New Year's Pet Photo Contest:  Drink Some Champagne, Throw Some Confetti & Show Off Your Pet! 

In honor of the New Year dog lovers across the United States, best-selling author Jeff Lazarus of Dogtology is hosting a casting call for all dog and cat lovers to have a chance for their furry friend to be featured on nationally syndicated TV, Pet Pals TV, which can be seen in more than 6 million homes in the U.S.

Three pet parents will get to have their furry friend featured on an episode of Pet Pals TV, a nationally-syndicated television program to highlight how our furry friends make our lives a little extra special. All submissions will be shared on the Social Media Pages of Pet Pals TV and  Dogtology and must be photos of the pets only.

To enter please submit a photo and/or video and tell us why your dog  is the head of the household by visiting the website: http://www.dogtology.com/

Please note that the more outlandish and quirky the better!) Your pet could have the chance to be make a TV appearance and featured on Pet Pals TV and/or a Social Media Star having their photo shared on the following social media pages: https://www.facebook.com/Dogtology/ and https://www.facebook.com/PetPalsTV.

Chew on this. As humans, we have a deep need to believe . . . a need to relate to something greater and more ideal than ourselves. Perhaps that’s why so many millions believe in Dog. Man’s devotion to Dog has come to rival the great -isms and -ologies of the world. This thing has gone way beyond a hobby. We may not literally worship dogs, but we come pawfully
close. This rabid reverence for Rover has a name: Dogtology.

Dogtology is for the dog lover who has bailed on a date because they didn’t want Twinkles to be left home alone. It is for the human whose dog owns a more festive holiday wardrobe than they do, whose pups dine on free-range bison burgers while they live off ramen, or whose smartphones have more photos of their dog than of the humans in their family. In this sacred dogtrine, the case is made that Dogtology has become a bone-a-fide belief system on par with the world’s great philosophies and religions.

Photos are due by January 3, 2018 by visiting http://www.dogtology.com/

The stations on which Pet Pals airs is as follows:

Los Angeles, CA

Indianapolis, IN

Austin, TX

Grand Rapid, MI

Salt Lake City, UT

Washington DC

Lake Tahoe, CA

Santa Cruz, CA

Dothan, AL

Dayton, OH

Fort Wayne, IN

Terra Haute, IN

Louisville, KU

About the Author:
Jeff Lazarus is a leadership coach, speaker, trainer, adjunct professor, and creative who innovates and builds roads not yet traveled. He has an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BA in interpersonal and organizational communication from California State University, Long Beach. He combined his passion for animals with his teachings on communication and released Listen Like a Dog in 2016. Lazarus is a serious dog lover and advocate. After finally having his Cat Mitzvah, way past age thirteen, he wrote the whimsical book Catakism.

The 10 Best Apps that help you prepare a Healthy Meal

Today we live in the modern age of technology; it has taken over almost everything, from industrial processes to day to day tasks. Technology has also revolutionized the fitness industry, you can download an app by a few clicks to track your calories, or you can use the internet to search for weight loss blogs to get some motivation.

The most important factor that influences your health and fitness is your diet, and consequently, the most challenging job is to plan a nutritious meal. Well, the good news is that it isn't a problem anymore! Here is a list of 10 apps that can help you prepare a healthy meal.

1. Mealime

One of the most stressful question to answer is “What should I cook today?” Well, Mealime is an app that is designed to answer the question. You can choose from tons of healthy meal plans and dishes that take less than 30 minutes to cook. You can personalize a diet plan according to your choice; it also generates a grocery list for the weekly meal you decide. And do you know the best part? Yes, there is more, it helps minimize the food wastage by selecting quantities of each item in your grocery in a manner that it would finish once you are done cooking for the week.

Available free for Android and Apple users

2. Superfoods

The app is different from the others because it is no calorie tracker instead it teaches you about the importance of nutrition. It provides detailed information about the super foods that are nutrient powerhouses and provide us energy & prevention from diseases. Reading through their guides, you get to know about healthier diet options and which foods to have in your kitchen.

Available free for Android and Apple users

3. Fooducate

It is an app that helps you keep an eye on the quality of calories you are consuming along with exercise, mood, sleep and hunger levels. The app will grade the food you are eating by scanning the barcode. You can also share your eating experiences with the community to motivate others.

It is available for Android and Apple users for free however some features require purchase.

4. MyFitnessPal

This app is a useful tool for tracking your intake of nutrients and calories. You can set the number of nutrients that you want to consume each day, and the app can help you meet the desired goals by adjusting your daily food diary. You can also make your recipes and track the number of calories using the app.

Available for both platforms, i.e., Android and Apple free

5. Substitutions

This app is beneficial because it provides you with healthy alternatives to the foods you want to avoid.  Imagine you are in the middle of cooking a recipe and you notice an ingredient isn’t available in your kitchen, well there is nothing to worry about because now you have substitutions,  it can give you tips on which item to use in place of the ones the recipe requires.

It is available for Apple users for $1.99

6. Lose It

This app lets you add the weight goal you want to achieve and provides you the number of calories you should be devouring every day. You can log your daily diet by just taking pictures of the food. You can also take part in different exercise and diet challenges if you are low on motivation.

It is free for Apple and Android users

7. IEatWell

The app also lets you track your calories and how healthy you are eating by logging your daily meals. You can also add pictures of your food, and the tracker will evaluate the quality of what you consumed. Based on the result it will award you with a badge if your meal was found to be nutritious. You can share your progress with friends to get more motivation if you’d like.

It is available free for Android and Apple users

8. FatSecret

This app is not only a calorie counter, but it also plans meals and keeps a log of what you eat, the number of calories you burn & your overall progress. It can scan labels to check the number of calories in a product. You can interact with professionals and synchronize your app with Google Fit.

Available free for Android and Apple users

9. Eat this much

This app is also your dietician. It can help you plan a week’s meals keeping in mind your preferences. You can choose from the recipes available in the app, or you can customize them as per your likes, allergies or needs. You can also put in details of what you ate, and it will keep track of your intake. Furthermore, it can generate grocery lists; provide meal cooking times so you can choose what to cook with consideration to convenience.

Available free for Android and Apple users

10. 8fit

This app is more like your nutritionist and trainer in your pocket. It provides you with over 400 nutritious recipes to choose from and makes a weekly customized meal plan and a grocery list. You can set your preference whether you want a vegan meal or a low carb diet and it will design the menu accordingly. It also monitors your caloric intake and provides you with a customized workout plan to suit your lifestyle.

Available free for Apple and Android users

Kelly Newman is a Fitness Trainer and blogger. She loves to write about everything related to fitness and diet and wants to help people adopt a healthier lifestyle. She works with the team behind Health Listed and does extensive research to provide people actionable health and nutrition information.

4 Ways Alternative Medicines Are an Anxious Person’s Best Friend

According to government health data, anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting nearly a third of the nation’s teens and adults. Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications are also on the rise, yet only 36% of anxious people receive formal treatment. For someone with anxiety, accessing resources, making appointments, and taking potentially dangerous medications can make their situation worse and not better. Alternative, holistic medicines and treatments can calm, center, and heal you without the risky side effects associated with manufactured drugs.

If you have anxiety and are considering treatment, alternative medicines might just be your new BFF. With natural teas, herbs, and roots, you can:

Bypass the Side-Effects

Experts agree that anxiety medications “have serious side effects, and may alter your brain chemistry.” Patients are often prescribed antidepressants, and may experience serotonin shock (a life-threatening condition) and even suicidal ideation. Fear of negative side effects can cause psychosomatic symptoms in people with anxiety, compounding worry rather than relieving it.

Benzodiazepines are a tranquilizing class of drugs also prescribed for anxiety. Tolerance for these drugs builds quickly in the body, leading to abuse, blackouts, and harsh withdrawal symptoms. Ashwagandha root, long used in holistic medicine, is an “effective and safe” alternative, according to two recent medical studies. Like antidepressants, ashwagandha can take up to six weeks to be effective, but has only minor side effects.

Other natural supplements like Valerian root and passionflower work quickly, with no side effects, and have been approved in Germany to treat insomnia and nervous restlessness.

Customize Your Treatment

Medical cannabis is one of the safest treatments for anxiety because it contains molecules called cannabinoids, which have natural neurological receptors in the human body. The most common ones are cannabinol (CBD), which works throughout the body to relieve pain and tension); and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive component used to treat anxiety and depression.

Medical cannabis is tailored to the patient’s individual needs, down to the strain and THC content. Even better, since medical marijuana treatment centers, like Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care, offer several ways to administer medical cannabis, you can find the method that works best for you, whether inhaling it as a vapor or applying transdermal patches.

Find Immediate and Effective Relief

Kava is one of the most effective and well-researched herbs used for decades to treat anxiety, and has almost no known side effects. Like all anxiety medications, it shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol or other sedatives, but it is not addictive and can be taken as needed as a powder or tea. Other teas great for instant anxiety relief are lavender, chamomile, and green tea.

According to Health.com, some of the compounds in chamomile tea bind to the same brain receptors as the benzodiazepine lorazepam, with none of the habit-forming or debilitating side effects. L-theanine—found in green tea—helps to lower the high blood pressure and heart rates associated with panic attacks.

Make Positive Life Changes

Using natural remedies rather than simply taking a pill can relieve anxiety in other ways, by teaching you to slow down and take care of yourself. For instance, some people find the very act of making tea helps to stop a panic attack because it’s a process that takes time and focus.

With alternative medicines, time that normally would be spent chain-smoking or scrolling social media gets diverted to constructive or calming activities, enhancing and facilitating other improvements like the way you think about nutrition, technology, and self-defeating coping methods (like cigarettes, which actually increase anxiety).

Knowing that you are doing something positive for your health can improve your self-esteem and inspire you to make more lifestyle changes as you see the positive benefits take effect. Include alternative medicines in your self-care routine and see for yourself!

THE 30-MINUTE RUNNER

Smart Training for Busy Beginners

By Duncan Larkin

Foreword by Dr. Mike Moreno

The 30-Minute Runner takes a simplified approach to training, which is to break down everything into one thirty-minute session per day—a manageable segment for first-time runners and those who may be in decent shape but lead incredibly busy lives.

Everything in the book—including training schedules, techniques, and tips—is put forth purely in terms of minutes spent running, without any goal paces to worry about, mileage to keep track of, or anything to measure other than time spent out on the roads and trails. The book focuses on how to maximize those thirty critical minutes in order to achieve two primary goals: shedding extra pounds and completing a 5K race.

About the Authors:

Duncan Larkin has covered the sport of running for more than a decade. He’s a certified Army Master Fitness Trainer and was a top-300 American marathoner back in 2006. He has won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race and the Mohawk-Hudson Marathon. His first book, Run Simple, was published in 2012. Duncan writes about fitness for Outside Magazine, Competitor Magazine, Runner’s World, ESPN, and Running Times.

Dr. Mike Moreno is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 17 Day Diet. Moreno practices family medicine and serves on the board of the San Diego Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. A graduate of the University of California at Irvine and Hahnemann Medical School, he completed his residency at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, California.

The 30-Minute Runner

Smart Training for Busy Beginners

By Duncan Larkin; Foreword by Dr. Mike Moreno

Skyhorse Publishing hardcover, also available as an ebook

On Sale: January 2, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5107-2132-6

Price: $24.99

BEST HAIR TIPS FOR GIRLS WITH NATURAL CURLS

International Stylist and Curl Master Creator of The Doux

Gets Real About Real Hair

People with wavy or curly hair are always looking for new products, tips and tricks to lock in their desired look. Whether they want to blow it straight, create looser curls or maximize their tighter coils, Maya Smith, Celebrity Hair Stylist, salon owner and creator of The Doux, the “Indie” haircare line with cult following which arrives at Target this month, is truly the master. Here she shares her best tips for girls with curls who want to revel in their natural hair and create a style they love.

Understand the battle between oil and moisture.

The first thing people must understand is that there are opposite things going on at the same time. “Due to the shape of curly haired strands, the hair tends to be under moisturized. On the other hand, the curly haired scalp can get very oily. Managing these opposite demands is the struggle of girls who wish to keep their curls. The key here is knowing how best to address both,” explains Maya who led the movement for women to transition from relaxers to natural curls.

Be gentle when washing curly hair.

According to Maya, kinky, thick, coiled textures tend to appear “tough” and strong enough to withstand heavy manipulation. “In my experience, these hair types are actually the most delicate, and should be handled with care, she recommends.”

Step One: Pick your products wisely.

Maya applied over 2 decades of research and development based on working knowledge of hair texture and listening to what people wanted. “I created The Doux™ SUCKA FREE Moisturizing Shampoo and FRESH RINSE Moisturizing Conditioner as the one-two step that delivers both deep cleaning plus exceptional nourishment necessary for styling.” It’s now available in Target stores and the full product line is available online at www.thedoux.com.

Step Two: Prep for shampoo.

Maya’s professional instructions for curl mastery begins with rinsing hair thoroughly with water for a minimum of 30 seconds. “This helps to eliminate any water-soluble product buildup, such as hair gel or heat protectant. It also helps you save shampoo! Assuming you’re shampooing in the shower, letting the water run over the hair in a downward motion helps prevent further tangling, and allows the hair shaft to swell and the curl pattern to fully rebound.” For those with extremely thick hair, Maya suggests separating hair into 4 sections prior to wetting the hair for increased manageability.

Once the shampoo is applied, Maya recommends light manipulation at the scalp, going from the crown of the head to the nape of the neck. “Squishing” the hair up toward the scalp is a no-no. “Shampooing this way can cause unforgivable tangling and matting. I recommend repeating the shampooing process at least once.”

Step Three: Condition and comb through like a pro. 

If your scalp was properly shampooed, conditioning is easy. “This time, you’re focusing on your thirsty ends first, working upward toward the scalp. Gently detangle with a wide-toothed comb or detangling brush (our favorite is Felicia Leatherwood’s “Brush with the Best” detangling brush) before rinsing, starting at the ends, working up toward to the roots. Remember to rinse with cool water which snaps cuticles shut, locks in moisture, makes your hair shinier and reduces frizz.”

When it comes to “co-washing” or “conditioner washing” Maya equates the popular trend to washing your clothes with fabric softener. “In my experience, co-washing causes build-up on the hair, coating the cuticle and impairing the hair’s natural ability to absorb water. Oils, waxes, and product residue harden on the hair shaft, making it more brittle and less porous over time. When the hair can no longer effectively absorb water, the elasticity of the hair is compromised, leaving the hair “crunchy” and stiff, where it is more likely to break. The result is hair that feels dry and brittle, no matter what product you use to moisturize it,” explains Maya.

One of the things Maya Smith and her team of stylists are known for is their ability to restore hundreds of their clients’ curls, simply by getting them to trade in the co-wash for a gentle, pH-balanced moisturizing shampoo, like The Doux’s SUCKA FREE which properly cleanses hair of product residue. “Once you have the hair thoroughly clean it “drinks” up the necessary amount of moisture, and returns to its natural softness,” Maya clarifies.

Avoid alcohol and kick the crunch to the curb.

Styling products high in alcohol give curls a crunchy feel.  They suck up every last bit of moisture.  Hair spray tends to contain the most alcohol, while gels, mousses and anything that provides hold or lift come in second. “I recommend water-soluble gels that don't feel sticky on your skin, and aerated mousses or foams that resemble beaten egg whites, to give hair fullness, control, and non-brittle curls,” Maya says.

She adds that she created The Doux so it can be used on hair that is worn curly or straight. “Our clients purchase one set of products, and apply them differently to achieve the style they want. If you’re rocking curly hair today, you’re using The Doux’s Mousse Def and Bonita Afro Balm for softness and definition, and The Light for shine. If you’re wearing a blowout, you’re still using the same products, but applying them less liberally, and using the shine mist as a heat protectant. It’s super simple and easy to follow once you’ve seen the results each of them deliver,” Maya explains.

Blow-Dry with a diffuser or hooded dryer.

Maya’s first choice for curly styles is to air dry. “If you don’t have the time to air dry then dry with a diffuser or hooded dryer on a low heat setting.  A regular blow dryer nozzle disrupts the curl pattern and focuses hot air on one small section at a time while a diffuser, dries curls evenly for a full, uniform look,” she explains.

Maya recommends always applying a heat-protecting product, then flipping your head upside down using a diffuser at the roots and mid-length making sure to dry the area completely to lock in volume. “It’s important to leave the ends for last, and leave them only semi-dry. Air drying the ends is your best option.”

Care for the curls you were born with!

About Maya Smith:

Maya Smith is an International Master Stylist and Founder of The Doux Salon and haircare line now available in Target. With over two decades of styling experience Maya dedicated two decades to cracking the code on curl care, maintenance and expert styling. When it comes to caring for one’s natural hair and styling it, Maya is the best there is.

While still in high school, Maya got her hair cutting license and graduated from beauty school. Soon after graduating high school, Maya began following her passion and worked as an assistant for celebrity stylist Tracy Johnson. She learned from Johnson and progressed as a hair stylist for celebrities and entertainers. Years later the military wife would relocate to Germany, where Maya opened up her first salon The HoneyComb, a mecca for textured hair care for women from all over Europe, The UK, and as far as Africa. Maya's unique system of textured hair styling sparked the development of The DOUX® haircare products, first launched overseas, and distributed throughout Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. 

Currently, Maya leads a carefully selected team of stylists at The DOUX® Salon in Macon, Georgia and on Christmas Eve 2017, celebrated the arrival of The DOUX® in Target stores nationwide. Maya Smith, wife, mom of 5 and savvy business woman is an example not just for women of color but for all women who believe their gifts can impact the world, striving for entrepreneurial endeavors with grace, ease and hustle.

Smart tech could help pets keep healthy New Year’s resolutions

BURLINGTON, Mass. – The use of wearable fitness tracking technology is expected to play an increased role in helping people achieve their New Year’s resolutions, and PetPace, the provider of innovative health monitoring technology for pets, wants pet owners to know how technology can benefit their pets’ health in 2018.

With a few remaining days until the start of the New Year many people have made resolutions to get healthier, and will rely on technology like a wearable fitness tracking device to monitor their progress. This strategy can also be beneficial for pets.

Resolutions like losing weight, getting more active and making healthier dietary choices are long-term goals that can help improve a pet’s quality of life and increase the likelihood of a longer lifespan. Similar to human devices like Apple Watches and Fitbits, health monitoring technology from PetPace can be a useful tool towards keeping these resolutions on track, and more.

PetPace’s Health Monitoring Solution allows pet owners to track vital signs like temperature, pulse, respiration, plus heart rate variability, activity and calories. Through PetPace’s mobile application pet owners can get an in-depth look into nearly every metric of their pet’s health. Recorded data is displayed in easy to understand graphical interface, making it easy to monitor specific aspects of a pet’s health and wellbeing over time.

“Making health conscious resolutions for a pet is a great first step towards improving their health and enriching their life. With a PetPace device pet owners can keep track of daily fitness goals like activity levels and caloric burn and see their pet’s progression over time,” said Dr. Asaf Dagan, chief veterinarian at PetPace. “Speaking with your pet’s veterinarian to create an action plan and set the right goals, in addition to using health monitoring technology to track progress, is a great way to start off the new year.”

In addition to fitness tracking, PetPace is also a powerful safeguard for helping to protect a pet’s health. The device’s biometric sensors constantly monitor a pet’s vital signs and can notify the pet’s owner via a smartphone alert in the event of a medical emergency. This technology has allowed pet owners to quickly identify impending health concerns and monitor existing medical conditions affecting their pet.

For more information about PetPace or PetPace products, please visit www.petpace.com.

About PetPace

PetPace creates innovative technology that delivers peace of mind to pet owners. The smart IoT pet collar continuously monitors the wellbeing of elderly, sick, healthy, and at-risk dogs and cats, alerting caregivers remotely and immediately of changes in key health parameters. In the home or in the clinic, PetPace leverages data gathered non-intrusively from on-board passive sensors and advanced cloud-based analytics to keep all pets healthier and happier.

Founded in 2012 and privately-held, PetPace is headquartered in Israel, has a U.S. headquarters in Burlington, MA, and a global sales presence. For more information, please visit www.petpace.com.

Expert Offers New Addiction Treatment Solutions with Holistic and Spiritual Approach

Author Ellen Gardner, L.I.S.A.C., provides new tools and resources for those suffering from addiction as well as their families in new book

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. – Author Ellen Gardner, L.I.S.A.C., a semi-retired substance abuse counselor and founder of a former residential treatment center, has released her new book, “The Truth About Your Addictions: A Holistic Solution” which contains holistic and spiritual approaches to the treatment of addiction. Gardner provides insightful information regarding different approaches to addiction treatment for not only addicts, but the loved ones of an addict as well.

The book incorporates Gardner’s nearly 25 years of experience in working with people with various addictions and destructive lifestyles due to substances such as drugs and alcohol. Each chapter discusses the different parts of addiction, from understanding the concept of a holistic and spiritual treatment, to how to spot warning signs if a loved one is experiencing addiction.

With her insight, Gardner hopes to create awareness about the tools and resources one can use to live a healthier, and substance-free lifestyle.

“I want to provide a solution to the current epidemic of substance abuse and other destructive addictions,” said Gardner. “Deaths due to drug overdose is at an all-time high and this book brings different options to one’s struggling. Understanding that everyone is a child of God is the foundation of this teaching.”

A unique approach to the sensitive topic of addiction, “The Truth About Your Addictions” shares real-life success stories and is the conversation starter needed to guide someone suffering from addiction in the right direction.

Gardner is available for interviews and review copies are available upon request. To learn more, please visit TheTruthAboutYourAddictions.com.

“The Truth About Your Addictions: A Holistic Solution”

By Ellen Gardner, L.I.S.A.C.

ISBN: 978-1-5245-9212-7 (sc); 978-1-5245-9213-4 (hc); 978-1-5245-9211-0 (e)

Available at the Xlibris Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Ellen Gardner witnessed addiction in loved ones in her work as an ordained minister and licensed independent substance abuse counselor. In 1991, she founded Arizona Pathways of Life, Unity and Love, a non-denominational church and treatment center where she developed a holistic spiritually based residential treatment program believing that freedom from addictions is possible.  Due to a severe stroke and open-heart surgery in 2013, Gardner had to close the treatment center. Feeling physically healthy again, she believes that it is time to share what she has learned about freedom from addictions. Gardner has two adult sons and grandchildren that live in Washington and she and her husband Daniel of 50 years reside in Cottonwood, Arizona.

Drug treatment experts urge people to kick deadly habits for the New Year

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. – Experts from Footprints Beachside Recovery Center, a rehabilitation facility specializing in alcohol and opioid substance abuse and addiction treatment in the Tampa Bay area, are encouraging people struggling with substance abuse and addiction to make positive changes for the New Year.

According to a new report published in Nov. by Trust for America’s Health, an estimated 1.6 million Americans could die from drugs, alcohol and suicide in the next decade. This estimation represents a 60 percent increase over the past decade.

“We are witnessing a surge in substance abuse across the nation. The most alarming statistic is the increase in deaths due to these issues,” said John Templeton Jr., president of Footprints Beachside Recovery Center. “We can’t express how important it is for people to get help before it’s too late.”

To help people in need, recovery experts from Footprints Beachside Recovery Center are offering treatment tips for dealing with addiction.

• Alcohol - While cutting back can be a good start, heavy drinkers may need medical intervention, as the withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can include seizures and even be life threatening. This should never be attempted cold turkey. Medical intervention like a detox followed by a minimum 30 day treatment program with individual therapy can be very effective.
• Opioids - If you or someone you know is abusing prescription pain killers or opiates like heroin, treatment should be sought quickly. Treatment for opioids is very effective and should include a medical detox to ease the symptoms and inpatient treatment to remove the user from their environment. Even for someone who is not intending on misuse, they should have a plan to get off of their prescription safely and that shouldn’t just be “quitting” once the medication runs out. We always recommend speaking with your doctor or an addiction medicine doctor who understands the pharmacology of substances and the effects on each person.
• Stimulants - Prescription medications like Adderall and Ritalin are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but like all medication, they can be misused. Cocaine and methamphetamine are two of the most addictive street stimulants and can be snorted, injected or smoked. People who abuse stimulants should seek treatment due to the acute adverse physiological effects to the respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous symptoms, and altered mental states, like suicidal ideation and neurological problems.
• Smoking - Medications like Chantix and Zyban, as well as nicotine replace products like the patch, inhaler and nasal spray have also shown to be effective. Counseling and medication are both effective for treating tobacco dependence and using them together is more effective than using either one alone. The good news is that there are effective treatment options for smokers. In fact, there are more former smokers than current smokers.

About Footprints Beachside Recovery Center 

Founded in 2008, Footprints Beachside Recovery Center is a small, private, holistic substance abuse treatment center for adults and is located in Pinellas County, Fla. Footprints provides specialized treatment plans for patients from throughout the U.S. and around the world. Opioid addiction recovery programs at Footprints focus on ensuring safe withdrawals and often combine holistic treatment with medication assisted therapies to reduce cravings and provide more successful recovery outcomes for patients.

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to the new Konecta from SoundWhiz. The Konecta is a small Bluetooth transmitter / receiver which allows user to transmit audio wirelessly via Bluetooth from any device that has a standard audio or headphone jack so that it can be enjoyed on wireless headphones or speakers.

They recently sent me one to try which I just received int he mail and I will let you know how it works for me!

They say that it is perfect for listening to the TV in the gym without being tangled by wires tied to the fitness equipment, or watching a late night movie without disturbing family or a roommate; the Konecta converts any standard 3mm or 5mm audio jack into a Bluetooth connection.   When using the Konecta, it only takes seconds to enjoy wireless connectivity from non-Bluetooth enabled devices including; TVs, TV sound systems, IPod Classic and other MP3 players. Konecta will automatically choose the highest transmission quality available based on the device and includes support for APTX and APTY-LL high definition audio. Both APTX and APTX-LL have rapid transmission speeds, meaning there won’t be a lag between moving pictures and the sound which is common with traditional headphones.

While most Bluetooth transmitters assume users only need a standard 3mm jack, the Konecta includes accessories to connect to 3mm, 5 mm and 2-pin airplane audio jacks as well as a RCA cable splitter for stereo sound. The built-in rechargeable battery provides up to 10 hours of playtime, and can be used while connected to a power source for interruption-free enjoyment.

Company Name: SoundWhiz
Product: Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver / Adapter  
Website: www.soundwhiz.com
Category: Technology-Gadgets
Product Description: The Bluetooth Transmitter / Receiver Adapter is a portable accessory that provides all the accessories needed to be completely wireless with any audio source. Included is a 3MM connector cable, 5MM jack converter, RCA cable splitter, and a 2-pin airplane adapter. Pair your phone, tablet, PC, TV or IPod and listen to music, watch movies or play games with perfect audio clarity.
Price: $33.97