July 12th, 2010 by Mind Body and Soul
As you approach menopause, it?s not unusual to gain weight, especially around your mid-section. You have likely not changed your eating habits or level of activity, but the weight continues to accumulate, even if you?re still experiencing regular periods. Most women begin to notice this added weight while they?re in their thirties or forties, and are frustrated by the fact that the weight is not quite as easy to lose as it was a few years prior.
The weight you?re now noticing is perfectly normal and is the result of declining hormone levels as you approach menopause (perimenopause). As your estrogen levels decline, your body will naturally look for other places from where to get the estrogen it needs. Unfortunately for us women, fat cells can produce estrogen, therefore, your body works extra hard to convert your consumed calories into fat.
Not only are your estrogen levels declining, but your body?s testosterone levels are declining too. Testosterone is a necessary hormone to convert your calories to lean muscle mass; as your levels of testosterone decline, the result will mean a loss of muscle. If you no longer have the necessary muscle mass to burn calories, the food you?re consuming will result in fat accumulation.
Fortunately, if you have the determination to lose the extra weight you?re now carrying around, you will do so successfully. The only obstacle between you and a successful weight loss would be a lack of determination and discipline on your part; I sincerely doubt this is the case due to the fact that you found this article because you?re obviously looking for solutions.
Now that you understand the havoc your hormones are capable of wreaking, you now have a clearer picture of what it is you need to do to lose the weight you?ve gained due to declining hormone levels. You see, simply cutting calories is no longer enough to reduce or eliminate the weight you?ve gained around your mid-section. Muscle plays a crucial role in weight loss, so it?s imperative to build muscle in order to have your body burn calories around the clock.
I?m not suggesting anything extreme, but getting into a regular exercise program, which includes cardiovascular workouts, as well as weight training at least three days a week will result in a much leaner body.
Congratulations on taking the first step toward having a body that is healthy, beautiful, lean and toned.
Short note about the author
Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan, a health and fitness expert, started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally. This led to her discovery of the significant role that exercise plays in making menopause a very manageable, and even wonderful time in a woman’s life. Susan Megge is the author of “Being Beautiful Beyond 40,” a book dedicated to helping women to be inspired, confident and beautiful as they approach menopause.
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May 20th, 2009 by Mind Body and Soul
If you were to translate Tai Chi into English you would get something that you may not have expected as it translates into “Supreme Ultimate Force”. This means that it is a state of unlimited and complete capability. This type of practice confronts the concepts between Yin and Yang, which rule over the four realms and five elements. Without these two very important aspects there would be no world, as they are what created it and control everything about it. Without Yin there can be no Yang and vice versa. Tai Chi can also be translates as meaning Unity, Oneness, or being one with.
Tai Chi uses the concept of negative and positive energy to draw ones force from the body itself. To be good at it one must be at one with himself and have the ultimate discipline of their body. Tai Chi has been practiced since ancient times and is still practiced today even in the western society. It is a series of slow movements that resemble Yoga or moving mediation, in fact you can even say that it is a mix of the two. The different movements end up making forms of the various poses of several animals and birds. It is not considered a martial art because of its slow movements.
Tai Chi is considered by practitioners as a relaxing exercise that calls upon the body, mind, soul and environment to work together. However, there are some who look at it as a type of combat due to its considerable force behind the movements. If you know anything about Chinese medicine you know that it is all about the energy force that flows through the body that is known as Chi. If for some reason the flow of good Chi is disrupted, the person can fall ill. It is a way of keeping the good chi circulating throughout the body as it should.
It is believed that Chi circulates through the body just as you blood would, reaching all organs. Therefore, because Tai Chi helps circulate Chi energy it is directly connected to other types of Chinese medicine such as acupuncture and other oriental healing. Common knowledge is that it is practiced to promote tranquility and calmness in ones mind. The mind has to be focused in order to do the complicated movements of Tai Chi. By doing it the person will learn many new skills that include motor control, balance, rhythm of movement and alignment of the limbs and body.
By practicing Tai Chi often enough the person will learn how to have better posture when sitting, standing, walking and even running. There are so many different benefits to practicing it that they can not all be discussed. However, I can tell you that it is a great way to have a healthier body and be more in control of it. By doing Tai Chi you can use a type of “combat” in a slow way without hurting the opponent. However, if you are looking for a self defense martial arts you are looking in the wrong place.
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May 19th, 2009 by Mind Body and Soul
Follow the flow may not the right word for this credit card matter. It may be good for other thing such as destiny or other life matter but it is really not advisable that you use this word or this motto for money or credit card. You will be in a big trouble if you do so.
Therefore in order not to follow the flow you better monitoring your credit card wisely. I know it is still not easy to do even you know how monitoring your credit card, you know what to do and you know what you do not need to do but still the biggest problem is that you need to fight yourself for that and that is the hardest part ! Though you know but it does not mean you can make it. Therefore you need other party to make you discipline with this and able to monitoring your credit objectively.
Www.creditnexus.com is the site that could give you credit report needed for monitoring your credit. They would also give you freecreditreport so that you will not be out of control in using and spending your money. You would be aware and be alert if your expenses almost reach your credit limit.
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