Reducing Anxiety Naturally

Although everyone feels anxious on occasion, if you are feeling anxious most of the time and this emotion consistently interferes with your daily life, then you may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

People with GAD worry about many things, as opposed to one specific incident. For example, most people will experience anxiety before giving a presentation or before taking a final exam. People with GAD will experience anxiety whether or not a big event is coming up. Anxiety about family, money, work, health, and other issues will arise whether or not these worries are provoked by an actual event.

Severity of Anxiety

The severity of GAD varies from person to person with this disorder. Some people have mild to moderate GAD, and are still able to live their daily life without too much interference. Others have severe GAD and find that the quality of their lives is controlled by this condition.

Whether you have mild, moderate, or severe GAD, it is important to be aware of the things that you can do to minimize your symptoms. If you are wary about taking prescription medications prescribed for anxiety, you are not alone. 

What to do to Reduce Anxiety

Many people are seeking alternative and natural forms of treatment. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do in your own life to treat your anxiety disorder.

Healthy Diet

Diet can play a significant role in mood disorders. Unfortunately, the Western diet of processed foods, including fast food, can change the way that the brain functions. Individuals with chronic anxiety are likely to benefit from eating a healthy diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein. There are certain foods — such as nuts, seeds, and bananas — that contain tryptophan, which is an amino acid that assists the brain in producing serotonin. Seratonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings calm and happiness.

Reduce Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption

If you suffer from anxiety on a regular basis, it’s also important to consider how much caffeine and alcohol you consume. Many people with GAD self-medicate with alcohol and caffeine since these substances can enhance one’s mood temporarily. However, the long-term effects are usually increased anxiety. Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine and alcohol that you consume each day, and give yourself a few weeks or so without these substances to assess your anxiety levels. Some people with GAD must eliminate caffeine altogether, and will find that reduced consumption of alcohol also helps quite a bit.

Mind-Body Techniques

You may not think of exercise as a mind-body technique, but studies show that physical exercise promotes emotional well-being in addition to physical health. There is a strong correlation between regular fitness training and reduced anxiety. A person who takes better care of their body is more likely to have a healthy mind that is free from anxiety and depression. 

Considering that anxiety is often a secondary emotion of depression, starting a regular exercise routine is an excellent idea for anyone who suffers from either disorder.

Meditation, yoga, tai chi, biofeedback, and self-hypnosis are commonly used mind-body techniques for treating anxiety naturally. You’ll find many online resources and books dedicated to using these effective mind-body techniques. In particular, Transcendental Meditation is particularly useful for creating feelings of inner calm, and will help “train” your mind into relaxing and focusing more on the moment.

Herbal Remedies

Passionflower, kava, valerian, and chamomile are just a few types of herbal remedies that are commonly used to treat anxiety. Keep in mind that, while herbal remedies tend to be much safer than pharmaceutical medications, minor side effects may result and care should be taken when consuming herbs for anxiety. If you are taking any other medications at this time, consult with your doctor before taking an herbal remedy.

Follow a Well-Rounded Approach

People who suffer from chronic anxiety should not expect their feelings to disappear overnight. Reducing anxiety is often a matter of changing the way that you think and how you take care of yourself. Begin with steps that are within your control, such as eating a healthier diet, consuming less caffeine and alcohol, and exercising more. Make gradual changes instead of trying to rid yourself of anxiety all at once. Practice thinking with a more positive frame of mind and work on pushing negative, anxiety-provoking thoughts from your mind. Practice daily meditation or other mind-body techniques. With time, you will be able to change the quality of your life by reducing anxiety.

Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon and writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.

Nine Months of Fashion: Maternity Fashion Tips

Congratulations, your baby is on its way. But now your jeans are tight and aren't fitting so well, and you can't wear that shirt to work because it is showing your belly. So what are you going to do?

It is time to invest in some maternity clothes.

Do I hear you groaning? Most women think of pregnancy clothes as being huge, shapeless sacks, baggy trousers and lots of elastic waist tracksuit pants. But it doesn't have to be!

The good news is that these days there are lots of stylish and sexy maternity clothes. Stylish and sexy aren't words you linked with pregnancy clothes in the past, but this is a new era for maternity wear.

Regardless of how fashion-conscious a woman is, the fact is that she is only pregnant for nine months, so she also should be practical and finance conscious while shopping. Purchasing maternity clothes as soon as possible in the pregnancy is the best option. The fit of maternity clothes these days has changed, and many are made to last from early pregnancy to accommodate the increase in abdominal size and to the postpartum period. Most maternity clothes are equipped with adjustable waistbands, rather than the old-fashioned panel, which allows the clothes to grow with the pregnancy. Ladies do not forget that “Comfort is the watchword during pregnancy as far as clothes are concerned”

Fitted clothes are important in pregnancy so the woman doesn't look big all over. Treating yourself to some nice clothing along the way is one way to pick up your self-esteem if it's struggling at times.

Don’t Forget Ladies: You don't need to spend a fortune on new maternity clothes.

During the first trimester invest in a few long singlets or camisoles in basic colors such as white, black, grey, red, making sure that they are extra long length.

It’s now time to invest in maternity wears during the second trimester due to the expanding belly. Here are few essential maternity items can last the whole pregnancy and afterwards: Stretch pants, Slim Fit Skirt, A Dress (preferably black), Maternity T-Shirts, A Tunic Length Sweater for cold weather, A Button down Shirt and Maternity Jeans. Ensure you have the right accessories to complement your look and spice you up.


















Ditch the 4 inch, stiletto heels and stick to lower heels, flats and wider shoes. Stick to slip on shoes or sandals because you won't want to be fiddling with straps and buckles by your third trimester when your belly is so big you can’t even reach your feet anymore!












Wear comfortable bras and underwear and adjust as your breasts, hips and abdomen increase. Invest in maternity underwear which billows out and covers your entire abdomen and maternity bras, which have several rows of hooks (at least 5 or 6) to accommodate the changes in your rib cage and also have adjustable cups.


By the third trimester you'll be filling out your maternity clothes nicely and they might be a tight squeeze by the end of the third trimester.

Comfort is the most important thing now because it is not too long from now. So if you feel like wearing baggy jeans flip flops, what are you waiting for??

10 Fantastic Health Benefits of Yogurt

1. Yogurt can give you flat abs.
Eat 18 ounces a day and you can drop a jeans size. People who ate that much -- in conjunction with cutting their total calories -- lost 22 percent more weight and 81 percent more belly fat than dieters who skipped the snack, according to research from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They also retained one-third more calorie-torching lean muscle mass, which can help you maintain weight loss. "Fat around your waist produces the hormone cortisol, which tells your body to accumulate even more belly flab," says nutrition professor and lead study author Michael Zemel, PhD. When you eat yogurt, the calcium signals your fat cells to pump out less cortisol, making it easier for you to drop pounds, while the amino acids help burn fat.

2. Most brands of yogurt contain good-for-you bacteria.
The words "live and active cultures" on the container mean that your yogurt has probiotics, beneficial bugs that live in your digestive tract and help crowd out harmful microorganisms that can cause intestinal infections. (Only a very small number of companies put yogurt through a post-pasteurization process that kills off all bacteria.)
But many varieties now also contain special strains of probiotics meant to help regulate your digestion or strengthen your immune system. The research on them isn't conclusive, however. "If you suffer from a particular health problem, like bloating or diarrhea, it's worth trying one of these products for a couple of weeks to see if it helps," says FITNESS advisory board member Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD. Otherwise, save a few dollars and stick to conventional brands.

3. Yogurt is loaded with vitamins.
One serving is a significant source of potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iodine, zinc, and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid). Yogurt also contains B12, which maintains red blood cells and helps keep your nervous system functioning properly. "Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products, such as chicken and fish, so strict vegetarians can easily fall short," says Jackie Newgent, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of Big Green Cookbook. Eating more yogurt can help close the nutrient gap: An eight-ounce serving contains 1.4 micrograms of the vitamin, about 60 percent of what adult women need daily

4. A cup of yogurt a day can help you recover faster after a workout.
With the right ratio of protein to carbohydrates, yogurt, particularly high-protein Greek yogurt, makes an excellent post-sweat-session snack. "The perfect time to grab a container is within 60 minutes of exercise," says Keri Gans, RD, a nutritionist in New York City. The protein provides the amino acids your muscles need to repair themselves, Gans explains, and the carbohydrates replace your muscles' energy stores, which are depleted after a hard workout. It's a bonus if you drink a bottle of water along with it: The protein in yogurt may also help increase the amount of water absorbed by the intestines, improving hydration.

5. Not all yogurt is equal when it comes to calcium and vitamin D.
Since it naturally contains calcium, you'd think the amount would be the same no matter which yogurt you pick. Wrong. "The levels can vary widely from brand to brand, so you really need to check the label," Newgent says. How much is in a container depends on processing. For instance, fruit yogurt tends to have less calcium than plain because the sugar and fruit take up precious space in the container. "Vitamin D isn't naturally in yogurt, but because it helps boost calcium absorption, most companies add it," Newgent explains. Reach for brands like Stonyfield Farms Fat Free Smooth and Creamy and Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy, which contain at least 20 percent of your daily value for both nutrients.

6. Yogurt may prevent high blood pressure.
Every day 70 percent of us consume more than twice the recommended amount of salt; over time that can lead to hypertension and kidney and heart disease. The potassium in yogurt, almost 600 milligrams per eight ounces, may help flush some of the excess sodium out of your body. In fact, adults in a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition who ate the most low-fat dairy -- two or more servings daily -- were 54 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who ate the least.

7. A daily serving of yogurt keeps colds away.
Dig into four ounces each day and you may find yourself sniffle-free in the months ahead, according to a study at the University of Vienna. Women eating this amount had much stronger and more active T cells, which battle illness and infection, than they did before they started consuming it. "The healthy bacteria in yogurt help send signals to the immune-boosting cells in your body to power up and fight off harmful bugs," says lead study author Alexa Meyer, PhD, a nutrition researcher at the university. Allergy sufferers, who typically have low levels of certain T cells, may also find relief by adding yogurt to their diets. In a study in the Journal of Nutrition, people who ate seven ounces a day had fewer symptoms than those who opted for none at all.

8. Yogurt can help your smile.
Despite its sugar content, yogurt doesn't cause cavities. When scientists at Marmara University in Turkey tested low-fat, light, and fruit flavors, they found that none of them eroded tooth enamel, the main cause of decay. The lactic acid in yogurt appears to give your gums protection as well. People who eat at least two ounces a day have a 60 percent lower risk of acquiring severe periodontal disease than those who skip it.

9. Raw doesn't mean better.
Virtually all the yogurt in your grocery store has been pasteurized -- that is, exposed to high temperatures to kill any harmful pathogens. Raw-dairy fans claim that unpasteurized milk, yogurt, and cheese are better for you because they contain more health-boosting bacteria, but pasteurization doesn't destroy beneficial probiotics, Newgent explains. Plus, studies show that those who eat raw yogurt don't have stronger immune or digestive systems than people who stick to the pasteurized stuff. And raw-dairy products carry a risk of food poisoning. "E. coli and salmonella are two of the pathogens that can lurk in these foods and end up in your body," Newgent says.

10. Yogurt is a high-protein food.
Yogurt can be an excellent source of protein, but "one variety may contain more than double the protein of another," Blatner says. Greek yogurt, which is strained to make it thicker, has up to 20 grams of protein per container; traditional yogurt may have as few as five grams. If you're eating it for the protein, look for brands that provide at least eight to 10 grams per serving.

What to Look For in a Yogurt
Forget the fancy promises. To find a healthy yogurt that's low in calories, fat, and sugar, follow as many of these guidelines as you can.
Per 6-ounce serving:
Calories: 100 to 150 (if you're snacking, stick to the lower end)
Fat: 3.5 grams or less (low-fat or nonfat)
Saturated fat: 2 grams or less
Protein: at least 8 to 10 grams
Sugar: 20 grams or less
Calcium: at least 20 percent of the daily value
Vitamin D: at least 20 percent of the daily value


Source:http://www.fitnessmagazine.com
Photo Credit:Google images

Stammering/ Stuttering

I just watched the King’s Speech (Yeah! I know I am kinda stale). Well watching that movie enlightened me and I want to shed a lil bit of light on the subject of speech disorders dwelling particularly on ‘Stammering’ which was the speech disorder that King George VI suffered from. The movie told the story of King George VI speech disorder and how he overcame the problem through speech therapy from the great Lionel Logue. Enough said about the King’s Speech!!

Stammering(alalia literalis or anarthria literalis) is known as ‘stuttering’ (alalia syllabaris). Stuttering is a communication disorder in which the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak.

Stuttering is typically a developmental disorder beginning in early childhood and continuing into adulthood in at least 20% of affected children. In rare cases, stuttering may be acquired in adulthood as the result of a neurological event such as a head injury, tumour, stroke or drug use.

There is essentially no "cure" for the disorder at present. Though the rate of early recovery is very high in a young stutterer, with time a young stutterer may transition from easy, relaxed repetition to more tense and effortful stuttering, including blocks and prolongation. Stutterers commonly report dramatically increased fluency when talking in unison with another speaker, copying another's speech, whispering, singing, and acting or when talking to pets, young children, or themselves. Other situations, such as public speaking and speaking on the telephone are often greatly feared by stutterers, and increased stuttering is reported.

The exact cause of stuttering is unknown but the most likely contributing factors include the following:
- Genetics: Children who have first-degree relatives who stutter are three times as likely to develop a stutter. Approximately 60% of those who stutter have a family member who does also.
- Child Development: There is evidence that stuttering is more common in children who also have concomitant speech, language, learning or motor difficulties.
- Neurophysiology: Recent neurological research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language slightly differently than those who do not stutter.
- Auditory Processing Deficits: Auditory processing deficits have also been proposed as a cause of stuttering. Stuttering is less prevalent in deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and stuttering may be improved when auditory feedback is altered, such as masking, delayed auditory feedback (DAF), or frequency altered feedback.
- Pressure: Such as peer pressure, time pressure, stressful speaking situations, insistence on perfect speech, high expectations, and so on.

Therapy
There are no instant miracle cures for stuttering. Therapy, electronic devices, and even drugs are not an overnight process. However, a specialist in stuttering can help not only children but also teenagers, young adults and even older adults make significant progress toward fluency.

The following therapy can be of help to stutterers:
- Fluency Shaping Therapy
- Stuttering Modification Therapy
- Electronic Fluency Devices
- Anti- stuttering Medication
- Diaphragmatic Breathing
- Support Groups

Do you think you are the only one suffering from this disorder? Nope, you’re not, famous Englishmen King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who led the UK through World War II stammered. Lewis Carroll, the well-known author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was afflicted with a stammer. Also the following people stuttered and didn’t allow their affliction to affect their success: Vice President of The USA, Joe Biden, Charles Darwin, Marilyn Monroe, Emily Blunt, Tiger Woods, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis, Phillip Larkin, Samuel L. Jackson, and Annie Glenn. Lest, I forget even Moses of old, the leader and liberator of the Hebrews and Demosthenes, the greatest Greek orator of ancient times stuttered!

Let your voice be heard!!

Bowling for Boobs!

Abuja set to host the first ever Bowling For Boobs Competition in Africa to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness

Stand Up To Cancer Naija is happy to announce it’s signature fundraising event for breast cancer awareness tagged “Bowling for Boobs 9ja”. The national tour event will kick off with the median edition holding at the dome entertainment centre central Area, Abuja on the 29th of January, 2011. The event which will be a bowling competition, with six teams, of eight players in each team, all competing against each other. The objective is to have fun while raising awareness and money for breast cancer project in the grassroot; prior bowling experience is not required. The event will be hosted subsequently in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other cities in Africa.

Each bowler is to register with N20,000, after registration they will get a t-shirt and a socks complimentary. The funds generated from this event will be used to support the ongoing grassroot breast cancer projects under Stand Up To Cancer Naija. “Like a Bra our event aims to uplift and support women battling breast cancer!” said Caleb Egwuenu, Project Director of Stand Up To Cancer Naija. We are calling on everyone to take up teams or join in a team, in this incredibly colourful and outrageous social event. Raffle tickets and prizes will also be available. The Line of confirmed celebrities featuring in the event are; UTI, Waje and Uche Jumbo, many more are to be confirmed soon.

For more information on this event, please contact Caleb Egwuenu, Project Director, Stand Up To Cancer Naija on 08033626680 or the Event Publicist Bode- 07032521755

Regular Breast Self Examination is the key. It can never be over- emphasized.

Feel Your Boobies!!

Improve Indoor Air Quality to Optimize Respiratory Health

By Kristina Gundersen


We often take for granted the air we breathe. It is all around us, we need it to survive, and we breathe it every second of our lives. Yet few of us consider how air quality impacts our health. Although we cannot really control the air outdoors, it is easy to improve air quality in the home environment by taking some straightforward measures. You’re on your way to breathing easier in four simple steps.

Damp Dusting
Is your home a dust-filled environment? Do you have pets, lots of decorations, or carpeting? Then your home probably has more dust than you should be breathing. Luckily, there is a simple remedy: dusting with a damp rag instead of a dry one. The water on the rag enables the dust to stick to the rag and traps it on the rag, thus preventing the spread or movement of dust that occurs with dry dusting.

Natural Cleaners
Do you use chemical products like shower and toilet bowl cleaners, disinfectants, bleach, or window washing fluid? Then you may be breathing toxic chemicals. Opting for natural or odorless cleaning products like Bon Ami for tubs and toilets, baking soda and water for countertops, vinegar for windows and hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant is a smart option for people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory conditions like asthma or emphysema.

Houseplants
Ever wonder if the air we breathe is pure? Before investing in an expensive, complicated air purification system, try incorporating some houseplants into your décor. Plants are nature’s own air purification system. Try putting at least one in each bedroom near a window and two or three in the living room to cover the extra square footage. Some powerful air-purifying, humidity-balancing plants are the Bamboo Palm, the Boston Fern, the Peace Lily and English Ivy.

Mold Abatement
Do you have areas of your home that smell damp or musty? The culprit may be a dangerous substance called black mold. Sometimes it is visible as black or dark gray splotches, sometimes it is not so easy to find. Anywhere where water damage has occurred, there are usually mold spores growing. A leaky pipe under the sink, for example, may be a source of black mold growth. It typically grows in bathrooms and on windowsills, anywhere where there is frequent condensation. If you can see the mold growth, try spraying it with bleach. If you cannot determine the origin of the musty smell, contact a mold abatement specialist who will take air samples and inspect your home until they locate the source.


Kristina Gundersen lives in Washington State. She is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on accredited online universities for Guide to Online Schools.

Depression: You Don't Have to Feel This Way

Symptoms of depression
* No interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
* Feeling sad or empty
* Crying easily or crying for no reason
* Feeling slowed down or feeling restless and unable to sit still
* Feeling worthless or guilty
* Weight gain or loss
* Thoughts about death or suicide
* Trouble thinking, recalling things or focusing on what you're doing
* Trouble making everyday decisions
* Problems sleeping, especially in the early morning, or wanting to sleep all of the time
* Feeling tired all of the time
* Feeling numb emotionally, perhaps even to the point of not being able to cry

Getting through depression
* Pace yourself. Don't expect to do everything you normally can. Set a realistic schedule.
* Don't believe all of your negative thinking, such as blaming yourself or expecting to fail. This thinking is part of depression. These thoughts will go away as your depression lifts.
* Get involved in activities that make you feel good or feel like you've achieved something.
* Avoid making big life decisions when you're depressed. If you must make a big decision, ask someone you trust to help you.
* Avoid drugs and alcohol. Both make depression worse. Both can cause dangerous side effects with your antidepressants.
* Physical activity seems to cause a chemical reaction in the body that may improve your mood. Exercising 4 to 6 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time is a good goal. But even less activity can be helpful.
* Try not to get discouraged. It will take time for your depression to lift fully.

Reasons to get help for depression
* Early treatment helps keep depression from getting worse or lasting a long time.
* Thoughts of suicide are common in people with depression. The risk of suicide is higher if you don't get treatment for your depression. When depression is successfully treated, the thoughts of suicide will go away.
* Treatment can help you return to your "normal" self, enjoying life.
* Treatment can help prevent depression from coming back.

Making Love During Pregnancy

There are lots of myths about sex and pregnancy, such as:
- Sex can be harmful or painful during pregnancy.
- Intercourse could hurt the baby.
- Sex can lead to a miscarriage
- The baby somehow “knows and feels” that sex is taking place.

But the fact still remains that:
- Unless your doctor says otherwise, sex is safe for you and your baby during pregnancy
- The baby has no idea what Mom & Dad are doing, so please enjoy yourselves!!
- Sexual activity won't “harm” your baby because your baby is protected by the amniotic fluid in your uterus, as well as the mucous plug that blocks the cervix throughout most of your pregnancy.

Pleasures of Sex During Pregnancy
- Increased vaginal lubrication,
- Engorgement of the genital area which helps some people become orgasmic for the first time or have multi-orgasm
- Lack of birth control
- If you have been trying for awhile, a return to sex as pleasure as opposed to procreational and other reasons.

When Not to Have Sex during Pregnancy
- Your obstetrician has advised against it
- History of miscarriage
- Risk of miscarriage
- Previous preterm delivery
- Leaking amniotic fluid(Your water has broken)
- Vaginal bleeding
- Placenta previa(when the placenta is covering part of the cervix)
- High risk pregnancy e. g Twin pregnancy
- If partner has a sexually transmitted disease or HIV

Sex Drive During Pregnancy
Many women find that pregnancy makes them want sex more than they did before they became pregnant. This sex drive is caused by hormonal changes. Sex drives varies during the three trimesters of pregnancy. Symptoms such as nausea and fatigue during the first trimester can lower one’s sex interest in the first trimester and in the second trimester there is an increased desire for sex which reduces during the third trimester.

Best Sex Positions During Pregnancy
Creativity of both partners would be put to test during pregnancy since the traditional position would not be comfortable and pleasurable. These are some suggestions:

- Side lying, knee pulled up
- Woman on top
- Spooning (Man behind woman, entering through the rear)
- Hands and knees

Not Having Sex, Other Forms of Intimacy
If you have been advised against having sex during pregnancy, there are other forms you can get intimate and express your love to your partner such as:
- Kissing
- Cuddling
- Romantic dinners
- Talking and holding hands
- Soothing baths
- Oral Sex

N:B- Ensure your partner does not blow air into your vagina because it can cause air embolism which can be dangerous for you and your baby.
Understanding, empathy, creativity and humor are of the essence for love making during pregnancy.

Finally, sex should not be avoided during pregnancy unless YOUR DOCTOR SAYS SO!

Dieting, Eating Disorders, and Obesity in America

By Maria Rainier- Guest Blogger

I received a note in my mail box this morning that my insurance company would be raising my premium because between 2007 and 2009, the number insurance carriers in my state who received obesity surgery went up 55%.

How is it that the nation claiming the most lives to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia (218 deaths annually by the most recent study) is also known as the fattest nation on the planet? The answer is a four-letter word.
Diet. Rather, diet-ing.

The Birth of the Dieting Nation
In a nation with a high-stress daily environment, minimal exercise, and fatty foods, the logical solution is to restrict food intake and increase exercise in order to be what the media (in bed with the diet industry) finds sexually attractive and successful. The American diet industry makes close to $40 billion annually selling pills, foods, cookbooks, how-to guides, fitness DVDs, clothing, exercise machines, and hoaxes.

These profits didn’t exist in the early 1980s before the burst of media flaunting rail-thin models with abnormally large (surgically- or Photoshop-enhanced) breasts and hunky muscle-men. Is it a coincidence that obesity became identified as an epidemic later in the ‘80s?

The Dieting Nation Gains Weight
If you approach a clinician at a treatment center for disordered eaters—commonly believed to be anorexics, bulimics, and other “skinny” eaters—they will tell you a little-known truth: dieting is the greatest trigger of eating disorders. In fact, upwards of 50% of individuals enrolled in dieting programs suffer from BED, or Binge-Eating Disorder.

The logic for this is simple: if you tell yourself you cannot have any “bad” foods (which happen to be yours and all of America’s favorite comfort foods like chocolate, ice cream, bread, pasta, and fried chicken), you will crave “bad” foods all the more. When you tell a child not to have any cookies from the jar, you will find that the child has eaten all of the cookies. Geneen Roth, Good Housekeeping columnist and renowned speaker, first felt she would have a problem with her weight when her mother refused to let her have a second creamsicles, “or you will get fat.” Thus, from age 11 to 28, she cycled through diets and innumerous eating disorders, losing and re-gaining a total of over a thousand pounds.

“Diets are so incredibly seductive because they seem like [they work at first] . . . [and] they are thrilling experiences when they work. If only I could fix myself, I could manage to stay on a diet.” The truth is, however, that they rarely work: 95-85% of people on diets gain the weight back or more within 3 years, and these failed dieters contribute to the obese population, which, in America, stands currently at 73% of our entire population of 307,006,550.

“For every diet,” Roth warns in every speech she holds or book she writes, “there is an equal and opposite binge.”

How We Pay
The consequences of obesity are often deadly: hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The problem with eating disorder research in America, however, is that it is conducted on mostly white communities by white researchers, which feeds the myth that eating disorders are a plight of well-off, college-age Caucasian girls. The myth of African Americans and Latin Americans being immune to disordered eating not only skews statistics but blocks an individual’s road to health. Today, the media pressures people of all races and walks of life to be inhumanly slender and proportioned, fit and beautiful.

Moreover, eating disorders are not limited to “skinny” disorders; they in fact most often result in obesity. By definition, an eating disorder is any habitual kind of eating conducted not to nourish the body but to comfort or fill it, fueled by compulsion and/or emotion. If the statistic mentioned above included all eating disorders and not just “skinny” disorders, the number would be staggeringly higher than 218 deaths per year.

How to Stop
The answer is not to diet. That’s what got us here in the first place.
The answer is to eat what the body needs and desires rather than what we have trained our minds to want. Your body doesn’t feel good after eating that donut because that donut has zero nutrients in it. Your mind wants it, however, because we have trained ourselves to eat comfort foods when we need comforting. Much of Americans’ eating is fueled by compulsion. We must find what is driving our compulsion—insecurity, doubts about our jobs or marriages, stress at work, etc.—and eat to fuel rather than comfort our bodies.

Telling ourselves, “No, you can’t have that,” is the surest way to binge on it later. We must educate ourselves and our children about nutrition and make peace with our inner and bodily selves.

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching various online degree programs and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop

5 Tips for Getting in Shape on a Budget

By Gunter Jamemson- Guest Blogger


When you look good, you feel good about yourself; you have more self-confidence and feel like you can take on anything. Everyone wants to feel that way, but not everyone can afford a gym membership—much less a personal trainer. And what about expensive home exercise machines? Forget it. Although all that stuff is nice, you don’t need it to get in shape. Spinning classes at your local gym might help motivate you to work out, but you can get in shape yourself, if you are determined and have the right attitude. Getting in shape doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some ways you can get in shape without spending big bucks:

1) Run:
Running is one of the very best ways to lose weight fast and keep it off, and it doesn’t cost you a cent. You can run around your neighborhood or on local trails. You can even use free websites like MapMyRun.com and DailyMile.com to map and measure running routes and track your progress over time. You might need some running shoes if you don’t already have some, but most $40 pairs are just a good as $120 running shoes.

2) Buy equipment at a second-hand store:
When was the last time you were at a second-hand or goodwill store? Have you seen all the exercise equipment people get rid of? There’s tons of it, and it’s all really cheap. From large exercise machines to hand weights, get it used at your local second-hand store.

3) Use household items:
If you don’t want to buy weights, you can make some yourself using cans of food for hand weights or jugs of water for heavier weights. You can even use these tips for creating your own weights at home using sand, cans, tennis balls, and more.

4) Play or organize community sports:
City or community sports leagues are usually pretty inexpensive and you can meet new people and make friends by joining. Or you can organize your own regular sports games with a group of friends or families. Playing all-ages kickball with a bunch of families on your block can be just as fun as hitting a few balls around at the baseball diamond with a league.

5) Get free info online:
Stop subscribing to fitness magazines and buying expensive shakes and diet programs. You can get great fitness advice online for free from a number of different sources. And with fitness advice, you can get a lot of free advice on diet and healthy eating programs that can help you replace energy drinks and store-bought protein shakes with cheaper, healthier homemade options.

Getting in shape can be hard. It requires determination and consistency. But it doesn’t require a lot of money—if you do it right. You can get in shape using free resources and items that you already have around the house. And when you get in shape, you’ll be even happier knowing that you did it without having to pay an arm and a leg for a gym membership.


Gunter Jameson writes about several topics including travel, minimalism and Online Classes