash test for their conversion units.

6. Post purchase resellers program

When you no longer need your accessible van you can take it back the dealer and they will either buy it back from you ( at a reduced price ) or sell it for you for a small fee.

7. NMEDA

NMEDA stands for National Equipment Mobility Dealers Association. It's job is to ensure quality and professionalism in the manufacturing and installation of safe and reliable mobility equipment in vehicles for drivers and passengers with disabilities.

That's it. I hope that your next visit to a wheelchair van dealer won't be such a confusing experience after reading this article.

Learn How Your Business Can Pay for Your Insurance and Medical Expenses

If you are self-employed, your income is subject to a 15.3% self-employment FICA tax. Added to a 28% Federal income tax and a 5% state income tax, this could leave you paying nearly 50% of your income to the government. Fortunately, most self-employed people qualify to set up an HRA or Health Reimbursement Arrangement. An HRA can enable your business to reimburse you for health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses, and will save you an extra $3,000 each year.

Health Reimbursement Arrangements for the Self-Employed An HRA is simply an agreement which enables your business to cover employee's medical expenses, including individual health insurance premiums, as a tax-free fringe benefit. This tax benefit was established in Section 105 of the IRS tax code in 1955, when General Electric lobbied for a business reimbursement rule to give it more flexibility in creating employee benefits.

Anyone set up as an S-corp or C-corp qualifies to set up an HRA. If you are a Schedule C or Schedule F sole proprietor, an HRA is allowed if your spouse can work at least part time in the business. You will be setting up an employee benefits package that covers health insurance premiums, disability insurance premiums, long-term care premiums, and even out-of-pocket medical expenses such as dental coverage.

An HRA makes your taxes go down because when you get to write off medical expenses on your Schedule C, you avoid paying Federal income taxes, state income taxes, and the 15.3% FICA self-employment tax. Not only can the business reimburse you for the cost of health insurance premiums, but you can also set up the HRA to reimburse for dental coverage, preventive care, disability insurance, long-term care insurance, and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

If you are self-employed but do not have an HRA, you can write off your health insurance premiums on your 1040, saving you Federal income taxes. But, you are still subject to FICA and state income taxes for these expenses. You are not able to write off any of the other expenses listed above.

Using an HRA with a Health Savings Account Some financial advisors do not realize that you can have an HRA along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). You can of course. The only caveat is that the HRA cannot reimburse for expenses that could apply toward the deductible of the HSA, such as doctor visits or prescription drugs. But, it can cover any insurance premiums and preventive care.

The potential savings are substantial. Let's assume a business owner is in a 28% tax bracket, has an HSA plan, and is incurring the following expenses.

• Health insurance premiums - $7,000
• Preventive expenses - $1,000
• Other insurance - $2,000

The self-employed business owner can write off the $7,000 premium on Federal income taxes, saving 28% of that or $1,960. If the HSA is fully funded, an additional $1,582 will be saved off of Federal income taxes and $282.50 from state income taxes. So, in total, the business owner's taxes will go down by $3,824.50. Once an HRA is set up, the entire $10,000 in expenses listed above can be reimbursed by the business. So, the business owner would be saving a total of $2,800 from Federal income taxes, $500 from state income taxes, and $1,530 in self-employment taxes. The business owner will also get to take advantage of the same $1,960 in HSA tax savings, for a total tax reduction of $6,790.

Smart business owners take advantage of all the tax deductions for which they qualify. You can reimburse health insurance expenses from the beginning of the year, but out-of-pocket expenses only from the date your HRA begins.

Fast Weight Loss - How To Consistantly Lose Two Pounds Each Week

Losing weight does not have to be a matter of rocket science. It's actually very easy to figure out what you "need" to do, doing it is usually the problem. For example, almost every overweight person I've ever encountered that wanted to lose weight has always wanted to know all of the "weight loss secrets" out there that all of the supposed "experts" were hiding from the rest of the world. It's sad to see really. However, I'm not going to keep you all in limbo anymore. Yes, today, right here, right now, I'm going to reveal to you the biggest weight loss secret that all of those experts have been keeping from you. As a matter of fact, I'm not only going to give you the secret, but I'm also going to give you a "step by step" formula for implementing it also. Are you ready? Are you sure? Here it comes....

Take in less calories than you are using each day. Good gosh! Is that it? Is this possible? I don't see a brand name or a celebrity, so that can't possibly be the secret. Look, If you want to lose weight and keep it off then there is NO BIG SECRET, you just take in less calories each day than what you're using. For each 3,500 calories you either burn off with activity or don't eat, you'll lose one pound of chub. Here's the plan.

#1. Put the remote control down

#2. Get off your rear end.

#3. See your doctor, tell them your plan, get a physical exam and have them recommend a good Nutritionist

#4. Shop and eat healthy - avoiding junk foods.

#5. Join a gym, hire a personal trainer or begin a reputable exercise program on your own.

#6. Wash, rinse and repeat.

You only have to get rid of 1000 calories per day in order to lose two pounds per week. Why not split that up between exercise and diet? Reduce your calorie intake by 500 and burn an extra 500 per day through exercise and activities.

The bottom line here is that you need to stop chasing "pie in the sky" weight loss solutions and get down to what really works by losing weight the proven way. You now have no more excuses. Get to work!

Post Cosmetic Surgery Expectations- Recovery Time Needed

Cosmetic surgery can be an ideal way to improve your appearance and increase your self-confidence, but your expectations can play a large role in your overall satisfaction with your surgery experience. While the results of cosmetic surgery can be astounding, people are often dismayed by the recovery time needed before they can truly see the effects of their surgery. In order to have a truly positive experience, you need to be sure that you have realistic expectations about the surgery process, the recovery time and the final results.

Understanding the Cosmetic Procedure

The first step toward understanding the amount of recovery time you will need is to understand the cosmetic procedure itself. Each surgery comes with its own unique set of effects, ranging from swelling to soreness. In order to determine the impact of the surgery, you need to know all that you can about how the procedure is performed and the typical after-effects. There are many places to find further information about your chosen procedures, including online sources and plastic surgery resource centers. The most important step you can take, however, is to talk to your doctor. Your surgeon will be able to provide a much clearer picture of how the procedure will be performed and how the surgery will affect your recovery time.

Typical Recovery Times

The recovery time you need depends on a number of factors including the type of procedures and the number of procedures that are performed. Some surgeries require very little recovery time and you may be able to return to many of your normal activities in as little as a few hours. Other surgeries are more invasive and require much more recovery time. For these procedures, the average amount of time needed can range between two to three weeks.

During your recovery time, it is absolutely essential to follow your doctor's instructions. Failing to observe the proper recovery protocol can affect the final success of your cosmetic surgery. In order to ensure that all requirements are met, you should carefully plan for this post-surgery time period. Schedule enough time off from work to allow for complete healing. Also make sure that you will have the necessary support to help you through your recovery process. In the immediate aftermath of your surgery, you will likely need a friend or family member on hand to provide basic care and assistance. Later on, it is also important to have the social support that will allow you to accept and become comfortable with the changes to your body.

Sauna Health Benefits

Health Overview

Although doctors and scientists have known about the many health benefits that Far Infrared energy has to offer, they are still just beginning to understand its true potential in relation to the human body.

1)Increased Blood Flow

Problems of High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Bad Circulation, Muscle Injuries and Cramps can be severely limited through Infrared Sauna Therapy. During a 15-30 minute sauna session, the heart rate increases by 50-75%.

2)Fights Diseases

Fight off Fevers, Colds, Influenza, and many other common diseases. Most illnesses are accompanied by a fever.

3)Activates Sweat Glands

Suffer from Hypertension, Stiff Muscles, Headaches and Nausea, than Infrared Sauna Therapy may be beneficial.

4)Healthier Skin

Want to get rid of Acne, Flakey Dry Skin, Clogged Pores, Wrinkles, Blackheads and Zits. During a sauna session, blood flow to the skin increases to as high as 50-70% of cardiac output (compared to the standard 5-10%).

5)Eczema and Psoriasis

Help fight Eczema and Psoriasis. Natural infrared therapy often brings out amazing results in eczema and psoriasis treatment.

6)Detoxification

Help avoid Cancers and Birth Defects, restore Liver and Immune Functions as well as improvements in increased Mental Clarity, restored Energy Levels, fewer Allergies and improved Sleeping patterns.

7)Increased Metabolism and Weight Loss

Pump up your Metabolism and boost Weight Loss, fight Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease. Infrared energy generated in a sauna penetrates deep into your body (up to 2 inches Deep.)

8)Relaxes Muscle Groups

Relieve overworked Muscles, Stiffness, Cramps and Muscle Pains. Infrared saunas work with the use of infrared energy wavelengths

9)Pain Management

Alleviate pain from Back Problems, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and Joint Pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Day to Day Pains.

10)Meditation and Spiritual Healing

Feel less Anxious, more Relaxed, reduce Stress, lower Depression, increase Self Esteem and improve your Sex Life.

11)Recovery from Sports Injuries and Work Accidents

Recover quicker from Sports Injuries, Work Accidents and . Day to Day PainsAthletes or anyone involved with a sports or work related injury can recover much quicker simply by relaxing in a Gaia Sauna while meditating about the next big game or listening to their favorite music.

12)Depression and Mood Imbalances

Suffer from Depression or Mood Imbalances. In some of the latest studies on Far Infrared Heat therapy, scientists are beginning to document real benefits for these symptoms.

Weight Loss Hypnosis - The Brainy Way To Lose Those Pounds

Ever wonder if weight loss hypnosis really works? I can tell you that it does and I can tell you why.

Weight loss hypnosis affects your brain. Your brain is a complex organ that works on several levels of thought. Weight loss hypnosis works with is your sub-conscious level directly affecting your conscious level.

Weight loss hypnosis changes your sub-conscious needs and wants. Instead of your stomach saying 'I'm hungry' because you have trained your body to want more food than it actually needs. After weight loss hypnosis it will now say nothing at all once you have eaten a sufficient amount.

This will lead to you not wanting more food than you actually need and will have numerous health benefits. Health benefits will include not being so sluggish after eating. With this extra new found energy boast you can go for a walk and increase your bodies efficiency or use the extra energy to catch up on house work, gardening or spending time with the family.

Weight loss hypnosis is a risk free way to easily get your brain set back to its natural settings. Your brains normal settings are changed by un-natural human behavior, from doing things like sitting in a desk all day, being exposed to un-natural chemical pollutants and large amounts of daily stress.

Take the time to try weight loss hypnosis, you will be amazed at how much better you feel in just a few weeks. Your energy levels will increase, your mood will be better and you will sleep less and have more time for doing things that you would previously do before your natural setting got un-set.

Weight loss hypnosis may not work for everyone but it may work for you! Try weight loss hypnosis and I guarantee that you will not regret it. Come on? What do you have to lose other than some of your time feeling down and bloated?

Weight loss hypnosis, its for your health.

Are Hoodia Diet Pills a Waste of Money?

There has always been a lot of debate over the effectiveness of hoodia diet pills. Some dieters swear by them while others say they are a waste of money. The reality is, some people don't respond to hoodia. We're all wired differently so what works well for one person may not do a thing for another. However, those who don't have success with hoodia diet pills may not be taking an authentic hoodia gordonii diet pill.

The reason being the majority of the hoodia supplements on the market today are fake, meaning they contain very little, if any, hoodia gordonii. One expert says the percentage of fake hoodia diet pills could be as high as eighty-percent! It's very easy to get scammed when it comes to hoodia. The main concern with hoodia has always been making sure you get real hoodia gordonii – until now.

The President of one of the world's largest importers of hoodia issued a press release recently stating that the harvesting of wild hoodia gordonii has come to an end. Furthermore, the only hoodia entering the market today is the cultivated, or farmed, variety. What makes this announcement so shocking is that recent testing has revealed that wild hoodia is far more effective in suppressing appetite than cultivated hoodia. In fact, cultivated hoodia may be so inferior that it may be virtually useless in suppressing appetite!

According to this hoodia importer, the hoodia plant doesn't reach its maximum potency until five or six years. The wild hoodia that has been harvested was allowed to mature for at least five years. The cultivated hoodia that is entering the market now, however, is being harvested within two to three years – about three years too soon. To give you an idea of what three more years of growth can do in terms of the plant's potency, wild hoodia has a potency level between 0.34-0.35%, according to this importer. Cultivated hoodia that is harvested too soon has a potency level of only 0.1% or less!

What does this news mean for the consumer if this report is true? What it means is that once the hoodia diet pills that currently contain authentic wild hoodia gordonii are gone, the only supplements left on the market will be so ineffective that they will be worthless. It will take a few years before the current cultivated crops of hoodia are left in the ground long enough to reach full maturity. During that time, it sounds like the hoodia diet pills sold will be worthless if these claims hold true.

The obvious question is when will the current supply of wild hoodia gordonii be completely depleted? The President of this importer stated that while they currently have a supply of wild hoodia gordonii for use in their supplements, she said it won't last long. Again, I'd like to know what the means. Will the supply be depleted in a couple months, several months, or a year or more?

Regardless of when the supply of wild hoodia gordonii is gone, it will be very interesting to see what happens to the hoodia industry while it waits for the cultivated hoodia to mature. I doubt hoodia supplements will just disappear. However, if these claims are true, how will it be possible for any company to sell an effective hoodia diet pill if the only hoodia available is the immature cultivated variety?

Magic Foods - Feeling Full on Fewer Calories

Obesity is a growing problem in today's world, and doctors warn that we need to lose the excess fat and weight in order to live long and healthy lives. There a few ways to do this, including cardiovascular exercise, lifting weights, dieting and changing your lifestyle. If you are doing all or several of these things but still are not losing weight very quickly or even at all, it can be easy to become discouraged. This combined with the will it takes to make these lifestyle changes in the first place can make you feel ready to give up. After all, exercise and dieting only make you hungrier, and most people don't have the willpower it takes to go hungry, especially if they're seeing little in the way of results.

There is a solution to this problem however, and believe it or not, the solution is actually eating! Of course, this doesn't mean that you can eat whatever you want; there are a few key foods that will help you to feel full faster, and in turn, help you to have the willpower you need to see your diet and lifestyle changes through. If you choose your foods carefully, all you have to do is avoid eating when you are not hungry… and that is a lot easier than not eating when you are hungry!

Below, you'll find a list of the many foods that will help to take the edge off your hunger without increasing your waistline.

• Grapes: All of the dieticians agree on one thing; if you are going to eat a lot of anything, make it fruits and vegetables. Grapes will fill you up very fast, and they contain vitamins that are necessary for your body. This fruit also contains no artificial sugars.

• Bananas: Many people find that this fruit is very filling and satisfying because of its sweetness and creamy, decadent texture. It is also full of vitamins. Don't eat too many, however, because bananas have more starch than other fruits, and eating too many can add to your weight.

• Carrots: This high-fiber vegetable is very filling and convenient to carry, especially now that you can go to the grocery store and buy them in a re-sealable bags. Crunchy and refreshing and perfect for snacking.

• Water: This is not technically a food, but drinking lots of water really fills you up, and it is good for your kidneys. Water is much more beneficial for your body than coffee, tea and juice. Drink a glass or two of water before every meal, and you will eat less at that meal. Effortless fullness.

• Frozen Drinks: Take a blender, some ice, frozen fruit, and natural juice and you've got yourself a fat-free, delicious, cold and refreshing drink that will fill you up. Most people think that a smoothie has to be made with yogurt or milk, but making them with juice or even water tastes just as good and cuts down on fat and calories. How refreshing.

• Oatmeal: Sugar-free oatmeal in the morning will keep you full until lunchtime. Oats are full of fiber and have been proven to be a great food for your heart. Try substituting the sugar with cinnamon, raisins or chopped fruit, and you will not miss the taste of the sugar.

• Fiber: We've left the most important for last. The reason why many of the above foods are filling is… fiber! Dietary fiber fills you up like nothing else. Look for whole wheat, bran, or other high-fiber foods. Buy foods with added fiber, and try out fiber supplements and powders. Feeling hungry? A big glass of fiber power and water will take the edge off while helping you keep slim.

Coming Full Circle In Texas - Integrating Natural Health Principles Into Everyday Life

Lose Body Fat - "Yo-Yo Dieting" Might Have Nothing To Do With Your Will-Power

Are you a person who finds yourself in the midst of "losing weight" more often than enjoying it being gone? Do you drop between 10 to 50 pounds from your frame only to find those pounds sneaking back on like hobos hopping an early morning freight train? You're obviously not alone in this dilemma. And the good news; it might not be a reflection of a lack of discipline that has your fat loss resembling the perpetual motions of a working yo-yo.

Human motivation is often a perplexing phenomenon. It obviously varies among individuals and has varying degrees at different times within the same individual. Most of us have felt the peculiarity of being motivated to take action in certain contexts of our lives while suffering an avoidance of action in areas that need our attention. Much of the reason for this is connected to our contextualized values.

But motivation has even subtler nuances. Its basic catalyst boils down to the dual human needs of avoiding pain and gaining pleasure. This makes each of us either a predominantly "push" or "pull" person in regard to what motivates us to improve the circumstances of our lives. The theory, in fact, is that moving away from what's perceived as painful is what gets us started toward positive change and moving toward what's perceived as pleasurable is what sustains our momentum. With a unique ratio of this balance within each of us (different in every context), it becomes plain to see how motivation surges and wanes.

Every one of us is at least slightly and initially more motivated by the prospect of pain than pleasure. This is why mainstream news is dominated by negative stories. It's been said that if a newspaper carried a front-page headline stating "It will be a Beautiful, Sunny Day Tomorrow", the headline would be ignored by passersby and the paper wouldn't sell. We can readily predict what will happen if the same newspaper prints a front-page headline stating "There's a Violent and Terrible Storm Coming"; it will fly off the newsstand.

But what happens when our motivation becomes driven almost solely by the need to move away from perceived pain? Moreover, what can occur when this "driver" of motivation becomes wedged in our subconscious as part of our self-image? The answer: Our success in much of what we undertake becomes a perpetual rollercoaster ride of short-lived positive results followed by a subconscious "need" to undo what we've created. This is often the underlying reason for constantly fluctuating results in business, relationships, personal development, and yes; fat loss and body improvement.

If moving away from what we don't want is almost exclusively what motivates us, then what's left to do when we've successfully distanced ourselves from discomfort? In the case of fat loss, it's to subconsciously and nearly imperceptibly allow the fat to creep back on. Why not – the most tangible pleasure came from the fleshly indulgences of gaining it. The most overtly abstract pleasure arose out of receiving compliments from other people while losing it. What a combination; gaining and losing body fat becomes a package deal with the best pleasures of both worlds. How can one resist becoming addicted to the entire rollercoaster ride?

This can even be fun for a while. But it also gets taxing on the body and it can take its toll on the psyche. The latter becomes especially so if a person begins to believe they're "weak" for not keeping the fat off indefinitely. What we mistakenly label as weakness in our willpower might only be the acute manifestation of personal motivation that's chronically catalyzed by an above average desire to move away from perceived pain.

I've seen this phenomenon in the world of commerce. A guy I know experienced a roller coaster of up and down results in his sole proprietorship business. The top of his subconscious comfort zone was when his personal income would reach about $60,000 annually. The bottom of that comfort zone was when he'd eke out $20,000 for the year. After he'd peak at sixty thousand, he would begin to unconsciously sabotage his momentous efforts until he was back down to barely treading water with twenty grand. Then he'd start working his way back up again. This pattern was ongoing until he finally underwent an intervention (NLP) that opened the upper limit of his comfort zone and shifted his motivation to a predominantly 'moving-toward' orientation.

One of the most successful bodybuilders and a pioneer of the fitness movement published a book that contains a revealing anecdote from one of his long-time friends. His friend said that whenever he saw this bodybuilder, the guy said he was getting into the best shape of his life. He shared "When I saw him ten years ago, he said he was getting into the best shape of his life. When I ran into him two weeks ago and asked how his workouts were going, he said he was getting into the best shape of his life."

Is this positive self-programming or the signs of a strong "moving-toward" motivation catalyst? It might be a bit of both. At any rate, the man was always in excellent physical shape.

If you're a person who's succumbed to the tendency to ride the rollercoaster ride of "yo-yo dieting", withhold from concluding that your will-power is weak. Instead, take a close look at the subconscious reasons you have for shedding the fat. Are you influenced by a deep need to flee from pain? Does the pain of carrying too much body fat finally get you moving in the right direction? Most importantly, do you find yourself devoid of reasons to carry on with improved eating habits once you've put that painful state so far in the rear-view mirror that you can no longer see it?

If you answered yes to these questions, it's probably time to stop mentally beating yourself up for inadequate will-power and start examining your motivation patterns. If it appears that you're moving away from something unappealing more than moving toward a better you, a vacuum is possibly being created that no amount of will-power can overcome.

Weight Loss - 4 Things Not To Eat In Order To Maximize Your Weight Loss

Losing weight starts at the mouth. Exercising can contribute to making a diet work or not, but the most important thing is how what you eat and how much of it. In fact, if you eat the right thing, you can have a successful diet without feeling hungry. In today's society, it's difficult to know what's good and what's not good for you. There's so much variety and everything looks so good and is advertised so ingeniously, that you can hardly know what's true and what's not.

Covering every type of food and its qualities is of course impossible in one article. People have written tons of books on the matter. But here are four types of food which I recommend you not eat, or at least do so in moderation. Taking these out of your diet will contribute to your weight loss and further ensure that your diet will be successful.

1. Fried food. This is especially hard to give up because fried food is very tasty and it's so easy to make that a lot of people base their home cooking on this food type. But fried food is extremely bad for you as the frying oil sticks to the food and you end up eating dishes which are saturated with fat. If you must fry your food, do so with olive oil which is much healthier.

2. White bread. Everything made of white flour is harmful to your diet. Our body has difficulty digesting white flour. The result is that we eat useless calories which are turned to fat. Eating white flour will cause your body to develop more fatty deposits. It is much better to eat whole wheat or whole flour bread.

3. Processed food. It's always easier to buy already made food than to make your own. Who has the time? But processed food is made for quantity and not for quality. Often, it also has a lot of chemical ingredients inserted in order to preserve the food so it can be sold for a longer period of time. All these chemicals aren't good for your body and may harm your fat loss efforts.

4. Sweets. I'm not saying to give up candy for the rest of your life or even to stop eating it entirely. But candy is usually a high-calorie, high fat, and high sugar food item. Cutting candy out of your diet will automatically cut down your useless-calorie intake and improve your weight loss. If you feel the craving for something sweet, eat a fruit. It's tasty and a lot healthier.

If you avoid, or cut down the intake of, these food types, your weight loss will be faster and healthier. To read more on a healthy diet that works read this webpage: Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review

Negative Calorie Foods - Aiding Weight Loss and Increasing Metabolism

While all foods contain at least some calories, there are some that are classified as negative calorie foods due to their overall affect on the body. This simply means that these particular foods use more caloric energy to eat and digest than they actually contain to begin with. The calories from these types of foods are more difficult to breakdown and process, making the body work harder to digest them, thus burning more than the food's original caloric content.

If we gain weight when we take in more calories than we expend, it only stands to reason that if we take in less calories than we burn, we will then lose weight. Roughly ten percent of our total daily caloric intake is actually used to process and digest the foods that we've eaten. If we decrease the calories we ingest, add more negative calorie foods to our diets while increasing our level of physical activity, the result is healthy weight loss and an elevated metabolism.

A perfect example is a piece of cake that contains roughly 400 calories, but that also uses up 150 of those calories to eat and digest it. This then leaves a net gain of 250 calories, which of course turn into fat. Now, if instead you decided to eat a salad that contained 250 calories, but uses 400 calories to completely digest, you will have actually burned 150 calories simply by eating the salad. If you ate a piece of fruit that contained 100 calories but used up 200 calories worth during the digestion process, you will have burned an extra 100 calories just by eating the fruit.

The more negative calories that you can incorporate into your diet while maintaining a regular exercise program, the more fat you will ultimately burn. Negative calorie foods should always be prepared fresh and naturally without any added ingredients such as butter or salt, which would only counteract the food's negative caloric affects. Negative calorie foods generally have a high fiber content, which is essential for dieters as it allows the body to feel fuller longer. Fiber also causes the body to work harder to process and breakdown the foods we've eaten.

Although water isn't considered a food, ice cubes can be used as a negative calorie source. Water contains no calories at all, but the body must put forth energy to consume the ice, and also to compensate for the decrease in body temperature. Many dieters use frozen sugar-free juice cubes as healthy treats that also require the expenditure of more calories than they actually contain.

When following a diet rich with negative calorie foods, it's important to remember that these foods are comprised mostly of water and fiber, and while they are healthy, they also lack key nutrients, proteins, and certain vitamins and minerals that the body needs to thrive.

Some vegetables that are considered to be negative calorie foods are:

Asparagus


Beets


Broccoli


Cabbage


Carrots


Cauliflower


Celery


Chili peppers


Cucumbers


Endives


Garlic


Leeks


Lettuce


Onions


Peppers


Radishes


Spinach


Turnips


Zucchini

Some fruits that are considered to be negative calorie foods are:

Apples


Blackberries


Blueberries


Cranberries


Guava


Grapefruit


Honey dew melons


Lemons


Limes


Mangoes


Oranges


Peaches


Pineapple


Plums


Raspberries


Tangerines


Tomatoes


Watermelon