by:
Richard Mitchell
There are a number of solutions available but the final decision will be strongly influenced by the amount of thinning that needs to be covered.
1. Creative styling - this is perhaps the easiest option but its success depends on how far your hair loss has progressed. Slight balding can easily be camouflaged by careful grooming but attempts at covering large bald patches can end up looking ridiculous. One option for men with extensive thinning is to shave the head completely but this is not for everyone.
2. Hair cosmetics - this can include anything from hair thickening / volumizing products to dyes and fibers that blend with existing hair. Once again, these solutions really only work if the area of scalp to be covered is minimal.
3. Head coverings - seen by many as a last resort, wigs and hairpieces offer a further option. Once an object of derision, hairpieces have improved beyond recognition in recent years, although the price you are prepared to pay will determine the realism of the final result. Wigs come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from real or synthetic hair, but be warned the best ones are very expensive.
About the author:
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Hair Loss Solutions to find out more about the issues covered in this article.
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Finances and Marriage
by: The Atkins diet is not a new phenomenon. The diet first appeared in the late 1970s and has grown popularity in recent years in response to the low-fat diet craze. As dieters had trouble with low-fat plans, they searched for a new solution and Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution book found a new audience.
Jeffrey Broobin
Money is one of the most important areas of possible arguments in marriage and is without fail among the top four reasons for divorce. Furthermore, having a lot of money does not exempt couples from the pressure of dealing with money. Financial issues occur between couples across the economic range from wealth to poverty.
Couples who work together as a team and can reach agreement about financial matters are happier than couples that perpetually disagree about finances. Closely related to financial matters are two other important areas that couples must consider: career decisions and desired lifestyle. The result may be that one’s career goals and attainment of material wealth may conflict with their relationship goals. What is most important to you and do the two of you agree about that? Economic issues can dictate such things as working long hours to the detriment of the family, the necessity for a specific geographical location, the role of each the spouse in attaining the desired level of financial success, Do you think it's possible to "have it all"? A frank exploration of financial styles, expectations and goals is extremely important to marriage success.
Money means different things to different people. Financial attitudes often reflect one's most basic feelings about the world and are usually learned in one's culture and family of origin. Status, security, freedom and control are just a few of the things people associate with money to different degrees. Some people regard money as important for happiness while others regard it as merely giving a certain level of security. Some people are "savers"; others are "spenders". Some are open about money; some aren’t. Some people are OK with debt, while it frightens others and causes them stress.
Disagreements about money often reflect hidden issues of a couple. Money issues are seldom just about money, but rather about relationship issues like power and control, dependence and independence, commitment, and trust.
By considering what money means to each of you and how its meaning influences your financial behavior, you can begin to see the role that money will play in your relationship. These issues are behind many more concrete differences concerning finances. Once you've come to terms with your feelings about money, it will be less difficult to make satisfactory financial plans and resolve financial problems.
About the author:
Jeffrey Broobin is a free-lance writer on family and finance issues; his main goal is to help people during their complicated period of life.
Website: http://www.legalhelpmate.com
Email: jeffreyb@legalhelpmate.com
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Atkins Diet Basics
A lot of people have jumped on the Atkins bandwagon and there has been a lot of hype as a result. But what are the basic principles of the Atkins diet?
The Atkins diet is based on a theory of why we get fat. According to Dr. Atkins, the over-consumption of carbohydrates and simple sugars leads to weight gain. The way your body processes the carbohydrates you eat have more to do with your waistline than the amount of fat or calories that you consume. In his book, Atkins outlines a phenomenon called “insulin resistance.” He theorizes that many overweight people have cells that do not work correctly.
When you eat excess carbohydrates and sugar, your body notices that sugar levels are elevated. Insulin is released from the pancreas in order to store sugar as glycogen in the liver and muscle cells for extra energy later on. However, your body can only store so much glycogen at once. As soon as your body reaches its limit for glycogen storage, the excess carbohydrates are stored as fat. This happens to everyone who eats too many carbohydrates.
However, insulin resistant individuals have an even harder time of using and storing excess carbohydrates. The more insulin that your body is exposed to, the more resistant it becomes. Overtime, the pancreas releases more insulin and cells become insulin resistant. The cells are trying to protect themselves from the toxic effects of high insulin. They create less glycogen and more fat.
As a result, insulin resistant individuals gain extra weight. The carbohydrates get converted into fat instead of energy. Other side effects include fatigue, brain “fog” (the inability to focus, poor memory, loss of creativity), low blood sugar (which can leads to hypoglycemia), intestinal bloating, sleepiness, depression and increased blood sugar. There is much more than weight at stake when you are insulin resistant.
The remedy for people who are insulin resistant is a diet restricted in carbohydrates. The crux of the Atkins diet is a limitation of carbohydrates in all of its forms. The foods restricted on the Atkins plan include simple sugars (like cookies, sodas and sweets) and complex carbohydrates (like bread, rice and grains). Even carbohydrates that are considered healthy, such as oatmeal, brown rice and whole wheat bread, are restricted on the program.
The diet has you restrict your carbohydrate intake to less than 40 grams a day. This will put your body in a state of ketosis. While in ketosis, your body will burn fat as fuel. According to Dr. Atkins’ research, the ketosis state will also affect insulin production and it will prevent more fat from being formed. Your body will begin using your stored fat as an efficient form of fuel, and you’ll lose weight.
Another benefit of the Atkins plan is that ketosis will end your cravings for carbohydrates. If you’ve been living on a carb-heavy diet, you may have found that you simply cannot get enough carbohydrates. With carbohydrate restriction and ketosis comes a reduction in carbohydrate cravings. People who have been on the Atkins diet for some time report that they do not crave carbohydrates as they once did.
Although the initial phases of the Atkins diet are rather strict, the program teaches you to restore balance to your diet in the long run. People who use the diet slowly reintroduce minimal amounts of carbohydrate into their eating until they find a comfortable balance between their health and carbohydrate use.
The basic principles of the Atkins diet have been adapted to many other low-carb diet plans. However, Atkins popularity still remains strong as one of the most effective low-carbohydrate solutions for those who are insulin resistant.
