High School Wrestling: Diet and Supplements

The nutritional plan that a wrestler follows can be a factor in his performance. Different foods supply different nutrients to our bodies. Although food is the most important element in your nutritional plan, supplements can also be a beneficial addition. Some wrestlers desire to lose weight. Some wrestlers do not need to lose weight. Regardless of whether or not a wrestler needs to lose weight, all wrestlers want to be strong and have sufficient energy.

Protein (4 calories per gram)

The body uses protein to perform many functions. I believe most of you know that one of protein’s main functions is building and repairing body tissues (e.g. muscle tissue). Proteins are composed of amino acids. Essential amino acids are amino acids that the body cannot make and must be provided by one’s diet. A complete protein supplies all of the essential amino acids. Most complete proteins come from animal sources. We are talking about meat, fish, fowl, milk, cheese, and eggs. Why is protein important for a wrestler? Wrestling is strenuous and can be catabolic (i.e. break down muscle tissue).

How much protein do you need? Some studies have suggested that athletes require more protein than a sedentary person does. Your diet should get about 25% of its calories from protein.

Good Sources of Protein:

  • lean beef
  • boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • lean pork
  • fish without breading
  • turkey
  • milk
  • yogurt
  • cheese
  • cottage cheese
  • eggs

An Interesting Fact about Cottage Cheese:

Cottage cheese contains a large amount of the milk protein called casein. In fact, cottage cheese is almost 100% unadulterated casein. Casein digests slowly in the body. Casein supplies a slow trickle of amino acids after being ingested. Therefore, if you eat some cottage cheese before bed you can receive a slow trickle of amino acids (i.e. protein) into your body throughout the night that could be anti-catabolic (i.e. prevent the breakdown of muscle tissue) while muscle tissue is being repaired during sleep.

Regarding Eggs:

Eggs have a Biological Value (BV) of 100. Our bodies utilize the protein contained in eggs very well. Even egg whites have a BV of 88. I don’t recommend eating only egg whites even if they are lower in fat and calories. I think nature made eggs to be eaten with the yolk and white as a package. A large whole egg contains about six grams of protein. Eggs are nutrient dense. If you’re concerned about calories, you can poach eggs or fry them in a non-stick pan. There are liquid egg white products if you prefer. Remember that it’s probably not a good idea to eat raw eggs like Rocky Balboa.

Regarding Beans:

Beans are interesting because they can be a good source of protein and carbohydrates. Beans also supply fiber that can help you feel full if you are trying to diet. Beans and rice are a popular combination for supplying a meal that includes all or close to all of the essential amino acids. Some experts consider the combination of beans and rice to be a complete protein.

A guy named Tim Ferriss advocates something he calls a “slow-carb” diet for weight loss. Beans and legumes are an important part of this diet plan. For example, one meal might consist of beef, pinto beans, and mixed vegetables. Another meal might consist of eggs, black beans, and mixed vegetables. The diet doesn’t include carbohydrates like breads, cereals, and fruits so it’s not really a good diet for a wrestler. I just thought it was interesting as a weight loss option and because of its reliance on beans and legumes.

Carbohydrates (4 calories per gram)

Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of fuel. In other words, carbohydrates provide you with energy. Wrestling practice and competition obviously require a lot of energy. Therefore, make sure to include plenty of carbohydrates in your diet. Carbohydrates get broken down into glucose and other sugars. Glucose is your brain’s preferred fuel source. Much of this glucose gets stored in your muscles in the form of glycogen. Glycogen is then used as a source of energy. Your diet should derive about 60% of its calories from carbohydrates. There are complex carbohydrates like breads and cereals and simple carbohydrates like fruit. Educate yourself.

Good Sources of Carbohydrates:

  • breads
  • bagels
  • muffins
  • pancakes
  • cereals
  • rice
  • pasta
  • potatoes
  • sweet potatoes
  • fruits
  • vegetables

When I wrestled in high school, I ate a lot of carbohydrates. For instance, I actually ate a lot of rice cakes. I figured I could eat five rice cakes for about the same number of calories in one can of soda. I know you probably think they taste like Styrofoam but I became used to them. I also ate many potatoes without butter, salt, or any other condiments. I ate many bowls of plain oatmeal. I became accustomed to eating a simple diet. Of course, I still had a Pop-Tart or candy bar occasionally.

In Regards to Fruits and Vegetables:

Why eat a candy bar when you could eat two large apples for about the same number of calories? That was my thinking back in high school when I was dieting for wrestling. Fruits and vegetables are often fat free, low in calories, high in water content, high in fiber, and rich in nutrients like antioxidants. I ate many servings of green beans back then. I had an apple or two almost every day. I could eat a large amount of food for a small amount of calories.

Fat (9 calories per gram)

Fats provide twice the number of calories per gram as proteins and carbohydrates. Therefore, you don’t want to consume too much fat. However, you should not eliminate fat entirely from your diet. Your diet should derive about 15% of it’s calories from fats. Fats do many important things in our bodies. Fats build healthy cell membranes. Fats help to make hormones like testosterone. Your brain is approximately sixty percent fat. Some fats can help make your skin smooth and healthy. Moreover, fat cushions your body organs.

You’ve probably heard about the many types of fats such as saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, hydrogenated, and trans fats. Dr. Eric Serrano believes that saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats are all important. However, he recommends avoiding hydrogenated fats altogether. You may want to research fats and essential fatty acids. You may also want to perform an online search for Dr. Eric Serrano, Udo Erasmus, Dr. Bill Sears, and Dr. Joseph Mercola in regards to healthy fats.

Some Good Sources of Fat to Consider:

  • extra virgin olive oil
  • flax oil
  • fish oil
  • cod liver oil
  • peanut butter
  • nuts
  • virgin coconut oil
  • avocados

Don’t be afraid to eat whole eggs, lean red meat, salmon, tuna, and even a bit of butter occasionally. Coconut oil is a saturated fat. However, if you do some research regarding virgin coconut oil you will find out it that it has many potential health benefits. In addition, remember to limit or avoid hydrogenated fats and trans fats.

I was advised at a wrestling camp to try to eat a diet of about 80% healthy food and 20% unhealthy food during wrestling season. I guess they figured nobody could eat healthy 100% of the time. That may be sound advice.

In the book Blood in the Cage, author L. Jon Wertheim writes about Pat Miletich, a former wrestler and former UFC champion. Pat and most of his fighters follow something called Miletich’s “fighter’s diet” when a competition is drawing near. This diet consists mainly of oatmeal, eggs, and skinless, boneless chicken.

Fast Food Tips:

  • Have water or milk instead of pop
  • Have grilled chicken in sandwiches and soft shell tacos
  • Have grilled chicken breast, lean roast beef, and lean ham on sub sandwiches
  • Have a garden salad with minimal dressing
  • Have a baked potato without butter, sour cream, or cheese
  • Have a small hamburger without cheese, bacon, or mayonnaise
  • Avoid deep-fried, breaded, and batter-dipped foods

Keep in mind:

  • One pound equals approximately 3,500 calories
  • If you cut 500 calories a day from your diet you will lose approximately one pound per week
  • A simple way to determine the number of calories you need to eat per day to lose weight is to take your current bodyweight times 10 (e.g. 150 X 10 = 1,500 calories)
  • A simple way to determine the number of calories you need to eat per day to maintain weight is to take your current bodyweight times 15 (e.g. 130 X 15 = 1,950 calories)
  • A calorie-counting book and a food scale may be helpful; read nutrition labels
  • Try to avoid empty calories like you find in soda pop and candy
  • Keep your pre-competition meal light and carbohydrate based

I don’t recommend cutting weight or starving. You need food to fuel your body. In addition, drink plenty of fluids so that do not become dehydrated. If you choose to lose weight, do it slowly and carefully. You don’t want to lose muscle tissue and strength. In addition, you need energy for hard practices.

If you are Vegetarian or Vegan:

Strength coach Mike Mahler is a vegan (i.e. eats no animal products whatsoever) and yet he is big and strong. Some staples in his diet include nuts, seeds, peanut butter, almond butter, beans, lentils, vegetables, coconut milk, healthy fats like olive oil, and rice protein powder.

Pre-Competition Meal:

As far as your pre-competition meal goes, keep it familiar. That is not a time to try new foods. Keep it light and carbohydrate based so you have energy. A heavier meal with more fat will be slower to digest. On the other hand, your pre-competition meal should be something that you enjoy. I think I read somewhere that boxer Sugar Ray Leonard liked to have a cheeseburger before a big fight. I wouldn’t recommend that, but it seemed to work fine for him. Olympic champion speed skater Bonnie Blair’s pre-race meal was always a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I had a friend in high school that had one of his highest scoring basketball games after a meal of several bowls of chili. Personally, I always liked to have pancakes before a competition. For some people that would probably sit too heavy in their stomach. I liked to have jelly sandwiches and Pop-Tarts at wrestling tournaments if I needed something between matches. Find what works for you.

Supplements to Consider:

  • Multivitamin – to cover anything you might miss in your diet
  • Meal Replacement Products (MRPs) – shakes like Myoplex and Met-Rx provide protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals if you don’t have time to eat a meal
  • Whey protein – whey protein is absorbed quickly by the body and is ideal for a post workout shake
  • Glutamine – may help you maintain muscle if dieting; improves immune function
  • Creatine monohydrate – supplies energy to your muscles; make sure you stay hydrated if you use this supplement
  • Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) – may help with recovery and repair
  • Inosine – may give you greater endurance by supporting the regeneration of ATP
  • HMB – may help slow the breakdown of muscle tissue (i.e. anti-catabolic)
  • Beta-alanine – may help improve your work capacity via it’s ability to buffer lactic acid
  • Caffeine – can increase energy and alertness

You probably don’t need to supplement at all. Eat a healthy diet with a variety of foods and stay hydrated. That will do more for you than any supplement ever can. In addition, supplements can be costly. Moreover, some supplements work for one wrestler and not for another. Therefore, if you choose to use supplements be cautious and be careful. Do some research about the potential benefits and dangers of any supplement before using it.

I am not a nutritionist or dietitian. I am not an expert on dietary supplements. Read articles and books pertaining to nutrition and supplements. I have simply provided a rough guide to help you get started. Remember that you need fuel for your body to function well. That fuel is food. Therefore, make sure that make smart dietary choices on your path to wrestling success.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on High School Wrestling: Diet and Supplements

The Difference Between Supplements and Diet Pills

What is the difference between supplements and diet pills? It’s true that they are very alike; that’s probably why many people think that they are even the same thing! But, the benefits of each are distinct enough to be categorized as separate aids to dieting. The thing that remains the same for both of them is that they each contribute to the effectiveness of your weight loss, but differ in functionality (why they are taken).

Let’s begin explaining the difference between supplements and diet pills by describing what a supplement is and what it’s for. Supplements can be taken as a liquid (mixed in with a beverage), a capsule (to be swallowed as a pill) or a powder. The reason you would take a supplement is to boost a particular vitamin or mineral in your body that is deficient, and to support your body with certain things it needs to function, that your body may not be producing enough of naturally. For instance, let’s look at the most common vitamin calcium. The natural properties of this vitamin specialize in muscle growth. Now, if you find that you exercise very often, but fail to see much change in your muscle size, it is possible that your body suffers from slight calcium deficiency. In this case, you would take a calcium supplement to make up for your lower calcium levels. Doing so will boost the calcium in your body to its proper levels, helping you to get more out of your workouts and begin to see muscle growth at a faster rate. For another example, I’ll suggest potassium (the mineral that holds the number 3 spot of importance and amount in your body). The sole function of potassium is to regulate digestion and is what is burned to extract energy from the food you eat by converting certain elements. A situation where the need of a potassium supplement would arise can be found if you easily get fatigued when exercising. Taking a potassium supplement on its own however will not give you energy, it only helps deliver more energy to you when you eat something like a… what’s a good snack when exercising… a granola bar. When you take a break to get a bit of energy from your granola bar, you will find that little snack gives you much more to go on with the aid of a potassium supplement.

After those two examples of supplements, let’s move on to explaining what a diet pill is so you can easily see the difference between supplements and diet pills. Diet pills (as well as supplements) are completely safe to take, and utilize natural elements to trigger certain responses in your body. The effects of taking a diet pill are much more practical and can be easily felt, rather than the subtle ‘boosters’ that supplements are. Still, both are important and vital to an effective and healthy weight loss. The different effects of a diet pill are many, where almost any weight loss aid you need can be found in a different diet pill. For example, if you are dieting and are at a point where you cannot eat anything or are allowed to eat very little, just as there’s always ‘an app for that’, there is a diet pill for that. You can find appetite suppressant diet pills that simply relieve you of that stinging emptiness in your stomach so that you can pass through those hungry nights without so much as a belly grumble. It essentially tricks your body into thinking that you have just had a full meal by providing all the right vitamins and minerals to your body that it asks for when hungry. It costs you next to no calories, but don’t tell your stomach that. You may have heard about this other popular diet pill, one that increases your fat-burning capabilities when exercising.

There are many different supplements and diet pills out there that you can find that will tailor to your personal needs while you lose weight. Remember that they are safe to take, and only make your difficult task of losing weight more bearable. Once again, supplements are vitamin and mineral boosters, and diet pills provide more practical effects on your body to aid in losing weight. So now that you are aware of the difference between supplements and diet pills, you can use your new awareness to benefit from these great tools that help you lose weight faster and more easily than ever!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Difference Between Supplements and Diet Pills

Insurance Claim Supplements – How to Submit Claim Supplements

A claim supplement is a claim for additional repair or replacement costs. Supplements are commonplace in the claims process. However, if you are a policyholder unaware of your policy rights, you could be walking away from hundreds or thousands of dollars that you are entitled to collect.

Claim supplements usually occur after a policyholder submits a claim, gets paid and gets the repairs or replacements completed. Then, additional damage is discovered some time later.

Many people erroneously think that, once the claim is closed, it cannot be re-opened. And, insurance companies and their adjusters usually don’t rush to tell you how to submit a claim supplement. So, what to do? Let’s look at car insurance claims and property insurance claims.

For any kind of supplemental claim, you must contact your insurance company and give them your original claim number. The best way to notify the company is in writing, sent Certified Mail. That way, you’ll know who signed for the letter. The insurer will have to re-open the claim. You might get the same adjuster as before, but maybe not.

Car Insurance Supplemental Claims

Lots of supplements happen when cars are getting repaired. Many times, hidden damages are discovered when the body shop begins dismantling the car. So, while the insurance company may have issued payment to the body shop from the original repair estimate, they will issue a second check for the supplemental repairs. Happens all the time, no big deal.

However, sometimes post-repair problems don’t show up right away. A good example is the Air Conditioning system. If you have a car wreck in July, you might not notice that your heater is malfunctioning until fall or winter. But when any damages are discovered that can be directly related to the original insured loss, you can submit a supplement. Simply document the damages and their cause and send the supplement to the insurance company. No additional deductible is assessed, since you already paid it once.

Property Insurance Supplemental Claims

Homeowners, Renters or Business insurance claims can find a need for a supplemental claim for some of the same reasons found in car insurance claims. Seasonal issues can bring up damages related to the original loss. But, some other issues might present themselves. You may have an expert’s report that shows additional damage attributable to the original loss. Your contractor may have found hidden damage that must be repaired. In any event, carefully document your claim and submit it to the insurance company.

Be sure that you are collecting all the money you are entitled to collect. Use supplemental claims whenever your claim requires it.

If you have experienced a property loss, whether fire, wind, flood or other, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website listed below.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Insurance Claim Supplements – How to Submit Claim Supplements

Think Before Spreading Rumours About Corona Virus In UAE

Originated in a small city Wuhan of China, Coronavirus has now caused serious perturbation globally. On 30 January 2020, the Director-General of World Health Organization confirmed the out-break of significantly dangerous a virus chemically known as nCoV or as recently referred to as Covid-19 aka Coronavirus and such outbreak led to Public Health Emergency on an international level.

On the basis of the International Health Regulations, all signatory countries are responsible for co-operating and supporting each other by share legit information regarding the virus. Although, there are reports of recovery from this virus, it is essential to protect oneself as it can be potentially fatal to your health.

The Wuhan-nCov is a sort of coronavirus which is a particular kind of viral contamination normally causes sicknesses in mammals or birds. Coronavirus in creatures influences an assortment of species, including bats, snakes, steers, camels and cats, sometimes. Nevertheless, when the infection transforms it can and infects people as well. Coronavirus diseases normally lead to respiratory contaminations, which can demonstrate conceivably lethal.

The 2019 Wuhan coronavirus is infectious. It spreads through human transmission and represents a potential general wellbeing hazard in nations where the malady has been recognized. While coronavirus transmission relies upon various elements, including infection transformation and the individuals immunity, it can demonstrate terminal. The infection, when contracted, can cause genuine lower respiratory tract sickness, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Based on reports all around the world, it is established that detecting the virus in any humans body from its symptoms is difficult as the symptoms are closely similar to a normal cold and flu. Similar symptoms are cough, fever, sore throat, headaches and body pain or in some cases respiratory issues and diarrhoea.

Virus Out-Break in UAE

It was later confirmed by the UAE Government, the out-break of Coronavirus in the world and governments constant efforts to liaise with the Chinese government to prevent further unfurl of this virus. In the presence of this rampant virus, the government of UAE and UAEs Health Authority has used several precautionary measures to deal with the virus as follows:

Spreading awareness on the air gateways especially from flights coming from China

Preventing patients suffering from Coronavirus to leave hospital premises at any given point in time, this is strictly directed by the Ministry of Health and Health Authority of each respective Emirate.

Screening of all individuals coming from other countries to Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport and especially for individuals coming from China.

Undertaking potential test and treatment protocols to comprehend potential risks of Corona Virus and providing immediate treatment for patients suffering from the same.

Flights to and from China or Beijing has been suspended until the end of March 2020.

To instruct all hospitals to take Coronavirus patients as emergency cases and to treat them free of cost, in case they dont have health insurances.

It is has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health that around 8 cases have been registered of Coronavirus and the number might change when you get to read this article. The afore-mentioned precautions are approved by the World Health Organization to prevent further spreading of this disease.

Spreading Rumors

Whilst the government is supporting the patients suffering from the virus and preventing further turmoil, it is ordered by the government to all the individuals residing within the country to spread fake rumours about coronavirus. Wherein, rumours include providing misleading information or circulating unverified information.

Importantly pursuant to the Cybercrime Law (Federal Law Number 5 of 2012) any rumour, fake information or misleading videos spread by any resident of UAE shall face legal consequences in the country. It is very pertinent to not have a laid back approach on this topic, although it is not an epidemic, yet it is necessary to avoid this disease and act accordingly.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Think Before Spreading Rumours About Corona Virus In UAE

Daily Life in Italy During the Period of Corona Virus, CoViD-19

For more than a month, Italians had heard of the ‘Corona Virus’ in China, having seen the stories on the news about how the Chinese Government was handling the epidemic. This news seemed like something that was from a far off land that could never hit the Italian peninsula because it was the kind of situation that only happened to ‘others’, quite a normal response, much like many other populations responded. Thus, people were slow to put any emergency plans into place. At one point in early January, it was suggested that an Italian manager come up with an emergency plan, but this had not been the first time this manager had been advised that establishing rules to protect people from the normal flu was in order. However, one had to think positively rather than to living in fear of the Corona Virus, which was considered ‘unlikely’ to spread beyond China.

People from all backgrounds, not just Italians, tend to be more favourable of looking at life from a positive point of view; however, planning for the best is sometimes the equivalent of kicking the bucket down the road to someone else. Politicians are now trying to find a solution to help small businesses that are facing difficulties during this trying period, and money is being allocated to help families with children who need to keep a mother or father at home to watch the children whose schools have recently been closed. On the surface, these seem to be the best solutions to problems facing the country, but the long-term effects could potentially bury the nation in outstanding debt, causing difficulties for future generations.

Not only have hugs, kisses, and handshakes been banned. Soccer games open to fans have also been banned for thirty days by the decreet of Giuseppe Conte, the Prime Minister of Italy. This has saddened the majority of Italians, although many argue that even soccer players should have the right to keep their distance from one another. Furthermore, all sports’ events must be held behind closed doors until the third of April, something that remains incredible in the country known for kisses on the cheeks.

COVID-19 has interfered dramatically with the practice of religion, especially the Catholic religion, during February and March 2020. Yesterday, the author visited the Church of Santo Stefano in Borgomanero, where custodians had just cleaned the floors and disinfected the church. Not a living soul was to be found, neither a priest nor a tourist, which allowed the author to focus on the frescoes and the beautiful stained-glass windows in silence. If one travels across Italy this month, he or she will encounter numerous churches without parishioners because people are naturally afraid to meet one another in closed spaces no matter how large and accommodating they might be. It has been recommended that priests remove the holy water from Catholic Churches for fear of spreading the virus. Although citizens and tourists can visit holy shrines, church services have to be conducted via television and internet. Furthermore, churches have been closed because, in recent years, people have begun to steal religious artefacts from them when the churches and shrines are not guarded.

The author has been researching what is happening in the churches throughout Italy; however, there is much more information available about soccer games and the survival of the economy, which seems to be the main focus right now. For instance, in the news one finds much information about saving the reputation of ‘Made in Italy’, so low-level employees are forced to work even harder than before as they hope other countries will continue to demand their products in times of trouble. A company which had had to quit producing medical face masks for fifteen years (due to Chinese competition), suddenly had to reopen its doors to help meet the needs of the Italian population that did not have enough masks to protect citizens from COVID-19.

Not having enough masks was ironic in a country known for its Venetian Carnival celebration. Sadly, Venetian Carnival parades had to be cancelled this year for fear of contagion, causing the country to lose many tourist dollars and initiating the current crisis in Italian tourism. According to Assoturismo, ninety per cent of hotel bookings in Rome have been cancelled, and the United States has issued a level-3 warning to its citizens, stating that they should avoid travel to Italy in March. Travelers who visit Italy are required to stay home for 14 days after returning to the United States. A well-known leader of the Five Star Party was worried that such travel restrictions might lead to discrimination against Italians and ‘Made in Italy’. Many members of La Lega believe in a bailout amounting to 50 billion euros.

Citizens who used to hate watching the news because they generally detest politics are now glued to the TV to see what will happen next, whether or not they should stock up on food and masks, whether or not they will go to work, and who will help them get over the crisis.

On a positive note, unlike most Americans who have to worry about paying much money to be treated for the Corona Virus, Italians know they will not take on a load of personal debt to pay for initial testing and further cures. The Sistema Sanitario Nazionale aims to heal all Italian citizens as well as those who have the appropriate visa to be in the country. Notwithstanding these good intentions, there is the likelihood that the health system will become overburdoned with too many patients to care for during the crisis. For example, in a message written at 12:30 on the third of March, the Piemonte Region announced that simple surgical procedures that utilize the operating rooms have had to be suspended (if they are not urgent procedures) in order to assure that the diffusion of the virus is contained.

On the fourth of March, the Government decreed that all schools and universities would be closed for a month until the fifteenth of March although they are allowed to give lessons online when possible with the goal of stopping the spread of the virus or at least slowing down its spread. Until now, most Italians have been suspicious of online education; therefore, most teachers have not had training in how to convert to the online platform; nor have most students been prepared for this new learning curve. Fortunately, this experience will change the Italian mindset, so that everyone will learn to utilize the internet for learning, telecommuting, and flexitime.

The Decree of the Prime Minister of the Council (DPCM) advises citizens to limit exiting the home if they are over the age of 65, to refrain from shaking hands, to refrain from kissing and hugging, and to avoid visiting family members in hospice or in assisted living. Citizens have been advised not to go directly to the emergency rooms, but that they should dial 112 before going in order to assure they are not positive with the Corona Virus.

The Lombardia Region, having closed the gyms and swimming pools, had also ordered its citizens not to go to the local health clubs. Many citizens living in Lombardia interpreted the orders differently, thus deciding to go to use the sport clubs in the nearby Piemonte Region. Therefore, the Mayor of Novara, one of the cities in Piemonte, had to order that all of the city’s health clubs be closed. Likewise, some people have tried to escape the Red Zones of containment in Lombardia to reach their families elsewhere. One example was that of two public school teachers from the southern town of Irpinia who had been ordered not to leave Codogno, but who returned home to Irpinia near Naples as fast as they could where they were forced to be quarantined with their families, causing the entire condominium to have to be quarantined.

Whether museums should be kept open during the COVID-19 crisis remains a topic for debate amongst art enthusiasts. Museums take in much money while also attracting much-needed tourists from across the globe. Moreover, foreign tourists have to pay the much-needed tourist taxes, known as the tassa di soggiorno, which is going to be missed by the cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice (as well as many other cities) if tourism decreases, not to mention the tickets to museums which are sometimes higher for non-citizens. Italians themselves love to visit museums throughout their country, so they know they will be disappointed if they find museums closed for a month.

The movies, concert halls, and theaters have opened once again, but the Italian TV news has instructed people to leave space between themselves and others. One suggestion is to leave a vacant seat between every two seats, and this should be organized by the owners of the venue when they sell the tickets. According to TV reports, entertainment enthusiasts have been slow to get out once again. Whereas many Italians are not at all afraid of going to the cinema, there has been a humongous decrease in sales as evidenced by empty theaters and concert halls. Over the past weekend (March 1-2, 2020), according to the Associazione Generale Italiana Spettacolo (AGIS), there was a forty-four per cent decrease in ticket sales for various forms of entertainment.

Since Italians love to eat fresh food, they are less prone to stocking up on food for the crisis. While Americans typically stock up on canned vegetables, frozen foods, and food in glass jars, Italians prefer to buy fresh at all times–a great habit, but it might be useful in an emergency to have something with an extended expiration date. According to an Italian shopper, “It was weird that they were buying a lot of eggs and prosciutto.” Italian shoppers focus on purchasing fresh vegetables, fruit, tomatoes, bread, pasta, and rice, the last two of which admittedly have long shelf lives.

Italians approach the COVID-19 crisis in numerous ways: Pro-active Italians help others face this crisis in an organized and dignified manner. They are the city planners who realistically present the crisis. Sergio Mattarella remains calm while giving suggestions about how to be unified as a nation. Counter-active Italians are those who remain stuck and who do not try to change their ways of doing business to meet the needs of the crisis. They are unrealistic and unwilling to sacrifice something to protect their employees, and many of them would like to borrow vast sums of money to solve the tourism, healthcare, and employment crisis. At the same time, some religious Italians (not all) want to put everything into the hands of God without trying to make efforts to avoid getting ill. Others are fatalistic, only seeing a negative outcome, really scared about having to exit the house, obsessive about cleaning everything around them. Those who are in-denial do not even believe in the existence of the dangerous Corona Virus; many of them think it is ‘just the flu’ and they are taking no precautions. Furthermore, others are simply relaxed about it all as they think they must go with the flow. These reactions are common even in other cultures.

One can still see people in the local coffee shops and bars at the time of Aperitif. Having a snack and drink with friends around 12:00 noon or having an Aperi-Cena in the evening is an enjoyable Italian tradition that is still being practised during these times of the COVID-19 crisis. There is going to be a Woman’s Day party on the 8th of March. There should be a good turnout although it will be much smaller than in past years. Maybe many people over the age of 65, who always looked forward to it, will have to stay home this year until the Corona Virus has been conquered. People still have a good sense of humor, pleasant smiles, and the willingness to watch funny Italian TV shows in the evening, and especially I Soliti Ignoti with Amadeo Sebastiani. Italy remains a fun place to be. Mauro Corona, a famous Italian sculptor, author, and Alpinist, still retains his incredible sense of humor even though someone coined his surname, which made him feel like he was “beginning to hate his name.”

Laura Gail Sweeney, Ed.D., is an author, a philosopher, a mentor, and a private English language teacher who has enjoyed making commentaries, creating art and writing for many decades. She has traveled across the world and educated thousands of students from more than 30 countries. She is fascinated by human interaction that is modulated by changes in the economy as well as by the social challenges created by businesses that need to both survive and thrive during the recent period of the COVID-19 crisis. Sweeney thinks that business leaders need to re-examine preparedness for unexpected occurrences such as the flu and epidemics in order to make workplaces safer for their employees and provide the best possible services. Effective communication is the key to facing future challenges effectively.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Daily Life in Italy During the Period of Corona Virus, CoViD-19

CoronaVirus Effects on Toronto Real Estate Market

Toronto Real Estate Market Sales are up 45.6%! Average Prices Up 16.7% amid CoronaVirus (COVID-19) fears! CoronaVirus impacts on the Toronto’s Real Estate Market, March 2020!

This is a thorough review about what’s going on in Toronto’s Real Estate Market! Here you read about the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) effect on Toronto’s real estate Market and how the corona virus will impact the market and capital markets! This report, in addition, includes forecasts and Supporting Data to our Past Forecasts. And also how the Market Meltdown would impact real estate in Toronto.
Toronto Housing Market Overview Amid CoronaVirus fears:

March 2020 has started with a total of 7,256 resale transactions reported through TREB’s MLS in Toronto’s real estate market. That was a historic 45.6% increase in the number of sales compared to last year similar time in Toronto’s real estate. On top of that the average home price in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has been $910,290, which is OVER 16.7% price increase Year over Year in Toronto’s housing market!
CoronaVirus (COVID-19) impact on Toronto’s real estate Market:

Meanwhile CoronaVirus effect in the capital markets was heavy in February. Toronto Exchange Composite Index hit the highest 17,944 on February 20th, then dropped to a low 12,700 on March 12th, which is a HUGE 28% melt down in almost two weeks!!

On the other hand, the Toronto real estate market, was the strongest since 2017, amid all the COVID-19 pandemic panic. I, as a Toronto Real Estate Agent and investment analyst, have seen more investors entering the real estate market when the forecast of the stock market seems volatile to them. If you look at the REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) stocks, you’d see among the huge meltdown in all other sectors, the REITs are performing relatively better than other stocks ( less plunge we see in those stocks) . Especially residential REITs. The symbols that I recommend you to follow are : REI.UN ( RioCan REIT ) and CHP.UN ( Choice Properties REIT ) .

Real estate in GTA has been a safe long term investment for many. Speculators also have enjoyed the waves here and there, but one important thing to remember is that the buyers who drive the market are not all speculators. They are First buyers, Up sizers, or downsizers, who actually need a roof for living. Many of the buyers are actually end users, second comes the cash flow investors. Speculators are not a big part of the market here.

Is there a FOMO in real estate market?

As someone who works with buyers and sellers in Toronto’s real estate market, I’d say that the FOMO has returned to the market, and much more buyers are competing on the properties more than a couple months ago. Numbers also support that, number of sales increased by 45.6% and the number of active listings dropped by 33.6%, which puts even more pressure on the standing inventory. That being said, amid CoronaVirus fear, I forecast even higher price increases in Toronto’s housing market for the next month! That’s in the opposite direction that the stock market moves currently!
What will happen to the markets if the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) gets under control:

If the CoronaVirus gets under control in Canada, i.e, they find a cure for it, or somehow control it, the confidence will get back to the stock market. If we look at the lessons learned from SARS, we’d realize that the CoronaVirus will be controlled at some point, that’s when the markets, especially stock markets, would start rising again. In that case the money that flows to the stock sector would be a relief to the Real Estate Market. But again the FOMO might cause a minor bubble for the stocks as well. Which will eventually be corrected sooner or later after that.

But until that timeArticle Search, I think the real estate market in Toronto would be subject to higher price appreciation.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on CoronaVirus Effects on Toronto Real Estate Market

Should You Stop Marketing During COVID-19?

As a small business owner you may be concerned about the impact of the coronavirus has on your business; your revenue, employees, and marketing funnel. Although you shouldn’t stop marketing during CONVID-19, there are many ways your marketing approach could go wrong. So here are three ways you can effectively market your small business during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Impact of Coronavirus on Small Business

As a human, I’m sure you’ve been affected by COVID-19 (also known as novel coronavirus) in some way.

Whether that means worrying about elderly parents, changing travel plans or stocking up on essentials to work from home for the foreseeable future, it’s hard to not feel the stress.

As a small business owner, you may be seeing fewer customers as people limit social interaction, change travel and leisure plans and focus on staying healthy rather than on shopping for products and services.

Unless you sell toilet paper or hand sanitizer, you may be concerned about the impact of the coronavirus on your small business; your revenue, employees, and empty marketing funnel.

So does that mean you should hunker down and stop your marketing efforts for the time being? No!

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus a global pandemic, and it’s a very uncertain time. However, I’m a firm believer in focusing on what we can do and change while finding the opportunities amidst adversity.

Every challenge can be met with common sense, rational thought and even kindness. This is not the time for irrationality. I was watching a webinar the other day and someone said, “Worrying is like a rocking chair—it gives you something to do but it won’t get you anywhere!”

I know we are living in troubling times. The virus and how the global economy is responding to the preventative measures being placed is something that will go down in the history books.

But as business owners, there is one thing we do still have control over, and that’s the ability to be resilient and make choices that will get us through these times as best possible.

In this article, I’m sharing some ways you can address the challenge of marketing during a crisis and keep your business going.

Let’s start by looking at two of the wrong ways to approach marketing during a crisis right now:

1. Making a joke about coronavirus. A few weeks ago, it was common to see online memes and humorous marketing campaigns being shared. A Las Vegas jeweller even created a campaign to sell rings!

As more and more people around the world were affected by coronavirus, these slowed down a lot. Making light of the situation is not only in poor taste, but you’ll likely drive away a good chunk of your target audience.

2. Playing on people’s fears. It’s one thing to use a sense of urgency to sell your product or service, but it’s another thing entirely to use scare tactics.

For example, don’t scare people into buying a first aid kit with a message like “Only two left! Don’t risk your family’s health!” Rather, focus on the benefit of being proactive and prepared by stocking up on medical supplies.

Make sure the angle and tone of your marketing reflects your customer’s current concerns and pain points without capitalizing on their anxiety.

How to Effectively Market Your Small Business During the Coronavirus Outbreak

No matter what type of small business you have, your priority should be clearly communicating with your customers to put them at ease.

Think about what your clients need to hear from you, and how you want to position your business during this crisis.

Here are 3 ways to market your business during the coronavirus crisis:

1. Reassure everyone that you’re protecting their health. This is especially true if you have a brick-and-mortar location. This may mean sharing your extra sanitation practices, putting a hand sanitizer station at the front of your location or implementing a policy where all staff wear masks and gloves.

For example, WestJet shares their additional precautionary cleaning measures due to coronavirus on their website.

2. Be prepared to pivot. You need to be flexible to best serve your customers. That might mean instead of cancelling a customer conference, you change it to a virtual event.

If you are planning an upcoming workshop or event, pivot with your audience in mind. It’s possible you have already been forced to cancel or postponne, but don’t assume everyone wants the solution you’re providing.

Consider options such as making it a virtual version of the event or postponing your conference to a later date. Or some people may want ticket refunds.

Polls and questionnaires can be a great way to get honest feedback from your ticket holders before changing an event.

And of course, take a look at all of your contracts to ensure you’re covered before making any changes.

If you’re a service provider, create other ways to help your clients like this fitness trainer did. He offered them a way to stay fit that doesn’t involve being around a group of people in a gym.

3. Make your employees a priority too. Don’t focus all your efforts on marketing during this time. Your employees are what keep your business going, so how can you care for them?

Maybe you can give your staff the option of working 100% remotely while COVID-19 is a concern. Or, remind them you fully encourage them to stay home if they’re feeling sick.

The more you can put your employees at ease, the better they’ll be able to support your business and your customers.

What Small Business Owners Can Learn from Coronavirus

I know this is hard, and I hope you can hang in there and focus on the present, and on being of service to your clients and staff.

They’re afraid, and what you do or share can help alleviate those fears. Remember to be careful and intentional about what you’re saying.

If your small business is being adversely affected by coronavirus, it’s also a good time to reassess your business fundamentals, including how CONVID-19 is affecting your digital marketing. How will you deal with a crisis the next time it happens? Are there things you’d do differently to be more prepared or prevent losses?

Like everything else in life, this is a learning experience. Stay healthyFeature Articles, safe and positive.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Should You Stop Marketing During COVID-19?