By Brandon Richey

It seems like these days people are struggling to get fit more than ever. Everywhere you look there is a new diet, new fad piece of equipment, or new so-called magical pill that will get you a hard body that is worthy of this months issue of Women’s Fitness or GQ magazine. This is all bogus crap that is causing you to waste more of your time watching it than getting anything done that is going to result in your real progress. Fitness has to be a good old fashion lifestyle choice. It has to be a daily “way of life” for you to make any progress in your attempt to achieve the goals you desire the most.

Fitness Tips That Work!

1. Nutrition: This may seem like an obvious one, but it doesn’t have to be rocket science! Forget trying to get a so-called diet that “works” like the South Beach Diet or Atkins Diet. These are fads that cause you to make drastic changes in your personal eating habits which aren’t necessarily fitting if you are just living a healthy lifestyle the way you should be in the first place. For a healthy nutrition plan lets go back to the advice you got when you were a child. Your parents probably encouraged you to eat that apple instead of the snickers bar. They would rather you had drank that water rather than the soda. They were probably encouraging you to eat enough of your vegetables at the dinner table before they rewarded you with dessert. All of those influences are exactly what you need in order to have a healthy diet. Just make smart choices. It really is that simple. If you are 50 lbs overweight then you are never going to get better until you put down the large pizza and start eating foods that are good for you. Just be smart, period!

2. Elevate Your Level of Perceived Exertion: When you workout do something productive. Once again, this probably sounds obvious, yet most people don’t do it! If it is so obvious then why don’t people do what works? Lets use a hard core example of what I am talking about. If you are 50 lbs overweight then you have got to sweat and work to get the weight off. This is called elevating your level of perceived exertion. You are not going to do this by walking over to the dumbbell rack and picking up a pair of 10 lb dumbbells to do a set of arm curls. This is the same logic as if you had a flat tire on your car and you went over to try to inflate it by blowing into the valve stem with the air from your lungs. It just isn’t going to happen. You see where I am coming from. In order to get that weight off you have got to go walk some stairs, move your body, or attempt some body weight exercises that will get your heart pumping and your pores sweating! This is a true tip to improve your health. Tips to better your workouts are simple. All you have to do is make smart choices. Remember to train hard, but always train smart!

Caffeine is the most popular legal drug in the world. One hundred and twenty thousand tonnes is consumed every year. Coffee and tea are the most popular sources of caffeine. Cola soft drinks, energy drinks and chocolate are other popular sources.

Caffeine can increase the body’s metabolic rate by ten percent. It is quickly absorbed, reaching maximum concentration within an hour. Caffeine can increase the heart rate and the rate of blood flow through the lungs.

Caffeine has been shown to make a person more mentally alert, including an improvement in mental speed-related tasks, but it can cause insomnia.

Drinking three cups of coffee per day can improve memory. It is possible it can help in Alzheimer’s disease.

Decaffeinated coffee contains about 2mg of caffeine, brewed coffee has about 95mg. Black tea contains 47mg of caffeine but tea contains an enzyme which counteracts the jitters, which you get from drinking too much coffee.

Tea contains antioxidants and is the latest healthy drink. Green tea is especially in favour, although like anything else, moderation is the key.

Energy drinks like Red Bull have 76mg of caffeine, while coke has 34mg per can. Children should not be drinking Red Bull or other energy drinks with caffeine, as caffeine is not a suitable stimulant for children.

Caffeine is a stimulant and is sometimes used in weight loss. Sadly, it is not a good choice as it temporarily increases the metabolism but over time your body resists its effect and it can slow the metabolism. It is also addictive. Products like diet coke are great for their producers because customers drink it to control their weight, become addicted and need more to get the effect. For weight loss, it is recommended you follow a healthy eating and exercise program and do not go for the quick fix.

Too much caffeine can cause the jitters, heart palpitations, blood pressure increase, insomnia and eventually fatigue. Caffeine is addictive and your body becomes adjusted to the dose so you crave more. Withdrawal symptoms are usually a headache and feeling of unease, nervousness and sleep difficulties.

It is a good idea to have some caffeine free days. If you have withdrawal symptoms, you should consider cutting down on the quantity you drink daily.

Caffeine can be useful, especially if you have to think clearly and quickly in an emergency, but it is not a good idea to become dependent. Like any other drug, it has its good points and its bad.

by : Andrea S Parker

I saw a post by another parent on a message board and it began this way, “Today is my autistic son’s birthday and I am sad…” I recalled all the many years past that I felt the exact same way. This was a sentiment that it was impossible for many people to understand but I bet other parents of children with autism do. The reason for the sadness is certainly not that you regret the day they were born! Parents of children with autism love them with one of the strongest, fiercest loves ever seen on this planet.

The reason for the sadness is because a birthday represents a significant milestone- a date of importance that cannot be ignored. Every year, at various times but certainly on birthdays, parents of children with autism face the indisputable fact that although their child might be twelve or thirteen chronologically, they are far younger than that developmentally. This creates an understandable pain and anguish in the parent. This highlighting of the developmental differences inherent in the disorder makes it difficult for many parents to “celebrate” a “happy birthday.” It takes time, and above all a very difficult spiritual concept called “acceptance,” to actually have fun on the birthday of a child with a significant cognitive/ developmental delay.

Today, my son’s birthdays are an absolute blast. I suppose this testifies to how far we have both come (more me than him.) He is fifteen now and doing much better than before. Yes, he is still significantly delayed in certain areas, particularly speech. Interestingly though, on his birthdays now I rarely think about the delay anymore. He is very happy and he is doing very well. His birthdays are joyful now. Perhaps they are celebrations of the absolute warfare I feel we have been through.

To those parents who are sad on the birthday of their children with autism, to you I say I understand. I have been there. One day in the future you will be happy on his birthday, I promise it.

Food scientists all over the world suggest that dark chocolate contains all the necessary compounds and minerals to prevent major chronic heart conditions and disorders, most notably, cardiovascular disease. Derived from plants, it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. A large number of antioxidants are contained in this semi-sweet substance (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries) as well as more than 3 times the amount of catechins as that found in tea. The dark variety has far more antioxidants than white or milk chocolate.

Enriched with health compounds (medically known as flavonoids), it may also act as a traditional curative remedy for treating various body ailments. The flavonoids can help with your blood circulation in the same way that aspirin helps to reduce the likelihood of a blood clot. As a side note, the milk content of other chocolates can cause acne or “zits,” but not dark chocolate.

The mood-enhancing qualities of chocolate are an obvious reason why it is so strongly associated with Valentine’s Day, as a gift for lovers and loved ones. Benefits apart from protecting your heart include good taste that stimulates endorphin production which gives a feeling of pleasure. It contains serotonin, which may act as an anti-depressant, as well as theobromine, caffeine and other substances that are stimulants.

Remember, however, that overindulging in dark chocolate might blow your calorie budget, and packing on pounds could raise blood pressure. So portion control may help you have your indulgence while reaping its health benefits.

From a healthy heart to young-looking skin to a happy mood, dark chocolate provides you with a number of benefits, provided you consume it in moderation. It is recommended by many studies that you eat an ounce a day.