What You Need To Know About Functional Medicine & Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

You've got questions about natural treatments for IBS, and we have answers.

We treat a lot of IBS cases in practice in our Longmont and Denver, CO offices. Often, we see patients who have run the gauntlet with chronic GI pain, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea (or a combination of all of these), who have seen every doctor and taken all the prescription medications they've been recommended, and yet, they still feel miserable and their symptoms have not subsided. Or, they get some temporary relief, only to find new and (uncomfortable) triggers resulting in more flare ups.

We practice Functional Medicine. We take a different approach to treating gut issues. Especially Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because it affects people so differently, yet it's disease processes are often similar for most sufferers. In Functional Medicine, we do not automatically assume IBS is solely a "gut issue" because we know that IBS is often the symptomatic outcome of a combination of issues.

One of the first things we will recommend is blood work or other diagnostic testing (depending on your specific situation). Now, that may be met with a bit of hesitation at first as you say to yourself, "well, I've had blood work done already and they told me there's nothing wrong! Everything checked out as 'normal.'" Depending on the specific training of whom exactly is looking at and interpreting the results of these tests can mean a world of difference between continued recurrences of IBS, and the relief you're seeking. We say this because not all tests are created equally and viewing their results through the lens of Functional Blood Chemistry (which uses a different set of reference ranges) can detect whether the symptoms you experience are from infection, stress, a food sensitivity or a combination of many factors. Many men and women with IBS suffer from:

• SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
• Parasites
• H. pylori
• Yeast overgrowth
• Food sensitivities

It is imperative then to treat the root cause(s) of the IBS in order to control the symptoms. We generally like to treat IBS as a metabolic condition, because all of the body's systems must be brought back into harmony before any real, quantifiable, long term relief can begin. In addition to treating determinable IBS protagonists like those above, a "typical" Functional Medicine IBS protocol should also include...

A Metabolic cleanse heavily focusing on the Hepatic system. Clearing the liver, pancreas and gallbladder of sludge and toxins helps support those organs in order for them to work most efficiently. Not to mention, when these organs are fatigued, they cannot clear hormones as intended or help in digestion properly.

Next we will look at the patient's diet. We will either have an idea of foods they need to permanently avoid from the results of their food sensitivity test(s), or we will recommend an elimination diet to find offending items. In our practice we strongly recommend food sensitivity testing through a lab called Cyrex. They have many arrays and can test for sensitivity to hundreds of foods. In our opinion food sensitivity testing is one of the most important steps in any solid IBS treatment protocol. Many, many patients come to us having no idea part of their issue was something as simple to avoid or modify as a very common gluten sensitivity, or lactose intolerance, for example. Elimination diets can end with similar outcomes as sensitivity tests, but they aren't nearly as accurate, they are very time consuming, and unless you're a nutrition pro there's always the possibility of encountering a food you thought was going to be safe but actually turns out to contain an ingredient that turns out to be anything but safe for you.

Additionally, we want to make sure the patient has very steady control of their blood sugar. This will happen through dietary modification and possibly all-natural supplementation (depending on multiple health factors). Keeping steady, regulated blood sugar will reduce stress and mood swings (which is a giant IBS culprit), it will also ensure your metabolism remains on an even keel. This helps reduce stress on all the various body systems. When putting up a "fight" on one front, we need to make sure the other "fronts" are able to do their jobs well. It's not easy on the body to have GI issues, immune issues, hormonal dysregulation and sleep fluctuations at the same time. Many of those issues can cause one to feel poorly on their own, add them on top of IBS and you have a perfect storm making people absolutely miserable.

Once we have cleaned out the liver and gallbladder, and steadied the blood sugar swings, we will move on to a Gut Cleanse and Repair. This will be done with all-natural nutritional supplements and will be helped along by your modified diet. The repair portion is very important, as you can imagine. Many patients don't know they have imbalanced gut flora (the "good" bacteria that aid in digestion) or leaky gut (which can lead to further issues like autoimmune disorders). IBS patients who have been traditionally treated for SIBO may have taken many courses of antibiotics which can also wipe out our "good" bacteria. That is one issue with antibiotics, they are very indiscriminate with the bacteria they kill off. They can also be less effective against bacteria encapsulated in what are called biofilms. These lipid-based films are the evolutionary protection response of pathogens, the fittest of which survive, despite medications given to kill them. We recommend a strict protocol of supplementation that eliminates these biofilms making other medications more effective.

Many patients also don't know that around 80% of their neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) are made in their gut. A healthy gut makes healthy levels of neurotransmitters (guess what an unhealthy gut makes?). Neurotransmitters are very important to our mental and emotional well being, as well as hormone regulation, sleep and immune response. Although supporting neurotransmitters may not sound like part of a common IBS treatment, we know from years of treating this condition that it helps ease stress and emotionally triggered IBS. There are very strong links between the gut and the brain.

We will also add in supplementation for inflammation. We know "inflammation" is often billed as a new-age bogeyman, but think about more common inflammation (like a sprained ankle for instance). At first, your body does what comes naturally, it swells and attempts to stabilize an injury, and it sends your immune system in to help save the day. But if your sprained ankle continued to stay swollen forever, you'd start to wonder if there's something wrong. The guts of people with IBS are often inflamed long-term and not only is that not helpful in healing, it creates a negative feedback loop with your various systems trying to maintain the "healing."

Lastly, we recommend a chiropractic technique for pain relief known as Visceral Manipulation. This isn't something that all chiropractors are trained in, or practice, but we do recommend finding a practitioner of this technique in your area if you are not close by. This therapy is an IBS patient's Secret Weapon and can really help in the relief of discomfort.

In conclusion, in our opinion (and practice) an effective natural IBS protocol should include:

• Diagnostic testing and interpretation of results using functional blood chemistry
• Systematically treating root causes, whether they be pathogenic, imbalances in gut flora, or a combination of multiple factors
• Modifying the patient's diet and lifestyle
• Regulating the Metabolism
• Only trusted, pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplementation and herbs
• Visceral Manipulation for pain relief

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How to Structure Your Programming Code

I remember my first fumble with basic on my ZX Spectrum computer back in the 1980s, ploughing through pages of basic commands and example code without any real idea of how I could write programs myself. It was like reading a dictionary where I could learn certain words and their meanings with limited information on how I could construct them into entire sentences to write a document. Every programmer who has dabbled in basic has probably come across the famous "Hello Word" routine which consists of a two-line program that prints this phrase unlimited times on the screen.

Your program code needs to be written as step-by-step instructions using the commands that your choice of programming language understands. It means reading your programming manual to learn which commands you need to use for what you want your program to do. In the "Hello World" example you would first need a command that prints "Hello World" onto the screen, and then you would need a second command to print it again multiple times, without writing multiple print statements.

Check out this example. To make things simple I am using old-school basic with line numbers - probably because I'm a retro-freak.

10 print "Hello World"
20 goto 10

The best structure for writing any program code is to make it clear and easy to follow. Some programmers put multiple commands on one line which can make your code difficult to follow if you are trying to iron out bugs. Spreading your code over multiple lines actually makes the program work better and becomes more readable.

Another recommended practice is to separate each part of your program code using REM Statements. REM (short for Remark) allows you to put comments before each section of code to remind you what each part does. This is especially useful if you wish to edit your code at a later date.

10 rem Set Up Variables
20 let A=1: let B=2
30 rem *******
40 rem Print Variables to Screen
50 rem *******
60 print A,B

Anything after the REM command is ignored by the computer and you can use as many REM statements as you want to make bigger gaps in your code for easy reading. Other programming languages allow you to use blank lines or indent the first line of the routine.

Now I will show you how to structure the entire program code. Remember that the computer needs to follow step-by-step instructions so you need to write each instruction in the order you want it to run.

CONSTRUCTION OF CODE

Set up screen resolution and variables: The first section of your program would set the screen resolution and the variables.

Read information into arrays: If you have information you want to put into an array using the DIM command then you can use a For/Next loop and the READ command. It is best to place the data statements for the array to read from at the end of your program.

Set up main screen: This is the section where you would use a subroutine (GOSUB Command) to set up the main screen. In a shoot-em-up type game you would have a routine that draws the sprites and game screen and then returns to the next line of the code it came from.

Main Program Loop: Once the program is up and running the main program loop jumps to various routines using subroutines and then returns to the next line in the loop.

Program Routines: It is good structure to place all the programming routines after the main loop. You would have separate routines that update the screen, check for joystick input, check for collision detection and so on. After each check you return to the main loop.

Data Statements: Finally you can list all the data statements at the end of the program which makes it easier to find and correct if need be.

CONCLUSION

Creating your code with plenty of REM Statements and short lines makes your code look cleaner and easier to follow. There may be a time you want to improve the program or use a routine for another program.

Dean Sharples is a writer and programmer with many years experience. He has written articles on subjects such as Home Business, Retro, Religion and Programming. He is a Muslim and comes from Manchester, UK. You can find out more about Dean at: http://www.deansharples.com

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8 Tips for When You've Not Socialised in a While

If you're a new parent, have perhaps had a change in personal circumstances, moved location or introduced a new lifestyle and are now being offered opportunities to go out when you've not socialised in a while it can be hard to motivate yourself to leave the house and make the effort to join in.

- You may have apprehensions and concerns. What about money; how much will it cost, what about the incidentals like taxis or babysitters, nails, clothes and hairdressers? How about the other members of the group. Are they 'all' vibrant, sophisticated ladies or successful businessmen? Will I fit in, what about my conversational skills?

- What if you do feel frumpy and out of date, not smart enough? Sometimes a small touch can make all the difference, like a new haircut, a brightly coloured top, a distinctive piece of jewellery. But remember, it's not your size or what you're wearing that makes you attractive and interesting to others. I doubt those are an issue for you when meeting someone new. Give your group credit for being equally discerning and knowing what's important. Being good company and interested in others is what makes you a valued, integral part of any group. People like you, not your style of shoes or colour of lipstick.

- Take baby steps at first. Be selective about the invitations you accept, so that you're already interested and inclined to go along. Make sure that there are several appealing factors; you're comfortable with several members of the group, the place you're going to is somewhere you'd enjoy. You may prefer to go for a meal or a film rather than to a noisy, busy bar, or are happiest with an activity like ten-pin bowling or a class, choose whatever you feel most relaxed with.

- Do you feel that you've been out of the mix for so long that you've lost the art of adult conversation and have little to talk about that's not child, work or home-related? Determine to fix that by watching a little popular TV, keeping up to date with the news, listening to others and being attentive to what they converse about.

- And remember, joining in and being a good audience member as well as an interested listener, or being fine when others prefer to talk about themselves will ensure that you become a welcome addition to the group. Listening is a good fall-back position to adopt.

- Give yourself time to get ready, even if you allow an entire day. Set aside time to wash your hair, to decide what you're going to wear. The hassle of getting ready, often a source of fun to other people, can be an additional stressor if you've not socialised in a while.

- Would arriving there with someone else be easiest for you? Perhaps arrange a lift or offer to drive so that you're going with a 'friend' and can chat, enjoy each other's company and not feel daunted by travelling alone.

- Arrange an emergency escape route, like having a friend phone after a couple of hours. Then if you're feeling overwhelmed and need to get away you can claim that you're needed elsewhere, make your excuses and leave. Knowing that someone's checking in on you can be a relief and remove the stress of feeling trapped and obligated to stay until the end.

- Remind yourself that's it's important to stay connected with the outside world - you're not 'just' a partner, parent, employer or employee. Continue to invest in your individual identity and treat it as an important part of your relationship both with yourself and with others.

- Consider how you'll feel if you decide not to go. Of course, it's your choice at the end of the day, but rather than decline why not commit to going for an hour or two? You can always leave early if you start to feel overwhelmed, but remind yourself that it's more likely that you'll find that everyone's there to relax and have a pleasant time too. They're all similar to you, also with issues, troubles and concerns, equally in need of a night off. Discover how much better you'll feel once you've gone along and joined in.

By starting to socialise again you're reclaiming your identity and living a bigger, more expansive life. And so often others share your fears and concerns. Remember, you're not alone!

Susan Leigh, counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer & media contributor offers help with relationship issues, stress management, assertiveness and confidence. She works with individual clients, couples and provides corporate workshops and support.

She's author of 3 books, 'Dealing with Stress, Managing its Impact', '101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday' and 'Dealing with Death, Coping with the Pain', all on Amazon & with easy to read sections, tips and ideas to help you feel more positive about your life.

To order a copy or for more information, help and free articles visit http://www.lifestyletherapy.net

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The Patient Building Of Life Within Yourself

Happiness is a job inside of yourself, sadness is thinking that happiness is caused outside of yourself in some way, whether by "outer" wealth, "outer great" circumstances or by any "logical" means. With that reality, I begin this article. Our perceptions ultimately create our reality, not anything we "have" or "have not".

I have seen "the people that have everything" commit suicide and do other stupid things while staying alive in an outer sense putting on a show like it is all great in life. I have seen "people with nothing" be the most giving, honest, realistically happy existences. On the other hand, I have seen "the people that have everything" really be happy and have it all genuinely, and some "people with nothing" that beg for money and decry their situation instead of persistently making themselves "something". So, when I say something like sadness is thinking that happiness is purely caused outside of yourself in some way, you completely and utterly know what I mean. We must cause life, happiness and reality within ourselves first before we have it or you cannot look at a map and be at a place, you must actually travel the road like the map is not the actual territory or destination.

There is nothing that can replace persistence and causation. Not even winning the lottery or getting "all you want" given to you "easily" without the understanding to handle or the equivalent desire to really want and earn it. Indeed, persistence and causation are the map, territory and destination within and without you, they are nowhere else. Without those realities, you really do have nothing however much you get given "easily".

Reality is understanding what you have and using it to your best ability always. Real reality is not wanting something better, that is unproductive, even destructive fantasy. Indeed, appreciating what you have is making it better, not decrying it, putting it down or destroying it. The best we can do is accept then better things, the worst we can do is cry, stagnate and reject pathetically. So, start here: To become a real person that has the best, our minds must first be the best and persistently determined to make the best. That is where it starts, everything else is academic or in addition to where it all starts, in short, without determination and persistence to get better, all situations are nothing even if you "get what you want easily". The patient building of life, happiness and greatness within yourself then comes down to being determined to build it, does it not?

My name is Joshua Clayton, I am a freelance writer based in Inglewood, California. I also write under a few pen-names and aliases, but Joshua Clayton is my real name, and I write by that for the most part now. I am a philosophical writer and objective thinker and honest action taker. I also work at a senior center in Gardena, California as my day job, among other things, but primarily I am a writer.

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How to Achieve Any Goal You Desire!

If you've ever wanted to achieve something important in your life but didn't know exactly how to go about it, you can now find out exactly how to go about doing it. We have put together a goal setting Pdf that is easy to follow and produces powerful results. It is a guide to achieving goals presented in a way that is easy to understand and something you can use for the rest of your life!

Never again fret about achieving anything in your life, whether it's personal or business related. It's a tool you can use at home or at work, and use it with confidence. The only sure-fire way to attain the major things in life that you would like to have is to set goals. The problem is, most of us were never trained in the art of setting goals. They don't teach goal setting in high schools nor in colleges, unless you attend one of the military schools where they teach strategic and tactical planning for military reasons.

It really is a subject that should be taught in our high schools and colleges. Knowing how to set goals is something that a student can carry with them throughout their life, as well as pass this art onto their children. It can be a major positive in their business life as well. It can mean the difference between success and mediocrity in the business world. Once you start using the "process" required to set and achieve something, and you get positive results, you'll be addicted to the habit of goal setting to acquire anything you wish.

So many people wander around aimlessly and have no idea where they're going. What a shame to go through life and have nothing major you want to acquire, achieve, or learn. There's no goals they want to accomplish for themselves or their family. That's not a good legacy to leave to your children! We would like to help everyone find a different path in life and get the things in they deserve.

Don't wait any longer to take charge of your life and the things you would like to change, and do it now! No one is going to do it for you. We can help you on this journey by giving you the tools you'll need to make these changes. Let's determine that we can work together to make the changes that will send you on the journey of change!

You can get a copy of our goal setting pdf guide to learn how to set goals the right way.. Please visit us at https://www.goalsforall.com to get your copy of our goals guide. Thank You, James Egan, Author

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Energy in the Next 30 Years

We are now in the early stages of an energy revolution that is profound and rapid as the one that ushered in the age of oil in the 21st century. This new energy system - highly decentralized, efficient, and based increasingly on renewable resources and hydrogen fuel- is already beginning to emerge in other parts of the world. Without visionary leadership, there can be a risk falling behind its economic competitors and compromising its political credibility on the international stage which will be judged by the extent to which it embodies the following principles of a 21st century energy system:

1. Energy Efficiency: investments in energy efficiency-obtaining the same services of lighting, cooking, heating, mobility, and industry will lower energy requirement.

2. Natural Gas: Natural Gas is the cleanest and fastest-growing fossil fuel, and despite the recent increase in price, has become the fuel choice for power generation. But the challenge with natural gas is not to drill for it ecologically-sensitive areas, but rather to develop highly-efficient new uses include co-generation or the combined use of heat and power and micro-power technologies.

3. Nuclear power & clean coal - The cost of nuclear-generated electricity is roughly double that of other energy sources now in the power market. This expense, combined with public opposition, has brought new construction nearly to halt around the world. private investors are unwilling to throw serious money into nuclear power. Although nuclear power is now still a major energy source in major countries, its has its risks. The nuclear fission process still causes the production of harmful radiation. Research is undertaken in an intensive manner to generate energy through nuclear fusion. Major breakthroughs have been achieved recently in the quest for this abundant and clean source of energy. It will probably take another 20 years or so before the first nuclear fusion power plants will be built in various countries. It will be another 30 years before these fusion power plants will be seen on a global scale.

4. Renewable energy: petroleum emerged first in niche markets, then grew rapidly. wind and solar power are doing the same, growing at double-digit annual rates globally. This has mainly been caused by the dramatic decrease of costs related to the production of energy through wind turbines and solar panels. It will take another 20 years before the renewable energy sources will be available for a large part of the human race.

Overall the prospects of availability of clean and cheap energy sources look good. Large investments are undertaken to develop the technology and power sources of clean and cheap energy.

Get an affordable life experience degree at http://www.asian-europeanuniversity.com

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4 Benefits Of Solar LED Lights For Parking Lots

The future is solar LED lights. You will see them in the parking lots and other large areas around a city. They are cheap and save a good deal of money on electricity bills. Nowadays, the majority of parking lots feature the conventional lights that get their power from the grid. These products are not efficient and add to the environmental pollution. Let's take a look at some of the prominent benefits of solar LED lights.

1. Energy Efficiency

Solar LED lights are a bit more expensive than the traditional lights but they offer a lot higher return on investment. According to statistics, they are 500% more efficient and stand the test of time. Since they get their power from the sun, they are a lot more efficient.

If you want to figure out the cost of power consumption, all you need to do is multiply the power of all the units of light with the number of hours the light will operate for. Usually, the cost lies between 10 and 20 dollars for each unit on a monthly basis.

2. Smart Technology

With smart technology, solar operators can configure lighting schedules from a remote area. Moreover, they feature smart gadgets as well. They can serve as powerful anti-theft devices and data collectors for the internet of things or large data banks.

3. Luminosity

Why do we get lights? It's simple. We need lights for the purpose of luminosity. Although watts is the measure of power something consumes, luminosity measures the brightness of light that a bulb produces.

Traditionally, watts represent the brightness of a source of light. On the other hand, solar LED lights have a different convection. As far as efficiency is concerned, they are 400% more efficient. With the help of smart technology, it's possible to get a better control over the lighting systems that is installed outdoors.

Apart from this, you can increase or decrease the amount of brightness easily. It's possible to provide the right amount of light in the right area.

4. Environmental Advantages

There are a lot of environmental advantages of the solar LED lights. As a matter of fact, traditional ones get their power from the grid. In the grid, power is produced through fossil fuels, which emits a good deal of pollution in the air. And we don't need to explain how pollution can cause a lot of health issues.

Since solar energy is 100% clean with zero side effects, it is the future. Moreover, fossil fuel will become scarcer over the passage of time. Research in the world of solar power may bring the prices down in the future.

The installation process for solar LED lights is quite simple. The cost is lower and efficiency is higher.

So, these are a few main benefits of installing solar LED lights in the parking lots. The cost of energy is rising. To help solve this problem, we should turn to the renewable sources of power and solar power is one of them.

Solar street light manufacturers are quite popular these days. If you need these lights, you can contact a good solar street light supplier.

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Is It Compulsory to Install a Smart Meter?

What is a smart meter?

Smart energy meters provide a digital way for energy consumers to measure gas and electricity readings, which are sent directly to energy suppliers. They serve as a replacement for your existing gas and electricity meters.

The difference between a traditional meter and a smart meter is that the latter send the data they collect to your energy supplier remotely, which means you don't need to take manual meter readings.

The benefits

- Because a meter takes accurate readings, this means that your energy bills will be more accurate too.
- You won't need to take manual energy readings.
- Having accurate energy consumption data on hand allows you to take control of your energy use and improve your energy efficiency and strategic energy management.
- With the meter's display feature, you'll have access to real-time updates and be aware of how much energy you're using and when you're using it.

Did you know? The Carbon Trust estimates that the average business wastes 20% of the energy it buys.

Metering in homes and businesses leads to a better market in general, arming consumers with the knowledge to switch suppliers and find the energy contract most suited to their individual needs. In addition, energy suppliers will have more accurate data about the energy ecosystem as a whole, allowing them to better meet energy supply and demands.

Why wouldn't a business want a meter installed?

Some businesses may have some reservations about the meter rollout, but many of thee hesitations can be easily allayed.

- Smart meters can be hacked - your new meter is required to meet strict Government security standards, but, as with any technology, it's important to remain -vigilant.
- It will cost more money - although you may see a slight increase in your energy bills to compensate for the rollout of this new technology, there are no upfront costs for smart meter installation.
- Installing the meter will cause downtime - energy suppliers will generally install meters during working hours, but some are willing to be flexible. The downtime associated with smart meter installation is normally around 20 minutes.
- Switching suppliers - once you have a meter installed by an energy company, you can still switch suppliers at a later stage if you'd like to. The smart meters rolled out are 'interoperable', which means that all suppliers will be able to support them.
- Operate from rented premises - simply get in touch with your landlord to ask about having a meter installed.

Is it compulsory to get a smart meter?

New government requirements have commissioned energy companies to install meters in business premises and domestic homes by 2019 - but this is only if the household or business wants a meter. The government requires that smart meters are offered by energy suppliers to all small businesses and homes, but having a meter is not a legal requirement.

How to get a new meter installed in 3 simple steps:

1. Ask your energy supplier or your energy broker about what's on offer.
2. Once you or your broker have decided on the appropriate solution, you can arrange a suitable time and date with your energy supplier to have the meter installed.
3. Start taking control of your energy bills!

The smarter way to measure your energy

Contact Smarter Business to help you find the best energy contract for your needs and ensure that your smart meter is installed effortlessly and cost-effectively. https://smarterbusiness.co.uk/

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Chewing the Fat - Top 10 Most Offensive Stereotypes

It's hard enough dealing with issues of image when you're a woman. Everywhere you look there are air-brushed models, unrealistic representations, and judgment. As I've grown, I've realized the falsehood of these things and have moved on from comparing myself to models and actors.

As a plus-sized woman, however, I'm frequently annoyed with stereotypes and assumptions about us. It's time us big girls spoke up and were heard.

I recently was very disappointed when a well-known writers' conference had the whistle blown on them (justifiably so) for deciding not to bring a staff member back for this year's event because of her size. Weight or size discrimination happens every day and it has happened to me.

There are many different reasons someone could be overweight-which is why the stereotypes are so aggravating. But I think it's safe to say that generalizing ANY group of people is ignorant, wrong, and dangerous. Overweight women (and men) are no exception.

Below are the top 10 most offensive stereotypes I've experienced and I think it's time to call them out.

1. We're always eating.

Think of the TV sitcom where the token fat person is always shoving their face and has no self-control. This is partially a lazy way of writing for a cheap laugh. But it's a common stereotype and it's annoying. And is it really all that funny? Hasn't this joke been run into the ground enough already?

1. We're all lazy.

I'm busy from the minute my feet hit the floor in the morning until my head hits the pillow at night. I know of many other overweight people who are the same way. Just because we're not hanging out at the gym like it's a hobby doesn't mean we're sitting on our butts eating candy all day.

1. We're all sick as a result of our weight.

I realize that being overweight can increase the risk of a multitude of diseases and issues (heart disease, diabetes, etc.). But it's not a GUARANTEE and you can't assume that an overweight person is suffering from these challenges.

I remember when I first became pregnant with my son. I was 37 years old and overweight. Don't think I didn't notice the up-and-down eyeball assessments I was getting. I wanted to tell them "Yes! I'm aware I'm fat and you think I'm as old as Methuselah to be giving birth, but I'm not stupid and I will take good care of myself and my child!"

I'm not giving advice on this in any way, shape, or form. See your doctor for that. But yes, I had a healthy pregnancy and child. I ate healthy and had great prenatal care. But I could have done without all the judgment.

1. We're jealous of thin people.

Not long ago, someone at work (who happens to be thin) made a big point in speaking to me to go on and on about how fat she thinks she's getting. It's very clear that I'm much heavier than her and she was speaking ONLY to me at the time. This isn't the first time I've had this type of thing said to me.

When someone who is obviously quite thin says this to someone who is obviously heavier, the first thing that comes to mind is that they want you to say "Oh, I wish I was as thin as you! You aren't fat at all!" It's an obvious fish for a compliment.

Here's the thing, I don't care about who is thinner than me. I'm not comparing myself to them! And if they need a fat person to envy them to feel good about themselves, then I feel sorry for them.

1. We all have low self esteem and feel awful about ourselves.

I'm currently almost at my highest weight (and I'm aging), I feel better about myself than I ever have.

I realize that what people find attractive can vary dramatically. The only person I truly care about being attracted to me is my husband, and he's not complaining.

I once had a wellness coordinator where I work condescendingly tell me "you're worth it" as if she assumed that just because I was fat, that I didn't think I deserved to pursue whatever I felt was good for me.

1. We don't know we're fat.

I've had more than one person over my life feel the need to point out to me that I'm fat. We don't need for people to make us aware of being overweight. We're perfectly capable of knowing this on our own, and believe me - we know it.

1. We don't know how to lose weight ourselves.

We don't need to be enlightened with unsolicited advice as if we aren't aware that you need to burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight. We aren't all completely helpless in this capacity and for many of us, if want to lose weight bad enough, we'll do it!

Sure, there are educated professionals who are very skillful and experienced in helping people reach their goals. Nutritionists, personal trainers, coaches, etc., I'm not at all saying they're not important or valuable. What I mean is, we don't need the "stink eye" if we happen to indulge in seconds or have a dessert.

I once had a coworker show me her sandwich, which had plenty of vegetables on it, and say "Oh, look at that. Doesn't that look nice, colorful, and delicious with all of those vegetables?" She said this to me as if I was a child, like she was introducing the idea of eating vegetables to me. I am sure of her patronizing agenda because of other things she'd said to me in the past.

1. We're all jolly slobs.

Is it really that funny for so many silly, bumbling TV, book, and movie characters to be chubby? Do they so often need to be represented as simple-minded, adorable goofballs? We aren't all stupid and uneducated, yet loveable idiots. Think of the chunky kid in the kid's adventure movie who always needs to be rescued or the portly cartoon mouse that is always lagging behind... you get the picture.

Some of us are actually very educated, successful professionals. We're goal-oriented and have a lot to offer an organization with our well-developed careers.

1. There is a link to obesity and hygiene.

We also are no less likely to look or dress professionally to present ourselves well. I once had a family member tell me about someone they thought seemed unhygienic (and happened to be overweight) by saying "Well, I know fat smells... " My eyes about rolled out of my head. I've been around too many stinky skinny people for this to be an absolute!

We know this is a common stereotype or we wouldn't see the slob character in a TV show or movie portrayed as fat. You've seen it-stains on their shirt, wrinkled clothes, general unkempt appearance. This shouldn't even have to be said but, not every overweight person is unhygienic (for crying out loud... )

1. That it's anyone else's business or that discrimination should be tolerated.

What I want to say to these creators of the stereotypes is this-if it doesn't affect you, then don't judge. It's not really anyone else's business what someone weighs or what size they wear. It's not OK to transfer your own low self-esteem toward a fat person in order to make yourself feel better.

Stereotypes and assumptions are destructive. This is where discrimination is born. This is how we are passed over for promotions and opportunity. It's not OK to discriminate against someone for any reason, and size is not an exception.

It's out there, the challenge is real. It's time we spoke out.

Amy is a lifestyle blogger and children's book author. Visit her blog, Who Says?, at https://avanduyn75.wixsite.com/whosays for articles designed offer Strength, Voice, and Humor in your life.

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Plus Size - What Is Considered Plus Size

Every year the world of fashion comes up with the latest fashion trends that are influenced by different seasons. Big names of the word of fashion belong to the USA. People of this country are extremely fashioned conscious. They know the significance of dressing up and accessorizing. This is the cause, why all the brands, which are running in the USA pays sheer attention of the designs, fabricating and selling of the clothes.

The new generation's plus size women go crazy while shopping the clothes and want to buy and wear comfort clothes that gives comfort to any movement. This is because that clothes company gives pay attention when they fabricate these clothes for new generation's people. Now, USA fashion industry lists over 50,000 plus size clothing items every day.

Plus Size Clothing for Fashionable Women

It has made a revolution in the USA of fashion. There is a broad collection of clothing available for different styles and seasons. One can get a lot of advice on plus size fashions such as dresses, skirts, shorts, pants jackets as well as leggings that are available in different patterns and are comfortable for larger women to wear. Moreover, these clothes are available for special occasions, regular daily wear, for the gym or the beach. If you are a lady with a plus size body, you will get plenty of trendy plus size clothes in the market.

There are various company and stores which fabricate and offer these kinds of fashionable plus size clothes. There are diverse types of clothes available in these stores. This assortment of clothing is usually selected by women who want to work out for their overweight. This is the cause why the plus sized clothing shops have become so accepted among the women. These clothes can really make them look handsome as well as stylish and trendy at the same time. So select your clothes from the best online shop to make the best look for yourself.

How to Select Fashionable Plus Size Clothes?

There are numerous online clothes stores offering plus size women's clothing. However, while buying the plus size dresses online you must keep few things in mind. Before you search your shopping, you must know the correct measurement of your body curve, so that you can select the best-fitting dresses for you. Here are a few fashion tips that will help you select the right fashionable dresses for your plus size figure. If you are a lady with a plus size body, you will find plenty of fashionable plus size clothes on the market. These clothes can keep you looking fashionable despite your oversized body.

If you are thinking of shopping online for plus size clothing but you are still unsure where to start searching for your plus size clothes, visit at Plus Size Online Shopping https://www.stylishme.com/ and start saving time and money.

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How to Use One Day Patterns in Your Trades

Every trader should be aware of one day patterns. However, because of their simplicity, traders often overlook them. By using these patterns, traders have a clearer picture of the direction that the market may be moving. Among the several one day patterns, I will discuss two specific patterns that relate to the chart gaps that I discussed in previous articles.

The most uncommon of these two patterns is called the key reversal day pattern. The criteria for this pattern is not as flexible as the criteria for the simpler reversal day pattern. The difference between one and the other is small, yet significant. When your candlestick reaches a lower low and a higher high accompanied by a higher close an upward reversal is developed. Conversely, when a higher high and a lower low accompanied by a lower close, the reversal candlestick is considered to be downward.

Key reversals show significant market moves in the opposite direction of current trends. Not only do they show the inability of the market to keep the upwards/downwards move to new highs/lows, but also the development of new lows/highs in the opposite direction.

The reversal days are very common. In the simplest of terms, when a candlestick reaches new highs and closes at a new low a downward reversal is developed. On the other hand, when a candlestick reaches a new low and closes higher than the previous day, an upward reversal is developed.

The rules for the reversal days are somewhat flexible, but can be extremely valuable. On a bull market, the new low closing may mean that the bullish trend is coming to an end and that the buyers are ready to take profits. The opposite is true for a bear market, where a new high closing may mean that the sellout is about to end and a reversal of trend may develop. These moves are important as you, obviously, don't want to be caught in the opposite side of a trend reversal.

Neither of the key reversal days or reversal days should be used as your only indicator. You should use them with other indicators to confirm reversal in market trends. When you look at patterns over one or two days, that may greatly assist you with your trades. You should always look for indications of changes in market sentiment and both kinds of reversal days should assist you with determining these changes. When used with the different gaps, whether it is the exhaustion, the runaway, or the breakaway, these two indicators can certainly help you with your decision of whether to trade the market moves.

Next... My life long passion is to educate investors like you on how to have a successful career trading. Sign up now to my blog and instantly get your copy of the Understanding The Myths Of Market Trends And Patterns E-Book.! It is absolutely free to join here http://click.forextraders.blog/ebook

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