Reiki Healing Courses Sometimes Hard To Find
Reiki healing courses are sometimes hard to find, depending on where you leave. But, the “Reiki healing source” is everywhere. It is the life energy that surrounds and flows through all living things. It is a real energy source, even though it cannot yet be measured using our current technology.
If you decide to take Reiki healing courses, you will learn to accept and use this energy source. You will first learn to heal yourself, if that is needed. And then learn to use Reiki energy in your every day life to achieve any goal that you want. Eventually, you will be able to use the energy source to heal other people, your pets and even your houseplants.
It may all sound too good to be true. Skeptics of Reiki healing courses abound, primarily because, the existence of the Reiki healing source cannot be proven scientifically.
When it comes to human health, most things cannot be “proven”. There are only theories. The theories change as time goes by and more information becomes available.
The Reiki healing source is the same source that is used in Ayurvedic Medicine, which is a legitimate and nationally recognized branch of medicine in India. It is the same source used in traditional Chinese Medicine, known as qi or chee.
Traditional Chinese Medicine includes the field of acupuncture, which we all know is effective. Scientists have theories about how acupuncture works, but it truly has to do with the energy fields that surround and flow through the body.
If you are still doubtful, consider the power of “touch”. We know that there is a psychological need for “touch”, but we do not know why. There are only theories.
We know that newborns and premature infants thrive and develop at a better rate, when they are “touched” regularly. This seems to indicate that there is a physical need for touch, as well.
The elderly experience better physical and mental health when they have regular contact with someone who touches them in a caring way. Numerous studies have shown that to be true.
In Canada, Healing Touch Therapy has been practiced for more than twenty years. The effectiveness of the therapy has been proven over and over again.
In Reiki healing courses, we learn how to use the power of touch most effectively. We learn how to tap into the Reiki healing source that “runs” our lives. If you cannot accept that this energy source is real, then understanding-reiki.com/ Reiki healing courses may not be for you.
If you would like to learn more, please visit understanding-reiki.com/ Understanding Reiki.com.
Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Currently she is writing a series of articles about Reiki, which made a huge difference in her life. Read more at understanding-reiki.com understanding-reiki.com
Mineral Makeup- Natural Beauty
As we become more aware of our environment and more aware of the products that we are putting into and onto our bodies, natural and homeopathic products are taking the cosmetic industry by storm.
It’s likely you’ve noticed new skincare and cosmetic companies popping up with “all natural” and “organic” products. Of course, just because they say they are, doesn’t necessarily make it true. That is where consumer education comes in, and why it is so important.
The title of this article is “Mineral Makeup”. After learning what mineral makeup is, what products go into it, and what its benefits are, you can decide if this is the right choice for you.
What Is Mineral Makeup?
Mineral makeup is designed from all naturally occurring products. It is often recommended by dermatologists to women with sensitive skin, rosacea, post operative, laser and other procedures because of its intrinsic skin soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a powder makeup of finely milled minerals. It can provide very sheer or very opaque coverage, depending on the formulation and application. However, it still allows natural skin radiance to show through, so you don’t get the dreaded “mask” look. It is typically free of fragrance and preservatives. Minerals cannot feed bacteria, so there is no danger of spoilage, thus it needs no preservatives. It does not go bad. It is very good for oily skin because it has several oil- absorbing components.
It is usually applied with a brush, and is typically shown to be “buffed” into the skin. This technique forces the makeup into your pores, which is never a good thing. A technique that works with better quality mineral makeup (which we’ll discuss later) is to “dust” the makeup on, instead of “buffing” it. If a brush irritates your skin, you can also use a non-latex or flocked sponge. Application can be done either wet or dry.
What Are The Ingredients?
This is the most important part. Learning what is in your makeup will give you the ability to choose what will meet your needs best. These are the ingredients you will most likely come across.
· Titanium Dioxide- A white natural sunscreen and anti-inflammatory agent. It is highly reflect, with only a diamond being higher, and thus minimizes fine lines and some skin discolorations.
· Zinc Oxide- A natural sunscreen providing broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
· Sericite- A colorless mica that can be used to cut the opacity of Titanium Dioxide and also works as an oil absorber.
· Cornstarch/ Rice Powder- Cosmetic grade- An oil humectant (draws oil out of the pores). Can make acne worse as it is a source of food for bacteria.
· Kaolin Clay- Natural oil-absorption.
· Mica- Natural “glitter”. Provides shimmer and sparkle.
· Iron Oxides- Natural pigment- very opaque. Used for tinting cosmetics.
Ingredients To Avoid
These ingredients are also common, but can cause problems so are best to avoid.
· Talc/ Various Powders- Common fillers- can cause respiratory problems.
· FD&C Dyes- Derived from coal tar.
· Bismuth Oxychloride- Known skin irritant- causes itching, rashes and breakouts. Especially prevalent when the wearer sweats.
· Ferric Ferrocyanide- Controversial because of its suspected toxicity.
· Carmine- Crushed beetles.
What Brand Should I Buy?
Well, if you’re familiar with mineral makeup, it’s likely you’ve seen the infomercials. After further research you’ll find these companies use controversial ingredients, and charge quite a bit for their products.
There are several good mineral makeup companies out there that provide a much better product at a more affordable price, as well as a superior customer experience. They also offer samples, which the larger companies do not. You’ll get to try the makeup (unlike in the drugstore!) for a fraction of the cost before you buy it. They don’t have expensive advertising and packaging to pay for, so the savings are often passed on to you.
Lynn is the proprietor of Beauty Bliss Mineral Cosmetics at beautyblisscosmetics beautyblisscosmetics as well as ultimate-skin-care-tips.com ultimate-skin-care-tips.com
5 easy tips on how to get rid of dandruff
In this article I’ll share with you my 5 easy tips to get rid of dandruff
1. Try vinegar. Pour vinegar into your hair and massage it all the way through for a couple of minutes. Then leave it dry for a few more minutes. Then wash your hair as normal. Do this everyday for a few days until your dandruff is gone. It should be gone in a few days.
2. A prescription steroid lotion might be the best bet. Steroid lotions can sometimes be the most popular treatment for dandruff.
3. Consider changing your diet. Try to cut out foods that are processed and high in hydrogenated fats. Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating wild cold-water fish, freshly ground flax seeds, walnuts, fortified eggs, and leafy green vegetables. Trying to avoid dairy products may help you.
4. Try hypnosis! Believe it or not, sometimes skin conditions respond to hypnosis! So consider seeing a hypnotherapist experienced in treating them. Try here to find a hypnotherapist in your area (www.asch.net/referrals.asp).
5. See a Dermatologist. In some cases a scalp disease coule be the cause of severe dandruff. When this happens you should definetely make an appointment to see your dermatologist. Try here to find one in your area aad.org/public/searchderm.htm
In this articles I shared with you my 5 easy tips for getting rid of dandruff.
Did you find those tips on how to get rid of dandruff useful? You can learn a lot more about how to get rid of dandruff here.”
Mike Grove is a regular everyday citizen who searches for simple solutions to common everyday problems. He is the webmaster for successwww.com successwww.com.
End Your Love Affair With Food!
Do you remember your first love? Have you ever taken one look at a person and known it was love? Are you currently in love? Do you love romantic movies, love songs and romance novels? Do you love dogs, cats or other pets? Do you love chocolate, pasta or other foods? Do you see a difference between all of these things that we say we “love”?
So often a reader will tell me that they love food, or that they love a certain food. I try to explain to them that love should be reserved for our family, our pets and ourselves. When pressed, the person will nearly always recant and say, “Well, I don’t love it, but I really like it.”
I think when we say we love a certain food, it gives that food a lot of control over us. Think about it: You love your parents, your spouse, your friends and your children, right? And, therefore, you feel a certain responsibility toward them. You would never ignore them, shut them out of your life or purposely decide never to see them again, would you?
Well, in the case of the unhealthy foods that we believe we love, I think we should take a different approach. I think they should be cast aside, banned and sent to the trash. Why?
The problem with the unhealthy foods that we love, or our vice foods as I like to call them, is that it is a case of love at first bite. That very first bite does us in, and we are hooked. We become prisoners of love and true goners. If you LOVE chocolate and take that very first bite, are you able to put it down and not finish the candy bar or the box? If you LOVE fried chicken, do you really eat just ONE piece, or do you have many?
What about pizza, another great love of our lives. Have you ever had one piece and then broken up with the remaining cheesy, gooey and tempting pieces left in the box? Or, how about potato chips? Lays potato tells us that “no one can eat just one” for a reason. No one can!
So you see, it is really the first bite of the unhealthy food item that is the problem. If you can just say NO to the first bite, then you don’t have the internal struggle of when to stop having more bites.
Many people can relate to the story of one of my readers, she lived a morbidly obese lifestyle in a morbidly obese body. Ice cream was truly her lover. She had a horrible marriage and was very lonely, so night after night, she curled up on the sofa with her ½ gallon and fell in love — bite after bite.
The ice cream filled a void that nothing else seemed to fill. But, the problem was that she also trying to diet. She was constantly trying to lose weight, going on diet after diet, but still continuing the affair with her lover: Espresso and Cream (Light) Baskin-Robbins ice cream.
To her and so many others, the love of food was an obsession. She was embarrassed that she even bounced checks to buy her fix. Like with any unhealthy addiction we have in life, it had to stop.
She swore off ice cream, her vice, in January of 1995. It has now been almost 12 years, and I am proud to say that she has not had ONE bite of ice cream, not ONE, since the very day that she decided to stop. It is an interesting coincidence that by Christmas of that year, she was also down about 100 pounds.
You see, we all need replace our love of food with a new love: Self-Love! Love of self is the only kind of love that will help YOU to realize your dreams and goals.
So, do you really love food, or is it time to look a bit deeper for a new love?
Email Julia with your comments at
Neck Pain – Is There Any Relief?
I know you’ve had neck pain — hasn’t everyone? Even my three year old grandchild has asked me to rub her neck because “it hurts, Gams.” Having a pain in the neck is no fun. Your head feels like a ton of bricks bearing down on your neck and you feel helpless to do anything about it. It doesn’t matter how you got your neck pain; what matters is that you have it and you just can’t seem to function in your life with it. So how do you go about finding neck pain relief? Having been on the receiving of end of chronic neck pain, I’ve discovered a few things that I’d like to pass on to you.
Determine the Cause of the Pain
The best place to start in managing your neck pain is to determine the root of your pain. Even though it won’t make your neck stop hurting to find out why it is hurting, it’s the first step to recovery because you won’t do that (whatever caused it) again. For example, if you have slept in the wrong position, you can adjust how you sleep the next night so that you don’t have to deal with it. Or, in my case just yesterday, I won’t scrub the tile in the kitchen with Clorox again! My counter top was pristine but, oh, what a headache I had a few minutes later.
Break Habits That Cause Neck Pain
On another ocassion I found myself on the chiropractor’s table getting an adjustment because I had worked too long, sitting in a strained position, in front of my computer. Another time I discovered that my favorite handbag was the culprit. No longer do I carry a heavy purse on my shoulder.
Now, that was a hard habit to break I can assure you. However, my chiropractor told me in no uncertain terms if I want to help my neck I should change my purse. I also stopped holding the phone against my shoulder, a habit a bit easier to break because of the pain generated when I forget. Yes, it’s hard to break such habits; however, to make sure that you are doing things that aren’t going to lead to more pain, change is necessary. This is perhaps the hardest part.
Another way you can alleviate some neck pain is to adjust your sleeping position. Our necks are very sensitive when it comes to how we sleep. Be sure that you are always sleeping in a way that doesn’t cause your neck to hurt. Take precautions to make sure that your head is fully supported as you sleep as some neck pain occurs because your neck is having to work too hard to hold up your head as you sleep.
Apply Heat And Stretch Those Neck Muscles
So, what’s the best way to treat neck pain? I’ve found that applying heat to the area of my neck that hurts offers soothing relief. Stretching is also good. Many times the key to neck pain relief is to make sure the muscles that have been affected have a chance to get stretched out. A good method I’ve used is to lie in a tub of hot water first — then stretch my neck while it is warm from the hot water. The hot water and the steam helps the muscles in your neck to uncoil. I have found my neck feels better quickly when I do this. Oh! What a relief!
Linda Van Fleet is the author of several inspirational and self-help articles. For more health related articles please visit painrelief.applecity.com. painrelief.applecity.com.
Thinking of Getting Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye correction might just change your life. Literally. My experience seems typical of so many patients who choose to take this route. Thanks to Lasik MD of Windsor, Canada, I now live a life completely free of vision correction. It’s an amazing experience to say the least. And while I was quite impressed with the clinic that did my procedure, this is by no means an advertisement for them. This is simply my testimony as to how big of a positive impact this procedure could have on your life.
With a corrective near-sighted prescription of -2.75 and -3.25, glasses were not an option in my life, they were an absolute necessity. I couldn’t drive, read, watch television, or clearly recognize a face from ten feet away. Any activity that caused sweat caused irritation… glasses sliding down my nose and slipping from my ears. The battle of the contact lens was a ritual whenever we planned outdoors summer activities. It was simply a part of life and those of you who have to wear glasses know exactly what I’m talking about. Up until recently, it was just something I had to deal with.
The decision to weigh out the risk involved was a short one for me. Sure, you could go blind. You could end up having worse vision. But, we face risk everyday. This is a small risk I was going to face. I had heard from plenty of folks who were thrilled with the results to convince me I was going to do it, once I had the funds. With any surgery, there are possibilities for complications. After calling a few clinics in Michigan, I quickly found that their was a wide range of prices available, but generally speaking, it was quite a bit cheaper to have it done in Canada. If you’re considering surgery, be sure to look into this option before signing up anywhere in the states. Both eyes ended up costing me about $1,500 USD. Of course, you need to consider the costs of travel, hotel, and follow-up care in your budget process. They even take Visa.
I set up my appointment two weeks in advance, and found Lasik MD to be quite flexible in terms of times available. I scheduled my screening, surgery, and immediate follow up care in one three day span of a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Upon arrival, the Lasik MD offices were surprisingly professional, clean, and inviting.
One thing I found was that thinking about the surgery was much worse than the actual procedure. The procedure itself lasted about 15 minutes total. It’s somewhat of an uneasy thought of having someone do anything to your eyes, but again, I had some confidence because of so many positive testimonies from friends. The craziest sensation during the whole process was when they made the initial incision into my eye on the second day. If you’ve ever looked into a kaleidoscope as a child, this is the real thing ~ an odd feeling but completely painless.
I’d have to say the first few days after surgery were a little concerning, as intermittent cloudiness was how my vision went. But after several weeks, this almost completely went away. The halo effects lingered for awhile (you see a glare around lights noticed mostly when driving at night) but this also went away after a couple months.
Today, my vision is officially 20/20. I went out and bought a pair of expensive sunglasses. You know the significance of this if you’re vision impaired! I see absolutely perfectly six months later and have had no regrets at all. In fact, I’d pay $10,000 for the surgery if I had to. It’s that awesome! If you’re interested in reading a more detailed version of our experience, including the disappointment my wife faced with this process, feel free to check out whatnotreviews.com/products/personal-care/laser-eye-surgery-experiences.php?utm_medium=art” target=”_blank our more detailed laser eye surgery review here.
For a more detailed discussion of the experience of having the laser eye surgery procedure, including the potential disappointments, whatnotreviews.com/products/personal-care/laser-eye-surgery-experiences.php?utm_source=art” >visit us here.Michael Kerry is an online publisher and author focused on consumer information and product investigation. His primary focus is on the development of his newest online publishing venture,
Natural Heartburn Cures – Easy Tips for the Prevention of Heartburn
There are several easy steps you can take for the prevention heartburn. This article will focus on natural heartburn cures. I’ll cover over-the-counter medications for treating heartburn in another article. Heartburn could be a symptom of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly called “Acid Reflux”, which can cause serious damage to the esophagus. The information contained in this article is not a substitute for medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition.
The primary step to take in the prevention of heartburn is a change of dietary habits. Certain foods trigger or aggravate heartburn by causing abnormal stomach acid production and should be avoided. The following foods have been proven to cause the symptoms of heartburn to occur: caffeinated drinks – like coffee and soft drinks, alcohol, fried foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits, chocolate, and tomatoes. Avoiding or limiting consummation of these foods is an important step in curing your heartburn naturally.
Some studies suggest that drinking alcohol is the number one cause of heartburn symptoms. Excessive drinking can also cause inflammation of the pancreas which can feel like heartburn.
In addition to the other health risks caused by smoking, it can also cause an increase in stomach acid leading to heartburn. You can help relieve your heartburn by quitting smoking. Regular smokers have been shown to be 70% more susceptible to acid reflux disease as compared to non-smokers. And the symptoms of those who have already developed acid reflux are worsened due to smoking. Of course, quitting smoking has other health benefits and is an important step in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise should be a part of everyone’s life. It assists in curing a large range of body disorders including helping to rid heartburn by aiding in digestion and the movement of food down the intestinal tract. Intense exercise shouldn’t be performed within a few hours of eating. Taking a short 10 to 15 minute walk after a meal will aid in digestion – in addition to helping to reduce stress, another major cause of heartburn.
An easy natural heartburn cure is to avoid eating two hours before sleeping. Likewise, you should avoid lying down after eating a meal. Elevating the head of the bed by 6 to 8 inches has proven to be an effective way to hamper the back flow of gastric fluids. The combination of not eating for two to three hours before sleeping and the elevation of the head of the bed has brought relief to many heartburn sufferers.
To summarize, heartburn can be spurred by the eating certain foods, sleeping or lying down soon after eating a meal, smoking, drinking alcohol, and lack of exercise. Though there are a number of medications for the treatment of heartburn the best way to cure heartburn is to prevent it from occurring through changes in diet and lifestyle. Following these simple tips in combination work well in the natural healing of heartburn and in the prevention of the serious health risks that can occur from acid reflux.
97% Of All Heartburn Pain Can Be Relieved… Click here for more information on webfindpro.com/heartburn/ natural remedy to cure heartburn
A Sweet Way to Keep Your Skin Young
We’re all wrapped in skin. It is the largest organ in our body. It stretches, heals and renews trillions of cells each day. As the years go by, this process begins to decline and our skin starts looking dull, wrinkled and less vibrant.
Beauty spas offer expensive solutions to help us buy back what God gave us for free when we were younger. These solutions include chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and expensive alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) products and a host of moisturizing products.
You don’t need to go to expensive and potentially dangerous lengths to get back the vibrant glow to your skin. Your skin can be renewed through careful skin care and intelligently using beauty solutions that come from nature.
God has made provision for all of our needs in creation. Honey is one of the best examples of a God-given substance that provides for health, healing and even beauty! Here are just a few benefits of honey:
• Honey is a natural humectant – that means it naturally attracts and retains moisture. This makes honey an important ingredient in many moisturizing products, cleansers, shampoos and conditioners.
• Honey is also well known for its healing properties and has been used to keep wounds clean and infection-free for generations.
• Honey acts like hydrogen peroxide when it teams up with propolis (a compound in nectar) to fight infection and bacteria and to act as a natural bandage. These nourishing and protecting properties extend beyond broken skin, acting as a gentle moisturizing cleanser for all skin types.
Honey is a Sweet Treat for Your Skin!
The cosmetic industry has noticed that health conscious women are looking for safer and better ways to care for their skin. You now see honey in products found at your cosmetic counter. But, why settle for a little honey combined with things you may not need?
To get the best result, use pure honey straight from the container. There is nothing better than the real thing. Until we know the true cause of disease and dreaded cancers, we should stay as close to natural as possible.
For healthy, younger-looking skin, try these beauty recipes using the God-given power of honey. Use only Pure Organic Honey in these recipes if you can.
Honey Facials
For normal to oily skin:
1. Beat one egg white (from a medium size egg) until frothy
2. Add 1 Tablespoon Pure organic honey
3. Mix the honey and beaten egg white together to form a paste. Apply to your face and throat using an upward motion only!
4. Sit back, put your feet up and relax for 10-15 minutes
5. Rinse your face with warm water followed by a cold water splash
6. Your face will be refreshed and well nourished
For dry skin:
1. Mix 2 Tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon olive oil until well blended
2. Apply to your face and throat using and upward motion only
Use this treatment once a day for two weeks and you will see a softening of fine lines and wrinkles.
Lemon and Honey Hydrating Mask
This mask is great for very dehydrated skin. You only need:
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of diary cream and
1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
After mixing all of the ingredients well:
1. apply by patting with your fingers
2. leave it on for 20 minutes and rinse off with bottled or spring water and cotton pads.
After just one facial treatment, your skin will be hydrated, smooth and nourished.
You don’t have to be a casualty in the war against aging. The same creator who gave us the feminine desire to seek beauty and vibrancy has also given us natural sources to remain youthful and beautiful for many years.
Linda Gaston is an advocate for natural beauty solutions for the mature Christian Woman. She has written a book “Born Again Beautiful” that provides all natural solutions for beautiful hair, skin and body for the woman over forty. To learn more visit bornagainbeautiful.com bornagainbeautiful.com
Herbal Remedy for Your Anxiety
Anxiety, stress and depression, at some point really come in our daily lives. How do you deal with it?
Most of us have our own way of having anxious times. It can be nervousness and increase of heart rate before an examination, interview or presentation. It can be having too much worry about something; there are actually a lot of different instances in our daily lives that can lead to anxiety.
There is some level of anxiety that we can say it’s healthy because it can motivate persons to accomplish or do certain task. When this anxiety became severe, it can interrupt the daily life of a person. Having a huge feeling of worry and fear come up to an anxiety disorder.
But there are ways on how to cure anxiety naturally. In order to have anxiety relief, natural treatment can be done best. Having physical activities and exercises are good methods in providing anxiety relief.
You can do some walking or jogging for an hour or even half an hour will do, working out in a gym is another way to do it. Actually, there are a lot of options that you can do in order to do some exercises and physical activities. But make sure that you choose the option that you’ll be happy to do each day, since this will be done on a daily basis. Yes, exercises and physical activities are helpful, but relaxation also should be taken into consideration. Relaxation can be helpful in comforting and calming the mind and the body. There are some ways on stress reduction techniques such as breathing techniques, yoga, meditation and massage.
The common problems that are associated with anxiety disorder are the lack of sleep and concentration. So the stress reduction techniques can be helpful in relaxing the muscles which relieves one from stress. And it can also enhance and improve the sleep of someone who has anxiety problem. Another way that can be helpful to treat anxiety disorder is by a balanced diet. A constant level of stress and anxiety can weaken the immune system of a person. S it is better to make a balanced diet, lessen your carbohydrates. It would be better to have high protein diet. Eliminating coffee and soft drinks can be helpful in boosting your immune system.
Natural supplement and herbs are helpful and popular way of treating anxiety disorder. Just make sure to use 100% natural product without any side effect in order to treat your anxiety disorder. Yes, taking herbal remedy for your anxiety is very helpful, but for maximum benefit, it would be better to take it along with balanced diet and exercises.
Herbal remedy can help your body; it can help the body resist stress, anxiety and depression. But it is also should be taken in consultation with your doctor.
You see, anxiety should be treated in time, because if not, it can lead to other problems such as low self-esteem, depression, and also alcoholism. So it can make a harmful or worse impact on your body and can affect your work and personal relationships.
Herbal remedy can help you cure and primeherbal.com/Relagen/” target=”_blank resist stress and anxiety, and it can be much effective it done with balanced diet and exercises.
Article Author Eliza Maledevic from Jump2top.com, a SEO Company. Visit our Herbal Remedies Sites at primeherbal.com/anti_aging primeherbal.com/anti_aging & primeherbal.com/hoodia primeherbal.com/hoodia
Do You Make the Most of Your Workout Time?
There are two keys to getting the most from your workouts. If you omit either one of them you might not get the results you expect. But if you do them both, you will have maximum results with minimum effort. And that is what we all want.
First, when you come to the gym, or when you do any workout, you need to know what it is that you intend to accomplish and how you are going to go about it. In other words, you have to have a plan. It doesn’t have to be a complicated plan, but you do need to know where you are going and how you plan on getting there.
For example, if you are trying to lose weight, it is vital to know where you are now. What do you weigh? What is your body fat percentage? How much muscle do you have?
It is the muscle that burns up the calories while you are at the gym exercising. And it is also the muscle that burns up calories throughout the day, while you are at work, at home resting and even while you are sleeping. It is the muscle that does this.
So you need to know how much muscle you have now, and you need to keep track of how much more you are developing, to see if you are making progress.
You can do this with a few simple tools. A bathroom scale or the scale at the gym will tell you how much you weigh. You can figure out the fat percentage with a simple, inexpensive caliper.
The Accu-Measure Fitness 2888body fat caliper is an inexpensive tool that has been proven to be very accurate; it is available for about $20.00. It will tell you what your body fat percentage is.
Just subtract the fat mass from your body weight, and that is your lean mass. As long as the lean mass is going up while the fat mass is going down, you are doing well, gaining muscle and getting into better shape.
Second, you need to know what you are doing each workout. If you are walking, you should keep track of how far you walk and how long it takes you. That way you can tell if you are doing better as time goes on. If you are not improving your times or your distance you might not be making the progress you should.
If you are using weights to gain muscle and slim down (and you should if at all possible, because weight training is one of the best ways to lose weight, no matter who you are, how old you are, how out of shape you are, or what you weigh) then you need to know what workout you are going to do each time you go to the gym.
Your program should be written out beforehand, and include the exercises and the number of repetitions that you are going to do. Then all you have to do is keep a log book (a simple spiral notebook works well) and make a quick note as you do each set of exercises.
It only takes a second you write down the name of the exercise, the number of repetitions, and the weight you are using on each set. This is a vital step that many people leave out. But when you do this, you are recording your progress each workout, and you will know from week to week whether you are improving or not. You can flip the page and see how you did last week, and challenge yourself to do at least one more.
If you do these two things, have a long term plan in mind and keep records of your progress, you can have maximum benefit from minimum effort. And you really can lose that extra weight and at last have the body that you have always wanted.
Copyright 2006 Dan Curtis, M.D.
Dan Curtis, M.D. is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of South Florida. He is the author of Dr. Dan’s Super Weight Loss Plan.
Sign up for his free newsletter: Dr. Dan’s Super Weight Loss Tips, Tricks and Secrets. Click here– superweightlossplan.com/newsletter/ superweightlossplan.com/newsletter/.