About Me

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I am looking to excel in the ownership of retail businesses and real estate investments. Forever striving to become financially independent.I describe myself as a very straight forward person who like to take things in stride, when possible. Life is very exciting and has lots of opportunites and experiences to offer and I feel that I should always make the right use of it. I believe that I should always strive towards individual betterment in whichever form it may be.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The key to losing: exercise or diet?

Weight loss q&a by Suzanne Schlosberg

It's difficult for me to concentrate on calorie cutting and my workout program at the same time. Which is more important for weight loss? ... and more of your questions answered here.

Q I find it hard to stick with a diet while I'm trying to maintain my exercise program. Which one should I focus on more for weight loss: exercise or diet?

A "Exercise is less important than diet for losing weight, but once the weight is off, exercise becomes almost essential for keeping it off," says Robert H. Eckel, M.D., chairman of the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism Council and professor of medicine at the University of Colorado's Health Sciences Center in Denver.

Dietary changes tend to have more of an impact on weight loss because it's relatively easy to reduce calories through improvements to your diet, while it takes a lot of exercise to burn off an equal number of calories. For instance, you could cut 230 calories a day--enough to lose 2 pounds in a month--simply by skipping that afternoon candy bar; to burn 230 calories through exercise, you'd have to run or walk two miles, which could take up to 40 minutes. "That doesn't mean you can't lose a little weight by exercise alone," Eckel says. "But the caloric value of exercise is modest. You have to exercise a lot to make up for that malt over the weekend."

But don't use this as a reason to give up on exercise. Among people who lose weight without working out, the vast majority regain the pounds. However, research shows that 95 percent of those who succeed in keeping the weight off exercise almost daily. Rather than making drastic changes to both your eating and your exercise habits, make more modest improvements to both.

Q The more I promise myself I'm going to diet, the worse I eat. I find myself going to McDonald's for a McFlurry frozen dessert every day. How can I stick to my diet and stop thinking about junk food and ice cream all the time?

A "When foods are put on the forbidden list, you start to crave them," says Atlanta nutritionist Kathleen Zelman, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Rather than deprive yourself of the foods that you love, Zelman suggests, "give in to your cravings, but in a controlled manner."

For instance, allow yourself to buy a McFlurry once a week and savor every bite. "Don't eat it standing up or in your car," Zelman says. "Sit down and really enjoy it instead of just wolfing it down." You may want to bring some home to put in the freezer and scoop out a small portion each night. Simply knowing the dessert is available to you might be enough to keep you from thinking about it all the time, Zelman suggests. The cravings and obsession will wane.

Another strategy is to satisfy your craving for sweet, cold, creamy foods with a lower-calorie alternative to a McFlurry (about 600 calories for 12 ounces). For instance, Haagen-Dazs chocolate sorbet contains 120 calories per 1/2 cup serving (which at 4 ounces is a more sensible serving size for a frozen treat).

Q My girlfriend is smart and beautiful, but her obsessive dieting is starting to worry me. She is 5-foot-5 and wants to weigh 110 pounds (currently she weighs 115). She never eats more than 1,000 calories a day and runs for at least 40 minutes. After her workouts, she says things like "I feel like I am going to faint," but still she won't eat anything. What can I do to help her?

A "Tell her gently but firmly that you're very concerned and that you believe her behavior is heading in the direction of an eating disorder," says William Davis, Ph.D., director of research for The Renfrew Center Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that designs programs to advance the awareness of eating disorders. If she dismisses your concerns--a reaction that is likely, Davis says-remain supportive and let her know that you plan to bring up the issue again.

Urge her to see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. If she won't agree to that, try getting her to a registered dietitian. "To people with eating disorders, nutritionists tend to be less threatening than therapists," Davis says. A nutritionist can explain to her that drastically cutting calories will actually backfire; when you eat fewer calories than your body needs to maintain itself, your body thinks it's being starved and your metabolism slows down.

Although many people with disordered eating tend to ignore the health risks of anorexia and bulimia--everything from flaky skin to life-threatening organ damage--you still might tell her that you fear what may happen to her down the line. Perhaps a more effective strategy, Davis says, is to take pictures of your girlfriend from the neck down, in hopes that she will see that her body is not, in fact, fat. If she's looking at an image of her body without her face, Davis explains, she's more likely to see it realistically.

Getting through to people with disordered eating can be an uphill battle, Davis says, "but that doesn't mean it can't be done." Some people defiantly refuse to get help, while others are just waiting for someone to care enough to take an interest. If all else fails, "you may even want to arrange an intervention with people she trusts, like girlfriends who know about her obsession with weight," Davis adds. "You then can tell her, 'Look, it's time to do something about this.'

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Advice for Building Healthy and Exciting Love Relationships

A strong, healthy relationship can be one of the best supports in your life. Good relationships improve your life in all aspects, strengthening your health, your mind and your connections with others as well. However, it can also be one of the greatest drains if the relationship is not working. Relationships are an investment. The more you put in, the more you get back. Love and relationships take work, commitment, and a willingness to adapt and change through life as a team. Learn about ways to keep a healthy relationship strong, or work on repairing trust and love for a relationship on the rocks.

How to strengthen your relationship and make love last

Everyone’s relationship is unique, and people come together for many different reasons. But there are some things that good relationships have in common. Knowing the basic principles of healthy relationships helps keep them meaningful, fulfilling and exciting in both happy times and sad:

What makes a healthy love relationship?

•Staying involved with each other. Some relationships get stuck in peaceful coexistence, but without truly relating to each other and working together. While it may seem stable on the surface, lack of involvement and communication increases distance. When you need to talk about something important, the connection and understanding may no longer be there.

•Getting through conflict. Some couples talk things out quietly, while others may raise their voices and passionately disagree. The key in a strong relationship, through, is not to be fearful of conflict. You need to be safe to express things that bother you without fear of retaliation, and be able to resolve conflict without humiliation, degradation or insisting on being right.

•Keeping outside relationships and interests alive. No one person can meet all of our needs, and expecting too much from someone can put a lot of unhealthy pressure on a relationship. Having friends and outside interests not only strengthens your social network, but brings new insights and stimulation to the relationship, too.

•Communicating. Honest, direct communication is a key part of any relationship. When both people feel comfortable expressing their needs, fears and desires, trust and bonds are strengthened. Critical to communication are nonverbal cues—body language like eye contact, leaning forward or away, or touching someone’s arm.

Keep phsical intimacy alive

Be sensitive to what your partner likes. While touch is a key part of a healthy relationship, it’s important to take some time to find out what your partner really likes. Unwanted touching or inappropriate overtures can make the other person tense up and retreat—exactly what you don’t want.

Spend quality time together

Simple ways to connect as a couple and rekindle love

•Commit to spending quality time together on a regular basis. Even during very busy and stressful times, a few minutes of really sharing and connecting can help keep bonds strong.

•Find something that you enjoy doing together, whether it is a shared hobby, dance class, daily walk, or sitting over a cup of coffee in the morning.

•Try something new together. Doing new things together can be a fun way to connect and keep things interesting. It can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or going on a day trip to a place you’ve never been before.

Never stop communication

If you’ve known each other for a while, you may assume that your partner has a pretty good idea of what you are thinking and what you need. However, your partner is not a mind-reader. While your partner may have some idea, it is much healthier to express your needs directly to avoid any confusion. Your partner may sense something, but it might not be what you need. What’s more, people change, and what you needed and wanted five years ago, for example, may be very different now. Getting in the habit of expressing your needs helps you weather difficult times, which otherwise may lead to increasing resentment, misunderstanding and anger.

Healthy relationships are built on give and take

If you approach your partner with the attitude that things have to be your way or else, it will be difficult to reach a compromise. Sometimes this attitude comes from not having your needs met while younger, or it could be years of accumulated resentment in the relationship reaching a boiling point. It’s alright to have strong convictions about something, but your partner deserves to be heard as well. You are more likely to get your needs met if you respect what your partner needs, and compromise when you can.

Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, but to keep a relationship strong, both people need to feel they’ve been heard. The goal is not to win but to resolve the conflict with respect and love.

•Make sure you are fighting fair.

•Don’t attack someone directly but use “I” statements to communicate how you feel.

•Don’t drag old arguments into the mix.

•Keep the focus on the issue at hand, and respect the other person.

Expect ups and downs

It’s also important to recognize that there are ups and downs in every relationship. You won’t always be on the same page. Sometimes one partner may be struggling with an issue that stresses them, such as the death of a close family member. Other events, like job loss or severe health problems, can affect both partners and make it difficult to relate to each other. You might have different ideas of managing finances or raising children. Different people cope with stress differently, and misunderstanding can rapidly turn to frustration and anger.

•Don’t take out your problems on your partner. Life stresses can make us short tempered. If you are coping with a lot of stress, it might seem easier to vent with your partner, and even feel safer to snap at him or her. Fighting like this might initially feel like a release, but it slowly poisons your relationship. Find other ways to vent your anger and frustration.

•Some problems are bigger than both of you. Trying to force a solution can cause even more problems. Every person works through problems and issues in his or her own way. Remember that you’re a team. Continuing to move forward together can get you through the rough spots.

•Be open to change. Change is inevitable in life, and it will happen whether you go with it or fight it. Flexibility is essential to adapt to the change that is always taking place in any relationship, and it allows you to grow together through both the good times and the bad.

helpguide.org

Friday, September 3, 2010

Quick Weight Loss Tips - Food Factors

When it comes to finding quick weight loss diet tips that work, selecting your foods for your diet can be a real balancing act. You have to lose some of what you’ve grown accustomed to and add some items that may be new to you. Here’s some quick weight loss tips that experts recommend to promote weight loss.

Quick Weight Loss Tips #1 – Reduce fat.

With regard to fat, the research is clear: Diets too high in fat promote overweight and obesity. You should strive to consume no more than 25 percent of your calories from fat – and that fat should the “non-saturated” type.

Quick Weight Loss Tips # 2 – Don’t be so sweet.

Numerous studies have linked table sugar to increased calorie consumption. While sugar doesn’t do as much dietary damage as fat, you’ll find that when you eat sweets, you simply want to eat more… of everything. Not only that, but sugar also makes your body excrete chromium, and chromium is a mineral that helps your body build calorie-burning lean tissue – so you want to keep your chromium levels up.

Quick Weight Loss Tips #3 – Drink up.

“If people want to keep their nutrients in balance, they need to drink plenty of plain, unflavored water every day,” says Judy Dodd, R.D., past president of the American Dietetic Association. Water not only acts as a solvent for many vitamins and minerals but also is responsible for carrying nutrients into and wastes out of cells, so the body functions properly. As a rule of thumb, you should drink a half-ounce of water for every pound of body weight daily, unless you’re very active, in which case you should increase your water intake to two-thirds of an ounce per pound of body weight daily. So if you weigh 100 pounds, you should drink 50 ounces of water a day as a minimum

Quick Weight Loss Tips #4 – Fill up on fiber.

You can curb your hunger by increasing your intake of dietary fiber, which is filling, so you feel full but eat less. For these diet tips, experts recommend eating more fruits, vegetables and wholegrain cereals.

Quick Weight Loss Tips #5 – Get treatment for food allergies.

Some researchers believe that being overweight is the result of people craving foods that they are allergic to. For these people, weight loss is extremely difficult until they figure out what those trigger foods are and eliminate them from their diets.

“There are specific food allergies that trigger uncontrollable craving and bingeing,” says Joseph D. Beasley, M.D., director of Comprehensive Medical Care in Amityville, New York. “It’s a common problem in overeaters.”

If you suspect that food allergies might be part of your problem, ask your doctor to help you identify the offending items. Your doctor may recommend that you see an allergy specialist.

Quick Weight Loss Tips#6 - Get fit

Last, but not least...but MOST IMPORTANT! Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. Start out slow and work your way up. Join a gym or buy weights or other equipment for your home. Bike riding and taking long walks are great. Get fit.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

How to blog effectively in 5 easy steps

A lot of us are interested in learning how to blog these days. It can be a great way to earn some extra cash on the side. Of course, if you do it well, you can actually make a lot of money. Theoretically, you can even get a fame yourself. Just look at Perez Hilton for an example. Of course, the key to blogging successfully is knowing how to be successfully. Fortunately the following steps can help you do that.


1. First and foremost, you need to make sure your blog is aesthetically pleasing. It needs to be not only easy to read but also easy to navigate. Otherwise, people are not going to read what you have to say, nor are they going to be able to read it!

2. Secondly, you cannot underestimate the importance of advertising. Fortunately, with a blog, it is easy to get your name and your posts out there. All you really need to do is submit your main blog itself and its individual posts to social networking and bookmarking sites. MySpace, Delicious, Digg, and places like that can really help you to promote your sign, with little to no effort from you.

3. Third, and perhaps most important of all, you have got to be interesting. Whenever possible, try to blog about things which have not been extensively covered already. If that is not possible then simply try to put an innovative spin on whatever you write.

4. The fourth step involves paying attention to your readers. As much as you possibly can, try to answer every email you receive. Make it a point to answer comments when you get them - even the negative ones.

5. Last but definitely not least, do not let yourself feel intimidated. It does not matter if you are not experienced. No one is experienced with their first blog. You simply have to jump in and get started. 

If you have any tips or comments to add, please feel free to do so.

Written by Expert Trevor Johnson  

DOCTOR DIES IN CHIMNEY TRYING TO BREAK INTO LOVERS HOME

Dr Jacquelyn Kotarac suffocated after trying to slide down into house of estranged boyfriend, say California police

Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac was in an 'on-off' relationship with William Moodie. Photograph: Felix Adamo/AP

A doctor whose decomposing body was found in a narrow chimney suffocated to death after trying to break into her boyfriend's home, California authorities said yesterday.

The body of Dr Jacquelyn Kotarac was discovered trapped in the chimney on Saturday – three days after she had apparently slid feet first down it into the house of her estranged lover, William Moodie.

According to police in Bakersfield, California, the 49-year-old doctor turned up at his house on the evening of Wednesday 25 August.

Moodie, however, did not want to see her. He left the house through the back door and spent the night elsewhere.

After apparently using a shovel to try to break in through the back door, police believe Kotarac climbed on to the roof with a ladder, removed the chimney cover and slid down the shaft.

Kotarac was reported missing on Thursday when she failed to show up for work, Sergeant Mary DeGeare of Bakersfield police said.

Her body was eventually discovered after a house-sitter noticed the smell coming from the fireplace.

Firefighters spent five hours demolishing the chimney so that they could extract the body, which was wedged about 2ft above the top of the interior fireplace opening.

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Kern County sheriff-coroner said an autopsy had established that Kotarac had suffocated to death.

"The pressure being placed on the chest wouldn't allow her lungs to expand and she suffocated," he said.

Moodie told the a local newspaper that he was still reeling from the shock of what had happened.

"I feel this incredible sense of loss," he told the Bakersfield Californian. "It's very hard to accept the fact that she's gone."

Moodie, 58, declined to comment on what his relationship with Kotarac was at the time of her death. However, he said he was fed up with people commenting on the manner of her death. "She made a horrendously bad decision and paid for it with her life," he said.

This was definitle a tragedy! It has been said by some that they believe there was foul play. What do you think?

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

10 Signs It Is Time to End a Relationship



1) You don’t like her.


A lot of times, my readers will tell me they are with someone because they are afraid
of not being able to “find someone better." I find this stupid and irresponsible. If you don’t like a person, Why stay?


The only time you should consider staying in a relationship if you do not like someone is if you are married and there are children involved. But even then, I would suggest a divorce if you can’t work things out. Kids aren’t stupid – they can tell daddy and mommy don’t love each other, and it’s going to create TONS of emotional baggage in the long run.


2) She doesn’t really like you.

If it’s clear that a woman is not really that into you, then you should just move on. I don’t care how much you are attracted to her. All I can see is that she doesn’t really like you…but is only with you because of certain circumstances.


If you constantly have to chase after her because you like her a lot more than she likes you, you WILL have TONS of relationship drama in the future. You can’t change how she feels. So just like it go and find someone who likes you as much as you like them.


3) You don’t like yourself when you are with her.

If you react negatively to her, to her family, or even to her friends or environment, it is a sign you will not have a good relationship with her in the long run. It’s a sign that your personality does not match with her environment. You will either become angry or “converted.” Sometimes, it’s both. (You get converted and hate yourself!)


People who are close tend to “rub off” each other in the long run – but mostly only when it comes to bad qualities.


Hang out with unethical business partners, and eventually you will be unethical. Stay in a relationship with serious character issues, and eventually you will become just as bad. Do you really want to become what you hate…and then hate yourself for it?


4) She has cheated more than once.

If a woman has cheated more than once, you can almost guarantee she will cheat again. It’s just part of her character. Don’t try to reform her. Spend your time building a great relationship with someone who’s worth your time instead.


5) She isolates you from her friends.


If a woman doesn’t want you to hang out with her friends and family, you should really ask yourself why. 9 out of 10 times, it’s a major red flag!


6) She has chronic character problems.


I can’t emphasize this one enough. Stay away from women with chronic character problems. They WILL such all your energy out of you and your life WILL start be get lots of drama!!!


7) You don’t respect one another.


Since a good relationship requires a high amount of romantic respect, a relationship will not last if you do not respect one another. If your girlfriend likes to belittle you, it’s time to find a better girlfriend. And if you think you are better than your girlfriend, you either need to keep your ego in check or you should find yourself a better woman.


8) One of you wants to “date around”.


If you want to “date around”, be honest to yourself and just break up. Don’t try to kid anyone. You don’t really like her THAT much.


If she wants to “date around”, tell her she has the complete freedom to do so – because you are no longer together anyway.


9) You fight all the time.


If you are fight all the time, it’s a sign you are with the wrong person. A firmly believe that not a single huge fight should happen within the first year of a relationship. So if you are fighting after 3 months, that's not a good sign at all.


10) Everyone is telling you to break up with her.


Usually friends and family are more objective because there are less emotions involved. So if everybody is telling you to ditch a girl, it’s time to think about why. Chances are, they are right.

Posted by Marius Panzarella on January 17, 2010 · Leave a Comment...What do you think?

Monday, August 30, 2010

Trapped Chilean Miners

Wow! What about the 33 Chilean miners that are trapped beneath more than 2,300 feet of rock? They are saying that it may take 3 to 4 months to get them out!!! One person per family was given about 20 seconds each to talk through a line that was rigged to connect the miners with life above ground.



The miners were sent vaccines to protect against diseases like diphtheria and tetanus. The risk of infection among the men is high as they are crammed in such a small space. Some of the miners are having problems with skin fungus, and there's a high risk that they could contract lung infections.



The miners have been sent rubber boots as well as chlorine to purify water from underground source. They have a video camera underground and are filming each other to show injuries they sustained during the cave-in. The images should help doctors diagnose and treat the men, though no one is thought to have incurred serious injuries.


I couldn't take it!!! What about you?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

An appointment with Ardyss will change your life.

You'll find plenty of quality products from Ardyss International. If you're looking for a body shaper or  antioxidant drink, or skin care products, Ardyss is for you.  You can create the healthy, shapely body you dream of.


Most people know they could be healthier, or long to change their body shape. That's all possible! With a body shaper designed by orthopedic surgeons and medical engineers, you're not only getting a garment that will trim your waist and give you the look you've always wanted. You'll also be getting the support that your back and waist require. Many clients have found that the shapewear has helped alleviate back pain by providing more structured support.


In addition to shapewear, we carry Ardyss moisturizer, antioxidant drinks, weight loss drinks, energy drinks and more. We aren't just about shaping your body, but keeping it healthy, as well, whether you use a body reshaper or not. Purchase your body shaper or health aid today, don't put good health off.

www.ardysslife.com/beautifulyounow

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

How to Open a Business in California




Opening a business, no matter what kind you choose, is one of the most challenging and rewarding tasks anyone could undertake. It requires a great deal of planning, preparation and hard work, but in time could offer freedom, financial benefits and a sense of accomplishment. Like all states, California offers many resources to help new business owners get started on the right track. Tackle all the aspects critical to starting a business to get off on the right foot.

Instructions

1. You need to make out a business plan.  There is plenty of help online and you can also go to the SBA for assistance.


2.  Set up tax accounts. Contact the IRS to secure a federal tax ID # and income tax accounts for your businesses. If you will be collecting sales tax, set up an account with the California State Board of Equalization. Contact the California State Department for payroll and workmen's compensation accounts.


3.  Choose a business structure, whether it is sole proprietorship, corporation, or LLC, and register with the California State Department. The California State Department's main office is located at 1500 11th Street Sacramento, CA 95814, or they can be reached by phones at 916-657-5448. They do not accept faxed applications or correspondence from the public.



4.  Secure all required licenses. Every business in California requires a state business license, though certain types of companies, such as construction or medical, require additional licenses as well. Contact your local city or county government to see if any local licenses or permits are required, then obtain a state license through the California State Department.


5.  Organize franchise, corporate or personal income tax accounts in preparation for your business by contacting the California Franchise Tax Board. You can visit their office at 300 S. Spring Street, Suite 5704 Los Angeles, CA 90013-1265, or they can be reached by phone at 800-852-5711.


6.  Apply for California State Identification numbers, unemployment accounts and employee disability at the California Employment Development Department. There are branches throughout California, with the main office located at 2901 50th St Sacramento, CA 95817. They can be reached by phone at 916-227-0301 or fax at 916-227-0208.

If anyone has anything to add, please feel free to do so.....