Archive for January, 2008

The Most Overused Word in Technical Marketing

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

By Wendy Gibson Take a guess? Collaboration, Proven, Open, Scalable, etc.? Nope. Solution is the most overused word today in marketing technology products. Why? Ive identified two main reasons which Ill describe later. However, Ill be the first to say that I have contributed to the solution epidemic. Additionally, Ive actively marketed a product with the word solutions in its product name (Sabre Business Travel Solutions), and have referred to my companys products as solutions as well. However, a couple of years ago when I received a press release from a new partner and realized that solution/s was mentioned 17 times, I diagnosed this epidemic and I began my research. The Two Main Reasons for the Solution Epidemic: 1) Lack of Knowledge and Understanding My first diagnosis is that technical marketing personnel either dont fully understand the technology or cannot succinctly articulate their products or services. So, instead they refer to their products as solutions. They have not done justice and many times missed the opportunity to explain to their readers (mainly prospects, customers and media) what the product is and does. It is hard enough to get your products in front of your target market, so why blow it when you get there? Tell your readers exactly what you have. Heres an example: One of the largest ERPs in the world recently launched a new product with the word Solutions in the name. The reason why I sat down and wrote this article was because I needed to know basic information about this product in terms of what it actually does. I read all the available marketing material (e.g., Web site content, marketing collateral, presentation with notes, etc.) on this new solution. Im still scratching my head on what it does (and Im not alone). The word solution is used so many times that Im thinking they dont know what the product does either. Nonetheless, get smart about your products and services. Call it an application, system, tool, or something instead of solution. Ask a lot of questions until you have the knowledge and can incorporate it into your marketing messaging and materials. As with my ERP example, if the product seems to have no direction, then help define one. If its comprised of multiple functional pieces then explain that so the reader understands what it includes. Sharpen your knowledge and gain a better understanding of your products versus taking the easy way out and using solution to describe your product. Which brings me to the second reason we are lazy. 2) Laziness Yes, we are all lazy. Our peers in Biotech marketing need to work a lot harder than us in order to communicate their products. They just cant continue to say that their biotech solutions will revolutionize the way medical science will evolve. In many cases, they have to define the science and then be able to communicate what their technology does. If we are on staff or hired consultants/marketing firm, it is our job to help convey who the company is and what their products and services do. And, Im telling you that by using the word solutions early on in your descriptions and key messages youre not working hard enough. Also, dont type the word solution and then click on your Thesaurus and try and find a similar word. You will have to get smart and work hard to eliminate solutions from your marketing literature. When should you use the word Solutions? Ok, by now you may be pulling out your marketing material and circling the number of times the word solution appears. There are times when it is ok to use the word solution. When you refer to your competition, use the word solution instead of naming their product. You know the old PR rule; never mention your competition by name in an interview with the media, etc. You dont want to give them any free publicity. You need to follow this as well in your writing. If youve done an excellent job at explaining your products upfront and created a strong visual with the reader, he or she can identify what you offer. Then you can throw in a casual solution to assist you in summarizing your offerings. Since I diagnosed what I call the solution epidemic, Ive shared it with my peers and staff. The goal was to heighten awareness of this epidemic and help out a fellow marketing peer avoid this trap. Bottom line, as technical marketing experts we have a responsibility to communicate what our product is and does early and often. If we can successfully explain what our product is, how it benefits the customer and answer questions regarding its features within our array of marketing material, we will differentiate ourselves from the competition and ultimately lead to more sales. Which is the reason why we have marketing positions, right? Wendy Gibson is the Chief Operating Officer for Skywire Software. As COO, Gibson is responsible for all marketing activities, HR, and strategic planning for Skywire Software and its affiliates. Gibson has also assisted with Skywire Softwares six acquisitions to accelerate the companys growth. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Gibson http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Most-Overused-Word-in-Technical-Marketing&id=102530 phentermine with no prescription required low cost phentermine no prescription buy adipex phentermine phentermine with no prescription required

Here Comes The (Skinny) Bride

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

By Tracie Johanson In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s now officially spring! Kids are enjoying Spring Break from school, the birds are starting to sing, flowers are pushing up through the earth, and everything is wonderful…..unless you’re one of the thousands of women planning a spring wedding! Spring / early summer is the most popular time for weddings. But no matter when you’re planning your wedding, the stress can be overwhelming! The average cost of a wedding in The United States is over $22,000. About $7,630 of that is spent on the wedding reception (source: American Wedding Study, 2002). From increasing costs to angry relatives to the never-ending guest list, a wedding brings stress and frustration for the bride. Unfortunately, we often resort to binge eating and ‘comfort foods’ during times of stress, which of course puts on the pounds and creates even more stress! “I bought WHAT size wedding dress?!?!?” Approximately 7 out of every 10 brides crash diet or starve prior to their wedding date (source: www.fresnoweddings.net). Fitness experts know that CRASH DIETS AND STARVATION DIETS ARE THE WORST THING WE CAN DO! “If you crash-diet, you run the risk of comprising your health … so that your hair, skin, nails don’t look good for your big day or in the wedding pictures. If you want to lose weight before your wedding, look for a balanced eating plan” (source: Suzanne Henson, coordinator of the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s EatRight Weight Management Program). So what’s a blushing bride to do if she has only six weeks until her wedding, and the stress is building up faster than the potluck table at church? There is hope….. First of all, START EXERCISING NOW. It’s crunch time, and while the old 30-minutes per day, 3 times per week may work for the general public it’s probably not enough for the bride. Shoot for 30-minutes per day, six days per week. Be sure to include both cardio and resistance training so you’ll get some muscle tone while you’re burning fat. Second, banish all high-fat junk food from the house. Be strong! You can do this! No Twinkies, no bacon, no chocolate cream pie. Eat plenty of lean protein (skinless chicken breast, fish, etc.) and absolutely PIG OUT on fresh vegetables! Drink plenty of water, and in all cases avoid the empty calories found in soda, alcohol and that sweet kids juice. Finally, be wary of the weight-loss ‘tricks’ that you’ll hear from your girlfriends. There is no magic pill that will make you a size 6 by the wedding, so don’t experiment. Don’t starve yourself because that will make you grumpy, make you retain fat, eliminate muscle tone, and set you up for failure. Don’t listen to the gossip about the newest ‘cabbage diet’ or ‘grapefruit diet’ or ‘Hollywood diet’. Instead, stick with a balanced diet and exercise…..this is the ONLY proven way to lose fat and look your best. Two more bits of advice for the bride: Eat breakfast the morning of your wedding day - 8 out of every 10 brides don’t eat breakfast (source: www.fresnoweddings.net) which will only make you miserable and weak during the reception! Most importantly, remember that he knew exactly what you looked like when he proposed to you, and he still proposed! He loves you the way you are, and all these fears about size and weight and unfounded anyway! Relax, enjoy yourself, and make the lifestyle changes that will bring results. Have a great wedding! * Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com. * The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit http://www.letspickupthepace.com for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracie_Johanson http://EzineArticles.com/?Here-Comes-The-(Skinny)-Bride&id=83793 is it legal to buy phentermine online buy phentermine master card phentermine out prescription cheapest phentermine without prescription

Personal Loans: Fulfill Your Dream of Life

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dinesh_Gupta]Dinesh Gupta Personal loans are loans that can help you satisfy your needs. If you have a family, then your requirements are never ending. You can take out a loan to buy a car, purchase a house, pay for a holiday trip, finance your childs education, and so on. Because of a stiff competition among lenders, personal loans are now available at very low rates of interest. Personal loans literally mould themselves to reconcile with the financial needs of different people. Personal loans are offered by banks, building societies and private lenders. Personal loans are of two types - secured personal loans and unsecured personal loans. To obtain secured personal loans, you must own some kind of asset to put up as collateral. Since these loans are secured against property, they carry low rates of interest. Secured loans are very helpful to people who have a bad credit history. On the other hand, there is no need to offer a security in case of unsecured loans. Unsecured loans mainly benefit tenants and those who live with their parents. The amount of secured personal loans ranges between 5,000 and 50,000, while the amount of unsecured personal loans ranges between 5000 and 20,000. In the present scenario, personal loans are very popular among the UK residents. You can take out loans for home improvement, wedding, debt consolidation, etc. These loans are easily available and you can get them whenever you need. A bad credit personal loan not only provides finance but also gives you an opportunity to improve your credit. Lenders offer several personal loan options to meet the needs of different borrowers. To take advantage of the rise in popularity of personal loans, lenders have come up with a number of personal loan schemes. Online personal loans allow you to obtain a loan over the internet from the comfort of your home. There are many lenders who offer online personal loans through their websites in which they mention all terms and conditions related to their rate of interest, amount, loan period, and so on. They even help you calculate the amount of monthly installments that you will have to pay. The internet can help you find a loan that gives you the benefits of a low rate of interest, small amount of monthly installments and flexible repayment terms. The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Shakespeare Finance as a finance specialist.fro more information visit our site http://www.shakespearefinance.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dinesh_Gupta http://EzineArticles.com/?Personal-Loans:-Fulfill-Your-Dream-of-Life&id=147653 order phentermine on line cheap phentermine pills cheapest phentermine pharmacy net buy phentermine hydrochloride

Special Needs Summer Camp

Monday, January 28th, 2008

By Jennifer Bailey Summer camps are organized to provide children with a chance to develop new skills and to socialize. Most of the institutions provide a variety of summer camps that cater to the needs of children. Special summer camps are categorized according to the skills to be taught. Residential summer camps for children help them learn to interact with a group and improve interpersonal relationships. There are camps that are held just for a day and there are some that continue for days. Some of the camps offer transport facilities to the place where they are conducted. Some special needs summer camps specifically cater to children with special needs. The needs could differ according to the disability of the child, whether physical or mental. They also offer speech therapy and occupational therapy if required. Most of such special needs summer camps have a counselor attached to them. The counselor also helps in counseling parents whenever necessary. Camps sometimes integrate normal and special children to enable them to interact with each other. Certain special need camps are held for various needs such as those for people suffering with diabetes. The advantage for a diabetic to go for such a camp would be that such a person would relate well with a fellow diabetic. By sharing their problems they would feel mentally content to know that there are others with similar difficulties. Camps are arranged for normal children of different age groups too. The activities often include things like hiking or mastering some special arts such as pottery. There are special needs summer camps of therapeutic value for families too. They are a respite for the whole family from the stress brought on by routine life. The cost incurred for a camp could vary depending upon the kind of camp opted for. The residential camps are more expensive than the day camps as food and lodging arrangements are also included. The list of rates and choices provided by various camps can help in deciding which camp to join. Kids Summer Camps provides detailed information on Kids Summer Camps, Traditional Kids Summer Camps, Kid Summer Camp Games, Kids Summer Day Camps and more. Kids Summer Camps is affiliated with US Sports Camps. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Bailey http://EzineArticles.com/?Special-Needs-Summer-Camp&id=410072 buy phentermine no prescription required phentermine canada pharmacy phentermine online sales phentermine with prescription

Planning Colors for Your Wedding: Wedding Dresses, Flowers, and More

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

By Chris Robertson Dreaming about your wedding is one thing; planning it is another. From wedding dresses to cakes and tuxedos to flowers - every aspect of your wedding must be carefully planned to “fall in place” on the big day! If you’ve been to one wedding or several, you probably realize the importance of wedding colors. Everything about the wedding is planned according the colors the bride chooses. So, here’s a quick guide to help you plan your wedding colors. Choose the Right Colors for Your Wedding Dresses Many brides use their favorite colors for their wedding dresses - pink, red, fuchsia, burgundy, plum, mauve, purple, or blue. But before you choose colors, see if you can’t find some photos of various weddings from the past. Look at a variety of color patterns and combinations before making your choice. You might find colors that you like much better than your usual favorites. Consider how the colors of your wedding dresses will look with other colorful items once it is all put together for the big wedding day. The bridesmaid dresses will be matched with flowers, tuxedos, mother of the bride dresses, flower girl dresses, accessories, and even the reception decor. Wedding Dresses with a Touch of Color A growing trend is to add a touch of color to the bride’s wedding gown. This is perfect for the bride who wants more than the traditional wedding gown. Some brides have color sprinkled throughout their wedding gown with embroidery. The gorgeous embroidery patterns come to life on the wedding dress when color highlights are added. These are usually available in a variety of colors painted on an ivory white wedding gown. Test Wedding Color Combinations Don’t be afraid to match unusual colors before making your choice. Some color combinations might surprise you. For example, not many would choose bright peach, bright yellow and white, but these are actually beautiful when coordinated together in wedding flower arrangements with yellow dresses! Try out a variety of combinations to find the right wedding colors for you. Choose Colors that Complement You It’s your special day. Choose colors that complement your hair and skin tone. You’ll want colors that make you look wonderful on your wedding day. If you normally look great in red, then you’ll probably look fantastic amidst red decor and red bridesmaid dresses. Maybe you can even add some red embroidery colors to your wedding gown. Whatever color suits you should work fine for the wedding. Other Considerations Other things to consider before choosing your wedding colors include the colors of the church or building where the wedding will be held as well as the reception hall, the types of flowers available for that time of year (if using real ones), and the availability of wedding dresses in those colors. Once you choose colors for your wedding dresses and flowers, you’re ready to start planning the wedding. To save time, you can find a wide variety of wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and even prom dresses online. Be sure to choose the colors you love. After all, it is your special day! Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.Learn more about Plan Your Wedding Colors or Majon’s Clothing for Women directory. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson http://EzineArticles.com/?Planning-Colors-for-Your-Wedding:–Wedding-Dresses,-Flowers,-and-More&id=416740 no prescription for phentermine buy herbal phentermine buy phentermine overnight phentermine pills without prescription

5 Tips on Establishing Yourself As An Expert In Your Community

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

By Nancy Heimstra Wondering how to get new patients into your practice? Wondering how to distinguish yourself as unique from the other practitioners in your community? Here are 5 surefire ways to get visibility in your area. 5 Tips on Establishing Yourself As An Expert In Your Community 1. Get to know your community. In my county there are two very large retirement communities. There is a lake with an association. I am in Southern California, so the beach is close. There are sailing clubs and surfing clubs. There are athletic clubs. From the list you generate, find what excites you. What could you write about and speak about with enthusiasm? Every one of those choices has a very specific niche that could be targeted. 2. Take this information and create a written report. What would your target audience like to hear about? The retirement community would love to hear about arthritis research, or new facts regarding longevity. Dont get too technical, but do not assume your audience does not know anything about the subject. My father had sciatic problems and knew all the latest research from doing internet searches. Make it interesting and very specific for your target audience. 3. Contact the appropriate organization. If your audience is the surfing community, find all the clubs and associations having to do with surfing. Find out if they have a newsletter and submit your article. Inquire about writing a column. You do not have to make your article or report lengthy. Appeal to the mindset and really think about what problems they might have and offer a solution. Establish yourself as the person to go to with xxxxx problem. You are the expert! You are familiar with the problem and you have a solution. 4. Take your article or report and turn it into a presentation. There are so many opportunities everywhere to do public speaking. There are clubs and associations that are begging for speakers. Does the organization you submitted your article to have meetings that have guest speakers? Do not limit yourself to thinking you have to do the standard Basic Chiropractic 101 speech. You do not have to educate them about chiropractic. You are there to establish yourself as the expert in your niche. 5. Contact your local newspaper and send out a press release. Let the paper know where you are doing your presentations. This is another way to raise your level of expertise in your community. *Remember that all of these are designed to establish yourself as a credible expert in your field. Your intention is to attract patients by planting seeds. They may not have the specific problem you are addressing at that moment, but if they should, they will have your card and remember you as the one with the expertise.* Call now for a business consultation session valued at $100.00. Learn how coaching can jump start your practice!Nancy Heimstra, D.C., Life Coach949-595-4341 Get my free e-booklet on how to create change. Go to www.newneuralnets.com and pick up your free copy now!Dr. Nancy Heimstra is a mentor, Certified Comprehensive Coach, author and speaker. She loves teaching her clients how to connect with their authentic self and thrive in the world while honoring their essence and moving ahead fearlessly by taking inspired action! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Heimstra http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Tips-on-Establishing-Yourself-As-An-Expert-In-Your-Community&id=51276 phentermine 30mg no prescription phentermine w o prescription buy phentermine with out a prescription classic pharmacy phentermine

A Review of an Accredited Online Degree From Capella University

Friday, January 25th, 2008

By Nic Haffner The possibility of taking Online degree programs have been one of the biggest direct changes in education due to the internet. It is easy and convenient for working adults to be able to take courses without having to fit classes around their busy schedules or commute to campus. One of the more popular accredited online degree programs is offered by Capella University. This school was founded in 1993 and got its accreditation in 1997. After it was accredited, it changed its name and established five schools: Human Sciences, Technology, Education, Psychology and Business. The school’s headquarter is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Within these five schools, there are about 70 different areas of study with more than 650 classes offered. The Capella school has 650 faculty members, more than 550 employed staff and 13,000 students enrolled in courses. As you can see, this is a real college for higher education with real credentials. The school has its good points as well as its bad points. In order to draw as balanced picture as possible of this school, let’s consider both. It has a special individualized portal for each student, called the iGuide. After you enroll, you’re granted secure access through this portal to all the academic information you need. This makes it easy to look at and get an overview of courses and transcripts. Through the portal, you have access to your internet classroom, which they refer to as the ‘courseroom’, where you can get your assignments and post messages. Most other schools on the internet have online chats and webcams which often don’t work very well. At this school however, the technology is all together and in working order. It has a special system for turning in assignments which is very efficient but still easy to use. Just submit all your assignments as zip files or Microsoft Word documents. That’s all you have to do. The school portal offers access to the alumni center which you can use for networking and looking for employment opportunities. There are many other services available, like access to grants and other public money. Some of the graduates have criticized the alumni center as not being so useful, and being mostly just for show. However, most graduates are very happy with it. Because this school is targeted to students who are already in jobs, its opportunities for on campus employment are pretty bare. The thought is that the reason you’ve chosen to study there rather than at a more traditional college is that you are already in a jobs . If you live outside Minneapolis, the school does not offer much in the way of employment for its students. The school does offer a wide range of services to students with various handicaps. There is a variety of software available, and the staff makes an extra effort to accommodate students with disabilities. The school is consistently ranked high among higher educational institutions for its services for disabled students. There is mobility assistance, sign language interpreter service as well and additional time given to those who need it. Except from those mentioned about, most other services are somewhat lacking, however. There is a campus bookstore where you can buy various kinds of materials including software, as well as books. Like most college bookstores, you can easily find the same books more cheaply other places if you look around a little. Like most schools, the bookstore is used to make some extra money for the school. But, the easy way out of this, for you, is to buy the books you need on the web somewhere. There are lots of services available for buying textbooks online. In spite of this, the Capella school is quite affordable. There are more and more schools coming on the web every year, and those that want to stay must be competitive. At Capella, there are five schools within the college. They should be considered or reviewed separately in terms of quality. While the Human Sciences, Business, Education and Technology schools are quite good, the Psychology school has been undergoing some issues. There have been some problems with the management, and this has affected the overall quality of the program negatively. Because of these issues or problems, the Psychology school has had to keep changing its Dean, and this has also added to their problems. At the time of this writing, the psychology school is still not accredited by the American Psychological Association, even though it has been running this program for so long. This shouldn’t reflect too badly on school as a whole. Remember, there are 650 faculty members, so there is a load of variety. As a matter of fact, the quality of the instructors has always been commented on by the students who have graduated here. One thing criticised by many is that so many of the faculty are part time contractors, and thus do not have the interests of their students in mind as a highest priority. It is also charged that many of the teachers here are new to teaching on the web, and in being unaccustomed to it are unable to give the best instruction to their students. This charge comes particularly from students who have attended masters or Ph.D. programs here and found the quality of instruction at that level to be lacking. It could be that the strength of this school is in its undergraduate program. This is what most students attend the school for, so it may be that the instructors are better able to teach at the undergraduate level. There aren’t many complaints from undergraduate students about instructor or teacher quality, so this may be the case. At the Capella university you certainly get a bit of everything. Whether this school is for you depends on a number of different factors. Retrieving and submitting coursework is easy. On the negative side, the quality of the teaching or instruction has consistently been lauded, if at times inconsistent. The fact that every education program is not yet accredited probably reflects badly on the school. Nevertheless, as internet programs go, it is rated high in all areas. So, if you are looking into pursuing a higher education online, weigh your options well. Nic Haffner likes to publish Info and articles about accredited Online Degrees. You can go to the website Online-Accredited-Degrees.com for more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nic_Haffner http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Review-of-an-Accredited-Online-Degree-From-Capella-University&id=300282 2000 cheap daily feb statistics viagra buy cheap online viagra buy levitra viagra buying viagra online in australia

Natural Treatment for Depression - Is There An Alternative?

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

By John Maxford Many people who are suffering from mild to moderatedepression, are choosing to either forego drugs entirely,or to supplement the minimum dosage their doctor willprescribe, with natural treatment for depression. This can include a number of lifestyle alterations, andeven herbal treatment for depression. The choices areentirely up to the patient, who as always, should consultwith their physician before undertaking any regimen ontheir own. One of the first things that Naturopaths will look at for aclient suffering from depression, is dietary deficiencies. They may ask you to have blood tests that will measurelevels of such things as the B complex vitamins in yoursystem. These have been identified as some of the vitaminsthat figure largely in natural treatment for depression. Of course, a balanced, healthy diet is of prime importance.Next, comes vitamin supplements, with an emphasis on thoseyour body is lacking. Add to those things, a good exercise program consisting ofat least three “aerobic”, or concentrated sessions ofexercise a week. This can not only reduce stress, but burnoff the adrenalin that comes with anxiety. Exerciseproduces natural endorphins as well. With your doctor’s approval, you can also try some of theherbal treatments for depression, but only if they areaware of what you are taking, in order to check forcontraindications against any other medications you mightbe on. St. John’s Wort is the herb cited most frequently fortreatment of depression, but the amount to be taken canvary greatly between patients, from as little as 300mgdaily to as much as 2700mg. This is where consultation withyour doctor and a Naturopath can help. Some studies have also show that Gingko Bilboa isbeneficial, as are herbs specific to treatment of “femaleproblems”, such as PMS, menopause, and post nataldepression. If natural treatment for depression is the path you want tofollow, get the very best advice you can, and get yourselfback on the road to good mental health. Find out what causes depression and how to deal with it.Sign up for free blog and get daily updated articles andnews about depression treatment. Clickhttp://www.depression-treatment-101.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Maxford http://EzineArticles.com/?Natural-Treatment-for-Depression—Is-There-An-Alternative?&id=39159 free viagra prescription viagra prescription online price comparison on line viagra purchase zenegra print sildenafil citrate order form

Don’t Let Your Metabolism Fall

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

By Jeremy Likness It only takes a few key habits to raise your metabolism. There is no magic pill required. You don’t have to put heavy spices on all of your foods or run in circles all day long, either. This article shares ten strategies to keep that metabolism elevated. The technical definition of metabolism is the sum of all the chemical and physical changes that take place within the body and enable its continued growth and functioning. Metabolism involves the breakdown of complex organic constituents of the body with the liberation of energy, which is required for other processes and the building up of complex substances, which form the material of the tissues and organs. You may have heard terms thrown around such as anabolism and catabolism. These terms refer to actions that take place within your body. Contrary to popular belief, catabolism isn’t just the loss of muscle tissue. When you burn fat, you are catabolic - fortunately, the catabolism is taking place where you want it to. Conversely, any time your body builds or stores (such as growth of muscle tissue or storage of fat) the process is called anabolic. Sculpting a lean physique means focusing on habits that promote catabolism of fat tissue and anabolism of muscle tissue. One advantage to having a higher metabolism is that you can consume more food or exercise less to achieve the same results. A higher metabolism implies your body is expending more energy. Therefore, you can take on more energy in the form of food while maintaining your shape or even losing fat. While any one of the following techniques may only impact your metabolism a small bit, the cumulative effect can have a major impact. 1. Train With Weights Training with weights boosts your metabolism in a number of ways. Weight training itself has been shown to increase exercise post oxygen consumption (EPOC) - in other words, your metabolism may be raised for hours or even days after the session. Weight training is also the main way to stimulate the growth of muscle tissue. Muscle tissue is metabolically active, so it requires calories even when at rest. Muscle tissue also helps increase the number of fat-burning enzymes and organelles in your body. 2. Supplement With Healthy Fats Healthy fats are involved in the manufacture of hormones and repair of cell membranes in your body. With the right types of fats, your body can use these anabolically. These processes require energy, so the fats may actually increase your metabolism despite the added calories you are consuming! You can add fats to your diet without increasing calories simply by increasing the percentage of calories from fats and then lowering the percentage of calories from carbohydrates or proteins. 3. Every Little Bit Counts Believe it or not, simply changing some simple daily habits can have a huge impact on your metabolism. Do you play the game of driving around the parking lot for twenty minutes waiting for the perfect space to open? Instead, park at the edge of the parking lot and walk to your destination. You’ll probably get there quicker, and burn some calories along the way. Other metabolism-boosting activities include standing instead of sitting, taking stairs instead of elevators, and even fidgeting! 4. Don’t Fear Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are not the enemy. Using the right types of carbohydrates can be a valuable tool for your metabolism. For example, you may expend more calories consuming 20 grams of carbohydrate from lentils than 20 grams of carbohydrate from sugar. The lentils contain fiber and other nutrients that the body must work to extract, and therefore expends more energy. Look for fibrous, low-glycemic carbs and focus on unprocessed carbohydrates. 5. Fluctuate Calories Zigzagging calories is by far one of the most effective methods for keeping your metabolism revved. Homeostasis is the action your body takes to “remain stable.” In other words, if you drop your calories, your body will try to slow your metabolism in order to keep things the same. By zigzagging calories, you may be able to thwart this mechanism. Some people zigzag day by day - for example, if their target is 2000 calories, they’ll consume 1800 one day and 2200 the next. I prefer to consume low calories for a week or two, and then raise calories for a week, and then drop them again. 6. Increase Protein Protein requires a complex chemical conversion by your body in order to be used as fuel. It takes up to 30% of the calories you consume to oxidize or use protein for energy. For example, 100 calories of protein may take up to 30 calories to process. Therefore, increasing the percentage of calories in your diet that come from protein may help raise your metabolism. 7. Perform High Intensity Cardio High intensity cardio, like weight training, takes you into the anaerobic zone of training. This, in turn, creates what is known as “oxygen debt.” Even when you have concluded your exercise, the body is processing waste and recovering from the activity - and therefore keeping your metabolism elevated. 8. Increase Frequency Of Eating Most bodybuilders are aware of this technique. Consuming food triggers digestion, and digestion requires calories. By eating more frequent, smaller meals, you continuously supply your body with nutrients while forcing it to digest and break down the foods. This, in turn, can have the net effect of raising your metabolism. 9. Eat Whole Foods The calories that you burn during digestion are due to the need for your body to break down the foods. Your body must extract the fiber and nutrients, take chains of molecules and chop them into smaller versions to absorb them into your bloodstream, and perform a variety of tasks in order to assimilate foods. When foods are processed, much of this work is done for you. For example, processed flour is ground into small pieces that the body can digest more quickly. This means your blood sugar rises faster and your body expends fewer calories processing the flour. Whole grains, on the other hand, pack more nutrients, are higher in fiber, and force the body to work harder to use them as energy. Another advantage to eating whole foods is that many of the nutrients in these foods - such as vitamins and minerals - are cofactors in metabolic processes that your body uses to burn fat and build muscle. 10. Drink Cold Water This tip is probably overrated. Your body will expend more calories trying to raise cold water to the temperature of your body, but the exact amount is debatable. It stands to reason, however, that integrating this habit with the other habits listed above can contribute to the greater goal of raising your metabolism. Conclusion These are just a few habits you can embrace to start revving your metabolism right away. You may have heard stories about people who have lost dozens of pounds simply switching to diet soda or walking a few minutes each day. These are all small habits that contribute to a big difference over time. Copyright 2005 Jeremy Likness Jeremy Likness is an International Health Coach, Certified Fitness Trainer, and Specialist in Performance Nutrition. He lost 65 pounds of fat and was a top finisher in an international physique transformation competition. Jeremy is the author of the powerful book “Lose Fat, Not Faith” (ISBN 0976907925) that has empowered hundreds of people around the world to release fat and live healthy. 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Kitchen Fun Teaches An Important Life Lesson

Monday, January 21st, 2008

By Nicole Dean One of the most fun ways to spend time with your kids is by cooking meals together in the kitchen. Youve got to prepare meals anyway, so you might as well have spend time with your kids. Its better than cooking alone, right? Cooking with kids not only is an easy way to spend quality time, it gives you the opportunity to teach the basic skills that your children will need as adults. Theres nothing sillier than a college student who doesnt know how to boil an egg. These are simple life skills and are as important as math and science, without a doubt. How to do you incorporate cooking with your kids into your day? Start by finding some age-appropriate childrens cookbooks. If your child is younger than 12, make sure the cookbooks have pictures and fun names for the recipes. Encourage your children to select the meals that appeal to them. Older children, can, if they choose, cook from an adult cookbook.Then, when your child serves the meal, take a picture of the proud look on his or her face. Invite a friend or grandparent over to enjoy the delicious meal and let your child show off her new talents. Picnic One of the easiest ways to teach basic cooking skills is to help your child make some sandwiches and eat them outside. Let your children choose the menu and make all the foods. Your job is to smile and eat the sandwiches, no matter how interesting they taste. Some simple sandwich combinations are: Bologna & American Cheese with Potato Chips on White Bread Cream Cheese & either Turkey or Ham on a Tortilla Peanut Butter & Honey & Bananas on Raisin Bread Im sure your child will come up with some creative combinations of his own. Have fun with it and enjoy! Teddy Bear Picnic Grab the stuffed animals and treat them to a picnic or tea party. Allow your child to bake muffins or scones with your help. This is, not only a great way to teach food skills, its a wonderful opportunity to reinforce manners. Of course, teddy bears have excellent manners when enjoying tea and sandwiches and they always say please and thank you. You can serve the picnic on your living room floor if the weather is cold and miserable. Thats the beauty of teddy bears. They wont mind! These are only a few of the countless ways you can enjoy preparing foods with your children. Now, get cooking! Nicole Dean invites you to http://www.ShowKidstheFun.com — a free website filled with activities to make memories with your children. She also recommends http://www.Kid-Recipes.com where you can find meal ideas including breakfast and lunch recipes for kids. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Dean http://EzineArticles.com/?Kitchen-Fun-Teaches-An-Important-Life-Lesson&id=378843 soma vailum xanax lortab no prescription required order xanax online consultation xanax online cod purchase xanax without a prescription