liposuction

"The battle of the bulge." That tiny, five-word phrase has been shoved in our faces for years, thanks to television, newspapers and magazines. But sometimes, no matter how hard you fight, the bulge has a tougher army. The fact is that certain people have fat cells that will not shrink, despite diet and exercise. You can thank heredity for that in some cases.

Liposuction is an option to remove small bulges that won't budge and to improve your body's shape. The areas most commonly treated include the hips, abdomen, thighs and buttocks and face. Liposuction does not remove cellulite, only fat.

Who Is a Good Candidate For Liposuction?

A good candidate for liposuction should have realistic expectations about the results of this procedure as well as these basic qualities:

• Average or slightly above-average weight
• Firm, elastic skin
• In good overall health
• Concentrated pockets of fat that do not respond well to diet and exercise.
• beverly hills liposuction

Patients with poor skin quality (cellulite) are not good candidates for liposuction because they may develop skin irregularities due to under- or over-correction of localized fat deposits. Age is generally not a major consideration when discussing liposuction; however, older patients often have less elasticity in their skin and thus may not achieve the same benefits of liposuction that a younger patient with tighter skin might achieve.

Facts about coffee

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds  commonly called "beans" of the coffee plant. Coffee was first consumed as early as the 9th century, when it appeared in the highlands of Ethiopia. From Ethiopia, it spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 15th century had reached Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe and the Americas. Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.
The two most commonly grown species of the coffee plant are Coffea canephora and C. arabica, which are cultivated in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Arabica coffee is by far the most popular variety because of it's smooth taste and aromatic qualities. Basically coffee berries are picked, processed (flesh removed from around the coffee beans), and then they're dried (more of that process below). The seeds are then roasted at temperatures around 200°C (392°F), during which the sugars in the bean caramelize, the bean changes color, and the true flavor of that delicious drink we call coffee develops. The beans are generally roasted to a light, medium, or a dark brown color, depending on the desired flavor. The roasted beans are ground and brewed in order to create that beverage we call coffee! That's the basic run down, now for the rest of the coffee story...

Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout history. In Africa and Yemen, it was used in religious ceremonies. In the 17th century, it was banned in Ottoman Turkey. In Europe, it was once associated with rebellious political activities. Today, trade in coffee has a large economic value. Coffee is one of the world's more important primary commodities; in 2003, coffee was the world's sixth-largest legal agricultural export in value. From 1998 to 2000, 6.7 million tons of coffee were produced annually, and it is predicted that by 2010 production will rise to 7 million tons annually. Among coffee drinkers the average coffee consumption in the United States is 3.1 cups of coffee per day.

How can I avoid stress?

The following is a list of suggestions that may be useful to try and combat stress, some more appropriate to some people than others.

Stress list
You can try making a 'stress list'. Try keeping a diary over a few weeks or so, and list the times, places, and people that aggravate your stress levels. A pattern may emerge. Is it always the traffic on the way to work that sets things off to a bad start for the day? Perhaps it's the supermarket check-out, next door's dog, a work colleague, or something similar that may occur regularly and cause you stress.

Once you have identified any typical or regular causes of stress, two things may then help.

• If you discuss this with a close friend or family member, it may help them and you to be aware of the reasons why you are feeling stressed. Simply talking it through may help.
• Secondly, these situations can be used as 'cues' to relax. You can use simple relaxation techniques (see below) when a stressful situation occurs or is anticipated. For example, try doing neck stretching exercises when you are in that traffic jam rather than getting tense and stressed.

Try simple relaxation techniques

• Deep breathing. This means taking a long, slow breath in, and very slowly breathe out. If you do this a few times, and concentrate fully on breathing, you may find it quite relaxing.
• Muscular tensing and stretching. Try twisting your neck around each way as far as it is comfortable, and then relax. Try fully tensing your shoulder and back muscles for several seconds, and then relax completely.

Try practising these simple techniques when you are relaxed, and then use them routinely when you come across any stressful situation.

Positive relaxation
Set specific times aside to positively relax. Don't just let relaxation happen, or not happen, at the mercy of work, family, etc. Plan it, and look forward to it. Different people prefer different things. A long bath, a quiet stroll, sitting and just listening to a piece of music, etc. These times are not wasteful, and you should not feel guilty about not 'getting on with things'. They can be times of reflection and putting life back in perspective.

Some people find it useful to set time aside for a relaxation programme such as meditation or muscular exercises. You can also buy relaxation tapes to help you learn to relax.

Time out
Try to allow several times a day to 'stop' and take some time out. For example, getting up 15-20 minutes earlier than you need to is a good start. You can use this time to think about and plan the coming day, and to prepare for the day's events unrushed.

Take a regular and proper lunch break, preferably away from work. Don't work over lunch. If work is busy, if possible try and take 5 or 10 minutes away every few hours to relax.

Once or twice a week, try to plan some time just to be alone and 'unobtainable'. For example, a gentle stroll or a sit in the park often helps to break out of life's hustle and bustle.

Exercise
Many people claim that regular exercise reduces their level of stress. (It also keeps you fit and helps to prevent heart disease.) Any exercise is good, but try to plan at least 30 minutes of exercise on at least 5 days a week. A brisk walk on most days is a good start if you are not used to exercise. In addition, if you have difficulty in sleeping this may improve if you exercise regularly.

Smoking and alcohol
Don't be fooled that smoking and drinking can help with stress. In the long run, they don't. Drinking alcohol to 'calm nerves' is often a slippery slope to heavier and problem drinking.

Hobbies
Many people find that a hobby which has no deadlines, no pressures, and which can be picked up or left easily takes the mind off stresses. For example: sports, knitting, music, model-making, puzzles, and reading for pleasure.

Treatment
Some people find they have times in their life when stress or anxiety becomes severe or difficult to cope with. See a doctor if stress or anxiety becomes worse. Further treatments such as anxiety management counselling, other therapies, or medication may be appropriate.