Astounding Words

The #1 fear that people have when investing in a home treadmill (or any piece of exercise equipment) is that they won’t use it.

You know the story. It gets delivered, you set it up and enjoy it for a few days…and then it sits…and waits.

A few months down the road, you notice how dusty it has become and how much space it’s taking up. And you remember how much weight you were determined to lose by using it faithfully every day. But now, unfortunately, it doubles as a clothes rack.

Never fear. This article will help you make sure that DOESN’T happen.

A treadmill provides the best overall cardiovascular workout & it’s still the number one exercise machine for those who want to lose weight. So it’s an investment in your health that will pay large dividends…if you are prepared to get the maximum benefit from it!

Here are 5 easy ways to get the BEST use from your home treadmill:

#1) Do your research first

Make sure you look at what each treadmill offers you and compare it to your unique needs.

For example, if you live in a condo and/or like things neat and clean, a folding treadmill might suit you best. If you want a folding treadmill, do you prefer a manual folding treadmill (like most folding treadmills) or do you want a shock-assisted folding treadmill with wheels on the bottom that’s easy to move?

If you like to drink water during your workout, make sure there’s a water bottle holder included in the treadmill console (it might surprise you how many treadmills do not have this feature.)

Do you get bored easily and need a challenge? What about getting a treadmill with lots of user programs or one that is iFit compatible?

These things may seem little and maybe it might cost you a bit more; but if it means you’re actually going to enjoy your workout it will be well worth it!

#2) Place the treadmill in a ‘happy’ spot.

By ‘happy’ I mean well-lit, open and stimulating. Don’t put it so you face the bare wall when you walk or run. I’ve tried this this and the workouts don’t last long! If you get bored easily, put it facing the television or facing a window where you can have an attractive view while working out.

Rooms and spaces have definite ‘feels’ to them and that will affect the success of your workouts. Make sure your treadmill is placed in an area that makes you feel energized, happy and mentally stimulated.

#3) Get your exercise arsenal ready BEFORE the treadmill arrives.

Do you like listening to fast music when you exercise? Do you like watching your favorite movies? What about reading magazines? What inspires you to work out and feel your best?

Get these things ready even before your treadmill arrives and you’ll be three-quarters of the way there. Have several workout or favorite CD’s around. Get your favorite movies or shows on tape. Gather your favorite magazines.

By having an ‘exercise’ stash around your treadmill, you’ll be inspired to workout AND you won’t be stuck running around looking for something to do when you want to start exercising.

Again, this may seem simple, but it works. Why do you think gyms have magazines, televisions and CD players handy?

#4) Make an exercise plan.

Before you start working out, try making a plan, a “roadmap to your rock-hard body” so to speak. By writing down how long and what kind of workout you’ll be doing in week 1, 2, 3, 4 etc, you’ll get yourself psyched up for success.

Remember that every time you workout, you are planting the seeds for the kind of dream body that you want.

By having a plan, you can see just how many seeds you’ve planted (and even how long it will take to start reaping the results!) Have fun with it and you’ll be motivated to achieve your health goals (and get maximum benefits from your treadmill!)

#5) Track your progress

Ok this is related to #4 but it’s more of an ongoing thing. By tracking your progress every day, you get a major sense of accomplishment which snowballs into even greater fat-burning results.

I suggest you have ‘minimum goals’ like “I’ll walk for at least 10 minutes.” or “I’ll do 5-30 second intervals.” These are easy to do and you’ll probably go beyond them - which will encourage you even further and heighten your sense of accomplishment.

And of course, you’re also getting maximum benefit from your treadmill!

Those are 5 ways to get best use from your home treadmill. Just remember that even a little bit of preparation will pay off large dividends in the long run.

Kathryn O’Neill is a contritubing writer for www.TreadmillReviews.homestead.com, a website offering unbiased treadmill reviews and ratings. For the latest treadmill reviews, sales and best buys visit:
www.TreadmillReviews.homestead.com

There are many things that we know, we should do, but there’s never enough time. Would you like to have more time for your family, Yoga practice, and some quality time, in your life? Maybe, work keeps you too busy, from doing the right things, for yourself, and your loved ones. So, what can you do?

After all, you need to put food on the table and work is a priority. In reality work is only a part of life, and you would realize that, if you lost your job. All of us go through a grievance period, after losing a job, marriage, or a loved one.

At that point, we must make a decision, to continue on, or give up. Now, I am assuming you are not the type to give up. After moving on, we look back at the pain and healing process. Our personalities are developed, and conditioned, from many components. These components help us “keep it together,” such as: Family, friends, work, prayer, and hobbies.

Most of you know that Yoga means “unity,” but do you realize you are practicing union, or unity, every day, even if you don’t officially practice in a Yoga class? Below is a list of things that you should do every day, or almost every day.

You will notice that work should not be done every day, in order to live life in moderation. Everyone needs a day off, so enjoy your weekends, when possible, and don’t skip vacations.

Prayer is part of every religion and should be a part of every day. I don’t care what religion you practice, that is your business. Luckily, most of the religions on this planet have universal principles that apply to all. Don’t forget that, you need spiritual, physical, and mental health to be complete. By the way that’s a Yogic principle too.

Family time is so important that we have a dysfunctional generation growing up, due to lack of attention to our children. Some children don’t really know their parents, because they are sometimes brought up by someone else, or a day care center. Lack of bonding time creates inherent problems for parent and child.

Take the time to eat together without arguments and play with your children. Expose your children to religion, games, hobbies, humor, and Yoga practice. Give your spouse or partner a hug and tell them how valuable they are. Self-worth and recognition keep them going too.

Good friends should not be ignored. They are few and far between. You may find your Yoga friends to be valuable company too.

Be conscious of all the following every moment that you can. Breathing doesn’t have to be learned from your Yoga teacher and forgotten. You should practice proper breathing every moment you think of it.

Proper posturing should be practiced when you are sitting, standing, walking, eating, and using your computer. Exercise should be part of everyday and you should be conscious of your nutrition at all times.

Consuming eight glasses of water per day minimum is important for digestion, elimination, your skin, your vital organs, and removing toxins. Please spare the excuses - many people have no problem drinking eight sodas per day. By the way, that’s not good, even if it is diet soda.

Work is a must, unless you are independently wealthy. Work should also help you keep your sanity. If this is not the case, look for a job that is rewarding.

Hobbies are good for your sanity too, but like all of the above they are part of a healthy life. So, how can you make all of this fit into your life? If you go to Yoga classes, you already do.

However, if you haven’t had the time to learn or practice Yoga, you must make the time. Once you do, you will wonder why it took you so long, to start learning Yoga. You will make new friends and live a happier life.

© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Yoga can seem like a complicated concept - or, at the least, a dizzying array of physical manipulations that turn seemingly happy-looking human beings into happy looking human pretzels.

Even more disconcerting, a stereotype does exist in places where the term yoga is synonymous with cult, or some kind of archaic spiritual belief that compels one to quit their job, sell their house, and go live in the middle of nowhere.

In actual fact, Yoga is a very basic “thing”. If you’ve had the opportunity to visit a country where it has been established for generations - India, Japan, China, and others - it’s really rather, well, “ordinary”.

The practice of yoga came to the west back in 1893 when one of India’s celebrated gurus, Swami Vivekananda, was welcomed at the World Fair in Chicago. He is now known for having sparked the West’s interest in yoga.

Literally, the word yoga comes from the Sanskrit term Yug, which means: “to yoke, bind, join, or direct one’s attention”. At the same time, yoga can also imply concepts such as fusion, union, and discipline.

The sacred scriptures of Hinduism (an ancient belief system from India that has a global presence) also defines yoga as “unitive discipline”; the kind of discipline that, according to experts Georg Feuerstein and Stephan Bodian in their book Living Yoga, leads to inner and outer union, harmony and joy.

In essence, yoga is most commonly understood as conscious living; of tapping into one’s inner potential for happiness (what Sankrit refers to as ananda). What Yoga Isn’t:

Sometimes it’s helpful to understand things by what they aren’t; especially when dealing with a topic, like Yoga, that is quite easily misunderstood.

Authors and yoga scholars Feuerstein and Bodian help us understand yoga by telling us what it is NOT:

Yoga is NOT calisthenics (marked by the headstand, the lotus posture or some pretzel-like pose). While it is true that yoga involves many postures - especially in hatha yoga - these are only intended to make people get in touch with their inner feelings.

Yoga is NOT a system of meditation - or a religion - the way many people are misled to believe. Meditation is only part of the whole process of bringing ourselves into the realm of the spiritual.

What is the essence of Yoga?

Virtually all yogic science and philosophy states that a human being is but a fragment of an enormous universe, and when this human being learns to “communion” with this vastness, then he/she attains union with something that is bigger than him/her.

This attachment or tapping into something bigger thus enables one to walk the true path of happiness. By flowing along with the force, the individual is able to discover truth.

And with truth comes realization; but to attain realization, our words, thoughts and deeds must be based on truth. People attend courses on yoga and go to studios to learn new techniques in yoga, but yoga teacher Tim Miller said that “True yoga begins when leave the studio; it’s all about being awake and being mindful of your actions”.

When it comes to exercise, people like to walk or run. These are natural activities for us. They can have practical applications, such as getting from one place to another. They require less gear than many other forms of exercise (although you can spend a bundle on shoes, clothes and other accessories if you really wanted). And walking or running are great forms of exercise. They burn calories, work many muscle groups and strengthen cardiovascular components in the body. Walking is one of the best or perhaps the only feasible form of exercise for people with diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension and chronic back pain. Walking doesn’t require a lot of technical know-how or instruction. We already know how to do it, and a few pointers about heart rate and breathing will at least get us on the road. In general, walking and running are easy and convenient ways to improve health and fitness and a home treadmill adds to this overall appeal.

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, over 40 million consumers purchase treadmills each year and the number continues to grow. Treadmills account for over 1/3 of all home exercise equipment sales. So why do so many people choose treadmills and how do they compare to stair machines, stationary bikes and other home fitness equipment?

Ease and Convenience

The number one reason people use a treadmill is convenience. It allows you to exercise even when the weather is bad or the fitness center is closed. You can exercise in the early morning or after dinner or whenever the mood strikes you. You can even use your treadmill in the buff if you don’t feel like washing your workout clothes.

You can read, watch TV, talk with friends, or listen to music or audiotapes while you exercise on a treadmill. You can keep an eye on your kids, wait for files to download, take care of dinner or the laundry and even meditate, think through problems or make grocery lists.

For those who need to stay in the office until five - even when it’s not busy, or who prefer to exercise in the privacy of their own homes, a treadmill is ideal. Also, in some areas and neighborhoods, walking or running exposes one to traffic, muggers or vicious dogs. These hazards are avoided by using a treadmill.

Another reason people like treadmills is because you can just hop on and walk without a great deal of preparation and even if you don’t work terribly hard at it, you still accomplish something. But today’s treadmills make it easy to program in workout routines that simulate hills or vary speeds to enhance the effectiveness of your workout or challenge you to work harder and improve. The control panels are typically user friendly and many machines have built in heart rate monitors.

Clearly a treadmill provides several advantages over walking or running outside. And it is often easier and less expensive than other types of home exercise equipment, but how does it compare in terms of pure cardiovascular workout and calorie burning?

A Better Burn

According to a study done by the Medical College of Wisconsin and the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, a person using a treadmill for 60 minutes burns an average of 865-705 calories. Check that against other common exercise equipment:

stair machine 746-637 calories burned

rowing machine 739-606 calories burned

stationary cycle 604-5956 calories burned

cross-country ski machine 678-595 calories burned

Treadmill vs Elliptical Machine

What about the new elliptical machines? An elliptical cross trainer with handles to work the upper body provides a workout that compares to that of a treadmill when it comes to muscles used and heart rate issues. The main difference between the two types of home exercise equipment is that and elliptical machine operates more smoothly and creates less of an impact on bones and joints. This might be good for those with recent injuries or chronic conditions, but it is the impact that helps maintain or improve bone density, which in turn strengthens bones and prevents the loss of calcium.

Most experts agree that a healthy person needs the bouncing and jarring associated with walking or running to keep bones, muscles and joints working properly. A treadmill is one of the few home fitness machines that provide this type of exercise. And most come with a cushioned platform to minimize impact or keep it at an acceptable level. As with any form of exercise, it is a good idea to check with your doctor first if you have health conditions that may make it difficult or unwise for you to participate in certain activities.

With a treadmill, the concept is basically simple. If you want to work harder, you increase the incline or the speed. Usually this is done with a push of the button. An elliptical machine can be adjusted to target certain muscle groups, but it requires some knowledge and usually must be done manually. And because elliptical machines are relatively new to the home fitness market, there are fewer models to choose from and they tend to cost a bit more than the average treadmill. Some people have commented that they feel the elliptical machines can be more difficult to use because the motions do not feel as natural as walking or running. It is a good idea to try out any piece of exercise equipment before buying to see how it feels and fits with your needs.

Many people who exercise do so because they know they should, not because they thoroughly enjoy it. Sure you feel good after you complete your workout, but sometimes getting motivated can be difficult. And if you are going to put in the time, you want to know that what you’re doing is actually helping you burn calories and become more fit. Treadmills rank at the top of the list when it comes to home fitness equipment, providing one of the most effective workouts in proportion to the amount of time spent. So make your movements count. Try a treadmill.

C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Treadmill-Ratings-n-Reviews.net, providing treadmill ratings and reviews on the best treadmill models.

Copyright 2004 Treadmill-Ratings-n-Reviews.net

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if all links are left intact.

Exercise equipments and home gyms , what’s the hype

Exercise bikes are long being considered the magical exercise equipments and may continue to do so as they are really worth the hype.

There are two types of exercise bikes, the stationary ones and the recumbent ones. Also available are the bikes with added resistance. Whatever the reason you use them either for a cycling hobby or to get fit after a few short weeks you will develop enough resistance making resistance almost a must.

>From losing weight to getting in shape the bikes help not only to improve stamina but the added cardiovascular benefits makes tem the cardiologists and fitness enthusiast’s first choice when they enter a gym.

The next problem which many people face is what to look for when buying exercise bikes and where to buy them.

And that’s the reason we have put forth a very valuable online resource article site on exercise equipments and home gyms.

Finally read all the online reviews available at the consumer reviews sites. You may find different comments about same home gym from different people. When confused always ask for a long-term warranty. Recently epinions.com displayed reviews from customers who were utterly unhappy with the home gyms they bought but at the other end of the spectrum there were happy faces yelling the great home gyms.

For more information on home gyms, what to look for and where to buy visit our home gyms site www.homegymsforyou.com

Visit http://www.exercise-equipments101.com and www.homegymsforyou.com

Visit our site www.homegymsforyou.com to learn all about home gyms. http://www.homegymsforyou.com http://www.exercise-equipments101.com http://www.nutritioninfopage.com

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could find a cheap used tanning bed for your home. Have you ever wondered how to buy tanning beds and what would be the best home tanning bed package? Well you’ve come to the right place.

If you are looking for a tanning bed for home use there are some things you need to know.

The most important thing you have to do is make sure the bed you are looking at is safe. There are many different types of tanning bed on the market and you need to understand everything about the bed you are looking at.

There are many tanning beds available online and many can be purchased for a great price. Most of the beds available online are high quality. Just be sure to do your research.

To make sure you are getting the best home tanning bed you need to check publications and sites that rate tanning beds. Here you will learn the pros and cons of each bed, which ones are recommended, what type of tan they produce, and any known problems that have been reported.

More money doesn’t mean a better bed. So don’t part with your money easily, rather compare prices and get the most bang for your buck. Besides online you can check newspapers, and your local salons who sometimes sell off beds when they are buying newer models. A little research will pay off in big savings.

When choosing a bed for home use make sure your room and wiring can accommodate it. Some of the larger commercial beds require special wiring. They can also be large and require allot of room. Make sure you’ve measured up your room before buying a bed.

There are some other things you will need to consider such as the cost of replacement bulbs and how often they need to be replaced. You will also want to understand the strength of the bulbs in the bed and whether you can upgrade to a more powerful bulb in the future.

Make sure you are comparing same beds. Little features can make a huge difference in price, so when doing your comparison shopping be sure you are comparing like products. You should also make a list of features that are important to you and stick to finding beds that have those features.

Just think about how relaxing and enjoyable having your own bed will be. No more running to the salon and trying to fit their schedule with yours. No having to fight traffic on the way home. No fighting for parking spots.

Now you can come home, grab a shower in the comfort of your home, and relax in your tanning bed listening to your favorite cd. When your done in you can throw on some comfy clothes and relax. It will be great!

So the question is are you ready to take the plunge and own your very own home tanning bed?

M.D. Stracener from Home Tanning Beds has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing valuable information to keep you beautiful and healthy. Please visit us at Home Tanning Beds

Train all 10 physical skills of cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, accuracy and toughness for physical fitness excellence… Not just one or two abilities creating unbalanced fitness performance.

Physical fitness excellence should be the goal of any physical training workout program.

Most physical fitness training programs are designed for the maximization of a particular physical attribute… size, strength, endurance, speed, etc.

It is this quest for maximization, this specialization, that leads to an imbalance in physical abilities.

To exhibit true physical fitness excellence, you must become a jack of all trades… and master of none.

The truth is, physical fitness is a compromise of 10 physical skills…

Cardiorespiratory Endurance The ability of the body’s systems to gather, process, deliver and sustain oxygen during a prolonged stressful effort or activity.

Strength The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force.

Flexibility The ability to maximize the range of motion of a given joint or being able to bend or to be bent easily without breaking

Power The ability of a muscular unit, or a combination of muscular units, to apply force in a minimum amount of time. Think of power as strength + speed.

Speed The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement. In simple terms, how fast something moves.

Coordination The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement. For example, the ability to make your arms, legs and other body parts move in a controlled way.

Agility The ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another. An agile person is able to change from one movement pattern to another quickly and easily.

Balance The ability to control the placement of the bodies center of gravity in relation to its support base. In plain language, the ability to hold a position without falling over.

Accuracy The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity while remaining correct, exact or without mistakes.

Toughness The physical and/or mental strength and determination to do something which might be difficult and which will take a long time.

…and each are important.

The greatest physical fitness improvement is made by training ALL of the physical skills, bringing them up to optimum levels… without maximizing any one attribute at the expense of all others.

I’ll let you in on a little secret…

The key to exceeding your expectations lies not only with the training of these 10 physical skills… but also in how these skills interact, support and contribute to each other while performing an activity.

The 10 physical abilities are not something to be trained separately and used robotically… they are skills that must be trained in conjunction with one another and flow together flawlessly.

In other words… when you perform an activity, you are not going to say to yourself, “Now I will use my balance, now my speed and now my strength.”

For Physical Fitness Excellence… the lines between the physical abilities will be blurred and seamless.

Many people settle in to training only a few physical attributes but still say they are seeking physical fitness… but they forget that physical fitness is a compromise.

Most likely… your physical fitness success will be tested in sport, work and life by your weakest physical abilities, and not your strengths.

Seek to improve your physical fitness by improving all of the abilities needed for physical fitness excellence.

How many physical skills is your current physical fitness training program improving?

We all know what dumbbells look like, right? Usually, they consist of a narrow handle or handgrip in between two weighted spheres or disks. They look sort of like an exaggerated hourglass figure. They’re designed to be lifted with one hand rather than two, to add weight and resistance to moves like unilateral bicep curls. They come in a wide variety of weights, from 1 pound on up, but the basic design is the same with one exception - PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells.

The PowerBlocks are a revolutionary design that makes working out with dumbbells an actual pleasure, and lets you have a complete set of free weights that’s small enough to store on a bookshelf. Here’s how PowerBlocks lets you fit a whole home gym into a milk crate sized space.

Working Out With Conventional Dumbbells

Conventional dumbbells come in a variety of sizes. If you want to work out using different weights for different exercises, you need to buy a set of dumbbells in each size you want. That adds up after a while - not just in money, but in space needed to store your growing collection.

The solution is a set of adjustable dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells have a center bar and several sets of weights. The weights slide onto the bar and fasten into place with a locking collar of some sort. The advantage is that they take up much less space. The disadvantage is that you have to take them apart and put them back together every time you want to kick your workout up a notch.

The PowerBlock Difference

PowerBlocks is a complete set of adjustable dumbbells that fit into about the amount of space that a milk crate takes up. Imagine having a full set of dumbbells - in a milk crate. The real difference, though, is in the way that you adjust the weight on the PowerBlocks. There’s no fiddling with wrenches, no sliding weight rings on and off of bars and no chance of the weights sliding off or rattling around loose as you work out. Adjusting the weight is almost as easy as putting them down and picking them up again.

Most adjustable dumbbell sets have a dozen or more pieces. For each dumbbell, you’ve got a bar, a collar, a pin, and pairs of weights in all the sizes you want. The PowerBlocks dumbbells have just four pieces:

1. The core

An internal handle that weighs five pounds, the core holds the rest of it together. The handle itself is padded and designed to be gripped in one hand.

2. The weight plates

The weight of each PowerBlock is controlled by sets of 5 pound weight plates, connected to each other in pairs. The weight plates are similar to the plates you’ll see on adjustable weight machines at the gym. Each set of weight plates adds ten pounds to the five pound core. Add one set, and you’ve got 15 pound dumbbells. Add two, and you have twenty-five pound dumbbells, all the way up to 85 pounds. What if you want 50 pounds? We’ll get to that. Just hang on.

3. The selector pin

Here’s the ingenious part of the PowerBlocks. The selector pin is a pair of metal rods that slips between the sides of the weight plates. To make a set of fifteen pound dumbbells, you just slide the selector pin into place beneath the first set of weight plates. Want twenty-five? Slide the selector pin under the second set of weight plates. That’s simple enough, but the PowerBlocks folks have made it even simpler - they color-coded it. Each set of weight plates is colored a different color. A chart that comes with the PowerBlocks lists the weights and colors so you know at a glance where to slip the selector pin if you want 75 pounds.

4. Adder weights

So you want a set of 50 pound dumbbells but the PowerBlocks only increase in ten pound increments? The PowerBlocks folks thought of that, too. Each PowerBlock has a pair of cylinder slots in the core. They’re made to hold a pair of silver cylinders called adder weights. The adder weights give you the ability to add weights in increments of 2.5 pounds - the weight of each adder. That means that you can increase the weight of the PowerBlock from 5 to 7.5 pounds by adding one adder weight, or to ten by adding two. So you want fifty pound dumbbells? Slip both adder weights into their slots, and set the selector pin to 45. Voila! You now have a fifty pound dumbbell.

More PowerBlock Options

You can buy PowerBlock dumbbell systems in seven different sets ranging from the SportBlock (goes from 3 pounds to 21 pounds in 3 pound increments) to the Elite Set 5-130 that lets you go from five pounds to 130 pounds per dumbbell in five OR ten pound increments. With the PowerBlock dumbbell system you can have a full rack of dumbbells in no more space than a milk crate uses. How does that compare to conventional dumbbells or other adjustable dumbbell sets? Take a look:

1 SportBlock 3-21 Total weight: 42 pounds

7 pair’s adjustable dumbbells - 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 pounds Total weight: 168 pounds

14 fixed dumbbells, 2 each 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 pounds Total weight: 168 pounds

That’s a lot of space saving right there. But it really adds up when you look at one of the larger sets. With the Elite 5-130, you’ve got the equivalent of 37 pairs of dumbbells or 4,820 pounds of free weights in a block that’s about the size of a pair of shoe boxes.

Add Barbells to Your PowerBlock

Trainers will tell you that you’ll get your best training by alternating between dumbbells and barbells for weight lifting. With PowerBlocks, you don’t have to go out and buy a whole new set of weights to have both dumbbells and barbells. Some of the PowerBlock sets can be combined with a special bar that allows you to turn your SportBlock or Personal Block into a set of barbells just as easily as you change the weight - and they’ll still fit on your bookshelf.

But if you want something a little more stylish, you can also purchase an optional stand for the PowerBlock that holds your dumbbells at just the right height for lifting. In addition, several of the sets can be expanded to add more weight by purchasing an add-on kit.

If you’re thinking of adding adjustable dumbbells to your home gym, or want to replace the bulky set you own now, the PowerBlock is definitely worth a look.

Kristopher Gardner is a freelance writer and home exercise enthusiast providing information about adjustable dumbbells at http://www.Quick-Change-Adjustable-Dumbbells.com.

Visit the site for a review of the Powerblock adjustable dumbbells.

Copyright 2006 Marc David

Let’s face it …

You’ve probably heard about free radicals before and you might have just assumed it was a bunch of B.S. But have you ever wondered exactly what are free radials, what can cause them and how you can combat the effects?

If you’ve heard about them but were curious as the natural of them, you’ll be interested in this article.

What Are Free Radicals?:

An atom or group of atoms that has at least one unpaired electron and is therefore unstable and highly reactive. In animal tissues, free radicals can damage cells and are believed to accelerate the progression of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related diseases.

What Can Cause Them?:

External Factors -

* Smoking * Food (ingested substances, preparation, pesticides) * Pollutants in the air (chemicals in the area) * Radiation * Excessive amounts of sunlight * Alcohol * Drugs

Internal Factors -

* Immune system * Stress * Energy production (exercise) * Many other chemical reactions in the body * Body’s own out of control production (just as damaging as external factors)

What Diseases Are Linked To Them?:

* Cancer * Arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis. * Heart disease. * Cerebrovascular disease. * Stroke. * Emphysema (Cross et al 1987). * Diabetes mellitus (Sato et al 1979). * Rheumatoid arthritis (Cross et al 1987, Greenwald & Moy 1979, 1980, Halliwell 1981, 1989, Del Maestro et al 1982, Fligiel et al 1984). * Osteoporosis (Hooper 1989, Stringer et al 1989). * Ulcers. * Sunburn. * Cataracts (Niwa & Hansen, 1989, Yagi 1977). * Crohn’s disease (Niwa & Hansen 1989). * Behcet’s disease * Aging * Senility

Benefits of Free Radicals:

* Essential role in the human body’s defense * Virus and bacteria are showered with a type of toxic shower when the body intentionally produces free radicals as part of its immune defense systems to destroy invaders

Antioxidant “Free Radical” Prevention Methods:

* Natural enzymes * Nutrients (vitamins A, C, E primary antioxidants) * Self-Repair

What You Can Do To Prevent Free Radical Damage:

* Vitamin and mineral supplementation * Steer clear of heavy processed foods * Diet high in fruits and vegetables

Antioxidant Foods:

* Artichokes * Bilberries * Black beans * Blackberries * Black plums * Blueberries * Cauliflower * Cranberries * Gala apples * Granny Smith apples * Pecans * Peppers * Pinto beans * Plums * Prunes * Raspberries * Red beans * Red Delicious apples * Red kidney beans * Russet potatoes * Strawberries * Sweet cherries * Tomatoes * Wild blueberries

Summary:

It seems like free radicals are discussed a lot when it comes to exercising only because the more you exercise, the more free radicals you will have because of energy production. That’s not entirely a bad thing. The name “free radical” sounds very negative but it’s there for a purpose as well, primary as a defense system. Of course, it can go out of control as well.

Monitoring the levels of free radicals is difficult to measure.

Vitamins A, C and E are the primary nutrients to prevent free radical damage.

Most will recommend a diet high in fruits and vegetables to obtain natural antioxidant sources but vitamin supplementation is also recommended. There’s enough evidence to suggest that food processing today has taken out some of the nutritional values. True or not, if you eat correctly AND supplement responsibly, you should be covered per the recommendations.

Marathon runners or high altitude running may require more Vitamin E 10-14 days before a run because of the extra long term stress and energy production.

If you stick to a good basic diet with fruits and vegetables and take a good vitamin supplement, you should be well protected against excess free radical damage without interfering with the body’s own ability to defend itself.

The benefits of finding out your Metabolic Bio Type include:

- More robust health and energy

- Weight control

- Freedom from hunger and cravings between meals

- Long term benefits which may include the prevention and/or reversing of disease

- Moving your weight towards your ideal weight - (lose weight if you are overweight and put on weight if you are underweight)

- Experiencing an increase in strength and stamina

- Knowing what Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs work best for your Metabolic Bio Type

Metabolic Bio Typing is based on the fact that we are all unique, and that each of our body’s require a unique and individualised ‘fuel mixture’. You can find out your Metabolic Bio Type by taking an assessment consisting of simple and easy to answer questions. Read on to find out how to take a Metabolic Bio Typing Assessment and find out your Metabolic Bio Type.

Note: You can take your Metabolic Bio Typing Assessment over the internet (www.air-water-nutrition-healthsmart.com)- and your consultation (to explain the results) can be carried out by e-mail - so your geographical location is not an issue.

With the advent of the book on blood types, Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter D’Adamo, N.D., the question is often asked if blood typing is the same as Metabolic Bio Typing. In short, no. Actually, one’s blood type is just 1 of many different components used in the process of metabolic bio typing to determine individual nutritional requirements.

Here are the components that have been discovered to be necessary to consider in evaluating your metabolic bio type:

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) - the “master regulator” of metabolismOxidative System - rate at which nutrients are converted to energy within the cells Catabolic/Anabolic - aerobic / anaerobic metabolism, tissue pH, selective membrane permeability Acid / Alkaline Balance - 6 different kinds of pH imbalancesEndocrine Type - determines body type, shape, weight gain, etc. Constitutional Type - from AyurVeda and Chinese medicine, concerned constitutional qualities of foods relative to constitutional qualities of individual. Blood Type - food lectins specific to ABO blood typesThe blood type has more to do with what few foods should be left out of your diet due to their lectin content specific to your blood type.

But blood type has little to do with what foods and nutrients should be eaten. For that, we need to consider the body’s primary mechanisms that specifically regulate how energy is created, maintained and controlled, such as the ANS, Oxidative System and Catabolic/Anabolic processes. And whereas the blood type is static, non-changing, the different balances, strengths and weaknesses in the other fundamental control mechanisms can and do change.

What is most important to know is that every food and every nutrient has very specific stimulatory or inhibitory effects on these fundamental homeostatic control systems that regulate every process in your body at every level of activity.

This is why getting the right nutrition is so critical. Moreover, through metabolic bio typing we have learned that any food or nutrient can have different effects on different metabolic types. As it turns out, the old adage that “one man’s food is another’s poison” is literally true.

Fact is, you can eat the best organic foods, take the best supplements money can buy, get plenty of rest, exercise regularly and still not feel well.

Why? Because you did not eat those foods for which your body has a specific, genetically-based requirement. Only through Metabolic Bio Typing can you be assured that your food will be the medicine God intended it to be.