How to Build Self Confidence Using Self Hypnosis Techniques

Have you ever felt anxious, depressed, nervous, or angry? We all have at some time in our life! As we all know, these negative emotions dis-empower us, while positive emotions inspire and energise us to achieve our goals. With Magic Hats you can transform anxiety into energy, fear into courage and disorganised helplessness into organised, actionable plans. Have you ever felt anxious, depressed, nervous, or angry? Or feeling low on self confidence and self esteem? One of the areas that seems to concern people a lot is how to build self confidence and start to feel good about life.

One thing is for sure though, and that is no matter how bad you feel, or what negative emotions you are experiencing, if you use proven techniques, you will definitely notice a very positive change – these self help techniques really do work.

These techniques are based on Neuro Linguistic Programming methods (or NLP), and will enable you to move away from negative and disempowering moods and emotions, and into much more positive and powerful emotions literally within seconds.

Don't be misled – knowledge is not power.

You may be familiar with the saying that "knowledge is power" – unfortunately that's not true. You could read everything here, gain the knowledge but still not see any improvements in your life. That's because "Action is Power", not knowledge. To reap the benefits of these techniques you must put them into action. It will only take you 10 – 15 minutes a day, but unless you practice them regularly, they're not going to have the effect you're looking for..

Have You Got Your Magic Hats

The whole process can be broken in to 5 simple steps – these steps are known as The Magic Hats Program. They are very distinctive and highly effective.

Step 1 – Self Hypnosis. This is where you place yourself in a very deep state of total relaxation. Just feeling this relaxed is enough to make you feel better, and this is just the beginning.

Step 2 – Modalities. This simply refers to your modes of thinking. We all remember our past memories and experiences through our senses – visual pictures/photos, familiar sounds, delightful smells and aromas... An example being that when you pick up a familiar smell, it usually triggers the memory of what happened when you last smelt it.

Step 3. Swish Patterns. This is a simple technique that allows you to change from one state (feeling down, unhappy, etc) to another (feeling happy, confident, elated, excited…)

Step 4. Anchors. When you are experiencing your new positive behaviour it's important to "anchor" it in your memory so that you can recall it whenever you wish.

Step 5. Being aware of how your mind operates. Most people have no idea or understanding of how they operate or how their mind controls them. Here you take control of your mind and you start to call the shots as to how you function and how you feel about things.

Learn to Relax on Demand

As human beings we work and function best when we are relaxed. In order for these techniques to work, you need to be fully relaxed – so here's how to get more relaxed than you've probably ever been before. You can do this anywhere you wish just so long as you won't be disturbed for the next 10 minutes. You'll come out of it feeling energised, relaxed and self confident [http://magic-hats.com].

Sit in your chair with you back straight, and your feet flat on the floor. Make sure the base of your spine is pushed right back into the back of the chair.

1. Place your right hand on your stomach where you belt buckle sits (or would sit if you're not wearing a belt).

2. Push your stomach out into your right hand and at the same time take a deep breath in trying to fill your lungs into your stomach. Then allow your lungs to expand into your ribcage. When your lungs are full, hold your breath for the count of 6. This method ensures you completely fill your lungs with oxygen rich air, and get as much of that oxygen as possible into your blood stream.

3. Breathe out slowly, and at the same time suck in your stomach muscles as far as you can – as though you are trying to get your stomach muscles to touch your spine. When you have fully exhaled, hold for a count of 6.

4. Repeat this breathing technique for a total of 6 to 12 times.

So the process is Push out stomach and breathe in – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 - 6 Hold breath – 2 - 3 – 4 - 5 - 6 Suck in stomach and breathe out – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 - 6 Hold breath – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 Repeat 6 – 12 times.

When you've finished (or maybe even while you're in the middle of the exercise) you may feel slightly dizzy or light headed. This is simply because your blood is now highly oxygenated and you are more relaxed.

Wendy Jones is a life and personal development coach. Here she shares a very simple approach to overcome your fears and eliminate negative emotions. These simple techniques can be your roadmap on how to build self confidence [http://magic-hats.com] and overcome the frustrations that are holding you back from achieving the things that are really important to you. Get a copy of the Magic Hats free report and learn how to build self confidence [http://magic-hats.com].

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Protecting Your Bones During Menopause

The care of bones and joints has been gaining increased attention as movement and activity become more and more valued as fundamental elements of our quality of life. In the younger postmenopausal population, trauma and fractures are the greatest cause of disability and death, while in the older group hip fractures are among the most frequent and seriously disabling conditions, often leading to loss of independence and even death. In the UK, hip fracture is the number one reason why older women lose their ability to live independently and need to be institutionalized.

In addition, joint problems such as osteoarthritis account for a substantial loss in quality of life, with a large associated economic and social cost for treatment. Arthritis is one of the most common diseases of this stage of life. It affects millions of adults and half of all people aged 65 and older. The three most common kinds of arthritis in older are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. In fact, hip and knee replacements are among the most frequently performed operations in people over 50 years of age.

Although the link between arthritis and gender is less clear, gender is certainly a a factor in some rheumatic diseases. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia are all more common among women.  This indicates that hormones or other male-female differences may play a role in the development of these conditions.

The Right Way Forward

Whereas some of these alterations are simply the result of aging and may be altogether unavoidable, much can be done to prevent and reduce the consequences of these  problems.

A healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, weight control and exercise, will substantially reduce the risk of fractures, falls and the worsening of arthritis.  In addition, a few medical treatments are now available that may be very helpful in dealing with the causes and consequences of these conditions. However, these medical treatments tend to be expensive and long lasting, and may have side effects, so individual needs and risks should always be discussed with your healthcare professional before you embark on any long term therapy.

Keeping Bones Strong

Calcium is key to bone strength, but how and when you take it is very important. Take calcium in small doses (400 mg per dose) with plenty of water throughout the day. If you take any more at one time it will be eliminated as a waste product. Take calcium with meals, but do not take it with any fiber or iron supplements, as these will hamper its absorption.

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Menopause Symptoms - Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most frequently reported menopause symptoms, and perhaps unsurprisingly, its most common cause is sleep deprivation, which is largely due to fluctuating hormone levels. Around this time, androgen, the 'male' hormone we produce associated with energy levels and a sense of well being - begins to decrease. A drop in estrogen levels can also produce sleeping problems.

Another common culprit is diet. A high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet can play havoc with your metabolism. It encourages high levels of insulin, which lead to low blood sugar levels. If you drink fizzy drinks, tea or coffee, the caffeine content leads to a release of adrenaline, which further upsets the insulin- sugar balance.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to bring your energy levels up.

Diet

To raise blood glucose levels it is important to eat carbohydrates with a low or medium glycemic index. These provide a gradual and sustained release of energy. Be sure, too, to include plenty of foods containing B vitamins, particularly if you eat a high carbohydrate diet. Sufficient fat and protein are also needed to maintain healthy cellular function; choose healthful fats like linseed, avocado or olive oil, and protein in the form of lean meats, poultry or soya products.

Seaweeds of all kinds can nourish your nervous, immune and hormonal systems. Try eating a portion as a vegetable at least once a week and get into the habit of adding some to soups and salads.

Eating several small meals or snacking throughout the day can reduce the energy-sapping drops in blood glucose levels that occur between meals - as can cutting down on caffeine drinks and alcohol.

Herbal Remedies

Siberian ginseng is commonly taken to increase stamina and boost the immune system. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats exhaustion with energy tonics that contain ginseng.

Exercise

Lack of exercise leads to inactivity, while keeping active and fit gives you more energy and stamina. Even a brisk 10-minute walk will shift your mood and raise your energy levels.

Many eastern-based practices, such as meditation, yoga, t'ai chi, qi gong and shiatsu, are based on moving energy around your body to revitalize you.

Another effective practice is skin brushing. Several minutes of scrubbing in the morning will boost your circulation and raise your energy levels. If you have an existing skin problem you can still scrub, just avoid the affected area. Adding the juice of a tablespoon of grated ginger will boost the beneficial effects.

Stress Reduction

Overdoing anything, even something as good as exercise, can also lead to fatigue, so make sure you pace yourself. Take more breaks and, if necessary, cut back on some of your activities. Include plenty of enjoyable activities, even socializing, which can relieve the stress of a hectic schedule.

Many therapists suggest that clearing your life of clutter - whether it's clearing up your desk or learning to let go of situations beyond your control - will stop your energy from being sapped. Nicotine is also an energy sapper, so if you smoke you should stop.

Chemical Treatments

Testosterone supplements in patch or cream form have been tried, but this use of the drug is not licensed in some countries, nor have studies shown it to be effective.

Empower yourself with the knowledge to make informed decision about dealing with your menopause symptoms, from finding natural remedies for menopause relief and night sweats to understanding the causes of hot flashes and whether or not to use prescription or natural hormone therapy treatments.

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Preparing For Divorce - Take The Test

Do our national love and respect for independence sabotage marriage? We all know our divorce rate is too high, but who's responsible, and what are some of the things we need to know about this subject? Here's an opportunity to check out your own views and maybe get a few pointers if you're in the process of preparing for divorce.

Answer TRUE or FALSE:

1. If there's going to be a divorce, the partner with the most education is the least likely to initiate it.

2. Males are usually the first to ask for a divorce.

3. In order to compromise, it's usually necessary to give up a certain amount of independence. Males are actually better trained for this than are women.

4. If parents are planning on getting a divorce, children need to be told about it in advance

5. A woman is most likely to ask for divorce because of her husband's infidelity.

6. Children who grow up with constant conflict between parents share many of the same problems as children of divorce

7. Couples who are about to divorce often have as much difficulty telling their parents as they do their children.

8. Children of divorced parents usually do better if only one parent attends school functions.

ANSWERS:

1. FALSE. While the chance of divorce is less when both parents are well-educated, when there's a sharp difference, the better-educated partner is more likely to initiate divorce.

2. FALSE. This is a common misconception. Actually, two thirds of divorce suits are filed by women. Females are much more likely to want to start preparing for divorce than are their male partners.

3. FALSE. Compromise is essential in any partnership, but females are much more adept at it because most have been trained from an early age.

4. TRUE. Parents should always discuss this with children, and most important, reassure 'them that no matter what happens, their own future is secure.

5. FALSE. This is another misconception. Husbands are cited for adultery only slightly more frequently than are wives.

6.. TRUE. Couples should stay together for their children ONLY if they're not going to fight. Constant quarrels are always damaging. In which case divorce is a better option.

7. TRUE. A couple's parents are often very involved in their marriage, and a separation can be traumatic, especially if there are grandchildren. Although couples count on their parents for support, they often feel guilty and experience a lot of conflict when talking with them about an impending divorce.

8. FALSE. Not only should school officials send out notices to both parents, children almost always make healthier adjustments when both parents participate.

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Do Herbs for Menopause Really Ease Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause is part of the natural, life-long process of female growth and development. The word menopause originates from the Greek words meaning "to cease" and "month." In essence, menopause refers to the stopping of menstruation. For most American women, menopause occurs at an average age of 51, but it can begin as early as 40 and end as late as 58.

One thing is for sure and that is every woman's experience of menopause will be different. Approximately 80% of all women will go through the "change of life" - as it is often referred to - with very few symptoms other than their periods coming to an end.

Menopause symptoms occur due to the physical changes a woman experiences as she gets older. In particular, it is due to the reduction in the levels of hormones - namely estrogen and progesterone - in her body. This decrease causes an irregularity in the menstrual cycle and the eventual end of the menstrual cycle all together.

The three clear signs of the onset of menopause are an irregular monthly flow, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. Hot flashes have long been considered the classic symptom of menopause. A woman experiencing a hot flash may feel a sudden wave of warmth in the face, neck, and chest, lasting for several minutes and accompanied by reddening of the skin, like blushing.

Hot flashes can bring on with heavy perspiration over the upper body, dizziness, headaches, and palpitations (rapid heart beats). The easiest way to manage hot flashes is to control body temperature by wearing layered clothing that can be removed, drinking cold liquids, and when possible, taking a swim or a cold shower.

Changes in the vagina and urinary tract are another common menopausal symptom. With less estrogen, both the vagina and urinary tract become thinner and dryer and more prone to injury and infection. If vaginal changes are severe enough, intercourse may become painful.

Of the many natural and herbal remedies for menopause, a simple remedy for vaginal dryness is use of a personal lubricant (K-Y jelly, apricot oil or Vitamin E oil) during intercourse. A physician may also prescribe a vaginal cream containing estrogen.

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How To Eliminate Panic Attack Symptoms From Your Life

You have your hotdogs and buns ready for tonight's barbeque; the checkout line has been long although there is only one customer between you and the cashier when a strange sensation begins to creep over you. Your throat begins to tighten as you take a hard swallow. Then your chest begins to tighten and you feel short of breath. You feel your heart start to race that leaves you feeling as if you want to disappear. Not here, you plead inside, not here.

You glance around to make sure you are safe however, there are several strangers behind you and one other customer in front. You realize you are beginning to have a panic attack while your skin begins to prickle all over as a rush of doom washes over you.
There is no doubt in your mind now that this is going to be a big one. Okay, focus. Remember what you have been taught, it is time to apply the coping techniques. Begin the deep breathing exercise your doctor recommended. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Slowly now, remembering to think relaxing thoughts and again, while inhaling, tell yourself to relax then exhale. However, it seems that you may be feeling very self-conscious of concentrating on breathing and even more stressed than before.

Okay, coping technique 2: Gradual muscle relaxation. Tense both shoulders, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Try it again. No, still no difference. The anxiety is getting worse and the very fact that you are out of coping techniques worsens your panic. If only you were surrounded by your family, or a close friend were beside you so you could feel more confident in dealing with this situation.

Your body stings with the tingling as adrenaline pumps faster in your body, you then feel the terror of losing your complete control right there in the check out line. However, for those around you it is just another day and they have no sense of how you are feeling.

If you feel you are out of options, the next coping procedure is to flee. A confused cashier watches as you lay your shopping behind on her counter, and you make your escape and exit out of the door. Once out of the supermarket you get into your car and begin to ride it out alone. You struggle within as you wonder, could this be the big one. The attack you fear most, one that will push you past your limits both physically and mentally. The panic subsides within ten minutes or so.

To someone who suffers from panic attack the scenario above can seen alarmingly familiar. In fact, it is possible just reading this article that the feelings of panic and anxiety are starting to well up within ou. Everyone is different; therefore, it is normal that their triggers for attacks may differ. A panic attack can occur anywhere at any time.

Hopefully, you can take comfort in knowing that you are not alone, and that everyone experiences that same acute sense of approaching horror when experiencing an anxiety attack. It is a feeling so strong that you may feel as though you are about to perish on the spot or lose your mind altogether.

Did you know that in the United States that the estimate of those stricken by panic attacks is nearly five percent?. For many individuals their episodes are triggered by the expectation of dealing with others while speaking. Then there are those who suffer daily and have become homebound by the frequency of their panic attacks. Often panic attacks that develop frequently are referred to as anxiety or panic disorder by the medical profession.

But all is not lost - with some simple yet effective panic attack techniques, you can start to gain control over your emotions once again.

You see, the trick to handling such attacks is the want of having one - as the wanting actually pushes the attack away. You just need to realize that which you oppose will actually endure. This also applies to the fear you feel. To stop opposing you must move towards it, into the path of the anxiety, and by doing so, it cannot endure.

What this means is if you try daily to have an attack on your own you will not have an attack at all. Try it right now; you can't do it, can you? Whether you realize it or not, you have always chosen to panic. You make the choice when you tell yourself that things are beyond your control.

You should keep in mind that the racing of your heart or the panic you feel will not cause you harm; you are perfectly safe, although you may feel overwhelmed, you are safe from harm. It is in your best interest to choose not to have a panic attack.

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Foods For Menopause Symptoms

Foods to Avoid

In general, the typical Western diet of white flour, and full-fat dairy and meat is not only unhealthy but also contributes to hot flashes.

Avoid chemicals that mimic estrogens (xenoestrogens) found in pesticides or herbicides by eating organic foods.

Intensively reared animals have often been treated with antibiotics and hormones, another reason to eat organic meat and chicken.

Minimize your exposure to foods stored in plastic containers and never heat or microwave food in plastic containers - as they will leach xenoestrogens.

Cut down on all caffeine, fizzy cola-type drinks, sugar, chocolate and too much alcohol, which all act as stimulants and trigger blood sugar problems,

Friendly Foods

Increase your intake of fresh, locally grown and preferably organic fruits and vegetables.

Fermented soya-based foods are truly one of the best foods for managing the symptoms associated with the menopause. Soya contains isoflavones (phyto-estrogens), which have estrogen-like effects on the body and block the harmful effects of estrogens and xenoestrogens. There has been much misinformation written about about soya, but soya foods in their traditional forms of miso, soya sauce and tempeh (a fermented form of soya) are all rich in isoflavones which have been proven to reduce the risk of developing cancers. But they are best eaten cooked.

Eat more organic tofu and use soya, rice or almond milks.

Isoflavones are also found in chickpeas, lentils, alfalfa, fennel, kidney beans, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and linseeds. All seeds and their unrefined oils are rich in essential fatty adds which also help reduce joint pain, risk of heart disease.

Foods from the brassica vegetable family also help protect against estrogen-sensitive cancers, including breast cancer and cervix cancer, and balance hormones. These include cabbage, broccoli, pak choi. Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga and turnips.

Brazil nuts and sesame seeds are a better source of calcium than cows' milk.

Live, low-fat yoghurt increases healthy bacteria in the gut, which aids absorption of nutrients from your diet.

Vitamin B12 has been shown to reduce irritability, bloating and headaches associated with the menopause and is found in oily fish, eggs and meats.

Potassium and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) help support adrenal function. They are found in wholegrains such as brown rice, amaranth, barley, quinoa, salmon, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, avocado, dried apricots, banana, cantaloupe melon, oranges and fish.

Use dried seaweeds such as kombu in your cooking and stir-fries, as seaweed is rich in iodine (which supports the thyroid) and calcium.

Eat organic foods including meat, chicken, vegetables and fruits to avoid ingesting too many toxins from herbicides and pesticides.

Folic acid found in wheatgerm, eggs, leafy greens, calves' and chicken liver, dried yeast and boiled beetroot is very important during the menopause to protect the bones.

Include garlic in your diet, which helps to keep cholesterol levels in check.

Drink more spring water which helps to regulate body temperature.

Avoid very hot drinks and hot spicy foods.

!f you have trouble sleeping, try valerian and passionflower teas.

Wendy recently started experiencing the signs of early menopause and was determined not to give in to her doctors suggestions that she start taking synthetic HRT to deal with the symptoms. Instead she did her own research on what causes of hot flashes and natural remedies for menopause like natural HRT and natural progesterone cream. She's very pleased to report that both these natural options have helped tremendously in relieving her symptoms without having any adverse affect on her health.

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What Is The Cause of Panic Attacks

It goes with out saying that panic attacks are caused by anxiety. The key to controlling your panic attacks is to understand what anxiety is and how it affects you.

There are many myths out there about the way anxiety effects are health. One of those myths is the ever popular "Anxiety can lead to life threatening conditions."

What is Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common emotions that we humans experience, and it is an emotion that everyone at one point or another will experience. Therefore knowing what anxiety is beneficial. Medically defined anxiety is the feeling of apprehension or fear from a real or imagined event, situation or threat.

Unless you suffer from panic attacks then it is unlikely that you will understand the horrific nature of what extreme anxiety can do to you. Imagine feeling completely discombobulated from your surroundings, dizzy, blurred vision, tingling all over your body and feeling breathless and this is only the beginning.

If this happens and you do not realize what it is it is only natural to think that you have come down with an illness or that there is something mentally wrong with you. Losing complete control of your faculties is an impending threat and very terrifying.

The Fight or Flight Response: Is it one of the root causes of panic attacks?

Most everyone has heard of the fight or flight response that we humans have as a reason for panic attacks. The question to ask yourself is do you feel a connection between the unusual feelings you experience during your panic attack?

The first response most of us experience to an imposing threat or danger is anxiety. The reason for it being called anxiety is because its goal is to make us either stand up and fight the danger or run from it. Thereby the sole purpose of anxiety is really to protect us. The irony here is that for those that have panic attacks feel that the anxiety is actually the threat and this is perhaps is the most significant of causes of panic attacks.

Know that the anxiety that we feel during the fight or flight response was a necessity to the survival of our ancient ancestors- so that when they were faced with a danger their automatic response would kick in and force them into action. This is essential even today, and is very useful to us when we are faced with real threats and have a split second to respond.

The brain will send a signal to the nervous system when danger presents itself. The nervous system then gets the body ready to act as well as helps the body to restore to a homeostatic state. In order to make sure that these necessary functions are carried out our autonomic nervous system is made up of two subsections called the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems.

The main duty of the sympathetic system is to release adrenaline, this is the messenger in our body that keeps us going. The parasympathetic system then is called into action after a period of time to restore balance to the body once danger is gone. The parasympathetic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that gets us to calm down and relax.

We can make the parasympathetic nervous system work when we want when we use our coping strategies. The important thing to remember here is that the parasympathetic nervous system will work whether we think about it or not. It is not physically possible for our bodies to function in a spiral of ever increasing anxiety. There is a point when the parasympathetic response has to kick and relax the body. This is our built in "at home" protection.

The next time you experience panic attack symptoms you need to remember that it is not possible physically for the anxiety that you are feeling to cause you any bodily harm. The mind might make the feelings go on longer then what your body wanted them to, but balance will return. The fact of the matter is that our bodies are constantly striving to attain balance or homeostasis.

One amazing feature of the fight or flight response is that it can pull blood from other areas of our body and get it to the areas that urgently need it. The body does this by tightening the blood vessels.

If there is a threat of a physical attack what the body will do is constrict the vessels in the skin, fingers, and toes to decrease blood loss and move the blood to the thighs and biceps, areas that need the blood flow to act.

The moving of the blood from the fingers and toes is one of the reason that many people experience feelings of numbness during a panic attack. This can then be misinterpreted as a serious health problem that could lead to a heart attack. Talking to your doctor if you are concerned about this is the best advice so that they can check you out. This will help give you peace of mind.

Respiratory Effects

Probably one of the most frightening feelings that a person experiences during a panic attack is the fear of smothering or suffocating. Tightness in the chest and throat are very common. While most people can understand the fear of loosing control of the ability to breath, speaking from personal experience the anxiety is fueled because what you are really afraid of is your breathing stopping and that you will not be able to recover. The truth is that a panic attack will not stop our breathing.

During a panic attack the rate at which we take a breath increases and those breaths are not as deep as they usually are. The rapid shallow breathing serves an important function as it gets more oxygen into our tissues so that they are prepared to act. This type of breathing though is often accompanied by feelings of breathlessness, hyperventilation or the feeling of choking and can also lead to chest pain and tightness.

As that I have experience panic attacks first hand, I can tell you that there were times when I wasn't sure that my body would be able to slow my breathing down and I would concentrate on getting my breathing under control. Telling myself to take breath in and let it out. With my mingling in trying to gain control and disregard what my body needed, it sent my body into overdrive and intensify the feelings I was trying to overcome. It was not until I began using the technique that I will describe to you shortly that I was able to let my body do what it was designed to do.

The increased breathing can sometimes lead to other problems due to the lack of oxygen that is going to the head during the fight or flight response. These problems or side effects can include dizziness, blurred vision, hot flashes, confusion and a sense of altered reality.

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Understanding Menopause Symptoms and the Bone Cycle

From the moment bone starts being formed it will also be continually reabsorbed and rebuilt in a turnover process that goes on throughout our lives. This continuous maintenance system has several important implications.

First, bone is the greatest deposit of calcium in our body, and calcium can be taken away from the bones to keep our blood levels constant. Small variations in blood calcium levels may lead to heart and muscular problems, because calcium is a fundamental element in the contracture of muscles.

Second, as bone is constantly subject to traumas and small fractures, this system allows for continuous repair of micro-cracks that may occur under strenuous activity, as well as for the repair of major fractures that result from greater trauma or accidents. In any case, bone is one of the few tissues in the human body that is capable of fully regenerating, rather than forming a scar.

Third, during the growth years, the deposition of calcium is greater than its absorption, with a resulting increase in the strength of the bones.

During adulthood, this process reaches a stable balance, which will tend to be lost as we age, when the resorbtion of bone becomes greater, leading sometimes to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

The Role of Hormones

Several hormones, vitamins and the blood levels of ions such as calcium and phosphate play a role. Sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are thought to be the main hormones responsible for the closure of the growth plates of the long bones, and therefore the regulators of our growth.

Whereas large amounts of growth hormone will stimulate our growth during childhood, the discharge of sex hormones during puberty will bring our growth to a halt. Later on in life, lowering levels of sex hormones will cause our bones to become thinner and weaker, leading to problems experienced particularly by women after menopause, largely due to the sharp fall in the levels of sex hormones. In men, although a similar pattern is observed, there is a much more gradual loss of sex hormones, resulting in a slower pace of loss.

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Bone Health Tips For Menopausal Women

Bone, one of the heaviest organs in the body, is formed essentially in two components: one organic, composed of cells, vessels and nerves, and the other mineralized matrix, composed mainly of a water solution of protein (collagen) that becomes heavily embedded with crystals of calcium, known as hydroxyapatite crystals. The three main types of cells in bone are osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes.

Osteoblasts produce the collagen and generate the matrix, which then is filled with hydroxyapatite - or calcium - crystals. The calcium is deposited in layers called lamellae, and these are crossed by minute canals known as Haversian canals or osteons. It is their densely packed arrangement that gives compact bone its great strength. During our life, our bone is also resorbed, or digested, by the osteoclasts, which break bone down, digesting the matrix.

Special multi-cellular bone units, which act like patrols and travel across the surfaces of our bones with the osteoclasts, digest small amounts of the matrix; these are then replaced by the newly formed bone from the osteoblasts, which in turn become trapped as osteocytes for a number of years. In this way, our complete skeleton is renewed every 7 to 10 years.

These units also repair small cracks and defects that may appear in the bone, and they are responsible for remodeling the bone after a fracture.

Bones And Joints For Life

During our early years, the deposition of bone far exceeds its resorbtion, resulting in growth and in mineralization of the existing bone. During adult-hood, most people will achieve a stable balance, with the net amount of bone remaining constant. As we age, however, the balance shirts towards resorbtion, causing a reduction in the amount of bone and a loss of mineralization of the existing stock. The extremes of this process are called osteoporosis and osteomalacia respectively.

The reason this process is particularly important to women is that with menopause, the abrupt reduction in estrogen levels results in an increased resorption of bone, which quickly outpaces the formation of new bone and can lead to osteoporosis.

An asymptomatic condition, osteoporosis causes no pain or any other known symptom until a fracture ensues. These fractures can cause serious loss of function in the wrist, severe chronic back pain and incapacity or great difficulty in walking and mobility, leading in many cases to death in later life.

In fact, the number of deaths attributed to hip fractures in older people is very similar to that of heart attacks and cancer, with women being affected about 10 times more often than men.

Bone is made of living tissue that renews itself continuously throughout life. But from midlife onwards this process slows and the skeleton loses bone mineral. At early menopause the decrease in estrogen production can have a further marked effect on bone health, often leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis. Here Wendy looks at ways of assessing bone mineral density and ways to offset bone loss, including natural progesterone cream. It also reviews the changes we might experience in our joints and gives positive strategies for overcoming them.

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Are Hot Flashes Causing You Sleeping Problems

As well as being a frustrating symptom of menopause, hot flashes can have some unpleasant side effects of their own - insomnia being one of the more physically debilitating ones. Experiencing a hot flash during the night not only affects how you feel, it interrupts your sleep patterns and has a longer term impact on your health.

My grandma used to say she had "eyes like saucers" when her hot flashes were keeping her awake at night - I think she meant she was suddenly wide awake and unable to get back to sleep - but we certainly got the picture.

A girl friend of mine once suggested to me that the reason women wake during the night is so they can "keep the fire going", referring to a state of affairs during our ancestors time thousands of years ago. Personally I'm not so sure, but even Shakespeare wrote about it in Macbeth where he enlists the services of a physician to treat his wife's insomnia: "Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Race out the written troubles of the brain; And with-some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuft bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart."

How HRT Has Impacted Insomnia

So even though we have suffered from insomnia for hundreds of years, it seems to have been getting worse more recently. The reason behind this could be related to women having stopped using hormone replacement therapy after the tests told us that the risks far outweighed any potential benefits. The sudden withdrawals lead to recurrences of menopause symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats and problems sleeping.

A lot of women are now going through a whole heap of menopause symptoms again, that they had once thought gone for good. But the good news is that there are other solutions to the age old condition, and many of these are now showing to be very effective at not only treating the symptoms, but in protecting our health as well.

Although it's fairly common, particularly for menopausal and post-menopausal women, insomnia and sleeplessness isn't a "one size fits all" problem, but with a few simple approaches, it's fairly straightforward to determine which treatment would be best for you.

The first approach should be to consult with your health care practitioner or doctor and review your medical history. This can help narrow down your options and make your decision easier. For some women, some form of hormone replacement therapy may still be the best short term answer.

How Aging and Insomnia Interact

As we enter our early fifties, we all start to experience disruptions to our normal sleep patterns. Depending on which of the 5stages of sleep is impacted determines how serious it is. The first two stages, transitional sleep and light sleep are known as Non Rapid Eye Movement stages or NREM.

Stages three and four are known as deep or Delta sleep, and these are the most restful - these are the stages we need to get to quickly and remain in longest. Stage five is known as REM or Rapid Eye Movement. This is when we dream and take up about 20 percent of our sleep time.

As we age, particularly as we reach 50, we spend more time in sleep stages one and two, which means we tend to sleep lighter and are more prone to wake up prematurely. This has a knock on effect which makes us get tired earlier at night, and wake earlier in the morning. But we still have many options for improving our sleep.

The first thing you need to do is figure out your sleep pattern and where the problem lies. Some people have difficulty falling asleep, while others will have problems staying asleep. Your problem may be that you're being woken by experiencing a hot flash, or it may be that you wake up, and then have the hot flush. So make some notes for reference.

The Role of Natural Herbal Remedies

While there are some very specific herbs for menopause, not all herbal remedies are everything they claim to be - so tread carefully. Over the counter sleeping medications can help for a while, but these should be viewed as a short term solution to help you start sleeping properly again. Your aim is to create a new sleep pattern (like your original one when you slept right through the night), rather then rely on drugs to make you sleep.

How To Stop Hot Flashes From Disrupting Your Sleep

If your hot flashes are causing your insomnia, you need to find out what is triggering them. For some women it's having a dream in the middle of the night that brings it on, for others it could be something as simple as a "spooky" noise like the heating system switching on. Rather than treating the symptoms with sleeping pills, look for the triggers and manage those.

You have to find out what your body needs and work with it to get back into your normal routine.

In many cases, the solution can be as simple as changing your diet or your routine. Allocating 30 to 60 minutes last thing at night to winding down and relaxing can be time well spent. Relaxing in a darkened room is a great way to unwind and help your body produce its sleep hormones like melatonin. Don't do anything stimulating before bed - like exercise, or hot showers.

Diet is also very important - what we eat has a huge impact on how our body works. Some speciality teas for example can induce hot flashes, so choose carefully and do a bit of research. Believe it or not, carbohydrates also increase your sleep hormones, so if you're on a low carb diet you may want to make a few exceptions in the evening. And warm milk can be a great help to induce sleep, but I'd recommend a non-dairy alternative like soy milk.

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Choosing the Correct Acne Medication

Acne is such a common disease that most dermatologists look at it as a universal condition that affects most people at some point in their lives. Some people have mild cases, others have worse - it's just a matter of degree. Which acne medication you choose will depend on the severity.

Although some people believe stress, food, cosmetics or too little sleep cause acne, acne is actually caused by excessive oil production inside hair follicles. A pimple or blackhead occurs when oil cannot pass through the follicle.

When people reach puberty, hormones cause glands within hair follicles to produce more oil. As a result, acne starts to appear when people reach their teens. People with minor acne cases can likely use over-the-counter medications which contain benzoyl peroxide, a compound which helps kill bacteria on the skin.

Acne medications with benzoyl peroxide come in soaps, creams and gels, so people can choose the correct medication for their skin type. Gels are good for people with oily skin, while creams are better for people whose skin tends to dry out.

Over-the-counter acne remedies work well for many people, but their effects are limited. If a person's acne is not improving with non-prescription treatments, there is a range of prescription antibiotic creams and pills that can normalize oil production inside hair follicles. Some people suffer from severe acne which antibiotics cannot cure. Cystic acne, which affects 350,000 people, is the result of a huge oil build-up inside the hair follicle that breaks the follicle wall and causes a cyst to form under the skin.

Until recently, there was no treatment for cystic acne. Cystic acne can be psychologically devastating. Patients can become depressed because of their acne.

But a new drug which successfully treats cystic acne was introduced recently. The drug, accutane, shrinks oil glands and can clear acne in a lot of cystic acne patients.

Accutane is taken in pill-form for a four-month period. Most patients continue to see improvement from this new form of acne treatment even after they have stopped taking the drug,

Because accutane is so drying, patients may also feel dry lips and mouth.. And, since the drug caused birth defects in laboratory animals, pregnant and nursing women should not take accutane.

Though there may be side effects of this acne medication, doctors and dermatologists feel the benefits outweigh the risks for many cystic acne patients.

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The Benefits of Acne Laser Treatment over Traditional Cures

Acne laser treatment is often recommended for dealing with scarring when other treatments and remedies, especially cortisone injections, have failed to have an effect. Another lesser known treatment for acne scars is cryotherapy, which uses a process to repeatedly freeze the scars to gently reduce and shrink the scar tissue.

Just to be clear, acne laser treatment is a method of treating the scar tissue of an already existing acne condition, and not a treatment to help prevent the cause of acne in the first place. Prevention is always better than cure, but if you are suffering with severe acne, it may be a treatment method you could discuss with your doctor.

A Non Invasive Drug Free Treatment The treatment itself is a much less invasive process than any form of surgery, and when combined with other acne medications, like Isotretinion, it's possible to eliminate the scar tissue and rebuild your complexion and healthy skin tone.

Laser treatments involve short bursts of soft but intense light directed at the affected areas. The aim is to target the skin glands which results in the reduction of oil secretion from the skin and pores.

The technique used in acne laser treatments involves using a laser machine to shine intense light onto the affected area of the skin. This light then actually destroys the bacteria which is the main cause of acne. A side effect is that the light therapy also promotes the production of collagen which helps reduce any scarring.

Some of the major reasons that acne laser treatment is becoming very popular is that there are no known side effects, and the success rate is fairly high. Laser treatment has been in use for several years now, with very good results. After several visits to the dermatologist, you will start to notice a gradual reduction in the lesions and scars, and your skin should start to feel a lot smoother.

The process is also being found to be effective for treating acne vulgaris, which is supported by many clinical trials. Over seventy percent of patients treated this way responded in a favorable manner. The trials also showed that over twenty percent of patients showed a reduction of acne on over 90 percent of their skin area.

The success rate of acne laser treatments is also extremely good, with almost 100% of cases seeing positive results within a 12 week period - which when compared to anywhere between 6 and 8 months for oral treatments makes quite a difference.

Owing to the effectiveness of the procedure, many home use acne laser treatment products are entering the market, but before you go ahead and buy your own, it's well worth checking with your doctor to see if they can help.

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The Link Between Menopause Symptoms and Estrogen

Most women are becoming aware of the condition known as estrogen dominance. This occurs when the amount of estrogen in the body is not balanced by the proper amount of progesterone. This can occur from failed ovulations, or by over-exposure to environmental chemicals found in herbicides, pesticides and plastics, called xenoestrogens, which have an estrogen-like effect on the body. These chemicals accumulate in our fatty tissue and greatly increase the risk of cancers.

When you have too much estrogen activity compared to progesterone, you can suffer symptoms such as water retention, bloating, and menstrual irregularities.

Globally we are living in a dangerous ocean of hormone-disrupting chemicals, which are triggering lowered sperm counts, animals and fish are changing sex, and we too are seeing sexual mutation.

One problem with conventional HRT is that they do not use progesterone but synthetic hormone-like substances called progestins, which are artificial hormones. These have side-effects such as irritability, liver dysfunction, vaginal bleeding, blood clots etc and they reverse the positive effects of estrogens on the heart.

Conventional HRT also uses much higher levels of estrogen than natural HRT. Hence why I prefer to use natural HRT.

If you have had a partial hysterectomy (ovaries remaining) before menopause you will still have hormonal changes similar to the normal menstrual cycle. If you need supplemental hormones and are told that you only need estrogen because you do not have a uterus, you should also take real (natural) progesterone with any estrogen supplementation. If you have had a total hysterectomy and need hormone replacement therapy, use the lowest dose of estrogen possible for you and always use real (natural) progesterone with it.

Some women go through early menopause, which can happen for many reasons, ranging from estrogen-like chemicals in the environment or smoking, drinking heavily, or being severely malnourished. Whatever the cause, it is important to make sure that the bones remain healthy, therefore have a bone scan periodically and a urine - deoxypyrodinoline test to measure bone breakdown. If bone loss is occurring then you need to take the appropriate measures.

Wendy recently started experiencing the signs of early menopause and was determined not to give in to her doctors suggestions that she start taking synthetic HRT to deal with the symptoms. Instead she did her own research on what causes of hot flashes and menopause remedies like natural hormone replacement and natural progesterone cream. She's very pleased to report that both these natural options have helped tremendously in relieving her symptoms without having any adverse affect on her health.

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Are You At Risk For Stroke?

It comes as a surprise to most people that stroke (like a heart attack) is not exclusively a disease of men. In fact, it's the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in American women. More than half of the 700,000 strokes every year in this country occur in women, and more than 100,000 of them die as a result.

Many doctors still don't take cardiovascular disease heart attack and stroke in women very seriously because it is so uncommon during the reproductive years. That's probably due to the plentiful supply of female hormone (estrogen) that the ovaries make before menopause.

What is a Stroke?

Stroke refers to brain damage resulting from the interruption of its blood supply. In 88% of cases, the stroke is when a clot suddenly obstructs an artery in the brain. Clots can form in the arteries when plaques that have built up within them for months or years suddenly rupture. A dot may either originate in a brain artery or travel there from elsewhere in the body, for example, from the carotid arteries in the neck or from the heart during a rhythm disorder called atril fibrillation.

Bleeding within the brain is the second, much less common, form of stroke. A hemorrhage most often results from the rupture of one of the brain's arteries or after an injury to the head. Hemorrhage strokes are more common in women than in men.

Whether due to a clot or bleeding, the symptoms of a stroke are similar in both sexes. When they clear up within 24 hours (usually sooner), we call it a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, rather than a stroke. But don't dismiss a TIA simply because its symptoms are short-lived. It's an emergency a warning that a full-blown stroke may be on the way.

Be aware of these risk factors for stroke.

The risk factors that predispose both sexes to a stroke sow their seeds early in life. To reduce your vulnerability, that's when you should control them. Here are the more important risk factors and how they can be minimized - some are common to both sexes, others are more relevant in women:

Family history - If your parents or siblings suffered a stroke, you are at twice the risk of having one too. There's little you can do about it yourself, but knowing that your genes predispose you should be a motivation to deal with the other stroke risk factors that you can do something about.

High blood pressure - This is the single most important contributor to stroke in both sexes. Other risks that should be monitored include elevated cholesterol, diabetes and overweight, each of which should be treated when abnormal, and the sooner, the better. They all can begin early in life and hasten the formation of arterial blockages in the brain.

Cigarettes - Smoking is a major stroke risk factor for both sexes, but women smokers are much more likely to have a stroke than nonsmokers or male smokers. If your husband smokes too, your risk is several times higher. If you don't smoke but he does, your stroke risk still rises.

Pregnancy - Because the blood clots more easily during those nine months, and blood pressure increases some what pregnancy raises the risk of stroke slightly.

Birth-Control pills - Most increase the bloods tendency to clot, especially in women over 35. The newer, lower-dose contraceptive pills are thought to be safer - but only for those not already at increased risk.

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What Triggers Anxiety Attacks?

Everyone knows what it is like to feel anxious - your heart pounds, you feel flushed and tense. For some, this emotion is triggered by a traumatic event such as a car accident. For others, small things like being late for a meeting trigger this emotion. But at what point does a general anxious emotion become an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders aren't just a case of "nerves". They are illnesses often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of an individual.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features. Generalized anxiety disorder is more than the normal day-to-day anxiety people experience. It is chronic, constant and exaggerated worry and tension over minor things that occur in daily life.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), "having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family or work".

A person with generalized anxiety disorder usually demonstrates symptoms of poor sleeping patterns and the inability to relax.

Panic disorder is another type of anxiety disorder. People with panic disorder have feelings of terror that can occur suddenly. Because these attacks occur without warning, the individual spends time consumed with worry that another attack could happen at any minute.

When a panic attack strikes, a person might feel faint, dizzy, weak or sweaty. During these attacks individuals can experience chest pain or believe they are going to die.

Studies from the NIMH indicate that panic disorder affects between three and six million Americans. Like other anxiety disorders, it is twice as common in women as in men and most often begins in young adulthood. The NIMH also points to studies that show that cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication or a combination of the two can help between 70 to 90 percent of people with panic disorder.

Phobias are also a type of anxiety disorder. While there are several different categories of phobias, each involve an intense irrational fear of some sort. Characteristics might include fear of people, heights or closed-in-places. Again, with the right combination of medication and/or therapy, phobias are treatable.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) also falls under the category of anxiety disorders. This illness involves a pressing need to do everything in a ritualistic manner. People with OCD might be obsessed with germs or dirt and wash their hands a lot.

Many healthy people can identify with having some symptom of OCD, such as checking the stove several times before leaving the house, but the disorder is diagnosed only when such activities consume at least an hour a day, are distracting and interfere with daily life.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event. Often people with PTSD relive a traumatic event over and over causing them to feel emotionally numb. Recollections of the event consume their thoughts and can cause repeated nightmares.

Once believed to effect war veterans exclusively, PTSD (formally referred to as shell shock or battle fatigue) is now the diagnosis for individuals experiencing similar symptoms after a traumatic event, rape, kidnapping or car accident.

The important thing to remember about anxiety disorders, no matter what type, is that they are treatable. How the disorder is treated varies with each individual.

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Osteoporosis During Menopause - How and Why Bones Change

The organization of our skeleton and muscles is a wonder of natural engineering. Few people ever question why our bones are in the core of our limbs, surrounded by soft tissue such as muscles, tendons and skin. But could it be the other way around?

Insects and other invertebrates have shells and hard skins called exoskeletons, but they restrict the size to which these animals can grow. Our system, with the bone inside, obeys certain principles of engineering that humans have learned to use in large structures, such as suspension bridges and sailing boats.

In these structures the compression forces act on a single supporting element that holds the weight through a series of more or less flexible ropes (the steel cables in suspension bridges and ropes in sailing boats), which are under constant tension.

This distribution of tasks - much like the tasks undertaken by our bones and joints - results in great strength and flexibility, and a relatively low overall weight.

Early Days

In the embryo, the first signs of the skeleton appear as cartilage buds around the fourth week of development, already in a position compatible with the limbs they will originate. This cartilage is a semi rigid structure like those we have in our ear lobes and at the tip of our noses. However, by the ninth week, blood vessels from the surrounding tissue penetrate the cartilage and start the process that will convert these buds into real bone.

These blood vessels penetrate the buds through their mid portions, and areas of a special calcified tissue start to appear, replacing the cartilage. Later on, other vessels penetrate the edges of the bones, close to the joints and form other centers of calcification. These centers of calcification grow continually and eventually get very close to each other, leaving only discs of cartilage that will continue to grow and will be responsible for our growth in height until the end of adolescence.

The cartilage in the tips of the bones forms an important cushioning system for our joints, which will allow for lubrication and good movement. Unlike bone, cartilage will never be replaced. Cartilage tissue has a poor capacity to recover from trauma and wear; later in life, as a result of wear and tear, thinning and loss of this cartilage may lead to a condition generally known as osteoarthritis.

Wendy works as a women's health consultant has always been keen on protecting and promoting her health, especially when she started to look for hot flash remedies due to early menopause symptoms. Here she talks about how to protect your bones during menopause with natural herbs for menopause and natural hormone replacement therapy.

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Early Menopause Linked to Smoking

Women who smoke are likely to undergo menopause at a younger age than nonsmokers, according to the findings of two studies involving more than 3,500 middle-aged women in seven countries.

In fact, the studies showed, the more a woman smokes, the earlier her menopause is likely to occur. The average age for menopause in women who have quit smoking was found to fall between that of light smokers (half a pack a day) and that of women who never smoked.

Most women in developed countries stop menstruating between the ages of 44 and 54, with the average age around 50. In one of the studies, the researchers found that at ages 48 to 49, a woman who smokes a pack or more a day is nearly twice as likely to be past menopause as a woman who never smoked. At ages 50 to 51, 79 per cent of the women who smoked a pack or more a day were past menopause, as against 56 per cent of those who never smoked.

This "striking association" between smoking and the onset of menopause was accidentally discovered as part of a continuing international research project, the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. The researchers, Dr. Hershel Jick and Jane Porter of Boston University School of Medicine and Dr. Alan S. Morrison of the Harvard School of Public Health, said they noticed the relationship while exploring the link between smoking and heart disease.

A closer look at the data suggested to the researchers that smoking might actually precipitate earlier menopause. At each age, the women in the studies who were smokers were more likely to be past menopause than those who had never smoked and the heavy smokers were more likely to be past menopause than the light smokers. The association between smoking and earlier menopause was similar in all the countries involved. The researchers said they could discern no other factors to account for the finding.

Writing in the British medical journal The Lancet, the researchers suggested two possible mechanisms for the link between smoking and menopause. One is the effect of nicotine on the central nervous system, possibly resulting in changes in the secretion of hormones involved in the menopause. The second is the effect of cigarette smoke on certain enzymes that may in turn influence the way the body handles the sex hormones.

The researchers said the effect of smoking on the onset of menopause might account for the association previously found between menopause and heart disease. Women post menopause have been shown to have a higher rate of coronary heart disease than premenopausal women of the same age. But since smoking is known to increase a person's chance of developing heart disease and has now been shown to accelerate the onset of menopause, smoking rather than menopause itself may be the real explanation for the heart disease statistics, the Boston researchers suggested.

Each of the 3,534 women who participated in the two studies was interviewed by a specially trained nurse, as to her personal habits, menopausal status and past medical and medication history, as well as such demographic characteristics as age, marital status and number of children.

The women were part of two much larger studies involving a total of 57,000 patients treated at 24 hospitals in Boston and at hospitals elsewhere in the US and six other countries. The smoking-menopause analysis excluded all women who had had their ovaries removed surgically and whose menopausal status or smoking status was uncertain at the time of the interview.

Wendy is a menopause support consultant whose practice is designed to educate and empower people to make a positive impact in their long-term health and wellness. Ultimately, her education, coupled with her expertise in health, has inspired her to coach individuals in wellness education programs.

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Advice for friends with benefits

Friends with benefits-I think this is something that many women struggle with around the nation. We have that kind of, "I'm female; hear me ROAR, "the sexual revolution, we are on the same page as men, so I think there's kind of joy in these sexual freedom, but at the end of the day I don't know that it really works for the ladies.

I have a friend, we just call her, that in a friends with benefit relationship, and what is friends with benefits?It is generally a friendship where you sleep together on occasion, or maybe you have a drunken night, but there is no relationship.You can still do whatever you want, date you want, with whom you want to, sleeping with whom you want to, and I have a friend whose grappling with this now, which always gets a bit broken heart and she calls it, it is a disease and they can't seem to stop itself.

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But at the same time she says every time she does it she feels cheap and cheated on and at the end of the day that I think that if he wanted to be with you he would be with you. If he has a relationship with you would he wanted in a relationship with you. Friends with benefits species is so that people have that lack of engagement.

If you as a woman really feel that you can take and removing the emotion out of it, that's one thing, but it was not my experience with ladies because in General at one point or another, someone a relationship would someone wants more, and someone with their heart broken ends.

If you are in a relationship as well as friends with benefit is the thing that you don't want to have happen where the drag on for years because you kind of complacent. are you between person before you the people you really want to be found, so you kind of delaying your ability to find your ultimate happiness.

So I don't think a friends with benefits thing would be a long term thing that if you begin to feel connected you should back out of it and I think you should probably cut off within the first few months just because you're going to prevent yourself from finding your true passion, your true love, and things of that nature.

How to find women love?

When you're looking for the love of your life, no matter your age, the biggest thing that I would say is almost treat it as a job I think a lot of times, especially with movies and media, we have this hopeless romantic that we are going to just happen to someone, and someone is going to wipe us from our feet, but if you're looking for you need to go out there and actually looking to find love, love and love to go out and do things … one of the best places I think where you can meet people of the opposite sex is weddings are a great place, because you have friends out there that kind of you the low down on the person can tell. It is natural; It is comfortable.

I am not against bars. I think that bars are actually a good place, but I think the big thing that happens or rather that I know that the thing that happens is there is a lot of times there's a lot of alcohol involved and then you end up sort of making a fool of yourself. so if you can refrain from about-indulging and maintain your composure than it is, of course, a great place where you can meet people, but the biggest thing is to get out there and not just sitting at home waiting for that man to simply sweep you off your feet out of nowhere. you have to actually go there. Locate your local pub, do it and put yourself out there.

Thigh FAT may Outweigh Belly Fat in terms of Good Fat

Ice cream, candy bars and energy drinks are usually not the staples for a diet. These items were top of the menu however, for a new Mayo Clinic study to help participants intentionally gain weight. The study was conducted so Mayo Clinic researchers could better understand the mechanisms of how body fat grows.
Their research concluded that an increase in abdominal fat may put one at risk for metabolic disease. Ironically, their findings also discovered that fat expansion in the lower body, such as the thighs, may lower one’s risk.
The study which appeared in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also indicates that metabolic disease caused by this accumulation of fat in the upper body can lead to other health issues. Its Journal states, “The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of risk factors of metabolic origin that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.”
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According to Michael Jensen, MD Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and lead author of the study, “The cellular mechanisms are different.” “The accumulation of abdominal fat happens largely by individual cells expanding in size, while with fat gain in the femoral or lower body, it’s the number of fat cells that increases. So, different mechanism, different impact.”
The study followed nearly 30 participants for eight weeks. Fifteen of the recruited were men, while 13 were women. They dined on giant candy bars, shakes made with ice cream and high caloric drinks. They were allowed to eat almost anything. Each participant gained nearly ten pounds, with most of the weight gain in the upper body. The interesting finding is that the fat cells in the upper body seemed already pre-groomed with specific proteins called preadipocytes to remain fat cells. Remember, the upper body fat cells got larger, while the number of fat cells in the lower body merely increased.
The participants’ body fat was measured at the end of their gluttonous eight weeks, specifically looking at how it was distributed in both the upper and lower body. These findings are unique in that prior research indicates that the number of fat cells in adults could remain unchanged.

Three tips after a break-up

A lot of times ladies will come to me and ask me about what they need to do to sort on a break-up, restore, feel better, and sort by, so there's a lot of suggestions that I only have my top three things would probably not number one, combining alcohol with electronic devices. Puts everything locked go out with your ladies have a cocktail, but whatever you do, make your cell phone with you.

When you go home at night have locked down your computer.Not go home and send 50 emails, as I mentioned in my book, don't be that girl who leaves 27 messages and then calls leaving multiple messages apologizing for the 27 posts because you're just going to pretty much regret it in the morning. So I think that's probably my biggest thing.

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And number two – have a sponsor. a lot of times that it's really great that if you can, I mean it doesn't happen often, but if you are someone who by it at the same time with you, so I call that a sponsor. so it is nice to have someone out there that you can call when you feel down or if you feel that you send that text message, e-mail or want to do something of that nature you can call them and they kind of talk you out of the can.

The other thing that I would suggest is magazine.A lot of times like journal everything I go through, and then click that way I can kind of go back and reflect and it kind of reminds me of the madness of the time so I can look at my own behaviour and try not to repeat the pattern or later as well, to remind myself why I this is out of the relationship, stepped because I think a lot of time later on you ask, "did I make a mistake? I make the right choice?"And that kind of help you remember why you the choices you've made.

 

Tips for finding a Nice Guy

So let me give you some tips for spotting of good guys versus bad guys. number one, I must say that it is okay to be a nice guy.I think that many women are always looking for that bad boy and it is good to a like the bad guy, but I think it is important to know who is a good guy is relative or a bad guy, and I think the biggest thing is a bad boy is kind of a person who challenges you, don't let walk all over them, but at the same time respects you and gives you your freedom to change the sort of pursuing your passions and your dreams. a bad guy is someone who is very controlling and not all kind of gives you your freedom.

I think a lot of times you see women who sacrifices for the man they love and then it doesn't bring out to work for them. I have seen countless cases of girls who have given their career or moved across country or things of this nature for a man because they are "in love" and then once they are there they broke, and when she wished that they had not abandoned the work that they or their family or whatever it is.

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So I think a good guy is someone who really respects you, gives you your freedom, supports you in your passions and your dreams and is a kind of is there to a teammate with you, unlike control of you and everything all about them.

I think it is no different than men desire of women with a border.We want a challenge. we want someone who challenges us and calls us out of our stuff and we do not tolerate.

I had an instance where I don't realize …I basically had been stalking, we call it, a gentleman. called him several times he called me back and I was in the middle of a meeting and said: "you know, I can't talk now. I'm in the middle of something.What do you need? "Kind of Curt, and I received this text of him who said, "Let me get this right, you can call me all you want and I have to be nice, but then when I call you, you act like you are disturbed and things of that nature.

So I kind of respected because he me out on my stuff called. I realized, "OK, he's right. I behave wrongly", and he kind of helped me. I really appreciate that because I think a lot of times that you do not take a look at yourself and realize what your own actions and which may affect the relationships as well.

What are the four phases of the break-up?

When women go through a break there are different phases that I feel that we go through that I want to share with you. So the first phase is generally what I call total meltdown and complete loss of insanity, and there is two different things women can do when they go through these stages.The first thing is, to me, for example, I discovered that one, I wasn't aware that I am crybaby, that I am a huge crybaby and found that I was in fits of tears for no apparent reason would break anywhere and everywhere.

The second thing was that I was a total binge eater. So if many chocolate cake as I do with ice cream, caramel, everything could. or you could be if one of my girlfriends that exactly the opposite.

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She is a complete recipient and went on to what they like to call a Triscuit, champagne and cigarette diet and lost tons and tons of weight and locked herself in her apartment and just wrote country song after song of the country that's kind of the first phase that you are going through, the total insanity, madness, madness, as I call it.

Phase two is kind of when you put yourself out of that coma.Some days are good days, some days are bad days.You could have a meltdown one day; you'd be a bit stalkerish, trying to track him down, to see where he has, do a little driving by, you know, I've done numerous late night drive by even at my age with my girlfriends everywhere from the age of 20 up to and including the age of 50.So I've learned that no age we are more mature, as well as, you know, other days are you like, "I am better than him so who needs it anyway."

Phase three is kind of when you come to the stage of you realize "I am better than that. who has him anyway," and you sort by that, "I'm going to work out.I'm going to look great.I go myself come together.I'm going to concentrate on my career and I will make all these great, wonderful things. "

And the final stage is kind of Phoenix Rising where you ready to get back out there, go out and take over the city. the world is your oyster and go hitting the dance floors with all confidence in the world so that's what I kind of thought are the four phases of the break-up.

Menopause Symptoms - Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most frequently reported menopause symptoms, and perhaps unsurprisingly, its most common cause is sleep deprivation, which is largely due to fluctuating hormone levels. Around this time, androgen, the 'male' hormone we produce associated with energy levels and a sense of well being - begins to decrease. A drop in estrogen levels can also produce sleeping problems.

Another common culprit is diet. A high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet can play havoc with your metabolism. It encourages high levels of insulin, which lead to low blood sugar levels. If you drink fizzy drinks, tea or coffee, the caffeine content leads to a release of adrenaline, which further upsets the insulin- sugar balance.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to bring your energy levels up.

Diet

To raise blood glucose levels it is important to eat carbohydrates with a low or medium glycemic index. These provide a gradual and sustained release of energy. Be sure, too, to include plenty of foods containing B vitamins, particularly if you eat a high carbohydrate diet. Sufficient fat and protein are also needed to maintain healthy cellular function; choose healthful fats like linseed, avocado or olive oil, and protein in the form of lean meats, poultry or soya products.

Seaweeds of all kinds can nourish your nervous, immune and hormonal systems. Try eating a portion as a vegetable at least once a week and get into the habit of adding some to soups and salads.

Eating several small meals or snacking throughout the day can reduce the energy-sapping drops in blood glucose levels that occur between meals - as can cutting down on caffeine drinks and alcohol.

Herbal Remedies

Siberian ginseng is commonly taken to increase stamina and boost the immune system. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats exhaustion with energy tonics that contain ginseng.

Exercise

Lack of exercise leads to inactivity, while keeping active and fit gives you more energy and stamina. Even a brisk 10-minute walk will shift your mood and raise your energy levels.

Many eastern-based practices, such as meditation, yoga, t'ai chi, qi gong and shiatsu, are based on moving energy around your body to revitalize you.

Another effective practice is skin brushing. Several minutes of scrubbing in the morning will boost your circulation and raise your energy levels. If you have an existing skin problem you can still scrub, just avoid the affected area. Adding the juice of a tablespoon of grated ginger will boost the beneficial effects.

Stress Reduction

Overdoing anything, even something as good as exercise, can also lead to fatigue, so make sure you pace yourself. Take more breaks and, if necessary, cut back on some of your activities. Include plenty of enjoyable activities, even socializing, which can relieve the stress of a hectic schedule.

Many therapists suggest that clearing your life of clutter - whether it's clearing up your desk or learning to let go of situations beyond your control - will stop your energy from being sapped. Nicotine is also an energy sapper, so if you smoke you should stop.

Chemical Treatments

Testosterone supplements in patch or cream form have been tried, but this use of the drug is not licensed in some countries, nor have studies shown it to be effective.

Empower yourself with the knowledge to make informed decision about dealing with your menopause symptoms, from finding natural remedies for menopause relief and night sweats to understanding the causes of hot flashes and whether or not to use prescription or natural hormone therapy treatments.

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