Wii Fit Craze!

By Mary Jane Irwin, Forbes.comAmericans are obsessed with their weight. Newsstands ("10 Hot Celebrity Diets!") and grocery aisles ("Low fat! Only 100 calories! Heart Healthy!") feed our pound fixation. Not to mention we're constantly reminded that our increasingly sedentary lifestyles are contributing to record ranks of overweight and obese citizens.Time for video games to take charge and get people off the couch.At least that's the hope of a new slew of games catering to a player's aspirations by providing a physical side to the hours spent plunked in front of a TV. It sounds counterintuitive but it's quite possible to work up a sweat playing "Wii Tennis," a game that replicates racket swinging with motion-sensing controllers -- there are...

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Posted in: Diet,Fitness

Your Instant Beach Body

4 exercises using dumbbells to blast fat, build muscle, and sculpt entire body.By the Editors of Men's HealthSelect a pair of dumbbells you know you can press overhead 8 to 12 times. Then do all four of these exercises in succession with no rest between moves and without putting down the dumbbells. Rest for 30 to 60 seconds before repeating the sequence once or twice.1. Traveling LungeStand holding the dumbbells at your sides. Take a step forward until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Bring your back leg forward and repeat with the opposite leg. Do 8 to 10 reps with each leg.Builds: Lower body2. Pushup-Position RowAssume a pushup position, but keep your arms straight and rest your hands on the dumbbells. Pull one weight up toward...

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

Take a Pass on Gas

Avoiding the embarrassing side of healthy eatingBy Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., EatingWell.comIt's true. Beans, beans, are good for the heart. The rest of that silly childhood poem is unfortunately true too. And not just with beans, but also cabbage, onions, apples, and many other fruits and vegetables loaded with the vitamins, minerals, fibers and phytochemicals we're all urged to get more of. So what can we do to bypass the gas, short of giving up some of nature's most nourishing foods? A few cooking and lifestyle changes can go a long way, say experts.According to Karen Collins, R.D., nutrition advisor for the American Institute for Cancer Research, many people suffer gas because their digestive tracts aren't used to a high-fiber diet—and avoiding fibrous foods like beans, broccoli...

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Shrink 2 Sizes by Summer — Calorie-Sizzling Cardio

The ultimate shape-up plan to flatten your belly, firm your thighs, sculpt your butt, and get you swimsuit ready. See results in 4 weeks!By Selene Yeager, Prevention3 Fat-Burning Cardio RoutinesHigh-intensity workouts burn more calories per minute than easy exercise; so to lose fat fast, you have to move fast. The good news is that even brief bursts are enough to get the job done. In a Canadian study, exercisers who did 30-minute workouts that included some short but hard efforts lost 3 times as much fat after 15 weeks as their peers who did similar 45-minute workouts without vigorous bouts.Here are three 30-minute cardio workouts you can do while walking, running, cycling, swimming, using any cardio machine, or even just dancing in your living...

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness,Weight loss

Flat Belly Diet: Ab Exercises

Abs Shape-Up 8 exercises to strengthen and flatten your abs By Linda Rao , Linda Rao is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Prevention. If you experience back pain with any of these ab exercises, stop and check with your doctor before continuing. 1. Tilt your pelvis. Lie on the floor, arms at your sides and knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Next, press your lower back to the floor so that your pelvis tilts upward. Maintain this tilt as you straighten your legs by slowly sliding your...

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Posted in: Exercise,Weight loss

Best Body for Summer

Get slim, strong, and powerful with fat-blasting cardio, firm- all-over moves, and an energy-boosting eating plan By Caroline Bollinger , Caroline Bollinger is Prevention's fitness editor. Yes, you have great intentions. But juggling work, family, and home leaves you little time for that last item on your to-do list--you, and getting into a shape you're happy about. No worries: It's not too late. With our new plan, you can still shed up to 10 pounds, firm and tone, and lose inches--all in just a month! Keep going, and you'll lose even more--at the rate of about 1 to 2 pounds a week. Studies have confirmed that when it comes to weight...

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

Shrink 2 Sizes by Summer: Body Shape-Up

The ultimate shape-up plan to flatten your belly, firm your thighs, sculpt your butt, and get you swimsuit ready. See results in 4 weeks!By Selene Yeager, PreventionForget sharks! When it comes to summertime stress, Jaws has nothing on swimwear.A resounding 90% of women worry about stepping out in public in a swimsuit, reports a recent survey of 1,670 women by BizRate Research. Seventy percent said hiding trouble spots such as midriff bulges and bikini-bottom jiggle was a top priority when shopping for a suit. Well, drop the sarong — we've got you covered.Our workout will flatten your belly, tone your arms, firm your butt and thighs, and burn off fat so you can hit the beach with confidence. The core of the plan is a 30-minute sculpting routine...

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness,Weight loss

10 Day Diet For Massive Weight Loss

Here's a "beyond simple" 10 day diet that achieves massive weight loss results. There's nothing extreme to this diet, you won't starve, and you'll have plenty of energy.This is a great "10 day fix" to get some quick weight loss when necessary.10 Day Diet For Massive Weight Loss1. Eat eggsOn this diet, I want you to eat as many eggs as you want, whenever you want. It's as simple as that. Since eggs are high in protein and fill you up, they're perfect to eat all day long.2. Backeye PeasBlackeye peas are perfect for this diet because of their high protein and high fiber content. Lot of protein and lots of fiber help to keep your hunger under control. Just eat 1 can of blackeye peas... cost about 50 cents.3. Chicken breastsChicken breasts are great because they're high in protein and have no fat...

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Posted in: Weight loss

Massive Weight Loss Starting Today

Here's a way to get massive weight loss starting today. This is an exciting new trick to lose weight quickly. It's cheating, but it works! Doesn't involve dieting, diet pills, or even going to the gym.Massive Weight Loss Starting Today1. SpinHere's the deal on spinning. Spinning around in a circle like a child tweaks the Endocrine System to better balance your hormones and the release of them. Since most people in the Western World have unbalanced hormones due to the chemicals in our water, food, air, and everyday products... we gain weight easily and have a hard time losing weight.Spinning "teaches" the Endocrine System to bring balance to your hormones, thus unlocking your ability to lose weight fast. As an added bonus, you should get a tremendous surge in your energy levels as well.What...

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Posted in: Weight loss

Back Pain Relief Effective Management Tips

Over 80% of adults suffer from back pain at some stage. Back pain is often a sign of injury or some underlying problem related to your spine - its bones, muscles, and other soft tissues. It could disrupt your work, routine, and your daily activities. It may even affect your normal lifestyle as you are unable to participate in recreational activities due to pain. There are a number of back pain relief remedies that are for the most part under your control. And sometimes, it's nice to know some options that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine to help manage your pain. Ice is a very effective pain reliever.Even with all the high tech medical options available, a simple ice application can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore back or neck. Heat therapy...

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Posted in: Back Pain

Physical And Emotional Trauma Associated With Spinal Injuries

Thousands of individuals suffer from various spinal injuries every single year. More people than you might be aware of endure suffering on a daily basis from this type of traumatic injury.There are numerous types of accidents that occur which can ultimately end up being the culprit for many very serious and painful spinal injuries. Some of these of which can even be life threatening.There are many individuals who live with debilitating back pain every single day that is caused by some type of serious spinal injury they have received. Sadly, they are often too easily dismissed by many of their friends and co-workers. It might be hard to believe, but in many cases, this is simply because more often than not, an injury of this type is not something that can easily be seen by others.Not only is...

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Posted in: Back Pain

Preventative Back Care Made Easy

When it comes to preventing back pain as you age or even relieving back pain right now, preventative back care is vitally important.Whether you're 30 years old with bad genes, have a previous injury, or are getting up in your years, back pain isn't fun for anyone. In fact, for some people the pain is so bad it's downright unbearable.Considering you're involved in home improvement and gardening, you can't afford to have a bad back - so read this article carefully and do the exercises.So let's get into the reasons why people experience back pain.Most people don't understand that many back problems are caused by 1 of 2 things. These 2 causes are either being overweight or having weak back muscles. Of course you may have gotten hurt, but even still, there's a good chance you could feel much better...

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Posted in: Back Pain

Slow Down, You're Eating Too Fast

It's tough not to rush through your meals; some days, I barely have time to sit down for lunch till 3 p.m.! But slowing down can help you slim down: Researchers from the University of Rhode Island at Kingston found that people who ate more slowly consumed 70 fewer calories per meal than speed eaters.Instead of plowing through your meals, pace yourself using this soothing breathing technique before you start to eat: Inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale slowly. Repeat several times, says Yvonne Nienstadt, nutrition director at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. As for me, I find that pouring myself a glass of red wine and sipping it slowly throughout dinner helps me savor my meal even more. (Plus it has health benefits!) And of course, part of what makes mealtimes stressful...

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Stress in pregnancy raises risks for baby: study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Women who are stressed about money, relationships and other problems during pregnancy may give birth to babies who are predisposed to allergies and asthma, U.S. researchers said on Sunday. The findings, presented at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Toronto, suggest a mother's stress during pregnancy may have lasting consequences for her child. "This research adds to a growing body of evidence that links maternal stress such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues to changes in children's developing immune systems, even during pregnancy," Dr. Rosalind Wright of Harvard Medical School in Boston said in a statement. Wright and colleagues found mothers who were the most distressed during pregnancy were most likely to give birth to infants...

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Posted in: Pregnancy,Women's Issues

8 Foods You Should Eat Every Day

SpinachSexual enhancement, Muscle growth, Heart healthy, Bone builder, Enhances eyesightIt may be green and leafy, but spinach is also the ultimate man food. This noted biceps builder is a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Bonus: Folate also increases blood flow to the penis. And spinach is packed with lutein, a compound that fights age-related macular degeneration. Aim for 1 cup fresh spinach or 1/2 cup cooked per day.SUBSTITUTES: Kale, bok choy, romaine lettuceFIT IT IN: Make your salads with spinach; add spinach to scrambled eggs; drape it over pizza; mix it with marinara sauce and then microwave for an instant dip.PINCH HITTER: Sesame Stir-Braised Kale...

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