Weight Loss Advice For Men

What is the prevalence of male obesity? What effects does it have on male health? What is a good weight loss strategy for men? Nutritionist Anne Collins provides some answers and offers specific advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle.

 

Introduction

 

If diet and weight are as important to health and wellbeing as experts believe, American men need to make changes to what they eat and how often they exercise. They are too overweight and suffer years of ill-health despite the fact that per capita health funding is the highest in the world. The statistics make interesting reading. First, an estimated 27.7 percent of American males aged 20-74 years are obese. By comparison, obesity affects 19 percent of Australian men, 12 percent of French men and only 3.6 percent of Japanese. Second, the average life span of American men is 74.9 years, (Japan 77.8) of which an estimated 8 years are lived in ill-health (Japan 6.5). Also significant are the negative health effects of the American diet on male immigrants from countries such as Japan, who typically experience a noticeable rise in diet-related illness such as obesity and heart disease.

 

Health Effects of Obesity In Men

 

Obesity has several adverse health effects. The most serious dangers include hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, although joint problems and psychosocial hardship can also be very distressing.

 

Obesity is a serious risk factor for hypertension, which affects 7 out of 10 obese men, and develops as follows. As the amount of fat tissue in the body increases, the heart is forced to pump more blood around the body in order to meet the extra demand for additional oxygen and nutrients. As this extra blood passes through the arteries, it increases pressure on the arterial walls, leading to higher blood pressure. Hypertension, which is sometimes referred to as "the silent killer", is a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease.

 

Obesity is also classified as a major risk factor for heart disease, with almost 70 percent of diagnosed cases occurring in obese patients. The prevalence of atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) is 10 times higher in obese men compared to those who are not obese. This type of coronary artery disease occurs when fatty deposits build up on the walls of arteries that supply the heart, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack.

 

Although the link is not fully understood, there is a clear association between obesity in men and an increased risk of colon and prostate cancers. It may be due to specific eating habits, such as overconsumption of red meat allied with an insufficiency of antioxidant-rich foods like fresh fruit and vegetables. The prevalence of prostate cancer in American males is 18.7 per 100,000, compared to 10.2 in Japanese men.

 

Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. Almost 8 out of 10 type 2 diabetics are obese. Even mild obesity significantly increases the risk of diabetes. Weight gain after the age of 18 is a particular contributor. Obesity is also closely associated with insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels and pre-diabetes.

 

Abdominal Obesity Even More Dangerous

 

While obesity in general is a major predictor of serious ill-health in men, abdominal obesity - excess fat around the stomach - is an added health risk, which is bad news for men as they typically store fat around their middle. Men under stress are doubly at risk as stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol which appears to stimulate fat storage around the stomach and abdomen. Abdominal obesity is one of a number of interlinked conditions (the others being high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high levels of inflammatory and clotting components in the blood) that comprise the condition known as metabolic syndrome. This disorder has been identified as a complex risk factor for cardiovascular disease. An estimated 1 in 3 of overweight or obese men have metabolic syndrome.

 

Health Benefits of Modest Weight Reduction

 

Although untreated obesity may have serious health consequences, even modest weight loss can bring noticeable health benefits. For example, a weight loss of as little as 10-20 pounds can eliminate the need for hypertension or type 2 diabetes medication. In addition, it can raise HDL cholesterol (the good blood-fats) reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (the bad blood-fats) and thus reduce the risk of heart disease. Even so, the more weight you can lose in a steady sustained way, the greater the health improvements, especially if you can reduce the amount of fat around your middle.

 

Diet Advice For Men

 

A nutritious calorie-controlled diet is the foundation for lasting weight loss. And don't worry about cutting down on junk food. In my experience, a person's appetite for high-fat or high-sugar foods falls dramatically within a couple of weeks of healthy eating. So if you want to lose weight but can't enjoy a meal without a huge slab of fatty red meat, a large helping of mayo, or a bag of tortilla chips, try switching to a healthier diet for 2 weeks and see what a difference it makes to your taste buds.

 

Improve Your Health And Save Money

 

Instead of simply cutting calories and thinking "I must diet", make a point of choosing healthy foods and think "I want to eat healthily". You may even motivate yourself by focusing on the reduced health insurance costs you will achieve by getting into shape.

 

Personalize Your Eating Plan

 

There is no single diet plan that fits every man. Moreover, eliminating all your favorite foods is not a winning weight loss strategy. As long as your regular daily diet is calorie-controlled (1500-1850 calories) and contains enough healthy foods, you should be able to include a few treats without interfering with your weight reduction. If the idea of joining Weight Watchers doesn't appeal, customize an online diet plan or seek an individualised eating plan from a registered dietitian.

 

Healthy Eating Guidelines For Men

 

As a general guide, choose foods which are low in fat - especially saturated or trans-fats - low in sodium, and less refined. To be more specific, eat at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables - more is better. Also, eat a wide variety of both, because different fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. Eat whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat bread rather than white rice and white bread. Whole grain foods are richer in nutrients and higher in both soluble and insoluble fiber compared to more processed products. Their extra fiber content means they help to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, which reduces the risk of appetite swings and cravings. Go easy on fat. Enjoy low fat dairy products - remember, full-fat cheese is a huge source of saturated fat - and don't add extra fat to food in the form of mayo or sour cream. Stay away from chips and other high-fat, high sodium snack foods.

 

Men Who Enjoy Red Meat

 

Red meat, like beef, lamb and pork, is highly nutritious. Unfortunately, it's also one of the main sources of saturated fat - the type implicated in atherosclerotic heart disease. If you enjoy red meat, make sure you remove all visible fat before eating, and limit your intake to 3-4 3-ounce servings per week. Fish is a healthy alternative protein source, especially oily fish like mackerel, herring and salmon, as is skinless chicken and turkey.

 

Eating Out For Men

 

If you are serious about losing weight, be extra-choosy when dining out or ordering take-out food. Here are some important tips. 

• Do not order deep-fried food. 

• Look for light appetizers, such as salads, non-creamy soups, fish platter. 

• Avoid entrees with sauces. If necessary, ask for them “on the side”. Choose plain fish, broiled lean steak, or tomato-based pasta. 

• Make sure half your plate contains vegetables, without added oil or butter. 

• For dessert, choose any fresh fruit dish, and if offered cream say No. 

 

If these suggestions are too arduous, it may be best to skip eating out until you feel more confident.

 

Men Who Enjoy Alcohol

 

For many men, giving up alcohol is a complete No-No. So let me give you some facts and you can choose accordingly. To begin with, alcohol contains zero nutrition. In addition, its calorie content is quite high - about 7 calories per gram. Drinking one regular Martini per day adds up to about 58,400 calories per year - the equivalent of about 16.5 pounds of body fat. One beer a day amounts to nearly as much. A better option is one 4oz glass of wine a day, which contains about half the calories of a Martini. Another problem to consider if you are male, is the contribution that alcohol makes to your fat stomach. In my experience, overweight drinkers who give up alcohol experience an immediate reduction in their stomach size, which is very good news for their health.

 

Weight Reduction Exercise For Men

 

Men typically do not find it easy to incorporate regular physical exercise into their daily schedule. More than 50 percent of American men do not take enough physical activity. Which is not good news because the medical benefits of regular exercise are compelling. Keeping active is one of the most effective methods of protecting ourselves against serious disease, and maintaining a good quality of life. This introduces the basic male dilemma. In order to achieve a comfortable standard of living for himself and his family, a man typically has to spend extra hours working instead of exercising. But by not exercising he runs a much higher risk of serious disease, a crippling rise in insurance bills, as well as an illness-prone retirement. No easy choices here, I'm afraid, although the rational decision must be to make exercise a higher priority. This is particularly true for men over 40. For men who really want to lose weight, I suggest you first see your doctor for a quick check-up. 

 

Then, if all is well, I advise you start with 45 minutes/day of light exercise. Do this for 2-3 weeks or until you notice obvious benefits such as improved breathing, sleeping and appetite. Then gradually increase the duration and intensity of your training program up to 60 minutes a day. The best way to avoid overstrain is to loosen up with stretches at the beginning of each exercise session, and wind down with stretches afterwards.

 

Improved Lifestyle For Men

 

Quitting smoking is the top priority for any man with weight-related health problems. Another essential improvement is stress reduction or at least better stress management. This is because any stress which leads to a feeling that life is out of control, is a major contributor to disordered eating, excessive alcohol intake and disease, as well as family problems. Moving to a less stressful job, reducing your work schedule, or taking regular physical exercise are useful ways to reduce stress, and will definitely assist weight loss and general health. Spending more time with your family is also a great stress reliever.

Building Better Bones

“It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my beloved," counsels Grandmother Growth. "You must open to your very marrow for this transformation. No cell is to remain untouched. You are to open more than you ever dreamed you could open, more than you have opened in birth or in passion. You open now to the breath of mortality as it plays the bone flute of your being. What can you do but dance to the haunting melody, develop a passion for an elegant posture and a long stride?

 

"Ah, yes," Grandmother Growth smiles rather wantonly. "It would do you well to develop a taste for dark greens tarted with vinegar and mated with garlic. These things will build strong flexible bones to support you as you become Crone."

 

Did you know that your bones are always changing? Every day of your life, some bone cells die and some new bone cells are created. From birth until your early 30s, you can easily make lots of bone cells. So long as your diet supplies the necessary nutrients, you not only replace bone cells that die, you have extras left over to lengthen and strengthen your bones.

 

Past the age of 35, new bone cells are more difficult to make. Sometimes there is a shortfall: more bone cells die than you can replace. In the orthodox view, this is the beginning of osteoporosis, the disease of low bone mass. By the age of forty, many American women have begun to lose bone mass; by the age of fifty, most are told they must take hormones or drugs to prevent further loss and avoid osteoporosis, hip fracture, and death. 

 

Women who exercise regularly and eat calcium-rich foods enter their menopausal years with better bone mass than women who sit a lot and consume calcium-leaching foods (including soy "milk," tofu, coffee, soda pop, alcohol, white flour products, processed meats, nutritional yeast, and bran). But no matter how good your lifestyle choices, bone mass usually decreases during the menopausal years. 

 

For unknown reasons, menopausal bones slow down production of new cells and seem to ignore the presence of calcium. This "bone-pause" is generally short-lived, occurring off and on for five to seven years. I noticed it in scattered episodes of falling hair, breaking fingernails, and the same "growing pains" I experienced during puberty.

 

I did not see it in a bone scan, because I didn't have one. 

 

The idea behind bone scans is a good one: find women who are at risk of broken bones, alert them to the danger, and help them engage in preventative strategies. There's only one problem: bone scans don't find women who are at risk of broken bones, they find women who have low bone density. 

 

I would like to help you let go of the idea that osteoporosis is important. In the Wise Woman Tradition, we focus on the patient, not the problem. In the Wise Woman tradition, there are no diseases and no cures for diseases. When we focus on a disease, like osteoporosis, we cannot see the whole woman. The more we focus on one disease, even its prevention, the less likely we are to nourish wholeness and health. 

 

Focusing on osteoporosis, defining it as a disease, using drugs to counter it, we lose sight of the fact that postmenopausal bone mass is a better indicator of breast cancer risk than broken bone risk. The twenty-five percent of postmenopausal women with the highest bone mass are two-and-a-half to four times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those with the lowest bone mass. And that hormones which maintain bone mass also adversely affect breast cancer risk. Women who take estrogen replacement (often given to prevent osteoporosis), even for as little as five years, increase their risk of breast cancer by twenty percent; if they take hormone replacement, the risk increases by forty percent.

 

Focusing on bone mass, we lose sight of the fact that a strong correlation between bone density and bone breakage has not been established, according to Susan Brown, director of the Osteoporosis Information Clearing House, and many others. We lose sight of the fact that women who faithfully take estrogen or hormone replacement still experience bone changes and suffer spinal crush fractures.

 

Bone-pause passes and the bones do rebuild themselves, especially when supported by nourishing herbs, which are exceptional sources of bone-building minerals and better at preventing bone breaks than supplements. The minerals in green plants seem to be ideal for keeping bones healthy. Dr. Campbell, Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, has done extensive research in rural China where the lowest known fracture rates for midlife and older women were found. He says, "The closer people get to a diet based on plant foods and leafy vegetables, the lower the rates of many diseases, including osteoporosis." Women who consume lots of calcium-rich plants and exercise moderately build strong flexible bones. Women who rely on hormones build bones that are massive, but rigid.

 

Hormone replacement regimes do not increase bone cell creation; they slow (or suppress) bone cell killers (osteoclasts). There is a rebound effect; bone loss jumps when the hormones are stopped. Women who take hormones for five years or more are as much as four times more likely to break a bone in the year after they stop than a woman of the same age who never took hormones. Women who build better bones with green allies and exercise nourish the bone cell creator cells (osteoblasts).

 

Hormone or estrogen replacement, taken as menopause begins and continued for the rest of your life, is said to reduce post-menopausal fracture rates by 40-60 percent. Frequent walks (you don't even need to sweat) and a diet high in calcium-rich green allies (at least 1500 mg daily) have been shown to reduce post-menopausal fractures by 50 percent. The first is expensive and dangerous. The second, inexpensive and health promoting. It's easy to see why more than eighty percent of American women just "say no" to hormones. It is never too late to build better bones, and it is never too soon. Your best insurance for a fracture-free, strong-boned cronehood is to build better bones before menopause. The more exercise and calcium-rich green allies you get in your younger years, the less you'll have to worry about as you age.

 

"A woman has lost half of all the spongy bone (spine, wrist) she'll ever lose by the age of 50, but very little of the dense (hip, hand, forearm) bone. Attention to bone formation at every stage of life is vital; there is no time when you are too old to create healthy new bone." - American MD

 

Calcium

 

"Osteoporosis is much less common in countries that consume the least calcium. That is an undisputed fact." - T. C. Campbell, PhD. Nutritional Biochemistry

 

Step 1: Collect Information

 

Calcium is, without a doubt, the most important mineral in your body. In fact, calcium makes up more than half of the total mineral content of your body. Calcium is crucial to the regular beating of your heart, your metabolism, the functioning of your muscles, the flow of impulses along your nerves, the regulation of your cellular membranes, the strength of your bones, the health of your teeth and gums, and your vital blood-clotting mechanisms. Calcium is so critical to your life that you have a gland (the parathyroid) that does little else than monitor blood levels of calcium and secrete hormones to ensure optimum levels of calcium at all times.

 

When you consume more calcium than you use, you are in a positive calcium balance: extra usable calcium is stored in the bones and you gain bone mass (insoluble or unusable calcium may be excreted, or stored in soft tissue, or deposited in the joints). When you consume less calcium than you use, you are in a negative calcium balance: the parathyroid produces a hormone that releases calcium stores from the bones, and you lose bone mass.

 

To ensure a positive calcium balance and create strong, flexible bones for your menopausal journey, take care to:

 

• Eat three or more calcium-rich foods daily.

• Avoid calcium antagonists. 

• Use synergistic foods to magnify the effectiveness of calcium. 

• Avoid calcium supplements.

 

Step 2: Engage the Energy

 

The homeopathic tissue salt Silica is said to improve bone health.

 

What does it mean to you to support yourself? To be supported? To stand on your own? To have a backbone in your life?

 

Step 3: Nourish & Tonify

 

What do we need to make strong flexible bones? Like all tissues, bones need protein. They need minerals (not just calcium, but also potassium, manganese, magnesium, silica, iron, zinc, selenium, boron, phosphorus, sulphur, chromium, and dozens of others). And in order to use those minerals, high-quality fats, including oil-soluble vitamin D.

 

Many menopausal women I meet believe that protein is bad for their bones. Not so. Researchers at Utah State University, looking at the diets of 32,000 postmenopausal women, found that women who ate the least protein were the most likely to fracture a hip; and that eating extra protein sped the healing of hip fractures. 

 

Acids created by protein digestion are buffered by calcium. Traditional diets combine calcium- and protein-rich foods (e.g. seaweed with tofu, tortillas made from corn ground on limestone with beans, and melted cheese on a hamburger). Herbs such as seaweed, stinging nettle, oat straw, red clover, dandelion, and comfrey leaf are rich in protein and provide plenty of calcium too. Foods such as tahini, sardines, canned salmon, yogurt, cheese, oatmeal, and goats' milk offer us protein, generous amounts of calcium, and the healthy fats our bones need. If you crave more protein during menopause, follow that craving.

 

CAUTION: Unfermented soy (e.g., tofu) is especially detrimental to bone health being protein-rich, naturally deficient in calcium, and a calcium antagonist to boot.

 

Bones need lots of minerals not just calcium, which is brittle and inflexible. (Think of chalk, calcium carbonate, and how easily it breaks.) Avoid calcium supplements. Focus on getting generous amounts of calcium from herbs and foods and you will automatically get the multitude of minerals you need for flexible bones.

 

Because minerals are bulky, and do not compact, we must consume generous amounts to make a difference in our health. Taking mineral-rich herbs in capsule or tincture form won't do much for your bones. (One cup of nettle tincture contains the same amount of calcium - 300 mg - as one cup of nettle infusion. Many women drink two or more cups of infusion a day; no one consumes a cup of tincture a day!) Neither will eating raw foods. I frequently come across the idea that cooking robs food of nutrition. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cooking maximizes the minerals available to your bones. Kale cooked for an hour delivers far more calcium than lightly steamed kale. Minerals are rock-like, and to extract them, we need heat, time, and generous quantities of plant material. 

 

Green sources of calcium are the best. Nourishing herbs and garden weeds are far richer in minerals than ordinary greens, which are already exceptional sources of nutrients. 

 

But calcium from green sources alone is not enough. We need calcium from white sources as well. Add a quart of yogurt a week to your diet if you want really healthy bones. Because the milk has been changed by Lactobacillus organisms, its calcium, other minerals, proteins, and sugars (no lactose) are more easily digested. This carries over, enhancing calcium and mineral absorption from other foods, too. (I have known several vegans who increased their very low bone density by as much as 6 percent in one year by eating yogurt.) Organic raw milk cheeses are another superb white source.

 

Horsetail herb (Equisetum arvense) works like a charm for those premenopausal women who have periodontal bone loss or difficulty with fracture healing. Taken as tea, once or twice a day, young spring-gathered horsetail dramatically strengthens bones and promotes rapid mending of breaks.

CAUTION: Mature horsetail contains substances which may irritate the kidneys.

 

Step 4: Stimulate/Sedate

 

Beware of calcium antagonists. Certain foods interfere with calcium utilization. For better bones avoid consistent use of:

 

• Greens rich in oxalic acid, including chard (silver beet), beet greens, spinach, rhubarb.

• Unfermented soy products, including tofu, soy beverages, soy burgers.

• Phosphorus-rich foods, including carbonated drinks, white flour products, and many processed foods. (Teenagers who drink sodas instead of milk are four times more likely to break a bone.)

• Foods that produce acids requiring a calcium buffer when excreted in the urine, including coffee, white sugar, tobacco, alcohol, nutritional yeast, salt.

• Fluoride in water or toothpaste.

• Fibre pills, bran taken alone, bulk-producing laxatives.

• Steroid medications, including corticosteroids such as prednisone and asthma inhalers. (Daily use reduces spinal bone mass by as much as ten percent a year.)

• Restricted calorie diets. Women who weigh the least have the greatest loss of bone during menopause and "neither calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, nor oestrogen" slow the loss. Among 236 premenopausal women, all of whom consumed similar amounts of calcium, those who lost weight by reducing calories lost twice as much bone mass as women who maintained their weight.

 

Although chocolate contains oxalic acid, the levels are so low as to have only a negligible effect on calcium metabolism. An ounce/3000 mg of chocolate binds 15-20 mg of calcium; an ounce of cooked spinach, 100-125 mg calcium. Bittersweet (dark) chocolate is a source of iron. Recent research has found chocolate to be very heart healthy. As with any stimulant, daily use is not advised. Chocolate is an important and helpful ally for women. Guilt about eating it and belief that it is damaging to your health interferes with your ability to hear and respond to your body wisdom. If you want to eat chocolate - do it; and get the best. But if you're doing it every day - eat more weeds.

 

Excess phosphorus accelerates bone loss and demineralization. Phosphorus compounds are second only to salt as food additives. They are found in carbonated beverages, soda pop; white flour products, especially if "enriched" (bagels, cookies, cakes, donuts, pasta, bread); preserved meats (bacon, ham, sausage, lunch meat, and hot dogs); supermarket breakfast cereals; canned fruit; processed potato products such as frozen fries and instant mashed potatoes; processed cheeses; instant soups and puddings.

 

To avoid phosphorus overload and improve calcium absorption:

 

• Drink spring water and herbal infusions; avoid soda pop and carbonated water.

• Eat only whole grain breads, noodles, cookies, and crackers.

• Buy only unpreserved meats, cheeses, potatoes.

• Avoid buying foods with ingredients; they are highly processed.

 

Excess salt leaches calcium. Women eating 3900 mg of sodium a day excrete 30 percent more calcium than those eating 1600 mg. The main sources of dietary sodium are processed and canned foods. Seaweed is an excellent calcium-rich source of salt. Sea salt may be used freely as it contains trace amounts of calcium. Salt is critical for health; do not eliminate it from your diet.

 

Increase hydrochloric acid production (in your stomach) and you'll make better use of the calcium you consume. Lower stomach acid (with antacids, for example) and you will receive little bone benefit from the calcium you ingest. Some ways to acidify:

 

• Drink lemon juice in water with or after your meal.

• Take 10-25 drops dandelion root tincture in a little water before you eat.

• Use calcium-rich herbal vinegars in your salad dressing; put some on cooked greens and beans, too.

 

Step 5a: Use Supplements

 

I really wish you wouldn't use calcium supplements. They expose you to dangers and don't prevent fractures. A study in Australia that followed 10,000 white women over the age of 65 for six and a half years found "Use of calcium supplements was associated with increased risk of hip and vertebral fracture; use of Tums antacid tablets was associated with increased risk of fractures of the proximal humerus."

 

If you insist on supplements, go for calcium-fortified orange juice or crumbly tablets of calcium citrate. Chewable calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, and calcium carbonate are acceptable sources. Dolomite, bone meal, and oyster shell are best avoided as they usually contain lead and other undesirable minerals.

 

For better bones, take 500 mg magnesium (not citrate) with your calcium. Better yet, wash your calcium pill down with a glass of herbal infusion; that will provide not only magnesium but lots of other bone-strengthening minerals, too.

 

Calcium supplements are more effective in divided doses. Two doses of 250 mg, taken morning and night, actually provide more usable calcium than a 1000 mg tablet.

 

Step 5b: Use Drugs

 

Even if you take hormone therapy (ERT or HRT) you must get adequate calcium to maintain bone mass, according to researchers at Columbia University. That's 1200-1500 mg a day (a cup of plain yogurt, two cups of nettle infusion, a splash of mineral-rich vinegar, plus three figs is about that). As you increase your intake of calcium-rich foods/herbs, gradually cut back on your hormone dose if you wish.

 

Step 6: Break & Enter

 

Bone density tests are frequently used to push women into taking hormones or drugs. If your bone density is low, use the remedies in this section and schedule another test (for at least six months later) before agreeing to such therapies.

 

Susun Weed

PO Box 64

Woodstock, NY 12498

Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Bipolar Imbalances And Hormones

Working as a nurse in the emergency room you meet a beautiful variety of people. Among those for whom I feel a special sympathy are those with bipolar. They can of course be quite the characters: some hear voices, some live on the streets, some have an extraordinary sense of humour, some love to sing and entertain, and much more. One thing bipolar patients have in common is that they take heavy medications, particularly antidepressants that have many side effects. To whatever question you ask these patients, the answer will often be, ‘Well, I have bipolar.’ As if this one sad fact is sufficient explanation for all possible questions.

 

But the word ‘bipolar’, of course, does not explain everything, and this is particularly true for women having problems with hormonal changes. For example, one woman had a hysterectomy because of severe bleeding, then had to go on hormone replacement therapy. After a couple of months she completely ‘lost it’. She became convinced that she had to move far, far away and take up missionary work - to the alarm of her concerned family. Bingo. She was put on antidepressants and given the convenient label of ‘bipolar.’ Well - she took her antidepressant cross-country with her and ended up living on the streets with the homeless. Rescued finally, by some good friends, she was brought back home, where she if now off most medication, trying to stay as sane as possible, and still saddled with the heavy label of ‘bipolar.’

 

Many women in and around menopause go haywire, but is that necessarily bipolar? I often wonder at how strongly hormones can affect mental health, as is often the case with women after childbirth, with the so-called ‘baby blues’. Often due to the hormone progesterone easy to fix with natural progesterone cream. Likewise, women - and men in their own hormonal midlife crisis - often get depressed. But should this really be any surprise? After all, so many things are changing at this point - it’s like adolescence all over again, but in reverse! New sensations and a new view of life, letting go of the old ways and struggling with the new, There can be a lot of confusion with many challenging questions demanding to be lived. Unfortunately, many take the easy road and simply dodge the whole thing. They accept being depressed and can even console themselves with the mantra, ‘After all, I’m bipolar.’

 

One solution might simply be to use common sense. Bipolar or not, it’s essential to take in enough essential amino acids and different forms of protein. Many people’s protein intake is limited and unvarying: just red meat, chicken and eggs. If you read Dr. Eric Braverman’s book ‘The Edge Effect’, you’ll see that we need protein from many sources, including meat, poultry, nuts, eggs, fish, dairy, beans, and vegetables.

 

This approach is helpful for all of us, but especially for those with bipolar - whether it’s the real thing or not. Dark chocolate can be helpful too, offering some of the same benefits as such antidepressants as Prozac and Paxil, but with no side effects. Just as healthy foods are vital for growing children, they are crucial for anybody going through big changes or having a difficult time. So be sure to eat well and exercise, and study Dr. Braverman’s ‘The Edge Effect’. Give yourself what your brain needs to function well and create harmony in your being. Don’t worry so much about your bipolar - or the bipolar label. Apply your thoughts to the constructive self-healing that is possible.

 

Common sense is not so common. Good luck with finding what works for you!

 

Warmly, Pieternel

Best Genes

Most females in most species want 3 things.

 

Women want the best genes.

 

What are the best genes?

 

Well. It’s kind of complicated.

 

We can intuitively define best genes as genes that give us better potential to succeed.

 

While it’s true, it’s also true that all of us have huge potential to succeed. All of us are under achievers.

 

But let’s postpone the discussion for latter. Genes do matter. Different genes do give different capability. Some traits, among species, are so important it become common nowadays.

 

While your success on anything, including getting laid, depends on your choices rather than your genes, your genes still decide how you best achieve success.

 

Say Mary and Jane lived in the past. Say they were females Cheetah. Mary picks Bob the Slow. Jane picks John the Fastest.

 

Mary’s son will of course be slow. Slow Cheetah’s died. So Mary’s went extinct. Jane’s son will be fast. Fast Cheetah survives. So Jane’s genes proliferate.

 

After a while, all females Cheetah’s will be like Jane. Got it?

 

The same way works if Mary and Jane were human. If Mary pick Bob the poor and Jane pick John the rich. Mary’s son will not be good at making money. Jane’s son will be.

 

So Mary’s son will have few descendants. Jane’s son will have plenty. After a while, all women will be materialistic like Jane. That while, has come a thousands of years ago.

 

So, considering that factor alone, a male that want to mate with many females do not need to worry about how to attract females. Women want the best genes and will automagically pick males with the most potential to survive. That’s just one factor though.

 

Peacock’s elaborate tails do not help his survival. If anything, it reduces it by making the peacocks’ easier target for predators. But peahens like peacocks with long tails. Why?

 

That’s where the second factor is. That’s the factor of advertising. In advertising, appearance is sometimes more important than real quality. Hence, it is often worthy to sacrifice some real quality for better appearances of it.

 

After all, some genetic traits like beauty, has no other use besides signalling good genes.

Back Hair Laser Removal

Are you a victim of back hair? Does your wife or girlfriend cringe when you take off your shirt? There may be help for you with laser back hair removal.

 

Laser hair removal is a trend that is sweeping the country. With improvements in laser technology, these procedures are safer and less expensive than ever, and the results are long-lasting. Most treatments use a very low level laser that is targets the affected area. The energy of the laser enters the pigment in the hair and causes the shaft to heat up, killing the hair. The follicle is also rendered ineffective, stunting new hair growth. Although the hair follicle deactivated, the surrounding skin is unharmed by the procedure. 

 

Of course, this treatment has many applications for men and women, but one of the most popular is back hair laser removal. Previously, men had to undergo painful waxing, smelly depilatory chemicals or shaving their backs to eliminate the hair that so many women find distasteful. 

 

Of course, the type and amount of hair will determine how much your procedure costs. Darker or olive skinned patients will require more treatments than natural blondes, and hair thickness and density varies widely. Different lasers are even used to treat different skin colour groups, so be sure to ask if your treatment centre can handle your needs. Prices typically start at about $200-225, but back hair laser removal can run much higher, due to the larger area being treated. You should also expect to return for several treatments, as hair is removed in certain parts of the growth cycle only.

 

Although it may seem initially expensive, back hair removal using laser treatments is actually cost effective in the long run. Typically the hair does not regrow, and most centres offer touch ups for the few that do, as part of the package. If your back hair is an embarrassing problem, invest in yourself and try hair laser removal for your back!

Baby Wants - But Maybe Doesn’t Need - New Shoes! (Or ‘The Psychology Of New Shoes’)

No woman in her right mind would turn down a chance to go shopping for new shoes. Whether she has 1 pair or a 100, the lure of shopping for shoes is over powering. There just is no question about it, shoes are FUN! That is not to even mention the infinite outfit combinations we have even more FUN putting together as a result of new shoes! Shoes must both look right and feel right for the occasion. Therefore, options are needed and the more you have, the absolute better.

 

Styles change and so do women’s tastes. Whether high heels or platforms, square, rounded or pointed toes, flip flops or athletic, the lure of shopping for shoes is irresistible. There are just so many kinds of shoes all serving different purposes. Hours are spent in shoe departments all over the world shopping for shoes. From $5 flip flops to $500 designer name shoes there are so many things to consider. One thing is generally certain: If a woman REALLY likes a pair of shoes, whether she needs them or not, she will most likely buy them, regardless of price.

 

I know a couple and the wife has hundreds of pairs of shoes. The husband has but two pair, one black and one brown. BORING and oh, so WAY not enough options. What about style? And does he have dress shoes or are these two pair of the athletic variety or what? That, of course, does not include his golf shoes. Most men have at least two of those if they are like my Father and Brother, both avid golfers.  Any way, he said ‘That’s all I need and I always have plenty of money to go golfing every weekend.’  She said ‘You take the golfing (and your boring shoes) and I will take all the therapeutic effects of the shopping. It also is such good exercise, both mentally and physically!’

 

Being practical about buying shoes is so out dated.. The more shoes, the more choices. Life is good if it is all about choices, not about being practical. Practicality was for my mother, and the days of practical shopping are gone forever. Now plastic rules (along with beautiful shoes) and somehow the credit card bill will get paid. I mean if we only live once, we should certainly be spending like it. Life is way too short to not have the cutest and best shoes possible.  We can find other ways to be thrifty but please do not be so when it comes to shoes. The days of the ‘have mores’ are here to rule and the days of the ‘have nots’ (shoes, that is) are long gone forever.

 

Another couple I know try to go shopping together (BIG mistake). Inevitably and much to her husband’s dismay and irritation, the wife ends up in the shoe department trying on shoes, one pair after another. A beautiful thing to see, right? She finds a pair she likes and says to her husband ‘I want these shoes!’ Her husband replies ‘Do you need them?’ She says ‘No, but they will go great with my pink dress that I bought six months ago and have never worn because I have never had just the perfect shoes to go with it. Besides, I did put back several pair that I also liked very much, but not quite as much as these. They are so ‘choice’, ‘sweet’ and absolutely the ‘most divine’ shoes I have, to date, ever seen!!!’  The husband gives in, all the while thinking about the bills that are coming due.

 

Let a woman give you husbands a few tips about shopping:

It’s a losing battle.

1. Don’t go shopping with your wife - It ruins her shopping trip. Would you want us to go golfing with you? I didn’t think so. It would ruin your day.
2. When your wife goes shopping - Expect a marathon and don’t expect her home before the stores close. Should she arrive home early, it will be a pleasant surprise. If she doesn’t--Fix your own dinner!
3. Never call her on her cell phone and ask ‘Where are you?’ or ‘When are you going be home?’ Big ‘NO NO’ and grave interruption to her ‘therapy’. She does not want to be in touch with reality while shopping. Trust me on this one.

 

Girls: Enjoy a most pleasant shopping experience! Happy shopping! 

Husbands: Heed my warnings and all will be well! And happy golfing or whatever other pastime compensates for your serious lack of options!

 

Sponsored Article

Baby Boom Icon Sally Field Takes On Osteoporosis

If you're nearing 60, you have some pretty good company. Actress Sally Field, the seemingly ageless icon of a Baby Boom generation that starts turning 60 this year, has revealed that she has osteoporosis and is leading a public action campaign to inspire women to fight the fragile bone disease. 

 

Surprised by her recent diagnosis of osteoporosis, Field chose to go public with her personal health and is launching Rally With Sally For Bone HealthSM, sponsored by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline. The campaign encourages women with osteoporosis to protect themselves against fractures so they can remain active and reduce their risk of a debilitating injury.

 

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weaker, more brittle and susceptible to fractures. One in two women over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime, which can result in significant pain and loss of height and may possibly cause some women to lose their ability to dress themselves, stand up and even walk. It can also lead to possible institutionalization and even death. 

 

"My generation has pushed for so much change to improve the lives of women, and today the biggest hurdle many of us face is our health," said the two-time Academy Award winner who has fought for women and workers' rights both on and off screen. "We've never been willing to sit back and take it-and that includes osteoporosis, too. I'm asking women to take action by talking to their doctors and joining me at www.BoneHealth.com." 

 

"Today, women in their 50s and 60s are leading more active lives than past generations, and it's essential for them to take care of their bones to continue their energetic lifestyles," said Dr. Robin Dore, a rheumatologist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA. 

 

After being diagnosed with osteoporosis in early 2005, Field attempted lifestyle changes, including calcium and vitamin D, to slow the progression of her disease but supplements alone were insufficient. Her doctor then recommended that she begin taking medicine and prescribed Boniva^TM (ibandronate sodium), a once-monthly tablet for postmenopausal osteoporosis. 

 

Although 44 million Americans are affected by or at risk for osteoporosis, it often goes undiagnosed until a fracture occurs. 

 

A major new campaign is under way to help protect women maintain their bone health.

 

Important Safety Information: Boniva is a prescription medicine for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. You should not take Boniva if you have low blood calcium, cannot sit or stand for at least 60 minutes, have severe kidney disease or are allergic to Boniva. Stop taking Boniva and tell your doctor if you experience difficult or painful swallowing, chest pain, or severe or continuing heartburn, as these may be signs of serious upper digestive problems. Follow the once-monthly Boniva 150 mg dosing instructions carefully to lower the chances of these events occurring. Side effects are generally mild or moderate and may include diarrhoea, pain in the arms or legs or upset stomach. If you develop severe bone, joint, and or muscle pain, contact your healthcare provider. Your doctor may also recommend a calcium and vitamin D supplement.