Most people can’t really think of one distinguishing characteristic about Riverside, California.

But get on down off the freeway and you’ll find one of the most unique getaway experiences in the state – an experience that transports you to Early California through architecture and through the efforts of city fathers to preserve Riverside’s past. Smack in the middle of it all is an inn so grandiose that presidents have married there, honeymooned there and even planted trees there.

It’s always a good sign when the place you’ll be staying has a street named after it – and so locating our destination was especially easy when we took the Mission Inn Road exit off the freeway and found ourselves instantly surrounded by historic Spanish architecture on every street corner. We noticed that churches, museums and historic storefronts are all within walking distance of one another and, towering above it all, was our weekend getaway – the Historic Mission Inn.

Just inside the ivy-covered adobe archway, we walked through a courtyard of lush landscaping before getting our first glimpse of the majestic lobby area. Spectacular chandeliers and giant wood beams complemented the elegant flower-patterned carpet to create a sense that this building was at once luxurious and historic. The lobby’s grand piano is the only piano made by Steinway for the 1876 Centennial. But this was only the beginning – the Historic Mission Inn is like a fun house for those who marvel at historic and creative architecture. Something unusual is waiting for you around every corner.

The Historic Mission Inn at first gives the feeling it might have been a real mission or monastery, what with its 239 guest rooms, including 28 suites. But upon closer reading of its history, this palace-like inn was actually built by Riverside town father Frank Miller, who had taken the original Glenwood Tavern, built in 1874, and converted it to a small inn that opened in 1903. Over the years Miller continued to expand the inn using the popular Mission Revival architecture so prevalent in California, but blending architectural styles and ornamental details from the Southwest U.S. as well as several Mediterranean countries – and of course the California missions.

The inn closed for seven years in the late 80’s for a $55 million renovation and then reopened in 1992 to rave reviews. Today, the inn is situated on an entire city block and has a total of 320,000 square feet. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a State of California Historic Landmark. President Nixon was married here, President Reagan honeymooned here and President Teddy Roosevelt planted a tree on its grounds. There is even a chair still on the property that was built for 300-pound William Howard Taft, also a visitor to the inn. Of course, dozens of movie stars and other dignitaries also have spent time at the inn, and its unusual architecture has served as the backdrop for a string of movies dating back to 1913.

The rooms and suites – which offer many unique floor plans — are almost as interesting architecturally as the inn’s exterior. The sitting area in our suite was appointed with antiques — some more elegant than others – and the bedroom featured a comfortable four-poster bed. Our unit had an L-shaped floor plan and, just beyond the sitting area was a large table and four chairs that could double as a work area or a dining table. There was no view to speak of, but once you walked outside the suite there was a series of stairways, walkways and catwalks that offered a variety of amazing views of the inn’s special architecture.

The inn has several award-winning restaurants, with Duane’s boasting an especially long list of awards from restaurant writers and Wine Spectator Magazine. Although relatively new, Las Campanas, the hotel’s Mexican restaurant, is now starting to appear on many award lists – and we could see why. We enjoyed a variety of dishes that all seemed to have a special flair.

The inn features a year-round heated swimming pool and jacuzzi area for relaxation but, if you want the ultimate, Kelly’s Spa will pamper you until you won’t want to go home. A recent addition to the Historic Mission Inn – and proving especially popular with local residents — Kelly’s features a variety of scrubs, polishes, body wraps, therapeutic baths, massages and facials. Getting treated like royalty is not inexpensive — plan to spend about $250 for a half day or about $400 for a full day, although that can vary depending on the treatments.

There are several museums within easy walking distance from the hotel. Nearby are the Riverside Municipal Museum, Riverside Art Museum, California Museum of Photography and the Riverside Ballet Theater. There is even a museum right in the Mission Inn. In fact there is strong community support for historic preservation in Riverside and many historic buildings throughout the city are open to the public. Over 100 City Landmarks, 20 National Register sites and two National Landmarks have been designated by the Riverside City Council.

The Mission Revival architecture is everywhere in Riverside, and so it seems are churches. The Unitarian-Unversalist Church is especially striking with its Norman Gothic Revival architecture. Another Gothic Revival building is the Magnolia United Presbyterian Church, the oldest church building in Riverside. Like the Mission Inn, the Union Pacific Depot is an example of Mission Revival architecture.

Walking around the Historic Mission Inn District, you notice a mission symbol on flags and in various locations around the inn – that’s the raincross symbol that was designed for the Mission Inn and given to the city by Frank Miller.

There are several antique stores and specialty shops in the Historic Mission Inn District. Many of the stores are small, but the Mission Gallery encompasses several floors of the Old Sears Building and offers a wide selection of antiques and collectibles in addition to a deli, a floral shop and a fine jeweler. In this case the store itself is something of an antique – it’s been there for more than 65 years.

If the fine dining, shopping, museum-hopping and spa aren’t enough to keep you occupied, Riverside is conveniently located for day trips to a couple of other popular getaway destinations – Big Bear Lake and the Temecula wineries. Either is reached in under an hour’s drive from Riverside. Big Bear Lake offers mountain scenery reminiscent of the Sierra Nevadas, while there is a growing wine industry in Temecula offering a variety of tasting rooms and winery gift shops.

For us, however, the Historic Mission Inn District was plenty to keep us busy during our brief stay in Riverside. You sometimes can miss a lot in cities that you just pass over on the Interstate.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: The Historic Mission Inn is in Riverside, 55 miles east of Los Angeles, near the junction of the 60 and 91 freeways. It’s also easily reached from the north or south by way of Interstate 215.

WHAT: The Historic Mission Inn is one of the most spectacular and historic hotels in California. Riverside has a surprising history that is in evidence throughout the city. It has a warm inland climate with plenty of sunshine.

WHEN: A visit to Riverside can be pretty warm in the summer, although not unbearable. Best time to visit would be non-summer months.

WHY: There just aren’t many historic hotels that have been restored to this degree. Combine that with the world-class dining and luxurious amenities and the hotel itself is enough reason for the getaway even if the surrounding museums and shops weren’t so interesting.

HOW: For more information on the Historic Mission Inn, call 800-843-7755 or visit www.missioninn.com. For more information on the city of Riverside, phone 909-683-7100.

Backpacking Wondering what backpacking really is? The definition is varied but the bottom line is that Backpacking is low-budget, independent, round the world, off-the-beaten-track traveling. It is for those travelers who are averse to lots of luggage and conventional package holidays.

Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Backpacking is slowly but surely turning into a subculture of generally youthful travelers exploring the planet on a limited budget. The name connotes travelers that travel with a rucksack (a large backpack) instead of the usual holiday suitcase. They may go hiking and camping, backpacking in the other sense, but they more often explore more urban settings.

This is an infectious sub-culture attracting enthusiastic and intrepid travelers everywhere. The determining factor is to see as much of the world as possible on slim wallets; a passion for exotic places at the least cost.

The adventure is all about low-cost options such as sharing lifts, last minute flights, relatively cheap round-the-world air ticket which permits numerous stops, youth hostels, free hospitality services and buying food at supermarkets abroad instead of going to restaurants. Some backpackers get free accommodation by teaching the local people in return for their services. Some simply volunteer their time and skills as they travel.

The most popular backpacking destination is undoubtedly Australia. The key advantage of backpacking in Australia is that, if you’re aged between 18-30, you qualify for a working holiday visa. Other attractive destinations include beautiful places with low costs of living such as Africa, South America, India, Morocco and even Thailand.

Destinations being exotic means travelers must change their lifestyle accordingly. You may have to live with the bare essentials. You may have to get accustomed to habits and facilities such as pit latrines, going without running water and even the luxury of three proper meals a day.

Before you go gather information to help you before you embark, from advice on passports and visas,airport parking and travel insurance through to what you need to pack. You can read up on specific gap year advice, find out about working abroad and get tips on transport too. Read through country guides to give you an introduction to the location itself and gain advice about working there. Browse hostel listings to help you find the right budget accommodation.

Remember whether you are Backpacking the conventional way, or tramping or trekking or bush-walking in other countries, you must read in advance, other people’s experiences. Such information is crucial in providing trail finders, hosteling information, gear guides, and other travelling tips In your preparatory list remember to put insurance right at the top. It is important to get the right cover for the type of trip you are undertaking.

Safety and your health are important while away from home, is the most important. Remember the risks posed by Hypothermia if you are going to places with extreme temperatures; ‘prevention is the best cure’ should be your mantra. The dangers of a sudden hostile weather change or equipment poorly conditioned for backpacking can, quite easily, ruin your globe-trotting adventure. We hesitate to recommend children joining you in your trail blaze.

It is recommended that you travel light. Buy Multi-purpose gear if available. Use tried and tested tools and gadgets. You not only need gadgets but experience of using them too. Items such as optics (binoculars, monoculars), electronics (cameras, picture-editing software, GPS, compasses, altimeters, watches) communications (phones, radio, ham radio) are all handy tools.

Backpacking can be a wonderfully spontaneous and thrilling experience but a traveler must afford a great deal of flexibility to enjoy it fully. If backpacking isn’t your preferred style just remember that there is more than one way to travel around the world.

Why are so many Americans obese? It’s simple, they lack nutritional education and simply most of the food that they consume on a daily basis includes almost no nutritional content whatsoever.

I am primarily talking about fast food and other processed foods, which unfortunately have become the staple of many people’s diets. Eating fresh organic fruits and vegetables seems like a thing of the past.

When director Morgan Spurlock first began his Academy Award nominated documentary regarding the dietary damage caused by the lack of nutritional value in fast food, many were skeptical about the end result. For many Americans, daily nutrition is derived from at least one fast food meal per day. An examination of the obesity rate in the United States is direct proof that fast food nutrition is an oxymoron.

Spurlock Challenges Fast Food Nutrition

“Super Size Me,” Spurlock’s documentary film that followed a thirty day time period in which Spurlock himself ate only items purchased from the fast foot mogul, McDonalds. The purpose of this film was to document how Spurlock’s life and body changed when he existed on a diet made entirely of fast food.

The goal of this documentary was to examine by example how fast food nutrition was affecting America. The requirements of the film were specific: Spurlock could only eat off of the McDonald’s menu, he had to eat three meals a day and he had to sample every item on the menu at least once. Following these guidelines, he consumed an average of 5,000 calories per day during the experiment.

Thirty Days Challenged Years Of Fast Food Nutritional Arguments

Prior to beginning the creation of Super Size Me, Spurlock was a healthy 32-year-old male. He stood 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 185.5 pounds. He ate a healthy well-rounded diet that included vegan evening meals.

At the end of the thirty days he had gained over 24 pounds and increased his body mass index (BMI) 13%. His BMI rose from the healthy range of 23.2 to and overweight level of 27. The weight that he gained in thirty days took him over fourteen months to lose.

Not only that the doctor’s told him that if he continued any longer he was running the risk of liver failure. Yes, that is right eating fast food for thirty days had the same effect on his liver as an extreme alcohol binge.

America Watches In Horror, Then Goes To McDonalds For Dinner

In 2004 when Super Size Me, was released, America watched in horror with the realization of how much their weight issues actually stemmed from their own ignorance and lack of concern. Suddenly America was aware of the danger that existed in every fast food restaurants on every corner is every city; fast food equaled fast fat.

Dinner parties, weight loss meetings, parent groups and water coolers around the country were buzzing with the reality that had been exposed in the fast food documentary. It appeared that America might change its practice of fast food consumption and begin to actively battle against the obesity epidemic that was spreading across the nation.

However, sadly, while the 2004 scare brought about short-term results, the last impact was not what it was hoped it would be. There are many new menu items that offer healthier choices, but people need to realize that even a salad, when it is shipped across the country, handled dozens of times and covered in fatty dressing is almost as bad as the cheeseburgers and fries.

Also people seem to have taken the attitude that it is okay to eat fast food because they don’t eat it “every” meal like Mr. Spurlock did. Let me be clear on this he made an excellent point on what that food does to your body, it simply doesn’t matter if you eat it once a day or three times a day.

That food is ruining your health and your body. If you want to be healthy as well as look and feel good you should never eat fast food.

What In the world do you have in life if you don’t have your health. Wake up America!

Every year, thousands of us load up our backpacks and set off on our own little adventures across vast landscapes and bustling city environments.

When we think of backpacking, the first countries that usually spring to mind are Australia and New Zealand. Indeed, many do choose to head to the Southern Hemisphere – mostly because of the climate, and in some cases the surf.

However, have you ever thought about backpacking through destinations in the northern hemisphere? If you’re looking to get away and explore vast wildernesses dotted with hostels and lively cities along the way, then Canada should be somewhere you consider.

Many who backpack around North America normally try to include a trip north of the border as part of their backpacking experience. With a style of life similar to the USA and a mix of British and French cultural traditions there’s something for everyone.

Whether you’re looking to visit vibrant cities which have bustling nightlife or to experience the beauty of the scenery – including the world famous Niagara Falls – then it’s worth considering a stopover in Canada as part of your trip.

There are a wide variety of cheap hotels in Canada to choose from, and a number of companies around the country that can help you find cheap and cheerful hostel accommodation during your journey.

SameSun are an example of such a group, with a range of hostels available across Canada – from Vancouver to Banff National Park – which offer a warm place to stay, great food, laundry facilities as well as internet access. Coupled with a friendly environment in which to meet others and share your backpacking experiences – one such establishment is the Beaver Lounge at their Vancouver hostel.

With a lot of open wilderness north of the main cities, Canada is a fantastic destination if you’re looking to hike, bike or just generally experience nature.

Many hotels and hostels will be close to such trails – with some offering excursions for a small fee. So you’re more than likely going to find some kind of trail or track – surrounded by beautiful scenery – that’s just begging to be explored, either on foot or by bike.

It’s advisable to bear climate in mind when planning trips to Canada, for whilst summers can be warm and sunny, winters can be harsh – with some areas becoming completely cut off in heavy snow. But don’t let that thought put you off, as many of the hostels have facilities available should the weather turn a little unpredictable.

There are a number of ski resorts dotted around the Rocky Mountain region, which attracts thousands of winter sports enthusiasts every year. For those looking for an adrenaline rush during their backpacking excursions, there are a wide range of activities available all over the country – from sled dog runs to white water rafting.

So if you’re stuck for a location for your next backpacking excursion, consider heading north for a change.

New York is a city of dreams, glamour, business and art. It is city that attracted great number of visitors from every corner of the world. New York is considered as some of the greatest cosmopolitan cities in the world. It is a most populous and largest city of United State.

The city is also famous for its architectural wonders in entire world. Some of them are Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Chrysler Building, Times Square, Rockefeller, Brooklyn Bridge and many other famous buildings. These architectural wonders reflect style, glamour, engineering, history and culture of the City. Except these wonderful buildings many restaurants, museums and Broadway shows make the city more happening and eventful.

Every year large number of visitors come New York City for different reasons business, touring or for some other purpose. The city offers wonderful hotel accommodations to their guests. New York City is one of the ten most expensive cities in the world. That’s why city offers many luxury hotels in New York. These Luxury hotels in New York are very large in size and provide world class services to their guests. some luxury services provided by Five Star hotels in New York are: well decorated guestrooms or suites with modern and expensive amenities, lounge Bar, more than one restaurant those serve variety of cuisine, business center, conference rooms, 24-hour room service, shopping venues, car in rent, swimming pools, fitness health services, Spa, Massage center and ATM Banking facility

It doesn’t mean city only have expensive hotels, although there are many good New York budget hotels. These Budget Cheap New York hotels are available in every important localities of the city. These cheap hotels in New York provide all quality services in very budget rates. Some good New York Budget hotels are Renaissance New York Hotel Times, Marriott Eastside, Hampton Inn, Grand Hyatt New York, Hotel Belle Claire, Millennium Hilton, New York Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Regency Inn & Suites, 70 Park Avenue – A Kimpton Hotel, Sheraton Manhattan.

 

Having Visited Costa Rica, I have compiled a list of the best locations to visit. This list is by no means comprehensive or complete, it is just a checklist of all the places I would visit when I go to Costa Rica.

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano area is one of Costa Rica’s top attractions. Only 3 hours away from San Jos, in the town of La Fortuna, stands a majestic 1,633m volcano, known to be one of the most active in the world. Despite its constant activity, the volcano is very safe to visit as long as you stay within the safety perimeter. In this area take advantage of the pristine natural surroundings! Go fishing, horseback riding; take a canopy tour, rafting or experience a tremendous canyon expedition. Whatever you decide, be sure to visit the relaxing hot springs in the area, the most famous being Tabacon and Baldi.

La Fortuna and Surroundings

Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible from the capital city San Jose, and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa’s Rica’s most active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is the country’s top rated tourist attraction and is indeed a sight to behold.

Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides. Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, Tabacon Hot Springs, white water rafting, hiking excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and Cao Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that one can enjoy while you are here.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Most famous for being associated with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve,the tiny community of Monteverde is a small village located near the entrance of the cloud forest. Monteverde was founded by the Quaker community that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950’s. In town, which is actually Santa Elena, you’ll find banks, drug store, a local hospital, book store, gas station, ATM machine, police station, post office, supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurants

As the weather here is quite chilly and misty, due to the village being high up in the Tilaran Mountain Range, you should bring some thick clothes and a light jacket to stay warm. When here, do remember to try out the delicious local cheeses, which are a treat to eat. If you are a bird watcher, this village offers some lovely bird watching opportunities, even though you are not in the cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer to do the more touristy thing, visit the local craft centers, the women’s co-op center, the butterfly garden and the Hummingbird Gallery in town.

Dominical Beach

Located on Costa Rica’s amazingly beautiful Central Pacific coastline, the small village of Dominical is a surfer’s paradise where waves can reach over 10 feet high, a place rich in island biodiversity and amazing underwater flora and fauna. It is the perfect combination between the extensive golden coasts full of scenic beaches & luscious mountains.

Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. While swimming here is near impossible with the strong swells and rip tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy some diving or snorkeling opportunities in the area. Horseback tours can also be arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or one can visit the Marino Ballena National Park, which is home to a number of marine mammals like turtles and whales that come here seasonally to mate and nest. If you like, you can take a short day trip to the lovely Cao Island just off the coast. This island is considered one of the best adventure diving spots in the world and is home to an impressive array of underwater marine life.

Tortuguero

Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most biologically diverse wildlife areas. Featuring one of the most verdant landscapes in the country, the 26,156 hectare park was created with the main purpose of protecting the green sea turtle nesting area. Tortuguero owes its very wet tropical forest to the 5000 to 6000 millimeters of rain it receives per year. These climatic conditions are favorable to more than 400 tree species, around 2200 species of other plants and more than 400 birds, 60 amphibian and 30 fresh water fish species, as well as several endangered animals including tapirs, monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, manatees and sloths. Tortuguero is characterized by beautifully scenic canals, lagoons and rivers that may be toured by boat, canoe or kayak. In addition to the green turtle, three other sea turtle species nest on the park’s beaches.

Malpais

Malpais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Also known as the Hawaii of Latin America, there are several beaches to swim, dive or snorkel though it’s main attraction is it’s unique conditions for surfing and it’s pristine subtropical nature. Horseback riding, sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, and nature tours make up some of the other popular activities nearby. Malpais is a community unlike any other in Costa Rica with a strong surf culture and a the laid-back atmosphere that maintains the type of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica famous.

MalPais boasts a great selection of places to stay and eat from camping on the beach to luxurious resorts and a wide range of activities. Without a doubt it’s a very attractive place to relax and enjoy the golden rays of the Pacific sunset.

Turrialba Valley

With some stunning views of Costa Rica’s rural countryside, Turrialba is a charming little town in the lush and beautiful Central Valley in Cartago province. Famous for being a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, this town lies 53 km east of the capital city San Jos and is an excellent place to tour the pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo National Monument, or the rarely visited but lovely Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba. A quiet town, Turrialba with its charming street corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is among the few places in Costa Rica with direct access to a volcano’s crater. From the summit of the volcano, you can on a clear day, see the Irazu, Pos and Barva volcanoes in the distance Botanists and gardeners will want to pay a visit to the Center for Agronomy Research and Development (CATIE), which is located 5km (3 miles) southeast of Turrialba on the road to Siquirres. This center is one of the world’s foremost facilities for research into tropical agriculture.

Argentina is a beautiful place to vacation, to rest and to relax and also to see gorgeous historical buildings and sites. However, it is important that you take note of the following tips to make your stay in Argentina much more enjoyable and safe.

1. Consider Customs: People going into Argentina will not be able to bring in pershiable foods or plants. This includes fruits and vegetables. If you have a permit, you can bring in domestic animals so if you have dog or cat the you would like to bring to the country, make sure that you get all the proper vaccinations and permits before a you plan your trip.

2. Consider The Climate: During the time between January and March, temperatures can rise to 110°F so it can get very hot. So is important that you dress accordingly during those months. Between June and July, the temperature dips quite a bit to 30°F. So you will need to bring a lot more clothes during this time of the year.

3. Using The Restroom: If you’re doing a lot of site seeing and find that you need to use the bathroom, stop by a restaurant or a bar. These places are required to have a restroom. The one’s in places like Burger King, McDonalds or a shopping mall tend to be more clean. So you will want to stop at those places if you or your child have to go to the bathroom.

4. Drive Safely: When you’re driving, you will need to be especially careful because there are a large number of cars on the street and the streets are narrow, especially downtown. Drivers in Argentina also have pretty short tempers, and so you may get honked at a lot, so keep that in mind and don’t get too frustrated. You also need to know that like in many places in America, wearing a seat belt is the law.

5. Taxes: If you plan to go shopping, you’ll need to know that taxes are 21% and this is already incorporated into the price of the item. If it is not, it will be noted on a sign near the goods that your looking to purchase

6. Ask For Directions. If you get loss, it is perfectly acceptable to ask someone for directions. People tend to be very nice and are willing to help.

7. Tips: You don’t have to tip, however, it is a very good practice while you are in the country. They are appreciated welcomed.

8. Measurements: The country of Argentina uses the metric system. So if you are a wondering about the weather, you’ll find that it’ll be in Celsius.

9. Visas: You will you need to find out before you plan your trip whether or not you will need a Visa. Certain countries, especially those that are near Argentina, don’t require a passport. However, you should make sure that you understand whether not you’ll need one before you attempt to enter the country.

10. Safety: Even though Argentina is a beautiful of place to visit, like other major cities around the world, there is crime, and sometimes you may be a target because you are a foreigner. If you’re wondering about what parts of town that you should avoid, go and ask someone who works at the hotel. They will be able to give you directions in this area. Other tips include always keeping identification on you, never walk alone at night or in areas where there aren’t a lot of other people around

Don’t wear a lot of jewelry and don’t have your valuables in places where they can be easily stolen. If you need to contact the authorities, and there’s an emergency, simply dial 101 on one of the public phones along the streets. They are free to use. You’ll find that there will be people the streets begging for money. It best to ignore them and not give them money.

http://www.laterooms.com/en/p4786/hotel-reservations/100416_dylan-hotel-new-york.aspx The Dylan Hotel New York, is surrounded by excitement. Cradled in comfort. That’s what a stay at the Dylan Hotel in New York City is all about. Located in the city’s vibrant core in midtown Manhattan, the best of New York City is just outside our front door. We’re only a short walk from Grand Central Station, New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center, Times Square, Central Park, Fifth Avenue Shopping and …

In the quest for weight loss, the diet industry puts a lot of attention on what we eat but focusing on why we eat may be more important.

After losing over 70 lbs. permanently and becoming a weight loss coach for others, I have found most people have a pretty good idea of what they should eat. We have no problem categorizing foods into healthy and non-healthy lists. But ask someone why they eat and the usual response is “hunger.” Unraveling the deeper reasons beneath the pre-emptive response of “hunger” may take a little detective work!

Here are a few things that might be lurking beneath the surface of hunger. Keep in mind that the categories can overlap and coexist!

Learned Behavior

Some people learn behaviors at an early age and never question them. A good example is milk and cookies at bedtime or a larger-than-usual meal on Sunday nights. We rarely think about Learned Behaviors, we simply do them unconsciously. However, the calories still count!

Availability of Food

Imagine you ate a satisfying breakfast. You don’t feel hungry at all. Then, someone brings donuts to work. Imagine further that you don’t even like the type of donuts that appeared! How many times would you eat them anyway? Nine out of 10 times? Availability of Food can be a real quagmire along the weight loss route, especially in the United States where food is abundant and relatively inexpensive.

Other examples of Availability of Food are all-you-can-eat buffets and social occasions.

Cravings

Cravings for food are chemical. For example, when the brain needs serotonin, the brain causes carbohydrate cravings. When blood sugar levels are low, we may crave sugary or sweet foods. When we experience cravings, eating what we crave will satisfy the body for a very short time, then the craving will return full force. Protein is actually a better choice when intense desire occurs because it will break the craving cycle.

Emotional Eating

Food can dilute, soften or dull emotions we term “unpleasant” like anger, resentment, frustration, guilt and hatred. Even emotions we label “desirable” can be so intense, food may be used to dull the feeling back into a manageable or tolerable level. Prime emotions for this type of eating are joy, happiness, desire, elation and excitement.

At other times, we may eat to substitute for a lack of feeling. A good example of this is boredom. Eating when you are bored can bring on feelings of self-hatred, humiliation, and shame, but the bored, empty feeling is gone!

Habits

A habit is a stable behavior formed through repetition over time. Many people ask how this is different than Learned Behavior. The difference is that Learned Behaviors are learned from other people, usually family, and have a long history. We are solely responsible for forming Habits. The good news is that good habits are as easily formed as bad habits.

Social Eating

It is rare to socialize in any way today in America without the involvement of food. Watching a football game at a neighbor’s house, meeting friends you haven’t seen for a while: these things don’t need the involvement of food but it usually becomes an integral part of any social plan. This often intersects with Availability of Food. It might be wise to ask yourself if you are really hungry or just eating because it seems the acceptable and expected thing to do.

Environmental Eating

Does a visit to the ball park always mean hot dogs? Does a movie have to include 2000 calories of popcorn? Certain environments trigger eating that is unhealthy. Sometimes it can be any environment that is not home. For instance, do you always eat more than necessary when dining in a restaurant?

Hunger

Hunger, true hunger, is another reason to eat. And, ideally, it’s the only reason. Humans were designed to eat to fuel their bodies. Fuel to survive. Fuel for the massive amounts of maintenance, healing and growth our bodies accomplish every day.

The first step in straightening out a negative eating style is to be able to recognize the why as it is happening.

It may take a bit of work to get to the point where true hunger can be recognized but we’d all be thinner and healthier if we ate only when we were hungry.

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Bicycles are not usually thought of as a form of public transport, but the concept has been challenged successfully in the world in the public use of bicycles (pubs). The introduction of the smart card in the pub concept was created on “Smart Honda and the bike path to becoming a city REVOLUTIONARY public transport system in the world. Paper that will explain the publication concept, consider a pub, and talk of current and planned implementation of the Smart Honda.

What is a pub and How Does It Work?

The basic premise of the publication is the concept of sustainable transport. Publication is ideal for urban transport, due to its advantages in other types of public transport, as are the following:

- Provides in transport demand,

- Arrive at destination is not accessible transit

- Requires less than the other mode of transportation infrastructure,

- Is it cheaper to produce and maintain,

- Do not add to congestion, – do not create pollution,

- Reduce the theft of personal bicycles, and

- Provide users with the added benefit of exercise.

Some other mode of transportation offers many or all of these benefits. A pub is a bike that can be used to meet their transportation needs in an environmentally sound manner. One is to use a pub to get to their destination, and then leave the publication at that location for another use. The theory is that a few hundreds or thousands of pubs in the street, there should always be a publication available for use.

Three generations of pubs, with four current generated. To better understand the third and fourth generation of pubs, which is better known as Smart bike, it is important to understand how the concept of pub come. Probably 50 cities around the world in the bars. Most of these programs exist in Europe, including some of North America, and some in Asia. The program is known to the pub under different aliases, such as “the city of bicycles”, “free bike” and under a rainbow of colors is painted, “White Bicycles”, “Yellow Bikes”, “Red Bicycle “, etc..

First generation of pubs

The pub concept started in 1968 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, as a progressive ideology of a period. Cricket Schimmelpennink with the government of the city of Amsterdam launched the “White Honda pub program placement of a small number of pubs in the city.

The bars then distributed throughout the city and always clean and cheap transport. Unfortunately, the program is abused. Pubs are not left on sidewalks, but taken at her home for private use or thrown in many canals of Amsterdam. More than a decade later, a similar program launched in Milan, Italy, with 1,000 pubs, but not when none of the pubs will be returned to the streets after a short period of use.

First generation of pubs

First generation of pubs, like the Dutch program, usually given the massive use of the bicycle market, which is all painted in a color to the output of other bikes. There is no place where pubs must be returned, so one can find a license or being anywhere on the road. The program type of publication often feel free to the user. A group of communities, sometimes with financial support from local government, will help pub program.

In the United States as the summer of 2001, has about 25 of the first generation pub program. American cities in the first generation include pubs Portland, OR; Minneapolis / St Paul, MN, Boulder, CO; Princeton, Quezon City, and others. The first generation of American pubs are a success, however, the bars are stolen big problems. While the first generation of pub program is the least expensive to run because most of the materials and time are donated, is the least reliable for people who want to use a pub because it is confident to find a location. In addition, no built-in security features to prevent the theft of people in the pub. The need for improvements led to the second-generation pub.



Second generation of pubs

Designer of the second generation of pubs learned from their experiences and created a publishing program that is more reliable and less likely stolen. This time, specially designed pubs are made. The bars are designed to be utilitarian and require less maintenance than the previous pub. Including pubs, special racks are designed to bars and are eliminated. The racks are strategically placed at train and bus stops, multi-storey housing complexes, shopping districts, attractions and other places that receive a large volume of foot traffic. The racks took the randomness of the search for a pub.

To ensure the pubs are returned to the racks, a coin-operated locking mechanism is attached to the center of the handlebar. To use a pub, is a refundable deposit insert a coin to unlock the device from the rack. The coin has a large deposit that is sufficient to entice users to return to the publication to another special designed rack and locking that the deposit is returned.

The maximum amount of coins in the country serve as a reservoir for the device, ranging from $ 1 – $ 3, however, for different countries. To ensure a publication that will be readily available for use, is crucial to concentrate the bars within a specified limit. The border with the central business district of the city and near dense neighborhoods. Second generation of pubs are more expensive than their predecessors were, so a nonprofit organization that was created to help the publication from time to time program. In most cases, the local government is to help organizations with funds. Additional funding was provided by advertising, which may appear on the disc wheels in the bar and screen.

The first launch of the second generation of the program published in 1995 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Niels and his father, Wilhelm Christiansen, co-designer of the Danish publication, with the city government of Copenhagen, and the Honda Foundation of the City of Copenhagen published in 1100 placed the entire city. The pub is very popular and quite successful.

Politiken

, A major daily newspaper in Copenhagen, followed by a pub for 12 hours and found only eight minutes not in use. The Danish publication is the longest running pub program is working now.

The second generation of the pubs are more reliable than previous generations. First, because the bikes are specially designed to be more durable and therefore requires less maintenance. Secondly, individuals learned the location of the publication racks, to get a pub became more reliable. However, even with these improvements, the tracking of stolen bars is almost impossible, as theft remains a major problem in Copenhagen and similar programs pub.

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