Added for You - Health and Fitness

Work From Home ... But Hey Watch Those Online Scams
We all would love to have the freedom to work for ourselves from the privacy of our own homes. Some of us, want it so badly, that we are easy prey for many of the home business scams that pop up on the internet and in your email inbox on a daily basis.They make professional looking websites, including testimonials from people talking about all of the money they have made and how great the business is. They try to pull you in by talking about how much they enjoy the flexibility of being able to set their own schedule, work from their own home, and be their own boss.All the things that we would all like to have, but have yet to find. The question is how do you know if these offers are legitimate? Should automatically hit delete, assume that they are all scams, and possibly miss the one that might, just might be a true business opportunity, the one that you have been so desperately seeking? This article will tell you about some of the known home business scams that are out there, so that

d effective for you. Only your doctor can help you answer that question. In addition, Low-carb (or even no-carb) dieting MAY be something you can stick with for life. Only you can answer that question.

* OUR FINAL ANSWER
You didn't really think that we'd conclude this article without a reminder to EXERCISE, did you? After all, EXERCISE IS THE ONLY THING THAT ALL THE DOCTORS AND EXPERTS DO AGREE ON!

Melanie Polk, RD, is the Director of Nutrition Education at the American Institute for Cancer Research. "We already know how to lose weight and keep it off," said Polk. "It's not a secret: eat less, EXERCISE MORE. Instead of eliminating all carbohydrates, choose whole-grain options and beans with the fiber to fill you up and provide energy throughout the day. Add vegetables and fruits while cutting back on animal protein and fat."

Doctors agree that exercise is critical to achieving a healthy fitness level for life. Not just a healthy weight, but a healthy fitness level!!

* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com.

Dating After Loss
Everyone experiences grief differently and therefore mourning periods are not the same for everyone. What may be a sufficient time of mourning for you may seem like too short a time for someone else. Some people actually believe that there are rules and ways to behave after the death of a spouse. These notions are as archaic as the long ago idea that a widow must marry the brother of her dead husband.Some people may worry that to begin dating again would, in some ways, be cheating on your deceased spouse. Anxieties will cloud the air and old fears will surface. The best help for getting through this new phase of your life is to have a good set of friends by your side, holding your hand, and keeping you steady. Expressing your feelings of mourning in a safe place is a good way to begin the healing process.Coming to terms with your previous marriage is important before you can move forward. If you are lucky enough to fall in love a second (or third) time it will not be the same type

In this series of articles we have focused on low-carb dieting. Is it right for YOU? We have looked at some of the concerns with low-carbing, we've examined the diets of bodybuilders, and we've explained exactly how carbohydrates react in the body. In this final article on the topic of carbs, we will attempt to answer the million dollar question: should YOU start a low-carb diet?

* THE EXPERTS
First and foremost, please understand that the majority of physicians in the United States will not recommend a no-carb diet. By and large, doctors are going to follow the generally accepted health practices, and those practices require us to partake of all four food groups. Citing the fact that there are no long-term studies available on the effects of carbohydrate deprivation, the American Heart Association does not recommend a no-carb approach.

On the other hand, there are some doctors who look at the results achieved on low-carb or no-carb diets and say (like some of us have): you can't argue with results!

* THE RESEARCH
Both sides in the low-carb debate have doctors and studies to back up their claims.

The Atkins group has well-done studies proving that their diet results in weight loss and lower cholesterol. The South Beach folks can quote even more studies. Both groups also do a very good job of trotting out some very convincing before-and-after pictures of people (just like us!) who have seen results on the low-carb diets.

On the other hand, there is no shortage of research proving that low-carb diets are unsafe and ineffective. A study by Linda van Horn of Northwestern University in Chicago assessed more than 4,000 people in the United States, Britain, Japan and China, asking them to write down everything they had eaten over two 24-hour periods. "Lo and behold, what we did find is that without exception, a high complex-carbohydrate, high-fiber, high vegetable-protein diet was associated with low body-mass index (the standard measure of healthy weight)," Van Horn said. The more animal protein a person ate, the higher his or her weight, she said.

It's easy to see that the research conflicts on this issue, as it does on many topics.

* THE ROLE MODELS
In a previous article we examined the diets of professional bodybuilders and (female) fitness models. Almost without exception, we found that these EXTREMELY healthy people did NOT eliminate all carbohydrates from their diet. Again, almost without exception, these folks DID strictly limit the intake of 'garbage' carbs (donuts, cake, cookies, etc.).

Bodybuilders and fitness models get their carbs from QUALITY sources including brown rice, vegetables, fruit and yams.

* PHONE A FRIEND!
Yikes! The experts don't agree and the research doesn't agree! What to do? Let's phone a friend.....

Most of us have a friend or family member that has lost weight on a low-carb plan. Sometimes they've even lost a SIGNIFICANT amount of weight. All that anecdotal evidence can't be wrong, can it?

As we learned in a previous article on this topic, low-carb diets will help you lose weight! There's enough research and evidence out there now to fully support that claim. But is it the 'right' weight, and is it 'safe' weight?

Especially during the first two weeks on a low-carb diet, much of the weight loss is attributable to water loss. Falling off the diet, or introducing carbohydrates back into the body, will result in faster-than-normal weight gain from replenished glycogen stores.

Another HUGE concern with low-carb weight loss success is whether or not it is 'safe' weight loss. We're not talking about heart health or cholesterol levels, but right now we're discussing fat loss vs. muscle loss. After all, nobody wants to lose muscle, do they? When we talk about wanting to lose weight, it's just understood that we want to lose FAT! On a low-carb diet, it is very possible to lose far too much weight from muscle and not enough weight from fat. (For more information on the distinction between fat loss and muscle loss, go to www.letspickupthepace.com and check out the e-book titled "The #1 Mistake People Make In Their Weight Loss Efforts").

So although our friends and family may have experienced weight loss on a low-carb diet, that fact alone is not enough to convince US to try it too.

* CAN WE STICK WITH IT?
As we've said time and time again, NO DIET IS GOING TO WORK FOR YOU IF YOU CAN'T STICK WITH IT. The Idaho Press Tribune ran and interesting article in defense of low-carbing (3-25-04, LeAnn Coffelt, Your Health section), where some of the challenges of low-carbing were disclosed: carb withdrawal (compared to nicotine withdrawal), hair loss, etc. Perhaps the most intriguing quote of the story was "One of the silliest things I've ever heard is that you will put the weight back on after you stop the diet. Well, of course you will."

Before attempting to lose weight on a low-carb (or ANY) diet, you simply must ask yourself 'Can I stick with it?'. If you love pasta and pizza, then the answer is probably no.

* THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION
Okay, okay, enough talk about the pros and cons of low-carb life! Should you or shouldn't you 'go low carb'?

Sorry to disappoint you, but NOBODY can answer that question for you. You, and only you, know if a low-carb diet is something you can stick with for life. There is, however, a list of questions you can (and should!) ask yourself before taking the plunge into low-carb mania:
1) HAVE I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DOCTOR?
2) Do I have a family history of heart disease and/or high blood pressure?
3) Do I have a family history of cholesterol problems?
4) Do I have a family history of cancer?
5) Do I think I can stick with it, even through the 'carb withdrawal' phase?
6) Have I scheduled regular bodyfat tests to make sure I am losing fat and not muscle?
7) Do I have a support system in place to help me stick to my new lifestyle?
8) Have I taken the time to EDUCATE myself on the specific diet, or am I simply following the advice of friends?
9) HAVE I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DOCTOR?
10) HAVE I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY DOCTOR?

Low-carb (or even no-carb) dieting MAY be safe and effective for you. Only your doctor can help you answer that question. In addition, Low-carb (or even no-carb) dieting MAY be something you can stick with for life. Only you can answer that question.

* OUR FINAL ANSWER
You didn't really think that we'd conclude this article without a reminder to EXERCISE, did you? After all, EXERCISE IS THE ONLY THING THAT ALL THE DOCTORS AND EXPERTS DO AGREE ON!

Doctors agree that exercise is critical to achieving a healthy fitness level for life. Not just a healthy weight, but a healthy fitness level!!

Natural Health Cures - Don't Check Your Brain at the Door
While researching an article for my site, I visited several popular forums featuring home health cures. I was surprised at the level of distrust and skepticism directed toward our health care system in general and pharmaceutical companies in particular. Although not a strong supporter of either, what struck me the most was the lack of thoughtful consistency when it came to natural health cures and remedies.It was almost as if the assumption was that if it was natural, homeopathic or an old world type of remedy, it was somehow better, safer and more effective than anything a medical doctor could offer.While many of these could people have a healthy skepticism when considering pharmaceutical company intentions and ability to help control and illness, they blindly follow the natural health cure mantra.Home remedies are also preferred by many because of a belief that the pharmaceutical companies are not interested in your health. While there are many examples of big drug companie

ineffective. A study by Linda van Horn of Northwestern University in Chicago assessed more than 4,000 people in the United States, Britain, Japan and China, asking them to write down everything they had eaten over two 24-hour periods. "Lo and behold, what we did find is that without exception, a high complex-carbohydrate, high-fiber, high vegetable-protein diet was associated with low body-mass index (the standard measure of healthy weight)," Van Horn said. The more animal protein a person ate, the higher his or her weight, she said.