One of the things that I have been working toward is to be able to do pull ups. I would like to start with one pull up. That may sound dumb, but after losing nearly 75lbs .. I still can not do one pull up. You may be in the same boat. I have a gym membership in my small town … but alas they do not have an assisted pull up machine. I do lat pull downs and I have tried doing the pull ups with my feet on a chair or bench … but it really puts me out of position and puts a lot of strain on my shoulders. Plus, since I am rather tall … most pull up bars at the gym and my home pull up bar is simply too close the ground to stand up and too far if I start on my knees. Thus, making it tough for me to get the range of motion I need. I am seriously thinking about building my own rig at home (outside, don’t worry honey) to help with my goal. I saw some soldiers in Afghanistan build one and I think that I can do the same. I also found this vid on YouTube of a guy who rigged an assisted pull up system out of pulleys and a belt. I thought I would post that as well.
Archive for the ‘health’ category
Assisted Pull Ups
November 24th, 2009Burn More Fat: Add Intervals to Your Run
November 24th, 2009
Here’s a great article from Health Magazine … describing the benefits and also giving you a little starter workout for interval running. I personally learned the benefits of intervals honestly, by accident. I just got so bored of running on the treadmill that I began to research different ways I could run and go nowhere … and still get the benefit of a long run on a nice day. Some days I run out of daylight before I get to run and I have to run the tread. The “seasoned runners” part of the article.
For seasoned runners
Go faster, stronger, longer (45 minutes).
1. Walk at a brisk pace for 3 minutes, then run at an easy pace for 7 minutes.
2. Run as hard as you can for 2 minutes.
3. Run at an easy pace for 3 minutes.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 four more times.
5. Cool down with 7 minutes of easy running and 3 minutes of walking.
12 surprising sources of Caffeine
November 24th, 2009
This article from health.com was a real eye opener for me … no pun intended. As the author, Sarah Klein says:
Overworked and sleep-deprived, more people are using caffeine as an energy crutch than ever before, experts say. That’s not all bad: In fact, 250 milligrams of caffeine per day—that’s two to three cups of joe—wakes up the brain, improves concentration, relieves stress, and may also help you live longer.
Of the 12 weird sources of caffeine, the ones that were most interesting to me were: Decaf coffee? (yep, Consumer reports tested a bunch of different decafs from our favorite places like … Starbucks … to find that they still had about 20 milligrams of caffeine), Ice Cream, and Breath Fresheners. Others one the list are no brainers, but still a very interesting read. Here’s the link again if you missed it.
Your body mass index
November 5th, 2009
Your Body Mass Index
By Emile Jarreau
If you want to be your best in bodybuilding, it’s important to include in your technique a scientific approach. After all, bodybuilding is based heavily on science and data. To succeed in bodybuilding, many individuals look to the body mass index as a gauge to determine where to improve in your routine. If you learn exactly how it works and follow it carefully, you will have faster results and more progress.
Your body mass index (BMI) is a form of statistical measurement, and it helps determine whether an individual’s weight is proportionate to his or her height. The BMI was actually created by a Belgian man named Adolphe Quetelet somewhere between 1830 and 1850. The point of your body mass index is to figure out what weight would be ideal for a person of your particular height and gender.
These days, the BMI is used not only for bodybuilding goals, but also as a way to measure whether people are obese or not. Obesity has become a frightening epidemic, with an estimated 60% of American adults being overweight. While the BMI is not the final say in whether someone is considered to be obese, it is a good general indicator of how much someone of a certain height and gender should weigh.
To find your body mass index, divide your current body weight by the square of your height. The universal unit of measurement is kg/m2. The discovery of your BMI can help a professional determine how sedentary you are based on your body composition. It’s also important to note that the BMI can indicate when people are too thin as well, not only when people are overweight.
An ideal weight for a man is 18.5 to 25. Under 18.5 is usually underweight, and over 25 usually means overweight. Someone with a BMI below 17.5 is usually suspected to be suffering from anorexia or some other eating disorder. Conversely, someone over 30 is considered to be obese, and in some cases, morbidly obese.
Once you know your body mass index, you can use that information to determine where you want to go. One thing to keep in mind is that muscle weighs more than fat, so this can skew the results of your BMI if you aren’t taking it into account. Also, even if you have a BMI that indicates you are in the “ideal weight” category, this is still just a general guideline. You can be unhealthy and be in the ideal weight section, or be healthy and be in the “underweight” or “overweight sections”, because it’s still somewhat subjective.
As a bodybuilder, you can use your BMI to figure out whether you should lose more body fat or gain more muscle mass. You could find yourself in the obese category because of how much your muscle weighs compared to your height. Each point indicates how close you are getting to your goal. Hopefully, you can now use your body mass index to help you achieve your bodybuilding goals.
Emile Jarreau has been involved in Fitness and Bodybuilding for over 32 years. For more information regarding fat loss go to http://www.MrFatLoss.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emile_Jarreau
http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Body-Mass-Index&id=3212519
Top Ten worst cereals for kids
November 3rd, 2009
Hey is yours on this list … thankfully none of these are on our current pantry shelf. But back a few years … we could find Froot Loops, Corn Pops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Cap’n Crunch. eeeeoh!
Forget the mini-Reese’s peanut butter cups that are about to fill your kids’ plastic pumpkins this weekend – these are only a one day (or one week..) temptation. But that Reese’s cereal you might have on your shelf? That’s an evergreen, year long offender that just took the #1 slot for WORST NUTRITION RATING for cereals advertised to your kids. Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity compiled a report that confirmed what we’ve suspected for years of avoiding that inner aisle at the grocery store — those sugary cereals screaming out to our kids are chock-full of sugar.
I confess to loving several on this list – my favorite being the seemingly “healthy” alternative, Corn Pops. Did any of your family favorites make the top 10 list?
Cereals with the worst nutrition ratings that are advertised to kids:
1. Reese’s Puffs*
2. Corn Pops
3. Lucky Charms
4. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
4. Cap’n Crunch (tied)
6. Trix
6. Froot Loops (tied)
6. Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles (tied)
9. Cocoa Puffs
10. Cookie Crisp
Four Characteristics of Muscular Men
November 3rd, 2009
Increasing your muscle mass will help you lose weight. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just cardio will do the trick. Last summer I was faithful to run 3-4 miles 4 times a week without losing a single pound in a month … and was dieting too boot! Hows that for frustration? This article is pretty much focused on building muscle … but it gives you some other information than just pumping weight. Like sleep! I need it!
from this source
I believe the initial article was at askmen.com … via foxnews … and the photo credit is from iStock.
The four characteristics are:
1. Muscular Men Don’t skip Meals
2. Muscular Men Spend Less Time in the Gym
3. Muscular Men Sleep a Lot
4. Muscular Men do a variety of workouts
I also might add this characteristic –
Muscular Men somehow deal with stress. I don’t know how that works … but I am sure that stress has a lot to do with building muscle and losing fat.
Muscle building miracle discovered
October 31st, 2009
m this articleAre you the ‘average joe’ sick and tired of feeling weak and unhealthy? Or are you a serious bodybuilder, stuck on yet another “plateau”—and just can’t improve? If so, you may be interested in a product that will help you improve muscle mass, improve your health, and look better.
Nitric Oxide, now featured regularly in the news, is a natural compound proved to increase blood flow—and improve muscular fullness through vasodilation and oxygen delivery. According to Dr. Louis Ignarro, a Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine, Nitric Oxide may even promote healthy hearts.
Here is the problem: although nitric oxide occurs naturally in our bodies, we don’t make enough of it to have any real impact.
That’s bad news, because nitric oxide is unequivocally the most powerful solution in sparking natural muscle growth, powerful strength gains and incredible, ripped muscles. In fact, its benefits are numerous: continued here
A Sprinkle can convince your brain to stop overeating
October 30th, 2009
A California Company has recently launched an interesting new product which may signal a major breakthrough in weight loss. The
company, Sensa, www.Sensa.com, came up with an innovative way to convince the brain to stop overeating.
First the theory behind the product. The obvious fact is that we eat too much. But why? It turns out that’s the way our brains are
programmed. Throughout our evolutionary history, food has been scarce, so in order to ensure survival, humans have been conditioned to eat as much as they can whenever food is available. Unfortunately, when food is abundant and rich in calories, as it is today, the results can be ugly. more…
Prostate Remedies
October 15th, 2009Natural Prostate Remedies – Zinc is #1 in Prostate Remedies
By Florin Balint
Considering that prostate problems are affecting around 12% of men, it is possible that you, or someone you care about, will eventually have to deal with this problem. That brings about the issue of natural prostate remedies.
Trace elements are substances in our body that are present and required in minutely small doses (less than 100mg/day). But this does not mean they have a minor role for your health. It is worthy to know that trace elements are among the most important factors in maintaining and recovering health.
Among the trace elements, zinc is considered to be essential for:
* the process of cell growth and differentiation
* regulating normal cell death
* developing the immune response
Zinc has a vital role for a healthy prostate, being one of the main natural prostate remedies. Studies has shown that zinc deficiency results in prostate enlargement (see for example Fair, W. R. and Heston, W. “Prostate Inflammation Linked to Zinc Shortage” Prevention 113: June, 1977).
Studies have also shown that in prostatitis zinc levels are only 1/10 of those in a normal prostate (se for example Fair and Heston,1977; Pfeiffer, 1978).
These two facts resulted from studies bring us to the conclusion that zinc is essential for enlarged prostates (BPH) and inflamed or infected prostates (prostatitis).
A large percentage of men don’t get the recommended minimum U.S. RDA dose of 15 mg per day from diet, so this explains a lot the prostate problems. Hence the need of natural prostate remedies.
The following are foods rich in zinc: Oysters, Shellfish, Brewers Yeast, Wheat Germ, Wheat Bran, All Bran cereal, Pine Nuts, Pecan Nuts, Liver, Cashew Nuts, Parmesan Cheese, Fish, Eggs.
Pumpkin seeds are very efficient in treating difficult urination that accompanies an enlarged prostate that is not cancerous because they contain plenty of zinc.
It has been found that increasing intake of vitamins and minerals can increase zinc absorption in the body. Taken together with other substances (like Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E) works synergistically and amplifies the effect of zinc taking.
Natural prostate remedies (supplements) should be taken in addition to the diet zinc intake.Technorati Tags: prostate, remedy, natural
Bicarbonate Maple Cancer Treatment
October 15th, 2009by Mark Sircus Ac., OMD
Director International Medical Veritas Association
website
The bicarbonate maple syrup cancer treatment focuses on delivering natural chemotherapy in a way that effectively kills cancer cells but significantly reduces the brutal side effects experienced with most standard chemotherapy treatments. In fact so great is the reduction that the dangers are brought down to zero. Costs, which are a factor for the majority of people, of this particular treatment are nil. Though this cancer treatment is very inexpensive, do not assume it is not effective. The bicarbonate maple syrup cancer treatment is a very significant cancer treatment every cancer patient should be familiar with and it can easily be combined with other safe and effective natural treatments.
This cancer treatment is similar in principle to Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT). IPT treatment consists of giving doses of insulin to a fasting patient sufficient to lower blood sugar into the 50 mg/dl. In a normal person, when you take in sugar the insulin levels go up to meet the need of getting that sugar into the cells. In IPT they are artificially injecting insulin to deplete the blood of all sugar then injecting the lower doses of toxic chemo drugs when the blood sugar is driven down to the lowest possible value. During the low peak, it is said that the receptors are more sensitive and take on medications more rapidly and in higher amounts. more…
