Meredith Melnick: We Tried It: Reformer Pilates

Meredith Melnick: We Tried It: Reformer Pilates

As part of our ongoing series, We Tried It, health reporter Catherine Pearson and nutrition and fitness editor Meredith Melnick tried a session at True Pilates studio in midtown Manhattan.

Catherine's Take:

I have long wanted to try Pilates, and not just the mat class, but the real deal. Like, on the machines. They're so intriguing -- How do you use them? Are they as scary as they look? -- and the Pilates afficionados I've met always have the loveliest figures. They're long, they're lean and they carry themselves like ballerinas, only somehow less stiff. Which is all a long way of saying that I went into my first reformer Pilates class with pretty robust expectations.

They were met. In my hour-plus long, one-on-one session, my instructor coached me through the basic sequence -- some time on the reformer, sort of the central piece of equipment, as well as the Cadillac (very roughly, tricked-out monkey bars attached to a mat upon which I did a lot of leg and bum exercises). We did each move only a few times -- the emphasis in Pilates is in quality, not quantity, my instructor explained -- and with exacting attention paid to my form. I was told to squeeze my ribs in and scoop my abdominals, schooled on my posture (apparently, I have no idea what it feels like to actually sit up straight, which was a real eye-opener) and did a few simple leg swirls that immediately help open up my very, very tight hips.

It was challenging, both in terms of working my muscles and also forcing myself to pay particular attention to how every inch of my person was aligned, but I also felt extremely safe in a way I sometimes haven't in yoga classes. The machines kind of nudge and keep you into certain positions, and having an instructor there to watch my every, single move no doubt helped, too. When I left, I was walking differently -- head higher, shoulders pinched back, and much more aware of how engaged and strong I could be in my core. And it lasted. For days after, I've been catching myself slumping over on the subway or at my desk and forcing myself to contract my abdominals and straighten my spine.

The issue for me going forward will be cost. Private reformer sessions are just too far out of my budget, although the instructors explained that a few sessions can help build the muscle memory you need to really be more aware of what your body is doing in larger (and less pricey) mat classes. I think I will give that a go. The exercise just really speaks to me -- it's challenging, while also encouraging gracefulness and helped me be more aware of my body. But seriously, would that I were a millionaire, I would go to private reformer sessions all the time.

Meredith's Take:

Although it was predetermined from the time my mesomorphic parents decided to have children, it didn't occur to me until age 15 or so that I would never have a dancer's sinewy physique. Mine is more of a soccer player's build. And since that discovery, I've relegated certain fitness behaviors to an off-limits category called 'What Dancers Do." These include: point work, foot taping, highly-restricted dieting and, well, Pilates -- especially reformer Pilates. So it was with detached curiosity that I approached the True Pilates studio in east midtown.

The swanky two-story gym had the calm warmth of a spa -- and a price tag to match. (Certainly a special treat on a journalist's salary.) A series of reformer machines -- with names like "the guillotine" and "the ladder" -- were laid out across each of two sunny studios. We were introduced to two knowledgeable and patient instructors, who (I was pleasantly surprised to note) looked like us: fit people with some meat on their bones.

As is customary for private sessions, our instructors spent the entire hour adjusting us as we moved through a series of repetitive, isometric exercises. Each one required small muscle movements, but a great deal of realignment. We tucked our tailbones, elongated our torsos through the rib cage and "scooped" our stomachs. I felt my body's bones stack up in a totally novel way.

As a fit person of moderate-flexibility and strength, I found the exercises challenging but doable. What's more, I could imagine how they applied to my regular exercise regime, which consists of running, biking and occasional yoga. My instructor relayed that she'd recently gotten her brother, a firefighter, to practice reformer Pilates -- which he found to be useful.

Walking back to the office after the appointment, I felt pliable and energized. But what really sold me on the technique was how differently I carried my spine. Even now, when I think of it, I adjust myself in my chair. That was the class's most valuable legacy.

For more on pilates, click here.

For more by Meredith Melnick, click here.

For more by Catherine Pearson, click here.

Follow Meredith Melnick on Twitter: www.twitter.com/meredithcm

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Caroline Gick: Working Out: Solo Or Social?

Caroline Gick: Working Out: Solo Or Social?

My sister and I are alike in many ways, but not when it comes to how we approach the gym. A few months ago, she asked me to put together a weight training program. She fared well for awhile, but soon got bored, not because of the activity, but because she was doing it by herself. Working out alone, day after day, she felt as though she was just running through the motions. She called to confess that she was stopping my program in favor of the group weight training class offered at her gym.

I like to train alone. I don't care for classes or working out with others. I prefer to do my own thing and rely on the kindness of others if I need help with a spot. I have taken classes and worked out in groups -- bootcamps, lifting with friends, running groups, Pilates, yoga. With the exception of Pilates and yoga, I'd rather train solo.

I conducted an informal poll of my Facebook friends, many of whom are athletes and regular gym-goers, to determine if more people like to train solo or if there is a stronger bent toward what I call "social" training, or working with one or more other people in a partnered or class setting. The results were about 70/30, in favor of social training.

Of those that prefer to train solo, the reasons are focus and time. One friend said, "I don't like to $%^ around. Get in, get work done, get out. I can't do that when I have someone with me, and classes don't give me the workout I need."

Of those who prefer to train with other people, it is primarily about motivation. Having a training partner(s), personal trainer, or attending a class pushes many people to work harder than they feel they would on their own. There is also a built in structure for competition and accountability.

Does this mean that solo trainers lack the desire for motivation and competition? Are social trainers lacking in focus and not worried about the clock?

K. Anders Ericsson from Florida State University writes about "deliberate practice" -- training conducted in solitude -- and purports that it is the key to achieving transcendent skill. One premise of the study is that deliberate practice is not enjoyable and is done primarily for the benefit it provides in terms of performance. Individuals must be interested in succeeding in a particular activity and motivated to do whatever it takes to succeed. In my small, unscientific poll, those who trained alone were competitors, personal trainers, or super serious about their training for other reasons. Personally, I am motivated to "practice" every day because it gives me a better chance of winning, whether that means in competition or meeting a physical goal I set myself. But I do enjoy the activity and I am not solely dependent on myself to perform well. While I don't train with anyone, I do need an audience and energy in the gym -- that is my competition and motivation.

Many people like to work with a trainer or with training partners, particularly one who is more advanced than themselves. "Push me," "push harder," "try new things" -- these are oft-repeated phrases, as is "accountability." This doesn't appear to be limited to real people. A 2011 study from Michigan State University found increased motivation in individuals who employed a virtual training partner that was programmed to perform at a superior level.

Similar to having a training partner -- real or virtual -- group exercise provides many people the motivation and accountability needed to exercise regularly. Group training programs such as Crossfit and Zumba have almost cult followings, and gyms across the globe offer and replicate these programs. Millions of people are coming to gyms, parks, community centers to participate in group exercises like spin classes, martial arts, and bootcamps. In 2009, Oxford University published research that found an increased rush in endorphin levels in people training in a group setting as opposed to those training alone. While I'm not a fan of Crossfit (an entirely different post altogether), and despite my personal distaste for classes, I would certainly never argue against the value of group exercise as a positive factor in getting people to be active.

Goals, personality, intention, endorphins... does it matter how we get there and push ourselves (or have others push us)? Or is it simply more important that we do?

Which approach do you prefer?

For more by Caroline Gick, click here.

For more on fitness and exercise, click here.

Follow Caroline Gick on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@CarolineGick

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

More Information On How To Gain Weight Through Nutrition

More Information On How To Gain Weight Through Nutrition
How to gain weight through nutrition is a topic discussed by all and sundry. Most people in the society yearn to lose some calories but it is interesting because there are quite a number of people who would want to add those calories. Nutritionists therefore come in handy in such situations as they help in guiding and counseling.

How to gain weight through nutrition is a topic discussed by all and sundry. Most people in the society yearn to lose some calories but it is interesting because there are quite a number of people who would want to add those calories. Nutritionists therefore come in handy in such situations as they help in guiding and counseling.

A calorie calculator would be of vital importance in this case. This is because it will help one know exactly the number of calories one needs to take every day in order to increase the body mass. More calorie intake is a must therefore an individual will be required to take large volume of food. Such foods should be energy dense and with high calories.

Many people would go for high calorie junk foods. This is however discouraged as they are neither healthy nor nutritious. Foods that are considered to be both energy and full of nutrient like legumes and fruits like avocados are the way to go. If one is not able to consume larger volumes of food at a go then it is recommended that they should increase their portion size in each of their several smell meals all through the day.

The meals taken should also be balanced that is it should consist of the right quantities of protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. This help to boost the body immune system at the same time helping one gain the mass that one desires. Snacking can also be helpful but one should still consider the energy dense snacks.

There are short cuts to life, some end up being positive while others detrimental. Many people would want to follow these short cuts mainly because they are easy and not so much involving. For instance in this case one may be tempted to purchase dietary supplements for building the body. Some of these products are harmful or may contain some compounds that are harmful thus should be avoided.

Any dietary supplement that an individual would want to take must be suggested by a professional. This advice could be from a nutritionist or a health expert. This is very vital because the substances could prove harmful to ones health. Exercise should also not left behind. Men especially are encouraged to weight lift as this work out helps to enhance ones muscles.

People are also encouraged not to add mass by choosing unhealthy foods like chicken and fries. Foods which are prepared with cooking methods such as baking, roasting or frying. Patience is also another element. You do not expect to add mass in a battling of an eye lash therefore an individual should learn to wait and choose good foods.

There is a high rate of people who are either obese or struggling with their body mass. This situation is quite rampant in the country that it makes it really easy to forget about people who thirst to grow big. Information on how to gain weight through nutrition has therefore been of great help to such individuals for that reason it should be well appreciated and embraced. Nutritionists must learn to talk on both issues of mass loss and mass increase in order not to look discriminative.

Anthony Valdiers has been a personal trainer for over one decade and can assist you answer the question how to gain weight. he has assisted many individuals build muscle and gain weight.

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Billy Shore: A Dangerous Attack on School Breakfast

Billy Shore: A Dangerous Attack on School Breakfast

Today, there are 474,000 New York City children whose families struggle to put enough food on the table. These kids are more likely to have health problems and are more likely to stumble in school. In-classroom breakfast is a practical way to ensure that as many kids as possible benefit from the most important meal of the day.

Yet according to the Food Research and Action Center, New York City is dead last among 26 large urban areas in school breakfast participation, even though 74% of the city's public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. And because there are millions of federal dollars approved to expand breakfast programs, righting that wrong does not have to cost the city anything.

Enter the city Health Department which, citing a study that suggests some students might be eating two breakfasts, wants to halt plans to serve more morning meals at school.

This post continues at the New York Daily News.

Shore is founder and CEO of Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger organization. Kirchhoff is president and CEO of Weight Watchers International.

Follow Billy Shore on Twitter: www.twitter.com/billshore

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

A Natural Body Detox For Spring: 30 Foods Under 50 Calories

A Natural Body Detox For Spring: 30 Foods Under 50 Calories

Wondering how to shed a few pounds and make your life healthier this spring? Then nutritionist Christine Avanti has one piece of advice for you: "Get out of the centre aisle of the supermarket, and start buying real food!"

The chef, author and Food Network health consultant has had enough of people eating processed foods while trying to maintain a healthy diet, and her new book, "Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food," aims to make sure people understand that "real food" means things that don't come out of a box or contain refined sugars posing as natural ones.

She's backed up by plenty of heavyweights in the food world, including Michael Pollan, whose "eat food, not too much, mostly plants" rules have informed a whole new generation of eaters. But Avanti's emphasis lies in the hormonal aspect of weight loss and nutrition -- namely, preventing the blood sugar spikes that can lead to the burning of muscle instead of fat.

"When we’re hypoglycemic, blood sugar levels are low," Avanti explained to The Huffington Post Canada. "When they’re low, the body breaks down muscle tissue and liver tissue, which then slows down metabolic rate, and it unteaches your body to break down fat and it teaches your body to break down muscle."

She also notes the emotional changes that can take place thanks to hypoglycemia, including mood swings, anxiety, depression, lack of concentration and "every kind of craving you can think of -- it's not a good place to be."

Avanti's tricks to keep blood sugar stabilized include adding a spoonful of cinnamon to almost anything, as it actually helps break down sugar 20 times faster, and splashing some coconut oil into teas and coffees. The lauric acid contained in the coconut helps with immunity, and has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal qualities as well.

The 30 foods below are what Avanti terms "hunger busters" -- foods under 50 calories per serving size that can be added to meals without worrying about packing on calories, or eaten as a snack with a dash of vinegar to stabilize blood sugar:

• Eggplant

  Eggplants contain water-insoluble fibre, which adds bulk to the diet and helps our bowels 'exercise.'

• Onions

  Onions contain a nutrient called allicin, which can help lower blood pressure and prevent cancer.

• Alfalfa Sprouts

  These tiny sprouts are mild diuretics to help cleanse the kidney and also regulate bowel movement.

• Tomatoes

  Tomatoes are well-known for their carotenoids, and can help increase insulin sensitivity and prevent stress-related weight gain in the abdomen.

• Artichokes

  Artichokes contain inulin, which is a type of carbohydrate that has been shown to decrease the hunger hormone ghrelin. "It stops you from feeling hungry, helps stabilize blood sugar, and then they also have a certain compound that actually help detox the liver," says Avanti.

• Spinach

  A good source of fibre, spinach also has a ton of vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting and coagulation.

• Cabbage

  With lots of fibre, cabbage aids the performance of the digestive system, therefore helping clean the stomach and intestines of toxins.

• Broccoli

  Broccoli, according to Avanti's book, is a source of water-insoluble fibre that aids the growth of gut bacteria, organisms that eat sugars and fibre and prevent the proliferation of bad bacteria that can make us sick.

• Asparagus

  Asparagus is a serious disease killer -- it's been linked to fewer incidences of heart disease, colon cancer, liver disease, and spina bifida. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/jonathan_moreau)

• Lettuce

  Lettuce is, frankly, a good filler food -- it has fibre in it to help digestion, and the darker the leaves, the better it is for you. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Phae)

• Parsley

  Parlsey may be thought of as a garnish, but this herb helps cleanse the kidney, aids in digestion of protein and fats and boost immunity. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/kightp)

• Peppers

  (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Live♥Laugh♥Love)

• Radishes

  The amylase in radishes has been found to aid in the digestion of carbohydrates, so can be a good addition to any pasta meal. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/brixton)

• Sauerkraut

  The fermentation process that creates sauerkraut has the great side effect of creating lactic acid, which helps stimulate the pancreas, reduce blood pressure, promote healthy sleep and help alleviate constipation. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/I Believe I Can Fry)

• Zucchini

  Zucchini is full of fibre, helping move things through the intestines, and it also fills more filling than it is in terms of calories, helping keep you from snacking. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Wally Hartshorn)

• Green Beans

  Green beans have plenty of vitamin C, along with antioxidants like carotenoids and flavonoids that fight off free radicals in the body. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/popartichoke)

• Tomato Paste

  The heating up of tomatoes to make tomato paste can actually make its antioxidants more available to the body -- and as a bonus, tomato paste has been found to help prevent sunburns. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/rustytanton)

• Mushrooms

  Mushrooms contain some surprising nutrients, like selenium (which has been found to combat bladder cancer), vitamin D, and vitamins B1 and B2, which help the body burn energy. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/wikioticslan)

• Cucumber

  Cucumbers contain fibre, vitamin A and vitamin C, but it's really the texture and surprising hardiness of these veggies that make them a great snack. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/karenandbrademerson)

• Brussels Sprouts

  Brussels sprouts are hugely nutritious, beneficially impacting cholesterol, stress and cancer prevention. For weight loss, it's the amount of fibre in the sprouts that helps with digestion, preventing constipation and keeping blood sugar in check. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Vegan Feast Catering)

• Bok Choy

  The calcium, potassium, vitamin C and folic acid in bok choy made this cousin of cabbage a serious nutritional powerhouse. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/sweetbeatandgreenbean)

• Coleslaw

  Usually consisting of shredded cabbage and carrots, Avanti recommends this as a "hunger buster," ideal with a hint of vinegar to snack on between meals. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/jessmonster)

• Kale

  Like Brussels sprouts, kale works with the fibre compounds and bile acid in the stomach to help get rid of that acid, and therefore lower cholesterol -- particularly when it's steamed. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/farmanac)

• Leeks

  Part of the onion and garlic family, leeks can be used in almost any dish, and are known for their 'low energy density' -- very few calories packed into something that can fill you up. (Photo courtesy of Flickr: amortize)

• Pumpkin

  Alpha-carotene has been correlated with the slowing of aging, and pumpkin has plenty to spare -- meanwhile, the fibre in the gourd, whether raw or from a can, helps with weight loss. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Sheree K)

• Relish

  Pickle relish can add to a meal easily, and its fermented qualities can act as probiotics for your digestive tract. Just be sure to stay away from the 'sweet' option, which usually uses high fructose corn syrup. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/weezerthewonderful)

• Cauliflower

  Full of calcium and low in calories, cauliflower is an easy to any side dish or main -- or as a snack with a dash of low-sodium soy sauce. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/lynn.gardner)

• Celery

  Lots of vitamin C means celery helps with immunity as well as fighting free radicals. Its low calorie count has long been suspected to result in "negative" calories -- which apparently is true, though it would require many stalks to make a real difference in weight. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/tiaragwin)

• Turnips

  Though turnips really only have vitamin C and a bit of fibre to recommend them, they also don't have many calories associated with them, making them a quick and easy snack if you have them on hand. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/ghirson)

• Okra

  Thanks to okra's "gelatinous" coating, it absorbs water and moves through the digestive system easily, taking with it toxins, cholesterol and bile. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/AsianLifestyleDesign)

Eggplant
Eggplants contain water-insoluble fibre, which adds bulk to the diet and helps our bowels 'exercise.'

Onions
Onions contain a nutrient called allicin, which can help lower blood pressure and prevent cancer.

Alfalfa Sprouts
These tiny sprouts are mild diuretics to help cleanse the kidney and also regulate bowel movement.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are well-known for their carotenoids, and can help increase insulin sensitivity and prevent stress-related weight gain in the abdomen.

Artichokes
Artichokes contain inulin, which is a type of carbohydrate that has been shown to decrease the hunger hormone ghrelin. "It stops you from feeling hungry, helps stabilize blood sugar, and then they also have a certain compound that actually help detox the liver," says Avanti.

Spinach
A good source of fibre, spinach also has a ton of vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting and coagulation.

Cabbage
With lots of fibre, cabbage aids the performance of the digestive system, therefore helping clean the stomach and intestines of toxins.

Broccoli
Broccoli, according to Avanti's book, is a source of water-insoluble fibre that aids the growth of gut bacteria, organisms that eat sugars and fibre and prevent the proliferation of bad bacteria that can make us sick.

Asparagus
Asparagus is a serious disease killer -- it's been linked to fewer incidences of heart disease, colon cancer, liver disease, and spina bifida.

Lettuce
Lettuce is, frankly, a good filler food -- it has fibre in it to help digestion, and the darker the leaves, the better it is for you.

Parsley
Parlsey may be thought of as a garnish, but this herb helps cleanse the kidney, aids in digestion of protein and fats and boost immunity.

Peppers

Radishes
The amylase in radishes has been found to aid in the digestion of carbohydrates, so can be a good addition to any pasta meal.

Sauerkraut
The fermentation process that creates sauerkraut has the great side effect of creating lactic acid, which helps stimulate the pancreas, reduce blood pressure, promote healthy sleep and help alleviate constipation.

Zucchini
Zucchini is full of fibre, helping move things through the intestines, and it also fills more filling than it is in terms of calories, helping keep you from snacking.

Green Beans
Green beans have plenty of vitamin C, along with antioxidants like carotenoids and flavonoids that fight off free radicals in the body.

Tomato Paste
The heating up of tomatoes to make tomato paste can actually make its antioxidants more available to the body -- and as a bonus, tomato paste has been found to help prevent sunburns.

Mushrooms
Mushrooms contain some surprising nutrients, like selenium (which has been found to combat bladder cancer), vitamin D, and vitamins B1 and B2, which help the body burn energy.

Cucumber
Cucumbers contain fibre, vitamin A and vitamin C, but it's really the texture and surprising hardiness of these veggies that make them a great snack.

Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are hugely nutritious, beneficially impacting cholesterol, stress and cancer prevention. For weight loss, it's the amount of fibre in the sprouts that helps with digestion, preventing constipation and keeping blood sugar in check.

Bok Choy
The calcium, potassium, vitamin C and folic acid in bok choy made this cousin of cabbage a serious nutritional powerhouse.

Coleslaw
Usually consisting of shredded cabbage and carrots, Avanti recommends this as a "hunger buster," ideal with a hint of vinegar to snack on between meals.

Kale
Like Brussels sprouts, kale works with the fibre compounds and bile acid in the stomach to help get rid of that acid, and therefore lower cholesterol -- particularly when it's steamed.

Leeks
Part of the onion and garlic family, leeks can be used in almost any dish, and are known for their 'low energy density' -- very few calories packed into something that can fill you up.

Pumpkin
Alpha-carotene has been correlated with the slowing of aging, and pumpkin has plenty to spare -- meanwhile, the fibre in the gourd, whether raw or from a can, helps with weight loss.

Relish
Pickle relish can add to a meal easily, and its fermented qualities can act as probiotics for your digestive tract. Just be sure to stay away from the 'sweet' option, which usually uses high fructose corn syrup.

Cauliflower
Full of calcium and low in calories, cauliflower is an easy to any side dish or main -- or as a snack with a dash of low-sodium soy sauce.

Celery
Lots of vitamin C means celery helps with immunity as well as fighting free radicals. Its low calorie count has long been suspected to result in "negative" calories -- which apparently is true, though it would require many stalks to make a real difference in weight.

Turnips
Though turnips really only have vitamin C and a bit of fibre to recommend them, they also don't have many calories associated with them, making them a quick and easy snack if you have them on hand.

Okra
Thanks to okra's "gelatinous" coating, it absorbs water and moves through the digestive system easily, taking with it toxins, cholesterol and bile.

Contribute to this Story:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.ca

Psychiatrist Behind Retracted 'Ex-Gay' Study Apologizes To Patients, LGBT Community

Psychiatrist Behind Retracted 'Ex-Gay' Study Apologizes To Patients, LGBT Community

Earlier this month, psychiatrist Bob Spitzer made headlines after he retracted his controversial 2001 study proclaiming that "highly motivated" gay and lesbian people could change their sexual orientation. But Spitzer is now going even further by making what has been described as "an unprecedented apology" to both former patients of reparative therapy as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community at large.

Truth Wins Out has obtained a copy of the letter, addressed to Dr. Ken Zucker:

" The Fatal Flaw in the Study –- There was no way to judge the credibility of subject reports of change in sexual orientation. I offered several (unconvincing) reasons why it was reasonable to assume that the subject’s reports of change were credible and not self-deception or outright lying. But the simple fact is that there was no way to determine if the subject’s accounts of change were valid.

I believe I owe the gay community an apology for my study making unproven claims of the efficacy of reparative therapy. I also apologize to any gay person who wasted time and energy undergoing some form of reparative therapy because they believed that I had proven that reparative therapy works with some “highly motivated” individuals."

The now 80-year-old Spitzer, who had ironically led the effort to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973, told American Prospect earlier this month that earlier critiques of his study were "largely correct."

He continued, “The findings can be considered evidence for what those who have undergone ex-gay therapy say about it, but nothing more." After noting that failed attempts to rid oneself of homosexual attractions "can be quite harmful," he then requested writer Gabriel Arana print a retraction of the 2001 study, "so I don’t have to worry about it anymore."

In the article, Arana also claimed to have undergone therapy for over three years with Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, co-founder and former president of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), in an effort to change his own sexual orientation.

Take a look at recent cases of reported "ex-gay" therapy below:

Bachmann's Alleged Involvement

1  of  9

In July,gay advocacy group Truth Wins Out released video footage allegedly shot undercover at the Christian-affiliated Minnesota clinic owned by Michele Bachmann and her husband, and claimed to find evidence of conversion therapy being performed on the premises. "Michele Bachmann wants to be in the Oval Office and wants to be the president of the United States," Wayne Besen, "It's important to know what her true beliefs are and what goes on in this clinic."

In July,gay advocacy group Truth Wins Out released video footage allegedly shot undercover at the Christian-affiliated Minnesota clinic owned by Michele Bachmann and her husband, and claimed to find evidence of conversion therapy being performed on the premises. "Michele Bachmann wants to be in the Oval Office and wants to be the president of the United States," Wayne Besen, "It's important to know what her true beliefs are and what goes on in this clinic."

Bachmann's Alleged Involvement

In July,gay advocacy group Truth Wins Out released video footage allegedly shot undercover at the Christian-affiliated Minnesota clinic owned by Michele Bachmann and her husband, and claimed to find evidence of conversion therapy being performed on the premises. "Michele Bachmann wants to be in the Oval Office and wants to be the president of the United States," Wayne Besen, "It's important to know what her true beliefs are and what goes on in this clinic."

Contribute to this Story:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Calling all Hair Stylists

Calling all Hair Stylists
Calling all dedicated hair designers. Do you spend time browsing through celebrity television channels or the pages of fashion magazines to remain up on the most recent hair style trends? Do you recognize others in your travels and think that they could have a hotter hair style than the one they currently have?

Calling all dedicated hair designers. Do you spend time browsing through celebrity television channels or the pages of fashion magazines to remain up on the most recent hair style trends? Do you recognize others in your travels and think that they could have a hotter hair style than the one they currently have?

Such thoughts are clear signs of a hair stylist in the making, and you should consider choosing a career in hair design.

Hairstylists perform a wide selection of beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling. They may also inform customers on how to maintain the care of their lovely hairstyle at home. A hair stylist can even go the extra mile of showing you how to re-create the style yourself. As a fully licensed cosmetologist, you will also give manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments,as well as give makeup analysis. Thus if you desire variety, you’ll definitely find it with a beauty-oriented career like hairstyling.

Prior to you being able to grab your scissors and call yourself an actual hairstylist, hard work and education is required. A hairstylist should complete a program of academic courses like chemistry, biology. If you would like to own your own hairstyling salon in the future, it’s highly reccommended that you enroll in sales and marketing courses. As a hairstyling apprentice, you’ll gain valuable on-the-floor experience. After graduation, hairstylists are required to complete anywhere from 300 to 1600 hours of training. This experience will be important in allowing beginner hairstylists to acquire a large customer base and establish their place within the industry.

If you’re thinking of choosing the path of a hairstylist, the industry has a place for you. In researching job opportunities of the past few years, nearly 75% of salons with open positions could not find qualified applicants to fill them. Many job seekers in today’s financial climate don’t have luxury of such vast un-occupied field. Make sure you strike while the curling iron is hot!

In order to fill the description of a qualified candidate, you are required get licensed. Potential hairstylists will need to take the appropriate state licensure exams. These exams consist of a written portion which covers the fundamentals (for example, infection management, nutrition and ergonomics) and services like shampooing, cutting and styling. The practical or performance part of the exam will cover procedures such as coloring, heat and chemical treatments, high-lighting, setup and customer protection, and haircutting.

If you have the dedication and creativity to create trending hair styles, then chooing a career a hair stylist is your calling. Locate hairstyling courses close to you and sign up today.

Jean Rafaelo writes informational articles on topics that range from hairdressing education requirements, to hairdresser salary information.

Source: feedproxy.google.com

10 Health Mistakes Doctors See You Making

10 Health Mistakes Doctors See You Making

I was on an eight-hour flight to France and was sitting behind a woman who started sneezing and coughing as soon as we took off. It was nonstop throughout the trip — and she wasn't covering her mouth when she did it! At the very least, sick people should direct their sneeze or cough into a folded handkerchief or a heavy-duty napkin or tissue. I wished I had brought my face mask with me; I usually bring one on planes to use if I see people being cavalier about coughing. Of course, three days after we landed, I got sick, and it ruined half of my week in Paris.
— MICROBIOLOGIST PHILIP TIERNO, PH.D., AUTHOR OF THE SECRET LIFE OF GERMS

Source: health.msn.com

What Swimsuit Shopping Can Do To Your Self-Esteem

What Swimsuit Shopping Can Do To Your Self-Esteem

By: Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer
Published: 04/23/2012 01:28 PM EDT on LiveScience

If trying on a bikini under unflattering dressing room lights has ever soured your mood, rest assured you're not alone. A new study finds that, for women, even just imagining trying on swimsuits can increase a bad mood.

Imagining wearing a swimsuit also increases feelings of self-objectification, a term used by psychologists to describe how people, often women and girls, take an outsider's view of their bodies, reducing themselves to objects to be evaluated.

"Self-objectification has a variety of negative consequences ?— always worrying about how you look, shame about the body, and [it] is linked to eating disorders and depression," study researcher Marika Tiggemann, a psychologist at Flinders University in Australia, wrote in an email to LiveScience.

Self-objectification is a personality trait, meaning that some women are more likely to objectify themselves in general than others. But certain situations can also increase feelings of self-objectification, no matter what your starting point. Tiggemann and her colleagues wanted to know what sort of differences clothing made.

"We wear and choose clothes every day," Tiggemann said. "Clothes are controllable aspects of our appearance, in a way that body size and shape are not." [5 Myths About Women's Bodies]

She and her colleagues wrote four scenarios to test the impact of clothing on self-objectification: In one, women were asked to imagine themselves trying on a swimsuit in a dressing room. In another, they imagined wearing a swimsuit while walking down a beach. The other two scenarios had the same settings, but instead of a swimsuit, the women were asked to imagine wearing jeans and a sweater.

One hundred and two female undergraduates read each of these scenarios in random order and participated in the imagination exercise. After each scenario, they filled out questionnaires designed to measure mood, feelings about the body and self-objectification.

Unsurprisingly, imagining wearing a swimsuit made women feel worse about their bodies than did the jeans outfit. Somewhat more surprisingly, it was imagining wearing a swimsuit in a dressing room that made women most likely to self-objectify — not the public scenario in which they might assume other people would judge their bodies. That result emphasizes how much self-objectification is truly an internal process, Tiggemann and her colleagues reported in May in the journal Sex Roles.

"The physical presence of observers is clearly not necessary," they wrote. "More particularly, the dressing room of a clothing store contains a number of potentially objectifying features: (often several) mirrors, bright lighting, and the virtual demand that women engage in close evaluation of their body in evaluating how the clothes appear and fit."

Harmful self-objectification is not easy to prevent, Tiggemann said. Her advice: Avoid mirrors and comparisons with others, and focus on activities that emphasize the function, not the appearance, of the body, such as yoga, sports or sailing.

You can follow LiveScience senior writer Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.

Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Tips for Getting Past Typical Obstacles to Fitness

Tips for Getting Past Typical Obstacles to Fitness
Are there obstacles that are preventing you from reaching your fitness goals? Many of the various obstacles that people face can sound like a valid reason for not exercising. You can overcome your obstacles and improve your fitness by using the following guidelines.

Are there obstacles that are preventing you from reaching your fitness goals? Many of the various obstacles that people face can sound like a valid reason for not exercising. You can overcome your obstacles and improve your fitness by using the following guidelines.

One common excuse for not exercising is a lack of time. Finding the time for an exercise class or for going to the gym can be difficult because of work and family responsibilities. You may not be making the most of your time, however, which looking at your schedule will show you. There is a study that shows that the average person in the U.S. watches five hours of television every day. If that number is cut in half, think of the extra time gained that can be used for fitness related activities. Computer games, trivial phone calls, and text messaging are other time wasters. Cutting back on unproductive activities will give you more time for exercise.

Within weeks of beginning an exercise routine, many people become bored. For this reason it is recommended to vary your exercise routine. Your exercises will be more effective as well as less boring if you vary what you do because it keeps the muscles from adapting. So vary which machines you use and how you use them and look into taking different classes. If you lift weights, try varying the focus of your training sessions. A good way to do this is to vary the number of reps and sets that you do as well as the size of the weights that you use. Variety is a good way to keep your workouts interesting.

Because many people have unrealistic expectations from their workout routine, if they don’t see immediate results, they quit. You won’t be able to improve your health and fitness over night. Whether your fitness goal is to build muscle or endurance, or to lose a certain amount of weight, it will take time and may take longer than you’d like.

But you’ll reach them if you exercise whereas you won’t if you don’t put for the effort. Try to maintain a more relaxed approach to your fitness program rather than expecting big results in a short amount of time. Sometimes you need to recognize your problems and obstacles to reach your fitness goals. Try to be patient with yourself and be happy with any progress that you do make. When it comes to fitness, you don’t have to compete with anyone else. You are headed in the right direction as long as you are moving forward. Staying focused on your fitness goals and using these tips to get past obstacles will help you reach your goals.

Why not nip over to our website for smart information ~ http://www.acn-france.com and click right here.

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Rubin Naiman, Ph.D.: Earth Night: How Green Is Your Sleep?

Rubin Naiman, Ph.D.: Earth Night: How Green Is Your Sleep?

This week we observe the 42th anniversary of Earth Day. Once again we conjure familiar images of smoggy skylines, toxic landfills and lethal oil spills along with the mounting evidence of global warming. And we also celebrate the heightened awareness and many major environmental initiatives promoted by Earth Day.

But, what about Earth Night?

Compelling evidence suggests that indoor pollution may actually be more toxic than outdoor pollution. More specifically, it appears that the bedroom, the place most of us spend the bulk of our at home time, may be the most polluted room in the house. Nowhere does the growing toxic burden of our environment get more up close and personal than when we get into in bed with it at night.

I coined the term Deep Green Sleep™ to capture the simple essence of healthy slumber. "Deep" refers the quality and extent of our psychological descent into sleep. And "green" is about an optimal sleep environment -- one that is free of toxic pollutants. Our efforts at descending deeply into sleep may be hampered by bedroom pollutants that tether us to the waking world.

Unsustainable Sleep

Conventional bedding and mattresses are commonly constructed from dubious materials. The cotton used in our linens, pillows, mattresses and pajamas is among the most pesticide-laden crops. Synthetic petrochemical foams found in many mattresses, including the popular "memory foam" varieties, are associated with significant off-gassing of many potentially harmful chemicals. Air mattresses are also known to off-gas and, depending on climate, can promote the growth of mold. To top it off, conventional mattresses are then treated with harmful chemical fire retardants.

Most bedrooms harbor dust mites, microscopic insects that feed on human skin shed into mattresses, pillows, bed covers and carpets. Dust mite body parts and droppings can trigger reactions ranging from mild allergies to severe asthma. And if that's not bad enough, conventional bedroom walls and floors, furniture and carpeting are also a potential source of off-gassing from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in paints, varnishes and adhesives. Add the off-gassing from toiletries and cleaning products typically found in master bathrooms and we have a most disturbing picture of what I call "sleep smog."

Poor breathing means poor sleep. Even if you're not aware of it, airborne contaminants can compromise respiration during sleep. Difficulties ranging from simple nasal congestion to snoring and sleep apnea may be associated with sleep smog. And, of course, there remains a concern about the potential health hazards of long-term exposure to such poor air quality.

Air temperature may be as important as air quality to our sleep. In parallel with global warming, too many of us try to sleep in bedrooms that are not sufficiently cool. Just as the outer world cools through the night, our core body temperature must do the same if we are to sleep well. Recent research has found that average room temperatures have been on the rise in recent years. Both the planet and its people are overheating.

Although it is rarely thought of as such, excessive light at night has been shown to be toxic to sleep as well as our general health. Light suppresses melatonin, disrupting sleep, dreams and circadian rhythms. Compelling research has discovered a dose-dependent relationship between exposure to light at night and increased risk for breast cancer.

I'm sure many readers are now thinking, "enough!" I'm keenly aware of the incessant messages we get about the dangers lurking in our food and water and air -- and even in our genes and thoughts and behaviors. It's certainly not my intention to stir up additional angst about health -- and particularly about the sanctuary of our sleep. But, just as raising consciousness about environmental issues has spurred positive changes, we must do the same for our sleep environment. Let's stop losing sleep over these problems by doing all we reasonably can to clean them both up.

Six Sustainable Sleep Solutions

Creating a green, healthy and sleep-friendly bedroom is both critical and doable. Begin with an evaluation of possible sources of sleep smog in your bedroom, enlisting the help of professional house health specialists if necessary. Make a plan to gradually address any problems you discover. Consider the following solutions:

1. Whenever possible, use bedding made from organic cotton, wool and natural latex. I recommend getting an organic mattress with a wool topper that functions as a natural fire retardant. The cost of green bedding has been dropping significantly over recent years with increasing consumer demand.
2. To manage dust mites, encase mattresses and pillows with "allergen-impermeable" zippered covers. Wash your bedding weekly in hot water with a mild, biodegradable laundry soap. Keeping indoor humidity levels low -- between 30 and 50 percent relative humidity -- can also help control dust mites.
3. When painting or refinishing floors or furniture, switch from conventional and "low-VOC" products to those labeled "VOC-free," "no-VOC," or "zero-VOC," which are virtually free of toxic chemicals.
4. Ventilate and clean the air in your home and particularly in your bedroom. A wide range of air filtration products are now available to consumers. HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air filtration, systems are ideal. Carefully review their features including noise levels, room capacity and the frequency and cost of filter replacement.

   A number of common houseplants have been shown to effectively filter indoor air. NASA research concluded that "House plants can purify and rejuvenate air within our houses ... safeguarding us all from any side effects connected with prevalent toxins." Effective air cleansing houseplants include areca, lady, dawarf date and bamboo palms, rubber plants, dracaena, English ivy, ficus aalii, Boston fern, peace lily and many others.

5. Dim the lights in your home a couple of hours before bed and make sure your bedroom is completely dark during sleep. As an alternative, use "blue-blocker" glasses or light bulbs that diminish the negative effects or ordinary light on sleep by filtering out its blue wavelength, which suppresses melatonin.
6. Experiment with dropping the temperature in your bedroom to 68 degrees Fahrenheit or less. This is not about feeling cold -- use all the bed covers you like. It is about creating a sufficient differential between your body temperature and the room temperature to encourage the dissipation of heat from your body. Dialing down the thermostat will not only promote better sleep, it will conserve energy.

Not surprisingly, what we do to support Earth Night will also support Earth Day.

For more by Rubin Naiman, Ph.D., click here.

For more on sleep, click here.

Follow Rubin Naiman, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drnaiman

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld: Prayer As Medicine For The Sick

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld: Prayer As Medicine For The Sick

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Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.: Surprising Facts About Fat In Foods

Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.: Surprising Facts About Fat In Foods

Fat has the reputation as the bad boy of the nutrition world. Maligned for decades, the message from many health organizations has been the same: reduce or cut the fat. For those who are overweight or have chronic health issues, this is probably the right advice. However, the idea of fat as universally "bad" simply isn't true. Maybe it's time to reframe the conversation, starting with the real facts about fat.

1. Eating fat does not necessarily make you fat.

Many think that if you eat any fat it will go to your sides, backside, hips or stomach. If you are consuming more food than your body requires it does not matter what you are eating -- carbohydrate, protein or fat. In fact, eating too many starchy processed carbs is more likely to trigger high insulin levels and fat storage or weight gain than moderate fat or protein.

2. No need to avoid nuts.

Nuts do contain fat but the healthy kind called monounsaturated fat, which helps not only with satiation (feeling full) but also increasing the good type of cholesterol, called HDL. Richard Mattes, MPH, R.D., distinguished professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University, has studied the relationship between nuts and weight (1). His research shows nuts are not associated with weight gain due to their high level of satiety and inefficiency with being digested. Apparently nuts have cell walls that are not easily broken down during the chewing process. Translation: This means nuts basically go through the body undigested without releasing the fat they contain into your system. What great news for nut lovers!

3. Saturated fat is not the evil villain to avoid.

Once thought to be the villain, many health care professionals recommended avoiding all sources of saturated fat (fat that is solid at room temperature). We now know that having some saturated fat will not break your health bank and some types of saturated fat can be part of a healthy diet.

One healthy source of saturated fat is extra-virgin, organic coconut oil. Coconut oil contains a type of MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil called lauric acid that is only found here and in mother's breast milk. Lauric acid is a powerful immune stimulant and may help in preventing sickness. In addition, coconut oil is safe to use at high temperatures since it is saturated and the molecules cannot be damaged. I've tried many brands of coconut oil and my favorite one is Kelapo -- great for stir-frying veggies and your morning eggs.

4. A label that says "no trans fat" may not be entirely free of trans fat.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers make the serving size on the label so small it falls under the "do not need to report" guideline. If the serving size has less than the .5 grams of trans fat, a manufacturer can state "no trans fat" on the label. If you ate several servings of a food with "no trans fat" it can quickly add up to well over 2 grams of trans fat per day, which has been consistently linked to heart disease.

5. You don't need to steam all your veggies to get the most nutritional value.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published research showing that eating a salad with dressing containing fat significantly increased absorption of nutrients called carotenoids (2). Eating a salad with fat-free dressing resulted is no carotenoid absorption. Carotenoids are responsible for the yellow, red, orange, and green colored pigments in fruits and veggies -- important for disease prevention. If you want to absorb all the amazing nutrients in your veggies, have some healthy fat on them or fat within the same meal.

6. Extra-virgin olive oil is not ideal for cooking.

Although extra-virgin olive oil is a healthy monounsaturated fat, it can easily become damaged at high temperatures. Use it for making salad dressings or marinating vegetables and meats. If you want to cook with olive oil, use it only in recipes where the smoke point is between 200 to less than 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

A particularly good olive oil I found last year at the Natural Foods Expo was cold-pressed Olivaylle Olive Nectar -- processed within six hours of harvesting and put in an oxygen-free dark glass, which holds in the nutrients since olive oil is fragile and can be easily damaged or oxidized.

7. Fat plays an important role in the body.

Fat has multiple functions in the body and is so important that without fat, we would not be alive. Some important reasons we need fat are:

• Your brain needs fat: Approximately 60 percent of the dry weight of brain is fat, and healthy neurons contain a type of fat known as DHA.

• Sex hormones are derived from fat.

• Fats supply essential fatty acids the body cannot manufacture, which are needed for healthy skin and hair.

• Fat is involved in metabolism of food, immune function and helping to stabilize blood sugars.

Now that you know the facts, you can see how fat's bad rap is undeserved. As with all things, moderation is the key. Enjoy some healthy fat with meals -- and taste how good "bad" can be!

References

1. Mattes, RD., et. al. (2010) "Nuts and healthy body weight maintenance mechanisms." Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 19(1):137-141

2. Brown, MJ., et al. (2004) "Carotenoid bioavailability is higher from salads ingested with full-fat than with fat-reduced salad dressings as measured with electrochemical detection." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 80(2):396-403.

Susan is the author of "A Recipe for Life by the Doctor's Dietitian." Her new book "Healthy You, Healthy Baby: A mother's guide to gestational diabetes" will be out in May 2012. For more information, visit susandopart.com.

For more by Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., click here.

For more on diet and nutrition, click here.

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Are Those Helen Keller Sunglasses You're Wearing?

Are Those Helen Keller Sunglasses You're Wearing?

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Sara Calabro: Top 5 Excuses for Not Getting Acupuncture

Sara Calabro: Top 5 Excuses for Not Getting Acupuncture

Some people just can't bring themselves to try acupuncture.

Despite being something they're curious about, something they sense could be helpful, acupuncture remains an unscalable mountain. No amount of friend, physician or celebrity endorsements is enough to convince them otherwise.

Here are the top five excuses for not getting acupuncture -- and why they're not good enough.

1. "I'm afraid of needles."

There's a spectrum here. It ranges from downright needle-phobics to people who are mildly disturbed by the whole voluntarily-being-stuck-with-needles thing. Regardless, the anti-needle excuse is invoked more than any other.

Depending on where someone falls on the spectrum, this will be more or less fathomable: Fear of needles can, and usually does, go away once you take the initial plunge. Many acupuncture devotees were at one point afraid of needles. What got them over it was trying it.

Most people who have never had acupuncture do not realize how thin acupuncture needles are. They do not bear any resemblance to needles that are used for injections or to draw blood. Acupuncture needles come in varying lengths and thinnesses, and some are as fine as a hair. They bend when you touch them.

If you have a fear of needles, let your acupuncturist know. Most acupuncturists stock several needle sizes and will be more than happy to use the thinnest variety at your request.

Japanese acupuncture is a good option for people with needle fears since very thin needles are used. It is not uncommon to feel no needle sensation whatsoever throughout an entire Japanese acupuncture treatment.

Some of you may be thinking, "No you don't get it. I am, like, really afraid." There is still hope.

People with true needle phobias can ease into acupuncture with treatments that emphasize non-needling techniques such as acupressure, cupping and moxibustion. Again, Japanese acupuncture is a good option because it frequently incorporates moxibustion.

2. "It's too expensive."

This, unfortunately, is still a relatively valid excuse. However, recent developments are making it less and less convincing.

Some insurance companies do seem to be adding acupuncture to their benefit packages. If you have health insurance and thought acupuncture wasn't covered, be sure to check periodically and inquire about any changes to your plan.

More promising, though: Community acupuncture clinics, which usually charge somewhere between $15 and $50 per treatment, are popping up like crazy. And at the end of last year, the community acupuncture movement took things up a notch by forming the People's Organization of Community Acupuncture, or POCA, a multi-stakeholder cooperative. The formation of POCA means more money and manpower behind the effort to make acupuncture more accessible.

A listing of all POCA clinics can be found here.

3. "I don't know who to go to."

A reader survey conducted by AcuTake showed this as the number-one reason participants hadn't tried acupuncture. In response to that finding, we created a first-in-class acupuncturist directory that connects you with the acupuncturist who's right for you. Not just anyone. You.

All acupuncturists in the directory share their unique stories. They talk about why they became acupuncturists, what makes them different, why they love their work, and how they stay healthy in their own lives. They even debunk common misconceptions about acupuncture.

The AcuTake Acupuncturist Directory helps you understand who an acupuncturist really is, as a professional and a person, so that you can make fully informed decisions about who to involve in your health process. Not all acupuncturists are created equal. Find the one who's right for you.

4. "It's not scientific." (Also known as "I don't believe in acupuncture.")

There is a pervasive belief in healthcare that for something to be effective, it must be validated by clinical trials. This is simply not true. Nor is the opposite true, that if something is validated by clinical trials then it's effective.

Clinical trials are to thank for many medications and technologies that have extended and improved life for countless people. That does not mean they have the answers to everything. They are merely one way of looking at efficacy. When we fail to acknowledge this, we miss the opportunity to consider other perspectives and limit access to the therapies that might help us most.

Results from clinical trials on acupuncture are all over the place. Some say acupuncture works, some say it's no better than placebo, some say it's worse. This does not mean acupuncture doesn't work. All it means is that the biomedical gold standard, which is not conducive to studying non-biomedical therapies in the first place, isn't able to make sense of it yet.

If acupuncture is something you want to try, don't get bogged down in research. Achieving a true state of health is not about doing something because a study said you should. It's about becoming aware of the options and deciding what's right for you.

5. "I don't have time."

This excuse refers to both attending appointments and waiting for results to kick in.

Regarding the first, if you can just get yourself in the door, it'll probably be the best hour of your week. Committing to acupuncture might feel at first like a burden, but the clarity and restoration you'll experience afterwards will help create a sense of lightness and freedom in your otherwise hectic schedule. One hour away from the noise is a gift you deserve to give yourself.

In regard to the second time-related excuse, it's true -- acupuncture is not a quick fix. Nor is it a one-shot deal. Acupuncture is an ongoing investment that asks us to let go of our "I want it now" impulses.

This teaches us patience. It also cultivates self-awareness. Pills force our bodies toward certain outcomes, which allows us to disconnect from the process of becoming healthy. In contrast, acupuncture prompts the body to heal itself. This requires that we listen to, rather than numb, the messages our bodies send.

So yes, acupuncture takes time. Time well spent.

If you're still finding excuses, consider a final truism: You have nothing to lose. Except maybe an item on your bucket list. Go for it.

For more by Sara Calabro, click here.

For more on natural health, click here.

Follow Sara Calabro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/acutake

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com