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Health

Calphalon vs Teflon Cookware

For Mother’s Day, Ponzi and I picked up a small set of cookware for my mom - who had earlier noted that her pots and pans weren’t perfect. Mom was a bit concerned that the non-stick coating was a health hazard, and did more research with the company:

I talked to Calphalon today and the non-stick surface is different from Teflon. Teflon uses a certain chemical in their non-stick that could cause health problems. Calphalon does not use this chemical. I still have to use non metal utensils and hand wash the pots/pans but I really like all their other features. My cookware is really “Simply” but under Target’s brand is “Essentials”.

BTW, if your Everyday pan is the gray outer color (not stainless steel or enamel, etc) it should be hand washed too as the dishwasher soap could cause a “reaction” on the anodized surface. Also the Everyday is probably has a non stick inner surface too so don’t use metal on it. If you go into Calphalon’s website, there is a really good comparison chart under Products, Products Catalog, Cookware, Infused Anodized.

What kind of cookware do you use?

How do you Relieve Stress During Tax Season?

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What do you do when you’re stressed out? More importantly, what do you do when you know you have to do something that will stress you out. Here are my recommendations for dealing with stress in these situations… such as doing your taxes!

  • Wear comfortable clothes. If you are most comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt… or even your pajamas… wear them! If you are uncomfortable, it will make it much more difficult to focus on the task(s) at hand.
  • Surround yourself with favorite snacks. These will be like mini motivations. You can reward yourself with comfort foods after completing certain amounts of the work.
  • Tag-team if you can. Find a partner, so you don’t have to go it alone. It’s so much easier with someone else, than it is doing it alone. You can divvy up the work, and make it go much faster.
  • Take a break! I know that sounds like a given, but look at it this way: You get so wrapped up and focused, you forget to take a break. You think you’ll never get done if you take a break. You worry you’ll lose your “place” or motivation and not get it back. Take short breaks, do something relaxing.
  • Make a resolution. Track your data throughout the year. Most people scramble to gather all their information at the last minute when doing their taxes. Devise a system to keep track of everything through the year you may need come tax time. There are websites and software that can help you with this.

Whatever you do, try and reduce your stress levels to a minimum… whether it’s tax time or any other task. The more relaxed you are, the faster and easier the work will be completed.

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What’s the Most Painful thing You’ve ever Experienced?

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I can’t stand pain. I have a very low threshold for pain, and cannot tolerate it whatsoever. I used to be called the “Tazmanian Terror” when I had to get a shot as a kid. Matt sent in the following tips to help us all deal with pain a little better.

  • Eat lots of veggies and fruits, and drink lots of water and 100% juice. All this does is makes you healthier and stronger, and being healthy could help in suppressing pain.
  • Make yourself very observant. If you fall while jogging and skin your knee, concentrate on something else besides anything directly or indirectly associated with the pain. Maybe a nice Chysler drove by. Focus on that and take in its beauty. Before you know it, you won’t feel the pain as much, and you can walk home and treat your injury.
  • Give yourself an oblivious “on and off switch”. Even though this sounds stupid, try to be able to make yoursself oblivious to absolutely everything at any time. If you have pain, making yourself oblivious to it will help you to pretty much forget about the pain, even though it is still there.
  • Push through the pain. If you hurt yourself, pay no attention to it (unless it is a serious injury). Sometimes when I am playing soccer or football, and I get laid out, I skin my hips and bump my head, etc., and it hurts. But just stand up, brush yourself off, and keep playing. Pay no attention to the pain.
  • DO NOT BE A DRAMA QUEEN. If you sit there saying, “OMG, I think I broke my leg! I need an ambulance! Help!”, when you simply got a kick to the shin.. you are a Drama Queen. I think being a drama queen can actually intensify (for lack of better words) the phsycology of pain, tricking yourself into giving your body more pain, in turn, making it hurt more. And, when nobody pays attention to you, it could be quite embarrassing.
  • Do not take any commercially available pain killers, as they interfere with your body’s nervous system. I do take Advil when I get a headache, and I take medicine when I get a cold. However, I don’t take Advil when I have minor injuries.

What’s the most painful thing that has ever happened to you? Or, better yet, what’s the most painful thing you can imagine? Email me at chris.pirillo.com, or leave a follow-up comment to this video and let me hear your experiences.

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What Else can your Mobile Phone Do?

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Yes, you can do more than make calls and send messages with your phone. But can it do anything more than that? One viewer claims that the following are possible:

  • Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network in an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you. Keep in mind, 112 can be dialed even if your keypad is locked!
  • Have you locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. If you lock your keys In the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. This saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, but if you can reach someone who has the other ‘remote’ for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). This is something that I believe is highly suspicious.
  • Hidden Battery Power Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve, and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
  • How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone. To check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down, and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won’t get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can’t use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones. This is your IMEI number!
  • Free Directory Service for Cells Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 (or more!) for 411 information calls when they don’t have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800)FREE411, or (800) 373-3411 to get any number you need… for free. Program this into your cell phone now.

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Do you Have any Tips to Help Someone Stop Smoking?

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Smoking is an addiction that can be harmful to your health, and that of others around you. Here are some great tips sent in by a community member to help you stop smoking.

  • Establish a ‘quit day’. Establishing a day to quit can help you prepare for this event. Quitting is very difficult, and being ready mentally is important to being successful. Don’t choose a time when you know you’ll have something stressful going on at work or school. Choosing a time like this will severely decrease your chances of quitting.
  • Find medications or products to help you stop. In today’s society, it is much easier to quit than it was even ten years ago. Years of research and development have led to creating patches, gum, inhalers and even candy to help you quit. If you’re committed to quitting, some of these will really help:
    • Nicoderm CQ Patches
    • Nicorette gum
    • Nicotrol inhaler
    • Candy and/or gum

    Remember to keep these out of reach of children, as they contain controlled doses of tobacco.

  • Surviving the first week. The first week of quitting will be the hardest, since you’ll be detoxing your body. Don’t give up! Within 24 hours, you will honestly notice a difference in how much easier it is to breathe. Within the first week, your senses of smell and taste will be strengthened again. Smoking “deadens” both of those senses significantly, and smokers never even realize it until they quit. You will not only have the physical cravings while quitting, you’ll also have mental ones. You’re using to having the cigarette in your hand and mouth. Try other solutions, such as chewing gum or sucking on hard candies. Keep celery or sunflower seeds nearby. Find something you enjoy, and use that as your “crutch”.
  • Dietary changes. Since you are quitting smoking, your body will become weaker at first while you go through withdrawl. Drink plenty of water, since it cleanses your body of all the built-up toxins. Make sure to eat enough, and eat healthy… even if you don’t feel like eating. Don’t overdo it, and don’t gnosh on snacks constantly!
  • Rewards and commitment Since you are quitting, you should reward yourself! Think about all the money you will be saving! Save the money, and use it to reward yourself with something nice… such as clothes, gadgets, or a vacation! Make sure you also make a list of the reasons you are quitting, and read it often!

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Have you had Your Wisdom Teeth Removed Yet?

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Sergio writes: “I recently had my wisdom teeth removed, and wanted to share my tips on how to deal with the operation with the community. So without further adieu, here are my Top 5 Tips for dealing with Wisdom Teeth Removal.”

  • Generally speaking, the younger one is, the easier getting the procedure done will be. This doesn’t mean get it done before your baby teeth are all gone. If your dentist suggests that they should be removed, it is best to get them done at the earliest opportunity. My oral surgeon showed me my teeth when he was done, and said that the way my roots were shaped, the process would have been very difficult if I had waited until I was older to have the teeth removed.
  • When the procedure is over, your first priority is to create a clot. Your gums will be bleeding, and the oral surgeon or his/her assistant will have put gauze in the back of your mouth. It is important to clench your jaw down on the gauze, as the pressure will expedite the clotting process. You should change the gauze when you get home, and repeat the process. When removing the gauze, be sure to do so gently, so as not to remove any clotted blood from the area. This part of the process was by far the most uncomfortable for me. I had a great deal of trouble getting my gums to clot and stop bleeding. After my third round of gauze, I was still bleeding. I used moist teabags wrapped in gauze, and after about 20 minutes of clenching my jaw, the bleeding had finally stopped.
  • Eat before taking painkillers! It is very important to have a full stomach before taking painkillers, especially the strong ones you will more than likely be prescribed. Although you will be very limited as far as your diet is concerned, you must eat something. Pudding, Jello, and yogurt are good if you are really sore. You may even be able to swallow pancakes and french fries if you eat them slowly and in small pieces. Either way, be sure to eat before taking your painkillers, as this will help prevent you from getting a stomachache, feeling nauseous, or otherwise reacting negatively toward the drugs.
  • Ice like it’s your job! Ice both sides of your face on your lower and upper jaw at 20 minute intervals. Be sure to have 4 small ice packs, 2 for each side of your face. Ice for twenty minutes with 2 of the packs, the have all 4 packs n the freezer for another 20 minutes, then ice with the /other/ 2 packs for twenty minutes, then 20 minutes with both in the freezer, and so on. This ensures that every ice pack will have a full hour to freeze in between uses. Set an alarm to go off at 20 minute intervals, as it is very easy to lose track of time. As annoying as it may be, icing the first day is very important, as it prevents your cheeks from swelling to ridiculous sizes. Editor’s Note: An excellent ice pack is to take a washrag and wet it. Ring it out, and place in freezer. These are perfect for facial swelling, as the washrag will mold to the side of your face/cheek perfectly!
  • Most importantly, LISTEN TO YOUR ORAL SURGEON! Sorry to shout, but this is incredibly important. His/her advice trumps all of these tips. He or she will have much more experience than I do in these matters. For instance, he may have you icing at different intervals, or forming a clot differently, etc. It is very important that you follow all of the advice and directions given by your oral surgeon exactly. Failure to do so could result in taking longer to heal, or worse. Ask your oral surgeon for a list of instructions, and bring a legal pad and pen to the surgery. That way, you can write down the instructions if he has no documentation to give you. Most oral surgeons will, however, give you a list of written instructions.

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His name is Earl: A Lifestreaming Geek with Cerebral Palsy

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Earl Thibert, known as T-Bear to friends, is from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He is 32 years old, and has Cerebral Palsy. He is a Life streamer, via uStream. He says that his goal is to “change the world, and what people think about others who have disabilities”. He certainly has a lot of fun streaming, and is a lot of fun to chat with.

The term Cerebral Palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don’t worsen over time. Even though Cerebral Palsy affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements. The majority of children with Cerebral Palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of Cerebral Palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age. The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. A small number of children have Cerebral Palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial Meningitis or viral Encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse.

Although Earl has to face challenges due to his disability, he doesn’t let them stand in his way. He lives his life to the fullest, and he is a wonderful testament to the fact that people with disabilities should never be considered by others to be less capable than anyone else.

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Am I the Only Person not Weightlifting?

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Yes, I really did lift that 15lb weight 1000 times! Really! Don’t you believe me?? I have a top five list here from Graham to help you in your quest to lift weights.

  • Decide what kind of lifting you want to do. There is a big difference between Arnold and a competitor in the World’s Strongest Man competition. You either lift in order to bulk up, or in order to become more powerful. Lifting weights with a more manageable amount of weight will give you bigger Biceps and Pecs. Lifting heavier weight with less reps will increase the strength of yourself more than the first option. When lifting for bulk, I suggest doing more than 8 reps, something that you can do fluidly with no problems. Your lifts should have a rythem you can follow when doing them. Powerlifting should consist of around 8 reps or less of really strenuous lifts… something that requires a grunt or a large outward explosion of breath.
  • Do the correct form! I myself have made this mistake once or twice. Always try to learn the right form and execute it well. I will not go into details for each type, but most of them involve breathing properly and not using other muscles (like your back) to lift the weight unless the lift requires those muscles.
  • Don’t over-exert your self the first time… or any time! Lifting is never what you can do going in, it what you will do in a few weeks. Try to find a weight you can do and manage for your workout and maintain it. Note: Don’t feel bad or try to show off if a person around you is lifting more than you, or is bulkier then you. There are many factors to be considered with, such as body types, weight , age , ect. For example, when I was in Football we had awards for bench-press. My friend won most lifts by about 20lbs, but I won as the strongest competitor pound for pound. There are many factors to consider. Don’t dwell on shortcomings, push pass them.
  • Find a lifting buddy. It is so much easier (and safer!) if you can lift with a friend. They can spot you, encourage you, and help push you to try to do better. Try to choose a day of the week to meet and stick with it.
  • Do something. The hardest part of lifting is not the lifts themselves… it is consistency. Make a schedule for all your lifts for the week, and have backup plans in case the gym is out of order or unavailable. If you can’t hit the gym, find an alternative. Push ups are good. If I can’t use the ab machine they have at my gym because of my schedule, I have an ab routine I follow just in case at home. Something is better then nothing.

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Why Should you Drink Water?

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Joshua(XP) is a regular member in our live chat room. He knows that most of us Geeks drink a lot of soda, and wanted to share with us the reasons why we should be drinking more water.

  • Water is the best thing you can drink, because water actually replenishes your body… unlike soda. Water actually relieves any hunger cravings you might have. I found that when I drink water, I actually do not feel as hungry as I would have if I had drunk soda. Soda, on the other hand, does not fill your thirst well enough so you have to keep drinking it to feel relieved.
  • Before you go to sleep, always drink a glass of water or two in order to make you fall asleep faster and wake up in a more refreshed mood. On the other hand, drinking soda contains caffeine which makes you stay awake. Drink water before you go to bed, it’s better for you and you’ll have a better night’s sleep.
  • Now that we know Spring is upon us and Summer is creeping around the corner, the outside temperatures are increasing and it’s going to get much hotter outside. I know it may be obvious to say, but many people fail to bring a bottle of water with them if they are going outside to have fun. You must understand that not bringing water (and bringing soft drinks instead) is very dangerous and potentially life threatening. Your body perspires and constantly loses water. Remember, also carry a bottle of water with you at all time… it’s a must.
  • You may have known of people that say Gatorade is a lot healthier than water. While in some ways they may be correct, they do not realize how much sugar Gatorade contains. Gatorade is made to make your body become energy-charged, and help you with physical work outs and sports training. Gatorade is not made to be consumed all the time and could actually make you gain weight over time. Drinking water does not contain sugar.
  • Since this is March and the Flu season is all around everywhere making us sick… it’s good to know that water can play a major part in your recovery from the Flu. For example, when you wake up in the morning with a dry, scratchy throat… drink hot water. This relieves any mucus that is stuck in your throat and or chest so that sore throat pain goes away much faster. Another tip for the Flu is to not drink cold water at all. Cold water irritates the throat and chest more than it can actually help. Ice, for example, is not the key to getting over your Flu, because it makes you feel colder and sicker at the same time. Just drink hot water, or eat lots of Ramen noodles.

POST UPDATE After this was posted, I received some very cool information from Dave that I wanted to pass along, as well.

Water is not only important for keeping your body hydrated, but it is also the primary compound of life. In your body, a reaction is constantly taking place in which a compound know as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is hydrolyzed by water to yield Inorganic phosphate and Adenosine diphosphate (ADP). What does this all mean? Well, the bonds that hold the phosphates together contain chemical energy which, when broken by an H2O molecule, is released. Thus, the energy released can then be stored and used by your body. Isn’t it cool!? Simply put, water is also an essential to the production of energy in your body. People often don’t realize that without water the food we eat can not be transformed into usable energy. So please, drink water!

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Sleep Tips

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Tom from England writes: “A lot of people at school in the morning arrive with their eyes half closed and are complaining of how miserable they are, so I made this top 5 list (not just for teenagers) about how to get the most out of sleep.”

  • Stick to a schedule Make sure you go to bed and wake up at more or less the same time every day, even on weekends. This will prevent interference with your ‘biological clock’, and your body will thrive on its new sleeping routine. I may also note that you will rely less and less on alarm clocks.
  • Sleep in darkness It may seem like common sense, but letting even a small amount of light into your room will severely disrupt you when you try to get to sleep. It is also good to know that when waking up in the morning, you should do so with bright lights… especially if you find it hard getting out of bed.
  • Watch what you eat and drink Going to bed on a full stomach (or an empty one) is not good. If you are having a meal, wait at least 3 hours before you go to bed. This is because your body cannot digest food well when you are asleep. It’s also the same with tea or coffee, Coca Cola etc. Caffeine takes at least 8 hours to get out of your system and can keep you awake in bed.
  • Sleep cool There is nothing worse than a hot bed. Open a window or use thinner sheets. You may feel you are lying in bed forever before you can get to sleep when your bed is like an oven.
  • Get as much sleep as possible. Sleeping for short amounts of time, such as around 6 hours, can lead to stress. A good amount is around 8 hours.

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Tips for Helping to Reduce Stress and Panic Attacks

Panic attacks and anxieties are the result of tensions, stress, and the fear of losing something. The Healthcare Industry’s hottest selling property is the anti-depressants and anti-stress drugs due to inabilities to cope with stress and fear. Almost every disease imaginable could be a relation to the condition of your mind. Various books written by ancient Indian and Chinese doctors have shown that the root cause of all diseases is stress, yet many fail to tell you that fear is the root of most stress. The books often state that simple living and following a good diet can keep most of the diseases at bay or at least prevent a flare-up.

Thus, it is extremely important to eliminate or at least bring down the stress from our everyday lives to a minimum possible level. It is possible to reduce stress from our lives by adhering to a proper exercise stress free and dietary regimes. You may wonder now what it takes to get through stress and start living a healthier life. First, it requires a strong will power and determination and/or stamina to change and lead a better lifestyle. Smoking, booze, late night parties, lack of physical exercise and high-fat diet are all responsible for increasing stress in our daily lives. In order to find a cure you can either run away from the hazardous chemicals or strike a perfect balance between them. Quit smoking, drink less, avoid late night parties, avoid loud music, and follow a proper exercise and dietary regime.

The major causes of stress are the atmosphere around you, the changes in your body and your thought process. Thus, it is equally important to change the way you think to deal with stress more effectively. It is virtually impossible to eliminate stress from our everyday lives but it is up to us whether we want to befriend stress and turn it into an advantage, or make it our worst enemy, inviting greater damage.

Check out the below mentioned points to eliminate stress-causing agents from your daily lives:

  • Financial Condition How are you faring financially? Most of the people today are stressed out because their needs are not satisfactorily met by their income. Some of them take loans in order to satisfy their needs but seldom do they foresee the repercussions of their actions. These people can shortly satisfy themselves by buying the item they desired from the loan but when it comes to returning the money, they hardly find themselves in a position to return that borrowed money. The result of all this - more stress. You must carefully plan your spending. Make budget every month allocating the money properly between what is needed and what is desired. It may look like a small thing but I promise you that it’ll go a long way in helping you reduce those panic attacks and anxiety related disorders from your everyday lives.
  • Health Condition Keep a check on your health at all times. Never let yourself get overweight or underweight. Exercise or at least walk for 10-15 minutes daily to maintain a proper blood flow in your body. Exercise greatly increases your stamina, blood flow to mind and can be extremely helpful in reducing those Panic attacks, and anxiety related disorders from your life.
  • Your Social Life One must maintain a healthy social life. After all a human beings are social animals but that does not mean that you have to be overly social. Maintain a perfect balance in your social life and the time you devote to yourself. Do not do drugs. They may look hip and it may seem to increase your stature amongst your friends but believe me they don‘t do anything of that sort. The only effect that they have is that they make your body hollow from inside. Do you know that an average cigarette contains a few hundred different chemicals? Moreover, some a few thousand would you want to take that inside you after knowing this?

Following these points will help you all go a long way in reducing the unwanted anxiety related disorders and panic attacks.

Computer Health

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With so many of us spending hours on end at our computers these days, it’s no wonder we have body pains and health issues. Here are some excellent tips to help you stay in better “computer health”.

  • Beware the strain of working 8-hour days. Eye strain, soreness, visual fatigue and headaches can all result from a computer screen set at an uncomfortable height or angle. You can avoid these 21st century work-related hazards simply by adjusting the position of your screen. When sitting comfortably and looking at the screen, your eyes should ‘land’ at the top of it. If they don’t, you’re likely to experience eye related difficulties later on. You may find it easier to re-position your chair, rather than the computer. Arrange the screen at 90 degrees to your desk, to minimize reflections from ceiling lights and/or high windows. Take regular breaks. Fatigue and stress aren’t helped by the bright light given off by computer screens. Spend at least 5 minutes every hour doing non-computer work. This will rest your eyes.
  • Stretching your ankles could ease chronic back pain. Shortened Achilles tendons can cause chronic back pain. They prevent you from walking well, putting stress on your spine. Here’s how to relax and strengthen your tendons, reducing the risk to your back. Stand 60-90cm away from a wall, facing it. Lean towards the wall, putting palms flat against it with both feet on the ground. Move one foot half the distance to the wall. Keep your other leg straight at the knee, with your heel flat on the floor. Now, bend the forward knee and both arms slowly and rhythmically. The back heel must be kept on the floor and the tail tucked in at all times. Continue for 20 seconds. Relax. Change legs and repeat ten times.
  • Avoid backache by sitting properly at your desk. Keep your feet firmly on the floor when working. Dangling legs affect your circulation, create bad posture and lead to backache.
  • Avoid computer-related hand and wrist injuries. Do this simple exercise every morning before work. Hold your arms out straight in front of you. Lift up your hands at 90 degrees, and spread your fingers. Hold for five seconds, lower, and relax. Then clench your fists, and lower your wrists at 90 degrees. Hold for five seconds, straighten, and relax. Repeat ten times, and repeat at lunchtime, just before starting work for the afternoon.
  • How leaning on a wall beats back strain and injury. This great daily exercise only takes a few minutes. It helps re-align the muscles in your back, to help undo the strains of everyday life. Stand with your back against a wall, with your feet 14-20cm (5-8 inches) away from the skirting board. Now try to flatten the small of your back against the wall, by pulling in your stomach muscles. Do not bend your knees. Hold this position for five seconds, then relax and repeat five times. Keep breathing regularly and evenly throughout.

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Tips for Keeping the Weight Off

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Anyone who has ever lost any weight will tell you that keeping it off is often harder than losing it to begin with. I am no exception. Here are some tips to help you stay fit and maintain your weight.

I know I said I was going to get back on my Gazelle at the beginning of the year. I keep getting distracted by life… and putting off the exercise. It’s something I really need to do. My weight is ok, and I’m still within my range. It doesn’t take me much time to lose five to ten pounds, thankfully. I don’t need help with motivation, I just need to set myself a schedule or goal. Wouldn’t it be easier if we made this a group effort, and make each other accountable? Hmmm. Maybe we should do this!

Here are some tips for maintaining a lean body.

  • Avoid foods with refined sugars in them, such as candy, sugared sodas, etc. These are horrible for your body.
  • Track your calories by measuring your portions, and weighing your food. You’ll know how much fuel you’re putting into your body.
  • Reduce fatty foods, such as red meat. Try to stick with chicken or fish.
  • Don’t cut fat out of your diet entirely. Your body needs fat, and especially essential fatty acids. Oil is important.
  • Eat more often throughout the day. Six smaller meals instead of three large ones tend to speed up your metabolism and satisfy you easier.
  • Increase your daily exercise. Thirty minutes per day will help, even if you’re only walking. Try to add in some type of cardio and resistance training.

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Bills to Ban Aspartame Progress in Hawaii

“Greetings from New Mexico!”

I’m not there, but that’s how the email from Stephen Fox, Managing Editor of Santa Fe Sun News, begins:

I am grateful for the broad Hawaiian support thus far for the bill to ban aspartame, the neurotoxic artificial sweetener, from human consumption or sale, which I hope will be heard soon and strongly support in the Senate Health Committee and in the House Health, and Consumer Protection and Commerce Committees. I was the main force behind this massive effort in the NM legislature in 2006 and 2007, and I can share with readers a few insights on the pitfalls and stumbling blocks that will be thrown at this legislation by corporate lobbyists representing some very evil doing corporations in the USA and in Japan which manufacture and use this poison to save a few bucks on adding real sugar as a sweetener.

I have been discussing this at length with Dr. Adrian Chang of Honolulu, the nuclear engineer and force behind the very brilliant and ultimately successful effort to stop fluoride being added to municipal water supplies, thanks to the Oahu County government’s decision to not add fluoride.

I am sure that these Hawaii bills to ban Aspartame can be passed, despite blatantly corporate-serving and corporate-lobbyist-advanced theories that all of these concerns are entirely pre-empted by the federal authorities, or that Hawaii state government would automatically be sued by manufacturers. About the worst to legislators in Hawaii that could happen if one of these bills passes and is signed by Gov. Lingle is that the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Von Eschenbach, would be forced to revoke the approval for aspartame, which should rightly have been done long ago.

This legislative passage could occur with the right help from the Medical community in Hawaii, particularly the experts in toxicology, internal medicine, pediatrics, oncology and biochemistry at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine. I encourage Hawaiians to contact whomever you consider as both ally and as impeccable and unimpeachable sources of testimony at the Medical school and in the Medical community, who can come and testify and/or write a strong letter to the Committee members.

We will generate strong letters of support from the three top mainland physicians in this regard, who are really the top leaders in the world on aspartame’s proven medical and neurodegenerative harm, and all readers of this would do well to easily google and read their articles:

HJ Roberts, Internist; Russell Blaylock, Neurosurgeon; and Ralph Walton, Psychiatry. All wrote great letters to the entire New Mexico Legislature members, and readers should take the time to google and read their articles.

The New Mexico bills were overwhelmed and eviscerated by the most vicious corporate lobbyists I have ever encountered, representing Ajinomoto of Japan, the world’s largest manufacturer of both aspartame and MSG, as well as their duped American corporate henchmen/partners-in-poisoning who use massive amounts of Aspartame, like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Altria/Kraft Corporate Services, and others. The same corporations and even more will show up in Honolulu, make no mistake, probably to include Wrigley’s Gum, all of whose products contain aspartame, which is metabolized as methanol and formaldehyde, and even more dangerous since gum releases poisons absorbed under the tongue, which go directly to the brain.

In Santa Fe in 2006 and 2007, there was a regrettable and probably avoidable strong partisan context (which we hope will prove irrelevant in Hawaii) since so much criticism was leveled at Donald Rumsfeld, aspartame progenitor when he was CEO of G.D. Searle, the patent holder, back in 1981 in one of the darkest and dirtiest chapters of the checkered history of failures at the FDA, when Rummy as part of the Reagan Transition Team, forced the appointment of a crony, Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes, as FDA Commissioner, in exchange for agreeing to approve aspartame, despite 16 years of the FDA saying no, based on the obvious and rudimentary toxic biochemistry of its metabolized components.

The first salvos against ignorance and for true consumer protection in Hawaii have very recently been fired in the news report on KHON-2, a rather conservative station and Fox Affiliate in which the predicatble professor from the Medical school basically said “a little bit doesn’t or won’t hurt you.” Of course, this is absurd: a whole lot of little bits of poison are cumulative and end up killing you, whether through cancer, heart disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.

We hope to see a Hawaii Capitol Press conference with the bills’ sponsors (Kalani English, Suzanne Chun Oakland, Mele Carroll, and Calvin Say) to illuminate the press about the medical harm done by aspartame!

I have communicated a basic letter to the editor to all of the press and all of the radio stations in Hawaii, but few have responded thus far. Nothing will really take shape, I fear, without massive press coverage, and we were able to achieve that in New Mexico, which included all of the main television stations in New Mexico.

Readers should watch the online posting of the brilliant documentary, SWEET MISERY, the DVD by a recovered victim of aspartame poisoning in Tucson, Cori Brackett, the most convincing possible communique on this subject, according to the New Mexico Senate sponsor, Jerry Ortiz y Pino.

Please let me hear from you if you have questions or want to contact your friends, family, or colleagues in Hawaii to get this done….

I don’t know how many people are still tracking my eariler Hawaii conversations, but… seems to me, this is a slightly more important (read: pressing) issue to tackle.

Be Comfortable at your Desk

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Recently, I talked about what to look for when buying a desk. I would say the number one priority should be comfort. With most of us spending large amounts of time at our desk, it is critical for our body’s health to be comfortable, and have a good grasp on ergonomics.

  • Take hourly breaks. It’s important that you take time away from the computer, so that you do not damage your eyes. Go and read a chapter of a book every so often so that your eyes can focus on something different than the glare of a computer screen. This also will cause less pain in your back from sitting in your computer chair, and stop any aches and pains that may start in your body.
  • Use any tools or features of equipment that can help to ensure comfort. For instance, if you have a keyboard with a wrist rest, then this can allow you to relax whilst typing. If you have a mouse pad with a wrist rest on it also, usually made out of a soft material, this can also come in handy.
  • Do not position your equipment out of reach. When you are finished typing and need to use the mouse, make sure it is close so you are not stretching over to grab it. It is also useful when buying a mouse to see if you are comfortable with the design such as where your thumb rests.
  • Do not use a computer whilst tired or under the influence of alcohol. With alcohol slowing down your reactions you may do something you didn’t mean to do, don’t realize or even worse… you could knock over the beer onto your keyboard. Also if you are tired, you get irritated, and you can’t perform to your best when using the computer. This will cause stress, and your work may be affected. Besides, you don’t want to cause an extra bug in that program which could be perfect with a good night’s sleep.
  • Sit upright, ensure you have enough leg room, and your feet are positioned so that they are flat on the ground. Also, make sure that your chair is at the right height, so that you can easily reach the keyboard and mouse.

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