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Americans spend an estimated $30 billion a year on various types of diet programs and products, including diet foods, pills and drinks. You don't need to add your hard earned cash to these statistics.

If you have ever eaten junk food or processed food and then wished you hadn't because you felt tired and heavy or bloated; If you've ever tried fad diets or yo-yo diets only to pile the weight back on; If you have tried diet recipes and its cost you a fortune to buy the ingredients and endless time to cook; If you ever feel down about being overweight or obese; If you ever get fed up of being preached to about all the things you shouldn't do, you're simply fighting the flab rather than eliminating it naturally.

Overweight people increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and many other illnesses. Meditation and losing weight reduces the risk.

Using meditation to lose weight is definitely worth your consideration. So many people from all walks of life enjoy amazing and long-term results. By releasing stress through meditation people find they no longer have the need to comfort eat. One of the most powerful mind and body techniques involve combining visualization with meditation for weight loss. It has been proven over and over again that what you are imagining in the present moment will be what life grants you in the future.

Very often the mental picture that we have of ourselves when we focus on dieting conflicts with the end result that we really desire. Our mind is often filled with doubts and negative thoughts. Using meditation and visualization will erase these doubts and allow you to watch the new you reappear. Focus on the result that you truly desire and always remember "As a man thinketh so is he."

If you don't understand much about meditation and visualization, don't worry, I will explain further on how you can learn simply through a free guided meditation course.

It has been scientifically proven that people who practice meditation have shown marked improvements in their mental and physical health. Clinical studies reveal that meditation helps lower blood pressure and respiratory rates, reduces anxiety and cures insomnia. It is because of these results that more and more doctors are recognizing the therapeutic benefits of meditation and are suggesting that their patients learn meditation. Many people use meditation to lose weight or cure addictive behaviors like smoking, alcohol and others learn meditation to alleviate many stress related illnesses. Some learn meditation to find inner peace and happiness, while others want to be more in touch with their spiritual self.

When you combine meditation with visualization, imagine the new you. Feel how your new body feels and see how good you look. See your beautiful or handsome image as you walk down the beach towards the sea in a fabulous swimsuit or pair of shorts. Feel the wind in your hair and the cool breeze on your body. Feel the spring in your step and the song in your heart as you give thanks for your healthy life. Feel the happiness bubbling inside as you see your family watching you with love and pride. Breathe deeply and feel ecstatic as the sea air fills your healthy lungs and body. Experience the confidence, total bliss and inner peace that encompass your whole body.

"Scientists study it. Doctors recommend it. Millions of Americans - many of whom don't even own crystals - practice it every day. Why? Because meditation works..." Time Magazine

Marilyn Barker-Smith is the co-founder of Project Meditation. The site was created to allow everyone to experience the life changing benefits that meditation has to offer.

The Project-Meditation course was originally developed for four CD's but has now been re-developed into a free meditation course, available for instant download.

Matted fur - it happens to most dogs or cats occasionally. When you notice matted fur on your dog or cat, its very important to remove the matted fur as soon as possible. Not only is it ugly, but it can become very uncomfortable for your pet causing him to pinch and pull at it. Of course, this can just make matters worse.

So, what causes matts and how do you treat matted fur?
There are several things which can cause matting, but the most common cause is lack of grooming. If you havent brushed your cat or dong for a while, shame on you. Your pet cant do it himself. Hes totally dependent on you to take care of him. If you cant do it regularly, please take your pet to a groomer regularly.

Fleas can also cause matting. They can create a tangled mess in your pets fur. Check and treat your pet for fleas regularly.

Some cats and dogs have 2 coats of fur which shed and need to be brushed out. This is a natural process and it is important to brush out the undercoat when your pet is shedding.

So how do you de-matt your pets fur? Well, lets get this one out of the way first. You can always have your pet shaved and let him start all over. Sometimes its the best thing. In the right weather, a fresh shave feels great to your pet. It might scare you at first glance, but it always grows back. However, many people are shocked at the thought of shaving their little beauty, so heres how you can take care of matted hair on your own.

The most important thing to remember when de-matting your pet is this: be patient. Bathing your pet before trying to remove the matts can often make the matts worse. Removing matts from your cat or dog is usually not a quick process, so be patient. My youngest yorkie matted up over the course of 2 weeks one time because I slacked on grooming, and it took me 3 weeks to remove the matts.

Here are the tools youll need to remove matts from your dog or cat:
* A steel comb
* A slicker brush
* A matt splitter

First, let your pet get into a comfortable position on your lap, on the floor, on the sofa, or wherever he can get comfortable. You dont want to wrestle your pet during this. If your pet is matted in several places, start de-matting in the places where your pet is most comfortable lying down. In other words, let your pet get comfortable, then work with the places which have easiest access. Also, do your best to control the cat or dogs head. Control the head control the pet.

Next begin to work on the matts with the steel comb. Be sure to brush with the grain of the fur. Dont pull so hard that it hurts your dog. Just for an experiment, grab a small piece of hair on the back of your own head. Pull down, then pull up. Which one hurt more? Up, right? Keep that in mind when youre brushing your pet. Use the steel comb to slowly break up the clumps.

Try to pull the matted clumps apart into small sections with your hands. The matts are easier to remove if they are smaller, and this will cut down on the amount of fur your pet loses. You may need to carefully cut into the matt with scissors to divide it up. Obviously, dont get too close to the skin. A cut pet is an unhappy pet. An unhappy pet is more difficult to groom.

As the matts begin to break up, use the slicker brush to remove the tangles. Start at the end of the fur and work your way closer to the skin as the matts loosen up. If you try to start at the base of the fur, next to the skin, youll just end up compressing the matts even tighter.

If your pet is going to require numerous grooming sessions to remove the matts, thats ok. The end results will be rewarding for both you and your pet. Take your time. Be patient. help your dog or cat to remain calm and comfortable. If youre sitting down to watch TV or a movie, that would be a great time to work on the matts.

After all the matts are removed, plan on regular grooming times for your cat or dog. Keep the comb or brush in a noticeable spot to remind you about maintaining your pets fur. It much easier to brush your pet a few minutes each day than it is to spend hours fighting to remove matted fur.

Good luck!

Alex Page has been a happy pet owner for nearly 30 years. He enjoys helping pets and pet owners have the best relationship possible. He is currently a key article contributer to http://123-pet.com a site dedicated to discussing all things about pets.

View more of Alex Page's articles at http://123-pet.com