Writing Articles, But Still Not Getting Traffic? Your Articles Suck ? But I Can Help! (Part 1)

We've all been there. We hear about how articles will generate HUGE publicity for a site, (the old "If you build it, they will come") so we sit down, write an article, submit it to article directories, then wait. A week goes by, you get a trickle, another week, still a trickle, a month, still a trickle (if that). What happened to all the promise of thousands and thousands of people coming to the site? Nothing - that's the problem. Very few (if any) ezines, newsletters, or web sites reprinted your article. Just the RSS feeds (they were probably responsible for the trickle). Lets take a look at how an article should be written for maximum exposure.

Headline/Title (This just in?)

The headline is arguably the most important part of the article. If the reader isn't interested after reading the headline, they won't read the rest. It should be something catchy. My first article was entitled "Branded Email: Email Branding is the Next Generation of Email" and after posting that to a site or two, I shortened it to "Branded Email: The Next Generation of Email." By now, I'm sure you realize that the introduction paragraph was describing my first experience at article writing. My title was not catchy, (in fact, it sucked) and nobody came.

What is catchy? "How to" headlines are good. "10 Tips" (or 5 tips, or 47 tips) are often read. Case studies are great. Alliteration (putting words that begin with similar sounds together in a row ? Gary Guesses Google's Gauge ? Wow, that was bad, but you get the point) grabs a reader's attention. Using common phrases and clich?s is quite effective, putting a funny spin or changing those same phrases and clich?s works well too. Questions get readers. Pique the reader's curiosity, and they'll read.

Also, depending on your audience, you can use "shocking" words and phrases - mild swear words and words that the industry deems "taboo" work well to get readers. "Shocking" headlines create emotion, and emotion gets a visitor to read the article. I probably offended you (or made you laugh) with my headline ? and you're reading the article now. Just make sure that if you decide to go with a "shocking" headline, you also propose a solution. "- but I can help!" takes your offence and changes it to "Wow, he's right, I'll read the article and find out how he can help me!" Some readers wouldn't keep reading if I just made the headline "Your articles suck" ? that's just plain mean. For example: If I was writing an article about plastic surgery, I could make the headline "Are you ugly? I can fix that."

Byline (By: ME!)

Bylines are simple ? just type your name in the box. Don't use your business name - businesses don't write articles! If you're writing for your business, include it with a copyright at the bottom of the body of the article.

Summary (That about sums it all up?)

Summaries are there to pull the reader in. Their job is to tell the reader what the article is about, and to grab their attention so the reader clicks and reads the article. Much like a headline, these need to be fairly catchy, but concentrate on informing the reader about the article. This is not the place to generate emotion (especially if your headline already has), but instead it's where you need to leave the reader wanting more.

For example, "These tips will help you make over $5000/month" is a good sentence to put in your summary, as is "Find out the secrets of how to start your own business, without a lot of startup costs." Do NOT make this sound like a blatant sales pitch, or your article won't get read.

Next Time (Same bat time, same bat channel)

Check out Part 2 of "Your articles suck" for tips and tricks on how to write a great Article Body and a wonderful Resource Box.

Jason is a long time web developer, and the owner of Premier MicroSolutions, LLC, an Internet marketing company based in Ohio. When you want to submit your articles, visit Content-Articles.com - The Premier Web Site Content Article Directory

Fitting An Education Into A Busy Lifestyle

Fitting an education into a busy lifestyle

Many people have aspirations to get an education for many reasons. Better jobs, more money and social recognition are some of the more predominant explanations. Regardless of how badly many of these people would love to achieve some sort of eduation beyond high school, attending a college or university is usually not an option because of existing responsibilities. Having bills, children, a job and other responsibilities are typically peoples first priority. The fact that many people are unable to attend a class every week is a HUGE factor preventing people from ever getting the education that they dream of.

In this day and age, with the coming of the Internet, this is no longer a valid excuse. There are many online schools where you can obtain your education from the comfort of your own computer. There are many benefits to online education. You can spend countless hours with your children, and get your education while relaxing after putting them to bed. You can still work a full time job and then spend a few hours a week learning for the future. I could continue listing the benefits for pages and pages, but then I would be slowing you down from actually potentially taking the first step and pursuing your online education.

For free information packages on many different online schools, visit http://www.education-resource.org You can request information packages directly from many different schools all from one site.

What are you waiting for? Pursue your dreams and discover that an education is waiting for you at your finger tips.

About The Author

Ryan McKenzie

Http://www.education-resource.org

Guide to Software Marketing

Intro
This concise article will tell you in plain English how you can promote your software easily and effectively.

Submit your software
I recommend submitting your software to upload.com. It costs $79 dollars a year, but is well worth it. It will display your product on download.com and its partner network made up of 20 other major download sites. Download.com is so popular that if your product was only listed on download.com it would still be worth the yearly fee.

Use Rudenko's (submit.rudenko.com) software submission service to submit your software to hundreds of software archives. Unlike auto-submit programs, Rudenko has employees manually submit your software to each archive so it is less likely to be rejected.

Rudenko's software submission service is also beneficial because most of the software archives will have a link to your website. Relevant pages that link to your website increase your link popularity. The higher your link popularity the better your search engine ranking will be, especially in Google. Rudenko's software submission service costs $70 and if you include "David Mahler - 10% discount" in the comment field you will receive 10% off.

Promote through your website
If you have a website than you can promote your software for free by utilizing effective search engine optimization techniques.

The two key factors for search engine optimization are effective titles and clear body text. Make sure that the titles are relevant, unique to each page, and include key phrases that are likely to be searched. Body text should be clear, concise and saturated with key phrases. Feel free to add your key phrase as many times as it seems natural to do so. Before you publish your masterpiece, test your website copy by reading it out loud to yourself or to a friend. If it sounds awkward you probably need to take a few of those key phrases out. Remember it is important to write for both people and search engines.

For more information on search engine optimization I highly recommend highrankings.com.

Have someone else do the work
Websites like shareit.com and cj.com allow you to partner with affiliates that distribute your software for you. This is an easy way to get your product out there but you can expect to pay a commission to the affiliate.

Conclusion
Whether you are a sole proprietor or a major corporation, these software marketing techniques will be effective in promoting your software.

David Mahler started his business (Small Business Services) creating websites in 2002. His company has since extented his services to Intranet design, database design and website copywriting.

Sex, Lies, & Videotape; Part 2

Acts 5:1-5:10 Sex, Lies and Videotape Part 2. Lies. What are lies? Is a lie an untruth, an omission of all the facts, is it a sin or unrightiouness, is it something that people use to cover-up lawlessness , or is a lie when you withhold all the facts? Yes, to all the above. A lie is a degration of ones own spirit, it gets into a persons attitude and lingers there like a leach, draining the lifes force out of them so that after a while, it becomes second nature not to tell the truth.

Sometimes people lie so much they begin not to be able to know the difference between the lie and the truth. Reality becomes second nature to them and they start living in their own little world, a dream world where everything is perfect. Lies are not a short time hurt but can become a destructive force in a persons life that affects them for years to come. A lie told 30 years ago can affect someone today. There are many descriptions of lies in scripture, it is also one of the original 10 Commandments.

Have you ever wondered why God placed a lie as a part of His commandments, as something not to do? " Thou shalt not bear false witness." Well it's because of its great impact upon the human being, short term and long term. Yes it it unrightiouness and a sin, but it reaches farther than that. It destroys a persons confidence in mankind and Satan uses them to destroy mankinds faith and belief in God. Let's look at lies and their consequences, from the scriptures point of view. One of the most reccognised lies in scripture are the ones from Acts 5:1-10.

Anania S and Sapphira were new converts to the church and not rooted and grounded in the word. They still had one foot in the world and one foot at the cross. Lies are generally a product of a persons imagination, trying to better themselves thru deception. As we know Ananias and his wife sold a possession, and as the scriptures state that what ever belongs to an individual, he has the right to do with it as he pleases. Now some people take this a little too far.

I've known men who use this scripture in their every day lives, as an excuse not to support their families, they say, "Well I worked for my money and I can do with it as I like." A little far fetched isn't it? But it's going on in this world today. I've generally found out that people who brag about what they know about the Bible, generally don't know much at all. "A man that thinks He knows something, Knows nothing. "

When Ananias sold the possession, the money obtained was still his. He had the Biblical right, to give the apostles what he thought was fair. He could have given 10% of the money and been in good shape. His heart as was his wives, was not right with God. They were still thinking in the carnal mind and not in the spiritual. This is where we as christians sometimes get ourselves into trouble.

The Bible states that, "A carnal mind is not subject to the law of God and neither can be." A carnal mind is what got these two people into the swift judgment of God. Ananias not only lied to Peter, he lied to the Holy Ghost. Peter rebuked him and told him exactly why he had lied. The result of this lie was death. There is always a cause and reason for a lie, and here as with all lies, it was the deceptive words of Satan. Satan can enter into your mind and your thoughts, if you allow him too.

And there's no big secret as to when Satan is speaking to you. Many people have asked me, " How can you tell if it is God or Satan that we are hearing?" And the best answer I can give them is, if you think its a sin, then it probably is. The Voice of God, in my case, is direct and having authority. He generally speaks to me when it is still and quiet. Satan on the other hand, trys to speak when there is a lot of noise and confusion, sometimes its quiet but the words are not as authoritative, in other-words, his words have no authority or power behind then. Its like when you are conversing with someone and somebody interrupts. Thats Satan, when you here him, rebuke him and resist and he does flee. He cant stand being around a Holy Ghost filled Christian, He hits and runs.

You can tell when a lie is about to be born, the Spirit of God will always warn you to think twice before saying something that will get you into trouble. " Quick to hear, slow to speak." Now lets take a look at Sapphira and her excuse or lack of one. Now Sapphira, not knowing that the initial lie was uncovered, chose to carry on with the plan of deception. People have to answer for themselves, not for someone else. If Sapphira had told the truth, she would have been spared and went about her life, without her husband.

The Bible states that the wages of sin is death, and in this case it came about suddenly. Lies got Isreal in trouble, not just because of the lies the spies told but because of the disobedience to God. { Jos 9:3- 27 }. Lies destroy the spirit, they can destroy a marriage, a relationship and even a church. Nations use lies to get an upper hand over another nation. Is there such a thing as a good lie? No. All lies lead to other sins of the flesh. Most people who lie have to continue to lie to cover-up the first one.

Most lie are addictive, like alcohol, one may not seem to hurt so you try another after another untill it becomes a habbit.The anti-christ will use lies to deceive the world. Most times when you look into a persons eyes you can tell weather they are lieing or not. For the eye is the window to the soul.

So in closing, in part 1 we found out that sex must be in accordance with the will of God and His perfect design, and in part 2 we find out that lies take many different forms and with the same outcome. In Part 3 of this series we will take a look at Videotape, and its affect upon the Christian and non-christian.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R. Smith Sermons International
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Questions and Affirmations - The Art (and Science) Of Talking To Yourself

I Hear Voices?

This is not a statement of paranormal; it is a statement of truth. Yes, we all have an inner voice?Is yours an ally or an enemy? Do you realize you say things to yourself you would never let anyone else say to you? Don't let your inner voice tear you down and strip away your confidence.

All outward success first starts with inward success...learn the secret strategies to winning communication with your self.

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"Men ought to know that from the brain and from the brain only, arise our pleasures, joys, laughter and sorrows. ?Through it, we think, see, hear and distinguish the ugly from the beautiful, the bad from the good, the pleasant from the unpleasant?To consciousness, the brain is messenger." ?Hippocrates

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Did you know that each day you have more than 50,000 random thoughts flying around in your head? You might find it interesting to note that we all have voices in our head. Sometimes the voice is calm and reassuring providing you with great confidence in your abilities. Other times, this voice is the negative and self limiting voice that calls into question all of your deficiencies. The voice that brings up all of the past failures and shortcomings and reminds you of all of the things you have going against you.

In sports, this voice is the last thing you hear before you take action. In interaction with others, it is sometimes the voice that challenges your worth in relation to others and weakens our own esteem.

Although we are born with this amazing supercomputer, the most complex and incredible instrument known in the universe, it does not come with an owner's manual.

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Success principles are not secrets; they are hiding in plain view.

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Famed journalist, Edward R. Murrow remarked, "The obscure we eventually see. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer." They are not reserved for the rich or famous, but to everyone who will apply them. We are inborn by our creator with tools to guide us and protect us and to open the world of abundance to us; if only we will let it.

Like understanding the law of gravity will place you on your bottom if you violate it, principles of success are laws of nature. Every idea you produce consciously produces subconscious activity to fulfill what was first created in your mind.

A farmer choosing what to plant in a field is like the conscious mind. The field itself is the subconscious mind. Whatever the farmer plants, the field grows. The field does not possess a will of its own; it must grow what was planted. It would be ridiculous to think of the farmer planting corn and having beans grow. In the same way your subconscious mind will carry out the actions our conscious mind directs. If the farmer neglects the field and plants nothing, there will still be growth. The growth will be wild and weedy based on whatever was accidentally planted.

Over time the field will be out of control with weeds. In the same way our minds, if not consciously directed, will fill with mental weeds.

There is good news!

The good news is that just like any other skill, you can learn to take greater control of your inner voice and in doing so, create greater control of your life.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." ?William James

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Create Your Destiny

with the

Power Of

Questions and Affirmations

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The Power of Positive Questions

Most people ask themselves the wrong question which produces a negative subconscious effect. You can learn to program your super computer brain by learning to ask yourself the right questions. The key is to ask yourself solution-based, positive and empowering questions rather than negative, disempowered, problematic questions.

In the past, you may have asked questions like the following. "Why am I so fat?" "Why is my life such a failure?" "Why do bad things always happen to me?" "Why am I so stupid?" These questions and all the ones like it take a terrible toll on you.

First they start with a negative assumption, stated as fact with the question supporting the wrong conclusion. If you ask yourself, "Why is my life in the crapper?" any answer you give provides support to the negative assumption. This can be compared to an attorney taking a witness from the opposing side down the path to prove the lawyer's point.

Next time you find yourself doing this, interrupt yourself with the quip, "Objection your Honor; leading the witness!"

Improving your condition comes through asking yourself better questions. This allows the creative inspiration to work through our subconscious to bring about the conditions or magnetize the conditions we seek.

You not only have the ability, but also all the resources necessary to learn anything you need to learn to fulfill any ambition or achieve any goal you desire. The goal for your questions to yourself in any situation should be outcome or solution based. The assumption is that there is an issue that needs to be fixed. Rather than what was presented above, look at an approach leading to an action conclusion. "What do I need to change about my habits to get to my fitness goal?" "What do I want to do with my life that gives me meaning and satisfaction?" "What do I need to do differently to change this string of results?" "What can I learn and apply from this?" "What is affecting my mood that makes me feel my life is not going the right direction?"

Tony Robbins asserts, "Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential." Probably the single best question you can begin to ask yourself in any situation is, "What outcome do I want from this event/situation?"

You may certainly wish to adapt this slightly, but when you go into a situation, whether it is a business meeting or negotiation or class, knowing your desired outcome is vital. As I began to work on this habit in earnest for myself, I was simply amazed at how many actions I took and how many activities I worked on without asking this clearly up front? I need to research a better mortgage for my house. What is my ideal outcome? Is it lower payments, less interest over time, more house for my money, flexibility? Without knowing the right question, the answers don't help much. What outcome do I desire for my relationship with my spouse and children? Do I know and plan or just let it happen?

We have the power through understanding and training of our subconscious minds to plant the seeds and affirm health, security, happiness, abundance. We also have the opportunity to allow society's programming to plant the seeds of lack, insecurity, fear, doubt, and negativity. I am not speaking about deep hypnosis or anything out of the ordinary.

It takes practice to keep your mind free from worry and insecurity. It takes dedication to constantly feed your mind new information and positive stimuli that will provide positive associations. It takes vigilance to associate with positive people and positive influences. Make sure your questions ask for what you want, not what you don't want.

Remember?your mind is a supercomputer. In addition to the information and educational programming you provide as input to your computer, how you talk to yourself and the questions you ask is the most influential factor in your outcome.

The Simple Power of Affirmations

We need to find a way to control our thoughts to keep them as allies rather than adversaries. In her book, The Secret Door To Success, the late Florence Scovel Shinn talks about having a Watchman at the gate of our thoughts. Her assertion is that we have the power to choose our thoughts. She uses an analogy of a single sheep dog controlling frightened sheep into the pen through gentle determination.

"We cannot always control our thoughts, but we can control our words, and repetition impresses the subconscious, and we are then master of the situation."

Although her book was written in the early 1900s, she hits upon a tool that is one of the best and yet underutilized tool for controlling and programming your thoughts, the power of affirmation.

Affirmation as a mental programming technique is an extremely powerful tool, yet one that is scoffed at by many. Affirmations are tremendously misunderstood and very much underutilized. What you may not realize is that you use them all the time although most time not to your benefit. Affirmations are simply statements of intent. You can develop into all that you desire to be based on what you chose to affirm about yourself.

I Am The Greatest!!

Mohammad Ali is one of the most widely known and recognized sports figures as a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Ali is famous for his repeating of an affirmation he used with great effectiveness to convince not only himself, but also his opponents and the rest of the world. "I am the Greatest!" Mohammad Ali's affirmation created his legacy.

Like goals, affirmations work best when they are worded in the present tense as "I am" or "I achieve" type statements. The mind cannot hold a negative. Affirmations are nothing more than affirming the truth as you wish it to be to instruct your subconscious mind to take action in that direction. It is really very simple.

Affirmations help you believe in your dreams and what you wish to be. Belief is essential to convincing your subconscious to act the direction you want to go. Affirmations are like exercise. You will not see immediate results until you create the habit which over time helps you build strength in yourself and in your beliefs. This ultimately affects your actions which affect your results.

An affirmation in some cases might be a lie at present, but you are in a sense trying to convince your subconscious that it can be true to make it a reality in the future.

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"To affirm anything is to state that it is so, and to maintain this as being true in the face of all evidence to the contrary. Repeating an affirmation is leading the mind to that state of consciousness where it accepts that which it wishes to believe."-Ernest Holmes

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Sometimes we inadvertently affirm and reinforce old established beliefs. "I am so stupid." "I'm going to lose this account." "I always flub this shot." "There is no way I can make this deadline." "I gain weight just smelling chocolate." "I need a drink." "I am a horrible golfer." I can't speak in public." "I could never write a book." "I am such a klutz." "I never win." "I'm not smart enough to do that." "I could never do something like that." "I am such an idiot sometimes." "I would lose my head if it were not attached."

Have you ever said things like this to yourself; or worse to others about yourself? Of course you have?we all have done this. This kind of talk while sometimes self effacing and done for positive effect, can actually have negative consequences. If taken to extreme and developed into a habit or pattern of self talk, the message and programming can be damaging. The issue that separates people is their underlying attitudes and beliefs about themselves. How do you respond to setbacks and adversity? Do you take it in stride, or do you take the glum and negative approach of "this always happens to me, I never catch a break, etc."

The other choice is to create and affirm and reinforce our desired positive beliefs. This happens all day long, moment by moment, and takes hold a little at a time. "This is easy." "I only eat when I am hungry." "I feel great when I exercise." "I know I can drop the pounds when I put my mind to it." "What an awesome day!" "I don't run and hide from problems, I attack." "I feel great!" "My life is really working." "I see a lot of opportunities in this situation."

I have one friend who repeats to herself daily an affirmation of, "I feel healthy, I feel happy, I feel terrific!" Every time I see this person, I can tell it is real, applied and working in her life. Another friend of mine, when asked how she is, replies glumly sounding like the always depressed Eyore from Winnie The Pooh, "I'm here."

You make the call which one is progressing faster in their lives. Can you guess which one has more abundant opportunities "luckily" come her way?

The Art (and Science) of Affirmations

When you learn to change and direct your thoughts and your internal communication your life will reflect the change (law of correspondence). Creating affirmations can change your beliefs and change the course of your life. For affirmations and autosuggestion to be effective it needs to have the following six elements. In order to be effective, your positive declarations should embody most or all of the following characteristics:

Personal (Usually a statement beginning with I)

Positive (The mind cannot hold a picture of a negative)

Present Tense (The time is now)

Short (Easy to remember and easy apply)

Specific (A specific target allows for a specific course of action and most direct route)

Emotionally Intense (This is necessary to break through the clutter of the thousands of thoughts and images that you are bombarded with on a daily basis)

The real goal is to imbed this into the subconscious to allow it to do the yeoman's work. The only real obstacle is convincing your subconscious that you are serious and committed and that you truly have a burning desire for what you want. Long-term change will only happen when there is congruency between who you think you are and how you act and behave and the choices that we make.

Affirmations are Catalyst for Success

Positive affirmations mixed with emotional intensity produce amazing results. Music is an amazing mood catalyst. To really get the most out of affirmations and create an incredible Incremental Advantage in their effectiveness in your life, I suggest recording your affirmations to inspiring music.

A good friend of mine challenged me to do just this ten years ago. I purchased an inexpensive karaoke machine, put an upbeat instrumental tape in and recorded all of the affirmations I could create to change behaviors and support my goals.

Unless you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and give this a real opportunity to work in your life, you could never know the simply incredible power and way that this mental programming technique can work in your life. I literally wore my first tape out listening to it, but it created significant leverage and results for me. I know the vast majority reading this will not make the commitment to this habit. It is a shame, but for those of you who do, I promise your results in every area of your life will improve as your internal communication improves. I constantly look for, borrow, adapt and write down affirmations. I cannot claim originality for all of them as they have been collected and changed over the years.

• I turn challenges into opportunities.

• I eliminate debt as dead weight and a YOKE around my neck. I will only be as free as I am free from debt.

• I am a leader and a developer of people!

• I am calm and composed under pressure.

• Stress makes me stonger.

• I utilize my strengths and abilities to benefit everyone I come into contact with.

• I actively pursue excellence in myself and others.

• I get up at 5:00 every morning feeling energized and ready to take on the day.

• I face my fears and conquer them.

• I am empowered by the energy that I feel and that flows through me.

• My daily routines are positive and improving.

• I always increase my value to other people.

• I am flexible and adaptable in every situation. I look for creative alternatives and seek out new ways of accomplishing my goals.

• I have money in savings and a balanced plan for security and income growth.

• I see people, not as they are, but rather for what they can be.

• I am a strong, motivated and extremely dedicated leader.

• I am a great leader and achieve my victories thru the victories of those I serve.

• I choose to spend my time with positive and forward thinking life affirming people.

• I am persistent in the pursuit of my goals.

• Solutions and alternative ideas come easy for me.

• I take time each day to play and to enjoy my family.

• I am an excellent role model for others.

• I forget the mistakes of the past and press on to my greatest achievement.

"What a man thinks of himself that is what determines, or rather indicates his fate."

"I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

-Henry David Thoreau

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Excerpted from Stack The Logs!
by Frank F. Lunn

for information about "Building a Success Framework to Reach Your Dreams," other valuable success resources or to purchase your copy, please visit www.stackthelogs.com or email tim@kahunaworld.com.

About The Author

Frank F. Lunn is an expert in leadership, marketing, and small business entrepreneurship. A former military officer and Gulf War veteran, Lunn is the founder of the Kahuna Business Group, a $20 million annual company. Lunn is the author of STACK THE LOGS!: Building a Success Framework to Reach Your Dreams, pledging to donate 10 percent of all sales to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where his son's life was saved.

tim@kahunaworld.com

Surprise! Many Fats, Even Some Saturated Fats Can Actually Be Good for You

I'll preface this article by saying that it will help if you have an open mind and accept that some of these facts are a slap in the face to politically correct nutrition in this day and age where fats are admonished by nutritionists, doctors, etc. To start, eating an adequate supply of healthy dietary fats is vitally important to your overall health. Fats are one of the main components in all of the cell membranes throughout your entire body. If you eat enough healthy natural fats, your cellular processes will proceed normally. On the other hand, if you eat man-made, heavily processed, chemically altered fats (damaged fats) that are found in most processed foods, your cellular function will be impaired as these damaged fats become part of your cell membranes, the body will have to work harder to operate correctly, and degenerative diseases can develop. In addition, healthy dietary fats are essential for optimal hormone production and balance within the body and are therefore essential for the muscle building and fat burning processes. Other important functions that dietary fats play in a healthy body are aiding vitamin and mineral utilization, enzyme regulation, energy, etc.

I cringe every time I hear so called "health experts" recommend restriction of dietary fat, claiming that a low-fat diet is the key to good health, weight loss, and prevention of degenerative diseases. Restriction of any one macronutrient (protein, carbs, or fat) in your diet works against what your body needs and can only lead to problems. All three basic macronutrients serve important functions for a lean, healthy, and disease-free body. As Dr. Mary Enig, Ph.D, and one of the leading fats and lipids researchers in the world notes in several of her books and articles, there is very little true scientific evidence supporting the assertion that a high fat diet is bad for us. For example, if these so called "health experts" that admonish fat are correct, and a low-fat diet is the solution to good health, then why did traditional Pacific Islanders who typically obtained 2/3 to 3/4 of their total daily calories from fat (mostly from coconut fat), remain virtually free from heart disease, obesity, and other modern degenerative diseases (that is, until Western dietary influences invaded)? Also, why did traditional Eskimo populations, consuming up to 75% of their total caloric intake from fat (mostly from whale blubber, seal fat, organ meats, and cold water fish), display superior health and longevity without heart disease or obesity? Why did members of the Masai tribe in Africa remain free from degenerative diseases and maintain low body fat percentages on diets consisting of large quantities of raw whole milk, blood, and meat? What about the Samburu tribe of Africa, which eats an average of 5 times the quantity of dietary fat (mostly from raw whole milk and meat) as overweight, disease-ridden Americans, yet Samburu members are lean, healthy, and free of degenerative diseases? What about traditional Mediterranean diets, which are known to be very high in fat (sometimes up to 70% fat), and are also well known to be very healthy?

These examples of high fat diets and the associated excellent health of traditional populations around the world go on and on, yet it seems that many doctors, nutritionists, and government agencies still ignore these facts and continue to promote a diet that restricts fat intake. Well, the problem is that the good fats (the natural unprocessed health promoting fats) have gotten mistakenly lumped together in nutritional advice with the deadly processed fats and oils that make up a large percentage of almost all processed food that is sold at your local grocery store, restaurant, deli, fast food joint, etc. These deadly processed fats are literally everywhere and almost impossible to avoid unless you know what to look for and make smart choices in what you feed your body with. Take note that I'm not recommending following a super high fat diet. Active individuals that exercise on a regular basis certainly also need adequate supplies of healthy carbohydrates for energy and muscle glycogen replenishment as well as good sources of protein for muscle repair. The above examples of the high fat diets of traditional populations and their corresponding excellent health were simply to prove the point that you don't need to be afraid of dietary fats as long as you make healthy natural choices and stay within your daily caloric range to maintain or lose weight (depending on your goals). Following is a list of some of the healthiest fatty foods (some will surprise you!) as well as some of the deadliest fatty foods to try to avoid at all costs:

The Healthy Fatty Food Choices:

? Coconut fat: Coconut fat is approximately 92% saturated fat, yet surprisingly to most people, is considered a very healthy natural fat. The health benefits of coconut fat lie in its composition of approximately 65% medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Specifically, about 50% of coconut fat is a MCT called lauric acid, which has very potent anti-microbial properties helping to enhance the immune system. Also, MCTs are more easily utilized for immediate energy instead of being stored as body fat. Coconut oil is also an excellent cooking oil for stir-frying, etc. since saturated fats are much more stable and do not oxidize like polyunsaturated oils when exposed to heat and light, which creates damaging free radicals. The best sources of healthy coconut fat are organic coconut milk, virgin coconut oil, or fresh coconut.

? Extra virgin olive oil: Olive oil is approximately 71% monounsaturated, 16% saturated, and 13% polyunsaturated. Choose "extra virgin" olive oil, which comes from the first pressing of the olives and has higher quantities of antioxidants. Unlike most other oils on supermarket shelves, extra virgin olive oil is not extracted with the use of harmful industrial solvents and is one of your healthiest choices for liquid oils. Try making your own salad dressing by mixing a small amount of olive oil with vinegar. This is healthier than most store bought salad dressings, which are usually made with highly processed and refined (chemically damaged) soybean oil extracted with industrial solvents.

? Dark, bittersweet chocolate (>70% cocoa): The cocoa bean is a very concentrated source of antioxidants and responsible for part of the health benefit of dark chocolate. The fat portion of the cocoa bean (cocoa butter) is a healthy natural fat, composed of approximately 59% saturated fat (mostly healthy stearic acid), 38% monounsaturated fat, and 3% polyunsaturated fat. I'll limit the description of healthy chocolate to ONLY dark bittersweet chocolate with >70% cocoa content. Most milk chocolates are only about 30% cocoa, and even most dark chocolates are only about 55% cocoa, leaving the remainder of those products composed of high amounts of sugar, milk fat, corn sweeteners, etc. Look for a quality dark chocolate that lists its cocoa content between 70%-80%. A dark chocolate with cocoa content in this range will contain mostly cocoa and very little sugar. Keep in mind that although dark chocolate can be a healthy treat, it is still calorie dense, so keeping it to just a square or two is a good idea.

? Avocados or guacamole: The fat in avocados (depending on where they're grown) is approximately 60% monounsaturated, 25% saturated, and 15% polyunsaturated. Avocados are a very healthy natural food that provides many nutrients, fiber, and healthful fats, while adding a rich flavor to any meal. Try sliced avocado on sandwiches or in salads or use guacamole in wraps, sandwiches, or quesadillas.

? High fat fish such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, etc.: Just about any fish or seafood are good sources of natural omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, but the higher fat fish listed above are the best sources of omega-3's. Due to the radical switch to a higher proportion of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats like soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, etc. in our food supply during the middle of the 20th century, the average western diet is currently way too high in omega-6's compared to omega-3's, which wreaks havoc in your body. This is where good omega-3 sources like high fat fish, walnuts, and flax seeds can help bring you back to a better ratio of omega-6/omega-3.

? Nuts (any and all - walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamias, etc.): Nuts are great sources of healthy unprocessed fats as well as minerals and other trace nutrients. Macadamias, almonds, and cashews are great sources of monounsaturated fats, while walnuts are a good source of unprocessed polyunsaturated fats (including omega-3's). Try to avoid nuts that are cooked in oil. Instead, choose raw or dry roasted nuts.

? Seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds): All of these seeds are great sources of natural unprocessed healthy fats. In particular, flax seeds have received a lot of attention lately due to their high omega-3 content. However, keep in mind that omega-3 polyunsaturated fats are highly reactive to heat and light, and prone to oxidation and free radical production, so freshly ground flax seed is the only way to go. Instead of using the store bought ground flax seed, you can buy whole flax seed and use one of those miniature coffee grinders to grind your own flax seed. Try grinding fresh flax seed into your yogurt, cereal, or even your salad. If you're using a flax oil, make sure it's a cold-pressed oil in a light-proof refrigerated container, and use it up within a few weeks to prevent it from going rancid. NEVER cook with flax oil!

? The fat in organically raised, free-range animals: This is where most people have been misinformed by the mass media. Animal fat is inherently good for us, that is, if it came from a healthy animal. Human beings have thrived on animal fats for thousands of years. The problem lies in the fact that most mass produced animal products today do not come from healthy animals. They come from animals given loads of antibiotics and fattened up with hormones and fed un-natural feed. The solution is to choose organically raised, free-range meats, eggs, and dairy. At this time, the price is still a little higher, but it is worth it, and as demand grows, the prices will come down.

The Deadly Fatty Foods:

? Hydrogenated oils (trans fats): These are industrially produced chemically altered oils subjected to extremely high pressure and temperature, with added industrial solvents such as hexane for extraction, and have a metal catalyst added to promote the artificial hydrogenation, followed by bleaching and deodorizing agents?..and somehow the FDA still allows this crap to pass as food. These oils aren't even worthy of your lawnmower, much less your body! They've been linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. Even small quantities have been shown in studies to be dangerous. If you care about your health, check the ingredients of everything you buy, and if you see partially hydrogenated oils of any kind, margarine, or shortening, protect yourself and your family by choosing something else. The FDA has mandated that all food manufacturers have to show the quantity of trans fat on all labels by January 2006.

? Refined oils: Even if the oils are not hydrogenated, most oils on your supermarket shelves are refined, even most of the so called "healthy" canola oils. Even most refined oils still undergo the high temperature, high pressure, solvent extraction, bleaching, and deodorizing processes. Anything labeled vegetable oil, soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, and even many canola oils have been damaged by this refining process. This damages the natural structure of the fats, destroys natural antioxidants, creates free radicals, and produces a generally unhealthy product. Take note that the explosion of heart disease in the middle of the 20th century coincides quite nicely with the rapid increase in the use of hydrogenated and refined oils in the food supply at that time.

? Anything deep fried: including tortilla chips, potato chips, French fries, donuts, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, etc. All of this crap doesn't even pass as real food in my opinion!

? Homogenized milk fat - Milk fat is a very healthy fat in its natural raw state. Traditional populations around the world thrived in perfect health while consuming huge quantities of raw, non-pasteurized, non-homogenized, full fat dairy products. Once again, food processing ruins a good thing by pasteurizing and homogenizing milk fat, rendering it potentially dangerous inside the human body. Unfortunately, you will find it almost impossible to find raw milk in the US unless you personally know a farmer. Check out realmilk.com for more info on the benefits of raw milk and to find out if it's available near you. As an alternative, cultured dairy products like yogurt have at least had beneficial microorganisms added back to them making them better for you. Realistically, since you probably won't find raw milk, sticking to skim milk is the best option. If you use butter for cooking, cultured organic butter is the best option.

I hope this article has shed some light on the truth about dietary fats and made you realize their importance in a healthy diet. Visit my website below to find more free fitness articles and bonuses for stopping by.

Michael Geary is a nationally dual certified personal trainer (NCSF-CPT, AFAA-CPT), and author of "The Truth about Six Pack Abs" ?2004-2005.

Visit http://truthaboutabs.com to receive several free bonuses that are yours to keep with no purchase necessary

Wedding Lingerie ? Honeymoon in Paradise

There are many things to remember in preparation for your wedding day. Of the many items you can't forget, your wedding lingerie is very important. Getting the most out of your big day is all about taking advantage of every experience. This includes the honeymoon. But there is more to your lingerie than the honeymoon.

Traditions create many of the reasons why we do things, especially in weddings. You've spent so much time selecting the right invitations and the just the right dress, so why wouldn't you do the same with your intimate apparel.

Panties play an important role in everyday life, but a more important one under your bridal dress. Many of the latest dress styles are more sensual and revealing than ever before. White thong panties are the perfect answer to the panty question. Thongs are required because there is a chance that your dress is slightly see through, and you don't want to give anything away.

Choosing the right bra might be just as easy. You want support, yet you don't want your wedding guests to see it. It also has to be seductive for the alone time that follows. There are many strapless bras that provide wonderful support, while also adding a little more in the bust. The design choices are intricate, with lacy designs that are easily transferred to the bride's chambers.

Your stocking choice is maybe the most difficult decision to make. There are many inexpensive options available, but they don't have the same appeal as vintage sexy stockings. The traditional silk variety is head and shoulders above the competition. Shiny, white legs will go a long way down the aisle and the dance floor. Pantyhose just can't provide the appeal you are looking for in a stocking.

Last, but not least, is the traditional wedding garter. It is customary to give this one out to a lucky someone in the wedding party, so you don't want to spend a fortune on it. If you want to keep one for yourself, then you can go all out. Find something that matches your personality, and make it fun. The removal of the garter is just as traditional as any other custom.

Getting the most out of your wedding day shouldn't be contingent on your lingerie, but it will definitely have an impact on your memories. Take a chance on your styles, and do it differently than all others. Make your day more special for bride and groom with the little details that are so memorable.

Robb Ksiazek researches, writes, and publishes about sexy lingerie for Lingerie-4U.biz. He feels the right apparel will allow us to be ourselves, yet someone we desire to be.