How To Prepare for Summer

In order to have a productive and enjoyable summer, you must first prepare. What you need to do is plan vacations if you wish to take any, but if you plan to stay in your hometown, all you need to do is relax. Summer is the best time of the year, but still, if you plan to have fun, you just need to follow a few steps.

Buy the things you'll need like sun screen or season passes to a theme park. Buy cool clothes and accesories that are IN this season so you will look totally stylish. If you're on a tight budget then stay close to home.
You will feel very lazy during the summer, so don't wear a lot of makeup, but still, take care of yourself. Wear some waterproof mascara, full coverage foundation(be sure to take it off at night),add a small amount of blush to give you a shimmering glow, and don't forget lip gloss (you'll want your lip gloss that blends with your lips).
Sign yearbooks. All you need to say is, "I hope you have a good summer and I hope to see you next year!" Then sign your first and last name. If you don't want to say much to a person you don't like all you need to do is just sign your first name.
Buy a camera. It's good to make a photo album so you can visit memories whenever you want.
Get into some classes for the summer. Don't waste this season watching TV every day. Get into crafts classes, swimming classes or even dancing classes. Anything that can keep you from spending hours watchig TV.
Start working on your body. At a local gym you can play badminton, volleyball, frisbee, ping pong etc. Those are some favorites. If you aren't active much, a walk in the park will do you good. Maybe start eating healthier so you will feel your best when you wear that bikini.
Get a tan. Be careful, you don't want to end up looking like a carrot. Just buy a nice spray tan from a local drugstore, but never apply it with your hands.
Rent a beach house. There's nothing better than relaxing at the beach watching the ocean.
Work on your confidence. There's nothing better than someone walking with her head straight up feeling her best. Plus, guys will stop to check you out.
Make lots of plans ex. invite over friends, get a week to go on vacation, make plans with your boyfriend or husband

Plan out everything you will do each day.
If you live in a tourist city, then you have a big advantage to stay home and visit some hot vacation spots.
Don't watch TV all summer but go ahead and watch the early morning news for your weather.
Have fun, after all it's your summer. Live it like you want to.
If you can, invite a friend or two over everyday you want to stay in touch with them as the summer goes on if not call each other.


Do not get obsessed with losing weight.
Do not over-tan or you'll look disastrous.
Always wear sunscreen or you might get melanoma or worse.
Don't over party.
Do not spend too much money on new items. For all you know that nice outfit you saw earlier is marked down half-price somewhere else.
Don't ever tan without sunblock. Don't want to get skin cancer!

Overcome Guilt by Taking Responsibility

We all have done things that we are ashamed of. How do we deal with them so we don't have to feel guilty forever?

Think about someone you love that did something mean to you when they were angry. Maybe you were in an argument and they called you a nasty name. Do you want them to feel guilty about that forever, or do you want them to accept forgiveness and be happy? If you love them you probably want them to be happy.
Accept the fact that we cannot change the past. We can only change the future.
Learn from our mistakes. We did not control our actions and it hurt people. Now we would like to control our actions in the future, because we don't want to hurt people like we did in the past.
Accept the fact that we all make mistakes every day. Some mistakes are small, some are big.
Tell someone. Bring it out into the light of day. Shame is debilitating. Confront it head on by telling someone what you did.
Find a friend who will tell you that you can accept forgiveness. If we have grown up without a lot of forgiveness then we need to hear someone else tell us that we are forgiven.
Decide whether it is a good idea to make reparations. Should we go back and apologize to people? Should we go back and repay people for their losses? The answer is usually: "Yes, we should make reparations, unless it would do more harm than good."
Do the opposite of what you did bad. If you stole, give something to a charity. If you lied, tell the truth to someone when it hurts. If you cheated, treat someone with special respect.

Find a book at the library by someone who did something terrible and moved beyond it. Chuck Colson was President Nixon's righthand man. He served 18 months in jail for his crimes against the nation. Now he heads an organization committed to prison reform and inmate support and rehabilitation.

Don't expect to overcome guilt overnight. If you have lived with guilt for a long time, it may take a while to learn how to accept forgiveness.

NEW BREAKTHROUGHS IN DIABETES TREATMENT

First there were injections, then there were pumps and inhalants, soon there may be insulin patches and even pills. Learn more about new breakthroughs in diabetes treatment.

Diabetes is a complicated disease in which the body cannot create or properly use insulin, a hormone that enables the body to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy. Loss of vision and damage to nerves, blood vessels, and kidneys are all potential side effects of the disease.

Fortunately, in recent years, scientists have made several treatment breakthroughs, including the introduction of insulin pumps and inhaled insulin (Exubera). Both treatments have advantages and disadvantages, but for many diabetics, they are proving to be successful alternatives to injections that offer convenience, flexibility, and improved quality of life.

Insulin Pumps
Portable insulin pumps, which deliver insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin, were introduced in the early 1990s. In the past two decades, the technology has evolved to the point that now they can be a good alternative to traditional injections.

"Pumps can be a very nice thing for diabetics to have,Not only do pumps inject insulin more accurately than injections; they allow the patients to feel more in control of their disease, enabling them to continue to live their lives more normally.

By continuously administering a basal rate of insulin while allowing boluses of insulin only when the patient needs it, the pump offers many diabetics increased flexibility when it comes to meal plans and greater control of their blood glucose levels. Perhaps best of all, patients donÂ’t need to schedule their lives around insulin injections.

Inhaled Insulin
Exubera, the first dry-powder inhaled insulin, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2006 and is used for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The medication, which delivers short-acting insulin via an inhaler, is administered two to three times a day just prior to meals, and the dosage depends on the weight of the patient.

"[Exubera] is doing very well,.ItÂ’s more convenient for patients and it doesn't have many more side effects than injected insulin." What's more, "studies on Exubera suggest that it controls blood sugar levels just as well as injected insulin."

At the same time, Robles is quick to note that this treatment isn't for everyone. “Exubera does have the potential for causing lung damage because of the deep inhalation process, so patients must have very strong lungs to use this medication.” Poff points out another drawback: "There might be an issue with the dosage of insulin because it's only inhaled. It may be hard to know precisely how much of it is actually absorbed by the lungs."

That said, Exubera users have cited additional advantages, including the size of the devices. Exubera powder packets are small, and the inhaler is about the size of a small flashlight, so patients can carry it with them in a purse or briefcase.

Pills, Patches, and Beyond
Along these lines, there are several breakthrough treatments on the horizon that may further revolutionize the way diabetics live and manage the disease. Some of the most eagerly anticipated noninvasive insulin-delivery methods include the skin patch and the insulin pill.

The insulin skin patch is currently under development. The insulin patch, when placed on the skin, will give a continuous, low dose of insulin. To adjust insulin doses before meals, users will pull off the tab on the patch to release insulin." Because it's difficult for insulin to penetrate the skin, it is believed that delivery will be aided with sound waves or an electrical current.

Insulin pills would provide insulin in tablet form, and the FDA reports that researchers are working to find a way around this approach's biggest challenge: getting insulin into the bloodstream before it is changed by normal digestive processes. Possible solutions includes using nanotechnology to coat the pills with special polymers so the insulin doesnÂ’t get broken down in the stomach.

EXERCISE TIPS FOR DIABETICS

Being active is one of the best ways to keep diabetes under control. Here, what you need to know about starting an exercise routine.

Many diabetics take pills and shots to keep their blood-sugar levels stable, but exercise is another important way to help control diabetes. Before starting a new fitness routine, diabetics should schedule an appointment with their doctor to discuss safety guidelines and to have their blood pressure, cholesterol, kidneys, eyes, and feet checked.

Tailor your workout to your health. Diabetes affects everyone differently. For example, if you have eye trouble, you may want to keep your workout inside. If you have nerve issues in your feet, swimming may be a better aerobic exercise than walking or biking. Talk to your health-care professional about which activities are best for your needs.

DonÂ’t rush it. Unless youÂ’re in a competition for a reality TV show, frequent, intense workouts could do more harm than good. Start by walking at a steady pace. Rate your workout intensity by how easily you take breaths. If youÂ’re constantly out of breath, slow it down. As your body gets stronger, increase your workout time by five to 10 minutes each week.

Warm up. Stretching and light movement help prepare the muscles for the work to come, preventing overexertion and pain.

Stay hydrated. Make sure to drink lots of water before, during, and after your workout to keep your body hydrated. Water is all you need in most cases, but if you plan to work out for more than an hour or so, the extra sugars in sports drinks will provide energy, too.

Dress properly. DonÂ’t try to sweat off the pounds. Losing water weight is unhealthy, and it increases your chances of overheating. Wear lightweight clothes in summer, and layer your clothes in winter. ItÂ’s best not to exercise outside if it is too hot or too cold.

Pay attention to your feet. Diabetics need to take special care of their feet. Wear the correct shoes for each activity to help prevent the nerve problems associated with diabetes. Be sure to check your feet after exercise, and call your doctor if you notice any problems.

Monitor your blood glucose levels. Glucose fuels your muscles, and exercise stimulates insulin, so some diabetics are at risk for low blood-glucose levels. Check your glucose levels before and after your workout. If you work out for longer than 30 minutes, be prepared to check while you exercise, too. Use this system to monitor how exercise affects your body. Try to time your workouts according to meals and insulin intake, as itÂ’s generally best to work out 1 to 3 hours after a meal.

Deal With Guit

Feeling guilty is almost as bad as feeling heartbroken or depressed. It can nag at you for ages, and ruin your fun. The best approach towards guilt is to sort it out and clear your head.
Try to figure out why you feel guilty. Grab a pen and notebook, and write down a list of things that could be making you feel this way. It might be difficult, but eventually you will figure out what is making you guilty. If you can't figure it out, try this approach: Consider each thing on your list and imagine if you had not done it. If you immediately feel better or wistful, this is probably the thing which is making you guilty.
Rate your guilt. This might sound stupid, but it can really help. Out of ten, make two ratings: How bad the thing is that you've done, and how guilty you feel. After this, think about why what you did was bad, and why you feel guilty about it. This should hopefully leave your mind a little clearer.
Consider what you are going to do. If the guilt you feel is over something like being nasty to someone or neglecting a job or pet, feel reassured in the fact that you can do something about this. Write down what you're going to do, consider when and where, and take action. If your guilt is for something like a persons' death or a friend getting angry, acknowledge that it is not your fault, and it's natural to feel this way. Do something to relax and forget about it.

Everyone messes up sometimes. If the person that you commited the wrong to is your friend, they will forgive you in time.
Try not to keep secrets from your parents. Things will only get worse if you become further apart from your parents.

Don't hold it in. It will constantly bother you all the time. The best thing to do is tell someone about it.

Eating Smart With Diabetis

A healthy diet is essential to managing diabetes. Here, a complete guide to diabetic-friendly nutrition, including shopping tips, quick recipes, and more.

If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor has most likely stressed the importance of eating right to help keep your disease in check. Most experts agree that although thereÂ’s no one correct diet for diabetes, people with the disease should follow the nutritional guidelines outlined in the USDA Food Pyramid. This means paying special attention to carbohydrate intake and eating similar amounts of food at the same time each day to keep your blood-sugar levels stable.

Getting Started

If you've never attempted to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet before your diagnosis, it may be hard to know where to begin. That's why it's important to check with your doctor about the right eating guidelines for you.

Eat more starches, such as bread, cereal, and starchy vegetables. Aim for six servings a day or more. For breakfast, try cold cereal with nonfat milk or a bagel with a teaspoon of jelly. Another suggestion is to add cooked black beans, corn, or garbanzo beans to salads and casseroles.

Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Enjoy a piece of fruit as a snack, or add vegetables to chili, stir-fried dishes, or stews. Try munching on raw vegetables throughout the day as well.

• Eat sugars and sweets in moderation. Try to limit sweets to once or twice a week at most. If you can't pass up that dessert, be sure to split it with a friend—and make sure it's low in sugar, fat, and calories.


Shopping for Sensible Snacks

Snacks play an important role in the daily lives of diabetics. For those with type 1 diabetes and forms of type 2 diabetes that require insulin, snacks eaten between meals and before bedtime are essential to keep blood-glucose levels as close to normal as possible and to help prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The American Diabetes Association offers these tips for making smart snacking choices:

Sugar-free doesn't necessarily mean carb-free. Don't assume the total carbohydrate content of a sugar-free food is going to be much less than that of its full-sugar equivalent. Oftentimes, thereÂ’s not much of a difference.

"No sugar added" is no guarantee. These types of foods donÂ’t have any form of sugar added during processing or packaging, and they don't contain high-sugar ingredients. They may still be high in carbohydrates, though, so be sure to check the label.

Fat-free isn't always better. In fact, fat-free foods can be higher in carbohydrates and contain almost the same amount of calories as the foods they replace. Again, be sure to read the label carefully.


There's No Place Like Home

Preparing foods at home allows you to control the ingredients that go into your recipes. Here are some suggestions for some quick, healthy snacks you can pull together in no time at all.

Peanut Butter Grahams. Spread lowfat peanut butter on a graham cracker. Top with a banana slice, and you've just covered some of your protein and starch exchanges for the day.

Fruity Gelatin. Prepare sugar-free, fruit-flavored gelatin. Add small chunks of fruit before chilling. The gelatin is a "freebie," but depending on how much fruit you add, you may have to count this snack as a fruit exchange.

Baked Chips and Salsa. Baked chips still have carbohydrates and will count in your starch exchanges, but the salsa adds great flavor with no fat and very few calories.