Abs Exercise Myths

Work your abs everyday. Just like every muscle parts, your abs need rest and recovery. Be consistent for that three to five days a week of abdominal training and you’ll get that sleek abs.

Take half hour of ab workout. I think that’s too long to train your abs. About five minutes of ab training each time is effective. Remember, think about quality over quantity.

Slow crunches make you strong. I do kickboxing and such training isn’t in slow-motion but I get effective lean ab work.

Train abs at the end of workout. Its really doesn’t matter whether at the beginning or at the end, as long as consistency is practice then go ahead. Don’t forget to warm-up first just to prevent any types of injuries.

Pilates can't get you six-packs. If you practice regularly, combining with proper diet and cardio, then absolutely it can give you a six-pack. One thing, its not a guarantee to have such pack, this depends on your muscle tone, or how lean you are, or how long your torso is and also how tall you are.

Without weight machine, you won’t get firm. Wrong, I’ve read an article about how Bruce Lee get those muscles without touching a single machine. Although, women love to stick to the floor, we also get those lean muscles just like Bruce has – ok not too bulgy.

Cola Equals Muscle Problems

After reading the news provided by HealthDay below, I drop the cola I’m drinking. Looks like drinking too much cola can increase the risk of a muscle problem called “hypokalemia”.

HealthDay News - In people with hypokalemia, a drop in blood potassium levels results in problems with vital muscle functions. Symptoms can range from mild weakness to serious paralysis, say Greek researchers who conducted a review of people who drank between two to nine liters of cola a day.

Two of the patients were pregnant women who were admitted to hospital with low potassium levels. One was a 21-year-old woman who drank up to three liters of cola a day and complained of fatigue, appetite loss and persistent vomiting. An electrocardiogram revealed she had a heart blockage, and blood tests showed she had low potassium levels, the researchers explained in a news release.

The second pregnant patient, who'd consumed up to seven liters of cola a day for 10 months, had low potassium levels and was suffering from increasing muscular weakness, the researchers noted.

Both patients made a rapid and full recovery after they stopped drinking cola and took oral or intravenous potassium. The case studies are described in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

"We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before, and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralization and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes," and there's increasing evidence that excessive cola consumption leads to hypokalemia, Dr. Moses Elisaf, of the University of Ioannina, said in the news release.

Elisaf said the three most common ingredients in cola -- glucose, fructose and caffeine -- can contribute to hypokalemia.

"The individual role of each of these ingredients in the pathophysiology of cola-induced hypokalemia has not been determined and may vary in different patients," Elisaf said. "However, in most of the cases we looked at for our review, caffeine intoxication was thought to play the most important role. This has been borne out by case studies that focus on other products that contain high levels of caffeine but no glucose or fructose."

However, "caffeine-free cola products can also cause hypokalemia because the fructose they contain can cause diarrhea," Elisaf said.

Not Getting that Flat Stomach

If you think you’re not getting that flat stomach, check first the diet you eat. No matter what you eat, if it is not the right diet, then it’s useless to get that flat stomach even you are the doing that rigorous cardio regimen.

And there are tricks that help, too. Drinking coffee—when part of a weight-loss diet—may also trim the stomach slightly, and the caffeine may speed up the metabolism. One to three cups of coffee a day helps.

A study done at University of Tennessee, implies that overweight adults on a low-calorie diet who had 1,100 milligrams of calcium daily lost 81 percent more stomach fat than those who got only 400 to 500 milligrams of calcium per day. Then getting three daily servings of dairy is a reasonable goal.

What food do I need to avoid? White, starchy carbohydrates top the list. People who chose white bread over whole grains gained about half an inch around the middle every year.

How about crunch workout position? According to Shawn McCormack, director of and head instructor at the Body, a Manhattan fitness studio, ““Crunches only work the superficial muscles at the front of your torso.” One of the best ways to strengthen them is by holding a simple plank position. For an extra challenge, lift your hips up an inch or two and then move them back.

Make sure you have the right diet and proper workout position to get that flat stomach you desire.

Memory Food

To make the right eating choices then pay special attention to what you eat. If you want to have that mental boost then this series of parts will help you job your memory.

A study in the Journal of Physiology makes the point that, though your brain represents only 2 percent of your body weight, it makes 20 percent of the energy demands on your resting metabolism.

For short-term memory boost drink COFFEE.

Fresh-brewed joe is the ultimate brain fuel. Caffeine has been shown to retard the aging process and enhance short-term memory performance. In one study, British researchers found that just one cup of coffee helps improve attention and problem-solving skills.  

And Not: ENERGY DRINKS/TOO MUCH COFFEE

Ever heard of the concept “too much of a good thing”? If you OD on caffeine—too many cups, a jolt of caf from the late afternoon onward, a Red Bull cocktail—it can mess with your shuteye schedule. Sleep is reboot time for your mental computer, and you don’t want to mess with it.

End of Part 1…

Yoga for Better Sex

I do find Yoga as a source of enlightenment through uniting one's body, mind and spirit to become one with nature. And I’m surprised to see Elizabeth Walling’s article at NatualNews, intertwined my thoughts on how we can blissfully think about Yoga.

(NaturalNews) Go ahead and trade in all your scented candles, lacy red nighties and silk sheets for the latest gadget that will ramp up your sex life: a yoga mat. The exercise we often connect to meditation and inner enlightenment is also linked to improved bedtime fun. A study published in the December 2008 edition of The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed women who were not satisfied with their sex life experienced heightened arousal and better orgasms when they practiced yoga. And this isn't just for ladies: another study published in the same journal in 2007 showed yoga was the most effective solution for men dealing with premature ejaculation in comparison to Prozac and non-prescription drugs.

So, how does this understated activity lead to better sex? Here are the top five benefits your sex life can take away from yoga:

1. Heightened Awareness and Concentration

Yoga teaches people to be more aware of their breathing and their bodies while letting go of mental distractions. This translates directly to better sex. When you're able to concentrate on what your body is feeling instead of a sink full of dirty dishes, for instance, you can undeniably enjoy sexual activities much more.

2. Greater Flexibility and Strength

Nothing can bring more fun to the bed than a body that's ready to rock. Yoga is an excellent fitness tool that not only conditions and strengthens the muscles, but also improves your flexibility range and joint health. Just imagine all the daring positions you can try out after a few weeks of yoga practice! Improving your muscle strength and fitness level will raise your energy and stamina during sex, too.

3. A New Kind of Foreplay

If your partner is up to it, add in several minutes of couples yoga before sex as a kind of foreplay. A few yoga moves can relax your nerves and get your circulation going: just what you need to get you in the mood after a long day. Plus, practicing yoga together helps you connect in a new way.

4. Acceptance and Confidence

One of the priceless benefits yoga offers is a new sense of confidence in one's self. Yoga promotes being aware of your body and accepting it. When you realize what you appreciate about yourself, it gives you the freedom to offer more in the bedroom. Sexual confidence is incredibly freeing and can really open the door to better sex.

5. An Awesome Finale

Well, it all adds up to one thing: better orgasms. Between improved circulation, heightened awareness and more energy, you are primed for a great climax. Plus, positions
that strengthen your pelvic core can give your orgasms a definite "wow" factor.