Mom~Z~Mean Business (MMB not UFC)

Maximize Your Efforts

2009-12-28T11:34:00.000-05:00

Turbulence Training Review

Turbulence Training is a program created by Craig Galantine, who is a ‘Men’s Health’ Magazine Expert and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. The plan is designed to enable you to loose fat and gain muscle without cardio and it uses three short but intense workouts per week. The plans keep changing in order to keep your body from adapting to a fixed routine and these changes work to stimulate rapid muscle growth.

Research has shown that high-intensity interval training (often called HIIT) combined with lifting heavier weights for fewer reps, is a better and more efficient way to build muscle and lose fat than lengthy cardio exercises, longer repetitions and training with lighter weights. The Turbulence Training program shows you how you can do only 3 workouts a week of 45 minutes each and loose fat while gaining body muscle. The program includes a warm up exercise that you do for 5 minutes followed by strength training of 15-20 minutes and then interval training of 15-20 minutes as well.

While these workouts are shorter in duration and less frequent, the difficulty level is high. They are designed to make you do as much work as possible in a shorter duration of time, and you'll feel that you have done some training by the time you complete a session.

A big advantage of the Turbulence Training program is that it does not bore you with repetition. A lot of people start fat loss programs with enthusiasm but stop doing it after a while because they just can do the same thing over and over again. In this program, you will be changing workout routines once a month. You are doing the same exercise only 12 times and this does not allow your body to adapt itself to the changes which will halt your progress.

The program includes: “Turbulence Training System" in PDF & MP3 format, Dumbbell & Bodyweight Fusion workout manual, Nutrition guide by Chris Mohr, “20-Minute Workouts for the World's Busiest Dads!", Total Body Transformation Secrets, Turbulence Training for Mass (Muscle Building).

This workout system does not come with a diet plan and it may be too intense for some people. As you may have noticed this program is not for people who are looking to build some serious muscle its oriented more towards the combination of fat loss and muscle gain.

The system just asks for 45 minutes of your time 3 days a week. It has a routine that is not that does not require too much time. So, if you have a busy schedule and cant find time to loose those gained pounds then this workout is something that you can do.

If you are serious about your health and the health and fitness of your entire family, it may be time to check out the Turbulence Training System!

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz

To learn more about this dynamic and results oriented training program click here!

Helping Kids Deal With Bullying

2009-07-11T16:47:00.000-04:00

The article talks about bullying among children. Apart from defining what bullying is, the article also explains the two main reasons why some kids bully other children. In addition, the article also enumerates some of the ways on how kids should deal with school bullies

It is not very uncommon to see withdrawn and shy kids in schools. These kids are aloof and somewhat indifferent to other children. Most likely, these kids seem unhappy because they are being bullied at school.

Being bullied can be a total nightmare for any child. Although bullying can also be experienced by adults, this kind of social act frequently happens among kids or adolescents.

Define bullying

Bullying is different from an innocent teasing of a classmate, friend, or a sibling. Mere teasing is not harmful when done in a humorous or in an unintentional way. However, when teasing becomes extreme to the point that it is hurtful and turns into a habit on the part of the teaser, this act is then considered bullying.

Generally, bullying is the purposeful or intentional act of an individual to verbally, physically, or psychologically torment another person. This act may be in the form of threatening, mocking, hitting, name-calling, and even soliciting money from the poor victim.

Reasons why kids bully

There are a number of reasons why kids bully their classmates or siblings. One of the major reasons for bullying others is the desire to feel superior among peers. School bullies often want to show others that they are important or in control of their clique. Usually, the victims of bullying are kids who do not have popular friends as well as those who appear timid or emotionally weak.

Another typical reason why some kids bully other children at school is that they want to let others feel how is it like to be bullied or ridiculed. Studies show that bullies are oftentimes victims of bullying as well. Hence, they pick on others as means of getting even.

Dealing with the school bullies

Since bullying is inevitable to school environment, kids should know the ways or strategies in dealing with mean school bullies. Below are some of the important things that kids should know in handling or approaching bullying situations:

1. Tell your parents

Telling adults about the situation will most likely stop the bullying. Once parents know about it, they can talk to the school principal or the teacher to arrange a meeting with the kid bully’s parents.

2. Literally avoid or ignore the bully

Do not go to places where the school bully typically hangs around. It is always best not to be alone while at school. Be with close friends or classmates. Some bullies prefer to attack when their victims are alone. Thus, make sure to use the buddy system.

3. Simply walk away

Be strong and courageous enough to say no to the attacks and demands of a school bully. When a bully says hurtful remarks, act like you don’t hear anything and just walk away. At some instances, the bullying eventually stops when the attacks are ignored by the bully’s target.

4. Be open about it

Do not be afraid to talk about the bullying situation with someone you can trust other than your parents. These people may be the guidance counselor, a therapist, or your best friend. Remember that bullying can result to a number of grave side effects, thus, affecting the mental health of a child.

Schools' Biggest Threat

2009-07-08T16:39:00.000-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

This article discusses bullying and depression among students and the resulting school shootings that partly may have resulted from those situations.

What do W.R. Myers High School, Heritage High School, Columbine High School and Virginia Tech, have in common aside from being academic institutions? Do the names Todd Cameron Smith, Thomas Solomon Jr., Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold and Cho Seung-Hui sound familiar? What is the common factor among those persons mentioned earlier? Why is it important to talk about their situation? This is basically what this article is all about. The relationship among those questions posted initially will be shown as the answers are revealed one by one.

Schools are considered by most parents as their children's second home. This may be because most students actually spend more time in school than at home. These institutions are also known as places of learning and it is of great importance that the atmosphere and condition in these places are conducive for such undertaking. Also, most parents expect their children to be safe and secure in school. However, the situations in W.R. Myers High School, Heritage High School, Columbine High School and Virginia Tech during 4 fateful days were far from being conducive for learning. It was on 28 April 1999, 20 May 1999, 20 April 1999 and 16 April 2007 when several students were killed during school shootings at W.R. Myers High, Heritage high, Columbine High and Virginia Tech, respectively. These tragedies are just four of the several school shootings that have happened in the United States since 1966. Because of the increasing incidence of this type of crime, law enforcers, parents, teachers, and other concerned citizens are now taking action to come up with a solution for this problem.

Todd Cameron Smith killed one student and injured two others at W.R. Myers High School when he was just 14 years old. Thomas Solomon Jr. was a 15-year-old sophomore at Heritage High School when he brought a rifle and a handgun to school and randomly shot and injured six students. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were both students at Columbine High School when they bombed their school cafeteria, killed 12 students and a teacher, and injured 24 others before committing suicide. Cho Seung-Hui was a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech when he killed 32 students and injured a lot more before also committing suicide. All five students are said to have experienced being bullied in their respective schools, thus, partly being the cause of those students' anxiety problems or depression. Also, their aggression towards others resulting to crimes committed may also be partly attributed to their depression and the experience of bullying.

In 1998, the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) conducted a survey on bullying among 15,686 6th to 10th grades students all over America. The survey showed that 30% of those students who participated have either experienced being a bully, had been victims of bullying or both. From the survey, it was further determined that nationwide, 3.2 million kids or teenagers were being bullied while 3.7 million others are bullies. Another study done by NICHD correlated the act of bullying and of being bullied with depressive and suicidal tendencies among those who have experienced it. The study indicated that “frequently, bullied kids are more depressed and suicidal.” Figures also reflected that among those who took part in the survey and had experienced being bullied, 26% of girls and 16% of boys have moderate to severe depression while eight percent (8%) of girls and four percent (4%) of boys are suicidal. Though it is said that bullies have higher tendencies to commit crimes, the profile of most attackers in school shootings are mostly those of the victims of bullying. This is supported by a study also done by NICHD which stated that “those who have both experienced being bullied and being bullies may be more at-risk and more dangerous.”

Various preventive measures have been promoted in response to the school shootings that have occurred over the past few years. Security within schools have been improved which included stricter screening of students who could possibly be carrying illegal firearms or weapons into campus. However, organizations such as Fight Crime: Invest In Kids and the US Secret Service suggest that getting to the root of the problem rather than just mere physical security will provide the best solution to address the serious situation. Considering that these school shootings somehow resulted from distress in school caused by bullying, efforts should also be directed to setting up programs that would prevent these types of negative or destructive behavior among students. Nowadays, there are already existing anti-bullying and anti-aggression programs such as the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program which is implemented in the US and in other countries. These programs aim to increase awareness about bullying among parents, teachers and students; create rules in school that prevent bullying; provide positive consequences for those who avoid; and negative consequences for those who engage in bullying.

Through these preventive measures and awareness programs, both government and non-governments organizations, as well as numerous concerned citizens, hope to avoid another Columbine or Virginia Tech incident. It is also a way of keeping the image of schools as institutions for learning with assurance of safety and security. Preventing the incidence of bullying not only answers problems with depression among the youth but also decreases the rise in youth crimes.

Cyber-Bullying: Threat and Intimidation Online

2009-07-05T16:22:00.000-04:00

The article is about the growing social problem called Cyber-Bullying, which is the use of digital devices and systems like the Internet to harass, attack, intimidate, or threaten other people. The article also cites several ways how Internet users can protect themselves from this new form of harassment.

Ahh...the Internet...the amazing portal to a vast world of information, entertainment, and everything else in between. Internet technology has revolutionized the way we work, play, learn, and communicate. What started out as an experiment in a Harvard University laboratory is now one of the primary means by which people in the 21st century do business, exchange information, and relate with other people. Aside from its use as a research tool, the World Wide Web provides other services such as email, instant messaging, file sharing, online forums, and blogging. As a technology, it has made an impact on the social structure and behavior. As an example, there now actual cases of people who met online and later got married.

But even the Internet is not immune from misuse or abuse. Like other inventions of man, it too has been subjected to various forms of wrong application. One good example is cyber-bullying, a term that refers to bullying and harassment by use of electronic devices. Cyber-bullying and harassment is actually done through e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, mobile phones, text messaging, and other electronic media.

In a survey done by Pew Internet and American Life, it was found out that at least 33% of teenagers had been the victim of some form of cyber-bullying. These acts involved sexual harassment, threats of harm, name-calling, and other harmful and unwanted acts.

Online bullies use their computer and Internet skills to shock, intimidate, insult, and control unsuspecting online users. These acts of intimidation cause embarrassment, fear, stress, and anxiety. Some people who have become victims of online harassment also suffer from depression. The depression has caused many of these victims to either retreat in isolation or seek revenge through their own brand of harassment.

Since surfing the Web can be done outside of school or out of the watchful eyes of teachers and parents, many young people need to be re-educated about “Web Safety.” School authorities, guardians, and parents must help young people and other individuals who use the Internet to learn the following Web Safety Measures:

·Don't use your real name every time you sign up for a web service;
·Don't give personal information such as your gender, age, address, school etc.;
·Don't send photos or post photos on the Internet;
·As much as possible, avoid entering chat rooms. Most people who are in the chat rooms are not truthful with their profiles or identities. They are not who they say they are.
·Keep a copy of the offending email. You may need the copy if you decide to take legal action about it.
·Never easily agree to meet with anyone that you just met online.

One of the worst things that can happen to a victim of online harassment or cyber-bullying is to be neglected. If a victim feels that he or she does not have anyone to go to for help, that person may fall in a deeper state of depression. Much worse, the victim could even develop a serious anxiety disorder, which, in turn, might lead to suicide.

It will take the joint effort of school authorities, parents, and the community as a whole to stop cyber-bullying. Everybody must take part in preventing the cyber-bullies from using one of the world's most important inventions into a cyber-tool for threat and intimidation.

Bullying Happens On The Internet Too

2009-07-02T15:59:00.000-04:00

Once, the Internet was used as a safe haven from bullying by the socially inept or physically targeted. However, as the Internet evolves, so do the communities with it, which has spawned its own form of bullying. Cyber-bullying is harder to spot without knowing the signs to look for, mainly because most parents tend to be unaware of how this new form of bullying is done or how much damage it can do.

Bullying, according to some, is sort of a rite of passage. A source of stress and anxiety, as well as fear, that everyone has to endure at one point or another. The advent of the Internet and better, more advanced communications technologies has not really changed this, though the virtual world has given bullied children a place to go where they won't be targeted for being physically weak. For most, the Internet is a place where one's ideas and ability to express ideas solidly is more valuable than muscle fitness and raw power. However, that may all be changing with the times, arguably due to the Internet itself slowly changing into a more and more tangible community.

The Internet has long been home to a number of “virtual communities” that mirror those found in the real world. These communities are often based on a common interest shared by members, such as video games, anime, certain genres of books, or cult TV shows. A little surfing can lead someone to find forums, chat rooms, and wikis (databases that can be edited and added to by the community itself, rather than a single administrator or group) dedicated to a wide range of topics. This virtual environment of relative safety and anonymity has afforded bullied people a safe place to express their opinions, often using these sites as a means of stress relief and social interaction at the same time. However, one alarming thing to note is that, as these communities grow larger, their evolution starts to mirror the evolution of real-life communities.

Elitism is a major problem, particularly in larger, less-monitored communities. The mentality of making new members pay their dues by taking abuse from established members is prevalent in a number of Internet communities. Even if there is no outright elitism, it may still manifest in some form, usually with older members telling younger members to just shrug off the abuse and stress associated with one of the less friendly members of the community. Abusive members who have been established for a long time tend to be removed only with difficulty, particularly because most of the members in power have already gotten used to them and feel that newer members will have to do the same.

However, bullying via the Internet reaches further than that. Stress and social anxiety can be effectively reinforced on the Internet as well, especially with more and more people engaging in activities such as blogging and maintaining personal websites. While most people who set up blogs and personal sites are aware that they are risking being attacked by damaging or derogatory remarks, they are often ill-prepared for those same remarks. The fact that the Internet makes it all too easy to launch such attacks both anonymously and openly makes it a particularly inviting means of “putting someone down.” This was the case in Japan, when schoolgirls “cyber-bullied” a fellow student via attacks on her personal website; acts which prompted a violent response, resulting in the infamy of the “Nevada-tan” persona.

While not all victims of bullying turn violent, the potential damage done by this to social and psychological development can be devastating. It can lead to a number of negative behaviors, including the formation of an inferiority complex and, in rare cases, excessively violent outbursts.

Bullying And Its Effects

2009-06-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

Over the next few weeks the posts will be taking a look at bullying. Schools are going into summer break, but not all bullying occurs on the school yard, and its effects go well beyond the school year.

Image via Wikipedia

This article is about bullying and how it can affect kids. Bullying can be classified as direct or indirect. Direct bullying deals more on physical aggression where bullies push, shove, assault or beat their victims to submission. Indirect bullying or social aggression is done by outcasting a person, mocking his personal beliefs, insulting him for his difference or inability. Constant bullying may cause the victim to develop inferiority complex, anxiety, and depression. Bullying does not need to be answered with equal violence. One needs only to think of more ways to avoid getting in a confrontational situation.

There was a recent incident in a school in Nova Scotia, Canada that called the public’s attention. This incident involved two high school seniors who arranged for them and dozens of their classmates to wear pink shirts to show support for another student who got bullied for wearing pink. Their actions have certainly brought light to the problems of a lot of students worldwide – bullying.

Bullying

Bullying is a form of harassment perpetrated by an abuser of more physical and/or social power and dominance than the victim. Bullying is done with clear intentions of causing harm to the target through verbal harassment, physical assault, emotional blackmail, or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation.

Bullying exists in any setting where social interaction is present. This includes schools, workplaces, inside the home, and around the neighbourhood. This may even between different social groups, social classes and even between countries. Like any kind of abusive behavior, bullying is a repetitive act done to gain power or control over another person.

Generally, bullying is classified into 2 types:

·Direct bullying. This includes physical aggression in the form of shoving and poking, throwing things, slapping, choking, punching and kicking, and beating.

·Indirect bullying. This is also called social aggression. This forces victims to go into social isolation. This is usually done by spreading gossip about the victim, refusing to socialize with the victim, name calling, mocking the victim, forcing other people to not socialize with the victim as well, and manipulation.

Why do bullies act the way they do?

Some studies have shown that some bullies do it to be thought of as popular or tough, or to get attention. Bullies may also do it out of jealousy or may simply be acting out because they themselves were bullied. Some bullies are noted to have come from abusive families and neighbourhoods.

After-effects of bullying

Constantly being submitted to bullying may cause a person to develop inferiority complex. Inferiority complex, as the terminology implies, is a feeling of being inferior to others in one way or another. Always being mocked or negatively criticized by bullies may force a person to start believing the lies and second-guess themselves. Victims may also be more prone to developing stress related mental conditions such as anxiety and depression from frequently being bullied.

How does one cope with bullying?

Victims should always keep in mind that they’re not the problem, the bullies are. Victims should not start second-guessing themselves just because of the comments being thrown at them by bullies. Everybody has a right to safety and security. If you’re different in any way, don’t be ashamed of it and stand strong. It’s not your fault you’re unique. Always go out in a group with your friends, bullies won’t be able to single you out if you’re in a group. There’s always power in numbers. You can always just ignore the bully, tell them to stop pestering you, and walk away. If these tips don’t work, tell someone you trust.

Thinking back on how the two senior students had acted upon seeing a co-student get bullied, it’s refreshing to know that even in the age where violence prevails, there are still people willing to help and stand up for what’s right. Bullying has been a long-time concern for schools and parents now, and its nice to hear of people taking a stand for those who are being bullied.

Are You Prepared For A Natural Disaster?

2009-06-25T09:19:00.000-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

With the various types of natural disasters that have taken place in recent years, many people have started to realize that they may not be prepared for such events to take place. While no one wants to think it can happen to them, we have all seen the footage of Hurricane Katrina and it was a reality that this type of natural disaster is something that does happen to real people. Even the fires spreading out of control in California remind us of the types of natural disasters that can take place.

It is important to pay close attention to the warnings that hopefully will be broadcast on TV and the internet if a natural disaster is possible. It is unbelievable the number of people that ignore this information. If you are asked to evacuate the area do so as quickly and calmly as you can. Rescue efforts may not be available for those that remain behind. It is a good idea to have a battery powered radio that you can carry with you to continue listening to the instructions as you are traveling.

You should have an emergency supply kit on hand at all times just in case you do happen to be in a location where a natural disaster happens. Bottled water and canned foods can be stored for long periods of time. You want enough for each family member for at least five days.

Should you have to remain on your own for a few days until rescue teams can reach you these items will help you to survive. The food in your refrigerator can spoil if the power goes down which is common after a natural disaster. Make sure you keep medications on hand for those that need them on a regular basis.

If you have small children in the home make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand for them. Stocking up on personal items such as diapers, toilet paper, and toothpaste can help you to stay healthy during a natural disaster. Since you may be without power for several days you will want to have lanterns and flashlights readily available.

A small first aid kit with essential items can be useful because you never know when someone will be injured as a result of a natural disaster. Do your best to clean the injury and prevent infection until proper medical care can be received for the individual. Many people worry about their pets during a natural disaster but you may not be able to keep them with you during that time. If possible though store food for them as well so that you won’t be sharing the food you stored for your family with them.

A natural disaster can be very scary for everyone, but especially for children. Make sure that everyone is able to get plenty of rest and that children are allowed to openly share their feelings. Too many parents think it is best not to tell them what is going on but that tends to make them more afraid as they definitely know something is taking place around them.

Hopefully you will never have to experience a natural disaster but it is wise to be prepared. Having the essential items in place that your will need can make the difference between your survival after the event takes place. It is a good idea to practice emergency procedures for natural disasters with your family as well.

Maintaining Up To Date Emergency Medical Records

2009-06-22T14:42:00.000-04:00

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Do you know what information you need in a medical emergency?

Does your medic ID, alert bracelet or tag have enough information to save your life?

Being prepared can make a life saving difference in an emergency situation.

Who needs to keep their information available and updated?

Actually, all of us should but very few do. However for those at risk,such as seniors, people with chronic illness, serious allergies or medication complications, special needs children and anyone traveling away from home it is something that should not be overlooked.

Children should also have the proper medical information on them at all times if they have a medical condition or serious allergy.

"In a medical emergency, you might be unconscious or unable to speak for yourself," said Alfred Sacchetti, MD, of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). "That's why it's so important to make sure that medical personnel have access to your medical history, as well as relevant contact information. For example, knowing what medications you are taking could prevent severe drug interactions, and knowing what allergies you have could prevent serious reactions."

Millions of Americans have medical conditions which should be immediately known to Emergency Personnel.

Diabetes (over 13 million), diagnosed heart disease (23 million), alzheimers, transplant surgery, patient's currently on blood thinners such as Coumadin, epilepsy, asthma, severe allergies, cancer patients and medication allergies such as penicillin and other antibiotics are all conditions that should be brought to the attention of emergency personnel.

Additionally, many of us are reasonably healthy but getting older (36 million people age 65 and over) and our list of medications continue to grow with the years.

With over 110 million emergency room visits a year, your emergency information may actually be the most important information of your life.

What information should be maintained?

Here are just some of the things recommended by Edward Stettner, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University Atlanta, GA and other healthcare professionals.

Medical history - Chronic medical conditions

Medications - Including over-the-counter

Allergies - Medications and foods

Surgical history - Include the date, hospital and surgeon

Private physician - Include primary care as well as specialists

Emergency contacts - Multiple contacts with alternate numbers

Miscellaneous - Include advance directives, specific dietary needs, or any other important information.

How can you keep your information available and up to date?

Today you have many options that allow you to have your emergency information available. Which one you choose should be based on your personal needs and risk factors. The "Vial of Life" program is a free program designed for seniors and individuals with serious medical conditions. It provides medical information to emergency personnel who respond to and treat home emergencies. The "Vial of Life" contains much of the medical information needed by emergency personnel, such as existing medical conditions, allergies, medication currently being taken, and emergency contact information. Medical history and emergency information forms are also available on-line from the Mayo Clinic and the American Medical Association. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians have also created an Emergency Information Form (EIF) for parents of children with special health care needs.

There are also a number of monitoring services available that will maintain your information for you and provide in home alert devices that will dispatch emergency services if the need arises.

These are all good solutions for the home but do not provide coverage when you are away from the house. As a minimum, anyone with an existing medical condition or that has special emergency needs should wear some type of medical ID to alert medics to their situation.

So how do you carry all that information around with you?

Digital technology allows a very large amount of information to be stored on surprisingly small devices. MedicTag LLC has adapted this technology to produce an emergency information device that fits on a keyring. The device is simple to use and works with your desktop or laptop computer. You can fill out the information

form and make changes whenever necessary, always keeping your emergency information up to date. Emergency responders on site with a laptop or at the emergency room can have instant access to your vital information, even if you are unconscious, allowing them to diagnose and properly treat you with as little delay as possible.

Do you need to have your emergency information available?

For most of us the answer is probably yes. If not you, how about a child, parent or other loved one in your family? Considering the possible life saving benefits, it is something that we should seriously consider, for safety and security that affects the whole family. Especially when you consider how easy it is to store and transport the information on a thumb drive or secure digital cards.

Keep your young person safe starting today

2009-05-18T17:20:00.000-04:00

Mr. Don

Image by zoethustra via Flickr

Everything you want in terms of teaching your
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Subject: "Freee fatloss course and book!"

2009-05-16T10:38:00.000-04:00

Wow.

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Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

"Should you be concerned?"

2009-05-14T13:41:00.000-04:00

Mr. Don

Anyone with a history of high blood pressure in their family knows what devastation it can wreak. It carries with it a mishmash of health risks, many of them serious, like tripling the risk of dying from a heart attack, quadrupling the risk of dying from a stroke, doubling the risk of congestive heart failure and tripling the risk of developing kidney disease.

But if our very lives weren't enough for high blood pressure to be in the top five of our "Health Issues to Be Concerned About" lists, then how about the lives of our marriages and relationships?

High blood pressure has a significant impact on a couple's sexlife. Sex is a crucial part of any relationship, and when a loving couple is not having it at least on a semi-regular basis, more often than not, the relationship sours faster than curdled milk.

The reason high blood pressure affects the average sexlife all boils down to blood flow. Due to the narrowing of the arteries that high blood pressure creates, it diminishes a man's ability to have an.erection -- never mind maintain one -- as there's less blood flowing to the penis.

To rectify this situation, the average guy heads to his doctor, reluctantly tells him or her about his issues "down there," and the doctor prescribes him with some form of hypertension med -- usually an alpha or beta-blocker.

Problem solved, right? Not exactly.

While your blood pressure levels might lower incrementally, your sex drive will lower incrementally as well -- the very opposite of what you want to have happen.

This isn't some theory concocted by so-called natural health "whack jobs," mind you. Well-respected news organizations and medical information outlets -- like ABC News and the Mayo Clinic -- corroborate this. In an ABC News webcast on Feb. 7 of last year, Dr. Domenic Sica, chairman for Clinical Pharmacology and Hypertension at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, said this:

"When you look at it, a number of the blood pressure medications we use are associated with the onset of male dysfunction. Now, that can be a diuretic, a beta-blocker, or so-called peripheral alpha beta-blocker -- those are three drugs commonly linked to male dysfunction."

I'm not sure the link can be made any clearer; you name the hypertension drug, and it will adversely affect your sexlife.

Given this, if you'll pardon the cliche, how does one kill two birds with one stone? How does one lower their blood pressure and improve their lovelife at the same time? Or is that even possible?

Absolutely it's possible, and you can learn how to do it all-naturally.

Bestselling authors Frank Mangano and Jon Benson have developed an easy, all-natural way to lower your blood pressure and improve your sexlife at the same time. They weren't sure this was possible, but after months of research and hordes of emails from people on how their system worked for them, they don't just think it's possible, they know it's possible!

Let me prove it to you.

Go here:

http://www.lowpressuresex.com/aff/mrdon

I recommend you visit their website immediately, where you'll get a crash course on how this issue has affected me personally; more information on the links between what's 'down there' and hypertension; and most important of all, how you can improve the health of your body and your relationship...all-naturally.

Sources:
health.yahoo.com/bloodpressure-complication/high-blood-pressure-and-sex-overcome-the-challenges/mayoclinic--13476B30-E7FF-0DBD-18FF920E1D5480C7.html
americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2129
abcnews.go.com/Health/HypertensionTreatment/story?id=5236683

Your harmones and bodyfat!

2009-04-29T16:57:00.000-04:00

Mr. Don

Good class today! I know it doesn't feel real natural yet, but you are swinging the sticks and moving!! Look how far you have come from the 1st day you walked in!

Hand work is getting faster and punches stronger! Keep it up!

Yesterday on Mr. Don Recommends, I reviewed a work out program by a friend of mine Jon Benson. I had not spoken to him recently, but have use his system out my garage off and on, so I thought I'd finally let folks know about it.

Today I got an email from him that talked about how our hormones are being found to be a bigger contributor to our body's ability to function at the level that we want it to.

Any way, here is a little info and a link to a free video. I was surprised to find out how influential they are in males as we get older. (Not that it has ever happened to me! :( ....)

If you have stubborn bodyfat that just does not want to budge, you will find this freee video helpful.

It's only 16 minutes long and covers the connection between your "hormones" and bodyfat.

Not only bodyfat... Your sexual-drive, your energy, your mood, and of course issues like menopause, andropause (male menopause) and more.

Give it a look...

Free Video/Audio

Just by taking some of Dr. Lucille's advice (natural, without harmful drugs) you can kick-start your hormonal system back into overdrive.

That's the best way to end stubborn bodyfat and reboot your drive at the same time.

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz

Safe Kidz Benefit from After School Programs

2009-04-27T17:10:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to let you know that I have loaded a new pod cast into the site. This episode is about the benefits of after school programs, especially of note is the safety element that they provide for our kids.

Here is a player to listen to the show. I will be posting up a couple more in this series that looks at after school programs. This school year is winding down, but many times if you can locate a good after school program, they may have a summer program as well.

Look for future episodes soon!

Mr. Don
Safe Kidz

If you could help keep the planet healthy for your children and save money at the same time, would you?

2009-04-20T13:50:00.000-04:00

Dear busy adult,

It's not too often that a true win/win deal comes around, but
when it does... I want to make sure you know about it.

Before you is your one-time opportunity to not only get Go Green-125 Ways to Go Green and Save Green at a great price, but to also get a 50% savings on “Energy Conservation and Alternative Fuels”. I’ll go more into that later.

This is the resource for busy families who want to help the planet and save money at the same time! Lets face it, we all would like to do our part, but we have busy schedules, families, jobs and more than enough to do already.

What if you could learn how simple little changes in your daily routine could save you lots of hard earned dollars and improve the planet at the same time!

In a hurry? Visit Go Green – Eco Friendly Living for Families

Let's see how you can benefit from Go Green-125 Ways to Go Green and Save Green:

Learn why it isn't hard to help the environment with just a little preplanning!

Learn how and where to buy brand new cloths and products at huge savings while helping to reduce the amount of land fill being generated!

Learn why buying locally makes a huge impact!

See how you can do something even if you have an extremely tight budget and how going green can help it loosen up a little bit!

Learn why helping the planet does not have to be:
• Expensive
• Time consuming
• Hassle filled

When it can be:
• A great way to save money
• Get the entire family involved
• As easy as, well taking out the trash! (Not adolescents, getting them to take out the trash is an act of God!)

This really is one of those activities that the entire family can participate in and feel good about, both as an individual and as a member of the family!

Find out what you can do today, this week, this month, RIGHT NOW!

See for yourself how these changes will save you money, in the long run, but even more importantly, right now. This is especially important in these tough economic times. It doesn't matter how much we care about the planet, it we have to keep our families warm...

And that's not all!

As a bonus, you'll also get Receive a 50% discount off of the exciting eBook - Energy Conservation and Alternative Fuels !

Don't scratch your eyes... I'm not kidding!

I guess by now you're probably wondering what the catch is?

Well, this special discount will only be available for the next 50 purchasers of Go Green - 125 Ways to Go Green while Saving Green.

Let's recap:

• For the extremely low price of $17.00 you are getting a wealth of tips and suggestions that will save you more than the $17.00 before the 60 day guarantee expires!

additionally,

• You will get a 50% discount off the everyday low price of $14.99 of "Energy Conservation and Alternative Fuels" simply because you took advantage of being able to save money while helping the planet!

(By using the power of the Internet you are saving trees by purchasing digital products!)

Take advantage of this one-time opportunity now, or you
might want to kick yourself later!

To Your Success, remember, quantities are limited so don’t wait, you have 60 days to decide, but take advantage of the bonus by purchasing now!

Well that's it for today, I just wanted to give you a serious heads up about the ability we all have to make meaningful strides towards a safer and healthier planet for our young people!

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

If you would like to learn more about our little Go Green and Save Green project visit Mr. Don Recommends to find out more in a product review that was recently posted regarding this eBook or head over to Go Green-Eco Friendly Living for Families to purchase your copy today!

Meal Time as Family Time is important

2009-04-14T13:47:00.000-04:00

With the hectic schedules we are all running on it is hard to pull a group of people together at one time for a common purpose, such as meal time! In our house we all operate on different schedules so the mornings and lunch are a bust 90% of the time as a whole family. (Most of the time I can grab alittle breakfast with the kids before they leave for school on "good" days!)

Most of the time it is dinner when all or at least the majoriety of us can get together. The hassle factor comes in when I am trying to plan dinner on the FLY! While it is possible and in all honesty happens why to often, the time is never as good. Probably because I am still too wrapped in the final details to truely beable to sit down and enjoy the time and the whole experience.

The best meals are those that I have been able to plan and get every thing together before hand. Even if we are all working in the kitchen together, it goes better when we are not pulling the food out of the grocery store bag!

Anyway this is not to fuss about my lack of preplanning, it is to give you some thoughts about really devoting some time and thought to the idea of family meal times!

10 Reasons to Have Family Meals More Often

When was the last time your family had a meal together? I don't mean sitting in the car munching on burgers from the drive-through. I mean sitting down at the table and sharing a home-cooked meal.

If you can't remember when you last enjoyed a family dinner, make plans to have them more often. Experts have found - and continue to discover - plenty of benefits for both children and adults when families have dinner together at least three times a week. I know...I know, it's not always easy, so click here if you need help with meal planning and grocery shopping. Here are 10 reasons why you should have family meals more often:

Good For The Body

1. When families eat together, everyone tends to eathealthier. People who have frequent family meals consumemore calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins B6, B12, C and E. It could be because home-cooked meals are healthier than fast food and restaurant meals. (Source: Archives of FamilyMedicine)

2. Children tend to eat more fruits and vegetables when they frequently have dinner with their families. They also tend to eat fewer snack foods. (Source: American Dietetic Association)

3. Children in families who eat dinner together are less likely to be overweight (Source: Archives of Pediatrics &Adolescent Medicine). This makes sense, given the findings in #1 and #2 above.

Good For The Brain

4. Children from families who eat meals together get better grades than their peers who don't have lots of family meal times (Source: Lou Harris-Reader's Digest National Poll).

So family dinners are not only good for the body; they're also good for the brain.

5. When families eat together frequently, children have better language skills compared to kids from families who don't have family meal times often. (Source: Harvard University)

Good For Emotional Health

6. Children of families who eat together report feeling happier and are more optimistic about the future, than their peers who have infrequent family meals. (Source: Lou Harris-Reader's Digest National Poll)

7. Teenagers are less likely to use drugs, smoke, and drink alcoholic drinks, when their families eat together regularly. (Source: Columbia University)

8. It may come as a surprise, but among Moms who work outside the home, those who have family mealtimes reported feeling less stress than those who had family dinners less often. (Source: Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal)

9. The more often teen girls had meals with their families, the less likely they were to have symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviors. (Source: University of Minnesota)

Good For Family Bonding

10. Eating together gives family members the chance to communicate and build relationships, something that both adults and children appreciate very much. (Source: Nutrition Education Network of Washington & Oprah Winfrey's "Family Dinner Experiment")

I hope these reasons motivate you and your family to try and eat together more often. We're all busy - even children have plenty of after-school activities. But as the list above shows, family meals are worth every effort we put into them. It helps to plan ahead so that we're not scrambling to get dinner ready or panicking because we don't have all the ingredients we need. To make it easier to get the family around the table with a home-cooked meal, check out Dine Without Whine's menu planning service. It cost just a penny to try it out!

Also wanted to let you know that if you signed up using the sign up form, I have bad news and I have good news.

The bad news is that when you signed up you did not get added to our list! I mis-entered part of what I have to do to make it work and I left off one #.

To make up for the extra hassle of having to re-sign up I am including a free Fitness and Health booklet. Once you sign up it will be delievered right away.

I also wanted to let you know about a new site that is offering a free ecourse. The site is Go Green-Eco Friendly Living for Families and is one of our sister sites. There should be a link in our links section to take you to it.

There has been a lot of interest in the area of can families really make a difference? If so is it going to cost an arm and a leg (like gas!) to help the planet?

The answer to the first is YES! Every thing, no matter how little adds up! One less thing in a land fill is one less thing in a landfill!

The answer to the second is NO it won't cost you an arm and a leg, and it will SAVE you money!

Jump over and find out how!

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

5 any time, any where quick exercises

2009-04-10T17:04:00.000-04:00

I know I keep harping on fitness. The bottom line is that you and your children need to exercise. We all do.

The beauty of it is that if we teach our children to lead a healthy life, they in turn will teach it to their children, our grandchildren!

Believe me, I know how hard it is to get young people to exercise when you are competing against video games and computers. The seceret to that is let them catch you exercising. Make it a part of your daily routine when they are around. While most of the time it feels like we are talking to the wall, children will do what they see us do!

Ok, I'll get off my soap box. Here are some of the exercises I do when I am stuck in my office all day and can't get down for a work out. I hope that they will work for you, and if you keep doing them the results just keep getting better!

Five Easy Toning Exercises you can Do Anywhere

Exercise is an important part of our lives. Staying in shape is one way to increase your life expectancy. Weight bearing exercises are important also for increasing muscle mass and bone density as you age.

Most of us have learned what to do when it comes to exercising. The problem is where and when to get the job done. With a busy lifestyle, making time for exercise is a challenge.

Weight bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders. As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass. For women especially, bone loss becomes a problem. When the body is in need of calcium it can rob it from your bones. Building muscle not only increases their mass but your strength.

Here are five easy toning exercises that can be done anywhere and whenever you have time. At home, at the office, or on vacation, you can do these easy yet extremely effective exercises.

1. The Bridge Butt Lift – Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your buttocks. Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart. Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body. Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.

2. Squats – Squats work the butt, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps. If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted. Push your butt back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair. Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight. Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release. At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.

3. Reverse Lunges – Lunges work the quadriceps muscles. They can be hard for people with knee problems. A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee. Stand with feet together and arms at your sides. Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot. From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor. Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.

4. Pushups – This is a classic toning exercise that works all areas of the arms plus the chest muscles. If you aren’t comfortable or strong enough to perform a pushup on your toes, lower your body to your knees. Be sure your arms are tucked into the body and your back straight as you lower and lift your body.

5. Crunches – Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone. Lying on the floor in sit up position, lace your fingers behind your head. Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor. Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.

These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time. The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative. Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.

If you are just starting, go slow and gradually build up. For the more physically fit, these will not help you with huge gains, but you won't lose size by doing these is you can't get to the gym due to travel or what not.

Until next time,

Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

Ps. There are new articles up at Functional Stress Management and Functional Self Improvement. One deals with positive self talk and the other gives you a little affermation that you can read to yourself when it seems like everything is crashing around you!

Taking Control of Your Life

2009-04-08T20:15:00.001-04:00

There is a new blog over at Functional Self Improvement. There is a post today about taking control of our lives, by......

Check it out!

Until next time,
Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don
Functional Stress Management

"Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was." – Robert Louis Stevenson

Small Doses of Exercise Through Out Your Day Add up

2009-04-02T11:38:00.000-04:00

Almost everybody thinks of exercise as being something that they have to do for a long period of time every day. Spending endless hours on the treadmill or racking up countless miles on the exercise bike takes a considerable amount of time and effort on our part. If we already tend to be busy as a result of family responsibilities and a heavy workload, it might be impossible for us to exercise in such a way. Fortunately, exercise does not need to be done all at one time in order for it to be beneficial. As a matter of fact, we can do short bursts of exercise and end up receiving as many benefits as somebody that does it all at one time.

Think of it as putting dollars into a piggy bank. Eventually, you are going to end up with $100 in the piggy bank if you continue to put the dollars in long enough. At that point, it doesn't matter if you put them in one dollar at a time or if you dropped $100 bill into the bank, the money is the same. This is exactly what happens whenever we exercise for short periods during the day. It doesn't matter if we exercise for five minutes, 20 times a day or if we exercise for 100 minutes, the end result will be the same.

Of course, there are some benefits to getting all of the exercise out of the way at one time but they do not necessarily outweigh the convenience of being able to split it up throughout the day. Once we get our metabolism going, it does help to keep it going to a certain extent. Unless we are doing high intensity interval training, however, this short burst of exercise that we will do throughout the day will benefit us just as much. As a matter of fact, it will probably benefit us more because we will be more likely to keep up with the schedule if it does not inconvenience us.

So make sure that you are getting your targeted amount of exercise, even if you have to break it up into small segments. It is the best way for you to be able to get in shape and stay in shape, something that far too many people have a difficult time doing. Get out there and do some exercise any chance you get.

Personally I find that this works much better for my schedule. I keep a set of kettle bells and push up stands in my office under the futon. Every couple of hours I do some lifting, squats or push ups. Partly to keep my metabolism up and to take a break from the computer and partly for the stress relieving benefits. (I set more unrealistic goals for myself than anyone else could!) Just before you take a break do a few crunches or push ups to get the blood pumping and burn some stress and calories!!

We posted a new article regarding talking to our kids about being safe when in an after school program and what to do in an emergency.

When parents sign their children up for after school programs, they take it
for granted that the child is safe. However, since the number of children
participating in these activities has increased, combined with staff cuts in many programs due to limited funding, it is necessary to look into safety issues.

Check it out at Safe Kidz.

Class for 4/1/09

2009-03-31T13:37:00.000-04:00

I hope to get better about doing this.... but hey I'm old!!

Phase 1 students we are going to continue to work on escapes and handwork.
Phase 2, I'd like us to work some more hand held weapons. Bring a hair brush, water bottle, or what ever, but something that you can hold in your hand and that extends past your hand.

Towards the end of the class Phase 1 folks will also work on some of this as well so try to bring something that you can use. If you can't find anything, I've got the ever trusty corndogs that we can play with!

See you in class!

Up Dates

2009-03-28T19:21:00.000-04:00

I wanted to up date you on a couple of our sister sites.

At Safe Kidz Educational Services we are continuing to review our Top 10 Simple Rules of Success. (Currently we are on pt.s 5 and 6. Learn more....

At Mr. Don Recommends, this week we are looking at a report entitled 101 "Everyday" Ways to Lose 10 Pounds. If you don't have time for a full on Fitness Training program, this report gives you practical tips that you can use everyday. This is not difficult! As always it is presented in a very nuts and bolts manner. We know your time is limited and valuable, so the consise information is what we track down for you. This report is worth checking out!Learn more....

Over at Functional Yoga 4 Families we take a look at what yoga is and some of the more common types of yoga that may be taught in your area.

Thats it for today. I will be changing out the bargin book box so if you are interested check it out before you leave!

Top 5 Effective Fitness Training Program Factors to Consider

2009-03-24T10:55:00.000-04:00

What makes an effective fitness training program? Well, it’s not all about just lifting weights. A good and efficient fitness training program will encompass various parts of the body as well as good nutrition and lifestyle habits. What do you need to know to make a good fitness training program? Actually, you need to know a lot!

Here are 5 things that you must take into account when you are considering participating in a Fitness Training Program-

1) Get medical clearance- it is important that you talk to your health care provider BEFORE starting any program!

*They will let you know of any personal health issues that need to be taken into account.
*They may be able to suggest a program that they are aware of that is suited for you!
*It lets you know where you are starting from so you can set your goals accordingly.

2) Your program should include a variety of exercises that address each major muscle group. You want to be able to rotate your exercises so that your training doesn't become stale and boring.

3) Healthy eating is an important aspect of your fitness training program. Food is the fuel for your fat burning, soon to be, lean mean fit machine! Most of us have very poor eating habits. Plan on increasing your intake of protein and carbs, your body will need them! (For ways to effectively manage your weight, be sure and check out the soon to be released "Functional Dieting & Weight Management" Desk Top Coaching program. We will keep you informed.)

4) Get enough rest - most of us do not get the proper amount of rest. We either get too little or too much! Your muscles rebuild themselves when you are resting/sleeping. If you are going to work them fairly hard through a fitness training program, make sure you let them rest!

5) What ever fitness training program you choose to follow, make sure that there is a wide range of exercises available to choose from. Having a wide range of exercises to choose from does two things for you-

*The bigger the selection of exercises that you have to choose from the more likely it is that you will find specific exercises that you enjoy and feel challenged by!
*At some point in your training you will hit the wall. That is where no matter how hard you are training, you don't seem to be making the progress that you once were. When that happens, you want to have other exercises available so that you can change your routine and thus be able to continue to work your muscles and start to see gains again!

A great fitness training program will make your muscles toned and fit. But more than that, it will make YOU toned and fit. If you are wanting to sculpt a beautiful body, pay special attention to the fitness training program you undertake. You may have to try a few different ones to find the one that fits you. Once you do, jump in and watch your dreams become a reality.

Mr. Don

Safe Kidz Educational Services

How to address all the media negitivity and violence with your children

2009-03-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

This article is sponsered by Safe Kidz educational services

Children are constantly educating themselves, from early ages on, about the surrounding world they live in. The sources they come to rely on are different and varied: parents, teachers, friends and the various forms of mass-media. As parents we must pay close attention to the information that they are gaining from the TV, radio and internet. These medias are a valuable informational source but we have to balance that fact with the numerous occasions that the news can be aggressive, and characterized by violence and destruction. Our young people are taking it all in!

News stories that are related to natural catastrophes or kidnappings, homicides, attacks of theorists groups, school violence or amorous relationships of politicians can create confusion in a child’s mind. This confusion can develop into a misinformed perception of our society. We don’t want our youth to develop the perception that their world is a hostile unsafe place! They already live in world that is dominated by a low level of fear regarding unfamiliar people, situations and events.

Can we shelter our young people from all of the bad news that is occurring around them? Probably not. In the world that they live in, news is immediate. They have access to it all, and while we maybe able to control what information enters our homes on a daily basis, it is not possible to control the information that they are exposed to when at school or otherwise away from home.

Besides, complete isolation from current information is not the answer either. That creates an equally distorted perception of the world as well.

As a parent you have to think about how to counter balance the effect this sort of news and information, as well as the images that go with them, have on our children. We know we can’t control everything that our little ones are exposed to, so the easiest way to proactively deal with this is through frequent discussions and general conversation. If we are able to discuss with them what they are hearing and seeing happening around them, our young people will in time, develop the abilities and experiences that will help them avoid the misperception that the world is out to get them! We know that for the most part children experience a low level sense of apprehension about the world they live in as it is, due to their limited life experiences. Much of today’s attention getting headlines on TV and in print, only reinforce for them that the world is a scary place!

How then can we as parents address this type of on going issue and assist our children in developing a more balanced view of their world?

Here are some practical tips:

- Get your child used to reading books and magazines in their age range and to watch television shows of the same nature. They typically are less aggressive and violent. (Some shows also incorporate educational themes with in the show!)
- Talk to them about carefully evaluating the information that they hear about or see on TV. News clips are designed to get attention and they do, especially children. Talk about how the news story is presented, and that just because something is presented in a certain way, does not make it true or relevant in their world.
- Talk about all news events. If possible, find the pro-social stories as well to discuss. The bad news gets the headlines, but we can usually find something positive in the news as well. Encourage an atmosphere of open communication. (This was a little tough during the Clinton years with Monica - That was hard to explain!!)
- Try to identify how your child interprets the news. What are the aspects of the story does the child have questions or concerns about. This gives you some insight as to how your young person processes the information that they hear. (The questions and concerns that they express give you an idea of the things that are creating stress and anxiety for them!)

If you consider the show as inappropriate for your child, then just turn off the TV. You are in control of your household! But remember this is just a momentary solution! It is a short term fix for a long term problem. When they are not with us, we can not shelter them from the ugliness of the world around them, but we can help them keep it in perspective and help them to develop a mind set that encourages them to carefully evaluate the information that they are receiving and the source. There is no easy button, but there are easier buttons!

To learn more about helping your young person learn to be more resilient in meeting the demands of daily living be sure and check out our Functional Safety Awareness program which will be available in the very near future.

The stress experienced by a young person is real and carries with it physical as well as psychological consequences. Learn how to help them develop the skills needed to proactively manage their personal stress in a manner that enhances their life and health! Functional Stress Management! gives you the tools you need to manage your stress and teach those same techniques to your young person.

Safe Kidz Educational Services is dedicated to providing parents and other concerned adults with the knowledge, skills, ability and confidence to show their children how to be safe in an uncertain world.

Take It Easy, Take a Deep Breath and Enjoy Life

2009-03-20T18:44:00.000-04:00

Can you remember your childhood days? During those times, nothing yet seemed complicated – all we had to think about were crayons, cookies, or Santa Claus. We didn’t care about the things we didn’t know because we were just too oblivious of the things that might bother us.

But as we grow older, we get anxious with the things that surround us – life and death, loving and parting, success and failure, to name a few. We find that almost everyday, we are obliged to be concerned about people or events.

Nevertheless, always keep this in mind: Don’t take things as if they are responsible for the way you feel. Events or situations do not trouble you. How you look at them does.

If you miss those carefree days, you just have to look back at how you used to view things then, and you will know what to do now. Here’s a guide to make sure you won’t lose your way:

Cherish the simple things: Trust in the power of a smile or laughter, a kiss or a hug. Believe in kindness, honesty, dreams, and imagination. Living positively is the first step to becoming happy.

Loosen up: Laugh at your mistakes. You might remember the time when you were delivering your speech and your mind went completely blank right in the middle of delivering it. It’s embarrassing. But most likely, your audience will forget about it in a day or two. We all mess up occasionally. The good thing is that people tend to forget such situations fairly quickly. There will always be a few people in your life who will remind you of your follies! Take them in stride.

Surround yourself with what you love: Get a pet. Retain film moments as keepsakes. Keep away from those that drag you down. If that high-paying job makes you sulk at the thought of having to go to work, find a job you like first before quitting. If some people force you to comply even if you think of doing otherwise, stay away from their company.

Don’t put off: Go on that trip. Work on your Master’s, get your Black Belt. You’ll never know the extent of your life sitting on the sidelines. Do something, while you can.

Don’t push yourself too hard trying to please everyone: You just can’t. And it never seems to be worth it anyway. When you want to make somebody’s day, start with your loved ones.

Keep fit: Be that attractive person you always picture yourself to be. Cherish your health. It’s the best way of showing you are putting your best face forward. Exercise burns off stress and calories!!

Do not assume: Don’t fret about forgetting your speech before you actually do it. Don’t worry about not getting the job you want because you might mess up at the interview. It’s good to prepare for the worst; but don’t end up expecting only the worst.

Alter your way of thinking: When you’re being ridiculed, criticized about your family background, or condemned for past mistakes, put on deaf ears. Don’t believe everything you hear. You know yourself better than everybody else does. Never wallow in self-pity.

Remember: Don’t get upset over things just because it’s how most people would react when faced with the same situation. When you find yourself being negative – angry, down, jealous, etc. – you also unknowingly drain your energy and enthusiasm. You just have to try keeping these negative feelings in check, because giving in to these emotions would sometimes make you unreasonable, and you may end up making bad decisions.

Happiness is always in your grasp. You can attain it, as long as you know how.

Blog alert sign up instead of RSS feed

2009-03-15T16:48:00.000-04:00

In the last post I mentioned that I was going to set up an RSS feed to alert you when the blog had been updated. I changed that somewhat. Instead of an RSS feed I went with a sign up form. It is a little more complicated but the results will be a better information system. Check it out. You can unsubscribe at any time. Part of why I went with a sign up form is because in the past people have been signed up by well meaning (usually family members), but really didn't want to be signed up. To avoid that as part of the sign up process you will be asked to confirm that you want to receive the information. By sending the confirmation to your email, we make sure that the owner of the mail box in fact wants to receive it before we start sending!

Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don

Welcome to our space!

2009-03-15T10:49:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the MMB space! In the past this blog was blended with the Safe Kidz space. However classes are beginning to grow so I figured I'd set us up our own space. It will give us the flexibility to focus on more specific aspects of personal safety and self defense for women.

I'd like to say that I will be very faithful in posting, but you know me! Maybe yes, maybe not so much! I will be moving some of our photos from class over to this space as well as posting any new ones that we take to this site rather than the old one.

I am going to try to set up the RSS feed on this blog so that when I post up the photos and what not, that you will be notified when it occurs so that you don't have to keep checking back here.

Oh, by the way, I am talking to a friend of mine, Ms. Julie Greene, about coming to be a guest speaker at one of our classes. She is an expectional martial artist (3rd degree black belt) and soon to be published author on Women's Self Defense. She is informative, down to earth and a bundle of energy! I'll keep you posted as we progress in getting it set up. (Did I mention that she is also a certified Instructor through Action Arts Acdemy and teaches at the Riverside Wellness Center in Newport News?)

I'll see you in class on Wed.!

Take care and be safe!

Mr. Don