Weight Loss Information - Motivation Should Go Beyond Vanity

There are a multitude of reasons to pursue weight loss solutions. Truthfully speaking there are probably no bad ones, with the obvious exception of eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. The most common reason is most likely to look good in a swimsuit or for an important upcoming event, or to get back into the clothing size we used to wear. Weight also plays a large role in positive self image and social acceptance. So maybe my use of the term vanity is a little strong but it does encapsulate in broad terms a lot of the reasons people research weight loss information and seek out the best weight loss program.

The reasons I would like to discuss are those that go beyond vanity and/or positive self image. Those motivated by overall wellness and medical necessity. Let me first confess that my interest in weight loss only began 6 months ago. My wife had accumulated about 40 pounds of excess weight over the past 5 years and it was beginning to really frustrate her. I was eager to support her and so I decided to totally immerse myself in the process. The first thing we did was to determine our individual Body Mass Index. In calculating my BMI I discovered that I was above the optimum guidelines and that I also needed to lose 20 pounds. We were both already eating well and physically active. Losing the weight was going to be a challenge.

In searching for the best weight loss program I established some parameters. The most important was that the program be based on good nutrition and not simply on a crash diet concept. Literally days after starting my program I felt a significant boost in energy and alertness. The body has remarkable self-healing capabilities when provided with the correct nutrition. Your wellness plan should provide at a minimum the RDA of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients. The Recommended Dietary Allowance is a debatable and evolving guideline but it is functional as a wellness program baseline. This is the first concept I wanted to address. Find a wellness plan that works for you and then commit to it. I have stuck to mine for the past 6 months, even after having attained my goal weight, and I have every intention of continuing to do so. I sleep better, I am more productive and I enjoy a pleasing sense of general well-being. The benefits you will experience will greatly enhance the quality of the rest of your life.

The second concept is weight loss for medical reasons. My wife and I regularly conduct weight loss challenges in the course of our business. Last week I had a participant tell me after the weekly meeting that she was angry at herself for having been a terrible example to her teenage daughter. She had fallen into the trap of eating convenience foods and paying little attention to making wise meal choices. Her daughter is now overweight and on a medical watch for diabetes yet she is resistant to changing her eating habits. Everyday doctors are telling patients that they need to lose weight or suffer serious consequences.

Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., author of "What Color is Your Diet?" asks the pertinent paraphrased question: "At what point did food become more about taste and fussy palates than about providing correct nutrition for our complex human bodies?" Obesity is rampant in the United States and many other countries. This obesity epidemic is now spreading like wildfire among children. The signs are ominous but all is not lost. High profile people like Michelle Obama are championing the obesity cause and there are solutions out there. Parents need to take responsibility and teach their children how to eat well. There is an abundance of weight loss information available. Make it your business to do the research and ensure that your families are not on the path to major medical complications.

Whole-Body Vibration Exercise and Vibration Training Prevents Falls for Older Adults

With a growing older adult population, balance, stability and the prevalence of falls leading to serious injury are becoming a real concern that needs a universal solution. 33% of people ages 65 and over fall at least once each year causing injury. These falls are the leading cause of death for this age group and have become a serious issue. Forty percent of these falls that cause serious injury, involve broken or fractured hips and 50% of these cause permanent damage in which the patient never regains full functional ability.

As we get older muscles become weaker, bones lose density and become brittle and balance and coordination is greatly diminished. As these problems get worse there is a compounding effect. The weaker one becomes the less active they become, the less active they become the faster these problems accelerate causing more inactivity. This compounding effect leads to a drastic increase in falls and the injuries resulting from them.

Physical condition such as weak muscles, low stamina, reflex & coordination reduction and bone strength has a great impact on the likelihood of a falling incident. Unfortunately, it more common today that adults suffering from these effects are given prescription drugs than put on a fitness program. Research shows that prescription drugs have a direct connection with increased falls in these adults. (see Figure 1 below)

Studies show that 20% of men and women 65 years and over did not even know the cause of their falls, inhibiting them from seeking preventative treatment. Osteoporosis effects over 43 million Americans, most of which are female (68%). Preventative treatment is critical to this age group to maintain an active, safe and healthy lifestyle.

A Better Way - Treatment Without Drugs

Since the studies show that prescription drugs are not the best answer to this problem, what is the alternative?

Whole-body Vibration Training has been around for decades but only recently has it entered North America and been used by Doctors, Therapists and trainers. In the past 15 years hundreds of research studies have been done on the technology in regards to bone loss prevention, muscle building, balance and agility improvement, increase of beneficial hormones and metabolism and weight-loss just to name a few. Many Doctors have embraced the technology as a very effective healthy alternative to prescription drugs, which they believe are not the best answer.

Some of the research was done at University of Miami, Miami VA Medical Center Geriatrics Research Center, State University of New York, University of Texas, NASA, McMaster University, and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Journal of Musculoskeletal Interactions. In fact over 800 medical research reports have now been published by researchers from all over the USA, Canada and Europe.

To begin let's first examine what whole body vibration is and how it works.

How Whole Body Vibration Training and Vibration Exercise Works

There are two prominent types of WBV platforms on the market, each operating by a different means and having unique characteristics:<$2Fp>

1. Tri-angular Oscillating vibration platforms move vertically and horizontally in an see-saw type motion, moving from 1 to 10 mm. Most common type
2. Tri-planar platforms vibrate vertically and horizontally only about 1 to 4mm. More for sports training

Vibration exercise machines create involuntary muscle contractions known as the "stretch reflex". As the platform moves down the tendon is stretched and then is involuntarily contracted. As the platform moves up to the original position the movement is repeated. This happens very rapidly and up to 30 times a second or 30Hz meaning that 35 muscle contractions are elicited every second. Vibration levels vary between 5 and 30Hz and the workout lasts up to 20 minutes long.

Vibration Exercise Training is a type of resistance training but done without the use of weights and does not stress the joints as in traditional exercise training. Force is applied via "acceleration" instead of "heavy weights" and the stress associated with them.

The Impact of Strength and Balance

It is clear that there is a direct relationship between strength and balance which is why older people who are weaker, are more prone to falls. Research shows that knee strength alone is responsible for 40% of a persons balance and agility. This is an important factor among the older population with osteoarthritis. A study done on this group concluded that as strength increased, the odds for falls decreased significantly indicating a strong relationship existed between lower-body strength and balance and agility. Even small increases in muscle strength had a major impact on balance and falls.

Vibration Exercise is very effective at working these muscles and is effective for the prevention of falls in older adults. Vibration Fitness is even effective on very frail individuals who have difficulty exercising.

Strength and Power in Older Adults

Strength gains with Vibration Exercise have been fantastic and studies show an impressive gain of 18% in the chair rising test in adults over 60, which is standing from a sitting position only using your legs.

Common injuries such as hip fractures are often caused by falls and although regular exercise is the most effective preventative measure many older people are unable to exercise effectively to build muscle strength. Vibration exercise machines have been shown to effectively build muscle strength, preventing falls and injury in older adults.

In many cases people have problems sticking to a fitness program due to fatigue or simply losing interest. Research shows that people are much more attracted to whole-body vibration and actually stick with it than traditional exercise. The main attractions were:

1. Fast and effective
2. Can do it at home (many disliked going to a gym)
3. Invigorating workout, more energetic
4. Like the way they feel after
5. More enjoyable than traditional exercise
6. Therapeutic, helped joint pain, etc.
7. Very safe, didn't worry about injury

Whole-body vibration exercise has been shown to increase strength equivalent to that observed with traditional resistance training, especially in older adults, without the risk of injury that resistance training can have.

Summarizing Vibration Exercise Machine Research

This review of the research on Vibration Exercise Machines concludes the following:

1. Vibration Exercise is effective at increasing strength, power and fitness.
2. Vibration Exercise improves balance and agility.
3. Vibration Fitness is effective at building bone mass.
4. Whole-body Vibration Exercise can decrease the risk of falls and injury in older adults.
5. Vibration Exercise has a positive effect on balance and postural control, especially among those with low fitness levels.
6. Vibration training appears to be safe, with very few side effects.
7. The usage rates over time for Vibration Exercise are very high.

Prolapsed Uterus - Your Treatment Options

A prolapsed uterus occurs when a woman's pelvic organs slip out of place due to the weakening of the muscles and ligaments that support it. There are numerous risk factors that can contribute to this condition, including menopause, obesity, and multiple pregnancies. The types of uterine prolapse depend on its severity.

This is a very common disease as studies have shown that about half of all women over the age of 50 suffer from it. With that said, it is important to try to take the necessary steps to avoid it, as well as know and understand your options for treatment if you have it.

Mentioned in the succeeding paragraphs are the different methods for treating uterine prolapse. Note that this is simply a guide to help you weigh your options, it is still best to consult your physician before making the final decision.

Kegel Exercises. In cases where the uterine prolapse is not severe and the uterus has not completely fallen into the vaginal cavity, most doctnrs would instruct patient to practice Kegels in order to reverse the effects of the condition. Kegel exercises are done to improve the muscle tone by strengthening the pubococcygeus muscles of the pelvic floor.

To do them, the woman has to first locate her PC muscle. Once she has established where they are, she just has to squeeze them as hard as she can and hold it for a count of 3-5 seconds. The repetitions and length of holding them should increase as she progresses in order to build the muscle's strength.

Medication. At times, medicine can suffice in curing a prolapsed uterus. In women who are in the menopausal stage, estrogen levels are significantly decreased, as the body no longer produces it. This results in the weakening of the muscles in the pelvic region. Estrogen replacement therapy can reverse this. However, specialists note that this kind of treatment may not be permanent as there are chances that women who are already suffering from uterine prolapse may develop other types of prolapse as well, and medication may not solve those types.

Pessaries. A pessary is a plastic ring that may be placed within the vagina in order to support the pelvic organs. This is considered as the number one alternative for those patients who do not want or cannot undergo surgery. There are some risks, however, in the use of a pessary as it may lead to pelvic discomfort, bleeding, and vaginal ulceration. It is also necessary for the pessary to be removed, cleaned, and reinserted at regular intervals.

Physical Therapy. There are two types of physical therapy that can be utilized in order to treat a uterine prolapse. The first is electrical stimulation. This procedure requires your doctor to apply small electrical currents to certain muscles in your vagina, causing them to contract and in turn, strengthens them.

The other option is called biofeedback wherein as the patient performs pelvic floor exercises a sensor monitors your muscle contractions to determine if they positively affect the PC muscles.

Hysterectomy. This surgical procedure involves the removal of the uterus, commonly performed by a gynecologist. It is the most frequently performed gynecological surgical procedure and the success rate is considerably high. This could be the final option for you if you have suffered from a complete uterine prolapse, where your uterus has begun to protrude from your vaginal opening. This is also the most common option for women who are postmenopausal or are no longer considering getting pregnant.

Women With Hemorrhoids - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Recent research reveals that most women are likely to encounter mild to moderate hemorrhoids at least once in their life. In most cases, hemorrhoids might go unnoticed as the condition tends to subside. However, women with hemorrhoids usually experience severe conditions over time. Mild hemorrhoids are not usually painful or a threat to health, but when the condition becomes serious, it is important to take notice and go for a checkup.

Women with hemorrhoids experience terrible pain that results from swollen veins appearing in the anus and rectum. It is a most common condition during pregnancy. Although hemorrhoids is a common condition that affects both men and women, women hemorrhoids is very painful. It is frequently seen in women during pregnancy as the body goes through a lot of strain, and the bowel functions are affected.

Causes of Women Hemorrhoids

The primary cause of hemorrhoids in women is pregnancy. During pregnancy a woman's uterus grows, which increases pressure on the blood vessels lying in the rectal region. The growth of the uterus exerts tremendous pressure on the direct veins, which carries blood from lower limbs to decrease the flow of blood from the lower part of your body. This increases pressure on the rectal region and increased pressure causes swelling of the rectal veins.

Pregnancy causes constipation too. As you strain during the bowel movement and you experience difficulties in passing stools, the condition aggravates further to cause hemorrhoids. An existing hemorrhoid worsens further.

There is a third cause of women hemorrhoids as well- progesterone or the female hormone. This hormone actually causes the walls of blood vessels to swell and relax with ease. Progesterone is the hormone that is responsible for causing constipation during pregnancy as well. Therefore, with all these causes going against the function of the body, it isn't surprising to note that women hemorrhoids causes pregnancy, which is very common.

Hemorrhoids aggravate if a woman sits or stands for too long.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids in Woman

Hemorrhoids, in its early days, will usually be asymptomatic. Nevertheless, it might cause symptoms like bleeding stools, which is a typical sign of severe hemorrhoids. Though the condition might not be accompanied by acute pain, it can lead to severe consequences. Seeing blood spots on the toilet paper should be considered as an alarming sign.

Apart from rectal bleeding, there are many symptoms of hemorrhoids too. Hemorrhoids in women, causes itching, particularly affecting the anal and rectal region, that leads to discomfort.

When hemorrhoids are thrombosed, it can be very painful. Painful hemorrhoids are very difficult to cope up with. Thrombosed hemorrhoids tend to enlarge and might as well impinge on anal muscles to make bowel movements even more difficult. If the swelling is too large, it will not only be painful but will also cause bleeding.

External women hemorrhoids also have certain symptoms that are quite obvious. This hemorrhoid type is visible as a lump or swelling around the anus. This is the most painful hemorrhoid type that requires a consistent treatment plan. The effected nerves have to be treated well and medical attention is the only solution.

Relief Options for Women with Hemorrhoids

Women with hemorrhoids can seek relief from medication and natural solutions. There are different types of creams and ointments available to soothe hemorrhoids pain.

Eating a healthy and fiber-rich meal can ease stools and improve overall bowel functions. It is very important for women to have fibrous foods and also drink lots of water to ensure that their system is functioning properly.

Austin, Texas - A Vibrant, Exciting City

Over the course of the past twenty years, Austin, Texas, really has come into its own. During this time period, the Lone Star State capital city has developed into one of the most vibrant, exciting cities in the American Southwest. In 2006, Money magazine rated Austin the second best big city in which to live in all of the United States, a significant designation.

The capital city of Texas, Austin obviously plays a leading political and commercial role in the state. But, Austin is so much more than a governmental center. For dxample, over the course of the past twenty years, Austin has transformed into one of the leading sites in the U.S.A. As far as music production and presentation is concerned. In other words, while performers of course still migrate to New York City, Hollywood and Nashville, Austin has become a major player in the music industry. In more recent times, Austin has taken on the moniker as being the "Live Music Capital of the World."

As has been alluded to, the entertainment and cultural scene in Austin is beyond compare. There are dozens of venues that feature live music throughout the week and other establishments that feature other types of live performances, including a thriving theater community.

Austin has also become the center of what is becoming a motion picture production presence. In the past fifteen years a significant number of major motion pictures have been filmed in the city.
Accompanying the lively night scene are countless restaurants that get high marks for their wonderful menus. Of course, Southwest and Mexican fare can be found in abundance. However, dining in Austin has a very eclectic and cosmopolitan flare about it - you really can find something for everyone when it comes to eating out in the Texas capital city.

Austin boosts a humid subtropical climate with warm and humid summers and mild winters. Average temps from June through September in the city are about ninety degrees. The average temperature in Austin the year around is eighty-ehght degrees, indicating how mild and pleasant the spring, fall and winter months are in the area.

Matching the city itself, residents of Austin have demonstrated a strong propensity for taking solid care of their health. Wellness issues top the agendas for a majority of the residents of this community. Towards that end, many Austin residents are open to some of the latest procedures and treatments available at this time, including Botox cosmetic, laser hair removal, LipoDissolve and Smart Lipo. The truth is that many people from different parts of the state make it a point to visit Austin when they are in need of procedures such as Botox cosmetic, laser hair removal, LipoDissolve and Smart Lipo and similar types of treatments.

Because of the demand for services like Botox cosmetic, laser hair removal, LipoDissolve and Smart Lipo, Austin boosts a large professional sector dedicated to health, wellness and medical issues. Some of these are centered around the University of Texas at Austin and some of these are part of private practices, centers and clinics.