Chocolate, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Part II)

The first thing a person that needs to done when reading a study is to consider the source. Who conducted the study? If a motorcycle manufacturer conducted an exclusive study on quality of motorcycles would you not expect their respective brand to be at the top? Similarly, who conducted all of the studies on the benefits of chocolate? Taking a closer look, it can be discovered that once the studies funded by chocolate interest groups were discarded, the ones left offered conflicting results.

It must be mentioned though, that some isolated compounds in cocoa did show certain health benefits. If people were to consume pure cocoa, they might be able to enjoy some health benefits such as a positive effect on blood pressure and glucose metabolism. The issue is that the majority of people eat processed chocolate with all the other less desirable ingredients such as added sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, milk fats/dairy cream, etc.). In many cases the actual cocoa content may very well be less than 20%. With this being the case, the general conclusion that chocolate is healthy is much less persuasive.

In Part 3 of this series we will begin to look at the supposed benefits from a critical thought perspective.

Winter time is here. It's almost tax time which can be a big headache. If suffering from headaches is a part of your life, you may want to try the natural headache supplement called MigraDefense. It combines 5 of the most powerful natural headache remedies all in one punch. Take a look at it on the FeelingOutstanding web page.

Have a great 2009
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Chocolate and Cocoa -- A Heavenly Delight or Not?

Recently there has been a surge of claims by various companies regarding the health benefits of chocolate and cocoa. If this is true, I am very happy. Chocolate sure tastes good and I haven't had more than a very small sampling in probably 12 years.

This claim deserves attention. In order not to just gloss over the facts I am going to devote a few blogs to this subject. As usual, I will pull no punches. Stay tuned, it will be interesting.

I have had great results using MigraDefense for headaches. If you suffer from frequent headaches I strongly recommend trying MigraDefense.

Have a great week!
Tom Thorne
www.FeelingOutstanding.com

What a Difference a Pillow Makes!

There are some things that we all do almost every day. One of them is sleep. With the multitude of activities society demands on us today plus the fact that most of us have to work 8 or more hours we only have a limited amount of time for sleep. I think we all agree that we need to make the best of that time! In this article I want to discuss a technique used by many that has provided them with better quality sleep.

It seems that I have gone through a lot of pillows in my days. Often, after I have bought a new pillow and slept on it for a couple of months the characteristics of the pillow change drastically. In fact some pillows gets so bumpy that it feels like I'm sleeping on a pile or rocks. This has happened many times and I call such a pillow "the rocky mountains pillow." Other pillows are so big that you wake up with a sore neck. Chiropractors tout the cervical pillow very highly. I have had 3 cervical pillows over the years. The cervical pillow never was especially comfortable for me and I cannot say that it led to pleasant dreams.

This past summer my lovely wife Amy surprised me with a gift. Actually, she bought one for herself too. It was the Tony Little micropedic pillow. Having tried as many different pillows as I have, naturally I was very skeptical. As I took it out of the box I looked at it and told her that it looked very strange. Reluctantly, I laid my head down on it and my frown quickly morphed into a smile. The pillow was oh, so nice, it was just remarkable. I can honestly say that my wife and two daughters will admit that the Tony Little micropedic pillow is the most comfortable pillow we have ever slept on.

Construction
The Tony Little pillow has a quad chamber design that supports your back and spine in proper alignment while being soft enough to give great comfort. It is filled with air infused microbeads that make it always "self fluffing". Two spandex pillow cases came along with the pillows to help keep it cool and comfortable. You don't have to turn the pillow over to find the cool side.

In my next blog I will tell what I especially like about the pillow.

Have a great Christmas,
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Significant Improvement in Wellness Formula

My family has used the Source Naturals Wellness Formula product for years to help fight winter time diseases such as the cold and the flu. Durng this time of year I normally take 1 tablet per day. When I start to feel a cold or something wierd coming on I step it up right away. Often this stragegy has prevented illness from getting started.

The biggest complaints that people had about Wellness Formula was that the tablets were large, they did not go down your throat easily, and they had a bad odor to them. I am happy to say that now Wellness Formula comes in medium size gel capsules that go down much easier than the former large pills. The odor is gone also, they do not have a bad odor at all. Another step forward for what was already the leading winter time supplement.

Here's to a healthy winter!
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Two of my Favorite Bands

Every year the small town of Denver, NC has a community Festival they call 'Denver Days' in the fall. For entertainment this year the Marshall Tucker Band graced our presence. Coming to a small town like Denver where the band was probably lucky to break even financially was a real treat.

The entire band came, there were no studio musicians in their place. They were outstanding. They can jam right along with the Allman Brothers. Yes, Toy Caldwell is gone. But you know what? Chris Hicks is their new lead guitarist. Playing guitar right along side him is Clay Cook, both were great. Doug Gray, one of the finest country-rock vocalists ever to set foot on a stage has lost a bit but his presence alone made up for it. I counted 14 songs and the band played for a total of 2:20. Like I said, they were really jamming! It looked like they were having as much fun as we were. I stood right next to the stage for the entire concert.

As I was driving home from Thanksgiving dinner Thursday evening I was priviledged to hear another one of my old favorites on the radio, Billy Joel. This was a live recording from New York earlier in the year. I was absolutely thrilled when I heard one of my Top 10 of all time, played live once again, 'Piano Man'. To hear the audience singing every word of the song right along with with the piano man was quite touching. Billy, like Doug can't quite sing as he used to but I don't know if I have ever heard Piano Man played as well. The piano was mesmerizing. I sat in the 4th row in Chicago watching Bill Joel in 1977. That song brought back a lot of memories, good memories. Memories of a time when thing weren't so hectic.

It just goes to show what I have been saying. We can keep up our energy, stamina and mental alertness for a long time. The best way to do so is to keep up our exercise program, our good diet, get proper rest and our nutritional supplements.

For more information about herbal and homeopathic remedies visit http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/. Or if you want to trade concert or band stories with a long time rock-n-r0ll fan, I'm all for that too!

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Money, Confidence, Backing and Your Health

There was an article in the Charlotte Observer today explaining how many "do-it-yourselfers" are cutting back. Not doing as many home repair projects now or making their projects smaller than in the past. This only makes sense with the economic uncertainty that prevails today.

Let's think about the economy at a 50,000 foot level for a second. Consider these two words: confidence and backing. What backing does the U.S. dollar have today? Money used to be (many years ago) backed by gold. What backing does money have today besides the confidence of the American people. And what causes confidence? The President, the congress, the goverment, Iraq, Iran, Afghantistan, Russia? What cause loss of confidence? Certainly the media has a great deal to do with it. How much influence does the media have on our confidence, and therefore the economy?

These are all thoughts that I have pondered over the weekend and if you have any comments please share them. I would love to hear other considerations on this matter.

In my opinion a person's health has a great amount to do with his confidence. A year ago I was in such a quagmire with daily headaches that I was just about to give up. After trying some different herbal and homeopathic remedies I can honestly say that my life has taken on an entire new dimension. If your health is not as it should be check out the Feeling Outstanding webpage. There are many nutritional supplements that can do and do help.

Have a great week,
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

8 Benefts of Whey Protein (Part II)

Here is the second group of 4 of the Major Benefits to Whey Protein (and it doesn't taste bad either!)

4. Cancer - Cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy often have difficulty in meeting their daily nutritional requirements due to nausea and just not being hungry. Whey protein is an excellent protein choice for cancer patients as it is very easy to digest and gentle to the system. Numerous studies have shown that whey protein which is rich in the amino acid cysteine, provides an extra boost to the immune system.

5. Diabetes - Type 2 diabetes is a growing health problem, largely in part to the continued rise in obesity. This is a serious health issue right here in the United States. Healthy nutrition practices have been shown to play a role in helping to manage and possibly prevent diabetes. Whey protein, which is a high biological value (BP) protein is a good choice of protein for diabetics who need to carefully manage food intake.

6. Another of the benefits of whey protein for seniors is the ability to help prevent bone loss. A nutritious diet including whey protein may help keep bones and muscles healthy and young. A recent study conducted at Boston University showed that elderly individuals who consumed low levels of protein had a significant loss of bone density four tears after the start of the study.

7. Healthy Aging - As we age, muscle loss and its detrimental health implications are a growing concern. Good nutrition and adequate amounts of whey protein may help maintain strong muscles during aging.

8. Infant Nutrition - Whey protein contains many of the same components found in human breast milk. Infant formulas containing whey protein are the next best thing to breast-feeding.

The benefits of whey protein are many, and should not be overlooked. FeelingOutstanding.com offers a fine selection of whey protein products. I tend to prefer the chocolate flavor.

Have a great day, stay strong

Tom Thorne

www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Management and Your Health

Do you ever feel this way?

I would imagine that a large percentage of college students have aspirations of management sometime in the professional careers. These desires often become stronger as students graduate and enter the workforce. Management, a leader of people, being able to form and shape peoples lives, having a direct role in the success of a company; what more noble of a calling could there be? Is being a leader or manager in some fashion going to make everything better? Is management fun and thoroughly rewording? Is it "all that it's cracked up to be?"

Competition today places tremendous stress on corporations. The dazzling advances in technology and telecommunications make the development of new products and ideas better, faster and cheaper. Of course, the company with the new products or ideas first has the distinct advantage of gaining new customers and building a reputation as an innovator. Acquiring new customers before the competition does. Truly, these are huge advantages.

Considering the importance that is placed on new products and processes, getting there first is a critical item to companies. Consider if a bank is the first with a new and innovative offering. They have the chance of drawing customers away from other banks over to their side. Couple this with the emphasis placed on 'six sigma' and 'zero defects' and there is a tremendous amount of stress placed of management today. Management all the way down from the C.E.O. to the V.P. the team leader. Company managers are facing more stress and pressure from above then ever before. Pressure to perform fast with high quality and high productivity.

The amount of hours and weekends that many managers work today is just about criminal. When I take a look at some of the managers I see, there is no way I would want the stress and pressure they are faced with, often daily. Some have turned into such grouches that no one wants to talk to them, even on a social level. I am aware of several people who were formerly managers and are glad to be out of the spotlight.

If you deal very well with stress and working long hours, management might not be such a shock and a good fit. If you have a second life apart from your job, you may want to sit tight in your job for a while before you push for a management position. What is important to you? What are your priorities? If offered a management position, consider these questions before you jump into it.

With the stress that management and non-management face in Corporate America today it is essential that we take care of ourselves. For our sanity as well as our physical condition. Visit the Feeling Outstanding Nutritional Supplements page for an excellent selection of nutritional supplements and herbal remedies. An alternative approach for health.

Tom Thorne

http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

7 Vital Attributes to be Successful at the Job

Most teenagers in high school have aspirations of being successful at their occupation and making lots of money when they graduate from school. I would say that even more college students have similar goals to be successful and wealthy upon graduation. For the great majority of people, there are certain job attributes that need to be practiced to achieve such lofty goals.These principles have worked for me. I have watched these principles work for other successful people too. So, let's get started.

1. Effort and a strong work ethic. The first thing a person needs to do when starting a new job, regardless of your qualifications, is to show a strong work ethic. Show that you are willing to go the extra mile, put in the additional couple of hours and put forth extra effort. There's no better way to make a good first impression on management and co-workers.

This sounds so obvious, but it is amazing how many people don't do this and lose that chance for a first impression. A young man once worked for me that was very intelligent, organized, neat, and was a very gifted communicator. His work ethic was poor and that far overshadowed his good qualities. Needless to say, after he had a good chance to improve but chose not to, he didn't last long in my department.

My next blog will include part 2. After we examine all seven, we will then take a look at how these are related to our health and well being.

Have a great day everyone,
Tom Thorne
www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Positive Thinking and Feeling Great! (Part II)

I firmly believe that diet and exercise are unquestionable keys to good health. And, probably most of you do too. Intrinsically, deep down inside, we all know this. My point is this, when start eating a more healthy diet and implement a sensible exercise program we know that our health will improve.

We need to keep our thoughts at a higher plain when disappointments occur. If we don't lose those 10 pounds in a month (as the advertisement told us we would) or we don't get those super ripped abs in 90 days, we cannot get discouraged. We know what we are doing is right. We have to keep it up. Like it or not, weight is not as evanescent as the advertisements tell us. If we get a cold or the flu, we cannot get discouraged. The right habits that we are now practicing did not cause it.

I absolutely abhor the avalanche of advertisements that this country faces that are outright false. The mendacity of some companies is appalling. There are so many ads that make losing weight, gaining huge muscle mass, developing ripped abs and getting in Superman like condition seem so easy just by taking their magic potion or doing their "quick" exercise routines.

Conclusion:
Living life feeling outstanding comes from practicing good habits daily. To be successful in this quest it is imperative that we make positive thinking one of those habits. Doing the right thing leads to victory. Healthy people don't get there by magic. Positive thinking makes doing the right thing a whole lot easier.

Here's to good health.
Tom Thorne
www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Should I Join a Fitness Center or Not? Part II

On the other hand, I have been an exercise enthusiast all of my adult life. I was a member of a quality gym recently for about a year. It was a first class facility and the owners were very accomplished weight lifters and weight trainers. Honestly, I never was that thrilled with the experience. It was nice to hob-nob with people seeking the same general goal as yourself but the extra time involved, the inconvenience and the expense soon became a drag. It was never really worth it's value for me.

This can happen to people who become members of a fitness center. And when it does, some get discouraged and quit exercising completely. Does it mean everything is over with, fitness is out the window and gone for good for a person who doesn't maintain their membership? I say definitely not. There are several excellent home gym products available at reasonable prices. And with some creativity a very good exercise routine can be developed around the house with just a small amount of gadgets and minimal expense.

How many of you remember Jimmy Piersoll, the legendary center fielder who played baseball for the Boston Red Sox in the 1950s and 1960s? The person who many consider one of the best defensive outfielders ever to play the game. I remember Jimmy saying many times that the best overall exercise is running. In my opinion, running is much more enjoyable when you are outside than when you are inside a small track doing 9 laps per mile. But, if you have seen the shape Jimmy was in long after his retirement you would know that he was on to something.

Conclusion Fitness centers are great for some people. They help provide the added motivation needed to keep up an exercise program. For others, membership in a fitness center just does not make sense and it is not necessary. Some people have the power within to keep up the workout routine on their own. Some people work out with family members at their own houses. In the near 30 years that I have exercised very consistently, I have been a member of a gym for one of those years. Membership has not been necessary for me. Regardless, we want to do our best to help us stay in shape and live life Feeling Outstanding. If membership to a gym is what you need, go for it, and enjoy yourself!

Visit the Feeling Outstanding Chuck Norris Total Gym page page for a preview into one of the top home fitness products available. The Total Gym is a complete workout in one machine. It comes with complete instructions for set up (which takes about ten minutes) and beautiful cards demonstrating each of the over 80 different exercises. It brings the fun back into exercise.

Here to good health!

Tom Thorne

www.FeelingOutstanding.com

What Does Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Have to do With Our Health? Part II

Isn't it great to feel young?

Let's examine Maslow's hierarchy of needs with regard to our health. The physiological needs are taken care of for the great majority of people in the United States. Layer 1 (from a health standpoint) is not a motivator for most.

One of my goals is to live life feeling outstanding, and I'm sure many of you feel the same. This is a level five need. This is self-actualization, being all we can be.

When we feed the need to be in excellent health, this higher level need will become stronger. It will involve a desire to fulfill our potential, to live life feeling outstanding, which is a part of self-actualization. When we start eating right (or improve our eating habits) and get on an exercise program, these good habits become easier and we want to do more.

Maslow also went on to study people who were considered to be self-actualized by society and himself. He developed a list of qualities that these people displayed that were different from the general population. There is a characteristic that these self-actualized people demonstrated that is especially significant with regard to health. These people resisted enculturation. They were not susceptible to social pressure to be well-adjusted or to fit in with the crowd. In order to really live life feeling outstanding we have to resist enculturation.

The social pressures on a person to fit-in with the crowd are huge. It is extremely easy to compromise what we know is right during social occasions, at a sporting event with friends or just eating lunch at work. Or to offer we allow our kids to eat far too much junk food to obtain their temporary adoration. Let's be people who seek the higher level need to live life feeling outstanding. Let's be autonomous people who resist enculturation. Let's practice the good health habits that will benefit us both now and in the future.

Visit the Feeling Outstanding Natural Supplements page for an excellent selection of nutritional supplements and herbal remedies. An alternative approach toward living life feeling outstanding!

Tom Thorne
www.FeelingOutstanding.com

What Does Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Have to do With Our Health? Part I

L.J.: looks like he's "being all that he can be."

One of the most well known psychological theories in the United States is what has been coined as Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This theory basically states that some needs take precedence over others. For example, if you are hungry or thirsty you will take care of the thirst first. When a layer becomes satisfied, the next layer up becomes a motivator, but not until the previous layer is fulfilled to a reasonable extent.

Five broad layers of needs were defined:

1. Physiological needs which include the basic needs for survival. This need includes items such as water, food, salt and other vitamins and minerals necessary to stay alive. Interestingly Maslow includes sex as a layer 1 need.
2. Safety and security.

3. Love and belonging.
4. The esteem needs.

5. Self Actualization.

The assumption being that once any of the first 4 level needs are met, they are no longer a motivator, or need. The next higher level need takes over. This fifth layer, unlike the first four level needs, does not involve this kind of a balance (homeostasis). This layer of needs becomes stronger the more it is fed. There is a continuous desire to fulfill potentials, to self-actualize, to be all that we are capable of being.

In my next blog we will start to see what this has to do with health and feeling great.

Here's to Feeling Outstanding!

Tom Thorne

http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Feeling Great--It Take Willpower, Determination and a Hard Head (Part IV)

The pressures on our time today are enormous. It definitely takes a lot of will power and determination to eat well and keep up a regular a workout program. It also takes a hard head, or some people call it, a cold heart.

Consider these two situations. My friend Ron knows he shouldn't drink alcohol. He suffers from headaches almost every time he does. And Amy knows that sugar is one of a couple very real causes of headaches in her life and that she needs to avoid it like the plague.

Ron and his buddies were taken to an Atlanta Falcons vs. Oakland Raiders game by a vendor. Ron, who has lived in several different parts of the country was now living just outside of Atlanta. He was a die hard Raiders fan since he was a small child. The Raiders had a pretty good team that yea. He really wanted to rub it in to his native Atlanta friends after the Raiders beat the Falcons, as he was sure they would. Ron was feeling outstanding right now.

The setting was fantastic. They were in the company climate-controlled sky box sitting back relaxing on nice chairs looking down on fans in the bleachers shivering. As the game proceeded, they watched a middle aged gentleman reach over the top of other fans to get his drink while they sat back comfortably and feasted on a nice catered meal. Tender sliced beef, chicken cordon bleu and pasta salad, the whole 9 yards, And yes, of course, the liquor was flowing. Ron was well aware of liquor being one of the leading causes of headaches for him, but the temptation was awful. Amy, on the other hand, was invited to a party for an old classmate. Her friends house was decorate to the max. All kinds of party favors in honor of the great achievement of turning 40. Of course, there was a birthday cake that looked out of this world, along with soda and wine coolers galore. Everyone was mercilessly indulging themselves.

What are Ron and Amy going to do? Is Ron going to cave in to the peer-pressure and drink that beer or two? Is he going to rationalize away the danger and say 'sometimes I can get by with one?' Is Amy going to justify a piece of cake and a cooler by saying 'just this once?' They are both very well aware of the consequences, but food and drink make a devastating temptation. It takes a hard head to do what's right. It takes a tough minded person to turn down that momentary pleasure for the overall good.

Enjoy yourself and have fun!

Tom Thorne
www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Feeling Great--It Take Willpower, Determination and a Hard Head (Part II)

It seems that everything is working against the rules of good health in today's society. For example:

Here on the east coast, the good TV shows come on at 10 p.m. The network channel news broadcasts don't start until 11:00 p.m.

• The 40 hour work week we grew up with is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Many salaried employees find themselves toiling away at an 45-55 hours per week, aned some even much more. And this is what is expected. Do you ever get a headache?


• It also seems like the drive to and from work keeps getting longer. If we work 50 hours per week and spend 2 hours per day driving to and from work, that's a total of 60 hours. A lot of time. What happened to that utopian society that was predicted 30 years ago? And many of us have to put in time on weekends as well. The telecommuter, who has the luxury of working form home is some times no better off. When I telecommute I often start an hour early and work late. If I have my PC at home over the weekend it's almost guaranteed that I'll log in for some work time.


• When I was a kid, it seems that I rarely had a lot of homework. I did most of the work during class. Through their school years, my kids (the last of which will graduate this year) were often bringing home 2-3 hours of homework per night. And guess what that means, my wife and I, as woefully prepared as we were at times, got to help them!


• The extracurricular activities that kids are involved in today are outstanding, but they are also very time consuming. Gone are the days when our kids could play an unsupervised game of baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer or football in the yard or neighborhood park with some friends. Now everything has got to be a big coordinated effort with uniforms and umpires and crazy parents sitting in the stands barking about every call the referee or umpire makes.

What I'm trying to say is that the pressures on our time are enormous. Sometimes we wonder who has time to exercise? It definitely takes willpower and determination to eat well and keep up a regular workout program. In my next blog, I would like to make a few simple suggestions that may make a seemingly impossible task at least a little easier.

At Feelingoutstanding.com we are all about trying to help with our everyday lives. We are not going to offer a miracle drug that will cure all your ills at the drop of a hat. What we are going to suggest are proven, natural remedies that do help over time.

Here's to your helath, here's to Feeling Outstanding!
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Feeling Great--It Take Willpower, Determination and a Hard Head (Part II)

Are you feeling outstanding today? How easy it is to wake up in the morning, get ready for work, pour a cup of coffee, grab a cinnamon roll, hop in the car and head off to work. Ah, that great and mesmerizing smell of that coffee. How scrumptious that cinnamon roll tastes. As we get to work, we lavish in a second or third cup, or maybe a soda. Now, we are ready to take on the world. Consider what we have just done. Was that really a nutritious breakfast?

What about lunch? A fast food burger or even a fast food salad laced with preservatives? Please don't misunderstand, I know there is a time and a place for fast food. I know that sometimes we find ourselves in precarious situations where fast or "junk" food is the only option. How often does that happen though?

Will Power and Determination
We are all aware of the basic rules of health; things like diet, exercise and sleep. We have heard these pronouncements again and again. But how many of us really put these good practices into action? It takes a lot of willpower and determination to stick to a balanced and healthy diet or a good exercise program. Or, to make sure that we get enough sleep. It seems that everything is working against the rules of good health in today's society. In my next blog we will take a look at a fews of the plethora of factors that seem to be working against us.

Keep on thinking the higher thoughts, don't be discouraged!
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Health and Wellness--A New Approach, or an Old Approach? (Part II)

I'm so glad that my days of feeling like this are not even close to as often as they were for 40 years of my life, it feels outstanding.

Sorry to everyone that my blogs got kind of out of order but here the part II to this subject. The 'arcacum' secrets that my buddy gave me to good health. If they sound trite, consider how many really practice them.

1. A regular exercise program. He does a good, solid workout in an eight day cycle. Day 1 is designed for the upper body, day 2 is for the abs, day 3 is geared toward the lower body. Day 4 is a rest day. Then days 5-7 are somewhat different routines but once again for the upper body, abs and lower body. Day 8 is another rest day. He doesn't go overboard. He doesn't work out for hours at a time. His routine generally lasts between 30-45 minutes. But the key is consistency. Of course, he is not perfect at maintaining the 8 day schedule, but he does keep it up very well.

2. Diet. Our 49 year old friend watches what he eats and drinks. Once again, he is not on a crazy diet where he partakes of copious vitamins and minerals daily. What he does do is eat in moderation with a good balance. He takes a small amount of supplements daily, and he sticks to it. To him, the biggest factor is that he does not eat foods that he knows or strongly suspects do not agree with him, no matter how delectable or socially acceptable they may be. That can mean turning down food or drink at times when it is against his will. Mr. 49er considers his health more important than the temporary pleasure obtained from items that he knows will come back to haunt him later.

3. Time with his creator. One more thing that he specifically mentioned was that he tries to spend private time with his Lord and creator every day.

We have all seen many people who get hooked on wild and crazy Superman diets that promise the world, or fad exercise programs that guarantee to make a Hercules out of us in an "incredibly short time." These things do not work, I have never seen one that does. Maybe Mr. 49ers balanced approach is something we should all consider. It works for him.

Have a great day, enjoy yourself, and do your best.

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Theory X, Theory Y and Feeling Oustanding (Part II)

This manager looks like she is more comfortable with her staff!

A theory X manager really does not view his employees with much respect Let's take a look at how Douglas McGregor explains a Theory Y managers attitude toward his staff is.

• Most people consider effort in work as natural.
• People will apply self-control and self-direction in the pursuit of organizational objectives, without external control or the threat of punishment.
• Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement.
• People usually accept and often seek responsibility.
• The capacity to use a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity in solving organizational problems is widely, not narrowly, distributed in the population.

What McGregor then went to theorize is the self-fulfilling prophecy notion. What managers treat their employees as is what they tend to get. If a manager (Theory X) views and treats employees as though they dislike work and need to be forced to produce, he will have a disgruntled crew who takes breaks every chance they can.

On the other hand, if a manager (Theory Y) views and treats his/her workforce as imaginative, creative, willing and able to solve problems and work toward the common goals he/she will have a creative team that is able to come up with new solutions and ways to do things better, faster and cheaper. What McGregor in a nutshell is saying is that a Theory Y manager will more often than not have a more productive team than a Theory X manager.

This is a worthwhile thought to ponder on. Is McGregor on to something? In my next blog we will start to turn this inward toward our own health.

Have a great day, and do your best!

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingooutstanding.com/

Theory X, Theory Y and Feeling Oustanding (Part I)

The worried manager. I wonder how he feels about his staff?

Arguably, the most influential book on management theory was the classic writing 'The Human Side of Enterprise' by America social psychologist Douglas McGregor. In this classic book he introduced his radical Theory X and Theory Y philosophy. This concept has been taught to one degree or another in colleges and universities throughout the United States since. And to some extent it still receives attention today.

McGregor's thought was that management viewed employees as either a Theory X type or a Theory Y type of individual. Hence the terms, Theory X and Theory Y managers. In Summary a Theory X manager views employees as follows:

• The average person dislikes work and will avoid it if he/she can.
  
• Therefore most people must be forced to work toward organizational objectives with the threat of punishment.
  
• The average person prefers to be directed and to avoid responsibility. He/she is relatively un-ambitious and wants security above all else.

In my next blog we will take a look at the opposite side of the spectrum. What McGregor calls a Theory Y manager. Then we will make a comparison in real life and see how on earth this relates to our health.

Have a blessed evening, a good night's sleep and a great day tomorrow. Let's keep our thoughts on the higher plane and reap the benefits that are ours if we do so.

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Health and Wellness--A New, or an Old Approach?

I once knew a man who had been through a lot in his life. Several broken bones, a couple of concussions, a lot of stress, damaged brain cells, etc. But this fellow was quite unique. Shortly after he celebrated his 49th birthday he challenged a much younger friend to a push-ups contest.

This man, who we will call Mr. "49er", despite all of the 'stuff' he had been through in life still looked like he was in pretty good shape. He was definitely not a muscle bound "Hulkster" or anything like that, but he was not overweight and just looked generally healthy. As the contest unfolded, Mr. 49er won hands down. He did 70 good, nose-to-the-ground push-ups, and he probably could have done a few more had he been pushed! His endurance was outstanding. I was quite impressed.

I asked this chap what his secret was. He replied that there was no secret. When he explained it to me, he was right. Everybody has been taught these principles since they were young children. The problem is that few practice them. Here are the keys he gave me to health and wellness. In my next blog I will share those 'arcanum secrets' with you.

I went down to my kitchen yesterday and noticed a bottle of Peter Gilham's Natural Calm Magnesium Supplement in my kitchen that I had purchased at a local health food store a while ago. I also noticed that the price tag was $21.95, and I know I wasn't offered a discount. This exact same product in the same quantity is offered by Feeling Outstanding for $15.95. The prices on the Feeling Outstanding web page are very good!

Here's to your health, here to saving money also!

Tom Thorne

http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Standards for Our Health (Part II)

Now that really looks like fun! Do we set standards for our health habits? I think we should consider doing so. Here are two simple suggestions.

• Get started or continue with a good exercise program. It doesn't have to be a great elaborate workout with many dollars invested in expensive equipment and high dollar apparel. Many of the common, everyday exercises are a great part of a workout. For those who have a hard time staying on an exercise routine adding variety in your workouts is a trick that I have used many times over the years. For example, I might focus on running for a couple months, then move on to swimming, bicycling, sets of different calisthenics, use a rebounder or a trampoline just to name a few. A good standard to set is to exercise 3-4 times per week, 30-45 minutes per session.
  
• Here is one more health standard I would like to note that can help almost all of us. If we know a food or drink is going to upset us, make us sick, give us a headache or cause some other problem, stay away from it.
  
  There are many more health standards that you can think of. Let's get moving. Not next week, not tomorrow, but today. I can nearly guarantee you, once you get started on the path of improved health and well being, living life and feeling outstanding, you will want to do more. It'll become like a higher level need that you want to keep feeding. You, your family and your acquaintances will all reap the benefits.

Visit the Feeling Outstanding Natural Supplements page for an excellent selection of nutritional supplements and herbal remedies. A great start moving in the path of setting standards for our health.

Here's to Feeling Outstanding!
Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Setting Standards For Our Health (Part I)

The pleasure of eating with a friend. There's not many things better!

What kind of standards do we set for what is certainly one of our most precious assets, our health? Heave we ever though about health standards? Are we complacent about our health? Do we even have standards?

Our health and well-being is an area where many of us have to do some real soul searching. After all, the old adage "you are what you eat" is hard to deny. What kind of health standards do we set for ourselves? Seriously, do we exercise like we know we should? Do we eat and drink (or refrain from eating and drinking) as we know deep down inside we should? Do we get enough sleep?

I am of the opinion that nearly all of us have been taught the basics of good health and well-being since our elementary school days. We really claim ignorance, can we? But honestly, when we take a good, hard look, how many of do what we know should? Sometimes I wonder. What kind of health standards can we set? What is realistic? Just a couple of basic goals or standards, can go a long way. In tomorrow's blog I would like to make a couple of suggestions to help us in our quest to Feel Outstanding.


Here's to Feeling Outstanding!
Tom Thorne
www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Pine Bark

In my last two blogs I talked about Feverfew and Butterbur, two herbal remedies that have shown very good results for Headaches. Let's take a look at a third.

Dr. Sirichai Chayasirisobhon of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center set out to address the question of whether free radical damage can contribute to migraine headaches. ("Use of a Pine Bark Extract and Antioxidant Vitamin Combination Product as Therapy for Medication", Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, Vol 46, No. 5, May 2006) He chose a dozen patients who had a long-term history of migraines with little to no success with various drugs (antidepressants, beta-blockers and anticonvulsants).

At the start of the study, subjects completed a questionnaire which was called the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS). The MIDAS was designed to assess the impact of migraine flare-ups on activities at home, work and while interacting with friends and family. This is a great way to start an unbiased test, so that the results before the test are well documented and there can be no dispute.

For the three month study period, each subject was given daily supplements that contained 600 mg of vitamin C, 300 IU of vitamin E and 1,200 mg of a pine bark extract. Subjects were allowed to continue using the medications they were currently taking. Upon the end of the trial period the subjects completed a seconds MIDAS questionnaire. Their responses indicated a significant improvement.

The overall MIDAS scored improvement was more than 50%.

The average number of migraine days was reduced from 44 days in the three months prior to the trial, to 26 days during the trial.

The average migraine severity score (which some will argue is the most important factor) was reduced from 7.5 (out of 10) to 5.5

One subject dropped out of the trial. Of the remaining 11, two reported no change in frequency, duration or severity. Among the other nine, the overall MIDAS score improvement was almost 68%.

These three herbal remedies for migraines have all shown very good results when tested as alternative treatments for migraine headaches. If you suffer from headaches, these three appear to be well worth a try. It is possible that people in this country need to take a new approach toward migraine headache relief. Herbal remedies may be the answer.

Visit the Herbal Remedies for Migraine Headaches web page for more information on herbal remedies for migraine headaches and great product offers. There are ways to help defeat the battle with migraines or headaches in general that many of us are facing.

Here's to good health!

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Migraine Headaches and Herbal Supplements - Butterbur

Butterbur

Traditionally butterbur has been used to treat spasms in the respiratory and digestive tract. In addition, Butterbur is said to inhibit the production of histamine, which helps to keep air passages open. This may help to relieve allergic congestion and seasonal allergies.

Butterbur is very popular in Europe and becoming increasingly popular in America as a sound way to minimize neurological discomfort. The exact cause of this is still unclear but neurologically severe headaches may be caused by a number of biological factors. Some researchers believe that they stem from an imbalance in the central nervous system that encourages the release of blood-dilating peptides. This could result in inflammation of the brain's thin outer layer, the cerebral cortex. As pressure builds, blood flow becomes more restricted, potentially enhancing migraine headache symptoms. (Carle, R., Plant-based antiphlogistics and spasmolytics' (translated from German). Z Phytother. 1988; 9: 67-76).

Other physicians think that many commonly consumed food items trigger migraines or that they could be hereditary. A 12 week clinical study showed that the active compounds in butterbur can prevent peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis, which is an inflammatory process that has been linked to the onset of mgraines. (Bickel D, Roder T, Bestmann, J. Identification and characterization of inhibitors of peptide-leukotriene-synthesis from Petasites hybridus. Plant Medica. 1994; 60:31-322).

Also of note is the writing 'Petasites Hybridus Root (Butterbur) is an effective prevention for migraine" by Lipton, Einhaupl and Gobel (Neurology, 2004; 2240-4).

One thing to note about butterbur is that the plant contains liver toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). So it is important to choose a formula that is PA free.

Butterbur is another herb that is worth a try if you are experiencing headaches. I know the pain and misery that headaches bring on. If you are expereincing headaches, migraines in particular, butterbur could very well be worth a try.

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Migraine Headaches and Herbal Supplements - Feverfew

The feverfew plant.

Feverfew comes from the same tribe of plants (asteraceae) as the daisy. Since the 1st century A.D., it has been used for the treatment of headache, stomachaches and fever. Feverfew has anti-inflammatory, stimulant, relaxant, decongestant and anti-coagulant properties.

Feverfew is mainly used for the treatment and prevention of frequent and serious migraine headaches. From the Natural Health (2007-03-01) we are told that "in a recent, well-designed clinical trial, 170 German patients took a placebo pill or an extract of feverfew for 16 weeks. Those taking Feverfew had significantly fewer migraines."

Feverfew should be taken daily as a preventative, rather than a treatment for migraines. Herbal experts recommend tapering off the dose if you are going to quit taking the herb.

In my opinion, treating the source is a far superior method when compared to treating the cause. I worked with treating the cause for 40 years and things just got worse. I am on the road to recovery now and I love living life Feeling Outstanding!

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

We Love Our Junk Food

The list of the 10 U.S. cities where people spend the most amount of their yearly grocery bill on unhealthy food was released recently. Being from North Carolina I cannot say that I am especially proud that Charlotte was #5. The metro Charlotte region spends 10.9 percent of their annual food dollars in the unhealthy category. This would include items such as cake and brownie mixes, cookies, candies, frozen pizza, full-fat mayonnaise, chips and salty snacks, soft drinks, ice cream, bacon and sausage.

The #1 metro area was Minneapolis-St Paul, where people spend 11.5 percent. The top 10 look like this:
1. Minneapolis-St Paul
2. Richmond, VA
3. Indianapolis
4. Chicago
5. Charlotte
6. Louisville
7. New Orleans
8. Nashville
9. Memphis
10. Milwaukee (good thing they didn't include beer on the list)

This study was for the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

So which cites spent the least on unhealthy foods? The bottom five areas are Providence, R.I., Boston, MA, Portland, OR, Hartford, CT and Austin/San Antonio.

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Today's Gas Prices - Is Their a Silver Lining?

I know that most of us are in the blues regarding the price of gas. I sure am. Even though the national average price has dropped to $3.67 per gallon it still hurts to fill up the car. This blog is about living life and feeling outstanding so see if their is any silver lining to this from the business standpoint.

As oil prices neared $150 a barrell costs seemed to increase for everything from jet fuel to plastic jars. The big question was how many companies would just fold up under this increased pressure?

The surprising answer is not many. The business men and women of this country continue to display amazing resilience. The concept of Theory Y employees that was proposed by Douglas McGregor back in 1960 has seemed to blossom as new ideas and ways to cut costs have been coming from all corners. And there have been a lot more cost cutting measures than just laying people off.

Granted, unemployment, which has jumped to a high in recent years of 5.6% is an issue, especially for those who are unemployed. But we also have to realize that throughout the mid 1990s up until very recently this country has been going through a period of great economic success. When I was in undergradute school at Indiana University in the late 1970s, 5% unemployment was considered to be 'normal.'

Productivity jumped by 4.3 percent in the April-June quarter. That's big news! My point is that with the many ingenious ideas that companies have developed to save money so the could stay in business and the productivity increases that have occured, when things turn for the better, companies should be in better shape.

In hard times as well as good times let's not forget about our health. Let's not forget to take care of ourselves, to eat right, exercise and take the nutritional supplements we need.

Here's to living life Feeling Outstanding.

Tom Thorne

www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Health, Sickness and Headaches - We Can Win!

Kessler Peak, Mount Olympus Wilderness. We Can Win!

We will never go beyond the barriers in our own mind. If we think we cannot do something, we never will. If we think we will always be sick, clumsy, overweight or have headaches, we always will. To a great extent the battle is in our mind. If we are defeated in our mind, the battle is already lost. If we do not think our aspirations for good health will ever come to pass, they never will.

If we don't think we have what it takes to rise up and set a new standard, it's not going to happen. How many of us have a standard for our health? We need to set a new standard for what certainly is one of our most precious assets, our health. A standard not only to get better, but to stay better. The importance of good heath is paramount. Think of people you know of who are constantly afflicted with a heath issue and how much of life they miss out on. Some people cannot play any sports, swim or enjoy themselves in the sun because of health issues. Let's set a standard for our health, for better health, so that we can enjoy life and help others to do the same.

Sometimes we see people fighting a sickness the same way, doing the same old things that have not worked before. Continually heading down a slippery slope and not improving, continuing down the same treatment path that is going nowhere. We may need to jolt ourselves out of our complacency and try something different.

Maybe, just maybe it's time to try an alternative approach for health. An alternative approach to fight those migraine headaches. Or maybe it's time to get involved in a regular exercise program to lose weight instead of all of those crazy, heavily inflated items that are advertised everywhere we turn. How about trying some green tea for cholesterol or Vitamin B complex if you're stressed out?

Let's overcome our mental obstacles. Let's set a standard. Maybe it is time try something different, an alternative approach for health.

Visit the Feeling Outstanding Natural Supplements page for an excellent selection of nutritional supplements and herbal remedies. An alternative approach for health.

In the midst sedrious economic problems let's try to keep a positive attitude. Our health is our greatest blessing.

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Migraine Headaches and Herbal Supplements

When a person develops a migraine headache, the primary and immediate concern is relief from the incredible pain. All too often individuals in this situation grab a bottle and down one, two or three of the common over-the-counter headache medications to fix the issue. The problem is, that does not fix the issue.

People who take 2-3 or more of these medications per week are at strong risk to become caught in a desperate rebound headache cycle, where they have near daily headaches of one degree or another. There has got to be a better way to fight this modern day scourge on mankind. A person in such a situation has lost control of his or her life. They are slave to an evil taskmaster that will not allow them to do many of the things that they would like and not to enjoy so much of what life has to offer.

Through testing, three of the most effective herbal remedies for migraines are feverfew, butterbur and pine bark. Let's take a look at all three of these promising alternative treatments for migraine. In tomorrow's blog we will start to look at each of these three herbal remedies.

I hope all is well. I received a great comment on CoQ10 and a more common dosage (200-300 mg per day and 90 days to assess benefits), thanks to Mary Kay! If any one has information to share, please do so. We are all in a learning process!

Tom Thorne

http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Migraine Headaches - Magnesium as a Headache Treatment

In this third article featuring some of the most promisign and effective nutritional supplements for headaches, magnesium is being featured. There is help for those of you with headaches, and it does not have to be only temporary.

Magnesium Magnesium is a mineral that is used for many purposes. The hsbaltimore, Health Series Institue e-Alert (September 14, 2004) website informs us a good intake of magnesium may promote bone flexibility, help prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Recent studies show that magnesium is also essential for keeping your teeth healthy.

There have also been studies on a relationship between magnesium and headaches. A study by A. Trauninger (Oral magnesium load test in patients with migraine, Headache, 2002, 42(2): 0, 114-9) showed magnesium deficiencies to be common in those who suffer from migraines. Another study by A. Bianchi (Vitamin Horm, 2004, 69: p. 297-312) has found sufficient, though not definitive, evidence of magnesium's ability to help treat migraines. Current recommendations are to take 500-1000 mg of magnesium per day.

The Bottom Line The three natural remedies for migraine headache discussed here all have shown promising results as affective natural headache remedies. When looking at alternative treatments for migraines, these three appear to be at the top of charts. But the two biggest advantages alternative treatments have over prescription medications is their lack of side effects, and the fact that you are not going to go broke trying these supplements for migraines. These points plus the positive test results shown should be reason to include nutritional supplementation to help treat migraines.

For more information on natural supplements, alternative treatments for migraines and a great selection of vitamin products visit the - Riboflavin, Coenzyme Q10 and Magnesium - Three Powerful Alternative Treatments for Migraines.




Here's to Good Health!
Tom Thorne
http://www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Migraine Headaches - Coenzyme Q10 as a Treament Method

Headaches can be miserable, but there are alternative treatments for migraine headaches that work. In this second of our series on nutritional supplements for migraines we will take a look at Coenzyme Q10.

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10)

First identified in 1957, Coenzyme Q 10 is also known as "Ubiquinone" because it is found everywhere in the body. The highest amounts are in the heart, liver and pancreas. The lowest amounts are in the lungs.

The first applications for CoQ10 were in 1961, when it was found that cancer patients were deficient in the enzyme. Research has shown CoQ10 to be a very versatile supplement for a number of other conditions such as heart disease and migraines. Recent studies have also shown that CoQ10 may help in the treatment of Alzheimer Disease (X.L. Wang, Co-supplementation with vitamine E and coenzyme Q10 reduces circulating markers of inflammation in baboons, Am J Clin Nutrition, 2004. 80(3): p. 649-55). Reports on CoQ10 and migraines have been very positive. From an article in the April, 2002 issue of the journal of the International Headache Society, Cephalalgia, encouraging results have been reported from an open label trial of CoQ10 as a Migraine preventative.

The article "Open label trial coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive" by Rozen, Oshinsky, Gebeline, Bradley, Young, Shechter and Silberstib from Cephalalgia 22 (2) p. 137-141 we are told "At present there are very few efficacious migraine preventatives and fewer without significant side-effects... Migraine can be a disabling disorder and migraine preventives have been shown to not only reduce headache frequency, intensity and duration but also to improve quality of life.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring substance and essential element of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It has been the most extensively studied agent for the treatment of mitochondrial disorders and has been shown to have almost no identifiable side-effects in humans. There has been a recent interest in the role that mitochondria may play in migraine pathogenesis...The objective of this investigation is to assess the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 as a preventative treatment for migraine." The dosage used in the study was 150 mg of CoQ10 daily.

Key points from the trial included:
61.3% of the patients in the trial achieved at least 1 50% reduction in frequency of Migraine attacks by the end of the four-month trial.

It took time to achieve optimum results. Data from the study suggests that it takes 4-12 weeks to achieve more than 50% reduction. Coenzyme Q10 is effective for both migraine with aura (classic migraine) as well as migraine without aura (common migraine).

For more information about nutritional supplements for migraines as well as Herbal Supplements for Migraines visit the FeelingOutstanding.com website.

Here's to your health. Here's to victory over sickness!

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Migraine Headaches - Riboflavin

Don't be so sad! Help is on the way with alternative treatments for migraines! There is a better way. A good herbal or nutritional supplement treatment plan can provide relief without the pain of rebound headaches. In this first of three articles, we will look at one of the most beneficial natural supplements for headache treatment.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin is also known as Vitamin B-2. It plays a key role in maintaining health in humans and animals. It is yellow or yellow-orange in color. In addition to being used as a food coloring it is also used to fortify foods such as baby-foods, breakfast cereal, pastas, processed cheese, fruit drinks and sauces. It is also widely used in vitamin supplements.

For over 30 years Riboflavin has been used as a part of the phototherapy treatment of neonatal jaundice. It has recently been used in a new treatment to slow or stop the progression of the corneal disorder keratoconus (corneal collagen crosslinking). There have been studies conducted on riboflavin and its affects on headaches. In both a European and American study riboflavin was shown to effectively treat migraines at a dose of 400 mg per day. (European study: C. Boehnke, High-dose riboflabin treatment is efficacious in migraine prophylaxis: an open study in a tertiary care center. Eur J Neurol, 2004, 11(7): p. 175-7. American study: A.J. Yee, Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis, Neurology, 1999, 52(2): p. 431-2)

In a separate study performed by Sandor, Afra, Ambrosini and Shoenen riboflavin has shown that when combined with beta-blockers it may be a useful treatment of migraine headaches. (Phophylactic treatment of migraine with beta-blockers and riboflavin: different effects on the intensity dependence of auditory evoked cortical potentials. Headache,. 2000, Jan). In an open-label trial (no placebo control group), as reported by the Mother Earth News (MEN) web site (Natural Health/2007-03-01/Natural-Headache-Remedies), 400 mg a day for six months cut migraine headache frequency in half and decreased medication use. MEN goes on to say that "another study showed that three months of riboflavin led to a 50 percent improvement in almost 60 percent of the volunteers, versus a 15 percent improvement over the people taking a dummy pill."

For more information about the causes of headaches check out our website. I have been through it for 40 years. I have had amazing relief in the last 8 months. I want to share my story and provide items that have helped with as many as possible.

Tom Thorne

http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Migraine Headaches - Nutritional Supplements

This guy looks like I used two about 2 or 3 days out of every week. A migraine headache, or even just a headache is miserable. At times you do not want to live any more, the pain is so bad. This fellow really looks like he has a bad one.

There are three nutritional supplements that have been tested and shown to have good results in treating migraine headaches. They are, Riboflavin (B-2), Magnesium and Coenzyme Q-10. In upcoming blogs I want to go into these three in more depth.

Once again, trying a natural remedy for headaches is a good idea. It's not going to cost a fortune, nutritional supplements (in most cases) are not going to cause unpleasant side-effects, and they may do some real good. The issue with alternative treatment for migraines is that in most cases immediate relief is not going to happen. If a take an excedrin or B.C. powder I will very likely feel better within an hour. Although, this relief in a great many cases is totally temporary. It is likely that if you take this medications often you will receive a rebound headache with 24 hours or so.

You probably will not feel that kind of immediate benefit from natural methods, but over time many studies have shown significant improvement from alternative treatments for migraines.

Tom Thorne
http://www.feelingoutstanding.com

Freedom at a HighLevel!

Yellowstone National Park, August, 2008.

Freedom. We talk a lot about our desire, our striving, our need for freedom. Two of the more common areas that are talked about are freedom of religion and freedom from debt. Certainly in this country we have a large amount of freedom of religion. I don't think we have enough freedom from debt though!

I would like you to consider another area of freedom. Freedom from pain, freedom from misery, freedom from sickness. For 40 years I suffered with recurring and frequent migraine headaches. For about the last ten years I suffered with near daily headaches of one degree or another. I tried and tried but could not find anything to help for more than a very short period.

Beginning in January of this year I started to strike gold. Small pebbles at first. This is August, 8 months later and I can honestly say that my headaches have shown at least 85% - 90% improvement. I have not had a migraine now in three weeks. There was no silver bullet, it took several different fresh, new ideas and a few new products. Some of the most helpful were the VEMMA nutritional supplement, some changes in eating habits and the Native Remedies MiGone Plus herbal remedy. If you, or anyone you know of suffers from migraine headaches please direct them to these websites. I am very confident they can provide some good information to help relieve this modern day plague.

The freedom I feel over this painful affliction now is incredible. Although I still get headaches occasionally, they are not near as frequent or severe as they were for many years. I feel like I am no longer a slave to this ugly taskmaster. I'm not quite 100% of the way there yet, about 85% - 90%. But I am heading in the right direction, toward the goal post, toward the finish line. It's a freedom like I have never felt.

www.FeelingOutstanding.com

Aura - Is There a Silver Lining

In previous blogs on the subject of aura I discussed the indicationsof aura as well as the fact that not all migraine headache victims experience aura before they have headaches. In my final post on this subject I want to look and see if there is anything good about aura.

Aura not only happens to those who have migraine headaches but it also can happen to people who have epilepsy before a seizure. It would seem that this could be a benefit if acted upon immediately. But what about our subject of migraine headaches? If I knew that I was going to have a migraine headache 1, 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes before it happened, would that help? Or would it tend to push me to a point of despair? I'm afraid that I cannot answer this question since I have never experienced aura.

I know that there are certain things I can do (outside of taking pills) when I start to get a headache that often times relieves the pain. The most helpful practice that I do when I start to feel headache pain is work out. If I am at home I hit the Total Gym for about 30-40 minutes. Most of the time if the headache pain is slight to moderate that will relieve it completely. If I am in the office I do a good set of push ups followed by a nice walk at lunchtime. This often provides natural headache relief as well. Whether that could be done at or right after aura, I do not know.

If anyone has any ideas they can share with us regarding if there is anything that can be done at the sign of aura please do so. Headaches afflict many people and we appreciate the help!

Have a great evening!

Aura -- Does Aura happen to Everyone who has Migraine headaches?

In my last couple of postings I started to talk about aura, or the experience some people have before they come down with a migraine headache. As we saw yesterday, there are many different manifestations of an aura. The question remains, does this happen to everyone who has migraines?

I once had a friend who lived near the west coast and she was telling me about these wild experiences that she had before migraine headaches. Bright lights, distortions of objects, strange smells, etc. I had heard and read about this but never had anyone describe it to me as vividly as she. This lady was an excellent employee of one of the major phone companies. there was definitely nothing wrong with the way she communicated and put out work. She was very competent at her job. She had migraines often, and she did experience aura.

On the other hand, I have been a migraine victim for many years and I never recall having aura. My mother also, who before she passed away fought migraine headaches for years never experienced aura either, to the best of my knowledge.

My conclusion is that some people do have aura before migraine headaches and some do not. Aura, in and by itself is not an indication of how severe your headache will be. The friend I spoke of earlier who did experience aura had very severe headaches. My mother and I who never did, also have had excruciating headaches.

One of the things that has helped some people with their tension, stress and headaches are aromatherapy herbal packs. These beautiful, handcrafted eye and neck pillows come in 5 celestial colors and patterns with optional lavender and peppermint scents. They provide wonderful comfort and great relaxation as many testimonials show. A great bargain and a great gift item.

http://www.feelingoutstanding.com/

Aura Sensations

An aura is a perceptual disturbance experienced by some migraine headache sufferers before the headache occurs. What are the different sensations that can be experienced?

• Visual Changes such as bright lights, zigzag lines, distortions in the size or shape of objects. A spot in the visual field in which vision is absent or deficient. Tunnel vision, slowly spreading spots, kaleidoscope effects, total temporary monocular (in one eye) blindness (in retinal migraine).
• Auditory changes such as hearing voices or sounds that do not exist or a modification of voices or sounds in the environment. Buzzing, amplitude modulation or other modulations.
• Strange smells.
• Feelings of numbness or tingling on one side of the face or body.
• Feeling separated from one's body.
• Feeling as if the limbs are moving independently from the body.
• Feeling as if one has to eat or go to the bathroom. Anxiety or fear.
• Anxiety or fear.
• Nausea.
• Weakness, unsteadiness.
• Saliva collecting in the mouth.
• Being unable to understand or comprehend spoken words during and after the aura.
• Being unable to speak properly, despite the brain grasping what the person is trying to verbalize.

All of these may be an aura, an indication that a migraine headache is coming soon.

It happens often, when you have an important business meeting, when you're going to a nice social obligation, or maybe going to a concert or somewhere else for downright fun. A rotten headache sets in that puts a huge damper one everything. We have to fight the causes of headaches to eliminate them! Check out the Feeling Outstanding website for more information on headaches and a great selection of nutritional supplements at good prices.

Aura - A telltale sign of migraines or not?

You may have heard or read about 'aura'. Or you may have experienced it. An aura is the perceptual disturbance experienced by some migraine sufferers before a headache. It s also an indication realized by some people with epilepsy before a seizure. There are many sensations that an aura can include such as a strange light, an unpleasant smell or hearing voices that do not exist.

In upcoming blogs I would like to discuss the following:

• What are the indications of aura?
• Aura normally leads to bad things, but it there a silver lining?
• Does this always happen to migraine victims?

Stay tuned, there is some good information coming.

People who have frequent headaches suffer miserably. Especially those with frequent migraines. There is relief, there is help. It takes effort from a person, but there can be natural headache relief, and there are products that assist immensely. The Native Remedies MiGone Plus product is an excellent herbal and homeopathic tool to use in the struggle against headaches. There are also several good strategies to use to determine the causes of daily headaches and to fight and win the battle.

Here's to Feeling Outstanding!