 Thyroid Problems The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, produces hormones essential for metabolism and brain activity. Symptoms of a thyroid problem are often vague, but if you notice any of the following signs persisting, or have more than one, endocrinologists recommend seeing a doctor to request a simple blood test to gauge your hormone levels. Could you have an overactive or underactive thyroid and not even know ? Millions of Americans — and a high percentage of women in menopause and perimenopause (the decade or so before menopause during which hormonal, emotional, and physical changes begin) — do. A thyroid imbalance is not always easy to recognize. Physicians continue to argue whether a minimal thyroid imbalance affects mental and physical health. But the truth is that it does. Here are some of the most frequent thyroid symptoms: * Fatigue * Weakness * Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight * Coarse, dry hair * Dry, rough pale skin * Hair loss * Cold intolerance (you can't tolerate cold temperatures like those around you) * Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches * Constipation * Depression * Irritability * Memory loss * Abnormal menstrual cycles * Decreased libido  Okay, here we go. For me, everything started four months ago, when I started to notice my hair becoming overwhelmingly dry and thinning out. Well I spent hundreds of dollars on special trips to the hair salon, expensive hair treatments and products, but even a month later nothing changed.... Yes, I was getting frustrated. But my dear friends that was the beginning , nothing compared to what was to come next. If you have followed my blog for some time, you know that I love exercising and eating a clean diet. Now, back to my night mare. About two months ago, I began to notice my weight start to go up. I had no idea why that was happening, especially because my routine never changed. I eat healthily and work out everyday. If I ever change my workout routine it's just to increase weights which is better. And so, I started to panic; beating myself up because of my hair and weight gain, I thought I was paranoid with all that was happening. I started to be very stressed, losing my strength and even began to develop migraines. My workout got harder than before and I wasn't enjoying it the way I used to. Before I found out about my elevated thyroid, my workout was awesome and I felt amazing after a vigorous workout... So finally, last week I went to the doctor and asked him for help, because I couldn't do it anymore... He ran numerous tests and we found out that my thyroid was the main cause of all my problems. I was happy to finally know that I can start my treatment now because he told me that in about one month I should be back to normal.. And my weight will go down again... What I take from this experience is , pay attention to your body because you can look fine on the outside and in the inside be a different story... I posted on the beginning of my post some of the most common symptoms from thyroid problems, so if you are trying hard to lose weight and nothing is happening to you, you should have your hormones levels checked. It was a little hard for me to share this, but I did because some of you may have the same symptoms, and it may help you open your eyes. I hope this was helpful.. Feel free to let me know what you think about.. See you soon, xoxo Paula Forrest 
Follow these simple dos and don'ts to ensure you get the most out of the summer sales online
It's almost mid of july ( high street fashion retailers have launched their summer sales.
While it may feel a tad early for some (although we're not complaining), the sales are a great opportunity to invest in some key items for the season and beyond. As long as you don't fall into the classic sale shopping traps, which is why we've created a few foolproof do's and don'ts to make sure you get the most out of all the discounts. 
I Hope You Guys Like and Share with your family and friends , xoxo see you soon Paula Forrest
 Summer Fun: Tips for Staying Healthy and Fit in the Heat It’s the end of the school year and time for summer break! Summer is the perfect time to get fit and stay healthy. With warm weather, open pools, and many opportunities to take advantage of outdoor sports, getting fit and staying healthy is also fun. However, it's also a time for vacations, BBQs, ice cream and other not-so-healthy habits and when it's hot outside, sometimes the last thing you want to do is exercise. However, if you're not careful, it's easy to slip into unhealthy habits during the summer. The Center for Closing the Health Gap offers the following tips to help you and your kids stay fit and healthy over the summer. Schedule time for exercise One of the best ways to get fit and stay healthy is by exercising regularly but exercise doesn't have to be a chore, especially in the summer. Nice weather and longer days make exercising outside great for families. Find a neighborhood or local pool and go swimming, or get your family and neighbors together to go for a walk or turn on some music and dance. There are many ways you can get fit and stay fit and have fun doing do it. When kids are involved, taking them to the park, playing with them and pushing younger ones in a stroller are all great exercise ideas. Encourage your kids to play outside instead of watching TV or computer or playing video games. Playing sports with the kids, like tossing Frisbees, playing soccer or pitching baseballs are great ways for the whole family to have fun and stay in shape over the summer. Since it can get hot during the day in the summer, it's best to schedule your outside exercise and activities during the morning or in the evening, when the sun is not so high or hot. Heavy exercising and sports during the day makes everyone more prone to dehydration and heatstroke. Watch what you eat You don't have to give up sweets and junk entirely, but it should be consumed in moderation. Limit your use of soda and other sugary drinks, like lemonade and iced tea which are loaded with sugar, and drink water instead. This is especially important during the summer months, when it's easier to get dehydrated. Also, exercise some restraint at parties and BBQs - maybe have one hot dog instead of two, or skip the pie and grab some strawberries or watermelon instead. Avoid the chips and other salty, greasy foods at BBQs and eat fresh vegetables and fruits instead. By doing so, you can stay in shape and stay healthy while enjoying summer parties and BBQs. Drinking plenty of water is important any time of the year, but it's particularly important during the summer when you're sweating more than usual, especially if you and your family are spending time playing outside. Make sure you keep water handy if you plan on being outside for long periods of time. The summer is one of the best times to get fit and stay healthy as a family. Take advantage of the warm summer months to resolve to be active, eat healthy and take care of yourself and your family's
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