Knowing What Dentist Is Right for You

If you are looking for a dentist, it is important to find one that has the qualities that you consider important in a dental professional. If you are looking for one that will be working with your entire family, then there are specific things you should consider before choosing one.

If a dentist will be treating young children, then it is important that you know whether or not he or she relates to children. In order to find out, you may want to have a consultation with him or her and bring at least one child along. Having him or her in the meeting will definitely show you whether a dental practitioner knows how to deal with kids

Something else to consider about a dental practitioner before choosing one is whether or not he or she knows how to deal with people who have a fear of getting dental work. There are many people who have this fear, so every practitioner really should know how to deal with this problem. Whether or not you have a problem is beside the point. It is just good to know that your dental practitioner has empathy. You do not need to claim to have this problem, but you could ask during your consultation if he or she has any special techniques for those who are fearful.

A dentist could offer sedation options for those who are fearful. A dentist's calm manner should also help to distract a patient who is fearful of the experience. It is good to know these options so that if anyone in your family ever does develop this fear, you will know that your dental practitioner can help.

Experience is another important quality that you should look for in a dentist. To find this out, you can ask about a dentist's education and previous jobs. Maybe he or she has only ever worked at the current business. If this is the case, ask him or her how long it has been.

Another trait to look for at a dental practitioner actually has more to do with the staff at the office. The office help should be kind and helpful. Even though this is not the actual practitioner, he or she should make sure his office help represents him or her correctly.

After considering these areas, hopefully, you will have a dentist that will work for you and the rest of your family. Even though it may have taken some time, it will be worth it to have one that works for everyone.

Are You Playing Your Own Hunger Games?

This wellness writing has more to do with how you can seriously fool yourself into thinking even though you have health challenges with symptoms like headaches, digestive upset, sleepless nights, or weight gain you believe nothing is wrong. That you don't have a problem - that all is well but really it isn't but you are choosing to either ignore it or are perhaps are too afraid to make changes.

Here are the 5 Common Ways You May be Playing Games with Your Eating Habits and 5 Easy Solutions:

Common Way#1 Costs more to Eat Healthy: It actually doesn't. Eating a diet filled with primarily quality protein, fresh fruits and vegetables is less expensive than eating packaged foods or dashing through the fast food line. Also, because these foods tend to be lacking in any real nutrition you often feel more hungry and tend to eat more of it. Solution: Shop at farmer's markets, ethnic grocery stores (tend to be less expensive) or, even better yet, grow your own.

Common Way#2 I'll take care of this later: Guess what - later never comes. A year from now - 5 years from now everything remains the same. All your hopes for a healthy life, body and/or mind are gone. You get comfortable in your discomfort about your body with all its lumps and bumps, aches and pains - this is now your normal. You give up and may even catch yourself saying "hey I can try starting again on Monday". But unfortunately your plans for Monday end up being a fantasy as well. Solution: Just do it. I know easier said than done. But you need to start. You don't need to be perfect it only takes just one small step towards your healthier future. Don't allow yourself to put it off any longer.

Common Way#3 I need Starch in Every Meal: A perfectly balanced meal does not have to have a potato, rice or beans included. These starchy food items may "fill you up" but that doesn't necessarily means you are nourished. You may have a hard time utilizing the additional carbohydrates found in thesestarches causing blood sugar issues which inevitably causes weight gain or an inability to take weight off. Solution: You can feel nourished by simply having a piece of salmon with asparagus and a green salad. Or try 2 or 3 high water content vegetables with your protein - chard, broccoli and summer squash for example.

Common Way#4 No meal is complete without desert: Most of you grew up with that habit deeply entrenched into your mealtime traditions. And what does desert usually consist of? It is usually sweet, gooey and highly caloric. Psychologically you may feel you deserve this "treat" after the hard day you just had. I strongly advice that you avoid using food as a reward - it's a bottomless pit where you may end up using that excuse every chance you get. Solution: Why not try a piece of cheese with fruit or 1 tbsp of Almond Butter - these food choices will leave you satisfied and less susceptible to uncontrollable sugar cravings.

Common Way#5 TV & Snacking Just Goes Together: Well that's a big one for so many people. You automatically pull out the popcorn, chips, candy bar or ice cream when tube gets turned on. Its so natural. Just like when you go to the movies of course you have to have the popcorn, soda and junior mints - they just go together like 4th or July and Mom's Apple Pie. Just because that's what others do and have done for "eternity" doesn't mean it's good for you or that it can't be changed. Breaking these cultural food habits takes a little work but can be accomplished when you set your mind to it. Solution: Have a cup of tea instead of the munchies when watching your favorite Reality Show or Drama. If you must eat something - limit yourself to say 10 almonds. But before you starting eating anything check in with yourself - are you reallyphysically hungry or are you emotionally hungry as in bored, stressed or anxious. If you slow down enough to ask yourself this question your "hunger" will usually disappear on its own.

Using some of these solutions I provided here for you will help you stop playing games with your hunger - I have no doubt.

(c) Monika Klein

Small Step = Big Results

That's right you do not need to make huge leaps in order to get from where you are to where you want to go. In this week's article we are shedding some light on easy steps to shedding excess weight and unhealthy habits.

Here are 5 Small Steps with Huge Gains:

Step #1 Take care of your Tummy. Eat slowly and avoid eating on the run. If you are in a hurry take something with you that's easy to digest. A nutritious smoothie may be optimal (ask for my recommendations). Smoothies can be very nourishing and satisfying. Make sure you have adequate protein in your smoothie and as little juice as possible - dilute the juice. Use the whole fruit instead. Add some nuts and seeds for additional crunch and some healthy fat.

Step #2 Snacks for Life. Always choose wisely when it comes to your snacks. Usually you will find yourself snacking more and on the wrong things if you have not eaten healthy, wholesome meals throughout the day. We think unhealthy snacks are more available than healthy ones. But shift your focus - you will see the apples, oranges, carrot sticks, nuts and seeds almost everywhere. Make sure you choose the unsalted variety if you choose nuts or seeds.

Step #3 Moderation, Please: Eat well and eat in moderation and with enjoyment. In order to have the best of health, including energy and mental focus - always eat 3 meals a day. This is a continuation of Step #1 - if try and relax and eat calmly savoring each flavorful bite you will get more benefit from what you're eating. Giving yourself time to relax while you enjoy your meal is essential for good digestion, helping you make better food choices and eat less.

Step #4 Take the Phone off the Hook: It's called down time and that means no talking on the phone, texting or checking emails. It means close your eyes for at least 20 -30 minutes. No interruptions - this is your time so make sure to tell those who may want to distract you from this necessary and rejuvenating practice. Don't think you are "doing nothing" that thought may prevent you from taking this seriously. You may judge yourself as being lazy and unproductive but try not to. Think of this as re-charging your batteries - everyone needs this - young and old. It'll center you, help you get clear on your priorities for the rest of the day versus just being on automatic pilot. You may not know it - but you don't have to be to on automatic pilot. You have my permission to take a time out - at the very least for 10 minutes.

Step #5 Hydrate: Here's another habit that is often overlooked. It's one of the things I am consistently reminding my clients to do. Being hydrated is so very important to good health. You may be overeating when you are actually just dehydrated. If you are thirsty you may have forgotten to drink consistently earlier - the good thing is you can correct this oversight pretty quickly. If you are exhausted you may only need a sip or two of water to replenish. Rule of thumb: drink half your body weight in ounces and you should be fine. Example: if you weigh 150 lbs drink at least 75 ounces of water every day.

(c) Monika Klein

Time to Outsmart Your Genes?

Do you think you can have an impact on your genetic make-up? I'm here to tell you can. How your genes "express" or work is really up to you. What you do and don't do can have a direct link to how healthy genes operate in your body. It's kind of great to think you have that much control - right? Or maybe not - it is a lot of responsibility for you and making the right lifestyle decisions do count.

I've written about Genetic Eating in several of my past newsletters. It's a way of eating that can directly impact your genes in a positive way. How your body uses what you eat is what it's all about. If you are giving it junk, you end up with bad wiring and your body, or your mind for that matter, simply doesn't work very well. Recent scientific discoveries in genetic research show we have a lot more control over our genes than we think. Can you outsmart them - no - and you probably don't want to - but you can work in harmony with them as your partner in Healthy Living.

Here's a brief science lesson - if you eat a high-carbohydrate meal, your insulin spikes and your blood sugar plummets, making you very hungry. This is the reason you crave more carbohydrates (including sugar) and tend to eat more all day long. If you eat a low glycemic load diet like the one used in the "Skinny Jeans Weight Loss Program" it will balance your blood sugar levels and keeps insulin levels in a healthy range. It also increases your good or HDL cholesterol and lowers your triglycerides levels in your blood as well - a very good thing. This type of "genetic eating" actually turns on the good genetic blueprint for healthy cholesterol and blood sugar balance.

So you can change your genes and subsequently "fit into your jeans". Diet is such a powerful change agent in this regard, more than you ever thought possible. Change your biochemistry and your genes will change as well.

But what you eat, how, when and where you eat is not the only thing that affects your genes. Your thoughts, exercise, sleep and all your healthy lifestyle choices matter.

Here are 6 Keys You can do Today to Improve Your Genes:

Key #1 Go to Bed! Didn't you hate those words when you were growing up - I certainly did. Being the youngest in a family of 10 (7 siblings and 2 parents) - I always wanted to stay up late with my older siblings. But now I know the wisdom of my parent's words. Sleep is essential for getting your healthy genes working well. Sleep is an opportunity to not only rest but let your organs do there powerful work during night hours.

Key #2 Taste for Life. Mindset absolutely matters in having a healthy genetic blueprint. If you are negative all the time your biochemistry is affected in a damaging way. Brain Studies show how negative thoughts can automatically cause depression, anxiety and affect breathing and other vital functions in the body. Sometimes the depression comes first, of course, but lifestyle changes along with effective therapy can be most beneficial at not only improving this condition but also eliminating it.

Key#3 Spice It Up: Eating healthy can sometimes be challenging - you are so used to having excitement in your life and often in our culture that includes your food, too. So why not spice it up using healing and flavorful herbs and spices. Cinnamon has a profound benefit for blood sugar balance. Tumeric and Ginger aid in reducing inflammation in the body. Cardamom and Basilhave a calming effect on the body and mind. Thyme contains anti-septic qualities. Cayenne is known to aid in high blood pressure and heart health. So many herbs and spices have incredible healing properties so use them and enjoy them. And just remember your food's main purpose is to nourish and fuel you not to entertain you.

#4 Add the missing ingredients: Sometimes you need to add extra targeted nutrients to your health plan. You may have a slight blood sugar issue - addchromium or cinnamon as I mentioned in key #3. When suffering from tension headaches add additional Vitamin C to your supplement protocol it will help de-constrict your blood vessels and ease the tension. We are seeing more and more of a need to additional Vitamin D - a vitamin so important for bone, immune and heart health. I also recommend certain anti-aging formulas which target certain genes and can in fact reverse some of the aging processes in the body.

#5 From the Garden of Life: The more vitality a food has - meaning its coming to you almost directly from the garden - the more positive gene enhancing it will cause. Eating fresh, whole and organic will essentially "turn up" your Vitality Gene Choosing food that is full of active and alive nutrients will give your body what it needs and in a form it knows what to do with.

#6 Stay Inspired: Having hope and a positive outlook improves many functions in the body. Science shows that brain waves are altered, heart beat is slowed down, nerve impulses lessen and "happy hormones" seem to kick in. You know those happy hormones or brain chemicals may have a calming effect by increasing your Seratonin or Gaba or an exciting effect with Dopaminebeing stimulated. Either way there is a direct link to your mood and your chemistry and how your genes function in your body.

Remember, genetically speaking, you have an immense power to choose to be happy or sad, energetic or lethargic. Lean or not you get to choose to make changes in your genetic blueprint if you want.

Signs That It Is Time To Look For A New Personal Trainer

There may come a time when you decide that you want to end your relationship with your personal trainer. If your fitness professional is no longer meeting your expectations, it may be time to cut your ties and move on. Just like any other type of relationship you have, the one that you have with your exercise coach can change over time, and may eventually not satisfy you as it once did.

You need to know what signs to look for when it comes to the two of you parting ways. Let us look at those now.

You want to see results, but you are no longer seeing them. Results matter when it comes to the time you spend sweating it out in the gym. Your muscles have their own kind of memory. For this reason, you should change up your exercise routine every few weeks so that your muscles do not get too familiar (and therefore too lazy) when it comes to certain moves.

If your personal trainer has fallen into a rut and your progress is minimal, suggest some adjustments be made to your program. If your fitness person is not up for it, look for a new person who will provide you with more challenges.

There is the trainer that does not challenge you enough, but there is also the one that pushes you too hard. If your personal trainer is constantly pushing you past your physical limits, move on. A fitness pro who is more like a drill sergeant can be harmful to your health. If you have gotten injured from your workouts, or are constantly sore and extremely exhausted, talk with your fitness pro about this. Suggest that your current routine be modified. If your exercise guru does not respect your wishes or tries to tell you that your comfort does not matter, find someone new. You need to be challenged but you want to do it in a safe manner.

Is the workout you are doing customized for you, or are all of the fitness specialist's clients doing exactly the same things? The program you follow should be tailored to fit your specific needs. It needs to be about your fitness level and goals. Your goal may be to shed pounds, tone up, increase flexibility or build muscle. You hired an exercise pro to cater to your unique fitness requirements. If he or she is not doing that, you need someone who will.

A trainer who is unprofessional is an individual you do not need to put up with. It is your money you are spending, and you should be able to work with someone who is respectful, competent, polite and punctual. It may be time to break up with your exercise guide if they make you feel uncomfortable in the things they say and do, or if they are constantly late or seem distracted or bored. If you like the person, bring up the issue with them first. If nothing changes, find a new exercise helper.

Spas for Your 25th Anniversary

It may be time to pick from different spas for your next big anniversary. If you and your spouse no longer look as young as you used to, why not go to a unique location that can help restore some of the youthful charm to your looks? Some facilities offer far more than just your average massage and foot rub. They go much further to offer you some exciting opportunities to take years off the way you look through many different cosmetic procedures. If you are ready to take back your great looks and to get rid of the wrinkles, this could be a good option for you both.

Fixing Your Face

One of the most popular treatments spas offer is a way to take the wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin off your face. Spas often offer various ways to do that. There are non-invasive treatments that can help improve skin quality and enhance some of the youthful features still present. On the other hand, you may want to consider more invasive procedures such as facelifts or a rhinoplasty.

Since the face is such an important tool for improving the way you feel, be sure to talk to your surgeon about all of the options that could help you. From minimal treatments to specific areas of the face, such as the eyes, to more thorough procedures to add collagen or to remove excess skin, you want to be happy with the final result.

Boosting Your Figure

It is not just the face that cries out for treatment. Your entire body may need some attention. If you want to take years off the way you look, consider a treatment plan that will sculpt your body back to the way it used to be. Spas that are associated with a plastic surgery clinic may offer both men and women a variety of treatment options. You could consider breast augmentation or a lift. You may want a breast reduction as a man. You may want to consider liposuction for those troublesome areas or even a more invasive tummy tuck to get your midsection back to the way it used to be. There are some non-invasive options, too, including the use of lasers and massages to stimulate improvement to the way your skin looks.

Take some time to think about spas for your next anniversary. It could be just what you need to turn the corner on the way you feel about yourself getting a bit older. Do it together so that you can both feel great again about the way you look and feel. You may love the time you get to spend together rejuvenating, too.

Knowing Whether You Are a Good Fit for a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck might be a good option for you. Most people do not realize how much skin they have until they lose a good amount of weight without giving it time to tighten up. When this happens so quickly, they are left with loose skin that actually has weight of its own. This type of plastic surgery is one way to get rid of this.

If you are in good physical shape but cannot seem to lose the extra inches in your belly or tighten up the skin that hangs there, you might be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Most people probably think that the ones who need it are those who are overweight. It is actually only a good option for those who are at a good weight. 

If someone still is overweight when they get a tummy tuck, it will defeat the purpose of getting rid of the loose skin because there will still be more after weight is possibly lost later. It is a surgery after all, so it is also important that someone be a healthy weight because some problems such as diabetes that is common with some who are overweight can cause problems for the procedure. With this in mind, be sure to give your plastic surgeon access to your medical records before your surgery. Most likely he or she will not even perform a surgery without access to these.

Part of the procedure can be liposuction to remove excess fat, so do not think that you have to have no fat to have the surgery. That would not make sense because everyone has some fat in their belly. During a tummy tuck, some fat will be removed by liposuction, muscles will be tightened up in the belly, loose skin will be removed, and the skin that is left will be tightened. Your navel will also likely need to be repositioned depending on the type procedure you end up having.

Besides being in good physical shape, it is also important that an individual have good skin elasticity so that the skin will stay tight as it should. Older individuals and people who smoke have less skin elasticity.

If you are tired of loose skin from weight loss or from a pregnancy, you may want to consider a tummy tuck. If you are interested, make sure to visit a few different plastic surgeons before deciding on one. Consult with them to see how much they charge for their procedures as well as to see if you believe you would like to work with them. Do not go with any doctor who is pushy and tries to persuade you to have a surgery or surgeries that you do not want. Make sure that he or she is educated and experienced in the area of plastic surgery in which you are interested.