The Zone Diet

If you’re out looking for a good diet, one diet you may come across while you are looking is Zone. This is a diet that has been around for a few years, although it was not originally to be a weight loss diet. No doubt you are interested to find out more about this diet and whether or not it really does work. So, let’s take a close look at the diet, the main goals, the pros and cons, and what health professionals seem to think about it. This way you can make an intelligent decision on whether it is a good diet for you to try.

Zone Diet Overview

The Zone Diet is a diet that was developed by Dr. Barry Sears; however, it was not really developed originally to be a diet that was for losing weight. It was actually made to be a change in lifestyle that would manipulate the body in such as way that it would promote health, energy, and a lean body as well. In this diet, food is treated like a drug, and it focuses on treating food like hormones, not as calories. It is also a diet that is quite restrictive as well, focusing on making sure that the diet includes 30% fats, 30% proteins, and 40% carbs. This diet became popular because of the book Sears wrote, called The Zone. You’ll find that the diet is based on the idea that high levels of insulin can make you fat, and it focuses on making sure that your insulin level is kept in a specific “zone” which is done by eating a combination of fat, protein, and carbs.

People it Works For Best

This is a diet that works best for people who have the time to eat smaller meals throughout the day. Also, it was first developed for people who had heart disease and diabetes, so it works well for them as well. Those who love the idea of eating for taste and the experience may not find this diet to be the right one for them, since food is looked at as merely a drug.

Pros and Cons of the Zone Diet

You will find that there are many pros and cons to consider when you are trying to decide if the Zone diet is the right diet for your needs. It is important that you take a look at the following pros and cons and decide whether you can live with the cons because of the pros. If you are able to live without some of your favorite carbs, then this diet may be for you.

- Pro #1 – Neat Eating – Neat eating, which is eating small meals various times each day, is promoted in this diet, which is a definite pro. It is a great way to keep yourself feeling satisfied without overeating. Many people have found that diets that offer small portions several times a day can be very effective.

- Pro #2 – Fruits and Vegetables are Encouraged – Another pro of this diet is that it really does encourage you to eat vegetables and fruits as well. So, you at least get some of the important nutrients that your body needs so badly.

- Pro #3 – Low in Saturated fat – The diet is also low in saturated fat, which is a pro as well. Saturated fats can be very bad for your body, so a diet that does not contain much of them is important and helpful to your health.

- Pro #4 – Encourages the Drinking of Water – This diet also really pushes that you should drink plenty of water while you are on the diet as well. Water is very important and some diets overlook this. So, this is yet another pro of the Zone Diet.

- Con #1 – Never Really Been Tested – One of the main cons of the Zone Diet is that it really has never been tested. This means that there is no real independent research that shows that this diet really does work. So, you may be trying a diet that doesn’t work at all.

- Con #2 – Limits Foods that Have Important Vitamins and Minerals in Them – Another problem with the Zone Diet is that it limits some of the foods that have very important vitamins and minerals in them. Some of the minerals and vitamins that you may miss out on include Vitamin D, iron, folic acid, calcium, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A.

- Con #3 – Can Make Eating a Bit Boring – Since this diet actually wants you to treat food like a drug you have to take, it can become a bit boring to eat, and some people may find that this mindset is almost traumatizing to them. Eating should be a pleasurable experience, but this diet takes a lot of the pleasure away from eating.

What You Can and Can’t Eat on this Diet

You are allowed to eat proteins, carbs, and fats as well, but they must be done in the correct ration. Every time you eat, you have to make sure that you include fat, carbs, and protein, even if it is just a snack that you are eating. Also, you have to eat about every five hours as well. While you are allowed to have some alcohol on this diet, it is limited. You are not allowed to eat very much bread or pasta at all. Also, other bad carbs according to this diet include peas, bananas, and even watermelon. Dairy products and butter is not allowed in Zone either.

The Opinion of the Medical Community

Those in the medical field think that the calorie amounts that are part of this diet are on the low side. However, the snacks do make an impression with medical professionals, since they do help out. There is no real science that shows that this ration of foods is going to really make you lose weight, so some in the medical community are understandably dubious about whether or not this diet will really work.

How Model Trains And Actual Trains Function

The evolution from regular display toys to elaborately detailed little-engines have established model trains and railways into admired and must-have collectibles. What makes model train hobbying more interesting is the astistic and technical aspects that bring about the enjoyment and the operation of the model train possible.

Artistry in model railways involve the crafting of miniature sceneries and structures that include foliage, tunnels, and train stations. It also takes in the attention to details with the train and locomotive’s interior and exterior to make them appear as elaborate as possible.

For the model train’s technical aspect, the configuration of wiring of the model train and railway is what makes each wheeled piece move down the tracks. It’s the factor that gives a model train hobbyist the sense and pleasure in having to own these not so cheap collectibles.

Every hobbyist has an idea of how they’re steam locomotives run along their tracks. Yet there are still a few model train hobbyists that still don’t understand how genuine steam trains run. Model trains run along tracks powered by low-voltage electric current just like modern electric trains from light rails and undergrounds, but life size steam locomotives are fueled by steam. How do steam locomotives harness power from burning coal?

Back in the 1800s, steam locomotives were primed by first releasing the brakes, followed by a slow release of steam. Applying power needs collaboration among the engineer and another man (fireman) or two that will shovel coal from the tender to the boiler. Coordination from these two persons is crucial in order to make the locomotive run consistently and at optimum speed. 12 to 15 tons of coal are used to power a steam locomotive in one day.

The firebox inside the boiler generates flame with a temperature of greater than 2500 degrees that incinerates the coal. Another compartment inside the boiler surrounds the firebox and its objective is to store gallons of water. It is of great magnitude to stock water in this compartment at all times seeing that this will prevent the firebox from melting and the boiling of the water is what will provide the locomotive’s steam-power.

The steam dome stores the produced steam from the heated water and it’s where the throttle from the engineer’s cabin is connected. Released steam is controlled by the throttle lever that is handled by the engineer and this is deliver down to the cylinder of the locomotive. The cylinder holds the piston that connects to the train’s wheels. The piston goes rearward and forth as steam is supplied everytime which makes the locomotive go forward.

For a hobbyist who uses a DCC for operating their model railway, he also controls a throttle that somehow symbolizes real throttle from steam locos. When the throttle is engaged, it sends out a current to the command station, which is like the steam dome, and it sends out a digital packet to the booster.

The cylinder of a real steam locomotive is comparable to the model train’s booster which regulates the power being distributed to the model railway that turns the wheels on the model trains.

Now that you have an insight on how a real steam locomotive work, you can now picture yourself performing the duties of an engineer back in the 1800s.

Teleprompter Training : 5 Tips for Better Teleprompter Presentations

Sooner or later during their career, most business people are faced with the prospect of delivering a presentation, either live or on video.

Here’s 5 tips to keep in mind when delivering your first presentation with the aid of a teleprompter:

1. Pre-Read the Script

The director should always let you pre-read the script on the teleprompter in rehearsal.

Words that normally run together will occasionally be split over two pages to help with the overall readability of the piece. Sometimes the opposite occurs for the same reasons.

On a written page, you will normally be reading 8-15 words per line, but with this medium you’ll be reading 3-5 words per line.

This is a different reading rhythm and needs getting used to. Your teleprompter operator will be there to help you over any readability hurdles.

2. Go at your own pace

The teleprompter operator will match the text scroll to your own reading speed. Speak faster and the text will scroll quicker. Slow down the text scroll will slow down as well.

3. Keep Eye Contact

This requires a lot of practice and usually quite a few takes to get right.

Unless the Director instructs you otherwise, before, during and after the take ends, just keep looking straight at the camera. Unless that is of course you’ve mastered the whole thing.

Eye movements are more significant, the closer the shot is. Eye movements away from your audience will make you look either uncomfortable or slightly dishonest. The only time you should really look away from the monitor is when the Director says ‘cut’.

For many, it’s an involuntary reaction and many won’t even be aware they are glancing away from the camera. Lose contact during a script edit point however and the shot will have to be taken again.

But you are allowed to blink!

4. Don’t Rock

Even when standing still, people usually sway from side to side or shuffle their feet positions. This is a completely normal reaction but one best left out of a video shoot.

Shifting from side to side makes you look uneasy, which you probably are if you’re rocking about.

Similar to the eye contact and movement discussed earlier, gesturing in a performance is fine. Animated gestures are integral to our communication process and are perfectly normal. Shifting from side to side or awkwardly shuffling your feet though isn’t an accepted part of a video shoot though.

At the start of a take, shake the fidgety off. Stretch, run on the spot, jump up and down. Anything to shake off the lethargy and fatigue. Commence each take mentally and physically prepared.

If that won’t do the trick, the crew can provide a foot rest to keep one foot off the ground or even get the shot with you sitting down.

5. Get involved

This might sounds a touch corny, but your job is more than just reading the message. You need to sell it!

Delivering a long script could make you feel drowsy, a feeling which will be reflected in your appearance.

If you yourself look bored with the presentation, imagine how your audience will be feeling. Get upbeat about the project. You might not like the script or even agree with it, but you have to deliver a convincing performance. Vary the stress of your voice, use gestures, get into things. Practice in front of a mirror if you have to but by all means try not to look bored with the whole business!

Everything you need is in the script and it’s written to be clear and easy to understand. You need to let the audience understand just how important your message is.

The Finished Product

The presentation is finished and it’s time to see how well it went.

The first thing you’ll encounter looking at the video will probably be your vanity. Don’t sweat it. This is a perfectly normal state of affairs for almost everyone.

You might think you sound weird. You might think you look strange. The reason for this impression is simple . . . you are used to seeing a reflected view of yourself rather than how everyone really sees you. Viewing your left side where your right side usually appears and vice versa is strange.

Some camera angles can also distort your appearance. You might trick yourself into believing you look unwell or have put on weight.

Giving competent presentations involves self criticism. Not negativity, but constructive criticism. Go over your performance and try to correct any distracting or awkward habits.

Don’t split hairs here. Your objective is to give a sincere, polished performance.

They say the truth is reflected in the eyes. Are you fixated by the scrolling texts or making a dull, boring delivery? Are you moving around? Are you breaking eye contact?

The point here is to get a real overview of your performance. The key objective is to deliver your presentation like you really believe in what you’re talking about.

Business leaders from all industries value the importance of an effective, personal and likeable communication style, yet public speaking is a major problem for many of us.

This article has been all about the use of a teleprompter and an overview of how to best prepare for video shoots and presentations.

When you are ready to bring your presentations in-house, be sure take a look at the affordable teleprompter software offered by PromptDog.com.

You can find a demo of this very affordable solution at PC teleprompter software.