Free Advice

We hear it all the time…lose weight for your health. Few people however, realize the extent to which this is critical to their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.

Press Conference 1996 – Lance Armstrong
On Wednesday October 2, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I have been made aware that it has spread to other parts of my body… I… I am… here to say, I will work with the doctors to overcome… and I will work hard to race once again.

The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse has stayed under wraps for too long. Apart from being the only vegetable protein with all 22 amino acids essential for our health and well being, the humble soybean has many other virtues…including an excellent foundation for fast, safe weight loss program.

Boost Brain Power Through Writing

Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it? Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to clarify it in your own mind. How can you use this to increase your brain power? Start writing.

The aim for beginners to weight training must be to lay the foundations for the intensive workouts that their bodies will eventually be subjected to. Obviously successful bodybuilding involves bringing together disparate elements such as nutrition and rest but choosing the right exercises is crucial. In this article we’ll outline the machine exercises that will enable new bodybuilders to develop the general strength and body conditioning needed.

Losing weight doesn’t have to be boring when you focus on bright, colourful meals. What does this mean? Simply by making sure your plate reflects a range of colours, you’ll naturally create more balanced and healthful menus. Not everyone has the time or the patience to count calories, but assessing the colours on your plate is something anyone can do - and it only takes an instant!

One way our diet may increase the risk of cancer is by dietary carcinogens. There are four groups of carcinogens:

• Naturally present carcinogens

• Carcinogens forming during food preparation

• Preservatives and coloring agents added to food

Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing. As you struggle to create your own voice, while focusing on the required standards, you may want to consider the following tips for improving your style and establishing a professional formula for success.

1. Edit your work continuously to eliminate all those extra words. One of the most common mistakes a writer makes is to use too many adverbs and adjectives. You should try to eliminate unnecessary content to keep your crisp and concise. Less is more.

   Example: Does the meaning change if you cut -

   • “past history” to “history”

   • “really unusual” to “unusual”

   • “very impressive” to “impressive”

   • “accurate facts” to “facts”

   • “true reality” to “reality”

   Choose your descriptive words carefully and utilize them in sentences where they will be most effective.

2. Select uncomplicated language to say what you mean as simply as possible. Writers frequently have a more extensive vocabulary than the average reader does. You will not impress people by using long, uncommon words that they do not understand.

   Example: Does the general public know the definition of the first or second word below?
   

   • exigency or emergency

   • prognosticate or predict

   • contumacious or contrary

   • rancorous or resentful

   • facetious or fun

   Most readers will give up on your writing before they will pick up a dictionary to figure out what you are trying to say.

3. Construct short sentences. Lengthy sentences are usually more difficult for people to read and equally challenging to write. If you find yourself wondering where to place the commas appropriately or whether to use a colon or semi-colon in your sentence, it is probably too long. Using short sentences to express yourself can eliminate common writing problems, like incorrect subject/modifier agreement or improper parallel construction. Your work will be more readable if you write with a balanced combination of short and long sentences.

4. Produce original work that shows your individual voice. Avoid clichés that are commonly over-used. Readers will be bored with writing that is too familiar and probably lose interest in your work if you say the same things that have been said thousands of times before.Example: Do the following phrases sound unique?
   
   • “They fell head over heels in love.”

   • “He drank like a fish.”

   • “She had stars in her eyes.”

   • “Curiosity killed the cat.”

   • “Every dog has his day.”

   Captivate readers by coming up with creative, new metaphors and similes that demonstrate your originality and writing ability.

5. Show, don’t tell. Make your readers feel your characters’ emotions. Your writing will captivate people if you can show them how shocked your character is, as opposed to just telling them about it.Example: Which phrases below create an image in your mind almost immediately?
   
   • He shouted at her as he walked out the door. Or he continued to scream obscenities at her even after the window pane shattered when he slammed the door behind him.

   • It seemed like their house was hit by an earthquake. Or the kitchen table trembled as the lights flickered on and off and her treasured crystal collection crashed to the floor before the wave of vibrations came to a halt.

6. Listen to what you write. You should always read everything you write out loud. This will help you decide if you are actually saying what you wanted to say. It will also ensure that your dialogue is true to life. Your characters need to sound like they are actually having a conversation – one that two ordinary people in their situation might have. So use that slang and expression that you hear around you every day. Learn to really listen to how people express themselves. The closer your writing compares, the better your style.

7. Read Your Work to Someone Else.