September 30th, 2009 | No Comments »

Millions of people all over the world are plagued by their acne. Acne seems like a very simple problem but it can be very stressful for some.

Im sure that we have all had our very own experience with acne at least once in our life. There are those fortunate few who do not have any problem getting rid of acne. On the other side of the spectrum, there are also some who cant seem to see any results.

Acne does a lot more to ones ego than to the body. People with acne are usually the ones who shy from socializing with other people. The main reason for this is because they do not have the confidence to mingle with other people with the zit situation.

The great thing about science and technology is that so many products have been created to address the problem of acne. We now have a slew of creams, ointments, supplements and other procedures but the fact still remains that not all of these options are effective.

One method that is garnering much talk is Acne No More.

Acne No More is an e-book written by Mark Walden. Walden has suffered from acne for years until he got rid of all of it once and for all after doing extensive research.

The e-book is presented in a step by step approach to help readers fully comprehend the principles behind clear skin.

Acne No More looks at your entire body in order to treat your acne. It first helps you to keep you hormone levels in check. When it has done that, it will also help you with clearing out any blockages inside your system. Zits are caused by blockages. Because you are cleansing yourself from the inside out, you can expect your internal system to be benefited from the entire method.

Because Acne No More does not just target your zits specifically, it also carries with it a few spillover effects. For one, you will notice your hair to be shinier and your nails to be stronger and healthier.

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September 29th, 2009 | No Comments »

What is Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping is the representation of ideas and information in a visual form which the mind finds easier to visualise and remember. Images are located throughout the Mind Map with a larger central image or theme located at the centre of the Mind Map. Topics and subtopics are arranged around that central image.

Mind Maps are considered the most effective note taking technique. They provide the most effective way of organizing and arranging information. There are now a number of different Mind Mapping software tools available to facilitate the creation of Mind Maps.

The benefits of Mind Maps

Mind mapping is the most effective way of studying, generating new ideas, summarizing and organising information you want to recall. Mind maps can also facilitate creativity, problem solving, decision making and the generation of new ideas.

They are a great tool when revising for exams as they enable you to see how the different topics and concepts are associated and provide visual cues which are great for quickly reviewing a subject before an exam and recalling information that would normally be lost from your long term memory.

Revising for exams using Mind Maps

When revising for an exam it is best to determine what level of knowledge you have of that subject before you start. When you build upon that knowledge it will be easier to develop associations and connection from the knowledge you have already gained. Therefore create a Mind Map of what you already know. You may be surprised at how much you can recall.

First obtain a large sheet of paper or if you are using Mind Mapping Software draw or add a central image at the centre of the page. Make it stand out with colour. Then Create branches from that central image for the main subtopics related to that central topic. The main topics should be written in larger text and highlight the most important areas. Add sub-branches by creating more branches emanating from the main topics. These subtopics should contain more in depth information and keywords or short phrases summarizing key ideas that you can recall from memory. Try and see how the different sub-topics and elements are associated.

Linear note taking is monotonous and boring. The key information does not stand out, they take longer to write and do not provide a quick way of summarizing the important information needed for an exam. Mind Maps highlight the important information by placing it nearer the centre in larger writing with images that can quickly sum up a key idea or topic. Try and sum up information with a few words or even better 1 keyword or image. Use plenty of colour and images. Organize the information like this helps you to build associations and is very usefully when you want to recall information at a glance.

After you have recalled as much information as possible obtain the books that are most important for revision purposes. Flick through these books viewing the main chapter headings. Also take a look at the contents pages. Now speed read these books focusing in on the most important information and try and build upon what you already know. There is a common myth that speed reading significantly reduces comprehension and retention of information. Speed reading can actually increase retention of information as it enables you to gain a broader perspective of a subject or topic important for memory and can also help your mind piece together the information particularly when you come to read the information in more depth.

Prioritise those books that provide the most valuable information you require for passing the exam and read those books in depth.

Now add more detail to your Mind Map by adding branches and keywords and phrases after reading each category or section. These keywords or phrases should encapsulate the main ideas and sub-topics.

Continually recalling the information you have just read will go along way by itself in helping you store the information in your long term memory. It will enable you to determine if your mind is effectively recalling the information and if not to adjust your memorization methods.

As your knowledge of the subject grows your Mind Maps should grow and become more detailed. Areas of knowledge gained from books, lectures, videos etc should be added to your Mind Map and summed up in a few words. More branches will be created and move further from the central theme. A lot of useful information should now be stored in your Mind Map which will be useful for the exam. If your using Mind Mapping Software you should add notes providing more in depth information if needed.

As you approach the exam you should be able to recall in detail the knowledge gained by glancing at your detailed Mind Map which should now contain a detailed summary of your entire subject or topic.

The images will greatly assist in recalling information at a glance and the Mind Map itself will help you to see how all the elements and sub-topics are associated and ordered. Also you will not have to read through loads of notes to get to the key information.

The Mind remembers best when it can see a subject from a broader perspective and visualise how the different topics and sub-topics are associated and ordered. Combine this with the images which give the mind more mental hooks to latch onto you have the most effective method for learning and recall.

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September 29th, 2009 | No Comments »

Small deviations in technique can really add up when doing exercises for your arms. Over the long run, said deviations can really put a dent in your progress and potentially cause serious injury.

Most women aren?t even aware that they?re making said errors. It?s hard enough to show up and exercise, let alone perfect every exercise your doing.

Well, I don?t recommend getting too anal here. However, avoiding the most common mistakes will give you the biggest bang for your buck while not making your arm workouts a mechanistic nightmare.

Thus, here are 4 mistakes to avoid when doing arm exercises for women:

1. Jerking the barbell up. Most women do this when their using too heavy a weight for curls. Any type of jerking movement when doing a curl will take a substantial load off of your arms and place it elsewhere. The end result? Your arm exercises will lose their effectiveness.

2. Not keeping the shoulders depressed. Always keep your shoulders down and back when exercising. Letting them elevate will activate muscles other than your arms. And if you?re not activating your arms, you?re not getting results.

3. Not keeping the elbows locked in place. Letting the elbows shift around is the evil of all evils. The only thing that should be moving when you do your arm exercises is your forearms. Allowing the elbows too shift around is the quickest way to retard your arm toning results.

4. Not digging in with the heels. Digging into the ground with your heels when doing any type of lifting is one of the simplest yet most effective things you can do. Why? Because digging in with your heels uses the largest muscles in your body for support.

Be conscious of the above mistakes when exercising your arms and do your best to avoid them. However, please do not become so self conscious about your form that you don?t go 100%. Try hard to maintain good form, but don?t obsess over it. After all, you should enjoy your arm workouts!

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September 29th, 2009 | No Comments »

If you are interested in how to remove blackheads, you are in luck. These are one of the few blemishes that are fairly easy to deal with. They are very unsightly and they can give people a negative impression of you. While it is silly for people to believe that people with blackheads are “dirty”, it seems that some people still believe such silly things.

Blackheads are basically clogged pores where the dirt and oils have broken out from under the skin and have been exposed to the air. This is what makes them turn black. While dirt may be the source of blackheads, a person does not necessarily acquire them because they are dirty. Oil gland production or genetic issues can lead to the presence of blackheads. Once they have become present, the question arises as to how to get rid of them.

Even though you have heard time and time again not to squeeze your blemishes, some dermatologists will suggest the squeezing method as how to remove blackheads. It does have to be done with caution though. When squeezing blackheads, you run the risk of creating scars. If you find that blood is being produced from the pores you are trying to squeeze clean, it is time to stop.

When learning how to remove blackheads, it is important to take note that you should not squeeze with your fingernails. This is because your fingernails are loaded with all kinds of dirt and germs that could lead to small infections. Instead, you can check into some of the blackhead remover products on the market to see if there is something out there that can help you get the job done. Just make sure that you are washing and sterilizing these products before using them so that you are not running the risk of an infection.

In addition, while sometimes the squeezing methods work, it can backfire. Squeezing too much or too early on a blackhead may lead to the rupturing of a blood vessel. Even though this is a rare occurrence, it can still happen. If you find this happening to you, do not continue to squeeze the blackhead because you may make it worse.

For those that would prefer to avoid squeezing blackheads, there are other methods that can be employed to reduce their presence and the presence of acne. Washing the areas of the skin that a common regions known for the presence of blackheads. Using antiseptic soap is helpful since this will eliminate scores of bacteria that can lead to further development of blackheads.

You might also want to check into some additional acne creams as they can drastically help improve your skin. Since the creams and the soaps are inexpensive, you want to make sure that you are keeping up on the treatment. Therefore, if you are wondering how to remove blackheads, you can start with these kinds of treatments.

Most solutions for acne and blackheads are not complex. Simply following a number of simple strategies will deliver solid results. You just need to be consistent in your approach and the presence of these blemishes will be reduced.

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September 27th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

For the woman with the average lifestyle, basic nutrition for getting rid of fat arms isn’t that complicated. Well it’s not that complicated if you filter out all the marketing hype.

Unfortunately, there are specific scenarios when advanced nutrition is needed. You can’t stick to the basics or else you may set back your sexy arm mission.

One tricky area is when you exercise very early in the morning. Since your body is coming out of a fasted state, you have to be very precise with your nutrition.

Thus, without further ado, here are some tips for early morning workout nutrition:

1. Drink water before anything else. You have to rehydrate your dehydrated body ASAP. You also need to drink enough water so that you can digest breakfast.

2. When the workout is 3 hours upon waking. Eat a complete and balanced breakfast. Don’t skimp here! Have a source of protein, carbs and fat. And if you want to take it to the next level, add in some vegetables.

3. Exercising 1 hour after rising. Two slices of whole grain bread with any type of nut butter should do. You could use almond butter, peanut butter, or my favorite, sunflower seed butter. Just make sure that your bread doesn’t have added sugar.

4. Exercising 10 minutes after rising. You are going to need some liquid or gel-like carbohydrates here. You could have a supplement like power gel for Gu. Or you could make your own shake with maltodextrin or dextrose and casein protein. It’s essential you have fast digesting carbs before exercising so that you don’t black out. Blacking out is not worth it no matter how badly you want sexy arms!

Exercising right after waking up is not good for you. It’s simply too hard for the female body to digest food so quickly. If you do this, you’re most likely going to start exercising while still in the fasted state-not a good thing if you’re trying to get sexy arms! So try to give yourself at LEAST 30 minutes between eating and exercising in the morning.

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September 27th, 2009 | No Comments »

You could essentially look at hair loss as falling into two different categories – You lose some hair naturally as part of the normal cycle of hair loss and growth, but it is also possible to suffer from excessive hair loss. Every hair grows approximately 1cm, which is less than half of an inch every month during the normal growth cycle which lasts between 2 years and 6 years.

About 90 percent of all of the hair on your head is currently growing at one specific point in time. The rest of your hair, approximately 10 percent, is in the resting phase. After a period of two to three months, the resting hair will fall out and then new hairs will begin to grow in their place. Shedding some hair is completely normal as part of this cycle, but if you are experiencing hair loss that is greater than normal, then you need to know what steps you can take to battle against excessive hair loss.

The first key to leading the battle against excessive hair loss is to determine why you are losing your hair more quickly than you should be. Excessive hair loss is capable of affecting anyone, including men, women and children and people of any age. For example, if you have recently had a major surgery or a major illness, you may be loosing hair as a result of the stress behind the illness or the surgery.

Another thing that may cause hair loss is hormonal problems such as a thyroid gland that is either underactive or overactive. Many women may notice excessive hair loss within a few months of having had a baby. There are also some medications that are capable of causing hair loss. There are a number of reasons that you may be losing your hair excessively, and you cannot begin the fight against this hair loss until you determine exactly why it is happening.

Another cause for excessive hair loss is improper hair care. Are you using tight hair rollers, or wearing tight hairstyles like pigtails or cornrows? These things may be pulling on your hair unnecessarily, causing traction alopecia. If you stop this pulling before your scalp scars, you may be able to stop the hair loss.

Furthermore, you can also try using organic hair products as a substitute for synthetic ones. As most of those products are hypoallergenic, it allows even those with sensitive skin to use it. The contained vitamins and minerals also strengthen hair and offer vitality.

There is a strong chance that your family doctor will be able to help you battle your excessive hair loss with natural hair treatment. Your doctor will ask you a lot of different questions about the medicines that you are taking, your current diet, any recent illness that you may have experienced as well as how you normally take care of your hair. Other questions may be asked depending on your gender, age and situation. Your doctor is also going to want to perform a physical exam to find out if there are any other causes of excessive hair loss. Once you know the real cause for your excessive hair loss, you can figure out a plan to fight it.

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September 26th, 2009 | No Comments »

There hasnt been any new posts in 5 days because Ive been busy trying to create a structured balance with my academics, life coaching/counselling, blogging, family life and work so that no one or nothing suffers.

I have to utilize all the spare time I have wisely.

Here are fifty ways to care for your body. Some are controversial but it still makes the list.

1. – Give your body the self respect it deserves. 2. – Stop comparing yourself with celebrities or matching your body figure against others. 3. – Wear clothes which give you confidence. 4. – Take pride and be comfortable in your body. 5. – Identify and enhance bits of your body you are proud of. 6. – Treat your body with dignity. 7. – Appreciate all what your body can do. 8. – Groom yourself. 9. – Go for long walks. 10. – Love your body inside out. 11. – Keep the right body posture. 12. – Take a break from your computer screen. 13. – Learn to love what you see in the mirror. 14. – Sit down properly in a chair. 15. – Quit smoking. 16. – Eat a healthy balanced diet. 17. – Socialize with a bit of common sense. 18. – Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. 19. – Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. 20. – Avoid binge drinking 21. – Pay a visit to the dentist. 22. – Exercise regularly. 23. – Be happy. 24. – Get Motivated. 25. – Avoid any form of dangerous drug use or abuse. 26. – Be, Look and Feel confident having a positive body image. 27. – Frown less. 28. – Smile more. 29. – Have good personal habits or hygiene 30. – Avoid hurting your body to look good. 31. – Spend some time alone. 32. – Know your body limitations. 33. – Put yourself first 34. – Dont expose yourself to unnecessary risk. 35. – Get a new hair do. 36. – Shop for new clothes, shoes, perfumes. 37. – Find things to keep you relaxed. 38. – Rest well. 39. – Accept who you are. 40. – Dont be hard on yourself 41. – Sleep well. 42. – Get a massage. 43. – Pamper yourself in the bath with oils, soothing music and skin moisturizers. 44. – Get a manicure and pedicure. 45. – Throw away uncomfortable clothes. 46. – Have a make over. 47. – Lose or gain weight 48. – Dont wear shoes too small for your feet. 49. – Go for regular health checks. 50. – No plastic surgery unless its absolutely necessary.

Hope to hear from you soon.

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September 25th, 2009 | No Comments »

If you really want to learn how to get thin arms and you drink lots of juice, please stop! Fruit juice causes arm fat gain. Period.

Unfortunately, you are bombarded with endless infomercials on why fruit juice is the next best thing since sliced bread. It’s hard to ignore all that footage of fitness buffs thrusting every type of fruit down the juicer.

How can juice get such a bad rap? Because of sugar. Lots of sugar makes your body secrete lots of insulin. And insulin will block arm fat burning.

And here are 4 more reasons why you should stay away from fruit juice if you want to get thin arms:

1. It causes your liver to secrete not so good things. What type of things? Excess fatty acids and bad cholesterol! Now you really do NOT want these two floating around within your body if your main goal is to get thin and slim arms.

2. It will increase fat storage. Solid research has clearly demonstrated that small amounts of juice are directly correlated with obesity. Why? It’s all about the sugar.

3. No pulp. Without pulp there’s no fiber. And without fiber insulin runs wild. Remember, that insulin causes arm fat gain.

4. It’s devoid of nutrients. Once the pulp is gone and once the peel is gone, there is little to be gained as far as nutrients go. In fact, the majority of nutrients are concentrated in the pulp and peel.

Drinking lots of juice will put a serious dent in your arm slimming efforts. It will also worsen your blood lipid profile. So please stay away from juice if you’re really serious about getting toned arms. However, if you really like juice then minimize the damage. Have a small glass and make sure it’s loaded with pulp.

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September 25th, 2009 | No Comments »

There are many ways to perform arm exercises for women. And if you?re doing the inefficient ways, you could end up wasting a lot of time.

Even worse, you may hardly notice any results from all your hard work. And nothing is more demoralizing than busting your butt in the gym only to see little, if any change.

So here are some useful pointers on how to make arm exercises for women world class:

1. Go for the full stretch. This is really important when doing any type of overhead extension for your triceps. By getting the full stretch at the bottom portion of the movement, you?ll ensure maximum toning of the long head. What?s the long head? The area where arm fat lives?

2. Squeeze, squeeze and squeeze some more. This is a great technique when doing any type of press down. The key here is to consciously squeeze the lateral head of your triceps at the midpoint of any press down movement. It will be painful, but very effective.

3. Do negative curls. If you want the complete toned arm look, you can?t neglect your biceps! After all, they are the first muscle someone will see when greeting you from the front. A negative biceps curl focuses on the downward portion of the movement. For example, you would do a bicep curl and bring the weight up with a normal speed, BUT lower the weight at a much slower speed.

4. Use some really heavy weight. But don?t let your form deviate. In fact, never let your form deviate. How heavy? Don?t be afraid to venture into the 3-5 repetition range? Trust me, your arms will thank you for it. After all, you have to target all types of muscle fibers in your arm for the best results.

There are always multiple solutions to every problem. And if you?re trying to get toned arms ASAP there are multiple ways to do arm exercises. In my experience, the basic exercises done with advanced techniques for maximum intensity always provide the best and fastest results. So stick to the basics, ignore the flashy gadgets, and you?ll be well on your way to sexy arm stardom.

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September 25th, 2009 | No Comments »

High sugar intakes and thin arms do not mix well. Hence, the utility of artificial sweeteners. They provide the taste without the calories.

Seems too good to be true?

Well, recent research has been demonstrating that artificial sweeteners are extremely unhealthy to the point of causing cancer.

So without further ado, here is what you need to know about low calorie sweeteners and sexy arms:

1. They can increase cancer risk. A solid study showed that low calorie sweeteners can increase cancer risk by thirty percent. Not good! The good news, however, is that the increase in cancer was associated with the highest levels of intake.

2. Companies hide them in many products. In order to avoid the strange aftertastes, most companies will load their low calorie products with many different artificial sweeteners. The more sweeteners, the less aftertaste.

3. All studies to date have been short term. Most of the studies proving low calorie sweetener’s safety have been extremely short and have been performed by the manufacturers. Not good. Moreover, a lot of the results of the studies have been skewed and misinterpreted.

4. Aspartame was found to be toxic in rodents. The largest rodent study to have ever been conducted found that aspartame (i.e., equal or NutraSweet) increases rates of various cancers. And the legal limit for aspartame consumption in the United States and Europe is twice the amount given to the rodents.

5. Just because it’s natural doesn’t make it safer. Stevia use to be my favorite sweetener because it’s natural. Then I came across some research showing that it converts into a mutagen within the human intestine. Not good, even if you really want thin arms!

Nobody knows if artificial sweeteners are safe in the long run. So please do not assume that you can load up on this stuff without any ill consequences. And please ignore all the marketing hype. The research proving long term safety does NOT exist. In the end, getting thin and sexy arms should not decrease your health. It should increase it.

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