“Honey,” she said, “With all the fluid you’re retaining, there’s no way the scale will be accurate.”

“Oh,” I said sheepishly.

And she was right. My feet, ankles and calves have been swollen to the point of pain lately. She prescribed a strong fluid tablet and I took it yesterday afternoon. This morning I weighed in at 233.6. That’s three pounds down from the day before. Very encouraging! And I’m still peeing like a waterfall.

In other news, she said my hormones are way off… So I had blood drawn to check for low thyroid, low progesterone, low testosterone and low estrogen. I’m SO ready to feel like myself.

A nurse collects a blood sample from a patient using a glucometer at a free health clinic on November 1, 2009. (credit: NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) - Scientists have identified a hormone that can sharply boost the number of cells that make insulin in mice. They say the discovery may someday provide a new treatment for the most common type of diabetes.

People naturally make their own version of this hormone, and the research suggests that giving them more might someday let people with Type 2 diabetes avoid insulin shots.

The new work was reported Thursday in the journal Cell.

Scientists found that when they made mice produce extra amounts of the hormone, the pancreas responded by making more cells that pump out insulin. The scientists have not yet tested whether that will treat diabetes in mice.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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By: Malcolm Ritter, Associated Press, April 25, 2013

The new research suggests that giving diabetics a hormone might help them avoid insulin shots.

NEW YORK — Scientists have identified a hormone that can sharply boost the number of cells that make insulin in mice, a discovery that may someday lead to a treatment for the most common type of diabetes.

People have their own version of this hormone, and the new work suggests that giving diabetics more might one day help them avoid insulin shots.

That would give them better control of their blood sugar levels, said Douglas Melton of Harvard Medical School, senior author of a report published Thursday by the journal Cell.

Experts unconnected with the work cautioned that other substances have shown similar effects on mouse cells but failed to work on human ones. Melton said this hormone stands out because its effect is unusually potent and confined to just the cells that make insulin.

An estimated 371 million people worldwide have diabetes, in which insulin fails to control blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can lead to heart disease, stroke and damage to kidneys, eyes and the nervous system.

Continue Reading…

Interested in learning more about living a healthy life with diabetes? Check out LifeVest Health, where you can get paid to get healthy! Track your health, get tips, get social and get paid.

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In western medicine, hormone is commonly used to treat Children Nephritis. Although hormone can treat the symptoms more efficiently, long term application of hormone will bring about a serious of side effects to children patients such as declined resistance, causing osteoporosis, affecting children’s development. In addition, improper application of hormone will cause reappearance of illness condition. Besides, patients can become dependent on hormone and the dosage of hormone will be more and more. So hormone is not proper for the application of treating Children Nephritis.

Is there any better treatment for Children Nephritis?

Traditional Chinese Medicine can change the condition without side effects of hormone. Micro-Chinese Medicine is a kind of herb medicine which is super finely shattered. The active ingredients can directly permeate into kidney lesion by external application of penetrant and osmosis devices. When those active ingredients permeate into renal lesion it can play its curative effects. Active ingredients of Micro-Chinese Medicine have functions of dilating blood vessels, promoting blood circulation, which change the condition of renal ischemia and anoxia. Besides, they also play a role in anti-inflammation and prevent the further damage caused by the infiltration of inflammatory cell. In addition, active prescriptions can also provide nutrient for repairing damaged kidney intrinsic cell and degrade extracellular matrix. Through those functions, the damaged kidney are repaired from the root and the symptoms will disappear automatically. Further more, Micro-Chinese Medicine is a kind of herb medicine, it dose not include hormone and won’t bring about side effects to children patients. Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy is a safe treatment for Children Nephritis patients.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS.

The hardest part of changing the way you eat is to eliminate hunger pains and cravings. The body has been so used to being full all the time that it causes you to eat in-between meals. This habit is certainly one of the leading causes of unnecessary weight gain. Most of the time, the food you eat during snacks are unhealthy although satiating. That is why it is important to know how to curb your hunger. Not only will this cause you to lose more weight and faster but also adapt a healthier lifestyle free of extra calories and fats.

Hunger, Satisfaction and Your Appetite

Most people believe that these three terms share a common meaning. That is not the case, however. The appetite doesn’t necessarily mean hunger while hunger is not satiety or satisfaction. For starters, the appetite is more synonymous to cravings. It is characterized by a strong desire to eat a particular kind of food, i.e. ìI have an appetite for chocolate cake right now.

On the other hand, hunger is a condition that usually occurs when the body is in dire need of nutrition. It is accentuated by shakiness, edginess, headache, and growling of the stomach. Lastly, satisfaction or satiety is simply the feeling of fulfillment or fullness. Most often, people stop eating when they are already satiated.

Factors That Play a Major Role

The three terms associated with eating (hunger, appetite and satisfaction) are affected by certain hormones of the body such as leptin, cholecystokin, ghrelin and insulin. All of these hormones cause the body to experience specific needs for nourishment. In addition, they affect a person’s behavior and thoughts in relation to hunger, satisfaction and appetite.

One popular example of this is when a person feels an intense desire to eat more even if he or she already ate enough. During this circumstance, the endocrine gland produces excessive hormones that cause the persons satiety level. The overproduction of the hormone leptin can also induce intense appetite sometimes causing the person to desire highly unhealthy foods.

Managing Your Hunger

There are several ways that can help you manage your hunger effectively. Creating irregular eating periods can cause the body to adapt to the new meal schedule. This doesn’t mean, though, that you should eat erratically but rather scatter meals all throughout the day.

Consuming less starchy and sugar-filled meals can also decrease your hunger levels. Excessive consumption of sugar can cause fluctuations of your blood sugar that will not only affect the way you lose weight but also cause eventual diabetes. Lastly, simple elimination of hunger and appetite stimuli can help manage the weight better. Make sure you decrease the amount of unhealthy desserts and snacks at your home.

Managing Your Satiety

It is important to know that there are several factors that contribute to increase satiety. One is lessening the time gap between meals or eating every two to three hours. Also, eating a high protein diet can also cause effective satiety since protein has been known to cause satiety.

Fiber, which helps digestion and clean the digestive tract, can also cause prolonged satiety since the body needs more time to digest fiber enriched foods. Incorporating fiber and protein rich food in your diet can effectively curb your hunger.

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Two of the most common reasons for infertility are hypothyroidism and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). A blood test can be done by any doctor to check the thyroid levels: t3, t4, free t3, free t4 and TSH. The doctor will most likely only test one to three of these, so make sure they check them all to get a complete picture. Also, be sure to have them check for thyroid antibodies, to rule out Hashimoto’s, as this should be treated differently than just hypothyroidism. If Hashimoto’s is ruled out, the most effective way to treat the thyroid is with natural sources of iodine (this can not be taken with Hashimoto’s as it will increase antibodies). Depending on how low the levels are, medication may be needed.

PCOS is primarily low progesterone. Before considering pregnancy, the hormonal imbalance needs to be addressed. Vitex (chaste tree berry) can be taken to increase progesterone. Chinese licorice root and nettle leaf are also helpful (as always, check for any interactions with medications or other herbs you are taking and complications with any pre-existing medical condition). Once the hormones are balanced and the herbs are stopped, then pregnancy can be considered. Magnesium and chromium are also helpful in addressing the insulin resistance associated with PCOS. A diet very low in meats and dairy will also help balance hormone levels.

Some other reasons for infertility are being over or underweight, high levels of physical exercise and poor diet/nutrition.

When we got pregnant, I was taking the herb maca. This helps increase fertility (it needs to be stopped once pregnancy occurs). Yams are also helpful in increasing fertility.

-5 BandAid Wrappers
-1 Pasta Bag
-1 Produce Bag
-1 LAZ Parking Ticket
-5 Kale/Arugula Ties
-2 Toothpaste Tubes
-1 Bread Bag
-1 Mint Package
-2 Lids
-2 Field Roast Packages
-3 Safety Seals
-Misc. Bits and Films

It is hard to tell from the photo, but this week’s plastic stash is tiny! Definitely the smallest pile to date!  Perhaps Earth Day inspired us to have a particularly plastic-free week :O)

The rest of this week’s post is about how we got plastic out of our laundry routine:

Why give up traditional detergent? When it comes to laundry detergent it isn’t the plastic that concerns me the most, it is the nasty chemicals lurking inside.  A study in 2002 linked phalates, BPA, and triclosan to laundry waste water. Acting as hormones, the dosage of these chemicals doesn’t matter much.  Research indicates that levels as low as one part per trillion can cause adverse health effects.   Not worried? Consider the following:

“Adult men with higher levels of phthalates in their bodies are more likely to show signs of hormonal disturbance, including reduced sperm concentration and motility, increased damage to sperm DNA, and altered hormone levels (Duty 2003, 2004, 2005; Hauser 2007). Baby boys exposed to higher levels of phthalates in the womb or in breast milk are more likely to display reproductive system abnormalities (Swan 2005). And women with polycystic ovarian disorder, a leading cause of female infertility, or those who suffer recurrent miscarriages, are more likely to have higher levels of bisphenol A [BPA] in their blood (Sugiura-Ogasawara 2005; Takeuchi 2006). Though no epidemiological studies of triclosan are available, a recent animal study suggests that this substance may be a potent disruptor of the thyroid system (Veldhoen 2006).” (http://www.ewg.org/research/down-drain)

The damages of chemicals like these are not confined just to our own bodies, they also pose an ecological threat.  Once we are done with them, they go down the drain, and many times end up in wastewater treatment plants that effectively remove food and human waste, but were never designed to remove the broad spectrum of unregulated chemical pollution in our household products.  These hormone disrupters have developmental and reproductive effects on animal populations, and some chemicals bioaccumulate in animal tissues and come back to haunt us again in the food we eat.

Isn’t it important to know what chemicals are sneaking into our homes? I think it is, and after a bit of searching I found a hopeful alternative to keep the chemicals out of my clothes, body, and environment: soap nuts.

Soap nuts are no more a nut than a jellyfish is a fish.  They are the fruit of the tree Sapindus Mukorossi, found primarily in the India, Nepal, and Indonesia.  This is no new thing.  The indiginous people of the Himalayas have been using these bad boys for centuries.  These dried fruits contain saponin, a natural substance known for its ability to cleanse and wash.  It is gentle and residue free, no sulfates, toxins, or harsh chemicals.  Soapnuts contain one ingredient: Soap nuts.  This makes them particularly great for people with sensitive skin, allergies or those of us just looking for a greener way to live.  Put in your laundry they are a 100% natural, 100% biodegradable, excellent alternative to traditional laundry detergents.  We decided to give them a try.

I bought my soap nuts from Laundry Tree.  I guess there are some sketchy soap nut distributors out there, so I went with a company that had great reviews.  There are so many things I love about this company.  They don’t hide the details from you.  They talk about where their soap nuts come from, and how they were harvested.  You can buy in bulk quantities, meaning less packaging.  They tell you exactly what you will get when you order, including how it will be packaged (which I am delighted to inform you is all plastic free, thanks to Beth Terry).  And they offer a 100% money back guarantee, so why not try them out!

When these morsels first arrived in our home, I was giddy about the packaging.

Glass safely shipped without plastic!

Even the glass bottles of essential oil fragrance were cushioned with shredded, reused paper.  No Styrofoam.  No unnecessary bags or wrapping.  It was simple and minimal, just enough to transport my package safely.  So we opened the recycled paper bag and grabbed a big handful of our new soap nuts, curiously sniffing these exotic nuggets.  I will be honest, they smell weird.  A bit like vinegar.  We puzzled over these mysterious, smelly nuts for a bit, then excitedly gave them a try.

The soap nuts come with a small cloth drawstring bag.  You have 2 options for your wash.

1. Throw 4-5 nuts in the bag and throw it in with your laundry.  The cycle must be on warm for this method to work.  The nuts can be reused for 5-8 loads!

2. If you like to wash with cold water, prepare an easy soap nut soak.  It is as easy as boiling water.

The results were… clean! The finished laundry did not smell like the soap nuts at all.  Just clean, fresh clothes.

Don’t spend your hard earned money on this supplements. Your body is already producing HGH. The key is to optimize your body’s natural production of the hormone. According to one Livestrong.com article some of the steps to follow to increase your natural production of HGH are:

• Step 1 Get plenty of sleep.
• Step 2 Watch your intake of simple carbs.
• Step 3 Do compound exercises.
• Step 4 Work out at a high intensity.
• Step 5 Do not eat fat before you work out
• Step 6 Become more relaxed.

For more details on each of these 6 steps read the LIVESTRONG article HERE. The irony of the anti-doping message is not lost on me!

First off, when foods are labeled “organic”, it doesn’t mean no pesticides or fertilizers were used.  I’ve always known this, and therefore don’t find it surprising.  The majority of parents want to “know what they’re putting in their bodies”.  Well, hate to break it to you, but paying extra for organic food doesn’t help you with that.  (And I hate to burst your bubble but mass producing foods with no chemical would be less beneficial to you.)  Maybe get some ambition and grow a garden; just a suggestion.

Secondly, GMOs are safe.  I’m not sure what act of God it will take for the world to realize this.  The FDA and USDA have approved them.  There has never been one case of a health issue that came from GMOs.  I knew all of this by listening to our FFA Ag Issues team 2 years ago.

Third, hormone-free labels aren’t necessary.  Why?  Foods have to be hormone-free regardless of labels!  Don’t be fooled into paying extra for something that needs to be regulated by law!  I read this in a magazine four months ago, and I was very taken back.

Fourth, “all natural” is a very shady subject.  All natural foods can only be meat and eggs, and the term only refers to minimal processing, rarely no processing.  They do not offer any more benefits, just as foods that aren’t all natural don’t prove to be specifically hazardous.  I found this out by reading the fine print on Tyson chicken.  They’re pulling the wool over your eyes.  All natural?  No, it’s processed junk like the rest.  It’s only more expensive.

Fifth, local food isn’t always best environmentally, rather it can be hurting your environment.  If you’re the one boycotting commercial food because it’s hurting planet Earth, maybe research how   local businesses use energy compared to companies.  Big companies are actually more thrifty with electricity, water, etc., proving better for the environment.  You can eat big-name foods while hugging your trees, I promise.  I learned this fact for the first time today in the article we read in class.

The article we read was sponsored by CommonGround, an organization of women who farm trying to educate women who buy food.  CommonGround is in turn sponsored by soybean and corn companies.  These women are trying to get moms around the nation to know what’s good for their children.  More people need to be educated about what is good for their bodies and what isn’t.  Farmers aren’t shoving you full of bad things.  More often than not, in a search for “organic” and “clean” products, you are the one destroying your body.  You’re feeding yourself something unsafe.  You might be surprised by these facts.  I was too.  But please change the way you shop.  You only thought you knew what was good.  It turns out farmers and their pesticides are.

Meno-Check ® – Importance of determining Menopause

There will be hormonal changes for both menopausal and pre-meonpausal women. One of the consequences of menopause can be osteoporosis. Moreover, it is known that there are many other health risks which are associated with this period. The most common is high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Therefore it is of great importance for this period to be determined ahead of time. Through this simple to perform, reliable home urine test you now have that possibility.

Meno-Check®

Meno-Check ® – FSH Hormone

Meno-check ® shows with more than 99% reliability if you have an increase in FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone). This hormone is largely present and measurable during the first period of transition. The hormone is easily measured in the urine.
The test obtains reliability due to 2 measurements. For each measurement, a separate urine collection cup is included for hygiene purposes. The test has a comprehensive leaflet in Dutch and French.

Menopause?

The period of transition is often characterized by complaints of hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, and vaginal dryness. It is medically important that you know that you began your (pre) menopause. It is important to know if you have already begun menopause if you are trying to become pregnant later in life as you are not/ less fertile.

Effects of Menopause?

As indicated, menopause changes the hormonal balance. The consequences are often osteoporosis, hypertension and elevated cholesterol. These consequences can often be avoided by making an appointment with your doctor in time. Together you can discuss the use of hormone preparations.Packaging Meno-Check ®
2 test cassettes FSH
2 pipettes to take urine
2 urine collection cups (extra hygiene)

You can easily, quickly and reliably do a menopause test at home.
Click here to order a menopause test.

            Did you ever see those videos of baby sea turtles hatching? They break out of their eggs and all make a mad dash for the sea. I think that humans are a lot like that too. Although there are many things that knock us off of our paths. Some of us start-off with physical challenges that can set us off course. Others get knocked off course by environment factors such as poverty, emotional turmoil, family challenges etc. And there is a marked difference between males and females. Because of our external and hormonal plumbing, males and females look at the world differently. Women are subject to put more of an emotional balance on each decision whereas men are more likely to make a quick decision. For me personally I will often wait until the last-minute when a decision must be made and then make it, but I admit to being lazy in that regard. Our thought processes are so different some have said it’s like we are from different planets. One of the reasons for this is that in the womb when the time comes for the sexual differentiation the male fetus is bathed with hormones that damage parts of the brain (I’m not making this up). Ladies, it actually is a form of brain damage (you always thought so). We are actually two sides of the same coin, each bearing immense strengths the other, by construction, is lacking. If we were two competing species instead of the same species one of us would have killed the others off long ago. I believe the main factor in civilization itself is the relationship between men and women and if we allow ourselves to come to the place where one thinks the other is no longer needed we will destroy each other.

Most of what I’ve read supports eating a high protein meal along with some carbs within an hour of your workout (always chose a “safe” starch” i.e. sweet potato…good! grains… bad!!).  That being said, there are proponents out there of continuing to fast post workout to maximize the production of HGH (Human Growth Hormone) “which critically influences everything from bone density to muscle mass and organ reserve to general cell reproduction in the body’s systems.” Source: Mark’s Daily Apple. And it’s not just renegade Mark that believes this. Just Google the “fasting twins” to get there take on it. Their Youtube videos are extremely annoying to watch but there’s no doubt they believe in fasting before and after their workouts.

Who knew that WHEN TO EAT would be such a complex issue? If you are interested in reading more about fasting after your workout and how this promotes the production of HGH check out this article…

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/post-workout-fasting/#axzz2R1QIo8EK

hormone pills for woman! What’s Provestra “womens sexual drive booster” and why would I want Provestra?Of late, nearly all of the attention has been on males sexual activity and enjoyment. Today, there are food items to help the women attain a powerful libido, a healthy stimulation and attention in sex, a more fulfilled natural awakening, and better reactions throughout the sexual awakening sequence together with a more strong orgasm. If you or your mate has undergone reduced sex drive and dropped degrees of sexual response due to fatigue, hormonal adjustments, pressure, growing old, or inadequate diet or if there’s just a disparity between the female’s and the man’s sex drive in your relationship Provestra women’s libido-booster supplements can be advantageous.

It’s The #1 Rated HGH Releaser – Provestra! : http://bit.ly/11dTV1J

Coffee helps throughout rousing thermogenesis, which gives heat from absorbing meal. It is equally an all-natural desire for food suppressant although enhancing your power production, on the other hand there is certainly the ideal number of caffeine with Capsiplex since a lot of may cause some nervousness or maybe stress and anxiety.

Half Spinal Twist
If done properly, the Half Spinal Twist lengthens and strengthens the spine. It is also beneficial for your liver, kidneys, as well as adrenal glands. Practicing this yoga………………

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English: To illustrate Bakasana (The Crane) yoga pose. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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The combination of herbs and oil have more benefits than we can even begin to imagine.  It’s all a matter of finding the right combination and mixing it all in the right way.  Herbs like Saw Palmetto have been use for centuries as both a food staple and healing medicinal herb.  In recent studies, scientist have seen beneficial effects for those that suffer from benign prostatic hypoplasia (BPH).  Other conditions associated with DHT (male Hormone) production can be helped as well.

Stinging Nettle is another herb found naturally across America, blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT.  When your body produces a larger amount of DHT it causes hair loss in men as well as women.  You can find stinging nettle in the wild, but make sure to use gloves because if the leaf comes in contact with human skin it may sting.  Both herbs are available in capsules and herbs, but saw palmetto is also ointments, tinctures and teas.  By combining these two herbs together you can get a  in oils and rinse, your hair will benefits from strength and prevent premature hair loss.

Other uses:

The fresh leaves can be submersed in olive oil in a glass jar, Seal and place in a cool, dark spot for 2 to 3 weeks. Apply the oil in an invigorating scalp massage.

You may also add stinging nettle essential oil to you  organic shampoo and conditioner to add boost to improve your products.

HumanP10tialX

BY LISA EVANS , Entreprenuer

Jet lag is as much a part of business travel as flight delays, but it can cloud your brain and drain you of energy. “Jet lag happens when there is a misalignment between the actual time zone and your circadian clock,” says Vancouver-based naturopathic doctor Melanie DesChâtelets. She says that travelers typically experience jet lag when flying over five or more time zones.

The body’s internal clock releases certain hormones at set times in the day. These hormones regulate body temperature, sleep and other processes. The misalignment of hormones with time zone changes means you may experience difficulty sleeping, headaches, fatigue and trouble concentrating. While DesChâtelets says these symptoms typically subside within two days, that can be of little comfort when you’re trying to hold your head up in an important client meeting.

Rest assured, there are things you can do to control jet lag. Here are six tips for controling it naturally.

1. Re-set your body clock before taking off.
“Try to advance or delay your sleep a few days before going away so that when you leave your circadian clock has already started to adjust to the change,” says DesChâtelets. Advancing your bedtime by an hour or two if heading east, and delaying if heading west can help you adjust to the new time zone easier and have you falling asleep faster.

2. Change your watch when you depart.
Changing the time before you take off can help you suffer less time dislocation.

3. Pack Melatonin if you are flying east.
While sleeping pills may have your head hitting the pillow in no time, they can also cause dehydration and have you feeling worse than normal jet lag symptoms. “Melatonin is released by the pineal gland before sleep,” says DesChâtelets. “It’s one of the circadian hormones that makes you sleepy at night.”

When traveling, consider taking three milligrams of a melatonin supplement two hours before bedtime to help reset your circadian rhythm that gets disrupted by the change in time zones. And unlike sleeping pills, taken in small quantities, melatonin is nontoxic, non-addictive and safe.

4. Get Outdoors.
To help your body adjust to its new time zone, DesChâtelets recommends getting out in the sun first thing in the morning. “Sunlight also affects your circadian [rhythm], so you want to expose yourself to as much light as possible,” she says.

5. Use light therapy when flying west.
Even though you’ll be tired early in the evening when flying west, DesChâtelets recommends staying up until a reasonable evening hour before allowing yourself to doze off. Too much caffeine can interrupt your sleep patterns, so opt instead to remain your brain of the new time with light. Bright lights can help you to awake, so keep the curtains open and the lights on in your room to let in as much light as possible.

6. Minimize sleep distractions.
Disrupted sleep plus jet lag equals disaster. So make sure that you can stay asleep once you call it a night by using an eye mask or earplugs to eliminate light or sound that may wake you up, just make sure you can hear your alarm.

Related: Richard Branson’s Travel Tips

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Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way. Les Brown

When we’re not 100% content with our lives, there’s generally something blocking us from being that way. Sometimes we need to know where the problem is (what’s blocking us), other times we need to ask ourselves a few honest questions (why are we allowing it to block us from moving ahead).

Everyone has a purpose in life. Everyone can be better than what they currently are. Everyone has potential to be happier. Sometimes we need to examine and remove our emotional before we can move ahead in life. Generally the things that block us are our fears and insecurities.

Sometimes life is about feeling the fear and doing it anyway – besides – what’s the worst that could happen? By discovering your emotional blocks, you will find other areas of your life improving, including: career success, love life, weight loss, relationships, happiness, freedom and self-esteem. Overcoming your emotional blocks will help you overcome other issues that are currently stopping you from succeeding including: limiting beliefs, self-destructive behaviours (as you will become more self-aware) and you’ll go from being lost to discovering what you truly want. Removing your emotional blocks isn’t easy because sometimes it means some tricky changes are ahead, but it’s rewarding!

History is full of people who experienced the worst difficulties and succeeded anyway, primarily because of their clarity, persistence and sense of purpose. This week, Happiness Weekly helps you to discover your blocks and take control of your happiness. If you’re currently feeling stuck – this blog is for you!

What is an emotional block?
Your emotional blocks are reactions that you create in response to the world. Similar to behaviours, they are actions that you choose and therefore have control over. By choosing how you perceive yourself, you can either change to start behaving differently and achieve success, or continue as you are and continue getting results you’re not happy with.

Defining symptoms of emotional blocks
Let’s get some psychological jargon out of the way and define what our emotional blocks may be:

Internal dialogue is a conscious conversation you have with yourself about everything you experience. With the theory that each though creates a physical change, it ultimately provides us with a functional change in our lives.

Labelling, as a psychologist once told me, is nothing but destructive because it can stop us from accepting things in a positive way. However, humans tend to organise things into categories, even labelling other humans into groups, subgroups, classes and functions. We tend to “live” the categories we’ve attached to ourselves. It’s kind of like the “believe it before you see it” and “fake it til you make it” theories – which are both positive ways for how we can use labelling.

Tapes are beliefs that have become so deeply ingrained that they become subconscious. They “play” in our minds and influence our behaviour without us being aware. Tapes have the power to set you up for a specific outcome.

Fixed or limiting beliefs are the beliefs we hold about ourselves, others and life circumstances that have been repeated for so long they have become ingrained and are difficult to change. Limiting beliefs are the beliefs we have about ourselves that limit what we reach and achieve. They generally stop up from receiving any positive information which confirming any new negative information. If you pay attention to your inner dialog (self-talk), you may find beliefs that lead to anxiety, depression and irritation. Such beliefs can sap your motivation and hinder or prevent you from finding creative solutions to your problems.

How can we overcome our emotional blocks?
1. Set goals. Goal setting is a fundamental part of success – it helps us know where we’re going so we can move ahead in the right direction, and also measure how we’re tracking. If we can’t accurately define our goals, what chance do we have of actually achieving them? Have you ever heard the expression “Failing to plan is a plan to fail”? This is where it comes in.

2. Monitor your progress. Once you know where you want to go, you can accurately and honestly assess exactly where you currently are. Knowing where you are in relation to where you want to be enables you to monitor your progress. Take inventory of your current situation to get an accurate picture of where you are.

3. Review your focus point. It’s important to focus on what you do want to take your focus on the negatives and looking at what you don’t want. While it can be important to consider the worst case scenario so we can avoid possible pitfalls, we need to resist any temptation to focus on that conclusion – we can do this by focusing more on the best case scenario. Sometimes the fear of failing or making a costly mistake can act like a powerful emotional magnet that captures our attention in subtle ways. Overcoming this emotional block is like learning to ride a bike, if you look down, it’s likely that you will fall off but if you look where you’re going – you’ll move ahead in that direction.

4. Discover your internal conflict. If we haven’t taken the time to discover our deepest personal standards and values, then we are vulnerable to this kind of inner disharmony. To create internal harmony, we must live and act in harmony with our core values and beliefs, but we can’t do that if we don’t know what those values are. Pay careful attention to this, especially if there seems to be some self-sabotaging tendencies. The best way to avoid this emotional block is to analyse your deepest core values and ensure everything is in harmony with them, or if not, knowing how to change them. If you struggle with this, I highly recommend the book Schema Therapy by Jeffrey E Young.

5. Review limiting beliefs. Limiting or obsolete beliefs are your beliefs about what you think you are not capable of, and what you think you do or do not deserve. They may have been established during childhood and have now become redundant or outlived their purpose. Others may be leftover from situations and circumstances that are no longer relevant. If this is your greatest emotional block, you may need to seek assistances from a psychologist to get past it.

6. Delegate personal responsibility. The quality of our life is our personal responsibility. We can either accept conditions as they are, or accept the responsibility to change them. We are the only person responsible for our decisions and actions. Taking personal responsibility is one of the most liberating things you can do because it completely eliminates the temptation to blame anyone or anything and it puts you in control.

7. Embrace change. When we successfully break out emotional attachments to “what is”, we allow room for growth. On an emotional level, there is a sense of security related to “hanging on” and this causes us to be resistant to change. As you embrace small changes in your life, your emotional security anchors shift, over time your resistance will fade and you will find comfort and security in a more fluid reality. When this happens, continued personal growth becomes your new security anchor. Practise letting go – it can be challenging but it is rewarding.

Rational people with good mental health know what they want, how they feel and why they feel that way. They find solutions to problems quickly. They have similar challenges to less happy people – but they are able to deal with them faster. Healthy people don’t get stuck for long – they rarely sabotage themselves because they acknowledge the damaging effects it can have. What have you done to overcome your emotional blocks in the past?

Somatropin, or recombinant human growth hormone (HGH), is a manufactured performance enhancement drug which replicates natural GH. Many people take it for a number of aspects:

1. It promotes the development of new muscle cells, allowing the slow gain of lean muscle mass. HGH alters a persons genetic capabilities and helps achieve results that wouldn’t be possible without HGH treatment.

2. HGH  promotes increased energy and metabolism. According to a 2006 study published in the “Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,” patients taking HGH burned more calories than those taking a placebo. This occurred even when people were at rest. Because Growth hormone drops dramatically as we age, HGH has been seen as a highly desirable way to feel energized, get lean and more muscular.

3. HGH shortens the amount of time needed for recovery between workouts, strengthen joints and ligaments and heals damaged tissue.

HGH is manufactured by protein secretion or mouse-cell technology and must be taken intravenously in order to cause the most desired effects. It is most often purchased in lyophilized powder form, and it must be mixed with distilled water prior to injection. Once mixed, HGH must be kept refrigerated.

Use by young people

Within the last few years I’ve been asked by a good number of people about the validity of taking HGH shots for faster results. Now, not only don’t I endorse its use, but I’m concerned that so many young people are talking about taking it. In my opinion, if you’re young you especially have NO business taking any sort of “pro-hormone“. 

Honestly, I don’t think they’re needed at any age.  You can do it all natural, if you put in some hard work. All this stuff is going to do is mess up your body. You may get some results, but what happens when you STOP taking  this stuff? Then what? Anytime you start messing around with your hormones you’re going to have problems.

First, many people who shouldn’t be on HGH take it for performance or muscle enhancement, which is nothing but a shortcut. That means they’ll probably take it in larger than suggested dosages or be on it longer than recommend by medical professionals. Why? Because in a cheaters opinion, if a little is good, a lot is better for prominent results.

A 2007 study published in the “Annals of Internal Medicine” showed that people using HGH regularly are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, soft tissue edema, joint swelling and even diabetes. Other noted symptoms of elevated HGH levels have been aromeglia, gynecomastia, water retention and extended belly, as well as a condition known as Acromegaly due to the presence of tumor in pituitary gland which increases the secretion of human growth hormone. Symptoms include  swelling and excruciating pain, increased water retention and joint problems. Studies also suggest the incidence of cancer and heart conditions.

There’s some older people asking about HGH because, as we all know, testosterone will decline as you age. But if you have low levels of testosterone, it’s most likely due to not exercising, eating garbage foods, or drinking too much alcohol. Still, any way you slice it, taking pro-hormones are nothing more then a short cut!

Alternatives to HGH

Why is it that we all want to take short cuts today? Put in some hard work people! The results you get from putting in the REAL work will improve your body, your attitude and keep your wallet from getting skinny because HGH is NOT cheap. That means you won’t be on it forever and then watch out for the repercussions.

Although the study of HGH on healthy adults has not been tested widely, several researchers have reported that a cheaper and effective way of gaining muscle mass and energy is strength training. I agree with that assertion because the body will produce more HGH the harder the effort we put in. HGH in the body becomes dormant as we become dormant. In other words, our hard work greatly correlates with the output of the substance BECAUSE of these efforts. If we work out hard, the body wants to protect against increased muscular activation and produces more HGH to make the muscles bigger. It’s a defensive mechanism people, with some extremely pleasant results.

So don’t take shortcuts and the rewards will be immeasurable better in every way – physically and mentally  - and for the long term duration.

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Stress is a constant in our lives. Stress can be a physical, emotional or chemical factor that causes bodily or mental tension. It can cloud our decision-making skills, affect our moods and induce specific food cravings; but, it can also help us perform better, work harder and faster. You may not always be able to control the amount of stress in your life but what you do have is the power to control the way you react to it.

When our bodies perceive stress, two things occur: 1) Activation of the flight or fight hormones. There is no other time that I have ever felt more like a real ninja leaping through the air than the moment you realize you’ve slept through your alarm (fight/flight hormones). 2) Activation of the HPA axis. To respond to a physical/emotional stress, the hypothalamus (H) produces the hormone CRF (corticotrophin-releasing factor). This hormone binds to specific receptors on the pituitary gland (P) which stimulates the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is transported to the adrenal glands (A) which stimulates the production of cortisol…and that is where our problem begins.

Chronic stress and high levels of circulating cortisol can affect our bodies in many different ways. Acne, stomach ulcers, muscle tension, headaches, hypertension…all problems in the different systems in our bodies, all can be exacerbated by stress. A study in the 2010 International Journal of Obesity concluded that “high cortisol levels resulted in altered food choices”. Stress can also induce more frequent non-hunger food cravings which can contribute to abdominal fat storage. Stressful individuals tend to consume quick, convenient food items, which often include processed, high-sodium, high-calorie choices.

Planning ahead is the one of the best defenses you can have to combat stress. Snacks, for example, can be pre-cut, pre-portioned and stored conveniently in your fridge, purse, car, gym bag.

Dr. Cassandra Claman, dermatologist at Springfield Clinic, comments on eating healthy with a very busy workday, “At work, I have had to hone my eating to brief breaks between patients and foods I can eat while working on charts. I have a huge drawer filled with food, my little fridge is filled and I carry food in my purse, my tote and my car. Some of the foods I have on hand to eat throughout the day are various flavors of almonds, all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies, dried fruits and trail mix, hard boiled eggs, skim milk cheese sticks, pretzels and a couple liters of  water. As I leave the office for the day, I almost always have an apple in my hand so I am not ravenous the minute I walk into the door at home.”

Eating well-balanced meals and having high-nutrient snacks on hand can also help prevent spikes and dips in our blood sugars. Drastic changes in our blood sugar levels can cause crankiness, anxiety and irritability. Remember to listen to your internal cues of physical hunger. Stress can induce emotional hunger. Physical hunger strikes below the neck (stomach growls) and emotional hunger occurs above the neck (ice cream sounds like a good idea). Don’t forget about the power of exercise as a stress reliever. We turn our backs on exercise most often when we need it most.

I had an extremely long day last Tuesday. I was at the news station at 6:15am to appear as a guest on the Sunrise News. From there, I went to work and was bottled down until 6:30 pm. I had a headache and every ounce of me wanted to just drive past the gym, go home and crawl in bed. But I didn’t; I went to the gym, worked out and felt amazing. My headache disappeared and I was left with nothing but positive feelings about myself and all that I had accomplished during my day. Again, never underestimate the power of exercise.

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control.”