Turkey, Turkey and more Turkey!!!

Tis the season for leftovers
Leftover turkey is great for making sandwiches, casseroles and salads.

Enjoy but be sure to always practice food safety with leftovers. According to the Food and Drug Administration, you should eat refrigerated leftovers within four days. Leftovers should also be stored in the refrigerator within 2 hours after cooking is completed. Why just 2 hours? Because bacteria that cause food poisoning can
multiply to undesirable levels on perishable foods left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.


Stanford Health

Strengthening the Core

Core training has become a key component of fitness programs, involving the development of strong core muscles.
Your core muscles; abdominals, trunk, pelvis, hips and small muscles along your spine, are considered the 'powerhouse' of your body. They act as a bridge between your upper and lower extremities. The stronger your core muscles are, the more power that is generated to your arms and legs. When core muscles are weak, they can cause an imbalance which can lead to lower back pain.
stanfordheart.net

Weight Lifting for Strength

Assuming that you have warmed-up properly, the key to weight training for increased strength is to work muscles beyond their present capacity. Consider choosing a weight for each exercise that causes you to work harder during the last few repetitions than during the first few. But never sacrifice your form. Proper form and technique help
reduce the risk of injury.

Take a look at these books -
"Fat to Fit is an outstanding program that gets right to the point. It explains all around fitness, working out and nutrition in a form that anyone can understand and most importantly get motivated from. Whether you are a world class athlete or just want to get in shape this book is a great pivotal point to changing ones life for the
better."
Yes, I am an Affiliate and get paid for any purchases from this link:here

Today's Tip: Tomato Drink

For a healthy addition to a brunch, or breakfast, combine ice, 1.5 cups tomato juice, 1 celery stalk, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, and perhaps a dash of pepper and hot sauce. Blend until smooth. Garnish with another crisp celery stalk. Our registered dietitian reports that this refreshing drink is low in calories, a great source of many vitamins,
and counts toward your recommended 3-5 servings of veggies for the day! If your doctor recommends that you limit sodium, please use a low sodium tomato juice. You can also use V-8 juice.

How Did Canada Get So Fat?

I opened the paper this morning to find out that the country I live in has just taken the number one spot as the fattest country in the world. I don't know when it happened but just like a cupcake sneaking onto the hips, Canada has earned the title of having the largest obesity problem of 63 different countries in a recent survey by the American Heart Association. I wish I could say this was another American conspiracy theory but alas, it's not.

To tell you the truth, I would have rather seen Canada in a number one spot in the Olympics, but I guess for now, this will be our claim to fame. It's baffling because as far as resources go, we have access to everything we could possibly need to stay fit. We have every tool we need to be healthy and vibrant. We have access to medicare, lots of money for food and gym memberships and plenty of leisure time to use it all, and yet our men have the largest waistlines short of the equator itself.

Maybe that is exactly the problem. We have it too easy. Nothing requires the effort that would suck a few inches off those thighs. While most countries are growing and picking their foods in the backyard and biking to work, we spend a couple hundred dollars on downtown parking and an expansive, oops, I mean expensive meal. We need to get back to basics and we need to do it fast.

We need to stop thinking that throwing money at fad diets and fancy machines will fix our problem of obesity. What we need to do is use our bodies the way they were intended to be used, for working. We need to stop consuming more than we need for optimum energy and performance and we need to GOYA.

What's GOYA, well it means Get Off Your, you can figure out the rest. Besides medical issues that are much more rare than the number of people that use it as an excuse, you only get obese by consuming too much and exercising too little. When you think about that statement, that tells me that a lot of people are wasting their lives standing on the sidelines doing little more than watching TV and stuffing their faces. That's sad.

It's sad because life is full of adventures to be had and they can't be experienced sitting on the couch. Getting out dancing, going to the beach for a swim, snowboarding in the winter and dirt biking in the summer. These are all things that make everyday of your life an experience worth the living. An adventure.

I was recently on a trip to Mexico where a 40 something couple had spent a couple of hundred dollars to do a tour of a remote town. Once we got there this couple sat outside the bus for a couple of hours until the tour was over because they got winded when they tried to walk the streets. I'm not talking crazy hills but normal rolling streets that the villagers walk every day. They wasted their money and didn't get to see some things that were a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I'm upset that Canada has taken the lead on this dubious title but my hope is that maybe it will be a wake up call. Don't stand on the sidelines any longer. Get out and live life to the fullest. Treat your body as your greatest asset and GOYA.
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How to lose stubborn body fat - bodybuilding champion Ray Burton reveals all the secrets... Free Details==> Fat 2 Fit - The Meltdown

Making Fitness A Part Of Daily Life

t seems kind of funny to me when people ask how can they make fitness part of their daily lives because I often wonder if they really want the truth. The reason I say that is because fitness is a lot like any other hobby. You have those that dabble and then you have those that are, well, a little farther out of the norm.

It reminds me of that quote where Jack Nicholson says "Truth? You can't handle the truth!" You see, the fact of the matter is that some of the fitness crowd do things on a daily basis that to "normal" people seems a little strange.

If you want to answer a question like how to make fitness a part of your daily life you have to look at who you are talking to. For the average person just getting into fitness, you would say a very politically correct bunch of tidbits like what is about to follow:

1. Walk to work instead of driving.
2. Park further from the mall and walk more.
3. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
4. Walk during your lunch hours.

That all sounds pretty familiar doesn’t it? It's pretty standard fair for a personal trainer to blurt out when trying to give some general guidelines. But what about that other part of the population that would like to make fitness a part of their daily lives? You know, the ones that are a little "out there". The people that the normal folk would call, "fitness nuts".

Here is how is how a fitness nut would act on a regular day because they love fitness and moving is a joy that has no comparison.

You wake up and immediately drink a glass or two of water. You know you are dehydrated after all night. You jump into the shower and let the hot water warm up your muscles and you start your stretches. A couple chest stretches using the shower wall, some deep squat holds, a couple lunge holds for the hip flexors and some forward bends to ease up the hamstrings from your previous leg workout. Funny I know but all these stretches make shaving your legs a whole lot easier!

After the shower you have to get your daily clothes from the laundry downstairs, so you bear crawl down the stairs. Once you have your laundry, you jump up the stairs taking them two at a time. Then you bear crawl back down because you dropped a sock and your t-shirt.

After you have breakfast, you go to brush your teeth and hang from your doorway chinup bar to get a good stretch. You're feeling pretty good this morning so you throw in 5 chinups too while your at it.

After work you didn’t feel like going to the gym and that's o.k. because you know how your body works and you know you need a nap before you can really pound out a super intense workout.

After your nap you go over to your laptop and crank up your favorite tunes. You decide to workout at home today because that's what you feel like doing. You decide on this workout:

5 Handstand Pushups
10 One Legged Squats
15 Chinups

You set your watch to 30 minutes and decide to do as many rounds of the above circuit as you can before the alarm goes off. 10 minutes later you are sweating like crazy. Your spouse thinks your insane and your kids are laughing their heads off. The most important thing is that they admire you for taking care of yourself so that you will be around for many, many years to take care of them.

30 minutes later you're all finished and only 10 feet from your own shower and family. After everything is said and done you lay in bed with a smile on your face and slip into a deep sleep with a smile on your face. You're physically tired and very happy because you are one of the rare few that make fitness a part of your daily life.

"Would You Like To Know How to Turbo-Charge Your Metabolism and FORCE Your Body to Burn Off Pounds Of Body Fat...Without Spending Endless Hours In The Gym?"
Learn More From Ray Burton @ Fat 2 Fit - THE MELTDOWN

Veggie's Can You Say, I Would rather have a V-8?

Have you been thinking it'd hard to get your vegetables each day?

Did you know that vegetable juices can be an excellent source of nutrients and count toward the recommended 3-5 daily servings of veggies? An 8 ounce serving of tomato juice equals two servings of vegetables, provides only 50 calories, and is an excellent source of vitamins A & C. But, vegetable juices also have a high sodium content. Consider sticking with fresh or frozen veggies if you are watching your sodium intake.
And, you can get low sodium juices, even with spice. Add a squeeze of lemon and some ice and you have a health drink that hit's the spot. Or. "Have a V-8".

Veggie vs. Starchy Veggie, Whats That???

It's true! Not all vegetables are created equal when it comes to calories. Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, peas, and corn generally contain more calories per cup than non-starchy vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, asparagus and spinach. But, starchy veggies are still wonderful sources of fiber and other nutrients. Consider
consuming a variety of vegetables every day as part of a nutrient rich eating style.


This by way of: Stanford Heart Network presented by Mission Hospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.

Weight Training Form's the Thing

If your going to hit the weights, allow for the proper form. Allowing poor form when you lift weights can lead to injuries.
Reduce your risk of injury by only lifting as much weight as you can handle while still using proper technique. If you are a beginner, consider hiring a certified professional trainer to guide you during your first workouts. He or she can help keep you safe while showing you how to get the most from your workouts. Often by using proper form you'll using less weight at a slow pace. You'll see and feel the results

Selecting You Own Home Treadmill

While many people go to health and fitness clubs to get their exercise,it's not a bad idea to have your own work out equipment at home, with the weather changing it could make it that much more sure you'll get that work-out in.

Some just like to use their own equipment in their home. Here are some guidelines for selecting a treadmill.

1) A motorized treadmill is better than a manual one;

2) The belt size should be greater than 18 to 20 inches wide;

3) The speed should range from .1mph to at least 8mph unless the only users will be walkers;

4) For solid performance, the motor should have a 'continuous duty rating' of 2.5 to 3.0 horse power.

These features may cost you more to start, but a well-built treadmill will make you happier in the long run.

Also, if you exercise your pet, don't laugh people do. Take care not to get dragged away on something like a phone call. Your pet maybe in great shape but, unless he/s training to run along side you in an Iron Man don't leave him on the treadmill.

Take Back the Tap

(NewsUSA) - In recent news reports, focus has been given to bottled water and its high cost and impact on the environment. Despite the hype, and billions of dollars spent on advertising campaigns touting bottled water as safer or better than tap water, the best water may not come in a bottle.

According to a recent Consumer Reports study, the most common problem noted with municipal water is chlorine. The taste and odor of chlorine play a large part in why consumers choose bottled water over the tap. Yet, bottled water comes at a heavy cost -; Americans spend between $2 and $10 a gallon for water at the grocery store, and bottled water sales top $10.8 billion a year. Furthermore, a report by the U.S. Water News stated that 40 percent of bottled water is simply filtered, treated tap water.

Bottled water production can also waste energy and be harmful to the environment. Most bottled water is packaged in bottles derived from oil, commonly known as PET. U.S. bottle production requires 1.5 million barrels of oil annually, creates two million tons of trash that will not degrade for hundreds of years, and may contribute to global warming.

Customers in the United States pay about $2 for every 750 gallons of tap water. With water that inexpensive, a consumer can filter his or her own -; filling 3,000 bottles of delicious-tasting water for the same price of one large bottle of Fiji or Evian. Simply starting with a water-filtration system for the home, then using glass, lexan or polycarbonate bottles to bottle your own for use away from the home, can make an enormous impact on your spending.

A whole-house water filtration system can deliver clean water right from your tap and eliminate taste and odor associated with chlorine and chloramines used to disinfect municipal water. A whole-house water-filtration system can also provide additional benefits -; including delicious drinking water, a mineral-rich boost to heart health and the pleasure of not having to worry about the drying effects of chlorine on skin and hair.

For more information, visit http://www.LifeSourceWater.com

Getting Results From The Simple Push-up Exercise

The push up exercise has been a favorite of the military, police, football and fitness crowd pretty much since time began. Most often when push ups are called for, someone did something wrong and push ups for some reason seem to be the answer. While it is quite fun as an instructor to dish out the push up like candies to a fat kid, push ups should also be used in your body conditioning workout because they flat out work wonders.

Used correctly the push up is an awesome exercise for conditioning as well as strength gains. The reason for this is the scalability of the exercise and the lack of equipment needed to get great results.

When we talk about scalability of the push ups exercise, we are talking about how to start of with an easy version and escalate into a more advanced version, as the body is able to cope. This is the basis of all training for results. Continually imposed increasing demands on the body.

On the easy end of the spectrum of push up exercises we have the standard military push-up. If this is not attainable, you can always do them on your knees first. Once the standard push up exercise can be performed easily, it is only a matter of elevating the feet bit by bit to increase the resistance.

Before you move on to the more advanced versions, make sure that your standard push ups are perfect. This means touching the floor with the body as a solid straight line. Full depth and full extension in a controlled manner. No chopped reps here!

The biggest mistakes made when doing the push up exercise are:

Reaching for the floor with the head before body.

Letting the belly hit first.

Having the elbows out very wide and high by the head.

Jacking the bum up like in the yoga downward dog at the top.

Not touching at the bottom.

Chopping your reps short from full extension.

Dive bombing - Coming down and forward on an angle.

Once you can do 50 honest, strict and controlled push ups, it's time to move on.

On the other end of difficulty scale there is the handstand push up. This particular version of the push up has varying degrees of difficulty also. The holy grail of push up exercises is the handstand push up unsupported. No wall, no spotter, just you, the air and a whole lot of athletic ability.

For those that state a lack of equipment as a barrier to getting stronger, bigger and more athletic, the handstand push up exercise is a clean crisp slap in the back of the head. It's gymnastics answer to the expensive, less functional and less effective midnight infomercials about the "wonder-whatever".

Here is a simple workout that will get you puffing and pumping based around the standard push up exercise.

Do eight sets of as many push ups as you can in 20 seconds. Rest only 10 seconds between each of the eight sets. Keep it strict and enjoy!
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Need to Get In Shape?

"Discover How to Turbo-Charge Your Metabolism, Sculpt Your Body, Burn Off Body Fat and Develop Unstoppable Motivation ... Guaranteed! "

Click here for more information==> The Body Transformation

Prescription Drugs

Think About This One!

It is short but very interesting! A car company can move it's factories to Mexico and claim it's a free market. A toy company can out source to a Chinese subcontractor and claim it's a free market. A shoe company can produce its shoes in south east Asia and claim it's a free market. A major bank can incorporate in Bermuda to avoid taxes and claim it's a free market.

We can buy HP Printers made in Mexico . We can buy shirts made in Bangladesh . We can purchase almost anything we want from 20 different countries.


BUT, heaven help the senior citizens who dare to buy their prescription drugs from a Canadian or Mexican pharmacy. That's called un-American! And you think the pharmaceutical companies don't have a powerful lobby? Think again!

Forward this to every person you know over age 50. It is an interesting thought. Maybe this is an issue that should come up in the next election!
Or give them this link:

Time to Eat Fruit & Veggie's try this for more Variety

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is good for your health. It helps to sample new Variety's regularly to see which ones you like the best. To get started, purchase at least one fruit or vegetable this week that you've never had before.

Suggestions include star fruit, radicchio, papaya, persimmons, arugula, endive, bok choy, snow peas or prickly pear. You may not like the first one you try, but eventually you will find some winners.

Take the fruit with you or have it anytime. The best way I've found is to cut the fruit up, put them in the Frig. now you can have them on the road or as a snack.

Cancer update from John Hopkins

This is really good info. Most of us have read bits and pieces of this, but just in case you haven't read it all...

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
>
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,
environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and als destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation
the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can
succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also
cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains,seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system(IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

(PLEASE FORWARD IT TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT)

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL , U S - PLEASE READ

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our
bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them
as this releases dioxins from the plastic.
Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous
when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.
Sent in by Cousin Carol Frascella, Texas

Back Stretching

Are you looking for a simple and relaxing low back stretch? If so, try this tip:
Lie flat on the floor, on your back, with your legs extended. Pull your right knee up to your chest while pressing your lower back against the ground. Hold the position for about 30 seconds to a minute. Repeat with your left knee. Low back stretches can help
relieve tension, improve flexibility and reduce stress. If you have preexisting back disease or injuries, check with your physician or therapist first.

c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.

Try this, Yogurt Cheese ?

Looking for a creamy but nutritious base for dips and spreads? Try making your own yogurt cheese. Empty a container of plain, no-gelatin-added yogurt into a fine mesh colander lined with a coffee filter. Place a bowl under the strainer to catch the liquid and refrigerate the yogurt, covered, for 8 to 24 hours. Discard liquid.

The thick, creamy yogurt can be used in place of cream cheese or mayo. For flavor, add fresh dill, chopped spinach, minced onion and garlic, or berries.

This comes to you from the good folk's at: Stanford Heart Network, presented by Mission
Hospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.

Over Weight Risk of Diabetes

Being over weight give you more risk of Type-2 Diabetes Type-2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It can develop at any age. People who are overweight and inactive are more likely to develop type-2 diabetes. Regular physical activity combined with wholesome food choices to promote a healthy weight can decrease diabetes risk.
I now the feeling, you don't feel like exorcising even a little. You want to eat the right foods. Just, you feel hungry all the time. What's guy to do? Have you see or heard about 100% true South African Hoodia Gordonii, it happens to be the most sought
after botanical of the decade. Hoodia is gaining the reputation as the dietary
supplement of all time for weight management and many people are reporting excellent success when consuming this product along with a sensible diet and regular exercise.
Were not talking huge workout's just walk for 30 minutes or 1 mile a day. The trick is to get the right Hoodia. Most products are nock off's and don't use the right parts of the plant that well
Remember your looking for Authentic South African Hoodia Gordonii, it's stops hunger pains and this is what helps lose weight. See for yourself, Desert Burn™

Extreme Heat - What to Drink (3rd of 3 parts)

It's important to drink water during times of heat and activity. However, if you are an athlete doing prolonged exercise in the heat and gulping down lots of water, there is another risk to consider. Hyponatremia, also called water intoxication, is when a person literally drinks too much water, too quickly. This over dilutes the sodium in your blood. Warning signs include nausea, muscle cramps, slurred speech, and confusion. For hours of exertion in the heat, a sports drink which replaces sodium and other electrolytes is a better choice than plain water. If, however, you are out for a 20-30 minute walk, water is best.



Source Health Fitness Corporation

Signs of Heat Illnesses (2nd of 3 parts)

Are you in a heat wave? Learn the signs of heat illnesses. Heat rash and cramps are usually caused by excessive sweating; seek cooler temperatures, replace lost fluid and stretch out the cramps. Heat stroke and exhaustion are far more serious, even deadly. They happen when the body can no longer cool itself properly. Signs of heat exhaustion include; heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps and weakness. Signs of heat stroke are; red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating), rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea and high body temperature. Anyone with these symptoms should get out
of the heat, begin sipping fluids, and seek emergency medical attention.



Source Health Fitness Corporation

Protect Against Extreme Heat (1st of 3 parts)

Extreme heat is when temperatures hover 10 degrees or more above the
average summer high for several weeks. High humidity can add to the
discomfort. Ways to protect yourself against the heat include: Drink
plenty of fluids, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, wear
sunscreen, and limit outdoor activity to mornings and evenings. When
you work or play in extreme heat, use the buddy system and keep an
eye on each other. Stay cool as much as you can. And above all, NEVER
LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN CARS!
Source Health Fitness Corporation

Keep an Eye on Proper Weight-Lifting Form

The next time you perform strength-training exercises, watch your form carefully. Jerky movements could mean that you're lifting too much weight, too soon. Just like when you're stretching you need proper form when lifting. If you are trying to build muscle, it is still best to start with an easily manageable weight. Over time, add only as much extra as you can lift while keeping your movements smooth and steady. The key is your form not the amount of weight.

The reason? Too much stress, quickly applied to supporting ligaments and tendons, can cause injury. Gauge your form by using a mirror or ask a partner and/or fitness trainer to watch you. Get your Effective Fat Burning Routine NOW!

Stretching your best way to warm-up!

Stretching is part of any balanced exercise program. Stretch each muscle group 2 to 4 times, at least 2 to 3 days a week to keep your joints moving through their full range of motion. Hold your stretch for at least 15 seconds. Remember to warm up for a few minutes BEFORE stretching. Warm-up activities can include walking, slow jogging for 5 to 10 minutes, jogging in place, riding a stationary bike or other similar exercises. All of these help to increase blood flow to the muscles and make them easier to stretch.

Don't do this. One of the guys I play tennis with has it all wrong. Well to start. He's always last or late to start the warm up. These guys I play with never warm up as long as I would like anyway. But, this one fellow is late getting there. So, he gets in a few hits before starting. He always plays poorly in the beginning, then he well switch after three games played. Don't do this. He bounds when he touches his toes. DO NOT BOUNDS! He won't listen to any of us. Don't you do that, get there early if your playing a sport, warm up with your team or before. And, don't bounds. Hold your stretch a few moments, you'll feel yourself getting louse. You'll have a better time, or play better and you're less likely to be sidelined. Oh, yeah! I have to play with him, because I'm one of the stronger players so he's my doubles partner. Rat's

How to Graduate from Walking to Running

Are you bored with walking? Do you feel that you are ready to add a bit more intense exercise? Try slowly adding some running to your workout. For example, walk 4 or 5 minutes, and then run for 1 minute. Repeat the pattern several times. Once you feel more comfortable, try to increase from 1 minute of running to 2 minutes, and then from 2 to 3, and so on. This is generally a safe way for many people to increase
their activity level. One you have build up to say, two miles keep that distance for up to two weeks before add more than a half mile at a time. You want a good base at the longer distances like three miles and more. But, when you first start, you'll be amazed how fast you'll move up your work outs.

Incline Walking increases your calorie burn

Are you tired of the same old treadmill routine? Unless you have injuries or your doctor advises against it, try adding an incline. Many fitness experts say that inclining the treadmill not only changes up your routine, but also increases your calorie burn. Inclines can place greater stress on the lower leg muscles and connective tissues. Stretch these areas if you become tight while walking or running at an incline. Should you need stretching guidance, consult a fitness professional.

Walking small hills or slopes are great, too. Often it's harder going down, there is a great deal more stress gong down a steep incline. You can always stop and enjoy the view. Once rested start out slow and enjoy yourself. Do some stretching and you'll be looking forward to your next walk.

Turn the clock back 10-20 years with exercise

Age Reduces Fitness, Exercise Helps. An article in the July 26, 2005 issue of the journal 'Circulation' reports what most of us would guess - aerobic fitness and strength decrease with age.
But don't be discouraged; it's never too late! Exercise slows our loss of both strength and aerobic fitness. It can even help us turn back the clock, sometimes improving our fitness level to that of an average person who is 10-20 years younger.

"Who Else Wants the 3-Step Fat Melting Training Formula Backed By 8 Years of Ecstatic Client Results?" Info here, just clink It!

Enjoy Hiking for fitness

Choosing the Right Hiking Shoes. Hiking shoes can make or break your experience in the great outdoors. Stanford Heart Network fitness experts recommends choosing shoes with sufficient traction to grip the terrain, enough interior room to prevent toe chaffing, and adequate ankle support to prevent unwanted twists and turns. Most hiking/camping stores employ clerks who know how to aid you in making the right choices. Make sure you walk around to break them in, don't make the mistake no matter how good they feel. Of taking them out of the box and going for a hike. Were do you like to hike? Have you ever been to my favorite, Mammoth Lakes Calif. to hike?

Yerba mate ia popular tea-like drink to aid in weightloss

The first time I tried mate was in Montevideo. On a break during a bus tour,
the guide and driver offered me my first taste. They stared at me, wide eyed,
as I started sipping. Out of politeness, I told them that it had an unusual
taste (in fact, it was bitter and grassy). They insisted that I have more.
I declined. That was before I knew the rules of drinking mate.

Yerba mate is a popular tea-like drink enjoyed in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay,
Paraguay, and Brazil. It originated with the Guarani Indians of Paraguay and
Argentina. Yerba Mate is a tree, a member of the holly family. The plant needs
about 25 years to develop in the wild.

You can recognize a mate drinker by the thermos nuzzled in the crook of his
arm while the gourd and bombilla are held in the opposite hand.

A "snoring" sound is expected as you finish the last drops of the tea from the
hollow gourd or mate. If you don't hear the noise, then you have broken one of
the drinking rules--never sip only once; sip it all.

Prepared in a cured gourd, the minced leaves are first steeped with hot or cold
water. Next, hot water is poured to cover the leaves. Take a sip through the
bombilla (a wooden or metal decorated straw). It has a strainer at the bottom
to keep leaf pieces out of the drink.

Mate is traditionally shared between close friends and family. The ceremony
begins with the host--he or she is the only one who pours the hot water from
the thermos. They will then sip the infusion until there is air coming from the
bombilla. The next person takes their turn with additional hot water poured over
the leaves. It is usually passed around until there is no flavor left.

Mate is a taste many people try to acquire since it is known as a healthy drink.
It is attributed to improving digestion, sustaining energy levels, detoxifying
blood, and inducing mental clarity.

While practicing the art of drinking mate, be gracious--keep to yourself any
worries about the germ aspect of sharing, do not complain that it is too hot,
do not ask for sugar. A professional user will not stir the gourd nor change
the order of sharing. It is a time to be together, laugh, and tell stories
with friends or family. Whatever etiquette mistakes you make, do not complain
about the host getting the first sip since it is the strongest!

Sandra Kennedy,
For International Living

International Living Postcards--your daily escape
http://www.internationalliving.com

Finding fitness away from home

Everyone knows that business travel can make it harder to get a workout. One way to stay active is to carefully choose your accommodations. Many hotels have a swimming pool and fitness center.

Or consider those near hiking trails, beach resorts or fitness clubs.
There are many chances to exercise while you are on the road.

Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by Mission
Hospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.
http://www.stanfordheart.net/online/mhhc

Exercising with young children

Consider using family time to get more physical activity. What kid doesn't like to play catch? A ball or frezzbie is great for this.

While out for a walk or jog, have your kids ride their bikes alongside you, just make sure it's not an unsafe street.
While walking around a school track, your kids can play on the infield. Being with your children can go hand-in-hand with keeping fit. An added benefit is that they see that you value physical activity.

Creation, the Battle of Good VS Evil

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the
Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli,
cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red
vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live
long and healthy lives.

Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and
Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan
said, "You want choc olate with that?" And Man said,
"Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it,
add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And
Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful
yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man
found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour
from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined
them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan
presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons
and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman
unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy
vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And
Satan brought forth deep fried fish and
chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own
platter. And Man gained more weight and his
cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named
it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan
then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's
Food."

God then brought forth running shoes so that His
children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan
gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not
have to toil changing the channels. And Man and
Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue
light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in
fat and brimming with nutri tion. And Satan peeled
off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center
into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained
pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume
fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And
Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double
cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?"
And Man replied, "Yes! An d super size them!" And
Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac
arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created HMOs.

See what you're getting into.before you go there

Massachusetts new universal health insurance coverage law

Automatic health care for fulltimer RVers inches closer. For many fulltime RVers, the biggest challenge is finding affordable health insurance. Nation wide coverage is a long ways off, but in a couple of states encouraging developments have made the challenge a little easier to meet.
Massachusetts' law requiring health care coverage of all residents takes effect today. Could it affect Workampers working in this state? While it's not totally clear, even part-time workers who work 35 hours or more per week are included. And employers with 11 or more employees are required to provide insurance. The state provides three plans for part -time and contract employees. You can sort through the explanations at their new Commonwealth Connector website.

Getting to Know your Health Club Machines

Are you new to the exercise machines in your gym? Get to know them better. Ask a fitness expert how to adjust the equipment for your size, and how to change speed and resistance settings. You should also learn how to quickly stop motor powered machines, such as treadmills, in case of an emergency. One real thing about clubs is the may newer equipment and you can check different one out. Also, they should have life saving or emergency equipment and someone that know CPR. Hey, we want to be around for alone time.

This 4th of July Keep an Eye on Dehydration

Drinking and being out in the sun, is but only one way to put yourself in danger.
Dehydration doesn't only happen to athletes. Anyone can lose too many fluids. This can happen even while doing everyday tasks such as mowing the lawn or even playing on the beach. More risk can come from drinking Alcoholic beverages in the hot sun.

Signs of severe dehydration include nausea, inability to speak clearly, confusion and high body temperature. Keep your body fluids at a proper level. Drink enough fluids to make up what you lose before, during and after any activity where you sweat heavily.
Knowing the signs of dehydration can help you prevent serious illness. Symptoms include rising thirst, flushed skin, fatigue, headache, dizziness, weakness, and increased pulse. When exercising in this summers warm environment, bring water or other fluids with you and begin sipping them before you get thirsty. (Gulping large amounts of fluid, much more than you need to replace your losses, can also cause problems.)

In very hot environments, exercise with a partner. Watch each other for signs of dehydration. So keep an eye on Dehydration and enjoy your summer. And work on that fiteness program you've started.

Weights and Tennis, With Wimbledon in it's first week

You wouldn't think the Pro Tennis player's need weight training. But, you would be wrong. The way it is now days.
If your going to 'bring it', you need to have something in the tank. Look at your top players. 'Wimps need not apply'. If your going to play in the top 10 you had better have it all.
OK, most of us are way to late in life to think about the Pros. Or even your local Tennis Clubs top players. But, weight training for Tennis helps at all levels.

Improve your performance in tennis with the right kind of weight training. For many players, using moderate weight and more repetitions to strengthen muscles is a
good approach. Strength training can help prevent injury. It can also help speed and agility. These make you quick and powerful on the court. You'll enjoy your game more.
And isn't that what we want.

Thinking About Buying Exercise Equipment

Don't have the time to drive across town to work out. Maybe setting up your own is the answer. You could set it up a your place. A spare room or just a spot for a bike. Look for what work's for you. If it's a equipment your looking for. Get yourself ready and take your time. Also, consider wearing workout clothes to the store when you shop for exercise equipment. Thoroughly test any equipment you intend to buy - whether it's a treadmill or a barbell. Remember, most of the critical functions come standard on the basic models. Fancy options are rarely needed and can add a lot to the final cost.

Then again, if your serious about your over all health and the quality of your work outs. Your going to spend a lot of time on your new exercise equipment. Make sure you're really going to use it. If your like most people, your better off saving your money and joining a club. If time is a factor, and when isn't it. Having a nice peace of equipment you can jump on before your fully awake in the morning is a great way to get that feel good work-out in. Then a cup of coffee and breakfast and your started off to a great day. Look to yourself for answers. Would you use it, and what equipment are you most likley to use the most? Would you use it in the morning?

Or are you better off with more people around you with the same goals. I've seen and been in home equipment rooms that would make Mr. World's hart go jump. Whatever work's for you.

Try a Recumbent Bike For A More Comfortable Biking Option

If it weren't for the relaxed inclined back position I couldn't or wouldn't use the bike as much. The pain is just to great. If for you the seat on a stationary bike is uncomfortable, do what I do. Try the recumbent bike. The seat on a recumbent bike is more like a regular chair that is shaped to fit your back.
Even if you are new to biking, recumbent cycling can be a desirable option. It's not as much the seat for me as the way your knees go up and down. This is why I like to use, the recumbent bike, this helps me with my knees. Because I'm not pushing or pulling straight up and down. I don't feel the pain. You don't see these as often, and there not in the Spin classes. I well use the bike when these are taken, then switch over when one frees up. That's why I have my own.
After all, if your work out is pain fee your going to be looking forward to the next one.

I'm Craving Chocolate

If you find yourself eating sugary candy when you really want chocolate. This really can leave you feeling unsatisfied, and guess what. Your going to eat chocolate anyway. The double whammy. This also can lead to even more excess calories. Don't do without. If you crave chocolate, consider buying and eating your favorites in small amounts. Chocolate isn't any more calorie free than sugar, but it can be healthier if you only take a small bite or two to satisfy your urge. Dark chocolate can be better for you than light or milk chocolate. Milk chocolate has more sugar. So enjoy your urge, just satisfy it the smart way, before your craving get the upper hand. http://www.healthcalc.net

Get The Smoke Outa Here

Unless you live in some place like France or Japan, you should know by now that secondhand smoke is about the worst thing you can do to your loved ones. I shouild know first hand. My mother way a life long smoker. And then I was a Bartender in a Ski ReSort. Mammoth Mt. Ca. I hated it when someone smoked at the bar. In those days a high rate of people smoked.

Not today, and for good reason. Your heart and blood vessels are extremely sensitive to toxic chemicals in secondhand smoke. According to some studies, secondhand smoke can increase the risk of heart disease by 30% or more. Play it safe; avoid secondhand smoke as much as you can. And, if you have small kids around. Don't let them play smoke with those

'Candy Cigs'. If you have a short memory. What the new HBO sieris. 'Mad Men', it's peorid

correct taking place in the 60's. I don't know if I'll be able to stand it long enough to get the story line.

Eric

Fats healthful or should they be restricted

Fats
While it is not healthful to restrict all fat, focusing on the type offat is beneficial. Experts recommend limiting saturated and trans fats (solid fats) to less than 20 grams a day. Enjoying healthful fatssuch as liquid vegetable oils and trans fat free margarines can help you meet this goal.

Use The Napkin Test
Most major government reports and health organizations recommend that we keep total fat intake somewhere between 20%-35% of total calories. A good way to determine if a food is high in fat is to apply the napkin test. Press the food against a napkin or paper towel. Foods that contain a large amount of fat usually leave a greasy mark. This method is especially useful to test baked goods, such as muffins and cookies.

Fish Oil Effects
Diets rich in the omega-3 fatty acid EPA have been seen to reduce major coronary events. Now, a 2007 Japanese study reports on those who already eat a lot of fish and who take statin medications. Consuming EPA rich fish oil further reduces their risks too. But play it safe, always talk with your doctor before adding nutritional supplements to your medications.

It's Never to late in Choosing a Weight Loss Program Wisely

When is the right time to join a weight loss program or pick of a book on deiting? Right now. So you've seen some ads and looked around. Now your ready to join a weight loss program.

But First Consider asking the following questions: Does the program carry any risks? What percentage of past clients finished the program? On average, how much weight did they lose? Do participants keep off the weight they lost? If you are interested in finding a weight loss program, it is wise to first contact your health care provider. I'm sure you can get these anwser and be off to a rewarding summer.
Have any ideas to share?

Sense of Smell and Food Choices

Did you know that your sense of smell can affect the health of your diet?
Smell accounts for 90% of your ability to detect the flavor of food. Those with a decline in the ability to smell often eat foods containing higher amounts of fat and sugar -- and thus take in more calories. Consider using more spices like basil, cumin, or chili powder to increase flavor and offset a decreased sense of smell due to allergies, injury to your nose or aging.

Heat acclimatization has a number of benefits

Heat acclimatization involves the body adapting to heat stress by stimulating physiological changes that will improve heat tolerance.



Used as a method of improving sporting prowess. Training in High Temps Heat doesn't take very long-around five days to a week if it's extremely humid. Heat acclimatization via strenuous exercise induces responses attributed to both passive heat exposure and training in cool environments. Your sweat rate and sodium-loss rates change with the heat.


Heat acclimatization makes for a better correlation between the thirst and the water needs, raising the blood volume and total body water. This offten decreases the risk of experiencing heat cramps.


Did you know that it takes 10-14 days for your body to adjust to warm weather exercise? It could take a longer or shorter period for some athletes. Beginning with the second day of heat acclimatization, sweating installs sooner and is more abundant, increasing body's mechanism of cooling by sweat evaporation, this lowers skin temperature.


Although athletes may be tempted to believe that the need for fluid replacement will decrease as they become adjusted to the heat, heat acclimatization will actually increase the requirement for fluid replacement because of the enhanced sweating response.


Be especially cautious not to overdo it during this period. Drink fluids before, during and after exercise. Wear light colored, loose clothing. And most importantly, listen to your body!



Tell us what your doing this summer to stay fit.

Reducing Fat Accompanying Love Handles

By: Mary Mason-Shields

There is no magical way to lose the fat that accompanies love handles and to listen to someone who says there is, is a waste of your time. To believe there is a magical or any other way to lose love handles is a fairy tale. There is no way to pick and choose certain areas of your body to target fat loss.

Consistent exercising will allow you to reduce the love handles but to lose the fat that accompanies love handles will have to be dealt with separately. The best way to reduce the fat while trying to reduce the love handles is to reduce your caloric intake. While reducing your caloric intake, your exercising will allow your body to burn more calories. With this scenario, you are combating fat from two angles. Be mindful that these angles are not targeting one area of the body alone.

Perhaps you are one of those people who have a difficult time with just eating three full course meals a day Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. You are one of those people who have to be snacking between every meal. If this is the case, perhaps you should think about eating five or six smaller meals. If you need to eat mini meals, make sure they are low fat meals. It is very important to your bodys health and fitness to keep your blood sugar steady and to prohibit snacking and overeating.

Changing your habits and your lifestyle can help you to reduce your love handles. You must pay close attention to your food intake. The main ingredients for your success in reducing love handle fat are diet and exercise. With your diet, you must maintain enough energy to sustain a vigorous exercise routine. According to some, stored fat is more difficult to lose. It is best to get rid of fat as soon as it becomes prevalent that it is too much fat.

Although fat can be used for energy, you must focus on what you are using that energy for. If that energy is just pent up energy, then you will more than likely increase the fat in your love handles as well as everywhere else your body stores fat making your fat reduction that much more difficult. Pay close attention to your diet, your caloric intake along with the physical activities you are engaged in.

Water must be a large factor in your diet plan for losing the fat that accompanies love handles. We must remember to remain healthy at all times. That makes any diet plan important to the well being of your body. You must research any diet plan you are contemplating undertaking. Make sure you are not depriving your body of any vital nutrients. The fat stored around your torso is some of the last fat to leave your body when dieting. If you engage in a vigorous and consistent exercise program along with the diet plan of your choice, you can help the torso fat decrease a little at the time. Perhaps by the end of your diet and exercise plan, you will see those love handles reducing.

You should avoid any diet that gives the perception of quick weight loss. You must always be cognizant of the fact that your weight gain came about over time. Therefore, to rid your body of the weight gain quickly can only give you unrealistic results. The same holds true for the fat accompanying love handles around your torso. Motivate yourself into a regiment of stamina for the long haul. Give yourself a realistic time goal for losing all the pounds and fat your want to get rid of.

Always remember to consult your physician before beginning any weight loss plan. Make your battle with reducing love handle fat one that you can live with.

This article was written by an independent distributor for a major health and wellness company. http://www.marymshields.usana.com

Water water every were, or I can drink 12 glasses a day.

If you need Fluids then drink. Most of us grew up with the eight-glasses-a-day. Rule of thumb. And, most think it's a lot for drinking water.

I never have been able to stick with that. It even bug's me to watch people that aren't sweating or even working out drink from there bottle of water like a baby drinks milk.

The latest recommendation. According to the latest recommendations, we no longer need to worry about counting glasses of water. Hey, I never did anyway. Instead, if you want to go with the latest.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that healthy adults should simply drink when they are thirsty. Now, doesn't that make since. A good general guide is that women need 91 ounces (about 11 cups) per day and men need 125 ounces (about 15 cups) per day TOTAL FLUIDS. Total means all the fluid you get from both foods and beverages.

Okay, I play Tennis now, and as long I'm playing i drink the aqua pure. But, I love a cold beer after playing. Dose that count,too?

Overcoming a Fitness Plateau

If you've been weight training for a few months and have stopped seeing improvement, you may have already obtained most of the benefits of your current routine. It may be time for a change. Keep things simple: Consider a modest increase in the weight you lift, train more often, or vary your exercises. A simple adjustment may be all your body needs to challenge it once again!

(c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.healthcalc.net

Balance

Did you know that we eat more produce today than they did in 1970?

However, a majority of Americans still aren't eating the recommended servings of vegetables and fruits daily. Many people can increase their intake by having fruit as a snack. You may also add a small salad or extra veggies to a meal.

(c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.healthcalc.net

Walk the course!

Did you know that 30 minutes of golf (when walking the course) can burn about 165 calories? Exercise doesn't have to be vigorous to provide benefits. So whenever possible, ditch the cart, bring plenty of water, and enjoy the outdoors. Don't forget to use sunscreen!

(c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.healthcalc.net

Diets fail in the long run, study says

By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer Sun Apr 22, 1:54 PM ET

LOS ANGELES - Roberta Perry has tried it all to lose the pounds — organized diet programs, prescription pills, psychotherapy, even hypnosis.
Those efforts worked for a while for the Pennsylvania woman, but the weight inevitably crept back up. After years of yo-yo dieting, Perry realized it would take more than gimmicks to slim down.
"As much as I would like to have a magic bullet, I knew the only way to lose weight was eat less and exercise more," said the 39-year-old public relations consultant.
Her experience is a common one. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, examining 31 weight-loss studies found long-term dieting doesn't keep the pounds off. While people can lose weight initially, many relapse and regain the weight they shed.
The findings confirm what many scientists have been saying all along: Losing weight is easy. Keeping it off is another story.
"If dieting worked, there would be a bunch of skinny people walking around," said obesity researcher Dr. David Katz, head of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, who did not participate in the latest study.
Since the 1970s, the ranks of overweight and obese Americans have risen with two-thirds of adults in that category. Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Being overweight increases blood pressure and cholesterol levels which can lead to heart disease.
Many factors can conspire against successful weight reduction, health experts say. Diets can be boring and there's always a temptation to return to old habits. Serial dieters may also become discouraged and give up when their weight plateaus. People who lose too much too soon don't learn to make the overall lifestyle changes — eating healthier foods and exercising regularly — that are necessary to keep their weight stable.
"It's just plain difficult to modify your diet and turn away from the pleasures of eating," said Michael Goran, an obesity researcher at the University of Southern California. "We're driven to eat."
The UCLA researchers analyzed 31 diet studies that followed people two to five years after they went on diets. Between one-third and two-thirds gained back the weight they lost. A small number were able to successfully maintain their weight loss.
The UCLA study did not compare individual fad diets or organized weight-loss programs.
"We're not saying don't make some kind of effort," said Traci Mann, the UCLA psychologist who led the study. "It means that people should be quite clear that a diet is a temporary fix."
The study appeared in the April issue of American Psychologist, a publication of the American Psychological Association.
Perry, who owns a public relations firm in suburban Philadelphia, was an "emotional eater" who found comfort in food whenever she felt angry or depressed.
For the past 20 years, Perry tried all sorts of diets with mixed success. More recently, she decided to change her lifestyle and focus on lowering her cholesterol rather than obsessing about her weight.
The result: Perry, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall, has kept her weight steady for the past two years — 250 pounds from a high of 325 pounds. Although still obese, she is no longer considered morbidly obese.
"I would like to be healthier. I would like to be a little more toned," she said. "But I'm not running out the door to join another program so I can lose weight and go back on that cycle."
It's unclear whether repeatedly losing and gaining weight leads to health problems. But some studies have found a link between seesawing weight and problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gallbladder disease.
Specialists generally agree that surgery is the only proven method to keep weight off. But federal guidelines say a person must try traditional ways to lose weight and is at least 100 pounds overweight before opting for surgery.
Dr. Samuel Klein, an obesity expert at Washington University in St. Louis, said a diet's success shouldn't just be measured in pounds. If a person becomes healthier even if the weight loss is temporary, that should be deemed a success.
"There might be benefits in losing weight for a period of time even if you regain it than not having lost the weight at all," Klein said.
___
On the Net:
CDC obesity page: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity
University of California, Los Angeles: http://www.ucla.edu

Intro: Diets fail in the long run, study says

What this study teaches us, as I've been saying all along. If you want to lose weight and become more healthy. You can use diet pills or programs to help. That's up to you. If this is necessary for you to begin, a psychological quick lift with fast results in the beginning. Fine
Maybe you'll start and stay with it. For many of us it's the wanting and starting that's so hard.
If starting a program or taking a weight loss pill get's you started, if reading what steps to take in order to start, help's great.
This could all make you feel better about what your doing.
We all deep down know what we each need to do. We just need the motivation.
We need to change our lifestyle by adding in healthier foods that we can eat and eat less while exercising. At the very lest.
These so called fat burners or fad diet program or even eating grapefruit and drinking ten glasses of water per day. Well work. Sure, you'll lose weight. But, you are less likely to stick with any of those. You'll fail 100%
You need a sensible plan. Eat right and exercise. Now, if we can read about others success or share our successes, maybe this can help get us started on our way to better overall Health. Read the study below.

Eric

Six daily tips on better health from Stanford Heart Network

• *Choosing a Weight Loss Program Wisely Joining a weight loss program? Consider asking the following questions: Does the program carry any risks? What percentage of past clients finished the program? On average, how much weight did they lose? Do participants keep off the weight they lost? If you are interested in finding a weight loss program, it is wise to first contact your health care provider.
  
  *Realistic Fitness Goals Do you expect too much when you try to increase your physical activity? Success often leads to more success, but very high goals often lead to frustration. Start slow and set realistic goals for yourself. For example, unless you are already very active, don’t set your new goal as 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. Instead consider starting with activities like brisk walking for 10 - 15 minutes several days a week. By conquering smaller goals first, you are more likely to continue.
  
  *Exercise and Mental Health Need more reasons to exercise? Reports suggest that active people may experience less depression, anxiety, and stress than sedentary people. Regular exercise can also improve mood and brain functioning. Skeptical? Give it a try for a couple of weeks and see how you feel.
  
  *Spot Reduction Myth Contrary to what many info commercials suggest, there is no such thing as spot reduction. Fat loss depends on many factors including age, genetics, and gender. Regular aerobic exercise will help you lose fat in all areas of your body. Also, consider modest reductions in your caloric intake to help reduce body fat.
  
  *Maintain Your Height with Exercise Exercise can help you stand taller as you grow older. Exercise can help prevent the discs in your spine from shrinking. It also helps maintain the calcium content of your bones to help prevent osteoporosis.
  
  *Fish Oil Effects Diets rich in the omega-3 fatty acid EPA have been seen to reduce major coronary events. Now, a 2007 Japanese study reports on those who already eat a lot of fish and who take statin medications. Consuming EPA rich fish oil further reduces their risks too. But play it safe, always talk with your doctor before adding nutritional supplements to your medications.
• 
  Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by MissionHospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.http://www.stanfordheart.net/online/mhhc
  
  
  

Super Low fat Sour Cream Substitute!

Mock sour cream you can use as a topping for food's like, baked potatoes, enchiladas, gazpacho, dip's and low fat tacos. Just to name a few. With summer just around the corner, here is a great recipe to lighten the heavy sour cream without lousing the flavor we all like. There is no reason to go without sour cream. Only we're going to be smart about it.
Try this recipe as a sour cream substitute! Great as topping, you can dollop on tacos,and gazpacho soup, mix into bean dip. Enjoy that twice baked potato.
Recipe:
Blend 1-cup low fat cottage cheese, 1/4 cup buttermilk and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice in a blender until smooth. This makes 16 tablespoon-sized servings with only 14 calories and 0.3 grams of fat per serving!
Try it as a topping for baked potatoes, gazpacho and low fat tacos.

Doctor: Cholesterol Is Biggest Medical Myth, Inflammation Is Key

Why Haven't You Been Told about the REAL Cause of Heart Attacks?

The Sordid Story of Statistics & Spin...heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States. Strokes kill over 160,000 a year...and often without warning...
Fact, cardiovascular disease is so common that 64 million Americans suffer from some form of it (and 39 million of these folks are age 65 or younger)...
Each of us only has one heart, that's why you should be worried

If you're not feeling entirely comforted by the ministrations of modern medicine — a prescription for side effect -laden statin drugs, an aspirin every day, the gloomy prospect of heart bypass surgery — who could blame you.
And neither does Dr. Russell Blaylock, the editor of the NewsMax monthly newsletter The Blaylock Wellness Report.
Dr. Blaylock knows that informed people can prepare for potential health problems, and plan a successful strategy to prevent them. This is why he so desperately wants you to know the truth, the real truth — not just what you read in the mainstream press or see on TV. In fact, in this month's Blaylock Wellness Report "Prevent a Heart Attack: The Truth about Coronary Disease, Cholesterol Medication — and How to Truly Protect Yourself", Dr. Blaylock will lay it all out for you.

Go to link to read more: And http://www.newsmax.com/blaylock/22a.cfm?s=al&promo_code=3068-1no I'm not an affiliate trying to make a pay check.

Do you have your Intervals right?

What's Interval training?
Runner's have been using this technique for years. To boost there performance. And, it really work's fast. You'll want to have a good base for your workout's before starting.
Interval training can be an effective way to boost your fitness level. Unless there is a medical reason not to do so, try 1 minute of more intense exercise mixed into your regular aerobic exercise sessions. For example, after a good warm-up, if your walking. Once you've been walking for at least 15 minutes. keep walking at a moderate intensity. Every say 5 minutes, do the next 1 minute at a faster pace. Repeat the cycle. Do this a couple time a week and you'll start to see real results.
This is a good way to work up to running. It's hard to just hit the road and start a running program. Do it this way. Start by walking, once you've gotten to 3 or more miles at a fast pace. Do 1/4 mile runs. Or after walking at a good brisk pace for at least 15 or 20 minutes run for 5 minutes. This gets your hart rate up, then walk again once your hart slows down, then repeat. The last 1/4 mile or 15 minutes walk for a proper cool down. Interval training is another word for cycle training. One of the added benefits is you get a great workout in less time. You won't miss that days workout. And, you'll feel great.

Have you just started or have you been doing this for years? let us know how it's going. We would love for you to share.

It's BBQ-ing season around here all year long

I live in So. Cal, about 5 miles from the Blue Pacific coast, so it's always BBQ time.
I thought everyone new the dangers of raw meat and clean up. That is until I saw Patrick handle the 'Chicken and Marinade.
This tip on Safe BBQ-ing
For a safer barbecue, consider the following tips to prevent food borne illness: (1) Never return cooked meats to the raw meat plate. (2) Do not use the same utensil on both raw meat and any other foods unless you wash the utensil first. (3) Do not taste food with a utensil, and then return it to the food. (4) Store leftovers in the freezer or refrigerator immediately after eating. (5) Eat leftovers within a few days or discard.

Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by MissionHospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.
c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.healthcalc.net

Do you think you have an Ulcer Problem ?

Researchers now know that H. pylori bacteria are responsible for large numbers of peptic ulcers. Other causes include chronic aspirin use and the use of certain drugs that irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines. If you think you might have an ulcer, talk to your doctor. A simple blood test can determine if you have H. pylori. Antibiotics can treat an H. Pylori infection.
http://www.healthcalc.net
Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by Mission Hospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.
c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.healthcalc.net

Running Shoes, were the tread hit's the road

You need a good pair of shoes, when I was a runner. 6 to 8 miles everyday, this is the one thing that made a big difference. What would happen is the shoes still looked great. After all I always took them off to let them air out and dry. I never wore them to do anything else.
So they looked good. Then my knees would start to hurt just a little,then my legs would get tried a little faster. I couldn't recall when i had got them. This was before I kept a log.
I'm cheap, so i didn't want to spring for a new pair and I never liked the shopping part. I would end up putting it off. Never thinking it was a big deal. Boy was I wrong. I loved my new shoes, I began to get two new pair at a time for then on. I still do that to-day with my tennis shoes. That's if they have them i stock. I never have understood whey 'Big 5 Sporting Goods" only carries one pair in each size? I think they could sell more.

Research indicates that running shoes may lose about 30% - 50% of their shock absorbency after about 250 miles of use. Type of shoe, brand or price doesn't seem to make much difference. Remember, the real investment you make is in your health. The shoes are a means to your ends. Protect your muscles and joints by periodically replacing older shoes based on your mileage and overall use.
c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.healthcalc.net

Vegetarian Meals - Low fat?

Are vegetarian meals low in fat? Not always. Some vegetarian meals contain high fat cheeses or sauces. Others may be fried or contain unhealthy fats such as coconut or palm oil. Some contain healthy fats (including many vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and avocado). While good for you in moderation, healthy fats can still provide extra, unneeded calories. When choosing a vegetarian entrée, consider asking about the ingredients and method of preparation.

Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by MissionHospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.
c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.healthcalc.net

Tip: Increase your learning potential with sleep

Do you want to learn a new activity faster?
Catching some zzzz's after learning a new move can help your retention.
For example, getting a good night's sleep following a salsa class or a racquetball lesson increases your chance of remembering specific moves the next day.

Whenever memory learning is important to you, try getting a good night's sleep.

Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by MissionHospital! Mission HospitalandHealth Fitness Corporation(c) 2007 HealthCalc.Net, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.healthcalc.net

Keeping Track of What Foods you Eat...

For many people that want to lose weight. The successful one's find that keeping a 'food diary" helps.
Has this ever happen to you?
you want to take back your life, you want to feel better, have more energy and look better. So you start reading upon what weight loss plans that mite fit into your daily routine. You found one that looks like your cup of tea, your going to give it a try.

You read up on the best foods and how to prepare them. You started to cut the amount of carbohydrates in your meals, and taking some nutritional supplements that your starting to feel the difference. You lost some weight now and people are noticing. Your feeling better about yourself.
That group you joined meets three times a week and you can't wait, your looking forward to exercising with your new friends. You've been pretty good on your diet and you've seen some solid results. changing your eating habits was the tuffest thing so far. Then it happen's. A set back, I haven't lost any more weight. It's been a couple of weeks now, what's up with this?
What could it be?

Without a food diary, it's easy to get off track and forget that late-night snack or the extra sugar in your fourth cup of coffee. Was that this week or last that you stopped at that fast food drive-in? Are your portions still the same size as when you were losing weight?
A good food diary keeps you honest. It helps you figure outthe real reasons behind those little ups and downs in your weight. If you keep a good 'food diary' you could see were your next tweak of your diet plan well benefit you best.

Considering Group Exercise?

For better overall health and to help handle that added weight you'll need to add a little exercise to your diet.

Why not join a group? Fight that procrastination and join a local group.
This can be just the thing to meet new friends and keep you motivative.
If group exercise classes are new to you, take it slow. Jumping into an intermediate or advanced class can be too difficult, both physically and emotionally.
This may leave you injured and/or discouraged. See: Muscle Soreness here on Sunday, March 11, 2007

Are you new to group exercise? Don't let that stop you. It's a good idea to start with introductory classes.
Pick the class you want to try, find out when it starts. Then arrive early and tell the instructors your new. Your instructors can provide you with special guidance and answer any questions you have.
They'll be happy to help you get started safely. Start with three times a week, then work your way up. If it's only 1/2 hour at a time, soon you'll feel better and look better. Maybe, you'll be the one to give instructions someday. But, you need to start.
Let us know how it's going.