Sunday, April 29, 2007

Coping With Hair Loss For Women

Women are told so often that our hair is our crowning glory that it can become a real heart-breaker when we notice that we are losing some of it. Hair loss in women is less often discussed around women then men, but the results to your self-esteem can be devastating. Whether your hair was long and luxurious or kept short and cute, seeing thinning patches of hair is never good for you.

While hair loss in women can be a blow to our vanity, there are many other concerns to think about. This can be a symptom of something larger in our life that needs to be taken care of. One large factor in hair loss for women is stress. Stress can cause you to lose your hair, whether it's from problems at your workplace or a recent surgery. Happily enough, this hair loss is temporary, and when your body recovers, so will your hair!

Slightly more serious is the hair loss that occurs from hormonal issues. An under-active or over-active thyroid gland can cause hair loss in women, as can differing levels of testosterone and estrogen. Similarly, hair loss in either sex can be caused by medication or by infections.

When you start to notice hair loss, do not panic! In many cases, it's curable, and your hair can go back to looking as lovely as you did before. There are a few things to think about if you want to reverse your hair loss.

The first is to try to identify the cause. Have you started taking any new medications? How have you been eating lately? Are you stressed? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, you might have the answer to your hair loss right there.

Hair loss can be a warning sign that you are having problems with your body. The health of your hair can reflect your health in general, so when your hair starts thinning, or becoming dry and fragile, it's a good time to start worrying.

One thing you do on your own is trying to reduce stress. Remind yourself eat well, and set some time apart every day for an activity that is relaxing to you, like yoga.

Remember to take care of your body as well; take your vitamins and and be proactive in figuring out what medications are going into your body. Your new hair loss may something to do with a new birth control, or from a food that you have started or stopped eating.

When in doubt, consult with a doctor. A doctor can tell you more precisely what's wrong and give you steps to fix it. If this sounds extreme for simple hair loss, think of this way: hair loss in women is often a sign of something else, something more serious. With that in mind, this is something that you cannot afford let go unexamined!

Labels: ,

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Effective Cellulite Solutions

We liken it to orange peel or cottage cheese. Women have it, so do men. Cellulite, also known as dermatomyoliposclerosis, affects the young, the old, the fat, the slim, the gym-sculpted and the couch potato. General estimates say up to 90 per cent of women have it. But can we do anything about cellulite? Cellulite is a disease of the fat level of skin. The fat cells are arranged in chambers surrounded by fibrous bands. When there is a build-up of toxins and poor lymphatic drainage, water retention occurs and cellulite forms. The fibrous bands can contract, resulting in a permanent dimpling of the skin.

Unfortunately, once formed cellulite is hard to dispel with lifestyle changes alone. Many have suggested drinking more water, exercising and eating healthily, but none of these are effective. Even liposuction, often touted as the cure for cellulite, can worsen the situation. Hormonal changes also contribute to cellulite, which partly explains why women are more prone to it, and genes are thought to play a part. Cellulite appears largely on the thighs and bottoms, but can be found on the inner knees, hips, lower abdomen and under the arms.

Advances in Aesthetic Medicine have brought with it a number of effective cures for cellulite:

  • Mesotherapy improves the circulation, dissolves excess fat deposits and removes hardened fibrous connective tissue. Mesotherapy can dispel cellulite after 6-10 sessions, but mild to moderate cellulite responds as well, if not better, to machine treatments.
  • Endermologie, the use of suction and rolling technology, physically improves the circulation and expels toxins from the affected areas. The skin tone is improved, and even end stage fibrotic cellulite can be less visible after such treatment.
  • Ultrasound treatment can melt the fat in the treated areas and therefore reduce the bulging in the affected area. Coupled with lymphatic drainage, toxins can be eliminated for effective cellulite elimination.
  • Biomesosculpture is the latest in cellulite treatment. This technology stimulates the extra-cellular matrix surrounding our cells to reduce toxin stagnation. The infusion of a luxurious chocolate slimming cream infused with pure plant botanical and homeopathic extracts (ivy, dandelion, juniper) reduces cellulite and fat buildup. MRI studies show the instant inch-loss is due to fat reduction and not just water loss. The slight rise in temperature generated stimulates collagen production, hence stimulates skin firming and rejuvenation.
  • Of all the treatments listed thus far, Biomesosculpture shows the most promise as it treats cellulite formation at root cause. This detoxifying treatment has immediate, permanent results. With minimal downtime, this treatment is safe enough to use every day. Cumulative inch loss is far greater than surgical fat reduction if sessions can be taken in close succession, with the major advantage of minimal discomfort or disruption of normal activities. Ten sessions are suggested for each area. Results may continue to improve after the treatment course, as the toxins causing the imbalance and stagnation have been eliminated. Biomesosculpture can be used for spot reduction, reducing the appearance of cellulite, lymphatic drainage, buttock lifting, thigh tightening, waist reduction, hip reshaping and stomach rejuvenation. It can also be used for facial rejuvenation and chin/jaw line lift.

    Labels: , , ,

    Thursday, April 26, 2007

    The 3 Biggest Factors for Weight Loss



    Cardio exercise is NOT needed for the best weight loss workout routines. In fact, to get the most fat loss, you don't need cardio at all. Instead, you need to focus on strength training and fat burning exercise.

    Whenever a client starts using strength, interval, and bodyweight exercises, I introduce them to the 3 biggest factors in fat loss.

    First up, is social support. A study from Stanford University showed that social support is the #1 factor for success in female fitness programs. I'd bet that its also important in male fitness programs - no matter how much guys would be unwilling to admit it.

    And this should come as no surprise...just look at the popularity of Internet message boards dedicated to fitness and fat loss.

    And while the social support can come from your spouse, family members, friends, or co-workers, the Stanford study showed that individuals have a greater chance of sticking to an exercise program when they have to be accountable to an authority figure - such as a doctor, lifestyle coach, or trainer.

    Regardless, don't feel that you need to do this on your own. Get some social support and watch your success rate soar.

    (I also encourage everyone to do a lifestyle review with his or her physician, especially if you are over 30 years of age and previously sedentary. Better safe than sorry. And it's also great to get your doctor into your social support group.).

    Good communication and professional instruction will significantly increase your chances of success.

    The second most important factor is nutrition. That's right, what you eat is more important than how you exercise.

    It's always tough for me to admit this, but its true. No matter how great a strength and interval workout can be, it's no match for eating a large pizza or scarfing down a huge piece of chocolate cake. Nutrition will always have the final word on your fat loss success.

    So make sure you know how many calories you are eating and have an expert check to make sure that you aren't eating something that you think is healthy, but in reality is actually an obstacle to your success.

    And finally, the 3rd most important factor in fitness is exercise. And the more customized your program is for you, the better your results will be. When you combine a great workout program with proper nutrition and accountability, you can make incredible changes...you can even feel like you are reversing the aging process.

    And now there are less than 12 weeks until the first long weekend of the summer. Will you be ready?

    Labels: , , , , ,

    Wednesday, April 25, 2007

    Understanding Hair Growth- A Guided Tour Of The Hair Follicle



    With the average person having about 100,000 hair follicles on the scalp to produce head hair, much work is going on daily in these tiny hair factories. Understanding the process of hair growth and how hair is formed can give a better understanding of why production stops resulting in hair loss.

    Let's take a brief tour of the hair follicle with explanations in layman's terms, given the fact that few of us have taken medical studies.

    The tour starts at the outer layer of skin called the epidermis which in turn has three layers starting with the germinative layer at the bottom, the granular layer above, and finally the cornified layer, the part which is visible.

    The Bottom

    The hair follicles are tiny pear shaped cups located in the germinative and granular layers of the skin on the scalp. While there are numerous layers and components that make up the hair follicle, our attention centers on the dermal papilla, located at the bottom end of the hair follicle.

    Tiny blood vessels provide the nourishment needed for the dermal papilla or bulb shaped part of the hair follicle to keep up new cell production.

    Now here is where a fascinating process kicks in. As new cells are formed in the bulb shaped dermal papilla, older cells are pushed upwards. As they reach the top of the bulb the cells are remarkably arranged into cylindrical layers, one inside the other, six in total.

    While the outer 3 layers form a sheath in the hair follicle, the inner 3 layers begin to form the actual hair.

    Other cells in the bulb produce the pigment (melanin) that gives hair its color. As the hair moves up the hair follicle, being pushed up as new cells are formed, the pigment or melanin in the inner part of the hair is carried upwards also.

    The Middle

    It is in the middle of the hair follicle that the cells which have been growing die. As they push upward they harden and now consist of a variety of proteins called keratins forming what we recognize as hair. Keratins are made up of smaller units called amino acids.

    Interestingly some of these keratin proteins contain a high level of sulphur. (Some hair loss herbal remedies on the market use sulphur containing amino acids to provide an underlying matrix for healthy hair growth. See resource box below for NewHair Biofactors)

    The Top

    As this process of new cell creation from the bottom pushes older cells to the middle where they die and harden they finally arrive at the top of the hair follicle where they emerge from the scalp as the hair shaft.

    Sebaceous glands near the top of the hair follicle produce an oily secretion called 'sebum' which helps make the hair water proof, and plays an important role in preventing bacteria from getting out of control which may become harmful.

    Hair Close-Up

    When you examine a hair under a powerful microscope you will see the surface almost resembles the scales on a fish. When the scales are smoothed in one direction the hair looks shiny and lays flat. When the scales are roughed up by an ingredient that moves 'against the grain' the hair appears stiffer and stands up. This characteristic is utilized in some hair products that claim to increase body and volume.

    To use another comparison, hair may be likened to a tree with a tough outer bark. The inner shaft of the hair is moist lying beneath the protective bark. If the outer protective covering is stripped off through rough treatment the inner part of the hair, the cortex, is exposed and may break.

    What does this tour of the hair follicle teach us about hair loss and hair growth?

    It can be seen that hair production is an amazingly complex process that can be affected by many things. As these tiny hair factories, the hair follicles depend on a supply of healthy, oxygenated blood that is part of a healthy circulatory system, lifestyle choices are likely to affect hair loss and hair growth to a considerable degree.

    So if you are concerned about thinning hair, take a look at your diet and exercise regimen. They can have a huge bearing on the health of your skin and scalp.

    Helpful Resources

    Jonathon E. Phillips, a leading hair loss analyst, firmly believes in this 'whole body' approach to hair loss rather than relying on prescription drugs which often require almost a lifetime commitment with subsequent side effects.

    He sets out his Step-By-Step Hair Power Regimen in his illuminating 168 ebook "Hair Loss No More." I personally have a copy and enthusiastically recommend it to anyone concerned about hair loss. (See resource box)

    Another resource I use is a hair shampoo from a company called Nisim International, hair specialists for over 20 years. Their NewHair Biofactors System contains a deep cleansing shampoo which neutralizes the effect of DHT, the substance which gets into the hair follicle and basically shuts it down causing loss of hair. Again, see the resource box for details.

    An understanding of hair growth can help us be very cautious when evaluating the claims of some hair loss products on the market which attempt to treat the problem superficially from the outside rather than getting to the root of the problem from the inside.

    Additionally, educating ourselves about hair growth and the function of the hair follicle can be a major factor in controlling hair loss and doing what is necessary in our lives to promote healthy hair growth.

    Labels: , ,

    Tuesday, April 24, 2007

    Retinol - Essential To Get Rid Of Dark Eye Circles



    Retinol, the active form of Vitamin A, is a yellow fat-soluble, anti oxidant vitamin important in vision and bone growth. It belongs to the family of chemical compounds known as retinoids. Retinol is ingested in a precursor form; animal sources (milk and eggs) contain retinyl esters, whereas plants (carrots, spinach) contain pro-vitamin A carotenoids.

    So what does Retinol do for you?
    Retinol helps to plump skin. This is very effective when it comes to combatting fine lines on the eye area. Retinol also thickens the epidermis. Now, this is valuable for the eye area as the skin around the eyes are twice thinner than the skin on the face. Therefore, it is highly sensitive and has a lesser ability to build collagen to smooth the skin. Retinol also helps to improve texture and blood circulation. As we already know by now, dark eye circles are mostly caused by your capilaries around your eye area. These capillaries sometimes break very easily thus leaking blood around the eye area which results in red, purple or blue rings under your eyes. These are actually your dark eye circles. Therefore, use creams that also has Vitamin K in it as Vitamin K helps to constrict capillaries.

    Hence, with retinol, it helps to circulate your blood around the eye area so blood will not be pooled in the eye area so easily. Besides, the skin in the eye area are the thinnest thus they are easily damaged by sun. Retinol helps to rebuild damaged cells from harmful UV rays.

    Here are some good food sources rich in retinol:

    Sweet Potato

    Carrot

    Kale, boiled

    Mango

    Turnip Greens

    Spinach, raw

    Papaya

    Red Bell Pepper

    Apricot

    Cantaloupe

    Milk, Fat Free

    Romaine lettuce

    Egg, large

    Milk, whole

    Tomato, raw

    Broccoli

    Green Bell Pepper

    Orange

    Apart from eating a diet rich in retinol, you can also indulge in some highly recommended eye creams/masks that are infused with retinol as part of your beauty regime. You can find out more of these creams in recommended retinol eye creams

    Also, learn how to combat dark eye circles the natural way at natural remedies for dark eye circles

    Labels: , , ,

    Saturday, April 21, 2007

    What Is Microdermabrasion

    While you might have heard about skin dermabrasion, you may be asking "what is microdermoabrasion?" This treatment is an alternative to the more rigorous and harsh skin treatments previously available and it is rapidly gaining popularity among those who want great results without having to suffer through weeks of unsightly skin. Here we will discuss the basics of what is microdermabrasion.

    Microdermabrasion is similar to dermabrasion, but much gentler. It uses a crystallized cream containing aluminum-oxide crystals to gently abrade the skin and remove only the outer layers. This cream is most often applied with a battery-operated tool that has interchangeable heads, a scrubbing brush, an applicator, and a sponge. These help lightly "sand" the affected skin, remove it and then soothe it with a gel or cream designed to stimulate cell growth.

    What is microdermabrasion effective at treating? This new method of improving problem skin is very useful for virtually any surface problem. It has been proven effective against fine lines and wrinkles, age or liver spots, mild sun damage and also surface scars, such as those caused by acne. It can also reduce or even eliminate stretch marks and large pores. Many people are turning to microdermabrasion for minor problems instead of resorting to the major process of chemical peels or regular dermabrasion.

    Microdermabrasion has many benefits over the more standard, invasive techniques previously used to treat similar problems. For one, it has virtually no recovery time, you can do it on your lunch break and go right back to work afterwards. You might be a little red, but the slight discomfort experienced during the procedure shouldn't affect you once it is over. You will probably even have your co-workers wondering what is microdermabrasion, eager to try something so simple.

    By now, you are probably wondering "what is microdermabrasion NOT good at?" While very effective against surface problems like little scars and uneven skin tone and texture, microdermabrasion is not meant for deeper treatments. Even for such disorders as acne scarring or stretch marks, you may need repeated treatments in order to get the results you want. This can end up being nearly as expensive (though not as painful!) as a regular dermabrasion treatment.

    If you were asking, "what is microdermabrasion?" you now know. Deciding whether or not to choose this treatment over regular skin resurfacing methods is really a matter of personal preference, budget and pain tolerance. Microdermabrasion might just be for you!

    Labels:

    Thursday, April 19, 2007

    How To Measure Your Servings?

    Do you know much you eat? Maybe you do, and maybe you don't. It's amazing how many people struggle with weight loss for years, convinced that don't eat a lot. Yet the weight stays on or actually increases over time.

    When, people nosh their way through the day in a distracted state and don't pay attention to the fact that they're eating. More often, they know what they eat, and they know how many servings they have of what they eat. The problem is their notion of what counts as a serving.

    When doctors and other expert spell out guidelines for weight loss, they usually create a plan they recommends a certain number of servings of any food or food group. To know what they mean by the word "serving", you have to read through the particular guidelines that you're following. The side panel on a cereal box routinely reports nutrition information according to one serving. But one kind of cereal considers one serving to be one cup of the cereal, while another, higher fat, sugary cereal may specify one quarter cup. In the case of the cereal manufactures, they understand that the buying public expects one serving of any cereal regardless of its makeup to contain approximately the same number calories as the rest. So the people who make and tell cereal simple adjust the volume of the cereal that they call one serving.

    On the diet programs, one serving is actually one unit of the food. One serving of strawberries might be one quarter of a cup, and you'd be allowed two servings of the berries in a single sitting. One serving of beef might be designated as one ounce, which means that at a single sitting, you would be allowed four serving. A more understanding of "serving" would be the standard total of that particular food for one meal. Thus, one serving of strawberries would be a half cup, while one serving of beef would be four ounces.

    Having said all that, and even knowing all that, some people still don't know how much they eat. They don't actually measure a cup. They eyeball it. Or they measured once, and now they're gauging by what remember about how it looked in a certain dish.

    They only accurate way to know how much you're eating is to measure it. If you think you're consuming one designated serving and routinely, it turns out to be twice that, you can see how you might quickly find the weight staying on or moving upward. It only takes a moment to measure food, which is far less that it takes to lose a pound of extra weight. Measuring cups and a simple food scale are all it will take to get in touch with the amounts of your food consumption.

    Labels: , , , ,

    Saturday, April 14, 2007

    The Effects of Ramipril and Hair Loss

    Ramipril is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attacks or strokes in patients. It is also used to help treat heart failure and may be used to treat people with diabetes who have developed kidney problems.

    Ramipril works by causing blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Although effective at intended use, there have been concerns about the sides effects of Ramipril. One of the concerns is the side effect of Ramipril and hair loss.

    Before taking Ramipril, make sure that you are prepared for any and all side effects. It should be noted that not every person experiences all side effects and some don't have any at all. Ramipril and hair loss do not go hand and hand but it needs to be discussed because it can be very scary when you suddenly look in the mirror to find that you no longer have as much hair as you did yesterday. Typically, only between 1 and 2% of people taking Ramipril frequently may suffer from hair loss.

    However, if your hair is really important to you, make sure you discuss Ramipril and hair loss with your doctor. By discussing this nasty side effect well in advance, you can hopefully skip that morning when you find you have a hairball stuck to your hairbrush or that your drain is clogged from the hair that should be on your head.

    Ramiprila and hair loss can affect men and women. Hair loss can be traumatizing, but again, if the Ramipril is being given to save your life, hair or no hair, listen to your doctor and take the medication so that it can do its job effectively.

    There are many drugs on the market today and they are used to treat many ailments each and every day. Sometimes, those medications that we take have side effects. Some are barely noticeable and some are completely devastating or life hindering. The important thing to remember is that the medications prescribed are by a professional so you should never try to alter or not take your correct dosages, even when you are afraid of certain side effects such as Ramipril and hair loss.

    If you take Ramipril and experience hair loss, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor can sometimes prescribe other medications that don't have as many side effects or that have different ones. If you take Ramipril and experience hair loss, understand that it is not the end of the world. You are taking Ramipril to potentially save your life and if that means that you have a little less hair, that should be one sacrifice you're willing to live with.

    Labels: , ,

    Friday, April 13, 2007

    Best Pubic Hair Shaving Method

    The best pubic hair shaving method has just been upgraded from the regular old razor blade to the much improved personal shaver;

    Personal shavers have become one of the most popular methods of removing unwanted pubic hair. Perfect for women and men, personal shavers have been specially designed leave your pubic region smoothly shaven without ever nicking, cutting or biting your skin.

    Because personal shavers are used on dry skin, the whole process of shaving down there becomes less messy and more time efficient. Most good quality shavers can actually be used on a daily basis.

    The reason why these amazing devices are so effective at leaving you smoothly shaven, is due to the special thin foils and rotary blades that they carry. These rotary blades have been designed to shave even the most stubborn curly pubic hair on your body.

    Personal shavers can also be used to shave unwanted pubic hair off the testicles without ever causing any injury to them. Now that's what I call safe! Keep in mind that you still need to pull the skin tight in this area before attempting to shave it.

    Please understand that not all personal shavers are the same Quality. Purchasing a poor quality one can leave you with more nicks and cuts than your old razor blade.

    It is for this reason that you should always invest your money into a good quality personal shaver. This will ensure that your pubic area is always smoothly shaven without the any risk of injury.

    Labels:

    Thursday, April 12, 2007

    Hair Thinning Is A Problem For Women Too

    Today you will find that the majority of women will be to lose their hair by the time they reach 50. Often their are a number of reasons as to why hair is thinning and it may be because of one particular thing or a combination of things. However, in order to find out why your hair is thinning you will need to have a through examination at your doctors. Without doing this you are unlikely to find out what is causing your hair to thin.

    Certainly hair thinning in women is a problem but often the pattern is slightly different from that of male hair thinning. Also when the thinning of hair commences also differs in men and women. In most cases the thinning of hair in women will generally start when they reach their late 40's or 50's and will not have a receding hairline as you see in many men who are suffering from a thinning of their hair. In fact some women will only experience a thinning of their hair on the top of the scalp whilst others tend to become thinner over broader regions of the whole head. But at present scientists are unsure as to what exactly causes the thinning of hair on women, but they feel it may well be related to hormonal changes in a woman's body as they grow older.

    In the US alone more than 4 out of 10 women are experiencing some form of thinning hair and this works out at about 43 million women. Certainly most of them (over 30 million) are suffering from thinning hair because it is an inherited condition known as androgenetic alopecia. Whilst others you will find that are suffering from hair thinning it has been caused by hormonal changes to their body, a change of diet or some other underlying medical condition. However, because there is no credible information available with regard to this problem, many women are still somewhat confused about the reasons as to why their hair is thinning.

    However in the case of hereditary hair thinning a woman's will tend to be more spread out over an area of the head that can be found between the bangs and the crown. In most cases women suffering from this form of hair thinning will refer to it as see through hair. Unfortunately hair thinning is a natural part of aging and can even occur in the most healthiest of women.
    So if you do notice a sudden thinning of your hair do not worry as it is all a natural part of the aging process and luckily there are products available which can help to prevent the problem escalating as well as helping the growth of your hair.

    Labels:

    Tuesday, April 10, 2007

    Weight Training for Women - Fitness for Weight Loss

    As obesity levels rise higher and higher around the world, there is one aspect to this problem that hasn't changed...

    You have to expend some energy and put in some effort if you want to achieve weight loss and fitness with diet and slimming exercises and weight training.

    While there are many ways to go about this one of the most efficient weight loss methods continually meets resistance... (Hmm. Maybe that's why it's called resistance training ...) namely, weight training.

    Women generally have the hardest time accepting weight (resistance) training into their fast fighting repertoire. After all, few women want to bulk up and look muscular and less feminine...
    and that's what'll happen if you pump iron, right?

    Wrong!

    The only time you see a female body builder is when they're posing on stage and a common reaction is 'Yuk. I don't want to look like that! I just want fitness and a nice slim figure.'

    Yet if you saw those same women in normal clothes in normal situations you'd most likely want to have the trim, shapely body that they have.

    The common misconception is that if you do weight training you are going to suddenly bloom out with muscles all over you. If only that were true; keeping the weight down would be easy.

    The fact is, very few women could ever make themselves look like a Ms Olympia body builder. They are professional athletes who work incredibly hard in their training and on their diet in order to maximize their muscle mass and muscular appearance.

    Believe me, getting too muscular is the least of your problems. So don't reject this major weapon in your arsenal against body fat on a mistaken assumption.

    Instead, consider what weight bearing exercise will do for you in the war on fat:

    1. Build a firm foundation to your muscle structure.

    You have muscles all over you. We all do. Without them we wouldn't be able to move. Moderate resistance training is all that's required to firm and tone your muscles. Remember, it takes a lot of work to actually look muscular.

    2. Burn more calories right away.

    You know aerobic exercise burns calories while you've doing them but a real boost comes from weight training. Your metabolism (rate of calorie burning) stays quite elevated for 20-40 minutes after an aerobic workout. With resistance training your metabolism stays elevated for at least an hour after your workout. Overall your metabolism will stay somewhat elevated and boosts calorie burning for anything from 4 to 24 hours depending on the intensity. It is important that your resistance training be progressively increased in intensity.

    3. Burn even more calories in the long run.

    With resistance training you are actually building muscle tissue, which is very active metabolically in comparison to fat, which is nearly inert. A kilo of muscle requires 50-100 calories a day just to maintain itself. So the more muscle tissue you have the more energy (fat) you'll burn off just by living, even when you're resting!

    4. Strengthen bones and supporting muscle structure.

    This is so you don't become prematurely old, stooped and weak and susceptible to injury. This is a major reason why even women who don't need to lose fat should still be concerned about maintaining muscle tissue.

    5. Improve self-esteem.

    When you look good you tend to feel good. With more toned muscle you not only look better but feel good because you actually have more energy. You feel more confident and positive about life, and better able to cope with stress.

    So c'mon ladies, regardless of your age, let's assist your diet and slimming program and boost your general fitness. It's time to get into moving some weights around so you can move that excess weight off your body and raise the quality of body and life. Don't wait. Start your weight training today.

    Labels: , , , , , ,

    Monday, April 9, 2007

    Just What Is DHT And How Does It Cause Hair Loss?

    Although we do not completely understand how hair loss and baldness is passed down through our genetics, what we do know is that some individuals have hair follicles that are super sensitive to the "DHT" that runs through their blood.

    DHT is a hormone with the initials standing for "dihydrotestosterone".

    DHT is an androgen, created from testosterone, and is considered a male hormone. Surprisingly, even though this is a male hormone, women also have a small amount that runs through their blood, some higher than others. When a female inherits hair follicles that are super sensitive to DHT, they will start to lose hair just as men do.

    When a person inherits the genes for hair loss, their hair follicles are also sensitive to DHT in other ways. Not only does a person's hair fall out, but they will have also inherited hair follicles that, when regenerated through the three growth cycles, grow strands of hair that come back thinner and with less pigmentation.

    This phenomenon also clears up the mystery behind why some people have thinning hair that seems to change color as the person ages.

    In other words, it is perfectly normal for everybody's hair to grow and then shed, and then regrow back again. This allows the hair to reenter the anagen phase, then the catagen phase, and finally the telogen phase, which results in a new strand of hair. But now, since a person's hair follicles are sensitive to the DHT in the blood supply, it prevents the hair from regenerating to its normal size after each repetitive growth cycle. They come back smaller and smaller. In time, a person's scalp will contain hair so small that it resembles fuzz, which can barely be seen, hence becoming "bald".

    Don't Be Too Discouraged To Find Out You Are Loosing Your Hair

    Although being genetically predisposed to hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT may seem like a no-win situation, there is still hope! For starters, anybody who is experiencing hair loss can improve their look by carefully styling their hair in a way that does not emphasize this loss of hair.

    There are also many hair care products on the market that can help give the appearance of extra hair. And if you really wanted to make an improvement, there are many high-quality wigs and hairpieces that look as real as a natural head of hair.

    Also, medications exist that are widely available that are designed to help protect sensitive hair follicles that are affected by DHT. Some medications can even help by reducing the amount of DHT in a person's bloodstream, which will help slow down the process of hair loss.

    Although there is no "magic bullet" for everyone in terms of medication for hair loss, there have been some truly amazing results with treatment and medication where patients have experienced a total reversal of their hair loss!

    Labels: , , ,

    Saturday, April 7, 2007

    The Cheap And Easy Way To Buy Discount Contact Lenses

    With a contact lens prescription in hand, it's possible to buy discount contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone, or by mail. The easiest way for most people to buy is online. Among the many kinds of contact lenses you can buy are: novelty, colored, crazy, Halloween, special effects, theatrical, costume, scary, glow in the dark, wild eyes, mirrored, black, white, and red. Now it's easy to order the perfect contact lenses online at a great discount.

    You'll want to take simple precautions to make any lens purchase safe and effective. There are 75 million contact lens wearers worldwide and 31 million in the U.S. alone.

    If you plan to wear lenses for more than 18 hours for the purpose of eye color change, then buy colored soft lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eyes. Rigid gas permeable contact lenses are more durable, resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision.

    People who have good distance vision but need help for reading can get a monovision reading lens for one eye. While the ability to hold water increases the oxygen permeability of soft lenses, it increases their fragility quotient as well. Some doctors prescribe disposables as planned-replacement lenses, which are removed, disinfected, and reused before being discarded.

    Disposable lenses don't come with instructions for cleaning and disinfecting, while those labeled specifically for planned replacement do. Rigid lenses generally give you more clear vision. The length of continuous lens wear depends on the lens type and your doctor's evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear.

    Extended wear lenses are usually soft contact lenses; made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. You can become adjusted to soft lenses within just a few days, compared to several weeks for rigid ones.

    Wherever you buy, shop for quality and value and don't forget you want to do what's best for your eye health. Check to see if you have a health insurance plan that includes vision coverage. When you place your contact lens order, request the manufacturer's written patient information for your contact lenses; it'll give you important risk and benefit information as well as instructions for use.

    Compare prices - get quotes from two or three online and offline suppliers. Always buy from a reputable company; you can buy contact lenses without a prescription, but the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device violating FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without having your prescription. You can buy contact lenses from an eye doctor, on the Internet, from an optical store or a warehouse club.

    There are many good contact lens retailers now on the Internet making their lenses available at a good discount for prescription and non-prescription lenses. Carefully check to make sure the company gives you the exact brand you ordered, the name of the lens, the power, sphere, cylinder, if any, axis, if any, diameter base curve, and peripheral curves, if any. Beware of attempts to substitute a brand different from the one you want when buying contacts.

    Daily-wear lenses are removed daily for cleaning and are a safer choice, provided they aren't worn during sleep. Don't wear lenses any longer than they're prescribed for, nor when sleeping unless you are otherwise directed. Always throw away disposable lenses after the recommended wearing period.

    If your eyes become red or irritated, remove the lenses immediately and consult with your doctor. The use of homemade saline made by using salt tablets mixed in water is one of the biggest contributors to Acanthamoeba keratitis in contact lens wearers: the FDA no longer condones the use of salt tablets. One sight-threatening concern is the infection Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is caused by improper lens care; this difficult-to-treat parasitic infection's symptoms are similar to those of corneal ulcers.

    Shopping for contacts online will save you a lot of money; contact lenses are deeply discounted. If you haven't had a check-up in the last one or two years, you may have problems with your eyes that you're not aware of, or your contact lenses may not correct your vision as well as you'd like. It's becoming easier and easier all the time to shop online and often the shipping is free.

    Labels: , , , , , ,

    Friday, April 6, 2007

    What Are The Effects Of Early Menopause?

    While it is estimated that some women can experience the onset of perimenopause and menopause beginning in their 30's, early menopause can cause great anxiety. What are the effects of early menopause?

    While most people associate menopause with older women, it can occur in younger women as well. Any women who is going through the full menopause cycle before the age of 40, is considered to be experiencing premature or early menopause. Imagine the emotional affect this can have on a young woman. In addition to the associated symptoms of menopause, experiencing this premature cycle can add another level of emotion which could be just as devastating.

    One of the causes of early menopause is premature ovarian failure, in which your body's immune system attacks itself causing your ovaries to stop functioning.

    Early menopause can also be induced by surgery. So too, if you have had surgery either to remove the ovaries or a full hysterectomy, your hormone levels drop instantly and you will experience instant menopause. Even if you do not have your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy, the ovaries may be damaged during the surgical procedure or the blood flow to the ovaries may be affected resulting in early menopause. In addition, early menopause may also be derived by having your tubes tied. Other causes of early menopause include excessive weight loss associated with anorexia.

    To determine the cause of premature menopause, it is necessary to ask your mom at what age she became menopausal. If there is a lack of estrogen, it is more likely that early menopause will lead to menopausal symptoms which include: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, joint discomfort, change in skin, and sleep disturbances. These tend to be more severe for younger woman who are in menopause, than it is by women who experience menopause naturally.

    If you are among many women who are going through menopause at an early age, it may help you to join a support group to help you through this rough time. Seek the advice of your doctor to determine if this in fact, early menopause or something else. More importantly, losing the ability to have children is devastating and the time should be taken to grieve. The support of family and friends is crucial at this time.

    Finally, understand and experience the loss. Your feelings and thoughts should be expressed in an honest and forthright manner. Remember, these results of early menopause are not your fault; it just simply happens. You will be going through many emotions at this time, and adding guilt to them will not alleviate the pain. There are always alternatives which you can discuss at a later date, but for now, allow yourself the time you need to mourn.

    Labels:

    Thursday, April 5, 2007

    Preventing Morning Sickness Could Be Easier Than You Think

    What you're going to read about preventing morning sickness will probably surprise you. In fact, it's so revealing you might even have trouble believing it. But facts are facts and can't be denied. So keep reading and you'll discover an amazing truth about preventing morning sickness.

    What's more, keep this following statement in mind as you're reading this article. "I'm prepared (as with any claim I make) to back-up what I'm about to reveal to you regarding preventing morning sickness with a live public demonstration."

    So let's get started and discover something amazing about preventing morning sickness...

    Have you ever wondered why some women suffer morning sickness that is so severe it even threatens the life of their unborn child? Yet others go through pregnancy almost without any sickness at all?

    Furthermore, although called "morning sickness" as you probably know already, it doesn't just occur in the morning. It can, and does for some women, occur anytime of the day.

    Well, being a man, I have absolutely no concept of what it must be like to have a fetus develop and grow inside you, and then bring that life into this world. But I can tell you one thing for sure – even the thought of it terrifies me!

    If you're not a mother, just think of all the aspects of pregnancy that an expectant mum has to worry over. "Will my baby develop normally in my womb?" ... "Will I have any medical problems while I'm pregnant?" ... "Am I likely to have any complications giving birth?" ... "Will my baby be strong and healthy when it's born?"

    These are just the tip of the iceberg. Furthermore, we must also remember that problems in these areas could be a matter of life or death for the mother and her baby! Unlikely, but a possibility.

    So, is it any wonder a mother-to-be can become anxious when she discovers she is pregnant? Not to mention, if it's her first pregnancy. Furthermore, a woman will subconsciously know she's pregnant long before she consciously knows, or when her doctor
    tells her.

    So let's accept, for a moment, that a mother-to-be has some serious thoughts to contend with - no matter how excited and pleased she is to be pregnant.

    Now let's review briefly what anxiety is. Anxiety is fear that comes from within us. In this case it is the worries, concerns and negative images that a pregnant mother has during pregnancy. And fear is an emotion that can, and does, create nausea and sickness.

    Therefore, is it a major leap to conclude that morning sickness could be generated by the subconscious anxiety an expectant mother has to deal with - regardless of whether the pregnancy is wanted or not?

    Doctors usually say they don't really know what causes 'morning sickness'. But then go on to say it's often due to hormonal changes and/or lower blood sugar during pregnancy.

    But don't women suffer hormonal changes and low blood sugar at other times in their life without being sick? Why should hormones during pregnancy be any different? I know there are some in-depth explanations to this answer, but stay with me for a minute.

    Leading on from this, let's answer the question, "why do some women suffer 'morning sickness' that is so severe it even threatens the life of their unborn child?" Yet others go through pregnancy almost without sickness at all?" I'm aware of one case where doctors were considering terminating a pregnancy because the mother's morning sickness was so severe they were concerned for her wellbeing.

    Well, as with all subconscious anxieties, the intensity of the problem is proportional to the intensity of the anxiety. Therefore pregnant women suffering from severe morning sickness must be harboring severe anxiety over some aspect of their pregnancy. Therefore, preventing morning sickness is possible if the underlying anxiety can be resolved.

    Let me give you a brief case study of a precision analysis I carried out with a woman who was suffering from debilitating morning sickness, which was accompanied by general feelings of weakness and lack of energy. In addition to this she also felt unwell most of the time.

    The lady in question was forty-two years of age and already had four children. Two of which were in their late teenage years and had left home. This fifth pregnancy of hers was with a different partner than the previous four. The pregnancy was, however, planned and certainly wanted.

    Once she was relaxed into deep hypnosis the cause of her anxiety soon came to the surface after a little detective work ...

    It transpired that during the process of giving birth to her four previous children she hemorrhaged on each occasion. Each time she hemorrhaged it caused her great concern, but with good medical treatment she never suffered any complications.

    Unfortunately, when she gave birth to her forth child the doctor attending the delivery asked her if she intended having anymore children. Her answer was no! The doctor's reply to this was "good, you've hemorrhaged rather badly and as you're now approaching forty, giving birth to another baby could be dangerous for you."

    These words spoken by the doctor when she was very emotional, and therefore in an extremely receptive state of mind, made a deep impression upon her at a subconscious level. So it naturally followed that when she fell pregnant this time, at a level below her conscious awareness, she began to suffer great anxiety.

    Subconsciously she was seriously concerned about dying during the process of giving birth to the baby she was now carrying. The possibility of her dying was probably remote, due to modern medical care, but her subconscious fear was extremely real and based on the words her doctor spoke just after she had delivered her 4th child.

    I'm delighted to say that once we had alleviated her subconscious anxiety and boosted her wellbeing with suggestions, her morning sickness stopped. Furthermore her feelings of being tired and unwell also dissolved away.

    The remainder of her pregnancy went smoothly and, in the fullness of time, she delivered a healthy baby boy - with no complications. Plus this time, because of what she had learnt during her sessions with
    me - she didn't hemorrhage!

    This precision analysis is just one of many I've conducted with pregnant women suffering from severe morning sickness.

    Other intense anxiety cases causing morning sickness that I've uncovered include ...

    A woman who had been told in many ways by many people that - 'she was just like her mother'. Over the years this had made an impact on her at a level below her conscious awareness, but did not appear to have caused any problems - until she became pregnant. The sad case here is that she had never met her mother. Her mother died of complications shortly after giving birth to her.

    Below her level of consciousness, because she was 'so much like her mother' she was terrified that she too, would die whilst giving birth to her baby, just as her mother had. As with most other cases, once her subconscious fear was allayed her morning sickness stopped.

    In this next case example, the woman became pregnant while having a brief romantic affair during her marriage. Unfortunately, she had no idea whether the father of her child was her husband or lover. This in itself didn't seem to trouble her too much. Plus, she was delighted to be pregnant for the first time.

    She told me that she was basically happy in her marriage and that her affair had now finished. But, and it's a BIG but! Her affair was the root cause of her anxiety problem. Let me explain, her and her husband were Anglo-Saxon in origin and therefore white skinned, where as her boyfriend was from Jamaica and definitely very dark skinned!

    What would she do when her baby was born if it was of mixed origin? This was the anxiety that kept her suffering from severe morning sickness day after day.

    She didn't want to leave her husband, or the quality of life he was providing her with. Nevertheless, she had no doubt that if her baby was of mixed origins her husband would not be understanding, and would throw her out immediately!

    If this was not enough to cause her major concerns, she had very little in the way of family, and unconsciously, carried a strong fear that she could be homeless with a newborn child!

    Unlike most cases, I was not able to help this woman in any useful way. Simply because although her anxiety was mostly generated by her imagining, her problem was based on the real fear of what would happen to her and her baby if the baby was obviously not her husband's when it was born.

    I have no follow-up information on this case.

    Labels: , ,

    Monday, April 2, 2007

    Fasting for Quick Weight Loss

    First and foremost, there are a lot of diet plans on the market today that profess quick weight loss. In most instances, you should avoid these diet plans like the plaque. Most people who have decided to begin a weight loss plan have lots of pounds they want to lose. If this is the case, quick weight loss should not be an option. You should place your emphasis on a long-term, well-structured diet regime.

    For those of you looking to lose just a few pounds for whatever the specific reason, perhaps you should consider fasting as an option. Fasting provides a quick weight loss of approximately five to fifteen pounds. While focusing on a quick weight loss fast, make sure you plan this fast to be short term. A simple five-day fast could be the answer for you to lose a few pounds to get into your wedding dress in a few weeks, that beautiful evening dress you bought for the theater, that little bikini you bought for your vacation in a couple of days, or any other reason you might have.
    I found a great five-day fast that gave me phenomenal quick weight loss results. I had no immediate reason for quick weight loss but the five-day fast gave me the motivation I needed to jump start my long term weight loss plan. At the beginning of 2007, I resolved to lose eighty pounds during the year. Eight days into this year (2007), I had no idea of what or how I was going to accomplish this resolution. Furthermore, eight days into this year, I had almost forgotten about the resolution. I realized that I made a resolution that I would not even try to meet. I make almost the same resolution every year. This year (2007), I made the resolution a little more specific – 80 pound weight loss goal.

    I tried the five-day fast and at the end of the five days, I had lost an amazing fifteen pounds. Of course, I knew that the scale was only portraying mostly water loss, but I was still elated with any weight loss. Why, because this was what I needed to get on track to meet my new year's resolution.

    Quick weight loss should never hold your attention because if you lose weight too quickly, you are doomed to gain that weight back very quickly. It takes time to get your body and mind acclimated to a change in diet. Quick weight loss does not afford you the opportunity to get used to a change in eating or to a change in lifestyle. A five-day fast will introduce your body to change but it would be best to engage in a fast that would still provide the vital nutrients your body needs.

    To be successful in your weight loss goals, you must first be in the right mindset. You must first understand how your mind is going to react to your plan of weight loss. The mind is the catalyst behind every action we do. Therefore, we must put our minds in sync with the weight loss program we have decided to undertake. Weight loss is a science, of sorts that has to be researched and analyzed in order to bring the desired results. Get your mindset to positive thinking about your weight loss. A five-day fast could possibly be the mechanism to achieve this feat. As long as your fast provides everything healthy for your body, it should be a breeze to get your mindset on positive results for the long term of dieting and exercising. Mental health is essential to body health.

    Cast your mind to some positive benefits of weight loss:

    1. You won't have to shop at targeted stores anymore. You won't have to shop at the "Big" stores for clothes. The stores that we label "little peoples' store" is within our reach.


    2. Your body will feel much better because it is healthier. You will remove a lot of fat that surrounds your heart that is making your heart work harder.


    3. Your pockets will be fuller. You will have more money to do other things with because you will have given up buying all the wrong things that were making you unhealthy.
    Always keep positive thoughts about your weight loss in your mind. Never let the negative dieting thoughts enter. You will see that positive attitude will take you to a greater altitude for a much better aptitude.

    Always remember to consult your physician before starting any weight loss program.

    Labels: , ,