How To Renew Your Sense Of Self-Worth

September 25, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Self-worth is among one of the most important attitudes to curate in life. This is because in order to become a person who is confident in themselves, and who feels able to define their own self-worth, you need to earn it. Not in the eyes of someone else, but in your own estimation. We all know and cannot lie to ourselves if we fail to hit our goals, or make excuses to be lazy, and more. 

 

That’s one thing, and it’s good we have that, because it keeps us focused. That being said, it’s not hard for people to externalize this process and seek validation from everyone around them. When they do that, it usually provides them with a sense of constant searching, because no one can ever gain as much adoration as would be necessary. We see this in celebrities that seem to draw attention to themselves when they don’t need it.

 

So – how can you renew your sense of self-worth, in a manner that is healthy, sustainable, and effective? Let’s discuss below:

 

Understand Your Needs

 

We all have needs. You have them too. It’s important to not feel guilty about them, provided they’re justified of course. If you need to have your partner support you a little more, tell them. If you feel as though you need to go through couples counseling, tell them. If you know you need to give yourself a little tough love, then do that. We all have needs, and you shouldn’t feel as though moving forward to satiate them makes you selfish. It doesn’t.

 

Focus On That Which Weighs You Down

 

Many things can weigh us down in life, but if you let them define you, you’ll never move past them. For instance, coming out of a bad relationship can leave you feeling completely lost, and perhaps lesser than you were going into it. Of course, abuse must be dealt with through therapy and care, but it can also be that you chalk this up to a learning experience, and take your time to understand that it wasn’t your fault things turned out this way. This can help you relearn, step by step, that you can move forward and that you do deserve a beautiful future. That helps.

 

Make Things Simple 

 

There’s no need to make things too complex. Simplifying your life can be a fantastic means of measuring things, and taking a breather. For instance, you might use a blueprint, such as a debt to success system review, to help you move forward. You might wish to cut out some of your responsibilities if you’ve found yourself attending too many hobbies and measures over time. It could be that you just need to take some time for yourself, with a mini-vacation. These little elements can help you open up to yourself, and from there, better who you are, with less of the mental clutter to work through.

 

With this advice, we hope you can more easily renew your personal sense of self-worth. You deserve it.

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Dealing With IBS: What You Need To Know

August 18, 2020 Leave a Comment

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IBS is one of the most uncomfortable and annoying conditions that affect a significant percentage of the population. Some people suffer from IBS their entire lives, and others only feel the discomfort occasionally. 

 

However, IBS affects you; the tips and tricks on this page should help make sure you deal with the matter as effectively as possible. You should always seek professional medical advice if your symptoms persist for more than a couple of days, but the information below should also make a massive difference to the way you feel. 

 

Eating a healthy diet

 

Planning your diet is the first thing you need to do if IBS has become a problem for you. The condition affects different people in varying ways, and so there is no strict routine you need to follow. In most instances, you just need to slowly cut different things out of your diet and assess the results. 

 

It would help if you managed to work out which foods cause the worst symptoms, and so you can then plan a diet that doesn’t include them. Creating a meal plan for each week should help ensure you can eat healthily without ever making your IBS worse. 

 

There is a wealth of information online that you can use for meal planning, and there are thousands of useful recipe websites if you get stuck for ideas. 

 

Avoiding caffeine and sugar

 

Many people who suffer from IBS will find that reducing the amount of caffeine and sugar in their diet can significantly impact the way they feel. So, avoid drinking cups of tea or coffee five times each day, and try to leave those sweets on the shelves when you visit your local supermarket. 

 

You can also choose to buy zero-sugar and low-caffeine versions of your favorite foods and drinks if you think that will help. 

 

It might be the case that your IBS does not become worse if you consume lots of caffeine and sugar. However, those are the two ingredients in the food that tend to cause the most issues across the board. 

 

Taking supplements 

 

There are lots of specialist products on the market today known to help people with IBS. With that in mind, you might like to take a look around at your local health store or shop online.  

 

Take the time to read reviews to find out what other customers think of the products before you spend your money. Some people say the best lectin blocking supplements offer the most noticeable impact. Others suggest that vitamin supplements can improve their condition. 

 

At the end of the day, you just need to read as much information as possible and make an educated decision. 

 

Now you know a little more about the best strategy for dealing with IBS, nothing should prevent you from making some progress. There is nothing worse than feeling bloated and uncomfortable all the time, and so it’s best to get started as soon as possible. Just remember to speak to your doctor if the symptoms persist for too long.

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Do You Know How To Take Care Of Your Health As You Get Older?

July 3, 2020 Leave a Comment

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One thing that a lot of people really don’t want to think about is the fact that their body is going to change as they get older. Sure, right now you might feel totally invincible but that’s not always going to be the case. The biggest mistake that a lot of people make is that they leave those kinds of concerns for the future. The issue is that, by that point, the things that you can do are a whole lot more limited. With that in mind, here are some areas of your health that you might want to start thinking about more as you get old.

 

Your eyesight

 

If you’re spent your entire life with practically perfect vision, the idea of your eyesight deteriorating as you get older can be pretty scary. However, there are always plenty of things that can be done to deal with issues with your eyesight, from the obvious stuff like glasses to more drastic options like laser treatments or even surgery. Of course, to help to avoid doing any added damage to your sight, the best thing that you can do is to try and reduce the amount of strain that you put them under. This means that it’s a good idea to take a break from staring at screens from time to time.

 

Your hearing

 

There are few things more fun that going to a concert or even just blasting loud music in your car but the truth is that those things can have serious consequences if you’re not protecting your ears. Experiencing hearing loss can be pretty scary but the truth is that there are plenty of things that can be done about it, from surgical options to rechargeable hearing devices. But, as with so many other things, the best solutions are preventative. Protecting your hearing with things like earplugs can make your life a whole lot more pleasant further down the line.

 

Your lifestyle

 

There’s something wonderful about being young and feeling like you can do anything you want without any consequences and that often extends to your health. People feel like they can eat what they want, drink what they want, stay up all night, and do all kinds of things that are pretty terrible for them. However, as you get older, these kinds of things start to have more and more of a negative impact on both your health and your life as a whole. Learning to moderate your lifestyle when you’re younger is an essential skill to help you stay healthy as you get older.

 

It might feel like all of these things are issues that won’t become serious until well into the future but the truth is that a lot of these things can impact people who are pretty young as well. The truth is that, no matter how invincible you might feel, the best thing that you can do is to take the best possible care of your body no matter what stage of life you’re at. That way you can live the longest, healthiest, happiest life possible.

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The Doctor Said It’s Twins. Okay, Now What?

June 26, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Having one child is scary enough, but when you find out you’re having twins, it takes it to a whole new level. Expecting one baby and getting two requires a massive psychological shift and a lot of extra preparation. 

 

Fortunately, a lot of mothers have been in your position. They go into pregnancy, believing that just one baby is on the way. Then, a few weeks in, they discover that they are responsible for two new human beings, and it changes everything. 

 

For some mothers, the idea of having twins is exciting. It means getting their family ambitions out of the way in a single stroke, introducing two new beautiful babies to the world. For others, it’s a little unnerving, especially for first-time mothers. Looking after one child is a challenge. But taking care of two is a massive task. 

 

Researchers have identified several trends associated with having twins. In general, it tends to be more common in older mothers in their thirties and forties. At this age, the ovaries are more likely to release more than one egg, increasing the likelihood of double fertilization. 

 

It is also more likely to occur in people who are twins themselves or have a history of twins in their family. Interestingly, only non-identical twins that run in families. Identical ones don’t because that involves the chance separation of a single egg into two distinct people. 

 

Twins are also much more likely if you’ve had IVF fertility treatment. When doctors do IVF, they typically attempt to fertilize many eggs, hoping that one will eventually grow into a child. Sometimes, though, they do the job too well, and you wind up with twins or even triplets.

 

Finally, women who have twins really do have bigger bumps to contend with. For a few months, you might have backache. 

 

There are several ways that you can prepare for the arrival of twins. Here’s what to do. 

 

Take A Deep Breath

 

First thing’s first: take a deep breath. It’s okay to be a little shocked after the doctor delivers the news that you’re going to be having two babies instead of one. Remember, you don’t have to process all of the emotions at once. In fact, it is probably best if you don’t. If possible, try to sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning. Once your brain has had time to process events, you’ll feel in a stronger position to take on the new responsibility. 

 

Get Reading

 

If you’re planning on having a baby, you’ve probably already learnt a lot about how to parent effectively. Raising twins, however, involves practical issues you don’t experience if you’re raising one baby at a time. For instance, how do you organize feeding and bedding? 

 

Blogs should be your first port of call. Here you can get twin nursery ideas, tips, and tricks and learn all there is to know about caring for two babies at once. Remember, there are a lot of mothers out there who have already been through what you’re going through and can show you the ropes, so you don’t make the same mistakes as they did. It turns out, for instance, that you don’t actually need to buy two of everything – just the essentials. 

 

Separate The Cribs

 

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As newborns, your babies won’t be particularly adventurous. As they grow older, however, they’ll start wanting to climb out of their cribs and into that of the other twin. Many experienced parents, therefore, recommend that you separate the two cribs. Either put them on opposite sides of the room or put your children in separate bedrooms if you have space. 

 

Spruce Up Your Diet

 

When you’re pregnant with twins, you’re not just eating for two – you’re eating for three! 

 

Professionals, therefore, recommend that you eat a healthy, nutrient-dense diet, full of vitamins and minerals. You’ll need to ensure that you get adequate intake of iodine, folate, calcium and iron to help your children grow big and strong. 

 

Consider Your Birthing Options

 

Single babies are usually born around forty weeks into pregnancy. Twins, however, typically arrive slightly earlier, generally between 37 and 38 weeks. Your children, therefore, will come sooner than a standard pregnancy. 

 

You’ll want to consider your birthing options with your midwife. You can absolutely have a natural birth when having twins, but undergoing a Cesarean may be better in some cases. Remember, Cesareans are twice as likely when having twins than with a single baby. 

 

Having twins can be a worry, but it is also a lot of fun.

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Are You Drinking Too Much?

June 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

 

Drinking alcohol is a common part of socializing or a way to unwind. As alcohol is so normal, it can be easier than you might think for a drinking problem to sneak up on you and start causing you health and happiness problems. If you’re concerned about your drinking habits, here are some signs to watch out for. 

 

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You Set Limits But Don’t Meet Them

You might have noticed that you get drunk quickly, or that you’re drinking every night. You might be deciding that you stop after two drinks or not drink at all. However, be the end of the night, you’re drunk again and aren’t sure what went wrong. If you find yourself often go over the limits you’ve set yourself, then this is sign that you’re losing control of your drinking. 

 

Others Make Comments About Your Drinking

Your friends might not be making serious comments about your drinking, but maybe they make jokes about how much you drink. There might be some truth to what they’re saying. If you’re known as someone who can handle their drink, or you have a reputation for enjoying a drink, this might be a warning sign. 

 

You Crave Alcohol

Crave can be a misleading term. It doesn’t have to mean your mouth waters at the thought of a drink, or you’re buying alcohol to drink all at once. Craving can also be a low-level romanticization of happy hour that carries you through your day. Having a drink to unwind sometimes is ok, and shouldn’t be seen as a problem, but if you can only get through the door by thinking about the drink you’ll have later, then you have a problem on your hands. 

 

You Get Defensive About Your Drinking

How do you react if someone suggests that you might want to take it easy, or think about quitting drinking? If you feel insulted or get defensive, then ask yourself why. If the suggestion comes from someone who cares about you and that you respect, consider why it bothers you. Are they perhaps echoing your internal concerns and you are in fact feeling worried about your drinking and the idea of having to stop? 

 

Drinking Is Taking A Toll On Your Health And Well-Being

Your Doctor might not bluntly tell you that you are an alcoholic, but if they start to suggest that you might want to cut back on your drinking, then this is a sign that it’s time to stop or drastically cut back. If you feel weird when you wake up without a hangover, even a mild one, then this is another sign. If you spend all morning getting over the night before, then this is another sign that you drink too much. For those who drink moderately, hangovers should be rare, if you get them at all. If hangovers are a part of your routine, then it’s time to take a hard look at your drinking habits and start to make some changes.

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Fun Desserts To Make For Your Family This Weekend

June 3, 2020 Leave a Comment

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What better way to make life more exciting in lock down than create some great recipes? 

 

We all love a good sweet treat now and again, and even when you are trying to be healthy, all things come in moderation and a treat now and again is worth the effort. 

 

Today we want to share some amazing sweet treat recipes with you that will have to begging for more this weekend. Whether you are seeing family for the first time in months or still holding out a while longer, these recipes will be a showstopper for the table!  

 

Profiterole tower (croquembouche) 

 

Croquembouche is a classic french recipe and it is one that is always a hit with everyone. It is more commonly known as a tower of profiteroles and is easier than you think to create. 

 

These are baked and then covered with a sugar caramel, but you can also use isomalt. Take a look at how isomalt is used in cake decorating. 

 

Ingredients:

 

75g strong white bread flour 

50g butter 

2tbsp sugar 

2 eggs

300ml double cream 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

150g Melted dark chocolate 

150g caramel or isomalt 

 

  1. To create the choux pastry for this dish you will first need to heat up the butter in a pan until it melts. Add the flour and allow it to cook out to create a roux. 
  2. Take off the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Add beaten eggs and sugar and beat into a smooth pastry. Add to a piping bag. 
  3. Grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 190C. 
  4. Pipe small circles of pastry onto the baking sheet; using a damp finger to press down the peak on top. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and risen. Allow to cool. 
  5. Whip your double cream and add vanilla to sweeten. Using a thin nozzle piping bag, pipe into the profiteroles. Drizzle on some chocolate and Chill. 
  6. To create your tower, dip each profiterole in caramel or isomalt and tower on top of each other. You can finish the dish with a drizzle of caramel around the tower. 

White chocolate and raspberry cupcakes 

 

Cupcakes are a simple dish but always a pleasure for everyone in the family. 

 

Ingredients: 

 

175 g butter 

175 g self-raising flour

175 g caster sugar

1 tsp baking powder

3 large eggs 

Dash of milk 

100g white chocolate chips 

50g fresh raspberries 

3 tbsp raspberry jam 

280g icing sugar 

140g butter (additional) 

White chocolate shavings 

 

  1. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until it is light and creamy. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. 
  2. Add flour and baking powder and fold gently. Add milk chocolate chips and 1 tbsp raspberry jam. 
  3. Preheat an oven to 190C and scoop mixture into cupcake tins. Bake for 15 minutes. 
  4. Mix together your icing sugar and butter until smooth and light. Add the remaining raspberry jam and mix lightly to create a marble effect. 
  5. Add to a piping bag with a nozzle and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Top with a fresh raspberry and a shaving of white chocolate. 
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How To Keep Your New Dog Healthy & Happy

May 31, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Getting a new family dog is an exciting time for you and your loved ones. However, you may be a bit anxious if this is your first pet, or you’ve never had a dog roaming around the house before.

As the pet owner, it’s your responsibility that your dog is happy and healthy and well taken care of over the years. The following advice will help you achieve this goal and ensure that your household knows best practices when it comes to attending to your dog’s needs. Divvy up the responsibilities among your family members so you can all participate and share in the joys that a dog will bring you.

Focus on Feed Your Dog A Nutritious Diet

You can keep your dog healthy and happy by feeding it high-quality dog food. Invest in healthy kinds of dog food that contains fresh ingredients and is free of any harmful preservatives or fillers. Your pet will have more natural energy and will enjoy mealtime because of how delicious the food you’re serving tastes. Avoid feeding your dog human foods that can be dangerous to their health and find a wholesome dog food that they’ll love that will help them grow strong and live a long and active life.

Provide Them with A Designated Space in Your Home

You want to make sure your new dog feels safe and comfortable when entering your home. Therefore, designate a space in your home where they can spend time. Buy them a cozy bed they can lay in when they’re tired or want to rest that’s away from all the foot traffic and noise in your house. Also, place their food and water in an area that’s easy for them to access and where they can eat and drink as they please. Adequate shelter and clean, dry bedding will help to ensure that your new dog remains healthy and feels happy.

Find A Trusted Vet

Your new dog is going to need to visit the vet every so often. Find a trusted vet in the area that’s close to home, and you feel comfortable taking your dog to for checkups and other procedures. Read the online reviews and ask around for advice to help you decide where to go. Keep your dog healthy and happy by following your vet’s recommendations and making sure you stay up-to-date with their required shots, medicines, and vaccinations.

Make Time for Daily Play & Exercise

Another way you can keep your new dog healthy and happy is to make time for daily play and exercise with them. Dogs love to run around and play fetch or other games, so put in the effort to ensure that you set aside plenty of opportunities for your pet to burn off some energy. They’ll sleep better at night and will be able to maintain a healthy weight and heart when you commit to making sure they fit in their daily exercise. Having a pet to care for is also an excellent way for you to stay in shape and get outside to enjoy some fresh air.

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3 Ideas on How to Keep Busy At Home

May 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Even before lock down measures stretched across the world, the house was getting a little boring. There are only so many times you can bake a tray of cookies just so you have an excuse to wash the dishes, after all. But it’s important to keep busy, whether there’s a global pandemic going on or not. It keeps you interested in your home. It means you don’t dread waking up every morning fearing there’s nothing to do, it means that you can get something done. 

 

But where do you start? You’re all out of puzzles. You’re tired of rearranging your bookshelf. The thought of dusting or vacuuming once more makes you feel ever-so-slightly nauseous. These are the first few things that come to mind, but they are not the last, so here are three ideas on how to keep busy at home. 

 

Get Into Shape (Finally)

 

Okay, so you can’t go to the gym, and you may even be unsure if you want to go out, but you can still stay healthy while working from home, and you might finally fulfill your yearly resolution to get into shape long before you consider it a lost cause. 

 

Whether you’re eating less fast food because everywhere is closed or having the time and the energy to go for a run around the backyard, you can make the most of having what feels like all the time in the world. Furthermore, a quick workout is a great way to break up the day so that you won’t feel like the minutes tick by too slowly for your liking. 

 

Clear Out This Mess (Finally)

 

Clutter is something that seems to grow exponentially, and it doesn’t matter how much you try to forget about it or cram it away in the attic, it persists. 

 

Knowing you have an abundance of clutter will wreak havoc on your mind. You know that unless you do something, it will only get worse. Sorting and getting rid of your clutter can be a cathartic experience. You can take a trip down memory lane but also clear some space in your house and your mind. 

 

Learn Something New (Finally)

 

The devil makes work for idle hands, so give them something to do. There are thousands of things you can explore while stuck inside. You can learn an instrument, learn to paint, try knitting, or crocheting. Just do anything to keep you busy. 

 

Learning something new isn’t just a way to keep you busy, though. It’s also fantastic for opening your world to different things. This will allow you to find new hobbies that can stay with you even after the pandemic finishes. You can get the whole family involved so you can try this journey together and support one another along the way. 

 

Staying Busy (Finally)

 

Whether you live alone or with your family, keeping busy is essential to staying firmly in love with your home. If you’re unsure of how to spend your time while you wait around to get back outside, then consider trying out one of these, two of these, or even all three.

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You Don’t Need to Spend A Lot To Stay Healthy

April 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Many people are under the impression that it takes a lot of money to stay fit and healthy. They believe you need to invest in the most organic foods, the highest-quality gym gear. You need to pay for gym memberships or only eat certain types of food that are Certified Healthy. 

 

This isn’t the case, though, and it’s a myth that you can only stay healthy by spending a lot of money. Instead, there are ways to keep in the best shape you can, both physically and mentally, without wasting all your hard-earned cash. If this sounds appealing, here are some of the ways you can do so. 

 

A Healthy Diet

 

Eating well is something that everyone should strive to do. Still, fresh produce can quickly be forgotten in the back of the refrigerator, it will go rotten if left on the counter, and this makes any food you forget about seem like a waste. 

 

You don’t need to spend the money, though, and if you’re blessed with a garden, or enough space to create an indoor vegetable patch, you can grow your own. This will help you save money and know exactly where your food is coming from, giving you peace of mind and confidence in every salad you enjoy. 

 

Excellent Dental Health 

 

Dental health is something we should never neglect, and while regular trips to the dentist can cost money, the better you take care of your teeth, the more money you’ll save. One way to do this is to explore the potential of revitin coupon code, which is a toothpaste with 100% natural ingredients that can promote excellent oral health.

 

Similarly, you can focus on cutting sugars and other harmful agents out of your diet. The less sugar 7ou eat, the better your mouth will feel, and as sugary snacks often cost more money, you can save even more cash, as well. 

 

Staying Fit and Active

 

Gym memberships are overrated, but staying fit and healthy is not. Many people struggle to get into the habit of going to the gym, and this can be for several reasons. They may not feel confident enough, they might not be able to get to the gym as often or as easily as they’d like, or they might not enjoy the atmosphere. 

 

This doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit, however. Home workouts and regular exercise around the neighborhood will help keep you in excellent shape. You can do body weight exercises, such as push-ups and planks, or invest a little money into weights and other home gym equipment. These are cheaper than a monthly gym membership and allow you to get a little exercise whenever you like. 

 

Saving Money, Keeping Healthy

 

Saving money and keeping healthy are not two things that many people consider to go hand in hand. However, there is always the potential to be as frugal as possible while ensuring excellent physical, mental, and dental health. All it takes is a little dedication and a splash of creativity, and you’ll enjoy a healthy lifestyle and bank balance in no time. 

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Tips For Having Better Workouts

February 21, 2020 Leave a Comment

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If you’re going to go to the trouble of joining a gym and exercising, then it makes sense that you want to have productive workout sessions. There are a few tips you can apply to your routine that will help you to enjoy what you’re doing and be satisfied with the progress you’re making.

It’s ultimately up to you regarding how much time and energy you want to dedicate to your workouts. Focus on what you’re doing and setting yourself up for success, and you’ll likely be more pleased with the outcomes. Most importantly, have fun and notice how good you feel after an intense workout.

Set Goals & Track Your Progress

It’s in your best interest to set goals for what you want to achieve before starting a workout regimen. Write down how much weight you want to be able to bench press or how long you want to be able to run for as you improve. Not only record down your objectives but also be diligent about tracking your progress. If you’re going to lose weight, then weigh yourself weekly to see how you’re doing, and so you know what adjustments you need to make.

Dress for Success

Another tip to help you have better workouts is to dress for success. Go shopping and purchase the right workout clothes and gear you need to be able to move and sweat. Also, consider your eyewear options if you wear glasses. Be aware of progressive lens problems and that they can cause peripheral distortion and you to feel dizzy at times. Therefore, you may want to make changes based on any side effects you experience and what will help you to see the best as you workout.

Eat Healthily

Your diet can impact how well you’re able to perform when working out. Therefore, get in the habit of eating healthy meals. Stay away from sugars, bad fats, and drinking alcohol if you’re trying to lose weight and exercise more vigorously. Put foods and ingredients in your body that will allow you to work out harder and longer and make for an easier recovery. If you’re planning on running long distances, then you may need more carbohydrates in your body to help you maintain your pace and energy levels.

Stretch & Warm-up

It’s in your best interest to do warm-up sets and stretch before exercising. When you first enter the gym, you’re going to be stiff and cold. You want your body and muscles loose so you can avoid injuries. All it takes is a few minutes, so get to the gym early, so you have plenty of time to warm-up and cool down. Use warming up as a way to practice proper form and thinking about what you can do to improve your workout this time around.

Hydrate

You can have better workouts by drinking a lot of water before, during, and after exercising, so you stay hydrated. Water is vital for keeping your body in prime condition and you to avoid experiencing health issues and burnout. If you are exercising outdoors in the hot sun, then you might want to bring extra water bottles with you to ensure you don’t run out. You’ll likely struggle to perform at your highest level when you’re dehydrated. Recognize the symptoms of dehydration such as a dry mouth and lack of sweating so you can stop what you’re doing or get medical help if necessary.

Find an Accountability Partner

Sometimes it can be challenging to motivate yourself to work out regularly. It’s understandable and an obstacle many people face. Therefore, consider finding an accountability partner who you can turn to when you need encouragement. Be there for each other so that you can cheer one another on and hold each other accountable for showing up to the gym and working out daily. Give this person a call if you’re struggling to eat healthily and keep up with your exercise routine so they can give you the support you need to keep going. Working out is sometimes more fun when you’re doing it with someone else.

Work with A Trainer

You always have the option of hiring and working with a trainer so that you can reach your fitness goals. They know what moves to work on and body parts to focus on for optimal results. They’ll expect you at each session so you won’t have the choice of skipping your workouts. It may be that you’re the type of person who needs more structure when it comes to getting into an exercise routine and staying focused.

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Africa-Inspired Food Choices For A New You

February 11, 2020 Leave a Comment

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With the new year well and truly underway, many of us are fully into our body transformation plans. We want to improve the way we look AND eat more sustainable at the same time. Fortunately, those two things go hand in hand. 

 

Want to know how to remove fat without surgery? Easy: either go for non-invasive surgery or just eat right. Here are some fat-melting recipes that are good for your health and also the planet. 

 

Ethiopian Peanut Stew

 

Ethiopia probably has the most exciting food heritage of any country in Africa – even more so than Moroccan, thanks to the role Addis Abbaba played in trade centuries ago. The land we see today was once an essential stop-off for merchants as they carried spices from the near and far east. 

 

The country is famous for its teff bread, but it also makes a mean stew too. 

 

Ingredients for up to six people: 

 

  • One onion, chopped
  • Three cloves of garlic, chopped or crushed
  • Tbsp olive oil
  • Two 450g tins of chopped tomatoes
  • Three tablespoons of peanut butter
  • 6 cups of stock
  • Diced sweet potato
  • Chickpeas
  • Fresh parsley
  • Whole, roasted peanuts
  • Greens of your choice
  • Chopped red pepper
  • Salt and pepper

 

Method

 

Making this receipt is easy. 

 

First, fry the onions and garlic in the olive oil in a large pan on a gentle heat until they turn translucent. 

 

Next, add the tinned tomatoes, stock, sweet potatoes, chopped red pepper, stock, chickpeas and peanut butter. 

 

Leave to simmer for 20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are cooked through. 

 

Next, add the greens and the parsley until wilted. 

 

Meanwhile, put the peanuts on a tray and roast them in the oven for a couple of minutes. 

 

To assemble, use a ladle to spoon the soup into bowls and then sprinkle the roasted peanuts and whole parsley on top. 

 

If you’ve never tried this recipe before, you’re in for a treat. It is unlike pretty much anything else out there. If you want to bulk it up a bit, serve it with crusty wholemeal bread or teff pancakes if you can find them!

 

When food tastes this good, making healthy choices is easy. Often, all it takes is a little experimentation to discover all of the flavors out there. You don’t have to stick with regular diet foods. They’re manufactured products cooked up in western labs. It’s much better to delve into the food cultures of other civilizations to see what they ate and how they kept the pounds from accumulating in the past. 

 

What you’ll find, almost invariably, is that they centered their diet around traditional staple foods. In Ethiopia, they got their calories from teff and another grain called sorghum. To that, they added a range of fresh local vegetables and beans. 

 

The native Americans ate a diet of quinoa and corn, as they believed that these foods gave them the energy and vigour they needed to survive a harsh, nomadic existence.

 

And in the far east, the Japanese ate mostly brown rice and sweet potatoes, again with a bit of veg thrown in for good measure. These foods kept people slim and healthy, and they can do the same for you.

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Doing Your Utmost for the Environment

February 5, 2020 Leave a Comment

Nowadays, we’re becoming increasingly aware of the detrimental impact we’re having on the very planet we live on. Human activity is destroying the environment. We’re engaging with deforestation. We’re polluting the atmosphere. We’re promoting global warming and climate change, which in turn is melting icecaps, rising sea levels and increasing the number of greenhouse gases we’re emitting. This is all negative. We’re creating an uninhabitable space when we need to live here, along with animals. Now, there are various steps we can take to reduce our impact on the planet. We can go vegan. We can reduce plastic usage. We can walk instead of driving, or opt for public transport when travelling a distance. But there’s another area we should pay more focus to – energy.

 

We all use energy on a daily basis. We use electricity or gas to heat and power our homes, work spaces, and commercial or public spaces. Of course, we can’t really live our lives fully without energy. However, we can stop engaging with fossil fuels and opt for more eco-friendly, renewable energies instead. The infographic below will give you a little insight into smart grid technologies and how they can distribute energy in an efficient and green way! This, of course, isn’t a change you can necessarily implement yourself. But it is making green energy more accessible, meaning you can then act by opting for green and renewable energy instead of more harmful options on the market.


Infographic Design By University of California RIverside

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Things to Think About As You Get Older

January 27, 2020 Leave a Comment

We’re all getting older. There’s no stopping your body from aging, even if there are various cosmetic treatments that help us to pretend that we’re not getting older. It can be difficult to grapple with the reality of getting older, but it’s something that’s essential for all of us to deal with. As you age and start to approach your later years, there are some important things to think about if you want to make the most of it.

 

What Your Priorities Are

 

Everyone has different priorities as they get older. Some people don’t want to stop working, as they fear it would mean they have nothing fulfilling to do with their life. Other people want to retire as soon as possible so they can spend more time with their family, travel, or enjoy life in other ways.

 

Staying Healthy As You Age

 

As life takes its toll on your body and every part of you gets older, it’s crucial to take care of it. Both your body and your mind are affected by age, so it’s worth thinking about how you want to take care of them, or even if you’re concerned with looking after yourself at all.

 

Preparing for the End of Your Life

 

You might not like to think about becoming ill later in life or about your death, but being prepared for these things can be helpful not just for you but your family too. By thinking about how you want to be cared for if you can’t care for yourself, you can have control over your future.


Infographic Design By Bradley University

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Seven Tips To Recover After A Car Accident

January 24, 2020 Leave a Comment

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you’ll know that recovery can take a little time. Whether you’ve been injured or are struggling with emotional distress, you need to give yourself time to recover and build up the courage to get back behind the wheel. Recovery will be different for everyone, but here are some tips to help. 

Image – free for commercial use

 

If you have been injured in any way, remember that you may be entitled to compensation, and if your injuries have prevented you from working, you might be able to claim a social security allowance. A social security lawyer can help you to get this. 

 

  1. Follow your Doctor’s instructions. In the first few days of recovery, it’s vital that you follow the instructions and recommendations of your doctor. Throughout the recovery process, keep seeing them and follow what they tell you to avoid causing further damage to yourself or prolonging your recovery. They can give you tips for routines and exercises to help you recover faster. 
  2. Rest and stay hydrated. After a car accident, the best form of recovery for both physical and emotional stress is plenty of rest. Your body needs rest to start healing itself and to give your mind time to recover. Rest and staying hydrated lets your body produce the important healing cells it needs to repair any damage and lets it focus just on the healing, speeding up your recovery. 
  3. Exercise. Exercise can also help a healing body. Speak with your doctor to create a safe, gentle exercise routine that will build up your strength again. Never start a routine without your doctor’s agreement, and start slowly. Gentle stretching or yoga can be a good place to start. 
  4. Consider physiotherapy. This is a whole-body approach to healing. Physiotherapy combines stretches, exercise, and diet to achieve and maintain healing benefits. Ask your doctor to refer you for a consultation. 
  5. Eat healthily. By eating a healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and protein, your body has the tools to start healing itself. If you’re eating well, you can boost your body’s natural healing powers, decreasing the time of recovery needed. 
  6. Give yourself plenty of time. Recovery can be very different for different people and doesn’t always go in a straight line. Try not to become frustrated if it feels like you haven’t got anywhere or are going backward. Don’t force yourself to return to your normal activities before you’re ready to do so. Pushing yourself too far too soon could mean you injure yourself further and actually end up needing even more time to recover. 
  7. Listen to your body. If you’re trying a new exercise routine or another healing tool, go slowly and keep listening to your body. If you need more rest, take it. Try to give your body what it needs to heal itself, and remember to keep listening to your doctor. 

 

The best way to heal after an accident is to be kind to yourself and give yourself time and rest to recover.

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Why Is Childhood Obesity Still On The Rise?

January 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control suggests that childhood obesity is still on the rise, despite massive efforts at the federal level to keep it in check. For many in the public health sector, it’s a wake-up call: if we don’t do something about this problem now, it will saddle future generations with massive healthcare costs they can’t afford. 

 

Part of the solution is to understand what is creating the problem in the first place. Childhood obesity rates were low before then 1980s, but once the Reagan decade got underway, it was clear that we had a problem. Children were getting bigger and bigger. 

 

Experts now believe that several factors are to blame. The first is the increase in sedentary lifestyles. Children are now much more likely to spend their evenings in front of screens than they are to make fun in the outdoors. 

 

The second and perhaps more important factor is the type of food that children consume today. Diets in the past were mostly meat and vegetables, with a bit of dairy thrown in for good measure. It wasn’t perfect, but it was undoubtedly an improvement on what kids are eating today. Now, their diets are chock full of refined sugars and carbohydrates in addition to meat and fat. It’s a deadline combination of nutrients that appears to predispose people to obesity and rapid weight gain. 

 

Are you worried about the childhood obesity epidemic? Please take a look at the following infographic to learn what’s causing it and how to stop it. 


Infographic by University of Nevada-Reno

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3 Health Issues We Don’t Always Take Seriously

December 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

There are certain issues with health that we will take seriously and we will always focus on. For instance, if you have a pain in most areas of your body, you’re probably not going to ignore it. This can lead to a lot of false alarms. Back pain, for instance, is known for having a bark for worse than it’s a bite. So people often rush to the doctor only to discover that they’ve just pulled a muscle. However, there are other issues that we won’t focus on at all. Here are some of the health issues that you certainly shouldn’t ignore and are more important than you think. 

Pic Credit Pexels CCO License

 

Hearing 

 

It’s probably easier than you think to damage your hearing. Once sound reaches above a certain volume, your hearing is at risk. The worrying thing is that there are a lot of situations in typical daily life that cause this type of danger. A train passing by is loud enough to damage your hearing and so is an Imax theatre. These are things which we don’t even think about and we often consider are completely safe. There’s also the dangerously loud noises that will be apparent in certain work environments too. 

 

It’s also fair to say that a lot of people underestimate the importance of their hearing. For instance, you might not take the problem of tinnitus seriously. However, this can impact your quality of life and it’s not uncommon for people with tinnitus to feel depressed or even suicidal. Crucially, you can’t cure tinnitus which means that the only option is to come to terms with a condition like this once it sets in. 

 

So the question then becomes how should you handle the issue. There are numerous options here. One of the best possibilities is always going to hearing protection and this is available in various different forms. So, you will always be able to find the right choice that you need. That could be ear muffs, custom protection or earplugs. 

 

Oral Health

 

Ignoring this issue is not a case of misunderstanding the importance. Instead, it’s about avoiding something that we all hate. We’re of course talking about the dentist appointment. No one likes going to the dentist because there’s always the concern that you might end up with a filling or worse still, a root canal. The problem with this is that dental checks are actually quite crucial. 

 

Dental checks aren’t just to make sure that you are brushing your teeth regularly enough. It’s also about ensuring that you’re not showing any signs of serious health issues like oral cancer. A doctor won’t check this, only a dentist will typically notice the signs and help you move forward with a potential diagnosis. 

 

As well as this, there are certain oral health issues that impact other areas of the body. An example of this is certainly going to be teeth grinding. Grinding teeth can cause you to develop issues with headaches. If you’re waking up with headaches in the morning, this is usually a clear sign that there’s a problem with your teeth. 

 

Diet

Pexels CCO License

 

Your diet can affect a lot more than just your weight. Studies show that the food we eat can impact everything from our mood to our general level of fitness. Some studies have even suggested that diet can mean you are more at risk of developing long term cognitive issues including dementia. Diet also becomes far more important as you get older. Once you start to age, your body is less able to bounce back as effectively. Instead, it becomes difficult to both lose weight and stop the negative impact of unhealthy foods. 

 

So, how can you make sure that you are eating the right diet that your body needs? Well, there are a few possibilities here. For instance, you can think about simply getting your five a day. However, your main focus should be on antioxidants. These are found in lots of natural foods. They help fight back against the process of oxygenation in your body. This is another process that has been linked to a variety of negative issues that can impact your body. It’s usually just a case of ensuring that you are consuming more fruit and veg. 

 

We hope this helps you see that there are certain health issues that we tend to ignore and that we definitely shouldn’t. Instead, it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers here and take the right steps to ensure that we are protecting our health. 

 

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It’s Always BBQ Time!

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

Summer has gone, and with it, the joys of outdoor living. For a few months, families enjoy the pleasure of a long evening in the garden, feeling the warmth of the sun as they prepare their dinner outside. Everybody loves a good BBQ party. There’s a sudden sense of freedom about food that no other cooking method can reproduce. Grilling your food outside is all about conviviality, simplicity, and healthy choices too. Indeed, people are more likely to create balanced dinners that focus on the real taste of food when they’re in front of a BBQ. Simple food is always the best! Unfortunately, now that the summer has gone, you can wave bye-bye to your beloved BBQ recipes. But what if we’d tell you that it’s always BBQ season? 

Pexels – CC0 License 

 

But it’s raining outside! 

How can you prepare a BBQ party in autumn, when the rain can fall without warning? The answer is: You don’t need to plan an outdoor meal. You can use an indoor, smokeless grill, for instance. Gotham has some excellent models that are guaranteed to meet your expectations – you can click here for more Gotham smokeless grill reviews. Indeed, grilling remains a viable cooking option throughout the colder months of the year. While you might need to move the BBQ indoor, nothing is stopping you from enjoying the same effortless recipes you loved during the summer.  

 

It’s unhealthy!

You are always in charge of your food. While the summer BBQ tends to stay on the healthy side, because of the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables in summer, things can be a little different in winter. However, all you need to do is to take a look at what you’re eating. Making nutritious meals your priority can help to tackle indulgent excesses in winter BBQ parties. For instance, if you’re going to make burgers, you can prioritize wholemeal buns. Alternatively, if you’re worried about sugar-loaded sauces, you can easily add flavors to your food with spices instead. 

 

I don’t eat meat

You don’t have to be an enthusiastic meat-eater to throw a BBQ party. In fact, there are plenty of yummy vegetarian grilling recipes from cooking light here, for inspiration. Grilled eggplant, for instance, is super nutritious and filling too. If you want a meat substitute, tofu works well on a grill and is ideal with a salad of warmed vegetables. For a casual pick and mix dish, use grilled sweet potatoes with a homemade salsa – and don’t be shy with the chilies! 

 

There’s so much to prepare!

There’s no reason why planning a BBQ meal should be the job of one person. The advantage of grilling your food is that everybody can contribute to the meal and help to get things ready. You can enroll the kids to prepare a marinate for your veg and meat, for instance. Once the ingredients are cut, you can let your family pick and mix them as they see fit. A BBQ party is the occasion for the family cook to relax! 

 

If you’re missing your summer BBQ party, there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy a deliciously grilled dinner at home, even when the weather is horrible outside. More importantly, a BBQ can be fun, relaxing, and healthy, so there’s no reason to deny yourself the joys of winter grilling! 

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Is Your Bad Habit Beyond Control?

April 5, 2018 Leave a Comment

Bad habits – we all have them. They are the little things in life that often make it a tad more bearable rather than just a slow slog through the workday to the weekend. Whether it’s that glass or red with dinner or the TV shows that have been building endlessly on the planner, you’re bound to have something in your life that can be classified as a bad habit. You might not even realize it’s bad for you, but don’t worry, we’re going to help you there. As well as checking out some of the signs that your bad habit has grown too powerful, we’ll also check out some of the ways weird bad habits can negatively impact your life.

 

Grey’s Is Love Grey’s Is Life

Pic Source

 

We chose Grey’s Anatomy, but this could really relate to any TV show you’re obsessed with. As Aaron Sorkin once famously suggested, there’s a difference between being a fan and having a fetish. You can probably tell which one this https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/ is. It’s a finer line than you’d think but if a TV show is quickly becoming more important than aspects of your real life, you can bet that your bad habit is out of control. Though, who could blame you if you can’t stand to miss an episode of Grey’s. Still, it’s worth pointing out that if you’re sitting watching TV, you’re missing out on other aspects of your life. As well as this, doctors have now suggested sitting for long periods can cause cancer! Let’s face it if you’re binge-watching TV you’re probably not doing squats or sitting on your exercise bike. If you are, that’s awesome, keep it up!

 

Waking Up In Weird Places

 

Again, this could mean that you fell asleep on the sofa watching Netflix. Generally seeing the ‘are you still watching’ message isn’t a good sign. It’s Netflix basically saying, hey, maybe go outside? But, on a more serious note, waking up in a weird place is actually a sign you could have a substance addiction. Drinking too much alcohol can cause blackouts. Sound familiar? You might want to check out a site like https://www.rehabclinic.org.uk/treatment/alcohol-rehab/. If you can recognize the issues, it’s a lot easier to deal with the problem and get to a better place, improving your life.

 

What? It’s Only Costing Me….Oh

 

Of course, it’s possible that a bad habit isn’t bad for your health but rather your bank balance. A lot of bad habits are expensive. For instance, if you love junk food, you’ll be spending a lot each month on things that literally end up in the waste. Yes, that kind of a waste. When we think of bad habits, we often think of the cost of alcohol and cigarettes. Junk food costs a lot more than you probably realize.

 

I’ve Been Doing This For How Many Hours?

 

More than you’d probably like to admit if you’re a gamer. Yes, gaming can be addictive, and if you check the stats on a game you’ve been playing, you might find you’ve played for a hundred hours. But that’s nothing. People with a gaming addiction waste days of their life on virtual worlds. The biggest issue here? You’re missing out on the real things around you.

 

Has this article made you see your own addiction is out of control? Start cutting back, and you can fill your life with other things, improving your world.

Free

 

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Healthy Finds

April 3, 2018 Leave a Comment

When I was younger my parents had a garden out back that seemingly could feed an army. They had everything: sweet corn, potatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins, strawberries, and tomatoes just to name a few. They even had a few different fruit and nut trees in the yard so when we went to the grocery store the only thing we ever needed to buy was milk and the occasional bit of meat when game meat in the freezer ran out. Having everything so natural and so fresh is what my mom credited to her awesome cooking. I’m sure there was plenty of skill involved too, but having those all-natural ingredients without the additives that are so often found in today’s foods definitely helped. Now that I have a family of my own I wish we had the ability to grow the type of all-natural food that my parents did. When I dug deeper into the all-natural label that the different food manufactures placed on their products I was disheartened to learn that hardly any of them were truly all natural. They all had something added to them. I don’t have the time to constantly do the deep delve into all food products I’m feeding my family. That’s why healthy-finds.com is such a life saver.

It provides the one shop connection for the healthiest, closest to natural foods on the market. They partner with all of the top brands which are dedicated to truly making the best possible products such as REAL Foods and Oobroo just to name a few. Being a member doesn’t just have the pros of knowing you’re getting the best stuff either. Every week I get a newsletter giving me a heads up to what products are coming out to try as well as pointing out all those nasty lies from big pharma and big food. The combination of discounts, bargains, and coupons allows makes it feel like a real grocery store type stop, just on the computer. No need to travel to that Farmer’s Market. It’s great having the confidence in the food I give my family. I suggest if you’re sick and tired of being lied to and deceived by the Big Food, step into the Healthy-Finds family. Just joining gets you $60 in free gift cards. It’s a place for those who care about what’s going into your body.

Healthy Finds connects you with innovative health brands that are carefully reviewed by their Wellness Team.  The gift cards are good at dozens of these cutting-edge brands.

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Here’s How To Value Your Health

March 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

Your health is arguably one of the most valuable things in life that you have. After all it hard to enjoy the benefits of family and possessions if your health isn’t good. With that being the case it’s obvious that health should be something that we look after and value as much as possible. Sadly, not all of us do this in a consistent fashion, although there are some ways that you can value your health more that are listed below. Read on to find out what they are.

Image here

 

Exercise

 

One of the most valuable things you can do for your health is to exercise on a regular basis. Exercise is so good for you because it gets the oxygenated blood moving around your system, and helps to flush out all those nasty toxins. It also builds muscles, something that can help raise your metabolic rate, as well as burn fat, and if that wasn’t enough, it also releases happy chemicals into your system that can improve your mood.

 

What this means is that if you are tempted to miss that next workout because you are feeling a little tired, don’t! Remember nearly everyone can exercise, as long as they check it out with their doctor beforehand, and they pick an acid that is suitable for their current condition. You can even get some ideas on how to exercise at https://greatist.com/fitness/workouts-perfect-for-any-fitness-level.

 

Get clued up on health care

 

Another way to value your health is to get as informed about any conditions you have and the care that you can expect to receive as possible. The reasons that this is so important is because not only can it help you navigate all your doctor’s appointments and push for the treatment that you think is best, but it can also help you be aware of anything that your medical team is suggesting that isn’t quite right.

 

After all, medical personally are only human, and they can make mistakes too. However, by being as clued up as possible at least, you can be aware if anything is going wrong and then you can take appropriate action.

 

Such action that may include querying their treatment plan, contacting a medical malpractice lawyer like the one you will find at https://tittlelawfirm.com/lawsuits/medical-malpractice/, or asking for a second opinion. After all, who is in a better position and more invested in looking after your health than you?

 

Mental health is as important as physical health

 

Lastly, you can value your health by looking after your mental wellbeing as well as the physical side of things. Of course, mental health can be more complicated, in some ways to deal with because you may not be aware that you have an issue or are unable to communicate this to the right people to get the help you need.

 

Remember though that health is a holistic concept that includes how we feel regarding mood and outlook as well as how well our bodies are functioning. Therefore, if you are concerned about your mental well-being, be sure to see an expert that can help you identify what you are going through and give you some strategies for coping with it.

Therefore, if you are concerned about your mental well-being, be sure to see an expert, like the specialists at The Independent Pharmacy, that can help you identify what you are going through and give you some strategies for coping with it.

 

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