Endometriosis is a condition that can prevent pregnancy in a
woman. It is a disease that is fairly common and can afflict
women from their first menstrual cycle through menopause. In
rarer cases, endometriosis can affect post-menopausal women as
well. Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis. As well,
general practitioners often have a difficult time diagnosing
endometriosis.

Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium, or uterine lining,
grows outside of the uterus. It may grow in areas such as
around the ovaries, in the pelvic cavity, sometimes even the
bowels or in the bladder. Although very rare, the endometrium
can also grow in the lung area.

As the condition progresses, the growths develop into "tumors"
or "implants." While the reference to tumors can be unnerving,
endometrium growths are not cancerous or malignant. However,
the condition can be severely painful, cause heavy
menstruation, and can prevent pregnancy in some cases.

Endometriosis symptoms include pain that is localized in the
pelvic, abdominal, or lower back areas. The severity of the
pain does not directly correlate with the amount of
endometriosis present in these areas. One can have a small
amount of endometriosis growth and feel severe pain.
Conversely, one can have a large area of endometriosis growth
and feel no pain.

Women who have pain in these areas might want to consult with
their gynecologist. Gynecologists are specially trained to
diagnose endometriosis. An MRI or ultrasound should be able to
detect endometriosis, but it is not always the best way. A
definitive diagnostic procedure is a laparoscopy. A laparoscopy
is a surgical procedure that involves inserting a tube with an
attached light into the abdomen. This procedure will determine
the location, size, and extent of the condition. Once
endometriosis is detected, treatment options are discussed with
the gynecologist, which includes medication, hormone treatments,
and surgery.


About The Author: Sandra Montano is the owner of
http://Life-Healthy.com to keep reading everything about
Pregnancy go to http://www.life-healthy.com

by Monica M. Burns

Ladies have you come home from a long hard day at work only to find your estranged or current partner hiding in your bushes, parked in his car further down the street with binoculars watching your house, hiding behind the neighbors tree or just blatantly sitting in your house waiting on you! If you answered yes to any of these questions.....................honey he is a stalker.

There is nothing cute or loving about a spouse (estranged or current), watching your every move. It is stupid and dangerous. Some women mistake this type of behavior as him "really loving her." He doesn't love you. He wants to control you and everything that you do. Most times the results of stalking are tragic and it's not a game. If you have broken off a relationship and he just absolutely refuses to accept it and always wants to "talk about it," he is very unstable and will more than likely become a stalker.

According to The National Center for Victims of Crime, 1in 12 women will be stalked in their lifetimes, 87% of stalkers are men, and 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner.

Some signs to look for in a stalker are: Following you and showing up wherever you are, Repeatedly calling you including hang-ups, Damaging your home, car, or other property, Using technology such as hidden cameras or global positioning systems to track wherever you go, Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets and they will also go so far as to find information about you by utilizing public records, online search services, and private investigators. Source: The National Center for Victims of Crime.

Never accept forceful and controlling behavior from your partner. If he jokingly tells you that "he's never letting you leave him" he really means it and it's no joke to him. You'll see that once you leave him and the stalking begins. What are you going to say and think then, "He said he was never letting me leave him, but I didn't think he was serious." When you have finally realized the seriousness of the situation, sometimes it's too late.

So if you are presently experiencing any of the above and need assistance, contact The National Center for Victims of Crime at 1-800-FYI-CALL and always alert friends and family.

Visit my websites at: http://monicaburns.tripod.com www.monicamburns.vstore.ca and www.flashbuilder.net/users/monicaburns.

Monica M. Burns 2005 Monica M. Burns. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author Monica M. Burns is a writer, expert author, and editor of Monica M. Burns, Inc., websites, small web based businesses providing informational self-help products for women. She has authored several eBooklets and other reading information materials and is a featured Expert Author on many websites. She has also contributed to several poetic anthologies.

by Lael Johnson
Copyright 2005 Writer's Eye Advisory Service

Most people have mixed feelings about feeling and expressing
anger. Various influences suggest everything from practicing
extreme self-control, holding it all in (end result: stoicism)
to showing no boundaries about sharing anger at all(end result:
anarchy). Finding the middle ground is the place where you can
communicate feelings and the facts of a given situation, without
hurting or blaming the other party, and vice versa. When this
first scenario occurs, you are creating more space for positive
communication changes to occur. When communication is less than
ideal, continuing to express anger in old ways will reinforce
old habits., aggravating an already difficult situation.

I’m recommending the following journal exercises to assist you
in finding more positive ways to express your anger, and become
a better communicator. When I have shared my feelings, and the
other party has been receptive, I’ve been surprised at how calm
I became, compared to how uncomfortable, I felt prior to sharing
my feelings. I also have had some situations where I either
didn’t receive a response or the other party remained silent.
What is most important in any situation, is that I reached out
and began the process.

Here is the your exercise list:

ANGER SCRIBBLE: When you have a strong reaction to a situation,
start to pray and write about it. Remember to include a detailed
description of your strong feelings including the facts of the
situation. Remember to use as much space on a page as you can
when you scribble. After filling a page, choose one scribble,
and start drawing a specific shape over your scribble. Continue
to scribble over the shape until you are finished. (e.g. You may
feel tired or relieved. Your words may slow down or you may run
out of time to write.) When you notice any of these reactions,
it’s time to stop writing. Wait a few minutes for everything to
settle, then move to the next exercise. (Note: You may
substitute any ritual here if praying isn’t a good fit for you.)

UNSENT LETTERS: This exercise is an effective way to communicate
feelings and information to yourself or to someone else. You can
write unsent letters, when it might otherwise be hurtful to
speak directly to the other party(ies) You can also write unsent
letters on any topic (positive or negative). Unsent letters also
provide a great place to practice your lines. Whether you write
a series of unsent letters or one letter, your feelings will
become less intense. Then you can prepare to have a calm
conversation with the other party. You can write as many unsent
letters as you want. When you write your unsent letters, you
give yourself permission to feel the intense emotions that
surface around a specific event. At some point either during,
immediately or after you’ve written your letter, you will gain
clarity about your part in the situation. You will also learn to
evaluate your responsibility as well as the other party’s
responsibility in the same situation. When you are calm again,
you will be more prepared to make changes, including asking for
a more specific communication change from the other party. You
can continue to follow-up your unsent letters with prayers of
blessing for the other party. As you continue to bless the other
party, room is made for positive changes to happen in yourself
and the other party. When you write an unsent letter, it
demonstrates your courage and willingness, to make serious
changes in a difficult situation. . WRITING A DIALOGUE: Writing
an imagined or real conversation you had with the other party,
can help let out some of your anger. It’s useful to put words or
images to your feelings. Start your dialogue with two voices,
the letter "A" (for your voice) and "B" (for the other person’s
voice). Be sure to allow both voices time to speak. Don’t worry
about writing a perfect dialogue. Use as much detail as you can.
Your descriptive skills will improve with each unsent letter
that you write. For example, if I feel my anger burning like
fire, then I would want to say "I’m burning up over this
situation." If I am feeling a sense of resentment (something
deep, quiet and very intense, that never quite goes away, then I
might say, "I’m really frustrated about _______ now, can we talk
about it for a few minutes?" Remember that no intense feeling is
worth ignoring. It’s much better to express your feelings a few
at a time, than to pay the price of those same feelings causing
problems for you in the future.

"I AM FEELING" STATEMENTS: Writing sentences that begin with "I
am feeling..." is a good way to verbalize all of your feelings
about a difficult situation. I want to remind you that may
express other feelings along with your anger. When you start
your journaling, focus on your anger first, then write about
your other feelings. I suggest that you write a minimum of ten
feeling statements. Put the list away. Move on to the next
exercise.

DRAW A PICTURE: Draw several pictures of your anger. All types
of drawing are allowed. Remember what I said about "My anger is
burning..." Write a visual image of your anger. I want you to use
as many senses in your picture as you can. (Note: you may also
use this exercise to visualize other strong feelings)

COMBINE WORDS AND PICTURES: Now look at your list of "I am"
sentences. Match as many of your picture(s) with your "I am
feeling" sentences as you can. (For example: I am feeling angry
about-put a picture of a fire next to the written statement.
When you are finished, circle one or two combinations that best
describe your current feelings. Be sure to write a summary
sentence about your two choices.

STARTING CLOSURE: Let’s stop and review the work you’ve already
done. You have written an initial unsent letter about your
anger. You’ve explored some of your feelings in detail. You’ve
summarized your feelings using a combination of drawing and
writing. Now write one action you could have taken to keep the
earlier situation from accelerating. Write another sentence
describing one action that the other party could have taken.
Write down one positive action you are willing to take to change
your anger expression now, remember to include a specific
completion time and date. If you pray, start praying for good to
come to the other party. I would recommend that you pray for at
least a few times a week working up to praying daily for a month
or until your strong negative feelings disappear.

Take your time working through these exercises. If you find
yourself, unable to move on to the next exercise. Then write a
short paragraph why you don’t want to move on. Take a break and
start the new exercise the next day. Look forward to celebrating
your freedom from past buried feelings.

Lael Johnson, owner of Writer's Eye Advisory Service, offers
creativity coaching services and additional writing resources.
Visit http://www.writerseye.com for more informaiton.

 

© Copyright 2005 Charlie Cory

If you are a runner, then I am sure that you will know
about calf cramps.

Imagine this scenario if you will. Let's say that you are
7.5k into a 10k run and the road starts to incline. Ever
so slightly, but enough to put that extra strain on your
legs as you try to maintain contact with the leaders.
And the temperature? Well, it's the morning, but it's
hot and liable to get hotter before the end. And to
make matters worse, you were so desperate to
maintain contact with the leading group, that you
forgot to take on liquid at the last feeding station. And
did you use tight fitting calf length socks? I know they
are all the rage, but why did you do it?

So what do we have here?

* Extra strain on muscles?
* Dehydration?
* Loss of essentials salts?
* Restriction of blood flow?

All in all, I think that we are describing running calf
cramps, waiting to happen.

I am not sure that anyone has definitive answer to the
cause of cramps, but there are certainly several steps
that you can take which could help save you from
disaster during competition, in any sport.

1. A Proper Warm Up

Ok, I know you know, but did you do it? If not, then
those cramps could be coming. Seriously, if you have
been involved in any sport to any level, then you will
be aware of the importance of a proper warm up. And I
don't just mean a brisk walk up the stairs to the
changing room either! A proper warm up should include
a routine that gently stretches your muscles to get
them ready for the increased exertion, and gets your
blood flowing around your body. Not only will a warm
help prevent calf cramps, they will also help prevent
some of the injuries that might occur when you put
sudden strain on cold muscles.

And whilst we are talking of warm ups, don't forget
warm downs as well. Warming down after exercise can
also help prevent cramping and reduce the risk of
injury.

2. Train Hard, Run Easy

Have you heard this before? No? Well you should give
it some thought, because it's true. When you train for
a sport, not only do you practice the necessary skills
required to execute which ever event you are
competing in, but you are also training your body for
the rigours of the event. To given an exaggerated
example, if you train for a sprint, and then try and run
a marathon, your body won't be ready. If you try it, I
think you could be in for some serious cramps.

Remember, train hard, run easy.

3. Water is Sport's Life Blood

Whenever you start to exercise, you start to sweat (or
you should). Sweat is nature's way of cooling you
down when you get hot, so, it's a good thing. And
since your body is mainly made of water, then you
should have plenty, shouldn't you? Well, considering
that you lose moisture from your body when you
breathe, sweating does take a lot of fluid out of your
system.

And your body will demand that it be replaced!

If you start feeling dizzy, or experience a rapid heart
beat, then these could be signs that you are starting
to dehydrate. I will take it as read that if your mouth
and lips feel dry, then you should be taking water on
board. It is not always possible to take on fluid during
sport, but always have some available as soon as you
are able to drink.

4. Sport A'int No Catwalk.

It's true! Sport is not a fashion parade. If you think it
is, then you are hanging out in the wrong place!
There's nothing wrong with looking cool whilst you
compete, but be practical. Don't risk injury (or cramps)
by wearing clothing that is too tight, and that restricts
your body's movement, either externally or via blood
flow. Believe me, I know. When I was younger, I used
tie up's on my socks whilst playing soccer (not as a
fashion statement you'll understand), just to keep my
socks up and my shin guards inside my socks. Three
quarters of the way through a game, my calves would
tighten up, and I would roll on the floor in agony. Once
it was understood, that I 'only had cramp', I was the
object of much derision, but believe me, cramp is far
from funny if you are the one suffering.

Wear appropriate clothing.

5. Eat Properly.

When you are sweating and working hard, not only do
you lose water, you also lose nutrients. There is
speculation that that athletes who get calf cramps
could suffer from low levels of potassium, sodium,
calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. I am not
suggesting that you do low level analysis of your
breakfast cereal, but the message is clear. Look after
your body, and your body will look after you.

Eat sensibly, and eat the right foods.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The article was written by Charlie Cory, who owns Home Fitness Online.
Get fitter, feel better, live longer. Attain higher levels of fitness
from the comfort of your own home at
http://www.home-fitness-online.com/calf-cramps-5-ways.html

 

by Beverley Brooke

Perhaps the number one complaint of women trying to watch their
weight during pregnancy is that they are hungry all the time.
True, pregnancy does result in an increased metabolic demand on
the body, which can cause you to be hungry. Many women also
experience a number of cravings during pregnancy, which can make
healthy eating challenging.

The first thing to remember is that the idea that you should eat
for two is wrong. You only need an additional 300 calories per
day, and generally you don’t need these calories until you are
well on your way to the second and third trimesters.

So what can you do to help manage your weight and stick to a
healthy diet?

Remember that during pregnancy it is vital that you do not cut
back on your caloric intake. This has the potential to rob your
baby of essential nutrients that are necessary for his/her
growth and development. Here are some tips to help you stick to
a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy:

Avoid skipping meals. If you have a habit of skipping breakfast,
you’ll find that you are not only more fatigued but ravenous
during your pregnancy, which will result in overeating. Be sure
that you eat each meal every day.

Try eating several mini meals throughout the ay. This will not
only help you feel fuller longer, it will help minimize the
nausea often experienced during the first trimester.

Satisfy your cravings with nutritious snacks. Have a variety of
healthy things to snack on readily available so you avoid
overindulging in foods that are too decadent. If you are craving
something sweet, consider having some mini chocolates near by or
opt for a cup of hot chocolate. Both are far better for you than
an entire candy bar or piece of cake.

Exercise during your pregnancy. The act of exercising in and of
itself will be plenty to motivate you to stick to a healthy
diet. You’ll feel better about yourself and find that you have
more energy throughout the day.

Avoid high calorie beverages. Soda pop (which isn’t good for you
anyway, particularly during pregnancy), juices and other
flavored drinks often contain a good 100-300 calories per
serving. Stick to water or flavored water during your pregnancy.

Drink lots of water. You may think you are hungry when in fact
you are actually thirsty at many points during your pregnancy.
In fact, the brains hunger and thirst centers often get mixed
up, so people often feel hungry when they are in fact
dehydrated. The better hydrated you are, the les likely you are
to overeat.

About the author:
Article by Beverley Brooke, author of "Ensure A Healthy
Pregnancy For You And Your Baby And Lose Weight After Pregnancy"
- visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com for more on a range
of pregnancy health issues

 

by Ginny Dye

Many of us allow our fear to stop us in our tracks. All it takes is
a less than encouraging word, a negative facial expression, or a
less than positive opinion, and we give up before we even get
started. We're afraid of:

• the word "no" because it means failure
• the word "yes" because it means responsibility
• the disapproving look because it means rejection
• the whispers and grins because they mean judgment, and
• the absence of support because it means abandonment

Let's look at these five catalysts to failure and how they can be
overcome.

1 - Abandonment
Little James Earl was scared. His father had left the family to
become a prize fighter and actor. His mother had left to earn money
as a tailor. The Great Depression had stolen his family and he was
about to lose the only life he had ever known.

His grandparents had adopted him and now they were on their way to
Michigan.

2 - Rejection
Though his life in Mississippi had been one of abandonment, it was
all the 5-year-old boy had known. The move to Michigan so
traumatized him he developed a stutter.

His first day of school was a disaster. His stuttering made his
classmates laugh at him. It was the final straw for a frightened
little boy. He closed his mouth and simply quit talking -- for eight
years!

James Earl was completely mute – with the exception of
conversations he had with himself when he was all alone. He found
solace in the written word – creating poetry to release the
raging in his soul.

3 - Judgment
As is often the case, one person who saw beyond his limitations
released James Earl from his self-imposed prison. That one person
was an English teacher who saw talent in the silent 13-year-old. She
pushed him beyond his fear by forcing him into public speaking –
insisting he recite a poem in front of the class every day.

Can't you imagine his terror when he first stood in front of his
classmates? What made him do it? Was it only the teacher's
insistence? No. It was a deep desire to break free from his prison
and speak all the things that had sat silently in his heart during
all those years. He chose to feel the fear – and then do it
anyway!

4 - Failure
He stuttered. He stammered. He endured the sympathetic and scornful
looks of fellow students. He endured the laughing. But he did it. He
faced the fear and forced himself to speak. Day after day. Week
after week. He hung onto the encouragement of the teacher who
believed in him. And it worked. His stuttering became less. He
learned to control his voice.

5 - Responsibility
His victories made him look for more challenges. James Earl began to
take acting lessons. His early lessons in perseverance gave him the
courage to push beyond the prejudices against black actors. He chose
to take as many different types of roles as he could – stretching
his limitations and refusing to be pigeon-holed with any stereotypes.

-- Beyond the Fear --
James Earl Jones is now known for his deep authoritative voice.
Perhaps you know him as the voice of Star War's Darth Vader or as
Mufasa in the Lion King. You see him almost daily on commercials. He
has starred on Broadway and been in many movies. He has been laden
with Tony, Emmy and Obie Awards.

People look at him today and see a confident actor with a deep,
resonant voice. The next time you see him, look deeper. . .

James Earl Jones' great secret to success is that he chose to
push beyond his fears. He chose to change the reality of a young boy
who had lived in silence for eight years. He chose to face ridicule
and scorn in order to be free. I can only imagine how many years
passed before he could open his mouth without being afraid of what
would come out.

So many of us let our fears stop us. We're afraid of how we will
appear. We're afraid of what people will think. We're afraid
we'll fail. And so. . . we do nothing. We exchange fear for
regret.

Fear will pass. Fear can be conquered. Fear will fade away in the
face of determined action.

Regret – well, you'll live with that for the rest of your
life.

What are you afraid of? Name the fear. Choose to face it. And take
action to conquer it today! You, too, can live a life of success by
feeling the fear and moving beyond it.

About The Author
The story for this article was taken from Ginny Dye's Daily
Secrets For Success. Let these daily motivational stories stir your
heart, fuel your passion and propel you into action. Subscribe at
http://www.DailySecretsForSuccess.com 

Copyright 2005 Lori Radun

I want you to think about your body as one of your children
or someone else you love dearly.  When was the last time
this person did or said something that really made you mad?
 In that moment, you might have been thinking “I really
don’t like this person right now.”  However, did his
behavior cause you to stop loving him?  Absolutely not!  My
teenager regularly acts in a way that I do not like, but I
still love him.  I will protect him, do what I think is
best for him, and give him what he needs.

Now let’s return to your body.  How often do you look at
your body and think, “I do not like my legs, my hips, my
butt (or whatever)”?  I admit it.  I do not like my thicker
waist that came from my second child and being over 40.
Okay fine, so it also comes from sometimes eating too much
of the wrong foods and not exercising consistently.  It’s
one thing to dislike your body.  It’s something completely
different to have an attitude of hatred or disgust towards
your body.  This attitude will cause you to mistreat your
body instead of loving and honoring your body.

Your body, with all its imperfections, is sacred.  It is
the only body you have been given for your entire life.
Your body houses all the organs that keep you alive.  It
gets you around from place to place.  Your body pumps
oxygen to the brain that enables you to feel, think, create
and function.  You need to take care of your body like any
relationship with a loved one.  Loving and respecting your
body requires the same ingredients.  So what can you give
to your body that you would give someone you love?

1.  Daily Attention
To nurture a relationship, you need to pay attention to
what it needs.  If you ignore your loved one for a long
period of time, what happens?  The relationship begins to
die.  In order to grow my relationship with my little guy,
he needs daily doses of conversation, playtime with me, and
cuddling.  In order to thrive, your body needs adequate
sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, and plenty of water
everyday.  You wouldn’t go for a week without talking to
your child or husband, so why would you go for a week
giving your body 4-5 hours of sleep a night or regularly
feeding your body foods with no nutrition?  Love your body
by staying conscious about how you treat it on a daily
basis. 

2.  Spend Time and Listen
In order to get to know someone you love, you need to spend
time together.  Your body is the same way.  It will
communicate with you if you only listen.  Your body will
tell you when it is hungry and when it is full.  It will
tell you when it is tired and needs to relax.  If you are
getting sick a lot, your body is screaming at you.  It is
trying to get your attention.  When you exercise, your body
will begin to hurt if you push too hard.  Or maybe you are
short of breath from lack of exercise or being overweight.
That is your body’s way of communicating that it is working
too hard.  Pay attention to the cues your body sends you.
Respond to them and see them as signs that something needs
to change.  Someone I know says to people, “If you ignore
your health, it will leave you.”  And so will your husband.

3.  Special Treats
Sometimes you give your loved ones special treats to show
you love them.  You don’t give them everyday because then
they wouldn’t be special.  Your body needs special treats
too.  Treat yourself to a massage, a facial, new clothes,
or a mocha latte every once in awhile.  When I was a
teenager, my mom and I used to go running on the local
school track.  Afterwards, we went to this awesome ice
cream shop and treated ourselves to a scrumptious sundae.
We didn’t overindulge all the time…just once in awhile.
Special treats help banish feelings of deprivation. 

4.  Grace
How many times does your loved one say “I’m sorry”?  And
how many times do you forgive him or her?  We all need
grace at times, and so do you when it comes to taking care
of your body.  Maybe you do really well on your diet or
exercise plan for two weeks, and then you fall off the
wagon.  For one whole week, you don’t exercise and you
don’t follow a healthy eating plan.  That’s okay!  Forgive
yourself and get back on track.  You don’t have to
completely abandon your plan because you didn’t follow it
perfectly.

5.  Have Fun!
Taking care of and loving your body doesn’t have to be
drudgery.  Have fun!  Find new low-fat recipes that contain
your favorite foods.  Adjust your attitude toward your
health and your body.  Exercise is only boring if you view
it that way.  Find activities you love that exercise your
body.  When I was in Las Vegas this past month, I was
taking a walk in a local family park.  I watched a dad and
his two children having the time of their life.  They were
riding their bikes and dad was leading the way.  He created
an obstacle course that required the kids to ride in
circles, up and down ramps, over the grass, and around
various walkways.  They were laughing and having a blast,
while exercising their body.  This dad knew the value of
adding fun to a healthy routine.

So, here’s to good health and loving your body even if you
don’t like it!

About the Author:

Lori Radun, CEC - Certified Life Coach for moms.  Lori
writes a FREE monthly ezine for moms who want coaching and
encouragement on living peaceful, balanced and fulfilling
lives.  To subscribe, go to
http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com

Copyright © 2005, The Juncture Company Michelle Randall
The Juncture Company
http://www.juncturecompany.com

Happy second half of 2005!

It's July 1st - the start of the second half of the year, and an
opportunity to take stock, pat yourself on the back and make any
mid-course corrections. Some food for thought...

 * What in your life looks different on July 1st than on January
   1st?

 * What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in the first 
   half of this year?  How have you been showing up beautifully, 
   and what have you created?

 * What learning have you received that you didn't expect on 
   January 1st?

 * What's a stretch goal that you want to give your all toward 
   achieving?

 * What can you create in the remaining half of the year that 
   would have the champagne taste a bit sweeter on New Year's 
   Eve?

A picnic for the mind - enjoy, and make it a point to discuss
any burning learnings with another person within the next few
days (including your coach)!

 

------------------
Michelle Randall, Principle & Lead Executive Coach
The Juncture Company     "Developing Innovative Leaders"
Website: http://www.juncturecompany.comPlease sign up for your free TJC Coaching Inspirations newsletter
by clicking the link provided: http://www.juncturecompany.com