My Wish List

MY WISH LIST

I wish the world was atleast 25% bigger

I wish there were few more medium sized continents in the world

i wish america and england were developing countries so they wouldn’t be able to create terror arround the world

I wish all the snakes in the world were extinct

I wish the ‘day’ was 25% longer so nobody in the world would age fast

I wish life would last atleast 200yrs

I wish Youth would last until a person is 70 yrs old (in current length of life)

I wish childhood lasted twice as long – because its the most enjoyable moment of life

I wish the house prices were 50% cheaper

I wish there were no council tax or atleast 50% lower

i Wish there were Pills you could take that could make you grow atleast 6 more inches taller in just a year

I wish england won the world cup (footbal)

I wish Tony Blair didn’t lasted so long as a prime minister

I wish Money was easier to earn

I wish People of the world would understand the beauty of god and his creations and be more kind to him

and worship him sincerely.

I wish the queen of england would retire now and let prince charles be king

I wish police werent so arrogant and more understanding and spoke with humor (or behaved like clowns)

I wish in the future some one finds a way to reduce ageing rate by 50%

I wish i was 6 feet tall

I wish there were no prison sentences if you killed some one by self defence

I wish teachers were more intelligent and wouldn’t show off with big words

I wish you could watch shows or movies on tv today that are scheduled to be bradcasted 2 weeks later

i wish you could record 10 shows from 10 channels at one time

I wish steve davis would win the world snooker championship one more time

I wish NASA would send some astronauts to MARS now – Not another 30 years later because I cant wait to see what they will do when they get there

I wish people didn’t betray their lovers

I wish there was another planet like earth next to our solar system

I wish in the near future AMERICA Starts living in MARS so people of EARTH could live more peacefully

I wish there were no worms or any parasites that could live in a human body

I wish there were no strong hurricanes on earth

I wish there was no aeroplanes cos i hate to fly

I wish stupid terrorists would not attack innocent people

I wish there were planes that could fly and land automatically (without human pilots)

I wish there was no international space station

I wish there was no pornography

I wish men and women were extremly shy of showing their naked body to public

I wish the justice system of america would forgive prisoners who commit murder if they are mentally ill or children

I wish there were no prostitutes in the world

I wish there was no AIDS

I wish my favourite actors: sylvester stallone, arnold swarchzenegger and david hassel hoff were in their 30s now

I wish arnold swarchzenegger becomes the next president of USA

I wish there was new magnum movie

I wish there was robocop vs terminator and spiderman vs batman movies coming out soon

I wish superman could fly around the galaxies in the next superman movie

I wish jackie chan and Michael jackson were in the same religion as i am

I wish michael jackson was my brother – cos i love him extremely xxxxxxxx

I wish people behaved good by thinking of death everyday

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New Accommodations for a More Accessible Vacation

Going on vacation is a great way to spend time together as a family. Unfortunately, some families are avoiding traveling altogether because they have accessibility concerns. Wheelchairs, mental disabilities, and other medical challenges can make going on a vacation a challenge, but the good news is that travel is not impossible. With the right planning, any family, even ones dealing with disabilities, can have a great time together on vacation.

Before you start planning your vacation, take into account what your family enjoys in the comfort of your own home. Do you like fine dining and interesting foods? Are you interested in theatre performances? Do you like music? Despite any limitations, all of these activities and more can be enjoyed while on vacation. So, do not feel the need to plan a “safe” vacation. Shoot for the stars and plan the trip you really want to take.

The first thing that you need to consider is transportation. Your plans will be different depending on who in your family is disabled, since there are different challenges with children versus adults. As far as traveling goes, you may be able to drive to your destination, but do not be afraid to fly either. Let the airport know that you have a special needs flier, and be prepared to show up at the airport at least two hours before your flight. All forms of public transportation, though, must be able to accommodate special needs travelers, so you should be able to fly, or take the bus or train for that matter, wherever you want to go.

Good news – no matter where you want to go, you will likely be able to find proper accommodations. Most major hotel and motel chains have wheelchair accessible rooms, which are located on the first floor and have large walk-in showers with handicapped seating. Many hotels are also beginning to carry kits to help smaller individuals feel more comfortable staying a room built for a taller person, and all will accommodate seeing-eye dogs, even if they do not allow other pets. All you have to do is request a room that meets your needs, and if for some reason the first hotel you call cannot accommodate you, another hotel in the area will be able to help you. Remember, their special rooms may be limited, so make reservations as soon as you know your travel dates if you need a first-floor room or a room with a wheelchair-accessible shower.

What can you do while on vacation? The sky really is the limit. Make sure that you talk to your doctor or pediatrician before you travel to confirm that the activities you have planned are safe, regardless of any disability in your family. Sometimes, you may want to call ahead to make sure that you can get the help you need when you arrive. For example, if you are planning to go to a water park, they might be able to provide you with a waterproof wheelchair for the day. When you call ahead, you can be sure that your day will not be unnecessarily delayed trying to find the correct staff member to assist you.

Keep in mind that other people will be enjoying the same tourist attractions as you and your family. It is important to be considerate of others but also that others will be considerate of you. If you are worried about that, you may want to call the facility and arrange a special tour or event just for your family. Most places are more than happy to help you set up a really fun day, no matter what health problems your family is facing.

If this is your first trip as a family or your first time traveling and dealing with a disability, take some time to understand how your body is going to adjust to the vacation. The weather, flying, long days, and other aspects of a vacation have a toll on any family, but yours has specific challenges. Talk to a doctor before you leave and if you take daily medications, have enough with you so you do not run out. Find out what you can do if somehow the medicines get lost. Most importantly, be prepared for relaxing downtime. This is a vacation after all. At the end of the day, you should plan a lot of flexibility in your schedule so you can take breaks as needed.

Traveling as a family dealing with disabilities is not easy, but over the past decade it has become less challenging. There are many new additions and hotel accommodations available to make your family’s stay more comfortable. If you are still wary of traveling together, at least take some time off for a “stay-cation” – a vacation at home where you enjoy some of the local sights. Vacations, no matter where you spend them, can really help you grow closer as a family, as well as provide happy memories and experiences which can last a lifetime.

Pilates Boston a Modern Approach to Pilates

Pilates Boston

Pilates Boston philosophy is simple. Provide the best training environment and the highest quality instructors to produce incredible results for individuals.

We have a modern approach to Pilates, one that blends the best of all the training schools with what works best for you.

Our focus is always on helping you achieve your goals whether it be to recover from an injury or get ready for a high school reunion. Even our group classes tailor each session to each individual to get optimal results.

At Pilates Boston, looking better is a byproduct of feeling better and being more flexible with a stable spine and better range of motion through all your joints. You’ll leave the studio feeling taller, centered and healthier.

Our private training rooms give you the ability to focus with zero distractions. We work with you for that day, whether it’s to continue on your long-range fitness goals or dekink your back from a cross-country flight. By providing the best environment and the best trainers, we push you to your personal best.

Pilates Boston staff has worked with a variety of issues including pregnancy, osteoporosis, hip replacement, frozen shoulder, car accidents, plantar fasciitis, breast cancer, knee injuries, ankle injuries, bone spurs, etc. We do not, however, cross the line. We know when to take over from the medical professionals and it is when they give us their blessing by providing you with a medical note to exercise again. If they have any restrictions we adhere to them. For instance, it is common to request that people with hip replacement not lift their thigh bone more than 90 degrees or to have their leg cross the mid-line of their body for some period of time until their doctor deems it O.K. We follow those guidelines and still give our clients a great workout and help them on the road to recovery.

Our philosophy is to stress working to the best ability for that day, to gently nudge our clients along with their recovery, and to help them find muscular and emotional balance as they take their lives off hold and go back into the swing of daily life. Chances are your body was protecting itself during the injury and recovery stages. Usually that means that you’ve developed some muscular imbalances (don’t worry, everyone has them) and we help you to get better balanced.

Pilates is based on movement, but after only a few sessions, most people begin to understand that Pilates can be so much more than movement alone. This Podcast is dedicated to providing insight and exploration into the body’s awakening as you progress beyond the movement. Pilates is one of the most important and fastest-growing mind-body exercise modalities, created by Joseph Pilates in the first half of the 20th century. Every issue brings you balanced, accurate coverage of all things Pilates, from exclusive workouts from the world’s best instructors to tips for performing and teaching them to the latest innovations in apparatus and products . Pilates studios that wouldn’t have dreamed of making a video a decade ago can make use of this technology to post video for minimal cost. YouTube is certainly not the only way to use online video to promote you business, but it is user-friendly and free.

Pilates will not only redefine your body, but your very definition of fitness. V Pilates offers a unique approach to a well known exercise. Pilates Method combines exercises from ballet with yoga and sports therapy to flatten the abdomen and help you build a sleek, toned appearance. It teaches body awareness, good posture, and easy, graceful movement. Pilates was formed by the part Greek, part German Joseph Pilates during the First World War with the proposal to improve the rehabilitation program for the many returning veterans. Joseph Pilates believed mental and physical health are essential to one another.

Pilates workouts will differ depending on the studio, instructor, level, equipment being used, focus, and whether or not the workout is a group class or private instruction. However, all pilates workouts should include some shared fundamentals to be effective. Pilates’ pure classical form. Pilates, the founder of the pilates exercise method, was born in Germany. As a child he was frail, living with asthma in addition to other childhood conditions.

Pilates Boston style core work helps you run faster and farther – really! Find out why – check out our web site http://www.pilates-boston.org. With over 10 million people participating in Pilates today in North America alone, the demand for qualified instructors is greater then the supply available. Pilates Boston offers rewarding and challenging classes tailored to suit each client’s goals and abilities. We will guide you in understanding the proper form and technique of the Pilates Method which will help you to achieve a stronger more flexible body and gain a richer sense of body awareness.

Lisa x

How can parents manage overweight children?

So, your child is overweight. He is chubby and fat. And all he ever does when he is not studying or sleeping, is to sit on the couch and munch on those fattening chips and snacks. He loves to eat and you often find it difficult to voice your concerns or to stop him from eating too much. All the more, you fear you would damage his self esteem by calling undue attention to his weight. So, then what do you do?

Well, firstly take solace in the fact that your kid is not the only one who is overweight. According to The American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey about a third of all children and teens are overweight and 16 per cent are obese.

But then as a parent how do you manage your obese kid and keep him from gaining more weight?

To begin with, you need to quickly understand as to what are the main reasons for obesity, so as to be able to manage it better. The most commonly found causes of obesity in children aged between 7 to 15 years include the numerous advertisements of burgers and chips and different fattening foods, both on television as well as on the web, various video games and play stations that keep the child from venturing out to play outdoor games, and also lesser physical education in schools.

Moreover, what is worrisome is the fact that obesity in childhood can in turn lead to various diseases and health risks in adulthood. So, a proactive approach by parents becomes the need of the hour….

At such times, Parents, this is what you can do:

Change your goal: Your first goal in getting kids to a more healthy body weight, should not be weight loss. Instead, the usual recommendation is for kids to just stop gaining weight, and then, as they get taller, they can ‘grow into’ their own weight. Use the ‘5-2-1-0’ formula: The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests that parents follow the ‘5-2-1-0’ formula which indicates 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, two hours of screen time ( including TV, Computer and video games), 1 hour of physical activity and no sweetened beverages. Build up interest: By way of interesting variations in healthy foods, children must be made to believe that healthy foods, can be much more rewarding than junk foods, both taste wise and health wise. For instance, if the child is averse to milk and milk products, he should be given interesting variations, including milkshakes and smoothies, different combinations of fruit juices so that he  lessens the intake of carbonated drinks, etc Check their Diet: Overweight children must be given healthy foods that are high in fiber content and low on fats. Too much of cheese, butter and ghee will not help in weight loss and will only aggravate the problem. Plenty of green vegetables, fresh fruits and salads, nuts, fermented foods including idlis and dosas etc must form their diet. Homemade food serves overweight children better than food from outside. Set a schedule: Parents must ensure that the child has his schedule chalked out in such a way, that he gets 60 minutes daily for outdoor games that keep him on his toes, makes him sweat and keep him mentally and physically alert.

To read more How can parents manage overweight children?

Avatar 2009 Movie

In 2154, the RDA corporation is mining Pandora, a lush, Earth-like moon of the planet Polyphemus,  in the Alpha Centauri star system. Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) heads the mining operation, which employs former Marines for security. The corporation intends to exploit Pandora’s reserves of a valuable mineral called unobtanium. Pandora is inhabited by the Na’vi, a blue-skinned species of sapient  humanoids with feline characteristics.  Physically stronger and taller than humans, the Na’vi live in harmony with nature, worshiping a mother goddess called Eywa.

Pandora’s atmosphere is not breathable by humans, necessitating the use of breathing masks. Attempting to improve relations with the natives and learn about Pandora’s biology, scientists grow Na’vi bodies modified with human DNA, called avatars, that are controlled by genetically matched, mentally linked human operators. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic former marine, replaces his twin brother, a scientist trained to be an avatar operator, who was killed in a mugging. Doctor Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), the head of the Avatar Program, considers Sully an inadequate replacement for his brother and relegates him to a bodyguard role.

In their avatar forms, Jake escorts Augustine and biologist Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) on a mission to reestablish peaceful relations with the Na’vi. A predator attacks the group and Jake becomes separated and lost. Forced to survive the night in Pandora’s jungles, he is rescued by Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), a female Na’vi. Neytiri brings Jake to Hometree, which is inhabited by her clan, the Omaticaya. Mo’at (C. C. H. Pounder), a shaman and Neytiri’s mother, shows interest in the warrior “Dream-walker”, and instructs her daughter to teach Jake their ways. Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), leader of the security forces, enlists Jake to bring him intelligence about the natives that could help RDA negotiate for access to the huge unobtanium deposit under Hometree. He promises Jake that he will help him obtain the expensive neuroregeneration treatment to restore control of his legs.

At first, Jake delivers key strategic information to Quaritch. Augustine becomes suspicious and relocates herself, Jake, and Norm to a remote scientific outpost with an avatar link module. Over three months, Jake grows close to Neytiri and the Omaticaya, while questioning his loyalty to RDA’s agenda. He is initiated into the Omaticaya, and he and Neytiri choose each other as mates. Jake reveals his change of allegiance when he disables a bulldozer as it destroys the tribe’s “Tree of Voices”. Quaritch presents Selfridge and Augustine with a video diary in which Jake admits that the Omaticaya will never abandon Hometree. Selfridge decides further attempts at negotiations are futile and orders Hometree destroyed.

Augustine argues that the destruction of Hometree could affect the bio-botanical neural network that all Pandoran organisms are connected to, and Selfridge gives Jake and Augustine one hour to convince the Na’vi to leave Hometree. When Jake reveals his original mission to the Omaticaya, Neytiri accuses him of betraying them. Jake and Augustine’s avatars are taken captive. Quaritch’s forces arrive and destroy Hometree, killing Eytucan (Wes Studi), Neytiri’s father and clan chief, and many others. Jake and Augustine are disconnected from their avatars and detained for treason along with Norm. Trudy Chacón (Michelle Rodriguez), a security force pilot disgusted with Quaritch’s senseless violence, breaks them out and flies them to the remote link module. During their escape, Quaritch shoots Augustine.

Hoping the Omaticaya can help Augustine, Jake tames a Toruk, a powerful flying beast that only five Na’vi have ever tamed, to regain their trust. Jake finds the Omaticaya at the sacred Tree of Souls and pleads with Mo’at to heal Augustine. The clan attempts to transfer Grace from her dying body into her Na’vi avatar with the aid of the Tree, but she succumbs to her injuries before the transfer completes. Mo’at declares that “she is with Eywa now”.

With the assistance of Neytiri and Tsu’Tey (Laz Alonso), the new leader of the Omaticaya, Jake assembles thousands of Na’vi from other clans to repel the humans. Jake prays to Eywa, via neural connection to the Tree of Souls, to intercede on behalf of the Na’vi in the coming battle. Quaritch notes the mobilization of Na’vi clans and convinces Selfridge to authorize a preemptive strike on the Tree of Souls. Because it is a center of Na’vi religion and culture, its destruction would leave the Na’vi too demoralized to resist further encroachment.

As the security forces attack, the Na’vi retaliate but suffer heavy casualties, among them Tsu’Tey and Trudy. Suddenly, the Pandoran wildlife joins the attack on the corporation’s forces, overwhelming them. Neytiri interprets this as Eywa answering Jake’s prayer. Jake destroys the main bomber before it can reach the Tree of Souls. Quaritch stumbles across the avatar link module where Jake’s human body is located and attacks it, exposing Jake to Pandora’s atmosphere. Neytiri kills Quaritch and saves Jake. With the attack repelled, Neytiri and Jake reaffirm their love as she sees his human body for the first time.

Selfridge and the remaining corporate personnel are expelled from Pandora, while Jake, Norm, and the scientists studying Pandora are allowed to remain. Jake is seen wearing the insignia of the Omaticaya leader. The clan performs the ritual that permanently transfers Jake from his human body into his Na’vi avatar.

It’s Hard To Quit Smoking Because It’s Part Of Your Self-Image!

When a smoker reaches for their last cigarette when they can’t get more in a timely manner, it creates anxiety. Some people think this is due to nicotine withdrawal but it’s not. The person is anxious, not because they need a cigarette at the moment, but because they know they won’t have one for their next cigarette break. This has nothing to do with physical needs because they still have that last cigarette in the pack to smoke. It is because the cigarette is part of the smoker’s self-image.

In this article, we will discuss how smoking becomes a part of an individual’s self-image and how this is a key foundation of the Psychological Smoking Mechanism. This mechanism is why it is hard to quit smoking..

The Smoker Starts at an Early Age.

The average age that a person starts smoking cigarettes is around fifteen. It is sometimes even younger and other times a little older but the time window is usually between the ages of 12 and 16. This time frame corresponds to puberty which is a very difficult and intense period in a person’s life. The changes of puberty result in an Identity Crisis..

The impact of puberty is so unpleasant, people tend to start forgetting about it as soon as it is over. How often do you fondly reminisce about the age of 14? If you are like most people, memories of the time between the ages of 12 and 16 are vague because they were so chaotic and unpleasant. Yet, it is the chaos and intensity of this time that creates the Psychological Smoking Mechanism and empowers it. So, it is important to review just what happens during puberty and the Identity Crisis..

Puberty and the Identity Crisis.

The one experience that every human being shares in childhood is the Identity Crisis. It is universal no matter what country or culture. Yet, the full impact of this time is ignored. Many of the problems that manifest later in adulthood can be traced back to this time. Smoking is one such problem that is forged in the crucible of puberty..

Why does puberty cause an Identity Crisis? It is the rapid change of the body in a short period of time after years of slow, steady growth. The body changes so rapidly, the mind doesn’t have time to adjust..

As everyone knows, we all start out very small. As adults, we look at infants and can’t relate to ever having been that small. How many times have you looked at an infant and said to yourself, “I was once that small”? It just doesn’t happen! We don’t like to remind ourselves of being in such a helpless situation. Just think about how you feel if you happen to be around your mom when she starts reminiscing to her friends about when you were a baby! I have seen many a young adult turn bright red with embarrassment..

When a baby is born, the development cycle is such that the infant starts out very small and grows rapidly, about an inch per month, the first year. The second year, the growth rate slows to about 1/2 inch per month and between age of three and puberty, the growth rate slows to about two inches per year. It is slow enough that we adjust to it without much difficulty. A fraction of an inch a month of growth is not very noticeable and although we are slowing getting larger, we adapt our self-image. Because we acclimate to the slow rate of change, we have an identity; we know who we are..

Who Is That in the Mirror?.

Then, we enter puberty. It varies from person to person but usually starts between the ages of 12 – 14 although it can start earlier. The slow, predictable change that has gone on for 9 to 11 years is suddenly, and in some instances, shockingly speeded up. In a short period of time, many physical and emotional changes take place..

When the growth spurts start, it is usually double what it was between age three and puberty although for some people it is even greater. In a matter of months, the body is noticeably bigger. The rate of growth speeds up to the point that the person can experience “growing pains” and in some cases, stretch marks..

In addition to size change, the individual starts to develop sexually. Familiar body parts start to change. For boys in particular, the voice changes with embarrassing results. It seems as if each time the person looks in the mirror, they are different. After years of a known self-image, a stranger is staring back from the mirror! A stranger with a 5 o’clock shadow or, for the girls, a stranger with a rapidly increasing chest!.

Emotional Chaos.

In addition to this massive growth spurt, the person experiences emotions that are greatly amplified by the flood of hormones. Also at this time, new feelings of sexuality emerge..

This intense amplification of emotions and physical sensations is overwhelming. It is almost too intense and results in some embarrassing situations for both boys and girls. A consequence is that every event has a greater emotional impact than it would under normal circumstances. The increased emotion causes positive events to be more positive and negative events to be more negative. Amplified emotion is what leads to the creation of the Psychological Smoking Mechanism..

The Twilight Zone – Between Childhood and Adulthood.

For the adolescent, puberty is a nightmare. They don’t look like themselves, they don’t feel like themselves, they have feelings they never had before, they have body features they didn’t have before, their voice is not the same, they are taller, favorite clothes and shoes are outgrown quickly, and many other changes. Adults are no help because they take the attitude that everyone goes through this experience. This response is due to the repression of their own puberty experiences. Believe me, the typical adult attitude towards the changes of puberty is no consolation to a young person whose world has been turned upside down!.

In addition to amplified emotions and sensations, there is the added burden of shaving for both boys and girls, and of course for girls, bras and tampons. The carefree life of the child is shattered. To add to the stress, school has become much more complicated by requiring the student to change rooms many times per day with different teachers for each class and harder courses. Gone is the security of a single classroom with a familiar teacher and a small group of peers that you got to know by being around them all day..

Misery Loves Company.

Since adults seem to dismiss the changes of puberty as trivial, an adolescent in the chaos of puberty looks to people who can relate to what is happening to them. They turn to their peers, who are also experiencing the same things, so they don’t feel alone in this massive assault on the childhood self-image..

The common realization each adolescent shares is that the old identity doesn’t work anymore. No longer a child but not considered an adult either. The only security the adolescent sees is being an adult but, they aren’t mentally or emotionally there yet. So, the peer solution is an attempt to force the title of adult. This is done by attempting to copy behaviors that are considered adult only. The two most common choices of adult behavior are the forbidden ones of drinking alcohol and smoking..

Smoking is Hard, Getting Drunk is Not.

Of the two “adult” behaviors that the adolescent chooses to declare adulthood, the one with the most prestige and peer approval is smoking. This is because the hardest thing about drinking alcohol is getting it; anyone can drink and get drunk. However, smoking is different..

Smoking is very hard to do. A person has to go through a learning process to suppress the normal body protective mechanism. It is a miserable time but the motivation is driven by the amplified emotion of puberty and desperation to define an identity as an adult. Intense emotions give more power to the motivation and allows them to force themselves through the miserable, time consuming process of learning to smoke. Obviously, not everyone has the force of will to do so but a large percentage who choose smoking persist and learn to smoke. When the adolescent succeeds in being able to smoke, they are the envy of their peers, most of whom cannot smoke. They join the small, elite group of smokers and are considered accomplished. And why not, after all they have mastered a very difficult task; learned Mind over Matter to suppress the normal body protective reaction. They have created the Psychological Smoking Mechanism..

Smoking and Self-Confidence.

Peer approval, the small club of smokers, the daring rebellion of breaking the rules by violating the law, and the perceived rebellious independence (who hasn’t looked on with admiration at the smokers plotting a cigarette break in the high school bathroom between 3rd and 4th period?), are very important to the adolescent. The ability to smoke cigarettes gives them prestige that they see the majority of their peers do not have. This is one of the building blocks of the Psychological Smoking Mechanism: smoking makes me special and admired..

Unfortunately, the young smoker gives power to the cigarette and feels that without it, they would not, and this is probably correct, have the attention that smoking gives them from both adults and peers. Smoking has become a part of their self-image because it gives them confidence. This confidence usually leads to other successes which in turn, are attributed to smoking when in reality, it is the confidence that led to success, not smoking; they just don’t realize it..

Conclusion.

A person usually learns to smoke during the changes of puberty when they are trying to establish an adult identity. They are not a child but not yet an adult so they seek what they consider adult activities to declare themselves an adult. Among their peers, smoking has the highest status because it is hard to do and most young people won’t or cannot do it. This results in admiration and prestige from their peers and adult attention that they would likely not have otherwise..

Smoking gives the young person confidence which in turn allows their natural abilities to produce success in other areas. The cigarette is given the credit when in reality, it is their confidence in themselves that produce the additional success. Due to this misconception, the young person believes the ability to smoke cigarettes has given them things they wouldn’t have otherwise and without smoking, they would not have the other successes. This is a key foundation of the Psychological Smoking Mechanism. Removing the impact of these beliefs is an important step towards becoming a non-smoker..

© R. Michael Stone, All Rights Reserved

The Benefits of Being an Ectomorph

As a hardgainer, you should understand that your genetic capacity for muscle growth is not quite on the same level as those lucky, genetically gifted mesomorphs, who can put on muscle just by thinking about bench pressing! Okay maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but not too far from the truth.

You’re going to have to train smarter, be more disciplined, and have the perseverance to overcome the genetic shortcoming of the ectomorph body type you’ve been endowed with.

If I’m losing you with all the ecto- meso- “morph” terminology, then this article should bring you up to speed.

Somatotypes and Body Type Classification

There are three basic somatotypes, or body types as proposed by Dr. William H. Sheldon back in the 1930′s that are used to classify individuals based on their physical traits and characteristics. It is not a perfect classification system, because even though some people fit these descriptions exactly, others will be a mixture of two or more somatotypes (i.e. an ecto-mesomorph.) Never-the-less, it is a great starting point for determining your genetic traits, your capacity for building muscle, and designing a program that maximizes your body’s potential.

Here are the three somatotypes:

Ectomorphic: characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage; usually referred to as slim.

Mesomorphic: characterized by large bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist.

Endomorphic: characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure.

The True Hardgainer

Most people that are considered to be true hardgainers fall into the ectomorphic category. Since this website is dedicated to helping ectomorphs realize their full genetic potential, we will be focusing our attention on this body type specifically.

As an ectomorph, your metabolism is in overdrive, meaning you are rather lean, and thin and experience difficulty in gaining weight of any kind (muscle or fat.) You most likely lack significant physical strength and this is obvious because you are also lacking in muscle mass. The extreme ectomorph has a fragile and delicate physique, with a lighter skeletal structure, small wrists and joints. The ectomorph may be slightly taller than the average person, and thus has longer limbs, which are not advantageous to moving heavy weights. Recovery ability of the body is also more prolonged than mesomorphs and endomorphs.

Common Physical Traits of the Ectomorph:

Thin

Flat Chest

Delicate Build

Tall

Lightly Muscled

Stoop Shouldered

Young looking

Narrow Bones

Common Personality Traits of the Ectomorph:

Self-conscious

Preference for privacy

Introverted

Socially Anxious

Mentally Intense

Emotionally Restrained

As you may have guessed or probably know from experience, all of these characteristics are not favorable in your quest to pack on muscle mass, size, and strength.

After considering this, you may wonder if being an ectomorph really has any benefits. Are you doomed to being scrawny for the rest of your life? You may also wonder whether you should even bother trying to lift weights to begin with. Maybe you should just stick to endurance sports?

To quickly answer these questions I say Yes, No, Yes, and NO! Just because you do not have the genetic propensity to become a massive pro-bodybuilder does not mean you cannot pack on slabs of lean muscle mass to your body. You can, although it will require more work, focus, and desire.

In fact, lots of ectomorphs have gone on to make incredible transformations adding 20, 30, 50, even 100+ pounds to their smaller sized frames in a matter of months rather than years. This all depends on your intelligence as a lifter, your desire and passion to make this type of transformation, and your ability to master the principles of gaining mass.

In short, even as an ectomorph, you can create a classic, muscular physique. Not only that, but there are even some unique benefits to being an ectomorph that you may not have considered. Let’s take a look at these now.

The Benefits of Being an Ectomorph

Besides all of the seeming draw-backs of being a skinny ectomorph tying to pack on some quality muscle, we do have a couple of advantages over the other body types.

1. Less looks like more: Because of the ectomorph’s smaller skeletal structure a little muscle goes a long way. If through hard work and discipline one is able to add some decent muscle to their lighter frame it will tend to look better, more defined, and create the illusion that the individual is bigger than he really is.

2. Melting the Fat Away: The ectomorph has a super fast metabolism making fat burning particularly easy. If too much fat is added in a bulking phase, it is fairly easy to slightly lower your caloric intake and burn it off quickly or to simply increase your cardio. Although this is an advantage for the ectormorphs, it is also a double-edge sword, as one must be careful not to burn off any of your hard earned muscle while doing so.

3. Enjoying your Food: Because of the ectomorph’s rapid metabolism, one must eat tons of high quality food to grow and maintain their muscle gains. If you love food then this is a plus. Although sometimes if may feel like a chore having to pack so many calories away, at least you are not feeling deprived. Plus, it gives us the ability to cheat a little on our diet without destroying our progress.

4. Deadlifting: Even though longer limbs make it harder to move weight in a lot of the exercises, including bench pressing, and squats; The advantage goes to the ectomorph in deadlifting (one of the best mass building exercises), where long arms give us the mechanical advantage to move some serious weight.

5. Aging like Fine Wine: As we get older our metabolism begins to slow down and fat storage tends to increase. For most people that sucks, but for the gym going skinny guy this means the ability to add more muscle to their frame and the shift into a more mesomorphic metabolic range.

A lot time skinny guys can’t see any positive benefits of their body type, and that can lead to a depressed state of mind. A depressed state of mind will be of no help to you and will actually keep you trapped in the very state you are mentally resisting. What you resist persists.

Of course you’d prefer to have more muscle, who wouldn’t, but in order to realize this goal you must first accept yourself for the way you are, where you are, and who you are. Only after you can accept yourself and your body in this way, can you objectively step back and then map out a plan to get where you want to be in life and actually follow it to completion. Acceptance of reality and a deeper understanding of it as it truly is… is the first step to changing your experience of it.

Knowing your body types advantages and disadvantages is a vital key to unlocking the door to muscle growth and positive change. It is important to remember that you cannot achieve muscle hypertrophy (aka growth) by working against your body. The Awakened Warrior realizes this and works with his body and his genetics in an effort to overcome his weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

To Your Success in Training and in Life,

Brandon Cook

10 Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

Are you really eager to go raw, but just can’t seem to muster up the courage to get started?

These are some of the top 10 benefits of the raw food diet that most every raw foodist has experienced.  If this doesn’t convince you to go raw, I just don’t know what will!

#1: Improved digestion

If I had to give you my top raw food benefit, improved digestion would be it.  It is the one result that almost every single person who attempts a healthy raw diet experiences.

Not only that, but it usually occurs very quickly.  Almost every digestive issue can be solved in just a few short days, if not less.  Whether you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or just the occasional upset tummy, you will see major improvements after going raw.

However, if you continue to abuse the #1 food combining rule, than your results will not be as great.  No amount of raw food can undo the effects of the sugar-fat combo.

#2: Permanent Weight Loss

Hmmmm…maybe permanent weight loss should be the top benefit?

I don’t think it’s going too far to say that close to 99.9999999% of people struggle with their weight at some point in their lives.  Many of us go on diet after diet after diet hoping that we will see *some* kind of change in our weight.

Unfortunately, the only change that most of us witness is a higher number on the scale.  And if we do happen to lose weight, it’s usually at the expense of our health (i.e. calorie restriction, dangerous diet pills, frozen food programs, etc.) and typically comes back to haunt us sooner or later.

On the other hand, eating a healthy raw food diet allows you to lose weight *permanently* while improving your health substantially.  Plus, you get to eat *pounds* of food on a daily basis, without any guilt!

#3: More Energy

Unlike what you read/hear from many well-known raw foodists, raw foods do *not* give you energy.  Nothing you eat does, whether it’s a burger or a banana.  Eating food of any kind *requires* energy, just as everything else that you do during the day requires energy.

What makes following a healthy raw vegan diet truly special is that it requires less energy to process inside your body.  2 pounds of grapes literally takes *minutes* to be fully digested by the body.  This is opposed to cooked foods, or even a complicated fatty raw dish, which take hours to be digested.

The one *true* energy provider is sleep, which brings me to benefit #4…

#4: Better Sleep

Since I’ve been raw, I rarely ever feel tired when I get into bed.  Even after being raw for so long, I still get ready for bed sometimes and think, “Gee, I’m not going to be able to fall asleep right now.  Maybe I should just stay up for a little longer.”

However, I convince myself to get into bed and the moment my head hits the pillow, I feel so relaxed.  Within minutes, I’m out.

The best part?  When I wake up, I feel completely awake and ready to begin my day.  No more groggy mornings for me!

This is a far cry from my bedtime routine from two years ago.  My routine was this: feel absolutely exhausted by 4pm.  Try not to fall asleep at the wheel on the way to a client’s house.  Feel a little better after a 30-minute nap.  Feel exhausted again by 7pm.  Get into bed still exhausted by 10pm.  Remain awake for an hour.  Wake up at 7am groggy and grouchy.  Repeat.

Yikes, that makes me tired just writing it!

#5: Mental Clarity

I’m sure that many non-raw foodists will disagree with this one.  Raw foodists are supposed to be tree-hugging, hippie nut jobs, right?

On a raw food diet, because you are no longer weighing your body down with hard-to-digest cooked foods, you have more energy to use your brain!

Of course, this has a lot to do with sleep as discussed previously.  Because we spend less energy digesting our foods, we sleep more soundly.  This means that we have more energy during the day, meaning our thoughts are generally much clearer and our focus greatly improved.  We are more mentally, and even emotionally stable.

It’s really a cycle, isn’t it?  The more raw foods you eat, the better you sleep.  The better you sleep, the more energy you have.  The more energy you have, the more mentally stable you are.  The more mentally stable, the easier it is to stay raw.  The longer you stay raw…

#6: Soft, Smooth, & Clear Skin

To be honest, I’ve always had pretty good skin.  I’ve had maybe three blemishes in my entire life.  In fact, the worst my skin has ever been was for the first few months *after* I gave up salt!  But that’s for another article…

I’m not trying to brag.  I just want to be honest.  I’m not here to make up crazy transition stories about how going raw made me grow 5 inches taller and gave me the power of flight.  Although I have gone down almost 2 full shoes…

Anyway, I’m sure that many of you struggle with skin problems, whether it’s a blotchy skin tone, dry skin, oily skin, visible pores, blemishes, etc.

You *do not* need an expensive, chemical-laden skin treatment routine that only serves to further irritate your already abused skin.  All you need is a good heapin’ helping of water-rich raw fruits and veggies.

And some sunshine couldn’t hurt either.

#7: Thick, Healthy, & Shiny Hair

I’ve always had really thick hair, but it was very dry and hard to manage before I went raw.  The worst part was that I would shed like crazy!  My Mom was always pulling handfuls of my long locks out of the rollers of the vacuum.  Yuck!

Now that I eat plenty of nourishing, water-rich foods, my hair is silky and soft.  And I’m no longer a shedding machine!

#8: Healthy Teeth & Gums

But aren’t your teeth supposed to rot out of your head when you go raw?

NO!  The fact that so many long-term raw foodists have suffered tooth decay is simply a testament to the fact that the mainstream raw food diet *does not work*.

On a healthy raw food diet full of sweet fruit, moderate vegetables and little fat, you will not experience teeth problems.  In fact, the condition of your teeth and gums is likely to improve!

The real key is to have a solid dental care system in place and not to make dehydrated foods the base of your diet.

#9: No More Aches, Pains, or Minor Illnesses

How many of you have struggled with “everyday” illnesses and pains such as headaches, migraines, colds, flus, tummy aches, joint pains, muscle cramps, allergies, etc.?  We all have at some point!

I used to struggle with

anemia restless leg syndrome muscle and joint pains in my legs and feet seasonal colds about 3-4 times a year (pretty much whenever the weather changed) the flu every couple of years headaches heavy menstrual flows and horrible cramps in my abdomen and lower back that left me in tears

And of course there were the seemingly random and unexplained aches and pains that would crop up every once in a while.

Every one of these has been *completely eradicated* since I went raw.  No more headaches.  No more colds.  Perhaps best of all, no more heavy periods and gut-wrenching cramps!  Sorry, guys, but that really is a big one for us ladies.

#10: Save Some Green

When you decide to take your health into your own hands and go raw, you can expect to save *heaps* of money in the process.

No more money wasted on unnecessary drugs, supplements or “superfoods.”  No more expensive doctor’s fees.  No more high insurance rates.

You can finally focus on *you* and spend that extra time and money on the things that actually make you more…well, you!

Still Waiting to Go Raw?

What are you waiting for?  Each day that you remain a slave to your aching back, your extra fat, or even your trip to the local pharmacy, is a day that you could be living raw and loving it!

Trade secrets in writing Treasure Hunt & Scavenger Hunt clues for fun party

Do you know anyone who is given a riddle to solve and there is a prize for solving and still the person doesn’t try?  I don’t. Anyways I’m writing this for folks who love to create clues. Writing clues can be quite intricate and demanding for inexperienced. Here I present the structure to write treasure hunt or scavenger hunt clues for any physical object like refrigerator, closet.

Objective

We are to organize one scavenger hunt game in our nearby park for kids aged 9 to 13. We have selected ‘Grass’ as one of the objects to be collected in this clue based hunt. Now we need to write a clue on ‘Grass’.

Start from the End

The obvious start for writing a clue is to identify the answer (We selected ‘Grass’). Physical objects are easier than abstract ideas for making riddle hunts. Very specific answers like ‘grass of Mike’s backyard’ can be very challenging to solve even for Mike himself. Less specific answers like ‘backyard grass’ or ‘grass’ are generally not as difficult however hard clues can still be made for general answers.

Think, Think & Think! Some More!!

Related Words

First create list of words, ideas, thoughts which are related to and have some association with ‘Grass’. Important part is to just note down whatever comes to your mind.

Green, Lawn, Garden, Grassland, Lawnmower, plants, Crops, Weeds, Herb, Hay, Sod,  Under your feet, Cricket pitch, Hockey artificial turf, Football field,  lush, Collect dew, Grazing land, Pasture, Herd, Wimbledon, Golf putting, farm, food chain, chomp, grasshoppers

Opposite Words

Also create list of words, ideas, thoughts which are opposite or have reverse correlation with ‘Grass’.

At the top, Hungry cattle, muddy football in rain, Soiled,  On your head

Use Thesaurus & Internet Resources

Leverage Internet’s vast resources to capture more information on ‘Grass’. Types, associated history, referenced in movies. One very useful aspect is to find idioms related to ‘Grass’.

Grass is always greener on the other side, Don’t let the grass grow under one’s feet, Put out to grass, Snake in the grass, Grass root level

Put yourself in Object’s shoes

Imagine you are the object and describe the world from its point of view.  What do you see, hear, feel and smell? What do you like & what you don’t.

Everyone is taller than me, Don’t stomp, I need lots of water, Cut the shank and I’m smooth. I make your lawn lush green, My king in Africa is the tallest

Use Figure of Speech

Use figure of speech to write sentences describing the answer (‘Grass’), using whatever we’ve come up with so far.

Mental Picturization: Collects dew to make your shoes wet

Personalization: I can move the ball, just don’t stomp on me, Cut the shank and I’m smooth

Metaphor: Start of the food chain, Wimbledon court

Substitute Word for main word(s): lush green

Sounds associated with word: chomp, chomp, chomp for grazing

Simile: So is Grass to lawn as hairs to head (You guessed it! I’m indeed baldy) or colours to painting

Did all the hard work…Now write a draft ‘Hunt Clue’

Both too easy or too hard clues will make players loose interest very quickly. Categorize all work done till now. (1) Reject too straight forward phrases (2) Choose some cryptic phrases (3) Choose some solvable part of the clue.

I like the ideas related to ‘cutting the shank’, idiom ‘let the grass grow under one’s feet’, ‘ moving the ball’ and ‘king in Africa is the tallest’ to build the cryptic parts. Let’s see if we could use ‘Golf putting’, ‘greener on the other side’ & ‘Hungry cattle’ to guide the players for actually solving the clue.

Lush green and anything related to grazing seem a bit obvious. May be I’ll pick these while writing clues for younger kids but not here. Start of the food chain can be confused with other plants, so ignore it..

Cut the shank, I make the ball move, putt you believe I’m green other side.

In Africa I have the tallest king, Lazy you I grow under your feet.

Aaah! It seems very disjointed and not spicy at all. Let’s give another try and use some Parallelism and Opposites, Cut & Grow, Short & Tall.

Cut the shank I move the ball, No action I grow in your feet,

Greedy bully makes me short, Only tall is my African king.

Used ‘greedy bully’ for ‘hungry cow’ to make it a bit obscure. I’m still not quite satisfied. It doesn’t sound good when I read it aloud. Let’s give it the finishing touch.

Make it Elegant & Poetic

Now we need to use thesaurus a lot. Modify the phrases to have almost equal number of characters and finish each phrase with rhyming words. We could use formal writing technicalities like rhetorical effect, alliteration to enhance literary quality of clues. Visual changes like punctuation placement, capitalization and bolding to further emphasise the clues. I used ‘switch’ to represent ‘other side’.

No action I grow in your feet, greener if you are switching.

Greedy bully makes me short, biggest is one African king.

It looks and sounds better now. I’m sure kids are going to have lot of fun playing scavenger hunt game.

Boost Your Confidence With Visualization

Lack of confidence has the power to cause great problems in your life, not only because it makes you feel powerless and out of control, but also because it triggers you to act in ways that are usually counterproductive to what you want to accomplish. You’ll find yourself shying away from challenges, procrastinating on goals you set, earning less money, or even experiencing problems in your interactions with others.

Visualization is one great way to help boost your confidence in these situations, and others.

Using visualization to boost your confidence requires changing and improving your self image, from the inside out. Low self-confidence is usually accompanied by a negative or limiting self-image, so creating a new, positive self-image through visualization will usually result in increased confidence.

To begin, first take a few minutes to jot down some ideas about the self-image you’d like to have. Obviously, confidence will be one of the traits you’ll include on your list, but also consider other traits you’d like to have, like compassion, integrity, motivation and focus, and so on.

Once you have a list of personality traits written, close your eyes and call up a mental image of your current self. Does this person have any of the traits you’ve just written down? Most likely you’ll have at least one or two – even if you’d like them to be more prevalent.

Now, imagine that those traits and the others you’ve chosen are beginning to become obvious in this mental image of yourself. For example, you might see yourself standing a bit taller, smiling with happiness and purpose, or wearing an expression of peacefulness on your face.

Keep adding more and more visual cues to this mental image of yourself until you can see yourself as the person you want to be. (It will probably take more than one session to gain a clear and strong mental image of this new you, but do the best you can. The more you practice, the easier it will become.)

Now, as you look at this strong, confident person in your mind’s eye, begin to switch your focus slightly so that you are feeling and behaving as he or she does, mimicking his or her demeanor and posture. Feel yourself growing more confident, self-assured, impassioned about your life, motivated about your goals, and so on.

See yourself interacting in your daily life with newfound confidence and enthusiasm! You’re interacting with people easily, making eye contact and moving through your life experiences with zeal. Stay with this inner vision for as long as you can, making it feel as real as possible.

Then, even after you return to your normal activities, be sure to keep calling to mind a mental picture of this new you as often as you can, and make an attempt to feel and act like that person did during your visualization exercise.

Rather than reacting to situations like you normally would, pause and remember that you are now a confident, self-assured person! How would such a person handle this situation?

The more you shift your focus to express this new self-image, the easier it will become to keep it going – and gradually become that person inside and out!

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