Men Get Breast Cancer Too!

Men Get Breast Cancer Too!

I think you would have to be living in a cave not to know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) in the USA.  Second only to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. 

The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2014 are:

§  About 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.

§  About 62,570 new cases of carcinoma in situ (the earliest form of breast cancer) will be diagnosed.

§  About 40,000 women will die from breast cancer

(Source: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-key-statistics)

Most people are unaware that women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are at a higher risk of breast cancer due to having BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.  Norwegian, Dutch and Icelandic people also have a higher risk of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.  Men can also inherit these mutations and be at risk of breast cancer.  In addition, women with these gene mutations are at higher risk of ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer.   Men’s prostate and pancreatic cancer risk increases if they have the BRCA1 or BRCA2.  If one woman in a family has the genetic mutations, it is more likely that other immediate family members also have them.

I am of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and a few years ago my physician recommended that I be tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2.  At that time, the tests were extremely expensive, and my insurance would not cover it.  I recently changed insurance companies, so I will be discussing testing with my new physician.  I had a benign tumor removed from my breast which, had it not been removed, may well have become cancerous.  My paternal grandmother and maternal aunt died from breast cancer, making me at risk as well.

For men reading this post, breast cancer is more common in males that you may imagine.  I recently asked a mammogram technician if she ever performed them on men.  She responded that she has three or four male patients every week getting mammograms!   They wouldn’t be getting tested unless their physician believed they were at risk for breast cancer.

Returning to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women should get a baseline mammogram at 40 years of age.  Depending upon the results, there doctor may recommend annual or biennial testing from then on.  On the TV show Good Morning America, Robin Roberts, is a breast cancer survivor.  She encouraged one of the other hosts of the show to get her first mammogram.  With no history of breast cancer in her family and being quite young, she was resistant, but she took the test.  She learned that she did have cancer. 

Learn more about breast cancer.  You can find articles virtually everywhere this month.  I am encouraging everyone – female or male – with a high risk of breast cancer schedule an appointment right away for a mammogram.  It is not painful, although it is a bit uncomfortable.  I hope that you will all also remind the women in your life to get a mammogram.

I wish you all good health.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

Which Business Opportunity is Right for Me?

Thousands of people are searching for a business opportunity every day.  The first things to consider when researching an opportunity are:  1) Is it a reputable, legitimate company?  2) Is it a good fit for you?  Will you be able to be passionate about the product or service the company offers?

It can be time consuming and challenging finding the right business for you, but it is worth the effort. Because you've heard of a company does not necessarily mean they are reputable or that it is right for you.

Warning:  Do not rely completely on the Better Business Bureau.  Some businesses simply choose not to pay for BBB membership. While many very good organizations are accredited and highly rated by the BBB, there was a time a few years ago when businesses could purchase a high rating with them.  Since this situation was publicized, it is likely they stopped the practice.  Watch this video to learn more.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8kfV9kONw

If a company promises or guarantees a huge income, be wary.  Some people will never apply themselves; and some don’t have the right skills for the business.  There is no way everyone can be successful, let alone earn a huge income, with any company.

If a company’s advertising makes it seem too good to be true, trust your judgment.  It likely is.  If the company has no product or service to sell, how is the company staying in business?  If all their income is from bringing new people into the business, it is not a legal company.

When performing research of a company, if you find many complaints about it, look into those complaints carefully.  Keep in mind though that some excellent companies have complaints filed against them for various reasons, so a small number of complaints alone may not mean the company is disreputable. 

Learn about the product or service being offered. Would you buy it?  What is the cost of the product?  No matter how great the product, if it is too expensive, you may not be able to sell it. 

Determine the TRUE cost of operating the business.  Virtually all business opportunities have a fee involved at some point.  It may be an up-front cost, a monthly fee or both.  If a company claims that it is totally free to start and operate the business, question it. There are companies that tell you there is no start-up cost, but later charge for the training, websites and more.  Do your homework, not only on the company’s own website, but also on third party sites to see what those outside the company say about them.

When you speak to a representative of the company, do you feel a “connection?”  Do you believe they are being honest and open with you, or are they “hyping” the business?  Hype should be a red flag for you.

Consider the company’s compensation plan. Some people like to have “multiple streams of income.”  Others like a simple payment plan.  Neither is right or wrong, but be sure that you understand the comp plan and that it is acceptable to you.

Does the company pay a one-time commission or residual income?  With residual commission, you will be paid monthly for each active customer/client.  Straight commission means you are paid only once for each sale.

There is no business right for everyone.  Take the time to research a company thoroughly.  Then, do whatever it takes to succeed. 

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

I Confess! Follow-up...

For those who read my PR yesterday, you know I was planning to step out of my comfort zone and attend a business networking meeting with a new group. .  If you missed my PR from yesterday, I have a fear of face-to-face meetings and sales, so I was nervous about the meeting.  I had never seen or met any of the members.

I went to the meeting.  I was a few minutes early, so I waited for others to arrive in the lobby.  The meeting was at a restaurant.  I had no idea what any of the members looked like or exactly how many people would be attending.  Five people had accepted the invitation and said they would be there.

I waited as the scheduled time for the meeting passed.  About ten minutes after the appointed time, a man walked in the front door looking lost, so I asked him if he was there for the MeetUp group meeting.  He said he was and introduced himself a Keith, and he sat down with me.  He told me that he had received an email from the founder/creator of the group saying she would be unable to attend.  He and I sat and chatted a few more minutes, and when no one else appeared, we took a table.

Keith and I discussed our own businesses, which were totally unrelated.  He works only face-to-face, with no internet or relationship marketing.  I, on the other hand, work 90% on the internet.  We chatted about some of the methods we use to promote our products and recruit team members.

Keith seems to be a nice man and is having some success with his business.  We agreed that we would meet again in about a month, and hopefully more group members would attend.

I really don’t know how I would have felt if the other people had shown up, but meeting face-to-face with Keith was easy. My anxiety and fear I felt during the day anticipating the event was gone. 

This meeting was a good experience for me and will help me in the future.  I may still be nervous if a larger group is there, but I don’t think my anxiety level will be nearly as high.

Thank you all for your encouragement when I shared my fear, and thank you all for your great IBO Spirit!

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

How Well Do You Know Your Business?

For my team call last night, I prepared a series of 30+ questions.   The questions asked about our products, prices, and commission we were paid.  I also asked several questions about network marketing in general.  Some of these would apply to other companies besides my own Xpress Healthcare business.

First, I must say that we had a very small group on the call.  Due to the horrible weather in places, power outages in a variety of places and the Olympics being televised, there were only three team members in attendance.

I began with a few questions that had no right or wrong answers. 

• ·        I asked team members to share something they did during this past week for which they were proud of themselves.  No one had an accomplishment to report.
• ·        I asked when they forced themselves to step out of their comfort zone to perform a task, how did they congratulate themselves for their success?  One team member shared a good story.
• ·        I asked if anyone had accomplished a goal they had set for themselves during the past month, and if so, what was it.  No responses.

We market discount plans, and each plan contains several benefits.  Some of the questions were about which benefits were included in a particular plan.  The responses were mixed.  The team members knew some, but no one knew them all.

My questions included how much we are paid in residual commission on specific plans.  Again mixed answers.  No one person knew them all.

When I asked about limitations to particular plans, they knew the answers to two of the five questions.

Here’s a question for all of you reading this… What is the average amount of time it takes a rep to learn everything there is to know about your company’s products, business opportunity and the business itself?  If you answered with any number, you are wrong!  It is impossible for anyone to learn everything there is to know about their business.  The most important thing is if you cannot answer a prospect’s question, do you know exactly where to find the correct answer?

For this reason, I recommend to my team members that they review their own marketing websites to see what their prospects see, and research their “back office” to learn how to navigate it and where they will find information they need when they need it.

I was surprised to learn that no one on the call knew where our company operates.  We are a US-only company, but we do not promote our products in five states due to laws in those states.  I believe this is a very important fact to know, and I suggested that those on the call learn them – memorize them!

I also asked for the advantages of network marketing over a traditional business.  They came up with several good answers.

I sent out the list of questions to team members.  I plan to repeat this call in the future to see whether team members studied and learned the information about which they were not knowledgeable. 

So, how about you and your team members?  Do they know all the basics?  Do you?  Do you and they know where to go for answers besides their sponsor?

I learned a lot from the call last night, and it told me the areas in which I must do more training.  So while it was a little disappointing, it was a great lesson for me to have learned.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

The Unknown Geniuses Behind ... the Most Useful Inventions Ever - Part 1

I ran across a fascinating website today egarding ten people who invented everyday items, about whom most of us are unaware.  The article is too long for one PR, so I’ll share it in parts 1, 2, and 3.(http://www.businessinsider.com/ten-inventions-you-never-knew-had-inventors-2011-3?op=1#ixzz2sIWwSubl) r

The Unknown Geniuses Behind 10 of the Most Useful Inventions Ever

ALANA HOROWITZ  - MAR. 3, 2011, 10:56 AM

When we hear the word "inventor," we think of people like Thomas Edison or the Wright Brothers.

Some of the coolest inventors, though, are people you probably don't know.  They didn't invent planes or light bulbs; these people created products used so often, you probably didn't even realize they were inventions.

For instance, have you ever wondered how a lollipop ended up on its stick? Or how the straw became bendable? These seemingly simple ideas took a lot of creativity and technological prowess.

1959: A picnic lunch inspired Ernie Fraze to invent the pop top found on soda cans.

Whose idea: Ernie Fraze

The inspiration: Fraze, the owner of a successful engineering company, was attending a picnic when he realized he'd forgotten to bring a can opener for the drinks. He ended up prying them open using a car bumper! A few months later, he was having trouble sleeping and thought of the can dilemma. While waiting to get tired, he decided to solve it.

What came of it: Fraze designed a new kind of can, often referred to as a pop top, that could be easily opened with a removable tab. Eventually, his company began manufacturing a system of mass producing these cans to be used by soft drink and brewing companies everywhere. By 1980, Fraze's company was pulling in over $500 million dollars of annual revenue from his brilliant invention. Anytime you open a can of beer or a soft drink, you can thank Ernie Fraze for how easy it is to do.

1937: Joseph Friedman invents the bendable straw so his daughter can more easily drink a milkshake

Whose idea: Joseph Friedman

The inspiration: Friedman was sitting at his brother's soda shop, watching his daughter drink a milkshake. The young girl was struggling to enjoy her beverage through a straight paper straw, whose end she could barely reach. Her father, an inventor, thought of a way to help her out.

What came of it: Friedman inserted a screw into the straw, and wrapped floss around it to create a ribbed texture. When he took the screw out, the straw naturally bent over the rim of the glass and his daughter was able to drink her milkshake with ease. He patented his idea in 1937 and started his own company to produce the straw. The rights to the flexible straw were eventually sold to the Maryland Cup Corporation, which now sells about 500 million of them every year.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

Whatever You Are, Be a Good One

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”  This is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, and it is still valid today.  In fact, perhaps it is even a more important statement today than it was in Lincoln’s day.

Some people believe it is “below them” to work at McDonald’s, as a custodian or an office clerk, especially if they went to school to be an attorney, financial advisor or engineer.    

But where would we all be if there were no custodians or office clerks?  With the right attitude, any job can be one about which we can be proud as long as we put our best effort into performing it.  Perhaps the unemployment rate would be just a bit better if everyone accepted that fact.  

Restaurant servers represent an industry where we see the best and the worst.   We can easily tell which servers enjoy their jobs and which do not.  Some are cheerful and efficient, while others are rude and incompetent and can spoil your dining experience.

Similarly, those working at a retail store – or McDonald’s – clearly demonstrate whether or not they enjoy their job by the service they offer.

I was in the administrative end of law enforcement for most of my life.  I made a decent living and was happy being the one who kept offices running smoothly.  Because I liked most jobs I held, I was determined to perform them to the best of my ability.  On one job, I was promoted step-by-step until I was vice president of the company.

My son, at age 20, started out delivering furniture for a store.  He worked hard and performed his job cheerfully and well, standing out from those who hated their jobs and their conduct reflected it.  My son is now the top manager of the company, the one who trains all the other managers. 

With my Xpress Healthcare network marketing business, I started out like everyone else – at the bottom.  I loved working at home and worked consistently to grow my business to one of the top teams in the company.

I am certainly not suggesting that no one should strive to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer.   However, if you must choose between unemployment and whatever job you can find, accept that job and perform it as though it was your dream job.  You will be happier because of your positive attitude, and who knows where your enthusiasm and job performance may direct you?

If you wish to own a home business, choose wisely, and do your research.  Be sure you like the products, the management and the compensation plan.  Then, if everything indicates it is a good company, ignore all the negative talk about the industry.  Instead, put all your effort into your network marketing business and you will build it and grow to love it.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”  Amen.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I have been in the network marketing industry for nearly a decade.  Still, it never ceases to amaze me that so many network marketers do not work during the holiday season.  They usually say that people do not buy products or joining businesses during this time of the year. 

This is the second time in about a week that I am writing about this topic.  I feel so strongly about it that I feel the need to get my message to more people!

·        On Thanksgiving Day, a new rep joined my team online.  I had no prior contact with her.  This is the third time in my network marketing career that someone joined my team on Thanksgiving.

·        More people than ever use social media.  Do they stop during the holiday season?  Of course not!  So, why would you stop trying to build relationships and promoting your home business?

·        Various events and parties we attend in December are filled with prospects!  No, it isn’t a good time to try “selling” someone, but how about if you give a two sentence explanation of what you do and then say something like, “I don’t want to take up your time.  We are here to join in the party.  I would be happy to speak with you later this week to tell you more.  Let me just jot down your phone number an email address.”

·        While standing in the inevitable lines at a store, strike up a conversation with someone near you.  Try to slip in, “I am so much more relaxed this year since I didn’t have to ask anyone for time off.”  There are many simple ways to hint toward your career without jumping into a presentation.  Very often if we say something like this, the other person may ask you, “Oh, you don’t work anymore?”   The door is open for a VERY brief mention of your business.  Then give them a business card or brochure and/or ask for their contact info.

Opportunities are all around you to promote your business during the holidays, both online and off.  Keep your eyes open to recognize these occasions, and you can grow your team and increase your product sales by the New Year.

Who would like to take on the holiday challenge to build your income by January 1^st?

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

The Battle Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams

There has been confusion between sweet potatoes and yams for as long as I remember.  Sweet potatoes are often mistakenly called yams in the US. The canned  "yams” we find in grocery stores are actually sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are what most of us in the US serve at the holidays. The more red-skinned of the two are sweet potatoes. Even grocery stores produce departments often mislabel them.

They are really two very different vegetables.  I found this article online explaining the many differences between them. 

http://uanews.org/blog/sweet-potatoes-vs-yams

As people gather for meals during the fall holiday season, there are bound to be disagreements, such as the age-old debate: Are those sweet potatoes, or yams?

Kelly Murray Young, an assistant agent of horticulture for the UA Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County, can settle the debate: Sweet potatoes and yams are not the same thing. They aren't related. Not even close.

"The way we talk about plants is different from how we talk about groceries," Murray Young said.

"A green bean is actually a fruit. But in a grocery store, we don't think of green beans that way," she said. "When we think about how living things are related to one another – how humans are so different from jellyfish, for example – we come to these different divisions. Sweet potatoes are as different from yams as humans are from snakes."

It's all in the classification.

While both come from groups of flowering plants, yams, which are starchier than sweet potatoes, are in a classification of plants referred to as “monocots” while sweet potatoes are classified as “dicots”, Murray Young explained. In fact, the more brightly orange and sweeter sweet potato is in the morning glory family while yams are more closely related to agave, she also said.

The rising theory about why there exists widespread confusion about sweet potatoes and yams draws its source from the days of slavery in the U.S.

"What is understood is that African slaves in the U.S. thought sweet potatoes were yams, because they look very similar. That's where the confusion got picked up," she said.

Also, yams are very hard to find in the U.S., save the occasional farmers' market or specialty store, said Murray Young, who, along with her colleagues in Phoenix, hold public workshops to teach people how to grow sweet potatoes at home and in community gardens.

While yams have long growing seasons and tend not to grow well in Arizona, sweet potatoes have a shorter season and thrive. Their edible leaves, which can be used for salads, can be harvested all summer long, with the root ready to eat in the fall, Murray Young said, adding that sweet potatoes generally need only 90 to 100 days of growth before they can be harvested.

"It's hard to find greens that grow through the summer months, and people are becoming more and more interested in eating local and fresh foods," Murray Young said. "And people all over the world eat sweet potato leaves; it is an important part of the diet for people."

For those who generally cook sweet potatoes during the fall season, Murray Young urges people to go for the fresh roots.

"Try sweet potatoes fresh out of the grocery store instead of a can," she advised. "Try different styles. You can add your own sugar to bring it to the sweetness you like, or try it without butter to see how delicious it is." 

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).  

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

Put on Your Yamakah, Here Comes Chanukah.

This year, Chanukah, the Jewish Holiday – “Festival of Lights,” begins on November 27^th, the night before Thanksgiving.  For those who don’t recognize the line in the title of this post, it is the first line of a funny Adam Sandler Chanukah song. 

All Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before they appear on Gregorian calendars.   (In case you don’t know, this is the calendar we use today.)  In actuality, on the Hebrew calendar, Chanukah is on the same date every year, but it appears to be different each year because the calendar months are not the same length on the two calendars.

According to the Gregorian calendar, Chanukah falling on Thanksgiving is extremely rare.  Since Thanksgiving was declared a Federal holiday, the last time Chanukah began (first full day) on Thanksgiving was in 1888.  Some mathematicians say that it won’t happen again for 79,000 years!  I haven’t verified that fact.  I will accept the fact that Chanukah is really early this year, and it is very rare for it to occur on Thanksgiving.

I find it amusing that, because of the proximity of the two holidays, a new term has been coined, “Thanksgivukah!”  There are even websites and a Facebook page devoted to Thanksgivukah. Some companies are taking advantage of this by producing merchandise for Thanksgivukah.  A nine-year-old child created the “Menurkey,” a trademarked turkey-shaped menorah (candelabra).  Zazzle.com is selling Thanksgivukah gift wrap for $15.99! I have also seen T-shirts saying Thanksgivukah.  Since it is so rare, do you think those items will become collectors’ items?

For those who don’t know, Chanukah is a Jewish festival that lasts eight days.  It commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights (candles), and prayers are included in the lighting ceremony. 

In modern times, particularly in the United States, Chanukah has become a “more important” holiday than it actually is.  Because it falls in the winter holiday season, many Jewish people exchange gifts (particularly for the children) on each of the eight days.  They decorate their homes and have parties.  In other words, it has become commercialized, much like Christmas.

An interesting analogy I have heard said is that there are amazing similarities between the Pilgrims’ quest for religious freedom and the ancient Hebrews’ fight for freedom from the Greeks in the Hanukkah story.

It is still a bit early, but I will still wish all my American friends a Happy Thanksgiving.  And for Jews throughout the world, may you enjoy a blessed Chanukah.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).  

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle  

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Fat, Fat, Everywhere Fat!

I recently attended a meeting that discussed weight loss and nutrition.  I found some of the things the speaker presented very interesting.  Since we all know that obesity is a huge problem, I’d like to share some of what I heard at the meeting.  I make no claim that this information is scientifically proven, because I have not researched the material myself.  It is, however, thought provoking.

·        Is overeating carbohydrates worse than overeating on a low carbohydrate, high fat diet?  A very small study was conducted on this question.  Much more research is necessary to verify the results.  In this small study over a three week period, half the participants “pigged out” on low-carb, high fat foods eating 5800 calories a day.  (That is pretty disgusting to me.)  At the end of the study, the participants averaged a gain of about three pounds. The other half of the participants ate the same number of calories, but they ate carb-rich junk foods.  The average weight gain at the end of three weeks for this group was 16 pounds. 

Although this study cannot be relied upon without further research, it demonstrated that – as we have known all along – all calories are not created equal.  WHAT we eat makes a difference.

The speaker also shared information on body fat about which I was unaware.

·        There are different types of body fat:  Brown, White, Subcutaneous, Visceral, and “Belly” Fat.

·        Brown fat is a good fat, but we don’t have a lot of it. If the brown fat in our body could be maximally stimulated, we would burn off 300 to 500 calories a day (enough to lose about a pound a week).

·        We have a lot more White fat in our bodies, and its job is to store energy and produce hormones that are then secreted into the bloodstream. Small fat cells produce a good hormone called Adiponectin.  This hormone makes the liver and muscles sensitive to insulin, and in the process makes us less susceptible to diabetes and heart disease.  If we are overweight, the Adiponectin production slows down or stops completely, making us more prone to these conditions.

·        Subcutaneous fat is directly under our skin.  This is the fat is what is measured to estimate our total body fat.  Subcutaneous fat generally does not cause as many health issues as other types of fat.  If these fat cells are on our abdomens, however, they are more dangerous.

·        Visceral fat is the deep fat that can surround our inner organs and cause serious health problems. Those who have a large waist or abdomen have visceral fat.  Visceral fat is a severe threat to our health because it increases our risk of diabetes, heart disease, increased cholesterol levels, strokes and dementia.

Women with a waist line over 35 inches or men who have a waist line 40 inches or more are especially a higher risk for these conditions.  Abdominal fat is a much bigger health risk than hip or thigh fat.  

·        In general, men accumulate more fat in the abdomen, and women more often store more fat in their thighs and buttocks before menopause.  Consequently pear-shaped women are protected somewhat from metabolic disease until they reach menopause when they too store fat in their abdomen.

When we lose weight, we lose White fat and tend to lose it evenly throughout our bodies.  When we add exercise to reduced calorie intake, we are likely to lose more Visceral from our abdomens.

There are many products on the market that claim to help us lose weight.  Many are scams, but some may actually help.  I personally believe that the way we can truly weight is by reducing the amount and type of foods we eat and by burning calories with exercise.  The missing part of this “formula” for most people trying to lose weight is willpower.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, in Russia, in Brazil…

Some of you may know that I have been researching my family history – genealogy – for nearly 40 years.  I am not a professional; it is just a hobby.  It is often frustrating, but it is also very exciting and interesting.

My husband also is researching his family tree.  He is adopted, but he knows his biological family well.  So he has been researching both is adopted and bio family. 

Because of the internet, genealogy is much easier today than it was when I first began.  My husband has found records for his bio family back to before Christ!  He didn’t conduct the original research.  Others did, but they shared it online.  I have not found any records for my own family beyond the 1700’s.

I have been asked by people here on IBO and others how I do my research.  For those who are thinking of starting their own family history or who have just begun, I’d like to share some suggestions.

The very first thing anyone should do when they start genealogy is to speak to your family, particularly older members of the family.  Interview them about everyone they remember, like their grandparents or great-grandparents.  It is great if you can record the interview to return to at any time, but certainly write down everything they tell you.  So much of the information I have acquired came from my parents, aunts and grandparents that I know I wouldn’t have nearly as many records as I do without their help.

There are hundreds of genealogy websites.  Most charge a fee, and some of the fees are very high.  Nearly everyone has heard of http://ancestry.com, which is one of the largest collections of genealogy records you’ll find.  If you subscribe to all their records, it can cost you well over $100.  They offer a seven-day trial for free if you want to just check it out.  However, many public libraries subscribe to ancestry.com and offer it as a free service.

Many of you may know that the Mormon’s (The Church of Jesus Crist of Latter-Day Saints) have a huge genealogy collection as well.  Researching their ancestry is part of their religion.  “We do it to obtain names and other genealogical information so these temple ordinances can be performed for our kindred dead.” (http://mormon.org/values/family-history) Both Mormon’s and non-Mormon’s can visit their Family History Centers throughout the United States (likely worldwide).  Volunteers will help you get started with their records.  They also have a genealogy website, http://familysearch.org where you can conduct research without charge.

Another great free genealogy site is http://rootsweb.ancestry.com.  You need not subscribe or pay here. 

If your more recent ancestry leads you to New York, you may find more free records at http://italiangen.org.  My family is Jewish with no Italian connection, but I have found many records there.

If your family immigrated to the USA through New York, you may find the manifest of the ship’s passengers at http://ellisisland.org.  Ellis Island was in operation from about 1890 to 1921, and millions of records are on the site.  Prior to that time, http://castlegarden.org has some records.  There have been many other points of entry over the years, including Boston, Philadelphia, British Columbia (Canada) and more. 

If you have Jewish ancestry, you’ll want to check out http://jewishgen.org.  They have a fabulous collection of records as well.  If your family was in Europe during WWII, you may want to also visit http://www.yadvashemusa.org/.  Their records cover Holocaust victims and survivors. 

Of course, if you can travel to your ancestors’ homeland, you can find even more.  There are many more genealogy websites, but the ones I have provided here are the ones I use most often and find valuable.

Good luck with your research!

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