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Exercise without the pain

January 23, 2012 By John Coles

The real key to an exercise regimen that you can keep up for as long as your body holds out is enjoyment.

Rocket science this may not be – but it’s very true.

If you set off on an exercise programme with the aim of reshaping your body or losing weight or getting fitter etc., it simply won’t work in the long run. That’s because your objectives are fundamentally wrong.

If, on the other hand, you pursue something which you love doing and to which the exercise element is purely incidental – you are far and away more likely to pursue that pursuit for many years.

Ask any child…

If you don’t believe me – ask any child why they run around, play games, dance, cycle; whatever. I bet virtually none of them will tell you it’s to get fitter or to have a better body shape etc. That’s because most kids don’t even think about this as they’re largely free of cares and of vanity – until society spoils it for them of course.

But so it is with our fundamental natures as adults. If we pursue what we love, then it’s a “labour” of love.

But if we do so out of the wrong motivation; to get fit, be thinner / more muscular etc., then it’s “work” and it’s designed to fail in the same way as New Year’s resolutions are.

So decide what physical activity you love – and do it for the sheer love of doing it. This is the key to genuine long-lasting g fitness.

In my case, that means walking, climbing, hiking or skiing. I love mountains and the feeling of freedom and solitude that altitude brings. But I also love hurtling down the sides of mountains on snow. That’s just me.

So crampons, skis, snow boots, and hiking gear are all a part of who I am. They aren’t products as such to me – they’re just necessities to pursue what I love.

Yes, I may get them from the North Face sale; I wouldn’t waste money. But this isn’t all about an exercise programme for me – it’s all about pure fun. So ask yourself – what do you love?

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Allergy buying guide for hair loss products

December 26, 2011 By John Coles

Are you sick and tired of thinking you have found the magic cure to halt your hair loss before seeing your dreams shattered by allergy problem after allergy problem? Do you desire that magic cure more than anything else, but don’t want to have to put up with an itchy scalp any longer? If this sounds like you, then rest assured; the pain of searching for a cure could soon be over.

 

While many hair loss products in the past have bragged about the ability to allow users to feel allergy free, hair loss solution company Viviscal does not need to boast about this; it is simply a well-known fact that Viviscal is designed with even the most allergy prone customer in mind. This is reflected by the fact that their products are made from 100% naturally sourced ingredients.

 

In other sectors of the health and beauty industry, “natural” can mean “reduced effectiveness”. With http://viviscal.co.uk, though, this is clearly not the case, as proved by the fact that it has already been voted as one of the ‘5 OF THE BEST- HAIR CARE’ products in OK magazine. It has also seen its four stage process generating fantastic results for both men and women in 25 countries.

 

While it is easy to say that industry awards can be meaningless for some companies, customer satisfaction cannot be disregarded quite so easily. To this end, it is important to note that a recent study conducted in America found that a total of 81% of participants noticed a decrease in thinning hair, while 75% noticed increased thickness.

 

Should you wish to join the 81% and see your hair loss turned around, all you need to do is reach out and grab one of the many all-natural Viviscal hair restoration products that could change your life and will hand you the chance to remember the feeling of what a full head of hair feels like!

 

Will you soon be enjoying not worrying about seeing your wig blown off in the wind or needing to constantly scratch an allergy ridden scalp? The choice is yours!

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Stairlifts: Ten Questions to Ask

December 17, 2011 By John Coles

If you are thinking about improving your home to meet mobility issues then you may well be looking at stairlifts. Here is a list of what to look for in a stairlift when you consider your options and the top ten questions to ask:

 

  1. What kind of staircase do you have? What shape is it, how wide is it and what is it made of: all these things will affect the choices available to you.

  2. What kind of track will your stair lifts need? Straight or curved options are tailor-made to fit the exact requirements of your own home.

  3. What is your budget? Different models vary in price so make sure you are aware of what you want to spend and what you will get for your money.

  4. Rent or buy? Sometimes renting is an option for this kind of equipment but if the stairlift is required for a long time it is usually more cost effective to buy it outright.

  5. Special features? Do you have any extra requirements from the stairlift? Speak to experts like www.homelifestairlifts.co.uk to find out what is possible.

  6. How fast will it go? Sounds silly but this is a frequently asked question, and the answer varies between manufacturers so do your homework.

  7. Will a salesman come round? Yes – but in most cases only if you request it. Talking in person is the best way to understand what you are buying, and of course the representative will want to measure your staircase.

  8. How disruptive is the installation? Typically a modern stairlift can be fitted in just a few hours with no mess or damage.

  9. What is the after sales care like? When you choose a company, find out how well looked after you will be once the fitters leave.

  10. What happens if my stairlift stops working? Most manufacturers will have a policy to deal with this so find out how much support is available.

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Eating bread whilst dieting

December 8, 2011 By John Coles

Now, you may think that any strict diet would prevent you from eating too many carbohydrates, bread included, but is that really true? Most starchy carbohydrates are produced from grains such as wheat, rice or corn and come in two forms, refined or unrefined (also known as whole grain).

Refined grains have stripped away the layer of bran. This sort of grain includes white rice, white pasta, and white bread. Unrefined grains do not go through the process of stripping the bran, and can be found in many types of bread, including brown bread and granary bread.

Bran is an excellent source of fibre, providing you with protein, vitamins and minerals, and carbohydrates. Whole grains are rich in antioxidants and can help to protect against heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. Studies show that if you eat three or more servings a day of whole grain, you are less likely to suffer from heart disease. Most people get their whole grain from wholemeal bread, cereals and porridge.

Having bread whilst dieting is not totally out of the question as long as it is whole grain. Eating white bread and other high carbohydrates means a higher amount of insulin, eventually causing a sugar crash. This then results in your body craving more carbohydrates.

Eating white bread would not be the wisest thing to do when dieting because your body will have to work harder to burn the fat. So, even if you decided to go on a low carbohydrate diet, as long as you limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat and make sure that they are whole grain, you’ll definitely be on your way to losing weight!

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How to prevent hair loss

November 28, 2011 By John Coles

 

While hair loss can cause a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem in many people, it isn’t always preventable.

 

There are some conditions which are due to inherited genes – such as male and female-pattern baldness. If you’ve got this, there’s not really anything you can do to prevent it. However, treatments such as http://viviscal.co.uk could go some way towards slowing down the loss, but they don’t provide an actual cure for the conditions.

 

If the hair loss you’re experiencing is down to another condition or infection, you may be able to solve it. By treating the illness in question, such as anaemia, you should help to prevent any further hair loss from occurring. People who are suffering from scarring alopecia, which is usually linked to an underlying condition, could be helped if the condition is treated quickly. Normally, scarring alopecia causes permanent hair loss, so it’s worth trying to tackle this as early on as possible.

 

With many conditions which cause hair loss being temporary, it is difficult to avoid them occurring in many cases. You cannot predict whether the stress you’re experiencing will lead to hair loss, nor can you know that you’re suffering from an autoimmune condition, such as alopecia areata. So, rather than concentrating on prevention in many cases, it’s important to look at the treatments and solutions on offer.

 

If you choose to invest in some kind of treatment, you want to make sure you go for a reputable brand which provides decent hair loss solutions. There’s no point in paying out lots of money trying something which may or may not work – do your research before choosing which treatment to go for.

While hair loss can cause a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem in many people, it isn’t always preventable.

 

There are some conditions which are due to inherited genes – such as male and female-pattern baldness. If you’ve got this, there’s not really anything you can do to prevent it. However, treatments such as http://viviscal.co.uk could go some way towards slowing down the loss, but they don’t provide an actual cure for the conditions.

 

If the hair loss you’re experiencing is down to another condition or infection, you may be able to solve it. By treating the illness in question, such as anaemia, you should help to prevent any further hair loss from occurring. People who are suffering from scarring alopecia, which is usually linked to an underlying condition, could be helped if the condition is treated quickly. Normally, scarring alopecia causes permanent hair loss, so it’s worth trying to tackle this as early on as possible.

 

With many conditions which cause hair loss being temporary, it is difficult to avoid them occurring in many cases. You cannot predict whether the stress you’re experiencing will lead to hair loss, nor can you know that you’re suffering from an autoimmune condition, such as alopecia areata. So, rather than concentrating on prevention in many cases, it’s important to look at the treatments and solutions on offer.

 

If you choose to invest in some kind of treatment, you want to make sure you go for a reputable brand which provides decent hair loss solutions. There’s no point in paying out lots of money trying something which may or may not work – do your research before choosing which treatment to go for.

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A guide to stairlifts

November 14, 2011 By John Coles

 

If you are considering purchasing a stairlift for your home or for the home of someone you know, you might be surprised to learn just how much choice there is out there for you.

 

Whatever your reasons for looking for stairlifts, whether you are finding you are less able on your feet than you once were, if you are a wheelchair-user and have moved into a new home, or if you have recently had an accident that has left you less mobile, it is important that you choose the right product for you.

 

You can choose from curved or straight stairlifts and, depending on your stairway, you may be able to get either type of rail fitted. You can seek the advice of a professional who can come to your home and assess this for you.

 

Perhaps you have a particularly narrow staircase in your home, in which case you will be able to select a stairlift especially designed for smaller spaces. If your stairlift is to be used outside, you can choose from specially-designed waterproof stairlifts. On top of this, you can choose products of varying weight capacities, so consider what your personal requirements are. You are also able to choose stairlifts with adjustable seats and arms, for maximum comfort, and there are varying motor powers available too.

 

You could choose to rent or buy your stairlift from Homelifestairlifts.co.uk, depending on whether you think you will need it permanently or temporarily, and you can choose to select brand new or re-conditioned products, depending on your preferences.

Whichever product you end up choosing, take your time to make your selection and seek the advice of experts who can help you out. It is advisable to have your stairlift professionally fitted as well, as there will be electrical work involved and it is important that everything is installed correctly and safely.

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Cars which are good for your health

September 26, 2011 By John Coles

We’re all concerned about the level of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the cars we drive, as we now understand the damage these can have on the environment.
But high emissions cars can also have a damaging effect on our personal health, through other emissions apart from carbon dioxide.
Diesel particulates for example, have long been linked to the rising levels of asthma in inner city areas.  To a certain extent, this can be reduced by an increasing number of diesel drivers adding particulate filters to their exhausts. This simple action drastically reduces the number of particulates emitted.
But cars also release other toxins, like carbon monoxide.  Known as the silent killer, as it is invisible and has no smell, carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.  Symptoms include headaches and nausea, dizziness and tiredness. If you notice that you’re suffering from any of these while driving, it’s important to get your exhaust checked out by a professional.
Thankfully, today’s cars release very little carbon monoxide.  Since the 1970s, carbon monoxide emissions have been gradually reduced by the installation of systems to convert CO emissions. Now, even more advanced systems have cut carbon monoxide pollution by individual cars by up to 90%.
However, with the increase in the numbers of cars on the road, the total amount of carbon monoxide pollution also increases, so manufacturers are still under pressure to create systems that are even more efficient at converting carbon monoxide before it leaves the exhaust.
For the good of your health and the health of people around you, choosing one of the many hybrid cars in the UK is a positive step.  They produce much lower emissions than conventional cars, as they burn less fuel. Hybrids burn less fuel as an electric motor assists the car during acceleration and can also be used on some models on its own at slow speeds, meaning that the engine can be switched off in urban traffic.

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Get healthy by exercising in the great outdoors

September 20, 2011 By John Coles

All the time nowadays you read about the importance of doing more exercise in order to boost your health and wellbeing. Health experts all around the world are always telling us that we’ll lower our heart disease and stroke risk by doing more activities, but how many people actually stand up and take note?

With winter just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to get exercising, so you’re more likely to have got into a good rhythm by the time the cold weather makes an appearance. Plenty of people would rather not pay out for an expensive gym membership, so the best place to get active is in the great outdoors.

Autumn is a great in-between season to start exercising in, as the weather’s not too hot or too cold, so you’re unlikely to look red and sweaty too often!

You’ll need the right clothing to exercise in the outdoors this autumn, as the temperature and weather is bound to be extremely variable. It makes sense to have mens fleece jackets in your wardrobe, so you can have a few different layers on you when you go out for your activity session.

Fleece jackets are a great thing to put over the top of other exercise gear, such as a t-shirt, jogging bottoms or shorts and some good-fitting trainers.

In order for the exercise you do to have the best effect, you should be doing something which counts as being moderate intensity. This includes walking fast, riding a bike on level ground and pushing a lawn mower, among other things.

You should be trying to do around 150 minutes a week, which can be split over however many days you want.

As well as lowering your risk of developing certain medical ailments, exercise can help you lose weight and tone up, which is bound to be something which appeals to people of every age in every country.

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Eating for a healthy heart

August 31, 2011 By John Coles

We are all aware of the threat of heart disease but with a few handy tips you can take steps to improve your coronary well-being and reduce your chances of developing heart disease.
1.    Choose your spread well when making sandwiches etc. Look for one that is low in saturated fats or use some low fat mayonnaise instead.
2.     When cooking reduce the amount of fat you use. Try the 1 calorie spray oils or better still steam, poach or bake your food where possible.
3.    Use the lowest fat mince you can find when you fancy a chilli or spaghetti bolognaise. Many supermarkets stock mince with 5% fat rather than the 20% norm.
4.    Never eat the skin of a chicken. It may be tasty but almost one third of the fat content in chicken lurks beneath the skin.
5.    Change to skimmed or semi-skimmed milk. You may not like it at first but you will soon get used to it.
6.    If you can’t resist hard cheese reduce the size of your portion but better still change to a low fat soft cheese or cottage cheese.
7.    Instead of serving chips which are full of saturated fats try potato wedges cooked in the oven. Schwartz produce a tasty coating meaning potato wedges are even easier to make.
8.    For breakfast try wholegrain toast, porridge or fruit and yogurt as alternatives to sugar laden cereals.
9.    Steer clear of salty food such as nuts, crisps, ready meals and processed foods. Flavour your food with pepper, garlic, herbs etc instead.
10.    Avoid the dangers of the snack attack by taking something healthy in your bag such as a small packet of raisins or a banana to tuck into when you are peckish.
11.    There is no need to give up on your favourite takeaway but choose carefully and avoid creamy curries and deep fried Chinese dishes.

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How is Green Tea Good For Your Health

April 11, 2011 By admin
Green Tea

Green Tea

There is a vibe about drinking green tea to shed some weight. Consider this a dieter’s tea for healthy weight management. The explanations are common. Drinking green leaf tea should be a part of your diet plans. Then there are acai products that are geared and engineered to helping you shed pounds and can truly help you in losing anywhere between ten to fifty pounds, and more. They also offer fantastic free trials that are trustworthy and won’t rip you off like some of the other trials found by plenty of the con firms out there. A number of these firms include Acai Fire, Acai Force Max, Acai Max weight management, and Acai Max for Men.

In addition, to get even quicker weight reduction results with these products, attempt to also eat reasonably, eat more fiber, drink more water, and avoid eating right prior to going to bed. Note : heaps of ‘Medifasters’ truly load up on the vegetables here and eat till they can’t move, and still find the weight drops off like magic..:- ) The protein part of the meal must be six oz or less though , so don’t cheat on the fish, chicken or meat! ( or perhaps tofu if you’re a veggie ) How does Medifast taste? This is a particularly subjective query, of course….but I love the shakes ( chocolate is my favourite ) and will even use them as ‘desert’ even while I am off the programme. What’s the self prepared meal composed of? You have got some freedom and approach here! The guidelines? Must be six oz of protein, and the remainder of the ‘plate’ must be crammed with green and coloured vegetables. Fried foods and pre-processed food should be absolutely omitted altogether. The better news? There may be more than sixty different selections to choose between, and include much more than bars and shakes, many of us actually like the taste..and the probabilities are, with that large of a variety, you’ll find something that you actually do too. Drink satisfactory water- Water is understood to be glorious filler. It’s advisable to begin the day with 2 to 4 cups of water.

Water should be had regularly too in the daytime. Water should be preferred over aerated drinks and fruit juices too. Thermogenic properties-Thermogenesis is a technique in the body where heat is generated. As such, it leads to higher metabolic activity. BAT is instrumental in burning fats around the waist, legs and hips. Aside from these properties as forwarded by the study community, Chinese green tea also provides help in making improvements to the conditions of the heart, bone density in girls together with other galvanizing benefits.

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