EATING DISORDER

Does Your Teenager Have An Eating Disorder?

One of the most difficult jobs that a parent can experience is the important task of raising a healthy, confident, and goal oriented teenager into early adulthood. However, all to often our young children run into serious problems along the way through being a teenager. One such problem that may stay below the parent's “radar” are eating disorders.

Are you worried that your teenage son or teenage daughter may have some type of eating disorder that they are trying to keep from you and the rest of the family? This type of disorder can be quite common during the teen years, especially with teenage girls. Although we do see teenage boys go through some eating problems as well.

With so much emphasis on looks and popularity today and mixed with the already insecure feeling that teenagers have as their bodies are changing, developing an eating disorder may be an underlying problem in your teen’s life. It is important to understand and educate yourself on the two major types of eating disorders that many of our youths may be going through.

If you suspect that your teenage son or daughter has any type of problem at all, first talk to your doctor. Be hesitant about trying to correct the problem by yourself at first.

Eating disorders always stem from another underlying problem and so by focusing on food as the issue, you will more than likely make things worse for your teen instead of helping him or her. In fact, studies have shown that early discovery and treatment of eating disorders will provide the best chance of recovery.
What eating disorders should you be concerned about? The first is anorexia nervosa. With this disorder, your teen may experience excessive weight loss due to self-starvation. As ironic as it seems, most teenagers prone to this type of eating disorder are typically involved in sports such as dance or gymnastics, where their body size and weight play an important role in success.
The second eating disorder described here is called bulimia nervosa. This involves very frequent episodes of binge eating which is almost always followed by purging the food through self induced vomiting. It doesn't sound pretty but if your teenager has this eating disorder then they are probably practicing this with most, if not all of their meals due to intense feelings of guilt and shame about food.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

What Are The Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, which is sometimes called non-insulin dependent diabetes, is a condition that develops over time. Your body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin resulting in increased blood sugar levels. Family history of diabetes and obesity are two of the biggest risks factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Normally, insulin levels fluctuate in relation to the amount of glucose in your body. The level will increase after eating and decrease if no food is being consumed. The main function of insulin is to move the glucose to various destinations throughout your body. If you have more glucose than your body needs, the excess will be stored in the liver, where it will be released as needed. It is a complex balance between the pancreas, liver, insulin and glucose.

In type 2 diabetes one of two things can occur. Your pancreas will stop producing the needed levels of insulin or your body will become resistant to insulin. In both cases, the result will be high blood sugar levels.

Your body has ways of telling you when something is wrong. It is important that you know the symptoms of type 2 diabetes because, the sooner treatment starts, the less damage will be done to your body. The following paragraphs will give you an idea of what to look for in type 2 diabetes.

Extreme fatigue is often an overlooked symptom of type 2 diabetes. This is probably due to the fact that it is such a general symptom and is associated with other factors such as busy lifestyle, not getting enough sleep or stress. However, if you always feel tired and sleepy, even after a good night's sleep, you should see your doctor.

A drastic change in weight is a good indicator of diabetes. You may eat more because you are feeling hungry all the time. This will result in weight gain. Excess fat in the tissues causes your body to become even more resistant to the effects of insulin. The opposite is true also. You may eat more than normal but start losing weight. This is due to the fact that your muscles don't get enough glucose to exert energy or grow.

Blurry vision is another sign of diabetes. High blood sugar levels will pull fluid from tissues. This includes the lenses of the eye, making it very difficult to focus. Most vision problems will be resolved once the diabetes is treated. However, in a few cases, blindness can result from diabetes, especially if it is left untreated.

Another symptom of type 2 diabetes is frequent infections or slow healing infections and cuts. Diabetes interferes with the healing process. Increased incidences of yeast infections is a big indicator of type 2 diabetes.

If you notice that your gums are becoming red, swollen and inflamed you need to see your doctor. Diabetes will increase the risk of developing infections in your gums and in the bones that hold your teeth in place.

Your body is an amazing , complex machine. Listen to what it has to say. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, see your doctor right away. The sooner treatment begins for type 2 diabetes, the sooner your life can return to normal.

MACHINES

Which Is Best? Free Weights Or Exercise Machines?

Something you need to keep in mind and never forget is that when you exercise, you are training for life. You still may spend an hour a day in the gym, although that will still leave another 23 hours or so for your muscles to function without using any fancy equipment.
Whenever you do any type of exercise, the movement of your body during the exercise is known as the range of motion. The more difficult the range of motion is, the more effective the exercise will be, because your body has to work twice as hard to perform the movement.

Take for the instance the classic dumbbell bicep curl. If you aren't familiar with the exercise, it is performed by standing up straight with your palms facing forward, and a pair of dumbbells held down by your sides. You'll contract your biceps to bring the dumbbells up to your shoulder height, then repeat the exercise as many times as you wish.

Using that same movement for exercise on a bicep curl machine, you should sit down, brace your upper arms on a pad, grasp 2 handles that are in front of you, then perform the same movement as above to move the handles in an upward motion.Now, looking at the muscle contractions in this exercise, you arecontracting essentially your biceps if you are using the curl machine, and that is pretty much all you are doing.

When you use the machine you are sitting down, which will limit just how much your shoulders give. The machine has several muscles used in this exercise limited to the biceps, as well as the muscles in your forearms and fingers.

Most of the time, when using machine weights, you will always be limited as to what type of exercise you can perform. You must always follow a strict procedure, which is pretty much the same with free weights. Unlike free weights, machine weights offer a certain degree of resistance.

One of the best thing about free weights is the fact that you move a little chuck around to select the weight you want to use. Instead of dragging it over to your exercise area, you simply select it on the machine. When you are tired during a workout, this can be a blessing.

A lot of people argue in the fact that free weights are the best for your body. While this is normally true, many people out there feel that machine weights are the best. There are pros and cons with both machines, although free weights have been around a lot longer and have been proven time after time to achieve dramatic results.

Body builders for example, have used free weights over the years to build very impressive bodies. If you ask most of them about machine weights, they would probably laugh at you and tell you that you need to quit joking around.

In a nutshell, free weights will use more of your muscles than the machines do, which makes them more effective overall. This doesn't mean that the machines are a waste of use, as they offer some great advantages. In some cases, it is best to stabilize the muscles that are being used in a movement, which is where machines are the best to use.

The decision on which to use for you should be based on what you hope to achieve with lifting weights and where you plan to use the equipment, such as home or at a gym. Both systems are great for your body, although the free weights are best to use if you want the best possible workout, and always ensure that your muscles are getting the right workouts they need.

FITNESS

Need To Get In Shape? Start A Fitness Walking Program

If you want to get into shape the best way is to start a fitness walking program. Walking is very good exercise and can be done by most people, regardless of their prior activity level. One of the best things about walking is that you don't have to buy expensive equipment. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, some comfortable clothing and the ambition to finally get into shape.
The hardest part about walking is getting started.

But it is very easy. Just put on your shoes and exercise clothes and walk out the door. Start out by walking for about ten minutes and then gradually increase your time. You need to walk at a pace that gets your heart rate up but doesn't make you so out of breath that you can't talk. It is important that you do stretching exercises before you walk. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and to flush the toxins out of your system.

Many new walkers will experience shin pain. The way to avoid this is to increase your speed and distance gradually. Take it slow to allow your legs time to get used to walking. Wear a good, flexible walking shoe with a low heel. Do some research online for the best walking shoe before you buy. Do stretching exercises, focusing on the calves and shins, after you walk. Do ankle circles and toe points before and after walking.

Be aware of your posture when you walk. You want to hold your head up with your eyes straight forward. Tighten your abdominal muscles and your butt muscles. Keep your shoulders back and breathe deeply. Walk with a natural stride and a good enough pace to get your heart pumping.
Focus on the benefits of walking to help you stay motivated. Walking will help you burn calories and slim your waistline.

It can reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. Walking can reduce your cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. It will tone your legs and butt. The endorphins that are released while walking are natural mood enhancers that can help with depression and improve your outlook on life.

Eat a healthy balanced diet in addition to walking each day. Following a fad diet is a setup for failure. It is important to change your lifestyle and eating habits. Your meals should consist of healthy food choices such as fruits and vegetables. You should have a healthy snack in between meals to keep your metabolism in high gear. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and performing well.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise you can do. The time to start is now. You have a choice. You can either sit on your butt and talk about starting an exercise program or you can get up and get out the door and start walking. You are the only one that has the ability to change your life.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

The Need For After School Activities

When children are literally up to their gills with the learning and sport activities in school, it may seem superfluous to enroll them for after school activities. In spite of this, after school programs are sprouting up in large numbers and most of these are booked full. This shows that there is a real need for after school activities.

The unavailability of parental supervision is the leading cause for the surge in after school programs. It is seen that many children spend about 20-25 hours a week unsupervised and alone at home. And as the saying goes, "An idle mind is a devil's workshop". Children who are left alone to contend with too much free time invariably fall into the wrong company. Drug abuse, alcohol, tobacco and crime come knocking at their doors sooner rather than later. Parents enroll children to various after school programs to keep them occupied in a productive manner. This way, the kids are free to enjoy themselves in a supervised activity.

Crime is considered to be at its peak during the after school hours, between 3- 4 p.m. During such a time, children need protection. Getting the children together under one roof and encouraging them to participate in a group activity is protection enough. It diverts the children from ennui too.

Obesity is a matter of growing concern in this country. It is noticed that more and more children are becoming couch potatoes. After school, many of them relax on the sofa with packets of chips, cool drinks or chocolates while they watch T.V. 30 % of the kids below the age of 19 are considered overweight, and about 15% of these are obese. An after school program ensures that the child shakes off his lethargy and keeps himself busy. This also helps to reduce the child's fascination for T.V and computer games.

After school activities that promote social awareness develop the individual's sense of social responsibility. It is seen that these sorts of programs not only keep kids out of trouble, but also help to produce responsible citizens. To that extent, they are valuable building blocks in a child's personality.

Times are changing and parents want their children to excel in academics as well as in other activities. This may be a reflection of the parent's unfulfilled desire to excel - a remnant from his own childhood. Whatever the reason, parents today encourage their children to enroll themselves in various programs and develop the various facets of their individuality. Children too seem to be comfortable learning many things at the same time, and gain satisfaction from this.

CHILD

After School Activity For The Hyperactive Child

ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most children who suffer from this disorder suffer from attention problems as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such children are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such children busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe during the school day.
The first step while choosing the right after school activity for your child is to understand how ADHD affects him. Is your child interested in sports? Is he put off by the fierce competitiveness, or does he find it hard to get along with teammates? Does your child vocalize his feelings, or is communication a problem?

For a child suffering from ADHD, physical exercise is always beneficial. Exercise takes up the extra energy and helps to stimulate the brain. Team activities teach social skills and discipline. But, if your child shies away from team sports, you may want to look at activities like dancing, cycling, swimming or gymnastics. Martial arts not only teach techniques of self-defense but also teach self-control and patience.

If your child shows aversion to sport and shows inclination towards the fine arts, you may need to look at some other options. Acting classes are a wonderful form of creative exercise. It also provides the child with ample opportunity to develop his social skills. Music, art or dance can help the child to keep himself busy and entertained.

In case the child is not interested in any of the above, you may want him to join a Boy Scouts club or other community oriented clubs that take up social work. Cleaning a park, putting on a show, helping out in an old age home are various activities that may pique your child's interest.
Whatever form of activity you choose, make sure that you monitor your child's progress periodically. If you feel that there is no progress, you may need to change the activity. Anything that increases your child's self-esteem is good. You may enlist the help of the coach or teacher to assess your child's development.

There are certain activities that are detrimental to a child suffering from ADHD. Computer and video games are a definite NO. Since these games need no interaction, children will feel all the more isolated. These children also find it difficult to distinguish between the good and the bad messages. They may therefore show an inclination to stick to messages that are not needed. Games that need the child to sit and wait for his turn patiently tax his patience and will not be a success.

Although you would want these children to be as near to normal as possible, understanding their needs and limits will help you select the right after school activity - one that is fulfilling, tiring as well as challenging.

WOODEN HANDICRAFT

Cute Wooden Handicraft: Make A String Of Hearts

Everyone loves heart-shaped decorations. This cute wooden handicraft can be hung over a doorway or as part of a wall display. Paint the hearts red, pink, and white, and you will have a decoration for Valentines' Day. Paint them red and green for Christmas, or red, white, and blue to display love for America. You can leave it plain for a natural look. The string of hearts wooden handicraft fits well with country style furnishings.

To make the string of hearts, you will need 5 wooden heart cut-outs approximately three inches wide, a drill with an eighth inch bit and a quarter inch bit, a small amount of raffia, two yards of 1 -1/2 inch wide soft ribbon, two large wooden beads, and acrylic paints in the colors you want. The ribbon and the beads should match the color sceme you desire. Plaid ribbons are particularly effective.

The string of hearts has five hearts side by side tied together with small raffia bows. The first and last hearts have the wide ribbon strung through a hole on each side and a bead strung on the ribbon. The ribbon is knotted at the very ends, making a loop of ribbon on each end which can fit over a nail for hanging.

The first step in making the wooden handicraft is to drill a small hole on each side of the hearts. The two outside holes are made with the quarter inch bit, and the other holes are made with the 1/8 inch bit. Now paint the hearts with the acrylic paint in the colors you desire. Acrylic paints are the small bottles of craft paint that are sold in 2-ounce bottles in a wide variety of colors. They can sometimes be purchased very inexpensively.

Tempera paint will work if you can't get acrylic paints. Another idea is to spray paint them, especially if you want to use a metallic color.

When the paint is dry, tie the hearts together with the raffia. To do this, cut four 10-inch lengths of raffia. Thread the raffia down into one hole and up through the hole on the next heart so that they lay side by side. The raffia should be tied in a neat bow on the top of the arrangement. Do the same between the rest of the hearts so that all the small raffia bows are on top. Trim the raffia ends if necessary.

Through each of the outside holes, thread one of the ribbons. Pull the ribbon through until the ends are even. Thread the large bead over both ends and slip it up close to the heart. Trim the ends of the ribbon decoratively and knot them. Repeat the process on the other side to complete the wooden handicraft. Now hang the string of hearts wherever desired for a cheerful decoration. A wooden handicraft like this makes a nice gift for someone special.

ENERGY SAVING IDEAS

Energy Saving Ideas Guaranteed to Save You Money!

Did you know that a bigger and heavier automobile is more expensive to use? They take up more fuel. So if you have more than one vehicle, and you’re not planing to car pool, why not use your car instead of the family van? This is a wonderful energy saving idea that would save you some money.

Another good energy saving idea when it comes to transportation is to not always use your car. On those beautiful, sunny days, why not try walking or taking your bike for a ride for those short-distance destinations.

Now that we’ve got your transportation covered, let’s talk about your home. One good energy saving idea that you can incorporate into your lifestyle is to use fluorescent lighting.
Fluorescent lights take up lower wattage, but effuses the same amount of light as regular light bulbs, therefore taking up less energy.

Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you are not using it. This is an energy saving idea that would not cost you a single penny.

Always unplug appliances when you are not using them. This is a great energy saving idea, especially around the living room where most of the entertainment appliances are kept. Some appliances take up energy even if they are not being used.

Now for your kitchen, it’s a wonderful energy saving idea to always keep your refrigerator clean. A clean refrigerator takes up lesser energy, because it runs more effectively. So make it a habit to clean your refrigerator regularly. Plus, always keep your freezers and refrigerators full. An empty refrigerator requires more energy to run.

When it comes to baking it would not be a bad energy saving idea to use your toaster instead of your oven whenever possible. Economize your use of your oven by baking in batches.
Also a good energy saving idea is to use the microwave instead of your regular stove. You can use your microwave to boil water, cook dishes and make desserts. Microwaves cost less to run that traditional stoves.

A great energy saving idea for your washing machine would be to wash in full loads. Don’t throw just a shirt or two in the washer. Wait until your dirty laundry piles up before you do your washing. Try using warm or cold water temperature. This is an energy saving idea that once it becomes a habit will lessen the cost of your electricity bill over time.

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

Save Money With Energy Saving Tips

Let’s face it: No matter how you budget your finances wisely, things will go out of hand in spite of everything that you have done. There will always be bills to pay and electric bills that escalates high up to the sky.

So, the next best thing to do is to turn your home into an energy saving home so that you can cut-back the bills to as far as 50% from your current total consumption.
How to do that? Here are tips that will guide you in making your home an energy saving home.

1. Create your own energy.
One of the best ways in creating an energy saving home is to produce your own energy. This is, in particular, one of the most lucrative alternatives to hefty electric bills.
One way to make an energy saving home is to use the renewable energy. This means that you will utilize more and maximize the capabilities of unlimited sources of energy like the sea, the sun, or the man-made energy-generating inventions.
These devices are very important especially in places wherein the climate is continuously changing.

2. Make use of the Solar PV.
This is one of the methods that will make your home an energy saving home.
Basically, Solar PV utilizes the energy that is coming from the sun in order to generate energy. The energy that will be produced is the one that will be used to operate different domestic devices and illuminations.

One good thing about Solar PV is that it does not make use of direct sunlight so as to produce energy. It is simply operational during day time.
With Solar PV, you can truly transform your house into an energy saving home. All you have to do is to purchase PV systems and attach them to your wall or roof that is looking towards the south, within the 90 degrees range, provided that there will be no tangible things that will take the limelight out of your house.

3. Use the natural heater.
If you want to turn your home into an energy saving home, it is best that you employ the services of a solar water heating system. This system uses the high temperature coming from the sun and transforms it into your water heater.
Solar water heating system has solar panels that are placed on your roof so as to collect heat coming from the sun’s rays. With this system, it naturally heats the water in your water storage system and eventually keeps the heat intact so that you can still use it on the later part of the day.
With Solar water heating system, you can be sure that your home will soon be an energy saving home minus the hefty electric bills.

4. Make a wind mill.
As a part of the energy saving home, small scale winds are also created in order to generate energy coming from the speed of the wind that operates the blades. These blades, in turn, will be the one that will generate electricity for your home.
However, because its energy is fully dependent on the speed of the wind, it is advisable that you place your small scale wind at the highest place in your area.
Nevertheless, using small scale wind can still lessen your electricity consumption and will definitely turn your home into an energy saving home.

5. Insulate your walls.
In order to make an energy saving home, it is best that you do cavity wall insulation. This refers to the insulation system that is placed in between your cavity walls or between the internal and external sheets of bricks that makes up the exterior part of your house.
For most places that have colder temperature, having a cavity wall insulation will definitely make an energy saving home by merely using it. It suspends the release of confined warm air and insulates the wall so as to impede “heat loss.”
With the cavity wall insulation, you will no longer make use of your heater, and so, you can save more money by cutting back your electric consumption.

6. Go for that glazed-window.
An energy saving home is one that has glazed-type windows. This means that the windows are layered with a certain protective coating and curbs any possible heat loss.
In this manner, the heat that enters your room or your house, for that matter, will not be lost instantly. And so, with enough heat to warm you through, you no longer have a use for a heater. Simply out, no heater means eliminated high electricity bills.

So, now that you know how to convert your home into an energy saving home, the next thing you have to do is to budget your other finances wisely. It doesn’t necessarily mean that with an energy saving home, you’ll be confident enough that there will be no high bills to pay and that you indulge into a shopping spree.

Having an energy saving home means there’s a solution to your financial problem but not as a means for a bigger financial problem.