Students Of Success

Fitnesscasting is the commercial application of podcasting for
the personal fitness industry. Fitnesscasting is the
distribution and publishing of audio and video feeds, that offer
personal health and fitness training and information delivered
over the Internet, for on demand listening.

This is a new step in the evolution of on-demand health and
fitness information delivery, making it accessible, informative,
useful and appealing. This mix presents the health and fitness
industry with a very unique opportunity to reach its audience
through this new medium. Those individuals, who are already
seeking health and fitness information actively, will use RSS
subscription technology built into each podcast feed, to receive
information immediately as it is updated by each organization.
With one click of a button, a user can subscribe to a feed that
may be interesting, and any related information that is ever
updated to that feed will be automatically processed to their
personal aggregator. An aggregator is able to subscribe to a
feed, check for new content at user-determined intervals, and
retrieve the content.

To take this process one step further, podcasting publishes each
feed with the capability to be transferred to any portable audio
or video device. So with the growth of the ipod and all the
other portable media devices, you have the ability to grab
fitnesscasts and place them on your portable player for
listening or viewing. Most users attach their portable players
to their computers daily or weekly, and once the player is
attached they automatically receive the new Fitnesscast updates.

The flexibility of this medium is what will drive the growth of
Fitnesscasting tremendously over the next few years. There are
numerous formats that can be used in developing a fitnesscast.
Audio and video workouts give the power to the listener or
viewer to receive on-demand health and fitness training. In
addition, podcasts are being placed on portable video devices to
offer exclusive training workouts for those clients who may
travel a lot, or want to workout in the comfort of their home or
on their own schedule.

The best thing about fitnesscasting is that the opportunities
are endless. Here are some examples of how podcasting will
benefit the fitness industry. Most Americans have heard of 6
minute abs or the home jazzercise videos, in fact, these have
sold extremely well in our society. With as busy as people are
in today’s society, some individuals do not have the opportunity
to make it to a gym as much as they would like. However, these
same individuals are not looking to give up their workout
routine, they just need it custom fitted to their likings. With
fitnesscasting, you have the ability to utilize this medium
on-demand at the convenience. In addition, with audio and video
ipods you can take these fitnesscasts with you when traveling.

Another example of its use could be in large scale gyms. All
gyms have trainers who help their patrons’ workout and develop
their bodies, yet, sometimes there are either not enough
trainers or time schedules do not match up. With fitnesscasting,
you have an audio or video of a trainer giving you instruction,
at the touch of your fingers and on your time schedule.

The options are wide open for the development of fitness
programs that are cutting edge, and highly opportunistic in
terms of converting listeners and users into consumers and
revenues.

The popularity of portable on demand information will grow even
greater as wireless internet services continue to flourish
across the country. These portable devices will no longer have
to be connected to the internet; they will receive information
wirelessly as it is updated. In addition, as cell phones and
portable devices continue to merge together, the market grows
larger.

For organizations that have members worldwide, the distribution
of company information is very important, and once again this
offers each institution a method of on-demand delivery which is
convenient to all.

There are numerous uses for Fitnesscasting, and over the next
few years it will explode in popularity. It is beneficial to
organizations as well as the consumer, and it will be seen as a
great tool in any health and fitness organizations’ operations.

Everything is green again today - people are buying but it’s a slow crawl back to profitability. But we’re no where near where we were before.

This is called a dead cat bounce. As soon as we get high enough, people will be planning to sell and that will cause another fall.

Also, investors are cautious. Just watch a good mining stock and see how slowly it is crawling up. What does that tell you?

Plus all the normal data points to increased inflation, higher interest rates and decreased demand…so I think we’re in Bear territory, though it is still possible to make money with volatility.

What is interesting is that all this activity in no way is reflective of how well a company is performing. It’s all macro stuff. A firm could be doing all the right things but it’s share price is going to follow the tide: take Carphone Warehouse…growing, innovative, good management, an ambitious owner, graph tending up..but the daily activity / troughs / peaks all mirror the macro tide.

Click to read daily comments and keep updated: http://www.wanttosaysomething.com/

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After analyzing over 17,000 Dutch men and women, researchers recently concluded that those who drank seven or more cups of coffee a day were half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank two cups or less. The study was led by Rob van Dam while at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment in Bilthoven. Order another espresso for Mr. von Dam, please, while I finish my double cappuccino and expound on the array of knowledge learned from my bottomless-cup-of-coffee:

Good friendships are like good coffee; strong, stimulating, and addictive.

Coffee is a comfort food in nearly every culture. Therefore, travel the globe, drink espresso, and make international friends. Do your part for world peace.

Sleep is a side effect of caffeine deprivation. Drink coffee now.

Always tip generously at the coffee counter. They’ll remember you … it matters.

There is no morning without that first cup-of-joe.

Hot coffee and cold cream are good for you. My 100-year-old grandmother says so.

If you ask, “coffee, tea, or me?” be prepared for the response: “a double, skim, with extra foam.”

Decaffeinated teas and sodas may well have their merits, decaf coffee has none.

The glass half-empty or half-full question is ridiculous. Never drink coffee from a glass!

Lovers, desserts, coffee … indeed many things are better rich.

Given enough coffee, I conspire to rule the world.

Any romance begun in a coffee shop stands a chance of success; you are presumably both sober and the lighting is better than in a bar.

© Deb Voss Quail and Roxanne Vincent

About the Author

Deb Voss Quail and Roxanne Vincent are coffee buddies and business partners. Reach them via their web site at http://www.vvvinsights.com.

In a search for happiness, many people look for it in other people and not within ourselves. Many people feel that things like money, a better job, better relationships..etc will make them happy. In reality, to find true contentment you must look inside yourself and learn to be your own best friend. That means you have to trust, love, and care for yourself just as you do the people you consider to be close to you.

Following are steps that you can incorporate into your life that will help you to feel more empowered and happy about yourself!

Begin to lift yourself up, not put yourself down. If you don’t like something about yourself, work to change it. If you can’t change it, simply accept it. Don’t beat up on yourself with negative self-talk. You’re not likely to change for the better when you fill yourself with negative thoughts.

Give yourself positive rewards. When you do something that you are proud of give yourself a small reward. Try not to wait for others to praise you because you may grow resentful if the praise doesn’t come. Pat your own back, it is a great feeling that can stay with you for a long time.

Forgive yourself. I doubt that you would keep scolding a child over and over for making a mistake so don’t do that to yourself. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness when you make a mistake. After that, work to figure out what lesson you can learn, and use it to make better choices the next time around.

Enjoy your successes. Most people can remember all of the details of depressing, painful or even embarrassing events that happened many years ago. What if you did the same thing with all of your wins? Try to remember all of the triumphs and accomplishments that you’ve made and keep that memory with you and think about it at least once a week.

Always remember to celebrate your wonderful qualities! You will soon discover that the more you love yourself, the more you will be able to give love to others - and the more others will be able to love you!

Aurelia Williams, is a certified Personal Life Coach www.reallifecoaching.net who offers a free initial session and owner of Real Life Solutions www.reallifesolutions.net a Family Resource site that helps you lead an emotionally & physically healthier, more productive and less stressful life.

The ancient Chinese Astrology is not only fascinating but also quite accurate. It’s Zodiac is based on 12 signs, a cycle of 12 years and are named after 12 symbolic animals : Rat (or Mouse), Ox (or Buffalo or Bull or Cow), Tiger, Rabbit (or Hare or Cat), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep or Ram), Monkey, Rooster (or Hen or Cock or Chicken or Phoenix), Dog and Pig (or Boar or Hog).

Your Chinese Astrological Zodiac Animal Sign is based on your Chinese Lunar Year of Birth. The Chinese New Year is movable and could start anywhere between 21st January and 20th February, depending upon the year.

If your Date of Birth falls into any of these below listed Chinese Lunar Years, then, because you are born in the Year of the Snake, you are symbolically identified as a “Snake” :

In Chinese Hsia Calender, 2006 is the 4703rd year and is also the third year of the New Fengshui Land Luck Period 8. The new Chinese Lunar Year is from 29.01.2006 to 17.02.2007. Here are the Annual Forecasts and suggested Fengshui & Crystal Remedies that you may need for the coming “New Year 2006 : Bing Xu, the Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog” :

From 04 Feb 1905 to 24 Jan 1906

From 23 Jan 1917 to 10 Feb 1918

From 10 Feb 1929 to 29 Jan 1930

From 27 Jan 1941 to 14 Feb 1942

From 14 Feb 1953 to 02 Feb 1954

From 02 Feb 1965 to 20 Jan 1966

From 18 Feb 1977 to 06 Feb 1978

From 06 Feb 1989 to 26 Jan 1990

From 24 Jan 2001 to 11 Feb 2002

CAREER :

An exceptionally fruitful year filled with plentiful opportunities. A satisfying career with a lot of privilege and comfort. Hard work will payoff immediately. You will easily outperform all others in the fray. Benefactors will lift you up every step of the way. Those who are employed can expect a promotion and pay rise. Some will switch to better jobs, even overseas posting. Those who are in business will expand their activities, some will start branches abroad. Those of you in brokering, agency business, production based incentives, teaching, PR, law and insurance will enjoy an extra blissful period. The first half of the year is better than the second half of the year, luckwise. But you will get guidance and help when you need. Avoid taking aggressive stances against colleagues and subordinates, as that could lead to some back-stabbing. One wrongly uttered work could collapse everything. Stubborness could lead to many failures. If you are in partnership, then guard against being cheated. To inspire, guide and protect, place the statue of the mighty Kuan Kung in the North West. Chances of a theft in workplace is quite high.

MONEY :

Good and stable money luck throughout the year will keep you happy. Avoid extravagent spending though. The excellent interpersonal relationship skills that you enjoy this year will bring in new money making opportunities. Make more and more investments. However, keep off mindless gambling and speculative business. You may have to foot some expensive medical bills. Some of you may be duped by unproven “insider tips” and lose money in the process.

HEALTH :

In general, good health. Elders should be careful of accidents, especially when taking the staircase. Keep yourself clean. Sleep and rest as much as you can. There could be some minor accidents when travelling.

LOVE :

Good love and relationship luck this year. Singles should seriously consider marrying. Married couples should watch their spouses for extramarital affairs. Unwanted relationships are on way. Self-control is a must. Resolve conflicts as and when they arise. If in doubt, display the icon of a Rooster in the South West of the bedroom. A recreational trip with family will be of much help.

Beneficial Crystal : Malachite, for 2006

Good Relationship with : Rooster & Ox, for 2006

Conflict with : Tiger, Snake & Pig, for 2006

Yin/Yang : Yin

A NOTE ABOUT REMEDIES : The above analysis has suggested some remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and has recommended certain enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy. For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the coming new years, the only thing is that some of them may have to be repositioned according to the specific new year.

The Author of this article Sri Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Vaastu & Fengshui Researcher, Crystal Master and a Clairvoyant Karma Reader. His speciality is in permanent, life-time Remedial Solutions, especially Crystal Energy Fields. His wife Srimathi Kalpana Guptha is also a Psychic Reader. The Energy Couple can be reached through crystalvaastu@yahoo.com
or either of their websites:
www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com or
www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm.

Janarrdhana Guptha has authored the book titled “Guide to Fengshui Good Luck Symbols”. He writes regularly in leading English & Tamil Magazines from India. More of his articles can be read at his blog : www.spaces.msn.com/members/crystal-vaastu/.

Most Bariatric Surgery Patients experience a wide range of Holiday eating anxieties which can actually ruin a perfectly good Holiday around friends and family.

Prior to surgery, Holidays meant family, friends, and lots of food to indulge in and enjoy – often at a glutinous rate simply because Holiday foods are “special” because they are only provided during the season and they are prepared so carefully which adds guilt if you don’t partake of it.

How many times do you hear these phrases said at a Holiday gathering?

“That’s ALL you’re going to have? I worked so hard on that dish…”
“You better eat this now, because it won’t be here for another year….”
“It will hurt my feelings if you don’t eat this…..”
“These are very special ingredients I ordered specifically for this dish…”
“You can’t be NOT HUNGRY… it’s a Holiday!”
“Just ONE LITTLE BITE, PLEEEEEZEEEEZ…..”
“Have more, there’s plenty…”
“Take some of this home with you if you’re not going to eat it now…”
“Oh nonsense! You’re allowed to eat a lot today!”
“You should have worn your FAT PANTS to gorge yourself like the rest of us…”

OH, how this list could fill a book, right? Such comments add enough stress to non-surgery individuals who carefully watch their weight, let alone those who have had the Bariatric surgery and have to be careful what they eat, how much they eat, and how often they eat. So you are NOT ALONE in feeling some anxiety about being around all of the special food at gatherings this season.

I’d like to offer some suggestions that have worked for me and others during this most stressful time when Holidays equates to special foods and the pressure to partake in them is way too much out of hand at times.

1. Prepare you mind for the event: Reflect on past Holiday experiences and evaluate what lies ahead this year for you. Have it in your mind what you will say and do when those food-pushers taunt you or down-right threaten you to eat during the “special occasion.

2. Anticipate the food: Reflect on past Holiday foods that are always provided to you within your social circle. Predetermine what you WILL eat and what you WON’T eat. Making a decision ahead of time will curb your gut-reaction to “cave in” to the urgings by others to eat what you shouldn’t eat.

3. Never try anything new at the party: Not knowing how you will react to the food carries the high risk of making you ill and calling for you quick retreat to the bathroom or feeling sick for an hour or so. This will draw attention to you, which is something you don’t’ want. The host and guest will feel badly for you, so don’t put them or you in such a situation. Only eat things that you are absolutely certain that you can tolerate.

4. Take baby-bites of the “special” foods: Literally, take a baby-bite if you absolutely must partake of foods strictly for the social expectations. If it’s too much for a baby’s mouth, then you’re putting too much on the spoon or fork.

5. No-Guilt in Tossing it: In a social event where you don’t’ want attention drawn to how little you are eating, take a small plate with small portions of food, then take small bites of each item, then TOSS the rest away when no one is looking. This gives the appearance that you’re “normal” and all will assume you have gotten your fill. This spares hurting the feelings of Great Aunt Gerdie who truly does cry if you refuse her special 60%-sugar/90%-fat/carb-loaded/stroke-on-a-plate pie. Tossing out the unwanted uneaten portions is just a “different” way of consuming… so don’t’ feel guilty about it. All that matters is that Great Aunt Gerdie delights in seeing her pie disappearing.

6. Eat healthy before you go and bring your own essentials: Never go to a Holiday party hungry… NEVER! This is self-sabotage in the worst way! Enough said? Take along your own treats and drinks that are RNY-Friendly to you. Don’t request an extra effort on your host. You know what you need, so take it with you. While they are eating pies and cakes, you can have the sugar-free fudge sickles you brought along or those sugar-free pudding cups. And if they are serving only sodas or alcohol and you cant’ do them, bring your own herbal teas or no-sugar-added hot chocolate packets. This will make you, the host, and the guests feel comfortable and nobody will feel that you are “suffering” as they eat your NO-NO’s.

7. Talk more than you eat: The Holidays should be about PEOPLE, not food. So be social. Focus on the people; laugh with them, tell stories, listen to their tall tales, play games, etc. If you do these things, you’ll be amazed at how well the gathering will go for you simply because you didn’t focus on food. And when the food-pushers come along, just glance by them off into the distance and make your exit because you “want to talk to so-n-so or your cell phone is vibrating and you’ve got to excuse yourself for the call…. Perfectly acceptable to have a pre-planned “way out” when you need one.

8. Change the food-subject: Others may want to cry boo-hoo with you if you keep telling them of all the foods you’re missing out on this year. Don’t do that! Rather than mourn the loss of your favorite Holiday treats, brag on the fact that you’re feeling so much healthier, your clothes are getting baggier, and you’re dreaming again of all the great things that are in store for you now that you are slimming down. Don’t’ allow anyone to pity you for not eating like you used to eat.

9. Wear a “knock-out” outfit: WOW them all this Holiday season by wearing a special outfit that you feel very proud to be seen in. The food isn’t special to you anymore… you’ve swapped that for the special outfits you can now wear! Let people whisper to each other how great you look rather than how little you are eating. The stress of not eating so much will be far away to you when you feel good about yourself and look good too.

10. Make your visit brief: if you are getting too much pressure from others or are experiencing too many anxieties, let leave the gathering earlier than you originally planned. Maybe you’re tired, the roads are getting bad, you realized you need to do something… remember that “pre-planned” escape should be there for you if you need it.

I can attest that these are tactics that I’ve used and STILL use in social gatherings when it is expected to eat special foods during special times. Granted, I am three years post-op, so my anxieties are not as high as they once were… but they certainly threatened my Holiday happiness not too long ago!

Remember this most of all…. The more prepared you are ahead of time, the less you’ll feel nervous about those awful Holiday Eating Anxieties. Now go have fun!

For additional information or support, visit my website at http://www.rnyachievegoals.com.

I offer a FREE “Weekly Tip Newsletter” that can help keep you motivated as you forge ahead along your weight-loss journey.

Meloney B. Hall underwent the Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass Bariatric Surgery in September 2002 and lost a total of 170 pounds in a 19-month period. She is actively involved in helping others find success in achieving their goals along their weight-loss journey through her online support newsletter website and message board. She sells a variety of merchandise that she designed herself to help others celebrate and announce their achievements, whatever they might be in life. She is also available for Speaking Engagements. Learn more at www.rnyachievegoals.com.

A visit to the doctor in North America is sort of like a nightmare. You have spoken to a medical type person earlier on the phone but when you get to the office, they require you to fill out a long form on why you are visiting the doctor. It seems like nobody can remember anything anymore.

And it seems like whatever your illness (or syndromn as they call it today) you will have to get some tests! And the tests are on the other side of town!

There was a simpler time in America. A time when doctor’s would come to you home to treat you. A time when many things were different when the “doctor was in.” Let’s go for a visit to the Doctor in the 1950s.

Your wife called the doctor and he said he couldn’t see you at your home until 8:30 this evening. You decided to wait it out at the doctor’s office uptown.

You enter the waiting room. There are about fifteen people waiting for the doctor. You sign in with the nurse. You notice that there is only a nurse and the doctor running the whole thing.

You have a seat with the other complaining of being ill, the worried well and childhood headcold ill children. Of the 15 people in the room, about eight are smoking.Several of the other patients are using snuff or chewing tobacco. The room is filled with a blue haze. Some guy with emphazema is coughing just a little more in the corner.

You see a patient preparing to depart. The nurse gives him his pills. There’s no need to go the the drug store. The nurse despenses the stuff from behind the counter. Cost of office visit-$3.00.

There’s one or two perpetually ill in the room. These patients seem to be in the doctor’s office every night for some subjective or imagined illness. I heard the doc dispenses sugar pills to these folks to pacify them.

Some people preferring not to join in the roar of conversation, are reading outdated magazines. Some of the reading material is about ten years old. I guess some things never change.

After about an hour or an hour and a half (who’s counting?), your name is called. You go in the back to see the doctor.
As you enter the room, the doctor is finishing up on the paperwork of the last patient. He puts his cigar down in the ashtray to check your breathing. After a few more perfunctory evolutions, the doc comes to the conclusion that you just have a headcold. He recommends Tincture of Opium.

Two bucks worth of dope and you are on your way.

Gene Smith is an writer from West Virginia. Has has written many articles on the web and has published one book. He lives near Charles Town.