Apparently peanut butter all over the US has been contaminated by salmonella. Here is the story of the tainted processed legume product.
Image credit: Sparta Systems
How to Prevent a Back Injury When Weight Lifting
Injuries
Nearly everyone who trains, whether bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, or just a general fitness routine, has at some point suffered from an injury. And whether it’s a minor sprain or a broken bone it can definitely derail your progress towards your fitness goals, leading to weeks or months of recovery in which all of your hard work slowly slips away via loss of both muscle mass, strength, and conditioning.
My Personal Experience
I mean, I once walked into a Gold’s Gym after taking about a month off from training, with the intention to deadlift. I wasn’t planning to hit a 1rm or a PR that day. It was just simple sets of 5 to get back into the rythym. On the second set, at 50% of my previous 1rm, my back spasmed, I dropped the weight, and I was out of the weight room for another solid month.
Every athlete and weightlifter has some version of this sad story.
The Link Between Exercise and Fertility
Here’s one for the ladies.
There are a number of factors that can affect your ability to create a new life. While most of us have a fair notion of how babies are made, it’s not always as simple as getting busy. There could be all kinds of things standing in your way.
My grandmother once told me that a tipped uterus was causing her problems for months until a doctor suggested that she stand on her head after sex. According to her, it worked like a charm and that’s how my mother was conceived.
The point is that you might be facing something of an uphill battle when it comes to starting a family. And if you’re young and in relatively good health, with no major medical issues barring you from getting pregnant, you might start to wonder why it’s taking so long.
In case you didn’t know, your exercise routine could be to blame, and while this post is written for women, it applies to men too.
Read the rest of this entry »Bodies of Work
Posted January 16, 2013 in Bodybuilding No Comments »
Check out this display of inspirational physiques in black and white true artistic form.
Everyone is nekkid, and both males and females represent, so matter your sexual preference, you’re gonna see it all. While theses photos are technically safe for work, I advise you to view them at your own discretion.
Inside you will find professional body builders, figure athletes, and Crossfitters. You will find army rangers, bikini competitors, personal trainers, and even a TV host.
These athletes are the best of the best, so don’t be envious, but do be inspired.
Click the link: Bodies of Work
5 Tips for Staying in Shape While in College
I recently told you how to make time for fitness in college, but still the majority of college students are not overly concerned about their weight, at least not when they first enter the vaunted halls of learning. And it’s really not that surprising considering that young adults tend to enjoy a speedy metabolism.
Unfortunately, the high stress, lack of sleep, and unpredictable eating habits of college students can quickly wreak havoc with an otherwise healthy and functional metabolism, leading to the dreaded freshman fifteen. And when you’re studying abroad, the unfamiliar surroundings and generally overwhelming experience could make it difficult to devise a plan for improved fitness.
However, it’s not so hard to stay in shape, and college kids are bound to bounce back more quickly than older adults. So if you happen to be suffering from this all-too-common issue, here are a few tips to help you stay in shape during your time on campus, even if you’re in another country.
How to Avoid Late-Night Eating
No Rest for the Wicked or for the Wicked Busy
Whether you’re burning the midnight oil to cram for a test, you’re enjoying your precious moments of freedom with friends by partying until dawn, or you’re one of those 24 hour-a-day computer programmers (yeah, we don’t sleep) you may find yourself wolfing down high-calorie snacks that give you the fuel needed to power through your fatigue. Unfortunately, this can have a slew of unfortunate side effects, from simple digestive discomfort and heartburn to weight gain and all of the problems associated with it.
If you’ve gotten in the habit of staying up late, eating into the wee hours of the morning may have become routine. However, you can get back on a normal schedule where your diet is concerned and avoid late-night binges without too much trouble so long as you follow a few simple guidelines.
5 Tips for Designing a Home Gym You Will Actually Use
It’s a brand new year, and that means that the average adult will once again find him or herself pledging to lose those five extra pounds that have crept onto the scale over the holiday season (not to mention the five from last year that stubbornly refused to leave). But rather than brave the overcrowded gyms that leave you waiting an hour for your turn on a given piece of equipment at this time of year, or squeezing into an exercise class where you bump your neighbors at every turn, perhaps you’ll want to consider a different strategy this year.
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to rush to the gym after work and vie with the hundreds of other patrons that have made New Year’s resolutions? If you’re really interested in getting in shape this year, perhaps what you need to stay on track is a home facility that allows you the privacy and ease of use needed to reach your goals.
Here are a few tips that will help you to design a home gym that you’ll actually use.
Making Time for Fitness in College
College Fitness
Most students suffer not only from a lack of disposable income during their time in college, but they are also decidedly short on time. Some can chalk it up to bad time management skills, but for others, attending classes, studying, and holding down a part- or even full-time job makes it nearly impossible to find a few spare moments in any given day to sleep, eat, join clubs, or socialize.
For this reason, it can be difficult to stick to a fitness routine, as well. But four years of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise can turn the freshman fifteen into a much more significant weight gain, leaving students unhealthy, unhappy, and ultimately worse for the wear.
So if you are a student that wants to maximize energy, focus and retention, and overall fitness levels, here are just a few ways to make a little room in your busy schedule to squeeze in some exercise.
7 Exercises You Can Do in Your Car on Your Way to Work
Driving to work is a boring necessity for many of us, but it doesn’t have to be so. You can use that time spent crawling through traffic to get some much needed exercise and keep your body in top shape. Don’t just sit in your seat and sulk through your commute–try some of these easy exercises that you can do without ever getting out of your seat.
Biceps Curls in Traffic
Working the arms to ‘tone’ and build muscle is one of the most popular activities at the gym for many people, and it just so happens to be an exercise that you can do in your car. Stash a small dumbbell under one of your seats or in the glove compartment, and you can do sets of bicep curls while you’re stuck in traffic to make productive use of your time. The sitting position is perfect for maintaining posture while you do this simple exercise.
I don’t however, recommend curling at full speed on the highway. Instead, the following tips will teach you how to exercise in your car without any equipment at all.
Getting in Shape for Your Big Day: Wedding Prep Fitness Tips
How to Fit In Your Wedding Dress or Tux
Brides and grooms can be Swole too!
For most brides-to-be, a wedding qualifies as one of the most important events in life. And since the vast majority only plan to do it once, they understandably want the event to be perfect. It is for this reason that months of planning go into selecting the right venue, floral arrangements, catering service, seating charts, photographer, and so on. And of course, there is the dress to consider.
For every bride this garment will be a little different, reflecting her own personal style and sense of beauty and propriety. But one thing that many women struggle with is the ability to fit into their selected gown once their wedding day arrives.
Every bride wants to be beautiful and radiant on her special day, but the truth is that the planning process can be extremely stressful, leading to fatigue, depression, and weight gain. But for the woman determined to look her best on the big day, there are ways to ensure not only that the dress fits and flatters when floating down the aisle, but that the body underneath is in peak physical condition. And there are all kinds of tools and tricks to ensure this outcome, as well as several other reasons to address fitness before the wedding day arrives.
The Importance of Proper Form in Crossfit
If you are the type of person who enjoys physical fitness, then you’ve no doubt tried several different types of exercise, from basics like jogging, cycling, and swimming, to instructional classes in yoga, Pilates, and step aerobics, to workout DVDs for P90X or Insanity. But if you’re looking for an up-and-coming exercise regimen that is going to continue to challenge you for a while, then perhaps Crossfit should be on your radar.
The only real caveat with this intense form of exercise is that it is all too easy to injure yourself if you’re not careful. Since you are pushing yourself to your physical limits with timed circuits that require you to fit as many reps into the allotted time as possible, you’ll find that you tire long before you’re through. So it’s not only important to know your limits, but also to observe proper form in every exercise. Here’s why.
Meth Mayhem Alert Indicates Use Of Drug On Rise
This is a Project Swole Public Service Announcement
While many recent reports point to a decrease in the use of methamphetamine over the past few years, some experts believe addiction trends are manifesting in the form of meth mayhem. Drug use is on the rise across the United States, including continued patterns in the dangerous stimulant drug. Obtaining a modern-day understanding of meth addiction provides insight that could help us detect and prevent tragedy.
Meth mayhem is not only affecting rural communities but is plaguing society as a whole and the idea of a “meth user,” is not necessarily always correct. In fact, many adolescents are using this drug because of its availability and price.
Read the rest of this entry »Using Exercise to Help Prevent Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
As you may or may not know, diabetes is a metabolic disorder by which the body either fails to produce adequate amounts of insulin needed to properly break down glucose in the blood, or cells in the body are simply unable to react properly to the insulin that is created, leading to the same results.
Those who suffer from this disease may have side effects like frequent urination and thirst, but it can also lead to more serious complications like:
- glaucoma
- infections
- ulcers
- neuropathy (nerve damage)
- heart disease
- an inability of the body to heal wounds
- and in extreme cases, amputation of extremities
Setting Health and Fitness Goals for 2013
New Year Resolutions – there, I said it.
The most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, but you might have noticed in years past that declaring a commitment to this end rarely results in a comprehensive plan that will actually help you to reach your goal. Perhaps you sign up for a diet program and even attend a few meetings before getting too busy to go. Or maybe you take advantage of Obama care and see a doctor. Or maybe you join a gym and shell out major money for access to equipment that you never end up using.
Whatever you have done in the past, you can make 2013 the year you turn it all around.
The trick, in many cases, is not to put such an emphasis on the number you see on the scale, but rather to address your health and fitness in a way that provides you with other forms of success. So here are just a few things to consider when setting your goals for the coming year.
First and foremost, forget about weight!
Okay, so there is a lot of hubbub circulating about the obesity rate amongst adults and the concurrent rise in heart disease, diabetes, and more. But these aren’t necessarily a byproduct of your weight so much as your lifestyle.
What you really need to address is not the readout on the scale, but rather the bad habits that brought you to this pass.
Is There Really a “Best” Time of Day to Exercise?
When Should You Workout?
The short answer here is yes, there is a best time of day to exercise. The longer answer is that you may face some difficulty when it comes to finding that magical hour in which you’ll get the most out of your workout regimen. The problem is that we are all different and thus, what works for one person may not be at all ideal for another.
For example, you may hop out of bed in the morning the minute your alarm goes off, raring to go and ready to throw on your jogging shoes. On the other hand, you might have no frame of reference for people who can rise even earlier than usual to get in a workout before a full day of work.
It could be that you prefer to exercise after work as a way to refocus and relieve stress. Maybe you like to head to the gym late at night when no one else is around to get in your way. Or perhaps you enjoy the hustle and bustle of other active adults moving all around you. The point is that everyone has different wants and needs when it comes to exercise, and they could play a role in finding the best time of day to workout.
The Best Types of Music for Your Workouts
Posted December 29, 2012 in Motivation No Comments »
While classical music may help you to focus during work or study (or put you to sleep at night) and metal or alternative might get you through your daily commute, these genres don’t necessarily lend themselves to improving your exercise routine. This begs the question: are certain types of music better suited to working out than others?
For most people, the answer is an emphatic yes. But which types of music will best suit your particular needs when it comes to pumping up your exercise routine? There are a few things you’ll need to consider before you settle on a genre, an artist, or even a specific song title to add to your playlist.
Match the Music to the Movements
The first thing you’ll like want to address is the type of exercise you’re doing since various musical styles will apply to different forms of activity. For example, a person who takes the dog for a long walk around the park every evening after work may choose to listen to oldies that they can sing along to, while those who go jogging might prefer club music or techno because the tempo helps them to keep up a certain pace.
They may even plan an entire playlist to help them speed up and slow down periodically. But it could be that neither of these types of music lends themselves particularly well to a relaxing yoga session, which could require a soundtrack of new age, atmospheric tunes, sans lyrics. As you can see, the type of workout you choose to do could dictate suitable genres of music.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle is Important for Optimal Vision
Your Lifestyle WILL Affect The Health of Your Eyes
Everyone knows how important it is for all of us to have a healthy vision. It is equally important to identify ways through which we can keep our vision healthy all our life. The eye specialists’ training in most countries is becoming more comprehensive and this particular medical field has experienced major advancements in eye diseases treatments and laser surgeries to correct farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. However, the underlying problem that initiates or causes the problem is not yet addressed to.
The type of degenerative change that occurs in our eyes in older age is known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is one of the most prominent reasons vision impairment occurs in aging population, affecting 1 in every 4 people who are 65 or older. Macular degeneration occurs as your retina degenerates as a result of aging, causing you to face visibility problems, especially during night.
Fortunately, today measures can be taken to prevent such changes from taking place. Preventing macular degeneration related with aging is basically a science known as anti-aging. The common knowledge of this science is that we must adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to improve our health condition. But to your amazement, adopting a healthy lifestyle can even have a positive impact on your vision too.
5 Simple Health Tests You Can Perform at Home
Home Health Tests
Not every cough and sniffle calls for a visit to the doctor’s office, nor does every scrape and burn necessitate an expensive trip to the emergency room. In most cases you can tell if a home remedy will do the trick or if professional medical care is advisable, but you will certainly have occasions where you’re just not sure if the symptoms will pass or if you need professional help.
Many people would probably appreciate having ways to determine their relative state of health between annual physicals or check-ups in order to see if they need additional care or alternately, if their efforts to improve health and fitness are paying off. So here are just a few simple health tests that you can perform on your own at home to check yourself out.
Temperature
Fevers are indicative of an infection, or rather, they are the result of your body fighting an infection. In most cases there is no cause for concern. Although a fever will make you feel pretty awful, the majority are low-grade and break within a matter of hours or just a couple of days.
How to Create a Home Gym in Your Tiny Apartment
Work, Life, and Stress Keeping You Soft?
Just because your apartment is the size of a postage stamp doesn’t mean you are any less inclined to create a personal workout space that allows you to squeeze in some exercise at your leisure, rather than having to cram in a session at the gym during their daytime hours. Most of us hold down full-time jobs that result in long hours and high stress.
The hassle of having to schlep over to the gym before or after work can put the kibosh on even the best-laid plans where fitness is concerned (as can a minimal budget). When having the equipment in front of you, ready to go at a moment’s notice (not to mention staring at you accusingly every time you decide to skip your workout), you’re much more likely to stick to the game plan. So here are just a few ways to get the home gym you want even when you live in a tiny apartment.
Merry Christmas!
Posted December 24, 2012 in Healthy Lifestyle No Comments »
Today there will no tips, advice or workout routines. Just eat sensibly during the holidays and you won’t have to implement a damage control protocol on January 2nd.
If you want to hook up with your own fun monthly Santa, you can check out Jacked Pack. They’ll send you a box of supplement gifts every month. It’s like Xmas year-round. Peep the goods!
