SoundsofNeworleans – Health Tips

My girlfriend is obsessed with the television show, The Biggest Loser.  For those of you who don’t know, this popular reality show is basically a weight loss contest.  She loves to see the dramatic weight loss results that the contestants get each week.  She loves this show so much, she has convinced me to watch it with her each and every Tuesday night.  I have to say, the show is quite entertaining and I do enjoy watching it with her.

But, from a weight loss standpoint, Im not impressed.  The goal of the show is to lose weight as fast as possible.  In order to do this, the contestants engage in a very extreme weight loss program that is designed to cause rapid reductions in bodyweight.  Rapid weight loss is great, right?  Not so fast!  This is not necessarily the case.  Heres why:

First of all, weight loss is not the same as fat loss.  More often then not, the weight these people lose is composed of lean muscle tissue, water weight, and some body fat.  Unfortunately, it turns out that losing muscle actually causes your metabolism to slow significantly, which makes losing body fat even more difficult than it was before.  So losing any muscle at all is really not desirable if you intend to maintain your fat loss results on a permanent basis.

I’ve found that when people lose weight quickly they have a significantly greater chance of the dreaded weight regain. Since weight loss and fat loss are two different things it’s important to realize that rapid weight loss is not always ideal. Of course we all want to lose fat quickly but remember that it must be done correctly, scientifically and carefully or be prepared to gain the weight back.

When you have a weight loss program which is performed properly you will be able to lose fat quickly, not just weight, by keeping your lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass is crucial to long term fat loss because it keeps your metabolic rate high. I want to see you change your body forever and not just for a short term period so don’t think so much “quantity” or weight but quality of weight by losing fat.

In order to be a long term maintainer I suggest taking a look at what people are doing who have truly achieved “real” fat loss. Here is the big difference between long term maintainers and big losers:

First off every long term maintainer has a solid workout program which always includes both cardio and resistance training. The goal for most of these people is at least 30 minutes of exercise almost every day.

As far as diet is concerned a “big loser” and a maintainer’s habits will vary greatly. Big losers usually follow the fad diets and perform limited exercise or simply perform aerobic work with no resistance training. Also, the self-monitoring methods used by big losers and maintainers differ as well such as measuring bodyweight and body fat percentages and also measuring calories.

Self-monitoring is probably the most criticized and avoided weight loss technique especially when it comes to calorie counting and measuring food. Some fitness experts even claim this to be an inconvenient method of weight loss because it seems too restrictive. I believe this to be one of the most beneficial weight loss methods and can make a huge difference between getting fat and losing fat.

4 Strategies To Ensure Fat Loss Success!

1. Become more active everyday! Daily exercise is crucial for weight maintenance and weight loss.

2. Include resistance training as part of your regular exercise program, during your fat loss phase, and even more importantly, during maintenance.

3. Closely monitor your portion sizes and calories. To start off do exact measurements even though that may be a little time consuming then afterwards just eyeball the quantities.

4. Focus on losing fat and not just weight!  Measuring your body fat percentage is the best way to ensure that your weight loss is actually coming from fat and not lean muscle.

Follow my 4 fat loss strategies and you too will stop being a big loser and become a long term fat loss maintainer!

As people get older they tend to get worried about their appearance. A few wrinkles or crows feet and they go into a panic mode. All this is due to the high standards set by our society. Young looking skin is considered to be beautiful. Anti wrinkle creams, lotions, wrinkle fillers and several surgical procedures can often be costly and unfortunately not always successful. An effective anti aging serum is a more effective way of doing away with signs of aging.

Surprisingly even men are into beauty therapy. We have different types of anti ageing serums for men and women. An anti aging serum is usually much thinner but not completely liquid. Creams are thicker. As far as affordability goes an anti ageing serum is usually more highly priced than creams.

Anti ageing serums were produced to improve absorbency into the skin. One of the ingredients found in the anti aging serum is retinol. Retinol is basically a form of vitamin “A”. We can find retinol in whole foods and fortified foods. A different type of clinical retinol is used by dermatologists helps to cure individuals with acne problems.

The retinol is an anti ageing serum which works wonder when it is absorbed by the skin. It increases the production of collagen that in turn heals damaged and wrinkled skin. This process can take time. It also helps to improve skin damaged by prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin “C”, peptides and antioxidants are also present in these serums. Oxygen is necessary for us to live but it can cause harm to our skin. Exposure to sunlight and pollution, keeping unhealthy habits like smoking can also cause damage to your skin. Just as oxygen causes rust in an iron nail, something similar happens in our bodies thus speeding up our ageing process. Antioxidants tempers down the ill effects of oxidants.

We do not know to what extent each ingredient in these serums is successful in helping with the anti ageing process but any beauty expert is sure to recommend an anti ageing serum as against a cream to provide you with good results. Retinol and Vitamin “C” increase collagen level in the body. This is a sure way to tackle your wrinkle problem.

So if your dermatologist recommends an anti ageing serum follow his advice. Today this is the best and most widely accepted fact that an anti ageing serum will give you effective results.

Creams for anti ageing are not as effective simply because they contain other amalgams. They can hinder the process of ageing carried out by the active ingredients. These serums are said to not only prevent wrinkles but also repair them. If you use this serum it is better to apply it first and then apply a sunscreen over it when stepping out. But beware! Serums cause your skin to dry and feel tight. So choose wisely and remain beautiful for as long as you can.

2009 Honda Fit Review

The 2009 Honda Fit has been completely and totally redesigned for 2009. It is a bit longer and wider than last year’s model with added interior space, enhanced seating functionality, a more powerful engine, sharper handling, and a higher emphasis on safety. It is Honda’s smallest car with an innovative-upgraded interior and fun-to-drive character.

The Fit is available with a long list of standard safety equipment to multiple seat configurations and ample storage room. With all these attributes, the Fit comes across as a good choice when fluctuating fuel prices, environment concerns and economic uncertainty are hogging the limelight. In all, the 2009 Honda Fit has all that most people actually need from their cars.

What’s new for the 2009 Honda Fit?

For 2009, the Honda Fit sports a new, more upscale and driver-friendly exterior design and an improved interior comprising better materials and seats. The second row seats now can be folded in multitude of ways. However, the deletion of the “refresh” mode as one of the possible configurations and the addition of a secret compartment at the seat bottom can be noticeable.

2009 Honda Fit Model lineup

The 2009 Honda Fit is available in two models with three trim variations, Fit, Fit Sport and Fit Sport with Navi. The main differences among these trims and variants are around equipment and technology upgrades. The Fit Sport has one-inch larger wheels, and the Fit Sport with Navi includes satellite navigation and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA).

The Fit comes with features 15-inch wheels, black side mirrors, a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission, telescoping steering wheel, auxiliary input jack for your iPod, MP3/WMA playback and 160-watt stereo with four speakers.

The Fit Sport comes with larger wheels, a sporty front bumper, body-colored side mirrors, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, USB connectivity, a driver side armrest, map lights, a five-speed automatic or five-speed automatic transmission with sport mode and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The Fit Sport with Navi sports a manual transmission or five-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The Fit Sport with Navi adds satellite navigation and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA).

Front, side airbags and side curtain airbags are standard safety features on all Fit trims.

2009 Honda Fit Exterior and interior

Honda has retained the Fit fresh, giving it a redesign after two years of its debut in North America thereby making an effort to stay ahead of increasing competitors like the Nissan Versa and Scion xD.

With sharply styled headlights, larger front quarter windows and a more aerodynamic front design, the Fit sports a new functional and attractive style for 2009. These enhancements contribute towards making the Fit the most appealing car in its class. A wider stance, more aggressive fender flares and sharper character lines along the side are some other design changes that are new for 2009.

The in-dash cup holders and split glovebox are highpoints, though both upper and lower boxes are too small to be of much use. Space inside the cabin ranges is almost-spacious, particularly for a car this size. However, a noisy and thrashy ride, slightly numb steering and a small (split) glovebox are some backdrops.

The critical elements of the interior have been improved considerably to ensure that the awesome utility of this little car is intact. The new front seats now accommodate taller passengers. The materials used are sufficiently ample and durable. The center stack bears the easiest layout – the large knobs that control the environment and settings curve around the stereo controls on the driver’s side, making the design stylish and easy to reach. However, the plastic controls are a bit thin to the touch.

Honda claims that if the rear seat is folded flat, the Fit can provide 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Actually, this figure is considerably more than that of the 41.9 cubic feet of last year’s model.

2009 Honda Fit Driving impressions

The Fit delivers better performance from its 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The upgraded chassis and suspension components have resulted in the overall improved ride and handling experience. The fuel efficient Fit delivers an EPA-estimated 27/33 mpg city/highway. The 1.5-liter engine delivers 117-horsepower at 6600 rpm and 106 pound-feet of torque at 4800 rpm.

The 2009 Honda Fit gets better in terms of driving and with new seats and suspension changes, offers comfortable conveyance and is fun for everyday driving.

The manual transmission or automatic with paddle shifters increases the fun by allowing drivers to dip down into the vehicle’s torque band when needed. On twisty corners, it provides more fun, and almost as efficient as the Scion xD or Nissan Versa. Most of the time, the rear of the car nicely follows the front with a new improved electric steering set up. The clutch and throw play on the manual transmission is easy to manipulate and gives a lot of fun to operate. 2009 Honda Fit Modifications and Parts

The Honda Fit is one of the more popular Honda models, and offers a great platform for modification and aftermarket parts. Some of the popular upgrades are to swap in a K20A2 engine from an Acura RSX Type S, or a K20Z3 from a Honda Civic Si. There are also popular performance parts for teh stock engine, such as a short ram intake, cold air intake, catback exhaust, headers, and suspension parts such as coilovers or lowering springs.

All women need to be aware of their vagina’s health. Keeping it healthy means you will avoid infections and also have a pleasant odor and the tips enclosed will ensure that you have optimum vagina health

A healthy vagina is home to a huge variety of minute organisms. Normally, they live harmoniously in an acidic environment that prevents the overproduction of any one species in the vagina and helps combat foreign bodies that can infect it.

Vaginal infections are common and occur when the delicate balance is disrupted can cause discomfort in the area and unpleasant smells.

Firstly, the health of a women’s Vagina and the smell are influenced by overall lifestyle, diet and weight.

If you follow the tips below you can ensure a healthy vagina so here they are:

1. Your Overall Diet

Eat a healthy diet. Cigarettes alcohol and drugs should be eliminated if you can or cut down, as should heavily spiced foods and junk food.

Try and eat as naturally as possible (food free of additives) and make sure you drink lots of water. What you put into your body comes out in its secretions and the vagina is the same. Ever noticed how your sweat smells differently after eating spiced food, then you will realize why this is so important.

2. Cleaning

Odor-producing bacteria can thrive on the vulva and need to be cleaned off regularly to prevent vaginal inflections and prevent odors.

Washing the genital area daily with a simple, fragrance-free soap is normally enough to keep the vagina area clean and fresh.

Your vagina self-cleans itself so douching is not required.

Furthermore, douching upsets the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria in the vaginal ecosystem and can actually be harmful.

Because infections such as yeasts are found in the intestine, it is important after going to the toilet to wipe front to back i.e. you need to wipe the vagina area first and the rectum last!

During sex it is also very important to avoid contamination of the vagina area with organisms and bodies from the bowel, or rectum area.

3. Clothes to wear

To prevent vaginal infections and keep your vagina healthy make sure your clothing allows the area to breath. To do this avoids tight garments and fabrics containing a high percentage of synthetic fibers such as nylon.

Remember, that tampons and diaphragms left for too long in the vagina can create a very strong unpleasant odor as well.

4. Safe sex

Finally, if you don’t know your partner very well, always Use a condom and a spermicidal to reduce the chances of infection and disease.

If you are unlucky enough to get an infection, the symptoms are outlined below of three of the most common ones.

The good news is that to reclaim a healthy vagina is easy, if you are alerted to the problem and take action.

1. Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) accounts for more than 50% of all vagina related health visits.

About half of all women with BV vaginal infections have no obvious symptoms.

The most common symptom is a thin, white to light grey discharge with an offensive fishy like smell that is extremely unpleasant.

The odor is strongest when the discharge is exposed to any alkaline substance and this includes soap and semen, it will therefore be at its strongest and most obvious after cleaning or sex.

BV is easy to treat and is normally treated by a course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.

2. Yeast

Although yeast infections are probably the most common type of vaginal infection, many women never bother to seek help.

Most simply recover naturally and others treat themselves with anti-fungal vaginal creams available without prescription from the chemist.

Symptoms of yeast infections include:

Vulvar itching combined with irritation in the vagina area and redness.

If the urinary opening becomes inflamed, urination will increase and discomfort will be present. If the infection is severe, the vulva will swell and fine breaks, called fissures occur. This causes vaginal discharges to become thicker and whiter.

Yeast infections are the result of excessive growth of a family of fungi that normally live in any healthy vagina, but when they increase the balance of the vagina is upset and problems occur.

The most common infection is vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which is usually caused by a fungus named Candida albicans.

There are two types of VVC:

Uncomplicated, a mild infection that responds to therapy. Or recurrent which, is more severe and often occurs in women who have diabetes or are infected with less treatable forms of yeast, such as Candida glabratia.

Recurrent VVC, normaly occurs more than four times a year and needs a long initial treatment of around two weeks and then a follow-up therapy course for up to 6 months or longer.

Certain factors are common causes such as nylon and Lycra clothing that traps heat and moisture, so be aware of our clothing tips for a healthy vagina we noted earlier.

Other common causes include:

Obesity, pregnancy, diabetes and suppression of the immune system during illnesses, the use of oral contraceptives, and eating excessive amounts of sugars, starch, and yeasts.

If you do have a yeast vaginal infection, your doctor will ordinarily treat you with either prescription or nonprescription antifungal creams and suppositories referred to earlier.

If you have a problem get professional help and you will soon have a healthy vagina. Do not ignore symptoms or think they will go away get help quickly.

3. Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis, or “trich,” is a sexually transmitted vaginal infection suffered by a huge amount of women worldwide and this runs into tens of millions. While infection with trichomoniasis can be uncomfortable, it is not in anyway a serious threat to overall health.

The symptoms are normally vulvar and vaginal burning and itching. The burning is normally at its height after intercourse.

In addition, there may be vulvar swelling and frequent and uncomfortable urination. There is a heavy vaginal discharge, usually yellowish or green, which may or may not have an offensive smell.

The trichomonad is a minute parasite. It has three tails at its narrow end and swims with them and the white blood cells of the body follow.

These blood cells literally chase down the trichomonad and kill it by eating it.

Symptoms occur only when the body’s natural defense are swamped by with sheer number of reproducing trichomonads and the white blood cells cannot cope.

Trichomoniasis is usually easily diagnosed and antibiotic treatment cures it in the majority of cases.

Follow the tips above for a healthy vagina and if you do have a problem don’t worry or be embarrassed simply seek help quickly and clear up the problem, in the vast majority of cases treatment is quick, easy and painless

Summer is here, and look at you — you’ve done it! You’re exercising more, you’re eating healthier — congratulations! You’re well on your way to living a healthier, happier, fitter life!

Here is a great technique to keep up that momentum and keep you moving toward your health and fitness goals — it happens to be one of the favorite techniques at SHE (Sports, Health and Exercise). We call it the “One Magic Minute– and before you roll your eyes, read on! The One Magic Minute is not a gimmicky program from a late-night infomercial. It’s really just 60 seconds of an easy mental exercise that will help keep you on track. It’s a technique that will remind you to be clear and decisive, and will keep you accountable to your action plans.

Here’s how it works. Set aside one minute each day — a slim 60 seconds — and schedule it for at least one hour before you have a bit of slack in your schedule. Maybe it’s early in the morning before everyone else is awake or in the evening after work but before dinner. Once you’ve determined that hour, spend one minute ONE HOUR BEFORE that hour to stop and think clearly about your work toward your goals. Hold yourself accountable. Ask yourself, “Did I do what I said I was going to do?”

If you did, spend that moment celebrating. Praise yourself for a job well one. Sing, dance, or laugh at yourself for thinking about singing and dancing. Whatever you do, spend 60 seconds feeling good about your success that day. If you didn’t follow through, then here you are — you’ve stopped, and you’ve acknowledged that — and look! — you still have time to make it right! Use that introspective moment to kick yourself into gear — take a look at your fitness blog or your journal — and figure out a way to earn check marks on your fitness to-do list. And hey — if you just can’t make it happen that day, take that moment to commit yourself to making tomorrow’s plan your number one goal for the day.

You are already on the path to a happier, healthier and more active you — you know that nothing is more important that your health. Keep it up, and use your new strength and energy to make a difference in the lives of your friends and family!

So make it happen every day — spend just One Magic Minute reviewing your progress toward a healthier lifestyle. Acknowledge both your successes and your missteps, and remember that your better health increased energy will be the greatest reward you can give yourself and your loved ones.

And well done — keep it up! You are on your way to living the butt-kicking life you’ve been dreaming of!

How one looks and how one feels is all depend on skin. Good skin is first step towards achieving good health and no need to say good looks. Good skin can be attained with good diet, regular exercise, regular professional help & advice and regular home care and last but not the least healthy and positive attitude. It won’t cost you anything to take care of skin with the help of a few skin care secrets that you can follow every day to get smooth and ’silky’ skin. So, here are a few important skin care secrets to help you get a gorgeous skin and look pretty.

There are different kinds of skins, like dry skin, oily skin, normal skin, sensitive skin and combinational skin. But, some skin care secrets will help you achieve what you want no matter what your skin type is. Read on to know the secrets of sensuous and glowing skin as these skin care tips will surely improve your looks …

First and foremost formula to get a good skin is diet. It is very important to have a healthy diet. So avoid eating chocolates and foods or drinks that are made with cocoa combination. It is believed that chocolates are responsible for pimples, acnes, etc. Avoid consumption of fried, fatty and starchy foods, cakes, biscuits, sweets, bread or jams.

Healthy diet is the mantra for healthy skin. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, drink fresh fruit juices, increase water intake. Regular exercising is the best way to keep not only body in shape but get good healthy skin. Meditation is another way out for healthy skin. Now, you will think how meditation will help in getting glowing skin. Meditation helps to keep one’s mind calm. If mind is cool, you won’t get angry and won’t frown. There will be no wrinkles on your skin.

Clean your face immediately after removing makeup. Don’t go to bed without removing makeup. Protect your face from dust and dirt. Wash your face as many times as possible. Stay away from direct exposure to sun and wind as far as possible. These are some of the skin care secrets that will help all kinds of skins.

Everyone wants to get gorgeous and smooth skin. There are dry skin care secrets, normal skin care secrets, oily skin care secrets, combinational skin care secrets and sensitive skin care secrets. To know about skin care secrets for your kind of skin, log on to ‘Beautytipshub.com’.

A person is said to be physically fit if he or she is physically sound, healthy and he or she has the ability to perform physical activities well. Nowadays more than 60 % of people say that they don’t have enough time to running for an hour or hit the gym. But all these people want to be fit and get into better shape.

No doubt people all over the world are more and more health conscious, but most of them don’t know how actually complete fitness can be achieved. Although one can prepare his / her personal fitness plan provided some important tips and precautions have been taken into consideration, otherwise it can cause adverse effects.

Online books and videos about fitness training can be helpful to some extent but has the drawback of non confirmation that you are adopting them correctly.

If you can not visit gyms or health clubs and also are not able to make up your mind to rely upon books or videos, then the best option for you could be hiring a personal trainer for few days. Personal training sessions are very popular these days among people who want a focused fitness program designed for their individual needs and implementing it in the right direction at their own place.

You may hire a certified and professional personal fitness coach who can provide you fitness training sessions with a well organized fitness plan as per your age, sex, medical condition and your daily works schedule at your home or office.

Benefits of hiring a Personal Fitness Coach:

Diet plan – Personal fitness coach prepare daily diet plan in which he / she decides that what are your calorie requirements and how can you get it perfectly. Fitness trainer know very well that according to trainee’s age, height, weight and medical condition what calories requires to get high fitness results.



Fitness training sessions – On the basis of trainee’s age, sex, weight, height and medical condition fitness instructor prepares the physical exercise session plan in which he or she decides what type of exercise is required for trainee and which exercise a trainee should do first and for how many times. Fitness coach divides the whole fitness programs in different small sessions and set the priorities and time of exercise according to particular fitness trainee. This training program you can further continue by yourself at your home.



Exercise Equipments- Personal fitness trainer generally bring fitness equipments needed for exercising and also can guide you what kind of equipments you should use to carry on with your fitness program.



Physical and Mental fitness – Perfect physical fitness is directly correlated to mental fitness.

A certified fitness trainer trains you to develop a positive attitude and motivates you for exercising so that you lead a healthy life.

1. No Shortcuts – you get a lot of advertisements and products today giving you some sort of advice on how to lose weight without any work. What you need to understand is that the mental aspect of exercise and workout is just as important as the physical. Working hard for a great body enables you to appreciate your health better. It also increases your self-esteem. More often than not, shortcuts offered today are either ineffective or dangerous.

2. Have fun – what turns off most people from working out can be found in the term: “work”. The reason most people go for shortcuts is that they do not want to endure the mental torture of having to go through repetitive motions. Add a bit of fun to your workout routine by engaging in activities such as sports or even dancing. This will help you exercise more without actually realizing it.

3. Gather information – most people dive into the latest fitness fad without first gathering enough information. What you need to understand is not all types of exercise or diet regimes work for all people. You need to do your research in order to determine if what an “expert” suggests will work for you. Some people just jump into fitness crazes without knowing anything about what’s being advertised. How many people can actually accurately define what a “calorie” is?

4. Eat right -there’s just no escaping it. In order to get fit, you’ll have to monitor your food intake. There’s no use exercising if you don’t manage to eat right. Here are a few tips:

A. Eat a balanced meal. The basic food pyramid still applies. Eating a balanced meal with the right amount of carbohydrates, veggies and protein will help you feel get the right nutrients while satisfying your hunger.

B. The reverse pyramid eating. That means you should eat a big breakfast and then eat a “just-right” lunch and then just have a bite for dinner. Eating a big breakfast will jump-start your metabolism, giving you a huge energy boost for your whole day and allow your body to burn off more calories on its own. Since breakfast sets the standard rate of your calorie burn for the whole day, eating a hearty breakfast will definitely help you get healthy faster.

C. Get rid of junk food. Did you know that it takes 24 hours’ worth of vigorous dancing to get rid of all the calories and fat in a single cheeseburger? It’s nice to indulge in fast food or junk food every once in a while, but you should never make it a staple.

D. Learn what to substitute. A lot of people go on a fad and try to eat what they think are “healthy foods”. As it turns out, however, there are a number of supposedly “healthy” substitutes which may be more dangerous than the foods they are supposed to replace. When you look at the nutritional value of food, don’t just look at the calories and fat. Calories are just units of energy and sometimes, higher calorie ratings can actually be good, especially if you are working out. Fat isn’t also always bad. However, you should take a look at the ingredients. Look at the sodium content. Look at the different chemicals used to make that “healthy” option.

E. Small meals. Did you know that people in the Philippines eat 5 times a day or more? However, the obesity rate in the country isn’t as high as in the U.S. The key to this is small portions. Even if they do eat frequently, the meal size is just enough to keep their metabolism up and their digestion going. If you eat small portions frequently, you’ll be able to process the food more easily and avoid fat accumulation.

F. Communicate with your tummy. No, this does not mean pulling up your shirt and talking to your navel. You need to sense when your tummy is hungry and when it is full. Usually, you are actually full even before you feel stuffed. The key is knowing when you’ve had enough. Sometimes, it’s just your taste buds and mind that are looking for more food. A great idea is to sit back or excuse yourself from the table and wait for 15 minutes before you reach for seconds. If you still feel hungry, then go for seconds, but the chances are, you’ll feel satisfied enough once your mind’s distracted.

G. Keep hydrated. Water can help you feel fuller. Before going to a party or eating dinner, try and drink at least one full glass of water. This will help keep you from gorging. Water also helps you flush away any unwanted toxins and keep you healthy. Drink lots of water; doing this can actually be very good for you.

The key to achieving good health is really quite simple. About now youre undoubtedly thinking, if it is so simple, why is the health level of the overall population declining at a record pace?

Of course the key to how one becomes healthy and maintains health is not difficult. In fact you may already know several of the things you should be doing to improve your health. It becomes complicated when we are faced with choices that are less than healthful and they cloud our judgment. These distractions compete for our attention with more healthful alternatives that may not seem quite as exciting.

We must allow ourselves to become focused by gaining an understanding of what is required in order to get the big prize – a healthy life. Basically there are three parts we need to master including proper nutrition, fitness, and finally the motivation to keep on track with both.

Proper nutrition, or healthy eating, is probably the most basic and easiest to understand principle of good health. Virtually everyone is aware when they are eating something that is healthful versus a food that is void of nutritional value.

Many times the simplest method of including a majority of healthful foods in the diet is to focus on good foods to eat rather than on bad foods that should not be eaten. As with most things in life, focusing on the positive usually produces the best results. Try to include as many fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains as possible in each days meal plan. By including a large amount of good foods each day, you will find that theres little room left for the not-so-good foods. Proper nutrition will be nearly automatic.

Unlike nutrition, fitness is a bit more difficult to incorporate into daily life. The primary reason for this is that everyone must eat in order to live. Achieving proper nutrition simply means making the right choices for something you are going to do anyway. Activity, however, is not something we must do every day. Even though we should move every day, we wont suffer major consequences immediately if we dont. Instead, the price will be paid years down the road.

The key to increasing ones fitness is to build upon the activities already in place. For example, walking is an activity that most people perform every day. To get the most of this daily activity, expand the amount of walking you do. For example, park in the back of a parking lot to increase the number of steps it takes to reach your destination. Once inside a multi-level building, take the stairs to move from floor to floor rather than the elevator. Start with small changes and build from there.

Once you have increased your natural activity level it is time to focus on developing a fitness routine. Start slowly with just a short period of time devoted to your program each day. Even ten minutes is a good start. The key is to start a program and stick with it.

Sticking with it is where the motivation factor comes in. Motivation is tricky and its different for everyone. Many people are motivated by doing something routinely and building on it. If youre one of those people, consider yourself lucky and just get started with your health plans. The rest will take care of itself.

For the rest of us it is important to find what motivates us. Maybe its buying a new workout outfit or trying a new healthful recipe. Many people like to read fitness magazines and search online for new tips and exercise techniques. Others read inspiring stories and quotes.

Whatever it is for you, find it as soon as possible and hold on to it. Getting motivated is the number one key to achieving your health and fitness goals.

Westie dogs owners delight in the companionship their dogs give them during long and leisurely walks. But this activity should be one that brings pleasure to both.

How can you ensure that your dog also enjoys these activities? First, you’ll need to get your dog accustomed to having his paws handled and manipulated.

These are important Westie health issues that come under the grooming umbrella.

When your west highland terrier is tolerant of such treatment it would be easier for both you and the veterinarian to carefully scrutinize your dog if there are cuts or bruises on, in and around his paws.

Where should these foot exams take place? Pick a spot that’s comfortable for both of you, and is at the same time well-lit. Here’s how to do it. Put the dog’s paw in your hand. Run your finger around every pad. If you feel lumps, examine it closely to find out what it is.

Keep a pair of tweezers handy, to pull out bits of twig that may be stuck.

If the skin is broken, put anti-bacterial ointment or powder on the sore. Check the next day to ensure it heals completely. Refrain from taking a walk with your dog in the next couple of days, until the healing is completed.

Here’s what you should do if you find a lump in one foot that’s not present in the other foot. Get your dog to the vet. He or she may have an abscess or an interdigital cyst.

Examine and trim the paws regularly.

Regularly trim all the hair that’s out from between the pads. Don’t trim it too tight. If you see a matt of hair sticking out, cut it. Don’t strip or pull the hairs. It’s painful for your dog.

Here’s what to do if your pet’s paws are itchy. Look for these symptoms; the hairs and even the nails are a reddish brown. The pads are swollen. This means yeast and bacteria already be developing in the crevices between the pads and around the nails. Visit your vet so he or she can recommend medication to reduce the swelling and alleviate the itching.

Doing regular examinations on your Westie (Scottish in origin) dog’s paw prior to and after your walks, will make your dog eagerly await each sojourn.

Here are some success tips on how to groom your westie. I am not talking about turning out a show dog. If this is what you want, then go to a groomer. They can be found in every town and city from London to New York to Atlanta.

Most Westies enjoy being groomed. Begin brushing and examining your Westie when it is very young. Be positive, patient and gentle.

Grooming is a part of your Westie’s general health care and hygiene routine. It includes brushing, combing, nail-clipping, ear and dental care, bathing and scissoring, stripping or clipping of hair coats. Regular grooming stimulates circulation, improves appearance and reduces shedding.

It also enables you to discover lumps, lesions, cuts, scratches or external parasites. Frequent haircuts are even more important for Westies than for humans. Long hair breeds dirt, bacteria and is more prone to matting.

Use the proper grooming tools for the job. Consult your breeder, veterinarian or other Westie professional for guidance.

A full grooming may include a bath. Water for a Westie’s bath should be tepid. Be sure to use a non-skid mat in the tub.