Expression GreenExpressing the need for a healthy green lifestyle

In June of this year, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked President Obama to declare Fresno County a federal disaster area. The White House has not yet responded to Governor Schwarzenegger’s request. Requests for presidential disaster declarations are much rarer for droughts than for other natural disasters. Previous requests like this one were declined by the Bush administration. Nevertheless, the compounding effects of three straight years of drought have had a devastating effect on the stateÕs resources, as well as its already failing economy. As the New York Times reported, “These are dire circumstances,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said at a stop in Mendota California, “Here in the Central Valley, no water means no work. And no work means people cannot feed their families.” Without the federal disaster declaration, drought relief is usually handled through the Department of Agriculture’s crop insurance program, which subsidizes underwriters of agricultural concerns and provides direct payments to farmers and ranchers. But with California’s economy crippled and its budget woes growing it is doubtful that waiting for mother nature to cooperate is going to be enough.

This plea comes a little more than a year after Governor Schwarzenegger issued an executive order for most of California in an effort to try to stave off the effects of the then two year old drought. At that time, the order was filled mainly with language like, “work with,” “help to,” or “prepare for.” In fact, at one point it directly requested regional and local governments to “prepare for potential worsening water conditions in 2009.” Rather then a call to action, the executive order read more like a call to be prepared to be called to action. Now, a year later and deeper into the drought and the state’s reservoirs the lowest they’ve been since 1992, the official “call to action” for most Californians still seems to be lacking. Exacerbating the situation even further are the current wild fires that are raging outside of Los Angeles, Santa Cruz and elsewhere. Millions of gallons of water are now being expended in emergency efforts to protect life and property in California.

While our national government mulls over Schwarzenegger’s plea, it is time for Californians to start looking at what they can do themselves. Afterall, as the USA Today reported earlier this year, Schwarzenegger’s order leaves the door open for more severe restrictions later. If there is no improvement in water reserves and residents fail to conserve on their own, additional measures could include mandatory water rationing and water reductions. In the Governor’s 2008-2009 budget an $11.9 billion water bond for water management investments was proposed that would include $3.1 billion to increase water use efficiency. With liberals in control of Washington and the country fully engrossed in everything “green” – a mandated push toward conservation, especially in left leaning California, would be like preaching to the choir. And with the state’s economic woes increasing by the hour, looking to cut water and energy costs could save more than just the environment.

Others argue that less draconian measures could be taken first to relieve California’s water problems. Jail costs have long plagued the state and recent estimates puts the annual costs at somewhere around 900 million. That’s a number green technology could help lower. Low flow shower heads, high efficiency toilets, energy saving light bulbs, wind and solar power are all technologies that have or are maturing and the financial boons that they are delivering are irrefutable. “It would save millions of dollars a month. And that would be just from retro-fitting the jails, shelters, schools, and hospitals. If California went green in all their buildings, it would produce enormous savings in energy and water usage,” says Josh Witzig of Water and Energy Solutions (WES).

WES, a distributor and solutions provider of both commercial and residential conservation products has been involved in retro-fitting homes, businesses and government buildings with green technology for years. “A lot of people get nervous about the initial cost,” Witzig continues, “but when they recoup that cost in savings over the first year, and sometimes in the first few months, then they start to realize what an incredible investment this technology is.” The most difficult thing to believe is that this technology is really no different in appearance or usage than the appliances already occupying most Californian (and for that matter our nation’s) homes. The problem companies like Water and Energy Solutions face is educating the consumer as to the financial win-win that this new technology provides, and getting their products in front of the consumer.

If such small-scale measures can have such an enormous impact now, what about the difference scientific breakthroughs in energy and water conservation technology could make in the future? The sky is the limit for both the initiatives Governor Schwarzenegger could be looking into and the imagination and innovation of the American entrepreneur.

The Governor is right to be concerned about the effects the drought is having on unemployment, but with the power that comes with running the eighth largest economy on the planet he has the ability to start creating work that can explore new means to solve California’s water crisis. However, it’s an initiative he can’t undertake alone. It means Californians also have to stand up and take some responsibility for the current problems that face them. Today it might mean a new low-flow shower head or high efficiency toliet. And in the future it might mean a portable water reclamation unit or portable desalination unit. But regardless, each small step will be crucial in ending the downward spiral California is caught in of ever increasing energy costs and decreasing availiability of fresh clean water.

Trying to lose weight can be one of the most frustrating things that we have to go through. Unfortunately, there are far too many of us that are in the same boat as far as our excess weight is concerned. We struggle with it in a number of different ways and we have probably tried about as many different diets as we can count. The fact of the matter is, dieting alone is not going to help you to lose the weight and keep it off for good. There are some healthy ways of eating which will allow you to achieve this but you may need some help along the way for a number of different reasons.

Whenever you constantly diet in order to lose weight and then subsequently gain that weight back, your body may have a difficult time losing the weight again. For a number of different reasons, our metabolism may slow down as a result of this yo-yo type of activity with our weight loss and gain. One of the ways that you can help to get your metabolism fired up again and running on all cylinders is by drinking green tea. It contains some of the most powerful chemicals that are available in order to boost our metabolism naturally and get us back on the fast track to weight loss.

Although caffeine is one of the more potent chemicals that are contained within green tea, there are also a number of different chemicals which will help you to lose weight. Having your metabolism run smoothly is certainly going to help you to say goodbye to the unwanted pounds that you have been carrying around for quite some time. It will also help you to have additional energy throughout the day so that you won’t be as lethargic as you usually are in the middle of the afternoon.

Another way that green tea will help you to lose weight is by bringing your body back into the natural balance that it needs to be in. Whenever our body is healthy and running well, it will be able to use the food that we put into it to burn this fuel instead of storing it as fat, which is what got most of us in this trouble in the first place. One of the ways that it is able to do this is by providing natural antioxidants to our body which will remove the free radicals and bring our bodies back into a balanced state. Although this health benefit is often overlooked by those who are trying to lose weight, understanding it’s secret can help you if you take advantage of it.

A combination of a healthy diet, a little btt of exercise and a natural boost through drinking green tea on a daily basis will put you on the road to weight loss. Get with a system that you can stick with and make sure that green tea is a part of it and you would be surprised with how quickly the weight will come off.

Getting organized seems to be a mantra these days. Everyone is wanting to be organized and asking “How to get organized?”  There are entire stores devoted to selling storage baskets, containers and  gadgets to help you get organized and even professional organizers to help you do it!

So what seems to be the problem? With all the interest in organized living why don’t you have your stuff  organized by now?

Could it be that you have created barriers to getting organized by making making erroneous assumptions and operating with false beliefs about organized living and the process it takes to get you there?

How many of the following errors or assumptions are preventing your from getting organized?

• procrastination – If you are delaying  the management of the processes of daily life to a later time you are engaging in a dangerous belief for organized living.  Getting organized requires timely decision making.  Every delayed decision about where to place something or where to file a piece of paper creates potential clutter.
• buying organizing products that are pretty to look at and trendy - If you think that getting organized is simply about purchasing more things you will simply end up with a supply of pretty storage baskets and bins that you cannot use.  Never purchase organizing products or supplies without first assessing your needs.
• Keeping everything just in case – just in case of what? If you have not put it to use, worn it, or otherwise used it within 6 months chances are you never will. Donate it, throw it away, or recycle!
• Not getting started because it is too overwhelming - Organizing your home space can seem overwhelming if you think about everything that needs to be done as one large project.  Instead start small.  Break the big project down into smaller projects like one drawer of your dresser, or only one drawer of the filing cabinet, or only one file folder. If that is what it takes to get started, then do it . The point is to get started even if you have to start small!
• storing delicate items improperly – some items that you want to keep should not be stored, they should be archived. Archiving means that they need to be stored under specific conditions that will preserve them. Paper, fabrics, and photographs can all be affected by moisture, sunlight and acids. Keeping such items in cardboard boxes for example can ruin them! Even the cedar in a cedar chest can stain delicate fabrics. If you want to keep an item as a special memory then give it the respect it deserves and take the time to research how to archive the item in a way that will make it last. Keep your memories safe!
• throwing everything away - getting organized does not mean that you are not allowed to keep anything! The purging process is a process of decision making that requires attention to specific questions so that you make sure you are only throwing away things that are not needed, wanted, or useful to you in your life.
• denying your own ability to keep your life organized – unless you have a real  barrier to getting organized, such as attention deficit disorder (ADHD), or a psychiatric illness that affects your ability to organize your thoughts, you can learn how to get organized. It simply requires a positive attitude and a belief that organized living will bring benefits to you and those around you.

If any of these errors or assumptions are operational in your own life that could explain why you are having difficulty getting organized.

The New Year is here and already two weeks has passed you by. You swore to yourself that this year would be different. You even got a gym membership and everything. So, why are you still procrastinating? For most people, it is the thought of sweating away all their time on a treadmill that keeps them from starting. What makes the difference for people who can not seem to get enough exercise to achieve a Heallthy Lifestyle?

In order to lead a healthy lifestyle, you have to have a love for exercise. Or, at least a like for it. If exercise is not in your heart, trick yourself so that it is! You can not move toward your goals without a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve them…and getting started is the most difficult task to overcome. You may not want to do it, but nine times out of ten when a person just gets going, they want to continue.

Here are 4 proven ways to trick yourself into thinking exercise is something you love.

How To Love Exercise Trick #1: Get The Right Nutrition
How is this going to trick myself, you ask? Well, what happens when you provide your body with the right nutrition? You feel healthier and more energetic. This energy usually calls out to you to hit the gym, or even a simple walk around the block without you even knowing it. When you eat poorly, you feel like sitting on the couch and eating even more junk food.

Proper nutrition for me is a soy-based protein drink every morning along with a cup of hot green tea. This gives me nutrition and energy I need to get me through the day without ever even thinking about taking a nap. What’s even better is that green tea has been known to increase metabolism, so the more I drink the more I shrink. (width wise, not length!)

How To Love Exercise Trick #2: Baby Steps
Ease into exercise. Do not start out with a bang or you will burn out just as fast as you started. Take a laid back approach to exercise at first. Make small goals and achieve them every single day. If you have never been a runner but would like to begin, do not try to run 5 miles a day. Start with a half mile and increase it by a half mile each week.

So many people quit exercising after only a week because they over exert themselves and drain too much energy in too little time. Stretch properly to avoid muscle soreness and by all means drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. This little trick of taking baby steps into an exercise program will allow you to enjoy the journey you are taking to good health.

How To Love Exercise Trick #3: Join A Class
Being around others who want to achieve the same goals as yourself will take the edge off your worries about exercise being too much work and not enough fun. Exercise is what you make of it. If you want it fun, make it fun. Think beyond the treadmill and stationary bicycle, and do not worry about the abilities of others. Focus on improving only yourself.

There are many classes that offer activities other than typical exercise that will give you the same benefits. You do not have to run like a hamster for an hour to get a great workout. Remember dancing? How about karate? Even joining a bowling league is more active that sitting on the couch. Just remember to choose a lane far away from the vending machine!

How To Love Exercise Trick #4: Listen To Music Or Watch TV
If you are the type of person who likes to exercise alone but can not seem to get yourself motivated to do so, purchase an IPOD shuffle and download your favorite music to accompany you. There is no better driving force than keeping yourself entertained while you exercise. Your mind will not be focused on the “work” of your work-out, and you will trick yourself into passing the time enjoying yourself without the boredom of silence.

If you can not tear yourself away from your television set, there is no reason you can not exercise during prime time. Gyms are equipped with TV sets, and they will usually let you choose the station you want. Set yourself up for a half hour of treadmill walking or stationary bike riding. The trick here is that you will be so into your tv show you will probably forget you are exercising.

The more you exercise, the less it will become a chore and the more you will love it. Exercise is the only proven “healthy habit,” meaning that is can become addictive so that you will never want to miss a day without it. In order to lead a healthy lifestyle, you must develop the mindset of a person who thinks this way. For some people it comes naturally. If you are someone who sonsiders exercise too much work and not enough play, follow the steps listed about to trick yourself into changing your way of thinking.