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	<title>FitWatch &#187; Health</title>
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		<title>3 Small Dietary Changes With Powerful Weight Loss Potential</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-small-dietary-changes-with-powerful-weight-loss-potential-760.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-small-dietary-changes-with-powerful-weight-loss-potential-760.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Dieting Strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fitwatch.com/?p=760</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You don&#8217;t always have to follow an official diet plan to lose weight &#8211; there are plenty of small yet powerful changes you can make to your eating habits that will help you lose weight. Below are three easy ones to get you started: #1 &#8211; Ditch the Sugar Refined white sugar creates such a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/eliminate-sugar-cravings.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 8px;">You don&#8217;t always have to follow an official diet plan to lose weight &#8211; there are plenty of small yet powerful changes you can make to your eating habits that will help you lose weight.</p>
<p>Below are three easy ones to get you started:<br />
<span id="more-760"></span><br />
<strong>#1 &#8211; Ditch the Sugar</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-ways-to-reduce-sugar-cravings-726.html">Refined white sugar</a> creates such a negative chain reaction of events in your body that eliminating it from your diet is one of the most powerful steps you can take to start losing weight.  Replace soda with water, and don&#8217;t add sugar to coffee and tea.  If you want to use a sweetener in place of sugar, opt for a natural one like agave nectar or stevia (still limit those, too).  Also, consider eliminating other detrimental white products like white flour, white bread, white rice, white pasta &#8211; and replace them with brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread.</p>
<p>See:  <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/signs-that-you-may-be-addicted-to-sugar-749.html">Signs You May Be Addicted to Sugar</a></p>
<p><strong>#2 &#8211; Keep Your Cupboards Clean</strong></p>
<p>Throw away or give away all of the junk food, candy, and sweets that are in your cupboards, and then simply refuse to buy more of them.  This may be challenging if you don&#8217;t live alone, especially if your kids and spouse eat junk food.  If clearing out all of the junk food would cause a riot in your home, instead you can clean out ONE cabinet and designate it for your healthier foods.  Fill this cupboard with whole grain crackers and bread, nuts and seeds, natural sweeteners, and other weight loss friendly foods.  Then be sure to avoid opening the other cupboards unless you have to.</p>
<p><strong>#3 &#8211; Chew Your Food Better</strong></p>
<p>If you tend to barely chew your food before swallowing, taking time to chew your food properly can go a long way in aiding digestion, helping you eat less, and ultimately helping you lose more weight.  When you take your time and chew your food completely, it is almost in liquid form by the time it reaches your stomach, which means it will be digested more easily and cause less stomach upset, cramps, bloating and gas.  Most importantly, since you will be eating much more slowly, you will easily recognize when you are starting to feel full and stop eating before you pass that point.</p>
<p>See: <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/you-need-to-slow-down-to-lose-weight-167.html"> You Need to Slow Down to Lose Weight</a></p>
<p>These small changes alone can trigger quite a bit of weight loss, even if you aren&#8217;t following an <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/diet-reviews/compare-diet-plans.php">official diet plan</a>.</p>
<p><b>Must Read</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-ways-to-reduce-sugar-cravings-726.html">3 Ways To Reduce Sugar Cravings</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/diet-changes-lose-weight-104.html">7 Simple Diet Changes to Lose Weight</a></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Effectively Listen to Your Body&#8217;s Needs</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/how-to-effectively-listen-to-your-bodys-needs-754.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/how-to-effectively-listen-to-your-bodys-needs-754.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss Strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fitwatch.com/?p=754</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Listening to your body&#8217;s needs is vital to attaining and maintaining the health you deserve. Sometimes, you can push your body too far without even realizing it. When you learn to listen to your body&#8217;s cues, however, you can live a happier and calmer life. Getting in Touch with Yourself You might think that you&#8217;re [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/hands-over-ears2.jpg" style="float: left; margin-right: 8px">Listening to your body&#8217;s needs is vital to attaining and maintaining the health you deserve. Sometimes, you can push your body too far without even realizing it. When you learn to listen to your body&#8217;s cues, however, you can live a happier and calmer life.<br />
<span id="more-754"></span><br />
<strong>Getting in Touch with Yourself</strong></p>
<p>You might think that you&#8217;re already in touch with yourself, but ensure that you&#8217;re in touch with all of yourself. </p>
<p>Sometimes you might be tempted to live all in the mind and it&#8217;s no wonder! There are constant stresses and demands from you every day that sap you of your mental energy. However, it&#8217;s critical to listen to your entire body. </p>
<p>If you feel fatigued or frustrated, your body is trying to tell you something valuable. Pay attention and heed the information. Slow down when your body demands rest. If you fail to do so, you risk greater physical harm. Your body will get the rest it needs one way or another, so do it the easy &#8211; and healthy &#8211; way. </p>
<p>See:  <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/too-worried-to-sleep-properly-9-ways-to-get-rest-in-spite-of-your-fears-475.html">9 Ways to Get More Rest</a></p>
<p>At the same time, fuel your body with proper nutrition, drink plenty of <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/tag/water">water</a>, and exercise regularly. Even light exercise gets your heart pumping and increases your energy. Your body will thank you for the effort!</p>
<p><strong>Reducing Stress</strong></p>
<p>If you feel frustrated or aggravated at the circumstances of life, this will affect your body as well as your mind. When your body is stressed, your muscles become tight and you&#8217;ll know that something just doesn&#8217;t feel right. Therefore, one important step in the process of getting in tune with your body is to <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/mom/spotlight-mom/tips-to-reduce-stay-at-home-mom-stress-150.html">reduce your overall stress</a>.</p>
<p>One of the best things you can do is to take a break for yourself during a portion of every day. Even a few short minutes to get your thoughts straight can work wonders for reducing your stress level. Concentrate on your feelings and see if your body is offering you warning signs of trouble. </p>
<p>If you reduce the &#8220;mind noise&#8221; in your life, you&#8217;ll find it easier to listen to your body. When you&#8217;re hungry, heed your body&#8217;s signal that it needs fuel. Make wise choices to fuel your body for success, and you&#8217;ll be rewarded with the vitality and energy to chase after your dreams. </p>
<p><strong>Listening to Cues</strong></p>
<p>Your body is sending you cues all the time. Listen to them. Can your body handle being pushed further at this time, or do you need to take a step back because you&#8217;re pushing too much? If you listen to yourself, you&#8217;ll know your limits and avoid burnout.</p>
<p><strong>Ways to Stay in Touch with Your Body </strong></p>
<p>Here are three practical steps to listening more effectively to your body:</p>
<p><strong>1.	Meditation.</strong> Meditation is a productive way to get in touch with your mind and body. Take a few minutes alone each day to focus on your breathing. Learn a meditation technique and commit to a few minutes each day.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=128853&#038;u=241103&#038;m=9747&#038;urllink=&#038;afftrack=754">FREE Secret Garden Guided Meditation Sample</a></p>
<p><strong>2.	Yoga.</strong> Yoga keeps your body in shape while you keep in touch with your mind and spirit. This practice has the power to give you extra awareness about your body that you&#8217;ve never had access to before. </p>
<p>See: <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/yoga/basic-yoga-exercises-240.html"> Basic Yoga Exercises</a> </p>
<p><strong>3.	Start an exercise routine.</strong> Even a light exercise routine can work wonders for your body. If you get and stay in shape, you&#8217;ll be able to push yourself harder when you need to do so. You&#8217;ll also be able to recognize your limits in most situations. </p>
<p>Remember that your body will tell you what you need. Instead of over-thinking things, simply commit to attentively listening to your body. Choose one or more of the methods above, put a few minutes on your schedule for today, and keep your appointment with yourself. You&#8217;ll be glad you did!</p>
<p><b>Must Read</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/is-your-lack-of-confidence-stopping-you-from-losing-weight-213.html">Is Your Lack of Confidence Stopping You From Losing Weight?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/exercise/10-ways-you-can-exercise-at-home-without-any-equipment-10.html">10 Ways You Can Exercise at Home Without Any Equipment</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Signs That You May Be Addicted to Sugar</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/signs-that-you-may-be-addicted-to-sugar-749.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/signs-that-you-may-be-addicted-to-sugar-749.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:57:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hunger & Cravings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cravings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sugar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fitwatch.com/?p=749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether or not you can really be &#8220;addicted&#8221; to sugar like you can to drugs and alcohol is still being debated among experts. However, a secondary definition of addiction describes &#8220;the persistent, compulsive use of a substance that is known to be harmful.&#8221; That would certainly describe the relationship that many people have with refined [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/eliminate-sugar-cravings.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right: 8px">Whether or not you can really be &#8220;addicted&#8221; to sugar like you can to drugs and alcohol is still being debated among experts.  However, a secondary definition of addiction describes &#8220;the persistent, compulsive use of a substance that is known to be harmful.&#8221;  That would certainly describe the relationship that many people have with refined cane sugar.  They know that ingesting large amounts of sugar isn&#8217;t good for them, but they can&#8217;t seem to stop themselves from eating it anyway.</p>
<p>If you have done this too and you worry that you might have a sugar addiction, take a look at the following common signs and symptoms:<br />
<span id="more-749"></span><br />
<strong>Sugar cravings at consistent times</strong></p>
<p>Do you always get <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/curb-cravings-103.html">cravings</a> for sugar around the same time each day?  For example, in mid-afternoon, or in the evening a couple of hours after dinner?  It&#8217;s possible that you have come to depend on sugar to help boost your energy or soothe <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/end-emotional-overeating-get-to-the-root-cause-648.html">emotional slumps</a> at those specific times of day.</p>
<p><strong>Sugar cravings all day long</strong></p>
<p>Maybe your sugar cravings are even stronger and you spend a large portion of your day thinking about sugar and craving it.  Do you ever get a spontaneous, intense urge to eat something sweet?  Do you insist on drinking your coffee or tea very sweet?  Do you drink a lot of soda or fruit juice all day long?  If any of these describe your daily habits, it&#8217;s very likely that you have a dependence on sugar.</p>
<p><strong>Persistent sweet tooth</strong></p>
<p>When you are at a party or other social event, do you usually gravitate toward the sweet foods more than healthier choices?  Do you have trouble resisting dessert after dinner?  This is different than simply liking sweet treats; most of us do like sweets.  But if you have trouble turning them down, that usually means an addiction is present.</p>
<p>See:  <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/healthy-snacks-fruit-chocolate-smoothie-recipes-sweet-tooth-587.html">7 Healthy Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth</a></p>
<p><strong>Discomfort when cutting back</strong></p>
<p>Finally, one of the clearest signs of sugar addiction is that you feel incredibly uncomfortable when you try to cut back your sugar intake.  You may experience uncomfortable sensations like nausea, fatigue, headaches, irritability, anxiety, and moodiness &#8211; these are all withdrawal symptoms, which simply means that your body is craving a substance it is used to having.</p>
<p>The good news is, once you get off the &#8220;sugar roller coaster&#8221; these symptoms begin to fade and it gets easier each day to remain sugar free.  </p>
<p>In fact, it&#8217;s important to remember that giving in and eating sugar to soothe unpleasant withdrawal symptoms will only create stronger cravings later!  The more sugar you eat, the more sugar you will want to eat.  That alone is a good enough reason to push through the discomfort, and you&#8217;ll enjoy fewer cravings as time goes on.</p>
<p><b>Must Read</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-ways-to-reduce-sugar-cravings-726.html">3 Ways to Reduce Sugar Cravings</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/nutrition/how-to-eliminate-your-cravings-for-sweets-558.html">How to Eliminate Your Craving for Sweets</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/phpscripts/viewfood.php?ndb_no=19335&#038;descr=Sugars,%20granulated">Calories in Sugar</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>You Should Never Start a Diet When&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/you-should-never-start-a-diet-when-752.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/you-should-never-start-a-diet-when-752.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Dieting Strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fitwatch.com/?p=752</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are good and bad times to start a diet or fitness program. The most common times seem to be right after the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year holiday season, and right before summer (bathing suit season). But even beyond considering the time of year, there are other times that starting a new diet may not be the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/family-budget.jpg" style="float: left; ;margin-right:8px">There are good and bad times to start a diet or fitness program.  The most common times seem to be right after the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year holiday season, and right before summer (bathing suit season).  But even beyond considering the time of year, there are other times that starting a new diet may not be the best idea.</p>
<p>Here are a few you may want to consider.  You should never start a diet when&#8230;<br />
<span id="more-752"></span><br />
<strong>&#8230; you are very stressed.</strong></p>
<p>When you&#8217;re <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/health/take-the-time-to-de-stress-your-life-24.html">stressed</a> by a hectic work schedule, your daughter is getting married in a few weeks, or you&#8217;re packing up an entire household to move, sticking to a new eating or fitness plan will be almost impossible.  A new lifestyle change like a diet or workout regime requires concentration, focus and commitment, which you may have a hard time summoning when your mind is distracted by other important tasks.  (Exercise is good for stress, so a long walk or regular exercise can help with stress.  I&#8217;m talking about trying something new and different.)</p>
<p><strong>&#8230; you are sick.</strong></p>
<p>Dieting shouldn&#8217;t cause any major problems if you have a simple head or chest cold, but when you&#8217;re not feeling well you may not be as motivated to <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/how-to-count-calories-to-lose-weight-the-basic-blueprint-361.html">count calories</a> or stick to a strict eating plan.  Besides, feeling a bit under the weather triggers all kinds of <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-ways-to-reduce-sugar-cravings-726.html">cravings</a> for &#8220;comfort foods&#8221; and you&#8217;ll be fighting an inner battle with them when you should be focusing your energy on getting better.</p>
<p><strong>&#8230; you have a big event planned.</strong></p>
<p>Maybe you were hoping to drop a few pounds before the family reunion you are hosting this weekend, but trying to stick to a diet when you&#8217;ve got a zillion other things to do is asking too much of yourself.  Instead, you could try to better balance your eating without actually following an official diet plan.  For example, you could increase your <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/health/7-of-the-best-reasons-to-give-water-the-respect-it-deserves-8.html">water intake</a> or <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/3-ways-to-reduce-sugar-cravings-726.html">reduce your sugar</a> and salt intake.  Those small changes alone are probably not enough to stress you out, but they can easily help you shed a couple of pounds quickly.</p>
<p><strong>&#8230; you are going on vacation.</strong></p>
<p>Sometimes people start a diet right before they leave for vacation in the hopes that they will avoid gaining weight, but this plan usually backfires.  Either you&#8217;ll stick to the diet during the vacation and be uncomfortable because everyone else is enjoying delicious foods, or you&#8217;ll simply give in and ditch the diet anyway.</p>
<p><strong>The best time to start a diet is:</strong>  When your life is relatively calm; you have a little free time to prepare <a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/how-to-make-healthy-food-choices-in-your-busy-life-701.html">healthier meals</a>; you are healthy with no obvious signs of illness; and when your routine is unlikely to change much in the coming few months.</p>
<p><b>Must Read</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/keys-to-finding-the-right-weight-loss-program-for-you-236.html">Find the Right Weight Loss Program</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/mom/spotlight-mom/stress-management-for-moms-112.html">Stress Management Tips to Get Mom Through Her Busy Day</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/how-to-count-calories-to-lose-weight-the-basic-blueprint-361.html">How To Count Calories</a></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Poll:  What&#8217;s Your Top Reason to Lose Weight?</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/poll-whats-your-top-reason-to-lose-weight-741.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/poll-whats-your-top-reason-to-lose-weight-741.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:11:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Suzanne Hiscock</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What Do You Say?]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fitwatch.com/?p=741</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What&#8217;s Your Top Reason for Losing Weight?online survey]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><center><img border=0 style="float:left; margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1px;" src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/poll.jpg"><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="http://static.polldaddy.com/p/3627937.js"></script><br />
<noscript><br />
	<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/3627937/">What&#8217;s Your  Top Reason for Losing Weight?</a><span style="font-size:9px;"><a href="http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/">online survey</a></span><br />
</noscript></center></p>
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		<title>Is Your Belly Fat Killing You?</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/is-your-belly-fat-killing-you-626.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/is-your-belly-fat-killing-you-626.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:32:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Belly Fat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/is-your-belly-fat-killing-you-626.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In your quest to lose weight and get rid of your own unattractive belly fat, you may have a tendency to people watch and notice others who are overweight. Maybe it&#8217;s because you can sympathize with how they&#8217;re feeling and how they look &#8212; tired! Even the act of walking is a monumental effort, especially [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><center><img style="padding-bottom: 20px" src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/belly-fat.jpg" alt="Belly Fat"></center></p>
<p>In your quest to lose weight and get rid of your own unattractive belly fat, you may have a tendency to people watch and notice others who are overweight. Maybe it&#8217;s because you can sympathize with how they&#8217;re feeling and how they look &#8212; tired! </p>
<p>Even the act of walking is a monumental effort, especially in the summer months of the year when the heat works to drain a body.</p>
<p>Sitting in your car at the grocery store, you can study people. Start paying attention to how many of the people in the crowd are overweight versus those who aren&#8217;t. The numbers will shock you.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t even measure how many are just a little overweight, but count how many are very noticeably overweight. There will be men, women and some kids who are carrying excess belly fat. Some people will make fun of them, too.<br />
<span id="more-626"></span></p>
<p>Belly fat has quite a few nicknames. Jelly Belly. Muffin Top. Spare Tire. Santa Belly. Beer Belly. We’ve heard the derogatory terms and know exactly what they mean. Sometimes, we try to give belly fat kinder, gentler names. </p>
<p>Some doctors even refer to belly fat as the apple shape, which doesn’t sound all that bad. But whether derogatory or a softer label, they all mean the same thing &#8211; too much fat around the middle of the body that either sticks out noticeably or flops down over our belts.<br />
<strong><br />
<em>How Did I Let It Get To This Point?</em></strong><br />
For many of us, gaining that spare tire isn’t intentional. There are many factors that gang up on the body as we grow older. One minute it seems as if we’re twenty and fit and the next…not so much. </p>
<p>We get busy. In some cases, we’re overburdened with responsibilities. Our health gets pushed to the bottom of the ‘to-do’ list. </p>
<p>There’s a commercial for a car insurance carrier that says, “Life comes at you fast” and it usually shows someone who’s just been involved in a car accident. Because life comes at us all fast and not just when it comes to driving, it’s easy to get bombarded on all sides by life’s circumstances. </p>
<p>Not many people are true gluttons &#8211; someone who will overeat or over drink just because. When it comes to overindulging, there’s usually a reason behind it and that reason can be valid &#8211; even understandable. </p>
<p>In college, when there’s the pressure of cramming for tests, trying to pay for tuition, and keeping up with a heavy class load, good nutrition takes a backseat to whatever food is quick, cheap and can be eaten on the run. </p>
<p>When you’re working hard or working long hours trying to make ends meet, exhaustion plays a part in helping you develop that extra weight around the middle. You come home worn out and all you want to do is get something to wolf down and veg out in front of the television. </p>
<p>The last thing in the world you want to do is hit the gym or go take a jog around the block. That’s perfectly understandable. We all find our habitual ways of trying to deal with stress. </p>
<p>Stress is known to help in the harboring of belly fat because it acts as a trigger. When we get stressed, we eat. </p>
<p>But weight gain can be a sneak attack. One minute, we look fine. We get busy, life is hectic and the next thing we know, we’re staring in shock at a new photo of ourselves. The camera doesn’t lie and it’s hard to reconcile the belly fat we see on film or in digital format with how we feel. </p>
<p>Inside, we still feel like our appearance is the same as it’s always been, but on the outside, in that moment of shock, we and everyone else, sees how the weight has snuck up on us. </p>
<p><strong>Fat Through the Ages</strong></p>
<p>If you’ve ever looked at any of the paintings done by the world’s renowned artists throughout history, you might have encountered ones showcasing people who were overweight. </p>
<p>Some of the people were more than a few pounds overweight. In fact, their belly fat, especially on the nude models, was very obvious. Yet the women’s bodies weren’t considered to be ugly. </p>
<p>Instead, they were considered plump and visually pleasing to the eye. Why? Because years ago, being overweight was thought to be attractive and even healthy. It also meant you had money to afford food, so it reflected riches as well.</p>
<p>A woman with belly fat was thought to be a good candidate for child bearing, a man with belly fat was thought to be able to be a successful, good provider for his loved ones. People were judged in reverse back then to the way they are now, but science and medical technology have come a far cry from the age of those historical paintings. </p>
<p>Now we know that belly fat, if left alone, can shear years off your life span. </p>
<p><strong>What Exactly Is Belly Fat?</strong></p>
<p>By the scientific name, belly fat is known by the title of visceral fat. It’s also been called intra abdominal fat. Translated, it means this is fat that you carry in your abdomen and it’s deep in the body surrounding your internal organs. </p>
<p>If you’re thinking all the medical warnings about the dangers of this fat is mostly hype, you couldn’t be more wrong. </p>
<p>Take what this fat does to your liver as an example. Your liver works to transform this fat and this fat then becomes cholesterol in the body. Not the good kind either. We all know what cholesterol does to arteries. </p>
<p>It’s fat turned into plaque carried in your blood that sticks to the arteries and in the heart, this plaque constricts the amount of blood able to flow through. When the plaque builds up enough, the blood can’t pass through the artery and it leads to a heart attack. </p>
<p>Fat actually has two labels &#8211; visceral and subcutaneous. The word subcutaneous means beneath the skin. The subcutaneous fat is the fat you can see as what’s commonly called cellulite. Some people refer to cellulite as lumps or flab, but it’s all the same. The subcutaneous fat, while unsightly, is not nearly as dangerous to a person’s health as visceral fat. </p>
<p>Do family genetics play a part in the amount of fat you carry? Yes, but only a small part. You can still choose to be in the driver’s seat with your health and do something about your belly fat. </p>
<p><strong>“I’m a Man &#8211; I Can Carry More Belly Fat!”</strong></p>
<p>Actually, this is a myth that most men choose to believe. This myth is something that society created. It’s okay for men to have more belly fat than women, it’s not as unhealthy, and it’s not as attractive … so goes the myth. </p>
<p>Any belly fat that reaches the point of being overweight is bad for you.  Having too much belly fat is a threat to your health whether you’re a man or a woman. Belly fat leads to a host of problems that aren’t simply confined to your gender.</p>
<p>Belly fat isn’t just something hanging around, forcing you to buy bigger clothes and cut another hole in your belt. That fat is working hard to take years from your life &#8211; time away from your loved ones. </p>
<p>That fat on your abdomen means there’s fat around your internal organs. Having fat around your internal organs translates into health risks and it’s not a matter of if it will affect your life, but when. </p>
<p>Even carrying twenty pounds of belly fat puts you in a higher risk bracket for heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes to name a few. Having belly fat has also been proven to have ties to erectile dysfunction as men age, which in turn can affect your romantic relationships and lead to depression. Excess belly fat is one of the main causes of death by heart attack because of the problems it’s directly linked to. </p>
<p>Carrying excess belly fat can not only make you susceptible to a host of medical conditions that can affect the way you live your life, it can also lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has been directly linked to having belly fat and this condition took the life of a famous athlete several years ago. </p>
<p>The good news for you if you’re a man, however, is that men do have a tendency to be able to get rid of belly fat faster and easier than women do. Why? Because a man’s metabolism is higher than a woman’s. </p>
<p><strong>What Belly Fat Means For Women</strong></p>
<p>A lot of women gain belly fat, even if they’re still young. But as women grow older, if they’re not diligent about their weight, weight gain leading to belly fat can slow everything down &#8211; especially the metabolism. </p>
<p>Just like men, when a woman carries belly fat, her odds of having a stroke, heart attack or getting diabetes becomes higher. Diabetes, especially Type II, develops because the pancreas can’t produce the insulin the body needs to properly work.  </p>
<p>There have been many studies done by leading medical universities proving that belly fat and diabetes go hand in hand.</p>
<p>There other gender-specific health risks for women that can be even more dangerous than the risk of diabetes. Belly fat is instrumental in helping cause so-called female cancers, too.</p>
<p>One scientific study linked visceral fat with the odds of developing breast cancer as greatly increased. So when a woman carries belly fat, it doesn’t simply mean she won’t look good when it’s time to hit the beach during the summertime. </p>
<p>Belly fat has also been said to raise a woman’s possibilities of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, one of the silent cancers.  Getting rid of the excess belly fat lowers your overall risk of these cancers. </p>
<p>When you’re not carrying excess belly fat, you feel better about yourself, you look better and shopping for clothes that fit is certainly a whole lot easier. But the outer appeal aside, it’s too risky being a woman with too much belly fat. The fat around your abdomen doesn’t just sit there idly. It’s hard at work releasing hormones that trigger a hunger response &#8211; even if you don’t feel hungry. </p>
<p><strong>Teenagers and Belly Fat<br />
</strong><br />
Even teenagers are susceptible to the health risks involved with belly fat. In the last ten years, belly fat among young people has increased by more than fifty percent. That’s an astonishing and rapid rate. </p>
<p>By carrying too much body fat, teenagers can develop Type II diabetes and today, doctors are seeing far more cases of this type diabetes in teens than in the past. Even if a teenager with belly fat doesn’t develop diabetes, they increase their risk of serious health complications by the time they reach their forties. </p>
<p>It’s hard enough being a teenager today. Before they reach midlife, teenagers experience all sorts of angst common among people their age. When belly fat becomes apparent, it works to lower their self esteem and can rob them of what should be some of the most wonderful and formative times in their lives. </p>
<p><strong>“I’m a Thin Person, So I Don’t Have to Worry About Belly Fat!”</strong></p>
<p>Wrong. You aren’t immune to the destruction belly fat can cause in your body. Being thin doesn’t exclude a person from carrying around dangerous visceral fat. Researchers are now beginning to realize that visceral fat doesn’t discriminate against any body type.</p>
<p>While it’s not as obvious in a thin person as it is in people whose bellies stick out noticeably, it’s just as bad, if not more so because of the way society assumes thinner people automatically have a healthy fat level. </p>
<p>It’s this kind of thinking that leads to undiagnosed or overlooked risks for slender people. If you don’t have belly fat to the point where it’s able to be seen, then how can you tell if you need to be concerned about visceral fat? There are tests that can tell you how much of your body is composed of this type of fat. </p>
<p><strong>The Outside Versus the Inside<br />
</strong><br />
Even if we put all health issues and concerns aside, if we take them off the table and by some wave of a wand could say that belly fat didn’t cause any harm to the body at all, there’s the still the visual appeal. Or in the case of belly fat, the visual un-appeal. </p>
<p>When our belly sticks out over the waistband of our jeans, there’s nothing attractive about that to others and while it shouldn’t be the case, the truth is, we are judged by our appearance. </p>
<p>We’re judged in social settings among our peers, in the workplace with colleagues and if job hunting, people with larger bellies are hired less often than those who are physically fit. </p>
<p>There are also studies proving that fit people get promoted more often than their heavier coworkers. No, it’s not fair, and it’s not right (not to mention illegal), but it’s the way society is. </p>
<p>Worse than the unattractive picture a protruding belly presents to anyone else in our circle, is the way it can make us see ourselves. We feel ugly inside based on what the mirror tells us on the outside. </p>
<p>Our inner critic has a field day when we look at ourselves in a full-length mirror, standing sideways with our belly front and center. When we try on clothes and have to go the BBC route (buy bigger clothes) it can make us feel discouraged or disgusted with how our belly looks. </p>
<p>Have you tried to find clothes that flatter a body when you have a larger belly? They’re not attractive either.</p>
<p>That disgust or discouragement we feel when trying to find clothes can lead to more overeating, which can lead to beating ourselves up emotionally even more, which leads to overeating….get the picture? </p>
<p>It becomes a cycle, but it doesn’t have to be a cycle that we can’t break. </p>
<p><strong>How Much Is Too Much?</strong> </p>
<p>You can gauge how much is too much by using a measuring tape around the center of your belly. For a man, if your belly measures over forty inches when you use a tape measure around it, then it’s too much fat for you to have. </p>
<p>If you’re a woman and your belly measures greater than thirty-five inches, it’s time to do something about it. Whether you’re a man, woman, thin person or obese, baby boomer or teen, belly fat isn’t safe to have hanging around. </p>
<p>Do something about it. </p>
<p>Don’t procrastinate. </p>
<p>Your life is far too important. </p>
<p><strong>Must Read</strong><br />
<a class="single" href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/understanding-how-to-lose-belly-fat-503.html">Understanding How to Lose Belly Fat</a><br />
<a class="single" href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/what%e2%80%99s-the-best-exercise-to-burn-belly-fat-530.html">What&#8217;s the Best Exercise to Burn Belly Fat</a><br />
<a class="single" href="http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/how-to-repair-a-damaged-metabolism-456.html">How to Repair A Damaged Metabolism</a></p>
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		<title>Shrink Your Stress and Shrink Belly Fat</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/shrink-your-stress-and-shrink-belly-fat-500.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/shrink-your-stress-and-shrink-belly-fat-500.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:18:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Belly Fat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6 pack abs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lose belly]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Stress is one of the most difficult challenges in the modern world. Especially when economic times are hard, it seems that stress just continues to mount. What you may not know is that stress can affect more than just your thoughts and emotions. In fact, when it comes to your body, getting rid of stress [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stress is one of the most difficult challenges in the modern world.  Especially when economic times are hard, it seems that stress just continues to mount.  What you may not know is that stress can affect more than just your thoughts and emotions.  In fact, when it comes to your body, getting rid of stress can actually help you to shrink belly fat.  </p>
<p>Stress causes hormonal imbalances in the body.  In particular there is a hormone called cortisol that becomes unbalanced and causes fat to accumulate around the waistline.  When you shrink your stress, you shrink belly fat.  Here are some tips to help you accomplish your goals.<br />
<span id="more-500"></span><br />
First, take a look at the things that are causing you the most stress.  For some people, financial crisis is the cause for anxiety and for others it’s simply being overscheduled.  Maybe you have relationships in your life that are adding to your stress.  It could be that your job is getting you down.  And what’s even more difficult is when you have stress coming from more than one source.</p>
<p>You’ll need to do whatever you can to eliminate the things that are causing stress.  In some cases that’s easy – like cancelling an optional activity that’s taking too much of your time.  But in other cases, you won’t be able to get rid of the things that are causing stress.</p>
<p>In that case, you’ll shrink your belly fat and your stress levels by learning strategies for coping with the stress you have.  For example, physical activity is often a great way to tackle the physical symptoms of stress such as fatigue, headaches, and muscle pains.  In addition, you’ll begin to burn fat from all areas of your body – and eventually you’ll shrink belly fat.  </p>
<p>Activities such as meditation and yoga can also help to calm your mind and relax your body.  You’ll begin to have balance again and your body will grow healthier.  You’ll notice that you’ll begin to shrink belly fat as you restore a sense of peace and wellness.  Even if you just take five to ten minutes each day to quiet your mind and relax, you’ll achieve benefits.</p>
<p>Keeping a journal is another good way to shrink belly fat and stress. It will help you to get ideas on paper and get to the root of what is bothering you.  It will also help you to keep track of ideas that can help to solve your problems.</p>
<p><a  rel="nofollow"  href="http://www.fitwatch.com/FitWatchRecommends/TruthAboutAbs-Flat-Belly"><img src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/truth-about-abs-300x250_04 .jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p>
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		<title>7 Reasons to Lose Belly Fat! What&#8217;s Yours?</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/7-reasons-to-lose-belly-fat-491.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/7-reasons-to-lose-belly-fat-491.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:51:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Belly Fat]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? If you&#8217;re like many people, you have unwanted and unsightly belly fat. And when it comes to your health and happiness, belly fat loss can make a dramatic improvement in your life. Let&#8217;s start with the obvious – your physique. When you reduce [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see?  If you&#8217;re like many people, you have unwanted and unsightly belly fat.  And when it comes to your health and happiness, belly fat loss can make a dramatic improvement in your life.<br />
<span id="more-491"></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Let&#8217;s start with the obvious – your physique.  When you reduce belly fat, you&#8217;ll find that your clothes fit better.  You&#8217;ll be able to shop at your favorite clothing stores and walk out with something that looks great right off the rack.  You&#8217;ll no longer have trouble with fat hanging over your belt or feeling embarrassed to tuck in your shirt.</li>
<li>When you begin to feel better about the way you look, you&#8217;ll gain more self-confidence.  You may find that your job performance and your social life improve when you begin to feel better about your belly fat loss.</li>
<li>In addition to looking better, you&#8217;ll also begin to feel better.  Belly fat can put unnecessary strain on your back and other joints.  The extra weight can pull your joints out of alignment or put more stress on them.  You’ll feel lighter on your feet and have more energy to go about your daily tasks.  Belly fat loss can ease your aches and pains and give you freedom to move around.  </li>
<li>Belly fat loss can also help you to feel more comfortable in small spaces.  For example, sitting in an airplane seat or restaurant booth can make you feel self-conscious and uncomfortable.  But when you start to reduce your waistline, you’ll be able to enjoy your seat comfortably.</li>
<li>But the most important benefits of belly fat loss are those on your health. By decreasing your waistline, you can reduce your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.  These will help you to live a longer life and have more quality of life.  </li>
<li>You’ll spend less money on healthcare costs such as medical appointments and medications.  Before your belly fat takes over your life, you need to make the changes that will help you to achieve belly fat loss.</li>
<li>
Belly fat loss can help you to live a healthier and more productive life.  You’ll feel good and you’ll feel good about yourself.  With a few simple changes you can overhaul your body and improve it greatly.</li>
</ol>
<p>Take a look at your body and if you have excess belly fat, it’s time to weigh the benefits of belly fat loss.  You’ll be glad you took the steps necessary to improve your waistline and your health.  </p>
<p>So, what are YOUR reasons for losing the belly fat?</p>
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		<title>5 Belly Fat Busting Diet Tips</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/5-belly-fat-busting-diet-tips-489.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/5-belly-fat-busting-diet-tips-489.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2009 14:25:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Belly Fat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dieting Strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[When you&#8217;re battling weight loss, the most important components are often diet and exercise and goals/motivation. But for some body types it&#8217;s important to customize your diet to lose belly fat. Belly fat can be stubborn and accumulates around the middle. This is the unhealthiest place to store fat, but unfortunately it&#8217;s very common. There [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img style="float:left;margin-right: 8px" src="http://www.fitwatch.com/images/abs.jpg">When you&#8217;re battling weight loss, the most important components are often diet and exercise and goals/motivation.  But for some body types it&#8217;s important to customize your diet to lose belly fat.  Belly fat can be stubborn and accumulates around the middle.  This is the unhealthiest place to store fat, but unfortunately it&#8217;s very common.</p>
<p>There are several things you can do to use your diet to lose belly fat.  Using the right blend of dietary components can bring you the best success.  Of course you&#8217;ll want to cut down on calories if you&#8217;re overeating, but it matters what kinds of calories you do eat.</p>
<p>Here are 5 belly fat busting changes you can make to your diet/way of eating:<br />
<span id="more-489"></span><br />
<strong>1) Fiber </strong>-  It&#8217;s important that you eat foods with plenty of fiber.  This includes whole grain bread and pastas as well as fruits and vegetables.  These foods help you to get the nutrients you need and they also help you to digest food properly. Many people feel bloated because they&#8217;re not eliminating waste properly.  When you eat a lot of fiber, you help to shrink your waistline.</p>
<p><strong>2) Bad Carbs</strong> &#8211;  Simple carbohydrates such as cookies, white bread, white pasta, and candy can cause you to put on weight fast.  They are foods that are stripped of their nutritional quality and are full of empty calories.  By limiting these foods you&#8217;ll be able to diet to lose belly fat.<br />
<strong><br />
3) Water</strong> &#8211; You also need to drink plenty of water and decrease your salt intake.  Too much salt and dehydration can cause you to become bloated.  Frequently, bloating can make your abdomen feel even larger in addition to the belly fat you may have.  You&#8217;ll also be able to flush fat out of your system when you continuously drink water and keep your cells hydrated.</p>
<p><strong>4) Alcohol</strong> &#8211; Eliminating alcohol from your diet is also a way to use your diet to lose belly fat.  Alcohol is high in calories and is basically a form of liquid sugar.  Even more so, the chemical structure of alcohol and its process in the body actually promotes the accumulation of belly fat.  That&#8217;s where the term “beer belly” comes from.<br />
<strong><br />
5) Protein</strong> &#8211; When it comes to protein you should choose fish over red meat as often as possible.  The mono-unsaturated fat in seafood can help you to eliminate cholesterol and shrink belly fat.  Taking a cue from the Mediterranean diet, you can eat plenty of seafood and olive oil and use your diet to lose belly fat.  A recent study showed that following the Mediterranean diet popular in the area of the world helps to shrink belly fat and improve heart health.</p>
<p>Excess belly fat is turning out to be more serious than fat in other areas of the body.  While you may not revel in the fat that&#8217;s on your hips, thighs, butt, and arms these areas don&#8217;t pose a major threat to your health.  But fat around the middle of your waist does seem to pose a health risk.  So, make an effort to decrease your belly fat!</p>
<p>For more detailed information on changes you can make to your diet, here&#8217;s a free ebook:  <a target="_blank" class="single" href="http://www.fitwatch.com/ebooks/training-nutrition-secrets_FitWatch.pdf">&#8220;Insider&#8217;s Secrets for a Lean Body.&#8221;</a>  (Right-click to save it to your computer.  Feel free to pass it along to your family and friends!)</p>
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		<title>Two Things You Shouldn&#8217;t Indulge In During A Recession</title>
		<link>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/two-things-you-shouldnt-indulge-in-during-a-recession-476.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.fitwatch.com/weight-loss/two-things-you-shouldnt-indulge-in-during-a-recession-476.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:52:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Suffering from economy-related woes? You aren&#8217;t alone. Thousands of people are worried sick about the possibility of a layoff, foreclosure, stocks crashing etc. Continued stress may get the body stuck in a &#8216;fight or flight mode&#8217;, negatively impacting your immune system and leaving you vulnerable to anxiety, depression and a whole variety of other illnesses. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Suffering from economy-related woes? You aren&#8217;t alone. Thousands of people are worried sick about the possibility of a layoff, foreclosure, stocks crashing etc. Continued stress may get the body stuck in a &#8216;fight or flight mode&#8217;, negatively impacting your immune system and leaving you vulnerable to anxiety, depression and a whole variety of other illnesses.<br />
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When the body is constantly flooded with stress hormones, it puts the heart more at risk, with damage to the arterial walls, accelerated hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. A flood of hormones helps you react fast in an emergency but if that condition persists then those chemicals can really impact your body affecting your heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, moods etc. While these things may not immediately impact your health, it can seriously harm your heart health in the long run. </p>
<p>You may find it difficult to reduce your stress levels if you are continually being bombarded with stressful news. It&#8217;s very possible to maintain a better frame of mind and reduce the risk of getting stress-related diseases by not indulging in the following behaviors</p>
<p><strong>1) Watching The News All The Time</strong></p>
<p>Switch of the television! Many turn on the television to monitor the situation and what the media pundits are saying. What&#8217;s the point in checking your investments or 401(k) plan every day or listening to how bad things are according to XYZ expert? This just increases your fears and leaves you feeling dismal. No one can really predict the future and every expert&#8217;s prediction should be considered with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>Unplug yourself from the marketplace and limit your viewing of bad news. If you&#8217;ve been chronically stressed out, even a &#8216;news fast&#8217; could help you. You&#8217;ve no chance of feeling better if you go online every few minutes to check stock market price fluctuations or how foreclosure scammers are ripping people. You don&#8217;t have to bury your head in the sand; just shift your focus from what&#8217;s not working to what is. Think about what truly makes you happy and what you really value? Many find true happiness in meaningful relationships, friendships and living authentically. This could be a good time to re-evaluate your life to include more of what makes you happy instead of focusing on things you have no control over. </p>
<p><strong>2) Drowning Your Sorrows In a Bottle</strong></p>
<p>If you use drugs or alcohol as a way to relieve stress when you are feeling anxious you may be at risk of developing an addiction to it. Taking a drink once in a while to just relax a little isn&#8217;t problematic. It can become a real issue though when your alcohol consumption has increased to the point that it&#8217;s beginning to interfere with other things. Doctors are hearing more cases of recovering alcoholics relapsing due to all the stress and it&#8217;s very easy for a casual drinker to get addicted too. Alcohol is also a depressant and adds more calories.</p>
<p>If you find yourself reaching for a drink too often, slow down! Get help from a counselor or just talk to a friend. Find other healthier ways to release your stress.</p>
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