By Peter Holmes                  We are all familiar with this term as it relates to fitness but few know that it can also apply to our brain. Our muscles respond to how much or how little we use them. If you have ever broken a bone in your arm or leg that was put in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks then you have firsthand experience with this phenomenon. When the cast was finally removed your cast arm or … [Read more...]

                Thanksgiving is a great day! Family, food and football:  what could be better? Christmas and New Year’s Day are right around the corner loaded with fun, festivity and feasting.                 The six-week long holiday season, Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, promises joyful reunions, presents, family gatherings, holiday parties and renewal of hope and personal resolutions – or at … [Read more...]

Did you exercise today? How about yesterday? What are you doing tomorrow? Do not confuse physical activity with exercise. The most important thing for your health and well being is to move your body. Yes, every little bit helps but exercise requires effort, planning and purpose. If you stop moving, you start dying.                 Your physical capability to accomplish a task diminishes in … [Read more...]

Many of us suffer from annoying, chronic and sometimes debilitating pain when we try to move. It may be your knee, shoulder or back that restricts your movements and drives you to consume bottle after bottle of ibuprofen or aspirin. You have tried stretching, exercise, physical therapy, heat, cold, crèmes, ointments, supplements; nothing seems to help for very long. What’s going on? Why can’t we … [Read more...]

Growing up I was a very skinny, little kid. I gave my parents a hard time at dinner. I never tried new foods. I think I only ate peanut butter, cereal and cucumbers. That all changed in my teens. All of a sudden there wasn’t enough food in the universe. I ate everything and anything until it was gone. I was going through a giant growth spurt, gaining muscle, and getting taller while playing … [Read more...]

A recent study from Switzerland tracks some abnormal effects in genetically engineered wheat. According to the data, the wheat grew normally in a greenhouse environment. Under these same conditions, the wheat also had better resistance to various fungal diseases that pose significant threats to the crop. But when the wheat was introduced to changing environmental conditions, the metabolism of the … [Read more...]

The Low Down on Protein Category : Nutrition printable version recommend article exclude article 1. Protein is essential for muscle development as well as being a source of 22 amino acids which are necessary for the production of enzymes and hormones in the body. 2. How much protein you do need every day? The Institute of … [Read more...]

Which method of exercise do you think works best for fat loss? Conventional wisdom has been telling us for years to get in the “fat burning zone” to lose weight. “The body burns more fat at lower intensity levels.” “Go for long, slow walks to burn fat.” Well, I’m here to tell you if you go for nice, long, slow walks all you are going to do is see a lot of scenery. You sure won’t burn a lot … [Read more...]

You’ve been exploring the latest releases on the workout gadget market and you have to admit you are impressed. Some of these items have every bell and whistle imaginable. While they are neat and trendy, you can’t help but wonder if they are worth the expense. So, are they? … [Read more...]

When you started your weight loss routine, you knew it would be a process. After all, you didn’t gain the weight overnight. You couldn’t have expected it to come off that fast. Unfortunately, you’ve hit a bump in the road and your motivation level is starting to wane. How can you get past a weight loss plateau to see the results you really want? First off, don’t give up! You can bust through … [Read more...]

Which weighs more:  a pound of muscle or a pound of fat? How about a pound of gold or a pound of feathers? If you guessed they weigh the same you are right. It was a trick question. Obviously, a pound is a pound:  16 ounces, no more – no less. But which would you rather have? Given the choice I am going to pick a pound of gold and a pound of muscle, thank you very much. We know gold is much … [Read more...]

You can work out religiously and still not see the results you are after on the scale. If you are tired of sweating and not seeing those pounds fall off, it’s probably time to look more closely at your diet. When there is a stumbling block on the path to losing weight, it is almost always associated with nutrition. The reality is all the exercise in the world won’t help with healthy weight loss … [Read more...]

If you want to lose weight, setting goals is a great way to help. Goals can keep you on track and they can motivate you when the going gets tough. Mini goals can be especially helpful if you set them and reward yourself wisely each time a milestone is attained. The problem comes when goal-setting isn’t realistic. Yes, it’s true. There is a right way to set goals and a wrong one. This is … [Read more...]

Let’s take a look at this statement and examine it for what its worth. Processed food includes refined grains, anything with sugar or salt added to it, fried foods, high fat dairy products, food in a box – you know what I’m taking about. So how do we know eating processed foods makes you fat, stupid and depressed? A 2009 UK study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry looked at … [Read more...]

Are you fighting the “Battle of the Bulge?" If you are you are not alone. Results from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using measured heights and weights, indicated that an estimated 32.7 percent of U.S. adults 20 years and older are overweight, 34.3 percent are obese and 5.9 percent are extremely obese. In 1960 only 13.4 percent of the U.S. adult … [Read more...]

A sure harbinger of spring is the start of Spring Training in Florida and Arizona. Spring training is that period of time for the athletes to get into baseball playing shape and prepare for the rigors of a long competitive baseball season. They start throwing and hitting, do a little running, work on their fielding, and play a few games. In other words prepare. There is a lesson here for … [Read more...]

Did you know there's one simple activity most people rarely do after their workouts? S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G! Stretching is super-important. It prevents your muscles from getting "tight" and "stiff" -- especially after you've been working them out, rep after rep. Plus, there's the benefits you get, like improved circulation and reduced stress (you DO know that stressing out causes you to tense your … [Read more...]

Memory loss is all-too often associated with old age. And unfortunately, with good reason. As most people get older, they become more forgetful. And in serious cases, they can develop dementia and Alzheimer's (scary stuff, to be sure). The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to prevent severe memory loss -- and in the process develop lots of Brain power that will keep your … [Read more...]

We all have stress to one degree or another. Stress is everywhere in our modern society:  work, finances, health, relationships, you name it. Learning how to manage, however, can mean a healthier, longer life Mainstream medicine is finally making the connection between your emotions and your health. Shyam Prabhakaran, M.D., head of cerebrovascular disease and neurocritical care at Rush … [Read more...]

  Spot Reduction Myth - Everybody has "trouble spots" on their body that we just can't help fixating on. The fitness infomercials and others who propagate the myths want you to believe you can "spot reduce" your tummy, thighs, hips and buns . . . that six-pack abs can be achieved using this special ball or that secret machine. Remember the ThighMaster? This is a perfect example of what I … [Read more...]

You already know that drinking sodas which are high in sugar (and high-fructose corn syrup) are bad for you. But did you know that drinking the alternative (diet sodas and diet drinks) are just as bad for your health and body, if not worse? Most folks think they're doing good by drinking these zero-calorie drinks. But the truth is they do way more harm than good. For starters, there is no … [Read more...]

There are plenty of foods that are good for you. Some foods, however, are just better than others for your body and health. When a particular food contains a variety of disease-fighting and health-sustaining nutrients, it’s called a “super food.” These are the foods you want to include in your diet. As you work with the professionals at your health club to strengthen and tone your body and … [Read more...]

If you’re tired of the same old, same old with your exercise routine, why not shake things up a bit? Interval training can provide just the boost you need to increase calorie and fat burning while making exercise fun again. Interval training involves short bursts of intense activity coupled with periods of lighter exertion. If you normally jog, for example, you can do so with a twist. Jog for a … [Read more...]

Losing weight and losing fat are similar, but they do have some distinctions. When you’re shooting for the latter, toning up and building muscle is one of the most helpful things to do. Learning how to build muscle, however, is not exactly as easy as it sounds. Most trainers will tell you an approach that involves both diet and exercise is the best. Muscle mass is extremely useful for fat loss … [Read more...]

When you’re trying to lose weight and get into shape, picking the right foods is essential for reaching your goals. Unfortunately, the prospect is not as easy as it sounds and it can be downright confusing. It sure doesn’t help that many foods that sound healthy turn out to be nothing more than junk. If you’re fed up with hidden surprises in the foods you eat and want to see real results with … [Read more...]

Simple food choices go a long way when it comes to your heart's health. Focusing on fresh foods full of heart-healthy fats and antioxidants can decrease your risk of developing heart disease and cut your chances of a heart attack. These 10 foods will help keep your ticker in top shape.   Oatmeal Start your day with a steaming bowl of oats, which are full of omega-3 fatty acids, … [Read more...]

Childhood obesity, underage drinking, smoking and failure to exercise are all concerns for parents these days. If you want your kids to adopt a healthier, wiser lifestyle, you are going to have to show them the light. Children often learn best by example. Lead and they will likely follow. How can you set the example and get them off on the right foot if your habits aren’t that great? Consider … [Read more...]