Friday, March 30, 2012

Could Your Junk Food Be Making You Depressed?

Could Your Junk Food Be Making You Depressed?

A new study shows that junk food may have effects beyond expanding your waistline and upping your sodium levels -- it might also be sabotaging your mental health.

A new study in the journal Public Health Nutrition shows that regularly eating commercial baked goods -- including doughnuts and croissants -- as well as fast food -- pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs -- is linked with an increased depression risk.

Researchers from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada found that the people who regularly eat these foods are also more likely to be more sedentary, smoke, eat other not-so-nutritious foods and work 45 or more hours a week.

"Although more studies are necessary, the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being," study researcher Almudena Sánchez-Villegas said in a statement.

The study included 8,964 people who didn't have depression (and weren't taking any antidepressant drugs) at the start of the study. Their depression statuses and diets were tracked for an average of six months.

At the end of the study period, 493 people were depressed or were taking antidepressants. The researchers found that the ones who ate the most junk food were 51 percent more likely to develop depression, compared with people who ate the least of these foods.

The Mayo Clinic reported on a previous study also showing a similar link. That study showed that people whose diets are high in fried foods, processed meats, desserts and high-fat dairy had an increased risk of depression symptoms, compared with people who eat lots of fruits, veggies and fish.

And earlier this year, a study in the journal PLoS ONE showed that there may be a link between eating trans fats -- common in a lot of junk foods -- and being irritable and aggressive.

The researchers of that study, from the University of California, San Diego, found that greater trans fats intake seemed to predict whether a person was more aggressive. The finding held true even after taking into account factors like sex, age and ethnicity.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

State Senate Reportedly Passes Late-Term Abortion Ban

State Senate Reportedly Passes Late-Term Abortion Ban

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Christina Applegate On Eating Well, Surviving Cancer And Finding Joy

Christina Applegate On Eating Well, Surviving Cancer And Finding Joy


By Amy Spencer

I should have known Christina Applegate would have a cozy living room. It's a "take your shoes off" kind of place in Los Angeles, and Christina, 40, is barefoot on her couch. She's wearing cargo pants and a sweater wrap, with a gold "Sadie" necklace. As for her 14-month-old daughter, Sadie? She's napping upstairs, but Christina is on high alert for the baby monitor. "I love wake-ups," she says, smiling.

It's a rare break for the star of NBC's "Up All Night", who likes to spend her downtime with Sadie and fiancé Martyn LeNoble. With her dog huddled at her feet, Christina talks about what she thinks now of the breast cancer she battled four years ago and the hopeful future she sees for herself and other women, too.

More from Health.com:
Celebrities Who Battled Breast Cancer
The Hottest Ways Hollywood Lives Healthy
Get the Body You Crave With Celeb-Inspired Workouts

Is it true that "Up All Night" pulls from your own life as a mom?
Silly things. The birth episode had a lot of things that happened during my birth, having to have a headband and having my competition with myself pushing.

What are your favorite ways to stay fit?
Um, I'm not fit anymore -- I had a baby! I haven't been working out because of the show. But when I was, I loved running. I'm looking forward to the show filming to be over so that I can get back to my schedule, which was five days a week, working my butt off. I miss moving my body.

How do you eat healthy? Do you have go-to snacks?
I don't really snack so much. I meal it. I know there's the whole "You should eat five times a day," but I say eat when you're hungry. Because [that's when] your body's asking you to eat. I've been trying to keep a macrobiotic diet, but I do go off it when I feel like it during the week. Sometimes it's nice to have something that is enjoyable!

When did you start with the macrobiotic diet?
That all started when I found out I had cancer in 2008. I always ate really well anyway, so it wasn't an incredible change in my diet. But there's a certain way in which it's prepared and a certain way that you're eating that's geared toward healing.

After your breast cancer diagnosis when you were 36, you had a double mastectomy. Does that affect how you live today?
It's a scary thing that happened, and there is a lot of fear surrounding it still. Even though I'm four years out, it intensifies when you have a child. Your own health is really important. So I'm probably more -- unfortunately, at this point -- paranoid than I'd ever been before about when I go get my checkups and everything. I'm just scared. And I don't want to be. But that does add that kind of cloud when you have a baby. You want to make sure you're OK.

Do you still think about it daily then?
Most breast cancer survivors will tell you that we are reminded daily. When you get undressed and [looks down to her chest]... It's a daily reminder.

You founded Right Action for Women [which spreads awareness and helps fund breast cancer screening for women whose insurance doesn't cover it]. That must be so gratifying.
It feels wonderful. We just got some testimonials back today that I can't wait to put on the website. It's really, really wonderful for women who, because we were able to pay for their MRIs, found out that they had cancer early and are going to be OK. That is why I wanted to start the organization. And to bring awareness to the fact that it's not a woman-over-40s disease -- not in the least.

Does it get any easier talking about it the more you do?
Sometimes it'll bring back memories. But listening to them, how scared they are, that always touches that chord again. Especially when one of the women said her doctor had told her she didn't need to get tests because she was under 40, and in that time, her cancer had spread so much. That kind of thing pisses me off about the medical community, that they're still spewing lies about who's getting this disease. So hopefully the foundation can develop more from just paying for MRIs to helping with treatments.

What's the best advice you've ever gotten on how to live well?
[Whispers] My friends don't give good advice. Just kidding! Gratitude is something that creates a great space to live from. Just saying, "I'm grateful for today; I'm grateful for the person that I am." It's incredibly healing.

Did having Sadie change how you thought about your body?
I have such respect for women who go through pregnancy multiple times. I thought it was beautiful being pregnant. The aftermath is [laughs] brutal. And then you add 40 onto it? And it makes everything harder, because there are those girls that pop them out and they're like [snaps her fingers] a size two. That's not the case for everybody.

Do you think you will have another baby?
I would love to have one more. I know I'm 40, and people are gonna say, "Hmm..." I'll probably have to harvest in the next year [laughs] to make sure we have a backup plan.

What's your ultimate night out with friends?
I would say a good truffle pasta and a nice glass of Brunello, and that would be an awesome night out. Then I'd probably fall asleep. I'm not into going to a bar or dancing or anything like that. I'd just want a nice dinner, a nice conversation, and then call it.

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Meet The Psychic Surgeon Of Brazil

Meet The Psychic Surgeon Of Brazil
Joao Teixeira De Faria

Joao Teixeira de Faria, also known as John of God, is a so-called "psychic surgeon" in Brazil.

ABADIANIA, Brazil — John of God grabs what looks like a kitchen knife from a silver tray and appears to scrape it over the right eye of a believer.

The "psychic surgeon" then wipes a viscous substance from the blade onto the patient's shirt.

The procedure is repeated on the left eye of Juan Carlos Arguelles, who recently traveled thousands of miles from Colombia to see the healer.

For 12 years, Arguelles says, he suffered from keratoconus, which thinned his cornea and severely blurred his vision.

John of God is Joao Teixeira de Faria, a 69-year-old miracle man and medium to those who believe. He's a dangerous hoax to those who do not.

For five decades he's performed "psychic" medical procedures like that for Arguelles. He asks for no money in exchange for the procedures. Donations are welcomed, however.

The sick and lame who have hit dead ends in conventional medicine are drawn to Abadiania, a tiny town in the green highlands of Goias state, southwest of the capital of Brasilia.

Faria says he's not the one curing those who come to him. "It's God who heals. I'm just the instrument."

"Psychic surgeons" are mostly concentrated in Brazil and the Philippines with roots in spiritualist movements that believe spirits of the dead can communicate with the living. Like Faria, they often appear to go into a trance while doing their work, allowing God, dead doctors or other spirits to flow through them.

Such practices have been roundly denounced.

The American Cancer Society has said practitioners of psychic surgery use sleight of hand and animal body parts during procedures to convince patients that what ails them has been snatched away.

But Arguelles, the 29-year-old Colombian who had his eyes worked on by John of God, doesn't care what the medical establishment says.

A week after visiting Brazil and undergoing the procedure, he said his vision had improved "by 80 percent" and was getting better each day.

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

'The Moment I Knew I Had To Lose Weight'

'The Moment I Knew I Had To Lose Weight'

There are many motivating reasons to slim down. Maybe you have a family history of weight-related health conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure. Maybe you're tired of feeling short of breath. Maybe you want to ease back or joint pain, or nighttime problems like snoring or sleep apnea. Maybe you want to guarantee you're around to walk a daughter down the aisle or hold a grandchild. Or maybe you just want to be able to fit into your favorite pair of jeans again.

For Stacy Phillips, that motivation came one day when, walking across a parking lot at 268 pounds, she tripped and rolled her ankle.

Watch the video above to see why her life changed forever in that moment -- and why she has lost over 125 pounds since. "Anybody can do this," she says, "but you need to do it."

What was the moment you knew you had to lose weight? We want to know! Submit your own video with these instructions.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Treatments And ADHD Natural Remedies Which Are Conveniently Available

Treatments And ADHD Natural Remedies Which Are Conveniently Available

Detailed below are a bunch of treatments and ADHD natural remedies which are conveniently available:

Homeopathy: The most important organic and natural treatment for ADHD sufferers, homeopathy balances things at the cellular stage and helps to reduce all symptoms of ADHD. Taken each day, one will see the most fantastic results

Dietary Control: Be sure of a healthy and balanced diet, get the adequate quantity of nutrition and minerals, and combine this removing all sugars and additionally food preservatives and colorings.

Behavioral Therapy: While working closely alongside the child, a therapist will help to renew a child’s thought patterns.

Lifestyle Changes: Being active and getting the recommended quantity of sleep every evening has a huge part to play, seek to limit the time sitting in front of a tv or computer screen and motivate them to go outside and play a couple of sports.

A combination of any of these can significantly aid with the child’s condition; ADHD natural remedies additionally carry no side effects. Generally there is nothing to when trying these out before going down the prescription drug route, which should ultimately be the last resort. A few of the side effects found in the more usual treatments can be very dangerous to the children.

Holistically medicated, the child will be able to handle his or her more balanced moods, and additionally be sent on the way to full recuperation. The quality of life definitely will be enhanced and and so will their demeanor. So why no give adhd natural treatment a try, you will be pleasantly happy at just how fantastic these natural remedies can be. Present the child the best support they can benefit from for their disorder!!

Flatter Abs - Easy???


Source: www.fastweightloss4u.com

Monday, March 19, 2012

Woman Drinks, Bathes In Her Own Urine On 'My Strange Addiction'

Woman Drinks, Bathes In Her Own Urine On 'My Strange Addiction'
My Strange Addiction Urine 120318

'My Strange Addiction' Finale: Carrie Drinks, Bathes In Her Own Urine

"My Strange Addiction" (Sun., 10 p.m. ET on TLC) saved the best, or perhaps just the strangest, for last with Carrie, a 53-year old woman who does a lot more with her urine than flush it down the toilet. She drinks it, bathes in it, brushes her teeth in it and even rinses out her eyes with it.

Carrie is battling cancer, and believes that drinking her own urine helps her in her struggle. The New York Daily News had some startlingly positive benefits that can reportedly be seen from drinking one's own urine as well. One thing is for certain, though. Even before this episode aired, Carrie's addiction had everyone talking about it.

"My Strange Addiction" wrapped its second season on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Utah Governor Vetoes Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill

Utah Governor Vetoes Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Kathy Kaehler: Taking the Rut Out of Your Routine

Kathy Kaehler: Taking the Rut Out of Your Routine

Lately, I have been receiving more and more comments on my website about what to do when one is in a rut. I thought about it and wondered if I have ever been in a rut. What is a rut? Defined on my Apple dictionary, a rut is a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change. So the answer for me was no, because I have to be productive every day. Training celebrity clients, creating new recipes, filming in celebrities' kitchens for my Sunday Set-Up™ program, teaching step classes, being a mom to three boys, writing for The Huffington Post, worrying and taking care of my aging parents, taking my vitamins... Wait a minute!

I know I am productive and not one day goes by that is dull, however, I have to admit at times it feels robotic, as if I am on a treadmill and can't get off.

Take a workout, for example. We start something with lots of enthusiasm and hope. We have boundless energy and excitement to do it. We love it, and it feels great. Then week after week of doing the same thing over and over again, the newness starts to wear off and we get bored. Enter the rut.

The pattern is pretty recognizable in just about everything. How you eat, what you eat and where you eat. What you wear, what you do on Saturday night, what you watch on TV or who you hang out with. Relationships are a prime example of where ruts can start, from how you communicate, to expressing your emotions and to the simplest act saying hello. Do you still greet your mate like you did when you first met? Falling into a rut is a habit you create by doing the same thing repetitiously. Not to say that there are some things that we do over and over again that won't change, like brushing your teeth or bathing. It is not just the act of what we are doing, it is how we are doing it, what we are getting out of it and how it's making us feel.

Back to the treadmill. For a while I have been just going through the motions. Not feeling anything, yet getting everything done. Going to sleep on a Monday night and suddenly it is Friday. Or, the best one yet is finally get upstairs to get ready for bed just to take off my clothes and throw them in the same pile that I picked them up from. Then I grab the flannels and T-shirt that are in their own little pile just where I left them 12 hours ago. Day in and day out...

Of course there are reasons for some ruts, such as going through menopause, the economy, divorce, death, jobs, illness, depression or other issues that can get you a ticket to go and visit
"rut-ville."

What to do, what to do. I have always been one to change things up and try something new! I suggest trying a new hairstyle, or adding a new accessory or piece of clothing to your wardrobe that's different from your usual style, or just move your furniture around. My kids aren't joking when they tell their friends they are not sure what the house will look like when they come home from school. Change can be as simple as planting new plants or putting something on your wall that inspires you. Read a new book or start a hobby! Little changes like this can make you feel fresh and get you moving again. You get back from your effort, and for me it is energy.

Getting stuck is a common enough feeling that many of us can relate to. The first step of getting out of a rut is acknowledging that you are, in fact, in one. Try identifying what the cause of the problem is. If it's a relationship issue and you feel like the relationship isn't going well, attempt to figure out what the problem is. So start with something simple. When you leave or arrive home, greet those around you. Say hello, give a hug or kiss your spouse on the lips. If you live alone greet your pets or your plants. Greetings are very important, as they are the gateway to communication.

Has your get-up-and-go gone up and went? It's impossible to have or maintain any motivation when you're tired, and we all seem to have sleep deprivation which is now a chronic problem. You can get an energy boost and clear your mind with a power nap. Sleeping for only 10 to 20 minutes can refresh and energize you for the rest of the day. For years, I trained many celebrities in one day. Driving from home to home, working out. I relished the times that I got to one of my clients early so I could recline my car seat and catch a quick snooze. It really works.

Sometimes we just need an incentive, creativity, inspiration, imagination to get us up and shake things up. Make the extra effort that will break you out of that rut. If you made a list, what would be the first thing you want to do? Take the afternoon off and get a massage. Rearrange your closet. Take a friend and drive to a near by city and visit a museum. Take a long soak in a bath. Start a collection or learn a new craft. Take a class or start a club. Take a walk. Go to church or volunteer. Laugh... a lot!

Also, moderating what you eat is important to your mental and emotional wellbeing. Certain foods really affect your mood swings. Too much processed food, salt, sugar and alcohol can wreak havoc on your body and how you feel. Eating healthier foods will give you more energy and keep you balanced.

We all fall into a rut now and then, losing our motivation and grinding to a stop. But we don't have to stay there. Figure out why you're feeling disenchanted, and then try one or more of the techniques above to get energized again.

Try small steps to regain your health back and make it fun while doing so.

As my treadmill starts to slow down, I realize that the age-old sayings that I heard my grandparents say are true. Take them to heart, I am reminding myself to do the same.

  • Make each day like your last.
  • Everyday is a new day.
  • Be grateful for what you have.
  • Life is short.
  • Don't sweat the small stuff.
  • Laugh every day.


For more by Kathy Kaehler, click here.

For more on emotional wellness, click here.


Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

What Role Did Accused Soldier's Brain Injury Play In Afghan Massacre?

What Role Did Accused Soldier's Brain Injury Play In Afghan Massacre?
Brain Injury Afghan Massacre

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta fields questions from the media regarding the recent murder of civilians in Afghanistan during a flight to Kyrgyzstan on March 12, 2012 In Flight. This past weekend a U.S. soldier reportedly went on an early-morning rampage killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan. Most of those killed were children and women. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

It's incredibly difficult to surmise what might have pushed one American sergeant to allegedly massacre 16 Afghan civilians. But new details about the still-unnamed staff sergeant's background suggest that brain damage, wrought by a traumatic brain injury during an earlier deployment, might have been a contributing factor.

Read the whole story: Wired


Filed by Amanda L. Chan  | 


Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Monday, March 12, 2012

Leigh Fortson: Cancer, a New View: Unexpected Heroes

Leigh Fortson: Cancer, a New View: Unexpected Heroes

"A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder; fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won. The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man." -- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Like most people who go on the bizarre and frightening trip of cancer, I needed a way to find comfort and hope. After my third diagnosis, I was filled with despair, not knowing where to turn. With the help of my therapist, I decided to write a book. If I could hear and write about the stories of people who were given a grim prognosis and still came through after conventional treatment failed them, maybe I could believe healing was possible for me, too.

During the months that I constructed the book, an amazing thing happened: I heard testimonies of the hero's journey. I didn't expect that; I merely thought I'd learn about exciting new alternative treatments and a miracle or two. What I gathered instead were complex stories about how these people worked with their physical and emotional bodies, state of mind and, if they had it, faith, to turn their cancers around and experience remarkable recoveries.

After each interview, I was energized, joyful and enthusiastic about life. These were normal people who had gotten cancer. Most had undergone conventional treatment (although a few chose to bypass them) and just like so many others, they were people for whom the standard treatments did not work. These were everyday folks who were told they would die or that there was nothing more modern medicine could provide for them.

This is when the hero's journey began. They were scared -- who wouldn't be? But something happened deep within them, and in their own ways, these typical people became extraordinary examples. They took full responsibility for their health and the path they would choose to get well -- if it was at all possible. They followed their paths even though there was little guidance or direction and often disapproval from loved ones. They forged their way knowing little more than the need to perceive the disease as more than a physical condition and embrace the whole experience that would lead to ultimate healing.

I found it especially enlightening that each one of them accepted that their emotional wellbeing was at least partly responsible for how they got the disease -- either because they gave their power away, forfeited a dream, allowed the stresses of their life to overwhelm them or were engaged in toxic dramas with others. Each one made profound changes in their lives to relieve themselves of the weight of those dynamics. And in the end, they all believed that changing their emotional tenor was a necessary part of becoming cancer-free or thriving.

These were not the only heroes I met as I wrote the book and carried out my own healing journey. I also encountered an inspirational and rare order of doctors and researchers -- practicing in both mainstream and alternative circles -- who are doing their best to bring innovative, holistic and nutritional information to the world of cancer treatment. Their menus also include honoring how the power of the mind plays into healing. This phenomenon is so significant that it challenges the very foundation of how we do health care in this country. Many life-changing books have been written about it, but those books aren't read in medical schools, nor, ironically, is the power of the mind given much thought among pharmaceutically-trained doctors.

After I finished writing my book, it was quickly picked up by a reputable publisher and, gratefully, it now has a life of its own. But I miss talking to people who surfaced from the underworld. I miss glimpses of how benevolent the universe really is. I miss the excitement of hearing how the impossible can become a matter of fact.

With my book complete, I started looking for heroes in the pages of my everyday life. I heard a radio interview about an unjustly accused prisoner who learned to forgive his prosecutors. I opened a magazine and read about a celebrity who has suffered severe health challenges and is now funding and operating a non-profit that helps others. I stumbled across a TV show that illuminated what an ex-gang member is now doing to help stop the cycle of violence in the inner city neighborhoods where she used to trigger it. The moment I began looking for heroes, they showed up, quietly, all around.

The other night I noticed five buds and a breathtakingly beautiful blossom appearing on the lone stem of an orchid I received almost a year ago. It was only by some great mystery that this plant was still on my table. I'm not good with plants, and I didn't know how often to water this one. Didn't know why it had such wiry roots punching through the small pot of soil. Didn't know why one of the three green leaves turned brown and why, for the longest time, it seemed stagnant and probably lifeless. I told myself the plant was finished, but I kept it around. Now, I'm in awe of the promise of the buds and the shape, color and luminosity of the flower -- despite being given a bad prognosis. It reminds me that there is something incomprehensible and just plain sturdy within every living thing. It can astonish us. Or change the course of our lives.

Leigh Fortson has been writing and editing books about health and nutrition for decades. She is the author of "Embrace, Release, Heal: An Empowering Guide to Talking About, Thinking About, and Treating Cancer" (Sounds True, 2011). To learn more, go to www.embracehealingcancer.com.

For more by Leigh Fortson, click here.

For more on cancer, click here.

Follow Leigh Fortson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/embracehealing


Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Do This: Mind Your Waistline, Not Your Manners

Do This: Mind Your Waistline, Not Your Manners

Are you eating too much, too little, or just enough? Find out exactly how many calories you should be consuming for weight loss

Whether you're wondering how quickly you'll finish your next race or exactly how fast you need to run to beat your PR, this tool has the answers

Find out how many calories you burned while walking with this easy-to-use calculator. Enter your stats to get started!

Do you need to lose a few pounds? Find out by calculating your body mass index, a basic indicator of healthy weight

Get a gauge of your body's percentage of fat with this simple tool. Just enter your weight and a few measurements to get started


Source: health.msn.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

Facts to Think about Adult ADHD Treatment

Facts to Think about Adult ADHD Treatment

Adult ADHD treatment is in fact no less risky than ADHD treatment for teens, whatever the age difference. If you or another person you know has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, it’s best that you or the person you know gets a second opinion ahead of making use of any individual treatment strategy.

As you almost certainly have already discovered in the past, medical professionals are usually not great supporters of alternative therapies, so don’t expect your physician to advocate natural remedies. While one is tempted to criticize medical professionals for this kind of mindset, we also need to understand that the big pharmaceutical companies have done pretty much everything in their power to actually disgrace alternative remedies such as homeopathic remedies.

ADHD prescribed drugs aren’t low cost, and once you take into consideration there are quite a few million prescriptions issued annually, it’s not difficult to see the reasons why drug corporations don’t admire competition. If everyone with ADHD began using homeopathic therapies instead of pharmaceuticals, the giant pharmaceutical organizations would finish up missing out on billions of dollars annually.

The saddest fact of all is some natural ADHD therapies do work, and they perform the job just as well as stimulant drugs, but with no possible side effects. Some homeopathic therapies do however tend to be more beneficial with children, but that’s not to say these can’t be taken as an adult ADHD treatment. Numerous grown-ups have, during the course of their lives, learned how to curb and manage their personal unsettling behaviors, and for them in particular, natural remedies are without doubt worth considering.

Flatter Abs - Easy???


Source: www.fastweightloss4u.com

Thursday, March 1, 2012

5 Signs You Should Consider Early Retirement

5 Signs You Should Consider Early Retirement
Let's say you have been working in your career for 20 or more years and are well compensated, but now you are having second thoughts about continuing down this path. Here are some signs that early retirement might be right for you:
Source: news.yahoo.com