The Untold Truth about Today’s Housing Market

The housing market has been steadily undergoing changes since its initial plummet to dooms day in 2007; and its rock bottom descend in 2009. As a matter of fact, home foreclosures just started to level out in 2010. 

As we all know, many homeowners lost their homes to the bank and many are still walking away from their homes while the banks are coming back to redeem their security deed due to non-payment. 

It is devastating enough being forced to leave your primary residence; but what’s even more embarrassing is the credit rejection experienced when searching for another home immediately after a foreclosure.  

In this tough market its good to know that someone has designed a program to help struggling homeowners avoid total credit ruin.  

Freedom Investment Group, LLC is a creative real estate investment firm that thinks “outside the box”. Owner/CEO, Jim Sakalis, knows the importance of being versatile during changing times. 

Freedom Investment Group caters to homeowners that owe much more on their homes than fair market value. 

Once a distressed homeowner contacts a Freedom Investment agent, they are guaranteed to receive the best options for their situation, says Mr. Sakalis.

After a one-on-one assessment, Freedom Investment Group guides struggling homeowners through the process to salvage their situation, while protecting their credit worthiness.   

Either way it’s a win-win situation for homeowners. They get to avoid foreclosure, and in a lot of cases help in placing them into affordable housing.

The process sounds easy, but it may not be as simple as one would think. According to Mr. Sakalis, “Banks don’t want to work with short sale properties as much, because they get government bailout money for their loss.  As a result, we have developed tactful strategies to manipulate the bank into working out a short sale.”

The Freedom Investment Group has provided quality real estate services to the greater Atlanta area since 2004.  They are a one-stop-shop, providing rental and property management services, buyer, and seller services, and investor services. 

Their goal is to help educate and provide the best options available to homeowners.

For more information contact The Freedom Investment Group at 770-374-0313. Or visit them on the web at: www.thefreedominvestmentgroup.com. 

All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed by The Freedom Investment Group and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Tonya Lachey Jones. Tonya Lachey Jones makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information; or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Nor is the owner or writer of this blog liable for the misinterpretations of any past or future articles posted. 

Detox and Double Weight Loss

You may be in need of an effective detoxification program if you are experiencing skin problems, digestive discomfort, chronic fatigue, or weight gain. 

Cleansing and weight loss goes hand-in-hand. The first step in the weight loss process is for your body to rid itself of toxins before burning the fat. Toxins are eliminated from the body through sweat, urine and fecal matter. 

That is why we notice a decrease in water retention before we can see a change in fat and cellulite reduction. 

Every minute of the day our bodies work towards cleansing in order to minimize the negative effects of toxins (such as skin problems, digestive discomfort, chronic fatigue, or weight gain). 

By assisting your body in the detoxification process, you are lessening the load your system must undergo to operate effectively at increasing metabolic rates. And we all know that an increase in metabolism equates to an increase in weight loss.

There are many different herbal supplements you can use to jump start your detoxification program. Drop by your local health food store and speak with one of their professionals to find out what your product options are. 

However, be sure to consult with your physician beforehand for a list of ingredients you should avoid, based upon your medical conditions. 

What to Expect During Your Cleanse?

During your cleansing and detoxification program try to avoid the following foods:

1.      Avoid Fried Foods
2.      Avoid foods high in Sodium
3.      Avoid processed foods like Flour, Sugar, Butter or Margarine & White Rice
4.      Avoid Sugary Foods, Candy and Sugary Beverages
5.      Avoid Canned Food and Boxed Food
6.      Reduce your Cheese & Dairy intake
7.      Reduce your Beef and Pork intake
8.      Avoid Artificial Ingredients
9.      Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
10.  Avoid Hydrogenated fats

Also, avoid taking long road trips or plane flights during your cleansing program, and stay close to a private bathroom at all times. 

During your cleansing and detoxification program try to consume the following foods:

1.      Water: Hydration helps to battle hunger and wash away toxins (try adding lemon to stimulate digestion).
2.      Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
3.      Fish & Lean Meats
4.      Nuts
5.      Green Tea
6.      Low-fat Butter Substitutes and Low-fat Creams & Sauces
7.      Olive Oil, Flaxseed Oil
8.      Apple Cider Vinegar
9.      Fresh Herbs, Ginger Root, and Garlic: they help to speed metabolism and aid in detoxification.
10.  Whole Wheat all natural Fiber substances: bread, flaxseed, others.
11.  Probiotics
 

Following a well planned detoxification program can be the key to helping you loss those extra pounds you have been struggling with for years. Some like to refer to it as “The Last 10 Pounds”.

Although detoxing is the best way to jump-start any weight loss program; you must keep in mind that detoxing with any supplements such as pills or herbal teas can be taxing on the liver. 

Therefore, it is always a good idea to take liver stimulants before and after your detoxification program.

What are Liver Stimulants?

Liver stimulants are substances that assist the liver in its filtering role. The liver works hard daily to filter the blood in our entire body several times a day. It breaks down toxins and sends them through the digestive system to be eliminated. By assisting the liver at its job, the detoxification process will be improved one-hundred fold.

1.      Milk Thistle: delivers silymarin, which plays a role in liver cell protection and regeneration.
2.      Artichoke Extract: is closely related to milk thistle, but it delivers the liver protective compound known as cynarin.
3.      Dandelion Root: stimulates the liver and bile production for more efficient removal of toxins.

This information is provided for educational purposes only under section 5 of the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act 0f 1994; and is not intended as medical advice. For more in-depth information contact your health care professional. 

How to Reverse the Effects of Stress….

If there has ever been a time in history when avoiding stress was inevitable, it is now.  We experience pressure from our family and friends demanding time and attention.

We experience pressure with employment and the attempt to achieve our goals and ambitions; as well as our personal standards, our health and finances. 

And, we fight with all of the doubts, fears and insecurities that we face even when our mind is sound asleep.

With all of this going on…there is no wonder why we are feeling unbelievable amounts of stress. 

According to Paul Wilson, author of The Calm Technique, Stress is popularly accepted as the most common promoter of disease and discomfort in the Western world. It is blamed for escalating incidence of heart disease and the rising national blood pressure; it encourages almost every fashionable ailment from migraine headaches to cancer; it reduces resistance to disease; it contributes to the rampant insanity and social disorders that confront us every day of our lives. 

Effects of Stress 

1.       Hypertension/High blood pressure
2.       Indigestion
3.       Constipation
4.       Heart Palpitations/ Irregular heartbeats
5.       Insomnia
6.       Impotence

Unfortunately, stress doesn’t go away without intervention; it builds and builds until it negatively influences both the mind and body.

Therefore, it is very important to focus on reversing the effects of stress every single day. There is no such thing as a onetime fix for stress. But by combing diet, exercise, massage therapy and meditation; stress can be minimized and the effects of stress can be reversed.

Diet

Eating healthy well-balanced meals can help to reverse the effects of stress by boosting your mood, increasing energy levels, and keeping you focus. Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and higher in fiber also helps to boost the immune system to fight off the many effects of stress.

Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good. It is said to be equivalent to the satisfaction you get when eating or being with the one you love.  Therefore, by increasing your weekly exercise regimens, your stress levels will start to decrease.  

Massage Therapy

Much like exercise and meditation; regular massage therapy has been documented to promote relaxation, increase blood circulation through deep breathing and muscle manipulation, and to immediately reduce stress. 

Meditation   

Meditation influences your state of mind by making you feel more relaxed and happy. It calms the nervous system, increases blood flow and the circulation of nutrients throughout the body by promoting deep breathing. 

Overall, a combination of diet, exercise, massage therapy and meditation can have profoundly positive effects on stress reduction.

To Cook or Not to Cook?

To size it all up in a nut-shell, "Cook or Not to Cook" shouldn't be a matter of either/or; but a question asking..."How much of each should I consume daily?"

According to most research done on raw verses cooked foods, scientists have discovered that a little of both is required in order to have a well-balanced diet which contains all of the daily nutrients and vitamins our bodies need; yet have a minimal dosage of toxins from pesticides and other chemicals obtained through food preparation.

A diet exclusively made of raw food sounds  good.

Raw fruits, nuts and vegetables are loaded with many vitamins and minerals the body needs to function at its best.
However, in most individuals, the human body is not designed to function on an exclusive raw food diet.
Most starchy vegetables are easier to digest cooked than uncooked; and should be cooked without salt or butter.

Although fresh fruit and salad vegetables contain vitamins such as A, C, and D, and are loaded with minerals the body needs to maintain normally on a daily basis.

The human body still needs small portions of cooked starchy foods to provide it with the protein and carbohydrates needed for daily energy.

Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage which contain goitrogens (which inhibit thyroid hormone) and are neutralized with light cooking, as well as some leafy greens, like spinach, kale, chard and collard greens which contain oxalic acid which reduce the absorption of calcium and can irritate the intestines. (Vreni Gurd, writer for Trusted.MD)

Below is a list of foods that are easier to digest when cooked:

.Baked Potato

.Cooked Grains (brown rice, wheat, oatmeal, quinoa)

.Beans & Peas

.Nuts (should be roasted or soaked in water, excluding peanuts)

.Broccoli

.Kale

.Collard Greens

.Lettuce

.Cauliflower


Below is a list of foods that are more beneficial for the body consumed raw:

.Lettuce

.Alfalfa Sprouts

.Cucumbers

.Fresh Fruit

.Peanuts

.Tomatoes

.Fennel

.Celery

According to Gurd, Ideally 40-60% of our diet should consist of uncooked foods.

In a normal diet, it can be difficult consuming that much raw food in one day.

Therefore, you should try starting your morning off with mixed berry smoothies.

For a great smoothie recipe go to: http://worldtherapycenter.blogspot.com/2010/08/mixed-berry-smoothie-1-cup-orange-juice.html.

Add a fresh fruit and some yogurt to your lunch menu, followed by a fresh salad approximately 1-2 hour later (yogurt helps your body to digest uncooked vegetables).

Then have a mid-day snack consisting of celery (no dipping sauce), cucumbers, carrots, and/or nuts.

And finally, for the last meal of the day be sure to included steamed vegetables along with all of your evening meals.

If you are watching your weight, try to excluded as many starches as possible from your evening dinner.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that no one preparation is the WINNER in the battle between "Cooked or Non-Cooked Foods."

Just like "light" verses "dark", "yin" verses "yang," and "cold" verses "hot"....each must exist to create a well-balanced and healthy life.

Top 5 Power Foods of the Week: Slow Aging, Prevent Disease, and Boost Immunity

Almonds- Eating about 48 almonds a day gives you approximately 50 percent of the daily amount of magnesium needed in your diet. Magnesium is very important for the health of your heart. Studies have proven that eating at least 2-ounces of almonds daily have significantly lowered total cholesterol levels, and several other factors that contribute to heart disease as well.  Also, almonds are high in vitamin E, fiber, and monounsaturated fats.


Apples- Apples are high in fiber and antioxidants. Not only are they good for colon health, but also for lowering total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This delicious fruit contain catechins, potent cancer-preventative substances. They are also good for preventing lung cancer; as well as liver and prostate abnormalities.




Salmon- Fatty acids are what our brain uses to create the cells that help us to process thoughts and to feel.  Salmon is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Wild Salmon is one of the best sources of Omega-3 essential fatty acids. It is low in saturated fat, and it has one of the lowest amounts of contaminants among all seafood.

Other health properties of wild salmon are:

• Wild Salmon improves your brain matter.
• Wild Salmon improves your mood.
• Wild Salmon improves your synaptic connections.
• Wild Salmon improves your arteries.
• Wild Salmon reduces your chances of stroke, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s.


Avocados- This fruit, sometimes referred to as nature’s butter, provides fiber, folic acid, vitamin E, and potassium.  But more than anything, avocados are known to lower total cholesterol levels because they are the number-one fruit source of beta-sitosterol.  In addition, avocados have higher levels of the potent antioxidant lutein, which protects our eyes from cataracts and age-related muscular degeneration.


Blueberries- Blueberries help the brain to produce dopamine. Dopamine is essential for coordination, memory, and the feeling of well-being. However, blueberries are most known for their high levels of immunity boosting antioxidants. According to cbsmoneywatch.com,   Researchers recently found that blueberries prevented the growth of breast cancer cells in test tubes.

This week, try to consume as much of these Top 5 Power Foods as possible. Find creative ways to incorporate them in your daily diet by making smoothies with blueberries and fresh apples.

Have Mexican night and make guacamole with your avocados.

Or, try Almond Crusted Salmon as an entrée along with your favorite side dishes.

The Importance of Goal Setting ….and Daily Planning!

Remember the old saying, “Stand for something or fall for anything?” Well that still holds true to this day. Unless you set life goals, and make daily plans towards accomplishing them. Eventually you will start to feel as if your life has become meaningless.

You’ll start to lose focus of your objectives in life, allowing yourself to become engulfed with everything else other than accomplishing your goals.

Your daily planning should reflect your New Year Goals in ways that if you were to do a monthly outline of your goals, you can flip through the pages like a cartoon script and see your yearly goals evolving step-by-step.

All it takes is a step-by-step approach.

Start your New Year Goals with a theme for the year. My theme for last year was “The Year of the Break Thru…out with the Old and In With the New! And that is exactly how my year went.

I started utilizing my journalism degree by freelance writing for 2 online companies; Textbrokers and Experts 123.

Then, I became certified in Medical Massage while I was in the process of leaving my job as a massage therapist at Nordstrom Spa, to open a Health Spa in Dunwoody, Georgia.

And, none of it would have happened, if I had chosen not to write a New Year’s list of goals. My goals kept me focused each month as to the direction I was going.

Goals keep people on track, so write your goals for this New Year and post them in your home-office area so you can see them every morning when starting your day.

When making New Year Goals it is important to search for improvement in every area of your life.

Your goals should be reasonable and well defined.

Example:

2011 New Year Goals
“Theme” Example: The Year of the Break Thru
I. Professional Growth Goals
a. Example: Increase sales volume by 1/3 in the first two quarters.
b. Example: Cultivate relationships with co-workers and management staff.
c. Example: Get more education or training.
II. Personal Growth Goals
a. Example: Be a more discipline parent to my teenager.
b. Example: Be more understanding of my partners needs.
III. Self Growth
a. Example: Improve who I am as a mother/father by…
b. Example: Improve who I am as a wife, husband, significant other by…
c. Example: Improve who I am as a business woman/man by…
d. Example: Improve who I am as a (son) daughter or granddaughter (son) by…
IV. Spiritual Growth
a. Example: Attend service more often.
b. Example: Pray everyday
V. Relationship Growth
a. Example: Be more compassionately expressive and less reactive.
b. Example: Confront issues as they arise.
VI. Physical Growth
a. Example: Do palates 2 times a week.
b. Example: Work out in gym 3 times a week.
c. Example: Take supplements 3 times a week.
VII. Financial Growth
a. Example: Pay credit card debt down or off.
b. Example: Have 3-6 months (or more) worth total monthly expense in savings.

When it comes to planning out your goals, it never hurts to write out a “’wish list” before starting.

Make sure to include small steps towards achieving everything you wish for in your New Year Goals.

Although planning may sound simple, it’s simply not!

It takes organization to execute a well written plan.

When planning, I have two simple suggestions that will make your New Year Goals hard not to obtain!

1. Sign up for a Gmail account (if you don’t already have one).

2. Then, go out and get a smart phone (download Google mobile app first) to sink your business and personal contacts on your phone with your Gmail account, Google calendar with your phone, and social networks into.

Update your Gmail calendar from any computer daily and it will sink in with your smart phone accordingly. You can also auto-set your calendar to alarm your phone when you have a scheduled appointment or task for the day.

Now…MAKE IT A GREAT YEAR EVERYONE!

3-Step Treatment for Strained Muscles

A strained muscle, also known as a pulled muscle, is one of the most common sports injuries.  Stretching a muscle beyond its comfortable limits, poor body mechanics when working out, and too much impact during cardio exercise or lifting an object that is too heavy can cause small tears to occur within the muscle fibers.

Symptoms of a strained muscle are:                                                                                                 

• Pain
• Swelling or Inflammation        
• Tightness 
• Stiffness
• Heat radiating from area 
• Bruising
• Impaired muscle functions during exercise or daily usage

The most frequently pulled muscles are:  pulled hamstrings, groin muscles, pulled calf or quad muscles; pulled low back, shoulder and neck muscles. 

There are several steps to treat pulled muscles at home, depending upon the severity of the injury.  

Step 1 - Treatment

REST is the first step in the early recovery phase (1-5 days). Immobilization is not always recommended. However, it is good to avoid workouts until the pain subsides. If the strain occurs in an area on the arms or legs, it is important to elevate the extremity to reduce swelling and alleviate some of the pressure.  

ICE the area to reduce pain and swelling. According to http://orthopedics.about.com, you should begin icing as soon as possible after sustaining a muscle pull. Ice applications can be done frequently, but should not be done for more than 15-minutes per application. Applying ice while you rest and elevate saves time.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDS help to alleviate painful symptoms and reduce swelling.  Always remember to check with your doctor before taking anti-inflammatory medications; unless you have already taken them in the past and know what works for you with the least amount of side-effects. Anti-Inflammatory medications such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc; helps to reduce inflammation and to inhibit pain signals to the brain. They sometimes work as well as rest, ice and elevation for people with busy schedules.

Step 2 – Strengthening 

STRENGTHENING is very important after the swelling subsides. Strengthening an injured muscle before returning to athletic activities not only facilitates the healing process, but it also helps to prevent future injuries from occurring. Light weights or the use of body weight as resistance is recommended.  Be sure to avoid heavy weights and heavy impact strengthening exercises at this time of the healing process.

Step 3 - Prevention

Once the injured muscle has re-gained its strength, the healing process has nearly taken its course.  The final step to treating strained muscles is prevention.  Look at the area of injury as a “problem area”.  If you continue to do the same workout routine you did to injure yourself, the same results will occur. Therefore, it is important to incorporate methods to prevent injuries from occurring before your workout routine.

GENTLE STRETCHING makes muscles more flexible, and flexible muscles are less likely to be injured during workouts or athletic events. 

HEAT makes the muscles more flexible and increases blood flow to the region. Increased blood flow brings a fresh supply of nutrient-rich blood to the area, and circulates toxins and waste back through the system for elimination. Therefore, heat applications make the muscles less susceptible to strain and injury. 

WARM UP slowly by starting your exercise at a moderate pace and use lighter weights. Then slowly increase in pounds, pace, and repetitions as you proceed with caution.  

AVOID MUSCLE FATIGUE by slowing the pace of your workout, or taking a break during workouts. When muscles are fatigue, they can easily become more susceptible to strain and injury.

Sometimes pulled muscles take hours to develop symptoms. Therefore is it always good to keep a high performance muscle rub on hand to apply to heavily worked muscles regions immediately after an athletic event or strenuous exercise (Especially if the workout routine is new to the body or more challenging than previous workouts).

Biofreeze offers temporary relief for muscle sprains and spasms. It is the topical pain reliever of choice for Chiropractors, Podiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, and Athletic Trainers. 

For more information or to purchase Biofreeze log on to: http://www.sagepayments.net/eftcart/products.asp?M_id=315471591751.