Saturday, May 24, 2008

Healthy Living

Just A Few Simple Steps Away

Eat Healthy

Making small changes in your daily eating habits can have a huge impact on your overall health. Make sure you get five or more servings of vegetables and fruits every day and cut back on the saturated fat, sugar, and salt. When you are forced to eat out and on the run, be smart about your choices! Select sandwiches with whole wheat bread, salads with dressing on the side, or fresh fruit.

Snack Smart

Be smart about what food you bring into your house. While candy or chips once in awhile are perfectly fine, avoid bringing hordes home - if it's there, you will be tempted! So snack smart by stocking healthy snacks, perfect for when the munchies strike or on the go. Keep fresh, cut vegetables and fruit in the fridge or nuts, trail mix, celery with peanut butter, hummus, low-fat yogurt, or regular popcorn (sans the movie theater butter!). Find healthy snacks that you really enjoy and eating smart won't be so much of a challenge.

Get Moving

Staying active is an absolute must when it comes to getting healthy. With obesity becoming a widespread epidemic in America, it is more important than ever to commit to exercise. This isn't to say you need to start running 15 miles tomorrow - start slow and work your way up to a suitable level. Stick with a routine or mix it up everyday, but make sure you find something you enjoy, otherwise you won't stick to it. Dancing, swimming, jogging, cleaning house, gardening, playing tennis, and speed walking are just a few of the many, many ways to get active!

Select the Right Gym for You

Let's face it - it's easier to get motivated and work out if you have a place that is actually designated for it. Not to mention, who in their right mind wants to exercise outside during freezing temps or blazing heat? Shop health clubs and gyms in your area to see which ones fit your needs - from distance to equipment to qualified staff to amenities, weigh the pros and cons and find the one perfect for you.

Time to Quit

With so many known health risks associated with smoking, isn't it time you gave it up? From cancer to lung disease to birth defects for pregnant women to heart disease, smoking is a major health problem and still a leading cause of death in America. Furthermore, second-hand smoke can also greatly affect one's health, which is cause for major concern for children around those who smoke. If you want to quit, there are a myriad of resources available to you, from medications to support groups to counseling, help is out there.

Vitamins and Supplements

Eating healthy doesn't always provide all the essential minerals and nutrients we need, which is why vitamins and supplements can help bridge that gap. So how do you know which nutrients you personally need? Nutrigenomics is a new science that studies the relationship between nutrition and genetics. Companies such as industry leader Code Nutrition offer customized vitamins, which are personalized just for you and based on your very own genes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Holly_Matheson

Friday, May 23, 2008

The Value of Good health

Good health is the secret of happy life. Good health can be defined as the state of being vigorous and free from bodily or mental disease. It is the most precious possession of a man. If a man losses his health, he loose the charms of happy living. Ask the man who has lost his health. He will tell you the value of good health. Health is real wealth of man.

‘Sound mind in sound body’ is an old saying. Healthy mind can be found only in healthy bodies. Sickly men have sickly minds. Their attitude toward life is gloomy. On the other hand, if the man has good health, his outlook to life is also healthy. He can work for long hours without feeling tired. If a student has good health, his memory is good and his mind is sharp.

Good health cannot be had on demand. There are certain things which are essential for good health. Nutritious food comes first. We should take only that food which is nutritious value. Fresh air is also important for good health. People living in the open air usually enjoy good health. Exercise plays a great role in making a man healthy and fit. Balancing one’s hour of sleep and rest also contribute to good health.

There are certain things which are bad for health. We should guard ourselves against them. Smoking is injurious to health. Eating too much spoils ones digestive system. If a man is irregular in his habits, he is likely to lose his health. Lack of energy also results from ill-health. So, one must stay fit to lead a happy and healthy life.


Natasha
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natasha_Salve

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Mini Trampoline Workout For Beginner

Easy, Enjoyable And Full Of Fun

Mini trampoline workout is akin to bouncing on the bed?

Almost.

Because when you jump on the trampoline, you'll relive the fun and joy of this childhood "play".....

What's so good about this workout?

First off, it's one of the most beneficial cardio exercises around along with increased lymphatic drainage (that helps in waste and toxin removal) and improved cardiovascular strength. It's gentle on your joints while still giving you a good workout.

Here's an easy and fun routine for a beginner. You can do it at home to improve your cardiovascular health:

(Before jumping, put on comfortable, non-slip shoes. You may want to go barefoot; be careful though as without protection of shoes, it may increase your risk of a foot injury)

1. Start with warm up exercise of 3-5 minutes. Marching in place is a good one for warm-up.

2. Practise a basic bounce first - you stand in the middle, with your feet slightly apart (this is your basic starting position for all the trampoline exercises).

Start to bounce light while keeping your feet on the mini trampoline. For balance, you might want to grab hold of a steady object or a wall.

As you become used to the bouncing, lift your feet off a little. When you become more comfortable with the bounce, increase the height of your bounce.

Bounce at a slow to moderate pace and for a few minutes per session, to allow your muscles to get used to the exercise.

You may need some time to adjust to the bouncing; could be a week or only a day; it all depends on how quick you can adjust.

3. After you've comfortably adjusted to the bouncing, do a basic walk - from the basic starting position, alternately lift your heels but don't lift your toes off the trampoline. Swing your arms. Walk as if you're doing a slow walk.

4. Add tempo now with a basic jog - from the basic starting position, alternately lift each of your foot an inch or 2 off, move your arms. Jog as if you're doing a slow jog.

5. Throw in some advanced exercises, e.g. heel-toe bounce - you stand in the center, keeping your feet together. Do the basic bounce while at the same time bring your left foot forward during the bounce, touching your heel to the surface.

Raise your left arm up in front of you as your heel touches the surface.

Repeat for your right foot.

6. Feel more adventurous and want more intensity? Try jumping jack bounce - from the basic starting position, you bounce up. As you bounce, spread your feet apart and bring your hands over your head.

A jumping jack bounce would be gentler on your joints compared with the regular jumping jack done on a hard surface.

You can vary and increase intensity of these 5 exercises by adding different arm movements; twists to your sides; go faster or bounce higher.

For a beginner, do this mini trampoline workout 3-5 minutes per session and build up to 20-30 minutes per session, 3-4 times per week.

If you feel tired or ached after a session, stop for a day or 2 to rest. You may have to shorten the length of your sessions, to allow your body to get used to the routine.

Cecelia Yap is an avid exerciser and author of the popular exercise website: perfect-body-toning.com - a web site born out of her passion which she successfully turns into a profitable business

Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you'd like to write about. Find out how you too can turn it into a profitable business like Cecelia does, here: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/my-passion.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cecelia_Yap

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Is Physical Wellness Important?

How do I define physical wellness?

I put it in the most simplest form - it's your overall fitness that encompasses:

Physical fitness - your cardiovascular conditioning, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition. In other words, you do exercise to achieve good health for your body
Nutrition, or a balanced diet that includes food from these major food groups: vitamins & minerals; carbohydrates (good carbohydrates); fats (unsaturated fats); protein, fiber and water
Personal care, hygiene and safety - put on clean and protective clothes; comfortable foot wear; keep your immediate surroundings clean and practise safe driving and safe sex, for instance


For a state of high physical well-being, you would need to have a strong and healthy body and would feel comfortable with your body and treat it with respect.

You would be knowledgeable about issues related to health, exercise and nutrition and use the information to make sure you eat right, exercise, get enough sleep and get medical care and check-ups as needed.

You would avoid harmful substances like cigarettes or excessive alcohol that could adversely affect your health and well-being. And you would practise safe sex or abstinence to avoid unplanned pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases.

In short, you lead a responsible, healthy lifestyle that's capable of moving you towards a higher level of health or an optimal level of health.

Through balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and good sleep, you can take care of your body in a better way. With better health, you can combat and prevent diseases and other ailments more effectively.

One other important thing is that you need to attend to your medical check-ups on a regular basis and seek treatment for illness. This is a show of respect to your body and one sure way to promote optimal health.

In addition, you achieve optimal health through a regime of exercise, healthy food, good sleep and resting, in accordance to your body's needs, paying heed to the signs and symptoms of disease and seeking treatment when needed.

For a good physical wellness, go for these positive and healthy habits:

Don't smoke. If you do, quit!
Exercise regularly 3-4 times per week, for 30-60 minutes per session
Maintain a healthy body weight
Practise safe sex
If you drink, do it in moderation and in a low-risk manner. This means don't drink and drive
Relax your body, mind and spirit


Cecelia Yap is an avid exerciser and author of the popular exercise website: perfect-body-toning.com - a web site born out of her passion which she successfully turns into a profitable business


Cecelia Yap is an avid exerciser and author of the popular exercise website: perfect-body-toning.com - a web site born out of her passion which she successfully turns into a profitable business
Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you'd like to write about. Find out how you too can turn it into a profitable business like Cecelia does, here: http://www.perfect-body-toning.com/my-passion.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cecelia_Yap

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

What Gets Better Results - Dumbbells or Barbells?

Dumbbells


Pros

• More range of motion

• Greater recruitment of stabilizer muscles

• Address muscle imbalances

• Improve coordination

Cons

• Unstable environment limits the amount of weight you can lift

• Must control range of motion

• Possibly out grow available weight sizes

Barbells

Pros

• Ability to lift more weight

• Less stress on stabilizer muscles - better control

• Greater concentration of tension on targeted muscles

Cons

• Limited range of motion in certain exercises

• Less effective at working stabilizers when compared to dumbbells

• Certain range of flexibility and strength required to perform many lifts

• Pre-set hand grips can affect misaligned shoulders and wrists

As you can see, each modality will allow you to concentrate on a particular element of weight training. The instability of dumbbell training allows for a greater recruitment of muscle fiber, but limits the amount of weight lifted when compared to barbell training. On the flip side, lifting with a barbell enables you to lift a heavier weight but limits your range of motion and hinders stabilizer muscle recruitment during exercises when compared to dumbbell work.

So why choose one or the other?

Have the best of both worlds and include both dumbbell and barbell training in your fitness program. Both pieces of equipment can help you lose weight, tone up, and add fantastic muscle definition. Since they neither one takes up too much space you can even have your own complete home gym tucked away in a corner or down in your basement.

The best programs always include a host of ways to train your body. This way, you'll never adapt to one specific stimulus and you'll find your ideal physique right around the corner.



If you need a place to start, check out my free weight loss e-course on "How to Lose Belly Fat Starting Today!" I've reserved a limited number of copies to give away and you can grab yours today at http://www.stephencabral.com/FreeReports.html



Committed to your success,
Stephen CabralAuthor of Fatlossity - the Complete, In-Home, Step-by-Step, Weight Loss System http://www.fatlossity.com/



Stephen Cabral is a national health correspondent with over 10 years of credentials. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. For more information on his Free Trim, Tone & Tighten Newsletter seen by over 100,000 readers each week go to http://www.stephencabral.com/


Monday, May 19, 2008

Healthy Weight Loss - Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes

The other part of the health equation and secret to weight loss is to only spend your time doing the exercises that work. I only have so much time to dedicate to my own workout program, and I'm sure you don't have an extra couple of hours everyday either. So, the trick is to maximize the time you do have. If it's 30 minutes, why are you going to hop on a treadmill or go for a slow run? Although there's nothing wrong with that, you'll only burn about 300 calories and that's if you're cranking. I'm also not a fan of the repetitive motion injuries that occur from not being in proper alignment when you run. I find it crazy how many people are trying to run through the pain!

Remember, it's little steps done throughout the day that add up to huge results. That's the last key to success, lifestyle. Your lifestyle should be a realistic, but focused, routine where you know what foods you should choose 9 out of 10 times and when your workouts will take place.

This is easier than you think to accomplish.

Every night before you go to bed just mentally note what your healthy day will consist of tomorrow:

Where, when, and what will you be eating?

When, where, and how will you be exercising?


How will the decisions you make tomorrow take you 1 step closer to your ideal body?


Losing weight and feeling great come easy when you have a step-by-step plan outlining your success.

Committed to your success,

Stephen Cabral


Author of Fatlossity - the Complete, In-Home, Step-by-Step, Weight Loss Systemhttp://www.fatlossity.com/


Stephen Cabral is a national health & fitness correspondent with over 10 years of credentials and media appearances. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. For more information on his Free Trim, Tone & Tighten Newsletter seen by over 100,000 readers each week go to http://www.stephencabral.com/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Cabral

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Weight And Fat Loss - Does One Size Fit All?

The biggest mistake that those who wish to shed weight or fat can make is to assume that a weight and fat loss program that works best for others, will work for them. The fact is that anyone deciding on a weight and fat loss program must be able to select what would work for them. Individual requirements differ based on, among other things, personal profiles, physical conditions, health issues and so on. In choosing an appropriate weight and fat loss program, there needs to be adequate assessment and review for informed decision making.

In terms of weight and fat loss, there is no shortage of offerings. The range starts from acupuncture and ends with zen healing. Different strokes for different folks. That seems to be the key. Our review shows that among the more popular programs, are prescription medications, exercises and system cleansers. However, a word of caution. Even in this group, there are several offerings that promise amazing results. We have filtered and anchored these based on customer feedback, refunds, reputation of merchants, safety and 100% money back guarantees, where applicable.

Exercise programs work but they have to be affordable, convenient and practical. If it means expensive equipment, supplements and huge investments of time and effort, it needs to be avoided by the average person. The program must be able to fit into our daily schedules without too much of an inconvenience.

Prescription medications have proven to be successful in many a weight and fat loss intervention. However, the key consideration is safety. Side effects are not to be easily shrugged off. Fat and weight loss medications from reputed professionals which are monitored and supervised are to be preferred against over-the-counter purchases.

One weight and fat loss program that is easily overlooked but is proving very successful are system cleansers. These have been especially beneficial for those who are at their wits end in trying to shed their weight and fat. There are people who have tried various programs including diets but have not achieved the desired weight and fat loss outcome. In such cases, it would be appropriate to question whether there is something within their digestive system which is the root cause of their problem. There is medical evidence that parasites and plaque are the culprits in many instances.

In selecting what is best for you, avoid trial and error. As weight and fat loss is related to health, go with the tried, tested and proven. Do not take undue risks. Above all, take your personal circumstances and individual requirements into consideration. Can you afford not to especially when it comes down to your health and wellness?


Select your weight and fat loss programs carefully. You cannot afford not to. Avoid undue frustration and wasted effort. We have reviewed three different but proven to be effective programs and we trust that you will benefit from them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Azhar_Victor