Need Help With Motivation and Self-control

I’m 21 years old and I know weigh 210 pounds and am 5′6. Pretty much my whole life I thought I was fat. My mom had an eating disorder for many years and she’s obsessed with working out and eating the bare minimum now. My dad has struggled a little with weight but he’s a very busy business man and can’t find the time to always go to the gym. Nobody in my family is obese, weight has never been a huge issue.

My parents always told me I needed to workout, so therefore I always thought I was big. I didn’t choose the best foods to eat when I was young, but I never over ate. I was active in basketball and baseball, then P.E. in jr.high. Then during and after high school I started to party, and stopped doing sports, etc. I still was not fat. Looking back at pictures during that time, makes me so sad. I went to hawaii about 3 years ago with my family and I was so miserable there bcuz I felt like I had never been this fat and I didnt want to walk around in a bathing suit. I look at those pictures now and I kick myself big time for not flaunting what I had bcuz I had a good body, no one ever told me.

So throughout the years, I kept gradually gaining weight. I’ve developed a habit of craving food at night time. I’ve turned into a closet eater. I will go buy snacks and then hide them in my room until everyone goes to bed, then I bring them out and eat them. I don’t eat in excess in front of my family. I feel too embarrassed. I was in a bad emotionally abuse relationship from summer 2007 until pretty recently and that, according to my mom, is when I really started putting on weight. He made me feel like he could have any girl he wants, that he didn’t need me. He had a way of yelling and making me feel so ugly and worthless. But I never left. He was an alcoholic and I felt the want and need to be there to try and help him. I know it wasn’t my position and you can’t help someone that doesn’t want to help themselves. I wanted to be the first girl in his life to actually make a difference.

As the months passed, the fights progressed. He eventually started breaking things in the house (we lived together), he called me every bad name in the book, and then he started calling me fat. That was the killer for me. ANYTHING but that. I started feeling so ashamed of myself, embarassed to ever eat infront of him. I feel like I started putting on the pounds when I was with him because he beat my self esteem down so bad that I had a whole in my heart and my head. I think I turned to food because I’m not interested in drinking (my mom is also has an alcohol problem, so it turns me off), I want nothing to do with drugs, and what else is there? I didn’t know what to do for comfort or for an escape. I suppose food did that for me.

Now days, I struggle to go to the gym. I’m a member at the women only gym, Curves. Its an absolutely great program and you really have no excuse to not go. This is my 3rd time signing up, I’ve quit every other time. I usually have a good 2 weeks of eating smaller portions and better foods, drinking 4 bottles of water a day, then something always happens or a switch goes off in my brain and I stop all of it. And that is what I do NOT understand what so ever. I know that I need to lose weight, I know what I need to do, WHY can’t I do it?

I wanted to tell my whole story on here just so everyone could get a better perspective about my life and issues. I’ve never told anyone my weight or my life, so I thought maybe this could turn into a positive thing. I would love to get advice on how to help myself, motivate myself, anything at all.

Thank you very much for reading

Need Good Skin?

Good skin means good skin care. No matter what your complexion is like at the moment you too can have good skin if you follow a regular skin care routine that is compatible with the type of skin that you have. But, what constitutes a good skin care routine?

Good skin care involves the use of five skin care products, the first of these being a water-soluble cleanser. This should be used every day to deep clean your pores, freeing them of grime and sweat.

Secondly, you’ll need an exfoliating product. This gently removes dead skin cells from any type of skin, whether dry or oily, revealing smoother more supple skin cells beneath. Exfoliating products which consist of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) are best.

For people with spots or blemishes the third product should be a disinfectant toner, such as a toner containing the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide or benzoyl peroxide. Those without blemishes should just use an irritant-free toner. Skin toners protect the pores that you have just cleansed and help to prevent them from becoming infected.

The last two elements needed for good skin care are often combined into one product. A moisturiser or foundation containing a sunscreen of SPF 15 restores your skin’s suppleness and provides protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays, the affects of which are known to accelerate the ageing process.

Why Protein Is Not a Bodybuilders Best Friend

Protein is a wonderful thing for your body, it helps you build lean muscle and helps build muscle strength, but protein isn’t a one man show, it needs help, by itself it won’t do your body much good. In order for your body to fully utilize the protein, you need to take in a balanced number of carbohydrates. Only with the carbohydrates can your body use the protein to it’s full extent.

There are many protein drinks, protein bars, protein cereals and a score of other protein things on the market and you will buy them and continue to buy them with no effect until you get frustrated and quit, unless you also take in your fair share of carbohydrates. Without the help of the carbohydrates, you can eat all the protein you want and you will still feel weak and listless because that wonderful and expensive protein is going right through your body without doing you any good at all.

The key to good nutrition is to eat in moderation. Eat your protein, but make sure you eat an equal amount of carbohydrates so you can effectively use the protein you ate. Carbohydrates will also give you the energy you would otherwise lack. If you do utilize the protein drinks and bars on the market, realize that they are likely to be filled with all sorts of things such as artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners can trick your body into thinking it has taken in sugar and it will act accordingly, use these in a pinch, but don’t substitute good, real nutrition for manufactured food substitute. Your best bet will always be to eat natural proteins such as is found in lean meat, nuts, beans, and other natural foods. Again, measure your protein intake by your carbohydrate intake; don’t have more of one than the other.

Body building is much more about good nutrition rather limiting yourself to an excess of one type of food. Supplements that artificially purge your body or build your body will eventually also be your undoing. There are plenty of unnatural ways available to build your body and for a while you will look healthy and strong, but time will tell the difference. You can build a house of cards that looks substantial from the outside, but if it has no inner support, it will be only a matter of time before it falls.

Your eating habits also very important. Eating small amounts at two to three hour intervals are much better than eating large meals four or more hours apart. Eat often and exercise just as often eat smart and eat healthy, that is how you build a lean, muscled, healthy body.

Stop Hair Loss Today Before It Is Too Late

If you’re losing your hair, there may be many reasons other than the ‘natural’ ones. Stress in a multitude of forms can cause hair loss. Stress hits everyone at some time or another through finances, pregnancies, child birth, the death of someone close, disease, job problems, divorce, argumentative situations, etc. The good thing is that stress related hair loss often reverses itself when the stress has been gone for a time. Surgery is a type of stress also and in being such it can be responsible for hair loss, it too will restore after a period of time. A way to speed up the restoration process is upping your amount of exercise, this will help relieve symptoms of stress and help you recover quicker. Massage will often help in that area in addition to relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow to all organs including your hair follicles.

Drugs can also have an effect on your possibility of hair loss, many acne drugs are very good at promoting hair loss while performing their other activities. Viagra may make you happy in other areas but your hair on top of your head may not be as appreciative. Drugs that actively affect such things as moods and emotions are apt to cause hair loss as are acid reducers, cholesterol reducers, heart pills, anti-inflammatory drugs and a whole host of others.

Many of these drugs and situations you cannot help or stop so the best way to reduce their effect is to get plenty of exercise, but also relax, or get a massage. Look for hair treatments that contain Saw Palmetto (which isn’t hard to find) or stinging nettle. Stinging nettle is packed full of vitamins and it shares the ability to block production of DHT with Saw Palmetto.

Bye Bye Bacne

With Mardi Gras and spring break fast approaching, you might be heading to a warmer climate where a shirt is optional attire. To prepare for this you might be putting in some extra hours at the gym, maybe going to a tanning salon, even waxing some not often seen parts of your body.
Before you go on your trip, put on a swim suit, or take your shirt off you might want to look over your shoulder to check out your back for any pimples, black heads, or white heads. You know “bacne”.

Back acne or “bacne” is not just a problem for the “tween” and teen crowd; many adults find that they too are suffering from a blemished back. A lot of people are dealing with this problem that was once thought of as a pubescent problem, but, they don’t know what causes their back(s) to break out. Sadly, there really isn’t a clear answer- no pun intended.

Dermatologist and doctors generally agree that acne ‘pops up’ during puberty because the sebaceous gland kicks on and starts to produce sebum. Sebum is a waxy or oily matter that lubricates your skin and hair. When the body over produces sebum it can clog up your pores and hair follicles attracting bacteria causing your skin to break out.

While we still don’t know why adult’s (whose sebaceous glands should have regulated itself) bodies break out. We do know some ways to treat your break outs once it happens. Below you will find some tips recommended to treat your unsightly back break outs:

* Shower daily and use an exfoliating body wash when you shower, by exfoliating daily you are removing dead skin and unclogging your pores. As we discussed earlier clogged pores attract bacteria and cause acne. This is an easy, inexpensive way to treat your “bacne”.

* You can use salt scrubs or sugar scrubs on a weekly basis. These scrubs act as an exfoliate, but shouldn’t be used every day. Exfoliating too much can cause your skin to become red, blotchy and irritated. A sugar scrub is a little softer to the skin than the salt scrub, if you have sensitive skin try the sugar scrub.

* Sometimes the most obvious is the most elusive- a face wash or scrub specifically designed to treat acne can be used on your back as well. Think about it, if it works on your face, why wouldn’t it work on your back?

*Because acne can be caused by your body producing too much sebum all the washing, face scrubs, and exfoliating might not help. If you have tried at home remedies you might want to call your doctor or dermatologist and ask for a prescription for a topical gel that uses something like Benzamycin or peroxide.
You might not want to start using one of these products right before you head to a sunny beach for spring break. They can make your skin more vulnerable to sun burn, so talk to your doctor and weigh your options before you start using a prescribed product.

Remember “bacne” is something that tweens, teens, and adults have to deal with. Be aware of what’s going on over your shoulder, make the necessary adjustments and you too will be able to shamelessly shed your shirt.

Easy Ways To Reduce Split Ends

If you have hair that is longer than just a few inches, you probably have had to deal with split ends. If you are using a good quality hydrating shampoo and conditioner, this will go a long ways towards helping you defeat split ends. There are also deep hydrating treatments that stay on your hair for about three minutes before washing out. They tend to protect your hair from heat damage and sun damage, if you use one of these treatments once a month you will reduce the chances of split ends even more.

Brand loyalty is nice but you don’t have to have it, there are actually many brands out there that have very good quality hydrating shampoos and conditioner, switching back and forth between them will actually benefit your hair, reduce the chance of build up and also reduce the chance of dandruff.

Be careful in combing your hair, if you have to tug on it, you’re likely to be damaging it. Wet hair stretches more than dry hair and is easier to damage but some products make combing out wet hair easier than dry. There are all sorts of theories regarding what combs or brushes to use on your hair. Your type of hair will have an effect on which type of comb or brush you use with the greatest success so in this area, try different options and use the one that works for you.

Getting Great Skin The Natural Way

There are a plethora of creams, oils, notions and potions out there available to help make your skin look healthy, moist and young. All of them have all sorts of ingredients, some that can help your skin and some that can harm. But there are natural ways to help your skin and they tend to cost much less than their chemical laced replacements.

First of all, if you have unhealthy skin, take a look at your diet. Your diet will have a strong effect on the health of your skin. If your skin is in poor shape, your diet is probably just as poor. Change your diet to reflect a healthier way of eating.

If you want a good replacement for your night cream that won’t cost you a fraction as much, take a lime, squeeze it into a bowl and add a glass of boiled whole milk and a teaspoon of glycerin. Let it sit for half an hour after stirring, then apply it to your face, hands and feet before retiring to your bed. This will also help to cure pimples.

Have dry rough skin? Take a shower and exfoliate it, then take the yoke of an egg, mix in a few drops of lime juice and extra virgin olive oil. Spread it on your face and leave it until it feels dry. Wash it off with ordinary water and then splash on cold water.

There are many natural remedies you can use for your skin, you have but to research the subject.

Antioxidants In Your Skin Cream?

When shopping for skin cream, it is important to know exactly what you are looking for, don’t take a sales person’s advice, their job is to sell you something that is on their shelves, their responsibility ends at that point. In order for your skin to fight off cell damage, you will need to supply it with antioxidants. You can do that through the food you eat, the supplements you take and through the cream you put on.

Your cream should have certain ingredients in them and a dearth of other un-needed ingredients. CoenzymeQ10 is found in every living cell throughout your body. It is responsible for providing energy and effective functionality; your cells cannot do their job and survive without this substance. Nanobelle CoenzymeQ10 is a nano-emulsion version of this nutrient. It penetrates deep into skin cells in order to fight free radical damage. It can also help to elevate production of collagen and elastin protein. Avocado oil is a fantastic anti-oxidant that contains many vitamins in addition to both omega 3 and 9 fatty acids. This means it can deeply moisturize and hydrate skin, improving its health. It is also known to increase soluble collagen within your dermal layer which lies below your epidermal layer (your outer skin layer). Jajoba oil is also packed with anti-oxidants and helps to minimize oxidation. There are many other very helpful ingredients and in order to find out all of them, research is a good idea.

What Is Anemia?

Anemia is the most common blood disorder, and according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it affects more than 3 million Americans.

Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that attaches to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to tissues throughout the body. Anemia occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells or when your red blood cells do not function properly. It is diagnosed when a blood test shows a hemoglobin value of less than 13.5 gm/dl in a man or less than 12.0 gm/dl in a woman. Normal values for children vary with age.

When you have anemia, your body lacks oxygen, so you may feel tired or weak. Other symptoms might include:

* Shortness of breath
* Dizziness
* Fast or irregular heartbeat
* Pounding or “whooshing” in your ears
* Headache
* Cold hands or feet
* Pale or yellow skin
* Chest pain

Many people are at risk for anemia because of poor diet, intestinal disorders, chronic diseases, infections, and other conditions. Women who are menstruating or pregnant and people with chronic medical conditions are most at risk for this disease. The risk of anemia increases as people grow older. People who engage in vigorous athletic activities, such as jogging or basketball, may develop anemia as a result of red blood cells breaking down in the bloodstream.

Some common types of anemia are:

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It happens when you do not have enough iron in your body. Iron deficiency is usually due to blood loss but may occasionally be due to poor absorption of iron. Pregnancy and childbirth consume a great deal of iron and thus can result in pregnancy-related anemia. People who have had gastric bypass surgery for weight loss or other reasons may also be iron deficient due to poor absorption.

Vitamin-deficiency anemia may result from low levels of vitamin B12 or folate (folic acid), usually due to poor dietary intake. Pernicious anemia is a condition in which vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.

Aplastic anemia is a rare form of anemia that occurs when the body stops making enough red blood cells. Common causes include viral infections, exposure to toxic chemicals, drugs, and autoimmune diseases. Idiopathic aplastic anemia is the term used when the reason for low red blood cell production is not known.

Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are broken up in the bloodstream or in the spleen. Hemolytic anemia may be due to mechanical causes (leaky heart valves or aneurysms), infections, autoimmune disorders, or congenital abnormalities in the red blood cell. Inherited abnormalities may affect the hemoglobin or the red blood cell structure or function. Examples of inherited hemolytic anemias include some types of thalassemia and low levels of enzymes such as glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. The treatment will depend on the cause.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited hemolytic anemia in which the hemoglobin protein is abnormal, causing the red blood cells to be rigid and clog the circulation because they are unable to flow through small blood vessels.

Anemia caused by other diseases – Some diseases can affect the body’s ability to make red blood cells. For example, some patients with kidney disease develop anemia because the kidneys are not making enough of the hormone erythropoietin to signal the bone marrow to make new or more red blood cells. Chemotherapy used to treat various cancers often impairs the body’s ability to make new red blood cells, and anemia often results from this treatment.

What are Pilates?

Pilates have made a great addition to a healthy life as well as fitness routines. You will find many people taking advantage of Pilates, these types of people can vary greatly and they actually do range from professional athletes all the way to professional dancers. Let’s take a minute to take a more in-depth look at Pilates and how it has benefited the lives of many people.

Pilates are backed by a rich history that dates a long ways back.

The history Pilates dates all the way back to the World War I, where injured soldiers actually benefited from Pilates. This is when Joseph Pilates introduced the Pilates method. Joseph Pilates also authored 2 books that were based on Pilates. These books were made available in the 1920s. As you can see, the history behind Pilates is enormous and the usage of Pilates around the world continues to increase rapidly. With that many accomplishments, Pilates is definitely a great exercise regimen to add to your fitness routine.

What does Pilates do that makes it so good to incorporate into one’s lifestyle?

Pilates actually makes its users to think about their posture and how things are done daily. Let’s face it, in today’s world, many people actually find themselves having a bad posture. When this happens, our muscle can become weak. Weak muscles will end up playing a part on the other muscles within our body. With that said, the smaller muscles are looked at as the target which needs to be strengthened. Think about it, our larger muscles needs to have strong smaller muscles to provide them with solid support. With Pilates, this is achieved.

Will Pilates help one lose weight?

Pilates isn’t the miracle exercise that you can take up in order to lose weight. Let’s think about it, weight loss has many things that play a part in achieving weight loss success. What you eat, what you do, and many other things are what it takes in order to lose weight successfully. You need other methods to throw in their benefits in order to win. Don’t get it wrong, Pilates are a great addition to your weight loss action plan.

When it comes to Pilates, there are many great benefits that you can reap from this great exercise regimen. The history is strong and the results are great. What more can you ask for from just one simple exercise addition?