Boosting brain function with aerobic exercise was the word according to an article in February 22nd’s Health and Wellness section of the Wall Street Journal. The article written by Ann Lukits proposes that just a fair amount of exercise has the ability to reverse shrinkage of the brain that occurs naturally with age by one or two years in older adults. An improvement in memory function was also part of the results that were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus, a portion of the brain that manages memory has been shown to lose from 1% to 2% of it’s size yearly. The results of that include dementia as well as a loss of good brain function.
After learning of these findings, I was able to make an assessment of some of the seniors I’ve had contact with throughout my life. After some thought, I can clearly see that those seniors I’ve been familiar with that were inactive and sedentary seemed to have more incidence of dementia and forgetfulness. My own mother included in that group of inactive seniors, had little to no exercise in her life and had a good case of dementia going for years before her death.
Aerobic Exercise
Confirmation of aerobic exercise as a low cost avenue in assisting to prevent a shrinking hippocampus and therefore dementia is increasing. This evidence points to the improvement of nuerocognitive decline as shown by MRI testing on 120 Americans that ranged in age from late 50′s to their early 80′s. Sixty people from that group went walking for 40 minutes weekly while striving for target heart rates. The other sixty people did yoga and exercises aimed at toning.
They found that the hippocampus in those that walked actually had a 2% increase in size after one year. It was also found that both groups had improved spatial memory both before and after this study. It was concluded by researchers from the study that those in the walking group had and increase in hippocampus volume that was directly related to the aerobic exercise.
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The workouts titled “Cindy” and “The Filthy 50″ are the two types of Crossfit workouts. The two types of workouts use different equipment, but produce similar results. The workouts are geared toward improving stamina, building muscle and strength, and helping fat loss. The Crossfit workouts encourage using good form, while working at a fast pace.
Description of Cindy Workout
The Crossfit Cindy workout seems simple, but provides a well rounded full body routine for its participants. Crossfit has the athlete perform five pull ups, move on to 10 push ups, and then move on to 15 body weight squats. This sequence equals one round. The routine must be done for 20 straight minutes. Once 20 minutes is up the athlete calculates how many rounds have been completed and that is their total score. The next time the workout is performed the athlete must strive to beat the previous record.
Cindy Workout Benefits
The Crossfit Cindy workout is very popular because it is a short, effective training session that works the entire body. The workout is designed to promote an increase in strength, endurance, fat loss, and muscle mass. Some of the major muscle groups used are the chest, triceps, shoulders, upper back, quads, hamstrings, biceps, and forearms.
Filthy 50 Description
The Filthy 50 workout is another type of Crossfit workout. The workout consists of a variety of exercises. Crossfit’s description of the workout states that the person attempting the routine must perform 50 reps for the 10 selected exercises. This leads to a total of 500 reps for the entire workout. The workout starts with 50 reps of box jumps on a 24 inch box followed by 50 jumping pull-ups, 50 kettlebell swings, 50 walking lunge steps, 50 Knees to elbows leg lifts, 50 Push press’s with 45 pounds, 50 back extensions 50 wall ball shots with a 20 pound ball, 50 burpees, and concludes with 50 double unders.
Filthy 50 Benefits
The Filthy 50 workout uses a very intense approach to working the entire body. The Crossfit Filthy 50 workout uses many different exercises to work the muscles in certain ways. An example would be the shoulder muscles. The beginning of the workout has the athlete perform 50 push presses with a barbell. Later on during the workout the person performs wall ball shots with a medicine ball. The exercise is similar, but is being done with different equipment, which works the muscles in different ways. This workout is timed, and ,according to Crossfit, needs to be done as fast as possible. Once the workout is finished the clock stops and that’s the time for the workout. The next time the workout is performed the participants will strive to beat their previous record. This workout helps increase strength, power, stamina, agility, speed, and fat loss
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Okay, so you’re on a diet to lose those ugly pounds before summer actually gets here. Yes, Lean Cuisine meals can help you reach your weight loss goal, but are these meals really worth it? The meals are expensive if you eat them regularly, and you can easily find other foods you can eat for less money and better nutrition.
Even so, Lean Cuisine frozen meals may be your preferred path to losing that extra weight before summer, and Lean Cuisine does now offer a Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards program for the faithful user of their frozen food meals. Does the Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards Program really pay off, though? Here is what you get when you participate in the Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards Program:
20 points per meal. You get a reward of 20 points when you enter your Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards Program meal code, regardless of the size and price of your meal. This means a meal that costs under $2 gets the same reward as a meal that costs just under $4.
Lots of code trouble. Are you the type of person who writes down the code, throws away the box, and enters the code later? If so, think twice about this process because the Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards Program codes give you lots of trouble.
The code system asks you to enter the code exactly as shown, and it’s not supposed to be case sensitive. You do need to put in all the dashes. Still, many of the codes will come back as “invalid,” which creates a headache for the person entering the codes.
Yes, you can try again, but the system limits you as to how many wrong codes you can enter per day. This may occur to keep some from trying to beat the system, but the bad news is that a person has trouble getting credit for legitimate purchases.
Yes, you can also email the company, but this takes time. Even if you’re willing to email the company about the situation, the system asks you for additional information (such as upc code and time stamp). You can get these from the box, but who saves all the boxes?
Limited rewards. The rewards that the Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards Program offers are few and are not really great (but, hey, you expect that, right?). They do offer a free coupon for a Lean Cuisine meal, though, which is good.
A long wait. Even so, they put a dollar limit on the coupon, and the website states a lengthy time for receiving the coupon in the mail. You’ll likely have long forgotten about the coupon if it really takes such a lengthy time, too.
Badge-earning opportunities. The Lean Cuisine Delicious Rewards Program does offer badge-earning opportunities for the person who participates in the program, so this may be fun for you if you’re into recognition. Don’t expect it to pay much, though.
You’ll likely get a few points here and there, but nothing big, all for answering surveys (that they decide when you can answer). Too, you’ll be doing their promotion work, so do you really have time for all this?
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In terms of muscular development, the best abdominal exercises for kids are the same as those for adults. But kids can be particularly reckless in their movements, so a greater emphasis must be placed on exercise safety. These exercises have been shown through studies published in the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health and Fitness Journal and the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise to be both highly effective at muscular stimulation and exceptionally safe for the lower back.
Crunch with Feet Anchored
Lie on a padded exercise mat with your back and buttocks flush against the mat. Bend approximately 45 degrees at the hips and 90 degrees at the knees so your upper and lower legs form a right angle, and your feet are flat on the floor. Clasp your hands behind your head, or fold your arms across your chest. Optionally, hold an extra weight behind your head or against your chest to get a six pack faster. Have a training partner stand on your feet or press down on your ankles so your feet won’t leave the floor. Contract your abdominals to pull your upper torso off the mat. Once your abdominals are fully contracted, pause, then return to the starting position.
Bicycle Crunch
Lie so your back and buttocks are flush against the mat. Raise your legs off the mat by bending slightly at the hips. Clasp your hands behind your head so your elbows point forward and outward. Contract your abdominals and obliques to pull your right leg toward your torso, bending at the knee. Simultaneously, pull your left elbow toward your right knee. Once contact is made between your elbow and your knee, pause, then return to the starting position. Repeat for the opposite elbow and knee.
Hanging Straight Leg Raise
Suspend yourself using a roman chair, pull up bar or other apparatus capable of suspending your entire body vertically so your legs don’t touch the ground when fully extended. Keeping your torso static and your legs straight, contract your abdominals to simultaneously raise both legs in a forward arcing motion. Once your legs form a right angle with your torso, or once you’ve raised them as high as you are able, pause. Squeezing your abdominals for support, return to the starting position in a slow, controlled inverse motion.
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The AB trainer is a piece of exercise equipment designed to target your abdominal muscles. When performing standard crunches or sit ups, many people pull on the neck, placing a painful strain on the muscles. The AB trainer is designed to support the head and neck, allowing users to safely and comfortably work their abdominal muscles while reducing the odds of a workout-related injury. Like most pieces of fitness equipment, you can perform a variety of exercises on an AB trainer.
The Basic Crunch
The basic crunch targets the central abdominal muscle, or rectus abdominus. It is simple to do; however, many people fail to perform it properly. By using the AB trainer, the body is held in the correct position, maximizing the benefits of the exercise and improving the appearance of the upper area of your stomach and abs. To perform a basic crunch, place yourself in the center of the AB trainer and place your head upon the head cushion. Bend your legs at the knee, forming a 45-degree angle, and press your feet flat against the floor. Put your hands on the frame and lightly grab the handles. Exhale and use your abdominal muscles to lift your shoulders off the floor. Rock forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle from the floor. Inhale and slowly lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat, keeping your actions steady and slow.
The Double Crunch
The double crunch works the rectus abdominus, the transverse abdominus and the abdominal obliques, shaping and toning both the upper and lower portions of the abdomen. More challenging than a basic crunch, the double crunch is a very advanced exercise and should not be attempted until the basic crunch is mastered as this will ensure proper development of the musculature of the spine. To do a double crunch, center yourself in the AB trainer with your head resting upon the head cushion. Place your hands on the handlebars and grab them loosely. Bend your knees and raise your thighs until they are approximately 90 degrees from the floor. Exhale and rock slowly forward, lifting your shoulders from the floor. While you are raising your shoulders, draw your knees toward your torso. Then inhale and gradually allow your body to return to the starting position. Repeat.
The Oblique Crunch
Targeting those annoying “love handles” and unattractive muffin tops, the oblique crunch uses the muscles on the sides of the stomach, or internal and external abdominal obliques, as well as the rectus abdominus, effectively whittling waistlines while toning the upper torso. Using spinal flexion and rotation, the repeated motion of the exercise causes the oblique muscles to spring into action. To perform the abdominal oblique exercise, allow your body to recline into the center of the AB trainer and position your head on the head rest. Bend your knees, forming an approximate 45-degree angle, and press your feet flat against the floor. Grasp the handles of the device with both hands. Let your knees fall to the left until the left leg is touching the floor. Support the weight of the right leg with the left and keep the knees bent. Exhale and rock forward, bringing your shoulders up off the floor, raising them as high as you comfortably can. Inhale and lower your body back to the floor, returning to the starting position. Repeat 10 times and then lean the knees to the right and repeat. To maximize the effectiveness of the exercise, keep the elbows open.
The Bicycle Crunch
According to a study by the bio-mechanics lab at San Diego State University, the bicycle crunch is the No. 1 exercise you can do to strengthen the rectus abdominus muscle and improve the overall condition of your abs. Using the muscles in the upper abdomen, the lower abdomen, on the sides of the torso and in the legs, the bicycle effectively works all parts of the stomach and simultaneously tones the muscles of the thighs. To perform the bicycle, place yourself in the middle of the AB trainer. Allow your head to rest against the head cushion while you firmly grasp the handlebars. Bend your knees slightly and place your feet flat against the floor. Exhale and rock forward, bringing your shoulders off the floor. As you lift your torso upward, bring one leg toward the chest while straightening the other, performing a slow pedaling motion. For maximum effect, keep the straight leg a few inches above the floor. Inhale and roll the shoulders back toward the floor, returning to the starting position. Repeat the movement, switching legs each time you rock forward.
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In your exercise regimen, you may want to achieve a goal desired by many: a flat stomach and six-pack abs. But you may have had trouble achieving this feature because you’re not sure which exercises to perform to get the results. You need a routine that is safe, simple and effective in providing you the flat stomach you have been looking for.
Function
The function of a good ab exercise workout is to provide you with a stomach and core that not only looks great but is strong enough to help everyday movements and reduce the chance for lower back problems. According to Gina Shaw of WebMd, about 25 percent of Americans have back pain in a given year and spend more time in a doctor’s office for that than any other medical conditions except high blood pressure and diabetes. A good ab exercise plan can reduce your chances of being in that 25 percent.
Benefits
You’ll be thankful for the benefits to an effective ab exercise every day of your life. Most obvious is how your stomach looks and feels and how your clothes fit better. What you might not notice all the time is how much stronger the rest of your body is because your core is strong, improved balance and, most important, an increase in your self-esteem.
Misconceptions
You may think you have to spend 30 minutes a day working your abs to get results, when all you really need is about five to 10 minutes every other day. Another misconception is that working only your abs will get results. For the stomach and core you want, you need to work out your entire body. The more muscle tissue you have, the more calories you’ll burn, which will burn away fat and lead to a flatter, stronger stomach.
Types
The most basic and safest ab exercises are usually the most effective. Crunches are the most common movements because they get results in a safe and timely manner. Beyond crunches, there are many more ab movements you can incorporate into your workout, including bicycle crunches, reverse crunches, flutter kicks, side crunches, seated rotations, captain’s chair, planks and side planks. The best exercises are ones you can do on the floor because they are safe, will be easy on your back and get the results you desire
Routines
A good routine using different ab exercises could be constructed like this: Crunches for one minute, followed by a 30-second rest; bicycle crunches for 40 seconds, followed by a 20-second rest; reverse crunches for one minute, then a 30-second rest; finishing with a one-minute plank. This routine takes five minutes to complete and will hit every muscle in the core. It works out the side, middle and upper and lower abs, as well as the lower back.
Time Frame
If ab workouts are performed three to four times a week for five to 10 minutes at a time, and every exercise is done correctly, you should begin to see and feel results in two to three months. Do not get discouraged if you do not see results immediately, getting the flat stomach you want takes time. According to Christina Leon of Life Organizers, you need eight to 12 weeks to judge the regimen’s effectiveness.
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Just about the time you think you know how to make healthy eating choices, new nutritional advice comes along debunking the so-called facts you just learned. It can be confusing and exhausting trying to keep up with the latest advice on diet and nutrition myths and facts, so this article will quickly deliver the skinny facts and bust the nutritional myths.
Healthy Eating Means No Salt
It’s a nutritional myth that the salt shaker is the enemy of a healthy diet. Fact is the sodium in processed foods is the enemy of a heart healthy diet. Fast foods and processed foods that are quick to prepare like hot dogs, lunch meat, sausage, bacon, canned foods and frozen meals are loaded with salt. To eat healthier, select low salt varieties of your favorite processed foods, or better yet, make your own when possible. A little shake of salt added to homemade food will equal far less than the amount of salt in fast or processed foods.
Fat Is Not Good For You
Did you know our bodies need fat to process and assimilate the foods we eat? A totally fat-free diet is an unhealthy diet, we need to eat a little fat every day to aid in digestion. The key word is ‘?little’ and not all fat is created equal, so vigilance is still needed for healthy fat intake.
White Foods Have No Nutritional Value
That’s a nutritional myth that has given many nutrient-rich foods a bad rap. Bananas, cauliflower, turnips, mushrooms, potatoes and onions are white foods with loads of vitamins and minerals. White meats (chicken, fish, pork) are healthier choices too.
Gluten-Free Diet Promotes Weight Loss
Products containing gluten, like whole wheat, oats and barley, are not diet busters, and going gluten-free will not promote faster weight loss than any other type of restricted calorie eating plan. Gluten-free dieting may in fact cause weight gain, since many products that are labeled ‘?gluten-free’ are processed and contain little nutritional value.
Eating Late At Night Makes You Fat
That’s a myth that has been around for decades. Truth is the body does not process food eaten at 9pm any differently than food eaten at 6pm. It’s what you eat, not when you eat.
Those who eat late at night tend to be late night snackers who are consuming more calories by indulging in late night treats.
Only Shop The Grocery Store’s Perimeter
That’s a myth that keeps you from discovering the variety of nutrition rich food sitting on the grocery store’s shelves. It is true that fresh foods, like vegetables, fruits, dairy and seafood are displayed along the grocery store’s perimeter, the center isles harbor nutrient rich and oftentimes cheaper priced foods. Canned and frozen vegetables and fruits have the same nutritional value as fresh, and usually cost less. Whole grain breads, pastas and cereals, dried beans and other low fat, low sodium, sugar-free, nutritional products await shoppers in the center isles.
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Shaping your midsection can be easier than you think. Because these muscles have a high recovery rate compared to other larger muscle groups in your body, you can exercise your abdominal muscles every day to get lean, tight abs fast. If you want to tone and strengthen your tummy, try these exercises at least five days a week.
Crunches
Crunches are popular because of their effectiveness and simplicity. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Fold your arms across your chest, and keep your chin from resting on your chest. While tightening your abdominal muscles, raise your upper body off the floor until your upper body creates a 90-degree angle with the floor. Slowly return to your original position. Perform three sets of 10 repetitions. This exercise can also be modified to target your obliques. As you lift your upper body, twist your torso to either side. For maximum results, hold this position for three seconds, keeping your abdominal muscles squeezed and tight.
Canoe
Many abdominal exercises can be performed while standing up, helping to prevent neck strain. Stand with your feet 3 feet apart, bending slightly at the knees. Clasp your hands together, arms slightly outstretched in front of your chest. As if rowing in a canoe, bring your clasped hands to the lower left side of your torso, at hip level, and push your clasped hands as though you are pushing a rowing oar behind you. Return your hands to the original position. Perform three sets of 10 repetitions to each side of your body.
Standing Crunch
Stand with your feet in line with your hips. Raise your right arm straight above your head. Straighten your left leg to the side, pointing your toes toward the floor. Bring your right elbow down in front of you as you raise your left knee until the two touch. Squeeze and tighten your abdominal muscles during this movement. Return your arm and leg to the original position. Repeat this move for 10 repetitions, alternating sides, for three sets.
Elbow Plank
Move onto the floor and position your body in a pushup stance, but place your elbows and forearms on the ground. Put the weight of your upper body onto your forearms, keeping your stomach tight and firm. Be sure that your body is positioned in a straight line from head to toe. Hold this stance for at least 10 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds and repeat. Work your way up to holding this stance for three minutes.
Caution
If you have a history of health conditions, consult your doctor before performing these exercises. If you experience any unusual symptoms during or after performing exercise, contact your health-care provider.
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Since we humans always want feel attractive and admired, many of us go to great lengths to try for fast results in reducing our weight – particularly around the belly. It’s important for us to look better in our clothes and in general, so that we can feel better about ourselves. However there is a more sinister threat to having excess belly measurements than just the visual effects. This is the largely unspoken danger to your health once things get out of control.
Having too much padding on your arms, thighs and butt may not pose a threat to your overall health but if your belly fat is excessive and of the wrong kind, then you are running the risk of coming down with some serious long term health problems.
Medical science has found a strong connection between excess belly fat and some chronic diseases. Diabetes can occur when your excess belly fat interferes with the production of insulin by your pancreas which assists in regulating your blood sugar.
People suffering with diabetes also have blood circulation problems. Most of us have heard the ghastly stories of people having to have limbs removed as a result of diabetes and circulation breakdown. Other serious problem areas are high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a high blood sugar reading. This classically increases the potential for stroke and heart attacks.
However to shine a little light in the gloom, not all belly fat is dangerous. The fat that lies just beneath the skin and above the muscle, is not regarded as very threatening. The fat that does produce real problems is the fat that resides under the muscles and around your organs. This is most dangerous and is the one that you need to identify in your own body.
Here’s a very simple way to determine whether you are a candidate for these chronic diseases via your excess belly fat. Take a tape measure and measure around your mid-section. If you measure more than 39 inches (for men), or 35 inches (for women) then you are potentially at risk. If you measure less than this, but have noticed that you have been increasing in recent years, you could be heading into dangerous territory. Now would be a good time to make a definite plan to reduce your weight.
Your plan should include:
* improving your diet * doing some regular exercise * lowering your stress levels * and getting adequate amounts of sleep each night.
By taking the initiative and doing something positive to improve your condition, you will gain in so many ways: you will feel better within yourself, greatly reduce the chances of getting debilitating, life-threatening diseases, and as a bonus, you will be able to extend your life span and lead an active, enjoyable life.
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Running requires great physical stamina. Strong abdominal muscles can help your posture, help prevent fatigue and protect your back from injury while running. A 2009 study published in the journal “Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism” led by David Behm compared the number of trunk muscles used during running and calisthenics. He found that highly trained runners showed great abdominal engagement, and concluded that running is an “efficient, multifunctional exercise,” which requires the use of several major muscle groups. As you develop your running skill, training your abdominal muscles will help you improve your performance and endurance.
Bicycle Manuever
Step 1
Lie face up on the floor with your knees bent. Place the palms of your hands on either side of your head with your elbows pointing out. Squeeze your abdominal muscles while lifting your feet off the floor.
Step 2
Lift your shoulders off the ground by squeezing your abdominal muscles. Twist your trunk to the left, pointing your right elbow directly toward your left knee, while simultaneously extending your right leg straight out as if pushing down a bicycle pedal.
Step 3
Bring your upper body back briefly back to center. Repeat the twisting motion to the right side, touching your right knee and extending your left leg. Continue cycling your legs and twisting your upper body for 15 to 20 repetitions.
Exercise Ball Crunch
Step 1
Sit with your buttocks centered on a large exercise ball. Keep your upper body straight as you walk your feet four or five steps away from the ball. Allow the ball to roll under your lower back. Stop when the ball supports your lower back.
Step 2
Lace your fingers gently behind your head. Contract your abdominal muscles and lift and curl your shoulders and upper back toward your lower body. Squeeze your abdominal muscles as hard as possible at the top position.
Step 3
Relax your abdominal muscles slightly and slowly return to your starting position. Repeat the abdominal curl 12 to 15 times. Do not hold your breath through the repetitions, but exhale as you lift and inhale as you lower.
Simple Pelvic Tilt
Step 1
Lie on your back to perform the simple pelvic tilt. Place your arms by your sides with your palms resting on the floor. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor about 2 feet from your buttocks.
Step 2
Keep your head, shoulders, upper and lower back in complete contact with the floor. Press the small of your back into the floor.
Step 3
Tighten your abdominal muscles. You will feel your lower back push farther toward the floor and your pelvis lift imperceptibly toward the ceiling. Relax your lower back and repeat the exercise 20 to 30 times.
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