Posts Tagged ‘green’
Dieting Is For The Dogs
Posted on: January 29, 2011
By Connie Janzen
Sure my dog is a little chunky. But I was a little more than surprised when the veterinarian told me that I needed to put my Lhasapoo on a diet. She needed to lose three pounds! That may not seem like much but on a 18 pound dog it’s a lot of weight.
I never did give her people food and snacking really wasn’t an issue. She is just a sedentary dog and is quite happy spending the majority of the day going from one napping place to the next. Occasionally she’d get a rare burst of energy and want to play fetch with a toy back and forth down the hallway, but other than that sleeping is one of her favorite things to do.
So at her doctors request here’s what we did:
* Changed her food to a low fat formula
* Measured out her daily food allotment to only ? of a cup a day
* Changed her treats to low fat, high protein treats and only gave then sparingly
* Cut back to a ? small dog bone in the morning instead of a whole treat
* Rewarded her with rawhide chews
* Increased her activity
* Gave her canned green beans if she was still hungry
In the six months between vet visits she met her goal, lost the required weight, and was looking really good…then the marks I put on the scoop I was using to measure out her food wore off. I began eyeballing the amount of food I was giving her.
I didn’t change anything else and I couldn’t have been off by more than a few pieces of kibble at each meal, but apparently those few pieces were enough for her to start putting the weight back on. I was so shocked when I saw the scale at her last vet visit and made them re-weigh her, twice, because there had to be an error. There was no way that she’d put the weight back on.
Well, now we’re starting over again.
The only problem is now she thinks that she’s never going to get enough food. I’ve had to switch to a larger size kibble to force her to chew her food instead of just inhaling it. As well, I’ve begun placing a soup can in the middle of her food bowl and then pouring the food around it so that it slows her down and makes her work a little harder when eating. (Recently I’ve found that you can actually purchase bowls with raised pegs in them that are specifically made to slow down fast eaters. But if you’re on a budget and don’t mind the homemade version, a soup can works just as well.)
Since the beginning of this journey, now any time I use the can opener, no matter what I’m opening, she thinks it’s green beans and that they’re for her. She’ll come running from wherever she’s been sleeping, start jumping up and down, so excited for her healthy treat. That I can live with.
Having her healthy, and making sure she has the best quality of life she can have, is not only my responsibility but my goal. For all the love she gives me it is the least that I can do to love her enough to see that she is healthy and happy.
Like it or not, dieting is for the dogs, but it’s for me too. If the scoop was in the other paw I’m sure I’d have lost a lot of weight by now too!
About the Author: Connie Janzen is a bonafide animal lover, a foster parent for the Humane Society, and the proud owner of Barkley Paws Pet Boutique. Your everything for your dog place to shop online – from pet strollers to dog treats. Great prices, personalized service, and fast shipping! Check it out today! If you can’t find what you’re wanting let her know and she’ll do her best to find it for you.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=419876&ca=Pets
By Barbara Holbrook
When the word “lite” is slapped on the end of any iPhone app, you probably immediately understand that you’re getting a demo. Even though the highly acclaimed Angry Birds comes in its very own miniature sized package for demonstration purposes only, you’re still getting a decent amount of fun for free!
If you’re looking for a unique, action-packed game that won’t leave you bored after the first 10 minutes, you’ll probably want to look into downloading a copy of Angry Birds Lite. The object of the game is simple; use your allotted birds to eliminate groups of green pigs that are placed in and around structures in each level. If you’ve managed to eliminate all of the pigs using the amount of birds given to you, you are clear to pass the level and move on to the next.
The great thing about Angry Birds Lite is that you, as the user, can easily get a feel for the game and quickly decide whether or not you like it. One of the best parts about Angry Birds Lite is that the controls are not confusing and the gameplay is quite straightforward. Simply use your finger to stretch the bird back in the slingshot, adjust the angle by sliding your finger up or down, and then simply release. The bird will hurl into the air and straight for the menacing green pigs! The game also provides understandable and illustrated instructions for playing the game so that you aren’t left scratching your head in confusion.
Each of the 12 demo levels includes unique obstacles and tricky situations to overcome. No two levels are similar, and different tactics must be used to clear each level. In addition to this, Angry Birds allows the user to try out 4 of the 5 birds included in the full version. Each bird has its own characteristics and special abilities which are ultimately used to defeat the green pigs.
Game details aside, the graphics used in Angry Birds Lite can be described as nothing less than attractively smooth and rich. Tired of the cheesy 3D graphics used in some of today’s iPhone apps? The Angry Birds Lite environment is certainly not 3D, but you’ll be surprised by the aesthetically pleasing resolution of the addictive game. However, as levels tend to get more complex, this takes a subtle toll on the game’s graphics and performance, but overall the experience is still one and the same.
As far as the app’s popularity has gone, Angry Birds Lite has been resting in the top 25 free apps on the App Store for quite some time now. However, the full version that costs a mere 99 cents currently holds the number one spot out of all of the paid apps in the App Store. There are a wide range of users who find Angry Birds Lite to be fun and enjoyable. Almost anyone could grow to love Angry Birds Lite as well as its full version. The best part about it is the fact the app costs less than a dollar!
About the Author: Find reviews on the angry birds game and other popular free iPhone apps at AppCraver.com, a website dedicated to app reviews for the iPhone, iPod and iPad devices.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=607738&ca=Computers+and+Technology
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