"[E]nergy beats of western and African drums can reduce stress in younger people, as they struggle to..."

Motivational Verse:

Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him in his hand.

-Psalm 37:24

Highlight: Sneaky lunges- OMG!!! I kept my balance, shut my eyes, kept hearing Tony, and simultaneously, thought of the Neverland mantra, “think happy thoughts…think happy thoughts.” I MADE IT without touchin’ heels on floor—-Booyah! :D

Lesson Learned: Single leg wall squats…WOW…felt like all my weight was concentrated on one leg. Immediately I started squirrelin’ around. Need to work on this BIG TIME! Couldn’t even get that 90 degree angle. For shame! :/

Funny: I sounded like Eric making noises all throughout calf raises. Seeing as its at the end of the workout, it hurts like a monkey’s uncle, especially the fast ones. Can you say OUCH!? :O  

Need: a thin pillow for my buttocks. Ab Ripper X is the culprit of my pinched nerve! My yoga mat, too thin for this extreme workout, needs some extra cushion to protect my tailbone. Brought in a thin pillow and voila- problem solved! :) 

obese people are not healthy. people go on about how curves are beautiful and then post pictures of obese girls. that’s not a good image to put across to young girls. it’s about as healthy as sticking a picture of an anorexic catwalk model in front of someone and saying “now, make yourself look like her”. sticking your fingers down your throat is not healthy, or attractive. but neither is gorging on a mc donalds every day, week in, week out. 

curves are gorgeous. people with curves are gorgeous. but there is a fine line between being overweight & unhealthy and being lovely-looking & curvaceous.

just saying.

“Of the 27 years he spent in prison, Pratt said eight was in solitary confinement. He said his spirituality and love of music helped him through that period. “My mantra was the blues. It would go through my head when I was going through my meditations,” Pratt said.”

- Former Black Panther leader and political prisoner Geronimo Pratt dies at 63

Self-Portrait | Day 126 | 050611 |

This has got to stop.

In the last few weeks I’ve stopped working out and stopped watching what I eat. And this is the result. Urgh.

They say that it takes 28 days to break a habit.

So, as of tomorrow, I’m starting my very own 30 Day Challenge.

For 30 days I will:

• Not drink any alcohol.
• Work out at least four times a week.
• Go to either Zumba or Spinning once a week. This would be more if I could afford it!
• Not eat anything junky or with sugar in it.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Drink eight large glasses of water a day.
• Keep to 1200 calories a day.
• Keep track of all of the above and report back. This will make me do it.

No more ‘trying to lose weight’, no more excuses. This time it’s happening.

Wish me luck!

VJ x

Most of them don’t understand why I eat certain things, and can’t believe that I actually like to eat them.

Most of them are the “my favorite foods are steak and potatoes” and if you deviate from it or like other foods, then apparently you aren’t a “foodie”.

Just because I go to 5 star restaurants doesn’t mean I’ll order the steak every single time like them. 

I’m not super crazy about meat. Yes, I like it, but I don’t obsess over it.

I like other foods too. Whole grains, veggies, fruits, chicken, fish, grilled foods. I don’t like eating white bread that much. I don’t eat desserts because I just don’t. I don’t have a real reason for it. 

Honestly, I eat foods because I like them. The foods I don’t eat, most of the time I don’t have a real reason not to eat them. I don’t eat them because I don’t feel like it. 

Just because I don’t go crazy over meat doesn’t make me less of a foodie.

I don’t like food, I LOVE it. If I don’t love it, I don’t swallow.

- Anton Ego from Ratatouille

Whilst drinking a cup of cappuccino.

I can’t imagine what I’ll do when I finally get around to doing my AP Euro homework.

Probably that haha.

By Reuben Setliff

As founder and President of Setliff Sinus Institute, I have offered Midwest patients effective and compassionate care for their nasal and sinus issues for nearly 20 years. Drawing air through the nasal passages, the sinuses function as air-containing cavities within the face and skull. The eight sinus cavities are situated between, below, and behind the eyes, as well as in the forehead. Together, the nose and the sinuses make up the upper respiratory system, with the nose acting as the first line of defense against airborne diseases, pollutants, and other irritants. The nose also acts as a humidifier in hot, dry environments, protecting the bronchial tubes and the sensitive lung tissues they lead to.

One of the most important protective barriers in the nose is mucous, which coats and protects delicate tissues and linings, and possesses infection-fighting properties. The sinuses serve an invaluable function in helping the nose produce mucous. The nose and sinus cavities are connected through extremely small passageways, ensuring a constant, controlled supply of air. Mucous is transported from the sinuses and the nose down the throat via tiny hairs called cilia. A very important aspect of this muco-ciliary clearance is free movement of the mucous out of the sinuses are from the front to the back of the nose. Cases of nasal blockage cause a runny nose, which means that mucous flows toward the front of the nose rather than the back.

Even partial sinus blockage can cause a deterioration of sinus health, resulting in stuffiness, congestion, and eventually infection. Unfortunately, in these cases the nose and sinuses work in tandem to rid the sinuses of infection, resulting in more mucous, which often adds to the congestion problem. Symptoms such as fatigue, cough, fitful sleep, frequent clearing of the throat, and a reduced sense of smell indicate sinus infection if they last more than a week. At Setliff Sinus Institute, we run thorough diagnostics that help identify the root cause of the sinus or nasal problem, providing quick and straightforward solutions. About the Author: Dr. Reuben Setliff has operated Setliff Sinus Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, since 1993. He remains committed to providing patients with fast and cost-effective nasal and sinus solutions.

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[E]nergy beats of western and African drums can reduce stress in younger people, as they struggle to make headway in academic and professional fields. Other musical instruments like the piano, cymbals, drums, zylophone and other metal instruments have been used to treat psychological and physical diseases like Alzheimer’s, AIDS and autism. But drum and percussion beats also have healing powers, because they act as a vent for releasing negative energy and anger. In the Indian alternative healing system, percussion beats are said to open the base ‘chakra’ (energy point) in the human body, creating fresh energy to counter wasting diseases.

In Africa, there is a widespread belief that African drums mend relationships, when played in unison and teach harmony and help one “attune to the invisible world of mutual energy”. The wooden African djembe drum…is said to have potent de-stressing powers because of its repetitive rhythm. Thus, group drumming is a common form of spiritual healing in Africa.

”

- Music: Healing the soul