Beauty - Home Spa Treatments

Before I even start, I have to share this website with you. Spaindex.com. By the way, this is not the kind of pants you wear. This happens to be an amazing website where you can treat yourself to Home Spa Treatments.

They have amazing do it yourself recipes and ideas of how to bring that spa like relaxation into the comfort of your own home. At first, the thought of putting actual food on my face, and using my groceries bothered me. But after trying out the Almond Facial Milk, and Almond Mayo Scrub. I was IN LOVE. Invite some of your friends over. Pick out some of the recipes and prepare them. Make your self a pitcher of Cucumber Water, lay out some sweet oranges, peppermints. You can even make tiny tea party sandwiches as a yummy treat. Get those wash rags ready, and little bowls to use as a wash basin.

You can do facials, manicures and pedicures all in the home. Make sure you get some of those vanilla candles to burn, dim the lights, and put on that spa like music. Your friends will LOVE it. For an added touch, you can even have your friends bring bathrobes, slippers to give it that added bonus.

Good Luck!

Health - Acupuncture

Many people are afraid of needles, or the fear that Acupuncture is going to hurt. Just like everything, Acupuncture needles come in different sizes and lengths.

I was one of those sceptical people that wanted nothing to do with it. But I have to admit, I love it. So I will explain in my terms how it works.

People have points within their body, just like the earth, we have a North Pole and South Pole. Plus other Central connections like our core and equator.

In theory, our North Pole is the center point in the top of our head. Our South pole is our feet close to our toes. This is your main energy source. You have to open up the channels to allow the energy to fully circle your body. This will bring us to your core, which happens to be located just above your navel, and the equator that are within your hands next to your thumb. Once these channels are open, pulsed energy begins to form within the human body.

Now our body is has many outlets and freeways that can get congested (blockage). This is why you will see more then those 6 points with needles. An acupuncturist, will help clear the blockage that stops natural energy flow in your body. In many cases, people that have back pains, leg pains, stomach issues...an acupuncturist can help treat this in a manner that is not harmful to your body.

Its always suggested to contact an Acupuncturist in your local area, go in for a consultation. If you are nervous about it at first, have them show you the needles and explain to you in detail what they do. Also, they can even test a needle out on you so you can see how the process is done.

Image provided by: DailyMail

Weekly Goal - Open Communication

How many of you have tried to go to your roomies, partners or parents and asked them for help with your weight? How many of you have been hurt by the things said to you regarding your weight?

Our goal this week is to have that open communication, you have already started to take the first steps to your change in habits. Now lets push you that much further. In order to start your process, you need to weed through those that are going to be supportive vs. problem. Your true support will start to show face.

First, express to those you love how important this is to you, how they make you feel when they say hurtful things, and how they can help you get through this.

Second, set boundaries. Meaning, if they invite you over to dinner or a party, to provide items that you know you can eat and to leave as many distractions out of site. Now, this doesn't mean that they have to fully focus on you, but to help you so you have options. Its your will power, to not stray from your goal.

Third, ask if any would be interested in going for walks, runs, or doing something active with you once or twice a week. Make the commitment and stick to it.

You will soon find out who will be supportive and who wont. You will know who you can talk to about your struggles and who you cannot. For more helpful tips on communication, you can visit Mind Tools.

Image provided by EABA

January's Featured Story

How many of you wake up each morning, look out your window and say this is going to be a beautiful day? How many of you go about your day with hardly any worries of how your day will end? Lastly, how many of you are parents or parents to be? For those of you that are parents, you already know what it's like to have the responsibility of a life, one you must bring up in world with trials, stipulations, and worries. I am sure most can agree that its already hard enough bringing a child into this world fully healthy. We as parents have to make sure the path they follow along, is one that will bring them success, happiness and joy. Most of us take our day to day life for granted. We wake up each morning, look around, and go about our days care free.

Just over two years ago, on December 4th, 2008 a little girl came into this world. She has blessed two very special people, Tara and Jared Miller. Never in a million years, could these two parents be so thrilled to welcome their third child, Kaylena. Perfect bundle that completed their family.

Eight days after Kaylena was born, the Miller's had to bring her to the Emergency Room(ER). Being so young, you are already worried about what might be wrong. So what if you were told, that your new baby was only fifteen to thirty minuets from dying? This was the case for the Miller's.

Kaylena had caught a virus that in rare cases can make its way into a newborns spinal fluid and within hours, the outcome can be fatal. The doctors told the Miller's she was lucky, because of her body temperature was 92 degrees upon arrival. this is the very thing that could have saved her brain functions. Kaylena had to spend the next three months in the Prenatal Intensive Care Unit(PICU) at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach fighting for her life. She was on every life support system the hospital had and on occasions, the Miller's were informed there was not much more they could do. Kaylena was pre-diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension, because her case was so severe it caused her to go into cardiac arrest. The Miller's were so thankful to the doctors that day for saving their daughters life and bringing her back to them. The news came that because of the life support, and the length of time Kaylena had to be on the machines, they were told she may have brain damage, possible deaf and blindness and many other symptoms. Kaylena has none of them.

At three months old, weighting 8 pounds the Miller's were finally able to take their baby girl home for the second time. Kaylena was now diagnosed with Mitrovalve Regurgitation, which means her heart was enlarged and gets worse with every beat. For a year after this tragic event, Kaylena was doing great. The doctors truly thought her heart would repair itself over time. She would grow into an adult with restrictions, but could lead a normal life. Unfortunately this is not the case. Kaylena is now scheduled to have open heart surgery at the age of 2, on February 10th, 2011. Her weight has dropped to 18 pounds, and she is in desperate need of mitrovalve repair. The Miller's have been so strong in this process, and have had such a great support system.

I know that all of you would support my family if this happened to us, so we can only ask that you join with us to support Tara and Jared in this difficult time. They have set up a Tribute Donations in honor of Kaylena for CaringBridge. If you are interested in setting up a donation please visit Caring Bridge in Honor of Kaylena.

-Story Published By: Janelle Carruolo, January 8, 2011

Weekly Goal - Calorie Count

Yes, we have put you on a weekly goal of measuring your portions, now comes the calorie in take of those portions. We want you to see how many calories you are actually eating on a given day. We know that weight management can be extremely difficult, and it seems like this is all to much. However, in time, it will become second nature. You will soon know what is good and what is not good for you, and all those tools may even fade away.

In the mean time, lets provide you with some great tools you can get.

For iPhone users - Two AMAZING applications are LiveStrong and MyNetDiary. I am providing you with two, mainly because one may be better suited for yourself. The nice thing about both LiveStrong and MyNetDiary is you can also access them by Internet and website.

Both will help you with your work out calorie count along with your food intake calorie count.

For those that want to do it the hard way, there are great tools that can track your calories as well. You can get a little tiny machine called a Pedometer that tracks your steps you take in a given day, this will in turn count those steps and put them into a calorie burn. The only thing I have found a bit flawed about them, is there is no telling if your steps is activity to burn calories or your normal daily walk. So you would need to really look into these and possibly spend a bit of cash to make sure you have a good one that fits your needs. You can find more information at China Trade Online.

They also make watches, that will not only give you the time, but has a feature that tells your calorie burn and intake, you can find more information about them at InkFrog.com

Workout - Yoga

Yoga, overall is a great for mind and body. It teaches you balance, control, flexibility and strengthens you mentally. The more you practice yoga, the more your body takes control. You start craving healthier foods, foods that give you the nourishment you need. Its internal knowledge you would have never thought was possible. There are many types of yoga stances. Each of them strength a different part of your body and mind. The nice thing about this, you can either go to a class, or do it in your own home with the right training videos.

Check out Yoga.com and see if they can help you!

Health - Pulmonary Hypertension

There are very few that know what Pulmonary Hypertension(PH) or Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension(PAH) is. In all truth, you wouldn't, unless you are in the medical field or have had to come to understanding it from personal experience. So that leaves us to asking, what is it?

PH is the high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs. We measure this by cuffing the arm which contracts the blood vessels and releases as pressure is withdrawn. The vessels that supply the lungs end up contracting and the walls thicken and cannot carry the needed amount of blood. The pressure builds up and gets backed up, almost like if you get a blockage in your sink or bathtub. Eventually, with the pressure being so high, the heart and lungs wont be able to keep up. It will cut the oxygen supply and in many cases people will become dizzy, fatigued, and short of breath.

In most cases this can be treated. Some can be treated by simple therapy, others by surgery.

Sorce: AmericanHeart.Org

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