Better you, better life, better world

Putting It On The Line

2008-10-09T04:47:00.001-07:00

I'm going to put some things on the line.

I decided to start Blogging for different reasons, and this particular Blog is a result of my ongoing desire to share information with as many people as possible as to how they may be their

best, which as we all know (on some level) being our best spills over,

ultimately affecting the world.

Here’s what I’m willing to put on the line today, and that is a little financial history for the past several years in my life. I’m sharing this information because I believe it may provide help on some level.

My husband went to West Point and served as an officer in the Army. We spent two and a half years in Korea. We married at the beginning of his tour there, and so we decided it would be best to start our marriage together rather than separated. It was very, very difficult for various reasons, and I will not digress into all the ways it was a struggle…at least not on this post.

During our time there, my husband paid off all his acquired debt he accumulated prior to our union. I did not have any debt when we married. We were looking good financially

(debt free) when we left Korea, and went onto Ft. Knox where he served another year before leaving the military.

There are some women whom handle the military lifestyle with strength and grace. I am not one of those women. This author needs security, more than most due to my extremely insecure childhood. Please note; I made this fact clear to my husband before we tied the knot. So, he knew I was not signing up to be an “officer’s wife” long term.

There is another legitimate factor involved in making the decision to get out of the military. It is very difficult psychologically for most men and women who started serving at the start of their adult years to make the decision to leave the financial stability they have grown secure in having at their disposal, regardless of the complexities the lifestyle requires.

There we were looking at both sides of the coin. I couldn’t stand the lifestyle. My husband wanted to give me the security I craved, but that meant dealing with another type of security that could be compromised by us leaving the military.

My husband’s education should help, but the task of looking for a job in a location that was important for us became one that required my husband to compromise what he would have preferred. It meant taking a pay cut, as well as a position that undermined my husband’s experience, education, and intellect. It was truly an act of love for him to take the position he did in order for us to get out of the military.

However, our best intentions backfired and we took a hard blow for compromising. He was working for an extremely dysfunctional company (which he quickly learned when he started working for them), and there was absolutely no way he was going to be able to “do his best” to find his way out of a no win situation. The job lasted six months, and we found ourselves in a mess. We bought a house when we made the move, and so here we were with a mortgage, and in need of income, immediately. We had one car payment, and no credit card debt. We both had 401 K’s as well as money in savings, but not enough to carry us for months.

My husband and I were both married and divorced prior to finding each other. I was previously a stay at home mom, as well as a caretaker for my mother and grandmother. I had some college, but no specific training or experience in a given field. My ability to supplement our income was very limited. Our intention when we married was for me to stay at home, and not seek a career. But, here we were dependent on his earning potential. And, I felt very limited in what my earning potential could be.

My husband tried going the same route as before in order to gain employment, however the conditions were different. We now owned a home, and for only six months. That meant we did not believe it was best for us to take a position that required a long distance move.
The big “event” happened in January of 2007. When the job hunt was going poorly my husband decided to try his hand at selling health insurance. I did not "feel" good about that decision; however he was now “working from home.” And, I did like having him at home. He tried, but selling health insurance was not working, and we were quickly sinking financially.

We went to a wealth conference around the time all of this was happening. My husband said, “I have always been interested in real estate” which was primarily what the conference was covering. That led to us making the decision to go into business for ourselves.

This is where it gets sticky, and the decline became even worse for me. We lived off of credit cards, we spent all our money in savings, as well as our 401 K’s which total were over 40,000,00 dollars. I felt as though I were having a heart attack every day. It was a huge leap of faith. I was not comfortable at all with using credit cards, I did not believe we should ever use credit cards, and here we were living off of them. I truly thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown when my husband told me to take out the remaining money in my 401 K, as my account was much larger than his. Our success with what we were doing was somewhat contingent on the condition of the real estate market, as well as our knowledge of how to “work” our business. We were just learning and were not in a position financially to rely on learning as we went.

We worked hard and really put our all into making it work. However, after a year we realized we had to do something and it had to happen fast. I pushed for my husband to find a job before he was ready to walk away from the business he was working so hard to create. You may be able to imagine the multiple ways in which we were both being attacked by the events that seemed to be shoving us down a path of stress and breakdown.

All glory to God throughout everything I have shared and the many, many things I have not. My husband gained employment, which did require a move, and we are slowly finding our way to getting back on our feet. We are still in the process of recovering from the financial trauma, as well as some other things that have transpired since we have been married.

I’m sharing part of my story because every day I hear stories of people who are undergoing horrible situations with their finances, etc… Somehow, it has helped me to hear those stories. I hope reading part of my story will be helpful to others.

We are learning a lot from this experience, and we still hold onto our dreams and what we want from our life together. We pursue information about how to stay strong in our faith, our marriage and how to recover and grow financially. I welcome your comments, your stories, whatever you may like to share as we can all help each other not only through the current economical stressors, but through the many challenges of life.

During the time my husband and I were going through some of the hardest parts of the financial storm in our life we really did not have a support group, or people whom we could go to for legitimate guidance. I believe it would have made a huge difference in how we handled what was happening in our life it we had had support and guidance during that season.

I’m including the following article. I hope it provides some insight, comfort, etc…

Health News

http://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/news/view.aspx?id=620130&xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyLiving_20081009

Economic Crisis Takes Toll on Emotional Health

Wall Street's roller coaster ride is costing Americans more than money: It's costing them sleepless nights and a heap of emotional distress, experts say.

"People are anxious, and they are more anxious if they are nearer retirement age and have their 401k in the stock market and money in the banks," said Linda Rosenberg, president of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, in Washington, D.C. "When people get anxious . . . it begins to affect the whole family. There are marital fights over 'What do we do now?'

Kids get involved when parents are fighting and have their own emotional upset."

In some ways, the current upset may hit closer to home than 9/11, affecting larger numbers of people, added Rosenberg, who reported that mental health centers are getting more calls.
"This economic crisis has been going on for months and months and months," said Josh Klapow, an associate professor of health-care organization and policy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "If you take the gas prices, and you couple that with home foreclosures, and you couple that with major lending agencies and investment banks going under and retail prices going up, and you couple that with a stock market that crashes plus a bailout followed by a stock market crash, you get anxiety compounding anxiety."

The uncertainty of even top leaders not knowing when the situation is going to be fixed, not to mention the lack of control many people feel, is only aggravating the matter.
Wall Street workers are probably feeling the pain even more.

"I'm seeing a lot of sleep issues, people with gastrointestinal illness and chronic stomach issues, and people who are sicker in terms of colds and coughs and immune issues," said Kenneth Ruge, a staff minister and counselor at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City who also has many clients on Wall Street. "I'm seeing more Xanax and Ambien for sleep aids and anxiety control. The levels of alcohol consumption, I think, are up somewhat among some of my clients."

A recently released poll found that Americans are indeed more stressed than they were in the spring. But there may be a silver lining in this cloudy sky. Experts have the following advice to help cope and lessen anxiety:

Frank Farley, a professor of psychological studies in education at Temple University, said the four "C's" can help people cope. Stay calm. "Don't panic. People who panic do very dangerous things in their life," Farley advised. "Some amount of anxiety is healthy, because it motivates you to do things, but too much anxiety can interfere with your ability to think straight. Be cautious and careful and have confidence. "We have gone through financial crises and recessions, and we have always come out of them," Farley said. "Have confidence that we will again. It's that confidence multiplied 300 million times that will get us out of this. This whole meltdown to a large and significant degree is fueled by psychology."

Take media reports with a hefty dose of salt. "I sure wish some of the pundits would shut up," Farley said. "We have the specter of the Great Depression, and it fuels fear and panic. This nation has survived incredible things." Ruge reported that many clients are going on a "media fast," refusing to read or watch news reports and refraining from checking the stock market averages except occasionally.
Do something. "Translate your worries into action," Klapow recommended. "Any small action that will control some of your finances will be very productive for reducing anxiety. Focus on what you can do."

Maintain a life balance. "If you become consumed with all of the financial information coming out, you will drive yourself physically and emotionally into the ground," Klapow said. "It's important to eat right, engage in pleasurable activities, and strike a balance between attention paid to the financial crisis and attention paid to your well-being."

Take stock of your life. "It's time to reassess how you handle money and how you handle your life," Farley said. "If you get laid off or have a reduction in hours, maybe this is a time to consider, are you happy in this line of work anyway?" Farley said.

How Do You View Money?

2008-10-08T06:07:00.000-07:00

The following article may help provide a little insight as to how you view money. The past couple of years have been extremely difficult financially for my husband and me. The circumstances have pushed me into evaluating my personal relationship with money, and the revelations are helping me to grow through the challenges.

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Are Your "Money Myths" Holding You Back?

By Jane Collingwood

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/are-your-money-myths-holding-you-back/

According to social learning theory, our attitude toward money is learned behavior that is passed from generation to generation.

Money hoarders live by the phrase “but I might need it someday” and resist spending, sometimes to their detriment. Overspenders view possessions as central to their identity, or see spending as a quick fix to create a mood change. We all probably can place ourselves somewhere along this continuum. It’s worthwhile to do some self-searching to understand our attitudes toward money and how they affect our happiness.

Money is a far more emotional topic than most people realize. The great American economist and journalist, Sylvia Porter, wrote, “Money never remains just coins and pieces of paper. It is constantly changing into the comforts of daily life. Money can be translated into the beauty of living, a support in misfortune, an education, or future security. It can also be translated into a source of bitterness.”

Unless we deal with our unconscious attitudes toward money, we will almost certainly sabotage our financial success and stability.

Many beliefs do not stand up to rational analysis. For example, we may believe that it’s greedy to want more money, even if we are struggling. Or we may believe we are simply not the type of person who could become wealthy. Perhaps we think that money corrupts, and we are at risk of being taken for a ride, or becoming immoral, or disliked by our friends and family.

It may be worth taking a moment to uncover your money beliefs. Can you think of examples to disprove them?

Richard Templar, author of The Rules of Wealth, points out that money is neither good nor evil, but simply a means to an end. It can help us accomplish our goals and dreams. We often make all sorts of judgements about people who have made money, Templar says, yet money is just a payment given in exchange for clever thinking and hard work. “You aren’t given money by a committee who examine whether you deserve it or not, and whether you have been good enough or not,” he writes.

He suggests viewing money as a friend, not an enemy. After all, we have to deal with money almost every day: Buy a cappuccino or save a couple of dollars? How much to budget for a new car or house? Without money, life as we know it would disintegrate. So it becomes easier to see money in a neutral way, as a tool that facilitates life.

However, Templar warns that many people believe that more money would solve all their problems. Having money won’t make all your relationships flow smoothly — not by a long shot, he writes. It won’t protect you from disease. It may buy you better medical care after the event, but it won’t protect you.

“The more you see money as a solution, the greater the chance that you are missing the point entirely,” he writes. “Money will not make you happier, thinner or more popular with decent people. Money does not deliver lasting, meaningful peace of mind.” He states that we need to find the cure to our problems first and then find a way of funding that cure. “It is the oil that smoothes the wheels. It isn’t the engine.”

We can all make more money without losing sleep, compromising our principles, neglecting our families, losing our sense of humor or our ability to have fun. It is possible to have money and have a life, to be ethical and rich, to earn a lot and be a thoroughly nice person. It just sometimes seems that it isn’t. This is all part of debunking our personal money myths.

Did you have a Light Bright when you were a kid?

2008-10-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, I had a Light Bright, actually I had one before they were sold in stores. Somehow my mother knew a man who worked for the toy company that made them, and he gave me one for my birthday prior to it being sold to the public. That’s just a little trivia for you. Oh, and I was very, very,... very young. :)

I’m posting this primarily because it has come to my attention that I must be regressing or something, because this Blog looks like a Light Bright is in charge of color.
Please, post a comment about your thoughts regarding the color. Do you like it, is it difficult to read, do you feel as though a neon light is flashing in your face while you are trying to read?

My desire? That you are en"lightened" by the brightness of information.

You Have The Answers Within You; Look Here For Tips On How To Find Them

2008-09-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

Life can be extremely difficult. Challenges come in many different sizes and complexities. Sometimes, the degree of the challenge, or the level of our despair or believed ignorance at the time, may leave us feeling as though we just can’t make a wise, appropriate choice.

There was a time in my life when I ran, to anybody who would give me a few minutes, with my challenges in hopes they may guide me toward solution. Today, I am in a much different place. Yes, there are times when I still seek solid, wise counsel for issues that require additional guidance. However, I’m so thankful the manner in which I arrive at discovering a solution has maturity. For me, I have learned that my relationship with God is the answer to everything. My security in Him is far greater than any other path for choice making.

Yes, there are times when the challenges are so great that past insecurity is resurrected. But, I’m so grateful for the ways in which I have learned to be true to myself, respectful of my values and beliefs, and secure in God’s faithfulness and provision.

I have not had the opportunity to express my gratitude to those loving people who were patiently available to me during very trying times in my life. It was on the heels of that season that I was thrown into an environment where I was forced to spend a great deal of time alone. During that time I sought the Lord and was forced to deal with painful emotions head on instead of the various immature ways I was previously avoiding them.

The following article is a guideline for being kind to yourself during those daunting times of challenge and uncertainty. Wise counsel is not always available to us, but we can use our learned lessons, and inner counselor to guide us and help us arrive at a place that brings peace.

I’m so thankful for the journey. Yes, I recognize my mistakes and have been wiser about not beating up on myself when the guilt and condemnation starts trying to hinder my healing and growth.

Be kind to yourself, believe in your gifts, know that you are an important part of the big picture.

10 Ways to Be Your Own Life Coach

By Victoria Moran

Click Here for the Beliefnet Website

Though we often seek advice from others, many spiritual traditions teach that the answer lies within. In this gallery, Victoria Moran, inspirational speaker, spiritual life coach, and author, offers us the top 10 questions she asks her coaching clients. By asking them of yourself, they can help you gain clarity in almost any situation. Just pick a challenge you're dealing with, and apply one or more of the following questions. Then, be willing to act on what your inner wisdom reveals.

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Is This Good For Me?

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This question needs to underlie every personal decision--from how to respond to a job offer or what to chose from a menu. So many of our choices are either snap decisions or belabored:

We ask a friend (and another and another), make a pros and cons list, throw the "I Ching." While such processes have a place, you can simplify things by asking yourself if this is genuinely good for you--physically, mentally, and spiritually, today and next week and in 10 years.

Because your inner being looks after your true interests--not just your ego cravings--you'll get the guidance you're looking for.

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What Does My Body Have to Say About This?

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Our culture has long mistrusted the body. It's been seen as a confusing blend of God's handiwork and the devil's playground. It is, rather, a vortex of intelligence. Every cell comes equipped with awareness. Your body has something in the neighborhood of 40 trillion cells--quite a consulting committee. Call on it when you're confused or undecided.

Relax quietly and ask your body what it has to say. Then note any sensations. Around your heart, are you picking up excitement that says "Yes!" even if there's also a little anxiety about doing something new? Or in your belly, are you feeling dread, a "gut reaction" telling you to take another path?

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What Are My Values?

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This is an important question to ask yourself periodically--on your birthday perhaps, or at the New Year. It's both liberating and motivating to be so well acquainted with your values that you could recite them on demand. My husband was working with this question and announced, "My values spell ditch: discretion, integrity, tolerance, civility, humility." He was so pleased with his discovery that he had a bracelet made with his values engraved on it. You may want to do something similar, but as long as your values are engraved on your psyche and acted on in your life, that's enough.

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What Would Jesus (Buddha, Sai Baba, My Grandmother) Do?

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Thinking of a role model, whether a great spiritual teacher or a sweet spiritual person, is like having a mentor on-call. Ask yourself what this person would do in your situation. A technique for tapping their wisdom is to write out the question and the answer. This doesn't mean that you're channeling a spirit or writing a new gospel: you're simply tapping into the wisdom that knowing this person (or knowing of this person) has given you. Your questioning on paper can become a fascinating conversation that yields surprising insights. And it gives the phrase "friends in high places" a whole new meaning.

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What Am I Not Seeing?

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We all live with blinders on. They come with having a personal vantage point. And yet the answer to a dilemma may lie in seeing just another millimeter of the situation. Ask, then, "What am I not seeing here?" Often, what we're not seeing is what we don't want to see. Let's say you're feeling uncomfortable in your job for no apparent reason. If you were to see just a bit more of the picture, you might learn (or remember) that the problem is not the role per se, it's that it isn't using a talent you're yearning to express. Once you see that, you can take appropriate action.

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What Really Matters Here?

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In his classic of the spiritual life, "At the Feet of the Master," Krishnamurti writes that as we grow spiritually, it is essential to discern not just right from wrong, but more important from less important. Whether it's prioritizing your to-do list or figuring out which demands you can tend to today and which ones will wait, you need to ask yourself what really matters. Generally speaking, things with feelings--i.e., living beings, particularly those closest to you--will take precedence. No matter the answer, you'll learn what's of greatest consequence to you in this instance.

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Where Should I Act and Where Should I Step Back?

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Ask this to get a sense of what is yours to do and what isn't. This is the advanced class in enlightened living. Countless times we've all acted too soon or without sufficient information, or we've stepped in where our input wasn't needed and muddied circumstances that were already working themselves out. When you ask yourself, quietly and confidently, what your part is in a given situation, and where to wait (or exit entirely), you'll get a clear idea of your role. If you ask the question and still want to act against the advice of your internal coach, remind yourself that, although life is a series of little dramas, none of them needs a drama queen (or king).

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What Would Make Me Genuinely Happy?

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"Eudemonic" is a little-used word that means "happy-making." What are all the eudemonic activities you can think of? Make a list. How many of these happy-makers did you do yesterday, last week, this year? Which ones can you indulge in today? When you're facing a challenge, ask what would make you happy in this situation. And cast a wide net. You may have "taking a cruise" on your list, but if you also remember that "hanging out at the library" and "playing with my dog" are eudemonic for you, you get to be happy every day--and that's important. What would make you happy now (that wouldn't make you unhappy later)? Do that.

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Who Has Some Guidance for Me Right Now?

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When you need help from another person, trust your inner knowing to tell who this is. Sit and do some slow, deep breathing for two or three minutes to go into a state of receptivity. Then ask, "Who has the right guidance for me?" You may see a face or hear a name immediately, or you may be led down a thought-trail to a person. Use your rational mind to weigh the answer. If, for instance, you have a marital issue and the name of your 10-year-old comes up, this doesn't mean discuss your marriage with your child. It may, however, mean to put the child first as you work through things.

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What is the Divine Intention for My Life Today?

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As football has a Super Bowl, life has a Super Question, and this is it, asking the will of God, or the way of Tao, etc. Your request is to know how your day can be in keeping with divine design. You can go off in a different direction--we do it all the time and learn the lessons of the detour. Nevertheless, when you ask this and even attempt to follow through on the answer, you're taking the high road. One of my mentors says, "I don't always do God's will, but I always want to." It's a great place to start. So ask the question. Its answer might be the only one you'll ever need.

Beautiful Hair, Healthy body, Better You

2008-09-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

We all want beautiful hair, after all it is a person's crown of glory. Our skin, nails, and hair are an indicator of what is really going on within. And what is going on within is a map for how we are living our lives and what the consequences will be if we are making poor choices.

Being your best is about making wise choices. The following article provides excellent information as to how you may go about making a difference in how you feel and look. Sometimes, life is so filled with activities and crammed schedules that we don't plan for it.

However,

a little planning goes a long way...so,

take a look at how you may plan to be your best.

Is Your Hair Hungry?
7 Nutrients Your Tresses Crave
By Jennifer Gruenemay, LifeScript Staff Writer

One glance at your split ends will reveal how much your hair has been through – dyes, bleaches, blow dryers, screaming hot irons. But it’s not the ends you should be worried about – it’s the roots. They tell the truth about how well you eat. Hair that is dry, brittle, thin, and falling out isn’t being nourished. And no amount of conditioner or vitamin-enriched emollient is going to repair it. Read on for seven nutrients that will nourish your hair from the inside out. Plus: Test your hair IQ…It doesn’t matter how many hair-care products you use or how much you paid for that tiny bottle of miracle hair-repair serum. They can’t do anything because your hair is already dead. Rather, it’s what’s on the end of your fork that can really make a difference starting at the root.

As new hair is manufactured at the shaft, it either forms strong and healthy, thanks to good dietary nutrition, or weak and brittle due to a poor diet. Once hair is visible from the scalp, it’s beyond help. Improving your diet is the only way to grow strong, resilient hair that looks, feels and is truly healthy.The average person’s hair grows only ½ to 1 ½ inches a month, which means it can take a good 6 to 12 months to start seeing the positive effects of a nutritious diet. Take heart; the same diet that can improve your hair can also do wonders for your health, which is a benefit you’ll notice right away.

1. Protein

Hair is made up primarily of keratin, a hardened protein. Without enough dietary protein, hair will grow slower and strands will be weaker. Therefore, a healthy mane depends on your main course.However, not all proteins are created equal. Animal proteins, such as meat, eggs and dairy, contain all of the essential amino acids that the body can’t make on its own and form what is known as a complete protein. Non-animal proteins found in grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds are incomplete.Luckily, combining certain incomplete proteins will give you all the essential amino acids in one meal. Here are a few examples of foods that complement each other to make a complete protein:

· Grains + dairy: yogurt topped with granola, oatmeal with milk

· Seeds + legumes: hummus (chickpeas and sesame paste), trail mix

· Grains + legumes: rice and beans, peanut butter on whole wheat bread

· Grains + seeds: sesame bagel

· Legumes + dairy: chili topped with sour cream, bean and cheese burrito

· Seeds + dairy: sunflower seeds on cottage cheese

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2. Omega-3

Eating a diet rich in omega-3, an essential fatty acid, nourishes and moisturizes dry, brittle hair and may relieve a dry, itchy scalp that’s prone to dandruff, psoriasis or eczema. (See related article: Feed Your Face)The best sources of dietary omega-3 are fatty fish, flaxseeds and some varieties of nuts. Herring has the most omega-3 per serving, followed by mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna.One-quarter cup of flaxseeds contains about seven grams of omega-3s – but that’s a lot of seeds to munch on. A much easier way to get omega-3 from flax is to supplement your diet with flaxseed oil. One teaspoon provides 2.5 grams of omega-3 – more than a 4-ounce serving of herring can provide. Swallow a spoonful, or add flaxseed oil to homemade vinaigrette.Walnuts and soybeans are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids and make for a great protein-rich snack anytime.3. Iron Found in hemoglobin, the protein that forms red blood cells, iron plays a starring role in oxygen delivery to all the body’s cells, including hair. Not eating enough of this mineral can cause iron-deficiency anemia, which can contribute to hair loss.

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Here’s where your diet can pull double duty: Eat iron-rich proteins. Heme iron in animal protein is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron, which is found in plant proteins like lentils, beans and tofu. But what to do if you’re vegetarian? If you rely on plant foods for iron, combine them with a vitamin C-rich food to promote absorption. Some prime examples:

· Bell peppers with lentils

· Broccoli with tofu stir-fry

· Stewed tomatoes with beans

· Orange juice with iron-fortified cereals, such as Total or Special K

4. Vitamin C

Not only does this nutrient help maximize iron absorption, vitamin C is also necessary for collagen production. This fibrous protein is found in all kinds of connective tissue, as well as skin and hair, and provides structural integrity, strength and resilience.A diet rich in fruits and vegetables – especially citrus and dark leafy greens, such as kale, Brussels sprouts and spinach – will supply your body with plenty of vitamin C.

5. B-Complex Vitamins

B vitamins, especially folate, biotin and vitamins B6 and B12, are important for healthy hair growth. A vitamin B deficiency can lead to excessive hair loss, slow growth and weak, brittle strands. In fact, if hair loss is due to a lack of biotin, eating foods rich in this B vitamin will fix the problem. Why folate and not folic acid? Actually, either will do. The difference is simply that folate is found in foods, while folic acid is the synthetic (man-made) version you’ll find in supplements and fortified foods.Good sources of B vitamins include:

· Folate: avocados, asparagus, artichokes, beets, oranges, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, fresh peas, soybeans, chickpeas, lentils, turkey

· Biotin: cauliflower, carrots, bananas, cereals, yeast, soy flour, liver, salmon

· Vitamin B6: white potato skins, garbanzo beans, bananas, lentils, beef, pork, chicken, salmon

· Vitamin B12: beef, lamb, veal, liver, clams, oysters, fish, milk, egg yolks, cottage cheese

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6. Zinc and Copper

Both of these minerals are important to healthy hair. Zinc is essential for the growth and repair of tissues throughout the body, including hair. A zinc deficiency can lead to slow growth, hair loss and dandruff.Copper is a component of melanin, the pigment found in hair and skin. Deficiency of this mineral may contribute to premature graying.Zinc and copper compete for absorption during digestion and should be taken together to maintain mineral balance within the body. Foods rich in zinc include animal proteins, shellfish, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and wheat germ. Copper is found primarily in liver and oysters – two foods most of us don’t eat on a regular basis. More common food sources of copper include artichokes, avocados, bananas, garlic, legumes, mushrooms, nuts and seeds, potatoes, prunes, radishes, soybeans, tomatoes, and whole grains.

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7. Water

The ultimate “nutrient,” water is essential to every single cell in the body. And it’s not just your mouth that gets parched – your hair does, too. Chronic dehydration can contribute to dry skin and a dry scalp. Unfortunately, taking extra long showers won’t do the trick; your body needs to be hydrated from the inside out.So drink up! Most experts recommend drinking eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day. If you’re a caffeine junkie, that figure increases because caffeine is a diuretic. For every cup of coffee, caffeinated tea and soda you drink, balance it out with a glass of water.

Being your best starts when you make wise decisions.

It has been said that aging is not for the weak. Staying young belongs to the wise.

5 Secret Steps To Staying Young will help chart your course.

The sooner the better when it comes to living wisely and reaping the benefits of having done so...

Click Here for the answers

10 Foods That May Improve Your Appearance

2008-08-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

This link provides a bounty of quick information referencing various foods that will make a huge difference in how you feel and age. The impact food has on our over all well being is something we just can't ignore.

I will confess my weakness for sugar. The "weightiness" of the matter does not escape me, but I still struggle with my weakness to cave into the call of sweetness.

The battle may continue, but the path for longevity is well laid if only we follow it.

I will be orchestrating a planned menu of the foods listed so I may enjoy the thrill and delight of having made solid decisions knowing those foods will greatly impact the quality of my life and the lives of those who share it.

After all, should we allow a cookie the power to determine our path?

Adieu......

Click Here

10 Foods That May Improve Your Appearance

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You can increase your intelligence easily

2008-08-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Do you know your IQ, and if you do is it something you feel compelled to keep to yourself? Are you satisfied with your level of intelligence. Do you feel lost in a sea of elitist academics or career peers whose intelligence leaves you feeling inferior?

IQ and intelligence increasing is one of those topics where most people think they don't have a choice. Much of society, the people you know, say intelligence is genetic, that you can't increase it, that it's all to do with education etc etc. The truth is: Society is full of lies. And these lies have saturated society and limited the true potential and GENIUS that lies within us. You see, your intelligence will and can increase if you first BELIEVE that you can. Then you need to INTEND that you will ACT to increase your intelligence. And then it will increase. "You are what you believe yourself to be." So, why believe and live a lie perpetrated by a weak and ignorant society?

I'm going to ask, what you may believe to be, a strange question..... which chances are you will not answer correctly. This will reveal a massive secret about reaching the 180 IQ. The question is: " When you think, do you MAKE the thoughts you're thinking?" ...........

Confused?

Weird question? Let me ask you again then............ Do you MAKE the thoughts you think? ............

The answer is actually NO. You never MAKE the thoughts YOU think instead, you actually RECEIVE the thoughts! Who would have guessed!

You see my student, you are actually RECEIVING your thoughts from your SUBCONSCIOUS mind which is the seat of your intelligence. The thoughts you have come from the subconscious and are received by your conscious mind which is the process of how you get the thoughts. And there believe it or not, ACTUALLY, lies the secret to the 180 IQ.

The Secret Is This:

By accelerating the process of how thoughts are received, you can have more thoughts and ideas. Your intelligence will increase and you will have ACCESS to the HIDDEN TREASURES and GENIUS within the subconscious mind!

There are proven and specific means to make sure this happens. One more thing, acceleration of thoughts is fundamental. However, so is expansion, to accelerate the process of your thoughts will give you a 180 IQ but also expanding the source of where your thoughts are received will give you a greater thought reservoir from which to think. So not only will your thoughts occur generously and fast, but you will have

GREATER BRAIN POWER

because you have more resources when it comes to thinking!

And all of this means a direct increase in:

1. reasoning ability

2. problem solving ability

3. mathematical ability

4. listening ability

5. memory ability

6. creativity

And so on. And so forth.

Do not sit back any longer accepting a mundane existence. You have Aladdin's Lamp at your disposal......claim your best today.

Click Here

You can increase your intelligence and quality of life easily.

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Music motivates your workout

2008-08-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is such a part of my daily life; I just can't imagine not having it. You will be as excited as I am to discover this opportunity to download music for free.

Whenever I work out I do my best when I have upbeat music because music motivates me. The beat of good music helps me to get into my zone with my workout. When exercising to increase my heart rate and burn calories music keeps me moving and on target with my rhythm and pace. When I am weight lifting I am always pushing myself either for strength or endurance. I used to dance with a ballet company; stretching is a must and music allows me to tone it down so I may relax and release into my stretches. Music drives and carries me toward whatever daily goals I have set for myself.

My mp3 is awesome and I really enjoy the music I have on it. However, because I work-out regularly I tend to grow tired of the same music. I hear new music on the radio that makes me want to move. Purchasing a CD every time I hear a new song that motivates me isn't economical. It wouldn't take long to break the bank by frequently downloading new music when the average cost is $1.00 a pop.

My daughter loves downloading new music and has an awesome library that allows her to listen to all the different genres she enjoys. My husband does best when he can constantly add new music to listen to when he is working-out.

Not to mention, other than music motivating me I really enjoy coming home after a hard workout and relaxing with my family while we watch a movie. Everybody in my family is considered when choosing a movie, which means we need options. It helps to have a program that is accessible, economical, convenient and offers a lot of bang.

Music motivates my workout and keeps me on track with achieving my goals and being my best. Curling up to a good movie is a regular part of my life with my family and a great reward after my workout.

Check out the free music download my husband found. See what a difference it makes for you to conveniently motivate your workout with music. Regularly having a library of movies will add just as much as music to the fun you have in your life.

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The Following Article about how music "pumps" up your workout is from

Men's Health Magazine.

No author name provided.

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=fitness&category=music.on.the.go&conitem=d9b85ae142396010VgnVCM100000cfe793cd____&cm_mmc=DailyDoseNL-_-2008_10_03-_-MainBlk-_-01

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The Research Behind Exercise Music

The Science of Workout Music

There's some good, old-fashioned research behind your iPod infatuation

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Whistle While You Work Out
Do your treadmill sessions drone on like C-Span? Instead, think MTV and crank up some tunes. A new study from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia confirmed that listening to your favorite music will help you push harder in your workouts. Men who listened to music while going hard on an exercise bike for 10 minutes pedaled 11 percent farther than those who listened to silence or static for the same amount of time.

Music Makes the People Come Together
Science has backed up what anyone who has ever worked out with an iPod may have guessed: Listening to music makes exercise more fun, and that can help you stick to your routine. "Music inspires movement," says Costas Karageorghis, PhD, a sports psychologist at Brunel University in London. "Like smell, it can penetrate areas of the brain that language alone doesn't reach." In fact, research has shown that synchronizing the speed of music with exercise gets people to train harder.

In his latest study, Karageorghis compared participants' heart rates with the number of beats in music and found that matching the tempo to workout intensity mattered most for those who exercised the most strenuously. But you don't have to be training for a marathon to tailor your playlist to your workout. Choose inspirational, upbeat songs such as "The Best" by Tina Turner or "Spring" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons for your warm-up and fast tracks with driving rhythms for the main part of your workout; Karageorghis likes Michael Jackson songs and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown, whereas Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie has set world records by running while listening to John Larkin's "Scatman."

Burn some Beethoven
In a 2004 study at the University of California at San Diego, researchers irritated people by giving them a difficult task then nudging them to go faster. Afterward, the subjects listened to classical music, jazz, pop, or total silence. Silence was least calming -- their blood pressure spiked almost 11 points. Jazz and pop relieved stress a bit more. But the BP of the classical-music listeners rose only 2 points. We suggest this starter kit: Bach's six unaccompanied cello suites; Beethoven's Concerto for Violin in D; Brahms's Violin Concerto in D, op. 77; and Mozart's symphonies 35 through 41.

Soothe the Savage Back
Cranking your favorite music may help eliminate back pain. In a study of 65 people who'd been hospitalized for chronic lower-back pain, researchers found that men who relaxed and listened to music for 25 minutes a day slept better and had less pain than men who didn't listen to music.

Listen for Calm
When you're anticipating a stressful situation--a performance review with the boss, a big presentation--listen to music while preparing. An Australian study found that music (specifically, Pachelbel's Canon in D) prevented stress-related reactions--spikes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels--in people preparing for an oral presentation. Those who prepared in silence had significant increases in all measures.

Beat It
Despite graphic evidence to the contrary--Keith Moon, John Bonham--drumming has proven health benefits. A recent study found that when staffers in a high-burnout industry participated in drumming sessions, they experienced a 50 percent improvement in mood that continued for at least 6 weeks. The people in this study also reported a decrease in fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Pick up a pair of sticks at the music store, crank up Live at Leeds, and slam away the day's stress.

Head Banger
Next time you have a song stuck in your head, blame your auditory cortex, not Beyonce....Dartmouth College researchers scanned the brain activity of people listening to music recordings containing gaps of silence. When participants knew the song, the auditory cortex stayed active during the gaps, as though "the music is playing in your head," says researcher David Kraemer, a graduate student in cognitive neuroscience. To exorcise a song, try listening to it, then playing it all the way through in your mind.

Rock-a-bye Baby
Listening to soft music for 45 minutes before bedtime can slow breathing and heart rates, helping you drift off faster and slumber soundly according to a Case Western Reserve University study.

The Biggest Loser Diet

2008-08-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

What a great way of phrasing what we all want; we want to be a big winner by losing weight that is holding us back from being our best. There can be a lot of confusion when we start to search for the information we need to "Win" at being a loser. You can't go wrong with the evidence the popular show The Biggest Loser has provided. The facts can't be denied. We all know that what you eat is pretty important when trying to lose weight, but finding a successful plan can be tough. How much would you lose if you had the exact diets that winners from The Biggest Loser followed? Ray Kelly is an Exercise Physiologist from Australia, who trained not 1, but 2 Biggest Loser winners! In his new report he outlines the exact foods these champions ate in the days up to jumping onto the scales for the final time.
The Biggest Loser Diet
But that's not all this expert has provided. Here's what you'll see in this report: - An outline of the meal plan promoted in the bestselling book from The Biggest Loser! - A sample meal plan using The Biggest Loser eating style! - An outline of the Blue Team's eating style! - An outline of Red Team's eating style! - The meal plan that helped Adro Sarnelli lose over 100lbs to win The Biggest Loser Australia 2006! - The meal plan that helped Chris Garling lose over 150lbs to win The Biggest Loser Australia 2007! - Required information on Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats, with examples of the best foods from each group to eat! - Bonus tips on Weight Loss, and Special Occasions! So if you are yet to reach you goals, I highly recommend you get your hands on this! Instantly download it here: The Biggest Loser Diet

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