Posts filed under 'University of Self Improvement'
With age comes wisdom, but unfortunately with age also comes hair loss. Alopecia is the scientific term for hair loss, and for many years researchers have been attempting to figure out why regular, healthy individuals sometimes lose their hair in particular areas or patterns. Recently, a new genetic test has been developed to ascertain the chance of hair loss or thinning in those who have not yet seen the warning signals of alopecia. This product is called HairDX, and it’s changing the way men and women deal with hair loss.
Currently the only FDA accredited treatments for hair loss are successful in clinical tests at persevering existing hair instead of re-growing new hair. Dependent on your HairDX results, you can easily save your existing hair rather than waiting for the first signs of hair loss, then hastily trying to re-grow hair at a smaller success rate.
Available only at Advanced Hair Studio, HairDX can give at-risk patients for hair loss a head start at preserving their existing hair. The HairDX test is easy and is ideal for men and women at least 18 years of age. A trained professional at Advanced Hair Studio simply collects a genetic information sample from the inside of the patients cheek via a swab. The results are examined and returned to the doctor in a secure, private manor.
Results from HairDX are invaluable to those who are concerned about losing their hair. Test results indicate whether or not your genes show a specific variant in the androgen receptor gene (AR), which is the cause for alopecia. Test results are clear and easy to understand: Men who test positive for the variant AR gene have an approximately 70% chance of developing Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHR). Conversely, men who test negative for the variant AR gene have approximately a 70% chance of not developing MPHR. Test results are determined differently for women.
A professional at Advanced Hair Studio will be able to provide you with next step solutions based on your individual test results.
Dont wait for the warning signs of onset MPHR, alopecia, or hair thinning ” Talk to the staff at Advanced Hair Studio about the simple, painless HairDX test. You can save an abundance of time, money, and energy in the future, and give yourself a fighting chance at preserving and keeping your natural hair.
October 9th, 2009
Balding and hair loss can decrease self esteem, causing depression and a lack of confidence. Genetics, aging and hormonal instabilities all contribute to hair loss. Nevertheless, people who suffer from baldness or thinning hair, have numerous hair loss solutions to choose from.
For the males, the doctor-prescribed drug, Propecia (generic name Finasteride) is an option. Balding is caused by a hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and this drug reduces the levels of this hormone. Propecia can lower DHT levels by 60 percent, when consumed daily. Around half of all men who consume Propecia regrow hair on their scalps.
Another hair loss treatment that is available for males and women over-the-counter is Minoxidil (Rogaine). Research indicates Minoxidil works in around one out of every three men who apply the product twice daily. While the five-percent strength is not recommended for women, some physicians will prescribe the higher concentration. Patients applying the higher dose increased their hair growth.
Natural supplements are also used as hair loss treatments. Flaxseed and primrose oils contain essential fatty acids that make hair look thicker and healthier. Vitamin B3, B5, and B6 also promote hair growth. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Coenzyme Q10 stimulate hair follicles to improve scalp circulation. Zinc, Kelp and Copper boost immune functions, aiding hair growth.
Laser hair therapy (LHT) is another latest hair loss treatment approved for women and men. This hair loss treatment uses low-light lasers to repair damaged hair cells. Research suggest that approximately 90 percent of patients regrow hair. Laser hair therapy also prevents additional hair thinning and loss.
Currently, more hair loss treatments are available to treat male-pattern baldness. However, researchers are conducting studies to further understand which hair loss treatments work best for women. While many options exist, early intervention is the key to improving hair loss and regaining self confidence.
August 27th, 2009
It’s not easy to talk about, but women’s wigs weren’t even on my radar. Teaching was what kept me pretty busy. That was true until last week when I started to lose my hair during chemotherapy. I resolved that I cannot permit the possibility of living as the thin-haired powerless Samson (from the Bible) due to unfortunate genetics.
Personally, this meant that my charm would be more difficult, deprived of my hair. It became clear that it was out of my hands to realize good hair. Man, I was ignorant. Before I got wise and bought my authentic wig, I found a barrage of itchy fake wigs that I couldn’t stand. My man Jim introduced me to a few medical wig stores offering lace front wigs that would feel great.
Then I biked to the Internet cafe and sized up the selection. I uncovered a cornucopia of astonishing, dignified real human hair wigs. Their specially designed wigs for cancer patients did wonders for me.
Provided the right wig, a woman like me would develop confidence when admitting to her balding. I’ve never been more excited to parade my latest summer wear. This meant the world to me to finally regain my personality on the streets of Manhattan.
But maybe I’m being ridiculous carrying on like this, but hair is integral to my career. Is there something else to existence than a great head of hair? Darn-it, it couldn’t mean much if it were true. Wigs are stylish fashion pieces to so many women.
I can’t believe what this has done for me. No one has noticed the truth of me and my cancer. Anyhow that’s life, I’m merely glad to to strut my stuff. Real human hair wigs improved things for me and everyone who depends on me.
Detractors could find that life’s course superficial. They don’t know. Doesn’t everyone have something small that makes existing on earth so worthwhile? For me, it’s love and my attention-getting sense of fashion.
Care for Living,
Cassandra Holton
June 15th, 2009
Often when we set out to accomplish something we have this big idea in our minds of how it is going to go. When we get into it and get the thing going, it turns out to be different then what we thought. What should one do? If it is different then you can either move on to something else, or adapt and make it work. It feels really good inside to accomplish something that you set out to do, and the more people that feel good inside the better the world is going to be.
If there is another way that has to be taken to accomplish something, then take it. Once you hit that place where you can’t go any further, take a step back and think for a while. Really consider what it is that you originally set out to do. Is this the only way to accomplish it? There might be thirty other ways to get the same thing done sitting right in front of you, it just takes some thinking and figuring out. There is usually another way, or many other ways to accomplish the same thing. For example, if you set out to lose weight on your own and a week into it you found that it was too hard because you were just too hungry, you could take a step back and look at a possible other way. You could take the weight loss aid Acceletrim to help cut back on the hunger issue that you were having, then in a few weeks you would be pounds lighter. This is just an example, and there are many more. Things do not always go as planned, as the great saying goes, so when they do not, find another way.
January 22nd, 2009
Have you ever wondered what enables some people to make positive changes throughout their lives while others seem to be standing still in situations that they are clearly unhappy with? What enables some people to take risks and use courage to forge into the unknown to grow and develop in positive ways? To help illustrate how some people make the decision to take such risk, I would like to share with you a metaphoric story.
There was a young girl who lived happily and comfortably in her everyday world. She felt as though she lived in a neat little sandbox where the perimeters of her life were well defined and she was accustom to all of her toys and she could easily navigate her surroundings. She found great comfort in the level of play that existed in that small but familiar little box. She new the texture of the sand, she could easily find her way around, and she had many sandbox friends that played with the same kind of toys that she enjoyed. This was working wonderfully for her, up until a point. She noticed that she began feeling restless in her little sandbox.
At first she tried to suppress her restlessness, but her feelings always resurfaced. She felt a desire to step out of her little sandbox to explore what lie beyond it. She thought about it for awhile before she had enough courage to venture out into the unknown. But every time she got close to the edge a little voice from within her would yell,” Get away from the edge! You don’t know what’s out there! It might be dangerous for you! You better stay right here where you know it’s safe!” For a long time, she listened to this inner voice and stayed restless in her tiny sandbox.
Then one day, as if a light switch had been turned on in her head, she felt up for the risk at hand and so, she leaped out her sandbox to see what possibilities existed for her. To her great surprise, she was in absolute amazement at what she had discovered. Right outside of her little sandbox was an enormous beach! She saw rolling white sand, crystal blue water, tons of new people playing exciting new beach games, all kinds of different sea creatures and so much more!
She was in awe that for so many years, there had been a whole new and exciting world in progress right outside her sandbox that she never knew existed. No sooner did she think this when that familiar inner voice spoke to her again. It said, “Are you kidding me? You jumped out of the sandbox? You don’t belong here! You’re way too little to play here. You could get hurt! It may be unsafe for you!” Her first instinct was to listen to that inner voice and run back to the safety of her familiar little sandbox. But instead she chose not to listen to it but rather to take one step to see how she could navigate this new terrain.
At first she walked with some trepidation because she was unsure of what was coming next. As she walked, she noticed that she was getting stronger with every step she took. After a few successful steps, she became more confident and even more curious about this new gigantic beach she was now playing on and the possibilities that could exist for her if she chose to play there. But as she continued, she became somewhat frightened by some things she had never experienced before, things like the crashing of the waves, the wind that was blowing, the strong heat of the sun beating on her and the birds that flew over her head. These things were all new to her. She was tempted to run back to her little sandbox but instead, she did not run back. Instead she used the courage she had inside of herself to continue taking one step at a time as she navigated her new surroundings. She soon began to realize that she could never again live happily in her little sandbox for she had grown to love the excitement and endless possibilities that awaited her each day as she roamed the beauty of this new gigantic beach she had chosen to play on.
I love this metaphoric story because it helps to make the correlation to making a decision in our lives to take risk and stretch outside of our comfort zone to allow ourselves to grow and make positives changes in our lives. Change is not an easy process. If it were, we would stroll through our lives rolling from one stage to an even better one with no difficulty at all. The fact is, however, that change is a process that takes time, commitment and tremendous support in order for it to truly be accomplished. To clarify, it is important to understand that there are stages in the process of change.
This is crucial to understand, as we often can get frustrated or confused as we watch ourselves make the same detrimental choices over and over despite our verbal desire to change. This lack of action toward change could be based on where we are in the process of change. By recognizing where we are in the stages of change, it is possible to work to uncover what is keeping us from progressing further.
Listed below is a brief description of the stages of change. These stages were discovered by three psychologists, James O. Prochaska, John C. Norcross, and Carlo C. DiClemente.
1. Precontemplation: In this stage, the person does not see that they have a problem. They are in denial. People in this stage have no intention of changing themselves and usually only seek help with strong pressure from others. They often resist changing.
2. Contemplation: In this stage, the person acknowledges that they have a problem and begin to think about solving it, but feel as though they are “stuck”. They know they have a problem and may even know what they need to do to change it, but they are not ready to make the commitment to taking action towards change.
3. Preparation: In this stage, the person is planning to take action in the immediate future. They begin focusing more on the solution than the problem. They begin looking hopefully to the future as opposed to focusing on past failures. This individual is committed to action, but has not resolved all of the mixed feelings they may have in regard to changing.
4. Action: In this stage, the person takes visible action steps. They take the steps towards resolving their problem.
5. Maintenance: In this stage, the person works to maintain
the strides they have made in the previous stages. If they do not have a
strong commitment to maintenance and a support structure in place, they
are at great risk of relapsing back into a previous stage.
6. Termination: In this stage, the person has reached their ultimate goal! Their former problem behavior is no longer an issue and they have complete confidence that they can cope without fear of a relapse.
Keep in mind that change can only begin to occur when an individual is in the stage of action. Having an understanding of this allows us to be nonjudgmental as to where one is on their own journey towards change. While it may be difficult to appreciate the process, recycling through the stages gives an individual the opportunity to learn and restrategize as they move through the changing cycle.
If you are saddened that you have repeated a problem behavior, you are not alone and you may just be on your way to getting out of the cycle for good! Remember, positive change occurs one step at a time. I challenge you to ask yourself, “What is my first step?”
For more information on changing in a positive direction and empowerment techniques, you may contact the author at esav1@aol.com or visit her website at http://www.elizabethsavino.com.
Elizabeth Savino is a personal life coach and founder of Sole Life Coaching. She specializes in women’s issues and women in transition. With the support, guidance, and motivation of a life coach, women gain clarity about what direction they would like to move in the next stage of their lives. Elizabeth assesses the individual life of each client to identify areas for growth. They then formulate the steps needed to reach the client’s specific goals.
Elizabeth began her career teaching students with special needs and varying disabilities for several years. She chose to put her professional career on hold to devote her time and energy into being a role model and teacher for her own children. Elizabeth also used this time as an opportunity to pursue interests that she felt passionate about. She is an avid runner and enjoys training for and competing in races. She uses this passion to motivate others.
Elizabeth studied coaching through Mentor Coach which is a coaching school primarily for psychologists, mental health professionals and individuals with education backgrounds.
June 26th, 2008
As a teenager growing up reading ‘Blue Jeans’ and ‘Jackie’, it occurred to me that just one piece of advice was the answer to all the problems in a teenaged girl’s world: Love yourself and everything will be fine. Problem was, I didn’t really ‘get’ what that meant. By 16, I’d worked out that it was all to do with self-acceptance and being happy with who you are. But that’s not the whole story, is it? The penny finally dropped a couple of years ago; a tad embarrassing since it seems so obvious now. Then again, I see so many people who clearly aren’t loving themselves, that perhaps I’m not alone. It’s simple:
‘Loving yourself’ is about treating yourself as you would treat someone who is really, really precious to you. Someone you love so much that you hurt when they hurt, for whom you would move mountains, just to see them well and happy.
It can be hard to get the balance right. Putting our loved ones’ happiness above our own is common; we are only too ready to sacrifice our own needs for theirs. This is particularly so, though not exclusively, for wives and mothers - but this ‘modus operandi’ will nearly always backfire on us eventually as it leaves us wanting in some way.
Imagine, just for a moment, putting yourself first. It may sound selfish, but it really isn’t it. It’s not about abandoning everyone else, it’s simply about honouring your own wellbeing. After all, how can you truly give all that you are capable of giving if you aren’t properly nourished, rested, happy and well. And if you don’t love and respect yourself, how can you expect others to do the same? So how can you start loving yourself more?
Ask yourself, “If I were my own best friend, what gift would I give myself right now that would make me happier, do me good?”
Of course, each one of us will give a different answer, but there are certain things that I believe we all need in order to love ourselves:
Time and treats just for you - You don’t have time? You’d make time for your best friend if they were in need; you are just as worthy. Book a massage or a facial or take a walk in your favourite park - but make the time to do something for yourself. Regularly.
Get breathless - There is no getting away from it - exercise is crucial for good health and wellbeing. If you don’t do any, you are storing up problems. It doesn’t have to be a sport or the gym; think ‘breathless’. What can you do that’s fun and makes you breathless? Dancing? Walking? Cycling? Doing it for 20 mins every other day would be a great start.
Rest and sleep - I used to think sleep was for lazy, boring people. And bizarrely, I was convinced that the less I got, the thinner I’d become! In fact, the opposite is true. More importantly, when you sleep your body gets busy repairing and healing and undoing any damage you may have caused it. Take sleep seriously.
Nourishment - Each time you eat, think of the food in terms of nourishment first, mood enhancement last! I used to eat a lot of pastries, but they have next to no nutritional value. They are a combination of bad fats, sugars and bad carbs. Get into the habit of thinking this way and choose foods that nourish you.
Light and air - If you live in a town or city, you’ve probably noticed how much more alive you feel when you leave it and breathe country or sea air. More oxygen I guess, and without it we die. We need day/sunlight too for Vitamin D production, important for bones and general wellbeing. So take a walk outside every day - you’ll sleep better too.
Fun, laughter and play - When was the last time you laughed so hard you could cry? Or fooled around like a big kid? A good giggle loosens muscles, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and aids immunity. It feels good because blood is moved to your heart and lungs, boosting your energy levels. So have some fun and laugh like a loon!
Tackle the things that are draining you - We all have things in our life that steal our energy; things we don’t want to deal with because it would take us out of our comfort zone in some way. It may be nothing more than a pile of junk or it might be something more emotive like a feud with a relation. Whatever, it is, find a way to tackle it and you’ll feel so much better with the energy you release.
Nurture, honour and love your self - choose only those things that are good for you!
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Claire Raikes is a Wellbeing Coach, Speaker and Writer who ‘cured’ herself of a chronic, disabling and potentially life-threatening bowel condition without the use of steroids, surgery or any other traditional medical intervention. She shares her passion for natural and vibrant health by working with individuals and companies to educate, encourage and inspire people to increase energy levels, boost immunity and lead happier lives as a result.
See how much happier and healthier you could be; get your FREE Wellbeing Checklist by visiting: http://www.liveinessence.com/free.htm or contact Claire at Claire@LiveInEssence.com
May 12th, 2008
Can riches buy happiness? Wealth can buy many luxuries, but not happiness. Money cannot buy contentment. Money can surely buy us time with a psychiatrist with who we can talk about our unhappiness, but no amount of money can buy us happiness. Sometimes more money, and status can rob us of happiness. Think of many very rich people. They cannot move around like ordinary citizens. They will be immediately stared at. They have lost a lot of freedom in quest of money and fame.
What gets us happiness? We get happiness by doing what we like. We don’t get happiness by forcing us to do what we don’t want to do. Our happiness comes from our satisfaction of doing our heart felt desires. Our contentment comes from that. Money can destroy friendships, and break family relations. The more money you have, the more people expect from you. If you refuse, your relationship goes downhill. Sometimes I wonder if we have more than our minimum requirement of money, will we be happy at all?
If you have a giving nature, money can buy you happiness of a different kind. When you visit an orphanage, and are able to donate as much as they want to feed the small kids, you will feel a sense of genuine happiness. Money can make you do good things in life that make others happy. When you make others happy, you become happy.
Money can help you do that. No expensive dinner can make you feel as happy as the smile on the face of parents to whom you have given money for their children’s medicine.
The author, C.D.Mohatta writes for screen savers and desktop wallpapers at http://www.screene.com/ on topics like nature, spirituality, motivation, love, holidays, animals, etc. He also writes fun quizzes and fun tests at http://www.funquizcards.com/ on topics like love, personality, dating, relationships, friendship, movies, tv, music, business, etc. The author also writes articles, advice and ideas on love, dating, marriage, relationships, break-ups, at http://www.yourromanceguide.com/
May 4th, 2008
Being let go; suffering redundancy; experiencing downsizing are all very
different ways of saying the same thing. Your employer doesn’t want you any
more. Suddenly, that place; those people you’ve been bitching about for years,
seems so much more attractive than it did yesterday - and you are going to
fight tooth and nail to hang in there. But wait, maybe there’s something in you
that relishes the chance to move on and do something different.
For all those years when you didn’t quite fit. Where the role you had caused
you some unease, there is something to learn. Is it not possible that you were
something of a square peg, who over the years had done your best to fit into the
round hole of your career?
So, think about the things you truly love. The types of way you want to spend
your time and take the opportunity to move on as a sign. Time to look for an
alternative future that better suits the person you really are.
This can
be a challenging time, yet if you see the possibilities and seize the moment, it
can be one of the most thrilling phases of your life.
Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide,
mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders.
He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website,
http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com
…helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow…
April 26th, 2008
