CAN FLOWERS HELP WITH MEDITATION

Every living thing on this planet has its own unique energy, and flowers are no different. Plenty of yogis or casual stretchers have used flora in their meditation practices, not just because they’re aesthetically pleasing and smell good, but for the vibe, they give off. Let’s look at the ways you can use flowers in your meditation practice.

The Power of Flower Energy

Flower energy is compelling, especially with a combination of the outdoors. One of the significant health benefits of keeping flowers is that it can raise oxygen levels in your brain, which boosts serotonin levels. Exercising outdoors or near plants will also increase endorphins, which creates a “runner’s high” where you feel calm and clear-headed.

A Stanford University study found that smelling flowers can also reduce rates of depression if they’re surrounded by flora for approximately 60-90 minutes per day as opposed to an urban setting. Forest bathing, or Shinrinyoku, is a Japanese tradition where citizens would take a short walk around a forest. These trips led to reduced anger, depression, and anxiety.

Along with the benefits mentioned, being around flowers also helps you sleep better. A University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health study found that nature, plants, and flowers help you unwind and leave stress behind.

Plants and the Expression of Joy

Shelly Levis, writer of Countertop Gardens, said that “a plant in flower is its highest expression of joy.” Flowers have been used to shift people's awareness and lift spirits for centuries. Think of a new couple giving each other roses or a friend expressing condolences for the loss of a loved one. These expressions of love and humanity still continue to this day.

In general, scent activates awareness because scent reaches our long-term memory faster than the other 4 senses. However, some flowers start that process better than others.

Roses

Roses have a light fragrance that calms the mind and increases the focus during exercise. Many practitioners will sprinkle rose petals throughout the room or put them in freshwater. Their rich source of anti-inflammatory compounds will make you feel light and cool. After the practice, you can turn the petals into rose water to spray on your skin for a vitamin A and C dose.

Lilies

Similar to roses, the scent of lilies isn’t too overpowering. We suggest going for white lilies because their soft coloring isn’t too difficult on the eyes and will make your mind less active. Keep them in a low water bowl to float and watch them do their magic. Lilies are often considered as one of the best flowers for mental health because they stay fresh all day long.

Daffodil

Yellow tends to induce happiness in others, and the daffodil can cause the same warm feeling in your self-rejuvenation session. You can pair them with other floras because they don’t overpower a bouquet, which is excellent. After all, you’d miss out on their soothing vibrations. Daffodils are eye-soothing, attractive, and are a great addition to baths.

Lotus

If there is any flower associated with meditation, it’s the lotus. The lotus' beautiful and bright shape represents rejuvenation and life and is one of the few flowers that bloom twice. Their openness will provide you with excellent vibrations and positive energy. Choose pink lotuses for an authentic yogi experience, but any genus of the flower will work perfectly.

Jasmine

The jasmine flowers that grow on shrubs are great for increasing focusing power for meditation. Jasmine will help you feel relaxed, especially if you sprinkle these small blooms around your body as you concentrate. Their aroma is delightful but may overwhelm you if you’re used to using the other flora on this list. Keep them near other flowers for better results.

HOW MANY CARBS SHOULD YOU BE EATING ON KETO?

The process of your body absorbing energy by burning fat is called ketosis, hence the name ketogenic diet or keto for short. 

A keto diet involves the intake of fat over carbohydrates. For your body to use up fat as a glucose source, carb intake should be kept low. However, novice keto dieters often commit the mistake of eliminating carbs.

Carb consumption is required for ketosis to take effect. Since carbs can be easily quantified, a keto calculator should assist people who are new to a keto diet or planning on trying this diet. 

Lowest Carb Count Possible 
For ketosis to set in, you should be consuming 15-30 grams of carbs per day. Though some other keto diets require higher amounts, this is ideal as it will keep your fat-burning at optimal levels.  

If you have an exercise regimen that keeps you active daily, carb consumption need not be too restricted as you will burn these off.

Conversely, without enough exercise, you should have less carb consumption. 

Which Carbs to Eat 

Carb measurements aren't set in stone. But for a keto diet, this may be a little bit restrictive or even elusive. Many kinds of food provide carbohydrates. Be aware of which are good and which ones to avoid. 

Below is a quick list of what carbs you should be able to consume when undergoing a keto diet: 

• Broccoli – A small bunch 

• Spinach – 4 bunches 

• Cabbage – Half a large head 

• Cauliflower – A medium head 

• Leeks – 2 pieces 

• Sweet Potatoes – A medium sweet potato 

• Carrots – 4 large carrots 

• Butternut Squash – Half a medium squash 

• Pineapple – 7 chunks 

• Strawberries – 20 pieces 

• Lemons – 3 lemons 

• Coconut – A medium coconut 

• Dark Chocolate (80% Cocoa) - Half a 100g bar 

• Raw Macadamia Nuts – 50 pieces 

• Avocado – 5 avocadoes 

Benefits of Low Carb Consumption 

The most significant benefit of undergoing a keto diet is appetite reduction. You will find yourself eating and craving fewer carbohydrates. In turn, your body would lose more weight than with a regular diet. Your abdomen will be one of the first body parts to shrink considerably. 

Then, your good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), will also rise in the count, resulting in a healthier heart and circulatory system. Keeping your good cholesterol high is a way you can also reduce any form of heart disease.

Keeping your good cholesterol high is a way you can also reduce any form of heart disease. Following this is the lowering of your blood sugar and insulin levels. The diet will also lower your blood pressure and decrease the effects of hypertension. 

Surprisingly, keeping your carbs low may also contribute to staving off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s due to the fulfillment of the brain's glucose requirement. Without any carbs to rely on, your liver will produce glucose and send it to your brain. 

High Fat, Low Carbs 

A keto diet requires you to focus on consuming a specific kind of food only. Keep your fat intake high and your carb intake low. Lower carbs mean your body will enter a state of ketosis quicker, and the burning of your body fat will begin sooner, allowing your body to shed off some pounds even while you aren’t doing anything. For quicker weight loss, you have the option of trying out keto supplements. So, get that grocery list ready—it's time to buy fewer carbs.

HEALTHY HABITS 101

When we end and begin a new year, we’re always looking at how we can be our best selves! Although 2020 was a year that was filled with the unexpected, we’re all looking forward to what 2021 will bring. We chatted with Jamie Hess, a finess and lifestyle expert whose mom, Joan Lunden encouraged others to live in a healthy way in addition to being an iconic TV journalist. Via @NYCFitFam, Jamie and her husband George continue that ethos by sharing tips on fitness, nutrition, mindfulness and conscious parenting. We wanted to get her thoughts on healthy habits.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Let’s start with the basics – what should we all be thinking about, in regards to our family’s nutrition choices in this new year.

JAMIE HESS: The one thing I always tell people is don’t get your calories from sugar-filled sodas and energy drinks.

I love Zevia. It’s a brand of delicious zero-sugar, zero-calorie beverages for the whole family, including soda, energy, mixers, kidz sparkling beverage and USDA Organic and Fair-Trade Certified tea. So it's great for parents looking to make better choices in the new year and for helping their kids do the same.

All Zevia drinks are full of flavor and variety so those looking to cut sugar or calories in the new year don't have to compromise on taste or sweetness.  For those following a doctor recommended or low sugar meal plan - Zevia beverages are naturally-sweetened with Stevia and do not raise blood sugar levels. Zevia products are also free from artificial ingredients, colors or preservatives, they are also Non-GMO and gluten-free.

I have to tell you, Zevia was my savior when I was pregnant with my second child. A carbonated beverage is always a good way to combat the nausea that comes with pregnancy. During my first pregnancy, I always had traditional ginger ale handy. With my second pregnancy I looked for a “better for you” alternative and Zevia was my favorite, by far.  Especially since it does not have artificial sweeteners.

The energy drinks are a great way to get my day started and get ready for my daily work out, or when I need an extra boost in the afternoon.

AM: What other tips do you have that will help with full-body wellness?

JH: People everywhere are looking for new ways to boost their immune systems. In fact, Google Trends showed the term “immune boost” as one of the most heavily searched in 2020. That’s why a product line on my radar this year is Bee & You.

Bee & You is a line of products derived from bees. You can put the water-soluble drops in your juice, carry the throat spray in your purse or take it in a tablet form to boost your immunity and energy.

All of these products are made from Propolis extract, which is a natural resin-like product that bees collect from the trees, to protect the bee colony and the hive from harmful bacteria, viruses, fungus and parasites. And it has the same effects for humans too.

It’s super high antioxidant and is an immune-booster which is something we could all use during cold & flu season.

Bee & You products are 100% Natural, purity tested and do not not contain any GMOs, chemicals, artificial colors, sweeteners, gluten, soy or dairy.

AM: Aside from dietary choices, what should we be thinking about in terms of daily activity?

JH: I don’t like “resolutions” - I’m all about a daily exercise practice that’s attainable & sustainable

Do it for your mental health as much as your physical health - physically active people have up to a 30% reduced risk of becoming depressed. You don’t have to go crazy trying to become a workout pro overnight (it’s also not realistic!). Simply walking has actually been proven to improve self-esteem, mood, sleep quality, and it reduces stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Jogging, or even just brisk walking are always the easiest, most basic way to get our bodies moving. A 60 minute walk can burn about 250 calories, while 60 minutes of jogging can torch about double that. Embrace the sunshine (even if it's chilly) and get outside!

Anchor your day with a workout plan, even if it’s just 30 minutes - put it on your calendar

OUR MENTAL HEALTH IN 2021

With a new year, we think about how we can optimize ourselves in a number of ways. Although many think about fitness, there is also a need to focus on our mental health. We took some time to chat with Dr. Desreen N. Dudley, PsyD. She is a mental health quality consultant and clinical psychologist at Teladoc. We wanted to find out how we can manage our Mental Health in general and even moreso due to a number of events that we have been living in from social justice, the pandemic, an insane election period and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We utilize a lot of terms within the wellness space from mental health, anxiety, self-care – can you define these terms as a baseline?

DR. DESREEN N. DUDLEY, PSYD: Mental health refers to one’s emotional and psychological well-being. Anxiety refers to worry, nervousness, or feeling of doom about a future event and/or a situation in which the outcome is uncertain, often considered uncontrolled worry. Self-care refers to engaging in activities aimed at improving or promoting one’s health and whole being, including physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. In my role at Teladoc, I help people address their mental health and anxiety concerns and encourage them to engage in self-care – especially at times like these.

AM: How important is it to be aware of mental health and to manage it?

DR. DND PSYD: It is extremely important for all of us to have mental health awareness; that is, understanding that mental health is important by talking openly about what is needed in order to take care of it, and accepting the state of one’s mental health (in other words, understanding what aspects of one’s mental health is good, and what areas may need improvement). Without an awareness of mental health, one will have difficulty understanding what is needed in order to manage it. Managing mental health is easier than ever now with telemedicine, which enables people to take care of their mental health from the convenience of their home. Teladoc allows parents to care for their own mental well-being – and the overall health of their family – while at home with school-age children who may be remote learning. The danger of not managing mental health appropriately is that poor management is reflected in poor coping strategies and self-destructive behaviors, which place a person at risk for chronic medical conditions due to poor lifestyle choices, or overall decline in functioning.

AM: What would you suggest are the basic things people need in order to have good mental health?

DR. DND PSYD: 1. Talking about your feelings, instead of stuffing or ignoring them.

2. Take care of your physical well-being! Get good sleep, eat healthy, and fit in physical activity regularly. Physical activity alone has been shown to have positive impacts on depressed mood.

3. Stay connected with family, friends, and loved ones. Social isolation and withdrawal exacerbate depression, and people feel more fulfilled when they feel connected to others.

4. Avoid excessive consumption of news and social media, which can increase general levels of stress due to focus on things outside one’s control.

5. Seek help in the form of therapy. Engaging in mental health treatment, such as through telemedicine, IS taking care of your mental health, and can offer ways to challenge negative patterns of thinking and behaviors and learn to replace them with more adaptive ways. Of course, telehealth also offers the benefit of being done in the comfort of your own home, and on your own time.

6. Help others. Doing so increases sense of gratitude, appreciation, and sense of worth.

7. Do things that are enjoyable to you. If you are struggling to find something of interest, research something new.

AM: What are the signs when you or someone you may know is struggling with mental health?

DR. DND PSYD:  While an evaluation with a licensed mental health professional is the best way to know if someone is struggling with a mental health condition, there are some signs that can be indicative of this. Mental health of yourself and your loved ones should be a top priority. It’s important to get yourself – or someone you know – help right away – without worries of health coverage. Teladoc, for example, provides mental health services to individuals regardless of insurance.

1. Change in one’s typical mood (a generally content person becoming sad or irritable most to all of the time)

2. Odd or bizarre unusual behavior, such as suspiciousness, irritability and argumentativeness

3. Problems with cognition, including concentrating, poor focus and difficulty staying on task, lack of attention, forgetting

4. Disruption in sleep pattern and changes in appetite, increase or decrease

5. Social withdrawal- disconnecting from family or friends, loss of interest in activities typically enjoyed

6. Decline in functioning- decreased performance at work, dropping grades in school, not tending to daily activities one usually manages well

AM: In times like navigating a pandemic, the election and the continued activities around this, the fight for social justice and then the issues that people have personally – how much harder is it for those that are struggling with mental health and are feeling overwhelmed?

DR. DND PSYD: What I’ve seen is that those who have been struggling to manage mental health prior to these world-wide traumatic events -- the pandemic, presidential election of 2020, and racial tensions and the fight for social justice -- have indeed shown an increase in negative mood symptoms. But the pandemic will have lasting effects on everyone. Telehealth and virtual care are great ways to manage mental health, the pandemic, and everything else that happened in 2020. At Teladoc, we’ve seen many people seeking counseling and therapy as a form of self-care. The mandate for social distancing, while necessary for health, has been a major struggle for those with depression, given that staying socially connected and not isolating at home has been the main recommendation to combat depression. Financial stress, witnessing mass deaths and the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19, and overall uncertainty about the future has been emotionally traumatic for many of us. The fight for social justice has triggered reminders of personal experiences with social injustice. What I’ve seen is that the social justice movement has empowered some, giving voice to those who have felt helpless in their personal experiences. 

AM: Many of us have been staying at home from working, starting or maintaining our businesses, not being able to interact with people in person, what’s a great way to create a sense of a schedule while also bringing in people that we are not bubbling with?

DR. DND PSYD: This pandemic and the call for physical distancing have really drawn attention to the power of technology – all ages and generations of people have been moved to learn to use it! A great way to stay connected to others is through social media, joining virtual community groups which may allow for making new connections. While working from home, it is crucial for adults to create and maintain a schedule similar to what they had when working in office. Ending work at a reasonable time is key, so that social and enjoyable activities can be scheduled into the routine.

AM: For many, they have been quarantining with a significant other and they have been with that person for constant interaction, what is the healthy way that they can share highs and lows together and to be able to engage one another without feeling fatigued?

DR. DND PSYD: Instead of focusing on frustration with social isolation from others, couples can take the opportunity to strengthen their bond. Explore and engage in new activities with each other, communicate more to stay connected, including sharing joys, aspirations and fears. Couples quarantining should have a routine in place that supports and helps each other carve out time for self-care and avoid fatigue. Couples with children can really strengthen their relationship by functioning even more so as a well-orchestrated team, giving each other “breaks” and taking turns when it comes to child care duties.

AM: How does the holiday season add another layer to potential mental health issues?

DR. DND PSYD: Holidays tend to trigger increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms for those who struggle with mental health, as I’ve seen it often is a time of year that triggers reminders of loss or absences of loved ones -- and it increases sadness. The pandemic and call to be physically distant from close family and friends during the holidays have created stress for all of us, regardless of pre-existing mental health issues. At a time when we all are even more aware of mortality -- and that our loved ones may not survive if afflicted with COVID-19 -- it has been stressful to not do what is the natural inclination, which is to spend as much time as possible with our loved ones.

AM: Is it important to be able to “step away” and take time for yourself even though you may be within the same area and around the same person?

DR. DND PSYD: Yes, I believe so. Staying connected to others in a healthy way is possible when one feels they also have time to themselves to reflect. Couples and families quarantining together should seek to strike a balance – find activities to do with each other, and also schedule time to keep for yourself. Within families, this can help parents feel that they are getting a break, especially with most young children remote learning while parents are working.

AM: Seasonal Affective Disorder is something that a number of people navigate even during a normal year, how is this impacted further as we continue to ride out staying in to lower the curve?

DR. DND PSYD: Seasonal affective disorder impacts many during this time of year. I see increased depressive symptoms as the daytime hours decrease, and a sign of increased depression is social withdrawal. While the recommendation for patients who struggle with seasonal affective patterns of depression is to avoid social isolation by going outside the home, spending time with friends or family or engaging in a social activity, the need to physically distance to stay safe really presents a barrier. Sometimes people just really need to talk to another person or hear an outside perspective. One recommendation could be to use telemedicine to talk to a licensed clinical psychologist from their own homes.

AM: Can you tell me about Blue Monday which is on Jan 18th. Why is this a day of note and what can be done to alleviate this?

DR. DND PSYD: Blue Monday, which is the 3rd Monday of January, has been referred to as such based on the theory that many people struggle with overwhelming self-disappointment that they are not accomplishing or not making progress on their New Year’s resolutions. Common resolutions include to start actively working out, improving money management, maybe abstaining from a guilty pleasure or alcohol or other substances. I think this day reflects expectations that may have either been too lofty or have unrealistic timeframes. Ways to manage this may be to set more realistic timeframes toward New Year’s resolutions that change expectations of what should be accomplished three weeks after the new year. Also, given that we would have all survived the first year of a pandemic, perhaps that should be the celebration of January 2021 -- focus on gratitude for making it through a very challenging and traumatic year.

AM: How can we maintain positive mental health as we continue through this time and eventually begin the transition as vaccines become more available?

DR. DND PSYD: 1. Practice self-care: Engage in regular physical activity, even as simple as taking a walk. This can be done with another while physically distant.

2. Telemedicine is here to stay. In fact, telephone and video visits for mental health are as effective as in-person treatment. I encourage people to use telemedicine as a convenient option to care for their own mental health needs -- as well as their family’s health needs – at a moment’s notice. Telehealth covers everything from the everyday illness to specialty concerns, including dermatology.

3. Limit exposure to news and social media, if needed. While informational, these can be major trigger of heightened stress.

4. Maintain a regular routine, but be flexible and anticipate that changes may occur. Have back up activities that you may be able to do if there are changes to your expected schedule.

5. Talk to someone you trust about your feelings, either mental health professional or confidant. Don’t stuff emotions, releasing them increases your ability to manage them.   

DIFFERENT WAYS TO INCORPORATE CYCLING INTO YOUR ROUTINE

We all know that person who has a bike sitting in their garage, unused, covered in dust, and acting as a rack to hold miscellaneous items that are also currently out of use, and perhaps you yourself are this person. Maybe that bike is also a stationary exercise bike in your basement or other out of sight out of mind space in your home purchased with the best of intentions but never being used. Life can get busy and with efficiency and time management being high on everyone’s priority lists, you might not think that you have any available time to add cycling, but it is more a matter of identifying the time that already exists as opposed to trying to create it from scratch.

Upgrade Your Game

Part of the reason that many lose motivation and desire to use their bikes is boredom. Becoming bored with your bike and the routes that you ride it on are common so find new ways to get excited about your old hobby and you can reignite your initial draw. Electric bikes are one of the more recent trends in the cycling world. These motorized bikes allow hobbyists of all ranges to enjoy a bike ride that can be for leisure, exercise, or simply woosh past all the other slowpokes. With a range of 120 miles these bikes can certainly help you explore new routes that you may have previously wrote off due to length or terrain.

If your cycle hobby is indoors in the form of a stationary exercise bike, consider upgrading your game by switching up the style in which you ride. There are so many apps available now that either specialize in or have categories for indoor cycle. Rides can be customized based off goals, time frames, music preferences, and even the instructor guiding you through it. Variation is an awesome boredom buster and if you explore the new technologies you will see that there is no shortage of that with these apps and programs.

Use as a Supplement

Using your bike as a supplement for other modes of transportation may take some creativity, but if you really want to spend time on your bike but think that you have none, this is a good place to look. Biking to and from work instead of driving, walking, or taking public transit is a great option if time, distance, and climate allow. Even if this supplement is made on occasion when conditions allow you may find that it is a simple swap to make.

You can also find ways to incorporate your bicycle into your social life. A simple online search may lead you to cycle clubs or groups in your area that have scheduled rides. Joining a club can create accountability for the reluctant rider as well as teach you about new outdoor routes previously unfamiliar to you. Such groups and clubs also exist for the indoor hobbyist so building a community is relatively easy for both types of riders. If you are seeking out a more intermittent but still social and group opportunity for cycling, investigate charitable organizations that have riding events to raise money and awareness for a specific cause. These events are often held both in person as well as virtually so your options for participation are plentiful.

TOP 3 BENEFITS OF SLEEP FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Sleep plays a major role in improving mental and emotional health. When you disturb your sleep schedule, it can affect the quality of your skin, hormonal status but it can also take a toll on your mental health as well. Sleep is vital for cell regeneration, memory consolidation and information processing. Not taking care of your body properly by not giving it a chance to recover and gain back the lost energy is a serious obstacle for functioning properly. Take a look at our list below to see how problematic lack of sleep can be for your mental health, and how it influences your life in a positive way.

More Relaxed

When you get enough sleep on a daily basis, your body has a lot more energy and is ready to take on everyday challenges with more ease. Sleeping properly is directly related to the feeling of relaxation and ease. When you are well-rested it’s easier to manage stressful situations you experience. One of the simplest relaxation strategies for the mind and body is getting optimal 8 hours of sleep. Feeling relaxed can help you focus on things that are important such as how to manage your daily anxiety, think outside the box at work and frame your everyday choices a bit better. Sleeping properly and giving your body enough time to rest means experiencing life and ideas in a totally different way. Relaxed people are less likely to create conflicts, take part in arguing and they resolve potential serious issues easier.

Less Likely to Be Nervous

Having a good night’s sleep reduces the risk of being depressed or feeling anxious. Lack of sleep makes everyone moody and more irritable than usual. Furthermore, sleep is important for professional athletes’ mental health who tend to be more sensitive to stress and fatigue when they are too tired, which in most cases results in not being at the top of their game. Besides eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise, sleep is important for athletes who need to make sure that their physical, mental and emotional health isn’t jeopardized by oscillations in winning and losing. It’s the best way to replenish energy and reduce mental strain they’re exposed to at every training session and game. Sleep deprivation can cause mood changes, paranoia, fatigue, memory problems and even make you more prone to making morally impaired decisions. 

Think Clearly

When your judgement is clouded and it’s too hard to focus on making important decisions, it’s highly likely that your mind is just too tired to be thinking clearly. When you don’t think about how drowsy you’re feeling, you’re able to make rational decisions based on facts, rather than emotions. Making decisions that are not based on the negative effects of sleep issues can help you feel more emotionally stable and less nervous about the future and its impact. High-quality rest gives you the opportunity to function optimally during the day by being productive and efficient in every sphere of life, including taking a proactive approach at work.  

Mental health issues caused by lack of sleep can harm your self-confidence, mood, behaviour and the way you think and observe situations in your life. Sleep problems are common nowadays due to the hectic lifestyle we all lead. High-quality sleep can improve your overall health and well-being. When it comes to relaxing your mind to sleep, it is best to start with breathing exercises and slowly, but surely focus on rhythmically exhaling your breath. How do you cope with sleep problems and what impact does it have on your mental health? Tell us all about your experience in the comment section below!

HOW TO KEEP WARM WHEN HUNTING IN THE WINTER

How To Keep Warm When Hunting In The Winter 

If you’re a hunter, you’ll probably go hunting even during the winter. However, the cold weather may stop you from making your hunting experience comfortable and at the same time enjoyable. While you may have a choice to stay at home and watch hunting shows on the television to avoid freezing, there are plenty of ways that can help keep yourself warm if you go hunting in the colder months.  

To fend off freezing temperatures and hunt all day comfortably, read on so you’ll know some tips for keeping yourself warm throughout the activity.  

1. Dress Appropriately  

Typically, the type of clothing you choose for your winter hunt is essential for your comfort and warmth. By wearing the proper clothes, you can keep yourself warm while hunting in the cold weather. To make sure the cold temperature will not affect your hunting experience, here’s how you should dress the different parts of your body: 

• Feet – To keep your feet warm, you should never wear tight boots as they can restrict your blood circulation, which will cause your toes to get cold. Instead, you should use a pair of boots that fit loosely. Also, if your feet sweat when you start walking, consider wearing a dry or wicking sock to make sure you’ll not feel the cold into your feet.  

• Head – Most hunters will have to face the cold wind when hunting. Unfortunately, this scenario will cause you to get cold quickly and get some headaches. Thus, if you want to be comfortable while hunting in the winter, using a full-face mask can be an excellent option. It can help protect your face from the cold wind brought about by the winter season. If you’re planning to buy a face mask for your winter hunting needs, then check out some reliable resource websites to find out more about these products.  

• Hands – Your hands are essential when hunting during the winter season. To make sure they’ll not get cold, you should wear a pair of thick gloves to have maximum comfort. 

• Body – To keep your body warm, it’s important to develop a layering system when you’re hunting. That way, you’ll be ready for whatever Mother Nature sends your way during the winter hunt. To get the most out of this layering system, put together the skin garments, mid-layers like a windproof vest, and outer layers such as insulated bibs with a midweight jacket.

2. Bring Heat Packs

In addition to wearing the proper clothing during the hunt, you can also minimize the cold by using heat packs, which are used to warm parts of the body to ensure comfort. Just be sure to bring mega-size and disposable heat packs suited for large body parts. 

Before the hunt begins, place some of these around your midsection to help keep you warm and prevent your body from releasing heat away from your extremities. This can be a great way to ensure you’ll stay comfortable and away from the cold during your hunting journey.  

3. Take Some Snacks  

Typically, your body has to burn calories to keep it warm. Hence, if you want to ensure your body’s warmth when hunting, find time to prepare some healthy and delicious snacks. Be sure these snacks also contain high-calorie content, such as those rich in complex carbohydrates and protein. That way, you can fuel your body with lots of calories, which are necessary for staying warm throughout the hunt. 

Aside from bringing and eating some snacks, be sure to drink hot water throughout the day to avoid dehydration, which may contribute to getting cold easily. Also, the more you consume hot water, the more it’ll help warm you inside and out.   

Wrapping Up  

If you’ve never hunted in truly cold temperatures, then it’s time to learn the importance of keeping yourself warm, safe, and dry throughout the hunt. You’ll not enjoy your hunting experience if you get cold quickly.  

Therefore, if you’re planning to go for a winter hunt anytime soon, keep the tips mentioned above in mind so you’ll know how to beat the cold and stay warm.  

THE NEWEST LAS VEGAS CASINO RESORTS REVEALED

Planning your first trip to Las Vegas in 2021? Good choice. The bright lights of “Sin City” in the heart of the Nevada desert attract tens of millions worldwide each year. It’s not just a place to sit down and play cards anymore. It’s become an all-out entertainment paradise.

If you are unsure of where to stay on the Strip – or ‘Downtown’ on Fremont Street – read on as we outline the newest casino resorts to use as a stylish, contemporary base for your stay.

PHOTO COURTESY | Pisqels

Many of these resorts now specialize in extensive dining and retail experiences too. As we explored at https://www.athleisuremag.com, where else on the planet can you dine indoors looking out to an ancient Romanesque replica of the Trevi Fountain like the hugely popular? That’s before we even mention the city’s state-of-the-art entertainment, spanning comedy, theatre shows and live music performances. However, most first-time visitors to Las Vegas also want to sample the thrill of playing casino games. The new casino resorts listed below contain tens of thousands of square feet of casino floor space, spanning table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as hundreds of low and high-limit slots.

If you are new to playing slot machines, it’s always recommended to get a feel for slot dynamics before you travel by playing online first. https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/ is a reliable starting point. This portal lists thousands of free slots available to try without having to pay a cent using ‘play money’. Many of which are iconic slots still played on the casino floors of resorts on the Vegas Strip, including Aristocrat’s Buffalo and Bally’s Quick Hit slots. This site even offers a FAQ for those who want to look into this more.

The following five casino resorts are the newest kids on the Las Vegas block, bringing contemporary style and sophistication to your casino gaming, nightlife and all-round entertainment on vacation:

Waldorf Astoria (opened in 2018)

PHOTO COURTESY | Pisqels

Set back on its mid-Strip location beside The Cosmopolitan, the Waldorf Astoria is one of the most extravagant resorts for anyone with deep pockets. Formerly known as the Mandarin Oriental, this resort has undergone a significant transformation. The jewel in the crown for the resort is its 23rd-floor Sky Bar, which affords panoramic views of the Strip day and night. It’s easy to tell how ‘upscale’ this resort is by revealing that guests can make use of the Moet & Chandon champagne vending machines on-demand. Can you get any more decadent?!

Park MGM (opened in 2018)

The former Monte Carlo casino resort dates back to 1996 and 20 years on, it already desperately needed a revamp. Fortunately, the Park MGM renovations have transformed it into a warmer, more rustic resort, with entertainment oozing out of its every pore. A stone’s throw from the hotel is the new Park Theater, which plays host to some of the world’s biggest pop stars including Lady Gaga. Meanwhile, the T-Mobile Arena is also just around the corner, playing host to the Los Angeles Golden Knights NHL ice hockey team. The Eataly food court is also well-received, spanning cheap eats and delectable delights in equal measure.

Sahara (opened in 2019)

Located at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Sahara, formerly known as the SLS, opened its doors in 2019. It is a 21st-century rebuild of the classic Sahara casino, which was one of the oldest on the Strip when it was closed due to its lack of viability as a commercial concern in 2011. The recent renovation was completed by Meruelo and the hotel was rebranded as Sahara Las Vegas in August 2019. Although it’s slightly off the beaten track of the Strip, this hotel boasts its own station on the Las Vegas Monorail, taking you up and down the four-mile-long network in a matter of minutes.

Circa Resort (opened in 2020)

If you are someone that would prefer to stay in the old-school ‘Downtown’ district of Las Vegas’ Fremont Street, the region recently welcomed the new Circa Resort with open arms. Overlooking classic casinos like the Golden Gate, Circa Resort opened at the end of October 2020. It’s the first brand-new casino resort in the Downtown area for over 40 years. With 44 stories and 777 rooms, it’s a major boost for the area. Its most striking area is the outdoor pool area, which boasts a magnificent viewing area of all the best live sports. Imagine taking a dip in the pool and kicking back watching the big game, with the desert sun on your back – bliss!

Resorts World Las Vegas (opening in 2021)

The next big opening is due to occur in summer 2021 with the much-anticipated Resorts World Las Vegas. Constructed at $4 billion, this Asian-inspired resort will become the next big mega-resort after the launch of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in 2010. It will comprise the trio of Hilton’s premium accommodation brands under one roof – LXR, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Conrad.

Hopefully one of these casino resorts will whet your appetite for your Vegas adventure but, if not, rest assured there’s at least another 30 resorts to peruse on the Strip alone!

10 EASY YOGA POSES FOR TIGHT BODIES

Many people have tight or inflexible bodies before they started doing yoga. If you think you can’t do yoga because your body is just not that stretchy, think again. Yoga is, in fact, suitable for people who aren’t flexible. 

To start off, yoga is more than just an exercise and is believed to provide holistic benefits the way ancient people believed in the healing powers of gemstones. Tinyrituals.co provides helpful information on various gemstones you can use incorporate into your yoga routine. 

Here are some poses to start practicing yoga today and make your tight body more flexible over time. 

1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

With your feet together, stand and spread your toes. Imagine strong energy through your feet. Breathe in deeply, relax your shoulders away from your ears. Then when you’re comfortable, you can close your eyes and then focus on your breathing. 

2. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Muka Svanasana)

Form an inverted ‘V’ by getting your hands to the floor. If you feel that your hamstrings and shoulders are tight, slightly bend your knees. Push your palms to the floor with your fingers spread. Then, position your head between your arms. Bring your shoulders away from your ears, then bring your tailbone up. Finally, breathe and focus. You can also use gemstone jewelry to create a yoga mala that you can use during your yoga practice. This kind of jewelry is believed to help the wearer achieve more focus.

3. Standing Forward Fold (Uttasana)

With your feet apart, stand and slightly bend your knees. Gradually lower your upper body and let it hand all the way forward. While doing this, you may also let your arms drop to the floor. Alternatively, you can also grab your opposite elbows. Stay in this position for at least thirty seconds and experience the benefits of the stretch. 

4. Extended Child’s Pose (Utthita Balasana)

Whether you’re doing this in a yoga class or at home, this pose can be done easily.  Start by getting on your hands and knees. With your knees apart, bring your big toes together. Bring your sit bones down to your heels. Then, let your torso rest between your thighs. Stretch your arms in front and you can rest your forehead on the cushion or mat. Stay in this position for up to two minutes to stretch the thighs, hips, and groin. 

5. Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana 2)

In a standing position, step your feet around four feet apart. Then, turn your right leg out ninety degrees and ensure that your left toes are angled slightly inwards. Ensure that your right ankle and knee are fixed on top of the other. Bring your hips away from each other while feeling the stretch. Bring your arms up parallel to the floor, with your palms down stretching to the fingertips, look towards the front middle finger. Hold this position for five breaths before switching sides. 

6. Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana)

Begin with a downward-facing dog position. Move your right foot up between the hands with exhalation. Make sure that your ankle and knee are aligned, or the ankle is slightly in front of the knee. The front foot should be flat on the mat and the back heel is lifted. As you inhale, bring your hands to the hips then, lift your upper body. Bring your arms up to the ceiling, with your palms towards each other. Relax your shoulders. Stay in this position for up to sixty seconds before switching sides. 

7. Easy Seated Pose (Sukhasana)

Start by sitting in a cross-legged position. Ensure that you cross at the calves and the feet are under the knees. If you feel your hips are tight, you may try sitting on a block to help you. Bring your spine upright to align with the hips and body. Relax your shoulders down away from your ears and close your eyes. You may place your hands lightly on your knees or let it rest on your lap. Focus on your breathing and stay in this position for as long as you feel comfortable.

8. Thread the Needle (Parsva Balasana)

On your mat, start with your hands and knees in neutral position. Move your knees to hip-width distance then, tuck your toes. Move the right hand one to two inches forward of your shoulder, then turn your gaze and chest towards your right hand. Then, thread your left arm under the right while positioning your left shoulder on the mat. Then, stretch your left fingers on the floor and straighten your arm. Have the left side of your head also rest on the floor. Hold and breathe while tension is naturally released. To get out of this position, push yourself into a neutral position by using your right hand. Do the same steps for the other side. 

9. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)

This position is perfect for relaxing and is excellent to perform at the end of a tiring day. Lay down flat on your back and swing the legs up a flat wall. Then, bring your sit bones towards the walls as close as possible. Add a pillow under your head or lower back for comfort, if needed. Focus on your breathing while you close your eyes and remain in this position as long as you need. 

10. Bridge (Setu Brandha Sarvangasana)

To start, lie flat on your back while bending your knees, placing them in line with your hips and parallel with your ankles. Keep your arms beside you, palms down while the head is on the floor, and your gaze down the middle of the body. While inhaling, gradually push the feet into the floor and moves your glutes while pushing the hips up towards the ceiling. Your arms should remain pushing into the floor. Stay in this position for five breaths then, gradually release down on the floor. Repeat three times. 

Final Thoughts

Doing yoga comes with plenty of benefits including improving flexibility, strengthening the body, and better focus. Yoga may look intimidating for some people, especially among those who think that they need to be flexible to do the poses. Fortunately, there are many poses that can be done even for people with tight bodies. 

EASY WAYS TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY IN VEGAS

With endless entertainment, natural landscapes, and sunny weather, Las Vegas is drawing more permanent residents to it every year. Las Vegas is considered a business-friendly place for many sectors, which also affects the housing market. The low amount of homes sold in Las Vegas makes it very easy to sell your house quickly due to the lack of competition. It’s worth mentioning that buyers will still want their properties to be shiny and interesting, which is where you’ll have to chime in. We’ll be mentioning a few of the easiest ways that can get you to sell your property in Vegas easily.

PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Jason Leung

Picking the Right Time

The time that you put your house or property on sale is very important in cities bustling with growth like Vegas. According to market trends, July seems to be the most profitable month to sell a house in. The appreciation rate of properties picks up starting from April until August. This is when families flock to the city to look for homes, especially those who have children that go to school. Naturally, holidays are known to be quite slow in sales as most people stay at home or go on vacation. It’s worth mentioning that Vegas’s weather is conveniently dry for most of the year, so the activity of property sales isn’t as high as other locations.

Hire a Real Estate Agent

The lack of competition in a hot housing market like Vegas may tempt a lot of people to forgo the services of real estate agents and sell the property on their own, especially those who are selling a fixer-upper property, but that can sometimes be a gamble. A good local real estate agent will anticipate problems before they happen, leaving enough time to come up with a plan that can tackle them. The legal paperwork involved is sensitive when it comes to mistakes. The wrong handling of the legal paperwork can leave you vulnerable to litigation and delays in sales.

Real estate agencies are now using a combination of online and conventional marketing strategies to maximize the presence of the property in the market. It’s worth adding that online listings are often done wrong by new sellers, where they don’t truly understand the value of the pictures presented. Seasoned real estate agents use professional property photographs to present the property at its best to online buyers. As seen with some properties sold by Las Vegas Homes By Leslie, some pictures are taken by drones to ensure the proper display of the property. Even though there is no shortage of real estate agents in Vegas, you need to look for one you can trust if you want it sold as quickly and profitably as possible.

Finding the Right Price

Fortunately, the housing market of Las Vegas sees a lot of action recently. The home prices are increasing at a pretty good rate, while the number of local home sales is dipping below the average. The increase in buyer demand can be credited to the ever-growing population boom and the tech sector’s interest in the area. The health of the housing market has been on a rapidly increasing curve after the housing bubble impact was reduced. If you’re new to this industry, you should know that pricing is one of the most important aspects you must get right if you want to sell your home easily. Using the wrong price is one of the most common problems that make the sale extremely difficult.

A price too high will only make the process longer, not to mention that you will probably never sell the property if the price is ridiculously high. Creating a cycle of confidence where buyers are interested in your property is very important if you want to get the momentum going. Putting a high price tag will make it harder to gain traction in the market, which will be a hard mistake to fix. If you push the price too low, you are losing money that you could’ve easily asked for.

Presenting a Move-in Ready Property

Luxury-oriented interests direct the majority of the housing projects in Las Vegas. People are looking for developments that are huge, with many local amenities and businesses, in addition to schools. These high-end locations haven’t seen a lot of positive buyer action in the recession, but they made a recent comeback, which is helping in switching things up in the city. Design trends are very impactful when it comes to creating homes move-in ready. The aesthetic fads of the past are very impractical for those trying to present their homes as a move-in ready property. If you want to create the right aesthetic for a quick sale, look for modern designs with recent upgrades. Even though some dated designs may have cost a pretty penny back then, they will do the property more harm than good when it comes to setting a price.

PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Jean-Philippe Delberghe

Selling the Property As-Is

Selling the property as-is means not investing money in repairs, upgrades, renovations, makeovers, or cleaning. While this route isn’t always perfect when you’re not using a real estate agency, it can make the process a lot faster than you think. Spending time and money on your property before selling it in Las Vegas can end up not very fruitful in terms of sales speed. 

Since you’ll probably ramp up the price after this process, it is bound to take more time to be done. In a city like Vegas, investors have no problem closing on your house without you needing to do anything to it, but it all boils down to finding the right buyers. It’s recommended to use the help of a real estate agent to avoid being low-balled or pushed into a corner during price negotiations.

Whether you’re trying to sell a property in Las Vegas to make a profit after making renovations or if you’re tight on cash and would like an easy way out, you should know that it’s possible to get it done easily and quickly. Unlike many common misconceptions, tourists and wild gamblers aren’t the only people who populate Las Vegas; it is home to many people and potential buyers.

THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN - FIRST GRAND SLAM OF 2021

As the New Year draws closer, everyone is beginning to focus their attention on 2021. One of the earliest big sporting occasions will be the Australian Tennis Open. Coronavirus permitting, the tournament is due to take place between the 8th and 21st of February and the entries have just been announced.

The Golden Oldies - Roger Federer

Two of the games "golden oldies," Roger Federer, and Serena Williams are among the names, although for Federer, it will be a race against time. The Swiss is still recovering after two operations on his knees. Not only is there doubt about the 6-times winner's fitness to compete for the Australian Open, but there is also speculation that his playing career might already be over.

It hardly seems credible, but the 39-year-old hasn't played since he lost to Rafael Nadal at Melbourne Park at the beginning of 2020. In a recent interview, he confirmed that as at today, he isn't fit enough. But the three-week delay to the start of the Australian Open has thrown him a lifeline - thin though it might be.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams has also been struggling to get back to full fitness. She hasn't played since retiring from the French Open at Roland Garros in September 2020 when she was forced to bow out due to an injury to her Achilles. Like Federer, she too is 39 years old.

The American's first professional match was back in 1995, and four years later, in 1999, at the age of 17, she became the 4th youngest women's player to win the US Open. In an illustrious career spanning 25 years, she has won 23 Grand Slam titles. More than any other woman, or man, in the so-called "open era" which began in 1968.

She is hoping to make the 2021 Aussie Open title her eighth. She first won this competition in 2003, then again in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, and her last win title came in 2017. However, there is a certain young Australian who might have something to say about that.

Ashleigh Barty

At the age of 24, Australian born and bred Ashleigh Bart won her first junior Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2011, when she was 15 years old. In 2012, she then made her singles and doubles debuts on the WTA circuit before establishing herself as a major competitor on the world double's stage where she won several titles with partner, Dellacqua.

But in 2014, after the US Open, Barty announced that she had decided to take an indefinite break from tennis. She signed for Brisbane Heat, an Australian Cricket Club, and with an impressive inning in the inaugural match of the Women's Big Bash League, took to the sport like a duck to water. Many people predicted she would one day play for the Australian National Women's Cricket team.

Luckily for the tennis world, Barty decided to return in 2016. The break had made a significant difference, and in 2017, she won her first WTA title at the Malaysian Open, rising to No 17 in the world rankings. It was the start of a journey that would see her become the ATP top-ranked women's tennis player in the world, and by some margin too.

So far, she has won two Grand Slams: the American Open in 2018, The French Open in 2019, and was a semi-finalist in the Australian Open in 2020. She has high hopes of winning it in 2021. Out to stop her will be Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, the latest Grand Slan winner (Roland Garros 2020) and a certain Selena Williams. It's going to be some competition.

HOW TO PICK THE CORRECT JEWELRY FOR EVERY DRESS

Ornaments can aid in enhancing the smartness of an attire, drive attention plus interest to a simple ensemble, or bring to life an otherwise uninteresting outfit by adding some color plus sheen to it. Jewelry is a long-lasting decoration that all beauty lovers must own in their assortments.

However, the most typical problem that many beauty lovers experience is the difficulty in pairing up a particular outfit with impeccable jewelry, which aids in boosting it minus stealing the show.

Such difficulties should not be a problem for you. Below is an outline of some of the ways you can select the right jewelry for pairing up your clothing. You can continue reading to find out what these ways are, and how you can implement in your daily life.

Focus on Your Necklines

Get to know the various necklines existent and the type of jewelry that match perfectly with them. There is the V-neck, turtleneck, scoop neck and sweetheart neck. Wearing a necklace with a wrong or mismatched neckline can completely damage your look. On the contrary, wearing the correct necklace, which complements your neckline, can emphasize your attire for an appearance that is improved everywhere.

A strapless outfit matches well with a heavy necklace, which rests fitted on your neck. Off shoulders plus single sleeved clothing can be paired up with dense, dangly necklaces of great designs. In case you have adorned high-necked shirts, you can match that appearance with a bigger suspension on a tinny chain necklace. On the other hand, shirts plus dresses with low necks can be ought to be matched with chains that are shorter, which complements your neckline’s shape. For instance, the silver heart necklace matches perfectly with a low neckline.     

Match Pattern Shapes

One essential aspect that you need to put into consideration is ensuring that the design of the jewelry that you wear should match or complement the shape and designs of your clothing. However, this phenomenon is applies only with clothing such as shirts and dresses containing bold print designs. 

Select Single Focal Piece

Avoid matching bold plus huge jewelry together.  For instance, you cannot complement bold tribal trinkets with lengthy dangly earrings. Moreover, hoop earrings plus chunky necklaces are a no match.

Actually, it is often advisable to avoid other jewelry if you are wearing either the chunky necklaces or dangly earrings.   

Extra Is Not Continually Best for Official Functions

Going to a fancy event does not necessarily men putting on excessive large jewelry to match the outfits. Rather, you can wear simple and small ornamental pieces to match with long, extravagant gowns. For instance, you can try out the glossy insignificant earrings like the diamond studs to enhance your outfit just a little bit without driving attention away from it.              

Match Bracelets to Sleeves

The prevailing principle here is that the lengthier the sleeves, the less the number of bracelets to be worn, and the tinier the size of the bracelets.

For example, dense leather shackle bracelets when matched with a sleeveless outfit give a very wonderful look. On the other hand, thin subtle chain bracelets match better with sweaters with long sleeves.

Wear a Lengthy Necklace to Balance Your Appearance

Long necklaces are very resourceful when it comes to changing one’s outlook of appearing rather boxy, or shapeless. Short dresses have the tendency to widen your look and cause you to look shorter and wider. However, pairing the short dress with a long or lengthier necklace transforms the look to even better.

Moreover, the long necklaces match with T-shirt dresses.

Pair Bold With Basic

You may also decide to complement your bold outfits with simple jewelry to avoid attracting too much attention or to avoid killing the bold look with bold earrings. However, sometimes you can match bold outfits with bold jewelry, which may turn out great.

Conclusion

The jewelry you decide to wear should largely be influenced by the clothing you have worn. Jewelry is mainly used to enhance your look. Therefore, learn how to match the jewelry plus your clothing to achieve the best look possible.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ELMIRON LAWSUIT

Drugs or any medication serve to alleviate symptoms of a disease. Its use dosage recommendations govern its usage. Product labels also inform users of potential side effects. What if your long-standing prescription results in a severe condition that threatens to impair your vision and leave you blinded for the rest of your life? 

Who do you sue when your medicine is certified by the FDA to manage your illness? Is the pharmaceutical company who manufactured the drug liable for failing to include such harmful effects in drug information? 

What if you aren't the only one affected, and there are potentially thousands who may be endangered by the drug?

These questions define the context of a hallmark case-in-the-making known as The Elmiron Lawsuit.

Facts of the Case

1. Elmiron as Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis

In the late 1990's Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, produced pentosan polysulfate sodium, more popularly known as Elmiron, to treat symptoms associated with Interstitial Cystitis (IC). IC is a chronic condition that involves frequent urination with little release accompanied by pain in the gall bladder or the pelvis. Elmiron protects the walls of the gallbladder from irritation and swelling. 

2. Studies Show links Between Elmiron and Maculopathy

Although alternative remedies can relieve chronic pain associated with painful bladder syndrome and IC, Elmiron is the only FDA-approved medication for managing symptoms of IC. Numerous patients used it over the years. In 2018, studies revealed that it causes retinal pigmentary maculopathy, a degenerative disease that affects the macula. The macula is the back part of the retina and is responsible for helping us focus on things. 

Continous research from 2018 up to the present from Doctors Robin A. Vora, Amar P. Patel, and Ronald Melles shows that prolonged use of Elmiron causes the development of retinal pigmentary maculopathy. Simultaneously, some claim that damage may stop from discontinued use; using Elmiron for extensive periods could result in maculopathy. This condition could eventually lead to loss of vision in both eyes. It is an irreversible illness that could lead to visual disability. 

3. Symptoms associated with the use of Elmiron  

Besides maculopathy, other reported side effects of Elmiron include blurred vision, eye pain, difficulty reading, trouble adjusting to dim light, and having problems seeing objects up close. According to a recent study, an estimated one-quarter of patients taking the medication for prolonged periods sustained eye damage and vision problems. 

Suppose you have been taking Elmiron for at least two years and feel the symptoms mentioned above or diagnosed with pigmentary maculopathy. In that case, you should contact a personal injury lawyer or go to https://1800injured.care/lawsuits/elmiron to gain an assessment of your potential claim. 

4. Drug-Related Product Liability Claim

Those who experience Elmiron-related symptoms are eligible for damages under drug-related product liability claims involving pharmaceutical drugs. The Elmiron lawsuit qualifies for two of the categories set forth by the statute, namely: 

• Pharmaceutical drugs with dangerous side effects

• Improperly marketed pharmaceutical drugs 

Janssen Pharmaceuticals allegedly concealed Elmiron's dangerous side effects from consumers since it did not give sufficient warning regarding the damaging side effects of the drug. Elmiron was produced in the late 1990s and did not contain any alerts in its drug information regarding maculopathy as a side effect. It was only in June 2020 that the pharmaceutical company included a warning for the said degenerative disease. 

5. Current Status of the Elmiron Case

There are currently 80 cases filed in federal and state courts in the United States, and half of these are under the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It is currently pending under Judge Wendy Beetlestone. She is amenable to hearing all cases filed. She allows plaintiffs to gather evidence in the next 12 months to further their injury claim for pigmentary maculopathy and retinopathy, and other vision problems. Given the expanse of Elmiron users since its production, an estimated 1,000 cases could sue for personal injury claims.

While the case is still under trial, experts speculate that claimants are eligible for economic losses to compensate for their medical bills, cost of disability, and loss of wages or profits. They may also file claims for non-economic losses for the physical and emotional anguish from sustaining irreversible health outcomes. 

 The Future of Elmiron 

Continued research regarding the link between Elmiron and maculopathy has increased over the years and serves to inform potential users of its potentially dangerous effect on eye health. While the drug manufacturer has included the said disease as a harmful side effect in its packages in June 2020, its status as an IC drug continues as there as no indications that the FDA will issue a recall.

HOW VAPE PENS MIGHT BE THE RIGHT SETUP FOR YOU

How Vape Pens Might Be The Right Setup For You

The vape pen is a relatively recent innovation; however, it has become popular with cannabis enthusiasts for a good reason. Because vaping creates the same experience as smoking without some of the harmful effects, it’s healthier.  

A vape pen doesn’t contain any combustible ingredients It heats only the air around it. The vapor it produces is inhaled into the user's lungs, travels through the air, and settles in the user's throat. The tobacco, oil, or dried herb is heated in the vape pen without burning, and only some chemicals in the product are released, turning into vapor. 

In this article, we’ll discuss what are vape pens and why they might be the right setup for you. 

What Are Vape Pens? 

A vape pen is a small electronic device that usually consists of a rechargeable battery, an atomizer, and a device for holding and filling a tank or cartridge. Rather than tobacco, the user inhales non-tobacco vapor instead. 

Like all electronic devices, most vaporizers require some sort of external battery. While using a vape pen, the user will breathe in the vapor from the device, which is then released into their lungs. As this process does not require the smoker to take in the tobacco smoke, it makes these products far safer than cigarettes. 

Vape pens look like pens with a cartridge. The cartridge is meant for oil, cannabis, or medicinal herbs. It comes with a rechargeable battery and a mouthpiece that can be removed and cleaned. High-quality vape pens come with temperature adjustment features and removable atomizers. This helps users to use oil, herb, or wax easily. If you’re looking for high-quality vape pens, check shops like Vape and Juice. They have a wide collection of vape pens to choose from.  

Below are some of the benefits of using a vape pen: 

• Healthier Than Smoking 

One of the key factors that make vaping a much safer and healthier experience than smoking cannabis is that it doesn’t burn the cannabis. Instead, the vaporizer heats the cannabis, causing the cannabinoids to evaporate. As a result, the vapor doesn’t contain any harmful tar, carbon monoxide, and toxins that are found in smoke.  

Whereas, when you smoke cannabis, the majority of the cannabinoids are destroyed by the combustion process, and the smoke released contains several toxic substances. There are many different types of these devices available on the market today from simple vape pens for beginners to that ideal for regular cannabis enthusiasts. It’s completely up to you which one you should choose. You may check out the beginner’s kit on sites like spinfuel.com. 

• No Smoke  

When you smoke cannabis, the combustion process produces thick, clingy smoke. However, vaping doesn’t cause any tar or chemicals, and the vapor disperses within a few seconds of being exhaled. Thus, only a faint smell is produced.  

As there’s no smoke caused by vaping, your house can be smoke-free. You may use a vape pen without bothering anyone with the clouds of smoke.  

• Control Over Dosage  

If you’ve been on CBD for an ailment, a vape pen can help you gain more control over your daily dosage. When using a vape pen, you can control the amount of heat and decide how strong the dosage will be. A vape pen evenly vaporizes the herb without destroying it. This ensures that you’re getting the maximum benefit of the cannabinoids released.  

• Cost-Effective  

Vaping is considered much more efficient than smoking. This means to get the desired results from a dosage of cannabis, you’ll need a lesser amount when compared with smoking. This can help you save up substantially on your CBD over time.  

Conclusion 

While there are several health benefits of consuming CBD, one of the effective ways to ensure that you get the maximum benefit out of your CBD dosage is using a vape pen. 

Today, there are a variety of vape pens available in the market. From kits available for beginners to high-quality pens with temperature adjustment features and removable atomizers for regular smokers. There are a variety of pens available to suit the needs of different users.  

Besides being convenient and cost-effective, vape pens are healthier and safer than smoking. Thus, if you’ve been thinking of getting a vape pen for yourself, go ahead and get one.  

PARTY ON THE OCEAN: 3 BOAT SAFETY TIPS FOR ADVENTURES AT SEA

Celebrating on a boat is one of the most enjoyable ways to get together with your friends and family. In fact, boat parties are well known for bringing a large number of unforgettable memories.

But, there are some boat safety tips that you'll need to keep in mind in order to avoid dangerous situations. Not quite sure how to begin? We’ve got all the info you need.

Let's explore everything you should keep in mind.

1. Check The Weather

 One of the most important responsibilities you have before you go out to a boat party is checking the weather. Inclement weather can easily lead to catastrophe if you're out on the water when a storm hits.

Fortunately, you'll be able to get a fairly accurate prediction of the weather by checking multiple different radar services. Otherwise, you run the risk of being far away from shore during heavy rain, strong winds, etc.

2. Have Enough Lifejackets for Everyone

 It should come as no surprise that you'll need to make sure everybody has access to a personal lifejacket. This is particularly true for boat parties that will take place far away from the coast.

Additionally, it's worth having your party-goers wear a lifejacket while the boat is in motion. Traveling to and from the party destination comes with far more risk of someone falling overboard as opposed to when your boat is stationary.

Since you should always adhere to the maximum occupancy guidelines that your boat has, you'll know exactly how many lifejackets you need. For instance, if your boat has a maximum capacity of 10 people, then you should always have 10 lifejackets available. You can check out lifejacketpro to learn more about their premier selection.

3. Keep Everyone Under Control

This is one of the most difficult tips to implement due to the atmosphere associated with the parties. People love to unwind out on the water and it can be tempting to let the party progress organically in order to avoid dampening the mood.

But, you run the risk of things quickly getting out of hand if you are constantly on top of the situation. For example, things may progress to the point where those who are under the influence of alcohol are backflipping off the boat's canopy.

Not only does this run the risk of causing damage to your boat, but they can also hit their head on the way down, fall while attempting to climb, etc. Situations like these need to quickly be put in check in order to maintain the safety of everybody onboard.

Implementing Boat Safety Tips Can Seem Complicated

But the above information will make the process far smoother. From here, you’ll be able to ensure that you fully utilize boat safety tips to keep everyone out of harm's way during your celebration.

Want to learn more info you should keep in mind? Be sure to explore what the rest of our blog has to offer.

BACK SAVING TIPS FOR PANDEMIC HOLIDAY ROAD TRIPS

More than 115 million people took road trips to visit loved ones last holiday season. That was pre-Covid. This year, exponentially more people will be driving long distances in cars to avoid crowded airports and airplanes. There are folks who might be driving cross country or down the northeast coast and spending in excess of 10 hours in a cramped car. Even for those who don’t normally have back pain, this type of situation can cause it.

Below are some tips from NYC Area Orthopedic and Spinal Surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo on avoiding or mitigating back pain while driving this holiday season.

Get comfortable immediately

Take the time to make sure you're comfortable from the moment you set off on your trip. Discomfort at the beginning of your trip can turn into nagging pain later.

Keep your back pockets empty.

Sitting on your wallet, phone, or anything else may throw your spine out of alignment.

Mind your posture

Position your knees slightly higher than your hips, and keep your chin pulled in so that your head sits straight on top of your spine.

Sit a comfortable distance from the steering wheel.

Sit with your breastbone at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, and keeping your hands on the wheel at 9 and 3 (the sides rather than the top of the wheel). But don’t sit too far away either, which can cause you to reach too far for the wheel and places more stress on the lumbar spine, neck, shoulder, and wrists.

Shift in your seat periodically

When possible, try to move a little in your seat. Even 10 seconds of movement and stretching is preferable than sitting still. At a minimum adjust your seat and change your position slightly every 15 to 20 minutes. Pump your ankles to keep the blood flowing and provide a slight stretch in your hamstring muscles. Any movement that is safe to do in the car will help you alleviate back strain.

Make your ride as smooth as possible

Bumps in the road can jar your spine and increase pain. For a smoother ride, consider:

Aim for a Smooth Ride

Replacing worn shocks to limit the bounce in the car

Replacing worn tires to reduce vibration or shaking

Sit on a car seat pillow or coccyx cushion to provide more padding between you and the road.

Move yourself

Sitting in one position in a car will stiffen up your back muscles and can lead to achiness and possibly muscle spasms. Everyone should ideally take at least a 15-minute break for every 2 hours of driving. If you’re prone to back pain, you may want to take breaks more frequently, such as every 30 to 60 minutes.

What to do if you’re in pain

Cold therapy can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Consider bringing a cooler to store reusable ice packs or other cold therapy packs.

Heat therapy can help increase blood flow and relax the muscles. Various types of heat therapy are available to buy, such as heat wraps or heat pads.

Note about application: It is recommended to apply ice or heat for only 15 or 20 minutes at a time, then give your skin a rest to recover for at least a couple hours before the next application.

WHAT IS A NEW CLASSIC SLOT MACHINE?

Classic slots are 3-reel slot machines that use gears, reels, cogs and a handle. You pull the handle and the reels spin—then they stop, and if the three reels have matching symbols, the machine drops a prize. While they are still available today, the antique ones that were made in the 1800s are only found in museums.

In the digital age, it is not unusual for people to miss the old days, and this nostalgia is what makes game developers motivated to publish what we call new classic slots. These are computer games that continue the tradition of physical slot machines. Most of the time, they run on three reels, and they only use classic symbols like the following:

●        Bar and its variants

●        Cherry

●        Lemon

●        Bell

because of such a symbol set, they are usually called fruit machines. Most of them, like the Blazing 777 online slot, do not offer special features. They are simple, and there is only one payline. This, however, proved to be not so financially dependable, so developers made adjustments to these games.

Today, new slot machines mostly run on five reels, and they also offer special symbols like wilds. Fruit machines that have scatter symbols are rare. Developers have figured out that if they add scatter symbols and bonus rounds, the slot machine is no longer a real classic. Rather, it becomes a modern game.

The Components of a Classic Slot Machine

To be able to distinguish a class slot machine from a new one, you must take a look at its features:

●        Symbols – classic slots use fruits, the bar, the lucky number 7, and the bell.

●        Reel count – a true classic slot operates on three reels only. However, many players today also desire more reels because additional reels mathematically allow more paylines.

●        Paylines – classic slots only have one payline; it is a straight three-symbol combo. For 5-reels slots, this is not the case. Despite having five paylines, some manufacturers limit the payline count to five lines.

●        Bet level – “one-armed bandits” only had one bet level—you drop a penny, and that’s it. As hardware and technology improved, new slot machines allow players to bet two coins at one go. In the digital age, classic slots try to mimic this by limiting your bets to a maximum of two coins per spin.

●        Simplicity – classic slots are made of drums that rotate. On those drums are stickers of the symbols. The reels stop, and if the stickers of the same symbol line up, you win a prize. Digital fruit machines like 777 slots try to preserve this simplicity. What this means is that most of them do not have animations and features that only computers can do. 

Now that you know what makes up a classic slot, you can decide for yourself if the slot machine you are paying is a true homage to the slot machines in the 1800s.

Popular New Classic Slots

Here are some of the most popular titles that you can play today:

●        Ultimate Hot – a 5-reel slot that uses fruit symbols. The payout here is straightforward, and there are no wild and scatters symbols. To add fun to the game experience, the developer put a gamble feature that you can activate or deactivate for every winning round.

●        Mystery Joker – this game also uses fruits and it sits on a 3x3 grid. The thing is that it offers a scatter symbol, and the Joker symbol offers a mystery win.

●        Lucky Hot – a 3x3 slot by EGT, this one has bells and oranges and other fruits. There are only five fixed paylines, and there are no wilds and scatter symbols.

Conclusion

It may be difficult to distinguish new classics from the real ones. Nevertheless, the classic concept is here to stay. Why?

Because they offer simplicity that modern video slots don’t. With classic slots, you typically only have five to seven symbols, with one being the most special, which also pays the highest prize. You also do not have to worry about having to understand rules about bonus rounds, free spins, wild symbols, expanding symbols, or progressive jackpots.

Play new classic slots if you miss the old times. These games are easy to understand, and it is easier to win in them.

THE TOP US SPORTS EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2021

2020 has been a challenging year for sporting events, but there are thankfully lots of major US sports tournaments happening in 2021. Here are the top ones to look out for.

PHOTO CREDIT | Pixabay/WikiImages

Super Bowl LV (February 7)

The biggest North American sporting event of any year is the Super Bowl, and 2021 will be no exception. The 55th Super Bowl, which decides the league champion for the current NFL season, is scheduled to be held in Tampa, Florida, in February. But who will make it to the Raymond James Stadium? Bookmakers place Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints as the hottest contenders, but it is still too early to call at the moment. Who do you think you will win? You can make a more-informed decision by checking out this guide on how to bet on Super Bowl LV.

Daytona 500 (February 14)

The 500-mile-long Daytona 500 race is the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar. Like every year, the event at Daytona International Speedway in Florida will attract motor racing fans from far and wide. Whether you watch the race in person or from the comfort of your home, you are sure to get caught up in the energy and excitement of the prestigious Daytona 500. It may be too early to predict who will win, but favorites include Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.

The Masters (April 5 - 11)

The Masters golf tournament dates all the way back to 1934. Today, it is still one of the most prestigious events in the golfing calendar. The competition is held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Early predictions suggest Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas or Rory McIlroy stand a good chance of winning the 2021 Masters, but at this stage, it is still anyone’s game.

Kentucky Derby (April 29 - May 2)

More people usually attend the Kentucky Derby than any other stakes races. The premier horse racing event in North America is a week-long event. It is due to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, in April and May. Although the race is still any horse’s, hot favorites for the 146th Kentucky Derby include Tiz the Law, Honor A.P., and Max Player.

Indianapolis 500 (May 28 – 31)

Indianapolis is known around the world for one thing above any other: the so-called “Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indy 500. The annual event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway dates back to over a century ago. 2021 will mark the 105th running of the major racing event.

US Open Tennis Championships (August 30 - September 12)

The US Open tournament is the modern version of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the US National Championship, which was first played back in 1881. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, after the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. The 2021 competition will be held in Flushing Meadows, New York. Last year, Dominic Thiem won the men’s singles title and Naomi Osaka won the women’s singles title. But at the moment, it is way too early to call who could win the 2021 championships.

US Grand Prix (October 24)

The United States Grand Prix began life in 1908 as the American Grand Prix. It later became part of the Formula One World Championship. The 2021 US Grand Prix is due to be held at the state-of-the-art Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in October. Seeing as the 2020 US Grand Prix was cancelled, racing fans are eagerly anticipating its return in 2021.

HOW TO TAKE YOUR PERSONAL TRAINING CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Are you considering starting a career in personal training? Or, perhaps you are already a personal trainer and looking to advance your career even further? Today, society is placing more importance than ever before on fitness and healthy living, leading to high demand for personal trainers – there has never been a better time than the present to consider pursuing this career path. Within the next ten years, the health and fitness field expects to welcome tens of thousands of new personal trainers.

Whether you’re in the process of becoming a personal trainer or are already working in the field, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to climb the career ladder. Successful personal trainers are those who are able to look beyond their basic certifications and general job options to generate more responsibilities, create new careers for themselves, and earn a better salary. So, what career progression options are available in this field?

High-End Coaching

If you’re ready to start working outside of the established gym setting, want to dig a little deeper in your clients and focus more on the psychology and mindset surrounding fitness, high-end coaching could be ideal for you. It has many similarities to personal training, except for that you’re getting even more complete transformations for your clients in both body and mind. While helping your clients improve their physical fitness and body composition is still a key part of the role, it is set apart from a standard personal training service with the fact that you’re also working on helping your clients change their mindset so that they will find it easier to succeed not only with their fitness goals, but in many other areas of their life.

Start Your Own Fitness Business

As a personal trainer, you don’t need to confine yourself to standard employment. Once you’ve completed a personal training course, you’re not only ready to work as a personal trainer, but you’re also in a great position to start your own fitness business. If you have always wanted the opportunity to work as your own boss and set your own rules, personal training is an industry where it’s easier than ever to do just that. As a personal trainer, you are in a prime position to consider opening your own gym, fitness studio, health club, or even a sporting centre. Perhaps your local area is lacking when it comes to physical activity options and you want to provide something different from basic gym facilities, or maybe you want to provide a mobile service where you can work with clients from the comfort of their own homes - the opportunities are endless when it comes to starting out as your own boss.

Specialise in a Certain Area

Another great way to advance your career, get more clients and make more money as a personal trainer, is to choose an area of specialisation. Becoming an expert in a certain type of client will help you get more credibility and will encourage those clients to choose you over a general personal trainer due to the additional support and knowledge that you can provide. If you’re already a personal trainer and want to move into a more specialised area like obesity management, sports event training, injury rehabilitation, strength and conditioning or wellness coaching, you can find advanced courses available at TRAINFITNESS to help you expand your personal training knowledge and tailor your services even further.

Management

If you’re a personal trainer who wants steady employment with great benefits and a consistent salary, it might be worth considering a management position at a gym or health club. If you’re more interested in the business administration and customer service side of things rather than working one-on-one with clients, this could be the ideal opportunity for you to further your fitness career. Many successful personal trainers go on to become excellent managers thanks to their passion for fitness and their naturally great people skills which make them amazing customer service representatives and great bosses. The best personal trainers tend to be people who are creative, disciplined, and have strong people skills - all traits that make great management professionals.

Clinical Work

Once you have earned a personal trainer qualification, you might want to take it a step further and attend university to get a relevant degree that will help you further your career into clinical work. Bear in mind that some areas of clinical work do not require you to obtain a degree, so do some research into the areas that you are interested in and familiarise yourself with the entry requirements for each position. There are various specialised fields that you can enter in the clinical setting, such as occupational therapy, athletic training, clinical training, sports medicine, injury rehabilitation, physiotherapy and more. You can find these roles in a variety of different settings including clinics, hospitals, university campuses and schools.

Fitness Influencing

If you live your life vicariously through social media and love creating online content for your clients, fitness influencing could be an ideal direction for taking your career to the next level. Fitness influencers tend to be highly active on social media networks like Instagram and YouTube, promoting various health and fitness products through working closely with relevant brands while providing their followers with informative and educational content.

As a personal trainer, you may have already experienced some difficulty doing your job this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent gym closures, which led many personal trainers to start offering an online service. Whether you decide to focus solely on creating an online business or add a strong online component to whatever fitness career you decide on, it’s clear to see that this is the best way to future-proof your personal training career from any potential disasters.

Consulting

Consulting plays a very important role in the fitness industry. If you are already well-established as a personal trainer, there’s plenty of opportunity in sharing your knowledge with others. Many personal trainers will also work as a freelance consultant, helping others who want to get into personal training to get their foot in the industry, find the right education options and get meaningful work. Consulting can be offered in a variety of ways including teaching in gyms, creating online training programmes, mentoring new personal trainers, and private or one-on-one coaching to name a few.

Nutrition

Finally, while many personal trainers focus on helping their clients to exercise better and get the most out of their physical activity routine, no personal trainer can deny the role of good nutrition when it comes to improving your health and fitness. If you are interested in the effect that diets have on health and fitness levels, it may be worth taking your career in a more nutrition-focused direction. Whether you train to become a nutritionist or write and sell a recipe book filled with your favourite healthy meals, there are plenty of ways to take your fitness career down this path.

Working as a personal trainer doesn’t mean coaching in the gym forever. Once qualified, there are tons of opportunities available for personal trainers who want to expand their careers and focus on doing something that they really love.

6 SIMPLE TIPS TO GET RED OF NICOTINE ADDICTION

Nicotine, one of the components of tobacco, triggers veins to constrict, diminishing bloodstream to the cerebrum and the covering of the brain (the meninges). Diminished blood stream prompts discouraged cerebrum action and induces extreme pain, which might be felt in the back of the head or in the face.

Nicotine additionally may stimulate the nerves which are pain sensitive, as they go through the back of the throat. One of the major effects of nicotine addiction is in the form of nicotine headaches which can then turn in migraines. 

Obviously the simplest way of getting rid of nicotine addiction is quitting nicotine. But if you are confused as to where to start, here are some simple tips to help you begin your journey.

1. Remove Triggers

Probably the first thing you should do is remove yourself from the situations which trigger your urge to smoke. Get rid of toxic “friends” who encourage you to smoke. Get rid of e-cigarettes that you might have in your home. Identify your triggers and then replace them with something healthy so you don’t deprive yourself of anything while keeping yourself away from harmful environments. 

2. Increase Your Water Intake

Water is basic for the human body to work appropriately. It makes up 66% of our body weight, and each cell and organ relies upon it. But that’s not the only use of it. It also helps with getting rid of nicotine in your system. 

Nicotine is reported to cause dehydration which is a main factor for slow digestion and slow brain activity. When you increase your water intake, you’re making up for the lost amount of water which was caused by nicotine. Water likewise helps flush remaining nicotine out of the body, and by keeping yourself all around hydrated, you'll feel better in general.

3. Practice Deep Breathing

Cravings to smoke typically come on quick and with force. They start off strong and vanish in force within three to five minutes. Try not to panic when you're hit with a serious inclination to smoke. Take a couple of seconds to focus on your breathing, and you will have the option to stop the craving effectively.

Deep breathing is a speedy method to stop a negative mindset that is forcing you to take a wrong step.

4. Exercise Daily

Shortage of breath, lung diseases and digestion problems are some of the most common side effects of nicotine addiction. While self-care is important in all scenarios, it gets especially important if you are fighting an addiction. Exercising daily will allow more fresh air into your system thus expanding your lungs’ capacity. It also helps release dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical in our brain. A simple brisk walk, light jog and cycling are great ways to help you get started on a healthy lifestyle. 

5. Downsize Your Stress

Stress is also a contributing factor because of which people turn to drugs. Reducing your stress is obviously going to help. There are numerous approaches to do it. You could work out, contemplate, implore, spend time with individuals you love, and do things you appreciate. In the event that you are able to change a part of the things that make you tense, change them and do not include those things in your daily routine.

Counseling and stress management classes are extraordinary to try, as well. You can likewise look into biofeedback, where you figure out how to impact certain things (like your pulse and breathing) to calm down pressure.

6. Treatment

If all else doesn’t seem to help, then sign yourself up for proper treatment. You can go for an outpatient treatment if you think that a residence treatment is too much. Visiting a doctor is equally important as sometimes there may be clots that get formed in our brain due to the improper flow of blood. 

Quitting tobacco might not look like that much of a big deal but if you look at the bigger picture, it can cause serious threats to your health. We hope you understand the severity of the situation and get help as soon as you can!