Health & Fitness Blog

Peaked, stuck, leveled out in progress & muscle gains?

2011-05-16T04:26:00.000-07:00

Have you been working out for several months or longer, and now feel like your muscle gains and/or progress has landed on a plateau somewhere?

Yeah, I'm talking about the feeling of being stuck, peaked, leveled out or whatever you want to call it...

A lot of people encounter this "peaking out" dilemma, and it is actually perfectly normal. Unfortunately, when some people get stuck in progress while trying to build muscle or achieve certain physical fitness goals, they often lose interest or just throw their hands up and quit working out altogether.

...But before I say anything else about this subject, maybe you need to ask yourself, "what are my goals?" Maybe you're fine with your current level of fitness and would like to spend more time on other things, perhaps even go out and have some fun - ha!

Anyway, many times when a person experiences these "plateau effects" and seem to be stuck in progress, they either need to take some time off, change their routine or completely alter the type of exercises they have been performing. For example, several years ago, I felt that I was tired of lifting the same ol' weights, doing the same boring bench presses and exercises, and was having to drag myself into the workout room because it got to where I dreaded lifting all that heavy weight. So, I decided to buy a Power Tower and started to build muscle without weights (pull-ups, dips, etc.). When I needed extra resistance, I would simply use a weighted vest. Now, after using the Power Tower for a few years, I'm about ready to start lifting heavy weights again and now I wished that I wouldn't have sold my damn weight bench to begin with! Ha-ha! But that's just an example, as changing the routines and exercises often temporarily rescues people from the "muscle building plateau" status.

Taking a break can also be great... Don't worry about losing muscle mass during your transitory hiatus; plus, if you've been working out for a few years, try to remember the points that were being made in the post "the mystery of muscle memory," as this should help you rest assured that your body will have no problem gaining what little muscle you may have lost during your period of inactivity.

When you do feel "leveled out" or whatever, this may also be a good time to become more quick & flexible with the muscle you already have. Being bulky isn't everything; in fact, many folks find that it slows them down and actually hurts their overall level of physical fitness. However, not everybody has the same goals, but I'm just saying that it might be a good idea to get out there and utilize you muscles in more natural movements as opposed to basic lifting, curling, pressing, etc. You know, things like shadow boxing, martial arts, various types of stretches, manual labor that replaces automatic gadgets (like chopping down trees with an axe instead of using a chain saw, using a push mower instead of a riding mower), and so on...
Speaking of boxing and martial arts, you may also be interested in my "picking out the right heavy bag / speed bag stand" entry, in addition to the "body opponent heavy bag" post.

Personally, I think some people may just need a little additional motivation. For example, when I used to feel stuck or in a rut, I'd just look at some motivational posters for my workout room, and alter the way my weight room looked by buying bikini posters, pictures of barely clad women, etc. Yep, throw in some nice visuals along with some motivational music, and you may be well on your way to new physical fitness goals that will free yourself from that "peaked" feeling you're suffering from.

Okay, okay... Maybe you need some motivation right now or perhaps you need a distraction from this whole "peaked" thing. If that's the case, I'll drop down a couple sexy images below, featuring some all-natural big breasts. Oh com'on, everybody likes big boobies, right? Ha-ha!

---End of Post "Peaked, stuck, leveled out in progress & muscle gains?"

Natural ways to help fight symptoms of alcohol withdrawal...

2011-05-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Of course, if you're suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it usually means that you've been abusing alcohol in such a way, that your body has become too accustomed to it; this can lead to many other problems down the road - not just health related, either. However, not everybody who suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms end up with a chronic problem, as many folks are just going through bad times, get too caught up into the "party scene," or just have occasional bouts where they crave massive amounts of alcohol, binge drink, etc.

At any rate, this post is not about finding you mental help for your current addictions, psychological assistance to combat personal problems, nor is it recommending "alcoholic anonymous" sessions; it is mainly about finding natural ways to help fight the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol - if you do have this liquefied debacle.

Personally, I'm a big beer drinker and I've been drinking alcohol for at least 15 years with at least 14 of those years being on a daily basis. But during that time, I have had my moments where I would get involved with the "hard stuff" and especially vodka, so I know all about the temporary withdrawal symptoms (when you overdo it for an extended period of time) and how problematic they can be - when it comes to fighting the symptoms, nervousness, jitters, etc. It totally sucks, no doubt about it, but for me, the easiest way to "fight" the withdrawal symptoms was to quit drinking hard liqueur straight out of the damn bottle like some lunatic who is seeking a higher octane fuel supply. Ha-ha!

I'm glad I haven't had this withdrawal problem in a long while, but when thinking about some of the posts I have written over the last several months, many of the supplements I have mentioned, really do help calm the nerves, fight withdrawal symptoms that relate to the central nervous system - along with many other helpful benefits.

This entry is simply going to be a "resource link post" that will provide links to the pages where I have promoted certain natural supplements (no prescription drugs) that will help the individuals who suffer from drug-related withdrawal symptoms (like alcohol), and perhaps will ease people into the quitting stage or if anything, just calm them down a bit and improve their overall sense of well-being...

Natural ways to help fight symptoms of alcohol withdrawal:

* Health Benefits of Taurine

* Korean Ginseng Extract

* Why I use Coral Calcium...

* Magnolia Extract - Fight Stress & Calm Down

* Now, if you're looking for a natural way to help cleanse and/or detoxify your liver from all of the hardcore drinking, visit: http://perpendicularity.org/blog/2010/05/03/liver-detox-milk-thistle/

* If you're feeling in better spirits, have no withdrawal issues whatsoever, actually try to drink alcohol in moderation, and are also curious about some of the positive effects that can be attained from this delightful substance, visit the blog post "Health Benefits of Beer & Alcohol."

Cheers!
---End of Post

Build the stubborn Latissimus dorsi muscle (Lats) with Pull-ups!

2011-05-08T02:59:00.000-07:00

Depending on your genetics, body type and/or build, the Latissimus dorsi, also known as "Lats," may be a very stubborn muscle group for you - when it comes to building it up. There are several exercises you can perform that are aimed at working the Lats, but to me, none of them seem to be more effective than the basic pull-ups and chin-ups - that is, if you're in decent enough shape to even pull your own body weight, but we'll get to that in a moment.

The Latissimus dorsi is the widest muscle of the back. If you'd like to see a quick diagram for a visual refreshment, look below:

If you're able to build your Lats up and proper development takes place, this is the muscle that will give you that V-Shape or V-like taper to your upper torso, and especially when viewing from the back. It sort of gives you that explosive look, and makes you appear broader than what you really are. If you combine expanded Lats with bulky shoulders, even a smaller framed person can start looking wide. Throw in some well-developed trapezius muscles, and you really will be ready to sport that "tank top" this year...

Okay, now back to the main subject: If you are a beginner or have trouble lifting your body weight, pull-ups may not be for you - at least not at the moment. If you'd still like to work your Lats, you can always use the Cable Lat Pulldown machine and the pulleys used for arm rows... that is, if you own an exercise machine or have a gym membership, etc. And if you don't have access to any of this bulky equipment, there is still hope, as you can still use dumbbells for bent-over rows and so on.

I'm just not a fan of bent-over rows or the rowing motion in general. I mean really, if you want to perform this particular motion to build up the Latissimus dorsi muscle group (in hopes of widening your back), none of these cable pulleys or dumbbell rows would compare to getting in a small boat with paddles or a canoe weighted down with passengers, and rowing the thing around a lake for hours and hours, several days a month. Ha-ha! But seriously, rows work well for some people, I'd just prefer the paddle boat if I resorted to using the rowing motion in general, that's all. I must say, though, rows seem to be better at thickening the back muscles as opposed to widening them, although they can do both. BUT, the Lat Pulldown exercise and the Pull-ups using a weighted vest, seem to work better at widening this particular area of the back.

As for the Cable Lat Pulldown exercise, since you can manually adjust the weight, it is great for the beginners who can't do enough pull-ups to amount to a workout and also for the advanced bodybuilders who find the pull-ups to be less than challenging. However, I can remedy that minor problem for the advanced folks, by recommending that you execute your pull-ups & chin-ups while training with a weighted vest.

...Unless you have something out in the yard that resembles a pull-up bar or you have built one yourself, you may also be interested in buying a Power Tower, as I mentioned in my post: "Gain Muscle Mass & Power without weights." Of course, there are other cheaper chin-up/pull-up alternatives on the market, but the Power Tower also provides you with the opportunity to do other bodybuilding exercises in addition to pull-ups, such as: dips, leg lifts and push-ups on slightly inclined bars.

Anyway, good luck building this, what I call, "stubborn muscle group," no matter what method you decide to use. And if you are successful at bulking up your Latissimus dorsi area, you'll be proud of that V-shape figure that comes along with it. Now, go build those damn Lats...

---End of Post

Put the "Tank in the Top" by building the Deltoids & Trapezius Muscles

2011-05-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

As the temperature rises and the weather improves, many of y'all weight-lifting champs and/or physical fitness fanatics may like to sport your sexy bods and muscular stature by wearing "tank tops" this year. Well, unfortunately, many of you will strive to fill out those tank tops to the best of your ability, and fail miserably in the process.

This post is just a quick reminder, as to what to focus on, when it comes to putting the "tank" in the "top" of those, uh, "tank tops." Ha!

When it comes to looking your best in that particular choice of attire, working/pumping/training the deltoids and the trapezius muscles to the fullest, is your best bet. Believe it or not, a lot of people who train hard, workout with weights and/or strive for higher levels of physical fitness, are not even familiar with common anatomic terms. So, with that being said, in case you don't know, the deltoids are the shoulder muscles, and the trapezius muscles are right beside the neck and also extend from the back of the neck and down the middle region of the upper back.

Since the trapezius muscles are spread out, I'll provide an image below to help clarify the actual location of this often neglected muscle group:

By looking at the image above, you may be thinking, "how does working the trapezius muscles help me look good in a 'tank top' or whatever, when they look more like minuscule back muscles?" Well, that particular image shows the trapezius muscle group from the rear, but really, it is all about getting that bulge beside your neck, next to your shoulders, that you will see from the front. If you train hard and build up some big deltoids, what better to compliment them by setting down some good muscle bulk right beside them, next to your neck? Ya know, it sort of gives you that bull-dog, thick neck, upper-stack-heavy type of "chew-you-up-and-spit-you-out" sort of look. Yeah, the nice guy look... Ha-ha!

Anyway, I've already briefly wrote about building up your deltoids on a post I did a few months ago, and you can check that out here, if interested: "Simple ways to Build Powerful Deltoids."

What makes this even more simple, is that one of the main exercises I promoted for building up your deltoids, also works the trapezius muscles out, very well. If you're wondering, this simple exercise that is best performed with individual, heavy dumbbells, is called "arm raises." It is where you slowly raise and lower the weight/dumbbell that you're holding from your sides or in front of you, up to shoulder level, then back down to your side or in front of your hips (starting position). I prefer the lateral raise (from the sides) because to me, the side motion works more of the deltoid and trapezius region than it does from the front. These type of lifts also work the outer portion of your forearms, which is always a plus.

Of course, there are many other muscles that you may want to focus on when it comes to looking good in a "tank top," but the point of this post is to simply state that the true "tank in the top" mostly comes from an impressive set of deltoids and the neck-bulging trapezius muscles. Hell, if all you mainly got is big arms and a muscular chest, a tight tee-shirt may be more complimentary for you as opposed to a tank top. ...But those sexy beach babes who have a fetish for men in tank tops, might make you focus more on other muscular focal points besides arms & chest, such as what I mentioned prior... Okay, I have to stop right here... Ha-ha! That sounds a bit too funny for me, even after writing that little sentence about beach babes. I'm the modest type who would rather stay fully dressed in public and could care less how I look in a tank top because I will be too busy taking her top & bottom off, and would much rather show my "bedroom muscle" to the ladies in private besides my deltoids, biceps, triceps, pectorals, latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles; but then again, I'm trying to give advice on this health blog while I keep my composure at the same time. Damn, I'm confused now... LOL!

At any rate, enjoy the nice weather while it lasts and have fun with whatever you do!

---End of Post

Weight Gainers & Protein Shakes

2011-05-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

Even though the majority, at least here in America, are either overweight or obese, the need for buying weight gainers is still in high demand. Personally, I'm not a big fan of weight gainers (high-calorie powders used to make drinks for weight gain), protein shakes or creatine supplements (waste of money, in my opinion), but what doesn't appeal or work for some, may work like a charm for others.

The need for using weight gainers usually fall into two categories or reasons: 1) The individual who is thin, but works out regularly and still has trouble gaining mass; 2) The hardcore bodybuilder who needs an easy way to add extra calories to help maintain their current muscle bulk or to achieve even more muscle mass.

I don't have much to say about reason #2 because if you're seriously into bodybuilding and you have a lot of muscle mass, you really are going to have to consume a lot more calories to maintain your beast-like structure. Even though, consuming large amounts of calories can easily be achieved by diet alone, the convenience of gulping down massive amounts of calories from these flavored milkshakes, makes it tempting if you have the money and desire to do so.

When it comes to reason #1, I have to disagree with the use of weight gainers. People who are naturally thin, slim, whatever, don't have the same metabolism nor do their organs function the same as the ones who can easily gain weight just by overeating. These are the type of people who can eat all day long and never seem to gain weight or very little. For the most part, you'll just be straining your digestive organs trying to process and rid the body of extra calories that it doesn't want, evidently. However, if you have this particular body type, there is still hope and you can "bulk up" over time (be patient) without the use of steroids or growth hormones. You have to make your body produce muscle by working hard and getting enough protein to ensure proper muscle repair & development, which has nothing to do with consuming mass quantities of food or weight gainers, for that matter. People with high metabolisms or the ones who stay slim no matter what they eat, often have a totally different rate of digestion, levels of enzymes, and a less efficient nutrient absorption rate - when compared to people who seem to get more out of their food, gain weight easily, and so on. Most people want to blame it on individual metabolism alone, but there is really a lot more to it than that.

Anyway, people who have trouble gaining weight would be better off adding a little more meat and/or protein to their diet and adjust their weight lifting to "less reps and more weight," not "more reps and less weight." Aerobic exercise is definitely not your answer, but it is excellent for your cardiovascular health. Anyway, you need to train your stubborn little body and make it understand that you need more mass to withstand all this heavy weight you lift on a regular basis. But, if you're still seeking weight gainers, feel free; knock yourself out. I'm just saying that if you must purchase and/or choose between weight gainers or protein shakes, you'd be better off with the protein drinks because in my opinion, you'll waste your money on the weight gainers.

Once again, for the serious bodybuilders that have no trouble gaining weight or that have a lot of muscle mass to maintain - and you have the extra money to spend, weight gainers may be just for you. Maybe I'm old fashion, but a balanced, healthy diet with a few extra servings of meat & potatoes is my idea of "weight gainers." Although, maybe I'm biased when it comes to my views on protein shakes (whatever happened to eggs?) and weight gainers... Especially since I've always been fairly lean with an athletic build, so the need for weight gainers would clash with my sexy, pimp-style body... Ha!

---At any rate, if you're interested in browsing through a big selection of Protein Shakes, click the image below:
---If you're interested in browsing through a fine selection of Weight Gainers, click the image below:
Random Blog Link: "How to Estimate your Max Bench Press Lift"

---End of Post

Physical Fitness Blog or Bikini Bliss?

2011-05-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

In a way, this confuses me, but after giving it more thought, it sort of makes sense. So anyway, here I am with a growing "Health & Fitness Blog" and guess what type of searches (from Google and other search engines) brings most of its traffic/hits? Well, if you guessed...uh, uh, searches related to bikini models, sexy babes and other forms of erotic bliss, then you nailed it!

I can't say that it vexes me, but still... The fact that I write about (probably 90% or more) a variety of random subjects on this blog that relate to health, physical fitness, supplements, and so on, but my most popular posts are "Bikini Babes & Sexy Images" and "Bikini Babes & Lingerie Models - Part 2," along with a bunch of Archive hits via image searches with the keywords often being the names of some of the featured babes within those 2 posts, makes me say (acronym version) "WTF?" Hey, I appreciate any traffic that I can get for any of the blogspots I write on - along with other blogs I own or my main creative writing site (perpendicularity.org), but I really hope that in the future, my traffic on this particular blog starts getting more related to physical fitness or at least somewhat related to health in general.

Hell, since this post is going to be spraying links all over the place anyway, I might as well include some linkage to other blogs of mine. I also have a blogspot called the "Anti-Dolt" but it was mostly full of rants an occasional bouts of beauty - for contrast. Since all of the posts occurred in 2010 and it is currently dormant, I'll just go ahead and link to it with the name "The Anti-Dolt of 2010."
I also have a blogspot that speaks about a variety of legends, folklore and myths, along with other interesting, uncertain, and bizarre subjects. It goes by the popular name (hard to rank well for these terms) "Myths, Legends, & Folklore."
Update: I've recently started up another blogspot blog that goes by the name "Mundane Blog," so check it out if ya get bored or whatever.

Okay, now back to the subject pertaining to the traffic issues at this Health Blog......

Traffic redirect: Look folks, I got a section over at my main site that pertains to this bikini bliss subject; if you're more interested in mood-lifting images as opposed to the health & fitness vibe found here, then visit the blog post "Exotic Babes & Sexy Models - Gallery Links."

Another funny thing about this blog, is the few comments that I do get are obvious spam. As much as I really appreciate your penis enlargement and/or "male enhancement" comments along with your recommendations for how to "increase ejaculation" and whatnot, please make sure that you don't post them on the blog posts that are not related; thanks! Ha-ha!

Ya know, here's an example of what I'm talking about: Lets say you write a post about the "Health Benefits of Beer" or something, and someone comes along and posts a comment in the 'comment field' with: "Hey, thanks for posting this; check out my ____.com site and find an excellent way to cure hemorrhoids." ...Next action that occurs in the admin panel: DELETE COMMENT or SPAM COMMENT, ha! I know that most spam is automated but some of it is not; you can usually tell by looking at your web stats. I also know that everyone gets spam, but with more traffic coming in with health-related searches, the chances of getting genuine, health-related comments from people who actually read the material and are interested in the topic at hand, are much better.

On a good note, there are some (not near enough) blog posts that get a fair amount of hits besides the two bikini bliss ones I mentioned about earlier, and those are: "Martial Arts is also great for Physical Fitness..." and "Picking out the right Heavy bag / Speed bag Stand" and "Buy Motivational Posters for your Workout Room" and "Use a Weighted Vest for Training." Of course, there are many others that get hit often, but none of them compare to the bikini ones. Some of my most informative entries, rarely get hit, though. It may sound sort of confusing at first, but then you have to remember the old cliche, "sex sells." Basically, no matter what theme your website is, if it ever speaks about sex or bikini bliss or anything related between the two, there will most likely be more people searching for it - whether using the regular search function or the image search option.

Here's another example: Today, I wrote two blog posts for this site, one called "Health Benefits of Taurine" and the one I'm writing now. ...Although the post about taurine contains useful information, if I throw a sexy bikini image on this non-informative post, it will most likely get more hits in the long run than the one about the beneficial amino acid known as "taurine." It is sort of funny and sad at the same time, but true nonetheless. Oh well, one thing is for sure: this blog is fairly new and it does take a while for a website, blog or whatever, to season, age, gain links and rank well for the key terms you're writing about. I just decided to do a blog post about it, because I thought it was semi-amusing in a screwed-up kinda way.

Oh yeah, where's that bikini image? Lets see, which one do I choose? Decisions, decisions... Okay-okay, I'll use Heidi Montag... Look below:

[Sexy Image of Heidi Montag from the blog post "Addicted to Plastic Surgery?"]

---End of Post "Physical Fitness Blog or Bikini Bliss?"

Health Benefits of Taurine

2011-05-01T03:03:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I got to noticing this ingredient popping up in a lot of energy drinks. I knew that Taurine was an amino acid, but was curious as to why it would be listed on energy drinks and pretty much, I was wondering what the whole "Taurine Craze" was about. However, I'm not a fan of energy drinks for many reasons, with one being that most of the people who I see drink them, are usually the ones who are tired and lazy half the time - but that has nothing to do with the amino acid I'm talking about in this post, since most of those type of drinks that claim to have ginseng and other special ingredients, often only have trace amounts and just rely on the sugar and caffeine to give them their "kick" or energy boost. Anyway, that's beside the point......

---The Health Benefits of Taurine:

Taurine is a "free" type of amino acid, as it is not a structural protein and it roams freely throughout the blood and tissues. In the human body, the highest concentrations of this amino acid is found in the eyes and heart.

Taurine plays an important role in brain, eye, and heart health, among many other facets of human health and increased well-being.

Taurine is thought to strengthen your heart muscle and to lower blood pressure, in addition to having many other cardiovascular benefits.

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid and it increases and/or helps with liver function, increases bile production which aids in fat digestion and the removal of toxins, and lowers cholesterol via the bile release. Taurine is also known to help detoxify the body, which this would also parallel with the enhanced liver function, obviously.

Taurine has antioxidant properties and can have anti-inflammatory effects. It has been used to help treat alcoholism, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and several other psychological ailments.

Taurine has shown to have benefits for people who have Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

I have read that Taurine helps reduce the amount of lactic acid in the body and, if true, this would be great for the ones who have a lot of physical exertion, workout regularly, etc.

---What are some natural sources of Taurine?

Taurine is found in abundance within certain exotic types of seafood. It is also found in a variety of meats, fish and other common seafood, eggs, and milk. Basically, if you're a strict vegetarian who refuses to eat meat and you would still like to take advantage of the health benefits of taurine, you will have to revert to pill supplements. The body does make a fair amount of taurine, but the major source of this particular amino acid still comes from your diet.

So, whether you eat a lot of meat or not, you may still want to purchase this beneficial amino acid in supplement form...

Click the Image Below, to Browse through a large selection of Taurine:

Related Blog Post Links: Health Benefits of Vinegar and the Health Benefits of Lycopene.

---End of Post

3 basic ways to use Hand Grippers...

2011-04-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before on the "methods for building powerful forearms" post, the use of hand grippers is an excellent way to improve hand & forearm strength. Besides the fact that they are great for stress relief, if you buy the right kind of grippers, you can develop crushing, bone-breaking grip power in a relatively short period of time. However, when I say "the right kind of grippers," I'm not talking about the cheap pairs you often find in the sporting good section of common retailers.

Most hand grippers on the market are, for the most part, only good for stress relief and at best, you may encounter a slight increase in grip strength if used excessively. If you're serious about gaining grip power and building powerful-looking forearms, I recommend "Captains of Crush." If you'd like to read more about those particular grippers and are also possibly interested in ordering these high-quality hand grips, visit the blog page "Build Forearm & Hand Strength - Captains of Crush."

Anyway, the 3 basic ways to use hand grippers are:

1) the standard grip motion that involves squeezing the gripper until it totally closes, then quickly release the hand grip, and then squeeze again; repeat process until the desired amount of reps are met.

2) involves the upside down grip; you'll perform the same action as described in method #1, but it will work the forearm somewhat differently since the points of pressure will be different. Fluctuating between the standard grip and the upside grip will give you a more complete lower arm workout.

3) is what I call the "squeeze & hold method" and it is an excellent way to finish off a hand & forearm workout. You simply squeeze the gripper shut with a firm grip, then hold the gripper closed for as long as you can. You can also use the very similar "hold & release method" if you desire, which is basically the same concept except you will hold the gripper closed for a preselected amount of time before releasing it, then continue to repeat the process until the desired amount of reps.

Although I have already gave a link to what I consider to be the best hand grippers on the market (Captains of Crush), if you'd like to browse through a large selection of hand strengthening devices and grippers, click the image below:

---End of Post "3 basic ways to use Hand Grippers"

Can you use a push mower instead of a riding mower?

2011-04-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well folks, at least where I'm from, it is that time of year again where everything is growing, blooming, thriving, stinging, biting, and life is in full swing. This is also the time of year when many people dread mowing their yard, for whatever reason, although most humanoids today use a riding mower - even for the small jobs!

I have several peeves when it comes to other people and their mowing philosophy, but two of them really stand out. Number one, is the lawn mowing lunatics who mow their yard every two days (thanks to the good ole riding mower) - due to an obvious obsessive compulsive disorder, among other things. You can read all about what I think of those certain individuals, on another blogspot blog of mine, here: http://anti-dolt.blogspot.com/2010/05/lawn-mowing-lunatics-obsessive.html

My second peeve about other people when it comes to mowing, is the ones who have tiny yards or even normal-sized yards, but refuse to use a push mower because they are too lazy. I'm not talking about the individuals who are disabled, old, or have huge yards.

This post isn't a rant, but it is aggravating to watch people who are overweight, out of shape, lazy or whatever, refuse to exert any physical effort whatsoever, but then talk about how they wished they were in better condition or health. WTF?

This is a very simple question, and if answered right, many individuals might actually get a little exercise this year. Can you use a push mower instead of a riding mower? Can you? Do you enjoy being lazy? Have you gave up on life and just feel like being lethargic is the best path to take in life? Think about it... I really think some people should sell their damn riding mower, go buy a push mower, get a little exercise this year and quit whining about cutting the grass or how they sweat too much in the hot sun. For some folks, mowing the yard is about the only time they will do anything outdoors each year, which is not a very healthy lifestyle - to stay indoors 24/7.

I'm not your mother nor am I your physical trainer, but have any of you "less-than-motivated" people ever thought about getting a little more active? I know, technology, computers and other convenient technological advances out there can make a lot of us lazy or less active at times, but some people would be surprised at how much better they would feel if they moved around more and/or did more stuff outdoors.

Other benefits to push mowing a yard besides using a riding mower, is the fact that it saves gas. The smaller motor on a push mower doesn't have to work as hard, especially because it is lighter and it doesn't have to carry your dependent ass around the yard, and just takes way less gasoline per job as opposed to the big, expensive riding yard machine that many of you have become fond of. In my opinion, push mowing a yard also allows a person to think about a lot of things and sort of temporarily clears the mind, almost medicinal at times, as you constantly go through the rhythmic patterns of mowing back & forth, left & right...

Anyway, I know that most people in general are going to do whatever they want, no matter what they are aware of, told about, or whatever. But if one person could read this post and say, "you know, I really do need more exercise and I really don't need a riding mower for my yard," and actually sell it and start using a push mower this year, it will be worth the ramble. At any rate, just dropping a link down to my "lawn mowing lunatics" post, still made this entry worth writing. Ha-ha!

Okay folks, now try getting off your backside a little more this year and, if you get really motivated and have the land space, you may even want to put out a garden and grow your own food, as well. Enjoy the nice weather, while it's here......

---End of Post "Can you use a push mower instead of a riding mower?"

Ear Problems?

2011-04-26T06:18:00.001-07:00

Thus far, this blog has covered several topics related to physical fitness, supplements, vitamins & herbs and healthier ways of living, along with many other health-related subjects. However, there has been no mention of ear health or ear-related problems, as of yet. I thought of this subject the other day, after viewing some traffic stats for a website of mine. It is a site that covers many topics, and is just plain random. Anyway, that's besides the point... What I've noticed over the last several months while viewing traffic stats, is that there are way more people out there with ear problems than I once thought. I currently only have two pages out of my entire site that is related to this topic, but they get hit quite often and with random search queries, keywords or whatever. In a moment, since this health blog has no posts in that area of health, I'll drop down the links for those who may be searching about certain types of ear problems.

It seems like some of the most common ear ailments that I've read about, are the following: ringing of the ears (tinnitus) and frequent problems with ear wax, which can lead to a lot of other symptoms or stem from ear infections and so on.

The problem that I notice a lot with tinnitus, besides the ones with lifelong ear ringing and the misery it must cause in severe cases, is all the scams out there that claim to be a miracle cure for this ailment. Man, this junk is almost as bad as the "Male Enhancement" promotions. If you're suffering from tinnitus that is due to ear damage (especially from the excessive exposure to loud noise), there hasn't been a medical cure for it that I'm aware of, yet there are these "cure tinnitus" pills all over the place claiming to do that very same thing (cure tinnitus). I think a lot of people who are actually thinking of buying some of these baloney products with fictitious claims, might need to read a quick blog post that warns about the possible scams out there. You can find it here: "Tinnitus Scams - Be leery..."

Next in line, is for all the ones who have problems with plugged ear wax. Although the body produces it for a reason, some folks have this gooey junk so bad, that they literally end up with temporary hearing loss. This stuff isn't funny, either. You should try walking around with one functioning ear while the other feels like it has water in it. I will say, it has happened to me before, and it just ruined everything because no matter what I was doing, I just didn't feel like myself. The following link, will provide you with some information that will hopefully help the ones who end up with mild to moderate cases of plugged ear wax and need to find a way to loosen it. This is what worked for me, but I'm not a doctor so if in doubt, use your own discretion and/or go see a professional who specializes in this field. Anyway, you can find the link here: "How to help loosen & remove plugged ear wax."

While doing a quick image search, I found this ear picture. I must say, some people have other alternative outlooks when it comes to ear problems. By looking at the image below, it appears that having a "naked ear" would be a problem... Now that's what I call a styling set of ornamental ears! Ha-ha! Cheers!

[ Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Modified_Ear.jpg ]

---End of Post

Other Healthy Teas: Hibiscus, Chamomile...

2011-03-29T02:13:00.000-07:00

For the most part, unless you are allergic to a particular substance, it seems that most teas found on the market are good for you. This isn't going to be a very detailed post; just pointing out the options of finding other healthy teas besides the typical black and green teas. Personally, I like to mix green and black with clover honey and sugar, as I stated in my post: "My favorite tea with clover honey." Now, before I go any further, I am in no way saying that these other types of tea are better for you than green or black teas, but depending upon your needs, you may find some of these alternative teas to be more suitable for you.

"Hibiscus tea is the infusion made from the calyces (sepals) of the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower, an herbal tea drink consumed both hot and cold by people around the world. It is also referred to as roselle (another common name for the hibiscus flower), flor de Jamaica in Latin America, karkadé in Egypt and Sudan, bissap or wonjo in West Africa, sorrel in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, red sorrel in the wider Caribbean, and other names in other regions." [per Wikipedia]

When I drank this red colored tea with sugar, it had a cranberry-like flavor. Besides the good taste, it was also very pleasing to look at (due to the color), when drank out of a glass with ice... This tea naturally contains vitamin C along with trace minerals and is used traditionally as a mild medicine. Hey, this drink is really big in Egypt. For example, it is said to have been a preferred drink of the pharaohs. ...Anyway, one of the most touted claims about drinking hibiscus tea, is its ability to lower blood pressure - especially if you're suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Speaking of lowering blood pressure, you may also be interested in reading my post: "The Health Benefits of Vinegar." ...Now back to the hibiscus subject: If you'd like to read more about this type of healthy tea and the studies that have linked it to lowering blood pressure, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_tea

Chamomile is a fairly popular tea that is mostly known for its smooth taste and its ability to calm you down. Many people use it as a sleep aid. However, with my experience with it, if you are really riled up or aggravated, it won't be strong enough for a sleep aid. Of course, Chamomile tea is caffeine free. Outside of it being a mild sleep aid, Chamomile tea has loads of health benefits. It is also used to treat sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, acts as a mild laxative and is very healthy for your digestive tract, in general. Chamomile is also an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bactericidal. Studies have shown positive results when it comes to lowering blood sugar, as well. Research with animals suggests antispasmodic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and some antimutagenic and cholesterol-lowering effects for chamomile. As usual, more research needs to be done.

Side note: If you suffer from ragweed allergies, Chamomile may not be for you since it is a relative of ragweed.

Outside of green, black, hibiscus, and chamomile teas, there are other healthy herbal teas out there on the market. The brand "Celestial Seasonings" has a wide variety of such things. For example, their herbal "Tension Tamer" tea contains a big variety: Eleuthero, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Ginger, Chamomile, West Indian Lemongrass, Licorice, Catnip, and Tilia Flowers.

So, in between your bad habits and absorption of atmospheric toxins and pollutions, go grab yourself some healthy tea and try to counter some of these negative free radicals. Cheers!

---End of Post "Other Healthy Teas: Hibiscus, Chamomile..."

Male Enhancement Pills do not Enlarge!

2011-03-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

I get so tired of seeing silly adverts about "male enhancement." It is so pathetic, hearing about all these claims that taking a few pills can turn a miserable, small penis into some colossal cock. If you're that gullible and have the money, go right ahead and spend a fortune on these male enhancement pills and be sure to drop by upon your success, and leave your testimonials here - into the comment field. Ha-ha!

Personally, I'm glad that I don't suffer from a small penis. However, I can't accredit my currently proud penile status to pills. Hmm, it must have been from all the excess pulling and jerking I did at an earlier age. Perhaps I stretched the sucker... Ha! If you'd like to read a fictional short story that I wrote a while back, that praises such things, visit: "Why do people keep staring at my cock?"

Anyway, this is not the typical post found at the Health & Fitness Blog, but like I mentioned in the past, the 'health subject' covers a lot of topics.

Okay, now back to the subject at hand: If you're seeking methods of penis enlargement, you may find a variety of exercises, pumps, surgery, and pills that claim to help you with this particular anatomic issue. ...By my own personal experience in the past, using your mind along with physical routines, stretches, etc., can actually work - but don't expect to be a mule within days. A slow, semi-steady growth of penile tissue takes a long while to achieve; and I don't recommend anything for your methods of growth either - especially since you may injure yourself in the process if you're careless or too rough and whatnot.

Also, the "I have a really Big One" feat is slightly overrated. Trust me, if you're seriously packing a large pole, many women will find that you are too large for sex and/or there will be certain sexual positions and angles of penetration that you will be limited at - due to the female encountering pain from your manhood. Don't you just hate that - when it happens? For example, the missionary position with the girl's legs up may be very limited if you're going too deep. If you run into too much trouble with your truly enhanced meatpole, you can always be a chubby chaser like me and go for the girls with really big backsides. Oh crap, I'm getting way off subject here...

Now, back to the asinine male enhancement pills that do not enlarge: If they would, like many products have done within this genre, just change the name or claim to "male performance enhancer," then I wouldn't have any problem with it. But what usually happens, they put loads of exotic herbs and whatever else in these pills or capsules, make huge claims, then jack up the price for the suckers with minuscule genitalia to waste their money on. I have a lot of knowledge in health science, fitness, nutrition, herbs, vitamins, etc., so I can simply read the content label and laugh about some of these miraculous claims. Besides, looking at bikini babes and sexy models, should work better than these silly herbal pills, right? Ha!

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with taking supplements that might enhance your sexual performance. I'm just saying, don't waste your money on bogus products. To cut to the chase and to save a bunch of chatter from me and money for you, in my opinion, a male would be better off just taking a regular supplement of Ginseng Extract and be done with it. From there, you can try other mind over body techniques along with physical routines and hope for the best. Good luck to ya! Oh, I must say, as sappy as it may sound, the quality of the relationship between two people should still matter the most.

Check out the images below... Well, I guess some girls just prefer big guns:

---End of Post "Male Enhancement Pills do not Enlarge!"

Related Link: "Increase Seminal Fluid - Enhance Ejaculation"

Use a Weighted Vest for Training

2011-03-21T01:58:00.000-07:00

If you're seeking an easy way to add more resistance to your training sessions, a weighted vest may be just what you're looking for......

I've owned one for a while, although I don't wear it as much as I should - but they are really beneficial to use. I find that a weighted vest is especially helpful for the ones that don't rely on lifting heavy weights, and also for the ones who exercise via a variety of training methods.

For example, I bought this type of vest to mainly use while I'm working out on my Power Tower. I only purchased a 10lb weight vest, but it was still enough to make my pull-ups and dips more challenging. This type of physical fitness gear is really great for the ones who workout without weights and depend on their body weight for the sole resistance of the performed movements at hand. ...See, with the addition of a weighted vest, you no longer have to worry about leveling out or "peaking" in strength, since you can always buy a heavier vest if the exercise becomes too easy. Speaking of that, when you get to the point where pull-ups using additional weight becomes too easy, you have room to brag. Ha!

Pull-ups, push-ups, and dips on a Power Tower is not all a weighted vest is good for. There are so many uses for these. Some people use them while running, walking or performing daily tasks. They would also be very effective to use during martial arts training or when you are punching on your heavy bag. All of those prior activities while wearing these vests, will help strengthen your torso, abs, back, legs, etc. - due to the added weight.

Below, I'll provide an image of a typical weighted vest. Most of these they make now, have the option to add or remove the individual weight bars as you see fit. They come in a variety of sizes & weights. I've seen them weigh 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and even up to 80lbs. Dang, I couldn't imagine running around, training or working out with an extra 80lbs. on my back! But, it depends on your physical fitness needs and what type of exercises you'll be using it for - when it comes to picking out the right one. For starters, I'd recommend buying a 10 to 20lb. weight vest.

If you're interested in browsing through a fine selection of weighted vests, either click the image below or follow the link under it:

--------------------> 'Click Here' for additional Weighted Vest selections! <--------------------

Side Note: Upon browsing through the various selections, you may also be interested in ankle weights, wrist weights, weighted gloves, and so on.

---End of Post "Use a Weighted Vest for Training"

Health Benefits of Vinegar

2011-03-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

Vinegar is one of nature's natural remedies for a variety of ailments and conditions; along with its tasty attributes, often used in salad dressings, marinade sauce, etc., and its amazing ability to clean stuff, vinegar is truly a very versatile solution.

Since this is a health blog, I'll try to mainly concentrate on the potential health benefits of vinegar. If you're interested in the other aspects of this acidic delight, just do a web search about "the uses of vinegar," "cleaning with vinegar," or "cooking with vinegar." Anyway...

I suppose one of the most commonly used vinegar tonics, prepared as a simple-to-drink concoction, is the 2 tablespoons of vinegar in one cup of water solution. ...When drank like that, some people add honey or sodium bicarbonate to the mix, to make it more palatable. Personally, I can easily gulp down a cup with 4 tablespoons of vinegar with not much problem albeit I usually go for more water after I'm done; ha-ha!

Many people, especially health fanatics, try to ingest vinegar on a daily basis. I usually only use it purposely, as a concoction, when I feel that my blood pressure has been up for a while or when I feel like my body is suffering from inflammation due to physical or mental stress.
With that being said, one the best health benefits (at least to me) is that vinegar can lower blood pressure and acts as a mild anti-inflammatory.

Some people use vinegar for insect bites, stings, etc.

I'm sure many of you have heard about how vinegar is great for the skin when consumed regularly, helps with acne, and so on.

Now, I can't prove this nor have I did an extensive study on it, but it is believed by many that vinegar can help detoxify the body by flushing out toxins from the liver and other internal organs, the blood, etc. I'd say that it could help a person detox, but I'm not going to say that it is the best method for a detoxification process. If you'd like to read more about this subject, visit my blog post "Natural Ways to Detoxify your Liver."

Some people use vinegar while on strict diets that aim to lose weight, as an aid to curb your appetite. Hmm, maybe that's why I've read before that eating pickles suppresses hunger. Interesting...

The ingestion of vinegar helps with digestion and intestinal functions, and is often believed to have the ability to help lower cholesterol - which is very possible.

Some people have found that using vinegar can help with headaches, hiccups, arthritis, and other uncomfortable ailments. I've also read where people have found vinegar to be an effective treatment for their warts. Vinegar is naturally an anti-microbial agent that helps kill bacteria, viruses, etc.

As you can see, there are many health benefits of vinegar and it has way more uses than what many folks realize. I have loads of this stuff around the house, mainly because I use it to pickle peppers from my garden each year.

However, I will say, it seems like the most beneficial form of vinegar is apple cider. I just have the standard 5% white vinegar for now, since that is what I use for pickling, but I'll probably buy some of the apple cider vinegar in the future, to use for some of the natural remedies - like I mentioned prior. Hey, anything you can use that is natural to replace the use of man-made drugs or chemicals, is always a big plus.

Well, that about wraps it up. I'm sure there are many other uses and benefits for this substance, but I just went over some of the most common ones I have heard of. Cheers!

Related Blog Post: Health Benefits of Lycopene

---End of Post "Health Benefits of Vinegar"

Fight Arthritis & Inflammation - Black Cherry Extract

2011-03-14T03:52:00.000-07:00

This particular supplement has been around for a while, although, when compared to most other supplements found on the market, the known health benefits of Black Cherry Extract is fairly new. It has proven to be exceptionally beneficial for the ones who suffer from chronic arthritis, inflammation, and occasional bouts of joint pain, etc. It is actually one of those silent remedies that, for whatever reason, hasn't been overly marketed or touted as some miracle pill - for the most part. With the pharmaceutical industries thriving on drug sales, I'm sure many folks would rather you just take your standard, prescription arthritis and anti-inflammatory drugs instead of trying herbal remedies to fight your ailments, but hey, what do I know? I'm not a doctor or anything of the like; I just try to avoid drugs and chemicals the best I can (unless they are recreational or for fun, like alcohol - ha!), so if in doubt, use your own judgement or as they say "ask you doctor." Blah-blah...

Anyway, on this post, I'm just going to make a few comments, drop down a couple links that relate to Black Cherry, and stumble right along...... Oh, if you're interested in reading more about anti-inflammatory properties, check out the post I wrote here:
"Heart Healthy - Anti-Inflammatory Sources"

Before we go any further, you may want to read about the Black Cherry tree. Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia:
"The fruit is suitable for making jam, cherry pies and has some use in flavoring liqueurs; they are also a popular flavoring for sodas and used in many ice creams. The black cherry is commonly used instead of sweet cherries in order to achieve a sharper taste. It is also used in cakes which involve dark chocolate such as a Black Forest gateau and as garnishes to drinks like cocktails. [As you can see, the black cherries from this splendid tree have many uses outside of its recently discovered anti-inflammatory properties albeit in my opinion, the health benefits from taking the extracts in pill form outweigh any of these prior uses of black cherry.]
The timber is also very valuable, perhaps the premier cabinetry timber of the U.S., traded as "cherry." It is known for its strong red color and high price. Its weight per cubic meter when dried is around 580 kg. The wood is also used for cooking and smoking foods, where it imparts a unique flavor."
You can read more about the tree itself, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_cherry

[Image Credit:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amerikaanse_vogelkers_bessen_Prunus_serotina.jpg]

Anyway, back to the extract that helps fight arthritis and inflammation: I've tried this before, and it really seems to work. You don't have to be arthritic or anything to need or use this supplement. It acts as an antioxidant, thins the blood to reduce inflammation, and regardless of any medical data, it is black cherry concentrate. Many of you know that berries have an amazing amount of health benefits, so really, if you have a few extra bucks, it wouldn't hurt to buy this supplement from a reliable manufacturer. I've only tried the Natural Brand from GNC, 250mg. per capsule. However, I only take it on occasions, when I feel the need.

Speaking of inflammation, it doesn't have to be joint pain. In fact, inflammation can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, etc., in the long run. Many things in life can cause stress hormones to release certain chemicals in the body that often causes inflammation. Hell, a poor diet, having too much acid in the body (lowered PH), mental stress, sleep deprivation, and so on, can all raise the risk of internal or external inflammation. Black Cherry extract is not the only natural solution, either. If you follow the link I gave a few moments ago (Heart Healthy - Anti-Inflammatory Sources), you'll find a few other alternatives.

Well, enough talk for now. If you're interested in possibly buying some Black Cherry supplements, I browsed through Amazon.com and dug up a search page....

Click the Image Below, to Shop for Black Cherry Extracts:
---End of Post "Fight Arthritis & Inflammation - Black Cherry Extract"

Random Blog Link: "Is a Multivitamin for you?"

Quit blaming the meat!

2011-03-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

I get so tired of all this negative chatter that tries to give most meats, especially red meat, a bad name. I wish a lot of these vegetarian fanatics and red-meat-haters would just stop and think about a few things, before blaming the majority of diseases and disorders on meat!

A few moments ago, I was doing a quick web search about red meat - just to see if all the debate has calmed down over the years. Nope! It was in full swing! Some of these people were referring to red meat like it was a poison and pretty much had a formula "Red Meat = Death." WTF? At the same time, for the ones who weren't vegetarian, they was acting like eating chicken is superior to beef, and so on. Okay, lets get this straight: For one, I enjoy eating all different types of meat. But, unless you're raising your own livestock or fish, do you really know what they eat and/or what they're injected with? To down the cow and praise a chicken that is being raised in mass production, is a little absurd, if ya ask me. As much as I love to devour a plate full of hot wings, baked chicken legs, and use chicken eggs for a good protein source, I do realize that a chicken is a very nasty animal that will eat about anything it can get down its throat; much like a pig (and we all know how swine gets a bad name). A cow, on the other hand, basically eats grain, fresh grass, hay, etc.

I have no problem with vegetarians or people who don't believe in eating meat, but lets don't start blaming meat for the reason some people are in bad health......

Here's what the main problem is (in my opinion) and the reason why a lot of research points to certain types of meat as being the reason for health problems:

What's in it? This is what many people forget. How many hormones, antibiotics, and other drugs has the animal been subjected to in order to speed up growth and production? Yeah, it seems to me that the chemicals and drugs and all that other crazy crap that is hard to pronounce when reading the ingredients on the food labels, is what may be killing people the most.

Processed meats? Okay, a lot of processed meats contain red meat along with white meat, but processed foods such as bologna, hot dogs, beef jerky, and so on, contain sodium nitrites and other unhealthy, risky additives. Speaking of bologna, hot dogs, vienna sausages, potted meat, etc.: I'm still not sure exactly what all in the hell is in there. I mean really, some of this junk tastes good, but anytime I read the words "Mechanically Separated Chicken, Beef, Pork," I'm like, "uh, oh shit!" Your guess is good as mine. Hell, who knows, you may have ate some very exotic meat in those hot dogs for all you know. Ha-ha! Just kidding, well, I hope I was...

Do you trim the fat off your steak? This may very well be a good reason why meat gets a bad rep. Are you one of those who orders or cooks a big rib-eye steak and upon finishing your meal, all you see is a little juice on the plate and nothing else? Damn! It might be a good idea to trim the pure fat chunks and strips off the steak, wouldn't ya say? To me, eating freshly cut steak as opposed to hamburger steak that has already been pattied up, not only gives you a more primal feel when eating the blissful flesh that is full of body building protein and nutrients, it also allows you to have more control over how much of the fat you want to ingest - unlike the hamburger patties or steaks that already have the fat that you'd normally trim, all mixed up with the lean meat.

Eat a lot of sausage and burgers? This is one thing I can't take up for, when it comes to the defense of red meat, pork or beef. If you eat a lot of sausage (the good ol' tasty swine) or a lot of hamburgers (the good ol' American meal), you are getting a mix of all that tasty, unhealthy fat that has literally been run through the mill or grinder to blend the lean cuts with the lard. I've made 'em both, back when I was a butcher. I also enjoy consuming both of these, but at least I know that it is not the most healthy thing I can ingest. You should see somebody make sausage, for example. I still remember adding what appeared to be nearly half lard into the meat tray with lean cuts of pork, running it through the grinder a couple times and presto, all that lard is now blended in with the sausage. Although hamburger meat is leaner than pork sausage, a similar ratio is applied - often 73 lean/27 fat or 80/20 is usually the leanest for the typical burger, which is still a lot of fat per ounce.

Do you burn your meats? This is not good at all for your intestinal and/or colon health. When you burn and overcook your meat, it alters the molecular structures in the meat and can release harmful free radicals, blah-blah, and whatever, that can have a negative impact on your digestive tract. Also, even though I know it's fun and tasty, grilling your food on a charcoal grill is also suppose to be bad on your colon, and whatnot. Hey, if you want to grill, I say grill. Quit worrying about everything and live a little, but I'm just saying it might not be a good idea to grill out with charcoal ALL THE TIME or burn your meats on a regular basis.

Do you just mostly eat meat? If so, this is definitely not a wise choice unless you're living off seafood or something - and even if so, you still need other types of food. I think meat also gets blamed a lot for the ones who come down with ailments due to their body being too acidic. If all you eat is chicken, beef, and pork and consume very little fruits, grains, and vegetables, of course you are not doing your body a favor. With that type of eating habits, no wonder these people are always blaming the meat!

Bottom line: When it comes to meat, the best bet is farm-raised, organic, lean cuts and reasonable-sized servings with somewhat of a balanced diet. Some people don't consider fish a meat (why they don't, I'm yet to figure out), but it is an extremely healthy choice that is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids. Oh, and to finish my defense for beef consumption: it is loaded with balanced Amino Acids which is great for the protein seekers who need it to recover and build muscle from their workouts. Also, beef has B vitamins (especially B-12), a great source of iron, and contains a lot of selenium - which has been found to have anti-cancer properties in some studies. Red meat has also been thought to raise testosterone levels, which is a good thing for males or anyone trying to build muscle. However, I can't say for sure that the last tidbit has been proven without a doubt, but, due to the nutritional value of the common slab of lean beef, I'd say it is very possible. In addition to all of this, Taurine comes from a large variety of meats and seafood. If you're not aware about this particular amino acid, you may want to read the "Health Benefits of Taurine" blog post.

This particular blog entry reminds me of a blog post I did on another site of mine, a while back. It was called "The Optimal Caveman Diet - Foraging Hunter and Gatherer."

---End of Post "Quit blaming the meat!"

Surround yourself with positive Chi, Ch'i, Qi, Energy...

2011-02-28T05:40:00.000-08:00

This post will briefly talk about the health benefits of being surrounded by things you like, and especially in your home or bedroom. In a moment, I'll provide a few links to other blog posts I wrote in the past, that may help give you some ideas or encourage you to add some creative items into your home, that is, if you're interested in stuff like that.

Anyway, there is a lot of information and studies about the beneficial effects on the body when it comes to bringing positive Chi (also known as Ch'i or Qi or "energy flow") into your living environment. After a long days work that is often filled with negative energy, it is good to come home to a place or a room that you feel at peace with and/or comfortable. There are so many people who practically come home from work or wherever, and walk into an even bigger mess. It is hard to "feel at home" if your house is in disarray, wouldn't you say? There is enough stress in daily life, so why not try to at least decorate a room or the entire house in a way that sort of represents your way of thinking or level of creativity. Hey, if bare walls and plain colors soothe you, then that is fine too. If you live in a house with a lot of people, you may be better off concentrating on your bedroom or recreation room (if you have one), etc.

Regardless of this subject matter, I'm not going to be getting into all that Feng shui talk or other Chinese philosophy about positive and negative Chi, mainly because this is a fairly simple concept. I don't see anything miraculous or complicated about why it is healthy to surround yourself with things you like. I think all that chatter about "energy flow" and "positive Chi" and "the force of Qi," is what turns this into a bunch of woo-woo babble and ultimately distracts people from the main point. Ha-ha!

Okay, now back to main reason for this post... Below, I'm going to provide 4 links to other blog posts I wrote elsewhere, that may or may not help give you some ideas for adding some positive energy into your home:

Metaphysical Crystals & Healing Stones - on that post, I briefly go over some of the concepts found within the study of metaphysical tools, charmstones, etc. However, even if all that "crystal healing" crap is just a bunch of marketing baloney, that makes no difference. You can find some spectacular crystals and stones from websites that sell this type of stuff. Personally, I don't use it for any magical practices. I simply use it to decorate the house and provide a positive, natural-looking atmosphere. Some of my favorites are the Amethyst crystal clusters, Rose Quartz, and Malachite.

Looking for Infinity Mirrors? - on that post, I provide a few images of these crazy mirrors along with a shopping link. If you decide to visit the Infinity Mirror post, you'll see how they could easily add some creativity and uniqueness to a person's home or room. Side note: These things are rather expensive, so don't expect to buy infinity mirrors for just a few dollars.

Himalayan Salt Products, Lamps, Tea Light Candle Holders - is a post about the health benefits of heated Himalayan salt - due to the release of negative ions into your home. Within that blog entry, I provided shopping links and images of some of the products that are currently available. I have several of these in my house, and they help provide a very natural look to your living space; very much worth the money!

Freshwater Aquariums - A scenic, decorative hobby... - is a blog post about starting a freshwater aquarium. I just sort of threw that link on here, in case it might interest anyone. Once you get used to managing your tank, you may end up buying more. They are truly beautiful to have, and they can bring positive energy into your home by adding a touch of nature to your room, etc. At one time, I had 4 tanks in the house and 3 was in my bedroom. My girlfriend at the time, said my room looked like "aqua world" or something. Ha-ha! However, fish tanks are not for everyone. In fact, for some folks, they will do anything but provide positive Chi and will be a big headache for the ones who are not responsible enough for this particular hobby. Basically, you need to make sure you really want to get into this hobby before diving in and wasting your money. I've seen some people who ended up with a lot of money spent for nothing because they let their tank become a sewer with dead fish - due to neglect and stupidity. Anyway...

Well, that's all the links for this post. I've used all those things mentioned above to decorate my home, along with other items such as ancient Egyptian stuff, martial art weaponry, dragons, etc. The bottom line: if possible, try to surround yourself with positive energy, Chi, Ch'i, Qi, or however you want to label it (ha-ha!), if at all possible - and especially in your home. Cheers!

---End of Post

Buy Motivational Posters for your Workout Room

2011-02-28T04:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I did a post entitled "Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!" I started to speak about finding various things you could use to motivate your workouts, but I sort of lost motivation along the way and just started posting humorous images. Ha-ha!

Anyway, today I'm speaking about finding motivational posters for your workout room, that is, if you're lucky enough to have a separate room that is solely used for physical fitness training. This doesn't apply to the ones who use a gym, or have their training equipment spread out throughout the house, etc. But, if you do have a workout room, it might not be a bad idea to buy a few posters that really get your macho, ego-filled, testosterone engine revved up.

You know, all this poster talk reminds me of when I was a teenager. I had all these hot babes plastered on the wall in the room I would lift weights and, on occasions, it would backfire on me. Instead of looking at them as I was doing the repetitions and sets of exercises, while imagining being built and attractive enough for them to want me, I would sometimes just start fantasizing a little too much and would end up leaving the room before even starting and working something else out, then saying "the hell with it" and cancel the weight lifting session for the day. Ha-ha!

However, for the most part, it is generally a good idea to have some motivational posters in the area that you do your exercises.

Okay, now to the heart of the post. I was browsing through Amazon for some posters. ...Now they'll list 5 or 6 million posters in their search results, but you can always narrow it down by using more specifics in the search bar. I'll leave that up to you, but I will provide a few images of some of the more attractive posters I found on the first 3 or 4 pages of search results, and after that, I'll provide a link that you can use to start your search from here. By the way, if you do go to buy some posters, don't worry about spending much money. I seen several really good ones for only 2 or 3 dollars, etc.

Click on any image below, to enlarge for a better view:

------------------------>'Click Here' to Shop for Posters via Amazon!<------------------------

Well, while we are on this motivational topic of pictorial bliss, I thought I would go ahead and throw in some additional images below. These aren't posters from Amazon, but I'm sure you can find some that are similar. And as usual, you can click the images below for a better view:

Related Blog Posts:

Bikini Babes & Sexy Images, and Bikini Babes & Lingerie Models - Part 2

---End of Blog Post "Buy Motivational Posters for your Workout Room"

Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!

2011-02-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

This topic could go on forever, with all the failed and successful regimens that relied, lived or died while being solely based and dependent upon something called "motivation." For starters, we have all heard of the losers who set "New Year's Resolutions" year after year, only to get slightly motivated for a day, week or whatever, as they quickly fall right back into their old habits and wait until the next year to "try it again." Try? What is that? The term 'try' actually sounds quite lame, even when compared to other synonyms such as 'attempt' or 'endeavor'... WTF?

Since this is a health-related post, I'll "try" to keep other non-related issues, politics, and certain circumstances out of it, even though many things in life relate to this subject: "Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!"

Okay, so what's your problem: Are you tired of the same old workout? Do you lack vigor? Are you having trouble staying with anything that might involve a routine or a systematic approach? Do you find it difficult or a task just to get out of bed every day? Are you currently suffering from depression? Do you need to take a pill for every ailment that comes your way? Are you a procrastinator that almost has to be forced against your will just to do anything? Well, if you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you may be suffering from something called "lack of motivation."

Damn, I'm really getting off base here, even though I "tried" to keep it health & fitness related. Anyway, the point is: Finding motivation isn't much different than just waking the fuck up and smacking your own ass. Simply put: There is no need to search for what motivates you, it is just a matter of going after what you've been too lazy to get. If you need mediums of motivation outside of your own brain, then certain types of music or motivational movies may also help, but regardless, it really is about getting off your ass, just like the picture below demonstrates:

Well, this post may have lost its original motivation to convey the message that motivation is the key to any successful regimen, but it doesn't mean that it has lost its sense of humor......

Below, I'll post a few random images that I gathered from the web, to depict some of the concepts found from the term motivation. Click on any of the images below, to enlarge for a better view. Enjoy......

Well, I hope you enjoyed this pictorial post of motivational concepts. I meant to get into the methods of finding motivation for working out and/or physical fitness training, but I sort of lost motivation along the way and started leaning more towards the relaxed, humorous tact of communication. Cheers!

---End of Post "Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!"

Mental Exercises - Keep the Mind Active as you Age

2011-02-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

This blog mainly covers topics about physical fitness and other health-related subjects that pertain to the improvement of physical health, but really, when you "think" about it, mental health is just as important - if not more. To keep the mind active as you age, might require more than just a healthy lifestyle, as mental exercises can greatly improve your cognitive functions, help you stay sharp and quick-witted, boost your memory, improve your overall sense of awareness, prevent dementia (mental deterioration), along with other additional health benefits that come with "mind over body" concepts.

Side note: I recently did a blog post over Ginkgo Biloba - which in my opinion, is just a bunch of herbal, marketing baloney with false claims of being able to enhance your brain power. Trust me, exercising your mind via thoughts and mental activity is way better than hoping for some miracle pill to do the work for ya... However, there is some evidence that adding more Omega-3 into your diet, may improve your thought processes; the same applies for ginseng supplements, as well.

...Speaking of that, my mind has been active a lot lately, but not in a good way. Relationship issues, anger, stress, etc., is not necessarily the healthiest forms of mental exercises, to say the least - but it is "mental activity," nonetheless. That reminds me, I really need to beat the hell out of one of those Body Opponent Heavy Bags to alleviate some pent-up frustrations!

Anyway, the point is, as the old adage states: "Use it or lose it." Yeah, that saying is often used for people who suffer from erectile dysfunction, but it also applies to the mind and body.

Well, enough chatter for now; I think you get the point. I recently did a quick web search and found a few sites that contain brain teasers, mind games, etc. You can do your own search if you wish because there are loads of related websites out there, but before I end this post, I'll provide a couple links below:

http://www.brainist.com/ - contains several mind games, brain tests, memory games, speed reading tests, a short version of an IQ test, trivia, and so on. On that particular site, you'll often have to scroll down to the last half of each page to find the games/tests, since the top half is usually full of adverts.

http://www.wordgames.com/ - has word games, puzzles, typing games, crosswords, etc.

For daily tidbits and other word games, go here: www.perpendicularity.org/daily-tidbits-word-games.html

Cheers!
---End of Post "Mental Exercises - Keep the Mind Active as you Age"

Body Opponent Heavy Bag

2011-02-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

I've recently did a blog post over "picking out the right heavy bag / speed bag stand," but after reading that, some of y'all may realize that you either don't have the room for such a stand or that the area you would like to place it, isn't in good enough condition to withstand the weight and vibrations from hardcore use. Either way or even if you do have the room for the traditional heavy bag stand along with a speed bag setup, you may still be more interested in something else......

Have you ever heard of the "body opponent heavy bag?" These are some nifty little/big bastards, and are great for a more realistic, life-like target to punch, strike and kick into. Speaking of that, this may be the perfect bag for you, when you feel stressed with pent-up frustrations and decide to release the fury on occasions!

Below, I'll provide an image of a typical Body Opponent Heavy Bag:

I've recently browsed through a small selection of these types of exercise bags at Amazon.com, and the product description for the one above, was as follows:
"Work the entire upper body with this realistic heavy bag! Body Opponent Heavy Bags are excellent, realistic and life-like heavy bags. Excellent for home, apartment, school, and aerobic boxing. Perfect every punch and kick in your arsenal. Punch to the face, chin, body ... anywhere you'd hit your opponent. Now even more realistic for a variety of techniques. Base fills with approx. 270 lbs. of sand or water for solid and sturdy use. Made of high strength plastisol filled with urethane foam for durability. Adjustable height to accommodate multiple users. Base is rounded for easy roll location."

Personally, I've never tried one of these, but I really enjoyed the water-filled heavy bag I once owned. The pros for these Body Opponent Heavy Bags seem to be it's compact size, life-like appearance, adjustable height, and sturdy base. Now, what I would like to know, is just how much of a beating can this thing really take? They are fairly pricey, but if they are as good as they say they are, it would be well worth the money. In case you're interested, I'll provide a shopping link below:

--->'Click Here' for a selection of Body Opponent Heavy Bags<---

---End of Post

Ginkgo Biloba supplement or just a pretty tree?

2011-01-22T04:45:00.000-08:00

I've heard about people taking Ginkgo biloba capsules, several years ago. In fact, I think I first run across this supplement about 16 years ago. Although, this extract from the Ginkgo biloba tree most likely has some positive effects on the body, the most touted claim for this substance is its ability to improve and preserve memory and possibly preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. These super marketing claims for enhanced cognitive function is what sells the pills, but by most studies I have read, they simply just aren't true and there is no clear-cut evidence to support these wild claims. Personally, in my opinion, when it comes to enhanced brain function, I think it is a big slop of pill-pushing herbal baloney.

Here are a few excerpts from Wikipedia:

---Ginkgo for dementia?
Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids (ginkgolides, bilobalides) and have been used pharmaceutically. Ginkgo supplements are usually taken in the range of 40–200 mg per day. Recently, careful clinical trials have shown Ginkgo to be ineffective in treating dementia or preventing the onset of Alzheimer's Disease in normal people.

---Ginkgo for memory?
Ginkgo is believed to have nootropic properties, and is mainly used as memory and concentration enhancer, and anti-vertigo agent. However, studies differ about its efficacy. The largest and longest independent clinical trial to assess Ginkgo biloba’s ability to prevent memory loss has found that the supplement does not prevent or delay dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Some controversy has arisen over the conclusions drawn by some studies that were funded by a firm which marketed Ginkgo.

In 2002 a long-anticipated paper appeared in JAMA titled "Ginkgo for memory enhancement: a randomized controlled trial." This Williams College study, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging rather than Schwabe, examined the effects of ginkgo consumption on healthy volunteers older than 60. The conclusion, now cited in the National Institutes of Health's ginkgo fact sheet, said: "When taken following the manufacturer's instructions, ginkgo provides no measurable benefit in memory or related cognitive function to adults with healthy cognitive function." ... The impact of this seemingly damning assessment, however, was ameliorated by the almost simultaneous publication of a Schwabe-sponsored study in the less prestigious journal Human Psychopharmacology. This rival study, conducted at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, was rejected by JAMA, and came to a very different—if not exactly sweeping—conclusion: There was ample evidence to support "the potential efficacy of Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 in enhancing certain neuropsychological/memory processes of cognitively intact older adults, 60 years of age and over."

---As you can see, the conflict of studies can cause confusion, but one must wonder what the motives truly are: The truth, whether it works or not? Or, how can we sell more products? And so on...

---More attention needs to be paid to Ginkgo biloba's other potential health benefits, such as:

Out of the many conflicting research results, Ginkgo extract may have three effects on the human body: improvement in blood flow (including micro-circulation in small capillaries) to most tissues and organs; protection against oxidative cell damage from free radicals; and blockage of many of the effects of platelet-activating factor (platelet aggregation, blood clotting) that have been related to the development of a number of cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and central nervous system disorders. Ginkgo can be used for intermittent claudication (muscle pain, generally in the calf, that occurs intermittently during physical activity/exercise).
Some studies suggest a link between ginkgo and the easing of the symptoms of tinnitus (constant ringing of the ears).

---As you can see, when it comes to the battle over whether this supplement can enhance memory or is it just merely a pretty tree, it is obvious that we should just let Ginkgo thrive as beautiful shade trees, at least to me. Think about it: This supplement most likely does improve blood circulation and is an antioxidant, etc., but what's so unique about that? Now, if you have a product to enhance brain power then wow(!), you have yourself a unique product line. You get my drift? Anyway, on to the side effects......

---Ginkgo Side Effects per Wikipedia:

Ginkgo may have undesirable effects, especially for individuals with blood circulation disorders and those taking anticoagulants such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or warfarin, although recent studies have found that ginkgo has little or no effect on the anticoagulant properties or pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Ginkgo should also not be used by people who are taking certain types of antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or by pregnant women, without first consulting a doctor.
Ginkgo side effects and cautions include: possible increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and restlessness. If any side effects are experienced, consumption should be stopped immediately.

---Ahh, the good ol' side effects section always makes you just wanna go start popping their product down your throat, right? Ha-ha! Regardless of all the health talk, Ginkgo biloba still makes for a very pretty tree......

[Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ginkgo_Biloba_Leaves_-_Black_Background.jpg]

Read more about this subject, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba

---End of Post

Picking out the right Heavy bag / Speed bag Stand

2011-01-21T07:37:00.000-08:00

If you have the room or an outdoor garage with lots of open space, these things are an excellent addition to your physical fitness routine. Also, if you're big into martial arts or boxing, using a speed bag and heavy bag can greatly help with your technique, power, and form.

But, this particular post isn't about the types of speed/heavy bags, it is about picking out the right stand for you. And most importantly, is your room in good enough condition to have one?

First, lets get a few things out of the way. If you have an old house, you may need to check a few things in the room you plan on putting it - before buying one of these stands. One must remember, there are a lot of vibrations and banging going on, when using such things - especially the heavy bag.

Check the floor, for starters. Some old buildings have weak spots in the floor. If you find some in the area you were going to place the stand, then just forget it or find somewhere else. In addition to the weight of the stand and the heavy bag, you'll have to place weighted plates or weights at the base of the stand, just to keep it somewhat anchored down. If you got weak floors, this adds up to a lot of weight and could possibly end up causing major damage that could have been avoided.
Next, check the ceiling. Yes, I said the ceiling. I know, you're not going to be doing anything up there or hanging your bag from it since you got a stand, but remember what I said about all those vibrations from the impacts of beating the shit out of your heavy bag? Generally, the speed bag shouldn't be of any worry, as long as it is on a sturdy stand. Anyway, I know for a fact that a weak ceiling will give way if you vigorously use a heavy bag in the same room very often. I've seen it happen before. In fact, a few years ago, I ended up selling my heavy bag / speed bag stand, mainly because of having a weak ceiling. True, I could have got the ceiling fixed, but it wasn't my house; ha!

Okay, now that you have checked for the obvious weak spots in your room, lets get on with picking out the right type of stand...

What do you want if for? If you would like to have a decent sized heavy bag to beat the hell out of - just to relieve pent-up frustrations, or you are mainly interested in developing punching power, or you're real tight for room, you may just want to buy a punching bag / heavy bag stand, as shown below:

[Click the image below, to view a wide selection of punching bag stands]

Okay, now if you're more into the sport of boxing and/or would like to have a combo stand that comes equipped with a speed bag, looking to improve hand-eye-coordination, and if you have plenty of floor space, you may be interested in this type, as shown below:

[Click the image below, to view a wide selection of punching bag stands]

Actually, if you really are just interested in the speed bag, you can buy it by itself. They are often wall-braced, and I just don't trust them (when using in the house) unless they are attached to a stand, but that's just me. It's your call and these things can be quite pricey, so make sure you really want what you select or have the room for it, when picking out the right heavy bag / speed bag stand.

---End of Post

How much can you curl, not hurl?

2011-01-19T13:08:00.000-08:00

On certain occasions and every now and then, I run across a flaming fool who doesn't even know how to execute arm curls and/or even know how much weight they can truly curl, but yet they often claim to be a physical fitness guru at the same time. Oh, man... Have you ever heard of something called "form" or perhaps the little phrase that says "don't cheat yourself?"

I ask, how much can you curl, not hurl - for very obvious reasons. See..., many folks, especially the newbies, only think about the amount of weight that is on the bar, when doing straight curls in the stand-up position. By the way, unlike any other type of curl, the stand-up position with a single bar with weights for the curl exercise, opens more opportunities to cheat than a brothel or bordello in a big city on a Friday freakin' night.

Anyway, I really hate it when somebody brags about how they can "curl" an x-amount of weight when they really only "hurl" the weight upon them, using their back, hips, etc., and/or anything but their biceps & forearms - just to achieve the status of "I curled this and that amount." When in fact, they are usually weak as hell, and just blowing hot air with ignorance... WTF is wrong with these people?

It is also especially funny, when the same folks are contested to prove their strength on an incline slant, using only their arms to raise the weight, or when they are challenged at performing dumbbell curls in the sitting position using nothing else on their body but their arms, and they fail miserably. LOL!

The point is really simple here, and many people know exactly what I'm talking about whether you are either professional weight lifters or knowledgeable physical fitness amateurs or just have plain common sense, and that is: Never cheat on an exercise, no matter what it is; if you can't lift the amount of weight on the bar, etc., never compensate by altering your form by hurling the weight in an awkward fashion, bending improperly, or using other body parts that are not normally required for the exercise, and so on.

I hate to say it, but some people out there really need to get their face smashed into a big pile of dog shit before they'll ever understand, but nevertheless, quit fucking cheating yourself and be honest in what you are able to lift. Besides, if you continue to cheat yourself and take shortcuts - such as poor form, you may end up injuring yourself later on. Man up, and start from ground zero. Besides, since when has lying to yourself ever amounted to anything good? On a change of subject, but yet still related, check out the image below... Ha-ha!

---End of Post "How much can you curl, not hurl?"

Eat Eggs for Protein

2011-01-15T02:59:00.000-08:00

Recently, I wrote a post about how protein is overrated. However, it is still very important. On that particular blog entry, I spoke about how it is asinine to think that you need all these protein shakes, pills, and supplements, and that, unless you are taking steroids or on growth hormones, your body can only handle and/or need so much protein at one time. Anyway, that's enough about how the marketing world has ruined the perspective of protein, and that is another reason why I'm speaking about the incredible, edible egg.

Yes folks, just like the old days, we're talking about eating eggs for protein. Don't even bother thinking about those cholesterol myths, unless you already have an existing medical problem. If you'd like to read why I say such things, visit my "Cholesterol Myths Debunked" post that I wrote on a website of mine a while back, for more information.

Now, back to the subject... Eggs, when consuming both the egg whites and the yolk, are a complete source of protein and provide loads of essential amino acids. Plus, the egg yolks - due to the sulfur content, also help detoxify the body. Speaking of "back in the day" when you would see or hear about how bodybuilders drank raw eggs, I would definitely pass on that option of intake. The risks for getting salmonella nowadays, in my opinion, would be higher due to the mass demand for egg production and the way many chickens are raised in crowded, stressful conditions. There is no need to drink raw eggs, and there are so many delicious ways to prepare them. One minor suggestion, is that if you have a few extra cents, go ahead and try to purchase the eggs that contain the Omega-3 fatty acids; it's just another added benefit to the already healthy, nutritious egg. By the way, eggs are not only good for protein, but they are packed with key nutrients that help keep your body strong and healthy.

In addition to all of this, eggs are also a good source of the amino acid Taurine. If you'd like to read about why this is important, visit the blog post "Health Benefits of Taurine."

Okay, now that we realize that this stuff is not bad like many wanna-be health gurus often try to tell ya, how do like 'em? A quick & easy way is to simply fry them up in a healthy Omega-3 rich oil, such as Canola oil. Many people like to scramble their eggs; just make sure you butter the pan before you go to fry your scrambled eggs. Personally, I add a little seasoned salt, pepper, hot sauce, and milk to my scrambled eggs before pouring them into the frying pan, and it comes out rather tasty and unlike the typical, basic scrambled eggs that usually hit people's breakfast plate. If you're watching your calories and are looking for the lowest calorie version, hard-boiled eggs are the way to go. Just put the eggs in a sauce pan filled with water, boil for about 7 to 10 minutes; replace the hot water with cold - to cool them off; crack and peel the shell; season to taste and enjoy.

Now, there are a few things you can do with hard-boiled eggs. One, is the way I just mentioned prior. Two, you can pickle them in a jar to enjoy at a later date, and three, you can prepare deviled eggs. I love deviled eggs, and I used to only eat them during the holidays when my granny made 'em. But this last Christmas I got to thinking, "you know, these things appear to be simple to make, yet I've never even tried to do this." Let me just say, they are no problem at all to make and if you're on a diet that requires excellent sources of protein, the recipe below may be just what you're looking for - especially if you are getting tired of eating eggs prepared the same old ways (boiled, fried, scrambled).

Quick & Easy Recipe for Deviled Eggs:

"Classic Deviled Eggs" [Great for any occasion; serve chilled]

6 boiled eggs, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or salad dressing, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt & pepper.
---Side Note: I usually replace the teaspoon of vinegar and tablespoon of sugar with a couple teaspoons of sweet relish.

To hard cook eggs, place eggs in enough cold water to cover completely and bring to a rolling boil over high heat; reduce heat to a lower boil and cook an additional 12 minutes (I rarely cook them over 10 minutes, but that's what the recipe says). Promptly chill the eggs in ice water to help keep the yolks bright yellow.
Remove shells from eggs and halve lengthwise with a knife. Carefully remove the yolks and place in a medium bowl. Mash yolks with a fork. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Lightly spoon mixture back into egg white halves. Garnish with a light sprinkling of paprika (optional). Refrigerate until served.

Well, there you have it... Now, go eat some eggs for protein; they're good for you!

---End of Post

Gain Muscle Mass & Power without weights

2011-01-15T00:53:00.000-08:00

This is a fairly simple concept, yet it has become overshadowed by all the marketing hype and advanced methods of training, down through the years. True, using those lovely cast iron plates and weights and/or bulky gym equipment, proves to be very effective when it concerns gaining power and muscle mass. However, the traditional methods of using no weights can also be very effective and, depending on the type of physical fitness you're seeking, the old school methods may be better for certain types of gains.

Lets say, for example, you are into martial arts. Piling on muscle using the bench press and leg press machine, may just slow you down in combat. You need to be strong, quick, and agile in martial arts, and by doing exercises without dead weights and by performing the ones that involve your own body weight instead, it will be more effective for your desired goals. Plus, many of these exercises without weights, also boost your flexibility, and so on.

Okay, lets forget about combat or even sports for that matter. Many folks just simply don't have the room for all this equipment nor can they afford pricey gym memberships. That reason alone, is why many folks (who are interested in physical fitness) seek to gain muscle mass & power without weights - using whatever method possible.

You know, this blog post reminds me of the movie "Rocky 4," when Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) fought the big Russian (Dolph Lundgren). In the movie, Rocky trained using all natural methods while the over-sized, steroid-taking Russian used all this high-tech machinery and fancy gym equipment. Rocky ended up super quick, extra strong for his body weight, and had excellent endurance; the Russian was bulky, herculean, slow, and pampered. I must add, though, I probably wouldn't tell some steroid-freak like the Russian in that movie, that they were pampered, well, at least not to their face - ha! Anyway, the point is, this stuff just doesn't only happen in the movies. Many of your best athletes and Olympic champions use training tactics that doesn't involve all this sophisticated equipment and cast iron weights.

If you're more interested in circuit training and/or don't have time for a regular routine, I mentioned a couple ideas in my "workout without workouts" post.

Anyway, this post boils down to a promo for the "Power Tower." This station provides all the essentials: a sturdy pull-up bar, push-up bars, a dip stand, and allows for leg lifts to work your abdominal region. The only area the Power Tower doesn't focus on, is the legs. Just being mobile, walking, running, doing a few squats, and overall just being active, should take care of that. Personally, I've never understood why anyone would want massive, overly muscular legs. Sure, you may be able to squat your house or be able to pull a semi-truck, but really, all it does is slow you down. I want to be quick, not sluggish, but everybody has their own unique idea of how they see or want things. I'm just saying, the Power Tower will not provide you with leg exercises, but it totally prevails in upper body fitness.

If you'd like to read more about the mighty Power Tower, visit:
http://perpendicularity.org/blog/2010/05/04/power-tower-upper-body-fitness/

If you'd like to skip all the reading, and just browse through a few selections, click the image below:
---End of Post "Gain Muscle Mass & Power without weights"

Flexing Muscles in the Mirror to help Sculpt Body

2011-01-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it sounds a bit vain, but this stuff actually works. After some of those hard workouts and while you're feeling that "pump," it is not a bad idea to go find you a big mirror and start flexing those muscles. The whole process of flexing and holding for several seconds, can actually help sculpt your body for a few reasons.

First, I'll talk about one of the reasons this works, and it's actually proven:

Isometric exercise or isometrics are a type of strength training in which the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction (compared to dynamic/isotonic movements). Isometrics are done in static positions, rather than being dynamic through a range of motion. The joint and muscle are either worked against an immovable force or are held in a static position while opposed by resistance. The same applies to when you flex your muscles and hold them for a period of time, just as many bodybuilders incorporate this type of isometric exercise in the form of flexing, into their regular routine.

Basically, without all the excess verbiage, Isometric exercise is a form of exercise involving the static contraction of a muscle without any visible movement in the angle of the joint.

There are various types of isometric exercises that doesn't involve flexing in front of a mirror, but regardless, it seems to have some benefit when it comes to strength (from a certain, limited angle) and sculpting the body. However, I would only use this as a supplemental exercise and not a primary form of training. You need to exercise using a full range of motion, as well, and I believe that it is far superior to isometric training, hands down.

Okay, here's why I keep mentioning the mirror:

Of course, you don't need a mirror to flex your little heart out, but the second reason, even though it is unproven by science, is that this allows your mind to become more involved. Just imagine yourself being more toned and ripped up, while looking in the mirror. Concentrate on the muscles you really want to target, flex, hold, and relax. Now that you've got your mind involved, you have an extra boost and a sense of motivation for future workouts. Plus, I really believe that the mind has more to do with your health, than many people give it credit for.

If you'd like to read about a good example of mind over body, involving physical fitness, visit a recent blog post I wrote (Mystery of Muscle Memory) @ http://health-fitness-guru.blogspot.com/2010/11/mystery-of-muscle-memory.html

Hey, if you get caught flexing your muscles in the mirror too often, just tell 'em: "Hey, I'm not vain or anything like that, I'm just performing some isometric exercises to help sculpt my freakin' body, damn it!" Ha-ha!

---End of Post

Workout without "Workouts"

2011-01-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

Yeah, now that sounds like an odd statement, but what I mean by "workout without workouts" is rather simple. This is about fitting in miniature bouts of exertions that are spread out into a regular routine within each day, 5 days a week, and it will never seem like you're actually "working out." Based on a 5-day plan: Say, do a certain amount of push-ups in the morning, a small amount of pull-ups at noon, a few sit-ups right before bed. The next day, do a few dumbbell curls in the morning, a set of squats at noon, and a few push-ups right before bed, and so on...

It all adds up, and you'd be surprised at the results that will occur over time. Now, if you're seeking big gains in muscle mass, this will not be effective. I'm talking about the average Joe who is wanting to stay in shape or maybe tone up a bit, get a little stronger, improve overall circulatory health and/or become a little more physically fit, without ever having to endure long "workouts" or feel like they need to have regular, long, grueling exercise sessions, and whatnot.

Now, be creative and remember, you're doing this throughout the day and periodically through the week, so don't get locked in on any particular exercise or you will break the routine and you may end up losing interest and just drop the whole concept all together. See, this method really works well for the ones who get bored easily with long workouts and lose motivation half-way during training. If you can stick through this easy-to-do "workout without workouts" method, you'll be doing this stuff during the day like it is a habit. For once, a habit that is easy to acquire that isn't bad for you!

Supplies: Okay, you may already have a lot of physical fitness gear and equipment or you may not. Either way, you won't need a whole lot of anything. If you don't have room for a weight set or free weights, that is no big deal. However, you may need to purchase a pull-up bar, push-up bars (optional - you don't really have to have them), dumbbells, a dual Ab Wheel (also optional, but it is an old, effective method for working the abs) and hand grips, along with a few other circuit training items that are not bulky and are easily used without setup time or tension adjustments. Think "on the go" when you apply this method, and you'll start to get the knack of this in no time at all. Personally, I strongly recommend the Power Tower, since it will provide you with a station to do your pull-ups, push-ups, dips, and leg lifts (for lower abs) all in one stand! I'll provide the link to the Power Tower, in just a moment.

I'm not going to tell you how you should or shouldn't do this, and everybody has a different tempo and lifestyle, so if you decide to regularly workout without workouts, adjust accordingly to your demand and goal. What I will do, is provide a few shopping links below, in case you know for sure that you may at least need to purchase a few items before you start this easy method of training.

---> 'Click Here' for the Perfect Pull-Up and Perfect Push-Up Bars

---> 'Click Here' for the Power Tower (pull-ups, dips, push-ups, leg lifts, all in one)
---End of Post "Workout without Workouts"

Natural ways to Detoxify your Liver

2011-01-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

Under normal circumstances, the human body can easily detoxify itself. Within the body, your Kidneys & Liver are the powerhouse for such detoxifying activities. However, living in polluted conditions, having bad habits such as smoking tobacco and drinking large amounts of alcohol (for example), eating a poor diet, and not getting enough rest, can all factor in and overload your system which allows toxic substances & chemicals to build up in your body and organs.

Now, here's where the marketers come into play and try to sell a bunch of asinine products that, well, simply do not work. Surely most of you have heard from one time or another, about some super "detox" product or miracle pill or bogus plan. ...Yes, I'm talking about those things that some people are willing to lose dignity over so they can advertise you baloney products, just to make a profit off of your ignorance, desperation and/or gullibility therein. ...But seriously, unless there is a major medical problem involved, there are many natural ways to detoxify your liver and/or your body, for that matter.

I keep mentioning the liver because, without a doubt, it is your primary filter and processor for such things, and it also carries out numerous amounts of other functions, protein synthesis, and so on. In fact, the Liver is the second largest organ in your body, being that your skin is the largest, since it is technically considered an organ.

Anyway, you don't need to purchase some big "liver detox" products and, once again, under normal circumstances, you typically won't have to do anything at all outside of eating reasonably healthy forms of food and breathing semi-clean air. Enough about that, lets get on with some of the natural methods that you can use, if you are really living a taxed lifestyle.

One easy way to help detoxify your body, is to simply pick a day or two a month, and fast (diet/abstain from food). Just drink plenty of fluids and only eat fruits and maybe a few vegetables, but in general, do not consume much of anything that requires very much digestion. Now this works, but if you're like me and have a fast metabolism, we don't have the pounds or fat reserve to shed just to "detoxify" for a few days. What little extra poundage I have, I need to keep for the days I'm stressed or sick and/or don't feel like eating much. If you're rather plump or of a medium to medium-heavy weight, this may be the perfect method for you.

Okay, if you're looking for foods that are naturally great for detoxifying your liver, try eating more of these sulfur-based consumables:

Egg Yolks, Cabbage, Broccoli, Onions, Garlic, Artichoke, Asparagus, Spinach, and Radishes. Of course, there are others, but these are what I consider to be the "heart of the list."

Beverages such as Coffee, are also known to protect the liver from damage cause by excessive drinking. ...Throw in some Green tea and Chocolate, and you are even more protected from the free radical damage caused by some of these toxic substances.

Vitamin C plays a big role in the initial phases of detoxification. Obviously, anything natural and involves things such as fruits and vegetables, is bound to be good for you, duh! A simple juice diet, works well for many, when trying to purify and/or purge the body from built-up toxic chemicals.

If you're seeking natural herbal supplements, I'd recommend Ginseng, Taurine (non-herbal), and Milk Thistle. If you're interested in reading more about Milk Thistle capsules, and especially if you drink alcohol on a regular basis and smoke tobacco daily, you may want to visit:

http://perpendicularity.org/blog/2010/05/03/liver-detox-milk-thistle/

Eat, drink, and be merry... Cheers!
---End of Post "Natural ways to Detoxify your Liver"

Gain Mass - Don't Overtrain your Muscles!

2010-12-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

This is somewhat of an elementary concept to bodybuilding and/or building muscle mass, albeit a lot of inexperienced and experienced weight lifters still commonly make this simple mistake. One must remember the basic science behind gaining muscle mass, and that is: Your muscles grow while you're resting, not when you're constantly working them to death. True, they often swell while working out and many gym folks call it "getting pumped," but that is just from the temporary surge of excess blood that pumps into your muscles from the current exertion that is taking place.

Anyway, it is often hard for the eager ones and bodybuilding beginners, along with the muscle-bound fanatics, to not overtrain, at times. I refer to it as "overtraining" when you work your body so hard, that it barely has time to recover in between workouts. When this happens, it is usually all your body can do, in its limited amount of rest time, to repair enough muscle tissue/fibers in between workout sessions - just to get back to its prior state without any gains whatsoever. Now, doesn't that sound counter-productive and like a big waste of time and effort or what???

Take some breaks, don't overtrain your muscles and create some damn time gaps, it is simple as that, when it comes to gaining that muscular mass! In fact, after going through a regular routine of physical fitness training for a couple months or three, it is also good to take an entire week or two off. Remember what I said in my "muscle memory" post? If you've read that particular blog entry, you'll not be alarmed or fear the possibility of muscle loss during your down times, layoffs, off weeks, etc. Once again, your muscles grow during the recovery process, provided that you ingest an ample supply of nutrients, protein, and so on.

Another thing that semi-relates to this "muscle growth" stuff, is to shock your system from time to time. It is a training method that involves an ever-changing routine. If you apply this method, you would completely alter your workouts from month to month with a completely different set of exercises and/or angles of motion. Although, you don't necessarily have to entirely omit certain exercises that focus on the target areas within your desired goals of gain, but I'm just saying: when you shock your body with variety and unpredictable motions, you are apt for a full spectrum of muscle gains along with versatility and flexibility.

I know that there are many professional bodybuilders who eliminate the possibility of this "don't overtrain the muscles" dilemma - so they can gain more mass, by simply working one or two muscle groups once a week. Their routine usually consists of a 6-day-a-week program, with one day of rest, but during those 6 days, they never work or focus on the same group of muscles more than once a week. However, for most people who are not "professional bodybuilders," you will not need to resort to such things. For example, you may be a guy who just wants muscular arms and a toned chest. If that's the case, you could easily have great gains by working those areas hard, about once every 5 to 7 days and ever so often, take a couple weeks off.

Look at it this way: You're just not designed to be a workhorse, and to naturally gain muscle mass without drugs or growth hormones, it will take a lot of time and effort.....

---End of Post 'Gain Mass - Don't Overtrain your Muscles!'

Easy ways to add Omega-3 to your Diet

2010-12-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

First, before I even mention some easy diet changes to get this particular fatty acid into your system, I must comment about the pill form of this substance that is normally very easy to find at your local health stores, supermarkets, or pharmacy.

Omega-3 capsules is one of the few supplements that come with marketing hype, during the last several years, that is actually worth the money. Pills that are overly advertised usually end up being worthless, but this stuff is actually very beneficial to your body (improves mental health, joint health, has anti-inflammatory properties, promotes heart & circulatory health, and so on), in many ways. You can get Omega-3 capsules in the form of Salmon Oil, Krill Oil or basic Fish Oil, along with other sources such as Flaxseed oil, etc. Personally, I just go with the typical Fish Oil capsules that are purified to eliminate Mercury and are commonly derived from anchovy, mackerel, and sardines. Hey, it is Omega-3 that I'm wanting, so why spend all the extra money on a product that claims that it has a "better source" of Omega-3 from krill as opposed to fish or whatever, when it is basically the same thing...ya know? ...Yeah, that Omega-3 stuff. Below, I'm going to type about a few easy ways to add Omega-3 to your diet without supplementation.

---Here's a quick, easy way to add Omega-3 to your diet if you do very much pan frying: change your oil, if you've been using regular vegetable oil. Switch over to Canola oil, which contains these beneficial fatty acids as opposed to the common vegetable oil, corn oil, etc. However, I wouldn't recommend Canola oil for deep frying or high temperature situations, since this oil will break down quicker and actually do more harm than good if subjected to high-temp conditions. Even though it doesn't contain Omega-3, I use Peanut oil for deep frying because it can withstand a lot more heat than most oils, and this means it will take longer to break down and create toxic substances and/or undergo unhealthy molecular changes.

---If you eat eggs, buy the ones that contain Omega-3. Don't worry, you'll know which ones do because it will be advertised and printed all over the container for obvious reasons.
Eggs produced by chicken that are fed a diet of greens and insects produce higher levels of these beneficial fatty acids as opposed to the chickens that are fed the typical diet of corn or soybeans, and whatnot.

---If you enjoy eating seeds & nuts, throw in some Walnuts, as they contain a decent amount of Omega-3 and are very easy to consume.

---Eat fish or seafood weekly. Yes, the biggest supplier of Omega-3 is cold-water fish and seafood. Yep, it can be quite expensive, but not all seafood products are. Try to stay away from or eat less often, the fish that are higher up on the food chain like the predatory fish, since they can contain high levels of mercury along with other unwanted toxins due to polluted waters, etc. Personally, I like all types of fish & seafood, but I generally eat more catfish, salmon, and shrimp, than anything, but I also like Tilapia, Flounder, Cod, Pollock, and so on.

---Now, back to the supplements... One of the most convenient "easy ways" to add Omega-3 into your diet plan, is by taking Fish Oil capsules. The bottle usually recommends taking 3 pills (1 gram each) a day, but I only take one capsule a day, since I regularly incorporate other ways, that I mentioned above, to get this particular fatty acid into my body. Luckily for me, I enjoy most types of food, so I have no problem getting Omega-3 into my diet by intentionally eating certain things for this very reason, throughout the week. However, if you're eating all the wrong types of food and/or junk, a little extra Omega-3 added to your diet will not do much good, since it is all about the Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 ratio, so you might want to consider what crap you've been ingesting in between being health-conscious.

--------------->'Click Here' to shop for Fish Oil and Omega-3 Supplements<---------------

---End of Post

Exercises for the computer geeks...

2010-12-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

...Holy Cyber-God, what a sorry subject we have stumbled upon. Yes, the inevitable problems that many computer geeks often face, is poor blood circulation (except when they are, well, doing WHAT at the computer? LOL! Oh, never mind the circulation thingy...), a non-active social life with people in real-life scenarios (that can be a good thing, at times), a lack of outdoor hobbies, a sorry status of physical fitness, and so on......

Welcome to the typical computer geek's den, without all the junk and excess electronics (it's just a picture, for an example; but, is this your home?):

By the way, I use the term 'geek' loosely, as that is just a general stereotype for the electronic lover, etc. No offense or insult intended; plus, y'all are often the ones inventing cool stuff, stimulating the economy, and/or making all the money online. Cheers! Anyway......

Okay, now that we have established the whereabouts of our electronic haven that feeds us the Internet, we need to find a possible point of being able to at least fit in some exercises while you live your life at the computer, besides the common jerks & twists that may happen upon certain erotic web searches. Hmm..., that could have been an ambiguous statement, but I also say that for many reasons. I recently did a web search, before typing about this subject, and I found loads of "how-to" websites and BS blogs, all talking about "how to exercise at your computer" and "workout while at your computer desk," along with so many other phrases that related to this subject.

What I found, was a heaping load of steaming dung that was a waste of time to read. I mean really, some of these nutcases were talking about "doing the twist," and raising this and that, squirming here & there, jerking up & down, and I even read how some people recommend to "march your legs in the air" while on the computer. Ha-ha! What a load of shit! It sounded more like they were promoting you to squirm, wriggle, and shake in your computer seat as if you either had a bad anal rash, genital problems, or pubic lice... Get real!

That's what this post is about, getting real. Lets face it: there is only so many exercises that you can do at your computer desk, that are reasonable and effective.

I will not even remotely consider that you do the odd things that these so-called online "writers" tell you to do, because I have better things to write about than filling web space with asinine statements. Anyway, as you should know, if you want to truly exercise, get off the damn computer and go do it! BUT, there are a few simple things that work quite well, if you're stuck at the seat for an extended amount of time.

Have a dumbbell near your computer station, desk, whatever. Personally, I have a 40lb. dumbbell on standby, at all times while using my computer, in case I get frustrated or angry, for example. Anyway, with the dumbbell or dumbbells, you can do curls and overhead presses, while listening to music or in between web searches. A dumbbell is versatile, and you can throw in some arm raises for your deltoids, as well. Also, have a nice pair of hand grippers near by. I recommend the "Captains of Crush Hand Grippers," but choose whatever you desire. Those two things alone (dumbbells & hand grips), are about the best you can do at your desk. Anything else, you are either going to have to bring heavy gym equipment to your station, look like a fool while trying to "do the twist" at your seat - like other people often recommend (ha-ha!), or you're simply going to have to just cut your monitor off and go workout, take up an outdoor hobby, and whatnot, dear geeks.

I hope you get the point that I'm actually trying to make here......

---End of Post "Exercises for the Computer Geeks"

How to Estimate Your Max Bench Press Lift

2010-12-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

A lot of people out there are so deeply concerned with their "Max Out," better known as the max (maximum) amount of weight that they can bench press for one rep and/or at one time.
Personally, I think the whole obsession over this amazingly overrated feat, is just that - an obsession.

The Bench Press is a lift that mainly works the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. All bodies are shaped & sized differently, and the success of achieving a higher max lift depends on many factors. For one, you cannot say that a person who benches 400 lbs. is stronger than someone who bench presses 300 lbs., for example. Many times, the short-armed, broad chested individual has the advantage over the long-armed, narrow chested person, without sheer strength even being a factor. You throw in some good form along with the shortened extensions of exertions and a perfected technique, and presto, you have a max lift that is way higher than a person who is way stronger, but has the disadvantage under the bench, and so on.

Anyway, I'm not writing this post to analyze the "bench press" in all the facets found within the motion itself, but I'm simply going to provide a formula that will give you a semi-accurate measure and/or an estimate of what your maximum, one rep (max out) bench press lift is, without having to worry about a spotter or the weights falling on your chest.

The Formula:

Take the "weight lifted" while performing the bench press and divide it by the whole figure found by taking the numeric value of 1.0278 minus 0.0278 times the number of reps involved.

It would look like this in math: [weight lifted / 1.0278 - (0.0278 x # of reps)]

By using that formula, for example, if you lifted 225 lbs. 6 times, your estimated max lift for the bench press would be nearly 262lbs.

Another example, using this form of calculation would be, if you can bench press 215lbs. for 5 reps in a row, your maximum lift would be estimated at 242 lbs.

I've tested this formula years ago, and it is reasonably accurate. It is, of course, not 100% precise down to pound - due to many variables that may vary from day to day within the human body itself, but it makes for an excellent estimate when you have no spotters around for safety, while testing your maximum bench pressing abilities.

Well, I thought I would share that with ya. Happy lifting and good luck with your gains......

---End of Post "How to Estimate your Max Bench Press Lift"

Protein is Overrated...

2010-12-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

When it comes to bodybuilding and/or any hype that involves slogans such as "how to build muscle mass," and so on, protein intake is important, but is also highly overrated.
I think most of the hype originally came from marketing material of the past, that used this "you should ingest tons of protein to gain muscle" BS, all via the attempt to sale more protein shakes, supplements, powders, amino acids, etc. From there, which it spawned, the misinformed began to inform the uniformed, gullible suckers with an open wallet......
Due to me being constantly surrounded by retail slop, poppycock, and marketing swill on a regular basis, whether it be online or offline, I understand the requirements for some of the concepts and hogwash behind a good sales pitch, but it always vexes me to no end...when people start stating such asinine claims as if they were an actuality and/or a fact.

Unless you're taking steroids or on growth hormones, the body can't synthesize large intakes of protein and send it all into the muscle fibers for quick results. Building muscle takes time, and wasting your money on all of these protein shakes & supplements that suppose to be providing this made-up, fictitious "required amount" of protein, is utter baloney. I've heard people say that they need 1 gram of this "stuff" per pound of body weight. ...So, if you weigh 200lbs., some of these mislead folks think you'll need to consume 200 grams of protein per day! Get real! For one, we don't all have the money to buy expensive meats, pills, and protein powders, for example. Secondly, no matter how hard you work out, the recovery stage still takes time and eating a diet that is naturally ample in protein, will definitely be sufficient unless, like I said before, you are on growth hormones and/or steroids. You simply don't need to ingest hundreds of grams of protein a day! The whole notion, is absolute nonsense!

Plus, when you do consume an enormous amount of protein that the body obviously doesn't need all at once, you'll just burn it off as energy. And let me tell ya, protein is not a clean fuel source; it brings 4 calories per gram - like carbohydrates, but it strains the body more to break it down into usable energy - as opposed to simple & complex carbohydrates and saturated & unsaturated fats/lipids. When you don't get enough carbohydrates in your diet, for example, such as the diet plans that consist of mostly meat, your body starts to accumulate toxic substances in the blood like ketones, due to your body having to utilize protein and body fat for energy. The toxins from this process can also lead to halitosis and excess acid in the body, along with other unwanted issues that I won't even bother to mention......

---The bottom line is: Quit wasting your money on the hype; put in the natural hard work & effort that is required, and use some damn common sense!

---End of Post "Protein is Overrated"

Bikini Babes & Lingerie Models - Part 2

2010-12-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

...As I recently said in my post Bikini Babes & Sexy Images: "Visual stimulation and/or anything that motivates, titillates, and whatnot, is always good for your well-being." And that is why I occasionally take a break from the typical blog posts that only pertain to health & fitness by means of physical exertion, supplements, healthy eating, etc., and bring some visual stimuli into the mix; ya know, for motivation...

Taylor Stevens:

This next pic, is of her wearing a pink bikini, swimwear, whatever. Taylor has a super set of big boobs, and while wearing the nerd glasses, it often adds a touch of sophistication into the fantasy......

Image #2 features Taylor Stevens, feeling a little more sensual......

The Sexy 'Sara Jay' in Erotic Lingerie:

Jasmine Fiore:

Although I prefer my babes to be on the thick side, especially when it comes to their backside, Jasmine was still a sexy, exotic-looking little swimsuit model, before her unfortunate demise......

Need more motivational models? Check out this YouTube video of Coco Austin, basking in the sun on a beach: [You'll have to wait about 20 seconds into the video]

---End of Post "Bikini Babes & Lingerie Models - Part 2"

Recent "Babe Galleries" - Updates: www.perpendicularity.org/jayonna-fabro-2.html
or visit: "Exotic Models - Sexy Babes - Gallery Links"

Why I use Coral Calcium...

2010-12-08T08:35:00.001-08:00

Without all the hype, BS, and baloney, I'll tell ya why I use Coral Calcium. A few years ago, there were loads of infomercials out there, claiming all these super-powers & cures that could be achieved by taking "the Coral." I've even heard claims that it could cure all diseases and even cancer, due to it being able to stabilize and/or raise the body's PH level to the ultimate anti-sickness level. Hell, I think they were even promoting that it could reverse the aging process, as well. Needless to say, these folks were pitching a big sales pitch in hopes of selling even more of their "special" product.

I'm not saying that by taking Coral Calcium, it won't pose potential health benefits, but that's not why I take this product. I will say, people who purchase regular calcium pills that contain nothing but calcium citrate and/or calcium carbonate, are more or less just wasting their money unless they are taking Vitamin D with it. Anyway, when most people hear about this mineral, except for the ones who were bombed with the infomercials I mentioned prior, they usually think "bone health." Even though adequate intakes of calcium, if properly absorbed and retained in the body, does seem to help with bone health and bone density, this is still not why I take this product.

Why I use Coral Calcium, is not something that is usually mentioned on the product's label. I simply take it before bedtime to help me sleep and for central nervous system health. However, I don't just take any product; I take the one that has Vitamin D3, Magnesium, and Vitamin C added. When you mix a small amount of Magnesium in with the Calcium, which is absorbed better with the added Vitamin D, this makes for a mild, natural sleep aid that also helps relax the muscles, lower your blood pressure, and calm the nerves and, well, it works for me. You must remember, I'm not very big into taking artificial, man-made drugs - especially not for sleeping, and I'm not taking the hormonal supplement known as Melatonin, either. Even though Melatonin can be effective if used sparingly and when needed, I'm just not that big into intentionally altering my hormone levels - unless it is absolutely necessary.

Here's the Coral Calcium product that I recommend:

------------>'Click Here' to Search via Amazon for Coral Calcium products<------------

---End of Post "Why I use Coral Calcium..."

Martial Arts is also great for Physical Fitness...

2010-12-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

When most people hear the terms Martial Arts, many folks think of stuff like: self-defense, kung-fu fighting, Bruce Lee, high kicks, breaking boards, and so on... But, even without all of that and even if you don't know what in the hell you're doing, martial arts is also great for physical fitness. Outside of weight training, exercising, etc., it wouldn't hurt to incorporate some kickboxing, boxing, kung-fu, weapon training, and whatnot, into your training sessions.

Back in the day, when I had more room, I used to have a heavy bag and a speed bag to punch and kick on - after my regular workouts involving weightlifting. I found it to be an excellent top-off, cool down, and finishing touch to a hard workout. I also felt like I balanced my workouts by using some of the muscles that are not worked as hard through standard motions such as bench presses and curls, for example.

Like I said before, you don't have to know the art or even be good at Karate or whatever, but by going through the motions on a regular basis, you'll add extra flexibility, agility and strength, over time. Hey, it is worth a try...especially if you're tired of the same physical fitness routines.

If you're interested in grabbing a couple books to learn more:

'Click Here' to Shop via Amazon for Books related to Martial Arts

If you'd like to learn more about the weaponry used in this combative art, visit:

Traditional Weapons - Martial Arts - Bruce Lee included...

Hey, here's a kung-fu video for motivation... It's a Bruce Lee YouTube video from the movie Enter the Dragon:

Image of Bruce Lee:

...Now, what are you waiting for? Go kick some ass!

---End of Post "Martial Arts is also great for Physical Fitness"

Simple ways to Build Powerful Deltoids...

2010-12-03T06:52:00.001-08:00

I'd say that most guys with an ample amount of testosterone pumping through their veins, would like to walk around with large, broad shoulders and powerful deltoids. Ya know, its one of those manly traits. However, since broad shoulders involve how large your frame is and how your bones chose to grow, you may be stuck with a less than desirable build - depending on your genetics. Although, even if you have an average or a narrow build, you can still appear to have broader shoulders by beefing up those deltoids. Below, I'll provide a few simple ways to do just that......

Image of the Deltoid muscles:

The shoulder contains 3 types of deltoid muscles: the anterior (front) deltoid, posterior (rear) deltoid, and the medial/lateral (side) deltoid.

A simple way to build up the front deltoids, is by doing any type of pushes, such as push-ups, bench-presses, etc. This is one of the easiest parts of the deltoid to strengthen, since the movements required to build this area seem more natural.

A simple way to build the side deltoids, is by doing lateral raises. You can use dumbbells for this exercise. ...It is where you hold the weight by your side and then slowly raise you arm up to shoulder level, then lower back to the starting position. You can always alternate the lateral raises by doing them sideways and frontwards.

If you'd like to work the front and side deltoids using one exercise, I'd recommend the Military Press for building powerful shoulders and triceps. You can do these overhead lifts with dumbbells, but I'd also recommend using a bar. You can also alternate this exercise by lifting the weight up & down in front of your head and by going through the same motion, but behind your neck instead of in front.

A simple way to build the rear deltoids, is by doing bent over lateral raises. Instead of using the standing position to build the side deltoids, bend over at the waist and, with a slight bend in the knees, hold this position while doing the lateral raises. Bent over rows, also work well. Reverse dumbbell flies is another great exercise for this particular muscle group. Just bend over, like when doing bent over lateral raises, and hold two dumbbells in your hands with your palms facing each other. Now raise your dumbbells backwards, until your arms are parallel to the floor.

Side note: The rear deltoids are often neglected, but they still get some secondary work from a variety of exercises that you use to strengthen your back, shoulders, triceps, etc. Personally, I focus more on the side and front sections of the shoulder muscles, mainly because there are more enjoyable exercises for those areas. Besides, I'm not a big fan of bent over rows or anything that unnecessarily strains the back. But, if you're a hardcore bodybuilder, you're probably seeking a balanced build and you may have to go buy special equipment just for the rear deltoids, that can perform reverse flies, face pulls using a pulley system, and so on.

Now, that's enough talk; go build ya some powerful, manly deltoids...

---End of Post

Health Benefits of Lycopene

2010-12-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment. This particular phytochemical is most commonly consumed by eating tomatoes or tomato-based products such as ketchup, tomato paste, sauces, etc. Lycopene is also found in a few other foods; I'll list those in a moment... Lycopene is chemically labeled a carotene, but it has no Vitamin A activity.

Once Lycopene is absorbed into the body, it accumulates in the liver, adrenal glands, and testes; it is also present in human serum, skin, lungs, prostate, and colon.

Possible Health Benefits of Lycopene:

It can help prevent cardiovascular disease, various types of cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, and can possibly improve male fertility.
It is a powerful antioxidant and is being studied for its potential anti-cancer properties.
When concerning cancer, the stronger forms of evidence are linked towards its ability to help prevent lung, stomach, and prostate cancer.
Some studies have suggested that Lycopene may also help prevent certain types of eye disorders (cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, etc.)

However, there are a few factors that make it hard to find clear-cut evidence for some of these claims. For one, synthetic versions of the substance is often used (the ones typically found in supplements) as opposed to natural sources, during clinical studies. Secondly, when using natural sources, the foods that contain a significant amount of Lycopene, also contain a lot of other beneficial phytochemicals/phytonutrients and this makes it hard to determine how much impact a single phytochemical, such as Lycopene, has on the body when compared to other substances within the actual food source.

Natural Dietary Sources of Lycopene:
Below, I'll provide the Source and the amount of Lycopene via μg/g wet weight......

[Data gathered from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene ]

Gac (A rare Southeast Asian fruit found throughout the region from Southern China to Northeastern Australia): 2,000 - 2,300

Tomato sauce: 63 - 131

Tomato ketchup: 124

Tomato juice: 86 - 100

Watermelon: 23 - 72

Pink Guava: 54

Papaya: 20 - 53

Tomato (raw): 8.8 - 42

Rose hip puree: 7.8

Pink Grapefruit: 3.6 - 34

Apricot: ...less than 0.1

If you'd like to read about all the "inconclusive" evidence along with loads of statements saying that familiar trite phrase, "they don't have enough scientific evidence," go here: http://www.bing.com/health/article/naturalstandard-125008/Lycopene?q=lycopene

Tomato Juice prevents emphysema in animal models: "Drinking tomato juice completely prevented emphysema in mice exposed to tobacco smoke, report researchers from Japan." Read more... http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Tomato-juice-prevents-emphysema-in-animal-models

I don't know about you, but I have no problem adding Ketchup and/or Lycopene into my diet......
---End of Post

Bikini Babes & Sexy Images

2010-11-28T02:38:00.000-08:00

Since this blog is geared towards health-related subjects and physical fitness topics, I may also occasionally add blog posts featuring sexy bikini babes, swimsuit models, etc., as long as the images aren't violating any copyright laws, and so on. For now, I'll just use a few pics that I already have posted on other sites.

...How these types of posts relate to health, is simple. Visual stimulation and/or anything that motivates, titillates, and whatnot, is always good for your well-being. In fact, I remember when I first starting working out, years ago, that I would often have those days were I just didn't want to do anything that related to the routine of physical fitness. So, I'd try to have my walls (in my exercise room) blasted with fresh pics of hot babes and bikini models - you know, for motivation. Ha-ha!

Anyway, here is a couple sample pics below......

Jayonna Fabro:

I truly love Jayonna's backside! You should see her in a skimpy bikini! Anyway, I decided to use one of her more "tame" images for this particular blog, but if you'd like to see an awesome photo gallery of this super hot model with loads of pics and links to her personal website, go here:
http://www.perpendicularity.org/jayonna-fabro.html

Coco Austin:
Nicole "Coco" Austin has you covered from top to bottom, and she can obviously sport any type of attire very well, with those apparent assets hers. With a body like that, her garments are just holding her back. Ha-ha! To check out more images and links to her personal website, visit http://anti-dolt.blogspot.com/2010/03/sexy-big-booty-babe-coco.html for additional resources.

Well, I'd add more erotic models, lingerie & bikini pics to this post, but I'll save some of the others for later on down the road. After making a certain number of blog posts that relate to health & fitness, it is good to stop for a break and collect a little sensual healing that these images often emit. Cheers!

---End of Post

Grow your own edibles!

2010-11-22T01:24:00.000-08:00

...Or as some of them backward hillbillies or good ol' farmers with loads of experience may say, "I grow my own food and that there stuff is very edible to us folks. It taste better than that 'er store-bought crap they be sellin' at our local market."
No matter what dialect you speak, the fact is, home-grown is simply better.

I bet the old farmer depicted below, knows all about it:

I would have entitled this post, "Grow your own food!" but I realized after doing a quick web search, that the term 'food' is way too commonly used in blog titles. By the way, I wonder if most of these folks of today even know what real food is? At any rate, I went with, "Grow your own edibles!" for obvious reasons to be named later.

I recently went to my first Real Estate auction. A lot of the people there were older, frugal, thrifty, and mainly looking for some steals, bargains, and great deals on the small junk that is often found at auctions. Anyway, that's not the point. While I was there, I got to talking to one of the older fellows who had been around for quite a while. He was going on about how food isn't the same anymore and how a lot of things are tasteless and/or doesn't taste like it should. I totally agreed with him, and mentioned how the only way you can have "real" food anymore that you know hasn't been injected with chemicals/hormones or grown in poor conditions due to mass production, is to raise it yourself.

It is a very simple concept, but I really think that many people (especially the new generation) don't realize just how poor a lot of the food found in the grocery stores & markets really is. Hell, some of it is barely edible - if that!

I understand that some people just don't have the land to raise enough food, but use what ya got! If you're lazy or short for space, help support local farmers around you, and offer to buy some of their crop. I'd say that the majority of people can at least put out a small garden. Don't bomb your crop with pesticides & poisons, either. You want it to be organic, and you're in full control when it comes to what goes into the soil, while growing your own edibles.

I hate looking at the content labels on food products, while shopping in a grocery store, as I get the joy of reading all of these crazy words that are hard to pronounce. I'm often thinking to myself, "They put all that in there? What in the hell is that? How do you say that chemical, oops, I mean word?" It is insane, with all the preservatives, artificial colors, chemicals, tenderizers, hormones, and other junk that they put in your food - that you would not normally consume if things were up to you or if you had full control. Like I've said many times to other people, it is not the food that is killing people, it is all the crap they put in it!

When I say "grow your own edibles," this isn't limited to small or large gardens. If you got the room, raise livestock as well. For example, I know rabbits & chickens are easy to raise, cheap to feed, and don't take up much room. I don't have the experience to tell you how difficult it is to raise hogs & cows, but I know that you'll need a lot of land to raise bovine. Then again, if you're lazy or don't have the land space, support your local farmer. It is not that hard to find someone local who raises their own meat. Make an offer and you may get a good deal. Even if you pay a decent amount of cash, you'll still most likely get a bargain when buying in bulk and, either way, you'll know (find out how they are raised first) that you're getting quality organic meat without all the harmful additives.

Kill or catch your own edibles: Small & big game hunters also reap rewards by making fresh kills. This is great, if you like eating rabbits, squirrels, doves, quail, deer, etc. If you enjoy consuming fish, get motivated and try to catch your own, that is, if you can find a clean pond or a water source that isn't polluted. I usually just take the easy way out, and buy pond-raised fish.

Another health benefit: All of these things, whether it is growing, killing, or catching your own edibles, does require effort. Well guess what? It is also fun! A lot of people may be surprised, when they put their computer down along with their silly electronic gadgets, at how much more there is to life than senseless contraptions. Plus, most people could use some exercise! Today's world, for the most part, seems to be shifting into Cyber mode while people are letting their selves be dominated by mindless machines. Have we entered into the Man versus Machines mode? Well, it is your life, so you make the call......

A Must-Have for Raising your own Food:
------------>'Click Here' to browse through a fine selection of Chest Freezers!<------------

---Remember: The more independent a person can become, the better.

Korean Ginseng Extract

2010-11-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

I wonder, hmm... What is the first thought that commonly comes across most people's (especially males) minds, when they hear the word Ginseng? A lot of males automatically think, "Wow! That's the stuff that can give me some of that holy penis power! Oh, yeah! I'll take me a couple of these pills and presto, look at my mighty erection from this here Korean Ginseng Extract!"

Ha-ha! Well, that may not be your exact thoughts but, either way, I never said this herbal capsule couldn't help your mighty man-shaft perform the duties that are often required from such erotic warriors as yourself, albeit there is really a lot more to this herb than that...

Ginseng (there are many different types) acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This herb helps the body deal with stress (adaptogen), increases sexual desire (aphrodisiac) and fights erectile dysfunction. Ginseng is a natural stimulant that can boost energy levels and help with Type 2 Diabetes by lowering and/or stabilizing blood sugar. Ginseng Extracts contain ginsenosides and flavonoids - these bioactive factors could possibly have anti-cancer properties and they promote overall health, well-being, and physical performance. In fact, many people believe that it helps with their cognitive function, as well. The enhanced brain function is probably due to Ginseng's ability to raise the blood-oxygen levels. Ginseng is also known to have a positive effect on the body's immune system. This amazing herb not only increases your endurance, but it also assists the body during the recovery stages - whether mental or physical. For example, many people who are suffering from symptoms of withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, often find that ginseng helps calm them down during their recovery stages.

Anyway, there are so many good things that I could say about this particular herb, as it's truly one of my "most recommended" herbal products that you'll ever hear me promote.

--------------->'Click Here' to Shop for Ginseng via Amazon.com<---------------

Personally, I recommend the Ginseng product from Nature's Bounty - Standardized Extract - Korean Ginseng - 100mg per capsule, as shown below:

---End of Post

Mushrooms are good for you!

2010-11-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

Mushrooms have been used for centuries - both for consumption and medical reasons. Many folks classify them as vegetables or as some type of herbal plant, when they are actually fungi - as gross as that may sound to ya.

I recently ran across a site that stated: "While there are over 14,000 mushrooms, only about 3,000 are edible, about 700 have known medicinal properties, and fewer than one percent are recognized as poisonous." They also went on to say, "The Pharaohs prized mushrooms as a delicacy, and the Greeks believed that mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle. The Romans regarded mushrooms as a gift from God and served them only on festive occasions, while the Chinese treasured them as a health food." You can read more, here: http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/mighty-mushrooms.php

Anyway, the reason why I'm talking about these slimy little bastards, is because a lot of people don't realize how healthy some of these food items are, that are so easily pushed off the dinner plates. The common mushrooms found on the market, are a good source of B vitamins (especially B2, B3, & B5) & antioxidants, along with vitamin C, potassium, iron, selenium, copper, and other trace elements. Common (edible) mushrooms have also been known to stimulate the immune system and potentially possess anti-cancer properties. When compared to their dry weight (since they are 80 to 90% water), they have a decent amount of protein & fiber, as well.

I understand that some people simply do not and will not eat a mushroom merely because of the unique, as I say, "slimy" texture. However, the texture does change a bit, depending on how you cook 'em.
They make for great "fillers" & side items for certain dishes and they are also good for absorbing flavors from sauce, for example.
It's easy to add them to your meals: You can saute them for stir fry, add them to spaghetti & lasagna, use them for hamburger steak (I saute mine with onions & peppers), top your favorite pizza with these healthy mushrooms, put them in casseroles and on sandwiches, along with many other types of cuisines and whatnot.

Some people even batter them (whole or sliced) and deep fry 'em. I tried them like that before, but I prefer them to be used like I mentioned prior. Anyway, don't be scared of the damn mushrooms; they're good for you!

---End of Post

Creatine is a waste of money - for most people!

2010-11-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

I get so tired of hearing about the glory of creatine supplementation. A lot of weight lifters and bodybuilders take this particular supplement but, for the most part, it is way overrated.

Creatine helps your muscle cells retain water and, by doing what they call "creatine loading," it generally helps your body exert itself to the fullest. But does it help build muscle and does it help you gain muscle mass? Well, you will typically gain a few pounds from the supplementation itself, but that is only from water retention and not from actual tissue formation. Who in the hell wants that? Now, in some cases, it helps people work harder to achieve higher gains, even though this can normally be achieved without taking supplements of creatine.

Your body produces a lot of this good stuff, but vegetarians are often on the edge of not having enough - if they are participating in intense workouts for bodybuilding purposes. Personally, I think creatine is a complete waste of money for most people! Only unless you're vegetarian or are a hardcore bodybuilding freak with the ambition to achieve a steroid-like freaky build (even then, creatine is not your answer - maybe something illegal like steroids, perhaps), you may find this supplement worthy of the high dollar sign.

I usually detest the unnatural route, and especially when it can be avoided. For the ones that are looking for natural forms of creatine, it is abundantly found in most meats. I'd recommend red meat & fish, for example. Food like Salmon & Tuna, are really packin' the natural form of creatine, but I understand that not everyone eats fish all the time.

Since this supplement mainly hydrates your muscle cells, I see no need why a healthy eater would need this unless, like I said, you're a strict vegetarian or an intense weight lifter. Hence forth the title, "Creatine is a waste of money - for most people!"

If you need some extra energy, try ginseng as an herbal supplement and make sure you're eating healthy while also getting enough protein - and Zinc & Magnesium intake is also important during physical fitness training. You can get most of the minerals (that help support muscle growth and a high level of testosterone) you need by adding nuts, seeds, and legumes to your diet.

Anyway, be wary of the hype and don't waste your money on crap that you don't need. Cheers!

...Need a natural source of Creatine? Eat this:

Read about another supplement under scrutiny: Ginkgo Biloba

Random Blog Link: How to estimate your Max Bench Press Lift

---End of Post "Creatine is a waste of money - for most people!"

My Favorite Tea with Clover Honey

2010-11-08T04:55:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, people need to try and steer clear from all these soft drinks, sodas, cokes, or whatever you like to call them, since they are loaded with refined simple sugars. Natural sugars found in fruits and honey, for example, are so much better for the body. In fact, the abuse of "table sugar" often leads to Type 2 Diabetes along with other problems. It just isn't natural, to pour sugar down your throat. You know, all that good stuff like cakes, pies, candy......uh, yeah, you get the drift.

Anyway, on this post, I'm going to provide the recipe for my favorite tea. It contains 3 different types of tea leaves and two different forms of sweetener.

I usually buy Lipton tea; the small bags. This is the size bag that you use 1 per cup, if you're making hot tea. I lower the 1:1 ratio when steeping the bags for cold tea, since it cooks longer and I leave the bags in the water until I bring it to a boil.

I have a clean gallon container half full of cold water, set aside.
Fill a medium saucepan two-thirds full of water.
Add about 4 ounces of Clover Honey to the water, along with about 5 tablespoons of the evil table sugar.
I add 6 bags of Lipton Black Tea, 4 bags of Lipton Green Tea, and 2 bags of Celestial Seasonings Chamomile Tea.
I cut the stove on high and cook until it comes to a boil.
I quickly cut the stove off, grab the tea bags by their strings and dip them into the cold water in my gallon container (this helps get more from your tea bags as opposed to just throwing them in the trash); discard the bags.
Then pour the hot brew into the gallon jug and add whatever water is needed, to fill the rest of the container.

Of course, this tea mixture tastes its best when it has set over night, and is really cold. But, if you're in a hurry, just add ice and enjoy. I also, on occasions, replace the Chamomile tea with White Tea. If you don't know, white tea doesn't have to be brewed as long and it has a smoother taste with way less caffeine than black. I'm sure most of you realize the health benefits of drinking tea, especially from the flavonoids and antioxidants, so I won't waste time talking about that right now......

Now, what about this Clover Honey?

It is my personal favorite because it has a milder, slightly floral taste to it, unlike any I have ever tried. Clover Honey is produced by bees who mostly feed off of the nectar of clover plants. Canada, United States, and New Zealand make large amounts of this particular type of honey and it is easily found on the market. Since quality will vary from one honey product to the next, at least try to find the ones that say "pure" or "raw" when shopping for honey. You don't want to buy honey that has been overly processed since that would remove a lot of the health benefits from natural honey and it also won't taste the same.

Well, this has been a sweet post. Oh, enjoy your tea! It comes highly recommended. I usually drink it before and after my beer-drinking sessions. Ha-ha! Cheers!

---End of Post

Mystery of Muscle Memory

2010-11-07T03:11:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote I just run across on the web, "The subconscious level of the mind controls all so-called muscle memory. Anything and everything we have ever done is permanently stored within the subconscious."

Well, I don't think I would call it "so-called" muscle memory, because this stuff is real. I'm not really that fascinated by the subject, but many people seem to be amazed by the "mystery" of muscle memory. Even as a young kid, I realized that the mind also had a lot to do with strength training and results. Hell, even thinking about building muscle or gaining strength while exercising, can help you achieve greater gains. The facts undoubtedly come to the surface, when you have someone who has strength trained for a few years and then takes several years off and allows their body become softer & weaker. BUT, when they restart their training after the long hiatus, they quickly have results & gains that a typical person couldn't achieve in such a short period of time.

I'm so glad that I trained for years in the past, because I have currently took a couple years off from weight lifting and upper body fitness...and have lost a decent amount of strength and muscle mass. But thankfully for the mystery of my muscle memory, when I do start back, I can achieve gains and be back to where I used to be, within a few weeks. Hey, I've did it before, and this stuff is really true.

I'll provide a couple extra resources below, in case you're looking for more on this subject:

"Anyone who has lifted weights, on and off, for several years is familiar with the concept of "muscle memory." Muscle memory in this context refers to the observation that when a person begins lifting weights after a prolonged lay off, it is much easier to return to their previous levels of size and strength than it was to get there the first time around. Even when significant atrophy (muscle shrinking) has taken place during the layoff, previously hypertrophied muscle returns to its previous size more quickly than usual." Read More: http://www.thinkmuscle.com/articles/haycock/muscle-memory.htm

"Muscle memory consolidation involves the continuous evolution of neural processes after practicing a task has stopped. The exact mechanism of motor memory consolidation within the brain is controversial; however most theories assume that there is a general redistribution of information across the brain from encoding to consolidation." Read More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_memory

---End of Post "Mystery of Muscle Memory"

Random Blog Link: "Simple ways to Build Powerful Deltoids"

Methods for Building Powerful Forearms

2010-11-07T02:32:00.000-08:00

If you're involved in strength training, body building and/or upper body fitness, you may or may not overlook your forearms as a target area. A lot of weight lifters, for example, assume that their forearms get enough work through secondary means - from the variety of exercises that they perform while targeting their major muscle groups. This is somewhat true, but there are methods out there that are geared strictly for building powerful forearms and crushing grip strength.

Wrist Curls are known as a good forearm exercise, but I've never been a big fan of this tedious motion. I would recommend hand grippers over performing wrist curls, any day.
If you're looking for the best hand grippers in the world, at least that I have run across, visit the "Captains of Crush - Build Forearm & Hand Strength" page. I'd purchase a couple, for starters; just get one with less tension for higher reps, and then a tougher one for strength training.

Regular arm curls (using dumbbells or a bar), used in bicep training, does work parts of the forearm. However, if you're looking to build more explosive forearms, I'd recommend that you throw in some Reverse Curls into the mix. This type of curl, is where you use an overhand grip as opposed to the typical underhand, hence the name "Reverse Curls."

I also find that arm raises can really give the forearms a good burn, when working the deltoids. While standing straight, using a heavy dumbbell in each hand and starting from the hips, slowly raise the dumbbells to shoulder level and then back down to the starting position. Do as many reps as you feel comfortable with. You can raise the weights sideways or in front of you, as it is effective either way. I'd just alternate to get a fuller range of motion.

There is another method for building powerful forearms, and this is called "Thick Bar Training." You can read more about this, along with other methods for strength training, here:
www.bodybuildingsecrets.com/articles/workouts/the_forearm_secret_of_old_time_strongmen.php
If you have a workout that consists of a variety of muscle building exercises and you throw in a few of these additional methods for building up lower arm and hand strength, you should be well on your way to having powerful, impressive, Popeye Forearms of Steel.

---End of Post

Is a Multivitamin for you?

2010-10-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

Not to be confused with megavitamins, multivitamins typically contain a large variety of vitamins & minerals within a normal range and/or recommended daily allowance (RDA).

The question: Is a Multivitamin for you?

The back & forth about the health of taking this supplement in a daily fashion, whether it is good for you or if it does more harm than good, has been going on for quite while. In the past, it was generally accepted as a wise choice to take a vitamin tablet daily, and the only negative things you probably heard about back then, was that you were wasting money or someone may tell you, "damn, you have expensive urine!" Now, there is studies that conclude that taking too much beta-carotene (form of Vitamin A) can actually increase health risks for people who smoke, for example. There are other vitamins that can have negative effects if took in high doses, which are often found in megavitamins. Of course, there is always a chance of getting too much iron in your body, if you abuse multivitamins that contain Iron.

If you eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, most people really don't need to take vitamin & mineral pills. Then again, it seems that most people don't eat very healthy. I will say, the extra Vitamin D that is often found in these daily supplements, is one of the biggest reasons why I take them periodically.

Wikipedia quote: "Severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies require medical treatment and can be very difficult to treat with common over-the-counter multivitamins. In such situations, special vitamin or mineral forms with much higher potencies are available, either as individual components or as specialized formulations, sometimes requiring a prescription.
Multivitamins in large quantities may pose a risk of an acute overdose, due to the toxicity of some components, principally iron. However, in contrast to iron tablets, which can be lethal to children, toxicity from overdoses of multivitamins are very rare." Read more about this subject, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multivitamin

As people age, from young to old, the body's requirements change. This is another reason why there are so many different variations of multiminerals & multivitamins on the market, well, outside of the marketing and promotional aspects for the obvious monetary reasons at hand.

In my opinion, if you do take a basic multivitamin often, it is better to just take half of it early in the day and the the other half, later on that day - to increase absorption rates and to simply spread out the nutrient flow.

I still say that the best way to get proper nutrition, is from food itself - in a natural way; plus, by eating nutrient-rich food, you'll get lots of the antioxidants and phytochemicals, etc., that may help prevent disease, cancer, and so on......

I'm not a big fan of the "megavitamins" on the market. I do not think it is wise to take an excessive amount of any particular synthetic vitamin; it just isn't natural and the same applies for taking large amounts of one or two minerals in particular.

So, is a Multivitamin for you, or do you think it is a big waste of money?

I assume it depends on your situation and health status, but I'll just stick to taking 2 or 3 a week, and be done with it. That way, I'm not wasting too much money, but I'm also not overdoing it - just merely supplementing my diet. However, I do take a variety of herbs & supplements, but I'll save my reasons for those, later on down this blog's path to bloggerville heaven. Cheers!

--------->'Click Here' for a fine selection of Multivitamins for Men<---------

Increase Seminal Fluid - Enhance Ejaculation

2010-10-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

This is a topic that is often pondered about by many men, but not often talked about. Hey, look at it as seminal emancipation, if it makes you feel more professional. Ha-ha! However, this subject will not be very important to some, as others mainly just care about their sexual performance and erectile function. But I must say, you might be surprised by the amount of women who would also love it if you could enhance your ejaculation and/or increase the volume of those joy juices (a.k.a. seminal fluid).

Well, lets head on into the matter at hand, before I decide to get poetic or creative and start rambling about it - in an aimless fashion......

Look out for scams! There are pills galore claiming to increase your ejaculate, so don't waste your money on miracle tablets - unless you know of some of the ingredients within the pills, that are proven and effective. As this blog progresses, you'll quickly learn that I'm not very big into the drug industry or non-natural methods - no matter what it is.

"Tried & True," the delay method works quite well. Of course the longer you can maintain an erection or have sex, the more seminal fluid you'll most likely generate. The delay method is where you stop during sex, just before you're about to orgasm, then restart after the urge of expel your man juice, is no longer there. After doing this several times, even if it's all throughout the day or over a period of 2 days, you'll find that when you do decide to explode all over or inside your partner, it will typically be significantly more. Now, if you're having stamina issues along with staying power, this may not work well for you until you fix your other erectile problems.

The old "save it for days" method is actually a load of baloney. After 2 or 3 days, you are usually peaked as far as normal production or storage is concerned, and the excess is reabsorbed into your body. I hate the "save it" theory for several reasons. For one, what sexually active person wants to go that long? Secondly, for the ones who think or believe you'll spray like a geyser if you wait an extremely long time, it simply isn't true - nor would it be due to the time period after 2 or 3 days. If you have an enhanced ejaculation, it is most likely due to some other factors, not because you went a month without ejaculating (ouch!).

Nutrition helps, especially if you eat the right foods. You don't have to be overly hydrated or anything like that, but getting the right protein and minerals can go a long way.
Foods like peanuts, seeds, and legumes, seem to work best for me.
People claim "Horny Goat Weed" helps, but I have no proof of this. I do recommend taking Ginseng, however.

PC exercises (Kegel Exercises) can help you have a more powerful fluid release from your penile structure and prevent premature ejaculation - if they are performed for a couple of weeks. Strengthening your PC muscles, a.k.a. pubococcygeus muscle, can never hurt and is good for sexual health.

One simple fact is, some people just produce more semen while others produce less, so don't get too discouraged if you're having problems hosing down your partner. The quantity of your seminal fluid doesn't seem to really have that much of an impact on pregnancy, since it only takes a microscopic amount of sperm to achieve that goal, and no matter what, more focus probably needs to be focused on sexual performance first - when comparing to finding ways to increase your man juice production.

Okay, now go back to being a professional about this subject and continue your studies on seminal emancipation. Cheers!

Chest Congestion - Guaifenesin - Expectorant

2010-10-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season of cold weather, as winter time is upon us. Ahh, the joys of autumn and the colors of Fall; the hunting season is in full swing, as most of the vegetation is dying; we hope for snow soon, but good things are not all that this season may bring.

[Cough...cough...cough]

Yes, the drug industry is popping, prescription drugs are flying all over the place along with the customer-friendly, over-the-counter remedies.

Well, hopefully most of y'all dodge the sickness that is typically spread during this time of year, but if you do get sick, if it involves chest congestion, you may want to check this out.

It is called "Guaifenesin" and is the ingredient you need to be looking for, when searching for an effective expectorant that helps chest congestion by thinning and loosening mucus (phlegm). It thins the bronchial secretions to rid the bronchial passageways of the bothersome, aggravating funky phlegm as this, in turn, helps to make your coughs more productive.

The side-effects are basically non-existent but, as with most drugs, there is still a possibility of incurring some.

The main reason for this post, is that many people who try to avoid going to the Doctor and paying a high price for prescription pills (can't blame ya there), often fail to realize what to look for, when dealing with congested lungs. All illnesses suck, but having mucus stored in your lungs is always at risk for further exasperation. Guaifenesin is one of the best drugs I have ever took, for breaking up that mess and freeing yourself of chest congestion.

If you're at a local pharmacy or market, ask about it, and try to get a product that solely has that ingredient alone - without all that other added crap and/or drugs that don't relate to a chronic cough with lung congestion, etc. Taking 400 mg. every 4 hours, as needed, should help with your bronchial passageways, as this is an excellent expectorant - especially for an over-the-counter drug.

Oh, if you're interested in other possible usages for Guaifenesin, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaifenesin for further detail.

Try to stay warm and have a great winter; cheers now!

Introduction...

2010-10-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

This blog will contain random subjects that will mostly relate to health & fitness. Of course, health is a broad niche ranging anywhere from medical science, sexual performance, the health benefits of certain types of foods, supplements, herbs, along with natural remedies, physical fitness, and so on (too many topics to list). There will also be a variety of product reviews, tips & advice, interesting subjects - perhaps some that may end up off topic, as well. Overall, I'll try to stay germane to the theme at hand, but you know how that goes......

It will probably be a while before I start adding content at a more frequent rate, since I'm currently involved in other projects at the moment. But when I return to this blog, I hope to add informative (or at least semi-interesting/helpful) articles on a regular basis.

Anyway, cheers for now!

---End of Introduction