FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog

Saving Money on Food with a Tight Budget

FitBuff Blogger — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:50:51 +0000

Saving money on food has become harder as the recent recession has raised the prices of fuel and food to a great extent. Its becoming harder and harder day by day to stick to the budget and manage accordingly. The same pay that could easily cater to all extra expenses is now not enough when it comes down to even meeting the important expenses.

Expenditure on food items has also increased by a great amount. It’s times like these when one needs to alter the existing life style and move in to something that is a lot more budget-friendly. However, a diet program is perhaps not the best practical solution to eating healthy on a budget. Following are a few tips to help you eat healthy food while staying within the boundaries of the budget.

Saving money on food basically required you to shop wisely. Make a list of things to buy before setting off for your shopping spree. While you are undergoing the process of making the list, question your self regarding each product: Do you REALLY need to buy a bar of dark chocolate or can you do without it? Once you are able to question your own self for what is actually required and what the extra expenditures of your grocery are, you are more likely to cut off all the extra bucks spent in useless shopping.

How many times have you picked up a packet of cheese or drinks while shopping for your grocery? A countless number of times, right? Well, this brings me to my second tip: avoid spending on all those alluring products. They are not necessary. You need to stick to the grocery list that you made. You've got to follow it staunchly. Deviating from the list basically means disrupting your budget and spending extra on your food. Remember, you don’t live to eat but eat to live.

Consumerism has plagued our minds to a great extent. We all are seeking to buy “branded” products. Well, reality check: branded products make you pay more for something that does not necessarily cost that much. The money is for all the advertising and the name and not the product. You can find the same high quality product at cheaper rates by looking at the unbranded lot. The important point is that what you are buying is healthy and safe. And these private labels and store brands are just as safe, nutritious and high in quality as the branded lot.

Shopping coupons can be a source of great benefits if you are not entirely willing to cut off the money you spend on all those little extras. Check out the website of your local stores and search for the deals and coupons they are offering. Make the best of the bargains.

The key is to shop wisely. The choices are set out for you and it’s up to you whether to turn a blind eye to saving money on food or making the best out of the deal available.

What are some of your best tips for saving money on food?

Top 10 Fish Oil Benefits

FitBuff Blogger — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:29:07 +0000

Day by day scientists are coming up with new and interesting studies related to the benefits of many natural products. It seems like everyone is once again, reverting back to the idea of using natural herbs, oils and other organic products to heal many of the diseases being faced by humans today. Chemicals have greatly disrupted the internal workings of the human body. Fish oil has been a major area of recent scientific research and results have shown an overwhelming amount of fish oil benefits. Doctors all around are recommending the use of fish oil on a regular basis. So what is it that basically makes fish oil such a beneficial anecdote?

The magic element that makes fish oil such a treat to the body is Omega 3. Omega 3 is basically a fatty acid that is central to the healthy growth of cells. Just like cells are the basic building blocks of all matter, similarly, Omega 3 forms the basic building block of all cells. Since the human body is practically made up of billions of cells, it is important that these cells are adequately nourished. That job can now easily be fulfilled by Omega 3, or simply: Fish oil.

Top 10 Fish Oil Benefits

1. Mental health booster:

DHA and EPA are two components of Omega-3 that are very important for the proper growth of the brain. By increasing the brain power of the individual, a chain reaction takes place, in which the levels of creativity and concentration as well as those of retention are greatly enhanced.

2. Promotion of young and clear skin:

It releases collagen and elastin that gives the skin that youthful look. Everyone can look vibrant and young by taking fish oil as a regular supplement.

3. Drop in mental diseases:

Mental disorders can occur in the quantity of EPA and DHA is lacking. Rather than being a patient of Alzheimer’s and depression, fight the chemical imbalance by a regular dosage of fish oil.

4. Minimizes risk of breast cancer:

Omega 3 prevents the healthy cells growing into cancerous cells and it also kills existing cancerous cells.

5. Great for the heart:

The components of Omega 3 aid in fighting off the adverse effects of high level of cholesterol.

6. Prevents pregnancy disorders:

Proper fetus development and growth is associated with the benefits of fish oil.

7. Enhances the immune system:

Serotonin induces happiness with a pleasant over all personality.

8. Relieves stress and advocates calmness:

Omega 3 can greatly reduce stress by controlling the stress creating hormones.

9. Reduces provocative pain:

Inflammatory pain from arthritis can be toned down as Omega 3 takes care of the body’s inflammatory response.

10. Lower Incidence of Childhood Disorders:

Studies show that children (and adults) with ADD and ADHD experience a greatly improved quality of life. And those with dyslexia, dysphasia and compulsive disorders have gotten a new lease on life thanks to omega 3 oils.

And you thought fish was only tasty to eat? Well, think again!!! The wonders of nature.

What other fish oil benefits have you seen or noticed?

Is Dangerous Plastic Harming You?

FitBuff Blogger — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32:02 +0000

It is intriguing how some products ultimately become an integral part of our daily routine. Once people get used to their usage, the adverse side effects of that product come into the lime light. Dangerous plastic is one such item that has its traces in almost every kitchen commodity: in cutlery, bottles, wraps, oil containers, water bottlers, baby bottles — the list is never ending. Our usage of plastic has become such a routine that we forget to reflect on its disadvantages. Not only is it harmful for the environment, it is also dangerous for our bodies.

We shifted to using paper bags when plastic bags were deemed dangerous, but what about the endless other products that have plastic packaging? Various studies have been conducted regarding the dangerous nature of plastic – specifically, its key element Bisphenol-A.

The dangers of BPA in adults: The compound termed also as BPA has been used in the plastic manufacturing business since 1891 and in the US alone, 23 billion pounds of the matter is manufactured annually. BPA mimics the human hormone estrogen. This mimicry does a truckload of harm to the human body. The BPA leeching causes obesity and low sperm count. Also it is responsible for infertile sperm, breast and prostate cancer amongst other harmful effects. Particularly in girls this can cause early puberty as well as miscarriage. Other known effects are: hyperactivity, diabetes, altered immune systems and schizophrenia. So how are these multitude of problems basically caused?

In essence, BPA is an unstable compound. When exposed to heat, the compounds break up into subsequent particles that are then leeched into the food or the drink. Therefore, whenever you heat food in the microwave in a plastic container, or with a plastic wrap around it, you are basically initializing the germ that then enters your body and starts the destructive cycle.

How BPA threatens infants: However, it is not us the adults who are most prone to the harmful nature of BPA, but the infants. Whenever the mother heats the plastic bottle in an attempt to sterilize it, BPA is leeched into the milk or water. Children remain prone to the harmful side effects owing to the greater exposure they face, per pound of body weight. The brain and body of the child is immature, it is still in the learning phase. The intervention of BPA into this learning phase makes deep gashes on the well being of the child: with adverse effects on their intellectual growth and their social being. Being at a risk from such a young age can make the cause of disease extremely difficult to detect.

Escaping the dangers posed by BPA leeching in plastics can be achieved simply by altering your plastic-dependent life style. Look for alternatives, use glass instead of plastic bottles; purchase cartons instead of plastic packaging. And if the usage of plastic is inevitable, then avoid heating the plastic to initiate the BPA effect.

What are your thoughts on the ubiquitous use of dangerous plastic?

How to use Creatine for maximum effect

FitBuff Blogger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:41:27 +0000

Get your dream body: It’s in human nature to always be in a rush to get things done; a rush to get slim or a rush to put on some muscle. In the fitness industry, there are different ways to approach this. Artificial pills are discouraged by medical and fitness experts alike. So how can you naturally put on some muscle mass without compromising on your health? Thankfully, it’s in our reach: Say hello to Creatine. It is a supplement which is believed to help athletes boost their performance, and helps just about anyone to build muscle mass, if you really know how to use creatine. Creatine should ideally be used as an addition to your regular workouts and exercise – to help reach your fitness goals more effectively and quickly.

Understand your supplements well: Creatine is essentially an amino acid compound which is made by the body and is used to supply energy to muscle and nerve cells – it is also found naturally in red meat and fish in very small amounts. The Creatine formed in our body is first directed to the brain and heart and then to the rest of the body. Creatine supplements were introduced for athletes back in 1993, and since then have been a medically approved supplement for sportsmen. And why shouldn’t it be — it’s all natural and practically safe for the body. Not only that, it also helps decrease the reliance on drugs by naturally inducing the adrenaline thrill and strength to the body.

Apart from this, Creatine also helps you achieve the perfect amount of muscle on your body – thus becoming a great choice for body builders. Who doesn’t want their dream of having an 8 pac to materialize as soon as possible?

However, like all things, adopting a certain routine and procedure can help maximize the effects of the Creatine supplements. Here’s how:

Be inquisitive – this is your body we’re talking about: The best tip would perhaps be to read the instructions given on the packaging very carefully, for there are different types of Creatine being manufactured. Pure Creatine is the best to use.
How to use Creatine for the best results: There is a lot of confusion about how to use Creatine, what amounts are best to use, and when to stop its use.

Our body reacts to Creatine in a positive way, but hits a plateau after several weeks of usage. To avoid that, it’s good to follow some best practices that can help you keep benefiting from the supplement. The best way to use dietary supplements is to understand their effect on your body:

Loading Phase: The most important phase in the Creatine cycle, this is where you get your body accustomed to the intake of this amino acid. For the first week, the best suggestion is to have a daily intake of 20 grams, phased out in 3-4 times during the day.
Maintenance phase: Once your body is accustomed to the intake of Creatine, it’s time to lower the consumption. Switch your phased intake to 10 grams a day.
Resting Phase: Give your body a rest from Creatine to maximize the outcome. From the fifth to the eighth week, use no Creatine.

The Resting phase assures that the used-to behavior your body has towards Creatine is barred, so that during reuse the effects are maximized. By following the prescribed method, you can protect yourself from all side effects and enjoy the healthy and safe use of Creatine.

What is your favorite or preferred method of how to use creatine?

Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival 108

FitBuff Brandon — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:45:01 +0000

Monday is Blog Carnivals Day. A Blog Carnival is basically a collection of articles or blog posts, all relating to a similar subject, that are gathered together for your viewing pleasure. You can quickly and conveniently see a list of Article Titles and click on the ones that interest you to read the full post. Blog carnivals are a great way to see a wide variety of ideas and opinions on a similar subject. To see a list of all previous posts in the Blog Carnivals category, click here.

Want to see your article or blog post featured in the FitBuff.com Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival? Click here to submit yours now.

Brain Power

Strenua presents Do you want to improve your memory? Run a marathon!! posted at Strenua's World.

Stephen Martile presents How to Squash Negative Thoughts – 6 Ways posted at FreedomEducation.ca by Stephen Martile, saying, "Hi Brandon,

Here are six ways to get rid of that little trickster between your ears. Check out these 6 negative thought squashers."

Flea presents Thinking Outside The Box posted at Be A Survivor.

Catherine Eagleson presents How observant are you? posted at Crosswords For Fun, saying, "Are you ready to give your brain a good work-out? Have fun playing Spot the Difference"

Lucky Balaraman presents Finding Unshakable Happiness: The 5 Pristine Pillars posted at Calm and Cool.

Dating

Jara presents Big Boobs posted at Why Men DO Love Bitches ♥.

Tracey presents Meet Shirin posted at Why Men DO Love Bitches ♥.

William wallace presents London Girls Give Us A Fu**ing Break | London Is Cool posted at London Is Cool, saying, "I would appreciate an inclusion in your next edition and I will provide a link back."

David Schmidt presents How To Get My Ex Back | Online Love & Breakup Advice posted at Online Love & Breakup Advice, saying, "A great case study on how to keep from making the fatal mistakes most guys and gals do when they are trying to get back together with their ex."

Carlos Duran presents International Dating Management – How To Control Your Success With Foreign Women In 3 Quick Steps – International Dating & Foreign Women Frankly Discussed And Controversially Revealed posted at International Dating & Foreign Women Frankly Discussed And Controversially Revealed, saying, "A new look at how to take advantage of the Internet to successfully meet women from all over the world. Full of powerful tips on the right way to approach international dating."

Brain Blogger presents Time for a Change ? Gender Reassignment posted at Brain Blogger, saying, "I still remember him plainly: middle-aged, married, paunchy around the middle. He didn’t come in to the clinic because he was sick or had a chronic medical illness. He came in because he wanted to be a woman."

Exercise

Sandra Slater presents Best Cellulite Treatment posted at Best Cellulite Treatment, saying, "Blog talking about what the best cellulite treatments are, specifically targeted towards effective anti-celulite exercise."

Neal Martin presents Martial Arts Fitness: How Much Do You Need? | Urban Samurai posted at urbansamurai.org.uk, saying, "Article on fitness in the martial arts, discussing how much you need to actually train."

Szabolcs Illes presents Easy Exercises – Have A Joy In What You Do And Stay Fit posted at Blog.

Thomas G. Walters, DPT presents The 7 Most Prescribed Physical Therapy Stretches posted at PhysioDoctor.

Colin Timberlake presents Training Log: The Anvil of Crom – Day 46 posted at colintimberlake.com, saying, "A day of hard training inspired by handicapped basketball star Kevin Laue"

Craig Harper presents Why We Get Fat After We Get Skinny posted at Motivation – Renovate your life with Craig, saying, "Some people spend far too much time focusing on what they’re giving up (chocolate, alcohol, cake) and far too little time being grateful for what they’re gaining; health, years, quality of life."

Stacy presents PTP: Towel Tone Series 1, Abs posted at Deliciously Healthy Everyday.

GoHealthyFit presents How to Prevent Rotator Cuff Injury. posted at Go Healthy Fitness, saying, "Have you ever had trouble with your shoulder? If you haven’t yet, you more than likely will within your lifetime. Anyone who does any kind of physical activity regularly like running or sports is at high risk for having a rotator cuff injury. The more activity you do, the more risk you have for this problem. You are still at risk even if you never shoot a basketball or workout…."

SmallTownSim presents Exercise? Uh- lets just stretch posted at Joy's Journey To Wellness, saying, "Daily exercise is important but what do you do when you are not able to actually exercise? Joy offers some great ideas for those who battle with more than just procrastination."

Family

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Not An American Idol posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog.

Christina Crowe presents 6 Steps to Avoid Child Rage posted at Salad Sticks.

Grooming

Aparna presents Skin care for the bride posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Every bride wishes to look ravishing, gorgeous and the loveliest on her D-day. But beauty cannot be gained merely by a few hours of make-up. It should reflect through her skin and her glowing complexion. This can be achieved if she plans her beauty schedule well in advance. She should begin at least a month before. All the extra pains and pampering that she indulges in, during this period will be worth it."

Money

jim presents How Debt Settlement Works posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Best High Interest Savings Accounts In Online Banking posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"

nickel presents Powerful Ways to Improve Your Life posted at fivecentnickel.com.

Mikkal Travvis presents Ron Paul And The Federal Reserve posted at The Truth, saying, "Please add me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Revelation1217"

Nutrition

Megan Wong presents Little Kiwi, the nutritional powerhouse to combat your sinus drainage posted at Sinus Home Remedy.

Heartstrong presents Fruit Drinks Increase Your Risk for Diabetes posted at Healthy Hearts with Heartstrong.

brit67chick presents Ovo-vegan Diet Cured my Tietze's Syndrome posted at All About Tietze's Syndrome, saying, "I became a vegan not because of ethics, but to help with my hypoglycemia. The vegan diet not only helped control my blood sugar, it also eradicated the joint pain I had had for sixteen years!"

kevinreznor presents Nathane Jackson Personal Fitness Toronto – Helpful Hints / Nutrient Timing posted at Nathane Jackson, saying, "Fitness model and dual sport athlete Nathane Jackson provides some useful tips on nutrient timing for workouts."

Martha Jackson presents Open HealthWare: Top 50 Open Courseware Classes on Health and Fitness posted at Nursing Online Degree.

Jenn Givler presents My new Green Smoothie addiction posted at Movement As A Way In, saying, "They say we don't get enough greens in our diet. I used to think green smoothies would be like drinking a salad – boy was I wrong. I'm loving green smoothies – you can't even taste the "green," I feel amazing, and I know I'm getting incredible nutrition."

Scientific Living presents Lack of Reason in Modern Medicine posted at Scientific Living, saying, "Discusses some inherent problems and irrational behavior in the current medical system."

Heavy Trucker presents Is Ephedra a Good Weight Loss Alternative posted at Trucker Health and Fitness, saying, "Because many people are looking for fat loss short cuts such as ephedra, I decided to confront some of the pros and cons of it's use from some personal experience."

Brooklyn White presents Why Drugs Don’t Work as They Should posted at Pharmacy Technician Schools Online.

ChristianPF presents Plants that repel mosquitos posted at Natural Health Ezine, saying, "Apparently there are a bunch of plants you can buy that will keep mosquitoes away naturally."

Joel Gray presents More Energy, More Stamina, and Better Looks posted at Health Tips 101.

Kelsey Grace presents Top 10 Anti-Aging Supplements posted at Vitamins, saying, "I am a young nutrition enthusiast looking to get established as a top quality person in the vitamin and nutrition business. I would appreciate any ideas and or opportunties."

Andy presents 5 Binge Eating Recovery Tips posted at Health Fitness Article Directory, saying, "Binge eating recovery might seem hard or even impossible espeically if you’ve tried and failed in the past. Many binge eaters spend years trying to recover and only make little or no progress. The following 5 tips are going to save you years of trial and error when trying to stop binge eating."

Margaret Garcia presents Go Beyond Google: 50 Excellent Health Search Engines posted at Comments on: Top 100 Diet and Fitness Blogs.

Daisy Roy presents HCG Recipes – Slim Fast Diet Plan posted at How to lose weight fast – weight loss tips, saying, "Most probably you want to lose weight. Well it is just natural for us to be conscious of our physical looks. We want to look just right in our own eyes and in the eyes of others. Good thing there is this plan…"

Alvin Hopkinson presents Natural Cures UTI – Addressing the UTI Root Causes are the Best Natural Cures posted at UTI Natural Remedies, saying, "Most UTI cases are due to E coli infections, and the root cause of the problem often involves poor hygiene. Therefore, most of the natural cures UTI specialists recommend are concerned with proper hygiene, as well as lifestyle and diet changes."

robert galway presents Cabohydrate Cravings posted at robertgalway.com, saying, "Carbohydrate cravings are difficult to deal with, especially when you are trying to maintain a low carbohydrate way of life. However, carbohydrate cravings are not just a matter of will power. As Dr. Atkins points out in his book, carbohydrates produce a flood of insulin and a rise in blood sugar. There is indeed a physical trigger for carbohydrate cravings, and it is one of the reasons that it is so easy to develop a high-carbohydrate, low protein way of eating."

Stress

Alisha Harmann presents The Healthy Living Guide for Web Workers: 50+ Resources posted at Nursing Online Degree.

Nutrition

Pat Jonson presents Weight Loss Boosters Newsletter posted at How to lose weight fast – weight loss tips, saying, "Here Is Your Chance to Get That Strong, Healthy Body You Have Been Longing For. You will learn…"

Lucky Tuff presents Want Some Information on How to Lose Weight Fast? posted at How to lose weight fast – weight loss tips, saying, "Are you trying to figure out how to lose weight fast? Then you should know that there is no perfect weight loss tips that everyone should follow. This is simply because everyones body type is different. We all have diverse body types, various energy levels, different metabolic rates and varied dietary requirements. There are of course some proven techniques which if followed religiously can give positive results…."

Stress

SpendOnLife.com presents Today is National "Let It Go" Day! posted at SpendOnLife, saying, "A national day of letting go just passed. But it is always a good time to let go of financial stress that is haunting you."

christopher foster presents The joy that waits on the other side of disillusionment posted at thehappyseeker.com, saying, "Post describes how profound peace and well-being emerged out of a time of devastating stress and disillusionment in my life"

Brian presents Poor Sleep Habits Can Lead to Insulin Resistance posted at How To Live a Longer Life, saying, "Suppressing deep sleep for just three nights causes a drop in insulin sensitivity. The decrease in insulin sensitivity after three nights of bad sleep is equivalent to gaining 20 to 30 pounds."

Work

nissim ziv presents Retail Store Manager Career: Retail Store Manager Salary & Job Description posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "This article deals with many aspects of the retail store manager career – job description, duties, the store manger salaries and career road map for those who are interested in retail manager position."

Mick Hart presents Stop Drinking Tips – Waking Up Dry posted at Stop Drinking Advice, saying, "Discover just how easy it is to stop drinking alcohol through the support of people who have been there before and who understand the real hardships involved."

Donald Latumahina presents Assess Your Potential Before Taking Action posted at Life Optimizer.

Be sure to tune in every Monday for the next Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival, and if you want to submit your own article for inclusion, click here before midnight (eastern time) on Sunday.

Misleading results after another clean-streak… – Workout Recap (June 21-28, 2009)

FitBuff Brandon — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:13:49 +0000

You can follow my weekly recaps right here every Sunday, but you can follow me every day as I post daily updates of my journey from GeekLand to FreakVille at Geek2Freak.com.

Current Stats and Measurements (June 28, 2009)

Height – 6'3"
Weight – 190.2 lb.
Bodyfat – 9.02% (Skinfolds in mm – Chest:4, Abs:14, Thigh:14)
Biceps – 14.25"
Calves – 14.75"
Thighs – 23.6"
Waist – 33.2"
Chest – 43.1"

"How to Get Abs" Progress Pics (June 28, 2009)

Before (Mid to Late 2005)

Current (June 28, 2009)

Today's Diet Log

For up-to-the-minute coverage of my world-famous digestive system, check out my very cool and overly-detailed Diet Log.

Current Supplements

Weekly Recap (June 21-28, 2009)

It was a little bit of a drag this week, because of the misleading measurements, so allow me to explain.

I was 100% clean yet again, with another 12-day streak, but I subjected myself to not just my usual one, but TWO Adrenaline Sports sessions. I held up surprisingly well, but I also wanted to make sure I accounted for the extra calorie expenditure.

So, I down a few more pieces of fruit after the workouts, but then due to my schedule for the rest of the day, I didn't get a chance to eat the rest of my meals until the last part of the day.

As much as I tried to expunge the day's buildup, I wasn't able to utilize "the office" before this morning, so my measurements were taken with a stomach full of a day's worth of meals.

That was a little discouraging, because I was looking forward to a new low in body-fat and/or waist measurements, but the timing just didn't work out.

No problem though, because that will make next week's results look even more impressive than they are because of this week's inflated measurements.

I'm officially going on record to announce my next target body-fat percentage of sub-7%.

Yes, I'll take 6.99%, anything below 7! I've never been there before, and I intend to find out what it feels and looks like on my frame, even if I've got to drop to a lower weight than I'd like to get there.

Fortunately, I know how to put it right back on now, after I've hit the target.

That about raps it up for this week. See you next Sunday and don't forget you can follow my daily updates over at Geek2Freak.com.

Cheat Your Way Thin, Half Price for Limited Time!

FitBuff Brandon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:08:30 +0000

Today is the absolute last day that you will be able to get Joel Marion's Cheat Your Way Thin blueprint for success for less than half price.

If you’ve already heard enough about the program, go grab your copy risk-free right now at Special Cheat Your Way Thin Sale!. If not, let me just “talk” to you and be real with you for a minute.

Every so often an opportunity comes along that can literally change the rest of your life.Looking back over your own life, I’m sure you can think of a time or two in which you made a pivotal decision that proved to change EVERYTHING from that point onward.

And you know what? Just before you did, just before you decided to leap in and go for it, you probably sat there and battled back and forth in your mind for quite some time.

And perhaps that’s exactly what you’re dealing with now while thinking about whether or not you should invest the money (and the TIME) in yet another diet program–AND I DON’T BLAME YOU.

If you’re like most people, you’ve been on more diets than you can count and NONE of them worked. But that’s the point! Dieting, calorie restrictive dieting as we’ve come to know it, can not, does not, and WILL NOT work.

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The only thing left for you to do is make that one pivotal move, that one critical decision–the decision to act.

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Here’s my advice to you: go grab your copy now before the price doubles at midnight, go through the information, evaluate it, and if it’s not everything you hoped it would be, RETURN IT. This is your ONE last chance to give it a full evaluation, 100 RISK-FREE, before the price literally more than doubles tonight.

I’m telling you, once you see all the success stories rolling in from people who are completely changing their lives through this program, you’re going to want to try it. Unfortunately, at that point you’ll have to pay twice as much to get your hands on it (and you’re going to be kicking yourself for not getting in at this special pricing when you had the chance).

Get it now while it’s still half price. In a matter of hours, you’ll have missed the opportunity.

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Pose Running – Introduction and Visual Demonstration

FitBuff Brandon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:22:04 +0000

Pose Running Creator: Nicholas Romanov

Pose running's creator, Dr. Nicholas S. Romanov who is a two-time Olympic Coach, author, educator and a sports scientist with over 30 years of experience and hands on work with athletes at all levels as well as non-athletes, began to develop the pose running method in the mid-70s and successfully implemented the concept with athletes at the Chuvash Pedagogical University where he was a teacher of Track and Field and a coach for the University track and field team. And just so you know, this was way before he moved to the United States in the 1990s.

In going against conventional wisdom, while applying long-discovered concepts such as gravity (identical to chi running) to his method of ‘pose running’ as well as analyzing the physics and mechanics of the movement of running, he encountered criticism from all quarters until America opened its doors to him.

Since then, he has published a book and an educational video both titled “The Pose Method of Running” and has worked with four National Athletic teams namely Britain, Mexico, United States and Russia. He is considered by many to have single-handedly brought drastic changes to the discipline of running as well as other events in Track and Field.

Pose Running – Visual Demonstration

So now that we’ve cleared his credentials, let’s review the technique of ‘pose running’ in a nutshell with a diagram:

Pose Running Technique

Both chi running and Pose Running encourage the technique of maintaining the posture of the body slightly forward, yet while the chi running technique requires you land mid-foot, the pose running method insists that you land on the ball of the foot after every stride. Another similarity between the two techniques is that they both suggest (if not verify) that in taking shorter strides, one can most definitely avoid injury. The final but very interesting part of the technique requires you to raise your leg (while in stride) under your hips and not behind. So, the pose (in the diagram) while in motion forms an ‘S’ form.

Very simply, pose running (much like chi running) is designed to take ergonomics (so that you prevent injury) into consideration as well as help you run in an aerodynamic manner i.e. work with the forces of nature rather than against it. Hence, this increases the efficiency of the runner combined with the little or no risk of an injury making it popular for athletes in competition or for those who like running.

Have you tried pose running and/or chi running? Which do you prefer?

Chi Running – Introduction and Video Demonstration

FitBuff Brandon — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:38:44 +0000

Chi Running

If you spend a bit of time studying Eastern philosophy, all systems of thought (whether Indian, Chinese, Korean or Japanese) propagate the clear link between health and spirituality, emphasizing that the former is merely the means to an end which is attaining ‘enlightenment’ as a result.

Chinese philosophy, in particular, is built around the fundamental principle of ‘chi’ or ‘qi’ or what is known as the life-force or energy-flow which is integral to sustaining life. Some philosophers not only consider animals and humans to have ‘chi’, but state that the ‘wind’ is the ‘chi’ of the earth.

The logogram (in blue, in the top left corner) is symbolic of ‘Chi’, and literally means ‘steam rising from rice as it cooks’. In drawing parallels to Indian philosophy, it is equivalent to the Sanskrit term ‘prana’ which means ‘breath’. And, in taking a closer look, you’ll find parallels between yoga and martial arts of the Orient, if you’ve watched the immortal Bruce Lee’s movies or those badly dubbed Chinese movies that touch topics such as the Shaolin Temple or the various martial artist forms that are a part of China’s rich culture.

Chi Running

And this brings us to the basic technique of Chi-running developed by Danny Dreyer, an American UltraMarathon Runner (which means he runs distances more than the standard marathon distance of 42 kilometers) and a Tai Chi practitioner.

As mentioned earlier, spirituality is used as the foundation to maintain good health practices, considering running as a ‘mindful practice’. The objective of this form of running is to become self-aware and become one with the road as opposed to the traditional philosophy of using one’s power and strength to finish the course for as fast as possible. Another area of focus (of Chi running) is on form (posture), efficiency and relaxation rather than just the speed and effort put in to complete the course.

To put it simply, in practicing mental focus and concentration based on the ancient practice of Tai Chi, one can train his/ her mind to be able to relax while running.

Danny Dreyer says: “Effortless running is about relaxing muscles, opening tight joints, and using gravity to do the work.”

One big benefit of this method of running is that you prevent injury. Runners who have obtained running injuries, have been able to resume running after adopting this style. In addition, the University of West Virginia has confirmed that these Chi Running students have been able prevent running injury once they have begun this practice.

Here’s a video of Danny Dreyer as he described the concept of ‘Chi Running’:
Danny Dreyer – Chi Running

Beautiful… wasn’t it?

Now that’s not all. As Chi Running is very different from the traditional form of running, it’s important to know how to readjust your running style in ‘alignment’ to the Chi Running style.

So, here’s another video that showcases Kathy Griest, a Master Chi Runner as she sheds light on the method of Chi Running:

Now, in closing I can’t help but point out the fact that very relevant cliché: It’s a case of mind over matter. And the same is true of Chi Running.

You may also be interested in learning about or trying pose running as well.

Have you ever tried Chi Running? If so, what are your thoughts?

Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival 107

FitBuff Brandon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:34:20 +0000

Want to see your article or blog post featured in the FitBuff.com Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival? Click here to submit yours now.

Brain Power

Catherine Eagleson presents Improving Your Memory posted at Crosswords For Fun, saying, "It seems to be harder and harder to remember “the stuff that matters” in amongst all the chatter and static of the ever-increasing, technology-based information overload."

Mike Wheeler presents Brain Stroke Clinical Trial Using Stem Cells posted at Brain Stimulant.

Stephen Martile presents The Unconscious Mind Power Series 2 posted at FreedomEducation.ca by Stephen Martile, saying, "Hi Brandon,

The purpose of this video is to show you how beliefs are formed and where they come from. This is an important step so that you can understand how to reprogram your unconscious mind and create new beliefs."

Daylle Deanna Schwartz presents Have you Won a Battle in Your Head? posted at Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat, saying, "Should I eat the cookie or stick to my diet? Cut myself slack in the gym since I'm tired? You can make the healthy choice!"

Alvaro Fernandez presents Debunking 10 Brain Training/ Cognitive Health Myths posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "Think about this: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other?"

Dating

Jim DeSantis presents Free: How To Date Beautiful Women. Confessions of an Alpha Male at Online Tribune. posted at Power Flirting, saying, "Most men want to be "that guy." You know who I mean. He is plain looking, thinning hair, has love handles or spare tire, and certainly would not be mistaken for a men's clothing model on the cover of GQ but he gets his choice of hot women. Let's discover how you can become that guy."

Shashi presents Getting The Most From A Romantic Relationship | Fusion Rental posted at Fusion Rental.

Exercise

Brian presents How to Be Fit Without a Gym Membership posted at Trying to Be a Man.

Jessica presents hit posted at a dbg a day.

pankaj gupta presents Top 5 'Lifehack' Bloggers for Your Health and Wellness posted at Best masters in healthcare.

Chris Daniels presents Reduce Chest Fat posted at Lose Chest Fat Now!, saying, "Losing chest fat is not an overnight fix, you need to be committed to a program of diet and exercise. And if you have a blip, don't stress, just get yourself back on track."

Phil B. presents Bodybuilding Problems posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "I always wondered if extreme bodybuilding has any bad effects on the human body."

Brian presents BMI Relationship with Risk of Heart Attack posted at How To Live a Longer Life, saying, "If you are at risk for a having a heart attack then your BMI or Body Mass Index could lend a hand in estimating when it might occur."

Franco presents Homemade Workout Stand posted at Assorted Tips, saying, "Work out in the comfort of your own place without having to buy expensive exercise equipment. With some DIY skills you can make your own workout stand – very portable – it can be stashed away when not in use and can fit in the trunk of your car when you're on the move."

Chris presents How to Feel Your Chi Energy in Just Ten Minutes posted at Martial Development, saying, "Learn what qi is, and how to feel it within your body."

Steve Faber presents Belly Fat Loser » Dumbbell Workouts – Dumbbell Exercises That Will Have You Bigger, Stronger, and Leaner…Fast posted at Belly Fat Loser, saying, "You don't have to workout 3 hours a week to get results. You can do it in far less time and get great results. Try these…."

Tony Marquis presents Fat Boozer Proves This Fitness Workout Program Really Works! posted at Fitness Workout Program – Friend Loses 19Lbs In 4 Months, saying, "My fat friend lost 19Lbs in 4 months using this proven Fitness Workout Program, which is endorsed by the top fitness trainers and coaches worldwide. This fitness workout program burns off that stubborn belly fat and also builds lean muscle. Thousands of people globally use it – and it works!"

Family

SwissTgallery presents Johnson & Johnson Refuses to Remove Cancer Causing Chemicals from Baby Products posted at Organic Baby Wearhouse, saying, "Last Friday a letter signed by 50 groups representing about 1.7 million people was sent to William Weldon, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson. The letter was asking the company to reformulate it�s iconic baby shampoo and other care products to be free of the cancer causing chemicals 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. The widespread response it in reaction to a recent study showing many J&J products as containing small amounts of these dangerous chemicals."

Nara presents Does More Time Online Cause Cheating? posted at Surviving Infidelity, saying, "Is there a correlation between internet usage and infidelity?"

Gabriel presents AlphaBeta.com – Signs She May Be Cheating on You posted at How To Attract Women, saying, "Signs your girlfriend may be cheating on you."

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Dim-Witted Driver posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog.

Jack presents Urban Fitness posted at Urban Lover, saying, "Some tips for getting fit while living in the inner city."

Margaret Garcia presents Top 100 Natural Birthing Blogs posted at MRI Technician Schools.

Mick Hart presents Stop Drinking Tips – Waking Up Dry posted at Stop Drinking Advice, saying, "Discover How To Stop Drinking Alcohol Permanently, Within 21 Days (Or Less) – Guaranteed (Even If You’ve Tried Everything Else And Failed…)"

Ashley Cook presents Juggling for Fun and Exercise posted at Healthy Living Tips, saying, "Juggling can not only be a fun hobby, but a great source of exercise."

Grooming

Aparna presents Bleaching your skin? Follow these dos and donts posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "If you are fond of bleaching, here are some points to keep in mind to make the maximum use of this cosmetic preparation.(A few tips about bleaching, the benefits of bleaching, precautions to follow while bleaching etc are mentioned in these posts: The wonders of cream bleach and How to apply cream bleach."

Dee Ashley presents Men's Skin Care Tips posted at Very Sexy Men, saying, "A well groomed man is definitely sexy. Thanks for hosting."

Money

David Franklin presents Three Ways to Make Money from Home posted at Make Money From Home, saying, "This article contains three useful tips that anyone can use to make money from home. I believe it would be a nice addition to your upcoming blog carnival."

jim presents Smart Money 2009 Best Online Brokers posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents $50 TradeKing Bonus Extended, Zecco Free Stock Trades Update posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"

The Smarter Wallet presents Stock Technical Analysis of the S & P Index posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, "Thanks!"

Nutrition

Dr Tooth presents Avoid Tooth Decay with Dental Chewing Gum posted at WorlDental, saying, "However, you should know another thing about chewing gum and overall health. The process of chewing increases the gastric juice elimination to digest the incoming food. It is a natural body reflection phenomenon. While chewing a teeth gum your body doesn’t receive any food. It makes you consume more energy and become hungry faster, that makes you eating more and then chewing more and more. Unfortunately it’s an endless process."

Bobbie Whitehead presents Blueberry Benefits posted at Bobbie Whitehead.

Megan Wong presents Treatment for sinus infection which you must know for double protection posted at Sinus Home Remedy.

Scientific Living presents How to Choose a Supplement posted at Scientific Living, saying, "A guide on how to navigate through the myriad of supplement choices, and find something that is affordable, effective, and safe."

Margaret Garcia presents Walk the Path to Good Health posted at Dental Assisting School.

Daniel James presents How To Fail posted at Weight Loss Dude.

Brooklyn White presents Radiography Schools » 100 Best Cooking Tips for Cancer Prevention posted at Radiography Schools.

Banquet Manager presents I Don't Want HIS Health Care Reform posted at So You Want To Be a Banquet Manager….

Lauren presents Switching to Black Coffee posted at Holiday Honey, saying, "Cut out the grande & venti fat traps!"

ChristianPF presents All-Natural cake mixes – Finally! posted at Natural Health Ezine, saying, "Finally someone made a cake mix that is not filled with chemicals and artificial flavors…"

Roy Schwartz presents What NOT To Eat, and Why – No. 3 – Soft Drinks posted at A Disease A Day.

Stress

John presents Controlling Panic Attacks posted at Overcoming Panic Attacks, saying, "Information on how to cope with panic attacks"

Broderick Allen presents Overwhelmed? posted at Broderick Allen – Personal Growth and Enjoying Life's Journey.

Ray presents Declutter Your Life By Getting Rid Of Junk Mail posted at Money Blue Book.

Work

nissim ziv presents What to say in an interview & What not to say in an interview posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "It is very important to be completely ready knowing what to say when you attend an interview. In addition, whatever the post be, or whatever the profile be, you should clearly know what not to say in the interview."

Donald Latumahina presents Proven Principles for Managing Your Energy posted at Life Optimizer.

Be sure to tune in every Monday for the next Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival, and if you want to submit your own article for inclusion, click here before midnight (eastern time) on Sunday.

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