Sunday, April 17, 2016

Leg raises

Far from the exercise center and searching for a unit free approach to prepare the abs? Attempt leg raises

Leg raises are an incredible approach to focus on the stomach and don't require any exercise center unit. Add this move to one of your home workouts for a basic, powerful approach to condition your tummy. Attempt 10 reps to begin with, and advancement to all the more once you've idealized your structure.

Ensure you're additionally hitting your fat-smoldering workouts hard, as you have to light that fat to uncover your new conditioned tum!

System:

- Lie on your back with your hands on the floor or under your base.

- Keeping a slight twist in the knees and feet together, begin with both feet up towards the roof.

- Without permitting your lower back to overarch, gradually bring down your legs towards the floor without bowing the knees any more than they as of now are.

- When legs are just about on the floor, press the abs and lift them move down to the begin and rehash.

Hot tip: if these aren't testing enough for you, why not include some lower leg weights?

How to get fit

Attempt these 10 top tips to get fitter, quicker

1 Get quick "n" enraged

Interim preparing can enhance cardiovascular wellness by up to 13 for every penny, as indicated by a study by the College of Guelph. What's more, the simplest approach to get your sprint on is to take after the Tabata guideline: 20 seconds of high power work, trailed by 10 seconds of rest, rehashed eight times. It's over in a blaze!

2 Eat up

Ensure you're legitimately fuelled up before you set out on a substantial cardio sesh. 'You require enough vitality to buckle down,' says Joslyn Thompson Principle, Nike Expert Coach and head PT at One Individual Preparing (onepersonaltraining.com). 'You should be terminating on all barrels on the off chance that you anticipate that your body will have the capacity to inspire itself.'

3 Shift it

Stirring up your routine is critical. 'On the off chance that you do likewise constantly, your body gets accustomed to it, diminishing the preparation impact,' says Joslyn. 'Switching things up each three to six weeks will be sufficient jolt to keep getting results from your preparation.' So on the off chance that you routinely run 5k, take a stab at cycling 10k rather – or give a battle sport like Muay Thai or kickboxing a go.

4 Be reliable

One-off sessions won't cut it, yet don't try too hard. 'Attempt to do no less than one serious cardio session a week, yet close to two, as your body needs to recoup,' says Joslyn. 'Lighter cardio sessions – like a gradual run, bicycle or swim – once per week regard equalization out the more exceptional preparing.'

5 Get high

Stretching your body as far as possible at a higher height is fab for cardio wellness – and you don't need to make a beeline for Kilimanjaro to profit. The Elevation Center (altitudecentre.com) offers cycling and running classes in an extraordinarily planned height load, so you can push your points of confinement without flying most of the way around the globe.

6 Weigh up

The weights room may not appear like the conspicuous work environment on your cardio. 'Individuals think you need to do one of the exemplary cardiovascular workouts, for example, running, cycling or swimming, to increment cardio wellness,' says Joslyn. 'Be that as it may, activities, for example, squat and squeeze, thrusts and step ups would all be able to be burdened on the lungs.'

7 Have a ball

Trudging it out on the bicycle or treadmill may yield results, however it can be hard to drive yourself to your maximum in case you're detesting it. Have a go at boxing or sprinting against your companions in the recreation center to raise the fun component of your workouts.

8 Get on the wagon

That glass of red won't up your cardio wellness. Liquor abandons you dried out and no place close prepared for a cardio workout, says drinkaware.co.uk.

9 Be sensible

Try not to attempt to expand your time or separation by more than 10-20 for every penny for each week, or you may feel demoralized when difficulties arise – and hazard damage. Set achievable objectives to keep up your assurance.

10 Enjoy a reprieve

'There is too little accentuation on giving your body time to recoup,' watches Joslyn. 'Your downtime is the point at which your body procures the prizes of your diligent work. Taking an ideal opportunity to get adequate rest, eat well, extend and do recuperation sessions will pay enormous profits.'

Saturday, April 16, 2016

22 Reasons To Drink Mangosteen Juice

A coworker of mine at work brought in a mangosteen supplement drink and she was selling it for $30 (her price) for a 25 fl oz bottle.  She also gave me information and these 22 reasons why everyone should be drinking mangosteen juice:

1. prevents hardening of the arteries
2. protects the heart muscle
3. anti-Parkinson, anti-Alzheimer and other forms of dementia
4. anti-depressant
5. prevents and arrest fungus
6. prevents bacterial infections
7. viral fighters and prevention of infections
8. prevents fum disease
9. anti-diarrheal
10. lowers fevers
11. eye care-prevents glaucoma and cataracts
12. pansystemic - a synergistic effect on the whole body
13. energy boosters - anti-fatique
14. anti-aging
15. weight loss (wooo, I'll drink to this!)
16. lowers blood fat (what the heck, I didn't know there is fat in our blood!)
17. anti-tumor benefits
18. cancer: Mangosteen helps in the prevention of cancer with its powerful anti-oxidants.
19. lowers blood pressure
20. numerous references to "Immunostimulants"
21. blood sugar lowering
22. it tastes good

I thought to myself, holy smokes!  Who in the world would buy that? What is mangosteen? I have never heard of it or have the slightest idea what it looks like.

Upon further research, the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters tall. The edible fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. In Asia, the mangosteen fruit is known as the "Queen of Fruits," while the durian (Durio spp.) is known as the "King of Fruits." It is closely related to other edible tropical fruits such as button mangosteen and lemondrop mangosteen.

The outer shell of the fruit is rather hard, typically 4-6 cm in diameter. Cutting through the shell, one finds a white, fleshy fruit 3-5 cm in diameter. Depending on the size and ripeness, there may or may not be pits in the segments of the fruit. The number of fruit pods is directly related to the number of petals on the bottom of the shell. On average a mangosteen has 5 fruits (round up figure).

I have eaten a lot of exotic fruits in my life, including the King Of Fruits - durian, but I have never seen or tasted this Queen of Fruits.  I bought the $30 bottle from my coworker and chucked down the mangosteen juice.  I do feel more energetic for the rest of day, and I will have to let you know in the near future if it will help lose some weight!


10 Ways To Sneak Some Extra Fruits And Vegetables In Your Family’s Diet

We all know by now that we should be eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. But knowing and doing are two different things, aren’t they? Sometimes it is just not easy to get them all in there. We are constantly tempted to fill up on convenience and junk food. If your family is anything like mine, they’d much rather fill up on a bag of chips or a bowl of rice or pasta instead of trying an apple or a plate of steamed broccoli. So we’ll have to get creative. Here are a few ideas to “sneak” some extra vegetables and fruits in your family’s diet.

1. Start the day with a breakfast smoothie. All you have to do is throw some fruits, low-fat yogurt and ice in a blender. You may also want to add a scoop of protein powder in there for good measure. Just blend for a few seconds and you have the perfect breakfast ready to go. I like to sip mine in a thermal cup on the way to work. To make it even more appealing for your kids, use some frozen yogurt or a scoop of ice cream in the smoothie. They won’t believe that you are letting them have ice cream for breakfast.

2. Dried fruit makes an excellent snack any time of the day. Add some small cartons of raisins to your child’s lunch box, pack some yogurt-covered raisins in your husband’s briefcase and keep some trail mix sitting around for snacking. You can also add dried fruit to oatmeal and cereal in the morning. My family loves banana chips in their breakfast cereal.

3. Add some fruits and vegetables to your family’s sandwiches. You can add some banana, sliced apples or strawberry slices to a peanut butter sandwich. Top a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and anything else they will eat. You can even make a sub shop style vegetable sandwich by combining several different vegetables with some mayonnaise and cheese on bread.

4. Have a salad bar at dinner. Set out a variety of chopped vegetables, some cheese and croutons as well as several choices of salad dressing along with the lettuce and let everybody create their own perfect salad.

5. Let them drink their fruits and vegetables. Keep an assortment of fruit and vegetable juices in the fridge and encourage everyone to drink them as a snack. Get creative. You could start “family cocktail hour” by pouring everybody a glass of his or her favorite juice over ice. Add some straws, cocktail umbrellas and sit together to talk about how everybody’s day went.

6. Try this for dessert. Put a small scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt in a bowl and top it with lots of fresh or frozen fruit.

7. Offer fruits and vegetables as snacks. You can cut apples into slices and top them with peanut butter or cheese. Cube cheese and serve with grapes. Cut up some fresh veggies and serve them with ranch dip. And of course there’s ants on a log. Spread some cream cheese or peanut butter on the inside of a stick of celery and sprinkle raisins on it (wow, fruit and vegetable in one snack).

8. Try some new fruits and vegetables. Pick something exotic to get your family’s curiosity. With a little luck their curiosity will outweigh their initial apprehension to trying something new. You could try artichokes, plantains, papaya, mango, star fruit, or anything else you can find in the produce department of your local store.

9. Make a pot of vegetable soup or a stew that’s heavy on veggies and easy on the meat. Both of these make some great comfort food when the weather gets cold.

10. Start “My Veggie Day”. Each family member gets to pick a vegetable one day of the week. They qualify to pick a vegetable as long as they tried each vegetable the week before, otherwise they loose a turn and Mom gets to pick.

Incorporate a few of these ideas and you will have everyone in your family eating more fruits and vegetables in no time.

Here is another tip:

Now that everyone in the family has gotten a taste for it, make sure you always have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies available and ready to snack on.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Why Elliptical Trainers are Growing in Popularity!

If you work out at a health club you probably noticed that in the last few years there are fewer treadmills, because they are being replaced by elliptical trainers. And although treadmills still outsell ellipticals in total numbers, elliptical sales are growing at a faster rate. What is driving the popularity of elliptical trainers? There are two factors that make elliptical trainers so appealing:
  • Low Impact Workout
  • Upper and Lower Body Workout
  • Benefits of a Low Impact Workout Most types of exercise require some type of impact and/or reverse action. For example, when you walk each step is impacting force on your ankles, knees and lower back. That impact is minor in comparison to running, which can be as much as 2.5x your body weight. Over the years that constant pounding can result in long-term injuries and strains. Elliptical trainers reduce the hazards of impact through an elliptical motion.It feels like you are naturally walking or running without any real impact or reverse action, and yet it is a weight bearing exercise that contributes to building muscle and bone density. If you look at the side of an elliptical trainer you’ll notice the shape of the motion is like a flat circular pattern. Budget ellipticals tend to be more circular and bouncy, while quality machines have a flatter circular motion and more of an even stride. Regardless, the elliptical motion significantly reduces the impact to your joints, and that is why elliptical trainers are appealing to older individuals and people with injuries. It is becoming the exercise machine of choice for the “baby boomers.” Benefits of an Upper and Lower Body Workout The concept of exercising the upper and lower body simultaneously is revolutionary. An elliptical workout utilizes the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps and biceps. There is no other machine that offers this benefit. You are not only exercising more muscle group, you are also optimizing your energy expenditure. That means it is taking less time to achieve more results, like burning calories and increasing your cardio capacity. A number of elliptical trainers allow you to reverse the motion, thereby emphasizing resistance to even more parts of your muscles. By exercising more of your muscle mass you improve fat mobilization, which results in burning more calories and building muscle endurance more efficiently. Certain experts have suggested that this dual action process reduces the perceived rate of exertion. In other words, you are exercising harder without a noticeable difference from a less strenuous workout. The benefit of an upper and lower body workout, combined with low impact exercising, are the reasons why elliptical trainers are so popular. And there is one other feature that should be noted. In comparison to treadmills, elliptical trainers require considerably less maintenance. That is due to the fact there are fewer moving parts, and less wear from impact. If you haven’t tried an elliptical trainer, get to your local health club or a fitness equipment store and take one for an elliptical spin. Avoid the budget models and test the machines that are at least $1,000+. They have a more natural elliptical motion and are more stable and durable. You’ll find that an elliptical trainer can have a major impact on your health and fitness.

    Why Home Exercise Equipment is Better Than a Gym Membership

    Everyone buys gym memberships with the best of intentions. You plan to go several times a week. You plan to take advantage of classes or sessions with personal trainers. You have every intention of formulating a plan, and sticking to it. The problem is: the gym is too easy to avoid. And the reasons for avoiding it are just too good.

    It's not just laziness. Commute times are getting longer and longer: the last thing you want to do before or after work is spend some more time driving to a gym and fighting for a parking space. That's assuming you even have the option: if you have kids to pick up or drop off, or chores to do at home, you may simply not have the time you feel you need to get a good workout at the gym.

    This is where the benefits of home exercise equipment really show. You can snatch a few minutes here and there on the treadmill while dinner's cooking. You can watch your kids while you work out. You can watch your own DVD's in the comfort of air conditioning set to your preference while you use a stationary bike, elliptical or treadmill. You can listen to music you like, set up some aromatherapy that you find inspiring, or do some reading while you exercise. And when you're done, you can take a shower in the comfort of your own bathroom, with all your favorite shampoos, soaps and towels right there waiting for you.
    Most importantly, how many times can you look at a piece of exercise equipment before you run out of excuses? If you're thinking, "You have no idea how many", you might be surprised. Every time you see it, you're reminded of the benefits it offers you, and you start thinking of ways to work it into your schedule almost without trying.


    Work Out With An Elliptical Cross Trainer

    This article will cover the top 6 reasons you should work out with an Elliptical Cross Trainer. The Elliptical Cross Trainer has become one of the most popular methods of exercise for the reasons you are about to discover right here in this article. This exercise machine has easily risen above that of the treadmill and other exercise equipment because of its overall workout scheme. So sit back, relax, and read on. You will learn the many different reasons that you too should be working out with an Elliptical Cross trainer.

    Reason number one – An elliptical cross trainer provides the user with a workout using weight-bearing exercises. A weight-bearing workout works to improve a wide variety of aspects of your body. For example, by using an elliptical cross trainer you can increase your bone density, improve conditioning, burn calories, and strengthen your muscles. All by using one exercise machine.

    Reason number two – With an Elliptical Cross Trainer you will receive a low impact workout. This is extremely important to anyone who chooses to exercise to maintain his or her health. A low impact workout means you are putting less stress upon your bones and joints while you are exercising. The trainer has pedals that you use during cross training and your feet will never have to leave those pedals. This decreases the amount of impact placed on your body.

    Reason number three – Improve your overall fitness by using an extensive cardiovascular workout. This is one of the key factors that tempt many people to exercise with an Elliptical Cross Trainer. A cardiovascular workout is essential to promoting good circulation and overall heart health.

    Reason number four – With your Elliptical Cross Trainer you will receive a total body workout. From head to toe and everywhere in between, the Elliptical Cross Trainer allows you to work every muscle. Some other exercise machines only work on specific areas of the body, meaning you would need a few different machines for a full body workout. The elliptical cross trainer does that for you with one machine for a total body workout.

    Reason number five – Lose weight with an elliptical cross trainer. Because the cross trainer gives your entire body a workout, with exercise and a proper diet you could find yourself losing weight while toning your body at the same time.

    Reason number six – Maximum results in less time. This is another key factor that lures people to the Elliptical Cross Trainer. Because you get a total body workout, those with a busy life and little time left to spare find that exercising on the elliptical cross trainer provides you with maximum results in less time. This allows you to get the benefits of exercising and still have enough time in the day for other activities.

    As you can see, there are many benefits to working out with an Elliptical Cross Trainer. If you find the proper machine, do the right exercises and follow a healthy diet regimen, you will have no problem benefiting from all that an Elliptical Cross Trainer can offer.


    Working the Treadmill

    The lifestyle of an average person of today is dramatically different from that of the past years. The convenience of having an automobile has decreased the time spent in walking to the destination. Televisions and personal computers have replaced outdoor activities. Fast foods have become a significant part of the daily diet. It comes as no surprise that such a
    lifestyle can bring about a sedentary life among many, which is the leading cause of obesity. The awareness of the obesity phenomenon has lead many people to reconsider their lifestyles and take action supporting a healthier body through balanced and healthier diets and religious exercise.

    With a variety of exercises available, one would often stop to think which among these options is not only the one that offers the best workout but also the most effective calorie-burner.

    Believe it or not, opting for a treadmill workout can burn as much as 700 calories per hour. This not usually the case for other exercises like the bicycle and rowing machine, which give the impression of intensive workouts that equal significant calorie-burning.

    Studies have been made by the Journal of the American Medical Association that supports this claim. They have compared the calories burned between the treadmill workout and the bicycle workout – approximately 200 calories per hour is the cited significant difference.

    Treadmill workout is an innovation on the most superb form of the all-around exercise – Walking. Not to mention, the treadmill equipment must be one of the most popular home exercise. People who are affected by health conditions such as osteoporosis and hypertension choose this form of exercise because it aims to develop the lower body to strengthen muscles and build stamina.

    The treadmill workout can be considered the best way to get the most out of routine walks. For one, since this can be an indoor activity, there is no need to worry if there is going to be any bad weather. The padded surfaces of the machine will not cause any strain on the joints compared to pavement because it absorbs more impact on both the legs and the feet. The overall pace of the workout can be easily adjusted by toggling the controls on the front bar.

    Working out on the treadmill can be a problem for some people that there is a tendency to hold on to the arm rest for balance throughout the exercise. This will significantly reduce the effect of a good treadmill workout and thus, fewer calories are burnt. For one’s safety, it is sensible to grab the front bar and get on the treadmill if it is stationary or if it is slowly
    moving to avoid accidents. After getting the hang of the pace, try to let go of the arm rest to obtain the full effect of a treadmill workout. In using the treadmill, it is always advisable to start at a slow rate. Pacing is essential because this will determine the rate or speed that matches one’s abilities in order to sustain the workout. Also remember to look straight
    and be aware of posture to maintain good form.

    Some people prefer to work on an incline while others don’t. If one is not comfortable with the incline, it is recommended to go for speed-walking intervals which are alternated with slower walking.


    Wrestling Workout Equipment

    If you are training for professional or amateur wrestling it is very important to have the right equipment that helps you to gain wrestling strength.

    The following can be helpful for getting started:

    Brief Workouts

    The workouts should never exceed 35 minutes in duration, as If they do, you aren’t  working hard enough to complete your workout. The ability to recuperate from the workouts, and therefore develop more strength, is increased when you complete your workout within the stipulated time. Long and strenuous workouts will eventually cut into your body’s ability to recuperate, and lead to over-training.

    Using Machines and Free Weights

    There is a common misconception amongst athletes and coaches that you must use free weights when strength training. Free weights are great! So are machines! Your muscles don’t know the difference. The intensity is the most important thing when trying to improve your strength for wrestling. The tool that you use to get there is not. I like certain exercises for certain muscles. It also depends on injuries that a wrestler might already have. You can work around and injury and still give the body a thorough strength workout. If you have access to Hammer Strength machines, I highly recommend that you include them in your wrestling strength workout.

    Using thick bar

    The thick bar is usually a hollow metal tube that you put free weights on the end of. A thick bar forces you to hold on tightly when performing exercises. It develops fantastic forearm and hand strength. It should be part of every serious strength-training program for wrestlers. You can do curls, reverse curls, rows, and presses with it.

    The Trap Bar

    The trap bar another piece of equipment that helps to gain wrestling strength. The trap bar is a hexagonally shaped bar that allows you to perform dead lifts with maximal stimulation of almost every muscle vital to improved wrestling performance. An exercise that will make your entire body stronger.


    You Get A Full Body Workout And A Toned Torso With A Rowing Machine.

    One of the most complete cardiovascular exercises around has to be rowing. A proper workout on a rowing machine will tone all of the major muscle groups
    such as your legs, back and arms.

    The beauty of using a concept 2 rowing machine is first of all it doesn't involve water.
    This rower doesn't get you wet and there are no early morning trips to get your machine
    out of the boat shed. No cold changing rooms and gale force winds for your training session. And there is definately no need to find the nearest river to row your machine on. All you have to do is set it up in an adequately spacious area and away you go.

    There are lots of different machines available on the market. Although they generally fall into 2 categories:

    -Water rowers

    -Air rowers

    The water rower, which contrary to their namesake, does not end up in you getting wet after a vigorous workout. The machines are very beautifully designed and use enclosed water and paddles for resistance as opposed to air. These rowers tend to be quieter than air rowers and are just as much works of art as they are exercise machines.

    Then we have the concept 2 air rower. There are many other brands available but this piece of machinery is commonly accepted to be one of the best, if not the best. They
    are engineering masterpieces and are all calibrated to the same standard. So, if you do a certain time on a concept 2 rower, you can rest assured that, that time will be
    replicated exactly on another concept 2 machine. This is the reason why the world indoor rowing championships use the concept 2.

    The information that the display monitors show on the concept 2 is extensive, with the new monitors even being able to be plugged into a PC, so you can race
    with other rowers from all around the world.