Archive for the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ Category
Happy 4th of July!
Sunday, July 4th, 2010Meditation with NFL Running Back Ricky Williams
Friday, June 11th, 2010You might think it’s kookie or wacky if you’ve never put any time into learning about the benefits of meditation. I am here to tell you now, that judging or making assumptions about things before you really understand them, is totally ignorant. I implore you now to open your mind and be introspective.
Today I want you to read an article posted on ESPN about meditating with Ricky Williams – the running back for the Miami Dolphins.
Technology is Rewiring Your Brain
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010Check out this very interesting article about how the deluge of information in our lives is actually rewiring your brain. Guys, now you have another excuse when your girlfriend/wife accuses you of being distracted and forgetful: “the Internet is stressing me out!”
Why You Shouldn’t Drink Alcohol if You’re Serious About Losing Weight
Thursday, May 27th, 2010The following guest article is written by Christine Howell of DNP Programs, a guide to doctor of nursing practice programs and careers.
When you are trying to shed those few extra pounds it is very important to watch what you eat and drink. One thing you should try to avoid, when possible, is the consumption of alcohol beverages. It is said that in moderation alcohol can help to maintain a healthy heart, but when it comes to weight loss efforts, alcohol has many negative effects on your dieting attempts.
Some of these negative effects include:
- Having a direct link to the body’s increased fat levels.
The human body will use the carbohydrates in the alcohol first. This means that the fat from the food that you have consumed is laying in your stomach turning into sugars that are absorbed and deposited as fat.
How to Avoid Being Bullied
Monday, May 3rd, 2010In today’s “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” category, I would like you to read about how bullies target obese kids.
Um… no kidding, Sherlock.
I was bullied as a kid.
From 6th to 9th grade I really didn’t fit in anywhere. I was chubby, had acne, wore glasses, and I wasn’t any good in gym class. They called me names, drew nasty pictures of me, popular girls prank called me, and jocks punched me.
Looking back, I was probably one of the top 10 least popular kids in my class of 120 or so. It wasn’t any fun.
Bullying causes pain, anger, and resentment. So often in today’s society, we see so many acts of bullying the end in violence. Granted, I didn’t knife anyone, shoot anyone, or beat anyone up over it… but some kids do.
We need to educate our children and teach them how to avoid bullies, as well as how to avoid becoming a bully.
More than ever, victims of bullying nowadays tend to either take action against their perpetrators or simply end their own life. Those who don’t take action will go through life hating their junior high or high school peers, dreaming of revenge. You might not believe me if it never happened to do, but trust me: it’s true.
(more…)Vacationing at Disney World
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010Hi everyone! I realize Project Swole has been lame lately, and I am sorry. I have been real busy with work, family, and Crossfit. This week I am on vacation in Orlando Florida, so I can’t post much since I don’t have a laptop and it is slightly painful to create new blog posts on my Android smartphone. In fact its quite annoying to respond to comments or emails either, so I won’t be doing much of either until I get home next week.
Next up I hope to bust out some great new workouts and training articles. Until then, keep training!
How You Can Look Like a Bodybuilder in Just 90 Minutes a Week
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010By: Michael Lipowski
Think it takes five hours of weight training, and six hours of aerobics each week to look lean and muscular? Think starvation diets are the only way you’re going to burn body-fat? If that’s the case then you’re about to get a healthy dose of reality… and you’re gonna love it.
That is unless you’re completely turned off by the idea of discovering exactly what your individual requirements are for building muscle and burning body-fat and prefer to aimlessly follow what others do (who also are not training or eating according to individual needs) and continue to waste precious time in the gym.
If you’re one of those who simply loves to exercise regardless of whether you are making progress or not then much of what I’ll say is likely to fall on deaf ears. However, if you’re primary focus is on looking and feeling your best and you’re willing to take a different approach, maybe even workout less, if it means better results, then keep reading because this advice is intended just for you.
Workout at Work
Friday, March 5th, 2010By: Trainer to the Stars Cornel Chin
Celebrity Body on a Budget |
If you’re one of many who work in an office and find yourself seated at a desk for prolonged periods of time, then you’re asking for trouble. The mass office working culture has led to more sedentary lifestyles.
Your body is designed for movement, so sitting for long hours at a time doesn’t do your body any favors. It’s therefore vital that you find ways to move around in order to keep the circulation in your body moving and to stave off unwanted fat or weight that may well be creeping up. Staying stationery for long periods can also lead to backache, stiffness and headaches.
If you don’t even get up and move around every so often you’ll gradually begin to feel uncomfortable, your energy level’s decline, and you’ll probably feel lethargic and possibly begin to lack concentration resulting in below par productivity.
Office exercises isn’t a total replacement of your regular exercise routine but it will help to keep you active, burn off the excesses of the day and hopefully give you the motivation to partake in regular exercise to keep your body trim and healthy.
Some Pedophiles Never Get Punished
Thursday, February 18th, 2010Melatonin Helps You Fall Asleep
Thursday, February 18th, 2010I found this article today that talks about a lack of ‘blue light’, which we get from early morning exposure to sunlight. When teenagers are not properly exposed to ‘blue light’ for one week, their bodies release melatonin 30 minutes later in the day, which causes them to stay up later and fall asleep in class the next day. The release of melatonin is often also responsible for lack of sleep due to insomnia.
Insomnia |
Drinking Soda Increases Risk of Pancreatic Cancer by 87 Percent
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010Here’s another reason never to drink soda or anything else containing high-fructose corn syrup ever again.
A recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, links sugary soft drink consumption to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Noel T. Mueller, MPH, the author of the study and a research associate at the Cancer Control Program at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. notes:
“People who drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% increased risk — or nearly twice the risk — of pancreatic cancer compared to individuals consuming no soft drinks.”
How to Increase Water Absorption
Friday, February 5th, 2010Woman Drinking Water |
I am always recommending athletes to drink a gallon of water a day. That is all fine and well, but apparently there is a better way to calculate your hydration needs.
Based on a post over at FormerFatGuy.com, we should be drinking half of our body weight in pounds, in ounces of water each day. That means if you weigh 150 lbs you should be drinking 75 oz of water each day.
Use this chart to make your conversions from liters to ounces.
For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight in kilograms by 30. For example, somebody who weighs 70 kg is going to need 2.3 liters per day.
You can drink all the water you want, but if your body can’t use it you will still be dehydrated. Here are some tips to help increase body’s ability to absorb water.
Fish Oil and Hash Help Prevent Psychotic Episodes
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Fish Oil Helps Prevent Psychosis
Crazy Fish |
A study of potential schizophrenics has determined that supplementing with fish oil, primarily long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, can reduce the risk of ever developing full-blown schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder. In fact, supplementing with fish oil was found to be equally effective at preventing psychotic episodes as anti-psychotic medications.
The study was conducted with 81 patients at ultra-high risk of developing a psychotic disorder. At the end of the study, less than 5% of patients supplementing with fish oil developed full-blown psychosis, while nearly 28% of patients in the placebo group transitioned to a psychotic state.
This is great news for adolescents, since that age group is highly affected by the weight gain side effects of anti-psychotic medication. Supplementing daily with fish oil sounds like a great idea to me.
Merry Christmas 2009
Friday, December 25th, 2009Merry Christmas from Project Swole!
Don’t forget to drink a protein shake with your pie in order to make the most of your junk food!
Healthcare Associated Infection
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009The following guest post was contributed by Barbara Dunn, a PR executive who is writing today about healthcare-associated infection (HAI), an important topic for everyone.
Healthcare Associated Infection
When someone develops an infection, at a hospital or other patient care facility, that they did not have prior to treatment, this is referred to as a healthcare-associated (sometimes hospital-acquired) infection (HAI).
Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 31st, 2009Image from Yun Fitness Pumpkin Bootcamp
Calorie Information on Fast Food Menus Decreases Calories Consumed
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009A study release by New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shows evidence that posting calorie information on fast food restaurant menus actually does change consumer behavior.
Girl Eating Fast Food |
In July 2008, New York became the first US city to require fast food restaurants to post calorie counts in on menus, a practice that has become a stepping stone for similar rules in California, Seattle, Portland, and other cities in New York.
The decision to require nutrition information on menus is a result of an effort to combat obesity and promote good nutrition, especially for children.
Menu labeling continues to be viewed as a tool for fighting obesity. Currently, about 33% of adults in the US are obese, and another 33% are overweight. Obesity is a condition that increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other medical problems. Being overweight often leads to obesity later in life.
Halloween Pumpkin Fat Loss Circuit
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Here we have what is essentially bodyweight circuit training, but using a pumpkin for resistance. You might laugh, but pumpkins can weigh 10-20 pounds if they’re big enough. I don’t know that this is a ‘good’ idea, but at least it demonstrates how to think outside the box.
Repeat the 4-minute workout below, 4-5 times for a Halloween-themed 20 minute fat burning workout.
Now check out these other Halloween themed workouts by The Workout Muse.
Continued Vigilance Against Sex Offenders in Hooksett, NH
Thursday, September 24th, 2009As an update to my post that pedophiles should run for the hills, I wanted to share the recent developments in this story. Why do I continue to post about this in my health and fitness blog? Because I can, and because the world needs to know.
Sexual abuse, child abuse, child molestation, and pedophilia has absolutely NOTHING to do with being Swole, but fighting for the safety of our children certainly does!
I promise I will get back to posting about health and fitness very soon… I am working on a post about static stretching as you read this. But I digress…
Force the Pedophiles to Run for the Hills!
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Today I would like to take a break from exercise and nutrition news to tell you about a real problem in our world: child molestation. It is a taboo topic but it is also reality. Child molestation destroys lives on a daily basis and the perpetrators are often slapped on the wrist and released back into society. It has to stop and I am willing to fight for our kids.
Joel Dutton |
There is a revolution happening in Hooksett, NH this month.
Thanks to a group of angry neighbors, myself included, there is a movement to put restrictions into place for convicted and registered sex offenders in the town of Hooksett, NH. Read on to find out how it all began and what is happening today.