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If you decide to go ahead with the performance, there are things you can do to minimize the effects of the cold. Getting enough sleep is important for anyone recovering from a cold.  For singers, inadequate sleep sometimes causes notes to come out a little flat.  Sleeping with an extra pillow can help the excess mucous drain better, rather than accumulating in your throat. Drinking plenty of water is important for anyone trying to get over a cold. For a singer, it's especially important, as staying hydrated is important for your vocal quality. If you're feeling really dried out, as much as a gallon per day is appropriate Drink water at room temperature. Drinking very cold water can make it harder for the muscles  in your throat to function as they should, so definitely don't add ice! Prepare warm (not scalding hot) herbal tea with lemon and honey. The honey will coat your throat, preventing damage to your voice. Licorice and slippery elm tea, along with honey, are particularly soothing to an inflamed throat. Humidifying the air can also help your vocal cords, as you will be breathing in moisture. Run a humidifier while you sleep during the nights prior to the performance. If you don't have a humidifier, close yourself in the bathroom with the shower running. The warm steam from your shower will have the same effect. Vitamin C is a natural immune system booster. Take plenty in the days leading up to your performance. Vitamin C is found in fruits like oranges and pineapples, and can also be taken as a vitamin supplement. Many singers also believe that eating garlic can help combat a cold. Indeed, garlic is a great immune system booster, rich in sulfuric compounds that can kill bacteria and other infections, and is also a great source of potassium. Garlic is found in many foods and can also can be taken a supplement, but some singers believe that eating cloves of raw garlic is most helpful. Doctors agree! Raw garlic is most beneficial for the immune system. Some cold medications may dry out your throat, making the situation worse rather than better. Choose the medicine that's right for you.  Decongestants help eliminate excess mucous, but also dry out your nose and throat. They can leave your vocal cords feeling rough or tired very quickly once you start singing. If you use decongestants, make sure to drink a lot of water!  Numbing sprays and lozenges can provide immediate relief for a sore throat, but they also make it harder to tell if you might be straining your vocal cords, making damage more likely.  Many medications contain alcohol. While this can make you feel better, it can also dry you out and even lead to more mucous production. It is best to stay away from such medications (and alcohol in general) before singing. In the days before your performance, use your voice as little as possible. This will help your voice recover. Some singers who will be performing with a cold choose to rest their voices as long as possible, especially if they have a cough. Others choose to do some light warmups, such as the following:  Early on in the day, warm up your voice without singing. Try some light humming. Or, just practice talking in different pitches, using resonant words like "yeah" or "myah."  If your voice cracks or starts to feel strained, stop and resume your vocal rest.

summary: Get plenty of sleep. Drink lots of water. Drink warm tea. Humidify your environment. Take vitamin C. Eat plenty of garlic. Consider medication. Rest your voice. Warm up, if desired.


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Think about what your interests are. Think about what you like to do in your spare time, what subjects in school you like the best, what college majors you have considered, and what sort of jobs you can imagine yourself doing in the future. Then write a list of what your top interests are. Try to write as many as you can think of. As you consider your interests, also think about your values. What traits you hold near and dear, and what could you never imagine yourself doing? Are you someone who gets a sense of value from the work you do? Taking inventory of your values can help better direct your interests. When you don't have any responsibilities to tend to, such as school, chores, or a job, what do you do? Ask yourself this question and be honest to yourself about what you like doing most when you have free time. You likely spend your leisure time doing things that relate to your interests. Brainstorm careers that might be good for you given these interests. For example, if you like math and like figuring out how things work, engineering might jump to mind. If you like people and you're good at figuring out what motivates people, psychology might be something to consider. This is essentially like giving yourself an aptitude test.

summary: Write down your interests. Consider how you spend your free time. Visualize your dream job or jobs.


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Weight loss from a calorie-controlled diet involves following a simple equation: the calories in versus the calories out equals weight loss or gain. Therefore, if your cat consumes more calories than she burns off in a day, she will gain weight. Thus to get the cat to lose she must take in slightly less than her daily needs. This option means counting your cat’s calories as you switch her to the reduced diet. Veterinarians recommend that you feed your cat 75 to 80 percent of the resting energy requirements for her ideal weight. This amount should help your cat lose weight at a healthy pace of one to two percent of her body weight each week. You should consult your vet for the exact caloric amount, but approximate amounts are:  180 calories/day for an ideal weight of eight pounds 210 calories/day for an ideal weight of ten pounds 230 calories/day for an ideal weight of twelve pounds You may have difficulty achieving this caloric intake with a standard, calorie-dense cat food simply because it’ll be much less food. Your cat especially won’t appreciate it. A formula specifically meant to help with weight reduction in cats will be low in calories and high in fiber, allowing your cat to eat nearly the same amount of food per day while still achieving the desired reduction in calories.  The cutback in a standard food will leave your cat feeling hungry and underfed, which means she’ll both pester you for more food and her body’s metabolism may slow due to the perception of underfeeding, which will make it harder for her to lose weight.  Your veterinarian will determine the best weight loss formula for your cat. Options include Hills R/D and Purina OM. These formulas also often contain L-carnitine, which is a supplement that can encourage your cat’s body to burn off fat instead of lean muscle. Use a kitchen scale when measuring instead of a dry measuring cup in order to be more precise. Weigh your cat and record the weight on a weekly basis. It is perfectly normal for your cat to hit plateaus in the process where she might stop losing weight before the target weight. Consult your vet about reducing the caloric intake another five to ten percent for further results. Those attending a pet weight watchers are much more likely to reach their target weight than those not attending. This is because the regular weigh ins and the moral support of the staff make you less likely to give in to your cat pestering for food. Plus, the staff can often spot areas where you can make a difference or are perhaps slipping up. These weight-watching clinics for your cat may be put on through your veterinarian’s office, or your vet will likely have more info on where to find one in your area. If part of the problem is that you have two cats but only one is overweight, then feed them in separate rooms. This will ensure that each cat only gets the portion of her food that corresponds to her diet.
summary: Learn how caloric intake affects weight. Determine the ideal caloric intake for your cat. Consider switching to a prescription weight loss formula cat food. Weigh your cat weekly. Consider taking the cat to a pet weight-watching clinic. Feed your cats separately.