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In order to achieve permanent health and fitness success, several obstacles must be recognized and managed. Exercise Physiologist, Joey Atlas, discusses 5 unique strategies to help pave the way for lifelong success through the proper mindset.

Every week countless numbers of people rededicate themselves to starting a new diet and exercise program, only to find that they have fallen off their program by the end of the following week. This scenario plays out all too often especially for people who are attempting to keep their fitness program based at home or the office.

The problem here is not where the program is being attempted, but the fact that there actually is no program to follow. No matter what the endeavor, when one sets out to accomplish something without a well thought out plan or a ‘roadmap’, the chances for success are slim to none. Health and fitness programs are a prime example of this.

Without a fitness plan, there is no guidance, accountability or direction. Therefore most actions are random and unfocused. This creates an element of uncertainty where one is guessing at what they should be doing. Self doubt is present as the individual isn’t even sure that what they are doing is right for them.

Additionally, unrealistic expectations run high in most people who embark on a newfound fitness lifestyle. Changes are expected to occur too fast. When results don’t come quick enough discouragement sets in and motivation starts to diminish. The stage is set for another failed fitness program.

Knowing the key components to a home or office fitness program is the first step in defining the necessary elements for achieving lifelong health and fitness success.

The following tips can help you refine your approach to executing your home fitness program by helping you create a mental and physical environment that is conducive to permanent success.

1) If your program happens to be the focus of this year’s resolution, rename your New Year’s resolution your New Life resolution and think of what you are doing as something you will do forever, not for a month or two. Focus on long term benefits, not short term changes.

2) Tell others about it. You will hold yourself more accountable for following through and staying true to yourself. Others will be more likely to support or even join you in your new quest for a better quality of life.

3) Realize that exercise is one of the most unselfish acts. What better gift can you give your loved ones than you being alive and healthy for the rest of your life? Not taking care of your self is actually the selfish act.

4) Incorporate nutritional habits that will work for you, not against you. Constantly ask yourself, “Is what I’m about to eat or drink conducive to the goals I am committed to achieving?” Remember, a fad diet is just that. The one method that works more than all others combined is, take in less calories than you burn.

5) Realize you do not need to spend two hours in the gym every day to get into great shape. There is a lot you can do at home or at the office in 30 minutes. There are many exercise DVDs and small, economical and portable pieces of fitness equipment to provide you with endless workout programs. Gather the tools that suit you best before you start your new program. If you are still unsure, hire a personal trainer to consult with you on starting a home fitness program.

Living healthy and fit is, first, a psychological exercise as you have to think about what you need to adjust in your life and daily habits before you can actually take the actions that will result in the changes you desire.

Spend time on your adjusting mindset by asking yourself what things are most important to you in life and how health and fitness are related to the things that matter most to you. Then take the actions which are in line with your values and goals.

Commonly known as pinkeye, Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the outer most layer of the eye and the inner side of the eyelid. Conjunctivitis infections commonly come in one of three flavours: viral, bacterial, or allergic. There is, however, several other cases of less common conjunctivitis:

• Chemicals
• Thermal and ultraviolet burns
• Foreign bodies
• Overuse of contact lenses
• Toxins - Vitamin deficiency
• Dry eye, sometimes due to inadequate eyelid closure
• Exposure to chickens infected with Newcastle disease

Lets take a quick look at the three most common types of conjunctivitis. The first is viral conjunctivitis. This type is transmitted by contact with a variety of contagious viruses. These required viruses need not be any harsher than the common cold virus, as these cases are generally associated with upper respiratrory tract symptoms.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by the infected’s own skin or respiratory flora due to pyogenic bacteria. Another common way to spread infection, generally by females, is through sharing of facial lotions or eye makeup. And lastly, it is possible to share this kind of “pinkeye” through contact with other people and/or their environment.

The last form that we will be looking at is allergetic conjuctivitis. This type generally follows a seasonal pattern, and is more common among those with allergic conditions. Unlike the others, allergetic conjuctivitis tends to take over both eyes, and is accompanied by swollen eyelids. It is caused by reactions to such substances as perfume, drugs, cosmetics, contact lenses, or protein deposits.

Gastric bypass surgery is a major event with potentially serious postoperative complications. During the recovery period, it is extremely important that you follow all of the guidelines your doctor gives you to minimize your risks and to maximize your successful recovery.

Your hospital stay during gastric bypass recovery will be anywhere from two to six days, depending on the success of the surgery and how quickly your body heals. After you go home, take your time before returning to your normal routine. Slowly increase your level of activity over a period of several weeks, and follow your doctor’s instructions on what activities are permitted.

Health Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although no results are guaranteed, most people lose between 60 and 80 percent of their excess body weight within 18 months. Many will regain some of the weight but in long-term studies, most people keep at least 50 percent of the excess weight off for five years or more.

After gastric bypass recovery, co-morbid conditions, such as weight related heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, lower back pain and knee problems, usually improve or completely disappear. However, since the surgery causes your body to absorb fewer nutrients, it is important that you take the proper dietary supplements to prevent development of any serious deficiency-related diseases. Your doctor will probably require post-operative and follow up visits for the first two years after gastric bypass recovery to monitor your overall health and progress.

Cosmetic Considerations After Weight Loss

One of the more unpleasant results of losing large amounts of excess weight is having entirely too much skin after the fat is gone. This excess skin tends to hang loosely and very unattractively around the face, neck, breasts, upper and lower abdomen, flanks, armpits, back, buttocks, upper arms, forearms, thighs, legs and calves. The younger you are, the more likely you are that the skin will eventually tighten up and look normal. Older people will need to consider cosmetic surgery to get rid of all the loose, flabby skin.

Besides looking horrible, all this extra skin can also cause hygiene problems, shin irritation, infections, etc.–not too mention making it almost impossible to find clothes that both look good and fit properly. The most common cosmetic operations people have done are:

Tummy Tuck - This procedure removes excess skin around the waist and tightens the abdominal muscles.

Breast Reduction, Breast (Implants) and Breast Lift - Losing weight causes breasts to sag severely and get smaller, since some of the size is due to the fat underneath the skin. Implants or a breast lift can help restore a natural shape and firmness. In a few rare cases, a woman’s breasts may still be too big and need to be reduced to improve appearance.

Male Breast Reduction - This procedure removes excess skin and corrects chest droopiness in men.

Face Lift, Eyelid Surgery, Neck Lift and Forehead Lift - Many people opt for facial plastic surgery to correct the sagging caused by time and then exacerbated by extreme weight loss.

Thigh Lift and Buttock Lift - These procedures basically lift, tighten and remove excess skin in the thigh and buttocks.

Arm Wing Removal, Arm Lift and Arm Reduction - These surgeries remove the unsightly wings often seen on older people, or lift and reduce the excess on the rest of the upper arm and in rare cases the lower arm.

Liposuction - A popular solution, liposuction removes stubborn fat in localized areas and “sculpt” the body.

The results of these cosmetic procedures can dramatically improve the quality of life for gastric bypass patients and some of them are covered by health insurance if considered medically necessary.

A diet for cancer must contain the minerals that are essential for healthy bodily functions. This article discusses the minerals we all need, plus natural sources from our foods.

A cancer diet needs a good balance of minerals because minerals are needed by all cells for proper function. Patients are often found to be mineral deficient, so this is an area of the diet that needs particular attention.

There are two classes of minerals. Macrominerals, such as the well known calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus, and microminerals, such as boron, chromium, copper, iron, iodine, germanium, sulfur, silicon, vanadium, zinc, manganese and molybdenum.

The good news is we will get most of the minerals we need, provided we are eating a diet based on a wide variety of fruits and veggies, with the addition of nuts, seeds and grains.

Where we can get in to trouble is that minerals are washed out of soils with constant rain, and modern fertilizers don’t usually contain the wide variety of minerals we need. Organic gardeners usually use rock minerals on their soils and this results in organic produce have a much higher and broader range of minerals.

Germanium is one micromineral that cancer patients are often low on. It is essential for immune function and is critical to tissue oxygenation. Cancer grows rapidly where there is low oxygenation of cells. Germanium is found in broccoli, celery, garlic, onions, rhubarb, sauerkraut and tomato juice as well as aloevera and ginseng.

Iodine deficiency has been linked to breast cancer in more than one study. Seasalt contains iodine and a variety of minerals rather than the isolated highly processed iodine additive in table salt. Asparagus, garlic, lima beans, soybeans, sesame seeds all contain natural iodine along with the nutrients needed for good absorption.

Large amounts of brassicas eg brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower, along with peaches, pears and spinach can block absorption of iodine, so ensure there is a balance of iodine rich foods in your diet.

Selenium has been linked to cancer. Selenium and Vitamin E work together to attack free radicals. Selenium is critical for pancreatic function, and pancreatic enzymes are critical to the bodies ability to fight tumour activity. This mineral is generally found in meat and grains, however countries such as New Zealand and much of America is known to have selenium deficient soils.

As there have been several studies showing that good selenium levels have significantly reduced the risk of cancer, this is one mineral you want to have enough of.

Food sources that should be included frequently in a cancer diet are: brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, brewers yeast, chicken, kelp, onions, salmon, seafood, tuna, wheatgerm and whole grains. Garlic, chamomile, ginseng and parsley are all easy to use concentrated forms that can be added to the diet daily.

A couple of warnings:

Be very careful about self-dosing with minerals as several of them will block absorption of others if the dose is too high.

Again, eating a variety of foods, with particular notice taken of those that have high mineral levels is the safest way to go. If you wish to explore mineral supplementation further, talk to your naturopath or nutritionist. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the importance of these vital elements to your well being.