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<channel>
	<title>Girl Does Diet</title>
	<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com</link>
	<description>"Girl Does Diet" offers tons of great information about health, dieting, fitness and LOOKIN' GOOOOOD! Want to know more, check out my very first post</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2006 14:54:51 +0000</pubDate>
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		<item>
		<title>How &#8220;Make Believe&#8221; Are Your Foods?</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/21/how-make-believe-are-your-foods/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/21/how-make-believe-are-your-foods/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:54:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Nutrition</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/21/how-make-believe-are-your-foods/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Judy Phillips

Recently, I finished one of the most informative books on a no-nonsense approach to regaining control of your health and wellness. Never Be Sick Again, by Raymond Francis should be #1 on the New York Times best seller list, but alas it is not. This is not the first time I have spoken [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Judy Phillips</p>
	<p>Recently, I finished one of the most informative books on a no-nonsense approach to regaining control of your health and wellness. Never Be Sick Again, by Raymond Francis should be #1 on the New York Times best seller list, but alas it is not. This is not the first time I have spoken of his book, nor will it be the last. His book is a true testament from the front lines of fighting disease and sickness, and in my opinion, should be the very first book you open should you choose to remain healthy for the duration of your life.</p>
	<p><strong>The Well Nourished American is a Myth</strong></p>
	<p>Carl Pfeiffer, M.D., Ph.D., Author of Mental and Elemental Nutrients, said, “The well-nourished American is a myth. Despite the high level of education and the abundance of available food, many people make poor food choices and are badly nourished &#8221; The average American diet, nutritionally unfit for rats, must be equally unsatisfactory or even more so in meeting human needs”</p>
	<p>According to Raymond Francis, the countless degenerative diseases that ravage the American people stem from six pathways; the nutrition pathway, the toxin pathway, the physcological pathway, the genetic pathway, the physical pathway, and the medical pathway. While there are numerous points covered in his book which I will touch upon at a later time, there is one point I found incredibly insightful. If your diet can be thought of in the terms he describes, it can simplify 99% of your nutritional choices. No more thumbing through ingredients, no more special diets, and no more poor food choices.</p>
	<p><strong>Make Believe Foods</strong></p>
	<p>His concept is simply to consider the foods you eat in terms of how “make-believe” they are. “Make-believe” foods are foods that have been processed, foods that contain artificial ingredients, genetically modified foods, cooked foods, foods that have been grown and harvested using commercial practices, and foods that contain any of “The Big Four.” The big four is referring to sugar, white flour, processed oils, and milk products. The more “make-believe” foods you consume, the further you travel down the path to a slew of degenerative diseases, to which our inferior medical establishment has no answers. Sadly, over 90 percent of the standard American diet is comprised of these foods. Is it any wonder that our nation has the highest rate of chronic degenerative diseases in comparison to any other place in the world?</p>
	<p>If every American were to cease consumption of these “make-believe” foods, there would be a dramatic decrease in the prevalence of these chronic diseases. So, why then do Americans continue to consume to wrong foods? The main reason is that most don’t know any better. The old cliché, “you are what you eat” is true in every sense of the word. Few individuals truly grasp the role that food plays within our lives, and how that food fails or succeeds in keeping us healthy. The average consumer is poorly educated about what to eat and what to avoid. Misinformation stemming from food manufacturers, poorly educated physicians, and sheer abundance of destructive foods lining supermarket shelves serve to confuse and disorient the consumer.</p>
	<p><strong>The Key: Stay Informed</strong></p>
	<p>In fact, there is really nothing confusing about your nutritional needs—provided you have the correct information. While you cannot expect to make an overnight transition into the pinnacle of health and wellness, make an effort each day to choose the right foods. Consider the concept, that each and every time you choose an organic, fresh, or unprocessed food over that of a make-believe food, you are doing your body a great justice. Your body needs a constant supply of essential nutrients, live enzymes, vitamins, and healthy fats; each time you deny your body these vital elements, you will find yourself one step closer to the medical epidemic that plagues the American people. Hopefully you will not want to be a statistic. You will also find, that once you begin the transition to a healthier lifestyle through your nutritional choices, that your body will no longer crave the detrimental foods you were so accustomed to.</p>
	<p>Americans have been conditioned by the medical profession to believe that our diseases are the result of genetics or misfortune. Every disease “needs” a new name, and every named disease “needs” some new wonder pill, yet there is really only one disease—the disease of the cell.</p>
	<p>==================================<br />
<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
Judy Phillips is the founder of <a href="http://www.jashbotanicals.com/" target="_blank">Jash Botanicals Herbal Formulas</a>, a manufacturer of physicians grade herbal extracts and medicinals. A naturopath and herbalist with over 25 years of experience, her passion for producing herbal formulas of exceptional purity and strength grew from a dissatisfaction with mainstream herbal products. She is an author of various natural health topics, from detoxification to dietary modification, and works to assist the expansion of knowledge to individuals in search of natural treatments. <a href="http://www.JashBotanicals.com" target="_blank">JashBotanicals.com</a> offers a wide range of informative articles, including a <a href="http://www.jashbotanicals.com/newsletter_main.html" target="_blank">monthly newsletter</a> and a <a href="http://www.jashbotanicals.com/blog/" target="_blank">natural health blog</a>.<br />
==================================</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
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		<title>The Best Meal Plan For Your Diet Personality</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/20/the-best-meal-plan-for-your-diet-personality/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/20/the-best-meal-plan-for-your-diet-personality/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Mar 2006 07:50:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Dieting</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/20/the-best-meal-plan-for-your-diet-personality/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Galia Ivanova

If you eat less than 3 meals a day looks like you don't care about your body. Spending most of your time eating or snacking plus forgetting to take your 1 hour exercise...

I don't need to mention what would be the effect, but I strongly recommend you to read carefully these 3 eating [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By Galia Ivanova</p>
	<p>If you eat less than 3 meals a day looks like you don&#8217;t care about your body. Spending most of your time eating or snacking plus forgetting to take your 1 hour exercise&#8230;</p>
	<p>I don&#8217;t need to mention what would be the effect, but I strongly recommend you to read carefully these 3 eating plans, described bellow, and select the one you like most and think it&#8217;s easy to follow.</p>
	<p><strong>Plan 1</strong></p>
	<p>Eat your breakfast, kiss your kids and go to work. Don&#8217;t even think about food before the lunch-time. You will say: &#8220;This is easy, lunch is my first meal for the day.&#8221; OK, but how many times you eat after lunch? I am not talking about your main meals, I am talking about snacks. If you have a solid breakfast perhaps you won&#8217;t need candies, cookies etc. between lunch and dinner.</p>
	<p>At dinner eat only low calories foods and take a walk with your family. Enjoy yourself, forget about food. When you are back at home go to bed earlier than normal, so you can&#8217;t get hungry again for the rest of the day.</p>
	<p><strong>Plan 2</strong></p>
	<p>If you are like me and most of my friends, you just don&#8217;t have time for breakfast. I need to wake up at 6 am to have a breakfast before going to work. I like to sleep to the last moment, drink a cup of coffee and go out. I am not saying that is healthy, but it&#8217;s my real way of life.</p>
	<p>What do you need to do in this case? Have a solid lunch with your fellows, but don&#8217;t go too far thinking: &#8220;That&#8217;s all, I will miss the dinner&#8221;. Take a small meal in about 3 hours. Remember: no candies, only low calories foods.</p>
	<p>When you are back at home make sure that at least 5 hours passed, since your light afternoon meal, before eating again. It is highly important to have a light dinner again, or you will put some additional weight. After that take a walk or do whatever you want, but stay away from the kitchen.</p>
	<p><strong>Plan 3</strong></p>
	<p>Let&#8217;s say you are a very busy person. During the day you can eat only on the go and don&#8217;t have time to have a normal breakfast or lunch. Most of the time you eat 2 burgers and a salad from the nearest fast food restaurant. When you are back home for dinner, you are as hungry as if you haven&#8217;t eaten for couple of weeks.</p>
	<p>The result? You take most of the calories at dinner. This means you will gain an additional unwanted weight. If this picture looks bad, I assure you it could get worse!</p>
	<p>And here is the solution: get the bag with your low calories home cooked breakfast and go to work. When you feel hungry eat your breakfast. Next meal need to be light too - salad and juice. Never eat too much at dinner. Even if your wife has prepared your favorite meal to make you happy, or got ready-to-cook food from the supermarket, be very careful measuring the amount of calories you take at dinner. No eating after dinner is allowed.</p>
	<p><strong>In conclusion&#8230;</strong></p>
	<p>The most difficult part in those 3 plans is the one, that you should not eat anything between your main meals. But this is another quite bigger topic and you can find more information about it at Weight Loss Advisor. One of the keys to success is to get yourself down to work twice as hard, and whatever you do: do not think about how hungry you are or how much time you have until next meal.</p>
	<p>===============================<br />
<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
You can find more information at <a href="http://www.weight-loss-advisor.com" target="_blank">http://www.weight-loss-advisor.com</a> about the importance of eating breakfast and keeping a personal diet plan.<br />
===============================</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook </p>
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		<item>
		<title>Natural Medicine And Herbs – Economical Home Cures And Beauty Aids</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/19/natural-medicine-and-herbs-%e2%80%93-economical-home-cures-and-beauty-aids/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/19/natural-medicine-and-herbs-%e2%80%93-economical-home-cures-and-beauty-aids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Mar 2006 07:43:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Looking Good</category>
	<category>Feeling Good</category>
	<category>Home/Herbal Remedies</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/19/natural-medicine-and-herbs-%e2%80%93-economical-home-cures-and-beauty-aids/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Polly Priester

Hello folks. Have you ever come down with some ailment just when the local pharmacy is closed? There must be some natural medicine and herbs in the kitchen you can use.

I’m going through my kitchen right now to see what organic body products I can come up with. My eyes are really tired [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Polly Priester</p>
	<p>Hello folks. Have you ever come down with some ailment just when the local pharmacy is closed? There must be some natural medicine and herbs in the kitchen you can use.</p>
	<p>I’m going through my kitchen right now to see what organic body products I can come up with. My eyes are really tired so I cut two slices of fresh cucumber and press over each eye. Boy is that refreshing!</p>
	<p>Chamomile in natural herb form or in tea bags is a great natural medicine Once, I suffered from eye secretion. I headed straight for the kitchen and found chamomile as a herbal supplement. I immersed chamomile tea bags in boiling water, let them cool, applied one to each eye, (never use the same tea bag on both eyes so as not to re-infect), and finally gently wiped the secretion brushing from the inner corner of the eye towards the outer . After a couple of applications of this home remedy the secretion was completely cleared up!</p>
	<p>Chamomile is also great for removing pus from pimples. Peering into the mirror, my daughter wailed, “Oh, mom, I have this horrible pussy pimple on my face.” No problem. After pressing a chamomile tea bag that had been immersed in boiling water to the pimple a couple of times, voilà, the pimple burst and out came the pus to be wiped away with a ball of sterile cotton batten.</p>
	<p>And how’s about avocado? I scoop this home cure and beauty treatment out of its peel, mash it up, and gently rub it on my face and around my fingernails for softness and skin nourishment. Natural medicines, home cures, and beauty aids are definitely my idea of fun and economical too!</p>
	<p>===========================<br />
<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
We have made a research to find the best diets and natural cures. Find the results only on <a href="http://www.911dietplans.com/Diet/Best%20nutrition%20supplement%20vitamins.php" target="_blank">Herbal supplements source</a> . More valuable info on <a href="http://www.tigilet.com/c/Weight%20loss%20nutrition.php" target-"_blank">Natural medicines and herbs tips</a>.<br />
============================</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook </p>
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		<item>
		<title>Elevate Energy Easily …. AND Without Moving!</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/18/elevate-energy-easily-%e2%80%a6-and-without-moving/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/18/elevate-energy-easily-%e2%80%a6-and-without-moving/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Mar 2006 08:39:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Relaxation</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/18/elevate-energy-easily-%e2%80%a6-and-without-moving/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Tim Webb

This article reveals an easy to do exercise that helps create (and store) positive energy in your body leaving you feeling refreshed and revived.

Now, if I said to you

“Act like a corpse!”

you would be forgiven for wondering if I needed help! Also, you may wonder what that has to do with energy creation.

Well, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Tim Webb</p>
	<p>This article reveals an easy to do exercise that helps create (and store) positive energy in your body leaving you feeling refreshed and revived.</p>
	<p>Now, if I said to you</p>
	<p>“Act like a corpse!”</p>
	<p>you would be forgiven for wondering if I needed help! Also, you may wonder what that has to do with energy creation.</p>
	<p>Well, it is the body position that is the key. It allows total relaxation and this permits us to focus on ‘pulling’ in energy to our midsections and then, through the use of visualisation of certain colours, makes us spill over with radiant, positive, light.</p>
	<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
<strong>POTENTIAL PROBLEMS</strong><br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</p>
	<p>Many people try to relax or meditate in positions they see in films or on T.V. where the person is often kneeling, cutting off the blood supply to their legs, while being ‘quietly’ introspective!</p>
	<p>This is a problem that need not exist. You don’t have to kneel. You can stand. You can walk. You can lie. Ask yourself this question.</p>
	<p>“How can I calm my mind and body if I am in pain?”</p>
	<p>The answer is you cannot. So try the corpse pose for something that allows one to easily and quickly get into a meditative state. It allows a person to lie, totally at ease, and this leads to better, deeper, energy creation and thus makes it a great choice for many people.</p>
	<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<br />
<strong>THE CORPSE POSE</strong><br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;</p>
	<p>1. Lie on your back somewhere that provides total comfort.</p>
	<p>2. Have you eyes closed so you can easily begin to use</p>
	<p>your creative visualisation.</p>
	<p>3. Inhale a light, vibrant, colour (of your own choosing) into</p>
	<p>your belly. Allow it to remain there even after your exhale.</p>
	<p>4. With each subsequent inhale you add to this colour.</p>
	<p>5. It fills all your body gradually. Approximately six breaths</p>
	<p>should suffice.</p>
	<p>6. During the final couple of breaths feel and sense the energy</p>
	<p>spilling out of your body. You are immersed in it.</p>
	<p>7. As you slowly come out of this meditation allow the energy to</p>
	<p>stay with you as you go about your day.</p>
	<p>================================<br />
<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
Do You Want To Learn Highly Effective Deep Breathing Exercises And Meditation Techniques That Will Improve Your Health, Focus Your Mind, And Relieve Stress And Anxiety?</p>
	<p>If You Answered YES Then Go Here <a href="http://www.BreathForSuccess.com" target="_blank">http://www.BreathForSuccess.com</a><br />
=================================</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Gentle Alternatives for Treating Health Problems</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/17/gentle-alternatives-for-treating-health-problems/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/17/gentle-alternatives-for-treating-health-problems/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Mar 2006 07:32:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Articles by Ally Cook</category>
	<category>Feeling Good</category>
	<category>Home/Herbal Remedies</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/17/gentle-alternatives-for-treating-health-problems/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Ally Cook

Many of our modern drugs have harsh side-affects and cost the “earth”, so the next time you come down with a cold or the flu, why not try a gentle alternative that costs next to nothing?

Instead of immediately forking over large amounts of money for over-the-counter drugs, go to the kitchen cupboard and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By Ally Cook</p>
	<p>Many of our modern drugs have harsh side-affects and cost the “earth”, so the next time you come down with a cold or the flu, why not try a gentle alternative that costs next to nothing?</p>
	<p>Instead of immediately forking over large amounts of money for over-the-counter drugs, go to the kitchen cupboard and see what you can find to relieve your symptoms.</p>
	<p>Here are some helpful hints…</p>
	<p>A simple hot compress applied to the face is very soothing to those throbbing aches and pains of a blocked sinus, while a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief can provide welcome relief for similar conditions. While supplements of vitamin C, D and zinc will shorten the lifespan of a common cold, a hot lemon drink is also extremely good. And be sure to cuddle-up in bed when you have a cold, as it will make the body sweat out the germs.</p>
	<p>Cool lemon juice and honey are a great soother for a sore throat and gives the body much-needed vitamin C at the same time The juice of one lemon in a glass of water is sufficient. Melt the honey in a little hot water for ease of mixing.</p>
	<p>A smear of Vaseline or petroleum jelly will do wonders for those sore lips and nose that often accompany a cold.</p>
	<p>A &#8217;streaming cold&#8217; where the nose and eyes water profusely, can respond to drinking onion water. Simply dip a slice of onion into a glass of hot water for two seconds, then sip the cooled water throughout the day. Half an onion on the bedside table also alleviates cold symptoms because its odor is inhaled while you sleep.</p>
	<p>People prone to catarrh may find that chewing the buds from a pine or larch throughout the day will clear up their condition in just a few days.</p>
	<p>Do you suffer from sore eyes? If your eyes are sore from lengthy exposure to the sun, try beating the white of an egg and then spread it over a cloth and bandage the eyes with it. Leave the preparation on overnight. Soft cheese (quark) is also a good remedy for this condition.</p>
	<p>For those unpleasant times when you suffer from diarrhea, two tablespoons of brown vinegar will usually fix the problem. Vinegar can be rather horrible to take, but who cares! The problem is more horrible. Vinegar can usually be found in most people&#8217;s cupboards, so you don&#8217;t need to worry about finding someone to run to the shop for you in an emergency.</p>
	<p>Sleepless? Instead of reaching for sleeping pills, which can quickly become addictive, try this: Drink only caffeine free tea or coffee starting late in the afternoon.. Go to bed earlier rather than later, as being overtired tends to keep people awake. Make sure the bedroom is dark and quiet. Use only pure wool or cotton sheets and blankets. Polyester materials can cause sweat and make you thirsty (if your child constantly asks for water throughout the night, this could be the reason).</p>
	<p>And don&#8217;t watch those scary movies just before retiring! If you still can&#8217;t sleep, make a tea of lemongrass or drink a nightcap of herbal tea containing chamomile. It&#8217;s easy to grow lemongrass in your garden or start a flower pot on the balcony for ease of picking. Simply steep a handful in boiling water for five minutes. Honey may be added for a sweetener.</p>
	<p>Of course there will be times when you do need modern drugs, so if these simple remedies don&#8217;t have the required affect, be sure to see a health care professional. </p>
	<p>===========================<br />
About the Author:<br />
Ally Cook is writer for “Girl Does Diet”, a health, diet, fitness and “Lookin’ Goooood” website at www.GirlDoesDiet.com. Ally is attempting to lose weight while keeping her journal for motivation. Stop by and join in the fun ~ you may learn something you didn’t know before!<br />
===========================<br />
Please feel free to reprint this article on your blog or website, however, you must not change the content in any way, the link in the resource box must be linked to the site it refers to, and the resource box must be printed with the article.</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
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		<title>Learning About Body Core Conditioning</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/16/learning-about-body-core-conditioning/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/16/learning-about-body-core-conditioning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2006 07:35:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Exercise</category>
	<category>Articles by Ally Cook</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/16/learning-about-body-core-conditioning/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Alley Cook

You rely on your body to get get out of bed, to lift your children, to perform your job and to take you places everyday. If you appreciate what your body does for you, you will provide it with nutritious food, hydrate with water and be sure to add some activity into your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Alley Cook</p>
	<p>You rely on your body to get get out of bed, to lift your children, to perform your job and to take you places everyday. If you appreciate what your body does for you, you will provide it with nutritious food, hydrate with water and be sure to add some activity into your day.</p>
	<p>While our limbs provide mobility, reach and strength it is our body core that provides the basis of each movement. Sedentary lives can cause our body core muscles to weaken and become subject to strain or injury. Even if you workout or participate in sports you may not be working the body core muscles you rely on to perform.</p>
	<p><strong>WHAT IS MY BODY &#8216;CORE&#8217;?</strong></p>
	<p>Your body core is the midsection of your body, from your groin to your shoulders. The core includes the pelvis, abs, back and chest muscles. It is this core that offers stability, balance and flexibility. Every movement you make originates in the core - whether you are reaching for your toothbrush or running a marathon. If the core is not properly conditioned it will limit your physical abilities.</p>
	<p>Working the muscles in your body core will improve the effectiveness of movements in your limbs. Most exercise routines focus on building muscle. By creating a stable, strong base for those muscles you can optimize the strength and flexibility of each limb.</p>
	<p><strong>HOW DO I STRENGTHEN MY BODY CORE?</strong></p>
	<p>There are many exercise routines and products that work the muscles of the body core. Professional trainers create customized routines to enhance an athlete&#8217;s abilities by developing the proper core muscles. However, there are also many programs developed for individuals who wish to incorporate it into their fitness routine or to begin one.</p>
	<p>The exercises and products developed to strengthen your body core do so by creating resistance or instability so that the core muscles must respond to maintain balance. The exercises are gentle on the body but are intense and beginners will quickly &#8216;feel&#8217; the muscles being used. Proper alignment is key so having a trainer to check your position will help identify the safest and most effective way to perform an exercise.</p>
	<p>Body core exercises often imitate moves that we employ in daily life or sports and thus train the body to rely on the core and reduce the strain we put on our limbs. Two popular forms of exercise that develop core body strength are Pilates and the Swiss ball.</p>
	<p>Pilates uses the body as its own form of resistance. Learning to breath properly and perform slow, controlled movements allows a person to isolate and strengthen core muscles.</p>
	<p>The Swiss ball (also known as a Fitness ball) is an easy and fun way to strengthen the body core. While there are many exercises that can be performed with the Swiss ball, simply sitting on it will create the instability needed to engage the core muscles to maintain balance.</p>
	<p>Good core strength is important at every age and fitness level. Whatever your goals, find a way to incorporate body core conditioning into your routine to reduce fatigue, avoid muscle strain and improve your strength and mobility. </p>
	<p>===========================<br />
About the Author:<br />
Ally Cook is writer for “Girl Does Diet”, a health, diet, fitness and “Lookin’ Goooood” website at www.GirlDoesDiet.com. Ally is attempting to lose weight while keeping her journal for motivation. Stop by and join in the fun ~ you may learn something you didn’t know before!<br />
===========================<br />
Please feel free to reprint this article on your blog or website, however, you must not change the content in any way, the link in the resource box must be linked to the site it refers to, and the resource box must be printed with the article.</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
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		<title>Body Mass Index Chart Misleading</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/15/body-mass-index-chart-misleading/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/15/body-mass-index-chart-misleading/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Mar 2006 08:24:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Dieting</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/15/body-mass-index-chart-misleading/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Jim O'Connor 

Remember when the body mass index chart first came out? People were running to calculators trying to find out if they are considered overweight and unhealthy. Many, especially athletes, were quickly shocked to find out they were labeled obese. I'm even talking about lean professional athletes who were the picture perfect image [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Jim O&#8217;Connor </p>
	<p>Remember when the body mass index chart first came out? People were running to calculators trying to find out if they are considered overweight and unhealthy. Many, especially athletes, were quickly shocked to find out they were labeled obese. I&#8217;m even talking about lean professional athletes who were the picture perfect image of strength, power, and health.</p>
	<p>After calculating their body mass index (BMI), many were shocked to find out their calculated number indicated a detriment to their health. So how do you calculate this number anyway? First off, you can be lazy and go to consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm, and have the computer tell you the answer. However, if you want to calculate it yourself simply multiply your weight in pounds by 703 then divide the square of your height in inches. It is that simple.</p>
	<p>Now after using a body mass index calculator you get your big number. What does it mean? In most cases, not a heck of a lot. First of all, your BMI doesn&#8217;t distinguish muscle from fat. You could have a body fat percentage of 8%, with a lot of added muscle, and the body mass index chart will say you are obese, and could be at risk for significant health issues. Now let&#8217;s take the opposite. Suppose you have never exercised a day in your life and your body fat is 30%, but you weight less than the fit person with an 8% level of body fat. The BMI chart might suggest your weight is right where it should be, and you are at very little risk for health challenges.</p>
	<p>This is where the BMI Chart is misleading. Recent studies have even shown a weak and inconsistent correlation between a high BMI and disease or early mortality.</p>
	<p>How then can we get an accurate assessment of our link between weight, and disease? My recommendations are to incorporate a multiple assessment such as the following:</p>
	<p>1. Body fat percentage should be calculated and considered.</p>
	<p>2. Take measurements of you waist, hips, and height. Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio, divide the waist measurement by the hip measurement. Men should be under 0.9, and women should be under 0.8. A good guideline for men is to keep their waists well under 40 inches, and women under 35 inches. Your waist should be one half your height. Now these are rough estimates since many factors go into determining your risk level. For instance, how much exercise do you get? What type of foods do you consume?</p>
	<p>However, If your numbers are not in the zone mentioned above, it is time to take action and start exercising and cutting back on calories.</p>
	<p>Always consider your body fat percentage versus your lean muscle tissue. Keep the body fat as low as possible, preferably under 30% for both men and women.</p>
	<p>Don&#8217;t rely on the body mass index charts to dictate your chance for disease. Use the multiple approach I have outlined above. It is an intelligent approach for aiding your health and well-being.</p>
	<p>============================<br />
<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
Jim O&#8217;Connor is a nationally known Exercise Physiologist, and health and fitness promoter. He spreads the fitness truth using video, audio, and text in his Wellness Word Newsletter. By reading this article you qualify, right now, to receive a FREE subscription to your very own <a href="http://www.wellnessword.com/" target="_blank">Wellness Word health and fitness articles</a><br />
============================</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
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		<title>Live Healthy by Using Essential Oils, Roots and Herbs</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/14/live-healthy-by-using-essential-oils-roots-and-herbs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/14/live-healthy-by-using-essential-oils-roots-and-herbs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Mar 2006 07:28:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Articles by Ally Cook</category>
	<category>Feeling Good</category>
	<category>Home/Herbal Remedies</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/14/live-healthy-by-using-essential-oils-roots-and-herbs/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Ally Cook

Essential oils, roots and herbs can be used in a variety of ways to promote healthy living. They are used to create natural remedies for treating ailments common to both people and animals, to add flavor to food, to make perfumes and to create environmentally friendly cleaning products.

You do not have to own [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Ally Cook</p>
	<p>Essential oils, roots and herbs can be used in a variety of ways to promote healthy living. They are used to create natural remedies for treating ailments common to both people and animals, to add flavor to food, to make perfumes and to create environmentally friendly cleaning products.</p>
	<p>You do not have to own a garden to tap into the benefits of plants, roots and herbs. A few herb pots located by a sunny window are enough to get you started. Then, all you need are some essential oils and you are ready to go.</p>
	<p>For therapeutic purposes, only the purest oils will do. It is possible to be fooled into thinking that you are purchasing a pure oil. Often, a lesser quality blend of several oils is used to mimic the properties of the pure oil. Blended oils are acceptable for fragrance purposes such as for perfuming a room, but pure oils are a &#8220;must&#8221; for medicinal purposes.</p>
	<p>A reasonable guide to the purity of an essential oil is its price. Pure essential oils are generally more expensive. Common oils such as lavender and geranium are much cheaper than frankincense and carnation oil. It is advisable to become familiar with essential oil prices and then rely on this knowledge when purchasing oils from unfamiliar sources. Keep in-mind that you will generally get what you pay for. A price list from a reputable dealer is a valuable resource when purchasing essentials oils.</p>
	<p>Usually, pure essential oils cannot be applied directly to the skin and must be mixed in a base oil to reduce their strength. Base oils such as almond oil or wheatgerm oil are commonly used for this purpose. Base oils are generally derived from seeds, nuts or vegetables and allow you to create essential oil remedies that can be massaged into the skin.</p>
	<p>So, what do you need to get started with essential oils and natural remedies?</p>
	<p>Without a doubt, Lavender is one of the most useful and desirable oils. Not only does it work wonders on cuts, bruises and burns, it also aids sleep and helps with relaxation.</p>
	<p>The Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oils are useful for treating a variety of respiratory ailments. These are excellent for the treatment of colds and coughs. They can be massaged into the chest or burned in an oil burner to help clear the airways and prevent congestion. Tea Tree oil is a natural antiseptic and can be dabbed on cuts, bites and stings. It is often used to treat spots and pimples and when diluted with water, acts as a mouth gargle (keep in-mind it should never be swallowed).</p>
	<p>Another basic antiseptic is Geranium oil. With its distinctive perfume and pain relieving properties, it is a necessary inclusion when starting out.</p>
	<p>Peppermint oil should also be purchased as it treats digestive complaints and may be used in preparations for freshening breath.</p>
	<p>For fragrant perfumes and establishing ambience in a room, buy some Patchouli and Ylang-ylang oils. Often combined in scented candles and air fresheners, a few drops of each in an oil burner creates a wonderfully perfumed home. Orange oil mixed with Cinnamon oil is a lovely winter alternative that evokes seasonal, holiday smells. Besides their perfume qualities, all four of these oils have other properties. Patchouli treats eczema and dandruff. Ylang-ylang is reputed to relieve stress, palpitations and high blood pressure. Orange is used in natural remedies for depression and nervous tension and Cinnamon is excellent for warts and viral infections.</p>
	<p>The herbs, Thyme and Rosemary can be grown in pots and used when needed. To create essential oils from herbs, stew some large amounts in pure water, collect the steam and cool it. The oil will rise to the top of the drained water and can be collected with an eyedropper. Alternatively, a &#8220;flower still&#8221; can be purchased to make the job easier. Thyme and Rosemary are both antiseptics and can be used in skin care preparations. They are also delicious when used in cooking.</p>
	<p>Lemon oil and fresh lemons will purify water and, when mixed with honey, are effective remedies for colds and flu. Lemon and white vinegar are highly efficient cleaning agents that can be used for domestic cleaning tasks without damaging the environment. Use white vinegar as a natural disinfectant or mix it with water to clean windows and wooden floors. It is also handy to keep a bottle of white vinegar in your car if you swim in the ocean. It will bring instant relief from jellyfish stings.</p>
	<p>Citronella oil is perfect in summer to keep the insects at bay. Another natural repellent is Garlic. Fleas will not bite a dog that has been eating garlic, so a few garlic capsules in the dog food are a cheap solution to your pet&#8217;s flea problem. A soft collar soaked in Citronella will also do the job.</p>
	<p>Garlic also helps to promote a healthy immune system when the weather turns cold and viruses begin to circulate. In fact, most of the oils and herbs listed above are effective in helping to prevent many common winter illnesses.</p>
	<p>Whether you are looking for remedies or nature friendly products to use around the house, the oils and herbs suggested above should help get you started. You will be ready to make some healthy changes in your way of life!</p>
	<p>===========================<br />
About the Author:<br />
Ally Cook is writer for “Girl Does Diet”, a health, diet, fitness and “Lookin’ Goooood” website at www.GirlDoesDiet.com. Ally is attempting to lose weight while keeping her journal for motivation. Stop by and join in the fun ~ you may learn something you didn’t know before!<br />
===========================<br />
Please feel free to reprint this article on your blog or website, however, you must not change the content in any way, the link in the resource box must be linked to the site it refers to, and the resource box must be printed with the article.</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
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		<title>Why Most of Your Diets Always Fail</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/13/why-most-of-your-diets-always-fail/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/13/why-most-of-your-diets-always-fail/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:20:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Dieting</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/13/why-most-of-your-diets-always-fail/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Jim O'Neill

Over the years, there has been millions and millions of people who have tried countless numbers of different diets to try and lose weight. Equally so, there has been millions and millions of people who failed at these diets. If all of these diets are supposed to be designed to make you lose [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By: Jim O&#8217;Neill</p>
	<p>Over the years, there has been millions and millions of people who have tried countless numbers of different diets to try and lose weight. Equally so, there has been millions and millions of people who failed at these diets. If all of these diets are supposed to be designed to make you lose weight, then why do most of them fail to do that? Why is it that no matter what diet you try, it never seems to work? Perhaps the diet itself was no good. Maybe it was too expensive to stick with. It could be that there was no support. Possibly, it just seemed to take too long to lose weight.</p>
	<p>The fact is, not one of those reasons is why most diets don’t work. Surprised? Don’t be. In reality, it all boils down to one simple yet complex reason. Yes, there is really only one thing that stands between you and your weight loss and that one thing is; your desire to eat was stronger than your desire to lose weight.</p>
	<p>It may sound too simple and may be a little hard to swallow, the truth often is, but that, my friend, is the plain and simple truth. The only real reason diets fail is because people decide to let themselves go back to their former eating habits rather than making the changes necessary to lose the weight and keep it off and maintaining those changes.</p>
	<p>Dieting is a long and oftentimes difficult journey that must be done step by step, little by little. There can be and often are all kinds of setbacks and pitfalls that can trap you, particularly during an endeavor that takes so much time and effort. Just one slip, one temptation given in to, and your whole struggle for weight loss can be sabotaged.</p>
	<p>In order for any diet to be successful, it must have a strong foundation. With a strong foundation, it will be a bit easier to hold your ground when those little pitfalls come along to tempt you. There also must be a solid plan. Without a good, solid plan, you will just be grasping at straws and going in all different directions. You need a plan to help guide you in the right direction at all times. One thing that has helped many people who were successful with their diets was having the support of family members and friends. This can be a major asset that can help you stay with it.</p>
	<p>Probably the most important thing to remember is, never starve yourself, make sure you make room to eat the foods you like from time to time and make a little time for some moderate exercise. Your diet does not have to fail, and with a little help from you, it can succeed and that means, you can succeed.<br />
=============================<br />
<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
Jim O&#8217;Neill is a certified personal fitness trainer and also holds a sports nutrition certification. He has been helping people successfully achieve their weight loss and fitness goals for over 15 years by staying on the cutting edge of weight loss and fitness technology. To learn more about how you can benefit from his easy to use weight loss and fitness programs go to: <a href="http://www.mrgymhealth.com" target="_blank">http://www.mrgymhealth.com</a><br />
=============================</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
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		<title>Herbal Remedies for Treating Acne</title>
		<link>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/12/herbal-remedies-for-treating-acne/</link>
		<comments>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/12/herbal-remedies-for-treating-acne/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Mar 2006 08:16:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Diet Girl</dc:creator>
		
	<category>Articles by Ally Cook</category>
	<category>Looking Good</category>
	<category>Home/Herbal Remedies</category>
		<guid>http://www.girldoesdiet.com/2006/03/12/herbal-remedies-for-treating-acne/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Ally Cook

Acne is not caused by dirt, though careful attention to hygiene helps to keep inflammation at bay. A trial done in Singapore a few years ago points to acne being caused by the failure of the body to break down and metabolize oil in the body. Why does this happen?

According to an article [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	<p>By Ally Cook</p>
	<p>Acne is not caused by dirt, though careful attention to hygiene helps to keep inflammation at bay. A trial done in Singapore a few years ago points to acne being caused by the failure of the body to break down and metabolize oil in the body. Why does this happen?</p>
	<p>According to an article published by Lit-Hung Leung, MD in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 12, Number 2, 1997, when the particular vitamin that is responsible for the job of metabolizing the oil is needed by the body for a different function – such as the development of the sex organs, eg, – a deficiency is created and there is not enough of this vitamin to do both jobs. This is why acne often shows up at puberty.</p>
	<p>While deficiency syndromes are by and large dismissed by the main stream medical profession, Linus Pauling, in his book, How to Live Longer and Feel Better, challenges the assumption that vitamins are not needed in large amounts and provides proof through his studies of animals that optimal amounts of vitamins are needed for optimal health. For instance, he believes that Vitamin C is needed in far greater amounts by the body than most health practitioners would believe.</p>
	<p>In the trial conducted in Singapore, pantothenic acid was given to acne sufferers at the rate of 10 grams a day divided into four equal doses. At the same time the patients were required to apply a pantothenic cream to the acne. Within a few days there was a marked reduction in the amount of oil, or sebum being secreted and after 2 weeks the acne started to heal visibly, with less new pimples appearing. In most cases, the acne was completely healed by the end of 2 months, and flare-ups were reduced considerably.</p>
	<p>An unexpected bonus was that the enlarged pores of the face began to shrink and the skin became much finer. It was found that if the patient was an adolescent, a maintenance dose was needed until the sexual characteristics had been fully developed. That pantothenic acid is found to be present in all tissues of the body is an indication of its importance. VitaCure B5 ClearSkin is the acne product that resulted from the above trials.</p>
	<p>Benzoyl peroxide is the main ingredient found in many over-the-counter products for treating acne. The label should be read carefully to find out how much of this chemical is actually in the product. When trying these for the first time, it is advisable to start off with the lowest dose, or skin irritation could occur, exacerbating the problem. 2.5% is usually the lowest dose and this can also cause the skin to become dry and irritated, but this problem will mostly clear up after a few days. These products are meant to be used over the whole area affected by acne, so don’t just dab it on single zits.</p>
	<p>Zinc gluconate is another herbal type of remedy for acne. It should be taken orally.</p>
	<p>If after two months of trying herbal products the acne has not improved, a doctor’s advice should be sought.</p>
	<p>===========================<br />
About the Author:<br />
Ally Cook is writer for “Girl Does Diet”, a health, diet, fitness and “Lookin’ Goooood” website at www.GirlDoesDiet.com. Ally is attempting to lose weight while keeping her journal for motivation. Stop by and join in the fun ~ you may learn something you didn’t know before!<br />
===========================<br />
Please feel free to reprint this article on your blog or website, however, you must not change the content in any way, the link in the resource box must be linked to the site it refers to, and the resource box must be printed with the article.</p>
	<p>Health, wealth and happiness to all and tons of love!</p>
	<p>Ally Cook
</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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