Archive for January, 2008

Aromatherapy Essential Oils - Methods of Extraction of Aromatic Essential Oils

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

By Michael Douglas There are several methods of obtaining aromatic substances from plant material, most of which are described below. But strictly speaking, essential oils are only those obtained by distillation or expression. Distillation Distillation is the most widely used and the most economical method of extracting essential oils. There is a great deal of skill involved in the process of distillation in the if the precious essential oil is not to be lost or changed in its composition. Some plants are distilled immediately after harvesting, whereas others may be left for a few days or even dried prior to extraction. In distillation, the plant material is heated, either by placing it in water which is brought to the boil or by passing steam through it. The heat and steam cause the cell structure of the plant material to burst and break down, thus freeing the essential oils. The essential oil molecules and steam are carried along a pipe and channelled through a cooling tank, where they return to the liquid form and are collected in a vat. The emerging liquid is a mixture of oil and water, and since essential oils are not water soluble they can be easily separated from the water and siphoned off. Essential oils which are lighter than water will float on the surface, whereas heavier oils such as clove will sink. Expression This method is reserved exclusively for members of the citrus family such as bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin and orange. The essence yielded is found in small sacs which are located under the surface of rind. This process was originally carried out using simple hand pressure. The citrus essence was squeezed from the rinds and then collected in a sponge which, once saturated, was squeezed into a bucket. Due to the labour costs involved the majority of citrus oil is now expressed using mechanical presses. Solvent Extraction The process of solvent extraction does not yield essential oils. This method is employed for flowers, gums and resins and it produces ‘absolutes’ and ‘resinoids’. The technique is used for higher yield or to extract oils that cannot be obtained by any other process. Jasmine, for example, is adversely affected by hot water and steam. Absolutes To yield an absolute the aromatic plant material (flowers, leaves, etc.) is extracted by hydrocarbon solvents such as benzene or hexane. The plant material is covered with the solvent and slowly heated to dissolve the aromatic molecules. The solvent extracts the odour and then the solvent is filtered off to produce a ‘concrete’. A concrete is a solid, wax-like substance containing about 50 per cent wax and 50 per cent volatile oil such as jasmine. To obtain the absolute the concrete is mixed with pure alcohol to dissolve out the aromatic molecules, and then chilled. This mixture is filtered to eliminate waste products and to separate out insoluble waxes. The alcohol is evaporated off gently under vaccum. The thick, viscous, coloured liquid known as the absolute is left behind. Resinoids Solvent extraction can also be used for gums and resins to produce resinoids. Resins are the solid/semi-solid substances which exude naturally from a tree or plant that has been damaged. Commercially, resins are obtained by cutting into the bark or stem, and the gum-like substance hardens once it is exposed to the air. The natural resinous material is extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent such as petroleum ether, hexane or alcohol. These solvents are then filtered off and subsequently removed by distillation. A resinoid remains where a hydrocarbon solvent has been used (eg. benzoin resinoid). Resinoids are often employed by the perfume manufacturers as fixatives to prolong the aroma of a fragrance (as are concretes). Enfleurage The process of enfleurage also yields an absolute, although this method is virtually obsolete nowadays. It is very time consuming and labour intensive and, therefore, highly expensive. Formerly this was the main method of extraction for delicate flowers such as jasmine which continue to produce perfume even after they have ben picked. It involves the use of purified odourless cold fat which is spread over sheets of glass mounted in large rectangular wooden frames. Flowers are strewn upon this layer of fat which absorbs the essential oil. After approximately a day the flowers are removed to be replaced by fresh flowers. The process is repeated many times - even beyond months - until the fat is saturated. Carbon Dioxide Extraction The relatively new method was introduced only in the 1980s. The price is high because the equipment used is expensive. The process has been designed for the perfume industry. Oils which are extracted utilising carbon dioxide are supposed to be superior, pure and very close to the natural essential oil as it exists in the plant - and they are completely free of residues of carbon dioxide. Hydrodiffusion/percolation Hydrodiffusion or percolation is the most modern method of extraction. This process is faster than distillation, and the equipment is much more simple than that used for carbon dioxide extraction. Steam spray is passed through the plant material (which is suspended on a grid) from above. The emerging liquid composed of oil and condensed steam is then cooled. The result is a mixture of essential oil and water (as in the distillation process) which can be easily separated. Maceration For this process plants are placed into a vat of warm vegetable oil which causes the plant cells to rupture, causing the absorption of the essential oils. The vat is then agitated for several days. The resulting oil is filtered and bottled, and is ready for use as a massage medium. Examples of macerated oils are calendula, carrot and hypericum. For more information on essential oils, essential oil blends, essential oil recipes, aromatherapy …. visit us at www.massagemanual.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Douglas http://EzineArticles.com/?Aromatherapy-Essential-Oils—Methods-of-Extraction-of-Aromatic-Essential-Oils&id=349338 buy valium online with mastercard online order valium where can i buy anax or valium online no prescription valium

Useful Tips About Cross Stitch

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

By Yiota Christodoulou Here are some cross stitch tips that will help you a lot with your cross stitch projects. GETTING STARTED Always start stitching from the center of your fabric. To find the center on your fabric, fold the fabric in half twice. The center will be at the intersection of the two folds. Finding the center of your chart by following the two arrows. One arrow will be in the top center and the other one in the middle left side of your chart. Follow these two arrows. Where they meet is your center stitch. FABRIC Put tissue paper in your hoop with your fabric then tear away the center where you are stitching. This will keep oils from getting onto your fabric and help your hands from being moist. Use different qualities of fabric. Try cheaper fabric for quick designs, saving money so that you can splash out on the best fabric for heirloom projects. You will want to allow 3 to 4 inches of fabric on each side of the design. This will help you framing your project easily. THREADS When stitching with 2 threads use only one strand of floss, put the ends together and thread them through the needle leaving a loop on one end. When you put the needle through on your second stitch, catch it through the loop. This keeps the material from getting bumby. When ending your thread by running under other stitches, try to match colors. Never run a dark color under light stitched, it might show through to the front. Back stitch should be added when all other stitching has been completed. NEEDLES Many of us we have the bad habit of leaving the needle into the fabric when we end a session. Be aware that this can leave a permanent stain or large hole in your fabric. Always store a needle properly. TIPS If you have pets or small children do not keep your cross stitch materials in a bag. Keeping your threads, needles and scissors in a box that shuts securely will prevent little fingers and paws from getting into things easily! If you are working on a larger needlework project, invest in a set of stretcher bars. They keep the fabric from getting warped and it makes it easier to actually do the sewing. They come in several sizes, and are fairly inexpensive. Using a highlighter in a light color - yellow works very well for marking off stitches or areas of stitching as you complete them. If your lighting make the yellow hard to see at night, you could use another color like green or blue or orange when stitching at night. Visit http://www.yiotas-xstitch.com for cross stitch charts, patterns. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yiota_Christodoulou http://EzineArticles.com/?Useful-Tips-About-Cross-Stitch&id=516319 no prescription pharmacy diazepam mexican diazepam without prescription non prescription valium soma carisoprodol buy diazepam online

Benefits of a Virtual Top Doctor Consultant

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Gallegos] Hugo Gallegos Looking for the best doctor to suite your medical needs can be a problem, especially if you dont have time and you need to research the doctors credentials. Whether youre in urgent need of help, or just need a second opinion, I will show you how to access all the information you need through the Internets Virtual Top Doctor Consultant. Information on Doctors CredentialsMany organizations house comprehensive credentials, such as licensure, status and so forth. These organizations include:American Board of Medical SpecialistsAmerican Medical AssociationFederation of State Medical BoardsYour local State Medical BoardPublic Citizen Questionable DoctorsMedical SocietiesThen you have other establishments which gather up this information in their own logistical format and provide this information to consumers. Most companies provide information about doctors who have had disciplinary action taken against them. And most consumers want to know whether their doctor has had disciplinary action taken against them. At the same time, most doctors even the best ones are sued at one point or other during their careers. Its important to recognize that just because a doctor has been sued (or not) does not mean he/she is incompetent, and that very often he or she is innocent of the alleged malpractice. What is a Virtual Top Doctor ConsultantAs you probably know by now, there are literally hundreds of different types of consultants.We all want the best health care possible, so why dont we shop around for a doctor like we do for a house or car? Over the past few years, through our own surveys and methodologies, MDNationwide has designed the first top doctor searchable database, which enables YOU to find the best doctor(s) in America without ever talking to anyone. Virtual Top Doctor Consultant researches thousands of MDs through an extensive process, which reviews: How many years the doctor has been in service (over five years).Whether the doctor is board-certified.Whether disciplinary action has been taken.The extent of the doctors Internship, Residency, and Fellowship trainingPeer and patient recognition Their community involvement Experience with type of surgical procedure Contacting medical societies Contacting hospitals Because YOU come firstFor peace of mind YOU know these MDs rank amongst the highest in the US We focus only on helping YOU find the best doctors through our extensive research YOUR Health is in good hands [http://mdnationwide.org/search.php] virtual top doctor consultant YOU have a team of professional consultants who care about YOU, not just your money.No, we are not doctors, we are experts in researching and recognizing the BEST MDs. Doctors dont pay us, Health Insurance companies dont pay us. We work for YOU; without YOU ours services would not exist. Hugo Gallegos is the Founder/President of MDNationwide Inc - A comprehensive source for unbiased advice about Americas Top Doctors. MDNationwide.org provides Top Doctor credential information to consumers, which helps consumers select the best quality providers of medical care. Looking for top rated MD visit us at [http://mdnationwide.org/] mdnationwide Call us Toll Free 877 242-8556 M-F 9:00-5:00 PST Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Gallegos ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hugo_Gallegos [http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-of-a--Virtual-Top-Doctor-Consultant&id=8267 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Benefits-of-a–Virtual-Top-Doctor-Consultant&id=8267 buy in uk valium order valium online buy xanax valium ambien zolpidem buy valium without prescription

How To Burn Fat Without Cardio Or Dieting

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

By Matt Marshall I hate cardio. I hate treadmills, exercise bikes and elliptical machines. I hate exercising for hours at a time, just to burn off a few measly calories. Luckily, I recently discovered a way to burn NINE TIMES more fat without wasting my time on the treadmill. Oh, and best of all, I didnt have to go on a diet or restrict my eating in anyway. Heres what this is all about: Scientists in Japan have now confirmed what you knew all along: Simply put, you burn more fat by working out intensely than you do when you dog it. Unfortunately, all the weight loss experts told us that the only way to burn fat was to exercise at a steady pace for 45-60 minutes at a time. Yuck! 60 minutes on a treadmill, watching CNN? No thanks. I decided to try the routine that the scientists in Japan developed, one commonly known as high intensity interval training. Heres what happened: Instead of huffing and puffing on a treadmill for an hour each day, I slashed my workout time to just FOUR MINUTES. No, thats not a misprint. I exercised for just 240 seconds. In four weeks, I got into the best shape of my life. My heart and lungs were stronger than ever. My bodyfat levels dipped into single digits and my abs (which had been hiding under a layer of fat for quite some time) came into view. How could I make such a dramatic transformation in just 4 minutes a day? Well, the high intensity interval training routine actually burns more calories in 4 minutes than working out in the traditional manner for an hour or more. Heres the science: When you perform traditional cardio, your metabolism rises while you are working out. But as soon as you stop your exercise, your metabolism drops back down to normal levels. But when you do High Intensity Interval Training, you dont burn very many calories during your four minute workout. But your metabolism stays elevated for 24-48 hours after your workout! So youre burning calories and fat all day long. How To Kick Start Your Metabolism And Blow Torch Body Fat If youre ready to finally burn off that stubborn body fat, you may want to give high intensity interval training a go (assuming your doctor says its ok). Instead of walking on a treadmill for 60 minutes at the same pace, try alternating speeds every minute. This forces your body to constantly adapt and youll burn more calories. Next, increase your speed and drop your workout time down. You dont need to waste 60 minutes a day when you learn how to push yourself. Finally, keep at. High intensity interval training is not easy but the results come quick. Dont be surprised if you end up in the best shape of your life. Matt Marshall recently wrote the book on High Intensity Interval Training. To learn how you can burn fat, jack up your metabolism and burn off ugly body fat without cardio and without dieting visit: http://www.NoMoreCardio.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Marshall http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Burn-Fat-Without-Cardio-Or-Dieting&id=410539 xanax online overnight shipping order xanax no prescription valium xanax hydrocodone online purchase no prescriptions needed xanax without a prescription cheap

Uranium Bull Market Still Stampeding - Five New Reasons

Wednesday, January 9th, 2008

By James Finch StockInterview closely monitors all key developments in the nuclear fuel cycle markets, especially progress in the uranium price and uranium mining companies. Some of these developments are less well known. For example, tracking book sales of our uranium guide, both quantity and geographically, has become a reliable and bullish indicator of future investor demand for investment in the uranium bull market. Consider these five developments in evaluating how much more life the uranium bull market has in it: 1. On Friday, StockInterview shipped its initial order to the Ingram Book Company, North Americas largest wholesaler to bookstores. Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market is now enroute to U.S. bookstores. The book should be available in U.S. bookstores within the next few weeks. 2. Over the weekend, Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market reached its highest ever ranking on Amazon.com of 7,454. Several hundred thousand books are ranked on Amazon.com. For a single-item, small press publisher to reach this high ranking is extremely difficult. (Please note this ranking is volatile and fluctuates by the hour.) StockInterview has now shipped books to Amazon.com on six different occasions in less than one month. The uranium guide has sold out of every shipment each time before the books arrived at Amazon.coms warehouse. The biggest problem weve had with Amazon.com sales is keeping the bookseller in stock with our book. 3. Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market will be featured in the February 26th issue of Publishers Weekly magazine. This is the Bible of the bookstore industry. Each major U.S. bookstore and bookstore chain reads this magazine, cover to cover, every week. 4. The number and percentage of fund managers, financial institutions and brokerage firms ordering the uranium guide directly from StockInterviews online bookstore has dramatically jumped since late November and remains strong. While Canadian institutions are the largest financiers of the many newer uranium companies, these firms look to the U.S. market as the next big step. Interest among U.S. financial institutions is very robust, as evidenced by our email inquiries and book orders. 5. The growing number of uranium bloggers and uranium only websites which emerged since Cameco Corps announcement of the Cigar Lake uranium mine flood. While the uranium mining story has yet to saturate the U.S. mainstream media, there appear to be a growing number of stock tipsters hoping to cash in on uraniums price doubling during 2006. The uranium bull market is, indeed, intact. It appears to be growing stronger every month. All of our indicators confirm that U.S., European and Asian investors continue to have very strong interest in finding out more about the uranium bull market. COPYRIGHT 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. His focus on the uranium mining and nuclear fuel sector resulted in the widely popular Investing in the Great Uranium Bull Market, which is now available on http://www.stockinterview.com and on http://www.amazon.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Finch http://EzineArticles.com/?Uranium-Bull-Market-Still-Stampeding—Five-New-Reasons&id=482324 safe online purchase of xanax where can i order xanax online xanax online pharmacy no prescription order xanax

The 3-A-Day Dairy Diet - Another Diet Fad Flop

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

By Alisa Fleming Lets take a food already synonymous with several Western societies, the ones with the highest obesity rates in the world, and convince people that its the key to weight loss. Brilliant marketing scheme! Just one minor flaw, they forgot to take into account common sense. If you confront the people who have gleefully taken on the new 3-A-Day of Dairy - Burn More Fat, Lose Weight” plan, you will find that most havent seen an ounce of weight loss, and some have even gained a few pounds. If you read the fine print of the studies, then you may be a successful dieter, but it is unlikely due to the dairy. Before you pounce on this new weight loss fad, consider the following facts: Dont Skip the Fine Print: Dairy along with a reduced calorie diet aids in weight loss. Wait a minute, isnt a reduced calorie diet a weight loss plan of its own? Low fat and nonfat milk products are virtually the only dairy foods that will fit well within this diet plan. Dont count on that tub-o-ice cream for weight loss benefits. Take These Studies With a Grain of Salt: The studies most referenced by the Dairy Council were both conducted by researcher Michael Zemel, PhD, of the University of Tennessee. Although his motives may be pure, his research was still partially funded by grants from National Dairy Council. Zemel also has special interest in the promotion of his work. He has patented the calcium consumption equals weight-loss / control program, and has licensed the International Dairy Food Association (IDFA) for marketing and promotion. Was it Really the Milk?: Dr. Zemels studies revealed a 1 lb per week weight loss for the high dairy dieters. These same dieters were told to reduce their overall caloric intake by 500 kcal per day. 3500 kcal equals one pound. Getting out our trusty calculator here, we can see that a reduction of caloric intake by 500 kcal per day would equal, believe it or not, 1 lb per week! His results somehow seem a bit less astounding. Check the Size of the Study: The group that completed Dr. Zemels primary study was only about 30 people, including just 5 men. The high dairy group consisted of only 11 people. Not exactly a real world sample group. So why all the hype? It could be from the $200 million that the Dairy Council has spent since 2003 on the advertising and promotion of Zemels small studies. What Do Other Studies Say?: Most studies on dairy and weight have in fact been inconclusive. Several have shown a positive link between dairy consumption and weight gain, and just a few smaller studies such as Zemels have shown an inverse link. Some researchers believe that the calcium in dairy may help to promote weight loss, but most agree that the hormones, whey protein, and milk fat are likely contributors to obesity. In fairness, here are three much larger studies on dairy and weight: Dairy and Weight Gain in Young Women: Researchers at Purdue University decided to put the dairy calcium versus weight theory to the test. They conducted a 1-year, randomized study and intervention on 155 young women, ranging in age from 18 to 30, who were judged to be healthy and of normal weight. These women had dietary calcium intakes of less than 800 mg per day, and energy intakes of 2200 kcal or less per day. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1. Unchanged: Continue established dietary intake 2. Medium Dairy: Substitute dairy products into the diet, maintaining the same calorie intake, but increasing calcium to roughly 1000 to 1100 mg per day 3. High Dairy: Substitute dairy products into the diet, maintaining the same calorie intake, but increasing calcium to roughly 1300 to 1400 mg per day After one year, no statistically significant change was observed in body weight or fat mass between the groups. However, the high dairy group averaged a 1.5 kg weight gain and a .5kg fat mass gain. The control (low dairy) group faired the best with only a .8 kg weight gain, and they actually lost .5 kg of fat mass. Dairy Consumption: The Effects on Diabetes, Obesity, and Heart Disease in Women The British Women’s Heart and Health Study examined 4,286 British women ranging in age from 60 to 79 for links to the Metabolic Syndrome. The Metabolic Syndrome was defined as those women who had Type 2 Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes (insulin resistance or high fasting glucose) and, in addition, at least two of the following: Obesity, Hypertension, and Lipid Disorders (i.e. high triglycerides or low HDL). The results were promising. Those women who avoided milk were about half as likely to have the Metabolic Syndrome when compared to milk drinkers. The non-milk drinkers benefited from lower insulin resistance levels, lower triglyceride levels, lower BMIs (Body Mass Index) and higher levels of that healthy HDL cholesterol. Children & Milk Consumption: Are They Growing Up or Out? A large study led by Catherine S. Berkey of Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, followed the diets and weight of 12,829 United States children. The children were diversified across all 50 states, and ranged in age from 9 to 14 years when the study began in 1996. Data was collected from the children through 1999, and the results were a bit of a surprise. Those children consuming more than 3 servings of milk per day were approximately 35% more likely to become overweight than those children who drank just 1 or 2 glasses of milk per day, even though most of the children were drinking low-fat milk. This association still held after the researchers took into consideration physical activity, other dietary factors, and growth. This study has emerged at a time when obesity among children is at an all time high, the rate has more than tripled since 1980. http://www.godairyfree.org Go Dairy Free (2005) http://www.godairyfree.org/facts/weight/dairydietfad.aspxSend email to: info@godairyfree.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alisa_Fleming http://EzineArticles.com/?The-3-A-Day-Dairy-Diet—Another-Diet-Fad-Flop&id=75272 online rx xanax where can i buy xanax or valium online mexican pharmacy valium xanax valium buy xanax

From “Cleaning Lady” to Entrepreneur: How Your Cleaning Business can Benefit from the Images

Monday, January 7th, 2008

By Rosana Hart Many people never consider entering the cleaning business because of the images it has. “Be a janitor (or cleaning lady or maid)? Me? That’s too demeaning!” is a common reaction. In the past, these jobs had very low status. Nobody with a college degree would be caught dead doing them. These ideas are slowing changing, but since the business of cleaning only has about 6% self-employed entrepreneurs, it’s still true that a lot of the jobs where you work for other people are dead-end and low-paying. If you are thinking of starting a cleaning business, you may have felt a little uncertain about how you would explain your new activity to family and friends. What would your sometimes-too-blunt friends say? How much teasing would you have to endure? It’s been said that every negative has the seeds of a positive in it, and that’s certainly true here. Fear of what other people will think means that a lot of people never will never consider the opportunities here… and you can laugh all the way to the bank! Today’s self-employed cleaning business owners are entrepreneurs. That’s just a fancy way of saying that they have a lot of freedom to create a business that makes an excellent profit, working hours they set. They can choose their clients. Rosana Hart offers business and other information at her site http://www.infoandhelp.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosana_Hart http://EzineArticles.com/?From-Cleaning-Lady-to-Entrepreneur:–How-Your-Cleaning-Business-can-Benefit-from-the-Images&id=35587 xanax available without a prescription where can i buy cheap xanax buy xanax online valium xanax online 2day air

Understanding the Loan to Value Ratio

Friday, January 4th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Iwona_Kurecka]Iwona Kurecka These days many renters are taking advantage of the present low level of interest rates to get into a home of their own. In addition, many current homeowners are taking advantage of those same low interest rates to refinance their home mortgage loans at more favorable interest rates. Therefore, whether you are a current renter moving into a home of your own or a long time homeowner seeking a lower interest rate, it is important to understand one of the most important financial formulas - the loan to value ratio. The easiest way to understand the loan to value ratio is that it represents the relationship between the amount of the outstanding mortgage as compared to the current value of the home. Since housing prices have been rising very fast in many areas of the country, many current homeowners have built up quite a bit of equity in their homes. Many homeowners, for instance, find themselves in the happy circumstance of owning a home that is worth substantially more than they paid for it, or substantially more than they owe on it. This means that the homeowner has equity that can be used to borrow additional funds, refinance the mortgage or even shorten the term of the mortgage loan. It is fairly easy to calculate the loan to mortgage ratio. It simply requires knowing approximately how much your home is worth, the amount of the outstanding mortgage and the amount of the original down payment. For our exercise we will use a home value of $150,000. The approximate value of your home can be estimated by looking at what similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for. When calculating the loan to value ratio, the first step is to take the original purchase price of the home, in this case $150,000 and subtract out the amount of the original down payment. For this exercise we will use a down payment of $20,000. The loan to value ratio is calculated by subtracting the $20,000 down payment from the purchase price of $150,000. In this case the resulting number is $130,000, which represents the $150,000 purchase price minus the $20,000 down payment. Dividing the $130,000 loan amount by the $150,000 purchase price gives us a loan to value ratio of 0.87, or 87%. It is important to know your loan to value ratio, since this number will be important to lenders any time you apply for a loan. [http://sosdebt.org/]More Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iwona_Kurecka http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-the-Loan-to-Value-Ratio&id=96056 ordering xanax online no priscription buy xanax online without a prescription where can i buy 2mg xanax online xanax online without a prescription

Elements of a Successful Customer Newsletter - 6 - Headlines

Friday, January 4th, 2008

By Simon Payn In a minute, I’m going to give you a way to write great headlines for your newsletter that is as easy as painting by numbers. But first… Several years ago, I worked as an editor on a daily newspaper. I didn’t write the stories, but it was my job to make sure they all appeared on the page — and that as many people were attracted to read them as possible. No page was more important than the front page. And no story on that page was more important than the ’splash’ — the biggest story in the whole paper. So guess which story got the most attention? And guess which part of that story got the most care lavished on it? Of the entire newspaper, the big headline on the front page was given top priority. Why was this? Because the editors knew it was this element of the entire newspaper that was most responsible for daily sales. So the headline had to be the best it could be. But there’s no point in having a headline if all people do is read the headline and move on. The main purpose of any headline in your newsletter is to get the story underneath it read. So here’s a quick checklist for eye-popping headlines: Your headline should indicate the article contains information that is useful to readersYour headline should indicate the article contains information that is interesting to readersYour headline should inform readers about the content of the article but be leave enough unsaid to intrigue readers to read the entire articleYour headline should be an accurate representation of the article — in other words, it shouldn’t mislead people into reading an articleYour headline should (in most circumstances) be in the present tenseYour headline should contain short words rather than long words Take a look at newspaper headlines and magazine cover lines to see some excellent examples. (The editors at Cosmopolitan and The National Enquirer, for example, are masters at headline writing.) Here’s a golden tip you can use to create masterful headlines. Take a headline from a magazine that you think is good and then change it to make it relevant to your article. For example (from Cosmo): 9 Naughty Sex Positions 9 Relaxing Vacation Destinations 9 Summer Gardening Tips Gorgeous Skin — The New Secret Beautiful Walls — The New Paint Secret Healthy Dogs — The New Diet Secret Our Get-It Guide to the 21 Most Glam Jobs Today Our Essential Guide to the 21 Most Useful Household Tips Today Our Mouthwatering Guide to the 21 Best Restaurants in Florence Do it that way, and it’s as easy as painting by numbers. Simon Payn is founder of Ready To Go Newsletters - the quick and easy way to keep your customers coming back. For a free newsletter you can use to send to your own clients, visit http://www.readytogonewsletters.com or see Simon’s blog at http://simonpayn.typepad.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Payn http://EzineArticles.com/?Elements-of-a-Successful-Customer-Newsletter—6—Headlines&id=399557 xanax no prescription online pharmacies xanax xanax online pharmacy xanax online 2day air

Weight Loss Survey: Why Dieters Fail To Lose Weight

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

By Anne Collins Current levels of overweight and obesity, together with weight-related disease, have made weight control a major health priority throughout America. Yet statistics indicate that average weight reduction on conventional diets adds up to a mere 5-8 pounds per year. So why do we find dieting so difficult? According to a new survey(1), the answer seems to be: because we make 3 crucial mistakes. We don’t have a good enough incentive; we allow ourselves to go hungry; and we can’t cope with “bad days”. The weight loss survey conducted by annecollins.com asked dieters to select the three biggest problems they faced when dieting. The most common problems reported were: “Inadequate incentive to lose weight” (76%); “Hunger” (72%); and “Bad days” (70%). Although these results will come as no surprise to most dieters, they highlight the importance of motivation in the dieting process. We examine how these problems occur, and what steps can be taken to overcome them. Why Do We Need an Incentive? We gain weight because we take in more energy than we use. Either because we eat too many calories, or burn too few, or both. So if we want to reduce weight, we need to improve our eating and exercise habits. And this is not easy, because let’s face it - old habits are not easily discarded, especially if they involve cutting out our favorite treats. We need a powerful incentive to help us change. Specifically, we need an answer to the question: “How exactly will I benefit from losing weight?” When faced with this question, many dieters have no answer. Those who do, typically reply: “I’ll feel better” or “my health will improve”. Others explain they are trying to lose weight to please their doctor, or their partner, or simply because they are “overweight”. Unfortunately, none of these reasons are strong enough to help us succeed. So when temptation strikes, we are unable to resist. What Type of Incentive is Best? Our motivation to lose weight must be based on a selfish, specific benefit. A good example might be an upcoming beach holiday, or a family occasion, or the achievement of a specific mobility or fitness goal. It must be as specific as possible (general benefits are useless) and ideally related to a fixed date. In addition, it must be selfish. Losing weight to please others rarely works. The advice I give to my clients is very simple. Do not bother dieting unless you have a good incentive. Because no matter how good the diet, no matter how valuable the exercise plan, unless you have a powerful reason to change your habits you won’t succeed. Hunger Kills Diets Most dieters are still convinced that calories are their enemy. So the less they eat, the faster they are likely to lose weight. This is not true. In reality, the less we eat, the more hungry we get and the easier it is to fall into temptation. The human body is trained to eat when hungry and no amount of willpower will neutralize this basic urge. This is why binge eating is such a common response to low calorie diets. How to Avoid Hunger No rocket science here. Avoiding hunger simply means eating regularly throughout the day, and keeping your calorie intake above 1000-1200 per day. This prevents hunger, thus reducing the urge to overeat, and in addition helps to maintain a regular high level of calorie-burning. Eat Too Much Rather Than Too Little We all have days when we feel extra hungry, even when we are dieting. This is no problem - simply eat more! It is always better to eat a little too much than not enough. Might this delay your weight loss? Yes. But so what? Taking a few extra days to achieve your goal is not a problem. The real danger is not eating enough and ending up hungry and depressed. This is a recipe for a binge. Bad Days and The Problem of Perfection No dieter is perfect. The truth is, all dieters experience “bad days” or fall into occasional temptation. Sadly, most dieters insist on “being perfect”. They cannot tolerate these lapses. So if (say) they visit a friend and end up eating 2 containers of ice cream and a box of cookies, they go to pieces. “I’m useless!” they cry. “I’m a failure!” Overwhelmed by guilt at not being perfect, they then quit their diet in disgust. It’s the Guilt That Does the Damage In this situation, the actual binge is typically fairly harmless. I mean, we need to eat a huge quantity of food (3500+ calories) to gain even one pound of weight. The real damage is caused by the ensuing guilt. And this is what we need to address. Guilt Comes From Trying to Be Perfect All dieters make mistakes and this is perfectly normal. Having an occasional binge is no cause for alarm, far less guilt. Even my most successful clients - those who have lost 100+ pounds - had regular lapses. The difference is, they didn’t see themselves as “perfect” individuals. So they felt “entitled” to make occasional mistakes, and so should you. Once you accept this, you will find dieting a whole lot easier. We Need Support to Make These Changes In order to overcome the 3 problems described above, an essential first step is to find proper support. This is just as important as choosing the right diet plan, because no matter how good the diet, it can’t motivate you to stay on track - only people can do this. Dieting is ten times easier when you receive encouragement from others. So when choosing an online weight loss program, choose one with an active forum. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about people. When we are alone and isolated, the smallest obstacle can seem like a mountain. But when we have people behind us, anything is possible. Notes: 1. Weight Loss Survey (Oct 2005) by annecollins.com. A total of 17,403 subjects replied to the survey. They were asked to choose 3 from a list of 10 diet-problems. The results were as follows: (1) Inadequate Incentive (76%). (2) Hunger (72%). (3) Bad Days (70%). (4) Boredom (69%). (5) Stress (60%). (6) Interference From Others (51%). (7) Too Much Eating Out (32%). (8) Eating on The Run (28%). (9) Ill-health (5%). (10) Lack of Sleep (1%). Copyright Anne Collins 2005. Anne Collins, 54, is a qualified nutritionist and full time weight management consultant with over 23 years experience. Her clients range from top celebrities to ordinary people of every age and shape. Her website attracts 9 million unique visitors per annum, and her weight loss forum is one of the most active support centers on the Internet. 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