Have you noticed that some people treat rental housing with total disrespect? Whether house or apartment, some people scuff the floors and trim, poke holes in walls, break toilets and faucets, let kids write on any surface, neglect worsening problems, omit to pay the rent by due date, then blame the landlord for all problems real or imagined.
Sometimes the same type of behavior exists with car rentals, but the major companies seem to keep up with service and repairs to protect resale value after one year. Even some pretty big problems can be totally cured with car surgery.
Have you also noticed that most people, even the horrible renters, do a very good job of maintenance once they own the title and the mortgage? I'm not making this up.
Are you aware that the major health problems in "modern" countries are caused by tobacco, obesity, poor nutrition, lack of exercise? Various health agencies say that such self abuse causes at least 7 of 10 deaths through resulting chronic diseases.
In other words, the majority of us are committing slow suicide by treating our biological machines as if we are only renting, able to move into other bodies if we just place a down payment and sign a contract for some low APR. Yet news reports tell us how bad our escalating health costs are, and how they will bankrupt this country, if military or other Federal expenses don't succeed first.
Fortunately, I am not the only person who has taken heed, and changed life style to include better diet and daily moderate exercise.
The sad truth is that corrective action really is not that difficult. All we have to do is think, and be honest with ourselves. After all, "think" is not a four letter word.
While Bill Clinton was blocking his heart arteries, I was lowering my cholesterol by more than a third, merely by
reducing the fats and sugars in my diet, not with pills. The only carbs I restrict are those in refined sugars, white flour, polished rice / grains, and beer. I have moved away from a high meat and dairy diet, but I am not a vegetarian. And I never go hungry.
If you crave food between meals, snack on raw vegetables, fruits, un-salted nuts, raisins, and similar. I have found that "GORP" (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) or raisins with almonds taste extremely sweet without added sugar. The fairly small amount of unsaturated fats in the nuts will do a lot to ward off hunger.
When I realized / admitted that my muscles were pretty out of condition, I started with stretches and walking, then researched such sources as Charles Atlas, Jack La Lanne, and army calisthenics for a self regulated range of exercises which cost next to nothing, and can be done in times and places of my choice. For bad weather, I admit to having a paddle wheel exer-cycle, but brisk walking in shopping centers or other large buildings also works.
I had taken my body for granted. Now I am in better health and fitness than when I passed age 60, feel and sleep better, don't get tired so easily, feel more alert. And my weight is the same as in my mid teen years.
My two health books and numerous free articles show that taking ownership and responsibility for one's body is not that difficult. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that some health advice violates biology, chemistry, physics, or just plain common sense. If the providers of advice want you to pay for more than the basic information, be skeptical, such as for magic pills to control weight.
The rewards are simply great. Slow the aging process, resist even scary diseases, lower medical costs, and on and on.
By the way, I am not criticising vitamin and mineral pills, if not used in excess.
It nauseates me to see people running after magic pills, worthless dietary supplements, and fad diets. The truth is available on the internet if you search out good sources of information. You don't have to trust just one reference.
Let the truth make you free from health and wealth robbing magic revelations.
Why
Your Diet May Not Be Working!
by: Nishanth Reddy
Jennifer, a middle-aged single mother with one
six-year-old daughter, has been skipping sweets for a few weeks now. She’s
also become a stickler for portion control. She feels as if she’s eating
less than ever, and she’s been diligently exercising for an hour at a time
at least four days a week. Yet, she hasn’t lost a single pound. The
question is, “Why?”
This is a dilemma which affects dieters the world over.
They think they are taking the steps necessary to lose weight, but nothing
seems to be happening. In essence, they are trapped in a dieting rut and
they don’t know how to free themselves. As a result, they become
frustrated and depressed and may then engage in binge eating.
One of the problems with diets is that they are often
standardized. As a result, they don’t take into consideration your
individual physiology and metabolism. They provide a cookie-cutter
approach to weight loss—an approach which may not work in your individual
case. As a result, an increasing number of people are turning to
dieticians to formulate a person weight loss strategy for them. This
process has been made easier through the Internet, where you can
correspond with a dietician any time of the day or night via e-mail. The
dietician can also act as your personal coach, helping you through your
dieting dilemmas.
Another reason that you may be failing at your diet is
because of a lack of support. You may have family members who can eat
whatever they want and seemingly not gain a pound. As a result, they may
fill your refrigerator with junk food, leading you into temptation. Also,
you may feel as if you have no one to turn to in order to discuss your
weight problems. In order to solve this problem, many individuals look to
psychotherapists to help them with their food-related issues. This can be
particularly important if an individual has turned to purging in an effort
to combat their weight problems. Bulimia is a serious disease which must
be treated in order to ensure the good health of the patient. Thankfully,
there are a number of treatment programs throughout the U.S. specifically
focusing on bulimia.
Yet another reason for diet failure is hidden calories.
You may literally be consuming calories and not even realize it. For
instance, the frappucinos that are so popular today are loaded with
calories—as many as 600 in a single serving! You may also be indulging in
sugary sodas—another source of extra calories. By taking a few simple
steps, such as eliminating the exotic coffee drinks from your diet and
substituting skim milk for whole milk, you may be able to eliminate the
hidden calories that are denying you dieting success.
Lack of consistency can also be a diet-killer. You might
go on a diet for a while, then quit before you’ve made any measurable
progress. It’s only natural to want to see quick results. The problem is
that healthy weight loss involves losing only a couple of pounds a week.
That means you’ll have to stay on your diet for months before you see
appreciable weight loss. Discouraging? It can be, but if you keep a
positive attitude you can achieve your ideal weight.
You may also be more successful in your dieting if you
consider it to be a lifestyle change. Therefore, your diet becomes a meal
plan for life. This means that you must change the way you look at food.
It is designed to be fuel for your body, and nothing more. As a result,
you should not turn to food to make you feel better or to provide you with
a sense of comfort. A lifestyle change implies commitment; it means that
you are prepared to follow the plan for the long haul. If you feel as if
you cannot be on your diet for any appreciable length of time, perhaps
it’s time to consider a different diet. Your aim ultimately should be not
simply to lose weight, but to become healthier. A fad diet will not allow
you to reach that milestone. Therefore, you must choose your diet
carefully.