I have had my ups and down as any human would, but I have managed to put my insecurities aside and promote health and happiness for myself and others. I have changed from a huge UK size 18 to a slight UK size 12 in eight months. However, this is only the physical side of my life. Mentally, I have changed from a fatigued and downright lazy girl, into a well-balanced, positive and hard working woman. It is frightening to think that my whole outlook on life was based on the person I was. The person that I am now only goes to show that if you put even a small amount of effort into changing your everyday bad habits, you can become a better individual both physically and mentally. I know that some people reading this blog will think – ‘It’s not easy losing weight and I just don’t have the time or the energy’ this is how I felt for over 21 years of my life. However, I am not just one of these success stories. Yes, I dedicated eight months of my life to becoming a better person, but I have learnt that in the scheme of things, eight months is a short price to pay for a lifetime of health and happiness.
Throughout my journey I have met many spiritual and enlightened individuals who have taught me to let go of this physical entrapment that we refer to as life. Life is merely a gift which we choose. WE are in control of our life, no one else; we are in control of what we do on a daily basis. I’m not telling you what to do or how to do it as I am not in control of your life and I believe that is a common mistake that people make when looking for an answer to their questions. Subjecting yourself to constant advertisements and subliminal messages used by the TV, is a way in which the media controls your life and in a way, tells you that you; Must be thin, Must look good and Must look like everyone else. By separating myself from the media within those eight months I discovered the answers to the questions I have been asking my entire life; who do I want to be? What do I want to achieve in my life? And finally, how do I want to achieve the things that I want? All of these questions were asked without the influence of the TV and the people on it. I guess you can say that I separated myself from society, which gave me time to breathe and reassess what society had created in the first place. These eight months have been the best eight months of my life and now that I have re-entered society I see life in a very different way and have the means along with the tools to prevent myself from returning to my old habits and my old ways of living.
I hope that this blog post will help my readers who are suffering with weight issues to see that the foundation of your life is based on you being in control, realising that there is a problem and finding a way to fix it.

This can be due to a number of reasons including;

• The ingestion of anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprophen, Volteral and Aspirin.  A one off pill will not make any difference however; taking these types of medication on a regular basis can affect the stomach quite dramatically.
• Consuming a large quantity of alcohol on a regular basis can cause inflammation of the stomach lining.
• Another cause of Gastritis is a type of bacteria found within the lining of the stomach called Helicobacter pylori which in turn can cause an infection within the lining of the stomach and consequently cause inflammation and even stomach ulcers due to excess production of acid.

There are also other less likely things that can cause inflammation of the stomach however, they can still happen.

• Viral infections can be a cause of stomach inflammation as these weaken the immune system leaving the body open and susceptible to infection.
• Severe and extreme stress can be a cause of inflammation of the stomach.
• Bile reflux can sometimes cause Gastritis. In fact, there is a triad in medicine which shows that people, who have suffered from gallstones/gallbladder failure and pancreatitis, can be more likely to suffer with stomach ulcers or stomach inflammation.  It is known to doctors as ‘Saints Triad’.
• Even severe cocaine abuse can cause inflammation of the stomach.

The Symptoms can be long and tedious ranging from nausea, loss of appetite, severe pain in the upper central aspect of the abdomen and vomiting.

Some symptoms which a sufferer may see are dark stools (blood in the stools) or vomiting blood/dark thick substance.

If the doctor thinks it is necessary to test for Gastritis, this can be done in a variety of ways:

1. Blood testing, FBC- full blood count is necessary to see if there is anything else going on within the body for example; levels of inflammation, infection etc…  Blood testing can also be used to see if you have the bacteria- Helicobacter Pylori, which could be causing the gastritis. In addition, FBC also checks for Anaemia which could occur if there is an ulcer within the stomach or the person has lost any blood.
2. Endoscopy, this is where the doctor inserts a camera down the throat and into the stomach and past it into the small intestine, to check if there is anything visible which could be causing the gastritis. These can include lesions on the wall of the stomach and ulcers due to excessive acid production. This can be done either under general anaesthetic or sedation.
3. Gastroscopy, this is the same as above but the camera is only inserted into the stomach and not into the small intestine.
4. An additional Helicobacter pylori test can almost be described as a breathalyser test that you see in programmes such as ‘Road Wars’.
5. Finally, a stool sample can grow a stool culture to see if there are any living bacteria causing the gastritis. In addition, this test will show is there is any blood within the stool.

Treatments for this painful inflammation can range anywhere from taking ‘proton pump inhibitors’ which reduce and even stop completely the acid production in the stomach. These include; Omeprazol, Lanzoprazol etc… If you happen to be taking medication which has caused the gastritis you will have to discuss with your healthcare professional about coming off them. Finally H2 antagonists for example; nizatidine, famotidine etc…

Normally if you have acute gastritis, then it should go away with the correct medication and time. However, there can be some complications if the gastritis becomes severe or chronic. In this case you should seek advice from your health care professional IMMEDIATELY.

I would normally snack on chicken slices or turkey slices however, as I am always in close proximity to my fiancé, I find it quite disrespectful munching away on a piece of meat. With this in mind, I have searched high and low for a recipe which will not only cover all the food groups required to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle but also help myself overcome this yearning for meat.

Even though I have never been keen on ‘fake meat’ I have managed to find a substitute which not only tastes good but is healthy as well as giving you the amount of protein which a human requires daily. My wonderful discovery is Quorn! I know that it has been around for years but I never really liked it when I was younger. In fact, it has only been over the past two years that they have changed something within the product which has made it so so tasty.

Quorn can be added to anything and everything. I am currently going through a stage in which I am obsessed with stir fry so I decided to mix it up a little by adding cubes of Quorn. One begins by placing the Quorn cube straight from the freezer, into a pan and frying them off with a little sesame oil. Once they have been browned off, then you add a few shakes of soy sauce which just gives it a slightly salty flavour which really works well with the Quorn. Then once you have browned off the Quorn you pop that to the side on a low heat to retain the heat and begin to fry off the vegetables using a wok. Once the vegetables are done you add the Quorn and hey presto, you have a deliciously healthy meal with little work but great flavour.

Another recipe which I find extremely easy to make is Quorn fajitas. Place the Quorn cubes directly from the freezer into a pan and heat up gently with a little olive oil. The next step is to find the ‘Old el Passo’ fajita dinner kits. One can get them from any supermarket and I usually choose the mild one as neither myself nor my fiancé like spicy food. Inside the kit you will find a few flour tortillas which you will use later on. One will also find in the kit a packet of herbs to mix into regular sour cream and finally a packet of tomato/barbecue sauce. Once the Quorn has been warmed up, then place the tomato/barbecue sauce into the Quorn and stir until all of the Quorn cubes have been covered. Then bring to a light simmer and then leave to one side. The next step is to prepare the sour cream, which you can also get from any supermarket. Mix in the packet of herbs and there you go. Finally, cut up some lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes and place on a flour tortilla, which came with the dinner kit. Then place the Quorn mixture on top and layer it with sour cream. This gives you a delicious meal which tastes like meat but isn’t. it also provides you with a healthy alternative to a meat meal and also induces fun for all the family as everyone gets to take part and make their own fajita wrap.

I love vegetarian cooking, so if anyone has any more ideas on how to spice up a normal meal without meat, please let me know.

It is a religious and cultural holiday celebrated by millions of people all over the world. Children are by far the most excited, as custom dictates that they receive long anticipated presents with a healthy selection of sweets and chocolates within festive stockings. Christmas additionally encompasses symbolic objects such as the Christmas tree. This symbol is usually an evergreen, coniferous tree which can either be real or artificial. The tree is dressed with tinsel, brightly coloured balls and lights which were originally candles before the invention of electricity. At the top of the tree sits ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ which according to the Bible is what the ‘Three Wise Men’ followed to find Jesus. Nowadays, as religion has become diluted through the generations, families place an angel at the top of the tree so that there are less religious connotations.  In addition, ‘Santa’ is a well-known symbol of Christmas. Only a minority know that the over-weight, white bearded and jolly old man was actually a clever advertising campaign for the well-known, carbonated soft drink company Coca-Cola. The real Santa is thin and wears a green robe.

For years and years we have murdered the land for our own benefit. We, the human population have ripped down forests, killing anything that stood in the way of our earth destroying machines, building highways and motorways straight through the heart of our mountains and cliffs. I fear that if we continue, our demolition will go too far, causing severe consequences. I believe that we live side by side with nature and if we respect it then it will respect us. However, since the beginning of time, humans have burnt, cut down, hunted, destroyed and murdered nature. Every time a natural disaster occurs, it is a way for nature to reclaim its right to exist. Throughout history, the natural disasters tend to get worse every time meaning that there is a disaster still to come which will belittle all other natural disasters. Every hurricane, flood or storm is a way in which the earth can cleanse itself after a tragic ordeal caused by the human race.

The writing of this article was prompted by the article written on the BBC website about how certain countries are not placing money into ‘CERF’ which stands for the ‘Central Emergency Response Fund’ which was set up in light of the 2004 Boxing day disaster. The CERF was set up so that countries could place money into it so if a natural disaster occurs in that country then they would be given compensation and aid. Almost like a giant insurance policy. This year, due to an increase in natural disasters from, the tsunami in Japan; the earthquake in New Zealand; the famine in the Horn of Africa and finally the floods in Pakistan and the Philippines means that the CERF has taken a huge hit. Not only are countries placing money into the CERF for protection however, it also exists due to voluntary contributions from various governments and individuals. However, the amount of contributions has dropped meaning that there is not enough money to help these disaster prone areas. The international secretary exclaimed that we must ‘wake up’ to the challenge and do something about this before it is too late. Most countries only tend to put money forward after a disaster has taken place making it too late.

This is a serious issue for our planet and we should take this matter seriously and give as much as we can to help prevent such horrific ordeals. We can prevent these tragedies by lowering our emissions, stopping global warming and preventing our forests from being cut down. Stop killing and destroying nature before Nature kills us!

If you would like to see the article on the BBC website just follow the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16336396

I know in my heart of hearts that I like to nibble throughout the day. It could be podded peas or carrots or even an occasional malteser here and there. I have additionally come across these amazing gems known as ‘Florida’s Natural Brand, Au’some Nuggets’ each individual nugget is an explosion of flavor and sugar! They are incredible for a sugar low! These nuggets are made from 66% fruit puree and juice, so what is the other 34%??? I dread to think, all I know is that they are my treat throughout the day. In addition to this food diary I have also been completing regular exercise programs created by my personal trainer (the one I’m writing the food diary for). So I am the kind of person that feels that if I am working so hard 3 times a week why can’t I enjoy myself once in a while with some ‘oh so delicious Nuggets’. I know that I am in the wrong frame of mind as I should be repulsed by anything that is not fruit or veg however, I just don’t think I can drop the nuggets (and they are technically fruit).
If you have any addictions to various unhealthy treats do feel free to comment and let me know.

I had just gained the lead in my school theatre production and that was where I fell in love with the film ‘Singing in the Rain’. The lead, Cathy was my part and whilst having to learn the extremely long script, I must have watched the movie close to 50 times. I knew everyone’s part off by heart including all the songs and even the extras parts. I was hooked and as most school girls who have watched this movie would feel – I was in love with Gene Kelly and sort out to watch all of his movies. I was just shocked by his pure talent. I then found his movie ‘An American in Paris’ and realized that I adored older movies along with period dramas.

Thinking back, I have always loved older movies and in addition to that, musicals either in the theatre or movies. I then discovered around Christmas time, Elvis Presley and his musical movies which I am a great fan of.

If you can think of any more singers who have created fabulous musical movies please let me know.

The heart consists of 4 individual chambers. The two on topare known as the ‘Left and Right Atria’ and two on the bottom are referred to as the ‘Right and Left Ventricles’. The two atria are where the blood enters the heart. The right atrium receives the deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and coronary sinus. The left atrium received oxygenated blood from the lungs via the left and right pulmonary veins. There are no valves present in the atria and this in turn causes the ‘Jugular venous pressure’ which is the pulsation that one can feel from the jugular vein found in the neck. This process is usually used when checking if a person is dead or alive after a traumatic event or life threatening incident.
The workings of the heart are quite simple on the surface; The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood which pumps it to the right ventricle and then to the lungs to be oxygenated. Once it comes back from the lungs it goes to the left atrium then to the left ventricle where it is sent through the aorta to the rest of the body. However, break open the surface and it becomes a whole different story.
The heart pumps due to an electrical impulse which works as a ‘pacemaker’. The electrical pulse begins at the SA node, Sinoatrial Node. The SA node is located in the right atrium of the heart very close to the entrance of the superior vena cava. It is known as the generator of the sinus rhythm of the heart and consists of a collection of cells in the wall of the right atrium. These cells are known as modified cardiac myocytes. A majority of heart cells have the ability to create an electrical impulse and the SA node is the group of cells which initiates the electrical impulse. These cells inform the heart when it needs to pump.
From the SA node the electrical impulse passes through both the Atria and forward into the Artioventricular node. The AV node is based between the atrium and the ventricle in a specialised area of the heart near the opening of the coronary sinus. The electrical impulse then passes from the AV node through the Purkinje fibres which are located in the inner ventricular walls of the heart, just under the endocardium. Finally, both the SA node and AV node stimulate the myocardium.
The heart is full of intricate little tiny systems which make it function correctly. Without these little processes the heart would not function correctly and therefore would cause issues for the human body.

Some people who suffer with this horrific virus can’t even get out of bed or go to the toilet as it takes up too much energy. In addition, sufferers tend to get trapped in a vicious circle, finding it hard to eat because they feel too unwell and not taking in enough food to create energy. Sometimes glandular fever can develop  into a more serious illness for example, tonsillitis and even infections of the lymph nodes.

Glandular Fever is caused by the ‘Epstein-Bar Virus’. It is spread by saliva and if the person who comes into contact with this virus is resistant then there will be no illness. If the person who comes into contact with the infected saliva is not resistant then they will suffer with the side effects of Glandular Fever. The virus begins by attacking and infecting the cells in the throat which in turn causes the throat to become sore and swollen. People who still have their tonsils will find that the infection does spread and cause tonsillitis. Once the infection is in the throat cells it gets passes onto the white blood cell known as ‘B lymphocytes’ which are part of the body’s immune system. Once the infection has penetrated the B lymphocytes, it then spreads throughout the lymphatic system which consists of the lymph nodes found in the groin and arm pits. Once these become infected with the virus, the side effect of swollen lymph nodes becomes present.   In some of the worst cases of Glandular Fever, the infection passes through the lymphatic system and goes to the Spleen which is the organ located in the left upper quadrant of the body. It is an organ which produces anti-bodies which fight infection within the body. If the spleen does become infected it can swell and cause severe pain. This Is quite rare for people who are infected by the virus but can happen.

There is very little a person suffering from this illness can do. As it is a  virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics of other medicines. However, if the infection is bad the doctor can prescribe a short course of steroids to help reduce the inflammation.  There is no miracle cure for this unfortunate virus however, preventative measures can be put in place to help protect yourself from catching the virus and passing it on. Things such as; not sharing drinks, not sharing anything that you have put lips round and not sharing anything that has been contaminated with another person or an infected persons saliva. These will all help with preventing you from catching the virus. If you already have the virus then eating well and remaining healthy is the best way for the virus not to rear its ugly head. Once the infected person has had the symptoms then unfortunately it can come back as many times as it wants to. One can never really get rid of the virus just learn to live with it and prevent the symptoms from forming.

It is not a very nice virus to have however, it can be prevented.

Conferencing can be utilised for a group of students who fall under the same circumstances and want to complete the same online degree. These online colleges are directed towards students who cannot or do not want to attend a traditional bricks and mortar college. This may be due to a particular condition or situation such as; a disability, full-time parenting, mature students or people with full time occupations. Some online colleges require their students to occasionally make a physical appearance for a variety reason which may include examinations or monthly tutorials. These types of college offer courses that are referred to as being ‘hybrid’ or ‘blended’ courses which select elements from a traditional based college scheme and combine it with the modern online college scheme.

Online colleges mainly use two types of learning technique. The first is known as ‘synchronous’ which can include videoconferencing, educational TV and web conferencing, all of which give the students a sense of community. This technique also involves working together with other students. This type is similar to that of the standard classroom based teaching method. There is usually a timetable which requires set dates with very little flexibility.

The second type of learning technique is known as ‘asynchronous.’ This is a more flexible way to study where it is the student’s responsibility to gain access to course material in their own time and at their own pace. Students do not have to work with each other and do not have to gather at a selected time unlike with the ‘synchronous’ teaching technique. This type of teaching is generally delivered using older technologies such as postal mail, phone and even fax. Internet colleges provide a variety of degrees ranging from Associate to Doctorate depending on the student’s past educational level.

People often choose online degrees as they offer lower cost services for a more adaptable style of teaching. The question to ask is “are online degrees equal to that of traditional bricks and mortar college based degrees?”  Most employers will accept online degrees as long as they have been attained from a legitimate and accredited online college.

In addition, online degrees can be accepted by certain universities for students transferring or wanting to take graduate courses. In 2009 a study was carried out by the Department of Education showing that students who achieved an online degree, performed better than students originating from traditional degree programs. When considering an online college make sure it has been accredited by the Department of Education, for the country in which it is based.

Online colleges offer a chance for people who never imagined that they would be able to achieve a degree or any sort of extra qualifications after leaving school, and they open up a world of opportunities to people who maybe never believed that they could succeed.