HyperStrike

Chest Specialization Workout

 Want a bigger, stronger, fitter chest?  The chest specialization workout is an intense workout featuring a wide variety of exercises. Perform the chest specialization workout a max of twice per week until the desired results are met. Use this workout if your chest development is lagging behind other muscle groups.

http://www.hyperstrike.com/Chest-Specialization-Workout-37.aspx

Your Fitness is Strongest Link To Mortality Rates.....

Fitness and mortality

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Exerpt:

In the midst of an obesity epidemic, most Americans – not surprisingly - believe that weight is a pretty reliable measure of mortality. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your fitness level is the most critical factor, according to Steven Blair, P.E.D., professor of exercise science at Arnold School of Public Health (http://www.sph.sc.edu/) and former director of research at The Cooper Institute in Dallas.

In a speech at the University of Georgia last year (http://talkuga.blogspot.com/2008/04/dr-steven-blair-speaks-on-high-risk-of.html), Blair, said, “Most people think that you can tell if someone's fit, active and healthy just by looking at them. It's not true! Fit, healthy people come in all sizes and shapes. The same is true of unhealthy people. I know several thin people who are unfit and have serious health problems. Weight isn't everything.”

A Commitment To Health and Fitness

We made a personal commitment to our health and fitness this year in the Greeves' Household.  We have spent the last 3 years working too much, sitting at our computers, eating the wrong foods and it has shown in our bodies and health.  We decided that we needed to be the proper ambassadors of our own product and software.  We decided we weren't happy with the way we were living and the priorities that we were putting ahead of our health. 

We started exercising (both running and lifting weights with our HyperStrike program and 24 Hour Fitness Memberships), eating whole foods, resting more and taking healthy supplements.  We've been on the right path now for 6 months and it is really paying off.  Michael has lost 25 pounds and Shelley has lost 10.  We both have more energy, look better, feel better and sleep better.  We are getting back to ourselves - literally!
We share this with you because we know how life can be.  Work is calling, friends are calling, family is calliing, responsibility is calling.  Everything comes first but our health.  We decided that our health (poor health) was starting to take over - high blood sugar, excess body fat, sluggish metabolism, feeling tired all of the time, clothes not fitting, high blood pressure - the list goes on.  We made a conscious decision to schedule in our health and fitness as the first priority each day.  We knew it was going to be hard.  We knew that work would pile up, laundry and cleaning would be a bit behind but we also knew it would pay off.  We decided that health and fitness would come in ahead of social priorities, personal time and even work on occasion.  Its been a huge blessing.  We work out together, we talk, we connect, we improve.

We would like to challenge everyone out there to make health and fitness your first priority.  Make a pact with yourself.  Start somewhere - cancel a dinner out, clear off your early morning calendar, take a hike instead of go to the movies, hit the gym instead of the Fast Food joint. You can do it.  We know you can -
Life is happier.  If you don't take care of your health - you won't be here to take care of anything.
Keep Moving'
Yours in health,
Michael and Shelley Greeves

Fitness Improves Survival of Pre-HyperTension in Men

Greater Fitness Improves Survival in Pre-Hypertensive Men

Jody A. Charnow

May 08 2009

Improvements in exercise capacity are associated with decreased mortality among pre-hypertensive men, data show.

Researchers led by Peter Kokkinos, PhD, Director of the Exercise Testing and Research Lab at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a professor in the Division of Cardiology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., examined the association between peak exercise capacity (measured as metabolic equivalent tasks [METs]) and mortality in a group of 4,735 pre-hypertensive men.

METs represent the energy expenditure requirement for various activities. The more vigorous an activity, the greater the number of METs required.

Subjects were divided into four fitness categories: those who achieved less than 5, 5-7, 7.1-10, and more than 10 METs. Over 22 years of follow-up (mean 8.0 years), 943 deaths occurred. After adjusting for age, BMI, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, exercise capacity was the strongest risk factor for mortality, according to findings presented at the American Society of Hypertension annual meeting in San Francisco. Each 1-MET increase in exercise capacity was associated with a 14% decreased risk of death overall and an 18% and 11% decreased risk among men younger and older than 60, respectively.

Compared with men who achieved 5 METs, those who achieved 5-7, 7.1-10, and more than 10 METs had a 25%, 60%, and 75% decreased risk of death.

May Recognized as High Blood Pressure Month

Good information below.  How is your blood pressure?

Submitted by ruzik_tuzik on May 8th, 2009

Posted under:

• Blood Pressure

The Volusia County Health Department, Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Wellness joins the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in recognizing May as National High Blood Pressure Education Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 1 of 3 American adults has high blood pressure or hypertension. In Volusia County, 30 percent of adults were diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2007 according to the Florida Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set.

“Having high blood pressure increases your chance for heart disease, stroke, and other serious conditions,” said Dr. Sanford Zelnick, medical director of the Volusia County Health Department. “It is important to see your doctor and learn how to manage your blood pressure.”

There are several things you can do to keep your blood pressure healthy:

* Maintain a Healthy Weight - being overweight or obese can raise your blood pressure and losing weight can help you lower your blood pressure.

* Be Active - being physically inactive is related to high blood pressure and physical activity can help to lower blood pressure.

* Maintain a Healthy Diet – include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as lowering or cutting out salt or sodium.

* Moderate Alcohol Use - excessive alcohol consumption is related to increased blood pressure.People who drink alcohol should do so in moderation.

* Prevent and Control Diabetes - people with diabetes have a higher risk of high blood pressure, but they can also work to reduce their risk.

* Avoid Tobacco Use - smoking injures blood vessels and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries.

* Medications - if you develop high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medications, in addition to lifestyle changes, to help bring it under control.

Source: 

Volusia County Health Department

FITBuddies - Training the Athlete in Every Buddy (vote please)

Hey everyone! This is a charitable organization we gladly believe in and support. Please vote.

http://community.intuit.com/contests/aTvLzlA8eqllvkab8P4pmk  - Please VOTE!
Original article content:

 I will never forget the day Xenia walked through the doors of FIT with her head down possessing little to no self-esteem.  She portrayed the typical model of an individual with Down Syndrome and the plethora of health problems they are faced with.  She was soon running through the doors, hugging and high fiving everyone and was even caught posing in the mirror as she turned from side to side to admire herself.  She turned to me with tears in her eyes and exclaimed, “Look at me!  I’m amazing!!”   

I started FITBuddies seeking to combine two of my passions:  I wanted to focus on the health and wellness of individuals with intellectual disabilities.  Three years later, FITBuddies, small group training for individuals with special needs, has surpassed all my hopes and expectations.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities wage constant battle trying to fit into our society.  Exclusion, failure, and a lack of self worth are simply part of life’s daily battle. The FITBuddies program is scaled to meet the needs of the individuals but pushes them beyond what most think possible.  They train together alongside others who can witness first hand that they can do the same things as everyone else.  The effect of being a part of a community and achieving success in their pursuit of physical fitness is overwhelmingly empowering.

Participants have gone from shy individuals lacking confidence, repeatedly telling me “I can’t do it, it’s too hard” to exclaiming, “I can learn something new; it just takes practice!”  They have proven, if given the opportunity, time and ongoing instruction, they can and will learn and adapt “just like you and me.”  Jeremy provides an example of how this increased confidence and sense of achievement carries over into their everyday lives. Jeremy has progressed from a deconditioned, uncertain individual to a confident Starbucks employee, giving presentations to promote employment for individuals with special needs.  He credits the confidence he’s gained through FITBuddies as one of the keys to his achievements.

My current goal is to expand the FITBuddies program nationwide providing training and guidelines for professionals, facilities and parents/caregivers who are interested in providing professional, physical training to individuals with intellectual disabilities.  If granted the money, I will be able to accomplish many of my goals and continue my quest to help improve the health and wellness of this special population one buddy at a time.

Advice for others:

 As Jeremy, who is 24 with Down Sydrome says, “If you believe in yourself, others will begin to believe in you as well, you can then do anything.”  When I started FITBuddies, I was heading down a path of unknown territory for myself.  There was not a lot of research or available resources in the field to answer all of my questions.  I quickly determined that some of my most important resources as well as valuable lessons would actually come directly from the individuals I was trying to help. 

Meet the Self Tanning Queen

We wanted to let everyone know about our friend The Self Tanning Queen's new site and blog.  It is live and chock full of great tips on how to keep a healthy glow. 
Here is a blurb from her "About" section:

Hello Fellow Self Tanners!

Welcome to my blog! I have been using self tanner since the ripe old age of thirteen and the Coppertone “Quick Tan” days… Oh can we say orange!! Being that I am a “melanin challenged” individual, I am always on a quest to find the perfect self tanner or the latest and greatest in spray tanning. As a licensed Aesthetician and Educator who has worked for some of the top cosmetic and skin care companies, I get tons of questions from women and men about tips and tricks and what products to use, so I decided to write this blog to help share my experiences and expertise. I encourage you to post and share your own stories, tips and suggestions so we can all benefit in our never-ending search for better sunless tanning products and services. I welcome your feedback on this site, so feel free to email me with your comments.

Happy Glowing,

The Self Tanning Queen

“Only she can spot the fake, the bake and the big mistake!”

Anonymous Survey - Please participate

We invite you to participate in an anonymous online survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tLX9yWxeweNIMy52_2bUjApA_3d_3d

You Would Think Japan would learn from the U.S.: Mega Fast Food

“Mega size” fast food takes hold in Japan

McDonald’s Japan will introduce the third incarnation of its 20-million-seller Mega Mac series on December 14. The latest 846-calorie version, the Mega Tamago, substitutes a fried egg and two slices of bacon for one of the four beef patties in the 754-calorie original version. A 771-calorie Mega Tomato, with a slice of tomato in place of the fried egg, goes on sale the same day.

Last summer McDonald’s also marketed a 903-calorie Mega Teriyaki version with two jumbo pork patties.

The Mega Mac is the most well known participant in a fast food trend toward humongous fast food portion sizes in Japan. On Saturday Japan’s second largest newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, reported on the “mega size” trend of large-portioned fast food marketed toward young males.

Convenience store chain Family Mart is selling a 1,184-calorie Mega Hamburger Bowl bento box, containing a 7-inch by 4-1/2-inch hamburger patty on top of a bed of rice, spaghetti, and potato salad. 7-Eleven Japan sells a mega-size chocolate and custard parfait. The Lawson chain is joining in with “big” versions of some its products that are 50 percent larger than normal.

Beef bowl chain Sukiya introduced a 1,286-calorie triple-beef version of its beef bowl, the “Mega Beef Bowl,” and sold double its internal projections for the product.

The Asahi notes that many of the bento lunches sold by convenience stores have more than a half-day’s supply of calories.

Marketing emphasis shifts from young women to young men

For many years Japanese fast food chains and convenience stores have concentrated on developing products aimed at trend-conscious young women, a demographic group with high disposible income. But the mega size trend is aimed squarely at young men aged from their mid-teens through their thirties, according to sources interviewed by the Asahi.

McDonald’s Japan, which instigated the mega size trend, recorded its highest sales ever during the first six-month financial period of this year.

A spokeswoman for advertising agency Dentsu’s Consumer Reserch Center thinks that the mega size trend simply represents consumers’ desire for an occasional splurge in these health-conscious times, rather than a whole-hog rush to the feed trough.

Which State of Change Are YOU In?

Original Article: http://www.hyperstrike.com/Which-State-of-Change-Are-You-In-Article-170.aspx

Change is challenging. It is a gradual process that evolves over time and may take several attempts. Behavior and the process of change has been the subject of many studies and several theories.

One theory, the Transtheoretical Model, divides the process of change into six unique stages that require different strategies for success.

Which stage of change are you in? Learn strategies to help you find success!

Pre-contemplation stage
Not considering or wanting to change behavior. Typically, people in this stage deny having a problem and do not intend on initiating change unless pressured by others.

Strategy
Education is the most productive strategy. People may not understand how the behavior is negatively affecting their health and quality of life. Knowledge is power.

Contemplation stage
Although people in this are not quite ready for change, they acknowledge there is a problem and are seriously considering overcoming it.

Strategy
Education and peer support are very important at this stage. Creating a support system of friends and family to encourage, listen and motivate will be valuable, especially when self-motivation is low.

Preparation
In this stage, people are seriously considering and planning behavior changes within the next few months and may even engage in the new behavior for a short time.

Strategy
Strategies for this stage should focus on developing an action plan with specific objectives and completion dates, and creating a positive physical and emotional environment to support the new behaviors.

Action
In the action stage written objectives are followed and new behaviors are actively pursued. Relapse and regression are common in this stage.

Strategy
Don’t give up. Realize setbacks will happen and be aware of obstacles. Take this opportunity to recognize progress, acknowledge achievements, as well as re-evaluate action plan and refocus objectives.

Maintenance
Once the action stage has been maintained for six consecutive months, people move into the maintenance stage. During the maintenance stage, the new behavior continues to be sustained for up to five years.

Strategy
This stage requires continued adherence to specific objectives and reinforcement of accomplishments. People in this stage strive to prevent relapses.

Adoption
Once the new behavior has been maintained for more than five years, the behavior has been adopted. Many experts believe that compliance with the new behavior is no longer a challenge, and people successfully exit the cycle of change with out fear of relapse.

References
Hoeger, Werner W.K., & Hoeger, Sharon. (2002). Behavior Modification. In Lemons, April & Boyd, John (Eds), Principles and labs for fitness and wellness (pp. 32-35). Ontario, Canada: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Taylor, Barr C. & Miller, Nancy Houstion. (2001) Principles of health behavior change. In Darcy, Peter (Ed). ACSM’s resource amnual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (4th ed.) (pp. 556-560).