Addiction

In life, we dedicate our time to things we are interested in. We spend more time on some things and less on others. Interests can range from sports, books, traveling, knitting to any number of other activities. Some people tend to excessively engage in an activity and develop an obsession. However, from which point is this obsession referred to as an addiction? Is there a certain action or indication for the start of an addiction? When is an addiction classified as unhealthy and can an addiction be healthy? For example, when it comes to alcohol, the question is often discussed if one beer per day can be referred to as an addiction. A beer a day is seen a normal level of consumption by some young men. As a result,  more than one beer is customarily consumed. If we take the example of only one beer per day, totalling 365 beers a year, could this conceivably be construed as an alcohol addiction? To be able to answer this question, 4 different terms have to be defined and put into perspective. A fixation can primarily be categorized in: an obsession, a habit, a routine or an addiction. A routine is a series of actions repeated regularly at an exact time a habit is an action done by choice and can be stopped at any point, an obsession is an interest in something that stops a person from thinking of anything else. Lastly, an addiction involves physical or mental dependence and therefore cannot be stopped without help.


Constant repetition of an action can be a sign of mental disturbance. If a person is addicted to a substance or behavior, he is not able to fully control his actions.The causes of addiction vary considerably and are often not fully understood. They are generally caused by a combination of physical, mental, circumstantial and emotional factors. People utilize substances (alcohol, nicotine, marijuana) or activities (gambling, sex) as a way to relieve these factors. They often feel that substances help them bury their unwanted emotions or problems. Further on in their addiction, addicts depend on these substances to cope with daily life as a whole. Studies revealed that addicts have a different, regularly false, view on the substances they are using than non-addicts. Oftentimes, they do not see any harm in their usage, nor do they understand the concerns of their confidants. Consequently, they frequently switch addictive actions from drug to either a higher dosage or to a more serious drug. To be able to treat the addiction successfully, the focus has to be on the reason why the addiction developed rather than the addiction itself.


Addiction to substances or activities can lead to serious problems at home, work, school and socially. When referring to any kind of addiction, it is important to recognize that its cause is not simply a search for pleasure as addiction has nothing to do with one's morality or strength of character. It is simply the lack of ability to handle loose emotions or a rough past. Although drug victims may not comprehend the negative repercussions of their addictive actions yet, they are capable of terminating their behavior. As studies show, most addicts necessitate a dear friend to help them guide to what they yearn for - inner piece and acceptance.




If you know anybody who suffers from an addiction and needs help, (in Austria)
visit the website help Austria or (outside of Austria) google for help in your area. 
It is a particularly difficult situation if your friend has an addiction (-related) problem.
You will not able to cope with this on your own - look for professional support.
Do not ignore the addiction.

Julia

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction_Psychology

Humans are the best people on earth

Aren't we great? Put aside all those negative things I said in previous posts about humans. Yes, they are true, we are still monsters, but we are pretty clever and well-development monsters! I recently heard that we produce during our lifetime enough saliva to fill two swimming pools. Two swimming pools, isn't that amazing? The average person also expels flatulence 14 times a day, without realizing it. So I dare to say that's a pretty great achievement, although I think cows do an even better job breaking wind. I think humans made it clear that they don't want to be compared to animals. I mean yes, humans are awesome. We researched our entire body and are now able to study it. We can reproduce ourselves multiple times, and are able to live within a family. We are not like praying mantis who bite their husband's head off after they bred. Na, we don't do that. Although, I think some women secretly wish to do so. Anyway, we are not only awesom because of our achievements, inventions or action, we are also have a fantastic body. And I don't mean the outside,  I'm talking about its functions. Your body deals with some many bacterias and germs every day, but are you sick 365 days a year? No, right. Our body also digests the crappiest crap you feed it, or cures a hangover by itself. It's a pretty amazing thing our body, isn't it? I put together some more things you maybe haven't heard of yet about the human body. 

• Blondes have more hair. 
• The fastest growing nail is on the middle finger.
• The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades.
• You could remove a large part of your internal organs and survive. 
• Coughs clock in at about 60 mph. 
• The three things pregnant women dream most of during their first trimester are frogs, worms and potted plants.    
• Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born. 
• Babies are always born with blue eyes.  
• After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp. 
• Even small noises cause the pupils of the eyes to dilate.
• Everyone has a unique smell, except for identical twins. 

• Monday is the day of the week when the risk of heart attack is greatest. 
• A human head remains conscious for about 15 to 20 seconds after it is been decapitated.   
• The strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue. 
• The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself.
• The most common blood type in the world is Type O.
• Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.
• It is not possible to tickle yourself. 
• Humans are the only animals to produce emotional tears.
• Research suggests that Children tend to grow faster in spring season as compared to any other time of the year  

• You have no sense of smell when you're sleeping 
• You know, you can see your nose all the time but somehow your brain always ignores it. 
• All babies are color blind when they are born, so they only see black and white. 
• People with dark color skin wrinkle later than the people having light color skins
• People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper. 
• It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
• Your brain is move active and thinks more at night than during the day.
• The tongue is the strongest muscle in the human body. 
• Fingers don't have any muscles.The muscles, which move our finger joints, are located in the palm and up in the forearm. 
• Men get hiccups more often than women.  

• A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 miles per hour.When a sneeze leaves your body, it is at such a high speed that you should avoid suppressing it. 
• Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails. 
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
• Babies are born with pink lungs but they darken in color as we breathe in polluted air.
• The right lung is bigger than left lung.The left lung is small so as to adjust the heart in that part.
• Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
• You burn more calorie while sleeping than watching TV.
• Everybody has a strong eye and one weak.
• If human eye was a digital camera ,it would have 576 mega pixels.

Amazing, right? 
So, stop smoking, drinking or eating processed food. Your body works for you all year long, so appreciate that and spoil it with good food and good care. And don't ignore its voice, it will tell you when somethings wrong or when you should step back a little and relax more. Trust your body and your gut feeling, and be proud of both. They will acompany you your entire life - so better start getting used to them! No matter what, you have a great body. Think of it like a house - your soul should like living in it. Take care of your body, you only have one!

 Julia


Sources:
http://icantseeyou.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/100-very-cool-f.html
http://www.medindia.net/facts/index.asp?startpage=1
http://www.makemegenius.com/cool-facts/human-body--systems-biology-interesting-facts

Buti and Pound

I'm not a big fan of working out with weights; I prefer to use my own bodyweight instead. This post might be more attractive to females, but there also men who enjoy what I'm going to talk about: Buti, and Pound. These are two new fitness brands that have developed in the last five years as a mixture of different workout styles. They don't require weights or even a gym membership as you can order them online and do them at home by yourself (but you don't need to, they are also taught at gyms throughout the States and Europe). Although their popularity might not last, right now people are asking for it around the world. Let's look at each one separately.


Buti
 
Buti is a workout that was founded by Bizzi Gold, a 30-year-old female trainer and mother to two kids. Buti is a mixture of yoga, tribal dance and plyometrics. It is stated that it is an empowering workout that nourishes the female spirit as it focuses on the energy center of women: the hips. A lot of women are very tense in their hips - supposedly that's why they gain most of their weight in this area of their body. Buti works the gluts, upper and lower back, the hips, and of course the butt. As it incorporates many yoga moves, stretching is a major part of the workout. Derived from the Marathi word Buti meaning “the cure to something hidden or kept secret,” the goal is to guide women through movement, nutrition and wellness that supports the female spirit. While some movements might seem a little strange, they are actually quite challenging and effective.   

Pound
 
Pound was created by Kirsten Potenza and Cristina Peerenboom who love drumming and music as well as working out. It is a full-body cardio jam session, combining light resistance with constant simulated drumming. The workout fuses cardio, Pilates, isometric movements, plyometrics and Isometric poses into a 45-minute series. Pound combines cardio moves with strength training and drumming. This combo works the entire body, raises the heart rate to a fat-burning zone, and forces each move to be as precise as a basic beat. You can even work out to your favorite music to get extra motivation.

What do you think of these workouts? Would you pay for them at the gym? They are certainly not the same as reguar aerobic or step classes, but they do work your body and help you get ripped. As you shouldn't do the same workout routine for a longer period of time - your muscles will get bored with the movements - these workouts might be a fun way to squeeze in some extra sweat. Have fun trying them!


Julia




Sources:
http://www.butiyoga.com/
http://www.poundfit.com/

Naturally cleaning

In an earlier post I talked about removing toxins from your life. Many toxins, with which you are in contact with regularly, are contained in cleaning products. However, you are not obliged to use these products to clean thoroughly. Many natural substances clean just as effective as chemical ones. As spring is usually the best time to remove dust and dirt accumulated in winter - 60 % of Americans engage in such ritual each year, according to a 2010 survey by The Soap and Detergent Association -  I'd like to provide you with information about how to clean naturally, avoiding all those harmful chemicals.  

Unfortunately, for many people their home isn't considered clean without that lingering (often overpowering) smell of disinfectant, bleach and pine trees in the air. But a truly clean home, one that's fresh and free from toxins, should not have any chemical or artificial smell to it. Not only are natural cleaning products healthier for cleaning, they also don't have any negative after-cleaning effects, or emit toxins.  

What toxins are we talking  about? 

• Phenols: A disinfectant used in an array of household cleaning products. Long-term exposure has been linked to heart disease and damage to the heart, kidneys, liver and lungs in animals.
• Naphthalene: Used in mothballs and toilet deodorant blocks, this chemical can destroy red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia, and is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," according to the Department of Health and Humans Services (DHHS).
• Benzene: A widely used chemical in some detergents, benzene can have a harmful effect on your red blood cells and bone marrow, and long-term exposures to high levels in the air can cause leukemia.
• Phthalates: Widely used as plastic softeners, phthalates are also added to household cleaners to help them retain fragrance. They’ve been linked to sperm damage in men and reproductive problems in newborn boys.

Look at the label of your cleaning product if it includes one (or more) of these substances. This is only a sampling as manufacturers are only required to list chemicals of "know concern" on their labels. Most of your cleaning products were (if only) tested on animals, not humans; no assurance of safety is provided. Do you want to take that risk? Besides, all those chemicals go down the drain and effect the environment negatively, too. So, it's not only yourself you are doing a favor by switching, but also the environment. Natural cleaning products require no warning or special labeling, and most certainly you have the ones listed below at home right now.

Here are some of the best natural alternatives to try:

• Baking Soda: A natural deodorizer and cleanser, sprinkle it on drains, bathtubs and kitchen counters, or mix it with water to form a scrubbing paste. You can also sprinkle it on carpets and upholstery, wait 15 minutes or so, then vacuum it off for natural deodorizing. Baking soda even works as an oven cleaner (sprinkle the bottom of your oven with a little water, then generous amounts of baking soda, and let it sit overnight before wiping clean).
• Vinegars: Use white vinegar to clean windows, mirrors and counters, or mix it with castile soap and water as an excellent floor or bathroom cleaner. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda for a simple drain cleaner. Vinegar also cuts grease, and setting out a bowl of it in your kitchen will help absorb food odors.
• Lemon Juice: You can use this like you would vinegar, although lemon juice works especially well for removing hard water deposits and tarnish on silver.
• Course Salt: A great option when you need a cleaner with scrubbing power. Try mixing salt and vinegar for a simple and effective all-purpose surface cleaner.
• Hydrogen Peroxide: Use it to disinfect cutting boards or toothbrushes, or to remove stubborn stains (works especially well for blood stains) and whiten laundry.
• Vodka: Vodka is a disinfectant that you can also use to freshen upholstery (spritz it lightly onto fabrics).
• Essential Oils: You can mix natural antiseptic cleaners using water and a few drops of essential oils, such as grapefruit seed extract, clove or tea tree. Tea tree oil is especially effective against mold and mildew. Filling a spray bottle with water and your favorite scented essential oil (peppermint, lavender, vanilla, etc.) is also a simple recipe for a fabric or air freshener.
• particular stain tips here

Doesn't sound that hard to use, right? Why not give it a try? But before you start cleaning, attack the clutter! Many of us tend to hoard things from the past, or stuff you think you will need in the future and will regret throwing away. Let me tell ya: it ain't gonna happen. Get rid of stuff from the past, and make room for the future. Some pictures, or clothes, or whatever, don't even remind you of happy times, so what's the purpose of keeping them anyway? Out of sight, out of mind - right? Anything you haven't used in the last five years, you won't need in the next ones. So be ruthless in identifying objects around your home and find a proper home for them, or donate them to charity. Other people might need more than you do. 


Cleaning is probably not everybody's favorite activity but what the heck, is has to be done, so you might as well enjoy it. Put on some lively music, throw open those windows to let some fresh air in, recruit some family members or friends and do it. Focus on the end result: a naturally clean, fresh-smelling home that feels like your sanctuary.

--------------------------------------------------

For those of you who would also like to switch to healthier cosmetic products - start making your own products. I have been doing so for years. I provide my whole family with special homemade creams, shampoos, soaps etc. It's not hard to do, really! It's like mixing cocktails or baking. You buy the ingredients, follow the recipe and done. Your skin and hair really benefit from the natural substances, and you can customize the consistency and odor of each product. If somebody has acne, an allergy against a substance of cosmetics products, dry skin or hair, warts, or something else - this is the perfect natural solution. It's great as a gift as well! It's a lot of fun to do and it's all natural, made by yourself. Try it!*

For German speakers: kosmetikmacherei Wien 
worldwide: makingcosmetics  makeyourcosmetics



If you have questions or need advice, just leave a comment below.
Julia


* btw, I'm not getting paid for this ad ;)

Sources:
The Soap and Detergent Association March 17, 2010
California Air Resources Board, “Indoor Air Chemistry: Cleaning Agents, Ozone
and Toxic Air Contaminants"
UC Berkeley News May 22, 2006 
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Phenol
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Naphthalene 
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Benzene
The Los Angeles Times April 28, 2008 
MSNBC.com Today October 2, 2008
http://www.growingupherbal.com/homemade-cleaner-recipe-roundup-42-diy-recipes-to-keep-your-home-naturally-clean/
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/environment/a/Homemade-And-Natural-Cleaning-Products.htm
http://wellnessmama.com/6244/19-natural-cleaning-tips

Laugh!

They say laughing is the best medicine. And it is true, as laughing stimulates certain hormones and boosts you immune system. Have you ever had that exhausted feeling after a good laugh? You know, the one where your side hurts, your eyes water, you can't catch your breath and your body's totally spent. It feels like you've just finished a two-hour session at the gym. Similar processes are happening in your body. Besides the physical benefits, laughing increases your personal satisfaction and improves your mood; doesn't it? Another thing is that your body or mind can't differentiate between a fake and a real laugh. So, even if you're just pretending to laugh or fake laughing about the unfunny joke of your friend, your're still improving your health. Isn't that great? That's why I love laughing. 



Nextly, what I find great about lauhters are that every one is different. You can't laugh the exact same way twice, it's impossible. The sound and power of laugh depends on the situation, on your daily condition and on how amusing you find the reason you are laughing about. On top of all, every person has its own unique laughter. I'm sure you noticed that you laugh differently than your friend, right? Logically, you like some laughter sounds more than others. But that's ok because you also learn to detect fake laughter. Let's take a look at some different types of laughter:

Chortle

The chortle is defined as a gleeful chuckle. The term is a mixture between chuckle and snort.

Guffaw

A guffaw is a loud, unrestrained burst of laughter; as a verb, it means "to laugh in a loud and boisterous manner." The word is of Scottish origin and is thought to be imitative of the sound of such laughter.

Titter

Far from a belly laugh or a hearty guffaw, a titter is a nervous or self-conscious laugh.The origin of this word is unclear, but etymologists point to the Swedish term tittra meaning "to giggle," as well as the word tittle meaning "to whisper" or, more specifically "to tell on or whisper gossip" as possible linguistic ancestors.

Giggle

A giggle is "a silly spasmodic laugh, especially with short, repeated gasps and titters, as from juvenile or ill-concealed amusement or nervous embarrassment.

All in one video:

 

Nowadays, communication via electronic devices is a major part of our daily lives. While simple writing doesn't seem to be enough anymore, people also try to express their emotions by using abbreviations or signs. Some add little smilies or emoticons to their messages, others stick to the classic 'haha'. Caution though, the 'lol'-times are gone people! I either add a simple :) or 'haha', but apparently there are many many more!

Remember: A day without a good laugh is a wasted day!
Julia


P.S. a good laugh never hurts :)

Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456?pg=2 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gq-bJwNKSw

So what?

I admire strong and bold women. Women, who know what they want and don't let anything or anybody come in their way. Women, who are not afraid to speak up for themselves and stand on their own two feet. Women that stand out. I've always wanted to be like them and stop being self-conscious about myself and my actions. But what does self-confidence depend on? Is it about education or how you were brought up? Or does it depend on achievements? Let's say I have finally reached my ultimate career goal and work in a position I have always dreamed of working - will I finally be happy with myself and the way I am because I have achieved a personal goal and therefore have a reason to be proud of myself? If yes, isn't it the same with losing weight? You're unhappy with your appearance, ashamed of yourself or just not that confident with who you are as a person. This, on a certain psychological level, hinders you from being entirely yourself. You're maybe aiming to lose weight, look differently, be a 'better' person; in short, be somebody else other than yourself. While we are all, throughout our life, trying to better ourselves, and change as a result of experiences and time that passes, this can't be compared to the obsession of constantly focusing on changing yourself because you're unhappy with your looks or character. I believe this is the reason why plastic surgery has become so popular and widely spread; 
not just for women. By changing or manipulating a certain area of their body, people hope to become that person they have always dreamed to be or look like an image they picture in their head about themselves. Will this change their inner confidence, though? Why is it that our self-assurance relies so much on our appearance? And how can we change that? The first years after birth are believed to be the most formative ones in life. Whatever happens in these years will influence your entire life. So, does your self-confidence today date back to events and care in your earliest years of life? Or are the experiences in the following years and puberty more influential? It is proven that eating disorders do result from early childhood occurrences, which erupt later on in lifein this disorder. Mostly, inner psychological issues are transferred to a dissatisfaction with the look of the body. This is one way an eating disorder can appear, but most certainly it always seeks a way to break out and express that something's not in balance inside this person. The focus of a person with an eating disorder is their outside. A considerable amount of disorders emerge through puberty as many teenagers start comparing themselves to others (their age), and start questioning their own beauty. Today, magazines, media, Internet, celebrities and many other factors convey the image of beauty. They define what is considered to be beautiful and what not. However, this does not reflect beauty in real life (outside the celebrity's world). I'm not blaming the media - well, to certain point, yes - but I'm blaming the issue of comparing people. I have said this before in an earlier post about cloning: I love the fact that everybody is unique. Everybody acts differently, looks differently and feels differently. That's why you should be proud of yourself, and always be yourself because everybody else is already taken.You are the only version of you on this entire planet, why would you want to change that to look or act like somebody else? You are you, and that's fantastic! Sometimes in life we have these 'so-what' moments: if somebody comes up to you and criticizes you, or something you did, just be like: 'so what? This is who I am, I did this 
and I'm not ashamed of it'.These 'so-what' moments will help us to accept ourselves. Stop worrying about pimples, little extra pounds, a messed up test or meeting - so the hell what? Earth still revolves around itself, and your life will go on, too. You have accomplished so much in your life so far, why do you let this little thing be such a big obstacle to overcome or make you feel bad about yourself? No matter what anybody says, never stop believing in yourself or your dreams!

Julia

Secret weight loss tips

Now. Summer is on its way and bikinis are waiting to be worn. Since they are enemies to most women, I started looking for some easy weight loss tips to help you/them feel more confident wearing bikinis. I have to say, I'm not a big fan of any last minute 20-pound weight loss tips. Train and work. That's the only way you'll get a bikini body that lasts longer than a week. I find it pathetic when women suck in their tummies at the beach. If you hadn't eaten that burger, you wouldn't have to walk around like a penguin with exaggerated posture. Just be confident about it. Anyway, I found some tips I haven't heard of before. So, I thought I just share them with you.

Exercise
To amp up your workout intensity, keep your core temperature down. Don't heat up the room - no hot yoga! The cooler you train, the harder you train. Drink cold water while you exercise or put a few drops of peppermint oil on your wrists before you start; it enhances your power. 







Tea time
Tea time is great for several reasons: it helps curb appetite, burn fat and boost your metabolism. A caffeinated tea or caffeinated product gives you extra energy for your workout to burn even more calories. Because you know, the more calories you burn, the more you can eat for dinner. ;)





Blue
Have you noticed that the main colors you find at fast food places are orange, yellow and red? These colors stimulate appetite. So, use blue: blue glasses, blue place mats, blue plates and have blue items in your dining room. The whole idea is that it helps you eat less; cooler foods decrease your urge to eat. 




Portion control 
Get yourself a muffin tin and make your quiches, muffins and tars in this tin. Don't waste time counting calories. This way, you know the approximate calories per serving; it's automatic portion control.






 
Spicy food
Spicy food not only boosts you metabolism, it also decreases your appetite. Just add pepper, pepperoni, garlic or cayenne powder to your meal. When they are extremely spicy, you naturally will eat less. So, heat it up!








Chopsticks
It takes 20 minutes for you to feel full. If you're hungry and eating fast, you have a tendency to let your eyes be bigger than your stomache. Eating with chopsticks or your non-dominant hand helps you to eat slower and notice when you're full.







If I spark you eating your meal with blue sunglasses and chopsticks out of a muffin tin this summer, I won't be surprised then. If you got interested in this tips and want more, just search for them on youtube. There are many 'experts' who can provide you with further information.
Julia



Source:
Slim for life by Jillian Michaels