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Incredible Woman Learns to Work Out to Reduce Diabetes Risk

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People have many different reasons for starting a weight loss journey, and for Bethany Dingman, it was to reduce her diabetes risk. She began to gain interest in a healthier lifestyle in October 2017, deciding to go to the gym one day to help with depression symptoms. Bethany was going through a rough patch and needed something to ease her mind. Little did she know how much that one day would change her life for the better.

“I actually went to the weight section, which was brand new to me,” she said. “I’ve been fighting obesity pretty much my entire life, and it’s been a journey.” Since Bethany didn’t know much about weightlifting at the time, she watched others lifting weights to get an idea of the correct form. Even though she had never lifted weights before, she quickly fell in love with it.

“I left the gym that night feeling like a hundred times better. I consistently kept going for the next month and a half, and then, towards the end of November, I went for my check up with my diabetic doctor because I am a Type 2 diabetic.”

The decision to reduce diabetes risk

Bethany had never been on insulin before. But a few months earlier, her doctor said she’d have to start if she didn’t lose weight. That motivated her to workout and eat healthier so she could improve without the need for insulin. She said she dropped 12.5 pounds in a month and a half by simply changing her lifestyle. “My highest weight was 250 pounds, and my levels were returning back to normal, so from then on, I decided to fully go for it.”

 

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Bethany didn’t start working out just to lose weight or lower her diabetes risk – she was also training for the Police Academy. She had dreams of becoming a police officer, so she wanted to get in shape to start her career. To kickstart her weight loss efforts, she began carb cycling and committing to regular workouts. While this worked at first, she said the restrictions became a problem down the road.

“I started binging a lot and creating other unhealthy habits,” she said. “It wasn’t sustainable for me, and then I ended up getting hurt. I got my 4th concussion in January 2019 from my car accident. At that time I was told that the Police Academy just wasn’t going to happen anymore because I was too much of a liability.”

Do not let a setback stop you for good!

While she understood, Bethany had a hard time letting go of the dream she had worked so hard for. After getting the devastating news about the police academy, she turned to the one thing she could always count on – food. She said she ended up gaining around half her weight back, but didn’t let that stop her.

 

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“That was December 2019, and at that point I had to sit down with myself and literally look myself in the mirror. I was like ‘You have a choice!’ You can either continue eating and probably end up reaching a new highest weight, or you can control your food because that is something you can control.”

She knew that her body would heal in its own time, but that could never happen if she didn’t take charge of her eating habits. In May, she finally received clearance to start working out again, but Bethany says she’s taking it slow this time. Because of her car accident, certain exercises and movements cause her back to hurt. However, she remains grateful for the fact that she can still move at all, and she says she’ll never take that for granted again.

 

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Here’s her advice to anyone looking to lose weight or reduce diabetes risk:

Bethany says the following about starting to lose weight:

“If you’re thinking about starting a journey or if you’re on a journey already and you’re feeling discouraged, please just keep going.” Bethany says consistency, trusting the process, and finding what works for you will greatly help your efforts. No matter how hard it seems, all the work you put in will pay off. She adds that you should look at the process as a lifestyle change, not a quick fix, because you want it to remain sustainable in the long-term. Fad diets or extreme workout plans may seem appealing because of their fast results, but your body will end up rebounding.

If you want to see long-lasting results, just remain consistent with your efforts. If you have just started, add workouts into your routine slowly. Eliminate problematic foods one by one, rather than all at once. In life, no matter what your goals, the journey matters more than the destination. When you look back on all your hard work, you’ll see that all the healthy decisions you made led you to a new place physically and mentally. We all have different challenges in life, and we must overcome them in our own way. However, with enough determination and willpower, anything is possible. Just know that you can do it.”

Final Thoughts: We will leave you with this inspirational post from Bethany’s Instagram page:

“This is a lifestyle change. I’m not on any special diet anymore and I refuse to start one. I fuel my body for the goals I have for myself and the workouts I put my body through. I’m 238.9lbs but I can move this body better than I’ve ever been able to even at my smallest which was 187lbs. The scale is a tool. A number will NEVER define your worth. Strength has no size. Fight me on it all you want but you won’t change my mind. I’ll continue doing me. I’m not where I want to be but I’m not where I used to be. I’ll continue to fight for my goals. And I hope you, whoever is reading this continues to fight for you too because darling you’re worth it!”

Bethany found that she could reduce diabetes risk by managing it by working out and losing weight–and she knows that you can, too!

Fitness Trainer Commits to Debunking Diet and Exercise Myths

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Fitness trainer Gabby Male decided to debunk the diet and exercise myths out there after struggling for years on her own journey. Like most of us, she turned to the Internet to find all the information she could, but she soon got overwhelmed. Some sites said not to eat carbs, others said limit fats, and others said to eat all raw foods. How do you know which of the thousands of diets on the market to follow?!

Gabby says she wanted to stay active and healthy, so she researched to find the best path. However, all conflicting and overwhelming advice seemed to do more harm than good.

“I kind of unknowingly gave myself very disordered habits and disordered eating, and it even turned into a full blown eating disorder.”

Misinformation and peer pressure lead to eating disorders.

Unfortunately, many young women in our high-pressure world struggle with disordered eating patterns and eating disorders. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, around 9% of Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders have the highest death rate among mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose. The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating.

Below are the definitions of the two most commonly diagnosed eating disorders, according to the National Eating Disorder Association.

Anorexia nervosa:

People with anorexia maintain unhealthily low body weight. They hide their malnourished appearance under heavy layers of clothing and long sleeves. They see themselves as “fat,” despite being thin, and they also refuse to eat regular meals. Also, they maintain rigid exercise programs, even when it’s unsafe to do so, such as running on icy road conditions. This eating disorder is dangerous, and potassium and electrolytes can lead to a heart attack or death.

Bulimia nervosa:

People with bulimia nervosa also express extreme concern over their body image. With bulimia, a person gorges themself on large amounts of food, then purges by vomiting or taking laxatives to rid themselves of the meal. They express feelings of shame or helplessness to stop these unhealthy behaviors. You may see a person developing a ritual of excusing themself to a bathroom right after eating–a sign of bulimia.

Over time, the dangerous cycle of binging and purging leads to periods of weight gain and loss, fatigue, and dehydration. As with anorexia nervosa, failure to address this health problem can lead to electrolyte imbalance or death by a heart attack.

Gabby recognized her problems and set out to debunk those diet and exercise myths.

Despite Gabby’s struggles with body image and eating habits, she learned a lot through that experience. She learned about food freedom, loving her body, and that life is about so much more than just your appearance. Now, Gabby creates content online to help others overturn exercise myths and find their own freedom.

 

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“I really, really struggled for a long time with food and fitness, and without that part of my journey, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today,” Gabby said. “As hard as it is, I am grateful for going through that, but my whole purpose and passion and mission now is to really make sure that, especially young women, are not having to go through that.”

She says her goal is to find ways to reach young women to share her hard-earned knowledge with them. Gabby wants women to know that they don’t have to hate their bodies or compare themselves constantly to people online. However, with social media’s pervasiveness in our society, many women find it hard to maintain their self-esteem. Especially for teens and young adults, not comparing themselves to others isn’t always easy.

 

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“I really encourage people to not look at weight when they are starting their health journey.” Instead, Gabby asks them to focus on what types of movement they enjoy and what makes them feel good. She wants to stress that there’s much more to health and fitness than just going to the gym. One of the biggest exercise myths she’d like to debunk is that it’s not just about weight loss.

You can even have other fitness goals besides just losing weight, such as fixing your posture or getting stronger. Most of all, your health journey should be about improving your life and feeling better. Weight loss may happen as a side effect of that, but Gabby wants people to remember that there’s much more to life than just appearances.

“My biggest advice is to actually not focus on weight. Really, really try and take a step away from that scale, and focus on just feeling your best.”

You should exercise when you feel like it, rest when you need to, and avoid perfectionism in the whole process. When you get too strict and have too many rules surrounding fitness, you can easily become obsessive. This opens the door more easily for disordered eating and overexercising. Gabby encourages people to go at their own pace and really listen to their bodies during their journey.

Final thoughts on breaking free of unhealthy diet and exercise myths

If you want to learn more about Gabby and her coaching services, you can do so on her website. She offers a 30 day home workout challenge and even has an app with monthly workouts! Furthermore, Gabby does group coaching as well as business coaching and runs her own podcast and blog. She turned her passion into a viable career and helps many women debunk exercise myths and find what works for them.

We will leave you with these inspiring words from Gabby’s Instagram:

 

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“The most important day is the day you decide you are good enough for you. It’s the day you set yourself free.

Say it with me:
I am more than enough, I am worthy, I am beautiful.”

What diet and exercise myths have you stopped believing? Let us know in the comments!

These Glasses Unlock Color Vision For People With Colorblindness

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Colorblindness affects one in 12 men and one in 200 women, or around 300 million people worldwide. Almost 95% of people with this condition are male, while only 5% are female. 98% of people with color blindness have red-green color blindness, which is passed down through the mother on the X-chromosome.

What Gene Causes Colorblindness?

Red-green color blindness is passed down through the mother from a sex-linked genetic mutation on the OPN1LW or OPN1MW gene. Since females have two X chromosomes, a woman won’t display the mutation if she inherits one normal X chromosome and one with the mutation since it’s recessive. Since males don’t have a second X chromosome to override the one with the mutation, they have a higher risk of being colorblind.

Facts about Colorblindness

– Red-green color blindness is the common name for the two most common types called Deutan and Protan. This name comes from the fact that red and green are the two colors that are hardest to distinguish by people with colorblindness who have either of these conditions.

– Red-green color blindness is caused by a defect in a person’s light-sensitive cone cells. The green-sensing M cone and the red-sensing L cone’s spectral sensitivities overlap more than they would in a person with normal vision. This causes colors to appear differently for them.

– Babies are actually born colorblind, but they typically have normal vision by the age of 6 months as their vision improves.

– Some people only have colorblindness in one eye and normal vision in the other. This is called unilateral dichromacy, which is extremely rare.

  • Famous colorblind people include Bing Crosby, Mark Zuckerberg, and Howie Mandel.
  • On the atoll of Pingelap in the Pacific Ocean, 4.9% of the population has achromatopsia or complete color blindness. In the US, only .0003% of the population has this condition.

– To a person with normal vision, a rainbow features all the colors of the rainbow. For many colorblind people, however, they will only see 2 or 3 colors, usually blue and yellow.

  • To a colorblind person, the green light on a stoplight may look white or blue, while the red and yellow lights will look similar to each other.

 

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Glasses that “Unlock” Color Vision

Even though there is no treatment or cure for colorblindness, one company called EnChroma makes special lenses and glasses for those with the condition. Based in Berkeley, California, their patented lens technology combines color perception neuroscience with the latest in lens innovation. The glasses were invented by EnChroma co-founder, Don McPherson, a Ph.D. glass scientist, and UC Berkeley trained mathematician.

Fascinatingly, he discovered this technology accidentally while designing tinted laser glasses to protect the eyes of surgeons. One day, Don’s colorblind friend tried them on while they were playing frisbee outdoors. He saw the color orange for the first time, which led Don to develop the revolutionary EnChroma glasses!

How do the glasses work?

According to their website: “EnChroma develops optical lens technology that selectively filters out wavelengths of light at the precise point where this confusion or excessive overlap of color sensitivity occurs. The M and L cones are altered in such a way that there is a greater amount of difference in color discrimination along the so-called “confusion line” for that individual.”

 

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The lens technology increases the contrast between the red and green color signals, which alleviates colorblindness and allows the user to see all colors. The company has more than 10 years of clinical research under its belt. Today, it continues to bring new products to the market to help those with color blindness.

According to the company’s VP of marketing, Katherine O’Connor, people with normal vision see about a million shades of color. However, those with color blindness may see only 2-10% of those colors, and they often appear muted or not as distinguishable.

The EnChroma glasses work in different lighting conditions so the wearer can experience the full range of colors in dim or bright light. They sell glasses for both indoor and outdoor use. Both types of glasses have 100% UV protection, and you can even get them in your prescription if you prefer.

“When a person writes and tells us that they can see the color of their child’s eyes or a beautiful sunset or the color of their truck for the first time, it’s an amazing and positive experience. We certainly need more positivity like that in the world today,” Katherine said.

 

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Final Thoughts on These Glasses to Improve Colorblindness

If you have colorblindness, you can take a test on their website that will tell you if your color vision deficiency is mild, moderate, or strong. It only takes two minutes to complete and is the #1 online color vision test used by more than 1 million people worldwide. It’s the first test of its kind, designed to identify different types and severity of color blindness. Make sure to take off any glasses with colored lenses, and turn your screen brightness all the way up. Take the color vision test here.

These glasses have changed the lives of thousands of people worldwide. The optics allow people to see certain colors for the first time. You can watch some of the heartwarming reactions in the video below! The company calls these “EnChroma moments.”

Turtle Rescue Saves Over 150 Lives Every Year

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Dogs and cats often get much of the attention when it comes to rescuing animals, but turtles need help as well. Today, we will share the story of a rescue group that saves over 150 lives each year.

Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons, located in Jamesport, New York, helps rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and sick turtles. They run solely on charitable donations, as well as the drive to save stray turtles on the island. The not-for-profit organization aims to provide a high-quality sanctuary for permanently disabled turtles that can’t go back into the wild. Also, they educate the public about threats and challenges facing the native population.

Welcome to Turtle Manor

Their rehabilitation facility called “Turtle Manor” is a fully converted, charming 1920 farmhouse, which 150 of these wonderful creatures call home each year. Located on one acre of natural woodlands and manmade ponds, the sanctuary houses permanently disabled turtles. Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons began in 2012 when it became apparent that the animals in the area needed help.

Karen Testa, the executive director of the organization, says they save over 200 per year that wouldn’t have made it without them. She goes on to explain that they give permanent homes to those turtles that can’t go back to the natural world. They “live out their lives at our sanctuary with dignity and respect,” she says.

“A reward is giving them a second chance on life, especially on release day.”

The organization supports 22 national charities and retains membership in them as well. Karen Testa is a New York State licensed rehabilitator, volunteer, and devoted supporter of animal rights. In 2011, she was honored by the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center for her tremendous work in rehabilitating native turtles. Karen, along with Dr. Robert Pisciotta of the North Fork Animal Hospital and a small staff of volunteers, works selflessly to maintain the organization.

Facts about turtles

  • These creatures are reptiles that are either land-based (terrestrial) or water-based (aquatic).
  • They are characterized by a bony shell that shields their soft body (the shell is attached to the body at rib-like structures).
  • The fossil record indicates that turtles have been around for 220 million years – longer than lizards, snakes, and crocodiles.
  • Being an ectotherm, the internal temperature of a turtle varies with the outside temperature. This is why you can see a turtle basking in the sun to warm up before moving around or eating insects, snails, or worms. Turtles also hibernate during the winter to conserve energy and body mass when they can’t find food easily.
  • They can live over 100 years.
  • The turtle is a government protected animal and should never be removed from the wild.
  • They are most active in the spring months.

Turtle species you may see in Long Island

Mud turtle:

This small critter measures about 3 to 4 inches long. They have a smooth, patternless shell that ranges in color from olive green to near black. Mud turtles are often found in fresh or brackish water. They are listed as endangered in New York.

Painted turtle:

This critter is 4 to 10 inches long with a smooth, black-brown shell. Its soft body is characterized by red, orange, or yellow stripes. It lives in slow-moving freshwater, feasting on vegetation and small insects or crustaceans. They are the most common species in the U.S.

Eastern box turtle:

This species has a dome-like shell that is brown or black with yellow or orange lines. Its soft body has yellow, orange, red, or white spots and streaks. Males have red eyes, while females have brown eyes. They are the only land turtle in the U.S. The eastern box turtle prefers a forest habitat with cool, damp floors.

Diamondback terrapin:

Named after the diamond patterns on its shell, the diamondback lives exclusively in brackish water. It has a distinctive pattern of black spots on its face and neck. They have large webbed feet and can survive in a variety of salinities, including saltwater, for extended periods of time. Females lay anywhere from 4 to 22 eggs, three times per year.

Spotted turtle:

This specimen has yellow spots on its head, neck, legs, and shell. They live in wet, grassy areas near freshwater ponds and measure 3.5 to 5 inches in length. They prefer to nest in fields or meadows, but may also dig a hole in the sandy side of roadways. This turtle lays only 3 to 4 eggs at a time. It was once the most common turtle in New York, but a loss of habitat has drastically reduced its population.

Common snapping turtle:

The state reptile of New York, these creatures live in freshwater ponds and streams. Since they can’t totally withdraw into their shells, they’ve evolved to snap as a defense mechanism against predators. They can grow very large – up to 20 inches in length and weigh up to 35 pounds.

Hatchlings (aka babies):

Newborns are often as small as a quarter and remain by the nest during their first week of life. From the time of their birth, hatchlings are completely independent of their parents and never even see them.

Final thoughts on how you can help

Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons says that if you see a wild one, don’t intervene unless you notice signs of injury. Common signs of distress include:

-Any found October-March (they should be hibernating)

-Predator, vehicle, or machine injury

-Immobile for more than a few hours

-Bleeding

-Missing limb

-Shell injury

-Bump by ear(s)

-Bubbles or mucus by nose or mouth

-Making any gurgling noises

-Lethargic

-Swollen eyes

-Any liquid discharge

If you see a turtle in need of help, make sure to call your nearest wildlife sanctuary which can rehabilitate turtles. If you don’t have one near you, you can take it to a vet who treats wild patients for free. You can check this website for a list of wildlife vets and rescues near you. If you’d like to donate to Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons, you can do so here.

Counselors Reveal the 12 Most Common Marriage Problems

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Do you and your spouse have marriage problems? Marriage is the joining of two souls for eternity. What starts as a fairy tale is soon hit because being with someone 24/7 has many challenges.

The best partners stick together and don’t give up no matter what comes their way. Sadly, statistics show that 42-45 percent of all marriages end in divorce. Though the numbers seem staggering, it’s much better than it was in years past.

Whether more people live together without getting hitched or getting married is reserved for those with old fashioned beliefs, is not mentioned in the equation. Some give marriage a derogatory term of the old “ball and chain” because you’re tied to another individual for life. You must consider this other person in everything you do.

Sometimes, love isn’t enough to weather some of the marriage problems people face today. Ask anyone that has been married for a while, and they will tell you that there are many times they felt like walking away. There are times you don’t want to speak, times you pack a bag and head out the door, and times that you contemplate why you ever got married in the first place.

However, these times are considered a normal part of marriage, and soon you get through these feelings and back to marital bliss.

Common Marriage Problems

In any marriage, there’s going to be problems, but the good should outweigh the bad. What are the most common marriage problems that people face, and are the things you and your spouse argue about normal? Here are the 12 most popular arguments among couples.

marriage problems1. Infidelity

Infidelity is one of the most common issues in a marriage, and it’s also the reason why many marriages end. Some people have a difficult time being faithful to one partner. Whether you’ve been married for two or twenty years, there will be times when you may look outside the union for comfort and friendship.

Some people are just sexual beings and can’t imagine sharing their lives and beds with one person for life. In contrast, others fall into these situations by chance. Infidelity is quite common, according to relationship therapists, especially with internet dating and online chat rooms. Cheating seems to be the norm for some people, while overcoming this marriage problem is quite tricky.

2. Dishonesty

Trust is the foundation of any good marriage, and without it, your union is in trouble. You should know that every word out of your partner’s mouth is the truth as it brings much comfort and assurance. When one partner is not trustworthy, then it becomes impossible to believe anything they say.

They may lie about their whereabouts, who they’ve been with, or how much money they’ve spent. When one person tells numerous lies, it can take a significant toll on the marriage.

3. Finances

Another common reason why marriages end is due to finances. For most couples, the lack of money is a big issue that many people argue over. Sometimes couples disagree on who will handle the finances, how or where the money will be spent, and the lack of savings.

Cash issues can put a lot of strain on people, and it’s one of the most common issues that people face. Given the downtrodden economy, it seems the financial arguments are becoming more prevalent.

4. In-Laws

In-laws can be supportive or disruptive to your union. Often, the mother-in-law gets a bad rap because they can’t seem to let their son or daughter go. Boundaries and ground rules need to be laid with in-laws that want to control the marriage.

While it can be a blessing to have an excellent extended family that is supported and helps you out in life, ones that are overbearing and controlling can ruin your marriage.

5. Household Responsibilities

Who does the dishes, takes out the trash, cleans the litter box, and does the 1,000 other things that need to be done around the home? It’s quite silly, but fights over household chores make the list of marriage problems top. Gone are the days where the man went to work, and the woman stayed home and took care of all the household needs.

These days, since both people work, it requires 50/50 effort around the house. If one person slacks on their duties, it can be a significant source of contention.

6. Children

Children are a gift from above, but they can also cause much grief in a marriage. Arguments can often come into play regarding who will transport the kids to sporting events and when one parent feels the other one doesn’t spend enough time with the kids. Another bone of contention is disciplinary styles.

One parent might be relatively lax when it comes to discipline, while another believes in a strict military-type method. Parenting styles can cause plenty of issues in any relationship.

love quote7. Careers

Jobs take at least 40 hours a week out of a person’s life. However, there are times when people become more married to their job than their spouse. Some folks tend to be obsessed with working, while others want to do their job and get home.

Having a demanding career that takes a lot of time away from the family can be a great source of strain. Another common issue is when a job requires one person to travel so that they are not around the home to share in the daily responsibilities.

An article in the Journal of Marriage and Family warns that careers challenge relationships. They advise couples to prioritize making time for each other to overcome this concern.

8. Poor Communication

Life is chaotic and hectic, and many people have poor communication because they don’t make time to fill their spouse in on their life. You should know what happened in your spouse’s day and anything significant that is going on. When you are kept out of the loop, you are giving an entry for someone else to swoop in and hear all their problems.

Poor communication is a significant issue when it comes to children, houses, and careers. Your spouse should be your best friend and the person to whom you tell everything.

9. Values and Beliefs

The values and morals that your parents instilled in you are still an active part of your life today. While some of your thoughts and feelings have morphed over time, you still hear your mother or father coming out of your mouth during certain situations. Religion would be a big issue for many, especially if you were both raised in different faiths.

Many people think that Sunday is the sabbath, while others observe it on Saturday. Some people won’t buy or sell anything on the sabbath, and others believe you cannot work on this day. All these beliefs add up to significant issues when the views are not shared.

Outside of religion, simple things on how children should be raised, holiday traditions, and even how the towels are folded can cause arguments. Everyone has their way of doing things, and it can be troubling when the other person won’t budge an inch on their methods.

10. Stages in Life

You’ve heard of a mid-life crisis, and it’s something that can cause problems in your marriage. It can be an especially significant issue when there is a larger age difference between the couple. You go through various cycles in life as you’re trying to figure out your place in life as you grow older.

It can often be a considerable source of contention between you and your partner, especially if your crisis involves buying the iconic sports car that many do to recapture their youth.

11. Stress

You always take your frustrations out on the people that are the closest to you. If your spouse is in your line of fire, then they may feel like a punching bag by the time the day is done.

Stress can kill you, doctors and counselors warn. Plus, it can also cause a great deal of strain between you and your partner. It’s important not to let the troubles of the day ruin your relationship with those that mean the most.

12. The Green-Eyed Monster

Does one of you have a problem with jealousy? When one partner is jealous, it can make the other feel that they live in prison. They may question your every move, monitor your phone calls, and even go as far as accusing you of cheating.

Jealousy can be a significant issue that can destroy your relationship because it always comes down to one spouse with insecurities. A partner can be so jealous of your time that they don’t even like you being with your children.

They want to monopolize your every minute and think any extra time you have should be spent with them. This mindset is very irrational and can make it extremely hard for the person living with a jealous spouse.

marriage problemsFinal Thoughts on  Knowing the Most Frequent Marriage Problems–and Avoiding the Pitfalls

Humans are fallible, so any relationship they have will be problematic. However, it’s the healthy couple that knows how to overcome obstacles in their marriage that can make it for decades. Think of your union as a garden.

A marriage must be cultivated and given time to flourish. You will have to deal with a few weeds and purge some of the dying vegetation, but soon you will have something of value.

Marriage is about giving and take, and you grow and learn together. When a couple first walks down the aisle, they have no clue what being together forever really means, and many of them have no idea about love.

However, after you weather a few storms together, you soon learn that you’re more powerful together as a united force than apart. Marriage problems are just par for the course, and they make for great learning experiences.

15 Migraine Prevention Tips Never to Ignore

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Do you struggle with chronic migraines? The Migraine Research Foundation estimates that at least 39 million men, women, and children in America have this debilitating neurological disorder. Of the eleven types of headaches a person can have, a migraine is one of the most unbearable.

Ask anyone who has suffered from these pounding head pains and they will tell you that they would do anything possible to stop the suffering they feel. Thankfully, when it comes to keeping these headaches at bay, prevention is the key.

15 Ways You Can Prevent Migraines

If you could eat specific foods, exercise for so many hours, or stop drinking soda, would you do it to prevent a migraine? Here are some things that you can do to help prevent these painful headaches.

migraine prevention1. Recognize Your Triggers

If you struggle with migraines, you’ve probably noticed a pattern. Are there things that trigger them? Common triggers include eating certain foods, bright light, excessive noise, smells, and stress. Learning to avoid specific triggers can be the key to migraine prevention.

2. Keep a Daily Journal

How do you recognize your migraine triggers? One of the best ways is to keep a daily journal, and it needn’t be elaborate. You can write it on paper or keep it as a running document on your computer.

If you journal each day, you can compare the days that you have migraines to those symptom-free days. Take note of the food you eat, where you are, and any other significant details. Even a change in weather can be something that brings about pounding head pain.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

According to reports from the American Migraine Association, your diet can play a pivotal role in migraine prevention. Part of it is avoiding specific foods that trigger your pain. Also, they recommend that you follow the healthy diet guidelines as set by the USDA and your primary healthcare provider.

Skipping meals to lose weight isn’t a good idea, especially if you have migraines. The AMA warns that many people trigger migraines by not eating proper meals. Drinking enough water to stay hydrated is another issue that can help in migraine prevention.

4.The Sound of Silence

A study published by the National Institutes of Health states that hypersensitivity to noise is a hallmark symptom for migraine patients. Not only can noise aggravate a current migraine, but it can also trigger a new occurrence. If you are sensitive to sound, you may consider wearing comfortable earplugs when you sleep or are in a noisy environment.

5. Exercise Every Day

When you are trying to balance your family, career, and other social responsibilities, it’s easy to push your needs to the back burner. Do you get enough exercise? A study from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that a lack of exercise can contribute to being overweight or obese in addition to poor eating habits.

Regular exercise may not only benefit your waistline, but it may also help migraine prevention, states a study published by Migraine Trust.org. The study mentions that strenuous exercise may cause migraine pain for some people. However, they also point out that moderate exercise has shown positive results for preventing one from occurring.

Some of the recommended exercises include walking, swimming, riding a bike, or even dancing. Your chosen workout should be done for at least 30 minutes a day, three times per week, for optimal results.

6. Reduce Your Stress

If you need another reason to reduce stress in your life, migraine prevention might be something to consider. Although you need some pressure to learn, grow, and encourage creative thinking, too much can affect your well-being. An article from the National Institute of Mental Health warns that chronic stress is linked to coronary disease, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.

Another study on migraines published by the National Institute of Health says that chronic stress is also a common trigger. Some subjects were able to reduce their stress and had fewer migraines and less intensity. Try lowering your stress levels with meditation, journaling, or taking walks to enjoy nature.

7. Get Enough Sleep

Do you get enough sleep, or do you feel like you’re always in a brain fog? The American Sleep Apnea Association states that at least 50-70 percent of the people in the United States have some type of sleep disturbance.

Sleep deprivation is often a migraine trigger. What could be worse than being exhausted and having excruciating head pain? Getting more sleep may be your answer to relief. However, getting too much sleep can also trigger a migraine.

Maybe you oversleep on the weekends to make up for sleep deprivation during the week. You shouldn’t sleep in past 8-9 am or you run the risk of developing a headache.

green light therapy

Greenlight therapy can help reduce your migraine pain–here’s how.

8. Try a Little Caffeine

Many people aren’t ready to face the morning without their usual cup of coffee. Not only does it have an enticing flavor and aroma, but it provides caffeine for a boost of energy. One cup of Joe has about 180 mg. of caffeine.

While caffeine may be a migraine trigger for some people, others may benefit from it, says a study from the National Institute of Health. Have you ever got a headache and felt a little groggy from lack of caffeine? In the same way that drinking a cup of coffee can ease those symptoms, it may help you for migraine prevention.

9. Use Aromatherapy

For some people who battle migraines, certain scents can trigger one almost instantly. Perfumes, air fresheners, scented candles, cigarette smoke, and sometimes aromas from food are the usual culprits. This sensitivity is called osmophobia, and 95% of migraine patients have it, says the American Headache Society.

However, aromatherapy may also be possible migraine prevention, states an article from migrainedisease.org. The medically reviewed article discusses using pure essential oils to prevent migraines and ease some of its symptoms like nausea and congestion.

If you’re not sensitive to smells, aromatherapy may be worth your while. Some of the essential oils the article suggests are peppermint, lavender, or chamomile. You can use them in a diffuser or blend them with a carrier oil to rub on your temples and wrists.

10. Apply a Cold Pack

A classic remedy for headaches and migraines is a soothing ice pack on the forehead. At the onset of a migraine, consider taking a rest and lying down with a cool compress. Many pharmacies and department stores sell reusable gel packs to freeze and have on hand as needed. You can also use the old-fashioned ice bags filled with ice cubes.

11. Turn Out the Lights

Another infamous migraine trigger is bright lights. Glaring lights in stores, at work, or other public buildings may be enough to set your head spinning. An article from the American Migraine Association says this trigger is called photophobia, and even outdoor sunlight can be a problem.

Avoiding too much bright light may help you have fewer migraines. If you are outdoors, consider wearing UV protection sunglasses. If you already have a migraine, you may find relief by lying down quietly in a dark bedroom.

12. Avoid Foods that Trigger Your Migraines

Certain foods are also notorious for causing migraine symptoms. Since all patients are different, you may be sensitive to one food that another migraine patient isn’t, and vice versa, states an article from the National Headache Foundation.

The article mentions a low tyramine diet that many migraine specialists recommend to their patients. Tyramine is an amino acid that is broken down in many aged or fermented foods. The article recommends avoiding some of the common foods that include anything pickled or fermented, nuts and seeds, alcohol, and chocolate.

13. Try Hypnosis

Before you dismiss hypnosis as possible migraine prevention, you may be interested in a study published by the National Library of Medicine. It provides compelling evidence that hypnosis may help those who have chronic pain, including migraines.

14. Cultivate a Positive Attitude

Did you know that there’s a strong link between your mental health and migraines? The American Migraine Foundation states that 20 percent of migraine patients also have depression, and at least 30-50 percent of these patients battle anxiety. The article suggests that treating patients’ depression and anxiety can also affect the severity of migraines.

Maintaining a positive attitude is linked to treating depression symptoms. If you are treated for your mental health issues, it may help you have fewer migraines. Discuss the possibilities with a mental healthcare provider.

15. Seek Support

Experiencing chronic migraines can be enough to wear you down physically, mentally, and spiritually. Having a strong support system may help you cope with the condition. Enlist your family and close friends for the assistance you need in dealing with this debilitating condition.

migraine preventionFinal Thoughts on Migraine Prevention

There may not be a cure for painful migraines, but there are some things you can do to prevent or minimize their occurrence. Being a migraine patient is a difficult road to travel, but you aren’t alone. Talk to your healthcare provider or migraine specialists about these and other preventions.

Keeping a Positive Focus Reduces Sadness in These 10 Ways

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There are two different types of people in the world: optimists and pessimists. They can be in the same situation, yet they react to it differently. Do you have a positive focus, or do you tend to dwell on the negative?

If you are a positive person, it’s not that you have a delusional sense of reality. Optimism doesn’t ignore the feelings of fear, grief, or frustration. It just helps you cope with reality in healthy ways.

Even the strongest optimists can have bad days and feel gloomy. The difference is that they don’t stay in a rut of negative self-talk. Instead, they use coping strategies to keep difficult situations in the right perspective.

When you awake in the morning, do you greet the sun with anticipation, or do you hide your head under the covers? Do you try to see the best in people, or are you sure that you can’t trust anybody? Are you surrounded by strength and joy or smothered by sadness?

If you feel depressed and discouraged, you should know that there’s hope. It’s just as easy to cultivate a positive attitude as it is a negative one. Perhaps you’ve had hurts and disappointments that hinder you from living your best life.

You can become an optimist and change your attitude about your life and circumstances. All it takes is for you to exchange your pessimist self-talk for an internal conversation of optimism. Optimistic and joyful people often attract other optimists and more blessings.

10 Ways a Positive Focus Improves Sadness

Are you ready to kick the sadness and bring more joy and satisfaction to your life? You’ll be surprised at the benefits you’ll see as soon as you make this change. Here are ten ways that keeping a positive focus can improve your sadness and increase your joy.

positive focus1. It May Reduce Depression

The fact that negativity and depression often go hand in hand isn’t surprising. People who have been diagnosed with clinical depression often say it starts with pessimist thinking. Mental health experts aren’t sure if the negative focus causes depression or vice-versa, but they know they are related.

Are you stuck living in the past? When you ruminate on past hurts and regrets, it can keep you stuck in despair. Living in the past prevents you from living a fulfilling life now.

When you have a positive outlook, it’s difficult to be sad and gloomy. You realize that nothing is forever, and you can make it as you’ve always done. Being an optimist can help reduce the draining effects depression has on your well-being.

2. Your Social Life May Improve

Remember the old saying that nobody likes a party pooper? Putting a pessimist in a social setting is like covering a campfire with a wet blanket. Even the liveliest conversations get smothered when somebody in the group has nothing good to say about anyone or anything.

However, maintaining a positive focus boosts your mood and lightens your conversation. Optimism is contagious and makes people feel good. They enjoy an optimist company because they can talk, laugh, and temporarily forget about their troubles.

3. It Helps Build Your Self-Esteem

Nobody is born with self-esteem. Instead, you depended on your parents and your growing up experience as a mold. If your childhood was adverse and unconducive to creating your self-worth, it is probably affecting you to this day.

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough and that blessings only come to other people? Perhaps you’ve never been happy with your appearance, your accomplishments, or your station in life. All this negative self-talk does nothing but undermines your esteem.

Learning to be positive can help you silence your internal negative voice, and you replace the destructive with uplifting affirmations. You begin to see that you are just as good as anybody else, and you are worthy of love, respect, and joyful life. It all starts with how you focus on yourself.

4. You Can Improve Your Relationships

Understandably, chronic pessimists usually don’t have lasting relationships. They are so busy complaining and wallowing in self-pity that they’ve no time for others. Even family relationships are strained when you are held hostage by your negative thought patterns.

Since pessimism is a small apple that rots the whole bushel, people tend to avoid those who do nothing but whine and grump. Such avoidance isn’t productive for any relationship, especially a romantic one. The more negative thoughts you entertain, the more you attract them.

Meanwhile, optimists tend to bond well with family and friends. They also make superb lovers because they can find hope in the bleakest situations. A positive attitude helps you remember who and what’s the most important in your life.

5. You Can Have More Joy

People often use the terms happiness and joy interchangeably. However, there is a difference between them. Happiness is temporary and depends on your present situation and state of mind. Even a pessimist can be happy for the moment.

While happiness is an emotion, joy is a decision. When you are experiencing hardships, and your situation seems beyond control, you have a choice. You can be miserable, or you can claim joy in your life. Either way, you still have the problems, but happiness can inspire you to work through them.

When you maintain a positive focus, you’ve decided to make joy a priority. Regardless of your circumstances, you’ll see the cloud’s silver lining. The more you practice being an optimist, the more fun you can expect to experience.

6. You’ll Give Up Grudges

pop memeNegative people not only hold grudges, but they get a skewed sense of satisfaction by doing so. Often, the nature of the offense was forgotten a long time ago. Pessimists remember that they were wronged, and they will nurture their bitterness.

Turning over to an optimistic view, frees you from a lifetime of bitterness and grudges. You’ll discover that forgiveness is a gift to yourself. Although it doesn’t excuse the offense or cancel the memory, you’ve broken the chains and can get on with your life.

7. You’ll Have More Gratitude

Did your parents ever tell you that you’ll never get more in life until you’re thankful for what you already have? It’s a sterling rule that so many adults have forgotten. An ungrateful spirit can never be satisfied and will stay embittered and jealous, no matter how blessed they are.

When’s the last time you sat down and expressed gratitude for all the beautiful people and blessings in your life? Optimists rise above materialism and petty jealousy. They are gracious and express gratitude for everything, which builds spiritual wealth.

8. You Can Develop Better Habits

When you are feeling hopelessly cynical, you often forget to take care of yourself. A pessimistic attitude may lead to mental, physical, and spiritual issues. You also may be more apt to fall into substance abuse, especially if you have an addictive nature.

A positive focus allows you to love and appreciate your body, so you’ll take care of it better. Maybe you’ll be inspired to follow a healthier diet and fitness plan as recommended by your healthcare provider. Positivity and self-love can make it easier for you to seek help to break your unhealthy habits and addictions.

9. Your Health May Improve

No, positive thinking is not a miraculous cure for diseases and disorders. However, many studies show a correlation between optimism and higher chances of recovery. Did you know that negative thoughts can foster undue stress?

Having too much stress can wreak havoc on your whole body. You can be more prone to mental illness and severe ailments like heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and many others. Positive focus can ease tension, improve your health, and enrich your well-being.

10. You Can Inspire Others

Who are some of the people you admire the most, and what are their qualities? As you reflect on your list, you’ll notice that these are individuals who believed in themselves and made a positive change in their world. Your list probably won’t have names of those who are negative and have zero initiative.

Do you want to immolate your role models? If you’re going to be like them and make an impact for good, you need positivity. Think about people like Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Martin Luther King, or Clara Barton. Their positive focus left no room for negativity or defeat, so they became the changes they wanted.

You need not be a superhero to inspire those around you. People are drawn to those who are focused on positive outcomes and joyful living. Even more than the things you say, they are impressed by your actions.

positive focusFinal Thoughts on Keeping a Positive Focus to Reduce Sadness

Are you tired of being in the dumps all the time and existing instead of living? Learning to develop a positive attitude can give you the determination to make changes in your thought patterns. If you need help, there’s no shame in working with a mental health professional on your goals.

10 Tips to Help You Achieve a Slimmer Waistline

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Marilyn Monroe had a waistline that was considered perfection. At 23.5 inches, she was a size 6-8 dress size and the envy of all women. While a skinny waist has never gone out of style, today’s woman likes a little curve to go with it.

Yes, a nice round booty or some “junk in the trunk,” as people say, is said to be attractive. How does a lady get rid of the excess weight from around the waist and keep the curves that make her look desirable? The good news is that when you make some tweaks to your exercise regimen and diet, then you can develop curves in the right places while losing fat in others.

To get that waistline you desire, you need to have a body fat composition of around 40 percent. When you lose weight from the mid-section, it can emphasize those curves by making your bottom look more significant. However, if you want to be like Monroe, you’re going to have to make some drastic changes to your lifestyle.

Ways to Slim Down Your Waist

If you’re serious about that svelte figure, then you need to develop the proper mindset. Your body can be sculpted through lots of hard work, but there is no easy way to go about it. If you’re ready to jump in headfirst, then here are ten ways to slim down your waistline.

waistline1. Don’t Skimp on Breakfast

Though there is some debate on whether you need to eat breakfast to lose weight, it’s always good to start your day on a full tank. It’s best to eat fiber and protein to help keep you fuller for more extended periods.

Also, be sure that you at least have one eight-ounce glass of water to help keep you hydrated. Did you know that many times people think they’re hungry and it’s thirsted their body craves?

2. Change/Modify Your Diet

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a woman needs to eat between 1,600 – 2,400 calories each day. A man needs around 2,000 to 3,000. Now, if you want to lose weight, you need to create a deficit in your calories.

A pound is equal to 3,500 calories, so if you need to lose 1-2 pounds per week, you need to create a deficit of around 7,000 calories. For a lady, that would be shaving off around 1,000 calories a day at the 2,400-daily level. Figure what you need to lose and what you’re eating now, and do the math on what you need to consume to reach your goals.

3. Incorporate Healthy Fats

It would help if you ate healthy fats to fuel your system. Healthy fats are also called polyunsaturated, and they include tofu, nuts, salmon, canola oil, and mackerel. These fats are essential to your diet because they help boost your brain function and lower bad cholesterol.

Unhealthy fats are called trans fats. These are used to make things like crackers, margarine, and sweet treats like cookies. The bad part about these fats is that the body doesn’t use or absorb them as quickly, so they are left behind in the abdomen. Avoid using these fats so that you can help improve your waist.

4. Get Your Daily Water Intake

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a woman needs around 2.7 liters of water each day, which is about three-fourths of a gallon. A man needs about 3.7 liters, which is or roughly gallon. Now, consider how much water you currently drink and how much your body needs?

Each of your organs has a significant percentage of water in its makeup. Plus, when the body flushes toxins, including excess fat, it uses the fluids to push it through the urinary system. If you want to lose weight, then you must get your daily water intake.

5. Do More Cardio

The best way to sculpt your waist is by doing exercise. Cardio is one of the best ways to burn unnecessary fat all over your body. Many people tend to gather fat in the hip area, which commonly spills over into the waist. Since cardio works the entire body, it helps keep your blood flowing and getting oxygen to the muscle groups.

You will burn many calories if you do just a 30-minute cardio workout, and you should strive to do this about four times a week. What are the best exercises in this group? Things like cycling, swimming, aerobics, running, and dancing are some of the most popular.

The great thing about cardio is that it’s excellent for those who don’t have ample time to go to the gym or need a little diversity in their routine. Just remember that you need to warm up and cool down after this vigorous workout.

waist training

These waist training exercises can help you get trim.

6. Wear A Waist Trimmer Workout Sweat Belt

Do you remember the old-fashioned corsets that were worn years ago? Women felt that having a small waist was an indication of beauty. Today, corsets seemed like torture devices, as many women couldn’t breathe. However, shapewear has taken its place.

If you want to get your waistline to a great range, you can try some training to use waist-cinching belts. These can be considered the modern-day corset covering only the necessary area. You can wear them under clothes. Not only do they make your waist look thinner, but it can also encourage the region to constrict by heating the area and promoting weight loss.

7. Power Up the Squats

Squats are a hallmark exercise when it comes to sculpting. They help build muscles in the legs and booty area, but they also help make the waist appear smaller. Plus, since you’re burning fat along the way, you can get rid of those love handles and sculpt that midsection.

8. Try Doing the Russian Twist

Since your waistline is the problem area, why not try an exercise that focuses on this region? Using twisting motions, you can burn the fat that harbors in your sides and tone those muscles. This exercise is easy to do.

Find a comfortable area to sit on the floor. Now, you want to keep your feet flat on the ground but bend your knees till they are near your chest.

Next, lean backward so that you have a 45-degree angle between your mid-section and your thighs. Keep your spine straight, and your feet firmly planted to keep you from losing your balance. Clasp your fingers together and put them out in front of you.

Now, turn to the right as far as you can go. Stop and pause for a few seconds, then turn your body to the left as far as it will go. Do ten reps for each side to feel the burn in your waist.

9. Fill Up on Fiber

Fiber is essential to your diet, and there are two types that you should familiarize yourself with. Soluble fibers are found in oats, carrots, beans, citrus fruits, barley, and apples.

Insoluble fiber is found in products that contain whole-wheat and nuts, beans, and leafy green vegetables. It would help if you had all varieties to help keep you fuller for longer, and it will help keep your digestive system regular as you attempt to lose excess weight around your waistline.

10. Try an Infused Spa Water to Burn Fat

Spa water is all the craze these days for those who want to flush the fat. It’s regular water with grapefruit, oranges, and lemons sliced and marinated in the H2O overnight. The citrus blend in this health drink is rich in d-limonene, which reduces dangerous toxins from the body.

Essentially, it’s going to kick your bowels into overdrive to get rid of things that aren’t good. Additionally, citrus fruits are rich in antioxidants, and they are known to help you flush the fat out with those toxins.

waistlineFinal Thoughts on Having A Slimmer Waistline

Before you start such an endeavor to slim your waistline, you need to have realistic expectations. Not every lady can have a perfect 24″ waist, and it’s okay to be uniquely you. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average size of a lady’s core in this country is 38 inches.

Since each body is different, you shouldn’t expect yourself to fit into the mold of someone like Monroe, who had made poor lifestyle choices. The CDC also says the average woman weighs about 170 lbs. Where do you fall on their average parameters?

It’s okay to be different, and it’s okay to fall outside of societal norms. The key is to be healthy. However, if you want to reduce your waist size, some genius tips and tricks can help. From drinking spa water to adding cardio to your day, there are tons of little things you can do to make a significant impact.

The Adventures Of The World’s Most Charming Labradoodle

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Reagan, a 6-year-old Australian Labradoodle, is probably one of the cutest dogs you’ll ever lay eyes on! His owner Sandy adopted him when he was eight weeks old, saying she knew he would change their lives. “That’s what puppies do. But I never imagined the positive impact he’d have on not only me and my family but on people all over the world,” she said.

Currently, Reagan has around 512,000 followers (and counting) on Instagram, and even has his own calendar, books, and website! He’s pretty much a global puppy celebrity, charming the hearts of thousands with his touching story. Sandy became a foster grandparent to an 11-month-old boy when Reagan, ironically, turned 11 months old. She nicknamed the boy ‘Little Buddy,’ and he and Reagan “clicked the moment they met and became the best of friends.”

Sandy often dresses them alike and records them hanging out, posting cute videos of them on Instagram. “Looking at photos of the two of them, you could almost feel the love they share,” she said. The uplifting, heartwarming story of their relationship led to Sandy writing three books about them. A portion of the proceeds from the books supports children in foster care, which makes the story even better!

Sandy says that she and Reagan are a perfect match because she loves photography, and he loves to model! Reagan makes people smile and is truly a light in the world for so many. Wherever he goes, people can’t seem to get enough of him. “He adds a bit of joy to an otherwise stressful day.”

 

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Reagan in the limelight

From the website, when fans asked if Sandy would ever stop brightening their day with the adorable pics, she said:

“You, my friends, are the ones that brighten MY day. I love seeing your ‘likes’ on social media and reading your sweet comments. My goal, when I first started my IG, was to post a pic every day for a year. I’m happy to say that I have posted every single day so far, and in August, it was 3 years! I don’t plan on stopping any time soon – I’m having way too much fun.”

What great news, because pictures of Reagan never seem to get old! He seems to love the camera, but Sandy says it’s probably because treats are usually involved. (Dogs will do pretty much anything for some treats, after all). Most of the sessions are short and sweet, and Mom makes sure that the kids and Reagan always have matching outfits on.

Reagan now has a little sister, too. Sandy and her husband adopted a baby girl one year after Little Buddy came into the picture. She came to live with the family when she was just two days old, and everyone was immediately smitten with her. Since they are registered foster parents, they got a call asking, “A baby was just born and needs to go into care. Can you come pick her up?” They didn’t even have second thoughts about it, and she’s been with the family ever since.

A little about the Labradoodle breed

Started in Australia, the A.L. breed was founded by a man who wanted to find a hypoallergenic service dog for his wife. Reagan is mixed with lab, poodle, and a few other breeds, including Cocker Spaniel. Sandy and her husband decided on a labradoodle because they are joyful, sociable, and very clever. They are also easy to train and are very good with children and families.

 

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Labradoodles have playful, comical energies and love to stay active! They quickly learn unusual or special tasks and are highly intelligent. Non-aggressive and friendly, they make the perfect service or therapy dog. Reagan is a little smaller than the average Labradoodle, weighing in at around 45 pounds.

In case you were wondering, Mom gets most of his clothes from Target, Carters, Old Navy, and Children’s Place. Apparently, kids’ clothes can work just fine with dogs, too! Sometimes Sandy puts pants on him and cuts a slit so his giant fluffy tail can fit.

As for Reagan’s diet, he eats pretty much whatever his brother is eating, if he can. His absolute favorite food is peanut butter, but his family makes sure to buy him a healthier kind that’s lower in fat. Called PB2, it contains 85% fewer calories and has no added sugar. He eats a raw food diet because it keeps his coat shiny and makes him healthy and strong!

 

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He also loves cookies, pizza, burgers, and tacos, though, made dog-friendly, of course. He enjoys any dog treats, too, so his diet is pretty versatile. However, he sticks to a mostly raw diet.

Final thoughts on Reagan the Labradoodle dog

Based on the Instagram pictures, it seems like Reagan is truly living his best life, taking it all in with his brother, sister, and loving parents. He does everything with them and hates being left alone. Although he spends most of his time with the family, they make sure he’s well-taken care of when they go on vacation. Reagan gets to stay at a special doggie Bed & Breakfast spa so he can socialize with other dogs while the family is away.

We hope you enjoy looking at some adorable pictures of Reagan! We had a hard time choosing a few from all of them, so if you’d like to check out more, you can do so here.

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