Los Angeles Times
With Mo Williams deciding to exercise his
contract option, the Clippers and Dallas Mavericks were able to agree to
a four-team trade that will bring Odom back to the team that drafted
him.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Animal Awareness Week isn't just June 24-30, 2012
I'm not going to go into all the ugliness of Animal Abuse. You can find that all over the Internet and develop your own opinion about it. What I'm trying to present here is that parents need to share this information with their children and help them develop a healthy attitude towards animals from a very young age.
How young do you think you should be teaching animal appreciation to children?
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| Touch and Feel Tank |
Have you ever taken your child to a touch and feel tank? These are tremendous one on one experiences for children. Allowing them to touch animals and listen to appreciation and educational messages teaches them healthy relationships with animals.
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| A sea touch and feel tank at an aqaurium |
How do we create a positive attitude for children to learn to protect animals and not abuse them?
If you don't have resources at home, I would highly suggest getting the free resources for parents and educators in the above link. It's so very important to teach your children at home this relationship with them and animals.
Peaceful Passages (book review intro)
Kim West / Peaceful Passage
ISBN-10: 0984052666 ISBN-13: 978-0984052660 | List Price: $16.99 | Format: Softcover | Page Count: 240
"When your loved one is dying at home you need emotional support and
guidance, caregiving help and lessons, organization assistance, an
expert adviser and a cherished friend. Peaceful Passage is all of this
and more.
From first hearing the news to well beyond the funeral you will
keep this resource close by you to give you answers at three in the
morning, for encouragement every day and for detailed information on
what to do, how to do it and when to do it. Here is guide for you to
care well for yourself, your dying loved one, your family, marriage,
career and in your spiritual life.
This book is a labor of love from a professional counselor who
cared for her own mother in her final days. One hospice described the
book as, “An exceptional tool and resource for anyone assisting a loved
one going through their final journey. A delightful, heartfelt, open
discussion of processes, tips and things to ponder when traveling with
them. Well done, and I applaud you. Thank you from all of us.”
About the Author:
Kim West holds a PhD in Clinical Pastoral Counseling and a M.Div. in
Counseling and Family, but when her own mother became ill with terminal
cancer she found that she had no hands-on knowledge of how to take care
of her.
As a counselor she knew to journal her own experience to help her
process her grief at losing her mother and she knew how to help her
mother finish her life well and be prepared for the life to come. But
the day-to-day of taking care of her mother as she died would require
learning a whole new set of caring skills. And learn she did.
After completing her own journey with her mother she knew she had to
help others who would travel this same path. Peaceful Passage is a
merging of her years of counseling experience and the new skills she
learned caring for her mother combined with her heart to help and to
heal."
"Authors note: Peaceful Passage is not only for those under hospice
care with a terminal illness or for those caregiving a loved one who is
dying
at home. It is also the essential resouce for coping with any long-term
illness, whether it be grandma or grandpa, mother or father, a child,
sister or brother or self.
With Peaceful Passage you have immediate help any time you need it right
at home. Whether you want a quick answer
or detailed instructions on handling the many physical, emotional, and
spiritual issues that arise you can find answers immediately in this
resource.
Doctors, nurses, caregivers, hospice workers, hospital and nursing home staff and family members alike will find this an indispensible guide to understanding what is needed in times of illness or palliative care and exactly how to help. Included is also extensive information on grief and the grieving process in order to cope with the losses that come along the way.
Peaceful Passage is a comforting and supportive expert friend when you need it most."
Personal Note: My husband's mom is 89 years old and had colon cancer surgery a couple of years ago and we could not take care of her in our home (after she had one year of in-home care around the clock right after her surgery and my husband was still working and I cannot physically meet her needs). So we made the decision with HOSPICE to have her cared for at a nursing home that is about 5 miles from our home. She has been there for a year now and they are just wonderful with her care and needs. We take homemade treats and beautiful homemade items and used to scrapbook and make cards when her hands were more steady. We now read to her a Christian book that is very comforting with a daily reading for every day of the year. A Hospice "friend" comes to visit her weekly and a Hospice volunteer musician comes once a week and they sing hymns and folk songs... things that she knows and makes her happy.
In November she will be 90 and it's imperative that we prepare ourselves for losing her at any time. We finally took a week off for vacation this year because they told us that we needed time to ourselves to have fun and we were only 1 1/2 hours from her and that they would call us if they needed anything. Everything went well and we were energized. I will read this book and do a review on it for a Christian review group that I'm in and then my husband will read it or we may read it together during the day or night.
The nursing facility is just incredible and the Hospice people are the best. We're so happy that we made this choice with her (we all talked about it before we did it) and even though I had feelings of guilt for not bringing her here (she's been my best friend and "mom" for 18 years now) I learned from Hospice that we just couldn't do for her what she needed. I'm at peace now. I haven't lost anyone in my family yet (since I was in high school and lost my grandparents) so this book will definitely prepare both of us as my parents are in their 80's. Both are quite healthy, praise God!
FOIE GRAS FINALLY ILLEGAL ON JULY 1, 2012 IN CALIF
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| From this atrocity |
 | ||||
| To this freedom! |
On July 21, 2012 it will now be illegal to serve foie gras in California! Yay! California has become the first
state to ban foie gras, the delicacy made from fatty duck or goose
liver. As most of you probably know, the process for making foie gras
involves grossly overfeeding geese through a funnel so their livers
enlarge to such a degree they can’t even walk or breathe properly.
"Foie gras (
/fwɑːˈɡrɑː/; French: [fwa ɡʁɑ]); French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage (force-feeding corn), according to French law,[1] though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding. A pastry containing pâté de foie gras and bacon, or pâté de foie gras tout court, was formerly known as "Strasbourg pie" (or "Strasburg pie"[2]) in English on account of that city's being a major producer of foie gras.[3]
Foie gras is a popular and well-known delicacy in French cuisine. Its flavor is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. Foie gras is sold whole, or is prepared into mousse, parfait, or pâté (the lowest quality), and may also be served as an accompaniment to another food item, such as steak. French law states that "Foie gras belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage of France."[4]
The technique of gavage dates as far back as 2500 BC, when the ancient Egyptians began keeping birds for food and deliberately fattened the birds through force-feeding.[5] Today, France is by far the largest producer and consumer of foie gras, though it is produced and consumed worldwide, particularly in other European nations, the United States, and China.[6]
Gavage-based foie gras production is controversial due to the force feeding procedure used. A number of countries and other jurisdictions have laws against force feeding or the sale of foie gras."
(The above is from Wikipedia.)
"Foie gras (
/fwɑːˈɡrɑː/; French: [fwa ɡʁɑ]); French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage (force-feeding corn), according to French law,[1] though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding. A pastry containing pâté de foie gras and bacon, or pâté de foie gras tout court, was formerly known as "Strasbourg pie" (or "Strasburg pie"[2]) in English on account of that city's being a major producer of foie gras.[3]Foie gras is a popular and well-known delicacy in French cuisine. Its flavor is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. Foie gras is sold whole, or is prepared into mousse, parfait, or pâté (the lowest quality), and may also be served as an accompaniment to another food item, such as steak. French law states that "Foie gras belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage of France."[4]
The technique of gavage dates as far back as 2500 BC, when the ancient Egyptians began keeping birds for food and deliberately fattened the birds through force-feeding.[5] Today, France is by far the largest producer and consumer of foie gras, though it is produced and consumed worldwide, particularly in other European nations, the United States, and China.[6]
Gavage-based foie gras production is controversial due to the force feeding procedure used. A number of countries and other jurisdictions have laws against force feeding or the sale of foie gras."
(The above is from Wikipedia.)
I personally wrote an informative scrapbook with pictures and information for Chef Wolfgang Puck and he gave it up in his restaurants!
This is a hot button issue here in California. Here are some articles that you can read if you are interested in learning more about this topic.
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Foie gras lovers scrambling as California ban nears
June 29, 2012 This weekend, foie gras ? fattened duck or goose liver ? will...has sent Sean Jordan on a one-man "foie gras bender." The Hollywood television... restaurant in Hollywood for a $25 foie gras appetizer. "The ban is sneaking...
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With foie gras ban, chefs say state is force-feeding morality
June 27, 2012 If you want to eat foie gras in California before July 1, especially at a...oddly subdued restaurant, between bites of foie gras-topped salmon and spoonfuls of foie gras mousse, diners at the benefit for the pro...
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Farewell to foie gras
June 27, 2012 ...will become the delicacy known as foie gras by force-feeding them several times...feeding of birds and the sale of foie gras produced by that method. (Any farmer who can replicate the "ethical" foie gras produced in Spain could do so here...
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Have you ever heard about foie gras before now? Have you ever tried it? If you have, how was it? I have not and will not ever it, not even the immitation foie gras that is made because it's just something that sounds so inhumane and disgusting in my personal and researched opinion.
The NEW Super Woman or Man on Adderall
The mom topics are all over tv as being "Mommy's Little Helper" and such phrases and here are some reads online:
(he may be covering weight loss but he clearly speaks out against this abuse of adderall for people who are not ADHD.)
(my own local tv station did a story on it and I have never seen a woman or man to know that they are on it but I wonder where some of these super men and women get all their energy to do all that they do)
EXPERIENCES: Is Binging on Adderall Noticeable?
SWIM is a single Mom and in last year of nursing school. SWIM discovered the pleasure of Adderall a few months ago. SWIM has a child who has been on Adderall for 8 years and never thought about taking one. SWIM's friend in nursing school gave details about their experience binging on Adderall so SWIM took one to see what it was like. Took a few more and cleaned the house. Month later SWIM thought about trying it again but ended up taking the whole 30-day supply in one weekend (on semester break from school). Happened again the following month. SWIM told self that when back in school, this could not happen. A month ago SWIM started popping a few on Friday night but bought a bottle of wine to go with it. Thought this would help SWIM go to sleep since SWIM had clinical rotation at the hospital at 5:30 am Monday. SWIM binged all weekend and couldn't sleep at all Sunday night. SWIM was absolutely panicked about going to clinicals because of their appearance. Jaw clenching and moving side-to-side, constantly licking lips, very red eyes with dilated pupils. SWIM used tons of Visine but it didn't help. SWIM had to meet with the group at hospital with SWIM's instructor, who is a nurse. SWIM just knew that everyone knew because they are in the medical profession. First SWIM avoided looking instructor in the eye but then looked instructor in the eye but kept looking down. SWIM would have given anything to have called in sick but was told if a clinical day was missed, then the student is out of the program. No one ever said anything but SWIM went home and hugged their pillow. So SWIM's question is this, how obvious is it to others when someone has been binging? Any ways to hide it? SWIM is too afraid to try it again even though it enables SWIM to accomplish so much that wouldn't notmally get done because of nursing school and being single parent. SWIM's kids are with their grandmother on weekends when this happens.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Win a NAIL POLISH contest at AVON!
above picture! The rules are on the contest and you must use Avon nail polish. Here is where you can order from me!
I have a group of gals from FaceBook who have joined my teaching group about how to do your nails at NailAthon by Conversations with Carolyn
We'd love to have you join today! We're all learning with positive attitudes and helpfulness and encouragement!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Accepting Our Body Image: Questions, Conclusion
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| Another celeb trying to be perfect |
The Reactions to Tracey Gold's LifeTime Show and What America is doing to get Healthy!
Not everyone is going to agree with everyone and that's why we are encouraged to express our opinions, share from our own life, research, discuss and in the right situations... debate. So now I will present to you some bloggers who are talking about the CONCERNS of Tracey's show:
Here's a more open discussion about the show and what it intended to do and a perspective:
Tracey Gold's 'Starving Secrets': Could On-Camera Recovery Work? Pretty good reading an a video from Dr. Drew.
I think I've pretty much exhausted this topic and that now it's time to wrap it up with questions (I'll answer on the comments) and comments and to discuss what America is doing to get healthy in regards to the body image!
So for today.. is America (parents, teachers, medical community, government, etc...) doing enough to try to work on healthy body image?
I do faithfully watch one show on LifeTime called The Conversation and I like the various discussions and guests on that show. That link goes to the FaceBook group. But I feel we still need less of the celebrities presenting the healthy body image and more of say of a show, maybe something streaming online, of real women talking about this and teaching.
Bottom line is that according to the Bible, which I believe in, says that: What does the Bible Say About Body Image (all verses!)
Some blogs about positive body image:
Beauty Invisible
The Beheld
It’s about you
You’re okay just as you are. You are a unique person, capable and loveable, with special talents and strengths, with inner wisdom and creativity – a human being of value. So accept and respect yourself now.Get comfortable with the real you, inside and out.Accept your size and shape, your feelings, yourself, unconditionally. Honor your character, talents and achievements.
No need to work on perfecting yourself. In fact, it can be self-defeating, and a big waste of time. Perfection is a myth. It doesn’t exist in the real world and it certainly doesn’t exist in human appearance. Many women who struggle with eating, weight and body image spend inordinate amounts of energy trying to change their appearance. They make their bodies their life’s work; they put their lives on hold “waiting to be thin.”
Instead of trying to meet society’s impossible standards of female beauty, give yourself affirmations on how special you really are. Find the peace and serenity of your life, buried though it may be under many layers. Accept this place where you are on your life’s journey and live with joy and relish.
Youth facts and figures
Body image: What is it?
Body image is how we feel about our bodies. For many people today it is a big issue that affects how they think and feel about themselves as a person.
With a positive or healthy body image you feel comfortable and confident in your body, have a generally true perception of your size and shape, and understand that physical appearance does not define your character and value. You accept your unique body and don’t spend an much time worrying about food, weight or calories.
On the other hand, people with negative body image continually compare their bodies to others, feel shame, anxiety and self-consciousness about their bodies, and may have a distorted perception of their shape and size. A poor body image can lead to unhappiness, emotional distress, low self-esteem, dieting, anxiety, depression, obsession with weight loss, and a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder.
When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Is your body image positive or negative?
If your answer is negative, you are not alone. Women today are under much pressure to measure up to a certain social and cultural ideal of beauty, which can lead to poor body image. We are constantly bombarded with Barbie-like doll images. By presenting an ideal that is so difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits. It's no accident that youth is increasingly promoted, along with thinness, as essential criteria for beauty. The message we're hearing tends to be that "all women need to lose weight" and that the natural aging process is a "disastrous" fate for women.
Other pressures can come from the people in our lives.
and the National Eating Disorders Association site at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41157.
Although advertising, the most powerful arm of the mass media, is all around us, many of us believe we are immune from its effects. This mistaken belief is one of the reasons it is so effective. The average American sees three thousand ads per day. Almost all commercial media aimed at women are supported by advertising revenue from the fashion, beauty, diet, and food industries, and their survival depends on their ability to please their sponsors.
Magazine editors, in a fierce competition for readers, know that to make a sale, they need only play on our doubts or create new ones, making us think we have "problems" that don’t really exist ("What’s He Really Thinking When He Sees You Naked?"). Every part of the female body is picked apart and scrutinized, with most articles telling us outright which products we should buy to fix – or at least camouflage – our numerous "flaws."
In trying to understand the media’s objectification of women and how it makes us feel, it can help to think of the camera lens as a white male eye. Have you noticed that the covers of women’s and men’s magazines are almost always female?
The female stars of mainstream movies and TV shows not only look sexy but often behave in the kind of subservient, helpless way that many men find appealing. The camera eye is usually focused on women who look and act in a way that pleases men; men look (active), and women receive their gaze (passive). The media’s gaze is essentially a male gaze. We are so accustomed to seeing things through the dominant male perspective that we might not even notice the dynamics at play.
The media eye, in its many different forms, objectifies all of us. The result? Many of us begin to objectify ourselves. When you’re in an intimate moment with your partner, do you imagine what you look like from the outside rather than focus on the sensations that you feel inside?
When you walk down the sidewalk, are you thinking about how you appear – about how big your butt looks – instead of thinking about the beauty or stimuli around you? Self-objectification can lead to feeling self-conscious and humiliated, and it can make us believe that our bodies exist only for the pleasure of others.
Excerpted from The Media Lies, Our Bodies, Ourselveswww.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/excerpt.asp?id=2
Girls who feel dissatisfied with their bodies and use unhealthy dieting methods are also at increased risk for eating disorders, obesity, poor nutrition, growth impairments, and emotional problems such as depression.
From the federal Office of Womens Health website: http://www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks/toolkit/toolkit.parents.pdf
See also “Top 10 Reasons Not to Diet.”
Do-it-yourself self-esteem repair
2. List your assets, talents, and accomplishments and review that list often. Add to your list daily.
3. Focus on the positive aspects of your life — a job you like, good friends, a nice home.
4. Stop criticizing yourself. The inner voice that's telling you you're no good is a liar. View the voice as an unwelcome intruder and show it the door!
5. Avoid "globalizing." Instead of saying "I'm such a failure," say: "I didn't do that one little thing quite right, but I do most things right."
6. Let go of perfectionism, particularly in terms of food. You probably eat pretty healthily a lot of the time. Stop rebuking yourself for the occasional indulgence. Quit thinking of foods as "good" and "bad." Instead, use such terms as "a good thing to eat frequently" or " a good thing to eat occasionally."
7. Develop mastery. What are you good at? Capitalize on these things. Seek further education or training. It's fun to have things we do well.
8. Develop a more positive body image by appreciating your body's functional nature. Thank your legs for carrying you around. Thank your arms for being able to embrace someone.
9. Educate yourself (and those around you) about weight issues. What the research really says about obesity and what most people believe are two different things. We are not to blame for something science doesn't fully understand.
10. Subscribe to magazines and purchase books that show larger women in a positive light. Surround yourself with positive images of larger women.
11. Don't become preoccupied with thoughts of food and weight. Dieting can cause this. Plan what you're going to eat and then forget it.
12. Put nothing on hold as a reward for weight loss. Make a list of things you've always wanted to do and start doing them now. Being thin is not a prerequisite for living life.
13. Remember that society is not always right about things. Just because we have a cultural obsession with thinness doesn't make it right. Like human beings, societies are imperfect and make mistakes.
14. Develop a personal style that announces to the world: "I like me!" How you feel about yourself is reflected in the way you carry yourself, your grooming, your clothes, your smile, the way you speak.
15. Dress comfortably. This may sound silly, but comfortable, properly fitting clothes will improve your whole mental outlook. Tight clothes will make you feel miserable and unhappy.
16. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. If they're not, tell them that you've stopped measuring your self-worth on the basis of your weight and you hope they'll follow suit. If they won't, there are plenty of people who will.
17. List the positive aspects of being a larger person. Has being large made you more tolerant, kinder, stronger?
18. Do not buy into the notion that there is one ideal image or shape every woman needs to conform to. That is nonsense. People come in all colors, sizes, and shapes; that's the beauty of the human race. We do not have "figure flaws." We simply have diverse shapes.
19. Let go of constant comparison and competition. You don't need to be or "do" better than anyone else to be a worthwhile person.
20. You do not deserve to be harassed publicly about your appearance or weight. Decide in advance how you want to handle such situations. And remember that insults are almost always born of ignorance.
21. Concentrate on developing a healthy lifestyle, not losing weight. Developing a healthy lifestyle is a positive activity, while losing weight usually is based on a negative self-image.
22. Look into your past for sources of low self-esteem. Think about messages you were given as a child and refute them. Once you understand how you were taught to have low self-esteem, it is easier to change.
23. Put weight in its proper perspective and focus on what's really important in life. Do you want people to remember you for the shape of your body or the shape of your character and soul?
ISAA has formally been against weight loss surgery since 2001. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, weight loss surgery has a 40 percent complication rate, a 50 percent weight regain rate, and at least 1 in 100 adults die from weight loss surgery procedures. The NIH has referred to weight loss surgery as “induced bulimia” and Dr. Matthias Fobi (creator of the “Fobi Pouch” used on Rosanne Barr) refers to his procedure as “induced anorexia.” Weight loss surgery often leads to obsession with food and other serious eating-disorder behaviors.
ISAA’s Official position on Weight Loss Surgery is located online
www.size-acceptance.org/wls_position.html
From the International Size Acceptance Association, www.size-acceptance.org
BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER CLINIC
EATING DISORDER REFERRAL AND INFORMATION CENTER
Bottom line is that according to the Bible, which I believe in, says that: What does the Bible Say About Body Image (all verses!)
Some blogs about positive body image:
Beauty Invisible
The Beheld
And two of my most favorite reads that started my NailAThon group (Avon based focus on great nails and learning how to take care of them!) came from focusing on these articles:
Loving Yourself Without Weight Loss
21 Ways to Reward Yourself Without Food
Finally the best of reading that I found on the Internet:
It’s about you
You’re okay just as you are. You are a unique person, capable and loveable, with special talents and strengths, with inner wisdom and creativity – a human being of value. So accept and respect yourself now.Get comfortable with the real you, inside and out.Accept your size and shape, your feelings, yourself, unconditionally. Honor your character, talents and achievements.
No need to work on perfecting yourself. In fact, it can be self-defeating, and a big waste of time. Perfection is a myth. It doesn’t exist in the real world and it certainly doesn’t exist in human appearance. Many women who struggle with eating, weight and body image spend inordinate amounts of energy trying to change their appearance. They make their bodies their life’s work; they put their lives on hold “waiting to be thin.”
Instead of trying to meet society’s impossible standards of female beauty, give yourself affirmations on how special you really are. Find the peace and serenity of your life, buried though it may be under many layers. Accept this place where you are on your life’s journey and live with joy and relish.
- Recognize that beauty, health and strength come in all sizes.
Real beauty encompasses what’s inside, your zest for life, your
fun-loving spirit, a smile that lights up your face, your compassion for
others, says Carol Johnson, author of Self-Esteem Comes in all Sizes.
It’s being friendly, generous and loving, having strength and courage,
and respecting yourself just as you are — goals that we all can achieve.
- Your body is okay. Your size is okay.
The good news is that you can change how you feel about your body by
changing your self-talk. If you are especially concerned over weight,
understand that your body has an opinion of what it should weigh at this
time in your life. It regulates weight around a setpoint that may be
nearly impossible to change. Recognize how destructive the obsession to
be thin is and how it harms the people you love, especially children.
Your weight is not a measure of your self-worth. Accepting this can give
you new freedom.
- Be size positive. Set
an example of respect for size diversity. People naturally come in
different sizes and builds, and that’s okay. If you are a large woman
it’s especially important in our size-focused society to be a role model
who radiates confidence, self-respect and friendliness for other adults
and children who, sadly, may fear going out in public. Or, if you are a
thin person, keeping thin through semi-starvation, remember this means
an anorexic personality (anxiety, irritability, depression, inability to
concentrate, social withdrawal, isolation from friends and family,
preoccupation with food, loneliness, lack of compassion and generosity,
self-centeredness), weak and brittle bones, and other serious health
issues. Our society is currently obsessed with thinness, which hurts us
all. When will this nation come to its senses, reject size prejudice,
accept a wider range of shapes and sizes, and focus on health rather
than weight? We each can do our part to bring about this healthful
change.
- Dress for success.
Dress in ways that make you feel good, that make your own statement
and, most of all, that fit now. Clean out your closet of clothes that
don’t fit; clothes you can wear only during dieting bouts. Give away or
store too-small clothing. This makes room for clothes you will enjoy
wearing.
- Want what you have – contentment.
T he secret to happiness is not to get what you want, but to want what
you have . Though much underrated today, contentment has long been
valued in world religions and philosophy. Realizing the full measure of
our abundance can bring true happiness.
- Keep a gratitude journal.
Have you inventoried the richness of your life assets? Try it. Add to
that inventory and each day write down three things you are grateful for
in your gratitude journal. It can be humbling to realize the abundance
of riches we have, and how much we take it for granted. The everyday
joys of family, friends, home, community, country, health, work and the
wonder of nature are all around us. Contemplating this can bring you
deep serenity.
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques.
Relaxation relieves stress and enhances our lives. Stress overload is
linked to many health problems, such as exhaustion, insomnia, headache,
diarrhea, anxiety, restlessness, depression, abuse of alcohol, increased
risk of heart attack and weakened immune system. Relaxing is like
re-booting a stressed-out computer. Everything works better afterward.
- Choose self-care. Set
aside time every day for yourself. T ake time for self-care and healing.
Invest in small things that enrich your life: listening to music,
reading a novel, napping after lunch, laughing with your spouse or best
friend, eating a nourishing meal, telephoning a friend, taking a stretch
break at your desk, enjoying a sunset.
- Live assertively.
Assertiveness allows people to express their honest feelings and
opinions comfortably, to be open and direct, without anxiety or guilt,
and to obtain their personal rights without denying the rights of
others. Assertive persons respect themselves, speak calmly and clearly,
maintain eye contact, project their voices, and smile sincerely when
they mean it. By contrast, responding to others in passive or aggressive
ways involves manipulation that respects neither yourself nor them. (By
the way, in lists like this, and of course, this one, read, consider
and take what seems best for you at this time in your life – and leave
the rest. That’s being assertive!)
- Strengthen your social support
. Include pleasant and stimulating interaction with others in your day,
every day. Maintain nourishing relationships with family and friends.
Promote communication and sharing of feelings in appropriate ways.
Encourage positive self-talk, praise and support for each other. Getting
involved in volunteer work is an excellent way to increase your social
network as you lend a helping hand and a helping heart.
- Shape a healthy balance. You’ll feel better and have more energy when you develop healthy living habits that come so naturally and feel so normal you hardly think about them. Normalize your life by being regularly active and keeping yourself well nourished without dieting. Take care of your health, but don’t obsess over it or struggle for perfection. Find a satisfying balance of wellness and wholeness that works for you at this time in your life and helps you live the way you want.
Youth facts and figures
- 42% of first, second and third grade girls want to lose weight.
Collins, M. "Body figure perception and preferences among preadolescent
children." International Journal of Eating Disorders 10 (1991), pp
199-208.
- 45% of boys and girls in grades three
through six want to be thinner; 37% have already dieted; 7% score in the
eating disorder range on a test of children's eating habits.
Maloney, MJ, McGuire, J. Daniels, Sr., and Specker, B. "Dieting behavior
and eating attitudes in children," Pediatrics 84 (1989) pp 482-487.
- 46% of nine- to eleven-year-olds say
they are sometimes or very often on diets. Gustafson-Larson, A. M., and
Terry, R. D., "Weight-related behaviors and concerns of fourth grade
children." Journal of the American Dietetic Assoc. 92 (7)(1992), pp
818-822.
- 70% of normal weight girls in high
school feel fat and are on a diet. Ferron, C. "Body Image in adolescence
in cross-cultural research" Adolescence 32 (1997), pp. 735-745.
- During puberty, most girls' bodies need
to gain, on average, 10 inches and 40-50 pounds, including more body
fat. Friedman, Sandra Susan. When Girls Feel Fat: Helping Girls Through
Adolescence. Firefly Books, 2000.
- Females need 17% body fat in order to
menstruate for the first time and 22% to have regular cycles. Cooke,
Kaz. Real Gorgeous: The Truth About Body and Beauty. Norton, 1996.
- Over half
of the females age 18-25 studied would prefer to be run over by a truck
than to be fat, and two-thirds would choose to be mean or stupid rather
than fat. Gaesser, Glenn A., PhD. Big Fat Lies: The truth about your
weight and your health. Gurze Books, 2001.
- A survey of college students found that
they would prefer to marry an embezzler, drug user, shoplifter, or blind
person than someone who is fat. Gaesser, Glenn A., PhD. Big Fat Lies:
The truth about your weight and your health. Gurze Books, 2001.
- Up to 35% of normal dieters will
progress to pathological dieting and, of those, 20 to 25% will progress
to partial or full-blown eating disorders. Shisslak, C.M., Crago, M.,
and Estes, L.S., "The spectrum of eating disturbances," Intl Journal of
Eating Disorders 18 (3) (1995) pp. 209-219.
- The death rate for eating disorders is 5
to 20%. American Psychiatric Association, "Practice Guidelines for
Eating Disorders." American Journal of Psychiatry, 150(2) (1993) pp.
212-228.
- Americans spend $50 billion annually on diet products. Garner, David W., PhD, and Wooley, Susan C., PhD. "Confronting the Failure of Behavioral and Dietary Treatments for Obesity," Clinical Psychological Review 11 (1991), pp. 729-780. $50 billion is more than the Gross National Product of more than half of all the nations in the world, including Ireland.
Body image: What is it?
Body image is how we feel about our bodies. For many people today it is a big issue that affects how they think and feel about themselves as a person.
With a positive or healthy body image you feel comfortable and confident in your body, have a generally true perception of your size and shape, and understand that physical appearance does not define your character and value. You accept your unique body and don’t spend an much time worrying about food, weight or calories.
On the other hand, people with negative body image continually compare their bodies to others, feel shame, anxiety and self-consciousness about their bodies, and may have a distorted perception of their shape and size. A poor body image can lead to unhappiness, emotional distress, low self-esteem, dieting, anxiety, depression, obsession with weight loss, and a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder.
When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? Is your body image positive or negative?
If your answer is negative, you are not alone. Women today are under much pressure to measure up to a certain social and cultural ideal of beauty, which can lead to poor body image. We are constantly bombarded with Barbie-like doll images. By presenting an ideal that is so difficult to achieve and maintain, the cosmetic and diet product industries are assured of growth and profits. It's no accident that youth is increasingly promoted, along with thinness, as essential criteria for beauty. The message we're hearing tends to be that "all women need to lose weight" and that the natural aging process is a "disastrous" fate for women.
Other pressures can come from the people in our lives.
- Family and friends can influence your body image with positive and negative comments.
- A doctor's health advice can be misinterpreted and affect how a woman sees herself and feels about her body.
and the National Eating Disorders Association site at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41157.
Although advertising, the most powerful arm of the mass media, is all around us, many of us believe we are immune from its effects. This mistaken belief is one of the reasons it is so effective. The average American sees three thousand ads per day. Almost all commercial media aimed at women are supported by advertising revenue from the fashion, beauty, diet, and food industries, and their survival depends on their ability to please their sponsors.
Magazine editors, in a fierce competition for readers, know that to make a sale, they need only play on our doubts or create new ones, making us think we have "problems" that don’t really exist ("What’s He Really Thinking When He Sees You Naked?"). Every part of the female body is picked apart and scrutinized, with most articles telling us outright which products we should buy to fix – or at least camouflage – our numerous "flaws."
In trying to understand the media’s objectification of women and how it makes us feel, it can help to think of the camera lens as a white male eye. Have you noticed that the covers of women’s and men’s magazines are almost always female?
The female stars of mainstream movies and TV shows not only look sexy but often behave in the kind of subservient, helpless way that many men find appealing. The camera eye is usually focused on women who look and act in a way that pleases men; men look (active), and women receive their gaze (passive). The media’s gaze is essentially a male gaze. We are so accustomed to seeing things through the dominant male perspective that we might not even notice the dynamics at play.
The media eye, in its many different forms, objectifies all of us. The result? Many of us begin to objectify ourselves. When you’re in an intimate moment with your partner, do you imagine what you look like from the outside rather than focus on the sensations that you feel inside?
When you walk down the sidewalk, are you thinking about how you appear – about how big your butt looks – instead of thinking about the beauty or stimuli around you? Self-objectification can lead to feeling self-conscious and humiliated, and it can make us believe that our bodies exist only for the pleasure of others.
Excerpted from The Media Lies, Our Bodies, Ourselveswww.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/excerpt.asp?id=2
The diet trap
Many adolescent girls are unhappy with their bodies and try to lose weight by using unhealthy dieting practices such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking, severely restricting calories, or eliminating whole classes of foods such as starches and sugars. Some girls are using even more extreme methods, such as making themselves vomit and using diet pills and laxatives.
Also, diets may cause some young people to
gain more weight and develop lifelong unhealthy eating habits. One
study, for example, found that girls who diet actually gain more weight
in the long term than girls who do not diet. This is because dieting
may cause a cycle in which they eat very little and then overeat or
binge eat. [Editors note: In addition, excess weight regain after a
diet may involve “setpoint creep,” from disruption of the body’s
natural weight regulation.] Many adolescent girls are unhappy with their bodies and try to lose weight by using unhealthy dieting practices such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking, severely restricting calories, or eliminating whole classes of foods such as starches and sugars. Some girls are using even more extreme methods, such as making themselves vomit and using diet pills and laxatives.
Girls who feel dissatisfied with their bodies and use unhealthy dieting methods are also at increased risk for eating disorders, obesity, poor nutrition, growth impairments, and emotional problems such as depression.
Research also shows that people under age 30 are more likely to smoke if they are trying to lose weight, even though many want to stop smoking. Teen girls may be especially open to the risks of smoking to control their weight. Cigarettes are often marketed as “slims” or “thins” to play into the social pressures on young women to control their weight, manage stress, and look grown up. One study found that girls who had dieted up to one time each week were twice as likely to become smokers and girls who dieted more often had four times the odds of becoming smokers. Adolescent girls need to be warned that using tobacco is not a good way to lose weight.The best approach is to encourage healthy eating practices and regular physical activity. Diets do not provide the right kind of nutrition girls need to grow.
From the federal Office of Womens Health website: http://www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks/toolkit/toolkit.parents.pdf
See also “Top 10 Reasons Not to Diet.”
Do-it-yourself self-esteem repair
by Carol A. Johnson, MA
1. Weight is not a measure of self-worth.
Why should it be? Your self-worth is your view of yourself as a total
person— how you treat others; how you treat yourself; the contributions
you make to your family, your friends, your community, and society in
general. Your weight is just your weight. Don't give it any more
importance than that. 2. List your assets, talents, and accomplishments and review that list often. Add to your list daily.
3. Focus on the positive aspects of your life — a job you like, good friends, a nice home.
4. Stop criticizing yourself. The inner voice that's telling you you're no good is a liar. View the voice as an unwelcome intruder and show it the door!
5. Avoid "globalizing." Instead of saying "I'm such a failure," say: "I didn't do that one little thing quite right, but I do most things right."
6. Let go of perfectionism, particularly in terms of food. You probably eat pretty healthily a lot of the time. Stop rebuking yourself for the occasional indulgence. Quit thinking of foods as "good" and "bad." Instead, use such terms as "a good thing to eat frequently" or " a good thing to eat occasionally."
7. Develop mastery. What are you good at? Capitalize on these things. Seek further education or training. It's fun to have things we do well.
8. Develop a more positive body image by appreciating your body's functional nature. Thank your legs for carrying you around. Thank your arms for being able to embrace someone.
9. Educate yourself (and those around you) about weight issues. What the research really says about obesity and what most people believe are two different things. We are not to blame for something science doesn't fully understand.
10. Subscribe to magazines and purchase books that show larger women in a positive light. Surround yourself with positive images of larger women.
11. Don't become preoccupied with thoughts of food and weight. Dieting can cause this. Plan what you're going to eat and then forget it.
12. Put nothing on hold as a reward for weight loss. Make a list of things you've always wanted to do and start doing them now. Being thin is not a prerequisite for living life.
13. Remember that society is not always right about things. Just because we have a cultural obsession with thinness doesn't make it right. Like human beings, societies are imperfect and make mistakes.
14. Develop a personal style that announces to the world: "I like me!" How you feel about yourself is reflected in the way you carry yourself, your grooming, your clothes, your smile, the way you speak.
15. Dress comfortably. This may sound silly, but comfortable, properly fitting clothes will improve your whole mental outlook. Tight clothes will make you feel miserable and unhappy.
16. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. If they're not, tell them that you've stopped measuring your self-worth on the basis of your weight and you hope they'll follow suit. If they won't, there are plenty of people who will.
17. List the positive aspects of being a larger person. Has being large made you more tolerant, kinder, stronger?
18. Do not buy into the notion that there is one ideal image or shape every woman needs to conform to. That is nonsense. People come in all colors, sizes, and shapes; that's the beauty of the human race. We do not have "figure flaws." We simply have diverse shapes.
19. Let go of constant comparison and competition. You don't need to be or "do" better than anyone else to be a worthwhile person.
20. You do not deserve to be harassed publicly about your appearance or weight. Decide in advance how you want to handle such situations. And remember that insults are almost always born of ignorance.
21. Concentrate on developing a healthy lifestyle, not losing weight. Developing a healthy lifestyle is a positive activity, while losing weight usually is based on a negative self-image.
22. Look into your past for sources of low self-esteem. Think about messages you were given as a child and refute them. Once you understand how you were taught to have low self-esteem, it is easier to change.
23. Put weight in its proper perspective and focus on what's really important in life. Do you want people to remember you for the shape of your body or the shape of your character and soul?
Reprinted with permission from Self-Esteem Comes in All Sizes,
by Carol A. Johnson, p152-154. Available from Gurze Books
(www.gurze.com). A certified therapist with a master's degree in
sociology, Johnson is the founder of Largely Positive, a support group
for large people at http://www.largelypositive.com/
ISAA condemns weight loss surgery
for kids
AUSTIN, TX - The International Size
Acceptance Association (ISAA) condemns the practice of performing
gastric bypass (or weight loss surgery) on teenage and pre-teen
children. ISAA recognizes the rise in the rate of obesity in children
and encourages parents to spend more interactive time with their kids
and help them become more involved in physical activities such as sports
while reducing time spent in front of the television and on computer
games. ISAA suggests reducing family intake of fast foods in favor of
healthier food choices.for kids
ISAA has formally been against weight loss surgery since 2001. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, weight loss surgery has a 40 percent complication rate, a 50 percent weight regain rate, and at least 1 in 100 adults die from weight loss surgery procedures. The NIH has referred to weight loss surgery as “induced bulimia” and Dr. Matthias Fobi (creator of the “Fobi Pouch” used on Rosanne Barr) refers to his procedure as “induced anorexia.” Weight loss surgery often leads to obsession with food and other serious eating-disorder behaviors.
“Gastric bypass surgery mutilates a key organ we need to survive, the stomach, and rearranges the digestive system to make it do something it was never designed to do,” said ISAA Director Allen Steadham. “You shouldn’t subject adults to that, much less children!”Weight loss surgery causes malabsorption, which deprives the body of critical nutrients, including calcium and potassium, which can lead to teenage osteoporosis, compromised immune systems and immunity-related diseases. Other complications of weight loss surgery are painful gastrointestinal distress, leaking of gastric juices into the chest cavity, infection, deterioration of teeth (erosion of enamel caused by repeated vomiting), flatulence, uncomfortable and highly odorous bowel movements and/or loose stools. Many weight loss surgery procedures have to be repeated, which substantially increases the risks of complications and death.
ISAA’s Official position on Weight Loss Surgery is located online
www.size-acceptance.org/wls_position.html
From the International Size Acceptance Association, www.size-acceptance.org
BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER CLINIC
EATING DISORDER REFERRAL AND INFORMATION CENTER
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Be Inspired Pork Review
  | |
| The basil garlic rub recipe with the brush and therm. that came with the coupons for the review! |
We cooked them on both sides and then tested them for the correct temperature for pork (145 degrees F) and then knew that they were good to go!
All 4 were cooked and had great grill marks on them... yum!
Then served them with some Uncle Ben's Brown Rice and Oxnard fresh strawberries! Delicious meal!
JUST THE FACTS!
Description: Pork chops are the
most popular cut from the pork loin, which is the strip of meat that
runs from the pig’s hip to shoulder. Depending on where they originate,
pork chops can be found under a variety of names, including loin, rib,
sirloin, top loin and blade chops.
Loin chops are from the lower back (just behind the rib chop) and have a characteristic T-bone shape. These chops include a lot of meat as well as a bit of tenderloin meat. Rib chops originate in the center of the loin in the rib area and include some back and rib bone. Sirloin chops come from the area around the hip and often include part of the hip bone. Top loin chops (some times called Center Cut Chops) are boneless and located above the loin chops, toward the head. The 1 1/4 inch-thick top loin chop is also called an “America’s Cut.” Blade chops are cut from the beginning of the loin in the shoulder area. They may contain some blade bone as well as back-rib bone. Blade chops are usually thicker and more marbled. They often are butterflied and sold as pork loin country-style ribs.
It’s important to note that all pork chops cook the same. The length of cooking primarily depends on the thickness of the chop. Thickness can vary from ½ to 2 inches. Whether you choose chops boneless for convenience or chops with the bone attached for their attractive appearance, the cooking time is the same. Pork chops are likely the least intimidating of all pork cuts because they are so easy to prepare.
Loin chops are from the lower back (just behind the rib chop) and have a characteristic T-bone shape. These chops include a lot of meat as well as a bit of tenderloin meat. Rib chops originate in the center of the loin in the rib area and include some back and rib bone. Sirloin chops come from the area around the hip and often include part of the hip bone. Top loin chops (some times called Center Cut Chops) are boneless and located above the loin chops, toward the head. The 1 1/4 inch-thick top loin chop is also called an “America’s Cut.” Blade chops are cut from the beginning of the loin in the shoulder area. They may contain some blade bone as well as back-rib bone. Blade chops are usually thicker and more marbled. They often are butterflied and sold as pork loin country-style ribs.
It’s important to note that all pork chops cook the same. The length of cooking primarily depends on the thickness of the chop. Thickness can vary from ½ to 2 inches. Whether you choose chops boneless for convenience or chops with the bone attached for their attractive appearance, the cooking time is the same. Pork chops are likely the least intimidating of all pork cuts because they are so easy to prepare.
Cooking Methods
Butcher Tips
- Choose meat that's pale pink with a small amount of marbling and white (not yellow) fat.
- Choose wrapped packages without any tears, holes or leaks. There should be little or no liquid in the bottom of the tray.
BASIL GARLIC RUB recipe (for more than just pork!)
Times
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
4 pork bone-in rib chops, 3/4-inch thick
Basil-Garlic Rub:
2 cloves garlic , peeled
1 cup fresh basil, packed
2 tablespoons lemon juice , fresh
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Basil-Garlic Rub:
2 cloves garlic , peeled
1 cup fresh basil, packed
2 tablespoons lemon juice , fresh
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking Directions
With
machine running, drop garlic through feed tube of food processor to
mince. Stop, add fresh basil, and process until chopped. Add lemon
juice, oil, salt, and pepper and process to make thin wet rub. Spread
both sides of pork chops with basil mixture. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes.
Prepare a medium-hot fire in grill. Brush the grate clean and oil the grate. Grill chops, over direct heat, turning once, to medium rare doneness, 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.
Makes 4 servings
Prepare a medium-hot fire in grill. Brush the grate clean and oil the grate. Grill chops, over direct heat, turning once, to medium rare doneness, 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.
Makes 4 servings
Serving Suggestions
Top
the chop with shavings of Parmesan cheese (shave from a wedge of cheese
with a vegetable peeler) and toasted pine nuts, if desired. Serve with
slices of ripe tomatoes and mozzarella on a bed of arugula drizzled with
balsamic vinegar and olive oil or with the Pantry Basil-Garlic Rub.
Nutrition
Calories: 210 calories
Protein: 27 grams
Fat: 14 grams
Sodium: 620 milligrams
Cholesterol: 60 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 4 grams
Carbohydrates: 3 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Protein: 27 grams
Fat: 14 grams
Sodium: 620 milligrams
Cholesterol: 60 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 4 grams
Carbohydrates: 3 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
I received a product sample, coupon, collateral or other special premium from BzzAgent.
Eclos Giveaway
Plant Stem Cells — New Hope for Aging Skin
The Discovery
Researchers have found that Plant Stem Cells extracted from a rare
Swiss apple, (Uttwiler Spätlauber), show tremendous ability to
stimulate skin stem cells, encouraging aging skin to behave like
younger skin.
Enriched with
PhytoPlex24™
Plant extracts, vitamins
and anti-oxidants work in
synergy with the Plant Stem Cell technology to help
minimize the
appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and
tired skin.
Clinically Proven Results
100% of the women saw a reduction in wrinkle appearance
within 2 weeks
Skin’s collagen matrix and elastin fibroblasts can look up to
15 years younger
(a 50 year old subject’s skin can appear like that of a 35 year old)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Never lay your hand on a child... right?
I went to this crazy Christian high school where they SPANKED us for
doing things that they thought were "bad"... yes, in a school, behind a
curtain, on the principal's LAP!
Spanking children is abuse. It was abuse when they did it to us in this Christian high school. No teacher or adult should ever lay a hand on a child! Ever! I'm going to bring it up for discussion because it was wrong.
Here are some blogs and news for your consideration:
When is spanking abuse?
Spanking is child abuse!
Spanking vs. child abuse
Sin, Sex and Spanking School-Aged Children
Spanking children is abuse. It was abuse when they did it to us in this Christian high school. No teacher or adult should ever lay a hand on a child! Ever! I'm going to bring it up for discussion because it was wrong.
Here are some blogs and news for your consideration:
When is spanking abuse?
Spanking is child abuse!
Spanking vs. child abuse
Sin, Sex and Spanking School-Aged Children
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Accepting your Body Image: Others who have struggled
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| Photo Credit: Snakkle |
Today I watched a repeat episode on Anderson. The show had a portion of it dedicated to interviewing Tracey Gold and her struggle and I want to share some of it here and what she did with what happened to her and how she reached out to others and then tomorrow we wrap up the blog series with the public reaction to it Tracey Gold's show and what America is doing to get Healthy!
What Tracey Gold Tells Her Kids About Body Image
Thursday, June 21, 2012 5:00AM
Today, Tracey is healthy and knows it's important to raise her four boys with a healthy body image.
"When you're raising boys, the body image thing isn't as prevalent as it is with girls," says Tracey. "But the thing that I always teach them is kindness in their words."
She continues, "You treat other people as you would want to be treated. If you say something, even though it may not mean something to you, it could really impact somebody, and you need to know that."
(continue to read and watch her story)
Warning Signs of a Disorder
 |
| Photo Credit: HealthandNutritionExperts |
Tips for Preventing Negative Body Image
Tips for Raising Children with a Healthy Outlook
How to Approach Someone with An Eating Disorder
Tomorrow: The Reactions to Tracey Gold's LifeTime Show and What America is doing to get Healthy!
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