Jumat, 10 Februari 2012

Unspoken Dream

Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is one I have encountered only rarely in a book. Here, we have a victim who looks like he had been swarmed by bees in the middle of a storm, but the reader is lead to believe that it was something much more ominous and that it is about to get worse.

There are many characters in the tale, but a group of teenagers that are about to graduate from high school (Mike, Jack, Jared, Jenny, Tracy, Dana, Alan) and Sheriff Nate are the main characters. The lead character, Mike, is more like a father figure for the group in that he concerns himself with the needs of his friends and becomes a compassionate leader to his community during an emergency. His girlfriend Dana, as a sweet and supportive character, gives him strength. Shy, Jenny who is blooming into a beautiful girl has a crush on Mike’s friend Jack, which sends Alan into a jealous frenzy. Though James and Tracy are dating, their buddy Jared holds a secret fondness for Tracy.

Carol did a wonderful job in portraying the characters in Unspoken Dreams. I was so involved in the story that by the time Mike finally broke down in grief for his friends’ death, I had tears running down my cheeks – this was less than 2 dozen pages into the book! Mike’s humorous relationship with his parents had me laughing aloud. And I felt real pity for Alan’s situation.

An excellent read for those who love a good thriller with a solid rate of tension throughout the book."



Turn Off The Fat Genes

Once in a while a good title comes along and "Turn Off the Fat Genes" is one of those titles that just have to be written about. If you are not familiar with Dr. Neal Barnard's work, he has been writing about how to lose weight on a high carbohydrate diet for at least a decade now.

I'm amazed, as you might be, that his work is not better known. There are a number of advantages to using a high carb diet and as many disadvantages to the low carb/ high protein diets.

There is some great research in his books that document the ability to lose weight on a high carbohydrate diet, which may also be healthier in the long run than the ever-popular low carbohydrate diets.

You might think it surprising, as I do, that more people are not using high carb diets to lose weight. You might also conclude that this is solely due to a lack of awareness on the part of the public.

Turn of the Fat Genes, written by Dr. Neal Barnard features over 150 pages of menus and recipes. The recipe and menu section is very comprehensive and you can definitely find recipes that will delight you out of such a large compilation.

Dr. Bernard discusses the concept that some of the genes that shape and influence us as human beings are themselves subject to influence. The genes that affect taste, appetite and metabolism are subject to the influence of the foods that we eat.

Not only are they subject to influence, the proper use of foods can mean that you don't have to sacrifice and starve yourself of decent nutrition. You can modify your diet, eat perhaps even more frequently and still enjoy weight loss. Does that sound incredible? It is real. You might feel incredulous because the masses of people out there have been told that low carb is the way to go.

I have been following some of the suggestions in one of Dr. Barnard's books and I can tell you that a high carb diet can help you lose weight. Using his suggestions, I can eat a lot of food frequently and I still seem to stay thin.

To give you an idea of what kind of information "Turn Off the Fat Genes" can provide you with, here is a list of some of the Chapter titles:

Taste Genes: Broccoli and Chocolate

Appetite and the Leptin Gene

The Fat-Building Gene

Fat-Burning: Turning the Flame Higher

How Genes Influence Your Exercise

Children and the Fat Genes

Food Choices for Optimal Weight Control

Dr. Barnard writes, "Contrary to popular opinion, scientific research reveals that genes are not dictators; they are committees. They do not give orders. They make suggestions. Genes are not rogue tyrants exerting despotic control over your waistline. Rather, they work in groups, often with subtle effects, and you can nudge them in the direction you want them to go. You can counteract the fat genes and boost your thin genes."

In ancient times, Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." Of course we aren't really talking about healing as much as we are discussing losing weight, but the principle applies.

One thing I learned from another of Dr. Barnard's books is that carbohydrates don't make people fat. It is fat that makes people fat. And it makes sense. Carbohydrates pack around 4 calories per gram and fats have about 9 calories per gram.

By the way, even though it is correct terminology, the fact is that the calories discussed here are actually 'thousands of calories'. In nutrition they decided to make a calorie equal to 1,000 real life calories as measured for energy.

Anyway I don't want to confuse anyone, because the RDA is based on nutrition calories, also known as Calories, but no one capitalizes the C as should be done. You can just keep thinking of calories as calories and don't worry about the technicalities.

Back to the story. Dr. Barnard's books on high carb diets are great reading and may inform you about healthier weight loss than you are currently use to. Did I mention the recipe list?

This article is for information purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any health condition. If you have or think you have a health condition or even just want to diet, please consult your physician.

Tracis Story

Tracie’s Story: Book Review

Tracie’s Story, by Marguerite Ashton, had sucked me into the story right from the start, and I had difficulty tearing myself away from the book all the way to the end. This is very a moving tale that is based on a true story of a woman brought up by an alcoholic single mother.

As a child, Tracie bravely accepts the barrage of difficulties, disrespect and responsibilities of handling a helplessly drunken parent – but it leaves her emotionally scarred. While driving under the influence, the thoughtless mother inflicts a permanent and visible disability on her child that serves as a constant reminder of her past. Every mirror, every pair of eyes reflects her abnormality and this becomes a torment for Tracie. As an adult, she struggles with her inner demons and the mind-numbing addictions to both alcohol and her work.

Marguerite Ashton uses a direct and simple writing style that envelops the reader in Tracie’s world so deeply that the real world fades away for a little while. The ending left me with a feeling that the book is not finished. Yet, because I was thinking about it for days, I would have to say the ending was quite effective.

Tips On Staying Young

Can you stay young in your 50s, 60s and 70s? Is it really possible to fight the aging process? As the population of seniors in America grows, more and more people will be looking for ways to do just that.

In the past century, the average life expectancy in the United States has increased by 27 years. In fact, there are now about 70,000 people in America who are 100 years of age or older, and that number is expected to rise to nearly 1 million by 2050.

Barbara Morris, a pharmacist and motivational speaker, says that with the right outlook and motivation, it is indeed possible to enjoy at least 25 more years of "the good life."

In her new book, "Put Old on Hold," Morris tells you how to look, act and feel young at any age.

One way, Morris says, is to never tell people how old you are.

"Society attaches enormous significance to chronological age and most people have a stereotypical image of what a person at a specific age should look like, think like, dress like and speak like," Morris writes.

She suggests the following additional tips for living and feeling young.

* Have a clear vision of what you want your life to be like in 25 years. Know how well you want to function, mentally and physically, 25 years down the road. Have a clear vision and make a commitment to achieve it. This commitment will drive the choices you make about how you will live your life.

* Take an inventory of your youthful assets. Monitor and manage how you are changing. Identify and sharpen important youthful attributes such as mental and physical strength and flexibility. Remember, it's much easier to keep what you have than to regain what you lost. Be proud of what you can do.

* Indulge in positive thinking. You are what you say you are, so don't tell yourself you are getting old. Replace negativity with positive affirmations of your plans for improvement.

* Get in control of your health. Work with a traditionally trained doctor, but make sure she or he has expertise in anti-

aging therapies.

* Do not plan to retire. Instead, plan to have the time of your life. Go back to school or start a new business or career. Remember, if you have made your health a priority, you can have a great second life that's better than the first.