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Travel Tip: Fighting Jet Lag...
- luxeTravel |
Travel Tip: Fighting Jet Lag
The dictionary defines "jet lag" as "a temporary disruption of the body's normal biological rhythms after high-speed air travel through several time zones."
OK, this isn't anything we haven't heard or experienced before, right? So, from a medical standpoint, what is jet lag?
"Circadian rhythms" are our bodies' natural time clock. They run on a 24-hour basis, like the days. If you travel to Arizona from Los Angeles, you're OK. Jet lag doesn't really kick in. But as you approach the rest of the country, and as the time change grows, your body's timer stays either ahead or behind.
Find out the time change ahead of time. Try to adjust your sleep habits about a week before you leave. Start by going to bed either a half-hour earlier or later, and work up. This may put a cramp in your social life, but it's better to pay 50% now, than 100% later.
Sleep on the plane. If you find out at the very last minute that you will be leaving on the next red-eye from L.A. to New York, take a catnap on the plane. For the first half of the time on your flight, you should sleep, but wake yourself up or have the flight attendant wake you for the second half. You may have been told to "caffeine out" or "have a drink" for sleep, but experience has proven that this only makes matters worse. You swell, dehydrate or -- worst of all -- get constipated!
Bring a pillow. Sometimes it is uncomfortable to get complete rest in the air, but you will certainly rest better if you bring along a bean bag neck pillow and and eye mask. It helps. Also, change into comfortable clothing and drink plenty of water and chamomile tea. The cabin is usually dark and quiet. If the plane isn't full, you can always find some extra seats to lie down on and stretch out. Most people aren't aware of this travel secret when flights aren't as booked.
Order your airplane food ahead of time. Although some may tout it, airplane food will never be considered fine dining. Try to order ahead of time -- your best choice is a low-sodium, vegetarian meal -- or bring your own food aboard. Try to remember what you feel like after you eat lightly, rather than a heavy pasta meal, on the ground. It's pretty much the same in the air. Pasta will slow you down and make you tired, because it contains carbohydrates. Chicken and vegetables have protein, which feeds your system and gives it energy.
Some ideas to sleep or stay awake naturally...
1. Melatonin
We naturally have levels of this substance in our bodies. When the levels rise in your body, it promotes sleep. Taking additional melatonin in tablet form raises the levels in your system, hence nighty-night. Make this a last resort, because like caffeine, it messes with your time clock.
2. No-Jet-Lag
A natural product from New Zealand, it can be ordered online and supposedly stops jet lag.
3. Vitamin B12
This promotes energy. Potassium and vitamin C are important in any diet, and on the plane, it is especially important to replenish your system to combat the strain that high altitudes place on your immune system and your overall well-being.
4. Herbalists
Consult your local herbalist or vitamin store, as well as places that specialize in aromatherapy. There are scents that can help to awaken or calm your senses, such as lavender and citrus.
5. Water
This cannot be over-emphasized. Learn it, love it, live it! Drink water by the gallon, mist it on your face and towel your neck. Just do it! Plain and simple.
6. Stay mobile
Exercise is crucial for everyone. It helps to rejuvenate tired muscles or cramps caused from sitting on the plane for too long. Simply get up and walk the aisles, or step to the back of the plane and stretch. Once you've deplaned, look for hotel stairs, or a safe park or street where you can walk or run.
7. Try to get into the light
Don't sleep your lag away! The key is to stay regimented. Get outdoors and let the light rejuvenate you.
8. Take a nap
Once you get to your destination, snooze. Most of us are so excited to be elsewhere that it's go, go, go. Not good! It may feel OK in the moment, but when you get back home, you'll be exhausted, possibly sick, and needing a vacation from that vacation.
9. Don't stay asleep
Nap, but don't close your drapes and sleep for long stretches of time. If you sleep eight hours, then set your alarm or wake-up call for eight hours later during sleeping hours only. Sometimes, the more you sleep, the harder it is to shake jet lag.
Always keep in mind that excess sleep becomes a nightmare!
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Memorex SingStand...
- luxeTechnology |
Revolutionizing the way you interact with music...
Memorex SingStand® is revolutionizing the way you interact with music--now you can be a star! Memorex SingStand microphone speaker system allows you to sing along with music from iPod or any MP3 device with a headphone jack. Impress your friends and family with voice control and echo effects, giving them a stellar vocal performance, then connect your own musical instruments for a truly amazing show. The full-range speakers, built into the base, offer quality sound, and if you feel like sharing the spotlight, SingStand comes equipped with dual microphone inputs for duet performances.
Product Features
- Sing along with music from iPod device or any MP3 device with headphone jack with 3.5mm line-in connection
- Auto Voice Control (AVC) is your built-in vocal guide
- Enhanced vocal effects with echo and balance control
- Powerful speakers built into base (Two 4W speakers)
- Connect keyboard to play with band
- Cable management clips
Connectivity
- Dual microphone inputs for singing duets (one dynamic microphone included)
- Keyboard input
Accessories
- Microphone / digital audio player holder (audio line in cable)
- Dynamic 10ft. corded microphone
- 3pc adjustable pole
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Anxiety Disorders...
- luxeHealth |
Anxiety Disorders...
In the United States alone, there are more than 40 million Americans who are suffering from some form of anxiety disorder. We all have anxiety-based feelings as a natural "fight or flight" response, but when these feelings pop up in a situation that wouldn't otherwise provoke them, they're confusing, frightening and are often linked to a mental illness. Anxiety disorders are also expensive for the American health care system, which is estimated to be spending over $40 billion dollars a year to treat anxiety-related illnesses. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America estimates that only about a third of people with an anxiety disorder ever seek out treatment.
Let's discuss some of the most common disorders and a few specific treatment options. No self-diagnosis, please; the best advice is to talk to your doctor.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)Generalized Anxiety Disorder often begins during stressful circumstances, affecting close to 7 million Americans. Unlike other anxiety disorders, GAD is defined by worrying that isn't specifically based on panic attack fears, phobias and embarrassment, which are common in other disorders. The worrying in GAD continues for months on end (usually for more than six months at a time) with job issues and academic performance being the most common catalysts. While we all worry, GAD worriers can't control it and have a great deal of difficulty stopping it, leading to increased sleeping difficulties and bad concentration with headaches and dizziness to go along with it. An example could be someone at a new job and the contributing factors of work stress, a new environment and new co-workers creating a constant sense of worry that doesn't seem to get better when they're off the job.
Fortunately, there are treatment options for people dealing with GAD, with some of the most common ones being SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) medications (better known as Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro). SSRIs are antidepressants that change brain chemistry by altering how the brain re-absorbs serotonin, a prime factor in moods and anxiety. The idea is that serotonin changes will make us feel less anxious.
A more natural alternative to SSRIs is Kava, a root that offers temporary relaxation without SSRI's potential withdrawal symptoms (sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, etc.). Medication still won't address the fundamental issues of the disorder, which can be addressed through cognitive therapy. The goal of therapy is to replace negative worries with positive thinking and make day-to-day living significantly better.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Howie Mandel suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which is commonly associated with intrusive thoughts, obsessions and compulsive activities. Currently, OCD remains under-diagnosed due to stigma and some people's unawareness that they even have it. Even though it reportedly affects about 2% of the U.S. population, the actual number is higher.
OCD cycles begin with irrational and disturbing thoughts that can be fears (like contamination or sexual insecurities) that go beyond the real of common anxiety. OCD sufferers know that their fears are irrational, but they still feel compelled to perform specific actions to try and diffuse these thoughts and ease their stress. An example would be someone who has a fear of germs and then goes to great lengths to avoid shaking hands, which is thought to be the case in Mandel's situation.
Like GAD, OCD is also treated frequently with medicine and therapy. We've talked about SSRI medications, but when they are used in OCD cases, they must be taken in higher doses. In addition, medication takes much longer to work (sometimes a few months) and it often doesn't provide total relief for OCD sufferers. On the natural front, a sugar called inositol, found commonly in bran cereals and nuts, is known to affect serotonin and reduce OCD symptoms. For patients choosing the therapy route, they are subjected to activities that will reduce obsessions and rituals, thus breaking the OCD cycle. With the aid of a therapist, they will do things like touch tissues that are "dirty" without washing their hands afterward. With the obsession/ritual cycle broken, the issues can slowly begin to resolve themselves and lessen the effects of the disorder.
More anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder...
Panic DisorderAbout 1.7% of Americans suffer from panic disorder, which begins with a panic attack and continues as a fear of future ones. Believed to be linked to high-stress situations and low body tolerance to anxiety triggers, panic attacks can feel like heart attacks, which reinforce the fear that something is gravely wrong each time they occur.
These defining characteristics make panic disorder a very physical experience. A panic attack for the first time is a scary experience. It might be stress-induced or even occur from exercise, but a jump in heartbeat, perspiration and dizziness are usually present. Even though a medical check-up might show no physical damage, the mental damage can be long-lasting and destructive. Panic attacks can vary in occurrence but the fear can remain, causing a negative impact on one's quality of life. For example, panic attack fears can stop people from working and keep them at home. They might think that they are reducing their chances of an attack but they are also avoiding exercise, dietary needs and often work.
Keeping panic disorder under control requires treatment through anti-anxiety medications or targeted therapy. The previously-mentioned SSRIs offer long-term aid against panic attacks, but many people opt for short-term anti-anxiety medications that lessen panic symptoms when taken right prior to a high-anxiety situation. However, therapy has shown to be the best method to combat panic disorder, especially when interoceptive exposure is used. The goal of this procedure is to induce panic symptoms to show sufferers that nothing bad will happen. A 1997 European study claims that interoceptive treatment carries up to a 94% success rate for treating panic disorder, making it a viable and encouraging option for those afflicted with it.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)PTSD differs from the other disorders because it is directly related to a specific traumatic incident. Survivors of PTSD can be found as far back as shell-shocked soldiers, but these days, they are primarily violent crime survivors. After the initial incident has occurred, people dealing with PTSD will commonly suffer from re-living, avoidance and an increased arousal. Re-living is the process of having nightmares or daytime visions of the event, often accompanied by panic-like symptoms that match the body's own responses during the event itself. Avoidance comes from avoiding triggers that remind them of events, whether it's certain people, sounds or objects, and they often distance themselves from friends. A deeper stage of avoidance comes from amnesia when victims will force themselves to forget memories that are too painful. Finally, an increased state of arousal keeps PTSD victims on edge by interrupting their sleep, inducing anger easily and causing poor concentration.
The important elements for treating PTSD are based on three types of therapy. The first is exposure therapy that gradually allows survivors to re-live the event in small stages while separating and reducing the physical symptoms that accompany the memories. Cognitive therapy is the second, which reduces the harmful thoughts and avoidance that is based on external triggers. Finally, stress inoculation training uses relaxation techniques to re-program the thought process to lower the stress level to help manage anxiety better. It's a long process, but considering what has already occurred, the healing process is important to ultimately resume a healthy lifestyle.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Imagine performing in a live show or giving an important speech. Chances are, you'll feel shy or uneasy before you start, but once you get through it, you're back to normal. For someone with social anxiety, the shyness and fear of a public situation can be so bothersome that they would often practice total avoidance rather than follow through with it. Avoiding a situation might not seem like a terrible idea if it's only one time, but if you are avoiding situations like dating, friends and work, then social anxiety is dominating your life. The root of social anxiety disorder is a fear of perception and the way that others see you. You could call it a fear of embarrassment. The most common triggers for social anxiety are performance settings like public speaking or social settings like restaurants and parties. Symptoms like faintness, sweating and nausea can start prior to the event with early anticipation and they continue to grow, sometimes resulting in panic attacks. These panic attacks can be found in panic disorder, but the difference is that social anxiety sufferers realize the symptoms aren't life-threatening. They're just extremely uncomfortable.
Treatment for social anxiety is available through SSRI and anti-anxiety medications, but therapy is thought to be more effective in addressing the primary issues. One of the keys to successful therapy is vivo exposure, which is based on long and repeated exposure to social situations that provoke anxiety. In vivo, someone with social anxiety repeats the experience until their symptoms gradually begin to subside. This can also be done as a simulated role-play. Another important treatment option is the practicing of basic social skills like speech and eye contact.
Social anxiety can worsen when a person has low self-esteem and insecurity with their social skills, so practicing them will aid both. Once someone regains their confidence in a social situation without the stressful symptoms to go with it, the social anxiety can start to fade.
living with anxietyWhether we are perfectly mentally healthy or not, anxiety will always be a part of our lives. It's part of our bodies, after all. What's important is being able to know when our anxiety level is too high and to differentiate between a temporary setback and a continual discomfort. With so many millions of people around the world dealing with anxiety issues, this is one time when the words "you are not alone" truly do have some meaning. For people who are anxious and suffering, there is help to be found.
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Picture that...
- luxeGifts |
Host Picture Frame...
Host Picture Tray $42.00
Design: Umbra Design Group
Wood and sealed glass serving tray. Holds four 4x6", four 4x4" and one 3x4"
photographs.
14 x 18 x 3"
www.Umbra.com
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Perfect Eyewear...
- luxeFashion |
Perfect Eyewear...
You may not have 20/20 vision, but that doesn’t mean that your fashion sense should suffer. Dress your eyes with the perfect frames for your particular face shape and personality. From thick plastic “geek chic” frames to thin metal “urban classic” frames, the 2008 eyeglasses at your disposal will have you seeing the world in style.
During Montreal Fashion Week, we spoke to Antoine Laoun eyeglass specialist Melanie Noel de Tilly about the current trends in 2008 eyeglasses. So, follow these tips on how to pick the perfect 2008 eyeglasses, and be proud to call yourself Four Eyes.
How do you choose the right frames?
When you visit a professional, they know exactly what you need. They look at how the frames fit on your nose, the size of the temples [parts of the frame that extend over the ears to hold the frame in place], even the shape of your face (if it’s square, oval or round). For example, when someone has a round-shaped face, they shouldn’t wear round glasses because it will enhance the roundness. Instead, go with more rectangular frames. And for rectangular faces, choose more oval frames. You have to balance everything out.
How can you tell if you’re getting a good eyeglass fit?
There are many factors to consider. For example, you have to make sure the eyeglasses aren’t touching the cheek. Plastic frames have to be well adjusted on the nose because they don’t have nose pads that we can move, and we have to check if they’re too tight or too loose, if they’re too low on the eyes, and also if they are long enough on the temple.
What are the major trends in 2008 eyeglasses?
For men, the major trends are very large temples and a lot of color. The colors are always more neutral for men than for women, so there are a lot of silvers and golds. There are also a lot of retro styles -- the thick plastic frames in black and brown. For more classic looks in 2008 eyeglasses, there are a lot of metallic colors and matte silvers… colors that are more discreet. What you wear, though, is all a question of taste.
How long do trends last in eyewear? Can you wear the same frame for the next few years?
Trends in eyewear move very, very slowly. People tend to keep a pair of glasses for two to three years -- sometimes even more -- so you’ll still be in style within that time.
What eyeglass styles that men wear today are out of date?
I still see a lot of very thin metal, oval glasses that are too big, but are still too small to be very retro. You have to do a bit more research about your frames to be unique.
What are some expensive frames that are worth the investment?
There are very luxurious names, like Cartier, Gold & Wood and Alain Mikli, that carry trendier frames. For more classic frames, go with TAG Heuer.
Are there any eyeglass labels we’ve never heard of, but that are still very stylish?
With eyeglasses, you don’t necessarily choose them because there is one brand that is better than the others. There are a lot of eyeglass labels that you’ve never heard of before, but they are specialized -- they don’t do clothes or anything else, they just do glasses. Like, Alain Mikli -- it’s not a name you hear very often, but his glasses are amazing quality and his collection is full of very original designs.
When I give my opinion on a frame [to a customer], I don’t look at the brand, but I look at the quality of the frame and how it fits their face.
How much should someone spend on a pair of quality frames?
It really depends. For frames -- without the lenses -- you can spend anywhere from $100 to $2,000 and up for a quality pair.
Should people have more than one frame?
It’s become very popular to have two or three frames because now glasses are more like accessories than ever before.
What are some tips for proper eyeglass maintenance?
Be careful how you manipulate them; you should always use both hands. To clean them, don’t use very strong products like Windex. Never wear them in very hot temperatures, like in a sauna, because the treatment on the lenses might peel off. And always put them back in their case.
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Fit Is GO With Little Gas!
- luxeCars |
Fit Is GO With Little Gas!
2009 Honda Fit
By Phil Hall
After only being on the market for 2 years, Honda is ready to introduce the second generation of its successful Fit Hatchback. You may be thinking that was quick but the Fit had long been available overseas. It was originally released in 2001 in its home market of Japan and was introduced to European markets soon after. As with most trendy cool things we had to wait awhile. Honda didn’t think US consumers would be interested in compacts or that it would “Fit” their US line-up. Well long story short Gas prices rocket and we got the Fit for the 2007 model year. Obviously being 5 or so years into its lifespan the Fit was getting kind of outdated to those familiar with it and in some cases outclassed by its newer competitors. That being said it still managed to sell well above Honda’s sales target ($4 a gallon = $$ for Honda), selling more it’s last year in production than it did it’s first full year on the market which is almost unheard of in the auto industry.
Well the time has come for the global compact to be redesigned and luckily the US isn’t being left out. New for the 2009 model year, the Fit features increased interior space and improved amenities to keep it competitive in the game. Styling is an evolution of the outgoing model with a lot of sharp angles that make it look pretty futuristic. In the Sport trim the Fit features a bodykit and 17 inch rims that make it look proper. Other note-worthy options include a navigation system and an upgraded audio system. Seeing as this market has grown like wild fire since the increase in gas prices expect to see more of these things on the road. At 35mpg on the highway I don’t see why not.
2009 Honda Fit
Price $14,550 base ($16,900 well equipped)
Bodystyle(s) 5dr Hatchback
Engine(s) 117hp 1.5L 4 cylinder
Fuel Mileage 28mpg city / 35mpg highway
Available NOW |
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