Health Clubs � The Most Questionable Fee Gaining Popularity Right Now

For many people, the day they join a health club is supposed to be a major positive turning point in their life. After all, the decision to get in shape is never an easy one.

However, many clubs are really taking advantage of the fact that most people don’t really read the agreements that they sign.

These health clubs are putting in “stealth” fees that, while legal, leave many people wondering about the ethics of the clubs that use them.

So, what’s the killer fee that most people are completely unaware of?

It’s called the “facility improvement fee” or “facility improvement addendum” and it’s lighting up many members around the country.

Here is how it works. When you join a club that has one of these fees, you typically have to initial a spot that states that the club is going to draft a fee of $25 every (pick a month and date) of every year you are a member for facility improvements. In some instances, you don’t even have to initial beside it, it’s just there.

Now, that doesn’t seem like such a big deal. After all, the club does need to have new equipment, new paint, and money to get things fixed up.

In actuality, the many clubs never use this money for the improvement of their club at all. In fact, it’s just another profit center for them and it goes right in the owner’s pocket. Legally, they can do this due to the way the contract is written. Typically, it’ll say something like:

“Â…to be used for maintenance, upkeep, and any other club expense deemed necessary by management.”

To be honest, I’ve walked in a few clubs that don’t look like they’ve been cleaned in ages but they sure do charge the facility improvement fee.

Here are the biggest scams with “facility improvement fees”

• Charge the fee and never fix anything
• Only charge the fee to people with monthly memberships
• Charge the fee for “future” club expansion
• Charge late and bounce fees when the unplanned for draft attempts to go through

If your club charges a “facility improvement fee,” find out what they plan to improve this year. Ask to get an itemized list for all of the members. Should your fee be a legitimate fee, management won’t have any problems with providing this.

Make sure that your club is accountable to you with the money you pay. Granted, the owners have every right to do whatever they want with any dues based income. However, a fee that has a specific name should be used to that purpose.

If you are looking for clubs and you come across a “facility improvement fee,” make sure it looks like the health club LOOKS like it’s been improved or at least kept up. Think about it, if health clubs have an average member base of 2000 members times $25, that $50,000 should go a long way.

And remember, this is $50,000 EACH YEAR in improvements.

In conclusion, make sure to read all of your agreements and question any fees that seem a little questionable. A “facility improvement fee” can be a good thing if the fee is actually used for what it’s designed for. However, don’t let unscrupulous owners use it as another way to line their pockets.

Copyright © 2006 Brad Howard

Rapid Weight Loss Tips -- Stubborn Belly Fat "Busters"... No Crunches Required

Are you tired of carrying that extra weight around your middle? Well, here are some tips that can help you quickly lose weight and inches off that potbelly. That's right, there may be a way for you to have a flatter stomach without doing those dreaded crunches. Here are some things that can positively impact your midriff , helping you lose pounds and inches without even breaking a sweat.

Belly Fat Busting Tip #1

Increase your protein and decrease your carbohydrates. Increasing the amount of lean protein you eat and reducing carbs can deliver a one-two punch right to the belly! You see, carbohydrate tend to increase your insulin level, which can slow down your metabolism. Since the body can only metabolize just so much carbohydrates at once, the rest is converted to sugar and then turned into body fat.

Of course, increasing your protein doesn't mean overeating. Just have 3-4 oz of lean protein with every mealÂ… yes, even breakfastÂ… and eat the protein first. This kicks your metabolism up a few notches as your body must work harder and expend more energy to digest protein. Throw in an extra helping of vegetables to add more fiber and moisture to your digestive process, and that should keep things moving along nicely. This is the first step to quick weight loss around your belly.

Belly Fat Busting Tip #2

Reduce your alcohol consumption. I know, for some of you this may be asking a lot, but it can make a huge difference to your waistline. While alcohol provides no nutrients whatsoever, each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories. And 100% of the calories you consume through alcohol is stored as fat! That means every alcoholic beverage you consume-- whether it's a few drinks per day or a few drinks per week-- is converted to fat, usually around the belly.

Now, you don't have to give up all libations in order to bust your belly fat, but cutting back to just one or two drinks a couple of times a week will pay huge dividends to your belly fat busting account.

Belly Fat Busting Tip #3

When it comes to junk-foodÂ… pick two and you're through! To bust your belly fat, you must become the master of your junk food domain! That means pick one salty junk food item, and one sweet junk food item to keep in your house. The rest of that junk food will simply have to go. Then give yourself only one meal per week during which you will eat a small amount of your chosen salty snack food, and one meal per week for your sweet snack food.

Here's an example. Once a week for dinner I give myself 7-large, restaurant style, plain nacho chips along with fat-free refried beans, 1oz of reduced-fat, grated cheddar cheese, 4oz of boneless, skinless chicken breast strips seasoned with packaged taco seasoning, some shredded lettuce, and all the Salsa I can eat. Add to that, colorful napkins and Celia Cruz on the CD playerÂ… and my wife and I enjoy a weekly, guilt-free, Latin Fiesta!

I have my fatty, snack-food chips every week, yet it doesn't add an inch to my waistline. Why? Well, for one thing, I set the amount of this snack-food to a moderate level. In this case, 7-chips, which contains 140 calories and 7 grams of fat. Plus, I incorporated this snack-food into a fun and tasty high-protein meal. The fat-free, refried beans are protein, and so are the reduced-fat cheese and chicken. The shredded lettuce and salsa (tomatoes) are high-grade catabolic foods -- foods that burn up more calories to digest, than they actually supply when eaten.

My weekly sweet snack is a large pancake and syrup on Saturday mornings. I have it along with 3 strips of turkey bacon and a scrambled egg. Of course, it could be anything sweet that you enjoy. A slice of apple pie a la mode, a candy barÂ… you name it. But again, eat it only once a week with a specific meal, and in moderation. Have your sweet snack as dessert at the end of a high protein meal that includes high-grade catabolic vegetables such as Broccoli, carrots, spinach, sweet potato, zucchini, or tomatoes. Since your metabolism increases 30% above it's resting level to burn proteinÂ… and the catabolic foods burn up their own calories as well as some of the calories from any other food you eat along with itÂ… there's a good chance most of the calories from your moderate junk-food snack will be burned while your body is digesting the protein & catabolic foods that make up the bulk of your meal. Having a junk-food snack only two times per week with a specific meal, will play a major role in busting your belly fat and trimming inches from your waistline.

Belly Fat Busting Tip #4

Exercise is another way to bust belly fatÂ… but that doesn't mean you have to do those dreaded crunches or go work out at the gym. Personally, I dislike structured exercise with a passion. And I seriously considered omitting exercise from this article altogether.

Although I am going to mention exercise, this is all I'm going to say about it. If you like structured exercise such as walking on a treadmill, going to an aerobics class, etc., then go for it. A half hour to 45 minutes, three times a week will certainly help bust your belly fat.

However, if that kind of exercise is unpalatable to you, then do what I do. I give myself a couple of projects to do around the house every week. Clean out the garage, hand-wash the car, sweep and hose the patio, do some work in the yard, etcÂ… any activity that will keep you moving, reaching, bending, pulling, and contracting your muscles for 30-45 minutes is EXERCISE! The added benefit is instead of just having a sweaty body and some burned calories to show for itÂ… you'll also have a clean patio, a shiny car, a beautiful garden, and a neatly organized closet to boot. :o)

The point I'm making is, housework counts, yard work counts, garage & closet clean up work counts as EXERCISE as far as your body is concerned. Just schedule 1-2 of these kinds of physical projects every week shortly after eating a meal rich in catabolic/fat burning foods, and your results could far out-strip that of the poor schmoe working out down at the gym. You see, any physical exercise you engage in after eating catabolic foods will continue boosting your metabolism and burning calories at a faster rate during, and for several hours AFTER exercising.

Rest assured, the exercise you engage in doing physical projects will burn lots of extra calories and bust more belly fat than you can shake a stick at. Of course, your aerobics instructor down at the gym may not give you credit for it, but your metabolism will certainly add it to your balance sheet by burning more calories, losing more weight, and firming & toning your muscles.

Signs of ill Health in Dogs

Signs of Ill health

Signs of ill health are the most important signs of the health status in your dogs. For example, if the dog has continuous nasal discharge, it indicates the presence of nasal congestion and if the discharge is thick, most of the times, the dog may have pneumonia.

If the dog vomits one or two times occasionally, this may not be taken as a serious sign of ill health but if the dog continues this vomiting, then this is something significant to be looked into.

If the dog has continuous itching, then one needs to check up the dog first by closer observation and examination of skin by separating the hair material especially in case of long haired breeds. You may also come across a lot of ticks or lice on skin, which may look apparently normal at a distance.

If the dog passes loose stool for one or two times, this need not be given more emphasis but if there is continuous passing of loose stool, then the dog is understood to suffer from bowel disorders. If the dog does not pass stool for two to three days, the digestive upsets needs to be ruled out carefully.

Just patiently observe the dog's walking movements and rule out any abnormal movements in the dog. If the dog is limping, the animal may have foot lesions. Similarly, if the aged dog has reluctant walking and less feed intake along with repeated vomiting, then acute renal disorders like nephritis needs to be ruled out.

If there is whiteness in eyes, suspect the corneal opacity that may occur in diseases like trypanasomosis. When the dog becomes anemic, the mucous membrane of the eyes becomes paler and in severe cases, this may have wall white color. If the dog bites chain and owners or others, look for behavior disorders and rabies needs to be ruled out.Mark and Debbie Simmons are owners of an internet commerce site for the best dog supplies. They have over 15 years of experience in welcoming over 10 dogs to their family. They maintain their site at http://www.bestk9deals.com and share their thoughts and experiences at http://blog.bestk9deals.info/. Visit signs of ill health in dogs.

Video Source: Youtube

Tips To Win What You Bid At Beezid

It feels like a dream come true when you successfully win a bid on your desired item, at your desired price! BeeZid Pro gives you the accesses to all necessary information, required at the most opportune moment, so that you can go ahead and win a bid at Beezid. Equipped with the membership at this amazing system, you can take intelligent decisions and become a smarter bidder. We also wish to share some more tips that will help you in achieving your bidding item.

Make sure your connection is steady - It is very important that your internet connection is steady and hassle free when you are bidding on Beezid. There is nothing more irritating than a connection that is slow in updating the page or gets disconnected often. You could easily miss out on a lot of action on your bid with such faulty technical issues. Hence get all this out of the way to have a smooth experience at bidding.

Focus on the bid - you will get the auction alert message from Beezid Pro once a bid has reached your criteria. But once you have logged on and placed your bid, you need to monitor it carefully so that you know when to make your next move. Avoid opening softwares like Photoshop or have any intensive internet using programs like movie downloads running on your computer. This will slow down your speed and will prove to be a big hiccup in your bid winning plans.

Observe and then act - once you have access to all the data that Beezid Pro provides you with, you should take some time and patiently observe the bidders and items in question. If you are interested in bidding for a laptop that you have your eyes on, see the history of bidding on similar items and compare how the process went. It is also helpful if you monitor the 'less popular' items on the list. If you have a low traffic of bidders on a particular item, it increases your probability of winning the bid.

If you keenly observe, you will be able to find the best time of the day when there are least number of bidders, and even the best day of the week when you might be the early bird or even one of the only birds bidding! When you have noticed this pattern, you can set it as a rule to be notified by Beezid Pro as an auction alert. Therefore you will be able to act accordingly and have a good chance of winning real big at beezid.

Choose your type of auction - it is important to decide on a particular budget when you are bidding. Based on this you can choose between the three types of auctions that Beezid has to offer. These are the penny auctions, the cherry auctions and the reveal auctions. Only you can take the call on this. If you are comfortable and want to take the step, go ahead and place your bid on the item of your choice.

Video Source: Youtube

Tips For a First-Time Dad

tips For a First-Time Dad (Corrected)
Copyright 2005 Jackie G. Maxwell

So you're going to become a father. Now is not the time to panic. You've got lots of time to get used to the idea, before that new life you helped create, arrives to join your own. These tips for a first-time Dad will help you to survive the pre-baby and post-birth jitters.Be supportive of your partner during the pregnancy. Some women have a more difficult time than others, and the fluctuation of hormones can bring on everything from mood swings to what seems to be unreasonable irritation with you, and everything else.

While you may not understand her moods, remember that they are transient, and weather them in whatever way works best for you both. She may be irritated, but would appreciate a simple gesture like flowers, a foot rub, or even a cup of tea without having to get up. You'll find your own paths to peace, as the pregnancy progresses.


When the baby arrives, don't be upset if you don't fall in ove immediately. You're excited to be a father, but often men think they are failing in some respect, when they don't feel the same overwhelming bond that a mother does. But you didn't carry another life inside you for nine months. So one of the best tips for a first-time Dad, is to give yourself time to love, and be loved back.

Because you have been basically on the "outside" of things until the birth, you may not feel you're really an integral part of their life. Nothing could be further from the truth, because you are now a father, and with that comes all the responsibilities and worries that a mother has.

Parenting isn't done alone, it's done together, with the wo of you supporting each other, giving each other breaks from the routine and stresses, as well as taking pleasure in watching your child grow and thrive, together.

If you're anxious about being a daddy, Visit http://www.MalcolmsWeb.com and sign up for free weekly tips that will take the mystery and fear out of parenting your precious little one.

Video Source: Youtube

Foods to Help Conceive – 5 Food Tips

Maybe there is no scientific proof for this list of foods to help conceive, but experts agree that seafood, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and meats contain the nutrients that have been identified in infertility studies as important for pregnancy. For a reference, this is a list of nutritional needs and why your body must have them to conceive:

1. Water. In every diet water is important, and it is the number one item in foods to help conception because dehydration will actually prevent conception. Your body loses about one gallon of fluids every day. Drink at least eight large glasses of water every day. Lots of fluids will help increase cervical mucus which is top of the list of tips to conceive.

2. Folic acid. Folic acid is a B vitamin and is important in the production of red blood cells. Also taking folic acid before you get pregnant reduces the risk of neural-tube defects, such as spina bifida. Leafy green vegetables are a good source of folic acid: spinach and broccoli are foods to help you conceive.

3. Vegetables and fruits high in Vitamin C. The foods to help conceive are oranges, papaya, and kiwi. Experts believe that this vitamin may increase the amount of water in the cervical mucus and help fight infections.

4. Oysters. Most lists about tips to getting pregnant include oysters for both men and women. The reason is oysters are high in Zinc. Zinc deficiencies have been identified as a problem for men and women dealing with fertility issues.

5. Calcium rich foods. One of the best tips to help get pregnant is you must have a healthy body and calcium rich foods such as yogurt, low-fat milk and cheese promote strong bones. Low fat and high fiber foods that have calcium are the best.

If you are looking for the right foods to help conception, you might be interested in a holistic approach that is far cheaper than fertility clinics and has a proven diet to help conceive. Click Here to read about one of the best nutritional guides for foods to help conceive. There are testimonials from many women it helped conceive a healthy baby.

General Tips for Photographing Scenery

Do the following words sound familiar? “Wow, that should be a great photoÂ…I hope it turns out well!” Here are a few tips to help ensure that your photos will indeed turn out well.

Are you taking your camera with you on a vacation? Perhaps a trip destined to have memories captured at the beautiful destinations you have in mind? Any traveler has an irresistible urge to photograph beautiful outdoor scenery while on a vacation or trip. Their camera is close by them, ready for the next fleeting moment of passing, natural beauty. Photographing scenery, the memorable places they have been, can produce a nice travelogue at the end of their journey.

Beware the unfavorable conditions that can plague their scenic photographs, and hamper their endeavors! Rainy, cloudy days, sunrises and sunsets can catch the digital photographer off guard and disappoint his anticipated results.

New digital camera models are now available with exposure correction, making it possible to bracket these particular photographic scenery shots. Try taking full advantage of this feature. Since digital images are immediately available for proofing, any failed shots can be deleted.

A scenic photographer may have to race against time for a good photo at sunrise or sunset. These lighting changes can cause any subject or aspects of the scenery appear drastically different. The photographer should also be aware of the color changes caused by the sunlight throughout the day. Notice the predominance of red light when the sun is close to the horizon at sunrise and sunset. If your camera has the auto-white balance feature, it will help to give a natural color reproduction, however, when there is little light, it gives a reddish result. At these times you should use your built in flash. Anticipating changes in the conditions of natural light is very important. Keeping this in mind will benefit the photographer’s endeavors.

There will most often be occasions when the photographer will photograph scenery through a car window, train window, hotel or any other situation looking through a window. As a disappointing result, the camera has focused on the window glass, leaving the beautiful scenery blurred and all the captivating scenic details with it. This focusing problem can be rectified by getting the camera as close to the glass as possible and shielding the camera with your hand, black paper, clothing or whatever is on hand, eliminating any reflections.