i threw up that meal my family made. it was my grandpa's 85th birthday party BBQ in my backyard with cousins and pool activities. My family is really italian so they stick to the "MANJA" (wrong spelling, but it means "eat" in italian) philosophy; everyone must eat tonssssssss!

obviously during my phase of anorexia (which i honestly wish i could get back to because i hate being a glutton and throwing up food. at least i appreciated food. i jsut didnt eat much of it) i reaaaaaaaaaaly didnt fit in. they didnt make a big fuss though. i just hate when theyre on my case.

ooh and my parents are really diet conscious and are obsessed with healthy food. this drove me to insanity and eating disorders because they would always fight about my dads weight. they are both just fine... my dad is kind of big but he will always be sorry mom.

ANYWAYS

i threw most of it up.. though not all cause im just hating the whole throwing up thing. then i ran to my friends house... about 2 miles away. thats DEFINETLY NOT A RUN FOR ME. i usually go long like 8-12 miles.

i'm training for a half marathon actually.

wow. this whole throwing up my food has got to stop. i will probabaly die during my races if i keep doing this. I'M PRETTY UGH

HELP MEEEE SOMEONEEEEEEE...but i wont tell my parents.. they knew once and i have them convinced its over... but I WANT IT TO BE OVER AND I DONT WANT THEM WORRYING ABOUT ME SO CAN I JUST PLEASE STOP BEING SO OBSESSED WITH FOOD AND THEN THROWING IT UP?!!!!!!!

DOES IT EVER END?

     So I am here to represent the other teens who have also decided to make their voices heard and take action this election year, as well as learn about the process. Some encouragement to all: I know politics can be quite puzzling and skewed, but keep in mind that this is your country, regardless of age; the decisions made today will be the ones affecting us tomorrow. My posts will be dedicated to the indecisive teens all over on a mission to understand. My contributions will focus on discovery, as well as my personal opinions. By the way, I'm not supporting either candidate exclusively. Be sure to comment, too-I want to hear everyone's views! Being an educated citizen can be difficult, but take it easy and check out my2centsforchange.com (and also the other authors on the my2cents blog!).

July 1, 2008 — Men hoping for some fireworks in their love life this Fourth of July may want to skip the burgers and beer at the barbecue and eat plenty of watermelon.

Watermelon may be a natural Viagra, says a researcher. That's because the popular summer fruit is richer than experts believed in an amino acid called citrulline, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels much like Viagra and other drugs meant to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

"We have known that watermelon has citrulline," says Bhimu Patil, PHD, director of the Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center at Texas A&M University, College Station.  Until recently, he tells WebMD, scientists thought most of the citrulline was in the watermelon rind. "Watermelon has more citrulline in the edible part than previously believed," he says.

How could watermelon be a natural Viagra? The amino acid citrulline is converted into the amino acid arginine, Patil says. "This is a precursor for nitric oxide, and the nitric oxide will help in blood vessel dilation."

So, the burning question: How much watermelon does it take?

"That is a good question," Patil says. Unfortunately, "I don't have an answer for that."

He does know that a typical 4-ounce serving of watermelon (about 10 watermelon balls) has about 150 milligrams of citrulline. But he can't say how much citrulline is needed to have Viagra-like effects.

He's hopeful that someone will pick up on his research and study the fruit's effect on penile erections.

Watermelon's Viagra-Like Effects

On hearing about the Texas finding, Irwin Goldstein, MD, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, was underwhelmed. Suggesting a man feast on watermelon to boost performance, he says, "would be the equivalent of someone dropping a beer bottle in Minneapolis, where the Mississippi River starts, and hoping to see it make an impact on someone in New Orleans."

"To say that watermelon is Viagra-like is sort of fun," says Goldstein. "But to even vaguely hope that eating watermelon will alleviate ED is misleading."

"The vast majority of Americans produce enough arginine," adds Goldstein, medical director of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, San Diego, and clinical professor of surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine. "Men with ED are not deficient in arginine."

Though arginine is required to make nitric oxide, and nitric oxide is required to dilate blood vessels and have an erection, "that doesn't mean eating something that is rich in citrulline will make enough arginine that it will lead to better penile erections," Goldstein says.

Goldstein has served as a consultant for many companies that make ED drugs.

Calling watermelon a natural Viagra is "clearly premature," says Roger Clemens, DrPH, adjunct professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a spokesman for the Institute of Food Technologists.

Clemens studied the amino acid arginine himself, researching a supplement to improve vascular flow for patients with hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis He has since abandoned that line of research, he says.

It can require a lot of watermelon to boost blood levels of arginine, he adds. In a study published in 2007 in Nutrition, he says, volunteers who drank three 8-ounce glasses of watermelon juice daily for three weeks boosted their arginine levels by 11%.

Watermelon is low in calories and provides potassium and the phytonutrients lycopene and beta-carotene, in addition to the citrulline.

Clemens' advice on watermelon and the Fourth of July? "Put salt on it and enjoy."

Just don't expect fireworks anywhere but in the sky.

SOURCES: Bhimu Patil, PhD, director of Texas A&M University Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, College Station. Roger Clemens, DrPH, adjunct professor, pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles; spokesman, Institute of Food Technologists. Irwin Goldstein, MD, editor-in-chief, Journal of Sexual Medicine; medical director, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center; clinical professor of surgery, University of California San Diego. Clevidence, B.A. Nutrition, March 2007; vol 23: pp 2    61-266.

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Do you dream big? Do you lay on your bed at night, awake, thinking of the next big thing? What is your vision? What is your passion? What do you want to see happen more than anything else in life? I'll ask again,what is your vision?

God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we will have patience. 

-Oswald Chambers

Some of you reading this don't have a vision. Some have an idea of the vision but have no clue as to what to do with it. Some are in the valley where the vision doesn't seem possible. Where are you right now? I am in the valley. God is doing some amazing stuff through our youth ministry, but there is so much more that needs to happen. I refuse to faint and give way. I am one of those crazy people that looks at any building and imagines it being a youth facility where youth can have security and learn more about God's love. I see a young visitor walk into our youth group and I immidiatley begin to see them doing amazing stuff for God (in a secular or church situation..that doesn't matter). That's my vision, to see a Generation turn towards God and spark a fire to ignite the world. I choose to see the 80 young people on Wednesday as sparks for this vision that will some day come to pass. Pray that I will never go faint or give way. I will do the same for you. What is your vision? Don't stop believing for it, God is setting everything in motion for it! Get ready and get pumped about your vision! ]]> http://livethevision.wordpress.com/?p=63 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:38:49 +0000 livethevision http://livethevision.wordpress.com/?p=63 Do you dream big? Do you lay on your bed at night, awake, thinking of the next big thing? What is your vision? What is your passion? What do you want to see happen more than anything else in life? I'll ask again, what is your vision?

God gives us the vision, then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of the vision, and it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way. Every vision will be made real if we will have patience. 

-Oswald Chambers

Some of you reading this don't have a vision. Some have an idea of the vision but have no clue as to what to do with it. Some are in the valley where the vision doesn't seem possible. Where are you right now? I am in the valley. God is doing some amazing stuff through our youth ministry, but there is so much more that needs to happen. I refuse to faint and give way. I am one of those crazy people that looks at any building and imagines it being a youth facility where youth can have security and learn more about God's love. I see a young visitor walk into our youth group and I immidiatley begin to see them doing amazing stuff for God (in a secular or church situation..that doesn't matter). That's my vision, to see a Generation turn towards God and spark a fire to ignite the world. I choose to see the 80 young people on Wednesday as sparks for this vision that will some day come to pass. Pray that I will never go faint or give way. I will do the same for you. What is your vision? Don't stop believing for it, God is setting everything in motion for it! Get ready and get pumped about your vision!

Además, me encanta criticar a los despojos humanos que aun continúan en la academia, lo que me hace feliz, como si de un Risto Meijide cualquiera fuera yo. El caso es que hoy le toca a nuestra queridísima peluquera y fulanorra de tercera Sandra, que es la que tenía que haberse marchado la semana pasada pero que con su muestra de falta de educación no sólo consiguió cautivar al público descontento con Risto sino que demostró una vez más como el verdadero talento no está triunfando en la academia, como demostró su queridísima Esther permaneciendo tanto tiempo bajo ese techo.

Yo antes de que Jesús Vázquez dijera el nombre de la que permanecía en la academia ya lo sabía. Antes lo intuía porqué había hecho un cara a cara con Risto pensando que si de ello podía sacar algo que le favoreciera, podrían no ser expulsada. Y lo consiguió. Pero el caso es que Jesús Vázquez dejó ver sin darse cuenta a la cámara las dos primeras letras del nombre y eran claramente SA...

Lo único que me queda por decir es que espero que hoy se vaya esa mujer de la academia, una de las personas más antipática que han pasando por la academia después de Noelia e Ivan, a la que por cierto su nombramiento como María Magdalena le viene que ni al pelo, pues las dos se dedicaban a las mismas profesiones. No, señores, María Magdalena no era peluquera.

La gala del martes pasado, hay que ver cuánto he tardado en escribir este post, dejó otra sorpresa, y es que una de las personas de la academia destacaba por un 51% de votos para que fuera la ganadora. Es evidente que quién era esa persona, Virginia, la verdadera ganadora de ese operación triunfo, la verdadera triunfadora, la persona que a pesar de tener en su contra a los profesores al jurado y a los compañeros que ha demostrado lo que vale y lo que seguirá valiendo.

Me hace gracia que la única persona que le apoye sea Risto Meijide, aquella persona que todo el mundo consideraba el ogró, el destructor, y sin embargo ha resultado ser la única persona que ha dicho las verdades a quienes tenía que decírselas, la única persona que ha tenido la entereza de darse cuenta quién realmente merecía la pena en ese concurso y la única persona que merecería estar el año que viene en esa mesa del jurado.

Recordemos claramente cómo Risto Meijide, en imágenes obtenidas en el chat, en el intermedio abandona la mesa del jurado y se marcha. Está claro que tiene la conciencia bien tranquila y no quiere juntarse con esa gentuza. Y además, consideró impropio de un jurado que empiecen a decir quienes quieren que sean sus ganadores, cosa totalmente inmoral porque pretenden influir en la decisión de las personas. Ese jurado tiene una falta grave de personalidad y de profesionalidad, y han de ser conscientes de que este programa se ve mayoritariamente por Virginia y por Risto Meijide, y que ellos no son nada más que meros teloneros de estas dos grandes estrellas, que son las que verdaderamente han obtenido el mayor éxito de esta edición de operación triunfo. Por eso, votar con todas vuestras fuerzas para que Virginia gane.

LA CENSURA DE WORDPRESS

According to an article on teen drug abuse I read - in each of the last seven years - teens and parents still list drugs as being their biggest concern.   If this is actually true - then it's time that we do something as parents about the drug use.

Before we can do anything we have to know what the problem is and then we can explore options.  So we need to explore what types of drugs kids are abusing these days.

Cocaine - Actually, cocaine abuse is mostly common among adults.  In fact, the most common age to start is in the early 20s. Roughly 8% of high school seniors report ever having tried cocaine.

Marijuana - According to one study on teen drug abuse statistics - this is the leading drug for teens next to alcohol. 19.9% of teens report usage in the last 30 days and 34.3% report using in the last year. 

Heroin - Heroin abuse is not very common among teenagers. In the study cited above - less than 1% of teens reported having used heroin in the past year.  Approx 1.5% of high school seniors report having tried heroin at one time.

Alcohol - this is clearly the leading "drug" of choice by teenagers.  There will be an article to follow regarding teen alcohol abuse after this post.

Prescriptions - there is an upswing in the statistics on prescription drug abuse.

Bottom line - we as parents need to do more to educate ourselves about the problem. Some think that it's not that big of a deal. This kind of thinking is backwards. We must do something now - statistics of all kinds are on the rise. From teen suicide statistics to teen pregnancy statistics. It's all tied together in one form or another. If your teen is on drugs or alcohol - studies show they are more likely to get into trouble in other ways.

There are many things to do to prevent teen drug use. Parents need to be awake when the kids come home so they can see or smell something on them.  It's also good to look into the warning signs so you can tell if the behavior matches that of someone who is high or drunk.  According to many advice sites it can be good to discuss the effects of drugs and dangers with your teens. 

If you suspect your teen is using drugs you can get an at home drug kit on the internet for very cheap. We recommend talking to your local doctor or therapist on the best approach to tackle this problem with your teen. Getting the right counseling or drug treatment center through referrals from a local professional is the best way to go.

Please visit some of the sites linked here to get information on the topics discussed here. We are all in this together and we must act now - times aren't getting easier and we must address the issue before these behaviors become common or normal/accepted behaviors in society.

Thanks and good luck with your teen!

Concealer: Has a life of about 18 months due to emulsion (the ingredients will begin to separate). Also, remember you’re generally using concealer to cover blemishes, which can be more sensitive and prone to infection than other parts of your face.

Liquid Foundation: You should never use liquid foundation after more than one year. Always use a sponge, and not your germ-laden fingers! If the foundation separates or smells bad, throw it out.
 

Loose Powder: This item can last for years.

Eye Shadow: Lasts 12-18 months if it is a cream, 2 years if it’s a powder.

Lip Pencil: Can last 3 years due to the wood and wax. Remember to sharpen and cover between uses.

Lipstick: Can hold up for 2-3 years, but if there is a color change or rancid smell, throw it out.

Lip gloss: Don’t keep more than 18 months due to a different formulation chemical composition and the same dipping problem as mascara.

Contact me today for information about mark cosmetics, product samples or starting your own mark business! email meka@imetmark.com

I'm so sorry i haven't updated you guys more! Okay so, pretty much whats new w/us is that my hair is not blonde anymore! It is more like a redish brown.... Sorry g2g already!

I totally promise to type to you guys again soon!

Hebrews 11:1

Sincerely,

Abby