Join The Real Fight Against Obesity: Go BioChemical™! and beat the Yo-Yo Effect

Guest blog by Eleonora DeLennart
Author of The BioChemical Machine 2
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog

Many responsible people realized that we reached a point in history where health and weight problems can no longer be politicized when Professor Krugman's gave the New York Times his landmark statement "…it's in health care, not Social Security." And CNN (December 31, 2005) reported: "Annual cost of obesity is $117 billion." 

But isn't it true that people dieted like crazy in order to get healthy and slim over the past 50 years? Yet, it is dieting that is the root of all evil. Diets make people fat! People "lose" muscle mass and water-and health, but not the fat they want to lose. That's why diets have failed for the half century. And as soon as dieters stop dieting they gain everything back and usually more-which is the case in 99% of all dieters. The reason? The starvation shock, called the "Yo-Yo effect." But as if this weren't enough, the Yo-Yo effect also weakens the immune system. 

I was the first who had the courage to say it as it is-which didn't make me friends. And yes, despite heavy resistance campaigns, even sabotage (or, as it turned out, magazines have even been threatened with 'no ads' if they would write about my work) the first edition of The BioChemical Machine, copyrighted in 1995 became a national bestseller. Why? Because honesty sells. 

Nobody can prevent the future from happening. Not even the powerful diet industry. The BioChemical A&B Eating Method ® IS the future. It is the key to enhanced quality of life; the right to be energetic; the right to be pain free even in later years of life; and the solution to eliminate health and weight problems without diets that weaken one's immune system. (And yes, the BioChemical A&B Method® will also open a new market (definitely for the next 50 years); but instead of our health going "downwards"-as it has over the past half century-it will make an upward climb in regard to health, quality of life, and energy-all vital for humankind.)

The breakthrough discovery, the clinically proven BioChemical A&B Method ® will make all the difference for millions of people. The BioChemical Machine 2 presents this latest research. It is based on state-of-the-art clinical studies and the most modern approach to health and weight problems. It is based on the premise that creating compatibility between food chemistry and body chemistry is key to sustaining a healthy weight, overcoming illness, and bolstering general overall good health. 

Central to the research is the breakthrough discovery that two different types of digestion exist for protein-one for the good proteins (pure high grade protein) that the human body has evolved to handle over the course of millions of years and another for bad proteins (abnormal proteins), which have been consumed in larger and larger quantities only since the invention of home refrigeration. 

Carbohydrates (regardless whether healthy, less healthy, or not healthy at all) have only ONE type of digestion. That's why the term "good" or "bad" carbohydrates has been taken out of context from my European edition of The BioChemical Machine (Random House).

In regard to eating carbohydrates, there is no classification for "good" or "bad" carbohydrates. It is a well known fact that some carbohydrates are healthier; others less healthy-but that's it. Carbohydrates can never cause serious or hazardous health problems. However when bad proteins are eaten chemically incorrect they create toxins in the body that leads to conditions such as acid reflux, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney and liver diseases, and myriad of other illnesses that may cause distress and chronic pain. Once people know how to handle the vast difference between good and bad proteins EVERY carbohydrate will become easy to digest and valuable for the body- and as a result, will not cause any weight problems.

The BioChemical A&B formula for life is very straight forward: Eat any carbohydrate with good proteins, but never with bad proteins. This simple but significant formula will make the difference for millions of people and will end the health and weight-related problems in this country."

The BioChemical A&B Eating Method® is the clinically proven perfect match of food chemistry and body chemistry. It is the result of many years of research with internationally renowned biochemists and food chemists. The BioChemical A&B Charts®, arranged into three unique categories-"A", "Neutral" (can be eaten 24/7), and "B" divide foods according to the type of digestive process necessary for breaking down good proteins, bad proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. 

The BioChemical A&B Method® is the "guide" to help people's "old" body chemistry (developed over the course of millions of years) to handle the labyrinth of today's delicious and seductive "modern" foods. People can eat everything and anything, including bad proteins, which is the cause of many health problems. Yet, the BioChemical A&B Method ® also teaches people how to eat unhealthy foods so they don't harm the BioChemical Machine. People can happily drink their beer and enjoy every food that is out there. It's just a matter of learning how to handle the two different types of digestion that exist for protein.

Although it would have been easy for me to write "just" another simple diet book with the usual rules and regulations of calorie counting, glycemic indexes and all the other counting programs that, seemingly, people love to do: But, it's not about food-it's about our cells. If we understand this, we know don't need eating plans, diets, non-diets, anti-diets, food-combiners, glycemic indexes, low-carb, low-fat, high-protein or whatever the never-ending ideas of money-hungry people will produce.
Dieting is the root of all evil, because dieting opens one of the most vicious cycles in somebody's life: the Yo-Yo effect… the starvation shock.

The following example can make this concept more understandable by visualization as it shows the importance of ending an ineffective half-century of the "diet guru" era: If you were to drop off an overweight and/or obese person in the desert for a couple of weeks without food (or to be fair, only with small portions of food, or other "chosen" foods), the result will always be the same-a thin and emaciated-starving person! This person will, assuredly, regain everything back faster once returning to his or her normal eating habits. In actuality, dieting is voluntary starving because the body-The BioChemical Machine-will do everything in its power to prevent you from another starvation-shock. We call this natural biological reaction: The "Yo-Yo Effect."

Everybody can lose weight and become a big loser-but loser is another key word; as the bottom line is that one "loses" more than just weight. This weight loss is always a temporary condition! In addition this "loss" may weaken the immune system and the person may "lose" something more vital-their ability to fight disease. Therefore the word "loser" becomes a negative condition in most cases. In effect, unwholesome weight loss can cause a person to "lose" the ability to secure good health. No human being should stress to control their cravings to eat normally…no one should be deprived. 

Therefore, I started a crusade for the people and remained true to myself. I knew I'd meet opposition, and have, but I also knew that I had to follow my convictions and the truth-not just the useless initiative diets that produce quick results; compromise immune systems; eventual weight gain and produce boredom by following a regimen of limited foods. 

But-alas, to move a whole nation-good-will is not enough. It needs a realistic solution; a solution that is welcomed by all ages. People want real solutions that fit the reality of today's supermarkets and fast food restaurants-solutions for the entire family and something that will be fun for everybody. For the adults: who like to drink beer without the "guilt-trip" that this consumption is unhealthy or fattening. For the children: who want their chocolate and Big Macs. For the men and women: who know, all too well, the stress of struggling to lose weight. And…for the elderly and/or ill people who still need to enjoy life to the fullest.

In conclusion: Based in solid science, the Biochemical A&B Eating Method® is poised to become the health and nutrition story of the century; empowering millions to take control over their own well-being; eliminating the "Yo Yo Effect"; teaching the youth of our nation some clear-cut rules and eradicating the current plague of obesity in our youngsters. Sadly, recent studies show that today's youth and their obesity rate will deduct up to twenty years off the average life span and put our nation's health and longevity in reverse. This method can also encourage schools to implement the proper scientific eating method into their cafeteria meals and also be part of the school's health curriculum on a national level. It will not only make history, but it may change it.

The BioChemical A&B Method® is affordable for everybody. Every food industry can profit from it. Even the pharmaceutical industry is not excluded, because the A&B method enhances the effectiveness of necessary medicines.

One of the best testimonials comes from Professor Claus Leitzmann, one of a growing number of respected authorities who endorsed my research. Professor Leitzman is an internationally renowned micro-biologist, U.C.L.A molecular biologist, biochemist and author of 500 studies, articles and books in the field of Nutritional Science-he is also a recipient of the Zabel Price for Cancer Prevention and the Broerman Prize for Preventative Nutrition and this is what he has to say: "In these times with health care in a state of crisis and people searching desperately for solutions that really work and can be implemented in everybody's life…people need to know about eating the Biochemical A&B way…It's a breakthrough that could lead to a whole new quality of life and save millions of dollars for both people and governments." 

Dozen Ways to Add Physical Activity to Your Daily Routine

Guest blog by Denise Austin
Author of Denise's Daily Dozen: The Easy, Every Day Program to Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks

Keeping up with your exercise sessions — a walk, a bike ride, a strength-training workout— goes a long way toward burning calories and making you feel fit. But don’t forget the importance of working more physical activity into your daily routine. One easy way to remind yourself is to think about every little step you take. This helps keep your body burning calories all day long. If you’re sitting all day, your body isn’t burning the calories it wants to and sitting is the fastest way to gain weight —except for lying down. I’m a big believer in doing easy activities without getting sweaty. Short bursts of activity like that can really add up —which is what you want when you’re trying to lose weight. Here are some tips on stepping your activity up a notch:

1. Dance your dinner off. Whether you’re out on a Saturday night or staying at home, turn on your favorite tunes. The beat will keep you moving your feet, not to mention burn off some extra calories.

2. Stand up every hour on the hour and stretch your arms overhead. It opens your chest and brings oxygen into your lungs. It’s great for circulation and enhancing your energy level.

3. Take the stairs instead of elevators. In addition to burning more calories, you'll save time — one study showed that waiting to ride an elevator takes twenty seconds longer than climbing up one flight of stairs. Today, see if you can take the stairs at least once when you normally wouldn't. Then tomorrow, do it twice. In no time, you'll be a stair master! If you need to go up several flights and can't climb them all, try a combination of the stairs and the elevator. 

4. Walk up the escalator rather than just riding along. You’ll burn calories and get to where you’re going in no time.

5. Decrease your dependency on your car and see how many errands you can run (or how much commuting you can do) by bike. Biking is fantastic exercise because it helps tone your legs and gives you a great cardio, fat blasting workout. 

6. If you live in a house with more than one level, bring things up stairs or down stairs as needed rather than letting a pile gather and then doing so.

7. If you're blessed with the gift of gab — as I am! —use that time to your fitness advantage. Instead of sitting on the couch or in a chair, pace back and forth.

8. Try this wall squat next time you’re chatting on the phone. Stand up and lean your back lightly against a wall, making sure to press your spine flat. Then, as if you are sitting down in a chair, slowly lower your body along the wall until your knees are bent to at least a 45-degree angle (but don't go lower than 90 degrees). Hold the position for as long as you can. Start with twenty seconds and work your way up to sixty-second intervals. Repeat the exercise every few minutes during a phone call and you'll really give those thighs a workout!

9. At work, walk to a co-worker’s office to tell him or her something rather than emailing. Not only will you burn a few calories and stretch your legs, but you’ll reap the benefits of making a human connection instead of a computerized one.

10. Walk your kids to school rather than driving them. Childhood obesity is a huge epidemic and physical education classes at many schools are being cut from school schedules. So if it’s possible to walk to your child’s school from your home, do so. You’ll help establish healthy habits at a young age and that’s priceless.

11. Lift and lengthen your legs while you cook. I stretch my legs like a ballerina using my kitchen counter tops. Just lift your leg, place your heel on the counter and with your abs in, fold over your leg and reach for your toes. Do this and other stretches often enough and you will be able to touch them one day.

12. After food shopping and loading your car with your groceries, walk your shopping cart back to the store instead of leaving it in the store’s parking lot. OW!!!   

Design of Nine: A No Nonsense Plan for Creating and Maintaining Beautiful Skin At Any Age

Guest blog by Julia Tanum Hunter, M.D.
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog

1. Prevention at any age. Its never too late - just get started! 
As long as your heart is beating, no matter where you’re starting, it’s never too late. You CAN be successful - quickly, permanently and happily. You can sometimes be “bad” but because you know how to and why to be “good” and understand it’s not about deprivation, you won’t get frustrated. Beginning to experience the skin, health, youthfulness, body, brainpower, energy and vitality you desire will motivate you to stay on the road to success. AND, what’s the alternative? Aging more quickly, not feeling “good”-gastrointestinal issues, aches, pains, injuries, illnesses, operations, medications, unhappiness, diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, prostate and erection issues, debilitation-physical and financial, stroke, nursing homes. Or maybe you’ll be luckier, but based on experience, prevention = greater happiness, fun and well-being and quality longevity. 

2. Avoid foods, products, ingredients and chemicals that inflame the skin and internal organs. 
Inflammation-- the primary cause of disease and aging that begins afflicting us from birth! Skin, the largest organ of the body, is one of the main organs used by the body to detoxify so many of the skin issues we experience are a result of the body attempting to clear, clean and heal itself (skin is a window to what is occurring internally). As skin becomes inflamed from what we consume, absorb and are exposed to (such as pollution and sunlight) - the results are aging and disease. Research on skin cancer and aging, acne, enlarged pores, ingrown beard hairs, hyperpigmentation, photodamage, rosacea, thinning hair, heart and blood vessel disease, erectile dysfunction and organ diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancers, arthritis and osteoporosis demonstrate that free radicals, fungal overgrowth and compromised hormone and immune systems, are the core causes resulting in inflammation, chronic and severe. Free radicals cause acidic blood and tissue pH, creating a hostile body environment of inflammation especially for collagen production (and every thing in your body is constructed of collagen). Stress causes inflammation via activating the release of stress hormones, which protect then damage, when depleted, then we progress to more disease.

3. Essential building blocks. 
The skin and body is a 24/7 construction site so we need to supply the building blocks AND ones the body needs, wants, is missing, can recognize, absorb and utilize. In today’s toxic and stress filled world and with foods as they are-even organic and right out of the garden due to soil depleted of nutrition from farming year round, it is imperative to supplement the internal organs and skin with specific foods, water and supplements-an array that keep your tissues alkaline and supplied with enough raw materials to do their job the best, the most youthfully and energetically. Your genetics and sex often require a unique prescription of what your body needs and doesn’t. You cannot take enough antioxidants in today’s world to fight the number and amount of free radicals that are being generated and inflaming your organs and tissues. Your unique Action Plan delineates everything you need for maximizing health, beauty and slowing down the ticking of the clock

4. Most everything in MODERATION regarding food. 
You are what you eat - organic, hormone and antibiotic free, grass fed, wild, the less sugar, carbs, flour (even whole wheat), grain, corn, cow's milk, the better to minimize toxicity. 

Skin Fitness Plus

• Drink 1.0-2 liters of water a day, ideally with no chlorine, fluoride or bromide, and filtered at least for organisms are recommended. Your skin and body require much water for them to function correctly. All cells need water and water helps treat and prevent constipation. Make your water therapeutic by placing one or more green tea bags in it daily.

• The closer to nature, ideally the greener and darker the fruits and vegetables the better and seasonal in your location are best. 

• Grains - white and whole wheat flour, bread, pasta, corn, white rice, oatmeal and sugars are not anyone's friend. Less is best!

• Cereals, grains, sugars and pastas should be low glycemic when eaten meaning complex grains, infrequently multi-grain and consider raw almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, raw dates, DARK chocolate (in moderation) or unsweetened raw chocolate products, xylitol sweetened products, wild rice as better choices. Many people have gluten allergies, which cause acne, constipation and inflammatory diseases. Save your sweets for something worth aging and getting pimples for and having to exercise off or diet for and protect with antioxidants and probiotics. We all love sweets and bread, but they contribute to aging, disease and fungal overgrowth so in moderation.

• Red meat - Ideally women and men - don't consume more then once a week. Lamb is healthier then beef, pork can be healthier then both. Replace with healthy wild, low toxin fish, turkey, black beans, buffalo and wild game, chicken (skinless) and goat. Eat more vegetables and beans - also full of protein.

• ETOH in moderation (tequila, scotch, dry red wine and vodka are better choices), no sweet mixers and try not drinking every day. Alcohol increases free radicals and the body turns it into fat so take glutathione and an array of antioxidants and drink water with it. It also negatively impacts sleep, so again, indulge in moderation. Helpful solutions to cut down are (when you want a glass of wine or cocktail) to drink hot or cold tea instead, which generally distracts your brain, so you lose the urge.

• Avoid cow’s milk, even for children, as much as possible, especially if you have acne or constipation. Many are allergic to it and the lactose is a sugar that promotes fungal overgrowth and fat. It acidifies the body and you get more calcium from vegetables. Goat milk is compatible with virtually everyone and there are tasty goat cheeses, yogurts and milks. Sheep milk is next best and still better than cow’s milk.

• The right oils that juice up and plump the skin (we all dry up as we get older) and they promote health and decrease inflammation. The most anti-inflammatory oil that everyone should take is fish oil - Omega-3’s. Healthy oils for your skin and body also include olive oil (great also to put on your skin in small amounts for irritation and hydration), raw coconut oil, hemp, flax with lignans, walnut, green tea, borage, black currant.

5. Supplements and Nutrients. 
Even organic, fresh and healthy food must be supported in today’s world with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, nutrients and targeted oils that continually replenish, strengthen, energize and detoxify the entire body, promote physical and psychological well-being and effectively combat the epidemic of acne, melasma, rosacea and skin cancers. The soil is depleted and over-farmed so supplementation is essential. Examples of these essential nutrients:

• Green powder/pills - green, green and more green, the more green the better! 
• B vitamins
• Detoxified iodine
• Multi-minerals
• Probiotics
• Digestive enzymes

6. Ingredients. 
Checking out ingredients in everything we put in and on our bodies helps to protect and enrich our diet. The hidden sugars, MSG, simple salt, the ingredients we consume in foods and their lack after shipping and cooking- of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, even if entitled organic, greatly contribute to our inflammation. The closer to nature foods you eat, the more alkaline, healthy and rejuvenated your skin and body will become and the aging clock slows as much as possible. You CAN look 10-20 years younger than your peers. We must address the skin and body internally and externally to achieve health and turn back the clock. 

Skin Fitness Plus
7. Have your Hormone Levels Checked. 
Aging, disease, depression, sleep disorders, “brain fog”, emotional lability, lack of energy and vitality, anxiety, mid-adominal weight and struggles, nail ridging and fungus, athletes foot, jock itch, tiny postular, itchy, skin rashes, brown spots, skin tags, thickened skin growths, yeast infections, dry furrowed heels, pain and unhappiness in men and women are significantly advanced by declining hormone levels which also advances skin, collagen, tissue and hair thinning and laxity, loss of integrity and strength, weakens the immune system, negatively impacts the risks of prostate disease, and all cancers, can cause emotional and psychological changes, low energy levels and brain functioning, organ and erectile dysfunction, weight gain and let’s not forget…the law of gravity everywhere in and on the body. Acneic skin demonstrates increased hormone sensitivity at the level of the skin and must be treated and balanced to cure the problem.Bio-identical hormones in cream form vs. those in a chemical form which are foreign to the human body, properly dosed, administered, monitored and individually tailored contribute to turning back the physiological clock in a healthy manner, promoting well-being, preventing diseases, strengthening the immune system, energy, sleep, skin and brain fitness. Like nutritionals and supplements, they must be balanced and titrated both for the skin and internally. Men have the same hormones as women in different amounts. Bio-identical hormones that must be addressed include bio-identical progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid, pregnenolone, growth hormone, melatonin and more...

8. Exercise – 
Workout safely and healthfully. Exercise is anti-aging. Sweating is detoxifying, increases blood flow, oxygenation and is anti-fungal, bringing in the nutrients to the cells and tissues and increasing lymphatic flow, which takes out the toxins. Exercise helps balance hormones and increases growth hormone output, which is anti-aging, enhances good sleep, lubricates your joints and spine if done correctly, produces energy and brainpower. By increased circulation and delivery of nutrients to skin cells, you are expelling potentially damaging toxins. If you are not exercising, then you are not detoxifying nor stemming aging. Exercise is walking the stairs instead of the elevator, carrying your own groceries, taking a walk on your street or up a hill, parking the car NOT closest to the door so you have to walk a bit, bicycling, cleaning the house, doing yard work, etc. Working out with some weights doesn’t mean you always have to go to the gym, everyday chores can maintain and promote muscle mass. Your skin is attached to your muscles so lifting and toning your muscles can help to tighten skin. Building muscle also increases your metabolic rate so you burn more calories all the time and lose weight more easily. Remember - muscle weighs more than fat so you can be losing inches and the scale reports your weight is the same. Yoga is great exercise and as with all exercise, be careful and work up slowly, stretch gradually and if your body is telling you it hurts then you need to work up more slowly and often you need professional advice at first for safety. 

9. Routinely maintain skin health! 
Just as you consistently repair and upkeep your house and car, maintenance is needed for your skin and body. Everything that results in skin health and beauty must be addressed – foods, water, exercise, vitamins and supplements, bio-identical hormones and internal organ health. Insure that your physiology is kept working at its best, disease-free and youngest to achieve the results you want and the health you need! To enhance, not harm your skin, use chemically correct, therapeutic concentration products without toxic ingredients. Add scientifically correct procedures to cure damage and slow the aging process. Skin, oral, hair and nail products must be free of harmful chemicals, artificial colors, dyes, and fragrances that cause inflammation…the primary cause of disease, aging and skin pathology. Skin Regimen Must Be Individually Formulated For Women - easily and quickly doable - specifically designed for you and your unique anatomy to maximize, repair, rejuvenate, prevent and re-invigorate. 

Skin Fitness Plus . . . young at any age
www.skinfitnessplus.com

50 Most Common Signs of Stress --SuperStress Busting 101

Guest blog by Roberta Lee M.D.
Author of The SuperStress Solution: 4-week Diet and Lifestyle Program 
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog

Stress is a word used so commonly to describe uncomfortable situations it’s hard to know the exactly what it means.  The concise oxford dictionary defines stress as “a disease resulting from continuous mental stress.” Most people think of stress as an unpleasant situation or distress.

But times are different we are moving at a much faster pace and stress has transformed into a whole new kind disease of monster proportions – one I call SuperStress.  This silent and deadly transformation of stress evolved when we acquiesced to answering emails within a minutes of their receipt and felt obligated to consider practically sleeping with our PDAs , cell phones and blackberries to make sure that we were “ available”,  even on our vacations .  In cooperation with our new values and compounding the problem isthe presence in airports, banks, elevators and even in taxis of television screens streaming news reports which tell us of the latest crises around the world—“keeping us informed “ so we don’t have to chase every disaster 24/7 – it can chase us. Great—or is it?

When we feel stressed our body reacts by sending signals via the limbic system, a special area of the brain designed to trigger a rapid physiologicalresponse, to flee. Stress experts believe that this response is an evolutionary adaptation whose purpose enabled victims of dangerous predators to run, escape or flee. 

So, when danger is perceived, real or not, the “fight or flight” response triggersneurohormones from the limbic system of the brainto be released into our blood streamand   in turn signalsthe adrenal glands to secreteanotherhost of hormones known as catecholemines:   epinephrine, norepinephrineand cortisol. All of these moleculesmobilize energy in the body with the intent offleeing.  For example, if I hear that I have just lost my job my body goes into a fight or flight response just as much as if a mastodon or tiger were chasing me.  In this situation what follows from the adrenal surge is a body response that reduces digestive processes to save energy, enhance our immune system to protect us from potential wounding in battle and massive releases of blood sugar (vital energy for mobility). 

In a short term emergency the changes made by SuperStress do very little to harm the body – we use up more vitamins and calories but we can recover from the damage.  The problem comes when this response is triggered over and over with no time for rest. The relentless wear and tear of mobilizing for danger takes a different course – digestion gets out of whack, blood sugar surges begin to push the body into a near diabetic like state and immunity instead of being strong and robust becomes weakened and myriad of medical conditions start emerging in the chronically stressed individual

Here are the fifty most common signs of stress identified by the American Institute of Stress:

1.  Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain
2. Insomnia, nightmares, disturbing dreams
3.  Gritting, grinding teeth
4. Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts
5.  Stuttering or stammering
6. Trouble learning new information
7.  Tremors, trembling of lips, hands
8. Forgetfulness, disorganization, confusion
9.  Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms
10. Difficulty in making decisions
11.  Light headedness, faintness, dizziness
12. Feeling overloaded or overwhelmed
13.  Ringing, buzzing or "popping sounds
14. Frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts
15.  Frequent blushing, sweating
16. Feelings of loneliness or worthlessness
17.  Cold or sweaty hands, feet
18. Little interest in appearance, punctuality
19. Dry mouth, problems swallowing
20. Nervous habits, fidgeting, feet tapping
21. Frequent colds, infections, herpes sores
22. Increased frustration, irritability, edginess
23. Rashes, itching, hives, "goose bumps"
24. Overreaction to petty annoyances
25. Unexplained or frequent "allergy" attacks
26. Increased number of minor accidents
27. Heartburn, stomach pain, nausea
28. Obsessive or compulsive behavior
29. Excess belching, flatulence
30. Reduced work efficiency or productivity
31. Constipation, diarrhea32. Lies or excuses to cover up poor work
33. Difficulty breathing, sighing
34. Rapid or mumbled speech
35. Sudden attacks of panic
36. Excessive defensiveness or suspiciousness
37. Chest pain, palpitations
38. Problems in communication, sharing
39. Frequent urination
40. Social withdrawal and isolation
41. Poor sexual desire or performance
42. Constant tiredness, weakness, fatigue
43. Excess anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness
44. Frequent use of over-the-counter drugs
45. Increased anger, frustration, hostility
46. Weight gain or loss without diet
47. Depression, frequent or wild mood swings
48. Increased smoking, alcohol or drug use
49. Increased or decreased appetite
50. Excessive gambling or impulse buying

These are symptoms described by many of my patients. I wish I could say that the frequency is dwindling but a recent survey by the American Psychological Association in 2007 known as the “Stress in America Report” verifies that one third of Americans are suffering from extreme stress andthe prevalence of stress is now up to 79% ( up from 59% in 2006). I could write page upon page about why and how the body responds in a stressful situation but I am a medical pragmatist and ultimately like to see people gain control over stress so here are my top 10 suggestions to reduce stress that I share with patients:

1.      Realize that whatever is stressing you will eventually resolve itself—nothing lasts forever
2.      If you have symptoms that impact your effectiveness to work, think and behave with civility to your loved ones or work colleagues – get psychological support to figure out how you can cope in a more constructive way
3.      Preserve your health sleep at least 6- 7 hours so your body can rejuvenate itself from daily the wear and tear of stress
4.      Eat breakfast it will give you more energy to get thru it all
5.      Take a 10 minute break in the middle of the day- this gives you a mental energy boost
6.      Take a multi-vitamin we use up more vitamins under stress
7.      Eatwholesome whole foods like whole grains, fishand lean meats, veggies and fruits your body needs nourishment under strain not junk food

Mobilize and take a 20 minute daily walk—physical activity mobilizes endorphins the “feel good” hormones

Answer the question “What 5 things am I grateful for today?” and find something inspiring to read every day

Make a commitment to yourself to go visit a friend in person this week—we all need each other One more stress buster it’s not intuitive under circumstances of strain but it works —do something kind for someone, compliment somebody, wish someone well – for no good reason or help someone out. Reaching out to help someone reminds us of the interconnected nature of the human experience—and our capacity to aspire to our highest nature something we often forget under stress. As the author of One Door Closes, Another Door Opens, Arthur Pine, put it “Caring can start a domino effect.

Are All Diets Unhealthy?

Guest blog by Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D., and Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D
Author of Runaway Eating: The 8-Point Plan to Conquer Adult Food and Weight Obsessions

Want the short answer? Yes. Now, you may be thinking, "If I don't stay on some kind of diet, I'll just blow up like a balloon. I need to be on a program just to keep control of myself." But consider that any kind of dieting involves a diet mentality, which ensures failure, encourages you to ignore hunger and satiety signals, and promotes a negative relationship with food, because you have to give up "forbidden" foods and, often, eat foods you don't really like. This inevitably results in giving in, which often means bingeing and feeling terrible about yourself. So, though this idea may sound radical, we firmly believe there is no good diet.

By "diet," we mean the conscious restriction of the amounts or kind of foods you're allowed to eat for the express purpose of losing weight. A diet is something that you go on when you want to change your body, and go off once you've reached a certain goal. Though we certainly do endorse consuming a wide variety of healthful foods, paying attention to portion sizes, and thinking twice before eating a lot of foods that are high in calories but low in nutrition, we don't recommend following any kind of plan that tells you what, how much, and how often you should eat, without regard for your body's hunger and satiety signals. And we definitely don't recommend any eating plan that you go on and then go off.

Although it may sound surprising, the negative effects of dieting also hold true even if you aren't following a formal diet but still think like a dieter. If you count grams of fat, opt for high-protein foods while shunning carbs, rely on "safe" foods, beat yourself up for eating "bad" foods, consciously or unconsciously undereat (which can trigger overeating later), use diet soft drinks or coffee to quell your hunger, or decide what you can eat based on what you've already eaten today, you're dieting. 

The Physical and Psychological Effects of Dieting

Have you ever noticed that as soon as you go on a diet, all you want to do is eat? Even if you weren't particularly concerned about food prior to dieting, all of a sudden you become obsessed with it. You find yourself preoccupied with what you'll have for your next meal, whether you can have a snack, what others are eating, or even what you'll allow yourself to eat tomorrow. What's going on? 

The mind and the body are inextricably linked, and never is this more apparent than when you go on a diet. Geared to survive during feast or famine, both body and mind switch into survival mode when the food supply is radically diminished. While the body turns down the metabolism and becomes a "slow burner" in an attempt to hang on to every single calorie, the mind gears itself to one overriding purpose: getting food. The result? Suddenly, you may find yourself clipping recipes, planning menus, cooking elaborate meals or dishes for others (neither of which you'll eat yourself), or even dreaming about food at night. The message is clear: Your body wants food, and your mind does, too.

After a few days of extremely restricting your food, you'll probably become more depressed and anxious. Although this may be due to changes in neurotransmitters like serotonin, it may also occur because you are depriving yourself of things that are very pleasurable that aren't replaced by anything else -- leaving a pleasure void. You may suddenly prefer to spend more time alone -- it takes too much energy to deal with others -- and your self-esteem may start to drop. Unfortunately, the more depressed, anxious, and isolated you become, the more you'll obsess about food. 

Some people can hold out longer than others, but the result is eventually the same: a binge. You eat something you "shouldn't," which makes you feel as if you've blown it. So you let go and eat. During the binge you feel relief -- at last you can relax and do what you've wanted to do all along. But you may also feel as if you're in a trance and can't stop yourself. It's almost as if your body has developed a will of its own; it's going to feed itself whether you like it or not. As a result, you can end up eating more food in one sitting than you ever did when you weren't dieting. 

Are you crazy? Absolutely not. This is a normal, even healthy reaction to a period of semi-starvation, a reaction that made good sense during primitive times. After a period of famine, it was natural and necessary for our ancient ancestors to overeat. They needed to be able to take advantage of a feast when they had the chance, because the food supply was uncertain. To make this possible, their appetites increased after a period of famine. So the same amount of food that would have satisfied them during times of plenty left them feeling hungry after a period of semi-starvation. The same thing happens to you when you restrict food. Suddenly, you develop the urge and the capacity to binge, and you no longer feel satisfied after eating what you used to consider a normal meal. In short, restrictive dieting can trigger binges and leave you hungry even after you've eaten normal amounts of food. This is true for most Runaway Eaters, and even for those dieters who do not develop Runaway Eating problems. 

The psychological consequences of dieting were clearly illustrated in a classic study of the effects of semi-starvation done in 1950 by Ancel Keys, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota. In the study, 36 healthy, young, psychologically sound males were observed over a period of 1 year. During the first 3 months, the men ate normal amounts of food; during the next 6 months, they were given half as much food; and during the last 3 months, their food allotment was gradually increased. During the semi-starvation period, the men became preoccupied with food and constantly talked about it, read cookbooks, clipped recipes, and daydreamed about eating. When a meal was served, many took an inordinately long time to eat it, trying to make it last. Over time, the men became extremely depressed, anxious, and irritable. 

Once they made it through the period of semi-starvation, the men ate nearly continuously, with some indulging in 8,000- to 10,000-calorie binges. The men reported that their hunger actually increased right after meals, and some of them continued to eat to the point of being sick without feeling satisfied. Although most of the men finally reverted to normal eating patterns within 5 months of the study's end, some continued with their new patterns of "extreme over consumption." 

We see these same patterns in dieters: the preoccupation with food; the anxiety, depression, and irritability; the tendency to go off the diet and eat more than one would have in the pre-diet days; and a propensity toward bingeing even after the diet has ended. 

All About Apples & Pears

Guest blog by Dr. Marie Savard
Author of Apples & Pears: The Body Shape Solution for Weight Loss and Wellness 

Are you an apple or a pear? Most women understand intuitively whether their bodies tend to store fat around their waists (forming an apple shape) or lower down around their hips, thighs, and buttocks (forming a pear shape). But few of us understand the dramatic impact body shape has on our current health and risk of future disease. Every aspect of a woman's life is affected by her shape, including her ability to lose weight, her fertility, severity of menopausal symptoms, response to birth control pills and hormone replacement, emotional volatility, body image, and long-term risks of breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other disorders
Determining your body shape is easy: First, measure around your waist to get your waist circumference. Next, measure around the widest part of your lower body to get your hip circumference. Divide the first number by the second to get your waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). If your WHR is 0.80 or less, you are a "pear." If your WHR is greater than 0.80, you are an "apple." 

How important is body shape?
Although we've known for decades that these different body shapes existed, only now are their causes and related health risks becoming clear. The startling discovery is that these two categories of women-apple-shaped and pear-shaped-are as physiologically different from each other as women are from men. The reason is fat. 

Fat comes in two main varieties: subcutaneous fat, which is located under the skin; and visceral or abdominal fat, which packs itself around the inner organs of the abdomen. Subcutaneous fat, being closer to the surface, is always easy to see. Visceral fat, on the other hand, is not always visible from the outside. It jams up against the intestines, kidneys, pancreas, and liver (and sometimes even inside the liver). We all have some visceral fat because it protects our internal organs, acting both as shock absorber in case of trauma, and as insulator to help us conserve body heat. While some visceral fat is necessary, too much can create serious health problems.
Most people think of fat as inert material, much like the rind of fat surrounding a steak. But fat is actually living, breathing, hormone-producing, metabolically active tissue. Fat is critical for survival because it stores food energy, and because it helps regulate body functions through the give-and-take of chemical communications with the central nervous system. 

Subcutaneous fat may be visible and annoying, but it is relatively harmless. In fact, fat in the pear zone-hips, thighs, and buttocks-helps to protect us from disease. Scientists believe that pear zone fat acts like a fat magnet, trapping certain fats from the foods we eat and keeping them from escaping into the blood stream where they can damage our arteries.

Excess visceral fat, on the other hand, can be dangerous. Visceral fat is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat, and most of what it does is harmful to the body. Visceral fat decreases insulin sensitivity (making diabetes more likely), increases triglycerides, decreases levels of HDL cholesterol (the good one), creates more inflammation, and raises blood pressure-all of which increase the risk of heart disease. Instead of trapping fat, visceral fat releases more of its free fatty acids into the blood stream, further increasing the risk of both diabetes and heart disease. The overall effect of excess visceral fat is that it creates a physical environment that is primed for heart disease and stroke, and greatly increases the risk for certain cancers. This is why apple-shaped women, who carry their weight around their waists, have an increased risk of metabolic and vascular diseases. 

Although pear-shaped women are protected from heart disease and diabetes, they have health risks of their own. Because pear-zone fat produces a less potent form of estrogen than apple-zone fat, pear-shaped women are more likely to experience more severe symptoms of menopause, and to develop osteoporosis. Pear-shaped women are also more likely to develop eating disorders, probably because society tends to value the narrow hips and slender legs that are impossible for pear-shaped women to achieve, even with liposuction. 

Health tips
No matter which body shape you have, how old you are, or how much you weigh, there are many things you can do to decrease your personal disease risk. Diet and exercise are only part of the equation-medical monitoring is critical, as is a change in mind-set. We need to stop thinking of our weight problems, and learn to accept ourselves as women with figures. Every woman can become stronger, look better, and feel healthier. My top tips for getting started:

For apple-shaped women:
· First step: throw away the scale and dig out a tape measure…from now on you should measure your health by inches instead of pounds.
· Long-term goal: lose just two inches of fat from your waist to significantly decrease your risks for the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease.
· Diet strategy: Think high complex carbohydrates, moderate fats. Avoid foods made with white flour; eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Choose olive oil instead of butter or margarines. Avoid all products made with partially hydrogenated oils-those are the dangerous trans fats, which increase the risk of heart disease.
· Exercise strategy: walk 30 minutes ever day to burn apple-zone fat.
· Medical monitoring: Get yearly tests for cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose.
· Secret sabotage: STRESS-it adds inches to your waist!

For pear-shaped women:
· First step: understand that pear-zone fat is actually healthy.
· Long-term goal: Avoid weight-gain after menopause, which can turn a pear into an apple.
· Diet strategy: Think low fat, high complex carbohydrates. Avoid fatty foods, especially cheese and butter. Avoid candy, which is associated with a high risk of osteoporosis. Avoid salty foods, which can worsen varicose veins. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. 
· Exercise strategy: resistance training three times per week to build bones.
· Medical monitoring: Get a bone density scan at age 45, and again every year or two after menopause.
· Secret sabotage: poor body image-it can lead to eating disorders. 

(For additional information and downloadable forms, see the website at www.applesandpears.org.)

Is There an "All Natural Alternative to Antibiotics?

Guest blog by Susun S. Weed
Known as one of the "founding grandmothers of the herbal renaissance"
Author of Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog

There are good reasons to use antibiotic drugs. That said, most physicians and healthcare professionals agree that they are often overused. The overuse of antibiotics has created "superbugs" that are immune to the most common antibiotics. But on a more personal level, antibiotics can wreak havoc on your own immune system and gastrointestinal tract.

The good news is that there is an all-natural alternative to antibiotics that I've found to be very effective. If your infection is not life threatening, you may wish to try herbs instead of, or in addition to, regular antibiotics. Of the most-often used herbal anti-infectives—calendula, chaparral, echinacea, goldenseal, myrrh, poke, usnea, and yarrow—it is the lovely purple coneflower, echinacea, that I most often turn to. 

I find echinacea as effective as antibiotics (dare I say sometime better than!) if E. angustifolia/augustifolia—but not E. purpurea—is used when you make your own tincture; tincture, not capsules or teas, is used; the root, and only the root, is used; and very large doses are taken very frequently. 

To figure your dose of echinacea, divide your body weight by 2; take that many drops per dose. There are about 25 drops in a dropperful; round up to full droppers. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, take 90 drops/4 dropperfuls. There is no known overdose of echinacea tincture. With acute infection, I take a full dose every 2–3 hours. When the infection is chronic, I take a full dose every 4–6 hours. 

Many infections can be countered by echinacea alone. But, when there is a deeply entrenched infection in the pelvic area, for example, I add one dropperful of poke root tincture to my one- ounce bottle of Echinacea. Poke is an especially effective ally for men with prostatitis, women with chronic bacterial vaginal infections or PID, and anyone dealing with an STD/STI or urinary tract infection (UTI).

There are many good-quality vendors who sell echinacea root. To make your make your own echinacea antibiotic tincture: Put 4 ounces, or 115 grams, of echinacea cut root in a quart jar. Fill the jar to the top with 100-proof vodka. Cap tightly, and be sure to label it and keep it safely out of children's reach. Wait at least 6 weeks before use. This tincture is even more potent after 1 year.

Twelve Reasons to Break a Sweat"

Guest blog by Denise Austin
Author of Denise's Daily Dozen: The Easy, Every Day Program to Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks

By now you know that exercise can help you slim down—and hopefully you’re seeing this for yourself. But you get so much more from working out than a slimmer waist or smaller size. New studies come out all the time touting all the benefits of breaking a sweat. Use them as motivation to keep up your hard sweat session. Because if you do, you’ll reap amazing rewards. Read on to find out what they are.

1. Working out helps you re-awaken thousands of muscle cells so you’ll have more energy and vitality.
2. Exercise can lift your spirits because it releases brain chemicals called endorphins. These naturally enhance your mood, which is why you always feel better after a workout than you did when you started.
3. Breaking a sweat is an ideal way to relieve tension and de-stress.
4. Food tastes better, and you’ll know that you’ve earned it. 
5. Exercise helps you build more muscle, which boosts your metabolism. 
6. Exercise will help your clothes fit better.
7. Moving around helps clear your head and may make you feel more creative. I know that I get some of my best ideas while working out.
8. Working out enhances circulation giving your complexion a youthful, rosy glow.
9. Exercise helps reduce your risk of an array of disease from diabetes to cancer to heart disease. There’s no better preventative medicine than good old-fashioned exercise. 
10. You’ll sweat your way to a younger-looking body. 
11. Your posture will improve so you’ll stand taller. 
12. Working out improves your health so you’ll live longer to enjoy life with your family and your friends. How’s that for motivation?

Twelve Ways to Trim Your Body & Your Food Costs

Guest blog by Denise Austin
Author of Denise's Daily Dozen: The Easy, Every Day Program to Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks

I often hear people say that eating healthy is too expensive, but I disagree. Sure, some fast food costs less than a dollar. But it’s not worth it to eat all that heart-clogging fat and high calorie food, especially when there are some easy ways to make healthy foods fit your budget. Here some of my favorite tips:

1. Buy in bulk. I buy whole grains, nuts, dried beans, oats, dried fruits, and organic brown rice in bulk at places like Costco, Sam’s Club, and B.J’s. Because you’re not paying for extra packaging or marketing, your price per pound is a lot cheaper.
2. Don’t buy small packages. It may be easier to buy portion-size packages of food, but those little bags are often more expensive. Instead I suggest buying the large package and then dividing it into small portions in individual plastic bags when you get home. 
3. Shop locally. I buy local produce and very reasonably priced olive oilat a store in my area called the Mediterranean Bakery because it offers great bargains. I also go to my local farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. It’s fresh and wholesome, less expensive, and you’re supporting local farmers.
4. Buy seasonally. I plan my recipes and weekly menus around what’s currently in season. These foods are lower in price and typically have much better flavor, too.
5. Grow your own. Homegrown is always best. I have my own herb garden in my kitchen. I can take snips of what I need like fresh basil, thyme, parsley, and rosemary, and it costs me just pennies.
6. Cook yourself. Restaurant meals tend to be pricier than what you’d eat at home, plus you don’t know exactly what goes into it so it’s harder to track fat and calories. I love to cook at home because I can control exactly what ingredients are in my food—such as how much salt or oil is used —as well as portion size. 
7. Pick inexpensive edibles. Foods that give you more nutritional bang for your buck include potatoes, beans, eggs, milk, and canned tuna and soups. These foods have low price tags, but are high in vitamins, minerals, and other healthy compounds.
8. Split costs with a friend. Sometimes the food at those warehouse stores is less expensive but comes in huge packages that you can’t possibly finish. Instead, find a friend to split some of these items with. 
9. Make restaurant meals more cost efficient. Today’s restaurant meals are bigger than ever. Instead of eating too much and regretting it later or wasting food, have your waiter put half your entrée in a To Go box before he even brings it to the table. For one price you get dinner today and another meal for tomorrow!
10. Cook in bulk. Once you’re chopping, dicing, and cooking, why not make more than one meal at once and then freeze it or put it in the fridge for another day? This saves time and money since all those perishable items you bought won’t go to waste.
11. Brown bag your lunch. Even if you do have a healthy place to buy food at work, it’s always cheaper to bring your own. This way you’re not paying marked up prices for something like a sandwich or salad that you could easily make yourself. 
12. Practice good food storage. There’s nothing worse than spending good money on healthy foods only to toss rotten, unused items like fruits and veggies at the end of the week. Use your refrigerators crisper drawers for vegetables and when you freeze foods make sure the containers you use are made for the freezer (this helps ward off freezer burn and loss of flavor).

Ten Psychological Tips that Will Change How You Look and Feel About Beauty

Guest blog by Vivian Diller Ph.D. with Jill Muir-Sukenick Ph.D., edited by Michele Willens
Author of Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change 

Face it: there is no magic solution to aging with grace and dignity. Having just written a book offering guidance to millions of women who feel trapped by conflicting feelings, we think we are on to something. We have found satisfying, long term solutions that help us deal with a culture that virtually programs women to have a crisis over their aging appearance. We were once professional models, so we were made acutely aware how quickly a premium on physical beauty can fade with age. It took hard work and time, but we learned the secret of how to enjoy our changing appearance. Now we are therapists treating hundreds of women who may be fulfilled and evolved in many ways, but are still having difficulty coming to terms with the lines of time. Here are some great psychological tips we tell women to "think" about that help them change the way they "feel" and "look." They worked for us. They can work for you!

1) Beauty is not just a physical experience, but a psychological one as well. We all tend to think of beauty as a skin-deep issue, all about how we physically look. But research tells us that perception of what is deemed attractive and unattractive is much more complicated. Why do you think some beautiful women say, "I've never thought I was pretty"? Yes, even beauties like Uma Thurman and Michelle Pfeiffer have drawn attention to what they consider flaws. Similarly, there are women who may not be your typical image of beauty, yet when you ask them they say they are quite confident in their looks. Serena Williams never tries to cover up her unconventionally muscular physique: in fact, she flaunts it and somehow it makes her more appealing. What makes people feel attractive goes well beyond our physical self. It runs deep, much deeper than the eye can see.

2) Although we can't stop the physical changes of aging, we can change our experience of aging. No one, not any doctor, dermatologist or surgeon can stop physical changes of aging. There may be ways to look better, take care of your skin and bodies that put things temporarily on hold, at least on the surface. We're all for that! We're also for ways we can experience -- and even enjoy -- our changing looks. If we take care of ourselves, it makes us feel better and we smile more. When we smile, we look more attractive. The sooner we go through an interior process, (we offer six steps in our book) the better you will feel inside and out.

3) While aging is inevitable and irreversible, self-image is not. Self-image can be fluid and timeless. Self-image is not an actual still picture of oneself. It is an internal experience, how we see ourselves from within, over time throughout our lives. It's flexible and malleable. And if we understand that self image is changeable, then that is what we try to help women conquer. Not age itself. That's a battle we can't win.  

4) Beauty is in the "I" of the beholder. If we become our own internal "eye," we can take control over how we see ourselves, rather than give it over to other people to determine if we're attractive or not. Our six steps serve to change the internal lens through which we see, not only ourselves, but others as well. The result? Women will be less self critical and less critical of each other.

5) Chronological age does not have to define you. You can define yourself at your chronological age. A particular age has little to do with how old you feel. You can define how you want to be 40, 50 and onward. We also don't have to let magazine images define what is beautiful. Some women in their 20's feel old. Some women in their 60's feel young.

6) Put your beauty in your identity, not your identity in your beauty. Your identity is made up of many aspects of yourself. How you look is just one of them. As you get older, more aspects of yourself can make up your identity; for example, your experiences in life, your accomplishments and your relationships. If you hold onto youthful beauty as a narrow definition of yourself, you're especially unlikely to enjoy your looks as you age. You leave out so many other ways to feel good about yourself.

7) Take an honest look at who you are, not what you look like. Mirrors tell only a little of what we really look like. Gaze again and go beyond, past your reflection and see who you are as a person. Think of what you see as only the image of yourself, that informs the world of your physical self. But who you are is more than what they see.

8) Rob beauty of its power over you. Take back that power and you will feel more beautiful. Our culture has given beauty power over women. We are told who and what is beautiful. We know that youth is beautiful. Most people see babies as beautiful. But grandmothers can be beautiful as well. Some of the most beautiful women in the world are those who smile, engage and appear happy at any age. If you take back the power of what makes you feel attractive, you will become more attractive to yourself and others.

9) Become less afraid of aging and you will look more beautiful. When you see a face that is scared, you would hardly call it beautiful. There is nothing pretty about fear. Women need to accept that aging happens and that becoming more courageous about all aspects of our lives will enhance them . . . and us.

10) Beauty matters to all women, but to those who age beautifully, it matters neither too much nor too little. We all know that a core aspect of our identities is our appearance. No doubt our looks matter. But women who allow beauty to matter, but keep it in balance with all other aspects of their lives, can enjoy their looks at any age.

Bottom line: Dealing with your looks as they inevitably change is a psychological process as well as a physical challenge. Master the first and the second will come with much more joy. When it comes to your face, your body and your aging process, be smart, be thoughtful and you'll be more beautiful.

7 Ways to Feel Sexy Again after Breast Cancer

Guest blog by Gina Maisano
Author of  Intimacy After Breast Cancer: Dealing with Your Body, Relationships and Sex

While the medical community has succeeded in helping more women survive for 15, 20, 30 years and longer after breast cancer, few experts have focused on the sexual health and well-being of women survivors.

The good news is that you can rediscover the sensual woman you were before your battle with this disease. Here are eight places to start:

Get your bod back. If you weren't in shape before your diagnosis, now is the time to lose the extra weight you put on after chemo. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, high fiber foods, and lean proteins. Avoid white flour, sugar, hydrogenated fat, high-sodium snacks, chemically processed foods, and fatty muscle meats. Do a minimum of 3-5 hours of exercise per week, get back to your healthy weight, and reduce your fat intake to 30 grams per day -- all of which can reduce your risk of recurrence. 

Be kind to the "new girls." Regardless of what kind of surgery you had, you feel a sense of loss and a disconnect with your new body. One way to get through the grief is to make the best of your new breasts and get the look you want: whether by asking the surgeon to fill in divots, massaging scars with vitamin E oil, using silicone scar patches, finding the right prostheses and bras, or having your new nipples and areolas tattooed to match your old ones. 

Locate your e-zone. Your surgeon took away a good portion of skin and nerve endings, but not all. When your surgery was completed, a lot of your erogenous zone was simply lifted higher -- now you just have to find it again. Lying on your back, with the eraser of a new pencil, slowly move it around your collarbone, neck, breasts, and chest until you feel a familiar sensation -- your old erogenous zone! Locate all these pleasure spots. Later, you can show your partner.

Get your mojo back. Having little or no desire for sex is both physical and psychological. Take an inventory of all the medications you're on that have the side effect of low libido -- including SRRI antidepressants, tranquilizers, pain meds, cold and allergy medicines, and NSAIDs -- and try to find alternatives. Seek help for post-traumatic stress. Do kegel exercises to limber up your vaginal muscles, and find crèmes to help with vaginal dryness. All of these practical steps will help get your body and mind ready for lovemaking.

Play with toys. Have fun with your own sexuality. Life's too short and precious to be uptight about what's going to make you feel better. Sex toys are no longer taboo, and are available in perfectly respectable shops, or easily ordered from the Internet or through a catalog. If you use these toys a minimum of three times a week, you can increase your libido, and learn about your new body. 

Project confidence. If you feel insecure or like damaged goods, it will emanate from you like a dense fog. Every morning, look in the mirror and tell yourself you're beautiful -- it may be cliché, but it works. Invest in beautiful lingerie that makes you feel sexy under your clothes. Take time to put on some makeup. Purchase a new outfit that's a striking design or color, and own it when you wear it. Stand up straight, and look people in the eyes. You beat cancer. You should be incredibly impressed with yourself -- others will be too.

Communicate with your partner. The moment of truth arrives and you're ready to make love again. Just because your doctor gave you the go-ahead to have sex doesn't mean your partner is ready. Talk about what you want to do with him, and what you feel comfortable showing him right now. Ask him what he feels comfortable seeing. At first, you might want to wear one of his oversized button-down shirts, which keeps your breasts covered but is oh so sexy to him.z

No Surrender Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to improving the lives of women with breast cancer. 

4 Global Tips For Eating & Drinking Healthily Over The Holidays

Guest blog by Pooja Mott
Author of The 3-Day Reset: Restore Your Cravings For Healthy Foods in Three Easy, Empowering Days

1. Eat only what I call “WAMP” food, which stands for “Whole and Minimally Processed food”. WAMP foods include poultry, meats, and fish prepared in simple ways as well as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils and key cooking ingredients and seasonings such as butter, cacao, plain yogurt, maple syrup, honey, olive oil, mustard, and soy sauce. WAMP foods are never processed foods and do not contain any additives, preservatives, flavorings, refined flour, sugar, fats, or salts.

This means that when you’re at a party, you’ll want to stick to dishes, appetizers and mezzes that are WAMP – olives with whole wheat pita bread and hummus, grilled chicken finger food, roasted vegetables, raw fruits and vegetables, etc.

2. While on the cocktail party circuit, stick to only wine and/or champagne. Both wine and champagne rake in about 120 per glass and have no added sugars or simple syrups like most mixed drinks do. If you do want to indulge in an alcoholic drink, make it a simple, ancient one like wine or champagne. And stick to only a glass per party and about three to four per week during the party season! It only comes once per year, so don’t feel guilty about indulging, just do it in moderation and in this clean, simple way.

3. Skip Dessert for 70% + chocolate bar at home. Because most desserts contain white, refined flour and refined sugar, they’re not WAMP, they’re not healthy. Try your best to skip those tempting treats on the party circuit and instead wait until you get home and indulge in a much healthier kind: a chocolate bar with at least 70% or higher cacao content. The higher the cacao content, the more nutrients in your bar and the less sugar.

4. Use this season to crack open your cookbooks! Although the holidays are the season for giving, partying, and socializing with friends and colleagues, take some time out this season to dive into the creature comforts of cooking at home. Pot roasts, stews, soups, and baking (using whole grain flours, of course!) are perfect for this time of year.

Women and Money Don't Have to be Like Oil and Water

Guest blog by Mary McGrath

He always took care of her.

Judy never worried about money, investments or taxes. But now she finds herself alone -- a widow scared out of her mind.

Things are changing. She's only going to receive one Social Security check, and her husband's pension was cut in half upon his death. Plus, he never mentioned unpaid credit cards. She thought the cards were paid monthly.

How will Judy ever manage?!?

You may not think this could ever be you, but think again. The average age of a widow in the U.S. is 55. Eighty-five of every 100 American women will be on their own financially at some point in their lives. And only 47 percent of women participate in pensions. 

It's time to get educated. This doesn't mean you need to get a degree in finance or even start reading the Wall Street Journal. But it does mean you need to know where you stand financially and what will happen if your husband predeceases you. Only YOU are responsible for your financial well being. 

Start out by being actively involved in any decision your husband makes that will affect your financial security if he dies.

Find out where your income comes from. If you're in the retirement stage, it's probably a combination of Social Security, pension income and investment income. The next question is to know what happens to this money when your husband dies. 

If the pension is from your husband's employment it could possibly change at his death, depending on an election made at retirement. Most pensions have what is called a survivor option. This is the percentage of the original pension that continues after the death of the retiree. You should know if his pension will continue unchanged (100 percent survivor option), stop all together (no survivor option) or something in between.

Did you know that his Social Security check will stop at his death? But you, as the survivor, will receive the higher of his Social Security or yours.

In other words, if he is receiving $2,000 per month and you get $1,000, on his death you will lose his benefit, but your total will increase to $2,000 per month. That's still $1,000 per month less than you received as a couple.

And what about investment income? Based on what you are taking from your investments, how long is it projected to last? Women live, on average, seven years longer than men. If your husband is five years older than you, the investments need to last at least 12 years longer after his death. Find out how this is calculated and make sure there will be enough left for you.

What if your husband plans to put your assets in a trust? How much control will you have over the trust? Can you access both income and principal or only income?

Next, look at your expenses. If you find trouble ahead after reviewing the income side, try cutting expenses. Don't take that big trip, drive your cars longer and don't overindulge the grandkids. It's easier to trim expenses now than to wait until the money's not there.

It's true that some expenses will be cut when there's only one of you -- but not many. Get an idea of how much your expenses will fall if your husband were to die before you.

All of this is not an overwhelming task. It's time to be in touch with your finances. A little work today can save years of agony later.

The lion's share of all women will be solely responsible for managing their finances at some point in their lives. Be sure you're one of the ready ones.

Women's Financial Statistics

Guest blog by H. B. Johnson

In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women's History Week. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day, March 8. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month, and it has issued a resolution every year since then for Women's History Month. The U.S. president also issues an annual proclamation on Women's History Month. As last year's presidential proclamation stated, "Women's History
Month provides our country the privilege of honoring the countless contributions that American women have made throughout our history."

Earnings

$29,215
The median annual earnings of women age 15 and older who worked full time, year-round. After adjusting for inflation, earnings for these women climbed 3.5 percent in 2001, the fifth consecutive increase. In contrast, earnings for their male counterparts did not change significantly over that period.    <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-124.html> 
76 cents
For every $1 their male counterparts earn, that is the amount women earn who work full time, year-round. This ratio represents an all-time high, eclipsing the previous high of 74 cents for every $1, first recorded in 1996. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-124.html>

$2.9 million
Estimated work-life earnings of women with a professional degree (i.e., medical, law, dental or veterinarian) who work full time, year-round. For women, like men, more education means higher career earnings: it is estimated that those without a high school diploma would earn $700,000 during their work lives, increasing to $1.0 million if they have a high school diploma and $1.6 million with a bachelor's degree. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-95.html>

Education

84
The percentage of women age 25 and over with at least a high school diploma, slightly higher than the percentage for men. (From soon-to-be-published Internet tables.)

-- The gap between men and women with college degrees has not closed completely, but the percentages are close: 25 percent of women age 25 and over have a bachelor's degree or higher compared with 29 percent of men. (From soon-to-be-published Internet tables.)

-- Younger women have gone beyond closing the education gap. They have opened a reverse gap: 33 percent of young women, ages 25 to 34, have completed college, which exceeds the 29 percent of their male counterparts who have done so. Young women, 25 to 34, also have higher high school completion rates than young men: 89 percent versus 85 percent. (From soon-to-be-published Internet tables.)

56
The percentage of college students who are women. Women have constituted the majority of college students since 1979. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school/ppl-148.html>

1982
In each year since this year, more American women than men have received bachelor's degrees. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-95.html>

Jobs

57
The percentage of women age 16 and over in the civilian labor force. The percentage for men is 70 percent. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

Labor force participation rates for women age 16 and over vary greatly by state, ranging from 66 percent in Minnesota to 48 percent in West Virginia. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

50
Among the 71 million women at least 16 years old who work, the percentage who work full time, year-round. More than 9-in-10 employed, civilian women age 16 and over work in one of three occupational groups: sales and office (37 percent); management, professional and related (36 percent); and service (18 percent). <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

Voting

61
Percentage of women, age 18 and over and citizens, who cast a ballot in the last presidential election. This compares with 58 percent of their male counterparts. Among all voting-age people, women have voted at higher rates than men in every presidential election since 1984. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-31.html>

Women in the Military

1.6 million
Number of women who are military veterans; another 164,000 currently serve in the armed forces. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

Motherhood

1.9
The average number of children currently born to women 40- to 44-years-old by the end of their childbearing years. This average is one child fewer than the average for women in this same age group in 1980 (3.0 children). <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-170.html>

55
The percentage of mothers in the labor force who have infant children, down from a record 59 percent in 1998. This marks the first significant decline in this rate since the Census Bureau began asking the question in 1976. In that year, 31 percent of these mothers were in the labor force. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-170.html>

Among mothers ages 15 to 44 who do not have infants, 74 percent are in the labor force. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-170.html>

19
The proportion of all women, ages 40 to 44, who are childless. That is almost twice as high as women of the same age group in 1980 (10 percent). <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-170.html>

Marriage and Family

25.1 years
The median age of women at the time of their first marriage. The median in 1970 was 20.8 years. Women, on average, are 1.7 years younger than men the first time they marry. <
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>

-- Fifty-five percent of women are currently married (including those married to an absent spouse and those who are separated); 25 percent have never married; and 10 percent each are divorced and widowed. 
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>

15
The percentage of wives who earn at least $5,000 more than their husband. In unmarried-partner households, that proportion is 22 percent. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>

21
The percentage of wives who live in married-couple households and have higher levels of education than their husbands. In unmarried-partner households, that proportion is 28 percent. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>

10 million
The number of single mothers, up from 3 million in 1970. About 26 percent of all parent-child situation consist of a single mother and her own child or children, up from 12 percent in 1970. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>

30.7 million
The number of households ? about 3 in 10 ? maintained by women with no husband present. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-113.html>

Population Distribution

145.0 million
The number of females as of July 1, 2001. That exceeds the number of males, who numbered 139.8 million. Males outnumber females in every age group through ages 30 to 34. Starting with 35- to 39-year-olds, women outnumber men. At 85 and over, there are more than twice as many women as men. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-16.html>

Unmarried Couples Should Consider Living-Together Documents

Guest blog by Stephanie Ackler
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog

Many unmarried couples living together should have several written legal documents to serve as a proxy in place of a marriage contract and to help minimize potential financial disputes or complications in the event of a breakup or death, say financial professionals.

Unmarried couples face many of the same financial issues as married couples but without benefit of marital laws: property rights, inheritances, employee benefits, and division of income and debts, for example. Unmarried couples should consider signing these legal documents when one or both bring substantial assets or debts to the relationship, they plan to stay together a long time, children are involved, or they plan to buy a home or move into one of their homes. 

The first key document is a non-marital agreement, commonly called a "living together" or "domestic partner" agreement. This agreement is similar to a prenuptial agreement that a couple with accumulated assets might sign before they marry.

The agreement can be as specific or as broad as you wish to make it. Typically, the agreement will spell out how assets and income will be divvied up during a relationship, or after a relationship should it end. For example, it might spell out what portion each will contribute to the monthly bills. Will paychecks be pooled or kept separate? Will assets each person brings to the relationship be pooled or kept separate? What about assets inherited by one person during the relationship? Will they share employee benefits if the employer allows it? Will ownership of property bought during the relationship be based on who actually buys the property, kept proportional to the income each party earns, or split down the middle? How will existing or future debts be handled (it's often best to avoid jointly titled credit cards)? How will property be divided at separation or death?

A living-together agreement is especially important when the purchase of a major asset is involved, such as a home. How will ownership be titled? Who pays what portion of the down payment and monthly mortgage, and how will any gains from the sale of the house be split up? 

The agreement also might spell out a method for resolving future financial disagreements, such as using third-party mediation before resorting to the courts. Some agreements even go so far as to delineate who will cook and wash dishes and take out the trash, though some legal experts recommend that a separate agreement might be drafted for non financial issues. 

While there is little in the way of state statutes, most courts recognize living-together agreements-even oral agreements in some cases. But interpretations vary, so you'll want to hire an attorney (perhaps one for each party) to draft the agreement based on your specific needs and local court rulings. 


A living-together agreement is only a start, however. Unmarried couples also should have a will, living will, and powers of attorney-legal documents even married couples should have. A power of attorney allows the partner to step in financially should the other become incapacitated. You can rescind such a power as long as you're mentally competent, so don't feel stuck with it. 

A living will spells out what life-sustaining medical treatment you wish or don't wish should you become incapacitated, and the medical power of attorney grants your partner or other appointed agent such as a relative the legal authority to make medical decisions on your behalf, usually based on what you spell out in your living will. While married couples should have such documents, they are especially important to unmarried couples because relatives would otherwise likely supercede such decisions.

The same goes for a will. While married couples should have wills, state statute will typically-though not always-distribute property to the surviving spouse where there is no will. For an unmarried couple without a will, however, it's unlikely property or custody of a child will go to the surviving partner. 

All these agreements may sound unromantic, but many relationships, unmarried ones as well as married ones, can end in bitter feuds. Written agreements not only can minimize such feuds, they can actually promote a healthier relationship by focusing attention on financial issues central to all relationships.

(Please consult with your own tax and legal advisors before taking any action that would have tax consequences.)

Unemployment-proof Yourself Create your Dream Business

Guest blog by Marianna Olszewski
Author of Live It, Love It, Earn It: A Woman's Guide to Financial Freedom

With the unemployment rate so high these days, many of us women are either without a job or worried about being let go, downsized or having our salary cut in half. Because of these uncertain economic times, I suggest women more than ever be creative and be prepared ‘just in case” you find yourself looking for a job. 

The secret is what I call going fuzzy to firm – to get in touch with ourselves and our intuitions, follow our flow and put in down on paper. This is how new ideas are seamlessly transformed into dream businesses. It’s really quite simple. Start with spending quiet time and getting in touch with “ideas that keep nudging you” and look inside to see what it is that comes easy and natural to you. Some women I know have four or five business ideas floating around in their heads and they never write any of them down. The result – none of these ideas ever materialize. I agree it is much easier to keep your ideas in your head, then taking the time to write them down and see them as real. Seeing your idea, goal or business dream on paper can be scary. We might think “What if my ideas are silly, and I get laughed at”, “What if my business fails” or even “What if it works, then what?” As long as we keep our dreams as just that our dreams we are safe. But our talents, ideas and dreams are there for a reason – for us to look at what keeps “tugging” at us and keep coming up for us so we can manifest this goodness in our lives. Each one of us has unique talents and ideas that are put there for a reason, so we can explore and manifest them. We women deserve the very best in life and that starts with saying yes to ourselves and yes to our dreams. The first action needed to start any business is to formulate the idea on paper. When the idea is staring at us in black and white it can be read and reread, revised and changed. Otherwise it is just a bunch of fuzz in our heads.

Try my “Dream Business” Exercise in Live It, Love It, Earn It or downloading it from my website liveitloveitearnit.com. The exercise gives you space to write down some business ideas. Once your ideas are on paper, pick the idea that excites you the most, and work on that one.

Once your ideas are down on paper, the next step is doing a bit of due diligence – digging around per se. Researching similar business is helpful in learning how to best approach your business and figuring out how your business idea is both similar and different. I call this doing your due diligence. Talking to others in your field, asking how they got started and what they think the difficulties of the business are is very helpful. People are usually flattered and generous with information. I suggest networking organizations specifically for the purpose of exchanging experiences and information with other people in similar industries. Also contact legal and financial experts for their advice before beginning. Hire the best accountants and lawyers you can afford. 

After doing a bit of due diligence, the next step is creating a short (yes, short) business plan and calculating your financial needs. B-plans are easier and less time-consuming than you probably think. You definitely don’t need a b-plan as thick as a phone book. I recommend 5 or 6 pages maximum, to start. As long as your business, strategy, numbers and projections are clear and realistic, you can be succinct. Business plans are important for two reasons: one, so you can be clear about your business, its mission and your financials; and two, so you can present your business in a clear and concise way to outside investors if you are looking for cash. (The 5-Step B-Plan can be found in my book Live It, Love It, Earn It or downloaded from my website liveitloveitearnit.com) My first business plan helped me clarify my goals and find an investor to invest immediate cash into my dream. Thank goodness for b-plans! 

War of the Sexes More Like War of the Wages!

Guest blog by
Source: Soroptimist International of Chicago
Submitted by: Marion E. Gold. President of Marion Gold & Co.
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog!

When American Suffragist Susan B. Anthony said, "Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less."  She was right.  Unfortunately, 37 years after President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, woman still is paid less than man. Sorry Susan—looks like we have not "come a long, long way!" President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, hoping it would end wage discrimination based on sex. At that time, women made 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. And, the wage gap has been closing—but at less than half a penny per year.  

Since 1960, and in 1998 dollars, the great divide between women's and men's earnings has only closed by $1,203. (Data from the Census Bureau March Current Population Survey.) About 60 percent of the improvement in the wage gap from 1979 to 1997 can be attributed to the decline in men's real earnings.  Approximately 40 percent of the closing of the gap is a result of women's better earning power. 

In 1998, women earned only 73 percent of the wages earned by men. Not much different than in 1996—except that the problem grows larger as more women and people of color enter the job market. By the year 2006, it is estimated that women and people of color will account for two-thirds of all new entrants into the workforce. Nearly 69 million women had jobs in 1998, making up 47 percent of workers 15 years and older.

Women of color experience the most severe pay inequities. Hispanic women earned only 53 cents, African-American women earned only 63 cents, and white women 73 cents for each dollar earned by a white man who faces no sex or race-based wage discrimination. Men of color also experience significant wage inequities. Hispanic men earned only 62 percent, and African-American men earned only 75 percent of the wages of white men. 

Contrary to data from the Employment Policy Foundation, The National Academy of Sciences reports that between one-third and one-half of the wage difference between men and women cannot be explained by differences in experience, education, or other legitimate qualifications. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that for 1998, women earned more than men in only two of nearly 100 detailed occupational categories: food preparation and legal assistants. In all other categories, women still lag behind the guys. For example, women dry cleaning machine operators made 10 percent less than men operators; women accountants made 25 percent less, women in administrative support made 19 percent less, and women educators and reporters made 24 percent less.

Women in unions do a bit better, earning $166 more per week on the average than those women who were not union members. Union women also earned weekly wages that were slightly more than men who were not union members.

But don’t let those figures fool you. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, although working mothers who are union members earn $1.25 an hour more than nonunion working mothers—the same women gain only about 30 cents per hour for five additional years of work experience, compared to their white men counterparts who gain $1.20 for the same number of years work experience. 

Even women who have reached the highest levels of corporate America are not immune to wage discrimination. In November 1999, a Catalyst survey of Fortune 500 top earners showed that women take home 68 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

The lifetime cost to women can be devastating. According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, a 25 year-old woman who works full-time year-round for the next 40 years will earn $523,000 less than the average 25 year-old man will, if the current wage patterns continue. Worse, the gap widens as women mature. Among workers 16-24, the wage gap is only 91 percent; yet by age 55-64, women are earning only 68 percent of men's earnings. Lower lifetime earnings translate into lower pensions and income for women in their senior years and contributes to a higher poverty rate for elderly women.            

Are women’s choices to blame? 

While some may argue that the wage gap is a result of women's choices — mainly women taking time out of the workforce to have children —  there is much more to the story than "choice." There is no doubt that time, education and experience play a role in pay rates—but only when you compare men to men! When women enter the picture — it changes drastically. 

Here are just a few of the facts from the National Committee on Pay Equity:  

- A survey of public relations professionals shows that women with less than 5 years of experience make $29,726 while men with the same amount of experience make $48,162. For PR professionals in the 5-10 year category, women earn $41,141 while men earn $47,888. In the 10-15 year category, women earn $44,941 and men earn $54,457. In the 15-20 year range, women earn $49,270 and men earn $69,120.

- Women in the field of purchasing with 3 or fewer year’s experience earn $35,900 and men earn $47,700. For purchasers with 4-6 years experience, men earn $52,100 while women earn $38,300. Women purchasers who have 7 -10 years of experience earn $42,300 while their men counterparts earn $56,400. For those with 11- 15 years experience, women earn $43,500 and men earn $63,400.

- Among video programmers, women with advanced degrees earn 64.6 percent of the earnings of their men counterparts, and women with college degrees earn 80 percent on the dollar earned by men.

Wage discrimination is much more than a so-called "women’s issue."  

In today’s society, with the earnings of "wives" and "mothers" so essential to family support, pay equity is a "bread and butter" issue, according to a national study reported by the AFL-CIO and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In analyzing data from the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they jointly reported that "working families" pay a steep price for unequal pay.

Almost two thirds of the 50,000-working women who responded to the 1997 AFL-CIO survey said they provide one half or more of their families’ incomes. More than 25 percent report they are heads of households with dependent children. 

Still need convincing that pay equity is critical to this country’s economic health?  

It is estimated that America’s working families lose $200 billion of income annually to the wage gap—an average loss of more than $4,000 for each working family every year. Although some states fare better than others, a reduced wage gap does not necessarily coordinate with improved economic status for women and their families. For example, women earn the most in comparison to men in our Nation’s capitol—Washington, DC. But the primary reason is that the wages of minority men is so low.

This is bleak news when considering that working women represent the bridge out of poverty for many married couples and working families. A 1997 labor department analysis found that 7.7 percent fewer white families, 11.4 percent few African-American families, and between 9 percent and 25 percent fewer Hispanic families are poor because both husbands and wives are working. 

- If married women were paid the same as comparable men, their family incomes would rise by nearly six percent, and their families’ poverty rates would fall from 2.1 percent to 12.6 percent.

- If single women earned as much as comparable men, their incomes would rise by 13.4 percent, and their poverty rates would be reduced from 6.3 percent to one percent. 

Bottom line is that if single working mothers achieved pay equity, their poverty rates would be cut in half, according to the AFL-CIO Sorry fellas. This is not a women’s issue—it is a national issue.

Simply put, pay discrimination based on gender hurts all of us—as individuals, as families, and as a nation. Because of pay discrimination, literally hundreds of thousands of households will have less groceries, make fewer doctors visits, and have less money to put aside for retirement. Does pay equity mean setting up a national wage-setting system? Of course not! But it does mean that wages must be based on job requirements like skill and responsibility— not skin color, religious beliefs, age or gender.  Will pay equity solve every problem? Of course not! But when the day comes that wages are truly equitable, people—individuals and their families—will grow healthier, stronger and more confident. And so will our businesses and our economy! 

The facts and figures presented in this article were provided by Soroptimist International of the Americas and compiled by the National Committee on Pay Equity from the following sources: The U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau;  The U. S. Department of Labor; the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; and the Institute for Women's Policy Research. 

Marion Gold is the author of two books on women in the workforce and writes frequently on women’s advocacy issues. She was recently named the Year 2000 Communicator of Achievement by the Illinois Woman's Press Association.

Equal Pay Day

Guest blog by
President of Source: Soroptimist International of Chicago
Submitted by: Marion E. Gold, Marion Gold & Co
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog!

According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, a woman will have to work Jan. 1, 1999 to May 11, 2000 to earn what a man would have between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1999. Here are some suggestions on how individuals, companies and organizations can recognize Equal Pay Day: 

- Restaurants and retailers can give a 27 percent discount to women, good for the day.  
- Coffee shops can sell special $1 cups of coffee to men, and charge women 73 cents.
- Organizations can hold brown-bag luncheons to discuss topics such as "How To Negotiate A Fair Raise" or "How To Ask For A Raise."

Financial Statistics Concerning Women Equal Pay Day War of the Sexes ..More Like War of the Wages!

Guest blog by Mary Ellen Spiegel, CFP
President/Founder, Fiscal Plus
Watch her interview on The Woman's Connection YouTube Vlog!

Did you know that the average age of widowhood is 56 years old, and that 76% of married women are eventually widowed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,  the savings rate for single women is 1.5% compared to 2.1% for single men. And,  in the United States,  women over the age of 75 living in poverty represent the highest percentage of those of any other industrialized country. Over 70% of the United State's four million elderly poor people are women; 48% of this group are widows. Women still earn 74 cents for each dollar a man earns, which qualifies them for less Social Security and pension. The statistics speak for themselves.

Start Now To Cut Next Year's Tax Bill

Guest blog by  Grace W. Weinstein
Author of The Procrastinator's Guide to Taxes Made Easy

It's too late to do much about your 2003 tax bill - although a contribution can be made to an Individual Retirement Account for 2003 right up to the day you file your income tax return for the year - but it's none too early to start thinking about 2004. Planning early can produce big savings.

Here are a half dozen money-saving tips:

1. Adjust your withholding to reflect the tax you'll actually owe. The goal is to come out even, or close to even, at the end of the year. Don't under-withhold or underestimate, or you'll owe Uncle Sam a nondeductible penalty. But don't over-withhold either. Some folks deliberately have too much taken out of their pay so that they'll receive a refund, but over-withholding means that you lose the use of your money while giving an interest-free loan to Uncle Sam. If you use withholding to discipline yourself to save, sign up for automatic saving or investing and have money transferred directly to a bank or mutual fund.

2. If your deductions exceed the standard deduction - $9,500 for a married couple filing jointly in the 2003 tax year - itemize deductions by listing them on Schedule A with Form 1040. Be sure to do the arithmetic. The government points out that 500,000 taxpayers overpaid their taxes, by an average of $600 apiece, by claiming the standard deduction when they could have itemized. For many of these taxpayers, mortgage interest alone exceeded the standard deduction.

3. Close to the edge? If you usually take the standard deduction, consider "bunching" deductions in alternate years so that you can take advantage of itemized deductions. To bunch your deductions, make annual charitable contributions in January and December of one year, then skip the following calendar year. In the year you double up your charitable donations, prepay January mortgage interest and first-quarter property taxes in December. 

4. Consider consolidating personal debt into a home equity loan or line of credit to make the interest deductible and - very likely - lower your interest rate. Just don't put your home on the line unless you're confident that you can repay the loan on schedule.

5. Contribute as much as you can to tax-sheltered retirement plans. For 2004 the ceiling on IRA contributions is $3,000 plus $500 if you are age 50 or more. The ceiling on employer-sponsored 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans is $13,000 plus catch-up contributions of $3,000. In all of these plans, earnings aren't taxed until you take the money out. In employer-sponsored plans, you may also benefit from employer matching contributions.

6. If you have children or grandchildren, take advantage of one or more of these education tax incentives:
a) The Coverdell Education Savings Account lets you put away up to $2,000 per child per year in a tax-deferred account. 
b) The interest on U.S. Savings Bonds is tax-free if the proceeds are used for tuition and fees and if your income is under specified limits in the year the bonds are redeemed.
c) Qualified Tuition Plans ("529 plans") provide tax-free savings when the money is used for college tuition, fees, books or room and board. Contributions are not tax-deductible on your federal tax return but some states offer tax breaks to residents. 
d) Meet income limitations and you can deduct tuition and fees of up to $4,000 in 2004. This deduction is available even if you don't itemize other deductions.
e) Up to $2,500 in interest on college loans may be deducted, whether or not you itemize deductions, if you meet income limitations.
f) Meet income ceilings and claim the Hope scholarship credit for $1,500 in tax credits, per student per year, for the first two years of college.
g) The Lifetime Learning Credit of up to $2,000 a year is per-family, not per-student.

Income ceilings are a moving target. And, since Congress made the rules regarding each tax break, those rules are complicated.