H1N1 Swine Flu has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It’s not clear whether this pandemic will mean people die from it.

In another flu version those in their 20s and 30s were the most affected.

If you assume the WHO mortality rate projections of about 0.4 per cent and 40 million USA citizens infected you’d expect to see 160,000 people die.

Plan For A Pandemic

To survive you need to plan for a pandemic. If it turns out to be no massive problem that’s OK – but you were prepared for if it had gone the other way.

Think about how to minimize contact with other people, particularly infected people. Make sure that you designate someone who will look after those who might get infected.

Make sure everyone knows how to wash their hands properly, knows how to avoid getting flu and knows how to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. See the videos below:

You May Need An N95 Respirator

Actually this type of respirator is probably only needed if you need to go out into an infected area. They do have to be properly disposed of though – so read the instructions carefully.

This  useful article on face masks shows that surgical masks don’t reduce infection risk, whereas an N95 respirator does.

Try To Work From Home During A Pandemic

Agree with your boss whether you can work from home. Obviously sort out the logistics of doing so. Point out to the boss that it’s better to be home and productive rather than in the office and spreading infections to all employees – maybe other employees should work from home too?.

Going Shopping Is A Risk

Stockpile about 2 weeks worth of groceries, don’t use all frozen food in case the power goes.

Avoid going to supermarkets as there is likely to be numbers of unknowingly infected people walking around.

Banks May Close

If banks employees (who face the public) get infected there’s a good chance some branches will close.

So make sure you’ve got some cash in hand. ATMs are likely to suffer from people trying to get as much cash out as they can for the same reason.

Is The H1N1 The Pandemic We All Expected?

We still don’t know the answer to that one, and probably wont until Christmas 2009!

In the meantime, good health and good luck…

.And of course levels of stress that we each face differs. Plus individuals are able to deal with stress so that it doesn’t appear to affect them.

Others have strategies to reduce or eliminate stress.

Others eat, or overeat, to avoid stress. Yet others smoke in the mistaken belief that smoking actually calms their stressful nerves. And of course we all know people who reach for that stress-busting drink.

None of these are the right approach to dealing with stress. And the problem with all these is that they can lead to health problems.

Stress Causes

Stress can be caused by a wonderful variety of things.

They include problems with too much work, not being in work and funnily enough not having enough work to do.

Then there are issues with lack of money and problems with relationships, at work, in the family or with friends.

Worrying about what “might” happen can be a major cause of unnecessary stress.

Stress Busters

The commonsense piece of advice is to avoid stress. Whereas in fact some stress is necessary to get you up in the morning and work.

And if you don’t handle stress correctly it can lead to health issues, both mental and physical.

Exercise is a very good way to reduce stress by releasing endorphins that increase your body’s ability to combat stress.

Sleep (the right amount) is another tool in the stress busters arsenal.

Thinking positively is another good way of approaching life and is going to lead to a reduction in stress levels.

The other way to handle stress is to talk it out with people. Choose the right people to talk to, as you need people who aren’t judgmental and are willing to simply act as a sounding board without offering well meant but ultimately useless advice.

A spotty face feels unattractive. Yet how does it relate to your fitness?

Think about it…

If your face is spotty you tend to shun the bright lights of the gym. And you hardly need to be reminded again and again by all the mirrors they have around the place.

It can turn you into a “stay at home.” Which means fitness tends to go into limbo as you watch TV and eat those snacks.

Lets Get Acne Sorted!

Firstly most treatments cost some money.

Secondly whatever you do it’s unlikely that you’ll get every spot to disappear so don’t raise your expectations too high. And in fact the treatment may only keep the acne rom getting worse.

If you want to avoid paying for treatment there are other avenues to explore.

Of course you need to be sure that any treatment you undertake is safe. And be aware that the guidelines I describe are ONLY for mild acne. If you have more severe acne, or it has complications you need to check in with a doctor.

With any remedy you try at home results are likely to be slow. So you need to be a little patient. However, if after 2 weeks there’s no noticeable difference stop using them as further use could make your acne worse and your skin worse too.

That applies to any of the remedies you hear as you surf the Internet too.

Using A Different Soap

In reality acne stems from hormone levels and the oil production it activates. So washing is unlikely to completely resolve the problem. However, you could try using benzoyl peroxide, which treats the spots, rather than the cause of acne.

You can find this in face wash, soap bars, creams and gels.

Caution: You need to remember not to over use this as it can leave your skin looking very red and very dry. So use it sparingly and check your results.

What About Using Aspirin?

Actually you don’t aspirin you use its active ingredient salicylic acid. This is found in facial washes and facial pads. These may help unclog your pores reduce pimple growth.

Remember, like before, be careful how you use it, follow instructions and discontinue its use if it doesn’t work as you expect.

The Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition">Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition">Atkins diet hit our household like a ton of bricks. Kay and I lost about 3 stone between us.

The phenomenal book, “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition">Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition">The New Atkins Diet” by the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins suggested that to get sustained weight loss we need to look at the carbohydrates we eat, not the fat.

Just like Kay and me, lots of fatties and not so fat people have successfully lost the pounds with the Atkins diet.

Of course the one proviso with this diet, as with any really, is to check with your doctor before starting it.

I’d also suggest that if you’re pregnant don’t use it because when I was doing it I felt like I was a victim of the Irish potato famine, which wouldn’t be good for any unborn babies!

What Is The Atkins Diet?

With the Atkins diet you don’t “count” calories, instead you wave a fond farewell to junk food and processed food and all those lovely carbs.

Your diet begins to resemble a vegetarian’s nightmare, as you pile the plate with meat and animal products like cream and cheese. And you eliminate the breads, pies and other carb-rich foods.

How The Atkins Diet Works

The result of reducing the carbohydrates to almost nothing is that you eat a lot of vegetables and a great deal of meat.

The result is that your body goes into a state called “ketosis". That means your body burns the fat for energy instead of the food in your diet. The theory then goes on to suggest that doing this cuts down insulin production which in turn stops more fat being deposited around the body.

The Atkins Diet Process

There are 3 basic steps in the Atkins diet

• Induction
• Ongoing weight loss
• Maintenance

Atkins Induction Step

This takes 2 very slow weeks during which time you cut back your carbohydrates to just 20 grams each day. You’re allowed a very few low-carb vegetables, but even those are limited. So for example carrots are out! So you can’t gnaw on a nice carrot when you’re peckish.

People say they lose about 15 pounds in this first stage. I lost about 12 pounds.

Ongoing Weight Loss Step

Your carbohydrate intake rises to 25 grams per day And the aim is to increase the amount of carbs you eat until you reach a stable level where if you ate a few more grams you’d put on weight.

Diet Maintenance Step

The point about the Atkins diet is that you’re expected to only eat “healthy” carbs once you’ve reached your ideal weight. I can tell you from bitter experience that you begin to crave the “bad” carbs more and more as you continue on the diet. Or maybe it’s just me?

Cautionary Atkins Diet Tales

Of  course almost any diet attracts comment and cautions

However, the Atkins diet safety has been questioned because it is so severe in its carbohydrate restrictions.

Whilst I did get a headache for the first week by the second week it had disappeared. To be totally honest I went on this diet a second time and lost weight again, after I’d put it on by stopping the "Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition">Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition">The New Atkins Diet!"

However, I’m pretty sure I wont use it again as I discovered that by the time I’d finished it meat, such as corned beef, and cheese that I’d loved I actively disliked. So reducing my options for food if I tried it again!

In summary, the diet worked for both me and Kay. As I said I wont be using it again and luckily I’ve found a lifestyle that has helped me drop 2 stone and keep it off. I’ll talk more about that in a later post.

The Surgeon General and Center For Disease Control say that
120 million Americans are overweight.

In fact in a report titled Obesity Trends 1985-2006 the Center notes that in 2006 only 4 states had less than 20% of the population that were labeled as obese. A further 22 states had 25% of their population labeled as obese. And two (Mississippi and West Virginia ) had 30% or more of the population as obese.

97 Million Americans Adults Are Obese

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, in cooperation with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reported on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity and give a figure of 97 million adults in the United States who are thought to be overweight or obese.

And as you know obesity and overweight substantially increase your risk of dying from:

1. hypertension
2. dyslipidemia
3. type 2 diabetes
4. coronary heart disease
5. stroke
6. gallbladder disease
7. osteoarthritis
8. sleep apnea
9. respiratory problems
10. endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

The Bodybuilder’s Secret To Staying Slim

If you’ve ever tried to diet and just stayed the same or gained
more weight think about this:

Successful natural bodybuilders do things differently
than the 95% of dieters who fail.

The bodybuilder’s way to fat loss allows you to shed fat while
keeping your lean body mass.

That’s the key to your success. Keep your muscles and maximize your metabolism to burn fat 24 hours a day.

And even better, you don’t need to be a bodybuilder to benefit.

Of course the only problem is asking the top body builders
how they achieve their fat loss, without killing themselves with
supplements and starvation diets. After all why would they give
you their secrets for nothing?

Reach Your “Normal” Weight Loss Plateau
And Keep Right On Losing Weight

One bodybuilder has come clean and released a 337 page fat burning book
that anyone who’s tried to diet, lose weight or otherwise drop a
dress size needs to read.

Tom Venuto has written a book that cuts through all the rubbish you’ve learnt about diets. After all he’s spent the last 14 years experimenting on himself to get to his best possible weight and body look.

He explains the reason why 95% of diets fail and the exact steps you need to take to be in the top 5% that succeed in losing weight the right way.

There is a good physiological reason conventional diets can’t work and Tom’s book gives you a simple but effective way to make them work.

I’ve not been a particular dieter but I’ve watched as my wife has been on several diets over the years. I’ve noticed how she reaches a fat-loss plateau which is not just disheartening it destroys your motivation to continue with the diet. Now Tom’s
book explains why that is and 10 ways that smash through the plateau.

You Could Use The Atkins Diet

If you’ve done the Atkins diet, and let’s face it almost everyone does the Atkins diet at some stage! You know how it can become boring, but worst of all you get an intense craving for the forbidden carbohydrates.

As I said although I don’t usually do diets I’ve been on the Atkins diet. And I admit I searched the supermarket labels of chocolate eclairs, Chelsea buns and eccles cakes in the faint hope that their carbohydrate content wasn’t too much. Some hope!

Tom’s book explains the reasons why most people fail on the Atkins and Zone diet in the long-term. And I’m afraid I was one of them.

One immediately useful tip the book gives is a list of the 12 worst foods for adding fat (other than chocolate eclairs) and the 12 foods you should eat as often as possible.

Stop Your Body Going Into Starvation Mode
And Damaging Your Metabolism

If you drop below your own specific critical calorie level you can seriously damage and slow down your metabolism and even watch as your muscle wastes away.

Fat burning becomes even harder. Because we’re all different
sizes, shapes, metabolic rate and fat content so we each have our
own very specific calorie level. The book gives you a calculation
that works out your specific optimal calorie level.

You get 7 strategies to prevent you going into starvation mode,
plus exactly what to do if you suspect that’s what’s happened to
you.

Want To Eat 50% More Calories
Without Storing Fat?

You want to know how to speed up your metabolism, which makes you
burn energy faster or you’d like to eat 50% more calories without
storing fat? The book tells you.

Tom also reveals the problem with powered and liquid meal
replacement drinks. If you’ve tried using those types of meal
replacement read why ultimately they don’t work and exactly what
to do instead.

Get A 300% Increase In Your Fat Burning

When you workout the book shows how you can get a 300% increase
the fat burning effect and continue to burn fat even whilst
you’re asleep.

Drop Several Dress Sizes

This bodybuilder’s secret weapon makes you lean by burning the
fat. and testimonials on Tom’s site show that.

For instance a lady called Nena lost 37 pounds and dropped from size 18 to size 12. Another called Sarah dropped from size 15 to size 8 and Linda went from size 18 to
size 10.

Men Lose Weight Too

Eric was tested using the Jackson-Pollack formula for skinfold and got 4% bodyfat after following the step by step instructions and Roberto assumed that at 46 he was too old to lose weight effectively, yet his waist went from 97cm to 85cm.

The Guarantee Makes This
Book A Dieter’s Dream

You get to read the book and apply everything you want in it. If you feel it hasn’t worked for you you can get your money back with absolutely no questions asked.

It make sense to see whether you can avoid yo-yo dieting or push through the weight-loss plateau so you can gain your ideal weight just to get the book and have a go.

So go to Tom’s website and get your copy of the book that promises to quickly get rid of the fat and increase your muscle.

You can choose to die 31 years earlier than you otherwise would from degenerative disease if you make poor lifestyle choices.

Peter Pure, who’s newsletter I just paraphrased, is an evangelist for eating raw food. He shows you how you can make gourmet meals from raw foods.

Try the cheesecake – not made from cheese, or milk!

You can also make a milk replacement, one which needs no pasteurization and which is wholly natural and made from Brazil nuts.

Peter runs regular Raw Food Partys where he shows you how to make gourmet raw food. In fact during the 11 hour session (where you’re required to turn up hungry!) you eat gourmet raw food.

Peter guarantees that if you don’t think the session is worth the price you can get your money back after you’ve finished your raw food lunch…

Sounds good to me!

Peter’s web site goes into all the marvelous effects you get when you eat raw food. Peter says:

1. You need up to 3 hours less sleep a night
2. You have more energy
3. Have you heard about the red berry that makes you happier and cleverer?
4. Used the mountain root that enables you to thrive in a low oxygen environment like New York, Tokyo or London?
5. Do you know how to double your fertility?

Eat the foods he tells you and find out…

Yum, yum! 

Did you know that one of the most important things is to get the right amount of sleep?

For some that could mean 10 hours a night, for others it could mean 4 hours.

However, what do you do when the sleep you have is fiftful because you snore? And you keep your waking your whole family as your snores reach their sleeping ears.

Snoring and mild or even severe sleep apnea causes:

• High blood pressure
• extreme tiredness
• marital disharmony and breakdown
• lack of concentration

And then I discovered a set of snore reducing exercises which eliminate snoring in lots of people.

Believe me I’m speaking from expereince!

These exercises were actually discovered by Christian, an Icelander. His wife’s a singing teacher and she’d taught her students how to unblock their throats when they sing. He discovered that the exercises she used, plus ones he devised as additions after discussions with doctors got rid of his snoring.

Just a set of 24 simple exercises! And on his anti-snoring web site he gives you one complete exercise for you to try out.

Anyone can do these exercises. So Christian wrote an ebook that explains step by step how to identify the type of snoring you have. Then the specific snore reducing exercises that address that type of snoring.

And by the way it isn’t just people who are overweight or with blocked noses that snore. Anyone can become a snorer if their throats become a little flabby. In fact snoring can become quite dangerous if you stop breathing as you do if you have Sleep Apnea.

Christian says that his exercises weren’t specifically for Sleep Apnea but he’s had lots of people emailing him that to say that their symtoms have gone.

So if you suffer from extreme tiredness and a frosty relationship with your partner because of your snoring check out his anti-snoring web site and see what everyone else is raving about in the programme.

Fitness starts with a good nights sleep. Make sure you get one!

Lifetime fitness is the cornerstone to health and well-being.

I’m not saying you need to be fit enough to run a marathon without breaking into a sweat, or maybe pump iron with the super heavyweights.

You need to be fit to maintain your health, now and as you get older.

So for me a lifetime fitness begins with where you are now and is a totally lifetime commitment to maintaining and improving your health.

This blog will provide fitness, health and diet articles and resources to help you and me to improve our fitness.

If anyone would like to contribute by providing reviews of exercise regimes, gyms, exercise equipment or exercise apparel that would be most appreciated.  Just get in touch with me with your suggested topics and lets get going.

So welcome and enjoy this blog.