Fat Kills You

Being over weight is usually being 20 percent or more over the normal weight for his or her age, sex, build, and height. According to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, a person’s weight is healthy if it falls within the acceptable range for his or her height and age; if the pattern of fat distribution does not place the person at increased risk for certain diseases; and if the person has no medical problem for which a physician recommends that he or she lose weight.

What is important, is not how much a person weighs, but the percentage of body fat. For women, fat can account for as much as 25 percent of body weight; 17 percent is a healthy percentage for men. Females are designed biologically to carry a higher proportion of fat tissue to ensure that there is plenty of food for pregnancy and nursing, even if food is scarce.

On average, we humans carry around 30 to 40 billion fat cells. All those excess calories we don’t use up as immediate energy, are stored as fat. If we lived in ancient times, and had to still hunt and gather food, those stores of fat would be essential for our survival in times of famine.

The aim for beginners to weight training must be to lay the foundations for the intensive workouts that their bodies will eventually be subjected to. Obviously successful bodybuilding involves bringing together disparate elements such as nutrition and rest but choosing the right exercises is crucial. In this article we’ll outline the machine exercises that will enable new bodybuilders to develop the general strength and body conditioning needed.

Initially beginners should aim to complete two sets of ten to twelve reps but after a few weeks, when you have developed sufficient control and basic strength, experiment with one set of six to eight reps to failure. This will maximize your muscle growth and give you the impetus to move on to the next stage of development. Before long you’ll find the use of this single piece of equipment restricting, so later in this series of articles we’ll pull together a muscle boosting program that utilizes other equipment to take you to the intermediate level. In the meantime, get to work with these exercises in order to get used to working your muscles.

Start off training four days per week and work body parts on the following basis not forgetting to incorporate rest days:

There are several theories on the origins of Valentine’s Day. Some believe it originated on February 14, 269 A.D., when Saint Valentine was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. Others subscribe to the story of Saint Valentine, a priest imprisoned for defying the Emperor Claudius. And some of us don’t really care how it started (have you heard of Romance Grinches?).

Early records report that in 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius honored St. Valentine by declaring February 14 in his name. Whatever the true story, the fact remains that at some point St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. Valentine’s Day has since evolved into a day to celebrate love and romance, to shower one’s object of affection with rich, lavish, luxurious gifts, glittery trinkets, shiny baubles, precious gee-gaws and love’s liquor? chocolate.

It may not be a coincidence that the icon of the modern Valentine’s Day is a chubby little cherub slinging golden arrows hither and yon. The arrows aptly symbolize the dollars we send flying at our heart’s desire- often unwisely or too extravagantly. And the chubby little guy? You’ve probably guessed the connection there–sugar-laden chocolate!

Having a personal wellness program has become a concern for more and more people. The problem is many people do not know where to begin a wellness program. Here are a few keys to maintaining a personal wellness program:

Know and understand your current health situation. Do you have a proper assessment of your current state of health? Do you have a bad cholesterol problem? Or maybe you have good cholesterol? Do you gain weight easily? Or do you have a hard time keeping weight on? Has your overall health been getting worse, stayed the same or has it been getting better?

Taking time out for yourself is important to your (and your family’s) well being. Do you take out personal time for yourself everyday? If you fail to support your personal wellness program with alone time you may experience burnout. Burnout can affect your personal wellness and that of your family. The results of this can have a lasting residual effect on your families’ health and wellness.

A recent case in the news highlights an alarming trend in "alternative" health care-how difficult it is becoming to both obtain and provide alternative care in the United States. Dr. James Michael Shortt (an M.D.) practicing longevity medicine in Greenville, South Carolina, has been sued by the relatives of a patient who died under his care, and may be indicted for murder. (AP/LA Times 1-09-05.)

The information in the media concerning this unfortunate case is very instructive if read with a discerning eye. Dr. Shortt is being sued because he administered a therapy that is outside "the standards of care of the medical profession." This phrase is key. Another cause of action in the lawsuit was that Dr. Shortt had told the patient that her multiple sclerosis was caused by a bacteria or virus and that the organism(s) could be killed by hydrogen peroxide infusions. Finally, the coroner and pathologist who examined the patient attributed her death to "complications caused by the hydrogen peroxide infusion, which the pathologist said ‘had no legitimate use . . . in the medical literature.’ "

Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there is no more temptation to dip into the white flour canister and whip up biscuits and gravy or grandma’s banana bread. Ah, as the daylight hours grow longer, we lose the urge to rummage through the fridge for high carb “no-no’s.” With the onset of spring, thick, sweet, hot, heavy, bloating, high glycemic platters of food suddenly have no appeal!

And, to coin a phrase borrowed from a popular shark film, “just as you thought it was safe to go back on your diet…” here comes spring! The fabled season of birth and renewal, of life, regeneration, energy and love has a down side for some. Everything smells fresh and sweet; tender green grass, fragrant new flower buds, spring rain carried along on gentle breezes. We start moving again, we are out sneezing from allergies, hustling and bustling. We use more energy and our schedules pick up in intensity. Life in general increases…and so do our appetites.

Supplement ? what is it?

Supplement is a term that means products made of one or more of the fundamental nutrients, for example vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It provides you with some specific (or a mix of) vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, metabolites, etc. You can purchase supplements that contain separate vitamins or minerals, or some kind of mix of vitamins and minerals.

Supplement ? quality products.

Consumers who are using some type of supplement need to always read supplement product labels, follow all directions, and pay attention to all warnings. Consult with your doctor to make sure that you use the right supplement. Nowadays you can purchase some type of supplement without the prescription in health food stores, grocery stores, drug stores, or through mail or Internet. You can also get a good discount on some supplements.

Supplement ? be careful.

You need to be careful when you are shopping for some type of supplement. There are many fake supplements that are sold nowadays. But that doesn’t mean that all the supplements are fake. “The majority of supplement manufacturers are responsible and careful,” FDA’s Yetley says. Consumers should still do the search for the right supplement with care, making sure they have the necessary information and consulting with their doctors and other health professionals.

Modern Living, Complex Health Problems

In our post-modern industrial polluted stress-filled bad-diet culture, no one’s health is simple. We are plagued by complex long-term illnesses like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, AIDS, even sinus problems… it may seem weird to you that I include sinus infections, but the root causes of sinus trouble can be quite complicated… Especially if they are long-term.

Antibiotic Overuse Problems

I hate to say it (because antibiotics are so great in some situations, and so popular overall), but antibiotics can complicate things even further - there are conditions that do not respond to them… and there are many situations in which they are not even indicated.

Physicians have over-prescribed antibiotics for years… they know it, there have been studies that show it, and as a profession they’ve moved away from that. But people still want to leave the doctor’s office with a prescription, a magic-bullet. Of course, sometimes the issue is which antibiotic is the most appropriate one. They don’t all work for everything.

Antibiotic Side Effects - When They’re Wrong

Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health problem of the decade. They are predicting a quarter of the population will be suffering from weight related diabetes by 2013.

Doctors have coined the phrase "diabesity" to describe the condition, which is affecting a rising number of chronically overweight adults and children.

In Australia researchers say 4 out of 10 children will be overweight within ten years. They said the proportion of children who are overweight is growing by at least one per cent a year.The average weight of Australian adults has increased five per cent in the past decade to 74.3kg according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics report. More than half (58%) of all men and 42% of women are overweight.

It would seem that many adults underestimate the severity of their own weight problems. "They don’t recognize they’re in the obese level, so of course they don’t recognize they’re child is overweight", one researcher said. "It’s very hard to educate people who maybe don’t see it or don’t want to change."

Children as young as six are being treated for mature-onset diabetes, a condition once confined to overweight adults in their 40’s.

Plateau. That dreaded word that you do not want to hear, let alone experience. Especially if you have been diligently exercising in an attempt to get fit or lose weight. We have all experienced a plateau at some time all of a sudden you stop losing weight or you just cant seem to run any faster. When you hit a plateau, dont panic. It doesnt necessarily mean you need to work harder or spend more days at the gym.

Here are five ideas that may help you break through in record time.

Take an Active Rest

If you have hit a plateau, it may be time for an active rest. Take a week off from structured exercise, and instead take leisurely walks, play ball with the kids, or take a yoga class. Active rest rejuvenates the mind and the body and allows for overworked muscles to rest and rebuild. You will return to exercise stronger and ready for new challenges.

Time to Eat