When eating disorders or body image conflicts are mentioned, the face we imagine is one of youth. It may be a preteen, an adolescent, or a young adult woman, but seldom do we visualize the face of an aging woman. Yet, contemporary western culture consistently values women's bodies and appearance above other attributes, and sexualized images of female bodies saturate mass media, shaping the prevailing ideal. Of course, women of all ages who live in this culture are affected.
Adult women are on display; they are often criticized for transgressing that ever-shifting fine line between being too sexy or not sexy enough, and they often are completely dismissed when they no longer look young. It goes without saying that older female faces are not particularly popular images in film, fashion, advertising, print media, or television, unless the reference is breast cancer, menopause, or some other medical condition that predominantly affects older women. Moreover, this is an age when the female body can be "fixed" via medical technology, whether it be through laser hair removal, botox injections, chemical and surgical face/neck lifts, nose jobs, breast implants, surgery for "correction of the buttocks,"and liposuction. This is an age when cosmetic plastic surgery can even be purchased at a mall during a lunch hour (eg, botox injections, laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, chemical peels, permanent eyeliner). The point is that these procedures are now offered in retail centers, so it's like buying a new dress – it has been normalized, despite the potential risk and the meaning -- that is, chemically or surgically changing one's body.
Many women have come to believe that they can (and should) be in complete command of their bodies. In this era of body control and unrealistic beauty images, the rhythmic cycles of the female body, many of which are associated with weight gain, such as premenstrual bloating, pregnancy, and the slower menopausal metabolism, present great challenges. If a woman's power is still defined in terms of beauty and a youthful body, the 8 to 12 pounds she naturally gains at menopause can be a source of great distress and anticipated disempowerment. And the current reality is that more and more, older women who are approaching or beyond "midlife" are struggling with their bodies and their eating and are in need of professional help.

May 2, 2007— The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and healthcare professionals of the risk for obtaining counterfeit drugs when purchasing prescription medications online, according to a news release. The alert was based on information regarding 24 apparently related Web sites that appear on the pharmacycall365.com home page under the "Our Websites" heading, according to an alert sent yesterday from MedWatch, the FDA's safety information and adverse event reporting program. On 3 recent occasions, the FDA was informed that counterfeit versions of orlistat 120-mg capsules (Xenical; Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc) were being supplied by 2 of the Web sites. None of the capsules contained orlistat; one contained sibutramine (Meridia; Abbott Laboratories, Inc) and the others were filled with talc and starch. The latter were provided in blister packs stamped with a valid Roche lot number but displaying an expiration date of April 2007 rather than March 2005. The counterfeit products cannot be differentiated on sight alone as they closely resemble legitimate products (photos are available at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/photos/xenical.html).The Web sites involved in distributing the counterfeit orlistat capsules were Brandpills.com and PillsPharm.com, which appear on the same pharmacycall365.com page that is home to 22 other Web sites, 4 of which previously have been linked to shipments of counterfeit oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu; Roche Laboratories, Inc) and tadalafil (Cialis, Lilly ICOS, LLC).These include AllPills.net, Pharmacy-4U.net, DirectMedsMall.com, Emediline.com, RX-ed.com, RXePharm.com, Pharmacea.org, MensHealthDrugs.net, BigXplus.net, MediClub.md, InterTab.de, Pillenpharm.com, Bigger-X.com, PillsLand.com, EZMEDZ.com, UnitedMedicals.com, est-Medz.com, USAPillsrx.net, USAMedz.com, BluePills-Rx.com, Genericpharmacy.us, and I-Kusuri.jp.According to the FDA, the Web sites appear to operate from outside the United States. Consumers should therefore be wary if the company cannot be contacted by phone, if their prices appear to be extremely low, or if no prescription is required. Additional information regarding the purchase of prescription drugs over the Internet may be obtained online at www.fda.gov/buyonline/. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to report potentially counterfeit drugs to the FDA's MedWatch reporting program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or by mail to 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.

If you only work the front of your body, you will not only have an asymmetrical appearance, but also put you at risk for injury. So make sure to balance out your opposing muscle groups – triceps and biceps, hams and quads, chest and upper back. This is especially true when it comes to your abs. You can do hundreds of crunches, but if you really want strong abs, you also need a strong lower back. Some people spend hours with exercise videos and gym classes that focus on abs, but hardly ever give a second thought to their lower back. But strengthening your lower back along with your stomach will create a balance between your front and back muscles, helping you to move gracefully. Having a strong midsection will also help you to lift heavier weights, which in turn will increase your lean mass and boost your metabolism. Daily activities, like bending and lifting, will be easier as well.

To get started, try the Superman:
Lie facedown on the floor, with your arms straight and extended above your head and your legs together and straight.
Simultaneously lift your arms and legs up toward the ceiling. Keep your limbs straight, but not locked. Your body will form a gentle curve. Hold for a count of 30, then lower. Repeat 3 times.

Fat is not the enemy. Healthy fats, such as those found in avacados, nuts, fish, fish oils, and olive oil, are highly protective for the cardiovascular system. They can boost your body's fat burning potential. In addition, healthy fats keep blood sugar levels stable.

If you are having concerns about your metabolism slowing down, check your meal schedule. You may not be eating frequent enough. Unfortunately, eating three big meals a day can bring your metabolism to a halt. By contrast, if you eat often during the day, you’ll be giving your metabolism a steady stream of energy to carry you through your activities. In fact, studies showed that people who eat throughout the day are 45% more likely to maintain a healthy weight than those who only eat three large meals. Eating smaller, more frequent meals helps keep hunger at bay since you aren’t waiting four, five or even six hours in between meals. Additionally, you’ll eat less overall because you won’t be starving by the time you finally sit down to eat. Aim for five or six smaller meals a day instead of three large meals. Start out with breakfast, have a snack a couple of hours before lunch, eat a smaller lunch, have a snack before dinner, and eat a smaller dinner. You don’t even have to give up your breakfast-lunch-dinner routine – just eat less at these three main meals, supplement with snacks, and you’ll keep your metabolism revved up all day long.

Your Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measure of body mass based on your height and your weight. This measurement was previously hailed as the best way to determine if you’re at a healthy weight. But recently, the value of a person’s BMI has been debated because this number fails to take into account the ratio of fat to lean mass, or the distribution of fat on a person’s body. Packing excess abdominal fat is more dangerous than the extra fat on your hips and thighs because the fat around your middle is closer to your vital organs. To really determine if your body composition is healthy, some experts recommend tossing the BMI and concentrating on waist-to-hip ratio. To find your ratio, divide the circumference of your waist by the circumference of your hips (use a tape measure to get the values). Women are at an increased risk for heart disease and other health problems when this number exceeds 0.8, and for men it’s 0.95. This means that if your waist is as big as or bigger than your hips, your health depends on you losing weight. Many people who are at a normal BMI still have a sizable unhealthy belly paunch, which is why this method isn’t as accurate as once thought.

Oatmeal is a wonderful breakfast choice that can help you start your morning off right. But are you getting the most potential out of this oat? Instant oats are a popular choice, because they’re quick to prepare. But instant oats are quick and easy for a reason – they’ve been shaved down to size, removing much of the oat’s natural fiber and nutrients. Instant oatmeal also has sodium, sugar and other not-so-healthy additives. If you want the best oatmeal for your health, make time in the mornings to prepare rolled oats on the stove or in the microwave. Opt for steel-cut oats or old-fashioned oats, both of which have even more of the bran and germ intact. If you just can’t make time for cooking the old-fashioned way, try Quaker Oatmeal’s new Weight Control oatmeal, which has some added goodness. This instant breakfast offers six grams of fiber, seven grams of protein and just one gram of sugar.

Potassium is a mineral involved in electrical and cellular body functions. It plays various roles in metabolism and is essential for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs. Adequate potassium helps to maintain lower blood pressure levels, reduce the effects of sodium intake on blood pressure, prevent kidney stones, decrease bone loss, and improve glucose metabolism.
For athletes, potassium's role is of particular importance because potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance and is needed for muscle contractions and transmission of nerve impulses.

Specifically, potassium:
Assists in the regulation of the acid-base balance.
Assists in protein synthesis from amino acids and in carbohydrate metabolism.
Is necessary for the building of muscle and for normal body growth.

A deficiency of potassium (hypokalemia) can occur in people with certain diseases or as a result of taking diuretics for the treatment of high blood pressure, heart failure, or weight loss. Therefore, athletes with eating disorders, or those wrestlers and others who are trying to make weight, may be at an increased risk. Diuretics are probably the most common cause of hypokalemia.
A variety of conditions can cause the loss of potassium from the body. The most common of these conditions are vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, many medications such as diuretics, laxatives, and steroids can cause depletion of potassium.

The most common symptom of potassium depletion is fatigue. Other symptoms of potassium deficiency include slow reflexes, muscle weakness, and EKG changes. A quick loss of potassium could lead to cardiac arrhythmias and even death.

Taking in a potassium supplement is not necessary as this mineral can be readily obtained through a variety of food sources. Fish such as: salmon, cod, flounder, and sardines are good sources of potassium. Various other meats also contain potassium. Vegetables including: broccoli, peas, lima beans, tomatoes, potatoes (especially their skins), and leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and parsley contain potassium. Fruits that contain significant sources of potassium include: citrus fruits, apples, bananas, and apricots.
There is no upper level set for potassium, as food sources of potassium have not shown to reach toxic levels. On the other hand, supplemental potassium can lead to acute toxicity in otherwise healthy individuals.