Top 10 Foods for Lowering Cholesterol

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This came in Realage.
I do have Almonds, Oranges, Olive Oil, Oatmeal, Blueberries (costly though), Pinto Beans (love the way Neelum cooks them ), Tomoatoes (love them), Avocado (tried Avocado flavoured icecream in Sabah during my recent travel), Dark Chocolate ( Not my favorite)
Happy reading...!!

If you have unhealthy cholesterol levels (or want to prevent them), one of the first things you should examine is your diet. Are you eating foods that help reduce cholesterol? Or avoiding the ones that cause unhealthy cholesterol levels to creep higher? If not, we've got 10 cholesterol-lowering foods you should grab next time you're at the grocery store. Bonus: Lowering your bad (LDL) cholesterol can make your RealAge 3.3 years younger if you're a man, 0.6 years younger if you're a woman!

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Almonds
Almonds are pretty hardworking nuts when it comes to lowering your cholesterol. First, they're rich in unsaturated fats that help raise healthy HDL cholesterol while lowering unhealthy LDL. Second, these fats also help make LDL cholesterol less likely to oxidize. Which is a fabulous thing, because when LDL oxidizes, it's more likely to gunk up your arteries and cut blood flow to the heart. Snack away. But do keep an eye on portion size. Almonds are high in calories, and all you need are a couple of ounces a day to reap benefits.

Orange Juice 

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OJ manufacturers are doing everything they can to make their health food more appealing -- including fortifying their juice with plant-derived cholesterol-busting compounds known as phytosterols. A review of 84 scientific studies revealed that getting 2 grams of phytosterols a day - the amount in a couple 8-ounce glasses of sterol-fortified OJ -- could help lower harmful LDL levels by more than 8 percent. Check with your doctor first regarding whether citrus will interact with any of your medications. If it does, look for sterol-fortified margarine, milk, soymilk, cheese, or breads instead. 

Olive Oil

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This oil is a nutritional superstar -- rich in antioxidants and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and increase "good" HDL. In fact, in a study of people with high cholesterol, blood samples showed less potential for harmful clotting just two hours after the study subjects ate a meal with olive oil. That's because olive oil is rich in phenolics, plant substances that makes blood less likely to clot. All you need is about 2 tablespoons a day for benefit (use it in place of other fats).

Steamed Asparagus

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There's nothing wrong with a platter of crudités or a salad if you want to improve your diet, but steaming may help improve the cholesterol-lowering capabilities of some produce, including asparagus. Other veggies that get better after a short bout in the steam: beets, okra, carrots, eggplant, green beans, and cauliflower. Researchers think steaming these veggies may help them do a better job of binding bile acids, which means your liver needs to use up more LDL cholesterol into order to make bile. That translates into less circulating LDL in your bloodstream.
Oatmeal

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Your mama was right. Starting the day with a bowl of warm, toasty oatmeal is a smart move. Of all the whole grains, oats are the best source of soluble fiber -- the kind that forms a gel to prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into your bloodstream. Shoot for five to 10 grams of soluble fiber per day. If you have 1¼ cups of cooked oatmeal for breakfast, you'll start your day with 5 grams of the stuff. Top your oatmeal with a chopped-up apple for an extra 3 grams of fiber, and you're set. 








Pinto Beans

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Next time you make chili, add pinto beans to the pot. They're packed with soluble fiber to help drive down cholesterol. And in a study, people who ate a half-cup of pinto beans a day lowered their total cholesterol by 8 percent in just 12 weeks. Ole! (Tip: If you use canned beans, rinse them to wash away excess sodium.) 

Blueberries

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You've heard by now that blueberries are a nutritious superfood. One reason why they're so great? They help keep your arteries clear by reducing blood levels of artery-clogging LDL. Researchers suspect it's because the berries support liver function so well. The end result: cholesterol gets swept out of your system much more easily. Enjoy blueberries fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried. They still have the same benefits. 

Tomatoes

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Include lycopene-rich tomato products in your diet every day for a few weeks, and you may knock your bad LDL cholesterol levels down by as much as 10 percent, according to a recent study. Researchers think the lycopene in tomatoes inhibits LDL production while at the same time helping break down this artery-clogging fat. You'll need to consume at least 25 milligrams of lycopene a day for cholesterol benefits. That's about a half cup of tomato sauce. Bring on the marinara! 

Avocado

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We always keep ripe avocados in the RealAge kitchen. Why? They're chock-full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that help knock down bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while boosting healthy HDL cholesterol. Even better, we love the fruit's (yep, it's a fruit) mild flavor and creamy texture. Mash avocado into guacamole, add slices to a sandwich, chop it up in a salad, or -- for a tasty snack -- simply spread a little on whole-grain crackers with a tiny pinch of coarse sea salt. 




Dark Chocolate

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If you're a chocoholic, here's some good news. Study after study confirms dark chocolate is pretty amazing, healthy stuff. It's full of flavonoids, which are antioxidants that help lower cholesterol. It also has oleic acid, the same type of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil. To improve your cholesterol, just have a little nibble -- up to 1 ounce of dark chocolate a day. And check the label to make sure your chocolate is at least 70 percent cocoa. Cocoa is the stuff with all the heart-healthy ingredients.

Beans: The High-Protein Food That's Healthy and Cheap

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Another fine article from Real age
Here's why beans always make our best-foods list: They're a healthy, cheap source of protein that'll reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, lower your blood sugar, and flatten your belly. (Protect your heart with a batch of EatingWell's Smoky Black Bean Soup tonight.)Yep, beans do all that and more. Here are 5 ways beans help your waistline, heart, and blood sugar:

1. Reduce belly fat. A recent study found that beans' soluble fiber chases away deep-down, visceral belly fat -- the toxin-filled kind that threatens your vital organs.
   
2. Lower blood sugar. Beans are low on the glycemic index, which means they're digested slowly, so they stabilize your blood sugar. Translation: Beans reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Stabilize blood sugar deliciously with this Very Green Lentil Soup recipe from EatingWell.
   
3. Reduce blood pressure. Beans are rich in artery-friendly minerals and healthy plant protein -- the kind that's better for blood pressure than protein from animals. Substitute the deli meat on your next sandwich with EatingWell's Braised Greens & Cannellini Bean Panini recipe.
   
4. Protect heart health. The soluble fiber in beans also helps reduce blood levels of C-reactive protein, which lowers your risk for heart disease and heart attacks. Try this pasta dish fromEatingWell to help lower your heart disease risk: Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe & Chickpeas.
   
5. Reduce cancer risk. Simply eating beans three times a week helps prevent colon cancer. (You're 33% less likely to develop colon polyps.) Cutting back on red meat can reduce cancer risk, too.

So, what's not to like about beans? Oh, those gas attacks? Ease into eating beans, and take the supplement Beano (available at grocery stores) until your body is used to them. Beano's natural enzymes deflate gas attacks. The elevator crowd will thank you.

Top 3 Ways to Avoid Food Cravings

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The key to being able to avoid food craving is to understand what is actually causing those cravings and being able to avoid those situations in which you could well buckle and allow your focus to slip for just a moment, before you know it you are eating your second chocolate bar of the day!
Cravings are created within the human body due to a low level of blood sugar, something which can drop as quickly as being completely fine at lunch but then only a matter of hours crashes to the level in which your mind beings to release the craving messages.
To be able to keep your body in the state of well being that you need in order to be able to effectively lose weight and tone your muscles, you need to ensure that your blood levels remain topped up on regular intervals, a blood sugar crash which is then topped up too quickly will tell your body to store fat rather than lose it in fear that levels could drop once again later in the day.
So what rules can you follow to try to avoid blood sugar crashes and overloads?

Eat Less, More Often

Look to reduce the portion sizes of your meals throughout the day but plan to eat every 3 hours, this means that your body will continue to burn fat effectively through your natural metabolism while also keeping a harness on your blood sugar levels.

Up Your Protein

The fact that you are looking to increase your intake of protein on a regular meal basis means that you are able to stay fuller for longer as protein slows down the way in which carbohydrates are digested.

Be Carb Smart

There are plenty of products out there that look to offer you your daily intake of carbohydrates but you need to be looking to purchase whole grain as this form of carbohydrates contains fiber, which will reduce the blood sugar effect.

Swimmin' With the Dolphins

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Happy Labor Day Weekend and End of Summer to all ourNorth American friends! Cheers to the end of Summer - we're going to miss you and all the warmth and sunshine you bring...

And until it comes around again, we'll be going by the motto, "Just keep swimmin'" :)
Even better, we'll have a chance to watch a new pet swimming, thanks to winning the Petco Betta Fish Tank from Doggies and Stuff! We'll be posting photos when we get it!

If it's Saturday, it's time for the Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop - brought to you by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume -

Nature's Logic: Sensible Dog Food

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There is possibly nothing more frustrating these days than trying to choose a good food for your pet. So many warnings about various ingredients, and confusing advice on what to look for, can leave you baffled at best. Nature's Logic is a complete, natural, and safe (no China-imported ingredients!) pet food.
Nature’s Logic provides your pet with essential and complete nutrition for all life stages using only 100% natural ingredients. Whole foods provide pets with an abundance of naturally-occurring nutrients: Proteins, vitamins, minerals, fiber, probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, co-factors, phytonutrients, and more.

CindyLu doing the taste test

The natural synergies and increased bioavailability of these extra nutrients ensure the best possible nutrition for your pet. The company’s foods do NOT contain chemically-synthesized vitamins, minerals or other trace nutrients routinely added to other pet food. This ensures that your pet is not exposed to the potential toxicities associated with these man-made substances.

Lip-smackin' approval on this one, Mom!

Nature’s Logic Canine food is made from nutrient-dense muscle and organ meat that dogs love. Concentrates of select fruits and vegetables, highly-digestible natural eggshell calcium, and animal plasma provide all the natural vitamins, minerals, and proteins your dog needs.

"Cheese!" (Can I eat it now??)

Both CindyLu and Chester loved eating Nature's Logic (we had the chicken kibble). It was great for Chester's allergies, which had begun flaring up again after the food he'd previously been eating. Their coats are shiny and soft. CindyLu's fur isn't matting up like it has a tendency to do. They both look healthy, have solid energy, and sleep well. You can always tell when you're feeding your dog food that's good for them - everything is in balance, and so are they.

GIVEAWAY!

One Lucky Winner will Receive Nature’s Logic 100% Natural Dog Food!

• Visit Nature’s Logic - www.natureslogic.com - and select the food and flavor of the food you’d like to receive for your dog.
• Choose from a) one 4.4-lb bag dry kibble, or b) one 3-lb bag raw frozen or c) five 13.2-oz cans.
• Leave a comment below with the information. 
• Verify your entry, find additional entry opportunities, in the Rafflecopter box below.

Winner will be announced right here at the end of giveaway, notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond or new winner will be chosen. Voucher will be mailed by Nature's Logic and is redeemable at any Nature's Logic retailer.a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: We received one bag of Nature's Logic for review purposes; no other compensation was received. Opinions expressed here are our own, personal thoughts about the product.

Looking for some more great giveaways? Check out Fido's Friday Freebies (it goes all week long!) -

Project Management - Key Activities When Starting a Project

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Got this article at LinkedIn.. Very good.. !!!

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During the initiation and planning phases of a project, there are a number of key activities to be performed. I am going to cover 3 of the most important activities in this article:

1. Scope Definition
2. Planning
3. Communications

SCOPE DEFINITION

I cannot stress enough the importance of locking down the scope at the beginning of project.

Using a scope document, it is critical to define exactly what is in scope and what is not. Of course, you will need to work with the project sponsors and, at times, the project team to do this. Once the scope is defined, it is crucial to have formal sign-off.

Remember, if the scope is not locked down and agreed to, small changes at the beginning of a project will potentially have huge ramifications later on - potentially to resources, costs, ability to meet business objectives, etc.

For example, if a ship leaves San Francisco bound for Hawaii and is 2 degrees off course, the ship will miss Hawaii altogether. A minor course correction in this area at the beginning of a project will ensure your project does not stray drastically off course.

PLANNING

Developing a good plan is also critical. When done right, good planning will typically ensure the execution phase of a project runs very smoothly - barring any unforeseen issues.

Developing a sequential plan (step 1, step 2, etc.) and understanding what can be run in parallel are also important. Clearly defining the work and breaking it into small work units is a key step. Once these work units are defined, resources can easily be assigned based on availability and skill sets.

It's important not to rush project planning. It's better to spend a little extra time developing a good plan than it is to try to course correct during the execution phase when more resources are typically engaged and the impacts are greater.

COMMUNICATIONS

This is one of my hot buttons. Good, frequent and consistent communications are key!

What do I mean by this? Well, communications should be planned in advance and well thought out with the possible exception of emergencies. Here's a simple example of an ongoing communications plan:

1. Weekly Status Report - sent only to project team every Friday
2. Weekly Project Meeting Notes - sent only to project team every Wednesday
3. Monthly Project Report - sent to all stakeholders and sponsors last Thursday of every month

This is a simplified example but, as you can see, there is a definitive plan for communicating. By communicating in an organized manner, your project team and sponsors will know exactly what to expect and, as a side effect, this will help build their confidence in your work.

Tip 1: good or bad, always communicate the true status. This will protect you as well as help sponsors know when to engage and assist.

Tip 2: by consistently showing progress with resource names attached (e.g. task 1 due on this date - assigned to John Smith), more often than not this visibility will serve as a natural self-motivator for the assigned person to complete his or her work on time. Often, no additional follow up or prodding is needed.

http://ProjectTemplates.biz Offers a Complete Set of 184 Project Management Templates, Tools, Forms, Guides and Everything Which Can Increase the Efficiency of Project Managers to Meet Any Business Project or IT Project.

Beans: The High-Protein Food That's Healthy and Cheap

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Another fine article from Real age
Here's why beans always make our best-foods list: They're a healthy, cheap source of protein that'll reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, lower your blood sugar, and flatten your belly. (Protect your heart with a batch of EatingWell's Smoky Black Bean Soup tonight.)Yep, beans do all that and more. Here are 5 ways beans help your waistline, heart, and blood sugar:

1. Reduce belly fat. A recent study found that beans' soluble fiber chases away deep-down, visceral belly fat -- the toxin-filled kind that threatens your vital organs.
   
2. Lower blood sugar. Beans are low on the glycemic index, which means they're digested slowly, so they stabilize your blood sugar. Translation: Beans reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Stabilize blood sugar deliciously with this Very Green Lentil Soup recipe from EatingWell.
   
3. Reduce blood pressure. Beans are rich in artery-friendly minerals and healthy plant protein -- the kind that's better for blood pressure than protein from animals. Substitute the deli meat on your next sandwich with EatingWell's Braised Greens & Cannellini Bean Panini recipe.
   
4. Protect heart health. The soluble fiber in beans also helps reduce blood levels of C-reactive protein, which lowers your risk for heart disease and heart attacks. Try this pasta dish fromEatingWell to help lower your heart disease risk: Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe & Chickpeas.
   
5. Reduce cancer risk. Simply eating beans three times a week helps prevent colon cancer. (You're 33% less likely to develop colon polyps.) Cutting back on red meat can reduce cancer risk, too.

So, what's not to like about beans? Oh, those gas attacks? Ease into eating beans, and take the supplement Beano (available at grocery stores) until your body is used to them. Beano's natural enzymes deflate gas attacks. The elevator crowd will thank you.

Chronic pain can hurt your mind and mood

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Chronic pain doesn't just hurt your body; it hurts your emotions, too. It can impact your mood, your memory, your relationships, and your overall quality of life -- if you let it. Don'tlet it. Negative emotions will only worsen your pain and, in turn, mess more with your mind and mood. To avoid this vicious cycle, tailor a comprehensive pain-management plan that minimizes both the physical and emotional impacts of chronic pain.

Pain-Proof Your Mood

A continually sore, achy body can understandably cause frustration, anger, anxiety, and depression. Occasional bouts of such emotions may not be a big deal, but if they persist, it's important to take action. Distract yourself from pain and brighten your mood by engaging in activities you love. Explore new stress-reduction techniques, work with a cognitive behavioral therapist, or join a pain support group. 

Pain Can Hurt Your Self-Esteem

Pain can diminish job performance, dampen your motivation to exercise, and prevent you from completing daily tasks. Such limitations cause some pain sufferers to get down on themselves or to view their condition as a sign of weakness or a personal defect. Don't go down that road. Seek the aid of a therapist or support group if pain is eroding your self-esteem.

Don't Let Pain Isolate You

When you hurt all the time, the last thing you want to do is attend the company party, the neighbor's backyard barbecue, or even small gatherings with your closest friends and family. Don't let pain drive you into social isolation. To stay connected, focus on the quality, not quantity, of friendships. Nurture ties with a handful of close, supportive friends versus a vast network of more superficial acquaintances. 

Pain Can Hurt Your Marriage

When you hurt all the time, it's tough to complete household chores, take care of the kids, contribute financially, or fully participate in normal family activities. Sexuality and intimacy can also take a hit. Frustration, resentment, and communication breakdowns can occur -- especially when a spouse doesn't understand or sympathize with the sufferer's condition. Solution: Seek guidance from a marriage counselor to help rebuild your relationship. 

Fight Pain-Induced Fatigue

Pain is exhausting. A sore back, hip, or knee can steal your sleep, send your stress levels skyrocketing, and drain your motivation to exercise. Reduce fatigue by integrating the right self-care measures into your pain management plan. Eat a healthy diet, kick your bad habits, get more sleep, and exercise every day. You'll feel more energized and cope better with your pain.

Pain Can Hurt Job Performance

It's hard to stay on your game at work when you hurt all the time. Pain can diminish concentration, memory, critical thinking abilities, and productivity. Solution: Talk to your doctor about daytime pain medications that won't sedate you, and get the sleep and exercise you need to keep your brain humming. Short, daytime naps may also help. Don't overcompensate by becoming a workaholic.

Take It Easy at Home

It's hard to manage a household when you constantly hurt. Running errands, managing finances, and taking care of the kids, the pets, and a spouse can feel overwhelming. Remember to pace yourself, simplify, and let go of perfection. It's also okay to ask family members for help. Your home should be your sanctuary from pain, not something that aggravates it.

Pain and Your Doctor

Does your doctor take your pain seriously or do you get the impression he or she thinks it's "all in your head?" Chronic pain, especially without a clear underlying cause, can be tricky to treat, and some doctors are better-equipped than others to do so. Bottom line: Pain is a real condition that can be effectively treated. If you're not getting relief from your doctor, it's time to find a new one.

Take Back Your Power

Pain can bring loss -- loss of your physical function, your athletic abilities, a favorite hobby, a career, and even close relationships. While it's healthy to grieve, don't let pain make you a victim. Take back your power. To start, try to accept that pain is a part of your life, but does not control who you are or your ability to improve, cope, and thrive. 

Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur

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Another set of super tips from Robin Sharma


This month I invite you to focus onunleashing your inner entrepreneur so you innovate, execute and deliver resultsat a level called wow.
First, here are 5 Brain Tattoos toplay with:
1) To have the results thatultra-successful performers have, you need to be willing to do the things thatonly ultra-successful people are willing to do.
2) The discomfort of change isalways better than the heartbreak of complacency.
3) What the victim calls Genius, thetrue entrepreneur knows as practice.
4) Education is inoculation againstdisruption.
5) There's zero point in masterfullydoing the wrong things.
Second, I've recorded this quicklearning video from my hotel room on a recent tour to help you win in yourwork.
Watch it now:
http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/03/unleash-your-inner-entrepreneur
In Leadership, 
Robin 

Bosses: Stop Doing These 10 Things

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This is from an article on InformationManagement and SourceMedia



Here’s a few more “fresh” suggestions provided by clients for publication purposes since I wrote the original post. (Note to readers, this and the predecessor post with comments are ideal for printing and quietly leaving behind on the boss’s chair.)At Least 10 More Things to Stop Doing if You’re the Boss

1. Cut what? Don’t expect us to heed your words on austerity/change/doing more with less if you’re not changing and you’re not cutting back. And thanks for telling me all about your new boat two weeks after we took a pay cut.  That was special.
2. Accountability is for Everyone. Stop avoiding THE performance problem on the team. We’re watching your own performance on this one, and you’re credibility clock is just about out of time.
3. If I Need a Friend, I’ll Get a Dog. Stop trying to be my friend and focus on being my boss. I need a boss who tells me what I’m doing right and importantly, what I’m doing wrong and holds me accountable to improving on all fronts. I don’t need someone who uses a faux friendship to avoid helping me grow.
4. Fewer Clown Rodeos, Please. Quit descending upon our facility like a conquering general expecting a parade. If you have to show up, why not show up unannounced and see what happens on a day when we’re all focused on working instead of worrying about entertaining the clown from corporate.
5. They Can’t All Be Strategic! Stop saying “yes” to every project that comes along. You’ve more than succeeded at ensuring that we have too few resources chasing too many projects. It’s time to learn that powerful word, “No.”
6. How Old Are You? Quit yelling at us in public. Come to think of it, quit yelling at us. Grow up.
7. Everyone on the Planet Except You Knows This! Stop shooting down our ideas in brainstorming meetings. You must have missed the day in life when they taught ALL OF US the rules of effective brainstorming.
8. Quit Hiding Under Your Desk. Stop dodging the angry customer calls and dumping them back on us. You might learn something.
9. Everyone on the Planet Except You Knows This, part 2. Quit trying to pass off your growth targets as strategies. Growth is an outcome, not a strategy!
10. Stop. Reverse That. Quit taking credit for everything that goes right and passing off blame for everything that goes wrong. You’ve got that backwards.

The Bottom-Line for Now

If you’re the boss and you’re doing any of the above, cut it out. Seriously.If you’ve got some more polite or not so polite suggestions for the boss, feel free to pass them along.This blog originally appeared at artpetty.com.

5 Tips To Account For When Choosing A Personal Trainer

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Working out at the gym for the first time can be daunting when it comes to what you should be doing with the machines, their purpose within your workout and how you should be doing a certain exercise to ensure safety and maximum return.

With that revelation recognised by the fitness industry, there are now a vast amount of personal trainers that are readily available to you in order to help you on your way to getting the body that you have always dreamed of.

Choosing the right personal trainer for you is not about finding the first available to you, you have to be happy that the workouts that you will be paying them to put you through are going to end with the same goals that you have set yourself.
So here are a few things that you should consider before hiring a personal trainer:

1.    Check their qualifications

Just because a personal trainer seems to know his or her way around a gym doesn’t mean that they are qualified to train you, meaning that although you could well be in line for some fantastic results, you might not be working out safely.
Any qualified personal trainer will only be too happy to show you a copy of their qualification on request, so make sure that you are training with someone who knows more than their way around a weight machine.

2.    Speak with them before hiring

The fitness industry is booming within the present day and that has lead to an influx of people looking to become personal trainers.
You are strongly advised to speak with any personal trainer that you are considering hiring in order to get a feel for both their knowledge and personality within the gym.
I have personally failed to speak with personal trainers before and found that they have been shy and unwilling to push you to the limits, meaning that you are never going to be able to develop your muscle growth if you are not pushing your body to the limit.

3.    Look for testimonials of former clients

Personal trainers are very proud of their work, especially if they have been able to achieve a specific target or aim that their client has set at the time of appointing them.
This means that their client is happy too, so they will be only too happy to tell you about their experience with that personal trainer, but remember that due to data protection, there could well be an unwillingness to reveal previous clients.

4.    Take a look at them

Selecting the right personal trainer is vital when it comes to wanting to achieve certain aims and targets, so if you look at your personal trainer and fail to see your target within them, they are not right for you.
This means that if you were looking to add lean muscle and increase your weight through muscle mass, you would not look to hire a personal trainer who weighs 9 stone and carries very little build to them.

5.    Highlight your aims, targets and timescale

To get the best from your personal trainer, you need to be open and honest with them, telling them as much information as you can before you hire them in order to allow them to reassure you that they can help you achieve that goal.
Obviously don’t expect things to happen within a timescale that is unrealistic but they should be aware as to where you want to be within that time frame.

Top 5 Protein Powders On The Market Today

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With the ever growing size of the health and fitness market comes new protein powders and supplements more regularly.

Below are 5 protein powders that have stood the test of time, have been around for a while and in my opinion will be around for quite some time to come;

Maximuscle Cyclone

This is an awesome 'all-in one' protein powder that blends protein, creatine, glutamine and HMB packing 60g daily servings of protein. It is however rather 'mainstream' which has led to it coming at quite a hefty price.

To read up more on this product take a look at the page from Maximuscle here

Muscletech Nitro-Tech Pro-Series

 Created by the scientifically advanced Muscletech this was hyped to be one of the best protein powders on the market.

However, I personally don't know whether it's down to people having a weird hate towards Muscletech as a company, they've run into quite a lot of crticism from 'customers'


Again the downfall to these guys is their price, but never the less a great product.

PhD Synergy Iso-7

Another great premium all-in-one product put together by the guys at PhD. One thing about this protein is that it has a rather exceptional taste (or at least I think so)

Reasonably priced also in my eyes, for a more detailed review check out the official synergy page

USN Pure Protein IGF-1

Pure Protein IGF-1 is a great tasting, high protein shake which delivers 40g of quality protein and just 3g of carbs per serving making it ideal if your looking to lose weight or gain lean muscle.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

By far the best product on the market in my eyes today, made with the best whey protein available (gold) with no 'fillers' makes this the protein that other companies are striving to catch up with

The guys over at SupplementShack.co.uk have done a great detailed Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey review.

4 Superb Home Exercise Equipment Pieces

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For many people working out at home rather than in the gym is the ideal. There are many reasons

for it, it could be to save money, to avoid long round trips or simply not to have to work out with dozens of other sweaty people!

The most common reason though is convenience. The ability to spend a spare 15 minutes working out, rather than dedicating huge blocks of the day, is a popular one. Getting the best of workouts at home means getting in the best exercise equipment.

Seeing that many of us only have limited space for equipment at home we need to ensure that what we do buy is the best we can, finding room for other equipment pieces can be hard.

Which is why I put together this list of home exercise equipment for you.

1. Rowing machine

 If you have limited space you want a work out that will require effort
from as many muscles as possible. Short of fitting a pool in your home the rowing machine
is best. It gives great cardio work outs and helps strengthen and tone a huge number of
muscle groups.

2. Bench Press

A good bench press is one that can be folded to all sorts of angles so you can
use it in many ways – from bench pressing weights to having it support your back for chest
presses or arm curls.

3. Punching Bag

Not the first thing that you think of when it comes to home exercise equipment. But it is easily stored away and easily hung when needed – and boxing can give you a massive work out in working the arms and burning calories.

4. Games Consoles

Not the first thing that comes to mind when looking to work out at home.
But with the X-Box Kinnect, not to mention things like the Wii Fit, games consoles really
can get you fit!

Swimmin' With the Dolphins

To contact us Click HERE
Happy Labor Day Weekend and End of Summer to all ourNorth American friends! Cheers to the end of Summer - we're going to miss you and all the warmth and sunshine you bring...

And until it comes around again, we'll be going by the motto, "Just keep swimmin'" :)
Even better, we'll have a chance to watch a new pet swimming, thanks to winning the Petco Betta Fish Tank from Doggies and Stuff! We'll be posting photos when we get it!

If it's Saturday, it's time for the Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop - brought to you by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume -

Nature's Logic: Sensible Dog Food

To contact us Click HERE
There is possibly nothing more frustrating these days than trying to choose a good food for your pet. So many warnings about various ingredients, and confusing advice on what to look for, can leave you baffled at best. Nature's Logic is a complete, natural, and safe (no China-imported ingredients!) pet food.
Nature’s Logic provides your pet with essential and complete nutrition for all life stages using only 100% natural ingredients. Whole foods provide pets with an abundance of naturally-occurring nutrients: Proteins, vitamins, minerals, fiber, probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, co-factors, phytonutrients, and more.

CindyLu doing the taste test

The natural synergies and increased bioavailability of these extra nutrients ensure the best possible nutrition for your pet. The company’s foods do NOT contain chemically-synthesized vitamins, minerals or other trace nutrients routinely added to other pet food. This ensures that your pet is not exposed to the potential toxicities associated with these man-made substances.

Lip-smackin' approval on this one, Mom!

Nature’s Logic Canine food is made from nutrient-dense muscle and organ meat that dogs love. Concentrates of select fruits and vegetables, highly-digestible natural eggshell calcium, and animal plasma provide all the natural vitamins, minerals, and proteins your dog needs.

"Cheese!" (Can I eat it now??)

Both CindyLu and Chester loved eating Nature's Logic (we had the chicken kibble). It was great for Chester's allergies, which had begun flaring up again after the food he'd previously been eating. Their coats are shiny and soft. CindyLu's fur isn't matting up like it has a tendency to do. They both look healthy, have solid energy, and sleep well. You can always tell when you're feeding your dog food that's good for them - everything is in balance, and so are they.

GIVEAWAY!

One Lucky Winner will Receive Nature’s Logic 100% Natural Dog Food!

• Visit Nature’s Logic - www.natureslogic.com - and select the food and flavor of the food you’d like to receive for your dog.
• Choose from a) one 4.4-lb bag dry kibble, or b) one 3-lb bag raw frozen or c) five 13.2-oz cans.
• Leave a comment below with the information. 
• Verify your entry, find additional entry opportunities, in the Rafflecopter box below.

Winner will be announced right here at the end of giveaway, notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond or new winner will be chosen. Voucher will be mailed by Nature's Logic and is redeemable at any Nature's Logic retailer.a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: We received one bag of Nature's Logic for review purposes; no other compensation was received. Opinions expressed here are our own, personal thoughts about the product.

Looking for some more great giveaways? Check out Fido's Friday Freebies (it goes all week long!) -

WORDLE WEDNESDAY

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It's Wordle "Word Cloud" Wednesday! (To participate, see the last paragraph.) I had an interesting week that involved a dinner where I had to be "on" and a dinner where I got to be "off." (Guess which one was more enjoyable.)
Yesterday, I saw my plastic surgeon for my three-week post-surgical checkup. He is pleased with my progress, and has lifted my restrictions.

Here's a short list of the stuff I can do:

• Ditch the incline and the extra pillows
• Sleep on my side
• Go shopping for a sports bra
• Wait for my surgical tape to fall off
• Resume making dinner (kinda missed that)
• Unload the dishwasher (definitely didn't miss that)
• Feed the dogs
• Reach a little farther, lift a little more, but STOP if I feel a strain on my pecs.
• See the good doc again in six weeks. (Six WHOLE WEEKS between doctor visits. Woot woot!)
• Grocery shopping — but not alone; the bags are too heavy. 

ON A SEPARATE NOTE: You may remember my post from two days ago entitled A Tale of Two Shannons. Here is an UPDATE ON SHANNON #1. She is six weeks out from her second exchange surgery and has been doing great. Her incisions are healed, her new foobs no longer hurt, she loves the look of them, and she is regaining her energy. Then Tuesday she discovered a red spot on one of her foobs. She saw her plastic surgeon yesterday. (In fact, she was in his waiting room when she responded to my post in the comments section.) Her surgeon suspects Cellulitis.

She was admitted last evening to the hospital, is hooked up to IV antibiotics, and is having surgery this morning to eradicate the infection and (hopefully) save her implant. I can't even imagine the terror she is feeling.

Of course that terror spills over into my own life and my own fears about my own healing process. As the majority of you out there in the blogosphere have experienced, once cancer strikes, all bets are off. Cancer is the ultimate game changer. We are never out of the woods. I thought Shannon #1 was out of the woods. I was hoping. But those woods, dammit, are filled with trenches and cliffs and branches straining out to grab your arm and pull you under.

Do I sound overly dramatic? Maybe. Don't care. My surgeon told me yesterday morning that I am a little paranoid. Damn straight I am! After so many surgeries to make things go right, you bet I'm paranoid that they can also go wrong. I've seen it happen to me, and those around me. I set my rose-colored glasses down long ago, along with my naivety.

UPDATE ON SHANNON #2 She is recovering from her recon re-do in her normal good-natured way: "I am in more pain than I expected but one part vicodin mixed with one part valium is a decent cocktail." That's my girl!

ON YET ANOTHER NOTE, my brilliant blogging pal ANNEMARIE of Chemo-Brain fame said something so purely honest and perfect Monday night in a #BCSM Breast Cancer Tweet Chat (which I can only participate in by reading the transcript, because I am so technologically unadvanced that I can't tweet and don't own a smart phone, but I digress.) Here are AnneMarie's pearls of wisdom:

"Cancer: The ultimate team sport and the loneliest solo journey." 

Isn't that so true? Love it. Love her. SO thankful for my BC sistahs and this online community. BTW, if you are so inclined, please send some good thoughts/energy/prayers/wishes/vibes to the two Shannons; they could both use a break right now. Thank you. xoxo

To take part in the Wednesday Wordle Challenge, go to the Wordle website, and click on "Create your own." Type in whatever words describe how you're feeling. Use commas (not spaces) to separate words or phrases. Now hit GO. It takes a few seconds for the word cloud to appear. To see a different design, click randomize (or tweak it yourself using the buttons above the word cloud). Have fun! Then post your link in the comments section so we all can share.

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High Protein Foods and Bodybuilding

Successful bodybuilding alterations to your body are only possible if you are able to combine two major factors that are required in order for your body to be able to develop.The first factor being your workout program that you undertake while at the gym and the second being the diet that you consume on a daily basis. These two factors are often disputed as to which is most important to your training program and the results that you achieve but the honest fact is that without an equal share of both, you will fail to reach the goals that you have set yourself.

High Protein Diets

Eating a high protein diet is not only for people who are looking to increase their lean muscle mass through bodybuilding, they are also very effective for anyone that is looking to lose weight, or more importantly convert excess fat into muscle. Knowing how much protein to include within your daily diet can be hard as there are no set guidelines that are written down in black and white but the general rule that has been adopted by many who undertake high protein diets is that you should look to consume 1 gram of protein for every pound of your body weight. The ‘1g per 1lb rule’ is aimed at those who are looking to simply alter their excess fat percentage and exchange it for muscle and so if you are looking to instead maximise your muscle size, you need to be eating higher proportions of protein on a daily basis.

What Foods Contain High Protein Intake

Almost everybody who claims that they are taking the high protein diet is unable to tell us what foods offer the highest level of protein, something that will not only hinder their performance but could also prove costly when they realise that they could have been taking more protein from a cheaper alternative to that they are eating in their diet already. Here is a list of foods that are high in protein and will be able to ensure that you are getting the highest level of protein that you can in one single ingredient:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Lean Meats & Beef
• Fish (all fish is high in protein: tuna fish, salmon, shrimp, etc.)
• Eggs & Egg Whites
• Beans
• Nuts
• Milk
• Supplements (powders, shakes, bars, etc.)

Although there seems to be a good number of food types within the list, there will be a number of others that are not listed and can still carry good levels of protein, so be sure to check the nutritional guidelines that will be printed on all food containers.

Lose Weight Fast

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With so many people feeling the need to improve their image and body shape, it comes as no surprise that one of the most searched weight loss terms on the internet is how to lose weight fast.

Losing weight or converting excess fat into muscle is not always about trying to lose the weight as fast as you possibly can, with many methods out there in the industry promising quick results but failing to notify you of the risks that come with their usage.

There is no secret fix to losing weight, it is simply about improving your general health and daily diet, eating enough of the right foods and avoiding those that are creating the excess fat that you are trying to lose.

You would have to have been hiding underground over the last decade to have not heard about the ‘5 a day’ push that the government are trying to encourage people just like us to undertake, ensuring that you are getting enough fruit and vegetables within our daily intake.

Although eating enough fruit and vegetables is definitely a great step in the right direction, you need to couple this with the need to exercise in order to allow your natural metabolism to begin to burn your fat stores and help to reduce the amount of ‘bad’ fat that your body is holding.

Dietary excellence along with the right exercise program is the best way in which to shed those excess pounds but these can be time consuming as well as challenging each time that you begin to lose focus.

The weight loss industry is full of weight loss aids that are readily available for you to buy openly on the market but now it seems that there has been a break through, a new revolutionary weight loss pill that combats multiple causes of body fat.

Meratol, the latest offering from Advanced Health Ltd, has hit the UK market after a hugely successful time in the US weight loss market, attracting the use of some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Hitting the shelves of Boots and SuperDrug, Meratol was soon rushing off the shelves and so the stock levels of Meratol on the high street quickly became none and now the only place to be able to buy the weight loss aid is online.

To find out about Meratol and to save as much as 30%, head to iMeratol to buy Meratol online before their stock levels follow that of the high street.