Go Green Suggestions For Kids

As the idea of “going green” is mainstream, you may look for ways to embody  the entire family in taking care of the planet. The Teaching Stewardship and Sustainability website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proclaims  that educating children on the perception of environmental responsibility and how to make sure their decisions are the best for both humans and nature teaches them how humans and nature are interconnected. Informing your kids to take care of the environment now will help them to make educated decisions about such matters later in life.      

Donate Unwanted Items

• When your children outgrow clothes or toys, donate them to a charitable organization. Have your children help you drop the items off to show them how their donations help those in need. Point out that some organizations give the used items to individuals who cannot afford them, and others sell the items and put the proceeds toward helping those who need it financially. These actions keeps toys, clothes and books that still have potential use from filling a landfill or dump.

Grow a Vegetable Garden

• Raising a garden embodies a number of green practices you can teach your children. Even if you live in an apartment with no space to grow produce outdoors or you live on a wide expanse of acreage on which you could plant enough to feed an army, you can adjust your idea of a garden to accommodate your situation. Plant a tomato plant or herbs in a pot next to a window indoors, or devote an entire garden plot to a variety of vegetables.
  Growing a garden builds an opportunity to help children learn about green practices such as composting, reusing gray water, organic methods of restricting unwanted pests and, the most obvious, growing your own vegetables to eat and enjoy. Explain to children that growing their own food also reduces pollution in the form of fuel burned in transporting produce from farms to the grocery store and then from the grocery store to your kitchen. The EPA’s Climate Change Kids website maintains that vehicle use increases the amount of greenhouse gases released into the air.

No Bottled Water

• Instead of giving your children disposable plastic bottles of water, let them decide on a colorful, reusable water bottle in which to carry their preferred drink of choice. You can find cool, fun, washable bottles in a wide variety of colors, sizes and designs at nearly any department store. According to the website KidsHealth.org, bottled water is no safer or cleaner than water from the tap. Additionally, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), derived from crude oil, makes up the larger part of plastic bottles in which water is sold. That PET often ends up in landfills rather than recycling centers.

Conserve Resources

• Motivate your children to turn off electronics, like the television or lights, when they finish using them. According to the EPA, electricity use releases greenhouse gases. You can also teach conservation to your children by encouraging them to turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth. The EPA’s WaterSense program maintains that the average bathroom faucet drains 2 gallons of water per minute, so three to four minutes of running water wastes 6 to 8 gallons.

Recycle

• As stated on the Captain Planet Foundation website, “Recycling materials not only avoids extra waste through reuse, but reduces the environmental burden of extracting new resources from the earth.” Incorporate your children in the act of recycling materials such as paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and any other materials accepted by your recycling center. They can help out by rinsing cans and bottles and organizing items into the correct recycling bins. Teach them that the products recycled will be turned into new items instead of ending up in landfills.

Most Popular Product: Renew™ Intensive Skin Therapy

Renew™ Intensive Skin Therapy

• Contains skin-soothing ingredients
• Eliminates the embarrassment and discomfort of dry skin
• Introduce your friends to Melaleuca with a proven healer

Dry skin can irritate you, embarrass you, and control you. Break free and discover the soothing relief of Renew Intensive Skin Therapy lotion. With Renew, your skin has everything it needs to become softer, smoother, and better hydrated—and stay that way. Renew is clinically proven to leave even severely dry skin silkier and healthier in just 24 hours. And in clinical studies, Renew outperformed the leading dermatologist-recommended lotion for skin softness, smoothness, and hydration.
Going beyond temporary moisturization, Renew delivers long-lasting relief from dry, rough, or irritated skin and uncomfortable chronic dry skin conditions, including dry skin associated with eczema. Renew heals, protects, and prevents even the driest skin by helping your skin attract and retain more moisture.
Experience Renew foryourself - then share the soothing sensation with your parents, your neighbors, and your friends so they can see for themselves why so many people swear by Renew Intensive Skin Therapy lotion.

Reel Mowers Green Your Yard

On any weekend, the buzz and cough of gas powered lawn mowers is a common sound in suburbia. Aside from the noise pollution, gas powered lawn mowers cascade a stack of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as their emission controls are nowhere near as advanced as today's cars.

A standard gas powered lawn mower emits on average nearly ninety pounds of carbon dioxide and over fifty pounds of other pollutants into our air every year according to the USA EPA. Emissions aside, there's all the other environmental nastiness associated with oil exploration, extraction and refining to provide the gas to power these machines.

Short of getting rid of your lawn altogether or common greening lawn care practices, a couple of other options for lowering your lawn mowing environmental impact are electric mowers and reel mowers.

Electric mowers are a great option if your house is supplied with green power, otherwise you may just be powering the mower with another fecal fossil fuel - coal.

If you're looking for an even greener option, a manual reel mower could be ideal. Why waste money and travel related emissions going to the gym when you can work those muscles and be productive at the same time - in a sense, it's exercising for the environment!

I first used a reel mower was in the late 90's and that model was from the 70's. It was certainly quiet, but incredibly heavy and awkward to use. My concise association with the contraption gave me a new found appreciation for gardeners of past.

But it also probably explains why lawns were so much smaller back then.

Times have changed and reel mowers have certainly come a long way. They needed to do deal with the expanses of grass areas around homes these days. Here's a analogy of old vs. new models in terms of looks.

Aside from the slick, modern lines; reel mowers are often far less heavy. Some are under twenty pounds for a model similar to the basic old style; a third of the weight of the one I battled with years ago. I'm told even the heavier modern ones with the extra features are a cinch to push given their design.

Manual reel mowers don't need much in the way of maintenance and unlike reel mowers of old; the blades don't require sharpening anywhere near as often. I've spoken to a couple of people who swear by them, but they recommend that they are really only suited to a flat lawn - a bumpy, sloping back yard will provide probably a little too much of a workout and less than heavenly cutting results.

A few people have acknowledged it takes a few mowing sessions to get the grass "primed" for the mower and that if you have long grass, it's probably best to chop it down first with a gas powered mower before making the switch to a reel mower for good.

Anticipate to mow a little more often - once the grass gets away from you, it will be a battle with a reel mower. As mentioned, perhaps instead of seeing it as an additional dreaded chore, if you have a regular exercise regimen replace an aspect of it with a regular reel mower workout.

Before taking the plunge and forking out the cash for a reel mower, try borrowing or hiring a mower for the day to give it a lawn test and determine if it's right for you. When choosing a reel mower, it's also important to ask for expert advice as unlike gas powered mowers, you'll need to select one suited to your lawn as different models are designed for specific situations and grass types.

I finally bought a reel mower recently. A Flymo H40 (Husqvarna). It cost around $150 + $40 for the catcher.

The mower + catcher weighs in at under 10kg - approximately 22 pounds. Unlike the original whopper I used years ago; there is a fair bit of plastic on this one; including the wheels unfortunately. The rear roller is also plastic, as are the adjustment screws. Aside from that, everything else is metal.

I wasn't entirely convinced it would do the job. The little patch of grass out the front of my place isn't really "lawn". It's kikuyu and rather patchy, so the surface is quite lopsided. Out of the box the mower didn't do too well, but after I fiddled with the cutter bar adjustment, I was pleasantly perplexed at how well it performed. Once I train the grass, it should do even better. Aside from being able to adjust the cutter bar, the H40 offers 4 height modification.

I didn't find it all that much diverse to pushing a normal mower, although I had to run over the same strip several times. In short, I'm a novice. It was so nice to be able to cut the grass without the whole town also being aware of the fact - the quiet operation is a huge plus.

Have you had experience with a modern reel mower? Can you share some advice on model selection and usage? Please add your comments below.

7 Ideas for Having Hot Fun in the Summertime!

The sun is shining, the surf swells are getting higher and the ocean is glittering. It’s time to hit the beach! And, like every summer, more people than at any other time of year are doing just that—enjoying the great outdoors.

Even if they aren’t surfing and swimming, they’re hiking, cycling, running, walking and even gardening, all in full view of the sun’s rays. While a little sun gives you an extra daily dose of vitamin D and an attractive tan, too much ultraviolet light can damage your skin, harm your eyes or even cause skin cancer.

So how do you avoid getting baked outdoors this summer? The time to think about this is before Summer comes. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Dress appropriately. If you know your hiking trip will expose you to the sun for eight hours, wear a wide-brim hat, light full-length pants and a bright-colored (or white) and thin long-sleeve shirt. If you’re headed to the beach, wear a t-shirt, a hat and sunglasses in between time in the waves. Popularizing the farmer tan could save your skin and perhaps even your life in the long run.
2. Use a  Sunscreen like Sun Shades™ on any exposed part of your body and apply it well in advance. If you have greasy skin, or if you’ve been swimming or sweating, apply more sunscreen every hour. Check the expiration (or expiry date if you’re in Canada) on your sunscreen and make certain it’s current. Sunscreens don’t last forever!
3. Check the UV index on the Epa.gov website before you go. Even if the UV index is low (2 or less), your skin can burn after an hour outdoors. If the UV index is high (6 or 7), you’ll want to stay indoors, particularly from 10 a.m. to 4 .m., the sun’s peak hours. If it’s extreme (11+), take every precaution and avoid going outdoors if possible. In those circumstances, you can burn in only 10 minutes. White sand, snow, high altitudes, water and even concrete can all increase the amount of U.V. rays you’re exposing your skin to. Will you be around any of those when you get to your destination?
4. Avoid tanning beds like the plague. They’re often advertised as healthy sources of vitamin D, but nothing could be further from the truth.
5. Drink plenty of liquids to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration.
6. Pay attention to your skin. If you have freckles, sensitive skin, a pale complexion or if you’re on medication that makes your skin more sensitive to light, take extra precautions and limit your time outdoors.
7. Never allow your skin to burn. Even one sunburn can significantly increase your chances of contracting skin cancer.

Any other ideas to avoid getting baked this summer or anything to add? Speak up Sun worshipers and save our skin!

Sun Shades^™ Summer Sun Pack

Summer Essentials at Unbeatable Savings!
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The Summer Sun Pack Includes:

• Your Choice of Sun Shades Mineral Plus Sunscreen SPF 30+ or Sun Shades Sport Sunscreen SPF 45+
• Sun Shades After Sun Hydrogel E
• Travel-Size Renew™ Lotion
• Sun Shades Lip Balms (Your Choice)
• Oversized, multipurpose beach bag (22˝ x 16˝)
• Folding bamboo beach mat with handles ( 2´ x 5´ 5˝)
Hurry these won't last long and they are available While Supplies Last.

*NEW PRODUCT* Attain® GC Control™ Shake – Creamy Chocolate Fusion

Exclusive GC Control Technology

When it comes to supporting healthy blood sugar, there are three critical factors: Supporting healthy blood sugar levels, maintaining healthy insulin response, and optimizing blood sugar levels. GC Control addresses all three factors using the power of Oligo^®, plus a proprietary blend of specially formulated ingredients – backed by clinical research.

• Oligo^® Chromium: Supports diets deficient in chromium and is necessary for proper carbohydrate metabolism*
• Cinnamon bark extract: Helps support healthy glucose levels*
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GC Control was put to the test in a blind, independent clinical study conducted over 56 days with prediabetic patients who used GC Control twice daily. The results versus baseline levels were exceptional. Subjects reported feeling significantly different in the areas of increased energy, decreased fatigue, and decreased appetite. Study participants also saw significant changes in three key areas of blood sugar support.

To get all the information about this new technology, visit Melaleuca.com/GCcontrol.

What is Juicing?

     Juicing is the practice of extracting juice from plant tissues such as fruit or vegetables. There are many methods of juicing, from squeezing fruit by hand to wide scale extraction via industrial equipment. Juicing by individuals is often completed with a household appliance called a juicer, which may be as simple as a cone upon which fruit is mashed or refined as a variable-speed, motor-driven device. It may also refer to the act of extracting and then drinking juice or those who extract the juice.

     Commercial juicing concentrates mostly on fruit juices, judging by the ratio of fruit to vegetable juices available in grocery markets. Residential juicing is often prepared for dietary purposes or as a form of alternative medicine. Interest has escalated in the last decade due to a number of books, videos, and claims and quick dissemination due to the Internet. The documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" by Joe Cross has also created a juicing evolution. While juicers availability in discount stores has made them more common, it is not a staple kitchen appliance due to the cost, single-use nature, and roughly limited presence in retail stores.

Go Green

To choose to go green isn’t just about the present state of the planet, it’s also about the ever-unfolding future. It’s about the limited resources of the planet. In 1800 there were 1 billion people populating earth, which doubled by 1922. That 2 billion tripled to 6 billion by 2000, and conservative estimates are that there will be 9 billion people inhabiting our little planet by 2050.

Think about how many people are homeless and starving at present, what will that future be like if ways to go green and preserving the planet and its population are not put into place before that future arrives?

Little things that people do on a daily basis have the greatest negative impact, and can simply be changed into small daily “go green” habits with a huge positive impact on life on earth.

Household electronics, batteries and harsh cleaners add dangerous chemicals to our environment and seep into the groundwater, which is the source of water that sustains human life. This harmful chemistry contaminates the soil where all our food grows. Much of this poisonous chemistry cannot be removed from the drinking water, cannot be removed from the soil, cannot be removed from the crops, and cannot be be removed from the systems of the animals that eat the crops. Meanwhile, responsibly recycling these damaging components and using products that are green and mild to the environment, can easily be done. Simply go green!

Occasionaly it’s helpful to see examples of the effects of recycling and being conservative with resources. Here are a few:
• One recycled glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100 watt bulb for 4 hours
• One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for 6 hours
• Recycling 100 pounds of paper saves 350 gallons of water, 19 gallons of oil PLUS saves enough energy to run the electricity in an entire house for 9 days!

A Walk A Day

The popularity of walking as a fitness activity has increased by leaps and bounds. Low-risk and easy to start, walking has proven its health benefits in various studies. An eight-year study of 13,000 people found that those who walked 30 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of premature death than those who barely exercised. In addition, research has shown that regular walking can decrease total and intra-abdominal fat and lower your risk of developing diabetes or breast cancer.

A regular walking program can also:

• Improve your cholesterol profile
• Lower blood pressure
• Increase your energy and stamina
• Boost “couch potato” bone strength
• Prevent weight gain

Experts at the CDC and National Institute of Health recommend that every American adult engage in 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity just about every day of the week. One way to meet this standard is to walk 2 miles briskly (about 4 miles/hr). If this is too fast, choose a more agreeable pace.

Get Ready

A walking program is easy to start. All you need are comfortable clothes and supportive shoes. Layer loose clothing, keeping in mind that brisk exercise elevates the body’s temperature. Shoes specifically designed for walking or running are best. Make sure you have as little wiggle room between your longest toe (1/2") and the end of the shoe. Avoid cotton socks since they absorb moisture and can promote blisters. To warm up, walk at an easy tempo for the first several minutes. Then gradually adopt a more purposeful pace.

Get Moving

• Begin with short distances. Start with a strollthat feels comfortable to you (perhaps 5-10 minutes) and gradually increase your time or distance each week by 10-20% (add just a few minutes or blocks). If it’s easier on your joints and your schedule to take a couple shorter walks (10-20 minutes) instead of one long walk (30-40 minutes) each day, do it!
• Focus on posture. Keep your head lifted, tummy pulled in and shoulders relaxed. Sway your arms naturally. Avoid carrying hand weights since these put excessive stress on the elbows and shoulders. Don’t overstride. Choose a comfortable, natural step length. If you want to move faster, pull your back leg through more quickly.
• Breathe deeply. If you can’t converse or catch your breath while walking, slow down. Initially, forget about walking speed. Just get out there on a regular basis and establish a habit of activity.

Listen to Your Body

If you experience foot, knee, hip or back pain when walking, STOP and check with your doctor to find out the cause. You may need special exercises or better shoes. If you have osteoarthritis and experience increased joint pain lasting an hour or two after walking, consider an alternate activity like stationery cycling or water exercise. Don’t stop exercising altogether!

Get Fit!

When you can walk 30-40 minutes easily, incorporate some brisk intervals into your walk. For example, walk one block fast, two blocks slow and repeat several times. Gradually add more fast intervals with shorter recovery periods. Concentrate on increasing your speed while maintaining good posture. Walking hills is a great way to tone the legs. The use of Nordic walking poles can boost the calorie-burning value of your walk while promoting good posture and overall muscle endurance. Treadmill walking, while not as scenic, can be a convenient option during severe weather.

The end of your walk is an ideal time to stretch since your body is warmed up. Stretch your hamstrings and calves (important walking muscles) as well as your chest, shoulders and back. Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

Listening to lively music while you walk is a great way to energize your workout. But if you wear headphones, keep the volume down and look out for traffic that you may not hear. Find a pleasant place to walk: a beautiful park, neighborhood or shopping mall (without your wallet!). Get a friend, co-worker or family member to accompany you and get in shape together.

Record your progress. Although experts recommend that you walk a minimum of 30 minutes a day, there are no hard and fast rules. If walking is part of your weight loss plan, more is better. Walking 60 minutes/day and brisk intervals will help you burn more calories. Fit walking into your schedule whenever you can. That may mean three 10-minute walks over the course of a day. The best schedule is one that keeps you walking, healthy and fit!

Sustain® Sport — Raspberry Lemonade

• Size: 8.5 oz Product No. 4866
• Four electrolytes maximize muscle performance for a better, longer work out
• Complete rehydration with only 30 calories per 16 fl. oz. serving
• Three refreshing flavors

What Makes It Different?
Sustain Sport is the only performance drink with four electrolytes and just 30 calories to help you rehydrate, rebound, and recover.

Why Is That Important?
Electrolytes are crucial minerals that are lost when you sweat, and water alone can’t put them back. Electrolytes perform three key functions:

• Help maintain proper muscle function
• Help ensure proper communication between the muscles and brain
• Support energy and water absorption into the body

Only Sustain Sport packs 4 electrolytes (twice as many as Gatorade® Thirst Quencher Original Orange) into each serving to give your body what it needs most. This proprietary complex of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium rejuvenates in four ways:

• Rehydrates your cells for proper bodily functions
• Maximizes muscle performance to let you work better longer
• Helps convert carbs into energy for school, work, activities, or sports
• Minimizes muscle tissue breakdown to protect you from early fatigue and muscle cramps

It Works Because...
Sustain Sport utilizes a proprietary blend of fructose and ribose to deliver the energy you need with only ¼ the calories found in Gatorade® Thirst Quencher Original Orange. Plus, Sustain Sport adds natural vitamins for even more energy. Sustain Sport contains:

• Only 30 calories per 16 fl. oz. serving
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B12

According to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, chugging an energy drink will allow you to compete at your best for 37% longer than drinking water alone. Choosing Sustain Sport allows you to gain an extra edge without gaining unwanted calories.

Gatorade® is a registered trademark of Stokely-Van Camp, Inc.

Melaleuca Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 17-19, 2012

You won’t get any of this sitting at home



Training by Melaleuca’s CEO Frank VanderSloot 

Hear Frank share a vision of promise for your future, the value of real residual income and the power of building a business to last a lifetime.

“I’ve never been more excited than I am today; Melaleuca’s products are in high demand.Today’s educated shoppers demand value—they aren’t fooled by big bottles with watered-down formulas or cheap ingredients.”



Featured Speaker: Nick Vujicic

When Nick was unexpectedly born without arms or legs, his parents wondered how he’d ever live a full life. But as he grew up, Nick fought through his challenges and emerged, in his own words, “victorious.”

Today, Nick not only lives a full life, he also inspires thousands of others with his enthusiastic message of hope and faith. Nick is one of the most empowering motivational speakers in the world.

“I cant wait to inspire you to be all that you can be, to dream big and to never ever give up. This is certainly an event you don’t want to miss.”

Workshops

At every Convention, Melaleuca provides world-class workshops by some of Melaleuca’s leading business builders. Learn how to a grow and build a successful Melaleuca business by attending several world-class workshops on topics like:

• Maximizing the Compensation Plan
• Developing effective leadership
• Teaming up and following up
• Presenting Melaleuca’s products, and more…

You’ll leave Convention with knowledge that will help you grow a better, stronger, more vibrant Melaleuca business.

(Convention 2012 is scheduled for May 17-19 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Go to the Melaleuca Business Center online for more information.)

Why Drinking Water Is Healthy

Blood, muscles, lungs, and brain all contain water. You need water to allocate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to your organs and tissues. It also helps transport oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. Taking in too little water or losing too much water leads to dehydration. Symptoms of mild dehydration include thirst, pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation.
A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, may indicate that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow when you take dietary supplements that contain large amounts of riboflavin. Some medications can change the color of urine as well.
You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating, and you lose more water when you're active than when you're stationary. Diuretics, such as caffeine pills, certain medications and alcohol may boost the amount of water your body loses. Lost fluids must be restored by the fluids in the foods you eat and the beverages you drink.
How much water do you need to drink? At least 20% of the water you need comes from the foods you eat. The rest comes from the beverages you drink. Some experts believe you can estimate the amount of water you need by taking your weight in pounds and dividing that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces you may want to drink each day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you might want to drink at least eighty ounces of water or other fluids per day. Other factors include amount of physical activity and the climate where you are located. My water calculator can help you establish how much water you need to consume each day.
In all probability water is the best choice for rehydration because it's economical and has no calories or added ingredients. Sweetened soft drinks and sodas have added sugar that adds extra calories but no additional nutritional value. Sports drinks contain minerals that may help keep your electrolytes in balance, which is good for recovering after a hard work out, but look out for added sugar and calories that you may not want. Fruit and vegetable juices can be a good choice because they have vitamins and minerals your body needs (read labels, however -- vegetable juices may be high in sodium). Caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee count too, but too much caffeine can make you feel jittery.

The Three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Tips on reducing waste and conserving means.
The three R's - reduce, reuse and recycle - all help to cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space and energy.
Plus, the three R's save land and money communities must use to dispose of waste in landfills. Siting a new landfill has become difficult and more expensive due to environmental control and public opposition.
Everyone can help meet this goal and save natural resources, energy, and money by following the three R's.

REDUCE

The best way to manage waste is to not produce it. This can be done by shopping carefully and being aware of a few guidelines:

• Buy products in bulk. Larger, economy-size products or ones in concentrated form use less packaging and usually cost less per ounce.
• Avoid over-packaged goods, especially ones packed with several materials such as foil, paper, and plastic. They are difficult to recycle, plus you pay more for the package.
• Avoid disposable goods, such as paper plates, cups, napkins, razors, and lighters. Throwaways bestow to the problem, and cost more because they must be replaced again and again.
• Buy durable goods - ones that are well-built or that carry good warranties. They will last longer, save money in the long run and save landfill space.
• At work, make two-sided copies when ever possible.
• Maintain central files rather than using several files for individuals.
• Use electronic mail or main bulletin board.
• Remove your name from the mailing lists of materials you no longer want to receive: write to Mail Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Assoc., P.O. Box 90008, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
• Use a dish cloth instead of paper towels.

REUSE
It makes economic and environmental sense to reuse products. Sometimes it takes creativity:

• Reuse products for the same purpose. Save paper and plastic bags, and repair broken appliances, furniture and toys.
• Reuse products in different ways. Use a coffee can to pack a lunch; use plastic microwave dinner trays as picnic dishes.
• Sell old clothes, appliances, toys, and furniture in garage sales or ads, or donate them to charities.
• Use resealable containers rather than plastic wrap.
• Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of paper cups.
• Reuse grocery bags or bring your own cloth bags to the store. Do not take a bag from the store unless you need one.

RECYCLE
Recycling is a series of steps that takes a used material and processes, remanufactures, and sells it as a new product. Begin recycling at home and at work:

• Buy products made from recycled material. Look for the recycling symbol or ask store managers or salesmen. The recycling symbol means one of two things - either the product is made of recycled material, or the item can be recycled. For instance, many plastic containers have a recycling symbol with a numbered code the identifies what type of plastic resin it is made from. However, just because the container has this code does not mean it can be easily recycled locally.
• Check collection centers and curbside pickup services to see what they accept, and begin collecting those materials. These can include metal cans, newspapers, paper products, glass, plastics and oil.
• Consider buying recycled materials at work when buying material for office supply, office equipment or manufacturing.
• Speak to store managers and ask for products and packaging that help cut down on waste, such as recycled products and products that are not over packaged.             
• Purchase products made from material that is collected for recycling in your community.
• Use recycled paper for letterhead, copier paper and newsletters.

Benefits of Recycling

Recycling protects and expands US manufacturing jobs and increases US competitiveness.

Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.

Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.

Recycling saves energy.

Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.

Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.

Access® Exercise Bars

Size: 10 bars Product No. 4201

• Access stored body fat faster
• Increase endurance with less fatigue and soreness
• Clinically proven fat-loss and body toning benefits with natural CLA*:
• Helps reduce body fat†
• Improves lean muscle tone†
• Helps prevent weight regain†

Access® Exercise Bars – Chocolate Coconut Kraze, Caramel Kruncher, Mint Chocolate Ice, Peanut Butter Krisp 


What Makes It Different?
Access® turns fat into fuel. Access® includes a proprietary fat conversion formula combined with clinically proven* CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) to help you access your stored fat, achieve greater endurance, reduce body fat†, increase muscle tone†, and keep fat off†.
Why Is That Important?
Access® technology allows you to jump-start and maximize your workout and weight loss potential using a unique technology combination only found in Access®.
The original Access® technology allows your body to:

• Access stored body fat faster to fuel your workout
• Naturally block the energy-sapping effects of adenosine
• Increase endurance with less fatigue and soreness

With the addition of clinically proven and patented CLA, Access® technology also delivers increased fat-loss and body toning benefits*. This proven technology from CLA can help you:

• Reduce body fat by up to 10%*†
• Improve muscle tone and build lean muscle†
• Keep fat off and prevent weight regain†

For optimal results, consume one serving of Access® 15 minutes before exercising.
It Works Because…
During exercise the body produces adenosine, which slows fat burning and promotes fatigue, soreness, and reduced muscle contraction. The original Access® technology developed by Larry Wang, Ph.D., a world-renowned authority on fat metabolism, helps block adenosine so you can more easily convert fat into fuel and increase endurance with less fatigue and soreness associated with exercise.
Access® also delivers impressive fat-loss and body toning benefits by leveraging the power of CLA. Access® contains the purest form of CLA available. Naturally sourced from safflower, this highly purified CLA is patented and clinically proven.
Reduced body fat, improved muscle tone and weight regain prevention is possible because of the way CLA alters the body's interaction with fat. By helping the body burn fat more efficiently CLA helps increase fat metabolism, limit fat deposits, reduce the size of fat cells and build lean muscle. Because muscle helps burn fat, the longer you use Access®, the more fat loss and body toning benefits you will see.
This remarkable technology is backed by extensive scientific research, including 18 independent clinical studies and more than 75 published articles. The CLA found in Access® has over 40 patents or pending patents across the globe.
An impressive research finding is the fact that the CLA in Access® works on people of all shapes and activity levels, whether they are normal weight, overweight or obese.
Let Access® turn your fat into fuel to fuel your personal weight-loss and fitness victories.
*In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, CLA users showed a significant reduction in weight, BMI, and body fat mass versus placebo. CLA users also significantly increased lean body mass. Gaullier, et al., CLA Reduces Body Fat Mass and Is Well Tolerated, The Journal of Nutrition, 2005.
†When 3 grams of pure CLA are consumed daily for several weeks. Access® contains 1.5 grams of pure CLA per serving.

U.S. Patent Nos. 6,034,132 and 6,060,514

If interested email me @ stevedelcid@gmail.com

Fit For Life Sports Weekend Coming to Shreveport-Bossier, May 12-13

The Fit for Life Sports Weekend, May 12-13, will feature athletes from around the world competing in a variety of sporting events throughout Shreveport-Bossier. Bodybuilding, strongman competitions and arm wrestling are just a few of the sports that will be featured during competition at the Shreveport Convention Center, beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. Admission is $25 per person at the Shreveport Convention Center and will grant spectators access to all events throughout the day. Additional sporting events will take place at Lee Hedges Stadium, Southern Hills Park and Tinsley Park. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.bfitforlife.org.

Hosted by Robert “Super-Mann” Blount, the Fit for Life Weekend is the largest multi-sport event in Louisiana, and is expected involve an estimated 16,000 health and fitness enthusiasts. In conjunction with the sporting events being held at the Shreveport Convention Center, a Fit for Life Fitness Expo will take place offering the latest trends in supplements, apparel, and training equipment. For additional information on the Fit for Life Fitness Expo and booth space, contact Robert Blount at (318) 429-0651 or (318) 347-2208.

The Fit for Life Weekend is an annual fitness and wellness event designed to promote health awareness in our community through education.

Though the event is still in its infancy, Blount hopes to expand Fit For Life Weekend each year through the inclusion of more sporting events and a larger Expo.



Please stop by our Melaleuca booth to meet Tom and Leigh to receive free Melaleuca products!

What is Melaleuca?

Melaleuca is a private company. The company was founded in 1985. It is headquartered in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Melaleuca is a wellness company that provides different nutritional, cosmetic, household cleaning and skin care products.

Our team lives by our mission statement: "Enhancing the Lives of Those we Touch by Helping People Reach Their Goals."

Our Focus Has Always Been on Wellness. In fact, we were green long before being green was popular. For 25 years we've been leading the way in developing products that help preserve nature's resources. Our company develops, manufactures and sells over 350 of the world's leading wellness products for your home and family. We carefully craft products you use every day with the highest standards of safety, health, and wellness in mind.

This is an exciting time for our company. As a multi-national employer, we continue to move forward in innovation and expansion both domestically and internationally. We are one of the fastest growing Health and Wellness companies in the world. Our revenues have exceeded over $948M in sales and we now sell our products in 18 countries. To keep up with our continuous growth we are always on the lookout for exceptional talent that wants to be a part of something more than just a company but someone who shares in our mission of "Enhancing Lives". If this is you, we have a place for you, right on the front lines of a world-class company where your training, your talents, your experience and your enthusiasm can make an impact--right from day one.

Find out how everything you're looking for to launch your career is right here:

A fast-growing company with a meaningful, life-enhancing mission
Plenty of room to advance and world-class bonuses
A well-known, well-loved product lineup, and a chance to help contribute to the company's future

Our Mission: "Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping them reach their goals"

We define wellness as the ability to enjoy better physical wellness, environmental wellness, financial wellness, and personal wellness. We strive for wellness every day and stay more connected to cleaner, easier, more wholesome natural solutions. Our products, our business model, our daily efforts--and especially our company culture--are centered on providing that wellness to everyone around us.

Every ounce of effort you put in, and everything you accomplish here, has a purpose.

That purpose is to enhance people's lives. While we continue to grow as a company, we know we succeed only when we improve how people live and feel. Enhancing lives is the foundation of every decision made here, and has been since the company was founded. When you walk through the doors of our company you can feel it immediately--this is Wellness.

Awards:

We have appeared in the Inc. 500 five times; published by Inc. Magazine, the leading reporter of business growth, the Inc. 500 lists the fastest-growing privately help companies in America. We were rated as high as #4 in the nation in absolute dollar growth and #5 in the nation in job creation. It is noteworthy that only 2% of America's fastest growing companies have ever made the Inc. 500 listing and have remained on the list for five consecutive years. We are the only company ever to make the list five consecutive years while maintaining and "A" profit rating each year.

We invite you to contact us for additional information and join us on a webcast! There is no pressure...just a team, working together, to enhance lives and promote health and wellness (for ourselves and those we meet). Not to mention, the power to earn almost unlimited income! We look forward to welcoming you into our fast growing family!
 

Cracking the Smart Energy Market

By JIM WITKIN

American homes are getting smarter, at least when it comes to using energy, a consumer research firm reports. By 2020, some 60 percent of homes in the United States will have some type of smart energy management system, according to estimates from the firm, Parks Associates. Still, adoption has been slower than some companies had hoped.

MicrosoftMicrosoft’s Hohm energy-monitoring service failed to catch on.

Smart energy management systems consist of products and services that enable you to watch how you consume energy and help you use less. I wrote about one such gadget recently, the in-home energy monitor, a small electronic device that resembles a car’s G.P.S. system. The monitor communicates wirelessly with the home’s electric meter and shows how much electricity the home is using and at what cost at any given moment.
Having this information in real time, rather than once a month in a billing statement, helps you quickly identify which appliances are the biggest hogs so you can turn them down or off. Knowing the price you are paying at that moment allows you to use less when prices are highest, based on your rate plan with the utility.
Research from several pilot projects has shown that people who use these types of devices are saving money on their monthly bills, in some cases up to 20 percent.
Yet despite the upbeat prediction from Parks Associates, consumer response has been mostly lukewarm, according to Neil Strother, an analyst with Pike Research. He said that fewer than 1 percent of homes in North America had installed some form of in-home energy management system by the end of 2011.

Google and Microsoft tried to ignite interest with online services that displayed home energy data, but both failed to crack this market. Google’s PowerMeter service, introduced in 2009, was offered free to consumers. An online dashboard displayed real-time energy usage in a Web browser and offered conservation tips. Google discontinued support for PowerMeter late last year because of a low response from consumers.
Microsoft’s similarly free service, Hohm, was also introduced in 2009. Recently it announced that it would be discontinued at the end of this month because of “slow overall market adoption.”
Several big box retailers are now taking a run at this market. Late last year, Best Buy, the electronics retailer, opened Home Energy Learning Centers in three of its stores to test consumer interest in smart energy management systems.
And Lowe’s, the home improvement and appliance retailer, announced in January that it would start selling its own home energy management solution, Iris, around the middle of this year.
Kevin Meagher, the vice president of Lowe’s smart home initiative, said in a telephone interview that he still sees potential in the market. Lowe’s strategy will be to bundle together a package of home control systems that go beyond energy monitoring. “We want to appeal to a broad group of consumers, not just those interested in energy management,” he said. A price point has not been been announced.
Iris can monitor and control not only thermostats and appliances but also door locks, security systems and motion sensors, Mr. Meagher said. For example, he explained, “you can attach a sensor to a door lock or pet door and Iris can alert you when the door is opened or closed.”
The energy controls can be automated, he said. “For instance, Iris can automatically turn down the temperature and turn off the lights when you leave your home according to the rules you have set,” Mr. Meagher said. Homeowners can control Iris from a Web browser or a mobile phone.
Will the ubiquity of smartphones finally make our homes smarter too? Lowe’s will soon find out.

Sign up for $1 for the month of May!

MELALEUCA is having a special this month. It is waiving the $29.99 sign up fee for the entire month of May for only a $1. Contact me if interested in signing up!