Life After Medicine

Maybe you have decided it is time to retire from your professional life in Medicine and are wondering what life will be like for you when you do so. As a busy doctor you will have been used to a very hectic and full working day. There were always things to be done, targets and deadlines to be met, and reports to be written all to be fitted in between the demands of patients in clinics, of other staff continuously and of your family who complained they never saw you.

How will you manage without the daily pressures of such a high powered job? Perhaps the demands made of you and the pressure you felt were also an excuse not to have to sit down, relax and reflect? Maybe for some of you that lifestyle had the advantage of not allowing you any time to deal with other things going on in your personal life.

But now you are about to leave all of that behind you and may be feeling a bit apprehensive about what it will be like not to have so much going on.

However, retirement is a time to slow down and to realise there are things all around you which are beautiful and wonderful. For years you may not have noticed these because you've been too engrossed in the demands of your day to day activities connected with your work.

Now is the time to stop rushing.Make sure you spend some time each day walking outside, stretching and do some regular exercise such as yoga, or swimming.

Looking after your body, mind and spirit will make your heart sing again.

Take a deep breath and breathe out slowly and look around you. Appreciate your surroundings and see the changes the seasons bring. Start to notice things you usually hurry past. See the sunrise. Watch the sunset over the sea. Look at insects on a flower. Smell the perfume of a rose. When you connect with nature in this way your heart will be full of joy again and your energy will soar. You will gain clarity about all the new and exciting things you can now do and begin to find the energy and motivation to get started and find the life you want after Medicine. You will use your new energy to clarify the vision of what you want and then set achievable goals so that you move forward into that new life.

15 Ways to Save Water and Conserve Energy

You don't have to be trying to "go green" to want to save water and conserve energy. You might just be trying to save money! Conserving energy, saving water (especially hot water) can help you cut down on monthly utility bills and help the environment all at the same time.

Here's a list of tips, some you may know (and need reminding of), but many may be new to you:

1. When you're shaving, don't let the water run. Instead, pull up the plug and put a few inches of water in the sink - and rinse your razor in that. Instant water savings (hot water too)!

2. Only run appliances like your dryer or dishwasher when they're full. Running them when they're part empty means that you're wasting energy, and water.

3. Put insulation on your water pipes. You can buy the foam insulation with the pre-cut slits and just slide it on yourself. This way you get hot water faster without waiting, and you avoid wasting more water when you're waiting for it to get hot.

4. Do you know where your water meter is? Use it to check and see if you have a leak somewhere. Take a shower, and then check your meter. Then tell everyone in the house not to use any water for 2 hours - and got and check the meter. If you've used water per the meter (and nobody used water in the house) you may have a leak somewhere.

5. If your toilet flushes well, consider putting an empty weighted and sealed 20 ounce soda bottle or two in the tank (away from the moving parts). Weight them down with pebbles or rocks inside. Just displacing this little amount of water will save hundreds of gallons throughout the month of flushes.

6. Check your hot water heater to see what the set temperature is. It really doesn't need to be above 120-140 degrees, and if it is you may be heating your water to a higher temperature than it needs to be. In addition, if you have small children in the house, it really isn't safe to have water hotter than 140 degrees available through the tap.

7. Check your water heater, is it warm to the touch? If so, you could probably save money by fitting it with a cheap insulation jacket to keep that heat inside.

8. If you have dripping faucets fix them. Did you know that a dripping faucet could waste as much as 3,000 gallons of water per year?

9. Do you drink water from the tap and let it run to get cold? Store some water in the refrigerator and let it get cold there, rather than letting the water run and wasting it just to get a cold glass of water.

10. Does your toilet run sometimes, sticking open letting all the water rush into the bowl? Fix it with replacement parts so you don't waste water.

11. Do you use a garbage disposal in your sink? They take a lot of water to run. Consider throwing that food out back in your yard for a compost heap instead for the garden to conserve water and be more environmentally friendly.

12. Check your toilet for leaks by adding some food coloring to the tank and waiting 30 minutes. If any of the color seeps through to the bowl - you have a leak that needs to be fixed.

13. Replace your shower with a low-flow or restricted flow shower head that uses less water.

14. Consider taking shorter showers - or using a timer when you and family members are in the shower to conserve both water and energy.

15. Ask a plumber about the possibility of installing an instant water heater under your kitchen sink. This will save a lot of water heating for your household since hot water is used in the kitchen sink quite frequently.

How to Attract Your Ex in 3 Simple Steps

Are you not quite over him or her yet and you suspect your ex is not over you, either? Break down the barriers that could be putting an unnecessary stop to your relationship! Consider these suggestions to learn how to attract your ex in three easy steps.

Step 1 - Healing Means Time

Difficult as it may be, you must give your former significant other the time they need to think and heal. Believe it or not, you probably also need the time to really put things in perspective. This is one of the most difficult stages, but be patient. Unfortunately, there are no set rules regarding how long this period should take. Just realize, anxious as you may be to contact him or her, one day and probably one week is not enough.

Step 2 - Make a Few Appearances and Socialize

When it comes to knowing how to attract your ex, dressing up a bit never hurts. Although you do not want to fall back on physical looks completely. Making yourself a little more attractive (especially if you fell into a comfortable slump)can turn your ex's head. Not to mention, who doesn't feel more confident when they know they look good?

Spend time out with friends as you make these public appearances. Good people will make you feel better which can make all the difference. If you want to make your ex want you, let him or her see you having a great time, despite their absence! At the very least, it will peak their curiosity.

Step 3 - Careful Communication

Now that you both have had some time to think you can open up communication. Take it slow and do not rush things. If one party does not feel ready, then go back a step. If you wish to convey serious thoughts and feelings to your ex but are nervous about actually saying them, try writing a letter. Even if you plan to meet face to face, you can still hand them the prepared message and alleviate some of the stage fright.

Fact Sheet on Childhood Obesity

Our fact sheet on childhood obesity will focus on the basic statistics of childhood obesity, plus some of the usual causes and possible treatment of the problem. Scientifically, formal studies on obesity in children and adolescents have been done since the early eighties.

If we compare the statistics that have been collected and compare it to the current numbers we have now, it would appear that within only 30 years, the rate of obesity in children as young as six has already tripled. The risk of adult obesity increases with age; adolescent children who are overweight now have a seventy percent chance of remaining obese in their adulthood.

The cost of obesity in America

According to the National Academy of Sciences, the nineties were the tipping point in medical expenditure due to obesity. More than $125 million was spent on treating obesity and the conditions that came along with it. It has also been found that a lower socio-economic standing also contributed to the incidence of being overweight or being clinically obese in adolescent children.

How much exercise?

While there are many recommendations for how long exercise should be from so-called 'experts' in the field of weight loss and dietetics, it would be safe to follow the basic requirement: children below the age of 12 need at least 2 ½ hours of exercise per week to be healthy. Eating habits should also be improved in order to maximize the benefits provided by the regular physical activity.

Children above the age of 12 on the other hand, need more exercise to stay healthy. According to an online fact sheet on childhood obesity bearing US health guidelines, the recommended exercise for children 12 and above is at least 3 hours and 45 minutes per week. Because as a person grows older, his metabolism slows down, which is why any fact sheet on childhood obesity would recommend more exercise every few years to remain below the overweight category.

You can only imagine what kind of eating habits children have now, which is why it is imperative for every concerned parent to step in now to prevent obesity in their children, if it has not happened yet.

Childhood obesity should not be taken lightly; the problem will not 'go away on its own'. Obesity is not a phase that a child simply outgrows; it's medical condition that will get worse if nothing is done. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are quite common to people who are obese, and diabetes does not pick its victims. Additionally, children as young as 5 can develop cardiovascular anomalies such as hypertension, and early onset of Atherosclerosis.

10 Ways You Can Help Others That Will Help You Too

Helping others when it is needed is a great way to give back as well as give to you. There's still something about the human spirit that drives many people to volunteer when other people need help. Here are 10 ways you can get out and help:

1. Volunteer as a reader to children at your local library. In the Los Angeles, as an example, they have people who do readings to young children. I did volunteer reading as part of a non-profit organization known as Reading to Kids.
2. Help out at an annual "Make a Difference Day" event. Every year across the United States, Make a Difference Day challenges communities to help out. Whether cleaning up a community or to raise money for an orphanage, you have the ability to make a difference.
3. Visit a nursing home or brighten the day of a hospice patient. I've done this and entertained the patients there with my puppets. I can tell you that they really enjoy it.
4. Take a CERT training class through your local fire department and volunteer to help out as part of a call-out team. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team and was organized in the event of a major disaster. It's about communities being able to help themselves. I completed my CERT training through the Los Angeles Fire Department.
5. Be a mentor to a child. There are a lot of different mentor opportunities that you can do. If you're good with a computer, you can teach a low-income child how to use one. You might also want to help them with their homework.
6. Be a foster parent. Many children need good parents in times of crisis. Use your skills that you developed to help them on a temporary basis. If you are good with animals, then you might want to be a foster parent for a homeless cat or dog.
7. Feed the homeless. There are more and more people living on the street each year. Many of these are families. You have the chance to help feed some of these in your own community. Some churches help sponsor events - especially during the holidays.
8. Teach a class. Many years ago I taught my first volunteer class to middle school students as part of the DARE+ program. It's well worth it to provide your knowledge and experience and pass it on to children in your area.
9. Deliver a meal. There are many seniors who are unable to cook for themselves and many live alone. You can take a little time to deliver a meal to those that need it. Many times it's the only food they'll get all day.
10. Be a docent at a local museum. If you have some specialized knowledge that pertains to your local museum or even some insight, volunteering as a docent is rewarding to you and to those that visit.

Volunteering will help you to live longer, live happier, and make a difference in the lives of others. There are many more volunteer activities that you can do than is listed here. Go to VolunteerMatch.org for more information on how you can volunteer in your own area.

Simple Tips For Weight Loss Success

Many people find it hard to lose weight. The simple fact is that things are somewhat against you. Evolution has ensured that your body is programmed to put weight on rather than lose it, just in case you enter a famine. Given the number of fast food chains in Western Countries, a famine is not likely. But, while it may be tough, it is possible to get rid of body fat. Below you will find some advice that can assist you in this process.

Tip 1: Do a Clean Out

The first step to losing weight is to clean out your kitchen cupboards of all the foods that you shouldn't be eating. Then, take the car keys and head down to the supermarket to purchase plenty of fresh, low fat food. By having a kitchen full of healthy, fresh food you will be less likely to snack or eat those high calorie food. And this is one of the keys to weight loss - setting things up in your environment that pushes you in the right direction.

Tip 2: Carry a Protein-Rich Snack Everywhere You Go

Hunger can strike anywhere at anytime. By having a high protein snack with you it is possible to stop it straight away. This is will ensure that you won't wait until you are starving and then go and gorge yourself on high calories food to satisfy the hunger quickly. In fact, it is often a good idea to eat small snacks regularly throughout the day in order to stop your hunger getting to the point where you feel like eating large amounts of bad food.

Tip 3: Snack On A Piece of Fruit on the Way Home

By eating something before you arrive home, you will be less likely to hit the pantry for a large snack when you get inside the house. It will also help you last the distance until dinner time.

5 Secrets to Losing Weight Faster

Whether you are trying to slim down for vacation, a high school reunion, or just ready to lose weight fast in order to become healthier, most of us would like to lose some weight quickly. Just remember, there is no overnight miracle. It takes some time to lose weight, but following these 5 secrets to losing weight fast will help you get there quicker.

1. Eat smaller meals more often. Your first meal should be around 7:30am and your last around 9pm, with the other 3-4 meals evenly spaced throughout the day. Your largest meal of the day should be lunch and should consist of a certain amount of protein and carbohydrates. You should consume your last meal of the day no later than 3 hours before you go to sleep.

2. Drink plenty of water. Try to drink 8 eight ounce glasses of water every single day. You can knock 2 of the eight out by drinking at least 16 ounces of water as soon as you wake up. Drinking water is one of the best ways to lose weight fast.

3. Cut out the diet drinks. Diet drinks can stop you from losing weight unless you drink something immediately after drinking a diet drink. Try to avoid diet drinks all together or just save them for your cheat day. Water is always the best choice.

4. Eat your meals slower. The body takes at least 10 minutes to tell the brain that you are full. By slowing down your meals, you are less likely to overeat. Portion your meals correctly and you won't have to worry about overeating.

5. Get at least 1 hour of moderate exercise 5 times per week. You can walk for one hour at a moderate pace with 2 pound dumbbells to squeeze the most out of your workout.

Exercise to Grow Taller

If you are having problems with your height and you want to grow taller, you must not simply sit back. You have to work hard to exercise to grow taller. There are people who are whining about their short height and they just keep on whining but not doing anything about it. If you want to grow taller all you have to do is to exercise. Why? Because being active will also boost the secretion of your human growth hormone that is necessary for you to increase your height.

What does exercising can contribute in your chances of increasing your height? Well, studies have it that if you have an active metabolism due to exercising a lot, your body will keep on producing and secreting human growth hormone. By this it means that exercise coupled with proper diet can really make you grow taller. The old thinking that the growth of a person stops at the age of 18 is not true. Although age slows down growth, it does not mean that it stops. You just have to work hard for your to grow more.

Here are the exercises that you need to do if you really want to grow taller:

Swimming. As I often puts it, you have got to swim your way to a taller and new you. Have you ever wondered or noticed how swimmers seem to have longer bodies? Well, they really do have longer bodies which means that they are taller than any other individuals. Swimming, as other perceived it, is something that could really stress. You need to live a stress-free life because stress can prevent you from growing taller. Swim often and at the end of the day, you will be an inch taller. Do this activity at least 3 times a week for an even better result.

Do Regular Back Stretch. If you want to grow taller and if you have been exercising a lot lately, you have got to focus on giving your self a good back stretch. This is because even if you want to grow taller you still have to ensure that you are still in a good posture. If you have a bad posture, being tall will be a big problem for you. So do some back stretching by grabbing your hands from the back. After which bend forward while keeping your arms straight.

10 Steps From Depression to Career Transition - And Life Change

If you're feeling worn out and frustrated as you try to re-invent yourself or transition your career, have faith. It isn't going to kill you.

So much of the re-invention process comes down to making the decision to play to win - then positioning yourself to actually do it.

10 Steps from Depression into Career Transition

1. Get dressed in the morning. Look good. Feel good so you can deliver.

2. Exercise. Do you stop exercising because you get depressed or do you get depressed because you stopped exercising? Do whatever you need to do in order to keep your depression at bay. Take your meds. Pray. Take care of yourself so you are able to deliver at your greatest level of performance.

3. Take charge of your brain. If you put negative in, you get negative out. Put positive in, get positive out. You have tremendous power to control what you are thinking and, when you start hearing the negative tapes, just give yourself a verbal "Stop" cue. Deliberately replace your negative thoughts with something positive. It's easier if you have a list of five positive things to go to for those low moments. For example, "I've been so successful in the past. I'm smart enough to get through this."

4. Know that these tough times will not last forever. As much as it feels like you are sinking into a bottomless pit of quicksand, you aren't. Don't let yourself slide into the mentality that says you may never get another job, that you may never make as much as you once made, that you will have to work until the day you die. All that does is make you struggle more.

5. Remember who you are and who you are not. I see a lot of people who experience rejection and then process it as failure. They forget how talented and viable they are, so it becomes harder to project themselves as desirable. That poises them for more rejection. You have not lost your talent. And your setbacks have not erased your successes. They are just obstacles. You have succeeded in the past and you will succeed in the future.

6. Choose your friends carefully. If you surround yourself with hopeless people, you'll lose hope. This can be hard if most of your friends are former co-workers who were also laid off. And, that can be even worse if you are competing for the same jobs against your friends. You'll constantly wonder why someone got an interview or job that you didn't. For the time being, be around people who will propel your success.

7. Network. Duh. We've all heard "It's not what you know but who you know." Well, it is also how you know them. Don't network to make business connections. Network to make relationships. It is more important that you know that somebody likes to watch Grey's Anatomy and loves pizza with anchovies than it is that you know their job description. Make important people fall in love with your personality and leverage those friendships so they take care of you professionally.

8. Listen. What are you supposed to do with your life? The universe will send you many prompts. Great turning points often present themselves in passing.

9. Don't limit yourself to the classifieds. Executives are constantly asking other executives, "Do you know anyone who can..." They don't want to advertise jobs because they don't want 8,000 resumes. Network, network, network. Figure out where you want to work, then start writing key people to introduce yourself. There is a lot more on this in my book, Finding the UP in the Downturn.

10. Know your weekly goals and achieve them by setting daily tasks. Then, DO THEM. Do something every day to move you closer to your goal. Whether you spend time networking or writing letters or taking classes or attending job fairs, do something to keep yourself in the game.

The most important thing is to have faith. Things will work out. I am not being flip. I am not shrugging off your pain or uncertainty. Things do have a way of working out. I don't want to minimize anybody's suffering or delude myself into thinking that hope conquers all, but the truth is that there are very few of you who will wind up eating out of garbage cans. There's so much you can't control, so give it to the wind.

What is the Best Weight Loss Pill

Trying to lose weight can be hard when combined with today's hectic lifestyles. Eating the right kind of foods at the right times can often be impossible, with most of us having to grab food on the go, often leading to poor choices.

Most dieters complain that they don't have enough time to go to the gym, exercise, and prepare healthy meals.

This may be the reason behind the boom that the diet pill industry is currently experiencing. Sales of the best weight loss pills are nearly 3 times higher than in recent years.

There are also changes in attitude to the actual types of diet supplements that we buy, with best selling fat burners now left on the shelf in favour of natural fat binders and appetite suppressants.

Fat Burners have received a lot of negative press as of late, with the FDA banning a number of popular fat burning formulas due to potentially fatal side effects. Hydroxycut was the latest casualty, stemming from an investigation into the death of a US teenager.

Prescription weight loss pills are not following the same trend however, with sales down on average during 2009. It seems that over-the-counter is far more convenient, and in most cases safer than prescription drugs.

The general consensus when looking for the best weight loss pill is to choose natural. Supplements which contain either Hoodia Gordonii - a potent natural appetite suppressant, or Prickly Pear extract - known to eliminate 28% of fat from your regular meals, prove by far to be the most popular. Both are clinically proven to help you lose weight, and have no reported side effects.

The hard part is finding quality weight loss pills which contain genuine amounts of these ingredients.