10 Effective Ways to Workout Without Lifting Weights

Working out doesn’t always have to entail getting your weights out, if you have any. You can get a great workout by using only your body, meaning that at work or at home, there is no excuse not to keep moving.

In addition, most, if not all these exercises are super easy to do. They can be used in combination with your weight training to add a change of pace or as warm-up, and is a great way to test your strength when you can’t make it to the gym.

1. Blurpees

Is that a typo? Nope—you’ve heard of a burpee and this is similar except you’re adding a lateral movement.

You will squat down and extend your legs out behind you to get into pushup position. Jump your legs back up, but then have them land outside of your hands—you will be pulling with your lats in order for your legs to get ready to jump, and then come up. When done right, you will feel it in your back the day after.

2. Pushups

So many people hate pushups, but the good news is that there is an easier way to do them. Instead of keeping your legs straight out, do them on your knees if needed.

Another alternative is that you can do them while standing against a wall. You will be working out your chest area as well as building up strength in your arms.

Image via Pixabay

3. Leg Lifts

Having your legs straight out, raise them in front of you and do as many reps and sets as you’d like. This exercise is ideal for building the muscle and strength in your legs. This is easy to do anywhere you are—at home or in the office.

4. Crunches

This is the best exercise for building and strengthening muscles in the abdomen. If you are just starting out, you probably won’t be able to bring your head up all the way and that is okay.

Just as long as you are going up and you are feeling your muscles stretching, you will be reaping the benefits. And as time goes on, it will get easier for you.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

5. Squats

Work out your legs and back by getting into squats. When getting started, an easy way is to just sit and then stand up from a regular chair.

It isn’t necessary for everyone to start off here—only if they are difficult. You will be getting the benefits of squats when you are doing squats with a few repetitions.

Image via Pixabay

6. Dance

Do it alone, or do it with a partner—getting up and dancing is amazing for your heart. It is one of the easiest ways to exercise and admittedly one of the most fun.

Turn on your favorite music and boogie down in your home, or take up a formal class. No matter how you do it, you will be getting the blood flowing and actually lift your spirits.

7. Jog in Place

If you are limited on space, jogging is not totally impossible. You will be raising your heart rate while watching your favorite television shows or listening to music.

All that you will need is a good pair of shoes so that you are not putting too much stress on your legs.

8. Step Exercises

If you have access to steps in or near your home, take full advantage. Be careful in using them!

Whether you decide to go up and down a few flights at a time, or use just a few steps to go up and down like in a step class, any type of repetitions will work to tone the muscles in your legs.

Image via FreeStockPhotos.biz

9. Jumping Jacks

Feel like a kid again with fun jumping jacks. Use them as a warm up or main exercise! Jumping jacks are a great way to get your cardio for the day.

10. Walking

If cabin fever is getting you down and the weather is nice, go outside and take a walk to enjoy the scenery. If you live in an area that is easily accessible by walking, think about opting to walk to work rather than drive, or walk a portion and take a bus the rest of the way.

Walking tones our legs and provides you with a way to get low impact aerobic exercise. If you can only walk around your home, ramp it up by carrying a load of laundry—you will be getting exercise and working on chores at the same time.

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6 Car Seat Cleaning Hacks for Busy Parents

Whether it’s sticky from spilled juice or stinky from a diaper explosion, a dirty car seat is every parent’s nightmare. Here are 6 easy tips for cleaning your child’s car seat, as well as a look at what you can do to prevent a mess in the first place.

1. Don’t procrastinate.

Dry messes like cracker crumbs aren’t urgent, but wet messes should be addressed promptly—ideally before the mess dries. Promptly remove the car seat from your vehicle, and then take off the cover, straps, and buckles. It’s smart to keep a car seat cleaning kit stored in your car’s trunk for these kinds of occasions.

2. Read the manual for cover-washing guidelines.

Use baby wipes or a damp rag to remove as much loose material as possible from the car seat cover, then check the car seat manual for detailed laundering instructions. Most seats with removable cotton or synthetic covers can be washed in cool water on a gentle cycle, but your specific seat may need different care. After washing, flatten the cover and let it air dry.

3. Tackle smells with time in the sun.

If the car seat cover has an odor even after washing, place it outside in the sun for a few hours. To hurry the deodorizing process along, you can also lightly spray the cover with a homemade deodorizing spray made of 10 drops of tea tree oil, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and 16 ounces of water.

4. Use a gentle soap to clean the harness and straps.

Never attempt to clean the car seat harness or straps in a washing machine, as this could damage them and reduce their effectiveness. Instead, dip a rag or soft cleaning brush into a bowl of cool water and baby-friendly detergent, and start gently scrubbing in small circles at the top of the harness, working your way down. Try not to soak the harness or straps; dampen them just enough to remove stains and loosen particles. Let the harness and straps air dry.

5. Wash buckles in tap water.

Dirty buckles don’t just look bad. They can also become safety hazards if crumbs or sticky spills keep them from latching properly. Before cleaning dirty car seat buckles, check your manual’s restrictions. If the care instructions allow, place the buckles in a cup full of warm water, taking care to keep any connected harness or straps out of the water. Gently shake the cup to help dislodge any food or other items trapped in the buckles. Remove the buckles immediately and let them air dry.

6. If all else fails, buy a replacement.

You want your child to be as comfortable as possible in their car seat, and that means it should be clean and odor-free. If the car seat can’t be cleaned safely, or if odors remain despite your best efforts, consider buying a new car seat or purchasing replacement parts. Most major car seat companies sell car replacement seat covers and harnesses. Never buy a car seat or replacement parts secondhand.

Preventing Future Car Seat Disasters

Let’s be honest; keeping a child’s car seat clean is nearly impossible. But there are a few things you can do to help minimize the mess and avoid potential catastrophes.

• Use a seat protector: Easy to clean and durable, seat protectors are a must-have accessory for any vehicle that transports kids.
• Keep a small trash bin in the back seat: A mini trash can is a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your kid’s car seat—and your car—clean.
• Stock up on baby wipes: Keep a few packs of baby wipes stored within your child’s reach and encourage their use.
• Buy multipurpose sickness bags: Purchase a pack of multipurpose sickness bags — they’re leakproof and odorless.
• Use snack containers instead of plastic bags: Help prevent snack spills by putting goodies in travel-friendly snack containers that are suitable for their age and development level.

Do you have a tip or trick for keeping your child’s car seat spotless? If so, share in the comments!

Featured photo credit: Child Car Seats via childcarseats.com.au

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4 Good Reasons Why You Need Payment Protection Insurance

Being creditworthy is something everyone should strive for. This provides great help when you require a loan or need a mortgage to secure a home. However, you need to be able to pay your loans and pay the required amount in time.

Failure to observe the required agreement will warrant greater consequences for your actions. The payment protection insurance, on the other hand, provides a way out for you. Circumstances may occur that may render you unable to pay your loan at the required date, by which the insurance company give you the amount to pay, and you, therefore, remain safe.

What is covered?

Entering into every contract requires agreements between two persons. Based on your agreement, you will secure the policy that best suits your needs and that which will adequately cover your needs. Items covered include sicknesses or disabilities, unexpected redundancy, accidents or even death. All this depends on your policy. Most policies don’t cover existing conditions, the first three months and some illnesses are also not covered. Be careful to adequately read the policy document before entering into any agreement negligently.

So, why do you need payment protection insurance? I’ve come up with 4 good reasons:

1. To protect yourself against unforeseen contingencies

Accidents are impossible to predict. You could be well now yet you don’t know what will happen next. To protect yourself against unforeseen contingencies that may leave you and your family struggling, taking an insurance cover for your payments is somehow advisable. This reduces your worries and gives you peace of mind as you undertake your business.

2. Your loan is payable over long periods of time

Sometimes one may forget of their obligations, more so where they have been experiencing stress over some time, or have been so occupied, and one ends up forgetting the payment. Taking an insurance cover will always cover your loan expense upon claiming, the good thing being, on claiming, the money can only be used to repay the loan.

3. You need not worry about your items being confiscated

In case you have quite a large mortgage to repay, taking cover will be an appropriate decision. Instances may occur, such as unexpected redundancy that may make you unable to repay the mortgage for quite some time. But if you had the cover you need not worry about your items being confiscated to repay your loan as it’s well taken care of.

4. You are paying the loan alone

In some cases, spouses or partners may agree to jointly take a loan, and both contribute to its repayment. In case one lacks the money one time, the other can easily cover the expense. In instances where you alone are paying the loan, it’s advisable to take a cover for your loan payments.

Choosing a PPI policy

Before taking the mortgage, you must evaluate the means of income that can be used to repay the loan. This includes savings or other monthly incomes you receive. If it happens you are not able to adequately pay the loan amount, consider taking a loan protection insurance for future insurance.

When you make the decision to protect you and your family from any unexpected outcome of default payment by taking a cover, it is always advisable to consider a few thing such as:

• The features of the PPI policy
• The length of payout
• The amount of payout

The time allowance a PPI claim can take to complete mostly depend on the complexity of the policies involved. Fill up the form and send it back to them as soon possible so that they’ll be able to process the claim immediately. This could take around 8 to 16 weeks.

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4 Valuable Tips for Dog Owners Renting an Apartment

Millennials are increasingly forgoing home ownership and instead choosing the flexibility of renting. And while renting an apartment comes with a number of benefits, there also the disadvantages – such as owning a dog. While you can own a dog – and millions of renters do – there are some challenges in play.

Here’s what you need to know in order to ensure you’re both a responsible pet owner and renter.

1. Choose the Right Breed

Landlords know that a lot of renters own dogs, so it’s becoming more and more common to see pet policies. But you can make it easier on yourself when searching for apartments by choosing the right breed.

“People have breeds they love, but if you know you’re going to be in a rental situation over the long term, consider looking into the breeds that don’t shed and are hypoallergenic,” property management firm Green Residential explains. “One of the problems with pets in apartment spaces is that they shed and their hair can get just about everywhere.”

See, the Fair Housing Act doesn’t apply to your furry four-legged friend. A landlord can reasonably deny you based on the type of dog you have. If you’re able to tell a landlord that your dog is small, doesn’t shed much, and is hypoallergenic, you stand a much better chance.

2. Understand the Possible Expenses

Very rarely will you run across a landlord who lets you own a dog with no questions asked. In order to protect themselves, landlords may require any or all of the following: additional security deposit, pet fees, pet rent, property damage clauses, identification tags, vaccination records, and proof of spay or neuter. If you can’t afford these additional expenses, then owning a dog probably isn’t right for you.

3. Openly Communicate With Your Landlord

It’s amazing how much more leeway renters can get on certain issues if they develop and maintain healthy and open relationships with their landlords. Not only should you openly discuss your pet situation on the front end, but it’s a good idea to maintain an open dialogue throughout your tenancy.

If the dog tears something up, go ahead and mention it to the landlord and offer to cover the cost. This is better than the landlord discovering it during a routine walk-through months later. Along these same lines, be a good responsible renter and clean your unit regularly and thoroughly. This will make both you and the landlord feel better about the situation.

4. Never Sneak a Dog In

Under absolutely no circumstances should you ever sneak a pet or buy a dog without telling your landlord.

“If your lease has a no-pet clause and you get a pet, your landlord will have the legal right to ask you to remove the animal from the property,” real estate expert Angela Colley says. “If you want to keep your pet, you’ll have to move. To move during your lease, you’ll have to break the lease and pay hefty penalties, sublet your rental, or work out an arrangement with your landlord to end the agreement early.”

Depending on local rules and the wording in your contract, it’s possible that a landlord could even evict you and then sue you for the remainder of your lease. This may seem excessive, but remember that you would have knowingly broken a rule.

Be Smart!

It’s not easy to find an apartment for dog owners, especially if you have a strict landlord. If you’re going to be a responsible renter and dog owner, make sure you’re dotting all of your I’s and crossing every last T. A healthy relationship with your landlord will go a long way towards a positive situation.

Featured photo credit: Pexels.com via static.pexels.com

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7 Health Reasons for Using an Air Purifier

When you think of air purifiers, you probably associate the need with outdoor pollutants. But, the fact is that air doesn’t separate itself into “indoor” and “outdoor.”

Unless you live in a vacuum-sealed city, you are breathing air that has meandered here from some other area of the world (remember weather maps.)  All that junk in the air – allergens, molds, mildews, dust mites, dander and pollens – will make any condition you normally have even worse.

Granted, bad air affects some of us worse than others. That said, below are seven ways air purifiers can help you and your family.

1. Snoring

One of the most common reasons that people to snore is that their nasal passages get clogged up due to allergic reactions to the dust mites and other allergens that collect on air filters, heating coils and in duct work.

Changing filters at least once a month will diminish the effects of these particles in the air. However, if you find the sneezing or snoring becomes worse at certain times of the year, change the filter as much as once a week. Consider investing in air purifiers with multiple cleaning filters as a safe bet.

2. Prone to Diabetes

No doubt, you know that people with allergies will be affected.  But, did you know that dirty air has been directly linked to an increase in glucose intolerance – a warning sign of diabetes?

If a member of your family has diabetes – including Type 2 Diabetes – investing in an air purifier could help stabilize glucose levels.

3. Sick Family Member

Nothing spreads germs faster than someone who is sick. Sneezing and coughing not only expel germs into the air but it also shoves around the pollutants already in the air.

For the sick ones, the pollutants will extend their illness creating a vicious circle. And for those of you who are healthy, the added contamination of germs increases the probability of the illness spreading.

4. Asthma, Emphysema or COPD

All of these are lung oriented diseases. Plenty of pollutants that lurk in the air eventually find their way into the lungs with each breath taken. Dust mites, molds, pollen and mildews are the most common perpetrators but there are others too.

5. Stuffy, Stale Air in the House

For those living in northern climates, having the house closed up for the winter is a definite breeding ground for the culprits that produce air contamination.

Office workers are especially susceptible to pollutants in offices where windows don’t open. Even in winter, it is advisable to open the house up one day a month and do some heavy cleaning.

6. Wood Burning, Coal Burning Stove, Fireplace or Heater

Who doesn’t love sitting by a warm fire on a cold, snowy night? Nothing is more comforting than the smell of wood burning in a fireplace.

The problem is that wood comes from trees and trees are a source of molds and pollen spores may be buried deep in the trunk. Burning is one way that spores pop open and spread into the air along with the smoke and sparks. Coal heaters are just as bad at contaminating the air.

7. Same Air from the Far East

While the U.S. doesn’t suffer the degree of air pollution that is seen in China, some of that same air from the Far East does make its way across the Pacific to the Americas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released its findings in September of this year showing that 92% of people in Hong Kong breathe deadly air. Furthermore, this pollution level is a significant threat to the entire world, not just Hong Kong.

The Bottom Line ….

If you live anywhere on planet earth, you probably need an air purifier until we can get air pollution under control.

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4 Tips to Successfully Launch Yourself as a Professional Speaker

Finding ways to leverage your knowledge into professional opportunities is common. It is the basis for salary negotiations and is a fundamental part of working as an educator. However, you don’t have to hold a traditional job or work for an educational institution to share your knowledge for pay.

Many professionals find great success as public speakers. But, it isn’t the easiest profession to break into. If you are interested in turning your knowledge into an event that people are willing to pay for the privilege of attending, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Understanding Speaker Fees

Speaker fees include all of the revenue a speaker receives for a speaking engagement. This fee is negotiated before the event, often with the event’s sponsor, and can be based on per hour, per speech, per day, or per event fee structure. At times, additional items such as hotel stays and required flights are also included in the discussion.

The amount of money a speaker can command is often based on their level of expertise and how popular they are within the public speaking sector. Top-billed motivational speakers can often require fees at $5,000 per engagement or higher. Celebrities and former politicians have earned fees upwards of $200,000 for a single appearance.

2. Marketing your Talents

A big part of a speaker’s success is based on their marketing techniques. Just as a resume helps you secure a job, your marketing material is what attracts potential sponsors to your offerings. In many cases, successful speakers also operate websites and blogs that showcase their talents and abilities; these sites often include free content to help attract potential sponsors based on their web searches on the topic.

Professional networking within your niche can also be helpful and may be fairly simple if you currently work in the field that you wish to cover. Attend local events and conferences, and take the time to mingle with those who may be interested in your services.

In some cases, the easiest way to market your skills is to give them away for free. You can let potential sponsors see what you have to offer by taking positions at events dedicated to your preferred topic which can lead to paid offers in the future. This can also be ideal if your subject works well in the non-profit center, as it can help you create positive associations to your personal brand.

3. Speaker Associations and Speakers Bureaus

Many speakers find success while working with a Speakers Association, such as the National Speakers Association. Often, the associations and bureaus help members find speaking engagements, negotiate speaker fees, as well as marketing the member’s availability. They also provide a built-in network of other professionals who may have an interest in your topic of choice.

While membership in such organizations is not required, as you can choose to work independently, it can be helpful to those first entering the public speaking realm. Additionally, you can often belong to an association or bureau while seeking opportunities on your own. This allows you to expand your efforts beyond what you may be able to handle on your own.

4. Courses and Guides

Some noted professionals, such as Jason Hartman, offer insight to those looking to break into the public speaking business. Information is provided on how to find an audience, topic development, event structures, and material delivery. You can also locate information about successful marketing strategies.

Courses, podcasts, and blogs may be available at no cost, while others will charge a fee to access the material. Depending on the material provided, even content for which you had to pay can result in enough professional engagements to justify the expense. Just as you pay for a college education, much of this is no different. Think of it as an investment in your future, and see where it takes you.

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6 Tips to Launch a Successful Dental Career

Becoming a dentist is not a very easy task. It needs a lot of hard work and dedication.

If you choose to become a dentist, you will have to work extra hard but remember that there are countless benefits of choosing the dental industry. It can open you to a lot of opportunities and you can get the chance to work in several different fields.

You can work one on one with patients while providing dental care to people on a daily basis. You need to go through years of education and training. After that comes the period of certification but once you get it, you can make most of your career. If you want a successful dental career, then you have to provide the best oral care to the patients.

Here are some tips for having a successful dental career.

1. Making the Practice Unique:

If you to run a successful dental place, then it is important that you establish you practice and create your reputation as one of the best in your area. You also need to identify the unique element of your practice, market it and protect it as well. Whether you are offering a variety of health services or you have certain specialty cannot just attract customers but also retain them.

To get the best out of your unique attributes you need to promote them regularly. You can promote them in your dental advertisements or while interacting with patients. You can look for unique and efficient methods for advertising like brochures, newsletters, and social media content.

2. Creating Office Culture:

Once you have determined the attributes that set you apart from other dental practices you can look forward to discovering the office culture. You do not need to develop a new office culture because it already exists.

Components such as your personality, expectations, systems, behaviors and communication of staff members together create the office culture. Knowing the unique method of things you can enhance the productivity while attracting good staff and the patients will continue to come back to your office.

3. Expanding the Services:

You can expand your clientele by looking for ways to increase your services. Expanding the services can result in improving the value of your services and also develop a reliable reputation among your contemporaries.

It is possible that the size of your office is a hurdle in the potential productivity. You can also buy the latest and best equipment. You can buy all the new supplies through online services as they can provide dental supplies worldwide.

4. Flexible Financial Options:

You want to retain the customers then it is important to provide a broad range of choices when it comes to payment. The patients will be more willing to get the treatment recommendations if there are more payment options. They are more likely to return for dental care if that is the case.

Apart from insurance coverage, credit, cash, personal check and special financing can make sure that individual financial circumstances do not interfere with the decisions regarding dental health.

5. Do not forget the Engage:

To make your dental practice a success you need to have a certain number of clients which are loyal and will always come to you for their oral check-ups. It is important to retain customers because it is less expensive as compared to getting new clientele.

If you want to have loyal patients, then you cannot just rely on giving common services. You need to improve the services, offer convenient hours, easily accessible location, etc. to gain the loyalty and trust of the customers. The digital age has provided several opportunities to dentists so that they can reach the potential patients.

6. Upgrading the Scheduling System:

The scheduling system can do much more than just booking the appointments. It helps in creating a better flow of patients and increases the productivity as well. It is highly helpful in decreasing the stress of patients and the staff.

It can help in making the services more efficient, and the patients will always be satisfied. It is important that the dental practice is efficient, flexible and keeping the scheduling software updated.

Professional training and continuous education are essential elements of running a successful and profitable dental practice. Apart from training, it is essential that the staff dealing with patients on the phone and during the visits is trained in how to interact with the patients.

Featured photo credit: Jenn and Tony Bot via flickr.com

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