Articles by Donovan Baldwin on ArticleSnatch.com

Probiotic Supplements and Intestinal Health

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

You probably are not even sure what a probiotic supplement is, much less what it can do for your intestinal health if added to your personal health regimen. I'll try to give you an answer, but I need to explain a couple of things about our bodies first. THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND THE BACTERIA LIVING IN IT Our bodies, including really healthy ones, have trillions of friendly microorganisms living in them, with the vast majority being found in the large intestine, or colon. In fact, their actions in the colon are of prime importance to our health. One of their most important jobs is helping to keep other, less desirable organisms, under control. When these other organisms go out of control, we can experience all kinds of problems. These friendly microorganisms, by the way, are often referred to as 'intestinal microflora'. The digestive tract of a fetus is sterile. However, the passage through the birth canal exposes the newborn to bacteria, and, once in the world, this exposure will continue for all the days of its life. Billions of bacteria will colonize the oral cavity and billions more will set up housekeeping in the small intestine. **End Summary** Topics: probiotic]]> probiotics]]> probiotic supplement]]> lactobacilli]]> bifidobacteria]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a 62 years young amateur bodybuilder, retired career soldier, freelance writer, and mild-mannered health nut currently living somewhere in central Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, and is a member of Mensa. He and his wife distribute a line of natural products for home and health . You can view their website at http://www.shaklee.net/natural_health .

Does Rapid Weight Loss Have Hiddent Dangers and Problems

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Today, people seeking weight loss programs and diets seem to be searching more for a rapid weight loss than a permanent, healthy weight loss. It is an unfortunate fact that quick diet weight loss programs are seldom without their dangers, and their results usually range from erratic to nonexistent. I would advise anyone seeking to lose weight to substitute the term 'healthy weight loss program' for 'rapid weight loss program'. It is hoped that this short article will explain the position I take to some small extent. Like many of us in today's society, you are certainly concerned about weight loss. Like so many others, you are looking for some sort of rapid weight loss program or plan. Rapid weight loss, also often referred to as quick weight loss or fast weight loss, involves, as its name implies, losing weight in a short period of time. Claims of such programs often cite fantastic results in anywhere from two to seven days. In the United States, approximately two-thirds of the adult population is overweight or obese, and hundreds of thousands of these Americans are understandably interested in rapidly losing that unwanted weight. **End Summary** Topics: weight loss]]> rapid weight loss]]> quick weight loss]]> fast weight loss]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Central Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus with a BA in Accounting, and is a member of Mensa. He and his wife have an online business which offers natural products for health and home at http://shaklee.net/natural_health .

What is the Purpose of a Cohabitation Agreement?

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

A cohabitation agreement can be of significant importance to the health of a relationship between life partners in today's society. Without such an agreement between them, the members of the relationship could find the failure to take such matters as are covered in a cohabitation agreement could have negative and lasting impact on the relationship itself. Having said all that, what the heck IS a cohabitation agreement? Simply stated, it is, as its name implies, a written contract that life partners may choose to enter into prior to living together in a permanent relationship. During the relationship, a range of financial and property issues may arise which can be addressed in advance by the cohabitation agreement. In the unfortunate event the relationship should end in an untimely manner, the agreement will be able to provide for the protection of both parties, leaving no need for unpleasantness or ill-will. Taking care of such issues before the need to address them occurs is one way of relieving stress on the relationship and allowing the parties to get on with the business of being of value to each other. **End Summary** Topics: cohabitation]]> agreement]]> cohabitation agreement]]> life partner]]> legal forms]]> software]]> legal software]]> cohabitation agreement software]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Central Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus with a BA in Accounting, and is a member of Mensa. He has a webpage where you can learn more about cohabitation agreements at http://legal-forms-supermarket.com/about/life_partner_cohabitation.html

6 Tips - The Art Of Generating Web Site Traffic With Free Traffic Exchanges

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Almost every experienced Internet marketer has at one time or another used free traffic exchanges. This is not surprising as they offer the promise free website traffic to people generally with little funds to invest and not much experience, and it just seems to be so easy to sit there, click away, and watch the hits roll in. Sooner or later, however, most of us begin to feel that either we are doing something wrong or free traffic exchanges just don't work! Oh, they deliver free website traffic, all right, but nobody buys into our product or program. We soon figure out that the people looking at our page have seen it before, are bored by it, and are just looking at it, if they ARE looking at it at all, just to pass the time until the next click is due. Actually, they are more concerned with what is happening to THEIR page than worrying about ours. Eventually, most people begin to feel that it seems so pointless and they drop out and go try something else. **End Summary** Topics: free]]> traffic]]> exchange]]> generate]]> web site]]> traffic]]> free traffic exchange]]> generate web site traffic]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer and successful Internet marketer living in Central Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus (BA Accounting) and is a member of Mensa. Learn more about using free traffic exchanges to generate website traffic at http://donsdomains.ws/articles/free_traffic_exchange_system.html

The Benefits of a For Sale By Owner - FSBO - Home Sale

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Obviously, one of the most apparent FSBO benefits, at least to many home owners, is that the act of sticking that 'For Sale By Owner' sign in their front yard says that they might save some money and have some control over the selling of their home. However, what are some of the other benefits of an FSBO home sale, and how do you go about doing it. While not a necessarily a 'benefit', one of the first things to remember when contemplating an FSBO home sale is that no matter where you are, it can seem somewhat daunting and complicated. Adding to the complications is the fact that not only are there all kinds of legal forms required (and if you have ever bought a home you know what I mean), but that requirements may vary state by state. A California 'for sale by owner' home sale might be be different from a Wisconsin FSBO transaction. If taking the 'for sale by owner' route is so complicated and messy, why am I including this comment in an article for someone who is contemplating putting up their home in a 'for sale by owner' offering? Let's talk about those benefits. **End Summary** Topics: fsbo]]> for sale by owner]]> fsbo kit]]> home]]> sell home]]> real estate]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Central Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus with a BA in Accounting, and is a member of Mensa. He has a webpage where you can learn more about one FSBO kit at http://legal-forms-supermarket.com/about/for_sale_by_owner.html

Knowing the History of Search Engine Optimization Helps Us Better Understand SEO

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It seems as if every website or ezine article which mentions Internet marketing includes the term, "search engine optimization", or SEO. It's the current buzzword which everybody seems to use as if they were all experts on the subject. It appears everywhere from public forums to commercial advertising alike. Internet marketing "professionals" offer their "SEO services" for fees ranging anywhere from a few bucks to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and Internet "gurus" abound willing to take your money and help you out. Everybody else seems poised to offer free advice on how to effectively incorporate SEO into YOUR website. However, hardly anyone ever comes out and says WHAT search engine optimization really is! So, as we explore the history of SEO, let's try to get an idea of what it is and what it does. At its simplest, search engine optimization is just the art and/or science (often more art than science) of making web pages attractive, or MORE attractive, to the Internet search engines. Without a doubt, an Internet business would be remiss if it did not consider serach engine optimization an integral part of any search engine marketing program or plan. **End Summary** Topics: search engine]]> search engine submission]]> search engine optimization]]> search engine marketing]]> google]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a 62 year old bodybuilder, internet marketer, and freelance writer living near Fort Hood, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service.. He has recentily teamed up with Global Domains International (GDI), and offers information on his involvement with this international company at http://donsdomains.ws/ .

Putting Exercise In Perspective

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Many people will look at an athlete, a bodybuilder, a fitness trainer, or maybe just a friend who is in great shape and think to themselves, "I would love to be as fit as that person." Then, as with so many things in life, the doubts begin to creep in. - I could never get that fit - I couldn't look like that - I'm too old - They must workout for hours - I just couldn't find the time - People would laugh at me for trying - It's just too hard! While anyone will benefit internally and externally from a regular exercise program, most of the doubts that will stop the person from succeeding are going to center about their belief that they will never be able to achieve the ability to do the pure physical work involved. The person is going to feel that they will never be physically able to do the number of pushups, lift the amount of weight, run or walk the distance, or meet any of what they see as the requirements to "look like them". The job just looks impossible for them to do. **End Summary** Topics: exercise]]> fitness]]> health]]> burn fat]]> burn the fat]]> weight loss]]> diet]]> weight loss program]]> weight loss plan]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He recommends the exercise plan at http://nodiet4me.com/burnthefat.html for putting exercise in perspective.

Arnold Schwarzenegger - History Changed by Burning Desire

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

As I write this in June, 2007, "Conan the Barbarian"...er...Mr. Governor of California, erstwhile "The Terminator", is turning 60 in one month. I've never really looked into Arnold Schwarzenegger's history before, but having done so recently, I find it fascinating. Not so much because of THE EVENTS that have happened to Arnold Schwarzenegger over the years, as much as THE WAY it happened. You see, in my mind, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the kid from a small town in Austria, exemplifies what the term "American Dream" once meant, and still can mean. He also demonstrates in a dynamic way all those static words on a page that the motivational specialists write about. He's pratically a walking, talking textbook on such things as goal setting, motivation, and achievement. Despite the title of this article, I don't really intend to go into the history of Arnold Schwarzenegger per se as much as his dream...and how one kid made a dream into a reality that is really hard to believe unless you remember that setting goals and working towards them is the way we have always been told to achieve success in anything. **End Summary** Topics: arnold schwarzenegger]]> arnold schwarzenegger history]]> arnold schwarzenneger]]> american dream]]> success]]> bodybuilder]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about fitness over 40 at http://fit-over-40.ws/

Is Fitness Over 40 Easy?

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It seems pretty hard to be fit over 40, doesn't it? Well, I could tell you about people like Kelly Nelson and Morjoie Newlin, two female bodybuilders. They're not your typical bodybuilders. Kelly Nelson first began training with weights in the early 1980's at age 53 and was still competing in the 21st century in her late 70's...in a bikini...and lookin' good if I may say so! Morjorie Newlin was in HER 70's before a 50 pound bag of cat litter convinced her that if she didn't do something, old age was going to be a difficult time. That's when she began a fitness training program that included weightlifting. Morjorie Newlin was participating in bodybuilding competitions, and winning, in her 80's! Same comment...in a bikini and lookin' good. Now, obviously, these are special ladies who put in a lot of extra effort to accomplish some specific goals, but it does make a point. Life...and fitness...does not have to end at 40. Both of these ladies STARTED their fitness careers after age 40. Kelly Nelson was 53 and Morjorie Newlin was 72. **End Summary** Topics: fitness]]> fitness over 40]]> fitness after 50]]> body building grandma]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about fitness over 40 at http://nodiet4me.com/fit_over_40

Did You Hear The One About the 77 Year Old Body Building Grandma?

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It's pretty hard to be fit over 40, isn't it? Or is it? Well, have you heard about Kelly Nelson or Morjorie Newlin...two body building grandmas? Read on and learn about Kelly and Morjorie and what each chose to do with "the rest of her life". People will give you all kinds of reasons for being out of shape, not exercising, or both. Sometimes it's, "I don't have the time" or "I don't feel like it" or "That's just a waste of time". Sometimes these are real sentiments and beliefs, but, upon occasion, they are masks for, "I'm too old to get fit". Kelly Nelson began weight lifting in 1980, or more specifically, training with weights, at age 53. Up until that point in her life, there had been nothing athletic about her existence. Her mission was simple. She thought the backs of her arms needed some work. As she found out, they needed a "workout". **End Summary** Topics: bodybuilding grandma]]> kelly nelson]]> bodybuilding]]> weightlifting]]> fitness over 40]]> fit over 40]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about fitness over 40 at http://nodiet4me.com/fit_over_40 .

The Confusion About Weightlifting, Bodybuilding, And Lifting Weights

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It is unfortunate, but true, that many people do not have a genuine understanding of the value of weight training as an important and effective part of any fitness or weight loss program. This is due, at least in part, to a misunderstanding on the part of the public about three terms: Weightlifting Bodybuilding Weight Training or Lifting Weights Start talking about barbells, dumbbells, and "lifting weights" to most people, and they often begin imagining hulking figures they have seen on the covers of magazines or portraying monsters in movies...although the "commando" thing does grab some males. While most males would like to have a nice physique, the pictures in the magazines tend to unnerve them, or at least portray an image of someone obsessed with "bulking up" and "getting ripped"! Women especially tend to be turned off by the idea of "weightlifting" partly because they fear that they too will look somewhat like the males mentioned above. They may also have seen pictures of professional female bodybuilders or weightlifters. **End Summary** Topics: weightlifting]]> bodybuilding]]> weight training]]> lifting weights]]> exercise]]> fitness]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about weightlifting at http://nodiet4me.com/weightlifting/ .

How Employee Physical Fitness Pays Off For Employees AND Employers

Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

More and more these days, employers, from large corporations to small businesses, are recognizing the value of supporting the physical fitness efforts of their employees. Their particpation in supporting and encouraging employee fitness varies from providing room and fitness equipment at the workplace and/or time for physical fitness programs to full scale fitness training and health monitoring. However, what are the benefits to the employer and the employees of such attitudes and programs? Are the benefits worth it? Well, each employer will have to judge for himself or herself, but here is what small businesses and major corporations are finding are the potential benefits of helping their employees improve their health and physical fitness. One of the first things employers may notice is improved employee productivity. This comes about for several reasons. For one thing, there will normally be decreased rates of illness and injury, and absenteeism will go down because of this and because employees will simply feel better about themselves and their performance at work. **End Summary** Topics: fitness]]> employee fitness]]> health]]> exercise]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on fitness at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

Childhood Obesity Is A Solvable Problem

Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

I don't know if childhood obesity is "rampant" or an "epidemic". What I DO know is that it does not have to happen to our children. However, just to put things in perspective, over a recent 30 year period measured by the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a study conducted every 10 years to survey the dietary habits and health of U. S. residents, certain changes in childhood obesity came to light. The following increases in numbers of overweight and obese children, as determined by body mass index measurements (BMI), occurred. *Numbers of children aged 2-5 years increased from 5.0% to 13.9% *Numbers of children aged 6-11 years increased from 4.0% to 18.8% *Numbers of children aged 12-19 years increased from 6.1% to 17.4% CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY As with adults, the simple answer for the individual child is that when children take in more calories than they burn, they gain weight, i.e. become overweight and obese. **End Summary** Topics: childhood obesity]]> weight loss]]> health]]> fitness]]> exercise]]> diet]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on health, fitness, exercise, diet, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

9 Pioneers of Fitness

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

While not perfect, the following nine individuals are my choice for a short list of important pioneers in weight lifting, body building, aerobics, health, and fitness. Eugen Sandow The Non Pareil (1867 - 1925) Born in Germany, Eugen Sandow has often been called "Father of Modern Bodybuilding". Like Charles Atlas, as a youth, Sandow was a great admirer of Greek and Roman statues depicting athletes and gladiators. Sandow is considered to be a pioneer in bodybuilding because he measured statues to determine exact proportions and then worked to develop his own body parts to match them. In his late teens, while performing in strongman shows, he was spotted and taken on by legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld. His big splash in America was at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. His intelligence, natural charm, and cultured appearance combined with his astounding physique and strength made him a star. Women actually paid him money for the privilege of feeling his muscles. For the men, he wrote widely on health, fitness, and bodybuilding. He, like Bernarr Macfadden and Charles Atlas offered a mail order course teaching his students how to achieve health and fitness. **End Summary** Topics: weightlifting]]> bodybuilding]]> fitness]]> exercise]]> health]]> Charles Atlas]]> Richard Simmons]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on fitness, exercise and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

5 Major Ways to Save Money on Gas

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

I know you just want to get to the meat of how to save money on gas, but let me just lecture for a moment. Petroleum products, including gas, are not going to become cheaper. One of the reasons for this is simply that they are limited and more and more people are competing for a diminishing supply. This is Economics 101 stuff and is known as supply and demand. As supply goes down and demand goes up, the price goes up. Anyway, when was the last time you saw major price reductions on a commodity like gas? At the same time, people around the world are beginning to realize that not only are petroleum supplies limited, but the effects of burning gas and other petroleum products to power cars, factories, and your lawn mower are creating a highly unstable environmental situation...one which may have disastrous consequences for our children and grandchildren if not for us. Therefore, these tips not only tell you some ways you can simply save money on gas, but also nudge you a little bit along the path of change. **End Summary** Topics: save money]]> gas]]> save money on gas]]> fuel economy]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about how to save money on gas at http://lube2005.com/information/fuel_economy.html/

What's Your Body Mass Index? What Does It Mean?

Sat, 05 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

One term we hear a lot about recently is "Body Mass Index", or BMI. It seems to be important, but many people are not sure what it is, what it means, or why they should be concerned about it. In this small article, we are going to try to shed a little light on: 1. What is Body Mass Index? 2. How is it calculated? 3. What does it mean? Stated simply, your body mass index is a means of measuring your body fat relative to height. The basic reason for this is that weight alone is not a reasonable measure of fat or health. For years, men and women have looked at height/weight tables and been told that if they were of a certain height and weighed a certain weight than they were "overweight" and, by implication, in some sort of potential health crisis. However, the BMI calculation allows an individual or health care provider a means of making a quick assessment of potential health risks. Calculating your Body Mass Index is a relatively simple process. **End Summary** Topics: body mass index]]> BMI]]> weight loss]]> overweight]]> obese]]> obesity]]> health]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on exercise and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/ .

A Place to Hear the Last Silken Sighs of a Dying Art

Wed, 02 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It is a small gallery on a side street in Carmel, California. There are more prestigious and glamorous sites in town, such as the Hogs Breath Inn Restaurant and Bar, owned by local resident Clint Eastwood, and it may be easily passed amid the maze of galleries of various arts. My wife and I would never have seen it except for a sequence of failures, and we never would have met the lady who ran it had we been there one minute earlier, or if my wife had not loved embroidery and needlepoint. Whatever the events, had we not encountered problems finding what we HAD been looking for, or had we not had trouble navigating the narrow streets of Carmel, and finally decided to park and search on foot, we might never have been introduced to Lu Luo, owner of Lu Lu Silk Art Gallery of Chinese silk embroidery. That would have been a shame, for then a certain macho dude, i.e. yours truly, would never have stood gazing in awe at what might be the last examples of a dying art. **End Summary** Topics: art]]> chinese]]> silk]]> silk art]]> silk embroidery]]> Chinese silk embroidery]]> silk embroidery gallery]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on exercise and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/ . See the Lu Lu Silk Art Gallery at http://lulusilkartgallery.com .

Can We Keep Her?

Wed, 02 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It was 1994. I had just gone through a divorce after several painful and tumultuous years that had resulted in my becoming distanced from my children...or them from me. I had met and married a lady with two children...twin teenage daughters. She, and they, had been through their own trying period as mommy and daddy's marriage fell apart, and their father dealt them all blow after painful blow. My new wife and I had agreed that I was not to even try to raise her children. She saw that as an unfair task to place on me considering my experiences, their experiences, and their ages...they were thirteen. We did agree that I was the adult male in the house and, with her, was a co-head of the house and would act as father in all such events. That's how we got Diamond. We had just moved into our first real home together after a few months in a small apartment. We found a house for rent just around the corner from the girls' grandmother. **End Summary** Topics: dog]]> dogs]]> pet]]> pets]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on exercise and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

How Badly Do You Want To Lose Weight?

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

There is an old story about a great pianist who was approached after a performance by a middle-aged woman who said something like the following, "I play the piano too, but nowhere near as well as you. I would give anything to be able to play like you." To which the pianist replied along this line, "No you wouldn't, because if you really wanted to play like me, you would have already given everything and you would play like me." Kind of blunt and in-your-face, but a valid point. Sure, almost every one of us has all kinds of commitments and obligations that serve as genuine and imagined obstacles to our dreams. We have kids to feed and raise, so we can't take off from work and write the great American novel. We have a mortgage, car payments, and there's last year's doctor's bills still unpaid, so we stay at the job we hate because it pays us enough to make the payments we obligated ourselves to, and the job we would "give anything" to have doesn't. **End Summary** Topics: weight loss]]> diet]]> health]]> fitness]]> weight loss product]]> weight loss program]]> weight loss secret]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on exercise and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

4 Tips For Writers On How To Create Some Creativity

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Many people watching a writer at work probably wouldn't even realize that he or she was actually working. While the physical act of putting words on paper or into a computer is easy to recognize as "work" one of the hardest parts of any writer's task is not always coming up with the words to express an idea. For many of us, the most difficult part is coming up with an idea to write about! While creativity is generally believed to be something that someone is born with, and maybe it is, everybody has some sort of creative streak within...no matter how well hidden. The trick is to find ways to tickle that creativity so that it produces at least the germ of an idea. Many writers and artists find that once they have the initial hint of an idea, the work, whether it be a book or a statue, almost reproduces itself. Below are 4 tips on how to wake up the sleeping giant of creativity within and put it to work. 1. Yoga and Meditation - Alternative Routes to Creativity Most people want to attack a problem head on. **End Summary** Topics: writing]]> freelance]]> freelance writing]]> ideas]]> creativity]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He has posted several of his articles on exercise and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

The Egyptian Mau - Small Cat with a Big History

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

If there is any sort of valid claim to being the cat of ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs it must go to the Mau. After all, the word "mau" means cat. What better credentials could a fantastic feline have? Well, what if this breed of cat can be clearly seen and identified in many ancient Ebyptian works of art? Even better, what if Hollywood itself has given its stamp of authenticity to the breed? In the 2004 movie, "Catwoman", Halle Berry's character, Patience Phillips, is killed, but is brought back to life by a Mau named "Midnight", which was actually played by three different cats. It's not surprising that they turned out to be movie stars, however, because they are known for not only their striking appearance, but for their personality and charisma as well. When your lineage goes as far back into ancient history as does that of the Egyptian Mau, you are bound to find a few wild and unrefined ancestors. The Mau is directly descended from wild African spotted cats. **End Summary** Topics: mau]]> egyptian mau]]> cat]]> kitten]]> caring for a cat]]> pet]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. Learn more about caring for a cat and other cat breeds at http://cat-and-kitten.com/

Exercise, Diet and Weight Loss For The Breast Feeding Mom

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

It's normal for a woman to be concerned about such things as weight loss and fitness, particularly after a pregnancy and during the breast feeding period. However, many new moms also want to know how diet, exercise, and a weight loss program will affect their ability to effectively breast feed their baby. Here's a few basic bits of data on the subject. For specific advice concerning you, your baby, and your breast feeding program, talk to your doctor. Diet While your particular diet has less impact on the breast milk you provide your baby than you might think, it is important for YOU to be healthy during this period. You are going to be losing a lot of sleep and experiencing a lot of stress anyway, and it will be a difficult time to add the burden of "going on a diet" to everything else"going on a diet" to everything else. The last thing you need at this time is more stress, and trying to maintain your energy level and enjoy your new baby while you are cutting your own personal nutrition is not a good choice. **End Summary** Topics: breast feeding]]> baby]]> baby care]]> health]]> fitness]]> weight loss]]> diet]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer, and a University of West Florida alumnus. He is a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. He regularly publishes articles on health, fitness, yoga, weight loss, and related subjects. You can find more tips and informaton on breast feeding a newborn baby at http://breast-feeding.web-home.ws/

4 Easy Anti-Aging Tips

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Anti-aging articles are all the rage these days, so I thought I would chip in my two cent's worth. Well, at a penny a tip, four cents. We cannot do much about the fact that we age, but we can do something about the effects that aging has on us. Here are four simple things you can do to delay and diminish the effects of aging. *Exercise *Eat *Play *Sleep Think you can handle those? Exercise One of the most obvious effects of aging is what happens to the outward appearance of our bodies as well as what happens to our ability to use them. When we age, systems slow down, or even break down, we lose muscle mass, our heart begins to have problems, we lose our balance more often, we are more likely to break bones. If injured, we recover more slowly. Wrinkles form, breasts sag, stomachs poke out, and we gain weight. Simple fact: Regular moderate exercise tightens muscles, builds lean muscle mass, helps keep us flexible and strong. It keeps systems and organs in peak health and operating at optimum efficiency. There are people in their 80's and 90's who are doing "athletic" things. **End Summary** Topics: aging]]> anti-aging]]> health]]> fitness]]> diet]]> weight loss]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Central Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. He has published a collection of his articles on health, fitness, diet and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

2 Weight Loss Laws You Need to Know

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

There's not too many ways you can look at weight loss. Effective, lifelong weight loss is simple...not easy, just simple. Everyone is seeking the ultimate weight loss secret. However, the "weight loss secret" has been known for years. Simply stated, if you take in more calories than you use, you gain weight. If you use more calories than you take in, you lose weight. In their attempts to wiggle around those two simple facts, people have discovered that some foods, and some diet products, are effective in "helping" you cut down on the calories; and they have found lifestyles, and diet products, that "help" you burn more calories, but two simple laws have remained for healthy, effective, lifelong weight loss and weight management. 1. Get regular, moderate exercise 2. Regularly eat tasteful, nutritionally satisfying foods in reasonable quantities. Do those two things, and your body will automatically adjust itself to a healthier, leaner, more fit state of existence. Are there other things you can do to help the process along? Of course there are. Drink more water, get more sleep, serve meals on smaller plates, eat more slowly...and so on. **End Summary** Topics: weight loss]]> diet]]> health]]> fitness]]> weight loss product]]> weight loss program]]> weight loss secret]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army. He has a blog on health, fitness diet and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com

To Freelance or Not to Freelance

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0400

You would think that writing is writing. You would think that just because you are doing it in freelance mode rather than under contract to a publication or advertising firm, for example, that it's the same thing. You would think, huh? Well, like many things in life, when you step away from the beaten path and eschew the warmth and comfort of schedule, office, guidelines and are forced to do all that that implies for yourself, things change. Anyone who is good at their job and decides to go out on their own...start their own business...very rapidly learns a bitter truth. Along with all the obligations to the boss, the kowtowing and dog and pony shows, the J.O.B. did provide some things that it can be hard to get along without. Take that scheduling thing a couple of paragraphs ago. For many people striking out on their own, including freelance writers, a first dash of cold water from the fountain of freedom is the realization that they are not as good at scheduling their own time as their boss or office was. **End Summary** Topics: writing]]> freelance]]> freelance writing]]> entrepreneur]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army. He also offers free internet advertising services at http://1classified.8k.com/