Yoga The Hot New Trend?

Yoga, as most of us know, is the ancient practice of breathing, meditation and a performing of certain postures. Practicing yoga has gained popularity in recent years and is now starting to gain a lot of attention from the material world. This has its serious practitioners concerned that the reason behind it's use will be lost in the grab for cash. Many people that practice yoga, or are attempting to learn it, are people that are well educated and are usually found to be doing above average financially. They are also the types of people willing to spend more money on things that are perceived to be better for the environment. Yoga is now becoming an 'in' thing to do. Because of this a good many people are jumping on the bandwagon and have started to sell all of the 'extras' that are used to enjoy yoga. Entrepreneurs are pursuing this market with a vengeance. These include: books, videos, music, clothes and even the toe socks are making a comeback. A lot of entrepreneurs are happy that they are able to adhere to yoga's natural healing principles while also turning a great profit. And a lot of investors are now being attracted to this trend as a means to make some serious cash.

Americans alone spend over $2.95 billion a year on yoga classes, clothing, videos, equipment, yoga holidays and more. Aging baby boomers have found it to be a less aggressive way to stay fit.

A study found that approximately 16.5 million people are now practicing yoga in the United States in gyms, in studios, or at home, this is up a whopping 43 percent from a study done in 2002.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, the company Lululemon Athletica has found there to be a rise in sales of yoga apparel to $100 million since they opened in 1998. People are snapping up the trendy pants and tops to wear to yoga class and they are becoming more and more popular for wearing to the grocery store or even to wear out to dinner.

Spas are finding that combining yoga classes with massage, facials and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, are a way to utilize a whole mind and body renewal process.

While spas are enjoying the money to be made by using yoga as a part of their product package, many consumers are now coming to enjoy it's many benefits and to realize that there are less stressful ways to stay fit and healthy.

Even some schools are now starting to teach yoga. They are realizing that it is the essence of what's missing in the lives of many modern teens: a connection between their mind and body. An ancient art that has been used for centuries to learn and enjoy a peaceful time, while reducing stress and to cultivate an enthusiasm for exercise. This could not have been rediscovered at a better time. After all, it is not news to anyone that has seen the stories on television that kids and teens are fatter and less active than ever these days.

According to a study done in 2002 by the National Center for Health Statistics it was found that 16% of young people ages 6-19 are overweight. The figures are probably much higher today and we all know just by walking around town that more and more adults are overweight too.

In a time when everything is rush rush and we are all eating more fast food than ever, while leading more and more stressful lives; maybe we all just need to take a little time to relax. Enjoy some yoga and de-stress.

Ahhhh, it makes a body feel good.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Yoga

Best Form of Magnesium

This is kind of a loaded question as I get arguments from some pretty learned people about this but if you look at the data, its pretty much a safe bet that magnesium bound to amino acids (chelates) is the best way to go. Thanks to my friend James Larsen, he made me add this to my blog as he sent me a study entitled ?Magnesium bioavailability from magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide? by J. S. Lindberg, M. M. Zobitz, J. R. Poindexter and C. Y. Pak at the Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.

In this paper, and many others like it, it is pretty clear that using magnesium oxide as a supplement is just not as effective as magnesium citrate. There is some guy that trolls Yahoo forums trying to get everyone to buy magnesium chloride as some magical form, especially his topical one because he just knows its the best. Problem is, many people are elevated in total chloride loads in their bodies and we just don?t need to add anymore of that to our systems. To top it off, when asked for proof, he, as many other?s who tout that they have ?it?, he resorts to some silly banter about how I?m out to get him and that his proof is on how great he and his family feel.

I?m not here to sell any products, I just want to present the facts. If you want a good form of magnesium, try magnesium citrate. It works, and its cost effective.

Who Else Wants To Build Muscle Fast?

I see it all the time. Guys in the gym doing set after set of all these different exercises, and if you looked at these same people 3 months from now they have not really changed physically all that much, maybe a little more toned but nothing really noticeable. And the elusive question How do I build more muscle is still the battlecry.

Well guys it is not adding more sets, or adding more reps, it is not adding more time in the gym? All these isolated type exercises, are really not going to give you the lasting muscle that you are looking for. Are you ready for the answer?

Intensity+2compound exercises+lots of rest=lots of muscle.

You only need (2) exercises to build muscle. SQUATS+DEADLIFTS. And i mean all the muscle you want. The trick is if you put all of your effort into just these 2 exercises I promise you you will be amazingly surprised at how fast you will grow.

These 2 exercises have such an anabolic effect on the entire body and nervous system it is hard to imagine. These are two compound exercises that will effect just about every muscle in your body. Plus the fact when you add in the chemical equation testosterone and Human Growth hormone what it does for the muscle building process no 2 exercise are better.

Too add more muscle you have to do Compound Exercises. This workout is not for the faint of heart. If done right it is a killer workout believe me when i tell you it will wipe you out.

You have to provide major muscle stimulus to the larger muscle groups in short intense wokouts with adequate nutrition and rest to override the catabolic effect that breaks down muscle during these intense workouts.

An extra benefit to this workout is you get a great cardio workout at the same time. Because your heart will be pumping out of your chest and your breathing will be accelerated tremendously. No more riding the bike, or jogging.

Now everybody is different but I will give you a rough guideline to follow. 2-3 days a week, preferably 2 that's it. These are your workout days. I would say 48-72 hrs in between for adequate recovery. Now I did a total of (10) sets. I started out doing 25 reps, 20, 15, 10, 5. On each of these 2 exercises. Increasing the weight with each set. See what is right for you. The Key is intensity and effort, push yourself to reasonable limits. Your body will be spent. 2-3 minute rest periods.

Now you will have to spend a day or two to get the proper weight for each set, because you want each set to take you to the max. This type of program you will know if you have to drop weight or add weight just by how you feel after you have completed a set. if you feel you could do more add weight to the set. If less you will not be able to do the desired amount of reps.

A question I get is how does this build my upper body? I will tell you from personal experience my arms grew 2-3 inches without ever doing a bicep curl or a trcicep ext. or dip. Because again of the overall anabolic effect that it has on the total body. Think about it? What muscles are you using? Legs, arms, back, shoulders, arms, chest, (deep breathing).

Now i will tell you this. Most people who read this probably won't follow my advice. Why? Because this workout is too difficult for most people, and human nature being what it is people tend to take the easy way out. I have just given you a shortcut to building muscle and it won't take years. You will see major results in 90 days or sooner. It's up to you!

Rest,Rest,Rest, and more rest. This is when your body builds new tissue. This is when you reap the rewards of your hard labor do not compromise this. Take naps during the day. 6-8 hours a night if you can.

Diet? I was famished on this routine. To accelerate muscle growth I would say to get lots of protein. Ex. i gram per pound of bodyweight.If you weigh 220 take in 220 grams. For me I did smoothies, and protein shakes, 2-3 times a day plus my regular 3-4 meals. Try to get a shake in within an hour after you workout. And right before you go to bed to slow down muscle wasting. Lots of Fibrous carbs, and baked potatoe, and yams. I use to bring cans of tuna on the road with me.

Try to use Whey and Casein protein. One is digested rather fast the other slowly. They compliment each other. Remember to build muscle you have to take in extra calories to build added muscle weight. And with this workout you will be burning lots of calories. So pay attention to your diet. If you want by adding creatine which is a supplement and in red meat, you will add to the fullness of the muscle, and volume. But it is not neccesary for results.

So there you have it! Take 2 exercises and call me in the morning!

Who else? Wants to get in shape fast! I need your advice! FREE REPORT by visiting: http://AskYourFitnessQuestion.com

Dealing With Depression

Depression is something that affects most people around the world from time to time and can be very hard to deal with. I have myself struggled with this problem in the past but have lately found ways to cope with this very much unwanted depression. I will write about how I go about doing this in this article.

I have been born into a family which include many members who find it hard to cope with life and are often worrying about something or other. I am one of these people and there does not seem to be a day that goes by where I do not have some issue in my mind, that is making me unhappy or stressed. I have found it very difficult to appreciate all of the things in my life which are basically good as my brain only seems to focus on all of my problems or potential problems.

In the last couple of years I have tried to deal with these what I now call challenges and have attempted to focus more on the positive aspects to my life. This has been very hard for me to do as I am a born worrier by nature as I have already explained.

What I now have decided to do is to try to compare my own life with that of other people who live around the world. As an example, in the last couple of days I have been watching the news programs on the television and have been hearing in horror about the current situation in Iraq. I am sure most readers of this article will be aware of what is going on in Iraq but a couple of events have really shocked me.

The first was a roadblock that was set up by people who were dressed up in police uniform. These people stopped a number of vehicles and dragged out the people who were in the vehicles, onto the street. They included young and old, men and women from what I have heard. Twenty one of them were shot and killed. I can only imagine how frightening this would have been.

The second event took place only the next day when fifty people were taken from their place of work and from bus stops. They were basically kidnapped and taken away in a number of vehicles. I am not sure what has happened to them since and can only hope that they are OK. This again is very disturbing and would have been a horrible ordeal for the people involved.

I am no expert on the situation in Iraq or why all of these things are taking place. I also have no idea on how things can be improved, but something needs to happen to help these people.

For me it shows me that I am very fortunate and if I ever start feeling a bit low, I then think of the people who live in Iraq and also people who live in other countries. I am sure that most of these people would love to swap places with me and if I tried to explain to them why I was starting to feel a little depressed, they would probably laugh at me.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

eradicate depression

quit smoking tips

identity theft

Powerful Herbs for Weight Loss

If you find it difficult to lose weight you may want to try certain herbs for weight loss that have been shown to be very effective. For centuries, herbs have been used as a natural remedy for everything from a common cold to losing weight. Because every body and lifestyles are different, one type of herb may work better for you that other that's why it is best to opt for a comprehensive blend that has multiple valuable herbs for weight control.

Herbs for Weight Loss that Work

Many different herbs have been used throughout time as weight loss remedies. Alfalfa, corn silk, dandelion, juniper, yarrow, parsley, and uva ursi are commonly known for their diurectic properties and have been used in tablet and tea form.

Green tea, cayenne, cinnamon, and guarana have long been known as thermogenic herbs, making your metabolic rate boost slightly, while bladderwrack and hawthorn berry boosts adrenal glands and improves thyroid function.

Certain herbs can actually trick your body into thinking that you are full and suppress your appetite while others speed up the body's metabolism. Others, like buchu and uva-ursi, remove excess fluid from your body but only as long as the herb is taken regularly. If stopped suddenly, the weight will return quickly.

Be Aware of Hazardous Herbs

There are herbs considered hazardous to your health and even toxic. For example, herbal laxatives can cause your bowels to stop functioning without them. Ephedra, a powerful compound and herbal fen-phen have also been considered dangerous and have been labeled as items to avoid by the Food and Drug Commission (FDA).

Like with all medicines, herbs can cause some ill side affects. If overused, ephedra can overstimulate the body and cause side effects like heart attacks, strokes, chest pain, seizures and heart palpitations. Herbal fen-phen ? with the main ingredient phedra - also has been linked to multiple side effects and is said to account for irregularities in heartbeat, strokes, and deaths by heart attack.

Although the ban on Ephedra has been lifted, it?s good to keep in mind that this herb is quite potent so it?s best to take your time to learn about it and find out if it suits your needs and how to take it.

Safe Herbs that Help You Drop Pounds

Just like some herbs have been labeled dangerous, others have been proven to work in a safe way. Cayenne, which brings your metabolism up at a healthy level, is just one of those. Some other herbs that can help you lose weight are:

Gallium aperine, a plant that grows wild in many parts of the world, was traditionally used as a lymphatic cleanser and a diuretic. It helps to clear toxins from the body, clear skin and rid the body of other conditions that are caused by toxins built up in the body.

Garcinia cambogia has been incorporated for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine as a natural appetite suppressant but has only lately gotten tons of media attention as a weight loss supplement. Garcinia cambogia acts as a natural weight loss remedy due to its remarkable and numerous properties.

To find out more about how this herb can help you lose pounds and inches effectively and, to learn about another two herbs that aid the break down of dietary fat and the elimination of excess water, visit http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/herbs-for-weight-loss.html

Pam Brown is an editor at yourbodycanheal.com. To read more on powerful herbs for weight loss visit: http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/herbs-for-weight-loss.html

For information on natural health remedies and, to obtain a Free report that reveals Foods that Burn Body Fat, visit: http://www.yourbodycanheal.com

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The Way to Lose Weight Easily & Permanently Without Drugs

One of the main causes of obesity on this planet relates to the fact that many of the foods that are being consumed cannot be processed by the livers of the individuals who are consuming them.

Another way to say this is that these individuals have food sensitivities to some of the foods that they are consuming. Sensitivity to food has been linked to many factors i.e. amount consumed, whether they are organic or not, genetic predisposition, blood type etc.

What is also interesting is that one's food sensitivity profile can change over time. In other words one must shift what they choose to eat from time to time.

So how is food sensitivity linked to obesity? Well very simply when your body cannot process a given food that food is seen by the body as toxic to it. Once this happens the body attempts to deal with the offending agent. It does this by walling it up in fat. In order to do this it has to produce more fat.

Hence the more food you consume that you are sensitive to the more fat you accumulate, pure and simple.

As you start to consume only those foods that your body can use then the amount of fat produced is reduced and this allows the body to begin to clear the already stored toxins from the body and this is experienced as the loss of weight or the reduction of one's obesity problem.

So here is my prescription for a solution to your obesity problem;

1. Eat only certified organically grown foods.

2. Have food sensitivity testing done on yourself every couple of years.

3. Follow your personal food sensitivity schedule.

4. Do this under the supervision of your naturopath who will likely need to supplement your diet with necessary viatmins and minerals.

5. Get adequate exercise and sleep.

On point 2 above I would recommend what is called Electro Dermal Screening or EDS testing. You can research this on the internet and find someone close to you who does this.

Be warned however that when you do this research you will likely read a great deal of material, especially from the medical profession that claims that EDS testing is nothing other than quackery.

I've tried EDS myself twice after almost dying because the medical profession could not help me heal from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that had dietary roots.

It literally saved my life, but don't take it from me, always have your own experience and see for yourself.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is an Energy Psychiatrist, Healer, Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called Spirituality And Science (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation (available in ebook format on his web site), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Energy Medicine Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.

Web site: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/IntroConsult.htm

OCD Victim Why We Do What We Do

Where does an OCD sufferer begin to start? to explain what compels them to do the things that are slowly destroying them inside or the people around them. Catch 22 Do you suffer in silence to please your loved ones or show them the door?

Being an OCD sufferer for as long as I can remember has left me a dedicated addict to Temazepam. The tablets will help was the doctors very words. I also recall him saying, how I would kill myself if I carried on doing what I was doing.

Those life threatening rituals regardless of those words of wisdom from my local GP are still being carried out.

Prescription prescribed one psychologist.

How could he help? Questions raised by the psychologist were that of my childhood. Questions like was I abused as a child. Well if that being the case I certainly was not going to confide in or tell a complete stranger. Some things stay hidden in the closet and are taken to the grave.

Most OCD victims may have suffered at some stage in their life some form of abuse.

In a way this makes sense, but what of our fellow sufferers with no abusive upbringing where do the answers lie?

So severe is the urge to cleanse ourselves, we enter into another world where we find contentment in releasing our energies in habitual rituals that we no longer have control over.

Is there a cure? Yes of course, all we do is stop what we are doing, how?

By not committing ourselves to listen to those little voices in our heads any longer. Demon's who cast an opinion on how we run our lives. What right have they to enter our heads uninvited? Rid of these devils and we have the antidote for the poison inflicted upon us.

For an invisible force they win hands down every time.

Help comes in many forms as in i.e. medication relaxation classes, herbal tonics etc. Depending on the individual and of course how severe the symptoms

Therapies differ and do work with high success rates for many sufferers. Recommending what is best for you is out of my jurisdiction we all differ greatly in our needs to find the cure.

The first step on the road to recovery is to face up to the problem. Will this cure me you ask? No, but it will certainly slow down the process of putting yourself into an early grave.

OCD is about speed, the quicker one job or task is done; it is time to move onto the next. This death sentence that I have imposed upon myself is challenged each day by slowing down.

Do a little research on the illness to find how you can help yourself; this helped me greatly in my search for freedom Finding the time to read was another step forward, because to have done this. I knew I had then put another chore on the back burner.

Half the battle is won for a victim of OCD if they can be heard in the way that they want to be understood.

A move in the right direction is to talk to fellow sufferers of this self destroying disease.

2% of the population are victims to this uncontrollable force behind why we do what we do.

Alienate these aliens by becoming a force with other OCD victims in the battle against self destruction because that is exactly what it is, Self Destruction.

And the most dangerous accomplice on this mission is YOU.

http://www.benidormbeaches.com

I found reading up on the illness to be a great help in understanding Over Compulsive Disorders. Questions answered and explained as to why we do what we do. This helped me to come to terms with the fact that this disease is for life, If you let it

Mold and Illness

Molds and fungus are nearby virtually everywhere we go. For the most part these molds are relatively innocuous. Certain molds, however, do pose substantial health risks. According to Berlin D. Nelson, Ph.D., department of plant pathology, North Dakota State University, Stachybotrys Chartarum or ?black mold? is the most prominent and notorious of the toxic molds (1).

Black mold is a heavy producer of mycotoxins (toxins created by a fungus). These mycotoxins cause a wide range of symptoms from headaches to flu-like symptoms, and chronic illnesses. The mycotoxins created by black mold are numerous, but fall into 3 main categories: Macrocyclic Trichothecenes, which inhibit protein synthesis; Phenylspirodrimanes and Cyclsporine, which are strong immunosuppressive agents; and Stachylysin, which can lyse erythrocytes (destroy red blood cells). With all three groups present there is little wonder why mycotoxicosis (mycotoxin poisoning) caused by black mold can lead to severe degradation in human health.

Black mold has also been linked to ?sick building syndrome?, which describes situations in which the health and comfort of people is effected by time spent in a certain building or room, where there is no obvious cause.

Unless you experience symptoms that seem to be location dependant you probably don?t need to worry too much for the time being. However, mold spores, which are benign by themselves and found practically everywhere, can propogate wildly active colonies when exposed to an amply moist environment.

This effect is very common with flooding, which is why it is of pressing importance to ensure that a flooded house is cleaned up and dried out thoroughly before mold is allowed to proliferate. In the case that you are experiencing chronic symptoms in your home or work environment, the best course of action is to contact a professional that knows how to seek and eliminate fungal growth.

Another health concern with mold and fungus stems from foam. Polyurethane foam, which is the type of foam commonly used in cushion and bedding applications, can be broken down by mold into volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are toxic.

Dr T. James Sprott, OBE, Msc, PhD, FNZIC, In New Zealand, discovered that this was a major contributor to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), where used crib mattresses were the culprits (2). Though the effects in adults usually go unidentified you may find that you feel better when you aren?t exposed to them.

The solution for crib mattresses was a simple layer of plastic completely covering the entire thing, not so practical for adults. This is a major reason not to buy used mattresses, which often have mold already growing in them, besides the other obvious factors (what did those previous owners do in that bed?).

To prevent mold from building up in your mattress it is good to use a mattress pad which is washable and will absorb most of the moisture that would be going to perpetuate mold growth. It is best, however, to simply buy a mattress that doesn?t create a suitable environment for mold or other microbes, such as latex.

Latex is a natural product that provides a superb sleep system that will keep your bed free of mold and other harmful microbes. Mold will always be around, and will always be a health concern. It is by familiarizing ourselves with mold, it?s indications, and it?s environment that we are able to minimize the risk that it will effect our lives.

Resources:
(1)http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/stachybotrys
(2) http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/sprott

Ben Hermsen is an engineer at http://www.foamsource.com where he champions the benefits of latex mattresses for the health of our families and environment.

The Supplement You Really Need for Aching Joints

No illness on earth is more likely to cause disability than osteoarthritis (OA). This well-known degenerative disease affects 140 million people in the United States alone, and 80 percent of people over the age of 50. In fact, if you are even 30 years old, there?s a 50-50 chance that osteoarthritis affects you.

Most people take care of their own arthritis treatment. The drug of choice is usually over-the-counter non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

The problem with NSAIDs is that they cause acid stomach, peptic ulcer, and, in rare instances, kidney or liver failure. Worse, there is even evidence from clinical observation of real arthritis sufferers that ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen sodium actually accelerate the destruction of joint tissue.

If you take these pain relievers for your achy joints, you?ll just need more. That?s why your objective should be to treat your joints, not your pain. And one of the best ways to build back your joints is to take glucosamine.

Glucosamine stimulates the joint to produce glycosaminoglycans, the building blocks of collagen that buffers and lines the joints.

There is wide agreement in the medical literature that a lack of Glucosamine may be one of the most important contributing factors to the progress of OA. At least three published clinical studies confirm that Glucosamine gives better results than aspirin or other NSAIDS in the long-term relief of pain.

Glucosamine is not anti-inflammatory. It does not affect the central nervous system. Instead, it corrects the underlying problem in the joint.

One of the three studies found that Glucosamine is more effective than piroxicam (Feldene). In fact, if you are taking Feldene, you might just want to switch to glucosamine. The study found that glucosamine by itself was better for relieving pain than glucosamine and Feldene together.

Probably the only reason not to use glucosamine is that people who are severely overweight may not respond as well to it. They need a larger dose.

Glucosamine can also raise blood sugars, but not if you take a sugar-free formula.

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To learn more about the essential ingredients for arthritis relief and become pain free visit, http://www.naturalhealthstore.org or visit, http://www.naturalhealthstore.org/arthritiscure for even more information on arthritis.

Dorian Yates' Secret: What Lean People Are Doing To Get That Way

A consensus has arisen within the bodybuilding world over the past twenty years regarding the exact modes and procedures needed to become lean as humanly possible while retaining muscle mass. Across the nation and the world, bodybuilders are lifting weights, hitting aerobics and eating with discipline in order to melt body fat. While they might quibble over the content of the workout or the food selections, perhaps they?d argue over what was the superior cardio mode, what they wouldn?t argue about was the overall procedures.

The flat-out fact is that a radically lowered body fat percentage can be obtained by anyone who has maniacal discipline: they need to lift weights like a labor camp detainee and blast away at metabolism-elevating cardio with Big Ben regularity. They preplan every bite they eat. If you are that in control of self, environment and life-circumstance and can exert the requisite discipline and denial, you too can achieve a super-low body fat percentile. It requires that eating, exercise and rest are in perfect symmetrical proportion.

The procedures bodybuilders use to lose fat are the absolute best and most effective if the stated goal is to reduce body fat and retain or actually add muscle. To win at bodybuilding above all else, you must be lean. If you are not lean you are damned to nothingness and unless you posses less than a 10% body fat percentile (for a man) don?t even consider entering a local meet ? you?d get blown into the weeds. In the bodybuilding world, it?s assumed everyone will be lean ? otherwise they wouldn?t be there ? the winners are determined by symmetry and muscle mass.

So how do all these bodybuilders routinely acquire 3-9% body fat percentiles ? a degree of condition unreachable for all but the elite 25-years ago? It was a confluence of events. The fall of the Iron Curtain allowed all that bottled up information about training to filter westward: this was the start of the information revolution that culminated with the advent to the internet. A leanness quantum leap occurred when bodybuilders began systematically including cardio in the training regimen. It had been assumed cardio would ?tear muscle down? but in fact cardio not only burned extra calories but improved endurance thereby allowing the athletes to train harder, longer, more often. Aerobics resulted in a huge across-the-board improvement as intense cardio burns calories and the metabolism remains elevated hours afterward. Cardio timing tricks improved results.

Bodybuilders began using powerlifter training tactics to grow larger. When the bodybuilders began increasing calories to support the intense training and newly added cardio, a funny thing occurred: they didn?t get fat. They got larger. They got more muscular. Incongruously they also became leaner. They discovered that they could eat lots of calories as long as the calories were derived from approved food sources. The caloric consumption was spread over multiple meals eaten at even time intervals throughout the day. The top pros were eating 7,000 to 10,000 calories a day to support 270 to 320 pounds of ?off-season? muscle mass. Dorian Yates told me he would whittle from 300-pounds to a contest ripped 260-pounds by imperceptibly reducing his calories from 6,000 a day to 3,500. He reduced gradually, taking 12-weeks to peak. If he dipped below 3,500 calories, hard-earned muscle would evaporate. At 290 Dorian could walk his twin Dobermans at top speed and achieve an 80% age-related heart rate. He was famous for lifting bar-bending poundage yet his food selections were surprisingly ?normal?

Typical daily meal schedule ? pre-competition phase

3,500 calories ? 50% - 55% carbs, 30% protein, 15% - 20% fat

7am Meal 1 500 grams oatmeal, 6 egg whites, 2 yolks, 2 slices whole wheat toast, banana

10am Meal 2 mid-morning 40-grams of protein (powder mixed with water), 300-grams potato

1pm Meal 3 200 grams chicken breast, 100 grams rice, 100 grams mixed vegetables

4pm Meal 4 40 grams of protein, banana

6pm Meal 5 post-workout 70 grams of carbohydrate powder, 30 grams of protein powder

7pm Meal 6 200 grams of extra lean beef, 300 grams baked potato, 200 grams broccoli

10pm Meal 7 40 grams of protein powder, 50 grams oatmeal

This is Dorian?s pre-competition cut diet (eating at his strictest) yet this menu seems hardly inhumane. The key is the type of foods, the timing of ingestion and the mixing of the various foods together. Everything within the diet is selected and prepared and placed for a specific reason.

For example; the first meal of the day is delayed until he completes his early morning cardio session. Glycogen, low coming off the sleep/fast cycle, exhausts itself and at that point body fat is mobilized to fuel the aerobic session. Once the cardio session is complete he replenishes depleted carb stores to curtail controlled catabolism. Throughout the day at equal time intervals he eats. Every two to three hours he refuels in some manner or fashion. He establishes and maintains continual anabolism. The meals are comprised of a protein portion, a fiber carb portion and a portion of starchy carbs. Fiber retards insulin released by starch carbs ? protein does also to a lesser degree.

Dorian kept his fat consumption to a realistic (for a pro bodybuilder) 15 to 20% of total calories. He would train in the afternoon and as soon as his brutal training session was over he would re-supply his body with exactly what it needed in the form of a protein/carb shake. He wanted to retain as much of his awesome muscle mass as possible and not consume a single calorie more than necessary to do that! By hovering at the caloric balance point and using the caloric cost of exercise to create a negative energy balance, fat was systematically burned to cover caloric shortfall. He would keep this methodical regimentation up for 12 straight weeks, every single day, without a single break. In order to have his body fat level down to 2-3% on the day of competition, he would maintain a decent number of calories in the face of dramatically increased physical activity: more cardio, more lifting, longer session with poundage designed to etch and shape final muscular detail ? the bulk building phase ended months ago.

This is all about melting the last vestiges of fat off the body without destroying mass. The razors edge. No room for error or momentary lapses in discipline ? at this levels those who lapse end up 17th. He fuels himself with food throughout the day: he still eats fruit and beef and potatoes. Hardly gulag fare?this approach works: as attested by bodybuilders everywhere who are obtaining sub-10% body fat percentiles on a widespread basis using a similar template to the one used be The Diesel.

If you have the circumstance and the discipline, a mild version of this rigid approach might work wonders.

Marty Gallagher is a former fitness columnist for washingtonpost.com. He is also a former national and world champion powerlifter. Marty's articles have been featured in Muscle Media, Muscle & Fitness, and Powerlifting USA magazines. His website, http://www.martygallagher.com, assimilates years of accumulated knowledge from the athletic elite and makes them accessible to the common person. The Purposeful Primitive way has been proven effective time after time after time for weight loss, increasing muscle tone, and complete physical transformation.

How Can You Identify Postpartum Depression?

Sometimes women suffer with depression immediately after child birth and this depression is known as postpartum depression. There are five kinds of postpartum depression, any of which can occur after child birth; however similar depression can also occur before or during pregnancy as well.

Patients of postpartum depression who have had other kinds of depression in their lives state that this depression feels very different from any other kind of depression that they have faced in their lives.

What are the different kinds of postpartum depression and How can you indentify Postpartum Depression?

There are five main kinds of postpartum depression or postpartum mood disorders as they are also known and women who have given childbirth may be suffering from any one of these. A brief description of these is given below so that you can see the current news about postpartum depression:

1. Baby Blues ? This is one kind of depression which is not considered a disorder at all and as many as 80% of mothers experience it.

The symptoms of the same are given below:

Instability of your mood or mood swings as they are called commonly

Sadness and weepiness

Anxiety

A strong sense of dependency on those around you

Inability to concentrate

2. Depression and Anxiety ? This is a postpartum depression which onsets gradually and which can happen any time during the first year of childbirth and is characterized by the following features:

Depression and anxiety which translates into worrying excessively

Finding it difficult to make decisions because you are overwhelmed with the circumstances all the time

Feelings of guilt and phobias

Hopelessness

Having sleep problems which could mean not being able to sleep properly or on the other hand sleeping excessively

Physical pain or discomfort without any apparent cause

Lack of comfort near the baby

Decreased libido and losing interest in pleasure

Getting short tempered and irritable

3. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ? This is a postpartum disorder with which 3 ? 5% mothers struggle and it can be recognized with the following symptoms:

Intrusive, repetitive thoughts and mental pictures

These thoughts are often violent and about hurting the baby

There is also at the same time a sense of disgust in these thoughts and horror about them

There would accompany such behavior which would suggest the actions to reduce these thoughts. For example you may try to hide all the pointed or sharp objects with which one can hurt the baby

Repetitive behavior like counting often or cleaning up again and again.

4. Panic Disorder ? This postpartum disorder is found in about 10% of the pregrant women. The symptoms of the same are listed below:

Extreme anxiety in phases

Dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain and a sensation of being smothered or choked

Trembling, palpitations, numbness or tingling sensations

Restlessness, agitations, or irritability

During such attacks women feel that they are going crazy, losing control or even dying

Excessive worry or fears

There will be no triggers for these panics and they will happen suddenly.

5. Psychosis ? This is the rarest and what may also be called the worse form of postpartum depression. In such a state the mother goes through tremendous strain to such an extent that this has got a suicide rate of 5% and infanticide rate of 4%. However Psychosis is quite rare and will only happen in one or two per thousand.

Following are the symptoms of psychosis:

Visual or sound hallucinations

Delusional thinking (for instance could be about the infant?s death or maybe even killing the baby)

Delirium or mania

Can I get help to fight postpartum depression?

This is a normal situation in the sense that many women suffer from it and it can be treated effectively through talk sessions with psychologists or medication. However, very often women who suffer from these also tend to be guilty of having such thoughts and they feel that it will be an embarrassment to tell other people that they are actually sad when they should be having the happiest time of their life. And so they end up hiding the problem which further aggravates it only.

Author: Kitty Barker - Kitty often writes for and with Postpartum Depression. You can also see more information on this subject at Postpartum Depression - should this link be inactive, you can paste this link to your browser - postpartum-depression-assistance.com

Learn How to Treat Eczema

Your hands are peeling. Your scalp itches and dandruff flakes cover you shoulder. Your shoulders and knees are weeping with sores. You feel like your skin is falling apart. This is a dire situation. You go to the doctor worried that you have some unmanageable skin disease.

Your worries are lessened when you are diagnosed with eczema. Your Dermatologist informs you that eczema is an autoimmune skin condition. You feel devastated when your Dermatologist says that eczema can?t be cured. However, eczema can be managed. You listen intently as your Dermatologist explains how to effectively treat eczema.

There are several ways to treat eczema. Following are ways to treat eczema based on the intensity and cause of the eczema.

Mild Cases of Eczema: It is fairly easy to treat eczema that is mild. It is a matter of changing your skin care regimen. Avoid using harsh soaps and opt for milder skin cleansers instead. Maintain skin moisture by using potent moisturizers on a daily basis. Cut down on the number of showers/bathes per week. Do not shower in hot water because it tends to dry out skin.

Moderate Cases of Eczema: You should take a moderate temperature bath to treat eczema that has created skin crusts. Adding oil to the bath can help add moisture and remove the skin crust. Lather the eczema infected areas immediately after your bath with heavy moisturizers. Your doctor can prescribe strong moisturizers and ointments to use.

To treat eczema you can also try hydrocortisone cream and corticosteroids creams prescribed by your Dermatologist. They provide the necessary moisture and healing properties.

Extreme Cases of Eczema: Ultraviolet light has been used to treat eczema that is extreme. Another way to treat eczema that is rampant is to take immune suppressing drugs. If allergies are a cause of the eczema then allergy shots may be used to treat eczema. Eliminating allergens and skin irritants in your environment can successfully treat eczema.

Handling stress properly can help treat eczema as well. Stress can be detrimental to your body and can show up in the form of eczema. Engaging in a stress management program such as therapy, exercise, and proper nutrition can make a world of difference.

It is crucial to try these therapies to triumph over your eczema. Your body and skin will thank you for taking the time to understand the cause and intensity of your eczema.

If you are interested in your health and well being then you will find some great reading at: http://www.findhealtharticles.com

Adult Bedwetting ? Exercise May Help The Problem

Adult bedwetting is as embarrassing to adults as it is to teenagers. No one wants to admit that he/she has a bedwetting problem, but doctors see adults on a daily basis that suffer from enuresis. This is the name given to bed wetting in anyone over the age of five because by that time most children have learned to recognize the signs that they need to get out of bed to use the bathroom. Even at that age, they become very upset by bedwetting, so you can only imagine how anyone with an adult bedwetting problem must feel.

Whether adult bedwetting occurs suddenly or develops gradually, it is something that needs to be checked out by a doctor. It could be a symptom of a disease such as diabetes, a sleep disorder, an infection in the urinary system or even an allergy. Once the doctor runs the necessary tests, he/she may send you to a urologist as a precautionary measure. During this time, you can wear bedwetting diapers to keep dry during the night, especially while you are waiting for the medication to take effect. Adult bed wetting also responds well to enuresis alarms to wake you up in time to go to the bathroom.

Adult bedwetting is often result of aging and the loss of muscle tone in the walls of the bladder. There are exercises you can do to reduce the occurrences of adult enuresis. These include doing such things as squeezing the bladder several times a day. This process helps to strengthen the bladder muscles because you pretend that you are trying to stop urinating. It also works during the day when you go to the bathroom so that you are actually stopping the flow. This is one method of exercise that adults suffering from nocturnal enuresis have found effective.

If your adult bedwetting occurs occasionally, you should start a diary recording the events surrounding the bed wetting episodes. This should include such things as how much you had to drink before you went to bed and what foods you ate. Drinking too much alcohol is often responsible for adult bed wetting because it puts you into a deep sleep. Since alcohol impairs brain function, the connection between the brain and the bladder is severed so bed wetting is more likely.

One factor to look at as a cause of adult bedwetting is the psychological factor. Stress and trauma can bring on bedwetting in an adult who did not even wet the bed as a child. This is where keeping a diary of events leading up to the adult enuresis episodes can help you determine what is causing them. Once you realize a pattern in stressful events and adult bedwetting, then you can take steps to avoid certain things that bring it on.

Find out more about Bedwetting, visit Peter's Website Bedwetting Answers and find out about Adult Bedwetting and more, including Teenage Bedwetting and Bedwetting Alarms

What Are These Ugly Dark Patches On My Face That Never Go Away?

A dark patch on the cheek, a brown square on your thigh, a black section on your neck? What are those swarthy badges and how do you get rid of them?

Those black patches, or acanthosis nigricans, as they?re called in medical circles, could result from insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance occurs when the normal amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas is not able to enter the body cells where it is needed. So, to maintain a normal blood glucose level, the pancreas secretes more insulin.

Sometimes, when the body?s cells resist or do not respond to these higher levels of insulin, glucose builds up in the blood. This causes high blood glucose or type 2 diabetes.

Even people with diabetes who take oral medication or require insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels can have higher than normal blood insulin levels due to insulin resistance.

Acanthosis nigricans occurs most frequently among overweight individuals battling insulin resistance. The easiest way to begin removing the dark patches is to safely begin losing weight.

Meanwhile, you can resort to skin lightening creams that contain retinols or hydroxy acids. But, the patches will not go away permanently until you have resolved your insulin resistance issues.

In rare cases, Acanthosis nigricans could be the result of cancer. If you are not overweight and still experience Acanthosis nigricans, you should see a physician.

Are you still wondering how to get rid of acne? Naweko San-Joyz has created the only guide to deliver an acne cure as unique as you. Get your ?Acne Messages? natural acne cure at http://www.Noixia.com ISBN: 0974912204.

Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage

A catastrophic or major medical insurance plan is a deductible and comparatively cheaper form of health insurance with an element of speculation to it. A deductible is the amount you pay out of your pocket for medical expenses before the insurer pays the balance. For instance, if your deductible is $5,000 and the hospital bill is $12,000, the insurance company will pay only $7,000. The general rule is the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. When you opt for this plan, you're gambling that you will not face major medical problems in the near future.

It is a calculated risk. According to one survey, the annual medical expenses of 90% of the U.S. population are less than $2000; for 73%of the population, it is below $500.

Two groups that normally opt for catastrophic health insurance are young people in their twenties who are confident of their health condition, and older men between fifty and sixty-five who are still waiting for Medicare eligibility.

Catastrophic health insurance coverage is only meant to protect against major hospital charges and not routine medical expenses. It normally does not cover maternity care, doctor?s visits and prescription drugs. Certain pre-existing medical conditions and cases involving mental health and substance abuse are usually excluded from the coverage. A catastrophic health insurance policy can be purchased as an individual plan or as part of a group plan. In fact, there appears to be a trend among employers to encourage employees to opt for this type of medical cover. The maximum lifetime limit could be as high as $3 million.

Rates vary according to where you live and your age. In certain states, the saving on premiums could be two-thirds. For example, a 21 year old, non-smoking female may pay as little as $30 per month as a premium.

It is advisable to seek professional guidance from insurance companies and/or agents and compare quotes before making a decision.

Health Insurance Coverage provides detailed information about health insurance coverage, individual health insurance coverage and more. Health Insurance Coverage is affiliated with Individual Health Insurance Quotes.

Post Nasal Drip What Works for Me

?Postnasal drip is an unscientific term that refers to the sensation of thick phlegm in the throat which can become infected?. So says Dr. Murray Grossan in his book ?The Sinus Cure, 7 Simple Steps?. He goes on to explain that this is caused when our cilia-mucous system is not functioning properly and how pulsating nasal irrigation can help correct this situation.

It has been several years since I?ve felt the pain and discomfort of a severe sore throat caused by post nasal drip. I have been using the pulsating nasal irrigation system since then and have been free of the process that led me into colds and sinus infections. Looking back, even into my childhood, the sequence went like this:

- A little tickle in the throat appears lasting a day or two.

- A more serious sore throat caused by post nasal drip begins.

- Onset of a cold with lots of congestion and blockage, runny nose and eyes.

- Onset of a sinus infection and the associated deep headaches and pain in my upper nasal cavities and around the eyes.

- A course of antibiotics for 10 days to two weeks.

Even now there are occasions when I start to feel the familiar old ?tickle? that begins the process. This is a dangerous warning sign, and I will do several things including additional nasal irrigation (at least twice or even three times per day), and I will also take 5 mg. of prednisone. Sometimes in order to fight off the coming attack, I?ll need to take the prednisone for two or three days. This is in addition to taking flonase before going to bed, and possibly zyrtec, which is an antihistamine. Prednisone is a steroid and can have serious side effects if too much is taken. However, it does open up sinus cavities so they can drain properly, and the above amounts are not too much to cause problems, according to my ENT specialist.

In almost every case over the past 5 years or so, the above procedure has prevented the old sequence of events that led to a sinus infection. When I was very young I used to say, ? when I get a cold, it?s a doozy?. Little did I know that I was experiencing sinus infections. A normal cold only lasts 5 days to a week or so, but my ?colds? would last 10 days or sometimes two weeks, and they were difficult to deal with. My nose and eyes would run so much I could only lie in bed with my eyes closed for days.

If the above scenario sounds familiar, I highly suggest using the pulsating nasal irrigation process on a daily basis, and to follow the above procedure if you start to feel the ominous ?tickle? in your throat.

It is normal for mucus to run down the back of one?s throat as part of the normal cilia-mucous system functionality. Generally this is not even noticed. But when it becomes thick, sticky, and starts to cause pain, it is obvious that post nasal drip has made itself evident. It should be noted as well that the thick phlegm is often infected since it is just sitting there and pooling up in your nose and throat. This obviously exacerbates the post nasal drip problem, so clearing this out with nasal irrigation is even more important.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of http://www.postnasaldrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years.

Top Holistic Homeopathic Medicines for First Aid

Homeopathy - also known as homeopathic medicine - is a holistic form of health care that developed in Germany in the late 1700's by Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathic practitioners are commonly called homeopaths.

I was first introduced to homeopathy in the UK, when I signed up for a homeopathic first aid course. I has such immediate results that I wanted to learn more and have been an ongoing student ever since.

A key premise in homeopathy is that every person has energy called a vital force or self-healing response. Homeopathy aims to stimulate the body's own healing responses. It uses an approach called like cures like.

I share the point of view that homeopathy does work, but that modern scientific methods have not yet explained why. If homeopathy appears to be helpful and safe, then scientifically valid explanations or proofs of this alternative system of medicine are not necessary.

The holistic homeopathic medicine concept that treatment should be selected based upon a total picture of an individual and his symptoms, not solely upon symptoms of a disease. Homeopaths evaluate not only a person's physical symptoms but her emotions, mental states, lifestyle, nutrition, and other aspects. In homeopathy, different people with the same symptoms may receive different homeopathic remedies.

Most homeopathic remedies are derived from natural substances that come from plants, minerals, or animals. A remedy is prepared by diluting the substance in a series of steps. Many homeopathic remedies are so highly diluted that not one molecule of the original natural substance remains. Remedies are sold in liquid, pellet, and tablet forms.

Here are some of the most frequently holistic homeopathic medicines: - Aconite: First acute stage of onset of any complaint-fever, earache, headache, diarrhea. Best emergency heart remedy.

- Arnica: Used for pain of simple trauma from falls, blows, bruises, bruised muscles, brain concussions with unconsciousness, shock. General rule: Give Arnica first for shock with any injury.

- Arsenicum: Nonspecific diarrhea, including traveler's diarrhea, ptomaine poisoning, septic infections.

- Belladona: Best for toothache. Colds of sudden onset with the following symptoms: mild sore throat, head congestion, fever, intense sweating (especially on the face), oversensitivity to noise and light. Person is hot and red-faced.

- Bryonia: Cold or flu, unless cold was caused by getting wet.

- Calendula: Injuries with skin broken, lacerated, flesh mangled, with bleeding cuts, bruises, open wounds, tear from child birth.

- Hypericum: Injury to parts with nerves: after surgery, gun shot wound, crushed fingers (for example, in a door), injury to tailbone in a fall or from childbirth.

- Ignatia: Best remedy for hysteric reaction (even in children, dissolved as described in directions and given by spoonful). For cough and chest congestion.

- Ledum Pal: For stabs, punctures (even rusty nails), bites of animals and stings of insects, sprains, black eye from blow of fist, severe bruising.

- Nux Vomica: Nausea, indigestion, headache from food, motion sickness.

- Tabacum: For relief of nausea associated with motion sickness and sea sickness.

Remedies for colds: Bryonia, Belladona, Aconite, Rhus Tox.

Remedies for sleeplessness: Chamomille (best general remedy), Coffea (feeling wide awake), Nux Vomica (from overeating/rich food), Arnica (too tired from over exercising)

Lizette le Clus-Fox is an ardent advocate for a holistic approach to health and runs http://www.wellnessthoughts.com and her ezine Wellness Thoughts provides regular in-depth information. To learn more about holistic homeopathic medicines visit her web site today!

Elliptical Trainer Ceiling Height

When selecting an elliptical trainer for your home it?s critical to make sure that it will fit into the space you?ve selected. The elliptical trainer ?footprint? is the total area that the base of the machine occupies. This is the width times the length of the elliptical trainer.

It is also necessary to allow at least 2 feet all around this footprint in order for convenient mounting and dismounting from the elliptical trainer. This additional clearance is also necessary for the upper arm handles if present. There?s nothing worse than punching holes into your drywall because you didn?t allow sufficient clearance for the handles!

However, there?s another dimension that many people overlook when selecting an elliptical trainer and that?s the elevation of the foot pedals from the floor. You may ask what this is all about, but it?s important to remember that an elliptical trainer is a 3-dimensional machine and occupies space. Elliptical Trainer ceiling height is the often overlooked dimension when selecting and locating an elliptical trainer.

The good news is that rooms in most American homes and apartments are built with a ceiling height of 8 feet. In fact, many newer homes are being built with 9-foot ceilings and higher

Unfortunately the dimension that you need to calculate head clearance is not provided in many elliptical trainer specifications. The dimension called ?height?, which is often provided, is of no use in calculating head clearance. Height is the maximum height of the trainer from the floor to the tips of the arm handles. What we want is the height from the floor to the bottom of the lowest extent of the foot pedals.

Precor is a manufacturer that provides this dimension. They call it ?Height of footplate at lowest position (step up)?. This is the height that you should add to your own height to determine that your head will not bump into the ceiling.

If the room where you want to locate your elliptical trainer has a 9-foot ceiling then you have nothing to worry about. Just don?t position your elliptical under a low hanging light fixture. You would have to stand 8?4? to bump your head on a 9-foot ceiling. Not much chance of this happening to anyone I know.

If your ceiling height is 8 feet, then unless you?re 7 feet tall or greater, you will still not bump your head on the ceiling. However, even if you are a few inches shorter, say 6?6?, it may feel like your head is too close to the ceiling while exercising on an elliptical trainer. This can be unnerving, so it?s something to consider.

Now, if you want to locate your elliptical trainer in your basement and the ceiling is a low one ? say 7 feet, then watch your head if you?re 6?4? or taller!

I remember lifting weights in the unfinished basement of my parents? home and looking up at the ceiling while resting between sets of bench presses. I?d look up at the multitude of nails poking through the floorboards and wonder if I could impale my head on them if I jumped high enough. Fortunately for me I couldn?t jump that high!

Since most elliptical trainers have similar foot pedal elevations, it?s more an issue of selecting a room with sufficient elliptical trainer ceiling height than the other way around.

Rich Rojas writes unbiased Elliptical Trainer Reviews and articles on health and fitness at http://www.ellipticalhome.com

Natural Acne Remedies for You

Traditional medicine that is given to improve Acne condition may have side effects on us. That may be the reason why some people may prefer natural methods instead of pharmaceutical ones. Here are some examples of natural acne remedies.

When going to a natural practitioner, one of the first things that he will tell you is that ?it's what's inside that count?. That?s the main difference with traditional dermatologist, they will tell you that what you eat has no effect on your skin. But the truth is that a healthy diet can have positive effects on your skin, as well as in your life in general.

Some of the guidelines you may follow are:

-Drink six glasses of water a day.

-Try to find organic produce.

-Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

-Boil you food and avoid fried foods.

- Eat fiber rich foods such as lentils and beans.

-Go light on the caffeine, only two cups of tea or coffee a day.

-Stay away from sodas they have too much sugar and caffeine.

If you still want to intake some extra diet supplements, here are some supplement suggestions.

-A good daily multi vitamin.

-Vitamin C.

-Antioxidants blend of A, C, E, zinc, selenium.

-A fatty acid supplement such as primrose oil or fish oil.

In any case, it is always better to talk with a qualified nutritionist to help you with deciding what supplements you should take.

When cleaning your skin daily, you may have a routine that includes washing and moisturizing with the best natural products. Have a facial monthly. This will help keep your skin healthy and glowing. Your aesthetician will help you to identify your skin type and make recommendations about cleansers and moisturizers.

This facial routine should include an exfoliation once or twice a week, depending on your type of skin. And, if you suffer from acne as an adult you will still need to keep your skin moisturized. Make sure that you use an SPF on your skin everyday.

There are no miracle treatments for Acne problem, but having a good cleaning routine and a healthy lifestyle will help. And when you choose the best product to treat Acne, have in mind that no matter witch treatment you choose, you may wait at least 6 to 8 weeks to see results.

About The Author
Martha Fitzharris is a free lance journalist for http://www.naturalbioskincare.com a website offering a new biological natural skin care product that activates skin renewal.If you want more information about Strech marks, please clic natural skin care cream with natural skin renewal activators.

Beginner Bodybuilding Diet Guidelines & Tips

Beginner?s Advice:

1) The first thing an absolute beginner should do is visit his/her doctor and get the all clear to begin a workout program that will include cardiovascular and weight training.

2) Decide on what are your goals. Do you want to lose body fat and tone up or do you want to gain weight? Doing both at the same time can be achieved too but is very difficult and can lead to zigzag diets.

3) A general guideline is that if your body fat is below 14% you should be ok to bulk up and gain some weight and body fat. If you are above 14% then you should try to first lose some fat and then try to gain the weight. Generally anyone who has a body fat percentage of over 30% is considered to be obese.

4) Have a set nutrition plan before you begin training. 5-6 meals a day are an absolute MUST whether you want to lose bf or gain weight.

5) Have a set training regimen. If you have to, hire a personal trainer for a couple of sessions to show you how to perform the basic exercises. Ask for advice on your routines, either from knowledgeable people in the gym or in our forum.

6) Choose a gym that will have all the basic equipment (benches, squat racks, smiths etc). If you go during peak hours (5pm-8pm) you should try and join the gym with the most equipment around. This will help you finish your workout faster and not wait for someone to get off your machine. Make sure your gym has personal trainers and helpful staff. Cleanliness is also a MUST!

7) Don?t just go to the gym to train chest and arms! If you want your progress to be fast you MUST train all muscles at least once per week.

8) Do not tax your body with unnecessary time in the gym. Go in, train hard and get out of there as fast as you can! Growth takes place OUTSIDE the gym while you are eating healthy meals and while sleeping and resting.

9) Cardio training is a good tool for all beginners in order to help them gain some cardiovascular strength for strenuous weight workouts.

10) Always remember that you will progress faster if you contantly apply te following equation to your lifestyle:

TRAINING + MEALS + REST = GROWTH! If one or more components are missing, growth simply won?t take place and you'll end up being very frustrated.

Copyright 2005 - Kostas Marangopoulos

Kostas Marangopoulos is a certified personal trainer, natural bodybuilder and owner of one of the best bodybuilsing websites & forums on the web, http://www.BodybuildingApplied.com. To get Kostas' free monthy bodybuilding diet & training secrets newsletter, please visit http://www.BodybuildingApplied.com

Know Your Ideal Choelsterol Reading

Cholesterol is a substance that is present in the human body, and is both good and bad for us. High levels of cholesterol, especially LDL or bad cholesterol can put you at an increased risk for heart diseases and strokes. Similarly, low levels of HDL or good cholesterol, can also increase your risk substantially. But what are high and low levels of cholesterol? Here's a view of ideal cholesterol readings.

Total Cholesterol

According to the total cholesterol in your body, you may have normal levels or increased levels of cholesterol.

Under 200mg/DL: This is the most desirable level of cholesterol to have. If you have cholesterol lower than 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood, then you are considered to have the optimum and normal levels of cholesterol.

Between 200 and 239mg/DL: People within this range of total body cholesterol fall into the category of borderline high risk for getting heart diseases or stroke.

240mg/DL and above: If your total body cholesterol is 240mg/DL or more, then you are at very high risk for contracting heart ailments.

Normal Levels Of HDL Cholesterol

The normal levels of HDL cholesterol are 50-60 mg/DL for women, and 40-50mg/DL for men. HDL is the good cholesterol, and levels lower than 40mg/DL can increase your risk of heart diseases.

Normal Levels Of LDL Cholesterol

Here is a chart, which will show you the optimum, normal, and high levels of LDL cholesterol.

Levels Of LDL Cholesterol Diagnosis Below 100mg/DL Optimum levels Between 100 and 129mg/DL Normal levels Between 130 and 159mg/DL Borderline Risk Between 160 and 189mg/DL High Risk More Than 190mg/DL Very High Risk

Note that these readings are guidelines and are considered as part of your overall profile when a doctor makes an assessment of your ideal cholesterol readings. Some people may read high compared to others and yet be found to not be at risk. This is because cholesterol is also made naturally by the body and some people may simply have higher levels than others. However, by understanding the ideal cholesterol reading ranges and by making healthy lifestyle choices, you should be able to achieve your own ideal cholesterol levels, naturally.

Dave Saunders is a certified nutritional educator, wellness coach, member of the American International Association of Nutritional Education (AIANE) and author. He is also the host of a weekly, nation-wide telephone lecture on health and nutrition. For additional information, please visit http://www.glycoboy.com or http://www.glycowellness.com or email Dave at dave@glycoboy.com

The New Medicine of Dr.Ryke Geerd Hamer

Dr.Ryke Geerd Hamer, one time chief internist of the Cancer Clinic of Munich University Hospital met horrific tragedy when in 1978, his 19 year old son Dirk, was shot dead in front of his eyes! Shortly afterwards he developed testicular cancer and wondered why! His exploration brought him to a dramatic conclusion that he called ?The Iron Rule of Cancer?!

The ?Iron Rule? states that a sudden and unforeseen incident of a highly charged emotional nature leads to cancer. He continues by saying that the cancer can be cured once the emotional conflict is resolved. If it is not changed the patient will die! This he suggests is why so many conventional treatments are unsuccessful.

The same phenomenon occurs in the animal world. A sheep looses its lamb to a predator and goes on to develop teat cancer. The cancer disappears when the ewe falls pregnant once again.

The sudden shock or ?Significant Emotional Event? (SEE) leads to what Hamer calls a?Dirk-Hamer-Syndrome? or DHS, which swiftly produces a cancerous growth or equivalent in a bodily organ. Hamer was able to trace this development by using CT scans. With the help of ?Computerized Tomography?, Dr. Hamer was able to produce a chart that relates specific emotional traumas with the formation of lesions in the brain that result in cancerous tumors growing in predictable parts of the body. Taking breast cancer as an example, the doctor attributes the emotional cause to a separation issue in the patient?s life. In the case of left-handed woman who develops cancer as a result of a mother-daughter conflict there is likely to be a tumor on the right breast. With right-handed women this would reverse.

The manufacturers of the CT equipment, Siemens, testify that Geerd Hamer used over 6,000 CT scans in his work in developing this extraordinary theory. What he appears to be saying is that the cancer is a symptom of the real illness, which lies painfully embedded in the psyche and in the brain. He appears to have thoroughly researched his explanation to boot!

Hamer criticizes the orthodox medical treatment of cancer by saying that 98% of patients die from the treatment and not the disease. He claims: ?Nowadays most people with cancer die from the affects of the medical diagnosis and prognosis. It is the diagnosis and prognosis which produces the supposed metastases.? He maintains there is no such thing as cancer spreading as conventionally supposed. Instead the metastasis is the growth of another cancer caused by yet another Significant Emotional Event. In this case the shock of the medical diagnosis and the physicians negative prognosis for the future development of the disease.

Dr Hamer does not offer solutions how these conflicts are to be resolved, but stresses resolution has to be gentle. Rough analytical abreactive therapies are to be discouraged because they might trigger another cancer causing Significant Emotional Event. However, many gentle therapies such as EFT abound today; they might just play a big part in resolving these cancer producing conflicts in what must be a milestone in Mind-Body Medicine.

Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same.

Alister Bredee is a freelance writer, author, lecturer and trainer and Natural Health Practitioner. See also http://www.pagerankarticles.com.

He lives in Thailand and can be contacted at: alisterbredee@gmail.com

Rosacea The Red Blush That Becomes Permanent

Rosacea- what is it? Rosacea is also called adult acne or acne rosacea. But it has nothing to do with acne. In rosacea what happen is this. You will notice that you show red blush or flushing of the center part of your face in the beginning. That may happen after sun exposure or after eating spicy foods or drinking alcoholic drinks etc. But slowly this blush will become permanent and your face will always look red at the center. Slowly the color may spread to other parts of the face and acne like papules may form.

Rosacea- Am I prone? No body knows the cause of rosacea. Nor it is known about who may be prone to rosacea. It is thought that it is a disease of the blood vessels of the face. When it develops further, you may notice red veins like spider veins on your face. Most of the men develop red big nose because of rosacea. Please read more about Rosacea here- Rosacea- treatment.

Rosacea- are there any complications? Your eyes may get involved if you don't get roseasea treated. You will feel gritty in the eyes and must consult your doctor immediately. As said earlier, men may develop very bad looking red big noses that may need surgery to correct the shape.

Rosacea- what should I do? If anytime you notice that you are getting red color easily on your face, watch if it is becoming permanent. Please consult your doctor immediately if it does and bring your rosacea under control. Knowing more about what triggers your rosacea will help you.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. For more information about how to have good skin that looks young and blemish free, please visit- http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/. You will also find solutions to wrinkles, scars, facial rejuvenation, latest laser treatments, skin blemishes and spots, hair care and hair loss and about keeping healthy nails. This site is dedicated to make you look good. For keeping yourself young and healthy at all the ages find out more about the skin problems and how to cure them.

Magnetic Therapy

Magnetic Therapy is currently considered to be an alternative medicine. Those who practice it believe that certain ailments can be treated if the patient is exposed to magnetic fields. Permanent magnets will generally be placed near the body, and it is believed that this procedure can reduce pain, allow the body to heal faster, and treat a number of other medical problems. Magnetic Therapy will typically be used for people who have problems with their backs or joints. The effectiveness of this therapy is currently not known, and most in the medical establishment currently view it as being a form of pseudoscience.

The practice of magnetic therapy has led to the growth of an entire industry. A number of products are sold for the purpose of healing those who use them. These products could range from bracelets to mattresses or blankets. While there is no concrete evidence that magnetic therapy has been used to effectively treat people, some in the medical establishment believe that it may work as a placebo in some who use it. Critics of magnetic therapy claim that most magnets don't have the strength to effect the various organs and tissues within the body.

In addition to this, few manufacturers have been able to effectively demonstrate the usefulness of their products. However, it should be noted that the field of magnetism is not well understood, and discoveries are constantly being made on a regular basis. Scientific studies have showed that magnetic fields do play a role in the migratory patterns of some birds, and being exposed to a magnetic field which is too strong can even be toxic. Given this research, there is a possibility that strong magnetic fields may play a role in the health of those who are exposed to them, but this remains to be seen.

Proponents of Magnetic Therapy often point out that magnetic fields which are exposed to the body can increase the circulation of blood due to the presence of iron within the hemoglobin. However, iron will lose its ferromagnetic properties once it becomes ionised. There are a number of websites online which sale magnetic health products, and it has grown into a large industry. Whether or not the use of magnets for healing is caused by the placebo effect, it has become an alternative medicine that many people use for healing purposes.

The use of Magnetic Therapy is not new. Paracelsus was a doctor and alchemist who lived during the 15th century, and he reasoned that if magnets could attract iron, they may also be able to have an effect on the various diseases that were present in the body. The current debate about Magnetic Therapy will continue until concrete evidence has been found to support it. With all the achievements that have been made by the medical community, they are limited in their knowledge and understanding. Magnetism is a subject that is not well understood, and the function of the human body and mind is extremely complex as well. It is possible that some link between magnetic fields and diseases may found in the future if sophisticated tools are developed.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Magnetic Therapy which is part of the Knowledge Search network.

Lasik Eye Correction: How To Find A Doctor

Considering lasik eye correction? If so, you should know that the procedure will be preformed by a trained and licensed doctor in a sterile environment. But, those doctors that have more experience actually can give you an improved shot at complete eye sight correction. Because those that are experienced have more of an ability to perform the surgery, we thought we should give you some help in finding the lasik eye correction doctor for your procedure. Here are some tips to help you find the right doctor to handle your lasik eye correction:

? First of all, have a few names to consider. You will want to know about several doctors that perform the surgery. In order to help you, use the web to find those doctors in your area or wherever you are willing to travel to.

? Now, compare these doctors for experience. How much experience do they have in this particular procedure? Have they done it enough as to allow them to be qualified for your procedure?

? But, that is not nearly all that you will want to look at when considering a doctor for lasik eye correction.

? You also need to take into consideration the success rates of patients. Ask this.

? You need to know if you can trust the doctor as well. Schedule a time to meet with him and discuss your options. Can you have this surgery? Will it improve your eye sight? What will happen during the surgery? These things will not only provide you with this information, but it will provide you with a level of trust with your doctor.

? You should also know the risks as well as the costs of the procedures. While you should never go with a lesser qualified doctor because it is cheaper, you may find some differences in price across the board.

When you take the time to find the right lasik eye correction doctor, you can feel better about your experience altogether.

For more information please see http://www.lasik-eye-correction.co.uk

Fitness Clubs How Do You Choose?

If you are looking to lose some weight or get in shape, a fitness club is a great idea. There are many benefits to working in a health or fitness club but with so many options these days, how do you choose the one that is best for you?

Well, one good idea is to find out about all the ones in your area and then compare them. But how do you know what to compare? Below are some of the most important things you should look for in your fitness club and you can compare to find the best fitness club in your location.

Location

The location of your fitness club is going to be very important. Not only do you want one that is close to your home and/or work place but you also want one that is easy to get to. Convenience is going to be extra important on those days when you are not really feeling up to a work out and you are looking for any excuse to skip out on your routine.

Staff

You may want to interview some of the staff at the facility that you are thinking of signing up for. Staff can be very helpful to you, especially if you have never used some of the equipment before. Helpful staff will guide you through so that everything makes sense and you know you are using the equipment properly.

Fitness Equipment

Do they have the equipment that you need for the workout you plan on getting? Do they have updated and safe equipment? Do they have enough equipment to accommodate the number of members of the facility? You lose benefit of your workout if you spend most of your gym time waiting on a machine.

Social Factors

If you have friends or family that uses a certain facility, it may take precedence over one where you do not know anyone. Some people like to have someone to work out with. Does your fitness club encourage social interaction with a common gathering area? Do they have a location you can sit around and have a cup of coffee or tea and say hello to one another? Little details like this can help sway your option toward a particular club.

Programs

What programs and classes does the facility offer? If you are looking for yoga, kickboxing, etc then you will want a fitness club that offers these programs to you.

Maintenance

The next thing you are going to want to look at is the maintenance of the property. How well do they keep the facilities clean? Are the restrooms clean and properly stocked? Are the equipment and floors cleaned regularly after people have been using them? Is the trash regularly removed from the building? These are all important factors that can make your visit to the fitness club more pleasurable. Plus, if they show they have proper cleanliness then they likely perform proper safety maintenance on the equipment as well.

Copyright 2006, Brad Howard

Are you afraid of choosing the wrong fitness club? You should be. Do yourself a favor and get the free resource, Health Club Secrets: How to Command the Lowest Rate at Any Health Club.

Brad Howard is a renowned industry consultant and will show you the biggest pitfalls and money sucking scams known to man. http://www.healthclubsecrets.com

Bridge Out! ConsumerDriven Health Plans will Change How We Get Care

Bridge Out: A road sign you really never want to see. Its appearance in your path means that there has been a failure and that you have to find a new way of getting where you want to go. The rise of consumer-driven health plans indicates that the era of managed care failed to control the increased cost and demand for care and that many things about the way we receive healthcare in the US.

In late August 2006, Wellpoint, one of the nation's biggest healthcare insurance providers, has gone on record stating that in 2007 they will the first insurer to have consumer-driven health plans in all states and for all types of people (from major employers to small groups to individual plans).

Our customers who choose these consumer-driven products will have new opportunities to lead healthier lives because of this first-of-its-kind national offering, Wellpoint CEO, Larry Glassock

The press release also goes on to share: we're empowering consumers through unique and robust online tools and incentives that encourage and reward them for choosing to live healthier lifestyles... Consumers who choose Lumenos will be eligible for extensive preventive care and personal health coaching, as well as smoking cessation and weight management programs. In addition, most consumers will receive financial rewards for completing various wellness programs.

WOW! That sounds great, right?!?!?! Well, I always read these things and think about what my parents and my in-laws know about healthcare/ health policy and what they would think.

So for those of you who are not familiar with this new type of health plan, their implementation will produce significant changes in how care is reimbursed. Consumer-driven health plans are designed to shift some of the financial decision-making and responsibility to the individuals who consume healthcare services. Health savings accounts and high deductibles are key components to this new type of health plan. The thought behind all of this is to allow patients to determine how best to spend their healthcare dollars.

If you buy into traditional economic theory as applicable to the healthcare industry, this is not a bad way of trying to control skyrocketing costs. Since the price of services has a direct impact on demand for services, in theory , this type of plan has the potential to reduce duplication of services and unnecessary utilization of higher levels (more expensive) of care. In very simple terms, if patients are required to share some of the financial responsiblity of their care, then they are more likely to choose the cheapest, most effective care.

There are at least two very big 'rubs' to this plan. First, in order to to be able to make appropriate choices, consumers will need to know the cost of the care. While it seems easy enough, a physician or facilities' billing rate for a service is significantly different than a contracted rate. And a contracted rate or allowable charge is significantly differerent than the acutal amount paid for services by an insurer or other third party payer. So healthcare consumers will need to understand all of these to be able to make the appropriate choices. Also healthcare providers will need to set up a system to be able to accurately inform the consumer the costs for a service. While this seems easy enough, it becomes increasingly complex when one understands that every, single, solitary insurance plan is different in regards to deductible, copay, contracted rate and reimbursement rate.

Second, in order to be able to chose the cheapest, effective treatment, healthcare consumers will have to know and understand their treatment options. This means that they will need to better understand the science behind their illnesses as well as the science behind the possible treatments. This would be a whole lot easier if we went back to the old world model of having healthcare providers that were able to develop rapport and a trusting patient-provider relationship. In the past, providers were given the time and opportunity to really partner with individuals, understand the complexities of care and develop a truly individualzed treatment that best fit the patient/consumer's need. However, in the days of the 15 minute visit, this becomes increasingly difficult to do.

President Bush's recent executive order pushing for many things including transparency of pricing information is an attempt to address the issue of understanding the financial aspects.

However, how do we make sure individuals have the information they need to be able to get the best treatment value? In reality, physicians and healthcare providers, because of their ability to understand and evaluate individual cases and circumstances, are the best resources for helping individuals make these decisions. However, they will likely need to develop new ways of doing this that are cost and time efficient. If healthcare providers do not develop these new ways, consumers/patients will be left to fend for themselves.

If consumers do not adequately educate themselves or access resources/advocates that will assist them, then this plan too is doomed. Costs will not be contained, health will not be preserved and access to appropriate, effective care will continue to be compromised.

Carol is the Vice President of The Promedica Research Center. She has a masters degree from Mercer University in Health Policy and Administration and currently teaches a master's level course on Health Care Organizations for the University of Phoenix (Online), College of Health Sciences. Longer bio found at drivingintraffic.com.

Eating Before and After Exercise

When you exercise, you do it in order to try to maintain good health. You know that you have to eat so that your body has the energy to perform the workouts that you do as well as for everyday tasks. But, just what you should eat before and after you workouts is important for making the best of your workouts. Also, how long you eat before and after each workout is equally important.

Whether you are going to be doing a cardio workout or a resistance workout, you should try to make it a point to eat a mix of carbohydrates and protein. What determines the percentage of carbohydrates and protein you should consume is whether you are doing cardio or resistance and the intensity level you will be working at.

The ideal time to eat your pre workout meal is 1 hour before you start. If you are working at a lower intensity level, keep this meal down to around 200 calories or so. If you are working at a higher intensity level, you may need this meal to be as high as 400 to 500 calories.

If you are doing a cardio session, you will need to eat a mix of around 2/3 carbohydrates and 1/3 protein. This will give you longer sustained energy from the extra carbs with enough protein to keep muscle from breaking down during your workout.

If you are doing a resistance session, you should eat a mix of around 1/3 carbohydrates and 2/3 protein. This will give you enough energy from the carbs to perform each set you do and the extra protein will help keep muscle breakdown to a minimum during your workout. It has been shown that your body most effectively uses protein during exertion meaning that taking in more protein before resistance workouts aids in faster recovery as well.

Now, eating after a workout is just as important as the pre workout meal. Remember that when you exercise whether it is a cardio or a resistance session, you deplete energy in the form of glycogen. Our brain and central nervous system relies on glycogen as their main source of fuel so if we don't replace it after exercise, our bodies will begin to break down muscle tissue into amino acids, then convert them into usable fuel for the brain and central nervous system.

Also, mostly during resistance workouts, you break down muscle tissue by creating micro tears. This means that right after a workout; your muscles go into a repair mode. Proteins are the key macronutrient for muscle repair and so you don't want muscle breaking down further to create fuel in place of lost glycogen.

If you have just finished a cardio session, you will need to consume mostly carbohydrates, preferably ones with high fiber. Oatmeal, rice, whole wheat pasta, and most northern fruits are good sources. Try to consume around 30 to 50 grams of these carbohydrates after a cardio session. After cardio, it is ok to eat within 5 to 10 minutes of completion.

If you have just finished a resistance session, you will need a combination of carbohydrates and protein. Because unlike cardio workouts, with resistance workouts you are breaking down muscle tissue by creating micro tears. The protein is needed to build up and repair these tears so the muscle can increase in size and strength. The carbs not only replace the lost muscle glycogen, but also help the protein get into our muscle cells so it can synthesize into structural protein, or muscle itself.

Chicken or fish with a potato, egg whites with a piece of fruit, or a protein shake with fruit mixed in are good meals after resistance workouts but remember to keep the fiber low here. High fiber slows down digestion, meaning the protein will take longer to reach the muscle cells.

After resistance, it is recommended to wait 30 minutes before eating so as not to take blood away from your muscles too soon. The blood in your muscles helps with the repair process by removing metabolic waste products from them.

Any fats should be consumed well before and well after exercise.

Jim O'Neill gives you tons of valuable information on the subjects of weight loss, fitness, and nutrition to make it easy for you to live a healthy lifestyle. Sign up now for his free 7 part mini e-course at: http://www.mrgymfitness.com/minicourse.php

Natural Pain Relief Spray Is A Traveler's Best Friend

Remember your last vacation? Remember those cramped seats; recirculated air in already arid cabins; little if any lumbar or neck support; chilly cabin temperatures? These conditions can be compounded if one already suffers from some other painful malady, like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or any number of other chronic discomforts.

All can make for an uncomfortable in-flight or car travel experience if not prepared with a natural pain relief option. Take heart; using a natural pain relief spray and employing the following useful tips can improve the experience:

*Pack light and choose lightweight rolling suitcases. Most injuries occur from carrying heavy luggage.

*Use caution when toting luggage around. No running. Lift heavy luggage by bending at the knee rather than the waist, and get help or use caution when lifting heavy cases into the overhead airline compartment or trunk of a car.

*Dress warmly and comfortably. Restrictive clothing can create tension or cause you to move in unnatural ways, or if temperatures are cooler, muscles may contract all of which can increase risks for injury.

*Turn air blowers away from you. Cold air blowing directly on the head or neck can create tension headaches or stiffness.

*Avoid getting dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, and avoid caffeine or alcohol as they can increase dehydration. A dehydrated body suffers more joint stiffness and pain.

*If traveling in a confined plane cabin or train car, stand up and stretch as often as possible. If driving, make frequent stops and do the same.

*When sleeping, bring your own pillows - one that supports your lower back, and one that wraps around your neck preventing your head from flopping around and causing neck pain (inflatable pillows make for easier portability).

*Consider using a portable foot rest on trains or planes to relieve stress on lower back if you are too tall for the seat or backs of legs if you are too short and your feet don't touch the floor.

*On long trips or flights, get good rest. To improve your sleep, use a sleep mask that blocks out most of the light. Earplugs or noise canceling headphones will block out most of the noise. A well rested body responds better to pain, and the body can heal itself much better.

*Keep a bottle of a natural pain relief spray handy and spritz the afflicted areas as often as needed. A Natural pain remedy will alleviate the pain, making the trip more comfortable, and won't have harmful side-effects that can leave you feeling groggy and too disoriented to enjoy your vacation.

Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, the discomfort and pain associated with a long voyage can be excruciating even for the seasoned traveler. A natural pain remedy will aid your pain, alleviate the stress and help make your trip a comfortable and worthwhile journey.

Author, Judy Cutler, a well-known nutritionist in Southern California and developer of 'Naturally Painless' natural spray-on pain remedy, writes articles on natural pain relief for Real Solution Remedies, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.realsolutionremedies.com

Bodybuilding with Olympic Lifts

Most of the bodybuilders reading this might be confused by the title of this article alone! Bodybuilding for the most part is as different from Olympic power lifting as a republican is from a democrat. The point that most bodybuilders miss is that there is actually quite a bit of commonality between the two sports. Let me ask you a question? When was the last time you saw an Olympic lifter on your television screen who wasn't packed with dense, quality muscle mass? The fact of the matter is most Olympic lifters are built quite solidly and have the body awareness to take full advantage of any lift in order to gain muscle mass. I'm not going to sit here and debate whether an Olympic lifter could enter a body building competition (because most of them can't) but that doesn't mean that I don't think Olympic lifts can play a vital role in any bodybuilder's routine.

The first question many of you may ask is why there aren't as many monstrous Olympic lifters as there are bodybuilders. The one thing that separates the two sports more so then anything are their weight categories and how these categories effect the way in which the athletes approach dieting. Body building on the one hand encourages you and rewards you for packing on as much muscle as you possibly can in order to wow the judges with your gorilla like muscles and low body fat percentages. Olympic weight lifting encourages you to be able to lift as much weight as possible while maintaining the smallest size you can in order for your lifts to be impressive. In other words bodybuilders diet simply to cut down their body fat levels in order to look better for their competitions, while Olympic lifters use dieting as a tool to remain smaller while still increasing the weight they can lift in order to be in the proper weight category for their relative strength. What is the relevance of all this in the scope of bodybuilding? Simply put, if Olympic power lifters were to ignore their caloric intake and focus their diet around gaining size they would be more then capable of putting on as much muscle mass as their bodybuilding counterparts.

So how do you incorporate Olympic lifts into your body building routine? It's a lot simpler then it seems. First of all there's really only two lifts you should focus on incorporating. These 2 exercises are the clean and jerk and the snatch. Both of these techniques are proven to add mass to your thighs, back, traps and arms! The best part of it all is you only need to add one of them to your upper body workout and the other to your lower body routine to take full advantage of them. Am I saying that there will eventually be an Olympic lifter who will become a champion bodybuilder or that the next great Olympic lifter is currently a bodybuilder? NO! All I'm saying is that there are great benefits to incorporating Olympic lifts into your routine as they will do nothing but help with your progress!

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Body Building