Almost instant cure for RSI: The Mind/Body Prescription

Well I've been suffering from what I'm going to call "the 12 days of RSI."
I've had it in the past, and successfully used Australian bush flower essences which pretty much fixed it. Anyway, I've used the same bush flower essences that I used the last time, and thank God they worked! Phew!

But whilst I was doing a little bit of extra research on the Internet for RSI, I stumbled across what looks like a fabulous resource which pretty much sums up my interpretation of how RSI arises in the first place. I had always taken the view that it was some sort of stress arising due to an unresolved dilemma of some sort, but I particularly like the way in which it is articulated by the woman describing how she recovered using Dr Sarnos's approach.

There is a link to it here. Another related page is here. And the Amazon book page references is here. Australian bush flowers are here.

What I mean is, but I thought I had an instinctive understanding of this, but I am really impressed by the clarity and straightforward explanation provided by this interpretation of how RSI arises. So, I listened to the the online recordings which summarise the method, and have been trying to consciously implement its suggestions, and although I was feeling good already, I feel even better than I did before I listened to the audio.

The gist of it goes:
Unresolved conflicts bringing to light parts of oneself one doesn't like to acknowledge. But the tension between the view one likes to have of oneself, (I am a good caring person who makes time for other people), and the view revealed by testing circumstances, (I don't have time to take care of you and everybody else because quite frankly I have got TOO MUCH TO DO right now), create internal tension, and unless you are prepared to look at this dilemma SQUARELY in the eye, and see the UNFLATTERING truth about oneself, the body creates a CONVENIENT DISTRACTION from the daunting, unflattering issue. RSI is useful because it creates an almost total distraction, because just about every movement is affected by it. This way, you have almost 24 x 7 distraction.

The cure? Simply to remind oneself when pain arises, that the pain is a convenient fiction to distract oneself from the dilemma, and to basically go straight to the heart of the dilemma and solve that, or at the least acknowledge it. Basically, if you face the demon, then there is no need for the body to ameliorate your stress by providing you with the painful distraction.

Cool. My conflict, or cognitive dissonance to give its true name, was the conflict between,
1. being a responsible person in my family, who does whatever they can to provide solutions to family problems.
2. Having too much on my plate right now to deal with the ENERGY VAMPIRES in my family who are currently in enacting various stages of drama, in response to one family member who has cancer. their drama, my current workload, their inability to understand my lack of drama, their inability to understand the extent of my current workload, is just too much work for me to take on at this moment in time, and at some point this problem will require me to tell them so, in a way that doesn't cause them harm, or shift blame onto them, for what is essentially MY personal limits of patience and tolerance, and mental and emotional energy.

Unsurprisingly, I do not like to see myself as somebody who does not have a great deal of patience and tolerance for the demands placed upon myself because of a 'cancer drama' presenting itself to a family member. Nor do I like to see myself as somebody who has to exert almost every available ounce of energy into my current workload, in order to achieve a satisfactory result.

Helping my family, is much more exhausting than helping a newcomer. As my family are much less open and receptive to new ideas. They are very conventional. So whereas an hour helping a newcomer might invigorate me and refresh my mind, an hour trying to help my family member, is straining, frustrating, testing, seemingly intractable. Like pulling teeth basically. Yes it can be done, but it's slow arduous work. I know because I've done in the past, and I've seen gradual improvement. But that kind of work takes moment to moment, unwavering focus, in order not to drift into habitual negativity, blame, fixed ideas. The only thing I can compare it to, is like dealing with a newcomer who doesn't want to get sober, who thinks they know best, who thinks they are right, and that I am stupid. I can help newcomers who fit that description, but it's HARD work, and one has to deal with ongoing slights and undermining remarks of one sort or another which is draining.

So that's why being there for my family in a non bullshitty kind of way, takes !! work, and because I'm at a !! PARTICULARLY busy point in my workload, my mind is pretty full !! up with that right now, so I don't have mental space for a pile of other concerns, which to me seem entirely self-inflicted and avoidable. I know that they want me to be there for them in what I would call a "conventional" way. But I am more accustomed to being there for other people, in what I would call a fairly nonconventional way. When I am concerned about another human being. I feel that in some way benefits them. Some would say that was delusional, to me it is nothing more than the power of prayer. I think that ANY good thought directed towards another human being benefits them, and I don't think it matters whether you call it prayer or anything else. So I feel as though I am doing my bit, albeit not in a way that I think makes sense to them. In this way the spiritual life is a bit of a curse, because one ends up dealing with people who are not on a spiritual path who think you think you're being a complete A*SE. The answer is in the St Francis prayer where it says:

"It is better to understand, than to be understood"

(yeah I know it's not exactly the same, but that's how I remember hearing it in aa meetings) Meaning, life is a great deal simpler, when instead of trying to make everybody else understand YOUR perspective, you behave in a way, and speak in such a way, that you are sure their limited viewpoint WILL be able to understand. It's as if we are talking two COMPLETELY separate languages, and in order to be understood I have to adopt THEIR language.

Obviously, I'm no doctor, I am not saying that I think you ought to adopt the same viewpoint, I'm just telling you this is what I make it today. don't for God's sakes assume I expect you to agree with me :)
Right well much as though I would love to stay and chat!, The gym is calling :) Have a relaxing cosy Sunday wherever you happen to be :)

Buy half price vitamins in November and December

Because they are FULL price in January.
I bought about a years worth of super !! high quality vitamins today at half price. I remembered that this time of year is a GREAT time to buy cheap vitamins as everyone is waaay too busy buying mince pies and things that make you fat. So yeah. Now's a good time. Just thought id mention that.
But who knows perhaps they will be cheap all year due to the economics? Gawd knows.
Whatever. Just thought I would share that.

Bed Bug Infestation: Don't sit down on trains Between Aldgate East and Stratford

And other East End trains in that vicinity. Why? Because you are at risk of picking up a bed bug off the seat.
The bugs are about the size of an apple pip.
And the amount of infestation I London has shot up, but is much higher in those areas than other parts of London.
Getting rid of them is a total pain in the a*se. You have to chuck out mattresses, bedding etc. Its expensive!

Anyway. Just thought I'd share that with you!
I heard a pesticide guy who deals a LOT with bedbugs on LBC Radio recently saying he would NOT risk sitting on a London transport seat between those two stations. Plus loads of horror stories about the piles of bedbugs he has come across along the way..
Lovely!
On that cheery ! note! I will bid you all a deliriously happy Monday while I head of to (yes you've guessed it) the gym. Then Study!!

Oh and by the way I LOVE !!! this new gadget. (Super Trackstick GPS Tracking System) Pointless for someone like me as I am not scaling some obscure mountain at great personal risk, but I just LOVE Google earth, and quite like the idea of looking at a PROPER map and seeing a little journey trail of all the little places I go to. Pointless but FUN. Whatever..
I am VERY tempted to get one. We shall see.. I have a bunch of other stuff to sort out. So I'l do that first.
See y'all..

Sexually transmitted CANCER

Yeah the HPV VIRUS responsible for cervical CANCER is INFECTIOUS.
EVEN WHEN YOU USE A CONDOM.
Scary huh?
What Are the Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer? By the American Cancer Society
"Recent studies show that condoms ("rubbers"), while they do provide some protection, do not completely protect against HPV. This is because HPV can be passed from person to person by skin-to-skin contact with ANY HPV-infected area of the body, such as skin of the genital or a*al area not covered by the condom. The absence of visible warts cannot be used to decide whether caution is needed, because HPV can be passed to another person even when there are NO visible warts or other symptoms."

Bleh! I know. Yik! factor 10!
There is a vaccine that you MIGHT be able to get free from your doctor if you ask politely. Otherwise its 500 quid or so to get it done privately.
The good news is that the vaccine works for most of the viruses. Its pretty effective.
So if you are planning of having lots of sexual partners, you should consider vaccination. Cervical cancer tends not to show up in young women. You see it more in age 40's or so. But when it DOES show up, it kills quite a few women. The more partners you have, the greater risk you are at.
Lovely eh? As if the sexual health minefield wasn't bad enough..
Never mind. I suppose we should be cheering from the rooftops that they have discovered such an effective vaccination against cancer. That's a neat trick. Even if I say so myself.
There's a TON of stuff on cervical cancer and mortality rates on the internet if you REALLY want to find out about it.
But if you are a HYPOCHONDRIAC, save yourself the anxiety. Easier just to fork out the 450 quid and be done with it. Then you have no need to worry..

Just thought I would mention, in case you hadn't seen this on the news..
See y'all..

For your reference..
Cervical cancer vaccine for girls aged 12 on Times online.
Vaccination (done privately) for 450 quid, if you feel the urge..

God's Beauty Parlor: Sobriety can be INCREDIBLY !! anti ageing

Just thought I would mention that not drinking can be VERY anti aging. Alcohol makes you red faced, bloated and puffy and dehydrates the skin a LOT. I always say to new ladies. Get sober purely for the sake of VANITY!! (In my opinion) people can age REALLY well in recovery. If you play your cards right.

I saw these photos in today's Mail and was REALLY shocked !! at how aged these women look at age 45. (Yeah I know its the Daily Mail, but I get it free in the gym, so I think of it as a free rag.)
The very ! GOOD news about not drinking, (and not smoking) is that is is VERY anti ageing. Thank GOD. ..So just ANOTHER reason for you ladies to order sparkling water with a slice of lime instead!

Pauline Rees, 45-year-old mother of five. Ouch!
Atricle is called:One big happy family: Scrounging grandmother's pride at daughters' teenage pregnancies
Jacqueline Simpson, 45. Double ouch.
Article is about: Grandmother of girl mauled to death was 'high on drink and drugs' and opened door to killer pit bull

Let that be a lesson all you newcomer ladies! It ALL helps. Besides cosmetic surgery is SOoo expensive these days..
You will save yourselves a FORTUNE in botox, and everything else..

But yeah sunscreen helps too. And glasses of water. But an alcohol free lifestyle can work WONDERS. And of course there's that inner beauty too, because a peaceful and positive attitude is VERY attractive to others.
Which just makes you look even BETTER!!
Trust me ladies. Its a WIN WIN situation!

Australia: Alcoholism accounts for a quarter of deaths in the Northern Territory

From an article in the Guardian on Thursday June 21, 2007.Click here to see the whole article:

Alcohol kills an Aborigine every 38 hours and accounts for a quarter of deaths in the Northern Territory.

"There is a strong association between alcohol abuse, violence and sexual abuse of children."

They are consistently the nation's most disadvantaged group, with far higher rates of unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence.

The child abuse report, Little Children Are Sacred, released last week, found drinking was a key contributor to the collapse of Aboriginal culture and neglect of children, and created opportunities for paedophiles.

From another article in the Guardian on Thursday June 21, 2007. Click here to see the whole article:

"It is absolutely clear that unless we take on and overcome the abuse of alcohol and the harm it causes the Aboriginal people, then the Aboriginal people and their cultures are likely to disappear within a generation or so," the inquiry found.

The authors visited 45 Aboriginal communities and found crime had been cut by 70% in areas where pubs had been shut.

"The inquiry believes that extreme alcohol abuse has become normal in the Northern Territory and the devastating effects on children are rapidly increasing.

CHECK OUT Mr Ken Wilbers 51 year old body!!! WOW

Here's Ken Wilbers photo page.
Click on 2000's section, Its the 5th pic. and when you see the torso shot scroll by, click on it and it will display properly. DAMM fine!

If that isn't an incentive to 'get spiritual' I don't know WHAT is!!!

Men who have a lot of mind control have a lot more choices than the likes of you or I. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean they get off lightly. They are going to ANY LENGTHS too by the way.
A monastic would not choose to develop their bodies in this way as I don't think it would assist their celibacy very much! But I dare say they might have the ability to exercise their will power along these lines if they wanted.

"Spiritual" isn't this fluffy, feel good, ego massaging, comfy, tree hugging, kitted-muesli-jumper, baggy option.
Well for me it isn't anyway. Yes there is incredible compassion, but that compassion stems from a RUTHLESS UNWAVERING commitment to REALITY.

'Proper' spiritual people are pretty tough people. Incredible persistence and staying power. Often they are just born like that, as opposed to 'made'. Having said that, even the ones who are born like that can choose a very demanding life path of learning with REALLY tough obstacles. What I mean is, they don't 'have it easy'. No Siree! There are no days off, not even for those guys.
Anyway I digress. I'm not drawing your attention to this to make you feel bad about your body, but to make a point about what it means to be spiritual. Its actually hard to put into words. And pictures help a bit. But it is a very common misconception that there is something 'malleable' about it. That's not the same as open minded by the way. Remaining open minded is actually a VERY tough doctrine to maintain in my opinion.

Basically spirituality (from what I have seen of it anyway) is INCREDIBLY tough. But in a GOOD way. Like when you see the Shaolin monks bend pointed steel poles on their chest. These guys are not Nancys!
They're not vague. They're not wooly. They are very, very precise in their thinking.

Anyway I think this picture communicates what I mean FAR better than my words can. But this is how I 'see' spirituality. I do NOT see it in a 'therapy' view. That approach is MUCH softer in my opinion than this stuff. Put it this way, you don't see many therapists that look like this, do you? EXACTLY! (Anthony Robbins doesn't count by the way! Sorry but he's just not in the same league.) They are two very different doctrines. Personally I prefer this one! It goes WAY beyond 'knowledge'. It REALLY relies on what is utterly unknown and mysterious.

Anyway I DO love AA, but these guys have chosen to make themselves publicly known as teachers, and they are not celibate monastics, so it gives you an idea of what I think a non monastic spiritual life can look like. Now you know why I think it is terribly cool to do this stuff.
You can be beautiful inside AND outside!! Cool! Sign me up!

Obviously this is a very personal view, but I just thought I would share it with you. Each to their own. But this is what 'proper' (non celibate) spirituality looks like to me. The really 'top quality' stuff anyway. Monks may be similar in mind, but not in body shape! Except if you are a Shaolin monk I suppose...
I'm not saying I EXPECT spiritual people to look like this, but this is how I 'see' it. Anyway, I hope you get an idea of what I mean. Basically there are no knitted muesli jumpers in my spiritual view!

(This is actually more difficult !! to explain! than I thought it would be!) Hope that makes sense! Sorry if you think I am a body fascist! I'm not really!

Insomnia: "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep, talk to The Shepherd!"

"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep, talk to the shepherd!"

And then there's always the all-time best cure for insomnia! Yep, you guessed it! The Big Book!
"It works when all else fails"
Heheh

(By the way, the 'shepherd' trick DOES actually work..)
I find it works best 'out loud' as opposed to 'in your head'.
Just keep gasbagging away! Blah Blah blah.. Etc. I do it in bed. Not kneeling. And my focus is always to be as unflatteringly HONEST as possible. Ie. No BS. Not as easy as it sounds!! Trust me!

Oh yeah, and I don't know if you know this one, but this was a standard reply to any insomnia-related whinge in my old home group..
"No one ever died from lack of sleep"

(Mind you that geezer in the film called the Machinist had a damm good try!)
..But I think this applies to people who are not COMPLETELY mad like the guy in that film.. (bless im)

60% of those diagnosed with HIV in the UK are in London. That's about FOURTY TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE.

So dating in London SHOULD take on a very 'distinctive' slant, in terms of HEALTH RISK. Be careful out there!!!!!

BBC London's Matt Barbet
"60% of those diagnosed with HIV in the UK are in London"
Link here

There are now over 70,000 people living with HIV in the UK, including 7,450 new HIV infections last year
Friday, 24 November 2006, BBC
Link here

The number of HETEROSEXUALLY ACQUIRED HIV infections diagnosed in the UK has risen hugely over the last 15 years. In 1999, for the first time, THE RATE OF HETEROSEXUALLY ACQUIRED HIV DIAGNOSES OVERTOOK the rate of diagnoses in men who have sex with men. During 2005, there were 3,839 reports of heterosexually acquired HIV, and a total of 32,361 had been reported by the end of June 2006.
Link here

Women are biologically more vulnerable to HIV. THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO CONTRACT HIV FROM UNPROTECTED SEX WITH MEN, and young women are most vulnerable to infection.
From: Aids: a feminist issue by Bianca Jagger in the Guardian.
Link here

An "increasing pool" of people in the UK are living with HIV and Aids, official statistics show.
The Health Protection Agency says around 63,500 UK adults were living with HIV in 2005 - with as many as a third unaware of their infection.
Link here

Record rise in Scottish HIV rates
New cases were up 11% on the previous year - the biggest rise ever seen north of the border, they claimed.
Friday, 1 December 2006,
Link here

Across the UK, heterosexual women account for 35% of new diagnoses of HIV - nearly twice figure in 1996
Heterosexuals represent 54% of new HIV diagnoses, with 85% infections acquired outside UK

Although sex between men and, in a minority of countries, injecting drug use remain important routes for HIV transmission, UNPROTECTED HETERSEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS PLAYING A INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE
Not enough resources are being allocated to deal with the rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a specialist in the field has said.
"It is an absolute tragedy," Dr Maw told BBC radio's Good Morning Ulster.
"The government targets would be 48 hours - our present access is well over SIX WEEKS for a ROUTINE appointment, even URGENT appointments have to wait for OVER A WEEK.
Link here

Physically sick? Need Healing? Try the Medicine Buddha Mantra!

"If one meditates on the Medicine Buddha, one will eventually attain enlightenment, but in the meantime one will experience an increase in healing powers both for oneself and others and a decrease in physical and mental illness and suffering."
—Lama Tashi Namgyal

If you're sick here's a mantra which might help. It won't do any harm anyhow, that's for sure.
Obviously this is something I would expect you to do IN ADDITION TO CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE! Don't go canceling your heart surgery to do this mantra!
I use it for other people if I visit them in hospital or who are just sick and I used it once for my cat!
Like all mantra's I find it takes a few days of 'doing it' for it to 'warm up'. Just getting the word right takes a while! What I did with this one was leave my CD player on 'repeat one track' when I was home and just kind of sang along till I felt I could do it on my own. Or just stick it on your ipod on repeat, till you can do it on your own.
I do find that they really feel different if you just think them instead of saying them out loud. It 'comes alive' or something when the voice is used.
Anyway. Mantras aren't exactly an exact science. Just hold your intention (to be of benefit to all sentient beings) and do your best and see what happens! I never really try to get in to the exact translation of the mantra. I just try to hold a healing intention and sort of 'get into the groove' of the mantra.
There is LOADS of info on this if you look it up in google so theres not much point in me repeating it here.
The images have significance too. It REALLY HELPS to have the image around when you are using this mantra. It helps you 'access' this Buddha. Wisdom books is one of the best places to buy posters or postcards of Buddhist Deities, but Watkins bookshop always has postcards if you prefer. Or you can put an image on your desktop. Once you have bought the image, they ought to be treated respectfully though. You can't just fling them in the corner of the room. Leave them somewhere nice. With other 'nice' things. Not next to a book on war criminals for instance! A sunny window ledge will do, overlooking a tree perhaps. Whatever. I'm sure you get the drift!
There is no empowerment is required to use this mantra so don't worry that you are breaking a rule!
You don't need to believe in these things in order for them to work. Its the same as the aa programme. Its just 'a programme of action', only in this case the 'action' is the mantra, instead of the 12 steps.

Buy this CD it's GREAT!
It's called Rain of Blessings by Lama Gyurme
You can even buy it on iTunes!
One of the BEST tracks is the 'Medicine Buddha Mantra' track

This is the correct spelling of the Medicine Buddha Mantra
TA YA THA
OM BEKANDZE BEKANDZE
MAHA BEKANDZE RANDZA
SAMUDGATE SOHA

This is the way I pronounce it.
(I picked up the pronunciation and the rhythm from the CD Track)

Tay Ya Ta
Om Beck-an-ze Beck-anze
Ma-ha Beck-an-ze Ran-za
Sa-Mu-Ga-Tay So-Ha

Here's a link which explains quite a lo about the medicine buddha. Alsothis one looks pretty good too.
Disclaimer: Obviously, please ignore this if you can't handle this idea!

A lower fat percentage means you're less likely to get Cancer

And type 2 diabetes
And heart disease.

See BBC article Weight link to breast cancer risk

Do yourself a favor and go to the gym! An hour every day would be great. And stop eating things that you tend to overeat, because that's what makes your fat percentage go up.
The NHS is already on its knees, so don't expect prompt treatment when you need it. Take preventative steps now by reducing your fat percentage, increasing muscle mass, and eating bland healthy foods in moderation.

You will thank me later when you are informed by your local health authority that they cannot provide any more diabetes drugs till the beginning of the next financial year (April 200?) because they have already spent their entire budget for medication, but that you may be able to buy the drugs yourself over the internet from Croatia. But that they cannot guarantee that the drugs are made to the standards they expect in the NHS. You will end up spending your savings on dodgy pills from croatia to tide you over till April. You won't have a choice. Because if you do not medicate your type 2 diabetes every day, you risk losing your eyesight or a limb, or going into hypoglycemic shock.

Trust me it PAYS to take care of your body. Fat percentage is no longer a 'vanity' issue. Its desperately important, and may be the determining factor that prevents you getting cancer and diabetes in future.

Basically the gym is NOT an option!
Sorry! But its true I'm afraid....
The writing is on the wall with the NHS. So take preventative steps today!!

Birth Control. Consider the Mirena

The Mirena is Free on the NHS. You can't forget to take it. Its by far the most effective way of avoiding unwanted pregnancy.
And Ladies PLEASE RESEARCH BIRTH CONTROL PROPERLY.
Do NOT just use whatever you happened to be using when you were drinking. Lazy, lazy, lazy!! Find out about whats on offer and choose the safest route.

Why?
BECAUSE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UNPLEASANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO YOURSELF AFTER STEP NINE IS HAVE A TERMINATION. (!!!!)

You snooze, you lose ladies!!!
Condoms break!! And some days are INFINITELY more fertile than others, in case you didn't know already...
Also happy/less stressed people conceive more easily than depressed ones. And men who do NOT drink a crate of beer, smoke 30 fags at the weekend and pass out on the couch after eating too much pizza, have (surprisingly) a higher sperm count. So if your romantic conquests in recovery no longer resemble Rab C Nesbitt, then you are at much greater risk of an unwanted pregnancy.

And just for newcomers...
For new women who are already sexually active or in a relationship. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR BIRTH CONTROL. Nobody likes having to have a termination. You may very well have been very negligent in your birth control when you were drinking, but that doesn't mean you can't get pregnant now, just beause you didnt end up pregnant before.
PLEASE. don't be careless in this matter once you get into recovery. You will be MUCH healthier now you are not drinking. So you are at increased risk of getting pregnant. Pease make an appointment at a family planning cinic and find out what options you have. There is nothing to worry about with things like the pill. They have some really low dose stuff around now. Try to choose the type of birth control that is least likely to get you pregnant.

HIV is a heterosexual issue I'm afraid

And much easier to catch if you are female.

I'm afraid the BAD news is that there is MORE std's around than EVER before. The problem is out of control. London is the HIV/STD capital of the UK. Bisexual men and more sexual freedoms generally means there is a BIG crossover of HIV to the heterosexual community. Lesbians have a better deal on the STD front as they score much lower, but deciding to be lesbian is a bit of of a drastic step to take to avoid STD's!!

Family planning and STDs are completely separate issues. Use condoms in addition to your family planning precautions if you are not 100% sure of the reliability of your partner.
HIV is not just for gays and drug users! Its fair game for the heterosexuals nowadays!! And MUCH easier for women to catch!

Educate yourself on STD's
Get screened some where like this. Check for everything. Including HIV.
HIV takes 3 months to show up in the bloodstream.
Learn about the viral infections like warts, and herpes. You can catch them even when you use a condom, and even when there is very little visible evidence of infection in the partner.

So basically, the days of screwing around are numbered I'm afraid. TIMES HAVE CHANGED. The possible consequences of not paying attention to this area of your life are significantly more life threatening than they were five or ten years ago. Really.
And don't think that just because you aren't 'screwing around' means you are at any less of a risk. You only need to pick ONE sexual partner to get infected. One bad decision, and you put yourself in danger of contracting HIV.
So if you haven't been tested for HIV, do.
But if you have had a recent sexual partner, you will have to wait 3 months before you'll know. That's assuming that during the three month period your partner hasn't had sex with someone else. In which case you'll have to wait ANOTHER three months.
Complicated isn't it? The rules have changed a lot recently. Infection rates and drunken blackout sexual behavior is on the increase.

It presents a VERY good case for why a person who may drink but NEVER gets drunk AND has strength of character is now a VERY DESIRABLE feature in a future partner.
Ask your partner to get screened if they haven't been screened since their last sexual partner. Ask them to show you the letter showing the results of their tests, or you can come with them to the clinic when they get their results.
Don't just think they must be fine because they have no visible symptoms and they 'appear' to be in good health, or they seem like a 'nice' person.

Crosstrainer NOT treadmill

...but don't do more than 30mins at a time because otherwise you will get chunky calves.

Why? Because..
You burn MORE calories. You can burn 500cals in 30mins quite easily
No knee damage. Keep your feet close together on the plates to avoid knee damage.
Work arms as well as legs. We do NOT like bingo wings!

ALWAYS type in your weight because otherwise you won't know how many calories you are burning.

Drink 3Litres of water a day in the Summer

And at least 2 Litres of water a day in the Winter.
And (something like) an extra half pint for every half hour of exercise you do per day.

Best time to drink is on an empty stomach in the morning.
I have 2 pints first thing, and have another 4 pints at my desk before 5pm so that when I go home I can eat dinner straight away.

Room temperature water is better than chilled water.

Do not drink when you are eating. It dilutes the gastric juices and slows digestion

Allow 20mins after drinking before you eat.
That's how long it takes for water to get out of the stomach and into the small intestine.

Allow 2 hours after eating before you drink
That's how long it takes for food to get out of the stomach and into the small intestine.

Don't wait till you feel thirsty before you drink water
By the time you feel thirsty, the body is already dehydrated.

When your body is dehydrated your blood becomes more 'sticky' and doesn't move nearly so well through the veins.
That's why they always say drink lots of water on flights so that you don't end up getting thrombosis.

You can tell if you are dehydrated because your pee will not be pale.
Pale pee is good and means your body has enough water.

Its the best and cheapest moisturizer!

Tea, coffee, etc doesn't count. It has to be water.
Apparently, (in theory) even if you drink 3 gallons of tea, the caffiene in the tea will mean that you end up peeing MORE than three gallons. Basically, the more caffiene-y drinks you have, the less water your body has.

Please use common sense when doing these things!, so if your doctor tells you you are allergic to water or something, please ignore this!

It's just that I've found this very helpful. I only started it a year ago or something, but it COMPLETLY changed my eating patterns, energy levels, and caffeine addiction. Thank God!