History of Strength and Conditioning Science

Writen by Jamie Hale

Early records of strength training date back to 3600 BC when Chinese emperors made their subjects exercise daily (Webster 1976). During the Chou Dynasty subjects were required to pass weight- lifting tests before entering the military. There is large amount of evidence that indicates weight training was part of life in ancient Greece and India. In fact, the Greeks built numerous sculptures of people lifting stone weights.

Numerous systems of training have been proposed over the years. The accumulation of experience and different philosophies has led us to the current training methods utilized today. Keep in mind; many authorities have varied greatly from the original purpose of strength and conditioning. Hard work and dedication formed the foundation of earlier training methods. Today the opposite has occurred in numerous settings as easy work and quick fixes form the foundation of most people’s regimens.

During the 16th century in Europe books on weight training began to surface. Sir Thomas Elyot’s book on the topic was published in England in 1531. Joachim Camerius, a lecturer at Leipzig University, wrote several books in 1544 recommending that weight training should be a key activity offered in the model school. John Paugh published a book in 1728 titled A Physiological, Theoretic and Practical Treatise on the Utility of Muscular Exercise for Restoring the Power to the limbs, which pointed out the benefits offered by weight training for rehab purposes. In the 1860’s, Archibald Maclaren, devised the first formal system of physical training with dumbbells and barbells for the British Army.

The showmen and strongman entertainers of the 19th Century heavily contributed to methods used today in the fitness and Sports Conditioning industry. From extensive research iron game historian David Webster credits Italian circus and fairground performer, Felice Napoli as the one who popularized strongman performances on an international scale. Disciples of Napoli include Professor Attila (Louis Durlacher) and Eugen Sandow (Frederick Muller). Attila became well known and he attracted some of the world’s most well known physical culturists and many rulers of Europe. His list of students included King George of Greece, King Edward of England, Crown Prince Frederick who became King Haakon of Norway, the six children of King Christian of Denmark, the Queen Mother Alexandra of England, Princess Dagmar (Empress of Russia and mother of Tsar Nicholas), and the Duchess of Cumberland.

At the time training the wealthy was a much respected occupation. We have what we call personal trainers today. The current protocols used by the majority of today’s trainers are a far cry from the original teachings and benefits provided by trainers. The fame and notoriety of trainers of those days was a result of the public displays of extraordinary physical feats. These events were often attended by royalty and were highly acclaimed for their promotion of physical well-being.

Eugen Sandow, born in Koningsberg in East Russia in 1867, was recruited for his teachings by presidents and rulers from around the world. Nine kings and queens and many princes of Europe, as well as US presidents William Taft and Woodrow Wilson endorsed Sandow’s book Life is Movement. Sandow was a successful strongman as well as a promoter of formal fitness and health management. He emphasized that physical education and sport should be an integral part of the school system. He also toured the world lecturing and promoting physical culture as a means of improving the quality of life.

Most authorities recognize Sandow, as one of the most important figures in the history of fitness, with the history of his work revealing that the modern phenomenon of science based fitness training is not a novel invention. Sandow promoted the importance of strength and skill as being the cornerstone of fitness. A half a century later Dr Kenneth Cooper proposed that being fit was primarily dependent on aerobic conditioning. Approximately 25 years later the important role of strength training has once again been recognized by the academia.

In Russia during the same period Vladislav Krayevsky founded the St Petersburg Amateur Weightlifting Society (1885). Many respected scientists, athletes; artists became his students, including famous strongman George Hackenschmidt, who credited Krayevsky for teaching him all he knew. Hackenschmidt mentioned in his book The Way To Live that some of the world’s strongest men of the era, including Sandow were trained using Krayevsky’s system.

Krayevsky’s work and the popularity of his students had a major effect on weightlifting in Russia. Not only was he a renowned teacher, but he also achieved significant numbers in barbell lifts himself. He was the president of the jury at the first world championships in Vienna in 1898.

Krayevsky wrote two of his fundamental works during the period of 1896-1899. The writings were titled The Catechism of Health-Rules for Athletes and The Development of Physical Strength with Kettlebells and without Kettlebells. The Catechism of Health-Rules for Athletes was sent to press December 9th 1899, but was never published and is now preserved in manuscript form. His other book was published in 1900 and reprinted three times (1902, 1909, 1916) after his death (1901).

Krayevsky was well studied on the history of physical culture and all forms of gymnastics. He was knowledgeable about Swedish gymnastics and noted its therapeutic benefits, but his concern with the lack of scientific data of the Swedish system led him to recruit experimentalists to research it.

Many of Krayevsky’s recommendations are still used today. His recommendations include medical control of an athlete’s health, consistent training and varying load patterns, full spectrum physical development, psychological development and avoidance of smoking and alcohol.

The early strength pioneers developed numerous devices in regards to strength training including cable machines, kettlebells, barbells, dumbbells, odd-shaped bars, thick grip bars, weighted boots, isolation machines and various throwing devices. Yet 50 years later there are numerous people who claim to have invented this machinery. In today’s industry there are many systems and people promoting their new systems, which are not really new at all.

The development of different scientific and educational cultures split the West and East as their promotion of physical activity was vaguely different. During the years following the World Wars Russia and Europe still continued to promote various elements of physical strength, power and skill while the West primarily promoted aerobics. Kenneth Cooper’s book Aerobics was popular at the time as well as Swedish endurance exercise research. According to Cooper and the Swedish researchers cardiac and general health depended primarily on prolonged endurance work. Supporters of the endurance doctrine heavily protested strength training. Cooper told the world strength training promoted a beautiful body but did nothing for health.

During the same period that the aerobics craze was running wild in the West Russians and Eastern Europeans accumulated extensive international information on strength and sports training while developing comprehensive educational programs to promote their findings. Most schools offered weightlifting and within a few decades there were approximately 1 million weightlifters in the USSR. Strength training became a key element in all sports training programs in the USSR while the attitude in the West was that weight training would slow athletes down and limit their range of motion. Consequently Russia dominated the Olympic Games, especially in Olympic Weightlifting, at the same time the aerobic doctrine became gospel in the West.

The Russian dominance has often been attributed to the use of anabolic-androgenic drugs, but the sporting use of these drugs was actually introduced in by the West first. It is probably more accurate to say that the Eastern nations dominated due to their special strength science and understanding of comprehensive sports conditioning. On the topic of drug usage no one uses more drugs than Pro bodybuilders, which are predominantly Americans.

In the West today the majority of gyms, trainers, academia and coaches are still ill informed when it comes to fitness and Sports Conditioning. The aerobic endurance crazes still dominates in most cases, yet this makes up a minor portion of fitness. All one needs to do is study the science and abundant evidence that supports the numerous health and fitness benefits of a proper strength-training program to realize its importance.

References
Siff, M.C (2000) Supertraining. Mel Siff.

Copyright 2005 Jamie Hale

jamie Hale is the owner of maxcondition.com, gym owner, fitnes and nutrition consulant and writer. He is also a member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

7 Easy Ways to Turbo-Charge Fat Burning

Writen by Alejandro Herryman

Whether you are trying to lose a few extra pounds, or building a sculpted body; you will need every available technique in your arsenal when you begin to fight f-a-t. If you are only using one or two tactics you may get there eventually, but you will have a long uphill battle.

Are you ready to fire up your fat burning capabilities? The basics of metabolism has everything to do with fat burning. It is the biochemical processes that take place in the body; the breakdown of nutrients in the blood after digestion, resulting in growth of new tissue, more energy, and the release of wastes.

You have billions of cells- nerve cells, muscle cells, fat cells, blood cells, and all kinds of cells. These cells burn up a lot of energy as they get their job done in a well metabolized body, but a person whose metabolism runs slow, a lot of excess fat will be stored because not enough energy is burned up. The good news is that the metabolism furnace can be turned up substantially. There are several things which affect the metabolism such as exercise, the digestion of foods, body temperature, and hormone activity. Here are seven of the easiest ways to burn fat faster.

1. The food you eat. There are several foods that actually burn fat faster than others. Spices is one food that can help you burn more calories by triggering a thermodynamic burn that can last several hours after eating.

2. The time you eat. The best time to eat the largest portion of the foods you eat for the day is before two o’clock. Make sure you never skip a meal, especially breakfast. The process of eating actually starts your burner blasting. Do not skip breakfast, and wait until mid-day to eat because if you do your metabolism will run slower all day. That means you are burning less fat, which is not what you are aiming for. You want to burn fat faster, not slower.

3. The amount of food. If you deprive yourself of food, your body goes into a survival mode and slows itself down to prepare for a possible famine. That means that fad diets are definitely out if you want to burn fat faster. But on the other hand, if you eat more calories than your body uses throughout the day, these additional calories will be stored as fat. Therefore, the secret is moderation. Try eating three small meals and two small snacks daily. It’s like throwing another log on the fire whenever you eat, but remember- small amounts of food at a time. If you have too much food in the stomach at any one time, it will slow the fat burn down, totally defeating the purpose.

4. To prevent build up of fat you need to increase your daily activities. The muscles are where all the calories are burned during exercise, and the more efficient the muscles are at burning fat – the quicker weight loss can be achieved. To be an efficient fat burner you need to increase your muscle mass. The timing and various types of exercise also contribute to a turbo metabolism. When you perform any kind of activity your body burns fat and glucose. The good thing is that you do not need to exercise hard to burn fat. It’s a good habit to begin exercising every morning. Do as much as you can until you reach an entire hour each day, five or six days a week.

5. Do your strength training before doing any cardiovascular work. It takes the body about 15 minutes to warm up and start burning fat. For example, if you are jogging for 45 minutes, you will only be burning fat for the last 30 minutes of your workout. Instead, try lifting weights for the first 15 minutes, which gives your body the time it needs to warm up. By the time you hit the road, you will be burning fat during the entire jogging session. PLUS – you will have built muscle too!

6. Do not do the exact same workout every day. Your body will start to get used to that exercise, and eventually it will stop burning fat calories. So if you jog one day, try a different activity the next day. Keep rotating the exercises, that way your body will stay at an optimal fat burning state. The best way to burn fat is to work out as hard as you can for as long as you can. But if you are just beginning a program, try varying the intensity from fast, to normal, to fast, to normal. This will help to build endurance, and eventually, you will be able to extend the high intensity periods until your entire workout is done at an ultimate fat burning speed. The fat burning equation is simple. The more muscle tone you have, the more calories you will burn even when you are not active.

7. Inhaling and exhaling through your nose, rather than your mouth also helps to stabilize your heart rate, and increase your endurance. Of course you know this means turbo charged fat burning.

With these seven tips, you should be well on your way to burning fat at an optimal level. If you stick with these techniques, and make them a part of your day – your body will amaze you in a few weeks.

Alejandro Herryman

Student and Network Marketer

alejandro@herryman.com

http://ryze.com/go/alejo2002

Hatha Yoga – A Crowd Favorite

Writen by Rebecca Prescott

Increasingly, you may hear about your companions enrolling in Hatha classes at the local gym. In terms of pure popularity, Hatha yoga is number one in the yoga world. As a result, the poses are known well by both beginners and experts.

Hatha yoga poses are called Asanas. The Asanas are used in combination with meditation and the breathing techniques known as Pranayama. Together they work the body to improve strength and flexibility as well as overall health, which is one of the reasons it is so popular. Hatha is a hybrid of the Sanskrit words “ha” which means “sun” and the word “tha” which means the “moon.” Together, they refer to the way that Hatha’s yoga poses often bring together opposites currents in the system.

Of the eight limbs of yoga, Hatha focuses mostly on the third, which is Asana, and the fourth, which is Pranayama. These pose and posture techniques coupled with the breathing patterns are used to clear out your body’s energy channels, known as the Nadis. This, in turn, removes obstacles that could hamper other limbs helping to improve your well being.

Hatha History

Hatha has been around since 15th century India when a yogic sage, Swami Swatamarama, detailed Hatha Yoga Pradipika, one of the most important yoga texts. The original intent of this form of yoga was to help support relaxation of the body and to support the “contemplation of one reality.” Many of the classic Hatha yoga poses that were used at its inception, in fact, are still in use with it today. According to those first practitioners of Hatha, the postures can lead to the best in not only physical well being, but also the best state of mind you can possibly attain.

Your Hatha Path

Before beginning your journey into Hatha yoga, you need to be prepared just like with any other form of yoga. There are some basic tips that can help you have an easier, more effective, and safer experience as you begin this original yoga style.

First, remember to breathe normally while you are in and move between each of the poses. Your breaths should be deep and smooth. Try to feel your diaphragm opening and expanding as you switch from one posture to another. Hatha rarely, if ever, uses the shorter and harder yoga breathing, so stay smooth and deep.

Second, do not force any of the stretch positions in Hatha. Start with the easier ones and make sure you are moving easily and naturally into each pose and that you are holding it for 15 to 30 seconds. This will ensure that you get the most out of your yoga and minimize your risk of injury. Be patient with your body and do not attempt the more difficult poses until you are sure you are ready.

Finally, concentrate on your breathing. One of the big focuses in this particular yoga is the breathing which leads to much of the mental health benefits. Use the exercise to relax and become at peace with yourself in the moment. That is what Hatha yoga poses are intended to do for you.

Hatha has been in practice for over 600 years. Longevity like that is rare even in yoga, and can be a sign of success and true belief. If you are considering this form of yoga as for yourself, then remember: never strain, take the time to make sure you are ready for a given pose, and to concentrate heavily on your breathing. Following these tips will help you to attain the superior mental and physical well being that Hatha is said to provide.

Rebecca Prescott provides an introduction to some hatha yoga poses here. You’ll also find an article about another popular style of yoga, Bikram yoga, and weight loss benefits associated with it, here.

And The Healthy Diet For This Week Is?

Writen by Dave Odell

Before we go any further the word diet does not necessarily mean an act of losing weight but a style of eating. If you follow a healthy diet you will lose weight naturally and you will get into a lifestyle that will keep you weight stable.

Every week a “new healthy diet” comes out by some expert and it often appears that there are as many “healthy diets” as there are experts. Taking the cynical viewpoint these experts have only hit the world with a new regime to sell their latest book, DVD or new line of health food products. OK, everybody has different dietary needs due to their body type, metabolism, and genetic makeup but there are some basic guidelines that can be followed to keep to a healthy diet.

One of the first steps to a healthy diet is to rid your body of all the rubbish that is already there. These are the toxins that have built up over time. Well one way of doing this is to go down to your local pharmacy and get a pre-packaged detox kit and follow that for a specified length of time. Or you could buy antioxidants in supplement form. These are both workable quick fixes but you really need to make you diet a lifestyle.

Antioxidants are abundant in fruit and vegetables and generally, brightly coloured fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of antioxidants: for example, yellow, orange, and dark green vegetables and citrus fruits. Now the Catch-22 in this is that you are better to be eating organic produce so that you are not introducing more toxins into the body as you neutralise the ones that are already there.

Research has shown that children who regularly eat organic foods have lower levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies than those who only eat conventional foods.

Fruits and vegetables are also high in other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C is abundant in strawberries and oranges and this helps to support the immune system. Carrots and sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, which is important for vision and high levels of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K can be found in green leafed vegetables to support the health of our bones and teeth, among other things.

Some helpful guidelines to follow: Eat two to four pieces of fresh fruit daily, and fill half your plate with vegetables at any given meal.

A healthy diet program requires planning and lots of knowledge, both in the supermarket and at the meal table but the results are more than worth it!

I have given you some of the facts concerning a healthy diet but something that you do not see in many of these weekly diet regimes is a realistic approach, we are not all at home all the time, we are sitting in traffic or having meals in the canteen where you cannot dictate what is on the menu.

Here are some healthy eating habits to think about and to bring into your new healthy eating lifestyle.

Eat a good breakfast. When there isn’t time to sit down and enjoy your morning meal, and oats are a good choice there, grab some fruit and some juice.

If you only viable option is to eat fast foods, choose a pizza with half the cheese, a regular roast beef sandwich, baked potato, or green salad with reduced calorie dressing. Do not opt for things like fries, fried chicken or fish and remember to use low calorie dressing and not the regular variety.

Always have healthy snacks close by to fend off sudden hunger attacks. These could be fresh or dried fruit, nuts, rice cakes, whole wheat crackers or raw vegetables with low fat yogurt or dip.

Eat calcium rich food by including ample amounts of low fat yogurt, low fat cheese, milk and green leafy vegetables in your diet.

If you need to lose weight, do it sensibly. Remember we are going for lifestyle changes not a quick fix starvation diet. The only safe way to lose weight, feel good while doing it, and keep it off is to eat a balanced diet.

Reduce you sugar intake, use it sparingly and consider sweetening coffee, tea, cereal and fruit with sweeteners instead. Though sugar provides calories it supplies few other nutrients and it contributes significantly to tooth decay.

Salad bars sound healthy but they can also be harmful. By all means go for the leafy greens, raw vegetable and fresh fruit as they are beneficial. But the creamy dressing, bacon bits, and mayonnaise based salads are not and the calories and fat they contain may equal or even exceed those of a burger and fries.

Reduce or cut alcohol out completely, remember that alcohol supplies calories but has no nutritional value. A small beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of spirits contains about 100 calories. Adding this to the associated problems that are linked with drinking alcohol the benefits can be two-fold.

Drink lots of water. Your body needs at least two or three pints a day, and if you exercise vigorously, this could be more. Try to keep a water bottle handy.

www.health.knowhowpages.co.uk

About The Author
Dave Odell has been a freelance writer since 1984, during which time he has lived and worked in Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp and London until recently moving to the north of England. Though he has specialized in technically related matters his investigative skills has recently inspired him into writng articles and web sites on other subjects that he is interested in therefore expanding his knowledge in these areas.

Fitness Equipment Leasing Equals Financial Fitness

Writen by Rika Susan

Fitness equipment leasing may be the answer to the growing demand for fitness facilities. Health-consciousness is slowly starting to stir among the masses. With it comes an awareness of the importance of exchanging an overweight, inactive body for a strong, lithe physique.

Although there are many ways to achieve this goal, a gym membership will always be one of the most popular choices.

The benefits these outfits gain by leasing fitness equipment, are numerous. To survive, a new gym has to keep overheads as low as possible. Leasing, rather than purchasing, enables you to do this.

Fitness equipment leasing allows you to have access to new technology or specialized equipment as soon as it becomes available, without committing your business to a substantial financial outlay. Constantly upgrading your facilities, is an important factor in staying ahead of the competition.

The additional financial benefit of never being stuck with obsolete equipment, can be considerable.

By not tying up a large chunk of your capital in equipment, you will be in a better position to manage day to day expenses, while your venture finds its feet. If you need to expand, you can do this by leasing fitness equipment, without stretching yourself to the limit, and compromising the stability of your business.

Borrowed finance goes hand in hand with high interest rates. When leasing fitness equipment, the long term benefit in saving on this aspect alone, becomes substantial.

As fitness equipment leasing will be shown as an operating expense, tax benefits will also flow from organizing your business in this way. It is even possible to structure payments to accommodate the flow of business in your establishment, further strengthening cash flow during the slow months.

Whether you are looking for multi stack gyms, ellipticals, benches, treadmills, cycles, steppers, or more specialized equipment, you will find it available on a leased basis.

Your business will function with more flexibility, and be able to deal with higher demand periods efficiently. Customers with special needs can also be taken care of without hardship to the business.

A trusting relationship with an experienced fitness equipment leasing company offers reliability, the ability to arrange speedy financing, and a low payment schedule to suit your needs – all important factors in keeping you competitive.

Some of the large manufacturers such as Cybex, offer their own fitness equipment leasing options. Here you have the added advantage of working with knowledgeable people on both the financial and equipment sides. They know the industry well, and structure leasing agreements accordingly. Cybex Capital sport a 96% approval ratio.

Cybex offers various fitness equipment leasing programs. The contract includes options such as deferred first payment programs, annual payment programs for schools and universities, or seasonal payments. There are also programs available for new clubs, and existing club expansion.

A Fair Market Value Lease is also available for utilization by schools, YMCA’s and other organizations. This option offers tax benefits, lower monthly payments, no end of lease obligation, and new equipment every three years. If you make use of this fitness equipment leasing option, you won’t have to be concerned about how you are going to fund a security deposit, as this isn’t required.

Many companies and organizations are realising that by establishing an in-house gym, they are making a positive investment in the future productivity of their employees.

The results will be seen in fewer sick days taken, a surge in employee-stamina, and a less stressed-out workforce. Most importantly, the bottom-line of the company (and its employees!) will give a clear indication of the benefits. By leasing fitness equipment, they have the opportunity to start such a program without a crippling capital outlay.

Documentation involved when leasing fitness equipment for the first time, includes filling out a credit application form, copies of tax returns for principals, personal financial statements, equipment listing, and business plan copies.

Existing businesses will have to include company tax returns, and interim company financial statements. Response time after providing this, should be between 2 and 5 days.

Whether you have a small outfit, ordering a few thousand dollars worth of equipment, or are well-muscled and in need of leasing fitness equipment in the seven-figure range, you will be able to find a leasing option suitable for you.

Find the right fit for you, and watch your profits grow.

Rika Susan of http://www.Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

For more information visit Best-Gym-Equipment.com

Acupuncture: What is It? Is It Something I Should Do?

Writen by Travis Lawrence

Acupuncture is an ancient study. It is a technique that has been done for hundreds of years as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The goal of this procedure is to restore the well being and the health of the individual. While it may seem strange, acupuncture uses a method of inserting needles into specific points in the body. It should only be preformed by a skilled individual, one that has received training in it. If you are wondering if this is something for you, you’ll need to learn a little more about what acupuncture can provide as well as how it is done.

Why It Works

Acupuncture points are located throughout the body. Today, stainless steel needles are used. They are about .01 to .02 in thickness. The procedure treats the body as a whole. It works to improve the function of several systems of function that are associated with several physical organs in the body. If there is a problem with the systems or a disease is present, acupuncture tries to address this by attempting to modify the activity of one or several of the systems of function. They do this with a combination of heat, needles, and pressure on the sensitive parts of the body which are called acupuncture points. They help to restore the body through a method of yin and yang.

There are six yin channels and six yang channels. There are three of each in each arm and three of each in each leg. There are yin and yang points throughout the body including the hands and the feet. The goal is to restore the balance of qi in the body. Qi is a term used to describe vital energy. This is the very foundation of being alive and functioning in Traditional Chinese Medicine technologies. If there are deficiencies of qui, there can be pain and illness. Pain is supposed to mean that there is a blockage or a poor flow of qi.

What Happens During Acupuncture

When you visit an acupuncturist, you will already have insured that the individual is capable of performing the procedure because they have been trained. This individual will determine which points to treat based on questions that they will ask you. . They will then use diagnostic skills to determine and observe the left and right radial pulses. They will look at the tongue coating and notice if there are teeth marks around the edges of it. From here, there is quite a bit of difference in what is done as far as the various techniques go.

Western Acupuncture

There are several things that are done in acupuncture in the western cultures. For example, to treat a throbbing headache, the acupuncturist will stimulate the area of the hand between the thumbs and the palms (the webbing that is located there). These points, called, the gu points are known for helping the face and head areas of the body. There are many various ways in which it can help you such as this one.

What Can It Benefit?

So, what can acupuncture do for you? There are a number of conditions in which it can be used with proven and unproven results. While Traditional Chinese Medicine is debated, some studies have found some benefits to using it for treatments. Some conditions in which acupuncture has been shown to show some benefits include tennis elbow, depression, headache, lower back pain, chronic heart failure, labor, menopausal symptoms, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. It is important to note that they don’t necessarily cure the condition but can help to relieve or benefit it in some way.

Many of the treatments and methods of acupuncture are yet to be realized. In western culture, there is always a wait and see for testing. But, the testing is expensive and not one that is a priority to many. For that, it will take a long time before it can be proven and used as a standard medical treatment as it is used in many Asian countries. There are many ways in which acupuncture can provide excellent results and without the harmful side effects of medications. In fact, in many cases, it can be safer to treat conditions with acupuncture over medications.

If you choose to use acupuncture, all of the benefits and difference comes in finding a well trained, experienced acupuncturist.

For more information on how to use acupuncture for stop quit smoking visit http://www.acupuncture-therapy.net/acupuncture/acupunctureforstopquitsmoking/. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, link and URL remain intact.

Get Attitude about Age

Writen by Dr. Leslie Van Romer

The basic principles for longevity are simple, but few people around the world, and especially in the United States, understand these principles. Even if they do understand these principles, they don’t incorporate these principles into their own lives.

It’s one thing to know what principles promote health and fitness and a long, active, productive, and purposeful life, and quite another to muster up the determination to put these principles into practice.

Too many of us chase the Fountain of Youth, hungry for a quick fix.

Our whole culture is youth centeredthe look, the clothes, the sports, the activities, the advertising.

We exult our youth while we neglect to honor and revere our parents and grandparents, the very people who have gathered a lifetime of experiences and wisdom. In fact, we put them away when they become too much of an inconvenience, a nuisance.

The message is loud and clear: youth is beautiful and old age is not a pretty picture.

And let’s face it. The way we age in this country, who wants to get old? When we look around us and even at ourselves, old age walks hand in hand with pain, stiffness, immobility, disease, and lack of purpose.

The question remains: does the inevitability of aging bring about the inevitability of pain, suffering, and disease?

Interestingly, the gerontologists, the old age specialists, tell us that the human body is designed to live and function well for one hundred years. Yes, we are made to live one hundred years. Furthermore, we are made to live one hundred years with health, fitness, vitality, mobility, and purpose.

How many one hundred year olds do we see around us who are healthy, mobile, and vibrant? The chances of knowing such a person is about as rare as seeing a unicorn, is it not?

If we do happen to know someone who has reached the benchmark year of one hundred, what kind of shape is she or he in?

In this country, we think it is nothing short of a miracle if we live to be eighty even if we can barely get out of a chair or walk around the block, much less fully participate in our favorite activities with our favorite people.

The Fountain of Youth is within our reach, but it can not be bought. We must be work for it, constantly, every day. If we choose not to, then premature aging is inevitable right along with disability, premature diseases, and early death.

So would you like to discover the Fountain of Youth? Look for it in what you eat, how much you move, and how you live your life.

Of all the longevity factors known to influence aging, the only longevity factor that has been shown in studies is body weight.

In other words, if these studies are accurate for human beings, carrying around too many pounds automatically wipes out the number of years that you live.

In a nutshell, what are the factors that increase your chances of living a longer life? According to Dan Georgakas in The Methuselah Factors, some of the factors critical for a long life are:

Lean body weight Fresh fruits and vegetables Raw nuts and whole grains No smoking Lifelong daily moderate exercise such as walking Lifelong work and purpose Regular sleep habits More easy going personality

Ask yourself this question. Do you care if you live a long life and do you care if your life is one of quality with a well performing body, a bright mind, and an active and purposeful lifestyle?

If you do care, then now is the time to take that first step for preserving your most valuable assetyou!

Dr. Leslie Van Romer is a health motivational speaker, writer, and life style coach. Visit http://www.DrLeslieVanRomer.com for more inspiration.

Gastric Bypass Surgery – Will Insurance Cover the Cost?

Writen by Craig Thompson

Depending on the type of major medical insurance policy you have, most insurance companies will pay for gastric bypass surgery (also called bariatric surgery) if you meet certain conditions. However, some insurance companies have exclusion clauses for treating obesity. These companies refuse to cover any treatment related to “losing weight.” They will, however, treat the diseases caused by excessive body weight. How do I qualify for coverage?

To qualify for coverage, gastric bypass surgery must be considered a medical necessity. The insurance company will make the final determination. They may rely on the information your doctor sends to them or they may require you to be seen by a doctor that they specify.

In either case, certain conditions must exist. Your weight problem must present a serious risk to your life. Don’t be surprised if they require a complete psychological evaluation in addition to your medical records. It is no secret that people eat too much of the wrong kinds of food for many reasons. While genetics and metabolic rate do affect how much a person weighs, often the primary causes of obesity are emotional and psychological. Gastric bypass surgery will not fix these emotional and psychological problems. In fact, if these issues are not dealt with prior to or along with the surgery, the patient may be more likely to experience serious complications. For this reason, all insurance companies require both a medical and psychological clearance before they will approve the surgery.

Remember, insurance companies are businesses. If they think you are a good candidate to maintain the weight loss permanently and that the $25,000 to $50,000 dollar price tag for gastric bypass surgery now will save them money in the long run by eliminating payment for other weight related medical problems, they will most likely cover the surgery.

How much will my insurance carrier cover?

If you are approved for gastric bypass surgery, your insurance company will pay anywhere from 50 to 100 percent of the hospital and doctor fees. Some policies will even cover in-home nursing care after release from the hospital if it is deemed necessary by the doctors and approved by the insurance company.

Several different expenses typically are associated with gastric bypass surgery, such as testing to determine eligibility for gastric bypass surgery, pre-admission testing, in-hospital costs, surgeon and other doctor fees, and post-surgery medication and care. Even if your insurance company will not cover the actual procedure, they may cover one or more of the other costs related to your gastric bypass surgery.

How can I make up the difference?

Your surgical center should be able to help you determine what will and will not be covered by your specific policy. In addition, many surgical centers offer low-interest, long-term loans if you are not approved by the insurance company, do not have medical insurance, or have high co-payments.

Since 2000, the total cost of all medically necessary weight loss treatment has been considered a deductible medical expense for income tax purposes. Those tax deductions can help you pay for at least part of the cost of your gastric bypass surgery or help you get back your co-payment for the surgery. Under the Internal Revenue code, treatment for weight loss includes behavioral counseling, nutritional counseling, prescriptions, and gastric bypass surgery if they are undertaken to treat or prevent specific diseases caused by excessive body weight.

This article provides an overview of health issues related to gastric bypass surgery and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner. Please consult your doctor prior to making any major medical decisions.

Craig Thompson, better known as “Big T,” a former sumo wrestler who used to tip the scales at 400 pounds has since reinvented himself as a singer and bandleader. As one of the earliest to have Gastric Bypass Surgery, in 1997.

Celebrity Hair Styles In 2006 – Paris Hilton Sedu Hairstyles and Others

Writen by Maya Marxton

Each year celebrities set the trend for fashion, beauty, and of course hairstyles and 2006 is no exception. 2006 will see the continuation of the sedu hairstyles and top celebrities such as Jenifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears are all sporting sedu hair straightener styles.

What many people don’t know is that celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez do not have gorgeous straight flowing locks and their hairstyles are actually achieved using the latest invention; the sedu hair straightener. A revolutionary new ceramic hair iron the sedu hair iron achieves faster results that won’t destroy your hair.

The sedu hair straightener can make those hard to handle stubborn curls and waves a thing of the past and of course with celebrities boosting its popularity, the sedu hair straightener is the must have accessory for 2006.

Looking through any magazine you will see pictures of the Jennifer Aniston sedu style, and although you may think that this style is only achievable in the hair salon, you can actually get the Jennifer Aniston sedu hairstyle from the comfort of your own home.

Everyone wants to look like a celebrity and thanks to the sedu hair straightener you really can. Whatever you hair type, be it short, medium, or long the sedu hair iron can help to enhance the look and feel of your hair. With the sedu hair iron you can achieve those sedu celebrity hairstyles of your dreams.

You can have Jennifer Aniston sedu hair styles one day followed by Jennifer Lopez sedu hair styles. Make your prom hairdo standout in the crowd or just look and feel gorgeous everyday. We all know that celebrity hairstyles set the trend so why not do yourself and your hair a favor by creating your own sedu celebrity hairstyles. All you have to do is purchase a sedu hair straightener and the perfect sedu celebrity hairstyles is your.

Make 2006 your sedu hairstyles year and start turning heads just like the celebrities. Go on, you deserve it.

Find valuable hairstyle info on Sedu celebrity hair styles #1 source.
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Appreciating the Importance of Folic Acid

Writen by Charlene Nuble

Folic acid is actually just one of the many vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex. Also known as folacin and folate, this indispensable nutrient serves the body in more ways than one.

While very much important for all age groups, pregnant women are the ones who actually benefit the most from folic acid as well as those who getting past the prime of their lives. However, despite all of its known benefits many people fail to meet the recommended daily intake levels of folic acid which can oftentimes result to various ill-effects on a person’s health.

Folic acid is highly important to a person’s growth as early the period of pregnancy, while a fetus is still developing inside a mother’s womb, it greatly needs to be nourished by folic acid in order for it to come out strong and healthy. In fact, if a couple is even thinking about getting pregnant, the woman should immediately begin to monitor her folic acid consumption, making sure that she meets the suggested daily intake of folic acid. Most health care professionals recommend that every woman of childbearing age make sufficient folic acid consumption a nutritional priority. This is because this nutrient is vital to the development of the baby from the moment of conception. It can help prevent serious birth defects in the brain as well as in the spine, called neural tube defects.

Spinal Bifida is one of the more well known defects that can be caused by lack of folic acid in the body. Every woman who wants to have a baby should always be conscious of her folic acid intake because these types of defects usually occur within the first few weeks of the baby’s development, even way before the woman actually realizes that she is indeed pregnant.

In addition to assisting in the formation of genetic material in each and every cell of the body, other important functions of folic acid include the formation of red blood cells essential to transferring oxygen and nutrients throughout the body as well as tissue growth. Folic acid, according to recent studies has been associated with various health benefits as well as serving as protection against debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease some cancers and heart diseases. It is also thought to offer a certain degree of protection from strokes.

Folic Acid deficiencies can cause a myriad of health problems. Among them are ulcerations in the mouth, inflammation of the tongue, peptic ulcers and chronic diarrhea. Folic acid deficiency can also contribute to certain kinds of anemia.

As a water soluble nutrient, Folic acid actually goes out of a person’s body quite easily since it practically exits the body through the urine which is why the amount of folic acid in the body should always be replaced so as to not suffer from the consequences brought about the lack of folic acid. It is highly recommendable to actually consider taking some folic acid supplements to ensure that our bodies’ folic acid levels are always replenished. This holds especially true for expectant mothers who need to ensure the good health of the babies that they’re carrying. Like they always say, better safe than sorry.

When choosing a dietary supplement for your folic acid needs, it is always important to read and understand the label. This will help you to ensure that you are getting the daily suggested amount of folic acid which is needed for a person’s good health as well as whether or not this supplement caters to one’s specific needs. For example, something that is directly created for expecting mothers should not be taken by people who are not pregnant. Even though they both contain folic acid, they contain various levels of it that may prove to be too much or too little to some. When planning your supplement use, make an honest assessment of your eating habits. That way, you can select individual supplements that match your individual dietary needs and health goals.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/