Copyright 2006 Brad Howard
Establishing clear expectations while working out often can be the difference between success and failure. Too many people try to do too much and get frustrated. Instead of "lasering" in on a few great strategies, they try to do as many things as possible. As they say, "Jack of all trades, master of none" applies here.
To help renew your spirits of why proper diet and exercise is important for the New Year, I've compiled a somewhat comical list. See how many apply to you:
Because it costs you (or your loved ones) over 5 million pennies in future health care if you aren't
Because feeling better tomorrow starts today
Because torture is a bad persuasion technique
Because studies show that fit people make more money
Because if you don't, you suck
Because movie stars do it
Because performers do it
Because everyone that is cool in your life, does it
Because you CAN commit 1.5 hrs/wk out of 176
Because avoiding a wheelchair is a good thing
Because hugs are better when you can actually wrap your arms around someone
Because your kids really don't want to put you in a rest home
Because no matter what you keep telling yourself, thick is not sexy
Because feeling grandpa's muscles at Thanksgiving can be a yearly ritual
Because cottage cheese is for fruit
Because squeezing into a size 6 means you're not a size 6
Because love making is much more fun without the extra rolls
Because being able to see your toes
hmmmm
Because bigger clothes cost more money
Because shopping for smaller clothes raises spirits
Because hitting the State Fair and observing everyone shouldn't be the only thing that puts a smile on your face
Because having the woman in your life open a stuck jar of pickles for you is embarrassing
Because no matter what anyone says, women are always in competition with each other. You do want to win, right?
Because you had to ask your 10 year old son to take out the trash
..after all you couldn't lift it
Because beer makes everyone else look better while making you look worse
Because weight training makes you look better while making everyone else look worse (see competition in women)
Because yelling at the gym is a lot better than yelling at work (unless you are a cheerleader)
Because "Shut your mouth or I'll kick your ___," now actually has meaning
Because being told you look 40 when you are actually 60 does something strange to self confidence
Again, make sure to renew your sense of self worth this holiday season and strive to become a healthier you. Great information is always key but watch out for the dreaded "information overload." Get equipped and make '06 the best year of your life.
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Brad Howard knows "The Secret" to getting in shape. And...it's not what you think. If you'd like to know the difference between success and failure, you'll go to http://www.MindOverBodyMatter.com
Teenagers and Plastic Surgery: A Brief Glimpse
All around the world, teenagers face the same angst and turmoil over how they look and their own personal confidence. Many teenage girls are plagued by teasing about their looks and they watch their own mother's struggle with body image and today's standards of beauty. Without the confidence to find the beauty within, thousands of teenage girls are turning to cosmetic surgery to "fix" what they feel is wrong about their face and bodies. Commonly, young women as young as 14 or 15 are getting nose jobs, breast augmentation, chemical peels and other cosmetic surgery procedures. Teenage boys are also getting more and more cosmetic procedures like liposuction, nose jobs, treatment for gynecomastia and other reconstructive procedures. In all cases under the age of 18, their parents must give consent, and in fact, plastic surgery is becoming a popular high school graduation gift or reward for accomplishing a goal. Americans may assume this is a phenomenon in the US alone, but plastic surgery is incredibly popular in Australia, Japan and Korea and the BBC reported in 2005 that 4 out of 10 teenage girls want plastic surgery in Britain.
There are absolutely appropriate reasons for a young person to get cosmetic surgery. Common procedures on your people include the following:
· Ostopolasty - A procedure in which ears which protrude significantly from the head are surgically "pinned" back making them less noticeable. This procedure is often done for young children any time after the age of five.
· Breast Asymmetry Correction - Many young women experience unequal breast development and those with the most evident cases may want to see augmentation of the lesser developed breast in order to achieve symmetry.
· Breast Reduction - Some young women develop breasts that may be too large for their frame and cause physical problems with their back, shoulders and even impede breathing. These young women will often seek a breast reduction to improve their overall health and self confidence.
· Acne Treatment - There are cosmetic surgery procedures that specifically target the skin, including chemical peels, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion and laser procedures that can reduce redness and acne scarring on the face. In many instances, these procedures will be coupled with prescription medications and strict protocol for cleansing and diet.
· Gynecomastia Treatment - Young men sometimes develop breast tissue, for a variety of reasons, and although some cases will reduce themselves, some require surgical correction.
· Reconstructive Operations - Obviously if a young person is disfigured in any way or has a physiological problem that must be addressed surgically, any reconstructive or cosmetic surgery necessary to restore normal function and appearance is acceptable.
In many of these instances, families can secure partial or complete insurance coverage for the procedure and the health benefits, not to mention the emotional benefits, outweigh the risks of surgery. Additionally, in many of these cases, parents are very involved in the emotional implications before and after the surgery and can help guide their child through the event.
When a young person wants to undergo plastic surgery to attain a face or body that more typically aligns with the standards of beauty of society, many things must be considered. Every teenager is bombarded with plastic surgery from television shows like I Want a Famous Face on MTV, to The Swan, to Extreme Makeover, to Dr. 90210. Although these shows reveal the graphic and painful nature of cosmetic surgery procedures, they typically show more positive results than negative, making the surgery seem well worth the risks. It is incredibly important for parents and teenagers to truly weigh the pros and cons before they move forward.
First, organizations like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have outlined specific criteria that a teenager must meet in order to be eligible for plastic surgery.
1. The surgery must be at the behest of the teenager. Not only does the teenager need to initiate the request, it must be something they have thought about and spoken of for a long period of time. They also must have parental consent if they are under 18 and they need to be able to articulate why they want the surgery to the doctor.
2. The teenager must be realistic about the outcome of the surgery. No one can look just like Britney Spears or Brad Pitt because of bone structure and genetics. No surgery will make a teenager "perfect" and in some cases, the results may be very different from what the teenager had ultimately envisioned.
3. The teenager must demonstrate a high level of maturity and level headedness. Not only will they have to deal with the pain and short term disfigurement of the surgery, they need to be able to deal with a rapid change to their body or face and there may be emotional repercussions. If a teenager is prone to depression or mood swings, plastic surgery is not recommended until the underlying emotional issues have been addressed.
Before a parent and teenager embark on this kind of exploration though, it should be considered why a teenager wants to undergo permanent cosmetic surgery. What is the underlying reason for their personal and physical discomfort with themselves? Why do they want to change? What do they think the change will bring? A parent must explore these questions and consider the image they are projecting to their child and what their child is going through, emotionally and physically, that is prompting them to go to such an extreme degree for change.
This is not to say that cosmetic surgery is inappropriate for all teenagers, or that a young woman should not get a breast augmentation or that a young man should not get a nose job. In many cases, the lifelong benefits of increased self confidence and the improvement of things like clothing fitting better can really have a positive emotional impact on any person, especially a young man or woman. In fact, the improved confidence may help them to achieve their goals faster, and increase their confidence across their lives. Cosmetic surgery is sometimes the missing puzzle piece that can help a teenager overcome obstacles and be a happier person.
The key to making a decision like this is to ensure that it is being done for the right reason and that the teenager involved understands the short term and long term risks associated with cosmetic surgery. Although the surgery may seem like a quick fix to them, and they may put blinders on as to the downsides, it is critical for a parent or guardian to find a way to communicate those risks, with the help of their doctor, to help everyone make the right decision.
Blair Stephens is an accomplished freelance writer and proud member of the Jewell Cosmetic Surgery Practice team. She has written articles about plastic surgery, aesthetic enhancements and more. Peter L. Dixon is a renowned and gifted cosmetic surgeon based in Melbourne, Australia. He and his team use the newest technology and techniques to ensure their patients get the results they want!
Female Hair Loss: The Shocking Truth
When you talk about genetic hair loss most people think about the most common form of hair loss: male-pattern baldness. This is the type of hair loss that is passed on genetically to offspring from their mothers. Most often the recipients of this type of hair loss are men, but sometimes the gene can result in female hair loss.
While genetic baldness in men is identified by a receding hairline or balding crown, genetic hair loss in women is a bit different. In most cases, a woman will not lose her hair in spots only but will thin out evenly throughout the head. Sometimes, this thinning can be quite severe and result in the woman having to wear a wig to cover up her thinning tresses. While female hair loss almost never results in a completely bald head, it can be extreme enough to expose the scalp quite plainly.
For the woman facing this type of hair loss, there are a few hair loss treatment options that can be explored. They include shampoos, conditioners and topical treatments, such as Rogaine for women, which stimulate hair growth and prevent further hair loss; vitamin supplements; and stimulatory treatments such as massage and infra-red therapy. The most successful of these hair loss treatments are the topical treatments. While they are quite expensive, they produce the best results.
Hair loss due to chemical processes
No matter how healthy and strong your hair is today, you could experience severe hair loss after undergoing a harsh chemical process such as a perm or color. While almost all chemical hair fallout is due to operator error, the chance of it occurring is multiplied by chemical services that you perform on your hair at home. I've seen more than one case of female hair loss in clients who have bleached their hair at home, colored it over and then came to the salon for yet another bleaching. Not knowing this past history, the stylist used too strong a chemical, and the process resulted in hair loss.
Since most of these cases do not result in complete hair loss, the hair loss treatment options include protein treatments and other conditioning treatments to strengthen the remaining hair; a good hair cut that will remove most of the damage; and a gentle hair-care routine that will minimize further hair loss due to breakage. You should also refrain from using thermal styling tools and undergoing any further chemical procedures until the hair is completely grown out.
Hair loss due to stress
Cases of severe stress can literally cause handfuls of hair loss at a time. Women experiencing stressful conditions can experience female hair loss represented by thinning all over the head or in spots called alopecia areata. Alopecia areata means "Hair loss in spots or areas," and can result in bald circular patches on one or more spots of the scalp. While this type of hair loss is alarming, it is not permanent. After the stress is removed, most sufferers of this type of hair loss regrow all of the hair that they lost.
In most cases, the hair loss treatment for stress-related hair loss is minimal. After ruling out other causes of hair loss, your doctor will likely recommend changes in your diet or ideas to help alleviate your stress. Keep in mind that it can take months for your hair to grow back even after the stressors have been eliminated.
Hair loss due to illness
Any type of extended illness or surgery can result in hair loss. Medications taken to combat certain types of illnesses can also cause your hair to become brittle and break or fall out altogether. The most identifiable type of hair loss is the loss associated with chemotherapy treatments. In most cases, this hair loss is complete and affects all areas of the body.
While there is little that can be done to prevent this type of hair loss or promote growth during illness, surgery or chemotherapy treatments, this type of female hair loss is also temporary. In most cases, full recovery of hair is made after the illness is over.
You can promote hair growth after the illness by getting regular trims and using growth enhancing shampoos and conditioners. Vitamin supplements may also be beneficial.
As you may have already guessed, hair loss in women is more common than we might think. And many may be experiencing hair loss and dismiss it as a natural occurrence that comes along with age. A lot of these women fail to seek the necessary hair loss treatment that can help them keep their remaining hair and regrow new hair. So, if you are experiencing hair loss, do not think that it is just because you are getting older. There may be something that you can do to keep the hair on your head from clogging your drain.
Michael Owen is considered an expert on hair loss and has helped thousands of people regrow their hair. Find out what he recommends:
Hair Loss
