The 3 Best Muscle Building Tips

-Tip #1: Work out on a consistent basis.

This seems simple yet many people seem to have a hard time working out consistently. Someone might workout four times one week, three the next, and not at all the following week. This approach to working out will definitely not get you the results that you are looking for. It is far better to start small and workout three times a week and actually do it as opposed to working out five times a week burning out and eventually quitting. If you are a beginner than you can workout more when you feel comfortable and are ready. There is no need to go all out from the start and doing that is not necessary to get results.

Tip #2: Have a plan when you enter the gym.

It always surprises me to see just how many people workout and have no plan to follow. Just entering the gym and doing some bench press with some curls will not yield any lasting results. This is because it is impossible to tell if you are making progress in the gym if you aren't keeping track of anything. By having an exact blueprint you will be able to track your progress and therefore achieve great results with your workout program. I also like to bring a stopwatch to the gym. This helps to keep my workouts honest and on track. If my workout calls for a minute in between sets, then a stopwatch is really the only way I can track my rest periods.

Tip #3: Make steady and realistic changes to your nutrition.

There is no question that diet plays a key and fundamental role in determining how you look. If you are new to fitness and working out, then making a complete overhaul to your diet is certainly not the way to go. Start with something simple like drinking fewer sodas. For example if you typically drink two soft drinks everyday then try cutting it down to one a day. The key with nutrition is to make it easy so that you can sustain your eating habits for the rest of your life. You and I both know that you aren't going to go the rest of your life without eating ice cream. The important thing is to find ways of getting to enjoy certain foods like ice cream and not having to worry about them ruining your diet.

3 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your LED Therapy Light

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a class in LED Light Therapy. What exactly is LED Light Therapy? It is a hand held device that uses specific wavelengths of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) to energize your cells, naturally combating the signs of aging and giving you more radiant, youthful looking skin.

I have to admit going in I was a skeptic! I was thinking (Great one more thing for me to spend my hard earned money on that will find its way to the drawer of misfit gadgets that promised me results and failed)...

However, after sitting through the very in depth presentation, watching the demonstrations and trying the light for myself, I am a believer! I ended up purchasing 2 lights for myself. I purchased a therapy light (I have an Achilles issue that would not go away) and the LED light for wrinkles. Just a quick note about the therapy light (as this isn't what my article is about). The therapy light is AWESOME! After just 2 days of treatments (2 times a day for 30 minutes) I have noticeably less pain in my Achilles and ran a 10K without pain for the first time in as long as I can remember.

Getting back to the LED light for wrinkles. Although I didn't expect to see any results for at least 6-12 weeks, I was pleasantly surprised at how good my skin felt after the very first use! With just a 20 minute session with the light my skin felt softer, smoother, and had a noticeable glow to it (that nice kind of flush you get after a good workout). I could tell that the blood was pumping and my circulation wasn't so sluggish.

I have been using this light on myself for over a week now and I am seeing a marked improvement on a daily basis. Some of the benefits I have been told to expect are as follows:

• Reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
• Increased collagen and elastin
• Reduction in appearance of pore size
• Firming and toning
• Restoration of skin's youthful radiance and appearance
• Soothing gentle warmth

I have, in just over a week actually seen some of these benefits happen before my own eyes! I have a much smoother texture to my skin. It does appear to be more radiant in appearance. The light does have a smoothing gentle warmth that I love, and I do believe the lines around my eyes (crows feet) are less noticeable than they were a week ago.

Considering the manufacturer states that it takes 6-12 weeks to notice improvement I would say we have a winner here!

Now for 3 tips that I think are very important to get the most out of your LED Light Therapy

1. Use the LED light Daily! You can't leave this in the drawer and expect to see results if you only use it once in a while! This device is designed to be used! It only takes minutes a day and there isn't a person out there who can tell me they don't take an hour or more to sit in front of the TV or stalk their friends and Ex's on Face Book! If you know what Kim Kardashian is up to you have more than enough time on your hands!
2. Use your LED Light on a clean dry face after you have applied an anti-aging serum. This is KEY! Using the light on a face with makeup and the day's pollutants will only drive those impurities deeper into the skin and may even cause a break out (Which you will then blame on the light, but are actually your own fault because you don't wash your face... Seriously)
3. Exfoliate! Yes, exfoliate 2-3 times a week (only) to really get the most out of the Light! However, don't you dare put the St. Ives almond scrub anywhere near your face (unless you want to create more wrinkles I could go on for hours about how bad that stuff is, but that my friends is a whole other Oprah)!

Bonus Tip! SUNSCREEN! Apply it, reapply it, and then apply it again! UV Rays are about 90% responsible for the aging of our skin and yet when I ask people if they use sunscreen more than 50% say no! Also, putting on a 70 SPF once in the AM doesn't do squat. You need to apply sunscreen 2-3 times a day (even if you are just driving in rush hour traffic or just walking to your car).

If you are now thinking about running out to get an LED light do keep the following in mind:

• Look for a light made in the USA (quality is better)
• Look for a light that plugs in! (LED need full power to operate correctly a battery powered light immediately drains that battery and will not have the same results
• Do check company return policy (a good company will have a 30 -60 day return policy)
• Have a look on the shopping channels! I have seen some good products on different channels and they usually have a better price)

There you have it, 3 tips and a bonus nugget to get you on your way to a more youthful and radiant appearance. Enjoy!

The Importance Of Professional Physicians Scales For In-Home Health Care

Professional physician scales have tremendous importance in the field of medical healthcare as well as in-home health care. Professional physician scales are generally used for measuring and documenting the body weight of an individual person. In upgraded scales, the body mass index of an individual can also be measured. Hospitals, doctor's chambers, gymnasium, health clubs, physical therapist's clinics, even in some of the drug stores- any place related to the healthcare field must contain different types.

Any new-born baby should be weighed daily to track with his growth, any bed ridden patient should be scaled for proper medication, any patient needs to be scaled to determine the proper dose of anesthesia during operation, an athlete needs to be weighed daily to check how much muscle has been developed or how much fat has been drained. Even in some of particular athletics field, the contestants are categorized according to their body weight and hence in those games the importance of physician scales is really huge. And there are thousands of other cases where weighing machines have their tremendous importance.

The accuracy of professional physician scales is really important in medical science. The nutrition chart and the diet for a newborn baby is solely determined by its body weight and hence the accurate daily measurement of the weight of a baby is utmost important. The doses of medicines prescribed to a patient largely vary according to the body weight of the patient and a wrong measurement of weight may result in a disastrous medical error.

The professional physician scales can be broadly classified into two categories: mechanical and digital. The mechanical physician scale has the analog display with the use of an indicator. Mechanical devices do not need any external power source to be operated and also these devices are quite reliable for long-term uses. With proper calibration, the accuracy of the mechanical physician scales is very high, but their precision level is somewhat lower. The mechanical devices are the traditional devices and have been used from the beginning of the history of medical science.

On the other hand, the digital scales are the newest devices and they are the result of the modern technologies. A digital scale has the digital display and displays an accurate result of the measured weight, sometimes to the hundredth of a pound. Obviously digital scales need necessary power from a built-in battery or from an external power source. The accuracy and precision of digital scales are quite high. However, since the digital scales are the electronic devices, there are chances of instrumental error and also these scales lose their efficiency after a long time of use.

In the healthcare field, there are lots of companies that manufacture hundreds of different models. The models vary in their shape, size, facilities, displays and the technologies used. The constant research is going on in the healthcare field to achieve the higher level of professional physician scales. With the growth of the technology, more accurate, more precise measurements can be done using the modern professional physician scales.

Gastric Band Weight Loss Operations on the NHS

Gastric Band NHS

As a form of weight reduction a surgical weight loss operation is becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

If carried out privately the operation can be very expensive, probably in the region of £6000.

Fortunately in this country we have the benefit of the National Health Service or the NHS and a great number of Gastric Band, Gastric Bypass and similar surgical weight reduction operations are carried out in the UK each year under the umbrella of the National Health Service.

To be considered for an operation such as these on the NHS the essential first step is to see your doctor, he will assess you, advise you and should you meet the necessary criteria may refer you for further and more detailed assessment.

This will almost certainly begin with a referral to a dietitian, who again can offer you further help and support. If your eventual aim is that of an operation this can be a long way down the line, the application process is a lengthy and arduous one, with waiting lists of a year or more very commonplace in many regions.

Although the application process for a gastric band operation on the NHS can be a little tiresome this can in some ways be considered advantageous. You would pick up a lot of informed and useful advise along the way and may even be persuaded that there are realistic and viable alternatives to weight loss surgery.

In addition to the gastric band there are a number of alternative weight loss operations available on the NHS in the UK. These are free at the point of use.

The Gastric Bypass is particularly effective although it is a much larger and more drastic operation than the gastric band. The gastric bypass is often recommended to patients who are considered extremely obese and it can be an effective treatment for certain forms of diabetes. It is however irreversible unlike the gastric band which can be removed at any time.

Other new forms of weight loss surgery are emerging all the time, one of the newer ones is the gastric balloon which is a non invasive and safe procedure requiring no actual incision as the gastric balloon is fed down the throat and then inflated once in the stomach to give a permanent feeling of fullness.

It is however only a short term solution as the balloon has to be removed for safety reasons after a period of about six months.

As always and with any form of weight loss surgery it is absolutely essential that you first consult your doctor and follow his advise meticulously. It may very well be that he will suggest alternatives to surgery which you may wish to explore before taking the far more drastic step of a surgical operation.

Which ever route you decide to take, whether it be a gastric band operation or some other form of weight loss surgery, or maybe you would first choose to explore conventional weight loss techniques, all anyone can do is wish you all the luck in the world.

Good luck.

Bowflex Home Gym

The Bowflex Home Gym has been toning bodies and making rippling muscles since 1986. With nearly 30 years in the exercise and fitness industry, Bowflex has been producing great machines that get results and have built a name people can trust. One of the most remarkable components to their system is that instead of doing weight training, their machines rely on resistance training to attain the beach body you have always knew was in reach but had never seen in the mirror looking back. Now is your chance, read on to learn more about the great options available from Bowflex.

There are two primary machines that are in production currently and a number of other legacy ones that are still in use. Each offers a unique workout unlike any other systems on the market and will serve you well. Both are packed with many features that will take your workout to the next level. There is nothing quite like a Bowflex home gym thanks to their proprietary designs based around resistance training. This is what makes their units stand out in the crowd, when you are in the presence of a Bowflex machine your instantly recognize them before ever having to ask or look for a brand emblem.

The first model we will examine is the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym. This machine uses the classic Power Rod technology that is synonymous with the image of Bowflex in the mind's eye of most people. This unit has a variety of 70 different positions to utilize that will get you into shape. It is really simple to change exercises and the amount of resistance by simply adding more rods to the pulley system. This machine comes standard with 210 pounds of resistance that can be upgraded to 410 pounds. It even has a lateral bar amongst all of its features that aid in insolating muscles within your body. When you purchase this workout station you will receive a 7 year warranty as well.

Innovation is the name of the game whenever you purchase a Bowflex Home Gym and the Revolution is the next model that will be discussed. This is the new wave from the company. No longer reliant on Power Rod technology, this unit incorporates the SpiraFlex mechanism that comes stock with 220 pounds of resistance and can also be upgraded. Unfortunately, it only reaches up to 300 pounds with is comparatively lower than its older brother. It also has the Freedom Arm component that allows for workouts that require a wide range of arm motion to accomplish the results you are in pursuit of for your own body. With aerobic rowing functionality and a 10 year warranty you can not go wrong.

Why leave the house for a gym full of Lunks when you can workout in the privacy of your own home and on your own schedule with the Bowflex Home Gym? They require no money up front thanks to financing options that are available as well. Visit Bowflex online to get more details and find out which machine is right for you.

Choosing a Diet - The Difference Between the Paleo and Atkins Diets

Knowing the difference between the Paleo diet and Atkins diet can help you figure out what is best for you. People have always been searching for that perfect diet, so it's no wonder that there has been recent talk around the question: What is the difference between the Paleo diet and Atkins diet?

Purpose

The Atkins and Paleo diets are two of the widely popular diets. Both diets have their key factors that make each other successful. They use the same concept of being a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates. However, the main difference in the Paleo versus Atkins diet question is: What is the purpose of each one? The main goal of the Paleo diet is not just to lose weight, but it is more of a lifestyle choice. On the other hand, the Atkins diet is simply used to lose weight and it is not used for a lifelong commitment.

Guidelines

Secondly, the Atkins diet is broken down into four phases - one being the induction leading to four being lifetime maintenance. It goes from the most restrictive to lesser and lesser restrictions. The New Atkins approach also allows dieters to customize their diet plan to fit their personal weight and fitness goals. The initial phase, timeframe and the time to start fitness activity are among ten ways that dieters can customize the new Atkins diet.

The Paleo diet is not broken down into phases. There is only a modification for people who are athletes that want to lose weight. Everyone basically follows the same guidelines of eating foods that were founded in the Paleolithic Age.

Types of food allowed

Thirdly, the food allowed in each diet is another factor that contributes to the difference between the Paleo and Atkins diet. The Paleo diet involves eating healthier foods and taking out foods that were not used back in the day of the hunter-gatherer civilization 25 to 50 thousand years ago. These eating habits prohibit using vegetable oils, legumes (beans, peas and peanuts), artificial sweeteners, most dairy products and grains.

On the other hand, the Atkins plan advocates eating certain foods during different phases of the diet. Vegetable oils and artificial sweeteners are allowed. Dieters can eat legumes and grains in the third and fourth phases. It also encourages eating vegetables from the first phase, but fruits are not brought into the equation until the second phase.

When you are deciding on the pros and cons in the Paleo versus Atkins diet debate, you need to figure out what your main goal is. If you simply just want to lose weight, the Atkins diet may be the best for you. They focus on eating lots of fats and protein, which is not considered a healthy choice. The Paleo diet focuses on a healthier lifestyle that will also help you lose weight.

What to Look for and How to Find the Best Massage Table for Your Practice

Looking for an appropriate table as a student or as a replacement for your current table? There are a few things you will want to consider before deciding on which table to buy.

Here are some useful tips to utilize when choosing the best massage table for your needs and the comfort of your clients.

1. Strength & Stability.

If you are inclined to buy a cheap table just for the price; step back and ask yourself if the quality is up to your requirements? You need to be confident that the table will support your clients weight-no matter their size-without swaying, breaking, or crumbling under the their bodyweight.

Check the static weight and working weight to be confident they will fit your needs. Note that if you are doing a more strenuous type of body-work, such as deep tissue massage, you will be putting your table under a greater operating load.

2. Kinds of Bodywork

Certain kinds of body-work need certain features for your table. If you perform Reiki or energy work, look for a table with high end clothing that allow you to slip your legs underneath the desk at either end. If you do shiatsu as well as other forms of massage, look for a table with a shiatsu release cable so that you can reduced the mat to the floor.

3. Size and Dimensions

Width and measurements are about ergonomics as well as your clients' relaxation. The table should be narrow enough to allow the therapist to reach across without limiting your ability to apply your specific techniques. The table should also be wide enough to ensure that your customers experience is completely safe on the table. The therapist should be able to lower and/or raise the table to the correct height for the application of proper massage therapy techniques.

4. Comfort

The table's cushioning should be dense enough and durable enough for your massage therapy customers to lie on the table and be relaxed for the entire massage session. Also note that there are some forms of kinds massage therapy techniques that require a firmer, less supple surface for the application of the \ technique.

5. Weight

If you will need to transport your table, you will want to consider the weight of the table. Is it light enough to transport the table the entire distance you will need to take it? If you transport your table often, you will definitely need a lightweight massage table. Remember the weight of the table will be different to 6" tall and 200 lbs. male therapist than in will be to a 5"2" 120 lbs. female massage therapist.

Another option is to use a massage desk cart, where you can place the table on the cart and roll it, versus carrying it on your shoulder.

How To Drop A Dress Size In 2 Weeks After Menopause

Women over 50 have moved into the menopausal stage of life and this makes for changes in the way the body handles fat loss and storage. After menopause, shifts in hormone levels make it easier for the woman's body to distribute fat around the waistline. Besides changing the way clothing fits, this also contributes to an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. By following this 2 week strategy you will be able to reset your fat burning hormones and boost your fat burning potential enough to drop a dress size.

2 Week Strategy to drop a dress size:

1. Eat low carb, with a twist. Low carb diets are effective for quick weight loss, but if followed for too long they can wreak havoc on your metabolism and bottom out your body's ability to burn fat. This is because low carb diets send warning flags to your body that you are not taking in sufficient amounts of its primary energy source, carbohydrates.

When this warning flag is raised your body drastically slows the production of fat burning hormones to prevent you from starving to death. To avoid this drop in hormones, you must take actions that convince the body that it is not starving and adding one high-calorie/high-carb meal per week will do the trick.

2. Taper carbohydrates during the week. You will benefit from a lower carb diet during the week with one higher carb meal added in; but, you can keep your body in an even better fat burning state by tapering your carbs up as you move toward your high carb meal.

To do this follow your high carb meal with two very low carb days. This should be under 50 grams of carbohydrates. This will help your body prevent fat storage and will boost fat burning. After those two days taper your carb intake upward about 10 to 20 carbs each day until you reach your high carb day.

3. Combine aerobic and resistance exercises. Loss of muscle mass is one of the reasons a woman's fat burning potential drops after menopause. To combat this loss it is important to exercise against resistance, which means using dumbbells, doing exercises against your body weight, or doing a physically demanding form of yoga.

To maximize the resistance training for both muscle growth and fat burning you want to perform resistance training the day after your high carb meal. At this time your muscles are filled with stored energy and your metabolism is peaked allowing your body to utilize the carbs you ate for energy.

For the remaining days of the week you can switch to an aerobic form of exercise of your choice including walking, jogging, dancing, biking or swimming.

Follow this plan for 2 weeks and you will notice your body burns fat more efficiently and you should be able to slip into that smaller dress size with ease.

Types of Cleansing

Cleansing can be a great way to reset your body and clear out the "junk" that tends to accumulate. Medical experts debate just how effective and necessary cleansing is, but most people with cleansing report positive results. Sometimes results are dramatic and include a person's appearance, digestion, weight, and ability to function.

There are several types of cleansing. Your goals should determine the type of cleanse you choose. Cleansing should be temporary and you should consult your doctor prior to any type of extreme dietary change. If you think cleansing might improve your health or be an effective way to transition into a new phase of life, consider one of the following:

Complete Cleansing

This is the most extreme form of cleansing. A person doing a complete cleanse drinks only water and eats nothing during the cleanse. This can be a dangerous practice if done for a long period of time, but most people can handle a day or two with this cleanse, as long as they are otherwise healthy. A complete cleanse gives your digestive system time to rest. It slows your metabolism, so any weight loss you experiment will likely be temporary.

Juice Cleansing

This has become a very popular form of cleansing because it allows your body to get the calories it needs without consuming solid food. It can help with weight loss and many juice cleansers report a variety of other positive results. There are stories about juice cleansing balancing blood sugar, battling obesity, and easing cardiovascular issues. If you are concerned about consuming enough fat and protein during a longer juice cleanse, consider adding protein powders and using coconut in fruit smoothies in addition to regular juice.

Light Cleansing

This type of cleansing is often billed as the healthiest across the board. Light cleansing allows you to eat, but it restricts calories and certain types of foods. For instance, someone doing a light cleanse might avoid processed foods, red meat, and dairy. Many believe this type of cleanse is ideal for long-term eating and do not officially consider it a cleanse. However, if your eating habits are not up to par health-wise, this is a great cleanse to kickoff a healthier eating plan.

Specific Cleanses

There is a variety of cleansing plans available to help you reach specific goals. Remember, some of these are not healthy and should not be used on a long-term basis. The Master Cleanse, which required cleansers to consume only lemon water and cayenne pepper for long periods of time rose to popularity several years ago. Some reported positive results, but others struggled to function with so little nutrition.

Cleansing to lose weight often backfires because of the effect not eating has on your metabolism, but the practice provides a number of other positive health benefits. Using it as your primary weight loss tool is likely going to hurt your cause. Instead, try a cleanse one to four times a year to reboot your system. If you are uncomfortable with a complete cleanse, a juice cleanse is a great option. Cleansing can remind you to eat consciously and treat your body with greater respect.