Desperate Housewives Club

  By Ian Mackie 

Any type of physical activity you choose to do–strenuous activities such as running or aerobic dancing or moderate-intensity activities such as walking or household work–will increase the number of calories your body uses (remember, calories in – calories out.) And the good news is it’s easier than one thinks to perform numerous aerobic activities throughout the day.

So we all know we’re supposed to exercise. So what? Without getting to technical, here are a couple reasons we all need to get out and exercise…NOW.

• Exercise improves the      strength and pumping efficiency of the heart, enabling more blood to be      pumped with each stroke. This improves the ability to more rapidly      transport life sustaining oxygen from the lungs to the heart and to all      parts of the body.
• Exercise tones up muscles      throughout the body, thereby improving the general circulation, at times      lowering the blood pressure and reducing the work on the heart.
• Exercise causes an increase      in the total amount of blood circulating through the body and increases      the number of red blood cells and the amount of hemoglobin (matter which      conveys oxygen to tissues), making the blood a more efficient oxygen      carrier.
• This increase in       circulation has a twofold benefit to the body. First, an abundant supply       of oxygen is taken not only to the muscles, but also to every part of the       system.
• And second, the blood       is circulated through the eliminating organs at a much greater amount,       thus resulting in an increase in the elimination of the body’s wastes.       Both of these are essential for good health and healing.
• There’s been a lot of talk      about good and bad cholesterol lately. Well, aerobic exercise can raise      your body’s high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol) and      lower your body’s low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (bad cholesterol),      improving blood flow, and increasing your heart’s working capacity.

To make a long story short, a physically fit person has greater ability to tolerate the physical challenges of daily life, whereas an unfit person would terminate activity because of fatigue. Trying to lose or maintain weight? Physical activity helps to control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat. The number of calories you eat and use each day regulates your body weight. Everything you eat contains calories, and everything you do uses calories, including sleeping, breathing, and digesting food. Any physical activities in addition to what you normally do will use extra calories.

So now we have a little of the technical information on why exercise is good for the body (and soul we should add.) But where do we start and what types of exercise should we be focusing on?

First, your heart rate

While exercising, you want to work hard enough (intensity) for your http://www.quickmedical.com/fitness/heart_rate/index.html” target=”_blank”>heart rate to reach between 140 and 170, which is approximately double your resting rate. A person who is in poor physical condition will reach the Target Heart Rate with very little effort expended because the resting rate is high (80’s or 90’s) and the body does not have enough oxygen, so the person gets tired very quickly. On the other hand, the person in good physical condition will have to work harder to reach the target heart rate because the resting heart rate is low (50’s). Remember, the heart becomes a more efficient pump - delivering the oxygen needed with fewer beats. Therefore, it takes more effort to get the heart rate up to 170.

Low impact versus High impact

Aerobic activity is often coined either High Impact or Low Impact. The basic difference is that one foot always stays on the floor and supports the weight of the body in low-impact aerobics. High-impact aerobics include actions that take both feet off the floor, thus causing more jarring of the joints when the body weight hits the floor again. An example of Low Impact is walking while High Impact is jogging or jumping up and down.

The point is not to make physical activity an unwelcome chore, but to make the most of the opportunities you have to be active.

It is important to start at a low intensity and increase this over the following few weeks as the exercise feels easier. For example, 20 minutes of walking, jogging or a combination of walking/jogging may be sufficient to leave you rather breathless and fairly tired at the start of your program, but as the weeks go by, you may need to increase the pace or introduce jogging up some shallow hills to achieve a further increase in fitness.

To continue to increase your fitness level, you will have to increase the time spent exercising aerobically to 30 minutes per session for up to five sessions per week.

Examples of mild to moderate aerobic activities:

• Take a short walk around the  block
• Rake The Leaves     
• Walk up the stairs instead of  taking the elevator
• Mow the lawn
• Take an activity break–get      up and stretch or walk around
• Park your car a little      farther away from your destination

  Examples of higher intensity aerobic activities:

• Brisk walking
• Jogging
• Bicycling
• Swimming
• Aerobic dancing
• Racket sports
• Rowing
• Ice or roller-skating
• Cross-country or downhill      skiing
• Using aerobic equipment      (i.e., treadmill, stationary bike)

Exercise can have a surprising number of benefits: it can improve your cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance, which translates into an increase in energy; it can dramatically reduce the risk of coronary artery disease; it may also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and aid in weight control; and it appears to give self-esteem a measurable boost, and in general to improve your sense of well-being. 

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By Marsha Maung

With the kind of hours we have to put in caring, feeding, cooking for, cleaning after, bathing, scolding, worrying about our children, you’d imagine it to be an extremely lucrative career, wouldn’t you? One that would not only give you monetary rewards but also emotional satisfaction. A career that will send you off to many exotic countries for free and you’ll get to meet many different people from all walks of life because of your career, right?  Erm…..

What is it about motherhood that is so absolutely enthralling? So enchanting, so miraculous that it is almost like a very cruel joke. You love it, you love being mom but heck, you wish the kids will just stop SCREAMING!!!

Look, we said motherhood is amazingly rewarding, but we didn’t say in what way. And yes, we did say that motherhood gives you a warm glow on your face (from all that running around, of course) and a joyfully painful ache in your heart (He said he hated me!), what’s not to like about being a mother? Well…it depends on how you want to look at it, really.

If you enjoy standing for hours cooking just to have your kids fling it around the dining table lasso-fashion in their own creative way of expressing their appreciation, yes, motherhood is really quite worthwhile. If your hands feel coarser than sandpaper and you LIKE IT THAT WAY, by golly, you’re made to be a mother. And if you enjoy tripping over toys on the stairs because you think it’s really challenging and exciting, be my guest.

But what is all this hoopla about being a mother? Isn’t it like…the most natural thing in the world to be?

Look, motherhood is exclusive. It’s exclusive to our own gender because males can NEVER be mom….even if they had a womb implanted, in my personal opinion, motherhood goes beyond having a womb and a vagina…but correct me if I am wrong. Motherhood is a life-changing, life-long, emotional career that can take you places. And a man cannot just fit into it because they just don’t have that emotional capacity.

I don’t want to explain this because I might end up in a man-bashing session but motherhood is something that I never thought I’d enjoy. Sure, it doesn’t pay (at all) and it’s sometimes (ALWAYS is more like it) draining and exhausting.

But if you tell me that your heart will swell whenever your boss closes his/her eyes in front of you and you watch your boss breathe in and out and thank the Lord above that you are blessed with an opportunity to work with him/her, then you’re weird. Unless, of course, your boss is your child.

Which brings me back to my original intention of writing this article.

If given a chance to choose again, I would STILL continue to be a mom to my boys. No amount of mullah will get me to change my mind. Not even the world. The reason? It’s simple.

My boss asks me to write a report for him, I frown, thinks he’s such a buffoon but do it anyway because I want my salary at the end of the month.

As compared to…

My kids soil their pants and I have to spend an hour scrubbing human feces off carpets and I am smiling as he stands there, right there in the doorway asking me, “Mom, can I have a lollipop now?” I smile because he looks so sweet and pouty and say “Sure, go ahead but only one, ok?”. He grins and runs off with a quick, “Thanks, MOM!”. I smile because I give…not get.

In motherhood, that is, sometimes, all there is to it

Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from her home in Selangor, Malaysia. She loves nothing more than blowing bubbles in the park with her 2 kids, Joshua and Jared. She designs apparel and premium items at http://www.allmomstuff.com

By Marsha Maung
Well, there’s no such thing as failure in motherhood…in my books, anyway. And besides, by whose yardstick are we measuring failure and success by, anyway? Motherhood is to be cherished, to be enjoyed and to be relished and remembered for the rest of our lives. It amazes me how some people think that motherhood is something that is to be endured. No, not to me…and I am sure motherhood is not like to that many other mothers out there either.

Sometimes, mothers are allowed to FEEL like failures

We’re only human beings, right? And mothers are human, therefore, we have our strong and weak points. Some of us are better at cooking than others. Some of us are better at earning money than others. Some of us are better at….say, diapering our kids than others. Therefore, being weak in one aspect of motherhood does not make a failure.

I cook bad…and I mean, BAD. But I know I am patient in a lot of ways too. But I am not as patient as I would like to be – so, does THAT make me failure as a mother?

Gee, I hope not.

Why motherhood is to be cherished and remembered?

A mother once told me that she lived each day raising her kids knowing that one fine day, they’ll be old enough to look after themselves and she would be free. Although I was happy that she was doing her best for her kids at that point in time, it occurred to me that she was merely enduring her motherhood days. We’re mothers forever, not only when our kids need us. God didn’t make mothers to be that way. Regardless of whether our kids need us to diaper or feed them or not, they remain our kids for the rest of their lives….and ours.

And it’s because our kids won’t need us forever that we should cherish our days as mothers! I live each day reminding myself that one day my kids are going to think I am dowdy and uncool. Right now, they think I am the funniest person on the planet. but not for long.

Mothers do not own their kids. They borrow the kids from God

It’s true. While motherhood is forever, mothering is not. Therefore, we do not own our kids forever. We may stake a claim when they’re young and need us as infants, but when they’re old enough, they will live their own lives and go on their own adventures. They will make their own decisions and pay their own bills (hopefully).

We don’t own our kids – if yes, only temporarily. We borrow them for a little while and nurture them. That’s our responsibility, our job. And once they are old enough to decide for themselves and live on their own – we let them go.

Motherhood, as I mentioned earlier, is to be enjoyed, cherished and remembered. Because one day, we can have our lives back….and they will have their own. And all we have is the stacks of photos to remind us of the joy what motherhood has been.

2006 © Marsha Maung
Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from her home in Selangor, Malaysia. She loves nothing more than blowing bubbles in the park with her 2 kids, Joshua and Jared. She designs apparel and premium items at http://www.allmomstuff.com”>

By Candice  Sabrina
More powerful than any drug, more intoxicating than any alcohol, love can lift us to heights of euphoria that we may never have experienced previously. The blush of first love or the deep comfort and trust of a love that has lasted throughout the years can fill us with happiness and peace and spectacularly color the events around us. Part of what feeds a love – no matter what stage it is in – is true romance; romance that comes from the breadth and depth of our souls.

The definition of true romance differs for everyone; one person’s idea of a romantic evening may be another person’s idea of a nightmare. Infusing romance into a relationship means doing those things that make your partner happy so ultimately, romance requires a level of understanding about each other’s likes and dislikes that will allow you to make choices that will be appreciated.

For instance, a sunset picnic on the beach may be a dream come true for one person; but for someone doesn’t like the beach, it’s just food served on top a blanket of annoying sand. Really listen to each other; get to know what would elicit the best response from your partner – horseback riding, dinner for two in a romantic restaurant, backpacking in wine country, traveling back to a destination that was integral in your relationship, revisiting the place you got married, reenacting your first date – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

The real key to true romance, however, is integrating it into your daily life. Romantic overtures that only come once a year – for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary – are lovely, but not ultimately enough to sustain the romance in a relationship. It’s wonderful to make those large gestures with travel, a special evening out, or a beautiful piece of jewelry; but often, it’s even more special to make smaller gestures on a more frequent basis.

When you leave for work in the morning, leave a note on your partner’s pillow or windshield of their car wishing them a good day and telling them you love them; phone during the day to say hi; make a special dinner during the week even if it’s on a Monday and include some of your partner’s favorite foods; set up “date night” - a once or twice a month set date that can not be broken and share some uninterrupted time together. Making romance work means working at it every day.

If you are having trouble in your relationship you may find that true romance will put you back on track. There are a bevy of books on the market today, all designed to help couples find the romance in their relationship again. You’ll find instructional guides on romantic ideas, sensual massage, and communication. Read anything you can get your hands on – together – and make an effort to put some life back in your relationship.

Ultimately, true romance shows that you are listening to each other; when you internalize those things that are important to your partner and then use them to provide a romantic experience then you are showing that what’s important to them is important to you. And that’s the most romantic thing of all.
Still looking for the perfect romance?  Try visiting http://www.MyRomanceLife.com”>http://www.MyRomanceLife.com>, a website that specializes in providing romance advice, tips and resources including information on the http://www.myromancelife.com/trueromance.html”>true romance.
 

 By Glenn Cohen
How do you put romance into your relationship?  Real, long-lasting romance is necessary to Co-Create a conscious Relationship.  If you need direction to make some romance, look at these.  You may have some personal qualities to make them even more meaningful.

1. We make our partner feel safe, loved, and cared for every day
2. We treat our partner with respect and admiration on a daily basis
3. We let our partner know he or she is the number one priority in our life
4. We show a willingness to go out of our way for our partner
5. We gain an intimate knowledge of our partner’s needs and desires
6. We see our partner’s needs as important as our own
7. We do everything we can to satisfy those needs and desires
8. We love our partner the way he or she wants to be loved, not the way we want to be loved
9. We are conscious to please our partner in ways that are meaningful to him or her
10. We give unconditional romance gifts to our partner
11. We are inspired to do something to make our partner smile every day
12. We are conscious of how we treat our partner by being soft, kind, gentle, and compassionate

I hope you and your partner

Gain the Awareness, Learn the Skills and

Practice the Techniques so you are successful on your

Journey from “I-TO-WE”™ to live your lives as each other’s

Best Friends During the Day,Lovers at Night, andPartners for Life ©2006 – All Rights Reserved – Glenn Cohen“I-TO-WE” Relationship Coaching
Create relationship success at home, at work and within yourself – learn about the t’s Free - Become a member of the
 http://www.i-to-we-relationship-coaching.com/I-TO-WE-Institute.html”>“I-TO-WE” Institute 
 

By Mylar Skye
There are many things that make working from home beneficial. One of the things is that there is no child care cost. Babysitting costs are kept to a minimum when mom is home during the day. Work at home moms can keep the entire paycheck! Of course they earn it with juggling the children and the job they are doing. But what a reward that can be.

Another consideration is there is no cost for gas, work clothes, lunches out and all those extras that you have to have just to get to work. Work at home moms actually save money while working from the convenience of their home. Lunch is easily made and eaten in leisure or in a hurry, whatever the case. Work clothes can be casual or even your pajamas! Gas is kept to a low budgeted cost. With the price of gas these days, this is a big plus in the family budget. Every bit saved can contribute to another project or vacation for the family. The expense of going out of your home everyday to work can be quite large especially in the beginning. Working at home can help to save money in many ways. Saving money is a priority in many families.

The best benefit of all for work at home moms is the extra time you get to spend with your family. If you have children, this is certainly a big deal. Nursing moms can do the work expected of them and still be around to nurse the baby. Moms of toddlers can arrange their schedule around the naps and play time of the children. Moms of teenagers can run the kids here and there between bits of work. The extra time you spend with your family is the best time spent all day.

If you are thinking of working at home like other work at home moms, consider these benefits. Count the costs before you begin. Many will pay big dividends.
For More Information on http://www.workfromhomeresources.info”>Work At Home Moms Please Visit http://www.workfromhomeresources.info”>Work From Home Resources

By  Susan Wise
If you have been experiencing a lackluster marriage for a while or you and your spouse are heading into trouble, there are ways to save a marriage that might work for you.  Whether you have been fighting verbally or experiencing the silent treatment with lines of communication closed, there is still hope.

Each friend, therapist or confidante will have different ideas on ways to save a marriage.  Regardless of what those ideas are, there are several significant fundamentals that are universal and should be a part of any solution you may try.

First of all, it does not matter if you have 1,000 ways to save a marriage.  Each one of those potential solutions is going to take time.  In this instance, patience is definitely a virtue.  You don’t want to rush such an important part of your life. You and your spouse must put forth the effort to mend those marital fences. Both spouses must commit to the different ways to save a marriage if success is to be achieved.  If you are both not on board, any plans you want to try will not work.

The three basic fundamentals mentioned above, you will find, apply to any of the ways to save a marriage that you decide to follow.  It’s a struggle, but things can and will get better with time and effort.  And if you work on the five ways to save a marriage listed below, you will have a good chance of stronger, more in-depth relationship than you have right now.

1. Both of you involve yourself in the simple exercise of writing a list.  This list is what you perceive as the primary problems that are affecting your marriage right now.  Once both of you have your list written, sit down together and talk about each one.  This assignment just might help you narrow down the primary cause of marital dissention.

2. Having fun together is one of the ways to save a marriage. Yes, it is tough given that you are going through some problems.  However, try and find something humorous to share with one another every day.

3. Back to the list taking; create several long and short term goals as other ways to save a marriage.  If you both have a common goal you are shooting for, you are essentially forming a team to accomplish that task. Team building is a good thing!

4. Plan outings and spend time doing fun things that you used to do together.  Taking a stroll down memory lane just might help rekindle those old feelings and it counts as ways to save a marriage.

5. Get out of your ruts.  You can try something new together whether it is a new restaurant, indulge in dance lessons or take up a new hobby together.  These new experiences will spawn conversation and of course, that leads to communication, one of the most important ways to save a marriage.

Only if you hit roadblocks with the other spouse should you consider a marriage therapist or other type of counseling as one of the ways to save a marriage.  Sometimes, it is a simple matter of trying to put yourself in your spouse’s place to understand their point of view. Finally, practice listening; really hearing what your partner is saying and many times, not saying.  Remember, ways to save a marriage are many; it is up to you to try several approaches and stick with one that works.
Susan Wise is the exclusive author for to save a marriage please visit the website.Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Susan_Wise“ 

Goddess Resolutions for 2007
An ACNielsen survey of 22,000 people in 46 countries revealed these new year’s resolutions at the top of most people’s list:

1. Get fitter (62 percent)

2. Strike a better balance between work and play (51 percent)

3. Avoid disastrous relationships (I’d reckon this would be just about everyone!)

What happened to the good old-fashioned pipe dream of losing the beach ball off your butt? Or having Brad Pitt’s baby? Or getting a motorbike license? (These have all been perennial favorites of mine for, oh, 10 years now?)

Resolutions are made with the best intent — who doesn’t make a promise to improve health, seek prosperity, fall in love and find lots of joy? And all before breakfast?

But deep down we all know a new year’s resolution is really something that goes in one year and out the other.

Have faith. Yemaya is here. West African, Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean goddess Yemaya is Mother Water, orisha of the oceans. She protects us through all the highs and lows, even during the worst atrocities like when you make a really, really bad New Year’s resolution.

She reminds women to take time out for ourselves, to nurture our own needs and to respect our deserved position in life.

That’s all well and good for the New Year, but what about the rest of the year? Well, the key to making a good sticky resolution that you can actually keep resides in your goddess birth sign.

Goddess birth signs are similar to astrology in that they define who you are and what your life purpose may be. Once you understand which goddess energy is resonating strongest in you, you can then enhance these strengths to achieve the ultimate balance in spiritual and practical life.

Everything you do, say or bite can be traced back to your goddess archetype. So in between shower rituals to celebrate Yemaya’s water energies, empower your inner goddess for the rest of your year with the http://www.goddess.com.au/Links/Signs_NewYears.htm%22%3Ebest resolution to suit you, here.

Anita Ryan is the author of goddess.com.au and The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality, designed to reconnect you with your beautiful, inspired, lovable, sacred and sassy self — your inner goddess — through chakra and spiritual work. She lives in Western Australia with her man, her son and her dog (also a male).

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