Itching to shed those postbaby pounds?

Dr. Karen Nordahl, cofounder of Fit to Deliver International, suggests cutting yourself some slack.

“It took nine months to put it on; give yourself at least nine months to take it off,” she says.

To make the most of that time, focusing on fun activities will definitely be more effective. So, to aid the bulging battle, here are a few mommy workout ideas with a little extra spice.

WII

It’s amazing how much more enjoyable a workout can be when it comes in video-game form. Moms on the pregnancy and parenting site TheBump.com are all about Wii Fit workouts. “Love the Hula Hoop and boxing,” says one mom on the message boards. The Wii won’t give you all the exercise you need, but it can be a fun supplement that concentrates on your core. Get your husband to join in – he might just lose a little “baby fat” of his own. Read the rest of this entry »

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Be sure to find out how you can change your life with the Free Fitness program.

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: Boxing, cofounder, Holly Jean Cosner, instructor, itching, karate, Karen Nordahl, kickboxing, La Reine Chabut, USD

Hydroxycut is a product that many of us in the weight loss and muscle gain community have watched and used before and after health scares. Hydroxycut in the early part of the is decade, even in the 90s was a great product for stripping fat in the Spring and was already pulled once off the market and now Hydroxycut is gone again.

Hydroxycut has a history as a fat loss supplement and was one of the first popular products to have and ECA stack. Back in the 90s the ECA stack was Ephedra and caffeine to raise the metabolism and aspirin as a buffer to help your stomach and get rid of any shakes from the ephedra and caffeine. Well once ephedra was pulled from the market for giving seemingly healthy people heart attacks Hydroycut was gone to, at least I thought so.

Hydroxycut was eventually successfully relaunched as a completely natural product and I wrote a review of it just a little while back (now I will pull that review) and now the FDA had pulled Hydroxycut off the market again. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: abdominal pain, cardiovascular disorders, fatigue, Hydroxycut, Iovate Health Sciences Inc., Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc., itching, kidney failure, liver failure, liver injuries, liver transplant, nausea, Oakville, Ontario, rhabdomyolysis, seizures, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, vomiting

Are there any home remedies for scabies that actually work, or do you need to use prescription medications in all cases? This article will consider the causes of scabies and the natural remedies that are available.

What Is Scabies?

Scabies is an intensely itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite that burrows into the skin and lays its eggs. The itching is caused by our body’s allergic reaction to the mite. The first signs are small, itchy bumps or blisters, usually located on the inner area of the wrists or between the fingers or toes. Scabies is easy to recognize by the pencil-like lines that are caused by the mite passing along just under the skin.

Scabies is usually passed from one person to another by skin on skin contact. It is common in children who can pass it along during normal play. It can be caught by simply holding hands with an infected person. In adults it is sometimes transmitted during sexual activity and in that case may appear in the genital area.

Scratching the area will often break the skin and can lead to bacteria entering and causing other dermatological conditions, for example impetigo.

We can also catch scabies from dogs. The common name for scabies in dogs is mange. If you think your dog has mange, take it to the vet immediately and do not pet it until the condition has cleared.

Feline mange is not transmitted to humans, so you do not need to worry about catching scabies from cats.

Killing Scabies Mites

If think that you or your children have scabies you should see a doctor to have the diagnosis confirmed. A doctor will normally prescribe a cream which will kill the mites if used according to directions. However this medication is harsh and because it must be used all over the body, not only in the affected area, it can cause problems for people with other skin conditions such as eczema.

Keep in mind that the itching will continue for a few days even after the mites have been killed, because their bodies and waste products remain under the skin. If you see no new lines or itchy spots, that is a good sign that the mites may have been destroyed. However, keep watching and treating because any eggs that have been laid may still hatch.

Natural Remedies

The traditional Indian home remedy for scabies is to make a paste of neem oil and turmeric powder and apply it to the affected area. You can now buy prepared neem oil creams and lotions for scabies treatment.

Tea tree oil is another natural substance that has been used for scabies. You may find a lotion that combines tea tree, neem and turmeric. Tea tree oil can be harsh and should not be used undiluted on the skin.

Tea tree oil can be added to baths. Use 10-20 drops in a warm bath 2-3 times a day. This is a good preventive measure for people who may have had contact with an infected person, plus helping to treat anyone who is infected.

Chamomile lotion can ease the itching of scabies. Where scratching has damaged the skin you may want to use an anti bacterial cream or wash with anti bacterial soap.

Clothes And Other Fabrics

Unlike fleas, scabies mites do not hop. This means that they are less likely to be found in carpets and furniture. However, an infected person should always put on clean clothes after showering and change bed linen every morning or after a nap.

Do Natural Remedies Work?

Natural remedies appear to kill the mites in some cases. However, they work more slowly than the medication that the doctor will prescribe so a person will continue to itch and be infectious for longer if they use only natural remedies on a confirmed case of scabies. Home remedies for scabies may be best used as a preventive measure for other family members who are not yet showing symptoms, or where there is scabies in your child’s school class.

Tags: allergic reaction, blisters, eczema, home remedies, home remedy, impetigo, itching, natural remedies, neem oil, prepared neem oil creams, Scabies, Tea tree oil, waste products

Dieting is pretty boring, not just because of the kind of food you have to eat but because of the several rules and regulations you are required to follow when cooking your food. Plus you are not even sure what ingredients to include and what not to include in your meals.

As you can see, cooking meals at home involves a lot of guesswork; plus it is a drain on time! However, this should not be an excuse for you to quit your diet program. After all, if you don’t want to cook meals yourself, you can take advantage of diet meal delivery services and have ready-made meals delivered at your doorstep.

Just imagine: you hear the door bell ringing and you are handed over a package. The smell that comes from it seems to be mesmerizing and you are already itching to take a bite. You open the package to see that there are all delicious foods inside, waiting just for you! These are all healthy, natural, low-calorie meals that you can eat without being worried about weight gain! They don’t contain any kind of artificial flavors or preservatives that would increase your body weight.

Home delivered diet meal is a boon for many people because it not only saves them a lot of time but also eliminates all the guesswork that goes in the making of ‘diet meals’! Plus the food is also tasty since they are cooked by professional cooks! You might actually end up getting addicted to these home delivered meals – they are THAT good.

Contrary to what you might believe, home delivered diet meals are actually pretty cheap and affordable even for the ‘ordinary pockets’; don’t think that they are only for the people of upper society! To give you an idea of how much money you can save, take a pen and paper and list all the items that you use to cook your meals. When all is said and done, you will be surprised to see that you are getting the home delivered diet meals at a bargain price.

The toughest part is that of finding the right diet delivery program for yourself. Not all programs are reliable; plus there are specialized diet delivery services than would deliver you only a certain type of meal. So, if you need low-calorie meals, you need to find a reliable service that would offer you that kind of food packages! If in doubt, you can also search in Google but be careful when taking your pick as the sites that appear at the top of the search results are not necessarily the best.

All in all, a diet meal delivery program is really a great tool that you need in your quest of weight loss; you should be using it if you aren’t already.

Tags: diet delivery services, diet meal delivery services, finding the right diet, food, food packages, Google, home delivered meals, itching, ready made meals, search results

Eczema is much less frequent in adolescence than in the first years of childhood. In teen-agers it usually causes a thickening, dryness, and redness of the skin. Itching, and at times pain, may accompany the rash. At this age, eczema is most frequently found in the folds of the elbows and knees and on the wrists. Another common location is the back of the neck and ears.

Eczema may bring scaling of the skin. At times there is marked splitting of the skin and sometimes blisters appear, filled with clear fluid or pus.The cause of eczema is usually an allergy. Though in infancy, the allergens (allergy causers) are nearly always foods, in later years the eczema is just as likely to be a reaction to wool, nylon, or other materials. Reactions to various plants can also cause the rash. The reactions may be from touching the plants or from inhaling their pollens.

The emotions can play an important role in eczema. If a person is anxious or tense, he is more likely to scratch and pick at the lesions. This can lead to trouble from secondary bacterial infections, or just from the mechanical irritation and injury to the skin. When the eczema has a nervous or emotional root, the medical term for it is neurodermatitis. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: allergens, allergic reaction, allergic reactions, allergy, angioneurotic edema, bacterial infections, blisters, cause of eczema, eczema, Flea, food, frequent food allergens, hives, incision, irritation, itching, joint pain, neurodermatitis, pain, pus, rash, urticaria

The best home remedies for mosquito bites, of course, are those that stop the little critters biting in the first place. But if it is too late for that, there are still a few things that you can try.

A mosquito bite is not like the sting of a wasp or bee which is an injection of poison. Mosquitoes just want a little taste of your blood. But to stop it coagulating so that they can easily drink it, they also deposit a protein which causes an allergic reaction in some people.

It seems that some people get bitten constantly and others never have a single itch, but this is probably nothing to do with whether the insects like you. The truth is that some people do not get allergic and so they do not know they have been bitten.

If you ask a hundred bite-scratching people what they recommend, you may get a hundred different answers. Here are some of the most popular ideas.

Ice: apply an ice cube to reduce the inflammation and temporarily numb the area. Ice also restricts blood flow which may reduce the allergic reaction. The bite will probably itch again later, but maybe by then you will be busy doing something else and will not notice.

Roll-on anti perspirant: most commercial anti perspirants contain vasoconstrictive substances which, like ice, restrict blood flow to the area. Additionally, the aluminum in the anti perspirant may help the bite to heal. Do not use if the bite has been heavily scratched.

Fingernails: press down on the bite with a fingernail so that the nail digs in and leaves a mark. Then do the same thing at another angle to form a cross. This should temporarily stop the itching.

Toothpaste: some people recommend smearing toothpaste over the bite. The fluoride is said to reduce the allergic reaction. If desperate, why not give it a try!

Scratching: it has been shown that if you go so far as to open up the bite and make it bleed, some of the allergen may be forced out by the blood flow. However, the bite may become infected, so doing this deliberately is not recommended. If it happens by accident, apply antiseptic.

The good news is that the itching from bites will only last between 24 and 48 hours. Then, cover yourself in insect repellent or keep those mosquitoes out with netting to stop yourself being bitten next time.

You can also look for an anti itch cream that contains camphor, and keep it with you whenever you risk being bitten. Camphor can stop the itching and if applied early enough, it may even prevent the itchy bump from forming. This makes camphor one of the best home remedies for mosquito bites, but you have to buy some ahead of time.

Tags: allergic reaction, home remedies, inflammation, itching

Yesterday I switched back to contact lenses from glasses. I have worn contacts off and on for the last 25 years or so and over the last three years I have almost exclusively worn contact lenses. I rememver the last time that I got contact lenses the eye doctor asked me how long I wore my contact lenses and I replied “about 12 hours a day”, he was shocked and asked me what I had against my eyes to treat them so badly. I am sure that I will be better this time around.

More than 30 million Americans use contact lenses, according to the Contact Lens Council. In addition to offering flexibility, convenience, and a “no-glasses” appearance, “contacts” help correct a variety of vision disorders, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and poor focusing with reading material.

But contact lenses also present potential risks. “Because they are worn directly on the eye, they can lead to conditions such as eye infections and corneal ulcers,” says James Saviola, Branch Chief for FDA’s Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices. “These conditions can develop very quickly and can be very serious. In rare cases, they can lead to blindness.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: astigmatism, blindness, Branch Chief, conjunctivitis, Contact Lens Council, contact lens solutions, contact lense, contact lenses, eye infection, eye infections, farsightedness, FDA's Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Federal Trade Commission, fresh contact lens solution, glasses, homemade saline solution, itching, James Saviola, lens solution, lense infection, nearsightedness, over-the-counter devices, pain, sterile water, sterility, travel size containers, vision disorders

There is a lot of confusion surrounding menopause. The term “menopause” actually refers to the point in time when a woman hasn’t had a menstrual period in 12 consecutive months. However, many women refer to the process that leads up to their last period as “going through menopause.” Medically, that process is called perimenopause.

During perimenopause, a woman’s ovaries gradually reduce the amount of estrogen they produce, which causes menstrual periods to become irregular and, eventually, to stop. Some women have their ovaries removed surgically, creating a condition known as surgical menopause, which eliminates perimenopause and results in an abrupt stop in menstrual periods.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

A few lucky women (about 15%) have no symptoms other than irregular menstrual periods. Most women, though, have at least some symptoms. Generally, the symptoms fade over time and disappear completely once a woman reaches the point of menopause. The most common symptoms include:

• Hot flashes: These sudden changes in body temperature arrive without warning, are often accompanied by heavy sweating, and generally last a few minutes. When they occur during sleep, they are called night sweats, and they can be severe enough to awaken some women and make it impossible for them to get a good night’s rest.

• Vaginal changes: Dryness, itching, and irritation sometimes occur and may interfere with sexual intercourse. Your pharmacist can help you select products to minimize these symptoms.

• Urinary tract problems: Some women become more likely to develop infections or bladder control problems. There are treatments a doctor can prescribe to treat these conditions.

• Other physical changes: Some women experience palpitations, mild dizziness, tingling sensations, fatigue, restlessness, constipation, or aching bones. Others gain weight or find that their breasts become smaller.

• Emotional changes: Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, memory loss, and other emotional symptoms can result from changing hormone levels, lack of sleep (often the result of night sweats), or a variety of other factors.

Some of the changes that take place during peri menopause have a permanent effect on a woman’s health. For example:

• Heart: The loss of estrogen raises the level of LDL (”bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides in a woman’s blood, increasing her risk of developing heart problems.

• Bones: As the level of estrogen in a woman’s body declines, her bones may become weaker and brittle, increasing her risk of developing osteoporosis.

• Sex organs: The wall of the vagina may become thinner and drier, making intercourse painful and increasing the risk of infection, and her breasts may become smaller and sag.

• Skin: Because the skin is likely to become drier and lose its elasticity, it may lose its youthful appearance

Tags: constipation, dizziness, emotional_changes, fatigue, hot_flashes, irregular_menstrual_periods, irritation, itching, last_period, memory loss, menstrual_period, night_sweats, osteoporosis, perimenopause, pharmacist, restlessness, symptoms_of_menopause

Acne is a disorder that causes outbreaks of skin lesions commonly called pimples. It is caused by the skins oil glands making too much sebum, an oily substance, which leads to plugged pores. It also can be caused by the rapid production of a bacteria P. acnes.

Acne lesions occur mostly on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. It is the most common skin disease. Although acne is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to disfiguring and permanent scarring.

How does acne affect women?
Most young women and men will have at least a few pimples over the course of their lives. But acne seems to affect men and women in different ways. Young men are more likely to have a more serious form of acne. Acne in young women tends to be more random and linked to hormone changes, such as the menstrual cycle.

As women get older, acne often gets better. But some women have acne for many years. Some women even get acne for the first time at age 30 or 40.

For many women, acne can be an upsetting illness. Women may have feelings of depression, poor body image, or low self-esteem. But you don’t have to wait to outgrow acne or to let it run its course. Today, almost every case of acne can be resolved. Acne also can, sometimes, be prevented. Talk with your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in treating skin problems) about how you can help prevent acne and if treatment would help you.

To find out about the the best acne treatment read my review.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: accutane, acne, Acne Treatment, acne_cures, acne_no_more, acne_treatments, active disease, antibiotics, best_acne_treatment, birth control, birth defects, cysts, depression, Dermabrasion, email marketing software, epilepsy, excess oil, fatigue, hair care products, headache, irritation, itching, laser, laser surgery, oil, Oral contraceptives, overactive oil glands, Photodynamic therapy, pus, rosacea, scars, skin cancer, skin disease, skins oil glands, spironolactone, sports equipment, sunburn, surgery, upsetting illness, vitamin a

Now that Tea Tree Oil prices have dropped and the hype has hopefully worn off. I thought it would be nice to research a little more as to what kind of benefits we can get from the little herb that was such a wonder drug just a few years ago. It seems that there have been a few studies although many of them are inconclusive of the effect that Tea Tree Oil has on the body, although as you will see in this list there are many many claims to what Tea Tree Oil can do for you.

My advise is to get a larger bottle of Tea Tree Oil and test it out yourself for a month or two and see how it works out. From my experience I have found it to work great for my skin and use a Body Shop brand tea tree oil soap every day. Here is a list of the information and uses for you to try out.

Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a multi-purpose herb that traces its roots to the Aboriginal people of Australia. For thousands of years, they used the leaves as an antiseptic and antifungal by crushing the leaves and making a mudpack. The Australian government considered tea tree oil a World War II essential for their armed forces’ first aid kits. After the war, increased use of pharmaceutical antibiotics decreased tea tree oil’s appeal everywhere except in Australia. Tea tree oil started to regain its popularity in 1960, with a recharge in its research around the world. Today, Melaleuca alternifolia is also grown in California.

Properties of tea tree oil
Tea tree oil’s properties are contained in the oils of its leaves. The oil is steam distilled from the leaves and then tested for chemical properties, which can number between 50 and 100. This may explain tea tree oil’s many beneficial uses. The main active components are terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineole, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene and other turpenes. Its aroma is distinct and very floral although sharp.

General use
Tea tree has a long history of traditional use. Australian aboriginals used tea tree leaves for healing skin cuts and infections, by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area. The oil contains constituents called terpenoids, which kill fungus and bacteria.

Acne – Some research in humans suggests that applying tea tree oil to acne lesions on the skin may help acne to clear up faster and may also cause fewer adverse effects (skin dryness, itching, stinging, or redness) than do other commonly prescribed acne drugs..

Infections – Tea tree oil has been studied for treating a variety of infections. Early studies have found that tea tree oil may kill toenail fungus, fungal infections in the mouth and skin, athlete’s foot, some bacterial infections, vaginal infections, and herpes infections. However, there are no clear answers in these areas because studies have been small and low quality. More research is needed before a recommendation can be made.

Gingivitus – Early study suggests that tea tree oil may help gum inflammation and reduce plaque when used in mouthwash. Further research is needed to confirm these results.

Other uses
Athlete’s foot
Minor injuries
Vaginitis
Thrush
As an antiseptic
Boils
Lice
Psoriasis
yeast infection

Antibacterial
The most promising new function of tea tree oil is to counter methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also called the hospital super bug. In United States and European hospitals, MRSA grew from under 3% in the 1980s to 40% in the late 1990s. This super bug attacks people who have wounds, such as post-operative infections , and a depressed immune system. MRSA resists conventional antibiotics, except Vancomycin. A Thursday Plantation in vitro study, at East London University, comparing Vancomycin and tea tree oil, shows the latter as a powerful alternative. This study corroborated the University of Western Australia study by Thomas Riley and Christine Carson. Because the spread of MRSA occurs mainly by hands, one London hospital uses tea tree oil soap for staff and patient hygiene. The first study using real patients with MRSA, is currently in progress at The John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle New South Wales. The undertaking looks at tea tree oil as a topical alternative.

Tea tree oil works as an expectorant when inhaled or taken internally and has a soothing effect; therefore, it can be used for throat and chest infections, and clearing up mucus. It is also effective against earaches, cystitis, and gingivitis. Inhaling steaming hot water with 5 drops of tea tree essential oil added can not only soothe coughing and plugged noses, but doing so at the start of the infection might stop it from spreading. For sore throats, gargle with 6 drops of tea tree oil in a glass of warm water.

Common Doses
Tea tree comes in cream, ointment, lotion, and soap forms It can also be found as a pure oil. Tea tree oil has been used as a spot treatment for acne, for fungal infections of the toenails, and diluted as a mouthwash for oral yeast (thrush). When gargling, the solution is never swallowed after use

Recipes – Steam Inhalations
2 drops of tea tree oil in a bowl of steaming water. Cover head and inhale for
5-10 minutes. To relieve congestion and fight infection.

Recipes – Massage with Tea Tree oil
Add 3-5 drops of Tea Tree oil to 30ml of base oil and massage in for rheumatic
pain. Twice daily.

Recipes – Bathing with Tea Tree oil
As a disinfectant measure add approximately 3-5 drops to the bath water. Helps
with skin infections.

Immune System Treatment
Massage once weekly with a blend of 3-5 drops of Tea Tree oil to 30ml of base
oil. To help strengthen the immune system.

Interested in a proven method to rid you of your acne? Then visit the Acne no more site. Or another product is the herbal acne treatment called Acnezine.

Tags: acne, antibiotics, athlete, Australia, Australian government, bacterial infections, base oil, brand tea tree oil soap, California, chemical properties, chest infections, Christine Carson, Cover head, cystitis, earaches, East London University, fight infection, first aid, fungal infections, Gingivitis, herpes infections, inflammation, itching, John Hunter Hospital, London hospital, Massage, oil, pain, pharmaceutical antibiotics, post-operative infections, pure oil, skin cuts, skin infections, sore throats, Tea Tree, tea tree essential oil, Tea tree oil, tea tree oil soap, Tea tree oil works, The John Hunter Hospital, Thomas Riley, thrush, tree oil, United States, University of Western Australia, vaginal infections, Western Australia