Friday, November 16, 2007

The Brew Express Built-in Coffee Maker

Cooks of both sexes and all levels of expertise

The purpose of The Brew Express Built-in Coffee Maker is to provide the ability to build in the coffeemaker and relieve clutter on the counter space.

Pros: I have always had two major complaints about coffeemakers: (1) they take up too much counterspace; and (2) the coffee is never hot enough. Other coffeemaker companies have designed models that can go under the top kitchen cabinets, but the coffee still isn’t hot enough. The Brew Express Built-in Coffee Maker offers a solution to both of these common complaints.

The Brew Express Built-in Coffee Maker is a built-in appliance designed to complement your kitchen rather than clutter it. The first thing you will notice about this product is the contemporary stainless steel design, which is intended to harmonize with your other appliances. There are brains behing the beauty. Every step of the brewing process is controlled, from speed and exact temperature of the brew cycle to electronic programming capabilities. So every time you pour a cup of coffee, you get a perfect cup of coffee.

Cons: The Brew Express Built-in Coffee Maker will overflow, and the coffee is hotter than made by similar coffee makers. In addition, the carafe is stainless steel, so you must remember to empty.

Guarantee: Chefs Corner stands behind the products they sell and want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return it within 30 days for a replacement or refund.

Value for money: The Brew Express Built-in Coffee Maker is a really excellent product, and it is a good value.

CJ

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Residential Endless Pool form Endless Pools.com

Consumer: Those who require a year round swimming pool for exercise.

The purpose of the Residential Endless Pool is to provide a place where swimming for exercise can be accomplished year round from the consumer’s own home or business.

Pros: The Residential Endless Pool will fit through most doorways in homes or businesses and so can be installed at most locations. The swim area dimensions of the Residential Endless Pool are 7’ x 14’ x 39” which makes it large enough to accommodate most adults.

According to the Endless Pools website, the basic Residential Endless Pool package includes “5 HP stainless-steel Water Propulsion System, Water Quality System (cartridge filter, circulating pump, timer, 5.5 kw electric heater, pool water purifier), Floating Thermal Cover, Dark Blue Liner, Pool Vacuum, and Aqua-Aerobics Exercise Bar.”

There is an almost endless array of additional options available with the basic Residential Endless Pool package including a 50 Hertz electrical equipment specifically designed for those countries requiring it that costs $1000 and a manual retractable security cover that adds another $1,250 to the basic price or the Residential Endless Pool.

Cons: There are no particular cons associated with the Residential Endless Pool. However, you do need plenty of indoor space to devote to installation of the pool.

Guarantee: There was no statement of guarantee on the endless Pool website.

Value for money: For those who require a pool that can be used year round for health or fitness reasons, the Endless Pool would be considered a good value.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Smooth 5.25 Treadmill from Smooth Fitness.com

Consumer: Those who want to get into good physical condition.

The purpose of the Smooth 5.25 treadmill is to provide a method for getting into shape and a place to exercise regardless of inclement weather without having to go to a gym or fitness center.

Pros: The Smooth 5.25 treadmill is very well constructed and designed for many years of trouble free use. Improvements have made it easy to fold and unfold. The fact that it folds easily makes it easy to store when it isn’t in use.

The running belt is a full 20 inches wide which is the equivalent of running belts on treadmills that are a lot more expensive than the Smooth 5.25. This treadmill is just as stable as the ones found in health clubs because of the patented swing arm suspension system.

Often times less expensive treadmills will rock and sway when they are in use but because of its added weight, the Smooth 5.25 is a very stable machine.

Cons: There are no particular cons associated with the Smooth 5.25 treadmill.

Guarantee: There is a 100% guarantee of satisfaction offered on all products on the Smooth Fitness website but returns have been made a bit difficult. The customer must first secure a written authorization to return a product. The customer must also pay the shipping charges associated with a return.

Value for money: The Smooth 5.25 treadmill is a good value for the price and when the 3 months of personal training is included, it becomes an excellent value.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

"Angled Back Machine" from Mega Fitness

"Angled Back Machine" from Mega Fitness - Consumer: Body Builders, those who are concerned about getting into good physical condition, those who have back problems or those who are on a diet and seeking ways to exercise in order to burn calories.

The purpose of the Angled Back Machine is to reduce back pain, improve circulation, and increase flexibility. It is also used to increase the strength of back muscles.

Pros: It is so common for those who are interested in body building or getting in shape to simply ignore the need to keep their back muscles strong. An aching back is the number one interruption for any kind of exercise program. When your back hurts, you quickly learn that everything is connected to the backbone.

Whether the aim of the user is to build a wide chiseled back or simply to strengthen the back muscles, the Angled Back machine will exercise the back, shoulders, and lats. It is easy to use and effective.

Cons: There are no cons associated with the Angled Back Machine. However, as with all exercise equipment, you should use caution if you have bad back.

Guarantee: All equipment purchased from Mega Fitness carries a 30-day guarantee of satisfaction. If the customer is not satisfied with his purchase, he may return it for a full refund of the purchase price. Shipping and Handling charges are not refundable unless the fault lies with Mega Fitness. After the 30-day guarantee by Mega Fitness expires, the manufacturers warranty is then in effect.

Value for money: The Angled Back Machine is an excellent value for the dollar. It can accommodate users of all sizes and is fully adjustable. The free shipping makes it an even better value.

CJ

Thursday, June 07, 2007

"Bowflex Ultimate 2" from Bowflex.com

"Bowflex Ultimate 2" from Bowflex.com

Consumer: Body Builders or those who want to lose weight and get in good physical condition.

The purpose of the Bowflex Ultimate 2 is to provide exercise for the abs, arms, legs and buns. The Bowflex Ultimate 2 provides exercise for both the upper and lower body.

Pros: The Bowflex Ultimate 2 provides for ninety-five different exercises. There is 310 pounds of power rod resistance that can be upgraded to 410 pounds. Financing is available with payments as low as $35 per month.

There are many testimonials available to be read on the Bowflex website from satisfied customers who have reached their weight and fitness goals by consistently using the Bowflex Ultimate 2. Many of them achieved their goals in a very short period of time but still continue to workout using the Bowflex Ultimate 2 so that they maintain their desired weight and fitness levels.

The Bowflex Ultimate 2 provides such a complete workout that it is no longer necessary to go to that cold and drafty gym. It’s just a lot easier and more convenient to workout at home using the Bowflex Ultimate 2.

Cons: There are no cons associated with the Bowflex Ultimate 2. It is an excellent product. However, as with all exercise equipment, use caution if you have bad back, knees, arthritis, or any other medical condition which might be aggravated by resistance training.

Guarantee: The guarantee as stated on the Bowflex website in part reads: “The Bowflex home gym is a superior product and we stand behind it. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Just purchase your machine and workout for up to six weeks. If you’re not 100% satisfied with the results, simply contact our customer service department at (888) 563-6485 for Return Authorization.”

Value for money: Excellent!

"Mega Cycle 2500" from Mega Fitness.com

"Mega Cycle 2500" from Mega Fitness.com

Consumer: Body Builders, those who are concerned about physical conditioning, dieters, heart patients who require low-impact exercise.

The purpose of the Mega Cycle 2500 is to provide a method of exercise that can be done at home in all kinds of weather

Pros: It just isn't always possible to get outdoors to ride a bicycle in order to get into shape or for exercise to lose weight or to get the required amount of exercise to keep a cardiologist happy. The Mega Cycle 2500 provides an at-home method that is easy and really rather inexpensive over all.

The Mega Fitness website is one of the easiest and smoothest websites ever. Ordering is simple and fast. If there is any problem, it is resolved quickly.

The expert staff is right there to answer any fitness questions that need to be answered. They are courteous and knowledgeable. All of them are trained as fitness instructors.

Cons: As with all exercise equipment, use caution if you have bad back, knees, arthritis, or any other medical condition which might be aggravated by repetitive motion.

Guarantee: All equipment purchased from Mega Fitness carries a 30-day guarantee of satisfaction. If the customer is not satisfied with his purchase, he may return it for a full refund of the purchase price. Shipping and Handling charges are not refundable unless the fault lies with Mega Fitness. After the 30-day guarantee by Mega Fitness expires, the manufacturers warranty is then in effect.

Value for money: The Mega Cycle 2500 has many features that are found only on exercise bicycles that cost a great deal more so the Mega Cycle 2500 is an excellent value for the cost.

CJ

Friday, May 18, 2007

Wheat Free Diet from eDiets.com

Wheat Free Diet eDiets.com - Consumer: Those allergic to wheat

The purpose of the Wheat Free Diet is to help people who are allergic to wheat and products that contain wheat.

Pros: Many people find that they are allergic to wheat. Some of the symptoms of a wheat allergy are bloating, rash, diarrhea and headache. After people have suffered with these symptoms and many, many tests have been run, the doctor will finally determine that the problem is an allergy to wheat of Gluten Intolerance. It isn’t as easy to eat without consuming wheat as one might think. There is wheat in many, many foods that you would never think would contain wheat.

The Wheat Free Diet offered by eDiet can help with the problem by supplying menus, recipes and even grocery shopping lists for those who find that they have an allergy to wheat. Those with wheat allergies or those who must prepare meals for those who have wheat allergies will find that the Wheat Free Diet offered by eDiet a great help.

Cons: There are no cons associated with the Wheat Free Diet and it is very helpful to those who are allergic to wheat.

Guarantee: There is no guarantee of success offered and none would apply.

Value for money: The Wheat Free Diet is an excellent value for those who have an allergy to wheat and is offered by eDiet.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

The eDiet Plan from eDiets.com

The purpose of The eDiet Plan is to help people lose unwanted pounds in a way that is most satisfactory to them.

Pros: The eDiet website sponsors many different weight loss programs including but not limited to the Suzanne Sommers Plan, The Atkins Diet, The Mayo Clinic Plan, etc. However eDiets also has a diet plan of their own and it is one that is based upon sound healthy living principles. The choices offered are many and varied and most people should be able to choose a plan that will be one that they can stick with for as long as it takes to lose their unwanted pounds and beyond.

Diet is a four letter word that most people try to keep from saying or even thinking. It is better to say that you are not on a diet but that you are learning to eat in a more healthful way. The eDiet Plan can help you achieve the healthier eating style and do it while you are still eating the foods that you really like and losing weight at the same time.

Cons: Dieters need to know what they are looking for before they get to the eDiet Website. There are too many choices.

Guarantee: There is no guarantee of success offered and none would apply.

Value for money: The eDiet Plan is a very good value.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

New Balance Running Shoes for Women from Zappos.com

New Balance Running Shoes for Women from Zappos.com - Consumer: Women who are runners or who are concerned about health conditioning issues.

The purpose of the New Balance Running Shoes for Women is to provide a good and comfortable running shoe that is technologically advanced.

Pros: The New Balance Running Shoes are just great! They provide much more comfort and a much better fit than other shoes that cost a great deal more money. The roominess in the toe area is a real plus.

New Balance Running Shoes come in women's sizes from 5 to 13 and either in a medium or wide width so most women can find a perfect fit. There is a really nice color selection, as well. I am rather partial to the silver and orange.

Cons: There are no real cons associated with the New Balance Running Shoes for Women product. It has good arch support and overall it is an excellent product. If you do have specific foot problems, however, make sure you discuss the shoe with your podiatrist.

Guarantee: Zappos offers a 100% guarantee of satisfaction. If for any reason a customer is dissatisfied with a product ordered fro Zappos.com, they may return it for a full and unconditional refund within one full year of the purchase. The merchandise that is returned must be in its original packaging and must not have been used but return shipping is paid by Zappos. Full guarantee and return information can be found at http://www.zappos.com/cs_return.zhtml

Value for money: The New Balance Running Shoes for Women is an excellent value for the price that is charged. The product compares favorably with more expensive running shoes.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Serenade by Beauty Trends


Weight Loss is also about Beauty...

The purpose of any wig is to provide a woman with hair that stays styled and ready to go at a moment’s notice or to enhance the appearance or to cover baldness caused by treatments or medications.

Pros: Beauty Trends offers four brands of wigs: Adolfo, Revlon, Beauty Trends and Carefree Me. Beauty Trend wigs are very well constructed and designed to be comfortable to wear and very long lasting.

Some wigs come in head sizes like petite, average or large but the Serenade only comes in the average head size. It is very light weight at only 4.3 ounces. The bangs are about 3 ½ inches long and the sides and back are 8 ½ to 9 ½ inches long. The neckline is 9 inches.

Serenade comes in a variety of hair colors and shades. There comes a time when almost every woman needs hair that she can just put on and go.

Cons: There are no particular cons for the Serenade by Beauty Trends wig. The very attractive pictures posted on the Beauty Trends website show it off to its full advantage. However, remember that it takes a little practice to learn to wear a wig correctly, and
you do need to wash and style it just like your own hair!


Guarantee: There was no guarantee posted on the Beauty Trends website. Most wig manufacturers allow the return of a wig providing that the wig has not had the tags removed, however. It is also possible that each wig is guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Value for money: The Serenade wig is a good value. There are many other selections of wigs and hair pieces available on the Beauty Trends website.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The Diet Phases in the South Beach Diet

The Diet Phases
The South Beach Diet plan is comprised of three phases. The first two weeks is covered by Phase One and excludes most carbohydrates, including all fruit, most dairy products, and most sources of saturated fat.

After that, Phase Two begins and lasts until the dieter has completed weight loss. Phase Three is only for maintenance of weight and carb consumption. It is only after the first phase that carbs are gradually added.

Read below for more in-depth view on each of the South Beach Diet phases:

South Beach Diet Phase One

As already mentioned, this phase is the most restrictive. You are to consume only foods that are low in saturated fats and almost no sources of carbohydrates. Not even fruits or grains or most dairy products.

Basically, your diet is restricted to the following foods for the first two weeks:

• Lean protein sources – e.g., eggs and egg whites, seafood, poultry with skin removed, lean cuts of beef and pork, soy foods

• Fat free and low fat dairy products, but limit yogurt/milk to two cups per day

• Beans (one serving)

• Low starch vegetables

• Small amount of nuts (count them)

• “good fats” (i.e., not saturated)

• low carb condiments and beverages


The purpose of the severe carb and saturated fat restrictions is to promote faster weight loss and do away with carb cravings. The goal is to change the body so that it can tolerate carbs better.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

All About the South Beach Diet

Low carb diet is all the rage these days. It pops up in parties, the gym, and virtually any get-together you go to. So just what is the buzz all about?

After years of following the traditional “heart-healthy” low fat, high carb diet regimen and believing that it would work to lose those few extra pounds, low carb diets like the South Beach Diet have overturned that decades-long belief. That’s the buzz.

In coming up with this new diet approach, Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiac physician, combines some of the basic elements of Atkins, Protein Power, and the Zone to form a simple, easy-to-follow diet plan.

The South Beach Diet was originally created for Dr. Agatston’s patients with the aim of improving their heart health. However, he noticed that as a side effect, his patients also lost significant amounts of weight.

In order to set itself apart from all the other low carb diets out there, the South Beach Diet is not so much about low carb or low fat but about focusing on the “right” carbs and the “right” fats.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Benefits of a Swimming Workout

If you are looking for a refreshing way to get in shape or stay in shape, a swimming workout may be what you need. Swimming is in fact an aerobic exercise that works the entire body. It tones your muscles and makes them stronger. Swimming also increases flexibility and enhances circulation. Obviously, it is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight and improve your body’s contour.

A definite advantage of a swimming workout is that fact that you will be exercising in a water environment. Water has unique properties that make a swimming workout the ideal exercise. First, water is buoyant, which is exactly why we float in it, and because it has very little gravity you are free of 90 percent of your body weight. This is why a swimming workout is low impact. With minimal stress to the joints, a swimming workout is suitable to those with overweight and joint problems.

Another quality of water is resistance, which is about 12 percent higher than air. This offers another benefit. A swimming workout is a powerful cardio exercise because the water’s resistance make you workout harder. You may feel like you are simple floating or moving in the water, but the truth is each body movement you make in water requires more energy so it is quite similar to working out with weights.

You can start with swimming laps and then vary your strokes so you work out different muscle groups. Doing vertical water exercises is also a very good variation to regular swimming, because you will be working with increased water resistance so your muscles will have to work twice as hard. Examples of these water or pool exercises are water walking and jogging, water yoga, water aerobics and many others.

There may be numerous exercises for you to choose from aside from a swimming workout but fitness experts agree that the secret to a successful workout is making sure you choose an activity that you enjoy and will keep on doing.

Aside from being a great form of exercise and sport, swimming also improves a person’s mental and emotional well being. You can enjoy swimming on your own or with family and friends. A swimming workout is good for the body no matter what age you are. Swimming benefits everyone from infants to older adults. A swimming workout offers a truly enjoyable way to staying lean and healthy throughout life.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Swimming exercises shape a better you

Sound mind and healthy body makes a person enjoy life and its daily rigors and activities. Nowadays, there are so many people hooked up in yoga practices, aerobics, gym sessions, physical trainings, etc. because they want to experience this state of physical-emotional-mental fitness and relaxation. For others, they prefer to jog around the area or do brisk walking at the park or swimming exercises, with one important objective in mind: to be in good physical shape --- bones, muscles, lungs, heart, and other organs.

Of all the training regimens, swimming exercises have been believed to be the best form, mainly because of the use of the entire body --- working the major muscle groups, requiring strong heart and lung discipline, and avoiding stress on the joints. With proper and regular swimming exercise, one would tone his upper body muscles, making it look better compared to the beefy muscular look of weight lifters. Even though the lower part of the body doesn’t exert much effort, it’s still a good form of exercise for those with leg or knee injuries, since the water cushions it and prevents it from being stressed. So, it would be advisable to have a set of “land exercises” to also mold the lower half of the body.

Some forms of exercise are designed for the toning of the upper half of the body, others are for the contouring of the lower half of the body, there are a few exercises for the shaping of the joints and bones, and some are for the cardiovascular benefits of your body. If one does a little of each, and continues doing it in a regular basis, he’ll soon realize that he’s giving himself a well-rounded build.

Although swimming exercises the whole body, thus considered, as a good and holistic form of work out, it’s important to note that it’s not that effective in weight loss, compared to running, jogging, or cycling. Reason being, swimming stimulates appetite, so the calories burned during the swimming exercise have been compensated with the increased intake. It just shows that swimming exercises may not be the best and perfect form of exercise, but it is a better alternative to not doing any exercise at all. As long as one sticks to the routine, and disciplines himself to control the urge to eat more after the swim, then surely, one would get the healthy and formed body he desires. Plus, if he adds a 15-30 minute walk in his daily schedule, he’ll definitely have the best exercise program to keep him in shape.

In exercise, either one’s doing aerobics training, weight lifting, sports, or swimming exercises, the most important thing that one has to bear in mind is to be consistent, disciplined, and iron willed, and everything else will follow.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Stress-free Change

The only thing constant in life is change. Change can be an exciting part of one’s life or it can be a daunting experience. However, changes can be manageable if you are prepared to handle them. Since change is so much a part of our lives, don’t you think it is a good idea to learn how to manage it without stress?

In life, you can easily recognize change. You either embrace it, or reject it. Acknowledging and accepting change already gets you a long way in accepting change. However, if you are still having difficulties in handling it, here are some suggestions that you can do:

1. Evaluate yourself and try to understand your reactions to change. Are you the type of person who resists change or are you the type who dives in and becomes excited when it comes? If you can understand how you react to change, you can interact with others better during the difficult times.

2. Transition is a part of the process of how you deal with change. It has three stages: a) endings –the grieving stage of the good old days; b) the neutral zone –a stage of ambiguity and not sure of the new way; and, c) new beginnings – a stage when the coast is clear, and you are ready to accept the new things on the way. If you can identify which stage you are in, then you can understand better on what you need to do. It is important to be aware of this because other people might be experiencing also the same change as you have. It is always better to know you are not alone in adjusting to new things. It makes the transition better.

3. Be careful in responding to change and transition. People’s ways are habit-forming and they often develop routines. Disruptions can be nerve-wracking and can stir up emotions – mostly of the negative kind. Ask yourself questions in handling change like: a) purpose – reason for the change and why the changes?; b) picture – result of the change, the destination; c) plan – how to get to the next stage?; and, d) part – the role that you are about to play and where do you position yourself?

4. Help others. Since you know how to handle change in your life, it is time for you to help others who are the same situation and are struggling with the changes in their own lives.

Furthermore, to help you sharpen your ability to handle change and to provide you with some self-help therapies, here are some ways to soothe and calm your nerves:

• Do some physical activities like sports and exercise. This will help release pressure from your body.

• Share feelings and thoughts that cause you stress. If you think your problem is something serious, you may want to ask for professional help from a counselor or psychologist. Be aware of when to ask help.

• Set boundaries. If you think you cannot handle the situation, do not fight it and learn to accept it until the time that you already have the capacity to change it.

• Always remember to take care of yourself. Never neglect what your body needs and learn to read your body’s signals. Eat well and get enough rest.

• Have fun. Do not overwork yourself and schedule some time for recreation. Stop and take time to smell the roses.

• Be a participant. Do some volunteer work in your community to help you divert your attention to something worthwhile. You can also meet new friends along the way.

• Try accomplishing your list of tasks. The tendency for stressed people is to forget about important tasks. List them all down so you do not forget what needs to be done.

• Do not play the Mr. or Ms. Right all the time. Give and take is the best setup you can find at this time.

• If you want to cry; cry. Crying is a healthy way of releasing pressure and stress.

• Relax. If you feel tired of your environment, make that escape by reading a book or creating music to bring a sense of peace and tranquility.

• Never attempt to do self-medication. This can cause more harm than good for you.

Changes in life may leave you burned out but with a little help from yourself can make a whole lot of difference. Indulge yourself once in a while to distress yourself. Accept change and adapt. That is how people live and survive.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

I lost my weight by these five Ways to Get Rid of Sadness

Yeap, thats right. I lost my weight by these FREE five "Ways to Get Rid of Sadness"...

Life is so unpredictable.

One moment your face is beaming with a ray of happiness and then the next day you suddenly feel weak, with low energy, and unable to accomplish anything. If you are experiencing the latter, then you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Long ago, the feeling of sadness was closely associated with changing seasons. The transition from summer to winter to spring leads to mood swings. A person switches starts off with a happy mood then becomes depressed and tense.

No person is immune from feeling sad, men or women, young or old, rich or poor, people will always experience sadness.

Here are nine helpful tips that can help you combat sadness:

1. Soak up the morning light. Natural light occurs early in the morning between 6:00 am to 8:00 am. Walk or sit by the window between those times. Staying indoors will keep you from getting natural light. Indoor lights at home or in the office represents only about a tenth of the natural light.

2. Avoid too much alcohol or caffeine. People make the common mistake of taking alcoholic beverages or coffee when they feel sad. While it can provide temporary relief, coffee can cause anxiety, muscle tension, or gastrointestinal disorder. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant. Alcohol can aggravate depression. As much as possible, refrain from using these drugs as a remedy for your sadness or depression.

3. Have regular exercise. While experts admit that there are no concrete studies on the effectiveness of exercise on sadness, there is no harm in trying. The moment you feel depressed, you become less involved in doing things which intensifies as time wears on. With regular exercise, you keep the momentum of having happy disposition.

4. Eat lunch outside. If your lifestyle does not allow you to enjoy morning light, try to do it during your lunch break. While natural light during the morning is most effective, getting it during lunch is better than none at all.

5. Eat foods containing the amino acid trytophan. According to medical experts, people with SAD have decreased secretions of serotonin. Trytophan is a precursor of serotonin and taking food rich in this amino acid can help elevate the production of serotonin. Foods rich in trytophan include turkey, milk, and egg white.

If all else fails and you are still suffering from sadness, then it is time to seek professional help.

Try these five tips and you will no longer feel the urge to sit and pout in one corner of your room.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Sauna and Weight Loss

Well... Sauna is nothing to loose weight with. I should make this point very clear.

But it may help to detoxify your body. So read on about the benefits of a sauna...

Many of us have heard of saunas and how they are used for relaxational purposes. Besides relaxing you after a hard day at work there are some other interesting benefits that you can get. These sauna benefits are for the most part well known. As with most items in the world there are certain precautions that may have to be looked into.

These precautions are needed to be checked out if you have autoimmune disorders, uncertain and very unstable heart conditions. Also pregnant women and individuals with uncontrollable blood pressure should consult their doctor before trying out a sauna. Other than these medical conditions the majority of people can use the sauna and enjoy the sauna benefits.

The various benefits of relaxing in a sauna have not been fully proven in any medical research but there are lots of people who will advise you to try this simple way to relax and enjoy life. The main benefit that can be found with a sauna is that your body will sweat out the various poisonous toxins that have become stored in your body.

As the sauna opens the skin pores on your body due the heat and the sweat that you will be producing, these various toxins will be flushed out of your body through these pores. The heat of the sauna will, as was stated cause you to start sweating. This profuse sweating is another of the many sauna benefits that you can enjoy.

From the sauna heat and your sweating you will begin you to burn about 300 to 600 calories in just one 20 minute session. The sauna will also increase your heart rate by about 50 to 75 %.
This will feel as if you have gone through a high energy cardiac workout. Since the dry heat from the sauna and the sweat that you are producing is responsible for this cardiac workout you will have no undue stress places on your body.

The other sauna benefits that you can enjoy are to be found on your skin. With a sauna treatment your body will tighten up the loose skin and various skin complaints like acne are cleared as the sauna heat opens the pores.

This fully clearing and opening of the pores will also stimulate your blood vessels to expand. This expansion will allow your blood to circulate better through your body. These are just a few of the many sauna benefits that you can find when you use a sauna on a regular basis.

A final precautionary note should be that if you want to enjoy these various sauna benefits to your health you should consult your doctor before you embark on a daily course of sauna treatments.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Stamina in Sports

Some people actually think that once they grow older, inactivity is the normal and natural thing.

However, the fact of the matter is that it does not necessarily have to be such.

This can be done by having an activity every day. Take note that the activity need not be strenuous. A brisk or casual walk is enough to make a significant difference and yet, its benefits are quite huge.

One activity a day keeps the doctor away. It also helps relieve tension and this helps you sleep a lot better. It also improves your overall stamina and concentration. The following are ways to help build your stamina in sports:

1. Go outside
Nothing beats the outdoors. Riding a bike or skating are some good ways to build sports stamina. Simply walk your dog or play with your pet dog.

2. Do whatever works for your needs and preferences
Do not take the bus. If it can be done, you could actually consider walking towards your office. You could also vary your route. You could jog to the mall, bike towards school, etc. Another helpful tip is getting off a bus stop early and walks the whole way.

Think about it, walking for just a kilometer is actually the same as running for one kilometer or swimming for fifteen lengths on a pool that measure twenty-five meters. All these activities burn the same amount of calories.

3. Play, play, and play
Engage in sports that you like, the kind that you are interested in and would get your blood flowing. Try not to do sports just because your friends are in it or because it is the in thing to do. Go swimming, skating, roller blading, swimming, and bowling.

4. Start slowly but surely
Take note that you need not endure stress. Do not be anxious to start quick and hard. You could suffer from burn out. Worse, you could be traumatized into choosing an inactive lifestyle.

5. Being active is also the same way as dancing to your own favorite dance tunes.
If you are more engaged in TV watching than physically being active, try to cut on the number of hours you watch each day. Do not immediately cut television from your life. Moderation is the name of the game.

6. Challenge your own self
It is always best to be your own worst enemy. Try various activities on different times. You could take fencing lessons one time or go rock climbing on another.

Make sure though that the activity interests you enough to go through it for a long time.

7. Build up on activity
Try to start with a vigorous huffing and puffing every week and then gradually build up the pace and time you spend on the physical activity.

This allows your body to adjust to the changes and eventually adapt to your active lifestyle.
Improving your stamina in sports, with the purpose of building your physical health, is always a good thing to do. The result of which benefits one’s body in the end.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Conquer Obesity Today!

Obesity is a big problem facing the United States today that some has considered it an epidemic.

Approximately, over 58 million Americans (!!) today are said to be suffering from obesity - 26 million of these are men, and 32 million of these are women.

Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. So a person who is overweight is not necessarily obese if that person's body mass comes not only from fat, but muscles or bone mass.

Some medical experts have assessed that one way to find out if a person is obese
is to determine if that person contains more than a certain percentage of body
fat. Men who exceed 25 percent body fat are considered to fall into this
category. While in women, those who possess body fat that exceeds 30 percent are
also considered to have this condition.

It is extremely difficult to measure body fat accurately. Perhaps the best way to get an accurate result is to measure a person underwater, although this can only be done in a professional environment with the supervision of medical experts.

Causes of obesity

Many factors lead to obesity, one of which is genetics. Obese parents are likely to have children who will develop obesity.

Those who are extremely inactive, and live a sedentary lifestyle are also at risk of developing obesity. This is because when the calories that have been consumed are not burned into energy, they turn into stored fat.

An unhealthy diet is one of the leading causes of obesity. A diet rich in foods high in fat, carbohydrates, and sugar is extremely harmful to a person's health. Regularly having foods like donuts, pastries, burgers, fries, and pizza, not to mention snacks that contain a high amount of sugar, are all contributing factors to a person developing obesity.

The problem with obesity

The problem with obesity is that people who are suffering from this condition are at a high risk of developing various illnesses consequently. Almost 70 percent of individuals who have some form of cardiovascular disease attribute this condition to obesity. Also, those who are obese are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure as a result of this condition. Twenty-six percent of individuals who suffer from obesity also suffer from high blood pressure.

Cure for obesity

There are no over-the-counter pills that can make obesity go away overnight. Fortunately, some things can be done to control obesity. Switching to a healthier diet will go a long way in combating obesity.

Those who are suffering from obesity might want to hire the services of a nutritionist. A nutritionist will help guide obese people to a healthier eating plan. They would also be able to devise a dietary plan that will help such obese individuals lose fat, while maintaining their good health through the introduction of properly balanced meals that are high in nutrients but low in fat!

Exercising is good for the body. It promotes good health, and will help individuals lose weight. Increasing one's activity will go a long way in combating obesity. Taking a stroll in the park or around the neighborhood is a good alternative to going to the gyms, for those who have an aversion to gyms.

For those who can't squeeze exercising into their busy schedule - parking their car some distance away from where they have to go will also allow them an opportunity to walk and have some physical activity for the day.

Making some conscious effort to make some lifestyle changes will go a long way in battling obesity. Individuals who suffer from this condition have to dedicate themselves to a healthier lifestyle and eating plan, in order to attain better health.