How to Stop Comfort Eating - Hypnotherapy Cure For Eating Problems

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If you suffer from the familiar problem of needing to stop comfort eating, you are definitely not alone. While it may have begun with an apple women, and some men, have been engaging in comfort eating activities for thousands of years. So, what is it? Comfort eating is eating at times when you feel stressed, depressed, unnerved, anxious, excited, sad, and the list could go on and on. The problem lies in the fact that most people have far too many comfort eating crises for the sakes of their waist lines.

Why the Huge Rush to Stop Comfort Eating?

Comfort eating by itself is no big deal when enjoyed in moderation. The problem is that most people eat the wrong foods and have far too many times when they need these comfort foods that are usually high in sugar, fat, and/or calories. Unfortunately, comfort foods are quite often high in all three of these things. While they may bring about the temporary and all too brief high or feelings of relief that you are looking for, they also leave behind jeans that are far too tight and other problems related to a growing waistline.

More Problems With Comfort Eating

Other problems that go along with the need to eat for the sake of relief is that you generally tend to eat too much of the wrong foods and then you have the problem of guilt on top of the depression that drove you to turn to comfort eating to begin with. If you stop comfort eating all together you can break the cycle of eating for depression, overeating, feeling guilt, and beginning again.

Overeating Help Through Hypnotherapy

Though hypnotherapy in one form or another has been around for centuries it is only recently getting the credit it deserves as an effective form of treatment for all manner of emotional, medical, and physical maladies. NLP and hypnotherapy alone are powerful tools to help you stop comfort eating. When you combine them they will have a profound impact and give overeating help that even you might not have dared to dream possible.

But, how does it work? NLP, or neuro-linguistic programming works by training your mind to place less importance on those foods that you generally turn to when you need comfort. By robbing them of their importance and/or power over you, the mind leaves you free to pursue healthier choices or not to eat for the sake of depression at all.

Hypnotherapy can be used in conjunction with NLP in order to imitate the feelings of relief and/or elation that are often accompanied by consuming the various foods you eat for comfort. It doesn't matter why, how long, when it first happened, or how often if happens; if you need help to stop comfort eating or overeating help in general there are many excellent sources for help. Some of the best though, are through NLP, hypnosis, and hypnotherapy.

Various Dimensions for Home Gym Design

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Designing a home gym is more than simply trying to think of what equipment you'll want to get. You have to consider the size of the room, its placement in the house, and then work your equipment around these parameters. Knowing the room dimensions of your home gym gives you a more accurate assessment of what you can do with it. Here are a few of the common dimensions of home gyms based on the types of rooms people usually convert into an exercise room, and some ideas for what you can do with them.

Primary Considerations - most people will at least take into account the floor space available when determining the room dimensions for their home gyms. However, you also have to take into account three other factors that help determine the room's usability: One, consider the ceiling clearance. If you get equipment that's too tall for your room, you're in trouble. Two, consider the entry way of the room. Buying a piece of equipment that won't even fit through the door of your gym room is a quick way to guarantee a headache. Three, look at the general shape of the room. This is generally where it gets tricky, and the entries below deal with some of the more difficult types encountered aside from the "average" room.

Small Rooms - generally small, apartment room sized places, these are square in size and can be walked across in a few quick paces. At best you'll be able to fit ONE jungle gym unit here, given the room dimensions of this type of home gym, though for the sake of convenience it's actually a better idea to stick to light, hand carryable equipment like push up bars, sit up mats, and dumbells. Avoid barbells which might require large weight racks, as this will take up too much space and can cause injury if the rack spills, as the small size of the room almost guarantees the heavy plates will fall on someone...

Expansive Rooms - this is not a problem. These are large square or rectangular rooms with lots of space. Allocating equipment based on the room dimensions of this type of home gym is pretty easy. Place your equipment in areas by segments. For example, a treadmill in one corner, a jungle gym in another, a punching bag in a third, etc. I'd recommend leaving the center of the room open with some mats for calisthenics and other exercises, and having one wall free of equipment and housing full length mirrors.

Basement Gyms - these gyms are converted from basements, and the dimensions of this type of home gym are usually "large" types too. However, two considerations must be taken regarding dimensions of basement rooms. One is that their entry points are marked by stairs. Avoid placing equipment near the stairs, as gym gear is often marked by the presence of a lot of heavy metal. People tripping down the stairs will suffer serious injury if they land on a barbell weight rack, for example. The second consideration is ventilation. Basements are underground, so there won't be any windows. Use artificial air cyclers like an AC or basement dehumidifier with air temperature settings to keep air cycling fresh in the room.

Hallway Type Gyms - some people use portions of their house more akin to long, narrow hallways than actual rooms. The dimensions of this type of gym room are usually just wide enough for two people to walk comfortably abreast, and are long enough for a brief sprint. If this is your type of room, any sort of weights training equipment is off the list. Matting the room and using it for calisthenic exercises is the best idea, and if the length of the room is enough, you can practise brief sprints across it. For martial artists and fencers, this is an ideal specialized type of sparring room where lunging and retreating sparring can be practised exclusively as both fighters will be unable to use flanking and sidestepping techniques.

Odd Shaped Rooms - if your room dimensions for your planned home gym are irregular, with nooks and crannies where closets used to be and such, then plan your gym according to the average floor space of the main area itself. The smaller cubbyholes can be used for storing equipment like barbell racks, lockers for clothing, wate coolers, and the like, but restrict your plans for the main gym equipment to the floor and ceiling space of the main center of the room.

Garage Gyms - lastly, some people use their garage as a home gym. The dimensions of this type may seem roomy at first, but you have to consider that the garage will have other things occupying it, not the least of which will be the family car and any home improvement type work benches and their corresponding power tool racks. Take all of the extra items that will be in the garage into account before picking up any equipment. After all, you really don't want to be pumping iron less than 5 feet away from your sedan...

Dating After Divorce - Advice for Parents

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Good for you! You've done your healing work and are ready to try dating again. But what about your kids?

I'll tell you what I tell my clients in our parenting consultation calls -- I'm glad you asked!

At first, you may decide to simply lead a double life -- enjoying an adult social life when the kids are with their other parent, and being a full time caregiver when they are at your house.

This compartmentalization works well for many parents for quite a while. And sooner or later, many of us decide we are ready for more than just an occasional night on the town.

Below are some suggestions for parents who are dating to find a new mate. For simplicity's sake, I'll write as if your date is male, and trust you to make the appropriate translation if this is not the case.

Before you became a parent, dating was just about you. The stakes were not high - if at some point things weren't working well anymore, you could just walk away.

Now, becoming serious with someone means he will play a major role in the lives of your children. Dating when you have kids is about screening prospects out, not about making allowances or exceptions that grease the way for potential partners to glide their way in to your life.

Please set your standards HIGH. You are not only interviewing for the position of partner; this job description includes parental duties as well. Excitement on Saturday nights is no longer enough - you need someone who is also engaging and helpful with the kids on Sunday mornings.

Before you introduce your new 'friend' to your kids, do your homework! To put it bluntly -- put him through the wringer. If it doesn't happen naturally anyway because your kids get sick or your child care falls through, then deliberately cancel a date or ask to change the time or meeting place. His reaction to the change will give you a sense of how he handles the inevitable schedule adjustments that are part of the parenting package.

Watch how he treats the waiter at a restaurant. Observe him driving in rush hour traffic. Any signs of a temper? Any condescension or rudeness? Ask him about his ex if he has one, and LISTEN to his answer carefully. If there's any unfinished business there, wait until it's finished before you bring him home to meet your kids.

Likewise, ask about his relationship with his family of origin, and once again, pay close attention to his reply. Listen for red flags - unresolved anger, blame, lack of forgiveness, rigidity, etc. Don't overlook these signals! They are warnings that tell you he may not be a good fit for your family situation. (It goes without saying that active addictions automatically disqualify him, right?)

Discuss topics like whether he wants to have children of his own someday. Talk about your childhoods, your values, and your ideas about religion, discipline, and finances. You can't afford to wait until later to ask these kinds of questions.

Get it all out on the table NOW, before your kids meet or become attached to him. Neil Rosenthal over at http://www.heartrelationships.com has some quizzes and relationship checklists on his site that I find to be very practical and revealing.

The bottom line: Is he the kind of man you would want your son to grow up to be? (If you don't have a son, ask yourself the question hypothetically. It still works.)

If not, don't bring him home. Either move on, or let your fling run its course out of the view of your kids.

Any prospective partner needs understand that your relationship with your kids came first: it was in place before he arrived, is permanent, and will always take priority at a very primal level. There is no room in your life for a clingy, dependent or jealous man. This is not to say that your new partner will forever play second fiddle. It's simply unkind, unfair, and unrealistic to represent yourself as anything other than what you are - a parent, first and foremost.

Brother of the Bride Wedding Speech

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Weddings are ceremonies where a couple gets to share their best day with their friends, family and loved ones. It is a ceremony that most people consider the most important in their lives. It is a great privilege to be invited to share and celebrate with the couple but it is even more honorable to be chosen by the couple or family to give wedding ceremony speeches. Some of the wedding ceremony speeches are given after the couple exchange their wedding vows during the church service, while others are given during the reception as people eat and make merry. Brother of the bride wedding speech is one of the common wedding speeches. Others short wedding speeches are given by the couples best man and maid of honor, father or mother of the bride or groom, siblings to the couple or other close family and friends..

The Brother of the bride wedding speech is one where a brother gives the positive traits of his sister. Brother of the bride wedding speech is one of the short wedding speeches, which can be given by the bride's brother in place of their father. Brother of the bride wedding speech should start with congratulations to the couple on their hard work and planning. The bride can be assured that all worked out beautifully according to plan and everything looks great. The brother of the bride wedding speech should sound personal as the brother narrates some of the childhood experiences. This helps to spark fond memories and allows the rest of the family and friends at the reception to share a little with the two siblings. The brother also gets to invite his new brother in law into the family. If the brother shares the same sense of humor with the couple, he can make a few jokes without embarrassing the couple in any way or add some love quotes and finally congratulate them as he welcomes another family member to give their speech as well.

Some people feel they need to write their brother of the bride wedding speech. The speech can be well planned, thought out and even finally written. The speech should briefly state what the brothers feeling and good wishes towards the couple. A few love quotes and/ or jokes can be included in wedding speeches to make it less formal. The brother of the bride wedding speech can be casual with the brother telling the couple that he is sincerely happy for them. One wedding speech example that a brother can give is as follows: - "...For the sake of those who do not know me my name is [Andrew]. [Alexia], the bride is my younger sister. I feel privileged to share in this beautiful occasion but I feel even more honored to give a speech. On behalf of the entire family, I would like to take this opportunity to invite [Boniface], my new brother in-law into our family. Some of the fond memories I have of my sister include the day she removed her braces and she kept smiling at everyone saying how her teeth were beautiful..." This brother of the bride wedding speech is brief but balanced since it captures all the necessary aspects.

Getting In Shape For A Body Building Competition

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Body building competitions are a dime a dozen these days. A lot of people are interested in body building and it has become one of the most favorite interests of both men and women in the recent times. People love to build their muscles just of the sake of it and also for the sake of entering many a competition that take place all over the world.

A body building competition is the right place to show your body and get appreciated by tons of fans all over the world. In fact, it brings out the best out of you and makes you popular. It is the most rewarding experience a body builder can have and it is the ultimate dream for any body builder to enter a competition and win it hands down.

If you are an amateur or a professional body builder, you can participate in such events in your area and slowly work your way up to the top events that take place in various parts of the world. You can start off with your place where local competitions are conducted and go on to become even 'Mr. Universe', the ultimate acclaim you can get in this field.

Such contests allow you to compete with other contemporaries who are looking forward for their turn to fame and recognition. In fact, the competition is a fierce one and it often motivates you to work out well, eat well, and get better results from your body to perform well in the competition. A few days before the competition, they will be extra special to make sure they present their body in the best possible manner. For this, they cut down the fat content from their food completely and work out for several hours a day in order to get that ultimate muscle tone and definition.

Also, the spirit of a body building competition is almost infectious and you can find it out the minute you step into the stage. The kind of recognition you get and the kind of support you get makes you forget all the toil you went through building all those muscles and makes you long for even more of that. You need to register yourself officially in order to enter most of these events and once you do well at the initial stage, you can always go places by entering bigger contests that are held all over the world.

How To Block Unknown and Anonymous Numbers

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Some people and companies can use pretty devious tactics to get you to pick up the phone, even when they know there is a good chance you have no desire to talk with them. One thing many do is make their number come up on your caller ID as 'unknown' or 'anonymous'. What that happens, you take your chances when answering. This is something that debt collectors do in many cases, and is also done by survey firms, and even telemarketers. If you don't want these types of calls to come through, there are a few ways that you can try to block them.

These calls can come in any time of the day. Some of them are marked as unknown or anonymous, but there are also some that are marked as private. Private numbers might be people you know who have blocked their number by being seen by those they call. Most do that in an effort to stay off of calling lists. Those people have the option of unblocking their number on a call-by-call basis, so they can call you with their number displayed if you have it set up so their call cannot come through otherwise.

Most companies offer you a way to block these calls, and it can usually happen by just dialing a code on your phone. If you have Time Warner Cable digital phone service, just as an example, you can dial (*77) on your phone and wait to hear confirmation that your unknown and anonymous calls are now being blocked. There is also a code (*87) that you can use to turn this type of service off. If you have service through Vonage, you can use the very same codes.

You may find that most all phone companies use the same codes for the sake of simplicity, but if you try it and nothing happens, you may have to contact your particular company to see what the code is. Some may not offer this, and it is not available in some parts of some states. You can look through your local phone book for this information (usually in the very front sections) to see if something is listed there.

This code and service usually work very well. It forces someone to identify themselves before they can ring through to your line, or they can't get through at all. What you should remember, however, is that you may still get some 'out of area' or 'unknown' calls that do come through. This is not because your phone code is not working, but rather, because their phone provider failed to send through the proper data to display the number. In these cases, it is simply a matter of technology not working correctly.

The Jazz and Art on the Avenue at Delray Beach

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Delray Beach is a small, sophisticated town with a rich and interesting history, starting, like many Florida towns and cities, with a well-meaning tycoon who bought up an ugly plot of marsh-land infested with snakes, mosquitoes and alligators. Through a long process, Delray has been transformed into quite an attractive little city, with a large number of things to see and do.

Delray is a fantastic location for leisure, as it offers a wide variety of activities, from a fantastic 2-mile stretch of beach (offering all of the activities that you might associate with beaches), to a quaint downtown full of antique shops and art galleries, to a commendable offering of gourmet restaurants (Kyoto Sushi and Sake is quite good). Without a doubt, one of the best parts of Delray Beach, however, is probably the special events that they seem to be perpetually hosting. My favorite is the Jazz and Art on the Avenue series, which happens about five times a year (there are still two opportunities for 2006 - October 19th and November 30th).

The Jazz and Art on the Avenue events are an amazing mix of interesting art, eclectic music, and the always charming sights and sounds of Delray Beach. There are countless bands (jazz and otherwise - on the 17th of August there were Taiko drummers) that provide a perfect evening of live entertainment for music aficionados. In addition to the music, there is also a "gallery-stroll" - art galleries open up for the duration of the event (6pm-10pm) so that you can peruse their collections. Be sure to stop by the Burton Gallery.
As if this visual and aural feast were not enough, the local businesses around the event center open their doors to provide you with all manner of goods and services - from food to massages to office-supplies - generally at sale prices. This is definitely something I try very hard not to miss.

Hopefully my stirring descriptions pique your curiosity to the point that you visit Delray Beach (whether you visit for the festivals, the shops, the restaurants, or the beach). It is the perfect spot for a special occasion, and pairs perfectly with Millenium Limo. Imagine taking a limo to the jazz and art festival and then wandering around for a few hours taking it all in. You could eat, drink, and be merry with reckless abandon, secure in the knowledge that a professional limo-driver will be taking you home afterwards. In any case - Delray Beach is a great destination for any reason: a romantic outing, a family trip, or just to get away.

The Beatles Best Four Psychedelic Albums

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These are the four Beatles albums you need if you are into psychedelic music. I will not put them in order (other than alphabetical) because you really need all four of them and I don't want you thinking you can get away with leaving any of them off your list.

Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

This is probably The Beatles most purposefully trippy album. Almost every song on the album is bursting with mind melting madness of some type or another whether it be experimental production, unusual song arrangements, and/or unusual songwriting. "I Am The Walrus" & "Strawberry Fields Forever" are arguably John Lennon at his most "mad." These are the songs where he went full out with the "kitchen sink" production, the bizarre lyrics, the unexpected song arrangements. It's all there. "Flying," "Blue Jay Way," and the title track "Magical Mystery Tour," these are songs designed to melt minds and they do just that.

Revolver (1966)

What brililant songs. And what an amazing variety in music in such a compact album. There's more variety in this 35 minute album than in most band's whole careers. And it's all done so incredibly well. And then there's "Tomorrow Never Knows" which could very well be the most far out song The Beatles ever recorded.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

This is a trip. Sure the "concept" isn't really all that tight, but I think that's why it works so well. It's like you are in a carnival going around hearing these different incarnations of the same band. Again a wild selection of different styles of music but unlike Revolver, each of the songs somehow sounds connected to each other as well. It's an amazing trick to make "Within You Without You" & "When I'm 64" make sense together on the same album.

This is an album that has become so legendary that sometimes I think people don't properly appreciate how great it is. It is not overrated. It really is that good. If you think otherwise, you may have not got out of that stage where you want to be different just for it's own sake.

The White Album(1968)

I talk a lot about variety in this article because that's one of the things that I love most about The Beatles music and it's one of the things that I think makes listening to their albums so trippy. Well this is the peak of that variety. There's 30 tracks here and a vast majority of them are completely different than the other 29 songs on the album. In many ways this is the ultimate Beatles trip and I think it's their best album ever (psychedelic or not.)

And then there's "Revolution #9." It's hard to get much more psychedelic than that. If you really listen to this track closely on headphones you are likely to get yourself quite a scare and I think that makes the song quite a successful piece of sound art.

21st Birthday Ideas

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As the theme queen, all my friends who are turning 21 this year wanted me to give them a few ideas to make their birthday party stand out from everyone else's. They wanted something unique, fun and memorable so here are a couple of ideas that I came up with.

THE BASICS

* Where

21st Birthday parties can be pretty cheap especially if you host it home in your back garden. If you do hire a hall or a club room, you must make sure there are toilets. If you do have it at home, include a big projector screening the last 21 years of your life in a mixture of movies and photos that will run continuously through the night and remove anything you don't wish to be damaged and lock doors that should be kept shut.

* Alcohol

It's up to you whether you provide alcohol or it's a BYO affair. If you have a bar at a club, make sure you have a tab limit which stops when you rich it or else you'll be left with a nasty surprise the next day. If you're in your backyard, fill big tubs or coolers with ice to allow the alcohol to be kept cold.

* Non-alcoholic

For those not drinking alcohol, for people under aged or for people looking for something to mix with their alcohol, juices and soft drink are great and a fantastic alternative for when the tab runs dry. Buy cans of drink in bulk to avoid having lots of plastic cups everywhere and fruit juices are pretty cheap too.

* Food

If at home, have a BBQ with bread rolls and salads and plenty of finger foods. Chips, pretzels and nuts are always a winner and try and avoid foods that require cutlery. If catering, finger foods that do the rounds are great and also means less clean up with no cutlery and paper plates.

THEMES

The Rubik's Cube Party.

A Rubik's Cube Party is a party where you have to dress up in different colours of the Rubik's cube (red, white, yellow, green, blue, orange) and by midnight you have to have swapped with other people until you're dressed all in one colour. It's quite amusing seeing guys squeezing into girls' shirts/skirts and everyone swapping shoes to get the right colour resulting in a lot of confusion. It sorta goes without saying that you don't wear your favourite shirt unless you don't mind loosing it. Award prizes at midnight for the best dressed/sexiest dressed/worst dressed etc and make sure you take plenty of pictures!

The Masquerade Ball

Want to really dress up? Then a Masquerade Ball is perfect where everyone must wear evening attire (suits for the guys and dresses for the girls) with colourful masks. Hire a hall and decorate in one or two colours with plenty of balloons and streamers and hire a DJ that will not only play the latest stuff but also something to waltz too. Give out prizes for not only the best mask but also the best dancer, best couple, worst dressed etc.

Alice in Wonderland

Take a trip back to your childhood and into the past with all your guests dressed up as Alice in Wonderland characters. Dress up as the Mad Hatter or the Cheshire Cat and hold the party in a room decorated as a Victorian Gin room with black and white photographs and "servants" that will serve drinks and finger foods.

Pirates vs Ninjas

Either dress as a pirate or a ninja and have a face off with water balloons (best done outside) and drink "ale" "grog" and "sake." Decorate the room with seafaring objects like pirate hats, flags and boats. For food cut up sandwiches to look like throwing stars and have a roast pig (or other joint of meat unless you're vegetarian) rotating over a fire. Have a treasure hunt with a pot of chocolate gold to be found! YUM!

These are just 4 ideas that will hopefully help you out when planning your big day. Be creative and add your own individual spin and ENJOY YOURSELF!

Happy Birthday!

Managing the Stress of Daily Life For the Sake of Your Heart

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Many factors are associated with reducing your probability of developing heart disease. You need to stopping smoking, improving your exercise and changing your diet. However it has to be acknowledged that stress management is crucial for cardiac well-being. Indeed it is probable that you will not be able to stick to an exercise program or a diet regime if you are under chronic stress. Uncontrolled stress can have a terrible impact on the heart. It:

increases heart rate and blood pressure,
increases cholesterol and homocysteine levels,
increases artery wall inflammation,
constricts the arteries which can result in a heart attack,
creates heart rhythm irregularities - which can trigger a sudden cardiac death and
increases blood clotting.

What is stress?

Stress has many definitions including anything that causes us to change, anything that throws us off our equilibrium or when we are under unusual or excessive pressure. Some stress is necessary - it is what stimulates us and without some stress we become bored and frustrated. Stress can be seen as the 'spice of life' or the 'kiss of death' and what one person considers to be stressful another person will see as a challenge and interesting. There are some events which all experience as stressful of course. These include divorce, death of a loved one, terrorism and sudden unforseen events such as car accidents, for example. However there are other events that are seemingly trivial that can be experienced as stressful such as being delayed in a queue or doing something that is 'fun' like going on a vacation. There is evidence to suggest that 'little stressors' are often harder on health than some of the big stress events. It seems that the body was not designed to deal with prolonged chronic stress. We aren't meant to drag around bad memories and feelings of anxiety and frustration.

The fact that stress is a serious health problem can be seen in the following figures:

89% of adults experience high stress levels
60 - 70% of all disease and illness is stressed related
one in four people experience sleep loss as a result of stress
more than 25% of adults have high blood pressure due to or aggravated by stress
75 - 90% of visits to medical practitioners are stress related
The physical response to stress is what has been called the 'fight or flight' syndrome. This is where the body sends messages to your body in the form of stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline). The message is that we need to take quick action and our body's response to these hormones is to:

send stored fats and sugars into our blood stream to provide the energy for action,
increase the rate of our breathing so that we have the oxygen needed,
increase our heart rate and blood pressure so that the extra oxygen can be carried to the muscles,
our digestive system action is slowed down to make extra blood available for the muscles,
activate the blood-clotting mechanisms in anticipation of injury.
In short, all our systems are ready to go. This is a healthy response if we are in physical danger, but it is not a healthy response to the majority of stressors that we face in our modern society. In the modern world we do not physically fight the nagging boss we grin and bear it. The stress is not soon over and it can be continual and chronic.

In addition to the physical responses to stress we have emotional responses. When we are unable to act - that is no, fight or flight, our reaction can be internalised. We tend to 'bottle up' our feelings and 'stew' over things. There is also the possibility that we develop long term vigilance where we look into the future with fear - watching and waiting for something disastrous to happen. This is a response to lack of control and the attitude of 'there is nothing I can do about it.' This in turn can lead to feelings of self-doubt, a sense of failure, depression and feelings of entrapment.

Stress Warning Signs

Chronic stress, anxiety and feelings of pressure are common with modern Western lifestyles. When does this stress become a problem for our health? Some of the physical, emotional and behavioural warning signs of over stress are:

increased muscular tension in the neck, back and shoulders,
chest pains or a feeling of pressure in the chest - like a brick being placed on the chest,
shortness of breath,
numbness or tingling, especially in legs, feet, fingers or hands,
stomach and digestive problems,
irregular menstrual periods, increased menstrual cramping and more severe premenstrual tension,
skin eruptions and cold sores,
feeling there just isn't enough time to get everything done,
difficulty meeting deadlines,
difficulty making decisions,
low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness,
increased sensitivity to criticism,
feeling that everything and everyone is against you,
fatigue and boredom, unhappiness and sadness,
difficulty with concentration or being creative and productive,
difficulty controlling your temper and a tendency to criticise and be argumentative,
difficulty in remembering things,
overeating, abusing alcohol or drugs, being too tired or busy to exercise, smoking, and
oversleeping or not getting enough restful sleep.
A person under excessive stress can show many of these signs. Unfortunately the reactions to stress often create further stress. If you are showing the signs of overstress outlined above talk to your health professional and begin to make serious changes in your life.

What You Can Do About Stress

It is not possible to avoid stress - indeed this is not desirable as stress can add to the variety and spice of life. However, it is necessary to manage the stress that we feel. To effectively manage the stress we need to know the level of stress that we are under. We need to know the amount of stress that we can comfortably handle and then what we can do about any stress that goes above that level.

So what can we do about our excessive levels of stress? There is no one approach to stress management and there are many different ways that you can go about dealing with the stressors that are a part of your life. The most effective way is to evaluate your life, what your goals and values are and then work on aligning what you do with you life and time to what you want. However, the question of how to go about doing this is beyond the scope of this article. The approaches presented below can be used to help you cope with the stress you face.

The following list is a compilation of suggestions that you may find useful. Examine the list and see if there is something that you can implement to help you to deal with the stress that you feel.

Relaxation - you need to be able to relax your mind and body on a regular basis so that you can deal with stress. Make time to go for a walk, read a book, listen to some music, soak in a warm bath, practice yoga, meditate, get a massage or whatever activity will assist you to relax and let go of the tension that stress brings. This can also include learning progressive relaxation techniques.
Redefine the stressful situation. An event in itself is generally not stressful but it is our perception of the event that makes it stressful. Piscatella and Franklin have a story about an elderly lady who was woken in the middle of the night by 'noise' coming from the apartment next door. She stressed over this and rang the night manager of the apartments to complain. The offender was a famous pianist who was apparently disappointed by his performance at Carnegie Hall that night and was replaying the entire concert. The woman redefined the nature of the stress and moved a chair close to the wall so that she could listen to the music from the concert. Is there some way that you can redefine the things that are causing you stress?
Focus on problems or things that can be changed and do something about these situations. For example if you are always stressed because you often run late for work - try setting the alarm for 15 minutes earlier and so forth.
Write in a journal. Keeping a journal is a great way to write about the things that are stressing you - it is like having a non-judgmental friend to talk to. You can focus on your feelings and not the facts of the situation. Getting to your feelings will help you to look at your feelings in relation to your personal rules, values and beliefs. You need to write every day or most days and try to use the same space and time. Even if the words don't come easily keep at it and it will soon become second nature to you.
Build a cushion of time into your daily schedule for the things that unexpectedly occur. Leave about 20% of the time available for the unexpected - for illness, traffic jams, an opportunity that comes your way and so forth.
Work out your values and goals. This will provide you with direction and meaning for your life, especially when the goals are concerned with being as much as having.
Exercise frequently. We have in previous newsletters talked about the benefits of exercise for your heart. Exercise will reduce your anxiety, depression and tension and the stress hormones. Exercise will make you feel more powerful and in control and generally better about yourself.
Use deep breathing to provide a calming effect. It can be done in a stressful situation or twice per day to break the hold that tension can have. In stressful situations most people breath in short shallow breaths. This constricting can actually increase the feelings of stress. Try instead to use your abdominal muscles to help you to take in a deep breath and to slowly exhale the air. Find a comfortable position - it can be sitting, standing or lying. Take a deep breath through your nose. As you inhale push out your stomach - this will lower the diaphragm. Hold your breath for a couple of seconds and then breath our slowly - taking about twice as long as when you inhaled. You will need to practice away from the stressful situation so that you are able to use it when you are stressed.
Learn to laugh. Try to put humour into situations that you find stressful.
In addition to these you also need to:

Avoid the intake of stimulants (such as caffeine) or depressants (such as alcohol) and refined foods.
Avoid smoking - if you do smoke, for goodness sake give it up!
Eat fresh, whole food and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Herbs, such as chamomile, verbena and valerian can help relive some of the symptoms of stress.
Take the time to enjoy life and replenish your energy levels.
Find a support group or person who can help you work through the issues underlying the stress.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements to Help Deal with Stress

The following vitamins and minerals can assist in dealing with stress:

Vitamin B complex. The B group vitamins are often depleted by stress and these vitamins are important for ensuring the nervous and immune systems are able to function effectively.
Vitamin C will provide the immune and nervous systems with a boost during stress. This will make you feel fitter and healthier.
Coenzyme Q10 helps to improve energy production.
Zinc is an important mineral which can help restore and maintain a healthy immune system.
This list is not considered to be all that you could do to help manage your stress levels. It is a place to start and you can add others ways that you find to relax.

So far in our prevention of heart disease series we have looked at your risks of developing heart disease and ways of dealing with these risks. This has included stopping smoking, making exercise a habit, changing your diet and this month managing your stress level. In the next issue we will provide additional information that you will be able to implement to directly tackle any artery clogging problems that you may have. I hope that you have been having success in implementing your exercise program and changing your diet. Even if you are unable to make all of the changes suggested, that's OK. Keep heading in the direction of implementing a lifestyle that will support your heart and remember that every positive change that you do make is change for improved health.

References

Cromie, C. 2005, Smoking and Drinking. Good medicine.

Davies, S. and A. Stewart., 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pan.

Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, The Ultimate Guide to Health from Nature. Asrolog Publication.

Piscatella, J.C. and Franklin, B.A. 2003, Take a Load off Your Heart. Workman.

For His Name's Sake

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Because of who He is not because of who we are we can receive God's best in our everyday lives. He is a promise keeper from everlasting to everlasting. His integrity is unsurpassed. His written word must be carried out as it is sealed with His Spirit. Jesus carried out and fulfilled all that was written about Him as He lived here on earth.

For HIS NAME'S Sake He will not forsake us.
For His NAME'S sake He will lead us in paths of righteousness.
For His NAME'S sake He saves us.
For His NAME'S sake He shall appear to our joy.
For His NAME'S sake our sins are forgiven.
And for His NAME'S sake we go forth taking nothing from unbelievers.

See these written in the wonderful word of God in the King James Bible.

1 Samuel 12:22
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

1 Samuel 12:21-23 (in Context) 1 Samuel 12 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:2-4 (in Context) Psalm 23 (Whole Chapter)

Psalm 106:8
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Psalm 106:7-9 (in Context) Psalm 106 (Whole Chapter)

Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Isaiah 66:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 66 (Whole Chapter)

1 John 2:12
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

1 John 2:11-13 (in Context) 1 John 2 (Whole Chapter)

3 John 1:7
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

3 John 1:6-8 (in Context) 3 John 1 (Whole Chapter)

I love that God will do all that He promised and wrote about. I love the Lord for the surety it brings to my spirit knowing that it all depends on His Name's sake and our believing that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Ten Components of Effective Team Problem Solving

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When problems arise in your organization they need to be dealt with immediately and with a collectively developed problem solving process. Those affected by both the problem and its solution need to be a part of the team that goes through the process and develops solutions to resolve the underlying issues that cause it. The following are ten components of any such problem solving process that, if observed, will lead to effective and lasting solutions to the problems you face.

1. Team members readily contribute from their experience and listen to the contributions of others.

2. Disagreements arising from different points of view are considered helpful; they are seen as the crucible out of which unambiguous and honest solutions can flow.

3. Team members challenge suggestions they believe are unsupported by facts or logic but avoid arguing just to have their way or to be noticed for their own individual input.

4. Poor solutions are not supported just for the sake of harmony or agreement.

5. Differences of opinion are discussed and resolved. Coin tossing, averaging, straw-drawing, majority vote and similar cop-outs are avoided when making a decision.

6. Every team member strives to make the problem solving process efficient and is careful to facilitate rather than hinder discussion; each member strives to encourage and applaud individual efforts to contribute as well as the contributions themselves.

7. Team members encourage and support co-workers who are reluctant to offer ideas or to offer differing views from those already expressed.

8. Team members understand the value of time and work to eliminate extraneous and/or repetitious discussion.

9. Team decisions are not arbitrarily overruled by the leader simply because he/she doesn't agree with them; each member is committed to respecting each other's views and to honoring the sources of these views as being legitimate and sincere.

10. The team understands that the leader will make the best decision he or she can if a satisfactory team solution is not forthcoming; they each agree to support and promote the decision that results from the problem solving process whether it is made collectively by the team or individually by the leader of the team.

Intoxicated with Complexity - What's Wrong With Corporate Strategy

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I was talking recently with a good friend who is a senior manager for a large public company. Many times the discussions turn into strategy discussions and I've notice a recurring theme: Complexity! In fact, my friend consistently says, "My company is intoxicated with complexity!"

We both laughed at how many times we've sat in strategic planning presentations looking over 80+ page strategy documents with executives rambling on about the direction of the company only to leave the meeting more confused. The pretty graphs, arrows and flowery wording are very impressive in form but the clarity was just not there.

Why are strategies so complex and what can be done to change that? My complexity theories include:

1. Existence Justification - Obviously there are a lot of talented people in upper management or they wouldn't have made it as far as they have. A stumbling block can be that management has to come up with some unique and/or complex strategy to justify there existence and to show why they make the "big bucks!" Unfortunately, in some cases it is an "ego" thing as well. Executives like to show how smart they are or how much smarter they are than the regular worker. Instead, they outsmart themselves by delivering complicated and confusing messages that few people can truly understand.

2. For The Sake Of... - This refers to strategies related to growth for the sake of growth or diversification for the sake of diversification. Some strategies are "We want to be a $10 billion in five years!" or "Increase Revenue By 15%." Why? Just because?? In many cases, that is the answer, "Just because." Revenue growth for the sake of revenue growth alone is not a sound strategy. In fact, it is not a strategy at all. It is a financial metric that helps to evaluate the success of a strategy. Others say it's time to "diversify." Many times it is diversification into areas with little or no expertise. This is risky but the word tends to sound really good.

Some questions to ask when reviewing or initiating strategy planning:

o Can the strategy be explained on one page?

o Can it be explained effectively to the lowest level employees?

o Can employees at all levels understand how their performance helps to achieve the strategy?

o Does the strategy conflict with the company's mission, values or ideals?

o Does it include growth or diversification for the sake of ...?

o Does the strategy include straying away from core competencies?

Negative answers to these questions does not necessarily mean they are bad ideas it simply means more work needs to be done to ensure the strategy is clear, easily explainable, achievable and consistent with the best interest of the company.

Steps to Getting Along With Difficult Family Members

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My pregnant daughter just called me to complain (again) about her paternal grandmother. This has become a daily phone call. My son called me from work "Mom, can't we see Aunt Ila and Lucas and they could just once leave HER home?" Our nephew doesn't make a habit of phoning me, however he did tell his mom he wasn't coming down to visit this time if they had to stay with HER. My sister-in-law popped for a hotel room.

Every family has a member that rubs the rest of the clan the wrong way. I'm pretty sure it's some sort of biblical rule, if not, then it must be in the bylaws passed by the federal government of every country.

Now I'm not a psychologist or a family counselor-but due to my two now wonderful adult children, I have been through enough therapy to give advice on the subject of getting along with difficult people. Especially those that we love (or have to for the sake of a loved one).

1. PICK YOUR BATTLES CAREFULLY. Decide what you can ignore and what you can't. For example: I hate when people aren't honest. I don't mind if you disagree with me. I don't care if you don't like me. But I won't put up with duplicity. Just tell me the truth. Some people it's laundry, money or a personal dress code. Whatever you do, don't chose every little nitpicky event and yell about it. Oh, and when you go to war-do it quietly. I've found my low voice or even silence is a very powerful tool in fixing a problem area.

2. STAY AWAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. That's right. There is always another room, someone else you can talk too or just bow out of the event if you have to lower yourself to the main offender's behavior.

3. USE THESE TWO PHRASES AND THEY WILL END MANY A PROBLEM. My husband an I learned these words from a family therapy seminar and they turned into our favorite rebuttals during the teenage years: Regardless of.../Nevertheless...
Now I know these sound simplistic but picture this: teen doesn't want to do homework and starts to yell at you.
You respond: Regardless of how you hate English, you have to do the assignment.
Or your mother-in-law hates that you won't take her on vacation. You respond: Nevertheless, our plans have been finalized and you are not going.

4. IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NEW TO ADD. This is our third favorite for the "comeback" on #3. When the challenger rebuts you simply say: I have heard what you had to say, if you have nothing new to add, we are done here.

Then simply walk away, read a book/newspaper, make a phone call or retire to the bathroom. The key to making these steps work is reacting by NOT reacting.

Oh, I used these phrases on my pregnant daughter just now.

Sarah, I know your grandmother is extremely trying, nevertheless, for your father's and aunt's sake, you'll have to put up with her for a visit. I have heard how much you dislike her, if you have nothing new to add to your long list of complaints-we're done.

I added-this is really good practice, pretend you have to take care of your two year old who is just about to throw a tantrum. Stay calm, quiet and ignore the bad behavior. It goes away, eventually.

Writing Ebooks For Profit

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Perhaps the quickest way for someone new to Internet Marketing to turn a substantial profit is by writing and selling information in the form of an ebook. For example, you could write a 30 page guide on eradicating ants from your home and sell it for $20.00 a copy. Selling just 500 copies would earn you $10,000 minus the advertising cost and ebook creation software. Not a bad take for a product that could be created in less than a week, and a process that can be repeated over and over. Learning to write and sell ebooks is simply too profitable and too easy a moneymaker to pass on.

Everyday tens of millions of people all over the world surf the Internet looking for information. It may be information on how to do something, or information for the sake of satisfying curiosity. No matter the purpose, people are willing to pay for information they want to know.

You might logically ask, why would anyone pay for something that they could easily get for free? The answer is simple: finding the information you want on the Internet is much more difficult than it seems. There are billions and billions of pages out there and far too many of them are filled with useless and misleading information. The service that the ebook writer provides and deserves to get paid for is the gathering, distilling, and presentation of useful, desired information.

There are basically two approaches to creating an ebook. One is the do what you love and the money will follow philosophy, and the other is the find out what people want and give it to them. Both approaches have their merit and if you choose to explore the ebook rout you'll probably find yourself using both of them.

The best way to find out exactly what people want is to eavesdrop on their conversations. Target the perennial hot topics (making money, health, sex, gambling, self help, pets, debt, non-life threatening conditions, hobbies, sports, etc.) and go to the places on the Internet, like forums and groups, where these subjects are discussed and information is sought. There you'll find a wealth of profitable subject matter to write on.

An alternative to a full-blown ebook is the special report. Special reports are generally shorter and more limited in scope than ebooks. Their purpose is to provide short, quick doses of desired information. Special reports can be presented in many forms, such as articles, list, bullet points, and faq.

Another approach to profiting from ebooks is what's called going viral. This simply means giving away your ebook for free. The goal of this approach is to have an ever-increasing number of copies of your ebook in circulation. You profit from this approach, not through ebook sales, but through sales generated through your affiliate links which are embedded throughout the text.

Since ebooks are such a lucrative field it follows that it would attract a lot of shady characters. There are those unscrupulous marketers out there who have no qualms about throwing together absolutely worthless material, adorning it with a nice book cover image, giving it a catchy title, putting up a convincing sales page, and fleecing unsuspecting people out of their hard earned money. The funny thing is it's much more lucrative and almost as easy doing it he right way. Provide customers with useful, valuable information and your name becomes gold.

Hawaii Vacations: 9 Great Places to Eat

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There are many great restaurants and eating establishments in Hawaii. Here's a small sample of places to enjoy a good meal.

Kilauea Lodge & Restaurant - This is a bed and breakfast inn located in Volcano National Park. Meals span from traditional American/European to wild game. They have a good wine selection. The atmosphere is a mixture of contemporary and traditional. Brunch is for overnight guests. Dinner is open to the public. Reservations are required.

Tex Drive-In and Restaurant - A great place for down home Portuguese food. They are famous for their Malasadas (puffy deep fried dough rolled in sugar and eaten hot). You'll also enjoy various chutneys, dessert sauces and coffee.

Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery - This is one of the best places to enjoy the look and feel of old Hawaii. You'll feel cozy surrounded by bamboo walls and furniture with a display of cultural art. Waiters and waitresses dressed in Hawaiian attire serve you delicious tropical drinks in coconut cups. Great place to enjoy a traditional Hawaiian meal. They have entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.

Island Lava Java - In need of a caffeine fix in the morning? Stop by and get some delicious Kona Coffee and out of this world pastries. You can also check your email on the Internet (for a small fee).

Kawaihae Harbor Grill - A great place if you love fresh lobster and seafood. The service is very good and it's child friendly.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company - A fun place for the family to enjoy great shrimp and seafood. Features memorabilia from the movie Forest Gump. Also serves ribs, steak, and pasta dishes. It's a fun, loud environment and the service is excellent. Bubba would be proud.

Ken's House of Pancakes - Won several people's choice awards and is known for serving the best breakfast in Hawaii. Ken's is open 24-hours a day, everyday, and serves a wide-variety of food--from spaghetti to Kahlua pig. All-you-can-eat specials on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Lulu's - Looking for a laid back place to enjoy a meal? Head on over to Lulu's where you can kick back and watch the surf across the street, while chowing down on a nice selection of burgers, fries, fish tacos and the like. They also serve beer and mixed drinks.

Ocean Sushi Deli - A popular spot for very fresh sushi and seafood dishes. Menu favorites include: Ahi Poke, fried limpets, chewy taco salad, big island roll, and sake steamed scallops.

Women With Lower Stomach Or Back Tattoo's

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Women, on the other hand, prefer to get a lower back or lower stomach tattoos. Many in such areas can be easily hidden, but, if the woman chooses to wear low waists or short shirts, she can display the tattoo when she wants to. Women tend to be more style conscious then most men are. Women take more time to think about the tattoo they want to choose and about the place they want to wear it on the body.

Women have really come to love the lower back and stomach tattoos! Women tend to be more style conscious then most men are. Women take more time to think about the tattoo they want to choose and about the place they want to wear it on the body. Women are claiming this territory for themselves.
They generally like to sport tattoos is places where they can both sport them or hide them as per their wishes.

Tatoos detract from that, Tattoos as adornment are a-okay, but chances are that these don't mean anything profound to you. Everyone wants a 'pretty' tattoo, but pretty for the sake of pretty gets old fast. Tattoos on the stomach were originally only worn by male prisoners. Women are claiming this territory for themselves.

Tattoos can symbolize the independence and empowerment of women today.

Choosing whether or not to get a tattoo is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. This is especially true if it is your first time. Choose your special side kick the way you would choose a used vehicle, pick one you can afford, one that doesn't show any obvious signs of wearing out over time. Choosing whether or not to sport a lower stomach tattoo is a selection that shouldn't be condemned lightly. This is especially genuine if it is your very first time.

Tattoo art has reached a level of mainstream popularity that has thrust it, not only into the limelight, but also into the heart of the American consumer. Now, white-collar people are willing to spend their hard-earned money on tattoos. Tattoos and ear/body piercings are very popular, especially among those aged 18 to 22. Between 73 and 83 percent of women in the U.S.

Indoor Mold - 8 Ways to Eliminate Indoor Mold

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Indoor mold is the indicator that you have an excess water or moisture problem in your home. Moisture/water can come from many sources like a leak in piping or seeping in through your basement floors. Even just taking a shower or boiling a kettle adds moisture to the air in your home.

Colder environments can hold less moisture than warmer environments. That is why moisture is seen to condense on the inside of windows for example, when the weather outside gets colder. And when this moisture collects, it becomes a perfect medium for mold growth.

So is there something you can do to try to control indoor mold in your home? Yes there is! Control the moisture in your home. Below are 8 ways in which you can do just that!

Fix any leaks or seepage that you witness in your home.
Cover the dirt in your crawlspaces with plastic and ensure that they are well ventilated.
Install and use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to expel moisture outside.
Ensure that the laundry dryer is vented to the outside.
Turn off humidifiers or kerosene heaters when you experience moisture condensating on windows or anywhere else.
Install dehumidifiers and/or air conditioners for use in warmer and more humid environments.
Increase the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses.
Increase circulation to rooms where moisture is higher by use of fans and opening doors.

It doesn't matter where you live, most areas have some sort of moisture problem. Some are produced by the environment as in the north where the temperature varies greatly from summer to winter. Others are created by man in our effort to cool our environment in order to be comfortable.

For the sake of your health and the health of those living in or visiting your home, control the moisture within your home to help eliminate indoor mold.

6 Pocket Rockets

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Just because your car is small, doesn't mean that it has to be slow. In fact, some of the fastest cars on the road today are subcompacts. How so? Because their owners have modified them to the point where they can squeeze out additional horsepower and acceleration. Let's take a look at six cars that qualify as genuine "pocket rockets."

For the sake of argument, here are some ground rules for a pocket rocket:

The car must be a compact or smaller.
The engine must be normally aspirated; no turbo charged cars - four cylinders only.
New versions of the car must all retail for less than $20,000.

The following six cars all qualify as pocket rockets when each of the above stipulations has been met:

Dodge Neon; Ford Focus; Honda Civic; Scion tC; Subaru Impreza; and Volkswagen Golf.

Unfortunately, the Mitsubishi Eclipse retails for just above $20,000 so it does not qualify. Besides, it looks too much like a sports car; we are only examining those vehicles that are somewhat plain before being transformed by aftermarket parts.

Dodge Neon - Technically, the Neon is no longer in production as 2005 was its last model year. Still, with a 2.0L 132hp engine, the Neon remains an affordable favorite of the youth set who enjoy customizing their vehicles

Ford Focus - A lemon no more! Earlier models of the Focus were problem plagued, but the car has made significant strides in the past few years and has received Consumer Report's recommended buy label too. The stubby ZX3 produces 136 horses with its 2.0L engine.

Honda Civic - Redesigned for 2006, the Civic has been a fan favorite for over thirty years. Its teeny 1.8L engine pushes out an impressive 140 horses. The new Civic is a far cry from the "pregnant roller" skate look of the first Civics. Owners are grateful.

Scion tC - Unlike its two boxy brethren, the tC is sleek looking and has a rocket demeanor. With a 2.3L under its hood, the tC has the second largest engine of any car in this class. You net 160 horses with the Scion.

Subaru Impreza - The biggest car in this class has the most powerful engine, a 2.5L boxter engine producing 173 horses. Very competitive with larger and more powerful cars, but a favorite among "pocket rocket" fans nevertheless.

VW Golf - A 2.0L 115hp drives the Golf, but the car's light weight allows for it to buzz down the highway at a fairly good clip.

Favorite ways of squeezing out additional power for pocket rocket owners include installing the following hot selling aftermarket parts:

Reusable air filters; top providers include: K&N and Green.
Cold air intake systems; favorites include: K&N, AEM, and Airaid.
Cat-back exhaust systems; leading manufacturers include: Magnaflow and Vibrant.
Performance chips; Hypertech and Jet Chips lead the way.

Performance level increases are measured in horsepower, thrust, and acceleration. Depending on the parts installed and model selected, improvements can range from slight to significant. Regardless, all six models have the potential of becoming true pocket rockets and that is part of the thrill in owning one.

Taking Profits and Setting Exits

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Most investors and many more market pundits continually talk about setting stops; they range from physical stops to mental stops to trailing stops to support stops to retracement stops or even moving average stops. It is easy to set a stop before you enter a position based off of your money management rules such as position sizing and expectancy. If you have a $25,000 account and want to risk 2% of the account on a $50 stock with an 8% stop; we know that the trade will allow you to buy 125 shares with a worst case scenario sell stop of $46.00 (assuming a 1-R risk of $4). This is wonderful but what should a trader do once the position gains 20%? Where should the stop be placed at that point to eliminate the chance of losing that quick 20% gain?

Several books attempt to explain how to take profits and many traders of the past have offered advice in books but most of it is fluff and subjective to opinion. I have heard people claim that they take a third of the position down after making a 20% or 30% gain while other traders take down half the position once a gain reaches 50%; but is this the correct way to manage money and positions? I thought so several years ago but have developed a more mechanical system that gives me precise exits at any time during an up-trend. It is a combination of a trailing stop and a retracement stop based upon the actual gain at any point in time. In a bull market, I will allow the system to loosen itself so I can handle a healthy pull-back without selling before a possible large move. For now, let me focus on my method for locking in profits without giving back too much.

For the sake of this article, I will continue to use the trade suggested above as the round numbers should be easy to follow.

Account Size: $25,000

Risk: 2%

Stop Loss: 8%

Share Price: $50

Shares to Purchase: 125 or $6,250

Sell Stop: $46.00

Worst case loss: $500 or 2%

If you are unsure how I came up with the numbers in this example, please go back and read my article on position sizing.

We buy the stock and it is up over 20% after the first three weeks of trading. What should I do to protect the profit I have already made?

Scenario #1:
At $60, I will set a stop based on a 30% profit retracement.

To do this, you need to multiply the profit of 20% (or $10) by a 30% stop: $10*30% = $3

At this point in time, I will look to close the position and lock in gains if the stock drops more than $3 from the $20% threshold ($60 in this case). My trailing stop is now $57 which guarantees me a total gain of 14%.

Scenario #2:
At $65, I will set a stop based on a 25% profit retracement.
As my profit grows, my stop tightens so I don't give back too much. Again, this can loosen in bull markets and is also subject to longer term support and/or resistance lines. For the sake of this article, we will ignore all other variables.

To do this, you need to multiply the profit of 30% (or $15) by a 25% stop: $15*25% = $3.75

At this point in time, I will look to close the position and lock in gains if the stock drops more than $3.75 from the $30% threshold ($65 in this case). My trailing stop is now $61.25 which guarantees me a total gain of 23% if the trailing stop is violated.

Let's do this one more time with a 40% gain:

Scenario #3:
At $70, I will set a stop based on a 20% profit retracement.
As my profit grows, my stop tightens so I don't give back too much. As you can see from the three scenarios, my profit retracement has dropped by 5% as my profit has risen by 5%.

To do this, you need to multiply the profit of 40% (or $20) by a 20% stop: $20*20% = $4.00

At this point in time, I will look to close the position and lock in gains if the stock drops more than $4 from the $40% threshold ($70 in this case). My trailing stop is now $66 which guarantees me a total gain of 32% if the trailing stop is violated.

Please understand that I use these numbers since I like the separation of advances to be at least 10% from one retracement stop level to the next. Any investor or trader can substitute the numbers with something that makes more sense based on your own system and money management rules.

Outside of these selling rules, I also employ additional selling rules that use the long term 200-day moving average and long term support levels and trend lines. In a bull market, I will loosen the tight stops and look for longer term sell signals such as the moving average, a channel breakdown or even strong volatility movements that don't agree with the overall pattern (these may be obvious reversals on the daily and/or weekly charts). Other times, I have a specific price objective when placing the trade and will close the position if the objective is reached (even if the trend is still higher). A great example of this are the options I purchased in Tenaris (TS); I sold at $45 per call contact, yet they are now trading at $80 per contract. I bought above $10 per contract and had an objective to sell when the stock reached $145 which it did, so I sold my calls and moved on. Looking back, I got out much too early but didn't violate any of my rules which is more important than the additional gains. If I violated them on this trade and it worked out; what would stop me from violating them in the future and getting slammed with a heavy loss. I hope you get the point.

Help to Become Pregnant - 7 Ways to Help Get Pregnant

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With frequent unprotected sex, most healthy couples conceive within one year. Others need a bit of help - help to become pregnant. Are you frustrated that you are not pregnant yet? Especially when it seems like getting pregnant is easy for everyone else but you?

Things to help get pregnant:

1. Have sex regularly.

If you consistently have sex two or three times a week, you're almost certain to hit a fertile period at some point. For healthy couples who want to conceive, there's no such thing as too much sex. For many couples, this may be all it takes.

2. Have sex once a day near the time of ovulation.

Daily intercourse during the days leading up to ovulation may increase the odds of conception. Although your partner's sperm concentration will drop slightly each time you have sex, the reduction isn't usually an issue for healthy men.

3. Foods to help get pregnant.

Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods and keep stress under control. The same good habits will serve you and your baby well during pregnancy.

4. Consider preconception planning.

Your doctor can assess your overall health and help you identify lifestyle changes that may improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy. Preconception planning is especially helpful if you or your partner have any health issues.

5. Vitamins help to get pregnant.

Folic acid (vitamin B-9) plays an essential role in a baby's development. Taking a prenatal vitamin or folic acid supplement beginning at least one month before conception through the first trimester of pregnancy can reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects by up to 70 percent.

6. Quit smoking and do not drink alcohol!

Tobacco changes the cervical mucus, which may keep sperm from reaching the egg. Smoking may also increase the risk of miscarriage and deprive your developing baby of oxygen and nutrients. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit before conception. For your family's sake, vow to quit for good.

Alcohol is off-limits if you're pregnant - or hope to be.

7. Certain medications and pills - even those available without a prescription - can make it difficult to conceive. Others may not be safe once you are pregnant.

Health benefits of carrot juice

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Carrot juice has a number of health benefits. The carrot provides what is certainly the most important basic juice. The yellow color is due to carotene. Another name for this form of carotene, the transform, is pro vitamin A. Many authors write that carrots contain a lot of vitamin A. This is not actually true; what the carrot does contain is the pro vitamin. That means a substance that is converted by the body into the vitamin itself.

Carrot juice plays the most important part in provision of a child of vitamin A. When carrot juice will be jointly consumed with milk, the utilization of carotene as vitamin A is greatly increased. A carrot juice and milk is the ideal source of vitamin A for infants and can in no case lead 10 the risk of the child too A.

Carrots are widely used. In fact, it is estimated that in Germany carrots account for 10% of the total consumption of vegetables. Be used by the view of the varieties of carrot are ideal forwith the most carotene. It is fortunate that the pro vitamin is strongly colored for this means that so long as you use good colored carrots they are likely to be the best nutritionally speaking too.

As a general rule, early carrots are pale and low in carotene. Because carotene is not water soluble, but is fat soluble, there is not a very great deterioration in the vitamin content on storage.

Nursing mothers are well advised, for the sake of the quality of their milk, to take carrot juice throughout lactation. When the baby is on its way it is good sense not only to drink the juice but also to nibble a carrot when you feel hungry. For although a good sized one will provide your minimum requirement of vitamin A, 7oz (200g) of carrot contain only 50 calories, which cannot be considered to be a fattening snack.

The carrot is recorded as being used in medicine by the early Greeks and has been cherished ever since. Its juice is one of the most delicious and healthful, and alone or in combinations should be in every daily diet providing, as it does, the essential vitamin A, without the saturated fats with which this vitamin is associated in eggs and butter.

Taking Up Your Cross For Jesus

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Luke 9:23-25 (New King James Version)
23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

Do you wish to follow Jesus?

Do you honestly want to follow Jesus?

Then you must take up your cross each day and deny yourself. Self denial is not popular in this modern day we live in. The idea of a prosperous Christian going without for the sake of the gospel seems so foreign. It seems that this passage is left out of the modern prosperity gospel preachers Bibles.

If you do not follow Jesus, who are you following?

Popular false teachers? False prophets? Satan?

Lets get back to scripture.

We are told to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus.

That is not to live without tithing, ignore the great commission and sin constantly. Jesus wasn't a sinner, so sinning all the time is not following Him.

How do we deny ourselves?

We need to deny ourselves TV time. We can start by reading the Bible or good Christian books. We can give more to the Lord and deny our lusts of the flesh. We can give to the poor and save money when we purchase things, not always insisting on the best. We can also fast by denying ourselves food to get closer to the Lord. We can also choose not to associate with the wrong sort of people, peoples whose habits are not good for us.

Taking up our cross.

Denying ourselves is a major part of taking up our cross. People who are used to having everything they want, will experience a cross like encounter when they go without for the sake of the Lord in their life. When you start to live a crucified life before the Lord, people notice who are close to you and this can result in being called weird. Taking up your cross might mean giving out tracts on your way to work and on your way home. Taking up your cross might mean sharing the truth of the gospel with someone at your place of work.

For Jesus taking up his cross was a very painful experience and resulted in his death. So too, joining the Lord at his cross we put to death our natural passions and take on the passions of the Holy Spirit. For walking in the Spirit is well pleasing to the Lord.

Losing your life

Losing your life for Jesus' sake is not the average Christian life. Losing your life is a whole life devoted to the gospel of Jesus and the power of the Word in your life. Losing your life is getting on your knees in the morning and devoting each day to the Lord and then during the day living devoted to the Lord. Losing your life for Jesus, is not a comfortable Christian life, it's a radical change, it's letting go of flesh and all its lusts and living totally for the Lord and His precious gospel. It's letting your light shine, letting everything pure about Jesus shine through you to a lost and hurting world. It's a radical change. It's a decision many people have never made despite the praise and worship songs they sing each week.

But if you try to save it you'll lose it

This is a verse that shows people that will not deny themselves for Jesus will themselves be denied when it comes time for judgement. If they try and keep their wealth and live in the lusts of the flesh, they will inherit death or hell. That is why Jesus goes on to say what point is it that he gains the whole world and loses his very soul. It's a sad thing to say but many people though the lusts of this world will not go to heaven and they might even attend church right up until the day that they die.

Counting the cost

Luke 14:28-33 (New King James Version)
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

If you interpret this scripture as a person entering the Christian life that is building the tower you'll see that Jesus is warning about the foolishness of embarking on a Christian life without being prepared to pay the cost.

Jesus uses both illustrations to emphasize So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Forsaking All.

Did you know that you had to forsake all to follow Jesus?

Do you know that means your finances and possessions also?

We are to deny ourselves and take up our cross and forsake all to have hold of Jesus.

Let me pray for you.

Father I want to give my life to you in a fresh new way. Show me what areas of my life that I need to deny myself in order to please you. Give me the courage to take up my cross daily and to walk with you and follow your Son's footsteps each day. I repent of my fleshy attitude and my carnal living and desire to walk in a state of holiness. Please refresh me and lead me I pray.

In Jesus name I ask. Amen.

Health Benefits of Coffee Justify Daily Java, So For Goodness Sake, Switch the Coffee Pot On!

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Health benefits of coffee to justify my cup! Nothing beats the aroma of the flavored coffee bean going through our house. My coffee mate puts our coffee pot on at 6am and not soon after, I am enjoying my first coffee and watching the morning news and reports on tv. I love my coffee and was determined to find a good reason to justify Java and learn about the health benefits of coffee.

Once my first cup is finished, I confess to getting a second not long afterwards. However, a girl has to have some vices, and coffee is mine, although I do not drink it often during the day. I could easily cave in to temptation, but the caffeine in coffee has been known to keep me awake at night. I sometimes have an organic decaf coffee or flavored decaf coffee. Sometimes I have mixed several brands together and come up with my own Suzie Special!

So what are some health benefits of coffee? Coffee is a source of antioxidants which help your body fight your free radicals - the bad guys. Decaf coffee has the same antioxidants as regular coffee, but minus the caffeine. Moderation is the key. Daily coffee can help to lower the risk of diabetes, reduce the risk of colon cancer and Parkinsons disease, and helps long duration of physical activity. Coffee can help you stay awake, alert, improve cognitive function, help elevate moods and may stop your
headache.

As far as I know, coffee does not cause breast cancer. Women who suffer with tender breasts, discomfort and water retention might like to consider reducing their caffeine, but it is a personal choice with personal experimentation to find the right level of coffee and caffeine for yourself.

Forget coffee prices and enjoy a Java. Learn how to make coffee taste great like the ones you get in Cafes, and experiment with different types of coffee brands and flavors until you find a some you really like. Then brew up in your latest hot coffee mod con and savor the wonderful aroma.

Some things in life are simple, inexpensive and good for you. Wonderful health kitchen oils such as flaxseed oil or coconut oil, and a glass or two of red wine are a couple of life's pleasures and your daily coffee is another! So sit back, relax, take a deep breath and enjoy your Java knowing there are health benefits of coffee!

It's As Simple As A Smile!

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How often have you woken up on the wrong side of the bed or had a bad encounter with someone and assumed the rest of your day would follow suit? Then out of the blue you are side swapped with a smile from a stranger or friend. You physically feel lighter with a glimpse of hope for the rest of your day. A simple smile actually turned your day around, and from an unexpected source to say the least. Who can deny the power of a smile, the impact a smile can make from one person to another? What if you harnessed that same logic for yourself and commited to smile even when you weren't feeling in the best of moods. Could you change your own mood and situation by "faking" to be happy? At the very least you could make someone else feel good. Would the act of smiling impact your mood? It is truly amazing what a simple act of kindness can do for yourself and others around you. Who is to say your smile didn't come at the exact right moment for someone having a horrible day? Your actions will soon become habit and you will wonder why you are feeling more optimistic and genuinely happy.

ACTION STEPS FOR THE WEEK:

1. Smile for the sake of smiling

This week make an effort to smile more during the day. Smile to yourself as well as others and notice the impact it has on everyone. Most of us don't realize the effect we can have on other's lives. Make a point this week to smile when you least feel like smiling.

2. Write it down

This week make a point of writing down your experiences with the "smile experiment". Keep a journal or notepad and write down every evening what effect your smiling had. Write down how you felt. Write down how it affected your day. Write down the differences it made. Being aware and fully present not only keeps you in the moment, but opens your eyes to the power of your actions.

3. Impact another

This week make a commitment to smile at 5 strangers every day. Every morning commit to smile at 5 people througout the day. It may feel awkward at first, again this is expanding your comfort zone. You can truly make a difference in the life of another with a simple smile. Try it out this week and see how it feels. Notice how it changes your own outlook and mood.

Have a great week!

18th Birthday Gifts

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For an 18th birthday gift thought and care needs to be given as a teenager "comes of age". Often we can be inundated with information and yet still be unable to find something suitable without a lot of effort involved. Sometimes we can get a great idea of what would be good present and then cannot find an outlet for that idea. If you want to find gift ideas across a range of budgets that are convenient and easily accessible, saving you time and making the whole experience more enjoyable then there are now a number of sites that can help with this. Although searching for specific and unusual gifts which are unique for an 18th birthday can be a time consuming business this has been made a lot easier when it is possible to find online gift ideas to point you in the right direction.

Every eighteen year old will be different but it is always nice to give a gift that is both unusual and unique. Eighteen is associated with the coming of age into adulthood so so many gifts for this age group will reflect that fact e.g. Key to the Door but there are simply thousands of ideas that may be just as appealing for an 18th birthday and far more unique and special. For instance have you ever thought of personalised engravings. These can be a really nice way to send a special message to the birthday girl or boy and a keep sake for later life and to show their own children in later years.

Personalised jewellery, unusual experience gifts - for instance a day ice climbing, a tour backstage to a famous theatre, an indoor sky diving lesson. The list is endless.

An eighteenth birthday gift doesn't have to be expensive and something memorable can always be treasured by the recipient. To find more ideas for 18th birthday gifts why not try the site below.

Casting a Lost Love Spell - Return the Lost Love Spell

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Casting spells is easier said than done. You may not agree with me since you might have read numerous literature on the subject or might have had heard from many that casting a spell is as easy as ABC. Yes of course I do not have any second opinion on the subject. But a simple word of caution, spell casting is not an end in itself!? You cast a lost love spell or a simple love spell, not just for the sake of fun ,but to see your long cherished desire materialized .You may need to make some one you like , to love you, to adore you, to talk to you, or to return to you! Yes if any of these is your intention, then the above statement does not hold much sense! Spell casting is easy, but it calls for some good effort to make spells work for you.

As a person, who has been in the field of mysticism for quite sometime; I have heard numerous people repeating the same question "How can I retrieve my lost love?" Yes I know parting is painful, but it is also a universal law. Nothing is eternal in this universe including the Sun and the Moon. You need to part with one and all, one day. But losing some one dear is really painful, especially when some one grabs the love from you! Yes, I can understand the feelings. No one has been authorized to loot another. That is against the Law of Karma. Here you have a point.

Can I retrieve my lost love? Can I get returned the lost love? Can the lost love be won back? The answer to all these is in affirmative. Casting a powerful lost Love spell would enable return your lost Love .The justice need to be on your side, and the action need to be a positive Karma. I need not remind you about the Law of Karma."Action and reaction are equal but opposite". Here the opposition is what you get back for what you give. It is three times of the Newton's Law, as far as the Universal spiritual philosophy is concerned.

There are numerous potent love spells that make lovers unite. Union is natural and only separation is unnatural. Casting a lost love spell to return the lost love is not a Utopian philosophy instead a plain reality. Many an aching heart regained their beloved ones and lived a comfortable life. You only need to learn the basics of spell casting and perfecting it to make it work for you. It does not require any magical powers or Wicca skills, any layperson devoted and committed can accomplish the same.

Great Clips Hair Coupon - For the Sake of Your Crowning Glory

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Do you have a hairstyle that's as old as the age of the dinosaurs? Isn't it time for you to change it? Unfortunately, haircuts don't go cheap as they used to. The best way to combat this is to have a Great Clips Hair coupon. Instead of you worrying about how to pay the cut, you should think about what hairstyle to have on your hair.

Apart from styling and appearance, going to the salon has other perks. Since you're around professional and trained stylists, they will surely aid you and give you tips regarding your hair. It's also a healthy visit. They can tell you if you need to do something about your scalp or even suggest treatments. This is truly helpful especially for those who haven't been touched by a pro in a while. If you're lucky, you might even get a free massage.

So, do you think that it's time for you to have that change? Besides, your hair is your crowning glory, you should make sure that you care for it. Always make sure that you have regular visits to a place like Great Clips. For years, they have made hair their main priority. If you go here, you're leaving your hair in good hands.

As mentioned before, if you're worried about the price of a hair cut or any other hair treatment, you should bring a haircut coupon. You can find these lying around the dozens of coupon sites on the web. Apart from giving you the coupons, these will also give you details regarding the establishment's other promotions.

All in all, care for you hair by going to professionals who have experience and skill. Don't forget! Bring a Great Clips coupon too!

Tips For Parents Of Addicts

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If you have addict children, the good news is, the situation isn't hopeless. The bad news is, you're no longer in control and you're probably facing the hardest problem you've ever faced. This article will give you some tips on how to steer them in the right direction without you getting run over. While recovery is always the addicts choice, as parents, you can help lead them to that choice.

Understanding Addiction: It doesn't matter what substance your child is addicted to, addiction is the same. It usually begins in the teen years, because that's when we're vulnerable to a negative self-image, and when our peers would like to give us one. So, we try a little personality booster in the form of drugs or alcohol. That takes our minds off self-image temporarily, but the fact we "need" something to feel normal only makes us feel worse, and need more the next time around. Unless they hit bottom and become willing to do what it takes to recover, this cycle drives teens deeper and deeper into addiction.

Guilt And Codependency: As the parent, you probably didn't know until they were hooked. Then they blamed you for "not caring." You blame yourself for not knowing. Both your kids and you suspect that something you did or didn't do is the reason they're addicted. Let's start with you...GET OFF IT! You're doing the best you can and guilt is only going to make you less than your best. Let's move on to your addicted child.

If an addict has his way, everyone around him will feel responsible for his addiction and try to support the addiction out of guilt. Addicts lie and manipulate their loved ones so they can continue and increase their addiction. If parents fall for this, it's the beginning of codependency, where you become addicted to helping your addict child. For your sake, the family's sake, and especially for the sake of the addict, you can't let this happen. If it does, the whole family will go down the drain as the addict uses each one of you until there is nothing left. So, how do you stop it?

Parents With Teenage Addicts: If the addict is still a minor teenager in your house, you have more control over them. Until they just refuse to comply, you may be able to restrict friendships, unsupervised time and time away from home. Even then, a lot can happen when you're not looking. Any child addicted to drugs should not be allowed to have a cell phone, pager, car, allowance, or lunch money. All of these are vehicles to more drugs. You should regularly search their rooms, clothes, other property, public areas in and around the house for drugs, alcohol, drug equipment. If you allow them a computer, you should invest in software that allows you to go where they go and see everything they write or post in chatrooms and blogs. You should search them when they enter the house and question them closely when they leave the house.

Of course, this will result in you being the worst person on the face of the planet...so be it. Always try the loving, supportive approach, first, offering to get them counseling or other help, but be ready for it to become tough love quickly after that. Confront them about everything. If they're addicted, it won't take long before you're out of options. If you have a year or two until they turn 18 and they refuse to quit, get the authorities involved. This isn't easy, but has a better chance for success than screaming or beatings. Contact the school counselor or Principle (if they haven't already contacted you) and ask for advice. Do the same with your police department's social services agency. Make sure the child knows why you're doing this.

Parents With Older Addicts: If you have an addict who is over 18 living with you, things are a bit different. All of the inspection and investigation stuff still applies. Obviously, restricting friends is out. Getting the police involved would be a very last resort, because now it's a matter of permanent criminal record. Still, if your older child continues in an addiction while living under your roof, the whole family is at risk. You don't have the same control over the older child, but you have one big, all-powerful option you didn't have before...you can kick them out of the house. Does this sound unloving and unsupportive?

Think about it from another perspective. If you didn't evict a drug-addicted adult child and drugs were found in the home, you could be arrested, you could lose your job, your other children, your home...all because you wanted to seem supportive. Probably the biggest reason to kick the child out is...it's best for the child. While you're providing food and shelter to addicts, they can use money for their addiction that would normally go for food, shelter and clothing. Letting them continue to live there is as if you're supplying the drugs. The loving thing to do is to put them out and let them fall on their faces in the gutter, if that's what it takes for them to hit bottom and begin recovery.

The preceding tips may seem hard or cruel, but the addiction is what's cruel. By being firm and practicing tough love, you have the best chance of saving the life of your child. A wise man once said, "Love is doing what will help a friend, even if it means you lose the friendship." I know you love your child enough to do what will help, even if it hurts you to do so. That's what being a parent is all about.