Download Songs To Itunes

Apple iTunes is a free, easy-to-use digital media application that plays music and video files. After you download the program from Apple's website, you can browse the giant online music store for songs you want to download to iTunes. You can purchase and download individual songs or entire albums at once. The songs are saved in your iTunes music library and can be transferred to your MP3 player or played through your computer speakers.

Instructions

1. Using your Internet browser, go to the Apple iTunes website at http://www.apple.com/itunes and click the "Download iTunes" button. Allow the program to download to your computer.

2. Open the iTunes program and customize your account settings. This will include adding your credit or debit card number to be saved for use when you purchase songs to download to your computer.

3. Click on the "Music Store" tab, located at the top left of the iTunes menu. Browse through the selection of music until you find a song or album that you'd like to download for the pre-set price. When you are ready to download, click the "Purchase" button directly to the right of the song or album title. The song or songs will be downloaded to your computer. You can see all the songs you've downloaded by clicking "My Music Library," located on the left side of your iTunes menu.

Hcg Diet & Average Weight Loss

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced by a woman's body during pregnancy. It is used primarily as a fertility drug and a hormone therapy. Recently it has gained attention as a weight loss aid. Though HCG for weight loss is not FDA approved, companies promoting HCG injections claim that HCG can help you lose up to 2 pounds per day.

Choosing a Program

Numerous weight loss clinics worldwide administer HCG injections. While searching for a program, try to find one that includes diet and exercise regimens as well as weekly weigh-ins with a medical professional. When you visit with the doctor, expect her to take your blood pressure and review your overall health.

Vital Solutions, a weight loss clinic in Arizona, markets HCG as part of a weight loss regimen, saying patients can lose 1/2 to 1 pound per day. While you are taking HCG you can achieve this rate of weight loss, assuming you are also on a very restricted diet. HCG injections reportedly suppress the hypothalamus, causing appetite suppression. HCG is also promoted to mobilize fat stores. However, a double-blind study published in the Western Journal of Medicine found that when compared to placebo, HCG caused no increase in weight loss.

Typical Weight Loss

HCG injections are typically combined with an extremely restricted calorie diet, sometimes as low as 500 calories per day. HCG injections function as an appetite suppressant, making it easier for you to adhere to such low caloric intake. Depending on your current weight, exercise regimen and calorie needs, you could lose up to 2 pounds per day. In general, you will need a 3,500 caloric deficit to lose 1 pound.

It is crucial that you also include exercise with any diet program. In order to achieve rapid weight loss, you will need to simply expend more calories than you take in. The amount of calories you restrict plus the number of calories you burn through exercise will determine how quickly you lose weight.

Things to Consider

Extremely low calorie diets are not encouraged by most medical professionals unless you have obesity-related illnesses that outweigh the dangers of calorie restriction. Additionally, doctors recommend weight loss at the rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week. This rate is considered to be the most effective in maintaining your weight loss permanently.

Side effects do occur with HCG diets. These include shortness of breath, headaches, urinary problems, depression and irritability. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Pregnant women should not take HCG. Discontinue shots immediately if you become pregnant.

Get Leg Pain With A Ventral Hernia

A variety of symptoms, including several types of pain, is associated with a ventral hernia, which is a bulge or tear in a weakened area of the abdominal wall.

Some Patients Don't Have Pain

Although pain is common for hernia patients, some might experience only the bulge of the hernia itself and no pain with a ventral hernia, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).

Types of Pain

Patients who do have pain-most commonly reported in the abdomen, leg or testicles-usually experience it as a sharp sensation or a dull ache, according to SAGES.

Referred Pain in the Leg

Referred pain-pain not at the site of the injury itself-occurs when "nerves are irritated and the pain travels along the nerve root to other regions supplied by the same nerve," according to the Hernia Center of Southern California. Referred pain is responsible for pain in the leg as a result of the ventral hernia.

Referred Pain with Hernia

When the bulge puts pressure on surrounding nerves, this causes the referred pain that patients feel in the thigh/upper leg or testicles, according to the Hernia Center of Southern California, despite the hernia being in the abdomen.

Activities That Cause Leg Pain

Hernia-related leg pain may be caused by a variety of activities, such as heavy lifting, straining during elimination, coughing, or spending too long sitting or standing, according to SAGES.

Calculate The Calories For Weight Loss

Losing weight is a matter of numbers.

Weight loss boils down to pure economics. If calories burned are greater than calories consumed, you will lose weight. If calories burned are less than calories consumed than you will gain weight. There is no escaping it. Individual differences come into play when you have a lower metabolism, but the numbers still apply. A lower metabolism simply means you burn less calories under normal conditions, which makes you more susceptible to weight gain, but as long as you consume less calories than you burn, you can lose weight.

Instructions

1. Measure your current weight and height. Your weight should be measured in pounds, and your height measured in inches. You also need your age in years.

2. Calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of calories your body requires, even at rest. The calculation is different between men and women, so use the appropriate formula:

Male BMR = (10 x Weight) + (6.25 x Height) - (5 x Age) + 5

Female BMR = (10 x Weight) + (6.25 x Height) - (5 x Age) - 161

As an example, a 150 pound, 66 inch, 40-year-old mail would require 1,718 calories per day at rest. A female with similar measurements would require 1,552 calories per day at rest.

3. Add any strenuous activities from the day by referencing the calories burned during such activities. Many online resources offer such lists (see resources). As an example, if the male from the example lightly cycled for an hour, he would add approximately 422, resulting in a total of 2,140 calories burned in that day.

4. Tally all the calories consumed during the day and add them together. Calories are usually listed on food items, or you may reference them online (see resources). As an example, if you ate three meals totaling 800, 600 and 600 calories, respectively, then your total calories consumed would be 2,000.

5. Subtract the amount of calories burned from those consumed. If the result is a negative number, then you are on the road to weight loss. This is called having a calorie deficit. If the number is positive, then you need to adjust your eating habits and/or activity to create a deficit, because continuing as you are will cause weight gain. In the male example, you would subtract 2,000 from 2,140, resulting in -140, a calorie deficit.

6. Repeat this calculation every day for a week or more and average the results to acquire a more accurate estimation. If you tracked your calories for a whole week, you would add all the figures and divide by seven. As an example, if you calculated +100, -600, -300, +300, -600, -400 and +100, then you would divide -1,400 by 7, giving you an average of -200. This means that on average, you are losing 200 calories per day.

7. Divide 3,500 by your calorie deficit to calculate your weight loss rate. In the example, 3,500 divided by 200 tells, gives you 17.5. This means that you lose one pound of body fat every 17.5 days, or slightly less than two pounds per month. If the average you had calculated was a positive number, then this would be your rate of weight gain.

How Make My Dsl Faster For Free

A simple modem reboot can improve connection speeds

When DSL was first unveiled in the 1990s as a high-speed alternative to dial-up Internet connections, the speed boost was amazing. Today, DSL may seem as poky as dial-up did in years past. Cable and fiber optic technologies offer connection speeds many times faster than DSL. If you live in an area where only DSL is available--or can't afford faster broadband options--you can still take practical steps to improve your DSL connection speeds.

Instructions

1. Reboot your DSL modem. Many factors may cause network speeds to decrease over time. Rebooting the modem resets the connection and can improve your connection speed. Unplug the power to the modem and wait at least 30 seconds until plugging the modem back in.

2. Determine you actual connection speeds. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or websites like Speedtest.net, Testmyspeed.com or Bandwidth.com can confirm the actual connection speeds achieved through your DSL line. If the download and upload speeds differ much from what you were promised by your ISP, contact your ISP for repair service.

3. Eliminate other network activity using your DSL connection. If you use a wireless router to connect your computer to the DSL modem, make sure the wireless network is secured with a password. Unsecured wireless networks will allow anyone in your area to use your network connection to access the Internet without your knowledge. Other users downloading files or videos to their computers using your DSL connection will slow your Internet downloads.

4. Upgrade your wireless router. If your wireless router uses the older 802.11b technology, the DSL connection may be faster than the wireless network. Upgrade to newer 802.11g or 802.11n technology. These newer wireless technologies will be much faster than the fastest DSL connection.

5. Check the connection to your DSL modem. If you have an older computer that is using a USB 1.1 network adapter to connect to the modem, the data speed between the modem and your computer may be slower than the connection between the modem and the Internet. Install a network card by inserting it into an available expansion slot on your computer. Plug the modem directly into the network interface card.

Causes Of Continued Bowel Symptoms Following Gallbladder Removal

Gallbladder Role

The role of the gallbladder is to collect and store bile, which is a waste-removing fluid produced in the liver as part of the digestive process. The bile is ushered from the gallbladder to the small intestine. When gallbladder stones develop and continually block the flow of bile, it becomes necessary to remove the gallbladder entirely. This process, known as cholecystectomy, is typically performed with a laser, and the patient usually goes home on the same day.

Problems

When the gallbladder is removed, an essential tool in the digestive process is removed from the body. Removal of the gallbladder interrupts the regular flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine. Additionally, abnormalities such as a bile leak can occur following a gallbladder removal. The bile can leak into the stomach and esophagus. The opposite problem can also occur, in which bile builds up and is not released from the body properly. Finally, the body experiences a smaller amount of bile flowing into the small intestine. Whereas normally the bile would be stored in the small intestine and released after a meal as needed, following a cholecystectomy, this is no longer the case. Failure to adequately absorb fat contributes to the bowel problems.

PCS

As a result of the bile flow being interrupted, patients develop postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS). PCS is the name given to a group of symptoms following the removal of the gallbladder, which may include any of the following: diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, nausea, or fever. These symptoms sometimes begin immediately following surgery, but sometimes onset does not take place until years later.

Dietary Causes

Patients can help reduce their postsurgery symptoms by cutting back on foods that may induce gastrointestinal problems, including those that contain dairy, alcohol, or caffeine, or those that are very sweet or very greasy. These foods are rich in products that need to be eliminated by the body, and without the gallbladder, the body is already under stress during elimination. The build-up of these foods causes additional stress, and stress in the gastrointestinal system translates to bowel problems. Foods that are high in fat should also be avoided after gallbladder removal to prevent causing diarrhea caused by the body's inability to produce enough bile to absorb the fat.

Prevention

Often doctors will recommend that patients use over-the-counter medications to alleviate their symptoms, such as Imodium. If the symptoms are more severe, medications that regulate the body's absorption of bile acids may be prescribed.

Easy Instructions For A Corsage With A Wristlet

A wrist corsage makes a stylish alternative to a pin-on corsage.

Wrist corsages, also called wristlets, display wearable flowers. The term "wristlet" can refer to either the full-wrist corsage or the band for wearing the wrist corsage. Giving members of a wedding party or a date a corsage stands as a time-honored tradition. Providing a wrist corsage to anyone with delicate clothing also prevents fabric damage that may happen when pinning on a corsage. Create a wrist corsage using fresh flowers and design pointers to assure an eye-catching result.

Instructions

1. Rosbuds and asparagus ferns create a romantic corsage.

Select a single flower for the focus of the wrist corsage, such as a rose, orchid, gardenia or lily. A single bloom or group of three buds makes a striking wrist corsage without looking overly large or heavy. Cut the stem 1 1/2-inches long.

2. Poke the floral wire through the bulbous area between the petals and the stem. Push the wire all the way through and out the other side so the wire's end extends at least an inch. Take this short end of the wire and wrap it twice around the long part of the wire at the beginning of the stem. Wrap the wire in a spiral down to the end of the stem and cut the wire with wire cutters. To add two buds, cut their stems 1-inch long and wrap the stem with floral wire in the same manner.

3. Cut 6 inches of floral tape and wrap the tape in a spiral from right below the flower petals to the end of the stem. Floral tape sticks to itself. Wrap it firmly and it adheres. Cut the end and press it to the bottom of the stem.

4. Cut three sprigs of babies breath or other tiny filler flowers, leaving 2 inches of stem. Cut one frond of asparagus fern, leaving a 2-inch stem.

5. Cream-colored blooms create a classy wristlet for a wedding or prom.

Arrange the wrist corsage. For a single bloom corsage, place two or three stems of babies breath behind the flower to frame it. To arrange a group of three blooms, place two buds or smaller flowers at least 1/2 inch below the center bloom, so that the tips of the buds end below the top of the first flower. Add the fern behind the filler flowers.

6. Wrap all the stems together from the bottom of the fern frond to the end of the stems. Clip any excess stem and floral tape. Press the end of the floral tape against the end of the stems.

7. Center the corsage's stem in the wristlet's clip with one-half of the clip on each side of the stems. Apply a dab of hot glue 1/2-inch wide to the top of the stems in the clip, if desired. The glue will help secure a larger, heavier corsage. Bend each half of the clip onto the stems, one half of it at a time to hold the corsage stems securely.

Condition And Symptoms Of A Paraesophageal Hernia

A hernia happens when part of your body protrudes into another. A paraesophageal hernia is a type of hiatal hernia, which forms at the opening of the diaphragm where the food pipe, or esophagus, joins the stomach. When part of the stomach gets caught in the chest or begins wrapping around itself, it is called a paraesophageal hernia. While hiatal hernias generally do not cause symptoms, those that do are likely paraesophageal hernias.

General Hiatal Hernia Symptoms

According to the Mayo Clinic, general hiatal hernia symptoms can be vague digestive problems. They include heartburn, belching, chest discomfort, and upset stomach. These are caused by acids backing up into the stomach.

Paraesophageal Hernia Symptoms

Paraesophageal hernias may have more severe symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. These include severe chest pain and difficulty swallowing (a condition called dysphagia). Paraesophageal hernias may also obstruct the food pipe. This happens when there is strangulation of the stomach or a loss of blood supply to the part that has become twisted.

Causes

Doctors haven't determined precisely what causes hiatal hernias, but they do know that they can form as the result of an injury, or because the person naturally has a weakness in the area, or a large hiatal opening. According to the Mayo Clinic, anything that puts strain on the abdomen can cause a hernia to develop.

Diagnosis

Patients with paraesophageal hernias generally have more severe symptoms, so if a patient goes to the doctor complaining of severe chest pain or trouble swallowing, the doctor may determine that the hernia is paraesophageal.

Treatment

Paraesophageal hernias sometimes require surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health. Two popular options include open repair, where the surgeon cuts into the abdomen and corrects the problem, and laparoscopic repair, where the surgeon makes a few small cuts and repairs the problem using a laparoscope, a thin tube with a very small camera on the tip. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive and often helps patients recover faster.

Guidelines For Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure used to treat morbid obesity. The clinical definition of morbid obesity is a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 or an individual more than 100 pounds overweight. The procedure may also be used to treat those with a BMI of more than 35 if the individual has a serious medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure that might be improved as a result of the surgery.

Who Should Consider Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass is never the first option for weight loss. Bariatric physicians require candidates to demonstrate they have tried other options unsuccessfully before considering a surgical option to resolve their weight issues.

In order to satisfy increasingly strict insurance requirements, many doctors will require additional testing prior to surgery to document concurrent conditions that will benefit from the surgery. The more solid the case, the more likely insurance will approve the surgery, an important criteria for most patients investigating the procedure.

Significant benefits have been documented for those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and mobility difficulties. Limited studies have shown some potential for Type 1 diabetes where the patient is concurrently overweight, a situation which occurs less than with Type 2 diabetes.

Gastric bypass candidates should be well informed, well motivated and committed to following their doctor's instructions to ensure a positive outcome from the surgery.

Risks and Complications

Mortality risks from gastric bypass surgery are far less than those from the weight-related health issues, if left untreated. A July 2009 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found the mortality risk to be no more than 0.3%, or similar to the risk from a hip replacement surgery.

The most common complications are pneumonia, blood clots in the legs which move to the lung, heart or brain, or leaks along the staple/suture line requiring additional surgery to repair and leading to infection or abscess if undetected.

An increase in gallstones requiring gallbladder surgery has been noted for many years. A June 2009 study by Johns Hopkins in the Journal of Urology has also documented an increased risk of kidney stones. Although the risk remains small at 8%, it is double the rate for those who did not have the surgery.

Approximately one in five patients experiences some form of minor complication immediately after surgery, including drainage from the incision, nausea or vomiting.

Longer term side effects are more common with malabsorptive procedures such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. These side effects include mineral deficiencies and dumping syndrome, caused by the body's inability to process sugars and fats readily, leading them to be "dumped" into the bloodstream, resulting in rapid pulse, sweating, nausea, light-headedness and, in some cases, diarrhea. This effect can be minimized by judicious food choices.

Characteristics Of A Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes through the opening in your diaphragm where the esophagus meets the stomach. Small hiatal hernias usually don't cause problems or have symptoms, but large ones can cause heartburn and chest pain, and more severe hiatal hernias require surgery.

Common Symptoms

Sometimes a hiatal hernia is so large that it causes stomach acid to flow into the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food to your stomach. According to the Mayo Clinic, this can cause heartburn, belching, chest pain and nausea.

Unusual Symptoms

In some cases the part of your stomach that is causing the hernia can become twisted or lose its blood supply. This can cause difficulty breathing and severe chest pain. It can also make it difficult to swallow and can block your esophagus.

Factors

The position of your body affects the severity of the symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, leaning forward, lifting heavy objects and lying down can make the symptoms more pronounced. Pregnant women may also have more severe symptoms.

Causes And Risk Factors

Doctors aren't sure exactly what causes hiatal hernias, but they do know that putting severe pressure on the abdomen increases your chances of developing his condition. In addition, persistent coughing, straining while defecating and lifting heavy objects can all contribute to a hiatal hernia.

Medication

For mild symptoms, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antacids, which relieve heartburn. Your doctor may also recommend H-2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors, which lessen your body's production of stomach acid. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who take H-2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors while taking other medications should talk to their doctors to prevent a harmful drug interaction.

A doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking; smokers and obese people are at higher risk of hiatal hernia.

Surgery

When medicine and lifestyle changes fail to improve a hiatal hernia, surgery is sometimes required. Several types of surgery are available, including laproscopic surgery, in which the surgeon makes a few small incisions and performs the operation with the help of a tiny camera and a TV screen.

Hiatal Hernia Procedures

According to the Mayo Clinic, a hiatal hernia occurs at the opening of the diaphragm where the esophagus joins the stomach. Part of the stomach protrudes through the opening, resulting in a hiatal hernia.

When medication and lifestyle changes do not relieve painful symptoms, a hernia procedure may be necessary.

Risk Factors

You have an increased chance of developing a hiatal hernia if:

You're over age 50

You're overweight

You're a smoker

Symptoms

Small hiatal hernias usually don't require treatment. Larger hernias may cause:

Heartburn

Frequent Belching

Chest Pain

Nausea

Tests and Diagnosis

Doctors may discover a hiatal hernia while performing one of these procedures:

Barium X-ray: You drink a chalky liquid containing barium, so that the doctor can get a clear view of your esophagus, stomach, and the upper part of your small intestine. This X-ray shows whether the contents of your stomach are backing up into your esophagus.

Endoscopy: A thin, flexible tube with a fiber-optic light and attached video camera system is passed down your throat and into your esophagus and stomach to check for tissue inflammation.

Treatment

Taking prescription or over the counter antacids can reduce the acidity in your esophagus, and provide heartburn relief. If you stop taking antacids, your symptoms will return.

H-2 blockers block histamine receptors, which reduces the amount of acid your stomach secretes. H-2 blockers can be bought over the counter, and should be taken before a meal.

You can take these medications after a meal, but you'll be suffering with heartburn while you're waiting the 30 minutes for the medication to take effect.

Lifestyle Changes

Your doctor may suggest implementing some lifestyle changes to ease gastroesophageal reflux symptoms that can accompany a hiatal hernia. These changes may include:

Eat small meals: Heavy meals can cause your stomach to distend, pushing it up into your chest.

Lose weight: If you're overweight, losing excess weight helps put less pressure on your stomach.

Losing weight is the most important thing you can do to relieve painful symptoms.

Don't Smoke: Smoking increases acid production, and causes dry saliva. Saliva helps protect your esophagus from excess stomach acid.

Avoid spicy foods and alcohol

Elevate the head of your bed: Elevating the head of your bed 6 to 9 inches prevents stomach acid from backing up into your esophagus while you sleep.

Use a foam wedge to raise your mattress, and avoid pillows, which can put too much pressure on your abdomen.

Open Repair

In this procedure, you're given a general anesthetic, so you're asleep during the entire procedure.

The surgeon pulls your stomach down into the abdomen, and makes your diaphragm opening smaller by removing the hernia sac or reconstructing a weak esophageal sphincter. An open repair can be done using a single incision in either your chest wall or abdomen. The surgery usually takes two to three hours. Patients stay in the hospital up to six days.

Laparoscopic Procedure

The surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen, and inserts a thin hollow tube through it. The mini camera inside the tube displays a picture of the surgical area on a large viewing screen. Surgical instruments are slid through the hollow tube, and the surgeon performs the rest of the hiatal hernia surgery while watching the viewing screen. If there are no complications, you will stay in the hospital for up to three days.

Laparoscopic surgery is preferred by many patients because there's less scarring and a shorter recovery time.

Alternative Photography Techniques

Alternative photography techniques can take your photography to new levels.

Not all photographic techniques rely on having the latest gadget. You can make your own camera, buy discontinued photography equipment from used camera markets or adapt your camera to produce photographs through alternative means.

Pinhole Photography

Opening a very small hole in a lightproof box inverts a scene onto film or photographic paper on the inside of the camera.

Pinhole photographs are taken with a lens-less camera. The camera comprises a lightproof box with a round hole about the size of a sewing needle. Film or photographic paper sits against the inside wall opposite the opening. The photographer removes lightproof cover over the hole so light can pass through the pinhole, projecting an inverted image inside the box onto the film or photo paper. Pinhole cameras require a long exposure time (from seconds to days). Generally, the smaller the pinhole, the sharper the image.

Polaroid Emulsion Lifts

Polaroid emulsion lifts are unpredictable yet beautiful.

The image on a 669 Polaroid film print is lifted through a process of hot water soaks. Once the emulsion is free from the paper backings, it is then applied to a new surface such as watercolor paper, glass, stone or board. The artist often intentionally wrinkles the image to make a spectacular yet unpredictable new image.

Infrared

Infrared photography can be fine art or forensic science.

Infrared photography involves capturing light that is invisible to the human eye onto film. A common technique is to use an infrared filter that blocks most of the visible light but allows infrared light to pass through the camera to be captured on film and later printed. As a mode of fine art it is bold, brilliant and sometimes a little bit eerie. It is also a crime-busting technique for forensic science.

Diet & Exercise With Obesity

Diet & Exercise with Obesity

When beginning your fitness crusade while in the throes of obesity, you will need to come to terms with the fact that you have further to go before reaching your ideal physique. It's important to understand that the quest for health is not only about the destination, but the journey itself. Although making the initial changes towards leading a healthy lifestyle might seem an insurmountable challenge, everyone can improve their appearance with dedicated effort and perseverance.

Instructions

A Healthy New You

1. The first thing to do to ensure success in your newfound struggle against obesity is to go through your kitchen (and wherever else you stash food), and discard all items except for the following: fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, dairy, and healthy natural sources of fat (like plain walnuts, almonds, cashews, olive oil, fish oil, avocados and coconuts). This means you will have to discard most frozen foods, all processed foods, all unhealthy snack items and all sugary sweets. Keeping your kitchen free of temptation is key to keeping yourself healthy, according to nutritionist and biochemist Dr. John Berardi, Ph.D.

2. Now it's time to fill your cupboards with healthy options. In general, you should only buy naturally occurring foods that are sold in their original state, in other words foods that aren't heavily processed, full of trans fats or chemicals; stick to fresh meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, and the like. Use the attached links at the bottom of the page titled "Berardi's Kitchen" (parts I and II) to find out exactly which items are in compliance with your new healthy lifestyle. You should aim to consume five to six small meals throughout the day, with each meal containing a lean protein source (chicken, turkey, seafood, or low-fat beef), a fruit, a vegetable, and a healthy unsaturated fat source (like almonds, avocados, coconuts, olive oil, or other assorted nuts). Abstain from all items that are processed, fried, contain refined (white) flour, or sugary. Likewise, seriously limit or completely abstain from alcohol consumption throughout the course of your diet.

3. To track your progress you will need to keep a food journal. This is a simple notebook that contains a list of the foods you consume on each day along with their caloric content. Use an online calorie calculator to determine how many calories you can consume and lose weight. A general rule of thumb is that you need to create a 500-calorie deficit through food restriction and exercise. By writing down everything you eat, it will give you an honest picture of why and when you eat too much.

4. To further combat obesity you will need to institute a regular regime of morning walking or some kind of exercise. At least four days out of the week you will be going on a 30 to 45 minute walk--this should be done the first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. According to nutritionist Dr. Lonnie Lowery, after a long, overnight fast your body is primed to use fat as a fuel source, so you should give it the opportunity by engaging in regular brisk walking nearly every morning.

5. The fourth thing you will need to do is engage in a regular program of resistance training at least three times per week. Resistance training can help to jumpstart your metabolism and help your burn off stubborn fat deposits. While in the gym you should stick to whole body workout sessions using only compound lifts like the leg press, squat, dead-lift, lunges, bench press, overhead press, push-ups, lat pull-down, pull-ups, dips, and rows. Descriptions of these exercises can be found under the attached link titled Exercise List. These are the best "bang-for-your-buck" exercises to lose weight in a hurry, so make them the staple of your training sessions to avoid wasting time in the gym. Three to four sets of eight to ten repetitions for each body part should suffice to get you started losing fat fast.

Become An Artist Manager

Many musical acts, in the initial formation stages, experience a challenge when they try to advertise their existence and availability for gigs. One reason for this is because the group members are usually busy with learning new music, practicing and sometimes, school. It would be easier and less stressful for these groups to find a skilled marketer to publicize the group and line up gigs. If you have some knowledge of business and marketing, you can be a valuable asset to a music group looking for more exposure, by being the group's manager. These tips will help you to find success in the music industry.

Instructions

1. Know what kind of music that your client group plays. Attend practices and discuss this with group members. While you are getting to know each other, find out their desired images--heavy metal, industrial metal, Latin guitar, Flamenco, classic rock or country.

2. Design publicity posters and business cards. Make sure the materials you are designing reflect the image that your client wants to project. Make sample posters and business cards to sall group members. Invite suggestions and constructive critique of your work, and ask for changes which will bring your work in line with what your client is seeking.

3. Contact businesses and let them know of your clients' availability for bookings and gigs. As you are contacting businesses, include the Chamber of Commerce and business organizations. Include college student organizations, local school districts and organizations within the school districts. Expand knowledge of your client by putting posters up all over town. Include your name and contact information for bookings.

4. Build a website for your client. Include basic introductory information, group members' biographical information, music clips and plenty of photos. Put the website URL on your publicity posters and business cards. View other music groups' websites to get a a better understanding of music marketing.

5. Be professional when you take calls requesting bookings for your client. Identify yourself by title and name to potential customers. Know your client well so that you can answer all questions that customers may ask. You will be marketing your client, so you have to "know your product" very well.

6. Create--or purchase--a basic contract which will protect your client as well as customers hiring the group. If you create your own contract, seek legal advice. You want to do this so you don't inadvertently put in clauses which will not be held up in court, should an occasion develop where legal intervention may be necessary. In order to personalize the contract for your client, you can put the group's logo at the top of the contract.

7. When you secure a booking, fax, mail or email a contract to the customer. Give them a deadline for returning the signed contract with a deposit to reserve the date of the gig. Let them know the remainder of the payment will be expected on the date of the gig. If the customer pays in cash, give them a receipt. Keep detailed records of each gig with signed contracts, checks or receipts for cash payments.

8. Understand that some gigs will end up being canceled, either by your client or by the group's customers. Draw up a cancellation policy which follows business law in your community. When you are creating policies for your client, decide if deposits are refundable or not. Specify this in clear language in the group contract. If you refund deposits, have a clear time frame for returning deposits, either by mail or in person.

Kidney Donor Recover From Surgery

How Does a Kidney Donor Recover From Surgery?

Recovery Time

The recovery period for kidney donors is much shorter than it was in the past, thanks to newer and less invasive surgical techniques. Donors can usually return to work and other regular activities in as little as two to four weeks after surgery.

The First Few Hours After Surgery

After the surgery is done, the donor is taken to a recovery room, where she will be monitored for complications. She will wake up in the room and rest for about three hours. If the donor experiences a lot of discomfort, pain medication will be given. Once the doctors determine that her condition is stable, the donor is transferred to a regular hospital room to finish recovering. The hospital room is often near the kidney receiver's room.

The First Day After Surgery

On the day of the surgery, the donor is not allowed to eat solid foods. Intake is limited to ice chips and clear fluids. A catheter that was placed in her bladder during the surgery is left in for the first day. The nurse will measure the amounts of fluids that the donor drinks and measure the amounts of fluids that are emptied into the catheter. By monitoring fluid intake and outtake, doctors can tell whether the remaining kidney is functioning properly. The nurse will administer pain and nausea medications when needed. A stool softener is also administered to prevent the discomfort associated with constipation. The donor is encouraged to walk around periodically. Walking speeds up the recovery process. Often she is allowed to walk to the room of the person who received her kidney and visit with them.

The Day After Surgery

If fluid outtake is normal, the catheter is removed the day after surgery and solid foods are allowed. As long as the donor is urinating and defecating normally and is not experiencing any health problems, she can be released from the hospital and go home the day after surgery. If the donor is having any health problems, she might have to stay in the hospital for a few more days.

Going Home

When the donor is released from the hospital, she is given pain medication and stool softeners to take when needed. Usually a normal diet is allowed. After going home, the donor will gradually recover over the next two to four weeks until she experiences no more pain. The donor will have a follow-up appointment with the doctor a week or two after the surgery to make sure her kidney is functioning properly. The remaining kidney will function for both kidneys. The kidney may enlarge slightly as a result of the extra work. This is normal and not a concern. After recovery, the donor can live a healthy and normal life.

How Much Does Gingival Grafting Cost

Gingival grafting is a process in which skin from healthy areas of the mouth is literally sewn onto parts of the gums that have receded or rotted away as a result of gingivitis. This process is quite painful and, to be honest, downright gross. However, it can be an effective way to deal with a serious peridontal problem as long as you are adequately prepared for the effects and the cost of the procedure.

Function

Gingival grafts are designed to repair gums. If your gums are pulling away from your teeth, then your teeth have less support and will be more likely to become loose in your mouth. They are also left exposed to harmful elements that cause tooth decay and other dental problems. Gingival grafts repair gum damage in the same way that skin grafts might be used to repair damage from burns.

Significance

Because gingival grafting is a somewhat uncertain procedure, the costs are very difficult to estimate. While your mouth is one of the fastest-healing areas of your body, slicing skin off one part and sewing it onto another can be pretty uncertain. The procedure itself costs between $600 and $1000 per tooth in most cases, but it can vary greatly depending on what kind of aftercare is required. In some cases, several surgeries are needed to get the grafts to "take."

Time Frame

The healing on gingival grafting can take a fair amount of time. After the surgery is over, you may experience some pretty severe pain for up to a week afterward. Depending on what kind of job you have, pain medication may prevent you from working. Be sure to factor this in when you are considering the surgery. After a week or two, your dentist will be able to determine if the grafts are going to work or whether you are going to need additional surgery. In some cases, you may recover in a few weeks, whereas in others it may take two to three months.

Considerations

When you are considering gingival grafting, make sure to consult your dentist about alternatives. Sometimes if your situation is not dire, you can delay the treatment indefinitely by taking other measures to strengthen and protect your gums. However, this also means that your insurance company may not consider the surgery to be necessary, in which case you may have to pay out of pocket and undertake the payment of higher premiums due to the surgery.

Effects

Gingival grafting can dramatically improve the health of your mouth. Once it is finally over, you will have stronger teeth, which can lower your dentist bills significantly over time. However, you must be very diligent in following all instructions from your oral surgeon following the procedure in order for things to work properly. If you do not care for your teeth during the healing process, then you may end up worse off than you were before.

Prevention/Solution

The best way to avoid paying the high price of gingival grafting is to take really good care of your teeth before there is a problem. Gingival grafting will cost you time and money in a variety of ways, so if your gums are not yet in poor condition or your dentist has advised you to floss more aggressively or do other things to "toughen" your gums, follow directions. The additional three to five minutes spent every night will be well worth avoiding the major pain in the mouth and the wallet that gingival grafting will give you.

Adjust The Watch Band Wenger Diver'S Clasp

Wenger created its knives and Swiss-designed watches to last a lifetime.

As the producer of the genuine Swiss Army Knife, Wenger has been around since 1983. Wenger also creates Swiss-engineered watches, each made to last a lifetime. Wenger Diver watches, such as the Wenger GST Diver, the Battalion III Diver and the AquaGraph Deep Diver watches come with a five-link stainless steel bracelet, a diver's buckle and a safety clasp. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Arrange for a professional jeweler to fit your Wenger watch and remove the necessary links of the bracelet. Most jewelers will do this free of charge or inexpensively.

2. Open your Wenger diver watch clasp by pulling carefully on either side of the clasp. Your watch has a deployant clasp which means it opens like a watch bracelet.

3. Press down on the clasp to close it. The deployant clasp has two sides, which hide the buckle and allow your watch strap to close effortlessly with a secure fit and seamless look.

Halloween Activities For Kids Near West Burlington Iowa

Halloween activities are plentiful for kids in the West Burlington, Iowa, area.

West Burlington, Iowa, is an extension of Burlington, which runs along the Mississippi River along the Great Mississippi River Road. Halloween activities for children and families abound in this scenic area of Iowa. Nearby areas also offer pumpkin patch and apple orchard facilities, complete with corn mazes, hayrides and many other activities. Does this Spark an idea?

Fun City Indoor Family Center

Fun City is in a resort-type complex, which offers family entertainment. Indoor party rooms and a large indoor and outdoor water park and game area provide many opportunities for family fun. Halloween activities vary from year to year, but children are included in the Fun City events. The facility is on Highway 61, which is the travel route from the north or south end of the city.

Fun City

3001 Winegard Drive

Burlington, IA 52601-2061

319-753-2223

Westland Mall

Kids can enjoy Halloween activities indoors at the mall.

Trick or treat indoors at Westland Mall's forty-plus stores, attend a movie at the theater complex in the mall or enjoy the video game arcade. Eat at one of the many food establishments inside the mall. Families can treat kids to a whole evening of Halloween fun without leaving the comfort of the large mall, which is directly off Highway 34 and a short distance from Highway 61.

Westland Mall

550 South Gear Avenue

West Burlington, IA 52655

319-753-2891

Downtown Business Area

Kids can trick or treat at a scenic downtown business area.

Jefferson Street by the Mississippi River contains the downtown business district.

Children can enjoy trick-or-treating in this scenic, friendly part of old downtown Burlington. Information on dates and times for the downtown children's activities and other Halloween events can be obtained by contacting the Greater Burlington Partnership by phone at 319-752-6365 or 800-827-4837, or by email at info@growburlington.com.

Nearby Pumpkin and Apple Patches

About 30 miles south of West Burlington, Highway 61 intersects with Highway 2 from Fort Madison to Donnellson, Iowa. Along Highway 2, just about two miles apart, families can enjoy two separate fall and Halloween fun facilities. Appleberry Orchards offers apple and other harvest goodies and activities. Halloween activities will include a haunted activity, hayrides and other outdoors games. The orchard offers activities for groups and families. Kathy's Pumpkin Patch, just a couple of miles from the Appleberry Orchards, provides corn mazes for older and younger children, pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides and a large variety of old fashioned outdoor games to kids to enjoy.

Appleberry Orchards

2469 Hwy 2

Donnellson, IA 52625

319-372-1307

Kathy's Pumpkin Patch

1977 Hwy 2

Donnellson, IA 52625

319-470-1558

Cheap Liquid Diets

Drink your way to your goals.

When it comes to dropping the pounds, there are many ways to get the job done. Some people must lose weight quickly in preparation for a medical procedure and some are looking for a personal challenge to shed extra weight. Liquid dieting is a process of drinking fluids, almost exclusively, to greatly reduce calorie intake. If you're on a budget and prefer a liquefied loss, you have a few options to choose.

Temporary Liquid Dieting

Sometimes it's mandatory for you to go on a liquid diet for a few days or weeks in order to prep for an important surgery or post-procedure adjustment. In this case, you can drink your way to your goal with chicken broth, vegetable juice or a sports drink. These are all inexpensive temporary meal replacements that are available at your local grocer.

Clear Diet

It's always best to check with your physician before going on a liquid diet. Once you have the green light, a cheap and easy diet to start is the liquid only-clear diet. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, your daily menu will consist of fruit juices, water, gelatin, a broth and coffee or tea. Treat yourself to frozen fruit-juice pops for a light snack. Not only will you save on calories, but this budget-friendly menu will save money as well. Supplement any missing nutrients with vitamins.

Meal Replacement Shakes

For a heartier alternative, meal replacement shakes are a popular choice. Pureeing fruits and vegetables is a perfect option to get the best bang out of your buck while sticking to your diet plan. Purchase large bags or containers of fruits and veggies, then pre-make shakes and freeze them for daily use. This is a cost-saving alternative to purchasing pre-made smoothies and shakes.

Low Cost Commercial Diets

There are several liquid diet programs from commercial retailers such as Slim Fast, Medifast and even Kellogg's Special K. Brands like these often encourage use of shakes or soups in place of a full meal and offer several protein bars, cookies and crackers as snacks. This is the most expensive within your low-cost options; shop for your protein and meal replacement shake brand at your discount superstore of choice for a cheap rate.

Dental Care Financing Options

Some dental procedures can cost as much as $10,000 or more. Your smile is important, but it can be difficult to finance, especially when you don't have the benefit of a dental insurance plan. There are a few options to keep in mind when you are deciding whether you can afford dental work. Does this Spark an idea?

Dental Office Financing

Some dentists offices allow you to pay off your bill in installments as a courtesy. There is usually no interest tacked onto this type of "loan," which makes it the ideal choice over all others. Find a dentist that offers in-house financing. Get your evaluation and dental plan estimate. The estimate will include your monthly cost and the term of the agreement (usually one to two years).

There are also companies that specifically offer financing services to dentists to offer to patients, similar to car dealership financing companies. These arrangements are just like standard loans with interest. You can go directly to the dental financing company, like CareCredit, to find a dental provider that offers this financing option.

In this latter case, you will most likely need to give your Social Security number and personal information to the clerk if asked as they may need to do a credit check to assure you are a good risk for this arrangement. You may also be asked to give a credit or debit card number to process the monthly charges automatically from your account.

Personal Loan

Getting dental work may be considered a worthy investment toward your future by some banks. For some professions, like real estate and sales, the worker's smile is very important. Apply for an unsecured personal loan as you would normally and be sure to clarify on your application that you will be using the money to pay for dental work. If possible, include a copy of your dental plan with the application as further proof of your intentions. Having this information may sway the lender to grant your loan, since the approval team can be reasonably assured that it won't be used for trivial spending.

Credit Card

Many people choose to put dental care costs on a credit card when a better financing option is not available. This is a last-case scenario that you should avoid if at all possible.

The key to financing your dental care with a credit card is to treat the cost of the dental work as separate from your other card balances. Calculate your monthly cost (including interest) that is specifically due to this new dental balance as if it were a short-term loan and pay that amount on top of your current monthly credit card bill. For instance, a $1,000 loan at 12 percent for a year will cost you $89 per month, whereas the minimum payment on the credit card will only be about $40 (assuming the minimum monthly payment has to be at least 4 percent of the balance). Avoid the temptation to make the minimum payment as defined by your credit card company.

Assure that the annual percentage rate for the dental balance is the same or lower than what you pay normally on your credit card. If you do use a lower APR, offer to pay your dental bill, be aware that some credit card companies will pay off your lower APR balances before your higher ones, which allows interest to accrue on the higher balance. So while that's good for paying down the dental balance aggressively, be mindful of how much interest is accruing on your other balances over that period.

Go To Prison For Not Paying A Judgment

Debtor's prison does not exist in the United States.

Just as a debtor was unable or unwilling to pay the creditor on the debt that serves as the basis of a lawsuit to collect money owed, he will likely be in the same situation after a judgment is entered against him. Fortunately for debtors, the concept of debtor's prison no longer exists in the United States. Unfortunately for debtors, there remain other types of serious consequences for not paying or ignoring a judgment.

Creditors' Remedies Against Personal Property

Although judgment collection is largely a question of individual state law, certain aspects of the process remain similar from state to state. Generally, after a judgment is entered, there exists a period of time during which the losing party may file an appeal to a higher court. After the appeals period expires, the creditor can move forward with judgment collection. State law may give judgment debtors an opportunity to claim certain property as exempt from the judgment either automatically or by motion. All nonexempt property is subject to execution. Execution is the process by which the judgment creditor sends the sheriff out to seize the debtor's property and sell it to help pay the judgment. Cars, boats, tools, furniture and electronics above the allowed exemption threshold are all subject to execution.

Creditors' Remedies Against Real Property

In general, a judgment operates as a lien against a debtor's real property in any county where it is docketed. If the debtor has enough equity in the property above the exemption threshold to justify the expense and effort, the creditor can foreclose on the judgment lien and force a judicial sale of the property. Judgment foreclosures can cost creditors a sizeable amount of money, and since property typically won't bring fair market value at a judgment sale, the creditor may choose to forego the foreclosure option. The judgment still operates as a lien, however, so the debtor will not be able to sell or refinance the property without paying off the judgment in full.

Consequences for Debtor's Credit Rating

An unpaid judgment may show up on a debtor's credit report. This serves as a notice to all potential lenders that not only did the debtor get behind in payments, but the creditor actually had to file a lawsuit. This can translate into an inability to borrow money or increased interest rates, which can cost the debtor thousands of dollars in borrowing costs. Having a judgment also makes a debtor appear financially unstable or irresponsible, which can affect her ability to obtain employment in certain fields.

Bankruptcy Options

In some cases, a debtor may need to file for bankruptcy in order to protect his home or other important assets from seizure and sale by the creditor. While bankruptcy is not available to all debtors, both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 automatically stay collection efforts upon the debtor's bankruptcy filing. The bankruptcy court will then include the judgment in the schedule of the bankrupt's debts and rule upon an amount, if any, for the debtor to pay. After completion of the bankruptcy case, the judgment can be discharged.

Grants For Adaptive Recreation

Adaptive recreation grants exist for individuals with disabilities.

According to the UCLA Recreation website, adaptive recreation enhances health and wellness, self-esteem and autonomy for individuals with cognitive and physical challenges. With the help of assistive devices, individuals with specific hardships may enjoy recreational activities alongside able-bodied individuals. Individuals and organizations can take advantage of the adaptive recreation grants that exist.

Hunting Grants

Founded in 1993, the Buckmasters American Deer Foundation's Disabled Hunters Services provide assistance for more than 1.5 million people with severe physical disabilities. Hunters with a disability are encouraged to apply for adaptive equipment grants that provide financial assistance for mechanical gun rests that let quadriplegics discharge a crossbow or firearm. Special consideration is given to applicants who are not able to work full-time and receive less than $10,000 annually in wages and benefits.

Buckmasters American Deer Foundation

10540 Daystar Dr.

Tuscaloosa, AL 35405

205-366-8415

buckmasters.com

Spinal Cord Injuries

The Kelly Brush Foundation offers grants to assist individuals who are paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury. Grants allow injured individuals who are in financial need to participate in adaptive sports programs. The foundation provides financial assistance for the purchase of adaptive sports equipment. To be eligible for a grant, an applicant needs to live in the United States and must be a paraplegic or quadriplegic as a result of a spinal cord injury. The foundation is named after Kelly Brush, a native of Vermont who was injured in a skiing accident in 2006.

Kelly Brush Foundation

7 Aspen Dr.

South Burlington, VT 05403

802-846-5298

kellybrushfoundation.org

Tennis

The United States Tennis Association Florida, a nonprofit agency made of more than 1,000 members dedicated to promoting and developing the sport of tennis in the Sunshine State, offers grants for the creation and enhancement of adaptive and wheelchair recreational tennis programs for individuals with varying disabilities. An applicant must be in good standing with the United States Tennis Association and must establish program fees at minimal cost to maximize participation. Grants ranging from $300 to $1,000 may be awarded for expenses related to adaptive equipment, marketing, and training needed to establish an adaptive tennis program.

U.S. Tennis Association Florida

1 Deuce Court, Suite 100

Daytona Beach, FL 32124

386-671-8949

usatennisflorida.usta.com

Calculate Insurance Premiums

When you calculate insurance premiums, the most important piece of the puzzle is the type of insurance you're attempting to price. Homeowners, auto, life, health, long-term care and disability insurance are the most common types and each has specific aspects that affect how the premium is determined.

Instructions

1. Determine the age of the insured. Most personal lines of insurance use the insured's age as a primary factor. For example, the very young and very old pay higher auto-insurance premiums because statistics show they have more accidents. For life, disability, long-term care and health insurance, the older you are, the higher the premiums, because the potential for a problem is greater.

2. Calculate the amount of coverage. No matter what type of insurance you have, it has limits. For health insurance, the limit is the aggregate lifetime maximum; for life insurance, it's the face value of the policy. The value of the property and liability limits is the amount of coverage for auto and homeowners insurance, and it's the replacement income chosen for disability insurance. For long-term care insurance, it's the daily amount of reimbursement and the total amount payable.

3. Consider your job or hobbies. Life, health and disability cost more if your job or pass time is dangerous.

4. Look for increased premiums per thousand if you purchase lower amounts of insurance. Life insurance has break points where the cost per thousand drops when you reach them. These are banded premiums. $49,999 might actually cost more than $50,000 of life insurance. The same is true for other types of insurance. The base amount is the most expensive per thousand for the insurance companies to issue. Underwriting and servicing a policy costs the same for a $100,000 home as it does for a $30,000 home. The base liability is the most expensive. Increasing the amount is often just a few dollars more.

5. Investigate the condition of the property insured. Just like an insurance that covers your person, property insurance increases if the property needs some repair. Companies don't want to insure a house with bad wiring since the potential for claims is higher.

6. Hunt down discounts. Most of the discounts are in percentage of premium. Life insurance lowers premiums if you're a preferred risk in great health. Auto insurance offers good driver discounts, multiple car discounts, theft prevention discounts and discounts if you only use your car for pleasure. Homeowners policies offer discounts if you have smoke alarms or burglar protection. Most companies offer discounts if you have more than one type of policy with the company.

Haart Complications

It is important to educate yourself as much as possible when it comes to heart problems.

Heart complications are unfortunate occurrences in human health. Not only are heart complications common, but they are frightening, debilitating and potentially deadly. Understanding some major heart complications is critical for knowing what can happen following a major heart problem.

Arrhythmia

Damage to the heart can result in a complication called arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm. If the heart has been damaged, certain electrical paths that regulate the heart can be thrown off, affecting the rhythm. There are also some medications that can lead to heart arrhythmia or other serious complications. Atrial arrhythmia is mild, but ventricular arrhythmia or "heart block" can be fatal. This, however, usually occurs within 24 hours following a heart attack.

Heart Failure

Another complication is heart failure which can occur if 30 percent or more of the left ventricle is damaged. Shortness of breath is a tell-tale symptom of this condition, because it indicates that the heart is not able to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid in the lungs. Medication is usually enough to treat the problem, but surgery might be required.

Blood Clot

A blood clot is a commonly known heart complication. Unsteady blood flow or a lack of blood flow in damaged heart areas can cause clots. The biggest risk comes if the tip of the left ventricle is damaged, or if there is an aneurysm. The best form of prevention is to be as active as possible, depending on how you feel. Being bedridden can increase the risk of clots in the legs, which can break off and make their way to the lungs, causing clots or blockage in the lungs as well. Blood thinner medications are usually used to treat and prevent clots.

Heart Attack

While heart attacks can lead to a plethora of complications, a heart attack is itself a complication. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, 90 percent of heart attacks are the result of plaque building up in the coronary arteries. This complication can also occur when a coronary artery suddenly spasms, causing it to contract and restrict blood flow to the heart.

Employers That Pay For Employees To Lose Weight

Extra weight can lead to health complications such as diabetes and stroke.

A number of major companies have recognized the value of helping their employees to lose excess weight. Overweight employees can cost their employers up to twice as much to insure as employees that are of normal weight. As a result, some companies have joined the weight-loss crusade and are paying for programs that are designed to help employees drop the extra pounds and live a healthier lifestyle.

Total Medical Solutions

Total Medical Solutions, which specializes in workers' compensation care, has made weight loss and healthy living a priority in its corporate structure. The company, based in Sanford, Fla., started its own company-wide version of the TV show "The Biggest Loser." Employees attend weight-loss meetings that encourage exercise and healthy eating and that have been paid for by the company. Employees weight in weekly to see how much weight they have gained or lost, and the results are shared with the group. The employee that loses the most weight at the end of each 12-week period wins $150, in addition to having a healthier physique.

Total Medical Solutions

1270 Upsala Road

Sanford, FL 32771

407-330-6138

newtms.com

Liz Claiborn Inc.

Liz Claiborn Inc., a New York-based company known for its fashion designs, has implemented a company-wide program to assist employees with weight loss and obtaining a more health-conscious lifestyle. The company, which employs more than 6,000 employees worldwide, sponsors weight-loss programs such as Weight Watchers at Work. These programs are aimed at providing instruction on topics such as portion control, the difference between good carbohydrates and carbs you should avoid, and the importance of a low-fat diet. Liz Claiborne implemented the program to help reduce health-related employee absenteeism and to help reduce the cost of employer sponsored healthcare claims.

Liz Claiborn Inc.

1441 Broadway

New York, NY 10018

212-354-4900

lizclaiborneinc.com

Rodale Press Inc.

Rodale Press Inc. may know better than many other companies the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging good eating habits. The California-based company, which is the publisher of magazines such as Women's Health, Prevention and Biker's World, has developed a company-based weight-loss program designed to improve the health of its employees and to lower the cost of the company-sponsored healthcare programs. Rondale Press's more than 1,000 employees are encouraged to participate in company-paid healthcare seminars that encourage healthy eating and exercise and that instruct employees on create tasty, low-calorie dishes in order to lose weight.

Rodale Press Inc.

2101 Rosecrans Ave.

El Segundo, CA 90245

310-615-4567

rodaleinc.com

Employee Health Incentive Programs

As of the passing of the health care reform act of 2010, all businesses are required to provide some form of health care for their employees. Some companies, though, take things a step further, working to actually improve their staffers’ health care through various incentive programs. Businesses may work with already in-place incentive programs through their insurance companies or start their own, offering employees financial boosts for healthier behavior.

Smoking Cessation

While having employees who smoke may be disruptive when you’re trying to find them during a smoke break or unpleasant for their cubicle neighbors who have to smell cigarette smoke when they return, it’s the employees’ health that may be the largest concern. To counteract the drastic effects on smoking, some companies are enacting smoking cessation health incentive plans. The Business Knowledge Source website reports that companies finding the most success are those offering $500 to each employee who stops smoking and remains smoke-free for the entire year. Other companies provide gift certificates, additional time off and information on how quitting smoking could reduce the employees’ insurance premium.

Blue Points

Solely for employees whose companies offer BlueCross BlueShield health care plans, the Blue Points incentive program promotes healthy exercise by dangling rewards of gift cards and gift items. Through a daily online exercise tracker, employees can detail their day-to-day fitness efforts such as running, gardening and soccer, receiving points for any day in which they exercise over 26 minutes. The site also offers additional points for taking a health assessment, participating in surveys and noting healthy eating habits, such as fruits and vegetables. Points accrue and may be redeemed for gift cards to retailers such as Bath and Body Works, TJ Maxx and Kmart, or for merchandise such as a leather notepad, Bose ceiling bracket or a digital thermometer. Employees may also select charities to donate their points to through the program. BluePoints is conducted entirely online.

Weight Loss

The sight of soda and candy machines, fresh baked goods and snacks are often associated with offices, and that may contribute to the obesity epidemic faced by people all over the country. Some business officials are taking matters into their own hands by creating health incentive weight loss programs. Reported by the Associated Press, over 30 percent of United States businesses offer or are planning to offer financial rewards for losing weight. Some companies focus on exercise, paying employees who wear pedometers, take a gym class or--in IBM’s case--participating in an online 12-week health class, where employees received $150. Although the incentives for weight loss are not a guarantee, they may help employees work harder to meet a weight loss goal.

Do A Gallbladder Cleanse

Are you interested in knowing do a gallbladder cleanse? Doing a gallbladder cleanse is very easy and can be done at home. You don't need to spend lots of money to go to the doctor to have surgery. By doing a gallbladder cleanse, you will be getting rid of the toxins that's building up in your gallbladder. You should feel more energetic after a couple of gallbladder cleanses. This article will teach you do a gallbladder cleanse.

Instructions

1. You need to first prepare for a gallbladder cleanse by buying apple cider, cold pressed olive oil, lemons, and Epsom salt.

2. Before doing the gallbladder cleanse, you need to drink a cup of apple cider for 6 days prior to the cleanse. This is to soften up the gallbladder stones.

3. On the 6th day at 6 pm, you will need to mix 1 tbsp of Epsom salt with warm water and drink. Be prepared to go to the bathroom after drinking the concoction.

4. At 8 pm squeeze the lemon juice into half a cup of olive oil and drink that. After drinking, you should lay down on your side to let the olive oil move through your gall bladder.

5. The next morning at 8 am, you drink another concoction of Epsom salt and water.

1999 Johnson 150 Motor Specifications

The 1998 Johnson 150 outboard motor provides the momentum for various boating applications. Johnson released 150 model engines under different brand names, including Ficht Faststrike, Offshore and Oceanrunner, in 1998.

Engine Features

1998 Johnson 150 motors are two-stroke outboard engines with six cylinders. The prop shaft that connects to the propeller hub has 15 splines. The gear ratio for this engine measures 1.86 to 1.

Throttle and Horsepower

Wide open throttle specifications for Johnson 150 motors are a minimum of 4500 rpm and they can produce a safe maximum of 5500 rpm. The engine is capable of creating 150 horsepower.

Propeller

Propellers for 1999 Johnson 150 motors feature either three or four blades and are highly customizable. Propellers with four blades have a diameter that ranges between 13.5 and 14.5 inches and a pitch between 17 and 27 degrees. Three-bladed propellers have a pitch between 13 and 30 degrees with a diameter between 13.5 and 15.5 inches.

Buy Acupressure Bands For Motion Sickness

Buy Acupressure Bands for Motion Sickness

The ancient healing art of acupressure applies pressure to points on the body to relieve emotional and physical upset. While acupressure typically uses finger pressure, some people have found success treating motion sickness by wearing acupressure bands or bracelets on the wrists.

Instructions

1. Find acupressure bracelets in pharmacy locations throughout the world. Many airport stores also carry them. They also go by the names "travel band" and "Sea-Band."

2. Identify motion sickness bracelets, which look like sweatbands worn on the wrists, by a button or stud built into the band.

3. Apply acupressure bracelets to both wrists, making certain that the buttons in the wristbands face down on the pressure point called P6 (Pericardium) or Nei Kuan. Find this area between the two tendons on the inside of the wrist, about three finger widths up the arm from the wrist.

4. Put on motion sickness bracelets ahead of time if you suffer from regular motion sickness. You can also apply the bands after motion sickness starts. You should feel relief in about five minutes.

5. Buy motion sickness bands for children who are at least two years of age. Make certain the bands fit snugly on their wrists.

6. Follow manufacturer's instructions in washing motion sickness bracelets. You can usually wash bands gently a few times before they lose elasticity.

7. Take anti-nausea medication while wearing the wristbands, if you like. Acupressure bracelets are drug-free and carry no side effects. If you use both, you should be able to take less medication for the motion sickness.

Avoid Motion Sickness On Trains

If you suffer from motion sickness, then traveling by train can seem like a nightmare. Sufferers of motion sickness will feel nauseated, dizzy or vomit when they have an episode. Since you won't want to cause a scene on a train, you need to find ways to avoid motion sickness on trains.

Instructions

1. Sit in the middle of the train car. You want to find a spot on the train that minimizes movement. If you sit in the middle, you're away from the more shaky spots between each train car.

2. Stay in your seat. Traveling between train cars while the train is in motion can cause a person to experience motion sickness.

3. Stop reading your book or magazine. If you brought along reading material for the train ride, put it away. Reading while in motion can bring about a motion sickness episode.

4. Take a sip of water. If you brought along a bottle of water, take a few sips over the course of the ride. You can purchase bottles of water at kiosks prior to boarding the train. This can help you avoid motion sickness.

5. Focus on the horizon. When you look outside your train car window, stare at the horizon to prevent motion sickness. Looking at a fixed object can minimize the effects.

Bride And Groom Wedding Band Tradition

Double ring ceremonies are common in the United States.

For many couples, the wedding ceremony is a sacred act that unites two people for eternity. To symbolize this deed a husband and wife each wear a wedding band as an outward symbol of their union. The bride and groom wedding band tradition may date back to ancient times when the Egyptians chose the circle, a form without a beginning or an end, to be a symbol of eternity

Ancient Greece and Rome

In early Greece, the ring finger was the index finger because it was believed it contained a vein known as the "vein of love" that led directly to the heart. In ancient Rome, wedding rings -- normally a gold band -- symbolized commitment through marriage and eternal love. Wedding rings were carved with two clasped hands to symbolize everlasting love. On the bride's ring some carved a key. The key allowed the woman to open her husband's heart.

Double Ring Ceremony

It was not until the sixteenth century that men consistently began to wear wedding rings. In the United States the double ring ceremony became popular after World War II. The wedding band provided soldiers with a reminder of their brides. In turn it gave women a constant reminder of their husbands who were away at war. By 1942, 85 percent of weddings in the United States performed double ring ceremonies. This tradition continues and is extremely popular today.

Etiquette

Most couples wear their wedding rings at all times. The ring symbolizes love, devotion and is an outward token to the world to show that you're married. There are many options on wear a wedding band. Women can wear their engagement ring and wedding band on the left hand; wear the wedding band by itself on the left hand; or wear the wedding band on the left hand and the engagement ring on the right hand.

Safekeeping the Rings During the Ceremony

Traditionally the ring bearer's responsibilities are more symbolic than practical. The best man is charged with the safe keeping of the wedding bands. However, if a ring bearer is to be used during the ceremony, the rings are typically pinned to a pillow that the ring bearer will carry down the aisle and bestow upon the best man. Another symbolic tradition is to allow the ring bearer to carry an embroidered pillow with two imitation rings attached on the top. This ensures that the real wedding rings remain secure in the possession of the best man.

Gastroplasty Diet Instructions

Gastroplasty is a form of weight-reduction surgery that was introduced in the early 1970s as a safer alternative to gastric bypass surgery. Although it originally involved stapling part of the stomach to reduce food intake, the procedure has been improved over the years and now involves vertical banding of the stomach to sharply reduce its capacity. If you've undergone this procedure, you need to rethink your attitudes about food and radically modify your eating habits.

Post-Surgery Instructions

Gastroplasty creates a small stomach pouch designed to hold far less food than a normal stomach. You'll experience feelings of fullness after eating only a small quantity of food, which should be your signal to stop eating. Failure to do so may cause severe abdominal discomfort.

In the period immediately following your discharge from the hospital, you'll need to stick to a clear liquid diet for a few days. You then can begin to add small quantities of soft foods, according to Karen Kassel, MS, RD, MEd of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

General Guidelines

The University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC) at Fairview offers some broad dietary guidelines for gastroplasty patients: Eat three small high-protein meals a day and avoid snacking. Because your stomach pouch can hold a very limited amount of food, it is vitally important to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly. Because your three small meals daily are unlikely to include enough nutrients, you should take nutritional supplements. On the basis of your new eating habits, your doctor can provide guidance as to the type and daily dosage of such supplements to meet your specific needs.

Only a Half-Cup to Start

Once you have begun to eat solid food again, restrict your intake at mealtimes to roughly a half-cup of food, which is about all your stomach pouch can hold. Eat more and you run the risk of getting sick. Over time, according to the UMMC, the stomach pouch will stretch, increasing its capacity to as much as a cup or slightly more. However, you should stick to meals that approximate a half-cup in volume at least until you've reached your weight-loss goal. Once that goal has been achieved, you can increase intake to roughly a cup of food per meal.

Stretch Out Mealtimes

The UMMC suggests that each meal be eaten over a period of 20 to 30 minutes, allowing you ample time to chew all foods into a paste before swallowing them. Eat too fast and you not only run the risk of gaining weight, but you also face the likelihood of nausea and vomiting. Take a forkful of food, chew it slowly and thoroughly, and put your fork back on the table until that process has been completed. Don't drink liquids for at least 30 minutes before and after each meal. To do otherwise runs the risk of filling your stomach pouch to capacity with liquid and/or washing out the food before it's been fully processed.

Esophageal Banding & Coffee Drinking

Coffee can be hazardous after esophagus surgery.

Esophageal banding is one treatment for varices, which are englarged veins in the wall of the esophagus that can cause sudden and serious bleeding from high blood pressure in the veins. Drinking coffee can cause risks for patients who have undergone the banding surgery and have high blood pressure in general.

Effects

Coffee, which is high in caffeine, increases blood pressure. During an esophageal banding operation, a surgeon places small elastic bands around the enlarged veins, cutting off their blood supply to cause them to dry up. Drinking coffee (or any highly caffeinated drink or food) after banding surgery creates the risk of increased blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about when it is safe for you to resume drinking coffee.

Warning

Coffee also stimulates acid reflux, which are stomach or bile acids that back up into the esophagus and erode the esophageal lining. This can cause additional bleeding, which is another reason to refrain from coffee consumption before and after surgery.

Considerations

Coffee affects the lower esophageal sphincter, preventing the esophagus from closing after swallowing a bite of food. This causes acids in the stomach to come back up into the throat and is commonly known as heartburn.

Expert Insight

As of March 2010, studies linking coffee consumption with cancer are conflicting and inconclusive. However, studies suggest a higher incidence of cancers of the pancreas, ovaries, bladder and kidneys in coffee drinkers.

Considerations

Although many people with advanced liver disease develop esophageal varices, less than half experience bleeding.

Eq Tips On Vocal Processing

Even the best microphone and vocalist combination can benefit from a little EQ adjustment.

While an expertly delivered vocal take is the most important part of a great-sounding vocal track, equalization (EQ) adjustments are also usually needed to improve the sonic impact of the recording. Even a great vocal performance can suffer if its tonal character is compromised by troublesome frequencies in the recording. With a little experimentation and subtle boosts and cuts in specific frequency ranges, the tonal quality of vocal tracks can be manipulated to maximize their effectiveness.

Before You EQ

It's important to avoid thinking of EQ as an easy way to rescue poor recordings. It always pays to work on getting the best possible vocal sound before any EQ adjustments are made. Experimenting with microphone choice and placement, as well as making sure that all cables and connectors are fully functional and free of crackles and buzzes, will help you capture a quality audio track. This way, the use of EQ will take the form of fine-tuning the vocal sound rather than trying to fix it.

Low Frequencies

If your vocal microphone has a low-cut filter, use it when you're recording. Usually, this filters out any frequencies below 75 Hz, which helps eliminate any rumble from the mic stand as well as taming any low-frequency plosive pops produced by the singer. When mixing, you may want to cut even more of the low-end, say up to 100 Hz or so, depending upon the vocalist. With a female voice, you can go significantly higher, since the voice is unlikely to occupy the lower frequencies. It's important to listen with a critical ear, especially if the voice has a full, lower register tone, to make sure that you don't eliminate frequencies that will negatively affect the singer's vocal character.

Fullness

For a vocal that sounds a little thin or nasal, try boosting a little in the 150--200 Hz range. Doing this will round out the sound and make the voice sound a little meatier. Be careful not to overdo this boost since you may make the mix sound a little muddy. If you have several voices in the mix, avoiding boosting them all in the same range will help alleviate this effect.

Boxiness

Sometimes a vocal track lacks clarity and definition. Such tracks are often referred to as sounding boxy or hollow, and the way to reduce this effect is to cut the EQ in the 4--500 Hz region. Try sweeping around this area until you find the offending frequency and cut from a narrow area so as not to remove too many of the middle frequencies. Cutting too broadly will be detrimental to the natural character of the recorded voice.

Presence

If the vocal track has trouble cutting through the rest of the mix, adding a little EQ boost in the 3--5 kHz range is often enough to give the vocal enough presence to be heard without raising its volume level. Simply raising the level of the vocal track can often make the vocal sound a little bombastic, almost like it's perched on top of the mix rather than a part of it.

Air

Boosting the higher frequencies between 6 and 12 kHz will give your vocal track a little more breathiness, or air. This can make the vocal sparkle, but it can also exaggerate the sibilant effect on "s" and "ch" sounds. Listen carefully for this excess sibilance, and try cutting a little around the 7 kHz area to lessen the effect.

How Many Calories A Day Should You Eat To Lose Weight

Everybody is made differently, so there is no universal amount of calories that you can eat each day to lose weight. In order to know how many calories you should eat a day, you need to know your body rather well. Once you calculate your metabolic rate and understand your physical activity, then you can begin calculating how many calories you should eat. But even when you do this, take some exercise into consideration, as this will help you lose weight in a faster and healthier fashion.

Average Calorie Intake

Most people eat about 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day, but fewer or less may be needed depending on each person. There are many factors that determine how many calories you should eat each day. Your gender, age, height, weight and physical activity are all major factors you have to consider. The idea behind losing weight is to eat less calories a day than your body needs for simple living. This is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

Basal Metabolic Rate

The BMR is the rate at which you burn calories while performing daily functions like sleeping and breathing. These are the calories your body needs just to lay down all day. This is the largest factor in understanding how many calories you need to eat to maintain, gain or lose weight in a healthy way.

There are several different formulas that are used to calculate BMR since it is based on a number of factors, like age, sex, weight and height. You can go online and find a BMR calculator that will do this calculation for free. Here is an accurate formula that is widely used.

Men: BMR = 66 + (13.7 X weight in kg) + (5 X height in cm) - (6.8 X age in years)

Women: BMR = 655 + (9.6 X weight in kg) + (1.8 X height in cm) - (4.7 X age in years)

After you find your BMR, you're going to want to take your daily activity into account to get a more accurate reading. Use this formula:

Activity Multiplier

Sedentary = BMR X 1.2 (little or no exercise, desk job)

Lightly active = BMR X 1.375 (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk)

Mod. active = BMR X 1.55 (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk)

Very active = BMR X 1.725 (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/wk)

Extr. active = BMR X 1.9 (hard daily exercise/sports & physical job or 2X day training, i.e marathon, contest etc.)

Here's an example to make things less complicated:

-30 year old woman

-150 pounds

- 5'6''

- No exercise

BMR = 655 + (9.6 X 68kg) + (1.8 X 167.64 cm) - (4.7 X 30 yrs)

655 + (652.8) + (301.752) - (141) = 1468

Activity Multiplier = 1468 (BMR) x 1.2 (sedentary) = 1762

This person uses 1762 calories a day for routine maintenance.

Lose Weight

Now it's the easy part. In order to lose weight, you have to take in fewer calories a day than your BMR. About 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of body weight. So if you want to lose 1 pound in a week, you should eat 500 fewer calories each day. A person who has a BMR of 1,762 should eat about 1,262 calories a day if she wants to lose weight.

You can also increase your activity rate to help you lose weight. A person who is eating 500 fewer calories a day can also add a workout routine that burns another 500 calories a day. This will help you lose weight faster and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You shouldn't eat less than 1,200 calories a day without consulting your doctor first.

How Many Calories Should I Eat At Each Meal

The Los Angeles Times in July 2009 reported on a study by the National Institute of Health, which stated a low-caloric diet in primates decreased the risks of cancer, diabetes and heart disease by two-thirds. Caloric intake is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, many factors need to be considered before sticking to a magic number.

Caloric Misconceptions

Recommended calories for an adult woman can range from 1,500 to 2,300; and for men, 1,800 to 2,500. However, the numbers can be misleading. Many factors such as age, height, weight, health condition, physical activity (or lack of) and weight goal (gain, lose or maintain) are to be considered. A young, healthy woman who engages in intense activity six days a week needs to consume close to 2,000 calories per day in order to replenish and refuel her body. But an older man with diabetes who is looking to lose weight needs to consume no more than 1,650 calories per day. Even in these two examples, the other contributing factors also need to be considered.

An easy way to figure out a personal caloric number is to find a calorie calculator online that takes into consideration all the factors, and type in the numbers. These easy calculations can define how many calories are needed.

Caloric Distribution

Once the number of daily calories is calculated, it is important to distribute them throughout the day. In order to develop a strong metabolism and satisfy hunger, calories must be scattered in each meal and snacks. The body has difficulty breaking down high-caloric meals all at once. Instead of digesting and circulating them in the body as energy, it can often be stored as fat.

Caloric Meal Distribution Example

Although spreading the caloric intake throughout the day is key, it is helpful to eat more calories early in the day. For example, 1,700 calories can be divided as the following:

450 calories for breakfast

150 calories for snack

550 calories for lunch

150 calories for snack

400 calories for dinner

By eating more calories early in the day, more energy is being used and burned, which is essential to both weight loss and maintenance.

Considerations

Calories should always be viewed as fuel for the body. The body needs a certain amount in order to sustain itself. However, it is crucial the calories come in the form of real, natural, healthy foods that also provide necessary carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Many foods today are loaded with calories that come from various forms of sugar--as a sweetener or as refined white carbs like bagels or pasta. Empty calories, like sodas and dessert coffee drinks, are also a waste as they do not have any nutritional value and only lead to detrimental health conditions.

Calori Deficiency Warning

Caloric deficiency also is a problem without knowing the proper amount of calories needed. Not eating enough calories can lead to risks endangering the heart, brain, and in extreme cases, death.

Bathe After Laparascopic Hernia Surgery

Laparoscopic hernia repair is a less invasive alternative to traditional open surgery. The surgery involves three to four small incisions to insert the laparoscope (a small tube with an attached camera at the tip) and tools that are necessary to manipulate your tissues. Your doctor will place mesh as a patch over the hernia to reinforce the weakened portion of your abdominal wall. Although your incision will not be as large as it would be if you had open surgery, you still need to follow your doctor's instructions carefully regarding bathing.

Instructions

1. Take sponge baths for the first 48 hours after your surgery. Your incisions will be covered with dressings that should not be removed for 24 hours (at a minimum). After 48 hours, your wounds are considered sealed.

2. Shower as normal on the second day after your operation. Soaking in a bathtub, swimming pool or hot tub is not recommended for a week after your operation since soaking or exposing your incisions to water pressure can increase the likelihood of developing a wound infection.

3. Gently wash the skin around your wounds. Keeping the area clean helps minimize your risk of infection.

4. Evaluate your wounds while you are in the shower and gently wash around them. If you notice redness, increased pain or a throbbing sensation, contact your doctor as these may be signs of infection.

Adjust Your Car Computer For The Best Economy

Just as Engine Control Unit (ECU) flashing is capable of increasing the horsepower and torque of an engine, it is also capable of increasing the miles per gallon rating of a car. This is a relatively new field for ECU flashing, so options may be limited in choice of flashing brands, and there simply might not be any support for some car makes and models. Keep in mind that optimizing the miles per gallon may have a detrimental impact on the horsepower and torque of the engine.

Instructions

1. Find out whether your car is even supported by ECU flashing for MPG. This is the hardest part, as the field is constantly changing and it is not recommended to buy an ECU flasher that has just been released to the market. Even if it is a software-only modification, it can still seriously damage your car, and if it is a hardwired flasher the installation procedure alone can ruin an engine.

2. Find a flasher that supports MPG improvements. As of 2010, ECU flashing has primarily been for increasing power, not MPG. To this end, many flashers do not have that option, so you are limited to universal flashers that can adjust any setting, not just using preset settings. If you seek to individually adjust fuel-air ratios and timing, you will need a dynometer to properly tune your engine and software.

3. Install the flash software/hardware. This can be simple or complex depending upon the flasher model and the car itself. Some ECU flashers just require the plugging in of a module into the diagnostic port on the car, while others require the soldering of a physical chip into the ECU motherboard. The car may need to be on or off depending upon the flasher.

4. Test on a dynometer. Regardless of the type of flash, a dynometer is needed just to confirm that it is working, If you are using a universal flasher that can adjust any setting, this process can take a week of individual tweaks to myriad settings.