Low Carb vs. High

Low carb diets can be classified as food plans that require keeping carbohydrates as low as 3% and never more than about 25 to 30%. This is much lower than the 50 to 60% recommended by most good scientists and valid research. Low carb diets include programs like Atkins, Protein Power, The Zone, Sugar Busters and the South Beach diet.

As you can see by the chart below, the Ornish and Pritikin diets at 70% and 80% carbs, are definitely high carb. One means used to distract people's attention away from the fact that the Atkins diet is basically an unhealthy food plan is to compare a "low carb" diet to a "high carb" diet. However, neither one is the best solution.

Although the in-depth research of Dr. Dean Ornish, using his high carb/low fat diet, has uncovered some amazing findings and produced phenomenal results in reversing heart disease, as a weight loss program and regular eating plan, it has some drawbacks. The Ornish diet, as with Pritikin, is proving to be too low in healthy oils from fish, olives, nuts and seeds. Plus, it may also raise triglycerides and lower HDL (good) cholesterol.

This chart shows you carb, fat and protein comparisons:

Carbs Fat Protein

Atkins 3-20% 45-65% 25-35%

South Beach 10-25% 50-70% 20-30%

Healthy 50-60% 20-30% 20-25%

Ornish/Pritikin 70-80% 5-15% 10-15%

Diets at both the top and bottom extremes have their problems. Anyone can lose weight on a diet – fad or otherwise - for a week, a month or even six months. But, for a weight loss program to be truly effective, your diet must become part of your lifestyle and the basis of everyday food choices. Besides health concerns, too many people find both low carb and high carb diets difficult to stick with for a lifetime. Your best bet is to develop a low calorie, healthy eating lifestyle that includes regular moderate exercise.

About The Author
Moss Greene is the Nutrition Host at Bellaonline.com. Visit her web site at http://www.bellaonline.com/site/nutrition to find out how to look better, feel your best and have more energy -naturally. Join her free health and fitness newsletter by going to http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2919.asp
nutrition@bellaonline.com

Thinking About Skin Tag Removal - Make Sure You Read This First

Skin Tag Removal Can Now Be Done In The Comfort Of Your Own Home

Skin Tags are a problem for a lot of people. They are those little extra pieces of skin on your body that just seem to appear. These skin tags are nothing to worry about, but they can be a problem when they get caught on clothes and jewelry. There are alternatives to surgery out there that most people don't know about. You can forget about paying upwards of $150 per skin tag at the dermatologist and start saving money by using natural remedies at home.

Skin Tag Removal At Home

DermaTend is one such product, allowing you to eradicate skin tags in as little as 3 days. Then, watch them heal right before your eyes revealing fresh, beautiful skin. This simple process will change your life, both physically and mentally. You will have a smooth body in no time without the hassle of embarrassing check ups and the outrageous fees.

Eliminate the Need for Cosmetic Surgery

All over the world, people are asking their dermatologists for help in removing their skin tags. Happily they comply and put them under the knife and charging their patients on average $125. You now have the solution that will save you $120, allowing you to inexpensively remove skin tags at home for only $5 per removal. This is simply unheard of in the field of dermatology. Don't get mixed up in the set ways of the medical community and make the same mistake thousands of people are making every day.

Dermatend Skin Tag Removal Eliminates Skin Tags without a trace

I cannot stress enough how important it is to not risk replacing the skin tag you have wished to be gone for so long with an unsightly scar. Too many times I have seen people have their skin tags surgically removed and end up with a scar significantly larger than the original problem. I have worked diligently to find the best all-natural way to have a successful, scar free treatment. My bloodroot remedy usually removes skin tags without leaving a trace at all; however sometimes there is a slight lightness in the removal area which usually completely heals in a few months. The organic full-spectrum mineral clay in DermaTend enhances the body's own healing ability as well as skin rejuvenation. I highly encourage you to visit their site below...

http://www.skintagfree.com

About The Author
John King is a avid health practitioner who has studied moles, warts and skin tags, due to his problems with them and his passion to help others. He owns a site http://molefreeskin.com, and gives detailed information on all forms of mole removal to help people make the right choice.
He highly recommends DermaTend, for moles and skin tags and suggests you visit there site as well. http://www.molegone.net for natural mole removal and, http://www.SkinTagFree.com for natural skin tag removal.

Eating Healthy On A Budget

Think eating healthy on a budget is impossible? Many people believe that cutting back on food costs means that you can't buy healthy food anymore.

Some people even convince themselves that healthy weight loss is not possible unless they spend a lot of money.

But eating healthy on a budget as well as healthy weight loss is not only possible, with a little planning you can cut food costs and still eat healthy food.

Here are a few tips to make it easier for eating healthy on a budget.

Plan your weekly food menus with healthy eating recipes and make a grocery list with those items before you shop. This saves you time in the store and can save you a lot of money because you are less likely to buy on an impulse.

Stock your fridge and cupboards with healthy foods, and to keep costs down, stay away from extras like soft drinks, chips, baked goods, and other high-calorie items.

Children and sometimes even spouses are usually the ones asking for junk food. Remember, food choices are a big factor in what determines the health of you and your family.

Buy more water or milk instead of soft drinks when shopping and you'll save money. You can still enjoy your favorite soft drinks at a sporting event or night out. For healthy weight loss just make it a diet soda.

Buy fruits in quantity when they are in season and freeze any extras. Just wash the fruit well, dry thoroughly, then freeze in plastic zipper bags.

While lean meat and seafood are a great source of protein, they can get expensive. To cut your costs, use beans a substitute for meat on a few occasions.

Beans are very economical and makes eating healthy on a budget really simple. There are several varieties of beans and preparing them in a crock pot and making a salad turns into an easy meal.

Another great way for eating healthy on a budget is brown-bagging your lunch. It takes a little more time, but with the right food choices, it is both healthier and less expensive.

Peanut butter is also great for those on a budget and almost everyone likes it. Use it for sandwiches along with jam instead of expensive lunch meat.

For healthy weight loss try adding sugar free jam because it has a lot fewer calories and fat than regular jam but still tastes great.

If you eat foods that have a high content of water like watermelon, salads and even sugar free gelatin, they are inexpensive, ideal for healthy weight loss and work perfect for eating healthy on a budget.

It easy to fall into a rut of eating the same unhealthy and expensive foods. But once you take back control by planning your weekly food menus with healthy eating recipes, you can enjoy a nice variety of meals again.

Eating healthy on a budget can be as simple as just making different choices.

About The Author
Gary Gresham is the author of "Fat Burning Secrets" at: http://www.fat-burning-secret.com where you can discover simple yet powerful changes that can have a major effect on your weight loss results. Get a free report at: http://www.fat-burning-secret.com/fat-burning-report.html.

How Working Out May Dry You Out

I am Dr Patrick Flanagan, and this is the latest edition of my Dr Health Secrets newsletter. I have worked out regularly for my entire life and from many years of experience, I have put together a little bit of information on working out and keeping hydrated.

Shake What Your Genetics Gave You

Yes, even I get the Victoria Secret catalog and cringe at the bevy of beauties who are strewn across the pages in napkin-sized underoos. And though I usually opt for walking in nature or doing floor exercises, I sometimes feel that need and desire to go to the gym and run myself into the ground for four straight miles on a treadmill, and like a hamster on one of those little metal wheels, I wonder, "Why is it that I am not going anywhere?"

In this fantasy, I peel myself from the machine, step onto the floor, and find myself lightheaded and somewhat disoriented. I wander around, aimlessly hoping that this strange feeling of confusion will soon pass as I stumble into walls and neighboring weight machines.

Sometimes it passes rather quickly, and other times, I am left in this strange fog for what feels like hours. What is this strange sensation that I, as well as many others, experience after working out? Well, it is mostly dehydration.

If I Only Had Some Water...

Consuming water while working out would seem to be a pretty common practice among the gym going type, and while many people can be seen with water bottles in hand, a large majority of those people don't actually drink enough water to maintain proper hydration.

According to Peter Bruno, M.D., who is the team physician for the New York Knicks, and Finish Line Physician for the Boston Marathon, constant sweating for over an hour decreases the total amount of blood volume in the body.

On average, a person can lose up to one liter of water per hour on a hot day. This lack of water causes your blood to thicken, making it harder for the blood to circulate, which in turn causes your blood pressure to drop. This then leads to that fabulous feeling of lightheaded confusion that so many of us have come to know and love.

Bruno says, and I quote, "You are losing blood volume, it is almost as if you are bleeding when you get dehydrated because the amount of blood you have available to deliver oxygen decreases."

Short-term side effects of moderate dehydration include headache, nausea, confusion, disorientation, muscle cramping, and so on and so forth. There are risks in staying within this level of moderate dehydration, such as intense muscle pain, and even muscle tearing.

I think most of us have pulled a groin muscle or two in our day, and I think that all of us can agree that it is not something we hope for on a frequent basis.

What's an Athlete To Do?

The best solution is for you to check in with yourself prior to, during, and after a workout. Ask yourself how your body feels and how it would feel with more fluids. In general, try to drink a bit more than you think and see how your body reacts. If you are tired, sore, or feeling weak, use that as an indication that you need more water...

About The Author
This article has been authored by Dr Patrick Flanagan, a cellular hydration expert who has developed a unique silica Microcluster® and silica hydride to dramatically increase longevity.
www.DrHealthSecrets.com
hlth_articles@yahoo.com

What's The Best Way To Care For Your Trampoline ?

Your trampoline can be an expensive item, so it's important to properly care for it. Here's some useful tips :

Don't Let Kids sit/stand or play with the frame pads. The pad is a preventive in case the kids land too close to the frame.

Don't use chemicals to clean your frame pads.

Don't tie your pads too tight. In case of strong winds, it can pull up the pads and therefore pull out the straps if tied too tightly.

If you have an enclosure, lift up the skirt where the poles are or cut out of the skirt area at the pole. If the pole lies against the skirt, there will be too much strain on the pads and can cause the skirt seams to rip.

Keep all animals away from the trampoline. There's something about dogs and pads and are very appealing to dogs!

How can trampolining be safer?

If your child already uses a trampoline, you should follow these safety measures.

Location of the trampoline and safety features:

Clear the area around the trampoline of objects and do not set the trampoline near trees, fences, poles, or other playground equipment.

Set the trampoline where an energy-absorbing surface (for example, tall grass) surrounds it. Buy and use a frame pad that covers the entire area of the spring system. If possible, lower the height to ground level by putting the trampoline in a pit.

Before using the trampoline:

Set rules for trampoline use and discuss them often with your children. Tell your children about the risks of not using the tramp properly. Have your children remove any necklaces.

Using the trampoline:

Have someone properly train your child how to do flips and other complex stunts. Never allow more than one person to use the trampoline at the same time. Do not allow bouncing followed by jumping off of the trampoline. Have an adequate number of spotters around the edges of the trampoline.

Follow these tips and you're trampoline will be great fun... and safe.

Find out all you need to know about trampolines. How to use them for best exercise results, and which models to buy. Daily updated blog of news & articles. Click http://www.trampolines-101.com/

About The Author
Jeb Taylor is a fitness guru. He works out on all exercise equipment he thinks will help him. Along with bikes and jogging, Jeb loves bouncing on a trampoline as a fun way to fitness.
artsub2005@yahoo.com

Chiropractors: They're on My Team!

Whenever I see the title "men's health", it conjures up a couple of images in my mind, and as far as most of the articles I see on the subject, they fall into one of two distinct and very different categories. It's either a sort of bodybuilding bust-your-buns biceps and washboard abs type deal with the fake tan and the body oil and the ubiquitous smile or it's the serious senior, Alan Alda persona doctor advising on the necessity of enduring an examination with a latex glove and all the guilt you have to endure if you don't.

Who needs to be reminded that there is something slowly going wrong with you inside and it's your duty to identify it and do something about it? Hey, leave me alone, I'm feeling pretty good and who wants to rush to diagnosis? And as I said, the other extreme is the in-your-face body that only took thirty hours a week at the gym for the last three years and a basin-load of creatine to realise. I don't think there is much point in writing about "pumping iron" workouts, when every gym in the land will counsel you on how to get those pecs bulging like they're on steroids.

No, for me men's health is sort of like the Cresta Run or the Luge at the Olympics, you hurtle down an icy slope flat on your back and try to steer clear of the sides; that's the part that I think is like men's health, try to steer clear of the sides and slip on through to the finish in one piece.

Anyway, here is my content part as opposed to my comment part: Chiropractors. They are a staple in my team to get through to the end and they can help you and me make it to the finish line in much better shape than we would without them. But, heavens, you would not believe the number of guys I run across complaining about some part of their body and how incapacitated they are and how they can't do so many of the usual things and then, when I suggest that a chiropractor could fix that problem in about fifteen minutes flat, they shy away shaking their heads, "oh no my brother-in-law was screwed up by a chiro" or, "no I don't trust them " or simply, "no I've been through this before, it only lasts about four weeks", hey, oh great, only four weeks!!

So I incorporate a regular chiropractic adjustment every five to six weeks into my schedule, just to keep my spine limber and supple and no I'm not going to him because I have a problem, but maybe that's why I don't have a problem. So with the medical professionals it's sort of like having a team of specialists, each one taking care of a particular aspect of your overall health. And, seriously here, I genuinely feel that chiropractic care is a plus especially for anyone with athletic aspirations; these guys are not just for the sore backs, they can be a definite asset in your athletic arsenal. Funny thing is that if they deal mostly with athletes, I think they seem to call them Sports Kinesiologists; much more palatable to the athlete and sounds so much more "formula one" type stuff, right?

So consider getting yourself organized with a good chiropractor and see how it goes, I bet you will not believe the kinds of problems you might get solved by a chiropractic adjustment; again it's not just about sore backs and slipped discs. I certainly put them high on my list, and when I may have overdone it a bit here and there, it does impart a certain amount of confidence knowing that there's a pretty good chance that my chiropractor can respond to my slightly irreverent request, "OK, now put me back in the game, doc." Some even have a sense of humour: I was complaining to mine the other day about getting older and he just said, rather wryly, "hey, the alternative is not so hot either!"

About The Author
Gordon Black is a world-ranked Master swimmer and Canadian national record holder. A member of the British swim team in the late '60s, after thirty years out of the pool, last year Gordon returned to competitive swimming in the Masters forum. He offers an online weight loss, fitness and motivational coaching service through his web site www.gordonblack.com where his competitive comeback is chronicled. Gordon is currently working on a book based on his own weight management and fitness system - publisher's enquiries welcome!
gordon@gordonblack.com

Your Weight Loss Problem: How-To Cure It By Watching Movies Or Reading Books!

I don't know anything about you but if you're anything like me then you struggle with a weight loss problem. Your weight loss problem consists of you struggling to keep your weight down or struggling to make your weight go down.

Most people who see me wouldn't believe that I have a weight loss problem, but I do. I've battled bulimia and constant gains and losses in weight, of ten pounds each time. Thats what I call a big weight loss problem.

A lot of women and men with the same or a similar weight loss problem would sympathize with me I'm sure. I want to look good (who doesn't?) so that always motivates me to go on a diet.

But after sticking to a diet for a week and dropping the unwanted weight my love for good tasting food overpowers my need to feel attractive and the weight piles back on pound by pound.

There is always exercise to help with a weight loss problem, I remind myself as I lie lazily on the couch chomping down on one of my non-diet treats. "Sure!" I groan "I don't feel like wearing my butt out without seeing any results for weeks at a time."

Whenever I start a workout regimen I only stick to it for a few weeks (usually less) and then I get bored and drop it. So my weight loss problem continues.

How many other women I wondered (or men, for that matter) get bored while exercising? I thought about that for awhile then I set about to find a solution to help all those poor people (and myself too, of course) with this weight loss problem.

First I asked myself: What did I like to do? What did I find Interesting?

"Hmmmm, well" I thought "I like dancing, but long periods of it are exhausting. I like to read, to listen to music, and I really dislike being on my feet for over long periods of time.

What could possibly combine all or most of these to make my exercising interesting and help solve my weight loss problem?

The solution to my weight loss problem was amazingly simple!

I own an old stationary bike, and I do mean OLD, but the important thing is that it operates. You can do this with any form of stationary bike, whether it's a twenty year old model or an up to date model.

It doesn't matter whether you own the stationary bike or use a gym's or your local YMCA's or YWCA's facilities.

My weight loss problem solution is this:

Find something engrossing to read. It could be a novel or your favorite magazine. Or listen to music that you enjoy, you could even use audio books or any different CD's or things you could listen to.

I suppose if your bike was somewhere around a television or computer with a DVD player, you could even watch your favorite movie.

The next step is to mount your stationary bide and start biking while reading or doing any of the above listed activities, and not to get off for at least 45 to 60 minutes, except for an occasional rest every quarter of an hour.

I usually just keep biking away the whole time and sometimes I bike longer because I'm so engrossed in what I'm reading, and I won't allow myself to read it once I'm off the stationary bike.

After a week of this, without change in my eating habits, or any dieting, I'm maintaining a healthy weight. Best of all I'm not putting on any new pounds, and my legs look visibly slimmer.

So I've kissed my weight loss problem goodbye, and I'm saying hello to slim jeans and size 6 dresses, and you can too.

For the first time in a long while I actually look forward to putting on a bikini ;-)

About The Author
Beth Scott
If this method isn't appealing to you or just doesn't work, you should try visiting Brad Callen's web site at: http://snipurl.com/98g1 He gives excellent weight loss advice for those seeking it.
beth15@apt-products.com

An Effective Acne Skin Care Regime

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions today. It affects or has affected nearly everyone at one time or another. Acne skin care is the most important tool in reducing or eliminating outbreaks. Many different things contribute to healthy skin.

Acne occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog pores, or follicles. Acne primarily affects teens, although adults are affected also. Puberty causes an increase in oil production which increases the risk of having an acne outbreak.

What are some of the ways we can instil acne skin care?

The easiest acne skin care regime is to wash your face twice daily with warm water and mild soap. Using your bare hands to wash your face is gentler and kinder to your skin. Acne skin care dictates that you are very gentle with your skin-no scrubbing vigorously, using harsh soap, or alcohol based skin products. These only serve to irritate the skin and may make acne much worse.

Acne skin care revolves around oil control where it can be controlled. Wash your face frequently to remove oil and dirt when you are sweating or working around an oily area. Exposure to grease, pore-clogging cosmetics or hair products can worsen acne. If you are prone to oily hair, wash your hair daily to reduce the oil. Concentrate on using oil-free makeup and moisturizers.

Acne skin care demands that you be gentle to your skin. Picking or squeezing pimples can cause more inflammation and help to push bacteria deeper into your skin. Friction, such as athletic gear, bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars, can make you sweat which can cause clogged pores and therefore, acne.

The Don't's of acne skin care are:

Don't touch your skin unless absolutely necessary!
Don't rest your chin in hands!
Don't pick at your face!
Don't smoosh your face into your pillow and keep pillowcase clean!
Don't let hair products get on skin!
Don't rest cellphone against your face!

The Do's of acne skin care are:

Do treat your face gently and kindly.
Do wash your face with your bare hands.
Do wash face two times daily with warm water and mild soap.
Do use oil-free makeup.

If your acne is very severe or does not respond to the pampering acne skin care regime, then you may need to contact your physician for more aggressive treatment options.

About The Author
Mike Spencer is committed to helping people promote and protect their health. Read more about Mike's Acne Prevention Tips here http://www.best-acne-treatment-solutions.com/acne-skin-care-regime.html Mike Spencer http://www.acne-products-reviewed.com - http://www.help-for-acne.com.
mick.spencer@gmail.com

Contact Lens Options for Your Pediatric Patients

Pediatric patients are some of the most special patients we see in any practice. When infants present for contact lenses, we all know it is a medical necessity.

The practitioners at my practice believe that contact lenses should not be any more of a burden on the parents than they have to be. And let's face it, inserting and removing lenses on an infant or a toddler is not an easy task for most.

Regardless, every parent or caregiver is instructed on the insertion and removal of their child's contact lens. Despite our best efforts, some parents are still hesitant to perform this task at home. In these cases, the child is fit with an extended wear lens made of either soft silicone or an approved gas permeable material. We love watching these kids grow, so we have the parents bring in their child on prescribed schedule to have the lens removed, cleaned, and re-inserted.

Many of the children who have worn lenses in this modality are growing up with superb vision. Some are learning to insert and remove their own lenses as early as age 4! Close monitoring by both the contact lens fitters and the referring doctor leads to happy and successful patients.

About The Author
Steve Cogger helps thousands of contact lenses wearers find the perfect lens for their eyes at his busy New York practice. For more consumer information and education, visit the informative website, http://www.all-about-contact-lenses.com.

You Are What You Eat, Do You Dig Your Grave With Your Tongue? Boost Your Immune System

I know that the headline is a oldie, but it really is a goodie and is so very true of most of us, in this age of fast takeaway foods giving us all the foods that we should not be eating if we wish to maintain good health. What you must do is have natural nutrition that will boost your immune system.

Do we eat enough foods that contain antioxidants? or do we really know what antioxidants do for our health?

Antioxidants help to protect our systems against the terrible effects that free radical molecules have on our bodies healthy cells, They have been associated with premature aging and a whole spectrum of diseases such as eye problems, cancer and cardiovascular disease, they could also be the cause of a number of auto immune disorders.

You will see that antioxidants are important to our health and lifestyle. The body actually produces antioxidants as a normal part of energy production from the nutrition that we consume daily, however, we are also exposed to the effects of smoking, pollution and chemicals in what we eat and drink, unfortunately these sort of things increase the production of free radicals. What can we do to overcome these effects? the answer is simple, that is to somehow or other increase the level of antioxidants produced in the body, to overcome the extra free radicals being produced. In other words, we have to boost your immune system.

Without getting technical, the best way to do this is by eating lots of plant foods and making sure that your diet is full of these health giving foods.

There are many antioxidants available in different fruits, nuts, vegetables, legumes, grains and seeds.

You should also look for color in you plant food intake, red, yellow, orange, green, this will ensure that you have a wide balance of the antioxidants needed by your body.

Some of the antioxidants that are easy to obtain in their natural form are:

Vitamin E, this can be found in avocado, nuts, seeds, wholegrain and wheat germ, this can help with cardiovascular problems.

Lycopene, is found in red or pink fruits or vegetables like tomatoes, this helps in preventing cold sores, prostate cancer, and it might even help to prevent skin cancer.

Lutein, is found in green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cabbage lettuce, they help to prvent cararacts, macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

Sulphur Compounds, are found in garlic and onions, broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts.

I have mentioned before the huge antioxidant benefits that can be obtained from broccoli if eaten the correct way. Broccoli itself is an abundant source of antioxidants, but if you grow salad sprouts from broccoli seeds and eat them in your salad they contain about thirty times more antioxidants that broccoli eaten in the normal way. That will help your body to receive a Boost to your immune system.

This is by no means the complete list of foods that will help you produce the antioxidants, there are thousands more, but this will give you a good idea of where to start if you wish to improve your health.

About The Author
Article by Alfred Jones
http://www.SugarsR4U.com A Vitamin for Boosting your Immune System - Goji Juice.
http://www.RUSweetEnuf.com The Eight Essential Sugars for Health - Glyconutritionals.

Walking for Fat Loss???

With obesity and disease increasing dramatically, many fitness experts are recommending walking for weight loss and fitness. Some are even going so far as saying that walking is the best way to burn fat and lose weight. I strongly disagree with this and am going to show you why walking is NOT effective at burning off body fat.

Yes, you read that correctly...

Walking is NOT effective at burning body fat and if your goal is fat loss you might be wasting your time. I am not saying that walking is not beneficial, I am saying that if fat loss is the primary goal, there are far better choices that will deliver far better results.

The primary benefits of walking are increased blood flow and circulation, improved recovery, and a strengthened immune system. There are several reasons why walking in not the best choice when it comes to fat loss. Here are just a few:

Walking does NOT burn a lot of calories

The lower the intensity of the activity or exercise the smaller the number of calories burned per unit of time. For example, you can burn more calories in 15 minutes of bicycling at a high intensity level than you can in 45 minutes of easy walking.

Walking does NOT result in a large increase in metabolism

Another downside to walking is that because it's generally low intensity it results in only a small increase in metabolism that will only last approximately 1-2 hours after the walk. On the other hand, metabolism increases are larger and last longer (4-24 hrs or more) when you perform high intensity cardio workouts.

Walking does NOT deplete muscle glycogen

Low intensity exercise like walking does not deplete muscle glycogen levels and therefore, later that day if you have excess calories they will likely be stored as body fat whereas if you deplete the glycogen the excess calories will primarily be stored in the muscles.

So why then do so many fitness and health experts recommend walking for weight loss? One reason is that people don't want to hear that they have to work hard so they figure some activity is better than none. Another reason is that the body burns more fat for fuel when exercising at an easy pace, however, the total amount of energy used is so small that you end up burning off little body fat. That's also why when you choose the "fat burning" program on your treadmill or bike it has you exercise at any easy level. Yes, you're burning fat, but so little that you'd have to exercise at that easy pace for hours and hours each day.

High intensity cardiovascular/aerobic exercise is much more effective in burning off the excess body fat. In fact, several studies have been done to prove this. In one study they compared one group who did moderate level aerobics for 45 minutes with another group who performed high intensity workouts for 15 minutes. They did before and after fitness testing including body fat analysis and found that the group who performed the high intensity aerobics lost nine times as much body fat!

Want more proof?

Compare the bodies of a walker, marathon runner, and sprinter. If you are not familiar with what a sprinters body looks like, it is very muscular and has little body fat while on the other hand the body of a walker will likely have the opposite, little muscle and more fat. The sprinter does little or no low intensity exercise and does primarily short hard bursts of work while the marathoner overtrains so much they burn off both the body fat and the muscle and that's why they tend to look almost sickly thin.

So what should you do then if your main objective is to shed those excess pounds of body fat?

Two things:

Perform some form of high intensity cardio 2-4 times per week
Stabilize blood sugar to minimize the storage of new fat

I know some of you by now are saying "I can't do high intensity exercise, I have a bad knee" and don't worry, I have a solution for you. The good news is that high intensity is all relative to you and your current fitness level. For example, fast walking up and down hills may be high intensity for you... it all depends. So don't think that you have to start running or something like that. Just slowly start to increase the intensity of your cardio workouts while also maybe decreasing the time because you can either work hard or you can work long.

Also, you can make almost any activity or exercise high intensity.... here are a few examples:

increase your speed
use an incline or hills
increase resistance
perform intervals ( the most effective method)

Obviously, some exercises/activities or better suited than others but the point is if you want to burn more fat and make your workouts as productive as possible you need to increase the intensity.

To learn more about high intensity cardiovascular exercise please check out the following articles:

Forget the Fat Burn Zone - http://www.achieve-fitness.com/forget.htm
In Search of the Ideal Aerobics Routine - http://www.achieve-fitness.com/ideal.htm
Heart Rate Guidelines - http://www.achieve-fitness.com/cardio.htm

Be sure to also check out my Burn Fat FAST! ebook and audio program here: http://www.burn-fat-fast.com - it covers everything from cardiovascular training to strength training to nutrition and more.

As with any changes to your fitness program be careful and don't over do it. Just because high intensity workouts burn more fat, don't think that you'll get even better results by doing it everyday - that will quickly lead to over-training and a loss of muscle which will only make it even harder to burn off the fat.

So if your primary goal is fat loss, don't waste your time walking and instead focus on progressive, high intensity cardio to maximize the effectiveness of your workouts.

About The Author
Jesse Cannone is a certified personal trainer and author of the best-selling fitness ebook, Burn Fat FAST. Be sure to sign up for his free email course as it is full of powerful weight loss and fitness tips that are guaranteed to help you get the results you want. http://www.guaranteed-weightloss.com
info@guaranteed-weightloss.com

Concept of 'Agni' in Ayurveda

Being one of the panchamahabhoota, agni (fire) has the characteristic that it cannot exist without a base. In the body it exists in pitta dosha.

Agni is responsible for the following functions:

Digestion - indigestion (Pakti- Apakti)

Vision- absence of vision (Darshanam- Adarshanam)

Degree of heat (Matra- Amatratvamushmanala)

Normal -abnormal complexion (Prakrit - Vikarit varnam)

Prowess- fear (Shaurya- Bhaya)

Anger - exholoration (krodham- Harsham)

Confusion- clarity of mind (Moha- Prasadan)

For the metabolic processes in the body, there are three main groups of biological factors, probably exhibiting enzymatic functions (agnis).

Jatharagni or Koshthagni:

Present in the pachak pitta. It is responsible for the digestion and the absorption of nutritious substances during this process.

The process of digestion (ahar pachan) is divided in three stages, which collectively is called awastha paka and can be divided in the following.

Amavstha (Madhuravastha) Paka - in stomach

Pachymanavastha (Amlavstha) Paka - in 'grahani' (Duodenum)

Pakavstha (Katuavstha) Paka - in small and large intestine

As the rasa changes in different phase of digestion these phase of digestion are called avsthapaka. At the end of the digestion the digested food have their original rasa which is in accordance with the rasa of the ingested food. This is called as Nistha paka .It is also called popularly as Vipaka.

Madhur rasa & Lavan rasa have Madhura Vipaka, Amla rasa have amla vipaka and Katu, Tikta & Kashaya rasa have Katu vipaka.

Panchabhutagnis :

In ayurveda it is believed that everything is made up of five elements and so is the body. These five elements are the panchmahabhoota and are responsible for constituting every living being in the world. Agni transforms the Asharir Mahabhoota (external mahabhoot) to Sharir Mahabhoota. Example - When we drink water Jala Mahabhoota (water) dominates and later the water is transformed by Jala Mahabhoota agni to the Sharir Jala Containing five types of biological factors, it is responsible for the processing of the five basic elements into a composition useful to the body.

Dhatvagnis : The third group contains seven types, each for the assimilation of the seven tissues This assimilation takes place successively. From the absorbed nutritious substance, plasma (rasa) is produced first; from plasma, blood (rakta) is formed, then muscular tissue (mamsa), adipose tissue (meda), bony tissue (asthi), bone marrow (majjan) and the reproductive cells (shukra).

Besides performing all the metabolic functions agni takes care of digestion (ahar pachan) and in the absence of ahar it acts on the ama pachan i.e. properly metabolize the improper metabolites. When ahar and ama are absence Agni does the function of dhatu i.e. rasa, rakta etc. Digestion of dhatu is a fatal condition in which dhatus are broken down to get energy. The reduction or deficiency of the quantum of dhatu in the human body leads to the disease called 'Kshaya roga'.

In ayurveda it is believed that all the pathology occurs due to the impairment in Agni (Kaya). Hence the correction of Kaya i.e. Agni is called the treatment or 'Kaya Chikitsa' in ayurveda

Agnis are also classified into four categories according to how they manifest in the human being:

Tikshnagni -sharp,

Mandagni - mild,

Vishamagni - irregular, and

Samagni - regular or Balanced.

About The Author
Dr.Shashikant Patwardhan is practicing as 'Ayurvedic Consultant' for last 25 years at the city -Sangli , Maharashtra -India. He has done his graduation in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery [B.A.M&S] and post graduate Fellowship of Faculty of Ayurvedic Medicine [F.F.A.M.] From Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pune University , India, during the years 1970-1976. He is a chief editor and Ayurvedic Consultant of a 'Comprehensive website on Ayurveda - http://www.ayurveda-foryou.com He is an author of many books on Ayurveda and is first to publish them in ebook format.Up till now he has written four ebooks - 1. Ayurvedic Cure of Diabetes 2. Home Remedies in Ayurveda 3. Treat Common Diseases with Ayurveda & Yoga and 4. Ayurvedic Principles Revealed He regularly writes articles on various topics in Ayurveda in Ayurvedic health magazines and alternative medicine sites.
editor@ayurved-online.com

Exercise & Self Image: How to Feel Better in More Ways than One

A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP

There seems to be an almost magical relationship between exercise and a healthy (or at least improved) self-image. Research shows that one of the best predictors (not the only one, but one of the best) of whether someone will achieve their fitness goals is a key aspect of self-image called self-efficacy. Self efficacy is the degree to which you believe you're able to control what you do, and what happens to you).

The higher someone's self-efficacy, the better their chances of starting and sticking to an exercise programme. At the same time, one of the most well documented psychological effects of regular exercise is a marked improvement in self-efficacy. The longer we engage in regular exercise, the better we feel about ourselves. This means is the better our self-esteem, the more likely we are to exercise, and the more our self-esteem rises, so the more we want to exercise... and so on. Although the conclusions are fairly clear, there doesn't seem to be much study of why the relationship exists. There are, however, a lot of theories.

PHYSICAL REASONS

Firstly, there are the biochemical results of exercise (see our article on Exercise and Stress for a more in-depth look at these). Have you noticed that a given situation can look totally different depending on how good you feel physically? From the flood of endorphins through your bloodstream to the flushing out of stress hormones, a good workout (or even just a good walk) makes your body feel wonderful. This, in its turn, tends to improve the way you view yourself – just as it would improve the way you viewed any other situation.

Continuing on this line, I want you to try something. Hunch your shoulders, cross your arms across your chest, look down at the ground, scowl, and say 'I feel in control.' Not very convincing? That's because an estimated 80% of our communication is non-verbal, and this applies internally as well. Now try sitting up, putting your shoulders back, taking a couple of deep breaths, and repeating the experiment. Different? Now you're communicating a totally different non-verbal message. Then consider that exercise helps strengthen your muscles and improve your posture – all of which communicates nonverbally to your mind how you're feeling.

PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS

Moving away from the physical, there are psychological reasons that reaching a specific exercise goal would increase self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is best improved by doing things. Every time you do something you haven't been able to do before, the part of you that holds your beliefs about what you're capable of (your self-efficacy) has to change to incorporate this new piece of information. So every time you achieve a new goal, your self-efficacy increases. This makes you more likely to set and achieve new goals, simply because, having tasted success, you know it's possible.

Then there's the way that other people react to the results of your exercise programme. You might get compliments on the physical effects – perhaps you're losing weight, looking less tired, or suddenly have more energy. Or, what you're actually *doing* might draw positive comments. A friend might say 'You're so good – you've kept this programme up for months now!' Someone might approach you at the gym and tell you they admire your dedication. (For extra 'self-esteem brownie points', look for opportunities to *give* these kinds of compliments sincerely to other people. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel about yourself). Getting compliments from other people isn't the best reason to take up exercise – but if you surround yourself with supportive people, they *will* notice the difference – and any compliments they give you are a nice side-effect!

Lastly, there's a reason I haven't seen anyone else mention, but it's such a big one for me that it needs to be mentioned. Exercising, by its nature, requires us to get rid of all our makeup, our tailored-to-hide-every-flaw suits, and everything else we hide behind to fit the magazine-imposed restrictions for beauty. And while letting that go can feel intimidating, it can also be incredibly freeing. Because exercising does the exactly same thing to everyone else.

If you want to once and for all destroy the illusion that everyone else but you looks like a model under their clothes, stand in a gym changing room and really *look* at the bodies there. There will be women who are 'too skinny', 'too short', 'too fat' – too 'whatever' to fit magazine standards – and most of them will be wandering around totally un-self-consciously, with far more important things to think about than the 'flaws' in their own, or each other's bodies. *This* is reality. *This* is what healthy women – of all shapes and sizes – look like. And when this realisation finally sinks in, it can be more freeing than any pat assurances that 'everyone's shape is different'.

THE BOTTOM LINE?

So what's the bottom line? Well, it's wonderful news – both for those of us who have difficulty sticking to a workout programme, and for those of us who know our self-image could use a little TLC. Work on your self-image, even a little, and you're going to want to exercise more to take better care of yourself. Add that little bit more exercise into your weekly routine, and you're going to see your self-image improving. Work on them both – just a little – at the same time, and watch the magic truly happen!

If you have any questions about this week's article, please don't hesitate to contact me on mailto:tanja@optimumlife.co.nz. Otherwise, until next time, may every day bring you closer to your Optimum Life.

About The Author
Optimum Life's Tanja Gardner is a Personal Trainer and Stress Management Coach whose articles on holistic health and relaxation have appeared in various media since 1999. Optimum Life is dedicated to providing fitness and stress management services to help clients all over the world achieve their optimum lives. To read more articles like this one, please subscribe to Optimum Fitness News at http://optimumlife.co.nz/Newsletter%20Signup.htm. To find out more about how you could benefit from online personal training, please visit http://www.trainerforce.com/optimumlife/. To find out more about holistic fitness and stress management please visit http://optimumlife.co.nz, or contact Tanja on tanja@optimumlife.co.nz.

Is Your Ability to Buy Dietary Supplements, Herbal Preparations, and Tonics in Jeopardy in the USA?

When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed by the USA Congress in 1994 it was a boon to all of us consumers. Finally, we all could buy herbals that had long histories of safe and effective use throughout the world. Before the DSHEA we were unable to get them, much less even educate ourselves about them. This was because the FDA was stopping education on them, and their actual manufacture supposedly for "Our" protection.

Certainly, there are slime in every business who prey on unsuspecting consumers who have not really educated themselves. We as consumers have to understand that there is no "Magic bullet" that will instantly reverse years and years of abuse of our systems.

There is no magic pill that will instantly cure cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, the common cold, etc. Some companies hype products as miraculous cures. It kind of reminds me of some of the shall we call them less than upstanding martial arts teachers who claim that they were taught a secret style by some hermit monk from the mountains. Yeah. Right.

That being said, it makes no sense to not allow good products on to the market.

The idea is to have supplements that can help you to live a better life. Can keep you healthy, prevent illness. And when you are feeling sick (dis-eased) can help make you feel better. They can be used to regulate your blood pressure, help you to relax, help you to sleep when you have to much on your mind. Something you can take to help fight off the beginnings of a cold, etc. Basically, help keep your body in perfect balance and health so you do not have to worry about ever getting sick.

Before the passage of the DSHEA some of the wonderful products being blocked included, Traditional Chinese herbal medicines, Ayurvedic medicines, and traditional folk medicines. So, rather than being able to easily get herbal remedies, we were forced to buy less effective drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. We were forced to buy synthetic vitamins. We could not get the education on vitamins and herbs as to what they could do for us. It was Prohibition all over again. Only instead of alcohol, the "Evil" was natural products.

With the passage of the DSHEA in the USA, the FDA is still regulating supplements. Contrary to what is reported in mainstream press, and by the FDA. There really are safety rules in place. Supplements are regulated. So are the foods you eat. Drugs are more regulated than dietary supplements. Supposedly, they are proven safe before being distributed to consumers. If that is the case, why is it that almost every month there is another recall of some drug due to unforeseen side effects and dangers? Why is it that once a drug is approved for use, many doctors start to prescribe it for uses it was not approved for? Yes this really happens.

If you could get an all natural product made specifically to treat your condition by a qualified, highly trained herbalist, would you prefer that, or would you prefer taking a laboratory produced drug that is synthesized from who knows what?

What if the herbal product was the same price? What if the herbal product was 10 times cheaper?

The drug companies certainly do not like consumers to be educated on products that would take away their profits.

Do you know that even though certain herbs have been proven to fight off cancers and destroy them, you will never learn about them? This is because even with the passage of the DSHEA, the FDA is suppressing this type information claiming that there "are not enough safety studies" even if it has been studied in most other modern countries around the world. Is that "Protecting" you? Or is it protecting the profits of drug manufacturers?

Do you know that as recently as a few years ago, no manufacturer of calcium products could claim that taking calcium would help fight off osteoporosis? Thanks to the DSHEA you can learn that calcium can help.

So now you have a small understanding of what benefits you get from the DSHEA. Here is the problem.

Now there are some Senators and Representatives who want to take away the rights of consumers like you and me to use the products of our choice. They want to limit the choices we have in how we are treated. They want us to be forced to use high priced poisonous pharmaceuticals rather than herbs. They do not want us educated as to what herbs do, how they can benefit us and keep us healthy.

This attack is being launched by Big Dick (Richard) Durbin (democrat of Illinois). The question is why. Is he really that well versed in every treatment so that he can tell you what is good for you and what is not? Is he really that educated in how all of the supplements, vitamins, herbs, and preparations really work? Or is it the usual. Politics and high level big money political contributions to his campaign at work.

While his idea is commendable - insuring that supplements are safe. Wouldn't it be a better idea to force a supplement manufacturer to prove that the supplement does what they claim it does?

Wouldn't it be better to allow...no in fact force the supplement manufacturer to have a lot of educational material available to consumers so they can educate themselves. Material including possible adverse reactions. Known and reported incompatible products (i.e. don't take this with aspirin, etc.) Safe dosages, and unsafe dosages, as well as how much is to much..How much can you safely take during a 24 hour period. Information like that. I'm sure that this type of information would be more helpful than some bureaucrat deciding what you can and can not know about a particular product. Even if that bureaucrat has the best of intentions.

Imagine not being able to buy the herbal product of your choice because some politician and bureaucrat want to "Protect" you. Imagine not being able to find information on adverse effects and beneficial effects of a particular herb, or herbal combination, or dietary supplement? It is about to happen here in the USA.

If you really want to keep the ability to educate yourself on alternative medicine, the proper use of vitamins, herbs, etc, and have the choice to use them, then get in touch with your Senator and ask them to defeat Big Dick Durbin's "Dietary Supplement Safety Act" (Senate Bill 722).

It's for your own good.

About The Author
By Allen Weber Copyright June 10, 2003 JAJA Group, Inc.- newsletter Emperor's Herbologist
Live Healthy! bi-weekly guide to living healthy in modern times. Featuring articles on alternative medicine, diet, herbs, supplements, foods, traditional cures and techniques you can use to give you more control over your health and well being. Subscribe today at: http://www.emperorsherbologist.com/newsletter.shtml
articlecity@emperorsherbologist.com

Say Good Bye To Your Old Glasses And Switch To Contact Lenses

If you are a long time user of contact lenses you are already well aware of its many benefits. If you are considering a switch over from your old spectacles to contact lenses, let us inform you, you are going in the right direction. Over 30 million people in the USA are believed to use contact lenses, either as an alternative of the traditional spectacle or for some cosmetic purposes. If you too are thinking of stepping into their shoes, then try to equip yourself with as much information about the contact lenses as possible; it will help you to find out the right product suitable for your needs and take the informed decision at the time of purchase.

First of all, you may want to know about the actual definition of the contact lens. According to FDA definition, a contact lens is a prescribed medical device, which is usually placed on the cornea of the eye and used either for corrective or cosmetic or therapeutic purposes.

There are countless benefits of contact lenses. Contact lenses perform the same corrective functions as the conventional glasses, but as opposed to the glasses, contact lenses are virtually weightless and most importantly they are invisible. So they are regarded to be more comfortable than the traditional spectacles.

Then consider the contact lenses from an ophthalmologic point of view: As contact lenses move with your eyes they provide a better field of view. Like the glasses, there are no frames to obstruct your vision and thus they reduce distortions to a considerable point. Sometimes your vision is obstructed as the lenses of your glass get blurred by moisture, rain or dirt; you will find no such faults with your contact lenses.

Do you follow an active lifestyle and every time your spects come into the way of your active lifestyle? Then contact lens can be the only solution for you. If you are in any kind of sports including swimming, diving or athletics, a contact lens can offer you a distortion free clear vision at the time of your movements, without any kind of side effects. It is properly fitted inside your eyes so that it does not affect your concentration in any way.

There are many people, particularly the women who find the glasses to be great hindrance for showing off the natural beauty of their faces. On the other hand, contact lens provides utter ease and comfort and they do not come into the way you look.

You can get modern contact lenses with UV protection built into the material, so if you want protection for your eyes, you can opt for these lenses instead of wearing goggles.

There are people with eternal dissatisfaction over the color of their eyes and they find in the contact lens the golden opportunity to mend the nature to get the color of their dreams.

Part II

So you have almost taken the decision in favor of buying contact lenses after reading about the many benefits of contact lenses! But wait; let's inform you about the many types of contact lenses you might come across in the market.

In these days contact lenses are made of variety of plastic materials-- but at the core they are of two main types: soft or rigid gas permeable.

Soft Lenses: These contact lenses contain some 25% to 79% water. They are easily to adaptable to your eyes and hence are quite comfortable. With a soft contact lens in your eyes you will barely feel that there is something foreign in your eyes. However, you should be more careful in handling them and they have to be replaced more frequently.

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses: These lenses take time to adapt to your eyes. But they have much greater resistance power against deposit buildup. With RGP you are supposed to get sharper vision. They are more durable too. Thus, at the beginning RGP may appear to be costlier, but because of its longer lifespan, RGP gives you better value for your money.

Daily Disposable Lenses: If you want the ultimate convenience, you must go for disposable contact lenses. The cleaning and disinfection procedures with disposable contact lenses are extremely simplified. They are better for your eye health because they are more frequently replaced. Also you always have some spare lenses with you. These days you get the disposable contact lenses in all toric, bifocal, and colored versions. Only you have to be cautious in your handling of these lenses. And for all these benefits you should be ready to pay some extra bucks.

Toric Soft Lenses: These lenses are claimed to correct astigmatism. You can get these types both in daily wear as well as planned replacement versions. You may be required to visit the doctor's clinic more than once to get a perfect fitting.

Color contact lenses: Then there are those colored lenses that are mainly used for cosmetic purposes. You can get mainly four different types of cored contact lenses, namely, visibility tints, enhancement tints, opaque color tints and light-filtering tints. If you have no vision problem, you can take the 'Plano' form of colored contact lenses that do not make any visual correction. You can also get them as disposable or frequent replacement lens.

However there is no hard and fast rule for buying the contact lenses from your eye specialist. You can buy them from any reliable optical stores. You can also try out in the online stores where you can avail the scope of wide comparison. But one important thing to consider, no matter wherever you buy the contact lenses from, your decision should be guided by the value of the product and not only the price.

About The Author
Barney Garcia writes about various contact lense topics. Visit: http://www.thebest-contact-lenses.info/ and http://www.thebest-contact-lenses.info/sitemap.html

What's Wrong With Dr. Phil's Food Plan?

I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like his new book on weight loss. And I do like some of it, however, there's a big problem with the chapter on what to eat. Dr. Phil proposes exactly the same eating plan for everyone. This will NOT work!

His plan may include too many calories for some people, mostly small-framed people. I was actually eating a very similar amount of food at one time, watching my fat intake carefully, eating plenty of fiber, and my weight wouldn't budge. When I joined Weight Watchers, I learned that I was eating too much (for someone my size) to lose weight. After following their suggestions, I eventually lost 40 pounds and have maintained a healthy weight for almost 5 years.

Dr. Phil's plan also actually provides too few calories for many people to be successful. Sound impossible? Let me explain.

Your body needs a certain number of calories to sustain normal functions like pumping blood, breathing, and digesting food (called your basal metabolic rate, or BMR.) This need actually depends on your current weight. The heavier you are, the more calories your body needs just to function, even at rest. There are several websites to visit for a BMR calculator and more information on this subject. You also burn calories during exercise; your adjusted caloric needs including your activity level is called the AMR (active metabolic rate). Some of the sites you'll find will calculate both your BMR and AMR, so keep looking if you don't see AMR on the first one you hit. As you lose weight, your BMR and AMR will drop.

We all know that if we eat too much, we gain weight. We also all know that if we eat way too little, we can starve to death. But somewhere in between, we can lose weight healthfully. Our bodies are smart enough to know where that range is and to protect us if we eat too little. (It also tries to protect us from eating too much. That's what feeling uncomfortably stuffed is all about!) If you eat a little below your AMR, you can lose weight healthfully. If you eat farther below, your body will protect you by reducing your BMR (and AMR) to conserve energy, and you'll stop losing weight. Eat too far below, and you'll start losing again-but you're starving yourself.

What does this mean? You must eat enough to lose weight healthfully! If you eat too few calories, you'll likely either get stuck on a plateau, or you'll lose weight too fast with potential health consequences. A healthy rate of weight loss is no more than 2 pounds per week average, after the first 2-3 weeks on a plan. A good recommendation for healthy weight loss is to eat 500 calories under your AMR (not below your BMR!) and to remember to recalculate your needs as you lose weight (recalculate after every 25 pounds lost, if you get stuck and are not losing, or if you increase your activity significantly).

Dr. Phil doesn't provide different plans based on your starting weight and activity level, and he is against counting calories (or exchanges or Points.) But without knowing your approximate AMR and calculating the calories (or exchanges or Points) in a food plan, it's impossible to know how much food to eat to start out. And without recalculating your AMR as you lose and adjusting your food plan accordingly, it's difficult to keep losing weight at the proper rate. He makes no mention of changing your food plan until you reach your final goal. But people who have a significant amount to lose will need to adjust their calorie intake several times before reaching goal.

One size does NOT fit all! Frankly I am quite surprised nobody told him this before he published! If you are serious about losing weight healthfully, either calculate this for yourself or join a program (like Weight Watchers) where they teach you how much to eat without restricting your food choices. With just a little information about yourself and your body, you can do this RIGHT.

About The Author
Dale Reynolds is a weight loss counselor from update New York. She has written a book, "A Slim Book On Weighty Matters", about weight management and has a website with great tips and a free newsletter, www.slimdale.com
dale@slimdale.com

Office Workout – The New Solution For Busy People

If you spent 10 minutes a day you can keep up your body. I spoke with many people that have no time to go to sport club, because they have to travel 20 minutes, undress, make routines, dress, travel back to office – in best cases this take minimum 1 hour and you have to be very fast. This is very complicated situation and people prefer to skip workouts and related with that stress.

Instead of nervous going to fitness club you can make your workout in the office in front of your computer and desk. People can not imagine how to do it. You can sit in your chair and for example lift your legs to the body or stand up and move legs to the back and up. There are many exercises that don't need any equipment; you can use your body's parts as weight. Women's most problem areas are thighs, hips and but. Use your problem part in your daily workout.

1) While I am writing this article I sit on chair and tighten up my butt and rest, 30 reps.

2) After that stand up and lift all body weight on your toes – make 30 reps – this exercise is for calve muscles.

3) March on side for 20 seconds and start lift your leg to the side – tighten hips, both legs and lift one leg – make 20 reps. Alternate the other leg.

4) Rest while marching on side.

5) Sit on your chair, bend knees and lift them to the ceiling – this exercise is for the abs. Make 30 reps.

6) Stay sit on the chair put your palms on the edge on your desk. Bend elbows and move your breasts to the desk, then push out the body to the back. Make 30 reps.

If you have strong longing to tone your body or even loose weight you can find the way.

About The Author
Rumiana Ilieva is the Webmaster at http://www.women-workout-routines.com and an avid amateur trainer. The site reviews weight loss workout routines and offers many free video workouts. To train on line visit http://www.women-workout-routines.com/free-workout-routines.html . You can print this article in your internet site or print media, but cite a source.

Struggling To Keep Your Workout Schedule? So am I ... !!

Sometimes following a fitness program or workout schedule is not quite as do-able as the folks writing the advice make it sound. I suppose the idea is to tell you what you should be doing to achieve your fitness or weight-loss targets, but you know sometimes life gets a bit in the way of all these plans, and there is just no way you can follow your intended program.

I know, because I am in exactly that position myself right now, and it is very easy to get derailed or discouraged and start to wonder if it's all just a bit too much to keep up in the face of uncontrollable obstacles.

My difficulty is that the local pool has closed for six weeks, and that's quite a blow to a training program designed to take me into the World Top Ten Swimming Masters again this year, so I've tried to find somewhere else to get in the necessary daily workout routine, but it seems everywhere I turn, I find the same refurbishing going on and pools closing all over the place; so what do we do? Well the point of all this personal story stuff is to say, "yes we have a real problem in sticking with the training plan but we can, and have to, adapt just to keep the ball rolling to our benefit". The last thing we want to do is give up or say, "let's forget the whole thing".

I guess I sound repetitive, as I say this in several articles, but you must, "keep on keeping on". That's the key to maintaining weight loss or maintaining fitness. It's so easy to get discouraged by the events and obstacles that life puts in the way, but the "can't beat me" kind of feeling can be nurtured by finding an alternative to your workout, and I bet that most of us have some aspect of our program that we have been meaning to work on, but have been too tied up in the regular main activity to focus on.

For example, here's what I have done to combat the lack of pool time. I'm doing some sit-ups, heaven knows I've been avoiding that pleasure for ages now, and I'm getting in some push-ups and a little work on the arms with some light weights, or if you have no weights, try two milk container jugs (the ones with the handles) filled with water, as barbells. Yes we all know that one, but you get the idea of what I'm saying, improvise, you don't have to have all the gear just to keep a maintenance level of fitness and you can also do all this stuff if you're on the road and in a hotel with no weight room.

Now one of the things you don't hear much from the pundits pushing their fitness or weight-loss programs is how they are doing and, if we do, it's all upbeat and rah-rah. Well let me tell you, I went quite some distance to find a pool that was open, as it had been close to two weeks without any swim workout, and boy, oh boy did I feel pretty bad! Arms of lead and legs that reconfirmed to me that if you don't have those legs in shape, you're "cooked". This is the other area I'm always harping on about, but you know it is true that the legs are the key to core strength and if we don't get them in shape, it really doesn't matter how good the rest of the body is because the leg fatigue will suck all the power from the engine.

So I struggled through my session and at the end it was a little better, but knowing I had at least put in a maintenance type session made me feel better and back on track, if not improving at least holding steady and not rolling backwards and that's my point. Whatever is temporarily disrupting your plans or throwing you off your schedule, work around it by adapting and using inventive thinking to keep you from slipping backwards. Like I've said in my articles before, the key phrase is, "keep on keeping on!" So keep on and don't give up!

Good luck, all the best.

About The Author
Gordon Black is a world-ranked Master swimmer and Canadian national record holder. A member of the British swim team in the late '60s, after thirty years out of the pool, last year Gordon returned to competitive swimming in the Masters forum. He offers an online weight loss, fitness and motivational coaching service through his web site www.gordonblack.com where his competitive comeback is chronicled. Gordon is currently working on a book based on his own weight management and fitness system - publisher's enquiries welcome!
gordon@gordonblack.com