Burn The Fat, Feed The  Muscle is a best seller with significant proof that it works. It will probably appeal the most to the kind of women whose goal is to lose weight build lean muscle.

Time

It takes effort and a significant time investment.  It trades focus, dedication and hard work to get significant, permanent and natural fat loss (as opposed to some rapid fat loss programs where youre required to take drugs or supplements and where the weight is a lot more likely to come back). Read the rest of this entry »

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It is inevitable that you will gain weight during your pregnancy because you are eating for you and your baby. Not to mention you will gain as your baby develops and grows. The normal weight gain for pregnant women is 25 to 35 pounds. This is just an average range so don’t be afraid if you gain more or less than that.

The importance is to stay fit and healthy during the nine months you are carrying your baby or babies. You don’t want to do anything too strenuous or start a diet or follow a fad diet to keep weight gain down. Here are some ways to stay fit and healthy during your pregnancy.

Eating healthy meals is important because you are providing nourishment for your baby. Don’t cut back on calories because you are afraid of weight gain. Pregnant women should add 200 to 300 calories to their daily intake.

The quality of the foods you eat is just as important as the quantity. Eat organic foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals which will give you energy and nourishment. It is acceptable to give into cravings, but eat sweet treats or generally unhealthy foods in moderation.

To stay in shape and minimize too much weight gain you should exercise regularly. Find an exercise routine that you are comfortable with and one where you won’t overexert yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently the news has been overloaded with information and opinions over women’s health and mortality as it relates to the use of mammography and self breast exams. With all of this information it is hard to find out what women should do to care for their body.

What are the guidelines to follow? Recent studies have documented that there is little to no link between self breast exams, mammograms and the actual mortality rate of women with breast cancer. In this article we will focus not on the answer to that enormous question, but on the ambiguity behind that statement.

It has been the standard provided by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that women 40 or older have a mammogram with or without a clinical breast exam every 1-2 years to maintain proper breast health. This recommendation was based on two factors. (1) Clinical studies in women 50-69 demonstrated a 30% reduction in the breast cancer mortality rate when screened annually or biannually (http://www.acpm.org/breast.htm) and (2) the assumption that a women’s breast tissue at the age of 40 would yield similar results.

Unfortunately a similar correlation has yet to be found, prompting the new assertion that a women should wait until 50 to have her first mammogram. But is this right? Can one assume tissue changes occur in every woman at a specific age? And why is it important to this debate? Read the rest of this entry »

Though long espoused as crucial for the development of young men, involvement in sports is highly beneficial for girls as well. Young women involved in sports are more likely to achieve academically, have increased self-esteem, experience a higher level of health and wellness, learn crucial skills for entering a competitive workforce, and enjoy the social rewards that accompany working as a team and having fun with others.

With the availability of girls’ sports increasing, it is important that young women be encouraged to participate and enjoy the higher quality of life that sports help them achieve.

The most obvious benefit of involvement in sports is a healthier body. All children involved in athletics experience a decrease in the likelihood of developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and several other complications linked to a sedentary lifestyle.

For young women, in particular, there is a strong correlation between adequate exercise and a decreased risk for breast cancer and osteoporosis, both diseases that typically affect women. Studies also reveal that girls involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to experience an unwanted pregnancy. Being physically active when young increases the likelihood that a person will live an active lifestyle as an adult. Read the rest of this entry »

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Holiday stress relief could come from banishing holidays, but there has got to be at least one holiday, maybe Groundhog day, that you like.

So maybe it is not the holiday that brings stress, but the thoughts about the holidays, and if I change the thoughts, then I change the physiology in my body, which is what stress is, right, an uncomfortable physiology in my body?

(Stress physiology happens fast, perhaps four times as fast as I can blink my eyes, and has a purpose, and it is not designed to be a habit). Read the rest of this entry »

In America, around ten million people suffer from fibromyalgia. Researchers and doctors have not been able to give information on the causes of Fibromyalgia. There are certain risk factors that can make a person more vulnerable to fibromyalgia.

The risk factors related to Fibromyalgia are as follows:

Age: Generally, people between the ages of 20 to 60 are more likely to get affected by fibromyalgia. Going by the statistics, people around thirty five years of age are mostly affected by this disease.

Gender: Women are more affected by this disease as compared to men. They generally tend to develop this disease during menopause. Some studies show that nine out of ten fibromyalgia patients are women.

Genetic factors: Studies have shown that genetic factor is involved in the development of this disease. People with family members suffering from fibromyalgia are more likely to get affected by this disease. According to reports, 28 per cent of children of mothers suffering from fibromyalgia developed this disease. Read the rest of this entry »

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What are parabens? Why should we avoid products containing them?

Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in a wide range of cosmetics. They are commonly found in many personal care products, such as lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving gel, lubricants, deodorant, skin tanning solution, and topical medication. Parabens are also used as food additives.

This inexpensive preservative effectively prevents bacteria and fungi from growing in products. For many years parabens were considered safe, but today many experts recommend avoiding products that contain this synthetic preservative.

Parabens have been widely used as an effective preservative in cosmetic products for many years. They were considered to have low toxicity, and caused only the occasional allergic reaction. In recent years, experts have discovered that parabens mimic the female hormone estrogen. When estrogen-like substances are absorbed by the body, they can disrupt the body’s normal hormone production. This can contribute to cancer and other health issues.

A study conducted in 2004 at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom found a substantial amount of paraben compounds in breast cancer tumors. It is believed that parabens absorbed through the skin migrated to the breast cells and eventually caused the growth of tumors. Parabens have also been linked to male reproductive abnormalities, such as testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders. Read the rest of this entry »