'Discover the Best You' With These Simple Lifestyle Changes

It would be great if we can just hold on to a magical diet plan and then in two weeks' time, achieve a slim figure like that of Cinderella. But reality proves otherwise.

No matter what diet plan you decide to go by, none of those plans have the power to transform you unless you stick on to it. The problem is not with the diet, but with your commitment. Now hitting hard on with that sensitive remark might be tough, but if you examine, you'll find what went wrong in your previous attempts.

The secret is rather simple. No matter how drool-worthy a meal looks, don't pay heed to its urgings, or else you'll end up feeling guilty for giving in to the temptations and would have lost another attempt with another worthy diet plan.

Being able to do this abruptly, especially when your hunger is at its peak, could be overwhelming and it's not going to happen overnight. Start with your little baby steps as you progress to a point where you can make a healthy choice between a plate of colorful salad and a deluxe steak burger.

If you are all set to take your baby steps, check out these simple yet very effective lifestyle changes that can even get you ramp ready in no time.

1. Quit being fitness focused, be wellness focused

Fitness is nothing without wellness and health. Hoping to get in shape in the quickest way possible, if you forget about staying healthy, you'll probably end up in the ER. It is possible that sometimes, focusing too much on getting those fancy abs, we go overboard and compromise our health. Your fitness regimen will work for your good only if your diet is equally healthy and adequate. So start prioritizing your requirements.

2. Quit jumping mountains, take one step at a time

Trying to take an instant transformation from being a junk food junkie to a complete nutritarian will only bring you back to where you started. Try taking one step at a time. Sketch out a feasible plan that imparts both exercising and healthy eating. Start working out for just ten minutes and try abandoning pizzas for a bowl of fresh, crunchy collard greens salad for lunch. Remember, "Salad is your main dish" by all means. Skip your regular diet cokes and indulge in a tall glass of Agua Fresca whenever hunger calls.

3. Quit watching and waiting, broaden your perspective

The key to enjoying proud results is not in counting your days and bearing the brunt of not being able to enjoy the meals that you once did. Fix your focus on the end result that you'll be able to achieve. All the hardships you face today are nothing when compared to the much healthier and enviable version of you, tomorrow.

By combining these aspects of fresh thinking, smart eating, and mindful living, you'll be able to reach where you need to be. As you move through this journey, your peers can't help noticing the changes and it wouldn't be surprising even if your fitness saga goes viral.


 By Rita Langley


Article Source: 'Discover the Best You' With These Simple Lifestyle Changes

Free Yourself of Envy and Malice, It Could Kill You

Our physical well-being goes way beyond just working out and eating right. Temperament is another major factor that has a great impact on a person's physical health.

Garnering negative emotions like envy and malice, make you a subject of a bad behavioral phenomenon. This not only isolates you from the social circle but it takes a huge toll on your physical health as well.

When your heart is filled with peace, it enriches your body. But contradictory to this, envy is so poisonous that it could even rot your bones.

How is this possible?

Though the fact that envy can be so lethal sounds puzzling, it is true. When you give room for negative thoughts like envy, the first target is your body language that is affected. Now speaking of body language, you feel tensed physically and emotionally, which in turn is reflected through the way you present yourself. As goes the saying that your face is the index of your mind, your body reacts each time you feel loaded with envy and bad thoughts of that sorts. This eventually causes pain, muscle spasms, and early wear and tear of the joints.

All of this starts when you compare yourself to others and judge yourself in various categories that are important according to you. If you win, you feel superior or else you feel dejected and inferior to others. This makes you insecure, stressed out and anxious, which in turn affects your posture.

In a study, computer-generated mannequin figures were used to assess the potency of body posture. This was to discern the real attention people place on posture when they experience negative emotions. The neutral posture was created by placing the arms straight down to the sides with an upright stance. The happy posture depicted the mannequin as having the arms stretched up toward the sky, the torso arched backward, and the knees bent. The angry posture was depicted as having taken one stride forward, the chin jutted forward and the arms thrust backward as if charging. The portrayed emotions by the posture that they settled on were rated by participants at over 90% accuracy. In other words, most people agreed that the models accurately depicted the emotions they were meant to.

If humorous emoticons are capable of speaking for your feelings, imagine the way your body language can change instantly when you feel high or low.

In addition to affecting your posture, negative thoughts like envy and malice cause chemical stress in your body by increasing the levels of stress hormones namely adrenaline and cortisol. This drastically affects your nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems, which could drastically reduce your normal life expectancy if left untreated.

The remedy

The best way to overcome envy and malice is to get down to the root cause of these traits. The causes could be anything like discontent, comparison to others, pride, low self-esteem, or a desire for worldly gain.

If any of these conditions persist in your mind, then they are more likely to be manifested through the way you treat yourself and others. It could be expressions like being highly self-critical and judgmental of others, competition in relationships, idolizing others, and lack of contentment.

Action plan

1. Accept

The first step is, to be honest, and admit that you indeed experience envy and malice.

2. Develop

Develop an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for all the good things that you are blessed with.

3. Focus

Focus only on those things that reflect the beauty of your life. Limit your focus on anything that speaks of mere material gain.

4. Admire

When you find yourself envying another person's positive qualities, try to cultivate such qualities in you instead of feeling jealous. If not admire those qualities.

5. Grow

Make a plan to develop your talents and positive qualities.




 By Rita Langley


Article Source: Free Yourself of Envy and Malice, It Could Kill You

Should You Get Braces or Invisalign?

Whether through self-examination or from your dentist, you're getting the idea that you need braces. The thought of the bulkiness and unsightly appearance of braces terrifies you. They are also a long-term investment and you must go in regularly for adjustments.

Your dentist also mentions additional options: clear ceramic braces and Invisalign.

Invisalign sounds good. The teeth can get straightened without anyone ever really noticing.

Both braces and Invisalign have pros and cons. And the decision is not as cut and dry as you may think. The main factors that will influence your decision include how much you can afford, how disciplined you are, your lifestyle and your aesthetic preferences.

Braces:

Braces involve two thin, metal wires, one for the top jaw and the other for the upper jaw. Metal brackets wrapped by colorful bands are attached to the wire and sit on top of each tooth.

Pros:

� Most effective for severe bite issues and tooth spacing problems

� In the mouth 24/7

� Less expensive

� Less frequent follow-ups are required

� Will stay in the mouth regardless of lifestyle

Cons:

� Harder to clean between the wires and brackets

� Certain foods such as corn on the cob, gum and candy are off-limits

� Harder for teeth to get fully clean

� Unsightly appearance

� Can irritate and scratch parts of the inside of the mouth

� Long-term investment

Braces are great for kids and busy adults who need a permanent treatment so completely straighten their teeth. Since they are irremovable, they work great for every lifestyle. They are the best option for patients who require more aggressive teeth corrective treatment.

There are different kinds of braces now available including the clear ceramic braces. Braces can also be attached to the back of teeth instead for aesthetic purposes.

Invisalign

Pros:

� Comfortable and non-irritating

� Shorter treatment time

� Clear, invisible look

Cons:

� Must be removed before each meal

� The trays must be daily washed daily

� Most effective for minor orthodontic work

� More follow-up office visits

Invisalign is better for those who need minor orthodontic work and are very concerned with their teeth's appearance. This treatment is also better for those who are disciplined enough to remember to take the trays out and put them back in after eating. You will also have to clean the trays along with the teeth every day to keep them nice. And, it's important to realize that you will need frequent dentist check-ups to make sure everything is working correctly.

Retainers

Both braces and Invisalign, require wearers to continue the straightening and tooth correction process by wearing a retainer. Depending on your age and the extent by which your teeth needed correcting will determine how often and how long you must wear a retainer.

While the most common reason people get braces or Invisalign is for straight teeth, both orthodontic treatment methods can also relieve pain, eating and speech problems associated with a misaligned bite. Though braces and Invisalign help correct and reduce the pain of some jaw issues, they do not treat Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Be sure to speak with your dentist if you're unsure whether braces or Invisalign is the right treatment for your situation.



 By Anna Bird


Article Source: Should You Get Braces or Invisalign?

Natural Stress Relief With Aquaponics

The Stress of Modern Day Living

It's a big issue today and almost daily we hear about how stressed out people have problems at home and at work, are unable to cope with managing their time and all kinds of other related issues. These people label themselves as stressed or extremely stressed and feel they just can't cope any more. And what's more the numbers are growing daily to the point where it is likely that someone you know will be touched by this debilitating condition.

This has resulted in the use of prescription drugs soaring as consumers seek instant relief for their Stress related problems. A consequence of this is that queues to visit doctors are getting longer and longer.

Natural Stress Relief through Gardening

But now, this is all beginning to change as alternative solutions are being found. Solutions which are focussed on more healthy, natural solutions for stress and anxiety relief.

Gardening has emerged as an All-In-One remedy that helps people to relieve stress using a 2 pronged approach to their mental and physical well-being. We now know that gardening is an excellent way to exercise but more importantly it has also been shown to be a great stress reliever.

Additionally, gardening has the additional benefit of providing quality home-grown produce whilst at the same time it has the added benefit of being outdoors in the fresh air, all helping to reduce the effects of stress.

The great thing about reducing stress through gardening is that it has the added benefit of improving your fitness levels and can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Gardening gives your body and mind a chance to refresh itself on a regular basis, inviting nature into your life and utilizing all of your senses to maximise tranquility in your life.

How Aquaponics Can help reduce Stress

We know that virtually all aspects of gardening can help reduce stress and anxiety but some aspects of gardening can be more beneficial than others. Aquaponics is one such specialist area that really does focus the mind and can lead to a reduction in blood pressure and improvements in anxiety disorders.

So what is Aquaponics? The most simple explanation is that it is the dovetailing of raising fish - Aquaculture and the soil-less growing of plants - Hydroponics that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The waste produced by the fish provides an organic food source for the plants to grow and the plants provide a natural filter system for the water the fish live in.

There are also the microbes (nitrifying bacteria) and composting red worms which thrive in the growing media. Their job is to convert the ammonia from the fish waste first into nitrites, then into nitrates and the solids into Vermicompost which is the food for the plants.

In combining both systems Aquaponics capitalizes on the benefits and eliminates the drawbacks of each.

Aquaponics is a great hobby and you will find that it will serve a variety of purposes.

If you want to Learn More about Aquaponics and even how to Build your Very Own Home Aquaponic System then Click Here


 By Mike King


Article Source: Natural Stress Relief With Aquaponics