Archive for November, 2009

Stress is part of everybody’s life. In that case everybody is prone to possible high blood pressure and other excessive stress related conditions. We must then learn some methods by which stress can be reduced. Emotional stress and tension could be eased via relaxation. You may need a combination of stress reduction method to reduce stress in you life. Stress reduction method is unique to individuals.

There are various methods of reducing stress. You may need to combine massages, yoga and progressive muscle relaxation. This does not imply complete wipe out of stress in your life, but a combination of these can reduce stress to a harmless level.

Taking a deep breath.

Simply taking a deep breath is also a working stress reduction technique. You can be stress free for the whole day if you practice deep breathing. Just take a deep breath after every mind bugging event or activity and you will feel relief of tension and your body will relax. This could keep you stress free and calm through out the day. You may even begin to find the deep breath technique useful even when you are not actually stressed. You can take a deep breath slowly, inhaling. Make sure you inhale deeply, then hold your breath; then exhale slowly with your month tightly shut. Do this up to ten times and make it habitual on a daily basis.

Muscle relaxation.

You can also reduce stress through muscle relaxation method. It is not a hard task. All you need do is to keep practicing and it will become part of you. First, you lie down comfortably without having to cross your legs nor you arms. Try focusing your thought on all the parts of your body, and while breathing slowly and deeply, intensify each of your body muscles tightly. Starting from the top of your head and through to other parts of the body. While tensing your muscles, count up to ten before letting go and feel the muscle relax. Do these exercises as often as possible and you will sure feel quite relaxed and your sleep and life-style will be better off.

Salihu Ibrahim
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-reduce-stress-through-relaxation-87249.html

Statistics show that the only 10 percent of people who successfully lose weight go on to successfully keep that weight off for a year or more. That means 90 percent are unable to keep the weight off, often gaining back everything they lost plus few extra pounds. Have can you be on the 10 percent who keeps the weight off and not one of the 90 percent who gains it back?

Here are tips and strategies from people who have successfully kept weight off for more than a year.

Eating Healthy Is A Lifelong Commitment
Many people who lose weight make the mistake of going back to their old eating habits after they lose weight. In order to keep the weight off, a person needs to remain vigilant about good nutrition and healthy eating (something everyone should be doing).

Eat a variety of healthy foods; don’t forbid treats but eat them in moderation; don’t overeat and stuff yourself because even too much of a good thing can pile the pounds back on; eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean dairy, and lean protein; and use low fat or not fat cooking methods like broiling and use good fats like olive oil.

They Don’t Try To Be An Island
People who have lost weight and kept it off have a good support system in place that includes family, friends, co-workers, other successful weight losers, etc. It’s a network of people to help them and sustain them, not only in maintaining their weight but in dealing with the day to day pressures of life.

Having other people to talk to and spend time with is a great outlet and is great for a person’s well being. Having someone to go for a walk with, go to a movie, or just gossip on the phone. Those are all great, “non stuffing your face in front of the television” ways to enjoy yourself and blow off some steam if it’s been a bad day.

They Know Emotions Play A Role In Eating
If we all only ate when we were hungry, there would be far fewer overweight people. How many of us have reached for a “comforting” pint of ice cream, bag of chips, package of cookies, cake, pie, or candy bars when we were upset about something?

People who have lost weight and have successfully kept it off have gotten in tune with bodies and know when they want to eat because of an emotional issue such as loneliness, sadness, anger, or even fatigue, rather than because of true hunger.

They combat the urge to eat over emotionally issues by calling a friend, working on a favorite hobby or project, going for a walk, taking a bubble bath, reading a book, doing something other than eating to deal with the emotional issue.

They Have Little Tricks and Strategies
Put their fork down between every bite of food to help them not overeat; stop
Make a grocery list for the store and follow that list
Shop when full, not when hungry
Purchase single serving containers of their favorite snacks so when they do indulge in a bag of Cheetos they keep the damage control to a minimum
Try to be as active as possible, working it into their everyday lives by doing things like parking in the most outlying spot in the parking lot and taking the steps instead of the elevator.

Weight management lasts a lifetime, not just for people who has successfully lost weight, but for everyone. People who have never had a problem with their weight may tell you they don’t have to practice weight management techniques, but if you followed them around for one day you would see that they do follow weight management techniques without even realizing they do. It’s because they are good habits they developed, probably when they were young.

You can lose weight and keep it off. Be vigilant, and be positive. You can do it!

Dorrie Ruplinger
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/once-you-lose-the-weight-how-do-you-keep-it-off-72872.html

According to the medical surveys, almost 11 million Americans alive today have faced a diagnosis of cancer. Some of them have just been diagnosed or are going through treatment, while others no longer have active symptoms of cancer or are thought to be cured.
According to the doctors and experts, Cancer can have a huge impact on your life, both practically and emotionally. It’s important to remember that there isn’t a right or wrong way to cope with the emotions a diagnosis can cause.
Most people feel overwhelmed when they are told that they have cancer. <a diagnosis of cancer often provokes intense feelings, including loss of control, fear, anger, guilt, depression, anxiety and loneliness. These emotions are part of the process that many people go through in dealing with their illness.
After being diagnosed with cancer , you might be very keen to find out as much as possible about your illness and the urge to get the information quickly can be overwhelming.
As you start to live with cancer it helps to try to take ‘one step at a time’, and to set small achievable goals. This can encourage you to feel that there are still some things that remain within your control.
Talking about cancer can be the first step towards dealing with it and can help to relieve some of the anxiety. For some people, discussing their worries and fears with the people closest to them can be difficult, as they worry that they may become a burden. Others may be concerned about the impact a diagnosis of cancer may have on their relationships.
However, if you don’t feel ready to discuss your illness with a friend or relative there are many other ways to talk. It might be a good time to telephone a support and information helpline or visit your local information and support service. Contacting a cancer self help and support group, and talking to someone who has been through the same experience can also be supportive.
Adjusting to living with your diagnosis, and facing some of the emotions that you have, will help you through this difficult time. There are often many changes to be made and you may feel grief as a result of these changes, but coping with this deadly disease in the long run makes you emerge as a winner of life.

Neelam
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/coping-with-cancer-747192.html

The imagination is a very powerful thing, able to stir up all sorts of fears and worries. Most grownups aren’t afraid of the dark. As adults, we can tell ourselves that we’re being silly, reassuring ourselves to the point that we can get back to sleep at night. To a child who decides that the looming shadow in a corner is a horrific monster about to pounce, convincing himself or herself that there’s really nothing there isn’t so easy. Plenty of children have difficulties getting to bed because they’re afraid of the dark. Here are some ways to help:

Have a small nightlight on or turn on a lamp. By reducing the shadows in a room, parents can reduce fears. If the child wakes up, he or she can see what’s in the room; nothing is hidden. Try not to have lighting that is too bright, as that will disrupt sleep. If you must, install two or three small nightlights around the room.

Use white noise to help children sleep. Studies show that white noise, continual sound in the background, can help people sleep better. A CD of a burbling creek or surf on the beach can help soothe the sense. A fan, pointed away from the child’s body, also provides good white noise.

Make the child’s room a comfortable one that he or she loves to be in. Paint walls a bright, cheery color. Put up wall stickers of favorite cartoon characters. Have furniture the child likes. The room should be one where the child feels secure and safe. Sometimes a theme can help, like a princess or superhero style.

Whip up some monster-fighting spray. Provide kids a tool to help them feel more confident and less helpless in the nighttime hours. Fill a spray bottle with water, add a drop or two of food coloring (no more than that!) and a few drops of perfume, and hand your child the magical spray. They can douse the shadows, spray under the bed and in closets before going to sleep.

Don’t be too far away. While our Western world loves to encourage independence, children aren’t always developmentally ready to face the world alone. Make sure the child’s room isn’t one far down the hall or in the basement. Change rooms if you have to.

Let your child know that he or she can come to you during the night if reassurance and comfort is needed. You may have a few disturbed nights of sleep, but it’s important for kids to know that they have someone they can depend on for help.

You can let your child crawl into bed with you or join your child in his or her bed, but don’t make a habit of it. A better idea is to set up a chair next to the child’s bed where you can sit while the child relaxes back into sleep. Weaning kids off nighttime company is easier with a chair that can be moved away a few inches at a time until the parent is out of the room.

Be patient – nighttime fears won’t last forever. Children grow, and they do ease their way out of bad habits. It just takes some time, some love and some understanding.

Lily Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/chasing-away-sleep-worries-227404.html

Some people say that reading a book makes them drowsy, thus leading to Better Sleep. Others say that the brain is very much active when a person is reading, therefore it isn’t the best thing to do before sleep, because it makes your mind alert. Which one is it? Also, what things could be done before bedtime to improve sleep, be able to fall asleep faster and have a deeper, restorative sleep?

Reading a book is OK, but it all depends on the story. Horror, war, Violence etc might cause a restless sleep.

In order to fall into a restful sleep, you have to eat earlier, a meal which does not take long to digest.

Make sure that your body is relaxed, a nice warm bath, talk with a friend on the phone, watch something pleasant on TV. Say your prayers and turn off the lights.