Websites Promoting Pro-Anorexia Lifestyle Dangerous

anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder that is characterized by a poor self-image, which ultimately leads to self-starvation and extreme weight-loss.

about one percent of all adolescent females have anorexia, while only 10 percent of total anorexia cases are men. The reason why females are more susceptible to anorexia probably stems from the demands that society places on young women to be thin. A new trend among young adults has been sweeping the nation: pro-anorexia websites. Also known as pro-ana, these sites glorify anorexia nervosa and offer "thinspiration" on maintaining a starvation lifestyle. All pro-anorexia websites have one thing in common - they promote anorexia nervosa.

Pro-ana websites suggest that one follow the "Ana" way of life. Ana promotes thinness and considers overweight people as ugly and inferior. They suggest that one obsess about calories and avoidance of food. food is considered the ultimate enemy.

A signature item that most pro-Ana sites seem to have is a list of rules of commandments. An excerpt from a site I visited: [Being thin is the most important thing in life; Thin is beautiful and good / obese is ugly and bad; You must feel very guilty every time you eat]. sites also offer a variety of tips and excuses that will help anorexics to hide their problem or aid the starvation process. A few tips and excuses I found: take diet pills; No thanks, I ate a huge breakfast (or lunch); If your family suspects you have an eating problem, leave plates and half full glasses around the house so it looks like you ate. Safe food lists are also available on these sites. According to pro-ana, safe foods consist of mostly leafy greens and vegetables with a lot of water content, particularly lettuce and cucumbers. water is promoted as a weight-loss enhancer and satiety agent. Individuals are encouraged to keep a journal to track their calorie intake, weight-loss and feelings. An array of pictures are used as motivators, usually supermodels and thin celebrities such as Calista Flockhart("Ally McBeal").

Although web-hosting companies have attempted to eliminate these websites, they are still readily accessible. An increase in the "underground network" has allowed individuals to gain access to these sites. The underground network is the same thing that pedophiles use to access child pornography. Users just e-mail one another and once they reach an agreement, they are given the URL for the site that is privately hosted. This has resulted in an ever-increasing challenge for internet surveillance agencies to monitor content on the web.

Treating anorexia nervosa requires a team of professionals consisting of physicians, psychologists, nutritionists and family and friends. most individuals resist treatment at first because they feel that weight-loss will improve their self-image and once they achieve that "ideal," they will stop. The problem with this is that the "ideal" may never be achieved, and hence, the anorexia will continue. Only about half of all treated patients report successful therapy.

Some common signs of anorexia are finding excuses for not eating, becoming obsessed with the mirror, excessive and compulsive exercising, loss of menstrual cycle in women, fear of gaining weight and deliberate self-starvation.

Anorexia may lead to malnutrition, dehydration, serious damage to the heart, liver and kidneys and ultimately death. A poor self-image, perfectionism, "all or nothing" attitude, and altered social relationships are also related to those suffering from anorexia.

If you suspect that someone may have anorexia or any other eating disorder, call the national Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Helpline at: 1-800-950-NAMI. Don't wait until it's too late. Be Healthy!

Chris Theberge is the founder of the nutrition and food Web Archive, NutriWeb Designs, and Dietitian Designs. Visit http://www.nafwa.org for free nutrition and food-related resources.

Stickyyogamat

How To Prevent Slices In Your Swing

If you're a passionate golfer or an avid follower of the sport, you've probably heard players complain about their problem with their golf swing particularly their 'slicing' problem. It is probably the most prevalent swinging issue that all golfers regardless of golfing tenure, will have to go through.

The most common error of amateur golfers is that they prematurely open their shoulder on the downswing path. This causes the slice by the club hitting the ball with an open clubface.

And if the flight of your ball travels to the right inadvertently, this is what is normally called a 'push slice'. More often than not this occurs when the body outpaces the club head.

In order to prevent this, you can try hitting the ball standing on one leg during your practice sessions. The goal of this exercise is to help you maintain your balance and find your center of gravity. While standing on your left foot, for right-handed players, and then practice your swings. This maybe an awkward position at first, and it will take some time in getting used to. But once you get the hang of hit, it should greatly improve you balance and prevent the 'push slice' effect on your swing.

You can practice day in and day out and spend tremendous amounts time on the course or the driving range but if you're not in the right frame of mind, you probably will not get too far in the sport, much less see an improvement in your swing.

More than anything else, golf is a mental game. Although you are playing against other individuals, it is the course that ultimately offers the challenge. Unlike in other sports, your opponents will not block or deter your aim or your progress in anyway. However, the course itself will cause you to plan your strategy. It is the determining factor in how you take your shot and where you aim the ball.

This is the reason why Golfers often say that as a player you are up against the course and not the people on the tour.

Having said this, the right frame of mind is a crucial aspect in curing a slicing problem and improves your overall game.

For tips to cure a golf slice, visit http://www.curegolfslice.net

Nyc Teacher Training Yoga

Controlled Movements and Mind - The Differences between Yoga and Pilates

These days, yoga and pilates are the it thing to do. It seems as if you cant open a magazine, turn on a television, or read a newspaper without some mention of yoga or Pilates. It seems anyone who is anyone is doing one or both of these things. Are these the newest fad exercise? Certainly not! Both techniques have been in practice for a long time, and have been time tested and proven. Both of these things are good for you, but the two are often confused. They are different, in many ways.

yoga is geared towards uniting the mind, body, and spirit. The basic idea is that the mind and body are one, and if given the right tools and environment, the body can find harmony, and heal itself. For this reason, yoga is considered therapeutic, helping you become more aware of your body, in particular its posture, and alignment. yoga can help make the body more flexible, and help you relax even when you are under lots of stress. This is the reason that many people are practicing yoga, to reduce their daily stress placed on them by the fast paced world. yoga can help the body feel more fit, energetic, happy, and peaceful. There are many styles of yoga, but no style is better than another, it is a matter of personal preference or need. yoga is very good for whole body health and well being.

Pilates seeks to achieve the same goals, also through a series of controlled movements, but the main difference is that Pilates uses not only mat work, but also machines. These exercises are geared towards strengthening the abdominal muscles, improve posture, and to stabilize and lengthen the spine, improving balance and strength. Pilates is aimed at giving you a longer, leaner line, much like that of a dancer. Pilates works the whole body, with an emphasis on control, and on both mind and body, focusing on quality over quantity. Slow, controlled movements are the key element here, rather than quick, high impact movements of a traditional workout. The abdomen, lower back, and buttocks are the center of all movement, and thus they are the focus of Pilates. Pilates is low impact, and therefore good for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Pilates is quite good, if not ideal, for body sculpting.

If you still cannot decide between the two, try doing both! yoga and Pilates are wonderful when used together! The basic natures of these two techniques make them complement each other very nicely. You can integrate the breathing techniques of yoga into Pilates, and the stabilization techniques of Pilates into Yogathe possibilities are endless. The two techniques work well together for those who want a whole body health and wellness routine as well as body sculpting.

discover more about the benefits of yoga and Winsor pilates at pilates-yoga.info.

High Vibrations Yoga Videos