Saturday, 7 January 2012

Excellent Bodybuilding Routines

Bodybuilding Routines

I want to share with you some of my bodybuilding routines that are developed particularly for the female bodybuilders. These can allow you to push your self to new limits with weight and muscle.

When you want to improve the way your body looks, spot training won't work if you you have excessive body fat. The fat will cover the muscles and you won't be able to see the definition. After you're closer to your goal weight and have a healthy body fat percentage, spot training will be much more effective.

The first and most significant workout I feel each bodybuilder ought to do is dead lifts. The physiological advantages of this exercise are completely awesome. I've heard buddies tell me that they will not do anything that functions their legs due to the fact they got "big legs". This exercise plays a bigger roll than operating legs and back. It results in your body producing extra testosterone. This can be an incredible thing it is possible to do as a female to improve your overall muscle creating prospective.

A different terrific physical exercise could be the squats. It really is a lower body one just like the previous one. This has exactly the same effect. Overall, your body will probably be in a position to create much more testosterone. The reason is the fact that this exercise is so compound and has an highly exceptional tension impact on your body, you start to generate much more testosterone. The far more testosterone you might have within your method, the a lot more possible you have to construct muscle.

It may help increase your motivation to work out if you buy some new exercise clothes. Even if it's a minor purchase, you can show it off. Ideally, by going to the gym!

Lastly, you will wish to do bench presses. This really is essentially the most crucial 1 for the upper body and functions by far the most amount of muscles. This one doesn't have really the same overall impact with regards to testosterone as dead lifts and squats do, however it nevertheless has an impact and ought to definitely be completed for greatest outcomes.

Monday, 26 July 2010

Federal exercise guidelines include strength training for all

The government has raised the bar for physical activity levels — and nobody's exempt, not even children or older adults. And exercise researchers couldn't be happier.

The new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are the most comprehensive federal recommendations ever and the new gold standard. "These are really well done, and I don't think they could get any more practical," says Tim Church, director of preventive medicine research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.

Among the recommendations:

• Adults should get at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, such as brisk walking, or 1¼ hours of a vigorous-intensity activity, such as jogging or swimming laps, or a combination of the two types, to get the most health benefits from exercise. These aerobic activities should be done in at least 10-minute bouts.

• To get even more health benefits, people should do five hours of moderate-intensity physical activity each week or 2½ hours of vigorous activity.

• Adults should do muscle-strengthening (resistance) activities at a moderate- or high-intensity level for all major muscle groups two or more days a week. This should include exercises for the chest, back, shoulders, upper legs, hips, abdomen and lower legs. The exercises can be done with free weights or machines, resistance bands, calisthenics that use body weight for resistance (push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups), or carrying heavy loads or doing heavy gardening such as digging or hoeing.

Monday, 19 July 2010

Rapid weight loss can lead to shedding more in the long run

Crash dieting is an effective way to slim, scientists have found. Despite health warnings from nutritionists, research showed that dieters who shed the most weight in their first month also lost more in the long run.

And they were just as likely to maintain their new shape as dieters who lost less.

The message, says the study, is that the first few weeks of a diet are critical and may spur dieters on.

University of Florida researchers followed more than 250 obese women who were asked to cut their calorie intake and increase their exercise for 18 months. Those who lost more than 1.5lb a week during the first month lost more than two stone within six months on average.

But those who initially lost less than half a pound a week ended up losing just 11lb overall. The 1.5lb a week figure is well within the safe limits recommended by most dieticians.

Thursday, 15 July 2010

The Diet versions of citrus drinks such as Sprite may reduce risk of kidney stones

Fizzy citrus diet drinks may help stop people developing painful kidney stones, research suggests.

An ingredient in some soft drinks could be a preventive measure for those at risk of the disorder, scientists say.

The drinks - 7Up, Sunkist, Sprite, Fresca and Canada Dry ginger ale - contain high amounts of a compound called citrate.

This is known to inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate stones, the most common form of kidney stone.

Researcher Dr Brian Eisner, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said that patients are advised to drink two to three litres of fluids a day to reduce the problem.

'If drinking these helps reach that goal, that may be a good thing,' he told the Journal of Urology, adding that he is not advocating that those prone to stones 'run out and get diet soda'.

Recipe: Chicken and Mango Salad

Roast chicken tastes fantastic in this fruity mango salad and makes an idea light snack or side meal.

INGREDIENTS

* 1 portion lettuce, Romaine or cos, torn into pieces
* 2 stick celery, thinly sliced
* 4 portion spring onions, finely chopped
* 1/4 chunk cucumber(s), thinly sliced
* 300 g Mango(s), without stone, (1 large), peeled, pitted and chopped
* 400 g roast chicken, skinless, boneless, torn into pieces
* 150 g very low-fat plain yogurt
* 1 teaspoon curry powder, mild
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper, black, freshly ground
* 4 sprig fresh mint, to garnish


METHOD

Share the romaine or cos lettuce, celery, spring onions and cucumber between 4 serving plates or bowls. Top with an equal amount of the mango chunks, then share out the chicken between the portions.

To make the dressing, mix together the yogurt and curry powder. Spoon over the salads.

Serve, seasoned with a little freshly ground black pepper and scattered with a few mint leaves.

Notes:



Try adding 1 tsp freshly grated root ginger to the dressing for an added kick.

eating fatty food and watching TV can cut 12 years off your life

A couch potato lifestyle could make the difference between living into your 80s and dying in your 60s, research shows.

A large-scale study of the habits and health of British adults revealed that smoking, drinking, not exercising and eating badly can take 12 years off a person's life.

Although previous studies have estimated the impact of the various vices individually, few have looked at their combined impact on the body.

With most people having more than one bad habit, the latest study, say the researchers, gives a better picture of how the choices we make each day affect our health.

To make the link, they first analysed the answers health survey of almost 5,000 adults from across the UK carried out in the mid-1980s.

Monday, 7 June 2010

Olive-Oil Enriched Diet Helps Breast Cancer Survivors Lose More Weight

The findings may be of significance to women with breast cancer, since excess weight at the time of diagnosis, or even moderate weight gain during cancer treatment, is associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence, particularly in post-menopausal women.

In this pilot study, women followed two 1,500-calorie diets -- a conventional low-fat diet recommended by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a plant-based olive oil diet similar to the Mediterranean diet. After eight weeks on each diet, participants selected one diet to follow for an additional six months of continued weight loss or weight management.

According to the findings, published in the June issue of the Journal of Women's Health, 80 percent of women who started with the plant-based olive oil diet lost more than 5 percent of their baseline weight, compared to 31 percent who started with the NCI diet. But researchers were most surprised to find that after trying both diets, most women chose to stick with the less conventional, higher fat olive oil diet, saying they found the food more appetizing, accessible and affordable.

Mary Flynn, PhD, RD, LDN, the study's lead author and a research dietitian at The Miriam Hospital, says many breast cancer patients don't realize there is a link between weight and cancer recurrence.

"That's why it was important for us to compare these two diets and determine which one the women not only enjoyed following, but also produced the best weight loss, because that's the diet they're more likely to stick with," says Flynn. "In this case, it was a diet enriched with extra virgin olive oil, which is a source of healthy fats, and includes foods associated with improving one's health, such as vegetables, beans and other plant products."

Extra virgin olive oil has been associated with decreasing breast cancer risk in Greece, Spain and Italy, where it is consumed in great quantities. Many studies have also demonstrated the cancer protective properties of carotenoids, a phytonutrient found in the red, orange and yellow pigments of fruits and vegetables. The NCI lists obesity as a risk factor for disease recurrence but does not recommend a specific diet for weight loss, although it has consistently recommended lowering dietary fat to prevent breast cancer.

source: sciencedaily

Saturday, 2 January 2010

College Linemen at Risk for Obesity, Diabetes

Despite the high-intensity workout that college football linemen get out on the field, they are not protected from developing obesity, heart disease and related ailments later in life, a new study finds.

Ohio State University football team physician James Borchers studied 90 players from the team in 2007 for a range of health measures and looked for obesity risk factors.

The study, detailed in the December 2009 issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found that linemen were more likely to be obese and at risk for related ailments later in life, particularly diabetes. Since it pays to be big when you're a lineman, Borchers suggests that rather than packing on fat poundage, players should focus on gaining muscle mass.

The study adds to other evidence that football can lead to poor health later in life. Previous studies have also shown that professional football players are prone to developing dementia and depression, in part because of the number of concussions they receive over their careers. Another study presented earlier this year at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session found that retired professional football players had a high prevalence of sleep apnea, which can be associated with obesity and heart disease, though another studied detailed earlier this year in the American Journal of Cardiology found that retired pro football players did not have a higher prevalence of heart disease compared to other men in the same age range

Linemen at risk

The players in the new study were grouped by size and similarity of position - offensive and defensive linemen; wide receivers and defensive backs; and tight ends, linebackers, quarterbacks, punters and kickers.

Researchers measured the athletes' blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin levels, cholesterol, triglycerides, height, weight, waist circumference and body fat percentage. The measurements were taken during a single visit after a 10-hour fast.

One in five players, all linemen, registered as obese, because they had 25 percent or more body fat. (Body mass index, a ratio of weight to height, wasn't used to determine obesity because it isn't considered a valid measure for strength-trained athletes, Borchers noted.)

Of the 19 obese linemen (out of a total of 29 linemen), 11 showed signs of insulin resistance, a condition in which the presence of insulin in the blood doesn't initiate the transfer of sugar from the blood to the tissues, where the sugar is used for energy. Insulin resistance tends to develop in people who are overweight and not active, and increases a person's chances of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Of those same 19 linemen, eight met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by having three or more of the following conditions: excess fat in the abdominal area, borderline or high blood pressure, cholesterol problems that foster plaque buildup in the arteries, insulin resistance or glucose intolerance, and a high level of triglycerides, a form of fat in the blood.

Among other players, only 8 percent were considered overweight, and none met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Linemen accounted for 68 percent of the players in the study who showed signs of insulin resistance.

source: yahoo

A Weight-Loss Resolution That’s Light on the Wallet

For most people who resolve to shed pounds after the holidays, the decision means shelling out cash — on packaged foods, books, health club memberships, a scale, liposuction consultations. Problem is, the only thing many people end up losing is money.

But on a cost-per-pound basis, the newest class of weight-loss innovation could beat them all.

Free and nearly free cellphone applications for dieters and aspiring hard bodies are proliferating in the various app stores for iPhones, Android handsets, BlackBerrys and others. In some cases it feels like the Internet, circa 1999, in that companies are giving away products that seem fairly valuable.

Just as that early Internet practice screeched to a halt once everyone (well, almost everyone) came to their senses, this will too. So if you are thinking of shedding a few pounds, it might make sense to load a couple of these programs onto your phone before you devour your next pig in a blanket.

I tested a handful of the most popular applications, including Lose It! (free, for the iPhone), Calorie Counter (free, on Android and BlackBerry) and Calorie Tracker by Livestrong ($3 on iPhone, BlackBerry and Android).

Lose It!, from FitNow, is the top choice of calorie counters, with 3.5 million downloads in the 14 months since it became available. But more noteworthy is that 190,000 people have bothered to rate the app, usually with high marks, which suggests that the software has some staying power.

Based on a week or so of playing with it, the ratings are well-earned, and probably would be just as high if it cost a few dollars or more.

At its core, Lose It! is a calorie counter and weight tracker, with tools for logging and watching your food intake. Enter a few personal metrics into the program along with your weight-loss goal and deadline, and Lose It! sets a budget for your calorie intake.

source: nytimes

Monday, 23 November 2009

Obesity in adolescence may increase girls' MS risk

A woman's risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) during her lifetime is doubled if she was obese at age 18, new research shows.

"This is the first study to link MS risk with obesity," study co-author Dr. Kassandra L. Munger of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston told Reuters Health in a telephone interview.

MS is a disease of the central nervous system. Up to half a million Americans have MS, with about 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year. While it is not usually fatal, it's a chronic unpredictable disease with no known cure. The symptoms, including dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, shakiness, loss of coordination, and weakness, can be debilitating when flare-ups occur.

It's not a common disease. According to Munger, women, generally, have a 1 in 100 risk of developing MS during their lifetime compared to the 1 in 8 lifetime risk of breast cancer.

Munger and her colleagues studied women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II over a 40 year period. Participants answered questions throughout the study about weight, height, body size, smoking and exercise habits, and disease status.

Among the more than 200,000 participants in the two groups, there were 593 cases of MS.

The study found no association between MS risk and having a large body size at ages 5 and 10 or as an adult. However, obesity at age 18 was associated with a greater than twofold increased risk of MS and a large body size at age 20 was associated with a 96% increased risk of MS, the study team found.

The findings, reported in the medical journal Neurology, underscore the obesity threat, Munger said. "We have another disease which being obese is associated with."

The findings also provide another reason to encourage a healthy weight in young people.

"The prevention of adolescent obesity may contribute to reduced MS risk," they conclude in their report.

The investigators caution that the study has its limitations. The findings need to be validated with further research and only apply to white women.

source: news.yahoo

Monday, 12 October 2009

Have a Daily Dose of Omega-3s




"I like to call them the anti-aging fat," say Forberg. Getting the recommended amount can help lower cholesterol, keep cells functioning properly, and combat inflammation, which reduces your risk of cancer, stroke, and heart attack. Flaxseed, walnuts, and some leafy greens contain omega-3s, but seafood is the best source. Research published in the December 2008 Journal of Nutrition found that DHA, an omega-3 found in cold-water, fatty fish, helps keep aging brains healthy.

Add it: Have two 3-ounce servings of salmon, herring, lake trout, or other fatty fish a week; and a daily serving of ground flaxseed, walnuts, soybean oil, spinach, or kale.

2. Eat Antioxidants Every 4 Hours
These nutrients slow the aging process by protecting our cells from harmful free radicals. But some, such as vitamin C, are water soluble. "That means they only remain in our body for 4 to 6 hours, so you have to replenish regularly," explains Forberg. Vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables are loaded with these disease-fighting substances.

Add it: Have a fruit or veggie at every meal and snack--and aim for three to five different colors a day.

3. Double Your Fiber
It may help protect against cancer and can keep blood sugar levels steady and promote heart health. In fact, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, every additional 10 g of dietary fiber consumed daily reduces the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 17%. The daily recommendation is 25 to 35 g per day; most Americans eat half or less.

Add it: Boost your intake with star sources: cooked lentils (8 g per 1/2 cup), cooked chickpeas (6 g per 1/2 cup), barley (16 g per 1/2 cup), apples (4 g in one medium), and raspberries (8 g per cup).



4. Stop Before You're Full
Centenarians in Okinawa, Japan, practice this eating ritual; they also consistently consume a lower-calorie diet--which researchers hypothesize is a key component to longevity. Eating slowly can automatically help control calories: A recent study found that women who ate at slower rates felt fuller and ate fewer calories than those who ate more quickly.

Fix it: The key is to stop when you're satisfied, not stuffed, says Forberg. A reminder: "You shouldn't have to unbutton or unzip anything."

5. Eat Enough Healthy Fats

The good-for-you variety--like monounsaturated fatty acids--can lower bad LDL cholesterol, raise cardio-protective HDL cholesterol, and decrease your risk of atherosclerosis. Plus, studies suggest that a higher intake of these fats may also contribute to longer life expectancy. Ideally, you should get about 25% of your daily calories (or 44 g based on a 1,600-calorie diet) from healthy fats.

Add it: Healthy fats include 1/4 cup of pistachios (7 g), 1/4 cup of almonds (11 g), 1 tablespoon of olive oil (10 g) or 1/4 cup of avocado (3.5 g).

source: prevention.com

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Glazed Gammon Steaks with Nutty Apples

Yield: 4 servings

 4    6 to 8 oz Gammon Steaks
2 tb Clear Honey
1 ts Ground Ginger
4 Apples, cored
1 oz Butter
1/2 oz Hazelnuts or almonds,
-Chopped
1 oz Wholemeal Breadcrumbs
1 Egg Yolk
Salt and Pepper

TO SERVE

Vegetables

Snip fat around edge of gammon. Place steaks on a grill rack. Warm
honey and stir in ginger. Baste steaks with honey glaze. Cook under a
medium grill for about 8 minutes each side, basting occasionally with
glaze.

Score apples around the centre. Melt butter, and saute seeds and
nuts. Stir in crumbs, yolk and seasoning, then pack into apples.
Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Serve steaks with apples and
vegetables.

ABALONE STUFFED WITH CRABMEAT

Serving Size : 4


Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
-----WHITE SAUCE-----
2 tb Butter or margarine
2 tb Flour
Salt, pepper
1 c Warm milk
-----ABALONE-----
Butter or margarine
2 Shallots -- minced
1 c Cooked crabmeat
Salt, white pepper
1 d Red pepper
1/2 ts Dry mustard
1/2 ts Worcestershire sauce
1/2 Lemon (juice only)
4 Large abalone steaks
2 Eggs -- beaten
Flour

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet and stir in flour. Season to taste
with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, over medium heat about 1 minute but
do not allow flour to brown. Add milk and cook and stir 1 or 2 minutes
until mixture comes to boil and thickens. Set aside.
For abalone, melt 1 tablespoon butter in small saucepan, add shallots and
cook until tender but not browned. Add crabmeat and heat thoroughly. Add
enough white sauce to bind, about 1/2 cup. Season to taste with salt and
white pepper and add red pepper, mustard, Worcestershire and lemon juice.
Carefully pound abalone steaks between 2 sheets of waxed paper until very
thin (unless purchased already pounded). Dip abalone in eggs seasoned to
taste with salt and white pepper. Coat with flour and set aside. Melt 2
tablespoons butter in heavy skillet. Add abalone and brown quickly on one
side. Turn and brown other side. Do not overcook as abalone will toughen.
Place abalone steaks on platter and spoon crabmeat stuffing on each. Roll
and arrange on serving platter, seam down. If desired, serve with any
remaining sauce.

Mediterranean diet cuts depression risk

Eating plenty of fish, veggies and whole grains may brighten your outlook



People who follow a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish are less likely to become depressed, scientists said on Monday, but the reasons are unclear.

Spanish researchers studied 11,000 people and found that those who followed the Mediterranean diet most closely had a more than 30 percent reduction in the risk of depression than those whose diet had few of the crucial Mediterranean elements.

"The specific mechanisms by which a better adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern could help to prevent the occurrence of depression are not well known," said Almudena Sanchez-Villegas and colleagues at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Navarra, Spain.

But the researchers suggested that elements of the diet may improve blood vessel function, fight inflammation and repair oxygen-related cell damage — all of which could reduce the chances of developing depression.

The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry journal, adds to an existing body of evidence showing the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, including reduced risks of health disease, diabetes, asthma and cancer.

The study used data from Spanish people who reported their dietary intake on a food frequency questionnaire.

The researchers worked out how close their eating habits were to the Mediterranean diet based on nine components: A high ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids; moderate intake of alcohol and dairy foods; low intake of meat; and high intake of legumes, fruit and nuts, cereals, vegetables and fish.

"Individuals who followed the Mediterranean diet most closely had a greater than 30 percent reduction in the risk of depression than whose who had the lowest Mediterranean diet scores," they wrote.

source: msnbc.msn

Health news: How vodka could benefit your health and an iron implant to tackle anaemia


Health stories from around the world this week include a trial to test whether vodka can prevent heart disease, a new implant which may help anaemia sufferers and a drug which can boost the success of corneal transplants.

A shot of vodka may help heart disease

Could drinking vodka and orange tackle furred up arteries?

It is increasingly recognised that conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease are linked to inflammation in the arteries. This can lead to a build-up of cholesterol, as well as high blood pressure.

Moderate amounts of alcohol have long been thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect - and, in the case of heart disease, boosting the levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol.

Now, in a new trial in Holland, healthy men aged between 20 and 40 are being given 100ml of vodka a day, mixed with orange juice, to test its benefits. Another group are being given a placebo.

At the end of the year-long trial, researchers will measure the amount of inflammation in the men's arteries.

Iron implant to tackle anaemia

An implant the size of a toothpick could help thousands who suffer with anaemia, or iron deficiency.

The condition is caused by a lack of red blood cells. Often this is because the kidneys are not producing a protein that kickstarts their production.

Mild sufferers take iron pills to address this. But some people, especially those with kidney disease, need regular jabs of the protein erythropoietin.

The new implant works by releasing erythropoietin around the clock. It is made from the patient's skin tissue, which has had the gene that controls the protein's production added to it.

Over a year into the trial, the implant, which was developed by Israeli firm Medgenics, is still working for some patients.

Without it, they would need protein injections at least three times a week.
Your new cornea now lasts longer

A new drug has been shown to help boost the success of corneal transplants.

The operation is performed on patients with fading eyesight.

Though the surgery itself is usually successful, the patient's eyesight may deteriorate as a result of neovascularisation, where tissues in the eye produce too many new blood vessels around the new cornea, leading to blurred vision.

Until now, there has been no treatment for this. But a Swiss company, Gene Signal, has developed a drug in the form of eye drops that can halt blood vessel growth.

The drug, GS-101, blocks the genetic signals that tell cells to produce new vessels.

Recent trial data showed the drug also partly reversed the condition in some patients.

The drug could be available in Britain within 18 months.

source: dailymail