Bowflex Revolution Home Gym

October 18th, 2008
by John Bear

Bowflex Home Gym

You know you’re a fitness buff when you read a Bowflex Revolution review and start sweating with excitement. And if you’re not sweating now, you will be when you read about the new, more versatile and easier to use Bowflex Revolution. americarx.com

Bowflex Home Gym exercise equipment offers various types of fitness equipment and home gyms with several levels of versatility and uses. The Bowflex Ultimate 2 has 95 exercise possibilities, the Ultimate XTLU has more than 90 possibilities, Xtreme 2 has more than 70 possibilities, Xtreme has more than 65 possibilities and Bowflex Sport has more than 60.

All these Bowflex models have been proven to be effective home gyms and are praised by many owners. The Bowflex website even lists hundreds of testimonial letters from satisfied customers. However, the recently released Revolution may surpass all the older models just with customer satisfaction.

The Revolution, originally developed for astronauts, offers hundreds of workouts and exercise variations. Realizing how well it worked for astronauts, Bowflex modified it for in-home use so that everyone could benefit from it. Its closest cousin, the Bowflex Ultimate 2 model, only has a maximum of 95 exercise variations.

As with any other Bowflex home gyms, owning a Bowflex Revolution is like having your own fitness center right in your home. It replaces a variety of different pieces of fitness equipment because you can basically work out every single part of your body and if you’re persistent, you can lose weight fast. And it’s just one piece of Bowflex equipment, which offers a great amount of resistance with the innovative SpiraFlex Technology.

The new Bowflex Revolution is also the quietest and most easy to use exercise equipment ever made by Bowflex.

Like so many other Bowflex fitness machines, the Bowflex Revolution can be folded and very easily stored. When they designed it, they kept in their minds that many homes have low ceilings, especially in the basement. So, this amazing equipment will surely fit in just about any room in your home.

Prior to the Revolution, Nautilus referred to the Bowflex Ultimate 2 as superb “top-of-the-line” with the best design among other fitness equipment available. Now the company believes that the “cutting edge” in terms of home fitness equipment belongs to the Bowflex Revolution.

Bowflex has been in business since 1986, successfully selling and improving its products for over 20 years. And they have the experience and the satisfaction guaranteed to back up their quality products. Once you’ve read a Bowflex Revolution review, you’ll realize that this machine is the one you need to make working out a seamless part of your lifestyle.

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Natural Approach to Treating Arthritis

October 18th, 2008
by Virginia L Porringer

There are many alternative treatments and natural healing supplements available today for treating arthritis pain. Many of us choose to take the holistic direction, asking questions, reading publications, and searching the internet for answers to the question: what are the natural remedies available for treating arthritis pain?

Some rheumatologists follow the course of prescribing medications as their only treatment. Lucky for us, in recent years it has become more common for these health care professionals to recommend alternative treatments and natural therapies for their patients. Some offer this information as a first step holistic approach, others need to be prompted by their patient to guide them in a more holistic direction.

Do you think that herbs are nothing more than flavoring agents in your spice rack? Think again. There are many herbs and spices that have healing qualities. There is turmeric, cayenne, feverfew, ginger, licorice, just to name a few. That bottle of aspirin, that’s really derived from white willow bark, and is an ancient remedy dating back to the days of Hippocrates.

Supplements are also used by many for their arthritis pain. Some of the more common supplements are glucosamine sulfate, chondritin sulfate, SAMe, fish oil, and borage oil. The type of supplement will vary depending on the form of arthritis you are treating.

If you are interested in supplementing your diet and arthritis treatment plan with herbs or supplements it is advised that you talk with you physician and even your pharmacist. Both are knowledgeable on the interaction between the supplements and any prescription meds you may be taking.

Acupuncture is another treatment for arthritis. This ancient Chinese treatment program uses very fine needles inserted just under the skin at various points on the body for a short period of time. Though this may seem like an unusual approach, this system is thousands of years old and widely practiced. Many have found acupuncture to be a very effective treatment for arthritis.

Let’s not forget the most basic form of treatment for arthritis. Our western diet is far from ideal when it comes to joint health and mobility. Take gout, for example. In centuries past we associated gout with a rich-mans diet. We can improve our wellness by improving our diet, and including such common elements as omega 3 fatty acids, folic acid, and even vitamin C.

Arthritis does not have to control your life. There is continued research into both natural treatment as well as medications for the treatment of arthritis. Finding the answer may be as simple as finding a workable holistic combination of diet, supplements and acupuncture.

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Indoor Cycling And Spinning Classes: The Essentials

October 18th, 2008
by Jim Hofman

The topic of spinning classes came up at our local health club a few days ago. During the course of a few minutes of very intersting conversation, one thing became clear. People either love indoor cycling, or they hate it! There seems to be very little middle ground.

There’s no question this type of aerobic activity is extremely beneficial and a highly effective cardio workout. Whether you’re just starting spinning classes or are an experienced participant, there are a few essentials you’ll need to consider in order to get the most from your workout.

As with any group exercise activity, spinning classes can be a little intimidating, especially for the first timer. But there’s no reason to fret. The key is adapting the class to your fitness and comfort level. Most people who try a class but never return didn’t realize that a few simple physical and mental adjustments are all that’s needed.

Here are three tips to help you get the most from your indoor cycling workouts:

1. Be sure to wear lower body clothing that offers protection against chafing and other discomforts. Running shorts and sweats don’t offer this protection, so wear cycling shorts if at all possible. As for water, have at least 8 ounces available to drink during class, preferably more.

2. Remember to adapt the workout to your capabilities. When I first started spinning, I wanted to keep up with other more experienced participants. Don’t fall into this trap! Adjust the speed and tension of your bike in accordance with your limits.

3. Make sure your seat is adjusted properly. This is the most common mistake in spinning classes. Your seat should be at a height where your knee angle is almost but not quite straight during the downstroke. If your seat is too high, you’ll risk injury. If your seat is too low, you’ll have to peddle harder than necessary. Ask your instructor for guidance if necessary.

Finally, ask yourself about your fitness level, and be honest with your response. Intensity levels in spin classes vary, and some can be too intense for beginners. Don’t be discouraged. Instead, modify the workout to your level and make a goal to increase your capabilities over the following weeks and months.

If you’re at all concerned about fitting in with your fellow participants, work by yourself on a stationary bike for a few weeks. You can combine periods of greater intensity with moderate pedaling to keep things interesting. Get yourself acclimated for a few weeks, and you’ll be spinning with the best of them in no time!

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Try power yoga and get slim!

October 18th, 2008
by Andy Felix

Yoga is a combination of dynamic breathing and strong flowing movement that creates a high energy workout. Practicing yoga will build strength, release tension, and clean toxins from your body.

Don’t overdo yoga exercises else you could put undue strain on your muscles and joints. The exercise must be done under the guidance of a qualified yoga teacher. Teenagers, especially girls between the age of 14 and 18 tend to put on excess weight largely because their bodies undergo natural changes around this time.

Usually women face the problem of obesity after delivering their first child. Being overweight is disastrous for women in more ways than one. In addition to the physical dangers of being overweight, the mental anguish of being overweight also play a big role in a woman’s life. One easy - tear free - way to reduce weight is to practice yoga regularly. When you exercise you should make sure to burn as many calories as you consume to maintain your figure.

This exercise is the more recommended to both stimulate and strengthen muscles across the whole body while maintaining control of your weight. Surya Namaskar Asana involves various forward and backward bending movements.

The regular practice of Surya Namaskar asana helps to stretch and strengthen all major muscles of the body, improve blood circulation to the organs, replenishing them with fresh oxygen and nutrients, strengthen the upper and lower body and abdominal muscles, thereby making it a complete fitness routine. How to slim your back - Yog Mudra and Paschimottan Asana are recommended postures to strengthen back muscles and also to remove extra fat from thighs and hips.

Known as ‘the symbol of yoga.’ Yog Mudra is an exercise which stretches your back muscles and improves posture. To complete the Yog Mudra movement start in the padmasana keeping your spinal column upright. Have your hands behind your back and grasp one wrist in your other hand. Inhale. Slowly and steadily lean forward without straining or jerking the spinal column, exhaling, until your forehead touches the floor. Stay in this position as long as possible without breathing.

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Exercising The Secret to great exercise

October 18th, 2008
by Louise Servage

For many people, doing a stretching workout several times a week is the best way for them to stay in shape and increase their flexibility over time. Stretching is considered to be a perfect low impact exercise and can be done at a pace that is comfortable for the person that is doing the exercise, which makes it a good source of exercise for children, seniors, and people with limited mobility.

Finding the perfect stretching routine can be difficult for some people because of the number of choices that are out there, but with some careful consideration and review anyone can find a stretching routine that is good for their workout.

There are many different sources that can be used for finding the perfect stretching routine and the route that is chosen will depend on the person’s comfort level and the amount of money that they will be willing to pay for the service.

There are plenty of sources that offer stretching information but the more information you require may cost you more.

Stretching Routine Information Sources One of the most expensive, but most effective, ways to find the perfect stretching routine is to hire a professional personal trainer to help you exercise. These trainers have the ability to create a custom stretching routine to fit your needs completely and will take the time to teach you how to do each move in the routine properly to get the best effect out of your workout. Many of these professional trainers charge by the hour, so it is best to get right down to business and find the moves that you are comfortable with so that you will be able to stretch effectively each day.

If you join your gym sometimes you can get a better deal with a personal trainer. This can be a better option as some trainers charge by the hour.

Although they may not be able to create an entire customized routine for you, they will be able to walk you through some moves that may be appropriate for you and can guide you into doing the stretching techniques properly. Many of these exercise facilities also have classes that you can take to learn how to stretch and learn moves that you can incorporate into your own stretching routine.

For people who like working out in the cumfort of their own home may want to consider DVD’s for working out. You can find DVD’s for exercising almost anywhere or you c an purchase them off the internet, from website that focus on health and exercise.

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Fast Weight Loss Techniques - How to Shed Pounds Quickly

October 18th, 2008
by Samantha C. Willett

As well as a person’s physical appearance weight affects people in many different ways. This could be their overall quality of life, self-esteem, depression, health risks, and physical incapability.

Losing weight has very positive effect in all areas and significantly in the health and self-esteem areas. This is why lots of people are searching for a weight loss method that will reduce fatty parts and get them an attractive, head turner body.

An over-weight person should first get a comprehensive physical examination. At that time, the Doctor should asked to advise on any specific weight loss issues that can arise for that particlular person.

Regardless of the technique or method or plan, there are four aspects that are the same for everyone on the weight loss plan. They are: what to eat, how to eat, behavior and activity level. Here are some great fast tips that will change an over-weight person’s life:

- Fast weight loss is comprised of multiple techniques that include mindset, exercise, and the types of food being eaten. Firstly learn an effective diet food plan that can easily be followed. Then secondly, incorporate an exercise plan that allows fifteen minutes exercise a day like brisk walking, running, swimming, or even dancing.

- Set yourself realistic approaches and be completely honest with yourself. The ability to focus and have a correct mindset enables people on a diet to quickly lose those extra pounds. With discipline and proper mind set, a dieter will never be discouraged and lose focus.

- Listen as the body speaks. Each and everyone’s body metabolism reacts differently to different fast weight loss programs and plans. Try substituting one program for another to compensate for the body’s reaction. An exercise program must be suitable to one’s body, as others are not able to exercise as rigorously as others can. If walking is all that can be done, do not be discouraged. Walking has been proven to be one the best exercises. As muscle develops the body burns more fats and starts to look and feel better.

- Eat plenty of fibers as they make a person full sooner and stay in the tummy longer, slowing down the rate of digestion. One serving of whole grain bread moves that unwanted fat through the digestive system fast. These grains turn into blood sugar that spike the body’s nayural insulin level. Thus, they make the body more energized and are ready to tell the body when it should stop burning fats or start storing energy. Also, cut down on salt intake as salt is known to make a person feel hungrier.

- Just say no to fried foods, especially deep-fried, as they have a large amount of fat. While fish and chicken appear leaner than beef, these will contain more fat than when beef is fried. The recommended cooking method is always grilling as this type of cooking will always contain less amounts of unwanted fat.

- Drink lots of fluid. Drinking at least 6 to 8 large glasses of water a day will keep the body hydrated. Since fast weight loss depends on how the body eliminates body wastes, the body must always contain the right amount of water.

Self discipline and consistency with a proven weight loss plan is still the best technique and the ultimate key to a rapid weight loss results. Light dieting and workout applied in a regular way everyday will result in faster weight loss than taking huge action only to be followed a return to old habits.

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Learning Slalom Waterskiing The Hollywood Way

October 18th, 2008
by Lane \”Dawg\” Bowers

How many of you saw the water skiing video of Rachel Ray on the internet? I know most people watched just to get a glimpse of her in a bikini, but I started thinking about how she was learning to ski in the first place. I thought slalom water skiing was just something daredevils in the 1970s did. Whoever was instructing Rachel Ray, however, had sure made it seem fun and almost effortless.

The few times I attempted to water ski were mainly due to peer pressure (How often do you get the opportunity to do this?), and although I was able to get up and ride around a little bit, it was too nerve wracking to do on a regular basis. It is different now that there are methods for learning how to waterski without falling.

When that water gets rushing fast underneath you, and they (the family and friends) decide to up the throttle on the boat, and you’re hanging on, hunched over, that can be pretty nerveracking. I never got to the point to even consider how to slalom waterski, since all of my focus was on just not making a faceplant into that highspeed H20!

These days, water skiing is not as popular as some other water sports, such as tubing or jet skiing. But when you see somebody who is really talented at slalom water skiing, youall soon discover just how elegant and thrilling a sport it can be. And with the new aHollywooda style training that incorporates some of the latest technology, itas now much safer and quite a bit easier.

What I noticed about the video is that Rachel was using a new abarefoot booma made out of aluminum. This boom hooks on to the front of the boat and lets a beginning skier practice good posture while getting used to the feel of the water at minimum speed, which would be around 20 mph for most people.

This pole concept helps guard against the initial rope jerk that comes with an acceleration of speed, and allows the skier to lean back with the skis in front. Then the new skier can drag the rope behind them in order to figure out how it feels to be holding on to something that wonat even support you. In no time, youall be up on skis behind the boat and learning how to slalom.

The best part about this boom idea is that it is really acts like a training device that anyone could use, besides a good friend to adjust the boat throttle, it looks like you could basically teach yourself! I know it’s important to use correct posture, and for that I think a good trainer would help, but if I had to chance to build up some confidence - gradually - I think I could learn how to slalom waterski.

What I do know is that youare supposed to keep your shoulders back with your weight on your hops. Then arch your back and allow your ankles to slide out in front of you as the boat picks up speed. Bear down on your ankles at this point and you will begin to feel lighter than air. With celebrities like Rachel Ray showing how much fun skiing is, it just might make a real comeback!

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Can Hypnosis Really Give You Better Health?

October 18th, 2008
by Fleur Moir-Jones

Hypnosis has been around for a very long time. A lot of people have seen hypnotists on TV or at the fair. Hypnosis used in these ways is generally fun and it is always enjoyable to watch your friend quack like a duck every time the hypnotist says, “Hello”.

The lighthearted side of hypnosis is all well and good. However, only a minority of people realise that the health and wellbeing of individuals can be drastically improved using specific hypnotic instruction.

Hypnosis is dependent upon the person’s willingness. It is a state of focused awareness and heightened suggestibility. If a person needs an extra push to maintain a healthier lifestyle, hypnosis may be the way to go.

There are many ways hypnosis can help a person increase their health. Suggestions can be made that allow a person to ignore junk foods for snacks and reach for fruits or vegetables instead. Imagine the impact of eating a handful of carrots every time you want a snack instead of reaching for a cupcake or candy bar.

Instead of chips and high-calorie dip, a suggestion can be made that apples are the best tasting snack on the planet and you should reach for an apple instead of chips. Or drink apple juice instead of soda (even diet soda is not good for us).

Hypnotic solutions are not to be regarded as a complete remedy for everything. You cannot act in a manner you wouldn’t normally be inclined to do anyway. A commitment is required on the part of the subject. The person must have the desire to want to get fit at the gym as opposed to slouching in front of the tv for any hypnotic suggestion on that topic to work.

In recent years the medical community has recognised the benefits hypnosis can have on people’s health. There are a lot of studies which document solid proof that hypnosis can benefit a huge variety of physical and psychological issues. These include pain relief for cancer patients, phobia sufferers, weight loss cases and anxiety to name but a few.

A huge amount of mental health specialists are now turning to hypnosis for effective treatments for the likes of post traumatic stress. Medics are embracing this treatment for physical problems also such as the treatment of fibromyalgia.

It cannot be stressed enough that hypnosis is not a magic wand for terminal illnesses. It cannot cure cancer but can improve the quality of life for its suffererers by using pain reduction techniques. The last fifty years or so has seen a growing acceptance by the western medical profession of the genuine benefits hypnosis can provide.

There are many benefits to hypnosis besides the ones mentioned in this article. As with any alternative form of therapy, it is important to talk to your doctor about the options available to you in regard to your specific needs. It is also important to find a hypnotist who knows what they are doing. Talk to your doctor and see if hypnosis can be beneficial to you.

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Bodybuilding Tips - Health and supplements for Muscle Mass Training

October 18th, 2008
by Mick Hart

To achieve optimum results from training, it is necessary that you must supply your body with all the correct vitamins and minerals as well as enough of the major components of the diet being proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These are called the ‘macro-nutrients’ of the diet as they are needed in much larger amounts compared to the micro-nutrients’ being the vitamins, minerals and other biological substances which are needed in much smaller amounts in the diet than are the ‘macro-nutrients’, but are found present in different amounts accompanying the macro-nutrients in food.

We know that most of the micro-nutrients are already present in the foods that make up the macro-nutrients, but it has been proven that hard-training bodybuilders need a lot more than food can provide in terms of the micro-nutrients. Taking this into account and the stress factor that the body undergoes during training, a large amount of the micro-nutrients are needed in growth and body tissue repair. Therefore extra levels are required by the body which can not be acquired by food alone, which is where vitamin and mineral supplements come in and should be taken on a daily basis.

These supplements should be taken at breakfast, no doubtedly the most importmant meal of the day, so DON’T SKIP IT. After having slept for a few hours, your blood sugar level is low, and the body needs to access materials to help raise these levels. Your muscles can be accessed to raise blood sugar levels which is the exact opposite to what we want which is building muscles (anabolism) i.e. BODYBUILDING!, so Breakfast is now your number one priority.

Therefore, as you can see, a good breakfast is an extremely important meal, which should include milk, an egg-white omelette and complex carbohydrates including rice, which boost blood sugar levels steadily as they are digested. So make sure you give yourself sufficient time in the morning for breakfast otherwise visible results on training will be slow.

Some people may not have much of an appetite at first, but as long as you eat something good for breakfast (even if it’s only a banana), then don’t worry, because your appetite can be your guide, and will probably increase along with gains from your training. Why the appetite increase? Because your body has more muscle tissue to nourish as your training progresses.Many people may benefit greatly from extra vitamin B-complex supplementation, and also extra vitamin C. The B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are water soluble vitamins and so are not stored to any great extent within the body, but are used up quickly in general tissue metabolism and VERY much so when your muscles are growing !!!

So, it would be a ideal to have a go at supplementing with aditional B-complex and C vitamins in the morning and before going to sleep, and prior to your daily workout. When using high levels of vitamins like these, remember to consume extra fluids such as bottled water on its own or mixed to make up sports drinks. And remember that optimum hydration is a must to get rid of waste products from the body tissues that lower levels of fluid intake may not accomplish.

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The Fat-Burning Soup Diet - A Low Carb Solution?

October 18th, 2008
by Christine G. Shannon

The Cabbage Soup Diet is something you have probably already heard of by this time. Most people lose some weight in the first couple of weeks. Unfortunately, most people lose interest in this diet after a short time and quickly regain the weight. This is similar to the results seen in other low to no carb diets. If a diet is to be effective over the long term, it has to offer enough variety to be enjoyable.

Because it is also called a fat-burning soup diet, it contains ingredients in the soup, which would be considered fat-burning. Besides the soup, there is not much else that can be eaten other than low carb or no carb fruits and vegetables.

When taking a closer look at the recipe for this cabbage soup or fat burning soup, it is clear that this can be considered a low to no carb diet. The soup includes fat burning vegetables like onions, peppers, tomatoes and cabbage. You can also substitute other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower or broccoli for the cabbage. Spices and hot sauce can be added to liven up the soup.

Carbohydrates, which the body turns to sugar and burns or stores the unused to fat cells, is restricted in this diet. It is based on the vegetables, which burn more calories in your metabolism, than they have in them. This principle works in losing weight, however, most people cannot stand to eat the soup for more than a couple weeks before losing interest in the cabbage soup diet.

Here’s how the cabbage soup diet works: you can eat all the soup you like whenever you’re hungry. Other than this, there are different things which you can eat depending on the day of the week. On day one, you can have fruit (except for bananas), on day two you can have vegetables except for peas, corn and beans. On day two you can also have a baked potato with dinner, to trick your body into thinking that you are still eating carbohydrates.

On Day 3, you guessed it, soup, fruits and vegetables and Day 4 is soup, bananas and skim milk. On Day 5, it is low fat meat and tomatoes, with soup, of course, and Day 6 is soup, meat and green leafy vegetables. The final day, Day 7, is soup and brown rice. This diet is not a plan you can stick with very long, because if you don’t lose interest due to lack of variety, you would eventually suffer mal-nutrition.

Just like all of the other low to no carb diets, the cabbage soup diet severely curtails carbohydrate intake. The diet doesn’t restrict how many times or how much you can eat, as long as you eat the soup or other allowable item for the day.

While the cabbage soup diet doesn’t restrict how many times a day you eat, and is like other low to no carb diets, the best diet is one that would include fat burning foods, as well as a variety of nutritional food, allow you to eat numerous times a day, that you could lose weight on and stick with long-term, like Fat Loss4Idiots offers.

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