Oh those puppy-dog eyes. . . who can resist? There is a reason to turn the phrase "puppy-dog eyes" is used to describe a deliberate emotional blackmail, especially the tender on the basis of anyone with the wherewithal for a sweet ride the train to nowhere. expression most certainly comes with its namesakes. You know the look - easy head tilt, asking eyes, perhaps barely perceptible whine, just for emphasis

of your puppy, that look can say a lot of things, but it is often transparent asking for a snack. He seems to be saying, "See how cute I am? do not deserve something special ?"

Well of course I yield to his entreaties, because as owner of the dog will be if you do not agree wholeheartedly?

Well, believe it or not, would you refuse actually very responsible and loving pet owners.

The fact is, digestively-speaking, your dog does not need extra snacks to get him through the day. Giving and handing over a handful of nail clippers, only adds to (literally) growing problems with obesity that we see in dogs. Obesity causes serious health concern for dogs, including diabetes mellitus and orthopedic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, immune and reproductive disorders. Fat dogs are more at risk in surgery, more prone to injury, and have more stress on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and joints.

Snacks do not have their place, however. They can be a very effective tool for training, for example. So, the key component here would be not to eliminate snacks, but that censorship.

It is very important to limit snacks to those of healthy diversity and to always, always, always, without exception, and include them in your dog's daily calorie count. You can see the results for yourself snacking (Dare we point out those "love handles ", you're ignoring?). It is important to remember that these same results will be seen in your dog, even if it is less obvious at first glance.

When it comes to snacking, there are a few basic rules of thumb to follow:

Snacks should not account for more than 5% of the total daily diet, as measured in calories.

Avoid fatty snacks, such as commercial imitation bacon and sausage types, which only serve to upset the digestive system.

Do not tempt your pet with easily accessible goodies around the house.

Remember that everything is labeled as a snack should be considered supplemental in nature, and should never be used as a substitute for a complete and balanced diet.

Healthy snacks can include fruits and vegetables, and even some homemade "cookies" and biscuits. As a companion to our delicious Doggy Cuisine, we have put together a home-made recipes to treat your dog's enjoyment. They are fun to make, and even more fun to use. Many can be made ​​in "bulk" amounts, so you can store extras for later use. Take a look, you'll find a complete list if the recipes included on this page!

So there you have it - we now have our blessing. When he gives you that look that just can not resist, go ahead and cave. However, for the health of your dog, when a cave, the cave please be responsible.

When your dog is lost it is difficult to think about anything else. For you, it is basically the same as a missing child. It is a dear family member, and you have to do everything they can to find them. Your mind is probably going wild with fears and your emotions are all over the map. Take a deep breath, now once again and read the following basic tips.

act immediately . Time is critical. Every minute that passes is another minute that your dog May be straying further away from finding their way into evil. Do not hesitate to take action. Almost nothing is more important at this time. Call in sick, excuse yourself from the meeting, to break a date, all you need
enlist the assistance of other . Would you like to get as many other people involved as you possibly can. Call all your friends. Call family members. Call or visit your neighbors. Most people can identify with your situation and want to help. Even if they can not join the search they can keep an eye out, or help in making posters or phone calls. Now is the time to be shy. You have a missing loved one.
Physically Search Everywhere within 1-mile radius . Unless your dog is a "runner", he or she is likely to be within one-mile radius. In the first 2 hours, most dogs are just "wandering". They just explore and enjoy a little freedom. They were probably walking, not running. After you have enjoyed this new found freedom for a short time (10-30 minutes), they are likely to start thinking about returning home. Unfortunately, unless your dog has followed the familiar path he / she is likely to get confused and scared when he realizes that he has lost. It may be asked to befriend anyone finds it or it may decide to hide and avoid any contact with other people or animals. Keep searching and calling everyone for your dog. Make sure everyone uses the name of the dog. This will be a friendly voice to listen. Also, if your dog has any squeaky toys, save them permanently. Dogs have incredible hearing and it will be very comforting and inviting sound.
Post "Lost Dog" posters everywhere . Do not underestimate the power of "lost dog" posts. Everyone notices them when passing by. While people will not remember all the information on a poster, almost everyone remembers the breed and / or images. Make sure you have your dog's picture on a poster. (It should be the biggest thing.) If anyone sees or finds your dog will know to go back to one of the posters to get your contact information.
Call and visit shelters and veterinarians . In the first 24 hours and every day after, calls upon all local animal shelters and veterinary offices. After two days, physically go to all the animal shelters and look for your dog. Do not take the word of someone on the phone. They may be busy or in error.
Do not Give Up - Try other techniques
a) Bid Award.
b) Contact online pet services finder.
c) Consult with pet psychology. (It's actually worked for me. I can not recommend it highly enough .)

five friends went on a fishing trip down the Zambesi. Their terrifying story dramatized recently on UK Channel 4 program.

Arthur Taylor and Alistair Gellatly, two experienced safari guides, planned trip. They did not foresee problems.

Fay Taylor, Arthur's English wife, and her parents, Clive and Brenda Kelly went with them. Brenda did not want to go, but finally agreed that this is the last day of their visit to Zambia.

has almost become the last day of your life.

Zambesi River is awe inspiring. This is an amazing bird life and a huge variety of wildlife, including hippos and crocodiles huge.

atmosphere is very relaxed as they floated down a river. Fay commented: "We went through so many schools and hippos were all lazing about looked so calm and gentle ."

Brenda caught fish. groups were planning to go to a shady place to celebrate when the ship was hit by a hippopotamus. All five went into the sea, a boat was capsized.

Fay commented: "My subconscious is saying: 'This is it, this is the end .'"

They had to face the fact that they were conducted by one of the largest crocodile infested river in the world.

Fay was afraid: "To reflect on my bare dangly legs - it sent a chill through me to think that every moment is now one of us can be taken by a crocodile ."

and Clive Alistair kept on board and others were swept away by currents.

Arthur managed to grab Fay and Brenda as they struggled to keep their heads above water. Fortunately, now it's the middle of the river where it was submerged island.

They reached the place where they could stand with water up to knee. However, there is still a good chance to be eaten.

Alistair decided to swim for help and was swept away three or four hundred yards down river. He swam in the inlet and feet touched the ground. He got up and saw a crocodile in the water looking at it from twenty feet away. Then submerged ominously.

Alistair described his thoughts:

"I did not quite know what to do. I decided to go for the croc and maybe chase him. I went under water to see where he was a crocodile. As I started to go for the croc, it came to me.

"It was going for my legs. I pushed him with my left hand. She was gone for a bit and then it latched straight on my right hand. It was really hard to tear my arm off. I was getting pretty weak.

"I thought it was over, but I had one last idea and reached into his mouth with my left hand to the flap that keeps water out of your throat. I came in second with my left hand, to let ."

savage attack broke Alistair arm in three places and his shoulder joint is ripped from the socket: "I was very weak, I lost a lot of blood ."

He made ​​a tourniquet to save what's left.

Fay heard him shouting "Oh My God! Oh, my God!" and thought it was just exhausted and relieved that he got to the other side. He then shouted that he was bitten by a crocodile.

Arthur said: "We were not sure whether he could survive for an hour a day alone ."

Arthur decided that he, too, must go for help. He went to Zimbabwe river. Fay told him that he would not help Alistair if he got to eat.

I realized that there were too many crocs on the bank and decided to return.

Meanwhile, Alistair moved away from the river to prevent another attack from crocodiles. He sat under a tree. the slightest movement was agony.

Clive is still stranded in the middle of the river in a boat which now began to sink. Fay saw the danger:

"My dad had no choice but to swim. If the ship sank in the night he would not have stood a chance ."

He was poor and had a swimmer in the fight against the current. Fay was terrified that the croc would take it before it is reached. To their immense relief, he reached a safe sandbank.

Alistair, on the coast, was affected by gangrene. His wound was full of bacteria from the crocodile teeth. His friend lost his leg after he had chewed the lion, although he reached the hospital within eight hours. If you did not get gangrene Alistair, the predators would.

Back in the river, any hope that they find before sunset is remote. Arthur thought about swimming to the Zambian side to see how Alistair, but Fay stopped him:

"I knew I could not bear to go and that I would not have survived without him ."

Finally, the group decided to head for Zambia as a whole coast. However, Fay could not follow through with the plan. Now, they faced the possibility of frightening night on the submerged island without hope of salvation.

They just stood shouting "Alistair!" until the sun went down and started to call hyenas. After that, if he is called back, he would attract predators nearby.

Night of the most dangerous time in the African bush and leopards, hyenas and lions can smell the scent of blood from miles away.

Arthur gathered some stones to throw at any predators. I was once late at night in Zaccur, Kenya, and noticed a pack of dogs, not far from me. Like Alistair, I picked up some stones to throw at them if they came after me.

Unlike him, I was able to walk quickly and get back to the inn. I spent the night on the porch with a guard armed with a huge knife on the other side of my porch. At least, I could lie down and nap.

Fay described conditions in the river:

"When it got dark the wind picked up and it really got cold. I was absolutely freezing and my teeth are cherry and I just can not get warm ."

Arthur agreed:

"It was very cold. You are in extreme danger because it has good chances of the crocodile will come and get the night ."

They got into the ring and huddled together. They tried to keep a lookout on all sides.

Fay described his thoughts: "We were straining to see into the water and all the time thinking about crocodiles - a huge snapping jaws and gaping mouths - it was just a scary thought ."

classes of floating vegetation looked Crocs. They hit a clump with a paddle until they realized that it was only the leaves and branches.

Back to the mainland, Alistair was concerned that he left traces of blood that will attract lions and hyenas. I have heard of grazing and looked up and saw Buffalo:

"It looked right at me. Buffaloes can be very dangerous and killed many people. For some reason it came to pass about ten meters away. I just can not believe what happened. It was like a lady guard lying - big guard ."

in the river, Fay thinks about the reality of the situation:

"the darkness all around us made ​​to understand how vulnerable you were in that huge expanse.'re nothing. Things are just beyond your control ."

Arthur, too, realized how vulnerable are:

"We knew we might not make it until morning. Fay was worried that she might never see her children again ."

They had heard the crocodile slapping its tail in the water as it came closer. They could clearly see the jagged edge of the tail. Great panic!

Arthur hit the water with paddles and Croc veered off the main stream. They are on tenterhooks after the case came second.

Alistair, on shore, he knew he should keep a watchful, but could not. He could slip into unconsciousness and be dead by morning. He simply could not keep awake.

Back to the sunken island, everyone is suffering. Arthur described his condition:

"Standing for so long, they are really tired. our backs are aching and we were freezing cold ."

Arthur wanted to sit in water that is warmer than the air above it.

Fay said ... "I can not sit down because you will get wet, then cold and get hypothermia We've just got to get over it we have two children to think about it and they need us

"When it's light, it is a relief, because we had made ​​it through the night, but we were worried that Alistair has bled to death. Physically and mentally we were just exhausted ."

After almost two hours stranded in the water group were desperate. They thought it was another day, and somebody's got to get past.

They saw what looked like a white ship, but it was just a white bird flying toward them. Their hopes were shattered.

Fay commented: "We just felt helpless - completely powerless ."

Meanwhile, Alistair was awakened from sleep by safari ants gnawing viciously on his wounds:

"It is a pain like needles all over the place especially on my hands. I realized that the ants are biting me ."

Their bites launched a wave of adrenaline that he snapped out of his unconscious and probably saved his life. Alistair I'm forced to hobble. It was not twenty-four hours of crocodile attacks.

thought he heard the sound of the ship and was assigned to the river but could not see anyone. He fell asleep on the bank, despite the danger of crocodiles. On the 'island' rest began to lose hope.

When Alistair woke up and saw a couple of boat parked on the other side of river. He could not scream and they migrated.

In the words of his friends could do nothing but await their fate, but suddenly Brenda spotted two canoes. Incredibly some canoeists had ventured this far down river. Fay and the others were ecstatic.

"They saw us and thought". What strange people fishing in the middle of the river 'I can not tell you how we felt. It was just a sense of relief. We were going to be fine. It is also still concerned with Alistair ."

Later, with a few trips back and Alistair spotted on shore. They took him to safety, where they unite with others. He lived on, and even his hand was saved at the hospital.

All five survived. Arthur and Alistair still go fishing the same stretch of river. Clive and Brenda continue to visit Africa on a regular basis, but will not go fishing any morel Fay spends most of his weekends in the bush, but she rarely comes out of the river

"I always feel anxious when I got into the boat, even after all these years it was just a horrible experience, but we all survived all five of us -. ."

Several success and survival of lessons emerge from their stories.

Keep away from the lonely and dangerous areas were on the river or in town.

Keep aware of everything going on around you.

for a walk or a swim in the safest areas available.

Do not give up, when the crocodile or some other equivalent to the 'monster' grabs you! Keep fighting until you can. "Do not go gentle into that good night !"

There is safety in numbers! Watch each other back!

Be careful and aware of the night if necessary.

appreciate being able to have a good night's sleep whenever you want.

is waiting for help can sometimes be wiser than risky attempts to help themselves.

Perhaps the key lesson is to appreciate just how easy and pleasant to our life. We lie down in a comfortable, warm bed whenever they want, without worrying about the crocodiles come to eat us!

success and greater rewards are often accompanied by respect and appreciation for what we already possess.

I'll try to remember the story about the crocodile island every day and night, so I can daily enjoy the fact that I stuck in the middle of the river killer crocs all around me!

There is right and wrong ways to choose a dog. The process is like dating. few who find fulfillment in love and those who are using their hearts and minds. There is a special kind of nirvana when a person connects with their canine soul mate. They were not kidding when they called dog "man's best friend." But such unions do not happen by mistake. a little careful preparation will go a long way. And to simplify your search, we have five suggestions. We borrowed a little Hollywood lingo that advice more memorable.

Take One! That is, take stock: This is the time to look around before you even start thinking about bringing home Buddy. Let's consider my life of the dog eye. Who lives in your house? Are there any household members to twelve or more than seventy? What about other pets? To analyze the chemistry of your household for a moment. What words describe your family? Are you a fast-paced and active, or low-key and friendly? In case you did not know, getting a dog is like adopting a child. They have their own personalities. Think about what personality would best get along with his bunch.

Next assess your living space. Dog owners are like apartment residents or cattle ranchers. While the size of your pillow should not ultimately determine whether you have a canine-compatible, it should at least be considered. Take the example of Phoebe, a spoiled golden retriever who lives comfortably in a small brownstone Brooklyn. arrangement works because the owner is active and Walker did not think to take three or four spins around the dog park every day. I do not think that only you have a huge backyard means that you are best equipped for a border collie. Even the hyper-active dogs will mope around waiting for someone to play. Regardless of the accommodation, if you rent or belong to the HOA, you may need to check the pet policy before entertaining the notion of getting a dog. (Many owners allow dogs, but limit the size or breed.) While looking at your house, think about your neighborhood. What is the level of noise in the street, and how close are your neighbors? Your dog will be living in a bubble. Social by nature, dogs react to the environment all of them.

Now that you review your pit, how much time you spend there? Is there someone home all the time? In this day and age it is very unlikely. Look at work and school schedules, and do not forget the rest! How often do you leave the property? Do you plan on taking the dog with him, or whether you need to check the local breeders?

before you go on to take two, it would be wise to anticipate future changes in lifestyle. How likely are you to move? To get married? Break up? Have kids? Dogs do not disappear when you take your life to turn. You do not want to end up leaving Poopsie the pound just because they do not think that far ahead. Dogs live ten to fifteen years or more. Although it is impossible to know for sure, it is wise to consider where you think it might be.

Take two! Use: There has never been a better time to learn about dogs! The world is at your fingertips. one thousand on-line quizzes can quickly narrow the field and recommend the breed to fit your lifestyle and limitations. Your search just got a thousand times easier. Jot down the top ten, and do some research. First, look at the pictures. What do you think? Is that person you love? Physical attraction, after all, is not a factor in finding a soul mate. Read as much as you can about the breed you feel attracted. Do not stop on the Internet. The library and the pet store have many different books, magazines, and videos to help you in your search. Even better, talk to other dog owners. Ask them what they like (and dislike) about their dogs. Go to the dog show, obedience, sit in on classes, or call a local breeder. Use every resource you can learn more about the breed.

take three! Take interest are involved in the dog community. Make it a family affair. Volunteer at a local shelter. It gives children the opportunity to experience the responsibility of a dog. You May even consider fostering a dog looking for a home. Attend adoption days, ask a neighbor if you can play Frisbee with her ​​little tank. All this interaction with the dog will allow you to see the quirks that may not be so obvious in your reading. The hidden costs should also begin to be evident. What equipment is needed to keep this kind of a happy dog? Make sure to ask about health and care-related costs. Different breeds have different needs.

take four! Take your time: Now is the time to rush into the relationship, but you are getting closer to commitment. Start putting out feelers. If you are planning to get a puppy from a breeder, find out when the next litter is due. If you have your heart set on a particular breed, but want a mature dog, You May want to look into breed rescue groups. They have some great animals that already have some training, and the fraction of the price. And do not forget that sometimes they mixed Mutts lead package! Spend quality time in the kennel. Many shelters allow a few days or a week adjustment period before tying the knot.

take five! Take cover: You think you've found one? Hurray! Just remember that every relationship takes time and effort. Sign up for obedience classes, and arm yourself with a little more patience than normal. Take it easy on yourself, knowing that if you take our advice, you'll be fine!

Training a dog is like building a house. If the foundation is not solid, every effort to acquire a dog obedience will yield unpredictable and often short-term results. So, how do you build a strong foundation for effective dog training? You must establish yourself as alpha dog and get your dog's respect.

theory sounds simple enough. However, most dog owners unknowingly will flub this key component, and end up with a dog who is still struggling to gain first place in the pack hierarchy. This is by far the most common dog training obstacle to sabotage the whole relationship.

That said, do not you become a victim of a naughty dog problems. There really is a scientific process based on rules, which will steer the funk of rebellious dog. The process for determining the alpha status linked together control system of your dog's environment branches -. 3 food, recreation and socialization

When you restrict or control all three aspects of the life of your puppy, you will soon realize that he depends on you for our freedom. With this dependency comes respect and obedience to your commands. The method is simple, efficient, and creates a quick connection between you both.

Let's talk about the first environmental control, food ...

1 Food

You're going to control your food by determining when, where and what your dog eats. This means, eating at set times in certain amounts. The key to this discipline is not responding to begging. No, I do not mean the feed from the table or to the human food of any kind.

How you love your dog, during the initial stages of dog training, you must complete the separation in the hierarchy of their status. Do not level the playing field by making it feel right to eat the same foods do. This specific aspect of your life (food) is directly associated with survival. This process is going to solidify its relationship between the survivors and, depending on your care.

He needs to eat. This dependence will spend their instinct to please through the obedience. You are the alpha and you can decide when you eat the package.

and it is only the first factor. The next two are just as crucial ...

2 Other

In addition to the necessities of life, leisure and privilege. This is the output of relaxation and enjoyment. Control of this variable deciding where your dog sleeps. That does not mean that it will be allowed on the couch or bed. These are your resting areas. alpha dog decides where and when the rest of the pack sleeps. You can control the pace of the package and level of activity. Apply this control by setting limits on where your dog can relax. This principle is inspired by something that crate training. If I decides against crate training, that's fine. However, you absolutely must make the rules and boundaries for your dog resting habits.

3 Socialization

This is perhaps the biggest variable to be controlled. It is also one of those difficult to implement because it takes a lot of hard work and patience.

When your dog approaches you, you have to force obedience to reward him with affection. That means, when your dog nuzzles his head in your hands or lap, before petting him and saying in a playful tone clammy, you should issue orders for the exercise of its filing.

When he sit, lay down, give paw, stay and heel are relevant tricks to train him constantly on. the true power of these commands is not impressing your friends or visitors. power lies in exercising your dog's attention and implementation of your dominance.

When you first training your dog, your love will be treated as a prize or will be taken for granted. Once you are obedient puppy and you're sure that this sense would not go astray, you can share your love with no thought. In the beginning, though, you'll want to follow these guidelines for best results.

These are hard and fast rules. Many people I meet do not understand them at first. However, almost everyone who experiences them is carried out almost immediate results (within a week usually ).

Keep at it and continue their training knowing that your dog wants to be at the forefront. After the pack leader is the most natural instinct of your dog there. To facilitate this need by becoming the alpha dog and take the anxiety out of his actions.

Do you ever wonder why the whole culture of people, and that we Americans, got so fat, so out of shape, so tired, and so plagued by pain, lack of mobility and disease?

Do you ever wonder why, despite the sad shape of our bodies, so that we are willing to learn about health and adopt principles and life-giving diet and lifestyle habits?

What happened to us as a culture, and how did it happen?

Follow along, if you would, the chronology of the spiral of our eating and exercise habits.

It all started hundreds of years ago, but let's start in 1956 with the birth of the "four food groups ."

We have been sold to Big Mama myth of all - ". four food groups" They told us, and we believe that we must eat meat, dairy products, and refined breads, cereals and grains to be healthy .

We were also told to believe other lies and deceptions:

· We have, and most of us still do not, you must eat meat to get enough protein.

· We have, and most of us still, that meat protein is superior to plant protein.

· We have, and most of us still do, that we need to eat protein for strength and energy.

· We have, and most of us still do not to eat chicken and fish to lower cholesterol.

· We have, and most of us still do not, that milk "does a body good, " and we have to drink it for strong bones and teeth.

· We have, and most of us still do not, that osteoporosis is caused by not getting enough calcium.

We've got all the essential nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, calcium, vitamins, phytochemicals, fiber - that we need for health and life of plant foods, with no fat, cholesterol, salt, toxins , animal protein and calories found in foods of animal origin and foods.

However, our cultural habits and traditions of today is built on the infamous "four food groups" and six myths above.

At the same time we bought it - hook, line and sinker - the original "four food groups," our culture is lured into the convenience convenience food

convenience food came in the form of canned food - canned vegetables, fruits, soups, spaghetti sauces, spices and juice

Convenience foods also came in the form of frozen foods, boxed breakfast cereals, instant oats, cream of wheat, and refined, white bread.

These convenience foods are our mothers' lives easier, and they fit the model of "four food groups, " so our moms gave us these foods without forethought or question.

But, although practical, convenience foods were often loaded with salt, sugar, chemicals and / or fat and lacking in nutrients. And they were often high in calories.

How well I remember Campbell soup and Velveeta cheese toasted sandwiches and lemonade from fresh, frozen concentrate. And what about those dried cereal in the morning and frozen or canned peas, corn, green beans or night?

I'm sure you can think of as convenience food your mom gave you.

Who is even thinking about that when food is changed by processing, canning, freezing and / or packaging, they are deprived of many of their nutrients?

Who even thought that if we fill in these convenience foods along with meat and dairy products, then you certainly do not eat enough of disease prevention, health-promoting foods, namely fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grains , and legumes?

In addition to the infamous "four food groups" and convenience foods, fast foods exploded into our lives, beginning in 1960.

Fast food is quick, easy, cheap, and tasted good, just the right combination for mothers in the 70s and 80s, who were going through their own transformation becomes liberated and entering the workforce. Convenience foods and fast foods are a very busy life easier.

and then the children of these working moms grew up with fast and convenient food and got used to the taste, affordability and acceptability of these foods.

Let's face it. If children are given the choice between a meal consisting of hamburger, fries and pop or a meal consisting of salads, brown rice and steamed vegetables, a meal that they will choose? In fact, what would you choose a meal or at least want to choose?

Before the case of women who work from their homes, the children did not get a choice of what to eat. Children are told what they had to eat. But that parental awareness shifted when women spent so much time outside the home.

Kids, hooked on fast food, whine to their moms on the go for a quick burger or pizza, and working moms, too tired or too distracted or too stressed, would often be recognized. It was just plain easier for busy moms make their kids' desires, rather than prepare a nutritious meal and say, "No!"

Children were taught that they could eat whatever they wanted in the quantities they wanted. And they were not taught the difference between good and bad food choices food choices.

Result: spoiled palates, spoiled attitude of "I want what I want when I want it", which was conducted over into adulthood, and, ultimately, the taste buds are not the only things spoiled, spoiled the whole body.

To make things go from bad to worse, the phenomenon of television invaded our living rooms. Children and adults alike became more sedentary. Unfortunately, the more TV we looked fatter and less fit we get.

In addition, advertising on television has had a tremendous impact on our eating habits and our attitudes about food. Of course, computers and game boys we chain our chairs and even more than just TV.

In addition, remember that physical education was emphasized in 1960? Remember John F. Kennedy 's President Award for physical fitness? Well, P.E. has lost its favor with the baby boomers and became less and less emphasized in schools. In fact, since 1988, Illinois is the only state to require daily PE left

Bottom line: as Americans ate up and up and moved into their bodies less and less, we as a nation got fatter and fatter and sicker and sicker

Then the Americans become obsessed with losing all the excess weight gained by bad eating habits and lack of activity and exercise.

, however, we did not want to lose weight by eating properly and exercising more - no, it's too much effort and too much time. We're spoiled Americans like quick weight loss. So what many of us latch on to? Any diet that came along to loudly touted quick fixes and easy solutions.

Does the diet work? Just look around and the truth will be revealed.

How many millions of dollars are spent each year on the latest miracle diet, and how many of us still carry around way too much weight? It does not take a genius to see that they simply weight loss programs, diet is called, simply do not work.

Just look at the popular, and one I have to completely shutter, Atkins' diet. You know the one - one that is overloaded with high-fat, high cholesterol, and high animal protein. Dr. Atkins is being marketed and boasted about the diet for decades, and made ​​millions of dollars from millions of unsuspecting dieters.

However, it is not you ever take a close look at Dr. Atkins before his untimely death? He could not hide the fact that the assailant has always seemed a lot of pounds. Even after decades of following their advice, he still could not keep the pounds off. He is just another proof that little fad weight loss diets simply do not work.

and look at the troubles that we as a nation, are in now.

Americans are sicker, fatto, and more of form than ever. And it's getting worse, not better. If you do not believe that all of the above, just walk into one of our high school and look at our weight, under-fit children.

We are born from the loins of our culture. For over fifty years and have built up food and exercise habits to collectively accepted standard for our culture. And today we have the products and culture.

standard for our culture is, and for the most part is still filling our stomach meat, dairy products, boxed cereals, canned soups, canned fruits and vegetables, sugar, Crisco, and Betty Crocker. In addition to McDonald's and fast food across the country, our health slid from bad to worse. lack of exercise only accelerated the downward spiral.

It'sis hard to break old habits and conditioning in order to turn your body and your life around . decisions that have to do now to get the best comfort, energy and activity are not choices we have been taught and conditioned to like children.

It can be tough to consciously eat better, but it is much harder to resist getting a breast cut off, cut out the prostate, or a foot cut off because of diabetes. It is much harder to get her breasts buzz-sawed open for heart surgery, to set fire to radiation, or to get sick from chemotherapy, than it is to fill your stomach with fresh, whole fruits and vegetables.

What will it be? Get hit with a stroke that paralyzes you on one side of your body or eating fruits and vegetables and walking on their own for the rest of your life?

It seems simple, very clear choice for me. Not to you?

only because the health of our nation's plummeting down, does not mean that your health is doomed to the same dreaded course.

your health and fitness are your responsibility, and that it is time to take that first step on your own time you're the best.