Travel Blog

My wife and I recently had lunch at the Ha Noi Pho Restaurant in Ottawa located at :4312 Innes Road, Unit 1,Orleans, Ontario. It is at the corner of Innes Road and Lanthier Road.

Ha Noi Pho Restaurant in Ottawa

We found that this restaurant not only serves excellent food, but the service also is great and there is a nice atmosphere as well. It is a relatively small restaurant and we were there late in the lunch hour period, so it was not too crowded.

We had a beer first which was ice cold, just the way we like it, and ordered vegetable rolls initially. We mentioned to the waitress that we wanted to enjoy our beer and then order our lunch a bit later.

She was really excellent not bothering us every 5 minutes to see if we were ready to order. Instead, she was very respectful and observed us from a distance. As soon as we were ready we were able to get her attention easily and place our orders.

I had General Tao’s chicken which is slightly spicy and comes with white rice. It was excellent and both the quantity and the taste of the food more than met our expectations. Although the lunch came to about $40,  we did have a beer each, an appetizer, and two great meals.

My wife has dined at this restaurant several times with a friend. She plans to return many more times for the food, the atmosphere, and of course that ice-cold beer. She has gone to this restaurant several times since our visit together. Each time she has enjoyed the meal.

They seem to be able to maintain consistency in terms of both services as well as food quality. This is difficult to do when staff changes etc. at many restaurants.

If you have not been to this restaurant in Orleans, it is definitely worth a try, especially if you enjoy Vietnamese food.

We recently had coffee at the Starbucks located inside the Chapters store at 2401 City Park Drive, Gloucester, ON K1J 1G1, which is actually in Ottawa near the corner of Blair road and Olgivy Rd. This Starbucks & Chapters store is a very busy store both for books as well as for coffee. On any given day  it is difficult to find a place to sit. Many of the Starbucks locations seem to be like this. Starbucks is also upgrading many of their busy locations. A big improvement in the opinion of this customer.

This is a nice combination of located a great coffee shop with a Chapters store. Many people were browsing books while enjoying a coffee. We have to assume that the books had been paid for and not borrowed.

Starbucks & Chapters

As with many of the Starbucks it has a decidedly American flavor to it. The staff is friendly and helpful and they have a full selection of all of the standard coffees etc. This is a high traffic location and there was a bit of slush in the parking lot so that a lot gets tracked into the store which is a bit of a negative.

As we said the staff was friendly and actually said hello to us first before asking for our order. This is something a lot of Canadian companies still have to learn.

Besides belong located inside a Chapters book store which is a decided advantage, there are also a lot of tables and chairs for people to relax and enjoy their coffee and a snack. The WiFi was also working and there were a number of people working on their laptops while have a coffee.

I checked the connection using my iPod and found that it connected quickly and had a reasonable speed. Many people go there for several hours to do their email, work on a project or study for exams. This puts seating at a premium, which can be a bit of an issue if you want to settle down with your favorite coffee and read a book..

I would definitely go back to this particular Starbucks! The hours of this particular store coincide with that of Chapters since there is no physical separation between the two. As a result if the Starbucks is open the Chapters book store much also be open as well.

There is also lots of parking outside with a Best Buy and the theater nearby. On days when there are a lot of people going to the show it can get a little busy in the parking lot as well.

Sarah Palin’s Alaska is one of the best shows on TV right now. It has done wonders for Alaska. Like the last show about mushing dog sleds to white water rafting. There are lots of people who love her and there are lots of people who really cannot stand the ground that she stands on. Either way though Sarah Palin’s Alaska is one of the best marketing packages anyone could put together for a state. Who knows whether she will run for president of not. Right now she is riding the wave of popularity and notoriety that she has to promote herself and Alaska.

White Water  – Alaska

Imagine that you want to somehow get the country to get to know you, advertise your state and increase tourism in the state. Get someone like Sarah Palin to go around the state and do all of the outdoors things that any one would love to do. From hunting, to hiking to boating to mushing to white water rafting. She does it all and she can even shoot accurately according to the TV show. Whether she is  acting or not, I do not know any women that can cut trees down, operate large pieces of equipment and be a mother to 5 children!

Each episode depicts a different sport or activity that families can take part in regardless of whether they are in Alaska or not. She is demonstrating the idea of family values, discussing some of the issues that families must deal with and showing that although she has become wealthy, she and Todd Palin are just another couple trying to make ends meet and raise a family.

We will add more posts about White Water rafting in Alaska and about Sarah Palin. In the mean time if you have any comments about this post or about Sarah, please feel free to leave constructive comments that our readers will appreciate.

Sarah Palin and Rafting on the Matanuska River

An exciting glacial fed, class III & IV whitewater trip next to the 27 mile long Matanuska Glacier. The main rapids are several miles long. The result of a squeeze play between the glaciers lateral moraine and “Lion Head”, a massive basalt rock wall from an ancient volcanic plug. A perfect trip for first-timers or experienced river runners! Oar rafts with paddle assist or full paddle rafting available.

On the show were Sarah and her family went white water rafting, there was her brother and sister, her father and a number of the kids along with an expert guide. They appeared to have a wonderful time, getting totally soaked and thrills galore as they traversed the class III rapids. The water was ice cold since this river comes from the glacial melt that is just above the freezing point.

All though I am sure that the entire event was somewhat staged, this was a great show. It demonstrated what it is like for people to go white water rafting in a setting such as Alaska. Surrounded by mountains, glaciers and a raging river. It provides some of the best scenes for a show such as this.

Other Rivers in Alaska Suitable for White Water Rafting

Perhaps the wildest and most visually spectacular rivers in North America, the Alsek and Tatsheshini give you mountains, glaciers and more! Flowing from the inlands of the Yukon Territory to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Alaska, these rivers offer a full range of outdoor experience.

The Tatshenshini River flows through the heart of the largest bio-preserve in the world. Wildlife abounds as you travel through tall mountains, vast glaciers and ice burg dotted lakes.

The Alsek is extraordinarily different from the Tatshenshini which is only “one valley over”. Glaciers, icebergs, wildlife, canyons and a helicopter portage around Turnback Canyon add to the adventure. The Alsek valley is perhaps the most “Himalayan-like” topography on the continent!

Additional rivers that can be candidates for white water rafting are COPPER RIVER – CHITINA RIVER – – NIZINA RIVER – KENNICOTT RIVER – GULF OF ALASKA.

For more posts about Alaska, click here.

 Starbucks Orleans is part of an American company expanding into Canada and this location demonstrates a little bit of the American influence. Starbucks Orleans cannot quite shake off that cold unfriendly Canadian influence that Canadians are increasingly being known for.

This location is always really busy (they need a third Starbucks  somewhere in Orleans, Ontario) and crowded. Often there is a line almost out the door to place your order and another line waiting for the specialty coffee orders to be prepared. At busy times you might have to wait up to 10 or 15 minutes in total for the special cup of java.

The staff is professional and they do say ” Can I help you” with a smile. However that is about as far as it goes. I think they are so busy they are just trying to get the orders completed. Which is not a bad thing. Still it does not measure up to what we have experienced at coffee shops in the US at Starbucks.

Since this location is so small, they really do not have a good location to store supplies. As a result they have boxes piled up in customer areas. They sometimes even place them on the counter were people sometimes sit if there are no boxes to enjoy their coffee.

Starbucks Orleans

My daughter who is a food auditor for the airlines mentioned that this is a really bad infraction from a cleanliness perspective. Who knows were the bottom of that box has been. Now it is on the counter and leaving who knows what on the counter were people enjoy food as well as coffee. She spoke to them about it. However of course no one did anything about it.

They have a couple of sofa chairs, about 5 tables and a bench area, all really crowded together. This place is always really crowded. As a result we have to line up for a coffee and then line up for a specialty coffee to be made.

This place is a real gold mine, but they have to get more space for people to sit at. The place is popular since everyone goes for the coffee! They also have free WiFi.

We also registered our Starbucks card so we get free refills and free toppings if we order a specialty coffee. We also get a free drink of our choice on our birthdays!

Even with the friendliness, the boxes and the relatively small space, we will continue to frequent this Starbucks. Although the new Second Cup in Orleans is beckoning as preferred spot. As of June 7, 2016, this location is going to be remodeled. Can’t wait to see the changes.

They have just opened a new Second Cup coffee shop in Orleans, Ontario Canada along Innes road. This Second Cup – Orleans, Ontario is located near Lowes.  I do not normally go to this particular chain for coffee, however my wife wanted to try it out. What a pleasant surprise! this location has become one of our favorite places to have coffee with friends and as a couple.

Canadians are actually friendly in some coffee shops. I recently posted about Tim Hortons and how unfriendly they are. Well at Second cup they actually said “good Morning” with a smile and asked ” how can I help you”! The store is new and I know they are trying to gain customers, and for me this is absolutely the best way to go about it. Nice friendly service. When we were leaving someone said to us from behind the counter, “Have a nice day”. You never see this at any of the competing coffee chains except for maybe Starbucks if they notice and have time.

Second Cup – Orleans, Ontario

It does not hurt that the place is brand new and decorated very nicely. They have the usual chairs and tables, but they also have a nice fireplace with soft leather chairs to sit in, read a book or chat with friends. There was also a spot over by the windows in a little alcove were you could also meet with 2 or 4 friends and have a great conversation on nice leather chairs. This is a very comfortable spot to go and we usually visit this coffee shop a couple of times a week.

This is absolutely the best way to go about it in terms of attracting customers and keeping them. Finally a coffee chain that recognizes that their customers want more than just a cup of coffee. They are looking for comfort and a cozy place to relax in, enjoy coffee and chat with friends and family.  We will definitely go back to this Second Cup for coffee in the near future!

For a list of more things to do in Palm Springs, click here.

Let’s face it we all gain weight over the holidays. There are parties to go to and then there are the meals, not to mention all of the snacks that are everywhere. We consume thousands of calories with the drinks, the food and the deserts and lets not forget the snacks and munchies that seem to be available everywhere. It is very difficult to Lose Weight at this time of the year.

Unless you are a robot, it is really tough to avoid or resist all of these temptations. We all love to snack and when the food is so good, why not. Now it is time to make some new years resolutions, but will we stick to it?

New Years Resolutions – Lose Weight

I am sure you have made New Years resolutions in the past and you are probably going to make some this year as well. I know that I have and I will make some more resolutions which I will probably break within a few days of having thought about them or even gone as far as writing them down.  Doomed to failure , right!

Well they do not have to be broken right away. Many people some really drastic resolutions that call for them to make significant changes in their lifestyle. These are really difficult to keep. There are too many temptations and let’s face it our will power is just not up to it. Who wants to turn down that piece of chocolate cake or that extra helping of food.

My solution this year is to make smaller resolutions that are aimed at something I can actually complete. For example, instead of saying I am going to lose 50 pounds this year, I am going to focus on losing one pound a week and I am going to utilize small plates at supper which will limit the amount of food that I can pile on my plate! Hopefully this will work and if I lose some weight or half the weight I am trying to lose, well I will consider it to be a success.

Lose Weight – Small Portions

It is all about limiting the number of calories we intake. If we can eat smaller portions pretty soon our bodies and our stomachs will tell our brains that we are full after we have eaten a small amount. Using a small plate is one way of doing this, so that you are forced to think about filling up a second time.

Stay away from buffets, were the natural tendency is to always eat more than you planned. I always take a little bit of everything, but before you know it I have an overloaded plate! This is where the small plate really works well. By the time you finish the first plate and are heading back for the second you are going to feel full and you just may avoid a second helping.

Most of us do not have the will power to stick with it, so playing these little tricks on our selves, is a great way to condition our bodies to expect less. Try it.

Exercise

We cannot write a post about New Years resolutions without talking about exercise as well. Many people will go out and buy a membership at a gym, only to quit a month later. Actually the gyms love these people, because they pay for a full year and then never use the facilities. Talk about profit margin!

Get out there and move. Walking around the block, walk around the mall if it is cold outside, whatever works for you, but move and get some exercise. If the gym works and you will stay with it, it is a really great way to exercise and get it done, but you do need to form the habit of exercising daily for at least 20 minutes a day!

Diet

Lastly there is diet. New Years resolutions cannot just be “I am going to lose weight”, or ” I am going to lose 10 pounds”. There has to be more than that. It has to encompass, eating less, exercising and of course diet. You might eat smaller portions, however if you are still eating high fat content foods, then you are probably going to lose some weight if you are reducing your portion size, but you could lose a lot more if you watch your diet and eat  food that is going to help you lose weight.

Eat salads and low fat foods, which means you have to limit what you eat that is deep fried, food that has a lot of sugar in them etc.

Good luck with your New Years resolutions. Remember – smaller portion sizes, exercise 3 times a week, eat a proper diet and set reasonable achievable goals! Comments and suggestions are welcome!

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At least were we go, Americans seem to go out of their way to be friendly and polite. We are at the casino in Akwesasnee, New York staying at the Comfort Inn. First person I met said good morning to me. The lady looking after the kitchen asked if everything was ok with my stay and did I need anything. Americans Friendly and Polite, absolutely yes! This is the way it is all over America! Keep it up, the service is great and the quality is excellent.

We have traveled all over the US and Canada staying at various hotels and motels, visiting restaurants and tourist areas and we have found that there really is a difference in the way that Canadians and Americans treat their guests. American in general understand that their business depends on satisfied customers. Unfortunately we do not think that Canadians care and we wondered why this was the way it is.

One example is the breakfast area at the Comfort Inn in Akwesasene, New York. The breakfast area was really clean and the young lady in charge did a really great job at keeping up with making sure there was enough food available and cleaning up after everyone.

Americans Friendly and Polite

She even took time for a smoke outside, which she deserved without any problem around the breakfast area. This hotel is non smoking and they make sure that the rooms are clean and odor free too. She checked with all of us before leaving to make sure that we had everything we needed before going on her break.

The halls were spotless; everything in the hotel is nice and clean and as we mentioned earlier in the post the service and the friendliness of the staff was superior! This is pretty typical in terms of the service level that we have found, but there is one more point that we think deserves mention.

The staff was friendly, they spoke to their guests, they used the words please and thank you and they made sure that we understood that we were their customer and that they appreciated it. Why is the service level so much better in the US vs. Canada?

We happen to think that it is the maturity of the individual providing service. Canadians tend to hire teenagers who are more interested in their next date, the latest song or movie etc. they just don’t get it that they are there to provide excellent service. Adults who need the job are almost always going to provide better service because they want to keep those jobs.

Sure there are places everywhere that provide bad service from time to time, but they do not last long and all we are saying is that on average, service levels in the US are much better. In general, Americans Friendly and Polite – absolutely yes!

Are Canadians Friendly & Polite? We do not think so or maybe it is just the kids that work there. Yesterday we were at a Tim Hortons in Ottawa, Canada on Trim road near Waters street. Typical of most Tim Hortons it is one of the most unfriendly places to get your coffee. No one said good morning, no thank you or can I help you, Just “next”. Canada used to have a reputation of being friendly and polite. Not any more. Every time I experience this sort of thing I am going to post something on this blog about it. This is the first one and I will also post comments when I do receive friendly service!

Aside from the unfriendly service, the shop was messy, the kids behind the counter were too busy talking to really provide good service and there is no WiFi for customers who want to check on the news and surf the net.

Tim Hortons has recently updated its restaurants with WiFi. I guess they were finding that the competition was too much for them and customers were expressing frustration at no service.

Canadians Friendly & Polite

Tim Hortons is a really successful coffee shop chain in Canada, and try to move as many customers as possible through their store as fast as possible. They discourage anyone from really staying too long. Never the less if they do not provide great and friendly service, there is an opportunity for another chain to step in and under mind their business.

We originally wrote this post in Dec 2010 and this update is two years later. Nothing has changed relative to customer service at this chain and in fact, we have continued to notice a deterioration at many other places as well.

Even McDonald’s is not consistent and it really depends on who is across the counter. Adults tend to provide better service than the teenagers who are too engrossed in their personal lives which are very trivial – music, the latest date or party, etc. You have a job, you are lucky to have a job, so do it well or you risk losing it.

There are actually quite a large number of things that need to be thought about when it comes to planning for trips and to get ready to leave on a trip. It also depends on whether you are leaving for a weeks vacation in the sun, a trip to a ski resort or are taking off for four months as many of the snow birds do. Each has similar and unique requirements which can make the difference between a successful trip and one that is memorable for all of the wrong reasons.

We have compiled a list of items that we feel that anyone planning for trips should take into account in getting ready for a trip. We cannot promise that everything is listed, but it works for us. Hopefully it will help you as well. If you see something missing, let us know by leaving a comment.

We will be glad to add it so our readers can benefit. I have them listed in a spread sheet and I just tick them off as I complete each item. I also have a counter on the spread sheet so I know how many are left for me to do. Some items are color coded to indicate those that I must do the day we leave, the day before and the week before. It is a good system and works for me.

Planning for Trips

Here we go in no particular order or importance

• For driving trips, plan your route
• Update CAA membership and obtain maps as needed
• Travel insurance top ups for coverage of airfare etc
• Health insurance top ups for health coverage
• Arrange for driveway snow clearing
• Arrange for lawn maintenance in the summer
• Mail pickup by a friend or neighbor
• Stop cable tv or satellite TV if you will be away for a month or more
• Stop Internet access if you are away for a month or more
• Arrange for basic home telephone
• Arrange for mobile coverage and roaming if needed
• Make sure all passports are up to date
• Arrange for payment of all utilities while you are gone

More Items to Consider

• Does your Car license need  renewal while you are gone
• Do you need to do your income taxes while you are away
• Life insurance is paid up
• Health insurance coverage is paid up
• Disability insurance is paid up especially if this travel is work related
• Do you need a Visa to enter a country
• Stop any newspapers
• Car maintenance is up to date – oil changes, tires
• Prescriptions have been renewed
• Maps / GPS are ready to go if this is a driving trip
• All Doctor appointments have been completed
• Update calendar and provide itinerary to family or friends
• Car insurance renewal is up to date
• Scan and email passports, licenses, Credit Cards, etc for emergencies
• Set up an email emergency contact list
• Contact credit  card center to let them know you are traveling
• Tag luggage with your names
• Take pictures of house for insurance purposes in case there is a claim
• Obtain travelers checks if needed
• Leave keys for house with someone you trust
• If driving take a flashlight, first aid kit and emergency blankets with you in case of breakdown
• Unplug all electronics while you are gone, TV,  computers etc
• Turn water off as required by most insurance companies
• Back up computers in case of loss or damage
• Take a portable hard disk with you and store in separate location
• Set Timers for lights in rooms in your home that you use regularly
• Set Furnace temp to desired temperature while away
• Turn off Washing m/c & unplug
• Turn off Dishwasher
• Shut off ice maker in fridge
• Turn off humidifier on furnace
• Remove battery from cars that are not being used while away
• All air tickets, hotel reservations and entry fees are packed with your carry on

The Basic’s for your Trip

This may seem like a long list of things for Planning for Trips, however some only apply to driving trips of extended length. Pick and chose those items that make sense to you based on your home, your trip and your family.

The basic things are must do’s – passport ready, money ready, tickets ready, home ready, water shut off ready, someone to look after your home while away. Everything else can generally be dealt with or can wait if you are going on a short trip, however longer trips take more care and planning to make sure there are no major problems on your trip as well as back at home.

Always plan for the entire family to make sure that everyone will enjoy their vacation. Usually not everyone will like every thing so you need to plan something for every one to do. You also need to acknowledge that there are going to be things that you do not enjoy and compromise is the only way to deal with these things.

Enjoy your trip and if you have other ideas about items we should add to our checklist, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Our readers will appreciate your thoughts. Planning for Trips makes for a successful vacation.

Rafting Trip – Grand Canyon by Raft – Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek

Description – Lees Ferry

The Grand Canyon is one of the earths true natural wonders. A place with profound beauty, history, geology, and ecology. Each year, thousands of visitors from around the world gather at the Canyon’s rim to look down into its magnificent vastness. Many will also hike or ride a donkey along the trail to the canyon’s bottom. But there’s no better way to really see the Canyon than to travel through it, via the Colorado River.

Journeying through the Grand Canyon on your watery pathway, you will see dramatic changes as the canyon walls climb towards the sky, mesmerizing you with awesome beauty and untold years of geological history. There are  side hikes, crystalline creeks and waterfalls, Native American history, and breathtaking scenery that can  enrich this amazing adventure.

This is one of the longest rafting trips in the US. Covering 225 river miles, this trip offers all the scenery, side canyons and whitewater excitement of canyon trip with the glories of Marble Canyon, the mysteries of the Inner Gorge, terrific side hikes and Indian ruins, crystalline creeks and waterfalls, cactus gardens and whitewater galore. You can  explore the numerous side canyons, which crisscross this magnificent region, each having it’s own unique attractions, just waiting to be discovered.

River Rating – 42 major rapids rated 5 or above on a scale of 1 to 10

Number of Rapids – 42,  The two most noted of the Colorado’s rapids, Crystal and Lava Falls, are both rated a 10. The intensity of all rapids naturally depends on the water level, so readings for low and high water levels may vary slightly.

Minimum Age – 12 years

Departure Dates – Dates vary by year, 2011 – May 21 until October 10

Boat Type –  Varies by outfitter, most are 18 feet inflatable rafts, holding 4 passengers and a guide.

What to Bring –

• Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
• Grand Canyon National Park Entrance Fee
• Items of a personal nature (an equipment list will be provided)
• Rent sleeping bags and pads from your outfitter
• Insurance of any kind, including travel insurance
• Alcoholic beverages

What’s Usually Included?

• Transportation by van from meeting point to put-in at Lees Ferry and return from Diamond Creek
• Expedition equipment, including highest quality rafts, 2 person shared tent, personal flotation device (PFD, waterproof bags, camp chair as well as eating utensils, plates and cups for overnight trips
• Skilled, professional, experienced guides
• Meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on your last day

Reviews – Feel free to post a review of this trip and white water rafting adventure.

Outfitters – O.A.R.S. is one of the outfitters we have reviewed and  has been in business since 1969 . Great trips on some of the world’s best rivers, coastlines and mountains are the recipe for this success. Always focused on our clients and their vacations, it is our genuine—if not biased—belief that river trips and wilderness vacations are extremely valuable life experiences.

EXPERIENCE

• In 1969, O.A.R.S. became the first exclusively oar-powered rafting outfitter to offer river trips through the Grand Canyon. Hence the immediate success of these trips inspired founder and President George Wendt to expand his business into the largest and most geographically diverse rafting, sea kayaking, and multi-sport company in North America.

Since 1969, the family-owned and operated company has shared in the world’s waterways with more than 450,000 guests. They have more than 75 itineraries on over 35 rivers and coastlines worldwide. Also four decades of experience in the industry, and some staff members who have been with the company since nearly the beginning. O.A.R.S. is routinely recognized for serving up some of the “Best Trips on the Planet,”

For more posts about the Grand Canyon and Arizona, click here.

Fast Food meals are still unhealthy and in particular kid’s meals are also still unhealthy. Despite all of the advertising to the contrary most fast food restaurants are still loading up their fast food meals with lots of carbs, calories and salt. They tend to be filled with fat calories, fat, sugar, and sodium in kids’ meals and menu items. The salt content will give anyone high blood pressure if you eat these meals long enough.

More and more families are opting to eat out or grab something quick to feed their families. With both parents working, getting home late and with kids activities to get to many parents end up at one of the fast food restaurants for supper or even breakfast on the weekends. The choices are not great in terms of healthy meals and even if you are able to select a healthy main course, the french fries and soft drinks up the sodium and calories well beyond acceptable levels for healthy eating.

Fast Food Meals Still Unhealthy

Sodium is the silent killer in adults, elevating blood pressure and hypertension, so much so that doctors are beginning to see the same symptoms in young adults and teenagers. Imagine being in your teens and having high blood pressure! With all of the advertising these days on TV and on the internet, there are more and more ads aimed at young children and of course as parents we know what that means when we get to the restaurants.

Even if the ads are good ads, advertising healthy choices, there is the old “Bait and Switch”, approach to ordering food in fast food restaurants. You may see healthy choices advertised, however the kids meals come with a toy or some other gimmick that draws them into the less healthy choices. Some cities have gone as far as banning toys from being included with meals unless the meal fits a healthy definition.

So what can a parent do with all of this un-healthy advertising?

There is no easy answer when you are bombarded with advertising all of the time. You are short on time. The alternative is to be super organized. Have frozen meals ready for supper in advance which you prepared on the weekends. At least meals that you prepare yourself can be healthy and you can manage the amount of sodium that finds its way into both ourselves as well as our children.

It is all about choices that we make every day, what we eat, what we chose to do with our time and so on. We also have to be aware of the kinds of food that our families are eating as well.  Even fast food from the grocery store in the frozen dinner section is not a good choice. Pick up any frozen dinner, pizza or even canned food and read the ingredients.

Chances are that the sodium levels will be one third to as much as 50% of the daily intake of salt that most adults are supposed to have. With children’s smaller bodies this level will be even higher than it is for adults. Reading labels in our family has become a regular activity so that we can manage our salt intake both for ourselves and our kids.

Avoid Soft Drinks

Avoid soft drinks which is a major component of any fast food meal  to cut down on calories. Children will demand a soft drink with every meal if they can get  away with it. There are hundreds of calories in every drink. A lot of sugar which is contributing to an early onset of sugar diabetes.

When we go to a fast food outlet these days, I order a glass of water. Which not only cuts down on the calories, which is my prime objective. It also saves money as well since the drinks are really were the profit is for many of these restaurants. The kids are not so excited about drinking a glass of water. However it is better for them and they can have as much as they wish!

If you have ideas about how to avoid fast food restaurants please leave your comments on our blog. We would love to hear about our readers choices and help our readers at the same time. Spam comments will be deleted.

If you do want us to link to your web site , place a link on your page to ours. We monitor ping backs and will reciprocate once we see the incoming link!

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Many people travel by car every year to their vacation destinations across the US and Canada. Some trips are short, perhaps to a local camping site or to visit family, while others travel all across the country from one end to the other and back. Preparing for trips when Traveling by Car is important if you and your travel companions are going to enjoy the experience. Most people can handle a day trip easily even if it lasts a few hours, but how about the trip that lasts several weeks with travel every day? Is your car ready for the trip?

These trips can be wonderful or they can be an ordeal for the driver and the passengers.  Some drivers feel that they must get from point A to point Z as fast as possible even if that means driving through the night to get to their destination. Traveling by Car in these conditions is not fun!

Other drivers will take their time, especially on a long trip, stopping when they get tired, stopping when there is something interesting to see and taking a break when they get feel like it. This latter approach is by far the best approach, however not everyone has the time to travel in this manner.

I know of two guys who on running low on money in California, decided to drive non stop home to eastern Canada! Took them 51 hours with a few breaks to grab something to eat and use the bathroom. Traveling by car in this situation is not fun at all.

Long distance Traveling by Car

Trips like this have to be planned carefully. Not only the route you will take, the hotels you may stay at but also the maintenance of the car and planning for emergencies. Whether it is a short trip or a long trip many of the preparations are the same.

Check the tire pressure, check the fluid levels, gas up and make sure that anything needing repair is completed prior to leaving.

Planning your trip is important. The general route needs to be determined and if you will stay overnight you may need to make reservations. I like to decide around 3 pm in the afternoon were I will stay and then phone ahead. Most of the time, I have no trouble finding a suitable place, however there have been time when I had to drive an extra hour because all of the hotels are full.

Where to Stay

We try to see the sites along the way and as a result we might drive an average of 4 to 6 hours a day. The rest of the time we are looking for a good restaurant or visiting some tourist activity or stopping at a shopping mall. Traveling by Car allows a lot of flexibility.

One thing to mention is that it is a good idea to get out and walk around for a few hours to keep the circulation going in your legs. It also helps with the boredom of driving and getting drowsy as you are driving.

Some folks will book all of their hotels along the way ahead of time. They like to know where they are staying and know that they have a place to stay. Traveling by Car is a great way to travel and usually a low stress way to do it. You do not need to worry about finding a place while you are en-route.

Occasionally travelers will encounter bad weather or other problems and will be unable to get to their destination. Most hotels will cancel rooms at no charge if you cancel prior to 6pm on the same day, however after 6pm they will charge your credit card the full amount whether you get their or not.

Maintenance on Long Trips

Occasionally you will have to arrange for some maintenance on your car over a long trip. We have had flat tires, oil changes and even a cracked windshield that was needed.  The picture on the left is not the way you want to have to change a tire! All of these things can be handled easily, however we suggest that you ask the front desk at your hotel that you are staying at if you can for a recommendation on were to get the repairs or maintenance completed. We have received some really great advice over the years.

For a tire repair we were told to go to America’s Tire. We did and because I brought the tire in myself, they repaired it for free! I went back to them the following year and bought 4 brand new tires just because of this service. Another example was for a cracked windshield. We went to one company who replaced our windshield for half the price that it would have cost me in Canada! Excellent job and a very clean shop!

Final thoughts about Traveling by Car

Always take water with you in the form of water bottles. If you travel in the winter time, always take boots, gloves and warm clothes for emergencies. Even if they are in the back seat or in the trunk, at least you have them if you end up stuck in a ditch.

Recently a man died of hypothermia because his car ended up in the ditch in the middle of a snow storm and no one found his car until a few days later when they were clearing the road. It is always better to be prepared when travelling by car than not even if it is a hassle.

Same thing with being in the desert areas of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. If you are breaks down, you want to have water with you and also warm clothes. Believe it or not, it can get quite cold in the middle of the night in the desert!

Write in your comments about traveling by car and your own preparations. Ideas that will help our readers are appreciated.

For more thoughts about traveling on vacation by vehicle, click here.

Most car owners have had a stone fly up from a trucks tires or fall off a truck to bounce along the road striking your windshield and starting that crack that seems to have a life of its own. Windshield Stone Chips start out as a pinpoint crack and then over time with the stress of heat and cold on the glass gradually grow across your windshield.

I am not sure if there is any thing really dangerous about not fixing a crack like this, however it is unsightly and I believe it is against the law, especially if it obstructs the drivers view in any way.

You really get ticked off when it is your brand new car and your on a major driving trip. What should you do? Get it fixed now , wait until you get home again, or wait until you reach your final destination. Turns out that there are lots of pros and cons for each of these questions.

This happened to us and it actually worked out well for us in the long run. Don’t misunderstand me, I was upset when the crack occurred, but then the solution was quite reasonable in the end.

Trucks Again

We had already had one encounter with a trucks tire exploding!  Next in another state, a stone is kicked up by a truck tire and as we watched in what seemed like slow motion, it bounced along the road into the air striking our windshield in the passenger side. While it scared us due to the suddenness of the strike and the noise, the damage did not seem too bad. Just a little stone chip, which we could get fixed anytime with one of these quick pressure repair jobs they advertise.

Well the next morning it had grown and now it was a crack about 5 inches long , spreading across the window. We were in Laughlin , Nevada at the time and planning to leave in a few days. Should we get it fixed there or wait until we got to Palm Springs were we were planning to stay for a few days?

We Waited

I checked with a couple of places that repaired windshields. The prices were very reasonable, however if we had any problems, we would have to come back to Laughlin to get repairs done. Which would not be convenient. Turns out this would be a good decision.

The crack got longer, spreading across the windshield and there was no doubt that I would have to replace the windshield. Now should we wait until we got home or have the repair completed while in Palm Springs? We were going to be in Palm Springs for a couple of months so we decided to head there and deal with the windshield crack at that time

Best Deal in Town

We are from Ontario, Canada, so I called a company at home to see what price they would offer. They quoted $500 to do the job. Pretty expensive and I would have to wait until we got home. Driving around with this ever enlarging crack across our windshield. I then called a local car dealer who also quoted an expensive price, but better than Canada, at $350.

I asked him if there were other places that offered better deals. He said he was not supposed to tell me. But that I should go to a local windshield repair place that they use. Tthe dealer does not even do the actual repair themselves. They just contract it out and add a profit margin. They said I should call to see what price I could get.

Well it turns out that not only is it cheaper, at $240, but I can use my AAA card to get a discount. Which brought it down to $200 and they could fix it the next day. They would even come and do the repair at my location, however I chose to come into the shop. I wanted to see what kind of place it was. They were just what you would expect, a respectable small business, clean and neat as well as professional. What a deal!

Shop Around

The moral of the story is shop around. Follow advice you get from various people on were to find good deals and reputable companies. Also if you are Canadian, it pays to go across the border to get these kinds of repairs completed. Since the savings are significant!

Exercising When You are Overweight, how do you ever get started? Especially when you are uncomfortable and you feel that everyone is looking at you. You may already feel emotionally not up to the stairs and the lack of support, so how do you start and lose weight?

Who wants to go to a gym with lots of buff bodies looking at themselves in the mirrors? and you probably do not want to go to some sort of exercise class for the same reason. If you have you probably noticed that all the slim trim people are at the front of the class and the overweight people are at the back. There are still lots of mirrors and you cannot keep up with them anyway! It is very difficult to get started and a lot of people just give up and don’t bother, however this may be the wrong thing to do for your long-term health situation.

Exercising When You Are Overweight – A Turning Point

We all need a turning point that inspires us to lose weight and bear the pain that you know is coming. For some it is family, for others it is that final embarrassment at the office. Whatever it is you must be committed to losing weight and working hard to lose those pounds. It can be terrifying to get started, however if you have a buddy it can be a lot easier. The buddy should be someone similar to you with similar goals. Combine exercise with diet and the pounds will shed quickly with a regular intense exercise program and a controlled diet.

Small Steps Pay Off

If you cannot bear going to some sort of organized class, start by walking around the block. Each day as you get stronger, begin walking faster and further to build up your strength and stamina. Once you have lost a few pounds and have more stamina, then you can consider joining some sort of organized activity.

With a buddy and working out 3 to 4 times a week, you can lose weight and become more fit. Commit to a  year, working out three to five days a week and by then you will have lost weight and will have formed a habit of working out several times a week.

Danger: Emotional Hurdles Ahead

When it came to exercise, many obese women were more likely to say they were self-conscious, afraid of injury, daunted by the effort, and to report minor aches and pains. And they were less likely to be exercising a year later. While this is pretty common, you just have to push through all of this pain and discomfort and try to maintain that weight loss schedule.

Get Support

We have mentioned having a buddy to help support you. The closer you are in weight and commitment, the more likely a buddy system will work. If you do not have a buddy that can work with you and motivate you, meet some other people at the gym who are looking for support or work with a trainer to help motivate you while you are losing weight.

Most people can get to the gym on most days, but there is always a day or two in the week that you may just not feel up to it. This is where a buddy can really help and motivate you to do that workout.

You should always see your doctor as well to make sure the kind of exercise you are planning is suitable for someone of your age and weight.

Easy Does It

If you are prone to any of the following such as  high blood pressure, diabetes, or be prone to shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and overheating, build up slowly by pushing yourself a bit further every day. Being too aggressive can cause some of these problems above to become worse.

Even on the biggest loser, these people who are very overweight, are monitored very closely by doctors and there are medical staff around to deal with any emergencies. You will not have the same kind of support so it is important to go a bit more slowly and build up your strength gradually.

Dos and Don’ts

• Get fitted with good shoes. For instance, running store staff can analyze your gait and make recommendations.
• Wear comfortable clothing. Chafing is common in the leg and groin area.
• Include strength training eventually. But to lose weight, focus on aerobic training in the beginning.
• Consider a monitoring system to track weight, what you eat, and exercise. Many smart phones have applications or you can use online systems. Pedometers are helpful to get you moving.

But:

• Don’t do high-impact exercise in the beginning. It’s fine to build up to, but jumping in with both feet landing on a hard surface is usually going to hurt something.
• Don’t compare yourself to others in your class or gym or let feelings of self-consciousness overwhelm you.
• Don’t be impatient. Don’t look for radical change in a short time or get fixated on big weight loss results like on The Biggest Loser.  As we mentioned earlier these people are very closely monitored and they are totally dedicated to losing weight. They do not have a job or family to worry about while on the biggest loser

The key, is to get moving, move more over time and eat less!

It will be definitely worth it in the end when you shed all those pounds and feel so much better about yourself! Feel free to leave us your comments and suggestions!

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We have referred to White Water Rafting River Grades of a rapid in many of our posts. What we have not done is post a good definition of the grades on our blog. Please comment if you disagree with anything we provide here.

Although the grade definitions may vary from country to country or even state to state, the following are an excellent guideline for anyone considering going for a white water excursion. You should also note that the grade level of a particular river can change at a moments notice. Some will change over the season. High fast water in the spring, more tranquil water and lower river levels in the summer mean more exposed rocks. Also rivers that are controlled by the amount of water released by dam controls can change within hours. It is very important to go with someone who knows and understands the river at all levels of water flow.

White Water Rafting River Grades

Grade 1: Very small rough areas, might require slight maneuvering. (Skill Level: Very Basic)

Grade 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require some maneuvering.(Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)

Grade 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.(Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)

Grade 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)

Grade 5: Whitewater, large waves, large volume, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)

Grade 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous as to be effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of almost all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill Level: Successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of great luck or extreme skill)

Special Consideration

Grades 4,5 and 6 are not for novices, even if you have a guide with you. These are dangerous rapids. The possibility of being spilled into the water is high. If you cannot swim, then you should avoid these types of rapids.

Use common sense when you are planning to embark on a white water rafting trip. Make sure you have all of the proper equipment. You should have an excellent guide who knows the river. Also that all of your companions can handle the level of rapids that you are planning on traversing. Remember your raft team is only as good as the weakest among you. If you are depending on someone who will panic easily, then you cannot depend on them to help steer the raft or rescue you if you should end up in the water.

Good luck and enjoy your next white water rafting trip !

Have you ever been near a tire when it explodes? How about a truck tire? We have and it is not fun at all. We really do not like being near big trucks at any time, unless they are well behind us and I guess this is one of the reasons why. The tire truck explodes right beside us.

We were on the Queen Elizabeth Way, just South West  of Toronto, Ontario in the middle lane passing a tractor trailer on the right. As we were traveling past the truck, we  pulled along side the rear wheels of the tractor, and one of the tires on the tractor, literally exploded within 3 feet of the passenger side of our car.

It is like a bomb going off, the sound is so loud and there was rubber from the tire flying everywhere. The tire just falls apart and the rubber starts flying. I am not sure if anyone was behind us or not, however the truck quickly pulled off the road and made repairs.

Tire Truck Explodes – Lucky

Fortunately for us, the rubber went behind us and missed our car completely. My wife was freaked out and I have to admit it shook me a bit as well.There were no cars behind the truck so they did not get hit by flying debris.

What a surprise start to our first day driving to California. We continued along our way to Niagara Falls which fortunately was only another hours drive. We were visiting the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

The only other time we have had something similar was actually in a car. I was not driving. A friend was driving in Los Angeles on one of the expressways. This guy was a little crazy and I think one of the tires was a bit low on pressure. If a tire is not properly pressurized it will heat up at high speeds and can explode.

This is exactly what happened to us at one hundred miles an hour. I told you this guy was crazy. Anyway we were able to pull off ok and make it to a garage. We were able to change the tire and get a new tire from the rental company. I don’t think they were too pleased. After all how often do you think this happens?

Anyway the moral of the story is to stay well away from tractor trailers. When you do pass them, do it quickly. This will reduce danger from flying debris from exploding tires or even stones that might be kicked up from the tires. Also keep your tires at the proper tire pressure and do not drive significantly over the speed limit.

Comments appreciated about your travel stories.

We love to travel across the USA and Canada. We travel by car and meet many people doing the same thing as well as folks in RV’s and even on motorcycles. You can follow our travels via this blog as well as learn about places that we have been. Traveling is such an enriching experience. You learn how other people live, varying views as well as see exciting vistas, museums, parks and entertainment venues.

We are fortunate that we can take the time to travel and we love driving. For us this is the best way to really see the country and visit many places. Many of our friends think we are crazy, taking on these long driving trips. We think this is because many of them do not like to drive . Or they are the type that must get to their destination as fast as possible.

Travel Blog – Driving Styles

Consider that it takes about 50 hours of straight driving by car to get to California from eastern Ontario. This is assuming multiple drivers, with no storms or car breakdowns to cause delays and no major traffic snarls. Some people we know would do exactly this and not stop until they got there. If you do this type of trip it is going to be grueling and very exhausting.

Now if you spread your trip over ten days, you only need to drive and average of 5 hours a day which is not too bad and you have time then to sight see at places you stop, have a good meal, go for a walk and enjoy yourself. Some times you might drive 10 hours in one day and then stay at one location for a few days. We often do this, particularly when we are crossing the prairies.

Schedules

Avoid setting an aggressive schedule and allow for delays either by nature, man made or mechanical breakdowns. You might need to make reservations at some locations that are busy , however for the most part just stop when you feel like it. Even during the busy summer months you can do this, however it is a good idea to call ahead and make a reservations so that you do not have to search for a place to stay. This has happened to us on several occasions, so we try to decide by 2pm were we want to stay, and then call ahead to reserve a room. Works well for us.

Flexibility

Flexibility and compromise are the key words when you are traveling with a companion, whether it is a long time spouse or a good friend. Be ready to pull over if one or the other wants to stop for any reason, whether it is a bathroom break, time to stretch or they saw something that looks interesting and would like to spend a few hours sight seeing.

Safety

This is important for many reasons. Take your time , stop if the weather is bad, avoid traffic jams and heavy traffic by leaving late or starting early. Don’t leave anything in your car at night to attract thieves. Stay in a good part of town. If it looks sketchy, move on. When going into major cities, make sure you know were you are going, rely on maps and GPS devices.

Have a destination in mind. Be careful were you stop for gas or ask for directions. Always carry water with your, especially in desert areas of Arizona or California and west Texas. It can get pretty hot and if you are stopped for any reason , it can get pretty hot and dry. Carry something to eat with you as well, even if it is just granola bars.  they will not fill you up but they will keep you from being hungry.

There are lots more suggestions for traveling by car and we will add them from time to time. Feel free to add your own via comments that you have from your own travel experiences.

For more travel suggestions, click here.

This was a post By Madison Park, CNN on November 12, 2010, which we wanted to repeat on our blog with full acknowledgment, since it incorporates many of the things we have been saying over the past months on our blog. We used the terms Energy In must be less than Energy Out in order to lose weight. Tony Posnanski put it much simpler, ” Eat Less – Move More”. this mantra is useful for everyone who is trying to lose weight or maintain their current weight.

Eat Less – Move More

Here is the post, repeated verbatim!

(CNN) — There were no diet pills, shakes or detoxes. And no, it wasn’t caveman food, grapefruit, Twinkies, Taco Bell or Subway sandwiches.

Tony Posnanski’s 200-pound weight loss was straightforward, almost dull.

“He changed the way I ate,” wrote Posnanski, 34, who went from consuming 10,000 calories a day to 2,400. “I got rid of processed foods. I ate fruits, vegetables, lean meats. It is pretty boring, but the results aren’t boring.”

The basics of weight loss are simple: Eat less. Move more. But consumers still flock to the newest best-seller diets, hormone injections, alleged hunger-controlling cookies, enthralled by glowing testimonials about sumo-to-svelte slim downs.

“There’s nothing sexy about ‘eat your fruits and vegetables,’ ” said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian. “We want to hear something else.”

“Consumers need to understand that health and the ideal body weight are not found from a gimmick. It takes hard work. The end result is long-lasting success.”

This week, a CNN.com story about a professor’s diet experiment went viral, drawing more than 125,000 Facebook shares and more than 1,200 viewer comments. Some blamed portion control for the obesity epidemic in the United States: “People in France have fattening food but are thinner than Americans because they eat moderate portions. It’s how much you eat that matters”

Humor About Slimming Down

Others found humor: “Well, it’s not like Twinkies are food, so no wonder he is losing weight.”

People are attracted to these types of stories for one simple reason, Gans said.

“Most people think if they can eat junk and still lose weight, they’re going to sign up for that,” said Gans, author of the upcoming book “The Small Change Diet.” They don’t realize that losing weight can happen without deprivation or gimmicks.

It’s a lesson that Posnanski learned after trying a slew of diet products. Over-the-counter diet pills made his heart race. Weight-loss shakes left him hungry.

At 400 pounds, Posnanski learned he might never be healthy enough to have children with his wife, Rebecca. His doctor said he needed bariatric surgery. In February 2008, he vowed to change.

Posnanski, an iReport contributor in Orlando, Florida, stopped spending $30 during 3 a.m. drive-thru binges at Taco Bell. He stopped polishing off boxes of pizza and buckets of chicken.

Reduce Portion Sizes

He practiced what he had always heard — he reduced portion sizes and ate healthy.

There was no immediate difference, he said. “My pants were still large after that first day. But I felt like I could do this. It was different.

“Before, I would tell myself I’m going to do this for a little while. That day, I was like, ‘You know what — I’m done. This is the rest of my life.’ ”

That’s the key to weight loss, experts say. It can’t be a temporary fix; the changes have to be lifelong.

“It’s like the tortoise and the hare,” said Dr. Sam Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. “You need to be the tortoise here. Rapid, short-term weight loss is not the way to go. It’s the slow, steady approach. Small changes you stick to forever is key.”

A drastic diet of snack cakes helped nutrition professor Mark Haub tried lose 27 pounds in 10 weeks because he reduced his caloric intake.

Critics warned that his over consumption of Twinkies would have long-term consequences and questioned whether such a diet could be sustained.

“Please bear in mind this was a class exercise to illustrate issues and concerns that occur during weight loss,” Haub said. “This project is not to promote a diet.”

The basic premise is that people can lose weight eating anything from Twinkies, apples or baby food, as long as they reduce calories.

“Most people find out on their own. They do the cookie diet or cabbage diet for a week or two, then inevitably, maintaining something that eliminates major food groups [is] just such an unrealistic lifestyle change, it doesn’t work,” said Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

That initial weight loss isn’t likely to last.

There are successful plans such as the low-fat diet and the Mediterranean diet that improve cardiovascular and metabolic health while also encouraging a range of healthy foods, Klein said. And programs that bring awareness to portion size such as Weight Watchers can help, because they essentially direct people to reduce calories.

“It’s not taking a single cookie to make you lose weight, a pill or product,” said Gans, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “Eat your whole grains to lower cholesterol, fruits and vegetables to prevent cancer. The key to weight loss is about eating and creating a healthy relationship with food.”

For people who hope for shortcuts, Klein said: “There’s no magic bullet to lose weight and keep it off.”

Smaller portion sizes (no fewer than 1,200 calories) and daily physical activity can lower cardiovascular disease risks, he said.

Posnanski, is a former yo-yo dieter and restaurant manager, who gave up what he called “gimmicky” diets. He shared how he has managed to sustain his weight loss:

• Monitor portions and keep track of food intake
• Stay away from processed foods, and eat mostly vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains
• Work out one to two hours a day

“I don’t believe in quick weight-loss diets,” Posnanski said. “I believe in the rest of my life.”

What a great good news story that should motivate all of us. Feel free to leave comments on our blog.

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The following is the third and last  in a three part series of  an excerpt from an article written by Chris Joosse on the subject of White Water Right of Way Etiquette! This particular article is all about folks who love to Kayak. However these rules can equally apply to people who are part of a White Water Tour group. Lots can be learned from this article and that is why we wanted to post it on this web site. Hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

Chris Joossee’s thoughts go something like this:

Right of way is traditionally determined by necessity if you’re unable to deviate from your course, by necessity that course should be yours and nobody should get into your way. Hence, the paddler moving downriver, committed to their course, is granted right of way.

White Water Right of Way Etiquette

But what of situations where the upstream paddler deliberately places themselves in a position where someone else must avoid them? Say, for example, that I’m sitting in an eddy upstream of the hole and Joe Playboater has just entered the hole for a ride. Should I feel entitled to peel out of the eddy, proceed downstream into the hole, and expect him to yield the hole to me? (I would argue that this is a flagrant abuse of the traditional ‘right’ of way… after all. I was not compelled to go there out of necessity. We could have picked a line that skirted the hole. If I wanted to run down into the hole, I could have waited until Joe finished his ride, and then taken my turn.)

Avoiding collisions, and therefore avoiding potential injuries, is a priority of a higher order than concerns about Right of Way.

Given this, I would argue that my hypothetical decision to pick a collision course with Joe is reckless and irresponsible. After all, it’s not safe for me to assume that Joe has enough control in the hole to avoid me. For that matter, Joe doesn’t know if I can (or want to) miss him. In picking a collision course, I’m imposing on his sense of responsibility for our mutual well-being. In brief, both paddlers should be responsible for avoiding collisions. Because hey, people make mistakes – but if it’s not a mistake, you’re abusing the system. Whether you’re coming in from upstream or slipping in from the eddy and frustration about this kind of abuse is the reason this discussion came up in the first place.

Getting along with each other is a very important consideration – so respect and courtesy should not be undervalued as part of our paddling experience.

Sharing

Sharing, taking turns, and simple line etiquette are all about respecting other people. Their right to a turn at time in the hole, and without that respect things can turn ugly. These are things we learned how to do in kindergarten, they’re not complicated, and are just as important in Kayaking as they are in real life.

Other reality – In our less-than-ideal world, the 300-lb Gorilla makes the rules. Because cops don’t generally paddle and when they do, usually they’re not on duty. There is no law on the water, even if it can catch up with us on land, so we’re all on the hook to get along. Even in the face of another paddler who’s not making the effort. In reality, might shouldn’t make right, but in practice, it means let them have their way for now and you can sort it out later.

If someone, say a raft or a kayaker cuts you off or makes a decision resulting in danger or discourtesy to you. It’s best to pursue the matter in a way that’s both safe and diplomatic- that is, by getting out of their way, *then* pursuing the matter, hopefully in a diplomatic manner. It’s possible, after all, that they just hadn’t considered that they were being rude or unsafe, or that their actions would bother you- give them at least the benefit of that doubt.

By the same token, don’t forget that if someone injures you, whether through deliberate action or through the consequences of deliberate action, there are laws that address this sort of thing. You are entitled to file a criminal report, press charges, and to recover damages if applicable. You are not, however, entitled to reciprocate their behavior, unless somehow that would constitute self-defense.

General best practices, and some rationale behind them:

For paddlers coming downriver:

If there’s a line for a feature and the feature is occupied, wait your turn if there’s an opportunity (like an eddy) to do so.- This is an exercise in simple respect. Respect can only be given. Folks who try to take it… obviously don’t understand it, and generally never get it. If you honestly can’t wait (there’s no eddy, no way to stop) ideally someone else should have seen you coming and will be taking steps to get out of your way, but you are still responsible to avoid collisions, even if the other guy cannot.

It’s important to recognize that a busy playspot is shared on a turn-taking basis, and that the playboater’s mindset about respect is based on taking turns and honoring a fair system where everybody gets to take turns fairly and equally. As the saying goes, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’- it’s the best way to avoid misunderstandings. Bonus: as a courtesy to you, as the upstream paddler, you’ve got an honorary position at the head of the line.

For paddlers at the playspot:

If you’re in an eddy, yield to the person not in the eddy. If you’re in the eddy, you’ve got time- nothing is going to happen to you if you wait. The same is not true of the person in moving water. They have a limited time window in which to catch an eddy, catch a wave, or pass through. Because they are committed and you are not, common sense dictates that you yield to them.

Do your best to let the upstream paddler through- The less you make other people wait, the more everyone will be able to play and the less friction there’ll be all ’round. Downriver boaters aren’t especially interested in taking turns, nor do they want to interrupt yours- they just want through- do your best to avoid making them wait. This is especially important if there isn’t a place for upstream paddlers to stop.

For all paddlers:

If you’re in control, yield to the craft that is not in control, or which has less control than you. Both craft are responsible for avoiding collisions. So if you’re more capable of doing so than the other craft, your responsibility to yield increases. Whether you’re going downriver or not. If you’re surfing, do your best to get out of the upstream boater’s way. It’s the polite thing to do, do it. If you’re coming from upstream, don’t commit to the feature until you’ve got a clear route.

Before committing to the feature, check for traffic- If there’s someone already there, or headed there, yield to them. If you’re prepared to yield, you’re prepared to do the responsible thing. Avoid a collision, even if the other guy isn’t.

Avoid paddling over your head. If you’re not in control, all of this talk about courtesy is moot. If you can’t avoid the other guy, you’re relying on the other guy to avoid you. While we all do this on occasion, if it’s a regular or predictable thing, you’re imposing on everyone else.

The root of success is in common sense, courtesy and respect, rather than in dogma or tradition.

Flash Points

The commonest flash-points on rivers are between paddlers who are surfing and paddlers who want to run downriver in the places where the former are surfing. I feel strongly that if you want to use the hole and there’s a line, you should wait. Take your turn like anyone else if it’s at all possible. Common sense and courtesy (to say nothing of safety) should come first. Before any assertion of the traditional ‘right’ of downstream boaters to claim a particular spot. Regardless of who might be there or whether they’re in control enough to avoid them. As has been repeatedly stated, this discussion is about courtesy and safety first, and entitlement last. Nobody is entitled to any place on the river if the act of going there endangers another person.

Tradition holds that ‘the downriver boater has right of way’. This is a simple way of stating everything I’ve said above. But it does not entitle the upstream boater to force the issue and never has.

Respect is something you give, not take… and this is about courtesy and respect just as much as it is about safety and common sense.

Hope you found these three posts useful. Comments are welcome. For more posts about white water etiquette, click here.

The following is the second in a three part series of  an excerpt from an article written by Chris Joosse on the subject of River Etiquette!  We decided to focus on white water right of way.This particular article is all about folks who love to Kayak, however these rules can equally apply to people who are part of a White Water Tour group. Lots can be learned from this article about white water rafting and that is why we wanted to post it on this web site.

White Water Right of Way

Often it’s argued that by convention the downstream boater always has right of way, but there are courtesy, common sense, and safety considerations that, to my way of thinking, require clarification this long-held tradition. ‘Right of Way’ is a commonly misunderstood doctrine, and these misunderstandings often create as many problems as RoW is meant to solve.

The biggest problem with stating that one paddler has ‘right of way’ is that the word ‘right’ is in it, and this seems to confuse everybody. The commonest misunderstanding of this rule is in the notion that somehow while one paddler should give way, that the other paddler should TAKE it, as if their prerogative was sanctioned by holy writ. In reality, both boaters should be prepared to yield, and each should yield to a place where the other isn’t. This requires communication- if it is impossible to establish eye contact or communication of intent (I’ll go this way, you’ll go that way) then it’s the responsibility of the party in control to avoid a collision.

White Water Right of Way – Maritime Law

Right of way is an operational doctrine derived from its utility, and from the demands imposed upon us by the realities of the river. In maritime law, (which is not applicable to the river in the context of kayakers and rafters- the coast guard doesn’t know, doesn’t want to know, wants no part of regulating, policing, or enforcing the rules of the road on waterways it doesn’t consider to be a road in the first place, and among craft it doesn’t deem necessary to register or regulate for that matter.) it is full of rules and exceptions for example, craft under power are responsible to give right of way to craft not under power.

Shallow Drafting Vessels

At the same time, however, shallow-drafting vessels must yield a navigable channel to deep-drafting vessels. Even if the deep-drafting vessel is under power and the shallow-drafting vessel is not. Why? It’s done that way because it makes sense. In other words, there’s nothing holy or important about being the one going downstream. There never has been- the important consideration is whether you’re committed to going where you’re going. Still, too many people behave as though simply being the upstream paddler is the only valid consideration worth mentioning.

On the river, among kayakers, where there are no codified regulations in effect. We must also conduct ourselves in a sensible manner, in accord with the realities we face. The reality is that we have no inalienable right to go anywhere we want if there’s a chance that exercising our prerogative to do so will result in harming (or arguably even disrespecting) another paddler. In this sense, a paddler’s ‘right of way’ is more a courtesy granted to one by the other guy than it is an actual ‘Right’ to be exercised. Let me repeat that last bit- we’re not talking about rights, here- this is an exercise in courtesy.

White Water Right of Way – Respect

Like respect, Right of Way cannot be taken- it can only be given. As it is with all such things, it can be taken for granted, abused, or flouted. Some paddlers routinely steer themselves into collision courses. They are expecting the other paddler to take responsibility for getting out of their way. They don’t consider that this is not only rude and unsafe. But violates one of the prime tenets of fairness in our culture (and for that matter, most cultures): do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

For clarity, I suggest that we let go of the notion that ‘the upstream boater has right of way’. Instead focus on the equally shared responsibility that each paddler has to avoid the other. In other words, instead of one paddler being responsible for yielding to another. Both paddlers should make an equal effort to do so. If you’re in the hole surfing, keep an eye out for upstream boaters. Head for the shoulder to let them through downriver paddlers just want to run through. The less they have to wait, the better. If you’re coming downstream, don’t commit to the hole until there’s an opening. Or until the paddler who’s there has acknowledged you.

At the same time, if you’re a play boater, you’ve got all day in this hole. Do your best to let people who want to come through do so. Get out of their way as quickly as possible, it’s the courteous thing to do.

White Water Right of Way – Paddlers

This is the system by which most play spots I’ve seen tend to operate. Everyone shares, everyone respects everyone else’s right to have time in the hole, everyone takes turns. But there are exceptions. Rafts are less maneuverable and generally big enough that nobody wants to get run over. They tend to claim their line regardless of whether someone happens to be there.

Some paddlers who mistake being yielded to for being respected, force the issue in unsafe ways. Some paddlers who believe that their right of way is more important than your mutual safety do the same. It’s true, not so long ago (before play boating became popular) it was popularly held that the downriver boater always has right of way. But in situations where exercising that prerogative is unsafe, common sense, courtesy, and respect dictate what makes sense.  Nobody really has any ‘rights’ on the water in this regard. Save for the basic rights we all enjoy on land. Such as the right not to be injured by other peoples actions or negligence, for example.

Example

We all seem to agree that Joe play boater who zips out into the hole in front of Jim downriver boater is in the wrong. We seem to disagree, however, about why we agree on this point and by extension. Also we disagree on another point- on whether it’s appropriate for Jim Down river boater to expect Joe Play boater to exit the hole. If he was there before Jim put himself in the position of being committed to the hole.

Is this reasonable?

Watch for the next post in the last of this 3 part series. Comments welcome! For more posts about white water etiquette, click here.

We really enjoy watching the biggest loser. It is an inspirational show, we actually learn a few things about diet and about how to manage our food intake. This past week we also learned that we already do some of the things that they discussed on the biggest loser which helps us control our weight and also save money ! We also learned that there are a few more things we should be doing to further manage our weight loss. One of the big items is portion control at all meals including buffets and when eating out. Control the size of your meal and you will control the number of calories you are taking in.

Portion control!

Portion control is really the biggest thing to help you control your weight, lose weight and manage your diet.  It is the old adage, energy in must be less than the energy you burn if you are going to lose weight. So one way to manage this is to control the size of the portions you are eating.

If you are at home, use a small plate. I know for myself if I use a large plate, I have a tendency to fill it up, while I do the same thing with a small plate, there is only so much food I can put on the plate. BY the time you have finished the food on the small plate you are starting to feel full and if you can wait 5 minutes, you will definitely feel full. Sure you might go back for a second helping, but again you are using a small plate and it will only hold a small amount of food. Sure you are tricking your mind and your stomach, but if it works why not use every trick you can to lose weight.

When you are out of the home dining in a restaurant, it is a bit more difficult, so we have another suggestion that will also help to save some money as well.

Share meals when dining out!

As we travel around the country, one thing we notices is that the size of the meals served at restaurants are huge. Portion sizes at restaurants have gotten out of hand. Many restaurants and I guess their patrons as well feel that they must serve large portions to attract their guests.

We have found that for many meals if we split the meal it is more than enough for each of us and we save money at the same time. The restaurants for the most part are ok with this, and sometimes will even split the meal for us, serving it on two separate plates. Sometimes they will bring us a second plate and let us split the meal our selves. Either way we eat less and we save money. What a deal!

There are some places that want to charge a fee for splitting the meal. We just do not go back to them and we tell people as well. They end up losing business as a result. So when you go out to eat split your meals.

Portion Control and Buffets

Buffets are really difficult. If you have a problem controlling how much you eat, it is probably best if you avoid going to a buffet. With all of the excellent food it is usually best to just not go, because it is human nature to overeat when all of that food is just sitting there. Use the small plate approach and eat slowly, but we are pretty confident that you will still over eat in this situation.

Eat slow, Weight 20 Minutes So your  Stomach Feels Full!

This is one of the best ways to manage the portion size and how much you eat. Apparently it takes a little time for your stomach to register that it is full and let your brain know that you have eaten enough. Some people say wait 10 to 20 minutes and then decide if you are going back for second helpings.

Fast eaters tend to over eat, so if you wait even 5 minutes before getting that second helping you may find that you have eaten enough. We find that discussing topics over the dinner table is a great way to slow down your eating and also get that full feeling. Let’s face it you cannot eat when you are talking, at least you should not, just for good manners. Talking slows you down and forces you to enjoy the food more and provides time for your stomach to register the fact that you are full. maybe you will realize that you are full and will avoid going for that second helping!

Use Every Trick in the Book

Aside from just deciding to not eat as much, we are suggesting that you use every trick you can to control how much you eat. If you use a couple of little tricks to manage your eating, so what. At least you are losing weight, or controlling your weight.

Bottom line, you need to deal with the long term reason regarding why you have over eaten. Using these tricks will help you get going, but to maintain your weight or lose weight you do have to deal with the reasons why you over eat.

There are probably a lot more tha can be used as well. If you know some of these tricks to control the portion size, why not leave us a comment and let our readers know about it. Spam comments will be auto deleted!

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The following is the first in a three part series of  an excerpt from an article written by Chris Joosse on the subject of White Water River Etiquette! This particular article is all about folks who love to Kayak, however these rules can equally apply to people who are part of a White Water Tour group. Lots can be learned from this article and that is why we wanted to post it on this web site. Hope you enjoy reading this post and can learn from it. Your comments are welcome.

As kayaking has become more popular and as river traffic has increased over time, it has become necessary to evolve conventions of etiquette and right of way to minimize the otherwise inevitable friction that arises as a result of crowding around play spots.

White Water River Etiquette

The first order of business is to understand that courtesy, safety, and common sense are the basis from which white water river etiquette are derived.

Meeting Strangers at the Put-in

Nearly everyone’s heard stories about nightmare days on the river. Where a friend met up with some stranger at the put-in who overstated their abilities. Then proceeded to swim nineteen times. Didn’t have float bags in their boat. Scammed a bit of everyone’s lunch. Didn’t have a rope, a clue, or any common sense. While these stories are mercifully rare, they do happen. They can make for a frustrating day for everyone involved.

It’s expected, if you’re looking to attach yourself to a group at the put-in, or if you’re arranging to paddle with someone you don’t know. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions about your abilities, familiarity with the run, what gear you’re carrying, your experience, etc. Be honest.

If someone asks to join your group, don’t be shy about asking for credentials. Whether they’ve done this stretch of river before. Whether they’re carrying appropriate safety equipment. Also whether they’ve got float bags in their boat. Don’t be afraid to refuse their request if you think they’ll be a problem.

Paddling over your head

Unless you’ve got an understanding with your party to the contrary, it’s not just unsafe to put yourself in a position where you’ll regularly require rescue. It’s a fairly serious imposition upon their generosity. We all get into trouble and need help from time to time. But if your ‘time to time’ is on a regular basis, you may have a problem. Not only are you making decisions that endanger you and your group, you’re putting them in a precarious position.

It’s sensible, not only out of your own interest in remaining healthy and alive, to avoid putting people in your party in a position where they might have to choose to save themselves over saving you- that is the stuff of nightmares. Paddle responsibly.

Rescues

Believe it or not, there are do’s and don’ts involved in rescues.

Don’t wait for a rescue if you can safely work on self-rescuing. When your buddies get there, they’ll appreciate your effort.

If you’re on the receiving end of a rescue, do your best to help. That means kick when your rescuer says ‘kick’, let go of your boat if your rescuer tells you to let go of your boat, and let go of your rescuer if that’s what they say. In a rescue situation, the rescuer is boss and their word is law. Your job is to cooperate with your rescuer to the best of your ability, and to endanger them as little as you can. It’s best to make their job easy- make eye contact with them, talk to them, let them know you’re not going to climb up on their boat (and them) in a crazed panic. If you don’t tell them, they’ll have to find out somehow.

Avoid Endangering Yourself

As a rescuer, your job is to avoid endangering yourself first, and help the other guy if you can second. Before you collect a swimmer, talk to them- ascertain that they’re copus mentis, (do not come in contact with a swimmer who’s panicking) establish a plan to get them to safety, and execute on that plan. If they’re not cooperating, bark orders. If they put you in danger by not cooperating, no holds are barred.

Also If you’re not involved in the rescue, you’ve got two things to do: 1) make sure you’re safe, the rescuers can’t deal with more people to save, and 2) if you’re capable of helping somehow without endangering yourself or others, help out.

After the rescue, remember to thank everyone involved in it. It is considered good etiquette to offer beverages at the end of the day to anyone who either recovered gear or you, at a rate of one beverage per item/incident.

Know your access rights

We abuse the word ‘navigable’ when it comes to water on a regular basis. The word ‘navigable’ means different things in different contexts. In different principalities because one meaning of the word refers to whether said water can be navigated in fact. While the legal usage of the word means something different rules vary from state to state. But generally in the US for a body of water to be deemed ‘navigable’ in the legal sense, it must have a history or current demonstrated use for hauling commerce. Or be specifically declared ‘navigable’ by a state (which normally uses the prior test).

It’s been wrangled to and fro. But according to precedent in every state that I’m aware of, “the ability to float it in a canoe” does not satisfy the law’s definition of navigability, despite our ability to actually navigate it.

Property Law

The reason for the more stringent test is one of property law- ‘navigable’ water is always held by the state or principality as a public trust. While ‘non-navigable’ water is subject, depending on specific states’ laws, to private ownership. One of the fundamental principles in the US constitution is that private property is more or less holy.

What this means to you and me is that very often we don’t actually have the iron-clad right to be on a given reach of water. It may be common practice to run a stretch of river not deemed officially ‘navigable’ in your principality. However it still pays to curry good will with the locals and adjacent landowners. Be discreet about changing, courteous about parking, and invisible in all other respects if at all possible.

Watch for our next article in this series regarding Right of Way.

Comments are welcome. Spam will be deleted. For more posts about white water etiquette, click here.

Well the third place finishers are not back yet, but they keep showing hints that they may be joining the show. They probably will need to compete for a place in the biggest loser house, so not all of them will be able to rejoin. But it will be interesting to see how they have progressed in the weeks since they tried out for the show. Have they lost weight? Will they qualify to be on the show and replace someone on the ranch? This is the best biggest loser season so far.

Biggest Loser Season 10-Their Coming Back

Watch for our next update to see what happens. Meanwhile they grunt and grown, sweat and puke their way to losing weight. Not a pretty site, but they get pushed pretty hard so I guess we have to allow them some down time. Bob and Jillian frequently talk about some of the things we can do to control weight and to avoid putting on more pounds. We decided to include a few of these ideas on this post.

Cupcakes- 100 calorie, whole wheat flour, honey- no sugar

Can you believe that a cupcake made with whole wheat and honey instead of white flour and sugar is only 100 calories! Most cupcakes can have up to 700 calories and I do not know about you, but I can easily put away a couple of them. Far better to partake of 100 calorie cupcakes vs. those 700 babies!
Need to experience success, push through

Broccoli  loaded with nutrients

I love broccoli and apparently it is loaded with nutrients as long as you do not boil it and leach out all of the good stuff. I also like to smother it in cheese soup, which is not so good. Combined with the salt and the calories, this is not such a good idea. Try broccoli on its own or with a little butter!
Sophia, red line, 2 pounds

Subway breakfast 300 calories, egg white, vegetables

I have tried subway for breakfast and they really do make an excellent breakfast sub. Just try not to add the mayonnaise or some of the other sauces. That is were the calories are. If you can avoid the sauces, you will have a great low calorie breakfast. And don’t forget you can have a complete breakfast for less than $5, now that is a good deal.

Create failures to be comfortable, have to get outside of this, need to have some wins.

This seems odd, but according to the trainers, some people will create failures so they can avoid the limelight and attention that they might gather if they won something.  They have to get used to being the center of attention and to enjoy it. No more, poor as me.

Eat cheap get fat 5$ pizza, 5$ pasta, eat well instead

Many families in a rush when they get home from work , have to feed the lids, and then get them out to an activity. A $5 dollar pizza or some other kind of pasta is easy, but there is lots of calories and loads of salt, neither of which is very good for you. With a little extra effort and planning, you can eat healthy and avoid the salt and calories.

Rolling 900pounds of carpet , is it fair

They had to compete by rolling a 900 pound carpet down a field. Now the guys had a tough time with it, yet they managed to do it. The women on the other hand found it very difficult and could barely get the thing going. Could it be that this season is geared towards the men?

Make your life what you want it to be, you just need to decide to do it

Sounds easy doesn’t it. Deciding to do something and actually carrying it out are two different things altogether. But it really comes down to making choices for yourself that will help you lose weight. Also be the type of person you want to me. Stay focused and transform yourself into the person you want to be.

The White Water rafting season is nearing the end in many areas of the country. It is time to put away all of your gear for another season. Before you store all of your gear it just might be a good time to complete any repairs and take advantage of White Water gear on  sale! We know that the outfitters do not want to get stuck with a lot of unsold product over the winter and they want to also replace it with the next years newest and latest gear. Consumers want the very best equipment and if they are going to pay top dollar they want the best. This is the time to get the best deals.

Still a deal is a deal and if you can get some White Water rafting gear on sale, why not save yourself some money. In fact maybe you can buy some things that you were thinking about, but previously held back because of the price. Now is the time to buy as well as complete any needed repairs.

We checked a few web sites and they all have deals on right now for this years White Water rafting gear! Rafts, repair material, bags, clothing, paddles, oars, storage, transport, rescue equipment, safety equipment, camping and cooking gear. Even if you are looking for Christmas / Birthday gifts, this is a great time to buy and give that special piece that your friends have been looking for. If you need to replace something that is worn out or beyond repair, ship now for your replacements.

White Water Gear on Sale

The following is a short list of things that you might consider as gifts or for repairs. With all of these ideas you will have no problem picking something. Don’t wait to long, since sale items are likely to go quickly

Clothing

• Bags & Clothing
• Bags
• Footwear
• Hats & Gloves
• Paddling Clothing
• Men’s & Women’s Casuals
• Rainwear
• Drysuits and Wetsuits
• Insulation & Underwear
• Kid’s Clothing
• Plastic Cases & Boxes
• Sunglasses
• Swimsuits

Rescue/Safety:

• First Aid
• Helmets
• PFD’s
• Rescue Hardware
• River Knives
• Throw Bags and Rescue Ropes
• Satellite Phones

Camping & Cooking:

• Tables
• Cooking Equipment
• Sleeping
• Shelters
• Showers, Toilets
• Washing Supplies
• Water Purifiers & Containers
• Chairs

Rafts, Cats, IK’s & Frames:

• Catarafts
• Cat Frames
• Inflatable Kayaks & Accessories
• Rafts
• Raft Frames
• Raft & Frame Accessories

The biggest loser weight loss show was on again this week and they still have not brought back the contestants that did not make the show. I think they are going to introduce these people at some point. Maybe they are a shadow team that is working out with Bob and Jillian at another ranch somewhere. I hope so because those people really need the help. They were in worse shape than the people who made it onto the show. They really need to lose weight under a doctors care as well to make sure that they lose weight in a healthy manner and eat the right foods..

The show itself is sticking to the same old formula with one exception. People are still working out, puking their guts out, yelling and crying as they get into shape and try to lose weight. Can you imagine the pain they must be in. Every muscle in their bodies must hurt! There have been a couple times during my life when I have started to exercise after a prolonged period of no exercise. I was in pain for several days. Almost every muscle in my body ached for a week until I got over this period.

These are people on the biggest loser weight loss show who are overweight, have not exercised in a long time and suddenly they are doing aggressive exercise in an effort to burn calories. They have to be in extreme pain for at least a week. I cannot imagine how much. Anytime you use muscles that have not been stretched in awhile, they are going to hurt for several days after. This is going to be almost continuous pain for these people.

The Biggest Loser weight loss Weigh In

The variant so far this season seems to be focused around the weigh-in. Instead of the two bottom people being considered for removal from the show, there are 8 people that fall below the yellow line. In effect they are getting a second chance if they have a bad week and do not lose many pounds. If they do fall below the yellow line, the person who lost the most gets to pick one person to save from the group below the yellow line.

The remaining contestants then participate in some sort of competition and the two people who are the last to complete the competition are then voted on to see who is the person to go home. They are not the biggest loser.

I like this change since it gives everyone a second chance. Let’s face it you could have a bad week for some reason and not lose the amount that you need to stay safe. Getting a second chance can be a life saver for some and it focuses on who is the best shape and the person who has exercised the most.

When do the Extra Contestants Come Back?

I still think that the people eliminated in the first show are going to come into the biggest loser house. They obviously need to lose weight and this could be a huge twist in the game of biggest loser.

Let’s face it. while the show is focused on helping people lose weight, it is also a game of strategy. You need to work out and lose weight. But you can form alliances, you can win immunity and you can game the show. There is always a faction within the biggest loser house that is trying to control the game. They protect each other when it comes to the elimination phase.

The show does try to avoid portraying this, for obvious reasons, however you can rest assured that these people are playing the game, while trying to lose as much weight as they can.

We will keep blogging about this show. The biggest loser show tries to balance diet, exercise, health management and create a support network to help people lose weight and keep it off. If you would like to add your comments, please do so. We would love to hear your opinions as well. Spam comments will be deleted.

We are watching the reality show “Biggest Loser” tonight. This is the first show in the season and they are taking a different approach this year, showing us how they are selecting contestants from cities all over the US. We really love this show and watch it every chance we get. In fact, we also record the show if we happened to be out for the evening. This can be a hard show to watch. No one wants to see somebody suffering because of their weight.  You have to remember that the end result is really the objective.

We have watched the biggest loser show over the past 8 seasons and really admire the many contestants, their work ethic and the difficulties that they overcome. I certainly do not want to take anything away from them. However this years show is starting out on a less than positive note in our opinion.

The biggest loser show selects three contestants from among thousands of applicants in each city and then they run a contest involving some sort of physical fitness activity. In some cities, the contestants had to do 500 steps on a step machine. In other towns and cities they had to run a mile. The first two contestants to finish the physical fitness test are the ones to get on the show.

Biggest Loser – Outcome

Well you can guess the outcome. The person who is the least physical fit is the last to finish and as a result does not get on the show. One guy even fainted within 20 yards of the finish line! And they are the ones that need the most help! One guy weighed 468 pounds and guess what, he was the last to finish. Don’t you think that he should be on the show!

He had the guts to get on the this part of the biggest loser show, take his shirt off to show how over weight he is and weigh in publicly.  This has to count for something.

We have to remember that this is a show after all and while they are trying to help people on the show, they are also trying to motivate people in general to get out there and get moving. Even if means walking around the block to get started, everyone needs to move more and exercise more while improving their eating habits.

The show is still running and maybe there is hope for the show yet. Maybe they will provide the 3rd place finishers a place as well at the ranch. We can hope that these people get the help they need. Let’s see what the end of the biggest loser show brings!

Well it ended but not without controversy. People had to be taken to the hospital. One of these days someone is going to die on the show or qualifying for the show and if this is not a turn off for many over weight people, then I do not know what is. I like the idea of motivating people but this is absolutely the wrong way to go about it.

They Always have a Hook

At the end of the show, they alluded to the fact that some people who came in third may come back later in the show. At least there is hope for these people and maybe they will still be able to take advantage of the program that the Biggest loser offers.

It really takes a lot of hard work and determination to lose weight. This show really demonstrates how difficult it is to combine exercise, eating habit changes, and personal self worth changes to make the change to lose weight. Unless you have a partner or a trainer, someone to push you and motivate you there is a good chance that you cannot do it by yourself. Everyone needs help and encouragement. Perhaps this is what the show is trying to achieve through getting out into the community to motivate people.

We will blog about this next week as well, so stay tuned. Comments are welcome also and we appreciate any and all opinions as long as they are in good taste. Spam comments will be deleted.

Often diet is linked to various cancers, however in many cases there are far less significant issues that may be causing your symptoms. There are a variety of diet and cancer symptoms that are related. Regardless you should have them checked out and assessed by a doctor. If they are disregarded by your doctor and still the symptoms continue or get worse you may even want to get a second assessment from another doctor. Don’t wait or delay following up on symptoms that could be the cause of future cancer.

We recently read an article about possible diet and cancer symptoms and we felt that it would be important to repeat them here in an abbreviated version. Like we said get a doctor’s opinion if you experience any of these symptoms. You may need a biopsy which the doctor will order to properly assess the situation.

Diet and Cancer Symptoms

Cancer Symptom . 1: Breast Mass

Any new mass in the breast area of a man needs to be checked out by a physician,”

Here are several other worrisome signs involving the breast that men as well as women should take note of. They include:

• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Nipple retraction
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge

The doctor may order a mammogram, a biopsy, or other tests.

Cancer Symptom  No. 2: Pain

Persistent pain should be checked out by your physician.  If it’s not cancer, you will still benefit from the visit to the office.

Cancer Symptom  No. 3: Changes in the Testicles

Testicular cancer occurs most often in men aged 20 to 39. Men should get a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related checkup and everyone should learn how to do a monthly self-exam.

Cancer Symptom No. 3: Changes in the Testicles continued…

Change in the size of the testicles, such as growth or shrinkage, swelling or a lump should be checked out. A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum should also be addressed. Early detection is especially crucial to ensure your continued good health.

Cancer Symptom  No. 4: Changes in the Lymph Nodes

If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck — or anywhere else –have it checked out by a doctor. There are lymph nodes all over your body and any that become swollen and painful need to be assessed.

Cancer Symptom  No. 5: Fever

An unexplained fever, could also be a sign of pneumonia or some other illness that needs treatment or it can also indicate cancer. Infections will cause a fever as will some cancers.

Cancer Symptom  No. 6: Weight Loss Without Trying

Most of us would like to lose weight, however id you lose weight without trying, over a short period, you may want to have a physical. It is unusual for any man or women to lose weight that fast without trying.

Cancer Symptom  No. 7: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression

Any time you have a pain in the abdomen and are feeling depressed you needs to have a checkup. Experts have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer. Other symptoms can include jaundice or a change in the stool color, often a gray color.

Cancer Symptom  No. 8: Fatigue

Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer in men or  a host of other problems could cause it as well. Fatigue may occur early in cancers such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers.

If you often feel extremely tired and it doesn’t get better with rest, check with your doctor.

Cancer Symptom  No. 9: Persistent Cough

Coughs are expected, of course, with colds, the flu, and allergies or even sometimes as a side effect of a medication. A very prolonged cough — defined as lasting more than three or four weeks — should not be ignored, and warrants a visit to the doctor. It could be a symptom of cancer, or it could indicate some other problem such as chronic bronchitis or acid reflux.

Cancer Symptom  No. 10: Difficulty Swallowing

Any time you have trouble swallowing it could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as cancer of the esophagus. If this continues over several weeks visit your doctor.

Cancer Symptom No. 11: Changes in the Skin

Changes in moles — a well-known sign of potential skin cancer — changes in skin pigmentation,  or suddenly developing bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling are reasons to check with your doctor after  several weeks.

Cancer Symptom  No. 12: Blood Where It Shouldn’t Be

Anytime you see blood coming from a body part where you’ve never seen it before, such as coughing or spitting up blood, have blood in the bowel, or blood in the urine, it’s time for a doctor visit.”

Cancer Symptom  No. 13: Mouth Changes

You need to be especially alert for any white patches inside your mouth or white spots on your tongue may indicate leukoplakia, a precancerous area that can occur with ongoing irritation. The condition can progress to oral cancer.

Cancer Symptom  No. 14: Urinary Problems

As men age, urinary problems become more frequent, the urge to urinate more often, a sense of urgency, and a feeling of not completely emptying the bladder.  If this condition persists, have it checked out.

Cancer Symptom No. 15: Indigestion

Persistent indigestion could point to cancer of the esophagus, throat, or stomach and should be reported to your doctor.

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Anyone who has had to deal with wet gear will appreciate this post about dry boxes for white water rafting. There is nothing worse than arriving at your camp for the night and everything is wet. I mean everything is wet from a day’s rafting through white water. It is starting to get cool. The sun is setting. You cannot even light a fire because your matches got wet as well during the days outing. It can be a very cold night if you have to spend it at a cold camp site with no heat and wet gear.

Fortunately there are lots of solutions to deal with this problem. In an earlier post we discussed Dry Bags and you might want to take a few minutes to read that post as well before you decide that buying a dry box is the solution for you. They both have their advantages, however depending on your situation and your raft one solution can be better than another.

White Water Rafting Dry Boxes

A typical dry box is shown on the right. This particular one measures 13.5 inches wide by 15 inches  deep by 26 inches long. It is not a large box. However it can store all of your essentials that you need to get your camp site going at night. Even if everything else is wet. Matches, flashlights a quick change of clothes can be stored in this box to get you going. Once that fire is going, you can quickly dry out. More importantly get something hot to eat and dry your clothes out. It can be extremely important to have a warm fire at night to avoid hypothermia setting in.

These dry boxes come in a variety of sizes to meet all of your needs. They can be tailored to the size of raft and the number of people who you have in your group. Even if you have several small boxes, they will be extremely appreciated at the end of the day.

Keep Your Lunch Dry

Forgot about lunch! You may be only on a day trip with a pick up at the end of the day and lunch along the river somewhere. If it gets wet, it is going to be a long day and everyone hungry at the end. A dry box packed with your lunch and snacks is the answer for many rafting enthusiasts.   There is nothing better after a mornings rafting than pulling up along a beach in a bit of calm water  and arranging for a picnic along the river. Make sure that you enjoy yours by being prepared and using a dry box to pack your lunch and other things in such as electronics, matches and an extra set of clothes.

White water rafting can be a lot of fun, however like many sports, they can easily be ruined if you are not properly prepared and have the right equipment. In this post we have focused on dry boxes, while in an early one we focused on dry bags. Which ever you use, make sure that you have all of the right gear to make your trip enjoyable. Plan your trip in advance including the raft you will use as well as the gear you take along to be comfortable both on and off the river.

In future posts we will add additional information about other pieces of gear that are must haves while white water rafting. If you have a piece of white water gear that you find particularly useful, why not let our readers know about it. We will even write a post about it if it is something you feel pretty strong about. Note that Spam comments will be deleted.

White water rafting is a lot more than just running the rapids when it comes to considering what rafting gear you need to have to be properly prepared.  Often you will experience multiple environments. For sure you will get wet when you go down the river and are splashed by the spray from running the white water rapids. But what about while you are waiting on shore to be picked up, what about stopping for lunch, or camping on a multi day trip? Multiple changes of clothing are necessary as are pen and paper to record some notes for your trip along with cameras that must be kept dry.

Each of these conditions require a variety of gear and temperature variation will also change the need for the layers of clothing that you may bring along with you.

Hot, sunny days won’t feel uncomfortable if you wear light, protective, and quick drying clothing. Cool days or rain can produce spectacular river images with swirling shades of color and light. If you have enough warm, waterproof gear, you won’t feel cold. You will feel alive! Having the right clothing can make the difference between enjoying a wonderful trip in the outdoors and being cold and miserable while others are enjoying the scenery and camaraderie of their white water rafting trip.

White Water Rafting Gear – List

Here is a quick list of items that you may want to consider for your next trip. If you are unsure of what you will need, speak to the organizer or guide for your white water trip. Always make sure that you are well prepared.

• Bags
• Padding and clothing
• Dry suits and wet suits
• Plastic Cases & Boxes
• Footwear
• Mens & womens casuals
• Insulation and Underwear
• Sunglasses
• Hats & Gloves
• Rainwear
• Kid’s Clothing
• Swimsuits

You may not need all of this gear for each trip, so plan accordingly to take along only what you need. Having too much gear can also be a problem as well since now you have to load and carry all of this gear. Finding that middle ground were you have everything that you need without being over prepared is a tall order if you have not been down a particular set of rapids before. The best idea is to speak to your guide or talk to people who have gone on the trip before you to find out the conditions and what white water gear you may need. Remember too that the conditions can change very rapidly due to the time of year as well as local storms that can cause rivers to rise rapidly.

Rafting Gear – Multi Day Trip

If you are planning a multi day trip, then camping and cooking gear is also something that you will need to consider. We put together a quick list of camping gear for your consideration.

• Tables
• Shelters
• Water purifiers & containers
• Cooking equipment
• Showers & toilets
• Chairs
• Sleeping gear
• Washing Supplies

Finally safety gear and repair equipment for your raft should be considered. Take a moment to consider who you want to notify about your trip. Especially about your location and expected return date. This is important since it will tell people when and were to start looking for you if you are late returning.

• Repair equipment includes:
• Adhesives & materials
• Repair parts & tools
• Cleaner and protectant
• Valves
• Pumps and inflators

Enjoy your trip and have fun. Be well prepared and you will have one of the best trips you can ever expect. Feel free to leave comments on our post about your experiences. Also about any special gear that you believe would be valuable to our readers.

The following article was published on the internet, author unknown, about Heavy Drinkers Outliving Non Drinkers. We all drink or at least many of us drink. This study is pointing out that moderate drinkers benefit by enjoying life longer. We have heard about the benefits of red wine for your heart. Now this article seems to point out that any alcohol in moderation will also help your overall health.

The bottom line and key word in all of this is to remember the word ” moderate”! Too much drinking can damage the liver, cause family problems and even land you in jail.

We hope you enjoy the following article and don’t forget to post your comments on our blog. If you know the author of this article, please send us a link to the original post and we will be happy to attribute this article to you.

Heavy Drinkers Outliving Non Drinkers

One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don’t drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.

But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear — abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one’s risk of dying. Even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers’ mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers.

Moderate drinking, which is defined as one to three drinks per day, is associated with the lowest mortality rates in alcohol studies. Moderate alcohol use (especially when the beverage of choice is red wine) is thought to improve heart health, circulation and sociability. Which can be important because people who are isolated don’t have as many family members and friends who can notice and help treat health problems.

A Shorter Life

But why would abstaining from alcohol lead to a shorter life? It’s true that those who abstain from alcohol tend to be from lower socioeconomic classes, since drinking can be expensive. And people of lower socioeconomic status have more life stressors. For example job and child-care worries that might not only keep them from the bottle. But also cause stress-related illnesses over long periods. (They also don’t get the stress-reducing benefits of a drink or two after work.)

But even after controlling for nearly all imaginable variables — socioeconomic status, level of physical activity, number of close friends, quality of social support and so on. The researchers (a six-member team led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin) found that over a 20-year period, mortality rates were highest for those who had never been drinkers. Second-highest for heavy drinkers and lowest for moderate drinkers.

The sample of those who were studied included individuals between ages 55 and 65. Who had any kind of outpatient care in the previous three years. The 1,824 participants were followed for 20 years. One drawback of the sample: a disproportionate number, 63%, were men. Just over 69% of the never-drinkers died during the 20 years, 60% of the heavy drinkers died and only 41% of moderate drinkers died.

Amazing Statistics

These are remarkable statistics. Heavy drinking is associated with higher risk for cirrhosis and several types of cancer (particularly cancers in the mouth and esophagus). Heavy drinkers are less likely to die than people who have never drank. One important reason is that alcohol lubricates so many social interactions. Social interactions are vital for maintaining mental and physical health. Nondrinkers show greater signs of depression than those who allow themselves to join the party.

It can impair your memory severely. It can lead to nonlethal falls. Also other mishaps (like, say, cheating on your spouse in a drunken haze) that can screw up your life. There’s also the dependency issue. If you become addicted to alcohol, you may spend a long time trying to get off the bottle.

That said, the new study provides the strongest evidence yet that moderate drinking is not only fun but good for you. So make mine a double.