What to Expect from the Home Study Process for Domestic Adoptions

Whether you are considering doing an agency or independent adoption, one of the first things that you will have to do is to work with an agency to complete a Home Study. The Home Study is comprised of information that you give to the agency in the form of questionnaires, interviews and forms. For many couples, this is the most nerve racking part of the whole adoption process.

The first thing you should do is to choose an agency that you feel comfortable with. You have to share a lot of information during the Home Study process and you need to feel good about the agency that is getting all of this information. Most agencies will hopefully try to make you feel as comfortable as possible during the process. They are not there to judge you or to give you a pass or fail grade. They are there to help you become a family. They recognize that in many ways it is not fair that adoptive families have to go through the Home Study process to become parents when they would not have to have a Home Study if they weren't building their family through adoption.

The purpose of the Adoption Home Study Process is two fold. As a legal document, it lets the court know that families have met certain state and federal guidelines surrounding adoptive families. It also lets Birthparents who are choosing adoption to know that their child will be with a loving family in a safe home and they will be well cared for. Typically in agency adoptions the written Home Study that contains identifying information is not shared with the Birthparents, but non-identifying information is shared if they have questions. Birthparents are given a copy of the Home Study in many independent adoptions.

Although each state has its own specific guidelines surrounding the Home Study, most states agree on the same basic information to be included in the Home Study. This basic information includes a local and nationwide police background check (sometimes done by fingerprints, sometimes done by name and social security number), a child sexual abuse, child abuse and sexual offender registry background check, a physical including blood work, a TB test and a drug screen, reference letters from friends, family and other people and a financial form that basically needs to show that there is more money coming in that going out.

There are forms or questionnaires that cover such subjects as parenting, marriage, views on adoption and your fertility process. You can expect to write a short autobiography and should receive a basic outline for the autobiography from your agency. You will have individual interviews and interviews conducted as a couple. At some point, the agency will conduct a home visit. During this visit you will need to have working fire alarms, a fire extinguisher and you will need to show that any fire arms you own are locked and secured so that no children can get to them.

Although the Home Study is quite extensive, it takes a lot to not be approved as an adoptive family. Minor offenses that happened 20 years ago or traffic violations typically do not affect being approved as an adoptive family. Illnesses that are controlled by medication and are not terminal or minor mental health issues that are controlled by medication and counseling typically do not affect the Home Study process either. Terminal illnesses, current police records, being on the sexual offender registry or child abuse registry are all things that would more than likely keep you have having an approved Home Study. Not being honest during the Home Study process can have a negative affect on approval as well.

If you have a police record and do not discuss it with your casework, it can cause more problems in the long run, even if it was just a minor incident. They will find any records, arrests, charges you have had when they do the background check even if the charges were dropped, so it is best to be up front about everything.

Many agencies also have agency specific guidelines or items that they include in the Home Study. Some agencies might include information about your religion, even including a statement of faith. They might ask you about your views on disciplining and have a special section in the Home Study that discusses your discipline plans for your child. They might have you fill out a form that states what kind of placement you feel comfortable with including Birthparent medical and social background and activity during pregnancy, such as a Birthmother who smokes during her entire pregnancy or a Birthfather whose family has a history of Schizophrenia. Many agencies want a statement from you about openness and adoption and how you feel about continued contact with the Birthparents, sharing pictures and letters and talking you to your child about adoption.

When doing an agency adoption, you may have to go through a Home Study group with other couples who are currently going through the adoption Home Study Process at the same time you are. The groups are like the educational part of the Home Study. They will include such topics as talking to your child about adoption, openness in adoption, meeting Birthparents, grief and loss surround infertility and how to put together a picture profile/resume to be shown to Birthparents. Sometimes Birthparents, adoptive parents and adult adoptees come and speak to the group about their adoption experiences so that you can get information from everyone's viewpoint.

This is all the basic information that you can expect to be included in your Home Study process. You may find that the agency you use has a few additional things that they will have you do. You should feel comfortable asking your agency questions along the way and discussing what you need to have completed when they do the Home Visit, such as child proofing, fire extinguishers, etc. You need to remember that they are here to help you become a family, not to judge you or stamp you with a pass or fail grade. Work with your agency and be open and honest during the process. By doing these things, it will help your Home Study process to go smoothly and it will be easier on you in the end.

Teacher Tips: Dealing With Impulsive Behaviors From ADHD Students in the Classroom

Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate themselves to our children! We know how difficult it can be working with ADHD children, so here are your teacher tips for the week, brought to you by the ADHD Information Library and ADDinSchool.com. This is a sampling of over 500 classroom interventions for your use at http://www.ADDinSchool.com. Here are some tips on Dealing with Impulsive Behaviors: One of the hallmarks of children with attention deficits is the tendency to act impulsively (acting before thinking through the ramifications of behavior). Behaviorally, this manifests itself in a lack of understanding of cause and effect. Research also suggests that these students can often verbalize the rules in place for behavior but have difficulty internalizing them and translating them into thoughtful behavior. Difficulties in delaying gratification also add to the impulsivity. Some clinicians believe that this behavioral disinhibition (poor regulation and inhibition of behavior), rather than their ability to pay attention, is the primary manifestation of attention deficits and is more likely to discriminate these children from others.

By having students think "out loud" when they are problem-solving, the teacher will gain insights into their reasoning style and the process will slow them down before they respond impulsively. This will provide information about how they "see the world" and enable the teacher to begin to restructure inaccurate perceptions. Train your student's teachers and other adults how to do this to provide an on-going technique in the classroom setting, where critical incidents often occur. Quite often, students will continue to have difficulty with certain types of interactions on a regular basis; difficulty in taking turns, over-interpreting others' remarks as hostile, personalizing others' actions excessively, and misreading social cues. With the help of your student, his teacher, and his trusted peers, common problematic themes can be identified. Role play hypothetical interactions involving these behaviors, preferably with supportive peers, identifying and practicing positive alternative responses.

Have your student practice these responses during the school day and have him and others give you feedback on their success. Identifying critical incidents that occur during the day will provide insights for program planning. The technique of "Stop-Think-Talk-Do" is central to many cognitive-behavioral interventions for students with attentional teaches the student how to "stop" before acting impulsively, "think" about the cause and effect relationships of his intended behavior, "say" or verbalize to themselves or others what they will do, and "do" the chosen behavior. Again, the purpose of the technique is to slow down response. Encourage thoughtful responding and decrease impulsivity by waiting 10 to 15 seconds to receive responses during whole group instruction. Keep the classroom behavior rules simple and clear. Have the class agree on what the rules should be. Define and review classroom rules each day. Implement a classroom behavior management system. Actively reinforce desired classroom behaviors. Use self-monitoring and self-reinforcement on-task behavior during independent work time. Use a kitchen timer to indicate periods of intense independent word and reinforce the class for appropriate behavior during this period. Start with brief periods (5 to 10 minutes) and gradually increase the period as the class demonstrates success. When necessary, develop contracts with an individual student and her/his parents to reinforce a few specific behaviors. Set hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly goals depending on the reinforcement needs of the specific student. Provide frequent feedback on the student's progress toward these goals. Provide a changing array of backup rewards or privileges so that students do not "burn out" on a particular system. For example, students can earn tickets for a daily or weekly raffle for the display of positive behavior.

To improve out of the classroom behavior, allow the class to earn a reward based on he compliments they receive on their behavior from other teachers, lunchroom staff, playground aides and principals. Avoid giving the whole class negative consequences based on the ADHD child's behavior. The ADHD child, as well as the whole class, can benefit from implementation of social skills curriculum for the entire class. Modeling and requiring the children to use a systematic method of talking through classroom conflicts and problems can be particularly valuable for the ADHD child to implement this, teachers are referred to the literature on cognitive-behavioral approaches to developing the child's self-talk and problem solving. Praise specific behaviors. For example, "I like how you wrote down all your assignments correctly," rather than "Good boy!" Use visual and auditory cues as behavioral reminders. For example, have two large jars at the front of the room, with one filled with marbles or some other object. When the class is behaving appropriately, move some marbles to the other jar and let the students know that when the empty jar is filled they can earn a reward. Frequently move about the room so that you can maximize you degree of proximity control. When appropriate, give students choices about several different activities that could choose to work on one at a time. With students who can be quite volatile and may initially refuse negative consequences (such as refusing to go to time-out), set a kitchen timer for a brief period (1 to 2 minutes) after refusal has occurred. Explain to the child that the child can use the two minutes to decide if she/he will go to time out on her/his own or if more serious consequence must be imposed. Several experienced teachers insist this method has successfully reduced the extent to which they have had to physically enforce certain negative consequences with students and seems to de-escalate the situation. Hopefully these will help the ADHD students in your classroom to be more successful. You can learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder at the ADHD Information Library.

Hair Loss Prevention - Why Do Castrated Men Never Go Bald?

Note-This content only presents overviews of hair loss
prevention research for educational purposes and does not
replace medical advice from a professional physician.

The best start to preventing hair loss is understanding the
basics of hair: what it is, how it grows, what system
malfunctions can cause it to stop growing.

Most common hair loss comes under what has been commonly
known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although referred to
as MPB, females suffer a similar syndrome, so it is more
properly called androgenetic alopecia. Although hair loss
is not life or health threatening, it can cause serious
problems with a personâEUR(TM)s psyche and self-confidence. There
has been no absolute cure found for hair loss, and many
factors of hair loss are hereditary, however there are
several preventative measures one can take to maintain
healthy hair and scalp.

Although both men and women can suffer significant hair
loss, over 50% of men will suffer with Male Pattern
Baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, at
some point in their lives. The reason behind hair loss is a
genetically inherited sensitivity to Dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) and 5-alpha-reductase. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase
converts testosterone, a male hormone, to DHT, the
substance identified as the end-cause for hair loss.

Hair loss has been noticed and studied throughout the ages,
and some interesting discoveries were made in ancient
times. For one it was noticed that eunuchs: those males
without genitals-never went bald. Men who were castrated as
a result of accidents in battle also never went bald. This
was the first indication that testosterone had something to
do with hair loss. It has also been found that the more
recessive the hair gene, the more propensity toward
baldness one has.

Some common myths have arisen concerning hair loss. Because
of medical advancements many of these myths are being
addressed and corrected. For starters, although
androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness is genetic and
therefore can be hereditary, it is not passed down through
only your motherâEUR(TM)s side of the family. Either side of the
family can pass down the genetic disposition toward
baldness. Also, contrary to old family tales, wearing hats
does not cause baldness either.

Beyond the genetic propensity of certain people toward hair
loss, there seems to be various dietary triggers that
activate the process, a notion that is promising since this
can be controlled.

The effects of high-fat diets and the increase of DHT
(Dihydrotestosterone), a chemical produced by the body
found to cause hair loss, is not conclusive at this time.
However, there does seem to be a connection; as societies
that consumed relatively low-fat diets such as pre-World
War II Japan experienced almost no pattern baldness,
whereas in post-World War II Japan there is an increase in
pattern baldness as their society consumes a higher fat
diet. In fact, Asian and African men in their native
countries traditionally suffer very little Male Pattern
Baldness (MPB). Although when the same peoples come to
North America, they begin to develop MPB.

Because people of all races and ethnicities tend to develop
MPB or androgenetic alopecia, yet do not exhibit these
tendencies before moving to America, changes in diet may be
a leading contributing factor. Diets high in fat do
increase testosterone, which is the main component in DHT.
More research needs to be done on this topic to reach
conclusive evidence, although it certainly could not hurt
to lower oneâEUR(TM)s fat intake.

There are a number of foods and substances to avoid and
limit the intake of. Substances such as alcohol, caffeine,
sugar and nicotine can deplete the body of nutrients and
raise adrenal levels, which will cause a chain reaction of
producing more androgen and causing hair loss. High levels
of saturated fat and cholesterol rich foods are also linked
to increased DHT levels and their consumption should be
limited. Additionally, common table salt has been linked to
hair loss. And the average diet provides the recommended
amount of sodium intake; therefore, salt should never be
added to food. However, when using salt for seasoning
during cooking, be sure to use salt with Iodine being that
it is a nutrient that is vital to hair growth as well,
unless you are a regular consumer of seafood, which
contains high levels of Iodine.

Although hair loss can be caused by many other variables,
lack of proper nutrition will assuredly cause hair loss in
many people. Fortunately, adopting a proper diet that
includes the proper nutrients can reverse hair loss caused
by malnutrition. One thing for certain, regardless of
whether your hair loss was caused by malnutrition or not,
adopting a healthier diet will help the function of other
areas of the body.

There are some methods that have been used that prevent
hair loss on some people, in addition to the dietary
improvements, there are some naturopathic remedy
suggestions. Massage and aromatherapy have been used with
some success. In minor cases of temporary hair loss, hair
growth can be stimulated by massage, since blood and oxygen
flow to the scalp must be healthy in order for hair to
grow. A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay
essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond,
soybean or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed
to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to
stimulate the scalp. Once the mixture is in the scalp for
20 minutes, wash your hair and scalp with your normal
shampoo mixed with three drops of bay essential oil.
Massaging the scalp in general for a couple of minutes a
day can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and in
mild cases stimulate some hair growth. Of course, one must
be careful to be gentle when massaging and not tug at the
hair or use the fingernails when massaging the scalp. If
one is concerned about fingernails getting in the way due
to extra long fingernails, there are several options. One
is a flat-handed massage, which while not as effective as
the finger massage can provide some circulatory benefits
and results.

There are several electric massagers on the market that
have an attachment for scalp massaging as well. An oriental
method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used
to increase circulation to the scalp and face also. The
fingers should be placed at the center of the skull base
and then begin to tap approximately 30 times. Work your way
outward toward the ears continuing to tap gently. After
reaching the ears go back to the center of the skull a
little higher up and work your way around to the ear
region. Keep going up about eight levels, each time
repeating the process.

There is a definite connection between the prostate and
hair loss for men, and therefore a connection between
breakthroughs in BPH treatments developed and their
effectiveness in restoring hair growth. There have been
some herbalists that have experimented with the herb Saw
Palmetto in order to block the production of DHT in
treating BPH. Although most studies of Saw Palmetto have
been for the treatment of prostatic disease, more recent
studies have been conducted on its effectiveness in
treating loss. The herb has been found to work in fighting
benign prostatic disease by lowering levels of DHT, which
is a known cause of androgenetic alopecia. Studies have
shown Saw Palmetto extract is an effective anti-androgen
and therefore there is promise for its effectiveness as an
effective treatment for hair loss prevention.

Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benefit
traditionally when used externally. It is suggested that to
promote a clean scalp, stimulation of the hair root, and
thickening hair one should boil together in water rosemary,
sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Then strain the loose
herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair
daily. Also recommended is steeping one ounce of ground
rosemary, two ounces of ground sage, and a half ounce of
ground nettles in one pint of ethyl alcohol for a week,
straining the solution and adding one ounce of castor oil
and one ounce of water to the liquid. This is said to make
a great hair lotion to apply at night before bed or just
before shampooing.

Hair is a living protein, and as with any living part of
our bodies we must be sure to maintain proper health to
optimize our chances of maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Proper nutrition is vital to maintaining healthy hair,
since the hair is a living and growing part of the bodyâEUR(TM)s
system. Viewing it in this manner can help us to treat our
bodies different and raise expectations through proper
care. A healthy balanced diet, occasionally with the help
of vitamin and mineral supplements and exercise are all key
components to a healthy regimen of maintaining healthy
hair.

There is an obvious link to hair loss and prostatic health
and this only increases the pace of hair loss discoveries.
Most treatments for prostatic diseases such as benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also have the pleasant side
affect of growing hair on the heads of those taking it.
With the pace of research and discoveries today, there is a
great deal of optimism in the field of hair loss prevention
and treatment. Hair is an important part of our dress and
appearance, therefore a large part of our self-esteem. It
is likely that there are answers for your situation
presently or coming in the near future.

Remember, the restoration of hair growth is not an
overnight process. The process takes time regardless of the
method chosen. Be patient and follow as much of the advice
given by professionals as possible. Keep in mind that the
body is a system, and it is the abuse of this system by
food intake and environmental causes that lead to most
common hair loss.

Personal Training - 3 Keys to Training Clients in Their Homes

When considering your options as a personal trainer, one of the very first things to decide is WHERE you are going to train your clients. The most obvious answer for most trainers is to get a job at a local fitness facility and train clients there. This is certainly an option, and one that is recommended especially in the beginning of your career. The structure and experience that you will get by working at a successful gym or fitness center is invaluable for a new personal trainer. However, there are drawbacks to working with your clients at a gym, and some clients will be unwilling or unable to workout at a local facility. Don't lose those clients by not having other options!

Working out with your clients in their homes is an option for any trainer, and by offering this option to your clients you can increase your potential client base by a dramatic number, and you may even decide to exclusively offer home personal training. In order to decide if this type of business model is for you, there are several points to consider, and they include time management, exercise modalities to be used, and business resources that are available.

Time Management

Managing your time and your schedule is a critical consideration when deciding whether or not to work with clients in their homes. Unlike working at a facility, the amount of time that you need to dedicate to each client is increased, sometimes to the point of even doubling the time spent for each client session.

For example, let's use a standard one-hour training session as our business model for this discussion. Although many trainers are utilizing different training times with their clients these days, one hour is still a good time frame to use for your scheduling reference. You want to remember that as a home personal trainer, you can be on a tight deadline to get from one place to the next, so you don't want to schedule your sessions back-to-back like you can when you are working at a fitness facility.

You must also factor in your travel time to get to your client's home, as well as to get to the home of the following client, the client after that, and so on. If you live in an even reasonably populated area, you will have to allow at least 15 minutes of driving time to and from every client's home, and sometimes as much as 30 minutes per client, depending on the size of the geographic area that you train in. Using our one-hour training session as an example, just one training session can cost you as much as 2 hours of your time.

A standard 8-hour workday will now only allow you to train between 4 and 6 clients, depending on where they live in relation to your starting point, as well as in relation to each other. Your best bet whenever possible is to set up your clients in a roughly straight line, or possibly a circle that brings you back to your starting point at the end of the day. The last thing that you want to do is set up a client who lives 30 minutes north of your starting point followed immediately by a client who lives 30 minutes south of your starting point. Not only will you eat up massive amounts of time driving to and from your client's homes, but you will put serious mileage on both your car as well as your wallet at the gas station! More on that in the Business Resources section below.

Exercise Modalities

The next thing to consider is the type of training that you will be doing with your clients in their homes. Unless they have a full fitness facility set up - which is rare - it is very likely that you will have to come up with ways to put them through a vigorous workout without the massive amount of equipment that is available at a full-size fitness facility. In order to put together these home workouts, you need to address the two different energy pathways that your clients will need to use during their workouts: aerobic and anaerobic.

Anaerobic Workouts

Although many trainers are used to the massive resources available at a local gym, getting your clients a variety-filled and intense anaerobic workout in their home is actually easier than most would think. With nothing more than an exercise ball and a portable set of dumbbells, you can take your clients through the full range of motion and exertion on almost the same scale that is afforded those clients training at a gym.

If you are just starting out in the industry, or are simply used to working your clients out at a fitness facility, you should do some research on the Internet for dumbbell workouts, bodyweight workouts, functional training, and sport-specific training. Those 4 keyword combinations alone will net you hundreds of websites with free or low-cost resources that will teach you thousands of exercises that can be done with little or no equipment.

The key to getting your clients a good anaerobic workout at home is not the type of equipment that is used, or the actual amount of weight that is moved, but rather the INTENSITY of the workout. A bit of trial and error will teach you how to take a client through their paces in a safe but intense manner that will leave most people ready to call it quits in 30 minutes or less!

Aerobic Workouts

Taking your clients through appropriate and effective aerobic workouts can happen on many levels. The 2 obvious differences are going to be whether they get their aerobic activity during their session, or if you assign them activities to do after you leave. You could also do a combination of both, depending on the needs and the fitness level of the client.

If you are going to take your clients through an aerobic workout during their session, you can either incorporate "heart rate maintenance" exercises into the workout itself, or you can get the anaerobic exercises out of the way, and then move into an aerobic workout for the second half of the session. Just remember that if your goal is to keep your clients inside their target heart rate zone, there will be very little rest time in between exercises.

However, before you blindly go forcing all of your clients to stay inside their target heart rate zone for the entire session, consider the fitness goal of the client, and the metabolically intense benefits of structured strength training compared to a session when you just make sure they are sweating the whole time!

Another option for your client's cardio is to have them do it on their own after the end of the training session. Obviously they still need your guidance on what to do, how to track their heart rate, and how long they should perform the activity, but not all clients will actually need you to stay there and guide them during the activity.

Also, it is not uncommon for people to own a piece of cardiovascular training equipment such as a treadmill, elliptical trainer, stair-stepper, etc. Nonetheless, most clients will still need some specific guidance on how to maximize the benefits from the type of equipment that they have access to. Things like interval training, cross training, and training at different heart rate levels are all things that you should educate your clients on, especially if they are going to be doing cardio on their own.

Business Resources

You must also consider the business resources that you will need access to when training clients in their homes. The time factor has already been discussed, and you should also consider the daily expenses involved in this type of training model. These include equipment expenses, "on the road" expenses, and auto expenses.

Equipment expenses should be minimal. You may have an initial cost, but after your initial purchases, all of those assets are reusable. Basic items for home training include an adjustable set of dumbbells and an exercise ball at a bare minimum. It would also be a good idea to have a roll-up exercise mat, a jump rope, and any other items needed for the type of activities that your clients will be engaging in. A great cardio idea for clients training at home is boxing drills. If you were to utilize that type of training, then a decent set of protective gloves for the clients would be in order, as well as target mats that you hold for them to strike during their drills.

In all cases, the items that you own stay with you, and they are simply taken from one client's house to the next. It is a great idea to have your clients eventually buy their own gear, however, which keeps you from having to tote arm loads of equipment into and out of their houses day after day. Also, depending on the type of program you put them on, they may use some of their own equipment in between training sessions.

"On the Road" expenses include food and drinks while you are traveling. Depending on your schedule, you will be on the road anywhere from 2 to 12 hours at a time! In those cases, you will obviously need to plan healthy places to eat along the way, or keep portable meals in your vehicle each day. In any event, make sure that you consider the cost of eating away from home as part of your business expenses.

Auto expenses are potentially the biggest expense that you will have to face in order to train people at home. The wear and tear on your vehicle - although accountable on your taxes - can still be a drain on your financial resources. You have to keep your vehicle insured, fueled up, and in good working order at all times. The last thing that you want to do is be late for a client session because your car broke down, or you ran out of gas! Also, at anywhere from $1.50 to $2.50 per gallon, gas can get expensive if you put in a lot of miles every day.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many considerations when deciding whether or not to train clients in their homes, and you must weigh those considerations against the benefit of being "free" from the gym trainer's normal boundaries, and instead being in charge of your own day to day business. In return, you can command higher per session fees for home training. Since you are saving your clients a lot of driving time and gym expenses, as well as giving them an opportunity to get healthy in the privacy of their own homes, it is not unheard of for a home trainer to charge $75 to $100 or more per session. Figure in scheduling issues, the exercise program that you will have your clients on, and the resources needed, and decide for yourself if this type of training program will work for your business!

Strength Training - Steroids - How Steroids Make You WEAK

What does this have to do with your nutrition plan? Most people reading this are looking to improve their appearance and physical performance, and most are pursuing those goals in a commercial or school gym. Unfortunately, those are the same places you're going to find plenty of people using anabolic steroids. They're also the places you'll be approached to buy the stuff.

If you're approached, you'll more than likely be promised overnight gains, doubling, or tripling your homeruns, wins, rate of progression, amount of records you'll shattered and on and on.

You'll also be told things like.

"It's totally safe."

"Every champ does it"

"Don't worry about side effects, all you need to do is 'cycle stacks' and I can show you how."

"I get my stuff from a real doctor on the other side of town."

And on, and on, and on...

Before you make the wrong decision, ask yourself if a cocaine dealer is the first image that comes to mind when you think about an honest, caring and straight forward person? I mean, a drug dealer has your best interests at heart, right?

Now, consider the fact that steroids are a drug, and are illegal to have without a prescription and can get you into serious trouble if caught with them in your possession, I think you'll agree that it's fair to call 'roid dealers drug dealers. And if you're smart, you'll think twice about the advice these bozos have for you.

Again, since many reading this are looking to increase muscle mass and/or physical performance, I think it's very important to go over this stuff.

Some reading this may already know this, and others may not. One effect steroids have on the body is to increase its ability to synthesize protein. In other words your body is now able to build and repair muscle faster. Your body breaks down protein into amino acids, and then it rebuilds them into the appropriate protein it needs to repair or build up the body.

You can look at it this way. Each gram of complete protein is a brick and your body has a bunch of brick layers building up various sections of your body. When you train you tear down sections of your body. In a matter of fact, normal everyday living will tear down your body. This rebuilding process takes place at night when you're deep asleep. Your body naturally releases hormones, including Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to aid in this rebuilding. (This is why quality sleep is critical for peak performance)

A person in their natural state - one who isn't on steroids or any other similar androgenic substance - can only utilize so many grams of protein in a day. His or her workers, for example's sake, can only lay 100 bricks a day. It doesn't matter how much protein is provided in the diet, that's all the workers can do.

Did you know .......? The term Androgenic is defined as pertaining to the development of male characteristics, including body hair, the genital organs and muscle mass. "Androgenic" is the adjective form of the noun "androgen," a word referring to any of the male hormones, including testosterone and androsterone.

A 'roid head' on the other hand, because of the use of his illegal drugs, can, for example, process 200 grams of protein a day. So his workers are not only able to lay more brick, but they can repair and rebuild faster too, leading to faster and bigger gains. This allows 'juicers' to get more benefit out of each work out - they can train with less intensity, but, because their bodies are able to rebuild faster they grow quicker. They can also train harder than a natural athlete and come back sooner and do it again, where the natural guy or gal has to take a day's rest or more depending on training intensity. Trying to keep up with the juicer will cause the natural trainer to lose muscle, not build it because of overtraining. This crap also enables an athlete to go past their genetic potential, allowing the juice monkey to build more muscle and strength than he or she could naturally achieve - at least that's one reason why they claim that taking it is so important.

If you haven't picked up on it yet, I'm not a fan of steroids, I'm not a fan those who take them, and I'm especially not a fan of those who sell them. Steroids are a cheater's friend. A steroid abuser is cheating their fellow athletes, all true fans of that sport, and most importantly; themselves.

I truly believe that all aspects of life are related - life's experiences are universal. What you experience and go through in one endeavor affects you in others. And it's no different in sports or trying to put on muscle. If life's experiences and lessons weren't applicable in other areas of your life it would take you forever to learn. This becomes clear when you start fully and deeply living your life. You'll quickly connect lessons you learn to all areas of your life and this is one of the reasons why cheating is so dangerous and effort, discipline, thought, and perseverance among other traits are what count. It's also why analogies, proverbs, parables and stories are so valuable - because wisdom applies to all aspects of life - most, if not all lessons are universal.

When it comes to weight loss or putting on muscle or any other goal in your life, you will have periods of frustration and obstacles to overcome. Even with the information you're reading right now, which I truly believe will change your life for the better, there will be tough times.

For instance, difficulties might arise because of your unique situation. Maybe you don't have the required items or tools that are used in an explanation or maybe you think you're following the recommendations the way you should, but you really aren't. Many people, including myself, at times put their own spin on things without realizing it. It's why I believe you should not only follow what's recommended, as long as it isn't harmful to you or others, but to make sure you're following directions the way it's explained and not your own interpretation of it, once you understand what your doing you can then "customize" it. Avoid "adding" steps to the process until you have went through it at least once and understand what you're doing.

All of this requires you to become more self aware, to examine what you're doing and see if you're headed in the right direction. Sometimes it may take a while before you figure out what's wrong, and it might be something really simple. You're going to have to fight at times, dig down deep and say "I'm not giving up, I want this and I'm going to get it!" You might have to ask for help, a sign of true strength.

This builds character, empowers your self image, and strengthens your will. Steroids and magic potions that promise the world cheat you of all of this. There are not too many ways of feeling better, than looking at yourself and the things you've done in life and saying "I created this." - It wasn't a hand out. I know there's a place and time for one, but when you fall on your ass and look for someone to pick you up, there might not be anyone around to do it. You can't get very far in life with that mentality. Anyone who takes steroids, or cuts corners in any other way, is allowing this weakness to seep into the rest of his being, and its stench will permeate through to others who will pick up on it.

That stench is the smell of a quitter, a cheater, of someone who looks for the easy way out. I wouldn't want that person next to me in the fox holes of life, and more than likely neither do you. Others, especially achievers and true champions, feel the same way, and if you're his type of person, see ya!

I couldn't imagine looking in the mirror, or at the weight I just lifted and not be able to tell myself "I did this." I couldn't imagine having to look in the mirror and have a syringe or bottle of pills next to me, reminding me that I didn't do this, these drugs did.

There was a time when every man and woman had to gather and catch their food. They also had to work the land and sow seeds to reap a harvest. There's no way around that. Maybe there's a clue there, a reason for it?

I don't want you to misunderstand what I'm saying with the only way is to work hard and avoid using your head, essentially living a hard life. That's not what I'm saying. In fact, those who work hard at working smart are the one to keep an eye on. What I'm talking about is cheating yourself out of the opportunity of persevering in the face of difficulties. Coming to the realization that there are times when it's up to you, and you alone to pull yourself up. Then resolving that no mater what you're going to work hard until you're able to figure it out. Once you figure it out it tends to get a lot easier.

If you're currently taking steroids, throw the crap out, and start over. It will get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.

If you have or know school age children, maybe classmates, especially those who partake in athletics, keep an eye out for signs of steroid abuse.

The following are some signs of steroid use:

    Quick weight gain with larger muscle mass
    Aggressiveness and bad attitude
    Jaundice / skin change
    Purple or red spots on the body
    Swelling of feet and lower legs
    Shaking or trembling
    Persistent body odors
    Severe acne breakouts with oily skin

Short-Term and Long-Term Physical Effects of Steroids Use Men - Even though anabolic steroids are derived from male sex hormones, men who choose to take them can experience some of the following effects: Short-term

    Reduced sperm count
    Damage to the heart
    Impotence
    Difficulty or pain while urinating

Long-term

    Liver disease or liver cancer
    Development of breasts
    Shrinking of the testicles

Women - If a woman uses steroids, some "masculinization" effects may occur.

Short-term

    Breast reduction
    Excessive hair growth

Long-term

    Deepened voice
    Enlarged clitoris
    Abnormal menstrual cycles

If you're reading this because you're looking to create a nutritional plan that'll help you pack on muscle, think real hard if anyone ever offers you some "sauce." Anyone who sells this stuff is a drug dealing punk that deserves to be thrown in jail, especially if he's selling it to minors. This person is a predator, and do you really think he'll care if you end up getting sick or dying from using his crap? Not at all. The only thing he'll feel bad about is the money he's no longer getting from you.

Steroids should only be used for legitimate reasons under the required medical supervision. Any doctor who sells or prescribes steroids for performance enhancing reasons, not real medical reasons, is a bigger punk than the drug dealer above. A doctor took an oath, a Hippocratic Oath, to protect your health not to harm it. This guy deserves to lose his practice license and shipped off to the klink.

There are many counterfeit steroids on the market and lots of this stuff comes from third world countries, or animal farms because they were intended for animal use only. For all you know you could end up with a vial full of horse urine or a bottle of pills made from rat poison. Stay away from this crap.

Physical Effects on Males and Females from Steroids Use

Continued use of anabolic steroids can cause the following effects in both sexes

Short-term

    Acne
    Fluid retention
    Rapid weight gain
    Increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels
    Insomnia (inability to sleep)
    Headaches
    Reduced sexual functioning
    Increase in muscle size
    Swelling of feet and ankles
    Improved healing
    Improved appetite

Long-term · Blood clotting difficulties · Heart attacks · Clotting disorders · Cardiovascular, liver, and reproductive organ damage · Premature heart attacks and strokes · Reduced sexual functioning · Stunted growth in adolescents · Anti-hypertensive behaviors · Hypertension or fatigue · Chronic gonadotrophin or (HCG) · Increased chance of injuring ligaments, tendons and muscles · When injecting: bacterial infections, abscesses, cellulitis, and HIV/AIDS

If you go to a gym, you'll usually know who's taking this stuff. More often than not, they're the most screwed up and insecure people in the gym. You don't want to end up like these people.

Take another look at the symptoms listed above. If you're a guy, do you really want shrunken testies? If you're a girl, do you want your clitoris to become enlarged to the point it's visible through your clothes? That'll look real sexy at the beach. I mean women want the guys to mistaken them for a hermaphrodite right?

Ask if anything is worth harming your health and cheating yourself out of life altering lessons, lessons and challenges that will result with a deeper understanding of yourself and life.

Action Steps!

Just Say No

Yeah, I know, it sounds corny - but I'd take corny over developing breasts. And if you're a woman reading this, I'm sure sounding silly is much more preferable than back hair and an enlarger clitoris.

Get Educated and Apply it!

With the right training, rest and nutrition plan, it's possible for many beginners to gain 20 lbs of muscle inside, or lose 20 lbs of fat within 3 months. It's also possible to triple your endurance in 2-3 weeks.

To be able to do this you need to learn how to do it, and you'll be hard pressed to discover it within the pages of the muscle mags. For the most part you'll only find ads for miracle muscle potions and steroid using models claiming it was the supplement that gave them their "freaky" development - and pigs fly.

Sticking to the basics and having the courage to consistently and properly apply them will develop your strength, health and character to level most only dream of attaining.