Eat The Food You Love And Lose Weight

The claim that you can eat all the foods you love and still lose weight is one that is used by most fad diets.  These phrases draw you in with the promise of losing weight without having to give anything up.  There are many hopeful dieters who take these phrases at face value, while others roll their eyes at this because it does not mean you can eat an entire pizza every day and lose weight.

If you approach dieting in the correct way then this phrase can hold true.  It is possible to lose weight while eating the foods you love not all the foods that you want.  The key to succeeding with this is to limit the amount of calories that you ingest and get enough exercise to burn off these calories before they turn into fat.

Portion control is considered the Holy Grail of weight loss because it works.  While this is easy to consider most people find portion control very difficult to execute.  We have teamed up with Eat Clean Direct and thought of a number of ways that you can help control the amount of food that you eat and they include:

• Reading the label on foods to see how much a single portion is.

• Measure your portions until you can tell how much to have.

• Avoid any buffets or all-you-can-eat establishments.

• When buying packaged foods try getting a single serving which is generally around 100 calories per pack.

• Avoid any fast foods and if you can’t avoid ordering large meals or combos even if it turns out cheaper.

• Eat a salad before your meal.

• Store your leftovers in single serving containers.

• Keep yourself from becoming too hungry by having 5 or 6 small meals throughout the say.

• Eat the foods you love, but only in half the portion size you usually would by using a smaller plate.

Your Daily Caloric Intake

In order to lose weight, you should be burning more calories than you take in.  How many calories you eat plays a large role in this.  A rule of thumb to use would be to eat 500 calories less than what you need to retain your current weight.  The calories you need to maintain your weight relate to how many calories you body is likely to burn and by ingesting less than this you ensure you burn more calories than you get.

An example of this would be a 35-year-old woman that is five feet six inches tall and who is moderately active weighing 150 pounds needs to have 2146 calories to maintain their weight.  In order to lose weight, they should take in 1646 calories each day.  There are online calculators that you can use to determine what your caloric intake should be to maintain your weight.  

Keeping Track Of Your Intake

There is no point in knowing how many calories you should be eating if you do not track what you eat.  You can use a notebook to jot down what you eat and use an online caloric calculator to determine how many calories you have eaten.  There are also mobile apps you can use to keep track of this if a notebook does not suit you.  

Online caloric calculators will also help you determine how many calories you burn when you exercise.  You should also include this in your tracking to see how many calories you still need to burn.  The most important aspect of this is to track what you are eating and how much you are eating.

Getting Exercise

Getting regular exercise will help you burn calories faster.  It is recommended that you get at least one half hour of vigorous exercise 3 to 4 times a week.  Getting this exercise is vital if you want to continue eating all of the foods that you love.  

When looking at exercise, you need to find routines that you will stick to.  If you do not like running then there is no point in making this part of your routine as you will try and avoid it as much as possible.

• This is a paid for guest post.

Acne Scars

Growing up as a teenager I always believed that my spots would miraculously disappear once I reached adulthood and I would never ever suffer from spots again and I would have beautiful clear mature skin.

But it didn't happen that way - although, I had nice clear skin in my 20's, but when I hit my mid-30s, I started to get Acne. The Acne was very sore and unsightly for approx 4 years before I'd finally conquered it. (thanks to antibiotics and a prescribe cream the doctor).  But, during those 4 year's I had some bad periods where my face would flare up and I had some pretty nasty Acne - the result, I am left with some acne scars.  Not very many, only a couple and they are mostly on my chin. No one notices them, but I do.

So what can I do about my Acne Scars - Is there a solution, is there available acne treatment?

Laser treatment for acne scars is available and can be used on any skin type, removing the need for surgery. Laser Acne Scar Removal can be used on surgical or acne scars anywhere on the body, including the face.

How does it work?

The pulses of laser light break down the scar tissue and stimulate new, healthy tissue to form in its place. It's said on the Pulse Laser website that within 2 to 3 treatments you can start to see improvements in the condition of the skin. And, the treatment should get rid of unwanted acne scars and pigmentations

You can watch the helpful video below for more details: 

So what is acne?  There are two forms: teenage acne and adult acne. Acne is a skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of the tiny hair follicles, and the glands fill with Sebum (oil) and get blocked, they then become inflamed/infected.

The cause of Acne is linked to several factors that can trigger breakouts:  

• Hormones and hormonal balance,

• Genes,

• Stress, The

• environment,

• Medication,

• Diet,

• Cosmetic products, and Allergies.

You can contact Pulse Light Clinic to book in a free consultation and patch-test, via the below contact:

email address -[email protected]
Telephone: 0207 523 5158

This is How You Can Avoid Incontinence After Pregnancy

This is How You Can Avoid Incontinence After Pregnancy

Incontinence after childbirth is a common problem, affecting as many as half of new mums in the UK every year according to the National Childcare Trust (NCT). But you don’t have to accept this as part and parcel of being a new mum.

Rarely discussed, urinary incontinence is a common problem, especially post-birth. Many women will admit to accidentally leaking urine when they cough, sneeze, laugh or when exercising too. For many women, incontinence started during pregnancy or after giving birth.

Considering that the pelvic floor muscles are placed under stress during pregnancy and can be damaged during birth, it is not surprising. However, some experts believe that women are not being given the information they need to help prevent post-birth incontinence.

Relying on women’s incontinence pads to manage incontinence during pregnancy and immediately after birth is no bad thing but if it looks like it is developing into a longer-term problem, you should seek medical help.

There are many options open to treating urinary incontinence after pregnancy and birth but prevention through knowledge is key to decreasing the possibility it happening.

Pelvic floor exercises

The pelvic floor muscle provides the ‘floor’ to your bladder and bowel. It is the muscle that we clench when we need to use the bathroom and the urge is sudden and immediate. If this muscle is not strong, it can lead to accidental leaks of urine.

There is good news, however. Like other muscles in our body, we can exercise the pelvic floor muscle and rehabilitate it after birth to help deal with urinary incontinence.

But the good news is that in many cases, incontinence after pregnancy can be avoided by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles before, during and after pregnancy.

How to exercise and strengthen your pelvic floor muscle

Before starting these exercises, if you are pregnant or recently given birth, please check with your midwife, doctor or health visitor that it is ok to do so.

Step 1 – Locate the pelvic floor muscles

Although we use it all the time, it may not be a muscle that you have needed to isolate in the past. It is the muscle that you clench to stop urine from escaping.

This is how many women’ find’ their pelvic floor muscles for the first time. The next time you urinate, clench the muscle to stop urine from flowing (don’t do this regularly as medical professionals believe it contributes to urinary tract infections).

When you clench to stop the urine, you will clench the pelvic floor muscle. Get used to how this feels as you will need to clench and release this muscle to strengthen it.

Step 2 – Practice ‘clench and release’

Now that you have located the muscles, practice clench and release. Simply clench the pelvic floor muscle and release. Do this ten times, about three times a day.

Breathe normally as you do these exercises. Repeat these exercises three times a day for a week or so.

Step 3 – Strengthen and rehabilitate the muscle

Now you have located the muscle and are comfortable doing the ‘clench and release’ exercise, the suggestion would be to move on to clenching and holding the muscle taut for a few seconds, and then releasing it.

When you clench the muscles, hold on to it for a few seconds, gradually build up the clenched hold for about 30 seconds and then release, breathing out as you do so.

You can do these exercises before you are pregnant, during pregnancy and as soon after giving birth as you can. They shouldn’t hurt – if they do, please consult your GP.

Other exercise options

As well as pelvic floor muscles, there are other options for keeping your pelvic floor in great condition during and post-pregnancy;

·       Yoga or Pilates – these two forms of exercise are perfect for women who are pregnant and new mums too. Always make sure you work with a qualified instructor and if it is a new exercise regime, check with your midwife or doctor before you start. Yoga and Pilates focus on strengthening all kinds of muscles, with the pelvic floor being one of them. Small research groups have shown that women who practice yoga benefit from fewer instances of urinary incontinence.

·       Staying active – it has also been found that generally staying active also contributes to preventing incontinence, as well as many other medical issues and problems. Watching what you eat and drinking plenty of water, as well as cutting down on caffeine and alcohol all contribute to improving urinary incontinence.

Incontinence during and after pregnancy can, in many cases, be avoided. Ask your GP or midwife for more advice.

HARTMANN Direct supply a range of women’s incontinence products suitable for use during and post-pregnancy. Offering a discreet service, they have a product that helps to manage urinary incontinence

Understanding the Difference Between Fresh & Frozen Donor Eggs

Are you struggling to get pregnant and not sure which step to take next? It may be time to explore using a frozen egg donor. Recently, there have been major technological advancements with freezing eggs. As a result, success rates of frozen egg cycles now rival some of the best fresh donor programs in the country. Facing infertility can be emotionally draining, but IVF with frozen donor eggs gives you hope by providing another chance for you to give birth to your own child. There are so many important benefits of a frozen donor egg cycle to consider when saving for donor egg costs.

Shorter Process

One of the main advantages of using frozen donor eggs is that the frozen eggs are immediately available whenever the time is right for you. Once your pre-screening is complete, it typically takes four to six weeks to prepare for your cycle. This is a huge advantage over fresh cycles where women typically wait about a year for a donor, and then can face further delays or cancellations due to the complexities of coordinating with the donor.

Less Expensive

Frozen donor egg IVF offers a more affordable option, typically at half the cost of a fresh donor IVF cycle. Additionally, reduced pricing is available when you purchase the eggs in a bundle with a treatment plan. When you are already feeling on edge about the process, it is nice to know that you have an option that will cost less.

Larger Donor Pool

Receiving frozen eggs from a national egg bank provides you with a larger pool of possible donors, unlike the fresh donor egg option which tends to be smaller and more localized.

Additionally, you can feel comfortable when choosing the donor eggs given the thorough screening process and detailed background information provided by the egg bank. Each donor undergoes an intensive medical, genetic, and psychological screening.

Guaranteed Quality

By going through the egg bank, you are guaranteed mature eggs for sperm insemination to create a viable embryo. If all eggs available in the egg lot are thawed and fertilized, the egg bank will guarantee that at least one or more normal developing embryos will be available for transfer by day 3. The egg bank offers several plans that give you peace of mind that you will be given the best tools possible for a successful pregnancy.

Less Coordination

IVF with frozen donor eggs is a much simpler process than using fresh donor eggs because you have only one person to worry about coordinating—yourself. During fresh donor egg IVF, your menstrual cycle and your donor’s cycle need to be synchronized. This can be very challenging and frustrating since you must rely on another person to do everything right in a given time frame. However, with frozen donor eggs, the number of steps are reduced because the eggs are already retrieved and ready to be fertilized. Ultimately, you will have fewer doctors’ visits, require less medication, and avoid stressing about coordinating your schedule with the donor’s. Also, frozen egg donation cycles are rarely cancelled compared to other types of fertility treatments. This is primarily due to the fact that you do not need to rely on other individuals during the process.

Consist Genetics For Future Pregnancies

Finally, by using frozen eggs, you may have the option to reserve additional eggs from the same donor when making your selection. This means that your children would have the same genetic background.

Choosing Frozen Donor Eggs

When it comes to understanding infertility, the problem can seem overwhelming. Take advantage of the benefits mentioned in this article and enroll in a frozen egg donor program today. This incredible process could be the answer you’ve been searching for.

3 ways to get the spark back into your relationship

Whether you’ve been with your partner for a few months or many years, over time you may find that your relationship starts to become a little stale. If you feel that the days are gone when your connection with your other half was fresh and exciting, you could benefit from making some changes to help revive your partnership. To get the spark back into your relationship, take a look at these three tips.

1. Tackle your sexual problems

Experiencing problems in the bedroom can put a huge strain on your relationship. If you’re worried about your performance between the sheets, you may find that you shy away from from sex. Doing so could create tension, and your partner might start to think that you no longer find them attractive. While you may go cold at the thought of having to deal with your sex-related problems, you should find comfort in knowing you’re not alone. For example, around 50 per cent of all men will suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) at some point, and although you may be embarrassed by it, treating the problem could help your relationship significantly. Viagra, which is a branded version of sildenafil citrate, is a popular and effective treatment option available to guys who suffer from ED. This particular medicine is taken before sex and can help you get and maintain an improved erection. You can get a Viagra prescription from your GP or from a qualified medical professional online. For your connection to be strong, intimacy with your other half is a must, so seeking help for your sexual issues is essential if you want to reignite the spark.

2. Be more affectionate

If you’ve been with your partner for a long time, you might be noticeably less affectionate than you were when your relationship was brand new. Over time, it’s natural for you to become comfortable and content with your significant other, however this is no reason to let your attentiveness and fondness for the other person fall by the wayside. Kisses and cuddles are simple acts of endearment that show you care, so don’t forget to remind your partner you love them through affectionate acts like this from time to time to rekindle the romance.

3. Schedule regular date nights

Whether your job requires you to work long hours or your time is taken up looking after your children, life can often get in the way of you being able to enjoy some quality time with your partner. Although you may be busy a lot of the time, scheduling regular date nights is a great way to make sure the flame doesn’t burn out between you and your other half. Whether it’s a date to the cinema, a leisurely stroll or a romantic dinner at your favourite restaurant, there are a whole host of fun activities you could do. So arrange for a babysitter, make space in your diary and schedule in some down time with your loved one.

Through making changes like these, you should find that your connection with your partner becomes stronger than ever.

Congenital Anosmia and Essential Tremours

I took this photo when we were out for a walk along the marshes with us all and the dogs.

It has been a tough year thus far with the boys being diagnosed with medical conditions. Although nothing life threatening (thank god), my two older boys have been diagnosed with medical conditions that they will have to live with every day for the rest of their lives.

It's made me feel anxious and sad, but also, grateful, but then guilty - a jumble of emotions, my head has been like a washing machine on fast spin these past few weeks, with a voice in my head hoping and praying that my boys are not in turmoil as I am. I tell myself as I am their mum, it is normal for me to overthink things, to worry uncontrollably and I am desperately trying not to overdo emotions during this time. There is a lot to think about, to take into consideration, but the boys at this point in their life don't need the added pressure of a panicked (probably over reacting) mum (what I think might be right for them, is not necessary that - not as quickly or hastily as I want to do it). They need support and love and understanding and time.

My oldest was diagnosed with Essential Tremours, he is prescribed and currently trying out different medication: beta blockers to find the one that will control his Tremours - he doesn't have to take them every day, only as and when he needs them - when he needs to suppress his tremours. He is taking them regularly at the moment to adjust to this new drug to allow his body to not react badly when taking them (sickness, dizziness etc.) all in time for his exams next month. This is so he can take one in the morning without risking the side effects for the day affecting his exam and so he can do his exams with a steady hand.  

Essential Tremours is completely benign, it is a movement disorder and it is progressive over time; he lives with shaking hands 24/7 - he doesn't notice it himself as he has grown up with it, but it does and can affect little things, for example, he can't put contact lenses in because his hands shake so much, he gave up after trying and trying, it also affects writing - and these are just some examples.  

There is no cure for Essential Tremours, it can only be controlled.

Then, my middle son, he can't smell, and last week the doctor diagnosed him with Congenital Anosmia.  There is nothing they can do for him, no medicine, no procedure or operation, it is something he will have to live with - he will never smell anything.  I had never heard of such a thing before, and was shocked and upset, he is a little more laid back about it (as he put it 'as long as I can taste I will be fine'), but I do wonder how it will affect him. I do feel he is right and I take strength from him, although he has lost one of his senses and now deprived of smelling the aroma of food, cologne and nature, etc. I think and hope that his vision and taste will compensate for not being able to smell.

There is no way to control it, no medication, it is acceptance and living with it.  It is harsh, it's not nice, and it has made me realise how much we take for granted. 

Cardiac arrhythmia

The most common type of Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) is atrial fibrillation which is otherwise known as arrhythmia absoluta. It affects about 6% of world’s population and it usually appears in people who are above 65 years of age. The condition is much more common in

 males. Based on limited data provided by You! Drugstore, it seems that atrial fibrillation is much less common for people under the age of 40.

The heart is different from the all other muscles because it has the ability to create spontaneous impulses and contractions. In a normal situation, the heart is contracted and rested in normal intervals. In case of atrial fibrillation, the chambers stop pumping blood because there is unsynchronized contraction of muscles and because of that, inflow of blood starts lagging. Due to this, there is a chance for thrombus to be created. When the heart returns to its normal working condition, this clot can go into circulation and clog arteries. Thus, certain parts of the body may become deprived of blood and all the necessary substances which it carries. Depending on the artery that is being clogged, manifestation may vary. Because of this, atrial fibrillation may lead to heart attack and stroke. Luckily, Eliquis can help us with this issue and lower the risk of stroke.

Doctors believe that a thrombus can be formed within first 48 hours after initial arrhythmia. The chambers will pump much less blood than they would do otherwise. Nevertheless, the heart will still be able to function with 25 to 30 % reduced capacity. In terms, this condition can last for years without causing any detectable heart issues. However, if a patient already has some heart problems, atrial fibrillation will quickly lead to worsening of state and appearance of heart weakness.

This condition appears in people who have ischemic heart disease, weakness of heart muscles, mitral stenosis as well as in people with thyroid issues, hypertension and pericarditis. Only in 30 % of cases, this condition will be isolated. In other words, it will not be accompanied by any other issues. Sometimes, it is very hard to determine why the disease appeared. It can also be caused by some outer things such as alcohol, insomnia and emotional stress. Fibrillation may appear during the sleep, after a large meal or while resting after a stressful period. Stimuli such as caffeine and fatigue can also provoke it.

Common symptoms of this disease are an irregular pulse, lack of air, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness and chest pain. If the heart frequency is not rapid, and patients can live with this condition for years without even noticing it. Nevertheless, if this state is diagnosed, the patient will need to take Eliquis as a way to prevent blood from coagulating. In terms, this will prevent creation of blood clots and reduce chances of stroke. A patient will need to take the medicine twice daily, according to doctor’s recommendation. Unlike most other drugs, Eliquis rarely causes any side effects. In some cases, patient may experience problems such as fainting, dizziness, constipation, confusion, headache, nosebleeds etc.

This is a guest post.

St John's Ambulance #thechokeables

As a parent one of my biggest fear is the children choking, it could be on food, or on little objects. 

But, do you know what to do if your baby does choke?

St John Ambulance, believe that everyone should have the skills and confidence to know what to do in an emergency. Knowing basic first aid can be the difference between life and death – and every week they hear of new people whose lives have been saved because someone nearby knew what to do.

40% of parents asked by SJA have witnessed their own baby choke and when almost four-fifths don’t know what to do in this situation so they have 

put together a short and effective video called The Chokeables which demonstrates how to help a choking baby. 

Featuring the voices of David Walliams, David Mitchell, Johnny Vegas and John Hurt, the celebrities take on the characters of animated objects that could potentially choke babies.

The video hopefully will help spread awareness and most importantly save lives - at just 40 seconds long, this is a must watch! What you can learn watching this short clip is invaluable.