Health & Fitness Articles

What to think about when buying a treadmill

Treadmills are some of the best artificial walking and running machines, and they can be used either in a gym or at home.

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treadmill, gym, weights

Treadmills are some of the best artificial walking and running machines, and they can be used either in a gym or at home.

They work by moving an electrically-powered belt around quickly in the opposite direction to your walking or running, allowing you to exercise your muscles without actually moving. The effect is like going for a long walk, only without having to brave the elements, hurt your feet or worry about where to go.

At its most basic, a treadmill is little more than the belt, a handle and an ‘on’ switch, but treadmills can potentially have many more features than that. The best treadmills know can be programmed to time you as you run or measure how much distance you would have covered, and alert you when you have done a certain number of minutes or miles. Some models are also capable of counting the exact number of steps you have done, the number of calories you have burned, and many other things besides.

If you’re thinking of buying a treadmill, there are two things you absolutely must do. Firstly, you must measure the space where you’re planning to put it and take the measurements with you to the shop, as treadmills that look quite small there will suddenly seem a lot bigger once you get them home, and might not even fit through your door (measure that too, by the way!).

The second thing you need to do is to make sure to try out the treadmill in the showroom before you buy it, no matter how silly you might feel doing it – treadmills are expensive, and not every one is suitable for every person. As the shop probably won’t take it back once you’ve used it, you need to make sure that it’s right for you before it ever comes through your door.

Detox Diet: 8 Benefits to Juice Fasting

There are many benefits to juicing, especially if you prepare them yourself.

Keywords:
juice fasting, juicer, detox, detox diet, detoxification, detoxification diet

There are many benefits to juicing, especially if you prepare them yourself:

1. If drank fresh, the juice is full of live enzymes, which is helpful the body.

2. Unlike coming out from a packet, the juice is fresh and not pasteurized. Pasteurization many have its conveniences but it has resulted in nutritionally dead foods. During pasteurization, high heat is used and this destroys the vital nutrients within the juice.

3. You consume more vegetables by drinking than by eating. As you probably have experienced, it’s not always possible to eat as many vegetables as you would like. Drinking fresh vegetable juice helps take care of this problem.

4. Digestion and assimilation of the vegetable nutrients is much easier. Your body is in fact, like a juicer. When you eat a celery, your body will digest the celery by extracting the juice to get the nutrition. The fiber is eliminated via the colon and bowel movements. However, if you juice, you have already extracted the juice for the body thus making it easier for your assimilation. Nevertheless, it’s still important to eat whole vegetables and fruits because you need some amount of fiber as well.

5. Fasting gives your digestive system a rest. Since fresh fruit and vegetable juices require little digestion, and are quickly assimilated into your body. Most of the 10% of bodily energy normally involved in your assimilation, digestion, and elimination is freed up. The end result? You feel a sense of renewed energy after the fast.

6. A fast helps to also break down toxic materials – fat, abnormal cells and tumors–and releases diseased tissues and their cellular products into the circulation for elimination.

7. In addition, new cell growth during fasting is stimulated and accelerated as the required proteins are re-synthesized from decomposed cells (during autolysis). Your serum albumin reading, that is blood-protein level, remains constant and normal throughout your fast, as your body very smartly uses protein and other stored nutrients where needed.

8. Juice fasting is a much gentler process of detoxification as compared to water fasting. For a juice fast, a broad variety of fruits and vegetables should be used in combination and that is necessary to enhance health during the fast. In this manner, the body still gets its daily calories from the easily-digested juices as compared to the more extreme water fast. Thus, the release of toxins from the fat cells in a juice fast is much more gentle and gradual.

Dentist scare the hide off of you?

In today’s modern era there is absolutely no need to be scared of your dentist. Think about it for a minute! The happier you are to visit him the more he gets paid.

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dentist,dentists,teeth,oral hygene,tooth decay,tooth ache,

If the thought of visiting your dentist scares you rigid then you definitely must read on. You see if you think about it logically it is in your dentists best interest to make your dental experience as easy going and calming as possible. You see he knows only to well that if he gives you pain he will not gain. To put it bluntly the better your experience the more likely you are to make a return visit.

Do not for a minute think that your dentist is a money grabbing tyrant who’s main goal in life is to get his hands on your hard earned cash. Most dentists will be financially secure and very happy practising a career which is rewarding both financially and from the job satisfaction angle.

Ok so you might have memories of a nasty experience when you were a kid. Well get real, Memories from our childhood are often far removed from the actual reality of what really went on in the past. The terrible pain you thought you endured was more than likely a fraction of what your memory tells you.

The science of dentistry itself has advanced to such a degree that really there is no need for pain other than that given by the dreaded needle.. Well did you know that even that task can be carried out with the minimal of pain. Your modern caring dentist now has it in his power to numb your gums with the aid of a pain killing compress. A small amount of a pain killing drug is applied to a small cotton bud, This is then placed on your gums and the end result is you won’t even feel that dreaded needle.

It is ironic to think that the key to the least amount of dental pain is in fact to ensure that you take the time to make an appointment and visit your dentist at regular intervals. Most dentists pride themselves in their prevention and decay stopping techniques.

For those of you who do in fact have to visit your dentist for a long overdue appointment, Don’t worry,Don’t panic and simply make sure your dentist is totally aware that you are terrified out of your wits as he prods and examines your mouth. The thing is that it has been found that an amazing eighty percent of folk visiting the dentist are actually not bothered by this experience at all, Our dentists say that because of this they tend to get into such a routine that sometimes the thought of a person being scared has not even entered their mind.

If you are among the small percentage of folk who are indeed petrified of dental visits then it is vital that you tell your dentist exactly how you feel. Once he knows this you can be assured that every effort will be made to ensure your visit is as stress free and most importantly,

As pain free as possible.

How Insulin Affects Us?

The glycemic index helps us to understand which foods are best and worst for controlling our blood glucose levels.

As we have seen, when blood glucose levels get too high, insulin is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas to help disperse the glucose. The insulin transports the glucose to cells needing extra energy. The cells have “insulin receptors” positioned so that insulin can bind to them, facilitating glucose entry and utilization in the cells. Once inside the…

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The glycemic index helps us to understand which foods are best and worst for controlling our blood glucose levels.

As we have seen, when blood glucose levels get too high, insulin is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas to help disperse the glucose. The insulin transports the glucose to cells needing extra energy. The cells have “insulin receptors” positioned so that insulin can bind to them, facilitating glucose entry and utilization in the cells. Once inside the cells, the glucose is burned to produce heat and adenosine triphosyphate, (ATP) a molecule that stores and releases energy as required by the cell.

When cells become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, they accept less glucose, so more glucose than usual remains in the bloodstream. Result? The pancreas over-compensates by working harder and releasing even more insulin.

The combination of insulin-insensitivity and insulin over-production typically leads to one of two results:

Either, the pancreas gets worn out and insulin production slows down to abnormally low levels. Result? We develop type 2 diabetes. (About 30 percent of cases)

Or, the insulin-resistant patient doesn’t develop diabetes (because the pancreas continues to produce sufficient insulin) but, instead, contracts hyperinsulinism (abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood), which can cause chronic obesity as well as high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, heart disease, and possibly some cancers.

Low GI Foods Cause Lower Insulin Levels

This is why experts are beginning to recognize the health advantages of following a low GI diet. Because lower GI foods are converted into glucose much more slowly, causing less insulin to be produced.

This is not the last word on this subject, by any means. Research into insulin insensitivity and the relationship between insulin levels and obesity is ongoing. However, the overconsumption of high-GI foods (and high-fat fast-food) is a major cause of concern.

The new carbohydrate-classification system known as the Glycemic Index rates the carbohydrate quality in foods according to its immediate effect on blood glucose level. Thus carbs that break down quickly into glucose during digestion, causing a rapid rise in glucose levels, have a High GI value. Those carbs that break down more slowly, are given an Intermediate or Low GI value.

Detoxify Your Way To Health And Beauty

How many times have your brain felt so sluggish that you can’t even think clearly? How many times have you felt so tired that even climbing a single flight of stairs takes a lot from you? Or how about those times when you felt so unpretty that even your best outfit can’t lift your mood? You’ve tried every known trick to stay fit and scoured every shelf in the health and beauty aisle for that wonder product that could revive you but still to no avail. Why not try looking at ho…

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health and beauty

How many times have your brain felt so sluggish that you can’t even think clearly? How many times have you felt so tired that even climbing a single flight of stairs takes a lot from you? Or how about those times when you felt so unpretty that even your best outfit can’t lift your mood? You’ve tried every known trick to stay fit and scoured every shelf in the health and beauty aisle for that wonder product that could revive you but still to no avail. Why not try looking at home and the produce section of your grocery? What am I talking about? I’m talking about detox.

Detoxification is not merely sweating buckets on the gym or starving yourself with a water diet. It is a wholistic approach to health and beauty. It encompasses everything from diet, fitness, and your sense of well-being. Try it for a weekend and start the new week with a renewed and more revived you. Detoxifying your way to health and beauty is possible with a few things which you could conveniently find in your home. With a loofah or brush, scented candles, aromatic oils, herbal tea, and a free, me-time weekend, you’re all set to rejuvenate and renew yourself.

Start on a Friday by eating light (think salads and fruits) and drink lots of water the whole day. At night, slowly dry-massage yourself with a loofah or brush with slow and long strokes. Move in one direction: upward and towards your groin. Refresh yourself with tea or water then soak in a bath of warm water and drops of aromatic bath oil. Light some scented candles while gradually adding cool water within a half hour until your bath becomes slightly cold. This is the beginning of your new health and beauty routine. This process is done for the stimulation of the blood vessels. Dry yourself and dress warmly for bed.

Begin the next day by drinking hot lemon water. Go for a walk while breathing deeply. Give yourself a steam bath or go swimming. You could also ask your partner or therapist for a massage. Again, end your health and beauty detox regimen with a dry-massage brush and bath. Spend your Sunday, doing the whole process but add another activity. Make a list of people or things, such as your work, that are toxic to you (read: bad vibes). Assess how you should deal with them to lessen their toxic effect. After this, pamper yourself or do meditation exercises.

Be reminded though that you may experience excessive sweating, slight headaches, and skin rashes. These are signs that your body is releasing toxins and that they are temporary. Detoxifying is effective, safe, and inexpensive enough to be part of your weekly health and beauty routine. Just remember to avoid this during your period, pregnancy, and sickness. Lastly, talk to your doctor if you encounter any problem while detoxifying.

Exercise As A Power Source

These days it is so hard to make it the gym. Life is very busy which creates a serious challenge for being consistent with exercise each week. However, exercise is exactly what we need in order to reduce stress, increase longevity, and give the body extra energy for daily living.

The best results are achieved using refined techniques, functional exercises, cardio, proper nutrition, awareness, variety, consistency, supplementation and motivation over time!

Refined techn…

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These days it is so hard to make it the gym. Life is very busy which creates a serious challenge for being consistent with exercise each week. However, exercise is exactly what we need in order to reduce stress, increase longevity, and give the body extra energy for daily living.

The best results are achieved using refined techniques, functional exercises, cardio, proper nutrition, awareness, variety, consistency, supplementation and motivation over time!

Refined technique means correct form to isolate muscles or “target areas of the body.” Efficiency is the priority to ensure maximal muscle stimulation. With resistance training, also known as weight lifting, it is important to eliminate momentum. It is also necessary to move the weight through a full range of motion. This will cause muscle contraction for the correct amount of time and ensure appropriate length of the tendons. The goal is to strengthen the joints of the body by stimulating the muscles around it.

For example, the lower back is an extremely important part of the body. Many people have trouble with this area, especially if their occupation puts a strain on it. So, it is a good idea to strengthen the muscles of the lower back like the erector spinae by performing three to four sets of back extensions on the floor superman position or face down on the exercise ball for 8 to 12 reps. As the muscles around the spine get stronger, the spine is held in place better, which reduces the changes of lower back problems. It is also important to keep the joint partially bent at the end of the rep, so that constant pressure remains on the muscles and no added pressure is applied to the joint from locking it out.

Cadence is a term that refers to the rate at which the resistance or weight moves. The best results are achieved by a slow cadence that causes the muscle to contract longer. On occasion, a mixture of fast and slow cadence may be used, especially with sports-specific training.

Lastly, using correct angles achieve muscle isolation in target areas and decrease the chance for injuries, especially with heavier weights. So, how many sets and reps should be completed? Four sets of 8-12 reps using a weight that is difficult but manageable. Allow 24 hours to recover with his approach. Six sets of 4 reps is more advanced, calculated at 60 to 80 percent of the one rep max. Allow 48 hours to recover when using this approach.

Functional exercise is a new popular technique that stimulates the core or torso of the body while working another muscle group at the same time. For example, performing a dumbbell press while lying on an exercise ball. The abs and the core muscles contract to hold the body into position, while the chest and tricep muscle push the dumbbells up. This type of challenge causes maximal stimulation to the body and keeps the workout interesting. Cardio is great for the heart and lungs. The number of calories burned is important as well as maintaining the correct heart rate. The heart rate formula is 220 minus age times point 60 for the lower margin and 220 minus age times point 80 for the upper margin. This is also known as the fat burning zone. Cardio also detoxifies the body and strengthens the immune system among many other health benefits. Muscles contract and move lymph along, which allows the immune system to clear dead cells and bring in new ones.

Warm up is important for preparing the body for the more demanding portion of the cardio workout. Allow 15 to 30 minutes prior to weight lifting and 10 to 15 minutes prior to cardio activities like jogging, swimming, aerobics or walking. In addition, a good stretch routine before warm up is highly recommended.

The preferred schedule for the weekly workout is warm up followed by cardio, then weight lifting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with cardio only on Tuesday and Thursday.

While you may feel your schedule is too busy to maintain a scheduled workout routine, you will find that by adding exercise to your life you will actually add time, as you will have more energy and become more efficient in your day to day activities. Think of exercise as the battery that gives your life power.

Remanufactured Treadmills, Ellipticals and Fitness Equipment — Why and How to Buy It Without Getting Ripped Off

Remanufactured commercial fitness equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, etc.) is a great way to save money and still get high quality equipment for your home or gym. What follows is a guide to finding the best remanufactured equipment out there.

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remanufactured, treadmills, ellipticals, fitness equipment, guide

A few days ago I testified a bit on how to properly choose a home / residential grade treadmill. This time, since it has been a quiet day at the DOJO, I am going to ramble a bit on the ins and outs of remanufactured commercial equipment. This guide can be used not only for cardio equipment like treadmills and ellipticals, but also for strength equipment…although I get more than enough of a strength workout every day lifting and moving heavy treadmills around the DOJO.

Remanufactured equipment (sometimes called refurbised or reconditioned — it all depends on which company you are dealing with) has taken off quite a bit in the last few years as gym owners and home buyers both have realized they can purchase ultra high quality commercial equipment, in great condition for a fraction of the cost. Most remanufactured equipment with sell for 30-70% off of the original price! If you’ve ever wanted to have a Precor Elliptical or Life Fitness treadmill in your home, now you can!

The single most confusing thing about remanufactured equipment is just what it means…and what the difference between a remanufactured treadmill, a refurbished treadmill and a reconditioned on is. Unfortunately for buyers and poor service techs like the Treadmill Sensei, there are no industry standard definitions for these terms and what you get will vary from company to company. If you are going to buy remanufactured (or refurbished or whatever) equipment, make sure to ask what a company’s definition of what they are selling you is because you might be surprised at the answer. Some companies will just wipe a unit down, touch up the paint and then send it out the door as “remanufactured.” Beware of these companies!

Let’s go over the life of a piece of gym equipment destined for remanufacturing…this is something I do nearly every day for my repair clients so I know of what I speak!

Most larger gym chains lease their equipment instead of buying it. This allows them to trade in their equipment every few years. Once that equipment has been returned the the manufacturer, it is then resold to a remanufacturer (or reseller who then turns the unit over for remanufacturing to someone like your Treadmill Sensei). A quality remanufacturer will then strip the unit down to the frame, sandblast it to remove any traces of rust (a number of less reputible vendors will just paint over rust) and then repaint it using the same high end paint ($250-300/gallon!) used by the manufacturers themselves. We do powder coating here at the DOJO, but the regular repaints can be almost as good. At this point, all wear items are replaced — bearings, grips, rollers and so on. Diagnostics are then run on the electronics to make sure they are up to snuff and then cleaned up or replaced. On most equipment (treadmills and ellipticals, for example) the majority of problems will, luckily, come in the form of the control board. I say “luckily” because the boards can generally be replaced for $30 or so and take almost no time to reinstall. Also, most structural problems with a treadmill or elliptical will pop up in the first 30-60 days. Once you’ve made it past that point you should be in the clear and have a fine piece of equipment on your hands.

In my personal experience, and this may be because the DOJO turns out great work, remanufactured units tend to have a much lower rate of problems or defects when done correctly. This is because the treadmills and ellipticals (or strength equipment) are gone over with such a fine tooth comb and service so completely that any defects or problems which might have been missed by the manufacturer are caught and fixed as part of the servicing.

With a little bit of research, going the remanufactured route will allow a smaller fitness facility to compete with larger chains by offering competitive fitness equipment while saving money. In fact, many fitness trainers and gyms are finding they are able to reach a profit much earlier by taking advantage of the lower cost and high reliability of remanufactured equipment.

For home buyers, remanufactured equipment lets you purchase the same high end commercial equipment you work out on at your local gyms for a fraction of the price. And, if you’ve ever tried to go from working out on a Life Fitness, Matrix, Star Trac or Landice to working out on a crappy Proform machine, you’re already familiar with the disappointment a lot of wind up experiencing when they try to make the transition. Buying remanufactured lets you stick with what you know.

A quick tip on where to buy remanufactured equipment: places like Megafitness, Big Fitness, Fitness 909 and Fit4Sale sell it, but the highest quality units seem to be coming out of Treadmills Central right now. I’ve seen a number of their Precor 544 and 546 units, as well as quite a few Life Fitness 9500 Rear Drive Ellipticals, Star Trac Treadmills, and Matrix Ellipticals at a recent Fitness Trade Show, and I’ve been impressed every time.

Good luck with your purchasing and feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions or comments. The DOJO is always open.

-The Treadmill Sensei

Propecia (Finasteride) – Hair loss medication

Propecia is a pill used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of head). There is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hairlines at the temples. Propecia is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.

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Drug Uses

Propecia is a pill used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of head). There is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hairlines at the temples. Propecia is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.

How Taken

Propecia comes as a tablet. Propecia usually is taken once a day. It may be taken with or without food. Take Propecia exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take Propecia even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Propecia without talking to your doctor.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease. You may not be able to take Propecia, or you may need a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment. Propecia is intended for men use only. Propecia is not indicated for women use. Do not take or handle this medication if you are pregnant or are could become pregnant during treatment. Propecia is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that it is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Women who are or who may become pregnant must not handle crushed or broken Propecia tablets. The medication could be absorbed through the skin. Propecia is known to cause birth defects in a developing male baby. Exposure to whole tablets should be avoided whenever possible however exposure to whole tablets is not expected to be harmful as long as the tablets are not swallowed. It is not known whether Propecia passes into breast milk. Propecia is not intended for women use. Do not take this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Propecia and you remember the same day, take it as soon as possible. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Possible Side Effects

Stop taking Propecia and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
Other, less serious side effects have been reported but usually resolve with continued treatment. Continue to take Propecia and notify your doctor if you experience:
-decreased libido (sex drive);
-decreased volume of ejaculate;
-impotence (trouble getting or keeping an erection); or
-breast tenderness or enlargement.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Storage

Store Propecia at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) in a tightly closed container, away from moisture.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of a Propecia overdose are not known.

Common aches and pains at a glance

A brief glance of all the aches and pains we are experiencing, what causes them and ways to prevent or cure our muscle pains.

Keywords:
muscle spasm, lower back pain, muscle fatigue

We try to do everything in this 21 century — filling our lives with a dozen of activities that tax our bodies and emotions. Multi-tasking is the norm with organizing busy schedules at work, for family and for our social life has become a daily task.

To stay and go on running in the rat race, you must be prepared to endure aches and pains all over your body as well as the lumps and swelling — sure signs of overwork and stress.

Here are the common aches and pains that you usually experience in everyday:

? Knee – Stiff and swollen joints make it difficult to do any bending. Pain in the knees are usually worse in the morning or after a long period of inactivity. Knee joints are often affected by arthritis.

? Shoulder – Any kind of overuse can stress the shoulder joint. Muscles can be strained and tendons can become inflamed.

? Hip – A pain at the top of your leg that you may usually the inner side of your thigh. Osteoarthritis of the hip is extremely common. It results from the deterioration of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones.

? Back – stiffness, muscle spasm and pain. Lower back pain is very common. You can get this from carrying or lifting heavy loads.

? Wrist- aching, numbness, burning, or tingling in your palm, wrist, fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs during pregnancy, menapause or result of repetitive typing.

? Feet -tingling, burning,numbness or pain under the heel.Tarsal tunnel syndrome is the foot version of the carpal tunnel syndrome, it is common with people who are flat footed.

Muscle pain can be caused by many conditions. The most commo is a “ strain” where the muscle is stretched beyond its maximum length resulting in injury. Muscle pain is most frequently related to tension or muscle injury any physically-demanding work. When muscle pain last beyond the expected healing time, it is then best to consult your doctor.

Every now and then you might be having muscle cramps and if you are working for quite some time and it also involves some heavy work that you might be experiencing a sensation of your mucles making you so tired and there is a decreased in your muscular performance. The underlying cause of muscle fatigue can fall into two categories: central and local.

1. The central nervous systme – when your mind is telling your body (muscles) to shut down.
2. The local – is related to local factors that limit the ability to perform mucular work.

Regular exercise can help restore proper muscle tone. A good physical therapist can teach you strentching, aerobic exercises to feel a lot better. You can also do it yourself by cycling, swimming and walking. Warm up before you do any kind oe exercising. Do some stretching. Drink lots of fluids before and after exercising. You can overcome muscle fatigue by dieting, getting adequate rest and taking supplements or nutritional stimulants such as caffeine. If you work in the same position most of the day like sitting infront of the computer, get up and do some stretching at least every hour.

Taking some acetaminophen, aspirin or other non-sterioidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be helpful in pain relief. Workouts in the gym to strengthen the back and shoulders can help restore a good balance.